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The One Being Scammed Is You
500 taels of silver was not a small amount, but it was clear that it was not much to this madam, as she very happily pulled out a banknote and handed it over. She then stared straight at the wooden box.
Xuan Tian Ming placed the wooden box on the table, and Feng Yu Heng gestured for Qing Yu to open it. When a piece of a pure-white jade appeared before the madam, she immediately felt that spending this 500 taels of silver was truly too worth it. She had never seen such a beautiful piece of jade before. Even if it had not yet been worked on and turned into a completed product, it was still enough to attract her attention. The madam was someone knowledgeable of the industry and immediately understood that this was a treasure with an extremely high value.
But she wanted it! The more it was a treasure, the more she wanted it, even if the price was many times higher. She trusted that her family would also be able to afford it.
Thus she spoke up and said: "I want the thing in this box. Please provide a price!"
Qing Yu glanced at Feng Yu Heng and did not say anything. She knew that Feng Yu Heng had already been planning on selling this piece of jade. As long as the other side was able to provide the money, it did not matter who they sold it to. But precisely how much this was worth, it was a bit hard to estimate.
Feng Yu Heng looked up at the madam then smiled and said: "Madam really is magnanimous. You're able to consume so much good jade?"
The quick-to-speak servant immediately replied for her master: "You just need to worry about providing a price. It's just a bit of silver, isn't it. Our madam is not lacking for silver in the slightest."
"Oh." She nodded and thought to herself. What should the price of this be?
At this time, Xuan Tian Ming, who had been quietly sitting to the side, said: "50 million taels."
"50 million taels?" The servant at the madam's side was shocked. 50 million taels was a large amount of silver!
But Feng Yu Heng glanced at him, the look in her eyes obviously said: Just 50 million taels? But she immediately accepted the response that Xuan Tian Ming gave with his eyes. She knew that he understood, thus she did not speak.
The servant on the other side, however, tried to negotiate: "Although your things are nice, they are too expensive. Just a box of these things is not worth that much money… Five million taels is more like it."
Qing Yu felt that this servant was truly unable to learn her lesson. Even after being slapped, she still had so much to say. She could not help but coldly snort: "The masters are speaking. Where is there any room for you to interject?"
"Shut your mouth!" The madam scolded her: "Shut your mouth for me!" After saying this, she turned her attention back toward the box of jade materials. The more she looked, she more she was unwilling to part with it. The more she looked, the more she felt that her heart was being pulled in by the piece of jade, and they were becoming one. It was as though this box of jade was her life. If someone wanted for them to separate, she would definitely fight with them. "50 million is 50 million. Ji Xiang, go back and have the servants bring the banknotes over." Her gaze did not shift, only telling the servant, "This box of jade, I must bring it back."
"Madam!" Ji Xiang quietly advised her, "On this trip out, we did not bring that much in banknotes. Although we do have 50 million taels, I fear that master will also have other uses for that money. It's rare that we come to the capital. We need to have some money prepared for bribes. If it's all used to buy these things, if master has a need for the money, what should be done?"
What the servant said was reasonable. Unfortunately, her madam had already been dazed by this beautiful piece of jade. Who cared about needs or bribes. Right now, all she wanted was to bring this piece of jade home. As for whether or not the money had any other uses, this was already cast out of her thoughts.
"I told you to get it, so just go and get it. If husband asks about it, I will take responsibility. What are you worrying about. Quickly go and fetch the banknotes." She rushed the servant, and there was nothing that the servant could do. She could only obey and turn to leave.
The madam sat on a chair brought over by a clerk, but her entire body was leaning on the table to hold the box of jade. It gave off the feeling of a lecher holding a beauty. All that was lacking was her drooling.
Today, she had truly found a treasure. Based on her many years of appreciating jade, the box before her was worthy of being called a rarity that could only be seen every thousand years. 50 million taels of silver sounded like a large amount, but people that knew the industry could tell that this box of jade was not just worth 50 million taels of silver. But just how high that price could be, even she could not begin to estimate. It was also because of this that she did not care too much about her husband's uses for the money, whether that was for bribes or to improve relationships.
Feng Yu Heng watched the person's look of joy and could not help but sigh to herself. She just thought, did women really not have any defense against this sort of thing? Looking at this madam's appearance, if she did not sell this jade to her, blood might very well be spilled.
But… she then turned to look at Xuan Tian Ming, mouthing to ask: "Isn't 50 million too little?"
Xuan Tian Ming shook his head, "It's not."
"But I feel like it's not much. I wanted to trade it for even more."
The other person, however, said: "Don't worry. I won't do any business that will allow you to suffer a loss."
Feng Yu Heng felt a little more at ease. With people bringing tea, the servant only returned after they had finished two cups of tea. A guard followed behind her. It was only after she came up the stairs and saw her madam did she say to the guard: "Alright, we've arrived. Just wait in the carriage outside."
The guard nodded then went down the stairs. When the madam saw the servant return, she immediately waved her over. The servant placed a stack of banknotes in her hand. She did not even count it and directly handed it to Feng Yu Heng: "Count it yourself."
Feng Yu Heng did not receive it, nor did Xuan Tian Ming. Qing Yu looked at the two and did not receive it either.
The madam was puzzled, "The banknotes have been brought. Someone take them!"
Only then did Xuan Tian Ming say: "Madam might have misunderstood. Or perhaps you did not understand what I said."
"Hm?" The opposition was startled, "What did I not understand? What did I misunderstand?"
Xuan Tian Ming said: "50 million taels, I was talking about gold, not silver. Even if you were to give me banknotes, they should be for gold."
Feng Yu Heng smiled and let out a sigh of relief. 50 million taels of gold, this price was more like it. But while she was happy, the madam was dazed. Even the servant opened her mouth not knowing what to say.
50 million taels of gold? The madam blankly fell back in her seat. The warmth that had once been there seemed to have had a bucket of cold water poured on it.
It was as she was saying, how could a box of such beautiful jade be bought for just 50 million taels of silver. But if it was gold, not to mention not having it right now, even if she returned to Lan Zhou, she could not get that much. 50 million taels of gold could compare to the national treasury of a small country. These two… were truly just stealing money, right?
"Don't go too far." The madam's shock had subsided slightly, as she looked coldly toward Xuan Tian Ming and Feng Yu Heng. For the first time, there was no need for the servant to speak, as she coldly spat out: "I have already been sufficiently respectful to you two. Know how to be satisfied. If you make too many threats, don't blame me for being impolite!"
"Hmph." Feng Yu Heng shrugged. Who was she scaring!
Xuan Tian Ming was even more disdainful than her. While sipping the tea, he closed the lid on the box containing the jade.
The servant with the quick mouth was finally unable to endure and began cursing: "Impudent lowly people, going back on your word, how could the capital have such shameless people like you!"
With her cursing like this, Qing Yu wanted to hit her again; however, the servant dodged. This caused Qing Yu to angrily call for people to come.
As for Feng Yu Heng, when she spoke up this time, she said to the madam: "I'll offer you some advice, keep your servant's mouth cleaner. Don't believe that there will be nobody to hurl abuse for me. I just can't be bothered to use this sort of method to resolve problems. Our policy is to take action without arguing if possible. If you continue to speak impolitely, don't call out in pain if you're hit."
"You would dare!" The servant was extremely shocked: "Our madam is the head madam of the prefect of Lan Zhou. You actually dare to act out against us?"
Finally, their identity was exposed, but this identity did not cause any waves. Even Qing Yu said with great disdain: "A family member of the lowly prefect of Lan Zhou dares to come to the capital and go wild?"
Feng Yu Heng, however, muttered: "Lan Zhou! It sounds like a very large place. Is it in the South?"
Xuan Tian Ming nodded, "That's right. It's in the South."
The two began to chat between themselves, with Feng Yu Heng asking: "I heard that Lan Zhou is a vast and abundant land. The fruits grown in Lan Zhou are especially sweet."
Xuan Tian Ming replied: "That's right, that Lan Zhou is connected to Gu Shu. The temperature is hot and dry. that's why the fruit grown there is extremely sweet. I heard that Gu Shu and Lan Zhou have become intimate through trade. With the merchants passing through, Lan Zhou's regional government is richer than the others."
"Oh! That's why the madam of Lan Zhou's prefect is so magnanimous in her spending and is able to spend 50 million taels. But in the end, she is still lacking. When it comes to gold, she is powerless. Hah!" She sighed, "Unfortunately, it seems that madam will not be able to bring this box of jade back."
Feng Yu Heng smiled slyly. The smile left the madam hating that she could not go forward and tear her smile apart. But just as her anger reached its apex, she suddenly heard Feng Yu Heng say: "Ah! Madam too, why did you not provide your identity earlier? If we knew that you were the family of such a powerful official, how could I not give you a bit of face."
The madam's eyes lit up, "What do those words mean?"
Feng Yu Heng frankly said: "50 million taels of gold is to fool outsiders. Since madam has such a background, we naturally cannot ask for such an expensive price." While she spoke, she pondered, "How about this, 80 million taels of silver. How about it?"
"Hm?" The madam was startled and did not dare believe it, "Is this true or false?" She really began to see a glimmer of hope!
"Of course, it's true." Feng Yu Heng's attitude was very sincere, "It will be 80 million taels of silver. Madam has 50 million taels here; however, 30 million is still missing. As you see it…"
"I don't have it right now, but I will definitely get it for you in a couple days." The madam had set out her capital. Gritting her teeth, she pushed the banknotes in her hand over. "This shall be considered the deposit. Let me bring this jade back with me. At present, we are staying in the posthouse. How about you send people to come and collect in a couple days?"
Feng Yu Heng pushed the banknotes back, "Since you are the head madam of Lan Zhou's prefect, how could we take a deposit from you. Naturally, we trust you. You can take this jade back with you. In two days, I will personally come and ask for the money. When that time comes, just give the 80 million taels to me."
The madam saw Feng Yu Heng nod and did not say a word before stepping forward to pick up the box. She did not even let the servant hold it. She just nodded to Feng Yu Heng and said: "Many thanks." She then quickly descended the stairs.
Qing Yu was quite anxious: "Young miss, are you not afraid that she'll flee? In the end, whether or not she's really the head madam of Lan Zhou's prefect is not known."
Feng Yu Heng smiled and said: "Her identity should not be an issue. Normal people wouldn't be able to bring out that many banknotes at once, but…" She put on a sly smile then said: "In four hours, go and file a report. Just say that imperial daughter Ji An lost a box of pure-white jade. The price is extremely high."


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my favorite country sourdough with seeds
hello again everyone, the last post i was proud with the ear i achieved.. grigne on the loaf :) i am baking my loaves mostly in a lodge dutch oven. as i learnt it from Chad Robertson. this is the easiest way to create a self steam and get a good crusty loaf. as baking days get more busy hence more breads need to be bake in one day, dutch oven is not the answer. i got out from my comfort baking in a Dutch oven and create steam like most of you do. with hot larva rocks. i was able to acquire some from the DIY ACE shop. proud to present the couples who are baked together and steam with hot larva rocks .. now i can bake two at time or three
look at the beautiful crust.. color achieved is different as well. cracking and popping as it cools on the rack. just lovely to hear as if they are singing :)
oh yes.. introducing the purple carrots, golden flax-seeds and sesame seeds in a spelt sourdough rolled in with a few cranberries!! lol
closer look at the crumb..
that's it for this round. a new trick to me of course but excellent way of getting mega steam as DA said.
happy baking to all,
formula.. yeild 2 large loaves or 3 medium loaves
84gram toasted flax-seeds soak in 160gram water.
add on
150gram toasted sesame seeds
200gram grated carrots (any color)
200gram at 100% hydration (spelt or white)
500gram white spelt flour
150gram whole spelt flour
50gram kamut flour
50gram barley flour
250gram AP
780gram of water
12gram salt
retard in the fridge after mix, autolysed, 3 rounds of SF
next day bring out shape, proof 1.5 to 2 hours depends on room temperature.
bake in a preheated oven 450 F for 30mins (medium loaves) or 45 mins (large loaves) with larva rocks steam for the first 15 mins. (steam is created by pouring a cup of hot water on the pre heated larva rocks. place them in a baking tray at the bottom of the oven)

subset: commoncrawl


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Self-described as the largest coal producer in Central Appalachia with a total of 2.3 billion tons of proven and probable coal reserves, Massey Energy Company is a powerful economic and cultural force in the coalfields. Blankenship has been both criticised and lauded for the success of the company's "Position to Win" strategy, which is based on "controlling a dominant share of the most valuable coal reserves in the country."
Blankenship has always been an outspoken advocate for the coal industry, arguing against increased environmental regulation of coal mining and against evidence of climate change, recently challenging NASA climtalogist Dr. James Hansen in June 2009 to a debate on that subject. Massey suffered a legal setback in 2008 when the US Supreme Court ruled that Blankenship's financial relationship with West Virginia Supereme Court Justice Benjamin "had a significant and disproportionate influence on the outcome" of a $50 million verdict against Massey Energy Company that the West Virginia court had thrown out.
Mine War on Blackberry Creek reports on the long and bitter United Mine Workers of America strike in 1984 against A.T. Massey, America's fourth largest coal company with corporate ties to apartheid South Africa. While strikebreakers work inside the mines and security men with guard dogs and cameras patrol the compound, miners on the picket lines detail the history of labor struggles in the region and their determination to hold out until victory.
A.T. Massey CEO Don Blankenship, listed on AlterNet in 2006 as one of "the 13 scariest Americans," addresses capitalism, social Darwinism, and the global economy, while Richard A. Trumka, Secretary-Treasurer and currently running for President of the AFL-CIO, expresses union values.


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Creative Spotlight: Geordie Milne on Creative Cloud
Creative Cloud does not just provide creative individuals with tools to take their talents to the next level, but also offers the opportunity to explore other creative areas of interest. Take Geordie Milne (@geordiemilne) for example. The use of Creative Cloud has evolved his creative workflow by enabling him to work with multiple programs on a single project. Not to mention, new updates (some exclusive to Creative Cloud users) gives Geordie the ability to try programs he may have never used before.
Read about his current project, check out some of his impressive work, and learn which tool in Photoshop blows his mind below.
Adobe: Describe a project you are currently working on or have completed with Creative Cloud.
Geordie: I am currently using Creative Cloud for a project for themeditator.com and marinacowdray.com. I am taking photos of the jewelry and sculptures and creating graphics using Illustrator and Photoshop; as well as some time-lapses using Premiere Pro.
What was your inspiration behind the project?
Geordie: My current client's work has a meditation feel & knowing its positive effect; I find pleasure in modifying it and creating patterns from it.
How has the Creative Cloud changed your creative workflow?
Geordie: It's amazing to have access to all of Adobe's programs! I probably would have never dipped into learning as many of them as I am now, and I'm excited to download some more. I also end up using more than 1 program per piece such a making a time-lapse & then bringing it into Photoshop to apply some of the great new video capabilities, such as 'Blur' or 'Liquify'. Creative Cloud gives me the ability to save and access files from any computer, and be able to share files with my clients and friends. As a visual person, I have found that Adobe Bridge helps me find files and stay organized.
What tools specific to Creative Cloud enable you to work more efficiently?
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Describe your style of work in three words
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Fill in the blank: I couldn't create without _________.
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Like Geordie, has Creative Cloud inspired you to try products you've been intrigued by, but have never tested out? If so, tell us about it on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments below. Care to see more of Geordie's work? Check out his blog here.


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The Year of the 100
A few scenes from my 100 mile runs this year…winter TWOT (a DNF, 3 loops, 81 miles), MMT, Vermont and Grindstone. What a wonderful year of running and friends. Run happy!
Scenes from Grindstone
Grindstone 100 – 2013 was canceled tonight because of the government shutdown. Thinking of happy trail memories from the training weekend in August as I post this. Ultrarunners are pretty good at maintaining relentless forward progress, so many of us moved to Plan B and this weekend will bring Hot TWOT, with 100 miles of trail play on The Wild Oak Trail – and Grindstone 100 will be run again next year. Happy running everyone!
Grindstone 100 – My tale from the trail
"Grit, endurance, temporary loss of sanity. You might need all of these if you want to attempt Grindstone. If you want to finish, well, just keep in mind this is, without a doubt, the hardest 100 miler east of the 100th meridian."
The registration website makes sure you know what you are getting into. I knew, and willingly (happily, even?!) signed up to complete my 1st 100 miler. Go big or go home, right?! It was an epic adventure in which I had to dig deep, endure, and temporarily lose my sanity. But I did, and I finished in 36 hours and 33 minutes.
The race began at 6pm on a Friday. I arrived at Camp Shenandoah around noon under blue skies and bright fall sunshine. I found a parking spot next to Charles West, a friend I met at the training weekend. We chatted while I packed and repacked my drop bags, checking off my lists and thinking through what I might possibly need over the next 101.85 miles and 36 hours or so. I didn't have a crew, so I had to make sure those drop bags had everything I might need. The race briefing was at 1pm, so I dropped off my drop bags in the growing piles next to the main cabin and headed in to have lunch and listen to the briefing. Clark went through the course highlights, gave away a bunch of fun schwag (love my UltraInspire water bottle!) and then Dr. Horton gave a short talk where he repeatedly told everyone "don't be stupid". He updated the weather forecast and said it may start raining around 4am Sunday morning with temperatures dropping. I knew there was a good chance I'd still be on the course so I went back to the car and added a heavy rain jacket, gloves and a hat to my drop bag. This proved to be the best advice I ever took. Thank you Dr. Horton!
At 5:30 I was dressed, Body Glided, headlamp on, hydration pack filled and walking to the starting line. I was nervous, excited and really just ready to run. Waiting around all day made me antsy and I couldn't wait to get going. It was good to see Rob Colenso at the start who warned me that the last 5 miles would be the longest 5 I'd ever run, (true.), Gary Knipling and his crew Quatro (who would save my race many hours later!) and Mike Campbell who gave me a big good luck hug. It was real – I was doing this! Excitement won over all the other emotions and I toed the line with Charles and a newly found friend Jessica, and we were off! It was a slow start as we took off around the dam and had to wait to get onto the trail. I momentarily thought how hard it was going to be to climb up back onto that dam some 36 hours later (and it was – especially in the rain) but soon we were navigating rocks & roots and playing on the trail. This is what we came here for!
The first night is really a blur. I'm not one of these runners that can remember every climb, aid station and overlook. They all kind of merge together into one experience. The stars on the climb to Elliot's Knob were unbelievable. We stopped for a minute and turned off our headlamps just to soak in the beauty of being out here on this amazing race. I stayed with Jessica on and off for most of the first night. It was so great to have someone to talk to and the time really flew by. Around 3am is when things started going bad. I found myself sleep running – waking up 2-3 feet off trail stumbling around in the brush. Thankfully, this never happened on the trails with 1000ft+ dropoffs to the side. Being tired was the one thing I wasn't really worried about beforehand – I can usually power through tiredness. It never occurred to me that this could be the biggest thing to overcome. I really don't remember much of those hours. I was fighting hard to stay awake and not face plant on the trail in a sleep walk. Around 5am I saw a headlamp barreling down the trail at me. My first thought was oh,no – something's wrong! I'm really off trail or someone is hurt – but no, it was just Karl Meltzer on his way BACK already. Amazing! We figured he was about 40 miles ahead of us. That woke me up for a few minutes, but I soon found myself sleep running again.
I got to the North River Gap aid station, mile 36, at 5:30am. At that point I just wanted sleep. And lots of it. I was worried about going back out and falling asleep and really injuring myself. I sat by the fire while I changed my headlamp batteries and Gary Knipling and Quatro Hubbard came over to talk to me. They said I could sleep for 15 minutes and they would wake me up. But I was really worried that if I fell asleep it would be all over and I wouldn't be able to get back out. Plus, the cut off for that aid station was 6:30, so I was really cutting it close. Quatro then offered me a 5 Hour Energy Shot. I've never had one before but I was willing to try anything at that point. WOWZERS!! It saved the day. I drank that nasty, yet wonderful, elixir down and I was off…the wrong way. We realized we were off course when we got to the hanging bridge – that we had already crossed. We ran back to the aid station and Quatro got us back on course. Huge thank you to Gary and Quatro!! By that point I was wide awake and full of energy. I took off climbing up toward Little Bald. The sun was rising and it was simply gorgeous on that trail. I put on some music and just celebrated being alive, being able to run for hours and played on the trail while I climbed, climbed and climbed that 7 mile climb to the top.
Saturday was another blue sky, fabulous fall day. The miles clicked by as I headed to the turn around point. I loved seeing all the runners and pacers headed back already. Smiles, high fives and tons of encouragement really raised your spirits. The breakfast burritos at Little Bald Knob AS were amazing. Knowing that I would see my mom at Briery Branch motivated me and I was feeling great. My mom was waiting around 10:30 with warm washclothes to wash my feet and change socks (a key thing for me not getting blisters, I think), iced tea for a caffeine boost, a dry shirt and sports bra (again, key for no chafing) and a can't-be-beat mom hug, kiss and so much encouragement! I had sent her a text to bring another 5 Hour Energy Shot so I put that in my pack for the second night and I was off. I met back up with Charles here and sang my way up to Reddish Knob. The colors were magnificent and I took a minute to take a picture and soak in the fact that I was halfway there!
My next goal now was to get back to North River Gap where my pacer extraordinaire, Kate Montgomery, would be waiting. I was feeling good, running the flats and downhills, power hiking the climbs (thanking Jen Jacobs at least a zillion times for telling me to train by climbing on the treadmill – made all the difference!) – making sure to eat and drink. Nutrition was never an issue throughout the race. The aid stations had wonderfully appealing food and I stayed away from anything sweet. The grilled cheese, soup, potatoes, oranges and burritos were perfect. I leapfrogged most of the day with Jessica and Charles and just enjoyed the trail. I ran into North River Gap around 5:30. I was now hovering at about a half hour before cut-off time – too close for comfort. I knew that I needed to keep moving, speed through the aid stations and manage my nutrition. I took my second 5 Hour Energy Shot, picked up Kate and we were off! I was so lucky to get Kate to be my pacer with only a week's notice. I truly don't think I could have done this without her. She was a fresh mind, fresh legs, encouragement beyond belief, great conversation and simply the best pacer I could have asked for. We headed up Lookout Mountain talking, laughing and moving at a good pace. I knew the cutoff time was close but I felt strong and confident that we could make it. Kate kept a constant stream of good conversation going sprinkled with many "you're doing great!" comments.
As the second sunset of the race fell, we started passing people on the trail. I felt like we were moving at a good pace and Kate confirmed that. I really had no recollection of doing this part of the trail the night before. I knew there was a sweet downhill into Dowells Draft, but other than that could not remember what else was ahead of us. Probably a good thing I didn't remember…the climbs and descents in the last 30 miles of this course were extreme. They seemed to go on forever. I am quite certain that rocks were added to the course after we ran it the first night. Ha! I do not remember the miles of steep climbs, loose shale rock (VERY loose rock!), narrow rocky trails, and drop offs that my headlamp beam couldn't see the bottom of – but they were certainly there on the return trip! Kate would ask me what was coming next and I had no clue. I finally just assumed it was more climbing. Or descending. More often than not, I was right. On Crawford Mountain the dinosaurs came out. I kept seeing baby dinosaurs eating leaves and just hanging out on the trail. They were mixed in with real estate signs, jack-o-lanterns and a variety of other weirdness. Thank goodness for Kate who would just laugh and say, "keep running – no dinosaurs there…". Only a few times did I stop and grab her arm and insist that I was seeing something that wasn't there! It's wild what your mind can create with sleep deprivation and 80+ miles on your legs. They made for some good laughs though!
At Dry Branch Gap we were well ahead of the cut-off time. I was thrilled that we had made up time and zoomed in and out of the aid station. Charles' crew was fabulous – changing my headlamp batteries, pushing food on me (in a good way), smiling and encouraging. I'm so glad he shared his great crew with me! At this point I realized that we would not see another sunrise – my goal! We left the aid station with thoughts that we only had a half marathon to go! Those last 13 miles were long, challenging and fun. I was still feeling really strong and running the flats and downhills (it actually felt a lot better to run) and power hiking the climbs. We powered on, with Kate keeping track of time and miles, my nutrition and encouragement. I began to realize that I was really going to do this!
The final 5 miles were indeed the. Longest. Five. Miles. Ever. (thanks for your honesty, Rob!) We left Falls Hollow AS with an escort across Rt. 42, the promise that we just had a "small mountain" left to climb, and the warning that rain was on the way. People kept asking what I needed and I remember saying, "I just want to run!" I was ready to see that finish line and hug the totem pole. Thank you Dr. Horton for your weather statement at the briefing! I had my heavier rain gear on and was warm and dry as the cold rain started a steady downpour at 4:40 am. We ran/hiked/slipped and slid through the final 5 miles. The trail turned into a shallow, wet creek bed (reality) – full of happy smiling skeletons, black beans, mini pumpkins and tombstones (not reality). I just went with it and ran my way through my Halloween hallucination. Kate and I pushed on and finally came to the 1 mile left sign. I could smell the barn! I got quiet as I thought about all the training I put into this, and how bad I wanted this. I reflected on how FUN this had been – really and truly. That was the word that kept coming into my head – fun. I had just spent 36 hours playing on mountain trails. It doesn't get any better than that! Kate slid down the mud slide and helped me climb down it, then climbed up the other side – and we finally came out onto the dam. Everything was pitch dark, but I knew we were at the Camp. We ran that final mile around the dam, down the road and to the finish chute! I was all smiles as Clark came out and gave me my buckle and finisher's shirt and then I finally got to hug the totem pole. 36 hours and 33 minutes after starting this adventure I was the 11th woman finisher out of 17 who started and the 100th finisher out of 158 who started, 108 who finished.
Grindstone was the hardest race I've ever done. And the most fun. I am so lucky to have a body that can do what I ask it to and a mind that will also play along. I'm lucky to have friends and family who support this crazy love of mine. I love the community, the sense of accomplishment and the pure high that comes from finishing 101.85 miles. I can't wait to do it again! Thank you to Clark, the tireless volunteers, my many trail running friends and the fabulous Kate Montgomery, my pacer, who kept me smiling, happy and enjoying many hours on the trail. See you on trail again soon! Happy trails and happy running.


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N.A. Juniors Game Night: 1/6
Submitted by chad on January 7, 2009 - 10:21
Team Canada Notes:
Team Canada Notes:
Dustin Tokarski was greeted in his home province of Saskatchewan Tuesday by a horde of family and friends at the Saskatoon airport. Tokarski was wearing his gold medal around his neck when he came off the plane. He will take a few days off before rejoining the Spokane Chiefs. (CJME photo)
PEI Rocket 5 @ Moncton Wildcats 4
D Mark Barberio, MCT: 0-1-1, -2, 0 PIM, 4 SOG
Season totals: 38 GP, 8-20-28, +12, 24 PIM
Medicine Hat Tigers 2 @ Edmonton Oil Kings 3
G Torrie Jung, EDM: Win, 24 saves on 26 shots, *Second Star*
Season totals: 25 GP, 11-9-1-4, 2.54 GAA, .913 sv%, 2 shutouts
Edmonton beat Medicine Hat for the first time in modern franchise history.
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Among the things I learned about Anthony Rendon from this Washington Post article, it's that the young Nationals infielder doesn't seem to like baseball all that much.
Rendon, who easily could have made the all-star game but didn't, says he was grateful for the time off. He says he doesn't talk about baseball with his family, never watched the sport growing up, and rarely watches it now.
"I don't watch baseball — it's too long and boring," Rendon said.
Perhaps Rendon's joking here. But if not, he's not the only one to be bored stiff by the game. Nor would he be the first person to not-so-secretly hate his own job. How many of you know someone—heck, how many of you are someone—who doesn't like what they do but like the paycheck or just aren't particularly good at anything else? If Rendon keeps playing like he's playing, he's allowed to take naps between innings if he wants.


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(The Root) —
"I created this sound so I can eat — and everyone who plays in this band can eat." —Chuck Brown, 2010
At a time when so much is changing in the once-Chocolate City, one thing remained constant in Washington, D.C.: Chuck Brown — who died May 16 at age 75 of undisclosed causes — and the wild and wonderful world of go-go music that he created. Until he was hospitalized for pneumonia in the weeks leading up to his death, on any given night you could count on seeing Chuck.
Well into his 70s he remained just Chuck, his sometimes-shirtless wiry frame ripped with the muscles of a man half his age, gold tooth glinting, strumming his gui-tar. Whether you found him onstage at sometime strip joints like the Legend, or white marble venues like Constitution Hall, the same Chuck would appear, bringing his whole life history with him.
His raspy singing voice told of his first cigarette at age 7. Calloused hands told of cotton picked while traveling from farm to farm in North Carolina and Virginia, living in sharecropper shanty houses. His down-home presence showed the humility of someone who lived in servants' quarters when his mother worked as a domestic. Each pluck of the guitar told of the eight years spent serving time at Lorton penitentiary, where he taught himself to play.
And this is important: Each hole-in-the-wall D.C. venue that he rocked — like the Maverick Room and Howard Theatre, where he perfected the conga-inflected go-go sound that has dominated Washington's popular music since the 1970s — told of what he called the "depressing" time after the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. On April 4, 1968, D.C. police briefly detained Chuck while he was trying to tell looting kids to go home, he told this writer in a 2010 interview for my book Go-Go Live: The Musical Life and Death of a Chocolate City.
In the years that followed the uprising, Chuck would tell the kids more than just that. At a time when urban planners and policymakers ceded authority over inner-city Washington to the hustlers and the pimps, Chuck Brown showed kids how to play music. He showed them how to hype the audience through West African-style call and response, how to slow down ecstatic crowds to groove to the same sultry, slow-boiling conga beat. He showed them how to knit the audience into a community and to train them to come back, night after night, generation after generation.
Chuck taught D.C. natives to take those charred ruins of the civil rights movement in riot-blackened places like U Street and use them to make art. Not the kind of art that crosses over onto pop-music charts or that gets co-opted by multinational entertainment companies or even gets an NEA grant, but, nonetheless, the kind that generations of black Washingtonians have used for fellowship.
Together with his D.C. fans, Chuck Brown lit the creative spark for the go-go industry — what remains to this day a multimillion-dollar, almost entirely black-owned business, filled with musicians, promoters, graphic designers, security, bands, managers, recording studios, bootleggers, Web developers, fashion designers and radio personalities. He talked about finding that spark in the introduction to the 2007 album, We're About the Business:
I just had this feeling, that some of that old spiritual church music that we used to play in my church when I was a little boy. Real fast. You know what I'm saying? I heard Grover Washington come out with "Mr. Magic." He had that beat, only it was slower, groovy. It was slower, it wasn't hyped up like church music. I said, "they used to play that at my church!"
So I decided to try it and started playing "Mr. Magic." From there, we started dropping down into the percussion. The same feeling I had with [the local band] Los Latinos, I took the same percussion with me. So we started dropping that percussion and we had other ideas. The audience liked it. They liked the call and response. They liked the participation. You know, the band participating with the audience. And I was searching for a sound for the town …
Hip-hop, on the other hand, rose above its New York origins; with the help of BET and MTV, hip-hop came to standardize black youth-culture styles in slang, dress and popular music throughout the United States and then the world.
Go-go's stubbornly divergent path can be seen as an answer to this. It stayed true to time-honored cultural scripts such as live call and response, live instrumentation and its locally rooted fashions, slang, dance, distribution and economic systems. Simply put: Go-go never sold out. There is a grit and texture to the music — sometimes derided as "pots and pans" — that gives voice to the communities where it was created and from which profits are taken.
Not "going national" is often framed as a failure of go-go. But consider what go-go has gained by staying against the grain. Today, at a time when all around the world kids don't understand the concept of paying for music, live is still where the action is. Everyone from artists on the rise to megastars such as Jay-Z, Beyoncé and Madonna have gone back on the road. Go-go's live business model, innovated by Chuck Brown, has stayed against the grain long enough to come back into style.
In the process, it also remained deeply engaged in responding to an enduring transatlantic call and response of black musical traditions. At a time when the process of gentrification is killing the Chocolate City and its institutions, Chuck's artistic legacy is indestructible.
Wherever black people do gather, as long as someone can get their hands on some cymbals, a cow bell or tow, a conga drum and a microphone, folks will be getting right back up to find out where the next party is. And when it's all over, someone — probably black — is going to eat.
Natalie Hopkinson is a contributing editor to The Root. This essay was adapted from the forthcoming Go-Go Live: The Musical Life and Death of a Chocolate City.
Natalie Hopkinson is a Washington, D.C.-based author whose current projects deal with the arts, gender and public life. She is the author of Go-Go Live: The Musical Life and Death of a Chocolate City. Follow her on Twitter.


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Directed by renowned artist and two-time Oscar nominee Julian Schnabel, who previously helmed "Basquiat," "Before Night Falls" and "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," "Miral" is based on the novelized diaries of Rula Jebreal, a young Palestinian woman growing up in East Jerusalem in the extremely unsettled 1970s and '80s. To create a cinematic narrative, the story is fractured into four segments, each telling the story of a woman who shaped the life of the central, fourth character, Miral. Miral is played by "Slumdog Millionaire" beauty Freida Pinto, and she is a Palestinian girl brought to a Jerusalem orphanage in the wake of the first Arab-Israeli war who becomes highly politicized, diving headfirst into the First Intifada at the age of 17.
Schnabel's artistic vision is at the fore in all of his film work and "Miral" is no exception. Beautifully shot and lyrically conceived, the painter is an undeniably gifted visual storyteller. Unfortunately, his abilities as a straight forward filmmaker are still lacking.
While each shot of the film unfolds with panache, the film's throughline feels like a broken bone improperly set. Jagged and ungainly, performances range from stiff and awkward (most notably, Schnabel's own daughter, Stella) to heartbreakingly human (Alexander Siddig, best known for his work as Julian Bashir on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine") while the story splinters into unmolded fragments with the only prevailing thematic agenda being an unmasked, markedly anti-Israeli sentiment.
"Miral" is a film better observed for its beauty than story, which presents an extraordinarily one-sided political point of view. All in all, it falls short of the bar Schnabel previously set for himself with "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly."
"Miral" is opening in limited release in New York this Friday.


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Friday, January 30, 2009
Lots of new goats milk soaps, honey, jams and more!
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The state agency that helps out-of-work North Carolinians find jobs has laid off more than 350 workers, according to a newspaper report.
The reductions are part of an extensive overhaul at the N.C. Division of Workforce Solutions, the News & Observer of Raleigh reported on Friday.
The employees had been temporary workers at the agency's 89 local unemployment offices throughout the state. They were hired beginning in 2009 to help people who lost their jobs as part of the recession.
The cutbacks happened between May and the end of September. According to director Roger Shackleford, the agency still employs 550 people and has reorganized 16 of its local offices so far, with about 30 more to go.
The overhaul was triggered by a reduction of about 25 percent, or nearly $25 million, in state and federal funding. It's due to a new state law that ended extended federal benefits for unemployed workers, reduced the maximum unemployment benefits a laid-off worker can receive by roughly one-third and lowered the maximum duration of benefits for workers who lost their jobs beginning July 1.
In August, North Carolina unemployment was 8.7 percent, tied for sixth-highest in the nation.


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UnNews:Man killed by Trouser Snake
This article is part of UnNews, your source for up-to-the-microsecond misinformation.
1 December 2007
PANTSVILLE, Texas (UnNews) -- Tragedy struck a small rural Texas community this Thursday night when Staunchely McUptight, a 54-year-old one-eyed Japanese man, was attacked and killed in his sleep by his very own trouser snake. This lethal attack marks the culmination point in a series of assaults by trouser snakes on their hosts reported from all over the globe. These incidents challenge the traditional view amongst biologists that trouser snakes live in a peaceful symbiosis with their human hosts.
When asked about the recent developments, Prof. Carmen Cox, Texas A&M's resident expert in pantaloon reptiles, refused to put the blame with the animals, instead accusing many human hosts of poorly understanding proper trouser snake grooming. Said Cox: "You just can't keep the trouser snake inside your pants all the time and expect it not to act unnaturally. I strongly recommend that all men allow their little friend to leave the confinement of the trousers once in a while, and preferably bring it into contact with a specimen of the order vaginae on a regular basis. By the way, how long since YOU have let yours out, young man?" The interview was then cut short by the UnNews reporter
fleeing leaving the scene in order to finish this article.
- Almost as reliable as UnNews: "Man killed by Trouser Snake". metro.co.uk, October 3, 2007


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Believe it or not, your dad probably played with toys at some point in his childhood. Maybe he was a Radio Flyer wagon guy, or maybe he preferred the Etch-a-Sketch.
Either way, here's a roundup of all the major toys that young men (and more than a few young women) used to play with to pass the time, right up until present day.
See Also:This Jarring Photo Shows Why Brazilians Are Upset About The World CupPaper Currency Is The New GoldChinese Teens Have Found Remarkable High-Tech Ways To Cheat On Tests'Game Of Thrones' Actor Will Reportedly Play Aquaman In The 'Batman V Superman' MovieIt Looks Like Raging Hockey Fans Destroyed An LAPD Drone Last Night


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Item #1 of 2 THEBLAZE.COM – A Texas man's pregnant wife made it clear she was against having a firearm in their house. However, the husband insisted she learn how to use a gun to protect herself just in case. In fact, it was just a few months ago that he took her out to […]
Item #1 of 2
Sheriff Joe: 'Probable cause' Obama certificate a fraud
Team wants investigation elevated to criminal-forgery probe – person of interest ID'd
NOTE: In case you missed the news conference of Sheriff Joe Arpaio's "Cold Case Posse," WND plans to have the entire event available in 15-minute increments beginning Friday morning at this online location.
PHOENIX – An investigative "Cold Case Posse" launched six months ago by "America's toughest sheriff" – Joe Arpaio of Arizona's Maricopa County – has concluded there is probable cause that the document released by the White House last year as President Obama's birth certificate is a computer-generated forgery.
The posse says it has identified at least one person of interest in the alleged forgery of Obama's birth certificate.
Arapaio, known for his strict enforcement of immigration laws, commissioned the investigative team after local citizens presented him with a petition expressing concern that Obama might not be eligible for Arizona's presidential ballot.
In addition to the live-streaming, WND is making available to the public a report distributed to media today by Arpaio's investigators.
The posse, comprised of former law enforcement officers and lawyers with law enforcement experience, has interviewed dozens of witnesses and examined hundreds of documents. It also has taken numerous sworn statements from witnesses around the world.
Mike Zullo, Arpaio's lead investigator, said his team believes the Hawaii Department of Health has engaged in a systematic effort to hide from public inspection any original 1961 birth records it may have in its possession.
"Officers of the Hawaii Department of Health and various elected Hawaiian public officials may have intentionally obscured 1961 birth records and procedures to avoid having to release to public inspection and to the examination of court-authorized forensic examiners any original Obama 1961 birth records the Hawaii Department of Health may or may not have," Zullo said.
The investigators say the evidence contained in the computer-generated PDF file released by the White House as well as important deficiencies in the Hawaii process of certifying the long-form birth certificate establish probable cause that a forgery has been committed.
The investigation was launched after 250 members of the Surprise, Ariz., Tea Party, presented a signed petition to Arpaio in August 2011 asking him to undertake the investigation.
The Tea Party members petitioned under the premise that if a forged birth certificate was used to place Barack Obama on the 2012 Arizona presidential ballot, their rights as Maricopa County voters could be compromised.
Arpaio believes a congressional investigation might be warranted and has asked that any information relevant to the investigation held by other law enforcement agencies be forwarded to his office.
The Cold Case Posse advised Arpaio that they believe forgers committed two crimes. First, they say it appears the White House fraudulently created a forgery that it characterized as an officially produced governmental birth record. Second, the White House fraudulently presented to the residents of Maricopa County and to the American public at large a forgery represented as "proof positive" of President Obama's authentic 1961 Hawaii long-form birth certificate.
"A continuing investigation is needed to identify the identity of the person or persons involved in creating the alleged birth certificate forgery and to determine who, if anyone, in the White House or the state of Hawaii may have authorized the forgery," Arpaio said.
Among the evidence released at the press conference are five videos – which can be seen at the end of this article – to demonstrate why the Obama long-form birth certificate is suspected to be a computer-generated forgery.
The videos consist of step-by-step computer demonstrations using a control document. They display the testing used by the investigators to examine various claims made by supporters of the April 27 document.
The investigators contend the videos illustrate their conclusion that the features and anomalies observed on the Obama long-form birth certificate were inconsistent with features produced when a paper document is scanned, even if the scan is enhanced by Optical Character Recognition, OCR, and optimized.
Additionally, the posse says, the videos demonstrate that the Hawaii Department of Health Registrar's name stamp and the registrar's date stamp were computer-generated images imported into an electronic document, as opposed to rubber stamp imprints inked by hand or machine onto a paper document.
"That we were able to cast reasonable suspicions on the authenticity of the registrar stamps was especially disturbing, since these stamp imprints are designed to provide government authentication to the document itself," Zullo said, emphasizing that if the registrar stamps are forgeries, the document itself is likely a forgery.
The investigators also chronicled a series of allegedly inconsistent and misleading representations that various Hawaii government officials have made over the past five years regarding any original birth records held by the Hawaii Department of Health.
"As I said at the beginning of the investigation, the president can put all this to rest quite easily," Arpaio said. "All he has to do is demand the Hawaii Department of Health release to the American public and to a panel of certified court-authorized forensic examiners all original 1961 paper, microfilm and computer birth records the Hawaii Department of Health has in its possession."
Arpaio emphasized that the Hawaii Department of Health needs to provide, as part of the full disclosure, evidence regarding the chain of custody of all Obama birth records, including paper, microfilm and electronic records to eliminate the possibility that a forger or forgers may have tampered with the birth records.
The sheriff said the president should also authorize Honolulu's Kapi'olani Hospital, the birth hospital listed on the Obama long-form birth certificate, to release any hospital patient records for Stanley Ann Dunham Obama, his mother, and for the newly born Barack Obama, to provide corroboration for the records held in the Hawaii Department of Health vault.
"Absent the authentic Hawaii Department of Health 1961 birth records for Barack Obama, there is no other credible proof supporting the idea or belief that President Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, as he and the White House have consistently asserted," Zullo said.
"In fact, absent the authentication of Hawaii Department of Health 1961 birth records for Barack Obama, there is no other proof he was born anywhere within the United States."
In addition, investigators say they have developed credible evidence that President Obama's Selective Service card was a forgery, based on an examination of the postal date stamp on the document. Also, records of Immigration and Naturalization Service cards filled out by passengers arriving on international flights originating outside the United States in the month of August 1961, examined at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., are missing records for the week of President Obama's birth.
Read More: http://www.wnd.com/2012/03/sheriff-joes-posse-probable-cause-obama-certificate-a-fraud/
Item #2 of 2
Sheriff Arpaio: Obama birth certificate a 'forgery'
By Stephen Dinan –The Washington Times – Thursday, March 1, 2012
PHOENIX — Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said Thursday he suspects the birth certificate President Obama released last year is a "computer-generated forgery" — and also raised questions about the authenticity of the president's Selective Servicecard."Based on all of the evidence presented and investigated, I cannot in good faith report to you that these documents are authentic," Sheriff Arpaio said. "My investigators believe that the long-form birth certificate was manufactured electronically and that it did not originate in paper format as claimed by the White House."
Questions over Mr. Obama's birth certificate have been a political sideshow for the last four years, and have persisted despite repeated denials by the White House, and despite the release of evidence he was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Aug. 4, 1961. That evidence included both a certificate of live birth released during the 2008 campaign and the long-form certificate last year.
Fact-check organizations have concluded the certificates are authentic, and Mr. Obama has joked about those who questioned his birth. At last year's White House Correspondents Association Dinner, soon after releasing his long-form certificate, he mocked Donald Trump, who had said his own investigators were looking into the matter.
Now Sheriff Arpaio, who first built his national profile by creating tent cities for jail inmates and later by taking a tough stance on illegal immigration, could reignite questions among those who continue to believe Mr. Obama was born outside the U.S., and therefore is ineligible to be president under the Constitution's provision that the officeholder be a natural-born citizen.
Sheriff Arpaio said at least two crimes could have been committed in his view through the forgery. He repeatedly said he is not questioning whether Mr. Obama was born in the U.S., but instead is challenging the authenticity of the documents themselves.
He released a 10-page report detailing what his investigators said were "inconsistencies" in the text characters of the birth certificate image the White House released, and also questioned details of the computer file itself.
Some of those claims had earlier been raised on the Internet as well, and both the White House and independent fact-checkers have dismissed those questions, saying the computer file is consistent with the version of events the White House has detailed.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
It released the long-form certificate last year after repeated questions were raised by conservative activists and conspiracy-theory websites questioning the authenticity of the short-form certificate Mr. Obama released during the 2008 campaign.
The Justice Department has accused Sheriff Arpaio of civil rights abuses within his department, but he said he began his investigation before that — in August 2011, after tea party members from Surprise, Ariz., a town within Maricopa County, signed a petition challenging the certificate.
Sheriff Arpaio detailed former law enforcement officers who constitute what he called his "cold case posse" to do the investigation. He said no taxpayer dollars were spent.
He was joined in his press conference by Jerome Corsi, an author who has been critical of Mr. Obama. He was also one of those who took a critical look at Sen. John Kerry's military service during his 2004 presidential bid.
Mr. Corsi made headlines when he traveled to Kenya, saying he wanted to track down where he thought Mr. Obama was really born.
Sheriff Arpaio said he went into the investigation with an open mind, and would have been happy to clear Mr. Obama.
His investigators said the computer file released by the White House appears to have been created on a computer, rather than having been originally made on paper and then scanned.
The investigators said they have identified "a person of interest" in the birth certificate.
Sheriff Arpaio's chief investigator on the project said there are so many questions that he couldn't have cleared Mr. Obama to be an employee of Maricopa County.
Pursuing questions over the birth certificate has been a thorny issue for the GOP. State lawmakers in several places, including Arizona, have pursued laws that would have imposed checks on any presidential candidate's qualifications to get on their state ballots.
One such proposal in Arizona, which became known as the "birther" bill, was vetoed by Gov. Jan Brewer last year.
Read More: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/1/sheriff-arpaio-obama-birth-certificate-forgery/?page=all#pagebreak
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- Controversial Artist Depicts Obama Trampling The Constitution
- BLOCKBUSTER REVELATION! – Illegal Obama "Propped Up" By Congress!
- To the Secretary of My State: Make Obama Prove He's Eligible Or Take Him Off The Ballot
- Obama eligibility lawyer admits birth certificate is fake
- Major "Birther" Victory: Judge orders Obama in court on complaint he isn't natural-born citizen, Can't be president.
- AZ Sheriff calls for Probe into Obama Birth Certificate
- Video – Proof: The Conspiracy to put an illegal, illegitimate man in the Office of the Presidency!
- Obama Birth Certificate Faked In Adobe Illustrator – Demonstrated Proof Right from the White House Web Site
- "Trump"–ing Up a Long-Form Birth Certificate! Why? Is the Obama Birth Certificate Just Another Scam? By Donna Calvin April 28, 2011
- Question Obama's Birth Certificate? Speak out. Go to prison for 6 months!
- Obama birth certificate was forged using as templates of twins born in Hawaii one day later
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The Hika story is just getting started
The Hika technology platform has been designed to support a wide range languages that span the globe. The Hika Lite (English /Māori) and Hika Explorer (English /Māori) are the first of these offerings.
We look forward to expanding our te reo offerings, alongside other languages, for education, government and the public. Hika has also been designed to support the revitalisation of many indigenous languages around the world.
If you would like to know more about what Hika can offer or how you can be involved please get in touch with us today.


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This modern table lamp is topped with a festive Harmonium print lamp shade.
Additional Info:
The classic candlestick table lamp is given a contemporary spin here. The shapely base gets a glossy black finish. A custom made-to-order Harmonium pattern giclee-printed drum shade tops this updated look. The exclusive pattern design is by retro modern pop artist and illustrator Ragnar making it a stylish accent for your home decor. Shade printing process U.S. Patent # 7,347,593.


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It is published in the Forbes.com webpage and it's very interesting.
The title: " Drowning In Indie Books – And That's A Good Thing"
Only a little extract of it:
"Since then I read more ebooks than physical books. I buy a lot more books, too. Last year I noticed that books were getting cheaper, but the writing was getting worse. It started to get harder and harder to shop the Kindle store because I was either upset by the price of a book or the quality of its writing. Accidentally, I had stumbled upon the new face of self-publishing.
My experience reflects a profound and wrenching transformation of publishing that is shaking the industry to its roots. The beneficiaries of the existing order – major publishers and their most successful authors have become the most visible opponents of the turmoil that these "Indie" authors have introduced."
I'm still undecided of what is better or if both are better, but this article really made me think.
I highly encourage to read the rest here
What do you think?


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Photo above was the Fried Scallop, very yummy with pasta and another important ingredrient was the nori strips. I simply adore fusion pasta dishes like this one.
Ingredients (4 servings):
200 g Jusco Angel Hair Pasta
2 sheet nori (seaweed), cut into 1-inch strips
Few slices lemon
Salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
Lettuce for garnish
Fried Scallop with Sichimi:
30 g dried scallops
¼ tsp salt
2 tbsp cooking oil
1 tsp sesame oil
1 heap tsp sichimi (Japanese spice mixture)
- Soak dried scallops until softened, drain and break them into strands with fingertips. Reserve water from soaking scallop for soup or other dishes.
- Heat oils in wok, rub scallop strands with salt then add into wok. Fry with low heat till browned lightly. Add in sichimi and continue to fry till golden brown. Transfer to a bowl and allow cooling down.
- Cook pasta according to the instruction on packaging, to the desired softness. Drain.
- While pasta is still hot, toss with fried scallop and chili oil. Add salt and pepper to taste, mix well.
- Transfer pasta into serving plates, garnish with lettuce and lemon slices. Put nori strips on the top and serve immediately.


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Size: 100 X 70 (cm) / 40 X 28 (In)
Original Painting signed by the artist.
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Author Profile
Jane Miller
Jane Miller lives in London, and is the author, most recently, of In My Own Time: Thoughts and Afterthoughts (2016), a collection of her In These Times columns and interviews.
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Today it's my turn to tackle this week's Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog on stories.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog: Why do Stories exist?
Today it's my turn to tackle this week's Sisterhood of the Traveling Blog on stories.
Posted by Lydia Kang at 6:30 AM
43 comments:
- Unknown said...
Love your answer, Lydia.
They help us learn about who we are in an entertaining way. More so than any other form of media, imo.
- October 13, 2010 at 7:03 AM
- Laura Pauling said...
I'm going to go really simple and just say it's a part of human nature; it's fun; it records history...I think there are many reasons!
- October 13, 2010 at 7:09 AM
- Lindsay said...
Great answer, Lydia.
From my thesis research on Vampires in folklore I read that lots of stories were disguised warnings for children. Only, years later, The Grim Brothers etc changed the end.
I think stories now help to record the changes in society. Different times, places, ideas.
And some are just plain fun.
- October 13, 2010 at 7:34 AM
- Terri Tiffany said...
Because of who we are. Stores have always provided a way to share.
- October 13, 2010 at 7:50 AM
- Unknown said...
I've never really thought about the question and I like your answer. I know I'll probably never help solve a murder, but with the help of fiction, I could be a freakin' detective!
- October 13, 2010 at 8:21 AM
- Wendy Lu said...
Immortality is a good reason. Stories do indeed keep a record of human nature and society norms and ideas.
I think stories give us something to hold on to and believe in when reality is not so kind to us. They also lets us experience things that we might never in real life.
Also, they are pure enjoyment! :)
- October 13, 2010 at 8:38 AM
- Lenny Lee said...
hi miss lydia! stories got lots of reasons for being there. some are just for fun and making people happy and being social some are for spiritual stuff some are for history and some are for just pretend. i like the pretend stuff cause right at this minute i could go off and be that yak herder in mongolia or i could go swim with the dolphins in the sea.
...smiles from lenny
- October 13, 2010 at 9:12 AM
- MTeacress said...
That's an excellent way to look at it. We do care about other people's lives and the things they experience. It's enriching to look at the world through different eyes with the help of a story. :)
- October 13, 2010 at 9:26 AM
- Carol Kilgore said...
Great answer. I think stories probably evolved from passing down family history to ways to keep others out of danger to keeping the kids in line.
- October 13, 2010 at 9:27 AM
- Danyelle L. said...
Ha! I love this! I agree. I love slipping into a character's skin where I can have interesting things happen to "me" without all the pain and suffering. :) (That and magic is always fun. >:))
- October 13, 2010 at 10:12 AM
- Francine Howarth said...
Great post!
Answer: because stories stretch our imaginations, because as children we loved to be scared and for every story to have a happy ending, because once we discovered books new worlds opened our minds to deeper feelings and roads well-travelled and that not every story has a happy ending, because the future is a mystery and we cannot know its ending!
- October 13, 2010 at 10:31 AM
- Sharon K. Mayhew said...
Wonderful post, Lydia! Stories tell our wishes, dreams, and or nightmares for our past, present and future. And of course some stories tell what really happened. :)
- October 13, 2010 at 11:29 AM
- Jai Joshi said...
I agree with you that it's about experiencing more of life.
I also think that it's about understanding life and more importantly it's about understanding ourselves and our purpose. Through stories we can see the universality of life and why we are all here scratching in the earth, trying to live on.
- October 13, 2010 at 12:38 PM
- Southpaw said...
I enjoyed your answer. Stories capture so much of society of the times.
- October 13, 2010 at 1:06 PM
- Alex J. Cavanaugh said...
Stories are also used to pass on history.
- October 13, 2010 at 1:08 PM
- Hermana Maw said...
I love the Lives of Lydia! And I also loved you post. :)
- October 13, 2010 at 1:18 PM
- Elana Johnson said...
Ooh, I like this answer. Very insightful. I think people like to listen to stories because it makes them realize that their life is pretty darn good.
- October 13, 2010 at 1:31 PM
Lol! Loved the pic/art!
"I could get all anthropological on you. You know, how we're all social creatures and stories are a means of communication, etc."
Good thing I covered that last week, lol!! ;)-
Nice post, Lydia!
- October 13, 2010 at 4:52 PM
- Krispy said...
Oh, I like your take on this. So true! Stories are also an easy way of taking a vacation without actually having to GO anywhere. :)
- October 13, 2010 at 5:12 PM
- The Words Crafter said...
I think you summed it up pretty well.
Stories are dreams and imaginings....and so many of them have become realities in our world-the wheel, the plane, the computer...when are we going to live like the Jetsons?
- October 13, 2010 at 5:53 PM
- Lydia Kang said...
You stole my thunder! What else was I to do?
- October 13, 2010 at 6:29 PM
- DL Hammons said...
Lydia Red Riding Hood ???
Now that's a classic waiting to be written!! :)
- October 13, 2010 at 7:42 PM
- Connie Arnold said...
Great post, Lydia, I like what you said! Stories help us to know what happened before, to share with each other our experiences, thoughts, emotions, feelings now and to express our dreams and wishes for the future.
- October 13, 2010 at 8:05 PM
- Roland D. Yeomans said...
Before light, before fire, darkness reigned over man. Language was the first spark that pushed that fearsome enemy back for us.
Stories were the fires we held inside our hearts and minds to keep the darkness at bay. They explained the unexplainable, making it something manageable, something less to be feared because of that.
When fear and hunger stalked us in pre-history, myths told us that heroes existed, that they even challenged the gods. Maybe we could, too.
Maybe we could even find the golden path which led to safety, peace, and love.
Those dreams, those dreads wove threads into our collective unconscious, creating archtypes which, when spoken or read, strike stirring chords within us.
That is why we read stories to this very day. Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting. It meant a lot.
- October 13, 2010 at 8:12 PM
- Lydia Kang said...
Wow Roland! What a wonderful comment, so beautifully written!
I've loved reading everyone's responses about how the questions strikes everyone a little differently. Hooray for stories, in the past, present, and future!
- October 13, 2010 at 8:32 PM
- Unknown said...
I think you're right. It's a way to live after we've died. Also, we can pass down history and hopefully prevent people from making the same mistakes.
- October 13, 2010 at 9:09 PM
- A Pen In Neverland: Angela Peña Dahle said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- October 13, 2010 at 9:23 PM
- A Pen In Neverland: Angela Peña Dahle said...
Wow. Great thinking here! I love that you say "stories are about experiencing a kind of immortality." The thing about all our differences is that we can all relate with someone else no matter how different their story is---which is amazing to me--because those who came before us or experienced something before us can enlighten us with the past. In that way we feel connected to them. They live on through us. We are all connected by experience whether or not we fall or rise, etc. I have to agree that it is a plus to have imagination implemented into the story and all the extras that come with great writing/storytelling. Some stories ARE fun as others have mentioned, but they all have a history, memory, or reason behind the telling of them.
- October 13, 2010 at 9:27 PM
- Slamdunk said...
Excellent answer Lydia.
I can't top yours, but I think stories exist as a healthy outlet for our imaginations and creativity--they can help us expand our ideas and talents..
- October 13, 2010 at 10:20 PM
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- October 14, 2010 at 2:30 AM
- Rachna Chhabria said...
Loved your post. We read stories for several reasons, to acquaint ourselves with other cultures, to get into the skin of other characters, to visit times past and future. We write stories for the same reasons.
Shall I start penning Lydia and the Chocolate Factory?
- October 14, 2010 at 2:51 AM
- Private said...
Wow, that was really deep! Lovely post, Lydia. I think some stories are good for escaping the mundane everyday life. Some stories are good for learning about other cultures etc. Really, stories give us a sense of something that's familiar, but at the same time very distant.
- October 14, 2010 at 9:36 AM
- Tina Laurel Lee said...
Nice post! I loved reading the comments too. Clearly we are all writing here for a reason!
- October 14, 2010 at 11:25 AM
- Suzy Turner said...
Wow... you've really got everybody's imaginations going here. This is such a great post... I think the stories have been in our lives for so long primarily for entertainment, for pure escapism. Life would do too grim without them!
Thanks for following my blog, btw!
- October 14, 2010 at 11:48 AM
- Theresa Milstein said...
I think stories are how cultures pass on their life lessons. They not only reflect how they were and how they are, but how they want to be in the future.
If given a choice, I'd pick: A Great and Terrible Lydia.
Sounds fierce!
- October 14, 2010 at 4:27 PM
- Phoenix said...
No Twilight? Damn, I was hoping for some sparkling... :)
Stories really started as a way to teach - teach culture, teach religion, teach morals. Jesus told stories; Native Americans told stories; the ancient Greeks told stories; all trying to explain what was going on in the universe, around them, and inside them spiritually and ethically. Even the church tried telling stories, before they realized that people liked the stories better than the morals, and that's how theater was born.
Humans are such natural story tellers. It is the easiest thing to do in the world - tell a story. Tell any story, about anything, anywhere, any time, any place.
And we are instantly transported. :)
- October 14, 2010 at 5:01 PM
- Unknown said...
"When it comes down to it, we've got one life to live in a body with a fixed expiration date."
Whoa. When you put it that way...
Lots of my parts seem to be slowly expiring. I wish I could ut them in the back of the fridge to make them last longer.
Love Lydia Red Riding Hood. Would so read that, sounds like a dystopic YA Fantasy....
- October 14, 2010 at 8:04 PM
- Jolene Perry said...
I love stories. I love hearing them, reading them, writing them. It's fun to live another person's life through writing. I hope to do it for a long time.
- October 15, 2010 at 12:55 AM
- Catherine Denton said...
"kind of immortality" I like that thought! For me it's the adventure of something I've never experienced.
- October 15, 2010 at 1:06 AM
- IMADIKLUS said...
- This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
- October 15, 2010 at 9:29 AM
- notesfromnadir said...
In a word: ENTERTAINMENT.
- October 17, 2010 at 12:13 PM
Is Bigfoot Real or fake? For around 400 years, there have already been reporting's of a guy like beast that's totally covered in hair.
- October 17, 2010 at 2:00 PM
And what about adding some more illustrations? No offence, page is really nice. But according to the scientists humans acquire info much more effective when there are certain useful pics.
Lenny Swift
a cell phone jammer
- October 26, 2010 at 6:04 AM


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Asian Studies
Exciting Changes in East Asian Studies
March 06, 2013
Students Interested in East Asian Studies:
We'd like to announce a couple of exciting changes and additions to the East Asian Studies program for the coming year. For students interested in minoring, we have removed the language requirement for the minor. Minors must now take two "foundation" courses on East Asia that provide a comparative perspective and three general courses that focus on Japan, China and/or Korea. The major is changing slightly as well, with the reduction in language requirements to two years.
We will also have two exciting new additions to the faculty. Religious Studies has hired a scholar who researches religion in Japan. She will be teaching a class on Buddhism in the fall. We also have a one-year Korean Studies faculty member coming who will be teaching courses on Korean contemporary culture. We don't know the exact information yet, but it will be taught in the T-Th 1:50-3:20 time slot, at the 200 level. Once this is finalized, we will let you know.


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What to Eat with Pilsner
Beer and food are better together.
Editor's Note: You've stocked up on your favorite style of beer. But what food will help it taste even better? Certified Cicerone Michael Agnew is here to help.
In my world, Pilsner is the perfect beer. Poured into a tall, tapered glass and capped with a fluffy inch of white foam, its brilliant golden hue has a way of making me seriously thirsty. Pilsner manages to be at once sharp and delicate; the spicy bite of hops is bold, but not so bold that it overwhelms your palate or the graham-cracker-malty flavors underneath.
Pilsner is also an extremely versatile food beer. It's got enough spicy oomph to tackle Thai and other fiery Asian foods, but it also won't overwhelm more delicate dishes like shellfish or fresh goat cheese. It's great with burgers or barbecue and perfect with pizza. The hops and carbonation work to keep your palate clean. But it can also be a wonderful accompaniment to very light desserts.
Hors d'oeuvres
What's New On Serious Eats
Pilsner makes a great start to an evening full of beer and food. It's light, allowing you to move on to heavier beers as the session progresses. And it goes with a wide range of foods, so you won't need more than one beer to accompany a variety of starters.
Whether fried, Asian-spiced, or straight-up Buffalo, you can't beat pilsner with wings. Try a bitter Bitburger Pils with Jamaican jerk-seasoned flappers. The pairing starts with a spicy kick, but then the hops and fizz wash the heat away.
Pilsner sings with basil, so anything with pesto is a good bet. Or pour a Trumer Pils with classic tomato and mozzarella bruschetta sprinkled with basil chiffonade. The beer is light enough that it won't overwhelm a lightly-flavored fresh mozz, and the malt sweetness will balance acidity from the tomatoes.
While we're talking cheese, pilsner is perfect for those delicate fresh and younger bloomy-rind cheeses. It can even work with cheddar, but go with mild cheddar. Sharp and aged cheddars will overwhelm the beer. For a showstopping appetizer treat pair a maltier pilsner like Lagunitas Pils with baked brie, Serrano ham, and sliced apples.
If you're into pilsner, you should work on your grilled ham-and-cheese technique. The two are wonderful together—salty ham brings a fantastic counterpoint to the smooth malt and floral Saaz hops of the original golden lager, Pilsner Urquell. Make sure to buy the beer in cans—the green-bottle beer is very often skunked.
At a diner in central Wisconsin I recently enjoyed a delicious bratwurst Reuben; bratwurst, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Thousand Island on marbled rye bread. This fantastically decadent sandwich cried out for a Schell's Pils from neighboring Minnesota. The late, great, beer writer Michael Jackson once called this beer "one of the best American examples of the pilsner style." It's sharp, clean, and bitter enough to clear away the copious fat in this sandwich. And who can argue with sauerkraut and pils?
Let's move onto the main course. Pilsner is one of the best beers to pair with sushi. Hop bitterness amps up the umami of soy sauce and raw fish. Spicy flavors in the beer latch on to the sinus-clearing sensation of wasabi. A lighter pilsner like Warsteiner will let the sushi shine while something maltier like Budweiser Budvar (Czechvar in the US) will offer a more even balance.
Spicy Thai and Vietnamese foods are also excellent with pilsner. A bowl of Bun Cha Gio, a Vietnamese noodle dish with veggies and eggroll, is wonderful with Sam Adams Noble Pils. Both are light with floral and spicy overtones and tiny hints of citrus. Add any meat you like to the dish, and don't forget the Sriracha.
Forget those watered-down Mexican lagers, a true pilsner is the way to go with food from south of the border. The fresh flavor of cilantro is well matched to the floral notes of Saaz hops in a Czech-style pils like New Belgium's Blue Paddle. A fat chicken burrito is the perfect partner for Victory Prima Pils—one of the best domestic pilsners available. The burrito's spices and salsa match the spicy flavors of German hops. This beer has the cutting power to get through even the pastiest refried beans.
When you talk about serving beer with dessert, most people don't venture past sweeter porters and stouts. But paired with lighter dishes, pilsner can be an unexpected treat. Try it with a slice of pound cake or a handful of lemon shortbread cookies. Rhubarb season is coming to an end, but there is still some to be had. North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner and a slice of strawberry rhubarb pie are surprisingly simpatico. Crust and malt complement each other nicely, while fruit and hops bring a tasty contrast.
Consider these suggestions just starting points, and tell us: what do you like to eat with your favorite pilsner?
About the Author: Certified Cicerone Michael Agnew is the lead educator and owner of A Perfect Pint. He conducts beer tastings for private parties and corporate events. His beer musings can be read in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, his own Perfect Pint Blog, The Hop Press at Ratebeer.com, the City Pages Hot Dish Blog, and in respected national beer magazines. Follow him on Twitter at @aperfectpint
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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I spent the day with some great young people today. They are the campers and counselors at the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association summer camp. They come from throughout eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware to enjoy the week of camp in Worcester Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It didn't hurt that the weather was beautiful.
From swimming to arts and crafts to building floats and just hanging out and having fun, the camp is all a summer camp should be and more. More, because MDA creates a setting in which these campers get a chance to meet new friends, to have a great time, but also to be in an environment where they don't have to explain anything to anybody.
It was great seeing Dennis and Carol Schaeffer, of Schaeffer's Harley Davidson of Orwigsburg. Schaeffer's is one of the top HD dealers in the nation in raising money for MDA.
They and a convoy of Harley owners came to give rides to the campers.
The wonderful folks from Lowe's were on hand to help build floats for the parade. This year's theme is Road Trip and they were in the South today. Thus, the many Mardis Gras and racing themes. Other sponsors and volunteers were there. The Upper Darby Fire Department served a splendid dinner, 24 hours after the Philadelphia Fire Department dished out a meal I heard kids talking about all day. (The ribs were a hit, Local 22.)
The MDA Summer Camp is a week of optimism.
While the Association's aim is to cure neuromuscular diseases, the camp shows why MDA is an organization of heart, for it it seeks to help people in every way and to do so today.
Make a muscle. Make a difference.
Filed under: Community, MDA | Tagged: Harley Davidson, Local 22, MDA, Summer Camp, Upper Darby | Leave a comment »


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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will drag poor Anne Hathaway out of bed tomorrow at 5:30 a.m. to announce the Oscar nominees in 10 major categories.
This year the big question is, where the hell are they gonna find 10 worthy movies? You've got the Golden Globes' choices: "Avatar," "Hurt Locker," "Up in the Air," "Precious" and "Inglourious Basterds." They're all safe bets.
From there it's a scrum between "Star Trek," "District 9," "Invictus," "A Single Man," "An Education," "Crazy Heart," "Nine" (Oscar loves a musical - -even if you don't), "Where the Wild Things Are," "Fantastic Mr. Fox," "The Hangover," "(500) Days of Summer," "An Education"... maybe "Up." You can forget any foreign-language films getting into the mix, as it's only happened 11 times in 80+ years.
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But none of that matters, because this year Best Picture is all about "Avatar" vs. "Hurt Locker." The rest is noise. Same goes for Best Director. Adding to the drama is the fact that these two directors, James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow, used to be married. Their split was amicable, but after the awards are announced, who knows?
In the Best Actor field, look for Peter Sarsgaard to possibly get his due for his great work in "An Education" or Jeremy Renner from the "The Hurt Locker" in addition to obvious choices like George Clooney ("Up in the Air") Jeff Bridges ("Crazy Heart") and Colin Firth ("A Single Man").
The Best Actress category is as thin as you would fear when an industry that typically offers women few great roles has an offer year. There's no doubt the trophy will go to Meryl Streep ("Julie & Julia"), Marion Cotillard ("Nine"), Sandra Bullock ("The Blind Side"), Emily Blunt ("The Young Victoria"), Carey Mulligan ("An Education") or Gabourey Sidibe ("Precious").
To waste any ink -- even the fake cyberspace stuff -- on Best Supporting Actor is dumb. Christoph Waltz from "Inglourious Basterds" has this wrapped up. Moving on...
To another category already decided, Best Supporting Actress. Mo'nique's teary-eyed speech in accepting the same award at the Globes effectively ended this race.
The Best Original Screenplay race will come down to Quentin Tarantino ("Inglorious Basterds")vs. Mark Boal ("The Hurt Locker"), while Jason Reitman's "Up in the Air" script is the prohibitive favorite to win the "we love you, but can't give Best Picture so here's Best Adapted Screenplay" Award. But "Precious," "An Education," "A Single Man" and "Fantastic Mr. Fox" will likely round out the Adapted field.
Two weeks ago the Academy announced that it had whittled the Best Foreign Film field down to nine, but this race will be between "The White Ribbon" and "A Prophet," with "Ribbon" having the edge because of director Michael Haneke's popularity and the film's (slightly) wider release.
Twenty animated features were submitted for consideration, but if "Up" doesn't win they should discontinue the category. That said, "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," "Fantastic Mr. Fox," "9" and "A Town Called Panic" all lurk in the shadows, ready to pounce.
Really, the biggest question looming over the Oscar nomination is, Why the hell don't they just turn this into a two-hour primetime special and let every get some decent sleep?