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Several weeks ago, I had Jury Duty. Now, while many people try really hard to get out of their civil obligation to show up for jury duty when called, I did not. In fact, not only did I not try to get out of it –beyond the postponing of it several times until it was a week when it was not inconvenient — I actually was hoping secretly that I would be accepted by the court.
I don't have little kids at home, I have a job that allows me flexibility and time off for Jury Duty, and I'm a Middle-Ager who loves to do fun things.
Of course, I didn't tell anyone that. By "anyone" – I refer to my friends, relatives, work colleagues, acquaintances and all the people who I bragged to about jury duty. I followed the party line of jury duty goers before me, and bemoaned my obligation.
"Oh well…I have jury duty. What a bummer!"
Why not? It got me sympathy and lots of other benefits.
So since the judge told us that we can write about, talk about, and blog about the experience AFTER the case is over, here goes:
Here are 12 defenses in favor of Jury Duty – which after you will read them, you will be like me: loving it, wanting it, bragging about it, and even admitting how happy you are that you went.
1. When you go to jury duty you get to take off from work and not feel guilty for it. True, many companies don't pay for missed days because of jury duty, but still the idea of missing work with a simple 2-word excuse ('Jury Duty') and receiving an understanding "Ahhh…yes….that's fine…" is actually very encouraging.
2. When you go to jury duty, you learn to speak in double negatives. Case in point: note the first paragraph above.
3. When you go to jury duty, you get to listen to a bunch of boring speeches with half an ear. From the beginning of the process where you are in this large holding room (admittedly kind of suffocating), you have a series of speakers who orient you to the process. Most of the stuff they are telling you is common sense, repeated many times, and not that important or relevant…plus they are mildly entertaining the way they say the information, so you basically can space out.
4. When you go to jury duty, you get to take care of a lot of paper work. During the break times where you wait to wait some more, you have paper work that you have brought along with you and you feel really good to have accomplished all that paper work. You can clean out your purse, organize your folders on your laptop, and answer emails. The court even provides computers for those who did not bring their own laptops.
5. When you go to jury duty, you get to be in the same room with people from all cultures of the world. When you are not looking down at your computer or paperwork, you could find yourself staring involuntarily at people seated around you.
6. When you go to jury duty, and you are called to the court room, you get to hear many entertaining, funny and strange excuses that people give to the judge. These excuses span the exaggeration spectrum from "I am scheduled to go to Paris tomorrow," to "I really don't speak English very well, so I wouldn't be good…" (spoken in perfect English).
7. When you go to jury duty, you get to have fun and talk a lot about baseball during breaks. While the judge admonishes jurors not to talk about the case with each other, he does permit the jurors (and even suggests it to them) that they talk about the Dodgers or any other baseball.
8. When you go to jury duty, you get to become less naive and realize that lying by witnesses on the stand is common.
9. When you go to jury duty, you get to deliberate and even bond with people (several of them also grandmothers and mothers-in-law!) who you've never met before this case.
10. When you go to jury duty, you get to feel as if all the books and movies you've seen about court cases, are really the way it is. It makes you feel as if you are on a movie set.
11. When you go to jury duty, you get to exercise self-control and refrain from talking about the case with anyone outside the courtroom.
12. When you go to jury duty, you earn $15 per day (past the first day) plus mileage. And you even get a letter from the judge on Court stationary mailed to your home, several weeks past the case.
There you have it: The 12 Defenses in Favor of Jury Duty. I guess I'll have to wait a whole year to be called again. Oh well….
Tags: court, enjoying jury duty, getting out of jury duty, jury, jury duty


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Weekends and evenings when I have some down time is my favorite time to read. It is not everyday that I get to pick up a book, but when I do, it is my special time and I want to make sure that I am reading something that I love. I think that is I why I gravitate to chick lit and women's interest stories the most. They read fast and I don't have to think too much! This book that I was sent to check out fits into all of these categories for a pleasurable, fast, weekend read.
Loving Cara by Kristen Proby
Series: Love Under the Big Sky
Publisher: Pocket Books (January 21, 2014)
The Synopsis
Cara Donovan's summer tutoring job is turning out to be a challenge—and not just because of her troubled twelve-year-old student. It's his uncle Josh who's the real problem. If problem is the word for an irresistibly cocky, muscle-bound rancher with a taste for tight Levi's and shameless flirtation. . . .
Cara is nothing like the wallflower Josh King remembers good-naturedly teasing in high school. This Cara is gorgeous, confident, fun. From the moment the fiery teacher steps foot on his family's Lazy K Ranch, the stubborn playboy is determined to corral her. So what happens when his luscious lover takes over the reins?
The first in a steamy trilogy, Kristen Proby's enthralling novel is filled to the brim with one hardworking family's triumphs and challenges, all the wild adventure of the modern West, and a whole lot of titillating fun.
My Thoughts
I can tell when a book is going to be good within the first chapter. Sometimes even the first few pages, really. Loving Cara is a light hearted, fun read that has a solid story that flows well and is interesting all around. The Author created Cara to be a strong woman with the normal insecurities that we all tend to have, especially when it comes to men.
What I loved the best about this book is that the lead male, Josh, is a tender, loving man that adores Cara. I love how he spoke and treated her. OF course, it does not hurt that he is a hot cowboy with descriptions that are sure to set your heart pounding.
The other cast of characters in this book open the doors to the next in the series. The group includes Josh's twin brother and best friend as well as Cara's best friend. The relationships are fun and they are all protective of each other. I was left wishing I had relationships like these folks do.
This book flows really well and is loaded with adult situations, just so you know. I think I finished it in about 3 hours one evening and was left wanting more. I really enjoyed the writing style and the storyline overall. I cannot wait until the next installation in the series comes out. The author is a strong writer and one to watch for more books you will enjoy reading.
Disclaimer: Chris has received no compensation for this post but did receive free product for purpose of review. Please read our Official Rules before entering this giveaway. We must receive all entries by the end date of the contest and the odds of winning are determined by the number of entries received. No purchase necessary to enter. Two Classy Chics is not responsible for prize fulfillment. All Content on this site is Copyright of the Two Classy Chics All Rights Reserved

subset: commoncrawl


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Petrus London 2016
My view of Big Sweary has softened, desensitised even, though it perhaps is because this styled TV persona has also mellowed over time. Cuddly Sweary now appearas to be the new Gordon Ramsay across the Atlantic. Every now and again when he shows flashes of his previous life in the kitchen, such as his lobster shelling demo on US masterchef, I'm reminded of what a loss it is that this fella is no longer regularly on the pass.
As you probably know, Gordon loves a bit of claret, the man has a palate (and his recipes DO work, as opposed to say Nigella..) and has good taste, albeit an expensive one in wine, namely Chateau Petrus, that most reknowned of Pomerol and what the restaurant is named after.
I wish not to dwell on this restaurant's colourful history, Gordon's feud with his former best mate and the wrangling away of the name from Marcus (although, the name really belongs with the Moueix family who own the wine). All that now seems quite a distance memory now.
This current iteration of Petrus in Kinnerton Street opened in 2010 with Mark Askew (Gordon's former exec chef, very talented guy), Sean Burbidge and walking charisma machine Jean-Philippe Susilovic manning the first year of service, and winning its star in 2011. Ramsay's jewels have shrunk in recent years though Claire Smyth and Neil Snowball had steadied Gordon's top two as both restaurants are mostly full and relatively hard to book (even in 2016!). Neil was Petrus' head chef until earlier this year, when his sous-chef Larry Jayasekara was promoted to Head Chef.
And this is the reason why I've returned to Petrus. You must watch him describe the dishes that saw him scoop the 2016 National Chef of the Year award, and most recently, he has retained the star for 2017 after Snowball's departure. I have quietly followed his dishes on IG and it all looks so fresh and minimalist with clear identity.
Larry's path is an interesting one, he hails from a fishing village in Sri Lanka and came to the UK in 2002 where he was exposed to classic cooking whilst at South Devon College. From there, he joined up with Ramsay at the original Petrus in 2004 and from there his career has taken him around some famous kitchens, moving with Marcus Wareing, then to Waterside Inn, a stage with the esteemed Michel Bras and then to Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir. A decade later, he would rejoin Ramsay's group as sous chef in Neil Snowball's kitchen, and finally work his way up to to this current head chef post. His dad worked his way up the ranks to Chef in Sri Lanka, and he surely must be proud of his son's achievements.
I remember how slick this room was when I visited six years ago, oddly enough, it has not aged well and feels very 90s, for a restaurant that opened in 2010. Quite unlike say the Ledbury which feels fresh. Maybe it's the cream coloured carpets, or its combination with these rather odd choice of tiles that certainly no longer belong in a dining room. They should consider laying down some parquet.
I visited for Friday lunch with my brother. I read about the small portions with the taster menu, so I thought to go with the ALC (3 courses for £75), whilst my brother saw a deal with the set lunch (3 for £37.50). Both of us were served with an amuse and a pre-desert.
Amuse: Jerusalem artichoke veloute, with a grilled soldier covered in a mixed cheese mousse with autumn truffles
This amuse is one of simple pleasures, well made and tasted absolutely delicious. Especially the soldier, no doubt toasted with generous lashings of the tremendous house butter – the incomparable unpasteurised stuff from Bordier. Like at Passard's this stuff is very addictive, you have to stop yourself from filling up with too much bread and butter. A grand start, Larry's talent confirmed.
Set: Scotch salmon and prawn agnolotti, fennel, sea purslane
Salmon and prawn were minced and so there wasn't much in way of texture. Taste-wise it was ok, pasta clearly made fresh in-house but notthing particularly exciting. I think this could have done with full or roughly chopped tails instead.
ALC: Butter poached Native lobster, girolles, truffle cannelloni, wood sorrel
I've seen so many photos of this and it is even prettier in reality. Accomplished simplicity.
Finished with bisque sauce, colour and intensity indicating coral gone in here. I can't be certain but I think its the same cheese mousse with little bits of truffle shavings as from the amuse, spooned on top of the cannelloni. The pasta is rolled thick and generously stuffed with lobster (unsure what the binder is) and creamy aromatic (autumn?) truffle. This is delicious.
As for the cross section tail, you certainly taste the firmness and therefore Scotch, even with the poaching timed perfectly to a touch of translucency (so perhaps 55degC at a guess, but definitely not lower than that), the tail has springs.
Quality produce, however, the lobster is sous-vide and surprisingly, its natural flavour is mild and still 'sleeping'. It would have benefitted from being finished in the pan or in the green egg (as he had done, with boil+bbq in shell, on his way to his 2016 #ncoty win).
I'm not evangelical about modern cooking methods, so long as it produces the best tasting results. In this case, it just lacked a touch of smoky oomph. Served like this, the classic beurre monte method at 80ish degC may possibly have produced a far more intense flavour of sweet brine and butter, IMHO.
The official photo of this dish on @petrusrestaurant is a little misleading (count the girolles). Considering this is off the 3 course ALC (for £75), the cannelloni could be slightly larger in portion. Good nonetheless, but could be better.
Set: Roasted haunch of Fallow deer, Boulangere potato, charred chicory, juniper jus
This was a baffling one, we wondered if perhaps the meat had been rested for too long or perhaps did not see a generous enough butter baste. Even though it was cooked to the right temperature, it was oddly rather dry. The thin slices of potatoes were interspersed with delicious confit or braised meat (I suppose it is also deer), but could have done with longer cooking, and they tasted just a touch underdone and fell apart too easily. As is evident, the jus is luxuriously made.
Like the previous dishes, there were niggles that required attention and they are amplified for such a minimalist style.
ALC: Line caught Newlyn seabass, langoustine, saffron potatoes, and bouillabaisse sauce
Oh there's the fish. It's hiding behind the XXL lango tail. Perhaps this dish should have lango as the lead ingredient. And yes, it must be Scotch and it is an absolute pleasure eating these massive tails. Only the Norwegian cousins landed on other side of North Sea are meatier. Talk about Great British produce, even Pascal Barbot uses Scotch at Astrance. Ironically these tails are a rare sight in London.
Surface indicates a pan finish on one side, inside mi-cuit and deliciously taut. Charred cuttlefish also beautifully executed, totally smoky and blackened on one side, but underside retains its natural chew and plumpness. Beauty. The potatoes are soft like fondant, and the saffron is a light touch. This is amazing shellfish and it is a sign that the GR group is very ably supplied.
Many ticks, but then, niggles appear again.
Like the lobster dish, the official photo @petrusrestaurant is misleading. For a mains on a 3 course ALC, they should consider bulking up the seabass portions. Could always give more than 2 potatoes, or on the side.
And getting back to the fish, the seabass probably measures 2inx1in. Considering how small it is, it is cooked just, and dangerously close to over. A slightly larger portion makes sense here and would be practical as you get crispier skin and retain flakiness. I get it the Knightsbridge premium and all, but this just seems unneccesarily self-sabotage.
The sauce was unfortunately problematic as I thought it to be too refined. The colour is light and overall effect is a little lifeless. My main issue is that it does not smell of much. No saffron or pepper or much else spices, and lacks acidity. All this meant that it was much too mild to tie the superb seafood elements together.
There's no way I'd guess it was a bouillabaisse that's being attempted here. The texture is good, seems reduced to a thickened pour, finely sieved and therefore demonstrates the technical ability of the brigade.
A stronger sauce and maybe a slice of toast with rouille on side is a better fit perhaps? There are good elements, but I think the chef should let loose on this dish. Be brave, keep to the spirit of a wholesome fish stew.
Pre-dessert: Lemon curd, granite and tea foam
I love that there is almost nothing to look at and this pre-dessert is designed for ?% taste. The pastry chef has quite some skill, each element is perfectly made, a measured recipe with each element in the right proportions for balance of sweet and toe curling acidity. Refreshing.
Set: Citrus delice, ruby grapefruit and blood orange sherbet
Simple but effective. It's abundantly clear that there is a good pastry chef in the house. The recipe is well chosen and the resulting dish is light and refreshing with laser acidity. Absolutely ?.
ALC: Black forest, kirsch mousse, amarena and morello cherry sorbet
In contrast, this postage stamp black forest is straight-up and… well, there's not much more I can add to whipped kirsch cream dusted with chocolate. I mean, it is quite far away from say Heston's enormously brilliant BFG. Perhaps it is missing some texture or richness – a sponge, a ganache centre or both. What it does not miss is the faux wax stamp of the Petrus (wine) label, which I feel is woefully outdated and does nothing to enhance taste. I don't think even Petrus has wax stamps anymore (or ever?). Just a printed label on the bottle isn't it? It would look a hugely elegant pudding without it. Should have gone with the dark chocolate palet d'or instead. Oh well.
I do wonder if there is a secret wine list hidden from public. The list of Petrus wines is surprisingly short. I would have thought they'd taken the last 6 years to amass a small fortune of it, but I only count 10 vintages. No 82s or 2000s vintages. Why? This is in total contrast to the Petrus in Hong Kong (no relation to GR). If you are feeling flush, both restaurants keep a 1928 on their respective lists, Ramsay is 2x cheaper at £11k to HK's £49k (for magnum), though personally, I wouldn't bother buying any wine that's nearly 100 years old, even if it is a good vintage. As for the rest of the wine list, there's a 2011 Domaine Chevalier for £156 (3x mark up) and a 1989 Haut Brion for £3k (also about 3x mark-up). Quite a short list. Petrus is the only Pomerol on it. The problem is that Chateau Petrus is now so expensive (if you can get your hands on them at retail) that it is out of most people's reach. They could at least have included a few alternative Pomerols here, VCC, L'Evangile, Pin, other Moueix wines, La Fleur Petrus… so many.
We paid £144.56 for 2. (1x ALC 3 course £75 , 1x Set Lunch £37.5, 2 x wine 125ml and service)
I concede that there's a postcode premium attached, which you will doubtlessly be aware of too. We have been spoilt by East London, and prices here and at newish Chelsea openings (ask Phil how much his rent is) can feel painful to re-adjust to. I'm down with that, decided prior to visit. I'm not so down with the tiny portions, because the double whammy effect of high prices + anaemic portions is jarring. Charge another tenner, offer more starch on the plate or offer some starch on the side. Just a little more food would have sufficed. We left hungrier than expected. Having said that, the lunch deal £37.50 for 3 courses with all the house freebies thrown is a pretty good deal considering.
There's no doubt Larry is a gifted chef. This fella knows old-school luxury, smooth sauces, soft textures, everything regal and well-made. I cannot fault the technique. I like the style of the cuisine, compact and smart, modernised classics which are beautiful to look at. The problem however is that the refinement is too severe. It feels caged as if the soul of the cooking has been filtered out and it seems like a conscious decision.
Perhaps Larry is playing it safe in his first year in charge but I think he can be braver and allow more of his personality to show on the plate. I know there's more potential because his 2016 NCOTY starter reads like this "Lobster with red pepper and cardamom, leek, fresh yogurt and lemongrass". Tail finished in its shell, in BBQ. That dish should be on the menu. I hope he pushes his cuisine in the coming year. I'm keen to see it evolve.
Last words however are for service. I'm never one to complain about it, as I think generally most FOHs are well-intentioned. However, I feel the experience we had at this meal is worth bringing up, especially considering how different it is to when Jean-Philippe Susilovic was in charge here.
Service during this lunch was mostly fine, even though we arrived to an empty reception and stood there for a fair few minutes, as waiters seemed more interested in floating about the room, rather than to welcome punters. Generally, this team are very slow to react to things, a particular comedy highlight came at the start of the meal. It took a while before the wine list was brought to us and by then, the amuse had come out of the kitchen. The server saw me flipping through the list, and he didn't know whether he should serve us or not. Cue traffic jam in the middle of the room, man with oversized silver tray, though not his fault in because he was waiting for direction. Where's the maitre d? All throughout the meal, I couldn't work out who was leading this shindig. The maitre d did a very good job making him/herself anonymous.
I can overlook all of this and do not mind a slightly uncoordinated team. But I do mind if I ask a question and do not get an answer. After we finished our mains, we were still feeling a little peckish, so I asked our waitress if we could have the amuse again. She said she had to check with Chef, which is the sensible thing to do. I was happy to pay for it either way. Shortly after, our pre-dessert came, then pudding then the next time she spoke to me, was to ask if I wanted coffee. At this juncture, I'm still happy to eat another savoury, because I'm still hungry. She chose to leave me hanging and either forgot or chose to ignore my request. Even if Chef said no, I think it's only manners to tell your customers about it. It's the little things. Details. They don't cost anything, but they are vital elements of hospitality. The kind that leave lasting impressions.
Petrus (London)
Set Lunch £37.50 + drinks + service
ALC £75 + drinks + service
Taster £95 + drinks + service
1 Kinnerton Street, SW1X 8EA
Tel: +44 (0)207 592 1609
Tube: Knightsbridge


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BALTIMORE & TAMPA, Fla., Jan 11, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — — SCYTL is the global leader in online voting solutions with a presence in over twenty countries
— SOE Software is the leading software company for election management solutions in the United States
— The combination of the two companies creates the industry leader in election software with a strong market presence worldwide
SCYTL, the global leader in secure electronic voting technologies, announced today the acquisition of 100% of SOE Software, the leading software provider of election management solutions in the United States. The integration of these two software companies creates the industry leader in the election software market with a full range of solutions covering from Internet voting to election night reporting and online pollworker training, and a strong market presence worldwide.
SCYTL is currently the worldwide leader in the Internet voting space and the acquisition of SOE Software, with its Clarity election management software suite, significantly expands SCYTL's product portfolio beyond electronic voting. Furthermore, SOE Software's strong US presence with 900 jurisdictions as customers in 26 states, including 14 state-wide customers, complements very effectively SCYTL's customer base in the United States and internationally with customers in over 20 different countries across 5 continents, including France, Spain, Canada, Norway, Switzerland, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, India and Australia.
"We are very excited about joining forces with SOE Software because their solutions can address the needs for more efficiency and transparency in elections in many of the countries where we are currently working", said Pere Valles, SCYTL's CEO. "The high degree of customer satisfaction achieved by SOE Software in the United States demonstrates that their solutions and customer service are very effective in meeting those needs".


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Fire is known to mankind from the days of inception of life on the surface of earth. It has got a very vital role in the existence of our life. From the very beginning fire has been a good servant but a bad master. As per our Hindu mythology fire is one of five basic natural elements (Fire, Space, Earth Water and Air) responsible for the existence and identification of living beings. Apart from this, fire is most essentials and inseparable part of our life, needed in fulfilling our daily needs.
Our Industries, Factories, Power Plants and all developing facilities are entirely dependent upon fire (heat/energy) in one way or the other. If the fire is removed from these activities, every thing will come to standstill. This is the positive and friendly role of the fire in the life of human beings, but there is another side of the coin as well. If proper attention and care is not exercised, then the fire becomes our vicious enemy. An adequate attention and set drill of precautions are required to be taken to tame the fire as a best friend of the mankind.
As our country has developed multidirectional and proportionately in the fields of socio-economy, technology and science, the danger of the fire has also increased manifolds. Every day, we witness front page news of fire accidents of difference magnitudes in the news papers which is self explanatory story of our ignorance and callousness attitude towards fire prevention and safety education. more..
(Recognised and approved by Board of
Technical Education, Govt of Delhi)
G-579, Raj Nagar-II,
Behind Dada Dev Mandir
Mela Ground, Sector-7,
Dwarka, New Delhi-110077
011-32474700, 011- 25366517
09312245493, 09891208139


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Publisher: My Cute Asian
Here's a naughty Asian girl taking nude webcam pictures as she plays with her pussy using two dildos. Small pictures but great illumination from that curtained bedroom window. Ladies take note, that natural light is a good start in upping your picture quality game from amateur hour to pro star.
View the Asian Babes Database file on: Asian Amateur Girls


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North Florida Field Office
October 3 , 2007
Media Contact: Chuck Underwood 904-731-3332
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced today the completion and availability of the five-year status review of the Florida scrub-jay.
After reviewing all of the best scientific and commercially available information and data, the Service recommended the listing classification for the Florida scrub-jay remain unchanged. Currently the species is classified as threatened on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) list of threatened and endangered species.
Although scrub-jay populations have declined, they are still well represented in the scrub and scrubby flatwoods habitats found within their historic range, and are relatively secure in the three large populations on public lands.
Service scientists noted that the data also indicated the species is likely to respond positively to ongoing management actions elsewhere, and has benefited from previous public land acquisitions.
"Given this information, we believe that the scrub-jay is not in danger of extinction (throughout all or a significant portion of its range)," said Dave Hankla, the Service's field supervisor for its North Florida Ecological Services Office in Jacksonville. "Therefore, the species best fits its current ESA classification as threatened."
The five-year review and a list of Frequently Asked Questions are available online at http://www.fws.gov/northflorida or may be requested by e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com, by fax at 904-232-2404, by mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: Florida scrub-jay Five-year Review, 6620 Southpoint Drive South, Suite 310, Jacksonville, FL 32216-0958, or by telephone at 904/232-2580. Please include your name and street mailing address in your request. E-mail requests will receive an automated response confirming receipt of your request.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Visit the Service's website at http://www.fws.gov.
2007 Florida Scrub-jay Five-Year Review (PDF-536B) 2007 Florida Scrub-jay Five-Year Review FAQs
Home Press Releases Southeast Press Releases Florida scrub-jay Information
Last modified October 3, 2007
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Well, that is for a couple of reasons. One, I just moved and still have boxes everywhere! It's madness here! Another reason is that super secret thing I can't tell you about yet ;). (I know I am such a tease!) And the other is CHA! I am SO excited about it! I just cannot wait to see all of that new product! Oh my goodness! I think my eyes might pop out of my head! I am going to try and share as much with you guys as possible. Follow me on twitter (lawnfawn), and check here. I am not quite sure what will be the best way to post photos. I will probably be doing it on both!
Another big thing is a HUGE sale going on a Torendi!! Here are all of the details from Torendi:
You guys should totally take advantage of this. There is some super cute stuff! :) I highly recommend the kits! :)We are off to California to find items that are "So Trendy". I wish all our friends, followers and customers could come with us. Of course we don't want you to feel left out, so starting tomorrow we are offering 20% off all Torendi orders. Yes, that includes sale items and our kits! You can really rack up the savings!
Sale runs Friday January 22nd thru Tuesday January 26th! All orders will be shipped when we return on Tuesday.
So I decided to share another made-way-back-when card because I am still trying to unpack my crafty stuff. I thought this card was appropriate since the weather is INSANE here. I thought my door was going to blow off! So let's hope for some sunshine, California!!
Thank you all again for putting up with my sporadic posting. I will be back to normal hopefully soon! Until then, look for lots of CHA posting here and on twitter!
Big hugs to you all!
Card stock: Neenah Paper Classic Crest (solar white)Stamps: Hero Arts (clouds, everyday sayings)Ink: Ranger Adirondack (pool, pitch black)Etc: Me and My Big Ideas chipboard sun
Thank you so much for visiting!
Have an amazing day,


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Montgomery County Government
Activities at GreenFest include: Short documentary films Kids activities, such as an electric vehicle car show, games, arts and crafts. New this year is the kids pavilion! Do-it-yourself workshops and demos on energy, reducing food waste and composting More than 100 exhibitors Music Food for sale
For full schedule with times, visit the website by clicking on the link below. This event will be held rain or shine. With all activities moving inside in the event of rain
Parking will be available at the community center and nearby Gaithersburg High School. GreenFest also encourages taking the bus, biking, or walking to the event.
Sign language interpreters and other auxiliary aids or services are available upon request, with as much advance notice as possible, preferably at least three business days before GreenFest. Contact Jessica Jones at 240.777.7753 (voice) or send a request to firstname.lastname@example.com. TTY users use Maryland Relay.
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What to do if a Person Threatens Suicide on Facebook
Facing Suicide Threats on Social Media
I'm pretty connected on Facebook, Twitter and on social media in general. I have to be. It's important for my career.
And as such I have almost 20,000 followers on various platforms. This is a whole lot of people to be exposed to on a daily basis. And due to my profession, I run into many people with mental illness on my Facebook, Twitter and other feeds. And sometimes the people on these feeds are in distress. Distressed to the point where they threaten suicide.
But what do you do if someone threatens suicide on Facebook, Twitter or otherwise?
Turning Your Back on Suicide Threats
Many people don't take suicide threats seriously. For example, last Thursday a woman on my feed threatened suicide quite dramatically and, to the best of my knowledge, her thousand "friends" didn't initially respond. I can't say why but I do know that many people consider online suicide threats to be meaningless.
Or so they say.
I believe if they thought about it for a minute, they would realize that a woman with a knife and pills who says "she is going to die today" is pretty damn serious. I believe that people turn their back on suicide threats simply because they don't want to be bothered. They don't want to get involved in someone else's life or death struggle.
OK, I get that. But I ask you, how could you possibly live with yourself if you ignored her plea and then she did end up dead after all? What kind of person does that make you, exactly?
What to Do About Facebook Suicide Threats
I would ask the people please, please do not ignore suicide threats on Facebook and elsewhere. Suicide threats should always be taken seriously. Half of all people with bipolar disorder attempt suicide and up to one-in-five successfully complete a suicide so please, these threats are not words to take lightly.
In the case of Facebook suicide threats:
- Reach out to the person and ask them if they are alright. Ask them if they are getting help.
- Give them the information on suicide hotline numbers.
- There is an optional third step here – report the suicide threat to Facebook.
If the person responds and says they are getting help or that they do not intend to attempt suicide, you have done your job. Always encourage they seek professional help and tell them they are not alone.
If the person doesn't respond or responds saying that they will kill themselves:
- Ask them where they are.
- Tell them that you have to contact the authorities to get them help.
- Call a suicide hotline number or the police to report the suicide threat to the professionals.
- Give all the information you have to the professionals including any information the person has on their Facebook page about their phone number, address, current location or anything else that might help find the person.
- Tell the person that you have called for help and continue to encourage them to reach out to a professional.
Yes, Call the Authorities for Facebook Suicide Threats
Yes, I said you should call the professionals when a person makes a threat of suicide on Facebook. This is because:
- You don't know how serious the person really is. You need to take them at their word as you have no reason not to.
- You are not a suicide counsellor – don't try to be one. Let the professionals handle it as they know how to do it correctly and how to draw in other agencies as need be.
- You need to not get emotionally invested in another person's life that you completely cannot control. Believe me. These situations can tear you up and your own mental health is important too.
Other Possible Actions to a Facebook Suicide Threat
A couple of other things you may want to consider – but only if you've taken the above steps and you feel comfortable doing it:
- Engage the suicidal person in conversation until the professionals get there.
- Contact family members or close friends of the person who made the suicide threat as they are likely far more capable of helping than you are.
Remember – All Suicide Threats are Real, Even on Facebook
Too many people needlessly die from mental illness and emotional distress. Don't turn your back on a person whose life you could save with one phone call.
About Natasha Tracy
Natasha Tracy is an award-winning writer, speaker and consultant from the Pacific Northwest. She has been living with bipolar disorder for 18 years and has written more than 1000 articles on the subject.
Natasha's New Book
Find more of Natasha's work in her new book: Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression & Bipolar. Media inquiries can be emailed here.


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The Kansas Department of Transportation along with Johnson County and City of Edgerton officials broke ground on March 16, 2012 for the I-35 and Homestead Lane interchange project in southwest Johnson County. This $33 million project is estimated to provide more than $600 million in economic impact to the region.
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has determined that transportation improvements are needed to handle the growth and economic development occurring in southwest Johnson County. Specifically, the I-35 Southwest Johnson County Interchange at Homestead Lane is necessary to address increasing traffic and support economic development in the region. In addition to the new interchange, a new section of Homestead Lane will be constructed as a paved road from 199th Street north to the intersection of 191st Street as part of this project.
The Homestead Lane location was chosen as the site for the new interchange over other alternatives for the following reasons:
KDOT has also selected a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) design as the best solution to manage the volume and type of traffic now and in the future.
The DDI will move traffic on Homestead Lane briefly to the opposite side of the road. Click here, to view a video on how the new interchange will work.
Date last revised:
March 21st, 2012
/I-35 and Homestead Lane Interchange Project Breaks Ground in SW Johnson County
FHWA determines Finding of No Significant Impact
KDOT Holds Open House for Homestead Interchange
Kansas drivers to get British treatment
Edgerton Considers Consolidation with Water 7, Homestead Lane Interchange Announced


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Arrow to Distribute NAKIVO Throughout EMEA
One of the leading global value-added distributors delivers NAKIVO's virtualization data protection solutions for SMBs, Enterprises, and Cloud Providers in Germany.
Campbell, CA, United States — April 16, 2014
NAKIVO Inc., one of the fastest growing providers of virtualization data protection software, has announced today that it has signed a distribution agreement with Arrow Electronics, Inc., (NYSE:ARW). Under the agreement, Arrow will distribute NAKIVO Backup & Replication solutions in Germany.
"We are delighted to collaborate with Arrow as a NAKIVO Distributor," said Bruce Talley, CEO of NAKIVO. "With their wide network of IT service and solution providers, Arrow will be able to deliver NAKIVO Backup & Replication to businesses who have implemented virtualization."
"NAKIVO's solutions are an excellent extension to Arrow`s portfolio in the light of our strong VMware offering", says Jesper Trolle, vice president sales for Arrow`s enterprise computing solutions segment in EMEA. "Arrow and NAKIVO are well positioned to serve hosting, managed, and cloud services providers with sustainable and innovative solutions, resulting in reduced time efforts and cost efficiencies."
NAKIVO's virtualization data protection solution/SaaS enable SMBs, Enterprises, and Cloud Providers to back up, replicate, and recover their VMware virtualized environments locally, offsite, and in the cloud. Under the agreement, Arrow ECS will distribute NAKIVO Backup & Replication – a fast, reliable, and affordable VM backup, replication, and recovery product. Built for virtualization, NAKIVO Backup & Replication is certified by VMware and offers a complete data protection feature set for virtualized environments of any size. The product features:
- Data Protection: Onsite and offsite VM backup and replication, support for live applications & databases
- Data Recovery: Granular and full VM recovery over LAN and WAN, replica rollback, DR with VM replicas
- Performance: Network acceleration, multi-threading, forever-incremental jobs, SAN support, CBT
- Storage space reduction: Global data deduplication, data compression
- Reliability: Full synthetic data storage, self-healing, auto job retries, self-protection
- Usability: Web UI, job grouping and bulk actions, email notifications, advanced reporting
- Cloud support: Single-click integration with Amazon Cloud, vCloud Director support
- Cost reduction: Agentless, built-in database, low resource utilization, Linux support, 2X to 4X lower price
- Overview: /vmware-backup/
- Datasheet: nakivo-vm-backup-datasheet.pdf
- Cloud Backup: /partner/cloud-provider-program/backup-as-a-service/
- Success Stories: /customers/success-stories/
- Trial Download: /resources/download/trial-download/
Headquartered in Silicon Valley, NAKIVO is a privately-held software company that has been profitable since founding in 2012. With more than 1,500 customers and 400 channel partners worldwide, NAKIVO develops and markets a line of next generation data protection products for VMware virtualized environments. NAKIVO provides one of the most affordable, reliable, and intuitive VM backup and replication solution for enabling SMBs to protect and recover VM data onsite, offsite, and in the cloud. NAKIVO also enables hosting, managed, and cloud services providers to create and offer VM Backup-as-a service, Replication-as-a service, and DR-as-a service to their customers. NAKIVO was the first virtualization backup specialist to offer VM backup to public clouds such as Amazon to SMB customers and multi-tenancy to service providers and enterprise customers. For more information, please visit www.nakivo.com.
Follow us on Twitter: @NAKIVO
Connect on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NakivoInc
Join us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/nakivo
Contact us: Yana Petrenko, MarCom Manager / email@example.com / +1 408 916 5955


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We are living in trying, troubling times. The last days, I believe. But peace and strength and victory are all possible. As are moral and spiritual safety. May I point you to help, to solutions?
Anabaptist Solutions is a mostly-personal effort to offer Biblical solutions from an Anabaptist perspective.
That said, I do not pretend to be 100% right all of the time.
So study the Scriptures. They are God-breathed. Therefore, they are true.


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Get Your Vote On!
Ok, I'm not really into telling people what to do. (Except my husband. And my little brother. Ok, I lied… usually I like telling people what to do.) But I try not to make {blending beautiful} a "preachy" space. The thing is, today is a BIG, CRUCIAL day for our country.
So, I'm going to get my preach on for a second and say: please, take advantage of your right— your privilege— to vote today.
Due to the ineptitude of the U.S. Postal Service, I have to drive 90 minutes to cast my vote in this election. But, I won't let that stop me!
I hope that those of you affected by Hurricane Sandy will have the opportunity to reach convenient polling places…
If you need a little inspiration, take a peek at this awesome video, created by Lena Dunham.


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In keeping with the Lenten Season, I choose to be grateful today for my many blessings in life. Big or small, mundane or essential.
It's 5:11am on a Black Saturday morning. Today is a big day in my running journey. The hubby and I are going to Sydney CBD and I will attempt to run a section of the SMH Half Marathon course. I am so excited, I woke up too soon. The house is quiet. My brain is clear and alert. Let's do something productive. Here we go.
1/ I am Thankful for my Instagram community. I find my inspiration and motivation from like minded souls there. Food, photography, art, sketching, creativity, biking, humor, fitness, travel, clean eating… I have IG "friends" from all walks of life. We are all in it for self-expression and self-love. It is not noisy in there. I am intimate with strangers. (Ha! An oxymoron) We share all we want, to our hearts' content!
2/ I am Thankful for this long 4-day weekend staycation. A chance to take stock, to de-clutter and to spend some downtime with the kiddos at home.
3/ I am Thankful for songs I discover and fall in love with. There was Imagine Dragons, then there was Lorde. Now I have Happy and Pharrell Williams on endless loop. Next song and album please!
4/ I am Thankful for the many learnings on running. For the numerous bloggers, internet resources and Runner's World online and print magazine. I learned about rotating pairs of shoes, of running different routes or different sides of the same road. I learned to breathe from my belly and to exhale on alternating foot strikes. It's so darn beautiful!
5/ I am Thankful for my friends. They who understand what I am doing. I am grateful for their quiet cheers. For their patience and forbearance. After all, it must be quite boring to hear my endless chats and messages about my day!
6/ I am Thankful for my positivity and infinite drive (It would seem). I don't really know where this adventure will take me. I suppose I am enjoying the journey. There is no destination in running, anyway. I am thankful to feel so alive.
7/ I am Thankful for the conversation I have with you. Isn't it amazing how we are able to connect at the drop of a hat? Not too long ago, I need to pick up a heavy phone or write a snail mail or meet you in person before I can connect. These days, I have multiple short bursts and long narratives with friends around the world. You know who you are. I Love YOU! Ang corny ko talaga!
8/ I am Thankful for an inspiring movie called Chariots of Fire. It's the Best Picture from 1981 that I never saw, until last night. The story tells about the journey of England's 1924 Athletics Team into their Olympic gold medal glory. I had to stop myself from putting on my running shoes and do a 100 meter dash after watching. A quote from Eric Liddell who runs with God. "Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way. And where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within"
Jesus said, "Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. If with all your hearts, you truly seek me, you shall ever surely find me." If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race." – Eric Liddell, Chariots of Fire
9/ I am Thankful for my life partner. He is my number one cheerer and supporter. I can never do any of my writing and running without him taking up some of my slack!
10/ I am Thankful for Writing. Writing multiplies my voice and compounds my experiences.
11/ I am Thankful for running. Pure Love. Simple and raw. Organic. All truly my own!
God. I am grateful. I humbly run with you in my heart.


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Anonymous Algeria hacks Albany Democrats' website
Updated 9:22 am, Tuesday, April 23, 2013
In Albany County, Democrats are used to having the upper hand.
But the party's website appears to have been the target of a group of overseas hackers with a reputation for defacing thousands of websites to spread their pro-Palestine message.
The site, http://www.albanycountydems.org, was apparently forced offline by the attack and remained offline Monday. In place of its normal headline in Google's search results was this: "Hacked by Anonymous Algeria," followed by the Twitter accounts of activists associated with the group.
Party Chairman Matthew Clyne said the problem was brought to his attention late last week and that the party is working to get the site running again.
As for why the Democrats' site was hit, Jim Hendler, head of RPI's Department of Computer Science, said the vandalism has the hallmarks of an increasingly common though unsophisticated type of attack and probably has one of three explanations.
More Information
Because the group is known for targeting hundreds of sites at a time, Hendler said it's likely its members were exploiting a flaw in a certain type of program and victimizing sites that use that software.
Alternatively, Hendler said, some hackers will target sites that include certain keywords — or, in the case of the more widely known Anonymous hacker collective, take aim at high-profile sites for specific political reasons.
Earlier this month, Anonymous attacked sites run by the Israeli government.
Anonymous Algeria, however, has a reputation for seeking out softer digital targets, Hendler said.
Last month, the group took credit for defacing more than 1,000 sites in the name of the Palestinian cause, many of them Chinese, which Hendler said suggests they're not being specifically targeted based on keywords or content.
"It's sort of like robbing liquor stores vs. robbing banks vs. robbing Fort Knox," Hendler said. "This would be the equivalent of liquor stores. It's an easy target and there are lot of them."
firstname.lastname@example.com • 518-454-5445 • @JCEvangelist_TU


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For more
information on White Brick School, a one room schoolhouse, check our
the Schoolhouse or
Remodeling Updates to see what we have done
or would like to do.
Studios encompasses the Gnomes Hideaway (the wood shop), the Faire Ring
(the craft room), and the Elfin Forest (the herb garden). For more
information check our our Finniwig
Studios Intro or go to our Finniwig
Studio Catalog from the home page.
The Keb/Irish
Gazette is a family newsletter for the Keb family and the Irish family.
Go to Keb/Irish Family for an intro to
the Keb and Irish families or the Keb/Irish Gazette to check out our newsletters.
Last but not
least Our Family. Our pets. They wanted to
get their word in to. --
Finniwig Studios
Ariadne's Threads Guild
Chuck and Nancy Tubbs
19500 Co Rd 14
Bristol, IN 46507-9405


text:
How come cars are always stalling in the path of trains?
Cecil Adams tackles that intriguing question in "The Straight Dope," dispatching a stalwart assistant to cull Federal Railroad Administration records from across three decades. Adams cautions at the outset that "it only seems as though cars have a tendency to conk out while crossing train tracks and subsequently get obliterated. For fairly obvious reasons–having largely to do with life being too short–no one's counting how often vehicles stall in places that aren't railroad crossings."
Nonetheless, they made some interesting discoveries in going through the accident reports. Among their findings:
- It's surprisingly difficult to break out just how many stuck cars struck by trains actually broke down on the tracks instead of, say, getting hung up on the tracks or falling prey to driver panic. Adams notes that "(a) it's often tough to evaluate the reliability of a car after it's been hit by a train and (b) assuming the driver's in any condition to talk following impact, he may insist that the car simply died rather than concede that what really happened was [that he panicked]."
- The FRA concludes that 1in 5 reported stalls are actually suicide attempts.
- Cars appear to be much less likely to stall — i.e., stop moving because of mechanical failure — today than they were 30 years ago. Adams attributes this to improvements in technology, such as the advent of fuel injection.
- Men are three times as likely as women to be behind the wheel of a car that gets stuck on railroad tracks.
- The average age of drivers of cars hit by trains is 38 — which is also the average age of pedestrians hit by trains.


text:
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ABILENE - Lubbock Christian High senior Avery Branson said she was "freaking out" before Monday's TAPPS Class 3A regional final.
But that emotion paled in comparison to the celebration that followed the Lady Eagles' 8-2 win against Richardson Canyon Creek at Wells Field.
Coaches and players rushed onto the field to rejoice in the victory, which made Lubbock Christian the first South Plains softball team - TAPPS or UIL - to reach the state tournament.
"We've lost in this round three years in a row and have been working all four years for this," Branson said. "It's just really exciting to know we finally got over the hump and we did it."
It was the fourth appearance in the regional finals for the seven LCHS seniors, and it was the fifth straight trip for coach Kelly Robinson, who was ceremonially doused with water after the win.
The Lady Eagles earned a first-round bye after winning their district for a third straight year, then received a bye into the finals because of a shortage of 3A teams.
"It's obviously apples and oranges with what you have to do in TAPPS compared to the UIL," Robinson said, "But the simple fact is that's the organization we're in. I told the girls before the game we had a great chance to make history not only for Lubbock Christian High but for the South Plains. But I hope each of the teams left in the UIL can make it to state because I'm a big fan of all of them."
Four UIL teams on the South Plains - Coronado, Frenship, Cooper and Lamesa - have advanced to the third round of the playoffs, and each would need to win three more rounds to go to state.
LCHS will play the winner between Galveston O'Connell and Hallettsville Sacred Heart in the state semifinals Thursday in Waco.
Branson, a senior third baseman, was clutch in each of her first three at-bats Monday.
She singled and scored in the first inning, then kept a two-out rally going with an RBI single in the second. She doubled in another run in the fifth, giving the Lady Eagles a 6-2 lead.
Robinson called her the player of the game, but Branson couldn't get over a fielding error in the fourth inning that led to Canyon Creek's first run,
"I'd like to say I rise to the occasion," Branson said. "but I did have that error, so I can't really back that up."
LCHS pitcher Shaylin Stephenson, a freshman, had a no-hitter through four innings. She gave up three hits and struck out five.
She walked five batters and hit another, but the defense was able to more than once bail her out of trouble.
Catcher Madeleine Hammond caught a runner stealing in the first inning, and senior second baseman Sydney Roberts started a pair of double plays.
"I was so nervous," Stephenson said. "But I came in here with a great infield and outfield. I knew they had my back and we pulled it off."
LCHS jumped out to a 4-0 lead and was able to widen the gap after Canyon Creek crept into the game with runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
Brenna Adkins capped a three-run fifth with her second RBI single of the game.
"It's so cool that this group has finally gotten there," Robinson said. "It's been a long, hard process of getting there and winning this game."
Canyon Creek0001100-232
S. Stephenson and Hammond. Cunningham and Ho. Griffith. W-S. Stephenson (14-6). L-Cunningham. 2B-LCHS, Branson. Record: LCHS 29-9.


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Motivational Coach
Doug Cox has helped thousands of companies to drastically improve productivity, efficiency, and re-ignite the motivational fire to make positive change! Doug's seminars are proven….
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As a communications consultant, Doug Cox has developed public relations and marketing communications strategies for everyone from small startup companies, to leading multi-million…
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Doug Cox has been invited as guest speaker to thousands of events around the world. His world-class charm, wisdom, and dynamic presentation style has won the hearts of many…
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Is Time Warner Cable willing to start a regional sports network with Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers that would make the team virtually the sole owner of the channel?
That is what it would seem to take for the Dodgers, who are reportedly close to a new local television deal with TWC, to get to the $7 billion over 20 years the team is looking for. A deal of that size would seemingly justify the $2 billion Guggenheim Management paid for the team last year and make their high payroll easier to fathom.
The proposed deal between TWC and the Dodgers that is currently being reviewed by MLB is very similar to the Fox deal that fell apart last month. A new regional sports network would be created and the team would receive money three ways: a one-time bonus, an annual rights fee that would begin at $84 million and increase 4% annually, and an annual distribution from the RSN on top of the rights fee.
But there would be one big difference: While the Fox annual payment would have guaranteed the Dodgers $100 million a year payout from the RSN, the TWC proposal would base the annual distribution to the Dodgers on the team's share of the RSN's profits. The benefit to the Dodgers, who will own a portion of the RSN, is that unlike the $100 million dividend they would have gotten from Fox, the equity distribution would not be subject to baseball's 34% revenue-sharing tax. The bad news is that the team takes on the risks--carrier fees, advertising, operating costs--of owning an RSN.
Will the payments to the Dodgers get close to $7 billion? The annual rights fee would total $2.5 billion. SNL Kagan estimates (see table below) that last year the YES Network had revenue of $514 million, $185 million more than number-two Fox Sports Southwest. If the TWC-Dodgers RSN began at $500 million in revenue and increased 4% a year, its total revenue would be $15 billion after 20 years. With a 40% margin the RSN would be left with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $6 billion.
For the TWC deal to get close to $7 billion the Dodgers would have to own nearly all of the RSN unless the cable company is willing to pay a signing bonus to make up the difference. The L.A. Times reported this morning that TWC is guaranteeing the Dodgers carriage fees if, for example, DirecTV doesn't carry the team's RSN. But that would seem like a really bad deal for TWC's shareholders. The article also says the TWC will manage much of the RSN's operations. But that would have to irk MLB's other 29 teams who would see the team's "ownership" of the RSN as a facade to duck baseball's 34% revenue-sharing tax.
The Dodgers may be right with their apparent assumptions about how much equity they can get in the new RSN and how big an up-front bonus TWC is willing to pay. And maybe the team can get MLB to rule the RSN's distribution to the Dodgers "equity" instead of a "rights fee" even if TWC takes on much of the burden of running the network. It would be quite a coup for the Dodgers, as no MLB team currently owns more than 70% of an RSN. It would also show a lot of guts by the team for shouldering so much risk. But if the Dodgers can't get TWC to play along, or if the RSN proves less profitable than the team thinks it will be, the Fox deal won't look so bad after all.


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Radio as we used to know it is a thing of the past… Car radios have become an enabler for your FM transmitter so you can listen to your iPod while you drive. With the notable exception of XM, the days of old school over the airwaves radio service is over, while Pandora is paving the road to the future.
Pandora is an internet radio service that allows you to choose a genre or song that you enjoy, and then based on your music choice plays different albums and artists as if you were listening to a radio except you miss out on the disk jockey and talk show hosts.
Pandora makes its profits from commercials that play on a cycle of x # of minutes and then have a premium service you can purchase with various perks to set it apart from the free service.
Another unique aspect to Pandora is that they have reached out to mobile phones such as the iPhone and the Droid by creating Pandora apps that allow users to listen to their favorite stations via their phone.Read More


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Universal Studios Florida's long awaited announcement regarding the second phase of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was made a short time ago via webcast, a muggle technology. The Diagon Alley expansion was first announced on May 9, 2013 and has been hotly anticipated and speculated upon since. Fans of both Universal Studios and Harry Potter have been guessing at the enchanting attractions concealed within this new area with rumours including a fire-breathing dragon, Knocturn Alley, the Knight Bus, Florian Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, The Leaky Cauldron, Gringott's Coaster and the Hogwarts Express. Teaser trailers have further whet park-goers appetites. So what charms did Universal Orlando Resort have to share today? We were there to cover it and have all the details for you below.
Matthew Lewis, who played Neville Longbottom, introduced us to the webcast. Mark Woodbury (President of Design and Development at Universal), who was standing in the stunning vaults of Gringotts, was there to tell us everything we've been waiting for. James Phelps (Fred Weasley) and Matthew Lewis joined him to share their thoughts on what they had seen already. The announcements were:
The Hogwarts Express:
Guests with a park-to-park ticket will be able to travel between Hogsmeade in Islands of Adventure and Diagon Alley in Universal Studios. The attraction was described as an exact replica of the movie train, you can board at either Hogsmeade station or Kings Cross station. Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood) was waiting on board to chat about the memories she had of making the movies.
Madam Malkins Robes For All Occasions:
New shop containing costumes and wizard-wear for all.
Magical Menagerie:
New shop: Owls, snakes, toads – perfect pets for all young witches and wizards.
A second branch of the wandmakers shop originally found in Hogsmeade – with multiple show-rooms.
For parchment and quill supplies.
Wiseacres Wizarding Equipment:
Selling telescopes, binoculars, hour glasses, magnifying glasses and armillary spheres.
Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes:
Three storeys of shelves packed with everything for your practical joking needs.
Quality Quidditch Supplies:
Quidditch robes, equipment and brooms.
In Hogsmeade, Honeydukes will be expanded into the current Zonko's space and Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes will be opening premises in Diagon Alley incorporating Zonkos merchandise into their store.
Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour:
A place for hot wizards and witches to cool down with a frozen scoop or two.
The Leaky Cauldron:
A fully themed dining option serving British pub fare.
Knockturn Alley:
Fully immersive and dark, everything you would expect from the darker side of wizardry.
Borgin & Burkes:
Selling Deatheater masks, skulls and other dark magic items.
Harry Potter & the Escape From Gringotts:
An incredible coaster that is multi-sensory, multi-dimensional and promising to be very exciting.
Thierry Coup (Vice President of Creative Development for Universal Creative) & Evanna Lynch entered the vault and closed the webcast by answering questions about Diagon Alley alongside Mark, Matthew and James.
For more information visit www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter
The announcement was short and sweet, not going into the finer details but certainly satisfying the appetite for the crowds that are sure to descend in the next couple of months. If what is promised is delivered then Diagon Alley will be a spectacular success and I personally cannot wait to experience it for myself.
Will Phase 2 cast a spell over Harry Potter fans as the Wizarding World managed to do so well in the summer of 2010? Time will tell, but I have no doubt that the magic will transfer once again leaving guests captivated and returning for more.
We will leave you with a special Unofficial Universal Orlando Podcast with your hosts Lee, Tracey, Darren and Hunter as they discuss this latest event as well as news, rumors and stories about the Universal Parks from around the globe.
Discussion about the Diagon Alley event now available in the MiceChat Forums – HERE


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STATE government is seeking community input regarding potential offline SA Water fishing reservoirs in Aroona Dam and Beetaloo Reservoir.
Aroona Dam, near Leigh Creek, is being investigated as a potential fishing destination in the region, with a six-week community consultation commencing earlier this month.
Topics being addressed include safety, environmental impacts and potential infrastructure improvements.
State Minister for Environment Ian Hunter encouraged local community members to get involved in the decision-making process.
After access for recreational fishing was granted for the Warren, Bundaleer and Tod reservoirs, Mr Hunter said the state government has been seeking additional destinations to boost fishing opportunities.
"Preliminary conversations with the local communities and SA Water highlighted Beetaloo Reservoir and Aroona Dam as prospective fishing spots that would support our 277,000 recreational fishers, boost tourism and create community partnerships in the mid-north," he said.
State government announced the Reservoir Fishing Access Project in 2014, with the purpose of increasing recreational fishing opportunities in South Australia.
Following the project's announcement, a Reservoir Recreational Fishing Taskforce was created to oversee the project, receiving $400,000 for minor infrastructure around reservoirs.
Breyten Ward, owner of the Leigh Creek South Motors service station and cafe, supported the potential fishing destination, despite not being 'big on fishing'.
"It's a beautiful dam and the only way we're going to survive in Leigh Creek, in the short term anyway, is tourism," Mr Ward said.
"It's a huge transition to what we've been in the last 50 years; things have got to change in lots of ways."
Mr Ward said an offline fishing reservoir would be a great way to utilise the space, attracting tourists to the town.
"It'd be a huge step as far as I'm concerned," he said.
"It would help my business, but not just mine, it'll boost the whole area."
The decision on the opening of fishing destinations in Aroona Dam and Beetaloo Reservoir will be announced later this year.
For more information about the Reservoir Fishing Access Project, click here.


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In a city with a penchant for the automobile and interstate, Metro officials are giving Nashvillians a crash course on something alien: mass transit — in this case, Mayor Karl Dean's plan for bus rapid transit along an eight-mile stretch from West End Avenue to downtown Broadway, and across the Cumberland River to East Nashville.
"It's a subway on wheels," Jim McAteer, director of planning and grants at Metro Transit Authority, told curious spectators gathered at the downtown library last week for one of four well-attended forums designed to introduce the proposed "east-west connector."
The vision, one of "fast, frequent service," is modeled on systems in Eugene, Ore., Cleveland, Ohio, and elsewhere. Transit officials are eyeing a 2015 opening — one last ribbon-cutting before Dean's second term expires. "A very expedited schedule," one official called the process.
If all goes as planned, Nashvillians one day will be able to make their way to permanent wait stations — described as "iconic" in design — along the heavily trafficked corridor, which is home to 25,000 residents and 170,000 jobs. From there, they will take out smart cards to pay to ride buses that resemble streetcars minus rail underneath: Wide doors open from both sides of the vehicles; passengers enjoy level boarding from the sidewalk; and ample room inside the buses allow passengers to store their bikes.
With buses stopping every 10 minutes, waits should be minimal — and relatively pleasant after the surrounding streetscape is upgraded. Buses will occupy two dedicated lanes of traffic, one in each direction, likely in a middle median along West End-Broadway. The key to BRT's speed is its coordination with traffic signals: BRT has priority. As cars line up bumper to bumper during rush hour, these buses will whiz through green lights, making for trips that are 25 percent faster.
Ed Cole, executive director of the Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee, described a hypothetical East Nashville resident who works at Vanderbilt University. To begin her day, this transit pioneer walks to the Five Points station. She travels west via BRT to the Eighth Avenue and Broadway station, visits the library and lunches downtown. Eyeing a 4 p.m. meeting at Vanderbilt, she takes the east-west connector there with time to spare.
"Then it's a one-seat ride all the way back to East Nashville, and then you're home, and you go to bed," Cole said. "That's the kind of experience that this system will allow."
Make no mistake: The BRT sales pitch has already begun. This month's forums were just as promotional as informative. After years of growth, transit officials say the time has come for Nashville to join the likes of Austin, Texas, and Charlotte, N.C.
"They're very far ahead of us in terms of transit," McAteer said of Nashville's sister cities, delivering a PowerPoint presentation to a packed library auditorium. He proclaimed economic development and quality-of-life benefits of transit. Officials like him expect Nashville's BRT ridership to exceed 4,500 weekly trips in year one, 1.35 million overall during those 12 months.
"Cities big and small have kind of realized that to be competitive and to plan for the future, we need to be thinking in terms of transit," he said. But this mass-transit campaign will soon have to pivot from one selling the transit lifestyle to explaining why it is worth an estimated $174 million price tag. ($136 million is for the transit component. Another $38 million is required for streetscape. Figures aren't final.)
The mayor's administration isn't ready to publicly discuss the local financing component of Dean's BRT project. Metro Finance Director Rich Riebeling told The City Paper the funding process would begin in the fall.
Yet a dialogue will have to happen soon.
A prerequisite for Nashville's BRT is landing a grant from the Federal Transit Administration that could cover as much as $75 million of the transit piece. Metro officials are anticipating a mid-September grant application deadline. For the federal government to even consider Nashville's project, Dean's administration will have to outline a local funding source. A decision on whether Nashville is awarded the grant will come months later.
Fresh off engineering Davidson County's first property tax hike increase in seven years, the mayor will have to pitch a funding mechanism that meets the political test — one that the Metro Council and the public won't resist.
It's all speculation for now.
Ways that some cities have paid for transit — but long-shot possibilities here — include a gas tax, a wheel tax, increasing property taxes or bumping up local sales taxes. In Nashville, the latter two options would require public referendums. On the one hand, a referendum on transit can be wise politically. It gives citizens the say on raising their taxes. The downside is such measures often lose: When Nashvillians last voted on whether to increase the local sales tax, in 2005 — a half-cent to fund education initiatives — they rejected the proposal overwhelmingly.
Meanwhile, Atlanta is in the middle of a contentious referendum vote to add a penny to its sales tax, albeit to fund a much more ambitious transit project: $8.5 billion transit upgrades for the entire Atlanta region. Polls suggest voters are split on the matter, which will be decided July 31.
In short, referendums can turn into political wars.
A more likely scenario could be the creation of a special assessment district along the corridor, whereby an expected jolt in tax collections from new and existing development would retire debt from a city bond issued for transit. It essentially operates like tax increment financing.
"It's the idea of value-capture," said Doug Tennant, vice president of URS Corp., a San Francisco-based engineering firm with a Franklin office, which MTA has contracted with on the BRT project. "If we went out there and created a new street and streetscape for West End Avenue, and created a better West End Avenue, it would enhance property values along that corridor. If you own a restaurant there, and I create a nicer environment, suddenly your property gets enhanced."
But capturing some observers' attention is a different model: establishing a central business improvement district. Instead of relying on expected tax growth, transit beneficiaries along the corridor — the assortment of hospitals being one possible component — would pay an additional tax for the added service. Again, revenues would pay off debt.
Whichever financing plan emerges as the mayor's choice could find an ally in the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, which has served an integral function in advancing mass-transit discussion. The chamber helped build the transit alliance.
"I'm sure we'll play an active role," chamber president and CEO Ralph Schulz said. "It's kind of the same thing as [the Music City Center]. Number one, the way we look at is, does the community need it? And obviously the city needs transit."
Moving forward, transit officials plan to use the recently concluded BRT forums to "fine-tune" the east-west connector plan. A second round of public meetings is set for August where citizens can view a more detailed proposal.
Officials plan to address public concerns. Whitland-area residents along West End are wary of plans for a new parking station near Elmington Park to accommodate transit passengers, fearing it could undermine the popular public green space. Transit leaders have also discussed plans for parking near St. Thomas Hospital and H.G. Hill Realty Co.-owned property at White Bridge Road and Harding Pike, where the BRT route begins. The intersection is already a traffic nightmare, they say. Wouldn't parking exacerbate the problem?
The BRT route also makes its way through Lower Broadway, leading skeptics to worry about the impact BRT could have on a district where pedestrians walk freely.
Robert Waits, an occasional bus rider who lives in East Nashville's Inglewood, said he believes mass-transit expansion is needed in Nashville. "The size of the city is getting bigger, and we're going to have to address it eventually."
But Marty Kooperman, an attorney who lives off West End and works in East Nashville, is skeptical. He claims he leaves his Bowling Avenue home by car each day and arrives at his Woodland Street office in 10 minutes. "There's no time incentive," he said, adding that the east-west connector would be more beneficial if it stretched to Bellevue, Hillwood and West Meade. "Those people really need quicker, more convenient transportation into town. I don't think the area that it's being built really needs it."
Listening to that conversation, however, Calvin Marable of North Nashville disagrees. "I use transit, and I've used it throughout the world," he said, recounting a recent trip to Portland, Ore., where a streetcar operates. "I've seen this thing work."
Gaining support of people like Marable in historically black North Nashville could be key to BRT's fate here. While the east-west connector would reach many black residents in East Nashville, the route proceeds down a largely affluent (and white) neighborhood along West End.
At-Large Councilman Jerry Maynard, an African-American, said he's spoken to many North Nashville constituents and council members who are willing to support the BRT proposal as long as a future connector is assured for their neighborhoods.
"They're supporting it with the understanding and expectation that the next phase will be the north-south BRT connector — coming down Clarksville Highway, Rosa Parks Boulevard, and connecting then to the east-west connector," Maynard said.


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Gabriel Heinze notes it is "a great honour to wear the Roma jersey. It was easy to accept and I liked their plans immediately."
The former Manchester United defender was a free agent after terminating his contract with Olympique Marseille.
He signed a new deal with the Giallorossi on Friday and, aged 33, feels he still has a lot to give in his debut Serie A season.
"It's a great honour to wear the Roma jersey and compete in Serie A, one of the most important Leagues in the world," said the Argentine in his first Press conference.
"I was fortunate enough to represent big clubs in my career. Now this challenge has arrived and it was easy to accept. Nobody needed to convince me, as I really wanted this move.
"I spoke to the Coach and the directors, so I liked their plans immediately. There is focus on youth here, but there is also a balanced mix with experience.
"The likes of Bojan Krkic and Erik Lamela are hungry and want to write history with this great club. For the experienced figures like me, it is our duty to set an example for them."
Heinze effectively replaces Philippe Mexes, who has joined Milan, and could partner fellow Argentine Nicolas Burdisso.
"I can play at centre-back or full-back, so it's up to the Coach to decide. A partnership with Burdisso would be fun.
"I was born in Argentina to a German father and Sicilian mother. She was from the town of Troina."
Heinze has chosen shirt number 5 for Roma this season.
See the latest Serie A predictions and betting tips with Eurotips.co.uk [11]


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Thirteen-year-old Falcon Quinn and his neighbors, Max and Megan, board bus number 13 for school on an ordinary day in Cold River, Maine. Only the bus doesn't take its ordinary route, and Falcon and his friends soon find themselves in an extraordinary place on Shadow Island, at the Academy for Monsters. With a student body stranger than the cast of any monster movie Falcon has ever seen, the academy is home to creatures and oddities of all kinds. In the academy's atmosphere, Falcon's friends begin to unleash and enjoy their monster natures, from flying with Pearl, La Chupakabra, to decaying with the "Zombie Snap." Falcon has always felt different, with his one bright blue eye and one shadow-black eye, but is he really a monster? Will he discover the other thing that makes him different when he finds himself in the Black Mirror? And when he learns that the school's mission is to teach students to hide their aberrant natures, Falcon and his friends need to find a way to fight back for their monster selves. Bestselling author Jennifer Finney Boylan introduces Falcon, Max, Megan, and their band of monster friends in this first installment of a hair-raising and sidesplitting adventure of monstrous proportions.
©2010 Jennifer Finney Boylan (P)2010 Audible, Inc.
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"Brilliant Narration"
I was so very impressed with the narrator of this book that I am moved to write only my second review in four years of membership. The story, itself, was above average and suprisingly witty. However, in my opinion the near-perfect narration raised this listening experience to a higher level than it might have been otherwise. I say "near-perfect" only because perfection is impossible - for me, the few flaws in the reading were not worthy of critique. I was amazed at Mr. Berman's range of voices and his understanding of the author's intentions and humor. Bravo!
"Great Read with my nine year old daughter."
We loved this book. The reader is excellent--very impressive characterizations for each character. It is very fun and funny. It also deals with issues of identity. We can't wait until the second book comes out on May 11th, 2011!
"fun little romp"
I have listened to this story 12 times now. I just love it. The narrator does a fantastic job bringing the characters to life.
Mr. Shale (not sure on the spelling as I listened and did not read) Anyone who is an adult like myself will understand why Mr. Shale is my Hero (LoL)
Oh the narration brings the book to life. I love his take on the characters.
"so well done. loved it."
even though this is a kids book it will leave you on the seat of your pants. going for the next book now.
"Fast Moving and Fun"
This is fun story about monsters that are like regular teenagers. If you liked Harry Potter, you'll like Falcon Quinn.
"Original and exciting"
My daughter loved this book so I thought I would listen for a chapter or so but I got hooked! Fun characters, lots of action, a genuine theme and unexpected twists. The narrator made it extra fun with such a variety of voices.
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Zucchini Ribbon Pasta with Creamy Lemon-Basil Sauce
About two months ago I bought one of those starter kits at Target, found in the dollar spot. And after much patience I finally used it for the first time in this recipe. It needs to grow faster because I want to use it all the time! Thankfully my parents have a bunch in their garden so I can avoid hacking mine down to much. It's still just a little thing.
Thanks in part to my homegrown basil, this zucchini ribbon pasta is a great summer dish. It is light, fresh and full of vegetables. I even used tomatoes from my parents garden. I am really going to miss having access to a garden once my time in Knoxville comes to an end.
Serves 4
1/2 lb (or 8 oz) fettuccine
1 medium zucchini
2 tsp olive oil, divided
10 oz. grape tomatoes (about 2 cups)
Salt and pepper
3-4 cloves finely minced garlic
1 cup low sodium vegetable broth (or chicken)
3 oz. reduced fat cream cheese
1 cup very loosely packed basil, chopped
1 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice, more if desired
- Prepare a pot of water and cook pasta according to package instructions. Cut ends off zucchini and slice along the long direction, cutting the zucchini into about ⅛ inch slices. Cut each of those slices into long pieces, about the same size as the fettuccine. When pasta is just about done, add zucchini strips to pot (so they're cooking with the pasta). Boil for about 2 minutes, or until tender. Drain zucchini and pasta, set aside.
- While the pasta cooks, heat a medium size skillet to medium heat. When hot, add 1 teaspoon olive oil. Add tomatoes and give them a little sprinkle of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 3-4 minutes. Just until they start to burst and look blistered. Remove tomatoes from pan and place in a small dish, covered, and set aside.
- Add another 1 teaspoon olive oil to the empty pan and add garlic. Stir constantly on medium-low heat for about 30-60 seconds. Add chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and use a spatula to scrape any browned bits off the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 1-2 minutes and then reduce heat to low.
- Place cream cheese in a microwave-safe bowl and soften for 20-30 seconds, until it can be easily stirred smooth. Ladle in a couple spoonfuls of the chicken broth mixture into the cream cheese and stir to combine. Once the mixture is smooth, add it to the pan with the remaining broth mixture and whisk until smooth and creamy. Add chopped basil and lemon juice and stir to combine. Taste sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Combine pasta and zucchini with sauce. Gently toss in tomatoes, or simply add them on top of each serving. Garnish with additional basil if desired.
Source: Adapted slightly from Our Best Bites.
6 Responses to "Zucchini Ribbon Pasta with Creamy Lemon-Basil Sauce"
I absolutely love having fresh basil growing in the backyard! I'm going to be so sad when it gets cold and we're stuck with dried herbs or super $$ grocery store herbs!
This is stunning, Erin! I love fresh, simple pastas like this – they are always the best, especially for weeknight meals. This sounds so good!
YUM. This is sounds sooo good!
Nothing beats fresh basil! I planted my started basil plant that I bought from Trader Joe's! It's my best investment in my garden! I love the stuff! Your dish looks amazing! I wouldn't mind a big bowl right now!
the creamy basil sauce sounds amazing. I'll give this one a try over the weekend. 🙂
That sauce looks amaze-balls. This is going on my to-make list, for sure! Thanks for sharing with us at Share-It Saturday! 🙂 Come back soon!!


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Amman, Jordan, 11 November 2009 – With a firm agreement elusive in the final days before the start of UN negotiations on climate change in Copenhagen next month, the ability of local communities in the Arab region to fight the negative effects of climate change hang in the balance. In a region already burdened by conflict and water insecurity, the lack of an immediate, binding and adequately financed agreement in Copenhagen that allows for action to be taken on the ground will prove to be disastrous.
This was the message from the Senior Global Gender Advisor of IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Lorena Aguilar, at the opening of the West Asia training of trainers on gender and climate change conducted by IUCN on behalf of the Global Gender Climate Alliance (GGCA) in Amman, Jordan today.
"Providing funding for implementation has now become a matter of life and death for many communities," said Aguilar. "We are out of time and people – mostly women - are suffering terribly due to our inability to act. It is critical to ensure that we put finance mechanisms in place that allow communities to adapt to the onslaught of climate change in a fast and effective manner and that can only be done on the back of a binding agreement in Copenhagen. We already know how to do this and can draw on successes in other sectors such as disaster risk reduction," continued Aguilar. "Including women in climate change discussions, the design and implementation of projects and decision making is fundamental. Women are proven agents of change, they have a repertoire of coping strategies in various areas and also take a more altruistic view on matters affecting the community."
The West Asia training is the eighteenth workshop in a series held globally to strengthen capacity and enhance understanding of the links between gender and climate change within the context of current climate change negotiations, i.e. adaptation, mitigation, finance and technology. Taking a strong developmental focus, the workshops have won the praise of government negotiators and community leaders around the world, including Arab government negotiators attending the Asian chapter in Bangkok during October 2009.
"The strong support from governments - and in particular the Arab League - to strengthen capacity on the ground and scale up impact by linking gender and climate change should be applauded," said Dr. Odeh Al-Jayyousi, IUCN Regional Director for West Asia. "Climate change impacts societies where they are most vulnerable. There is strong evidence that supports our understanding that peace and security in the Middle East region will be seriously compromised due to climate change."
Worldwide data has proven that by mainstreaming gender equality into climate change initiatives, we can enhance our efforts in reducing vulnerabilities and become more efficient and effective in our solutions – peace and security and natural resource management.
The two-day training session is hosted by the Jordanian Ministry of Environment and is being attended by thirty-five participants from Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Palestine as well as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), USAID and Mercy Corps.
Further information may be obtained from Lorena Aguilar, Senior Global Gender Advisor (IUCN) on + 161 55 212 523.
Media team:
· Rania Faouri, IUCN Communications Officer, Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA), t +962 777888522, e email@example.com.
· François Rogers, GGGCA Communications Advisor, firstname.lastname@example.com
Resources & Documents:
Web address: www.gender-climate.org
GGCA Training Manual: www.gender-climate.org/resources.html
About GGCA: The Global Gender and Climate Alliance is a joint initiative working to ensure that climate change initiatives and decision-making at all levels are responsive to the needs of both women and men. Established in 2007, the GGCA's membership includes 13 United Nations entities and 25 civil society and international organizations. www.gender-climate.org
IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN works on biodiversity, climate change, energy, human livelihoods and greening the world economy by supporting scientific research, managing field projects all over the world, and bringing governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice. www.iucn.org
About IUCN Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA): IUCN Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA) was established in October 2004 to launch a new and challenging phase of IUCN work in the region. The establishment of the West Asia regional office is considered a turning point in the environmental movement in the region, through linking the environmental work with the development aspects; economical, social and environmental. The West Asia region covers 13 countries including: Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Iraq and Iran. IUCN ROWA works through five thematic programmes including: the Regional Water Resources & Drylands Programme (REWARD); Protected Areas Programme; Poverty, Equity & Gender Programme, Marine Programme and Business & Biodiversity Programme. www.iucn.org/westsia


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He opens up just a little in the August issue of 'Details' magazine.
Ryan Reynolds doesn't like to talk about his love life, although he's had an interesting one.
He was engaged to Alanis Morissette from 2004 to 2007. He married Scarlett Johansson in 2008, and they divorced in 2010. He began dating his Green Lantern co-star, Blake Lively of Gossip Girl fame, in 2011. They married in 2012 and now divide their time between New York, Los Angeles and "a little shack in the woods" in British Columbia, he explains in the August issue of Detailsmag.
As for why he doesn't tend to talk about it much, he says:
"I don't intentionally try to be evasive about that stuff. If you ask me to describe my relationship, I mean—words are too clumsy to accurately describe how I feel in that regard, particularly in an interview. It's a strange thing. I understand the climate we live in and why people are curious. But it's just tough and almost emotionally violent — for anyone, I think — to see your personal life summarized in a sentence."
On the prospect of fatherhood:
"We'd love to have a big family," he says. "We both come from big families—my parents did four, Blake's did five. A lot of people say it's crazy, but we'll only know when we're there, you know? We'll walk through that fire pretty happily, I think."
On the child-crammed life he's envisioning:
"I think you have to let go of this idea that you can be precious about everything, and let it be the abstract mess that it is."
On hoping he has at least on girl:
"I'm terrified that I'm genetically predisposed to only having boys. That's frightening. By the time I was 10 years old, and I'm not exaggerating, I knew how to patch drywall. There's nothing my brothers and I didn't put a hole in. We turned our home into a Wiffle house. That's something I'm not looking forward to."
According to Mary-Louise Parker, who co-stars with Reynolds in R.I.P.D.:
"He has this gorgeous, sweet, kind wife. Together, they're really well-suited. Ryan has this slightly anachronistic Jimmy Stewart thing going for him—you can just sense his decency."