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I keep writing these posts in my head but promise myself I'll post them once I post all the other things I want to write about. Then I go do something like valor cap. By then I'm out of time.
It's been, what, six weeks now since I joined Cadenza? Two of those weeks (which happened to be the two first weeks of patch 5.2 – worst timing ever but beggars can't be choosers) I couldn't raid due to visiting family, and since I hadn't seen family in almost two years, putting family first was the obvious choice.
On a tangent, having families, especially moms, around is both awesome and exhausting! She kept doing my dishes, laughed at all my jokes and helped me cook. Having another person in the house, though, was a lot harder on me than I expected. I have no idea how some (most?) people live their entire LIVES with other people! By the end of the visit, I was falling asleep everywhere and couldn't talk coherently. Took me two 13-hour sleeps to recover!
But anyway, this platform is more for WoW talk than for analyzing my sleeping habits.
So I joined Cadenza six weeks ago. The way it happened was kind of surreal. I was on Twitter QQing about how I wasn't getting enough raid time with Conquest and how I was mockingly looking for a guild that lets me raid. (My actual plans were to wait until after my mom's visit, reassess the situation with Conquest and shop for a new home if it hadn't improved.) And, well, sometimes complaining is an effective way to a solve a problem. I got a DM from Theck (yes, Theck) who let me know that his guild had recently lost of couple of healers to real life.
Now I knew of Cadenza. After Occasional Excellence disintegrated, I really wanted to find another (alliance) progressive 25 guild with a two nights/week schedule. So I had checked out the guilds of that demographic. All, like, 4 of them.
During my post-OE searching, I didn't think I could make Cadenza's schedule (they raid Fri-Sat – Saturdays are ok, we close early that day, but I didn't think I could take Friday nights off work). Plus, I figured the break I was forced to take from raiding (due vacation then to all hell breaking loose at work) would have set me too far back on progression (which was probably true). And (because scheduling and being behind on progression aren't enough), they were a step up from OE, and while I performed ok in OE, I was far from being one of their stars.
Then flash forward to the DM from Theck. By then, work had settled down. I could think of a way to tweek the schedule to give me Friday nights off. I was decently progressed. I wasn't sure if I had the talent to make the cut, but you know what? If you spend your life limiting yourself by saying "I can't do this", "I'm not good enough for this", "My health/natural abilities/etc aren't up to par" without even trying, you end up becoming on of those sad middle aged people who amount to nothing and pass their slow, agonizing days posting tacky "motivational" messages on Facebook.
I wanted to raid, I wanted to play with this guild and I really don't want to post cheesey crap on Facebook for the rest of my life. So I took a deep breath and transferred to Tichondrius.
Six weeks later, I haven't passed my trial but they haven't told me to leave and never come back either.
And the raids?
The raids, they are freaking amazing.
I was expecting a guild similar to OE. After all, similar schedule, similar progressiveness, similar demographic of players.
But no. Not similar to OE at all. I like both (as long as I'm treated fairly and the raids are good, I'm usually happy, I guess), but while OE was extremely structured, disciplined and followed every decent guild-leading advice in the book, Cadenza's raiding environment goes against anything you'd expect from a guild with so much progression in so little time. There are no forums to discuss in, the loot system is "whisper the raid leader if you want anything" (extremely efficient, only downside, really, is that often people try to out-generous each other and all the excess passing wastes time), there are no dedicated breaks (if you need time, you just ask and go) and because we raid weekends, raid end time is just a suggestion. They don't even have a tabard! (I suppose they never stooped so low as to spam "we have guild bank and tabard!" in trade/general to recruit back in the day.)
But it works.
I was curious as to how a high stress all the time ultra perfectionist freak like me would react to that kind of environment. So far, it's been almost therapeutic. Since I work a fast-paced, intense job where every detail matters, the simplicity of the guild structure is a breath of fresh air.
Oh and we killed so many bosses! So many bosses! It was so exciting.
It's funny how it happens. Right when I had decided I was satisfied with Conquest-level middle of road progression, I suddenly get to the opportunity to raid at an even higher level. It's not what I expected to happen, but I'll take it. I'll definitely take it!
And the Insecure Nervewreck?
In case you are wondering, I'm still uber shy. I thought I had gotten over it – after all when I went back to Conquest, I felt at home almost immediately. Apparently it was just the familiarity of Conquest.
My first few raids with Cadenza, I took a lot of deep breaths and fought the urge to run away. I missed Conquest (as much as I had complained about the healing environment!), I missed OE (which, of course, doesn't exist anymore so there's no going back there), I questioned my whole raider identity. Who was I, I thought to myself, to believe that I had what it takes to join a group of strangers who play better than me? Silly, silly pretentious girl, I mocked myself.
The team was kind to me. I was briefed on raid strats, on how to ask for loot and on raid customs. I was offered food and flasks. Anything I would logically need, they gave to me right away. Yet, what I was more urgently stressing about was not something I was willing admit. What was eating a big nasty hole in my belly… was…well…heh… It was not knowing what to say when I entered healer chat. Should I say hi? Should I say thank you? Should I just say nothing? Yes, people. That is how my pathetic mind works.
If you think that's bad, you should have heard the discussion in my head when I had to remind my raid leader that I would be taking two weeks off. There's no signout forum. Should I just whisper him? Which of his toons should I whisper him on? What if he's busy? Should I say something on Vent instead? It took me about a week to decide to just send him an in-game mail on his main raiding character.
Yep. I may have grown as a person and has a player, but the insecure nervewreck from nearly four years ago has not grown at all.
And now?
I mentioned earlier that I haven't passed my trial yet. My fears that I would make more mistakes and learn slower than every one else? They ended up being founded. I think I keep up healing-wise, but on actual execution I'm clearly behind the curve.
All those slow people I've ever rolled my eyes at or lost patience with? Karma came around and suddenly I feel like I'm one of those people.
I haven't been kicked yet though, and until they kick me, I'll keep showing up for raid.
I hear the word "awareness" a lot. It's rarely awareness (in the early raids, it was sometimes – at first I physically and mentally couldn't handle 4-6 hours of concentrating after a tough day at work, but practice makes perfect and last raid I managed almost 6 hours before reaching the end of my focus). If only it were so easy to fix as turning off the TV or music, or not getting drunk during raids. (I raid in complete silence because I know concentration is a problem for me. And while I love to drink during raids, I've avoided fueling my raids with alcohol since joining Cadenza.) No, it's not usually awareness. Usually, I know I'm getting hit. I also almost always know how I died. (I always use my combat log.) It's the reaction time and dexterity that I'm lacking. Which I suppose I could improve by doing a lot of BGs. Yet the only way I could really find time for BGs is either to ignore VP (bad) or quit my job (badder).
I'm at peace though. At this point, I've become attached to my guildies. I really enjoy the raids. Every now and again, I even type something in /raid or /g! I had a long chat with the other holy paladin in the guild and got all excited about making a friend. Even more, Logan, Conquest bro and of Leetsauced fame, joined me around my third week, which really helped me relax during raids. It's been wonderful having a friend going through the trenches with me, someone to exchange triumphs/frustrations/remarks with.
If they do eventually tell me that I'm just not on par, I'll be sad to leave, but I'll be grateful for the experience. While OE's raids taught me to wring out all the healing my paladin can handle, Cadenza's raids are teaching me focus and precise execution. And I'm sure having a lot of fun, which, in video games, is really what matters.


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Mechanical sidekick Claptrap, one of the few constants between the first Borderlands and the second, is the subject of this terrific custom model made by Kotaku reader Psychobob.
A man with access to a 3D printer, which he's put to good use previously, Psychobob's Claptrap model is ridiculously detailed, and even lights up, in case we weren't impressed enough.
Which was silly.
3D Print: CL4P-TP (Commissioned piece) - The actual build [Psychobob]
G/O Media may get a commission

subset: commoncrawl


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Print Newspaper Circ Tanks Again; Industry Trying to Shift the Focus
It appears that Editor & Publisher felt the need to get in front of some really bad news in the newspaper business. In fact, the sampling of numbers reported previews a report that will apparently be worse than others I have tracked (previous posts here, here, and here):
According to industry sources speaking to E&P, daily circulation for reporting papers in the six-month FAS-FAX period ending September is down about 2.5% while Sunday is expected to fall 3.5%. Those types of declines — in the 2% and 3% range — have been occurring as far back as the March 2005 period.
E&P has learned that several major papers have suffered declines in daily circ of over 7%, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Miami Herald and The Dallas Morning News.
Ask for comment, publishers of these papers blamed the decreases partly on the cut back in other-paid circulation — which includes Newspaper in Education, hotel, and third-party copies. And papers have been chopping distribution areas–it's too expensive to serve outlying communities, at least in print.
Of course, some of the decline is occurring because fewer people are reading the print version. Single-copy sales, which is a barometer of paid circulation, have tumbled in recent years. This reporting period, the category is expected to decrease around 5%.
Specific bad news previews (weekdays):
- Atlanta Journal Constitution — Down 9%
- South Florida Sun-Sentinel — 9%
- Dallas Morning News — 7.7%
- San Diego Union-Tribune — 8.5%
- Miami Herald — 8.4%
The five top-tier papers with drops of over 7% is more than is present on any of the previous three larger lists I covered previously — and this is only a sample of what's to come in the full report.
The industry's "solution"? Come up with different numbers that are perhaps easier to fudge, perhaps tougher to audit — and apparently needed in a hurry for damage control (the excerpt below appears before the excerpt above in the original E&P article):
Finally after years of debate, the industry is moving towards tracking its total audience which encompasses all its products (especially online viewership) — not just how many people plunk down some coins for the newspaper. The change will be reflected next Monday, when the Audit Bureau of Circulations releases numbers for more than 700 daily newspapers throughout the country.
The push to herald total audience is coming not a moment too soon since paid circulation continues on a downward slide.
Look, I understand the need to get a handle on audience measurement, regardless of where the audience is coming from, and I recognize that the Internet is going to whittle away at the print market, even at an excellent newspaper. But what I think we are seeing is an attempt to equate a non-paying online reader who checks in to see last night's sports scores and goes away to someone who buys an entire printed paper at the newstand or has it dropped on the driveway every morning. Pun intended — I'm not buying it, nor do I think that investors and shareholders will be particularly moved.
Readers, and investors, might be more impressed if they thought the papers were giving even a reasonable effort at being fair and balanced, and weren't failing to follow up on obviously important stories — even ones handed to them on a silver platter. The circulation bleed is happening more quickly than it should because of these all-too-obvious shortcomings.
Cross-posted at NewsBusters.org.


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We are happy to announce you can now purchase specific blind parts for your blind/shade repair or replacement! For instance, if your pet (or kid) climbs on the back of your sofa and decides to make a chew toy out of the cords on your beautiful roman style bamboo shades. Luckily, you can now replace the string by going directly to our web page and clicking on "blind parts" on the main page. Easy instructions are also on this site on "how to re-string bamboo shades." Hopefully, this may never happen, but it's reassuring to know you won't have to live with "chewed" cords.
You've taken down your horizontal faux or basswood blinds to paint the room or have windows washed. Now it's time to hang the blinds again, only you find that the valance clips are nowhere to be found (we get calls on this one all the time). Valance clips are now available for sale in sets of 3.
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Book Review: If You're A Lakers Fan This One's A Must
Book Review: "100 Things Lakers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die" HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: True fans kill for these types of tidbits. I'm still figuring out how the Lakers were almost called the Vikings. Read More


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During Cougar football games, the University of Houston's Spirit of Houston Cougar Marching Band transforms halftime into show time. With its high energy performances and precision musicianship, the band entertains thousands on a weekly basis.
At 7:30 p.m., Oct. 29, the Spirit of Houston will march onto the stage of UH's Moores Opera House for its 6th annual benefit concert. The show will feature all 200-plus members of the band, as well as the Cougar Dolls, cheerleaders and dance squad. Proceeds from ticket sales will support band scholarships and program funds.
"This performance will be just as exciting as those on the field," said David Bertman, Spirit of Houston director. "Each year, we try to step up our game to make this concert bigger and better than ever. This year, we have a great mix of music designed to boost Cougar Pride and entertain audiences of all ages."
Selections to be performed at the Spirit of Houston concert include game day favorites such as the pre-game fanfare and "Deep in the Heart of Texas." The band also will deliver an alternate Cougar fight song that was written by Houston big band legend Ed Gerlach. It also will treat fans to a medley of hits from classic rock band Journey.
During the concert, Ann Ostrow (wife of UH distinguished theater professor Stuart Ostrow) will be awarded the Golden Cougar award for her longtime support of the Spirit of Houston. The band also will pay tribute to another longtime friend to the band, the late Bert F. Winston.
"He was a very generous supporter of the band," Bertman said. "He loved the music and loved UH athletics."
Fans around the nation have thrilled to Cougar Marching Band's performances. In 2004, it had the distinction of jamming alongside Janet Jackson during the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show at Reliant Stadium. The band also has participated in parades across the country including the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Parade.
Tickets for the Spirit of Houston Cougar Marching Band Benefit Concert are $10 and can be reserved or purchased by calling 713-743-3307. For more details, visit www.uhbands.com.
|"Spirit of Houston" Cougar Marching Band Benefit Concert
|7:30 p.m., Oct. 29
|UH Moores Opera House - Entrance 16 off of Cullen Blvd., Houston, TX 77204-4017
|UH Moores School of Music


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Saturday, May 11, 2013
Teaching My Kid To Get A Career...
(This post originally appeared at Dad-O-Matic.)
Those of you with kids in diapers or grade school may want to skip this post (unless you want a peek into the future at one of the many other parenting adventures you can look forward to facing). Those of you with teens and young adults getting ready to enter the workforce and start to earn more than an allowance, please read on...
Jobs vs. Career
In simple terms, I think of a job as something you do to make money. This is especially true when we are young. Babysitting, dog walking, lawn mowing, packing grocery bags, hawking fast-food, etc., are all "jobs" we do to make money, and they are usually among the first paid work experiences our kids will have. While great to teach the values of a good work ethic, responsibility and to start learning to save and spend their own money, few of us would consider any of these occupations a "career" for our kids. Careers are work that we are passionate about, that we believe in, that we truly love to do. Jobs are important, but a true career is the goal.
But What Is A Career???
In truth, the above is an over-simplification, especially in today's world. Our kids are likely to move around during their careers far more than we have. Growing up in a hyper-connected world where any fact is just a few taps away, and where "attention deficit" is no longer a disorder, but rather the order of the day, our kids will likely find many interests and passions to pursue throughout their careers, and take far more circuitous routes than we may have taken as their parents. But they have to start somewhere...
Getting Into The Industry You Love
My middle son is a musician (a guitarist and songwriter, to be more specific). He recently graduated from the Berklee College of Music, and is currently living the life of a struggling artist, manning the cash register at a hipster Brooklyn cafe to pay the proverbial bills while making music the rest of his waking hours. But he wants to work in a music related job, and as his dad, I felt compelled to give him some guidance and a plan of action that will hopefully land him with a job he can become passionate about... a job that will contribute to a career.
Don't Look For A Job, Look For A Network
Here's what I recommended to my son:
1) Leverage Your Obvious Strengths (and don't be shy about it) - Sure, you are an extremely talented musician, but right now you have little tangible "professional" experience. What you do have is a degree from a respected music school with many accomplished alumni working in all areas of the music industry. That "Berklee Connection" is perhaps your greatest asset at this early stage of your career. Use it!
2) Build A Network, One Cup Of Coffee At A Time - Through resources like LinkedIn and Berklee's alumni databases, create a list of alumni actively working in the music industry in New York City. Get an email address or phone number for each, as well as their office address. With the goal of getting 10 personal meetings a week, start contacting everyone on this list. IMPORTANT: You are not looking for a job, you are looking for a mentor. Ask people to tell you about themselves: "Hi, I am a recent Berklee graduate living in Brooklyn. I'd love to have 15 minutes of your time to ask you a few questions about how you started your career after you graduated. I am actually going to be in the neighborhood of your office on Tuesday afternoon. If I could stop by to see you for a few minutes, I'll bring the coffee - what do you like from Starbucks?... yada yada yada." Shoot for a personal meeting, but if all you can get is some time on the phone take it.
3) Listen, Learn, Then Ask - People love to talk about themselves and share their accomplishments. Your goal is not to ask for a job, but ask for knowledge and advice. Have 5-6 solid questions ready for your meetings, focused on how THEY got started after THEY graduated from Berklee. Be smart, be personable, let them do most of the talking and LISTEN. Keep track of the time and when 15 minutes are up, let them know, and that you don't want to take too much of their time (giving them the opportunity to end it smoothly or keep the conversation going - at their choice.)
4) The Ask - When you're meeting is done, thank them sincerely, and ask if it would be okay for you to stay in touch periodically. Then ask if there is anyone else in the industry they think you would benefit from speaking to. If they have a recommendation, ask if they would be willing to make an introduction. Then let them know if you can ever help them out with anything, no matter how trivial, it would be your pleasure. Thank them again and get your butt out of their office.
5) The Follow Up - Within 24 hours of the meeting, send a short email, thanking them, saying how valuable it was to learn their story, and reminding them you'd greatly appreciate any other industry introductions they'd be willing to make.
6) Rinse, Repeat - Do this diligently and push hard to get those 10 meetings a week. Many will blow you off, say no or ignore your request altogether, but some will agree to meet you, and every one of those will be an extremely valuable opportunity to learn and grow your industry network. Don't worry about the "no's" and keep focused on getting the "yes." The numbers are on your side. The more folks you contact, the more times you will hear yes.
7) Be Patient - I told my son that I am confident that if he follows the above plan and actually gets meetings every week, in a matter of time he will be working in the music industry, and be able to give up his job to start his career.
What do you think? Do you agree with the advice I gave my son? Am I missing something that you would recommend? Please let me know in the comments (and thanks!)
Finally, a shameless plug: If you are, or know someone in the Music biz in NY, and you or they would be willing to meet my (awesome, talented, hard-working) son, please let me know and I'd be very happy to make the introduction. :-)
Jeff Sass is the proud dad of ZEO (Zach, 24, Ethan, 22 and Olivia, 21). He is also a seasoned entertainment and technology exec and active social media enthusiast. You can see more of Jeff's writing at Sassholes! and Social Networking Rehab and you can listen to Jeff on the Cast of Dads, Wunderkind! and Gape Into The Void podcasts. Jeff just launched a new story podcast, DadSlam.
Photo Credit: © rnl - Fotolia.com
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At Grovecrest the 2nd Graders put on an original play called GLOW. It's a cute play about how everything has a place in the world. We were excited to watch Liberty perform. She did great. She had a solo, and nailed it!
Check out how cute she looked, and her whole class was awesome!
I love that she enjoys singing and performing.
Where does the wind go? After it rains?
Lib as part of the chorus. She was fun to was so funny to watch, she was like a mother hen making sure the kids that surrounded her had all their props at the appropriate times.
Butterfly #1 singing her solo. She was awesome! But I could tell how nervous whe was.


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I recently attended an Agvocacy 2.0 (Agvocating for Agriculture using Social media) conference in Nashville. I had the pleasure to interview with Chuck Zimmerman of ZimmComm New Media, LLC about being an agvocate for the equine and farming industry using Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn as a platform to spread the word.
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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Freshman Gavin Ware scored a career-high 22 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead Mississippi State to a 79-72 win over Central Arkansas on Saturday.
The 6-foot-9 Ware was unstoppable in the paint, making 8 of 9 shots from the field, 6 of 8 free throws and grabbing four offensive rebounds. Trivante Bloodman scored 12, Colin Borchert 11 and walk-on Tyson Cunningham added 10 points, including two 3-pointers in the second half that helped the Bulldogs (4-6) pull away.
Mississippi State won for just the third time in eight games. The Bulldogs dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Bears 43-29. They also shot 48.1 percent (25 of 52) from the field.
Central Arkansas (4-5) has lost two in a row. The Bears were led by Robert Crawford's 26 points. Jordan Harks and Jarvis Garner added 11.
Mississippi State has had a rough start to the season thanks to a fairly difficult schedule and a roster that's down to six scholarship players after injuries to four - including starters Jalen Steele and Wendell Lewis.
So it was encouraging for the Bulldogs to see some of the remaining healthy players - like Ware - show some improvement before Southeastern Conference play begins in a few weeks. Ware could be one of the cornerstones of Ray's rebuilding project, with a wide body, soft hands and knack for finding good position and scoring at the rim.
The 270-pounder from Starkville, Miss., hit a few shots early and then the plan became obvious - feed him the ball whenever possible. The Bears didn't have anyone big enough to stop him.
While Ware was dominating inside, the Bulldogs got some surprising help on the perimeter from Cunningham, a junior walk-on who has been forced into the regular rotation because of the constant injures.
He came into the game averaging just 1.7 points per game, but nailed two crucial 3-pointers in the second half that helped Mississippi State push out to a 60-49 lead with nine minutes remaining.
Central Arkansas could never make a serious run after that point.
Crawford tried to keep the Bears in the game, making 8 of 18 shots from the field, including 7 of 14 from 3-point range. But outside of Crawford, Central Arkansas shot just 3 of 21 from 3-point range and shot just 11 free throws compared to Mississippi State's 36 attempts.
Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP


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Anyway I'm up early collecting the bits and bobs to build one or more of the Huxley seedlings at the show We will aim to build 2 Huxley Seedling 3D printers & demonstrate at least one of them them working....
Will post Pics if any come out its an even Darker Hall than Maker Fair was in March this year.
We are not far from releaseing Beta versions of Huxley Seedling to testers then it will not be too much longer before we release a take away 3D printer that will be avalible in Pocket money staged sections.or in full kit We will be offering fully built machines as well depending on demand.
Sunday morning 5am update
Trying to build two 3D printer when you are surounded by visitors to the show is almost imposible.. I will post pictures tomorow / tonight of how far I got with building two printers.. the basic frames were finished yesterday thats 4 A frames with fronts and back frame seperators on each printer finished.


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The Great Kat – Beethoven On Speed (1990/2007 reissue, Metal Mind Productions)
Beethoven On Speed
Flight Of The Bumble-Bee
Revenge Mongrel
Funeral March
Made In Japan
Sex & Violins
Beethoven Mosh (5th Symphony)
Gripping Obsession
Paganini's 24th Caprice
Worshipping Bodies
Guitar Concerto In Blood Minor
Total Tyrant
Bach To The Future: For Geniuses Only!
Produced by: The Great Kat, John Matthias, & Monte Conner
Total Time – 32:39
The Great Kat official website
The Great Kat on MySpace
Metal Mind Productions
Roadrunner Records
Three years after her debut, WORSHIP ME OR DIE!, the Metal goddess, The Great Kat, is back with her vision of bringing Classical Music back to the public eye by bludgeoning them with her guitar! BEETHOVEN ON SPEED is billed as "the LP of the 21st Century", the ultimate album by the ultimate musical genius of out time. The Great Kat is talented, there is no question about that, her degrees from the Juilliard School in NYC speak volumes of the musician she is (or should be). One has to wonder why, with all the talent and training, Kat has decided to uses Thrash Metal as her forum rather than her natural Classical talents.
The Package:
Metal Mind Productions has a great reissue series going right now, licensing many out of print titles from Roadrunner Records and making them available again to the Metal masses. All reissues in the series are strictly limited edition to 2000 copies, each CD is numbered (mine is #1995). Metal Mind provides a nice full color digipak and booklet (with liner notes) and the CD is fully remastered. Like the first Kat album, there is no bonus material, a small disappointment as I can't see any bonus tracks making the overall musical content any better.
The Music:
The whole point of the album is so Kat can take the music from her main inspiration, Ludwig Van Beethoven, and re-invent it through the ear-splitting shred of her guitar. I enjoy Beethoven and to hear the Kat's interpretations of his compositions at least made the album mildly interesting. It's important to note that The Great Kat tightened up her sound a little, there are some actual basic riffs that sound decent enough. It's not all frantic, out of control, shredding for the sake of shredding. The good news is that I found a few songs that were actually listenable: 'Ultra-Dead', 'Funeral March', the acoustic half of 'Sex & Violins',and parts of 'Beethoven's Mosh (5th Symphony)'.
Bottom Line:
For disciples of The Great Kat, it's another great package by Metal Mind, the music made available again after a long hiatus being out of print. BEETHOVEN ON SPEED is a marked improvement compared to Kat's debut, WORSHIP ME OR DIE!. The songs are tighter, sound better musically, and Kat's shouting vocals are improved. What is obvious is that Kat has talent but it's possible she is going in the wrong direction. It's obvious that she can play and arrange Classical Music but it's a mystery to me why she wouldn't want to pursue her calling in true Classical form. Pairing Heavy Metal/Hard Rock and Classical influences has been done by some of the best guitarists of the genre: Ritchie Blackmore, Yngwie Malmsteen, Uli Jon Roth…..the difference is that they do it better than The Great Kat.


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Fairfield forecast: A dusting of snow
Early-morning snow flurries are expected to continue falling periodically throughout today in southwestern Connecticut, according to the National Weather Service.
In addition to snow -- with possible accumulations totalling 1 to 2 inches in the region -- skies should be mostly cloudy and temperatures will reach a daytime high in the upper-30s. There will be a calm wind becoming north around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent, the NWS says.
Tonight, more periods of snow are likely, mainly before 10 p.m. The temperature is expected to dip to the upper-20s, with a north wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation remains about 80 percent.
Tomorrow should be mostly sunny, with a high temperature in the mid-40s. Nighttime will be mostly clear, with a low temperature in the upper-20s.
Thursday will be sunny, with a high temperature in the low-40s. Thursday night will be mostly clear, with a low temperature in the upper-20s.
Friday also will be mostly sunny, the NWS says, with a high temperature in the low-40s. Nighttime will be mostly cloudy, with a low temperature about 30 degrees.
The outlook for Saturday, according to the weather service, is partly sunny and temperatures in the mid-40s.


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So, back to the brunette thing. I have had blonde hair my whole life, but it has crossed my mind a few times to go dark, like real dark. I am not sure I could ever pull it off, but these women sure make it enticing...
Friday, January 7, 2011
Brunette Bombshells
So, back to the brunette thing. I have had blonde hair my whole life, but it has crossed my mind a few times to go dark, like real dark. I am not sure I could ever pull it off, but these women sure make it enticing...
8 comments:
When we lived in Amman, Jordan, I died my blond hair dark brown to "blend in better"...it didn't help, but it was fun to do something so drastically different! Looking at the pictures now, I'm glad I took the plunge, even if it was temporary. LC...hmmm, I probably like the blond better, but the darker color makes her look more mature (and not in a matronly way).ReplyDelete
I have been mulling over the SAME thing! When I see a really beautiful brunette (especially Mila Kunis) I am so tempted to go dark. Plus, my three officemates have shiny, shiny dark brown hair and it makes me jealous.ReplyDelete
The only thing holding me back really is my wardrobe - it's been amassed with my blonde hair in mind. I love the contrast of my hair on my navy coat (and all of my black tops and dresses). I think brown hair + my closet would add up to a very goth result.
I always have the blonde/brunette debate with myself, and blonde always wins out. My husband definitely prefers blonde, and everytime I go brunette, I change it right back by next appointment.ReplyDelete
I love Olivia Palermo's color though, that's a shade of brunette I'd be willing to try someday.
I have been there/done that with going darker and even though it crosses my mind sometimes (like when my roots start to show) ultimately the blonde wins! And I think it's for the best :) LC should take a lesson and stick with blonde for sure!ReplyDelete
I JUST saw Vicky Cristina Barcelona too a few weeks ago. Yep, I think every now and then of changing to a nice, chocolate brown (but I know The Hubs prefers me lighter). Still, I haven't ruled it out. I just get comfortable with my look and it is SCARY to make a change!! I do think LC looks better lighter, but we saw Black Swan last weekend and I loved both Mila's and Natalie Portman's gorgeous brunette hair.ReplyDelete
Mel, I have ALWAYS wanted to go dark- esp in the winter, but have never had the guts. Want to do it together??? :)ReplyDelete
I say go for it! At the end of the day it's just hair and can always go back to the way it was (eventually!) I love Mila's color. Keep in mind this is all coming from a person that prays every night for my hair to grow like a vine after donating 14 inches :)ReplyDelete
Okay, I keep coming back to this post because I came across a new blog this weekend (The Little Black List) and after reading your post I think I may go darker again. Check out Little Black List if you want to see more gorgeous brunette locks. It's sick and wrong.ReplyDelete


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Obama will govern a nation worried about economy, anxious about safety
WASHINGTON — As President Barack Obama prepares to begin his second term, he will govern a nation where people feel insecure about their economic futures, worried about their personal safety and concerned that international threats are spiraling out of the United States' control.
They're also angry at and disappointed with their government, viewing Washington as impeding rather than promoting progress in easing the host of crises it confronts.
While Obama won a second term with a popular vote majority, sizable numbers of people remain skeptical about his ability to get things done. They are even more wary of a Congress consumed by partisan animus that handcuffs its ability to agree on even the most routine matters.
The national mood is unlikely to get a boost anytime soon. Americans have been roiled by the economy for more than five years. Their paychecks, if they have one at all, still strain to reach let alone exceed pre-recession levels. The value of their homes still hasn't recovered. Their retirement funds are shaky, and their children face enormous college debt and are overqualified for the jobs they've managed to get.
Fewer than four out of 10 Americans think the economy will improve over the next year, while the proportion who think the economy will get worse has tripled, according to the Pew Research Center. Fewer than one in three are satisfied with the way things are going, Gallup found, well below historic averages.
Part of the unease is rooted in the recovery's stubborn sluggishness. Part results from Washington's inability to act.
"Washington may be convulsed with concern about the budget, but the public is far more concerned about jobs," said Bruce Stokes, director of global economic attitudes at the Pew Research Center.
The numbers suggest the potential for a comeback of confidence. Jobless rates in 43 states were better in November than a year earlier, and there's evidence the housing market is picking up.
What's holding people back are two forces: Government and fear for one's personal security. The Consumer Confidence Index dropped sharply in December, and the key reason was uncertainty about how Washington would deal with the fiscal cliff, according to Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at the Conference Board, which supervises the survey.
Even though Washington inched off the cliff at the last minute, the public understands the government is running out of cures. The Federal Reserve Board has taken unprecedented steps to keep interest rates at historic lows. Bush-era tax rates will endure for all but the wealthy. Deficit spending, long a safety net during tough economic times, persists.
Those remedies, though, also can have ugly long-term consequences. Clearly, "America is overcommitted," said David Boaz, executive vice president of the libertarian Cato Institute.
The first challenge for government is to simply rewrite its own rules. People want civility and compromise and are somewhat willing to make sacrifices for the greater good. Proposals such as curbing Medicare benefits for the wealthy or implementing new cost-of-living formulas for federal benefits are calculated to have widespread bipartisan support.
Getting to a point where serious compromise can even be considered, though, will be rough. While jokes about government ineptitude are as old as the George Washington administration, people do want some sense that in the end, the system can work. Instead, spectacles such as the New Year's Day fiscal cliff showdowns or 2011's tortured talks over the debt ceiling are regarded as the new normal.
"The root of this goes partially to the circumstances of the bitter partisanship that has dominated our politics," said Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., who is leading an effort to streamline Senate procedures, "but it also goes to the fact that as the social contract unraveled … you had rules that worked well in the past that do not work well now."
This absence of confidence is hardly confined to the economy. People want protection, from threats both domestic and foreign.
Gun control has long been one of the nation's most polarizing issues, and so far most support for reinstituting the assault weapons ban or taking tougher measures has come from longtime advocates.
"You would think it would be common sense to support some of these measures, but I'm still not sure a lot of members of Congress get it," said former Rep. Connie Morella, a moderate Republican.
Nor are Americans perceiving less of a threat from rogue nations or terrorists. "Iran and Islamic extremism are things that keep Americans awake at night," said Stokes, after reviewing the polling, "and both of those threats are beyond Washington's complete control."
And so 2013 begins with at least an overlay of concern in America. Taxes are up, thanks to the end of the Social Security payroll tax cut. The 2010 health care law creeps closer to full implementation; next year, nearly everyone will have to obtain coverage or pay a fine. Federal deficits aren't coming down significantly anytime soon.
Add to that the normal trajectory of second-term presidencies, which tend to lose momentum quickly, and the mood of the country today is tentative at best.
"We have an administration of great ambition, and they probably won't be able to do what they want," said Boaz. "They may just run out of steam."


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LOS ANGELES - Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy brought "The Heat" against Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx at the box office.
The Fox action-comedy starring the funny ladies as mismatched detectives earned $40 million in second place in its opening weekend, topping the $25.7 million debut haul of Sony's "White House Down," according to studio estimates Sunday.
The Disney-Pixar animated prequel "Monsters University" remained box-office valedictorian in its second weekend, earning $46.1 million in first place.
As for "The Heat," employing two female leads to buck the male-dominated buddy-cop formula paid off in ticket sales.
"I think the fact that we have a female-centric movie standing out in a forest of giant tent-pole movies is phenomenal," said Chris Aronson, Fox's president of domestic distribution. "Audiences really responded. We positioned this to be a female event movie, and we got the opening that we were hoping for this weekend."
"White House Down," which features Tatum as a wannabe Secret Service agent and Foxx as the President of the United States of America, was inaugurated below expectations in fourth place. The film's White House takeover plot is strikingly similar to FilmDistrict's "Olympus Has Fallen," which opened in March and starred Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart.
"It turned out to be a very competitive weekend," said Rory Bruer, Sony's president of worldwide distribution. "We had hoped 'White House Down' did better, just from the standpoint that we love this film, but I feel very hopeful that with the July 4th holiday coming up, it will be the perfect film for audiences, and it'll really add up for us."
Meanwhile, Paramount's "World War Z" took another bite out of the box office in its second weekend domestically with $29.8 million. Overseas, the globe-trotting zombie thriller starring Brad Pitt cleared $70.1 million in 51 territories.
"I think the variety of films is what brought people out to the movie theaters," said Paul Dergarabedian, an analyst for box-office tracker Hollywood.com. "There's a G-rated movie at the top of the chart and an R-rated movie in second place. That says a lot about the summer marketplace and how a unique slate of films can propel the box office."
"Man of Steel" is still flying high in its third week, coming in fifth place with $20.8 million in North America and $52.2 million in such international markets as Australia, Sweden and China. The Warner Bros. retelling of Superman's origin passed the $500 million mark on Saturday.
Overall, Dergarabedian said revenue and attendance are now both down just 2 percent over last year, and this weekend's films grossed 8.5 percent less than last year when Universal's "Ted" opened with $54.4 million at the box office. He said those numbers could shift further next week when Disney's "The Lone Ranger" and Universal's "Despicable Me 2" debut.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released on Monday.
1. "Monsters University," $46.1 million ($44.2 million international).
2. "The Heat," $40 million.
3. "World War Z," $29.8 million ($70.1 million international).
4. "White House Down," $25.7 million ($6.8 million international.)
5. "Man of Steel," $20.8 million ($52.2 million international).
6. "This Is the End," $8.7 million.
7. "Now You See Me," $5.5 million ($5 million international).
8. "Fast & Furious 6," $2.4 million ($6.1 million international).
9. "Star Trek: Into Darkness," $2 million ($2 million international).
10. "The Internship," $1.4 million ($3.6 million international).
Estimated weekend ticket sales at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak:
1. "World War Z," $70.1 million.
2. "Man of Steel," $52.2 million.
3. "Monsters University," $44.2 million.
4. "Despicable Me 2," $41.5 million.
5. "The Hangover Part III," $7.7 million.
6. "Fast & Furious 6," $6.1 million.
7. "Epic," $5.1 million.
8. "Now You See Me," $5 million.
9. "The Internship," $3.6 million.
10. "The Great Gatsby," $3.3 million.
Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.
Follow AP Entertainment Writer Derrik J. Lang on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/derrikjlang.


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Old Ordnance Survey Map - Godfrey Edition.
Gloucestershire sheet 75.04
£3.00 + postage & packing
Covering an area of approximately 1.5 miles by 1 mile.
Where to purchase:
• From our stall on the GENfair website.
• By mail order. Please send an order form and payment to:
15 Hale Horn Close
Bradley Stoke
Bristol, BS32 8AG
United Kingdom
• By personal visit to the Research Room, members' meetings and family history fairs.
Methods of payment:
We accept payment in pounds sterling by cash or by cheque drawn on a UK bank. We are unable to accept foreign currency. Cheques should be made payable to: "Bristol & Avon Family History Society".
Mail order postage and packing:
UK, Channel Islands & Isle of Man: 1 or 2 maps £1.05, 3 to 8 maps £1.50
Europe & Republic of Ireland: 1 or 2 maps £2.75, 3 to 8 maps £4.00
Rest of World: 1 or 2 maps £3.60, 3 to 8 maps £5.35


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The Police State of Venice
|The Police State of Venice
|"Merchant" Dictatorship
|Tek Level 6
|Currently controls around 200 systems, although the exact number varies constantly due to civil unrest
Is super-state symbiote to Space Mafia
|None listed
|Space Mafia (Sub-State)
Emeria (Sub-State of a Sub-State)
|Notable People
|Il Doge
The Police State of Venice
The Police State of Venice is a large empire, with considerable holdings despite near constant civil unrest on the majority of the outlying worlds. Due to the constant state of rebellion, most of the Military Forces of the police state have a decidedly anti-infantry theme, all of their troops are aimed at taking down large amounts of lightly armed and armored minifigs quickly.
In an ancient and decrepit empire, imploding from luxury and peace, there began a conspiracy. Beginning on the dual planets of Venice, a massive coup occurred. A combination of military forces and criminal groups began seizing control of systems from under the old administration's noses. The strangest thing about the coup, is that despite nearly all of the generals and military structure being assassinated or dissolving, the full power of the military fell uniformly under the control of the conspiracy.
The subsequent wars of conquest to retake the land of the previous empire took up much of the time of the new government, leaving no time to rebuild the broken planets already conquered. The populous slowly grew more and more dissatisfied, eventually causing widespread revolutions that halted expansion as the army was recalled. Since then expansion has stagnated, focusing more on repressing and controlling their current holdings rather than actively expanding.
In recent years, the Space Mafia of the Sicilian Cluster has taken a larger role in Galactic Politiks, being both the offical underworld of the Third Alliance, and the USA, and holding a coup to take control the nation of Emeria, this expansion and hostile takeover of local gangs has made Venice a very wealthy country, one could say it's primary merchant export is the Mafia.
Armed Forces
The Armed Forces is split into 3 sections, with some subsections within.
The Infantry Department contains the subsections of; Military Police Specialists Secret Police
The Mechanized Department contains the subsections of; Hardsuit Core Tank Core Jaguar Division
The Aerospace Department contains the subsections of; Capital SHIPs Attack Helicopters Fast Attack Bikes
The Police State of Venice is a military dictatorship, it's power is in it's military. Most of the top governmental positions were gifted to the original members of the conspiracy. While most of the core planets are fairly stable, albeit in a constant state of military production, the outer worlds are in a near constant state of warfare, as the Armed Forces tries to re-capture the population centers while several factions of separatist rebels fight over the country-side.
Recent History
R. 2013 Under the advisement of the honorable Professor Sharkhead, the Police State of Venice enters into Immortal War as anti-immortal, and later joins the Third Alliance. Later that cycle, The Elodin was created to spearhead a new wave of Titan Class SHIPs.


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Raw Footage: 13 Good Squad Body Buildin Bouncers Give A Man A Brutal Beating At The Back Of Jay-Z's 40/40 Club! (Is This Standard Behavior For An Average Bouncer?)
DJ Zeke sent us this questionable Brutal Bouncer Attack footage at the 40/40 Club
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CRYSTAL LAKE – Police are looking into "suspicious circumstances" surrounding a Sunday morning fire and death of a Crystal Lake man, who died of smoke inhalation.
The man, identified by the McHenry County Coroner's Office as 49-year-old Dunn Mizell, died Sunday after a fire in the basement of his 1709 Moorland Lane home.
The coroner's office said in a news release Mizell died of smoke inhalation. Mizell's carbon monoxide level was elevated, and toxicology results are pending, the coroner's office added. Police tape cordoned off the two-story home Sunday as investigators tried to piece together the events that surrounded the man's death.
"There are many pieces to the puzzle to determine the cause of death or circumstances leading up to it," Crystal Lake Police Cmdr. Dan Dziewior said. Authorities said a McHenry County Sheriff's Office deputy had driven Mizell's wife home Sunday morning, but the woman could not enter the house because the garage door was disengaged and appliances had been turned over and were blocking a side door.
Deputies had been called at 6:15 a.m. for a report of an intoxicated female who was dropped off in the roadway at 2203 Crystal Way, according to the sheriff's office.
"There was a intoxicated female who didn't know where she was, that was how our deputy ended up involved in the situation," Sgt. Karen Groves of the sheriff's office said. "Our deputy talked to her, and it turned out she wanted to go home. He transported her back to the house when they found the fire."
At 7:33 a.m., Crystal Lake police were dispatched to the residence, according to a news release from the Crystal Lake Police Department, which is now leading the investigation.
Officers saw the man lying on the floor and smoke inside, and they eventually broke open the front door but were unable to enter the home because of the excessive heat and smoke, according to the news release.
Firefighters entered and removed Mizell, the sole occupant of the home, and attempted to revive him, according to the news release, before he was transported to Centegra Hospital – Woodstock where he later was pronounced dead.
Both the sheriff's office and Crystal Lake police said Sunday afternoon that they were interviewing the man's wife to piece together what happened.
Firefighters extinguished a fire in the basement of the home. By late morning, a member of the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal had arrived to assist in the investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
"It certainly doesn't appear it occurred naturally in the home," Dziewior said.
There were few outward signs of a fire at the home, other than the front window screens taken out and the broken, open front door.
Neighbors said the couple were a blended family and had several children between them, none of whom were home at the time of the incident.
Two Crystal Lake officers and a deputy were treated for smoke inhalation and released at the scene.
The circumstances surrounding the death are being investigated by the Crystal Lake Police Department, Crystal Lake Fire Rescue, McHenry County Sheriff's Office, investigators of the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal and the McHenry County Coroner's Office.
** Available for a limited time at http://www.nwherald.com/2013/04/14/coroner-cl-man-died-of-smoke-inhalation-in-basement-fire/aw3l1hk/?page=2


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Regions Financial Corp. (RF) is offering potential suitors for its Morgan Keegan broker-dealer up to $200 million in financing, according to a Bloomberg report released Sunday. This arrangement could help the two competing private-equity group suitors to finalize their bids for the broker-dealer by the end of the month, observers say.
The estimated purchase price, Bloomberg reports, is roughly $1 billion, and Regions is proposing the $200 million in loans to cover less than half of any debt financing to make the deal happen.
"Private-equity firms want to use as little cash as possible in these arrangements," said Andy Tasnady, a financial-services compensation consultant, in an interview with AdvisorOne. "This may mean that Regions is taking on some credit risk, but it could help close a deal. Depending on the associated interest rate, it could lower the cost for a purchaser, instead of the purchaser going out and getting its own loan."
The two suitors for Morgan Keegan are the combined teams of Carlyle Group-Blackstone Group LP (BX) and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP-Aquiline Capital Partners LLC, Bloomberg says.
A spokesperson contacted by AdvisorOne declined to comment. Regions hired Goldman Sachs (GS) in June to help it explore options for the Memphis, Tenn.-based brokerage firm.
"If you're a private-equity firm, you're asking, 'I could pay cash, but why not finance the deal with low interest rates?' " said Bill McGovern (left) of the recruiting firm B-D Search in an interview. "This could make the deal sweeter and mitigate some risk or cost. Regions then could be proposing a deal that is too good to pass up."
This financing move, McGovern adds, seems to suggest that Regions is "at least facing some challenges in getting this deal done."
"We thought that [such delays and issues] were involved in the case of Securities America, and then they went away with Ladenburg Thalmann's purchase of the broker-dealer," he explained. "This one does seem like it has dragged on, but if they can resolve some issues by the end of the month, that could be good [for Regions and Morgan Keegan]."
Morgan Keegan has about 1,200 advisors. If a proposed offer comes in at about $1 billion, says Tasnady, that means each advisor has about $830,000 in yearly fees and commissions–if the brokerage firm is going for a price equal to one times total sales. If it's going for 1.5 times sales, then each advisor has about $555,000 in yearly production.
The financing offer is a smart move if Regions wants to sell at or near the end of the month, the consultant says. "This is especially true since they are familiar with [Morgan Keegan's] underlying assets, which makes the financing less risky for them; they can fast track it, get it approved quickly and allow perhaps higher leverage ratios and more favorable terms for the buyer," he said.
Overall, the $200 million "sweetner" could be helpful to Regions, as it hopes to move forward with its apparently problematic sale of Morgan Keegan, experts conclude.
"There may have been fewer bidders for this business due to its old-school [culture], the depressed/volatile market, and its recent legal issues," said Chip Roame of Tiburon Strategic Advisors in an interview. "Private equity firms can sometimes be buyers of last resort, meaning when no other firm bids up the price of the business, they calculate that they can make a profit by owning the business, possibly improving it and/or waiting for a better market, and selling it a few years later."
To put in more blunt terms, says Rick Peterson, a recruiter and head of Peterson & Associates, this is looking more and more "like a fire sale."
"This franchise keeps losing its value every day that goes by when there is no buyer," said Peterson in an interview. "It's hard for the financial advisors to do business with clients each day, and it's hard or them to stay focused without worrying about the platform, retention packs and other details. There are so many imponderables."
To Peterson, the financing offer of $200 million is Regions essentially saying, "We are past due diligence. You have seen the whites of our eyes. If you are interested, do this fast, and here's an incentive to do so."


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Brockton police seize $126,000 in 'knockoff' merchandise
4 people arrested Saturday
A Brockton woman, two Quincy men and a Braintree woman are facing charges after federal and local authorities seized more than $126,000 in counterfeit merchandise from a Belmont Street hotel, The Enterprise reported.
Brockton police made the arrests on Saturday after a months-long investigation by Brockton and Randolph detectives, Brockton's code enforcement officer and special agents from the federal Department of Homeland Security into illegal counterfeit sales at the Quality Inn at 1005 Belmont St., Route 123.
Police arrested Lisa L. Perry, 46, of Brockton; Karen Nunziato, 44, of Braintree; and Mark Fasano, 54, and Theodore Joseph Rouillard, 59, both of Quincy.
All four are charged with distributing a counterfeit mark, a felony. Fasano was released on $540 cash bail and Nunziato, Perry and Rouillard were released on $40 cash bail. All four were scheduled to be arraigned in Brockton District Court on Tuesday.
The arrests occurred about 11 a.m. Saturday, after federal agents and local detectives witnessed the suspects bringing boxes of counterfeit items from their vehicles into the Quality Inn , police said.
During the incident, police said, they cleared out the bar area at the Quality Inn, where "a couple of hundred" people were waiting to purchase the counterfeit items, which included "knock-off" Burberry, North Face and Ugg items.
Police seized more than $126,000 in counterfeit merchandise, three motor vehicles and more than $3,000 in cash. Police said the counterfeit goods were being stored in a Randolph storage facility.
Representatives from various garment and accessory manufacturers were involved in the investigation, police said.


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get off scot-free(redirected from gets off scot-free)
get off scot-free
To escape punishment for a crime or wrongdoing; to be acquitted of charges for a crime. Mark's wealthy senator uncle influenced the jury, and he ended up getting off scot-free. My younger sister caused endless trouble as a child, but because she was the baby of the house, she usually got off scot-free.


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3 Bedroom Apartment / Flat for sale in Aliens Space Station, Gachibowli, Hyderabad
Luxurious 3bhk flats for sale in gated community
tellapur road, Gachibowli, Hyderabad - 500032 (Telangana)
- Project/Society: Aliens Space Station
- Area: 1687 SqFeet
- Bedrooms: Three
- Bathrooms: Three
- Floor: Eighteenth
- Total Floors: More than 20
- Facing: East
- Furnished: Semi Furnished
- Transaction: New Property
- Price: 9,278,500
- Rate: 5,500 per SqFeet -10%
- Age Of Construction: Under Construction
- Possession: Within 2 Years
• Home Automation
• 60,000 Sq. ft Club house
• 45 Acres Natural Lake
• Double Height Car parking
• Planetarium on the 30th floor
• 1.7 Km jogging and Bicycle Track
• 34 Sky Lounges & Pocket Gardens
• Infinity Swimming pool
• Remote control electrical switches
• Security & Intercom for all flats
• CCTV & Video security system
• Bio-metric Locking system
• Video door phone
• Pre-fitted split AC units
• Modern Helipad
• Interconnected corridors
• Common Amenities
• Wi-Fi Connectivity
• Lift button in each apartment
• 24 hrs Ac Gym
• Huge library and crèche
• Modern spa and jogging track
Mini golf driving range & Skating track
When you call, don't forget to mention that you saw this ad on PropertyWala.com.
- Power Back-up
- Lifts
- Security Guards
- Electronic Security
- Intercom Facility
- Fire Alarm
- Balcony
- Private Garden
- Park Facing
- vitrified tiles
- Reserved Parking
- Visitor Parking
- Swimming Pool
- Park
- Fitness Centre / GYM
- Club / Community Center
- Maintenance Staff
- Water Supply / Storage
- RO System
- Water Softner
- Boring / Tube-well
- Rain Water Harvesting
Price Trends Gachibowli, Hyderabad
Apartments / Flats for sale in Gachibowli, Hyderabad
Locality Reviews Gachibowli, Hyderabad
Gachobowli is very nice place and its very near to all place. In Hyderabad Gachibowli is the top of the professional place.
- Nice place
Gachibowli is a major IT suburb of Hyderabad, Telangana, located in the Serilingampally mandal of the Rangareddy district. It is situated about 5 km away from HITEC City, another IT hub. Both these suburbs lie in the north-west part of Hyderabad city.
Gachibowli has grown into a software hub for companies operating from Hyderabad. A complete list of IT companies in Gachibowli could be found here.
Hospitality has been introduced in this area by Ista group of hotels and Indus Palm hotel. The region is also being developed as an international business hub, by the Real estate giant Tishman Speyer, with its signature waverock buildings. Other hotels that have come up recently in Gachibowli are Lemon Tree Hotel, Hyatt Hyderabad, The Pearl Inn, Radisson, to name just a few.[4][5]
Hospitals (24/7 Emergency)[edit]
Maxcure Hospital
Himagiri Hospitals[6]
Continental Hospitals
Rajitha Hospital
Education and research[edit]
University of Hyderabad
Indian School of Business
International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad
Nithm National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management
Indian Immunologicals Limited
Kendriya Vidyalaya
Nasr School
Gachibowli stadiums in the foreground, high rises in the background
GMC Balayogi Stadium
Gachibowli Aquatics Complex
Gachibowli Indoor Stadium
Apart from the IT industry, Gachibowli is also a sports hub. Some of the best stadiums in the city are located here including the Swarna Telangana State Sports Complex, the GMC Balayogi Stadium, the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, a hockey stadium and an aquatics complex. The Military World games, World badminton championships were conducted at Gachibowli. A golf course with natural rock formations has come up there recently. Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy is also located in Gachibowli.
Gachibowli is well connected by roads to another IT hub – HITEC city, and also to the rest of the city. TSRTC buses – No.216, No.217 connects Gachibowli to Mehdipatnam, Koti, and the major city centers. The closest MMTS train station is Lingampally railway station. The Outer-Ring Road connects Gachibowli to the International airport at Shamshabad. A metro train service is also being planned in Hyderabad, which would provide better connectivity in the city and will be another public transport.
Government of Telangana and Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC) Launched She Shuttles Bus Services in Hyderabad for women employees in the IT corridor in the Cyberabad area was launched on 29 June 2015.
- Good to Work and Live
- Bit Crowded
Gachibowli is the most happening place in Hyderabad. Asian institute of Gastro-Enterlogy, few other famous corporate hospitals are expanding their facilities in this area. Pharma giant DIVI laboratories has established its office. Meenakshi solutions, Delloitte and other software corporate offices are functional for the last few years.
Right place to stay as it is connected well with all facilities, education, health, corporate software offices, sports academy, training centers and also on the map of Hyderabad metro rail project expansion.
- Centrally Located
Gachibowli is the most valuable commercial area in the Hyderabad city.
- Its near to all kind of facilities
- Its near to go of outer ring road
- Its near to airport
- Traffic Congesation
Kollur Village is located along the Outer Ring Road. GO111 lists the villages in which organized residential and commercial development is banned by the Government of AP to protect Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar lakes
There are numerous high end villa projects quoting 200 Lakhs to 350 Lakhs. We can zoom to the location in just 10 Minutes from Wipro-Polaris-CA circle.
- outside the restricted zone of GO111
Gachibowli is a major IT suburb of Hyderabad, India. It is situated about 5 km away from HITEC City, another IT hub. Gachibowli has grown into a software hub for companies operating from Hyderabad. International banking institutions such as the Franklin Templeton Investments, Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS), Brigade Corporation andBank of America have made their home here.ICICI Bank runs its Regional Operations from here.
The area is also home to several multinational Contract Research Organizations also.
- Apart from the IT industry, Gachibowli is also a sports hub.
- A new Information Technology SEZ by DLF is also coming up in this area.
- Gachibowli is well connected by roads to another IT hub, the HITEC city, and also to the rest of the
Gachibowli is a major IT suburb of Hyderabad, India, located in the Serilingampally mandal of the Rangareddy district. It is located in the common capital area shared between the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. It is situated about 5 km away from HITEC City, another IT hub. Both these suburbs lie in the north-west part of Hyderabad city.
- Quite and Calm
Project Reviews Aliens Space Station
This is the best place to live with amazing infrastructure and amenities and this project is around complete greenery
- Lot of amenities
- Locational aspect
- View
It Feels great to be Associated with this project , which is unique in many aspects. it will be Exciting to See Once the Project to be completed in its entirely I am happy to support the management in their vision to have came up with such a project.
- Winner of two Prestigious International Property Awards 2012- 2013
- Platinum PRE-CERTIFICATION By INDIAN GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL AWARD , Green Homes PreCertified Platinu
- DID you KNOW ? The basement area of AliensSpaceStation is 1,51000Sq.ft which is Equal to 35 FIFA
- Their is No Negative Aspects
ALIENS SPACE STATION is a one of the best and awesome project which i seen other projects are completely doing with normal construction but ALIENS SPACE STATION is constructing with RCC which i never seen in INDIA i don't want to go and see the reviews i will trust my eyes what i see that is true so please dont depend on reviews you have to trust your eyes what it shows so go and see the project and say your decision so many companies they are following the ALIENS but they are failed to do it so please don't compare with the other constructions I CANT SAY MORE THEN THIS ONCE YOU CAN GO SEE THE PROJECT THEN GIVE ME THE VALUABLE REVIEW
Aliens space Station is Intelligent and High standard living Flats at very Reasonable Prices, the Flats comes with the Advanced Technology & high Security and constructed with the collaboration with international Consultants and the Project is based on the European theme. The location of the Project is in the Heart of New Hyderabad, 5 min Drive from the Financial District, wipro Circle Gachibowli - Tellapure. The Flats are fully furnished and ready to move in. They are different from other projects in Hyderabad .
- Good location
- All amenities available
Aliens Space Station builder are not compromising in quality of construction. May be this is the reason for delay. But I loved the project its simply superb. It is one of the wonderful construction in South India. We are very happy to see our home at Aliens Space Station, We like our home, Quality, Home Automation & also the technology. I am thrilled by the sky villa. Never ever saw such a beautiful piece of infrastructure. Not only this Aliens Group Pvt Ltd are transforming the whole Tellapur region. The Lake nearby adds to the beauty of the apartments. Quality construction but delay due to various reasons. If completed the project would be a jewel in the crown of Telangana. Splendid apartments the architectural features have seriously impressed me. Me and my family are totally moved by the spectacular interiors and the location is also worth investing.
- Good location
- All amenities available
Aliens Space Station is the best project to invest in. It has all the facilities in it.
- Best quality
- Good floor plans
- Developing area
Aliens Space Station where I booked a flat in 2010 January. With a bank loan of 41 lacs approved and with a down payment of 8 lacs from my end, I was given a delivery timeline of Nov 2011 initially. I also got the flat registered in 2011 basis guidance from Aliens employees. Nov 2011 passed without a call, mail, After 2012 ended, and with delivery not in sight, the regular monthly progress updates from Aliens vanished slowly. All this while I am still paying 43000 EMI per month. After a while, in-spite of making 100's of phone calls, the employees stopped picking up calls, to direct number or to land lines. Sometime in 2014, I got a surprise call and mail from Aliens they asked me to cough up 30 lacs more (51 lacs was initial flat cost, now they asked me close to 80 lacs). I don't think this group has any credibility or willingness to do a clean business. They have handed 15 flats so far, compared to 2000 promised and advertised, that too after 6 years. There is no way they intend t complete this project, so pls be cautious and don't jeopardize your hard earned money.
- Flashy presentations
- Pathetic management, no intent to build
Aliens Space Station is a project by Aliens Group which is a big cheater. Please do not fall in their trap and advise all. All owners are suffering for years. They will not hand over the flat.
- Possession is yet to be given
Aliens Space Station is not a genuine project suggestions to all prospective customers who may fall prey to Aliens group's fraud:
1.) Don't be in rush to buy after you are lured by handful of flats they could finish in 9 years rather en quire with GHMC as to when they started this project and then use your brain to extrapolate as to how many more years it will take for them to finish complete project.
2.) Visit state/national consumer forum to know yourself as to how many cases are running against them.
3.) Try to talk to as many as existing customers you could to get an idea of intensity of this scam.
4.) Visit all the bankers and not just one you decide to get loan from and get to know why most of the banks have stopped loan to Aliens
5.) Visit RC Puram police station near BHEL and check the FIR against them and the number of people in that FIR.
6.) If you have any relative or acquaintances in any media house check with him.
7.) Talk to land owners whose case is in Arbitration against Aliens.
8.) Do search with keywords like "Aliens fraud" Or "Aliens scam" etc on Google to be able to visit various pages/ blogs where harassed customers have posted their cases.
9.) Try to get contacts of ex employees of Aliens to know the real picture and the reason they left Aliens.
I don't want to enforce my views on anybody but idea is to help everyone research and find out the truth on his own.
- The project is a scam
Aliens Group has cheated 1500 customers, on the name of Aliens Space Station -1. As an owner of flat in Space Station 1, we all met Home Minister and asked to take action against this builder.
Beware of this developer and do not encourage them.
- Still not even 10% project is completed after 7 years


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It's very exciting cos I've got this HUGE Chance handkerchief vase sitting on the top of the cupboard, and I have just got to check the pattern and I hope it is worth A FORTUNE .... cos it was worth tuppence when I got it!
Felix ("Tutenkhamoon/ Creasus") Dennis is the magazine magnet, poet and wine lover btw! he is planting a 20,000 hectare Forest to be known as "the Forest of Dennis" in a secret location and has completed over half of it I believe!
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If you used the toilet today, you are luckier than 2.5 billion people worldwide. If you had a drink of clean water, you are more fortunate than 780,000,000 people on our planet, today.
March 22nd is World Water Day, and November 19th is World Toilet Day.
Take a few minutes today to think about water, please.


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HOUSTON - Houston's police chief says he has accepted a one day suspension without pay after hitting a pedestrian with his city vehicle.
The department has released video of the accident that happened on Sept. 4. The chief says the investigation has concluded, and showed what he has said from the beginning, that he was at fault. He says as a result, he's holding himself to a higher standard.
In the video, you can clearly see a man stepping off the curb and then the chief's black SUV striking him as he makes a left turn. The impact threw the man several feet and police say the victim's arm was possibly broken.
"It's very unnerving when you strike someone with a vehicle and I'm very thankful he wasn't more seriously injured," Chief McClelland said.
Addressing the media Thursday, the chief announced the investigation is complete, and as a result, he has agreed to a one day suspension without pay from Mayor Annise Parker.
"I'm saying, I'm the boss, I should take a bigger hit," said McClelland.
The chief says by accepting the suspension he's holding himself to a higher standard. He said under similar circumstances, the normal disciplinary actions for any other on-duty officer would be a written reprimand.
"I just want the public to know that as a leader of this organization, I set the tone. And many of you have heard me say, if we mess up, we clean up and we fess up," he said.
The chief says because officers are already subject to administrative procedures and the disciplinary process following traffic incidents, the department doesn't have a practice of issuing citations so he won't be cited. Still, the incident will be on his driving record.
The chief says following the investigation, he will be enrolling in defensive driving and he's also requested a special operations unit to monitor pedestrian traffic downtown during peak times to make sure they're doing everything they can to keep pedestrians safe.
The chief has up to one year to take that one day suspension. At this point, there has been no date set.


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Alex wrote:Summercase diary (the pictures are different sizes - sorry)
Fri 13th (Barcelona)
Very early start for all, bet meant we had a couple of hours spare in the afternoon to hit the beach - i missed the picture of swimming in the sea
Sound check provided a chance to look at all the other band's kit, including LCD and PJ Harvey
The festival site in Barcelona was amazing. A huge space overlooking the sea. Here is the main stage (Lily Allen was on)
Bromheads played a stormer. The tent filled up nicely as the gig went on
Post gig we explored the site and had some beers - this is Chris, Bromheads sound tech
Chris and Jono love each other really
A bit later in the evening, Lily Allen arrived, looking for Bromheads insisting she was a huge fan and loved What If's & Maybes
And then an early night, ready for...
A nice leisurely wake up and trip to the airport.
We shared a flight with Bloc Party, Guillemots, PJ Harvey, Lily Allen, The Hidden Cameras and various other bands, to which Jono took delight in making a comparison to Buddy Holly's last ever flight...
The Madrid venue was like being in the desert. 40oc = too hot.
Here was their stage / airline hanger
And this was a roadie making the most of his sleeping space under the stage
Mid-gig (during a shout to Mrs G to wish her a happy birthday)
As an aside, Chris and I were dancers for the Flaming Lips. This was amazing, expect we had to wear full santa outfits on stage for an hour, i nearly passed out
Here's an extra couple of beard shots
And finally we headed back towards our hotel at a late hour
Giles was not going to loose the glasses for anyone
SUNDAY 15th - HOME
And a finally shot for the long (and hungover) trip home
And Tim took this video which i think you should have a look at


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Google's Cloud Computing Infrastructure Lead May Be Growing
October 24, 2008
Cloud computing has become commonplace. In the last 48 hours, Amazon pumped steroids into the Amazon Web Services product line. To refresh your memory, check out this write up by Andrea James in the Seattle Tech Report here. Rumors have been flying about Microsoft's cloud ambitions. Information about "Strata" is fuzzy like a cirrus cloud, Microsoft executives have been providing forecasts of a bold new service offering. For a useful recap of this rumor, read Chris Crum's "Microsoft's Next OS a Nod to the Stratosphere" in Web Pro News here. Other vendors blasting off from mother earth to loftier realms include IBM, Intel, Rackspace, and other big name firms.
One of the most interesting documents I have read in months is a forthcoming technical paper from Microsoft's Albert Greenberg, Paranta Lahiri, David Maltz, Parveen Patel, and Sudipta Sengupta. The paper is available from the ACM as document 978-1-60558-181-1/08/08. I have a hard copy in my hand, and I can't locate a valid link to an online version. The ACM or a for fee database may help you get this document. In a nutshell, "Towards a Next Generation Data Center Architecture: Scalability and Commoditization" explains some of the technical innovations Microsoft is implementing to handle cloud-based, high-demand, high-availability applications. Some of the information in the paper surprised me. The innovations provide a good indication of the problems Microsoft faced in its older, pre-2008 data centers. It was clear to me that Microsoft is making progress, and some of the methods echo actions Google took as long ago as 1998.
What put the Amazon and Microsoft cloud innovations into sharp relief for me was US2008/0262828 "Encoding and Adaptive Scalable Accessing of Distributed Models." You can download a copy of this document from the easy-to-use USPTO system. Start here to obtain the full text and diagrams for this patent application. Keep in mind that a patent application does not mean that Google has or will implement the systems and methods disclosed. What the patent application provides is a peep hole through which we can look at some of the thinking that Google is doing with regard to a particular technical issue. The peep hole may be small, but what I saw when I read the document and reviewed the drawings last night (October 24, 2008) sparked my thinking.
Before offering my opinion, let's look at the abstract for this invention, filed in February 2006 in a provisional application. Keep in mind that we are looking in the rear view mirror here, not at where Google might be today. This historical benchmark is significant when you compare what Amazon and Microsoft are doing to deal with the cloud computing revolution that is gaining momentum. Here's Google's summary of the invention:
Systems, methods, and apparatus for accessing distributed models in automated machine processing, including using large language models in machine translation, speech recognition and other applications.
In typical Google style, there's a certain economy to the description of an invention involving such technical luminaries as Jeff Dean and 12 other Googlers. The focus of the invention is on-the-fly machine translation. However, the inventors make it clear that the precepts of this invention can be applied to other applications as well. As you may know, Google has expanded its online translation capability in the last few months. If you have not explored this service, navigate to http://translate.google.com and try out the system.
The claims for this patent document are somewhat more specific. I can't run through the 91 claims in this patent document. I can highlight one, and I will leave review of the other 90 to you. Claim 5 asserted:
The system of claim 4, wherein: the translation server comprises: a plurality of segment translation servers each operable to communicate with the translation model server, the language model servers and replica servers, each segment translation server operable to translate one segment of the source text into the target language, a translation front end to receive the source text and to divide the source text into a plurality of segments in the source language, and a load balancing module in communication with the translation front end to receive the segments of the source text and operable to distribute the segments to the segments to the segment translation servers for translation based on work load at the segment translation servers, the load balancing module further operable to direct translated segments in the target language from the segment translation servers to the translation front end.
The claim makes reasonably clear the basic nesting architecture of Google's architecture. What impressed me is that this patent document, like other recent Google applications, makes use of an infrastructure as platform. The computational and input output tasks are simply not an issue. Google pretty clearly feels it has the horsepower to handle ad hoc translation in real time without worrying about how data are shoved around within the system. As a result, higher order applications that were impossible even for certain large government agencies can be made available without much foot dragging. I find this remarkable.
This patent document, if Google is doing what the inventors appear to be saying, is significantly different from the innovations I just mentioned from such competitors as Amazon and Microsoft. Google in my opinion is making it clear that it has a multi-year lead in cloud computing.
The thoughts that I noted as I worked thorough the 38 pages of small print in this patent document were:
- Google has shifted from solving problems in distributed, massively parallel computing to developing next-generation cloud-centric applications. Machine translation in real time for a global audience for free means heavy demand. This invention essentially said to me, "No problem."
- Google's infrastructure will become more capable as Google deploys new CPUs and faster storage devices. Google, therefore, can use its commodity approach to hardware and experience significant performance gains without spending for exotic gizmos or try to hack around bottlenecks such as those identified in the Microsoft paper referenced above.
- Google can, with the deployment of software, deliver global services that other companies cannot match in terms of speed of deployment, operation, and enhancement.
I may be wrong and I often am but I think Google is not content with its present lead over its rivals. I think this patent document is an indication that Google can put its foot on the gas pedal at any time and operate in a dimension that other companies cannot. Do you agree? Disagree? Let me learn where I am off base. Your view is important because I am finishing a write up for Infonortics about Google and publishing. Help me think straight. I even invite Cyrus to chime in. The drawings in this patent application are among Google's best that I have seen.
Stephen Arnold, October 24, 2008
2 Responses to "Google's Cloud Computing Infrastructure Lead May Be Growing"
Gabriel Kent on
October 28th, 2008 2:57 pm
Agreed. I would venture to say there are many in Mountain View who have read True Names/similar stories and can readily imagine a time when computation is truly a utility.
In my opinion, _the_ utility.
Stephen E. Arnold on
October 28th, 2008 7:49 pm
Gabriel Kent,
Thanks for taking the time to post. I appreciate the link too.
Stephen Arnold, October 28, 2008


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It's time to party—and for many of us, a party means it's time for a glass (or two) of champagne. Whether you're commemorating an engagement, toasting to the New Year, hosting a birthday bash or celebrating some other joyous occasion, popping open a bottle of champagne is the way to do it. To help you celebrate, nothing spells elegance and fun like personalized champagne flutes.
The perfect vessels for your favorite bubbly, champagne flutes are elegant as well as practical. With a tall, narrow shape designed to enhance and retain that beloved carbonation, flutes help your champagne stay fresh and fizzy for maximum enjoyment during any occasion. So enjoy your bubbly in style with a customized champagne glass from Shutterfly.
Quality toasting flutes can mean the difference between a tasty, bubbly drink and a beverage that quickly fizzles out. Made of glass and measuring 9 3/8" tall by 2 1/4" wide, our top-quality champagne flutes are sold individually or in pairs to meet your needs. Each glass can hold eight ounces of your favorite variety of sparkling wine. Whether you're relaxing by yourself, saying "Cheers!" with a loved one or toasting at a party with all your friends, you can make the celebration even more fun with a personalized etching on your champagne flutes.
Choose from a variety of templates and customizable designs, from a "Mr. & Mrs." pair or monogrammed styles to commemorate your wedding, to cheerful messages and even your own designs. Personalize with your name, a meaningful date or a special quote, choosing your favorite font from a variety of options. Your personalization will be laser-etched into the glass to create the exact custom look you want.
Custom etched champagne flutes also make great gifts for any holiday or occasion. Customize a pair as a thoughtful wedding gift for the bride and groom. Personalize a flute with a friend's name to help him celebrate a big achievement, such as college graduation or a new home. Choose a glass with a festive message to give your bubbly-loving aunt for Christmas. Order a set of custom flutes as a thank you gift to your bridesmaids. The personalization options are endless with this chic and tailor-made gift that almost anyone can enjoy.
If you like to enjoy drinks other than champagne, complement your new flutes with other personalized glassware and décor from Shutterfly. Customize your own stemless wine glasses and decanters to complete your glassware set, and be sure to protect your furniture from drips and moisture with our personalized glass coasters.