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Tag Archives: RC Bray
#ThrowbackThursday ~ Huntress Moon (The Huntress/FBI Thrillers #1) by @AlexSokoloff
Renee at It's Book Talk began this meme as a way to share old favourites, as well as books that have been waiting on the 'to be read' pile for however long, and are finally getting an airing.
This week I'm revisiting the first book that kicked off The Huntress/FBI series in audiobook format, released in 2014. RC Bray does a fabulous job with the characterisations.
#ThrowbackThursday ~ The Martian by Andy Weir #Audiobook #SciFi @andyweirauthor
Renee at It's Book Talk began this meme as a way to share old favourites, as well as books that have been waiting on the 'to be read' pile for however long, and are finally getting an airing.
This week I'm going with The Martian in audiobook format. It was released on Audible in March 2014 and RC Bray delivered a fantastic performance. Well worth a listen. I watched the film as well, which stuck to the original story from what I can remember, but I still preferred the audiobook.
#ThrowbackThursday ~ Black (Black #1) by Russell Blake ~ A Hardboiled-Noir #Detective Mystery #AudiobookReview
Renee at It's Book Talk began this meme as a way to share old favourites, as well as books that were published over a year ago. Not to mention those that are languishing on the to be read pile for whatever reason.
Russell Blake has created a unique and interesting detective that I found very refreshing. Black is the first of a series, published in 2014.
#ThrowbackThursday ~ The Wild Inside ~ A Novel of Suspense by christine_carbo #policeprocedural #crime
Renee at It's Book Talk began this meme as a way to share old favourites, as well as books that were published over a year ago. Not to mention those that are languishing on the to be read pile for whatever reason.
Another audiobook this week, The Wild Inside by Christine Carbo. A debut novel, it was released in June 2015 by Blackstone Audio and narrated by R.C. Bray
Abuse Of Discretion (Dre Thomas #3) by @AuthorPSY ~ Legal #Thriller #Audiobook #TuesdayBookBlog
Audiobook Review
Author: Pamela Samuels Young
Performed by R.C. Bray
Released: October 2017 by Goldman House Publishing
Category: Legal, Courtroom Drama, Suspense, Book Review, Audiobook
A Kid's Curiosity … A Parent's Nightmare
The award-winning author of "Anybody's Daughter" is back with an addictive courtroom drama that gives readers a shocking look inside the juvenile criminal justice system.
This is an excellent legal thriller series. Angela Evans used to be an Assistant US Attorney, now she's a criminal defence attorney. Her relationship with Andre Thomas, a reformed drug dealer, compromised her previous post and, although Dre promised to leave his criminal past behind him, the past hasn't done with him yet.
The Last Flight: A Novel by Gregory P Liefer #AudiobookReview #Survival #Suspense
- Audiobook Review
- Author: Gregory P Liefer
- Performed by RC Bray
- Released: June 2017 by Brilliance Audio
- Category: Survival, Suspense, Audiobook, Review, Action, Adventure, Reading, Books
Set against the harsh beauty of Alaska, a veteran helicopter pilot is torn between ending his own embattled life and rescuing survivors from a mountain plane crash.
The Last Flight is the story of Gil Connor, a middle-aged Vietnam veteran and Army helicopter pilot. His exploits are almost legendary amongst his peers but Gil is now fighting a losing battle against terminal cancer. His dreams are haunted by the horrors he's witnessed and friends lost in battle, not to mention coming to terms with the loss of both his children. Gil has decided to die as he has lived, on his own terms, and takes a helicopter out for a last flight. Continue reading
Bitter Moon (The Huntress/FBI Thrillers #4) by @AlexSokoloff #TuesdayBookBlog #Audiobook
- Author: Alexandra Sokoloff
- Performed by R.C. Bray
- Published: Brilliance Audio and released November 2016
- Category: Crime, Thriller, Suspense
FBI agent Matthew Roarke has been on leave, and in seclusion, since the capture of mass killer Cara Lindstrom—the victim turned avenger who preys on predators. Torn between devotion to the law and a powerful attraction to Cara and her lethal brand of justice, Roarke has retreated from both to search his soul.
This is one of my all time favourite series. Totally compelling. Initially, it was Roarke, his reaction to Cara's terrible story when he was just a boy himself, and the impact it had on his life that intrigued me. And Cara, a protagonist with such a tragic young life, turned vigilante. As the story and the series progressed the characters developed and became ever more complex, so it was impossible not to become involved and care about them. Continue reading
#FridayBookShare ~ Mortal Fall by @christine_carbo ~ set in Glacier National Park @ShelleyWilson72
#FridayBookShare ~ an excellent idea created by Shelley Wilson.
With the weekend approaching it's the perfect time to seek out new books to read, so Shelley created a Friday Book Share game to help search for that ideal read.
Anyone can join in. Just answer the following F.R.I.D.A.Y. questions based on the book you're either currently reading or have just finished reading. Use the hashtag #FridayBookShare and remember to tag Shelley (@ShelleyWilson72) Continue reading
Burnt Offerings: Valancourt 20th Century Classics By Robert Marasco #Horror #BookReview @audbks
- Audiobook Review
- Author: Robert Marasco
- Performed by RC Bray
- Category: Classic Horror
- Released: March 2016 by Blue Heron Audio
Ben and Marian Rolfe are desperate to escape a stifling summer in their tiny Brooklyn apartment, so when they get the chance to rent a mansion in upstate New York for the entire summer for only $900, it's an offer that's too good to refuse. There's only one catch: behind a strange and intricately carved door in a distant wing of the house lives elderly Mrs. Allardyce, and the Rolfes will be responsible for preparing her meals.
Marian is desperate to spend the summer away from the city, with it's oppressive heat, grime and noise. The advertisement in the paper for a 'unique summer home. Restful, secluded. Perfect for large family. Pool, private beach, dock,' sounds just what she's looking for in a summer rental. Ben eventually gives in and agrees to view the property, but is very sceptical when he learns the price and sees the run down state of the place. But for Marian, it's everything she ever wanted…and more. Continue reading


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This charming home with four bedrooms and three baths is across from Callaghan Park. The home is in a great location surrounded by stately homes and just minutes to Highway 1, which ideal for commuters towards Monterey or Santa Cruz. There's a separate office and a cozy fireplace in the living room. A tremendous amount of natural light fills the home with views towards town, the park and the mountains. This property is a gardeners dream with fruit trees, flowers and plenty of room for your award-winning vegetable garden. Access the downstairs from inside the home or from a separate entrance which is ideal for your guests. Additional features include ample storage, a two-car garage and plenty of parking with access from Gonzales Alley. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to own a bit of Watsonville.
Listing courtesy of John Skillicorn from Coldwell Banker Residential BrokerageSelling Office: INTRR.
Based on information from MLSListings MLS as of All data, including all measurements and calculations of area, is obtained from various sources and has not been, and will not be, verified by broker or MLS. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information.
Copyright 2019 MLSListings Inc. All rights reserved

subset: commoncrawl


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Alison Brie was born in Hollywood, California and grew up in the Los Angeles suburb of South Pasadena. Interested in acting at an early age, she began her career performing in community theater shows at the Jewish Community Center in Los Feliz. Her very first role was "Toto" in the Wizard of Oz. After graduating from South Pasadena High School in 2001; Alison attended California Institute of the Arts where she received her BFA in Acting. While there, she was one of the original cast members in the world premiere of The Peach Blossom Fan, performed as the inaugural theater production at Disney's REDCAT Theater in Downtown LA. During that time, Alison also studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Scotland.
Since graduating, she has continued to work in all forms of media, including film, television, and theater. She has performed in the Blank Theater Company's Young Playwright's festival and in shows at the Odyssey, Write-Act, and Rubicon Theaters, receiving an Indy Award for her haunting performance as "Ophelia" in the Rubicon's production of Hamlet. She had performed guest spots for Comedy Central and Disney's "Hannah Montana" (2006) as well as leading roles in some independent films before landing her role on "Mad Men" (2007) and "Community" (2009).
Brie has roles in the upcoming indie films Montana Amazon, Rasperry Magic and most recently was cast as a supporting actress in Scream 4.


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Large Deep Pothole
Reported via iOS in the Pothole category by Diane Carver at 18:55, Tuesday 19 March 2019
Sent to Oxfordshire County Council 5 minutes later
Right I the middle of the cross roads at Station Road/MillLane/LowerRoad/Chinnor Road in Chinnor. This pothole is very deep and large and needs urgent repairs.
Council ref: ENQ19829620
Thank you for your enquiry. This issue has been passed onto the relevant team for investigation.
State changed to: Investigating
Posted by Oxfordshire County Council at 19:00, Tuesday 19 March 2019
Thank you for your enquiry. We have investigated your report and it has been actioned to be fixed.
State changed to: Action scheduled
Posted by Oxfordshire County Council at 13:11, Wednesday 27 March 2019
State changed to: Fixed
Updated by Oxfordshire County Council at 10:33, Thursday 4 April 2019
This report is now closed to updates. You can make a new report in the same location.


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As the Supreme Court prepares to decide the fate of the Affordable Care Act later Thursday morning, a new Gallup poll displays that confidence in the U.S. medical system is up following the passage of the law in 2010.
U.S. confidence in its medical system hit a low point in 2007, when only 31 percent of Americans had a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in the system. Now, that's up to 41 percent. Since "Obamacare" passed in 2010, confidence in the system is up 5 points.
Still, it's only slightly above the historical average of 39 percent.
Of the looming Obamacare decision, Gallup's Jeffrey M. Jones notes:
The Supreme Court's decision on the fate of the law could arguably be as significant an event in the U.S. healthcare system as the passage of the law itself. The court will effectively decide whether the healthcare law's changes will fully take place, whether the healthcare system reverts back to what it was before the law passed, or whether some aspects of the law remain in place and others do not.
In addition to its obvious impact on the healthcare system, the decision could ultimately affect the amount of confidence Americans have in the U.S. medical system.
Here's a look at Americans' confidence in the system through the years:


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In this series of posts, Bobbi Junior brings her unique perspective to bear on the subjects of dementia, and Christian caregiving. Bobbi demonstrates that God is greater than dementia or any other crisis we may face. She shares how being a caregiver is a tiring, challenging and demanding task, and caregiver burnout is a constant threat.
Read Part 4 here.
Bobbi Junior is a contributor to our Christian internet radio station, HopeStreamRadio, through her program entitled "Not Me Lord."
Dementia And Adjusting To New Circumstances
Day by day, Mom was working her way through the first week in her new Assisted Living apartment, this being the first time she'd lived anywhere but in her own home. Adjusting to her new circumstances was greatly hampered by the fact that dementia coloured everything she tried to do.
Mom and I had just had a difficult lunch in the residents' dining room. Now I asked her,
"Do you still want to go to the drug store?"
"Of course I do. I might have to be here, but I still need things. At least give me a chance to get ready."
I pondered Mom's predicament as she searched for what she needed to go outside.
Lord, I feel so badly for Mom. She's in a constant state of struggle. Part of the rest we have in our every day life is the fact that there are many things we can do automatically, without having to concentrate, or figure things out. We make a morning cup of coffee without having to think about how. We take our clothes out of the closet, the dresser, without having to search for them. We walk to the bathroom without having to figure out where it's located. Mom has none of these mental breaks right now. Not only does she have to think everything through, but her dementia is putting blocks in front of every learning she's trying to grasp.
Dear Jesus, give me an abundance of patience for the rest of this visit. May my responses to Mom reflect your love, and not my frustration.
"Well, are you coming?"
A Little Shopping Trip
It had taken Mom a good ten minutes to find her coat, put it on, and locate her purse. I felt guilty as I accomplished these tasks in a matter of moments. I couldn't imagine how frustrating this must be for her, someone who had relied on no one but herself since she'd divorced my dad several decades ago.
Jesus, I prayed, be with us as we go for this little shopping trip. Show me the kind of support Mom needs from me, and hold me back if I go in the wrong direction.
With her boat on, purse in hand, and hated apartment keys hooked to their red plastic curly cord, I stood back and gave minimal help as Mom struggled again to lock her apartment door. We made our way down the empty hall to the elevator. We were alone this time, so I tried to talk her through pushing the down button herself. Rather than sound like a teacher, which felt patronizing, I tried to couch my instructions in observations.
"Ah, here's the silver arrow pointing down, Mom. That's the button that will call the elevator."
"Who calls an elevator? Is it a person?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm.
I laughed. "I'm glad your humour is still intact!"
I knew she hadn't been trying to be funny, so I was pretty sure the Lord was helping me reframe her comment. She started to glare at me, then relented and gave a small smile.
Exiting Whyte Hall, we turned right, walked past a beauty salon, and into the drug store conveniently located just a few doors down.
A Sweet Tooth In The Drug Store
I started to formulate a question, thinking I would ask what she needed, so I could help her find it, but Jesus put his hand over my mouth. I know that sounds strange, but it's a feeling I've often had when submitting to the Lord's direction with Mom. I'd learned that his caution for silence was always spot on. He knew when I needed to speak up, and when I needed to simply walk alongside.
With no comment from either of us, Mom picked up a basket from the stack by the door, and we began our journey. Up and down the aisles we walked, past make-up, perfume, hair products and more. I kept a couple of steps behind and let Mom take the lead. She searched and searched until in the first aid section, she found a small tube of ointment. It was identical to the one sitting on her table in the apartment, but I didn't mention that.
Next we went to the candy section. Mom's sweet tooth was calling.
"Why do they have so much," she mumbled under her breath, as she searched the wide selection of chocolate. Forgetting myself, which I often do, I asked, "Which one do you need? Can I help?"
"Why don't you just let me alone."
I stepped back. Lord, I'm sorry. You made it clear I was to stay quiet. Two steps behind and my mouth shut. This is Mom's shopping trip, not mine. Please let her feel like she can accomplish this on her own.
Mom did decide on a bar of chocolate, but it was an angry selection. She fumbled as she pulled it from the display and threw it into the basket. I stayed back, silent.
Chocolate, Cashiers And Keys
I followed her as she made her way to the checkout. Again my anxiety tried to open my mouth, but this time I held back and was glad I did. Given the drug store's location right beside a senior's residence, the cashiers were adept at serving the elderly. With great patience, kindness, and easy banter, the clerk helped Mom find the right amount of money, packaged her chocolate and ointment, and wished her well.
This drug store had a grocery section, magazines, and many of the small things Mom might want to purchase for herself. The trip showed Mom and I both that even in her new residence, she could shop for her needs independently. An encouragement to both of us!
Mom's mission accomplished, we made the short walk back to the Hall.
As we approached the locked front doors anxiety burbled up in me again. Locked doors need keys. A resident on the inside paused, though, as he noticed us. I thought of the key Mom would have to manipulate to get us into the building. Hoping for an alternative, I smiled and nodded at the resident. He reached over a placard that ordered, "DON'T LET ANYONE YOU DO NOT KNOW INTO THE BUILDING" and pushed the button to open the door.
Small Blessings
A small blessing from the Lord, I decided as we entered. The key on its red plastic curly cord remained on Mom's wrist.
It did have to be retrieved to get us in the apartment, though, and after some fuming and fumbling Mom managed the task.
It was apparent that Mom would need to carry out all of these new actions many times before she'd develop the muscle memory that supports routine in our day to day lives. I might have some challenges in my own day, but they were nothing compared to what Mom was coping with as she tried to settle into this new living space, battling dementia at every turn.
Once again, I prayed for guidance. Lord, take charge of my thoughts, my mouth, and my actions so I can be the best support possible for Mom.
God Is Greater Than Dementia – Part 1
Bobbi Junior
Read and hear more from Bobbi Junior on the contributor's page. You can also find Bobbi at her website, The Reluctant Caregiver, at bobbijunior.com
Bobbi's program, "Not Me Lord" airs on HopeStreamRadio.
Contact Info
If you have enjoyed reading this post and wish to send us a comment or share a prayer request, please don't hesitate to contact us and let us know.
Chocolate – Florian Rohlfshagen
Downtown Store – Bryan Forstner


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You got a BIG pay raise in 2014! Common stocks that pay cash dividends to their shareholders may regularly increase the cash dividends as cash profits in the company increase. Investors benefit whether owning the company shares directly or indirectly thru mutual funds.
Investors in the Vanguard Total Stock Market Fund received income dividends in 2014 that were 18% higher than 2013. Dividends in 2014 were 44% higher than 5 years earlier in 2009 for an annualized growth rate of 7.6% per year, well ahead of inflation. Investors in the Vanguard 500 Index Fund received income dividends in 2014 that were 22% higher than 2013. Dividends in 2014 were 32% higher than 5 years earlier in 2009 for an annualized growth rate of 5.7% per year, also well ahead of inflation.
Dividends are not guaranteed and can fluctuate and many companies cut dividends in 2009 and 2010 following the global financial crisis in 2008. Part of the strong growth in 2014 stemmed from companies restoring and increasing previously cut dividends.
The important lesson is that investors should look at stocks as an important source of income, especially given the potential for cash dividend income to increase. Bonds are typically considered first for income. In today's low interest rate environment, U.S. large company stocks, as measured by the Vanguard 500 Index Fund Admiral Shares, actually have a higher current yield of 1.95% compare to 1.91% for the Vanguard Total Bond Market Admiral Shares, which represents U.S. government and corporate bonds. While stock and bond current yields are nearly identical, the potential for stocks to increase cash dividends warrants consideration for income investors. Of course, stocks can fluctuate more wildly in price than bonds, so investors are prudent to include bonds in their portfolio to cushion total portfolio volatility.
Did you know that there is one savings/investment account (and only one) that offers triple tax benefits? A Health Savings Account offers tax deductible contributions, tax-free investment earnings and tax-free withdrawals for qualified medical expenses. This triple tax benefit trumps an IRA, 401k or Roth IRA. Do you think Medicare coverage for retirees will be better or worse in the future? If you're like me and think it will be worse, a highly recommended strategy is to contribute to a Health Savings Account the current annual maximum of $6,650 for family coverage or $3,350 Single (and add $1,000 if you are 55+), do NOT withdraw from the account to reimburse yourself for current medical expenses, and allow it to accumulate for your retirement years. There are important caveats: a Health Savings Account has to be linked to a high deductible health insurance plan thru your employer or individual coverage and, in reality, your cash flow has to be strong enough to make the contribution and not withdraw it for current medical expenses. One may consider adjusting 401k contributions to a limited degree.
As always, please contact us with any questions or news or comments.


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As you may know (and as I have previously mentioned) April is Asperger's Awareness Month. But have you ever wondered whether you might be neurotypical? If so, here is an unpublished would-be Derby Telegraph article to get your teeth into:
Out of every 10,000 people, around 36 of us have Asperger's Syndrome. As it happens, I am one of that 36. Having been diagnosed aged nine, I am well familiar with many concepts – true and false – associated with the condition. Poor social skills and physical co-ordination? Sadly, yes. Literal minded and obsessive? In some cases. Lack of empathy and emotion? Well wouldn't life be easier if that were true. But do you know what it means to be neurotypical?
If the above statistic is anything to go by, it seems that 9,964 out of 10,000 people are neurotypical. This means that their brain is scientifically proven to work a little differently from the Asperger brain, and many neurotypicals have to live with labels such as "normal", "non-autistic" or "non-Aspergers". What else do neurotypicals struggle with? Let's explore this more closely.
• Taking things at face value. I have often had people who have watched Rain Man or read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time assume that I am like the main characters in said stories. Which can lead to them not knowing how to react when I reveal that I do have a sense of humour, due to…
• Difficulty in reading body language. In the past when I have used sarcasm or humour, some people have simply looked at me blankly or assumed I am being deadly serious, presumably struggling to notice the tell-tale body language. This gets more interesting when I use humour in response to a joke they made.
• Lack of empathy. In a world where internet communication is rife, it is too easy for people to publicly share their opinions on whoever they are talking to, whoever is in that Youtube video, whoever wrote that article or forum, without stopping to think how their words could affect others. Note that this symptom does NOT affect every neurotypical, so please don't judge each one by all the bad apples.
• Obsessions over specific areas of interest. Fashion? Love lives? Sport? Politics? These are just a few common obsessions, and in my experience those who are not experienced at communicating with Asperger people find it disconcerting when we cannot keep up with the ins and outs of their chosen interest.
• Difficulty fitting in. Many young people want to be part of the "in" crowd but just don't know how to go about it. Possibly due to insecurity, they seek solidarity among other neurotypicals in the same boat, thus overlooking those of us who think differently and do not share all of their interests.
One thing to remember is that, despite struggling with any of the above issues, every neurotypical has their own individual strengths. Common assets include a good short term memory or attention span and superior physical co-ordination, traits which many Aspies lack. But as the cliché goes, no two people are exactly the same, and so to wrap up, what are your thoughts on Asperger's Syndrome versus neurotypical?
As part of my work experience with the Derby Telegraph, I've been encouraged to help increase their publicity, so if you like a good news story, here is their website: http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/


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Contribute toward the upcoming two VoL themes
Contribute toward the upcoming two VoL themes:
1. Servant Leadership, deadline- April 22, 2013
Servant leadership is one of the least understood leadership styles. In this edition of VoL, we would like to emphasize the importance of Servant Leadership.
You may contribute toward answering one or more of the following guiding questions:
- What is Servant Leadership and how it is similar or different than other leadership styles?
- What makes this leadership style important in the 21st Century?
- How do you know whether you or someone is a servant leader?
- How can organizations benefit from Servant Leadership?
- What are some of the considerations in raising servant leaders?
- What are some of the roles and contributions of servant leaders?
- And many more…
2. Communication in Leadership, deadline- July 22, 2013
Communication has been recognized as one of the most important tools to enjoy success in leadership. Without effective communication, it is unthinkable to imagine an effective leadership. In this edition, we would like to cover the significant role communication plays in leadership, and offer some insights about the various communication methods available, and how to develop communication abilities in these means of communications.
You may contribute toward answering one or more of the following guiding questions:
- What are the most critical contributions of communication in leadership?
- What are the common communication means (verbal, non-verbal, written, communication using technologies, social media…) applicable in leadership, and their relative importance for effective leadership?
- What are the components of an effective communication between leaders-followers, and vice versa?
- The roles of communication strategy in bridging communication gaps and ensuring smooth communication within an organization?
- What are the challenges, prices, and consequences of ineffective and broken communication in leadership?
- How to fix the above challenges, and reduce the prices?
- How to develop the various aspects of effective communication?
- And many more…
You can contribute:
- Article
- Story/quote/anecdote.
- Interview… You may answer some or all of the guiding questions under each theme or add some of your own into the mix. You may also use these guiding questions to interview someone you think qualifies (someone who has experience). If you need further info in this regard, please contact us…
To learn about the guidelines to publish on VoL, please visit the Magazine page from our web site.
One Comment to Contribute toward the upcoming two VoL themes
I am willing to contribute either an article or interview. I work from an Appreciative Inquiry framing (strength-based) which can be applied to leadership and communication. Please contact me for further information
What are your needs?


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You can do divination anywhere with what you can find around the house or wherever you are. This book describes divination methods using dice, playing cards, sticks and stones, and paper and pencil to find the answers to your questions. It also includes instructions for numerology, geomancy, and runes. No need for fancy equipment — you can do Divination with What You've Got!
View this book on Amazon.com


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About two weeks ago, I did something I very rarely EVER do. I broke my phone. 3 years – no drops, dings, nicks or bad scratches. Originally, I had planned on upgrading my iPhone 3G at the end of the month but I was shuffling some stuff around on my desk and the phone slid …
Category Archive: Tech
Aug 12 2010
A new iPhone 4 and fun with iMovie
Jun 18 2010
WordPress 3.0
Updated to WP 3.0. Let's see if it's stable and then I've got some posts to catch up on!
Dec 17 2009
Wachovia ATMs
It's not often that commercial technology in the public sector makes such an intuitive leap into the modern world that I actually notice the change. Sure, plenty of stuff changes behind the scenes all the time but we pump gas from the same kind of terminals that have been in use for 20+ years, pay …
Oct 21 2009
Overall, I like some of the new changes in IE 8.0 but one feature in particular is driving me crazy: the delete option on the drop down URL list. The little red "X" is located in a column almost immediately beneath the drop down arrow. Mechanically, my natural URL selection motion drops the mouse pointer …
Jul 29 2009
New tricks for old iPhones
This one came directly from a friend and fellow iPhone user I met in Columbus, Ohio last weekend. At the moment, AT&T doesn't officially support tethering. They have a seperate 3G USB adapter product that costs an extra $60/month. However, with the latest 3.0 OS release, somebody over at BenM.at figured out a way to modify …
May 11 2009


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Ryan Rumsey, Assistant Vice President, Experience Strategy at USAA
With the popularity of Design Thinking, Design Sprints and Human-Centered Design, and the business impact that design has created for companies like Apple, Intuit, Ford, Nike, Whirlpool and Domino's, design has earned its seat at the table.
With great success, however, comes greater expectations. As design leaders have taken their seats, built organizations to support them, and incorporated design into organizational ways of working, business leaders continue to struggle with understanding the value that design brings to everyday processes, funding decisions, resource allocation, and overall business viability. At this table, design leaders are often outmatched by their counterparts in articulating the value of design while design work is going on. Without being able to clearly articulate that value, design leaders run the risk of being pushed back into service line or peripheral entities.
In this talk, Ryan reviews his approaches to connect design success to business success, to use design skills to develop business potential, and to justify design keeping a seat at the table.
Don't Miss Out!
XD Leadership Alliance events are open to members only. Membership is free. Apply to join today.
About XD Leadership Alliance
The mission of the XD Leadership Alliance is to recognize and connect industry thought leaders in the fields of design, technology, research, product and marketing. As customer experience continues to be the top driver of digital transformation for organizations, experience-driven (XD) businesses are leading the way in increasing market share and delivering greater ROI. The new ideas and collaborative efforts of the XD Leadership Alliance are aimed at keeping us at the forefront of this vital economic initiative.
For more information and to get involved, visit the XD Leadership Alliance now at experiencedriven.com.


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At Baptist Health, our goal is to keep our patients healthy and functional, giving them many more years on their feet. Our podiatrists improve the health of their patients by preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions associated with the foot and ankle. They treat a variety of conditions, including:
- Foot and Ankle Fractures and Sprains
- Sports Medicine
- Adult-Acquired Flat Foot
- Bunions, Hammertoes
- Diabetic/Charcot Reconstructive Surgery, Congenital (birth defect) Reconstructive Surgery, Revisional Surgery
- Ingrown Nails
- Infectious Disease Management
- Pediatric Foot Care
- General, Office-Based Podiatry and Second Opinions
The podiatrists at Baptist Health Foot and Ankle Clinic-Fort Smith care for all your foot and ankle needs, are professionally trained, and are dedicated to help you live a healthy and functional life on your feet.
Meet the Team
Spencer Mortensen , DPM
Podiatry, Foot and Ankle Orthopedics


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Costume and hair requirement forms will be sent out mid February. As well, will be hosting a makeup and hair class on Saturday, March 3rd from 4:30-6:00 PM. This class will include 3 quick tutorials that you can follow along with on your own dancer! This class is not mandatory however highly suggested, especially if you are unsure of the hair and makeup requirements. Please ensure that you come with your dancer's makeup and hair supplies all ready to go!
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: February 19Family Day
Later Event: March 3ODF Team Bonding Sleepover and Pizza Party


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Soba Noodles with Kale and Sesame
My brother Gareth cooked this healthy and delicious recipe as a side dish to a Japanese banquet for our mother's birthday and it was absolutely demolished – especially by our sister Tanya! It was such a great mix of texture and flavour whilst only using a few ingredients, let alone including the current super food of the moment kale. It reminded me of how the Chinese make mermaid's tresses – the shredded and fried spinach dish with toasted peanuts. Kale would be a great substitute for that recipe too!
Enjoy it as a simple, quick and easy meal for 2 or add it to your own banquet party as a side dish.
Recipe provided by Gareth Davies.
Pictured: Soba Noodles with Kale and Sesame
1 bunch kale
2 bushels soba noodles
Sesame oil
2 tbsp sesame seeds
Optional - Fresh red chillies, chopped
Preheat oven 140 °C.
Rip off the kale leaves from their stalks and shred as finely as you like – I like the texture of it shredded finely.
Toss the kale in some sesame oils and chopped fresh chillies if using – spread out on a baking tray lined with baking paper and roast slowly for 30 minutes til the kale is nice and crunchy.
Meanwhile, roast the sesame seeds in a dry fry pan on med heat for a few minutes il golden brown – to note calcium levels are higher when the seeds are toasted for extra nutritional value.
Cook soba noodles as per packet instructions. Once cooked, drain the noodles, put back in the pan and toss with the cooked kale, some more sesame oil, and the roasted sesame seeds.
Serves 2 or include as a side dish
Tastebuddy | Post a Comment | Print Article Monday, December 7, 2015 at 1:09PM Email Article


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Book a table at The Courtyard Café Bar
The Courtyard Cafe Bar is open all day from 10am Monday to Saturday.
To secure a table, booking is advised. On rare occasions during extremely busy periods and to maintain service levels, ordering from the menu may be restricted to pre-booked tables only. However, our comprehensive quiche and salad bar, together with our wide variety of cakes and snacks are always available.
PLEASE NOTE: There will be no food service from the normal menu on Saturday 28 September or Wednesday 13 November. Find out more about our Curry Night and French Food Event happening on these two evenings.
Full menu served 12noon to 2.30pm
Salad bar available from 12noon
Tuesday – Saturday:
Full menu served 12noon to 2.30pm, then 5pm to 7.45pm
Salad bar available from 12noon
Where events are taking place on a Sunday, the Café Bar will open at least one hour before curtain up.
Full menu service times subject to change.
Café Bar – 01432 346525


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December 19, 2008
Minh's Graduation & Families Meeting....!!!
First, Thank you girls so much for your comments. I felt so much better today with my parents there.
Second, congratulations my boyfriend! He is now Minh Tran, J.D.
And thirdly......
Our parents really hit it off, and his parents became a lot more close to me. Although...we had the biggest winter storm/blizzard in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It took us 2 hours to get to East Lansing which usually takes us 1 hour. The best part of it...some neighbor's truck got STUCK in front of our driveway!!
It was nerve racking driving there, but I was so determined to be there for my boyfriend's law school graduation. It's a once and a life time thing!!! I wasn't going to miss it for the world. I was so sacred that we were going to get stucked in the snow. We had 8-10 inches pile in last night.
There were SOOOOO many trucks (18 wheelers) and cars stuck in the ditches, and the shoulders of the highway. I actually took pics!!
Nobody flipped over though (that I saw), thank the all mighty.
His graduation was really formal..and our Vietnamese mom chattered so much..it was awkward for the rest of the kids!
My little sister actually got to come because school was canceled today. Everything worked out nicely.
(I had to hide the previous entry because I don't want my bf to accidentally come across it one day. Thank you all so much for the comments! It's such a warm feeling for me to know that you all know how I feel.)
I have a bunch of pictures with our families. I'm going to post as soon as I find the camera!
Also, random: when we got home.....our driveway was plowed......by 2 neighbors said my grandma..but she doesn't know who they are..
Although, they might be the guy who's truck go stuck in front of our house..my dad tried to help them push it and shovel their way out.
7 comments:
Im glad that you're feeling better and everything worked out ok =)ReplyDelete
Congrats to Minh !
I'll probably need his help in the future ! =)
Have a good weekend hun.
love her bridal look. i might do her eyes.. and add up red lipstick to add a bit drama cause my wedding is going to be on the evening and my theme is red so jus matching it up. :)ReplyDelete
and girl i'm happy for you that you've finally become close to your hubby's fam. :) wow family meeting. when is the wedding? :P
oh.. haha.. wait.. i don't get the "nersi" thing.. LOL.. sorry i'm a slow person. =pReplyDelete
and i jus had to say that you and your mom look so cute wit the matching coats. =]
HI - i was just passing by your lovely blog!ReplyDelete
WOW - that is so awesome that your bf graduated from law school! i myself am in law school and am questioning myself as to whether i can really make it! :)
what does he need to do now to practice as a LAWYER? we dont have the bar over here in australia
I got your package!!!! Thank you love!ReplyDelete
congrats!!! What a successful man you've got there! :]ReplyDelete
oh yea it does. i jus didn't get it at 1st haha.ReplyDelete


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Bar and restaurant at Weyrich's The Carlton hotel in Atascadero closed
David Weyrich's week has been bad, and continues to get worse.
The bar and restaurant of The Carlton hotel in Atascadero has been closed, as of today.
The closure was confirmed by an employee who answered The Carlton hotel phone, Amir Karimpour. The hotel remains open, he said.
Weyrich, who is tens of millions of dollars in debt, was also forced to surrender key properties to foreclosure this week, including his luxury hotel, the Villa Toscana. He also had not paid Chevron to supply aviation fuel to his Paso Robles Jet Charter service at the Paso Robles Municipal Airport, which caused the Federal Aviation Administration to issue a notice to pilots that no fuel was available at the airport this past weekend.
The Carlton was not facing foreclosure, though it, too, is in financial trouble. According to its lender, RE Loans, the property has tens of millions of dollars worth of liens that Weyrich has defaulted on.
That property -- which was assessed by the county at nearly $14 million for property-tax purposes -- also has $451,865 in current and back property taxes due to the county. Weyrich also owes personal taxes of nearly $465,000, according to Brenda Voet of the Franchise Tax Board.
The Carlton, a 52-room hotel with restaurant and bar, has been under pressure from former employees who have complained to the state they are not being paid weekly wages or have been given checks that bounced, according to documents filed with the state's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.
The Carlton's general manager, Deana Alexander, told The Tribune last week that employees are not being paid on a regular basis and she has been given the difficult task of choosing whom she should pay on any given day.
"Everything this hotel makes goes to the employees," she said. "But unfortunately we're not making enough."
A call to Alexander today has not yet been returned.


text:
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Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy 2 (TACT2) is a randomized, double blind controlled factorial clinical trial of edetate disodium-based chelation and high-dose oral vitamins and minerals to prevent recurrent cardiac events in diabetic patients with a prior myocardial infarction (MI).
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Report Master The Gamut Of Software Development Automation
Apply Forrester's Framework To Create A Holistic Automation StrategyJune 24, 2019 | Diego Lo Giudice, Chris Gardner, Christopher Condo
The impact of automation on efforts to win, serve, and retain customers is unquestionable. However, it can be difficult for application development and delivery (AD&D) professionals to determine...
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The death knell for mainframe has rung every year for the past several decades, but it's not going away. Infrastructure and operations (I&O) professionals are doubling down, migrating off, and...


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Slieve Donard Resort and Spa Wins Best Hotel in Ireland Award
December 19, 2012|
Posted by Jim Masson |
THE Slieve Donard Resort and Spa in Newcastle, Co Down, has been named Best Irish Hotel at the Travel Media Awards which took place in the Westbury Hotel in Dublin.
The award acknowledge outstanding performance in the travel and tourism industry and consisted of 18 categories all voted for by the members of the Irish media.
John Toner, Director of Hastings Hotels and General Manager of Slieve Donard Resort and Spa, said he is delighted that the hotel has been recognised by media as the best in Ireland.
"We are thrilled to have received this prestigious award for Best Irish Hotel on 30 November. What makes tis award extra special is that it was voted for by the Irish Travel media, who have no doubt stayed in very best hotels throughout Ireland, so to be acknowledged by the these journalists is fantastic.
"It is the hard work and commitment of everyone at the Slieve Donard in capitalising on what we have that has won us this prestigious award.
"The Slieve Donard Resort and Spa is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing short break and we have excellent staff who are all dedicated in ensuring our guests have a memorable stay. The hotel boasts a world-leading ESPA Spa and is simply an exquisite haven of escapism providing an oasis of tranquility."
The hotel boasts 178 luxurious bedrooms many of which offer picture-postcard views across gardens, coastline or mountain and guests can choose a three, two or one night relaxing break in a beautiful setting from as little at £80 per person, based on two people sharing. This includes accommodation, dinner in the Oak Restaurant, a full Irish breakfast where guests can enjoy locally sourced produce, and enjoy full use of the Spa facilities.
Down District Council Chairperson Mickey Coogan visited the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa to congratulate John Toner and said: "It is a huge a very challenging feat to win this award. Only a hotel that exemplifies the very best that Ireland has to offer can be deemed worthy. Our sincere congratulations go to John and the Hastings Group and their superb and passionate team on this achievement.
"Enormous credit goes to them for all their drive and determination in making this hotel the excellent hotel it is today and for adding a long list of reasons why Down District is an outstanding place to stay."
The Irish Media voted for the Slieve Donard as number one because of its outstanding performance in the travel and tourism industry. The results were independently collected and validated by the School of Hospitality management and Tourism at Dublin Institute of Technology.
* * *
To enjoy a short break at the Slieve Donard Resort and Spa or for further information, call the hotel on 028 4372 1066 or visit www.hastingshotels.com


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Mr Bush clearly does believe God is involved in his life. Asked at a debate in the Republican primary contest in 1999 which philosopher he most identified with, Mr Bush replied promptly, "Christ-because he changed my heart." At a national prayer breakfast in February 2003, he said he "felt the presence of the Almighty". The president has talked of making decisions "on bended knee".If you had to make a decision, and you believed the following things: a) If you pray to God, he will answer you by guiding your actions to his will. b) You will make better decisions when you ask God. Wouldn't it be logical to ask God before making any important decisions?
By the standards of most evangelical Christians, these beliefs would be considered unremarkable. But Mr Bush cannot be judged by those standards. He is president of all Americans. What about the measure of America's political mainstream?If you believe in God, how could you not believe he has a plan for the world?
...in the American context, is the president's belief that God is involved in the world's affairs exactly ground-breaking.
Critics have complained that such quotations are code to please evangelicals, who recognize them.
<<==rolls eyes. "Code words." Why not just listen to what he has to say instead of searching for what is not there?


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Curried Quinoa and Date Stuffed Courgettes
I somehow managed to forget about quinoa recently. It sounds silly but I used to eat it all the time and then I tried to be a little more careful with it because I read a lot about how we were all eating so much of it that the people living in the regions that grow it could no longer afford to eat it themselves. I accidentally phased it out completely but have rediscovered it again recently when trying to maintain a good balance of protein and carbohydrates in my diet around my marathon training. I've been using the @SamsungUK Health App and Gear watch to make it a bit easier because I don't like overthinking what I eat, but particularly with this training, I realised I should take my nutrition seriously too!
I always make extra so that I can have them for lunch two days running. They make a great lunch when you don't have much time but want to make something to fuel a busy afternoon!
what you'll need
(Serves 2)
2 courgettes
70g sunflower seeds
175g cooked quinoa
2 teaspoons of sesame oil
¼ - ½ teaspoon of curry powder
60g dates
2 teaspoons of tamari
juice of ½ a lemon
coriander, to serve
red chilli, to serve
what to do
Preheat the oven to 180c.
Slice along the length of the courgettes, then use a spoon to scoop out the watery part of the inside. Then place these on a baking tray.
In a bowl, combine the cooked quinoa with the sesame oil, curry powder, tamari and lemon. Then chop the dates and add these and the sunflower seeds. Mix everything well, then spoon into the courgettes. Any leftover quinoa can be placed on the tray.
Then cook in the oven for 30 minutes, or until the courgettes are soft but not soggy. Then garnish with chopped coriander and slices of red chilli to serve.
This recipe was created in collaboration with Samsung. You can check out their wearables and try the app for yourself here:


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Brand: Supply x Vans
Model: Chima Pro 2
Key Features: "AUSCAM" camouflage pattern, reinforced upper, leather tongue badge, dual-density foam ankle collar with molded heel cup, removable UltraCush Lite 3D footbed.
Release Date: May 19
Price: TBA
Buy: Vans
Editor's Notes: Vans has joined with Sydney-based retailer Supply for a special collaboration on Chima Ferguson's Chima Pro 2. The joint effort celebrates the skater's longstanding relationship with the shop, while paying homage to its influences in music, skate, and art culture.
The low-top sneaker is in turn highlighted by a disruptive "AUSCAM" camouflage pattern, further accented by ballpoint drawings of Supply graphics and doodles pointing to Chima's girlfriend and dog.
You can look forward to the Supply x Vans Chima Pro 2 launching May 19 through select Vans Pro Skate accounts.
For more fire kicks, here are the best sneakers releasing this week.
To stay updated on everything happening in the sneaker world, follow @Highsnobietysneakers on Instagram, check our sneaker release date calendar, and subscribe to our sneaker chatbot on Facebook to receive lightning quick updates to your inbox.


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316 Carroll Street
This beautiful condo building in Carroll Gardens is located on a tree-lined street, blocks from the subway.
Building Amenities:
- Floor-to-ceiling windows
- New appliances
- Walking distance to F, G, and R trains
- Private outdoor spaces
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View Available Units:
Interior Architectural Design and Finishes by:
Leyden Lewis Design Studio is a full-service interior design practice located in NYC.
Every Space Can Have a Story.


text: Shawn Ray the old school bodybuilder had an incredibly aesthetic physique despite having huge muscles. This guy definitely deserved to win the Mr O with his monster aesthetically pleasing body. If Shawn Ray would bring this physique to the Olympia stage again he would definitely give Phil Heath a run for his money.


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Chinese astronauts aloft
China carried out a textbook-perfect launch Thursday night with the liftoff of three astronauts into space for the country's third manned spaceflight and first spacewalk.
Underscoring the political implications of the mission, a beaming President Hu Jintao congratulated the astronauts on live television. He called the voyage "another milestone in the Chinese people's march towards aerospace science."
The mission was a sign of China's growing strategic power and an indication of the importance it gives to space exploration for commercial and military purposes. While NASA officials complain that diminishing budgets threaten U.S. dominance in space, China has joined Europe, India and other nations in announcing ambitious new developments in aerospace.
"After the Olympics, it's the most exciting thing that enhances our national pride and dignity this year," said He Haihong, 25, a sales manager at an electronics company who founded a Web site for Chinese aerospace fans. "Not only is the rocket launched but also our hopes for a better life."
Astronaut Zhai Zhigang is scheduled to attempt the spacewalk over the weekend, according to the state-run New China News Agency and CCTV. The spacewalk is aimed at helping China learn how to dock two orbiters to create an orbiting space station over the next few years.
Hours before the launch, the astronauts — three 42-year-old fighter pilots — sat inside the spacecraft, appearing relaxed as they read from a checklist and waved to a TV camera. At the launching station, rows of ground control staff in brown caps led the countdown while the country's top leaders watched. There was a burst of flame, then liftoff and applause.
Officials were so excited that the New China News Agency posted a story online describing the successful launch hours before the astronauts were in orbit.
The smooth takeoff allowed the country to focus on something other than the food scandals and economic troubles that have dominated news this month.
"Although Chinese society has a lot of problems … the launch of Shenzhou VII can improve the confidence of ordinary people because it shows China is getting stronger and stronger," said library worker Song Liangchun, 43
"I watched the launch on TV, and my heart almost jumped out of my throat when they ejected the rocket. I'm so glad that China is closer to the U.S. and Russia. Our astronaut's steps in space might be small, but it is a big step for us Chinese."
At the China Aerospace Museum in South Beijing, 500 sixth-graders from the city of Tianjin lined up orderly and quietly, until they saw the three-story models of rockets. Then they scattered in excitement.
"On TV, the rockets don't look so big!" said Chen Lu, a 12-year-old girl. "I worship the astronauts because they can see the whole earth from space."


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Jolly organic green tea is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients.These include improved brain power, fat loss, lower risk of cancer and many other benefits
Green Tea for Memory and Focus:
There is nothing better than a freshly brewed cup of green tea!! You have your doubts, try drinking three cups of green tea for a week and the effects will be evident. A cup of green tea has much more to deliver than you think and the scientists are still discovering many beneficial aspects of this concoction every other day. A recent research has suggested a great addition to the list of health benefits of green tea. The study states that green tea is effective in maintaining higher brain power and also comes handy in treating & preventing cognitive impairments such as dementia.
After the successful discovery of the active role of Green Tea in cancer prevention, Scientists have thoroughly worked on analyzing the effects Green Tea on a human brain. While various studies suggested that Green tea boosts the brain power, especially your working memory, the neural mechanism boosting this function is still to be understood.
Green Tea for Better Memory:
A team of scientists asserted that drinking green tea improves the connectivity of brain cells. In layman's language, the scientists discover how one part of the brain wields with the other and thus impact the brain power. The subjects to the study showcased better working memory function after Green Tea extracts were introduced to them.
How Green Tea become miraculous for your working memory?
It will be apt to if we refer green tea as a health drink. The many studies conducted on its effects, over the time, suggests that the beverage has a lot to offer. This includes advanced metabolism, amplified comfort of weight loss, enhanced heart health, lower cancer risk, stronger immunity and the recent addition- enhanced brain power. All these benefits come from the powerful blend of anti-oxidants, catechins and other bioactive compounds present in Green Tea.
Jolly Organic Green Tea- Quality with benefits
At Jolly Health Care, we bring you the finest of Green tea. The richness and freshness of our Jolly Organic Green Tea know no bound. Procured from the rich tea estates of Himalayas, our green tea has the perfect blend to offer you a range of health benefits along with freshness & relief. For enhanced taste, Jolly Organic Green Tea is available in two amazing flavors- Tulsi & Lemon. Order now & foster a better working memory.


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Personal Trainer's from Get You In Shape can help you lose weight, feel great, and perform better. With an In Home Personal trainer in the Dallas area, a fitness trainer in a private gym/studio, a corporate fitness trainer, the Get You In Shape Fitness Boot Camp, or a customized nutrition plan, Get You In Shape can help you achieve your fitness goals.
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The Bridgehampton School Board adopted an $11.2 million spending plan for the 2013-14 school year, a 4.83-percent increase from this year's $10.7 million budget, which stays within the state-mandated 2 percent tax levy cap.
Bridgehampton Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lois Favre said the projected tax levy is a 4.4-percent increase from this year's tax levy, from $9.4 million to $9.8 million, and the tax rate will increase from $1.56 to $1.63 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Taxpayers whose homes are assessed at $2 million would see a $137.53 increase in their tax bill, to about $3,260.
In recent months, the School Board has had to make tough cuts to the budget, including the elimination the school principal position, currently held by Dr. Jack Pryor.
According to Dr. Favre, she will take on the principal's duties—a consolidation of administrative positions that was recommended by the community at the board's last budget meeting. Dr. Favre said the elimination of the position will help the district keep teachers and programs. Dr. Pryor's final base salary was $150,394.
He accepted a district-offered retirement incentive, but the district agreed to allow him to resign instead of retire while still receiving the incentive so he can continue to do other things in the education field, Dr. Favre said. The board accepted his resignation, effective June 30.
The board is also expected to include a proposition in this spring's budget referendum to allow taxpayers to weigh in on a plan that would authorize the district to pay for students to be transported to a parochial school in Riverhead.
Currently, the district does not provide transportation to Bishop Mercy-McGann High School, because it is not required by the state to transport students to private and parochial schools outside a 15-mile radius of the district. Bishop Mercy-McGann is 21 miles away—but it is the closest parochial high school.
The board is still finalizing the proposition.
The budget vote will be held on May 21.


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At Glorias Cleaning we strive to provide the best possible service, we have crafted a selection of cleaning packages to accommodate all of your needs. All packages include mopping and vacuuming the floors as well as complimentary scented oils or candles.
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At Gloria's Cleaning we like to keep our homes clean and away from chemicals thats why we use all natural products made with plant-derived ingredients and essential oils that are powerful against dirt and grime while being a pleasure to use. Our planet is the only home we've got so we like to keep clean and free of toxic pollutants.
Giving back to the community
At Gloria's cleaning we truly appreciate and value our customers and as a family own business we know how important it is to always be there for those love ones in need, thats why we offer complete free cleaning service to cancer patients and with terminal illnesses.


text:
Designing a Responsive Material System with Physical Computing." In Rethinking Comprehensive Design: Speculative Counterculture, Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia. CAADRIA. Kyoto: Kyoto Institute of Technology, 2014."
Sensory Morphing Skins." In Physical Digitality: Proceedings of the 30th eCAADe Conference, 221-229. Vol. 2. eCAADe: Conferences 2. Prague, Czech Republic: Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Architecture, 2012."
Designing Architectural Morphing Skins with Elastic Modular Systems." International Journal of Architectural Computing 9, no. 4 (2011): 397-420."
Designing elastic transformable structures: Towards soft responsive architecture ." In Circuit Bending, Breaking and Mending: Proceedings of the 16th International Conference on Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia, 143-152. CAADRIA. Newcastle, Australia: The Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia, 2011."
Soft Responsive Kinetic System: an Elastic Transformable Architectural Skin for Climatic and Visual Control." In Integration through Computation: Proceedings of the 31st Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA), 334-341. ACADIA. Calgary/Banff, Canada: The University of Calgary, 2011."


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ACCEO Childcare ServicesChildcare management program specifically designed for Canadian centres. It includes accounting and payroll.http://legestionnaire.acceo.com/en/
Care TouchAdministration and coordination tools for Canada-based child care center facilities. French and English language available.http://www.gardeplus.ca/
Childcare ManagerContact management and accounting software for childcare. Tracks parent and child, employee, time and attendance, Payroll and CACFP Information.http://www.childcaremanager.com/
Childcare Office ProWindows compatible childcare management software with network functionality. Demo download available.http://www.childcareoffice.com/
Childcare SageChildcare and preschool management software includes record keeping, billing, scheduling, time management and accounting.http://www.childcaresage.com/
ChildsPlayManagerDay care management software for single or multi-site children day care centers.http://childsplaymanager.com/
Controltec, Inc.Management systems for subsidized childcare programs, including waiting list management.http://controltec.biz/
Daycare WorksOnline management for financials, enrollments, attendance, meal programs and communications for school districts, multi-site or single site childcare facilities.http://www.daycareworks.com/
EZCare SoftwareOnline and installed childcare software with center management and billing tools. Site includes trial system and video tutorials.http://www.ezcare2.com/
Focus Technology Solutions Inc.Management system for student records, class schedules, transportation schedules, and automated billing with accounting software integration.http://www.bobchildcare.com/
Infocare ManagementCentre management software that conforms to current New Zealand Ministry of Education requirements. Available in stand-alone or networked versions.http://www.info-care.biz/
KidsONEChildcare and Dance Studio management tools. View screen shots and pricing information. Windows compatible.http://kidsonesoftware.com/
KinderSoftManages nursery bookings and waiting lists, provides forecast of population levels, automates invoicing procedures. Trail download and online tour available.http://www.kindersoft.co.uk/
KinderstreetInternet applications for childcare centers, before and afterschool programs, and camps. Manage billing, communicate with parents online and complete government or grant reporting.http://www.kinderstreet.com/
Maggey SoftwareClient and Child Information including Alternate Pick up Information and Non Custodial Parent Information with many reporting options.http://www.maggey.com/
MapleSoft EnterprisesDayCare 2000 handles child attendance, child accounts, scheduling, pay bills, run payroll, track staff and create reports. Free download available.http://www.maplesoft.net/
Minute MenuProvides business management software for child and adult care food programs CACFP, and child care billing software.http://www.minutemenu.com/
Office Center Version 3.0Childcare management software that offers toll free technical support and a 90 day guarantee.http://www.etwebsite.com/
ParentaNursery management software with fee planner and payroll.http://www.parenta.com/
ProCare SoftwareFor management of childcare centers, daycare, preschool and after school programs. Manages administrative tasks from accounting to meal planning to time and attendance tracking. Demo available.http://www.procaresoftware.com/
Remarkable SystemsIncludes billing, attendance, staff management, menu builder, easy reports, quick books link. Web-based version now available with ability to register online.http://remarkable-systems.com/
SDS SoftwareSoftware packages for center and home-based daycare programs. Free Demo Download.http://www.daycaresoftware.com/
SchoolLeader Management SystemSoftware to help childcare businesses organize and audit client accounts, operational expenses and perform other managerial tasks.http://www.schoolleader.com/
StayTrakDrop-in center software that provides quick check in/out, multiple billing options, prepaid plans, family records, employee timeclock, reporting.http://www.staytrak.com/
TRA School Software SolutionsDaycare financial management systems and activity fund accounting software.http://www.trasoft.net/
TykeTEKProvide robotic web cams, cms websites, paperless daily sheets, and secure parent portals. Includes details of products and support.http://www.tyketek.com/
Vision Computer Programming Services, Inc.After school care and community recreational center management database used by clubs, athletic leagues and other organizations.http://www.visioncps.com/
WatchMeGrowOffers streaming video products developed for use in childcare centers, to allow families to view their children online.http://www.watchmegrow.com/
abcKamA provider of secure webcams and web video for daycare centers, nursing homes and doggy daycares.http://www.abckam.com/


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What is God Doing?
I've never been much of a blogger or one to publicly share my insights and opinions beyond those I offer from behind a guitar. Needless to say, these seasons in which we've offered our personal reflections on Lent and Easter and the songs we wrote for them has been a stretch for me personally. I want to be honest about both the truths of God's love, mercy, and power and about my own struggles, fears and questions.
But the two things that usually make me stop reading a blog are, 1) when I feel like I've walked into a catechetical Chick-Fil-A, and everything is served clean and neat with a smile and a "my pleasure" attached. Or, 2) when I feel like I just became a member of the audience on Dr. Phil and there's way too much personal info out in the open that no one should've ever known. The problem with both of these approaches is that neither one benefits the spirituality of the reader in a profound way.
So, in a bid to offer you something meaningful for your own reflection and prayer, I will skip the details of where I'm at in life right now. Suffice to say that I'm a real person, and I've been feeling some of the challenges and uncertainties of life lately. I've been realizing the degree to which I don't have control and don't have security in my own plans.
I've been wondering all the while what God is doing, if anything, to meet me in the midst of this experience of feeling a little turned around.
We're in the heart of the Easter season, the celebration of Christ's victory over death, the greatest feast in the Church. So great that it lasts a full fifty days. Everything should be sunshine and sangria, right? Perhaps. But, as I believe with all my heart that Christ rose from the dead conquering sin and opening the gates of salvation for all, the story that's been playing out in the daily readings of the Church is hardly one of happy days and hard times bygone. Honestly, the fact that it's not has been comforting to me.
On the contrary, we've seen how the Resurrection of Jesus - the very source of our greatest hope - caused confusion, fear, grief, and perhaps even division among those closest to Jesus, his followers. These are the people that wanted to have him back more than anything, and they still struggled to grasp the reality of it when he did return. It was over time through that first "Easter Season" that Jesus revealed himself once again to them: to Mary Magdalene at the tomb, to all but Thomas in the upper room, to Thomas through the invitation to touch his wounds, to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, and to Peter on the shores of the Sea of Galilee when he asked that painful question, "Do you love me?"
In doing so, Jesus shows us that his resurrection is not so much for "all of us" in general as much as it is for "all of us" in specific. For all of us with a past of darkness that still haunts us. For all of us with secrets, hidden struggles, and debts.
For all of us too hurt by death and loss to hope that his resurrection is real. For all of us with eyes that need to be open to his true presence in our lives. For all of us who have discovered that our fear of the costs is greater than even our deepest desire to love and to give up our vices. For all of these, he is risen from the dead.
He also shows us that the event of his resurrection was only to precede many other things he would do. So, now that we've celebrated Easter Sunday, what is God doing? He's coming to us. He's revealing himself to us again, right in the middle of where we really are in life with all its uncertainties, challenges, and experiences of being turned around.
He's reorients us from our distractions of sin and failure to our destiny of eternal life. He's truly confronting us with tenderness and precision to get to the heart of the things that separate us from him. As he proves especially in his encounters with "Doubting Thomas" and "Peter the Betrayer", he's not afraid to push into the places that could be awkward, because he wants there to be no obstacles to our communion.
Lizzy and I wrote "Seeking and Saving" about precisely this: that his resurrection is active. God is doingsomething for us right now throughout this Easter season. This isn't a just a slow fade from a big celebration so we have time to eat the leftovers…this is a time of his coming to us, his breaking through the walls, his seeking of the lost. This might sound obvious, but the reality is that God has a plan. He always has. Sometimes it seems like he's doing nothing, or like he's doing something for everyone except for us, but when our eyes are opened, we will see he has never stopped doing the work of salvation for us and in us. It is for this reason that "Alleluia" is our song.
"For Christians, the Resurrection of Christ is the true Exodus. He has stridden through the Red Sea of death itself, descended into the world of shadows, and smashed open the prison door." Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
Written by Greg
Reflection Questions:
1. Are there any places in your interior life that the celebration of Easter has not seemed to have a real effect?
2. In the events after the resurrection, is there a specific encounter or follower of Jesus with whom you identify most?
3. What is God doing in your life right now? Where does he desire to encounter you?
4. How is Jesus seeking and saving you, specifically?


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Unsurprisingly, Netflix has renewed 2016's biggest hit, Stranger Things.
According to the press release, 9 new episodes will debut in 2017 with writers/creators Matt and Ross Duffer at the helm once more. It will be produced by 21 Laps for Netflix.
Season 2, which is set in "the fall of 1984": "I don't think we ever thought anthology," explained Ross Duffer in an interview with EW. "I think we talked like a larger time jump where the kids are older now and it's a different decade. That's something we batted around from the very beginning. But for us, there's still more story here [in the 1980s], there's still things that are unresolved."
The main cast should all feature, along with 4 new characters.
In terms of episode titles (because everyone loves to analyse episode titles), we've got the following: "Madmax", "the boy who came back to life", "the pumpkin patch", "the palace", "the storm", "the pollywog", "the secret cabin", "the brain" and "the lost brother."
Check out the announcement video below, and be sure to head here to create your own Stranger Things-inspired title.


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13 Nov 2015
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After Avengers: Infinity War, Marvel will have three more movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's third phase (presuming, of course, that the second Spider-Man standalone isn't meant to close it out after the Avengers feature, like Ant-Man did with Phase 2). Recently, the codenames for these movies, along with their expected filming dates, have been discovered as production on these titles will begin in this year and in 2018.
The Director's Guild of America is reporting on the filming dates for the for three MCU movies while Omega Underground report on their three production names: "Cherry Blue" (Ant-Man and The Wasp), "Warbird" (Captain Marvel), and "Mary Lou 2" (Untitled Avengers). "Cherry Blue" will film between July 6 and November 30, 2017, "Warbird" will film between January 8 and May 11, 2018, and "Mary Lou 2" will film between July 11 and December 13, 2017. All of these movies will predominantly be filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, and reshoots are not factored into this equation (as those will most likely happen closer to the release of these films).
Ant-Man and The Wasp will scurry into theaters on July 6, 2018. The film's cast includes Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lily, Michael Douglas, Michael Pena, and Hannah John-Kamen.
Captain Marvel will take flight on March 8, 2019. Brie Larson is the only confirmed part of this film's cast.
The untitled Avengers movie will unite on May 3, 2019. Although the majority of the movie's cast has yet to be confirmed, we do know that the movie's cast includes Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Elizabeth Olsen, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Evangeline Lily, and Josh Brolin.
Source: DGA, Omega Underground (1, 2, 3)
5 Ways Marvel Studios Could Follow & Top 'Infinity War'
Marvel Studios has been building towards a massive confrontation with Thanos since 2012 in The Avengers. Now that Earth's Mightest Heroes, and the Guardians of the Galaxy, are finally gearing up to take him down, it seems Marvel is in a bit of a quandary. Obviously they're not going to just give up on the most successful film franchise of all time, so where do they go from there?
Well, comic fans, you've come to the right place for answers. Marvel has a lot of stories to choose from over their 75 year history, but not all of them are right for the big screen. Also, some of our favorite Marvel characters, like Wolverine or the Fantastic Four, have their film rights owned by rival studios, meaning we shouldn't expect to see them team up with Iron Man or Captain America any time soon.
So, hit the Next button to find out what Marvel Studios should do after Avengers: Infinity War!


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IN 1955, a group of 25 Japanese girls and young women who had been disfigured by the effects of the atomic blast in Hiroshima were flown to New York City to undergo reconstructive surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital. They were accompanied on their trip by the Rev. Kiyoshi Tanimoto, a Methodist minister in Hiroshima.
The performance artist and director Dan Hurlin first heard of the Hiroshima Maidens, as they were touted in the press, from a friend, the historian David Serlin, who came upon their story while researching a book. Mr. Hurlin couldn't get it out of his head.
What struck him in particular was a detail that seems a fabrication straight out of Kurt Vonnegut, or would, but for the existence of archival television film: while in New York, Tanimoto, along with his wife and children and some of the women, appeared on the television show ''This Is Your Life.'' There they met face to face with Capt. Robert Lewis, the co-pilot of the Enola Gay, the B-29 that had dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima 10 years before.
According to Mr. Hurlin, Lewis was not initially told that he would be meeting with survivors; before the taping began, he realized what the producers had in mind and fled the studio. He was later found at a bar.
Despite that interruption, the encounter proceeded as planned. A brief clip of the program, which survives in a Hiroshima documentary titled ''After the Cloud Lifted,'' shows a monumentally awkward meeting, with all parties civil and subdued.
Lewis is a barrel-chested man in a light-colored jacket, his prominent brow casting his eyes in shadow. He describes the events of Aug. 6, 1945, while Tanimoto nods as if in commiseration: ''At 8:15 promptly, the bomb was dropped,'' he says. He goes on: ''Shortly after, we turned back to see what had happened. And there, in front of our eyes, the city of Hiroshima disappeared. I wrote down later,'' and here Lewis rakes his fingertips across his forehead as he fights for composure, his voice almost faltering: '' 'My God. What have we done?' ''
Mr. Hurlin was ''slack-jawed with amazement'' at the story. ''I started to think about cultural reconciliation,'' he explained recently by e-mail. ''It was never really clear to me how countries -- Germany, for instance -- can collectively 'face their past.' '' As he puzzled over that issue, he started to formulate a play. (''I have three or four ideas percolating all the time,'' he said. ''The idea that bubbles to the surface most often is the one I often end up making.'')
He filled up nearly two notebooks with sketches and ideas, read widely and immersed himself in visual research, studying the work of Japanese wood block printmakers like Hiroshige and Hokusai, and the Japanese influence on the mid-20th-century architecture and furniture of Charles and Ray Eames. And in search of an 8-millimeter copy of the complete ''This Is Your Life'' broadcast, in July 2001 he went all the way to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
He didn't find the film, but he did meet Michiko Yamaoka, one of the surviving Maidens. Mr. Hurlin was already immersed in the development of the play, but his conversations with Ms. Yamaoka helped shape the material.
The result, ''Hiroshima Maiden,'' is built around two characters: the Pilot, based on Lewis, and Michiko, somewhat loosely based on Ms. Yamaoka. The play opens on Wednesday at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn, where it is scheduled to run through Feb. 1. Ms. Yamaoka -- who, just 15 years old in 1945, is now in her 70's -- will be on hand for select performances and will answer questions from the audience.
''Hiroshima Maiden'' is the first of his pieces in which Mr. Hurlin does not appear. Live actors of any sort, in fact, are incidental to the production. It is performed in the style of bunraku, the centuries-old Japanese puppet theater. ''Puppets are a better mirror of our own selves,'' Mr. Hurlin -- who teaches puppetry, along with dance and performance art, at Sarah Lawrence College -- explained in an interview last month at a diner in Dumbo. ''They're immediately more engaging to me than a live actor. You watch an actor wipe his nose and think nothing of it. You see a puppet do it and you say, 'I know that!' What surprises everyone is how expressive they are. But what's really going on is an act of projection. The audience will use their imaginations to fill in the missing steps. Performance is a two-way street. It's what you read into it.''
Such universality might account for a proliferation of Object Theater pieces (''the new, cool puppetry parlance,'' according to Mr. Hurlin): the Broadway musical ''Avenue Q'' and Paula Vogel's play ''The Long Christmas Ride Home''; the films ''Being John Malkovich'' and ''Illuminata.'' Mr. Hurlin confessed to some wariness on this point. ''I'm a little sheepish saying all this because I'm fairly new to the form. Forgive me for rolling my eyes. I'm worried that puppetry is becoming the new black, but I am thankful that it's on the radar.''
In traditional bunraku, the voices of the puppets are spoken and sung by the Tayu, a narrator who also provides exposition and commentary. The Tayu in ''Hiroshima Maiden'' will not tell the story of Michiko and the Pilot, but rather a seemingly unrelated narrative of an American boyhood from 1955. Anything but a consoling look back at that era, it bears out, instead, the first line of the program notes, written by Mr. Serlin: ''Americans love nostalgia but they hate history.''
The Tayu describes a world suffused with anxiety: the Boy opening his eyes during Duck and Cover drills at school; mesmerized by the flashing ambulance lights at a traffic accident; obsessing over the myth of the Medusa and the fate of all those who gaze upon her. Every new experience is fraught with pitfalls and humiliations, there for the witnessing. Even the antics of Lucy Ricardo are almost too much for the Boy to bear (''He can watch any episode three quarters of the way through. He can watch her come up with a great cost-saving idea . . . or even how to get a job in a candy factory. . . . But what he can't stand to watch is what happens when her plan is put into action. He doesn't want to see that. Who would want to see that? That's not funny. It's embarrassing.'')
The wages of seeing are a longstanding theme in Mr. Hurlin's work. His previous two pieces fell under the collective title ''Everyday Uses for Sight.'' One dealt with looking as a form of refuge, telling the story of how as a young boy, in an effort to avoid the town bullies, Mr. Hurlin stayed inside, paging through art books. ''The other piece,'' he said, ''was about looking as danger, equating architecture with sex. When I was growing up in Jaffrey, N.H., I got the neighborhood boys'' -- those same bullies, a few years later -- ''to build me a clubhouse with a sunken living room. There was some voyeurism involved. I was hoping that the hot day would make them take their shirts off. They never did, but,'' he added, triumphant, ''they dug me that sunken living room.''
''Hiroshima Maiden,'' then, might be a meditation on looking as knowledge. Not the knowledge that brings power or peace of mind, but rather the grim, unasked-for knowledge of a terrible, incontrovertible truth.
The moral consequences of seeing and the fact that one cannot ''unsee'' something are made concrete throughout ''Hiroshima Maiden.'' The play's many arresting stage pictures are annotated, designated and diagrammed as if one were looking through a book -- an anatomy text, atlas or technical manual -- rather than watching live theater. The puppeteers employ all manner of props to direct and focus the gaze of the audience: arrows on sticks point to an otherwise ignored detail; empty wooden squares on long handles frame a puppet's hand or foot; when a tiny, glinting speck skitters across the floor, catching the Pilot's attention, another puppeteer stretches an elastic from the minuscule object to a large white circle printed with the silhouette of an ant. It's like a blow-up of the ''Area of Detail'' on a map. The ravaged face of the puppet Michiko is subjected to the harsh stares of others. Black-and-white sightlines painted on sticks extend from the eyes of the spectators toward her, as rigid and invasive as daggers.
In rehearsal, Mr. Hurlin confers with his cast of nine. The group is a mix of Caucasian and Japanese, as well as professional puppeteers and dancers. ''Dancers make great puppeteers,'' he said. ''They have a sense of the body and how to move it, which gives them a greater sense of the physiology of how to move a puppet. Plus, they're better ensemble players.''
Since the bunkaru puppets in the production are manipulated by three people -- one operating the head and right arm, another on the left arm and the third moving the legs -- seamless ensemble work is important.
They are conferring about the play's final scene, making suggestions and talking over one another in a friendly free-for-all, standing around the play's 3-and-a-half-foot-high co-stars, for the moment inanimate. ''What is your ideal ending image?'' asks one of the puppeteers.
''That they're seeing each other for the first time and can't take their eyes off of one another,'' Mr. Hurlin replies.
The cast members experiment with having a puppeteer stand between the two characters, holding one of the black-and-white sticks demarcating sight lines.
Eventually, they opt for a similarly black-and-white length of elastic stretched from the eye of one puppet to the other. Michiko and the Pilot are taken up by their respective teams of three puppeteers. They circle each other in silence, the line of their mutual, unwavering stares connecting them. Even surrounded by 10 live people, it is as if they are the only two onstage.


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WORCESTER -- The Worcester Animal Rescue League will hold its annual Spring Fling and Pet Adopt-a-Thon from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdayat its 139 Holden St. quarters. The Adopt-a-Thon is part of a worldwide program during which animal organizations join together to find homes for every shelter pet. Last year, the Animal Rescue League found homes for more than 90 pets in a single day.
Besides seeing and petting the animals, visitors to the shelter can browse at a giant yard sale, participate in raffles prizes and baskets and enjoy refreshments at a human and dog bake sale. There will also be a rabies and microchip clinic for dogs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
For more information, call (508) 853-0030 or check the Web site, www.worcester-arl.org.
HOPEDALE � Police investigated a two-vehicle accident at Mendon and Hill streets just after noon Saturday.
Dolores Faneuf, 67, of 188 Elm St. was driving east on Mendon Street when her vehicle struck a Federal Express truck driven by John Lavoie, 31, of Franklin Crossing Road, Franklin, according to police. Ms. Faneuf was taken to Milford Regional Medical Center. Information on her condition was not available from last night.
The impact of the crash pushed the truck into a curb. Ms. Faneuf was cited for driving at a speed greater than reasonable and proper.
Police Officers John Gagnon and Wayne Minichielli investigated.
HOPEDALE � A vehicle driven by a local man headed north on South Main Street struck two horses crossing the road about 4:45 a.m. Saturday.
Norman Stanley, 50, of 206 South Main St. was taken by ambulance to Milford Regional Medical Center in Milford for treatment of minor injuries. Both horses, which came from a farm at 180 South Main St., died from their injuries. Mr. Stanley was treated at the hospital and released, according to police.
Police Officer Steve Mahan and Sgt. Don Martin investigated.
The Worcester County Bar Association will sponsor a Dial-A-Lawyer program from 5 to 7 p.m. today and tomorrow.
The public is encouraged to call with legal questions and local lawyers will be on hand to provide answers.
The numbers are (508) 752-1311 and (800) 622-9700. The program is free.
WORCESTER � �Through My Eyes,� an exhibit featuring the works of Sherry A. Moskowitz, will be on display today through June 6 in the Lamar Soutter Library at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
The exhibit will include two paintings of still life and 18 photographs of landscapes, seascapes, sunrises, architecture and hands. There will be a reception at 5 p.m. tomorrow and the exhibit will be open during normal library hours: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday; 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday.
HOLDEN � The Field of Flags will be at First Baptist Church, 1216 Main Street, during the month of May. There will be thousands of flags displayed on the front lawn of the church, one for each service person killed in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
According to organizers, the Field of Flags is not a political statement but a statement of honor and respect for those who have paid the ultimate price for their country. The Field of Flags was dedicated on Oct. 23, 2005, at the Somers Congregational Church in Somers, Conn. and since then has been set up at churches up and down the East Coast.
The public is invited to visit the church, view the more than 4,500 flags and sign a guest book.


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Town Center Gift Guide: The Dudes
1. Cuff links, $27, Macy's, TCP - This classic pair of cuff links is perfect for any gentleman.
2. Plaid hat, $35, L.L. Bean, TCC - The plaid is classic enough to wear on the super wintery days.
3. iPhone case, $48, J.Crew, TCP - I just think this iPhone case is to hilarious and cool, plus it's Jimmy Falonn's favorite phone case, so what's not to love?
4. Chocolates, $50, Dean and Deluca, TCP - got a guy in your life that just loves sweets? Well this is just the gift for them!
5. Plaid shirt, $100, Brooks Brothers, TCP - what guy doesn't love a plaid shirt? I picked this one because of the colors and the insane Brooks Brothers quality. It's one that will last forever.
6. House Slippers, $70, L.L. Bean, TCC - the guys in my life can't get enough of these things. They keep your feet warm as soon as you wake up and as soon as you get home. Pretty perfect.
7. Acqua Di Gio cologne, $80, Sephora, TCP - if you have no idea what cologne a guy in your life wears or likes, this is the one to buy. It's so yummy and smells amazing on every guy!
8. Camp socks, $17, J.Crew, TCP - I bought a pair of these for myself and they got out in my mister's sock drawer, and he loves them too! And this pair are actually made for the dudes.
9. KC Hat, $48, Baldwin, TCC - I love the classic styling of this hat and it can be worn with casual outfits or with a nice sweater and jeans for a night out on the town.
10. Bifold Wallet, $31, Macy's, TCP - I feel like every guy in my life can always use a new wallet and this style is super classic and can go with any guys style.
11. Copper Mug, &18, Paper Source, TCC - The moscow mule has become one popular cocktail and the guys in my life are definitely digging them. And they must be sipped in this glass, so yeah, go grab these and yummies to make them.
12. KC Royals polo, $60, Rally House, TCP - You can basically throw the Royals logo on anything and everyone will like it. But I dig this one particularly well!
13. Classic shaving kit, $50, Sephora, TCP - Again, I have a couple of dudes that I know that like shaving with these kinds of kits and they are big fans. I dig the throw back and love the old school vibes.
14. Tobacco Patchouli candle, $22, Paper Source, TCC - I'm a fan of girly scents but I do feel like the guys should have a say in a new scent every now and then. And this one is definitely one you should try.
*I want to thank the Town Center team for partnering with me on these gift guide posts! I will be posting every Wednesday through the Holiday Season with a new one every week!
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BAGHDAD — Three Americans who were kidnapped from a Baghdad apartment by Shiite militiamen last month were released unharmed on Tuesday after the Iraqi authorities negotiated their freedom, State Department officials confirmed. After showers, medical checkups and a meal at the American Embassy, they were quickly put on a plane out of the country.
The exact circumstances of their release were not immediately clear, including whether any money was paid or prisoners were released in exchange. Officials stressed that there had been no direct negotiations between the United States and the group that abducted the men.
Throughout their captivity, American officials leaned on the Iraqi National Intelligence Service and the Iraqi military, which in turn leaned on Moktada al-Sadr, the Shiite cleric whose militia once fought against the Americans, officials said. The abductors were not believed to be under Mr. Sadr's control, but the cleric was able to use his contacts to mediate and win their release.
The State Department issued a statement on Tuesday saying it welcomed the news. "We sincerely appreciate the assistance provided by the government of Iraq, and its whole-of-government effort to bring about the safe release of these individuals," the statement said.
As Iraq's security has deteriorated in recent years, with the extremists of the Islamic State seizing territories in the north and west, there has been a rise in abductions in Baghdad. Officials have said the Shiite militias that rose to defend the capital were to blame. Many of these groups are backed by Iran and operate largely beyond the control of the central government.
The three Americans were abducted around the time of a prisoner exchange between the United States and Iran, which included the release of Jason Rezaian, the Tehran bureau chief of The Washington Post.
There has been no clear evidence to suggest that Iran was involved in the seizure of the three men. Even so, Secretary of State John Kerry raised the matter with Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister.
The way the Americans were released and the way they were taken — opportunistically, officials said, after they attended a party in a Baghdad neighborhood where militias are prevalent — indicated local motives rather than direct Iranian involvement. Still, American officials believe the kidnappers were affiliated with a militia supported by Iran, even if the abductions were not planned by Tehran.
The three Americans were said to be contractors working for the United States military at the Baghdad airport. They had attended a party at the apartment of their interpreter in Dora, a neighborhood in southern Baghdad.
The three men violated protocol when they left their accommodations at the airport, where they were involved in the American effort to train Iraq's counterterrorism forces to fight the Islamic State, officials said. The officials added that at least two of the men were dual nationals, one an Iraqi-American and the other an Egyptian-American.
Shiite militias with ties to Iran have been behind two recent major kidnapping operations in Iraq, officials say. The first was in September, when masked gunmen kidnapped 17 Turkish construction workers and their Iraqi translator from a construction site in the Shiite slum of Sadr City. All were released unharmed four weeks later. A senior Iraqi official said the Turks were exchanged for prisoners who were held by Sunni rebel groups in Syria.
Then, in December, more than two dozen Qataris, including members of the royal family, were kidnapped from the desert in southern Iraq, where they were on safari hunting rare birds. The Qataris are still being held, and Iraqi officials believe they were taken for the same purpose as the Turks.


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This has to be my favorite wreath that I have created. It definitely takes some time to complete. It is definitely not the cheapest DIY wreath either. But the finished product looks great!
Of course, the inspriration came from Pinterest. The best thing about this is how easy it is. Each part takes time, but not a lot of brain power. I cut my ribbon around 5 inches. My hot glue gun got quite a bit of use as well. I went through quite a bit of glue. As I have done a few of these types of projects, I have realized that the repetition of these projects is really relaxing for me.
I went with a black, orange, purple and green scheme. There was also a little white and yellow to add some contrast to the dark colors.
I tried to keep everything separate. I didn't want to clump the patterns together. This made it easier to make sure that I was using a variety of ribbon.
Adding all the ribbon to the wreath form was time consuming, but it was easy to see the progress being made. It felt like I was moving forward with this project.
While the wreath looks done from the front, I need to finish off the sides. But I ran out of glue and I wanted to enjoy it all of October.
On Etsy, I have seen a similar wreath be sold for up to $100. After doing this wreath myself, I can definitely understand that. I easily spent over $30 in ribbon alone.
I might do another one of these wreaths for St. Patrick's Day. It is super cute and I have gotten a lot of compliments on it.
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Welcome Halloween
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