text:
Locum Dentist
Locum Dentist to join our well-established practice in Bolsover.
What we do matters. Our customers trust us with one of their most important assets, their smile. Patient care is our passion and we believe everyone deserves a happy and healthy smile, which is why we thrive on having the very best people in the industry working with us to ensure we all keep on smiling.
Here at Oasis Dental Care (now part of Bupa) our people are at the heart of everything we do, because we care. We have created environments where people can look forward to coming to work, feel empowered and benefit from working collaboratively with brilliant & talented experts.
As a Locum Dentist you'll be benefiting from a supportive practice team and a well-managed appointment book, allowing you to really make the most of your time. With competitive rates of pay on offer, what's not to love?
This exciting opportunity also offers:
- Up to 3 days per week, available until April 2018
- Excellent rate of pay
The Practice: Established with 6 surgeries, modern working environment, fully computerised, R4 Software, OPG, digital x-ray and fully Air Conditioned. Experienced longstanding associates, supported by a dedicated Dental Hygienist and a team of qualified professional support staff.
Oasis Bolsover is a well-established six surgery practice set in the heart of the village and close to Bolsover Castle. There is plenty of free parking close to the practice, which is just a few minutes' drive from the M1, making it easily commutable from Sheffield, Chesterfield, Nottingham, and other local areas.
Why join Oasis? Here's a selection of the fantastic incentives we have to offer:
- Excellent working facilities and the latest equipment
- Highest standards of clinical governance & expert support
- Further locum or associate opportunities available at over 420 Oasis and Bupa Dental UK practices


text:
barterer2002 wrote:I'm not quite sure why I was eliminated here, can you explain that to me?
You aren't eliminated. You just aren't involved in week 3's Final Race because your partner lost Game 8737272.
You're in a "double" car, meaning you and Tokle switch off who plays in the qualifier and if you win, your partner plays in the final. In Week 2, for example, you won the qualifier and Tokle played in the Final.
Next week, if Tokle wins the qualifier, you will play in the final.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Ben Meadows:
- Price:
- $399.95
- Description
- Specifications
- Reviews
The Monarch 7i VR combines a wide field of view, long eye relief, bright 6x optics, and Nikon's groundbreaking optical VR (Vibration Reduction) to ensure exceptionally clear, stable views. The optical VR system reduces image vibrations in the viewfinder caused by hand movements and simultaneously aligns the viewed image with the activated laser beam. Advanced ID (Incline/Decline) Technology provides the horizontal distance in yards or meters to the target even when ranging at various angles. Tru-Target Technology is ideal for measuring overlapping subjects by letting you choose between First Target Priority Mode and Distant Target Priority Mode. Hyper Read capability offers a fast measurement response of 0.5 seconds regardless of the distance from the target. In addition to a compact design, the rangefinder is waterproof (up to 1m for 10 minutes) and fogproof. Two-year manufacturer's warranty.
- Combination English/Metric Scales or Units.
We encourage our customers to let us know what experiences they have had with our products, whether good or bad. By submitting a review, you can share your experiences with others and also provide valuable feedback to us as well. With just a few simple steps, you can add your review of this product.
Ask a Question


text:
You might remember the saying from school. It goes something like this: "In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. And then the racist imperialist brought death and devastation to the New World he didn't even discover in the first place."
Oh, wait. That's not it. In fact, maybe we shouldn't consider Columbus to be a menace. After all, he was a great explorer. And there's the matter of the minor American holiday that gives some fortunate people a day off to celebrate him by hitting a sale. (Thanks from me and these jeans at 40 percent off!)
If you do give a thought to Columbus while browsing through clearance-price footwear, consider this: Through skill, stubbornness and good fortune, this extraordinarily complex man became one of the few people in history to ever change the course of life on the entire planet.
And not just our lives but those of animals, germs and even plants, explaining why there's Italian pasta sauce, Belgian chocolate and Florida oranges.
Researchers believe that Columbus set off "nothing less than the forming of a new single world from the collision of… old worlds," writes Charles C. Mann in his new book 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created, a followup to his bestseller "1491."
Another newcomer to the shelves, Columbus: The Four Voyages, looks at the explorer's life on the seas, mostly in the little-remembered forgotten aftermath of his mammoth 1492 discovery. Both books are perceptive and readable, although "1493" is livelier and convincingly reveals how the uniting of two worlds affects each one of us today.
Columbus himself, however, is much more of a presence in "Four Voyages." To author Laurence Bergreen, who wrote previous books about Marco Polo and Magellan, Columbus is neither villain nor hero but an imperfect man of vast emotions and ambitions.
This will be an entirely unfamiliar Columbus to many readers. He's spiritual and mystical too, sometimes wandering into the land of the downright peculiar and even delusional. (He always thought he'd reached Asia, not a new hemisphere.) He's a terrible administrator prone to cruelty. And he finds loyalty hard to come by, whether it's from monarchs or sailors.
Bergreen's focus on detail robs his book of some of its storytelling power, but he provides great insight when he pulls back to take a wider view of a man whose "accomplishments seem anything but fore-ordained or clear-cut. An aura of chaos hovers over his entire life and adventures, against which he tries to impose his remarkably serene will."
His arrival in the New World certainly wasn't set in stone (or seawater). The land appeared just as mutiny threatened to turn him into a footnote and, perhaps, lead to a very different world that might not have ever included us.
But, of course, the mutiny didn't come. In "1493," Mann takes a global tour as he explores what the discovery wrought for the planet.
Look at what it meant for the world's people: "For millennia, almost all Europeans were found in Europe, few Africans existed outside Africa, and Asians lived, almost without exception, in Asia alone." Columbus ushered in "an unprecedented reshuffling" of the human race.
Mann has a remarkable ability to weave a narrative out of seemingly unconnected strands of history. Slaves, sugar, silver and silk are all threads in this literary quilt of a book, along with rubber ("black gold"), potatoes and tobacco.
The new world brought misery, of course, for millions of people across the globe, particularly Africans and natives across the Western Hemisphere. But the story is more complicated than one of a single man who ruined lives by turning the world into one. Plants and crops traveled the earth, revolutionizing agriculture and society itself. They often brought comfort and health even as global war and planet-hopping diseases did the opposite.
"Incredibly," Mann writes, "living standards doubled or tripled worldwide even as the planet's population climbed from fewer than 1 billion in 1700 to about 7 billion today."
As Bergreen puts it in "Four Voyages," Columbus didn't understand what he'd found that October day in 1492. It wasn't Asia. But he convinced others he'd done what he tried to do, and he paved the way for two worlds to become one. Humanity would share ideas, food, people, germs and much more.
The legacy of this sailor -- a man who was aggravated and aggravating and amazing -- lives on in each one of us, every day. In a way that was never possible before him, we are citizens of the world.
Randy Dotinga is a regular contributor to the Monitor's books section.


text:
Spring ~ Summer Photo Album
Christmas~Winter Patterns~EPatterns
Spring~Summer Patterns~Epatterns
Halloween~Fall Patterns~Epatterns
Folk Art in Beeswax~Original Handscupted Designs
New! Classes~ Mold Making
Past Works
Published in the following publications
Somerset Studio Gallery
Winter 2011
Somerset Studio
New April 1st!
My Etsy
My Picturetrail
the 13th Colony
Philipians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves
I changed my font at
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Strawberry Fields by The Blackberry Briar
I was the lucky winner of a wonderful blog giveaway from
The Blackberry Briar
The candle and roomspray arrived today and do they smell like fresh strawberry fields! Go visit Michelle to see more.
Thank you Michelle for a wonderful prize!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Newer Post
Older Post
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Join my Email List for future updates!
~Contact Information~
I accept the following~
USPS Money OrdersPersonal checks (with time to clear)Shipping via USPS Priority Mail with delivery confirmation.
The 13th Colony
Country Antiques, Homespun Goods
My Favorite Blogs
Aunt Polly's Attic
Cat Nap Inn Primitives
Chickadee Primitives
Country Folk Keepsakes
Crow About Primitives
Engel House Primitives
Folk Art Tree
Hidden Pond Farm~Cindy Petters
Honeysuckle Lane
Kaniki's Prims & Whims
Magikal Seasons
Old Glory Soldiers
Oodle Kadoodle Primitives
Paint Draw Blend
PieCake Primitives
Prim 4 Him
Primitive Heartstrings
Primitive House
Primitives N Stitchin
Surgar Ridge Junction
Suzi Blu
Symple Tymes
Tails from the Dogpatch
Th Primitive Lady
The Fruit of Her Hands
The Pinecone Teacup
The Sheeps Nest
Thom's Daughter
Thyme' n Tide
Where the Blackbirds Sing
Where Women Create
Create Your Own Mold- Online Workshop
Coming soon! This online class will start with creating a simple sculpt (
Folk Bird
above) and step by step instructions on how to create a mold from your sculpt. If you ever wanted to create a mold from your original work sign up for this workshop. Sign up at
Art Supplies I Love
Golden Paints
My Patterns
~Email to Order~
Sam Adams
"It does not take a majority to prevail... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men."


text:
Cedar Rapids , Iowa's second largest city, is home to almost 300 manufacturing firms and two dozen Fortune 500 companies. Often referred to as the City of Five Seasons, Cedar Rapids offers many job opportunities as a major economic hub. Even with a large metropolitan area, Cedar Rapids offers the conveniences of a large city with the personality of a small community.
History Cedar Rapids was originally established in 1838 as the town Columbus by William Stone. In 1841 it was renamed by N.B. Brown and his associates. They named the town Cedar Rapids for the rapids in the Cedar River at the site, which was named for the large number of red cedar trees that grew along its banks. Cedar Rapids was incorporated on January 15, 1849. The economic growth of Cedar Rapids increased in 1871 upon the founding of the Sinclair meatpacking company.
Cedar Rapids Community Offering many activities for families and those of all lifestyles and backgrounds, Cedar Rapids is truly a unique place to live, work and grow. The average home price is approximately $165,000, with many different types of homes and neighborhoods to choose from - from existing homes to new construction. Click here to start your search of Cedar Rapids real estate and see all Cedar Rapids homes for sale. Cedar Rapids is ranked #1 best city in US for kids by Smartasset.com; #3 in top 10 places where poverty is falling fastest; #5 best city in US for young adults to get rich by moneyunder30.com; strongest online business community in Iowa by google.com Google's eCity Awards; 10 Best Affordable Places to Live by www.livability.com. The Cedar Rapids area is divided into quadrants - NE, NW, SE, SW - each with their own schools, neighborhoods, restaurants and shopping.
Attractions and Entertainment In 2008, Cedar Rapids, Iowa experienced a devastating flood of the Cedar River - reaching a record crest of 31.12 feet - 19 feet above flood stage. About 10 square miles, including most the downtown area, were inundated with flood waters, impacting more than 5,000 homes and over 1,000 businesses. Through the help of federal grants, a complete revitalization occurred, with a new main branch of the public library , a hotel and convention center and a new federal courthouse. In addition, the Newbo District , a neighborhood near downtown, has come back to life. The NewBo City Market features local restaurants and is in the heart of the neighborhood, which features performance spaces, shops, artists' studios and the newest Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors office in Cedar Rapids.
Nearest Ruhl&Ruhl Office Main Office 5805 Council St, Suite A Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 Phone Number: (319) 373-7845 Website Newbo Office 1117 3rd Street SE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 Phone Number: (319) 373-7845 Website
Cedar Rapids Helpful Links City of Cedar Rapids Cedar Rapids Chamber Cedar Rapids Public Library Double Tree Convention Complex Cedar Rapids Mainstreet/Newbo District
Below is a selection of properties in the area. If you would like to view all properties in this area. click here
Ruhl & Ruhl Realtors is powered by IDC Global and Datafloat
Real Estate website solutions | Big data and market report products for the real estate industry


text:
Christianity ExploredBack to all Events
- Date: Every Friday until December 8, 2017
- Time: 8:30am – 9:45am
- Location: Evangelical Community Church, Abu Dhabi,
We welcome you to join our 7-week study through the Gospel of Mark that introduces us to Jesus Christ and the basic beliefs of Christianity. You will learn more about who Jesus is, why He came, and what it means for us today. We look forward to exploring some of life's most important questions together.


text:
It's good to see all your bright and chipper faces here at SQL University. Hopefully you've digest Monday's lesson on Authentication. Today we're going to discuss Authorization. Now Authorization can only take place after Authentication has been accomplished. If SQL Server doesn't know who you are, it can't determine what you have access to. Therefore, if you've not gotten the class notes and looked at the videos, it may help you to review before proceeding further. If you're caught up, let's continue. Authorization is simply the permissions a particular person has. With respect to SQL Server, SQL Server is basically saying, "Once I know who you are, I can tell you what you are allowed to do."
Permissions - A Game of "Simon Says"
If you've ever played the game of "Simon Says," you know that you only react to the instruction given when Simon says to do so. If you react to any other instruction, you're out of the game. If Simon says to do something and you don't, you're out, too. SQL Server works kind of like Simon says. If you tell SQL Server that a certain permission is to be given to a user, then it's like you played Simon says, only you are Simon. SQL Server will carry out that permission exactly as you said. So if you tell SQL Server that Jimbo has the ability to read data from a particular table (granting SELECT permissions on that table), then SQL Server will allow Jimbo to read data from that table whenever he asks for it. Likewise, SQL Server will not allow access if you do not give explicit permission. SQL Server is the ultimate Simon Says player. So if you don't tell SQL Server that Jimbo can read data from that table, SQL Server won't let him (with the exception of ownership chaining, which we'll look at on Friday).
Securables - A Whole Lot of Tupperware
When I was growing up, Tupperware was expensive. It's not like today when I can run down to the Dollar General and pick up disposable containers for a couple of bucks. In SQL Server, starting with SQL Server 2005, there is a new concept called securables. Securables, in a nutshell, are anything you can assign permissions against. There are also special types of securables called scopes, which are nothing more than securables that can contain other securables. Within SQL Server there are three scopes:
- Server
- Database
- Schema
Servers have securables like logins and endpoints as well as the securables/scopes databases. Databases have securables like users and symmetric keys as well as the securables/scopes schemas. And schemas have the securables we normally think of like tables, views, and stored procedures. That's the hierarchy. Now, normally we grant permissions directly against tables, views, and stored procedures. So if I grant SELECT on a table, then the person can execute a SELECT query against the data in that table. If I think of Tupperware, my wife has given me permission to open up the Tupperware containing the salad. But the Tupperware containing the lasagna, well, that's off limits. So I have SELECT rights against the Salad Tupperware but I have no rights against the Lasagna Tupperware. SQL Server is my wife, but SQL Server is always on duty. So if I try and open up that lasagna, I'm going to immediately get an Access Denied!
Now let's take this a step further. If you do it right, you can put smaller Tupperware containers inside larger Tupperware containers. This is the concept of using scopes in SQL Server. Imagine that the lasagna container fits inside the salad container. My wife has given me permission to open up the salad container. Lapsing back to my past as an 8 year-old boy, I interpret her permission as saying, "You can eat anything in the salad container. So I take the lasagna container and put it inside the salad container, dumping any salad that prevents the true prize from fitting. I close up the salad container and then say to myself, "Well, time to eat what's in the salad container." And then I proceed to open both containers, first the salad one, then the lasagna one, and eat the lasagna. Sure, my adult self knows I'm in trouble as soon as my wife catches on, but we're talking lasagna! SQL Server operates as our eight year-old selves do. If you give the permission on the larger container, or scope, it applies to the securables contained within. For instance, if I give SELECT permission against a schema, all the tables and views contained in the schema that permission applies to as well. So we need to think about that when it comes to giving out permissions. We can either give it directly to the object (securable) in question or to the scope that contains it.
GRANT, DENY, and REVOKE - Understand the Interaction
GRANT gives the permission. So if I GRANT SELECT on a table, the person can read from the table. DENY blocks the permission. So if I DENY SELECT on a table, the person cannot read from the table. Also, DENY is a trump. If you've played the game of Spades, all spades cards trump cards of any other suit, regardless of numeric value (so a two of spades will trump a 10 of diamonds or an ace of clubs). When you've got spade against spade, it's all about numeric value. As a result, unless you're playing with house rules which include jokers, nothing trumps the Ace of spades. The DENY is like the Ace of spades. It doesn't matter what the other permissions are, if a particular person has a DENY, it will trump any GRANTs that the person may already have. And that bears explanation.
It is possible for multiple sets of permissions to apply to a particular person. We'll get into the how on Friday, but assume that three different sets of permissions apply to a particular person. Set A grants SELECT against a table. Set B grants INSERT and UPDATE against the same table. SQL Server will aggregate the permissions and give you the sum of all of them. So if we're just considering sets A and B, the person has SELECT, INSERT, and UPDATE on the table. If you've worked with permissions at the file and folder level on the operating system, you should be familiar with this type of behavior. Now let's look at set C. Set C has a DENY on UPDATE. Remember, DENY trumps everything. So the DENY on UPDATE in set C is going to trump the granted UPDATE in set B. So once we consider all 3 permission sets, the person really only has SELECT and INSERT.
By the way, you can replace one for the other. So, for instance, assume set C should have been a granted UPDATE instead of DENY. If you decide to replace DENY with the GRANT, you can do so simply by executing the GRANT permission. So when applied in the same manner (again, covered on Friday), they will replace each other. So if that's the case, why do we need REVOKE? REVOKE is a giant eraser. If the person has a particular permission, REVOKE removes it. It doesn't matter if it's GRANT or DENY. Instead of overwriting the permission, it simply gets rid of it. So if we go back to set C, and we didn't want to grant UPDATE permissions, but we wanted to get rid of the DENY, we could use REVOKE. If set C had permissions for other tables, we might not want to get rid of set C altogether. But we do need to correct the mistake without granting any additional permissions. In this case, REVOKE is ideal. It gets rids of the permission altogether. If the person doesn't have permission via another mechanism, we're back to that game of Simon Says again. Since Simon (or John or Marie or whoever you are) didn't say the person should have access, then the person doesn't gets access. If, however, the person had access through another means, such as set B, then the DENY is no longer there to block them.
Practical Application:
Okay, enough theory. Like last class, let's see some of this in action. Again, the videos are around 5 minutes or shorter.
- Understanding SQL Server Securables
- The Difference Between GRANT, DENY, and REVOKE in SQL Server
- Granting Permissions Against a Database Object (GUI only)


text:
Tags: tiffany, pretty, little, brunette, would, rather, ass-fucking, than, shop, shoes, john, bores, 6, pound, steel, ass, destroyer, hear, ocean, put, your, ear, down, there, 'hey, tuna'
Categories: Anal, Teens
Pornstars: Tiffany
Submited: 10 years old
Views: 4629
Copyright © 2006 - 2019 DeviantClip.com - All Rights Reserved.
Support / Contact
Webmasters Area
Site Map
All actors and models appearing on this website are 18 years or older.
Section 2257
Tiffany, this pretty little brunette would rather get a good ass-fucking than shop for shoes! After John bores her out with his 6 pound steel ass destroyer, you could hear the ocean if you put your ear down there! 'Hey! that's not tuna!'


text:
A peculiar thing happens to people after they turn 40: inhibitions fall away faster than hair follicles. Self-discovery becomes the rage and formerly sane people run out to get tattoos, climb mountains, and traverse the country by motorcycle. The search for our hidden selves may lead to a career change or simply be for our own fulfillment, but one thing's certain: if anyone thought we were crazy at 20, take a look at us now. . . .
After three months of dating, Kathy and I had fallen into an established routine of phoning during the week and then spending the better part of the weekend at the beach, but with summer waning, it was time for a change. On one drizzly early September morning Kathy suggested we stay local and go to a karaoke bar at night because she wanted me to hear her sing.
I'd heard her before, humming along to the radio, and while it wasn't bad, she was no Aretha Franklin. There'd also been rumblings from her friends about how great she was but I didn't feign any real interest. I might've given it more credence if she'd once been a Spice Girl, but at this age, surrounded by men who supposedly threw 95-mile-per-hour fastballs before hurting their shoulders, and women who would've been Vogue cover models if not for the kids, I take rumors of greatness with a grain of salt. Either way, at 10 p.m. I found myself in the unfamiliar, yet oh-so-familiar land of closet superstars, with my girlfriend headed toward the stage.
"Give it up for Kathy," D.J. Kelly shouted into the microphone as the opening bars of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" burst through the P.A. and Kathy settled into her diva stance, fixated on the monitor. A tepid round of applause ensued and this was followed by utter silence except for the sound of Kathy's horrid ear-splitting vocals. Whereas the bar had been somewhat animated during the other performances, it now resembled Pompeii in the aftermath of the Vesuvius eruption, with many of the patrons frozen in the same contorted and agonized positions as that city's dead population. Worse yet, those that appeared to be still alive were eyeing me as if I was to blame. It was the longest three minutes and fourteen seconds of my life.
After it finally ended, Kathy handed over the microphone and began descending the stage, but hesitated when obvious remnants of the happy hour crowd, a half-dozen unruly drunks seated near the back, leapt to their feet and started cheering wildly. Kathy bowed to them, a blushing wide-eyed smile gracing her face as she rose upright. Others, probably rejoicing because the song was over, joined in, and as she high-fived her way back to the table, her grin continued to grow. I'd never seen her so happy.
"Well, how did I sound?" she cooed, nuzzling up against me.
This was a loaded question if there ever was one. While I didn't want to hurt her feelings, I certainly didn't want to encourage her either. It was lose-lose. There was no time to play the middle and my fondness for her won out. "You were great," I coughed.
"Thanks," she purred, kissing my cheek. "I think everyone else really enjoyed it, too. Help me pick out another song."
Poring through the phone book-size song tome, I did my best to stave off the inevitable. I shook my head at her first eight choices, but eventually, resigned myself to my fate, hoping, ideally, for a short song or one with no words though I knew neither was likely. After a bald Johnny Cash, a black Melissa Etheridge, and a male Cher finished their respective sets, Kathy was summoned to the stage to butcher Pat Benetar's "Hit Me With Your Best Shot."
I took it as my cue and waved to the waitress, "Hit me with a shot of Jameson." I'd noticed some of the more serious karaoke-iers glaring at me as Kathy left the table — If I was gonna get beat up because of my girlfriend's lousy singing, I figured I'd better be proactive about it and dull the pain.
The rowdies took it as their cue, too, standing and singing along and punching the air, or each other, at every opportunity presented. That Kathy missed most of the first stanza and spent a good portion of the song playing catch-up did not deter them. Near the end of it, one of them plucked decorative plastic flowers from a vase on the windowsill and tossed them in Kathy's direction. The girl who couldn't follow a teleprompter or hold a note was somehow able to snatch a plastic rose from mid-air with her teeth and after three protracted curtsies, departed the stage to thunderous applause, the flower splayed across her mouth and her arms thrust skyward like a world-class matador.
"Hear that?!" she exclaimed. "I messed up a little at the beginning but they loved it. I'm really hitting it tonight!"
I couldn't get drunk enough at this point, especially after Cher, whose given name was Fred, switched gears and belted out Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'." Big Billy was next and proved a crowd favorite with his rendition of Weird Al Yankovic's "Eat It," replete with stylized dance moves and belly flashing. By the time Kathy made it back to the front to torture us with her crummy version of Lady Gaga's "Paparazzi," I'd had enough. It was official: I hated music. In fact, I now welcomed the hearing loss that so concerned me earlier in the night, and instead of curling my ears against my shoulders to protect them, I cupped them toward the speakers in an attempt to expedite the process. Deaf people, I decided, were lucky.
Kathy was glowing when she returned to the table. "Hey babe," she elbowed me, "we should sing a duet."
If I learned anything in Sunday school, it's that two wrongs don't make a right. It's bad enough Kathy couldn't sing, but neither can I, and unlike her, I knew it. "Kathy," I winced, "I can't sing."
She looked me over. "Did you ever try?"
"Sure," I shrugged. "I was in chorus in the second grade. . . ."
Tears welled up in Kathy's eyes. "Listen babe," she interjected, "I always wanted to be a singer. It was my dream, but I was afraid to actually do it. Then about a year ago, I finally worked up the courage and now look at me."
Tears started to pool in my eyes, too. One year. If only I'd met her a little earlier, I could've prevented this whole mess. "Kathy, I'm no good."
"Do it for me," she pleaded, her head on my shoulder. "Just this once."
I'd heard that line before but with the relationship so new, it was a golden opportunity to show her I was for real. Besides, it was late, the crowd had thinned, and if nothing else, I owed it to these people after what they put me through. Fifteen minutes later, I staggered on stage with the knowledge I'd be humiliating myself to the tune of "Paradise By The Dashboard Light."
It went worse than I could've ever imagined. The stage felt like it was 20 feet high and I couldn't keep up with the teleprompter. Still, Kathy, who probably sounded like Mariah Carey standing next to me, did her best to help out. She took over when I got lost, and encouraged me with little pats on the back, mouthing "You're doing great," during the musical breaks, while reassuring me with a constant nod. The three remaining drunkards kicked in, too, and I was grateful for their garbled lyrics because they masked mine.
At the close of the song, I turned and pushed the microphone into D.J. Kelly's hands. Surprised by the speed of my movements, she reacted like a doorman refusing a tip and it fell to the floor. As I bent to pick it up, a pair of boxer shorts slid across the stage. "Those are for you, lover boy," screamed one of the drunks, doubled over in laughter. "I'm your biggest fan!"
Maybe it was the alcohol or a consequence of the intense embarrassment, but more likely the feeling I'd disappointed Kathy with my pitiful performance, and a few seconds later, I was dabbing my forehead with them, a la Tom Jones. I couldn't wait to get offstage though, already wondering if Kathy would dump me, but just as I began to step down, she grabbed my wrist and lifted it in the air like a winning boxer. "Give it up for my rock star!" she yelled into the microphone. With the cheering in the background, I gazed at Kathy and for one brief shining moment I was John Lennon, and she, my Yoko Ono. "C'mon babe," she giggled as she led me away. "Let's go pick out another song."
Robert Semple is a freelance humor writer who has been published previously in Long Island Pulse and the Bodega Monthly Anthology. His Web site is robertsemple.net.


text:
Valparaiso bounced back from a game one loss to Wright State on Saturday afternoon and won the night cap of the doubleheader to remain one-half game in front of the Raiders in the Horizon League race. Wright State won the opener 10-4 at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton, Ohio before the Crusaders took game two 6-2.
"We swung the bats really well both games today," said head coach Tracy Woodson as Valpo finished the day with 23 hits in the two games.
Damon McCormick (Louisville, Ky./Saint Xavier H.S.) went the distance in game two for his third complete game of the season, earning the victory (5-5) allowing two runs and eight hits despite having to sit through a 28-minute rain delay in the middle of his outing. He struck out three and walked three for the Crusaders, helping Valpo bounce back after a game one loss.
"Damon's performance was huge for us," Woodson said. "He's a gamer. He came back out after the rain delay and continued to pitch well, saving our bullpen for the series finale tomorrow if needed."
Valpo jumped on top in the third inning as Andrew Bain (Indianapolis, Ind./Park Tudor H.S.) singled and stole second before scoring on a two-out hit by Steven Scoby (Delton, Mich./Delton Kellogg H.S.).
The Raiders answered in the bottom of the inning as Jake Hibberd scored on a two-out double by Corey Davis.
The game remained tied into the middle of the fifth when the rains came, forcing the short delay. After the break, Wright State took the lead. Back-to-back singles by Dan Marsh and Hibbard to start the inning put two men on. After a sacrifice bunt, Marsh scored on a ground out by Davis, who had both of the Raider RBIs in the game.
Wright State took the 2-1 lead into the seventh when Valpo finally broke through against Raider starter Michael Woytek. Bobby Martin (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge H.S.) led off with a single and moved up on a sacrifice bunt. Michael Morman (Rockford, Ill./Boylan Catholic H.S.) tied the game with a one-out double to center and advanced to third on a wild pitch as Bain walked. The walk marked the end of the day for Woytek, who was relieved by Taylor Braun.
Braun was greeted by Kyle Gaedele (Arlington Heights, Ill./Rolling Meadows H.S.), who launched his team-leading sixth home run of the season deep over the left field wall, just to the left of the 377-foot mark, giving Valpo a 5-2 advantage.
"Gaedele's homer was huge," Woodson said. "It gave McCormick a lead to work with."
Valpo took the three-run lead into the ninth when the Crusaders added an insurance run. Gaedele led off with a single and Scoby was hit by a pitch. After a sacrifice bunt, Will Hagel (Arlington Heights, Ill./Prospect H.S.) delivered a sacrifice fly which gave the Brown and Gold its final margin of victory.
Morman went 3-for-4 in game two while Martin, Hagel, and Gaedele each had two hits as part of a 13-hit attack for the Crusaders. Marsh and Hibberd each had two hits for Wright State.
Woytek suffered the loss (6-3) in the night cap, pitching 6.1 innings and allowing four runs on eight hits.
The Crusaders opened game one with a quick lead as well, but were unable to hang on.
Gaedele led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a single by Chris Manning (Lake Forest, Calif./El Toro H.S.). Hagel followed with a RBI double and scored himself two batters later on a hit by Martin, giving the Crusaders a 3-0 lead.
Wright State tied the game in the third on five straight hits, and could have taken the lead but Manning threw Hibberd out at the plate for the inning's first out. Jon Gulbransen (Appleton, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran H.S.) got out of the jam without further damage.
Martin helped the Crusaders retake the lead in the fourth with a one-out single. After Corey Thibault (Tustin, Calif./Foothill H.S.) beat out a bunt for a single, Morman delivered a run-scoring single into centerfield.
Ryan Ashe tied the game for Wright State in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out RBI single. The Raiders then took the lead for good in the sixth with four unearned runs. Three straight two-out hits, a single by Hibberd and back-to-back doubles by Tristan Moore and Davis, gave the hosts an 8-4 advantage.
"We have to make plays," Woodson said. "They're going to bunt and put pressure on us and we knew it. The error in the inning on the bunt really hurt us."
Wright State added another run in the seventh on a double by Zach Taylor and added the final run in the eighth on a triple off the bat of Kyle Mossbarger.
Valpo managed just one baserunner over the final three innings, a lead-off walk by Hagel, who was promptly erased on a double play.
Casey Henn went the distance for the win (5-3) for Wright State, allowing 10 hits and four runs while striking out four and walking just one. Gulbransen suffered the loss (5-6) for the Crusaders, giving up nine runs, five of which were earned, and 17 hits in 6.1 innings. He did not walk any Raiders and struck out two.
Hagel, Martin, and Morman each had two hits for the Crusaders. Hagel and Martin finished the day with four hits each while Morman was 5-for-8 with two runs and two runs batted in.
Moore went 4-for-5 for the Raiders while Hibberd drove home three runs in the opener.
Valparaiso (21-25, 13-5 Horizon) and Wright State (29-14, 12-5) will wrap up the three-game weekend series on Mother's Day with a single game beginning at 12 p.m. CDT.
"We have a big opportunity tomorrow to either give ourselves a little room at the top or else see the league race bunch up even more," Woodson concluded. "We'll be ready to go out and battle once again."
Athletics-Recreation Center (ARC)
1009 Union Street
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Staff Directory


text:
Photo: The Collarbone
Grizzled and raw, like The Jensies knee, the Collarbone offers pro-peloton, photo-reportage and works from that emotional, mythical, hard man angle of the sport. Jens surely has a hundred stories about that scar. Get more photos like this, of the famed shower stalls at Paris-Roubiax on Twitter, Tumblr, and for your iOS device.
The app is free with in-app purchases for more photos
$3.00 to $5.00 for photo sets from pro races


text: The SL50 Series enables the golfer with a controlled, yet relaxed swing to recapture the distance and competitive "bite" in their game. In the 50 gram range, half that of a standard graphite shaft, this series's super lightweight design empowers the more methodical golfer to take back their game. It's Boron reinforced, ultra-high modulus material is the most advanced blend available and provides the ultimate combination of light weight, strength and torsion stability. A great shaft for smooth tempo swingers looking for more distance in their woods.


text:
Drug treatment can seem like a big step so here's a brief guide on what happens in treatment. Treatment of drug problems is like any other treatment: – you notice that something is wrong, – go to get expert help, – are assessed, – and a course of treatment is discussed with you.
For the treatment of drug problems:
You may have realised that you aren't in full control of your drug use and that it's causing problems. The problems could be a lack of money, strained friendships, broken relationships, losing a job, or getting arrested. And If you are getting a problem with prescribed or over-the-counter medicines, you may find you have been increasingly hiding the amount you are taking. There are two main ways you can choose to get in to treatment – self-referral or through your GP: Self-referral – when you go straight to the treatment service to get help. Details of treatment services are available online, from your local NHS services, the phone book, etc. If you want details of treatment services, FRANK also has a directory of treatment services or you can call the FRANK helpline and talk confidentially to one of our advisors.
Through your GP – your GP makes a referral for you to a treatment service.
Before treatment can start, you will discuss your drug use with a doctor, other health professional or a trained substance misuse worker. They will let you know what treatment options are available for your drug use and any other health problems you may have. Your personal care plan will then be developed with you. This care plan normally details your immediate and longer-term treatment goals and is intended to be updated throughout your time in treatment as your needs and circumstances change. Your treatment journey should be tailored to your circumstances and needs but most treatment does involve some form of talking therapy. Prescribed medication is also needed for certain drug problems. Talking therapies are when you talk about your drug problems. This may involve exploring the reasons for your drug use but may focus on what you can do to resist taking drugs or to achieve other positive goals, or may involve a mixture of these. Motivational treatment approaches and cognitive behavioural therapy are well-known therapies, but there are other forms of therapy that are used for drug problems.
Depending on the circumstances, in addition to being offered a form of individual therapy, you might be offered group therapy or a period of therapeutic work with your partner or with your family. For many problem drugs, talking therapy provided alongside your care plan and other support work is the mainstay of treatment. For example, for cocaine dependence, a talking therapy alongside other support that addresses wider problems is what is most effective. Substitute prescribing refers to prescribing a safer alternative to the problem or drug, e.g. methadone mixture instead of street heroin. Using a prescribed substitute is usually only available for problems with opiates (like heroin), and as just one of the stages of treatment. Substitution treatment is also used in some carefully selected individuals with problems with tranquillisers (like diazepam or Valium). Prescribed methadone is probably the best known alternative to street heroin but buprenorphine is a substitute opiate that is also used. The initial aim is to replace the very dangerous street drug with a much safer prescribed opiate. The longer-term goals of substitute prescribing are much wider and include first stabilising you on a dose of medication that avoids you experiencing any withdrawals, and on a dose that helps you to stop using your problem drug; and then using the initial period of stability to help you take the next steps to full recovery.
There is very good evidence to support the use of opiate substitution treatment as one part of a path to recovery. The aim is usually then for the dosage of the substitute drug to be decreased, alongside talking treatments and other support for recovery – when agreed as part of the overall care plan. Recovery from a drug problem often involves a long-term lifestyle change, and a number of social factors can help you not to use drugs (called abstinence) and can help you to achieve an improved quality of life. These include having stable accommodation, developing a new network of non-drug using friends, re-engaging in education or work, and support from others who have had the similar problems.
Mutual aid groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous orCocaine Anonymous, can play an important role in this for many people; and new forms of peer support (e.g. Smart Recovery groups) have been developing recently in the UK. Intensive rehabilitation is when you attend a special centre where you receive your treatment daily in a structured and more intensive way. This may be provided on a day-patient basis in your local area but this is also available, when it is considered appropriate for your needs, as residential rehabilitation. This involves living away from your usual circumstances and influences, usually to focus on acheiving and sustaining long-term abstinence and recovery goals.
For more information on drug treatment visit the National Treatment Agency website. To find details of drug treatment and counselling services near you, use our services directory. Organisations such as the addiction charity Addaction and the Community for Recovery (who specialise in glues, gases and aerosols) can also help you identify support and help available in your area.


text:
Announcing the
Dunkin' Donuts Family
Fun Run and Walk-A-Thon!
Event Details
Dunkin' Donuts Family Fun Run and Walk
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Centennial Park
Nashville, TN
Benefiting the T.J. Martell Foundation
Registration: 6:30 a.m.
5K Fun Run and Walk: 8:00 a.m.
Family Picnic and Activities: 9:00 a.m.
All participants will enjoy a 5K fun run and walk in the Centennial Park area (course certified by USA Track & Field), with breakfast provided by Dunkin' Donuts, picnic lunch provided by Applebee's, ice cream provided by Baskin-Robbins, and post race activities such as celebrity autographs, moon walk, kid's bungee jumping, live music, and a silent auction with fabulous sports and entertainment memorabilia. A commemorative race day t-shirt will also be provided to participants.
Kids Zone Activities
School Bus
Stars and Stripes
Small Obstacle Course
18 Foot Double Slide
Run, Walk and Participate to Help Raise Funds for Cancer Research!
Pre-registration on line before
Thursday, November 5: $25 (on active.com)
Registration after Thursday, November 5: $35
For those who only want to attend the family picnic: $10 (includes picnic and activities only)
All runners/walkers receive the following:
- Participating in the 5K Run/Walk
- Event T-Shirt
- Applebee's Picnic Lunch
- Activities such as games, inflatables


text:
Dan Kiepfer necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 22 diseños de 14 diseñadores freelance.
New love/dating/entertainment blog seeking logo to define the look and spirit of the website. The "feel" of the website will be fun, sexy, cheeky, and a little risque (although this is NOT an adult dating or porn website). We have a design in mind, a link to which can be found in the description.
Kiss and Dish
We are looking for a text plus computer-drawn picture logo for our love/dating blog. The blog will have a staff of writers who will regularly post interesting/funny stories about their dating and love lives. The site's look and feel should be consistent with this theme.
A mockup of the type of design we're looking for can be seen here: http://www.kiepfer.com/mockup2.jpg. We're not tied to the exact positioning of each of the logo's elements i've illustrated, but the mockup does show generally what we're looking for. The look of the stick-like figures (or pacman-style figures) will be most important to us, as we will likely use them on other branding materials later on.
A draft of the front page of the website can be seen here: http://www.kiepfer.com/mockup1.jpg. We have asked the designers to instead use the color scheme found here:
Feel free to use similar colors that will then match the website. The logo will replace the current main picture shown in the mockup.
- A logo with the words "Kiss and Dish" on it.
- Tagline of "Sex. Love. Secrets."
- A design similar to that shown here: http://www.kiepfer.com/mockup2.jpg
- This is NOT a matchmaking/dating website, and it is NOT an adult/porn site. The style of the logo should reflect the image we're trying to convey, as stated above.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


text:
Customer Reviews
All reviews are from people who have redeemed deals with this merchant.
What You'll Get
Choose Between Two Options
$15 for a gluten-free introductory pack ($61.65 value)
- One gluten-free brownie mix
- One gluten-free pasta imported from Italy
- One gluten-free cookie mix
- One gluten-free cornbread mix
- One gluten-free pizza-crust mix
- Guide to Gluten Free Living e-book
- Guide to Gluten Free Holidays e-book
$25 for a gluten-free jumbo introductory pack ($91.50 value)
- Two gluten-free brownie mixes
- One gluten-free pasta imported from Italy
- Two gluten-free cookie mixes
- Two gluten-free cornbread mixes
- One double pack of gluten-free pizza-crust mix
- Guide to Gluten Free Living e-book
- Guide to Gluten Free Holidays e-book
The Fine Print
Promotional value expires 90 days after purchase. Amount paid never expires. Online redemption only. Extra $12 fee for shipping. Limit 1 per person, may buy 2 additional as gifts. Valid only for option purchased. Limit 1 per order. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.
About Freedom Delivered
Since 2009, Freedom Delivered has shipped more than one million pounds of its gluten-free flour to customers, who then turn it into foods the entire family can enjoy safely. But Freedom Delivered's production facility isn't just totally free from gluten—it's also free from the top eight FDA food allergens. The company receives all of its raw ingredients from certified gluten-free suppliers, and it even offers its employees ongoing training to ensure everyone knows their role in producing safe products.
The result of those efforts is an ever-growing selection of gluten-free products, including mixes for cookies, cornbread, brownies, pancakes, and even pizza crust. Read more about finding (gluten) freedom on their blog.


text:
It's Friday, and we're feeling generous. So let's give away a few T-shirts, shall we? That's right, T-Shirts. Android Central T-Shirts. With Lloyd on them. For wearing, and such.
Couple things to note:
- The shirts run a little small, so consider going up a size.
- This little freebie's only available in the U.S. Sorry, friends elsewhere.
- How to win: Just leave a comment in this post. We'll pick winners at 5 p.m. EST today.
Good luck!


text:
Online wagering law's expiration causing worry
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois horse racing industry could find itself in a bind if lawmakers don't renew a law that expires early next year.
Legislation allowing online betting on horse racing expires at the end of January. Race dates at Illinois racetracks would be severely cut if lawmakers don't take action to renew the betting law and give the state's racing board access to the money the wagering generates— about 30 percent of the board's annual budget. The racing board is also seeking supplemental funding from lawmakers to cover a $725,000 shortfall from the spring, when the Legislature failed to renew the online betting law for several months.
The issue could come up when the General Assembly convenes Tuesday. It could be part of a debate over a larger gambling expansion package next year.
Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association President Dave McCaffrey calls the situation a "crucial moment in Illinois racing." McCaffrey told association members in an Oct. 17 letter that there have been numerous meetings in recent weeks with lawmakers, and it is his "great hope that an agreement will be reached and a bill is passed."
Officials from Arlington International Racecourse have also spent recent weeks lobbying officials to extend the current law.
"This form of wagering is the only type of activity that has shown growth in the last three years providing purses to the horsemen and commission to the track to offset some of the increasing costs of conducting racing," Arlington Vice President Jim Stumpf said in a statement provided to The Associated Press, adding "Current law must be extended without a sunset to enable racing to survive in this state."
However, the (Bloomington) Pantagraph reports (http://bit.ly/1a0zMVb) that Gov. Pat Quinn's office says lawmakers must fix the state's pension crisis before the Chicago Democrat considers anything else.
Amid such uncertainty, the racing board has approved four different schedules for 2014. Under the worst-case scenario, if the law is not extended and the board is given no extra money, racing dates would be cut by more than 80 percent_with just 87 dates next year divided among the state's four racetracks. There were 466 racing days in 2013.
Information from: The Pantagraph, http://www.pantagraph.com


text:
Vanessa Carlton
Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
5 Questions With ... Vanessa Carlton
GRAMMY-nominated recording artist Vanessa Carlton was the recent guest for an installment of The Recording Academy's 5 Questions With … series. Carlton discussed her songwriting process, music education, what it feels like to be nominated for a GRAMMY, and her new album Rabbits On The Run, among other topics.
"Stephen Hawking's A Brief History Of Time was the catalyst for a lot of the ideas that ended up being skeletons for the songs," said Carlton regarding the book's influence on Rabbits On The Run. "It also brought me a peace of mind that allowed me to write more clearly and really push the process forward."
Born in the small town of Mitford, Pa., Carlton emerged on the music scene in the early 2000s along with fellow female singer/songwriters Michelle Branch and Nelly Furtado. As a child Carlton took piano lessons from her mother and started collecting a variety of musical influences, including classical composers such as Chopin and Mozart and classic rock artists such as Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd and Neil Young. Following a stint at the School of American Ballet in New York, Carlton attended Columbia University and commenced writing songs, inspired by the likes of Tori Amos and Fiona Apple. Her talents caught the attention of industry executives Ahmet Ertegun, Jimmy Iovine and Ron Fair, and soon after Carlton signed with A&M Records. Released in 2002, her debut album, Be Not Nobody, rocketed to No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and featured the smash hit "A Thousand Miles." The song peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned Carlton a trio of GRAMMY nominations, including nods for Record and Song Of The Year. In 2004 Carlton released her sophomore effort, Harmonium, and followed with Heroes & Thieves in 2007, both of which cracked the Top 50 on the Billboard 200.
Following a four-year hiatus, Carlton inked a deal with independent label Razor & Tie and commenced recording Rabbits On The Run at Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios in England. Released in June, Rabbits On The Run features 10 songs, including the single "Carousel," and contributions from producer Steve Osborne, My Morning Jacket drummer Patrick Hallahan and the Upwelling guitarist Ari Ingber.
For updates and breaking news, please visit The Recording Academy's social networks on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Click on the "5 Questions With ... interviews" tag below for links to other GRAMMY News stories in this series.


text:
a little something for the current chapter. nothing much really, just sort of hope Lucy opens up to someone about all that is going on.
Not really a LucyxAugustus thing, mainly cause I can't see Lucy with anyone until she moves on.
also sorry if Lucy looks funny, but my stupid art program merged everything together and then I lost my stupid tablet pen.


text:
The need for relief from mandated spending has been supported by nearly every candidate running for state office in recent elections, but nothing has been done about it. A few exemptions in the tax-cap legislation that make allowances for pension increases or building costs hardly count as mandate relief.
Districts are faced with double-digit-percentage increases in their mandated pension contributions to the state, yet Albany limits how much additional revenue the districts can collect. Until the state starts to control these costs, the tax cap is only going to hurt our schools, forcing deeper cuts to educational programs so districts can pay for all the mandates.
Even as elected officials have cried for relief, mandates have increased. The new teacher evaluation program that went into effect this year, the Annual Professional Performance Review, carries numerous costs. Districts had to add extra tests (with thousands of dollars going to testing companies), send administrators and teachers to training (spending thousands of dollars on workshops) and renegotiate teacher contracts (spending thousands of dollars in legal fees).
In two years, state tests will most likely be done on computers. That means many districts will have to buy more computers to accommodate all of their students and strengthen network capabilities. That will be expensive, too, and who knows if the state will help pay for that?
State lawmakers must get serious about providing mandate relief to school districts. If they want top-performing schools in the communities they represent, they need to make sure that those schools are adequately funded and that the financial demands on districts aren't unrealistic.
The state budget for 2013-14 is being assembled in Albany. We expect our representatives there to fight for Long Island schools. They must push for more state aid so that every district, not just some, gets an increase — an increase that actually helps pay to preserve education. They must fight for mandate relief. They must re-evaluate the tax cap and its long-term ramifications.


text:
TRAVERSE CITY -- Home sales and prices are on the rise in parts of northwestern Michigan as baby boomers scoop up second homes and cottages sometimes years before they plan to retire to get today's discounted prices on lakefront property.
Realtors in the area say they've seen heightened activity this year as more buyers are finding the low prices, low interest rates and the scenic area on Lake Michigan too good to pass up.
• PHOTOS: Lakefront bargain home values
• VIDEOS: Real estate agents on real estate bargains
"What we have is a market in the final stages of coming to reality," said Jack Lane, associate broker for Real Estate One in Traverse City. "There are bargains in every price range, and buyers understand that the bargain bin is almost empty."
After a gradual rise from the housing slump starting in 2010, sales are up 12% in the Traverse City area, for example, for the first four months of the year, and the average sales price is up nearly 22%, to $174,268, according to data from the Michigan Association of Realtors.
Sales of second homes nationwide rose last year to the highest level since 2005, according to the National Association of Realtors. The median vacation home price was $121,300, down 19% from $150,000 in 2010. The typical vacation home buyer was 50 years old.
The Free Press took a tour of some Up North areas to see how the cottage market was faring. Even with sales and prices heading up, there were still some good deals. For example, a seven-bedroom home in East Jordan on Lake Charlevoix listed for $469,000 sold in March for $390,000, a four-bedroom home in Petoskey listed for $325,000 sold for $210,000 in May, and a three-bedroom cottage on the Manistee River in Grayling sold for $160,000 in August and was originally listed for $199,900.
So how much cottage in Michigan can you buy for under $200,000?
That all depends on the location, said Chad Brown, broker/owner of Home Waters Recreational Real Estate. He said lakefront sales in the first quarter were $35 million, nearly double last year.
Still, around-$200,000 buyers could find a nice lakefront cottage on Spider and Arbutus lakes. Also, no-wake lakes and smaller nice lakes properties can be had for less than $200,000, he said. The larger all-sports lakes such as Torch, Elk and Long are still pricier.
"If you could find a small cottage on Torch Lake for $450,000, you would be lucky. Glen Lake or north Lake Leelanau are typically the most expensive, as are Bay Harbor and Charlevoix," Brown said. "The cottages that need a lot of work or are well-maintained, but kind of ugly, those are the best buys."
Brad Rellinger, associate broker for Harbor Sotheby's International Realty in Bay Harbor, said prices are holding steady on tony Walloon Lake, which largely escaped the foreclosure and short-sale epidemic.
The popular lake might have 17 properties for sale in a normal market, but now there are 53 for sale, he said.
"We are seeing a turn in the market and things are starting to sell," Rellinger said. "The prices aren't going to go up a lot until we thin out the product."
In the Traverse City area, Lane, who also hosts a local real estate radio show, said it has been the best spring on record for the area that has been gaining national attention for its numerous attractions including freshwater lakes, cherry orchards, wineries, restaurants, festivals, water sports, winter sports, golfing and charming shopping districts.
"This is part move-up market and part high-end retirees coming to the area thanks to all the national press about how cool the area is," he said.
The Pure Michigan ad campaign, Traverse City ranking on National Geographic's list of 10 Best Summer Trips 2012 and "Good Morning America" viewers voting Sleeping Bear Dunes the most beautiful place in America last summer have all spurred home buyer interest.
The average sales price in the Traverse City area hit $182,582 in 2011, still off 15.7% from the 2005 peak of $216,663, according to Michigan Association of Realtors data.
And in the area of Antrim, Charlevoix and Kalkaska, the average sales price of $160,134 is down 40.5% from the 2003 peak of $269,347, but down just 10% from 2010 prices.
In Emmet County, the average home sold for $278,755 last year, up 24% from 2010.
Maureen Penfold, a Realtor with Re/Max Bayshore Properties in Traverse City said that $350,000 would buy a nice summer home on Duck or Green lakes where the minimum price used to be in the $450,000 range.
"On every lake, the prices are down. I just sold a cottage on Lake Leelanau for under $300,000 with 80 feet of frontage," she said. "There are still bargains and there should be for the rest of this season."
Mary Roesner, who grew up in Grand Blanc and spent her summers on Torch Lake, had moved to Texas nine years ago. She met her husband, Timothy Sciba, in Houston and they married two years ago on Torch Lake. She wondered if Sciba, who grew up in Houston and spent 20 years in Denver, would want to live in northern Michigan.
So Roesner let the area sell itself. She took him on the M-22 drive along Lake Michigan. "He just looked at me and said, 'You spoiled brat. You were so lucky to grow up here.' He just fell in love with it."
Roesner's family is in the area and her father lives 11 driveways down from her on the West Arm of the Grand Traverse Bay in Traverse City. She's planning to use the home for summers now with the idea of moving up from Houston in five years after they retire.
The home the couple purchased in April had been on the market for $695,000 when they first looked at it last year. Out of their price range then, they were able to buy it for $525,000 this spring.
The three-bedroom home has an Alden B. Dow style and has multi-layered decks with views of the water. It features 2,429 square feet, has a natural fireplace, hardwood floors, lower level walkout and a guest house with a bedroom, bathroom and sitting room overlooking the bay.
"We are living in our dream lakefront house, absolutely," she said.
Her Realtor, Dee Dee Burch, with Real Estate One in Traverse City, said some properties that have been on the market for two to three years are moving fast now.
"Sellers have gotten more realistic," she said. "There is a lot more demand now that careers have stabilized and a lot more people are moving in from out of state and plan to retire up here."
Barb and Dave Gluszewski left Michigan nine years ago and planned to retire down South. They lived in a golf community in South Carolina to get away from the Michigan winters. Barb, 62, was in automotive sales, and Dave, 69, had retired as a purchasing director for General Motors.
"It seemed like a good idea at the time," Barb said. "But this is home and where our family is."
The couple decided instead to retire closer to their four children. Three live in Michigan and one lives in Indiana. They also have six grandchildren.
"We were finding it was difficult for them to come down," Dave said. "We weren't getting to see them half as much as we wanted."
So they purchased a three-bedroom, 2 1/2 bathroom home in Suttons Bay with 1,906 square feet and an unfinished lower level of the same size. The house sits up on a bluff overlooking the Grand Traverse Bay and features hardwood floors, granite countertops, a large stone fireplace and a large deck with bay views. It was listed for $425,000; they paid $415,000.
Besides more frequent visits from their children, the Gluszewskis chose the area because there's so much to do. Their home is close to town, the wineries, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Interlochen and all the festivals.
"There is something to do all the time, and it is not a town where everyone leaves in the winter," Barb said.
Shawn Schmidt Smith, associate broker with Coldwell Banker Schmidt in Traverse City, said it's a familiar theme -- people who grew up in Michigan and moved away who now want to come back to retire.
She's working with a Target executive who wants vacant lakefront land with plans to hold it for 20 years. And some clients from St. Louis who aren't ready to retire yet but purchased a home in the area and plan to rent it out until then.
"People are starting to realize we are bottomed out and if they want something that is a limited commodity, they'd better start looking at it," Smith said.
Contact Greta Guest: 313-223-4192 or firstname.lastname@example.com
All Grand Traverse Area Real Estate Listings at www.c21jb.com
No Comments
Subscribe to this post's comments using


text:
Anonymous function
From HaskellWiki
An anonymous function is a function without a name. It is a Lambda abstraction and might look like this:
. (That backslash is Haskell's way of expressing a λ and is supposed to look like a Lambda.)
\x -> x + 1
1 Examples
That is a nameless function which increments its parameter, x. So in Hugs or GHCi, I might say:
Prompt> (\x -> x + 1) 4 5 :: Integer
Or I could make a nameless function of two parameters, x and y:
, which could be applied like so:
\x y -> x + y
Prompt> (\x y -> x + y) 3 5 8 :: Integer
You could also name a lambda expression if you wanted to for some reason:
addOne = \x -> x + 1
Of course, there are a variety of better ways to write that in Haskell, but you get the idea.
2 But why bother?Sometimes it is more convenient to use a lambda expression rather than giving a function a name. This is often the case when using
. So if I wanted to add one to each element of a list, here's one way to do it (without anonymous functions):
foldl / foldr
addOneList lst = map addOne' lst where addOne' x = x + 1
But here's another way, where we pass the anonymous function into map rather than any named function.
addOneList' lst = map (\x -> x + 1) lst
For completeness it's worth mentioning that this could be better written using a section, in pointfree style:
addOneList'' = map (+1)
3 See also
- Section 3.1 in the Haskell tutorial.
- Closure
- Lambda calculus
- Beta reduction
- Lambda functions in math and programming


text:
Pontiac introduced the Sunfire in 1995 as a no-frills vehicle for buyers on a tight budget. It remained in production until 2005. During this 10-year span, Pontiac only released one generation. Without upgrades, the car quickly fell behind other economically-priced vehicles. In fact, other budget vehicles began to offer extensively better features during the 2000s. This put the Pontiac Sunfire at a big disadvantage, which eventually led to its demise.
When originally introduced, the Pontiac Sunfire was available as a coupe, convertible, or sedan. Pontiac eliminated the convertible in 2001 and the sedan in 2003. There have been various trim levels throughout the car's history, but all of them focused on putting value ahead of features.
The Pontiac Sunfire is primarily known for its affordable price. Later models were often noted for offering a few exceptional features from the Lexus line. Unfortunately, performance was never the Sunfire's strong point.
When it comes to safety, the 2005 Pontiac Sunfire should give contemporary drivers pause. Today's drivers expect excellent crash ratings and anti-lock brakes to keep them and their families safe on the road. The Sunfire, however, skimped on these features. The Sunfire never performed well in front- and side-impact tests. Also, anti-lock brakes were not standard on the 2005 Sunfire. The car does, however, come standard with airbags at both trim levels. Notable options for the 2005 Sunfire also included OnStar service and a sunroof.
The 2005 Pontiac Sunfire came in two trim levels: Special Value and Base. It certainly seems odd to offer a ?Special Value? trim level, which was lower than the Base level, since most vehicles start at base. Special Value, however, was not added to the Sunfire lineup until 2004. Instead of renaming the introductory level Sunfire as its base, Pontiac chose to emphasize the vehicle's low price and no-frills options by labeling it Special Value.
Both the 2005 Sunfire Special Value and Base come with a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine. This engine offered 150 hp and 155 lb-ft of torque, which is neither terrible nor exceptional within its class. After all, one can hardly expect to buy a high-performance vehicle at such a low price. The car's fuel efficiency is also mediocre without looking terrible. With 23/32 mpg city/highway, commuters could definitely do worse than the 2005 Pontiac Sunfire.
The 2005 Pontiac Sunfire's interior is about as lackluster as one could expect. The plastic seems incredibly cheap. While this might seem expected from a budget vehicle, many other cars around the same price have managed to look much nicer while offering superior features and performance.
Overall, the 2005 Pontiac Sunfire fails to stand out in any positive way. Buyers can find much better vehicles at approximately the same price. Since Pontiac did so little to upgrade the car throughout its life, buying a 2005 Sunfire is almost like buying a car from the 1990s. While they are not as old, they have similar technologies in the cabin and under the hood. Any buyer could do better by searching for alternatives within this price range.
Pontiac did little to alter the Sunfire throughout its life. However, there were some changes worth noting. Before 1998, for instance, the Sunfire did not come standard with second-generation airbags. Also, after 2003, anti-lock brake systems were not standard on the Sunfire base models. Those made after 2003 do, however, have superior suspension to earlier models, so they offer a slightly better ride.
Buyers should also pay attention to the Sunfire engines. The original Sunfires came with one of two engines. Base models offered a 2.2-liter four-cylinder and GT versions came with a 2.4-liter inline-four. The inline-four offered more horsepower with 145 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque, compared to the 2.2-liter, which offered 120 hp and 130 lb-ft of torque. In 2003, Pontiac dropped both of the engines from the Sunfire line, choosing instead to include a 2.4-liter four-cylinder known as an Ecotec. It is the only engine available from 2003 until the end of the line.
2005 Pontiac Sunfire
Compact, Coupe
2004 Pontiac Sunfire
With a gas efficiency of nearly 40 mpg, the 2004 Pontiac Sunfire is one of the more economical vehicles available.
2003 Pontiac Sunfire
The 2003 Pontiac Sunfire is the smallest and cheapest car from this maker.
2002 Pontiac Sunfire
Compact, Coupe, Sedan
The 2002 Pontiac Sunfire is available as either a coupe or a sedan, and is quite a sporty looking little subcompact.
2001 Pontiac Sunfire
2000 Pontiac Sunfire
Compact, Convertible, Coupe, Sedan
The Pontiac Sunfire was the cheapest model in Pontiac's 2000 model year lineup.
1999 Pontiac Sunfire
The 1999 Pontiac Sunfire has several things going for it: good value (as long as options are minimal), sporty styling, and decent performance with the upgraded 2.
1998 Pontiac Sunfire
The 1998 Pontiac Sunfire serves as a sporty vehicle that looks good but does not break the bank.
1997 Pontiac Sunfire
The 1997 Pontiac Sunfire is a compact car that was first introduced by the Pontiac division of General Motors as a replacement for the Sunbird.
1996 Pontiac Sunfire
The 1996 Pontiac Sunfire is a compact car that replaced the Sunbird and was introduced by General motors in 1995.
1995 Pontiac Sunfire
The 1995 Pontiac Sunfire is offered in two different models as a two-door coupe, convertible, or sedan.


text:
Although some damage has already been done, the wind energy industry can breathe a sigh of relief: On Tuesday evening, an extension of the wind energy production tax credit (PTC) cleared Congress as the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.8, legislation that would avert the so-called fiscal cliff.
Under the measure, which is identical to the version passed by the Senate Finance Committee in a separate bill in August, wind energy projects would have to begin construction by Jan. 1, 2014, in order to receive the $0.022/kWh incentive. Notably, the amending of the 'in-service' date to a 'begin construction' date allows for more lead time for developers than would a one-year extension alone.
The bill also includes an extension of the investment tax credit – which could be the key to jump-starting the U.S. offshore wind energy industry – for projects that begin construction before Jan. 1, 2014.
The fiscal-cliff legislation, which passed the Senate on Monday, is a relief for the wind energy industry, which has suffered from the market uncertainty resulting from the looming PTC extension.
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), which has led the industry's PTC-extension efforts over the past year, commended Congress on the deal.
'On behalf of all the people working in wind energy manufacturing facilities, their families and all the communities that benefit, we thank President Obama and all the members of the House and Senate who had the foresight to extend this successful policy, so wind projects can continue to be developed in 2013 and 2014,' said Denise Bode, who has served as CEO of AWEA for the past four years and currently announced her resignation.
Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., who has been one of the most ardent wind energy PTC supporters in Congress, also praised the deal and said he would continue to fight for the wind industry.
'Extending the wind production tax credit is a long-overdue dose of certainty for manufacturers who employ more than 5,000 Coloradans and 60,000 workers across America,' Udall said in a statement. 'Although this deal is not perfect, I am glad my colleagues have acknowledged what I have spoken about regularly on the Senate floor: Wind energy creates jobs and benefits every American. I look forward to continuing to lead the fight for our wind industry and an all-of-the-above energy policy in 2013.'
Meanwhile, the reactions are pouring in from manufacturers, many of which are encouraged by the good news but are less optimistic about the year's outlook.
'Even though the late timing of the extension will result in a significant reduction in 2013 installations relative to previous years due to the time it takes from when an order is placed to project completion, the U.S. market will nonetheless be stronger as a result of the PTC extension,' wind turbine manufacturer Vestas said in a statement. 'The one-year extension, which includes language to allow projects under construction by the end of 2013 to be eligible to claim the PTC after 2013, is critical to sustaining the U.S. market going forward. Vestas will work closely with its customers to meet the requirements.'
President Barack Obama is expected to sign the legislation into law shortly.Â


text:
I got this recipe from one of my favourite Italian food bloggers Adriano Contisio (http://profumodilievito.blogspot.com/). This is a recipe created by Adriano and I have to say that these buns are so soft and delicious that they make you forget the amount of time spent to make them (yes, this is not a quick recipe!). Forget calorie counting too and let them melt in your mouth. Truly delicious!
- Strong Canadian Flour, 450g
- Rice Flour, 50g
- Water, 200g
- White granulated sugar, 90g
- Honey, 1 tbsp + 1 tsp
- 1 whole egg and 1 egg yolk
- Fresh yeast, 8g
- Salt, 8g
- Butter, 60g
- Maize oil (or peanut or rice oil), 40g
- Zest of an orange
- Egg white and sugar syrup for brushing
- Fresh Cream to decorate
Heat the water mixed with the orange zest, but do not boil. This step is required for the orange zest to release its flavour. Let cool down for a little bit, until the water is lukewarm. Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm water together with a teaspoon of honey. Add 200g of flour, mix well, and leave to rest in a warm place for an hour.
Put the mixture in a bowl, add some of the remaining white flour, the rice flour, part of the sugar and start kneading. Incorporate the whole egg with the rest of the flour and the sugar and continue kneading. Add the egg yolk, 1 tbsp of honey and the salt and keep on kneading the dough. Finally add the softened butter and while kneading incorporate the oil. Work the dough until soft and elastic - for at least 15-20 minutes. Cover the bowl with cling film or with a towel and leave to raise for about two hours.
Remove the dough from the bowl, place on a lightly floured surface and punch to remove the air pockets. Now fold like an envelope, bringing the four sides over the center of the dough. Cover again and leave to rest for half an hour.
Turn the dough out onto the work surface and cut into little balls, weighting approx. 80 grams each. Work each dough ball into a round shape, place onto the work surface, cover with a towel and leave to rest for about 15 minutes. After 15 minutes turn the dough balls upside down, and re-shape them into a round shape. Cover with a towel and leave to raise for an hour. After an hour the dough balls should be light and fluffy.
Brush with egg white and transfer to a pre-heated oven to 180° for about 12 minutes, or until golden. When cooked, remove from the oven and brush again with sugar syrup. To make the sugar syrup mix 100g of water with 135g sugar, bring to the boil and remove from the heat once the syrup has thickened. When you brush the buns the sugar syrup temperature should be approximately 30°.
Once cold, perform a cut in the middle of the buns and fill with fresh cream. At this point bring one bun to your mouth and you will be in heaven!
Maritozzi all'Arancia di Adriano Contisio
Ho chiesto ad Adriano se potevo linkare la sua meravigliosa ricetta (con foto e spiegazioni dettagliate) ed eccola qua: http://profumodilievito.blogspot.com/2009/03/maritozzi-allarancia.html.


text:
|Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
|High School:
|Saratoga Springs
|House Affiliation:
Sophomore • 2013
Rowed in the bow and seventh seat for the first varsity all season, including three wins, and a second-place finish at the NCAA Women's Rowing Championships Petite Final.
Freshman • 2012
Sat in the eight spot as Radcliffe finished fourth in the second
varsity eight third-level final at the NCAA Championships in West
Windsor, N.J., May 27 ... Rowed in the seven
position of the second varsity eight which finished fourth in the
grand final, helping Radcliffe claim the first ever Ivy League
Championship Regatta May 13 … Contributed in the varsity
eight to Radcliffe's sweep of No. 20 Dartmouth and Syracuse
to claim the O'Leary Cup April 14 …
Sat in the eight seat of the varsity eight for Radcliffe's third-place finish (7:20.4) at the Class of 1975 Cup April 7 … Rowed in the eight seat of the second varsity eight as Radcliffe topped Brown by 5.9 seconds March 31 … Helped the second varsity eight to win the Beanpot over rivals Boston College, Boston University, MIT and Northeastern.
Before Harvard
Captained the Saratoga Rowing Association … Earned High
Honor Roll (2007-11), Academic Achievement Award (2010-11) and
selection to the National Honor Society (2010-11).
Enjoys traveling, reading and music.


text:
Hey, remember last week, when I looked ahead to how a new manager might make use of a player like Mike Aviles, holding out hope for some creativity and ingenuity with respect to platoons and defense and what-not? Yeah, never mind about all that.
Alex Anthopoulos flipped Aviles quicker than a downtown Toronto real estate speculator, albeit perhaps with less expectation of profit. Any added middle infield flexibility Aviles' presence on the roster represented evaporated quickly in favour of yet another hard-throwing righty reliever in Esmil Rogers, who (for now) joins Steve Delabar, Brad Lincoln, and some others of that ilk in a somewhat crowded bullpen.
It's a curious deal for a bunch of reasons, the first of which is related to the deal that brought Aviles to Toronto in the first place. I remain of the view that getting a viable, versatile middle infield piece in return for a manager with a middling track record was a bit of a coup for Anthopoulos. In fact, the GM himself seemed to envision some kind of 2013 role for Aviles too, based on his comments to the media after the trade was finalized. Yet here we are a week later with the same questions about second base that were there at the end of the season. There's obviously a lot of off-season left, with time to answer the infield questions and others, and we can't know which players the organization might be targeting as potential fits. But it's certainly frustrating as a fan to see a roster gap partially dealt with, and then thrown back into uncertainty within a span of days. And as Colin Wyers of Baseball Prospectus pointed out on Twitter yesterday, while two data points don't make a trend, this practice of appearing to win a trade, only to quickly move the most useful return piece elsewhere for a relief pitcher, does look to be a bit of an Anthopoulos specialty.
If all that wasn't troubling enough, I had an even more uncomfortable thought yesterday as I mentally digested this deal: what does it mean for Sergio Santos? Or more to the point, is it possible that the team remains pessimistic about Santos coming back healthy enough in 2013 to be effective in the late innings? Santos is surely Exhibit A for why accumulating bullpen depth is a good thing, because you never know how hard-throwing, maximum effort pitchers who tend to find careers in relief will hold up. Santos certainly has the potential, as well as a short but impressive track record, to be a shutdown reliever for the Jays. But shoulder surgeries are a tricky business, and despite reports that he'll have no problem being ready for Spring Training, it's interesting that Anthopoulos continues to accumulate right-handed relief regardless. I mean, maybe I'm being paranoid and Santos will show up to camp buckling knees with a slider and blowing a fastball past batters like nothing ever happened. I'd love if that were the case. It's just... does that really seem like the most likely scenario? And isn't it better to prepare for the possibility that he might not be the same pitcher again?
If there's a saving grace in this whole business, it's that the Jays are rid of Yan Gomes, a player for whom my dislike grew with every appearance. I don't have anything against the guy personally, and he seems like an earnest enough ballplayer. But frankly, there was no reason to think Gomes had a future as even a borderline utility player for the Blue Jays, and I'm relieved that the organization will no longer have to deal with the temptation to pretend he might. At whichever positions he might have been expected to fill in, I truly think the team can find plenty of other options who can do the job more effectively at the same price. I wish him well, but packaging him in a deal for a living, breathing major-league baseball player of any kind was probably a best-case scenario.


text:
The Balm, for all intents and purposes is a very cute brand to use and I have tried some bits and pieces from their range that have been quite successful.
This product, the Sexy Mama is a anti-shine translucent powder which is supposed to work for all skintones. The result is a matt, soft effect without a cakey look.
It comes in a cute compact that is cardboard – I have always said I prefer plastic over cardboard but at least its not bulky.
The formula doesn't have Parabens, Sulfates, Dyes, Fragrances, Phthalates. Good!
You don't get a brush with this powder, but you do get a mirror:
At first I wondered how universal this powder can actually be.
It looks like it almost has a slightly warm pink edge to it:
But actually…its nice. Really nice.
I was also worried about it looking ashy (which it does look IF you slap it on). Otherwise it just leaves a beautiful glow, thats soft and – yes – kinda sexy.
Can't vouch for how this would look on very dark skin though. I used it on me here, on my cheek and around the eye area. I think its quite nice:
I find some powders that are just for taking away shine leave a whitish cast or look too powdery. I do think this is a great powder for adding a believable, soft glow to the face without any chalkiness.
Its a really nice powder! Retails for about £15.


text:
Looking For The Best Gutter Cleaning Service?
With so many Bainbridge companies functioning out there, selecting a gutter cleaning service could be overwhelming at times. Gutter cleaning is not the best DIY project for inexperienced homeowners. In fact, a pro can get homeowners off their ladders and deal with the problem quite effectively. With proper research and a bit of patience, you can find the best Bainbridge professional to take care of your gutters. Here are important tips to consider when choosing the best gutter cleaning service.
Best Gutter Cleaning Services
What is the best indication of a reputable Bainbridge gutter cleaning company near your location? In fact, the potential service should maintain a permanent office in your area for more than 3-4 years at least. There are many mobile contractors who don't provide a good job. In fact, you won't be able to find them the next time around you require their services since they travel from place to place looking for new business. That's why it is important that you work with a company that maintains a physical office in your area. Such a professional will stand behind his workmanship, and you could contact them in an emergency. Hence, you should always look for a company that has a physical presence in your area. If the service provider doesn't have a physical location, it should be a red flag for you to search elsewhere.
Working high up on a ladder to clean the gutters is a dangerous task. Accidents can happen at any time. The company should be adequately insured and bonded to protect the property and their workers. That way you won't be liable for any injuries to their employees. Make sure you see the validity of the insurance certificate before hiring the company for the job. Check if the company is completely covered before the work begins.
A gutter is simply a channel or a waterway, on the roof of the building, for carrying off rain water. If you neglect your gutters, the worst thing that can happen is that it can damage your building's foundation. If you have observed that your gutters are not working properly, then you need to clean them up. This task can be done by some professionals that have some kind of expertise in this field.
Cleaning up gutters can really be a messy and shaky business for any homeowner. It can also prove to be a bit dangerous, as it is not easy to simply climb up a 20 feet tall ladder and clean the mess of your roof. So, it is better to hire some gutter cleaning services. However, there are a few things that you should keep in mind while hiring a professional.
Always keep in mind that you need to hire a qualified and certified company for this job, otherwise in case any fraud occurs against you, you will be in a position to file a suit. However, a company should only be certified to show that they are professional and experienced enough to handle all kinds of problems.
Besides, all these things you also need to consider that the person whom you are hiring is insured or not. Also remember that proper home maintenance is required for cleaning up gutters. These are some important things that you need to consider while hiring a gutter cleaning service.
A reputable Bainbridge gutter cleaning company will always stand behind their work. If the company installed new gutters in addition to cleaning the existing ones, check if they offer a warranty for the products. Don't work with a company that doesn't offer a comprehensive warranty for their products.
Find a Trusted Bainbridge Gutter Cleaning Service
Finding a reliable gutter cleaning company is not difficult with the advent of the Internet. You may search Google or any other search engine for a reliable Bainbridge gutter company in your area. Check customer testimonials on the websites of the service provider. There are also some good third party review services such as Home Advisor, Yelp, and Angie's List to find a reliable cleaning company in the area. It is important that you keep an open mind when checking past client reviews. In fact, reviews could be manipulated at times. That is why you should get permission from the company to call a few satisfied clients to get a better idea of the quality of service offered by the company. These are important things to look for when choosing the best gutter cleaning company on the market. The right cleaning company will offer a quality service at an affordable price.


text:
- Parent Category: News
Kinzinger recognizes John Dowling for years of service
WATSEKA – Congressman Adam Kinzinger recognized Watseka resident John Dowling with comments entered into the Congressional Record thanking him for his years of service in the community.
An official copy of the comments were presented to Mr. Dowling at Rep. Kinzinger's Watseka office by staffer Patrick Doggett.
Dowling served 35 years as a teacher and coach in Watseka, 25 years as a board member on the Watseka Public Library Board, and 26 years as a board member on the Iroquois County Board. He will retire from the position of Middleport Township Supervisor at the end of March.
"(John) has been a leader and advocate for many important issues throughout his years of service and has become a well-respected member of the community. While he is leaving his post and heading into retirement, I know that Mr. Dowling will always be there to lend a helping hand or give advice to those in need."


text:
Maze Artist Yonatan Frimer
completes maze portrait of Madonna
Maze Artist Yonatan Frimer
completes maze portrait of Madonna
Tel Aviv, Israel - World renown maze artist Yonatan Frimer has completed a striking portrait of the musician song writer Madonna (Madonna Ciccone) for an undisclosed sum. While this is by far not the first portrait created for the London based pop-diva, it is indeed the first maze created of her likeness.
"I am actually a huge
fan of Madonna and was very excited to do this project", says Frimer, "I was even a fan of her music back in the 80's before she was as huge of a celebrity as she is now"
Frimer lives in Safed, a small hill top town in northern Israel where Madonna owns a quaint house in addition to her various other mansions around the globe. Safed is known for its spirituality and is a world hub for Kaballah, a religious practice that Madonna is famous for promoting. "I guess you can say Ms. Ciccone (Madonna) is my neighbor", jokes Frimer.
This is not the first high-profile work created by Frimer. Earlier this year, he created several mazes of captured Israeli solider Gilad Shalit and is rumored to be working on portraits of Lady Gaga and Lily Allen
For more maze and the above mentioned check out:


text:
Expert Reviewer
SelectScience Members can achieve membership status by writing product reviews. This helps other members to better understand the Reviewer's experience and expertise.
Status: No. Reviews Published: Member 0 1-4 5-14 15+ By Invitation
Reviewers are also encouraged to publish a 'public profile' so others can benefit from a further understanding of the Reviewer's applications and expertise.
Write a review today>>
Expert ReviewerMembership Status
Member since: 2010
Organization: Dr D Y Patil Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences And Research
"PolyBlock PB4 is ideal and best suited for pharmaceutical applications in terms of flexibility and upgradability for various applications. For such applications like: pH monitoring and control, solubility and MSZW for crystallisation, high Pressure Hydrogenation, Online Real Time calorimetry, reflux & inerting, PAT tools in future, overhead motor stirring, and extended temperature range 80 to 250 (depends on the chiller being used with the PB4)."


text:
Thursday, February 25, 2010
More on Post-Screen Futures: What's it Look Like?
@monk51295 read my last post on post-screen futures and asks what such a future would 'look' like. While I don't think of myself as much of a science fiction writer, I can offer some suggestions that -- to me at least -- seem practical.
First of all, the existing built environment would have to be retrofitted. We could start with external surfaces. Take your average city block in the downtown of your average city. The exterior of every building as well as the surface beneath your feet would be touch-interface optional and capable of projection and image grabbing. This sort of thing -- making every surface in a room an access point, for example -- is already in the pipeline. Where it gets really exciting is when it goes outside and computing becomes public as opposed to personal. When computing becomes the graffiti of urban life.
However, for those times when public computing is not desired, we'll turn to our personal connection. But iPhones and the like will have gone the way of laserdiscs as they will have been replaced by glasses and satellite-connected contact lenses that offer the wearer a sensory-based personalized augmented reality experience.
What both the built-environment public computing model and the sensory-based personalized augmented reality model have in common is that they are both aspects of post-sedentary computing. They change the nature of how we react to the environment and they would force us to rethink how time works in our day to day lives. In terms of schools, this would of course eliminate much of what a compartmentalized building is useful for; I see those sorts of antiquities being replaced by communally activated information and learning walls housed within smart environments and as open and physical as possible. Get rid of the desks and chairs and let the technology help get people on their feet. I'm envisioning a sort of interactive and communal digital Greek Stoa where the structure itself -- that is, the architecture and the circulation plan -- is the connection device.
Would love to hear all of your thoughts on this. Let's take time out of the present for just a moment to get all 22nd century for a spell.
Posted by Shelly Blake-Plock at 10:18 AM
Labels: post-screen, the future
3 comments:
ok. this is exciting.ReplyDelete
still don't get it all. maybe we could skype chat? i'm a slow learner.. but extremely passionate about changing the 7 hour day.
thank you for taking the time to explain things... for telling me more..
especially for exposing me to words such as retrofitted.
still not sure what AR merging is.
Your post reminds me of MT Anderson's book Feed, filled with social commentary and best in its audio version. Would be awesome to discuss with HS students.ReplyDelete
Thanks for the book suggestion. Second one I've received today via this post. The other was Karl Schroeder's 'Lady of Mazes'.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
We have some perfectly good explanations for why the dinosaurs suddenly vanished 65 million years ago, and indeed that's kind of the problem — there are too many explanations for the dinosaur extinction, assuming there was only one extinction event.
A giant impact is the most famous explanation for the K-T extinction event, so named because it happened at the boundary of the Cretaceous (K) and Tertiary (T) periods (although the use of the term "tertiary" is actually discouraged these days). We even know where the massive asteroid made landfall, as Mexico's Chixculub crater is precisely the right age and size to be the main culprit in wiping out the dinosaurs. Such an impact would have devastated global ecosystems, kicking up massive amounts of dust and debris that would have effectively choked the dinosaurs to death beneath the shroud.
But that isn't the only available explanation - and I say "available" instead of "possible" because both of these scenarios are fairly well-substantiated. About 100,000 years before the asteroid hit Chixculub, ancient India was rocked by a series of devastating volcanic eruptions that could also have kicked off cataclysmic climate change. Such eruptions could easily have driven a good chunk of dinosaur species extinct, but proving that the volcanoes were actually a key cause is difficult because there simply isn't enough precision in the fossil record to say for sure that it was a factor.
We might now have the evidence to say for sure. A research team from the University of Washington led by Thomas Tobin has discovered sedimentary rocks at remote Seymour Island just off the coast of Antarctica. The rocks tell the clearest story yet of what happened 65 million years ago, and it appears the volcanoes and the asteroid each took care of wiping out different parts of the biosphere. New Scientist has the report:
Tobin found two layers in the rocks, which formed in a shallow sea, where several species of shelled animals went extinct. One of the layers dates to the time of the impact, but the other layer is 40 metres below. Dating showed that the lower extinction occurred some 150,000 years before the meteorite hit – at the peak of the Indian eruptions. Tobin's team looked at isotopic ratios in the rock to work out the temperatures at the time: the first extinction followed a 7 °C rise in polar ocean temperatures – probably a result of global warming triggered by the Indian volcanism. Comparable numbers of species in the region went extinct in each event. Surprisingly, though, the types of animals affected differed strikingly.
It seems that the volcanoes triggered a process that, after a brief burst of increased biological activity, actually depleted the ocean depths of oxygen. This caused a mass extinction of the species deeper down, but those closer to the surface lived on until Chixculub. This is the clearest evidence yet that the K-T extinction event — which, it should be pointed out, wiped out more than just the dinosaurs — was in fact two separate events, and it's likely that some dinosaur species perished in the first wave, particularly those in the regions around India, while the rest died out in the wake of the asteroid impact. For more on this story, check out New Scientist.
Original paper at Paleogeography, Paleoclimateology, Paleoecology. Image by photobank.kiev.ua, via Shutterstock.


text:
Welcome to Granny's Kitchen y'all! Come sit a spell and enjoy some down home, melt in your mouth sassy Southern cooking and a glass of iced tea.
I am also a contributing author for 'Heavenly Humor for the Cat Lover's Soul' , 'Hurray God Hope Pray Believe', 'God Makes Lemonade: Stories That Sweeten and Inspire' and Angel Digest.