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Monday, 20 February 2012
Goodby Jamaica, hello Sutton, mon
sunny, mild, temps about freezing
Yes, we're back home - otherwise the weather report above would be disconcerting (and disappointing) for Jamaica.
We had just the best time! And just what the 'doctor' ordered. Peace and quiet....lots of pampering. Great food. We even liked it when it rained, though that wasn't often. For our last two days we were moved from the little Blue cottage, to a larger one (yes, an upgrade!) on a small spit of land jutting into the sea....that's the view from our bedroom.
Michael is saying 'goodbye'. Well, first we had breakfast....as you can see.
The travel day was long, as they so often are. The Air Canada flight didn't leave until 6:30pm, which gave us much of the day by the beach. It still amazes me that we can have papayas on the terrace overlooking the sea in the morning and go to bed with snow outside that night.
After the last swim we returned to our cottage, ordered lunch and then I showered (remembering to take my sea salted bathing suit in with me) - then Michael's turn. We did the last of our packing and checked out by 2:30. It's a 90 minute drive to Montego Bay - but a very pleasant one.
We'd pre-booked the exit row seats, and checked our luggage at the AC counter...only to discover the flight was delayed. Now leaving at 7:45. We sat in the lounge...and waited....and waited....no plane outside the window, which as you know is never a good thing. finally at 8pm it arrived.
But they'd changed the aircraft - and suddenly our extra-legroom exit row was a regular (very squished) seat. I asked the flight attendant (while Michael tried to disappear into the seat) if the exit row was available, could we switch, since we'd requested them.
she came back a few minutes later with the great news that because of the plane change, everyone's ticket had gotten screwed up, and they'd put a baby in the exit row - again, not a good thing. So the baby (and family) had to leave - and take our seats.
Well - talk about turbulance. The mother was furious- absolutely apoplectic, to the point where she wouldn't even look at us or talk to us as we tried to change seats - just snarled. I can completely understand her annoyance....the exit row seat on this particular plane had huge legroom - room enough for a jacuzzi, a bed and a sofa (almost)....I'm 6 feet tall and stretched out my tip toes didn't reach the seat in front of me.
but the regular seats had people breathing on the person in front of them - it was awful.
This mother's problem wasn't sitting in the tight seats, it was being ejected from Eden.
But, well, too bad. We jumped into them and buckled up, and the woman in front also nabbed the seat next to me - she was lovely and we had a terrific chat during the 4 hour flight about iPads etc. We don't have one, and she showed me hers and described how it might be helpful for Michael and me.
The flight landed at just after midnight - then the race to customs and immigration, which is notoriously packed at the Montreal airport. Sure enough, our flight landed at the same time as at least one other....we spied each other down the corridor, with the escalator to immigration between us. Then, like knights of the middleages - we paused, then all ran toward each other. fortunately we didn't clash, or cross swords....but we did converge on the escalator.
Happily, we were near the front, so there was only a small wait. Then through customs, got the bags and into taxi and home by 1am. We decided to drive straight down to Sutton, getting here at 3am.
So wonderful to be home. Feels as though we've been gone longer. My Assistant Lise had left a vase of roses and gummi bears (for me) and chocolate wafers (for Michael). We crawled into bed and ate the treat - marveling at the day.
Now we're all unpacked (often that can take a week or more) - laundry is even done! And sneaking slowly back into real life. Refreshed.
I knew I was exhausted - indeed, I was even getting a little worried about my physical, but also mental, state....felt over burdened and staggering. But now feel so much better.
I'll be starting the next book (book 9) on March 1st. I've decided to take my time....when you read (as I hope you will) THE BEAUTIFUL MYSTERY, you'll see why book 9 needs to be written carefully... Like holding something delicate, fragile, alive...and needing to take care.
Fun time, as I approach the first words of the first draft. And try not to get all scared. though I think fear is just part of the deal. It means I care. But there's also joy, at being back with characters whose lives fascinate me - and whom I love.
So nice to be home - and back with you!
28 comments:
- Miche said...
Good Morning Louise,
I am a new reader from Brisbane, Australia. I enjoy your blog almost as much as I enjoy your novels. Thank for providing a link into your life. Your writing has opened up a part of the world that I am now determined to visit.
Kind Regards
- 20 February 2012 at 11:39
Looking at the picture of Michael gazing out at the ocean I can almost hear the background music,
Like the corners of my mind,
Misty water colored memories,
Of the way we were..."
Now get out the snow shovels and get those steps cleaned off!
- 20 February 2012 at 14:31
Your vacation sounds pretty close to heaven for me, and I live in a California beach town. So glad you had a relaxing time. I must agree with one of the previous bloggers, your blog is just as good as reading your books. Keep up the bllog and the books!
- 20 February 2012 at 15:14
I thought that your characters were written with much love, hence I love them too.
- 20 February 2012 at 16:22
- lil Gluckstern said...
Welcome home-a different kind of Eden.It sounds like you needed a rest after your flight. Your vacation looks just beautiful.
- 20 February 2012 at 17:05
- Regina Calton Burchett said...
Your vacation sounds (and looks) wonderful, and good to be refreshed before you bring back the characters we love and wait for... I always look forward to visiting with them again.
- 20 February 2012 at 17:08
- Colombine said...
Il y a toujours un p'tit deuil à faire en rentrant de voyage, mais ça passera lorsque Gamache et sa suite prendront de plus en plus d'espace.
Profitez bien des derniers jours avant la "rentrée". Les jours sont de plus en plus longs, le printemps est à nos portes.
- 20 February 2012 at 18:45
So glad you and Michael had such a restful vacation, but I'm glad you are safely home. Between your books and your blog, I really care about both of you, and selfishly want them both to continue!
I grew up on a farm just outside Ottawa, so I feel a special 'connection' to all the locations. I've been in North Carolina now for many years, but still have family 'back home,' and many happy memories - and your books have brought back even more.
- 20 February 2012 at 18:58
- Miss Diane said...
De vraies vacances de rêve! Bon retour dans la belle province.
- 20 February 2012 at 19:07
- darlene said...
Welcome home from your fabulous holiday. After having such a lovely time you'll be able to conjure the beauty and tranquility of Jamaica even when it's freezing and snowy. Write on!
- 20 February 2012 at 22:46
Awwww... the first time one of your posts disappointed me. Can't understand why, after a heavenly 2-week vacation few could manage, you couldn't be kind enough to leave the exit aisle seats to the mom and baby for the last 4 hours. But then, one person isn't real to another until some little flaws have made themselves known - one reason I love your Three Pines characters so much!
- 21 February 2012 at 06:46
- Barbara said...
Glad you're home safe, but oh what a wonderful vacation you had. I'd find it awfully difficult to part with that sea view. I look forward to hearing about the new book as you begin work on it.
- 21 February 2012 at 07:00
Obviously Anonymous isn't 6 feet tall. If she/he was she/he would realize that a 4 hour flight would be very uncomfortable on the legs in a cramped space. I'm 5'3" and I sometimes find the space cramped.
Glad you and Michael are home safe and sound and totally relaxed.
- 21 February 2012 at 07:53
I agree with anonymous. I also believe in Karma. What goes around comes around. Truly disappointed or rather disgusted enough not to read your works again!!!
- 21 February 2012 at 08:20
Hi, Debbie, Anonymous (aka Dobes) here. I AM 6' tall, OK, 5'11" and I do realize how very uncomfortable it is -- I live in Europe but my whole family is in America, so it's something I encounter with some frequency, for 8 hours at a time! I've also flown with babies and know how uncomfortable THAT is.
I have been wondering this afternoon why I was so unhappy with this post. I think it's because I read the Inspector Gamache series exactly for its good old-fashioned kindness. The author is kind to the characters, who are unashamedly kind to each other. They see each other's flaws, they get annoyed or angry with each other, but at bottom they are simply, wonderfully kind. I can't get enough of it.
I read Louise Penny and Alexander McCall Smith for exactly this quality of kindness and generosity that is so hard to find in the real world, and then I imputed that same level of kindness to the author, and was sad to find it lacking in her account of the trip home.
Then, of course, I realized that she, like all of us, is only human, and so I'm back to apologize. I really am sorry I didn't keep my thoughts to myself - it wasn't very kind of me.
- 21 February 2012 at 08:20
Anonymous #2, Did you read where Louise had specifically requested the exit seat aisle? Just because there was a change with the plane doesn't mean the request should be ignored. If Louise had left that little tidbit out of her blog, you would have still read her books. She is human after all as Anonymous #1 said.
- 21 February 2012 at 09:00
Welcome home, Louise and Michael. Please don't be disturbed by some of the previous posts. You are wonderfull, kind, loving people. It is also my understanding that the exit rows cannot be occupied by any person who is not capable of helping out in the event of an emergency. A baby does not qualify to help passengers exit the plane in an emergency, nor would the parents be worried about helping other people.
- 21 February 2012 at 09:08
Hello clueless ones. It is illegal to have a baby in the exit aisle seats. Enough already!
- 21 February 2012 at 09:39
Can't wait for your next book! I get them as soon as I can and I love every one of them. My mom was from Bromptonville, just outside of Sherbrooke, and I love the reference you paint of the cantons de l'est!!
- 21 February 2012 at 13:51
- darlene said...
I wish I'd remembered this the night I posted my other comment. Possibly now it's too late and irrelevant, but maybe not. Anyway, here I go.
Two years ago I reserved a flight three months in advance and at that time reserved a window seat for the nominal fee, I think, of $10. The seating was important to me because I was landing in daylight and wanted an aerial view.
When I boarded the plane, carry-on bag in hand, I found a man sitting in my seat with his wife beside him. I politely asked him to move and told him he was sitting in my reserved seat. He refused.
I motioned to a steward and told him of the problem. He said to the man, "Oh, darn, the woman showed up. You'll have to move." I told the steward I had paid a reservation fee. He gave me a withering look, which I thought was completely unprofessional. The man and his wife grudgingly moved and I occupied my reserved seat.
About an hour later the man asked me if I had reserved the seat the night previous. I told him about my reservation three months prior. I told him I had paid extra for the seat reservation as well. He was shocked -- didn't take it in the first time round, I guess. He said he had made his reservations the night previous online and had no idea seat reservations were possible, never mind three months in advance. The couple tried to be friendly toward me after that, but it was still uncomfortable.
Perhaps airlines need to advise their customers of the options available and that seats are not always "first come first served". I'm just sayin'....
- 22 February 2012 at 13:27
Louise paid extra for her seat. She planned ahead to accommodate her own special needs. If the people with the baby needed extra room, they should have done the same, rather than expecting to inconvenience somebody else.
- 25 February 2012 at 07:26
- Louise Penny Author said...
Hi all - thanks for defending our actions - we'd have happily stayed in the seats we were eventually given - have done that plenty of times - and given up seats we did pay for on the bulhhead going to england (a six hour flight) to families with babies...without question or concern. The fact is, babies are not allowed in exit rows. By law. On any airline. They would have always been moved. I'm sad that people follow our lives and feel we'd be selfish. And then are so mean about it. I didn't expect that of people who read the books. But I am so grateful to those of you who defended us. How very kind.
- 25 February 2012 at 07:34
Wow! I only signed up for this blog about five minutes ago after finishing your last book, and what an exciting blog it is! And as a mother of two tiny ones who travels to LA and back from DC a couple of times a year, I can skipped right over that exit row brouhaha, because you can't SIT in an exit row unless you can help others...ANYWAY moving on I hope this blog is about your lovely books because while in aforementioned LA, CA visiting with family, I read THREE of them and loved them. So I hope your blog has some tidbits about what inspires you about Ruth, and Gabri and Olivier, and drop some hints about Anne and Beauvoir when you can!
- 28 February 2012 at 08:52
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We made mention the other day of Dark Lands, a Windows Phone game under development and sponsored by the Microsoft/Nokia AppCampus. Dark Lands is an infinity running game with a combat and RPG element.
In a nutshell, you run your character through various obstacles, collecting gems to use for upgrades and stopping along the way to battle monsters, soldiers and other enemies. We've gotten our hands on a short video snippet of game play and again, the game looks good.
The minimal graphics and animations have a dark feel to it that just seems fitting--reminds us very much of the hit Xbox 360 game, LIMBO.
Development is still about two months away from being completed and we'll keep you posted if any more teasers on Dark Lands become available.

subset: commoncrawl


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On this date in 1985, the Mets' drive to, as manager Davey Johnson said, "to dominate," began with Gary Carter's 10th-inning Opening Day homer gave them a 6-5 victory over St. Louis at Shea Stadium.
The Mets acquired Carter in an offseason trade with Montreal for Hubie Brooks, Mike Fitzgerald, Herm Winningham and Floyd Youmans.
The Mets' championship team of 1986 was built around draft picks Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden, but the trades for Carter and Keith Hernandez were largely regarded as the final pieces of the puzzle.
The Mets finished second to St. Louis in 1985, but the die had been cast. During spring training in 1986, Johnson said the Mets would "dominate," that year. The Mets cruised through the regular season, outlasted Houston to win the NLCS with a dramatic win in extra-innings. That was a crucial win because Mike Scott – who was clearly in the Mets' head – was the Astros' Game 7 starter.
The Mets rallied to win Game 6 of the World Series in another epic game, to set up Game 7. The Mets came from behind to win that game, also. Carter hit .276 in the World Series with two homers and nine RBI.
Carter played only five years with the Mets and released after the 1989 season. He played three more years in the majors with San Francisco (1990), Los Angeles (1991) and retired after the 1992 season with a farewell tour with Montreal.
After falling short in several votes, Carter was finally inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.
Carter died, February 16, 2012.
ON DECK: Mets Should Skip DeGrom's Next Start


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MIDDLEBURY — The No. 3 Mount Abraham Union High School field hockey trimmed No. 7 Harwood on Wednesday, 1-0, in a Division II semifinal played at Middlebury College.
The Eagles dominated the action on the artificial turf surface and outshot Harwood, 18-0. Wednesday's loss left the Highlanders at 11-6 and ended their bid for a fourth straight D-II championship.
Wednesday brought mostly good news for local high school teams playing first-round playoff games, with two higher seeds advancing and two lower-seeded squads pulling off road upsets.
Halloween: I'm just not that into it.
Oh, I like the subversive part where kids openly demand — and receive — candy from random adults. I'm just not crazy about costumes.
It may stem partly second grade, when I missed Halloween altogether. On Oct. 30 I came down with chicken pox — all the rage in those days. I tried to convince my mother that I could still trick-or-treat since my costume would hide my condition. No dice.
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Our beautiful, warm and sunny fall has been a boon for leaf peepers, hikers, gardeners and farmers alike. Many dairy farmers are harvesting their fourth and even some fifth cuttings of hay — a rarity in the Champlain Valley. Most farmers have been pleasantly surprised by the quality and quantity of the forages (hay and corn silage) they have harvested this year. Since healthy cows and good milk production begin with high-quality forage and lots of it, our dairy cows should be well served this next year.
The poet: It would be hard to imagine anyone with more artistic and literary credentials than Ann Day. She is a writer, photographer, naturalist, and above all, poet! She publishes an illustrated day-book, using her own photographs. She collaborates with other poets in publishing books of poetry. She is a member of at least two poetry groups. For years she has published a weekly column called "The Nature of Things," etc. Also, she is a splendid luncheon companion.
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Race Against The Machine
Erik Brynjolfsson & Andrew McAfee
Digital Frontier Press, 67 pages, 2011
Where are the jobs? Amidst the many questions about the domestic and global economy, the most worrying is perhaps the most basic. Historically, job growth has resumed quickly, even after recessions. But despite the technical end of the Great Recession, job growth in the US and other developed economies has remained extremely weak. The last decade was the first since the Great Depression in which the United States recorded zero net job growth.
Left to consider this mystery, two economists, predictably, arrive at opposite explanations. Tyler Cowen's The Great Stagnation argues that we are living through the consequences of a dramatic decrease in the rate of innovation. To illustrate his point, Cowen compares his life to that of his grandmother. Between the 1910s and 1950s, she went from not having indoor plumbing or electricity to owning a stove, refrigerator, and other appliances, whereas the only machine in Cowen's kitchen is a microwave. Nice innovation to be sure, but hardly the radical change his grandmother experienced. The consequence of slowing innovation, argues Cowen, is fewer new industries and less creative destruction. Hence, no new jobs.
Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee analyze the same bleak jobs reports and conclude that the root cause is not a decline in innovation, but an acceleration of innovation. Technological advancement has moved so fast that many people are losing the "race against the machine." Computers are rapidly performing tasks that used to require humans, but workers are not adding new skills fast enough to find new jobs. The authors call the innovation that is occurring "skill-biased technical change," in that it hurts workers with skills that can be automated and dramatically increases the productivity of the few high-skilled workers who can access and manipulate more information more quickly. Hence, no new jobs.
These opposite beliefs can be reconciled more easily than is immediately apparent. Brynjolfsson and McAfee focus on the technology sector, where it appears that innovation is happening more rapidly than ever. Cowen looks at the entire economy and sees stagnation, or regression, in large sectors, such as health care, education, and government—indeed any sector that deals more with managing people than with managing things, the former being more complex and less conducive to innovation and job creation. As general innovation opportunities have slowed, businesses turn to the next activity with the highest return: cutting costs by using technology advances to automate processes and eliminating the need to hire more workers to produce more output.
Both arguments are compelling, yet the frightening thing is that both books predict the jobs crisis will not end soon. Cowen, in keeping with his libertarian views, writes that relatively little can be done until conditions naturally evolve for another era of rapid innovation. Brynjolfsson and McAfee, buoyed by their technological view of the world, are more activist. But their prescriptions fail to induce much confidence. They note, for instance, that current conditions demand "hyperspecialization" from workers. But our educational systems are built to create large numbers of generalists, few specialists, and very few hyperspecialists. Brynjolfsson and McAfee also invoke entrepreneurship and the greater ease today's entrepreneurs enjoy starting new businesses. This enables "parallel experimentation by millions of entrepreneurs," which they believe is where new jobs will come from. But again, there are no successful formal mechanisms in place to train entrepreneurs—and millions of those entrepreneurs will fail and perhaps hyperspecialize so far that they will have trouble starting over. It would take a much longer book to explore these prescriptions, but the feeble ones presented here—to fix education, make more entrepreneurs, and invest in infrastructure—rehash ideas that have been around for decades. They are ideas whose execution, to use Cowen's phrase, has stagnated.
Still, all the authors fervently believe that things eventually will get better. The open question is how bad things will get in the meantime. As President Franklin D. Roosevelt noted, and Brynjolfsson and McAfee quote, "demoralization caused by vast unemployment is … the greatest menace to our society."
The uninspiring nature of Brynjolfsson and McAfee's prescriptions should serve as the latest wake-up call to the social sector. For years, we've been talking about our inability to provide an affordable, quality education to a larger slice of the population. For years, we've been talking about the glories of entrepreneurship, social or otherwise, without any measurable progress on improving the success of—or providing the necessary skills and capital for—aspiring entrepreneurs outside of the elite. The cost of these failures is no longer a future problem. It is a present problem. If we are to escape the great stagnation and win the race against the machine, urgent action is needed. To fight the greatest menace to society, we'll need a lot more experiments in education, regulation, retraining, and social programs for those left behind in the race against the machine and job-shedding innovations.


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My main thought about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is "It's a place to start. Finally." This country has done a lot of talking and no acting on this issue for decades. Finally, the 111th Congress enacted it and off to the races we went.
Sure, there are parts of it that feel like too much government. Telling people they'll have to pay a tax/penalty if they don't purchase insurance smacks of big government reaching into our pocketbooks.
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Central-acting agents, also called central adrenergic inhibitors, treat several conditions, including high blood pressure, drug withdrawal and hot flashes. Find out more about these medications.
Central-acting agents lower your heart rate and reduce your blood pressure. They work by preventing your brain from sending signals to your nervous system to speed up your heart rate and narrow your blood vessels. As a result, your heart doesn't pump as hard and your blood flows more easily through your blood vessels.
Central-acting agents are also called central adrenergic inhibitors, central alpha agonists and central agonists. Several central-acting agents are available. Which one is best for you depends on your health and the condition being treated.
Examples of central-acting agents include:
Doctors prescribe central-acting agents to prevent, treat or improve symptoms in conditions, such as:
These medications can have strong side effects, so they aren't commonly used. Side effects include:
Abruptly stopping use of some central-acting agents can cause a sudden, dangerous increase in blood pressure. Don't stop taking these medications without talking to your doctor.
Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/high-blood-pressure-medication/ART-20044451
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Top Truck Challenge 2009 - Mini RubiconPosted in Events on June 9, 2009
The "Mini Rubicon"
Rocks. We like rocks. We hope you like rocks too because that's what the Mini Rubicon is all about, rocks. We piled together 125 feet of big ole nasty boulders and our Top Truck competitors have to beat the clock racing from one end to the other. Wondering what's the big deal? To make it even more challenging we've made the entrance and exits nasty, better watch your approach and departure angles, and we've dug out tire swallowing holes throughout the course. The Mini Rubicon is no joke... I can hear the sheet metal bending already!
To get all of the information on the competitors, how they did, and where they finished in the "Tow Test" be sure to pick up the November and December issues of Four Wheeler Magazine available on news stands September 22nd 2009 and October 20th 2009, respectively. And don't forget to click back to FourWheeler.com for even more exclusive photos and video from Top Truck Challenge 2009!


text: David Kilcullen, one of the world's leading counterinsurgency experts and preeminent advisor to the US government, says that we must meet certain markers if we are to "succeed" in Afghanistan: We must face the realities of historical and contemporary Afghanistan. There must be agreement between Afghans and Americans on our goals. We must eliminate the Taliban sanctuary in Pakistan. There must be a solid, long-term US commitment including a flexible timeline.


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City of Pocola responds to EEOC claim by police chief
The City of Pocola filed a formalanswer in response to a lawsuit filed byChief of Police Dale Fout, 52, with theEqual Employment OpportunityCommission that claims he has been thesubject of discrimination by GaylonFreeman, a member of the Board ofTrustees.According to Fout, he was harassedbecause of his age and his disability.Freeman allegedly obtained and distributedinformation throughout Pocola concerningFout's ailment to reflect negativelyon his performance of his duties.The complaint states that Freeman hastold local residents of Pocola that heintended to fire Fout and hire a youngerChief of Police. When Fout was madeaware of the statements allegedly madeby Freeman he made a complaint againstFreeman. According to Fout this instigatedFreeman to further harass cityemployees that worked with the Chief ofPolice telling them they may not receivetheir pay and the fault was Fout's.Fout further claimed that Freemansent a threatening letter to a dispatcheremployed at the Police Department givinginstructions in regard to part-timedispatching and if she failed to do so shewould lose her job. Freeman allegedlywarned that if Fout tried to keep her fromgetting fired if she didn't do as he said,then he would fire Fout also. Accordingto the EEOC documents filed in the complaint,Fout's ground for discriminationfall under age, disability and retaliation.Attorney Betty Outhier Williams, whois representing the city in the complaint,filed the response on behalf of the Townof Pocola on October 7. The responseclaims that the city admits that Fout isthe Chief of Police in Pocola and worksas a head patrol officer as well as theadministrative officer for the department.According to the response, the Towndenies all remaining statements in thecomplaint made by Fout stating he hasnot been disciplined, demoted or removedand remains in the same position forwhich he was hired. The Town alsodenies any knowledge of Fout having anailment or disability.Williams also noted that a copy ofFout's personnel file as maintained bythe Town of Pocola was submitted withthe response to the EEOC.


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RossDCurrie needed a new web page design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 52 designs submitted by 8 freelance designers.
A new fundraising company who aims to raise funds for worthy charitable organisations via a website which features a different cause every day. The site will not only give exposure for smaller charities to a wider audience, but also provide website visitors with an opportunity to read about a different charitable cause every day and to optionally donate to that cause without the requirement of signing up to make recurring payments.
Organisations featured on the site will represent a wide range of causes, including wildlife, environmental and human aid. Basically anybody who might benefit from increased awareness and funding.
Primary audience are donaters... ie people that might be willing to donate to the day's listed cause. It could include people new to the site, or people who have visited the site before.
Secondary audience are the charitable organisations themselves. They will be visiting the site prior to signing on with us. They will range from wild life and other environmental groups to human aid organisations both local and abroad.
Looking for a fairly simple website design along the lines of catchoftheday.com.au or zazz.com.au - The menu, side panel, featured item, logo, etc. are all the sort of layout I want.
- Logo at top left/right (see attached files)
- Must feature slogan: "Changing the world, one day at a time" - near logo is probably the best place for it.
- Colour scheme to match logo. Feel free to introduce other colours at your own discretion.
Menu must feature:
- Today's Cause
- About Us
- Blog
- My Account
- Contact Us
Side panel must feature:
- 24hour Countdown
- User login (and registration link)
- News/Blog headings (with link to full article)
- Past Cause headings (with link to full article)
In main content panel:
- Top has a featured item/cause with 3 preview images next to a single large image (where preview images will ultimately appear as the user mouseover's)
- Next to images is "Donate Today!" button, with optional text of "(because tomorrow is too late)"
- Underneath top featured item/cause is a small menu with two options - "Today's Cause" and "About this Organisation"
- Underneath this small menu is the content pane... heading and text.
- If you can find a place to put "supported organisations", that would be awesome. I envision a small container that would hold 1-3 logos. Letting people know that we raise for Unicef / Red Cross will add credibility


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NCAA Championship Match Full Replay
Coach George Samuel Intertview
Leo Vivas "El Presidente" & Romain Costamagna Interview
SURPRISE, Ariz. – El Presidente laid down the law once again, and Barry University men's tennis team became a national champion Saturday.
"Honestly, I can't believe what just happened," said Leo Vivas, otherwise known as, "El Presidente," after becoming the hero in a title match that shifted from excitement-on-the-brink to gloom-and-doom to outright euphoria.
In a match that was as dramatic as they come, No. 1 Barry outlasted No. 2 Armstrong Atlantic in a 5-4 thriller to secure the program's second NCAA Division II National Championship. It marked the university athletic program's 10th national title in school history.
The Buccaneers (29-0) ran the table, becoming the first men's tennis team to go unbeaten in school history. The Bucs are also the first team in any sport at Barry University to ever have an unblemished record.
"This is a Cinderella story as I thought of it in the beginning, and I was hoping it would come to an end this way. And it actually has," longtime Bucs coach George Samuel said. "By far, this is the best year that I've ever had in my 23 years as far as the success went throughout the year."
It didn't come without its lion's share of drama on the largest stage.
Barry's Romain Costamagna and Vivas shredded Jaan Kononov and Matus Mydla, 8-1, at No. 3 doubles for the match's first point. But the other two doubles matches were laced with razor-sharp intensity and wire-to-wire intrigue.
Despite trailing, 5-4, at the top doubles flight, No. 2-ranked Marco Mokrzycki and Fabian Groetsch beat No. 1-ranked Daniel Regan and Georgi Rumenov, 9-8 (7-1), in a back-and-forth match filled with its share of nerve-testing points. Tied 6-6 with Groetsch serving, the Bucs warded off five break points and held serve in a game that lasted roughly 10 minutes to take a 7-6 lead. Then with Regan serving and the Bucs sitting on match point, Rumenov's play at the net tied the match at 7-7.
Mokrzycki held serve to bump the Buccaneers up, 8-7. But Rumenov responded again with his serve to send the No. 1 pairs match into a tiebreaker. That's where the Bucs ran away with it, winning seven of the next eight points to put Barry ahead, 2-0.
Mokrzycki's doubles triumph broke assistant coach Thomas Hipp's seven-year school record for most pairs victories. Mokrzycki now is alone at the top with 79 doubles wins in his four-year Buccaneer career.
At No. 2 doubles, it was more of the same. Trailing 7-6, Barry's No. 19-ranked Max Wimmer and Ollie Lemaitre responded with their backs to the wall against No. 5-ranked Sven Lalic and Pedro Scocuglia to win 9-8 (7-5). Down 6-3 in the tie breaker, the Bucs fought off three straight match points to tie it at 6-6 in the final game. After Lalic and Scocuglia nabbed the next point to move ahead, 7-6, for its fourth match point, Lemaitre and Wimmer won the next three points to secure the match and sweep the doubles.
Ahead 3-0 after doubles, Barry was in position to run away with this title against the nation's toughest opponent on the other side of the net. But that's when it got interesting, and the momentum changed in a hurry.
Eleventh-ranked Regan beat 23rd-ranked Groetsch, who battled the flu for the past four days, 6-1, 6-3, at No. 3 singles, cutting the Bucs lead to 3-1. Meanwhile, Barry had dropped a set in four other singles matches.
Seeking his first postseason victory and the first in a month and five days, Costamagna was money in a 6-4, 6-3 win over the 16th-ranked Lalic at No. 4 singles. But even that point didn't come without a little adversity.
Costamagna led 3-0 in the first set before dropping the next three games to tie it at 3-3. But the outspoken junior Frenchmen lifted his game to another level to close out the first set by winning three of the last four. Costamagna led 3-2 in the second set before breaking Lalic's serve to take a two-game cushion. After each held serve the next games, Costamagna served for the match, securing the Bucs' fourth point.
"I told everyone, I want to finish in the finals," said Costamagna, who endured seven straight unfinished matches before delivering a clutch victory when the Bucs needed it most. "I play to win. It's unbelievable. Since we arrived in August, we wanted to win the national championship. It was a good day to play a good match."
Leading 4-1, needing one more match to secure the title, Armstrong (27-2) turned up its tennis again. Pablo Gor defeated Lemaitre, 6-3, 6-4, at No. 6 singles, bringing the Pirates within two. Yet the Bucs had three more matches to secure one point.
Easier said than done.
Leading 3-0 in the first set at No. 1 singles, No. 4-ranked Mokrzycki had break point opportunities with a chance to take a 4-0 lead on No. 5-ranked Mydla, but the Pirates top player answered the challenge by winning the game. Up 5-2 with a chance to close out the first set, Mokrzycki was within two points of breaking Mydla, but the Bucs German senior couldn't convert. Trailing 5-3, Mydla broke Mokrzycki before winning the ensuing game to tie the set at 5-5. Mokrzycki served his way back to a 6-5 lead, but Mydla held serve again to send it to a tiebreaker. Mokrzycki confessed he "played poorly" in the tiebreaker, falling 7-2, before eventually dropping the second set, 6-1. That pulled the Pirates within a point of the Buccaneers, 4-3.
At No. 2 singles, the 26th-ranked Wimmer led No. 1-ranked Rumenov, 5-3, and had worked his way to set point, but squandered the opportunity and eventually dropped the set. Rumenov went on to win, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2, to tie the match at 4-4.
It all came down to No. 5 singles, where Vivas dropped the first set to 29th-ranked Scocuglia, 6-3, before winning the second in comeback fashion, 6-4. Trailing 4-1 in the decisive set, as he did in the second, Vivas found his back against the wall, knowing the title rested on his shoulders.
"I was 4-1 down in the third, and things were looking bad," Vivas said. "I was looking through a tunnel. It was all dark."
But El Presidente battled, winning the next three games to tie it at 4-4.
"What we've seen is the support system that kicked in at that time off of just that one court that was in play," Samuel said. "I mean, we had all of our coaches out there, every one of them out there, rooting and pushing and encouraging. The team was lined up there at the fence, and there wasn't the slightest drop of momentum for the support there. It just felt good. It felt like it could happen."
Scocuglia served his way to a 5-4 lead before Vivas matched it with a service win to tie it at 5-5. Vivas broke Scocuglia to take a 6-5 lead, and then served for the match without dropping a point to clinch the national title for the Buccaneers.
"I saw my team there, I saw everyone there," Vivas said. "It was just like, 'This is your last match. Just give it everything you have.' Everything worked out well. I honestly didn't even think about the score. I just played tennis."
Now the Buccaneers have glossy hardware and can call themselves champions.
"It was a goal," Costamagna said. "Now we did it. It's a big step in history for Barry University."


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Ideas, resources, book reviews, and discussions especially for independent School Librarians.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
9th Graders Prefer Print Books
4 comments:
That's interesting. Have you had a chance to ask the students about their preferences for print books?ReplyDelete
I did this morning - they don't like the distractions when using the iPad, and they like actually holding the book. 2/15 in this morning's class said they would read on the iPad, but then they ended up checking out print books.ReplyDelete
Do the students have textbooks on their iPad as well as novels? We are trying to decide whether to reorder textbooks or go with an iPad version of a textbook. What would you recommend?ReplyDeleteReplies
Yes, the students have about half of their textbooks on the iPads so far. Some of the novels they use on the iPads too - some of the teachers like the notetaking in the kindle app the best, but it is left up to the teacher this year to see how it all goes.Delete
Some of the kids like having the textbooks on the iPad, some prefer the actual print book. Our long term goal is to find more high quality e-textbooks to offer the kids, or to make our own sort of textbooks in our content management system.
We went for quality over format this year - find the best textbook, and hopefully there will be an iPad version.


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Trust me, readers, I am still so busy finishing up this move! Oddly, I feel more relaxed about time than I should and more stressed about money than I should. I'm hoping that a switch will flip and I'll feel more pressure to finish up the last little bits of packing tonight or tomorrow… but for now, I'm nursing a mild headache and otherwise curled up under a blanket rewatching an episode of Dance Moms. Watching Dance Moms is an obvious sign that I'm stressed out and losing it!
To cope, I'm starting to dream about the new house! Seriously, on Sunday night, I was too excited to sleep just thinking about all the fun ahead of me!
One of the things we're planning to change soon after we move is our couch situation. Ours are nice and look fine but they're kind of worn down in spots. Kyle basically loathes them, and I agree it's time for a change.
Right now, I'm really into these couches from EQ3.
I really like the back cushion on the Elise Sofa and the softer lines look comfortable.
I also really like the Reverie Sofa for a lot of the same reasons. I think the two rows of buttons and the two cushions look really masculine which is the feel I'm going for in the bedroom. We can also buy this one locally from Nebraska Furniture Mart in a great grey color. We might have to go check that out after we get moved. It really is gorgeous!
It also comes in leather, which is what Kyle really wants, but I'm not sure if we can get it in leather through a store in our area. The actual show rooms are mostly all in Canada, so it's not an easy drive if we can't get one close by.
As much as it will frustrate me to be living in a house that isn't decorated exactly how I want it for a while, it's pretty fun to be thinking about decorating something new!


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— In Depth, CSPAN
Tune in tomorrow for Part 10 of this interview.
Part 1 here.
Part 2 here.
Part 3 here.
Part 4 here.
Part 5 here.
Part 6 here.
Part 7 here.
Part 8 here.
If you have a favorite Horowitz quote you want to highlight for others then click here to submit. Please include:
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Krzysztof Kowalczyk needed a new button or icon design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 161 designs submitted by 48 freelance designers.
Yepi is a small software company writing elegant software for Windows. We're just starting and we need an icon for our first program, Fotofi.
People who need to find many free stock photos for their website etc.
I need an application icon for a windows program in the standard *.ico format as well as the source material. I prefer if the source material is in vector format (Illustrator or similar).
The icon is for a windows program for finding free stock photos. User enters the search term, selects desired CreativeCommons license and the program finds photos matching that search term (on Flickr) and shows them in an easy to browse way.
You can see the screenshot of the application at http://kjkpub.s3.amazonaws.com/blog…ofi000.png
The icon needs to look good on standard Windows desktop (i.e. bluish background). Clean, simple, abstract design is preferred.
It should be visually distinctive e.g. via use of rich colors, so that it's easy to spot it among other icons on the desktop.
Icon should *not* refer to Flickr brand.
Icons that represent those characteristics: http://kjkpub.s3.amazonaws.com/tmp/icons.png
The *.ico should contain standard variations for Windows icons: 256x256, 128x128, 48x48, 32x32 and 16x16.
For more information on Windows icon format: http://www.hicksdesign.co.uk/iconreference/, http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/lib…11280.aspx


text: what library and command do i need to get a random number between number x and number y? I am using a DEV C++ compiler if that makes anydifference. I looked in the FAQ and they dont address this directly at least not in the search results i found under random. thanks in advance.


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2016. Many people found 2016 to be a rough year, but I'm thankful that I seem to have emerged reasonably unscathed. I feel really accomplished because I successfully blogged consistently for a second straight year. I started this blog way back in 2009 (!) but I only buckled down and got serious with this site in 2015. I have worked so hard and am proud of how far I've come. My writing, recipe developing and photography skills have all improved and I continue to trouble shoot my own self-hosted website. Social media is a whole other beast that I've had to conquer and continually battle, but I actually find that aspect of blogging really interesting, I just wish there were more hours in a day! When I looked at my analytics for the year, I was happy to see that they have all increased since 2015. I'm so grateful for new and old readers who dropped by my site this year, it's a daunting web out there with so many blogs and social media avenues, I'm amazed and happy to see when one of my posts does well. These 2016 top food, travel and horror movie posts were the ones all of you kind and inquisitive folk enjoyed the most.
My top post of 2016 continues to be my review of Gordon Ramsay's Sticky Toffee and Chocolate Pudding, a post from my first year of blogging. I decided to reshoot this recipe because I cringe when I look back at my first attempt at food photos! I'm hoping my new and improved dairy free version of his sticky toffee pudding does just as well this year.
I was happy to see these new recipes in the top three food posts for the year:
Cherry Coffee Preserve Goat Cheese Crostini
This year my friend and I expanded our canning repertoire and picked our own cherries. Many hours later we had an array of canned cherry products. I was really please with how these cherry coffee preserves turned out, and I was inspired to pair them with goat cheese on top of a crispy crostini. The result was a delightful bittersweet, creamy, crunchy bite, and made for a festive appetizer over the holidays.
Apple Cornmeal Flax Muffins
I had been wanting to develop this recipe for awhile, as I loved the flavour combination of tart apple and sweet cornmeal. I still had some apples leftover from apple picking in the fall, so I was happy to finally make these muffins. Packed full of fresh, juicy apples, they made for a tasty high fiber breakfast or a yummy, healthy dessert.
Asian Sesame Sweet Potato & Squash Soup
I love incorporating my Japanese culture into my recipes, and this soup was a perfect example. I wanted to change up the usual butternut squash soup, so I added hints of sesame and topped the soup off with some nori. I also used miso instead of cream which made it lactose-intolerant-friendly for my boyfriend. A creamy, hearty soup that was really popular over the holidays.
As for travel, my big blog project this year was posting my two-week trip to Turkey. These posts took a really long time to put together as I diligently compiled all my thoughts and notes from diaries and photo logs. Many posts from this series did well throughout the year, though it made me sad to reminisce about this amazing trip with all the political turmoil this country has been through recently. I feel lucky we were able to travel to Turkey when we did, as we probably wouldn't be advised to go there during these unstable times.
Speaking of Turkey, my top horror movie post was also Turkish, a hellishly creepy movie called "Baskin". I loved the surreal imagery in this film and the political analogies that are implied in regards to police brutality in Turkey. If you like H.P Lovecraft mixed with Dario Argento then this movie is for you!
I reviewed this film as part of my "Dinner and A Movie" category and paired this movie with a Turkish breakfast. My boyfriend and I still have a Turkish breakfast every weekend; a little part of Turkey that we brought home with us.
So there they are! My 2016 top food, travel and horror movie posts. Thank you for visiting and hope to see you in 2017!


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"Invisible Ink is a powerful tool for anyone who wants to become a better screenwriter. With elegance and precision, Brian McDonald uses his deep understanding of story and character to pass on essential truths about dramatic writing. Ignore him at your peril." —Jim Taylor (Academy Award?- winning screenwriter of Sideways and Election)
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
MYTH OF GENRE part 2
If you think about it, Jaws is just a monster movie. And, like a lot of monster movies, incidental characters are picked off as our hero tries to stop the creature. But, somehow, the film transcends genre. It's because it has an armature and a character of change.
Lots of films came out after Jaws which tried to repeat its success. One film used an orca whale in place of a shark, and another used a mutated bear.
None of these films went below the surface to understand why Jaws had resonance.
Terminator and Aliens are also just monster movies on the outside; what sets them apart are their strong armatures.
This happens in literature as well. No one ever says that 1984 is just a science fiction novel. Or that Animal Farm is a kid's book because it has talking animals. Nor do they say the same of Gulliver's Travels because its world is fantastic.
Is Star Wars sci-fi or is it fantasy or is it action? If it is sci-fi, does it have anything in common with Alien? What do E.T. and 2001 have in common? What are the similarities between Terminator 2 and Galaxy Quest? Indeed there is little these films share in common.
We have also prescribed a hierarchy to genre stories: "This is a costume drama; it must have more to say than a sci-fi story." This, of course, is not the truth.
When Clint Eastwood made UNFORGIVEN, it felt like few westerns before it because it was more concerned with theme than with props, setting, costumes and stereotypes. It transcended genre.
Fed-up with the restrictions enforced on him by networks and advertisers, Rod Serling stopped writing the prestigious teleplays for live television for which he was famous. When he announced that he would be doing a fantasy show, many thought he had given up on doing "serious work" for television.
Mr. Serling knew something the executives didn't. "I knew I could have Martians say things that Democrats and Republicans couldn't," he said. He was able to use the prejudice of genre hierarchy to his advantage. He wrote fantastical stories about real human issues without any flack from advertisers, and audiences always knew what he was saying.
We all have a fondness for a particular motif. I like the clothes and cars from the mid-twentieth century. I have a visceral response to those things when I see them in movies. That doesn't make the film good.
More importantly, other people may not share my appreciation for these things, so as a storyteller, I must speak to them on a deeper level. The armature must be so strong that it makes the story universal and makes the genre inconsequential.
As a storyteller, you should be aware in which genre your story will, more than likely, be viewed. Outwardly, it should be in a recognized genre.
That will make it much easier to sell and to market. Only you need to know you've transcended the genre. Your audience will know it too, they just won't know they know.
6 comments:
- Jamie Baker said...
BRIAN>> I like that point you make that certain genres allow more freedom in dealing with certain powerful issues, and the irony being that they are often the "fantasy" or "fairy tale" genres. That observation certainly hits home with me.
People often comment on what the SIMPSON's is able to get away with in terms of pointed social critique VS a live action show.
I have to confess that when I go to see an IMPORTANT film my shields are up and my bullshit detectors are turned to 11. As a consequence i often don't enjoy those films in the way I might. But if some tricky storyteller hides some profound obserevations in a children's story or a fantasy tale, it gets under my guard and stays with me for a long time.
Not much different than hiding a child's medicine inside a cherry flavoured candy...
Perhaps that is why, even though you point out that "genre" is illusion, we each of us, have noticed that certain genres have had a resonance for us? Those are the particular candy coatings over the medicine that work for us.
- BKO said...
Well put Jamie!! Genre trappings were battled over at Jamie's blog just recently. It makes me crazy when people say I don't like westerns ,sci fi or kids movies. What they are really saying is " I don't like bad stories told badly!!" Now that statement I can get behind!! Oh and the candy coating of a good car exploding!! Yum!!! POW! POW! POW!
I think after we all go through our teenage years we become resistant to "messages" but socially we need to hear and see stories. It gives us ques on how to behave to/with each other and situations as well as giving us a way to channel our emotions and vent them safely.
I worked in a digital features group for awhile and at every meeting with studio execs, genre was one of the first things to come up!" Do you have any fractured fairy tales, talking animals, pirates, Pirates are big right now!" The list changed week to week. Alot of the really good stories we had didn't fit in with the current genre flavors so they didn't want to hear them or felt they were too risky!! Dark days indeed. Either it has to get worse or better before they start looking deeper to the story. Thanks Brian for your blog!! I love this stuff and the images really work!
- Rocco said...
Regarding the idea of "candy coating" a message:
I think it goes deeper than merely tricking the audience into receiving a message by putting a friendly wrapper on it. I think it's more about the story targeting the message in a direction that doesn't hit too close to home with the audience.
If your story yells in the face of the audience, "You're a racist!" You're not going to be warmly received, you're not going to provoke any thought. The defenses go up and the audience is lost. But if you make an engaging story about a butterfly that can't become friends with a dung beetle because, "They're not our kind," you can get the audience to sympathize with the characters. They don't immediately see themselves in the story so the defenses are down, and after the lights come up they can internalize the message.
The use of genre also helps give an easily understandable context for those messages, because the audience of a given genre already understands certain ground rules that you don't have to spend too much time establishing. In the superhero genre it's a given that heros are super, now you can get right down to what it is about your hero's character that makes him or her special, besides the ability to fly.
Thanks for this blog. I really enjoy going to blogs about story and art that get me thinking again! I look forward to coming back and reading through the other articles.
- Brian McD said...
What you say is true. I made a short film about racism where I did just what you say. The film does quite well.
But I beg to differ with the idea that you can take for granted the audience knows anything. Take your example of super heroes, for instance. Go pick up a Jack Kirby comic book like a Fantastic Four. On that first page you'll see the F.F. using their powers. You'll see Johnny Storm welding something with his fiery body as The Thing holds up the piece of heavy equipment and Reed Richards stretches his body to work on the equipment. Kirby didn't take anything for granted. I find now that people don't communicate as clearly as they could because they make assumptions about what the audience already knows. I just don't think you can make those assumptions. A given genre gives you no guarantees that the audience knows anything. Again, what do E.T and Star Trek have in common? If your idea of Sci-fi is Star Trek than you have nothing to go on when you sit down to watch E.T. I think one must always assume that the reader/viewer knows nothing about the world you have created.
Thanks for reading the blog!
- d said...
LOVE YOUR BLOG. I got your book too.
When talking about genre, I think what we confuse it with is setting. A science fiction film or western film is merely a setting. Star Wars is a movie that transcends it's setting. We could retell the story of Luke Skywalker and the Death Star in other genres. (settings.)
Luke could be a young farm boy from Kansas who sees a need to fight a band of outlaws in a fortress in Utah.
Thinking along the lines of Star Wars, we can see that prequel trilogy fails while the original trilogy succeeds and still resonates years later.
The original trilogy had heart. We cared about the characters. We cared if Luke failed or succeeded. We cared if Han and Leia hooked up. We even cared when a robot got blasted.
In the prequels, we don't care what happens to who. The prequel trilogy is all about spectacle. It does have great effects. Awesome at times, actually. However, the prequels lack an emotional core.
It's simple to get to why. Ask who the main character is in any of the films and the answer is obvious. There is no main character in any of the prequel films. (Maybe, kinda sorta Annakin in Episode III. Sort of.)
Looking at the original trilogy, we see that the main character in all three films is Luke Skywalker.
Star Wars has some simple and complex themes, but the structure of the films is simple and dramatic.
We can thank George Lucas for giving us two examples of what to do and not to do in films in two sets of trilogies.
Genre is merely setting. Drama is thematic. Someone or something is what we the viewer/reader need to care about otherwise, we're just creating so much fluff.
Keep up the great work, Brian.
- Brian McD said...
Thanks D,
I agree completely with what you say about genre.
Thanks for taking the time to write and thanks for visiting the blog -- and also for getting the book.
Hope you enjoy the book.
-- Brian


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Click Here to listen On-Demand
Healthcare consumers are flocking to the social Web to post about their experiences with a given disease and the treatments they hope will help fight it. State-of-the-art search software is available to capture and process these conversations, meaning pharma has access to a wealth of consumer dialogues. Yet 'listening' to patients doesn't mean we're hearing them. Jeff Greene and Susan Eno Collins will present findings from a mining effort of thousands of online conversations about rheumatoid arthritis, along with the implications for brands across every disease category.
Jeff and Susan will use this example to answer questions about:
· What is the patient journey and how can it inform communications planning for pharma brands?
· How can online conversations help us understand the patient journey for a given disease?
· What are some common barriers to treatment, and how did we find them on the Web?
· How can brands identify knowledge gaps or myths and address them through patient education?
Susan Eno Collins, SVP, health education research and development, HealthEd
Jeff Greene, director of strategic services, social media, HealthEd
James Chase, Editor in Chief, MM&M
Sponsored by HealthEd


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Community centres
City of Sydney community centres
Our community centres are open to all residents, workers and visitors.
The services and programs we provide are tailored specifically to meet the recreation and learning needs of the different communities that surround each centre.
See what's available today at the centre closest to you.
|Opening hours
|King George V Recreation Centre
15 Cumberland Street
Main centre
KGV gym
Casual basketball
|Juanita Nielsen Community Centre
Corner Nicholson Street and Dowling Street
|Fitness centre
Monday: 6am to 8pm
Tuesday: 9am to 8pm
Wednesday: 6am to 8pm
Thursday: 9am to 8pm
Friday: 6am to 6pm
Saturday: 10am to 4pm
Sunday and public holidays: Closed
|Pyrmont Community Centre
Corner John Street and Mount Street
|Monday: 9am to 9pm
Tuesday-Thursday: 6.30am to 9pm
Friday: 9am to 6pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10am to 4pm
Public holidays: Closed
|Redfern Community Centre
29-53 Hugo Street
|Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm
Saturday and Sunday: Available for bookings
|Ultimo Community Centre
40 William Henry Street
|Monday to Friday: 10am to 8pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10am to 4pm
Other local community centres with classes and activities
|Programs and services
|Abraham Mott Hall
15A Argyle Street
Millers Point NSW 2000
|Located in Millers Point, the community venue hosts arts and exercise classes, and offers a space available for hire.
|Benledi House
186 Glebe Point Road
Glebe NSW 2037
|Two community spaces are available for hire in the building located in Glebe, as well as yoga classes offered to help rejuvenate the body and mind.
|Cliff Noble Community Centre
24 Suttor Street (Corner Renwick Street)
Alexandria NSW 2015
|In Alexandria, the centre hosts a community room available for hire as well as exercise, singing and computer classes.
|Harry Jensen Community Centre
17 Argyle Street
Millers Point NSW 2000
|The Harry Jensen Centre in Millers Point hosts community activities, referrals to several support services and is available for hire.
|Reginald Murphy Community Centre
19 Greenknowe Avenue
Potts Point NSW 2011
|Located in the heart of Kings Cross, the venue is easy to access.
|Rex Centre
58A Macleay Street
Potts Point NSW 2011
|Situated within easy walking distance to public transport, the centre is in the heart of Potts Point.
|Ron Williams Community Centre
5-11 Kepos Street
Redfern NSW 2016
|Located in Redfern, the centre offers classes to help keep you fit and healthy as well as a range of other activities.
|St Helen's Community Centre
184 Glebe Point Road
Glebe NSW 2037
|Near Glebe Library, the venue hosts several exercise classes for the local community, as well as a variety of other activities.
Last updated: Thursday, 7 February 2019


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Let Scientific Precision Not be the Enemy of Common Sense
The supply of electricity is a necessary ingredient for economic and social development in low income countries. Electricity is considered to be one of the most important services for improving the welfare of individual citizens. In the digital age, it is difficult to visualize development without electricity. Apart from the availability of energy per se, change in the quality of energy is one of the most important drivers of productivity.
The process of economic development necessarily involves a transition from low levels of energy consumption to higher levels where the linkages between energy, non-energy inputs and economic activity change significantly as an economy meanders through different stages of development. With such progress, commercial fossil fuels and ultimately electricity becomes predominant. Further, the expansion of electricity supply is critical to minimize the consumption of biomass fuel that has been responsible for the massive deforestation, desertification and many health problems.
All of the above sounds fairly straightforward and non-controversial, right? Not really. Count on economists for coming up with Harry Truman's proverbial "on the other hand". In other words, there are no straight answers as is most often the case in the infernal complexities, contradictions and ambiguities of our favorite 'dismal science'.


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18 years after nude body found in Channelview, saloon's name surfaces
The strangulation death of a 34-year-old woman remains a mystery for homicide investigators nearly 20 years after her nude body was found near a truck stop in east Harris County.
Patricia Wainstein was found dead Nov, 28, 1995, in the 17100 block of Market near Shady Shore in the Channelview area, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies said a passerby spotted her body in a grassy area near the Key Truck Stop. She was nude and had been strangled.
Deputies said investigators believe Wainstein, a mother of two children, ages 6 and 7 at the time of her death, had been killed elsewhere and her body dumped where she was found. No other details about the case were released.
However, deputies said Wainstein frequented Cheating Heart Saloon, which at the time of her death was at 17122 Market. She may have been at the bar prior to her death.
Anyone with information about the case is urged contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS or online at www.crime-stoppers.org. Tips can also be sent by text message. Text TIP610 and tips to CRIMES (274637).
Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the filing of felony charges or arrest of the suspect in this case.
All tipsters remain anonymous.


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The Big Ten Conference announced on Monday that Nebraska's Oct. 26 game at Minnesota will kick off at 11 a.m. CT. The game will be televised by either ESPN or ESPN2 with the network determination to be made following this week's games.
The 11 a.m. CT kick will be Nebraska's fourth in its first seven games and third straight to open Big Ten play. Game times for Nebraska's November contests with Northwestern, Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State will be made six to 12 days in advance. NU's Nov. 29 regular-season finale against Iowa will kick off at 11 a.m. CT and be televised nationally by ABC.
Nebraska is 5-1 overall and 2-0 in Big Ten play with a bye scheduled this Saturday.


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- ¼ cup softened butter
- 1 lb. sliced peaches ~2 cups
- ¾ cup sugar divided
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 ¼ cup milk or cream
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Put butter into a 2 or 3 quart casserole dish and place in a warm oven. Toss the sliced peaches with 1/4 cup sugar.
- Place remaining 1/2 cup sugar, flour, milk, eggs and baking powder into a bowl and mix well.
- When the butter has melted to a sizzling point after 3-5 minutes, remove the hot dish from the oven.
- Immediately pour batter into the dish and spoon sugared fruit on top.
- Bake 50 minutes.
- Serve warm with peach slices and cream of choice.
Terri's Notes
Here at The Great Oak Inn, I pick the peaches fresh that morning, when they're ripe, and it doesn't get any better than that! Sometimes, young families from church come over and pick. It's great to see the two year olds with peach smiles from ear to ear. I don't use pesticides on these trees just for these pictures. The trees have also become an outreach as the pickers and I usually pick enough to share and I share with neighbors too.
Share this Recipe


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Welcome to the CRG Discussion Forum!Forum registration problems: Make sure you enter your email correctly and you check your spam box first. *Then* email KurtS2@gmail for help.Classified ads are not allowed on the forum.
I would say yes. I have a 12B and it has a 1122 (Nov.22) original rear. I also have a 3E, 5th week of March, which has a 0407 (April,7) original rear!
Just because it is a 12B car doesn't mean it was finished that same week.. I feel like the rear is definitely possible for that car. Of course without papers it will be a useless discussion..


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There's a little gem of a palette made by Sleek cosmetics (a brand for darker skins, but no reason at all why all skintones can't use their eye, cheek and lip products).
So far there are four palettes – Original, Storm, Chaos and Jewel. They are all well priced and super soft and pigmented! Some swatches:
CHAOS – bright, matte colours:
STORM – metallic neutral/smokies:
ORIGINAL – nice mix of colours, metallic:
JEWELS – mix of colours, some very very nice shades in this palette:
You like? I love these palettes and its a good buy if you are new to eyeshadows.
By the way – did I tell you there's a new babe in the family?
Meet Kimi – she's 5 weeks old and if I have anything to do with it, she will be one of the most stylish babes on the block!


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Dow Suffers Worst Session of 2013
Blue-chip stocks headed toward their third decline in four sessions as Italian election exit polls raised fears the country might abandon austerity measures. Paul Vigna has details on The News Hub.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the the ... with some breaking news the market today this shop in terms of the downside as it approached the close welcome new sub I'm Simon console it's a life of a big boy now the Nasdaq began to assemble a story fell ... sharply lower as we approach the close and as the SB five hundred ... good afternoon and welcome I'm Simon Constable Paul vignette joins us now to explain this I'm would like to call it the spaghetti slide ... America testing phase because it is related to its length is related to one on the Italian elections early on look light on the center left party was going to do well for the story was and ... then we started getting more more returns and cement Berlusconi's party Silvio Berlusconi a former prime minister ... to lead his party is done better ... the median that the real O ... his party had done particularly can ... sing it to comedians you know ... who are taking a lot of folks ... that started to tear things down looks like a mad hunt election ... might have more another round of elections in a couple and this is more uncertain stay dry and you know time politics and this time Intel is on the onthe saw something like that on the fifth and I really enough but when it does I ... hope that this is a truly it's the European worries getting an ... effect in the market and Michelle ... was like this coming that clearly is not Greece Greece is a small economy ... however they can squeeze a small town in ... Italy is not a small amount of in the economy ... so it's all down to the top three hundred points Britain's upper body three this morning clothing bank has he put down to it's it's it's what was coming down ready and in quite fast when in actual on the last hour or treating really activist and it's already coming down to a sell reading ... now one presumes that this will mean the stocks in Asia ... when they open up in a few hours will be well typical known ... as planning and and the yen was down three percent against the dollar just a little while to get what I have taken a beating that I'm at a somewhat Verinata sits ... at almost the US is that ... the biggest ... single economy in the wild when you add up all of the euro's on which it to ... them I knew I was that ... that's even bigger rock somewhere and any increase like every site you calm ... waste time worrying about Greece is small ... you have to worry about it illegal you absolutely have to work daily ... and ... you know ... maybe in Germany ... Merkel can convince the voters ... look ... we can handle Greece and take every candle Portugal was a small town in Ireland and ... Italy is in the Italy based trying to take a lot a lot ... of money in your dentist or cannot be allowed to Italy and Spain ... this winter has been predicated on the fact that ... firetruck ECB ECB president to contain screen in Italy ... this selection was ... if you thought can also summon ... her has not been a good month for U S stocks stocks that and basically flat ... yes Friday with a rally in the Dow ... why ... Thursday when to


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CHICAGO — President Obama returned home Friday to a city shaken by the gun violence he has sworn to curb, delivering a call for communities to "fill the hole" in the hearts of troubled young people and work together to rise out of poverty.
Although Obama is pushing gun control measures in Congress, he made few references to his legislative goals as he spoke to an audience at a high school on Chicago's South Side. Instead, he focused heavily on the role of communities and parenting in preventing violence.
"For a lot of young boys and young men in particular, they don't see an example of fathers or grandfathers, uncles, who are in a position to support families and be held up in respect," Obama said. "And so that means that this is not just a gun issue; it's also an issue of the kinds of communities that we're building."
The emphasis was notable for a president who has rarely waded publicly into the politically perilous waters of urban politics, race and poverty. Obama often aims to be seen as a broader figure, has focused much of his economic message at the middle class, and spends much of his time campaigning outside city centers. Despite his recent emphasis on gun violence, he had, until now, notably not inserted himself into the scourge of violent crime in his hometown, a city now run by his former chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.


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- Inside Athletics
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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Feb. 4, 2009) - The ETSU baseball team begins the 2010 season Friday, Feb. 19 with the first game of the The Citadel Memorial Challenge against the host Bulldogs. Every day, leading up to the first pitch, a different member of the 2010 squad will check in with Buccaneer fans. Today sophomore Josh Means is letting ETSU fans get to know him a little better.
Josh Means (sophomore pitcher)
Birthday: December 8, 1988
Hometown: Kennesaw, GA
High School: Kennesaw Mountain HS
What's on TV: ESPN and Top 10 Plays
I'm embarrassed to admit I watch: The Young and the Restless
What's in my iPod: Oldies Rock and Rap
What I drive: 98' Jeep Wrangler
Favorite flicks: Remember, Terminator Salvation
What I'm reading: Organic Chemistry Book
Bookmarks (websites): Onemorelevel.com
Favorite class at ETSU: Philosophy
Worst habit: Sweet Tooth
Pet peeve: High Water Pants
On my wall: Dogs playing poker poster
Love to trade places for a day with: Randy Johnson
First job: Mowing Lawns
Favorite meal: Medium rare filet mignon and Cajun shrimp
Favorite athlete to watch in another sport: LeBron James
Best concert/sporting event I've attended: Jimmy Buffet Concert
Favorite city to visit: Atlanta
Favorite team growing up: Braves
Favorite value in others: Humor
Favorite physical attribute about myself: My Legs
And least: Feet
Dream date: Taylor Swift
Greatest love: Baseball
My hero: Father
My favorite quote: "For I can do everything through Christ, He who gives me strength." Phil 4:13


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Welcome to the CRG Discussion Forum!Forum registration problems: Make sure you enter your email correctly and you check your spam box first. *Then* email KurtS2@gmail for help.Classified ads are not allowed on the forum.
Yes, the trim tag shows 06A as the time built code. The trans is an M20 as shown by the two rings on it. See attached pictures. I have looked at the VIN on the block with a magnifying glass and also used a crayon and I can only make out the last 4 numbers of the VIN. Larry
Is it fairly common to be able to only see a few of the VIN numbers on the rough casting of the block? I have no doubt now that it is the original engine based on the car build date and the casting date of the block. Thanks,Larry


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Our maps are based on hotel search and display areas and neighborhoods of each hotel so you can see how close you are from Baymeadows and refine your search within Jacksonville or Florida based on closest public transportation, restaurants and entertainment so you can easily get around the city. All the hotels details page show an option for free or paid onsite parking.
If you wish to see the hotels with the highest featuring discounts and deals near Baymeadows, simply filter by price/ average nightly rate. We recommend you filter by star rating and read our genuine guest reviews so you can get the best quality hotel with the best discount.
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After booking your hotel near Baymeadows, expect to receive your reservation confirmation in the mail in less than 10 minutes. The confirmation email contains more information on all nearby attractions, local directions and weather forecast, so you can better plan the days during your trip.
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Our Fitness Blog
It's all their fault! (…points finger) Ah, life….
It's funny how it's human nature to blame circumstances for our position in life. Even as we grow up, many of us never grow out of this default way of thinking…
Why is that? To properly answer, I'd probably need a psychology degree, but in short, it's just as simple as: looking at the outside as the 'problem' is easier than digging internally to change ourselves. But, unless you're Peter Pan, it's necessary to realize that what's easy definitely does NOT make something correct.
We know this on the outside, but yet, we still naturally try avoiding this truth.
Think you don't do this? Take a quick quiz to check your internal self-talk just to be sure:
- Is any of the following true for you?
- I have a slow metabolism
- I have kids and I'm busy
- There are just not enough hours in the day
- I'm working on that big project right now
- I'm just so tired at the end of the day
- I've tried before and it didn't work
- My father and his father were just like this…it's genetic
- This is me. I'm never going to be the skinny one in my family
- I've always had to struggle, that's just life
If you answered yes to any of these, bingo! Unintentionally, you are stuck in a rut of blaming and I can tell you right now, it IS holding you back. The mind is the number one most limiting or most empowering factor in the results you achieve. PERIOD.
Think about this, no one has ever seen the mind. We've seen the brain, but the mind is an invisible operating system and is yet, so powerful. The good news is controlling it is completely up to you! The bad news is, if YOU aren't controlling it, who is?? Scary thought. (Side note: sometimes we do not realize that deeply engrained thoughts are superseding our surface beliefs, but that's a whole different ball game. It's also a fascinating subject if you care to delve into it.)
I know you've heard stories of people diagnosed with medical conditions that technically should have stopped them in their tracks from living, and yet, those people went on to do things that even you and I haven't done (person "A"). Meanwhile, another person diagnosed with the same thing, surrenders to the verdict and that is that. (Person "B")
Person "A" is a person who is aware. Aware that not everything they are told is true. Aware that even though something may appear real, they can still decide it's just not for them, and that they can reject it. And, they are aware of the POWER of their own mind. If you study any list of successful people, you won't have to dig very much into their history to find examples of things that they should NOT have been able to accomplish.
So, what do we do with this information? Well, hopefully it's faith building to know that you are really no different than the 'greats' of the past: Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Henry Ford, Amelia Earhart, the Wright Brothers. Each of these people had numerous obstacles stacked against them, (including doing things that were considered ludacris, impossible and foolish) and they did it anyway because of their strong ability to focus and a burning belief in what they had envisioned with their mind.
If you've let your beliefs hold you back up until now, so what? You can start right this second to change that. Don't wait. Start right now.
One trick the mind plays on you is to convince you to start tomorrow.
Don't fall for it! That's just another disguise for blaming the circumstances! Allowing whatever you're doing today to make you wait until tomorrow to start is not a belief that serves your purpose. This principle definitely applies not only to fitness, but also to money, career, and general success in any aspect of life as well!
"Whether you think you can or you think you can't…you are right." –Henry Ford
Hey, I like being right, don't you? As Henry Ford states, you're actually always right! Just make sure you're RIGHT about believing you CAN, and not in believing that success just isn't for you in certain areas of life.
Want to learn more? Here's my recommended reading on the above subject:
The Secret by Rhonda Byrne (my personal fav)
Psycho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz
Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill
The Master Key System by Charles Haanel
Awaken the Giant Within or Unlimited Power both by Anthony Robbins


text: David Lanham delves into Studio Ghibli's animated films for this week's freeware releases. His Studio Ghibli icon set brings you characters and objects from many of their films. He's also created two desktops, from Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, featuring the mysterious Noh Face and the mask of the wolf princess, San. Got an iPad? We've got you covered. The fullscreen versions of the desktops have been optimized so they'll work great on your iPad. Head on over to the Freeware section to download the icons and desktops now, and stay tuned later in the week for more!


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Seen from above, these tailing ponds look like shimmering, blue jewels. They flow cross the barren Utah landscape, full of byproducts from industrial processes and mining. A tailing pond is basically an outdoor toxic liquid holding tank, and environmentalists have argued that they are destroying ecosystems.
Over at Environmental Graffiti, Simone Pruess has put together a gallery of beautiful but toxic tailing ponds in rural Utah.
Check out more images at Environmental Graffiti


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Thursday, February 28, 2008
JI leader escape in Singapore
Wong Kan Seng, Singapore's minister for home affairs, reported that Kastari escaped from the toilet of a police detention facility on Wednesday afternoon in a "security lapse that should have never happened". Thousands of policemen were deployed in a massive hunt for Kastari, who was thought to have escaped unarmed. The JI leader was arrested by the Indonesian police in January 2006 and deported back to Singapore. He had since been held under Singapore's Internal Security Act ever since.
And...that's it. That's all the news Singaporeans have. A dangerous man escaped from jail, is free in Singapore, and that's all the news we have. If this escape has happened in Indonesia, there would be wall-to-wall almost gleeful articles in the Strait Times, but because this was in 'safe' Singapore, there had been almost no news at all.
Look, I don't care how bad it will make Singapore look but when a leader of JI escape in Singapore from the police; I want more news and information than "should have never happened" and "everything is being done to find him". How about answering some questions like how did Kastari escape from the toliet and more importantly; if the police still believe he is in Singapore?
I don't really care about how bad this will make the government look, but I would like some answers please.
11 comments:
A thorough investigation would probably take 2 years, by which time, you would have forgotten your question...
- February 29, 2008 at 8:49 AM
- Ghost said...
Ha. Sad but oh so true
- February 29, 2008 at 9:54 AM
- Nicholas Lazarus said...
What we have learnt and should always remember are that the JI operatives are extremely dedicated and deadly disciples of Osama Bin Ladin. This particular JI operative was forged from the fires of Afghanistan and perhaps the most intelligent and cunning amongst the organisation. How else could he be their leader! That he has escaped is an indication of how dangerous JI operatives truly are. In my view, it is not the fault of our security forces. It is easy with the benefit of hindsight to criticise but bear in mind that even the CIA and the FBI could not prevent 9-11. Even the British M15 could not prevent the London bombings. We should rally behind and support our security forces and not undermine them.
- February 29, 2008 at 10:24 AM
- Ghost said...
I agree that no one is prefect. It might very well not be our security forces' fault and we should support our security forces. But then, it may very well be their fault also. How would Singaporeans know when we haven't been told anything?
- February 29, 2008 at 11:33 AM
"..but bear in mind that even the CIA and the FBI could not prevent 9-11. Even the British M15 could not prevent the London bombings." erh. erh.. the operative word is 'prevent' and here we actually HAD the guy in Detention and let him escape and I think now the worry is, he will indeed do something?
- February 29, 2008 at 1:47 PM
There is no point in finger pointing....The next few days are all eyes on sg govt...how they deal with wqill be important...home minster had said there is security lapse...meaning the normal protocol was not put in practice..i have feeling lot of heads will roll from the ISD....we must try capture him ALIVE...so we can understand more better how he did it...furthermore,killing him will create a back-lash within muslim community and muslim nations surronding us...i seriously doubt the msians are sincere in assisting sg....when i went to JB yesterday,the msian immigration officers were jocking about how easy to escape from ISD..well,the point is this guy,a terroist had just broke 40 decaded iron curtain of the ISD has a impregnable force...i am sure we have not the heard the last of mas selamat...
- February 29, 2008 at 3:18 PM
ALERT: NL is going through the S'pore Daily, copy & paste the same old stuff everybody in the list. NL is a member of YPAP, he is doing his rounds.
- February 29, 2008 at 4:42 PM
- Ghost said...
I'm afraid I have to disagree with you on the Malaysians. There's no reason to doubt the Malaysians; afterall it's in their interest to catch the man as well. As for their immigration officers laughing at us; didn't Singapore did the same thing to them and the Indonesians for their "lax security" just a few years ago? What goes around comes around.
As for NL being a member of YPAP; cool. Just because you are a member of YPAP doesn't mean you can't comment right?
- February 29, 2008 at 10:32 PM
"there had been almost no news at all"
Oh please. There have been 3-4 pages of full-page coverage every day in the ST since it happened.
- March 1, 2008 at 11:24 AM
- Ghost said...
The 3-4 pages of coverage in the ST has been on what's being done to catch him. Anyone has info on how the guy escape outside 'going to the toilet'? Don't tell me you are happy with that explaination?
- March 1, 2008 at 2:13 PM
Now this is a nice laugh.
If a offender for whatever crime got caught and detained.
Ask for a Toilet break ;) ;)
The guard will automatically fall into a trance and making escape easy.
Not to mention that it is in a detention centre.
PS holding the guard on duty responsible will only encourage the tops to relak and think they are not accountable.
Hint : Pay cut,Pay cut,Pay cut.
- March 1, 2008 at 7:19 PM