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Jamie Burke fronts the Spring/Summer 2015 campaign of Rochambeau, photographed by Hugh Lippe and styled by Nicholas Grasa.
Hair: Gabe Jenkins
Make-up: Beau Derrick & Mayson Atwater
Jamie Burke fronts the Spring/Summer 2015 campaign of Rochambeau, photographed by Hugh Lippe and styled by Nicholas Grasa.
Hair: Gabe Jenkins
Make-up: Beau Derrick & Mayson Atwater
It's only been a few days since we celebrated PRIDE with an exclusive party at the Punch Room in The Barcelona EDITION. Marina, known for participating in Drag Race Spain, accompanied us all night,… »
Christian Louboutin is hitting the ground running this summer with the ROCKNRUN, a brand new line of performance sneakers.
This three-day event in Maastricht will once again spotlight the next generation of fashion designers and performing artists from around the globe.
Off-White™ and Wilson Sporting Goods are teaming up for a limited-edition collection of basketballs.
Calling all bag lovers! Givenchy is back with a playful twist on their hottest accessory – the Nano Voyou.
BERSHKA is teaming up with Spanish brand El Niño for a collection that throws it back to the early 2000s.
Inspired by vintage German army trainers, the brand has launched "The Leisure Shoe."
The campaign, shot by Alasdair McLellan in a dance studio setting, captures the essence of the collection perfectly.
LEAK's Spring/Summer 2024 collection reimagines the future as a neon-lit dance party for the unapologetically queer.
The collaboration brings together the minimalist aesthetic of A.P.C. with the vibrant, psychedelic world of Tame Impala.
Just in time for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Kenzo unveils a limited-edition version of their popular KENZO-PACE sneakers, designed by Artistic Director Nigo.
Pull&Bear's commitment to music, fashion, and youth culture is evident in its continued involvement in events like Super Bock Super Rock.
Eliseu Casas at Blow Models photographed by Giuseppe Falla and styled by Ivanca Vera, in exclusive for Fucking Young! Online.
With this collection, Luna Del Pinal doesn't just celebrate its roots but also puts itself at the forefront of eco-friendly fashion.
Charles Jeffrey LOVERBOY's Fall/Winter 2024 collection is a wild ride inspired by a mysterious letter from a Scottish village.
Instead of the usual glossy perfection, we get raw, real-life moments. It's like peeking into a friend's conversation, only with a star-studded cast.
GR-MINAL, a self-proclaimed geek, has made music software his playground. Immersed in music since childhood, he blends classical and ragga dancehall influences.
This collection is all about mixing and matching classic cuts with modern vibes.
We spoke to Laura Beham and Callum Pigdeon, Founders and Creative Directors of PROTOTYPES, after their latest show at Paris Fashion Week.
The VULC 779 is a testament to Abloh's enduring influence and his vision of a global skate community united by passion and creativity.
We caught up with Jay in Paris during Men's Fashion Week, where he shared insights about Champion's takeover of the French capital.
This capsule collection injects a festival-ready dose of energy into your wardrobe.
PRISMA is launching new campaigns that showcase the brand's commitment to design and comfort.
Pull&Bear once again reinforces its commitment to the Portuguese music scene by returning as a sponsor of the iconic Super Bock Super Rock festival.
Nine Inch Nails' landmark album, The Downward Spiral, turns 30 this year. This dark and intense masterpiece is getting a unique tribute: a collaboration with footwear brand Dr. Martens.
Fashion designer Ashish Gupta, known for his namesake label, steps into the world of photography with a new limited-edition book titled "Looking for Now." This collaboration with House of Voltaire promises a glimpse into… »
Emerging designer Marta Guardiola is revving things up with her latest collection.
"Hub" is about the beauty that emerges when different cultures mix. Each piece is a testament to arabsoda's love of detail and their appreciation for both Arab and Western design.
Swedish retailer Sneakersnstuff (SNS) is celebrating its 25th anniversary in style with a brand new collab – and it's their first ever with Crocs!
This LOEWE campaign ditches the fluff and focuses on the real connection between clothes and the person wearing them.
We explore the complexities of the heart through conversations with Alexandre Mattiussi, Gauthier Borsarello, Jacques Agbobly, and artist Robin Kid.


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Best Hotel Chocolat advent calendars for 2021 - including milk, white, dark, truffles, pralines and liqueurs
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
That's why, this year, Hotel Chocolat have created a whole range of advent calendars so we can really indulge our love of all kinds of chocolate.
Let's be honest, 2021 hasn't been an easy year so we all deserve to treat ourselves to a daily decadent chocolate - and Hotel Chocolat are known for providing some of the most luxurious chocolate on the market.
Chocolate advent calendars have been around since 1958 and since then they've become a mainstay of the festive season.
Whether you choose a calendar that's full of classic solid chocolate shapes or decide to be more adventurous and have one that's full of truffles and pralines, you can enjoy your daily chocolate a cup of tea or coffee in the morning, or save it till the evening to enjoy after a long day.
For even more festive chocolate treats to tempt your tastebuds, take a look at the Cadbury Christmas chocolate range and also the special edition Quality Street tin.
Treat yourself to 24 decadent pralines, truffles, and liqueurs with this decedant advent calendar.
Whether you like dark, milk, or white chocolate, there's an treat to delight every tastebud.
For those who like nutty flavours there's a crunchy Florentine Isabelle, Peanut Butter, or creamy Hazelnut Praline. If fruity flavours are your thing, you may like the Mango Smoothie waiting for you, or if dessert-inspired nibbles are your favourite then treat yourself with the indulgence of Caramel Cheesecake.
The perfect choice for lovers of dark chocolate.
The chocolate is rich, and luxurious, and it's been moulded in to the cutest festive figures - including enchanted spruces to frosty snowmen.
You'll find a tasty Christmas surprise behind every door.
Hotel Chocolat's house dark chocolate is always a minimum of 70% cocoa to make sure you get all the deep richness of the flavour.
It's vegan friendly too, so it's suitable for everyone.
This delightful advent calendar includes 24 penguins, Santas and snowmen in milk chocolate - including an oversized one for Christmas Eve.
Made of 40% milk chocolate, all of the characters are modelled on their larger jolly chocolate pals, sketched and sculpted by the Hotel Chocolat experts.
Each of the characters have been handmade to capture their adorable characteristics.
The question is will you be able to resist not opening the door each and every morning?
The ideal advent calendar for couples, siblings, best friends or house mates.
There will be no more fighting over who gets the chocolate every morning with this unique advent calendar which has been created especially for two.
Behind each door you'll find two identical itty bitty truffles - two of the same so you can decide which ones are your joint favourite throughout December.
After you've popped open the door you'll find a variety of our favourite truffles; Salted Caramel Cream, Gingerbread Praline, Madagascan Vanilla and Raspberry Rush to name just a few.
f you're after something extra special this year, then look no further than this superior advent calendar.
Brimming with decadent chocolate slabs, batons and truffles, you'll discover a new indulgent treat each day in the run-up to Christmas.
There are twin packs of truffles, festive chocolate slabs and Selector packs.
This advent calendar contains far more than just chocolate too. You'll also find an array of tipples, beauty products, and maybe even a sachet of gorgeous creamy hot chocolate too
If you're not sure which advent calendar is best for you, or which to buy as a present for someone else, than this milk chocolate one is the perfect way to go because, well, everyone likes milk chocolate.
The 40% milk chocolate is Hotel Chocolat's signature milk blend as it captures a satisfying creaminess without sacrificing the decadent hit of cocoa.
From the first day of December, you can pop open a door a day to find a solid milk chocolate sculpture. There are reindeers, snowman and penguins
This white chocolate advent calendar is a good choice for those who are looking for something a little bit different.
Behind each door, you'll find a suitably festive solid chocolate sculpture, from enchanted spruces to spruced-up penguins.
Enjoy a daily dose of heavenly white chocolate which isn't like others you may have tasted, it's sweet but not sugary sweet. The sweetness here comes from cocoa butter.


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Luxury One Skein Wonders
Brand Storey Publishing
A little luxury goes a long way! Discover the treasures you can knit from single skeins of the expensive yarns you dream about. More than 100 patterns include elegant wraps and scarves, cuddly baby blankets, evening bags, and dozens of other projects destined to become cherished heirlooms. Indulge yourself with a small sampling of creamy cashmere, lustrous alpaca, seductive silk, exotic soy, or organic linen. The softest fibers make the greatest treasures, even in small doses.


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Welcome to the blog for Chris Gardiner Photography and Design, a personal side project of many years, sharing posts about life as a photographer, from tips and techniques, gear reviews, how to's, and more! Come by! I've lived across Canada but now I am creating photos, videos and other stunning visuals for real estate in Collingwood Ontario on the shores of Georgian Bay with my young family. Check my instagram, youtube and facebook for more unique content across all platforms!


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Justin Bieber Just Became a Big Brother Again
Justin Bieber is a big brother once more, this time to a newborn baby sister.
Bieber's 43-year-old dad, Jeremy, announced the birth of his and new wife Chelsey Robelo's first child together, a daughter named Bay, on Thursday (August 16).
The couple debuted their bundle of joy in a sweet Instagram photo that showed Robelo and Bieber cuddling their little girl in the delivery room.
"Just welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world. Bay Bieber #babygirl #biebergirl," Bieber tweeted this morning.
Bieber and Robelo announced they were expecting a child together back in February just days after getting married in a destination wedding in Jamaica, which Justin attended with his ex, Selena Gomez.
Bieber's other children, aside from Justin and Bay, include Jaxon, 8, and Jazmyn, 10.
Robelo has another daughter, Allie, from a relationship prior to Bieber.


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UPDATE: The link to my Original Cheesecake Blogpost seems to work again, including all comments, etc. Enjoy :) ——————————————– NOTE: Lots of my readers wrote me over the weekend that the link from my original New York Cheesecake blogpost (October 2011) is broken. And they are right and I have not figured out why it does not work, I could ... Read More »
Tag Archives: Original New York Cheesecake
Feed SubscriptionThe Best Original New York Style Cheesecake!
…at least for me. You guys have no idea how long I have been looking for THE recipe. I absolutely LOVE NY-Style Cheesecake, and THIS recipe is the ULTIMATE! A couple of sneak peaks… Pin It Pin It This is it. I AM IN LOVE. Seriously… 7 years ago I posted this recipe online, and now in 2018, it is ... Read More »


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Home >
News & Policies >
June 2007
For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
June 29, 2007
Statement by Mrs. Bush After Courtesy Call with President and Mrs. Touré of Mali
Bamako, Mali
12:50 P.M. (Local)
MRS. BUSH: Well, I would like to thank President Touré and Mrs. Touré for hosting me on this visit. I want to commend the President for his leadership of Mali.
As a former teacher and librarian, I especially appreciate President and Mrs. Touré's commitment to the education of all the citizens of Mali. And I'm proud that the United States can stand with Mali as we work to make sure citizens are educated through our Africa Education Initiative that President Bush started in a way to make sure girls are educated and that textbooks and teacher training take place in countries that need textbooks and teachers.
Last fall at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, I hosted a White House Conference on Global Literacy. And this fall, Mrs. Touré will host an all-Africa regional summit on Literacy. Both of these conferences are in conjunction with UNESCO and their goal of Literacy for All.
This afternoon we'll visit a school and we'll see some teacher training done via radio -- teacher training via radio, that's supported by the American people through the African Education Initiative.
And then we'll be briefed on the Millennium Challenge Compact that Mali -- between Mali and the United States, and on the infrastructure building that will be a part of that Millennium Challenge Compact.
And, finally, I'm glad that the President's Malaria Initiative will now be active in Mali. I think it's very, very important for all of us to work together, people around the world, to do what we can to eradicate the suffering that's caused by malaria. Our country's -- my country's development initiatives are working here in Mali because of the strength of the Malian government. And so I want to thank President and Mrs. Touré for having me here in Mali, hosting me. And I also want to thank them for the strong friendship between the United States and Mali.
End 12:55 P.M. (Local)


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Hot weather tips keep gardeners safe at work
It's pretty easy to grow plants when water is plentiful, and that's the situation much of the time in Mississippi. But sooner or later, the weather gets hot and dry, and Mississippi gardeners know that we need plants that can thrive in the summer heat.
Mississippi gardeners also must know how to keep themselves safe while working in the heat. Working outdoors for any length of time in the hot sun can take a toll on even the hardiest gardener.
Anyone working in the garden during the summer months needs to pay attention to the dangers of getting overheated while planting those marigolds.
According to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been more than 8,000 heat-related deaths in the country since 1979. These deaths outnumber fatalities from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes and earthquakes combined.
Following some simple advice can help gardeners avoid heat-related problems. Here are some of my tips for summer-season gardening.
If you must work during the heat of the day, try one of the new cooling towels. My wife has used one for a while, and she recently bought me one. You wet the towel, snap it, and it magically provides cooling relief. Repeat as needed. They can be worn in different configurations and also provide skin protection from the sun's rays.
Summer garden chores make me sweat profusely, which is the body's attempt to cool down. To combat this water loss, I drink plenty of cool -- not cold -- water, and I don't wait until I'm thirsty to start. You also need to replace minerals and salts lost through sweat. There are many sport drinks on the market to help with this.
Working in the garden also means you need to protect your skin from the sun. In my younger years, like many gardeners, I didn't pay much attention to the harmful effects of the sun. In the past few years, I've had to deal with some skin cancer, so now I wear sunscreens.
Another tip is to pace yourself and not work outside during the hottest part of the day. More than a few times, I've found myself getting overheated and breathing heavier than I should. Find shade or head into the air conditioning to alleviate these symptoms. Prevention is even better. Restrict garden and landscape activities to the cooler portions of the day: mornings before the sun gets too high and evenings during the setting sun.
Just remember to accept the fact that when gardening in the summer heat, you can't work as fast or get as much done as you can in cooler seasons.


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Showing Collections: 1 - 1 of 1
Martha Barksdale Papers
Identifier: UA 6.004
Scope and Contents
[NOTE: Since the Martha Barksdale diary is fragile, researchers are required to use either the digital verison, the photocopy, or the transcription of the diary.]The papers include Martha Barksdale's diary for 1918-1919, recording her experiences as a member of the first class of women at William and Mary. The bulk of the collection consists of photographs that document student activities and women's sports at the college from her student years to her teaching career. The bulk of...
1918-1974; Majority of material found in 1918-1922
Found in:
Special Collections Research Center


text: Hidden Colors is a documentary about the real and untold history of people of color around the globe. This film discusses some of the reasons the contributions of African and aboriginal people have been left out of the pages of history. Traveling around the country, the film features scholars, historians, and social commentators who uncovered such amazing facts about things such as: The original image of Christ; The true story about the Moors; The original people of Asia; The great west African empires; The presence of Africans in America before Columbus; The real reason slavery was ended And much more. Written by Anonymous


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Donating One's Body to Science
Donating One's Body to Science
Intention Must Be to Serve the Needs of Others
By William E. May
A reader from Ontario, Canada, has written to say: "I have allowed my body at death to be given to science. Is this permissible?"
The short answer is "Yes," if specific conditions are met. To show why, I will review briefly Church teaching on organ donation and comment on this teaching to show its relevance to donating one's body to science. Next, legitimate reasons for donating one's body to science will be given.
It will then be helpful to summarize canons of the Code of Canon Law that must be taken into account and comment on these canons. It will also be important to consider the policies of a person's diocese of residence that are to be observed. I will then provide a concluding summary.
Pope Pius XII
Pope Pius XII, in his May 14, 1956, allocution to a group of eye specialists, suggested: "The public must be educated. It must be explained with intelligence and respect that to consent explicitly or tacitly to serious damage to the integrity of the corpse in the interest of those who are suffering, is no violation of the reverence due to the dead."
This document, written more than a half century ago, does not explicitly address the donation of the bodies of deceased Catholics to medical science. But, if read in the light of an important passage in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we can see that it offers guidance on the question of donating bodies to science.
The passage from the Catechism (referred to now as CCC) will be quoted below, but before citing it and showing how it sheds light on Pope Pius's statement, it is important to see what Blessed John Paul II taught regarding the self-giving of vital organs from the dead.
John Paul II
Blessed John Paul II taught that it is morally permissible to remove the vital organs (e.g., heart, liver, lungs) of a deceased person if there is moral certitude that the person has in fact died and that either the deceased prior to death or those authorized to dispose of his or her body have freely given permission to remove those organs for transplant into a person in need of them in order to preserve their life.
He explicitly taught that the task of determining that a person has died lies within the competence of medical doctors and scientists ("Discourse of John Paul II to the Participants of the Working Group"). During his pontificate, the "neurological" criterion was accepted as one valid criterion for determining death. The Pontifical Academy of Sciences expressed the matter this way: "A person is dead when there has been total and irreversible loss of all capacity for integrating and coordinating physical and mental functions of the body as a unit ("Conclusion of the meeting of the Working Group held at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, October 19-21 1985").
Blessed John Paul II accepted this criterion at the academy's meetings in 1985 and 1989. In his address to the 18th International Congress of the Transplantation Society, Aug. 29, 2000, he once again affirmed that the neurological criterion gives moral certainty that a person has died and that it is morally permissible to remove his vital organs for transplantation.
The following sentence from the CCC is very important: "Autopsies can be morally permitted for legal inquests or scientific research" (No. 2301). If Pius XII's 1956 teaching is read in light of this passage, it is reasonable to conclude that donating one's body to science is in accord with Catholic teaching.
But, the intention of the donor must be to serve the needs of other human persons by making the gift of his body. It would surely be wrong for one to sell one's body to science; in fact, civil law does not permit this according to a brochure on donating bodies to science distributed by the School of Medicine of Georgetown University.
Legitimate Reasons
There are many excellent reasons for doing this, among them the following: to help to train doctors and surgeons, test protective equipment, discover new drugs and dangerous drug interactions, develop and improve the delicate instruments used in surgery, study and treat injuries and diseases, etc.; all of which serve the physical well-being of our fellow man.
Moreover, some persons who had desired to donate vital organs after death — a practice not only permitted, but also praised by the magisterium (Pope John Paul II, Address to the 18th International Congress of the Transplant Society, Aug. 29, 2000) — learn later that for some reasons they would not make good organ donors, but still want to give of themselves to others by donating their bodies to science.
Relevant Canon Law
To understand the proper respect for and treatment of the body after death, it helps to see what relevant canons in the Church's official Code of Canon Law have to tell us. Relevant canons in the Code of Canon Law are Canon 1176, pars. 1 and 3, and Canon 1180.
Canon 1176, par. 1 affirms that deceased Catholics must be given ecclesiastical funerals that are in conformity with ecclesial law. Canon 1176, par. 3 reminds us that the Church recommends the custom of burying the bodies of the departed but does not forbid the cremation of those bodies as long as it was not chosen for reasons contrary to Catholic teaching.
And canon 1180 says that the bodies of the faithful departed should be buried in their parish's own cemetery if the parish has one, but at the same time permits burial in another cemetery if the deceased person or those in charge of his burial have chosen another cemetery legitimately. It then declares that everyone must be allowed to choose the cemetery for burial unless some ecclesiastical law forbids doing so.
Brief comment
Church law does not forbid burying the mortal remains of the faithful departed in non-Catholic cemeteries unless burying in a particular cemetery is contrary to some ecclesiastical law, but it highly recommends that the bodies of the faithful departed be buried in Catholic cemeteries.
Since the institutions to which bodies of the deceased are donated routinely cremate those bodies, unless the donor or his caregivers explicitly want to inter the bodily remains in a grave, Church law regarding cremation is frequently applicable. As we have seen, canon law permits cremation (Canon 1177, 3). Most importantly, the Church teaches, "The bodies of the dead must be treated with respect and with charity in faith and hope of the Resurrection (CCC, No. 2300). This teaching is to be observed whether the bodily or cremated remains of the deceased donor are to be then disposed of in carrying out the expressed desires of the deceased or his family or designated caregivers.
If the remains are cremated, there is no specific law of the universal Church (Canon Law) requiring that they be interred in a cemetery, preferably a Catholic cemetery. But all dioceses in the United States have a policy similar to that of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia: "The practices of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground, or keeping the remains in the home of a relative or friend of the deceased are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires. The cremated remains of a body should be entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium; they may also be buried in a family lot in a cemetery."
According to Rev. John Beal, JCD, professor of canon law at The Catholic University of America, the policy of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, or one very similar to, it is observed in all dioceses in the U.S.
Concluding Summary
The answer to the reader's question is, "Yes," one can give one's body to science, and the Church permits this. It is highly recommended that the bodies be interred in a Catholic cemetery, although there is freedom to choose another cemetery unless a specific ecclesiastical law forbids it. The remains of these bodies, if cremated, ought to be interred in a cemetery.
Although no canon in the Code of Canon Law requires this, U.S. dioceses judge that the reverence due to the remains of a faithful Catholic is not honored if the ashes are scattered at sea or elsewhere or kept in a private home. If plans call for burying the remains of the body donated to science in a non-Catholic cemetery, it is advisable to consult the local diocesan chancery office to find out whether that cemetery is acceptable.
* * *
William E. May, is a Senior Fellow at the Culture of Life Foundation and retired Michael J. McGivney Professor of Moral Theology at the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
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Today, I'm very pleased to reveal the super sexy cover for
Straddling the Edge by Julie Prestsater.
Straddling the Edge is the final book in the Against the Wall series.
Summer McGallian … the scandalous home wrecker from Against the Wall and Between The Sheets. The one who stole her co-worker's fiancé, the other woman, the one people whisper about and stay away from. Only for Summer, things aren't always as they appear and she knows that better than anyone. She hasn't been herself since she was in high school, when life was less complicated and relationships weren't about making compromises to land the guy. When her heart is broken, there's only one thing left for her to do … prove she isn't who everyone thinks she is. And maybe, just maybe, she can get back to being comfortable in her own skin again, without input from a man. But when she encounters Hot Guy, Dean Michaels, everything Summer has ever known about the opposite sex is about to change.
Dean Michaels knew he'd seen her somewhere before. What he never imagined was that the gorgeous woman in a baseball cap and hooded sweatshirt tossing back a beer in his favorite spot could be Summer McGallian—the woman who always looked like she'd stepped off the pages of a glamour magazine when he'd seen her from afar at work. And to make matters worse, she's Chase Marino's ex, the one guy who gets under his skin like no other. If the thought of being someone's bitch in jail wasn't enough to scare him, he would've strangled that bastard years ago and tossed the body in the Mojave Desert. But forget about Chase … Dean knew from the moment he saw Summer's sexy smile and heard her cute laugh, she had to be his. And he won't let anything get in the way of that.
The Against The Wall series isn't just about steamy sex scenes and swoon-worthy romance, but about new friendships, undying love, and a ton of laughter. Enjoy the ride as you get to know and love Summer and Dean, just as you did Shelly and Matt, and Melissa and Tyler, in the final book, Straddling The Edge.
Julie is giving away TWO $25 Gift Cards to Amazon. To enter, obey the Rafflecopter below. :)
a Rafflecopter giveawayJulie is giving away TWO $25 Gift Cards to Amazon. To enter, obey the Rafflecopter below. :)


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We make our efforts to keep you likes constantly but some times due to unknown problems there might be downtimes . We gurantee to add the down time to you subscription. Ie if for a whole day u wont get likes then we will add 1 day to your subscription ! - You must keep you profile as public and not private or else cannot send any autmatic likes
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We keep you up to date on the latest tax changes and news in the industry.
Recent survey results from the Nationwide Retirement Institute shed light on the prevalent concerns surrounding the future of Social Security. Among those aged 50 and above, a staggering 75% worry that Social Security may run out of funds in their lifetimes, a notable increase from the 66% recorded in 2014. This growing apprehension is driven by looming depletion dates for the program's combined funds, projected to be exhausted by 2034.
Addressing the Concerns
While uncertainty abounds, there are proactive steps individuals can take to secure their financial future. Rather than being swayed solely by the negative headlines, consider the following strategies:
1. Personalized Claiming Strategy:
The fear of Social Security depletion has led many to claim benefits before reaching their full retirement age. However, experts emphasize the importance of crafting a strategy based on your unique situation. Even if changes to the program occur, the average retiree is still projected to receive about 77% of their entitled benefits.
2. Understanding the Rules:
Social Security comes with a web of intricate rules, yet only 49% of adults feel confident in maximizing their benefits. Furthermore, a mere 13% correctly identify their full retirement age. To avoid costly misconceptions, it's crucial to familiarize yourself with the program's regulations and consult reliable resources, such as the Social Security Administration.
Tax Implications of Social Security Benefits
Understanding how Social Security benefits are taxed is vital for effective financial planning. The taxation depends on your total income and marital status. Here's a brief overview:
For married couples filing jointly, benefits are taxable if the combined income exceeds $32,000.
Single individuals, heads of household, qualifying widows/widowers with dependent children, and certain married individuals filing separately face taxation if their income exceeds $25,000.
Married individuals filing separately who lived together during the year may find their benefits fully taxable.
For individuals whose Social Security is their primary source of income, it's likely that they won't owe any taxes on it. However, for those with higher incomes, up to 85% of benefits may be subject to taxation.
Non-resident aliens in the U.S. are generally taxed at a 30% rate on 85% of their Social Security benefits. Treaty exemptions may apply depending on their country of origin.
Seek Expert Guidance
Given the complexity and significance of Social Security decisions, seeking professional advice is invaluable. Contact our team with any questions to help you navigate the optimal claiming strategy for your unique circumstances.
Remember, making informed choices now can significantly impact your financial security in the years to come.
Each month, we will send you a roundup of our latest blog content covering the tax and accounting tips & insights you need to know.
We care about the protection of your data.


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Latest Upgraded Design
This newest umbrella adopts inverted design, it makes you getting into car in the rain more easier, the ordinary umbrellas have to close the umbrella before you sit down. You maybe get wet. But with this umbrella, you can keep it up, sit down and pull it into the car after you are safely inside.You will always keep dry.
Our reverse umbrella is different from traditional umbrellas, when close this umbrella, the wet part will be inside of the umbrella, prevents water from dripping, keeping floors and cars dry. It can be put in everywhere.
No more struggling with closing your umbrella before getting in your car, especially during heavy rain. Our umbrella features an innovative auto open/close mechanism, so all you have to do is simply press the button on the handle!
Waterproof, weatherproof and instantly dry, this foldable and durable automatic umbrella shields you from the natural elements like nothing else!
Our umbrella is fortified with 10 reinforced fiberglass ribs that flex slightly to withstand powerful windwithout turning inside out. It is extremely strong!
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UPF>40; AV<5% - Fully blocks heat and harsh UV rays with intensive black vinyl coating; you'll feel cooler in the hot sun.
It's easily collapsible to a small 33cm in length yet opens to form a large 105cm canopy. It also weighs only 0.46 kg. Light & compact enough to fit in yourbackpack or handbag!
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Umbrella's frame is made out of 7075 aluminium alloy with excellent mechanical properties such as high strength and toughness, good ductility and good resistance to fatigue. We use fabric found in the best down jackets to ensures umbrella's wind resistance which is much stronger than regular umbrellas.
2.How heavy is the umbrella?
Our umbrella frame is made of 7075 aluminium, so it's very light! It weighs about 340 grams for the manual one. For the auto ones, we're still testing four solutions. The lightest is 390grams and the heaviest is 450grams. But we are still looking for lighter material to reduce the weight of the auto ones. For sure, all that is under the precondition of offering you the best quality umbrella.
3.How big is the umbrella?
The umbrella's diameter is 105 cm. Its height is 63 cm.


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Treating Hepatitis C Genotype 3: The 2019 update Since mid 2015 when I first began working helping people to access affordable Hepatitis C treatment with generic Hep C drugs …
Join my Hep C Support Group.
Talk privately to other people
with Hep C in a closed group.
Greg Jefferys' blog is provided for informational purposes and is not intended as Medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Whilst Greg Jefferys is doing a PhD it is not in medicine. Any advice offered is offered in good faith and based on an extensive general knowledge of Hepatitis C and access to generic Hepatitis medicines Greg Jefferys has acquired through his work as an advocate and activist
The Hep C Buyers Club is not a company or corporate entity but simply a loose structure intended to offer a free information to people with Hepatitis C
Click here for other books by Greg Jefferys.
I have converted this diary into a kindle book for folk who might like it in that format. I have added a lot more depth than the original diary contains, it's more of a complete story in book format. I have priced it as low as Kindle allows me to @ 99 cents. If you are interested just click here to go to the Kindle page.
If you have any questions please reach out by email, or complete the below form.
Greg Jefferys3439 Channel Highway, Woodbridge, Tasmania, 7161.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Understanding the Problem
The Claim Under Edit report allows the firms to view all of their claims that are currently being edited by users in their firm. Claims in edit mode stay "locked" in the same status for 30 days, as well as any linked claims, until the firm user either submits or cancels the edit. In other words, if a user editing a claim leaves that claim prior to submitting or cancelling their edits, this claim may be prevented from progressing on to the next stage of the claims process for at least 30 days.
For example, in the image above as the firm user begins editing a claim, a banner is displayed notifying the user that the 'Pending edits will be cancelled on 11/7/2020 if not submitted'. As long as the claim is in edit mode, the claim will not progress onto the next step to have a Release Offer generated. This undoubtedly will increase the time it will take for a claim to progress through the necessary steps to receive payment.
To identify claims currently "locked" in edit mode so that the user can either submit or cancel the edits. This process will prevent temporary inactivity and allow the claim to proceed through the normal claim process.
2) This will direct you to the Reports page which displays a list of pre-formatted reports in which everyone in your firm has access to. Click on the Claims Under Edit to begin the reports process.
3) After clicking on this report, a new page will be displayed with a number of criteria to select from. First select the Trust from the trust drop-down. You may only select one Trust at a time.
4) Next, specify the Attorney(s) from the list box or you may select All to run a report for all attorneys in the firm. You may select multiple attorneys by selecting the first one and then holding the <Ctrl> button while selecting other attorneys in the list.
5) Next, enter the minimum number of days that the claim has been in the edit mode and click the Export CSV button. For example, to see all of the claims that are currently in the edit mode, leave the Days Under Edit field blank. This will return all claims that are being edited, even those that have entered the edit mode today.
6) After clicking the Export CSV button, a file will open in a new window which will include the following fields: Trust, Claim Number, Account User, Account Last Name, Account First Name, Account Email, Firm Name, Claim Attorney, Edit Date (+Time), Linked, Status, Queue and Firm File Number.
You have completed the Claims Under Edit Tutorial. We hope that the lesson was informative and helpful. If you would like addition assistance, please contact the Trust at (866) 665-5790. For a printer friendly version of this tutorial click on the link below.


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Austin Subaru Auto Lockout Austin Tx
Austin Tx Automobile Locksmith Services are available 24 hours a day everyday for all types of Automotive Lockout Services. Our Automobile technicians are licensed & insured to provide the best automobile locksmith services. |
2010 © Austin Lockout. All Rights Reserved. | ||||||||
Austin Tx Automobile Lockout | Residential Lockout Austin |


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Provided by Mediant Communications Inc.
Your vote is important and easy to cast using our safe, secure, dependable application. Vote Now!
Enter your control number to:
- Vote your proxy
- Access proxy documents
- Sign-up for e-delivery
- Set preferences for Notice & Access
- Request a Legal Proxy
Please enter your control number to view/cast your vote.
Your control number is located in the shaded gray box on the right side of your proxy card.


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Firewall is a software that acts as a shield between the user's system and external network allowing some packets to pass while discarding other's. Firewall commonly operates on network layer i.e. on IP packets both Ipv4 and Ipv6.
Whether a packet will pass or will be blocked, depends on the rules against such type of packets in the firewall. These rules can be built-in or user-defined ones. Each packet which enters the network has to pass through this shield which verifies it against rules defined in it for such type of packets.
Each rule has a target action which is to be applied in case the packet fails to satisfy it. On Linux systems, firewall as a service is provided by many software, most common which are: firewalld and iptables.
In Linux, there are many different types of firewalls used, but most standard ones are Iptables and Firewalld, which is going to discuss in this article.
What is FirewallD?
FirewallD is the Dynamic Firewall Manager of Linux systems. This service is used to configure the network connections, thus deciding which external network or internal packets to allow traversing the network and which to block.
It allows two types of configurations, permanent and runtime. Runtime configurations will get lost ones the service is restarted while the permanent ones get retained across the system boot so that they are followed every time the service gets active.
Corresponding to these configurations, firewallD has two directories, default/fallback one (/usr/lib/firewall) which is lost one's system is updated and the system configuration (/etc/firewall) which remains permanent and overrides the default one is given. This is found as a default service in RHEL/CentOS 7 and Fedora 18.
What is Iptables?
Iptables is another service which decides to allow, drop or return IP packets. Iptables service manages Ipv4 packets while Ip6tables manages Ipv6 packets. This service manages a list of tables where each table is maintained for different purpose like 'filter' table is for firewall rules, 'nat' table is consulted in case of a new connection, 'mangle' in case of packet alterations and so on.
Each table further has chains which can be built-in or user-defined where a chain signifies a set of rules which are applied to a packet, thus deciding what the target action for that packet should be i.e. it must be ALLOWED, BLOCKED or RETURNED. This service is a default service on systems like RHEL/CentOS 6/5 and Fedora, ArchLinux, Ubuntu etc.
How to Start/Stop and Enable/Disable FirewallD Service
If you're using CentOS/RHEL 7 or Fedora 18+ versions, you should follow below instructions to manage FirewallD service.
Start FirewallD Service
# systemctl start firewalld
Stop FirewallD Service
# systemctl stop firewalld
Check the Status of FirewallD
# systemctl status firewalld
Check the State of FirewallD
# firewall-cmd --state
As an alternative, you can disable the firewalld service so that it doesn't apply rules to packets and enable ones needed again.
Disable FirewallD Service
# systemctl disable firewalld
Enable FirewallD Service
# systemctl enable firewalld
Mask FirewallD Service
# systemctl mask firewalld
Also, you can mask the firewall service which creates a symbolic link of the firewall.service to /dev/null, thus disabling the service.
Unmask FirewallD Service
# systemctl unmask firewalld
This is reverse of masking the service. This removes the symlink of the service created during masking, thus re-enabling the service.
How to Start/Stop and Enable/Disable IPtables Service
On RHEL/CentOS 6/5/4 and Fedora 12-18 iptables firewall comes as pre and later, the iptables service can be installed via:
# yum install iptables-services
Then, the service can be started, stopped or restarted via following commands:
Start Iptables Service
# systemctl start iptables OR # service iptables start
Stop Iptables Service
# systemctl stop iptables OR # service iptables stop
Disable Iptables Service
# systemctl disable iptables Or # service iptables save # service iptables stop
Enable Iptables Service
# systemctl enable iptables Or # service iptables start
Check Status of Iptables Service
# systemctl status iptables OR # service iptables status
On Ubuntu and some other Linux distributions however, ufw is the command which is used to manage the iptables firewall service. Ufw provides an easy interface for the user to handle the iptables firewall service.
Enable Ufw Iptables Firewall
$ sudo ufw enable
Disable Ufw Iptables Firewall
$ sudo ufw disable
Check Status of Ufw Iptables Firewall
# sudo ufw status
However, if you want to list chains in iptables which contains all the rules following command can help you achieve the same:
# iptables -L -n -v
These are the techniques which can help you start, stop, disable and enable the packet management services in Linux Based Systems. Different Linux distros can have different services as default, like: Ubuntu can have iptables as the default and pre-installed service, while CentOS can have firewalld as the default configured service for managing incoming and outgoing of IP packets.


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Big-kid inspired but made just for little ones. The Saucony Jazz Lite toddler sneaker is flexible and lightweight to support first steps and made with adjustable, easy-on closures – to support mom & dad.
- Suede and nylon upper
- Alternative closure for easy on/off and adjustability
- Lightweight rubber out sole for superior flexibility, traction and durability
- Imported
Baby Jazz Lite Blush


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A sealant is a thin, plastic coating applied to the chewing surface of molars, premolars and any deep grooves (called pits and fissures) of teeth. More than 75% of dental decay begins in these deep grooves. Teeth with these conditions are hard to clean and are very susceptible to decay. A sealant protects the tooth by sealing deep grooves, creating a smooth, easy to clean surface.
Sealants can protect teeth from decay for many years, but need to be checked for wear and chipping at regular dental visits.
Reasons for sealants:
What do sealants involve?
Sealants are easily applied by your dentist or dental hygienist and the process takes only a couple of minutes per tooth.
The teeth to be sealed are thoroughly cleaned and then surrounded with cotton to keep the area dry. A special solution is applied to the enamel surface to help the sealant bond to the teeth. The teeth are then rinsed and dried. Sealant material is carefully painted onto the enamel surface to cover the deep grooves or depressions. Depending on the type of sealant used, the material will either harden automatically or with a special curing light.
Proper home care, a balanced diet, and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your new sealants.
Excellent place. Very friendly staff . professional treatment. I recommend creative Smile for all dental needs. Thomas Sebastian
Thomas S.
excellent place. Very clean and friendly staff. Even the kids doesn't mind going. .lol.. I would definitely recommend trying this location
Joyce J.
Site Developed by ProSites.com


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Friendly Aussie Buds aims to be the go-to resource for all things cannabis related in Australia. We focus on education, entertainment, and events, with the aim of furthering the cause of legalisation. We believe in a healthy, positive approach to using cannabis, and strongly advocate for its medicinal and recreational benefits. We hope to entertain as well as inform.
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Guidelines for authors
Please note that there is no direct submission to ACSIS, but instead authors should submit to specific planned volumes and follow instructions provided by their editors.
Formatting instructions
A PDF file is enough for paper submission and evaluation.
When your contribution is accepted in a planned volume, please, upload all your source files (i.e. all files that are necessary and sufficient for reproducing your PDF using standard software) together with PDF in one zip arichive. (Of course, you can use any other standard archiver).
After submitting the article, please, double check, if
- You entered correct title
- You entered correct abstract
- You entered all the authors in correct order
- Names of all authors have all diacritical signs
Please, note that this data can be used for Proceedings on pendrive as well as for IEEEXplore digital library. Specifically, if you made any changes of title, abstract or list of authors in the final version, please inform the series editors or planned volume editors. Alternatively, send modified versions directly to the TeXnical editor.
To ensure that each conference article meets the specifications required by the IEEE Xplore Digital Library (applicable only to selected volumes) and the ACSIS high-quality standards, the final version will be produced from the author's source by our TeXnical editor. To make the processing as fast as possible, authors are kindly requested to follow the following instructions. You can prepare your article in any of the three formats:
- LaTeX (prefered)
- OpenDocument
- MSWord (deprecated)
Please, add a DOI information to your bibiliography using the following format:
Ghosh, M.K., M.L. Harter. 2003. A viral mechanism for remodeling chromatin structure in G0 cells. Mol. Cell. 12:255–260, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1097-2765(03)00225-9
BibTeX users
Sinse IEEEtran.bst does not officially support doi yest, use the myIEEEtran.bst by Gerald Q. "Chip" Maguire Jr. The template for doi in bib file is as follows:
@article{foo2010, author = "Ghosh, M.K., M.L. Harter", journal = "Mol. Cell.", year = 2003, title = "A viral mechanism for remodeling chromatin structure in G0 cells", doi = {10.1016/S1097-2765(03)00225-9}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1097-2765(03)00225-9} }
The LaTeX example with additional instructions (inserting of graphic files, algorithms, programming code fragments, etc) can be found here. Please, use the source of the fedcsis.tex
file as a template for your article. The example uses the standard IEEEtran document class. If it is not yest installed in your system, please download it form here.
When submitting an article in LaTeX, please, provide:
- The source of the article.
- Files of all the inserted graphics.
- PDF file with the article (this file will be sent to the reviewers).
OpenDocument Format
Preparing an article in the OpenDocument Format, please, use the following template and guide. You can refer to the OpenDocument Fellowship site for list of applications that support OpenDocument format.
Use IMCSITTemplate.odt file, included in the template and guide as a template for your contribution. The article elements (titles, abstract, author's name and address, programming code fragments, table and figure captions etc.) should be formated using the corresponding styles (see the documentation). You are not allowed to change explicitly fonts, paragraph formatting. etc.
When submitting an article in OpenDocument Format, please, provide:
The source of the article.
Files of all the inserted graphics.
PDF file with the article. PDF will be sent to the referees.
If you choose MSWord format, please, first of all consider the possibility to switch to LaTeX, which produces perfect platform-independent documents.
To submit an article in MSWord, use the following template and guide. Use the IMCSITTemplateDoc.doc file, included in the template and guide as a template for your contribution. The article elements (titles, abstract, author's name and address, programming code fragments, table and figure captions etc.) should be formated with the corresponding styles (see the documentation). You are not allowed to change explicitly fonts, the paragraph formatting, etc.
Do not try to adjust the format of your article manually. It is better to leave not perfectly formatted text "as is".
You are encouraged to convert the article to OpenDocument format. Please, refer to the OpenDocument Fellowship site for the list of available converters.
Do not use Open XML format (docx extensions)!
When submitting an article in MSWord, please, provide:
- The source of the article.
- Files of all the inserted graphics.
- PDF file with the article. PDF will be sent to the referees.
© 2005–2015 A. Denisiuk
Review process
ACSIS follows single blind review procedure. The names of the reviewers are hidden from the author. This is the traditional method of reviewing and the most common type.
Anti-plagrialism policy
ACSIS will undertake strict actions to prevent plagrialism. The exact policy will be dependent on specific planned volume, however our preferred method is CrossCheck.


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Bryce Canyon Amphitheater
The Bryce Amphitheater area is the most visited section of Bryce Canyon National Park. And it is popular for good reason, since it contains many of the most famous structures in the park. It is also one of the most convenient areas to visit. It is located just southwest of the park visitor center and North Campground. The Bryce Lodge and General Store sit near the canyon rim above this amphitheater. The Sunset Campground is within easy walking distance to the west.
Short spurs from Hwy 63 (the main park road) provide access to popular viewpoints. The park shuttle stops at each of these viewpoints.
The Bryce Amphitheater is one of a series of "breaks" eroded into the eastern slope of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. The rock that caps the plateau has a pink hue and it varies considerably in terms of hardness. Over millions of years, softer spots have eroded away. Harder rock has remained and has been chiseled by wind and water into interesting shapes - the cliffs, hoodoos and castles that make Bryce famous.
View Points
That erosive action produced the Pink Cliffs, which run roughly north-south through the center of the national park. Hwy 63 stays on top of the plateau and runs parallel to the cliffs. Spur roads run out to viewpoints on the rim. From north to south, the major viewpoints in the Bryce Amphitheater are Sunrise Point, Sunset Point, Inspiration Point, and Bryce Point.
Each vista provides incredible views out over the Bryce Amphitheater. Photo opportunities are excellent in every area. Sunrise and sunset are key times when the quality of light is rich and the parks features explode into a kaleidoscope of colors. Most of the famous photos of Bryce Canyon were taken in the early morning or late evening hours.
Is Sunrise Point best at sunrise and Sunset Point more beautiful at sunset? Not necessarily. All of the points are spectacular at these times. At Bryce Canyon, you'll get good photos no matter which rock you stand on.
The Rim Trail
The Rim Trail follows the edge of the cliff above the Bryce Amphitheater, extending for about 5.5 miles. It connects points that overlook the amphitheater and then runs up to Fairyland Point on the north. The Bryce shuttle stops at all but Fairyland Point, so visitors can hike one-way between the points. Here are distances along the Rim Trail:
2.8 miles from Fairyland to Sunrise Point
0.5 miles from Sunrise Point to Sunset Point
0.7 miles from Sunset Point to Inspiration Point
1.5 miles from Inspiration Point to Bryce Point
The Rim Trail is mostly flat between Sunset and Sunrise points; it is suitable for wheelchairs. There are steep sections between the other points and so they are considered moderately difficult hiking.
Hiking one way along the length of the trail takes most people 2-3 hours. Total elevation ascent/descent is 1,754 feet.
Several trails drop down into the Bryce Amphitheater, so you can get right up close to the hoodoos and other structures.
The Queens Garden Trail
The Queens Garden is the easiest trail that descends below the Bryce Rim. The trailhead is at Sunrise Point. You can hike down and then return the way you came in, hiking as far as you are comfortable. You can also connect with the Navajo Loop Trail for a longer hike. The Queens Garden Trail provides great views of strangely shaped rock formations that were named by people with vivid imaginations. These formations include the Queens Castle and Queen Victoria. The trail extends for 1.7 miles one way. Total elevation ascent/descent is only 320 feet. Most people take 1-2 hours to hike one way along the trail.
The Navajo Loop Trail
The Navajo Loop Trail also drops down into the amphitheater. It passes through "Wall Street," a narrow slot between sheer cliffs, with towering Douglas fir trees growing along the trail. It provides outstanding views of much-photographed Thor's Hammer - a tall, narrow pinnacle with a narrower neck, supporting a large hammerhead-like rock.
Looking west from the trail you have grand views into the "Silent City" where rock structures resemble towers and buildings and temples. To the east, you can see the "Temple of Osiris." (Osiris is the Egyptian god of the afterlife.)
The Navajo Loop Trail extends for 1.3 miles, starting and ending at Sunset Point, with an ascent/descent of 550 feet. Most people take 1-2 hours to hike this trail.
Combining the Navajo Loop with the Queens Garden Trail, you can hike for 2.9 miles, looping from Sunrise to Sunset points. The combined trail has an ascent/descent of 580 feet. We recommend starting at Sunset Point because the slope up to Sunrise Point is more gradual and therefore easier. Most people take 2-3 hours to do the combined trails.
Amphitheater | Photo Gallery
Bryce Canyon National Park


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Long-term Care
For those living with a chronic condition that requires continuous medical monitoring and care, we provide a residential setting in which to continue leading a life of purpose and enjoyment. Our full range of activities and amenities create an environment where residents can continue to learn, socialize and explore in a setting that emphasizes style and comfort.
Our team works with each individual and their physician(s) to develop a comprehensive plan of care, which may include medical treatment, medications, rehabilitation, and restorative services. Our goal is to work with you and your physician during your stay to adapt your plan of care to respond to changes in your health needs.


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Velocity Wipes are moist golf club cleaning towels which come in a dispenser similar to what you'd see baby wipes come in, only much bigger.
I'm not sure what kind of magic chemical they're soaked in, but these babies clean clubs better than hot soapy water with a steel brush. The wipes easily clean the grass stains off my irons and woods (no I don't have grass stains on my driver). Even dirt and grass stains which seemed tough to remove from the grooves of my irons via a steel brush were removed (or are they dissolved?) with very little elbow grease. The less elbow grease the better for guys like me who have golfer's elbow.
Velocity Wipes are truly amazing. Even with the most intense scrubbing with warm soapy water my irons don't end up with a shine close to when I use the Velocity Wipes. I know it sounds cliche' but my irons haven't looked this good since they were new. They look brand new now.
As strong as the chemical in the VW's must be I started to worry that it might eat the skin right off my hands. I can say that the skin on my hands is still there and I've not had even the slightest bit of irritation. So whatever they are using it's amazing at cleaning clubs but is harmless when it comes to your skin.
Perhaps it's in my head, but not only do the VW's clean the clubs better than anything I've ever tried but they stay clean longer too. 2-3 rounds after I first cleaned my irons they still seemed to shine more than normal.
Velocity Wipes do an amazing job cleaning your clubs with very little effort. One wipe can do your whole set of clubs, leaving them practically as clean and shiny as the day they were new.
[…] Shoe Tool (golf shoe cleaner) 2. Flexie Tee (cool reuseable tees) 3. Velocity Wipes (club cleaner) 4. TheFloppy (indoor golf balls) 5. Bonus: Hooked On Golf Blog/The Golf Space golf […]


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2 Maccabees 4
1 But Simon, of whom we spoke before, and of his country, spoke ill of Onias, as though he had incited Heliodorus to do these things, and had been the promoter of evils:
2 And he presumed to call him a traitor to the kingdom, who provided for the city, and defended his nation, and was zealous for the law of God.
3 But when the enmities proceeded so far, that murders also were committed by some of Simon's friends:
4 Onias considering the danger of this contention, and that Apollonius, who was the governor of Celesyria and Phenicia, was outrageous, which increased the malice of Simon, went to the king,
5 Not to be an accuser of his countrymen, but with a view to the common good of all the people.
6 For he saw that, except the king took care, it was impossible that matters should be settled in peace, or that Simon would cease from his folly.
7 But after the death of Seleucus, when Antiochus, who was called the Illustrious, had taken possession of the kingdom, Jason the brother of Onias ambitiously sought the high priesthood:
8 And went to the king, promising him three hundred and sixty talents of silver, and out of other revenues fourscore talents.
9 Besides this he promised also a hundred and fifty more, if he might have license to set him up a place for exercise, and a place for youth, and to entitle them, that were at Jerusalem, Antiochians.
10 Which when the king had granted, and he had gotten the rule into his hands, forthwith he began to bring over his countrymen to the fashion of the heathens.
11 And abolishing those things, which had been decreed of special favour by the kings in behalf of the Jews, by the means of John the father of that Eupolemus, who went ambassador to Rome to make amity and alliance, he disannulled the lawful ordinances of the citizens, and brought in fashions that were perverse.
12 For he had the boldness to set up, under the very castle, a place of exercise, and to put all the choicest youths in brothel houses.
13 Now this was not the beginning, but an increase, and progress of heathenish and foreign manners, through the abominable and unheard of wickedness of Jason, that impious wretch and no priest.
14 Insomuch that the priests were not now occupied about the offices of the altar, but despising the temple and neglecting the sacrifices, hastened to be partakers of the games, and of the unlawful allowance thereof, and of the exercise of the discus.
15 And setting nought by the honours of their fathers, they esteemed the Grecian glories for the best:
16 For the sake of which they incurred a dangerous contention, and followed earnestly their ordinances, and in all things they coveted to be like them, who were their enemies and murderers.
17 For acting wickedly against the laws of God doth not pass unpunished: but this the time following will declare.
18 Now when the game that was used every fifth year was kept at Tyre, the king being present,
19 The wicked Jason sent from Jerusalem sinful men to carry three hundred didrachmas of silver for the sacrifice of Hercules; but the bearers thereof desired it might not be bestowed on the sacrifices, because it was not necessary, but might be deputed for other charges.
20 So the money was appointed by him that sent it to the sacrifice of Hercules: but because of them that carried it was employed for the making of galleys.
21 Now when Apollonius the son of Mnestheus was sent into Egypt to treat with the nobles of king Philometor, and Antiochus understood that he was wholly excluded from the affairs of the kingdom, consulting his own interest, he departed thence and came to Joppe, and from thence to Jerusalem:
22 Where he was received in a, magnificent manner by Jason, and the city, and came in with torch lights, and with praises, and from thence he returned with his army into Phenicia.
23 Three years afterwards Jason sent Menelaus, brother of the aforesaid Simon, to carry money to the king, and to bring answers from him concerning certain necessary affairs.
24 But he being recommended to the king, when he had magnified the appearance of his power, got the high priesthood for himself, by offering more than Jason by three hundred talents of silver.
25 So having received the king's mandate, he returned bringing nothing worthy of the high priesthood: but having the mind of a cruel tyrant, and the rage of a savage beast.
26 Then Jason, who had undermined his own brother, being himself undermined, was driven out a fugitive into the country of the Ammonites.
27 So Menelaus got the principality: but as for the money he had promised to the king he took no care, when Sostratus the governor of the castle called for it.
28 For to him appertained the gathering of the taxes: wherefore they were both called before the king.
29 And Menelaus was removed from the priesthood, Lysimachus his brother succeeding: and Sostratus was made governor of the Cyprians.
30 When these things were in doing, it fell out that they of Tharsus and Mallos raised a sedition, because they were given for a gift to Antiochis, the king's concubine.
31 The king therefore went in all haste to appease them, leaving Andronicus, one of his nobles, for his deputy.
32 Then Menelaus supposing that he had found a convenient time, having stolen certain vessels of gold out of the temple, gave them to Andronicus, and others he had sold at Tyre, and in the neighbouring cities.
33 Which when Onias understood most certainly, he reproved him, keeping himself in a safe place at Antioch beside Daphne.
34 Whereupon Menelaus coming to Andronicus, desired him to kill Onias. And he went to Onias, and gave him his right hand with an oath, and (though he were suspected by him) persuaded him to come forth out of the sanctuary, and immediately slew him, without any regard to justice.
35 For which cause not only the Jews, but also the other nations, conceived indignation, and were much grieved for the unjust murder of so great a man.
36 And when the king was come back from the places of Cilicia, the Jews that were at Antioch, and also the Greeks went to him: complaining of the unjust murder of Onias.
37 Antiochus therefore was grieved in his mind for Onias, and being moved to pity, shed tears, remembering the sobriety and modesty of the deceased.
38 And being inflamed to anger, he commanded Andronicus to be stripped of his purple, and to be led about through all the city: and that in the same place wherein he had committed the impiety against Onias, the sacrilegious wretch should be put to death, the Lord repaying him his deserved punishment.
39 Now when many sacrileges had been committed by Lysimachus in the temple by the counsel of Menelaus, and the rumour of it was spread abroad, the multitude gathered themselves together against Lysimachus, a great quantity of gold being already carried away.
40 Wherefore the multitude making an insurrection, and their minds being filled with anger, Lysimachus armed about three thousand men, and began to use violence, one Tyrannus being captain, a man far gone both in age, and in madness.
41 But when they perceived the attempt of Lysimachus, some caught up stones, some strong clubs: and some threw ashes upon Lysimachus,
42 And many of them were wounded, and some struck down to the ground, but all were put to flight: and as for the sacrilegious fellow himself, they slew him beside the treasury.
43 Now concerning these matters, an accusation was laid against Menelaus.
44 And when the king was come to Tyre, three men were sent from the ancients to plead the cause before him.
45 But Menelaus being convicted, promised Ptolemee to give him much money to persuade the king to favour him.
46 So Ptolemee went to the king in a certain court where he was, as it were to cool himself, and brought him to be of another mind:
47 So Menelaus who was guilty of all the evil, was acquitted by him of the accusations: and those poor men, who, if they had pleaded their cause even before Scythians, should have been judged innocent, were condemned to death.
48 Thus they that prosecuted the cause for the city, and for the people, and the sacred vessels, did soon suffer unjust punishment.
49 Wherefore even the Tyrians being moved with indignation, were liberal towards their burial.
50 And so through the covetousness of them that were in power, Menelaus continued in authority, increasing in malice to the betraying of the citizens.


text:
Vegetable Pork Shumai
Saturday, March 12th, 2011This is a recipe that I don't make often, and when I do I choose a day when I know I have plenty of time. I also make a gargantuan batch so I have plenty for the freezer. This is one of my youngest son's favorites, and I've been known to get up early to steam some of these yummy little bits so he can take them to school in his thermos for lunch.
There are two menus I prepare for my family so I have the necessary leftovers for making shumai. First, I get a 4 pound pork tenderloin roast and roast it in the oven, as well as an assortment of veggies. One of our favorites is squash and apples. The next meal I fix is an Asian chicken salad using a portion of a large head of napa cabbage. I'll try to blog that recipe at a later date. Measurements given below are approximate for an average batch, but I never follow them and I always make way more. Any type of mushroom will work. I prefer shiitake, but they can be expensive and are not always available in the markets in my area. This time I found some very reasonably priced, beautiful organic baby bella mushrooms.
Vegetable Pork Shumai
Cooked pork, ground in food processor
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, chopped
2 cups shredded napa cabbage
2 teaspoons sesame oil
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and grated
2-3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
Wonton wrappers
Dipping Sauce
1/2 cup reduced sodium soy sauce
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1 garlic clove, minced
2 or 3 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and grated
Maple syrup or honey to taste
I make the dipping sauce the day before so it will have plenty of time for the flavors to blend. Simply mix the ingredients together and store in a jar in the refrigerator.
Here's a picture of the consistency I like the pork to be ground. I want it fine enough that the finished filling will hold together, but still coarse enough that the pork can be identified in the mixture.
I chop the veggies at this consistency.
Once all of the grinding, chopping, dicing, and shredding is completed it's time to prepare the filling for the shumai. Heat sesame oil over medium heat. Add mushrooms, onion, and ginger. Cook until onions and mushrooms are softened. Add cabbage and continue cooking until cabbage has softened and reduced significantly. Add ground pork and hoisin sauce and mix thoroughly. I don't measure my hoisin sauce. I add it a dollop at a time until the ingredients are coated and the mixture tastes appropriately seasoned. Take the mixture off the heat and allow it to cool until it can be handled comfortably.
This is one of the ways I assemble my shumai. I find it the fastest way to put them together if I'm going to steam them immediately. If I'm going to freeze them, then I fold them up using a samosa (with a twist) wonton fold. The link shows a number of different wonton folds, and one of these days I'm going to get around to trying more of them. I've also used this filling to make egg rolls. For egg rolls I tend to use a larger proportion of cabbage in the mixture.
Once the shumai are assembled, I place them in my Bamboo Steamer and steam for about 6 minutes. I use a double decker steamer basket so I steam them for 3 minutes, reverse the top and bottom baskets, and steam for an additional 3 minutes. Serve with dipping sauce. My family enjoys steamed rice and some homemade eggdrop soup with our shumai.


text:
For the last six years, the posting of salaries from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has been accompanied by reader queries about a similar database for nearby districts. Now we've got the 2013 payroll data for Cabarrus, Catawba, Gaston, Hickory, Iredell-Statesville, Lincoln, Mooresville City and Union schools.
Thanks to database reporter Gavin Off for collecting this information. We tried it last year but ran into accuracy problems when one district calculated 10-month salaries as 12 months, inflating the annual pay for many employees. That's ironed out now, but if you see any new issues, contact Gavin at email@example.com.
Because this database includes several districts, there's not a drop-down menu of schools and departments. If you're having trouble finding a listing you're looking for, I'd suggest searching the district first and scanning to see how things are labeled.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Salaries available for eight more school districts
28 comments:
- Anonymous said...
What's the big deal about knowing how much money your friends and neighbors make? Seems like an invasion of privacy to me. Surprised the Observer hasn't been taken to court over this.
- April 19, 2013 at 10:27 AM
- Ghoul said...
They are all public employees, and their pay is public information. All they are doing here is compiling that information into one database that can be easily search.
- April 19, 2013 at 10:36 AM
- Anonymous said...
Who cares what the neighboring counties pay their employees? Their cost of living is less along with their classroom sizes. What does CMS pay and what level of education do they provide is the question. We know the other counties do a better job and pay more. As a CMS parent I see great teachers leave every year to go to those other districts. Seems they value great educators more? Maybe Heath should do a study on that.
- April 19, 2013 at 11:01 AM
- Anonymous said...
Oh good! Now everyone can see what I mean when I say my pay is too high and the raises keep rolling in. 30800 holding steady after 5 years in the "most important job in the world". It truly is the great equalizer.
- April 19, 2013 at 12:49 PM
- Mr. Yamo said...
Go ahead. Look at my salary. See why I have 2 part time jobs even though I have 10 years experience in teaching (CMS,Iredell,now Union). It's frustrating to see this database in lieu of the magnitude of what we do and what we are responsible for on a daily basis. I hope State legislators see this database to re-educate themselves as to why and how we teachers have been so devalued.
- April 19, 2013 at 1:43 PM
- Anonymous said...
Consider the source.
Doss is low class.
Where are the Observer salaries including hers?
Hippo - April 19, 2013 at 2:16 PM
- Anonymous said...
This is irresponsible journalism plain and simple. I agree that the public should know what teachers are paid for the simple fact that their salaries are drawn from public funds; however CMS and most other districts include the current teachers' pay scale on their websites. As a member of the tax paying private sector I can see how much a teacher with "X" amount of years makes without accessing their name in a database. You claim to be an advocate for education however this is disrespectful to the people who educate our children. Instead of taking the easy way out of writing an article, how about performing some research and providing statistical analysis on which groups (admin, teachers, assistants, etc.)are absorbing which portion of the overall payroll and then compare that data to other large school systems. That would actually qualify you as a journalist instead of the typical embarrassment that is your writing. - April 19, 2013 at 2:52 PM
- Anonymous said...
I have no problem with the public seeing how much we make as teachers. I want everybody to see how little I make while they look me up.
- April 19, 2013 at 3:22 PM
- Ann Doss Helms said...
2:52, the database is just that -- raw data. I just posted a story looking at some of what it means, but providing everyone with access means you're not limited to my take on it.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/04/19/3992500/higher-pay-bigger-teacher-bonuses.html - April 19, 2013 at 4:57 PM
- Anonymous said...
What was the purpose in publishing public employee's salaries? Was there a point to this? Is it to show how little the majority of teachers are paid? Is it to convince our legislators to pay us more?
While I agree and understand that as public school employees, our salaries and work locations are accessible and in a public database. However, who actually thinks of looking this up? I never have. But now that's published and given a link, people are now much more likely to want to check it out.
I agree- I do feel like it's an invasion of privacy. No one needs to see what my salary is. I am proud to see my name and "teacher" next to it, but quite honestly, it's an embarrassment to see what the State of NC thinks I'm worth by putting my salary next to my name.
In a time when teachers are made to feel devalued, this was not the time to publish this article. - April 19, 2013 at 5:18 PM
- Anonymous said...
Public money is obviously used to pay all public employees and this allows access to their salaries along with other personal information. In the current climate, those employees deserve more privacy than they are afforded by state law. This practice leads many to the private sector whereas their professional gift may be in teaching or other public service areas. Where is the database I may access to look at the salaries and incomes of those who construct those laws? Oh, that one doesn't exist does it? I'm sure it will just as soon as we have access to one containing the salaries of all Observer employees.
- April 19, 2013 at 5:18 PM
- Anonymous said...
North Carolina currently ranks 46 out of 50 states in average teacher pay. This is certainly nothing to be proud of for a state that wants to promote itself as a progressive leader. Teachers deserve better pay, and quite frankly it's an embarrassment for their informatiom to be published. Most people don't enter the field for the pay (see 46 out of 50), and those who do probably don't last long. Most teachers, like many government employees, enter the profession as a calling and continue to strive for excellence even if they are not shown appreciation for their efforts.
- April 19, 2013 at 5:27 PM
- Anonymous said...
Nice try. Now where is your salary raw data?
Matter fact we want everyone's salary employed by McClatchy Media Corp out of Sacramento California who owns the CO and include all the janitors and scrubs who write sports columns. Fair is fair.
CMS AP - April 19, 2013 at 5:27 PM
- Anonymous said...
The data base is unclear because it makes it look like the supplement is in addition to the salary. The salary includes the supplement. This is embarrassing. When I was growing up, my parents taught me that it was rude to ask the amount of someone's pay. This disgusts me.
- April 19, 2013 at 5:53 PM
- Anonymous said...
This is insulting and degrading. Yes, public school employees' salaries are public information. So if someone wants to know, they can ask. But posting it bluntly for the world to have immediate access? That's entertainment. Teachers are bashed enough with constant paycuts, declining benefits, increased workload... There is no journalism here. Where is the list with your salary? Shame on you.
- April 19, 2013 at 5:56 PM
- Anonymous said...
My favorite part of this exposure every few years is the potential for some kid to make a comment...maybe not even meant rudely after he looks up his teacher's salary. Oh wait...that actually happened...TODAY.
Thanks, Ann! - April 19, 2013 at 6:06 PM
- Anonymous said...
I'm a teacher, and even though it's good people realize how our salaries are frozen, and how they aren't coherent with the amount of work we have, in addition to the little respect we get from our students; I want my privacy! A student in detention was making comments the other day how much his parents made in comparison to a teacher's salary; and I just told him "with more reason you should respect your teacher, because if she's in that classroom is not for the money, that's for sure!" Unfortunately some people teach their children how little a teacher matters, it's like the respect towards us depends on how much we make.
- April 19, 2013 at 8:56 PM
- Anonymous said...
I hope you have read the comments on this board. While I realize you have attempted to justify your actions, it is obvious that both educators and the community as a whole are disgusted.
When I come home at night I always want to be able to look at my family and say I acted morally and with the best interest of my community in mind. Ann, when you see your family tonight please let them know that you completely lack integrity and respect for others.
To the management at the Observer; please consider replacing Ann with someone who is above tabloid journalism. - April 19, 2013 at 9:27 PM
- Anonymous said...
So Ann,
How much do you make? I don't care how much my fellow educators make, I doubt my parents care how much I make, I doubt my kids care how much I make, yet you felt it important enough to include me in your fantastic article. Dang way to make me feel special.
One More Teacher You Just Pissed Off - April 19, 2013 at 10:04 PM
- Anonymous said...
Geez everybody, give Ann a break. As a lifelong republican and teacher who is absolutely embarressed by Gov Pat, Art Pope, and the legislature. They certainly have opened my eyes and hopefully yours on how they feel about public education with their actions. Just look at what is currently being voted on in the state house and senate. It's the republicans who in most cases want these stats out to reveal all the waste in government. Well I can tell you it isn't in public education.
When I see 45 of the 66 certified staff at my school (a very high performing school) make less than $40,000 it frankly is embarressing to this state. We have good people who want to stay in this great profession, but simply are looking for a way out due to people like Art Pope, Pat, and Sen. Berger. This embarressment called teacher pay in NC needs to get all of the publicity it can. I assure you the republicans have no desire to improve teacher pay and if we let them they will get away with what they are currently doing. - April 19, 2013 at 10:11 PM
- Anonymous said...
So...what you are saying is that you trolled the salaries of your colleagues?
- April 19, 2013 at 11:06 PM
- Anonymous said...
Geez, this has been in the paper every year for nearly a decade. Where have you folks been? It doesn't make any difference to the General Assembly no matter which denomination is in power. It didn't make any difference back in the eighties when the steps were frozen. It didn't make any difference when my starting salary in NC was $7,000. It didn't make any difference when I retired because the replacements are cheaper. You are not valued, you are not respected, and most importantly, like the private sector, you need to be eliminated or replaced by technology. If you want to make a political and moral statement in this future educational cesspool, get a student off their phone for a few minutes to design a new logo for your Scarlet Letter...............
Wear it proudly.
The General Assembly does. - April 20, 2013 at 4:44 AM
- Anonymous said...
AA = Answers Ann
Chief Information
Chief Communication
= Over $300,000
Are you jealous?
Find Answers Ann ! - April 20, 2013 at 9:36 AM
- Anonymous said...
Stick that morale survey where the sun doesnt shine !
What a corrupt system. Some teachers and employees getting $18,000 bonuses! What a slap in the face to those not in Title I schools and work just as hard if not harder. Principals giving these types of bonuses?!!?
I have been in this district a little over 20 years. That article makes me want to LEAVE !!!!!!!!! - April 20, 2013 at 9:47 AM
- Anonymous said...
I know for a fact some of this data is not accurate. Some people are not in the data base. Some amounts are incorrect.
- April 20, 2013 at 10:27 AM
- Daune Gardner said...
What would be more helpful than a granular exposure of individuals' paychecks would be an analysis of this data in conjunction with other key data such as graduation rates, cost of operations, etc. Outrage without understanding diminishes the ability to thoughtfully seek better solutions.
- April 20, 2013 at 11:15 AM
- Ann Doss Helms said...
10:27, please email Gavin to tell him about inaccuracies. In past years I've had to straighten out errors in the CMS listings. It wouldn't surprise me if there are some problems in the others, but we have to know what to look at.
- April 20, 2013 at 4:10 PM
- Tamara said...
Nationwide directory of links to federal, state, county and municipal government salary and employee name databases:
http://pibuzz.com/government-employees/ - April 26, 2013 at 5:56 PM


text:
This was originally written and posted in 2008:
I just found out that Gary Gygax died. He was only 69.
I failed my save vs. stunning blow, so forgive me if this isn't the most polished thing in the world.
For most geeks, RPGs are a huge part of who we are, and many of the games I've loved -- and continue to love -- probably wouldn't exist as they do without Gary Gygax. The news reports are calling him "the father of D&D," but he was really the father of all role playing games, whether they were played with dice and paper, a deck of cards, or on a computer. Yeah, wargames existed before D&D, and fantasy existed before D&D, but D&D is the game that introduced fantasy gaming to my generation.
I didn't know him, and never met him, but his impact upon my life can't be overstated.
To honor his passing, I'd like to share an excerpt from A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Geek, from Happiest Days of Our Lives:
December, 1983
I sat on the floor in Aunt Val's house and opened up her Christmas present to me. It was a red box with a really cool-looking dragon on the front of it. Inside, there were a few books, some dice, a map, and a crayon to color in the dice.
"That's a game that I hear lots of kids like to play, Willow," she said. "It's dragons and wizards and those things you liked from The Hobbit. The back says you use your imagination, and I know what a great imagination you have." My brother played with Legos and my cousins played with handheld electronic games. I felt a little gypped.
"Wow," I said, masking my disappointment. "Thanks, Aunt Val!"
Later, while the other kids played with Simon and Mattel Electronic Football, I sat near the fireplace and examined my gift. It said that I could be a wizard or a fighter, but there weren't any pieces that looked like that. There were a lot of weird dice, but I had to color in the numbers. That seemed silly, but at least it was something to do, so I grabbed the black crayon and rubbed it over the pale blue dice, just like the instructions said.
Aunt Val (who was my favorite relative in the world throughout my entire childhood and right up until she died a few years ago) walked into the living room. "What do you think, Willow?"
"I colored the dice," I said, and showed her the result. "But I haven't read the book yet."
She patted my leg. "Well, I hope you like it." She moved to the other side of the room, where my cousin Jack poked at a Nintendo Game and Watch.
I opened the Player's Guide and began to read.
February, 1984
It was afternoon PE in fifth grade, and I was terrified. I ran and jumped and ducked, surrounded by a jeering crowd of my classmates. The PE teacher did nothing to stop the attack – and, in fact, encouraged it.
"Get him!" someone yelled as I fell to the asphalt, small rocks digging into my palms. I breathed hard. Through my adrenaline-fueled flight-or-fight response, the world slowed, the jeering faded, and I wondered to myself why our playground was just a parking lot and why we had to wear corduroy pants in the middle of a Southern California heat wave. Before I could offer any answers, a clear and loud voice spoke from within my head. "Hey," it said. "You'd better get up and move, or you're dead."
I nodded my head and looked up in time to see the red playground ball, spinning in slow motion, as the word "Voit" rotated into view. Pain exploded across my face and a mighty cheer erupted from the crowd. The PE teacher blew her whistle.
I don't know how I managed to be the last kid standing on our team. I usually ran right to the front of the court so I could get knocked out quickly and (hopefully) painlessly before the good players got worked up by the furor of battle and started taking head shots, but I'd been stricken by a bout of temporary insanity – possibly caused by the heat – on this February day, and I'd actually played to win the game, using a very simple strategy: run like hell and hope to get lucky.
I blinked back tears as I looked up at Jimmie Just, who had delivered the fatal blow. Jimmie was the playground bully. He spent as much time in the principal's office as he did in our classroom, and he was the most feared dodgeball player at the Lutheran School of the Foothills.
He laughed at me, his long hair stuck to his face in sweaty mats, and sneered. "Nice try, Wil the Pill."
I picked myself up off the ground, determined not to cry. I sucked in deep breaths of air through my nose.
Mrs. Cooper, the PE teacher, walked over to me. "Are you okay, Wil?" she asked.
"Uh-huh," I lied. Anything more than that and I risked breaking down into humiliating sobs that would follow me around the rest of the school year, and probably on into sixth grade.
"Why don't you go wash off your face," she said, not unkindly, "and sit down for a minute."
"Okay," I said. I walked slowly across the blacktop to the drinking fountains. Maybe if I really took my time, I could run out the clock and I wouldn't have to play another stupid dodgeball game.
January, 1984
Papers scattered across my bed appeared to be homework to the casual observer, but to me they were people. A thief, a couple of wizards, some fighters: a party of adventurers who desperately wanted to storm The Keep on the Borderlands. But without anyone to guide them, they sat alone, trapped in the purgatory of my bedroom, straining behind college-ruled blue lines to come to life.
I tried to recruit my younger brother to play with me, but he was 7, and more interested in Monchichi. The kids in my neighborhood were more interested in football and riding bikes, so I was left to read through module B2 by myself, wandering the Caves of Chaos and dodging Lizard Men alone.
February, 1984
I washed my face and drank deeply from the drinking fountain. By the time I made it back to the benches along the playground's southern edge, I'd lost the urge to cry, but my face radiated enough heat to compete with the blistering La Crescenta sun.
I sat down near Simon Teele, who, thanks to the wonders of alphabetization, ended up with me and Harry Yan (the school's lone Asian kid) on field trips, on fire drills, and in chapel. Simon was taller than all of us, wore his hair down into his face, and really kept to himself. He was reading an oversized book that sort of looked like a textbook, filled with charts and tables.
We weren't officially friends, but I knew him well enough to make polite conversation.
"Hey," I said. "Why don't you have to play dodgeball?"
"Asthma," he said.
"Lucky," I said. "I hate dodgeball."
"Everyone hates dodgeball," he said, "except Jimmie Just."
"Yeah," I said, relieved to hear someone else say out loud what I'd been thinking since fourth grade.
"Hey," I said. "What are you reading?"
He held up the book and I saw its cover: a giant statue, illuminated by torches, sat behind an archway. Two guys were on its head, prying loose one of its jeweled eyes, as a group of people stood at the base. One was clearly a wizard; another was obviously a knight.
"Player's Handbook," he said. "Do you play D&D?"
I gasped. According to our ultra-religious school, D&D was Satanic. I looked up for teachers, but none were nearby. A hundred feet away on the playground, another game of dodgeball was underway. I involuntarily flinched when I heard the hollow pang! of the ball as it skipped off the ground.
"You're going to get in trouble if you get caught with that," I said.
"No, I won't," he said. "If I just keep it turned upside down, they'll never see it. So do you play or not?"
"I have the red box set," I said, "and a bunch of characters, but I don't have anyone to play with."
"That's Basic," he said. "This is Advanced."
"But if you want, you could come over to my house this weekend and we could play."
I couldn't believe my good luck. With a dodgeball to the face, Fate put me on the bench next to the kid who, over the next few months, helped me take my first tentative steps down the path to geekdom. He had a ton of AD&D books: the Dungeon Master's Guide, which had a truly terrifying demon on the cover, and would result in certain expulsion if seen at school; the Monster Manual, which was filled with dragons; and the Fiend Folio, which not only had demons and devils, but a harpy and a nymph, accompanied by a drawing of a naked woman! with boobs!!
Simon's parents were divorced, and he lived with his mom in a huge house in La Canada. His room was filled with evidence of a custody Cold War. Too many toys to count littered the floor and spilled out of the closet, but even though we were surrounded by Atari and Intellivision, GI Joe and Transformers, we had D&D fever, and the only prescription was more polyhedral dice.
Of all the things I do that make me a geek, nothing brings me as much joy as gaming. It all started with the D&D Basic Set, and today it takes an entire room in my house to contain all of my books, boxes, and dice.
Thank you for giving us endless worlds to explore, Gary Gygax. Rest in peace.


text:
One of my favorite things in the world is to paint in watercolors. I just love to see the paint flow on the paper, and how little blots of color slowly mix with each other to create beautiful shapes that turn into flowers, cats, girls and landscapes. It's magical.
I also love beautiful things. They bring joy to my heart and fill me with happiness. I wanted to paint beautiful things using beautiful things, so I created a series of artist palettes to be used on my studio, and today I am sharing some of them with you.
After all, what better way to find inspiration than by using beautiful things to create even more beautiful things?
You are looking at an original handmade ceramic artist color palette by Idania Salcido, the artist behind Danita Art. Each palette is a unique work of art on itself, designed and hand built by me, Idania Salcido. It will add a beautiful handmade touch to any artist's studio, and it's cute details and handmade paint wells will let your inspiration flow freely.
They are made of glazed ceramic to hold your favorite medium. I prefer watercolors, but they can also hold acrylics, inks and oil paints, and can be easily cleaned with water or mineral spirits.
It will feel just a home in your studio or paint area, it has felt pads on the bottom to protect delicate surfaces when used, and a beautiful hand sculpted figurine as decoration and well as means to hold your brushes as you paint :)