text:
Praise for The Boleyn King
"Imaginative . . . Andersen focuses on creating an exciting, action-driven plot containing strong doses of both intrigue and romance. Tudor-era historical fiction fans who are willing to accept the unusual premise will be rewarded with an original and entertaining read that's reminiscent of the best of Philippa Gregory."—Library Journal (starred review)
"Gripping . . . Andersen delves into an alternative Tudor England geared to rivet period fans and newcomers alike. . . . Perfect for Philippa Gregory fans."—Booklist (starred review)
"A surprising gem and a thoroughly enjoyable read."—Historical Novels Review
"Andersen's novel, alive with historical flair and drama, satisfies both curious and imaginative Tudor aficionados. . . . Her multidimensional characters are so real that readers will wish it was history and eagerly await the next in the trilogy."—RT Book Reviews (Top Pick)
"A wonderfully imaginative and well-written tale of intrigue, high court politics and desperate love."—Deseret News
" 'What if . . .' With these tantalizing words, Laura Andersen creates a fresh and vividly realized alternative world where Anne Boleyn not only lives, but also gives birth to a healthy son who will become King. With the introduction of Minuette, Princess Elizabeth's lady-in-waiting, we meet an extraordinary young woman who embodies love and loyalty, and who fights to find the humanity at the heart of the most glamorous—and dangerous—court in Europe."—Susan Elia MacNeal, author of Mr. Churchill's Secretary
"Full of intrigue, conspiracies, and the accurate details so essential to good historical fiction . . . Anyone who has even the slightest fascination with the Tudors will want to devour this delectable novel in a single sitting."—Tasha Alexander, New York Times bestselling author of Death in the Floating City
"The Boleyn King deftly blends compelling characters, flawless social history, and courtly romance into an enthralling tale that's impossible to put down."—Stefanie Pintoff, Edgar Award–winning author of Secret of the White Rose
"A sumptuous, vividly imagined novel of a Boleyn king's fateful rise to power amid the treacherous glamour of the Tudor court. A fantastic debut!"—C. W. Gortner, author of The Queen's Vow
"A fascinating journey into what might have been, this novel of alternate history will keep you turning the pages and leave you hoping for a sequel."—Kate Emerson, author of A Royal Inheritance
"Fans of both Stephenie Meyer and Philippa Gregory will find much to love in this evocative and well-written debut."—Francine Mathews, author of Jack 1939
"Immensely addictive and twisty—kudos to Laura Andersen for her crafty plotting and rich characterizations. Deliciously scandalous and seductive, The Boleyn King delivers history and romance with equal passion."—Becca Fitzpatrick, New York Times bestselling author of Hush, Hush
"From the intrigue of the Tudor court to the battlefields of France, you will be entranced by the power, emotion, and sweeping romance of this spellbinding novel. I loved it and can't wait for the next book in the series!"—Syrie James, bestselling author of The Lost Memoirs of Jane Austen
"The Boleyn King is a riveting page-turner of a tale. I could not put it down. Laura Andersen's splendidly imagined novel provides a fresh take on an era in history that's been done to death. For historical fiction fans and Tudor aficionados, The Boleyn King is a must-read."—Sherry Jones, author of Four Sisters, All Queens


text:
Does anybody know what happened to Bob Sexton? He was the service manager at the LA store who brought Tesla and their customers through the early "teething" issues as early bugs and issues were resolved?
Bob was a service manager that we could really trust to take care of these expensive yet new vehicles. Through the recall on the spline bolt (a Lotus error) as well as surprises such as faster than expected tire wear, he kept a positive attitude and because of his clear straight-talking, knowledgeable approach, kept me confident that Tesla was being honest. History, of course, proved the car to be great but early on, we naturally were concerned.
I remember a few of his above-and-beyond efforts to install a critical, new firmware update at the first rally with no hassle at all to the customers. He worked his way through the parking lot as we partied. When our 1st generation HVAC (air conditioner) acted up and prevented our Roadster from charging, Bob worked around the clock, giving me his cellphone number to help troubleshoot and get my car taken care. Unlike many car company experiences, Bob just took care of things and gave good advice. He knew the car inside and out.
For some reason, last week, when I asked for Bob at the Tesla store in LA with questions about shipping our car, I was blankly told that he wasn't at Tesla any more but no other info and a new guy is there.
Bob was with Tesla from the earliest days. Who is going to nurse the Model S through its inevitable early stages of currently unknown issues?
Has anyone heard more? Is he working somewhere else so we can still take our Roadsters in (ours is out of warranty anyway)?
It appears that Tesla fired him.http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/8845-Chelsea-Bob

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Alzheimer's disease damages the brain and causes a steady loss of memory and of how well you can speak, think, and do your daily activities. It gets worse over time, but how quickly this happens varies. There are medicines that may slow down the symptoms for a while and make the disease easier to live with.
Last Revised:
October 29, 2012
Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine & Myron F. Weiner, MD - Psychiatry, Neurology
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
To learn more visit Healthwise.org
© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.


text:
On Sunday, February 25, we spent the morning debriefing the REAL.LIFE Exhibit that many from our body went through just the day before. We also debriefed the 30 Hour Famine that many of our students participated in that weekend.
The service served to both allow us to share with one another the things God had shown us, as well as look at ways that we as a community of people can respond to the great needs of our world.
We have combined the sharing from both services on this recording. You will hear from myself, as well as Pastor Steve McCracken and Pastor Jon Knapp.
To read more about the 30 Hour Famine see this.
To hear the service click here.
To hear the service in podcast form click here.
Don't Waste Your Life...Do Something
Posted: Monday, February 26, 2007 – 7:47 PM
|| 0 comments
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text:
Redmine is a free and open source, web-based project management and issue tracking tool. It handles multiple projects and subprojects. It features per project wikis and forums, time tracking, and flexible role based access control. It includes a calendar and Gantt charts to aid visual representation of projects and their deadlines. Redmine integrates with various version control systems and includes a repository browser and diff viewer.
Redmine is written using the Ruby on Rails framework. It is cross-platform and cross-database and supports 34 languages.
- 1 Prerequisites
- 2 Optional Prerequisites
- 3 Installation
- 3.1 Build and Installation
- 3.2 Database Configuration
- 3.3 Ruby gems
- 3.4 Session Store Secret Generation
- 3.5 Database Structure Creation
- 3.6 Database Population with Default Data
- 3.7 File System Permissions
- 3.8 Test the installation
- 3.9 Configure the production server
- 4 Updating
- 5 Troubleshooting
- 6 See also
This document will guide you through the installation process of Redmine and all of its prerequisites, including the optional ones. If desired, however, you may install Redmine and its prerequisites separately, simply referring to the relevant sections below.
Although this guide will go through the entire installation process, this is not a one way path. Redmine can use different versions of the requisite software. For example the database requirement can be provided by mariaDB, mySQL, postgreSQL, etc.
|Redmine version
|Supported Ruby Versions
|Rails version used
|2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6
|2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6
There are two simple ways to install Ruby: installing the ruby package as described in ruby or installing RVM as described in RVM (recommended).
Redmine supports many different databases.
MariaDB 5.0 or higher (recommended)
- MariaDB is a drop-in replacement for MySQL, in fact it was a fork of it and maintain binary compatibility. It is also Arch Linux's default implementation of MySQL.
- MariaDB has known issues (#19344, #19395, #17460).
To install mariadb simply refer to MySQL.
MySQL 5.5 - 5.7
- Oracle MySQL was dropped to the AUR. mysqlAUR in the AUR.
- MySQL 5.6 or higher has known issues (#19344, #19395, #17460).
PostgreSQL 9.2 or higher
- To install postgresql simply refer to PostgreSQL.
- Make sure your database datestyle is set to ISO (Postgresql default setting). You can set it using:
ALTER DATABASE "redmine_db" SET datestyle="ISO,MDY";
SQLite 3
Not supported for multi-user production use. So, it will not be detailed how to install and configure it for use with Redmine. See upstream document for more info.
Web Server
To install apache simply refer to Apache HTTP Server.
To install Unicorn server (ruby gem) simply refer to Ruby on Rails#Unicorn.
To install nginx simply refer to Nginx.
Apache Tomcat
To install tomcat8 or tomcat7 simply refer to Tomcat.
Optional Prerequisites
SCM (Source Code Management)
|Supported versions
|126.96.36.199 to 2.11.0
|1.3 to 1.9.7
|1.3 or higher required.
Does not support Ruby Bindings for Subversion.
|1.2 to 4.3.1
|Support bellow version 1.6 is droped as seen in #9465.
|1.0.0.candidate.1 to 2.7.0
|1.12.12, 1.12.13
|1.12 required.
Will not work with CVSNT.
More information can be read at Redmine Repositories Wiki.
ImageMagick (recommended)
ImageMagick is necessary to enable Gantt export to a PNG file and thumbnails generation.
Install imagemagick.
Ruby OpenID Library
To enable OpenID support, install the OpenID Connect Plugin.
Build and Installation
Database Configuration
Now, we will need to create the database that the Redmine will use to store your data. For now on, the database and its user will be named
redmine. But this names can be changed to anything else.
Database Creation
To create the database, the user and set privileges:
# mysql -u root -p
CREATE DATABASE redmine CHARACTER SET UTF8; CREATE USER 'redmine'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'my_password'; GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON redmine.* TO 'redmine'@'localhost';
For PostgreSQL:
CREATE ROLE redmine LOGIN ENCRYPTED PASSWORD 'my_password' NOINHERIT VALID UNTIL 'infinity'; CREATE DATABASE redmine WITH ENCODING='UTF8' OWNER=redmine;
For SQLServer:
Although the database, login and user can be created within SQL Server Management Studio with a few clicks, you can always use the command line with
USE [master] GO -- Very basic DB creation CREATE DATABASE [REDMINE] GO -- Creation of a login with SQL Server login/password authentication and no password expiration policy CREATE LOGIN [REDMINE] WITH PASSWORD=N'redminepassword', DEFAULT_DATABASE=[REDMINE], CHECK_EXPIRATION=OFF, CHECK_POLICY=OFF GO -- User creation using previously created login authentication USE [REDMINE] GO CREATE USER [REDMINE] FOR LOGIN [REDMINE] GO -- User permissions set via roles EXEC sp_addrolemember N'db_datareader', N'REDMINE' GO EXEC sp_addrolemember N'db_datawriter', N'REDMINE' GO
Database Access Configuration
Now you need to configure Redmine to access the database we just created. To do that you have to copy
/usr/share/webapps/redmine/config/database.yml.example to
# cd /usr/share/webapps/redmine/config # cp database.yml.example database.yml
And then edit this file in order to configure your database settings for "production" environment (you can configure for the "development" and "test" environments too, just change the appropriate sections).
Example for MariaDB and MySQL database:
nano database.yml
production: adapter: mysql2 database: redmine host: localhost port: 3307 #If your server is not running on the standard port (3306), set it here, otherwise this line is unnecessary. username: redmine password: my_password
Example for PostgreSQL database:
nano database.yml
production: adapter: postgresql database: redmine host: localhost username: redmine password: my_password encoding: utf8 schema_search_path: <database_schema> (default - public)
Example for a SQL Server database:
nano database.yml
production: adapter: sqlserver database: redmine host: localhost #Set not default host (localhost) here, otherwise this line is unnecessary. port: 1433 #Set not standard port (1433) here, otherwise this line is unnecessary. username: redmine password: my_password
Ruby gems
Redmine requires some RubyGems to be installed and there are multiple ways of installing them (as listed on the referenced page).
- prototype-rails
- unicorn (an application-server)
- mysql2 (high-performance Ruby bindings for MySQL)
- coderay
- erubis
- fastercsv
- rdoc
- net-ldap
- rack-openid
Obviously, if you choose a different database-server, or want to use a different application-server you should replace mysql2 and unicorn to your liking.
Adding Additional Gems (Optional)
If you need to load gems that are not required by Redmine core (eg. Puma, fcgi), create a file named
Gemfile.local at the root of your redmine directory. It will be loaded automatically when running
bundle install:
# nano Gemfile.local
gem 'puma'
Check previously installed gems
The Redmine devs included Bundler in Redmine, which can manage Gems just like pacman manages packages. Run the following command to assure that all Redmine dependencies are met:
# bundle install --without development test
This should output a list of gems Redmine needs.
Gems Installation
Redmine uses Bundler to manage gems dependencies. So, you need to install Bundler first:
# gem install bundler
Then you can install all the gems required by Redmine using the following command:
# cd /usr/share/webapps/redmine # bundle install
To install without the ruby development and test environments use this instead of the last command:
# bundle install --without development test
Although imagemagick is highly recommended, if you do not use it, you should skip the installation of the
rmagick gem using:
# bundle install --without rmagick
config/database.yml uses the mysql2 adapter, then only the mysql2 gem will be installed). Do not forget to re-run
bundle install when you change or add adapters in this file.
Session Store Secret Generation
Now you must generate a random key that will be used by Rails to encode cookies that stores session data thus preventing their tampering:
# bundle exec rake generate_secret_token
Database Structure Creation
With the database created and the access configured for Redmine, now it is time to create the database structure. This is done by running the following command under the application root directory:
# cd /usr/share/webapps/redmine # RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec rake db:migrate
These command will create tables by running all migrations one by one then create the set of the permissions and the application administrator account, named admin.
Database Population with Default Data
Now you may want to insert the default configuration data in database, like basic types of task, task states, groups, etc. To do so execute the following:
# RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec rake redmine:load_default_data
Redmine will prompt for the data set language that should be loaded; you can also define the REDMINE_LANG environment variable before running the command to a value which will be automatically and silently picked up by the task:
# RAILS_ENV=production REDMINE_LANG=pt-BR bundle exec rake redmine:load_default_data
File System Permissions
The user account running the application must have write permission on the following subdirectories:
files: storage of attachments. log: application log file production.log. tmp and tmp/pdf: used to generate PDF documents among other things (create these ones if not present).
Assuming you run the application with a the default Apache user
http account:
# mkdir tmp tmp/pdf public/plugin_assets # chown -R http:http files log tmp public/plugin_assets # chmod -R 755 files log tmp tmp/pdf public/plugin_assets
Test the installation
To test your new installation using WEBrick web server run the following in the Redmine folder:
# ruby bin/rails server webrick -e production
Once WEBrick has started, point your browser to http://localhost:3000/. You should now see the application welcome page. Use default administrator account to log in: admin/admin. You can go to Administration menu and choose Settings to modify most of the application settings.
Configure the production server
For Apache and Nginx, it is recommended to use Phusion Passenger. Passenger is a module available for Nginx and Apache HTTP Server.
Start by installing the 'passenger' gem:
# gem install passenger
Now you have to look at your passenger gem installation directory to continue. If you do not known where it is, type:
# gem env
And look at the
GEM PATHS to find where the gems are installed. If you followed this guide and installed RVM, you can have more than one path, look at the one you are using.
For this guide so far, the gem path is
# cd /usr/local/rvm/gems/ruby-2.0.0-p247@global/gems/passenger-4.0.23
If you are aiming to use Apache HTTP Server, run:
# passenger-install-apache2-module
In case a rails application is deployed with a sub-URI, like http://example.com/yourapplication, some additional configuration is required, see the Passenger documentation
For Nginx:
# passenger-install-nginx-module
And finally, the installer will provide you with further information regarding the installation (such as installing additional libraries). So, to setup your server, simply follow the output from the passenger installer.
Backup the files used in Redmine:
# tar czvf ~/redmine_files.tar.gz -C /usr/share/webapps/redmine/ files
Backup the plugins installed in Redmine:
# tar czvf ~/redmine_plugins.tar.gz -C /usr/share/webapps/redmine/ plugins
Backup the database:
# mysqldump -u root -p <redmine_database> | gzip > ~/redmine_db.sql.gz
Update the redmine package as normal.
Update the gems requirements:
# bundle update
For a clean gems environment, you may want to remove all the gems and reinstall them. To go through this, do:
# for x in `gem list --no-versions`; do gem uninstall $x -a -x -I; done
If you did the last step and removed all the gems, now you will need to reinstall them all:
# gem install bundler # bundle install --without development test
Copy the saved files:
# tar xzvf ~/redmine_files.tar.gz -C /usr/share/webapps/redmine/
Copy the installed plugins:
# tar xzvf ~/redmine_plugins.tar.gz -C /usr/share/webapps/redmine/
Regenerate the secret token:
# cd /usr/share/webapps/redmine # bundle exec rake generate_secret_token
Check for any themes that you may have installed in the
public/themes directory. You can copy them over but checking for updated version is ideal.
Update the database. This step is the one that could change the contents of your database. Go to your new redmine directory, then migrate your database:
# RAILS_ENV=production REDMINE_LANG=pt-BR bundle exec rake db:migrate
If you have installed any plugins, you should also run their database migrations:
# RAILS_ENV=production REDMINE_LANG=pt-BR bundle exec rake redmine:plugins:migrate
Now, it is time to clean the cache and the existing sessions:
# RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec rake tmp:cache:clear tmp:sessions:clear
Restart the application server (e.g. puma, thin, passenger, etc). And finally go to "Admin -> Roles & permissions" to check/set permissions for the new features, if any.
Runtime error complaining that RMagick was configured with older version
If you get the following runtime error after upgrading ImageMagick
This installation of RMagick was configured with ImageMagick 6.8.7 but ImageMagick 6.8.8-1 is in use. then you only need to reinstall (or rebuild as shown above if is the case).
Error when installing gems: Cannot load such file -- mysql2/mysql2
If you see an error like
cannot load such file -- mysql2/mysql2, you are having a problem with the installation of the database gem. Probably a misconfiguration in the Database Access Configuration step.
In this case you should verify the
database.yml file.
If no success, you can manually install the database gem by:
# gem install mysql2
In last case, as suggested by Bobdog, you can try to comment the line of the database gem and add a new one as bellow:
# require 'mysql2/mysql2' require '<path-to-mysql2-gem-directory>/lib/mysql2/mysql2.so'
Apache 2.4 Updating
When updating to Apache 2.4 will be necessary to remove and install all your gems to make sure all of them that need to build native extensions will be rebuilt against the new Apache server.
So, for a clean gems environment, remove all the gems:
# for x in `gem list --no-versions`; do gem uninstall $x -a -x -I; done
To reinstall the gems:
# cd /usr/share/webapps/redmine # gem install bundler # bundle install --without development test
Remember to reinstall the RMagick gem as describe above in RMagick gem without support for High Dynamic Range in ImageMagick.
And if you are using Passenger to serve your apps through Apache you will need to reinstall it as described above in Configure the production server.
Checkout SVN Source
Get the Redmine source (Download instructions). Here is method of installing Redmine directly from subversion in /srv/http/redmine/
# useradd -d /srv/http/redmine -s /bin/false redmine # mkdir -p /srv/http/redmine # svn checkout http://svn.redmine.org/redmine/branches/2.1-stable /srv/http/redmine # chown -R redmine: /srv/http/redmine
Automating The Update Process
Example of an after-update script:
#!/usr/bin/bash export RAILS_ENV=production grep -E "^gem 'thin'" Gemfile || echo "gem 'thin'" >> Gemfile bundle update && bundle exec rake generate_secret_token db:migrate redmine:plugins:migrate tmp:cache:clear tmp:sessions:clear
Creating a Systemd Unit
If you want to automatic run you application server when system starts, you need to create a systemd unit file.
[Unit] Description=Redmine server After=syslog.target After=network.target [Service] Type=simple User=redmine2 Group=redmine2 Environment=GEM_HOME=/home/redmine2/.gem/ ExecStart=/usr/bin/ruby /usr/share/webapps/redmine/bin/rails server webrick -e production # Give a reasonable amount of time for the server to start up/shut down TimeoutSec=300 [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target
Complaints about psych
Like that:
/usr/lib/ruby/2.1.0/psych/parser.rb:33:in `<class:Parser>': superclass mismatch for class Mark (TypeError) from /usr/lib/ruby/2.1.0/psych/parser.rb:32:in `<module:Psych>' from /usr/lib/ruby/2.1.0/psych/parser.rb:1:in `<top (required)>' from /usr/lib/ruby/2.1.0/psych.rb:7:in `require'
according to that that is a bundler issue, and you have to add
gem 'psych'
to your Gemfile.local


text:
On Monday, The Powder Room will be hosting a live blog rewatch of the 1939 classic, The Women, staring Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, and Rosalind Russell. If your only exposure to the The Women is the off-the-mark remake, you are in for a freaking treat.
If you haven't seen it, the film centers around the life of Mary Haines (Shearer), a wealthy Manhattanite whose marriage crumbles when her husband begins an affair with perfume "girl", Crystal Allen (Crawford). Per IMBD:
If Mary Haines can pretend ignorance of her husband's affair with Crystal Allen, who sells perfume at a department store, she has a good chance of saving her marriage. But has she no pride? The women in her circle of friends soon have her packing for Reno. On the train, Mary meets the Countess DeLave, trading in her fourth husband and exclaiming "l'amour, l'amour." Everyone is staying at the same dude ranch outside Reno that is run by a no-nonsense woman. The woman who is about to marry the husband of Mary's cousin Sylvia, who first spread the gossip about Mary's husband's affair, tells Mary to forget her pride and the divorce.
Our live blog will be hosted by PR author Kirby and begin at 8:30 EST.
The classic movie rewatches will be a semi-regular event here on The Powder Room. Our next movie will be All About Eve, date to be determined. We're interested in screening movies with strong female characters and snappy one liners — if you have any suggestions of titles you'd like to see, leave them in the comments.


text:
Provided by: libpod-pseudopod-perl_0.18-2_all
Pod::PseudoPod::Checker -- check the PseudoPod syntax of a document
use Pod::PseudoPod::Checker; my $checker = Pod::PseudoPod::Checker->new(); ... $checker->parse_file('path/to/file.pod');
This class is for checking the syntactic validity of Pod. It works by basically acting like a simple-minded version of Pod::PseudoPod::Text that formats only the "Pod Errors" section (if Pod::PseudoPod even generates one for the given document). It's largely unchanged from Pod::Simple::Checker.
Pod::PseudoPod, Pod::PseudoPod::Text, Pod::Checker
Copyright (c) 2002-2004 Sean M. Burke and Allison Randal. All rights reserved. This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as Perl itself. This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but without any warranty; without even the implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
Sean M. Burke "email@example.com" and Allison Randal <email@example.com>


text:
Fairy Chimneys Vase
Décor Design Focus: Fairy Chimneys Vase
A Good Décor design example, the Fairy Chimneys is a creative Vase design. Fairy Chimneys was designed in 2010, and here is a how it is described by its designer: These set of vases were inspired by the capped earth pillars in Goreme, they are colorful and fun, good for holding several flowers or bamboos.
Fairy Chimneys Vase Images:
End of the article, click here to go back to previous page, or alternatively go back to DXGN Design Journal homepage.


text:
I am still searching for distant relatives…
This is what I found on a forum on the Ancestry site.
It is dated 21 July 2000!
Alyce LaGasse
Posted: 21 Jul 2000 11:19PM
I have no idea where to begin!
My father was David Joseph LaGasse, born May 24, 1906 in New Bedford, MA. I believe that he had six brothers, amoung them were Marc, Sam, maybe a sister Rose Alice… his father was Idala LaGasse. I have never met anyone on that side. My, what a gift to know if there are relatives!
Thank you so much for any information.
Well Alyce, this is it.
Almost ten years later, a distant relative can answer all of your questions about your family tree…
Write me a comment.


text:
COLLEGE PARK, Md. – With a career-high 179 yards receiving in Maryland's 47-10 win over Old Dominion on Saturday, wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been voted the Atlantic Coast Conference's Receiver of the Week, the league announced on Monday.
Diggs caught six passes for a career-best 179 yards and one touchdown. His touchdown reception was a 41-yard catch and run down the right sideline for his second touchdown of the season. Diggs' 179 yards are the most by a Maryland receiver since Torrey Smith had 224 against NC State on Nov. 27, 2010.
The sophomore is averaging 25.2 yards per catch in two games and is second in the ACC averaging 138.5 yards per game. For his career, Diggs now has 1,125 career receiving yards, which ranks 21st in Maryland history.
Maryland travels to Connecticut on Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff. The Terps will be looking to improve to 3-0 after averaging 45 points in their first two games of the season.
– Maryland –


text:
50 Cent Interview With BBC On The Business Of Fear "I Know Gay People Who Could Whoop Rick Ross's Ass"
BBC Radio 4's Today presenter Evan Davis speaks to 50 Cent about how overcoming your fears can help you get ahead in business.
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
[New Products]
[Popular Goods]
Body: chestnut
Inside of vase:¡¡£Æ£Ò£Ð
H:450£í£í x W:1300£í£í x D:330
KashoCreating of Floral Vase from Wood with Soul
About Raw Materials
Raw materials are driftwood, buried roots, spunk, rough wood, etc. Almost all of the current 300 materials on hand were buried in the mountains and parts of the decayed roots. As it has been several decades since they changed to stumps, quite a few of them can not be classified even by the professional eyes.
As I put a high priority on characteristics of each one of wood, I dare to make it a rule
to disregard ranks of Noble Wood. Those pieces of wood are hard and those of good luster are a bit more expensive. Their true value that stay inside are hard to detect before they are, in fact, completely polished.
Work Process
First of all, I begin to work by talking to the wood with my evil thoughts expelled and soul of my own sanctified. All of a sudden , for a certain moment, a complete image of that wood can be seen to my full satisfaction. When my soul gets dark, however, none of its images appear, which gives me the hardest time of it. First, along with its image, a rough lay-out of overall design is made with a chain saw. Next, the decayed or vermiculated parts are chipped off with a wire brush to have its hard core part appear. With powered or air revolving tools chosen out of more than 100 ones, it is polished from coarse to smooth, finally finished with a sand paper of No.300 ¡Á400, and polishing is completed when the detailed parts are cleaned.
For its makeup in finish, oil is applied for further preservation, wiped away, and polished with a buff. In doing so, finally, a floral vase is reproduced ,having a deep complexion which has not recognized yet in rough wood and a stately atmosphere is created by Wabi-Sabi, a Japanese traditional and ultimate beauty.Some of them perform a harmonized unification, combined with a few pieces of them. Root, finally, is restored with a name inscribed.
1941Born in the western end of Hyogo on January 5, Coming - of - Age Day in the year when World War 2 broke out.
1970 or soHearing the sound Wood, I created the first work of Floral Vase with Wood and Soul. Was a dull boy. For the first time, I was praised by my mother for the work, which brought me confidence. After that, continued to create floral vases as a hobby, all of which were sold though ,experiencing the varied twist and turn of life. 200 to 300 works went out into the marketplace before I turned pro.
2004At long last, I determined to work my way to a woodcrafter. A considerable amount of hardships was anticipated due to an unprecedented road to a woodcrafter. Could ask nothing better for further challenge because of its difficulty, trembling with excitement.
Happy day of 2006Will never fail to pave the way for this challenge. So inspiring as to raise my followers. Figurative beauty of life of Wood does not look by any possibility as if humans can ever reach. As my role, all I could do is just find out something good about wood and bring out its most valuable forms. The true creator is ,in fact, Life of Nature. To pass its beauty down generations is my mission, I believe.


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(Phoenix, Arizona—October 21, 2003) Attorney General Terry Goddard is in Mexico today on a three-day trip to meet with Mexican Attorney General Lic. Alejandro Ramos Flores and other law enforcement and Foreign Ministry officials.
Goddard began the trip in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon yesterday with a series of meetings with Federal and State officials to discuss better cross-border cooperation in law enforcement and the apprehension of fugitives. During the meeting with Attorney General of Nuevo Leon, Lic. Luis Carlos Trevino Berchelmann, the two Attorneys General agreed to open regular lines of communication in efforts related to criminal investigations and public safety. Such a relationship currently exists between the State of Sonora, Mexico and Arizona and is being used as a model for opening new avenues in this arena.
This evening, Goddard will fly to Mexico City and meet with Lic. Arturo Dager Gomez of the Mexican Foreign Ministry to discuss Arizona's efforts in extraditing criminal fugitives from Arizona who are suspected of hiding in Mexico. Although extraditions are a federal matter, it is the Arizona Attorney General's office that initiates efforts with the U.S. State Department to open cases with their counterparts at the Mexican Foreign Ministry.
Tomorrow Goddard will meet with representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice and will be briefed on U.S. Federal law enforcement efforts in Mexico that may help bring Arizona's fugitives to justice. Among the most significant meeting with be with Mexican Attorney General Lic. Alejandro Ramos Flores, which is expected to center on Article 4 prosecutions. The Mexican penal code allows for prosecution of Mexican nationals in Mexican Courts regardless of where the crime was committed. These are known as Article 4 prosecutions. Former Assistant Attorney General Norma Martens, who accompanied Goddard on the trip, created the Foreign Prosecution Unit (FPU) in the Arizona Attorney General's Office in 1992. Martens now serves as Governor Janet Napolitano's Policy Advisor on Mexico and Latin America.
Assistant Attorney General Adrian Fontes now heads the FPU. He is with the Attorney General in Mexico. The FPU has been successful in the past in prosecuting Arizona crimes utilizing Article 4. After the defendants are tried and sentenced in Article 4 cases, they serve their time in Mexican prisons. "No longer can the international border be seen as a way to escape justice, " said Attorney General Goddard. "With Norma's great foundation and Adrian's aggressive commitment to justice, we can assure that international boundaries are no longer safe-havens for criminals."


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The most chilling thing about the death of "Jackass" star Ryan Dunn, according to long time friend and co-star Bam Margera, is that Margera absolutely saw it coming.
In fact, he has just now revealed in an interview with E! that he was involved in a serious car wreck with Dunn in the exact same spot where the 34 year-old and passenger Zachary Hartwell were killed just a few weeks ago.
"He flipped me in a car eight times at the same exact spot in 1996," Margera said. "Thank God I had my seat belt on, because [friend and "Jackass" co-star] Chris Raab put one on me, but my brother didn't have one on. He flew 40 feet. Thank God he's alive. But, like, Dunn was always a maniac at driving."
U.S. & World
Margera also revealed that he had been texting with Dunn shortly before the accident, and wishes he had been able to be there to keep his friend from getting behind the wheel. Although he admits it probably wouldn't have done any good.
"I'd say 'Give me your f***ing keys, you idiot'," says Margera, had he been with Dunn on the night of the accident, "But he probably wouldn't have listened to me."
Margera also revealed he has been getting messages of condolence from various friends and associates - including Brad Pitt, who actually appeared in two episodes of "Jackass" in 2002.
Despite the outpouring of love and support, Margera remains inconsolable over the accident.
"He was my best f***ing friend in the world. It's been five days now and I can't stop crying, man," Margera said. "I just don't think it should've been him."


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Various opinions, news items, and links of interest on popular culture, arts and literature, politics, faith, and whatever else moves me. Combining CephasWorld and Pete's Pop Culture Blog.
posted by Cephas @ 8:04 PM
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What i always thought that air conditioners blow the cool air without knowing that they actually take the warm air from indoor and from outdoor. But whats the point of taking air from indoor and outdoor, Shouldn't they just be blowing the cool air inside and out air outside? How does it really make the difference?
Also, Does all Air conditioners function the same way as in shown in this figure, even split A.Cs?
I've run out of tags for questions :\


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Anniversary Flowers by Ridge Florist Inc
Ridge Florist Inc can help you find the perfect anniversary flowers and gifts! You'll find the ideal anniversary roses, flowers, plants or anniversary gift for your wife, friends or relatives at Ridge Florist Inc in Avon Park. Nothing says love like a bouquet of red roses or a floral arrangement of her favorite flowers that will bring a smile to her face.
|We Accept:


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I registered for a USDOT Number a number of years ago and now FMCSA wants me to Update my application. Have any of you also recieved this notification?
I registered for a USDOT Number a number of years ago and now FMCSA wants me to Update my application. Have any of you also recieved this notification?
Mark Berninghausen
Yes every other year
I thought the numbers were good for a life time.
Mark Berninghausen
Yeah, I got mine 2 weeks ago.
Numbers are good as long as you update your file.
lets not forget they are also holding their hands out for money while updating said application. Just sent mine in yesterday.
I finally got a call from the local Bee Inspector as well. HA. He is a little late this year.
What fee? There is no fee stated.
[email protected]
"People will generally accept facts as truth only if the facts agree with what they already believe."- Andy Rooney
Thats the fee I am speaking about. It seems I have to fill out most of the application again when they send me my annual DOT bill.
Maybe I shouldn't write this on the internet in case someone is reading this, but, I never got such a bill. Unless it's part of my annual Vehicle Registration and I didn't know it.
Mark Berninghausen
they send it to me annually. I need to fully review the application and how many vehicles I have under the UCR and then of course they want payment. I am not sure what kind of fine it totes, but its my understanding its one of the things they look for at the weigh stations for fining good folks. I am not 100% on that as I have never been hassled at a weigh station since I obtained a DOT number. I just pass thru and try to plan my trips around times I suspect they will be closed. Oh yeah. Did I mention back woods dirt roads help with that too.
Yeah, we know those good ole alternate routes pretty well. Gotta love the annual inspection "tax" where you take your vehicle to a shop where they spend 20 minutes checking your lights, tires and glass at $65 per vehicle. My favorite is the $100 online seminar that is required basically reiterating what I learned while growing up. Surely you also fill out those drivers daily inspection reports for each vehicle, the driver data sheets, and the 6 month log book history and remember to keep one of those driver suspicion checklists handy just in case.
"People will generally accept facts as truth only if the facts agree with what they already believe."- Andy Rooney
I don't get Billed for the Shop time, just the Inspection fee, $12.00, if I recall correctly. The last inspection did occur during a service, so maybe it was figured into the Bill.
Mark Berninghausen
You betcha. Their job isnt to pass you for the inspection. Its to find something wrong so they can make money on doing the inspection. Less of course your drinking buds.


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Scoot West Coast – Rediscovering people and places
written by Roan Mackintosh, pictures edited by Rory Alexander
It's funny how 7 days can go by so quickly and yet still seem like another time in one's life. We set off from outside the Goodhope FM's studio in Seapoint with an uncertainty about what exactly lay ahead but also an excitement that it all promised to be fantastic. Last year Scoot62, the brain child of Guy McDonald & Rory Alexander, saw us scooting up Route 62. Scoot West Coast is the 2nd installment of this concept, brought to life by the commitment of Wesgro to showcasing the wonders that lie on our doorstep.
Being a pretty active person, I was particularly excited about the truly epic activities on the itinerary (such as stand up paddling in Langebaan, golf at Shelly Point, mountain biking in all manner of places, zip lining in Piekenierskloof and of course the skydiving near Malmesbury) & I knew it was going to be one memorable trip in which the highlights were going to be hard to pick. What surprised me though is that the true highlights would not come from any of these, but rather from the (more…)
Day 7 – "F-f-f-f-from there?"
written by Roan Mackintosh, pictures edited by Rory Alexander
Day 7. The final day of the Scoot West Coast tour… While general maintenance at the Riebeek Valley Hotel may have been neglected a little, the kitchen certainly hasn't been and a delicious breakfast buffet spread awaited us as we leisurely began the day. If you do happen to find yourself at the hotel then try the scones – sensational!! With only a single item left on the itinerary, it felt strange to be waking up a little later and not being pressed for time to cram things in.
I say only a single item, but it was perhaps the biggest item that I think you will find on most people's bucket lists. Skydiving! Not far from Riebeek West, just outside Malmesbury, lies a new 'drop zone' which has taken the operator, Mike Rumble, around 2 years to fully register and license given its relative close proximity to not only Cape Town international airport but also the Langebaanweg air force base.
As we arrived at the airfield, we had our first & only scooter 'crash' of the trip (quite an improvement from last year which saw 2 crashes on the very first day! We're proud of you for not falling once this year, Guy…) Siv "shortstop" Ngesi was navigating the dirt road towards the runway and hit a patch of soft sand that caused his back tyre to skid out from under him and the scooter to collapse on its side as Siv spilled out onto the road next to it. Whatever nerves may have been building up in the boys were instantly released in hearty guffaws of laughter as Siv scrambled to his feet, dusted himself off and righted the fallen scooter.
With a very experienced and knowledgeable crew, the Mother City Skydiving company do everything to put you at ease in what can be a trying time leading up to throwing yourself out of a perfectly good aeroplane. I have done a tandem skydive once before (albeit about 7 years ago) so I knew roughly what to expect, but fellow jumpers Dwain & Siv were doing this for their first time ever. As we were discussing the processes and procedures, we heard the faint buzzing of a plane and squinted up into the clear blue sky to see if we could see the source. A squawk on the radio indicated they were 4 miles out & moments later we saw the plane as a mere spec waaaaay up in the sky. Linda Mase, Manager: Domestic & SMME Marketing at Wesgro, who has been with us this whole tour, is a man of few words. When Mike explained that we should keep our eyes on the plane as people were about to jump out of it, he looked back into the sky and incredulously said (more…)
Day 6 – Bar Bar Black Sheep, have you any space?
written by Roan Mackintosh, pictures edited by Rory Alexander
It's been a long week on the bikes, with non-stop activities and late dinners. Last night was no exception and as we left the table on the way to our enticing beds, we all agreed to convene at the heated indoor pool at Piekenierskloof at 7am the next morning. My duvet is stronger than it looks. I wasn't expecting a wrestling match when I set my alarm, but as it flared into life early the next morning, that's exactly what I got! I put up a spirited fight, it must be said, but to no avail and in the end I found myself pinned into submission and only made it to the breakfast table at 8am. Turns out I wasn't the only one who had missed the poolside appointment as I found only the very diligent Rory at the table. He had not only swum at the allotted time, on his own, but had also managed to snap a sensational picture of the sunrise over the valley.
Breakfast done & dusted, we were successfully re-fueled for the day ahead. Piekenierskloof has a plethora of activities (walking trails, bird watching, volleyball, target shooting, mountain biking, mini golf & all manner of indoor games such as pool, air-hockey, table tennis etc.) We'd selected the most exhilarating one on offer for our morning stint (of course) and Natasha led us to the beginning of the zip lining course that crisscrosses the ridges overlooking Citrusdal. With lines ranging between 125 & 280 metres long and the highest point being 15 metres above the fynbos below, the 7 lines offer a fun & uncommon way to view the beautiful surrounds. The obligatory safety briefing completed, we lined up to traverse the first rather baby-ish first line over a small pool of water. All 4 of us skillfully descended & eagerly awaited Siv's arrival at the small pedestal so that we could move onto the next, longer, more thrilling line. Not sure what went through his mind, but when the guide gave the signal to keep coming forward, Siv yanked (more…)
Day 5 – Treasure trove at Fryer's Cove
written by Roan Mackintosh, pictures edited by Rory Alexander
Traveler's tip: Always carry some headache pills in your toiletries bag. A true West Coast 'kuier', while thoroughly enjoyable, does tend to ring in one's ears a little longer than desired the following morning. Thank goodness the Tharrakamma beds are comfortable and the breakfast is a hearty one. I'd come out of last night somewhat dented but still in reasonable shape. Adventure waits for no man, so we were soon once again on our 'poegies' to meet Madalene van der Lingen & Monika de Jager outside the Namaqua West Coast tourism office. We shared yet more laughter with them as we recounted some of the previous night's shenanigans. Madalene had the honour of escorting us to our next stop, Doringbaai, while Monika returned to the office to complete the day's work – aka to lick her wounds 😉
When asked why it is called Doringbaai, which directly translated means Thorn Bay, Madalene cleverly responded "that is because it is a thorn in your side to leave." Historically this small town was a thriving Crayfish packaging and export hub, peaking in the mid to late 80's. With the increased regulations in the industry, these practices have long-since halted in the town and the empty buildings next to the Lighthouse were taken up by two unlikely neighbours – an Abalone farm and a winery. (more…)
Day 4 – Beware the 'spoegie-man'
written by Roan Mackintosh, pictures edited by Rory Alexander
I woke up because of something I had omitted from my blog update yesterday. Quite literally actually… That gentle humming noise that I could hear from within our Rocherpan eco-cabin as I awoke was in fact the sound of a passing Sishen-Saldanha train. Local reports had the train at between 3kms & 7kms long and that when the train departed, the front carriage was at a brisk 11km's per hour before the back engine even started moving! Other tales told of how along the route the locomotives could not actually come to a complete stop & so changes of staff were facilitated through a rolling substitution – slowing the procession to 6km/h while old staff jump off the still-moving train while the new staff would run alongside and jump on. A quick Google search confirmed that in fact the longest train on this route was indeed 7.5Kms long (with 660 wagons, carrying almost 69 thousand tons of iron ore!) but that most trains on the line today are 3.7kms long with 342 wagons and requiring 8 locomotives/engines interspersed amongst the wagons to drive it along (still the longest production trains in the world!) That's right, the train itself is over 3kms long! The sight of the train simply chugging along the line with a seemingly endless run of wagons taking minutes to pass is something that truly boggles the mind when you stop to really think about the sheer magnitude of this engineering feat.
Morning of Day 4 and we're half way through! Wow, time has flown by. Once out of our cozy beds, we needed to suit up to get to breakfast, again at the very hospitable Draaihoek Lodge. Wisps of condensing steam escaped our mouths as we readied ourselves & breathed the somewhat fresh morning air. By the time we arrived at Draaihoek Lodge about 20 minutes later I simply could not feel my fingers. No wonder, as Dwain informed me that his car's thermometer had registered our departing temperature at a mere 4 degrees! Nothing that cradling a warm cup of tea couldn't cure though 🙂 A direct quote from Rory during breakfast -> "the best French toast and fresh honey I have ever had in my life!!" Added to this, some rather exotic fruit (Star Anise, Prickly Pear & a very interesting fruit called Persimmon or 'Sharon Fruit' that looks like a tomato but has a very distinctive sweet taste) and the standard hot breakfast staple of eggs, bacon and accompaniments & the certainty of me returning in need of a new belt continued.
With well-satisfied bellies, we took to the road again and with Siv regrettably heading back to Cape Town in the evening for other work commitments (he will be back tomorrow, have no fear) he was forced to follow in his car. This meant that Rory was upgraded to a 200cc bike (he had been riding a 125cc up until this point) and the gusto with which he took to the fresh road was proof that he had really grown tired of all the "why do we have to keep slowing down for you?" comments thus far. We simply couldn't keep him off the front of the peloton! Rory's ungoverned freedom was rather short-lived though as (more…)
Day 3 – Bokkom, birding & boomslangs
written by Roan Mackintosh, pictures edited by Rory Alexander
The start of Day 3 brought with it 2 fantastic new things that had been missing on the trip so far. Firstly – clear, sunny, blue skies. And secondly, the one & only Siv Ngesi, our fourth musketeer – both very welcome additions to the West Coast scoot festivities. Having never met Siv before I wasn't too sure what to expect from the guy but with a broad, genuine smile, sharp wit & devil-may-care attitude I could see pretty early on that he was going to fit right in.
Shelly Point Hotel know how to put on a proper breakfast spread, let me tell you! With a buffet choice of everything from croissants to bacon, omelets, fried eggs, scrambled eggs, poached eggs, mince on toast, fried tomatoes, cereals & muesli, yoghurt, fruits, baked beans, sausage, fried potatoes etc. I couldn't help but notice Guy struggling to get his bike jacket zipped up a little later as we prepared to head out onto the road once again.
One great thing about being on a scooter is the fantastic additional sensory inputs. The feeling of the cool air rushing past. The warmth of the sun when you arrive at a stop street or traffic light. The smell and even taste of the slightly tangy sea air. It really lets you experience the trip in a whole different way from driving in an air-conditioned car. The down side to being on a scooter…? Heading out of St Helena bay while being downwind of a fish factory. Wow! That's one special & quite unique odour!!
Not far down the road, we arrived at Port Owen in Velddrif where we met our captain for the morning on Tollie's River & Boat Cruises, none other than Oom Tollie himself. A true salt of the sea man, he runs the cruises side-by-side with his wife (who is also a qualified skipper on the boat) and while she skillfully guides the boat and serves hot coffee and rusks, Tollie freely imparts his years of local knowledge to all who will listen. I knew I was going to thoroughly enjoy the ride up the Berg River when during his safety briefing, our fine captain described things as such – "This boat is like Brandy… it has no brakes!" Not only full of humourous one-liners such as this, he also knew (more…)
Day 2 – Scootcuzzi
written by Roan Mackintosh, pictures edited by Rory Alexander
For those who followed day 1 & were wondering – yes, the Roulette gods did indeed smile down upon me & and I went some way to paying off that speeding fine from yesterday (found out it's actually a 50km/h zone, so that red & white government envelope will have a little more sting to it than originally expected no doubt!) And thus, with a successful evening at the casino & a great night's rest at Club Mykonos under my belt, I couldn't help but have a smile on my face as Guy wrapped up the outside broadcast of the Goodhope breakfast show and we headed off to Boesmanland Plaaskombuis for some well-timed breakfast.
You know you are in the heart of the West Coast when breakfast entails freshly baked bread, an assortment of homemade jams and a hearty plate of scrambled egg, pap & sous, sausage & ribs. (accompanied of course by some fire-heated "moer-koffie") That's right, no bacon – just ribs! And you know what… I didn't miss the breakfast staple on the plate. Delicious, well-prepared sustenance for the road ahead, enjoyed in a very traditional west coast setting with tree stumps for chairs, a completely self-service approach (the manager even joked that if we had a problem with service then we should just go to the bathroom & look in the mirror as that is the outjie to blame!) and potjies bubbling over open fires.
Good thing that there was a warm west coast breakfast in our bellies as the weather was particularly wintery and we had some stand up paddling (SUPing) to do in the Langebaan lagoon! Not sure whether it was sheer natural-born talent or a complete fear of the icy, winter sea water (more…)
Day 1 – Scooting the Breeze
written by Roan Mackintosh, pictures edited by Rory Alexander
A somewhat restless night preceded my arrival at the Goodhope studios early this morning. "Why?" you might ask… well as I'm sure we all know, true excitement has a way of creeping into one's dreams and making your time between the covers somewhat more tumultuous than tranquil. Despite this lack of a perfect night's sleep, I arrived bright and chipper (matching our wonderful new orange team shirts) eager to get the day's adventures underway. Greeting us at the studio were some familiar faces (such as Jean Scheltema & the breakfast show team) as well as some new faces (such as Rolf I'm-so-sorry-I-was-too-distracted-to-get-your-surname & Tim Harris from Wesgro). Tim is the fairly recently appointed commander-in-chief of Wesgro & he mentioned that the only thing keeping him from joining us was the impending birth of his child (there's always next year Tim!) – now if that kind of a send-off party didn't amplify the excitement tenfold then I might as well have checked myself into a hospital right there and then…
As is nature's want at this time of year, she chose a particularly dreary, slightly cool & somewhat damp morning to get our adventure underway. Not that I was complaining mind you, as I recalled the truly stormy conditions of last year's departure, I knew things could be much worse! I also had extra company on the scooters this year as Rory Alexander joined Guy & I under-helmet with Siv Ngesi due to do the same later in the week. Added to this the fact that the scooters had undergone a 'mild' upgrade & I now found myself caressing 200cc's of raw Vespa power between my legs (must be that I've been hanging around Guy too long now that this sentence sounds dirtier than it is… J)
As we took off down Seapoint main road from the Goodhope studios to the N1 & on to the R27, I felt buoyed with an impish delight in having just departed in such grandeur, with a strong team at my side and even sturdier equipment to carry us forth. Nothing could dampen this joyous feeling! Nothing that is, except a little yellow box… Not 500 metres from the start of our journey, I had done the unthinkable (more…)


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Fizzy as champagne. That's the
Joffrey Ballet's new beautifully presented evening-length production of
The Merry Widow.
This Midwest premiere is English choreographer
Ronald Hynd's 1975 dance version of
Franz Lehar's 1905 operetta of the same name. The original score was adapted by
John Lanchbery, so fans of the operetta will have fun identifying familiar melodies in unfamiliar places.
The setting is turn of the 20th-century Paris, in the Pontevedrian
embassy. The fictional country is having money problems, and one
suggested solution is for First Secretary Count Danilo to marry Hanna
Glawari, aka the Merry Widow. If this wealthy woman marries a
Pontevedrian, her fortune will keep the country afloat. The course of
story ballets never does run smooth, however, and it takes three acts in
four lovely settings to get to the happy ending.
Hynd takes every advantage of the opportunities for humor in the
light-hearted story, and his choreography is inventive, funny, poignant,
and nicely tailored to the delightful music. The little bits of
pantomime he creates are crystal clear, and when you see someone
circling hands over head, it's the traditional ballet way to say, "Let's
dance!" The
Joffrey performers are equal to all the dancing and acting challenges
Hynd provides.
We get just a sip of Lehar's bubbly music from the
Chicago Sinfonietta before the curtain rises on the first of four beautiful sets by
Roberta Guidi de Bagno, who
also designed the costumes. The men's costumes are especially attractive
and flattering in Acts One and Three, and they give the production a
sense of elegance and luxury. The women's costumes, while often
glittery, seem strangely unimpressive.
In Scene One, Joffrey ballet master
Willy Shives appealingly plays
Njegus, the dedicated aide who tries to get someone to pay attention to
the country's unpaid bills. (We are suppressing political commentary
here.) Paper pushing is graphically and amusingly demonstrated.
Aaron Rogers and
Lucas Segovia are nicely paired
in featured roles as embassy officials. Their fine dancing is
characterized by crisp, precise movements and light jumps.
Matthew Adamczyk sympathetically plays the aged Baron Zeta, the Pontevedrian ambassador, whose flirty wife (
Yumelia Garcia) is secretly carrying on with the handsome French attaché
(Graham Maverick). The lovers' romance is always passionate, usually lovingly so but there's also a little choking involved.
Miguel Angel Blanco as Count
Danilo, the unsuspecting prospective suitor for the widow's hand, enters
in an amusingly inebriated state. Over the course of the evening,
Blanco convincingly plays all aspects of his character, from sot to
wounded lover and dashing romantic hero, and he is by turns funny and
touching. He can drape his long limbs in a humorous way, do a mean
cancan, or create an elegant line. His lovely, smooth pirouettes end in a
perfectly placed tour en l'air.
Scene Two is set in a majestic ballroom where the company dances the
swirling waltzes we've been awaiting, the women's fans forming part of
the design in one section. Lehar's lovely melodies, including
Vilia and the
Merry Widow Waltz, are put to effective use.
Victoria Jaiani, as Hanna, the
Merry Widow, makes quite an entrance, dressed in sparkling black, coming
down the impressive, if shaky, grand staircase. Jaiani's willowy body
is well suited to her character and to Blanco's height and long limbs.
She's lovely but doesn't seem particularly merry; she's more mysterious
and reserved.
When Hanna and Count Danilo meet, the characters do something rarely
done and in this case highly effective: they stand still as the music
flows by. Each is shocked to recognize the other from a past unhappy
romance—when Hanna was, of course, a peasant girl. When the flustered
Count Danilo pulls out a very large red "handkerchief," Hanna recognizes
it as the one she gave him long ago.
Choreographer Hynd creates an intriguing "flashback" sequence, in
which Danilo remembers the moment when the peasant girl Hanna gave him
the handkerchief. The memory ends as both the remembered Hanna and the
wealthy Merry Widow are on stage.
The romantic garden of Hanna's villa in Act Two is the setting for plot complications, a nice solo for
Willy Shives, and some Pontevedrian folk dances with interesting patterns, fun jumping steps, and a strong leader in
Derrick Agnoletti.
There's also some unusual choreography for the leads. Jaiani unfolds
her leg high in the air, with a flexed foot, which she then points at
Blanco. Blanco has jumps with flexed feet, he turns on his heels, and he
and Jaiani reverse the usual male/female roles in an interesting way:
Blanco is the one to slowly pivot in place in arabesque while Jaiani is
the one who walks around him, flicking him with the red hanky.
The delightful set for the Act Three shows Chez Maxim, the famous
Parisian restaurant, complete with a view of the distant Eiffel Tower.
Derrick Agnoletti, looking like
something out of a Toulouse Lautrec painting, is the harried maitre d'.
The men's corps looks spectacular in their tailcoats and top hats. The
cancan is oddly disappointing, especially after all of Hynd's
inventiveness. Perhaps he was trying to avoid doing the stereotypical
kicks, but that's what we expect from the cancan. The costumes don't
help: the non-cancan diaphanous dresses are in shades of red and orange,
with no ruffled petticoats. They looked odd.
On the other hand,
Miguel Angel Blanco did some
very nice high-kicking grand battements and ronds de jambe en l'air,
those circles in the air with one leg, and the cancan dancers—and their
partners—do the splits.
Blanco and
Yumelia Garcia, playing the Ambassador's flirty wife, have a spectacular movement with Garcia going airborne.
The ballet has a bittersweet ending for the poor Ambassador, who must
acknowledge his wife's love for someone else. The restaurant empties,
and Hanna is left alone onstage. In an unusually quiet ending for such a
merry work, the ballet ends with the Count returning to Hanna for a
final duet.
Present for the bows were choreographer
Ronald Hynd, celebrating his 80th birthday; his wife,
Annette Page; and
John Meehan, repetiteur, coach, and the original Count Danilo from the 1975 production. All three helped to set the ballet on the
Joffrey company. Artistic Director
Ashley C. Wheater says in the
program notes, "The Merry Widow was the first ballet I danced upon
joining the Australian Ballet, and I am delighted to bring this landmark
work to the Chicago audience for the first time." The audience is
delighted as well.
Photographs by Herbert Migdoll
Auditorium Theatre
50 E. Congress Parkway
Chicago IL
Performances Wednesday, February 16, 2011 to Sunday, February 27, 2011 as follows:
Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 7:30 pm;
Friday, Feb. 18 at 7:30 pm;
Saturday, Feb. 19 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm;
Sunday, Feb. 20 at 2 pm;
Thursday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 pm;
Friday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 pm;
Saturday, Feb. 26 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm;
Sunday, Feb. 27 at 2 pm.
Single ticket are priced between $24 and $145
Tickets are available at The Joffrey Ballet's official Box Office in
the lobby of Joffrey Tower, 10 E. Randolph Street, as well as the
Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University box office, all Ticketmaster
Ticket Centers, by telephone at (800) 982-2787, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
© Joffrey Ballet. All rights reserved.


text:
A boats hull shape is important for a number of reason, safety, sea kindliness,
load carrying capacity, speed and efficiency in a particular speed range and operating
Hulls can be classified/categorized into three major
boat hull types based on intended
boat speed range per hull length:
Although this hull type is stable in calm weather it is, because of its flatter
bow, a comparatively rougher ride. This is typically a planing boat that rides on
top of rather than through the water. Due to issues with maneuverability and the
roughness of the ride these hulls are limited to the amount of horse power applied.
This hull type is typically used on calm waters.
This hull is easier to maneuver than the flat hull and moves efficiently though
the water at low speeds. These are displacement hulls, which are limited in speed
due to the bow wave they create while pushing though the water as opposed to a planning
hull that climbs on top of the water. This hull is usually used for ships, canoes/kayaks,
sailboats etc.
Most power boats have this hull shape. You can think of this hull as a hybrid of
the flat and round bottom hulls. This is generally associated with a semi-Displacement
vessel that can, at low speeds push though the water relatively efficiently like
a round bottom hull but it can also plain to a certain extent, but not at speeds
of a flat bottom hull. The V allows the boat to cut though the water to minimize
slapping and provide some grip in turns. The angle of the V is called the dead rise
and tends flattens out toward the stern where the angle of the boats run, the V
at the stern, will be a big factor in determining the boats planing capabilities.
Used for power boats, you can think of this as multiple v hulls on one boat hull.
This design provides more stability, better handling and some claim more lift, due
to the air pockets between the mini-hulls.
Tunnel hulls or catamaran tunnel hull boats are the go fast boats. This hull design
is used on the supper fast racers and now even on some fast dinghy's. This
hull has a sharp inner corner or a 90 degree inside hull but is rounded to the outside.
This shape provides exceptional grip in tight turns and allows for fast planing.
The hull being a catamaran design also allows for good stability and the ability
to carry large motors.
This is a very simple hull design to allow for a flat deck to lounge around on.
It's like a catamaran but think of it as a deck with a line of drums tied
to either side. This hull shape is not intended to plan and is not the most efficient
but it's great for parties on calm water.
This term is generally associated with catamaran and trimaran sail boats which is
simply a boat with two or three of round bottom hulls respectively, placed apart
for additional stability. This additional stability gives multihulls a significant
advantage in that, unlike displacement monohulls (single round bottom), they do
not have to be weighed down at the keel to hold them upright. This makes them lighter
and faster.
Boat hulls are designed by Naval Architects using sophisticated software and are
designed with a particular speed range, conditions and requirements in mind. For
example a high speed catamaran ferry's hull, due to its size and operating
speed will look very different to a catamaran sail boat. Designing a boats hull
is an iterative process. A boat designer will use scantlings rules. Scantlings are
the dimensions of all parts that go into building a boat for example frames, stringers,
girders, etc. The scantling rules are currently set by Lloyds and American Bureau
of Ships for fiberglass boats.
Hulls are made with a number of materials and combinations of materials, the major
types are:
The size of the hull and the money available for the project are major factors in
determining what material and/or method to use.


text:
Nestled in the Southeast corner of CenturyLink Field is a collection of supporters with a man in a gorilla suit amongst them, at least most of the time.Gorilla FC describes itself as anantifa group (against racism, sexism, homophobia), but they are unique in more ways than just that.
From day one they've given back to the Sounders community. "That's the foundation that brings us together," notes Samuel Chesneau, three year member and part of their Media Affinity Group. "All of our events and activities have a foundation of giving back to the community. We use our passion for the Sounders to give back."
Those efforts include having a match day charity partner that gets two seats to the game and receives funds from that days efforts. Leading up to the Leg Two playoff loss to the Galaxy it was Movember. Their efforts go far and wide. They've helped the needy in Haiti as well as those just down the street here in Seattle.
Gorilla does lesstifo than their neighbors just to the West. They admit that their support as a whole is just different. "This is Gorilla FC and we actually have a gorilla who hangs out with us from time to time," says Ron Lamb, another member of the Media Affinity Group. "He tends to be pretty popular. It's something that's just quirky and fun. That could be a word you use to describe Gorilla FC - quirky. We're proud of that."
That man, or woman, who knows, in the gorilla suit may be their public identity, but the group is much more than that. Every conversation, every statement from the leadership is about inclusion, charity and community.
Asked about the origins of the group Cameron Collins, Media Affinity member, explains, "Historically it had a political aspect to it. For some members that's still key, but as a general message it has been toned down a bit. Some people are turned off by it, but we're not a politically active group in our values. It's still anti-sexist, anti-racist, anti-homophobia based off theantifa St. Pauli group's anti-fascist stance."
From that it grows into what it means to him to be a Sounder. "For me it's bigger than a soccer team. I love the game, but it's part of our civic pride. For me the city of Seattle is synonymous with Seattle Sounders all over the world now, part of being civic-minded is giving back to your community."
That identity of community, the welcoming nature it's a part of Seattle and the Sounders.
"It's a big salad where everyone can be themselves and that's OK. We're all part of this kinetic force where we are here rooting for the rave green. We can focus on these things that we have in common," says Chesneau.
There are many ways you can choose to be a part of the Sounders FC experience. For the members of Gorilla FC they know theirs is unique and willingly shared.


text:
50th anniversary of first ascent of El Capitan
It was a spring day in 1957 when a dashing fellow with dark, wavy hair looked up from Yosemite Valley at the soaring cliffs and vowed to do what no human had ever done.
Scaling the colossal, 3,000-foot-tall granite cliff known as El Capitan was something most people regarded as beyond the capability of humans, but when Warren Harding had a mind to do something, he did it.
It took Harding, Wayne Merry and George Whitmore 47 days of climbing over 16 months to turn what had seemed like a fantasy into a reality.
The first ascent of El Capitan 50 years ago was one of the greatest climbing achievements in history. That is why Merry, Whitmore and many of the legends of Yosemite climbing have gotten together this weekend to celebrate the anniversary of that day a half-century ago.
"I am extremely honored, and I feel almost a little embarrassed because I don't think we deserve this much," Merry said Saturday after a gathering of some 150 people, including Harding's celebrated onetime rival, Royal Robbins. "It is really rewarding to get this kind of reunion under your belt after 50 years."
Six of the nine climbers involved in the first ascent told tales, narrated slide shows of their exploits and drank red wine in honor of the hard-driving, devilish Harding, who died in 2002.
"For years climbers were treated like outcasts or oddballs, and now climbing is getting some recognition," said Ken Yager, president and founder of the Yosemite Climbing Association and organizer of the anniversary event. "I want these world-class athletes to be recognized for what they did."
Harding, Merry and Whitmore topped out on El Capitan on Nov. 12, 1958, establishing the Nose route. The 2,900-foot rock face is now world famous, and the climbers who first scaled it are rock-climbing royalty.
"It really opened up the era of climbing El Capitan," said Steve Schneider, 48, of Oakland, who has climbed the Nose 27 times and set a speed record on it in 1991 that has been broken many times by his then-partner, Lafayette's Hans Florine.
Florine, who also attended the anniversary, climbed the Nose with Yuji Hirayama last month in an astonishing 2 hours, 37 minutes and 5 seconds.
"It's just the best route up the best rock in the world," Schneider said Friday. "These guys broke the barrier, and everything that has happened since then is because of them."
It all started that day in 1957 when Harding learned that his former climbing partner Royal Robbins and two other men had aced him out of being the first to climb the towering Northwest Face of Half Dome.
"What we gonna do?" was Harding's reaction, according to an interview with him in 1999. "Well, nothing but El Cap would do!"
Harding spent hours scanning the immense slab of granite through binoculars before selecting a route that followed the prow of the giant wall.
On July 4, 1957, Harding, Bill Feurer and Mark Powell started out on the epic quest.
Himalayan technique
Nobody had ever climbed such a towering cliff before, according to Yager, so they used a technique more consistent with climbing in the Himalayas. They fixed a rope in a high place and stockpiled food, water and supplies there before fixing a line up higher and repeating the process.
The "siege style" tactics required the men to make numerous trips up and down the ropes and to hammer many bolts and pitons.
"It was a great technical achievement to figure out how to live and survive on these walls," said Dick Duane, 69, a rock climber and lawyer who represented climbers in a lawsuit that resulted in the traditional climbing camp, known as Camp 4, being designated a historical landmark.
The climb dragged on through two summers because the Park Service banned climbing during peak tourist season in an attempt to cut down on the traffic jams caused by looky-loos. Most climbing occurred only on weekends because the climbers had to go to work or school.
Among the equipment used on the first climb were custom-built pitons forged by Harding's friends and fellow climbers Frank Tarver and Rich Calderwood out of the legs of old-fashioned stoves. This is how the feature known as Stoveleg Crack got its name.
Dolt Tower, a rocky ledge traditionally used for the first night of camping, was named after Feurer, who was given the nickname "Dolt" after a series of minor mishaps, including getting his beard caught in a knot.
Harding's climbing partners changed frequently as the months went on. Merry, a seasonal ranger and naturalist, joined Harding after the first winter when members of the initial assault team quit for various reasons.
Letters in soup cans
"We were scared to death half the time," said Merry, who stuffed love letters to his fiancee in soup cans and hurled them off the wall. "There were days I didn't know what I was doing up there."
Merry's primitive form of air mail worked. He and his wife, Cindy, will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in the spring.
The climbers had ample reason to worry. At one point a hemp rope snapped just after Harding had climbed it, prompting the climbers to switch to nylon for the rest of the trip.
A ledge near the top is now known as the Glowering Spot because it is where Harding's partners found him glowering after being hit in the head by a piton.
During the final push, Harding drilled 28 bolts into the 100-foot-tall overhanging summit headwall. The 14-hour burst of energy allowed the three men to reach the top and make history.
"It stunned the whole world and sent a shock wave through mountaineering," Duane said Friday. "The Europeans came into the valley after that achievement and the emphasis on mountaineering shifted. For that brief shining moment, Americans were the best climbers in the world."
By the time they had completed the climb, Harding's team had pounded 675 pitons and 125 bolts into the granite.
"It was not at all clear to me who had conquered and who was conquered," Harding later wrote of the climb. "I do recall that El Cap seemed to be in much better condition than I was."
Differences with Robbins
But Harding and his cohorts were widely criticized by many in the climbing world, most notably followers of Royal Robbins. Robbins was famous for scrutinizing the big walls for natural climbing routes in an attempt to limit the use of bolts. He believed climbers should haul out what they brought in.
Harding, on the other hand, was a rebel.
"Warren had a more high-profile approach to climbing than most of his peers," said Yager, who met Harding at the age of 16. "He'd drive up in his Corvette with two women attached to him. He was a drinker and partyer."
Although Harding said he liked and respected Robbins, he scoffed at those who would impose climbing rules and limit equipment, labeling them "Valley Christians."
"Why institutionalize rock climbing?" he was later quoted as saying. "If there is a blank wall, and there's no way to place gear, you bolt."
The rivalry between the two raged for years, but Robbins' philosophy seems to have won out. Most climbers today try to free climb as much as they can - meaning they use their hands and feet to climb - and ropes are attached only as protection against a fall.
"The Harding-Robbins rivalry is mythical stuff that really has substance today," said Tom Frost, a 72-year-old Yosemite legend who, with Robbins and two other partners, pulled off the second ascent of the Nose in 1960, in seven days. "They were contemporaries in climbing and in climbing excellence, and the thing that matters a lot to climbers - which is style - they approached from different directions."
At the reunion, Robbins, Merry and Whitmore - all in their 70s - traded tales and discussed old-style climbing with the many younger climbers in attendance, the former enmity all but forgotten.
"That's all past history," said Merry, who started the Yosemite mountaineering school and rescue team and lives in British Columbia. "We're all great friends now."
The anniversary coincided with the last weekend of a museum exhibit at Yosemite Village celebrating 100 years of climbing in the park.
The climbing museum, for which Yager is trying to find a permanent home, has a display of the first ascent of El Capitan, including several stove leg pitons and the "Big Brute Piton," which hit Harding on the head and caused that celebrated glower.
But for the celebrants at the anniversary, El Capitan was the biggest attraction.
"When I drove into the park a week ago, I looked up at the walls and I thought, 'What was I thinking?' " Merry said. "It's still pretty impressive after all these years."


text:
Hi everyone! I hope everyone is okay after Hurricane Sandy. I'm not at home with all of my makeup, but I am safe with power. Thank you to all who had asked how I'm doing since right now I am in a location where I can walk to most places, whereas had I been stuck at my regular residence, I would have access to almost nothing.
Given my circumstances, I can only really give a small review on the new Armani Lip Maestro and my first impressions of them.
Packaging: I don't like the new Armani red cap packaging. They're like the Gloss d'Armani, except the Lip Maestros have a red cap, which I feel is a bit tacky looking. I do wish they had like another color lid, like gunmetal or something.
Formula: They remind me of the new Guerlain liquid lipsticks in terms of slip (when swatched on my arms). They have slip, and when applied on the lips, it can be patted on like a stain, or full on velvet like lipstick. Once set, there's no slip like a standard lipstick. No shimmer in any of the ones I've swatched so far. They're not sticky at all and the color selection is pretty good, but the colors I've seen are bold and vibrant colors.
What I can say is that they do last at least 3 hours, but the downside to them (from the couple of times I've worn them), is that they don't fade as nicely as I'd like, plus they're not as long lasting as I'd had hoped.
I will say that I do like the formula since it clings on like a stain, and aren't drying on the lips like the Hourglass liquid lipsticks. I do think those with dry lips will need a bit of balm before applying the lip maestro. When you do wear it, there's also a bit of transfer if you apply it with the doe foot, but if u pat it on like a stain (using fingers or rubbing it in with a lip brush, there's minimal to almost no transfer).
I'll do a better review or maybe an update once I've worn them for a few more days, but I hope you enjoy the swatches.
In the meantime I need to figure out how to get some of my clothes...since the trains are down and I need some clothes.
Price and Size: Price it's either $28 or $30. for the life of me I can't find my receipt. The size is 6.5 ml or 0.22 fl. oz
Price and Size: Price it's either $28 or $30. for the life of me I can't find my receipt. The size is 6.5 ml or 0.22 fl. oz
Onto the pics
|501 on left, 502 on right


text:
1. Installation
// This assumes that you have composer installed globally
composer require socialiteproviders/trakt
2. Service Provider
Laravel\Socialite\SocialiteServiceProviderfrom your
providers[]array in
config\app.phpif you have added it already.
\SocialiteProviders\Manager\ServiceProvider::classto your
providers[]array in
For example:
'providers' => [
// a whole bunch of providers
// remove 'Laravel\Socialite\SocialiteServiceProvider',
\SocialiteProviders\Manager\ServiceProvider::class, // add
- Note: If you would like to use the Socialite Facade, you need to install it.
3. Event Listener
SocialiteProviders\Manager\SocialiteWasCalledevent to your
listen[]array in
Add your listeners (i.e. the ones from the providers) to the
SocialiteProviders\Manager\SocialiteWasCalled[]that you just created.
The listener that you add for this provider is
Note: You do not need to add anything for the built-in socialite providers unless you override them with your own providers.
For example:
* The event handler mappings for the application.
* @var array
protected $listen = [
\SocialiteProviders\Manager\SocialiteWasCalled::class => [
// add your listeners (aka providers) here
4. Configuration setup
You will need to add an entry to the services configuration file so that after config files are cached for usage in production environment (Laravel command
artisan config:cache) all config is still available.
Add to
'trakt' => [
'client_id' => env('TRAKT_KEY'),
'client_secret' => env('TRAKT_SECRET'),
'redirect' => env('TRAKT_REDIRECT_URI')
5. Usage
You should now be able to use it like you would regularly use Socialite (assuming you have the facade installed):
return Socialite::with('Trakt')->redirect();
Lumen Support
You can use Socialite providers with Lumen. Just make sure that you have facade support turned on and that you follow the setup directions properly.
Note: If you are using this with Lumen, all providers will automatically be stateless since Lumen does not keep track of state.
Also, configs cannot be parsed from the
services[] in Lumen. You can only set the values in the
.env file as shown exactly in this document. If needed, you can
also override a config (shown below).
- You can set whether or not you want to use the provider as stateless. Remember that the OAuth provider (Twitter, Tumblr, etc) must support whatever option you choose.
Note: If you are using this with Lumen, all providers will automatically be stateless since Lumen does not keep track of state.
// to turn off stateless
return Socialite::with('Trakt')->stateless(false)->redirect();
// to use stateless
return Socialite::with('Trakt')->stateless()->redirect();
Overriding a config
If you need to override the provider's environment or config variables dynamically anywhere in your application, you may use the following:
$clientId = "secret";
$clientSecret = "secret";
$redirectUrl = "http://yourdomain.com/api/redirect";
$additionalProviderConfig = ['site' => 'meta.stackoverflow.com'];
$config = new \SocialiteProviders\Manager\Config($clientId, $clientSecret, $redirectUrl, $additionalProviderConfig);
return Socialite::with('Trakt')->setConfig($config)->redirect();
Retrieving the Access Token Response Body
Laravel Socialite by default only allows access to the
access_token. Which can be accessed
via the
\Laravel\Socialite\User->token public property. Sometimes you need access to the whole response body which
may contain items such as a
You can get the access token response body, after you called the
user() method in Socialite, by accessing the property
$user = Socialite::driver('Trakt')->user();
$accessTokenResponseBody = $user->accessTokenResponseBody;


text:
Friday, February 4, 2011
I made myself a new necklace. It was hard to get myself to use the beads though. I get into this habit of thinking "No, I need to save these for something real special!" I'm like a squirrel, less like a hamster. At least hamsters remember the things they've hidden away.
I've had these beads for years now. A good portion of the beads are vintage, but the two blue ones are dyed coral from a bead store in Tacoma, Washington. It's hard when the beads are vintage because then I just think "These are one of a kind! I won't be able to find anymore of these!" So they just sit in my closet! Well, I overcame my brain and made something I'm really happy with. Two girls at the grocery store even compared it to J. Crew's jewelry right now, which is awesome, because I love the stuff but can't afford (my god, it's expensive!).
I plan on posting my first contest next week, and here's a little secret: it will feature some of my handmade jewelry. Keep checking back for your chance to win!
In These Photos:
Harmonic Shrug
Nordstrom DIY shirt
Vintage fur stole
Zella leggings
Handmade necklace
Vince Camuto boots
14 comments:
I LOVE that necklace!! great post!! love the stole and sweater :)
- February 4, 2011 at 10:30 AM
- Unknown said...
Wow, the necklace is really wonderful! It looks supercool with the collar :)
Love, Andrea
- February 4, 2011 at 10:34 AM
I was just about to tell you that you need to open an Etsy shop and then you announce a giveaway! I AM EXCITED!
As for the squirreling--it brought this to mind. I saw a squirrel, all of about 6" tall yesterday, go bounding over snow 10" deep. Hilarious!
- February 4, 2011 at 11:25 AM
- Unknown said...
Squirrels must be really light or that snow is real packed down! I love squirrels, but don't tell my dog, lol
If I made enough jewelry and didn't fall in love with every piece, I would totally open a shop!
- February 4, 2011 at 12:08 PM
- C said...
I loooooove that necklace! I think I've been inspired to get back into my jewelry-making this week!
- February 4, 2011 at 12:33 PM
- Kara said...
Ooh love this collar and great skills making that necklace!! haha i'm so squirrel-like too don't worry! :)
- February 4, 2011 at 5:44 PM
- Isabel Hendrix said...
fabulous necklace! I cant believe you made it! wow!! Also I like your booties! ^-^
- February 4, 2011 at 7:39 PM
- Kirstin said...
I have never been able to wrap my head around how people make jewelry, it is just so cool. You look fabulous as always and I love the title of this post. I love squirrels!
- February 4, 2011 at 8:16 PM
- Feathers said...
I would so wear that necklace, even though I'm not much for jewelry most of the time. It's the perfect length, too. I always need my necklaces to be super long or pretty short. Everything in between is just awkward/annoying.
- February 4, 2011 at 10:03 PM
- Collette Osuna said...
I LOVE your gorgeous necklace!!!!
Stop by and say Hello:)
Check out my 30x30 Remix….Let's do this!♥
- February 5, 2011 at 3:11 AM
- This Charming Style said...
wow, what a wonderful necklace! I can't believe it's home made... the beads are beautiful, i love the colours. so pretty :)
- February 5, 2011 at 3:23 AM
- Whoop it up! said...
great pics ! the outfit looks awesome !!! we love it !
xx, tany and nati <33
- February 5, 2011 at 8:51 AM
- Jon & Laurel said...
That necklace is AMAZING.
- February 15, 2011 at 4:43 AM
i loved ur blog.its beautiful. u have great style.very inspiring.
- February 23, 2011 at 3:42 PM


text:
Day three of all Little Mermaid, all the time, and my daughter came out with this gem:
Mommy. I want to be Barbie when I grow up.
I have a strange take on feminism. I believe that traditionally feminine things are undervalued -- knitting, pretty clothing, being a mom. It's considered unimportant because clearly women should desire to be like men. Women are "liberated" when they're like men, right?
Wrong -- I think women are only truly liberated when men can be like women without any stigma, and that means that an interest in clothing and fashion is NOT lower in value than traditionally male occupations.
Despite this, I winced when Alba decided to become Barbie. We don't keep Barbies in the house, but she must've encountered them at school. I'd much rather have her want to be Delirium from Sandman! She's a little too young for that series, however...
Last night, hyasynth DJed at her sim, and while I was dancing I was taken by the strange urge to wear yellow. I poked through my inventory and found that I had a serious lack of the color -- so I shopped via OnRez and found this shirt from Nyte'N'Day, and these pants from Little Rebel. I do love the derriere on the pants! They make my flat asian-avatar arse look perky!
Yellow and black...made me remember the Queen Bee Another Skin mod that I'd picked up as a store freebie from Fancy Fairy. There are three makeups in the folder with different lips, and all of them have extremely dramatic bee-wing eyes.
What did you want to be when you grew up? I totally wanted to be a spelunker.
***Hair: **DP**yumyum Sesame in black
***Skin: Fancy Fairy Queen Bee makeup 2
***Necklace and earrings: -EARTHTONES- The New Grazia Necklace gold black onyx
***Collar, prim sleeves, undershirt: ~silentsparrow~ from the beloved suit (collar and shirt) and lolita suite (sleeves)
***Shirt on jacket layer: Nyte'N'Day - Ena (yellow)
***Belt: Paper Couture p.c.; Trophies On the Waist (trophy tooth belt) from the suite
***Pants: Little Rebel Designs Nylon Pants
***Shoes: (Shiny Things) Brandys in yellow


text:
The Legacy Society offers an additional opportunity to invest in Moore's future, honoring those who provide for the future of Moore by including the College in their estate plans. Members of the Legacy Society are recognized in Moore News and receive invitations to attend special events. You can join the Legacy Society in two ways:
- Provide for Moore in your will in consultation with your legal advisor.
- Designate Moore as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.
Large or small, your bequest to Moore will leave a lasting legacy. If you wish to establish a specific fund, please contact the Director of Development, at 215.965.4037 or firstname.lastname@example.com for more information about your options. Please let us know of your intentions—we would like to thank you!


text:
2013 News
Samsung Tries on Triple-Crown Leadership for Size
E-Commerce Times
Samsung has been on a winning streak, thanks in large part to the leadership in its top ranks. Now the company has decided to elevate two of its best performers to the top rung. Boo-keun Yoon and J.K. Shin will be joining current chief Oh-Hyun Kwon as co-CEOs. Shin, who is credited with propelling the company to the top of the smartphone heap, just presided over the high-energy launch of its Galaxy S4 in New York.
Samsung Electronics has named two new chief executive officers, bringing the number of company heads to three: Joining the current CEO Oh-Hyun Kwon as coCEOs will be Boo-keun Yoon and J.K. Shin. They are the head of Samsung's consumer electronics and mobile divisions, respectively.
Both men have scored notable achievements in their roles. Under Yoon, Samsung's TV business strengthened its grip on the global market, after becoming the top provider in the world in 2006. Shin helped drive Samsung's mobile business to significant levels of growth. Indeed, Shin just oversaw the successful product launch of the Samsung Galaxy S4, not 24 hours before the announcement of his new title.
Both executives will maintain their current responsibilities as they move up the corporate ladder: that is, Yoon will continue overseeing the consumer electronics division, which includes TV and appliance products, while Shin will remain in charge of the IT & Mobile Communications Division.
Big-Picture Implications
The executive reshuffling is intriguing because it suggests, among other things, an even greater emphasis on mobile for Samsung going forward.
"The announcement of J.K Shin as a coCEO show how strategic the mobile business has become for Samsung — a company that sells a variety of consumer products," Andreas Scherer, managing partner of Salto Partners, told the E-Commerce Times.
"Without any doubt, Samsung grabbed in a very short period significant market share in the mobile industry," he continued. "It's almost scary to hear that J.K. Shin is by far not content with Samsung's results."
Samsung's Mobile Ambitions
So, where else — or how much higher — can Shin, et al., drive Samsung's mobile business? One clue might be found in Samsung's move last month to fold its Bada OS into the open source mobile OS Tizen, suggesting that Samsung is opening yet another front in the mobile wars. Samsung is expected to come out with a Tizen-based phone later this year.
Google, in the meantime, recently folded Android into its Chrome unit. It may be premature to conclude that the love affair between Samsung and Android is cooling, but there are definitely some changes afoot.
Windows 8-based phones may also draw Shin's interest, Scherer said.
"Shin expressed some disappointment over the market share of Windows 8-based phones," he said, "so we can expect some interesting discussions between Samsung and Microsoft in the future."
Too Many Heads?
Shin is the one to watch for leadership in the volatile mobile industry, but it may turn out to be problematic for Samsung to have three equally powerful company chiefs.
"While it is understandable that Samsung may want to hedge its bets at this critical point in time — what is actually the inflection point in the history of the smartphone evolution — it is impossible to be successful with three CEOs," Chuck Pappalardo, managing director of exec recruitment firm Trilogy Search, told the E-Commerce Times.
"What the company needs is a strong leader who can bring all aspect of the business together into a single vision," he said.
Although its Thursday launch of the Galaxy S4 appears to have been highly successful, Samsung is in a serious struggle for long-term viability, Pappalardo pointed out.
"While many believe the company produces the best product from a technical standpoint," he said, "its competitors have clear advantages."


text:
Over 40 Lineup
With the Jamie Moyer/Tom Glavine match-up scheduled for tonight in New York, we were able to come up with a pitching staff of big leaguers 40 or over.
It was a pretty good staff but now we need eight guys behind them on the field. That's a little more difficult. But, here goes:
C We have to pry Todd Pratt out of retirement. He was in camp with the Yankees in spring training but did not make the opening day roster. Perhaps he went to the minors but we're assuming he went home to retirement.
1B Baseball's elder statesman, Julio Franco, 48 years young.
2B Craig Biggio
SS Omar Vizquel
3B Jeff Conine, sorry, Jeff, but you have played third in your career; back to the hot corner.
OF Moises Alou
Barry Bonds
Steve Finley
Louis Gonzalez
Kenny Lofton
Reggie Sanders
Matt Stairs
All we need now is an ancient PR person for this baseball bunch.
1 Comment
This isn't actually a comment, but a question (favor?)
Any chance you could find out what kind of sunglasses Jimmy Rollins is wearing this season (the gold lenses?)
Greg in Collingswood