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As I've been developing a few images into tone mapped images in Photomatix, some of the skies that were blue seem to be turning purple. I'm not quite sure why. I take 3 bracketed RAW images, which individually all seem to have blue skies. When combined and tone mapped in Photomatix, the skies turn quite purple to my eye. I haven't altered the temperature or gamma in Photomatix at all.
Non-tone-mapped, untouched, image on the left, Tone-mapped from 3 source RAW files, no processing done outside of Photomatix on the right:
Photomatix settings:
Second example, single file on left, tone-mapped image on right:


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John Tortorella: Canucks GM's guy or the owner's guy?
Fiery, fired Rangers bench boss poised to become new head coach in Vancouver
The Sun's Iain MacIntyre on the prospective hiring of John Tortorella as the next Vancouver Canucks head coach.
VANCOUVER — Freaky Friday was the day Alain Vigneault went to New York and John Tortorella came to Vancouver. But only one of them was officially introduced as a head coach.
The notoriously fiery Tortorella, fired three weeks ago by the New York Rangers and replaced by the ex-Canuck Vigneault, flew to Vancouver Friday afternoon to meet a third time with management and ownership and likely finalize a deal to become head coach here.
National Hockey League teams don't generally interview someone three times for one job. A third visit is usually to negotiate a contract. Tortorella travelled to Vancouver on a connecting commercial flight from Denver and, remarkably, other passengers noticed him.
Reporters staked out YVR for Tortorella's arrival but Canuck staff whisked the team's next coach through a secondary door at the arrivals' level and into a waiting SUV.
Tortorella answered no questions and there was no official announcement from the Canucks.
General manager Mike Gillis, speaking about 90 minutes later on Team 1040 radio, said only: "We're trying to finish off the process of selecting the next head coach. It's ongoing as we speak and hopefully it will be over shortly."
Gillis said "I can't say at this point" if it will be Tortorella.
There had been an increasing buzz around the NHL this week that Tortorella was the Canucks' guy. But an uncomfortable question arose: Is Tortorella the GM's guy or owner Francesco Aquilini's guy?
Aquilini, whose family's investment in the Canucks is every bit as emotional as financial — and they have a tonne of money at stake, has been highly involved in interviewing coaching candidates. One source indicated it was an extremely unusual process, with the managing owner and other Aquilini family members fully participating with Gillis in interviews, rather than allowing hockey operations to sort through candidates before presenting finalists — or the winner — for the boss's approval.
On the surface, there's nothing wrong with ownership's involvement, as long as Aquilini allows Gillis to make the key hockey decisions.
But an owner hiring a coach can quickly lead to dysfunction within an organization as the coach, understandably, may eventually regard the general manager as little more than an employee and will cater instead to the owner's wishes.
The Canucks had a glimpse of this chaotic theatre in the late 1990s when previous owner John McCaw fired general manager Pat Quinn, then hired coach Mike Keenan, who was found to be unmanageable by subsequent GM Brian Burke.
Fortunately, the Canucks have no such void in management this time, but Gillis will have to explain that Tortorella was not foisted upon him by the owner and why he is the general manager's first choice. Los Angeles Kings assistant coach John Stevens is the other Canuck finalist — and one apparently without a chair now that the coaching music has stopped and the Rangers have Vigneault, the Dallas Stars have Lindy Ruff, the Edmonton Oilers Dallas Eakins and the Phoenix Coyotes re-signed Dave Tippett.
Given Gillis's stated desire for a coach who favours offensive hockey and one who will be patient and positive enough to integrate young players and allow them to grow, the blunt, abrasive Tortorella seems far from ideal.
But he won a Stanley Cup nine years ago with the Tampa Bay Lightning, helped rebuild the Rangers and is a master button-pusher who will shake any complacency from a stale, veteran Canucks team.
The press scrums with Tortorella are can't-miss viewing, but will the Canucks be as entertaining and successful under him as they were under Vigneault?
Across the continent Friday, Ranger general manager Glen Sather reiterated that the Rangers' years-long scoring problems were a key factor in firing Tortorella.
"There's a lot of great things that I like about John (but) I think we needed to make some changes just to get our offence moving a little more," Sather told reporters in New York during the televised press conference introducing Vigneault. "We had a lot of discussions over the years about that, and the conclusion that I made in the end is that it was time to make a change. We've done that."
During Tortorella's four full seasons in Manhattan, the Rangers ranked 11-16th in scoring and 13th-23rd on the power play. They became known for their defensive play and the coach's deployment of six puck-stoppers: goalie Henrik Lundqvist and five skaters who collapsed around the net and clogged shooting and passing lanes.
Several questions to Vigneault from New York reporters were about changing the Rangers' style of play and boosting the offence.
Before this season, the Canucks were among the NHL's highest-scoring teams four straight years and twice led the league in goals.
In a post-press conference phone interview Friday, Vigneault said that among his many achievements in Vancouver he was most proud of the development of players like Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows, Kevin Bieksa, Cory Schneider, Alex Edler and Jannik Hansen.
"I like to think I helped all those guys; we all grew together, professionally," Vigneault told The Vancouver Sun. "But seeing those guys become fathers and grow into real classy gentlemen, that was important to me. We came within one game of winning the Stanley Cup (in 2011). I really appreciated those guys, really loved them. I wish them nothing but the best, except against the Rangers."
Vigneault also said he appreciated what Gillis and his assistants, Laurence Gilman and Lorne Henning, did for him and thanked Aquilini for his support of the team.
"There are only 30 of these jobs and I've been able to coach in three of the best places in the NHL," Vigneault, whose NHL head coaching career began with the Montreal Canadiens, continued. "I understand how lucky I am. I was a better coach in Vancouver than I was in Montreal due to the experience I got in Montreal. And there's no doubt in my mind that I'll be a better coach in the New York with the Rangers because of the experience I got in Vancouver.
"I had seven great years in Vancouver and I'm going to remember that time for the rest of my life."
But it now appears to be John Tortorella's time in Vancouver. For better or worse.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Coin Case is an item found in the Kanto region games and it was introduced in Generation I. Since then, it has been featured as an obtainable item in every single region and Pokémon game until Pokémon Black and White. This item can hold up to 9999 coins so the player can buy various items and Pokémon in the Game Corner shops.
The Coin Case is given to the player for use in the Game Corner, and in the first three Generations is capable of holding approximately 9,999 coins received from the Game Corner. However, this value was upgraded as of the fourth Generation to that of 50,000 coins. Coins are gifted to the player in a variety of ways, the most notably being the playing of slot machines at the Game Corner. The second way to obtain said coins would be to purchase them from the counter at the Game Corner, in order to activate the machines. When selected in the Bag, the Coin Case will tell the player how many coins they have left.
- RBG - The Coin Case is given to the player from a man in the bar at Celadon City. It is the same for the remakes, Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.
- GSC - The Coin Case is acquired in these games from the underground section of Goldenrod City for Japanese players. However, for international versions of the game, the player will receive the Coin Case from Mr. Game at the Game Corner. It is the same for the remakes, Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.
- RSE - The Coin Case is obtained here by giving a Harbor Mail to a woman in Mauville City, who will reward your generosity with the coveted Coin Case.
- DPPt - The Coin Case is obtained from a clown living in Veilstone City.
- BW - The Coin Case key item and the Game Corner concept are entirely absent from these games, and are hence unavailable to receive.
There are also a multitude of glitches pertaining to the Coin Case in Generation II games. This involves the player hearing a Pokémon's cry, and then immediately opening the Coin Case, which can result in the game freezing or the activation of a glitch zone.


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NEW YORK — News that Bank of America Corp. needs another government cash infusion sent stocks sliding Thursday as investors feared that the banking crisis of last fall may have returned.
Investors dumped bank stocks, which led the market lower. The major stock indexes fell more than 2 percent, including the Dow Jones industrial average, which lost 200 points and fell below 8,000 for the first time since Nov. 21. The Dow was down for the seventh straight session.
In mIn midday trading, the Dow fell 203.42, 2.48 percent, to 7,996.72.
U.S. & World
The federal government is considering a fresh multibillion-dollar aid package for Bank of America to help it absorb losses at Merrill Lynch, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussions. The person said the new aid package could be modeled along the lines of the financial lifeline that was thrown to Citigroup Inc. in November.
Other media organizations have had similar reports of a potential aid package for the company.
The news, which comes amid expectations that Citigroup will be announcing a further streamlining because of its ongoing problems, has Wall Street worried that banks that received billions of dollars in government bailout money are still having trouble and will need more help.
"People seem to be fearing the financials again, fearing that they are going to need more funding," said Uri Landesman, head of global growth strategies at ING Investment Management.
JPMorgan fell 29 cents, or 1 percent, to $25.62 after its report, which was tempered by a discouraging outlook. The huge banking company managed to avoid a loss, reporting earnings of $702 million in the October-December quarter. Analysts had predicted the company would break even.
Still, Chief Executive Jamie Dimon called the quarter "very disappointing." The bank said it increased its reserves to cover potential loan losses by $4.1 billion. Increased losses from bad loans are likely if the economy deteriorates, which is a "distinct possibility," Dimon said.
JPMorgan is the first big U.S. bank to release fourth-quarter earnings, and analysts and investors are looking at it for signs of how the rest of the industry may be faring. The bank, which bought failing Bear Stearns Cos. and Washington Mutual Inc. last year, is viewed as one of the stronger players in the industry, so results from other big banks could prove worse.
Richard Sparks, senior equities analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research, said investors are alarmed by the troubles still facing banks.
"The whole concern that we've had all along had been whether the steps taken by the government would be enough or would be effective, and I think that now is becoming a widespread worry on the Street," he said.
"If they pulled out all the stops, is there a way to save them?" Sparks said, referring to the government.
Wall Street is concerned about the financial industry but is also looking at other parts of the economy.
Investors are awaiting quarterly results due after the closing bell Thursday from Intel Corp. The world's largest maker of computer chips has already warned investors that its fourth-quarter revenue will fall short of its initial estimates. The market is hoping to gain some sense of the company's outlook for the current year. Intel fell 30 cents, or 2.3 percent, to $12.78.
Apple Inc. fell $4.16, or 4.9 percent, to $81.17 after the company said after the end of trading Wednesday that Chief Executive Steve Jobs would go on medical leave until June. The announcement came a week after the Apple co-founder insisted he would stay with the company.


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Natalia Himmirska
Office/Department: Technology, Art & Design
Location: Bridgeman Hall 235
Phone: (218) 755-3740
Box #: 34
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Natalia Himmirska was born and raised in Moscow and graduated with an MFA from Fine Art Faculty of the Moscow Technology Institute. Since then, she has taught in universities in Bulgaria and the United States while working on her own art, primarily in painting and printmaking.
In the U.S., Himmirska furthered her studies at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C., and Maryland Institute College of Art.
Himmirska has artworks in the permanent collections of national institutions such as the National Gallery of Art in Bulgaria, Library of Congress Photographs and Prints Collection U.S.; Stichting International Museum Voor Exlibris en Kleingrafiek, Netherlands; The Central House of the Creative Artists, Russia; Seoul University of Technology Prints Collection in South Korea, among others.
Her work has been exhibited in private galleries in many European nations and in the United States and in one-person shows in such capital cities as Moscow, Sofia, Washington and Jakarta. She was awarded membership in both the Soviet, Russian and Bulgarian Artist Unions. She is a member of the Mid America Print Council.
Himmirska was the 1991 winner of the Varna International Print Biennial in Varna, Bulgaria, and has enjoyed residencies in Russia, Macedonia, Bulgaria and the United States.
As an educator, Himmirska developed the initial art curriculum at the American College of Sofia in Bulgaria and has taught at American University in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, Mitchell College, in New London, Connecticut, and Bemidji State University in Minnesota. She has lectured on Orthodox iconography at several East Coast colleges and universities. She is currently teaching painting all levels, foundations of drawing, and color theory at BSU.


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BloodRayne: Betrayal coming in August
BloodRayne: Betrayal is coming in early August for $15, according to a Majesco rep.
BloodRayne: Betrayal, the downloadable hack-and-slash based on the vampire series, is coming to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in early August, reports Joystiq. A Majesco rep apparently stated the launch window, along with a price of $15 (1200 MSP).
Though BloodRayne titles haven't enjoyed a sterling reputation, you may want to pay attention to this one. It's being developed by WayForward Technologies, the studio behind retro-inspired cult hits like Shantae: Risky's Revenge, Contra 4, and A Boy and His Blob.
The developer has gotten attention for its side-scrolling chops, and this game is letting them explore more violent themes. And by "violent," we mean, "does a body even have that much blood?"
Steve Watts posted a new article, BloodRayne: Betrayal coming in August.
BloodRayne: Betrayal is coming in early August for $15, according to a Majesco rep.


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Here's what's up in the world of TV for Monday, July 9. All times are Eastern.
Perception (TNT, 10 p.m.): In the world of TV, there's no mental health issue so debilitating that it can't help someone become an awesome crime solver. Meet Dr. Daniel Pierce, whose schizophrenia allows him to see the things others can't see and whose special gifts and insights into psychological conditions (gifts and insights spurred by his own condition, of course) allow him to assist the FBI—including an agent who used to be his student, played by American hero Rachael Leigh Cook. This sounds like the sort of thing that happens all the time out in the real world! We'll have a review this afternoon to let you know which Beautiful Mind tropes it leaves undisturbed.
Bunheads (ABC Family, 9 p.m.): Michelle's trying to get some space from Fanny. And we can understand that and all, but Fanny's goin' through some stuff, Michelle. The least you can do is let her take over your life and walk all over you. It's what we do in the Midwest! Erik Adams has no will of his own!
MasterChef (Fox, 9 p.m.): Gordon Ramsay and his cohorts think it's high time they force the contestants to prepare a dish prominently featuring sea urchin. This is another one of those things we frequently force casual acquaintances to do in the Midwest. Phil Dyess-Nugent has so many urchin casseroles.
Lost Girl (Syfy, 10 p.m.): Bo and Dyson look for an artifact to release Lauren from her lifetime of service to the Fae. Which, sure, that seems like the sort of thing that might endear Lauren to Bo, but then it'll be, "What have you done for me lately?" and Kevin McFarland will have to patch it over with gifts.
Teen Wolf (MTV, 10 p.m.): Derek has a crisis of faith in his leadership as the new alpha, which is the sort of adolescent experience that almost anyone should be able to understand. Why, Phil Dyess-Nugent remembers that summer when he went to work as the leader of that werewolf pack. Memories!
The West Wing (11 a.m.): It's time for America to choose whether it's going to re-elect Jed Bartlet. We'd mark the fact that America does, indeed, choose to re-elect him with a spoiler alert, but, c'mon. It's been 10 years, and there's no show if he's not re-elected. Steve Heisler saw that one coming!
Strangers With Candy (3 p.m.): Jerri and the gang deal with racism this week, as the school is held in the deadly thrall of someone who spray-painted a racist slur on the wall. Meredith Blake has never spray-painted a racist slur on anyone's wall, but she has spray-painted a picture of Dagwood from Blondie.
Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern (Travel Channel, 8 p.m.): Well, well. Mr. Zimmern has endured 100 episodes of eating bizarre foods, which makes him both eligible for a special cake from Travel Channel and for being enlisted into our 100 Episodes feature. Godspeed, Mr. Zimmern! Eat weird stuff!
The Closer (TNT, 9 p.m.): Meanwhile, TNT's signature drama hit enters its final string of episodes with cases that will presumably test main character Brenda in ways she's never been tested before. The show ends in just six weeks, so you should pay your respects to Kyra Sedgwick's overacting while you can.
Hard Times: Lost On Long Island (HBO, 9 p.m.): HBO's summer documentary series tackles the problems of long-term unemployment in this film that follows various people as they look for work and hope in the latter half of 2010. In other words, if you need a day brightener, you're turning here.
Opening Act (E!, 10 p.m.): Producers cull various amateur acts by watching them on YouTube, then invite them to be the opening acts for a variety of legitimate stars. What they don't realize is that most people don't watch the opening acts and are just going to talk over their performances anyway.
The Adventures Of Robin Hood (TCM, 8 p.m.): If you want to know why film fans love Errol Flynn so much, there are far worse things to watch than this swashbuckler, in which he plays the leader of the Merry Men of Sherwood Forest. Full of action, adventure, and romance, this is a whole ton of fun.
You Only Live Twice (Encore, 8 p.m.): Or you could watch as James Bond heads to Japan to do his usual James Bondian things. It's not the greatest of the super-spy's adventures, but it features some great moments and a kick-ass title song, which added tons to the most recent season finale of Mad Men.
Home Run Derby (ESPN, 8 p.m.): Tonight and Wednesday night are the deadest nights of the year, as far as sports go, but you can always watch baseball's top sluggers duke it out in an attempt to see who can hit the most pitches out of the park. We'll be holding our own "Frontline Review Derby." Join us!
Episodes (Sunday): David Sims is back, picking up the pieces of this British-American co-production about all the wacky things that happen when people try to make something good in Hollywood and instead end up making something mediocre. That's what the show's about and the show itself. Neat!


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An ongoing debate over how state government should assist the Chicago-area's financially strapped mass-transit system focuses mostly on northeastern Illinois, but downstate transportation systems also could benefit by reaping millions of dollars more. -- With chart at the end of the story.
An ongoing debate over how state government should assist the Chicago-area's financially strapped mass-transit system focuses mostly on northeastern Illinois, but downstate transportation systems also could benefit by reaping millions of dollars more. First, though, lawmakers must manage to agree on a transit-assistance plan. It's among the issues likely to be discussed when the General Assembly returns to Springfield for the fall "veto session" scheduled for Tuesday through Thursday and Oct. 10 to 12. "I think that the (Chicago Transit Authority) is in such a position that they've got to come up with something, or else you're going to cut back on the service," said Sen. Dale Risinger, R-Peoria. "And if you cut back on the service, you're going to have a lot of people that can't get to work." Such a scenario would create "a pretty major crisis in the city," he said. In early September, the Illinois House of Representatives voted on legislation to provide more than $400 million for Chicago, suburban and downstate transit systems. The funding sources would have been higher sales taxes in Cook and the collar counties of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will, as well as a higher real-estate transfer tax in Chicago. The legislation, Senate Bill 572, garnered 61 "yes" votes in the House, but it needed 71 to pass. Supporters of the bill, which also included about $27 million for downstate transit systems, said they weren't giving up. One part of the bill calls for ensuring that current participants in the Downstate Operating Assistance Program -- which includes transit systems in places such as Springfield, Rockford and Peoria -- receive state reimbursement for 55 percent of their "eligible operating expenses." That would carry a price tag of about $84.5 million, or about $5 million more than called for in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's budget for the 2008 fiscal year, according to the Illinois Public Transportation Association, which supports increased funding for the downstate transportation systems. Another component of the measure would boost the reimbursement levels to 65 percent in the 2009 fiscal year. Doing that would cost about $105.8 million, the IPTA says. A similar piece of legislation awaits action in the Illinois Senate but hasn't come up for a floor vote. Linda Tisdale, managing director of the Springfield Mass Transit District, said that extra state funds would help the SMTD wipe out a budget deficit and buy more equipment, leading to expanded services. As of January, 60 percent of the SMTD's bus fleet -- about 32 buses -- will be eligible for replacement because of their age, Tisdale said. The average life of one of the vehicles is 12 years, she said. The district has ordered four buses but cannot afford any more at present. Tisdale said that while the SMTD supports meeting the needs of Chicago-area mass transit, "We have a need, too, and we would like to see some of the assistance come downstate." "We're all under the gun. We all need vehicles," Tisdale said, noting that operating expenses, especially the cost of fuel, keep rising. Linda Podeschi, executive director of the Illinois Public Transportation Association, said even if the House bill or a similar measure eventually becomes law and sends extra money to downstate transportation systems, that won't be a cure-all. She said that small urban and rural transportation systems estimate it would cost more than $300 million to fill their capital needs -- buses, buildings and the like -- through 2009. Any Chicago-area transit bailout that lawmakers might OK also will have to address some of downstate Illinois' transportation needs, said Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete. "If we're going to have a mass-transit or some sort of transit bill, it cannot be geared to only one part of the state," she said. "It has to be beneficial for everybody." Adriana Colindres can be reached at 217-782-6292 or firstname.lastname@example.com. CHART Here are some examples of the increased state funding that could go toward downstate transit needs if lawmakers agree on legislation that also would bail out the Chicago-area's mass-transit system. The percentages refer to the rate of reimbursement. For instance, legislation proposes that state government reimburse transit districts at a rate of 65 percent of eligible operating expenses, up from the present level of 55 percent. Community/ FY2008 Governor's Proposed Budget/ At 55 percent / At 65 percent Greater Peoria/ $9,227,500 / $9,666,910 / $11,424,530 Rockford / $6,553,800 / $6,865,870 / $8,114,210 Springfield / $6,069,900 / $6,676,890 / $7,890,870 Bloomington-Normal / $3,404,600 / $3,745,005 / $4,425,915 Pekin / $447,500 / $492,250 / $581,750 Galesburg / $677,700 / $745,470 / $881,010 Macomb / $877,300 / $877,350 / $1,036,868 SOURCE: Illinois Public Transportation Association.


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Vision Correction Breakthrough Surgery
INTACS for Keratoconus
High Astigmatism Conquered
Dry Eye Innovation
Alaska to Jacksonville
Restoring 20/20
Breakthrough in CATARACT Surgery
To Perfection
Raising eye surgery to an ART with innovative techniques and cutting edge technologies.
Patients from all over the world seek Dr. Gulani's expertise, and share their life-changing GulaniVision experience.
Not only is Dr. Gulani the eye surgeon of choice for doctors, but a teacher and consultant to eye doctors themselves.
The life-changing vision outcomes combined with Dr. Gulani's personalized care, is described by patients worldwide as the Gulani Difference.
Selflessly sharing Dr. Gulani's innovative techniques, inventions, and futuristic concepts with eye surgeons worldwide.
Intensely focused on helping people see, and yet compassionately rejoicing with everyday people.
It is my pleasure to welcome you to our institute and we appreciate the trust you have placed in us for your vision needs.
I consider it my distinguished privilege to serve your vision needs and it is my dedicated passion to work hard for each and every patient combining technology with individualized plans to customize vision to the best of my ability.
We are humbled by the superlatives that fellow physicians, patients and media have bestowed upon us but at no point do I want that to be a presumption of superior skills or guarantees for outcomes. No surgery is perfect and every surgery can have side effects and complications.
It is an honor for us that our patients feel equally passionate about their vision results and experience here at our institute that they write testimonials and spread the word worldwide. None of them are paid or incentivized to do so.
We are not interested in luring any patient, hurtling them around and then placing them on a conveyer belt of surgery for financial incentives.
It is my dedicated philosophy to not operate on any patient until all of their questions are fully answered. Herewith I meet and see you myself during your consultation, check all of your measurements and after performing your surgery, follow up and continues to see you personally. And of course, you have my personal cell phone number forever.
Given the pride we carry in our work and personal touch, we want to always make sure that no patient is ever misled either in cost or expectations.
I encourage you to call me anytime or email me with as many questions you may have and only after you are completely comfortable with the plan and prognosis, should you proceed.
The above information is to summarize your expected experience when you visit us as well as to assure you regarding our intentions and welcome you to the Gulani Vision Family! Thank you.


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Is there a tool available for Linux systems that can measure the "quality" of entropy on the system?
I know how to count the entropy:
cat /proc/sys/kernel/random/entropy_avail
And I know that some systems have "good" sources of entropy (hardware entropy keys), and some don't (virtual machines).
But is there a tool that can provide a metric as to the "quality" of the entropy on the system?


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Mathematical Statistics
Welcome to the course website!
All courses at KTH are not using the course web in full. The course web is however always open to students. Students can provide input into the course wiki (eg lecture notes and tips on useful readings), ask questions and discuss the course with other students. There is a moderator function that captures unanswered questions to the public agency KTH and sends them on to the proper authorities. You can find information about the course schedule aswell on the course web. More information about the course web.
- Stefan Eriksson Examiner, Course responsible
New event
Fri 21 aug 08:00-12:00 Omtenta Location: Distans
No activity in the past month. Go to News feed to see older activity


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T.D. Jakes Talks Strategy for Church Building at Md. Conference
Bishop T.D. Jakes addressed thousands of church leaders at the First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Upper Marlboro Saturday, talking strategies for building the Church.
During the leadership conference Jakes told a conference of over 2,000 leaders that it will take more than theology and speaking skills to lead today's congregation.
"It is not enough to have a vision, you need a strategy, structure and servitude," Jakes told the ministers.
The First Baptist Church of Glenarden and Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church have sponsored a New Year's revival featuring Jakes and other prominent speakers and gospel recording artists for many years, according to the Washington Post. This year, however, Jakes delivered a message of tough love to pastors. He said that if leaders stopped babysitting and started leading, they could triple their congregations.
"So you made it to 2012? That's nice. What are you going to do with it?" Jakes asked. "Champions critique themselves and work on their strategy to get better."
He also called for members of the congregation, who were younger than 40, to reach more people for the cause of Christ, using social media that their parents didn't have.
Rev. John K. Jenkins, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Glenarden agreed with Jakes, according to the Washington Post.
He said he feels like the upcoming generation has connections that his and Jakes' did not.
"In order for things to work effectively, we have to work together through mentoring, developing, encouraging and modeling; it is all important," Jenkins said.
Bishop Alfred Ownens, from the Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church enjoyed Jakes' message, saying that strategies show you the best that you can become.
Bishop Ronald A. Frazier, pastor of the Christ Church Way of the Cross Church of Christ Inc., was also in attendance. He said that it was good for ministers to evaluate where they are in their ministry.
"God has to speak to you as a leader so you can know where to take your ministry," Frazier said. "I like when Jakes said when I preach I am not in competition with other ministries, but with the voice that's in me."


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Mossberg's Mailbox
Moving Music to a BlackBerry
Here are a few questions I've received recently from people like you, and my answers. I have edited and restated the questions a bit, for readability.
My IT department will not turn on the feature in our servers that would allow me to receive corporate email on my iPhone. This has forced me to revert back to my BlackBerry Pearl. Can I transfer my iTunes music to my Pearl?
It depends on what you mean by "iTunes music." If you mean music you bought from the iTunes store in protected format — which describes most of the store's catalog — the Pearl can't play it, unless you go through a laborious multistep process to convert it to unprotected files. If you mean unprotected music that is managed by the iTunes program on your PC, the Pearl can handle it as long as it is in open formats supported by the Pearl, including the MP3 or open AAC formats.
To get these files into your Pearl, simply use the music-transfer software that came with the Pearl to copy the songs from your computer's hard disk to either the Pearl's internal memory or to a flash memory card you may have in your Pearl.
I recently purchased a new iMac with the Leopard operating system, and have installed Windows Vista on it as well, using Leopard's Boot Camp feature, so the Mac can boot into either OS. I would like both of those operating systems to share an external hard drive so I can back up my files. Is it possible to do that?
Yes, provided you follow one of two scenarios. The first would be to format the external drive as a Windows drive, but be careful to use the Windows format called "FAT32," not the one called NTFS. Out of the box, Macs can see all Windows drives and can read from them all. But they can only save files to Windows drives that use the FAT32 system for organizing files. The downside of this is that the FAT32 system only allows files of up to 4 gigabytes each.
The other scenario would be to use a Mac-formatted external drive, which doesn't have that limitation. Of course the Mac operating system can handle such drives perfectly, but Windows can't even see them. However, in your Vista setup, you can install a third-party Windows program called MacDrive 7, which allows Windows to both read from, and write to, Mac-formatted drives. I have tested it successfully with Vista under Boot Camp on an iMac. The $50 program can be downloaded from mediafour.com.
The hard disk on my new Sony VAIO laptop is filling up fast. It is trying to get me to watch a lot of movie trailers. Is all that video stored in my machine somewhere and if so can I dump some of it out?
If your Sony laptop is like mine, not only are the unwanted movie trailers pre-loaded on your hard disk, but so are the entire movies, which Sony actually charges you to watch. In my case, these files took up over 4 gigabytes of precious disk space. This is a particularly outrageous example of what I call "craplets," unwanted trial software that litters new Windows desktops. You can delete these files and reclaim all that disk space without any harm to your computer.
You can find Mossberg's Mailbox, and my other columns, online free at the new All Things Digital Web site, http://walt.allthingsd.com.


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Diane and Daryl Johnston Announced as Honorary Chairs for
2012 Texas Trailblazer Awards Luncheon benefiting The Family Place
Nominations will be taken until June 12 for The Texas Trailblazer Award, Man of Influence Award and the Real-Life Hero Award
Don McPherson, former professional football player and activist working to stop violence against women is featured speaker
Texas Trailblazer Awards luncheon co-chairs, Anh and Dr. Loc Trieu, along with Amanda and Lloyd Ward, could not have asked for a more perfect evening to kick off announcements for the luncheon, benefiting The Family Place.
The Omni Dallas Hotel's Owner's Box restaurant and sports bar opened its doors to the patio, welcoming a cool, light breeze. That space was the first to fill in with The Family Place supporters and committee, such as Diane and Daryl Johnston, who were announced as honorary chairs; Maggie Kipp, president of the Partner's auxiliary; Hadley Galt and Honey Rothermal, last year's luncheon co-chairs; Carolyn Strickfaden, Stephanie and Travis Hollman, Keenan Delaney, JB Hayes and more.
Paige Flink, Executive Director, The Family Place, took the stage, thanking the Owner's Box for donating the delicious buffets. She welcomed everyone with sincere thanks for their support, relating The Family Place had welcomed in two families just that evening and continues to serve so many more.
Lloyd Ward emphasized this luncheon also sends a message to men, announcing Don McPherson, former professional football player and activist working to stop violence against women, as the luncheon's featured speaker. For more than 20 years, Don McPherson has used the power and appeal of sport to address complex social issues. McPherson has paralleled a highly decorated football career with cutting-edge work on vital and contemporary issues that impact the lives of every American. With testimony before the US Congress, appearances on national news, the Oprah Winfrey show and lectures across North America, McPherson has reached more than 1 million people.
Slated for Wednesday, September 19, the luncheon takes place at the Omni Dallas Hotel at 11:30 a.m. Underwriters and sponsors will be invited to a VIP reception prior to the luncheon.
The Texas Trailblazer Awards Luncheon is generally comprised of corporate sponsors, philanthropists, media, table hosts and accomplished men and women in the North Texas community. The event raises funds to support the comprehensive programs of The Family Place and ensure that life-saving services will be available to women victims and their innocent children for years to come.
Awards given at the luncheon are:
The Family Place Texas Trailblazer Award recognizes a local woman who has achieved significant success despite the obstacles she has faced along the way. She is a woman who has accomplished a "first" and opened the doors of opportunity for other women. She has made significant contributions either in her community, business or profession. No matter what her accomplishments, however, she is a woman who has blazed a trail for others to follow.
The Family Place Man of Influence Award recognizes a North Texan who is leading by example to make domestic violence a "community issue" rather than a "women's issue." Through his lifestyle, he is setting a standard of compassion, support and commitment that promotes healthy relationships.
The Family Place Real-Life Hero Award recognizes a man or woman who contributes to the quality of life in our community without reward or recognition. This individual embodies a positive spirit, and works tirelessly and humbly to help others. He or she demonstrates initiative and goes above and beyond the call of duty to make North Texas a better place.
The Family Place Youth Service Award and Scholarship recognizes students who are outstanding leaders in their high school communities. They have participated in The Family Place Students Be Project Program for a minimum of one year, acting as mentors to educate their peers about healthy relationships in an effort to prevent teen dating violence and sexual assault.
The Family Place Advocacy Award recognizes an organization that has played a vital role in furthering the mission of The Family Place to stop the suffering of women and children victims of family violence in North Texas. By providing generous financial and volunteer support and promoting awareness with employees, associates and peers, the Advocacy Award recipient is a strong voice speaking out for victims of family violence to improve our community's response to their critical needs.
Nominations will be taken until June 12 for The Texas Trailblazer Award, Man of Influence Award and the Real-Life Hero Award. Visit the web site to download a nomination form: www.familyplace.org
Tickets for the luncheon begin at $125 each. Underwriting begins at $1,500. Visit the web site for details: http://familyplace.org/
About The Family Place: It is the largest family violence service provider in the Dallas area. The Family Place reaches out to thousands of victims of family violence each year with award-winning programs that have kept women and children safe for 34 years through intervention, emergency shelter and crisis counseling services.
The Family Place Contact: Tess Nordick, Assistant Development Director. Direct Line: 214-443-7766.


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Dance with the Music of Rajasthan
The vibrancy of Rajasthan is never completely discovered until you engulf yourself in the music and dance of it.
Hot Tour Packages – Heritage Tour with Heritage Hospitality Patronized by erstwhile royalty, the music and dance of Rajasthan follows a legacy that dates back to several centuries. The rich folklore and culture has added some more sparkles to its glory making Rajasthani dance and music a treasured jewel in Indian culture. The tradition of court dances and music performance still can be seen today in the cultural mights making the grandeur of bygone Rajput era alive infront of you. Enjoy a dance performance and we can say for sure that you can't help yourself from shaking your body in the hypnotizing melody and beat.
Swinging With the Beat
Be it the mesmerizing melody of Sarangi or Shahnai or the cymbal like sound of 'manjeera' or the foot tapping beats of 'khartal' or 'dhol', when they embrace each other on the occasion of a lively dance performance, a magical ambience is created in the golden beauty of Rajasthan. The grace and beauty of the 'ghoomar', 'gair' and 'sapera ' are increased many fold with the enchanting music and song performance by the professional and folk artists. The folk songs narrate the rich folklore and imperial heritage of the state that has been captivating the entire world for many centuries. Tourists coming to Rajasthan make it a point to attend at least one dance performance while exploring the heavenly beauty of the deserts and thus collecting an unforgettable experience for the entire life.
Mind blowing Skills of Dancers that Tempt
Extraordinary skill of the Rajasthani dancers may take you aback with their sheer perfection and excellence. Extraordinary performance of fire dancers may take your breath away when they dance on the bed of flaming coals swaying their body at drum beats. You will not find any blister in their feet and this shows the immense talent and perseverance they have for the sake of art. Another immensely popular dance 'Bhavai' is also well known for the unusual skill of balance when the veiled woman dancer moves at the beats with seven to nine brass pitchers over their head and standing gracefully on the edge of glass or open sword. There are some other folk dances of Rajasthan like Terah Thali and Ghumar which take the excellence of artistry to a new level of height.
Decorating the Dancing Ambience
An inevitable part of Rajasthani culture that make the colourful dance even more graceful is its spectacular attire and dazzling ornaments. Women dressed in heavily embroidered long flowing skirt with multi coloured dupatta and beautiful necklace and bangles when revolves on her heel while performing 'Sapera', the amazed spectators even forget to blink or breathe. Heavy jewellery adorned with precious and semi precious stones add a new dimension to the beauty of the dancing grace. The men are dressed in heavily frilled and embroidered 'kurtas' or jackets. Men wearing royal sherwanis touching knees are often seen in the Rajasthani festivals that still carry the royal heritage of the state. But the dressing of men is not complete unless they wear the special Rajasthani turban bright with the colour of honour and dignity. The accessories including the ambience of the dance performance make the cheerful enjoyment even more joyous with the overwhelming participation by the viewers.


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FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 3, 2012 - The Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] F-35 Lightning II program surpassed 5,000 flight hours last month. This milestone was reached by the combined F-35 System Development and Demonstration (SDD) aircraft flying at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., and the training aircraft flying at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. All three variants, the F-35A Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL), the Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing (STOVL) and Carrier Variant (CV), participated in achievement of this goal. Since the program's first flight in December 2006, F-35s have flown 3,464 times. This total includes 91 flights from the original test aircraft, AA-1; 2,510 SDD test flights; and 863 production-model flights. For video highlights of the F-35 program, click here.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 120,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation's net sales for 2011 were $46.5 billion.


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Good afternoon lovelies! I have a bunch of new fabulous things to show you today. First I'm going to start off by saying I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday! This lovely new skin is a new release from Al Vulo! This is just one of the 3 tones available for the Holiday collection. I added some lips and gorgeous eyeshadow layers from Pink Acid to spice it up a bit! This look is definitely on fire!
This new mesh hair from CaTwA called Bella2 is one of my favorite new releases! It's got a natural flowey look to it and I just adore it. Oh and there are two other previous new Mesh releases on Marketplace called Jessica and Katniss V2 for only 99L! So while you're grabbing this hair don't forget to check out those two promos =D. This promo is only on Marketplace.
And wow this new sweater dress from Cynful is super sexy but still warm! It is Mesh so it comes with several sizes for you to try and also comes in a busty version in case you wanna show off those luscious curves.
And my favorite part of this outfit are these FABULOUS shoes from Pink Acid. Stasey definitely amazed me once again making these. They come in several colors and they ARE mesh. You don't want to miss out on these and you know what is super awesome? These boots are ONLY 55 L each!!!!!!!! They are available at Fi*Fridays! So you have a week to get them. But don't miss out so run down there and get them!
Happy Holiday Shopping!
❤ Dani
Skin: Al Vulo! – Lyala – Holiday Pack – Sunkissed – Natural **NEW**
Lips: Pink Acid – Justina Lips – Pink **@ Fi*Fridays**
Eyeshadow: Pink Acid – Deep Smokey Metallic Blue02 Eye Makeup **@ Fi*Fridays**
Shape: Dani & Co.
Hair: CaTwA – Bella V2 – Summer Blondies – Mesh **NEW**
Ears: Pink Acid – Pink Cobra Minnie Mouse Heart Ears, Bow & Hair Clip **@Fi*Fridays**
Dress: [Cynful] – Sassy Dress M with Turtleneck – Mesh **NEW**
Boots: Pink Acid – Mesh Scorpion Boot Black Dragons Breath **Fi*Fridays**
Eyes: Mayfly – Deep Sky Mesh Eyes – Twilight Sea Shadow
Lashes: Redgrave – ExtraLong
Pose: !bang


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Welcome to our website. Long House Funeral Home is first funeral home in North Carolina that is dedicated to serving the specific needs of the Cherokee People along with the greater Western North Carolina communities.
We provide individualized funeral services designed to meet the needs of each family. Our staff of dedicated professionals is available to assist you in making funeral service arrangements. From casket choices to funeral flowers, we will guide you through all aspects of the funeral service.
We invite you to contact us with your questions, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
"First Funeral Home of the First People"
Dedicated to all those who died during the removal of 1838-1840 and to the memory of all those who risked their lives to stay behind so that we, their descendants, might be able to remain in our native homeland.
Background Information:
It is the legendary belief of the Cherokee that they were the "First People". Long House Funeral Home is therefore the First Funeral Home of the First People. Our name, Long House, comes from the ancient time of the Woodland Indian tribes of the Eastern United States who commonly had longhouses as gathering places for tribal functions, such as feasts, dances, and funerals. We have chosen our name carefully as it also serves as a descriptive term for our facility, which is obviously a long house. It was originally built as Soco School in the 1930's and served in that function until the late 1960's when it became Soco Daycare.
In 1995 the daycare moved to a new building and the old school stood empty for a time. In 2004 we opened our other company, Native Clans Casket Company in the old school. We reconfigured that company but still customize caskets on a at need and preneed basis. On July 10, 2009, we held our open house and dedication for the new funeral home.
To the best of our knowledge, we are the first funeral home to operate on the Qualla Boundary. We are Native American owned and operated. We are pleased to now be able to care for our own in our own community.
Copyright © 2020 Long House Funeral Home. All Rights Reserved.
| Website by CFS |


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Blue Jays roster moves
The TORONTO BLUE JAYS have selected the contracts of SS RYAN GOINS and C A.J. JIMENEZ to the 40-man roster. 1B MIKE McDADE, INF MIKE McCOY and RHP CORY WADE were designated for assignment.
GOINS, 24, spent last season in New Hampshire (AA) leading the Eastern League with 158 hits and his 33 doubles and .289 average were team highs. The left-handed hitting shortstop posted a .338 average with runners in scoring position on his way to registering career highs in most offensive categories, earning a Webster Award for the club.
JIMENEZ, 22, spent last season in New Hampshire (AA) posting a .257 average with seven extra base hits in just 27 games before his season was shortened due to Tommy John surgery. The 9th round selection in the 2008 draft earned a Webster Award in Dunedin for 2011 and owns a career .282 average.


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Schroders Quickview: BoE still expects interest rate rises…just not yet
Schroders Quickview: BoE still expects interest rate rises…just not yet
Rates on hold for 83rd consecutive month
The BoE announced today that it is leaving the main policy interest rate at the record low level of 0.50% - no change for the 83rd consecutive month – along with its asset purchase facility held at £375 billion.
Importantly, external monetary policy committee (MPC) member Ian McCafferty has decided not to vote for an immediate increase in the interest rate this month, having voted for an increase in the previous six meetings.
He joins the rest of the committee in voting for no change. The shift in voting suggests that the balance of risks has shifted to the downside on growth and inflation.
Indeed, the MPC meeting minutes suggest that the worsening international outlook has adversely impacted global commodity prices, international trade and has tightened global financial conditions.
These factors are likely to be having a negative impact on UK growth.
The Bank not only lowered its forecast for GDP growth in the near term, but also for inflation as lower energy prices are expected to keep overall cost pressures near zero for longer.
BoE's challenge
The main challenge for the BoE is to communicate a more cautious message to the public and markets compared to the previous November Inflation Report, but not to change the overall message of the economy progressing well, and that interest rates are likely to rise in the future.
Markets currently place a greater probability on the BoE cutting interest rates this year, and are not pricing in a rate increase until the middle of 2018.
The Bank, which uses the market's path of interest rates to condition its growth and inflation forecasts, suggests that the market is not pricing in enough interest rate rises, and that should the BoE follow such a path, then inflation would overshoot the Bank's 2% inflation target two and three years out.
Indeed, in the Inflation Report press conference, Governor Mark Carney was keen to signal that the MPC feels that interest rates are more likely to rise than not in the future.
Inflation Report details
Details of the latest Inflation Report also show that the BoE expects the labour market participation rate to stabilise at current levels, and for average hours worked to fall – resuming its pre-crisis trend.
These suggest that there is less spare capacity in the economy than previously thought.
Indeed, the BoE expects excess spare capacity in the economy to be utilised by the end of this year, which should help wages to accelerate to support household demand.
The Bank's more hawkish assessment on spare capacity also suggests that the Bank is gearing up for the first rate rise since June 2007. The main obstacle to this is the anaemic rate of inflation.
Our forecasts
Our forecast for the first rate rise is predicated on inflation being above 1% (the BoE's lower target) and the economy growing at a steady pace.
Based on our latest inflation forecast, this suggests the first rate rise may happen around the end of the year, or start of 2017.
However, one major difference between the Schroders forecast and the BoE's is that we forecast GDP growth to slow in 2017 on the back of accelerated austerity and higher inflation.
The BoE, on the other hand, expects growth to accelerate in 2017, from a temporary dip this year. If the Bank is right, it should continue to raise interest rates at a steady pace through the whole of 2017.
However, if growth slows as we expect, the Bank may have to pause its hiking cycle, or even reverse it. At present, the risks are clearly skewed towards rate hikes being delayed, perhaps indefinitely.
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2013 musical film based on the popular musical about the French Revolution.
Based during the French Revolution, Jean Valjean is a prisoner who is given parole but he soon disappears and under an alias becomes major of a small town.
Valjean encounters an ex-employee of his, Fantine, who has had to resort to prostitution and he takes care of her. She soon dies but not without informing Valjean of her daughter, Cosette and she makes him promise to look after her.
When another man is to be executed for being Jean Valjean, he comes clean and confesses. He begs to be allowed rescue Cosette but he isn't allowed by Inspector Javert. Valjean escapes and rescues Cosette before going into hiding.
Many years pass and Cosette is grown up. Marius is part of the Revolution and we he sees Cosette he instantly falls in love.
The Revilution rips through the Parisian streets causing a great loss of life.


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Southeast/Meetup 2017
The Southeast Region is hosting a Waze meetup for SER editors to meet with each other and Waze staff.
Meet with Waze staff, other editors, watch live presentations, participate in a live MapRaid, and other surprises.
- 2 W Bay St
- Savannah, GA 32401
- Tel: +1 912 238 1234
Conference room for our meeting:
Scarborough Ballroom 1&2
Views from the Hyatt on river side.
|For a clickable link to start your Waze route from your phone. Copy and paste the following link into an email to yourself. Click the link in your phone's email to start the route. This link will bring you right to the front door and valet parking.
If you fly, Waze will pay for your airfare. Transportation to and from home / airport / hotel is not reimbursable. Savannah airport to Hyatt is $28 each way by cab, KShuttle is $30 round trip. Also Uber/Lyft available and other shuttles. Airlines serving Savannah are: allegiant, American Airlines, DELTA, jetBlue, sun country and UNITED. (All airline names are Registered Trademark.)
If you drive, Waze will reimburse your gas, tolls and parking at the hotel. Keep your receipts - originals will be needed. More information at the meetup.
Parking: Only Valet Parking is available for $30 per day with in and out privileges. Waze will pay for it if charged to your room. Tell valet to charge to your room.
July 15, 2017 08:00 - 18:00
|Waze is paying for Friday night.
|Extra night rates: "We will try our best to honor the group rate or get as close as possible to the rate based on availability." Group rate is $205 so the sooner the better.
Who: All Waze SER Map Editors are invited
Sign Up
Click Here to Register First come first serve. 40 attendees maximum, any over will be wait listed for cancellations.
Seats still available: 19
Agenda will be filled is as we get closer to the meetup.
07:00-08:00 - Breakfast
08:00-09:00 - Intros, Welcome & Company/Community Overview (lrad)
09:00-10:00 - (Ron)
10:00-10:15 - Break
10:15-11:00 - WMEPH - t0cableguy
11:00-11:15 - Waze CCP Data Integration -
HCPubworks Q&A
11:15-12:00 -
12:00-13:00 - Lunch
15:00-15:15 - Break
16:00-18:00 - Q&A Then Mini Raid
When must I register by?
- June 14th (but if you need a flight, then May 14th).
Where/how do I register?
- Link is above.
What rank is invited?
- Any/all ranks, from 1-6.
Where is it at?
- Hyatt Regency Savannah, Savannah, GA
When is it?
- July 15, 2017
What typically happens at the event?
- Waze staff give presentations, info on upcoming things, etc....editors give presentations, usually a map raid of some sort, open Q&A, meeting fellow editors to put a face to the name, etc.
Will we be put in hotel rooms with strangers, or do we each get our own?
- You get your own room (2 queen beds or a king bed in a room), no sharing with strangers.
Can I bring a guest to stay in the hotel room with me?
- Yes, but they can't attend the actual meetup. Some are making a mini vacation out of it. Waze will only pay for the editor's airfare if flying. Meals are not provided to guests.
Is the meetup in the same hotel? IE, could my guest use my car during the day as I wouldn't need it?
- Yes, same hotel.
Can I open all the bottles in the mini bar and not pay for them? ;)
- You will put your own credit card down for incidentals, so you would pay for them.
The event itself is on Saturday? Is the hotel night for Friday or Saturday?
- Yes, event is Saturday, and waze is paying for Friday night.
What are the beginning and end times?
- Normally it's a 8am-5 or 6pm type thing. We have not made the schedule yet.
- We can also organize a dinner Friday evening somewhere in walking distance (that would be one meal you'd pay for)
- Also if many are staying an extra night, we can see who wants to do something Sunday also (as in something non-waze fun).
How is driving reimbursed?
- Mail in receipts for gas, we will give you more info, but hold on to those receipts!
Any idea on how many are expected?
- Max of 40 editors and 2 Waze staff.
Should I count on going, or is there a chance I get bumped for a higher level if it fills up?
- Count on going, it is first come first serve.
How do they reach out, there was no contact information to input?
- Driving79 and Jakflash are the main contact points.
Do I reserve my own room, or will Waze staff do that?
- No, waze and driving79/Jakflash will be handling the rooms (and if you want to add a night's stay that you want to pay for).


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Matt Lauer is staying positive in the midst of all the controversy surrounding Today.
"It's been an interesting year, no question about it," he told Jay Leno on The Tonight Show Thursday. "But the fact of the matter is, every day millions of people still invite us into their homes to deliver the news. I am not a guy who complains. I love this job. I really do."
Photos: The biggest celebrity feudsLauer also praised his colleague Kathie Lee Gifford, who organized a letter of support for the co-anchor. "My mother always told me in times of adversity you find out who your friends are — Kathie Lee's a great friend," he said.Lauer has been the subject of much criticism recently, after a New York Times report suggested he was to blame for Ann Curry's departure and rumors surfaced that Anderson Cooper might replace him.


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In a refreshing change of pace after the Florida Primary and The Liberty Belle Hour with Tony Hager (click on the link to listen to the archive), I will be hosting Red River Writers Live: Romancing the Novel from Coast to Coast on Blog Talk Radio this afternoon at 5 p.m. Eastern.
Please join me as I welcome California-based Cassidy McKay, and New Jersey-based Mickey Flagg, both talented authors in the romance genre. During the course of the two-hour show, we'll discuss their work and their latest projects as well as the daunting task of writing tasteful yet compelling love scenes. I'll also ask them to share their advice for other aspiring romance novelists. Live chat and phone lines will be open, so feel free to comment and ask questions.
Looking forward to a little romance (and a break from the relentless political scene) later today! 😉


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Florida State's upcoming official visitor list looks light -- just one 2013 prospect, in fact -- but that doesn't mean important underclassmen won't be on campus.
ESPN Watch List defensive end Justin Thornton (Prichard, Ala./Vigor), a top junior, will make the drive over to Tallahassee.
"It will be my first time going up there," he said. "I am just looking for a good coaching staff, good academics all the way around and a good environment because I want to be at a place where it is great to be there. I want to go to a school in Florida because it is just one of the main places I want to stay at. I like it there and it isn't far from home."
Thornton, who has offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, LSU and South Carolina, holds FSU in high regard. Florida State has new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt to thank for that.
The two have known each other for a few years back from Pruitt's time on the Alabama coaching staff.
"I have had a relationship with Coach Pruitt ever since he left Alabama when I was a freshman," Thornton said. "So I just want to go there and meet the coordinators, the head coach and see how it is. Every time I talk to Coach Pruitt, he tries to get me to understand that they want me up there."
Listing Florida State at, or near, the top of his list hasn't been something the 6-foot-5, 226-pound defensive lineman has shied away from.
If his upcoming visit goes well, Thornton didn't write off the possibility of committing, though he did say a quick decision would be unlikely.
He's already got a timetable setup in his head.
"I just want to be able to go to every campus that I can," Thornton said. "I want to commit during the summer, so that is the plan that I am on now. I just have to think about it and commit before my season starts."
Thornton is fresh off a trip to Alabama, and besides this approaching visit to Florida State, he wants to check out a few other SEC destinations.
"… Depending on how time goes, I would try to make a trip to Florida because they want me to go there," he said. "And a trip to South Carolina sometime in the future."


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(Pocket-lint) - We reviewed Philips' previous colloboration with surf brand O'Neill last year, giving the first version of The Stretch headphones a well-deserved four our of five stars. When we heard that there was a new version in town, once again featuring the handy non-tangle cable, we jumped at the chance to get them in for testing.
The Philips O'Neill The Stretch SHO956BK closed-back headphones sport a largely black finish with gold detailing that immeditely looks more classy than the previous version. The cans sports a similar smoky plastic headband, albeit darker and this time without 'The Stretch' written across the top. Finishing off the look is the black nylon lead with fancy gold thread woven into it.
Weighing about 180g, the headphones are nice and light and shouldn't add to much heft to your bag, even if you're carrying them around all day. This also means that they sit relatively lightly on your head and ears. The headband is crafted from a "high-grade nylon TR55 superstretch polymer" which is designed not only for durability but also for flexibility. What this means is that you should be able to expose your headphones to all sorts of punishment without them breaking. So shoving them in the bottom of your rucksack or accidentally sitting on them shouldn't do them much harm. This also makes them great for watching TV or listening to music in bed. Not only does this mean that you can listen to your tunes or films without disturbing your significant other, but it also means that the headphones won't get damaged if you fall asleep with them still on your bonce.
As well as some aesthetic tweaks, the new headphones also throw an in-line remote into the mix, which is a really nice touch that makes the cans just that little bit more convenient to use. There's also a mic for using with your mobile phone. The headphones are compatible with iPhone, BlackBerry, LG, Motorola, HTC and Palm handsets and there's also an adaptor for Nokia and Sony Ericsson phones.
We found that the headphones worked well with an iPhone 3GS, although the person at the other end of the call reported that the sound was rather muffled compared to a conventional call - though not enough to make it too difficult to hold a conversation. It was a bit more of a struggle when using the mic on the cable when out in a busy street, but we still managed to carry on a conversation, albeit with a few cries of "you what?". However, The Stretch were certainly no worse than any other mid-range headphones with mobile calling capability.
Like the previous model, the black and gold nylon lead has been designed to stay free of tangles, so that even if you chuck the headphones into your bag you won't need to spend precious time untangling the cable when they emerge. This is great news, and one of The Stretch's key selling points. The cable also features reinforced connectors for extra durability, while the lead can be detached from the left earcup meaning that if the cable gets caught on anything it should just detach itself, rather any damage occurring. The cable itself measures an industry-standard 1.2m, which should give most people more than enough room to move.
Just underneath the outer plastic headband, the headphones sport a stretchy elastic band that's designed to fit anyone. The band is not only wider than on the previous model, it's also been given some extra padding, both of which combine to make it even more comfy. The one-size-fits-all appraoch meant that the previous model could sometimes feel a tad loose, but the new Stretch cans feels substantially more secure.
Each earcup is well padded with faux-leather cushions that sit around the ears, rather than on them - a bugbear with so many other models that makes them uncomfortable and hot to wear. Not so, with The Stretch cans. We found that our lugholes were still perfectly comfy even after several hours of being encased in the earphones.
These surfy cans look cool and they're outstandingly comfy, but how do the sonics measure up? The audio is surprisingly good with warm, clear sound on most material. We found that some clarity was lost when we pushed the volume up, but no more so than you'd expect from a pair of mid-range cans. Likewise, the bass is also pretty impressive and although it's not audiophile grade, it's certainly packs enough power for a decent low-end performance.
The Philips O'Neill The Stretch headphones may have a preposterously long name, but they're mighty fine cans.
The manufacturer has managed to improve on what was already an excellent product by adding mobile phone mic integration, along with a handy volume control and extra padding on the headband.
These extra features, combined with the fact that the cans include a new black and gold finish (which looks much classier than the previous version's red and black) make this an excellent product. At £119, the headphones may be a little pricier than other mid-range models, but the tough build quality, along with the mobile phone capability and comfort are more than enough to justify the price tag.


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Today is the final day of this series! I hope that you have gleaned some nugget of truth along the way that will be useful to you in your home. We've already talked about Being Intentional With the Process, Making Specific Goals, Sorting the Major Areas You Use FIRST, and Not Getting Distracted by Details. Today we're going to go a step further and discuss the importance of knowing what you need before buying those cool, snazzy organizers that are being promoted in every major home store these days (they aren't dumb. They know how many people make home organization a resolution this time of year!)
I have to say, this particular post resonates with me because as that girl who liked to organize but hated to clean and sort to get the organized state, I went through cycles of binging on pretty, neat plastic tubs, bins, shelves, and anything else that caught my eye. I was operating under the mistaken delusion that more containers meant quicker organizing.
So here's what would normally happen: I'd buy clear plastic shoeboxes with the newest hip shade of lid, a couple of big totes, and maybe some baskets for good measure. I'd bring them home, take them out and admire them, start putting stuff in them, and I'd eventually get stuck. My sorting method would leave too few or too many containers remaining. Or they wouldn't fit under my bed or on the top shelf in my closet. Or they'd be cheap and fall apart within weeks. Or … something. But you get the picture.
Then there was the problem that I'd inevitably lose track of which tub or shoe box held the particular item I would look for months later, so I'd tear them all apart until I found it.
So, please, spare yourself that agony …
Step 5: Before you buy organizers, know what you need.
This might make you cringe, but live with your stuff for awhile before you make that next shopping trip to Target or The Container Store.
The beauty of organizing your home is that you don't have to be confined to a particular method of cleaning, sorting, or decluttering if it doesn't work for you. I like to keep my toothbrushes in my bathroom in an open mason jar. You might prefer a classier holder. I keep memorabilia in clear plastic bins, you might prefer baskets. I have the majority of my craft supplies in cubbies and fabric drawers in our garage, you might be horrified by that idea and choose a snazzy wardrobe (cast off from the big tv days) to house your crafts.
So, basically, if I was to give you a list of all the best things to buy to get your home organized, they wouldn't necessarily work for you and you'd be stuck with even more "organizational" clutter than before.
My suggestion is simple; take a few days or even weeks or months to really get the feel for how you use your home. Not how you wish you used your home, but how you really, truly use it. Pay attention to where you put items out of habit when you are done using them. Notice where you wished you had a shelf, or a container. Gather all of like items with like (wooden spoons with the wooden spoons in the kitchen, printer paper with the printer, dirty colored clothing with other dirty colored clothing) and note how much room is needed to hold all the like items.
Once you have a good handle on this, take things a step further and break out your measuring tape. Measure the space available–height, width, depth–in the areas you need containers. Write the measurements down in a place you will be able to find them again (for me, this was a notebook I kept in my purse). Take the measurements with you to the store. You'll be glad you did. I can't tell you how many times I've broken this little rule and ended up making a second or third trip back to The Container Store to find something the actually fit. Shame on me!
Now, what kind of look do you want with the container you purchase? If it is for the wooden kitchen spoons, simply putting them in the same kitchen drawer by the stove might suffice and save you some money. But if your drawers are all full, or if you want them even more accessible, a pottery pitcher or a plastic lazy susan with upright dividers might be better. For your closet, matching baskets or sturdy fabric-covered boxes would add a certain polished look. In the office, a simple plastic drawer unit or lidded paper boxes would be appropriate for printer paper. Just make sure the item you buy matches your aesthetic, your space available, and your budget.
Speaking of budget, storage isn't cheap. Even shopping at Wal-Mart, you'll still run into sticker shock. I've had to deal with this by purchasing a few here and there and making do in the meantime. Sometimes making do for us means not having a drawer divider in a kitchen drawer for awhile, or swallowing pride and accepting to use an ugly boring plastic tub I have on hand, or even focusing on updating one area at a time to aesthetically pleasing storage and re-using the uglier storage from the updated locations in other, less visible locations. In fact, I have one plain brown collapsible fabric "drawer," (first spotted in our old master bedroom closet, then in our laundry room storage area later) that has made its way around my house and is currently residing under the kitchen sink with all my cleaners.
So, before you go out and buy organizers and containers, make sure you know exactly what you need. Save up, take your time, and measure twice.
And that completes our 5 Steps to Get Organized in 2012 series! If you are just getting started reading and would like to learn more, links to the complete series are in order below. I hope you'll also take a moment to subscribe to Behind Closed Drawers by email or RSS feed, both located at the top right-hand corner of the page. The one-year anniversary of this blog is coming up, and I have big things planned to celebrate!
5 Steps to Get Organized in 2012
- Be Intentional With the Process
- Make Specific Goals
- Sort the Major Areas You Use FIRST
- Don't Get Distracted by Details
- Before You Buy Organizers, Know What You Need
Happy Organizing,


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Yep, it's happened. Write down the day, the day that will live in infamy. The day that I, Amy Grace, am not coveting anything. Not anything in particular, anyway. As hard as I have tried today, and as many websites as I scoured while waiting for my car hatch latch to be fixed, I could not find a single thing worth posting.
So, my loyal followers, I will give you the top 10 things I do not covet today instead. Try to control your excitement!10. The Iowa Caucus finished up last night, and since I am a neighbor to Iowa, I seem to get more than my fair share of political calls at inopportune times (read ALWAYS!) I do not covet these.
9. It's 48 degrees right now in Middle America, and my Mac's weather icon says we should be expecting almost 60 tomorrow. It's been like this for several weeks, and it looks like it may continue into the beginning of the next one. It will end sometime, and we will be repaid handsomely with snow, ice and treachery soon. I do not covet these.
8. I have work to do. My virtual boss (she's real, but we've only met once in person. And she lives 10 hours away.) sent me a copywriting assignment with plenty of categories to complete. I do not covet these.
7. We generally eat 3 meals and 1 snack at our house. Coming up with something to make for 3 meals per day, 7 days per week is awful for me. I would rather jam a sharpened pencil into my palm. I do not covet these.
6. I gave up shaving my legs last fall, and started waxing instead. It's great that the hair grows in slower and softer each time, but sucks that you have to wait for it to get long enough to be ripped out again. They are especially unsightly when I have to wear workout pants that only go to my knees. I do not covet these hairs.
5. I took another close look at the tile that is my kitchen counter top. It's awful. No matter how much I scrub, dig and bleach, the grout is dingy and dirty. It doesn't help that I live with 3 children (ok 2, but my husband doesn't wipe up spills either.) And who's brilliant idea was it anyway, to use tile and grout for a counter top? I do not covet these.
4., 3. Sadly, I was not blessed with a lithe little body or the Hollywood metabolism that keeps starlets thin without even trying… ahem, right!…so there are at least 4 days per week, when I must drag my butt to a Body Blast class, Zumba or to run rat-like on an annoying cardio machine. I do not covet these days. Or these machines.
2. My husband bought me new, super cute Uggs for Christmas. (Yes, the ones on my daily covet!) They were too big. So I reordered from Ugg.com, and they sent me a new "pair" in my size, yet one boot was significantly larger than the other. I do not covet boots in different sizes.
1. And last, but definitely not least, I have had a knot in my shoulder for weeks now. I'm pretty sure it's from excessive typing in a non-ergonomic fashion. As I type, it's zinging me with sharp pin-like pains, while simultaneously maintaining the ever-present dull ache. I do not covet this.
There you have it! You don't even have to stay up late to watch Letterman tonight… you can get your top 10 and all my complaining in one sitting. Thanks for hanging in there with me!


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WE GET LOTS requests for info about release dates – if we always knew for certain we'd provide that information here. Sadly, it's not always possible to get an accurate estimate of when titles will be available. Licensing is not an exact science – we occasionally get derailed by technical and paperwork issues but 99% of prospective future titles mentioned on this page are signed, sealed and well… not quite delivered, but you get our drift. So just keep an eye on this page for a quick update of what is and what is not on deck.
By way of an explanation to the releases we choose you should be aware that the licensing procedure is fraught with complications. Rock Candy is a 100% legitimate operation. We do not release counterfeit product and always work in complete co-operation with the rights owners to ensure a quality product is delivered. As it is not always possible to secure the appropriate rights we have to reluctantly leave some planned releases behind and move forward to other titles.
We receive numerous requests asking to reissue certain albums – some are massive sellers and some are very obscure. We do try to weigh up those requests with economic realities and whilst the debut self titled album by, say, A440 may be top of your want list, as well as ours too, I'm afraid sometimes it doesn't make sense financially – we'll end up taking, what is termed, a bath. Also, we often receive requests for more bonus tracks. Sadly, some artists and bands never recorded extra tracks at the time of the initial sessions. In addition, if extra tracks do exists we are at the mercy of the rights owners to allow us to use those recordings. It's a very complicated process clouded by legalities and permissions that lay totally outside of Rock Candy's sphere of influence. Sadly, counterfeit operations share no such qualms. Even live tracks are subject to the same rigorous vetting processes but we always try wherever possible to feature extra material.


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High Balance/Super Conforming Mortgage
Highlights of the High Balance/Super Conforming Mortgage:
- Higher limits than a standard conforming loan
- Allows borrowers to finance houses in high-cost areas
- Can be used for 1- to 4- unit primary, secondary, and investment residences
- Available for both fixed- and adjustable-rate mortgages
- Lower costs than a Jumbo Loan
- Liberal qualifying ratios
- Down payments can be fully covered with gift or grant money
Down payments can be fully covered with gift or grant money?
A High Balance (Ellie Mae)/ Super Conforming Mortgage (Freddie Mac) is a mortgage that has higher maximum loan limits than a usual conventional conforming loan. The idea of the loan is to provide lower mortgage financing costs to borrowers who are located in the country's highest cost areas. The high balance loan limit, however, cannot exceed that of the high-cost area in which the property is located (usually $625,500 for a 1-unit home in the continental U.S.) as it is specified by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).
How A High Balance/Super Conforming Mortgage Works:
A High Balance/Super Conforming Mortgage can be used on fixed-rate and adjustable-rate mortgages and can finance 1- to 4-unit primary residences, secondary homes, and investment properties. In comparison to which Jumbo Mortgages completely disregard conforming loan limits and can range up to $2 million, High Balance/Super Conforming Mortgages cannot exceed the loan limits applied to the high-cost area the property resides in.
You will benefit from a High Balance/Super Conforming Mortgage if you:
- Live in or are looking to move to a high-cost area
- Are looking to finance a house that exceeds standard conforming loan limits
- Can't afford a Jumbo Loan


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Off to a good start today and then the heavens opened up. I mean not just showers either. Click the thumbnail for more pics.
1 Started the day off in Downtown Richmond, Va
2 Olly was all over this manual pad
3 Melcher peep'n out the spot
4 Olly preparing for the drive to DC
5 Rodent's switch craze
6 Met up with Richmond ripper Josh Swyers for a second
7 Rodent's broken finger
8 The only thing we can do for Rodent's finger
9 Just getting into DC
10 The Capital
11 We found a quarter pipe
12 Zarosh
13 Drove by the Gold Rail
14 The Red Rail was the only dry spot in the city
15 Gareth found a new jacket at the spot
16 Gareth warms up
17 The double & triple was dry except for the run up.
18 Rain is not the biggest motivator


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The MTA, according to the report, said that with fiscal restraints in today's economy, it would need to use "new strategies to boost capacity and accessibility, and which are more strategic in scale and location and are accomplished within customers' commuting lifetimes."
Reopening the LIRR Rockaway Beach Rail Line was listed as an example of such a strategy in Comptroller DiNapoli's report.
"Restoring service on the Rockaway Beach Branch would be a less costly way to speed commutes between South Queens and Manhattan, improve travel within the borough, and promote economic growth," the report reads.
When it was running, the Rockaway Rail Line provided customers with a 40-minute commute to midtown Manhattan from the Rockaways.
Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder has been a staunch supporter of returning service to the rail line. In 2012, he collected nearly 3,000 signatures for a petition to immediately restore the line.
"We are on the right track and I will continue to fight for full restoration to give our families the transportation we deserve," Goldfeder said. "In today's difficult economy, complete restoration of the Rockaway Beach Rail Line would offer affordable, reliable transportation to those who desperately need it and prepare our city for future growth."
Phil McManus, the founder of the Queens Public Transit Committee, said that the support for the Rockaway Rail Line in the report was "great news."
"Our city, state and federal governments need to invest in transportation for all the people," McManus said. "Imagine the social, economic, recreational and environmental opportunities if we completely restored the Rockaway Beach Rail Line."


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rael.org #god-complex #ufo #crackpot rael.org
The Message
For centuries, scholars have been debating the two main possibilities for the origin and meaning of life. Some aspire to a higher philosophical dimension, which they can't find in the theory of evolution, while others dismiss as irrational any reference to an almighty god.
But what if another theory, one both rational and with philosophical depth, were to be available?
This is what the "Message" proposes: Thousands of years ago, scientists from another planet came to Earth and created all forms of life, including human beings, whom they created in their own image. References to these scientists and their work can be found in the ancient texts of many cultures. Due to their highly advanced technology, they were considered as gods by our primitive ancestors and often referred to as 'Elohim' which in ancient Hebrew meant 'Those who came from the sky'.
Despite being a plural word, Elohim was mistranslated over time to the singular 'God' reference that appears in modern-day Bibles.
Nevertheless, these people who came from the sky (the Elohim) educated humanity through the ages with the help of various messengers (also called prophets) with whom they had made contact. Each messenger was given a message suitable for the level of understanding prevailing at the time, with the primary purpose of instilling basic principles of non-violence and respect. Once humanity reached a sufficient level of scientific understanding, the Elohim decided to make themselves more visible in UFO sightings and to conceive their final message. Rael was given two missions: spreading that last message on Earth and preparing an embassy to welcome the return of our creators.
The atheist 'Intelligent Design Theory' offers a rational solution to the age-old debate between God-believers and evolutionists. It's compatible not only with today's scientific discoveries but also with the ancient historical accounts of all cultures.
But don't take our word for it. Read Intelligent Design - Message from the Designers for yourself and do your own research.
We guarantee you'll never look at the world the same way again!


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The Hobbit trailer (in 3D) played in front of Phantom Menace at my theatre. That was a nice bonus for going to see TPM.
I really feel cheated now. Didn't get the Darth Maul 3D glasses or the Hobbit trailer!
Oh, crap.
A brief primer: Modern films are shot and projected at 24 frames per second. That has been the industry standard for feature films since the mid-1920s after sound motion pictures were introduced. The low frame rate results in a strobing effect when there is moderate camera movement. You have probably accepted this technological artifacting, but it looks artificial and your brain interprets it as such. Raising the framerate makes movement look a lot smoother, and gives the impression of an enhanced resolution. The low framerate is also one of the major factors of why some people experience discomfort while watching 3D movies.
Keep an eye out for little cameo towards the end. Really looking forward to this, hopefully we'll get a new trailer soon - or at least this summer.
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Library Calendar
Awesome Afterschool Activities @ LWP Library
- Date: 05/21/2019 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
- Location: Lakewood Park Branch Library
7605 Santa Barbara Dr
Fort Pierce, Florida 34951
Return to full list >>
Contact: Prairie Pasizor
Something different each week including:
Reader's Theater - Make a puppet to take home, then write a play and act it out!
Adventures in Art - Explore an art style or artist and create your own artwork to take home.
Game On! - Play your favorite with our collection of board games.
D.I.Y. Stations - Do it yourself! Create arts and crafts projects like bracelets and origami.
Most suitable for grades K through 5.
All library programs are free and open to the public.
Contact: Prairie Pasizor
Phone: 772-462-6870
E-Mail: email@example.com


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The Superior Spider-Man really is "superior"
Did I ever tell you I used to be a big comic collector? I had at least 12,000+ items (maybe 15,000): comics, sci-fi stuff, movie posters, movie programs, paperback books and more. Those guys in Big Bang Theory hanging out in the comic shop, that's pretty much how it used to be; on Wednesday's the new comics were out and on the weekend we might pedal our bicycles to one of the comic shops nearby. But I haven't really been active in collecting in over 20 years. For a while I still picked up a few titles and the last dozen years I haven't really read much at all; some Neil Gaiman stuff, a few recommendations (Invincible, Alias), and whatever they had on free comic day.
But there was a lot of talk on-line as the Amazing Spider-Man was reaching issue 700, so I started reading it. Be warned, huge spoilers follow: The short version is that Doctor Octopus was dying and he managed to swap his mind for Peter Parker's mind (you do know that PP is the secret identity of Spider-Man?) but here's the problem: before Peter could figure out how to swap back minds, Doc Ock's body dies and Otto Octavious's mind is in Peter Parker's body (in Spider-man's body). He is the new Spider-man and no one knows it!
I thought this was the dumbest thing ever, it's not going to be any good and you know in a year or two somehow Peter is going to come back (somehow). This transitioned into a new title, the egotistically titled "Superior Spider-Man", where Doc Ock decides he'll "do it", he would become a superior Spider-Man. I have to tell you, my doubts were banished and I thought this was a excellent story. Actually, I thought it was excellent until they revealed at the very end that Peter's mind was still in there and I thought "argh! this was great and they ruined it", but I was wrong again. It's been five issues now and it has been excellent. Think of all the things you see in a movie (or a comic book) and think "why are they doing that?" and "why don't they…?", well this new Spider-Man does many things differently than the old Spider-Man and it's working.
You need to remember, Spider-Man / Peter Parker is the "With great power comes great responsibility" guy (actually his Uncle Ben taught him that, the hard way), he takes this seriously and has always been "amazing". But here's the thing, Doc Ock is not only a "Superior" Spider-Man, in many ways he's a being a better Peter Parker too. He's not perfect, but he's working pretty good on making his Peter a better Peter. It's interesting the way that he does things, he's as smart as Peter (maybe more) but it's really the way he thinks (and that he has to pretend to be Peter) that gives him different insight into the roll.
At some point, I believe, Peter Parker will be back and it will make for some interesting adjustments for him. I don't think I'm going to say much more about the current story, maybe you'll want to read it yourself. (If you can't find the issues at your local shop or find some kid to lend them to you, you can pre-order it from Amazon in The Superior Spider-Man, (Vol. 1: My Own Worst Enemy) trade paperback.)
The comments of this post are allowed to have spoilers (even more than I've revealed above) so if you feel like commenting…
Tags: books, comic book, comics, Doctor Octopus, Spider-Man, Superior Spider-Man


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Summer Bean Salads: 2-Bean Salad With Roasted Jalapeños and Pickled Red Peppers
We've all had that ubiquitous three-bean salad. You know, the geriatric-style blend of kidney, green, and garbanzo beans. But if I'm being totally honest, there's a definite draw—or at least a reason it has endured for so long. So I set out to update it for this week's series on summer bean salads.
It turns out (big surprise here) that a modern version is exponentially more interesting. I opted for two types of beans: kidney and green. The two beans are joined by the duo of fire-roasted jalapeños and pickled red peppers. The result is something bright and, dare I say, exciting.
The salad is finished with a bracing red wine vinaigrette and a shower of chopped flat-leaf parsley, both important aspects to keep it nuanced and fresh. The ratio is intentionally on the acidic side since the beans soak up a lot of the "bite."
You can substitute half of a four-ounce can of fire-roasted jalapeños to save yourself a step, but I find the flavor of a freshly roasted one is far better. If you're worried about heat, you can remove the seeds and white membrane for milder results. In the event you have trouble locating pickled red peppers (look in the Italian or Polish sections of a well-stocked grocer), soak minced, roasted red peppers in a teaspoon of red wine vinegar for 30 minutes before incorporating them into the recipe.
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