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Australia 'urns' Ashes victory
Steven Peter Devereux Smith.
That name has haunted England's cricketers day in and day out during this hot and rainy summer. And they aren't likely to forget him in a hurry.
Australia's ace batsman made a triumphant return to the Test arena after sitting out 18 months following that sandpaper scandal in South Africa. England may have wished that the ban had been extended, but no such luck.
The former Australian captain flogged England with his bat, and he was largely responsible that Australia will be returning home with the tiny urn containing the Ashes for the first time in 18 years.
Australia manhandled England in the fourth Test at Manchester's Old Trafford to go up 2-1 and seal victory with one match to go.
Australia won in Manchester by 185 runs after Smith hammered 211 in his side's 497 for eight declared in the first innings, and then breezed to 82 in the second as Australia posted 186 for six. England managed 301 and 197.
Joe Root's England can tie the series with victory at The Oval, but as defending champion the urn has safely been tucked away in the luggage waiting to be shipped Down Under.
The 30-year-old Smith was simply unstoppable. All England could do was stare in awe of this incredible run-scoring machine as he compiled an incredible 671 runs in only three Tests. He missed the third after being sidelined with a concussion after taking a hit to the helmet from a rising Jofra Archer bouncer in the second Test at Lord's.
It is safe to say that without his commanding presence at the crease, the home team could have extended Australia's losing Ashes record in England.
In the first Test, Smith saved Australia from disaster by slamming 144 in the first innings total of 284 and followed that up with 142 in the second. In the second at Lord's, where he suffered the injury, he staved off a collapse and possibly a defeat to force a draw with a gutsy 92. He missed the next encounter at Headingley, where Ben Stokes smashed a brilliant unbeaten 135 for a nail-biting one-wicket win in one of the greatest comeback victories after England was dismissed for 67 in the first knock. Australia put the ghosts of Headingley to rest by bouncing back to win at Old Trafford.
So the difference in the series has been down to one man.
Of course, no Test match or series can be won without bowlers, and it was Australia's superior quicks of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, and Mitchell Starc who deserve credit. For England, only Stuart Broad and Archer could rival their Aussie counterparts. Cummins was the pick of the fast bowlers with 24 wickets, and Hazlewood was next with 18.
Captain Rashid Khan took six wickets for 49 as Afghanistan hammered Bangladesh by 224 runs in Chittagong in the one-off Test.
Afghanistan, who only earned full member status in 2017, ran up its Test total to 2-0 after defeating fellow newcomer Ireland last March.
Scores: Afghanistan first innings 342 all out (Rahmat Shah 102, Asghar Afghan 92, Rashid 51; Taijul Islam 4-116) and 260 all out (Ibrahim Zadran 87, Asghar 50; Shakib Al Hasan 3-58). Bangladesh first innings 205 (Mominul Haque 52; Rashid 5-55, Mohammad Nabi 3-56) and 173 in 61.2 overs (Zahir Khan 3-59).
The charismatic Abdul Qadir, generally considered one of the finest leg-spinners of all time, passed away at the relatively young age of 63 of a heart attack in Lahore on the weekend. Thousands attended the funeral of the Pakistani spinner, who took 236 wickets in 67 Tests with his best return being nine for 56 against England in 1987.
There's just no stopping that bushy-haired 36-year-old fast bowler from Sri Lanka.
For the second time in his international career, Lasith Malinga captured four wickets off four balls to finish with the astonishing figures of five wickets for six runs and become the first bowler in Twenty20 internationals to reach the magical mark of 100 scalps.
His record-breaking spell came in the third match against New Zealand in Kandy, and it was a consolation victory as the visitors had already wrapped up the series by claiming the first two. Set a modest 126 for victory, New Zealand had no answer to the great Malinga, as he single-handedly bundled out the Kiwis for 88 in 16 overs.
Malinga, who played in the Global T20 League in King City in 2018 and in Brampton earlier this year, overtook the previous best T20 haul of 97 wickets that belonged to Pakistan's Shahid Afridi, who also played here this year.
Malinga started his record spell by clean bowling Colin Munro, another GT20 ace, for his 100th wicket and then added Hamish Rutherford, Colin de Grandhomme, and Ross Taylor.
This was Malinga's second four-wicket haul. The first came in the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies against South Africa.
Meanwhile, 10 Sri Lanka players have dropped out of the squad to tour Pakistan later this year. They cited security concerns.


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Lily 'Mezzana' Oriental Trumpet Lilies
Lily Bulbs for sale
|Latin name
|Also known as
|Tree Lilies, Skyscraper Lilies, oriental trumpet, orienpet, giant lilies
|Lilium Oriental Trumpet
|Full Sun/Partial Shade
|120cm / 47"
|Planting period
|Flowering period
|Soil Type
|Garden: Well-drained Acidic or Alkaline Soil | Pots: John Innes No.3
|Bulb Size
|Very Hardy - H6 (-20°C to -15°C)
|Delivery time
|Spring delivery (Feb to June 2021)
|Also suitable for containers
|Double flowered
|Border Position
Description of Lily 'Mezzana' Oriental Trumpet Lilies
Mezzana Oriental Trumpet Lily from the Gold Medal winning Harts Nursery
Planting and growing instructions: Mezzana Oriental Trumpet Lily from the Gold Medal winning Harts Nursery
How to plant Oriental Trumpet Lilies
- Oriental Trumpet Hybrid Lily Bulbs should be planted as soon as possible. Ideally in the Spring but can be planted up until the Autumn.
- Find a location with full sun or partial shade with well-drained soil.
- Oriental Trumpet Hybrid Lilies can tolerate most soil types, Acidic or Alkaline as long as it's well drained.
Planting Oriental Trumpet Lilies in the Garden
- Arrange the Lilies in an odd-number grouping.
- Plant the bulbs about 20" apart. Space the groupings at least 90cm (3ft) apart.
- Plant the bulbs with 10-15cm (4-6") of soil above them.
- Ensure the bulbs have plenty of drainage.
Planting Oriental Trumpet Lilies in Pots
- Arrange the Lilies in an odd-number grouping.
- Plant 3 bulbs in a 10-14" 'patio type' pot using good-quality, multi-purpose compost.
- We recommend using John Innes No.3 for lilies.
- Plant the bulbs with 10-15cm (4-6") of soil above them.
- Ensure the bulbs have plenty of drainage.
Plant care: Mezzana Oriental Trumpet Lily from the Gold Medal winning Harts Nursery
- Lilies can tolerate very cold conditions but they do not like to get wet.
- If planting in borders in the garden, the soil must be well drained and, preferably, humus rich.
- If planting in pots, make sure lilies are kept moist but do not get waterlogged.
- Lilies prefer to be planted in a location with at least half a days full sunshine, if its a bit too shady they will lean their stems towards the sun.
- Lily bulbs do not like to be dried out so they must be kept in soil at all times.
- Try to plant your lilies where they will dry out after rain to prevent Botrytis, a fungus that spots the leaves. If you do see brown spots on your leaves, spray with a fungicide recommended for roses.
- If planting in pots, it may be an idea to tilt the pots on their side in the winter to prevent waterlog.
- When the Lily has finished flowering, cut any seed heads back and allow the foliage to die back naturally. Do not be tempted to cut the stem back until stems becomes hollow and brown.
- After a few years of flowering, you may find the Oriental produces less blooms, it may be time to lift your bulbs and divide them by breaking off the bulblets. All the bulbs will then need replanting.
- To prevent Lily Beetles from damaging your lilies, we recommend using the Lily Beetle Prevention Spray or making up your own and using the Concentrate. This Spray (Grazers G4) will also stimulate growth of your lilies.
- You can feed your lilies with a Tomato Feed to stimulate and strengthen your lilies when you start to see signs of growth. Make up your tomato feed with half the recommended dilution (written on the instructions on the bottle) and feed once every 3 weeks.

subset: commoncrawl


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Vol. 12, No. 3,018 - The American Reporter - November 1, 2006
SEATTLE, Wash -- "I've gotta use words when I talk to you." Thus spake Apeneck Sweeney in T.S. Eliot's "Fragment of an Agon." [MORE]
JAKARTA, Dec. 25, 2000 -- Hendra Putra said a final prayer at a Christmas vigil Mass on Sunday evening and offered a friend a ride home. Talking quietly, the two men headed to Putra's small Honda motorbike in a little parking area fenced with chicken wire, part of a Catholic school compound next to Jakarta's Church of St. Joseph. [MORE]
NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2001 -- For more than a decade, the international community has been wrestling with the issue of what to do about the worldwide bank secrecy system through which drug traffickers, fraudulent business operators and tax cheats launder their money. [MORE]
SAN DIEGO, Calif., Dec. 16, 2000 -- Listening to George Bush and Al Gore both give the speeches of their lives on Wednesday night, I was struck deeply by one of the quotes. It was not the words of Jefferson nor even of Lincoln that moved me It was the words of Al Gore's father that the son quoted when he said of his difficult loss that "defeat might serve as well as victory to shake the soul and let the glory out." [MORE]
LOS ANGELES -- I guess Al Gore had no choice but to concede the election to the man who stole it from him. [MORE]
DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- The first step in finding asolution to a problem is admitting there is a problem. [MORE]
HOLLYWOOD, Calif. Dec. 13, 2000 -- In back-to-back speeches unique for their historic circumstances and distinguished by ringing appeals to the better part of human nature, President-elect George W. Bush and losing Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Al Gore spoke Wednesday night to a nation that for 36 days has been transfixed by their unprecedented post-Election Day contest for the presidency. [MORE]
LAKE WORTH, Fla. -- Please stand by for this message from the President of the United States. [MORE]
SEATTLE -- Chairman: Bang! The Committee on the Expulsion of the State of Florida will come to order. [MORE]
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2000 -- In a complex opinion that essentially told the Florida Supreme Court to create uniform standards for counting disputed ballots in this year's presidential election but that it is too late to actually count the votes, and told Florida's legislature its slate of George W. Bush electors is certified to Congress but that if uniform standards are adopted and a recount completed before Dec. 18 their slate may be challenged by one for Vice President Albert Gore Jr., the U.S. Supreme Court late tonight skillfully handed the presidency to Mr. Bush and walked away with the black robes of its reputation torn to rags. [MORE]
WASHNGTON, Dec. 11 -- After a long morning of oral arguments frequently interrupted by questions, the United States Supreme Court took under consideration the case of George W. Bush v. Albert Gore Jr. and set out to decide whether the Court or Florida voters will name the next President of the United States. A decision is widely anticipated Tuesday, but may or may not come until a sharply divided court that has been accused of conducting a "judicial coup d'etat" has moved closer to unanimity. [MORE]
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2000 -- In an unusual display of the "judicial activism" they often deplore, five justices of the U.S. Supreme Court apparently decided the 2000 presidential election between Vice President Al Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush on Saturday, when they granted a temporary injunction against a manual recount of "undervotes" ordered by the Florida Supreme Court on Friday. (The full text of the decision is below).[MORE]
TALLAHASSEE, Dec. 8, 2000 -- In a stunning and solomonic 4-3 decision Friday afternoon that may have rescued Vice President Al Gore's presidential hopes from extinction, a divided Florida Supreme Court ruled for both Mr. Gore and Texas Gov. George W. Bush in ordering a manual recount of all "undervotes" in any of the state's 67 counties "where such a recount has not occurred." [MORE]
Copyright 2006 Joe Shea The American Reporter. All Rights Reserved.


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I picked a winner when I took a dog sled trip through Salmon Berry Tours, which partners with the kennel owned by the man who days later would best the field in this year's Iditarod. After a 975-mile race across Alaskan wilderness, Dallas Seavey, 27, was first across the Nome finish line March 11.
Many mushers offer dog sled excursions to underwrite their racing endeavors, including supplies for their dogs, which are canine marvels (usually husky mixes) bred for speed, endurance and a love of running. Though Seavey isn't always home, my tour group got lucky when he delivered our Mushing 101 lesson.
Riders were paired up for each sled in the 40-minute mushing experience, about 80 miles north of Anchorage. Whether riding in the sled basket or standing behind, it was an amazing ride, and, thankfully, an experienced musher controlled the dogs from the lead sled. We were able to pet the dogs before and after our 7-mile ride. They were sweet, friendly and generous with licks. Several are offspring of this year's winning dog team.
Salmon (907-278-3572, salmonberrytours.com) offers a variety of sled dog adventures priced from $109 for half a day to $299 for a full day, which includes lunch and a visit to Iditarod headquarters in Willow, where you can learn the history of the legendary race. Salmon books specialty tours for Dallas Seavey's Alaska Sled Dogs (907-947-4210, dallasseavey.com/alaska-sled-dog-tours).
As for Seavey, his $50,000 prize will help buy his pups a lot more dog booties, which at $1 each can add up, as he uses 1,000 or so in an Iditarod.


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For more than 70 years, thousands of brides have traveled to Kleinfeld Bridal in New York City to find their wedding day looks. From the moment you walk through the doors, you'll feel the magic of Kleinfeld. Not only does Kleinfeld have 30,000 square feet filled with the largest selection of wedding dresses in the world, it also has the greatest professional staff of over 200 employees who are dedicated to finding and perfecting your bridal look.
Anne BargeStyle #ZURIE
Sweetheart Neckline Spaghetti Strap Beaded Wedding DressAdd to favorites
Price: $3,510.00
Lace trumpet wedding dress with sweetheart neckline and spaghetti straps.
Please call or email to confirm availability for your appointment.Book an Appointment
About the Designer
Anne Barge
Bridal Designer
Since the company's founding in January of 1999, Anne Barge wedding gowns have been renowned for combining timeless elegance with current trends for the discerning bride. The launch of Anne Barge established the perfect blend of contemporary and classic styles, with the use of the finest materials and detailed beading with modern interpretations of shapes […]Read the Full Bio
Size & Availability
Anne Barge wedding dresses can be ordered from the designer in size 0-14.
Fit and flare dresses fit at the waist and hips, but begin to flare out right above the knee. Fitted through the body, this style elongates your body by giving you more movement than a mermaid.
Kleinfeld sample dresses are typically available in-store in bridal sample size 10/12; Some designers require an extra fee for dresses ordered in size 18 and up.
Designer Events
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Anne BargeStyle #PROSECCOXS
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Love Story
Lace trumpet wedding dress with sweetheart neckline and spaghetti straps.Melissa & Richard


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Sony's funky new range of NW-E MP3 players has popped up on the company's website in New Zealand this weekend.
The players, leaked via Sonyinsider.com, come in a range of different colours (black, blue, pink or red) and flavours, with the range including the 2GB NWZ-E435, 4GB NWZ-E436 and 8GB NWZ-E438.
Each model comes equipped with a 2" QVGA TFT LCD display, an FM radio tuner (so you needn't miss any more cricket on the go, natch!), and support all the main music file formats (with MP3, WMA, AAC, and linear PCM codec support).
Skinny and strong
For those looking for something different to Apple's ubiquitous iPod – the new Sony players are nice and skinny (a mere 8.5mm slim) and only weigh in at a featherweight 50g.
Battery life can run up to a whopping 76h 40m (for music playback, 48kbps) and 7h 10m at 384kbps video (or 4h at 768kbps video). Not bad at all, really, plus the devices are of course compatible with Windows Media Player and iTunes.
No word yet from Sony on or release dates, but we should have that info for you pretty damn soon.


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Men's Lacrosse Hosts Mercer on Tuesday Evening
SET THE SCENE: UMBC plays its first of two evening, mid-week games of the 2014 season on Tuesday, March 11, when they host the Mercer Bears at UMBC Stadium. Both teams are 2-2 on the season and both have defeated one common opponent, Richmond. The two squads have never met on the lacrosse field, as Mercer is competing in its fourth NCAA Division I campaign. Kevin O'Neill has all the play-by-play action beginning at 7:25 p.m. and video streaming is available via the America East digital network.
RETRIEVER UPDATE: Fueled by sophomore midfielder Pat Young, the UMBC men's lacrosse team rallied from six goals down to pull within one twice, but could not get over the top, falling to No. 3 Johns Hopkins, 15-8, Saturday afternoon at UMBC Stadium. Young scored four goals and added an assist in the contest and red-shirt freshman netminder Connor Gordon made 16 saves, but JHU outscored UMBC, 6-0, in the final 15 minutes to pull away. Gordon is ranked sixth in the nation with 13.5 saves per game and is 11th in save percentage at 58.7%. R A Matt Gregoire continues to lead the Retrievers in scoring with 10 goals and 11 total points. Young, who scored four goals and added an assist versus Hopkins, is now just behind with seven goals and three helpers. SO M Jack Gannon, who scored a career-best four points (2g, 2a) versus Hopkins, and Young are the only Retrievers with points in all four games to date.


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Morning Five: 05.01.14 EditionPosted by nvr1983 on May 1st, 2014
- Yesterday was a surprisingly busy day on the coaching carousel. The big news came out late last night when Southern Mississippi filled its coaching vacancy by hiring Doc Sadler. The Southern Miss spot opened up when Donnie Tyndall moved to Tennessee, but he did leave a fairly good program for Sadler as the team went 56-17 in the past two seasons although they did not make the NCAA Tournament either season. Sadler compiled a 149-107 record at UTEP and Nebraska, but was fired in 2012 at Nebraska after going 12-18. It was just yesterday that the job was reportedly offered to Brad Underwood, who "decided" to stay at Stephen F. Austin just a few hours before the Sadler hiring was announced so we suspect that his decision may have been impacted by Southern Mississippi's decision. The other announcement was that Tom Izzo intends to stay at Michigan State rather than pursuing a NBA job. In our opinion, this really isn't particularly newsworthy although with coaches of Izzo's caliber we always assume that some NBA team will have interest in Izzo. While Izzo stated that he plans on staying at Michigan State he noted that if the right offer comes up he might reconsider and he did mention the Lakers as such a job. And Mike D'Antoni did resign yesterday…
- It wasn't that long ago that Rick Barnes was on the "hot seat". After a surprisingly good season last season, Barnes appeared to be in good shape heading into next season with most of last year's team returning. On top of that, he added Myles Turner, who committed to Texas yesterday essentially ending this recruiting season (at least for high school recruits). Turner, the consensus #2 recruit in the class of 2014, announced that he was heading to Texas in a press conference that was televised on ESPNU. For a more thorough breakdown of what Turner's commitment means, check out Jeff Borzello's excellent breakdown.
- We aren't sure if one coach needs to replace another on the hot seat, but if he does then we would nominate Mark Turgeon. He already lost three players to transfer this off-season (more on one below) and now according to some reports both Seth Allen and Charles Mitchell have both asked for their release from the program. Maryland is denying these reports, but if true we cannot imagine how much longer Turgeon can stay on board. It is too late in the coaching carousel cycle for the school to get rid of him and look for a new coach and with their upcoming move to the Big Ten they need some stability, but they need to be looking in another direction. Last season, Allen averaged 13.4 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds per game while Mitchell averaged 6.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. If they do leave, Maryland will have lost five of its top eight players from last season to transfer.
- With most of his production from last year leaving and an undistinguished freshman class coming in we knew that Craig Robinson needed to do something significant if he wanted to keep his job. It appears that he has in the transfer market. Yesterday, Maryland transfer Nick Faust announced that he would be headed to Oregon State. Faust, who averaged 9.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2 assists per game, will have to sit out this season and has one more year of eligibility left. According to reports, Oregon State is also active in reaching out to several other prominent transfers. This method probably isn't what Oregon State needs for long-term success, but it might be enough to let Robinson keep his job for a few more years.
- Danny Manning hasn't had his first practice at Wake Forest, but his tenure is already off to a rough start. Yesterday, Shelton Mitchell, the team's top incoming recruit, received his release from Wake Forest. Mitchell, a four-star point guard, is recovering from an ACL tear is reportedly still considering Wake Forest, but is keeping his options open now that Jeff Bzdelik, the coach who recruited him, is no longer there. At this point, the only class of 2014 commit that Manning has is two-star shooting guard Rondale Watson. Manning might turn out to be a better coach than Bzdelik, but with that recruiting class it will be very hard to prove it in the ACC.


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Now you can enjoy quick and easy access to back issues of this popular magazine! These CD-ROMs include high quality black-and-white scanned pages, easily read on your computer screen or printed. All the articles, ads, columns and covers are included. Readers will enjoy a wealth of material that spanned the gamut of Amateur Radio technical interests: construction projects, theory, antennas, transmitters, receivers, amplifiers, HF through microwaves, test equipment, accessories, FM, SSB, CW, visual and digital modes.
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There is no end. There is no beginning. There is only the infinite passion of life....and Tandy Hills Natural Area.
Federico Fellini endorses FOTHNA
This is our first year to participate in the fund and profile-raising event called North Texas Giving Day. On September 17, 2015 from 6 a.m. until midnight, each donation of $25 and above made through our page on the North Texas Giving Day website will receive bonus funds and prizes which means that your tax deductible donation to Friends of Tandy Hills on Giving Day will go further.
Your donations to Friends of Tandy Hills are vital. There are no paid staff members in our nonprofit organization. All donations fund conservation and education initiatives. Where specifically do your donations go?
- Our award-winning outdoor education program Kids on the Prairie. Program expenses include:
- transportation to and from Tandy Hills Natural Area for 250 4th graders from area schools annually,
- field journals tailored to the local Cross Timbers prairie and aligned to Texas State and National science standards,
- onsite outdoor facilities,
- water, snacks, and lunches for the kids, teachers and bus drivers.
- Our long term goal of restoring the land itself via the Master Plan. These goals include:
- critically needed removal of invasive species,
- trail maintenance and creation,
- construction of a visitors center.
We hope you agree that Tandy Hills is a North Texas jewel, and that Friends of Tandy Hills plays a critical mission in "keeping it like it was." On Thursday, September 17, please visit FOTHNA's page on northtexasgivingday.org anytime between 6am and midnight and click "Donate Now". Then put on your hiking boots, grab your water bottle and come, take a hike in our rare prairie remnant. Just east of downtown Fort Worth, Texas.
Thank you for joining us in our essential work!
See you on the prairie!
Our Campaign for 2015 will be here http://tandyhills.org/campaign2015
See all the folks who like Tandy Hills: http://tandyhills.org/campaign2014


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Have a nice day! All The Best
The Substitute
6th Grade gets a new substitute teacher. She wants to train the class for an international competition in Paris. But something isn't right. How is she able read kids' minds? Why is she so mean? And how does she manage to convince everyone's parents she is so great when the whole class knows she is really an alien? ...
Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Horror, Sci-Fi
Actor: Paprika Steen, Ulrich Thomsen, Jonas Wandschneider
Director: Ole Bornedal
Country: Denmark
Movie: The Substitute
Production Co: Obel Film, Thura Film
Duration: 93 min
Release: 2007
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The Tax Foundation's TAX POLICY BLOG also reports that "Sen. Coleman Seeks Increase in Mileage Reimbursement Rate". The post states that Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) "has a bill pending (S. 3032) to temporarily standardize business, medical, and moving reimbursement rates at 70 cents per mile, with charitable reimbursement increased to 40 cents per mile".
The IRS had increased the standard mileage allowances during the year in 2005. In that instance there was one rate for the first 8 months of the year and another for the last 4 months. I hope that when (and I do expect it to happen) the IRS, or Congress, raises the SMAs for 2008 they make it retroactive and effective for the entire year 2008. Anytime there are two separate rules for a deduction at various times of the year it is a true PITA for we tax preparers.
FYI, generally the SMA for business, medical and moving travel is set annually by the IRS, while the SMA for charitable driving is set by Congress. The current 14 cents per mile for charity has been around for quite a while now (there was a temporary increase for Katrina-related charitable driving).
* Glad to hear Joe Kristan and his associates at ROTH AND COMPANY survived the floods in Iowa. On June 16th he posted some tax advice and information for individuals who were affected by the floods – and for those who are victims of similar natural disasters in a covered disaster area at the firm's TAX UPDATE BLOG.
* There has been a lot of buzz about Obama and McCain's tax policies – and we haven't even had the conventions yet! As one would expect, McCain has the better of the two, although his is certainly not perfect. Obama wants to further complicate the Tax Code with targeted tax breaks for the "less fortunate" (most of them already pay no taxes) and increased income and Social Security taxes on those he considers to be "wealthy". An article on my Comcast.net homepage titled "McCain, Obama Offer Different Visions on Taxes" is just one of the online comparisons.
* An article in Thursday's USA TODAY ("How Much Do You Make? It'd Be No Secret in Scandinavia") reports that each year Sweden, Finland and Norway makes public every one of its citizen's tax returns, so anyone can look up what his in-laws or neighbors make.
* An "As The Congress Turns" update - The CCH Tax Newsletter reported in "Ways and Means Approves AMT Patch with Revenue Offsets" that on June 18th.
According to the article the Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008 (HR 6275) "will never reach a vote in the Senate because Republicans object to the revenue-raisers." Republicans "predicted that history will repeat itself and that the Democratic-controlled Congress will eventually pass an AMT relief bill without revenue offsets, just as it did in 2007".
Oi vey! It looks like it will be down to the wire again this year with regards to "extenders". All this nonsense about "sunsetting" and "extenders" is relatively new in the tax world – unique to George W's tenure. In the past when Congress passed a tax measure it was the permanent law until a future Congress changed or repealed it. Tax law never "expired".
It is just one more example of how Congress is basically lazy and prefers to "react" with a quick fix rather than "respond" with thoughtful legislation to actually deal with the causes of a problem or issue.
* TAX GIRL Kelly Phillips Erb reports "JK Harris and Company, LLC, a national tax debt firm that promised to help folks settle tax debts, has agreed to change its advertising practice and pay millions of dollars in restitution under a settlement with attorneys general in 18 states." in her post "Tax Debt Firm Settles With Attorneys General In Multiple States".
JK Harris is one of the companies that erroneously advertise they can settle your outstanding tax debts for "pennies on the dollar". According to Kelly (emphasis is mine), "Among the allegations against JK Harris was that the company regularly advertised it could help people who owed taxes to the IRS by filing an Offer in Compromise while knowing that the taxpayers may not qualify. The company took money upfront for this service, it was alleged, and the money was not refunded."
As I continue to advise my readers – if you owe a ton to "Sam" and think you may qualify for relief via an Offer in Compromise do not contact any of the "pennies on the dollar" firms that advertise on television and elsewhere. Talk to your tax professional first, or to a reputable and competent tax professional like Kelly. You can find a tax pro in your area by going to www.taxprofessionals.com .
* Kay Bell reports in DON'T MESS WITH TAXES that "Congress Taking a Look at Rebate Process" in light of all the FUs that have surfaced lately regarding the "stimulus" payments. According to the posting (emphasis is mine) -
"Oversight Subcommittee Chairman John Lewis (D-Georgia) and Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Michael R. McNulty (D-New York) noted that, 'To administer the rebate checks, the IRS and the Social Security Administration (SSA) received an additional appropriation of $50.7 million and $31 million, respectively, to ensure that the rebate checks are fully and properly paid.'"
$81.7 Million of the taxpayers' money wasted to process this unnecessary election year scam! That means that the federal deficit is $81.7 Million more than it should be (and don't forget to add the humongous amount of the actual rebates themselves)!
* Kay also discusses the new Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax (HEART) Act, which George W signed into law last week, in her post "HEART Act Now Official".


text: Seller: englishglass (3,231) 100%, Location: Pittsboro, North Carolina, Ships to: Worldwide, Item: 292485118026 OLD ENGLISH LEADED STAINED GLASS WINDOW Abstract Floral 19" x 20.25" with legs Description This Beautiful Stained Glass window is from the top of a "bay" window & dates from the 1920's & 30's. We are the largest importer of Old Stained Glass into the USA & buy from all over England. The measurements are 16.25" x 14.25" Glass size & 19.25 Overall including the frame. The colors in this window are Red & 2 Shades of Gold Most of the glass is Unobscured/Clear The glass is in perfect condition with no cracks or breaks. The frame while in good shape will always be less than perfect & can be hung as is, or painted or stripped & stained to suit your decor. If this is not quite what you are looking for, or you need more than one, email us, keep checking our eBay listings or Visit My eBay Store View My Other Items For Sale Payment We accept PayPal, all major credit cards, for shipping within 3-4 business days. Shipping We can ship USPS priority mail or parcel post, larger packages sent UPS ground We can pack in 2's or 3's to save on shipping, unless any piece is larger than 22" at the longest, then it has to be shipped singularly. Please contact us for details We can ship by alternate methods on contact Terms of Sale We want you to be happy with your purchase & will do all we can to rectify any problems you may have. These windows are fragile & while we pack as carefully as possible, we cannot stop a carrier throwing them around! Hence we insist on insurance & do not accept responsibility for damage. You can see by our feedback, most arrive safely Please contact us if you have any concerns prior to bidding About Us We ship 40ft containers of English Stained Glass Antiques & collectibles. We are the USA's largest importer of English Stained Glass, with over 2,000 pieces in every container. We sell on eBay auctions & in our eBay store, in our shop & at Antique shows. Please contact us for more information Contact Us contact us through this listing or call our store on 919 545 3008 Mon-Sat 9.00-6.00 & Sun 1.00-6.00 EST CLOSED WEDNESDAYS Tailor your auctions with Auctiva's Listing Templates! THE simple solution for eBay sellers. Track Page Views WithAuctiva's FREE Counter Condition: Good for age no cracks or breaks, Type: Stained Glass Windows, Primary Material: Glass, Age: 1900-1940, Original/Reproduction: Original


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Aggressive and invasive plants
Q. What is the difference between aggressive and invasive plants?
A. The Chicago Botanic Garden defines an invasive plant as "a species, usually nonnative, that is able to establish itself within existing native plant communities and is posing a threat to the integrity of the community."
An aggressive plant is one that spreads faster than preferred, or into an area of your garden where it is unwanted. A plant may be aggressive in one area of a garden or neighborhood and well behaved in another.


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The Manassas City Manager is appointed by the mayor and City Council to be the chief administrative officer of the city. The city manager carries out the policy directives of the City Council and manages the daily operations of government. The City Manager oversees the preparation of the annual operating and capital budgets and other reports as may be required for submission to the City Council.
William Patrick Pate has served as City Manager for the City of Manassas since October 2013. In his role as city manager he is responsible for an operating budget of $328 million and a capital budget of $205 million providing all aspects of local government service delivery. This includes water, sewer and electric utilities, police, fire, rescue, public works, engineering, social services, a regional airport, economic development, planning, community development and staff services. He has made the City of Manassas his home and is working to create a Manassas with a sense of place, a sense of community and a sense of opportunity.
Prior to his appointment as city manager, Pate served as assistant city manager of the City of High Point, N.C., since 1999.
Before becoming assistant manager, Pate served as the budget and evaluation director for the City of Greensboro, N.C.
Bachelors Degree in Political Science and Religion, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Masters Degree, Public Administration, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Career Highlights
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Past-president, Government Finance Officers Association of the U.S. and Canada
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There is this…
The CEO of a company that teaches people how to use guns has posted a ranting video online in which he claims he will 'start killing people' if President Obama uses his executive powers to introduce tighter gun controls.
James Yeager runs Tactical Response, a Tennessee company that trains people in weapon and tactical skills. In a video posted on YouTube and Facebook, Yeager describes President Obama as a 'dictator' and claims that tighter gun control measures will result in 'civil war.'
'F*** that! I'm telling you that if that happens, it's going to spark a civil war, and I'll be glad to fire the first shot,' rants Yeager, who has bullets tattooed on his left arm.
Yeager gets increasingly more irate as the video continues and he urges other gun rights advocates to 'load your damn mags' and 'get ready to fight.'
He closed with more threats: 'I'm not fucking putting up with this. I'm not letting my country be ruled by a dictator. I'm not letting anybody take my guns! If it goes one inch further, I'm going to start killing people.'
I have two points to make about this stupidity. One that's obvious. Another, not so much.
The obvious one first. The United States has the largest military in the history of the world. If you were to say barricade yourself in your home with all your weapons, even if you stockpiled for twenty years, you honestly think you'd have enough fire power to repel, let's say for the sake of argument, a well-trained SEAL team.
In fact, forget the SEAL team. As long as we're going down the paranoid rabbit hole, let's go all the way down. You start screaming about revolution from a fortified home bunker, what's to stop them from using an unmanned drone from raining AGM-114 Hellfire missiles on your head. Unless, of course, you had the presence of mind to install on your roof an EMP emitter or an Anti-Aircraft gun.
Which means, if you want to fight the tyranny of the United States Government, you would have to run an arms race against them.
The Soviet Union couldn't win an arms race against us. What makes you think you have a shot?
And now on to the less obvious point. And I'm kind of surprised that no one else had thought of this.
After 9/11, the Bush Administration shoved the Patriot Act down our throat and began an erosion of our civil rights which I will admit, the Obama Administration has done little to counteract. Whether, it's out of a fear of looking "Soft on terrorism" or a legitimate agreement with those tactics is subject to debate.
Now I'm lucky that both my senators, have been great on pushing back on this nonsense. Ron Wyden has been single-handedly pushing back on anti free internet bills like COICA and SOPA. And Jeff Merkley has been pushing back the most onerous parts of the NDAA.
But because of the persistent fear hangover from 9/11, the success of these pushbacks have been limited.
Imagine how much harder that pushback becomes when a segment of the population loses their shit and threatens revolution over new gun laws?
Seriously, what do you think would be the more possible reaction to a bunch of crazy people waving guns screaming revolution?
A: "Gee, you know. Those people waving guns are making some very salient points about the place of the 2nd amendment in modern society.
B: "Somebody call the FBI."
I'll make it easy. It's B. If a non violent movement like Occupy can have the FBI get up in their grill, you bet your sweet ass a possible violent uprising is going to get the same treatment.
You are not fighting an encroaching police state, you are enabling it!
And let me tell you something else. You start screaming about armed conflict, even people who are sympathetic to your point of view are going to back away for the very human reason of not wanting to get shot. And they will tolerate any possible erosion of civil rights to gain that goal of not being shot.
The government oppresses the people. The people violently attack the power structure. The Government clamps down harder as voices of reason within are drowned out by screams of outrage and terror.
Lather, rinse, repeat.
Again, I am not excusing the government's behavior. I am simply pointing out that going on YouTube and screaming about killing people does not help
Say what you want about the Occupy movement but they at least realize the futility of violence in a political struggle and are working for non-violent change. And they have the guts to face down the truncheon and the rubber bullet armed with only the righteousness of their beliefs.
You think your guns will save you from what's coming? Hell, Adam Lanza's mother had guns to prepare for the collapse of the world economy.
How much good did they do her? The only thing that's going to walk us through this time of crisis is intellect, imagination and engagement. And the battlefield is not just the halls of power but the dark and fear encrusted recesses of our hearts.
G'Quan wrote, "There is a greater darkness than the one we fight. It is the darkness of the soul that has lost its way. The war we fight is not against powers and principalities, it is against chaos and despair. Greater than the death of flesh is the death of hope, the death of dreams. Against this peril we can never surrender. The future is all around us, waiting, in moments of transition, to be born in moments of revelation. No one knows the shape of that future or where it will take us. We know only that it is always born in pain."
Citizen G'Kar (Written by J. Michael Straczynski.)
EDIT: 1-16, 4:03 pm Crossposted at Daily Kos.


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Is December too early to start planning for the Blue and Gold banquet?
Nope. Though February seems forever away, planning ahead ensures you don't fall behind.
Start with the December Cubcast, which contains some handy tips for making your next banquet successful and stress-free.
Listen up as hosts Sam and Janet learn from Darlene Sprague, member of the national commissioner support team and board member of the Greater Niagara Frontier Council.
Boy Scout leaders: The wait is almost over! The Boy Scout version of Cubcast, which I mentioned in September, debuts January 2013.


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Three State Nuclear Decay Model Relations
Open Source Physics Related Resources
Wolfgang Christian
The Easy Java Simulations Modeling and Authoring Tool is needed to explore the computational model used in the Three State Nuckear Decay Model.
Bruce Mason
The three-state model is an extension of the two-state nuclear decay model.
Create a new relation


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Tropical Storm Fernand heads to Mexico's coast
Updated 11:06 PM ET
VERACRUZ, Mexico Tropical Storm Fernand brewed up just off Mexico's Gulf coast Sunday, and heavy rains and strong winds caused some power failures and street flooding in the colonial city of Veracruz. The storm was expected to move ashore before dawn Monday.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm had winds of at least 50 mph (85 kph) late Sunday. Fernand was about five (10 kilometers) north of Veracruz and moving westward at 9 mph (15 kph).
A tropical storm warning was in effect on Mexico's coast from Veracruz north to Barra de Nautla.
The government of Veracruz state advised its 7.7 million residents to stay home, and Gov. Javier Duarte suspended classes in the whole state to protect children from venturing out into winds and rain.
Blackouts hit parts of Veracruz city as skies turned gray and rain flooded major roads, causing cars to stall in the middle of the streets. Several trees were reported to have fallen.
Forecasters said the storm could bring 4 to 8 inches of rain over parts of several states as it moved inland toward central Mexico.
In the eastern Pacific, former Tropical Storm Ivo weakened further from a tropical depression into a remnant low.


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They used to dispense sandwiches and candies but now these vending machines spit out crack pipes.
They're found at two locations in the Downtown Eastside, at the Drug Users Resource Centre on East Cordova and Washington Market on East Hastings.
Much like the idea of giving out free needles, it's hoped that by offering crack pipes for 25 cents apiece it will improve health and safety on the streets of the DTES.
"We're not quite there yet with pipes, where we are with needles," Kailin See, director of the DUR Centre said. "But to us, it's all the same. We need to ensure people aren't spreading diseases, and keeping people's mouths and bodies as healthy as possible."
Crack pipes can cost $5 or even more on the street, depending on availability and the desperation of the smoker.
That can put people, especially women, at risk, either trading sex or drugs for pipes or just generally putting them in harm's way, See said.
Selling the Pyrex pipes, which are safer than regular glass, at cost serves another purpose: it saturates the market, therefore acting to drive down the price on the street.
"You can come in and get as many as you need," See said. "For us, this is a health intervention and a safety intervention, through and through."
Just as a kit is provided with clean needles, the crack pipes come with their own paraphernalia: Push sticks, Brillo, screen, mouthpiece and alcohol swabs.
The Centre has been distributing clean needles and crack pipes for ages, but the vending machine idea is six months old.
"There's not a lot out there for smokers, and there needs to be," See said. "I am not a health-care professional, but as I understand you can contract (Hepatitus, HIV, herpes) by sharing a pipe, especially if you have sores in your mouth or your pipe is chipped.
"So there's blood, or there's saliva, bodily fluids are exchanged, there's risk. That's primarily why we do this
"This is all about health care and keeping people safe."


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"Going South" - Scorpion S1 E17
Team Scorpion heads to Mexico when a tech billionaire hires them to rescue his kidnapped daughter. Also, feelings are hurt after Walter gives an interview and fails to acknowledge the other members of the team, on SCORPION, Monday, Feb. 23 (9:00- 9:59 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Pictured: Katharine McPhee as Paige Dineen. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2015 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved


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Loading Map....
Date(s) - 06/01/2019
7:30 pm - 11:30 pm Add to my calendar
Fair Oaks Drive-In Theatre
Twin screen venue with capacity for 800 cars. Open Fri-Sat-Sun in Spring and Fall, and 7 days a week during the Summer. Gates open 7:30 pm. Order food right from your phone during the movie and pick it up at the concession stand when it's ready!
See website for schedule!
Phone: 845-361-5686
Website: fairoaksdriveintheatre.com/


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Just stumbled upon this great documentary on Gil Scott-Heron in Daz-I-Kue's twitter flow. It's an excellent insight to the man's life, music and contribution to society.
"Originally aired on the BBC in 2004, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: A Film About Gil Scott-Heron features contributions from disciples such as Chuck D and Mos Def as well as music from his career stretching back over 20 albums to the early '70s.
Gil Scott-Heron (April 1st, 1949 - May 27th, 2011) is an American poet, musician, and author known primarily for his late 1960s and early 1970s work as a spoken word soul performer and his collaborative work with musician Brian Jackson.
His collaborative efforts with Jackson featured a musical fusion of jazz, blues and soul music, as well as lyrical content concerning social and political issues of the time, delivered in both rapping and melismatic vocal styles by Scott-Heron. The music of these albums, most notably Pieces of a Man and Winter in America in the early 1970s, influenced and helped engender later African-American music genres such as hip hop and neo soul. Scott-Heron's recording work is often associated with black militant activism and has received much critical acclaim for one of his most well-known compositions "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". On his influence, a music writer later noted that "Scott-Heron's unique proto-rap style influenced a generation of hip-hop artists." (Shouts: 13thfloorgrowingold &RBGzRapFreeStyleChan)


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Heralded as the most innovative and instrumental avant-garde movement, Cubism aggressively confronted Western core conceptions of pictorial representation. Cubist paintings introduced the most revolutionary chapter of art history, instigating a genuine cultural awakening. Representatives of this movement, namely Picasso and Georges Braque, aimed to revitalize the tired standards of art which they believed had run their course. Through their vocabulary of cubes, cones, spheres and cylinders, Cubist paintings abandoned perspective which had been used to depict pictorial space since the Renaissance.
The creative artist duo of Picasso and Braque established a visual language of geometric planes and compressed space that rejected the conventions of illusionism and representation. Insisting that a subject must be displayed from several angles at once by utilizing geometrical components was the biggest game-changer the art world had seen so far. Initial works of Braque and Picasso comprise what art historians usually refer to as the first phase of Cubism known as Analytic Cubism. At the heart of this early stage of the movement was reduction and fracturing of objects that was followed by a realignment of those newly formed elements within a shallow space. The second main phase of Cubist paintings emerged in 1912 when Picasso glued a piece of oilcloth to a small canvas and named it Still-life with Chair-caning. Besides initiating the Synthetic Cubism stage, this piece was also the first collage artwork of the movement. The Synthetic style kept the various angles, open forms and flowing of space between and through subjects, but it also explored the use of non-art materials as abstract signs. As evidenced by some of our examples below, the second phase of Cubist paintings was a lot more aware of current events, particularly the horrors of World War I.
Since Cubist paintings were intended to confront traditional norms of art, it comes as no surprise that their authors often tackled similar themes in their avant-garde work. Wishing to prove that their new approach was superior to any other earlier method, Cubists regularly painted traditional subjects like nude figures, landscapes and still lifes. Artists would take such themes and put them through a process of characteristic abstraction, but most often maintained identifiable clues to a realistic figure, whether it be a woman, a violin or something else. Additionally, Cubist paintings featured some modern subjects and themes, some of which were quite repetitive. Music is a common motif, particularly in the works made by Picasso and Braque. The second of the two filled his entire Parisian studio with musical instruments which served as an endless source of inspiration. Picasso had a specific interest in music as many of Picasso paintings combined instruments with the shapes of feminine forms.
Since most notable authors of Cubist paintings were well educated, literature was an essential well of inspiration. Furthermore, many Cubists were acquainted with writers and poets of their time. Other cultural aspects of modern society also had a great influence on Cubism, including theater and opera. One of the regular motifs in Cubism was Harlequin, the comic character from the Italian Commedia dell'arte. This figure is especially important for analyzing Picasso's art as the Spaniard seemed to have a particular interest in this subject. To him, Harlequin represented the experience of isolation and of being an outcast during the artist's early career. However, as he matured intellectually and creatively, Harlequin returned in a form which is both a musical instrument and musician united into one, presenting an autonomous entity.
After everything it ultimately managed to achieve, Cubism paved the way for non-representational modern art. The liberating notions of Cubist paintings had far-reaching consequences for Dada and Surrealism, as well as for all artists pursuing abstraction. While Picasso and Braque are rightfully credited with creating this phenomenal visual language, it was adopted and further developed by many painters, such as Fernand Léger, Sonia Delaunay, Juan Gris, Marcel Duchamp and Jean Metzinger. Some of these artist names will be mentioned as we chronologically list the Cubist paintings that changed modern art.
Editors' Tip: Cubist Painters: Aesthetic Mediations
In what is interestingly Guillaume Apollinaire's only book on art, Cubist Painters: Aesthetic Mediations was first published in 1913. This essential text in twentieth-century art presents the poet and critic's aesthetic meditations on nine painters: Georges Braque, Jean Metzinger, Albert Gleizes, Marie Laurencin, Juan Gris, Fernand Léger, Francis Picabia and Marcel Duchamp. As Picasso's closest friend and Marie Laurencin's lover, Apollinaire witnessed the development of Cubism firsthand. This collection of essays and reviews, written between 1905 and 1912, is a milestone in the history of art criticism, valued today as both a work of reference and a classic example of modernist creative writing. It is also the perfect asset for one to witness just how influential Cubist paintings were to the development of modern art.
Featured images: Picasso - Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, 1907 (detail) - Image via wikimedia.org; Jean Metzinger - L'Oiseau bleu, 1913 (detail) - Image via wikimedia.org; Fernand Léger - Three Women, 1921 (detail) - Image via myfreewallpapers.net
This large painting was finished in 1907 and is the most famous example of early Analytic Cubism. In it, Picasso abandoned all known forms and representations of traditional art, introducing a new geometric vocabulary. He used distortion of female's body in an innovative way which challenged the expectation that paintings will offer an idealized depiction of womanly beauty. Les Desmoiselles d'Avignon also shows the strong influence of African art on Picasso.
Featured Image: Picasso - Les Desmoiselles d'Avignon, 1907 - Image via wikimedia.org
Braque painted Woman with a Mandolin during the spring of 1910. Interestingly, this was the artist's first depiction of the human figure after two years devoted exclusively to still lifes and landscapes. Driven by his love towards music, the painter believed the addition of an instrument endowed a character with the stillness of an object. To contemporary authors, Woman with a Mandolin was a perfect example of how Cubist paintings enabled a merger of the figure and background in a dense mesh of vertical and horizontal lines.
Featured Image: Georges Braque - Woman with a Mandolin, 1910 - Image via juliennedickey.com
Definitely one of the most influential Cubist paintings ever made, this Picasso's piece will be found on many similar lists. Here, strong geometrical shapes are allowed a gentler, more rhythmical quality a bit uncommon to Spaniard's visuals at that period. The repeated darkened shapes echo the presence of a guitar in the middle of the composition. Around the music instrument which obviously serves a pivotal role within the painting is a fantastic use of shading, emphasizing what Picasso believed should be the piece's strongest section.
Featured Image: Man with a Guitar, 1911 - Image via pablopicasso.org
In this piece which may easily be Braque's most interesting Analytic artwork, the artist challenged the orthodoxy of illusionistic space in painting. He paired up a lifelike rendering of a nail and rope with a nearly indecipherable depiction of a man playing a guitar. By leaving the traditional use of perspective far behind, Braque challenged viewers to understand the subject at hand despite it being broken down to its most basic geometrical elements.
Featured Image: Georges Braque - Man with a Guitar, 1911 - Image via wikiart.org
Interestingly, Ma Jolie was actually the refrain of a popular song performed at a Parisian music hall Picasso frequently visited. Loving that musical piece, the artist gave this nickname to his lover Marcelle Humbert, whose figure he loosely built in this painting using the signature shifting planes of Analytic Cubism. Although there are clues to its representational content, Ma Jolie is far from a traditional portrait. the painter yet again displayed his love for music in this painting as strings of a guitar can be found in the center of the composition.
Featured Image: Ma Jolie, 1911 - Image via shafe.co.uk
Although he remains greatly overshadowed by his more famous colleagues, Juan Gris is still considered to be an important author of Cubist paintings. As a matter of fact, he was the one to coin the term Analytical Cubism. In his Still Life with Flowers, Gris displayed his own unique and colorful style underlined by his heavy, often triangular, shading of the angles.
Featured Image: Juan Gris - Still Life with Flowers, 1912 - Image via pictorem.com
Cobbled together from cardboard, paper, and wire, Maquette for Guitar is a silent instrument resembling no sculpture ever seen before. Spurred by the success of his aforementioned Still Life with Chair Caning, the painter attempted to expand his collage visuals to the fields of assemblage. The paint translated the Cubist interest in multiple perspectives and geometric form into a three-dimensional medium. It should be noted that Maquette for Guitar is the first sculpture assembled from disparate parts.
Featured Image: Maquette for Guitar, 1912 - Image via theartblog.org
L'Oiseau bleu, one of Metzinger's most recognizable and frequently referenced works, was first exhibited in Paris at the famous Salon des Indépendants in the spring of 1913. This large oil painting is a great indicator of Metzinger's unique style. Among all Cubist paintings, this author's work has a way of standing out due to its stringent geometrical visuals and poetic line. It should be noted that Jean Metzinger is one of two authors who published the first and only Cubist manifesto, titled Du Cubisme. The other co-writer was Albert Gleizes.
Featured Image: Jean Metzinger - L'Oiseau bleu, 1913 - Image via wikimedia.org
Sonia Delaunay's innovative explorations of color and form were crowned in 1914 when she presented her Electric Prisms was first displayed. Along with her husband Robert, Sonia Delaunay developed a non-objective style which eventually transformed itself into a blend of Post-Impressionism and Fauvism. Electric Prisms is the precise example of how this painter managed to combine this mixed style with the notions of Cubist paintings.
Featured Image: Sonia Delaunay - Electric Prisms, 1914 - Image via tate.org.uk
Joan Miró painted this artwork at his home in the Spanish village of Montroig shortly after his first visit to The City of Light. Horse, Pipe and Red Flower reveals a complex configuration of forms which adopted a Cubist collage technique inspired by the work of Pablo Picasso. Miró's fascination with the Spaniard is demonstrated with the book on the table, titled The Rooster and the Harlequin and featuring illustrations by Picasso. The remainder of various objects within the compositions all have their symbolic reasons as well. Shortly after Horse, Pipe and Red Flower was completed, Joan Miró joined the Surrealist movement.
Featured Image: Joan Miró - Horse, Pipe and Red Flower, 1920 - Image via wikimedia.org
Fernand Léger's Three Women represents a group of three reclining nudes drinking cups of tea or coffee in a very chic apartment. Although the nude is a common subject in most of art history, Léger's figures have been simplified into rounded and dislocated forms in a style of Cubist paintings. Through a machinelike precision, the author aimed to make a symbol for modern industry. By the artist's claim, Three Women was also intended to represent the belief that modern life will be able to reverse the chaos unleashed by World War I.
Featured Image: Fernand Léger - Three Women, 1921 - Image via myfreewallpapers.net
New York City, United States of America
Neuchatel, Switzerland


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This tiara is made of diamonds set in gold and silver in floral and vegetable motifs, and is the personal propriety of Her Majesty. It was a wedding gift from the Spanish people to Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark on the occasion of her wedding to Prince Juan Carlos of Spain. Despite being one of their favorite diadems not much was known of its origins besides the fact that it was acquired in Madrid's Aldao Jewellery Firm in 1962.
After the Princess of Asturias wore it to Queen Beatrix's dinner on April 29, 2013 the Royal Household explained that this tiara had already belonged to the Royal Family long before 1962. King Alfonso XII commissioned this tiara to the British jewellers J.P. Collins in 1879 as a gift for his betrothed Archduchess Maria Christina of Austria-Teschen. Since then the piece left the family and in the 20th century ended in Aldao, where Franco would buy it as a wedding gift. The central flower is adapted to be used as a brooch.
It is believed that Princess Sophia used this gift for the first time at her pre-wedding ball as a necklace although the quality of the pictures is not good:
Doña Sofía would not wear the gift in a tiara frame until 1979 during a Sate Visit to Sweden. It has become one of her favorite diadems since then.
The Queen has frequently shared the tiara with her daughters and daughter-in-law, the Infanta Cristina even chose it for her wedding. Her sister Doña Elena, however, only used it before 1995, when she received a tiara from her fiance's family:
Since her wedding in 2004 the Princess of Asturias has borrowed this tiara on multiple occasions, including last week for a dinner in Amsterdam:


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All Mountain boards are for general cruising and carving
Directional - nose and tail have different shape and flex
Soft - great for beginners or park, forgiving and playful
Camber - the ultimate in pop and response
The 2B1 Paint Black Snowboard is a quality entry-level board so you can start working on your skills and getting them to the point that you can tackle the steeper parts of the mountain. You'll be able to pick up the basics quicker on your very own ride instead of trying to handle a rental every time you hit the mountain. And why waste the time and the money? This Paint Black is one you can call your own. It boasts a camber profile which is poppy and responsive so you can work on some of the tricks and jumps you've been eyeing in the park. It has a great edge hold making those turns a little easier to master. Soft and forgiving, the 2B1 Paint Black Snowboard is a fun shred machine for any beginner trying to get the skills and confidence to go from the greens to the black diamonds. Whether sun or snow, the show must go on!


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Now I don't really know what to fool myself with to get through March. Because I have no idea when this little drama nugget is going to come home, but it sure doesn't feel like it's going to be any time soon.
|Breathe normally?
No, thanks. But I appreciate the offer.
|You expect me to come home in this crap weather?
Winter blows a fatty. I think I'll wait for spring.
But now, we are in this cul-de-sac of breathing drama that just seems endless. The past few days, her sats are still OK, but she's working harder to get them there by breathing super fast. I'm sitting in the NICU right now, watching her head bob up and down as she works for every breath.
I just told the nurses this morning: if she's here in June, they are going to have to get me an adult-sized isolette.
|You'd breathe fast too if your mom was asking nurses for adult-sized isolettes.
Or if someone shaved random spots on your head in order to poke you with needles.
Get off my tiny back.
If you didn't know what happened, you'd think that I was sitting at home for the past three months stuffing my face full of Taco Bell and getting fat and slovenly while watching sophisticated television. (Keeping Up With The Kardashians?) Which, honestly, isn't far off, sadly, and also I don't really care if the meat in a beef supreme chalupa isn't really beef because that shit tastes good. I may not get to bring two babies home, but I do look like I'm having two food babies. **
|I brought her some of her own clothes.
Looking fah-bulous, dahling.
But last week, we were moved to the intensive side for staffing reasons. And also for a much-appreciated reminder of just how far Ainsley has come. I almost forget sometimes.
While I was there, a mom fresh from the delivery room came in to see her baby. You're technically not supposed to know things about the other babies, but it's impossible since you're sardined in the room together. As soon as her husband wheeled her in she started sobbing. I'm not a hugger, but I've never wanted to hug someone so much in my whole life. Because GOD if it isn't fucking hard having a baby in the NICU. Unless it's happened to you, you just don't understand at all.
|Well, she's the least dramatic baby in the intensive rooms. So there's that!
It would be nice (or whatever) to have some information about what happened so that we can stop wondering.
* Sats...Oxygen saturation level. Should be mid-90's. If it drops below mid-80's-ish, it's called a desat. And desat = asshat. Sats tell us if she is getting enough oxygen/breathing effectively.
**You can really go thoroughly fuck yourself if you want to leave me a rude comment over me complaining about being fat. That's all I'm going to say about that.
One Year Ago: Panera's Wi-Fi Loss Prevention Owes Olivia
Two Years Ago: That's A Real Thing
Three Years Ago: Hey, It's Cheaper Than Therapy


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The animatronic ape may have been destroyed in a backlot fire, but now two years later, King Kong is finally returning to Los Angeles.
The Eighth Wonder of the World is back at Universal Studios as part of "King Kong 360 3-D."
Tour tram riders, armed with 3-D glasses, are transported deep into a tangled jungle thanks to a darkened soundstage, 16 HD projectors, and two 40 foot by 187 foot curved screens. Motion simulators combined with bursts of air and water add plenty of realism to the encounter between the titular ape and a V-Rex.
Yes, we said V-Rex -- the larger cousins of the T-Rex (duh).
The experience, helmed by Peter Jackson, seems like it could be a flagship attraction for the theme park.
"In press materials, it's billed as 'the largest most intense 3-D experience on the planet,' which smacks of classic Hollywood hype," said USA Today's Jayne Clark. "But having been-there, done-that, I can say it's no exaggeration."
"King Kong 360 3-D" is open to the public Thursday.
Universal Studios Hollywood is a unit of Universal Parks & Resorts, a division of NBC Universal.
Follow NBCLA for the latest LA news, events and entertainment: Twitter: @NBCLA // Facebook: NBCLA


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Fastest ever lemon pudding
Being short of time needn't stop you making your own pudding. This microwave-friendly sponge is ready in 10 minutes and can easily be a chocolate pud too
Nutrition and extra info
- Freezable
- Easily doubled / halved
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal457
- fat25g
- saturates14g
- carbs55g
- sugars34g
- fibre1g
- protein6g
- salt0.75g
- 100g caster sugar
- 100g softened butter
Butter is a dairy product made from separating whole milk or cream into fat and…
- 100g self-raising flour
- 2 eggs
The ultimate convenience food, eggs are powerhouses of nutrition packed with protein and a…
- zest of 1 lemon
Oval in shape with a pronouced bulge on one end, lemons are one of the most versatile…
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
The sun-dried seed pod of a type of climbing orchid, vanilla has an inimitable soft, sweet…
- 4 tbsp lemon curd
- crème fraîche or ice cream, to serve
Mix the sugar, butter, flour, eggs, lemon zest and vanilla together until creamy, then spoon into a medium microwave-proof baking dish. Microwave on High for 3 mins, turning halfway through cooking, until risen and set all the way through. Leave to stand for 1 min.
Meanwhile, heat the lemon curd for 30 secs in the microwave and stir until smooth. Pour all over the top of the pudding and serve with a dollop of crème fraîche or scoops of ice cream.
Recipe Tip
Cheat's chocolate spongeBeat 25g cocoa powder into the sponge mix instead of the lemon zest. If you have any chocolate in the cupboard, chop 25g chocolate roughly and stir through. Microwave as before. Meanwhile, put 4 tbsp readymade chocolate sauce into a bowl. Heat through, then pour over the pudding. Serve with ice cream or double cream.


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Frank M. Samson, CSA is founder of Senior Care Authority. He is a Certified Senior Advisor, host of a podcast and author of a book which is called The Aging Boomers. Frank has had a passion for senior care since having to care for his own family members.
Generally speaking, Assisted Living is for people that need help with the activities of daily living (ADLs). Depending on the type of care, individual needs and individual desires, Assisted Living can be a great option for your loved one.
Options range from small, family Residential Care Homes to larger, full-service communities with hundreds of residents. Many of these locations specialize in Dementia Care, including Alzheimer's.
In years past, many seniors were placed in Nursing Homes and this choice may be necessary for individuals with specific medical problems.
However, with the growth of Assisted Living and residential care homes, other options may work well depending upon your love one's needs.
$7,817 Semi-Private Room
l $8,517 Private Room
If you do not see an advisor for your area, please call 888-854-3910 ext. 1, and we will put you in contact with a senior placement professional.
OR you can complete this and someone will get back to you promptly!


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Coconut Oil1 item(s)
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As a B-Corp, we believe that our business can be a force for good, learn how GloryBee gives back:
Bees pollinate 1 out of every 3 bites of food we eat. Bees are in trouble.Learn More
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Helping coffee farmers to diversify their income through beekeeping.Learn More
Create a list of commonly ordered products for faster checkouts. Customers who use shopping lists can save up to 17 minutes per order!Create new list
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China has become the world's largest exporter of fur garments in just a few years. Many of the international fur traders, manufacturers, and fashion designers have shifted their business to China, where they can exploit China's cheap labor and the absence of restrictive animal welfare regulations.
China's new ascendance in the fur market—fur trade production and retail—comes with a heavy price for the fur-bearing animals. China apparently has no laws in place to regulate the confinement and slaughter of the raccoon dogs, foxes, minks, rabbits, and even dogs and cats, whose fur is responsible for a highly profitable industry. While conditions of fur farms in the West have been subjected to criticism by animal rights groups, Chinese fur farms and slaughter methods have been alleged to be far more shocking and brutal.
China's fur industry has developed across numerous fur farms over the last 12 years. China's farms number as many as 10,000, where 90 percent of the skins come from farms with fewer than 50 females, according to the China Leather Industry Association, cited in a report published by Swiss Animal Protection (SAP), Care for the Wild, and East International, (henceforth, called the "SAP report") in January 2005 and updated last month.
Fur farms tend to be concentrated in China's North East. Fur farms in Shandong province hold the highest number of animals, followed by Heilongjiang province and then Jilin province. Hebei province acts as the hub for the marketing of fur. At the Shangcun Market in Hebei province, 35 million fur skins are traded each year, which accounts for over 60 percent of China's pelt trade. The above information is taken from Chinese industry sources cited in the SAP report.
It was in the Shangcun Market that a 14-minute video was secretly produced in February 2005 by the Swiss Animal Protection SAP which shows the skinning of raccoon dogs, foxes and other animals that are still alive and even struggling (see Animal-Protection.net. WARNING: Images may be disturbing to some viewers).
An investigative reporter from the Beijing News observed conditions at the Shangcun Market two months after the video was on the Internet and the report appeared in the online version, April 5, 2005. A spokesperson from the county's Communist Party Committee propaganda department was quoted as saying that the live skinning took place seven or eight years ago but could not happen now. However, the reporter for the Beijing News confirmed that the skinning alive of most animals at this largest of fur markets in China was still going on, even after it had been exposed earlier.
Slaughtering the Fur Animals in China
The animals are immobilized by being stunned with repeated blows to the head, or by being slammed on the ground. The animals are injured and may convulse, tremble or attempt to crawl away, says the SAP report—this is also shown repeatedly in the video. The skinning may begin while the animal is conscious or regaining consciousness.
"Desperate and writhing in agony, animals conscious during these procedures hopelessly try to defend themselves even to the point where all the skin had been forced off …breathing, heart beat…and eyelid movements were evident for 5 to 10 minutes," describes the SAP report of the video and photos.
The International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF), of which China is a member, deplored the SAP report, arguing that it made sweeping generalizations about the conditions in all of China. "It is wrong to portray all fur farming as the same in China," said the IFTF. Some fur farms are run to western standards, said the IFTF. Conditions will improve for animal welfare in China when fur farmers come to realize that the quality of the pelts improve by employing western standards of animal welfare, and that through education, the situation will correct itself—this is the gist of the IFTF's response.
Fur Trim in Fashion
The fur garments are most commonly sold in the United States, Europe, or Japan as fur-trim on coats, gloves, purses, toys, trinkets, and even furniture. By mixing fur with silk, wool, suede and leather, and employing new manufacturing processes, such as shearing and knitting, and new fashionable colors, fur has attained a new novelty and versatility, according to sources cited in a Care for the Wild International (CWI) report.
"Overall, fur was displayed in greater numbers than in previous years, coming in all colors, shapes and sizes," commented a CNN report on fur's popularity on runways during New York's Fashion Week in February 2005. However, consumers may not have noticed the large increase of fur use in fashion today, because fur-trim is much less conspicuous than the expensive full-length fur coats worn in the past, added that most people would be too embarrassed to wear those today.
U.S. fur sales in 2003 were $1.8 billion, according to the Fur Information Council of America, cited by CWI. "China has become the leading fur garment exporter to the United States, accounting for 40 percent of total U.S. imports in 2004—the equivalent of $7.9 million," according to the SAP report. However, exact import statistics are difficult to obtain because fur trimmings are not specifically declared to customs, says the SAP report.
Protests Staged in Washington and 35 Cities Worldwide
The Anti-Fur Society of Washington, D.C.—a member of the International Anti-Fur Coalition—disapproves of the cramped wire cages that leave almost no room for the animal to move about. In these cramped quarters, the animals show signs of extreme anxiety and pathological behaviors, according to a report by CWI. The Anti-Fur Society of Washington, D.C. especially objects to the slaughter methods, including the skinning of the animals alive, "which makes China's fur industry the most barbaric in the world," says their press release. Their membership find these practices highly disturbing and horrifying.
The group is also appalled at the frequent use of domestic dog and cat fur. Although against U.S. law, a loophole in customs law and mislabeling permits their use in the United States, they say. Fur items priced at less than US$150 are not checked by Customs for truthful labeling upon entry. The group contends that unsuspecting customers are purchasing items with dog and cat fur. They claim that even Burlington Coat Factory, Macy's, JC Penny, Nordstrom, Saks and Barneys are selling dog fur as the fur from another species or even labeled as "faux fur."
A UK-based charity, Care for the Wild International (CWI), reported that on Nov 20, 2006, the E.U. banned imports of pelts of dogs and cats. The CWI stated that 5,400 dogs and cats are slaughtered every day in China. "Chinese suppliers offered us entire sheets made of dozens and dozens of cat skins—all in matching color patterns of tabby, ginger, black and white or tabby and white," says Dr. Barbara Maas, CWI's chief executive.
To protest China's alleged inhumane methods for fur industry animals, members of the Anti-Fur Society of Washington, D.C. on February 13 carried a symbolic casket across the Taft Memorial Bridge, followed by a funeral for the animal victims of the Chinese fur trade in front of the Chinese Embassy at 2300 Connecticut Ave. This demonstration at the Chinese Embassy was one of many that occurred on the same day in over 35 cities worldwide.
The documentary of the gruesome slaughter methods in the Shangcun Market made by the Swiss Animal Protection is often mentioned by the protesters as graphic proof of the barbarity of China's fur industry.
In Switzerland and several European countries, fur farming has been banned due to considerations for the humane treatment of animals. "In their lives and their unspeakable deaths, these animals have been denied the simplest acts of kindness," writes the investigator of the SAP report on conditions of the Chinese fur farms.
The World Fur Industry
Global fur sales in 2005 totaled $12.8 billion, which was a 9.1 percent increase from 2004, according to the International Fur Trade Federation (IFTF). In 1999, sales were only 8.2 billion and have been rising steadily every year for the last six years.
To get some idea of China's relative place in the industry, in world-trade mink production China takes up 22.4 percent of the total, which places it behind first place Denmark with 30.3 percent of the mink production in 2005. Sandy Parker estimates 10 million mink pelts produced in China in 2006, up 25 percent from 2005. Also, China has become the world's leading exporter of fox and raccoon dog pelts, according to the Sandy Parker Report.


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The royal wedding is set to take place Saturday, May 19, but English police have been putting security measures for it into place for months, NBC News reported.
Some of these measures include automatic license plate recognition technology, steel and concrete barriers outside the town to prevent vehicle attacks and dogs sniffing mailboxes. Around 3,000 police officers are expected to be deployed to Windsor, the town where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be married. Most police will not carry firearms, as is British tradition, however, armed officers will be in the streets, prepared to respond if needed.
"The smallest of things could go wrong and it could be regarded as a disaster in one way or another, so you always want to make sure you've done all your planning," said former London Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe.
U.S. & World
More than 10,000 people are expected to visit the town where the wedding is being held.


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(Pocket-lint) - The Canon EOS 1100D follows on from the previous 1000D model. It's been quite a few years in the making, so has Canon truly delivered with this latest model and does the budget DSLR market have a new king?
The Canon EOS 1100D, or Rebel T3 as our neighbours across the pond will know it, is the latest entry-level or budget DSLR model to be seen from Canon for some time. In fact it was almost 3 years ago that its predecessor, the Canon EOS 1000D, first hit stores. In the meantime the entry-level DSLR sector has been dominated by other brands - so has Canon made a comeback?
The 1100D has a 9-point autofocus (AF) system, adding an additional two points over the 1000D that came before it. Although no more complex than competitor systems in terms of layout or number of focus points, the 1100D's just works that much better. It is quick, if not the quickest in its class, and successfully locates and highlights which AF points are in focus. The only issues are really when shooting subjects that have very limited contrast where the camera will confusedly "hunt" for a point of focus, but that's common in almost every level of camera you'd care to buy.
One slight downside is the 1100D's rear LCD screen. A standard 230k-dot resolution is fine enough, but a paltry 2.7-inch is as small as screens tend to come these days - whether looking for a compact camera or beyond. There seems no discernable reason why Canon hasn't opted for a larger option, especially considering the real estate on the back of the camera.
From screen to viewfinder and the 1100D offers a 95% field of view, meaning that you'll see that very percentage through the viewfinder but the final captured images will present an additional 5% that can't be accurately framed up. This is a standard across entry and many mid-range DSLR cameras and something that's generally accepted at this level. Indeed, except for the highly critical, this field of view isn't especially limiting as the general composition is very close to complete and, should you so wish, a little cropping in post-production will always lead your images back to the exact way in which you saw them. The viewfinder itself is comfortable and large enough at a 0.8x magnification. Although not pro by any standard it's still an immensely good reason to get into DSLR photography in the first place as the sheer difference in composing, contrast assessment and added steadiness is much improved compared to using the rear screen.
Another fault, in our opinion, is the overall build of the camera. The 1100D's finish is smooth, almost too smooth, and has no rubberised grip to make it particularly nice to hold. You can also see external screws in the build (yes, we're being fussy) and the 18-55mm kit lens feels plastic, a little loose in the zoom and none too great. In fact the build quality is the biggest gripe that we have with the camera as it otherwise (generally speaking) exceeds its competitors elsewhere by a fair whack.
But even if the construction's not quite up to scratch, the layout is on point. There are quick-access exposure lock and AF-selection buttons on the rear which more advanced users will be pleased to get to grips with. Add to this white balance bracketing (a first at this level), plenty of compact-like Scene modes on the top dial and there's even a Creative Auto (CA) mode too. The latter's idea is to simplify user experience by paring down colour (vivid, natural, black & white and so on), background blur (controlled using a slider), burst rate (number of frames shot per second) and flash control. It's fairly successful in as far as its sets out, but for the true newcomer who knows nothing about DSLR cameras there are competitors - such as the Nikon D3100 - that offer a far more comprehensive Guide Mode to walk users through settings. This more extensive approach lacks from the Canon (although it does detail on the LCD what each mode dial selection means) - but whether that can truly be cited as a negative will entirely depend upon your level of experience and expectation.
Although, as we've already discussed, the 1100D's viewfinder-based AF is fairly decent, the live view (real time preview) on the LCD screen itself is a different story. It's about as good as mid-range Canon DSLRs were a few generations ago, i.e., pretty slow. But let's not be harsh - it delivers the goods just as much as any equivalent competitor models, with the exception of most Sony DSLRs, such as the Alpha 390, and their Quick AF Live View capability.
The Sony Alpha 390 probably gives the 1100D a run for its money performance-wise, but it's with the all-important pictures that the Canon gains the upper hand by a fair margin.
The 1100D's image quality is generally very good, though the limitations of the kit lens do throw things awry. The 18-55mm doesn't produce the sharpest images, plus there's notable colour fringing in a number of shooting conditions.
But ignore the lens for a moment and, actually, the 1100D really does deliver decent quality. Take its ISO 100-6400 range and, frankly, it's really rather impressive and low-noise throughout. It may slip a little above ISO 800-1600, but not to a huge level of degradation and colour is still well maintained. And that's one of the standout results from the 1100D: colour is always rich, deep and punchy yet still maintains good blacks too. Exposure, thanks to the latest iFCL metering system, is also generally very accurate with only the occasional overexposure in highlight areas.
As well as the 12.1-megapixel JPEG files the 1100D can also capture RAW images - another bonus for DSLR users where a whole world of post-production adjustment and correction can make the difference between a good image and a great one.
Pop a different (albeit more expensive kit lens) on the camera and there's yet more to be had. By that point you may be considering upgrading to a stronger-yet model, but the fact you can grow into the range, or indeed the 1100D itself, is part of the pleasure of owning a DSLR.
Those looking outside of still images with a want to capture movies are also in luck: the 1100D provides 720p capture which, while not the fullest HD resolution, is still of a decent quality. The main issue with movie capture is the number of control limitations: you can't do much outside of straight point and shooting. Focusing during recording is possible, but it's plagued by the issues you'll also experience in live view, making for over- and under-focusing problems that will render in your final capture. Exposure can be fixed using the AE-lock button, but change any other settings and the camera will override all settings and auto-expose for a scene as it sees fit. Quality is fairly decent though, but there are more comprehensive video solutions out there - you only need to look further up Canon's range for some rather impressive possibilities, or a few hundred quid extra could bag you a Panasonic GH2.
Out of the four main budget/entry DSLRs on the market - also including the Sony Alpha 390, Pentax K-x and Nikon D3100 - the Canon 1100D comes good right across the board. And that's something that each of its competitors lacks to quite the same degree.
In isolation and it's the 1100D that combines decent and swift autofocus as well as attractive final image quality throughout the ISO range. The kit lens may be the weakest link but, hey, there are so many other Canon EF-S lenses out there that it's hardly tricky to upgrade in the future.
Despite not liking the smooth and plasticy build quality, the 1100D otherwise delivers plenty for the cash. It may currently be £500 to buy in the first place, making it towards the top-end of the price bracket, but this will naturally come down over time.
Although the 1100D may be slightly less accessible than the Nikon D3100 for the brand brand new photographer, it also happens to be the more advanced model. And with that said, it would be fair to say that the 1100D certainly raises the bar for the entry-level DSLR market. It's not totally perfect, but, all things considered, it's a great option for first time buyers that we like a whole lot.


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Ingredients (70 pcs):
250gm unsalted butter
½ cup caster sugar
2 ½ cups plain flour
½ cup rice flour
90 clear coloured boiled lollies (some for standby)
- Beat butter and sugar in a small bowl until light and fluffy.
- Add sifted flours and mix well to form soft dough. Divide dough into half. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 180C.
- Roll half of dough between two sheets of baking paper until 5mm thick. Cut out heart shapes using a 7cm cutter. Place hearts about 3 cm apart on baking tray lined with baking paper. Using a 4cm cutter, cut another heart from centre of each heart.
- Re-roll hearts cut out with remaining dough.
- Bake for 5 minutes then place a boiled lolly in the centre of each heart. Bake for another 5 minutes or until lollies are melted and shortbread are lightly browned.
- Transfer the cookies together with baking paper onto a tray, cool on tray completely.


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Grow Ohio Incentive Program
BWC created the Grow Ohio Incentive Program to help spur job creation in the state by offering new employers one of the following premium discount options.
- The opportunity to join a group-experience-rating program and receive a premium discount – potentially up to 53 percent.
- A 25-percent discount on their workers' comp premiums.
BWC defines a new employer as a new business entity or an out-of-state business that creates one or more jobs in Ohio. The following are NOT eligible for the program: professional employer organizations (PEOs), self-insuring employers and employers transferring experience.
The group-experience-rating option
If you're interested in joining a group you must select a sponsoring organization to place you into their group-rating program. To be eligible for inclusion in group-experience rating, employers must appear on a submitted group roster within 30 days of becoming Grow Ohio eligible. View a list of sponsoring organizations and their groups.
Make sure you ask the sponsoring organizations about any fees for group participation. Sponsoring organizations may charge employers for the additional services and information they provide.
The 25-percent discount option
BWC will automatically apply the 25-percent discount for the payroll period in which your coverage becomes effective and the next two consecutive policy years thereafter as long as your company maintains eligibility.
Maintaining eligibility
Employers participating in the 25-percent option must complete one safety requirement from the list below and remain in good standing for continued eligibility.
- Safety requirements
- Complete a safety survey and acknowledge you've read an introduction to our Division of Safety & Hygiene's offerings.
- Complete at least two hours of safety training offered by our Division of Safety & Hygiene. You may complete the course work at one of our training locations, the Ohio Safety Congress or online through the BWC Learning Center. You can view a list of safety courses here.
- Complete the Safety Management Self-Assessment (SH-26).
- Continuing eligibility
- The employer must be current with respect to all payments due BWC as defined in OAC 4123-17-14(A)(3).
- The employer must be current on the payment schedule of any part-pay agreement it entered into for payment of premiums or assessment obligations.
- The employer must not have cumulative lapses in workers' compensation coverage in excess of 40 days within the prior 12 months.
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