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4 Surefire Link building Strategies for Ranking After Penguin
A quick article today. SEO is not dead, nor is link building. But you've got to be very careful with it. Of course, I advocate trying your best to build a website that can attract natural links. And if it's such a niche where this is very hard to do, network with other people in the niche and build relationships which can translate into natural links over time. But that doesn't mean you have to completely throw away manual link building; but if you choose to "link build" you need to be careful about how you do it. Since I know that 99% of you won't just sit back and wait for links to come to you, it's important to link build the RIGHT way.
These strategies are strategies many of us have been talking about for years; the difference now is that NOT doing them can get your site penalized far easier now than in the past.
Strategy 1: Vary the hell out of your anchor text links to your sites
This should be quite obvious to you by now, but if you are slamming links with the same anchor text over and over to your site, you are going to end up on the wrong site of the penguin updates. SEO's often are faced with choosing a keyword they want to rank for or a keyword they don't want to rank for when selecting the anchor text for a link. It goes without saying that most choose the later. You should really now be ensuring MOST of your anchor text is for keywords you are not directly trying to rank for.
I've given a basic breakdown. This is not necessary scientific or anything, but rather a safer rule of thumb to follow when building anchor text. The basic idea is to keep your exact keyword anchors (especially the main keywords you want to rank) well under 50% of the anchor links you get. I'd say between 10-20 percent of the links should have your exact anchor text. The other 20-50 percent of the time, you vary the exact keyword with other words included, as part of a sentance, or just use semantically related keywords instead part of the time). The other 30% – 40% of the links should straight out just be your domain name exactly with or without http:// (vary it) or without the domain extension and some spaces between each word. The rest of the time, use CLICK HERE, HERE, WEBSITE or some bunk word you absolutely don't want to rank for.
The whole goal here is to simulate natural link anchor text patters. MOST real natural links won't have your exact anchor text. This is where having an exact keyword domain comes in really handy for natural link building — many of the links (which are usually your domain name or some variation of the keyword in the domain) will contain the exact anchors you want to rank for. More general sites that don't have the keyword in the domain will find it much harder to rank for that term.
Strategy 2: Create Related MiniSites to Support Main Site
The idea here is not to set up a bunch of general (and shitty) mini sites and hastily link them to the main site. That's asking for trouble. Minisites are highly focused sites that often can rank faster for a specific topic/keyword because they are so focused. Yes, they've been slammed the past few updates, but with proper links and good content (both in quality and number of content), mini sites can still rank well. The key now is to develop quality mini sites solely to SUPPORT your main site/es.
The basics of a mini-site network:
- Mini Sites are semantically related to whatever they are linking to — Having a "payday loan mini site" link to a "dog training" site will not be a topically related site and may trigger flags now. A general "pet mini site" or a cat website or a website about animals linking to a dog training site IS a topically relevant link and wont' trigger flags. I'm not saying every link from unrelated sites will hurt, but too many of them will. It's best to try and keep everything related now.
- Links (preferably quality ones!) to every mini site – if you set up a mini site network with a bunch of new domains that have no links at all to them, don't expect to shoot up through the rankings. True, the links will count and make some difference (especially if the whole network is a year or two + in age), but not anything like if the mini sites have links to them. The better quality links your mini sites have, the better your main site will rank.
- Min Sites don't link to each other — you may be able to get away with some linkage, but for the most part, try and keep all the mini sites distanced from each other.
- You don't have mini sites (and the money site/s) on Google Webmaster Tools, SAME google adsense ID, or google analytics — This is a dead sure way to let google know these sites are all a network.
- Different C-Class IP's, unique RDNS, and unique name servers. Basically, proper SEO hosting — there's a lot of debate about SEO hosting, but I'd say bite the bullet and get it if you plan to set up a network of mini sites to support your money sites. You should make sure your mini sites are all on seperate C class IP's, RDNS's and name servers. This is most easily achieved with SEO hosting, though you could just get a ton of cheap hosting services and spread things around in a pinch.
- Privacy WHOIS Enabled on Every MiniSite
Strategy 3: GET LINKS SLOWLY
Don't build links to fast. There is nothing more suspicious than a website suddenly getting dozens or hundreds of links over a short period of time and you could trigger a penalty. As a rule of thumb, one or two new links every few days. This depends largely on the number of links you already have. If your site has thousands of links, then a handful of links every day won't hurt. If you have 20 thousand links, then you could probably get dozens of links every day. If you have no links or a couple hundred or less, only a couple links every few days!
Strategy 4: Get Different Types of Links (but mostly links from pages/posts)
You don't always want links from the same source, unless those sources are self-hosted blogs. If your links are ONLY from comments, directories, web 2.0′s, RSS, or other low quality link fodder, you absolutely want to make sure you are getting OTHER kinds of links, mainly links from real sites. I'll take a properly anchored link from a self hosted blog / static website any day over a comment link, profile link, RSS links, web directory link. Web 2.0 links (ezine articles, goarticles, and such) are better than the lowest tier links (comment/profile), but not by that much these days (the exception being if the web 2.0 actually has some PR + backlinks to it).


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subset: commoncrawl


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Arthritis pain can turn up in surprising places
- Osteoarthritis can trigger pain throughout body
- Research finds that muscle relaxants, antidepressants can help
- Expert recommends early diagnosis
Arthritis pain that begins slowly in one joint and is left untreated can eventually wallop the entire body, leading to disability and costly surgeries, researchers reported Sunday.
Studies being discussed at the American College of Rheumatology's annual meetings in Washington, D.C., through Wednesday find that when osteoarthritis progresses to multiple joints it can cause havoc by triggering pain everywhere in the body from head to toe. New ways of managing the disease affecting 27 million Americans can prevent the crippling pain from spreading and improve overall health, according to Joanne Jordan, chairman of the U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative's Chronic Osteoarthritis Management Initiative.
"We need to treat the pain early on before it gets generalized," says Jordan, director of the University of North Carolina's Thurston Arthritis Research Center. "When pain becomes generalized, things that ordinarily wouldn't hurt are hurtful. For instance, you can pat someone on the shoulder and their shoulder, which might not be near the afflicted joint, will hurt. They'll wince or cry out in pain."
In these patients where the pain has taken on a life of its own, doctors need to "aggressively" treat the pain, she says: "Sometimes a patient will go to the doctor and say they hurt everywhere, and the doctor isn't always sympathetic.
"What we're discovering is the central nervous system rewires itself when pain keeps occurring from one place and generalizes the pain instead to other places in the body."
Jordan says new research finds the pain burden can be relieved by treating it with muscle relaxants and antidepressants, but more therapies need to be developed.
Adam Goode, a researcher at Duke University, presented findings Sunday on how pain perception changes in someone with mid- to severe osteoarthritis. In a study of 1,602 people taking part in the Johnston County (N.C.) Osteoarthritis Project, Goode tested pain thresholds by attaching a dolorimeter to the neck area and applying pressure.
"Compared with people who didn't have any knee or hip symptoms, those who had symptoms in both knees and both hips were 50% more likely to feel that pressure as painful,'' he said.
Specialists at the meeting are targeting solutions to end the pain cycle. The Chronic Osteoarthritis Management Initiative, developed from medical professionals in orthopedics, physical therapy, sports medicine and rheumatology, calls for managing osteoarthritis like other chronic diseases. Tops on the list: prevention. By getting an early diagnosis, people can stay active and reduce their likelihood of having their arthritis worsen other chronic health problems, including obesity, diabetes and heart disease, Jordan says.
"Many doctors assume an inevitable trajectory of aging and osteoarthritis," she says. "And they think joint-replacement surgery will address the problem." This "joint death and rebirth process" can be transformed, she says, by identifying risk factors (knowing if other family members have the disease, identifying risk factors like obesity, having a longer leg, avoiding sports injuries early in life), and doing regular followups.


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It was somewhere between a slightly drunk rendition of a Six Pence None The Richer song, that I turned around gigglingly, towards the bar set up at the back. The entrance of the second floor establishment, was right beside the bar at the back end of the room, and I saw their party of three come into the lounge.
The two men with their arms draped casually around each other, looking every bit the couple they were, laughing about something with their heads thrown back - and the woman with them sauntering in ahead of them, with purposeful steps, hips swaying slightly with her strides. Her face broke out into a toothy grin, eyes widening at the words that scrolled, projected on the wall at the back end of the dimly lit lounge. I heard my friend start to sing, and I forced my gaze back to the scrolling words and joined her once again.
Kiss me, down by the broken treehouse
Swing me upon its hanging tree
Bring, bring, bring your flowered hat,
We'll take the trail marked on your fathers map,
So kiss me.
Waking up hungover was so much easier five years ago - what could have possibly changed in five years? My entire body groaned in resistance as I crawled out of bed. Slowly, I set about getting ready to leave for work and once I close the door behind me an hour later, I take my phone out to message my two best friends.
Quickly I type a one liner and hit send, moving on to catch a cab with a slight smile on my lips.
I met the most amazing woman last night.
There are more people in the dimly lit lounge now - and a few of them are looking on expectantly while the others talking in hushed voices, as she takes to the little clearing in the middle of the room, right in front of the song prompter. I am there with my college friends, a long planned reunion, and we were already slightly drunk from the party we went to before this, and we are fully expecting to move on from here to another party soon enough. We have taken an entire couch and a pitcher of sangria lies for us to devour.
She has everyones attention at her first note.
I see you driving 'round town with the girl I love
and I'm like,
Ooo, ooo, oooo!
I guess the change in my pocket wasn't enough
I'm like,
And fuck her too.
Dear God could the woman sing or what? I think to myself, staring at her owning the song, utterly mesmerized. She sings into the microphone as if being a regular rockstar was her day job, swinging her hips in time to the music. Vaguely I hear my friends - and the rest of the crowd, cheer her on as she hits a particularly high pitched note, and all I can do is stare at her. She turns in the general direction of my cheering friends and for an instant locks eyes with me.
Before I could wipe the stupid dazed look off my face, she's moved back to her next verse.
'Oooooo deetails!' comes the instant reply from Bestie #1. Bestie #2 follows soon enough with a predictable 'Boobs?'. Men! I laugh to myself and switch on my system at work. Within minutes I am knee deep in emails and deadlines and presentations, with the sound of her voice pushed to the very back of my mind. For now.
Bestie #3 catches me humming to myself as I wait for the printer to churn out my page around lunch time, and asks me whats that song I am humming. I give her the widest grin and she gives me a confused smile in return, before we are interrupted by other friends.
Six hours later when I leave for home, I am still humming my song.
Na na na na, na na, na na na na, na na naaaaa.
By the end of the night, I had had enough alcohol in me to stumble over to the guys managing the song requests and put in my song. It happened to be the last one they'd take for the night. Only slightly tipsy on my feet, but highly skeptical of the vocal skills I had once possessed and hadn't used since I graduated, I take the mike in my hands as my song comes up. I have my sights trained on the prompter, and behind me I overhear her take a look at the screen and gasp in delight at my song choice.
I turn and give her a smile without much thought (all that sangria probably went to my head) to which she gushes, 'Oh what a great song!'
'Yeah, its been a favorite for over a decade!' I murmur to her insignificantly, considering she has already turned away.
I take a deep breath and get back to my song, as a general hush falls over the room. I allow myself to get back ten years in time, back to the carefree sneaker-wearing, basketball-playing, band-singer girl I was. Who could get on and belt a song right from the heart, without thinking about anything else apart from why the song meant so much.
And this one did. Oh it really really did.
Now that she's back in the atmosphere
With drops of Jupiter in her hair, hey, hey, hey
She acts like summer and walks like rain
Reminds me that there's a time to change, hey, hey, hey
Since the return from her stay on the moon
She listens like spring and she talks like June, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
I start to smile, when the hush breaks out in delighted sing-alongs because this ones a crowd favorite, and…. it looks like I still got game. Bolstered by the clapping and the cheering, I take control of my song like I'd never let go.
But tell me, did you sail across the sun?
Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated?
My friend joins me, because we both sang this song together long ago in college, and she credits herself as the one who introduced me to the song. Our voices echo in perfect symphony, I was back in college when we had dedicated the song to our then boyfriends.
Ten years on, her boyfriend was sitting on the couch in front of us, grinning and filming us sing together on his phone.
Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star–
One without a permanent scar?
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?
My fingers itch, wishing I had my guitar to play along too.
The wind gushes past my face, as music blares into my ears, while I stand at the footboard of the train. I am in no hurry to make my way home today, smiling to myself as I take my usual moderately crowded 06.17 Andheri slow. My thoughts are a strange amalgamation of the woman from last night, band practices from long ago, cobbled streets and cheese omelettes.
The last boy I sang Drops of Jupiter to, the one with the dimpled smile and the softest brown eyes.
But tell me, did the wind sweep you off your feet?
Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day
And head back to the Milky Way?
And tell me, did Venus blow your mind?
Was it everything you wanted to find?
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?
I think about how I was so convinced of how life was going to turn out back then.
I had never been so wrong.
It is hard to ignore the slight shiver that runs down my spine as she curls her arms around my waist for my favorite verse. Apparently, its her favorite too. I shift so the mike is between us now and I put my arm around her too, awkwardly half-hugging her as we sing like we've done this a million times before. In reality, I have never done anything like this in a really long time.
Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken?
Your best friend always sticking up for you even when I know you're wrong
Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance, five-hour phone conversation?
The best soy latte that you ever had and me
She turns to me and gives me that beautiful toothy smile, and I swear I am a goner.
But tell me, did the wind sweep you off your feet?
Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day
And head back toward the Milky Way?
And tell me, did you sail across the sun?
Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated?
My friend catches the look on my face from the other end of the room, and smiles to me. Her boyfriend smiles too and zooms in on his phone camera which has been filming us all sing, to only me and her now. My friend fades out her notes until its only the two of us singing.
And tell me, did you fall for a shooting star,
One without a permanent scar?
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself?
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
And did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day?
Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
And did you fall for a shooting star, fall for a shooting star?
Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
And now you're lonely looking for yourself out there.
We finish the song together and it was magic.
My friends jump up and everyones laughing and cheering and clinking sangria glasses together, happy to have had this slice of college back. Everyone feels 17 again.
A minute later, I turn around to search for her, only to find that she's already left.
Its 11.54 AM in the night, and I am flipping through channels to see whats on TV when a beep on my phone alerts me to an incoming media file. Without particularly paying attention to my phone, I let it download. My phone alerts me again when its done downloading, and I swipe it open. Its the video that my friends boyfriend took last night of us singing.
I watch the whole thing with a smile on my face. Singing along too, because its impossible not to. At the very end of the clip, I see her walking away with her two friends when I was busy hugging my friends and laughing and talking.
Just before she takes the stairs to leave the room, she turns towards me and smiles.
P.S.: Full disclosure. Most of this story is not a work of fiction. The keyword being, most. Suffice it is to say that I have taken creative liberties with how the night ended. :D
Gorgeous girl, this is for you. In a different lifetime, in a different place, we could have been something amazing together. Stay awesome. :)
P.P.S.: Title courtesy the band that needs to be credited for coming up with the song that has been an absolute favorite for so many years now!
Now Playing: Drops of Jupiter | Train (Taylor Swift live cover)


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I have really been trying to fix things up around the patio area, without spending any money. Last week I did buy a couple of ferns because I got the great idea that my bird baths that were buried under ivy would look much better on the patio.
I planted the monkey grass that is green and white along this edge of the patio but it has yet to take off.
See what I mean this area really needs some help.
I had these little fence pieces that I pulled out from my sidewalk area. All of my plants were over powering them on the sidewalk anyway.
So this is where the little fence pieces were, see what I mean about the plants hanging over.
I got out the spray paint and painted them white. I think they will look good when the variegated grass grows in.
I think they turned out cute and look so much better in the white.
I put the other fern in this old chair on the porch and I love the way that it looks.
I hung my humming bird feeder in the cedar tree next to the porch and we really enjoy seeing the sweet little humming birds coming up to drink the nectar.
I have a few cute little planters out of just some old pottery. I also like old salvaged pieces in the garden, like the one below.
I planted a few succulents into some old cinder blocks that we had laying around and they are doing quite well.
This one is so pretty. I have never had these before but I really like them. I love to get my hands dirty but the Va. heat keeps me inside in the middle of the day. I like to get out in the yard early in the morning and late in the evening. This last shot was taken when the sun was going down.


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|Connecticut Broadleaf, Indonesian
|United States
|More Details
Relish in the famous taste of Backwoods Cigars for all cigar fans to take pride in. Browse through our selection and choose your favorite Backwoods flavors. Pick up a box of Backwoods in a variety of flavors like Black and Sweet, Honey, Honey Berry, Sweet Aromatic and Backwoods Original Cigars here at Cigars International.
The Backwoods Cigarillos line includes:
Original: smooth, easy on the palate, and full of complex flavor
Sweet Aromatic: mellow and smooth with a fragrant scent and distinct taste
Honey: golden honey sweetens up the natural tobaccos of this classic
Black N' Sweet Aromatic: dark, short, and tasty – a lusciously fragrant classic cigar
Honey Bourbon: delightful sweetness mixes with a smooth kick of the best Kentucky bourbon
Dark Stout: creamy, dark flavors of stout beer pair with smooth tobaccos
Russian Cream: uniquely aromatic and satisfying with smooth flavor of vodka, coffee liqueur, cream, and dark coffee
Honey Berry: Flavors of fresh berries are perfectly complimented by a touch of golden honey
Cheap, and you can find them almost anywhere. Allen and me don't have time plus we are not near a cigar shop. These are my go to. The wrapper is whole leaf tobacco, and the filler is tasty. Definitely a good alternative when you don't have the time, money, or availability of a premium cigar.
I enjoy these little smokes, has a chocolate brownie smell, cool draw, good light flavor when smoking and nice puffs of smoke.
Love these little smokes. Great when you're in a crowd. The smell of the smoke is not offensive to everyone. Great for the cigar and beer on the deck.
Love these cigars! Usually buy at least 4-6 of the 40 ct boxes every few months! Wish there was free shipping for them all the time.
Love these smokes; hate the 5 instead of the 8 we used to get. I also don't like the occasional 1 or 2 bad ones in a pack, with only 5 to start with. That being said, Cigars Intl is excellent and Backwoods are excellent cigars.
Very nice little cigars, I got the natural, gives a 10 minute break or so, good little flavor, but they really improve if you take them out of the individual wrappers and store them for a few days. I did that and smoked all 24 in about a week and a half. Good flavor and well worth the buy!
wild and mild all the way to the nub
It seems the quality just keeps going down and the cigars just keep getting smaller until they raise the price. The wrapper is getting so thin, it's hard to get a decent draw sometimes. Still, none of the competition really matches up for a cheap cigar.
My fiance loves these I share them with friends, they always go over great. First time I bought one box they didn't last, next time I bought two boxes we will see how long they last!
The Black & Sweets have a great taste and aroma. My only problem is consistency of the cigars: some are rolled too tight, others fall apart from being so loose.
Thoroughly disappointed in these. I had worked my way through a bale of Bandidos and wanted to try out something different for a quick smoke so I picked up a box of the aromatics after researching my options for quite a while. I wanted something quick and tasty, but not too small. I wish I had gone for more Bandidos instead. The Backwoods are really mild, and pleasant to those in the vicinity smelling the smoke. Their smell doesn't linger in/on me for hours and their aftertaste dissipates faster than most other cigars too. Though mild, they unfortunately taste pretty awful to me. I thought they were going to be a little sweet, but I'm not getting that at all. I keep craving a cigar and when I go out to have one of these I'm reminded all over again how unsatisfying they are. I'm not sure how best to describe them, but I guess the smoke tastes stale to me and there is no pleasure to be had gnawing on them. I don't recommend these and won't be buying them again.
I love the taste of the honey berry cigars, however, I am disappointed with the consistency of the construction of these cigars. Though some are good, at least a third of the cigars are in poor condition. On more than one occurrence the cigar broke in half when I was simply taking it out of the packaging. Because of the construction of these cigars, I would not recommend them.
Bye, bye Backwoods. I've had 20+ years of smoking Backwoods. I even stuck with them some years back when they jumped prices by going from the 8 pack to the 5 pack. The reason? The best very cheap mild cigar on the market. But not any more! Despite my 20+ year loyalty, I have always been very frustrated by the poor construction of Backwoods. Holes, tears, cigars packed too tight to smoke....
Tried one of the originals from Backwoods today, not that impressed, maybe I should have tried one of the flavored versions. Stuck some in the humi, to try to see if it can be seasoned some.
Good gar sometimes....seems the quality of the roll got better.
Meh....not terrible for quick smoke that you can get at most convenience stores when you're desperate. I much prefer the Ashton Half Corona for the quick smoke. The Ashton's not as easy to get and aren't $2 per stick...but much more flavor than Backwoods Original.
"Best Cigars" out there for your money! Backwoods Honeyberry!
Love these small cigars. Perfect for a 20 minute smoke, or if want some cheapies to bring with you on a trip. The original have a good cigar flavor and the honey berry are very sweet and have a good aroma. I've tried an aromatic one and didn't care for for it, but I personally think it was just a dud since it had a bad draw. The aromatic does have a nice cocoa scent. The honey berry is the most sweetened and flavored. Plus, they look freakin' awesome. I wish more cigars had a shag-foot. Pick some up for your next fishing trip.
Great, but just went up in price.
Smell better than they taste. I've smoked both the Sweet and the Honey Berry, and they both are extremely aromatic. But even after a few draws, the chemical taste starts to get me. Honey Berry is ok though, the sweet flavor makes up for the chemical after-taste. Very woody and warm flavored. Not bad for a quick smoke on the cheap that I don't feel bad tossing out half smoked, or smoking around others....they do smell amazing, and I've gotten comments on them.
Bad Economy and Currently Temporarily Disabled From a Car accident. My Daily smokes have changed DRAMATICALLY. Every day i used to smoke Padron Coronas with my Daily Coffee. NOW that my entire Collection (of non super premiums of which I am down to a full 50 ct Humidor.) of daily smokes are GONE! So my new daily smokes have changed and these are one of the good ones. It is Machine made and is made with "Aromatic" tobacco although It at least has a Real Wrapper (not that tobacco paper crapola) its a Broadleaf Wrapper and is a nice dark natural not consistent at all in the wrapping nor the wrapper leaves but these are not beautiful they are dry cured. IDK about binder IDK if they even have one I never bothered to dissect one. But I find them to be a GREAT choice when it comes to machine made Cheap Cigars. IMO the Aromatic flavor masks any inconsiderateness of the smoke so they always taste the same even though they all look different. In all in my book they are a good smoke for the price less than 65 cents each they will not break your budget. Also on a second note these are good beginner cigars they are dry cured ( i believe) and i dont think they require a humidor as they come in 5 packs sealed in foil and as long as you at least fold the wrapper (the foil one not the cigar itself lol) I have not had one that was too dry to smoke. Although the first cigars i started smoking were Honey or Vanilla C.A.O. Flavored Cigars I now know I was paying way too much for the smokes as these give C.A.O. a fun for the money. So, if your like me and can stand an AROMATIC cigar for a daily, if you cannot afford something better, or want a cigar you can smoke anytime with little maintenance. As not needing a cutter, a cigar lighter (disposable lighters work fine) or a humidor. these are Especially good if your looking for something to start smoking give backwoods a try! They also have a nice aroma and smell much better than $1 cigars even long leaf at that price. so like i already said if you haven't already try a box you'll smoke them.
Backwoods seem to be mini-cigars made with pipe tobacco. They do give an aromatic smoke that smells good even to non-smokers. But after one or two, you begin to get that chemical taste that most flavored tobacco cigars suffer from. The construction is very simple and to be honest, not much tobacco in each cigar. A good beginner cigar that you can find in any drug store, but there are better inexpensive flavored cigars at CI.
These things (Backwoods)smell like pipe tobacco. Skinny-looking things will almost inspire you to roll one yourself (if only you can find a place that sells whole tobacco leaves!) They taste perfect, mild, slightly sweet, with a reassuring smell that'd make you think of trees, log cabins, and cast-iron stoves. Unfortunately, QC is a concern: in a pack, there will be on average one or two that are a pain to draw on. They're good for a short break/escape, and on days off, you'll want to smoke three. Fun fact: if smoked in public, you WILL be approached by someone asking if you're smoking reefer, because well... they look like blunts.
A friend introduced me to these (Backwoods) and they have been a regular staple ever since. Most people comment at how they smell good (the Aromatics) and the flavor from the smoke isn't too overpowering with sweetness. There also isn't some faux flavor on the cigar itself to taint the smoke. CI has them for the cheapest of anywhere i have seen and CI will ship them anywhere as I used to get regular shipments during my tour of duty in Iraq....they were always there within a very reasonable time.
Can't beat these little cigars (Backwoods)! First of all, they are very masculine, right out of the Old Frontier days. They are just the right size---not to large so lighting one up is a time committment like a cigar. The smoke smells great, like a pipe, and tends not to be offensive to people around you. Finally, they smoke sweet and soft. One last thing...the flavored varieties are not over flavored, sicky sweet like many flavored cigars...or many pipe tobaccos. I don't know how Backwoods does it, but these are flavored smokes without overdoing the sweeting.
Backwoods are a great quick smoke made from the best tobacco there is in machine made cigars good flavor and no moisture concerns
I have been smoking these cigars (Backwoods) for about a month and these are definitly my go to smoke. Very flavorfull. Love how they look. Taste as good as candy all the way down to the nub. All time faverite and CI has them cheaper than the gas station down the road. WooHooo!!!!!


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Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Ted White Q&A: On Writing a Synthetic Work
3 comments:
- Alfred Brophy said...
This talk of synthesis reminds me of The Marshall Court and Cultural Change -- which is my favorite of White's books and one of my two or three favorite works of American history. It synthesizes a ton of literature on republicanism and what we're now calling the market revolution. I know that this series of posts is focused around the Law in America, but I'd be most interested in your thoughts on Marshall Court and Cultural Change. Hard for me to believe that it's been out, what, 24 years. Seems like it may be time for a retrospective on it and how it's influence the writing of constitutional history and also history of the period 1810s to 1830s.
- March 7, 2012 at 1:11:00 PM EST
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- March 8, 2012 at 1:26:00 PM EST
It sounds like you'd be the perfect editor for such a retrospective, right, Al? I've passed along your comment to Ted.
- March 8, 2012 at 1:30:00 PM EST


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For the first time, the ETRC is opening its archives to share the treasures of several fonds and collections with the broader public. The exhibition showcases a small selection of the thousands of remarkable photographs in the ETRC's collection.
Kids! – Children of the Eastern Townships between 1890 -1930 is a photograph exhibition that displays the life of children in the Eastern Townships of Quebec and takes you on a journey back in time.
The ETRC is thankful for the cooperation with the Lennoxville-Ascot Historical and Museum Society (LAHMS) for giving us the opportunity to display our photographs in this beautiful building.
The exhibit will be open until June 30, 2014, and it will be held at the Uplands Cultural and Heritage Centre, 9 Speid St., Lennoxville.
The event is free to everyone.


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"The lack of humour and irritability into which we in the contemporary Church and contemporary theology have so often slipped is perhaps one of the most serious objections which can be brought against present-day Christianity," wrote Cardinal Walter Kasper, a German Catholic theologian, in his book An Introduction to Christian Faith . I'll say: some Catholic priests make you wonder how they can say that they "celebrate" the Mass when they never crack a smile.
It's not just a Catholic problem. The Rev. Martin Marty, the distinguished Protestant theologian, author of many books and over 5,000 scholarly articles, told me that certain aspects of the Protestant tradition have always struck him as "grim." In a recent interview Marty said, "Hilaritas is not characteristic of the Protestant ethos."
Professor Marty saw that as ironic since Martin Luther, about whom Marty has written extensively, often stressed the value of "play" in his writings. He was also fond of the occasional witticism. In one of the sayings later collected in Luther's Table Talk, one of his friends recounts Luther's amusing way of preparing to deliver a particular homily. "Tomorrow I have to lecture on the drunkenness of Noah," said the great man, "so I should drink enough this evening to be able to talk about that wickedness as one who knows by experience."
Ironically, Professor Marty said that his whole career could be attributed to a sense of humor. While studying at Concordia Seminary in Missouri, he and his friends playfully concocted a fictional scholar named Franz Bibfeldt, whose fake name and spurious accomplishments they attempted to place in as many academic settings as they could--student newspapers, the school's library card catalogue, and so on.
In response to these shenanigans, the dean called him into his office for a scolding. He told Marty that someone with such frivolity could never be a good Protestant scholar, and sent him to work with a pastor. But at that church the pastor told the young man that all his assistants studied for their doctorates. So that's what Marty did. "So my whole professional life was thanks to a prank!" he told me.
Today you can find on the Internet references to the work of the fictional professor, including a book penned by Marty and a friend with the wonderfully serious title of The Unrelieved Paradox: Studies in the Theology of Franz Bibfeldt. Among the fanciful articles are "Franz Bibfeldt and the Future of Political Theology."
"And I'm still accused of not being serious enough!" said one of the country's greatest scholars of religion. "I have a real taste for humor."


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The best 2010 NBA Mock Draft
HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Today is like Christmas for NBA fans.
Not only will teams be upgrading through the NBA draft, but they'll be making use of the company phone plan by discussing trades with other teams.
For instance, little is known beyond the first three picks, which only adds fuel to the already blazing hot fire of rumors.
Come back to HoopsVibe News for draft and trade coverage. For now, click the link for CNNSI's excellent mock draft and get at us with thoughts in the comment box below about what trade/draft selections you want to see happen.
Got thoughts? What trade/draft pick are you hoping for?


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A Short Story Broke My Brain
You might be wondering what happened to that live short story. I did it. I just haven't written about it because I lost the ability to form coherent sentences.
I knew it would be tough. Turning up at the Melbourne Writers Festival with a laptop, plugging into the big screen, and writing a short story from scratch while people watch: that's not the recommended writing technique. I think that's the opposite of what you're supposed to do, which is something about forgetting the rest of the world exists. It's hard to be creative and self-conscious.
But that was half the fun! Come watch Max struggle! I was already writing an online serial in real-time; how much worse could this be?
Lots. I turned up on the day, ready for action, at the table they'd set up. It was in the corner of the atrium, hidden behind the Festival's Information Desk. On official maps, you couldn't see it, because it was obscured by the word "INFORMATION." This struck me as problematic. There was no signage to indicate who I was or what I was doing. Shortly after I began to set up, a man stopped and asked for directions to a panel. I decided it was time to make up my own signs. I did three, and stuck them to the front of the table: the first said, "Hi! I'm Max Barry." The second said, "I'm writing a live short story today." The third said, "Because I'm stupid, that's why." This turned out to be truer than I knew.
Half a dozen people had gathered. About this number stayed the entire three hours, and may I say to those people, I'm incredibly touched and grateful, even though you destroyed my sanity. There was nowhere for them to comfortably see the screen and me at the same time, but that didn't deter them; oh no. They made the best of things, craning their necks and reclining chairs like they were beach lounges. That way, they could see pixelated, perspective-warped words on the big screen while staying close enough to make out the individual beads of sweat dripping down my nose.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. First I had to chase down Festival people, imploring somebody to plug me into the big screen like we had damn well arranged. I hate to knock the Festival, because it's a great event, but this was really crap. People were waiting.
Once I was on the air, I canvassed my little audience for ideas. I got some great ones, some good ones, and some I still don't understand today. The two that jumped out at me were both about pregnancy: one about a couple whose due date comes and goes, and goes and goes, and another about renting a baby. In retrospect, I probably should have been wary of both of these, because they're similar to two other shorts I've written: How I Met My Daughter and A Shade Less Perfect. I was already defensive, feeling around for tried and tested tools.
But it was only 11:30am: I was full of energy, optimistic! When people came up and asked for directions, I tried to help them out, then went back to my notes. Sometimes I asked for feedback from the people standing around. Then I realized I didn't have to: I could hear their reactions.
Let me say that again. I would type a sentence, and hear people inhale, or snicker, or lean together to discuss it. Now, I guess I knew this might happen. And, at first, while I was messing around with notes, it was funny. Even useful. But then I started writing. And it was like they were INSIDE MY BRAIN.
The longest I ever sunk into the story before remembering that people were watching was about 45 seconds. Often I would be halfway through a sentence and someone would stop by to chat or offer suggestions or ask where the bathrooms were. Which is what I signed up for, of course: this was meant to be interactive. But it was like being woken from a deep sleep eighty times an hour. Two parts of my brain that don't normally meet were knocking into each other and I wasn't sure which of them was me.
By the two-hour mark, I was flagging. The story wasn't awful, but it didn't feel right. It was derivative, of me; like something not new. I wasn't connected to it. I had honestly tried to do this right, but if I'd been at home, at this point I would have closed the document and checked my email.
Since that would have been inappropriate with an audience, I ploughed on. At 2pm, I finished. I thanked everyone who had stuck around, and I meant it, even though I already knew I would be spending the next few days trying to scrub them out of my brain. Then I left. I felt like someone had beaten the creative part of my mind with sticks. The rest of the day, I struggled to talk like a human being. True, I have that problem normally. But this was even worse than usual.
The next time I sat down in my study, I felt them there: phantom story-watchers. Halfway through my first sentence, I almost braced for a snicker. But it didn't come. After a while, I forgot about it. I was okay. I was safe again.


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The Northern Lights appear all year round, but they are most impressive in the autumn months. They can also be seen in March and they "disappear" in the light summer nights.
Arsarnerit means ball games, and the sagas recount how the northern lights appear in the night sky when the souls of the dead play ball with walrus skulls.
The midnight sun is another magnificent Greenland phenomenon which is encountered north of the Arctic Circle. Daylight can be enjoyed round the clock, depending on how far north you are. For example, in Uummannaq, the midnight sun is present from the 16th of May to July 28th and during that time "normal" methods of working out what time it is are more or less useless. It is light around the clock.
https://soundcloud.com/freakyforests/fr ... dnight-sun
01# Farebi Jalebi - Shataiye
02# Antonymous - Binary Labyrinth
03# TerraTech - Iter Itineris Conscientia
04# Mind Distortion System - Yokai
05# Select Project - To Many Kick Of
06# MalkaviamM - La Oscura Ceremonia
07# Yara Vs Malkaviam - The Awfull Truth
08# Noise Gust - Freak Out Syndrome
09# Sator Arepo - Mental Leak
10# Furious - Nishtyak
11# Jibber Jabber On Earth - Alien Seed
12# Technical Hitch Twist Osom - Berg Sturz
13# Mind Distortion System - Wormhole (Remix)
14# Hishiryo vs. Kiriyama - Nantoka Yattemasu (Japan Live Mix)
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Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Christopher Nolan fan. I remember in early middle school, Memento blew me away; a year or two later I made my mom take me to see Insomnia and she probably thought I was nuts… And again I was blown away by tour-de-force acting and a great character study.
Then of course came all the Batmans which were great, even though the third one had, well, a few issues that the Honest Trailer people figured out. And I even really liked Inception even though it also had some problems.
And then we get Interstellar. Nolan doing sci-fi. Check. About space. Check. About the future. Check. And man was I mad! It's like no one read the script except Nolan, who is apparently going nuts! Really the only thing about the movie that isn't flawed is the amazing score by Hans Zimmer, who is the man. It's also shot really well…
So I decided to go back and watch Interstellar and find 50 plot holes (sure, some may be more "issues" than "plot holes") and connect them using metaphors – like how the movie uses the metaphor for human love to explain everything – to fantasy basketball. The plot holes that really grinded my gears are in italics.
FULL DISCLOSURE! I'm not going to watch the Honest Trailer for Interstellar until I'm done!
If this isn't your viewing companion next time you watch Interstellar, then I don't know what is… Here we go:
(note – if I really need to say "spoiler alert" for a post like this if you haven't seen it, then that might be your issue…)Please, blog, may I have some more?


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FRANKFURT (Reuters) - European Central Bank President Mario Draghi pressed euro zone countries on Saturday to make progress with economic reforms as part of a drive towards greater integration among the bloc's 17 members.
The ECB has taken some of the heat out of the euro zone debt crisis by last month unveiling its new bond-purchase program - dubbed "Outright Monetary Transactions", or OMT - but Draghi urged governments not to become complacent with reforms.
"Within the European Monetary Union, progress needs to be made in three areas: budgetary policy, structural reforms and financial market regulation," he said in the text of a speech for delivery via video link to Venice's Ca' Foscari University.
Calling for greater economic integration among euro zone states, Draghi said no country in such a currency union should be allowed to cause economic damage to other members by pursuing its own national economic policy priorities.
His message came as the ECB, the European Commission, and the International Monetary Fund - the so-called troika of international lenders - work on a review of their 130 billion euro bailout program for Greece.
Draghi said it was vital there be multilateral surveillance of budget policies in the euro zone. He called for structural reforms to promote innovation and for centralized authorities to be created to limit excessive risk taking in financial markets.
He said the European Commission's recent proposal for a single banking supervision mechanism for the euro area - in which the ECB would play an important role - was "a bold and necessary step towards creating a single financial market which ensures financial stability in the euro area and the European Union."
Writing by Paul Carrel; editing by Jason Webb


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Lighting, to brighten up your day
Long gone are the days when lighting was about visibility
Today you can use lighting to enhance your mood, whether you are getting down to work, planning a romantic night in, getting ready for a party or just looking to chill out.
Reading a book with a light on or watching a series with the lighting dimmed, lights are a big part of your experience. Don't you think?
You can look upon light as an essential part of your senses. Sound, music, images, movies or even waking up. It all gets better when lighting has set the right mood for the specific situation.


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Good News on Housing!
The Wall Street Journal reports that some mortgage insurers and lenders are beginning to relax their down‐payment requirements, so that buyers in some parts of the country can now borrow 95% instead of 90% of a property's value. Buyers who can't come up with even a 5% down payment can turn to the Federal Housing Administration, which will make loans with as little as a 3.5% down payment. Unsurprisingly, the FHA is increasing its market share.
Meanwhile, the Treasury department is pressuring mortgage companies to reduce payments for many more troubled homeowners, averting foreclosures. So, good news: people who lack income and assets will be able to take out loans to buy houses, and if they can't make the payments they signed up for, the government will pressure their lenders to accept lower monthly payments in return. We're back on the road to easy, universal homeownership.
Oh, wait.


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By COLLEEN LEDDY
It's Friday night...after 2 a.m. so it's really Saturday and I am doing laundry. In the basement. The place I never go at night. Only...I have been going down there lately late in the night.
You might recall I did so to wash Rosie and Caroline's clothes the night before they flew back to Baton Rouge. And nothing bad happened...as in no bats made their silent swoop in my general direction.
It was good practice since I am leaving in the morning—Saturday morning, for Portland, to participate in the Pushing the Limits workshop for the pilot program the library will host next year—and I needed to wash a few more things (Yes, this is way too last minute even for me.).
I'm thinking this is going to be a very nerve-wracking experience, but also a very fun time.
First, when the producer e-mailed asking all the librarians participating to fill out an appearance release form, she also asked us to send a bio and a photo of ourselves.
She gave a sample:
"I'll start...the following is a photo of me taken at a Christmas party."
She asked for it around the time of the Labor Day Bridge Walk and the only recent photo I had was the one David took of me at the walk, dressed as a chicken (Remember? We invited everyone to dress as an animal with a tail to go along with the "Animal Tales" theme for this year's Prime Time series).
So, I sent the chicken photo and this note:
"Attached is a photo taken of me at a community event...all in a day's work for a rural library director. (I'll send you a normal one soon.)"
And then I got a little nervous...maybe I was pushing the limits of professionalism. But her e-mails had been light-hearted, friendly, and personable, and her response allayed my fears.
"Hi Colleen,
Oh man, that was so unexpected—thanks for the real good belly laugh—great way to start the day!"
Then, the production coordinator e-mailed to introduce herself and said this was "a very small world moment." She said she went to MSU with my son Ben and that she and Faye VanderHoff are very good friends. "...when I saw your name on our roster and that you were from Morenci, I asked her if she knew you. And of course she does! Isn't that crazy?!"
Later, she e-mailed wardrobe guidelines. Among them:
• Please abstain from wearing busy, loud patterned prints, including stripes and checkered shirts or dresses.
• Solid jewel tones work the best on camera (amethyst purple, ruby red, emerald green, topaz yellow, tourmaline green, turquoise, and blue) as do solid earth tones (rust orange, earth brown, hunter green)
• Solid white and primary red however are no-no's (but cream/ecru and burgundy/magenta is okay).
• Because there will be microphones on your table that pick up not only your voices but also the noise your clothes make, we ask that you please wear soft fabrics (e.g. cotton, linen, wool, etc.) and avoid crisp fabrics (tulle, raw silk, etc.)
• Jewelry, please do not wear bracelets, large necklaces or noisy dangling earrings. Jewelry clanking, like noisy fabrics will be picked up by the microphones.
"So, black is OK?" I asked. I had Googled wardrobe guidelines and black was on the NO list.
"I like your list better than the ones I came across in which pastels ruled. (I worried that we would all look like an Easter basket.)"
"Black pants or a black skirt would be fine," she advised, "but we do encourage people to stay away from the Johnny Cash look (entire black wardrobe) because solid black does not read well on camera."
Today, I started to worry about make-up so I e-mailed her again.
"I don't normally wear make-up and when I do (weddings of my children, 35th high school reunion) it's my daughters or Sephora putting it on me. I'm not philosophically opposed to it or anything, but I'm pretty inept. I'm assuming you'll want us to wear some for the filming...if so, is there someone on your crew who applies it for the make-up challenged? If not, I will muddle through."
"We do not have an official make-up person on hand, but don't worry at all," she said. "We may do touch-ups for 'shinyness,' but other than that we want you to appear as your normal selves! If you don't normally wear make up, then no need to go to Sephora before the conference. We want you to be comfortable."
They better have a lot of make-up handy. Perhaps the only way I'll make it through all the guidelines is to walk in naked.


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Customise your Home
The look, feel and movement of the dashboard has been updated to focus on speed, customisation and expression – for you. Choose the light or dark theme, customise your background with game art and select your favourite accent colour. Have a favourite game or friend? Add them to Home. Content blocks can be added, moved or removed as your interests or habits change.
Effortless Guide navigation
New tab flyouts make it easier to see more content quickly and switching between tabs is effortless. Join friends, manage your game clips and broadcasts, switch between apps and get back home faster than ever.
A more immersive community
Staying connected with Friends and Clubs is now better than ever. View full-screen screenshots and clips in your community feed. See Clubs you're already a part of, start an LFG with other club members and easily discover new Clubs to join.
Live game streaming
Mixer is the only next gen streaming service that offers viewers real-time influence and participation in live game streams. Mixer broadcasters can now broadcast at up to 1080p on Xbox One, plus there's now USB webcam support.
Personalised support
Xbox Assist is a built-in app with personalised tips and help, smart notifications, community tips and troubleshooting tools to optimise your Xbox experience.
Xbox innovates wherever you play
New features and options put you in complete control of how you play and broadcast.LEARN MORE


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Professor contributes to Portland's emerging music scene
December 15, 2011
Portland, Oregon
Professor Katherine FitzGibbon is at the center of a growing musical movement that's catching the attention of the Wall Street Journal. Though Portland may be best known for its indie-rock scene, FitzGibbon and her collaborators are enchanting audiences with "alt-classical" music, a casual and fresh approach to the staid genre.
On top of her work as director of choral activities at Lewis & Clark, FitzGibbon serves as conductor and artistic director of the professional choir Resonance Ensemble. Her work with the popular Portland choir has been called engaging, and audiences and critics alike laud the ensemble's dynamic and diverse performances, infused with history, art, politics, and more.
Exploring Portland's alt-classical scene, the Wall Street Journal emphasizes the supportive community formed by artists like FitzGibbon.
"Everyone wants everybody else's group to be successful," she said. "Everybody's looking for ways to deepen the performing experience and the audience experience as well."
Learn more:
- Wall Street Journal, "Alt-Classical Surge Hits the Northwest"
- Previous media coverage for Resonance Ensemble and Katherine FitzGibbon
- Resonance Ensemble's performance schedule
- Department of Music at Lewis & Clark


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Deployment poems have the power to change soldiers' minds, encourage them, support them, show appreciation and love to them.
Military deployments are not easy for most military spouses, their friends, and their families. It's hard to be separated for months on end and for family and friends, not knowing that your loved one is safe can be heart wrenching. Just like this deployment poem says:
It is the Soldier
It is the soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, not the lawyer,
Who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the soldier who salutes the flag,
Who serves under the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Deployment Love Poems from Military Spouse
As a woman who has had her husband deployed for a year or more, you can witness firsthand how hard it is. You don't relay realize just how tough it is until you experience it for yourself.
This military spouse was alone, her husband was deployed, and when her child was born, she wondered why he had to be so far away when she needed him so much. Every holiday, she feels that she must be an actress, so she tells her children, "Let's enjoy the nice time; we are going to have such great fun." She prepares a deployment care package carefully and sends her love and support to her deployed loved one with a special care package.
Deployment Prayer
Dear Lord:
Give me the strength to say goodbye. Hold back the tear in my eye.
Cure my insomnia so that I may sleep alone. Give me a reason to awake when I've none.
Dear Lord:
Please help me pace myself. Allow me to turn to you for help,
And please let me be strong for him, Even if I've reached the brim.
Dear Lord:
Please make time go fast. I don't know how long I can last.
This is the hardest time of my life, But this is my job: the soldier's wife.
Dear Lord:
Let them all stay strong. Give them the will to go on,
And Lord, Please bring back all our men. In the name of our country. Amen.
Inspiring Deployment Poem from Elderly Parents
As parents, one of our greatest worries is how to keep our children safe. Even when they've grown up, that worry never really disappears, especially for every soldier's parents when they face a danger so serious they can't offer any protection. When they son or daughter, enlisted in the Army/Air Force/Navy/Marines and deployed to Iraq, they were surprised to find out how strong those worries were.
However, they kept their worries to themselves until the day their son or daughter was leaving, they show their pride for what their child has done for country, they use inspirational deployment poems to show their special love and support for deployed son or daughter overseas.
My Son, My Hero
My child is leaving for Iraq today.
He asks me for solace, comfort and love,
I ask for strength and courage from my Father above,
He's my hero, but he's my baby, too.
Taking his life into his hands while protecting me and you.
Those who think we shouldn't be there, I've got this to say to you:
He's a hero, and though you don't deserve it, he will fight and might die for you.
Unique Military Deployment Poem from Kids Whose Dad or Mom is Deployed
What about special kid whose dad or mom was deployed? Judith's father, a Navy pilot, is leaving for a six-month deployment on an aircraft carrier. Each day he is gone, she removes one link from the paper chain her made for her, so that she can mark the days until his return. Yes, this is life of military kids.
My Daddy is a Soldier
My daddy is a soldier
He's often gone away
to some far off country
where he has to stay.
I really miss my daddy
and I'm not sure what he does
except he helps other people
who need him very much.
At night when I say my prayers
I ask to keep daddy safe
so that he can come home to us
and sit in his favorite place.


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Charity Celebrates 30 Years of Badger Protection and Conservation in Shropshire under the same Chairmanship
Shropshire Badger Group held their AGM at the Wroxeter Hotel near Shrewsbury on 21st April. This must qualify as something of a unique occasion as it marked not only the thirtieth anniversary of the Group's inauguration, but also the fact that throughout all those years the Group's leadership has been in the same safe pair of hands, those of retired senior Police officer Jim Ashley.
Shropshire Badger Group was formed 30 years ago as a response to badger persecution. The initial meeting was held in April 1987, in a pub, between a number of concerned Country Park Rangers, Police officers, RSPCA officers, farmers and naturalists. Jim Ashley was asked if he would become Chairman, and he took on the role thinking that his position as a Divisional Commander with West Mercia Police might help in the early days of the Group until someone else came along to take the helm. That 'someone' never materialised and so, three decades later, Jim still chairs and leads the Group with his special recipe of understated authority and gentle wisdom, liberally sprinkled with his trademark dry wit, common sense and practicality.
Jim Ashley, who lives near Whitchurch, has been steadfastly supported all this time by his wife Judith, and by way of special thanks for her role she was presented by Group Treasurer Doug Hughes with a David Austin rose bush by the name of 'Shropshire Lad'.
Jim, for his part, was presented with a 30-year-old bottle of single malt whisky.
Warm tributes were also read out from Peter Martin, Chairman of the Badger Trust, and from Dr Brian May, the polymath wildlife campaigner and badger champion.
Another highlight of the evening was a talk by county wildlife artist, writer and photographer Ben Waddams, who regaled the group with his adventures in the African Rift Valley, following in the footsteps of the Victorian explorers, notably Livingstone and Stanley.
A raffle was also held, the proceeds of which will be passed on to Cuan Wildlife Rescue in Much Wenlock, a charity with which Shropshire Badger Group has close links.
Despite the relaxed celebratory atmosphere of the occasion, the evening ended with a sober reminder of the challenges faced by wildlife in Shropshire these days. For around midnight, following the AGM, Jim Ashley was called out to attend a badger road casualty, having first arranged for a local vet to receive the animal. The unfortunate badger, however, died on the way to the clinic.
If you would like to get involved with Shropshire Badger Group in any capacity, including donations to their work, they can be contacted via their helpline on 01743 271999, website www.shropshirebadgergroup.co.uk, Facebook page, or Twitter account @shropsbadgers.


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Sometimes when someone does not marry, they really help in the research of a family because they give their estate usually to their siblings, nephews and nieces. Alexander did just that however, he did not have a will so the estate went into probate because he had money and land.
In the above note written by my Aunt Miriam she was correct in stating there were eleven heirs to Alexander's estate.
In the post "John Barclay's Two Families" dated April 3, 2010 on this blog, I listed the children both from the 1st and 2nd family of John Barclay the father. I gave a little information about each sibling but didn't go into each in-depth.
The probate packet of Alexander A. Barclay's estate consisted of 35 documents. The probate process began sometime in December 1905 and ended April 23, 1907. The total value of the estate was $5500.00. There were two pieces of real estate one in Lakeville, a farm and one in Farmington which consisted of lots. These were sold since no one was interested in the property. There were mining stocks that were distributed and transferred to the heirs.
I found this add for the sale of A.A. Barclay's lands in the local newspaper.
It reads: Farm for Sale Cheap: I offer for sale, subject to the approval of the Judge of Probate for Dakota County, Minnesota, 105 acres of farming lands in section 34 township 114, range 20 in Dakota County, State of Minnesota, at $40.00 per acre. Also the building on the corner of Third and Elma Streets, belonging to the estate of A.A. Barclay – Deceased. Inquir of H.N. Rogers, administrator, Farmington, Minn. 11-45.
Here is a review of those who were identified as heirs of Alexander's estate.
The first family of John Barclay and Margaret:
1. John
Avery Barclay born about 1836. He was presumed dead according to an affidavit of the sister Sarah Agnes Blinn. So his portion of the estate would go to his two children:
"John A. Barclay, aged 70 years, not heard from by relatives during the past 30 years, supposed to be dead, who is a brother. In his place John Avery Barclay, son and Sarah Ellen Barclay Sears were awarded a share each as the only surviving children of the first son."
1) John Avery Barclay born 1867.
2) Sarah Ellen Barclay Sears born 1869.
2. James A. Barclay born about 1838 died in 1906 during the probate of Alexander's estate.
"James A. Barclay, aged 68 years, residing at 1444 Stratford Ave., Bridgeport, Conn. who is a brother."
3. Sarah Agnes Barclay Blinn born about 1840.
"Sarah Agnes Blinn, aged 66 years residing at 1375 [New] Dalles Ave, Alamirda, Cal., who is a sister. Note: I think they mean Alameda, California."
4. Mary J. Barclay Ford born about 1841.
"Mary J. Ford, aged 65 years, residing at Bristol., Conn., who is a sister."
5. Alexander Barclay the deceased, would fit here in the ages of the children.
6. Martha M. Barclay Ford born about 1843.
"Martha M. Ford, aged 65 years residing at Fruitvale, Cal., who is a sister."
7. George Angus Barclay born 1844 died 1898. Grace his daughter would be the one to inherit from Alexander. Grace started out as the Administrator of the estate but because she was pregnant with Miriam at the time she could not attend to the legal process and another person was appointed.
"Grace A. McDonald of the Village of International Falls, in the County of Itasca and the State of Minnesota, respectfully shows that Alexander A. Barclay was a resident of the Village of Farmington in the County of Dakota and State of Minnesota, died on the 9 December, A.D. 1905 at the City of Rochester in the County of Olmsted, State of Minnesota, leaving estate therein and without leaving any last Will and Testament to the knowledge, information or belief of your petitioner. That the name relationship, ages and residences of the heirs of said deceased, as far as known to your petitioner, are as follows…."
"Grace A. McDonald, aged 28 years, residing at International Falls, Itasca Co., Minn who is a niece (daughter of Geo. A. Barclay brother of deceased)." Note: Grace was born 1882 so she would be 23 years old.
Here we list the half-siblings from John Barclay's second marriage to Ellen:
8. Charles Barclay born 1860.
"Charles Barclay, aged 45 years, residing at Shakopee, Minn., who is a half-brother."
9. William Barclay born 1863
"William Barclay, aged 43 years, residing at Pony, Madison Co., Montana, who is a half-brother."
10. Mary E. Barclay Clark born about 1864.
"Mary Clark aged 42 years, residing at Bridger, Carbon Co., Montana, age 42 years, who is a half-sister."
11. Anna Elizabeth Barclay Carter born 1870.
"Annie E. Carter, aged 36 years, residing at 2050 11 St. Marinette, Wis, who is a half-sister."
It cost me a small fortune to obtain the probate file of Alexander Barclay but it was worth it. I have always known that Alexander would be of great help to me.
In the next posts I will share some of the highlights of Alexander's probate and discuss in more detail the heirs of his estate and what I know about each of them. I have already shared what I know about Alexander in this blog, so I won't repeat his story. Remember these individuals are also George A. Barclay's siblings and half-siblings. Did George communicate with his siblings and half-siblings? I have no knowledge of how close to them he was. I do know about his relationship with Alexander. Did Amarilla know them, I don't know. Grace seemed to be aware of her aunts and uncles so maybe there was some communication.
Source: Probate File of Alexander Barclay, Dakota Co., Minnesota, December 1905. Petition for Letters of Administration, 11 January 1906, Submitted by Grace A. McDonald.


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I'm not big on year end recaps. If you read my blog, you know what I've been up to. You don't really want to read it all over again, do you? However, this post from Glossy Blonde inspired me to put something together that's short and sweet.
It's always hard for me to choose only one of something, but I'm going to do it.
The Dark Knight Rises
Well, duh. Obviously, I love Christopher Nolan and all of his Batman films. This one, the last of three, was by far the best movie of 2012. It's definitely the one I was most anticipating. It didn't let me down. I was on the edge of my seat from the moment it started until the very end. I hope they continue the story in some way in the future. If not, I'll just watch the three I have over and over again. Long live the Caped Crusader!
I've Got Your Number, Sophie Kinsella
This isn't the best book I've ever read. It's not deep or heartfelt. It's not even a compelling page-turner. It's simply a funny, light read that had me in tears from laughing so hard. I actually snorted out loud several times. Sometimes, you just need a good fluff book to brighten your days, and this one did just that. I loved it so much.
Barton Hollow, The Civil Wars
The Civil Wars had a song, Kingdom Come, on The Hunger Games soundtrack. I instantly fell in love and downloaded Barton Hollow soon after. I've been listening to this album on repeat since March. Every song is beautiful.
Showtime's Homeland, starring Claire Danes and Damien Lewis, is my favorite tv show for the second year in a row. The actors and storylines had me sweating bullets every Sunday night. Until September when it starts again...
After my car crapped out on me, I got a new ride. It was nice not having a car note for several years, but my biggest accomplishment in 2012 has been paying for Jane.
I Believe
You all know I love Kid Rock, right? Well, his Rebel Soul tour is kicking off soon. The bestie and I are taking a road trip to Knoxville to see him in February. She doesn't love him as much as I do, but she does love me. We are both super excited for this trip. It's going to be a blast!


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- TypeModern
- BandSteel Bracelet
- Case MaterialSteel
- ConditionMint
- MovementAutomatic
Steinhart Ocean 1 Black - Automatic Diver. Pre Owned
Used but mint condition Steinhart Ocean 1 Black automatic divers watch originally purchased from us in 2013. Designed in an early classic style as the diving watch that most people recognise as the classic divers watch, yet made to modern standards and specifications. The sporty ruggedness of the Ocean makes it stand out from other diver watches. Its solid design guarantees highest resilience as well as an outstanding quality. Within the large genre of sports diver watches the Ocean 1 Black is one of the few examples in its price range which demonstrates such an excellent cost-performance ratio. Made by Steinhart, one of Germany's independent up and coming brands. The watch is a large size with a classic looking case and dial design which combines sports/diver styling, high engineering standards and highly competitive price. The case is made from stainless steel which is polished and brushed finished. The dial is matt black with luminous indices luminous filled classic style divers "mercedes" hands. The dial and hands are Super Luminova C1 giving it a bright and fresh look. The crown is a large screw down crown and has protective shoulders. It has got a uni directional ratcheted rotating bezel with classic divers styled aluminium bezel iterated to the first fifteen minutes. It has a date at the 3 position without magnifying lens. The crystal is scratch resistant sapphire crystal with a date magnifier at the 3 position. It has got a screw on case back which is solid stainless steel, engraved with Steinhart's logo. The movement is a Swiss made ETA 2824-2 automatic winding movement which is the industry standard for Swiss and German made automatic watches. It is a 25 jewel movement with Nivarox spring balance and Incabloc shock protection. The functions include hours, minutes and seconds displayed by the central sweep hand. The second hand is a hack hand which stops when setting the time for accurate time synchronization. It is 30 ATM which is about 300 metres so is fully water proof. It comes on a good quality steel bracelet with fliplock safety clasp. Steinhart reference number is T0204 red. Dimensions are as follows. Width is 42 mm excluding the crown, 46 mm including the crown, lug to lug is 50 mm and thickness is 14.5 mm. The lug width is 22 mm and the weight of the watch is 190 g


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Laguna Beach, CA, February 7, 2012 – The dreambike auction continues to accomplish great things by supporting Wheels 4 Life. Last week, we auctioned a beautiful bike from the German brand Rotwild. This dreambike is now on its way to a new home in Wisconsin after the winning bid came in for $3,250. There's another fantastic bike available this week, and as always, 100% of the auction proceeds support Hans Rey's charity, Wheels 4 Life.
Have you ever wished you could have a hardtail that's a geared bike, single speed, and folding bike all in one? Well, with the Ibis Tranny dreambike available for auction, now's your chance. I'll let Chuck Ibis describe the bike himself:
We love the versatility of the Ibis Tranny. On first glance it looks like a nice carbon hardtail. But look closer behind the bottom bracket and there's a little secret. It's called the slot machine. The slot machine is a clever little addition to the Tranny that provides a very clean and simple way to adjust the chain tension if you want to run the bike in single speed mode. An added bonus of the slot machine is that it allows you to break down the frame into two triangles, thus making it into a travel bike. You can easily fit the Tranny into a case that doesn't alert the airlines that you're traveling with a bike, which can result in some serious dollar savings if you ever fly with your bike.
Check out the Ibis Tranny dreambike at https://crankbrothers.com/dreambikes/ibis-tranny.php.
Project of the week
This week's dreambike auction will support a very special group in Uganda called the Village Health Team. This group is organized by a social worker named Agnes Mirembe. Agnes has applied for 37 bicycles that would be given to health care workers. The Village Health Team covers a large area of Busi Island, providing nursing services, including administering anti-malaria drugs and health education about preventing bacterial infection, HIV, and AIDS. They also provide pre-natal care and vaccinations to infants. With a bike, a nurse can quickly cover a larger area, allowing them to treat and educate more people. These bicycles improve countless lives through improved health care and access to doctors and nurses.
To raise enough money to support this project, we have the goal of raising $3,900 in the auction of the Ibis Tranny. This is another amazing example of how one dreambike can change the lives of many. Thank you for helping to make this dream a reality.
Source: Amanda Schaper