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Eat. Drink. Flirt.
Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 7:00 PM (EST)
Event Details
At this convivial flirt fling, you'll meet and mingle with digital dating whisperer Laurie Davis, author of the just-published Love at First Click: The Ultimate Guide to Online Dating, and founder of eFlirt Expert, an online dating consultancy that was named best dating coach in the 2012 and 2013 iDate Awards. Joining her is her "Tweetheart" (yes, they met online, flirting in 140 characters on Twitter), Thomas Edwards Jr., the founder of The Professional Wingman, a lifestyle strategy consultancy that helps clients develop social skills that transform their dating and professional lives.
Not only will you meet other singles looking for love -- or at least have a highly flirtatious evening out -- you could win your own personal "online/offline" dating makeover. Laurie will counsel one deserving woman on how to put her best pixel forward online, while Thomas will serve as your wingman to help one deserving man make all the right moves to find that "one." Laurie will also be signing copies of Love at First Click and one single will "get lucky" and win a copy. Two E will take the mystery out of where to treat your next date, with prizes of gift certificates to Two E Bar/Lounge and sister restaurant, Sirio Ristorante.
How do you enter to win? From now through Valentine's Day tweet your best digital pick up line to @ThePierreNY or post on The Pierre's Facebook page with the hashtag #EatDrinkFlirt. The most retweeted or shared pick-up line wins. As a bonus, the pithiest pick up line will win a copy of Love at First Click. If you're better at live conversation openers, drop your business card in the Eat. Drink. Flirt. raffle box and test your luck.
For venue and event details, visit www.twoeny.com or call 212.940.8193.
Keep calm and flirt on!
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About The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York, @thepierreny
After 80 years, The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York continues to set the standard for elegance and unrivaled hospitality in New York City. Located on Fifth Avenue overlooking Central Park, The Pierre, A Taj Hotel is an exclusive AAA Five Diamond property and a member of Leading Hotels of the World. Managed by Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, the iconic hotel underwent a $100 million renovation, updating 189 guestrooms, including 38 suites, as well as the hotel's banquet and social event spaces. The Pierre's 11 residential-style Grand Suites come with a private Taj Royal Attaché trained in the palaces of India to flawlessly fulfill every guest request. Two E Bar/Lounge offers light fare, afternoon tea and a stylish bar featuring a no-cover jazz series every Tuesday evening. The Pierre, A Taj Hotel welcomes Sirio Ristorante, the eponymous eatery from restaurateur Sirio Maccioni of Le Cirque fame.
About Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces @tajhotels
Established in 1901, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is one of Asia's largest and finest group of hotels, comprising 99 hotels in 56 locations across India with an additional 16 international hotels in the Maldives, Malaysia, Australia, UK, USA, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa and the Middle East. From world-renowned landmarks to modern business hotels, idyllic beach resorts to authentic Grand Palaces, each Taj hotel offers an unrivalled fusion of warm Indian hospitality, world-class service and modern luxury. For over a century, The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, the iconic flagship has set a benchmark for fine living with exquisite refinement, inventiveness and warmth. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is part of the Tata Group, India's premier business house.www.tajhotels.com
About Laurie Davis @eflirtexpert
Laurie Davis is the founder of eFlirt Expert, an online dating consultancy, and the author of Love @ First Click: The Ultimate Guide to Online Dating. Her company helps singles write their online dating profiles, decode their date's text messages and manage their digital dating lives. Laurie was nominated Best Dating Coach in both the 2013 and 2012 iDate Awards. Her advice has been featured in more than 200 international media outlets including The New York Times, Good Morning America, Elle, Men's Health, Mashable and Forbes.
About Thomas Edwards Jr. @urwingman
Thomas Edwards is the founder of The Professional Wingman, a lifestyle strategy agency that works with men and women of all ages and backgrounds to provide them with the tools and knowledge to improve their relationships - personal and professional - increase confidence, and enhance their overall sense of self. Peers, colleagues, and media have deemed him, the "real-life Hitch." Thomas' knowledge, unique approach, and success stories have been featured in many media outlets, including Fox Business, as well as Essence Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, CNN, Maxim Magazine, the Wall Street Journal and Cosmopolitan.
When & Where
Two E Bar @ Pierre Hotel
2 East 61st Street
at Fifth Avenue
New York,
Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 7:00 PM (EST)
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" Most useful calendar I've ever bought. Beauty in simplicity, I love it! "
It's often said that you can accomplish anything you can imagine. Well that's true but it helps a whole lot more when it's visual. For each day you run (or exercise) in 2020, put a BIG "X" over that day. There's nothing like seeing the entire year laid out for you, with the evidence of your effort or lack thereof, for some honesty.
Start earning your BIG "X"
The story. Jerry Seinfeld invented a unique system he used to motivate himself to write. He put a big wall calendar on a prominent place. For each day he did his task of writing, he put a big red X over that day. Then, as he explained, "after a few days you'll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You'll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job next is to not break the chain." See how many days you've run, visually every day. It's easy, it's fun! Fill the circles. Don't break the chain!
For our CLASSIC editon CLICK HERE
Designed & Printed in California, this huge—2 x 3 feet— Runner's Visual Calendar™ is made of thick, glossy paper, and is packaged in a protective tube during shipping.
This is the best gift for you, and for the runner(s) in your life. Gift the gift of running. RUNNING CAN BE GIVEN!
2020 Runner's Visual Calendar. See the days you've run at a glance! Printed on fine glossy paper - 100lbs. Featuring our original eBib avatars. Comes rolled inside a sturdy mailing tube.
Get it now... And don't forget A BIG, FAT MARKER!
100% Money Back Guarantee. We pride ourselves on getting things right.That doesn't mean we're perfect, but when we make mistakes we fix them. If you're not happy with your order get in touch with us and we'll either organize a replacement, provide you with a store credit or give you your money back. It's your choice.
We want our customers to choose how much they pay for products.
Paying a little more helps offset the cost for those who need to pay a little less.


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New clue to controlling skin regeneration--as well as skin cancer
(PhysOrg.com) -- How do organs "know" when to stop growing? The answer could be useful in regenerative medicine, and also in cancer - where these "stop growing" signals either aren't issued or aren't heeded. Researchers in the Stem Cell Program at Children's Hospital Boston have now found a regulator of gene activity that tells epidermal stem cells when it's time to grow more skin, as well as a "crowd control" molecule that can sense cell crowding and turn the growth off.
The work, in mice and in human cancer cells, provides clues to new therapeutic strategies for cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common skin cancer, in which epidermal cell growth is inappropriately turned on. It could also aid efforts to grow skin grafts and treat burn patients.
The findings, published in Cell on March 4, underscore the idea that cancer and regeneration are closely related. "We have found a molecular switch that tells your skin to keep growing or stop growing," says Fernando Camargo, PhD, the study's senior investigator and a principal investigator in Children's Stem Cell Program. Camargo and colleagues manipulated a molecule called Yap1, already known - from studies in fruit flies - to cause massive tumor growth by triggering a pathway known as Hippo (so named because of the enormous size of the tumors). When they suppressed Yap1 function in mice, their epidermal skin stem cells failed to expand and they had thin, fragile skin.
The opposite was also true. "The more Yap1 you have in your stem cells, the thicker your skin grows," says Camargo, who is also a member of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute.
However, activation of Yap1 also caused the mice to develop squamous-cell carcinoma-like tumors, the researchers found.
They further showed that Yap1 is inactivated by a known tumor suppressor called alpha-catenin, which binds to Yap1 and keeps it outside the cell nucleus. In both mice and human squamous carcinoma cells with alpha-catenin mutations, Yap1 returns to the nucleus and becomes active again.
"Alpha catenin is silenced in many types of epithelial cancer - skin cancer, colon cancer and other squamous cell cancers," says Camargo. "When alpha catenin is absent or mutated, you get an overgrowth of cells, but until now it was unclear why. Our work suggests that over-activation of Yap 1 is likely what drives these cancers."
Alpha-catenin is known to be able to sense the density of cells in its immediate environment, and perhaps even their type. Camargo's team revealed how the information is used: When cells are packed too tightly, alpha-catenin inhibits Yap1 - the first demonstration of a direct link between an environmental cue (cell density) and a molecular regulator of organ size. Until now, little has been known about what maintains organs at a specific size.
"Through Yap1, alpha-catenin tells epidermal stem cells to either proliferate or not proliferate, depending on the needs of the tissue," Camargo explains.
Now that the "switch" for skin growth is known, manipulating it could provide ways to grow skin cells when they're needed or, conversely, to stop cancerous growth. Camargo's group is conducting screening tests to find small molecules that mimic Yap1, to induce skin regeneration at the site of a wound, or that inhibit Yap1 to treat skin tumors. The team is also looking for other molecules that may also interact with Yap1.


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Yours would be to come and support small initiatives like this while risking looking really good! If you can't wait till the ninth, make sure you pop into Hyde Park this weekend for the Food, Wine and Design thing happening there - Two, Black Coffee, David Tlale, House of Ole and Love Jozi amongst others will be at Marie Claire's Pop Up Shop this whole weekend. Here's the programme:
If you're not in the mall rat mood, check out two new stores I like very much at 70 on Juta
When you're there, make sure you go to Twenty Two and Guillotine


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Home > Our Services > Publications > Connect Booklet
Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer
Good communication with your children helps everyone in the family cope with whatever changes lie ahead.
Among the many difficult questions parents face when a family member is diagnosed with cancer is "What do I tell my children?" Fearful that they might upset or worry their youngsters and teens, some parents withhold the news. But even at a very young age, children can sense when something is wrong. If not told the truth, they might imagine that things are worse than they really are or even that they themselves are the cause of the problem.
Talking to a child about a parent's, grandparent's, or sibling's cancer and how it will affect the family isn't easy, but it is necessary. This e-booklet can help. It includes tips for talking with children about a family member's cancer and treatment. It also suggests ways to help children cope with some of the feelings they may experience during this time.
By talking with your children honestly and helping them express their emotions, you make it easier for them to feel safe and secure. And as their parent, you are the best judge of how to talk to your children. But the first conversation about cancer is often the hardest. The information in this booklet will help you start that conversation and give you the tools to keep it going every step of the way.
Explaining the Diagnosis
It's usually best to talk with your children soon after the type of cancer (the diagnosis) is known. Sharing information early on will help build trust. When children know they are being kept informed, it helps make the experience less frightening. This is not to say that talking about cancer is easy. Here are some tips for talking to your children about a cancer diagnosis:
Prepare what you want to say. Many parents find it helpful to practice or write down what they want to say before the first conversation. Other parents feel that having their spouse, partner, close friend, or a relative with them makes it easier. Parents also tell us that choosing a quiet time when they and their children are rested makes the conversation less stressful. If you have children of different ages, you might speak with your older children first. Perhaps, the older children will want to help you tell your younger children. Try to have these conversations as close together as possible so that all members of the family are aware of the situation and have a chance to support each other.
Set the tone. As important as what you say is how you say it. Try to use a calm and reassuring voice. It's okay if you become sad or feel like crying. Some adults and children who think of crying as a sign of weakness will bottle up their feelings inside, causing more distress. However, crying can be a good way to cope. When a parent expresses sadness through crying, it shows children that it's okay for them to do the same.
If your children become upset or wander off, tell them that you know this is a tough conversation and you understand how they feel. You can always come back to it later.
Remember that children, especially young ones, tend to have short attention spans. Do not talk longer than they can listen, but be sure to ask them if they have questions. If you don't know the answer, let them know you will find out and get back to them as soon as possible. This teaches children that although parents don't always have all the answers, they will do their best to help their children. This also lets children know that they have permission to ask any questions they like.
Consider your child's age. When speaking with your children, use words that are common and familiar; your children will have an easier time understanding what cancer is and what to expect. In addition, keep in mind that children at different ages have different ways of understanding things. Every parent knows his or her child's level of maturity and comprehension, but you can use this information as a guide to what works best with different age groups.
When speaking with your children, use simple and concrete terms. For example, you might say: "Mommy is sick with an illness called cancer. The cancer happened on its own—nobody did anything to make it happen. I have very good doctors, and I am going to do everything possible to get better." It is also important to let children know that cancer is not contagious. Young children often think of being sick in terms of catching germs. Let them know they can't catch cancer like a cold. Tell them you can hug and kiss each other just like always.
Don't be surprised if a child between the ages of 5 and 8 is mainly concerned about himself. "Who will take care of me?" is a common question. This is not because young children are selfish. At their developmental stage, they see the world from their point of view and do not see the larger picture until they get older. Letting them know that they will be taken care of and that you will have a plan in place will help them cope with any changes to their routine. Older children also need to be reassured that their needs will be met.
Children above the age of 5 or 6 are likely to have more questions. Be prepared to answer their questions to the best of your knowledge, but keep in mind that there is no need to talk beyond what is asked. This will give children the chance to absorb information at their own pace; perhaps they will have more questions later.
No matter what their age, it's important to let your children know that what they are feeling is normal and okay. Finding out what they might have heard about cancer is helpful in order to clear up any misinformation. Be honest and hopeful. Having frequent conversations will help your children feel safer and more secure.
Ask professionals for guidance. If you need guidance before talking with your children or at any time afterward, contact CancerCare. Our team of professional oncology social workers can help you find age-appropriate ways to answer your children's questions and concerns and can refer you to helpful resources.
Read CancerCare's fact sheet titled, "Helping Children Understand Cancer: Talking to Your Kids About Your Diagnosis" for more information and tips.
Discussing Treatment
Whether you choose to talk about your or a family member's treatment plan early on or at a later date, the important thing is to keep your children informed. Since treatment may bring about many changes in your family's day-to-day life, encourage your children to ask questions if they are concerned or confused. Here are some suggestions for talking to children about the treatment plan:
Let children know about any changes to their routines. When talking about treatment, many children want to know what it will mean for them. For example, if Mom is in the hospital, who will take them to school, make dinner, or take them to after-school activities? Let your children know these concerns are important to you, too. If you don't have your support team (relatives, neighbors, and friends) in place yet, reassure your children that there will be a plan and that you'll let them know about it.
Prepare children for possible treatment side effects. Watching a loved one experience side effects can be upsetting to children. Chemotherapy and other medicines that destroy cancer cells can cause hair loss, weight loss, rash, or nausea, for example. If children understand in advance that the side effects are part of the treatment and not part of the illness, they can handle things better. With children aged 5 to 8, you might use crayons and paper to make simple drawings of some of the changes that might occur, such as hair loss. This will give your child a more concrete way to understand that there will be changes with the treatment. For most children, you do not need to go into a lot of detail about side effects.
For example, you might tell a child aged 5 to 8, "Grandma has to take very strong medicine to get rid of the cancer. It might make her lose her hair and feel sick, but it will be from the strong medicine, not the cancer." If radiation (treatment of cancer with high-energy rays that destroy cancer cells) is involved, you might say, "Your sister is going to have a treatment that might make her very tired. When she gets home, she will need lots of rest," or "Grandpa may not be able to play with you as often as he wants, but he loves you very much."
Because different people respond differently to treatment plans, let your children know if you're not sure about what the side effects might be. But reassure them that you or another important person in their life (parent, close relative, family friend) will help them prepare for any changes. Providing this kind of comfort and support shows your continued love and caring for your children during a difficult time.
Help children stay connected during treatment. One way to help your children cope with cancer is to help them feel connected while a loved one is in treatment. For example, if - you're going to be in the hospital, your children might draw pictures for your room or send cards. If you're able, you might want to make a drawing or send a note home to them as well. Letting your children know how much they are loved will make it easier for them to cope.
Helping children stay connected at home is also important, but it might be difficult for the person with cancer to do some of the things he or she was able to do before. For example, cancer and cancer treatment may prevent a parent from lifting or carrying a toddler or young child. The child may miss this and want to be close. By hugging each other from a seated position or lying down with the child on the floor, couch, or bed, he or she can be at eye level with the parent and feel comforted. Unstructured activities, such as watching TV or talking about their day at school, can also bring a sense of togetherness.
You may also find that your child wants to help but doesn't know what to do. Giving children simple tasks, such as bringing water or an extra blanket to the person with cancer, helps them feel connected. Teenagers can take on larger tasks around the house, such as washing dishes or mowing the lawn. But they shouldn't be expected to handle adult responsibilities, such as paying bills.
Let your children know that you are thankful if they want to help, but that you don't expect them to take care of you all the time. That is not their job. Their job includes things like going to school, doing their homework, seeing friends, playing sports, and having fun. Children should not feel guilty about being children. Let your children know that although you (or another family member) have cancer, it is not all that your family is about. Remind them often that no matter what changes the cancer might bring, your love for them will never change.
Talking About the Prognosis
As with any discussion about cancer, consider the age of your children when talking about a loved one's prognosis—the long-term outlook for recovering from the illness. Give only as much information as needed. The most important thing is to let your children know you will be honest with them and that they can come to you with their concerns.
Try to watch out for any emotional changes in your children that might indicate they are stressed from worry. Check to see if they might have misinformation. Sometimes children hear something misleading from other people and imagine something that isn't true.
No matter what the prognosis, some children will want to know from the beginning if their loved one is going to die. You can start by saying that, with the doctor's help, their loved one will be doing everything possible to get rid of the cancer and get better. If the cancer is advanced and aggressive, you can still tell your children that the doctors are doing their best to treat it and that you'll let them know how the treatment goes.
Again, be hopeful. Your children will take their cues from you. Often, it's a good idea to speak with a professional counselor if your children have questions about death and dying. Young children and older children understand death in different ways. If your family is dealing with a difficult prognosis, CancerCare can help. We provide counseling and referrals to support services close to where you live.
Open Communication
Good communication with your children will help everyone in the family cope with whatever changes lie ahead. Here are some tips to keep communication flowing:
Let your children know they can always come to you and that you will tell them the truth. Be honest and hopeful. If they have trouble talking about cancer, suggest to your children that they try writing down their questions and concerns. Your medical team and CancerCare can help you find answers for anything you're unsure about.
Use games or arts-and-crafts projects. Children are more likely to identify and communicate their feelings through play activities. They will tell you how they feel just by drawing a picture of something that's on their minds.
Schedule family update meetings when children can discuss what's on their minds, share how they are feeling, and find out new information.
Build a support network. Speak with your spouse or partner, close friends, or your child's teachers and guidance counselors at school about being available should your child need additional support. Make sure your child feels comfortable with this.
Try to spend relaxed, stress-free time with your children to talk about their hobbies, school life, friends, and activities. Help them feel free to talk about fun things. Let them know that cancer is only one of many things to talk about. Enjoy being together.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. CancerCare provides free counseling, education, and practical help for families coping with cancer. All our services are free of charge. Learning that someone in the family has cancer is an emotional experience for children. They might feel afraid, confused, guilty, or angry. In fact, they are likely to feel different things at different times.
If you help your children stay informed and connected, they will have an easier time coping with the changes that cancer brings. Let them know that strong feelings are normal, and encourage them to speak freely and openly. CancerCare and the resources listed on the next page can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Ever since I told my son about my cancer, he has been acting out at school and wanting to stay home. What can I do?
A. Chances are your child is very worried about your cancer and may want to stay home to make sure you're okay. Perhaps he thinks you need him to help out. Reassure your child that it's okay to feel angry and upset, but that while you work hard to get rid of the cancer, you need him to work hard at school and to keep up with his homework, his friends, and his activities. Give him lots of praise for his efforts, and try to spend some relaxed, unstructured time together after homework. Children need to know that their parents are in charge. The routine of school and consistency of everyday activities help children feel safe and secure.
Be sure to speak with your child's teacher or principal to explain the changes in your household. Your school district is likely to have trained professionals who can help your child deal with the difficulties he is having. In addition, the professional oncology social workers at CancerCare can be called upon for help and advice.
Q. I am currently in remission, but my daughter wants to know if the cancer will come back. What should I tell her?
A. Remission (the disappearance of cancer and symptoms as a result of treatment) is certainly great news. Let your child know how happy you are to be in remission and that you are looking forward to enjoying time with your family. If your daughter is concerned that the cancer will come back, you should tell her there is no sign of the cancer now and that you are optimistic that things will stay that way. Let her know that you and your doctor will be doing everything possible so that you stay cancer free. If there's any chance of a recurrence (the return of cancer and symptoms after successful treatment and being cancer free), tell her you will let the family know so you can deal with it together.
Q. What if I get upset or start to cry when talking to my children about cancer?
A. Speaking with your children about cancer, even if you write down or practice what you are going to say, is bound to be difficult. At the start of your conversation, tell your children that you might get sad or upset during your talk. In this way, they will be prepared for your emotions. If you feel you are going to cry and have difficulty continuing, stop a moment and take a few slow, deep breaths. It does not hurt children to see their parent feeling sad or crying. If your children comfort you, for example, by giving you a hug, it is important to praise them. No matter what the circumstances, it's never a bad thing to know that your child has developed empathy—the ability to be sensitive to and identify with another person's situation and feelings. When you feel more calm, begin again. This will show your children that even when people have strong feelings, they can manage. You will learn from each other how important it is to keep talking and supporting one another. The important thing is to stay connected.
Q. What if the treatment makes me feel too sick to take care of my children?
A. If possible, it's best to have a plan in place before your treatment begins. Since there is no way to predict with certainty how your particular treatment will affect you, it's good to make sure you have plenty of support. Your spouse or partner may be busy with work, helping you get to your doctor, and taking care of you, so you may need to call on others for awhile. One way is to ask someone your child knows well, such as a family member or close friend or relative, to act as a "coordinator." When other friends or neighbors ask what they can do, this person can put things in motion. For example, someone might help with meals, another person might help getting your children to school, and another might help with grocery shopping or other chores.
If you put a schedule together of your children's activities, your coordinator can help your children keep as normal a routine as possible. If your children are invited for sleep-overs and outings, it will give you time to rest. Friends, relatives, and neighbors know that when they help out, they are giving you time to concentrate on getting better. Don't be afraid to ask. If you need additional help with daily tasks, CancerCare can refer you to services in your area and can help with emotional, practical, and financial concerns.
Q. My teenagers want to meet my doctors and see the hospital. Is this a good idea? Are there support groups for teens?
A. It is not unusual for teenagers to express an interest in learning as much as possible about their parent's cancer, including meeting the doctors and seeing the treatment facility. This is a good idea. You might ask your doctor to set aside time to meet with your teens, so they can ask questions and your doctor can suggest resources or appropriate websites for reliable information. When you allow your teens to demonstrate their ability to handle things in a mature way, you show them that you have confidence in them. Let your teens know how proud you are of them and stay in touch with their feelings. Support groups for teens, such as those available through CancerCare, also make it easier for teens to feel informed and connected.


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Eddie Long Apologizes to Jews for Being Crowned 'King'
A Jewish group on Sunday accepted Bishop Eddie Long's written apology over a ceremony last month during which a rabbi from the Messianic Judaism movement crowned him a "king."
Bill Nigut from the Jewish Anti-Defamation League said he believed Long had sincerely apologized for the Jan. 29 ceremony at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta, Ga., in which the senior pastor was wrapped in a sacred Torah scroll and his chair was lifted up by four men as Rabbi Ralph Messer from Colorado declared him a "king."
"The ceremony was not my suggestion, nor was it my intent, to participate in any ritual that is offensive in any manner to the Jewish community, or any group," Long wrote to Nigut Saturday. "Furthermore, I sincerely denounce any action that depicts me as a King, for I am merely just a servant of the Lord." Long said Rabbi Messer had "good intentions" but acknowledged that the ceremony "caused harm to the Jewish community, for which I am deeply sorry."
It was a "very heartfelt, sincere, humble apology," CNN quoted Nigut as saying. "I was very gratified by Bishop Long apparently recognizing what our concern was," he said, adding that the "fake ritual" was truly offensive.
A video of the ceremony, posted on YouTube, showed the rabbi shouting, "He is a king. God has blessed him. He's a humble man, but in him is kingship, royalty." Messer, who said he was performing the act on behalf of Jewish people and "the land of Israel," also claimed that the Torah was a 312-year-old scroll belonging to the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II.
Nigut said the ceremony was a "real wake-up call" that many do not understand Jewish liturgies and practices. "Guys like Messer are troubling to us because they appropriate real ritual or, in this case, make one up," he said, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The news portal also quoted Jamal-Dominique Hopkins, associate professor of Biblical studies at Interdenominational Theological Center, as saying that the ceremony was "something I've never seen or read within the Judeo-Christian tradition."
During the ceremony, Messer alluded to controversies surrounding Long. "God wants to get your focus … crisis produces opportunity … You have to go through a descent before an ascent."
In September 2010, four young men filed separate lawsuits against Long over allegations of sexual misconduct. The four, former members of the LongFellows Youth Academy, a group of teenage boys selected by Eddie Long for mentoring, charged that they were coerced into sexual acts in exchange for cash, cars, lodging and lavish trips.
The case was dismissed last May after both sides announced that a settlement had been reached out of court. A fifth young man, who was not a member of Long's church, also sued Long for similar allegations and also reportedly received settlement money.
Long made headlines again when his wife Vanessa filed for divorce in December. But just hours later the same day, she issued a statement saying that "upon prayerful reflection" she had reconsidered filing for divorce and had withdrawn the petition. Long took a brief leave of absence that month to focus on his family.
Long's megachurch claims to have 25,000 members. His Emmy-Award-winning broadcast, "Taking Authority," which airs on the Trinity Broadcast Network, reaches 172 countries and more than 270 million people.


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Seniors Dolson, Hartley setting a strong example for Huskies
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HOUSTON >> It has come to the point in time in their careers when UConn seniors Stefanie Dolson and Bria Hartley are informed of where they stand in the Huskies' record book on seemingly a daily basis.
Whether it is games played, games started, points, rebounds, assists or steals, they move even higher up the pecking order with each passing game. Hartley is fifth all-time at UConn in minutes played, Dolson ranks No. 5 in games started. They became the 14th and 15th Huskies to be on the court for 130 victories just four days apart and there are more milestones to come.
However, individual glory is pretty low on the list of their priorities these days.
Dolson and Hartley, the co-captains of the top-ranked UConn women's basketball team, have experienced the exhilaration of attaining championship glory. With time running short on their days as Huskies, they are driven to lead their team to a second straight national title.
The two were at their best in Saturday's 92-41 win over Houston as they shared team scoring honors with 24 points each. Dolson joined Rebecca Lobo, Nykesha Sales and Shea Ralph as the only UConn players to have a perfect shooting game while attempting at least eight field goals. Hartley moved into the 10th spot on UConn's career scoring list.
"Knowing that you don't have a lot of games left, you put your mind and body in another gear," said Dolson, who needs 15 rebounds to join Tina Charles, Lobo and Maya Moore as the only UConn players with 1,500 career points and 1,000 rebounds. "You know you don't have a lot left, so you leave it all on the floor. So I think Bria and I are going to play as hard as we can in the next few games and kind of get us ready for the tournament too."
They certainly looked tournament ready against the Cougars. It was the first time that they scored at least 20 points in the same game.
"I think it's awesome," Hartley said. "When we are out there, me and Stef, we work well together. When we are out there we are trying to lead them and have everybody follow our example."
On Saturday the duo will be inducted into the prestigious Huskies of Honor before their final regular-season home game.
It will be an emotional experience for Dolson, Hartley and their teammates and coaches.
"Bria and Stefanie are going to be there every night, there is no question," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. "They don't have bad days, they don't have mental lapses, and they don't get themselves in any kind of a bind. When you are a senior at Connecticut you don't do that.
"That is the comforting part that we have with those two especially. They are consistent ,and that is the best thing that you can say about anybody. They are the same. You don't get the tremendous highs or the tremendous lows."


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Kurt Nimmo
Prison Planet.com
December 26, 2011
CBS News predicts Israel will attack Iran this year and the U.S. will participate.
National Security Correspondent David Martin:
"If Iran doesn't blink Israel will strike… Go after its nuclear facilities, if Iran doesn't blink… [The U.S. will] have no choice but to support Israel. And depending on what the evidence is at that time they might even want to take part in that raid, it depends on what kind of intelligence they have about that decision that Iran has to make about whether to really build a bomb and go beyond putting all the pieces in place, which is what it's doing now."
On Saturday, Iran began a 10-day drill in international waters near the strategic oil route that passes through the Strait of Hormuz. The exercise is dubbed "Velayat 90" and will likely be conducted in proximity to U.S. naval ships.
"To show off its might, the navy needs to be present in international waters. It's necessary to demonstrate the navy's defense capabilities," Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari said at a press conference last week.
Prior to the announcement of the drill, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that "if the region faced a war-like situation, then everything would then become war-like."
On Saturday, Iran reported that helicopter had been warned to stay away from the exercise. "Yesterday, a chopper which belonged to the trans-regional countries tried to approach the region of Velayat 90 exercises, but it left the area when it received a serious warning after it ignored two other warning signals of our units," Lieutenant Commander of the Iranian Navy Admiral Seyed Mahmoud Moussavi told the Fars News Agency.
In addition to flexing its military muscle, Iran is bragging about its warfare technology. "Iran is in a unique position in all areas, including manufacture of unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, as well as defense and assault airplanes. Iran has also made great progress in electronic warfare technology, aviation industries and missile technology," Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi told IRNA, the Iranian state news agency.
Vahidi also praised the capture of the RQ-170 Sentinel, a sophisticated U.S. surveillance drone.
The capture of the spy aircraft, the imposition of new sanctions, and the withdrawal of British diplomats following a protest and storming of the British embassy in Tehran have resulted in escalated tensions in Iran and the Persian Gulf.
In late November, Israel appeared to be readying military hardware for an invasion and Iran's promised response.
Earlier in the month, Britain's armed forces stepped up their contingency planning for potential military action. British military planners examined where best to deploy Royal Navy ships and submarines equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles over the coming months as part of what would be an air- and sea-launched campaign, The Guardian reported.
Last week the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey said that the United States can successfully attack Iran, if necessary. His biggest worry is that Iran will "miscalculate our resolve," according to Israel National News.
This article was posted: Monday, December 26, 2011 at 9:54 am


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- 4 cups shredded green cabbage (about 1/2 head)
- 1 cup shredded carrots (about 2 carrots)
- 4 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
- 1/3 cup light mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons teaspoons canola oil
- Juice of 2 limes
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 8 soft buns or hoagie rolls
- 1 3/4 pounds pounds shredded or pulled barbecued pork with sauce
- Place cabbage, carrots, green onions and cilantro in a large bowl.
- Combine brown sugar, mayonnaise, oil, lime juice, cumin, salt and pepper; whisk well to combine. Pour over cabbage mixture and toss well.
- Split buns horizontally. Spoon pork and sauce over bun bottoms. Top with slaw. Place bun tops on top.
Videos You Might Also Like
The recipe was originally published as Barbecue Pork Sandwich with Crispy Slaw on Relish.com


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Welcome to Connected Moms! Founded on January 28, 2004 by a new mom looking for a place to discuss parenting issues, we're proud to provide daily support and friendship to moms of all walks of life.
If you're new here, please take some time reading the following information:
Our Community consists of three levels of membership:
- Registered: Registered users are members who have not yet met the criteria to become VIP Eligible. They are welcome to read and participate in all of our public forums.
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- VIP: VIP members have full access to our forums, including subscriber-only access to our private community called the Inner Circle as well as our private Buddy Groups. Our VIP community consists of members who have been active participants here at ConnectedMoms.com for a long time - some since the beginning!


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Decay series
In early June 2017, we released Polarr Photo Editor 4. It brought a lot of new changes to the app, one of those being a revamp of our filters. We completely improved each filter and did some renaming. This page contains previous filters for users who still wish to use them.
Just scan the QR to import filters. Enjoy!


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The Initiative
The School Readiness Project began operating in 2006 and benefits ALL children and families living in Chemung County. It is a ground-breaking new early childhood system designed to help more of Chemung County's children start Kindergarten with a solid foundation for learning.
SRP unifies our community's rich offering of early childhood services into one cohesive system. The system works in harmony to help and encourange all adults to give young children (age 0-5) the kinds of experiences that lay the groundwork for learning. The SRP offers resources, ideas and activities to make it easy for people to foster the early learning of the young children in their care.
With consistent nurturing from all of the adults in their lives, more children will be primed to be successful learners throughout their school years and will become valuable citizens of our county as adults.
The Goal
The goal of the initiative is to cut in half the percentage of Chemung County's children who are unprepared to begin kindergarten.
The Framework
All of the activities associated with the Chemung County School Readiness Project fall into four categories: nurse home visits, excellent early care and education, parent learning, and healthcare. These programs provide the framework for a community that fully supports the healthy development of its youngest citizens.
Kid's Page
| Programs | Resource Library
| Events | FAQs |
For Providers | Home
About SRP | News |
Contact Us


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Third Finding of the Honorable Head of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John - Troparion & Kontakion
Troparion — Tone 4
As a divine treasure hidden in the ground / Was your head revealed to us by Christ, O prophet and forerunner. / We have gathered in commemoration of this finding / With inspired hymns of praise to the Savior, / Who saves us from corruption through your prayers!
Kontakion — Tone 4
By giving your venerable head to a sinful woman, / Herod broke the law of God. / But we behold it and cry out for joy, / And say to you, O forerunner: / Pray to the Lord that He may grant mercy to us all!


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2010: "[The Tea Party is] a genuinely grassroots phenomenon with unprecedented broad-based support. [I]t is literally groundbreaking . . . the American political landscape itself has irreversibly shifted."
2013: "Only eight percent (8%) now say they are members of the Tea Party, down from a high of 24% in April 2010 just after passage of the national health care law."


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Imagine for a moment that it is the 1880s. The original President's home stood near the east end of White Hall classroom building. There were only three campus structures, 318 students, and 17 faculty. To supplement President Patterson's $2000.00 salary he was allotted pasturage for his cows. In between the slope of the President's house and what was then Winslow Street was the land where Patterson kept those cows. By 1892, students began scheduling football games with neighboring colleges. In 1893, Kentucky beat Tennessee 56-0, beginning a long-standing rivalry. The lure of football soon overtook Lexington and a spectator sport had begun. So it was on this spot, where the cows were eventually evicted, where wooden stands were erected, and the first football fans cheered.
From 1908-1915 every football season was a winning one. In 1916, Stoll Field was officially dedicated in honor of Richard C. Stoll.
By 1918, World War One had changed campus culture and the University acted quickly to become a combined military post and academic institution. Stoll Field took on a new persona during this time and held army barracks for the soldiers.
During the 1924 football season, McLean Stadium was built around Stoll Field. Though modified, the stadium was used for football games through the 1972 season after which they were moved to Commonwealth Stadium. There are many places on campus where our history is apparent, but this spot inspires images in my mind and the sounds once associated with this place. As university archivist, it is my obligation to preserve the collective memory of UK. With that said, for this moment, imagine a house-lined street bordered by a field of cows, the early cheers of football fans, soldiers' yells, the resonance of a stadium crowd, and the contemporary sounds of the marching band. Lasting longer than these words, I hope that this marker will serve as a reminder and symbol of this important piece of campus landscape and culture.
Text modified from the Historical Marker Dedication speech by Deirdre Scaggs - images from the University Archives
WUKY radio story


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It's that time again.
Pumpkin spice time. *shudder* My closest friends know how I feel about the ubiquitousness pumpkin spice this time of year, but for those of you who are new here, here's an except from last year's pumpkin blog entry:
It's not that I don't like pumpkin. I do, a lot, actually. It's the permeation of pumpkin spice EVERYTHING that drives me crazy, mostly because it always starts before actual autumn begins. Also, I ABHOR pumpkin spice lattes. Sorry folks, but I'll pass. Keep your cloves and nutmeg out of my frackin' coffee! Blech.
So unless it has actual THIS
I don't want any!
So I made this:
An autumnal take on traditional bread salad.
Lastly, I try not to ask too frequently, but if you enjoy this blog, I'd love if you could help support A Measured Life! I have many ways to do so, and not all of them cost you a dime. Here are a few options
1. Support my caffeine habit! ($2 microdonation – will most likely be put toward maintaining this site, getting better lighting for my kitchen and purchasing materials for an AML Cookbook!)
2. Sport AML swag! Purchase something from my CafePress Store!
3. Help me save money on groceries so I can make more delicious recipes by joining iBotta!
4. Try the Shrink App and save money on groceries. You'll earn $1 for using my code:
Thanks everyone! Happy Pumpkining!


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Electronic Fix Distribution
- FixDist provides more discrete downloads and transparently delivers all required images with just one click. It can also keep track of fixes you have already downloaded which will enable you to download smaller fix packages the next time you need one.
600dpi pk Font - 600dpi pk Font
archie-1.4.1 - Query the Archie anonymous FTP databases using Prosper
c-kermit-5A-190 - communitations software for serial and network connection
dvi - DVI file utilities
GNU - GNU tools
jdvi2kps4.0 - convert a DVI file to PostScript
lha-114a - file archiver
less - opposite of more
lynx - text browser for WWW
mh-6.8.3+-JP.2c+ - essage Handler (applied Japanese patch)
mnews - mini News Reader
mountcd - CD-ROM mount command
Mosaic-2.6-l10n+ - NCSA Mosaic for X Window (applied l10n patch)
mule - Multilingual Enhancement to GNU Emacs
ncftp - Internet file transfer program
ps2eps-1.0 - converts figures in PS format into an EPS format
qpopper2.2+youbin - Qualcomm popper 2.2 with RPOP and youbin patch
sendmail.8.8.3+2.6Wbeta9 - sendmail applied WIDE patch
squid-1.0.15 - Squid Internet Object Cache
tcl - TCL/Tk(Tool Command Language)
tcsh-6.06 - C shell with file name completion and command line editing
TeX - Japanese TeX (ascii version)
unzip-5.12 - list, test and extract compressed files in a ZIP archive
X11 - X window contrib softwares
X11R6 - X window system version 11 release 6
xanim - Player for animation(Mpeg, QuickTime support) Cinepak compress support
youbin-2.13 - client of youbin service


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SystemRescueCD is a Linux system on a bootable USB Flash Drive for repairing your system and recovering your data after a crash. It aims to provide an easy way to carry out admin tasks on your computer, such as creating and editing the partitions of the hard disk. It contains a lot of system utilities (parted, partimage, fstools, ...) and basic tools (editors, midnight commander, network tools). It is very easy to use: just boot the CDROM. The kernel supports most of the important file systems (ext2/ext3, reiserfs, reiser4, xfs, jfs, vfat, ntfs, iso9660), as well as network filesystems (samba and nfs).
Here are some of the main system tools:


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As Mitt Romney's long, hard-fought race for the presidency came to an end, the campaign faced a stinging loss – and at one point even cut out the audio on broadcast screens in the campaign's election night ballroom as the results poured in. NBC's Peter Alexander reports.
As Republicans sort through what went wrong for former Republican nominee Mitt Romney on Tuesday, they might look back ruefully at four words that became forever associated with the GOP nominee: "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt."
There are varied reasons for President Barack Obama's re-election to a second term, from changing demographics to superior campaign organization and beyond. And Obama's broad margin in the Electoral College meant that no single state was responsible for his victory over Romney.
David Goldman / AP
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney arrives to his election-night rally, Wednesday, Nov. 7, in Boston.
But as Republicans begin to pick through the aftermath of Romney's loss, Romney's struggles to address his opposition the 2009 rescue of General Motors and Chrysler stymied an effort to gain a foothold in Obama's Midwestern "firewall," and turn his attention to other key battleground states.
Related: Romney's chances in Ohio tied to softening auto bailout stance
It was an issue with which Romney struggled for the duration of the campaign, as Obama traipsed across Midwestern states, hammering away against his Republican opponent on the issue, while touting the resurgence of GM and Chrysler following the billions in aid provided to the companies.
A strong majority - 60 percent - of voters on Tuesday in Ohio said that they had approved of the auto bailout, and Obama beat Romney among those voters by a healthy 73 to 25 percent difference.
In Wisconsin, another state that composed Obama's firewall (along with Iowa), a majority of voters - 53 percent - said they had approved of the bailout. Obama bested Romney among those voters, 79 to 20 percent.
Republican political strategist Mike Murphy joins Chuck Todd to talk about Mitt Romney's struggle to court the popular vote.
Those numbers suggest that Romney's effort over the past year to recast his opposition to the bailout, put bluntly, failed.
Romney's New York Times op-ed opposing then-President George W. Bush's efforts to extend aid to the troubled automakers came just weeks after the 2008 election -- four years ago next Saturday, to be exact.
And while it's unlikely that the former Massachusetts governor himself wrote the provocative headline that would stick with him through his 2012 campaign, he wrestled and struggled with the issue throughout his battle with Obama.
Even in the primaries, Romney's conservative challengers argued it was callous for him to have supported the Wall Street bailout while opposing the auto rescue, especially as a native son of Michigan whose father ran a car company when Romney was young.
Romney reasoned that the managed bankruptcy endured by GM and Chrysler was actually his idea in the first place. And then he pivoted to argue that bondholders and dealers were shortchanged in that process, to the benefit of autoworkers' unions, which had backed Obama in 2008.
But neither of those arguments seemed to resonate in the long term, prompting Romney in the closing weeks of the campaign to address his deficiency with a deeply misleading pair of radio and TV ads stoking fears that Jeep was planning to move production from the U.S. to China.
Those ads were ostensibly an effort to make gains with swing voters in the outlying areas surrounding Toledo, the home to a major Jeep production facility.
But Obama carried Lucas County, which includes Toledo, last night by the same margins as 2008. The president also carried nearby Ottowa and Wood Counties (albeit by a slimmer margin than '08), despite Bush having won both in 2000 and 2004.


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To be honest, I never really understand what's happening on the screen during an ultrasound scan. But on this visit the technician was strangely quiet. I looked at the screen. "How come you're not showing me everything?" I asked. "It's all still there, isn't it?" I asked jokingly. She slithered the instrument over my protruding gel- covered stomach." Yes, sure," she said slowly. "Are you eating okay? The fetus doesn't seem to be growing too much? I want you to come back next week and I'll check you again."
I rolled off the bed, dressed and rushed home to collect my two children from the neighbor who was watching them for me.
I barely gave the ultrasound technician's remarks another thought until I was back on the clinic couch a week later and a doctor was called in. He placed an audio machine on my stomach and listened. I could hear the usual whoosh-whoosh sound as though I had my own washing machine working inside me.
He turned to the technician "You're right, nothing."
He turned to me. "You can get up."
I was confused. "Is everything okay? What's the problem?"
"No heartbeat."
My stomach started to churn. "What do you mean there's no heartbeat? My baby is alive, isn't he?"
"Can't be alive without a heartbeat, can it?"
"You mean it's dead?"
This time the doctor turned to face me. "Yes, of course. Didn't you realize that from your ultrasound last week?"
I turned away horrified and frightened. Was I so stupid? Had I simply not understood? Was I supposed to realize from a thrown-out remark – "the baby doesn't seem to be growing" – that it was really dead?
I could feel tears pricking my eyes. I glanced at the doctor and the ultrasound technician packing away the machine as though my world had just been blackened. I slumped in the chair and started sobbing.
"Why are you so upset?" The doctor finally acknowledged that I was still in the room. "You have two children already, don't you? You'll probably have more if you want to. This is more than likely just a one-off fluke of nature. It happens all the time."
I was still sobbing. It may happen all the time – but not to me. With no warning, my baby had just died. The medical world may call it a fetus but to me, his mother, it was a baby – just one not born yet.
"Don't you realize how many women have no children at all?" the doctor asked.
I grabbed my coat and fled from the room. At that moment I didn't care about other women. This doctor was heartless, cruel and unfeeling. I hated him and I just wanted out of there.
At home I grabbed Mordechai and Gila and clasped them to me.
Gila tried to pull away. "Why Mummy crying?" she asked.
"Because I love you so much," was all I could say.
Three interminable days later my husband took me back to the hospital. Although I had miscarried, I had to have a procedure to remove what was left of the baby. As I filled out the admission form, the nurse looked down at it and said, "Oh, you have two children. If you want them to visit you, don't bring them into your room. Come outside and see them in the visitor's room."
The three other women in my room were all older than me. All three were childless. Two of them had miscarried for the third time. The third woman was there for tests – after four miscarriages. When the sullen-faced doctor came in and drew the screens around her bed, we knew what the results were even before her wails of misery pierced the thin curtain.
At visiting time, all three women had one visitor only: their husbands. Each couple was enveloped in a cocoon of despair, combined with hope for the next time. It was the only way they could keep going. Each time they returned home to an empty nursery. Each time they returned to a home devoid of the giggles, hugs, mess and love that I would return to.
How sensitive and thoughtful the nurse had been when she told me not to bring my children into the room. How could I rub my blessings into the faces of these pain-filled women? Hopefully, one day they too would know the love and joy that motherhood brought with it. But right now it would only bring them pain.


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Sids Trigger Pump Spray
Packaging Design Focus: Sids Trigger Pump Spray
A Good Packaging design example, the Sids is a creative Trigger Pump Spray design. Sids was designed in 2011, and here is a how it is described by its designer: Sids is a trigger spray bottle design that could be used for especially cleaning products and other chemicals, can contain 750 ml.
Sids Trigger Pump Spray Images:
End of the article, click here to go back to previous page, or alternatively go back to Design For You homepage.


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When it comes to being a military family, childcare is especially critical to our stability at home and our ability to focus and have peace of mind on the job.
Finding childcare, however, can be difficult -- especially if you are a dual military or dual-income family. Once you add relocation, deployment, non-traditional childcare needs and waiting lists at Child Development Centers on base, it becomes even more of a challenge.
As a military spouse working for an au pair agency, I am surprised that more military families don't consider getting an au pair. At an average weekly cost of just $350 per family (not per child), it can be more affordable than you think.
The Liebolds in San Diego are one of the Navy families I work with who have enjoyed the benefits of hosting an au pair. The Liebolds worked with Cultural Care Au Pair and selected Simone Staudenmann, from Switzerland to join their family when Wayne, the father, was deployed.
Their au pair took photos of developmental milestones of the children and posted them online so Lt. Cmdr. Liebold could see the twins sitting up, crawling, standing and walking. She also regularly showed them pictures of their father and helped them connect via Skype.
"Even though I'm on the other side of the world, I can see them clapping and playing, and I know that they are happy and also that they haven't forgotten me," he said. "I know my family does not just have great childcare, but a family member who willingly has taken on the challenges of joining a military family with intuition, grace and an understanding of our needs and the needs of our children."
Au pair childcare, flexibility and affordability
The au pair program is an attractive and affordable alternative for military families for many reasons. The program is regulated by the State Department and offers families affordable childcare customized to their needs with a unique international perspective. Au pairs live as a member of your family while providing up to 45 hours of childcare each week. All au pairs are prescreened and come to the U.S. to work on legal J-1 visas.
Only State Department-designated sponsors are authorized to bring au pairs to the United States. There are 14 designated agencies that screen and select prospective au pairs.
Benefits of hosting an au pair
Perhaps one of the most attractive options about the au pair program for military families is that the family can customize the schedule of the au pair to meet their needs. If military parents work early shifts, at night or on weekends, the au pair's schedule can be made to fit that timeframe -- so long as the hours do not exceed 10 hours per day or 45 hours per week. Split shifts offer a great advantage when kids are in school or work hours are irregular. In addition, the cost of hosting an au pair is per family -- not per child -- and can be a more affordable option for families with more than one child.
Au pairs, unlike other day care providers, can also move with your family to a new location if it's an area serviced by the au pair agency.
Finding the right au pair
Whether you are selecting an au pair or any other form of childcare, it's important to ask yourself what qualities and skills are most important to you. It's also critical that you clearly communicate your expectations and your schedule. Making this clear in the interview process and working with a placement manager who can help you identify the right candidate will go a long way toward your success.
Keep Up with the Ins and Outs of Military Life
For the latest military news and tips on military family benefits and more, subscribe to Military.com and have the information you need delivered directly to your inbox.


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Join me every week for Win-It Wednesday, with 24-hour giveaways just for you!
'Tis the season to celebrate with everyone's favorite St. Bernard, Beethoven! In his all-new heartwarming holiday adventure, Beethoven's Christmas Adventure, the hilarious canine speaks for the first time! When Henry the elf (Kyle Massey, TV's That's So Raven) flees the North Pole with Santa's sleigh and his magical bag of toys, he crash-lands the precious cargo in a suburban neighborhood tree.
But when the bag ends up in the wrong hands, it's up to heroic Beethoven and his teenage pal, Mason (Munro Chambers, TV's Degrassi: The Next Generation), to rescue Henry, fetch Santa's toys and save Christmas for children everywhere. Featuring an all-star cast, including Tom Arnold as the voice of Beethoven, it's a barking good time for the whole family!
Today, 2 lucky Deal Seeking Mom readers will win a fun Beethoven Christmas Adventure prize pack that includes:
- A copy of BEETHOVEN'S CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE DVD
- 3 additional DVD titles from Universal (Love Actually, Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas and Barbie: A Perfect Christmas)
- Portable DVD Player
Plus we have a special treat for everyone today too! Download your FREE interactive Beethoven desktop wallpaper. Click here to download your screensaver, unzip the file, and install. And here's a $3/1 Beethoven's Christmas Adventure printable coupon for you too!
To enter, tell me your favorite dog breed.
Every reader has four methods available to enter this contest. Choose one each of any combination of method one, two, three, or four for up to a total of 4 entries!!!
If you are reading this in your email or feed reader, please CLICK HERE to visit the original blog post to enter. Email entries will not be counted.
Methods of entry:
1. Leave a comment.
2. "Like" Deal Seeking Mom and Beethoven on Facebook. Come back and leave a separate comment letting me know you've done so!
3. Add Deal Seeking Mom to your blogroll or add my badge to your sidebar. Make sure to come back and leave the link to your site in a separate comment!
4. Subscribe to my feed via RSS or email. You must confirm your email subscription for it to be a valid entry! Leave a separate comment letting me know you have done so. If you're already a subscriber, simply leave a separate comment letting me know you're already subscribed. Lovin' my subscribers! You guys make this all possible.
(2) Beethoven Christmas Adventure prize packs as described above.
This giveaway ends at 6:00pm on Thursday, 12/22/11 and is open to all U.S. residents 18 years or older. I'll use And the Winner Is to select the winning comment. Winner will be notified by email and listed on my Giveaway Winners page. Winners must respond within 48 hours of notification to claim their prize. Good luck!
While you're in a contest entering mood, don't forget to check out the Giveaway Gathering for a variety of contests being hosted on Deal Seeking Mom readers' blogs!


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Rainfall in Kansas and other growing areas is helping send the price of wheat sharply lower.
The actively traded July contract for wheat lost 19 cents, or 2.7 percent, to settle at $6.90 a bushel Wednesday.
Wheat is still up 14 percent this year as traders worry about dry weather jeopardizing the crop.
Corn also fell. The July contract slipped seven cents, or 1.4 percent, to $4.96 a bushel. Soybeans edged up 3 cents to $14.87 a bushel.
Brandon Marshal, a commodities analyst at Northstar Commodity in Minneapolis, said rain in the central Plains states was likely to alleviate some of the problems wheat growers had been having.
"It's not as bad as people thought," Marshall said.
In other commodities trading, June gold rose $11.10, or 0.9 percent, to $1,305.90 an ounce. July silver rose 23 cents, or 1.2 percent, to $19.78 an ounce.
July copper rose two cents, or 0.8 percent, to $3.16 an ounce. Platinum rose $29.70, or 2 percent, to $1,485.70 an ounce and palladium rose $11.50, or 1.4 percent, $828.80 an ounce.
In energy trading, the price of crude oil climbed above $102 a barrel on signs of increased demand for gasoline just ahead of the summer driving season.
Benchmark U.S. crude for June delivery added 67 cents to $102.37 a barrel in New York.
In other trading, wholesale gasoline gained 4 cents to $2.97 a gallon, natural gas added 1 cent to $4.37 per 1,000 cubic feet and heating oil rose 2 cents to $2.96 a gallon.


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Crossroads Book & Music
- About Us
- Contact Us
- Upcoming Events
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Online Shopping
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Inside Scoop
Product Description
Today's students are hammered with high expectations for their academic studies. Basic life skills are mostly not taught in classrooms, so graduates are on their own to figure out how to live successfully in the everyday world. Without any guidance, where do you start?
Adulting 101 is a clever, compelling, and relevant manual that will show you how to:
Choose your boss, get a job (or at least not lose one) and deal with co-workers
Buy insurance and understand exactly what you need
Begin saving and investing your money
Buy a car
Set goals, prioritize, and get work done
Write a professional email
Navigate sex, dating, and relationships (but not in that order)
Manage your time effectively
Measure success as God sees it
And much more
More Product Information
- Publisher: Broadstreet Publishing
- Release Date: March 26, 2018
- Pages: 160
- Language: English
- Height: 0.70 inches
- Width: 5.20 inches
- Length: 7.10 inches
- Weight: 0.75 pounds


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MU Political Scientist Tuesday's Presidential Debate
Related Story
COLUMBIA - Tuesday's presidential debate can be characterized as a presidential brawl.
University of Missouri's political science professor Marvin Overby visited the KOMU 8 studio to analyze the debate.
Going into this election, there was a lot of criticism's about Obama's last performance, how do you think he did tonight?
"Overall, Obama took the race tonight and that is for three reasons. One, because the expectations were lower, a lot of the questions were more on his turf. Two, it seemed like the president was more comfortable with the questions and third, President Obama has the better soundbites," said Overby.
One topic that came up several times was the question, "who was responsible for what happened in Libya?" How do you think both candidates responded to that question?
Overby also mentioned his skepticism about tonight's debate.
"The polls after the first debate would have happened regardless because that is how election season goes. It eventually becomes a tight debate so I am not positive that their performance matters too much, but it gives us something to watch and more to talk about," said Overby.
What do you think is going to change about the next debate?
"I think it's important to address next debate will be about foreign policy which is more in the president's territory, simply because the governor just does not have that experience. So it is possible that after the next debate people will say that President Obama lead the last two debates," said Overby.
The next and final presidential debate will be on Monday, October 22.


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Below is a rare video of Dr. Aafia Siddiqi, recorded in 1991 in Houston.
Lady of this physique is facing 86 years sentence in USA jail for snatching gun from more than one USA marine soldiers during her arrest in Afghanistan. In the process she left no finger print on the gun (as accepted by FBI official) and got shot herself.
The main allegations on her for which she was abducted (or at least CIA/ISI/FBI spread these allegations through their pets in media) were never presented in the court as they didn't have presentable evidence. These allegations were:
1- Links with Al-Qaida
2-Invovlvement in activities like Blood Diamonds
After looking at Brian Banks case, one can easily see how much jury can be influenced by alien appearance of the person presented in front of them. Even for many Pakistani pseudo liberals or social class fascists, her head scarf and affection with religion are enough to declare her terrorist.
In Brian Banks story, he was made to go for no-contest in an allegation of rape to face less sentence as opposed to 41 years imprisonment. According to recent evidence he didn't commit the rape. He had to go for no-contest because his lawyer suggested that if he goes for contesting the case, the jury will see him as a big black guy and will be automatically considered as guilty.
For Brian Banks story, visit the link below :


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Dept. of Word Lists
A Visual Thesaurus Verse for the New Year
As we settle into 2011, Visual Thesaurus contributor Bob Greenman has been reflecting on the past year of writing for the VT. Join Bob as he takes a versified look back at how he has been inspired by his "lexicon-muse."
It's twenty eleven, we're back on the scene,
Submitting for your delectation,
A daily pastiche, a mélange, if you will,
A platter for your satiation.
If in two thousand ten you relished Visual Thesaurus,
It's a pretty safe bet you love words less or morus.
And if you've delighted in boosting your vocab,
You can credit that partly to this online language lab.
It's Zimmer I'm thinking of, Baron and Friedman,
Hargraves and Peters, Whitman and Greenman.
Tips on writing, too, on teaching and grammar,
Gently presented, all without clamor.
It's Lydon for that, right? And Brenner and Reed,
Glickman and Rubiner, voices to heed.
Carey and Shults, Daphne Gray-Grant,
Dunaway, too, all there to enchant.
They explain, entertain, they discourse, let the light in,
No wonder the plaudits of readers who write in.
As for me, I must say I've enjoyed it immensely,
Selecting locutions, searching intensely.
I talked about twaddle, piffle, blather and tripe,
Tawdry hucksters in Hollywood, them and their hype.
When I wrote about Daisy, my canine predominant,
Appellation, admonition, fait accompli were dominant.
Is lemon peel de rigueur in Boston espresso?
Ugh, "repugnant," said some waiters, others "Why not so?"
Can't believe so late in life I learned the meaning of savory,
It's the opposite of sweet, like sauces and gravery.
The tribute I paid when the school year began,
To an ardent and magical, spellbinding man
Included some words linked to teachers unlike him,
Supercilious, bullying, noncommittal and quite dim.
Sampling a soupçon of cocktails abundant
I tasted each once, I was never redundant.
Daiquiri, grasshopper, pink lady, zombie,
A whole constellation I once thought beyond me.
In glittering crowds and canyons of steel
I found Rockefeller Center's quotidian appeal.
One night, though, my euphoric, effervescent elation
Got me spurned, rebuffed, rejected from a kiss's consummation.
On the road with my father during weeks-long school vacations,
I collected hapless snakes, speedy skinks and crustaceans.
Lots of traveling time for convivial banter,
Driving west to Detroit, and south to Atlanter.
With oblivion the fate of half my keyboard's letters,
A conundrum left me shackled, chained in mental fetters.
The E, the A, the I, the O, had, of course, explainable pathology,
But where is the hierophant who'll explain my faint G's etiology.
The new year begins, I have more words to pitch,
Some will delight, I hope all will enrich.
Can't tell at the moment the words I will choose,
So much depends on my lexicon-muse.
You may see lubricious, mephitic, and feign,
Disgruntled, farrago, interregnum, inane.
You may see uxorious, vilify, cagey,
Lacuna, granitic, verboten and stagey.
Possibly lachrymose, rue, acquiesce,
Efflorescence, effervescence, histrionic, deliquesce.
Acrimonious, captious, gawp, remuneration,
Exponential, dunderhead, flout, elucidation.
So please, be my guest again, as I go on this quest again,
Bringing you words that enhance
Your writing, your reading, your thinking, your speaking,
Engaged in our language romance.


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On 5 April 2016 the JRC presented the interactive and collaborative online European Energy Efficiency Platform. This beta platform is conceived to fill the gap opened by scattered data and fragmented knowledge resulting from a rapidly growing energy efficiency market. It is expected to be both a one-stop shop for information retrieval and a meeting point for experts to exchange data and reduce redundant activities.
Renewable energy technologies/sources (hydropower, wind power, solar power, marine-energy, geothermal energy, heat pumps, biomass and biofuels) are alternatives to fossil fuels contributing to the improvement of environment, enhancement of energy security and diversification of energy supply.
Last Updated on 31 May 201831 May 2018Total Views 5454
This report reviews the current status of European Member States' regulation supporting Demand Response and Aggregation in the wholesale, balancing and ancillary electricity markets, as stipulated in Article 15 of the Energy Efficiency Directive.
Last Updated on 14 Feb 201714 Feb 2017Total Views 105105
The present report aims to provide an overview of the main issues at stake with the calculation methods for energy savings generated by measures implemented by EU Member States under Article 7 of the Directive 2012/27/EU on Energy Efficiency (EED).
Last Updated on 29 Mar 201629 Mar 2016Total Views 13051305
This report, conducted by the Joint Research Centre for DG ENERGY, during the last trimester of 2013 and the first trimester of 2014, identifies the status of the programmes promoting Energy Audits and Energy Management Systems in the Member States of the European Union in order to realize which of the requirements of Article 8 of the Energy Efficiency Directive were already met and to understand the level of additional...
Last Updated on 02 Mar 201602 Mar 2016Total Views 5656
Thematic Areas
E3P Research Areas
The European Energy Efficiency Platform is an open collaborative tool for a strong and connected energy efficiency community.
The content in it is divided in six thematic and four cross-thematic areas.
Thematic Areas
Cross-thematic AreasPolicies and TargetsTechnology and StandardsEconomics and FinancingBehaviours and SocialEnergy Service CompaniesStay
News & Events
The present report aims to provide an overview of the main issues at stake with the calculation methods for energy savings generated by measures implemented by EU Member States under Article 7 of the Directive 2012/27/EU on Energy Efficiency (EED).Stay
This site uses the secure single sign-on (SSO) service of the European Commission - EU Login, to authenticate you.Stay
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- Demand Response (1) Apply Demand Response filter
- EED (1) Apply EED filter
- Energy audits (1) Apply Energy audits filter
- National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAP) (1) Apply National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAP) filter
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- Renewable energy technologies (1) Apply Renewable energy technologies filter
Filter by publisher:
- (-) Remove European Union filter European Union


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Relationships with
Photo Credit: Noel Gallagher's picture is courtesy of Nic Kocher. Photographic illustrations of Noel Gallagher are copyright © by their respective holders. The images are published with permission or as allowed by the copyright law's fair use or quotation provisions. If any copyright holder objects to an image being included, please notify us and it will be removed immediately.
Disclaimer: This information about Noel Gallagher is derived from astrological interpretation of Noel Gallagher's date, time, and place of birth.


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Vladimir Svidersky Photography
Yosemite, December 2006
> Order prints
This page is where you can order a fine art print. If you would like to license this image for commercial or editorial use, please contact me via
Photo ID# 0381
Choose Print Size:
8x12 ($10.00)
8x12 matted ($20.00)
10x15 ($15.00)
10x15 matted ($30.00)
12x18 ($25.00)
12x18 matted ($50.00)
16x24 ($40.00)
16x24 matted ($80.00)
20x30 ($50.00)
20x30 matted ($100.00)
Choose Matting Color:
Prints are available in two different ways: as a print only or mounted and matted. If you choose matted options, your print will be supplied with an archival quality, acid-free mount and double mat. The standard mat colors are black or white (see sample image below). If you prefer another mat color or want your print to be single/triple matted please contact me via
Matting will add from 4" to 6" to every dimension of the print. Check the reference table at the bottom of the page to see what frame size you will need to every matted print.
To pay with Paypal or a credit card simply select prints size, choose matting option, press the "Add to cart" button and follow the instructions that will appear. To pay with a check or postal money order please note the image ID and print size that you would like, and contact me via email for payment details. The prices listed are in U.S. dollars and include shipping and handling worldwide. Please allow about two weeks for delivery of your print.
100% Satisfaction Guarantee
All prints come with a complete satisfaction guarantee. If for any reason you are not complete happy with your print I will refund the purchase price (less shipping costs) for any print returned in new condition. If the print is damaged in transit, I will replace it once the damaged materials are returned.
By default all prints come on matte paper. If you would like them printed on glossy or luster please send me
, or simply add such notes during PayPal checkout process. Please also contact me if you have any special requests such as printing color images in black and white, or if you would like different sizes.
Matted Prints Sizes
Print Size
Mat Size (sides)
Mat Size (top/bottom)
Fits Frame
8" x 12"
2" / 2"
12" x 16"
10" x 15"
2.5" / 3.5"
16" x 20"
12" x 18"
3" / 3"
18" x 24"
iPhone Apps
Copyright © 2004-2011, Vladimir Svidersky


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Three Perfect Days in Kailua
Kailua's unique local businesses, scenic beauty, soft-sand beaches and friendly faces make it a place where residents and visitors alike can experience some of the most perfect days on Oahu.
(page 1 of 8)
Sponsored post
As you drive through mountains to reach it, pouring out of the first tunnel, then the second, there it is—the Windward side. Two brilliant blue bays, miles of lush terrain and a close peppering of neighborhood rooftops come into view from atop the Pali highway. Kailua's unique local businesses, scenic beauty, soft-sand beaches and friendly faces make it a place where residents and visitors alike can experience some of the most perfect days on Oahu.
The Perfect Weekday
Heading to work, picking up the kids from school, or stopping at the store for groceries don't feel like chores to the typical Kailua resident. Part of the town's allure is its convenience—a unique luxury for many residents who live, work and play in Kailua.
If the standard Monday through Friday workweek doesn't apply to your schedule, a perfect weekday in Kailua would involve going outside to enjoy a Maunawili Falls hike on a near-empty trail, or a less crowded afternoon at Kailua beach. But if a traditional 9 to 5 is your thing, it's just a short walk around or a couple minutes of a commute, to run an errand, shop for a friend or have a delicious lunch.
Kailua town has several little lunch-break bistros and healthy grab-and-go options. You'll quickly learn that a sack-lunch sandwich won't compare when it's pitted against one of Rosario "Kakay" and Chris Tarvyd's homemade crepes from Crepes No Ka Oi. The Tarvyds have acquired quite a following with their sweet and savory crepe creations. The La Bella Italia crepe is stuffed with melted provolone cheese, Italian sausage and peppers slow-cooked in marinara sauce. Their most popular crepe, the Ultimate Breakfast Crepe or UBC, has people calling in from Hawaii Kai and the North Shore to make sure they haven't sold out of the tasty item before heading to Kailua.
Vegan and vegetarian Kailuans don't have to go far to enjoy a healthy, great-tasting meal. Down to Earth, Hawaii's only all-vegetarian market, has a convenient Kailua location right on the centrally located Hamakua Drive. The market also features a deli with hot entrees, an extensive salad bar, fresh juices and smoothies, a great made-to-order sandwich menu and fresh grab-and-go options. "We have served health-conscious islanders for over 35 years, with natural and organic products," says Mark Fergusson, chief vegetarian officer. "Our vast array of prepared vegetarian foods meets such high standards of culinary tastes that it is a destination point for people of all walks of life seeking tasty and healthy food."
Afternoon shoppers make their way into the town's main thoroughfare of Kailua Road. Stylish women's boutique Mary Z's helps Kailua women and visitors find their perfect outfit. Owner and Kailua native Terrie Farmakis, who named the store after her own mother, says her store offers an eclectic collection of designer jeans, dresses, and blouses that allow mothers and daughters to shop in the same place—a frequent after-school activity. "The women of Kailua are extraordinary," she says. "They're loving, kind, and hardworking. They're friends and mothers and athletes. Every day it's such a pleasure to see my customers come through the door." Mary Z's is constantly expanding its collections and adding new brands to better serve Kailua's women.


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It is once again time for the blog party known as TSQL Tuesday. I am hosting this month and wanted to also participate. The theme is "Beach Time" and this is TSQL Tuesday #9. Why did I choose this theme? There are a few reasons for it. 1.) There are numerous people in the community getting ready, or who have recently, to change jobs. 2.) I was on the tail end of a mini-vacation / long weekend when I got the invite to host. 3.) To be able to take a day off for that long weekend, I wanted to make sure the loose ends were wrapped up so I would not need to work over the weekend. 4.) The song lyrics I mentioned in the Theme announcement, were stuck in my head and reminded me of vacation. For this post, I want to cover what Beach Time means for me and some of the things I did recently in order to get a little R & R.
Beach Time
Beach Time means having peace of mind, for me. I can't go on vacation if there is doubt or concern about any of my projects (work, home, financial). So, in order for me to truly have a vacation – Beach Time comes first.
I find it completely useless to go on vacation if I am going to be checking email or project statuses every 10 minutes. There is no rest or relaxation in doing those things while I am supposed to be doing something else. Vacation should be fun and enjoyable. Thus, if I am to enjoy vacation, I need to do a few extra things in the office prior to leaving.
Going the Distance
When Adam (Blog | Twitter) asked me to host, I was on my little mini-vacation. In order to get to that vacation, I had to prep myself and work for the one day absence. I had to make sure I had built up a few things.
1. Confidence
2. Skills
3. Processes
4. Automation
Let me explain what I mean by each of these items. I am sure it seems a bit odd to hear that Confidence and skills must be built right before one takes a vacation.
I needed to build confidence in processes and systems that were recently deployed. This required more testing and monitoring of the processes to ensure all would be well. I worked on transferring some knowledge of specific items to team-members. I wanted to make sure they knew what they were doing. I also wanted them to know that they knew what they were doing and that they could do it. This goes hand in hand in number one, all while building skills. With the massive changes that we were wrapping up (complete network migration), some new processes needed to be developed and implemented. We are using new technology and software and the old methods just didn't work anymore or were unreliable in the first place.
In addition to these items, there was the work tasks that needed to be completed. Since we were trying to finish the project by the weekend that I needed to be out of the office, I needed to have my tasks done that much sooner. This meant a willingness to work longer days (ok, continue working longer days) and try to work a little faster without making any mistakes. This also required some increased communication and visibility with regards to the tasks and effort.
I also had a feeling that something might come up on the day I was scheduled to be out of the office. I suspected that there may be a user request for a data dump. In preparation for this, I also built an SSIS package that would handle the most common requests from this particular user. The package would be able to handle various different types from this user based on common requirements I had seen in the past. A user would only need to change a few input variables and run the package. The result as a simplified version of a process I had been using for that particular user and was something that I could hand off to a team-mate. This automation made it so less time could be spent on teaching the team-mate what may be needed, and permits one to just execute the package. This was something that I wanted to get done at some point in the future anyway, but this was a very good time to introduce it into the mix. Overall time savings of this implementation could be a couple of hours a week. Overall savings in thought process, memory tracing, note tracing, and stress was substantial. It was well worth the day or so that I put into creating it.
"Toes in the Water…"
Now that I have been able to accomplish some very good stuff by putting in the extra effort, I can relax a bit. By planning ahead, communicating, working extra, and training – I can have that Beach Time that I wanted. I was able to have the peace of mind needed to really take a vacation. Taking a break from work sometimes requires going the extra mile just before the break happens, but it is well worth it if you don't have to think about work at all while on vacation.


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- Crafted 20 18kt gold plated black zircon stoppers.
- Adjustable size. One size fit all.
- Individually handcrafted.
Orders that are placed from Monday to Friday will be shipped within the next 2-3 days and orders that are placed from Saturday to Sunday will be shipped on Tuesday. However in Holiday seasons the suggested packaging time may be extended due to influx of orders. A shipping confirmation email will be sent to you once we ship your order. Please be aware that all A.2.F jewelry are tested for quality assurance purposes, which may result in items being shipped on separate days. For applicable destinations, tracking will be generated when the product has cleared customs. Below is a chart of the estimated delivery time, sometimes orders may experience delay further than the estimated time due to customs and regulation. Please contact us at Customer Support (linked below) if your order has not arrive on the estimated time.
|United States
|Standard Shipping
|12-14 Business Days
|Free Tracking Available
|Standard Shipping
|12-20 Business Days
|Standard Shipping
|17-27 Business Days
|Standard Shipping
|17-27 Business Days
|Standard Shipping
|17-27 Business Days
|Rest Of The World
|Standard Shipping
|20-40 Business Days
|6.5" in
|16.51 cm
|7" in
|17.78 cm
|7.5" in
|19.05 cm
|8" in
|20.32 cm
|8.5" in
|21.59 cm
|9" in
|22.86 cm
Jewelery Care
At A.2.F we craft our jewelry with high quality materials from Grade A semi-precious gemstones to 925 sterling silver and we want your jewelry to last you a long time so we've prepared this guide to help you care for your jewelry.
- Sizing - At A.2.F we craft our jewelry with high quality materials from Grade A semi-precious gemstones to 925 sterling silver and we want your jewelry to last you a long time so we've prepared this guide to help you care for your jewelry.
- Elastic Cord - Many of our bracelets are made with high quality stretch cord, but this doesn't mean you should attempt to stretch it out. All elastic cording will loosen slightly with repeated wear over time, this is normal.
- Gemstones - Gemstones are gifts from the earth and each one is unique and carries different energy. Gemstones are rated on a Mohs scale according to their hardness, but this doesn't have any baring on their quality. You should avoid dropping your jewelry on hard surfaces, this may cause damage.
- Metals - We use a variety of metals in our jewelry from karat plated gold and silver to gold filled and sterling silver. All plating on plated pieces will wear off over time and may also experience a patina due to oxidation. There are many factors that contribute to this including; improper cleaning & storage, moisture & humidity, rubbing against hard surfaces, etc. It is important to gently wipe your metal jewelry clean of oils, moisture and debris with a very soft cloth. This will keep it looking its best.
- Cleaning - Gemstones & metals should be gently cleaned with a soft cloth, never washed. Do not wear your jewelry while bathing, showering or swimming. Avoid using ultrasonic devices or abrasives to clean your jewelry.
- Storing - We recommend storing your jewelry in the packaging we include with each piece or on a similar fashion so that it does not become tangled or damaged with other jewelry or items.
30-Day Returns
As a customer, you have the right to return and receive a full refund or exchange of any purchased products within 30 days of receiving your order. Please contact us with your order number at customer support to start your return process. With our easy return, you can let us manage your return and keep you up to date every step of the way.
Sale items (if applicable)
Only regular priced items may be refunded, unfortunately sale items cannot be refunded. All sale purchases are final.