text:
PoshTots has extended its collection of richly crafted high-end fantasy coaches to include the beautiful Gilded Fantasy Bedroom Coach. With its classical shape and elegant gold leaf, this variation of the favored coach is truly posh. This larger-than-life piece is handcrafted out of the finest materials and built around either a Twin or Full size bed. Pricing starts at $33,000.
The Gilded Fantasy Bedroom Coach is a whimsical and enchanting way to adorn your little princess's room. You can complement this magical centerpiece with a custom castle mural or a fairytale country side scene. The very artist that builds this magnificent coach is also a master muralist who has years of experience transforming interior spaces into mesmerizing and believable bedrooms that will transport you right into your favorite fairy tales.
The dimensions provided are for this lovely creation as shown. The design is customized to fit your space and special vision. Call a Design Consultant for details and options, 1-800-927-5164.
Would you like us to help you find a similar item? Talk with our Design Consultants toll-free at1-800-927-5164.
*Shipping transit time varies based on destination. Free shipping offers are limited to the 48 contiguous states of the USA.
International Customers (including Alaska and Hawaii) please contact a Customer Service Representative if you have any questions about placing an order with PoshTots.
This item is custom made especially for you upon order.Click here for our policy on custom made items.
Promotion codes cannot be used for sale item purchases.
*Free shipping offers are limited to the 48 contiguous states of the USA.


text:
1 to 3 of 3 Results
Aug 28, 2019 - Social Science
Shiferaw Bekele; Obare, Gideon; Muricho, Geoffrey, 2016, "CAPRi Project: Collective Marketing in Mbeere and Makueni Districts, Kenya", https://doi.org/10.21421/D2/LHVD3C, ICRISAT Dataverse, V2The Study reviews the conceptual issues which are responsible for the presence of the imperfect markets in smallholder agricultural systems and the extent to which the rural institutional and organizational innovations can help in addressing these issues.The data set reports the...
Apr 3, 2019 - Social Science
Shiferaw Bekele; Muricho, Geoffrey; Okello, Julius, 2016, "Adoption And Imapct Of Improved Groundnut Varieties In Uganda - Group survey at village level", https://doi.org/10.21421/D2/GZ10DM, ICRISAT Dataverse, V2Primary survey was conducted in 2 stages. The first stage survey was a reconnaissance survey with the objective of getting a broader understanding of production and marketing conditions in Uganda. The inputs from the discussions with farmers, traders, extension staff who were wor...
Jul 18, 2012 - Social Science
Shiferaw Bekele; Silim, Said; Muricho, Geoffrey, 2016, "Preliminary Impact of long duration improved Pigeonpea in Babati district - Tanzania", https://doi.org/10.21421/D2/7AFXYP, ICRISAT Dataverse, V1The study is aimed at assessing the economic impacts of adoption of improved pigeon pea cultivar in some villages belonging to Babati , a major Pigeonpea producing district of northern Tanzania. A stratified sampling approach has been used for the purpose of the study. The questi...
Reset Modifications
Are you sure you want to reset the selected metadata fields? If you do this, any customizations (hidden, required, optional) you have done will no longer appear.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
London does things big. Massive Ferris wheel. Giant gherkin. Overwhelming sense of inadequacy over a lost empire. And this summer, the world's largest McDonald's will open up near the Olympic village, for six weeks only. The Olympics truly do bring out the best in the world.
With 9,800 square feet over two floors, the pop-up McDonald's in East London will be able to seat 1,500 customers, and expects to sell 50,000 Big Macs and 180,000 orders of french fries once it opens in July. But the real story might be the competition for employment. Twelve thousand people applied to work at the giant McDonald's, taking part in "X Factor-style" auditions around the UK that judged them on "politeness and how well they flipped burgers." Citius, Altus, Delicious.
[Daily Mail, via Eater]


text:
Who's your cash going on then?
I'm sorely tempted to have a punt on France - reckon they're massively under-rated by the bookies.
Will definitely be putting cash on Germany - I suspect with Barcelona's recent form that this will be a tournament too far for Spain. They'll go deep in the tournament but I'm not convinced that their key players will have enough in the tank to get over the line.


text:
If you are using a Visa, Mastercard or Discover, please provide the 3-digit verification number found on the back of your card. This is a non-embossed number printed on the signature panel on the back, immediately following the account number.
If you are using an American Express card, please provide the 4-digit verification number found on the front of your card. This is the non-embossed portion of the numbers.


text:
Most African Americans — like most Americans — see England as a quaint place of afternoon teas, the queen, rose gardens and good manners.
Rose gardens are not very far from Westminster Magistrates' Court, close to the Houses of Parliament, where a young black British woman, college educated and not quite 20 years old, stood clad in a tracksuit last week and admitted that she had looted a huge flat-screen TV from her local shop.
She said that she hadn't been able to sleep since then and had walked the TV and herself into the cop shop, where she was taken into custody. The district judge took into account the young woman's surrendering herself to the police and sent her on her way for sentencing later.
In the end, the young woman may not do jail time. But the United Kingdom is a small country, and her name and face are known. Unless a miracle happens, this young black woman's life is utterly ruined.
Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, I have lived in London now for 25 years. I came over from New York to do a play for what I thought would be six months. I've done many things, mainly in the field of culture, and even added British nationality to my American citizenship.
I've taught Shakespeare to black students in Brixton, London's equivalent of Harlem. Once, when I called my London-born black class "English," they took my head off. "English," to them, meant the white racists who had harassed their parents and who used the St. George's Cross, the national flag of England, as a whites-only badge of honor. England? They wanted no part of England.
That was two decades ago. A young man interviewed just the other day said that he felt like an immigrant in his own country, that England meant nothing to him. He came from Tottenham, where the English riots began.
Tottenham is a section of North London a bit like parts of Brooklyn, N.Y. It is full of people of African descent, immigrant and native born, but also other nationalities and colors, along with a smattering of artists. A Roman road, typically straight as an arrow and more than a thousand years old, runs down the middle of it.
Now known as Tottenham High Street, it used to be covered with the kinds of stores that you can find anywhere in a working-class community: record stores, computer shops, clothes stores, fast food, hairdressers, barbershops and so on. Today, after the community was invaded by rioters joining Tottenham-raised folks who hijacked a peaceful demonstration after the police shot a local black man, this main street looks like a war zone.
The English do not particularly like their young. Traditionally, they have packed them off to boarding school or into the army or onto ships. However, the riots are rapidly revealing themselves to be largely a youth phenomenon and a class one, too. Race is the bass note.
Mix in the ranting of the largely right-of-center press, the courts working day and night like something out of Sweeney Todd, and the myriad of mainly black men being wheeled onto the media to explain things to the powerful Oxford- and Cambridge-educated elite so that they can use the info to keep on ruling, and you can understand why the feel-good vibe of the royal wedding is well and truly gone, here in Old Blighty.
The truth is that the English riots are a symptom of all of Britain, all of Europe. Young people of color in Europe — Europeans — find that they have no place in these ancient nations of the West. For now.
And yet, in November, at one of the theaters of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, my small opera Yes will be staged. It is a "state of the nation" opera, written by me but, more important, composed by a black British woman, Errollyn Wallen, brought up in the very Tottenham that is struggling to live again.
We will have, among other characters, a black family onstage. They will not be dysfunctional — just normal British people singing about their hopes and dreams. The audience will see the world through their eyes.
I believe that Errollyn and I are the first black female team of composer and librettist ever to have our work produced on a major opera stage in European history. Our opera presents a Britain of many peoples, of many colors.
Yes, this, too, is England.
Bonnie Greer is an award-winning playwright, novelist, author and critic. Her opera, Yes, premieres at the Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in London at the end of November. She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II in 2010 for her contributions to the arts.


text:
Steve Windom, LLC is led by Steve Windom, former Alabama Lt. Governor and State Senator.
Mr. Windom is a practicing attorney in Alabama and is a member of the Alabama State Bar, the Mobile Bar Association, and the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. Mr. Windom began practicing in Mobile in 1974. Mr. Windom has practiced and has tried jury trials in the United States District Court and the Circuit Court of Mobile County, as well as other federal and state courts. He also has extensive real estate experience, having represented developers in the acquisition, financing and sales phases of commercial and residential real estate developments. Mr. Windom's early years of practice also included extensive bankruptcy practice. Mr. Windom is a member of the American Association of Attorney Mediators and has been recognized for his skill in resolving disputes prior to trial.
Mr. Windom maintains the coveted "A/V" attorney rating from Martindale-Hubbell, has been a faculty member in numerous seminars, and has testified as an expert witness on several occasions.
Mr. Windom has been active in Alabama politics since 1974. He worked in various campaigns ranging from State Representative to United States Senate. After being a campaign worker for many years, Mr. Windom determined to run for office and in 1989 was elected to the Alabama State Senate in a special election. He was again elected in 1990 and again in 1994. Mr. Windom served as Chairman of the Banking and Insurance Committee in the Alabama Senate, a position he held from 1990 to 1998. He has also served on numerous other boards and committees, including three terms as a member of the board of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Windom was selected Conservation Legislator of the Year by the Alabama Wildlife Federation in 1995, Legislator of the Year by the National Federation of Independent Business in 1996, and Legislator of the Year in 1997 by the Independent Insurance Agents.
Mr. Windom's legislative career is marked with leadership, particularly on business issues. He carried the fight to bring Tort Reform to Alabama. As a result of that leadership, in 1998, the business community asked Mr. Windom to run for Lieutenant Governor. Against a tremendous onslaught from trial lawyers, Mr. Windom was elected the first Republican Lt. Governor since reconstruction on a pledge to bring tort reform Alabama. In Mr. Windom's first legislative session as Lieutenant Governor sweeping tort reform legislation was enacted. In 2000 Mr. Windom was selected to co-chair the Bush-Cheney Campaign in Alabama.
Mr. Windom started Steve WIndom, LLC in January 2003 which combines lobbying, governmental affairs and an active law practice.


text:
- Admissions
- Visit
- Tuition & Aid
- Academics
- Student Life
- Athletics
- About
- Giving
Winthrop University strives to offer its students a setting in which they can mature culturally, as well as intellectually. In an effort to provide a well-rounded education, the Winthrop faculty has approved a Cultural Events policy. The purpose of the Cultural Events requirement is to establish and foster a life-enriching pattern of cultural involvement. A record of student attendance at Cultural Events is included on semester grade reports and becomes part of the student's permanent record and senior audit.
By attending Cultural Events, a student experiences firsthand the diverse offerings
of culture and artistic expression found in a community. Approved Cultural Events
cover a wide variety of programs both on and off campus. Events that are selected
are chosen from areas such as plays, films, art exhibitions, dance, and musical performances
or from lectures of general appeal. The Cultural Events Committee determines what
events are accepted for Cultural Event status.
Each semester, a calendar of approved Cultural Events is prepared and posted. Over the course of a semester, more events are added to the calendar as they are approved.
If you have any questions, please contact us.


text:
Quantum's DXi big box boost
Hopes to outpace DD's 880
Quantum's latest deduplication product, the DXi8500, is twice as fast as the previous DXi7500 big box, but holds slightly less data.
The DXi8500 offers from 20 to 200TB of usable capacity, which it can fill up at a rate of 6.4TB/hr. The effectively-replaced DXi7500 offered up to 220TB of usable capacity and a maximum ingest rate of 4TB/hour. The speed boost comes from Quantum's use of six-core Nehalem processors. The product also has RAID 6, six ports of 8Gbit/s Fibre Channel connectivity, as well as both 1GbitE and 10GBitE. The DXi7500 offered four 4Gbit/s Fibre Channel ports.
The DXi7500's 4TB ingest rate occurs when it is acting as a native VTL and not deduping data. Its inline (adaptive) dedupe rate is up to 1.8TB/hour and the post-process (deferred) dedupe rate is up to 3.2TB/hour. The DXi8500's ingest rate is described by Quantum as "Adaptive Ingest (during deduplication): up to 6.4TB/hour*" and the asterisk points to a note that says: "Tested with VTL interface." Quantum says this is three times faster than the DXi7500.
The DXi6700, announced in August this year, could run inline dedupe at up to 3.5TB/hour, well outpacing the DXi7500, so Quantum had cracked the inline dedupe speed problem and the high-end speed jump was overdue.
Quantum says the DXi8500 can restore data at up to 5.4TB/hr, which is understood to be much faster than the 7500.
The DXi8500 performance boost will help Quantum sell against the top-end Data Domain products. It reckons the 8500 outpaces Data Domain's DD880, which runs at up to 5.4TB/hour, and has up to 140TB of usable capacity.
Like the other DXi systems the DXi8500 can write to tape for offsite protection. The systems also provide a NAS presentation mode.
The slightly lower capacity comes from a renovated RAID 6 algorithm, which uses more disk capacity for data protection. The DXi7500 uses 1TB, 3.5-inch drives, as does the DXi8500. It's a pity that its move to 2TB drive support, which is going to happen next year, did not happen sooner because then it could have offered a 20 to 400TB usable capacity range. The 20TB of lost capacity due to the RAID 6 algorithm tweak, which is a good thing in itself, would have been lost in the wash.
The DXi8500's base price includes replication, tape creation, virtual tape library and Symantec OST interface software. With Data Domain's DD880 you have to buy the software separately, according to Quantum. It will be available from mid-November and a suggested retail price for a system with 90TB of usable capacity is $731,000 versus, Quantum says, $861,000 for the equivalent DD880. ®
Sponsored: Webcast: Build the next generation of your business in the public cloud


text:
Cornerstone Thailand respects and protects your privacy. Our website and
the security that we have implemented are of the highest quality. Every transaction
is made via secure server and your data including credit card information is
locked. We never sell information or data regarding specific clients or wine
purchases and your personal information is kept confidential, unless we get
approval from you in writing. This would only occur if we asked you for a customer
Absolutely not, not
going to happen, not under any circumstance. We never sell, rent, share or proliferate
customer data outside our company.
Cornerstone Thailand uses up-to-date
256K encryption technology to keep your personal data safe. Our sites
are monitored by security experts daily and we have spared no expense at keeping
your personal data safe and secure. All online orders are processed via secure
server to ensure from sign in or account creation that your personal information is kept secure.
To unsubscribe from our newsletter, simply email us at email@example.com,
or uncheck your newsletter subscription on the "My
Account" page.
By registering or purchasing on Cornerstone Thailand you consent
to the collection and use of your information as described in this policy.
Cornerstone Thailand
cooperates with law enforcement agencies in the reporting of illegal activities.
We reserve the right to release information about members who we believe are
in violation of our terms and conditions. We also reserve the right to refuse
business at any time for any reason to anyone we choose. At certain times, we
may contact customers to request a fax or scan of identification if there is
suspicion of a minor purchasing alcohol. We do not accept delivery addresses
to schools, fraternal or sorority organizations, mental institutions or to day
care facilities.
Cornerstone Thailand does post advertisement banners and
links to outside advertisers and partners. Please be aware that should you click
on links and/or ad banners that take you to third-party web sites, you will
be subject to the third parties' privacy policies and/or terms and conditions.
Cornerstone Thailand
cannot be responsible for the actions of third parties.
Cornerstone Thailand reserves the right to change its policies, terms and
conditions. When you purchase or log into your account, or when you complete
an order, you acknowledge and accept our latest terms and conditions.


text:
For me, there is something inherently nostalgic about the cutesy cartoon characters that have predominantly graced the Sony consoles over the recent decades. While the Xbox was still a twinkle in Bill Gates' eye, I was traversing the worlds of Sir Daniel Fortesque, Spyro the Dragon, Crash Bandicoot and many others right up until recent times, when I would sit with my young son and we would enjoy those worlds together. Although they have grown out of favour with him since he became a teenager, but the nostalgia lingers on and hopefully one day he will enjoy these worlds again with the same reverence to which I hold these titles.
It takes a lot to amaze me when it comes to these platformers, but not such a great deal to satiate me. As such I started up Ratchet and Clank : Q-Force with little expectations.
To those of you who are unfamiliar with the franchise, Ratchet and Clank is a long running and established series from Insomnia games, the same team that created Spyro the dragon. Ratchet, the universes last known Lombax, following their evacuation to another dimension after the war with the Cragmites, and his consummate sidekick Crank, a fully sentient robot.
Following on directly from the story in Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One, Captain Quark has returned to his hero roots following his defeat for the position of galactic president. Sadly, retirement for Quark and the lack of a decent adversary has put him in a deep depression causing him to potter around despondently in the Starship Pheonix II. We join our heroes as they attempt to find a way to bring Quark out of his funk.
Fate intervenes as they receive a communication informing that a mysterious villain had began attacking peaceful planets, and requesting aid from the "famed" hero Captain Quark. Quark leaps into action requesting that Ratchet and Clank reform the Q-Force team to investigate the attacks and to restore the planetary defenses on the three worlds invaded by unknown aggressors.
Graphically, this is the most impressive outing for the Lomax and friends, with the trademark visual style having a new veneer applied to each of the characters and environments. Some regular characters of the series make brief appearances, mainly during cut scenes, and sadly most of the humour and activity of both Clank and Quark have also been resigned to these story arc sections, barely making an appearance during the majority of the gameplay. Some amusing tongue in cheek conversations and cultural references, (such as the nods to PSY and Mr Trolololol),do occur when you are running around Starship Pheonix II, which acts as your primary hub, but sadly none of these occur with any frequency during the actual levels to warrant reference here which is a major upset from the franchise that prides itself on its comedic styling.
From the outset it is obvious that this is no straight forward action platformer like Tools of Destruction or Crack in Time, taking in the co-operative elements of All 4 One and introducing some new mechanics to spice up the proceedings. Upon landing on the planet, you are placed in control of the Q-Force Base, which consists of eight generators which must be protected from periodic waves of enemies, looking to impede your re-activation of the planetary defenses.
Between each of these rounds, you have the opportunity to investigate the world collecting weapons to improve your arsenal as well as collecting bolts (the in game currency) to purchase defensive and offensive upgrades for your base. This instills a very tower defense feel to these sections of the game as you purchase defensive walls and mines, or various turrets to repel attackers. Movement, melee and shooting in the game all live up to the quality established by the previous title. Masterful camera work and intuitive controls ensure that the platforming sections are simple and responsive, so each time you die, you know its because you, not the game, made a mistake.
Many of the weapons collected over the last ten years make an appearance, from the disturbingly kill-happy Mr Zargon synthenoid, to the Groovitron glove that casts out a reflective disco ball that makes all of your enemies stop and dance. Unfortunately, some of the fan favourites have not made an appearance, such as the R.Y.N.O. (Rip You a New One) gun which blasts out the 1812 overture as you decimate your opponents, the Rift Inducer 5000 which summoned an inter-dimensional tentacle beast (fondly nicknamed "Fred" by the engineers that discovered him) or any of the transmorphing weapons of past incarnations, such as the chimp-o-matic, the sheepinator and the Quack-o-Ray to name but a few.
To depress further, the game takes place over a total of five levels, one of which being a repeat of a previous level with an ever so slight twist, and as such its hard not to feel a sharp pang of doubt by what seems to be less than a fully fleshed out release. The game also introduces a leveling and skill point system which, although well designed and easily mastered, requires a commitment of time that I feel only the truly devoted fans or the completionists will ever see to fruition as it requires multiple playthroughs of the game and varied use of the weapons, and with 2 of the levels being nearly identical I would find it hard to justify it to myself, even with a sub eight hours completion time for the entire campaign.
Q-Forces surprising saving grace is its multiplayer. Taking the unbalanced Tower defence elements out of the single player campaign and combining with a resource management aspect really brings out its unique charm. Made up of 3 rounds, Recon where you convert nodes using a button timed minigame used throughout the single player will increase your bolt production, but can be captured by the opposing force before the Recon round ends. To this end, you must decide between capturing nodes and fortifying captured nodes to ensure your bolt production is sufficient for the Squad round. Here you will return to base and purchase and upgrade your attacking force. With a decent varity of attackers and complimenting upgrades, decisions at this point could be vital to your victory, and utilising your bolt expenditure wisely is necessary. Finally, its on to the attack round, where your selected attackers will assault your opponents base, to try to take out their generators before yours falls foul to their own incursion upon your base. At this point you can hang back and assist in the defence, move to the middle ground to intercept the incoming aggressors or even join the majority of your troops in the capture of your enemy stronghold. Defences, such as walls, turrets and mines can be purchased at any time, so managing your currency during all three phases is a strategic level that truly brings the most out of this game type, and with even an incompetent opposing player posing more of a threat than the predictable AI from the campaign, this truly was the highlight of this title.
With the series renowned for its outlandish weapons, amazing enemies and inane humour throughout, its just a shame that in an effort to take the game in new directions it lost most of what made the previous games so entertaining. The Tower defence sections never feel balanced, with too few bolts to fully defend your base turning into a perpetual grind to find enough bolts dotted sparsely around the environment to ensure its defense while you take on your mission at hand, and the expansive platforming sections feel rushed due to the requirement to return to base to repel the incoming waves. As such you never feel that sense of reasoned exploration that has been so integral to the previous releases.
This truly is a title that will not win over any new fans to the Ratchet and Clank universe, and may even isolate more of the hardcore followers so soon after the tepid release that was Ratchet and Clank All 4 One. Lets hope Insomnia take a long hard look at the universe they have built up, and return to its roots to retain the pedigree it has worked so hard to attain.
MLG Rating: 6/10 Platform: PS3 Release Date: 30/11/12
Disclosure: Midlife Gamer were provided a copy of Ratchet and Clank: Q-Force for review purposes by the promoter. The title was reviewed over the course of two weeks on a PS3. For more information on what our scores mean, plus details of our reviews policy, click here.
Tags: Action, Insomniac Games, Platformer, PS Vita, PS3, Ratchet and Clank: Q-Force, Sony


text:
"I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to take their climbing to the next level. The authors put their wealth of climbing experience into an entertaining and easy-to-read manual."
Chris Sharma commenting on the first edition in November 2006
Until now, instructional books for climbers have taken a largely 'negative' approach, concentrating on how to reduce the inherent risks of the sport, and mentioning only in passing the equally important skills required to get to the top. This book represents a watershed in the genre, coming from a coaching perspective, Sport Climbing+ is packed with inspirational photos, humorous illustrations, and two lifetime's worth of learning how to succeed at the toughest of all sports.
The book takes a practical approach, focusing on the improvements that climbers can make immediately, without embarking on lengthy training programs. Written in a highly accessible, jargon-free style, Sport Climbing+ is sure to be useful to all climbers wishing to get involved with sport climbing; from complete beginners making their first trip outside after leaving the wall, to experienced athletes just trying to find that extra bit of help required for their latest 8a redpoint.
This book is the first in a series of instructional guides from Rockfax. It has been written by, and strongly features high profile, professional climbers: the last such book was the hugely successful 'Fawcett on rock' published twenty years ago. The book is presented in the rich, informative, colourful style that has made Rockfax the 'gold standard' for guidebooks.
Book Format - The book is in the standard A5, soft-cover format with full-colour throughout. It features many action photos to illustrate the various techniques, plus cartoons and informative text spread over 192 pages.
Second Edition - The second edition of Sport Climbing+, published in June 2011, contains updated information on belay devices as well as some changes to the multi-pitching chapter. There are also many new photos throughout better illustrating the text.
6 Reviews for Sport CLIMBING+
As a new climber who has only been leading for 3 months, this book was recommended to me to help me understand more about sport climbing.
As sport climbing is a very practical activity I was doubtful whether the theory of this book would help me, but I was surprised at how much useful step by step information it had.
It explains in detail how to tie in correctly, how to belay correctly and the differences between onsighting and redpointing. For the more experienced climber this may seem all too simple, but for a beginner or someone looking to progress in sport climbing this book is perfect.
The illustrations are fun and make explanations more visual and clear to understand.
Diagrams that show the right and wrong way to do something are also very useful as you can then see a clear comparison between the two.
Overall the book is easy to follow and full of useful information for the complete beginner and also for climbers looking to improve. The book takes a very positive approach that inspires you to want to climb better.
"This book manages to be informative without submerging the reader under a welter of buzz words. It is both comprehensive and yet comprehensible enough not to tax my limited attention span. "
"Adrian Berry and Steve McClure have gone straight for the kill with the highest leverage techniques and tactics spelled out in bite-size chunks – easy to digest and simple to apply.
Finally a climbing improvement book has given tactics their true place alongside technique and training, to offer a balanced way forward for any sport climber to draw from.
My experience as a climber and coach is that, while there is a lot to climbing, each element is actually refreshingly simple on its own. This is what is reflected back from the book. Applying all the elements he has outlined will help you become a more complete climber.
Every climber has at least one part of the jigsaw puzzle missing. This book has all the parts laid out clearly so you can find yours!"
"I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to take their climbing to the next level. The authors put their wealth of climbing experience into an entertaining and easy-to-read manual. "
"This book is an excellent addition to the 'How to climb' genre, offering techniques and tips from a modern perspective. The appealing layout helps to make this book an essential tool for people climbing at all grades, wanting to improve their sport climbing skills."
"This book provides essential reading to anyone who wishes to fulfil their potential in sport climbing."


text:
Superior Long Island Commercial Office Space
For more than 40 years, T. Weiss Realty Corporation has developed and managed superior Class A commercial office spaces in Long Island's most critical business districts, including Melville, Hauppauge, Dix Hills and Massapequa. T. Weiss Realty develops, owns and manages all of its Long Island office buildings, providing unsurpassed personalized service, meticulous attention to detail, and swift responses to tenant requests.
T. Weiss Realty provides more than just office space on Long Island. We call our commercial design initiative the T. Weiss WorkStyle. At our Long Island properties, healthy business lifestyles are improving employee productivity at work. We're striving to provide companies with smarter, healthier and happier business environments that enhance day-to-day performance. With impressive addresses, convenient Long Island office space locations and high-tech amenities, many of Long Island's premier companies, New York City firms, and multinational corporations have chosen T. Weiss Realty properties for their headquarters or satellite offices.
Our PropertiesView Our Portfolio
View Our Long Island Commercial Real Estate PortfolioView Available Space
View Available Space in Our Long Island Commercial Real Estate Portfolio
In the News
Download T. Weiss Report - Issue 45 - Fall 2019 (pdf)


text:
A Sandwich a Day: Croque Madame at Chez Moi
Reviews of Chicago sandwiches.
My morning craving is almost always for a breakfast sandwich. Waking up ravenous, something about eggs alone or anything that doesn't include several food groups just doesn't seem like enough. So while several other options sounded good (and many sounded lighter) I went with the croque madame ($13.50).
While looking at the menu, I realized I had no idea what the difference between a croque monsieur and croque madame is. Both are open-faced ham and cheese sandwiches, but the madame has an egg on top. And since this one was expertly cooked, so I could break the yolk and watch it ooze all over the top, I think I made the right choice.
At first I thought, "This bread is too hard, too dry, and I can barely cut through it!" But then I realized, what would this sandwich be if the bread wasn't like this? Too soggy. It would have no foundation, and would be a mess. So it balances out the cheesy, eggy top.
While it didn't give me the satisfying action of holding a sandwich in my hand and taking a big bite, my breakfast sandwich fantasies now include a more delicate option.
Chez Moi
2100 North Halsted Street, Chicago IL 60614 (map)
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


text:
Defeet Wooleator 5" Argyle Grey Socks MD. Performance cycling and running shoes require a sock that doesn't take up too much space. Cooler temperatures and inclement weather doesn't mean your shoes grow to accommodate thicker socks. You need better insulation in the same...
- Price: $12.34 - Out of Stock
- Brand: Defeet
- Product ID: CL0745


text:
Leonardo DiCaprio: Globes mispronunciation
Are we really looking at a DiCaprio-McConaughey staredown at the Oscars? Here's why I would give it to McConaughey. Because despite what everyone says about this being the performance of Leo's career, the movie was about out of control parties and debauchery and treating women like sh-t. So… how do you know it was a performance? How do you know that's just not how he is at the party? He's always at the party! Have you heard the stories about what used to go down at Jack Nicholson's parties? That might have been 40 years ago but it doesn't mean Leo's not the heir to that empire.
But whatever. He won. This might be his best chance at finally winning an Oscar. And he's up there and he's trying out his speech and it's not a bad speech, especially pointing out the fact that all these serious actors – Bale, Phoenix, etc – are included in comedy, which was funny, except…does he have something in the corner of his mouth? Is it an affectation? Is that why he said Philomena wrong when he was presenting Best Actress?
And he was orange too.
FameFlynet, Jason Merritt/ FREDERIC J. BROWN/ Getty Images


text:
Parent Directory | Revision Log
|Links to HEAD:
|(view) (download) (annotate)
|Links to MAIN:
|(view) (download) (annotate)
Added pre-version without KEYWORDS. Removed old (Portage version: 2.2.10/cvs/Linux x86_64, signed Manifest commit with key 0x981CA6FC)
Add ~arm-linux keyword. (Portage version: 2.2.0_alpha163_p9/cvs/Linux i686, signed Manifest commit with key 0xFDE8EF85AE5719A3)
alpha/ia64/m68k/s390/sh/sparc stable wrt #431852 (Portage version: 126.96.36.199/cvs/Linux x86_64)
Stable for HPPA (bug #431852). (Portage version: 2.2.0_alpha121/cvs/Linux x86_64)
Stable ppc ppc64, bug #431852 (Portage version: 18.104.22.168/cvs/Linux x86_64)
Stable for x86, wrt bug #431852 (Portage version: 2.2.0_alpha121/cvs/Linux i686)
Stable arm, bug #431852 (Portage version: 22.214.171.124/cvs/Linux x86_64)
Stable for amd64, wrt bug #431852 (Portage version: 18.104.22.168/cvs/Linux x86_64)
Revert wrong perl change. (Portage version: 2.2.0_alpha120/cvs/Linux x86_64)
Fix elementary Prefix error using ED for DESTDIR in make install. (Portage version: 2.2.01.20430-prefix/cvs/Darwin i386)
Avoid regenerating proto.h which requires perl -- the shipped one should work in all places we care about #421625 by László Szalma. (Portage version: 2.2.0_alpha112/cvs/Linux x86_64)
Add dependency over dev-lang/perl at build time. (Portage version: 2.2.0_alpha112/cvs/Linux x86_64)
keyword ~amd64-fbsd (Portage version: 2.2.0_alpha101/cvs/Linux x86_64)
Simplify the init script. (Portage version: 188.8.131.52/cvs/Linux i686)
This form allows you to request diffs between any two revisions of this file. For each of the two "sides" of the diff, select a symbolic revision name using the selection box, or choose 'Use Text Field' and enter a numeric revision.
|ViewVC Help
|Powered by ViewVC 1.1.20


text:
PPI has long been a proponent of an economy-wide cap-and-trade system to confront the problem of climate change. But as the fortunes of cap-and-trade legislation in the Senate fade, we need to begin looking at other options before Congress. This post, on the Cantwell-Collins "cap-and-dividend" bill, is the first in a series of analyses of various alternatives to cap-and-trade.
You may not have noticed lately, but there are other major legislative initiatives, including climate and energy, on the Senate's docket. One climate action bill that has received a lot of attention is the bill sponsored by Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Susan Collins (R-ME). When the bill, officially called the Carbon Limits and Energy for America's Renewal (CLEAR) Act, was first introduced in December, it caught the eye of some in the enviroblog world, but didn't make much of an immediate splash in the Senate. Between the long build-up of the Kerry-Lieberman-Graham multi-partisan grab bag and the poorly understood Copenhagen outcome, however, it filled a vacuum with a poorly appreciated concept at the time: offsetting costs of climate legislation to consumers by cutting them a check.
The Basics
Also known as "cap-and-dividend," the Cantwell-Collins bill is pretty simple: starting in 2012, it would mandate monthly auctions of pollution permits, called carbon shares, to the first seller (producer or importer) of fossil fuel carbon into the economy. The bill sets a floor price (shares can't be sold for less) of $7 and a ceiling price (shares can't be sold more) of $21 in the first auction in 2012, with the cap lowering — leading to rising prices — over time.
Most of the revenue from these auctions is distributed back to citizens in the form of a monthly check, while the rest is placed in a Clean Energy Refund Trust (CERT) fund established by the bill for use on a variety of different purposes: energy R&D, climate change adaptation, non-CO2 greenhouse gas reductions, international forestry and agriculture offsets, carbon capture and storage projects. First sellers cannot trade carbon shares and carbon derivatives are prohibited. In addition, the legislation has economy-wide emissions reduction goals of 20 percent below 2005 levels in 2020, 42 percent in 2030, and 83 percent in 2050.
The Good
Advocates of Cantwell-Collins praise it for being simple and transparent. As has been noted by others, it is a mere 40 pages, certainly an easier read than Waxman-Markey, the behemoth, 1,400-page cap-and-trade bill passed by the House last June. It regulates fossil fuel-related CO2 as far "upstream" in the economic supply chain as possible, meaning that whoever produces or imports a fossil fuel is on the hook for the CO2 content. Under Cantwell-Collins, coal mines and oil producers are responsible for paying for carbon, which means that only about 3,000 facilities need to be regulated. This upstream approach is administratively more streamlined, affecting far fewer parties than Waxman-Markey, which regulates electricity producers, natural gas distributors and manufacturers (over 75,000 regulated facilities).
The CLEAR Act also rejects the convoluted system of free and auctioned allocations in Waxman-Markey for a straight-up auction of all carbon shares. All regulated parties must participate in open monthly auctions, the revenue from which is split 75-25 percent: 75 percent is redistributed per capita to every American citizen and 25 percent is placed in the CERT. Whether you agree with the approach or not, offering to cut a monthly check for every U.S. citizen is not a bad way to gain some political support. Also, from the perspective of regulated firms, the use of price floors and ceilings, also known as a price collar, would reduce future price uncertainty and help them better predict investment needs.
Finally, the bill is co-sponsored by a Republican and a Democrat. That bipartisan provenance could certainly help its chances for passage.
The Bad
So with a bill that's easy to read, easy to monitor and easy on the wallet, is there anyone who won't like it? Well, anyone who favors hard targets for emissions reductions and anyone who believes in markets, for two. First, while the bill establishes economy-wide reduction goals as strong as Waxman-Markey, the auction system alone will not reach them. National emissions are capped at 2012 (note that it only caps CO2 emissions, unlike Waxman-Markey, which covered other greenhouse gases as well), and the cap doesn't tighten until 2015, at which point it decreases by 0.25 percent that year, then by an additional 0.25 percent every corresponding year (so in 2016, the cap reduces by 0.5 percent, in 2017, 0.75 percent, etc).
This slow lowering of the cap will result in only five percent reductions below 2012 emissions by 2020, well short of the 20 percent reductions by 2020 goal. Even at that, the cap is not rock solid due to the price collar, which functions as a sort of safety valve. That is, if the auction price goes higher than the established ceiling price, then that essentially releases extra carbon shares for firms to bid on until the price falls back below the ceiling.
That means the remaining reductions to be met in 2020 will have to come from technology advances, land use offsets in forestry and agriculture, and reductions of non-CO2 gases, all of which are paid for by the CERT (which will be administered by the Department of Treasury). If we assume an initial carbon price of $15 in 2012 (a middle-range price, based on analyses done by the EPA and EIA), and the projected cap of roughly 7.2 billion carbon shares, then the CERT will get about $27 billion in the first year of the program.
That's $27 billion to be split among all the uses listed above to help reduce emissions, as well as adaptation projects, energy efficiency efforts, and support for trade-sensitive industries and low-income families. The problem with a bill that's only 40 pages is that it doesn't have a lot of room for details — indeed, the CLEAR Act provides no guidance on how to prioritize uses of CERT funds. Although CERT funds will increase as the price of carbon shares rise, it will likely not even be close to enough to compensate for the majority of necessary carbon reductions.
A carbon market could mobilize private capital to help address some of these issues efficiently, instead of leaving all the choices and funding responsibility to the federal government. While it's understandable that the public and politicians might still distrust markets in the wake of the recent financial collapse, the fact is that when it comes to finding inefficiencies and catalyzing innovation, nothing works better. But the "market" in Cantwell-Collins is simply an auction system. Unlike in Waxman-Markey, regulated firms can't trade their permits, and carbon derivatives are strictly prohibited. These restrictions are going to severely limit the efficacy of the program to find the cheapest emissions reductions.
Also, there is a huge amount of risk in carbon markets (both in terms of accurate compliance and extreme events), so while they should be tightly regulated, derivatives are a necessary component because they allow firms to hedge against the risk of non-compliance or shifting standards. You will be hard-pressed to find any industry player who will advocate for a market without any trading, and there will need to be at least some industry support for any viable future climate legislation. Moreover, the monthly auction system may generate more carbon share price volatility than a continuous market, making it even more unattractive to firms.
The Upshot
Cantwell-Collins injects some great ideas into the climate policy debate that had not been prominently discussed before. If a policymaker wants to reduce the burden of increased energy costs on consumers, a direct rebate is an efficient and effective way to do it. The bill overall, however, is a somewhat naïve approach that does not fully appreciate the ability of markets to generate efficient emissions reductions and does not limit carbon emissions effectively. Its merits (simplified approach, upstream regulation, price collar) are outweighed by its limitations (extremely slow cap reduction, heavy reliance on CERT-funded reduction programs, draconian market restrictions). The CLEAR Act will continue to play a role in the climate debate of the Hill, but in its current form, it is unlikely to be the last bill standing.
Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/haglundc/ / CC BY-NC 2.0


text:
School lunch menus for the week of January 14.
Glenford/Somerset/ Thornville Elementary
Monday: Grilled chicken on WG bun, sweet potato puffs, and choice of fruit.
Tuesday: Toasted cheese, chili soup or vegetable choice, and choice of fruit.
Wednesday: Chicken & noodles, whipped potatoes, and choice of fruit.
Thursday: Hamburger on WG bun, seasoned fries, and choice of fruit.
Friday: Specialty pizza, romaine garden salad w/dressing, and choice of fruit.
Hebron Elementary/ Jackson Intermediate
Monday: Chicken sandwich, honey glazed carrots, chilled peach cup, and vanilla wafer.
Tuesday: Lancer loco nacos w/cheese sauce & salsa, steamed vegetables, and fruit cup.
Wednesday: Multi cheese pizza, golden corn, applesauce cup, and pretzel snack.
Thursday: Breakfast for Lunch- Cinnamon glazed french toast, triangle hash browns, turkey sausage links, and fruit juice cup.
Friday: Spring pasta & veggies, mixed green salad, garlic bread, and fresh berry cup.
Lakewood Middle/ High School
Monday: Asian chicken bowl, not fried rice, vegetable egg roll, chilled mandarin oranges, and fortune cookie.
Tuesday: Stacked turkey & ham club, baked fries, vegetable juice cup, and chilled applesauce.
Wednesday: Stuffed crust pizza, garden salad, chilled peach cup, and brownie bar.
Thursday: Brunch for lunch – egg omlet w/cheese, turkey sausage links, golden hash browns, 100% fruit juice cup.
Friday: Tuna salad roll or PBJ, cream of broccoli soup, fruit salad, and oyster crackers.
Liberty Union Elementary/ Middle School
Monday: Mini corn dogs, baked beans, baby carrots, fruit delight, and ice cream cup.
Tuesday: Popcorn chicken w/sweet & sour sauce, brown rice, peas, baby carrots/dip, and mandarin oranges.
Wednesday: Cheese pizza or PB&J/string cheese, tossed romaine salad, steamed broccoli, and diced peaches.
Thursday: WG french toast, egg patty, hash brown potatoes, baby carrots/dip, and orange juice.
Friday: Hamburger/WG bun or PB&J/string cheese, buttered corn, baby carrots/dip, and applesauce.
Liberty Union High School
Monday: WG French toast, hash brown potatoes, veggie boat/lt. ranch, sausage links, and warm cinnamon apples.
Tuesday: Turkey or ham WG tortilla, cheese cup, California blend veg, veggie boat/ lt. ranch, shredded lettuce, and mandarin oranges.
Wednesday: Build your own taco: taco meat/WG tortilla/ black beans/corn, veggie boat/lt. ranch, cheese cup, chips/salsa, shredded lettuce, and choice of fruit.
Thursday: Chicken patty WG bun or PB&J/string cheese, macaroni & cheese, steamed carrots, veggie boat/ lt. ranch, and choice of fruit.
Friday: Big Daddy cheese pizza or PB&J/string cheese, tossed romaine salad, veggie boat/lt. ranch, and fresh fruit.
Millersport Elementary
Monday: Cheeseburger on WG bun, oven fires, and fruit.
Tuesday: Turkey sub on WG bun, carrot coins, fresh fruit, and Elf grahams.
Wednesday: Sweet & sour popcorn chicken, W/G steamed rice, mixed vegetables, fruit choice, and fortune cookie.
Thursday: Hot dog on WG bun, baked beans, macaroni & cheese, and fruit choice.
Friday: W/G stuffed crust pizza, steamed broccoli, and fruit choice.
Millersport Middle/ High School
Monday: Turkey bacon sub, southwest soup, fruit choice, and baked chips.
Tuesday: Pasta w/meat balls, garlic toast, romaine mix salad, and fruit choice.
Wednesday: Chicken tender wrap, seasoned green beans, fruit choice, and cookie.
Thursday: French toast sticks, sausage links, shredded potato bake, and fruit choice.
Friday: Specialty pizza, romaine mix salad, carrots w/ dip, and fruit choice.
Sheridan Middle/ High School
Monday: Grilled chicken on WG bun, sweet potato puffs, and choice of fruit.
Tuesday: Meatball sub, romaine salad w/dressing, and choice of fruit.
Wednesday: Chicken & noodles, whipped potatoes, choice of fruit, and roll/butter.
Thursday: Tostado w/beef/ cheese/refried beans, spanish rice, and choice of fruit.
Friday: Specialty pizza, romaine salad w/dressing, and choice of fruit.


text:
Burst bubble: Cigar mag explains $eagram's beating
The bursting of the dot-com bubble destroyed the dreams and portfolios of millions of investors, but perhaps no family lost more zeros than the Bronfmans, sometime Albemarle residents and former owners of the Seagram empire, which was swallowed whole in 2000 by Vivendi International.
Vivendi's sale of the 200-acre Ivy Creek Farm last May for $8,383,000 was merely the most local sign of an empire in trouble.
The cover story in the April issue of Cigar Aficionado magazine details how the over-ambitious dreams of Edgar Bronfman Jr., grandson of Seagram founder Samuel Bronfman and son of Edgar Sr., devastated his family fortune.
According to the article, Edgar Jr. had breakfast one morning with Jean-Marie Messier, the man in charge of transforming Vivendi, a French water and sewer utility company, into a massive media conglomerate. Likewise trapped in a relatively staid business liquor the younger Bronfman envisioned an empire to compete with such sexy beasts as Disney and Viacom. Bronfman, a onetime songwriter, sold Seagram to Vivendi in an all-stock deal.
But before the deal even closed, the Bronfman family's Seagram stock had lost nearly 10 percent of its value, falling from $6.4 billion to $5.8 billion. And it only got worse... much worse.
With Messier at the helm, things couldn't have been, well, messier.
By the time the Frenchman was ousted in July 2002, the Bronfmans' stake in Vivendi had fallen to $800 million. Though the Bronfmans were able to unload $2 billion in stock, their total loss was $3 billion, nearly half of the original investment value.
But Edgar Jr. won't give up, the article explains. He once publicly stated he'd never go down in history as "the one Bronfman who pissed away the family fortune." But if he doesn't do some fancy footwork soon, it seems that's just what will happen.
Even with new CEO Jean-Rene Fourtou at its helm, Vivendi sounds like it's on life support. Fourtou is unloading Vivendi's recent acquisitions such as publishing house Houghton Mifflin– as fast as Messier once collected them. Edgar Jr. is standing by with his fingers crossed. Neither Edgar Jr. nor Sr. returned the Hook's calls by presstime.
But though Edgar Sr.'s brother Charles– whose loyalty and love for his family prevented him from voicing his serious doubts about the Vivendi deal, according to the article– says he misses Seagram terribly, Edgar Sr. says that in a strange way the loss of the Seagram empire may have been a blessing in disguise.
Speaking of his 22 grandchildren, Edgar Sr.– who frequently jets into Charlottesville to visit his Georgetown Farm bison businesses– tells Cigar Aficionado, "As a matter of fact, I'm glad there isn't any Seagram to leave to them. You know, this whole question of entitlement and that they're the Seagram Bronfmans or whatever is not a good thing. People have to go and fend for themselves. I don't know who the hell would run it, and there would be family fights. It's much better not to have that as a legacy."


text:
Scale Modeling Sponsors
See Your Ad Here!
Ex 4.2" mortar maggot. Mortar platoon HCC 3/66 2AD 1986-1990. Ask me about the M106 and M577 FDC.
Primary Interests:
1. M113s
2. CVR(t)s
3. Leopards
4. Other assorted modern armor
Copyright ©2020 text by Paul Truhe [ PTRUHE ]. All rights reserved.


text:
|KPI Home | Get KPI | Measure Success | Understand KPI | Helpdesk | KPI Apps
The reality of today's complex organizations is: "What gets Defined could be measured which in turn could be used to better executed and managed".
KPI Standard is the authority in discovery, define, implement and execute Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for any organizational and business need. Our Dynamic and expanding KPI database includes thousands of KPIs.
Our experts have compiled more than 25,000 Key Performance Indicators. This collection is the most comprehensive and complete selection that covers more than 140 Industries and 550 Categories.
We have created Industry & Sector specific executive publications that are relevant, precise and focused.
For your convenience and make the reports more affordable, we made it possible to shop by either Sector or Industry. The price of the Sector collection s are varies due to the fact that some sectors have more industries and hence more KPIs. The price for Sector's Intelligence KPI Report is ranging from USD $15 to USD $180. For industries we have set a flat rate of USD $20 for all industries.
Also, with our KPI Premium & Measure Up! iPhone & iPad applications you have an unlimited and full / unrestricted access to thousands of Key Performance Indicators that has been established by professionals, executives, researchers and practitioners.
The KPI STANDARD database is constantly being updated. With the Premium License you are enable to download the latest database via your personal computer. The Premium Database is being updated on regular bases to include the latest KPIs in different fields and industries.
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation Utilities Wholesale Trade Other Services Finance and Insurance Accommodation and Food Services Manufacturing Management of Companies and Enterprises Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Educational Services Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services Construction Real Estate and Rental and Leasing Public Administration Health Care and Social Assistance Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting Transportation and Warehousing Information
We count over 250 commercial firms and several governments among our customer base for our KPI products and executive services.
A performance indicator or key performance indicator (KPI) is an essential and critical element for organizational performance measurement. KPIs are commonly used by an organization to evaluate its success or the success of a particular activity in which it is engaged. Sometimes success is defined in terms of making progress toward strategic goals, but often, success is simply the repeated achievement of some level of operational goal. Accordingly, choosing the right KPIs is reliant upon having a good understanding of what is important to the organization. 'What is important' often depends on the department measuring the performance - the KPIs useful to finance will be quite different than the KPIs assigned to sales, for example.
Key performance indicators define a set of values used to measure against. These raw sets of values, which are fed to systems in charge of summarizing the information, are called indicators. Indicators identifiable as possible candidates for KPIs can be summarized into the following sub-categories:
Key performance indicators, in practical terms and for strategic development, are objectives to be targeted that will add the most value to the business. These are also referred to as key success indicators.
Because of the need to develop a good understanding of what is important, performance indicator selection is often closely associated with the use of various techniques to assess the present state of the business, and its key activities. These assessments often lead to the identification of potential improvements; and as a consequence, performance indicators are routinely associated with 'performance improvement' initiatives. A very common method for choosing KPIs is to apply a management framework such as the balanced scorecard.


text:
Here's the link to the prezi. Just an FYI: I updated the livebinders book trailer resources to include online photo editors : )
- Home
- About Me
- My Presentations
- Images: Creative Commons
- Music: Creative Commons
- Stock Video: Creative Commons
- Editing Tools for Digital Projects
- Presentation Tools
- 20+ Webtools for Teachers and Students
- Infographic Creators and Tools
- Authors Who Skype (or have Skyped)
- Find the Next Best Book to Read
- Ten+ Webtools for Digital Storytelling
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Prezi booktalks/lists
Thanks to everyone for coming to the presentation at SLSA day in Ft. worth! I learned a lot and enjoyed sharing as well : ) Here are the two link for the presentations I showed:
http://prezi.com/tv8s3pv207ky/fall-2010-ya-booktalk/ (Fall 2010)
http://prezi.com/fnd9om_dpp4h/spring-2011-booktalk/ (Spring 2011)
http://prezi.com/tv8s3pv207ky/fall-2010-ya-booktalk/ (Fall 2010)
http://prezi.com/fnd9om_dpp4h/spring-2011-booktalk/ (Spring 2011)
Friday, June 3, 2011
Num8ers: The Cha0s by Rachel Ward
Sarah is trapped. What's happened at her house has left permanent damage emotionally, and she's now holding onto the one good thing that could happen in her situation - a baby. And she knows she has to get away from Him. Her mother has turned a blind eye, and Sarah can't take it anymore. But more than that, it's the nightmare that keeps recurring, that of a scarred monster stealing her baby and taking it through flames and fire. She can shake the nightmare she's living, but she can't shake the nightmare that keeps coming back to haunt her.
Now in London, Adam and Sarah's paths cross. She can't help but be repulsed and drawn to Adam at the same time. He doesn't look like the monster in her dreams, but she draws away from him. Adam, on the other hand is drawn to Sarah, including her number, which isn't like the thousands of others he's seen. She's a beacon of hope in a world set to destruct on New Year's Day.
No sooner have their paths crosses, when they're separated again. And Nan, Adam's great-grandmother is telling him to do something his mother told him to always keep a secret. She's trying to persuade him that he can save lives, and numbers can be changed...but can they? Adam only hopes he can find Sarah, who is a missing link in this awful event, and he needs to find her quickly before their world ends in destruction.
Rachel Ward has once again written a thrilling novel that carries readers to the very end. Suspenseful, intriguing, she creates characters and a future world that is thoroughly believable. Although this is a sequel, it can also be read as a stand-alone book, which is a trait of an excellent follow-up to an original story. Teens will love this one because of the fast-paced situations and the ultimate ending. A quick look at the third book in this trilogy at the end of this one will make all readers hold on for another great book. Recommended
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
Ping-Pong Diplomacy - San Francisco, 2011
"Ping-Pong Diplomacy"—it started, you may remember, with the 1971 visit of the U.S. Table Tennis Team to China that, as Premier Chou En-lai so famously said, "opened a new page in the relations of the Chinese and American people." In commemorating the 40th Anniversary of this historic event, a Group from China visited Milwaukee, San Francisco, and Yorba Linda, CA from June 30th through July 9th, 2011.
As I was in Washington, D.C. , playing "Mr. Sally" to my wife who, at Constitution Hall for the Annual Meeting of the Daughters of the American Revolution, was being named DAR District Director of Long Island, I had to miss the U.S. Open in Milwaukee. And as three years ago, in the Sept.-Oct., 2008 issue of the USATT magazine, I'd reported on "Ping-Pong Diplomacy: The Rematch," held at the President Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, and (though I was there again this year and though, thanks especially to Nixon Foundation President Sandy Quinn, it was again highly successfuI) I didn't want to repeat myself, so I've concentrated here just on my experiences in San Francisco.
On my direct flight from New York that arrived earlier in San Francisco than expected, I was traveling with a fellow Ping-Pong Diplomat from 40 years ago, George "The Chief" Braithwaite, and his longtime friend Luz Brissett. We went straight to our historic-minded and quite classy hotel, the St. Regis (recall John Jacob Astor's 1904 Gilded Age landmark St. Regis in New York), where we'd arrived just in time for a scheduled appearance with San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee. Quickly we joined up with our other 1971 Diplomat on this trip, Judy Bochenski Hoarfrost, her husband Dan, USATT CEO Mike Cavanaugh for whom no job was too big or too small, and the Chinese TTA and Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) Delegations we'd be sharing a day and a half with before moving on with them to Yorba Linda.
In addition to some new Chinese diplomatic faces, super-star Champions from the near or distant past who, as Judy Hoarfrost said, would be "keeping the spirit of Ping-Pong Diplomacy alive with us" were: Liang Geliang, who from 1971 through 1977 had been a six-time Team , Men's and Mixed Doubles World Champion; Lu Yuansheng, now CTTA Vice-President, and as far back as 1975 a member of the winning Chinese Men's Team and more than 20 years later China's winning World Women's Team Captain (once on a bus Lu had taken my hand, was stretching my fingers and showing me wrist exercises that I looked grateful for but didn't really think would help me to hold any faster to a hoisted martini); Zhang Yining, famously retired after winning various World Women's Singles and Doubles Championships and two Olympics; Zheng Huaiying (World Mixed winner in 1973); Liu Guozheng (winning World Men's Team member in 2001), and, most prominently, China Table Tennis Association President/China Olympic Committee Vice President Cai Zhenhua, who in 1983 when, as in 1981, he was again World Men's Singles runner-up to Guo Yuehua, played our U.S. Danny Seemiller a memorable five-game Singles match.
Among others in the Chinese Delegations I have occasion now to remember were Team Manager Liu "Karen" Yi who worked for the CTTA International External Affairs Dept. (embarrassingly, I couldn't on my arrival place her, though she'd been helpful to me in the past). Pan Zhiwei, Deputy Director, COC Secretariat, who 'd studied at Indiana University in Bloomington, as I did (I gave him a copy of my Ping-Pong Diplomacy book, and in return he gave me the appropriate diplomatic gift of a Mouse Pad "faced in a tapestry of satin fabric"). Another Pan—Pan Qi, from the PRC Consulate. Ever-friendly Journalist Dou Yujia. And Kang Kang Huang who, representing Table Tennis World, was the first to approach me with questions, and apparently so wanted a copy of my book ("How much does it cost?") that I gave her one of the few I had with me.
After the CTTA, COC, and USTTA delegations had a box lunch together at City Hall, it was time for a Welcome from Mayor Lee who later sportingly played table tennis for us (and, bravo, did a good job of keeping the ball in play). Also at City Hall, our Judy Hoarfrost gave a well-received speech—with highlights as follows:
"…This 40th Anniversary USA Tour is a very special time for us veteran Ping Pong Diplomacy players to share old pictures and stories and to continue our friendship while sharing the legacy of Ping Pong Diplomacy with the younger generation. For the athletes, four decades ago and now, Ping Pong Diplomacy has always been about bringing people together to transcend political, national, and cultural barriers.
"I was just 15 years old when I went to China. I was a member of the U.S. Team to the World Championships in Nagoya, Japan. It was my first international competition and my first time outside of North America. It was an exciting World Championships, especially because it was the first time the Chinese team would play international competition since the beginning of the Cultural Revolution in 1966. We all looked forward to seeing them with great anticipation, for to us they were the gods of table tennis, and their absence from competition created an even greater mystique…So, near the conclusion of the tournament, when our team received the invitation from the Chinese delegation to visit China, I was very surprised and eager to go, full of curiosity.
"…China in 1971 was a completely different world from my life in the USA at that time, and certainly very different from China today. We were there eight full days. Of course the highlight of the trip was meeting Premier Zhou Enlai at the Great Hall of the People. We also went to the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, the Chinese opera, to Tsinghua Technical University, an Industrial Exhibition, and to a model commune. We ate great Chinese food and enjoyed the wonderful hospitality of our hosts. Chinese girls taught me two songs, 'The East is Red,' and 'Sailing the Seas Depends on the Helmsman.' We learned about China's communism and read Mao's little red book. We saw the political slogans and posters of Mao on every building.
"And of course we played Friendship Matches…I will brag to you now that I won three out of four of my matches in China. But I was fully aware that this was a 'Friendship First, Competition Second' gift to me.
"I am grateful to the Chinese players and the CTTA for all they have done for our sport. They have led us through their example of outstanding play, coaching, and development. They have shared their expertise with the rest of the world [and in particular, as they said here in San Francisco, have strengthened the ties between the U.S. and China].
"…Ping-Pong Diplomacy does not just apply to the U.S. Table Tennis Team's trip to China in 1971 and the Chinese Team's reciprocal visit in 1972. Ping Pong Diplomacy [and here and in her ending that follows Judy anticipates much of what the Chinese would be repeating in their speeches] also applies to the role of all sports bringing people together in peaceful interactions that they might gain perspective and understanding, and learn to appreciate one another.
"Through the legacy of Ping Pong Diplomacy, we carry forward to the new generation a new 'People's Revolution'—one that carries a worldwide message of peace, love and cooperation."
We now move on to another Welcome and more opening remarks—this time at the Sports and Diplomacy Forum held at the nearby San Francisco Public Library. This Forum was coordinated by the ASIA Society (Northern California center), with its Executive Director Bruce Pickering saying a few words, and also by the Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee (BASOC), with remarks from its President (and 1980 Swimming Olympian) Anne Warner Cribbs. Anne, assisted by BASOC Director of Marketing Helen Mendel and Volunteer Sally Demoss, had tirelessly lapped days of repeated preparation, getting everything as right as possible for the Delegations' visit here. Other brief speakers were USOC Director Suzanne Lyons, USATT Chairman of the Board Peter Scudner, and of course Cai Zhenhua (who, much in demand, was called on to speak everywhere we went). Then it was my turn, as USATT Historian, to present a "Historical Perspective" of Ping-Pong Diplomacy. But that speech I'm leaving as a close to this article.
There followed in that same Koret Auditorium at the Library a Panel moderated by Dr. Robert Kapp, a former Professor of Chinese History at the University of Washington, who, fluent in Mandarin, was particularly good with interlocking comments that helped the non-English-speaking Chinese—Cai Zhenhua, Liang Geliang, and Zheng Huaiying—convey their thoughts. Other speakers were Mikael Andersson, who promotes the ITTF's Education and Training Program, here as a last-minute substitute for ITTF President Adham Sharara; and Triple Jump Olympian Willie Banks, President of the U.S. Olympic Alumni Association. Caught by surprise, since they expected a question and answer format, were Judy and George who nevertheless had ex-temp things to say. This time I'll concentrate on George's response.
He promptly reversed the "Friendship First, Competition Second" mantra—saying that first comes the sport's play, the tough competition, after which, no hard feelings, comes the sportsman's show of friendship. This harmony is connected to George's decades-long belief that Table Tennis can't prosper in the U.S. so long as Individual play is emphasized. What's needed—and he himself has tried to make dream become a Northeast reality—are leagues, leagues, and more leagues. Intense weekly matches galore. Perhaps, said George, it's possible for an aspiring U.S. player to attend, say, 12 tournaments of significant stature a year, but even if one has the wherewithal to do that, it's not nearly enough to develop world-class strength. In the beginning of international play in the 1930's, '40's, 50's, said George, the emphasis was on the individual. But then the world moved to leagues and the U.S. didn't, and got left behind.
Moreover, if the Sport in the U.S. is to gain the new membership—men, women, children— it needs to prosper, leagues for players of all levels is the way to go. The key to success is to set up strong State Associations with people who know something about marketing concepts. Money, venues, players, and geographical connections are all needed. But sport after sport has found its way with leagues, why can't we?
Maybe in the future. But for the evening of July 5, 2011, all delegations found their way to San Francisco's City Club (along with it seemed a couple of hundred other people) for a wonderfully gregarious Reception hosted by Consul General Zhansheng Gao, People's Republic of China.
Might as well comment now on the July 6th evening too, before I begin to move this article to its completion. After an afternoon Coaches Clinic featuring Lu Yuansheng and two of his CTTA players, Zhang Qiang and Lai Jiaxin, all members of all Delegations left for Palo Alto and an excellent dinner at Ming's restaurant. This was the second feast of the day for our U.S. veterans, for we'd already had a Ming Emperor's sumptuous multi-course meal (forget the word lunch) at the R&G Grill, which Chinese Chamber of Commerce President Rose Pak who'd joined us proclaimed her favorite restaurant in Chinatown. And no wonder—we shamelessly downed duck, shrimp and walnuts, spareribs, a rice dish, greens, sea bass, brisket of beef with turnips, ice cream, and whatever else I don't at the moment remember. Then, that evening after dinner at Ming's, we were off to Stanford University's Maples Pavilion for a series of exhibition matches skillfully organized by California Hall of Famer Dennis Davis.
Following Greetings from Consul General Gao, CTTA President Cai Zhenhua, Ms. Cynthia Gire of the U.S. State Department, and Palo Alto Mayor Sid Espinosa, veteran Braithwaite played veteran Liang a match and, oh, "The Chief" had trouble with the way the ball was bouncing—or was it Liang's rubber? As for veteran Hoarfrost, she played, one at a time, veterans Zheng Huaiying and Yang Jun, and (Did she really have those two big meals almost back to back?) was chasing after the ball as if she were still 15. Following that, U.S. Women's National Team and Cadet Team member Prachi Jha went on court against Chinese Junior National Team member Zhang Qiang and returned smiling, just as composed as before.
Next up: China's Lai Jiaxin vs. 33-year-old Barney Reed, whom I remember 22 years ago beating me at a tournament in Westfield, N.J. Barney, of course, added, for which we're grateful, his usual serio-comic touch to the proceedings. But, hey, talk about FUN, ITTF Hopes Team members Kanach Jha and Kunal Chodri radiated wonderful-to-see enthusiasm and energy in their matches against Liu Guozheng. Then another interesting Junior/Senior match-up with our U.S. Champion Ariel Hsing exchanging strokes and would-be points with one of the most famous women players in History, Zhang Yining. And now to sign off from the Pavilion, some patterned exhibition play—again between different generations of players, Liu and Lai.
All in all, it had to be an enjoyable time for the many spectators.
Earlier that day, the U.S. veterans did get some exercise by walking up and down a section of hilly Chinatown streets, starting off opposite the Hilton Hotel, on a site that had once been the gateway to Chinatown. We couldn't have had a more interesting guide—she was Sue Lee, Executive Director of the Chinese Historical Society of America, established in San Francisco, Jan. 5th, 1963. (See the "clinker" brick on that building from the 1906 fire?...See the Methodist church there with the pagoda on top?) Turns out that 90% of the Chinese population to arrive in the U.S. during the first large wave of immigrants in the 19th century, including Sue's grandmother later in 1924, came from the Pearl River Delta Region. Passage from Hong Kong to San Francisco at that time was $55. Think you could have helped out a few people, do you?
Sue took us to her extensive Museum on Clay Street that houses "one of the country's largest collections of artifacts tracing the history and cultural legacy of the Chinese in the United States." (Current exhibit: the famous paintings by Jake Lee that once hung in Kan's famous celebrity-attended Chinatown restaurant, then were lost… and found.) We learn of the many "Chinese laborers in the development of the fishing, railroad, mining, and agricultural industries in the American West, and how badly they were treated….In 1892, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act. It prevented people of Chinese descent from becoming citizens…and [generally speaking] from immigrating to the U.S. at all. Many families were split with wives and children stranded overseas. It would take until 1965 before U.S. President Lyndon Johnson abolished this Chinese Exclusion Act."
Ah, well. So History's interesting to me, does it matter to ping-pong players?
To some…I'm sure.
From one Historical setting, then, to another, and now I move to my conclusion.
As a member of the U.S. Group that "opened the door" to China, I was asked to give at that Library Forum on July 5th a 15-minute speech on the history of "Ping-Pong Diplomacy. " I identified myself, then showed the audience the photos of the front and back covers of my Ping-Pong Diplomacy book . That's Vol. V in my History of U.S. Table Tennis, which consists of Part I: "Ping-Pong Oddity" (the U.S. Team in China in 1971) and Part II: "The Grand Tour" (the Chinese team in the U.S. in 1972) Front photo: Chuang Tse-tung and Glenn Cowan are exchanging gifts. Back photos: Chuang and the leader of our U.S. Group to China, USTTA President Graham Steenhoven, are playing a "Friendship First, Competition Second" match; and Steenhoven is later talking with U.S. President Richard Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Then , after I'd introduced my diplomatic colleagues, George Braithwaite and Judy Bochenski Hoarfrost, I gave the following speech (to a generally interested but pretty much uninformed audience):
"Ping-Pong Diplomacy" came about because representatives of two great powers—the People's Republic of China and the United States—came together at the Nagoya, Japan World Table Tennis Championships in 1971. The exchange of gifts between China's Chuang Tse-tung and the U.S.'s Glenn Cowan—that may have fostered the unexpected invitation to the Americans to come to China Easter weekend—caught the world by surprise. Including the uninvited U.S. media. Suddenly our Team members were recruited as the most amateur of foreign correspondents. Ridiculous—but, since no U.S. group had been in China for more than 20 years, the world had to know what our untrained eyes were seeing.
"Cameras, tape-recorders, notebooks, instructions for telephoning Moscow or Tokyo were thrust upon us. We were being paid by magazines and newspapers for our efforts, but it was burdensome—George Braithwaite quipped, with more than one noose of responsibility round his neck, that he might open a camera shop. Of course almost immediately wiser heads prevailed, said, "This rag-tag U.S. Group's gonna be the world's media? No, no, it was too much for us, we weren't equipped for it. And so rather quickly the professionals came in.
"But George kept at least one camera going for as long as he had film—in shorter and shorter supply as our week progressed. Photos for a lifetime—they had to be taken, if only for self. Perhaps Life photographer Frank Fischbeck, said to have taken 4,000 photos in accompanying our Team, would be understanding and sympathetic. Outside Shanghai on the last leg of our China trip, both George and Fischbeck happened to go into a commune home at the same time. George asked Frank friendly-like to please take a picture of him inside this home. Frank obliged—he took a straightforward shot of George, then, rapidly, one at this angle, then one at that angle, then he moved a few steps to the side and took another picture, and then another, and then he bent down and took another, and another. In all, he took seven shots with George's precious film while George, shocked, could only watch dismayed.
"Oh, yes, what disdain the professional had for the amateur.
"Coming out of this commune home, our attention was called to a farm-courtyard ahead of us. Fifteen-year-old Judy Bochenski, later Hoarfrost, was there, standing by an animal. It may have been a water buffalo; she may have been petting it—whatever. The girl and the Chinese beast—it was a must photo-op for our Group's George Buben. But as he was actually in the process of taking his lifetime scrapbook picture, Fischbeck moved quickly, directly in front of him to take his own photo.
"'Heyyy,' said Buben, 'you SOB, you've ruined my picture!'
"'Look,' said Fischbeck, 'don't be silly. I'm doing a job. You're just here.'
"JUST here? In China! George, Judy, Tim were…just here?
"That was a long time ago. Much has been forgotten since 1971, but Ping-Pong Diplomacy has survived. Documentaries have been made, are still being made. Every year, and especially at the time of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, grade-schoolers through graduate students have wanted to do interviews, write papers on Ping-Pong Diplomacy.
"Indeed, a 40-year history of it I've been asked to speak on this afternoon! But don't worry—I've come to know my limitations.
"In 1972, the Chinese on making their reciprocal visit to the U.S. were honored guests at various cities round the country, exchanging speeches and exhibition play, as in a dialogue between respected hosts and guests, and of course they met President Nixon in the White House Rose Garden.
"USTTA International Committee Chair Rufford Harrison had been the recipient in 1971 in Nagoya of China's Sung Chung's query, 'Would the U.S. Delegation like to come NOW to China?' Answer: You betcha.
"In 1984, that same Harrison and his wife Marty accepted an invitation from President Ronald Reagan to attend a White House Dinner in honor of Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang. You might call that a '12-year-Diplomacy' remembrance.
"In 1997, the Chinese came to the U.S. to both the East and West Coasts for a 12-day 25th Anniversary celebration recalling their 1972 visit. President Nixon's daughter Tricia was a guest of honor at the opening Reception at the U.N. in New York, and Henry Kissinger gave a speech beneath the enormous tapestry of the Great Wall that the Chinese had sent as a gift in 1984. There followed in California a Friendship exhibition at Stanford University.
"Then Harrison, '71 Diplomat Connie Sweeris and her husband Dell, and Judy and Dan Hoarfrost visited China, and Judy wrote up her experiences for our U.S. table tennis magazine (experiences so different from those she'd had 25 years earlier).
"Five years later, Harrison (sort of cloak and dagger-like) accompanied Kissinger, his wife, and bodyguard to China for a 30th reunion.
"In 2006, our U.S. Delegation, while on a 35th Reunion Tour in Beijing, Shanghai, Changshu, and the famous "water town" of Zhouzhuang (which Tour for American readers I did a 6,500-word article on), were given gifts of fashionable Hongshanshu clothing. It was fun to watch Judy and others of our Group take on modeling chores and do classy fashion-show runway walks.
"A few months later, in Guangzhou, at the Oriental Resort, there was more Ping-Pong Diplomacy, and our USATT CEO Mike Cavanaugh signed a contract with the Li Ning Co. to outfit our U.S. Teams.
"In 2008, while again in China, our U.S. Group visited Zhou Enlai's birthplace. Quite apropos, for it was the 110th Anniversary of his birth—this famed Premier who 40 years earlier had so graciously welcomed us in Peking's Great Hall of the People.
"And in 2008 at the Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda (which we'll soon be returning to), we remembered that President who played such an important role in Ping-Pong Diplomacy.
"Again and again during these 40 years, at home and abroad, we Americans have met friendly Chinese whom we've long had cause to respect. Among them: Xu Yinsheng, Li Furong, Zhang Xielin, Zhuang Zedong, Liang Geliang, Xi Enting, Li Henan and Liguo Ai, Zheng Minzhi, Zhang Li and Li Zhenshi, Xu Shaofa, Guo Yuehua, and Cai Zhenhua. Now there are new groups of Chinese Ping-Pong Diplomats to be respected.
"Of course respect is best when it works both ways…. Perhaps the people in this room think George, Judy, and Tim, after 40 years of dramatizing Ping-Pong Diplomacy, speaking about it, writing about it, are something more than "just here." And rightly so. For we represent what Life magazine's on-the-job but now long-gone professional Frank Fischbeck does not. With us resides a personal Friendship link, and a very powerful symbolic one, between two representatives of major world powers.
"'Make the Past serve the Present and foreign things serve China,' said Chairman Mao. But that's not the whole story, is it? There's a Diplomacy complement, a dialogue to that. True, I have served China, am serving it now. But China has also served me. It opened the world of international table tennis and foreign fellowship to me. I was 40 when I went there for the first time. I have doubled my life and learning, have written much. And how did it all start? I remember it now almost as if it were occurring again—in China, for a week. But what a life-changing week it was. For now I could write about our Group's little odyssey, or oddity—and since the 1970's that China book I wrote, that's spawned quite a few others, has had a vertical audience. The readership grows, oh, very slowly to be sure, but it grows, as does Ping-Pong Diplomacy itself, like those redwood trees the Chinese and Americans planted in tandem in Changshu.
"Until finally, now, I am here, and George and Judy too. At this moment, just here. And yet—how did it happen?—you in the audience are here too. Just here.
"World-wondrous, isn't it?


text:
Truth About Kristen Stewart Feuding With Other Actresses
November 22nd, 2019
Kristen Stewart was born in Los Angeles on April 9, 1990 to father John, a producer and stage manager, and mother Jules, a script supervisor and director.
Best known for the "Twilight" franchise, Stewart first followed her parents' footsteps into Hollywood when she was just eight years old. Her first major movie role came in 2002's "Panic Room," alongside Jodie Foster. She got her big break at 14 in the children's action-comedy "Catch That Kid." After a number of other big screen appearances, including the films "Zathura," "The Messengers" and "In the Land of Women," Stewart was cast as Bella Swan in the film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's best-selling young adult novel, "Twilight," opposite Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. The film's worldwide success turned Stewart into a global superstar, whose fame continued to rise with each of the subsequent installments, "New Moon," "Eclipse," "Breaking Dawn – Part 1," and Breaking Dawn – Part 2."
Stewart began dating "Twilight" co-star Pattinson after meeting on the set of the film in 2008. The couple kept their relationship very private, but they were forced into the spotlight after photos emerged in 2012 of the actress kissing her "Snow White and the Huntsman" director, Rupert Sanders. Stewart issued a public apology to Pattinson, but the couple split after the incident. Following the controversy, Stewart has been involved in relationships with a number of women, including film producer Alicia Cargile and French singer Soko. She began dating Victoria's Secret supermodel Stella Maxwell in late 2016.
The actress has remained notoriously private about her personal life and vague about her sexuality, but she described herself as "so gay" while hosting "Saturday Night Live" in February 2017. In subsequent interviews, Stewart admitted to being bisexual.
Forbes has named her both the highest-paid actress, and the best Hollywood actor for the buck over the years. While still committed to the enormously popular film series, Stewart also worked on a smaller, independent movies, such as "Adventureland," "Welcome to the Rileys," "The Runaways," and "On The Road," as well as the 2012 Universal Pictures blockbuster, "Snow White and the Huntsman," in which she played Snow White. She also joined forces with both Balenciaga and Chanel, and, following the "Twilight Saga's" end, worked on "Camp X-Ray" and "The Clouds of Sils Maria," "Still Alice," "American Ultra," "Equals," "Café Society," "Personal Shopper" and more. Stewart racked up a number of wins for her role in "The Clouds of Sils Maria." In addition to nabbing awards from the New York Film Critics Circle, the National Society of Film Critics, and the Boston Society of Film Critics, the actress won a César Award, France's equivalent of an Oscar.
Stewart made her directorial debut with the short film "Come Swim," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2017 and later screened at the Cannes Film Festival. Her upcoming acting projects include the Lizzie Borden movie "Lizzie," the thriller "Underwater" and the biopic "JT Leroy," in which she'll play a real-life woman who spent years pretending to be a transgender writer.
November 22nd, 2019
November 18th, 2019
November 13th, 2019
September 24th, 2019
September 10th, 2019
January 24th, 2019
September 28th, 2018
June 24th, 2018


text:
You can thank me later.
If you have been following this blog for a while now, you know that I LOVE all things S'mores. I have made S'mores Bars, S'mores Cookies Pops, S'mores Cookies, S'mores Scones, and S'mores Ice Cream and them some. This S'mores Cracker Candy was no exception to the deliciousness. I found them on a webtsite called Bakergirl and I am so glad I found them. These bars are addictive and are so easy to make. I should really stop writing so I can get back in the kitchen to make more.
S'mores Cracker Candy
recipe ever so slightly adapted from Bakergirl
12 sheets of graham crackers
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
3 cups mini marshmallows
4 Hershey bars, broken into pieces
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 15x10x1-inch jelly roll pan with aluminum foil, leaving a 1-inch overhang over the ends; spray foil with cooking spray. Line graham crackers on the foil, breaking any in half to cover the pan completely
In a medium saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and mixture comes just to a boil (about 4-6 minutes). Remove from heat and pour evenly over crackers. Bake 5 to 6 minutes, or until bubbly.
Remove pan from oven and immediately sprinkle mini marshmallows, chocolate bar pieces, and chocolate chips over the crackers. Return pan to oven for another 2-3 minutes, or until marshmallows begin to soften and puff up.
Cool completely before serving.
p.s. Happy Birthday Zack! I love you!!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
S'mores Cracker Candy
You can thank me later.
1 comment:
I am so glad I found them. These bars are addictive and are so easy to make. I should really stop writing so I can get back in the kitchen to make more.blue candyReplyDelete


text:
Development of Adapters at TCP socket level based on the adapter protocol (ARI).
Use this control to limit the display of threads to those newer than the specified time frame.
Allows you to choose the data by which the thread list will be sorted.
Order threads in...
Note: when sorting by date, 'descending order' will show the newest results first.
Forum Rules


text:
Being fit can do more than help you lose weight. In today's workplace, it can even put money in your pocket.
"Studies have shown that financial incentives are great tools for weight loss," said Jimmy Fleming, co-founder of HealthyWage, a purveyor of financial incentive-based weight-loss programs for businesses and individuals. "There was a study that took a big group of people who were already participating in a weight-loss program and divided then into two groups — one that would just continue with the weight-loss program they were already in, and one that would continue with the weight-loss program and also get paid if they succeeded."
Fleming said those who took place in the incentive group lost "about three times more weight" than those without the financial incentive.
"Insurance companies are moving into a model where employees will get a discount on their monthly premium if they stay fit," Fleming said. "These incentives are becoming more and more common because people really want to succeed once they get started."
But health and wellness expert Shea Vaughn warns the results for weight-loss incentives could be short-lived if people are only focusing on the number on a scale.
"You want a program that will change the culture of the company from the top down — personal culture blended with corporate culture," Vaughn said. "Their productivity will be higher because they're involved in fitness and in wellness. And the managers need to be involved too. Even if people are getting a cash reward for losing weight, It won't be as affective if those who are running the company aren't leading the charge."
Pierce Hutchings, a personal trainer and Chicago-based fitness expert, said companies need to be careful their healthy initiatives aren't excluding those people who are already in shape.
"Most of these programs are geared toward rewarding those who are overweight, but you want to reward the healthy and fit ones as well," Hutchings said. "Instead of going for weight loss, a way to include everyone would be to have movement-based rewards. Several companies make wristbands now that track your movement during the day. So the team that moves the most could get the incentives. You don't want to have the skinniest staff, you want the fittest staff."
Here are more tips from our experts on how to incorporate a successful incentive-based fitness program at the office:
Do it in groups.
"We help corporations do a team challenge, which puts people in teams of five and they spend 12 weeks supporting one another and pressuring one another," Fleming said. "They're competing with other teams within the same company and sometimes against other companies. When more is at stake, participants tend to stick to it."
Vary the rewards.
"Find out what's important to your staff," Vaughn said. "Really connect on what they consider valuable. Maybe paid days off would mean more to them than a cash reward? "
"Gift cards and vacation or spa packages could cost less for companies because they can buy them in bulk or in packages," Hutchings said.
Pay to play.
"Employers think that more people will participate if they make it less expensive, but the academic research shows — and our experience shows — that if people don't have some skin in the game so to speak, they tend to care about it less, they tend to be less likely to finish and less likely to lose weight," Fleming said. "Our participants pay a little money when they sign up (between $30 and $75 depending on the program or corporation), but if they've succeeded, they get their money back along with a cash reward. It's like betting on yourself."
Use social media.
"We encourage people to do things together, like making a healthy meal or exercising together, and then post pictures or videos in social media," Fleming said. "We have a contest where they have the best 'before' photo and the best team exercise photo. People submit all sorts of crazy photos that are focused on being healthy and this keeps people engaged and social ...You can be healthy and fun at the same time, and that's what our research is showing us."
Twitter: @jenweigel


text:
The reveal of the dog that will appear in Call of Duty: Ghosts has probably been one of the most mocked parts of the Xbox One presentation, but it's unexpected to see developers jump in as well. Apparently it's so ridiculous that some simply couldn't resist the temptation.
LMAO... OMG! hat's off to this company for making fun of Call Of Duty's dogs... that was hilarious
||.........___||............ ||
I've actually not heard of Takedown, but man that video was hilarious!
NO! The Snowman can't die, he just can't! I'll perform snowman transmutation if I have to.
The whole "dies during a scripted cinematic" thing is great. 'Cause that's exactly what happens. Every. Single. Time.