text: Am Montag, den 09.10.2006, 23:36 +0300 schrieb v+dvb at iki.fi: > On Mon, Oct 09, 2006 at 01:50:15AM +0200, you [hermann pitton] wrote: [...] > > > > That the gpio triggered antenna switch on DVB-T doesn't work intrigues > > me more, but don't have that card variant. > > It can be that I haven't quite grasped how it _should_ work. > > I now have the same antenna cable signal connected to both inputs (the cable > signal carries dvb-t, analog tv and fm radio). Albeit identical in theory, > the other input signal is weaker, since I have a splitter in between. Right > now, I have the weaker connected to the analog tv input in the card (the one > closer to the motherboard) and the stronger into the dvb-t/fm. The one closer to the motherboard is marked CATV-IN on mine. (1043:4862) > The only way I've gotten dvb to work is to > - have the stronger signal cable on the fm/dvb connector > - use the fm tuning trick to switch the gpio to that input The upper one is marked RF/FM-IN here. > If I connect the stronger signal cable to the analog tv input and do not > invoke the fm tuning trick, dvb does not work. With the patch in mercurial master now this is correct. It won't work anymore on the analog/CATV at all. So it seems that the same switch on your card (1043:4876) happens too. > If I connect the stronger signal cable to the 'fm/dvb-t' connector but do > not use the fm tuning trick, dvb doesn't work. That's the confusing part for me on your card. For what I found on mine using radio once does exactly the same as the gpio21 switch now in asus_p7131_dual_tuner_init in saa7134-dvb.c. Every time a dvb app uses the tuner the antenna switch happens. Also adding a .mute section with .gpio 0x0200000 did the trick from the analog side previously. > Analog tv works with both weaker and stronger cable (albeit better with the > stronger signal, obviously). > > Should the dvb functionality be able to use either input of the card or just > the 'fm/dvb-t' labeled one? Previously both were possible, the one marked here RF/FM-IN only after using radio first. Now with the patch in mercurial master and 2.6.19 DVB-T on mine is always and only at the RF/FM-IN. > I'm sorry for being a bit confused about this. I may have given you unclear > picture on what works and what doesn't. No problem. Maybe something is different and within the ongoing changes it is easily confusing anyway. Sorry. I was up to test again, but after a while realized that DVB-T on the card is broken currently ... Also in your case note the new function name introduced with the Pinnacle 310i patch to get the firmware. static int philips_tda1004x_request_firmware(struct dvb_frontend *fe, const struct firmware **fw, char *name) { struct saa7134_dev *dev = fe->dvb->priv; return request_firmware(fw, name, &dev->pci->dev); } But first we need to have the card working again. Patch attached. Hartmut, would you please pick it up? BTW, thanks for the radio signal and stereo detection! Cheers, Hermann - add the Asus P7131 Dual hybrid to the new tda8290_i2c_gate_ctrl Signed-off-by: Hermann Pitton <hermann-pitton at arcor.de> -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: add-asus_p7131_dual-to-tda8290_i2c_gate_ctrl.patch Type: text/x-patch Size: 637 bytes Desc: Url : http://www.linuxtv.org/pipermail/linux-dvb/attachments/20061010/d31de71c/add-asus_p7131_dual-to-tda8290_i2c_gate_ctrl.bin


text:
SUPERNOUGHT Long Neck Prototype
Made for the Scorpions Mtv Unplugged show.
One of the most played guitars at this ocassion.
Made completely of corinna with a spruce top. The neck joins the body at the 18th fret.
Note the sound projector soundhole to add volume, enhancing sound and playability, no bindings, but smooth rounded edges.
Gold EVO superjumbo frets and a an ultrathin satin nitro finish. Pickup is an L.R.Baggs Anthem.
Matthias Jabs at the show opener "Sting in the Tail":
Ingo Powitzer in action:
Klaus Meine Signature
A compact guitar made of corinna with a spruce top.
Very slim carbon reinforced neck. Klaus plays it at his solo performance on Mtv. Pickup is an L.R.Baggs Anthem
SLIDER Resonator Pickup System
A combination of two piezo and one extraslim magnetic pickup.
All passive, no holes required, comes with 2 mini volume pots and a custom socket, added to the endpin.
Can get wired mono or stereo. Available for brass and nickel strings ("BrassSlider / NickelSlider")
Here is Rudolf Schenker´s 30ties National that he played at Mtv:
- NEW - Dommenget Guitars on german TV, click
You love the big sound of Superjumbos but prefer the handling of a dreadnought ?
That´s exactly what the SUPERNOUGHT is about, click
to listen
there are 3 videos to give you an overview of what I do, scroll down
My wife Fiona is in the charts, have a listen, lots of Dommenget Guitars recorded
Hello Guitarist
Thanks for visiting and welcome to DOMMENGET CUSTOM GUITARS.
I´m working on an update of the last 3 years right now. So much has happened, come back soon.
The Song you´re listening to at the moment
(if the autostart works) was
written and performed
by my beloved wife Fiona MacMahon
on Dommenget Guitars (for Fiona´s page
click here
What I can show here are just examples of my work.
I never had much chance to take pictures
as most of the time the guitars leave the workshop
the minute they are completed.
Many customers still send me
copies of their own photos,
it helps a lot,
thanks to all of you.
Yes, I still personally handmake all Dommenget guitars
and Fiona
winds most of the
I´ve been very busy building for THE SCORPIONS
over the last 13 years.
Their guitarist MATTHIAS JABS opened up his own
MJ-Guitars shop
in Munich.
There is a fine selection of my guitars on display.
I hope you enjoy surfing through this webside.
Boris Dommenget
(the name stems from France, pronounced "Dommen-jay")
Acoustics video
Archtop video
Guitar-building video (ca. 1997)
this website is best viewed with a resolution of 1280x800 and:
I find viewing by Internet Explorer and Window Media Player works best.
You will need the Adobe Flash Player to watch the videos.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Welcome, Guest!
Recently added item(s)
You have no items in your shopping cart.
Weekly deals and product announcements delivered to your inbox
The best place to shop for strut, threaded rod, hangers, fasteners, tools, anchors & more. Over 12,000 items in stock and ship same day.
Become an approved member today to see pricing and more.


text:
Fantastic ForestsActivity by Stephen Penny | added on Mar 15, 2011 | United Kingdom
Sponsor(s): Forest Research, Forestry Commission Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University
A public facing event for ags 5+ where will cover basic aspects of photosynthesis, carbon capture, wood cells, wood fibres, paper making, engineered wood products, dendrochronology.
The event will take place on 14 and 15th April in the John Hope gateway Building, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. The event is also part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival. Links also to International Year of Forests. It is open to all age 5+. There will be hands-on activities and opportunities to learn about photosynthesis, carbon capture, wood fibres, paper-making activity, engineered wood products, and dendrochronology (as a start). We wish to engage the public in the various uses of wood as an important material and of the role of "chemistry" throughout.
|hands-on activities, sustainable and green chemistry
|general public, school children, families
Want to submit your own activity or comment?
In order to do so you need to be part of the IYC network. Please log in or sign up now.
Join the IYC Network


text:
Volkswagen AG and the United Auto Workers said they are in talks about the U.S. union's bid to represent workers at the German carmaker's Tennessee plant, which would be a milestone in the UAW's long-running effort to organize foreign-owned auto plants.
Volkswagen officials, in a letter distributed to workers at the Chattanooga, Tennessee plant on Thursday, said worker representation at the plant can only be realized by joining with a U.S. trade union.
Continue Reading Below
"In the U.S., a works council can only be realized together with a trade union," according to the letter signed by Frank Fischer, chief operating officer and manager of the plant. "This is the reason why Volkswagen has started a dialogue with the UAW in order to check the possibility of implementing an innovative model of employee representation for all employees."
A UAW success in Chattanooga could alter the landscape in the U.S. auto sector, opening door to similar efforts at plants owned by Germany's Mercedes in Alabama and BMW in South Carolina, and possibly those owned by Japanese and South Korean automakers, industry watchers said.
"We may be on the verge of a truly historic moment," said Harley Shaiken, a University of California-Berkeley labor studies professor who sometimes advises UAW President Bob King.
"We're not only looking at the possibility of union recognition, a real milestone on its own, but a new model for organizing work in which the union plays a key role," he added. "The 'Chattanooga model' will be closely watched."
King has been trying to organize foreign-owned, U.S.-based auto plants to bolster union membership that has shrunk since its peak in the late 1970s. In the past, King called these efforts critical to the union's survival, although he has backed off that do-or-die stance.
King is open to what Fischer called "an innovative model" to gain worker acceptance at foreign-owned auto plants, which are primarily in the U.S. South, where unions are weak and organizing is more difficult due to state "right to work" laws.
"VW workers in Chattanooga have the unique opportunity to introduce this new model of labor relations to the United States, in partnership with the UAW," the UAW said in a statement on Friday morning.
The UAW has been working with the German union IG Metall to try to organize workers at the Volkswagen plant.
In March, IG Metall President Berthold Huber urged VW's Tennessee workers to choose the UAW to represent them, and VW board member Horst Neumann, who is also a member of IG Metall, said the company was in talks with the UAW about setting up a German-style labor board in Chattanooga.
The Thursday letter to the 2,500 Chattanooga workers was also signed by Sebastian Patta, head of human resources in Chattanooga.
On Wednesday, during a call about Volkswagen's U.S. sales, Jonathan Browning, head of the company in the United States, said: "We've been very clear that that process has to run its course, that no management decision has been made and that it may or may not conclude with formal third-party representation."
Browning also said that ultimately, the decision on whether to have third-party representation will be decided by Chattanooga's workers by a formal vote.
There was no indication in the letter to workers when such a vote would be held. A person familiar with the situation, who asked not to be identified, characterized the talks as more exploratory in nature at this point.
The UAW also confirmed that King met last Friday with VW executives and officials from the company's "global works council," which represents VW blue- and white-collar employees around the world.
The UAW said last week's meeting, "focused on the appropriate paths, consistent with American law, for arriving at both Volkswagen recognition of UAW representation at its Chattanooga facility and establishment of a German-style works council."
At VW plants, workers are represented by so-called works councils, which include laborers as well as executives who cooperate to determine issues ranging from company strategy to job conditions. They do not negotiate wages or benefits.
Volkswagen has about 100 plants worldwide, and all of them except for the Chattanooga factory and the company's six plants joint venture plants in China have such a council, an expression of the company's belief in what it calls "co-determination."
Previously, VW officials said the UAW may not be the union the workers choose to represent them in that case. The Tennessee workers could even form their own union, although that would not be a typical approach, said Ronald Meisburg, a former National Labor Relations Board general counsel and board member.
"In the U.S., you're either represented by a union or not," said Meisburg, now an attorney at a firm that represents employers. "U.S. labor law doesn't allow for much in between those two things."
Others said the issue is not so clear.
John Raudabaugh, a former NLRB member, noted that U.S. labor law requires union membership for collective bargaining about wages, hours and work conditions, although those topics can be discussed by employees who are not formally bargaining.
For instance, an employee could tell a manager that his company's pay lags the inudstry, said Raudabaugh, now a professor of labor law at Ave Maria School of Law in Florida.
"Unions find themselves at the end of the road, at the edge of the cliff, and they're desperate," he said. "What we need are new ways to approaching employee participation not new costumes on old skeletons."


text:
Sometimes, reading or listening to the news, if you're like me, questions about language and usage get in the way of taking in the so-called facts.
It's akin to what the poets term sound vs. sense.
First there's the surface of the words themselves, which after all are a kind of attempt at metaphoric explanation of real stuff that is simply extant whether we name it or not through the human creation of language; then there's the actual, physical thing. It's a distance we can never entirely be done with.
There is, for instance, a very real country called Central African Republic. Its politics are troubled, so it's in the news right now.
Except that when I hear it referred to on the radio, or read its name in the papers, for some reason all I can think of is the fact that we used to call it THE Central African Republic.
Just as we used to say THE Congo, and THE Ukraine, but we don't anymore. The Brits even used to say THE Argentina; by googling the term, I see that a few still do.
Most don't. We are still allowed to say The Netherlands, I know not why.
So, without looking this all up, I figured that it involved some kind of political correctness deal; that by using the definite article we imperialist Westerners were somehow engaged in a historical putdown, whether we knew it or not. And that by losing the article we were getting better, less colonialist, and that The Netherlands didn't matter, because rich old Holland doesn't need any help.
Curious, I turned to the fun website called Grammar Girl, and she set me straight. She (Mignon Fogarty, though the article was written by Sandeep Prasanna) says: "First, it seems that many countries whose names derive from important geographical features take a definite article. For example, 'the Philippines' refers to the Philippine islands, 'the Gambia' refers to the Gambia River, and 'the Netherlands' literally means 'the lowlands.' (For comparison, think about the names of geographical regions, such as 'the Amazon' and 'the Sahara.')
"Second, we have the United States of America and the United Kingdom, both of which take a definite article because the countries' names describes their political organization. …
"For most countries' names in English, the presence or lack of a definite article is settled. But with a few countries, there's still a debate about whether to use 'the.'"
So actually I'm still confused. I suppose "the Congo" is because there is such a river, or, apparently, a rainforest there that is also called "the Congo." But Central African Republic? Sounds as though it should still take the article to me. But it doesn't, at least in the news.
And she says there is indeed a political correctness aspect at work: "The use of 'the Ukraine' stirs up intense passion among Ukrainians, in fact. Some argue that the systematic use of 'the Ukraine,' especially before its independence from the U.S.S.R., was used by English-language authors and journalists to subjugate the people and nation of Ukraine by demoting it to a mere region, a mere feature of the larger U.S.S.R."
It's complicated, apparently. Let's complicate it further: The Netherlands. Which is also Holland. And yet we call the people who live there "the Dutch." That's a trifecta of linguistic confusion. So I am still at sea in this question of internationalism, and may forever be.
Larry Wilson is a member of the Los Angeles News Group editorial board. firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Celebrities Support New Pro-Abortion Campaign 'Draw the Line'
Many of Hollywood's biggest stars expressed their support for a new pro-abortion campaign aimed at furthering the cause of women's reproductive choices. Conservatives blame the increase in advocacy for abortion on political measures being taken by legislators around the country.
Paul E. Rondeau, executive director of the American Life League, had stated that with the increase in campaigns advocating for the termination of life that it is time for conservatives to stand up and fight for those without a voice.
"This is the most abortion-addicted administration in my lifetime and I've seen quite a few presidents … We have to change the culture of death mentality and the exceptions-case mentality in Washington," Rondeau previously told The Christian Post.
The new star-chocked campaign, "Draw The Line," was created by the Center for Reproductive Rights and was launched to further support the centers' own Bill of Reproductive Rights.
The campaign is primarily focused on stifling those opposed to the Affordable Care Act, which would force employers to cover contraception as well as provide funding for abortifacients.
The celebrities who threw their support behind this new campaign have distinguished careers: Meryl Streep, Kevin Bacon, Kyra Sedgwick, Amy Poehler, Lisa Kudrow, Tea Leoni, Sarah Silverman and others are included. The Hollywood stars paint abortion as an "essential" need of women everywhere.
"Every day, the opponents of our fundamental reproductive rights are passing laws designed to take those rights away," Streep said in a promotional video for the campaign. "They're shutting down doctors and clinics across the nation. They're making it nearly impossible for millions of women to get the essential healthcare they need."
The campaign stresses that pro-life supporters are trying to fundamentally undermine pro-abortion legislation in this country and are using "political tactics" to achieve their goal. Examples of this could be seen in Colorado's "personhood" legislation, which would have defined life as beginning at conception. It failed to pass among constituents, however.
"It's time that a women's right to safe and accessible reproductive health care be safeguarded from the political tactics of those who seek to chip it away. It's time for women and men to send a strong message to lawmakers across the country that we are drawing the line," the campaign posted on their website.
But as pro-life apologist Calvin Freiburger argues, the "rights" that are claimed to be restricted amount to nothing more than an attempt to shift focus from the real harm caused by these actions.
"I've long believed abortion apologists vitriol and indignation were calculated efforts to draw attention away from the utter horror of the practice they so cherish, because of the obvious strategic value in framing the issue around the alleged harm they want to prevent rather than the actual harm they cause," Freiburger told LlifeNews.com.


text:
Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
While U.S. leaders continue pushing for war against the Syrian government, "Al-Qaeda-linked rebels," reports AP, "launched an assault on a regime-held Christian mountain village in the densely populated west of Syria and new clashes erupted near the capital, Damascus... In the attack on the village of Maaloula, rebels commandeered a mountaintop hotel and nearby caves and shelled the community below, said a nun, speaking by phone from a convent in the village. She spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals."
Arabic news agency Al Hadath gives more information concerning this latest terror attack on Syria's Christians, specifically how the al-Qaeda linked rebels "terrorized the Christians, threatening to be avenged on them after the triumph of the revolution."
Thus al-Qaeda terrorists eagerly await US assistance against the Syrian government, so they can subjugate if not slaughter Syria's Christians, secularists, and non-Muslims — even as the Obama administration tries to justify war on Syria by absurdly evoking the "human rights" of Syrians on the one hand, and lying about al-Qaeda's presence in Syria on the other.
A short video of the assault on the Christian village has been posted to the Internet and can be seen below:
Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates
For Information & Reservations:
E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Israel Today
Free to Your Inbox


text:
Winners of Association of Information Systems (AIS) International Competition2014-04-30 16:40:00.0
Sean Blasko, Johnny Gless and Mark Mast took 2nd place in the IT Service Management Track at the Association of Information Systems (AIS) International Competition.
The three competed against teams from Temple University, which placed first, and Villanova University, which placed third, along with Georgia State University and the University of Michigan – Dearborn. The focus of the competition was analyzing a case study for a health care company that was experiencing a number of problems in its Information Technology area.
All three participants were offered jobs on the spot and congratulated on their ability to make the project's solutions applicable to real life IT problems.


text:
Chamber of Commerce interim Executive Director Kristine Thalman finds working and living in her hometown exhilarating, if a little demanding.
"You have a vested interest," said Thalman, who has headed the chamber staff since last September. "It is interesting and fun, but you never stop working."
Her work has impressed chamber officials, and they have extended her contract for another six months, said Michael Kinsman, chamber board president.
"We are in relatively sound financial position, but we are changing the direction of the chamber," he said. "We are in outreach mode to the business community to demonstrate the value of the chamber. Kris will help us reach our goals."
Thalman previously was chief executive officer of the Building Industry Assn. (BIA) of Orange County. Before that she worked for KB Home from 2000 to 2004 as local government affairs director, and from 1985 to 2000 as economic development/intergovernmental affairs officer for Anaheim.
However, working where she lives is a new experience.
Thalman moved to Laguna Beach from Chino Hills in 2005, still recovering from the death of her husband of 25 years, prominent Inland Empire politician James Thalman, in August 2003.
He was serving as mayor of Chino Hills when he became ill and had been elected to the City Council since Chino Hills incorporated in 1991, which he helped achieve. The Chino Hills library is named for him.
Thalman took a leave of absence from KB Home when her husband was ill but was advised to return to work after her husband died, which she did a month later.
Soon after, she was recruited to apply for the BIA job.
"I didn't think I had a chance in hell of getting it," Thalman said. "First, there were 60 of us. Then, 25, then 10. When it got down to five, I thought I had better take it seriously — it was a new chapter in my life."
BIA officials encouraged her to move to Orange County, rather than make the daily commute from Chino Hills to Irvine.
"First I looked in Seal Beach, which is near where my daughter lives, but when I walked up Forest Avenue to Glenneyre, it just felt like home," Thalman said.
She found a cottage she loves — small, but the right size for a single woman, she said.
Shortly after her move, Thalman was contacted by then-Mayor Elizabeth Pearson, who was coping with the Bluebird Canyon landslide.
"I called her and asked if the builders could help," Pearson said.
The better Pearson got to know Thalman, the more she tried to rope her new-found friend into any group in which she was involved, including the South Coast Medical Center Foundation board and Laguna Beach Seniors Inc.
Thalman said her association with Pearson and with women to whom Pearson introduced her helped her through the dark time when she was adjusting to life as a widow, and to her new job.
Pearson and former Laguna Beach mayors Kathleen Blackburn and Cheryl Kinsman were among the guests invited to the party hosted by the Irvine Co. when Thalman retired from the BIA.
Complimentary speakers included former Anaheim Mayor and Speaker of the State Assembly Curt Pringle, Orange County Supervisor Bill Campbell and Assemblywoman Diane Harkey.
"You are a lady to be admired," Harkey said to Thalman.
Thalman was recognized as one of the most influential people in Orange County in 2007 by Red County; named one of four women leaders by OC Metro and Visionary of the Year by Coastline Community College in 2006; and was presented with a special award for achievement by the League of California Cities.
She is a California native, born in Montebello. She earned a bachelor's degree in public administration from the University of La Verne. Her first job was ad taker and private branch exchange (PBX) operator for the Tribune Gazette in East Los Angeles.
She said the worst job in her varied career was as an Avon Lady, at which she never earned a cent.
Thalman has two children by her first marriage, four stepchildren and seven grandchildren she shared with Jim Thalman.
And a hometown she loves and a job that doesn't quit.
Twitter: @CoastlinePilot


text:
Since 1984, IET-Aquaresearch Ltd provides the Bacta-Pur® System, a cost-effective, purely biological solution for water quality improvement.
The Bacta-Pur® System is based upon the use of ECOPROBIOTICS® (beneficial natural bacteria communities), ECOPREBIOTICS (growth enhancers), the BACTIVATOR® family of on-site incubators and the knowledge and experience of how to optimize the use of these ecological tools / systems in environmental restoration & protection.
The Bacta-Pur® System is used, on five continents from the Arctic to the equator. Fields of application include:
wastewater treatment (domestic, municipal, industrial, commercial, agricultural) - cost reduction and optimization of nitrification and biodegradation of BOD, grease, sludge, hydrocarbons, pharmaceuticals, while protecting infrastructure and reducing causes of global warming
water body restoration and water quality improvement - reversal of eutrophication from lakes and bays to farm, golf and garden ponds and aquaria
fresh and salt water aquaculture - increasing survival, growth, feed conversion efficiency and sustainability, from ponds and raceways to sea food holding systems.


text:
These are the promotional pictures for The Angels Take Manhattan. For those wondering, these were meant to be released on Tuesday, but due to an error on the BBC Pictures, they were released without a date and therefore, other sites have permission.
As these are the last pictures to be released (save for the extra "secret" ones afterwards), Original full resolution zips are available if people want them.


text:
Throwback Pause Moment Of The Week: Birdman "I F*ck With N*ggaz Too" While Bringing Girls On Stage For Cash Money Back That Azz Up Contest! (Manny Fresh "We Need More Chicks Up Here. What The F*ck Is Going On")
Submitted by Chris
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
AT wants to fund these classrooms! LAST DAY!
Can you give $5?
This is it. We're in the home stretch of AT's Donors Choose Challenge. AT is currently in 2nd place in our division with $4,140 total raised! We still want to raise $2,060 to fully fund these projects. Please help us!
• Kid-sized couch for kindergartners in Tennessee ($586 needed)
• Art projector for middle-schoolers in New York ($685 needed)
• Mural paint supplies for students in Chicago ($789 needed)
Click through to our Giving Page to donate!
Basic Supplies:a classroom in Georgia needs basic school supplies such as pencils, paper, crayons, and a pencil sharpener. FUNDED!
- Kitchen Center:
Mrs. P's kids in New York City need a kitchen center and play pots and pans. FUNDED! 20 Desks:Students in Louisiana need 20 desks to have their own space while having the ability to complete group projects. FUNDED! Composition Notebooks($125 needed): First-graders in Northern California need new composition notebooks for daily writing. FUNDED! Activity Tables($801 needed): Mrs. R's classroom in Tennessee needs seven round activity tables conducive to cooperative learning. FUNDED! Basic Supplies($206 needed): 2nd-graders in Brooklyn need basic supplies like crayons, pencils, and glue. FUNDED!
- Kid-sized couch and Easel ($621 needed): Kindergartners in Tennessee need a kid sized couch for their listening center, a big book magnetic book holder, and a large magnetic write and wipe easel.
- Projector ($823 needed): Mr. C's middle-schoolers need a projector so they can view art historical powerpoint presentations, instructional and tie-in videos, and present their own multimedia projects to the rest of the class and the school at large.
- Paint Supplies ($899 needed): Students in Chicago need mural paint, paint brushes, and 20 sets of paint markers.
And here's how Apartment Therapy is doing on all their sponsored projects:
AT Donors: 168
AT Donor Donations: $4,140
Students Impacted: 322
Top image via Little Flock


text:
Florence Nightingale (1820-1910)
Florence Nightingale is one of the best-known women in Victorian medicine. She was born in Florence, Italy, in 1820 and brought up in England. Although she is best remembered for her work during the Crimean War (1853-56), Nightingale fundamentally changed the role of nursing in hospitals, and was a key figure in introducing new professional training standards.
Nightingale took on nursing in the face of resistance from her family, who felt it was not a suitable profession for a woman with her high level of education. Her ideas about infection were formed by the experience she gained reorganising and improving the hygiene standards at the hospital at Scutari in Turkey during the Crimean War. On her arrival in Scutari she requested 80 more nurses and 300 scrubbing brushes. Nightingale worked to reduce the numbers of soldiers who were dying from illnesses such as typhus, caused by poor standards of cleanliness.
However, many people found Nightingale difficult to work with. She regarded both military doctors and the Sisters of Mercy, Catholic nuns acting as nurses, with suspicion and in some cases outright hostility. Nightingale clashed with Sir John Hall, Principal Medical Officer, as he insisted chloroform would not be used in amputations.
After the end of the war she turned her back on military medicine and returned to England in 1856. Four years later she established a training school for nurses in London. Like Edwin Chadwick, Nightingale believed that infection arose spontaneously from foul-smelling miasmas. Although her understanding of the source of infection was wrong, Nightingale still helped to improve hygiene standards. Her training school instructed many nurses who followed her hygiene principles, thereby reducing infections in the hospital environment.
Nightingale's work made nursing into a profession, and helped the creation of international associations such as the Red Cross.
Related Themes and Topics
Related links
Techniques and Technologies:
BibliographyFlorence Nightingale and the Crimea, 1854-55 (
M Bostridge,
L McDonald (ed.),
F Nightingale, Notes on Nursing: What it is and What it is Not (New York: D Appleton and Company, 1860)
K Williams, 'Florence Nightingale: the need for reappraisal', Wellcome History, 37 (Spring 2008), pp 2-4
L Williamson (ed.),
C Woodham Smith,
The science of health and how to maintain it. A condition or practice which promotes good health. The definition varies widely and differs across cultures.
A severe and often fatal infectious disease. It is transmitted mainly by body lice. Its symptoms are high fever, stupor, intense headache, and a dark red rash.


text:
If _____ then _____
View Single Post
WSI High Priest
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Lake in the Hills
Posts: 5,661
There's no future with this organization. The other side of town made clear their plans, and while I would never spend a lot of money to go see a game if I was a fan, at least there's hope in the future for them. I can respect that and I would be willing to go see a couple games a year because they seem to be moving in the right direction. They appear to be making the right moves. But I'm not a Cubs fan. What are the Sox doing to instill any type of hope in this fanbase? What do we as fans have to look forward to next year and beyond? There's really nothing. The farm system is one of the worst in all of baseball. The current roster is full of veterans who are old and slow and a bunch won't be here next year. Management tells the fanbase through the press that they can't do things if fans don't come to the games, but charge the 4th highest avg ticket price to watch this team in person. The entire organization is a joke right now. There is no direction. There is no hope. IMO, those 2 factors are the main reasons fans are staying away.
View Public Profile
Find all posts by kobo
See Barchart of Posts by kobo


text:
If you are looking for a new sightseeing adventure, you just found the perfect way!
Take in the glorious sights of Budapest from up above, on a magical adventure in the clouds by a 4-passanger private helicopter! The 25 minute long flight will be guaranteed to take your breath away. Sit back and enjoy the hovering over the Danube, while you are being introduced to the most beautiful and important sights from a whole new perspective! Get acquainted with the wonderful Liberty Statue on top of the Gellért Hill, be amazed by the sight of the Parliament and the Basilica on the flat Pest side, and let yourself be enchanted by the Castle District in Buda!
To make your trip easier pick-up and drop-off service is included in the program, so that you do not have to worry about getting back to your accommodation. As a welcome on the airport, a glass of champagne will be waiting for you!
Price includes:
transfer from the hotel by car to the airport,
transfer from the airport back to your hotel
one glass of champagne on arrival at the Budaörs airport
25-30 minutes Private Helicopter tour for two
Time: based on your demands during the day
After booking our colleague will contact you regarding the request starting time


text:
How to Use the Images Photo 1
Photo 1
(General Services Administration)
This photo was taken a couple of weeks before the post office officially opened for business in November 1932. The lobby was originally designed as a grand public space to serve post office customers. It extends the length of the building and features pink, green, and beige marble flooring and marble walls. The postal windows have marble counters and brass grilles, and customer postal boxes are made of glass and brass. Decorative bronze leaves and arched brass grilles above the postal windows and boxes add to the gleaming decor. Brass writing tables line the center of the lobby. Although this lobby no longer functions as a post office, its appearance remains much as it did in the 1930s.
3. Do you think it was important to preserve the original features of this space even though it is no longer used as a post office? Explain your answer.
* The image on this screen may print poorly. You can obtain a larger version of Photo 6.


text:
When asked how far in advance he plans, he replies: "One season at a time, largely. I suppose, I had a fair amount of Trenzalore worked out (the Doctor trapped in a war for a thousand years) when I wrote The Eleventh Hour, but that's really the exception."
Thursday, 26 June 2014
Moffat Promises Cliffhanger "Whopper"
By PCJ at 18:13
Labels: Doctor Who , Moffat
3 comments :
- PCJ said...
"I've figured out the cliffhanger to the penultimate episode of the next series"
I think he is talking about a cliffhanger between episodes 11 and 12 of series 8 (or maybe episodes 10 and 11, depending on how you read the word "to"). You (PCJ) however seem to be talking about a cliffhanger between series 8 and 9...
- 27 June 2014 at 09:59
- PCJ said...
Guess that's what happens when you have multiple thoughts at once. :( Thanks
- 27 June 2014 at 10:18
- PCJ said...
Never see it coming? Hmm..I bet the Doctor stumbles across an old scarecrow that looks JUST like Jon Pertwee.
- 27 June 2014 at 18:49
Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )


text:
September 06, 2012 09:00 ET
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Sept. 6, 2012) - Almaden Minerals Ltd. ("Almaden" or "the Company") (TSX:AMM)(NYSE MKT:AAU)(NYSE Amex:AAU) is pleased to announce further results from the on-going exploration drill program at the Company's 100% owned Tuligtic project, Mexico with holes TU-12-170, 174, 178, and 180. These holes were drilled into the Northeast Extension (Chemelaco) zone on section 50+100N and represent a 100 meter step out from the previously drilled and reported section, 50+000N (see Almaden news release of August 7th, 2012) . The intersections reported today demonstrate the continuity of this zone as well as the presence of high grades locally. Highlights from the holes released today include the following intercepts (a more complete list of intercepts is shown in the table below):
Hole TU-12-170 SECTION 50+100N:
36.20 meters @ 0.30 g/t gold and 11.8 g/t silver (0.5 g/t gold equivalent)
Hole TU-12-170 SECTION 50+100N:
12.50 meters @ 0.21 g/t gold and 70.3 g/t silver (1.6 g/t gold equivalent)
Hole TU-12-174 SECTION 50+100N:
99.80 meters @ 1.10 g/t gold and 33.2 g/t silver (1.8 g/t gold equivalent)
Including 25.80 meters @ 1.70 g/t gold and 44.5 g/t silver (2.6 g/t gold equivalent)
And 2.50 meters @ 9.26 g/t gold and 96.4 g/t silver (11.2 g/t gold equivalent)
And 6.90 meters @ 0.16 g/t gold and 91.4 g/t silver (2.0 g/t gold equivalent)
Hole TU-12-178 SECTION 50+100N:
54.50 meters @ 0.54 g/t gold and 9.0 g/t silver (0.7 g/t gold equivalent)
Including 23.80 meters @ 1.01 g/t gold and 10.8 g/t silver (1.2 g/t gold equivalent)
Hole TU-12-180 SECTION 50+100N:
76.00 meters @ 0.64 g/t gold and 16.5 g/t silver (1.0 g/t gold equivalent)
Including 10.00 meters @ 2.16 g/t gold and 31.5 g/t silver (2.8 g/t gold equivalent)
J.D. Poliquin, Chairman of Almaden commented, "The Northeast Extension or Chemelaco Zone is newly defined and is oriented at right angles to the main Ixtaca trend. These stepout results confirm the potential of this zone to add significantly to the overall Ixtaca resource."
The Company currently has four drills operating on the Tuligtic project. Almaden plans to continue drilling operations throughout 2012. Below is a plan map, relevant section and table of significant intervals which will be posted to the Company's website (www.almadenminerals.com).
About the Ixtaca Property
The 100% owned Ixtaca zone is a blind discovery made by the Company in 2010. The Main Ixtaca and Ixtaca North Zones of veining are thought to have a north-easterly trend. Holes to date suggest that the Main Ixtaca and Ixtaca North Zones are sub vertical with local variations. This interpretation suggests that true widths range from approximately 35% of intersected widths for a -70 degree hole to 94% of intersected widths for a -20 degree hole. The drilling completed to date has traced mineralisation over 1,000 meters along this northeast trend. Based upon observations at surface and of core as drilling progresses, there seems to be a variety of veinlet orientations within the Northeast Extension Zone however overall the zone is currently interpreted to be dipping shallowly to the west and striking roughly north-south.
Mr. Norm Dircks, P.Geo., a qualified person ("QP") under the meaning of NI 43-101, is the QP and project manager of Almaden's Ixtaca program and reviewed the technical information in this news release. The analyses reported were carried out at ALS Chemex Laboratories of North Vancouver using industry standard analytical techniques. For gold, samples are first analysed by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy ("AAS"). Samples that return values greater than 10 g/t gold using this technique are then re-analysed by fire assay but with a gravimetric finish. Silver is first analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Atomic Emission Spectroscopy ("ICP-AES"). Samples that return values greater than 100 g/t silver by ICP-AES are then re analysed by HF-HNO3-HCLO4 digestion with HCL leach and ICP-AES finish. Of these samples those that return silver values greater than 1,500 g/t are further analysed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish.
Blanks, field duplicates and certified standards were inserted into the sample stream as part of Almaden's quality assurance and control program which complies with National Instrument 43-101 requirements. Gold equivalent ("AuEq" or "Gold Eq.") and silver equivalent ("AgEq" or "Silver Eq.") values were calculated using silver to gold ratios of 50 to 1. The ratio of 50 to 1 was used for the sake of consistency with past news releases. Intervals that returned assays below detection were assigned zero values. Metallurgical recoveries and net smelter returns are assumed to be 100% for these calculations.
About Almaden
Almaden is a well-financed (cash, gold inventory and equity investments totalling approximately $35.6 MM as of July 4, 2012) mineral exploration company working in North America. The company has assembled mineral exploration projects, including the Ixtaca Zone and the Tuligtic project, through its grass roots exploration efforts. While the properties are largely at early stages of development they represent exciting opportunities for the discovery of significant gold, silver and copper deposits as evidenced at Ixtaca. Almaden's business model is to find and acquire mineral properties and develop them by seeking option agreements with others who can acquire an interest in a project by making payments and exploration expenditures. Through this means the company has been able to expose its shareholders to discovery and capital gain without the funding and consequent share dilution that would be required if the company were to have developed these projects without a partner. The company intends to expand this business model, described by some as prospect generation, by more aggressively exploring several of its projects including the Ixtaca Zone.
To view the maps accompanying this press release, click on the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/a95m1.pdf
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Morgan J. Poliquin, Ph.D., P.Eng., President, CEO and Director
Almaden Minerals Ltd.
Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, certain information presented constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, those with respect to potential expansion of mineralization, potential size of mineralized zone, and size and timing of exploration and development programs, estimated project capital and other project costs and the timing of submission and receipt and availability of regulatory approvals involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Almaden to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to international operations and joint ventures, the actual results of current exploration activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, uncertainty in the estimation of mineral resources, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, environmental risks and hazards, increased infrastructure and/or operating costs, labour and employment matters, and government regulation and permitting requirements as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Almaden's Annual Information form and Almaden's latest Form 20-F on file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although Almaden has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Almaden disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required pursuant to applicable securities laws. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) nor the NYSE MKT have reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release which has been prepared by management.
Almaden Minerals Ltd.604.689.7644604.689.7645 (FAX)www.almadenminerals.com
See all RSS Newsfeeds


text:
Sydney Prior Hall
English, 1842–1922
Moose Hunting in Canada, 1879
watercolour, graphite, body colour on paper
Collection of the Winnipeg Art Gallery; Acquired with a repatriation grant from the Government of Canada through the Cultural Property Export and Import Act and with funds from The Winnipeg Foundation
This image depicts a group of men reclining around a raised blazing hearth in a hunting lodge. Hall, an Oxford-educated Englishman, recorded important aspects of life in western Canada during the 1870s and 1880s. He is perhaps best known for documenting the inaugural trip taken by the Governor General, the Marquess of Lorne, in 1881 through the Canadian Northwest. Informal original watercolours and sketches like this one were often reproduced as wood engravings and published in the British illustrated newspaper The Graphic. A print reproduction of Moose Hunting in Canada appears in the February 22, 1879, issue of that periodical.
Gallery Hours
- Tuesday 11am-5pm
- Wednesday 11am-5pm
- Thursday 11am-5pm
- Friday 11am-9pm
- Saturday 11am-5pm
- Sunday 11am-5pm
- Closed Monday


text:
Just a quick follow-up to last night's post…
If any of you are interested in procuring your own copy of this book, it's available again on eBay. The printing currently listed is the 1948. The book was originally published in 1939, and my copy is the 1940 reprint.
The 1948 was published by Garden City Pub. Co., whereas the original was under the Little, Brown mark. I can't tell you whether that makes a difference but I figured I'd point it out.
Bidding war…GO!
Edited to add: There's a 1965 book with the exact same title–Liquor, the Servant of Man–but by an author named Morris Chavetz. If you're shopping, buyer beware. I know nothing of the Chavetz volume; it seems fishy that he recycled the title of the earlier book, but beyond that, I know nothing of the '65.


text:
Find Barton County Kansas DMV, BMV, bureau of motor vehicles, motor vehicle department, driver services, and title & tag agency. DMVs provide information on vehicle registration, driver licenses, and driver insurance, road driving tests, and driving permit exams.
Great Bend Driver License Station 1400 Main Street Great Bend KS 67530 620-793-1831
Yes. After selling your vehicle to another private party, notify the DMV of the sale. The sale can be reported by submitting a Notice of Sale or a similar form. The deadline for submitting this information can range from 5 to 30 days. Failure to report the sale may result in penalties, continued notices to register the vehicle, and problems with your local tax collection agency.How do I replace my driver's license if it is lost or stolen?
Most departments will not allow online replacement requests and require you to apply for a replacement driver's license in person with appropriate identification and completed forms. There is usually a fee for replacing a driver's license.Is registration required for boats?
In most states, boats require registration, which is similar to motor vehicle registration. A bill of sale will be required along with the appropriate forms and payment.


text:
Description of Course:
This course provides a foundation for most 3000-level art courses, including ARTS 3363 Design, Text and Image (Design II). Digital technology and traditional studio materials will be used to explore various topics, strategies and themes as related to the history of design, current design concepts, and the making of a visual image. This course will introduce the elements and principles of design (line, shape, value, texture, color, etc.; unity, emphasis, balance, motion, etc.) and emphasize how these ideas work together to communicate attitudes, emotions, and structure in an image.
Students are presented with visual problems to solve and guided towards a process or method of investigation utilizing multiplicity, comparison, and variation; search and uncertainty; and the application of analytical thinking. Assignments encourage an understanding, sensitivity, and command of the visual language. There will be individual and group critiques.
Required Texts:
Recommended Text: "Design Basics" by David A. Lauer and Stephen Pentak (Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, Belmont, CA, 2012)
Recommended for review: "Design and Form: The Basic Course at the Bauhaus" by Johannes Itten;and"Interaction of Color" by Joseph Albers
Course Requirements/Evaluation Criteria:
1) The commitment to attend full classes regularly and to be prepared with the proper materials for projects. A list of art materials to purchase for class projects is discussed the first day of class. (2) The completion of projects in a timely manner. (3) Portfolio of assigned work thoughtfully exhibits growth or understanding of design objectives and principles; and shows results, commitment, effort, focus, complexity, and willingness to be open to new ideas. Work shows demonstrated awareness of problems involved, experimentation within objectives, variety in solutions and investigations. Work exhibits good craftsmanship, care, presentation and execution. (4) Participation in class studio and discussions, critiques, and activities; maintains a good attitude and has a good work ethic. Respects fellow students and studio property. (5) Willingness to investigate and grow artistically, developing a stronger and more sensitive vision through the practice of foundation objectives.
© The University of
Texas at Dallas School of Arts and Humanities.
No part of this
website can be copied or reproduced without permisssion.


text:
Event Galleries
Check out photos from our recent events.
Homeownership, even for those of us with only one property, can sometimes feel like a second job. Whether overseeing an emergency fix or taking the hobbyist approach by embracing one small project after another, getting your home in the condition you want can certainly be time consuming, and it can also be rewarding.
Recently, I spent a three-day, holiday weekend learning that pulling up floors and refinishing the hardwood beneath in a room of my house is actually more of a four- or five-day job, especially when DIY-ing it. A learning experience for sure, I must admit that the floors look great and when guests compliment the gorgeous old pine, I do feel a sense of pride.
As spring hits New Orleans and we open windows to welcome in the breeze, many also welcome the perfect time to spring clean, get organized or begin work on home renovations and design. From those looking to freshen up a single room to those beginning work on a new property, homeowners are fortunate to be in a region with so many experienced craftsmen and designers.
Organization is one thing Don Wise knows well. With nearly 20 years of experience designing closets, Wise knows how to tailor rooms, shelves, hampers, hutches and more to fit the needs of residents in South Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast. Founder of Louisiana Custom Closets, Wise is known regionally for his commitment to customer service and attention to detail, carefully planning projects with clients, making sure they satisfy each of the customer's needs.
"With solutions for any room of any size in any style, we'll create something just for you. Virtually any space can be personalized," says Wise. "Our professional design staff will be happy to work with you on your dream closet, garage, office, laundry room, hobby room, pantry, utility room or whatever you need to make your space as beautiful and manageable as possible," he says.
According to Wise, some of the latest trends in closet design include using lighter colors with less wood grain. Additionally, they've been adding more cabinet doors to designs for concealing a variety of items such as jewelry safes, folded clothes and shoes.
Louisiana Custom Closets uses advanced software in design and provides clients with computer-generated images. They custom build each closet in their own warehouse – from the slanted shelves for shoes and the various rods and valets for hanging clothes to the spacious hutch drawers and cubicles for purses, sweaters and more.
For someone looking to simply freshen up the home or update its feel without involving power tools or contractors, Lee McKee, owner of The Linen Registry, offers up a few ideas.
The Linen Registry
"Because smell is the only sense that affects the memory and emotional part of the brain, it's very important to have your linens smell clean and fresh. You can start by simply freshening things up by using LeBlanc linen products," says McKee. "They offer linen wash, linen spray and dryer sachets that will help make your whole room smell fresh and clean for spring."
LeBlanc offers six scents – Portfolio, Blue Violet, Lavender Lady, Summer Verbena, Fields of Green and Silk Petals – in addition to allergen-free and fragrance-free products. Aside from linens, McKee recommends using drawer liners in your closet for a similar effect on one's clothing.
"Another really easy way to create a versatile space is to use a basic neutral color on your bed in the way of a coverlet, euro shams and dust skirt. That will provide the base for you to switch between a cozy, warm winter bed and a fresh, bright spring and summer bed," says McKee.
Color is key in changing the look of a room, so switching out accessories, such as your standard or king pillow shams, throw pillows and duvet covers, will offer versatility in matching the look of the room with the season. McKee suggests applying the same idea to one's bathroom by changing out the towels.
Another approach to freshening up the home for spring involves utilizing the great outdoors to accent the great indoors, which happens to be the focus of Chase Mullin, owner of Mullin Landscape Associates, a comprehensive landscape firm that offers a wide range of professional landscape services ranging from landscape architecture to landscape construction and maintenance.
Stafford Tile & Stone
"Your landscape should be treated as an investment – just like your home," says Mullin. "The American Society of Landscape Architects (ALSA) recommends 10 percent of your property value to be put into your landscaping. It is the first impression when you arrive and the last impression when you leave."
Some people look at their yards or green spaces as their worst headache – something that requires maintenance. But Mullin suggests this space can also be one's escape from reality.
"One of the biggest trends as of late has been outdoor living spaces; not only do people want to have a beautifully landscaped yard, they want to create an extension of the home and bring the luxuries of indoors outside through outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, dining rooms, living rooms, etc.," says Mullin.
Also, according to Mullin, water is a constant trend in landscape designs. Whether via a pool or fountain, the sound of flowing water is useful in creating a serene space. Mullin has also seen a rise in the modernist approach to landscaping through clean lines and minimalist touches in softscapes and hardscapes, meaning that less is often more.
Mullin Landscape Associates' projects range from urban to rural and are a combination of residential, commercial and public parks. Landscape elements include pools, outdoor kitchens, structures, lighting, irrigation, plantings, decks and patios.
Those looking to renovate rooms indoors, such as the attention-stealing kitchen or bath, may want to check in with the tile and stone aficionados over at Stafford Tile & Stone, located Uptown on Magazine Street and also in Baton Rouge. From flooring, backsplashes, showers and tub surrounds, to exterior applications such as pools and fountains, Stafford has done it all.
"We cover a full spectrum of projects – from a hotel in Curacao to the restaurant Tableau in the French Quarter, to a pool waterline at a residence on the Northshore," says owner Peggy Stafford. Stafford's staff all hold design degrees, and she touts her staff on their ability to assess customers' needs and personal style – what she sees to be the basis of recent trends.
"An exciting trend – if you can call it that – is that people are really wanting and demanding attention to their own personal style, whether it be a world traveler's desire for a Moroccan bathroom or an LSU fan who wants a purple and gold theme," says Stafford. "Whatever you want personally, your needs can be met. That's a challenging trend because it can be so specific, but it's also completely possible and manageable."
For those considering a new project, Stafford suggests taking a look at what's out there, utilizing magazines such as New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles, and websites such as Houzz.com as well as that of Stafford Tile & Stone. Also key is building the right team for the project, whether an architect and designer, or for smaller projects, your material supplier and a good contractor with experience and expertise.
Orient Expressed
Another important kitchen and bath consideration is cabinetry. Cabinets by Design offers design services for home and office, specializing in kitchen and bath with an extensive selection of fine cabinetry and appliances. The designers at Cabinets by Design can assist with projects from conception to completion. They also carry plumbing fixtures, decorative tile and hardware.
Owner Monique Poché Bennet, Certified Kitchen Designer, has seen a growing trend in kitchens that lean toward clean lines with bright white cabinetry and gray accents.
"Whether traditional or contemporary, white cabinets can be accented with grays in a variety of ways – an island or a decorative hood – even combining white wall cabinets and gray base cabinets is becoming popular," says Bennet.
Bennet also notes the continued popularity of stainless steel appliances and the comeback of polished chrome hardware.
Furnishing a renewed room and finding the proper lighting is another step in the design process, a step for which many people consult the expertise of Orient Expressed, a Magazine Street mainstay that began as an importer of Asian antiques and now offers a wide array of home décor in the way of furnishings, antiques and lighting.
"One of the approaches and strategies we're focused on is serving customers' specific lifestyles," says president and owner Deborah Vinson. "We excel at lighting – all overhead lighting and chandeliers in particular, and also lamps from a decorative perspective – and we're also known for mirrors, sideboards and chests that would be perfect finishing a foyer, bedroom or powder room," she says.
Orient Expressed also offers tabletop and other decorative accessories. One growth area for the company includes occasional chairs, and all furnishings are on display in the storefront of their Magazine Street location for decorators and customers.
"We've an eclectic collection," says Vinson. "The core of the business has been focused on Asian antiques, but has evolved to have a New Orleans aesthetic combining Asian and French antiques and modern pieces as well."
Finishing your home renewal means putting together the final touches, those flashes of color or thematic objects that contribute to the room's overall artistry, things Kay Fausset loves to supply over at Judy at the Rink. Owner and chief buyer, Fausset seeks objects of elegance for the city's entertainment lifestyle, everything from artwork and ceramics to glassware, lamps, photo frames and more.
One recent acquisition is new oyster-shell candlesticks that have an elegant yet rustic charm and show an appreciation for the city's favorite bivalve.
"Neutrals seem to be big this year, but always with a pop of color, turquoise or blue," says Fausset, "and Simon Pearce's hand-blown, clear glass lamp would complement that scheme well."
Other recent acquisitions include shimmering glass bowls, unique test-tube flower vases, pottery with metallic glazes and a new citrus-scented New Orleans candle, whose packaging was designed by local artist Alexa Pulitzer.
No matter how you choose to renew your home, use the renewal that is spring to get a head start on that project you've been aching to do. There are plenty of local experts ready to help you take it on and avoid a DIY disaster.
Cabinets by Design: 5201 Tchoupitoulas St., 899-2300, CabnietsByDesign.com
Judy at the Rink: 2727 Prytania St., 891-7018, JudyAtTheRink.com
The Linen Registry: 204 Metairie Road, 831-8228
Louisiana Custom Closets: 835-3188, LouisianaCustomClosets.com
Mullin Landscape Associates: 621 Distributors Row, 275-6617, MullinLandscape.com
Orient Expressed: 3905 Magazine St., 899-3060, OrientExpressed.com
Stafford Tile & Stone: 5234 Magazine St., 895-5000, StaffordTile.com


text: Hello Everyone, I was wondering if anyone has had any problems with getting Channel bonding working with iptables? I am currently trying to configure a linux box which acts as a gateway between our Beowulf cluster (channel bonded) and the university network (single fast ethernet). I trying to join (using SNAT/DNAT) the gateway's public IP address with the master private IP address. This way users can just ssh to the gateway and it will automatically connect them to master node. I don't think the problem is with my iptables scripts as they run properly when the beowulf cluster is running in single NIC mode. As soon, as we switch channel bonding on, it refuses to work. I suspect that the linux kernel has problems routing packets between a channel bonded interfaces (bond0 [eth1 + eth2] for example) and a single NIC interfaces (eth0 for example). I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem in their beowulf building experience. Thanks, Angelos http://movies.yahoo.com.au - Yahoo! Movies - What's on at your local cinema?


text:
Prudence, drawing on her rich experience of life, will answer questions submitted by readers. She will respond to questions about manners, personal relations, politics, economics, and other subjects. Questions should be sent to email@example.com. They should not exceed 200 words in length. Please indicate how you wish your letter to be signed, preferably including your location.
Dear Prudence,
Once I have asked the "how do I tell Alan Greenspan how much I love the way he screws me?" question, what other questions are there that deal with "love, etiquette, AND macroeconomic policy"?
--Nit-pickingly,Perry Nelson
Dear Nit-pickingly,
I'm sure a person as clever as you can find many questions that meet the standard you have read into our instructions. Here's one: "How should a capital-gains tax cut be dressed up to make it seem an act of lovingkindness to people who have no capital?"
Many people who read our instructions were not deterred by the defect you discovered and have sent us heartfelt questions on a number of subjects. Unrelenting attention to syntax can be an obstacle to communication.
--Prudence, inexactly
My dear Prudence,
This year, my wife is dragging me to the home of some friends of hers to celebrate the new year. The problem is that they are total teetotalers, and to me, a day (much less New Year's Eve) without a drink is no day at all! Would it be rude if I took a nice bottle of French wine (OK, maybe two)?? And would a corkscrew and proper glasses be pushing it????
Dear Jakeman,
It would indeed be rude, unless you called first and asked whether it would be OK. It is their house, their party, and their rules. If they say no, which would be quite within the bounds of propriety, you should either restrain yourself at the party or not go to it.
--Prudence, teetotally
Dear Prudence,
I see that every editor these days is trying to copy the tone of the wonderful advice given by the sainted Mary Killen in the Spectator. Tell me, why do you think this is? It can't be because they have no brilliant ideas of their own, can it?
--Yours expectantly,Michael ElliottWashington, D.C.
Dear Prudence,
In recent years, one of my favorite newspaper columnists has become less and less interesting. "Eppie" (not her real name) used to write an advice column. Readers would write her with their questions on life, love, and (usually) microeconomics, and she would give them really great advice, e.g., "Wake up and smell the coffee, honey!"
Lately, however, her readers seem to have decided to become America's Nannies, mailing in all sorts of precatory silliness--"Eppie, tell your readers never to leave a dead fish alone in a car on a hot day with the windows rolled up!" Or, "Eppie, please, please tell your readers not to make fun of fat people, such as Tipper Gore! They're human too, you know!" And Prudence, she prints that stuff in her column! Every &@#^ day! Advice? Fahgeddaboutit, Buster! Prudence, will they ever put "Eppie" out of her misery? Do you represent the next evolutionary step in journalism? Or are you nothing more than this year's Jeffrey Zaslow ...
--Popo (not my real name)
Dear Michael and Popo,
Your letters raise related questions, and I hope you won't mind if I answer them both at once. "Dear Prudence" did not originate with an editor searching for a new idea. It was a response to the overwhelming public demand for advice. People seek answers to their real problems, and other people enjoy and profit from reading the problems submitted and the answers given. People--"real people," that is--are more interested in those problems than in the questions that pundits make up just so they will have something to write about, questions selected so that the answer requires little thought and no research.
As for my antecedents, I must confess that I have never heard of Mary Killen, "Eppie," or Jeffrey Zaslow. I trace my lineage back to Joseph, Solomon, the Delphic Oracle, Cassandra, Adam Smith, and Benjamin Franklin. (I deliberately omit that old fool of an advice giver, Polonius: Banks thrive by being both borrowers and lenders.) Thus, I consider myself part of the constants of history, not part of an evolutionary trend.
But hey, it's a free country and a free market. If no problems are submitted, there will be no answers. And if there are problems and answers but no one reads them, Prudence will go back to her needlepoint.
--Prudence, modestly
Dear Prudence (and how are John and Paul?),
My girlfriend's former boyfriend broke up with her via a note. That she was pregnant at the time makes the situation with respect to his morality quite clear: He had and has the morals of a banana slug. (That he cringes at salt shakers only bolsters this conclusion.) The question that I find interesting concerns the etiquette of breaking up. I contend that the only way one person should kiss off another is face to face. I've a number of reasons to support this view, but my fundamental reasoning is moral (as morality is the basis of so much mannerly behavior): In justice, the kissed-off, as the offended party, should have the right to confront (and possibly to throw sharp objects at) the kisser-off.
Any other way (by telephone, by note) smacks of cowardice. Further, it seems to me that my preferred mode serves a useful societal function as well, by making romantic relationships somewhat more stable since somewhat more difficult to dissolve during temporary difficulties. This last point, of course, presumes that society has an interest in stable romantic relationships; if you accept that society has an interest in marriage, and that stable romantic relationships both include and lead to marriage, you must conclude that society does indeed have such an interest. Have you any thoughts on this? A nation holds its breath (well, except for those holding others at gunpoint).
--Emily Post's Meaner Brother
Dear Brother,
Whether a face-to-face encounter is required for a breakup depends on the reason for the breakup. If A splits from B because B has been obviously offensive and fraudulent, the courtesy of a face-to-face explanation is not required. Suppose, for example, that Mr. B has given Ms. A every reason to believe that he is not married, but she learns that he is. B then deserves nothing. In the case to which you refer, the young lady deserves a face-to-face meeting, an apology, and whatever solace can be offered. Probably the general rule is that a party who is seriously aggrieved owes no consideration to the aggrievor.
I am surprised that you did not mention e-mail as a medium for breakups. Isn't there a Web site containing form e-mail letters for breakups?
They're well, thanks.
Dear Prudence,
I hate to start our relations by pointing out little details, but both you and "Lovelocked" missed another major point of Chivalry on the question of opening the door for your loved one. The other point is you don't leave her standing alone on the far side of the car and thus more easily jostled and/or assaulted by the nearest purse snatcher or other criminal element who can often appear quickly and quietly no matter the time of day ... just a point, m'dear.
Orlando, Fla.
Dear Saintswrd,
Thanks for your addition to the reasons for helping your beloved get into the car. Unfortunately, it is a necessary addition. Sentimental Prudence prefers to focus on the romantic side of life, but she cannot deny there is a darker side also.
--Prudence, ruefully


text:
Find hotels & motels in South Gate using the list below. Explore our guide for inexpensive and discount hotel/motel rates in or near South Gate, CA for your business or personal leisure travel. We provide the best South Gate, California hotel and motel rooms. Browse the South Gate area hotels to find the perfect lodging! Please use the provided map of the South Gate hotels. Need 5+ Rooms? Secure South Gate Group Hotel Deals
The South Gate center is around 3 miles southwest of Los Angeles Commerce Business Plaza Heliport.
How should we direct your call?


text:
Davey_Reno needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 35 designs submitted by 8 freelance designers.
Cypress Management
We are a full service real estate company providing a range of products including leasing, sales and property management as well as real estate investment services.
Investors looking to diversify their portfolio, as well as looking for superior customer service for their current real estate assets. We also provide services for individuals looking for housing or business looking for operational locations or opportunities for expansion
Basically, the client wants the name of the company along with the Cypress tree made into a logo. The name of the company is "Cypress Management." I've attached a letterhead and flyer each containing variations of this concept. Your Mission if you choose accept it ;) is to perfect this concept so that client will have a logo they can be proud of. I think the real deciding factor here is going to be the tree. It could be anything from a silhouette to single leaf. Keep in mind that his color scheme is a dark forest green, brown and an off white cream. Other then that, use your imagination and good luck!
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
Are You Ready to Drive?
If you are like me you can 't wait to drive. Before I got my license it was all I could think about. I was excited about what car I was going buy, what my friends would say when I drove up in my new ride, you know the usual stuff.
But I also thought about other things. I was really worried about having an accident. All my friends who drove said "don't worry about it, that's what you have insurance for." Right, but how did this insurance thing work anyway? Did I have to have it? How much would it cost? Would I still have to pay for an accident? What if it was my fault?
So Many Questions
Man, I was so confused! Just think about it - an accident could include damage to cars and other property, as well as injuries to me, my passengers and others. Could I afford to pay for these damages on my own? Could you? I knew that automobile insurance decreases out-of-pocket expenses by helping to pay for the losses resulting from an accident. But what kind did I need?
I asked my driver's education teacher and he had me do a little research on the subject. With a little digging I was able to find the answers to these questions and more. So, to make it easier for you, I am sharing my information. I hope you appreciate it!
Insurance is Mandatory
First off, I learned that Massachusetts law says that I can't drive without insurance. It can be covered by my parents' policy or I might get my own, but driving without insurance is against the law and could cost me my license.
Being required to carry insurance before we drive not only protects us, it protects everyone else on the road. We are required to carry a certain minimum level of liability insurance before we get behind the wheel, but there is a good chance that those minimum levels won't be enough to cover us in a real world accident. That is why there are optional or extra levels that we can buy for added protection. I broke things down to make it easier to see the difference:
|Minimum Coverage
|Optional Coverage
Bodily Injury
Pays for injuries to other people like pedestrians or passengers in another car, but it only covers $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident.
Property Damage
Pays for damage to someone else's car or property - like a fence or building, but the minimum coverage is only $5,000.
Pays for up to $8,000 in medical expenses for you and anyone else riding in your car, regardless of who caused the accident.
Uninsured Motorists
Pays for injuries to me or my passengers if I am hurt by someone who does not have auto insurance or a hit & run driver.
Bodily Injury and Property Damage
I can buy higher coverage limits for these sections above the minimum levels.
Underinsured Motorists
Some drivers don't have enough insurance to pay for my medical costs in an accident. This pays for costs above the other driver's insurance gap up to limits I choose.
Pays for damage to my car caused by things like theft or from a crack in my windshield - anything but a car accident.
Pays for damage to your car caused by an accident, such as backing into the garage.
Most people buy insurance with a deductible of say $500 or $1000 in order to save money. This means the insurance kicks in for any damage that costs more than the deductible. There are plenty of other features you can add to your policy. Generally, your insurance costs can double if you add all these options to your insurance.
Insurance Can Be Expensive
So you're probably wondering right now, how much is this going to cost me? Insurance companies set the price - or premium - for your auto insurance using several factors, such as your years of driving experience; your accident and violation history; and, the location where your car is usually garaged or parked.
If you purchase collision or comprehensive coverage, the age and cost of the car is also a factor in determining your premium.
Why Does Insurance Cost So Much?
Until you get enough years of driving experience under your belt, your insurance cost will be fairly high because inexperienced drivers get into more accidents than experienced drivers.
Be aware that the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles keeps records of your accidents and driving tickets and insurance companies can significantly increase your premium for any new ones added to your record.
Softening the Blow
You may want to delay owning your car. Borrowing your parent's car instead of owning your own gives you the opportunity to gain experience, and reduces the cost of your insurance considerably.
Junior Operator Restriction
What the heck is the Junior Operator Restriction?
When I was just about to get my license I was surprised to find out that all my fantasies about impressing my friends with my driving ability wouldn't be possible. Well at least not for six months anyway.
Massachusetts law states that for the first six months with a license, new drivers under 18 may not drive a car with any passenger under 18 unless the new driver is accompanied by a person who is 21 who:
- Has at least one year of driving experience
- Holds a valid driver's license
- Sits in the seat beside the driver
There is an exception to the law for immediate family members so that you can drive with your siblings.
The purpose of the restriction is to allow you to be a better driver before you have to deal with a friends blathering on about their most recent romantic mix-up. Do you really want to listen to this anyway? Consider this period the states gift to your sanity. Maybe it doesn't sound like a lot of fun, but considering that a Johns Hopkins study concluded that teenage drivers are more likely to be killed in an accident if there are teenagers or young adult passengers with them, it makes a lot of sense.
Saving Money
Driver Training
You can probably get a discount on your policy if you complete an approved driver training course, so you should complete one as soon as possible.
Keep Those Grades Up!
Many insurers give you a discount for maintaining an overall B average or better.
Shop Around
Have your parents begin getting quotes at least six weeks before you'll be added to their auto insurance policy. Check not only with your parent's current carrier, but compare quotes, service and stability with other agents and companies. If you have your own car and you do not qualify for a good student or other discounts, compare the cost of a separate auto policy for you.
Choose Your Car Wisely
If you are planning to buy a car, avoid high-performance or sporty models because these cars are more expensive to repair and insurance will cost you more. Consider the cost of insurance before you make that down payment.
Staying Safe
Some Rules are OK
Work with your parents to set up guidelines and terms you both can live with for using the car.
Set a Good Example
Always buckle up, it's the law! Avoid excessive speeding and don't accept dares when you're behind the wheel.
Don't Be a Chauffeur
Studies conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have shown that one passenger doubles the risk of a crash among teen drivers, two passengers triple the risk, and three or more passengers increase the risk by more than six.


text:
Why Tumblr?
Tumblr is the best place for creators to find an audience for their content.
There are over 200 million blogs publishing 80 million posts per day.
Source: Tumblr internal
The dashboard makes it easy for people to discover and share your content.
70% of Tumblr users say the Dashboard is their favorite place to spend time online.
Source: Tumblr internal
Brands are welcome as creators themselves with content users want to see.
Tumblr is ranked #1 in social sentiment towards brands.
Source: Adobe, Social Intelligence Report for Q3 2013
Sponsored Posts
Give your posts a massive head start on engagement. Sponsored Posts are just like regular Tumblr posts—just way more visible. They're also targetable by gender, location, and interest. And can be syndicated to Yahoo for added reach.
Sponsored Video Posts
Native video for web and mobile in the same Sponsored Post format you know and love. Targetable like regular Sponsored Posts with additional analytics on views, looping, and engagement. Videos play automatically and loop continuously; and the player pops out so people can keep watching while they scroll.
Sponsored Day
Own a day with a cross-platform promotion. Pin your logo and tagline to the top of the dashboard for 24 hours. It links to an exclusive tab in the Explore page - one of the most trafficked and engaging pages on Tumblr - filled with content you've selected. You can use your own posts, reblog posts you like, or do a mix of both. Whatever story your brand wants to tell, you've got a slice of the dashboard to tell it in all day long.
But wait, there's more.
Case Studies
See how other brands made their content resonate with our community.
Follow the official blog of our Sales and Brand Strategy teams.
Learn about our premium analytics tools for brands.
Ad Specs
Want to learn more about our ads? Get the creative specs and guidelines.
Preferred Data Partners
The people who help you measure your performance on Tumblr.
Sign up for our newsletter and never miss a thing.


text:
Principal Forbids 5th Grader To Rock An Obama Shirt To School In South Carolina!
NBC reports "SUMTER, SC (WIS) - A Midlands parent called us about a shirt with President Barack Obama on it, that she says her child was not allowed to wear to his public elementary school. "He's our first black President of the United States," says fifth-grader Elijah Smith. "It makes me real proud." Smith was excited to wear his Barack Obama shirt to school Tuesday, but then had second thoughts. "
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
This is perhaps one of the more unusual news releases that have come across my desk, but as the daughter of a two-time breast cancer survivor and the niece of someone who died from the disease, I thought it worthy to share.
Vaccon Co., a manufacturer of vacuum pump products for the robotics, automation and process control industries, has introduced pink-colored pumps in honor of Joan Ferri, owner of the business and a two-time breast cancer survivor. The sale of the pump is being done in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Vaccon is offering its customers a special pink color on its J-Series Cylindrical Venturi Pumps with 10% of every purchase to be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).
That's another reason I wanted to share the release. What's nice about BCRF is that supposedly 91 cents of every dollar spent by BCRF is directed towards breast cancer research and awareness programs. BCRF remains one of the most fiscally responsible charities in the country. So I thought it was nice to see that the BCRF will benefit instead of Komen, which has over-saturated the breast cancer fundraising market, if you ask me.
The "Pink" J Series Pumps are identical to Vaccon's standard J Series pumps in every way except for the color. All dimensions and performance data are exactly the same including vacuum level, vacuum flow, air consumption and evacuation speed.
J Series pumps are single stage venturi vacuum pumps that allow ingested contaminants to flow through the pump without clogging, thus ensuring continuous operation. Constructed of a single material, with no seals or moving parts, J Series vacuum pumps are virtually indestructible.
Standard J Series pumps are made of anodized aluminum, available in 5 different sizes from 1 to 6 in. and can generate vacuum levels up to 28 in.-Hg (948 mbar) and vacuum flow levels up to 28 scfm (793 lpm). Available in a variety of materials including stainless steel, Teflon, PVC and Delrin, they are reliable and safe to use in adverse operating environments, food and drug handling applications and caustic materials.
Ellen Ferri Reid, President of Vaccon, says the decision to create and ultimately sell the special pink vacuum pump was an easy one. "While Vaccon started because of my father's belief that Venturi vacuum pumps were the answer to improving the manufacturing processes, it was my mom who worked tirelessly to not only support the family but the company and its employees," Reid explained. "My mom has been and is the backbone of the family business. With the 40th anniversary of Vaccon upon us, coupled with the fact that she's also a breast cancer survivor, we decided there was no better way to recognize her battle with cancer plus the health of the family business, than to sell pink pumps in her honor."
Vaccon worked with Absolute Metal Finishing in Norwood, Mass. to create the special pink coating for its J-Series pumps.
Founded by Evelyn H. Lauder in 1993, BCRF is an independent not-for-profit organization committed to funding scientific research to achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime. In October 2012, BCRF will award $40 million to 197 scientists across the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and China. For the tenth time since 2002, it has earned 4 stars from Charity Navigator. Additionally, BCRF is the only cancer organization rated an "A+" by CharityWatch. For more information about BCRF, visit www.bcrfcure.org.
To order a "pink" J Series pump – simply add the word "Pink" to the order by calling Vaccon at (508) 359-7200 or visiting Vaccon.com.


text:
He is 6'5", 317 pounds of tattoos and ripped muscle. "The Animal." "The Monster." He's Batista, and he's on a collision course with Triple-H for the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania. It's a position that he didn't envision even a year ago.
"It is surreal, I sometimes feel like I don't deserve it because I haven't been in the business all that long. At the same time it is an opportunity I wouldn't dare pass up. . I never thought too much about holding the gold, it was a dream to win the tag team gold with Ric Flair and I thought that would be the highlight of my career. To have this opportunity to go for the most precious prize that we have, it is unbelievable and a great honor that I will even get the chance," Batista told fans at a recent WWE Press Conference.
When Batista sat down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with SLAM!Wrestling, the immediate impression isn't of the stereotype of wrestlers -- which is often false -- but that Batista is incredibly intelligent, articulate and you immediately see his sincerity, humility and a genuine respect and love for the business.
"I have been fortunate enough to work with the best. I am very lucky, having had guys like Triple-H and Ric Flair in my corner. The people I have worked with like them, influences like Jim Cornette, Chris Benoit, Afa the Wild Samoan, these guys are legends and to have a chance to be a sponge around them and absorb the knowledge, I can't say enough about them, I have learned tons. Hopefully I can do them justice, and do them proud and make a dent in this business."
It has been a whirlwind as fans recently took to the superstar, chanting his name during matches. With Randy Orton penciled into the main event match up until a few months ago, the change in focus has been based on Batista becoming the hottest wrestler on RAW. At the press conference, Batista's sense of humor came through and his personality has started to become apparent on TV.
"Fans are starting to relate to me because they are getting to know me. I have had more microphone time since Randy stepped out of Evolution. The focus hasn't been as much on Randy and more on me, which has let me relate more. That in itself is winning the fans over and they now have a sense of me and know I am not strictly the brute who stands in the background and beats people up, I am an actual real person. I try not to read to much into it, I never minded if the fans booed me as long as they came to the show and had a good time."
The former bouncer has watched closely the title runs of stars like Randy Orton, Chris Benoit and Triple-H and while he has learned from them, if he takes the belt on April 3rd he won't be patterning his reign after anyone else.
"I haven't taken anything from other peoples reigns. Only way I know how to do things is my way, I can't model myself after someone else. To try and emulate someone else, it isn't true to you and fans pick up on that."
Batista broke into the business late in life, and is presently in his mid-thirties, making this the best time for WWE to capitalize on him and shoot him to superstardom. While some predict that Batista's time in the business will be short, he has no plans of leaving any time soon.
"I want to as long as I am physically able too. I want to always be part of this business in some shape or form, whether as an agent or a trainer. People like Chris Benoit and I, we love this business so much that we do it as long as our bodies will hold up."
Jason Clevett is from Calgary, Alberta and will be live in Los Angeles, California for Wrestlemania 21. It will be his fourth straight 'Mania. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Nicki Minaj Bringing In The New Year 2012! (Performing "Super Bass" On Dick Clark's Show)
Nicki Minaj - Super Bass (2011 New Year's Rockin Eve
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
I feel like this may be my end not because I failed, but because I feel as if I am not sure I have more to give. I have done all that I know how to do…not just this year, but for many years…and it's not clear to me what is left to try. I do believe that there is a plan and a purpose but I also must come to grips with the fact that this specific plan and purpose that I have dedicated my life to may not be the right one. I don't know that for sure but it is starting to feel like it. There is a chance that what I am supposed to do is find a way to persevere but there is also the possibility that it's actually time for me to surrender and accept the fact that this was not meant for me. I do not want to look back and have regrets but I also don't want to feel as if I refused to acknowledge that my calling is somewhere else and I continued to put in unneeded years of sacrifice.
I had told myself long before Thursday that if things didn't turn out positive in 2008 that I would move on with my life. It was my own deadline that made sense to me in every logical way because it felt like that was the obvious fork in the road. I have truly given this my all for a substantial period of time and while I am proud of myself for that, I also need to feel proud that I am accomplishing something and that my life is moving in a direction that has forward progress. Five years ago I could start from square one and be ok with it, but right now I am finding it hard to see where the motivation will come from. I just wanted to make sure I mentioned that though because I don't want it to seem like I finished my competition and immediately threw in the towel out of frustration. Few people knew that I had made that decision about continuing but it had been made quite some time before this.
My only caveat from this line of thinking is that this year has been far from perfect. It is hard to say that I gave it my all and did all that I could possibly do with the setback I had. It doesn't excuse my performance in the final but there is a small part of me that wishes I could have had a better preparation and been able to say I was 100%. I still think I was good enough—I won't go back on that—but it's probably a stretch to claim to be at your best 6 weeks after knee surgery. But those were my cards and I accept that because everyone has obstacles they overcome.
To be fair to myself and to those who are a big part of my career, I promised to take 72 hours to think it over and make a decision then. For some reason making life changing decisions in between sobs doesn't sound very rational. I don't know that it will be exactly that time frame, but I will be sensible and make sure I know that I feel at peace with the direction I'm headed.


text:
R&B and sometime hip-hop artist Pharrell Williams stole the show at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival on Saturday night with guests as diverse as Gwen Stefani and Snoop Dogg.
Williams ripped through many of his greatest hits as a solo artist, featured artist as well as members of the group N.E.R.D. in front of a massive crowd at the Outdoor Theatre.
His guest list consisted of Nelly (who did a verse off "Hot In Herre"), Busta Rhymes (verse off "Pass The Courvoisier") Snoop Dogg ("Drop It Like It's Hot") and Gwen Stefani ("Hollaback Girl"). And, while he teased the entrances of Jay Z and Robin Thicke as well as T.I., they didn't appear, but fans seemed more than fine with that.
Williams' voice appeared to be a possible casualty of the dust and wind at the festival and asked for fans' patience because of the "(expletive) wind."
"I'm heartbroken about his voice towards the end," said Sarah Klegman, 26, of Los Angeles after the show. "I think the crowd was sympathetic."
But she enjoyed the set because the artist asked "all the favors he could for the guests. I loved it."


text:
Winning isn't everything for Special Olympians
Staff writer
Rachael Johnson jumped with all her might when McPherson County scored a basket.
"I love to see them win, win, win," the Special Olympian with Down syndrome said. "When the ball goes in the hoop, I just get so excited. It doesn't matter who plays. I just like to see it go in."
Johnson was one of more than 100 participants in this year's Special Olympics basketball tournament at Tabor College.
Teams were formed based on county and skill level, ensuring that each individual would have an equal chance to play at a level playing field in the tournament.
While the competition was thick, each player, including Timothy Harvey of McPherson, had a mile-wide smile as they competed on the small basketball court.
Harvey said while he liked to play in the tournament, he wasn't really there to beat out the other teams: He just want to have fun playing his favorite sport.
"I like dribbling the ball back and forth," he said. "I like to pass the ball to my teammates. I know they'll get it right in the basket —and then, we'll win!"
Many, like Steven Hopkins of Hillsboro, said they enjoyed the tournament for one reason: they saw the players put their heart on the basketball court.
"You can just see that they love what they do," he said. "Even when they fall flat on their face, they're still happy. They get right back on their feet, and get back to the game at hand.
"Are there some fights? Yes, of course, but you're going to get that at any sporting event. They're serious players, but they have hearts of gold. They'd give you the shirt off their back if you needed it."
Megan Wilder, 50, of Marion was touched by the teams' attitude toward one another.
In fact, tears came to her eyes a few times when the players helped their teammates up from the court floor.
She said she hasn't been to a Special Olympics tournament in over 30 years — and was glad to see that the spirit of the games haven't changed too much.
"I used to volunteer with the Special Olympics when I was in college," she said.
"It was a great experience — and this event just brings back so many memories. I loved working with the teams back then. They loved to compete, but it wasn't everything to them. They just love life. I wish I could bottle up that attitude. The world could use some more people who are willing to love unashamedly."
The teams will continue to practice until Saturday, when they will compete at the state competition at Fort Hays University.
The local tournament was organized purposefully beforehand so the teams could practice.
Last modified Feb. 21, 2013


text:
The Broncos may be holding a grudge against former defensive backs coach Ron Milus, but former Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy isn't.
Milus, fired in the wake of a playoff loss to the Ravens that featured three long touchdown passes and an unthinkable 70-yard catch-and-run with less than a minute to play that forced overtime, has been hired by McCoy to serve as defensive backs coach in San Diego.
Technically, the team decided to let Milus's contract expire. Still, he was out of the Broncos' plans not long after safety Rahim Moore flailed and flopped and failed to disrupt a long throw that receiver Jacoby Jones had to stop and wait to catch.