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Standing in front of a huge crowd at the MTV Movie Awards? No sweat. Introducing a scary movie tribute at the Oscars before tons of Hollywood icons? NBD. Kristen Stewart has no problem calming her nerves for things we'd be totally freaked out about, but when it comes to karaoke, she's running for hills.
Although the 20-year-old actress effortlessly played a rockstar in her film the Runaways, Kristen recently admitted she's petrified of the musical activity. "I would never, ever do karaoke. I am so scared of that," she said. "Each time I have ever given it a try I have had about two lines and I have ended up talking them. It's making me embarrassed just talking about it."
So, we guess we won't be challenging Kristen to a Karaoke Revoluton Glee battle any time soon. We're kind of shocked that the Eclipse star hasn't completed a whole song, especially when she seems so comfortable on the mic in any other public situation. But then again, we know KStew likes her alone time, and even calls herself "a crazy cat lady" because she prefers to stay home with her pets. What about you? Are you a fan of karaoke?


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Thanks to an alert e-mailer, who points out that Missouri coach Frank Haith will be trying to join a very exclusive club on Saturday night when he brings his Tigers to Lexington.
Haith could be only the second opposing coach to bring two different teams into Rupp Arena and beat Kentucky.
A quick check of the results appears to confirm that the only coach to pull off that feat is Dennis Felton. As the coach at Western Kentucky, Felton coached the Hilltoppers to a 64-52 win over Tubby Smith and Kentucky in Rupp in the 2001-02 season-opener. That helped Felton get the job at Georgia, where he coached the Bulldogs to a 65-57 win at Rupp over the Cats in 2004.
As for Haith, he led Miami to a 73-67 win over Billy Gillispie's Kentucky team on December 6, 2008 at Rupp. This will be Haith's first trip back to Rupp since then as a head coach and his first game against UK as the Missouri coach.
Several men have coached two different teams against Kentucky in Rupp. A few have even won with one team. Except for Felton, however, none were able to pull off the feat with a second team.
As the coach at Alabama, former UK athletics director C.M. Newton beat Kentucky 94-71 on February 23, 1974 in
Rupp Memorial Coliseum. He repeated the feat on January 12, 1980 when his Tide beat the Cats 78-64 in Rupp Arena. As the head coach at Vanderbilt, however, Newton was 0-8 in trips to Rupp Arena.
Eddie Fogler brought teams from first Vanderbilt and then South Carolina into Rupp. In fact, one of Fogler's biggest wins as a head coach came on March 2, 1997 when his Gamecocks beat UK 72-66 to win the SEC East regular-season title. It was Fogler's only win in Lexington in eight tries as the South Carolina coach.
At Vanderbilt, however, Fogler was 0-4 in Rupp. Just once in those four tries did the Commodores manage to lose by single-digits, that being a 58-50 loss on January 19, 1991. The other three trips, Vandy lost 100-73, 80-56 and 82-67.
As the coach at Tennessee, Don DeVoe won his first trip to Rupp, leading the Vols to a 66-55 win over Kentucky on January 20, 1979. Alas, DeVoe lost his next 10 games against UK in Lexington. He coached Florida for a season, but lost to the Cats 89-81 in Rupp on January 10, 1990.
I thought maybe Roy Williams had beaten Kentucky as coach of both Kansas and North Carolina. Turned out I was wrong. Williams has beaten UK as the Tar Heels coach, winning 83-79 on December 3, 2005 and 86-77 on December 1, 2007. Williams is 2-3 as the UNC coach vs. UK at Rupp.
Williams coached Kansas at Rupp Arena on December 8, 1990. If you remember, that was Rick Pitino's second season as the Kentucky coach. The first season under Pitino, undermanned Kentucky was obliterated at Kansas, losing 150-95. The next year, the Cats extracted some revenge by beating Williams and the Jayhawks 88-71. In fact, Pitino did not lose again to Williams at Kansas, winning three straight, after that lopsided loss in Lawrence.
If I've missed anyone, let me know.
Related links:

subset: commoncrawl


text: Groucho's DeliOnlineWebsite - grouchos.comHours & SeasonsSeasons - year roundHours - Mon-Sat 11 am-8 pm; Sun 11 am-3 pm; Catering availableAddress101 East Broad Street, Downtown StatesStatesville, NC 28677PhonePrimary - (704) 871-2828 Since 1941, Groucho's Deli has held true to the idea of using only the highest quality products and ingredients, and the Suttons wanted to bring this legendary status to Statesville. With 16 specialty fresh deli subs, 3 BLT clubs, 6 deli sandwiches, 8 low fat alternatives, 3 veggie choices, 14 salads and Chicken Chili to choose from (just to name a few), there is something for everyone. They also offer a full catering menu.Grouchos Deli of Statesville hours of operation are 11-8 M-Sat and 11-3 on Sunday. TripAdvisorTripAdvisor Traveler RatingBased on 82 reviewsSee all 82 reviews.Write a review.


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Categories: COLORING
DIY: Wedding Coloring Book | BridalBuds – Real Weddings, Wedding
Inspired by Hydrangea Bud's post about the stress reducing qualities of coloring, I created a coloring book from wedding related images I found on the web. If
Amazon.com: Love to Color : Wedding Coloring Book (9780970794406
An updated and diverse children's wedding, interactive coloring book that shares both traditional and multicultural themes. Created by award winning artist Itoko
DIY Project: Wedding Coloring Book – The PASH Wedding Forums and
Wedding Planning > Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Ideas Wedding Coloring Book Submitted by : RJE080703 Materials: 110lb. Card Stock Ribbon Single Hole punch Scissors
Wedding Coloring Page booklet/book that are free and Printable
Cute free Wedding Coloring Page booklet/book that are free and Printable that your little Princess will love to color. The pictures are also great learning tool for


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These Hermès scarves each have a little story to tell
Sartorially speaking
1. Carré 90 Bonnes Vibrations in silk twill
Designed by one of Hermès' prized fashion illustrators Pierre Marie, the French artist fuses physics with enigmatic op art. Train your eyes on the whirldwind psychedelia and you might just be able to glean German physicist Ernst Chladni's 18th century 'acoustic figures'.
2. Carré 70 Bain de Mer in vintage silk
The coupling of a quaint beachside portrait printed on vintage silk makes this one quite the score. Conceived by artist Jean-Louis Clerc in the '50s, it's as good as dipping into the storied house's archives for a piece of past century Hermès — definitely worth more than its dollar value.
3. Carré Géant 140 Interférences D'Antonio Asis in twill plume
Argentine painter Antonio Asis — a guest artist to the house this SS16 — blurs boundaries with his signature overlapping swirls and circles. Reminiscent of one of op art's founding artist Bridget Riley's work, investing in this striking scarf is the sartorial equivalent of a collector's prints.
4. Châle Panthera Pardus in cashmere and silk
Animal artist Robert Dallet was quite the intrepid spirit. Dedicating his time to expeditions for the purpose of observing his muses in the wild, this shawl from Hermès features one of Dallet's prized paintings: The grace and sleek curves of an Indochinese leopard in its full glory.
5. Carré 90 Modernisme Tropical in silk twill
Offering a bird's eye view of Brazil's beautiful captial Brasília, fashion illustrator Filipe Jardim portrays his home country in an abstract composition led by bold strokes. The greenery of the Amazon intermingles with the concrete jungle, most prominently represented by the fluid lines of architects belonging to the Paulista school.
Shop the scarves from the spring/summer 2016 collection in Hermès boutiques.
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This article first appeared in Blue Water Sailing Magazine
Frances 26 Project
Outfitting a classic small cruiser for offshore sailing
By James Baldwin
La Luz trying out her new sails
Knowing exactly what you want when searching for a sailboat is not easy with so many compromises to consider. Fortunately, when Doug Bell went hunting for the perfect cruising boat in 2008 he already had experience sailing his John Letcher designed Aleutka 26 between California and Panama several years earlier. He knew that his ideal boat is the smallest possible boat that provides basic comfort for his minimalist cruising style, is seaworthy enough for an extended voyage, requires a minimum of maintenance, and is esthetically a striking classic design.
Doug found his near-perfect boat in a Maine boatyard, a Morris Frances 26 cutter, named La Luz, designed by Chuck Paine and built by Morris Yachts in 1977. About 42 boats were built in fiberglass with glass-covered plywood decks in the 1970s and 80s, most of which were the popular cabin trunk version. This particular boat, originally named Karma, has a raised central deck low enough to give the appearance of a flush deck in profile. In her younger days she made at least a couple Atlantic voyages, but had been laid up in storage in recent years.
As set up she was a peculiar mix of daysailer and offshore cruiser. Her already small owner-finished interior felt more cramped by a full bulkhead amidships with a small crawl-through opening leading to a chain locker forward of the mast and open storage area forward of that. La Luz had an unreasonably heavy ancient windvane self-steering gear, but no engine, toilet, lifelines or pulpits, and less than minimal plumbing and electrics for today's minimalist cruiser.
Doug planned an extensive refurbishment and upgrade of the boat's equipment for offshore voyaging. After consulting with me online, he decided to truck the boat here to Brunswick, Georgia where we worked together for three months getting boat and crew fit for sea.
The Frances design, with low, flush deck and canoe transom with outboard hung rudder, provided extra challenges to transform her into a capable and comfortable passage maker. Not only was fitting an outboard motor on a narrow canoe transom not a good option, it also proved difficult to fit a windvane self-steering gear and solar panel and lifelines on a boat without a pushpit and with a tiller that sweeps across the entire aft end of the boat. Doug toyed with the idea of keeping her engineless, but eventually overcame his instinctual dislike of inboard engines and had the yard install a new lightweight 10 HP two-cylinder Nanni Diesel.
Project List
The list of projects was long and as inevitably happens, once we began our work, the list got longer before it got shorter. While the yard was installing the diesel and basic 12 volt electrical system, Doug had them open up the interior by cutting back the main bulkhead to give the feel of a bigger boat.
We debated the pros and cons of the original hank-on yankee and staysail versus a furling genoa. The yankee and staysail combination appeals to many, but two jibs are less efficient than a single genoa and the high-cut clew of a yankee and the short foot of a staysail make it awkward to rig a whisker pole for downwind. To eliminate those midnight squall foredeck heroics, we installed a Harken furler to fly the genoa near the end of the 2-foot bowsprit. This 6.77 oz genoa is equivalent to a 135% rating though it measures less than that overlap when tacked on the end of the bowsprit. It can easily be used downwind either open or partly furled with an adjustable line-control whisker pole. A new hank-on staysail and 10 oz storm jib were added for use in heavier weather when the genoa is furled or stowed.
La Luz using the Code Zero sail.
New anchor windlass and furling genoa.
For light air we added a modern Mack Sails Code Zero, which is like a gennaker with a built-in rope luff and integral continuous line furler. Since the furling jib is tacked at the cranse iron on the end of the bowsprit, we set up the Code Zero to fly inside the furler. It can be left hoisted and furled ready to deploy when needed or stored in its bag below deck. La Luz also received a new 7.6 oz mainsail with conventional battens and three sets of reef points and a 10 oz storm trysail about 30% smaller than the main's third reef.
Many sailmakers suggest using a mainsail with only two reef points and a large storm trysail equivalent in size to a third reef. Their logic is that the main can be built less heavy and not strained by heavy winds with a third reef when the trysail could be up. The problem with that, especially on a small shorthanded boat, is that a large trysail is better suited to gale force conditions and can overpower a boat in true storm force winds. A third reef is easier and safer to set singlehanded than a large trysail when a threatening squall is approaching, and if you do get hit with a severe storm you have an even smaller, more manageable storm trysail to use.
While replacing the aged standing and running rigging, we noticed corrosion around the sets of welded double chainplates held with five suspiciously tiny -inch bolts. I fabricated and installed all new single chainplates held with four 3/8-inch bolts and standard caps on the fiberglass-covered plywood deck. The bobstay hull fitting was likewise replaced with something heavier and the stretchy bowsprit footropes got replaced with wire whisker stays to handle the loads from the roller-furling jib. Longer jib sheet tracks were added at this point as well.
While Doug plugged away at the dozens of jobs on his list, I tackled the vexing problem of how to install his new Windpilot self-steering gear, solar panel, lifelines and pushpit to the narrow canoe transom with outboard rudder. Besides a lack of space at the aft end of the boat, one issue was the tiller swung across the entire cockpit and bulwarks with the backstay offset on a bracket to starboard. To solve this we fabricated a lightweight stainless tubing windvane bracket to bolt in four points to the hull only. The new stern rail, or pushpit was built incorporating a vertical tube for the swiveling solar panel mount and bolted entirely on top of the bulwarks for maximum tiller clearance. Four lifeline stanchions were added with the forward ends of the lifelines angling down to the bulwarks near the bow and aft ends connected to the pushpit.
Another curiosity was the dysfunctional manual anchor windlass mounted off-center way aft on the sunken foredeck. This was intended to keep anchor chain weight off the bow and improve sailing performance. We decided to convert this existing chain locker to hold a flexible water tank after lining its sides and bottom with closed cell campers sleeping mat foam. The new Lofrans manual anchor windlass and chain locker is now three feet further forward, but the 150 feet of 5/16 anchor chain with nylon extension is still far enough aft to keep excess weight out of the bow.
Doug Bell with friend Frank Pearson aboard La Luz.
The galley is small but functional.
More Jobs Below Deck
Before this project, I didnt fully realize how hard it is on your head and back to make extensive modifications below deck on a boat without standing headroom. Besides the chain locker, water tank, chain plates and all the other thru-deck fittings requiring long hours bent over double below deck, another time-consuming job was to replace the deadlights built into the fiberglass hull. When heeled sharply, the leeward side polycarbonate deadlights were low enough to make an aquarium-like view of the sea. Because they were mounted from the inside and susceptible to leaking, I rebuilt the frames thicker with wider flanges for maximum surface area for sealant and fasteners to spread the load.
Doug was inclined to keep the boat unencumbered with the space-wasting plumbing, valves and holding tank of a marine toilet. Neither of us was sure how his girlfriend, planning to join him later in the Bahamas, would appreciate the simplicity of a toilet bucket. The best we could come up with was to build a cabinet to hold a bucket and molded plastic toilet seat. Even if the bucket toilet arrangement does not work out, the cabinet top can still serve as a convenient countertop between the forward ends of the two salon bunks.
In Doug's view, a watermaker was in the same category as the scorned marine toilet, so we supplemented his water carrying capacity by adding a thru-deck drain and hose to direct rainwater from the sunken foredeck into a bucket or water can. Though not always clean enough for drinking off the deck, a good rain shower at anchor or when sailing on a calm sea can provide water for washing clothes and filling solar shower bags.
The Morris Frances, La Luz, as she arrived in Brunswick, GA for final fitting out.
New custom-made cockpit locker hatch.
Fitting the new chainplates at right.
New chainplates and deadlights with mahogany trim.
The countertop doubles as a toilet locker cover.
Toilet seat on a bucket.
The Shakedown Trip
During fitting out, we sailed La Luz several times around St. Simons Sound to test the new windvane and sails and adjust the rig, but our first real shakedown cruise was a nearly 400-mile nonstop passage to the Abacos in the Bahamas. Doug and I departed St. Simons Inlet on an ebb tide and close-hauled to the southeast with a moderate south wind. Once clear of the land I moved the 22 lb Delta anchor off the bowsprit and stowed it in the cockpit locker to improve the boats behavior when beating.
The windvane tracked perfectly under full main and genoa as we watched a massive thunderstorm grow over the heated land and spread out to sea. Our friends ashore thought we got pasted as well, but we remained under a clear patch of starry sky all night. Doug volunteered for the midnight watch and I crawled into the leeward bunk, pulling up the lee-cloth behind me. This left Doug with the windward apprentice berth as he called it. After all, I'm some 10 years older than him and reasoned I deserve a little more comfort.
At morning twilight, I watched Venus glow in the east above another lightning-filled thunderstorm, eerily backlit by the sunrise. By luck we avoided this storm as well and sailed all day into variable winds from south to west as we eased our way into a stationary weather trough. I mark our position on the chart at noon nearly 100 miles in the first 24 hours and send a Spot satellite position report to be forwarded to friends and family by email.
Though I twice daily plotted our position on the paper chart, we often referred to the Garmin 440 chartplotter mounted on a swing out bracket in the companionway. The four-inch screen proved a good compromise for low power draw and was convenient to note the navigation data at a glance. I had to force myself not to stare at the mesmerizing data Abaco waypoint now bearing 148 degrees at 360 miles and counting down.
The 43-watt solar panel and single bank of two 90-amp hour AGM batteries provided ample power for our modest needs (including chartplotter, all LED lighting, VHF, and Sony SSB receiver) indefinitely in normal sunny weather without running the engine. Though the boat has a 1000-watt inverter to run power tools and a smaller inverter for the notebook PC, these don't get much use on passage. Neither does La Luz have any high power appliances such as radar and refrigeration or even a tillerpilot.
As the lightening wind frees up we furl the genoa, hoist and unfurl the Code Zero. This sail gives us an extra knot or more of speed at up to about 55 degrees off the apparent wind. Its ease of deployment and furling and ability to stay hoisted and furled, ready to use, seemed more practical for short-handed cruising than an asymmetric spinnaker in a sock.
We turned more east and crossed the Gulf Stream without incident. Just after Doug finished a bucket shower on the foredeck, the wind backed and increased, giving him a second shower of salt spray as he pulled down the furled Code Zero and stuffed it in the bag for the night. With about 20 knots on the nose, we tucked in a reef on the main and put a few rolls in the genoa. La Luz heeled until the rail was nearly awash and I was relieved the now submerged deadlights remained leak free. The Frances generous 51 percent ballast ratio meant she strongly resisted heeling any further. I was surprised she threw less water into the cockpit than I expected, even when pressed with enough sail to drive her at 5-6 knots to windward. The helm remained light and perfectly balanced under windvane or hand steering. The low profile dodger was too small to block much spray, but it did a good job of keeping the companionway dry.
Doug used the single burner kerosene stove to prepare a spaghetti dinner that we scoffed down enthusiastically. Since the galley is located next to the companionway there is at least standing headroom for using the sink and stove with the sliding hatch pulled forward. We had removed the original galley saltwater hand pump and replaced it with the more useable freshwater foot pump. From my perspective, a saltwater galley pump on a low 26-footer is an unneeded extravagance. Opposite the galley is a removable table that adds counter space for preparing and eating meals and is useful for chart work or a notebook PC table. Aside from a shallow dish locker and drawers in the galley and two bookshelves, the rest of the interior is without cabinets or lockers above bunk level. A narrow shelf outboard the salon bunks holds some personal items behind a strapped curtain. Other gear is stowed in duffel bags forward of the mast, where there is plenty of storage space since there is no v-berth. The rest of the gear is shoved in the quarterberth or opposite it in the single cockpit locker.
With La Luz bucking into a gusty south wind, Doug spent the midnight watch reefing and unreefing sails, drenched in spray and noisily throwing up that spaghetti dinner he ate with such gusto a few hours previously. When I relieved him for the dawn watch, he commented, Last night I was so miserable you could have bought this boat for two dollars.
Missed my chance then? I asked.
That's right, he said. I'm feeling a lot better now. My previous sailing trips were mostly downwind and this beating is a lot more brutal. But I've got my sea legs now.
The beat continued and we made good progress until the following morning. A southwest squall caught me in the middle of coffee and cold oatmeal, the press of sails heeling us over until Doug was hanging from his lee cloth and water sloshed into the cockpit. I guessed the winds were gusting to about 40 knots as I tucked in the third reef and rolled up 75 percent of the jib. Now was a good time to hoist the storm jib, but I let her ride like this for a couple hours, close-reaching into a rising sea and hard driving rain, thrilled at her ability to stand up to the wind and throttle forward at six knots. This was way better performance than I expected from a boat of this size, which I attributed to the designer's skill at blending a tall rig to a low windage hull, moderate draft with ample ballast and fine entry, and a good set of reefing sails. Perhaps having her furling genoa on the end of the short bowsprit contributed to her easy helm balance and surprising speed in all wind conditions.
With his appetite back to normal, Doug created and served up a dinner of chunks of sugar coated beef jerky floating in a soup of chemical flavored ramen instant noodles. Spoiled as I was by years of my wife's excellent cooking, I nearly spewed after the first spoonful. Not wanting to hurt my host's feelings, I somehow finished it off and even kept it down.
We arrived in Marsh Harbor, Abacos in just under four days, having averaged 104 miles per day to windward. Remarkably, all but the last twenty-five miles were on the starboard tack. The alternate route of coastal sailing to central Florida and then east to Bahamas in this case would have been exhausting and taken much longer, short tacking against the southerly winds between the coast and the Gulf Stream. My general strategy for this route if the wind is south is to go directly southeast, diverting temporarily to the east to cross the Gulf Stream. If the wind is east, I'd go south along the coast and then wait for a weather window in port in central Florida to head east across the Gulf Stream.
La Luz owner, Doug Bell, at the helm running wing on wing.
A test sail in St. Simons Sound.
The narrow stern has just enough space to accomodate the windvane, solar panel and pushpit.
The owner aboard la Luz after arrival in Marsh Harbour, Abacos.
Final Thoughts
After four days offshore I congratulated myself on not banging my head even once on the cabin's low deck beams. Awakening the next morning after a long sound sleep in port, forgetting for the moment I was not on my own boat with standing headroom, I stood straight up and gave my skull a good crack on the deck beam. The beauty of a flush-deck comes with a price.
Many of La Luz's deck house version sisterships were fitted out as pocket cruising yachts, and the flush-deck models I suspect are mostly used as daysailers. From the beginning of this project we were always conscious of the Frances quality design and construction as well as her workboat pedigree. We carefully weighed our choices when making modifications and adding equipment and feel we stayed true to her designed purpose: an elegant, well-mannered little boat capable of taking her crew across any ocean.
When looking for a boat to use as a tool to explore the world under sail, it's easy to get sidetracked in a quest for more safety and comfort or a higher level of yacht-like finish. Nothing wrong with that provided that is your aim. More finishing touches can be done over time, but Doug chose to sail now rather than later. As I gathered my gear to catch a flight home, Doug expressed his satisfaction with his choice of boat and looked forward to cruising the Bahamas and further voyages ahead. I was grateful to have a small part in their journey. Doug and La Luz have since sailed on to Panama and crossed the canal to the Pacific.
Update - Dec 2012: We heard from Doug in 2012 as he and Zuleika sailed La Luz across the South Pacific. They made numerous stops in the islands and by November were in Tonga considering their options for where to spend the cyclone season.
Running down the Southest Trades
La Luz at anchor in French Polynesia
Doug reports: "We took the high line across from Bora Bora to Suvarov, then to American Samoa. La Luz continued her string of very fast passages with mostly wing and wing sailing in 20 knots of wind. She likes two reefs, and quite a bit of jib rolled in...Also have found that she does well running with 3 reefs and the staysail sheeted in tight with wind over 25 knots (which has been the case more often than I would have expected). The passage from American Samoa was rough and fast, with 25 knots plus, dead on the beam. We did two days in a row over 130 miles sailing with three reefs and a bit of headsail."
In November Doug and Zuleika decided to sail for New Zealand. After living aboard for most of this year while making their way across the South Pacific, Doug had some modifications in mind to make the tight interior of La Luz more functional and that would be easier to accomplish in NZ than if they remained in Tonga or Fiji for the cyclone season.
Before they departed Tonga there was a storm along their intended route that wreaked havoc on boats that had just left Tonga for NZ. Doug reported: "A Beneteau 39 was rolled over in sub-tropical low that deepened suddenly south of Minerva. They had to be rescued by NZ Navy since their boat was badly damaged. He hurt his back in the roll-over and was unable to jury rig anything. Our friend on Adventure Bound was in the area, reporting 50 knots, and mast high breaking seas. He managed to run offf under bare poles and only lost his windvane and wind generator."
Despite the potential for rough weather along that route, Doug decided they were ready to go and departed Tonga in mid-November. "As for avoiding a sub-tropical low forming on top of the route," Doug said, "it seems that it comes down more to luck than anything else. The weather oracles say there are 5 to 6 bombs a year, mostly in May/June. So coming back north can be ultimately riskier."
In December we heard again from Doug in NZ, "It was nice to finally get into port on this one, mainly because of the cold at night beating into the southerly wind during the last 50 miles. We started out in 20 knot trades going well. The plan was to not stop at Minerva and use as much of the trades as possible to get south fast. There had already been two significant tropical lows, which while not technically tropical cyclones, they quickly turn into mid-latitude depressions as they move off to the southeast. We wanted to avoid this.
"As we reached the latitude of Minerva, on wx fax we saw a depression forming in the south Tasman, which would be over NZ in 5 days or so, dragging a significant front well to the north. So we turned toward Minerva and waited a few days thinking we could time it to take the front north of 30 degrees S. We got underway with this in mind, only to discover over the next few days that the system had slowed. We ended up taking the front at about 32.5 S . . . It wasn't all that bad. During the NW wind we reached along under staysail alone, but ended up hove to for about 24 hours as the wind went W, increasing. I used bungy cord to lash the tiller down to leeward, and had the main triple-reefed. It was blowing 35, so not so bad, but the seas where gigantic. We hove to after a few massive waves topled over us, filled the cockpit, broke the dodger, and nearly cost us the cockpit grate.
"I briefly thought about deploying the drogue due to the seas, but thought that maybe there was not enough wind, especially in the troughs, to keep us stern-to. As the wind went SW, we manged to get the storm jib up, and get under way. Some of the squalls that came with the freezing new winds were amazing to see - crazy clouds, slate grey plates right down on the surface almost, and icy but short squalls up in the 40 knot range. But seas getting more orderly and all from one direction, more or less.
"Over the next few days, winds dropped to the low 20's, and seas diminshed. By the time we were off of North Cape, winds had gone S, right on the nose for the last 35 eternal miles. And colder still! When the sun came up yesterday morning, it felt like a warm blessing. The mission today is to buy more blankets. Although summer is arriving here in NZ, it seems so cold to us after years of living in the tropics."
La Luz reefed down in the South Pacific.
Further Frances Info:
More on the Frances design at:
Doug Bell's Frances La Luz is pictured at the bottom of the page at the following link when she was known as Karma:


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About Diogenes of Sinope
Diogenes of Sinope (Διογένης ὁ Σινωπεύς)
Diogenes the Cynic (Greek: Διογένης ὁ Κυνικός, Diogenēs ho Kunikos) was a Greek philosopher and one of the founders of Cynic philosophy. Also known as Diogenes of Sinope (Greek: Διογένης ὁ Σινωπεύς, Diogenēs ho Sinōpeus), he was born in Sinope (modern-day Sinop, Turkey) in 412 or 404 BCE and died at Corinth in 323 BCE.
Diogenes was one of the few men to ever publicly mock Alexander the Great and live. He intellectually humiliated Plato and was the only pupil ever accepted by Antisthenes, whom he saw as the true heir of Socrates. Diogenes taught his philosophy of Cynicism to Crates who taught it to Zeno of Citium who fashioned it into the school of Stoicism, one of the most enduring branches of Greek philosophy.
Diogenes of Sinope was always controversial. Exiled from his native city for defacing the currency, he moved to Athens and declared himself a cosmopolitan (in defiance of the prevailing city-state system). He became a disciple of Antisthenes, and made a virtue of extreme poverty, famously begging for a living and sleeping in a tub in the marketplace. He became notorious for his provocative behaviour and philosophical stunts such as carrying a lamp in the daytime, claiming to be looking for an honest man. He regularly argued with Plato, disputing his interpretation of Socrates and sabotaging his lectures. After being captured by pirates and sold into slavery, Diogenes eventually settled in Corinth, where he was admired by Alexander.
Diogenes was a staunch admirer of Hercules. He believed that virtue was better revealed in action than in theory. His life was a relentless campaign to debunk the social values and institutions of what he saw as a corrupt society. None of his many writings have survived, but details of his life come in the form of anecdotes (chreia), especially from Diogenes Laërtius, in his book Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers. Life
Diogenes was born in the Greek colony of Sinope on the south coast of the Black Sea, either in 412 BCE or 404 BCE. Nothing is known about his early life except that his father Hicesias was a banker. It seems likely that Diogenes was also enrolled into the banking business aiding his father. At some point (and the details are murky) Hicesias and Diogenes became embroiled in a scandal involving the adulteration or defacement of the currency, and Diogenes was exiled from the city. This aspect of the story seems to be corroborated by archaeology: large numbers of defaced coins (smashed with a large chisel stamp) have been discovered at Sinope dating from the middle of the 4th century BCE, and other coins of the time bear the name of Hicesias as the official who minted them. The reasons for the defacement of the coinage are unclear, although Sinope was being disputed between pro-Persian and pro-Greek factions in the 4th century, and there may have been political rather than financial motives behind the act.
According to one story, Diogenes went to the Oracle at Delphi to ask for its advice, and was told that he should "deface the currency," and Diogenes, realizing that the oracle meant that he should deface the political currency rather than actual coins, traveled to Athens and made it his life's goal to challenge established customs and values.
In Athens
In his new home, Athens, Diogenes' mission became to metaphorically deface the "coinage" of custom. Custom, he alleged, was the false coin of human morality. Instead of being troubled about the true nature of evil, people merely rely on customary interpretations. This distinction between nature ("physis") and custom ("nomos") is a favorite theme of ancient Greek philosophy, and one that Plato takes up in The Republic, in the legend of the Ring of Gyges.
Diogenes is alleged to have gone to Athens with a slave named Manes who abandoned him shortly thereafter. With characteristic humour, Diogenes dismissed his ill fortune by saying, "If Manes can live without Diogenes, why not Diogenes without Manes?" Diogenes would be consistent in making fun of such a relation of extreme dependency. He would particularly find the figure of a master who could do nothing for himself contemptibly helpless. He was attracted by the ascetic teaching of Antisthenes, a student of Socrates, who (according to Plato) had been present at his death. Diogenes became Antisthenes' pupil, despite the brutality with which he was initially received. Whether the two ever really met is still uncertain, but he rapidly surpassed his master both in reputation and in the austerity of his life. He considered his avoidance of earthly pleasures a contrast to and commentary on contemporary Athenian behaviors. This attitude was grounded in a great disdain for what he perceived as the folly, pretense, vanity, self-deception, and artificiality of much human conduct.
The stories told of Diogenes illustrate the logical consistency of his character. He inured himself to the vicissitudes of weather by living in a tub belonging to the temple of Cybele. He destroyed the single wooden bowl he possessed on seeing a peasant boy drink from the hollow of his hands. It was contrary to Athenian customs to eat within the marketplace, and still he would eat, for, as he explained when rebuked, it was during the time he was in the marketplace that he felt hungry. He used to stroll about in full daylight with a lamp; when asked what he was doing, he would answer, "I am just looking for an honest man." Diogenes looked for a human being but reputedly found nothing but rascals and scoundrels.
When Plato gave Socrates' definition of man as "featherless bipeds" and was much praised for the definition, Diogenes plucked a chicken and brought it into Plato's Academy, saying, "Behold! I've brought you a man." After this incident, "with broad flat nails" was added to Plato's definition.
In Corinth
According to a story which seems to have originated with Menippus of Gadara, Diogenes was once on a voyage to Aegina, he was captured by pirates and sold as a slave in Crete to a Corinthian named Xeniades. Being asked his trade, he replied that he knew no trade but that of governing men, and that he wished to be sold to a man who needed a master. As tutor to Xeniades' two sons, he lived in Corinth for the rest of his life, which he devoted entirely to preaching the doctrines of virtuous self-control. He is even said to have lectured to large audiences at the Isthmian Games.
It was in Corinth that a meeting between Alexander the Great and Diogenes is supposed to have taken place.[22] The accounts of Plutarch and Diogenes Laërtius recount that they exchanged only a few words: while Diogenes was relaxing in the sunlight in the morning, Alexander, thrilled to meet the famous philosopher, asked if there was any favour he might do for him. Diogenes replied, "Yes, stand out of my sunlight". Alexander then declared, "If I were not Alexander, then I should wish to be Diogenes." In another account of the conversation, Alexander found the philosopher looking attentively at a pile of human bones. Diogenes explained, "I am searching for the bones of your father but cannot distinguish them from those of a slave."
There are numerous accounts of Diogenes' death. He is alleged variously to have held his breath; to have become ill from eating raw octopus; or to have suffered an infected dog bite. When asked how he wished to be buried, he left instructions to be thrown outside the city wall so wild animals could feast on his body. When asked if he minded this, he said, "Not at all, as long as you provide me with a stick to chase the creatures away!" When asked how he could use the stick since he would lack awareness, he replied "If I lack awareness, then why should I care what happens to me when I am dead?" At the end, Diogenes made fun of people's excessive concern with the "proper" treatment of the dead. The Corinthians erected to his memory a pillar on which rested a dog of Parian marble.
Diogenes of Sinope's Timeline
Sinop, Sinop Province, Turkey
Age 88
Corinth, Peloponnesia, Greece


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车前紫草 che qian zi cao
Plants with divaricate rhizomes, ca. 6 mm in diam. Stems several, 15-20 cm tall, short strigose. Basal leaves numerous; petiole 7-20 cm; leaf blade ovate-cordate, 6-13 × 3-10 cm, sparsely short strigose, apex short acuminate; stem leaves borne at apex, 1.5-3.5 cm. Inflorescences to 5 cm, densely short strigose, many flowered, ebracteate. Calyx ca. 3.5 mm, 5-parted to base; lobes ovate-lanceolate, abaxially short strigose. Corolla white, campanulate, slightly longer than calyx, ca. 4 mm; tube ca. 2.2 mm; throat appendages ca. 4 mm; lobes of limb narrowly triangular, slightly shorter than tube. Stamens inserted between appendages, exserted from corolla; filaments filiform, ca. 4 mm; anthers oblong, ca. 0.8 mm, apex obtuse. Style ca. 6 mm, exserted. Nutlets ca. 2.5 mm, glabrous, shiny; cupular emergence light yellow-brown, ca. 1 mm. Fl. and fr. Mar-Sep.
* Forests, shaded moist ravines. SE Gansu, Sichuan.
Treatments in Other Floras @ www.efloras.org
Chinese Plant Names
Other Databases
Other Databases


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Definitions of append
v. t. - To hang or attach to, as by a string, so that the thing is suspended; as, a seal appended to a record; the inscription was appended to the column. 2
v. t. - To add, as an accessory to the principal thing; to annex; as, notes appended to this chapter. 2
The word "append" uses 6 letters: A D E N P P.
Direct anagrams of append:
Words formed by adding one letter before or after append (in bold), or to adenpp in any order:
k - knapped s - appends snapped
Shorter words found within append:
ad ae an and ane ape aped dap de dean den ed en end na nae nap nape nappe ne neap pa pad pan pane paned pap pe pea pean ped pen pend pep
List shorter words within append, sorted by length
Words formed from any letters in append, plus an optional blank or existing letter
List all words starting with append, words containing append or words ending with append
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I Don't Want To Trust Anyone Anymore!I live on an island, so everyone knows eachother. Even the ones you thought don't know eachother, know eachother. So recently I trusted a friend with my deepest secret, she then went and told the friend she trusted, then her friend went and told the friend she trusted. So you get the point and it got around so quickly that everybody knew about it the next day. I was so vexed at my friend. It wasn't the first time either but now I realize people are not worth trusting. You can trust them, but you will never know what goes on behind your back. Like they say 'a good human is a dead human'. I can't say I'm perfect either but I am trustworthy when it comes to serious business. So thanks friend... you lost my trust completely... wait I take that back... EVERYONE lost my trust completely! BOO HOO!
Dariaa 18-21, F 0 Sep 14, 2010


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The pension advisory group sure has its work cut out for it.
Governor Chafee and Treasurer Raimondo's 12-member volunteer panel met for the first time Monday for introductions, an overview of the problem, and a discussion of how the process will proceed.
It's a formidable group. Alicia Munnell is a nationally known recognized expert on retirement issues. Harry Wilson oversaw the restructuring of General Motors for President Obama. Richard Licht, Bob Walsh and Mike Downey are political heavy hitters. Ernie Almonte and the General Assembly's two fiscal advisors are trusted on numbers. And on and on.
They dove right into the weeds within an hour of the meeting's start, too. How much of an employee's pre-retirement income should a pension replace? 30%? 80%? 100%? More for lower-income workers? What the right "normal cost"? How about the legal questions? And how do you deal with the underfunding when most of it represents future benefits for retirees and veteran workers, who are harder to touch?
The group will need all its intellectual firepower to achieve the goal set out for it by RISD Professor Bill Foulkes, who's leading its work. Their last meeting is scheduled for late September, about three months from now; by then, they are supposed to send Chafee and Raimondo a "final list of prioritized solutions" to the pension problem so the two of them can then write formal legislation for the General Assembly to take up this fall.
Foulkes may also find it challenging to corral the stronger personalities among the 12, though that would make having everyone on board for the final product an even bigger achievement. "It's a really complicated problem, but there's only a finite set of solutions," he said.
One thing Chafee and Raimondo have in common is their catch-more-flies-with-honey strategy. The treasurer bent over backward again Monday to praise everyone for agreeing to tackle this issue – she called the General Assembly's fall special session "an extraordinary step" – and expressed concern about how any reforms will impact state employees who played by the rules.
"I was here as a state senator in the '70s, probably causing the problem," joked Director of Administration Richard Licht at one point. Raimondo smiled and shot back: "We're not placing blame." More seriously, Licht argued the support of two general officers, both General Assembly leaders and organized labor bodes well.
There's a philosophical debate here, too. Raimondo has made retirement security a core part of her pension reform approach – meaning the final product has to provide a reasonable retirement benefit, however that gets defined. She wants to cut into the unfunded liability with a scalpel, not a chainsaw. And Munnell said she doubts retirement security can be provided by a system that expects workers to save on their own, because they won't. "I don't think the private sector is what we want to emulate," she said.
A lot of people have pointed out that this is hardly the first time a high-powered group has gathered to fix Rhode Island's pension system. (Chafee recalled two previous attempts, quoting a 2005 Projo article that began: "This appears to be the year for pension reform.") Can this group find a way forward that the others didn't, something politically achievable and financially sound, by September?
That said, the 12 don't have to reach a consensus. In the end, Raimondo said after the meeting, it will be up to her and Governor Chafee to figure out what conclusions to draw from the group's work and what proposal to put forward for lawmakers to consider.
(photo: Ted Nesi/WPRI)


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Showing Suppliers 1 - 2 of 2
Grainger Industrial Supply
Address: 427 Ohio St. Branch 758, Bellingham, WA
Business Type: Distributor
Description: Grainger helps customers save time and money by providing them the right products to keep their facilities up and running. Grainger's customers are 2.0 million businesses and institutions in 157 countries. While each customer has a unique facility to operate and a different problem to solve, our... (more)
Velocity Distributing Inc.
Address: 130 W. Axton Road, Suite 2, Bellingham, WA
Business Type: Distributor
Description: V-LEDS is one of the largest automotive LED replacement bulb retailers in the world. Located in Bellingham WA and established in 2005 V-LEDS quickly became one of the biggest name brands in LED lighting. We are dedicated to providing the best selection, the latest cutting edge technology, and the... (more)


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You are here
Home > ITU-T > Workshops and Seminars > VELARDE Consuelo
Consuelo Velarde joined Belmont Trading Company in 2002 and her current position is Business Development Manager of Latin America , she is responsible for developing electronic recycling programs in Latin America and providing global solutions targeted to raise the awareness of electronic recycling properly, reducing significantly the disposed of electronics in a land fill. Consuelo has worked diligently in the development of the first major cell phone recycling campaign launched in Latin America, working on sustainable solutions to electronics and cell phone manufactures and operators.Graduated from University of Guadalajara, Mexico in 1997 with a diploma in International Business.
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Corrosion Resistant Copper, Brass, and Bronze Alloys Datasheets
from Isabellenhutte USA
Isotek offers alloys for internationally standardized thermocouples (also mineral insulated) as well as extension and compensating leads for producing thermocouples, quick cups, connectors and plugs. We also supply resistance wire for heating elements and precision resistors. Solid, stranded and... [See More]
- Features: Corrosion Resistant
- Processing, Temper & Finish: Annealed
- Applications: Resistance Alloy / Heating; Protective Switches
from Belmont Metals, Inc.
Everdur Silicon Bronze. Featuring Everdur Silicon Bronze in a variety of forms for use in both Industrial and Creative applications. With its pleasant color (and ability to accept a range of patinas) combined with good fluidity, low drossing, and a reasonable solidification range, Everdur Silicon... [See More]
- Features: Corrosion Resistant
- Applications: Art and Jewelry Casting, Pumps, Valves, Industrial Casting
- Shape / Form: Ingot or Billet
from H.M. Hillman Brass & Copper
Length specified by client [See More]
- Features: Corrosion Resistant
- Type: Brass, Bronze or Copper Alloy; CladBimetal
- Specifications: ASTM / ASME; MIL-SPEC / QQS; UNS; MIL-15005 ASME-SB-111 ASTM-B-111
from National Bronze & Metals Inc.
C11000 Electrolytic Tough Pitch Copper CDA 110 ETP, ASTM B124, ASTM B152, ASTM B187, ASTM B188, ASTM B272. High electrical and thermal conductivity, good corrosion resistance and solderability. C11000 is used for welding fixtures, anodes, bus bar in electrical power installations, ground straps,... [See More]
- Features: Wrought; Corrosion Resistant; Cold Finished, Rolled or Cold Drawn (optional feature); Extruded (optional feature); Heat Resistant
- Type: Pure Copper or Very Low Alloy
- CDA Grade: 110
from Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc.
Alloy 401 is a ductile Nickel-Copper alloy with a very low coefficient of electrical resistivity and resistance to a wide variety of corrosive conditions. Like with commercially pure Nickel, MONEL® 401 is low in strength in the annealed condition and can only be cold worked to a maximum of 120 KSI. [See More]
- Features: Wrought; Corrosion Resistant; Cold Finished, Rolled or Cold Drawn
- Type: Brass, Bronze or Copper Alloy
- Specifications: UNS; DIN 17471
from Universal Wire Works Inc.
Universal Phos-Bronze C is an all position Phos-Bronze electrode used for joining copper base alloys to themselves and to stainless steels and cast irons. It is excellent for overlays on pumps, shafts, impellers and propeller blades. Universal Phos-Bronze C is used for building up bearing journals... [See More]
- Features: Corrosion Resistant
- Shape / Form: Coated Electrodes
- Type: Brass, Bronze or Copper Alloy


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Invisalign adopts a brand-new technique for correcting the alignment of teeth. The aligners are custom made smooth clear braces, made of plastic that appear undetectable, when they are worn over the teeth. Consistent wearing of the clear braces will retain or carefully move the teeth into the natural position. The clear braces will replace the metal and wires that are seen with traditional braces, and there are comfy enough to be used continuously. All that is needed is a bi-weekly replacement.
The Invisalign treatment begins with an examination, from a certified service provider who has actually been trained and recognized to carry out the treatment. The examination will normally entail an in-depth analysis that will be utilized to figure out whether the Invisalign treatment can be used to help you.
The strategy is tailored and will only be established after photos, x-rays, and impressions of your gums and teeth are taken. They will also map out in 3D the movements of your jaws, gums and teeth while you consume, sleep and speak. The length of the treatment can vary, and it might take up to a year for some grownups.
In developing the treatment strategy, utilizing the precise information, a set of clear braces is made from clear plastic that contains no BPA. The treatment progresses in phases, and at each stage a various set of clear braces is worn. The braces are worn through the day and can be removed for brushing and flossing or when taking in meals. The clear braces are replaced every two weeks, as the treatment advances. A trip to the orthodontist may be required every 6 months to monitor the results. Best results are accomplished with the Invisalign process if the braces are used for at least 20 hours daily. They are comfortable enough to be able to sleep with and it is easy to note the improvement in your look and smile as the braces continue to be unnoticeable. You can check out online sources like http://supersmile.com.au/ to know just what to expect out of the treatment and get to know clear braces cost Canberra.
The aligners are simple to keep, and requires hardly any effort. The main cleaning kit consists of a pack of crystal that are dissolved in water, and applied to the braces to get rid of plaque, and odors or you can simply brush it off with a soft bristle brush and washed away with lukewarm water. Removing the aligners whenever you take meals will also keep food from entering contact to stain or stain the braces. You can eat whatever foods you want even those that might stain the teeth, and not worry about food or particle getting stuck, as they typically finish with brackets and wires.
You can wear the Invisalign clear braces, even while participating in contact sports; nevertheless, they ought to not be used as alternative to a mouth guard, which was created to offer more security for the teeth.
The decision to start the treatment needs to be done carefully and it is involves careful assessment. Not all medical professionals are licensed or are trained to provide these kind of services and there some important concerns that you can ask during the assessment and during various phases of the treatment.
The Invisalign procedure includes using clear braces that continue to be unnoticeable. As you use the braces, your teeth become naturally aligned to improve your look. You can get more information about invisalign braces from reputable orthodontic clinics like Super Smile.


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As part of my coaching relationships and other interactions, I am often asked about how to announce a staff member resignation. This can be a big deal for a church, depending on the staff member.
The plan for announcement depends on the staff member's visibility as it relates to the church as a whole. A behind the scenes, support person's decision to move on is a much different thing than a teaching pastor or other staff member that's routinely up in front of the congregation. Some announcements are confined to the staff, while others require a "stage announcement" to the congregation. Of course, there are other steps in between. For example, if there are a lot of volunteers impacted by the announcement, it's necessary to do some smaller group communication and/or even one on one discussions.
Our Arts Pastor, who has been at our church for almost 10 years, recently made the decision to move on. This is the guy who has led the congregation in worship for over 7 years of that time. He is loved by the church and will be sorely missed.
I thought I would share a video of our Senior Pastor making the announcement to the congregation a couple of Sundays ago.
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the staff member's decision, our desire is always to follow God's lead and to celebrate the accomplishments of the staff member. I think our Senior Pastor did a great job with this difficult announcement.
What do you think? Is this similar to how you would handle a similar situation? Post a comment!


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Hamilton Lane Executive Named to Board of Florida Venture Forum
Nov 21, 2011, 09:15 ET from Hamilton Lane
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Nov. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hamilton Lane, an independent financial institution that provides discretionary and non-discretionary private equity asset management services to sophisticated investors, today announced that Greg Baty, Vice President, has been named to the Board of the Florida Venture Forum.
The Forum, which is based in Tampa, is designed to help ensure the success of entrepreneurial ventures by offering expert counsel, educational advice and managerial assistance, and provides programs on a statewide basis attended by venture capitalists, investors, bankers, corporate executives, accountants, lawyers and entrepreneurs.
"As the flagship organization for the venture community in Florida, it is an honor for Hamilton Lane to be represented on the Florida Venture Forum and help the organization advance the success of entrepreneurs in the state," said Mario Giannini, chief executive officer of Hamilton Lane.
Added Baty: "I look forward to working closely with the Forum to support entrepreneurship in Florida. Having worked for a number of years with entrepreneurs and venture capitalists in the Silicon Valley, it's a privilege to put my experience to work for the benefit of Florida's venture capital community."
Baty is a Vice President and is primarily focused on the activities of the firm's Florida Growth Fund. Prior to joining Hamilton Lane in 2009, he held investment positions within the private equity marketplace and has had previous experience with venture finance at Sand Hill Capital and Garage.com (Garage Technology Ventures). Baty also brings an operational background with him to Hamilton Lane having owned and operated multi-unit branded retail franchises along with his operational roles in technology startups.
Baty also spent nine years as a professional football player in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots and finished his career with the Miami Dolphins.
He received his bachelor's degree from Stanford University and a master's in science of management degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
About Hamilton Lane
Hamilton Lane is an independent financial institution that provides discretionary and non-discretionary private equity asset management services to sophisticated investors worldwide. With offices in several U.S. cities, London, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong and Brazil, Hamilton Lane offers a full range of investment products and services that enable clients to participate in the private equity asset class on a global and customized basis.
Founded in 1991, Hamilton Lane now has 170 employees and more than $150 billion in total assets under management and supervision, with approximately half of the client base in the U.S and half overseas.
About The Florida Venture Forum
Founded in 1984, The Florida Venture Forum, Inc. is the premier entrepreneurial networking group in Florida that provides companies with managerial assistance and identifies sources of venture capital. To date, more than $2.5 billion of venture capital has been attracted by presenting Florida-based companies since the Florida Venture Capital Conference began 20 years ago. Throughout the year, the Florida Venture Forum provides programs on a statewide basis. For more information, please visit the Florida Venture Forum's website at www.floridaventureforum.org or e-mail email@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com.
SOURCE Hamilton Lane


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I am just wondering if there are any new PTEL deals.
I will like to switch one of my phones from Pageplus to PTEL.
I tried the SIMWOOT40 code today, and it did not work.
The SIMWOOT40 deal is back. I didn't see a new expiration for it.
Promo code = SIMWOOT40 to buy a SIM card and a $40 topup for $20 at Platinumtel.com
So if I find comfortable phones, I will use this deal.
Does anyone know if PTEL will carry forward existing balances to new phones (While keeping old phone numbers)?
PTEL25SD takes 25% off any phone combine with 20% cash back from Befrugal dot com for !~40% off
I came across this banner ad for PTel on SlickDeals.net a few minutes ago:
Unlimited Talk, Text, Web, Int'l Text & MMS for only $40/month!
Use code PTEL25SD for your SIM, 1st month and phone (or BYOD)!
While in this thread, I was wondering if I might be able to ask for a quick summarry of PTel? I just recently heard of the company, but know basically nothing about it. Has anyone recently used/is currently using PTel service? If so, what did/do you think of their service? Coverage good? Data speeds good? Phone selection/options good? Plan prices reasonable? I currently have 3 lines of service Virgin Mobile in the Phoenix, Az, area and I think the service is pretty good; but I am certainly open to trying another carrier, if there is good reason to do so. Especially for better plan prices, better Internet data speeds, better phone options, and better coverage/reliability.
Sorry for the long post. Hopefully the PTEL25SD is a valid code and will save someone some money!
- AzAssassin, a.k.a. BillyJackAz
PlatinumTel: Free SIM Card and $20 off First Month of Unlimited Prepaid Plans: $40 Plan (up to 250MB of 4G) $20, $50 Plan (up to 2GB of 4G) $30 for First Month
What you should know also is PTEL right now runs through SPRINT, and currently requires phones that are CDMA based.
PTEL, when they start running under T-Mobile in mid 2013, PTEL will require phones that are GSM based. (I, for example, will need to buy a new phone, as mine is CDMA. So I am currently shopping for an UNLOCKED GSM phone, and I want one that runs Android OS, WiFi, and also has a physical QWERTY keyboard.)
I think PTEL is selling phones on their website which might be GSM now. Plus you need to buy the SIM card that communicates to PTEL service).
Someone else would have to tel you about unlimited plans, I don't use them.
Hope this info helps.
Just used this code on ptel's site for a free sim and $20 off their $40 or $50 plan. I chose the $40 plan- got it and the free sim for $20 upfront on a credit card. How can I pass up this trial? Very happy on tmo's $30 monthly 4g
Never be afraid to try, but always know where your back up is when you screw up!
It doesn't cost anything to be nice and say thank-you.
from the link in post #9 above, but this is the code- PTELSLICK20 - use it on ptel's site and it will remove the charge for the sim and take $20 off the $40 top up card, $40 plan, or the $50 plan. So you save $25. I went back and got a 2nd. the top up for $40 is good for 5 months-150 days, so I got a 2nd to add when that is almost up! Your $$ will roll over to join the new top up amount. Now let's hope the service is good!!!!
Thanks. i was thinking of getting this deal and holding it for a few months just in case I decided to switch.


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French Art Deco Edgar Brandt Inspired Wrought Iron And Glass Sconces
More questions? Get in touch
Unusual French Art Deco hand hammered wrought iron lantern sconces with Mueller glass shades.
Newly wired for U.S. market.
WIDTH: 6½ in | HEIGHT: 17¼ in | DEPTH: 10½ in
Starting at $75. This seller prefers to quote shipping price after determining your location.
Domestic shipping within the 48 continental states is quoted on each item via FedEx or White Glove delivery.
International shipping can be arranged upon request.
Delivery times will vary depending on the locations of origin and delivery, packing requirements, and the method of shipping used.
Once your order is processed, you will be notified of shipping status and given an estimated time of delivery.
We accept payment by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover through our secure portal. We also accept payment via check, money order, or wire transfer. All payment options are available at checkout.


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Welcome to the Anointed to Protect and Serve Ministries' website. We thank you for your online visit and encourage you to call upon us for your ongoing development in working in a church security or safety department.
This ministry is in fact a ministry; we volunteer our time and talents in our local church security and safety departments, and other religious events. Some of our staff members volunteer weekly in the safety and security ministries at area churches.
During the past decade in ministry we have had the pleasure of meeting some very special people along the way.
It is our desire and hope that we have in some form or fashion brought a smile to your life as we past this way. We thank you all for all of your thoughts, and comments as we continue to grow.
Get Involved in your Community & Serve others with your time!


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A competition to offer a Northampton band the opportunity to perform on stage at Alive at Delapre has been announced by Northampton Borough Council.
The lucky winners will be selected to showcase their talent by warming up a crowd of thousands before Boyzone headline the gig at Delapre Park on Sunday July 20.
The competition will take place at the annual Walk in the Park Festival at Wooton Rec on July 5, where local bands will battle it out to win their spot on the Alive at Delapre stage.
Councillor Brandon Eldred, Northampton Borough Council cabinet member for community engagement, said: "Northampton is well known for its quality music scene and we're fortunate to have live music played all year round.
"This competition will give the opportunity to highlight our town's musical talent and give local musicians a once in a life time experience performing to thousands of people as the support act to international stars."
For a chance to take part in the competition, clips and demos must be emailed to firstname.lastname@example.com. For more information, visit www.woottonpc.co.uk


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Its rise and shine on another beautiful humid day in Bangkok, Thailand. Today is river cruising day and I am excited! – Alex not so much.
What I am looking forward to is a long tail boat ride down the famous Chao Phraya River and its surrounding canals (aka Khlongs).
Tonight Alex will be excited because he and I will be (back) on the water for a Dinner Boat Cruise along the Chao Phraya River…and you may not even need to wear a life jacket for the dinner cruise Alex! Continue reading


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September 1st, 2017
The autumn day was pleasant, a reminder of the summer that had just passed but with a slight breeze that hinted at the cold winter to come. Hermione and Draco Malfoy and their three children made their way through Kings Cross Station quickly and efficiently. They were not encumbered by any luggage and only one pet, having sent the owls off to Hogwarts that morning and pushed the children's trunks through the floo to their grandparents' quarters just prior to leaving for the station. Their youngest daughter, Rose, had one hand firmly in the grip of her father and the other holding tightly to a cat-carrier containing her new half-Kneazle kitten, Barney.
They made it to the column between platforms nine and ten and waited patiently while a large family disappeared through the bricks onto Platform 9 ¾. They were further delayed as they helped a Muggleborn first-year negotiate the entrance but eventually found themselves amid the billowing steam and noise of hundreds of students preparing to board the train.
"Over there, Dad," Michael Malfoy called over his shoulder. Michael guided his younger brother, Scorpius, with a gentle hand on his shoulder through the crowd and to the back of the platform where a tall, dark haired wizard waited with his wife and his honourary mother for his children to arrive. His stoic countenance did not seem to alter but his daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren all noticed the slight softening of his features when he saw them approach.
"Nanna, Grandad," Rose called out as she ran up to them. "I'm so excited! I'm finally going to Hogwarts!" She placed her cat-carrier on the ground before giving her grandparents and great-granny a hug each in turn. Michael and Scorpius kissed both the older women on the cheek and shook their grandfather's hand.
"Michael, I need not remind you that as a prefect and now Quidditch Captain, you will have multiple responsibilities that you will need to manage to ensure your studies do not suffer," Severus said to his oldest grandson.
"I know, Grandad," Michael replied with a smile. "Plus looking out for this lot as well—it will be much harder keeping track of four of them rather than just the one. I'm lucky I'll be gone before Lily, Alicia-May and Eric start as well."
"Surely you'll still be there undertaking your Herbology Apprenticeship under me," a deep voice teased as a family of four approached.
"Sorry, Uncle Neville, you know I want a Study of Ancient Runes apprenticeship under Nanna and Aunty Emily," Michael responded with a grin. Michael knew he would have to work hard at NEWT level to attain this. Mary and Emily's company, ELMS Consulting, was the premier curse-breaking, warding and Ancient Runes translating business in Europe. Their services were highly in demand and it was the place to pursue an apprenticeship in the Study of Ancient Runes. Competition was fierce as only one place was offered per year. Michael was determined to be the successful candidate—on merit—when he applied.
Neville mockingly covered his heart with his hand. "My best student and he doesn't want me!" he cried.
"Daddy, don't be sad," a six-year old boy said timidly from his side. "I can be your 'prentice if Michael wants to be Mummy's."
"Thank you, Eric," Neville said as he bent down to pick up his son. "You already do such a wonderful job as my helper, I'm sure we can let Michael go and work with Mummy while we get dirty in the greenhouse." He pecked a small kiss on the little boy's button nose which he had inherited from his mother.
A whirlwind blew through the platform with the arrival of a family of five. A whispered word carried through the crowd, "Harry Potter."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "You would think that after seventeen years they would know that's not his name," she said.
"Angel, he was never going to be anything else," her father-in-law pointed out. He and Narcissa had arrived via apparition in time for the Snape-Potters' arrival. He bestowed a kiss on the cheeks of all the ladies present while his wife greeted her family in a similar fashion. The greetings continued as the mixture of dark haired and red haired members of Harry and Ginny's family said hello.
"Are you ready to be sorted into Slytherin too, Scorp?" James Snape-Potter asked his cousin with a smirk.
"I don't know where else you would expect me to go," Scorpius replied haughtily. James had the wind taken out of his sails with this answer.
"James, I told you to stop tormenting your brother, that includes your cousins as well," Ginny said firmly. Harry could be seen a few feet away, crouched down and talking earnestly to his youngest son. His words seemed to give Albus some form of comfort and he re-joined the rest of the family in a much happier mood. James rolled his eyes and called Michael over to show him something.
"Grandad, I'll be happy in Slytherin if that's where the hat puts me," Albus said bravely, stepping up beside his grandfather.
"Albus, whichever house the hat puts you in will be greater for your contribution to it," Severus said gravely. Mary briefly squeezed his arm in approval at his assurance. Scorpius, Rose and Albus all began discussing the various attributes of the houses and where they might fit in. Lily and Alicia-May were clapping hands with each other and reciting a song while Eric entertained his great-grandmother with an account of the visit he and his parents had made the day before to the Botanical Gardens in Hyde Park.
Draco turned to his siblings-in-law. "So I have ten galleons on Rose in Ravenclaw and Scorpius and Al both ending up in Slytherin, any takers?" he asked.
"No, I don't want to lose ten galleons," Harry responded. Clearly he agreed with Draco's opinion.
"Oh all right, I'll have a go," Neville said reaching into his pocket. "I reckon Scorpius in Slytherin, Albus in Gryffindor and Rose in Hufflepuff."
"I'm going to pretend I didn't just hear you say that my daughter will end up in Hufflepuff, Longbottom," Draco retorted.
"Michael and James are in Gryffindor, Alicia-May already spends half her time in the Ravenclaw common room and Eric will be nothing other than a Gryffindor, we've all said that from the moment he was born! Lily has Gryffindor written all over her too and we've said the same thing about Scorpius and Slytherin. Al is the only dark horse but even then it will be Gryffindor or Slytherin. Someone has to be in Hufflepuff," Neville teased.
"You being the head of Hufflepuff is enough, Darling," Emily said. There had been no Hufflepuffs on staff when Pomona retired so Neville took on the mantle. Even though he had been sorted into Gryffindor himself, he had always felt an affiliation with the House of the Badgers. "The Malfoy ancestors are already affecting the spin of the earth with Michael in Gryffindor, a Malfoy in Hufflepuff would plunge us into a world of trouble," she teased.
"All of you stop," Ginny said in exasperation. "You heard Dad, whatever house all the kids are placed in will be the right one for them and they will be great. You'll give them complexes if they overhear you."
Harry reached an arm around his wife and kissed her. "You're right of course, Sweetheart." Ginny moved off to stand with Hermione who had Rose currently in her arms and was checking Scorpius's bag to make sure he had everything. Emily joined them as well, further reassuring Albus that his house at Hogwarts was really only a small part of his life, not the defining part.
The trio of brothers-in-law chatted about work, Quidditch and their children for a few minutes. At one point the steam billowing around the train cleared and a family of nine was revealed—two parents and seven boys. "Looks like he got his Quidditch team in the end," Draco commented. The oldest and youngest boys both had trunks, indicating they would be boarding the train.
"Stefan is supposedly the best Transfiguration applicant Roman's had in years," Neville commented.
"Their mother must have some brains then," Draco added. "The youngest one, Darius I think, is on a Granger Scholarship." The Granger Scholarships had been established by Narcissa and Hermione several years before and prized prior academic achievement before attending Hogwarts and required ongoing academic success. A minimum of Exceeds Expectations in all the core subjects was required for the first four years along with picking up three electives in third year—one of them being either Arithmancy or Study of Ancient Runes. At OWL level the student was required to receive a minimum of seven grades of Outstanding and nothing less than an Exceeds Expectations for the scholarship to continue to NEWT level.
Ron Weasley had remained in Romania at the Dragon Reserve. His father-in-law was still the manager and Ron really did enjoy the work. His second oldest son was likely to follow in the footsteps of his dad, grandfather and uncle and begin working on the Reserve the following year. His other sons were all still at school in Romania. Darius though was smart enough to be recommended by his teachers for a Granger Scholarship. Ron had swallowed a bitter pill when he made the connection of the academic requirements and the name of the grant—his son had to be another Hermione! Eleena was right though, the opportunity was too good to pass up and at least one of his sons would attend Hogwarts as he had. Another regret was that he knew there was no way Darius would end up in Gryffindor, his son was definitely Ravenclaw bound.
Stefan owed his largesse to the Snape family, having won a grant to enable him to complete his apprenticeship at Hogwarts. Mary, Emily and Hermione all administered that fund having done their apprenticeships there as well. They provided financial assistance to those apprentices who could not otherwise meet the costs once they had passed through the application process.
Harry breathed a regretful sigh. "Even after apologising to us he still had issues. I think in the end Ginny only accepted him back to placate Molly, the rift was starting to affect her badly and Ginny didn't want her suffering. They're still not close like they were."
"Yeah, Hermione said something like that too," Draco agreed.
A whistle sounded suddenly and there was a mad scramble to say the last goodbyes and board the train. Hermione had both her arms wrapped around her youngest two. "We'll see you next Thursday for your birthday, Scorpius. You, me and Dad will go out to dinner in Hogsmeade, okay?"
"Sure, Mum," Scorpius said with a knowing grin. "I'll miss you," he confessed quietly.
"I'll miss you too, Sweetheart, but it won't be long. Rosie, Sweetheart, do you have everything?" Hermione turned to her daughter.
"Yes, Mummy," she replied. She wrapped her arms tightly around her mother's neck. "I'll miss you too."
"Oh, Baby, I'm going to miss you so much. I wish I could have kept you home for another year, you only turned eleven last week, I got to keep Scorpius until he was nearly twelve, I should have been allowed to keep you too."
"But I'm a grown up girl now, Mummy. I have to go to Hogwarts," Rose said.
"I know, but we're all allowed our wishes." She let Rose go to her father. She watched as Harry and Ginny said goodbye to their sons and her oldest had a word to his uncle. Given the look of anger, horror and sheer terror that crossed her brother's face as he watched James board the train, she became alarmed and questioned Michael as he approached. "What did you say to Harry?"
"Just that James has managed to liberate a certain map from inside Uncle Harry's desk," Michael said with a smirk.
"Oh, Merlin, make sure your brother stays away from it," Hermione instructed. Michael looked at her innocently.
"I know nothing," he said.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at him playfully before drawing him into a hug. "Take good care of them for me. Make sure that Scorpius writes home occasionally and don't let him turn into the Prince of Slytherin like his father was." She ignored the incensed 'HEY!' that came from her husband. "And make sure Rose has some fun and makes some friends as well, she tends to withdraw into her books if you're not careful and—"
"Mum," Michael interrupted her. "It's fine, I know my job as a big brother," he said with a smile. The sixth-year kissed his mother sweetly on the cheek and gave her a hug. He turned to his father and hugged him as well before chivvying his younger brother and sister to the train. The three climbed aboard and leant out of one of the windows to wave. They noticed several of the other students looking toward their family as well as several of the parents still waiting on the platform.
"Why do they always stare?" Scorpius asked derivatively.
"It's the price you pay when your Mum, Grandad and Uncle are three of the wizarding world's heroes," Michael replied philosophically.
"Plus Grandad is Deputy Headmaster and Great-Granny Minnie is Headmistress. And Dad and Grandfather are rather famous too," Rose added.
"They're all famous," Scorpius agreed, "I just don't see why they have to stare! They're just people."
"Make sure you keep telling everyone that when they start asking you questions, Scorp," Michael said, ruffling his brother's hair affectionately. The train lurched and started to move. They all waved madly at their family as they passed.
"They ask questions?" Scorpius asked as they moved away from the window and went to find a cabin.
"Oh yeah, speaking from experience here. If anyone gets too nosy, just say you'll send them to Grandad to find out the answers—that stops them right in their tracks. Okay, I have to go to the prefects' carriage but I'll catch up with you later. In the meantime," he reached into his cloak and pulled out two sacks, "Grandfather slipped me these to give to you so you could buy some sweets. You're not allowed to tell Mum or Nanna," he winked and handed the bags of galleons over. "Here, this looks like a good one." He slid open a door to a compartment and ushered them inside to join a lone first year, the Muggleborn they had helped get onto the platform. He beckoned Albus and Darius to come along as well. "I'll check in on you later, yeah? Make a friend," he whispered, gesturing to the girl sitting there watching them curiously.
Hermione watched the train as it disappeared into the distance. She observed Harry and Ginny as they did the same and absently said goodbye to the extended family as they left. Some part of her brain quizzically registered as her mother hugged her tightly and expressed the wish that she 'have a good time', but the most part of her conscience was with her three babies on the Hogwarts Express. Draco came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
"So do you know what we have never done as a couple?" he asked.
Hermione thought for a moment. "Well I can think of all manner of kinky things we have never tried but I fail to see why you would be bringing that up now," she said, turning slightly in his arms to look at him.
"Oh, ha ha," he said. "We can try all manner of kinky things later," he promised. "For now, it occurred to me not long ago that we have never gone on a holiday."
Hermione looked at him incredulously. "What on earth are you talking about? We spent three weeks in Fiji just a month ago, not to mention the trips to Europe and Egypt and the getaways to Brighton and, oh, are you forgetting the two and a half years we spent travelling the world?" she asked. Hermione and Draco had decided to travel after the completion of their studies. They travelled for pure pleasure and explored several different countries and cities around the world. Michael's infant years were spent in a weightless toddler backpack on the backs of either of his parents as they walked the Kokoda Trail, visited the Great Wall of China or rode to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. He was a veteran of portkey travel by the time he was four. They always stayed in wizarding locations since their elves were with them as well but they often ventured out into the Muggle world to explore. On occasion they would be joined by Lucius and Narcissa, Severus, Mary and Emily or one or two of their many friends as they traversed the globe.
"And what have we never been on any of those trips?" Draco asked. Hermione looked at him in confusion and shook her head. He leaned in to whisper in her ear, "Alone."
Hermione pulled back to look into his eyes. "What have you planned?" she asked knowingly.
"Shh, ears are about. It's a secret," he teased. Harry and Ginny approached them.
"Did you tell her yet?" Ginny asked.
"Tell me what? Oh, everyone knows? That's why Scorpius said 'Sure, Mum', when I told him we'd see him for his birthday, and why Mum just told me to have a good time… where are we going?" she demanded.
"Somewhere you can get started on your new book," Harry teased. "Next should be 'Charming Teenagers', right?" Hermione had written a series of books starting with 'Charming Babies' and following up with the highly successful 'Charming Toddlers', 'Charming Children' and, in collaboration with Molly Weasley, 'Charming the Home'. Most of the Charms described had been of her own development but she had also included the Charms of other mothers found during her research. Life as an author had allowed her to perfectly balance motherhood and a career in her chosen field.
All six of the adults started to laugh. "I don't think it's possible to use charms to control teenagers," Neville commented. "If anyone were to be successful at it though, it would be our Hermione."
"Mummy, Mummy, can Lily come over and play?" Alicia-May came running over to ask. Emily looked at Ginny who shrugged and gave a 'why not?' expression.
"All right," Emily agreed. The two girls began to jump up and down in excitement.
"Mummy, will you tell the story about how you and Daddy got together?" Alicia-May asked. The little blond-haired girl was currently obsessed with hearing the stories of how the married couples in her life had gotten together. No one was safe from her questioning. She thought the story of Nanna and Grandad was beautiful and sad because it included Grandpapa Michael dying, she thought Harry and Ginny's story was like a fairy tale and Hermione and Draco's story was very funny—especially the bit about Aunty Hermione slapping Uncle Draco in the face. Like all the children she was aware of The Dark Times and The War. The family had been very careful to keep all the stories age-appropriate but none of them were in any doubt about the different roles played by each member of the family during it. As they got older more and more details would be revealed to them until, like Michael, they would know the entire story.
"Yes, Mummy," Harry said with his arms folded. "Tell us the story of how you and Daddy got together."
"Maybe another time, Brother," Emily said, her face going red.
Like Hermione and Draco, Neville had decided to travel after the completion of his apprenticeship. He only made it as far as The Maldives though, having been invited there by Luna Lovegood and her boyfriend, Rolf Scamander, who had told him of the rich variety of magical plants that could be found there. Neville had been away for two years when the failing health of his father brought him home. The many years of lying practically comatose in St Mungo's had finally wearied his body and Neville wanted to be there for the end.
This coincided with the retirement plan of Pomona Sprout who was more than happy to recommend Neville as her successor. He returned to Hogwarts in the autumn of 2005, the final year of Emily's apprenticeship. Upon seeing her when he arrived at the cast he was very pleasantly surprised to see how she had matured. He teased her a bit by commenting how she had not grown, although he was primly informed she had in fact grown two inches. It was not her fault that genetics had determined she would only ever see the world from a height of five foot one. Neville found he did not mind this at all, she was as pretty as a package in her petite but oh so feminine frame.
They formed an immediate rapport and Neville wondered why he had never noticed her before. Well, he knew why, she had only been a young teenager throughout his apprenticeship and he had left on his travels immediately following her seventeenth birthday party. There was a part of him that scolded himself for not getting to know her better back then, but another, larger part of him realised that he would have only ever seen her as Hermione and Harry's little sister if that was the case. He found that meeting up with her again as an adult was much more desirable.
Of course once he had asked her out a few times and taken to finding excuses just to be in her company, next came the inevitable discussion of exclusivity and ultimately (gulp) meeting the parents.
Emily felt she had timed it well when she informed her father of the identity of her new boyfriend—when he was sitting holding a newborn Scorpius in his arms. Hermione had been alongside her for moral support. At first Severus had thought she was playing a joke on him, just as Hermione had done back when they had first discovered their relationship but Emily had told him, no, she really was seeing Neville Longbottom and she thought it might get serious.
Severus had merely sighed. He knew Neville Longbottom was considered one of the most eligible bachelors in the wizarding world and was a very good, decent man to boot. He really could not ask better for Emily considering that the only other young wizard he would have ever considered suitable was already married to his other daughter. It would not do to reveal this just yet though, it would be much more fun to watch as Longbottom flustered in his presence and tried to impress him. He had missed that experience with Draco.
Neville had risen to the occasion though, stoically bearing all attempts to draw him out and the teasing. He knew none of it was meant in malice and, like everyone who had had the fortune to find a connection with this particular family, he found that acceptance into the Snapes was well worth the small price to pay. It was especially appreciated when his father finally succumbed and passed away. The support he received from Emily, her parents, her grandmother, her brother and sister and their spouses… even then-five-year-old Michael, had been incredible and welcomed. He had proposed to Emily six months later with his mother's engagement ring and with the blessing of Severus and Mary. They had married one year after Emily had completed her apprenticeship and, like the elder Snapes, lived between Hogwarts and their home at Longbottom Manor in Leeds.
"Come on, then," Emily rounded up the three children. "Let's go home and I'll tell all of you the story."
"Will you be at Hogwarts?" Ginny asked.
"Yes," Emily replied.
"All right, one of us will collect her around six, okay?"
Emily smiled at her sister-in-law. "Sure. See you then. Hermione, have a brilliant time and don't worry about a thing, we'll take care of the kids."
"Thanks, even though I still actually have no clue what's going on," Hermione replied, giving her little sister a long hug. Neville reached over to do the same and the three children all gave their farewells as well before the five left to floo back to Hogwarts.
"What about clothes and books and toiletries? What about all the documentation and my potions?" Hermione asked frantically.
"It's all sorted, Hermione. Mum, Narcissa and I have organised clothes for every eventuality and Draco has organised recreational activity for you," she said, her voice laden with innuendo. "Dad has put enough potions on board for you to last ages, and more are just a portkey away," Ginny said gently.
Hermione was still taking Calming Draught on a daily basis. She had tried several times to wean herself off it, even tried to go cold turkey a couple of times but even with the support of her entire family, as soon as the calming effect of the draught was out of her system her anxiety levels would rise and a panic attack would soon follow. She perceived this continued reliance to be a failure but Draco and Severus had made her see that it was just a tool in her daily routine, like brushing her hair or teeth, that allowed her to be able to be the wife, mother and career woman she wanted to be without the added pressure of a high anxiety level and panic attacks over small things.
Severus also reminded her that although she took the draught daily, she was not dependant on it or addicted to it. He took her on a trip in his Pensieve to show her what a person addicted to Calming Draught looked like—a person totally unable to function and who just stared aimlessly out of the window all day. She saw what missing a single dose (and it was a dose much larger than a teaspoon) did to the person. If missing one spoon caused her anxiety level to rise, the only thing that could describe the reaction this person had had was that the anxiety spiked and the addict needed to be sedated to prevent himself causing deliberate self-harm. Hermione saw that her needs were really quite miniscule in comparison and she accepted it as being an ongoing part of her life.
"Draco, will you put me out of my misery?" she begged.
"All right, there is a yacht waiting at Southampton, stocked with all our favourite foods and drinks and everything we need for a fantastic ocean voyage. There is a full wizarding crew on board along with Bixby and Trilly. We set sail this afternoon, bound for Singapore. It should take us two months to get there. We will then spend a few weeks exploring the area before we portkey the lot of it back home. We'll be on time to meet the kids off the Express for the Christmas holidays and be here for Michael's seventeenth," Draco outlined the plan. He quickly had an armful of squealing witch.
"Oh you sly man, I had no idea you planned any of this either! All of you are in for a hexing for keeping it a secret but it can wait until we're back. It will really just be the two of us?" Hermione asked.
"For three whole months, Sweet," Draco confirmed. He tightened his grip and kissed Hermione passionately. She broke away and with a huge smile on her face, she hugged Harry and Ginny goodbye. Draco took her in his arms again and Apparated away.
That evening they danced on the deck of their yacht, Miscro, the remnants of a seafood feast on the table behind them and the calm waters of the English Channel lulling them toward their first stop in Spain. The stars shone brightly overhead and the nearly full moon cut a trail of light through the water.
Hermione swayed in her husband's arms, grateful for this opportunity to just be together and enjoy each other's company. Both of them had been so busy lately, Draco was being given more and more responsibilities as the Malfoy Empire continued to grow. He had a very capable assistant in Cameron Gibbon, having hired the young man when they returned to England to finally settle down. Draco knew the next three months would run very smoothly in his absence. Lucius was always saying that with three grandchildren to leave a decent legacy for, it was imperative that they increase the wealth of the family. Draco's Arithmancy mastery came in very handy and they rarely made a misstep in investments—when they did it was always due to either a shoddy proposal, in which case the presenter's reputation was shot to pieces and he or she never worked in England again, or due to some unforeseen complication such as the mini-rebellion some Goblins tried to enact in 2014.
The Goblin Rebellion had been put down within a month of the initial uprising thanks to the combined efforts of one of the most popular Ministers of Magic of all time, Kingsley Shacklebolt (now in his fifth landslide term as Minister) and the very competent Head Auror, Harry Snape-Potter, the youngest wizard ever to hold the post. He had been appointed by Special Commission upon the advancement of Gawain Robards to Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Harry's unblemished record since joining the Auror Corps had seen the capture of all the remaining Death Eaters that had been on the run (even the ones hiding overseas) and stopped the uprising of three Dark Lord Wannabe's.
The romantic mood was disturbed by the arrival of a Patronus—a Peadeer. They waited until one of three possible voices could address them, it was impossible to tell who had sent it without hearing the voice of the caster, even after all these years.
Severus's deep baritone sounded in the still night. "As suspected: Rose Malfoy to Ravenclaw, Scorpius Malfoy to Slytherin and Albus Snape-Potter to Slytherin. Why anyone would have thought those two would be separated is beyond me. Your children are in safe hands, My Angel. Sleep well and enjoy your holiday."
"Damn, I could have won ten galleons from Scar-head if he would have bet me," Draco complained. "I'll just have to take the ten I won from Neville and buy you something pretty." They resumed their slow dance.
"You have already given me everything I could ever want in life. Just love me, Draco, in my advancing years. That's all I ask," she said softly.
He deftly manoeuvred them so they were next to the plush cushions piled onto a bench on the deck. Softly guiding her to lie back he took in the sight of the woman who had given him everything he had ever wanted too. He lowered himself until he was hovering above her, his fingertips playing at the edge of the gown she wore. "Forever," he whispered.


text: I have not smelled the origins (but I will do so when I get back to the US), but the most famous tea scent in mainstream is probably Bulgari Eau parfumee au the vert. There is also an The blanc version, I believe, but the green is probably less pale. They are more tea than fruits, so if what you are looking for is more fruits than tea, then perhaps other scents are more appropriate.


text:
The photocall is ugly, courtesy of those scumbag photographers screaming like a bunch of apes to get a reaction from Charlize of course. But there's a civilized interview afterwards. I suppose you're starting to notice Miller's catchphrases "we don't defy the laws of physics" etc. Can't blame him, he's got to answer the same questions all the time, he's got the same answers:
Cannes 2015 - MAD MAX FURY ROAD by George MILLER (Photocall & Interview) (REMOVED)


text:
This week is a bonus because there are 5 Mondays in March this year - it's kind of like getting that extra donut in a baker's dozen. So this week's prompt is donuts. There is something almost sublime about biting down through the crisp glaze into that soft pillow of sugar and fat. (I never said it was healthy, I said sublime. :P) Maybe your character is making or eating donuts. Maybe she is getting something extra - like that 13th donut - a little lagniappe. Maybe he's trying hard not to give in to temptation. Whatever it is, let the donuts guide you. As Homer would say, "Mmm, donuts."
|By elaine ross baylon from Quezon City, Philippines (krispy kreme donuts Uploaded by JohnnyMrNinja)
[CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons