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Holly Masterson's neat shingled home has nautical charts pinned to the wall, a barnacle-encrusted glass bottle on the front step, and a lobster buoy hanging from the porch roof. Painted white, blue and DayGlo yellow, the pattern on the buoy is registered with the state of Maine for Jennifer Lynn, the 35-foot Mitchell Cove that Holly lobsters on with her stepdad Dave Horner. Near the house a six-foot tall sign is propped by the garage advertising Maine shrimp for sale, and you get the idea that Holly's life is wrapped up in the sea.
Holly makes her living fishing. She lobsters, scallops, shrimps, and has dragged for haddock, monkfish, cod and other ground fish. It is not an occupation for those who aren't willing to work long hours, and hard hours. Holly is a woman who sees the sunny side of life, however, and hauling traps, shucking scallops, and marketing the catch offers her the chance to be outside, with variety and challenge as well as income.
When she was fifteen, her stepfather hired her to clean his fishing boat and get in provisions for the next day's run. She would drive down in a small red pick-up, hose down the boat, grab the list left by the fishermen, and get in their supplies. Jim was stern man, and Dave's right-hand man back then. Holly's job included cleaning his working station and fishing gear. While Holly loved the grown-up feeling of driving a truck with her worker's license, and restocking the boat, she never once thought someday she would be doing what Jim did.
"I'm now the crew," Holly says, "using all the equipment and working with all the tools that I used to keep clean, but never imagined I'd be operating." She also went out on the boat when she was young, but claims, "When I was fourteen, I wanted nothing to do with it. It was interesting to watch, but that is all. Nothing I ever contemplated as a career." Fishing and being on the water is now Holly's life, and it turns out she comes by this naturally. During a recent visit to family she learned that her great-great-grandfather Charles Beshong, a fisherman out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, was lost at sea in 1893, leaving Holly's great-great-grandmother a widow and seven months pregnant. This tough lady, named Lena, also lost her next husband at sea. She went on to remarry, raise her family and pass on to Holly a love of the water and a resilience that is just can't be quenched.
Growing up in Southwest Harbor, Holly spent a lot of time on the water. Her family had a fish market, and she used to watch her great-aunt Connie cut fish and learned how to look for freshness and quality. Her bedroom looked out over the harbor, and she recalls many happy years waking to the sound of wormers and clammers, and watching the sun rise on the sea. "Now I see the sunrise out on the boat, " she says. "I can't imagine a job where I couldn't see that." Standing on the commercial dock in Southwest Harbor, her old family home is just across the way. She points to a white-frame building close to the shore, now a seasonal rental. "If that house ever goes on the market, I'm going to try to get it," she says. "It would be great to be back there, and with Eden." Eden is Holly's three and a half year-old daughter. Waterfront property is a big dream, but does not seem impossible for this hardworking woman.
Tanned, with sun-blonde hair and sea-blue eyes, Holly exudes competence as she moves around on the Luke and Grace, a 45-foot Dixon that she, Dave, and another family member, Molly Damon, have been shrimping with. The boat is docked at Great Harbor Marina in Southwest Harbor. Holly points to the net that hauls up as much as nine hundred pounds of shrimp at a time and spills them into the boat. She refers to the shrimp as red gold. "Dave yells 'Touch down!' when we haul in a full net," Holly says. There is excitement in her voice as she recalls the heavy net swinging overhead and brimming with wriggling shrimp, water pouring from them in streams.
"The shrimp season is going to be reduced by almost seventy percent next year," she says, referring to new state legislation. "While there are plenty of shrimp north of the Penobscot River, samples taken south of that show smaller shrimp populations, and that is what they based their decisions on. But they are the ones that make the rules, we just follow them," and she shrugs philosophically.
Today the boat is rigged for scalloping, and for the past few weeks they have been dragging near Newberry Neck. "Oh my God, it is ridiculous," Holly exclaims, "sixty boats in a one mile area." She describes how hard it is to maneuver in crowded waters, and refers, as she does frequently, to the skill and judgment of Dave. "He is amazing, he always knows what to do. He can steer this boat through anything. We keep our distance, but I have heard of fistfights, and chaos at the docks when it got crowded there."
Dave has gotten back into scalloping to offset the future reduction of shrimp. He has invested in the specialized gear this fishery requires, which includes heavy mesh nets with four-inch openings so that scallops below the legal limit do not get pulled up. The first day with the new rigging a retired scalloper came along as extra crew. Like most fisherman, he has his own style and method, and showed Holly some of his scallop shucking tricks. "Dave was impressed when I showed him my cleaned scallops. It's tricky to get the guts off, and not slice or tear the meat. After hours and hours of cleaning scallops I began to see them in my sleep, an endless pile of scallops to clean." She says that she now has her own tricks for shucking them, though knows if one scallop is missed, Dave's eagle eye will see it all the way from the cabin.
She gazes around the Luke and Grace, loaded with heavy equipment, solid and well built. "I love this boat," she says. "People ask if I'm not cold, all day out on the water, but I am never cold. I wear Under Armor, and it is a thousand degrees in there," she laughs as she shows off the berths with two kerosene heaters. She describes taking the Master Gardener Volunteers Program, and doing all her homework in her bunk, "It is such a great place to focus, we would be steaming from one spot to another and no matter the weather, I was cozy and warm." The Luke and Grace also has a microwave, coffee maker, computer, and internet access, so in addition to being comfortable, they are always in touch.
Holly leads the way across the dock to another smaller boat, the Jennifer Lynn which Dave and his wife, Jennifer, built. "This is perfect for lobstering, and it doesn't use as much fuel. "What a mess," and she shakes her head, picking up a stray rag and putting in away. The boat is actually very neat and clean. Smaller than Luke and Grace, it appears efficient and well planned. "It looks spacious now, but imagine when we are coming in with a full load of lobster," she says. "There are crates everywhere, we have to move side ways to get around." Holly talks about how when she was young Dave was always calling, "Get your hands off the rails!" That is something she no longer has to think about, and already her daughter is picking it up. "She has boat savvy," Holly says proudly. She picks up a bucket containing sand dollar, mussel and clam shells. "These are for Eden, we are going to make decorations out of them."
With a boat, two boats, there is always plenty to do, to fix, clean, or change. Dave schedules one boat being out of the water for repairs and improvements while they fish from the other. Right now both boats are in because the fall lobstering was so good. "The lobsters shed late, we were still pulling five hundred traps in December. Most people have their traps out by Thanksgiving. This year I saw people putting them back in!" Holly laughs. In the height of the season, they have eight hundred traps out. "We've been lucky this year. You always hear so much crying, but the truth is we are all in a good time."
Dave stops by, and he and Holly talk schedules, equipment, and plan the next few days of work. Dave started fishing at thirteen, and is one of the most successful fishermen around. He fished many years with his stern man Jim, then with his brother-in-law. "Those were good years, but I have a family now, and don't do any more overnights." The respect he and Holly have for each other is apparent, and they work together well as a team. Holly remembers tagging along behind him at the fish market, helping Dave put up signs, or haul fish. "This is what I do now, same yard, same things as when I was a kid. I'm there to do whatever he needs, hand him tools, do what he says."
Dave says, "People ask me how Holly likes fishing, I say, 'Well, she keeps coming back.'" He smiles at her, and adds, "Look what she has done, a single mom. She owns her own house, and is making a good living."
Holly quickly counters, "It was you who told me to set aside for the IRS, and not to spend all the money I made. It wasn't easy."
"We talk a lot out here about the mindset of success," Dave says. "Making money is just half of it, doing something smart with that money is the other half." Holly and Dave enter into a discussion they have probably had many times, about the phenomenon of being shedder rich. Fishermen get paid, but do not have taxes withheld. If they spend all the cash in their wallets they will not have enough to pay their taxes come April. "The government expects these eighteen and nineteen year-olds to know they have to set aside, but that is asking a lot of someone with ready money in their pockets for the first time." He would like to see a system where money gets withheld. "I have seen kids, good fishermen, have to get menial jobs just to keep out of range of the IRS. They owe so much they will never get out from under. It is a shame to have their lives go so off track."
Dave is a man who cares deeply about the fishing industry, and gives a lot of thought to ways to make it better. His approach is always sensible, and this includes judging the weather. If it looks bad, he calls it a day. Holly considers these weather days one of the many good things about her job, and says, "Dave pays attention to conditions, and knows when we should stay in. For me, I get unexpected time to be with Eden. It is a gift."
Even with weather days, Holly puts in long hours. "I get annoyed when people say, 'You work so much, that sucks.' They are wrong. I am making money, I have family time, I love what I do. I really don't know what else I'd rather do. My mom worries about me, and even she says 'Can't you find something else to do?' But why would I?" She goes on to say, "The only hard part of my day is getting out of bed. In the morning Eden comes and cuddles with me, and it is warm and sweet and toasty. But once up, I'm ready. Happy to be on the water making money, learning, and being with Dave, who has been such a positive influence in my life."
It is because of Dave that Holly has the job she loves.
"When my mother and Dave separated, he and I stayed really tight, he was, and still is, a mentor to me." She explains that in 2004 Dave was in a bind, he had lost his crew and needed help to haul traps. "Of course I helped him," Holly says, "but it was a terrible day. It was cold, and my hands were frozen. I was crying, and just wanted to go home. My fingers got stiff, and it hurt to put the rubber bands on the lobsters' claws. I was so glad when we got back to shore, there was no way I was going to do that again." Back on the dock she was warmed and getting ready to leave when Dave told her what her share of the day's catch was. "It was a truck payment!" The astonishment of that moment is still in her voice. "I signed on, and have been at it ever since."
In the beginning it was simply a job that paid well, but Dave's passion has rubbed off on her. "I love it, I love putting fresh seafood on people's tables, I love being on the water, and I love how well it works for me to spend time with my daughter." When Holly became pregnant she had been working full time, but after Eden was born she began job sharing with Molly, working three to four long days, then having three to four days with her daughter.
"When I am on the water, all my attention is there, I am surrounded by nature and air. It's stimulating and I appreciate it. Then we steam back in, and I call restaurants, and people who said they wanted seafood. Many like to meet us at the dock." That is her transition time, connecting with people, getting back on land. Dave says, "If they show up with a bucket and money, we'll sell right off the boat, not care about a profit. It feels good to feed people."
Holly handles marketing and contacting restaurants and other buyers. She sells from her garage, and is tuned in to requests on Bar Harbor Barter and Swap, a local Facebook trade group. Someone posted an entry looking for scallops at 4:38pm one day. A short while later Holly posted, "I have them, $105/gallon $12/lb. We have them fresh when we can get out and also frozen. We have been bagging them up in one and two pound bags and put in the freezer same day they are caught!" She offers to meet people, or stay up for them, or do whatever is necessary to make it easy for her customers. Fishing is her job, but it has become her passion, and she is always willing to go an extra step.
Then comes the final portion of her day, when she picks up her daughter. "When I get Eden, I am done with work, all my time and energy are for her. We have so much fun together."
Holly's home reflects the love she has for her little girl. Side by side with nautical charts and high tech tools for marketing fish are fuzzy stuffed animals, a shelf full of kids books and games, and a child's desk where Eden neatly arranges toy cars by size and color. Family and work fit well together for Holly Masterson. Anyone who thinks she works too hard or should get another job hasn't seen the smile that blazes forth when talking about Eden, and or heading out to sea for another catch.
Shrimp with Feta and Ouzo on Angel Hair Pasta
Easy, quick, and a great combination of flavors. The licorice-flavored ouzo brings out the sweetness of the shrimp.
1 medium yellow onion, sliced thin
1 T olive oil
3 medium tomatoes, diced
One pound of Maine shrimp, cleaned
¼ cup Ouzo ( if you prefer no alcohol, try anise-flavored Italian soda syrup)
½ pound of crumbled Feta cheese
1 package off Angel Hair pasta
Use a pan that can also go under broiler. Sauté onion in olive oil until translucent. Add tomatoes and shrimp. When shrimp becomes opaque, stir in ¼ cup Ouzo, and sprinkle cheese over top.
Prepare pasta and keep warm.
Place pan with shrimp into broiler, and broil until cheese begins to bubble. There will be a few browned spots.
Slide shrimp onto pasta and serve.


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It's happening Sunday January 17, 2010. A number of the nominees are already extensively networked in the Family Forest® to each other, to historical characters portrayed in the movies, and most importantly, to viewers in the audience.
More of the free visually engaging Ancestors-at-a-glance™ fan charts have just been posted, and some of the stars and characters include Sigourney Weaver, Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Clint Eastwood and Georgia O'Keeffe.
The Family Forest® is a digital Hollywood resource that picks up where IMDb leaves off in two areas. One is connecting fans through family ties to Hollywood personalities and movie characters, and the other is having content and family ties for many of IMDb's character profiles which are now empty or very skeletal.
The edutaining Family Forest® Project is Networking Family History with Hollywood™ and connecting audiences through actual family ties better than any other digital resource, either online or offline, as the new Family Forest® National Treasure Edition proves.
Enjoy the show!
P.S. The Family Forest® Project needs a celebrity spokesperson. Details available here.

subset: commoncrawl


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Swedish photographer Goran Strand created a 10-image mosaic of the sun using a hydrogen-alpha filter on March 16, and then captured full-sky views of the northern lights over Ostersund during a four-hour period on March 17 for this time-lapse video. "The time lapse consists of 2,464 raw images for a total data amount of 30GB. ... All in all, this movie contains over 40GB of data that I've been processing over the last five days. Hope you enjoy it," Strand writes. Watch the video in full-screen HD for maximum effect. Music: "I Am a Man Who Will Fight for Your Honor," by Chris Zabriskie.
Talk about dancing with the stars: The glow of the northern lights danced through the night sky this week, thanks to a solar storm that swept past Earth over the past few days. Comet PanSTARRS, which is appearing a little bit farther north in western skies every evening, adds some extra sparkle.
The time around the equinox is considered the peak of the aurora season, because this time of year strikes a balance between the dark skies of winter and the more clement temperatures of summer. And although PanSTARRS may not have panned out the way some of the more optimistic skywatchers might have expected, it's still observable in the Northern Hemisphere — particularly if you're watching with binoculars from a vantage point far from city lights, with a clear view to the western horizon.
Sky & Telescope's PanSTARRS page helps you track the comet day by day, and you can always rely on SpaceWeather.com to have the latest, greatest pictures of PanSTARRS as well as the auroral glow.
For example, French photographer Sylvain Dussans managed to capture both phenomena in one glorious picture, taken from Norway's Senja Island.
Here are a couple more videos of the solar storm and the comet, as seen from Earth and space:
Chad Blakley, the photographer behind Lights Over Lapland, captured this time-lapse view of the northern lights and Comet PanSTARRS in Sweden's Abisko National Park on March 20 and posted the picture on Vimeo. "The auroras began as soon as the sun went down and continued to dance all night long," Blakley said in an email. "To say that we had an incredible night would be a huge understatement!" For best results, watch the video in HD at full-screen.
Chad Blakley / Lights Over Lapland
This closeup from Chad Blakley's video uses a black circle to highlight the comet's location. For more, check out Blakley's Lights Over Lapland page on Facebook.
This movie from NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, or STEREO, shows Comet PanSTARRS as it moved around the sun from March 10 to 15. The clip is repeated three times. The images were captured by the Heliospheric Imager, an instrument that looks to the side of the sun to watch coronal mass ejections as they travel toward Earth, which is the unmoving bright orb on the right. The bright light on the left comes from the sun, and the bursts from the left represent the solar material erupting off the sun.
More about the comet and the aurora:
- Double delight in the skies above
- How to get the most out of PanSTARRS
- Cosmic Log archive for auroras and comets
Alan Boyle is NBCNews.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter and adding the Cosmic Log page to your Google+ presence. To keep up with Cosmic Log and the rest of NBCNews.com's science and space coverage, sign up for the Tech & Science newsletter, delivered to your email in-box. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.


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HBO says Michael Douglas is taking to the keyboard for its upcoming biopic of legendary pianist Liberace.
"Behind the Candelabra" will be directed by Steven Soderbergh. It will also star Matt Damon as Scott Thorson, the younger live-in lover of the flamboyant entertainer, to be played by Douglas. HBO made the announcement Tuesday.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Big Screen Gentlemen: Hollywood's Leading Men
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
Jerry Weintraub ("Ocean's Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen") is executive producer.
The film's title refers to the trademark candelabra always gracing Liberace's grand pianowhen he performed. He was also known for his outrageous costumes and extravagant jewelry.
The 67-year-old Douglas has recently battled throat cancer, but last January he announced his tumor was gone and predicted he had beaten the disease.
"Behind the Candelabra" is scheduled to begin production next summer. No airdate was announced.
(Copyright 2011 by Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed)
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Matt Damon Filmography
Copyright 2011 by Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Stars At New York Fashion Week 2011
PLAY IT NOW: Access Extended: Matt Damon's 'Contagion' Premiere
PLAY IT NOW: Matt Damon: 'Liberace' Will Be 'Great'
More from Access: [ Michael Douglas Matt Damon HBO ]


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"We have seen strong annual sales growth through the 2011 fall market. The increase in transactions has been broad-based, with strong growth across low-rise and high-rise home types throughout the Greater Toronto Area," said Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) President Richard Silver. "The market has also become better supplied, with annual new listings growth outstripping that of sales. As this trend continues into 2012, we will see more balanced market conditions."
The average price for November transactions was $480,421, representing an increase of almost 10 per cent in comparison to $437,494 in November 2010.
"Despite strong price growth this year, the housing market remains affordable in the GTA," said Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis. "The correct method of assessing affordability is to consider the share of the average household's income that is dedicated to mortgage principal and interest, property taxes and utilities. Currently, this share remains in line with generally accepted lending guidelines. Given this positive affordability picture, average price growth is forecast to continue in 2012, albeit at a more moderate pace."
The trademarks MLS®, Multiple Listing Service® and the associated logos are owned by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Used under license. The trademarks REALTOR®, REALTORS®, and the REALTOR® logo are controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA.
HomeLife New World Realty Inc., Brokerage, Independently Owned & Operated


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Lake Country Finishing Pad, Black
Why Buy This Product?
- Soft finishing pad spreads your favorite wax or sealant
- 5.25" hook & loop pad fits any 5" backing plate on your machine polisher
- Lake Country CCS Closed Cell Structures holds polish and wax at the surface
- CCS Pads keep more product working for you, not stuck inside the foam
- Flat pad profile improves operator control, prevents pad skipping, and creates less heat
- OEM approved for use with waxes, sealants, and glazes
About The Black Finishing Pad
The Black Finishing Pad has a soft and plush feel, perfect for spreading the perfect coat of your favorite paste wax, synthetic sealants, cream wax, or gloss-enhancing glaze. Use this 5.25" pad on your favorite DA machine polisher and 5" backing plate to quickly wax the paintwork or plastic on large flat panels, smaller curves, and dramatic contours. This flat pad provides full contact with paint surface to minimize the pressure applied by the user for a scratch and swirl-free finish as you spread your favorite finishing wax.
What Are Lake Country CCS Pads?
After years of research and development, Lake Country has revolutionized the polishing pad industry with their Collapsed Cell Structure (CCS) Technology. CCS pads combine different foam structures in each pad to create user-friendly polishing tools that are easy to control, waste less product, and produce cleaner reflections and finer results. CCS Pads use areas of Closed Cell Structures that act like polish reservoirs. These closed cells collect and hold polish outside of the body of the pad, and continue to spread it over the surface as you polish. This ensures a steady supply of fresh polishing abrasives as you polish to produce even results and pure reflection in the painted finish. CCS foam pads help reduce product waste by slowing the rate of product absorption into the pad. Conventional foam pads quickly absorb polish into the open-cell foam, reducing work time and produces sub-standard polishing results. A buildup of chemicals inside the foam can also cause the pad to dry out more rapidly, and cause extra marring with the dry and crusty abrasives and residues. CCS Pads keep polish fresh, and working for you to produce better polishing results.
Collapsed Cell Structure
The face of a CCS pad is covered in strategically-placed pockets where the porous foam cells have been closed. Polish and other products do not absorb into these closed-cell pockets, leaving more fresh product on the pad's surface to work over the paint. This product-saving design gives chemicals a longer working time to abrade the paint evenly, and produce a better polished finish. CCS foam pads work on all types of modern automobile paint, from conventional single-stage paint finishes, to clear coats, and even harder ceramic scratch-resistant clear coats. Lake Country's range of foam compositions, combined with the right polishing compounds and machine polishers, provide you with the prescription to correct almost any paint imperfection on any finish. Remove swirls, scratches, faded oxidation, and minor defects to restore a crystal-clear, brilliant, and beautiful shine to any glossy paint finish with Lake Country CCS Pads.
Keep Your Pads Clean
Keep Your Pads Clean Polishing pads need to be cleaned after every use to ensure maximum performance and long-lasting reliability. Chemical Guys stocks and manufactures every product you need to help you keep your pads clean and performing at their peak. Chemical Guys Polishing Pad Cleaner and Rejuvenator cleans out polish and paint residues, and preserves the full-cutting power of every foam, wool, and microfiber polishing pad. The ergonomically-designed Foam Pad Cleaning Brush scrubs wax and polishes out of the foam, and restores the original texture. Also available for optimal results is the Grit Guard Universal Pad Washer, which cleans, conditions, and dries all types of buffing pads on virtually any machine in seconds.


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Order information about treatments
Order booklets, audio CDs and DVDs about cancer treatments. Knowing what to expect could help you cope with any possible side effects.
Order booklets, audio CDs and DVDs about cancer treatments. Knowing what to expect could help you cope with any possible side effects.
Worrying about cancer can have a big impact on your feelings. Read our advice to help you cope with your emotions.
Our campaigns fight for real change for people affected by cancer. By taking action, you can help transform the lives of people with cancer. Join us in demanding the best in cancer support.
What's happening near you? Find out about support groups, where to get information and how to get involved with Macmillan where you are.
We rely on a number of sources to gather evidence for our information. If you'd like further information on the sources we use, please feel free to contact us on: email@example.com
All our information is reviewed by cancer or other relevant professionals to ensure that it's accurate and reflects the best evidence available. We thank all those people who have provided expert review for the information on this page.
Our information is also reviewed by people affected by cancer to ensure it is as relevant and accessible as possible. Thank you to all those people who reviewed what you're reading and have helped our information to develop.
You could help us too when you join our Cancer Voices Network – find out more at: http://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancervoices
Need to talk? Call us free* 0808 808 00 00 Monday - Friday 9am-5pm


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- Description
- Tasting Notes
- What's Inside
- Occasions
Modern without being trendy. Gorgeous without being girly. If your woman knows style, this is the perfect gift for her!
Beautifully blooming orange and peach roses are nestled in a garden of greens and delivered in a unique rectangle container. Like the prettiest of windowsill gardens, this special arrangement makes a memorable gift for any special occasion.
Gift Includes:
- Creme Roses (40 cm).
- Peach Roses (40 cm).
- Green Pitta Negra.
- Green Myrtle Stem.
- Assorted Lush Greenery and more.
- A free gift card with personal message.
- Arrives in a stylish wooden planter box.
- Hand delivered to the recipient's home or office by experienced florists.
- A plush teddy bear, balloons, wine, champagne, or chocolates may be added to your order based on availability. Please contact customer service for more information.
Measures approximately 14" x 9".
During checkout, please be sure to indicate your preferred occasion when you choose a gift card. Exact flowers and container may vary depending upon location and availability.
Same day delivery is available if you place your order by 2pm in your recipient's time zone, M-F and by 1pm on Saturday. To see if Sunday delivery is available in your area please contact customer service.Gift #13155
Uptown Rose Bouquet is a hand delivered gift. These gifts are delivered by one of our local design centers located throughout the United States and Canada.
Typically, standard deliveries are made between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM, with business deliveries before 5:00 PM. Hours may be extended during holidays. Please note in some locations we may need an additional 24 hours for the delivery of exotic flowers, wine and fruit baskets.
Same day delivery is available for most gifts when ordered before the cutoff time. Saturday delivery is possible if ordered before 12 PM Friday. The cutoff time for Uptown Rose Bouquet is in the recipient's time zone.
Uptown Rose Bouquet has been purchased most frequently by our customers for the following occasions:
Average Rating:(4 reviews) write a review
realfranLovely RosesMay 24, 2016
GiftTree was helpful in letting me know exactly what the difference is between good/better/best. I ordered the "better" one and wish I'd stuck with the "good" one because although the better one had more roses, it looks over stuffed in the photo my sister sent me.
The gift arrived on time with just 2 days notice, so that was great.
nieceRose gardemJune 5, 2015
I sent this to my aunt in the hospital and she said nurses from other floors were even coming to look at this arrangement because it was so beautiful. Only problem were roses sent were not same color as pictured on line.
flower loverGreat service!August 21, 2014
Delivered on time and beautiful!
Perfect choice!


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The ambassador of abstinence is back and heading to a television near you…maybe. Bristol Palin has landed another reality show and will get a chance to play house with her boyfriend.
Right after her stint on 'Dancing with the Stars', the daughter of Sarah Palin taped a reality show with brothers Kyle Massey and Chris Massey, but after a little bit of press, we never heard another word about it. Not that we're complaining. Honest.
It seems Bristol moved back to Alaska and bought a house across the lake from mama Grizzly and she's been working to fix it up. Naturally, Bristol smelled a reality show pitch in there and is now dragging her boyfriend of a year, pipeline worker Gino Paoletti, along for the ride. The two are going to film the adventure of moving in together when the house is finished this summer and give their relationship a "trial marriage".
"Bristol and Gino are crazy about each other. They've talked about getting married, but they think it's a good idea to live together before making it official."
In my part of the world, that's just called moving in with your boyfriend. But I guess it sounds more respectable to call it a "trial marriage"?!
The new show is called 'Bristol Palin: Life's a Tripp".
No word on whether Levi Johnston will be making any appearances on the new show. He's in the news this week for knocking up another Alaskan woman, though. And making claims that the Palins are blocking him from seeing Tripp. Mama Palin lashed back at him, calling him a liar and saying that they haven't heard a word from him since the summer of 2010. So, it makes sense why all of them are back in the news airing their dirty laundry…Bristol has a show to promote.
It sounds like Sarah Vs. Levi would be a lot more fun to watch. But that's just me.
[Photo credit: Wenn]


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One of the biggest days of my life so far, my wedding day, has come and gone! My hubby and I were dating over three years when he had proposed to me on our trip to Disney World in 2011. It was a surprise (because I had snooped through his suitcase before we left and I didn't see a ring!) and not a surprise at the same time since we talked about marriage from very early on in our relationship. When you are an unemployed graduate school graduate living at home with your parents, money is extremely tight, but after the death of my grandfather I desperately needed something to take my mind from my woes and the wedding planning ensued!
One thing I knew I wanted for our wedding was a surprise wedding dance. I have been dancing my whole life from toddlerville through college (the most recent venture was dragging my unfortunate husband and friends to ballroom classes). I also come from an EXTREMELY musical family and I'm a choir kid as well.
So, really, the dance was just in the cards.
Through my research of what others had done for their surprise wedding dances, I found some gems! These truly make my soul happy! Here are a few of my favorites because of their song choice, their uniqueness, and their ENERGY. And for those of you who want to see the finished product, here is my bridal party's (I'm a proud momma!)
I was passionate about kick-starting our life together with a zestful, uninhabited show of joy and our dance definitely did that!
Now, on to the Adina and Gem surprise dance gems!
I love me some Bieber!
Like I said, I am a choir dork, having been in many choirs and the opera company in college. So, while this isn't a surprise DANCE, it was definitely a surprise…
Just gets better and better!
And last, but not least, a father daughter surprise dance


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Recently we have been presenting vintage labels and posters including part one of this vintage travel posters and cards series, Tequila labels, and unique beer labels as a way of exposing yourself to new and different design concepts.
As promised, this part two of vintage travel labels shows details for some inspiring art. It also shows some of the original designs for those wonderful type/picture post cards "wish you were here"!
Once again, while you are browsing these, and on each one -- ask yourself what the designer was thinking... why were the colors selected, what influenced decisions for solid print or transparency; why was that particular visual association made -- and how. AND is it a visual association that will help you in your current design project! Don't forget to send in your ideas and discoveries! ENJOY. . .
WHEN YOU STUDY the wonderfully successful art, design and typography from the past, you can expand your horizons into your own creative design spaces. Study how their type, calligraphy or hand lettering adds to the ambience and impact of their message! Notice how appropriate their selection and application applies to the visual message.
A second travel gallery will follow this one, stay tuned to the Graphic Design & Publishing Center Gallery! Don't forget to send in your ideas and discoveries!
See also :
- Typography & Lettering Design inspiration found in vintage travel posters and tags -- studying vintage labels as a way of exposing yourself to new and different design concepts. Here is another of our favorites -- vintage labels and tags from the travel industry.
- Vintage Art : wonderful tags, cards and cigar labels for decorative reference - One of the favorite sources for 'vintage' art are labels, cards and posters from the 18th century. Here's we're going to look at my favorites from the world of cigar labels. Enjoy!
- Product labeling and packaging study for inspiration and design ideas -- One of the best ways to learn and practice design, typography and illustration is to emulate (not "copy") the works of others. Like this collection of wonderfully unique and rare bottles and bottle labels for Tequila! Here are designs you probably won't find in your local stores
- Getting ideas and design inspiration by looking at unusual beer bottle label designs -- this time we're looking at beer bottle labels and how they can be a source of graphic design inspiration. Enjoy!
Start a listing of cool things that you've found that give you creative inspiration and jumpstarts. Send them in to share with others. We have two favorite sources for these labels and posters, and you can get copies for yourself very inexpensively:
The 60 Great Travel Posters Platinum DVD and Book set is only $12.95 and brings you vintage posters from the Golden Age of Travel for real artistic inspiration. Royalty-free images showcase the Grand Prix in Monaco, the Cote d' Azure Pullman Express, the New York World's Fair of 1939, and more. Plus, the images can be printed out at poster size and played as a slideshow on a DVD player or computer!
The Old-Time Travel Posters and Luggage Labels CD-ROM and Book is just 15-bucks, and will treat your creative juices with colorful illustrations, brimming with superb design and typography — from Monte Carlo to Pasadena and from Atlantic City to Bangkok. A treasury of lush graphics for commercial artists, designers, scrapbookers, and other hobbyists, these images will also appeal to people in the travel industry. 278 full-color illustrations!
And, thanks for reading
Don't forget ... we encourage you to share your discoveries with other readers. Just send and email, contribute your own article, join the Design Cafe forums, or follow DTG on Facebook!


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Painting building roofs white is a movement that's slowly catching on in big cities. A light-colored roof reflects light, rather than absorbing it, a function that can significantly reduce energy costs. And when air conditioning use is decreased, the amount of carbon emissions released by the units falls, too.
White roofs are a trend that's catching on for commercial use, especially in large metropolitan areas like New York City. One of the significant drawbacks is that white roofs show dirt, wear and tear much faster than their dark countertops, meaning that maintenance is required on a more frequent basis.
You may not have noticed many homes with white roofs in your area, but they are available. Some roofing companies offer a white composite roof tile, which has a similar aesthetic to Spanish-style tile.
If you live in a hot, sunny area, investing in a white roof may be a great way to decrease your energy costs. Your roof won't require as much maintenance as a commercial building.
Another benefit of white composite roof tiles? Some offer longer warranties than traditional asphalt shingles and roof coatings, another factor that may help you justify the significant investment of a new roof.
Would you consider a white roof, or do you prefer a more traditional look?
Photo courtesy of www.whirlwindsteel.com


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We have been building custom cycle seats for over 15 years, working in Research and Development, Custom Seat Dept. and Customer Support for a few large seat mfg's.
15146 Downey Avenue
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Paramount, California 90723
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view phone(562) 531-6185
view fax(562) 602-2612
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(This pic above is one of my own tests)
I received some pics from a Making Babies member (also a good friend) of her Ovulation Predictor kits(OPK), and thought I would share them with you as well, and also do a quick recap on how OPKs work.
Unlike Home Pregnancy Tests(HPT) a second line is not always a positive result. When taking an OPK, you want the test line to be as dark (or darker) than the control line. That would indicate the positive result, which means the test is picking up the Luteinizing Hormone (LH) surge that is produced just before ovulation.
Once you have gotten your positive result, you are supposed to ovulate within 12-36 hours. I noticed with my positive results, I would ovulate 2 days later. So it's not uncommon to go as long as 48hours after the positive.
A few rules to remember when OPKing:
1) It's best to test late afternoon/early evening. I used to get my best results at 3pm. However, some ladies get better results at 6pm. It all depends on how your body produces LH.
2) Try to limit your fluid intake for at least 2 hours before testing. This includes holding your P for those 2 hours prior.
3) If you are using a Making Babies OPK, remember the test needs 10 minutes to react after the urine has passed over the control line. DO NOT discard the test after a few minutes. WAIT the whole 10 minutes for an accurate result.
4) If you are taking Clomid/Fertomid only start using OPKs about 2 days after your last pill.
If you would like more info on OPKs, visit this LINK on Making Babies.
Now for N's OPKs:
Unfortunately these pics were taken when the tests had already dried... :) But you can still get the general idea of how OPKs work.
The top pic is the positive on CD19, it was by far the darkest line N got. A true positive. She did test on CD20 again, and it was a negative.
The bottom tests, are the few she took leading up to CD19. You can see she had a nice build up of lines.
This however isn't always the case, you can have no build up of lines. You can have negative/white test results and then bam a positive the next day:
OPKs can be quite expensive if bought in store or at a Pharmacy. I think I last priced them at R 150.00 - R200.00 for 5 tests. Depending on what brand you buy. At Making Babies you can buy 10 Tests for R 100.00 :) You see that is a great saving, you now have more money to buy HPTs. LOL :)
Could I ask that you all pop over to McKMama's blog and keep Stellan in your thoughts and prayers. :)
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Ovulation Predictor Tests 101
Posted by Making Babies at 9:48 AM 1 comments
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Fun Polls
Hello my favourite readers ;-)
We are running a poll on Making Babies to find out the most popular way of tracking ovulation. Please take part by clicking on the following link:
How do you track your ovulation?
We will be running weekly polls on varies subject matter every Wednesday. Be sure to check back with us frequently to vote and view the results.
Plenty of fertile thoughts going out to everyone!
If you are not part of the Making Babies Community, click HERE to join. It's that easy!
Ps: Don't forget if you are looking for affordable Home Pregnancy and Ovulation Tests, Making Babies is where you will find it! Visit our website for pricing and to order
Posted by Making Babies at 1:22 PM 0 comments
Friday, October 23, 2009
A happy BFP!!!
Just look at those gorgeous lines hey! Another happy Making Babies client with a beautiful BFP!!!
Check out our HPTs over at Making Babies!!
Congratulations C, I know this was a very long road for you! I'm so happy for you and your family!!!! And excited for the new Aunty ;-)
I was wondering, if you got lines that dark would you go for bloods to confirm? I know bloods are the final stamp "YES" or "NO". But I think if I were the recipient of those tests above I would give the bloods a skip. :)
Your opinion? (you know it's always welcomed)
Posted by Making Babies at 10:57 AM 3 comments
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Fake it
Now where was this test when I was TTC? Could have done with a few POSITIVES in my journey, albeit fake ones LOL Could have been a real "pick me upper".... NOT... When I saw this on the WWW I wondered how many of these tests were bought for (what it was meant for) jokes, to fool someone into thinking the tester was indeed pregnant.
I thought this bill board was quite funny. "Don't shoot the messenger." In other words, don't fling that negative test across the room, or rip it too pieces after you have given it the stare of death. I know I've often felt in the past like setting them on fire and watching it die a slow painful death. Darn pee stick!
And on the topic of HPTs, (come on you knew I was going to do a shameless plug, again) Don't forget Making Babies stock awesome sensitive HPTs at very affordable prices. Check it out!
Don't forget:
1)All purchases for the month of October, your name will automatically go into the lucky draw for the Revitalizer Hamper Make sure you also stand a chance to win, by simply commenting on the blog post either here on this blog post or on the Making Babies Network!
2)Our special on the Conceive Plus (and OPK/HPT) we are having this week! I might even extend it to next week, to tie up with the hamper give away.
Posted by Making Babies at 11:40 AM 0 comments
Labels: home pregnancy tests, hpt
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
I came across this on my FAVOURITE forum MOMMY this morning, but have received it via email too in the past.. Just thought I would share it with you all.
We are sitting at lunch when my daughter casually
mentions that she and her husband are thinking of
"starting a family."
"We're taking a survey," she says, half-joking. "Do
you think I should have a baby?"
"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping
my tone neutral. "I know," she says, "no more
sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous
But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my
daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want
her to know what she will never learn in childbirth
classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds
of child bearing will heal, but that becoming a
mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw
that she will forever be vulnerable.
I consider warning her that she will never again
read a newspaper without asking "What if that had
been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house
fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of
starving children, she will wonder if anything could
be worse than watching your child die.
I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish
suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she
is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the
primitive level of a bear protecting her cub.
That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop
a souffle or her best crystal without a moment's
I feel I should warn her that no matter how many
years she has invested in her career, she will be
professionally derailed by motherhood.
She might arrange for childcare, but one day she
will be going into an important business meeting and
she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will
have to use every ounce of her discipline to keep
from running home, just to make sure her baby is all
I want my daughter to know that everyday decisions
will no longer be routine. That a five year old
boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the
women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma.
That right there, in the midst of clattering trays
and screaming children, issues of independence and
gender identity will be weighed against the prospect
that a child molester may be lurking in that
However decisive she may be at the office, she will
second-guess herself constantly as a mother.
Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure
her that eventually she will shed the pounds of
pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about
herself. That her life, now so important, will be of
less value to her once she has a child. That she
would give it up in a moment to save her offspring,
but will also begin to hope for more years -- not to
accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child
accomplish theirs.
I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny
stretch marks will become badges of honor. My
daughter's relationship with her husband will
change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she
could understand how much more you can love a man
who is careful to powder the baby or who never
hesitates to play with his child. I think she should
know that she will fall in love with him again for
reasons she would now find very unromantic.
I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will
feel with women throughout history who have tried to
stop war, prejudice and drunk driving.
I hope she will understand why I can think
rationally about most issues, but become temporarily
insane when I discuss the threat of nuclear war to
my children's future.
I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration
of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to
capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is
touching the soft fur of a dog or a cat for the
first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so
real, it actually hurts.
My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that
tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret
it," I finally say. Then I reach across the table,
squeeze my daughter's hand and offer a silent prayer
for her, and for me, and for all of the mere mortal
women who stumble their way into this most wonderful
of callings. This blessed gift from God . . . that
of being a Mother.
Please share this with a Mom that you know or a
future Mom, or a Mom at heart.
Posted by Making Babies at 10:05 AM 2 comments
Monday, October 19, 2009
Our first Conceive Plus BFP!!!
I would like to CONGRATULATE a Making Babies Member (will keep her name under wraps until she herself announces her BFP, but she did say I could tell you about the conceive plus).....
The only thing we added was the Conceive Plus and I really think that this is what has helped me to get pregnant as DH does not have the best of swimmers and has not used anything for it as he does not like to drink any tabs.
So Marcelle, thanks for a GREAT product will recommend it to anyone.
I'm so excited for you girl. And I'm so glad you loved the Conceive Plus!!
In celebration of your BFP, Making Babies is going to give 10% discount on any Conceive Plus orders this week! You can also order a Conceive Plus Lubricant with either a 10 Pack HPT or OPK for R 300.00 (that is a total saving of R40.00)
** prices exclude shipping **
If you would like to order please pop me an email at email@example.com with your details.
Posted by Making Babies at 10:56 AM 2 comments
Labels: conceive plus
Friday, October 16, 2009
Why wait till you're late?
Affordable Home Pregnancy and Ovulation Tests available from Making Babies.
Our pregnancy tests are super sensitive picking up hCG levels of 10miu/ml. We have a record of ladies getting their BFPs as early as 11dpo (won't brag too much about one we got at 9dpo Wink ) But the average is 11dpo with FMU.
Our ovulation tests, as my client said - Marcelle, these OPKs rock! I've used a couple of other brands in the past, but none of them were so clear!
Visit Making Babies or pop me an email at firstname.lastname@example.com to place your order.
HPT and OPK
10 Pack ~ R 100.00
5 Pack ~ R 55.00
Prices exclude shipping costs
Posted by Making Babies at 9:43 AM 0 comments
Labels: home pregnancy tests, hpt, opk, ovulation tests
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day is to create awareness and support for those families who have gone through the heartache of losing their babies.
I have been down this road with many of my dear friends, we have cried together and held each one up when it was getting too dark to go on.
I would like to take a moment to remember all your precious babies……
Posted by Making Babies at 8:15 AM 0 comments
Monday, October 12, 2009
Infertility Grief
Grief is a somewhat complicated and misunderstood emotion. Yet, grief is something that, unfortunately, we must all experience at some time or other. We will all inevitably experience loss. Whether it is a loss through death, divorce or some other loss, the stages of grieving are the same.
Grieving the loss of a dream, that child/baby you so badly want to have and hold can be heart breaking. Most couples TTC, go through this loss every month. Some only start going through the loss when they have been diagnosed as infertile....
There are 5 stages of grief:
1-Denial-"this can't be happening to me"
2-Anger-"why me?"
3-Bargaining - Begging, wishing, praying
4-Depression-overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, frustration, bitterness, self pity
5-Acceptance-there is a difference between resignation and acceptance
Sometimes you mix up the order of the stages. I know I had to immediately jump into acceptance when I decided to end my relationship with my DH. The bargaining was always there. I know I have been through each stage at some point during my TTC journey.
The depression I think will always be there, under lying. I had to deal with failed cycles month after month for over 3 years. I don't think it will go away totally. Then all of the sudden I was closing the door on it. Never really dealing with it, jumping straight to stage 5.
As of recent I've been dealing with it all over again. Only this time I'm having to grieve two losses at the same time, that of a relationship and of another child. Some days it's hard to define which one I'm grieving. I think it's taking quite a toll on my sanity at the moment.
I don't want to go google and give you steps on how to deal with it. Anyone with personal experience that would like to share???
Posted by Making Babies at 1:24 PM 1 comments
Thursday, October 8, 2009
New PregAssist :)
I'm super excited to introduce to you the latest additions to our Fertility Supplement range....
PregAssist Woman
Pregassist for females capsules have been specially formulated to provide beneficial nutrients and plant extracts to help assist, stimulate and improve metabolism in order to help improve and enhance fertility in women.
PregAssist Man
Pregassist for males capsules contain a specially formulated blend of vitamins, minerals and ashwaganda extract that helps promote and improve male fertility.
We are having a special "pre-launch" offer to all the Making Babies Members. Be sure to check out the blog section on MB Network for more info.... :)
Posted by Making Babies at 12:06 PM 0 comments
Labels: pregassist
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
2nd, 3rd etc..... future mommies to be
To those of you who are TTC your 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc etc babies. I have a few questions….
How long did you TTC with your first (previous) kiddies?
It took us 10 months TTC McK. I left my BCP the day I got married Almost 10 months to the day I got my first ever BFP.
Your first TTC attempts, were you just going with the flow or actually into the whole charting/temping/POAS thing?
I didn't even know about BBT back then. Hell, I wasn't even checking my CM. LOL. Odd I know. But back then I was a "TTC Virgin".
If it wasn't for the internet would you still be a crazed TTC addict (and I mean that in the nicest way)?
The internet ruined my naïve approach to life you could say. But also taught me valuable information and compassion to TTC and infertility. I don't think I would have been so obsessed about TTC if I wasn't a Google freak.
How long have you been TTC your 2nd, 3rd etc etc?
We were just over our 3 year TTC our 2nd when we surrendered for obvious reasons.
Did you think it would take longer or shorter than your first TTC attempt?
Of course, I really thought 10 months was for ever!! I tripled that and more, very disappointing as I really thought hey we have one what could be so hard the next time round.
When you started off TTC your next baby, did you have a gender preference this time around?
I was so excited, I just wanted a boy!! For the first year, it was boy boy boy… from then I just didn't care, I just wanted a baby.
Go on, leave me a comment with your answers! (Or add any questions you would like to "read" about)....
Posted by Making Babies at 11:08 AM 2 comments
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Advertising Campaign
It really does feel like I'm turning the Making Babies blog into an advertising campaign.... :( There are as of late more Product related posts than TTC info rich posts.
I'm now not sure whether to close it down and solely concentrate on the Making Babies Network. Which BTW is picking up beautifully. So if you aren't a part of it yet, JOIN UP!! We have a great group of people on there and so much support! You won't be sorry :)
So for the time being, if you are looking for TTC info and support please register on Making Babies and jump right in. (Until I decide what to do with this blog.....)
All my personal info is now on my private blog, which you need to be invited to. So pop me an email (with how I know you) and I'll sign you up there. :)
DON'T FORGET TO ENTER: Revitalizer Hamper by leaving your comment. Also get another 2x entries by placing your order for any of our fertility products for the month of October. :)
Posted by Making Babies at 8:02 AM 0 comments
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Come on share your TTC quirks.....
When I was TTC, I used to read my star sign and let it predict whether I was going to "be lucky" that month. I could turn any star sign reading into something TTC related.
Also I used to keep all my Pee Sticks from one cycle, including OPKs and line them all up to make sure there really weren't any lines on the HPTs when comparing them to the OPKs....
So do you have a TTC quirk?
Posted by Making Babies at 9:55 AM 2 comments


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ST. LOUIS — With winks, smiles and shrugs, Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin tried hard to charm voters in her first and only debate with Democratic opponent Joe Biden . Polls indicated she didn't win — but the absence of gaffes meant she didn't lose either.
The two sparred over taxes, energy policy and the Iraq war, with Palin trying to recover her image as a feisty reformer after recent fumbling TV interviews left the public wondering if she was up to a national job.
Biden, a seasoned U.S. senator, largely avoided attacking the Alaska governor directly and, instead, went after her running mate, John McCain, as promising more of the same failed policies as Republican President Bush.
"I think things went very well last night," Palin said Friday as she flew to Texas for a fundraiser. "It was energizing and I was happy to have had the opportunity."
It remained unclear whether the debate Thursday at Washington University would have a lasting impact on the campaigns of McCain and Democratic challenger Barack Obama.
McCain has been slipping in the polls during particularly trying times for Republicans, who were largely blamed for the House of Representatives' rejection of the Bush administration's $700 billion plan to rescue the teetering American financial system. Palin's shaky performances in recent television interviews also added to the pressure.
Two quick polls indicated that Biden fared better in viewers' minds than Palin in the debate. A CBS News/Knowledge Networks Poll found that 46 percent of uncommitted voters who watched the debate thought Biden won, with 21 percent siding with Palin. A CNN poll found respondents judging Biden the winner by a margin of 51 percent to 36 percent but calling Palin more likable by 54 percent to Biden's 36 percent.
Still, Palin couldn't be considered a loser, said Todd Harris, who worked on McCain's 2000 presidential campaign and advised actor-politician Fred Thompson's bid for the Republican nomination this year.
"Her performance had unlimited downside potential but probably has a limited upside," Harris said. "I doubt that this will change the dynamics of the race, but it certainly might help stop some of the bleeding."
The focus of both campaigns on Friday turned to the U.S. economy, which has been struggling with a financial crisis brought on by collapse of the housing market and an increasingly tight credit markets.
The House was expected to take up a $700 billion financial rescue package on Friday. It rejected the measure on Monday, sending global stock markets into a tailspin, but is reconsidering a revised proposal approved by the Senate on Wednesday. Among those voting "yes" were Sens. Obama, McCain and Biden.
Other political news of note
Animated Boehner: 'There's nothing complex about the Keystone Pipeline!'
House Speaker John Boehner became animated Tuesday over the proposed Keystone Pipeline, castigating the Obama administration for not having approved the project yet.
- Budget deficits shrinking but set to grow after 2015
- Senate readies another volley on unemployment aid
- Obama faces Syria standstill
- Fluke files to run in California
- Animated Boehner: 'There's nothing complex about the Keystone Pipeline!'
Adding a sense of urgency Friday was the Labor Department's report that employers cut payrolls by 159,000 in September, the most in more than five years.
In a statement, McCain said the report confirmed what workers have known for months: "Our nation's economy is on the wrong track." The Arizona senator added, "America's middle class needs help from a government that is truly standing on their side and not in their way."
Obama pledged in a statement to rebuild the middle class and urged Congress to act.
"I also call on Congress to pass an immediate rescue plan for our middle-class that will provide tax relief, save 1 million jobs, and save our local communities from harmful budget cuts and painful tax increases," the Illinois senator said.
Obama was campaigning Friday in Pennsylvania, while McCain was holding a town-hall style meeting in Pueblo, Colorado.
In the debate, Palin repeatedly cast herself as a non-Washington politician and part of a "team of mavericks" ready to bring change to a country demanding it.
"Maverick he is not on the important, critical issues," Biden shot back, referring to McCain. And he said Obama was the true candidate of change.
Palin also accused Obama and Biden of waving "a white flag of surrender" in Iraq.
Biden responded that McCain had been "dead wrong" on Iraq and has not shown how his policies on the Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan would be different from Bush's.
The clash over Iraq was the most personal, and pointed. Palin has a son serving in Iraq; Biden's son will deploy there soon.
Biden on Friday was to attend the deployment ceremony in Delaware for his son, Beau Biden, the Delaware attorney general, who is scheduled to fly to Iraq with his National Guard unit soon.
Palin charged Obama with voting against funding for U.S. troops in combat and chastised Biden for defending the move, "especially with your son in the National Guard." She criticized Obama for opposing the increase in U.S. troops in Iraq that is credited with helping reduce violence there.
Biden said McCain was "dead wrong" about Iraq from its 2003 beginning, and the United States was wasting $10 billion a month in that country while ignoring the real center of terrorism, Afghanistan and its mountainous shared border with Pakistan.
Palin also called Obama naive for saying he was willing to engage the leaders of Iran, North Korea and Cuba.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Are you one of those who always wanted to go whale watching kayak ? Well look
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ALBANY – Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand was appointed to the U.S. Senate by Gov. David Paterson today, a pick that elevates the two-term Democrat to the national political stage and makes her the first senator from upstate in 40 years.
Did Paterson make the right selection?
Also, we pulled together a bunch of stories, photos and video of the announcement onto one page. Check it out.


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Stamp Farms and Northstar Grain, which were featured on the cover of Top Producer's November issue, face uncertainty moving forward, with new concerns that the approach to full-circle farming might not be working.
The staff at Top Producer learned Nov. 9 that audits have revealed some irregularities and big changes were occurring at Mike Stamp's operations. Stamp was a 2012 Top Producer of the Year finalist and portrayed as a savvy Decatur, Mich., businessman who has been changing the local skyline.
The operation's attorney, Michael S. McElwee, says that Northstar Grain and Stamp Farms are both under new management. The attorney says Stamp is in full cooperation with the new leadership, lenders, the Michigan Farm Produce Insurance Authority and others involved in the situation.
The Top Producer staff has been in contact with Stamp's attorney and as of Nov. 19, McElwee says Stamp has not been arrested, despite online rumors.
To-date, harvest and operations at both entities continue as scheduled. The situation has been highlighted in the Top of Mind column of the December issue, which should arrive in mailboxes at the end of the month. Top Producer will continue to follow the story as the dust settles – with an eye on what can be learned from the situation.
Read the article about Stamp, Full-Circle Farming


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Wed, 16 Jul 2008
Python dictionary optimizations
In my recent journey through the book Beautiful Code, I came across a chapter devoted to Python's dictionary implementation. I found the whole thing quite facinating, due to the sheer simplicity and power of the design. The author mentions various special-case optimizations that the Python developers cater for in the CPython dictionary implementation, which I think are valuable to share.
Key lookups
In CPython, all PyDictObject's are optimized for dictionaries containing only string keys. This seems like a very common use case that is definitely worth catering for. The key lookup function pointer looks like this:
struct PyDictObject {
PyDictEntry *(*ma_lookup)(PyDictObject *mp, PyObject *key, long hash);
ma_lookup is initially set to the lookdict_string function (renamed to lookdict_unicode in 3.0), which assumes that both the keys in the dictionary and the key being searched for are standard PyStringObject's. It is then able to make a couple of optimiziations, such as mitigating various error checks, since string-to-string comparison never raise exceptions. There is also no need for rich object comparisons either, which means we avoid calling PyObject_RichCompareBool, and always use _PyString_Eq directly.
This string-optimized key lookup function is utilized until you search for a non-string key. When lookdict_string detects this, it permanently changes the ma_lookup function to a slower, more generic lookdict function. Here is an example of how to trigger this degradation:
>>> d = {'foo': 'bar'}
>>> d.get(1) # Congratulations, your dictionary is now slower...
>>> d.get(u'foo') # Yes, even unicode objects trigger this degradation as well
Jython does not contain this optimization, however, it does have a string-specialized map object, org.python.core.PyStringMap, which is used for the __dict__ underpinning of all class instances and modules. User code that creates a dictionary utilizes a different class, org.python.core.PyDictionary, which is a heavyweight object that uses the java.util.Hashtable along with some extra indirection, allowing it to be subclassed.
Small dictionaries
Python's dictionary makes an effort to never be more than 2/3rds full. Since the default size of dict is 8, this allows you to have 5 active entries in your dict while avoiding an additional malloc. Dictionaries used for keyword arguments are usually within this limit, and thus are fairly efficient (along with the fact that they most likely come from a pool of cached unused dicts). This also can help improve cache locality. For example, the PyDictObject structure uses 124 bytes of space (on x86 w/gcc) and therefore can fit into two 64-byte cache lines.
So, the moral of the story: use dictionaries with string-only keys, and only look for string keys within them. If you can keep them small enough to avoid the extra malloc (<= 5), bonus. As expected, things get better in Python 3.0, as unicode keys will no longer slow your dictionary down.
posted at: 15:39 | link | | 6 comments
Posted by Tambrey at Sun Jun 12 07:51:27 2011
Now thats sbulte! Great to hear from you.
Posted by Rose at Sun Jun 12 09:44:50 2011
Great cmoomn sense here. Wish Id thought of that.
Posted by fyezooytdlo at Sun Jun 12 16:16:34 2011
7X50kQ ifepzgthklsl
Posted by MaurineDippy at Fri Jun 24 04:49:01 2011
Posted by Mabrok at Fri Dec 5 13:13:30 2014
I noticed this too on #cherrypy. We had pelpoe new to python and new to CP adn TG in the channel asking smart questions and you could hear the Ah ah' moments as they were enlightened.
Posted by jake at Mon Jul 8 17:09:32 2019
people subtle common


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Time to clock in
Pitchers and catchers officially report today for the Mets in Port St. Lucie! The full squad will be on hand next Tuesday with actual games begining on March 2.
FYI… Kevin Burkhardt, of SNY, tweets the first workout open to the public will be Saturday morninig. If you have plans to visit Traditions Field, players usually head out around 9 a.m.
Bisons.com will head south in a few weeks – details to come soon with opening day 55 days out and counting'em down!


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It's been a real hoot watching how some of Worcester's West Side residents have become so worked up over planned roadway improvements at the intersection of Salisbury and Forest streets.
Given some of their hyperbole, one gets the impression the apocalypse is going to arrive if the city goes ahead with the project.
We're not talking about having an interstate highway built through that area. And, it's nothing like the talk of several years ago about putting an airport access road through the southwest part of the city, razing homes and destroying neighborhoods in the process.
Heck, in the scheme of things, this project is pretty small and basic — it involves repaving the streets in the area of the intersection, and installing new sidewalk surfaces and pavement markings.
In addition, new road lines will provide a dedicated left-turn lane for traffic heading eastbound on Salisbury Street to enter Forest Street. Separated right- and left-turn lanes will also be created for traffic on Forest Street entering Salisbury Street.
The intent of the project is to alleviate the traffic bottleneck at Salisbury and Forest streets that frequently causes traffic congestion along that east-west corridor — something city officials have been trying to deal with since the late 1970s.
Robert L. Moylan Jr., commissioner of public works and parks, said the new design and improvements will reduce by 50 percent the waiting time that motorists have to spend to go through the intersection during peak traffic hours. More importantly, he said it will not require any land-takings, the loss of trees or street closures. All the work will be done within the street rights-of-way.
And the city will not be breaking the bank to do that work, either. The cost of the project is $191,000 — pocket change relatively speaking, given the city's $541.8 million municipal budget.
Sounds pretty simple, right?
Not to several of the residents who live in the vicinity of the Salisbury/Forest intersection.
They see the creation of a left-hand turning lane on Salisbury Street and a left-hand turning lane on Forest Street as all but bringing civilization to an end in that part of the city, because they feel it will lead to more traffic passing through there.
One woman who testified at Tuesday night's joint meeting of the City Council's Public Works and Traffic and Parking committees said she believes the intersection improvements will have a "ripple effect of serious problems" because it will draw more traffic in that area.
"There's no question that more cars will lead to an increase in noise pollution," she said. "Also, there will be an increase in carcinogenic pollution from car exhaust, which will lead to more illnesses to people living in the area. More cars, ultimately there will be more accidents, to other cars and people. With the addition of more cars, there will be more litter. This is definitely going to create ultimately a crime area, no question; there's a correlation between litter and crime.
"This project will lower property values and I believe decrease selling opportunities. It will cause a problem for people backing out of their driveways and also result in sleep disturbances and rob residents of their peace and tranquility of the area. More traffic, I believe, will lead to road rage and carelessness. Also, there will be more people speeding.
"There'll be more long-term dissatisfaction among the residents, and I truly believe there will be more (traffic) congestion during rush hour because there's going to be more traffic. I also believe this project will destroy the beautiful landscaping."
Good grief!
Who would have ever thought that a little road project like this would lead to higher crime, disease, road rage, insomnia and lower property values among many other things? Kind of makes you want to assume the fetal position.
Meanwhile, a resident of nearby Military Road expressed concerns about how the project would impact the "ambience" in that part of the city. He went so far as to say that it could destroy one of Worcester's last "lovely" areas.
"When you look at Salisbury Street as a first impression, let's think about people who might want to come to Worcester, live in Worcester or those who might work in Worcester," he said. "That's a very lovely area. There aren't many lovely areas left in Worcester, they're really aren't.
"If you drive to south Main Street, as people have said, it looks like a dump; it really does. I don't think that taking what is a beautiful section of town, where people will formulate impressions and opinions regarding this town, serves justice to this city and to the residents who live there as well. The notion that adding these two additional lanes is going to alleviate that (traffic bottleneck) is pure fantasy. What it will do is encourage more traffic and you will still have a choke point.
"The real issue in my mind is what it does for our ambience up there. To draw the downtown of Worcester up into a residential area is folly, it really is, and I think you really ought to consider what this will mean to people's perception. You should leave well enough alone."
Then there is Luis G. DaRosa of 2 Forest St., the leader of the opposition. He is convinced there is more to the project than meets the eye because he does not feel there is a need for the roadway improvements at all.
"There is something further; there is something more than this," he said. "I know no one is going to say anything, but there is another answer. Why are we going to make this change, which is going to change the character of the neighborhood and it's going to change the peoples' livelihood?"
Mr. DaRosa said he is concerned that the project is meant to take care of traffic coming from Holden, Princeton and Rutland, so those people can get to downtown Worcester quicker. He said the City Council should instead be looking after the interests of its taxpayers who live in the vicinity of the Salisbury/Forest intersection.
"Where is my do?" he asked the council. "Where's my do as a taxpayer?"
But Joseph Pagano, who lives off Flagg Street, said opponents of the project are not looking at the value of the project beyond their own front yards. Indeed, one of the most repeated concerns raised by opponents of the project was how they would be able to get out of their driveways.
"(Mr. DeRosa) asked, where's my do?" Mr. Pagano said. "I would raise the question: where is our do? As elected officials, (city councilors) are elected to consider the common good, the greater good. Roads, infrastructure and sidewalks go beyond my own sidewalk, my frontage, my trees and my driveway. You need to consider the collective whole."
Time will tell if all this fuss was much ado about nothing.


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Dallastown firefighter served for 75 years
Man, 93, volunteered until his death
Residents of Dallastown, York County, began saying goodbye to one of the town's most legendary firefighters Wednesday.
A viewing was held at the Bethlehem United Methodist Church for 93-year-old Ralph E. Strayer.
Strayer served as assistant fire chief for 27 years and was active in the department for a total of 75 years.
He died unexpectedly last week.
Dallastown Fire Chief Darryl Ehrhart chief said Strayer never lost his passion for the firehouse, as he volunteered one day a week up until his death.
"If he'd be around and we had a call, he'd assist," Ehrhart said. "If they needed water at the station or something, anything he could do at the station, he'd do."
Strayer's funeral was held Thursday morning at the Bethlehem United Methodist Church in Dallastown.


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BERLIN — A local man was killed yesterday in a two-vehicle accident along Route 50 at its intersection with Route 818, or Main Street extended, in Berlin late Wednesday morning.
Shortly before noon on Wednesday, Berlin Police responded to a reported vehicle collision at Routes 50 and 818 where Main Street extends across Route 50. The preliminary investigation revealed a vehicle, driven by Christopher Keenan, 24, of Berlin, was headed westbound on Route 50. Another vehicle, driven by Amberle Booker, 25, also of Berlin, was heading northbound on Route 818 and attempted to cross over Route 50.
Booker's vehicle crossed into the path and Keenan's vehicle and was struck on the passenger side. Booker's passenger, identified as Stephen Mumpower, 26, of Berlin, was taken by Berlin EMS to Atlantic General Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Booker was transported first to PRMC and later to Maryland Shock Trauma and was listed as stable as of Thursday morning. Keenan was transferred by Ocean Pines EMS to PRMC in Salisbury where he was treated and released. The investigation is ongoing.


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President Obama may not be in Madden NFL 13's Super Bowl celebration ceremony but that doesn't mean the POTUS can't buy his way back into the game. Ads for his re-election campaign are popping up in the game's multiplayer menu, but only in targeted states.
Ohio, Nevada, Colorado, Iowa, New Hampshire and Virginia are the battlegrounds getting hit with the political messaging, which means my home state of North Carolina, unlike 2008, isn't seen by that campaign to be in play. Four years ago, Obama's campaign hit Burnout Paradise and Need For Speed with in-game billboards targeted to voters in N.C., plus Ohio, Florida, Iowa, Colorado, Indiana, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada and Wisconsin.
AdWeek reports that Madden isn't the only EA game where Obama has bought ad space, though it didn't name any others. GamePolitics asked EA if it was accepting ad buys from any other campaign, and a company spokesman said the publisher was for "credible political candidates, similar to a TV, radio or online channel."
Obama Taps Video Games for Early Voting [AdWeek via GamePolitics]


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DENVER (AP) – A once-thriving Colorado neighborhood of homes and healthy trees has been reduced to a barren expanse of ash and debris. Across the state, a river prized for its trout, rapids and pristine water instead flows as an oily, black brew every time rain falls on nearby slopes charred by wildfire.
In New Mexico, the Santa Clara Pueblo is seeking volunteers to fill sandbags for fear the American Indian village of 3,100 will be washed away by runoff from mountainsides left denuded by a blaze last year.
Wildfires across the West are burning homes, businesses, bridges and other infrastructure necessary for everyday life – and the disaster isn't over when the wildfire is snuffed out and the firefighters go home.
Erosion from seared hillsides buries roads in mud and pollutes rivers that supply tap water. The point was driven home earlier this week when a mudslide following heavy rain in Colorado's Waldo Canyon burn area temporarily closed U.S. 24 near Manitou Springs.
Electricity, water and gas lines have to be repaired and recharged. Debris from burned-out homes has to be hauled away and new houses must be built. Even if the work starts while the fire is still burning, experts say recovery can take years and untold millions of dollars simply to make conditions livable again.
Lisa Maser, whose northern Colorado home survived a blaze that destroyed 259 homes and charred more than 136 square miles, now thinks of her life in two periods: before and after the High Park Fire.
"It's very eerie," Maser said of the charred hillsides in her rural neighborhood west of Fort Collins, where the blaze left a layer of fine, sandy black ash, and where flood waters could strand them in the event of a heavy rainstorm. "It's amazing that it got so close."
In Colorado alone, insurers estimate that wildfires have caused some $450 million in damage to personal property, and that number is expected to grow.
Nationally, the U.S. Forest Service is on track for another possible record with nearly $28 million spent so far on burned-area recovery work. The agency spent a record $48 million last year.
Harris Sherman, the USDA undersecretary who oversees the agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, said the federal government tries to get into burned areas as quickly as possible to predict what some of the fallout might be.
"There are not only immediate effects. There are long-term implications to this," Sherman said. "We all need to be aware of the fact that the landscape doesn't restore overnight. It can take years, if not decades."
The number of fires and total acreage burned in the West this summer is roughly within range of the past decade's average. But the fires are bigger, they're burning with greater severity, and they are burning areas where the potential impacts are greater.
The blazes have charred forests and private land near suburban communities, rather than remote wilderness, raising the price tag for a recovery that challenges everyone from homeowners and anglers to forest managers and water plant operators.
In addition to Colorado and New Mexico, burned-area response specialists are working in Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming to finalize contracts for seeding and mulching, stabilize roads and trails, prep culverts for higher flows of water and put up warning signs.
Charred hillsides are vulnerable to erosion during downpours because they have less vegetation to soak up rain, increasing the likelihood of flooding.
Earlier this month, a wall of water rushed down New Mexico's Santa Clara Canyon, washing away months of restoration work done by Santa Clara Pueblo and government contractors. The tribal community had volunteers come from around the state to help fill thousands of sandbags in the wake of last year's massive Las Conchas Fire, and they're in need of the same help this year.
Pueblo Gov. Walter Dasheno has said he fears the next rainstorm could result in a wall of water bearing down on his village.
"In less than 10 days, the rains have wiped out even more trees, brought down more boulders and destroyed some out structures," he said.
National forests and grasslands provide about 20 percent of the nation's water supply, according to the Forest Service, and the cost of treating drinking water increases by about 20 percent for every loss of 10 percent of forest land in a watershed.
Following wildfires in 1996 and 2002, the water utility in Denver spent more than $26 million on restoration, maintenance and dredging, planting more than a quarter of a million trees, building sediment control structures and installing bigger drainage pipes.
The work reinforced the utility's belief in the importance of forest management, Denver Water media coordinator Travis Thompson said.
In 2010, Denver Water entered into a partnership with the Forest Service, called "From Forests to Faucets," to improve forest and watershed conditions. Under the partnership, Denver Water will match the federal government's $16.5 million investment toward restoration projects in priority watersheds critical to Denver's water supply.
An estimated 30,000 cubic yards of debris are expected to be hauled out of one neighborhood near Colorado Springs, where the Waldo Canyon Fire destroyed more than 340 homes and killed a husband and wife.
But the rebuilding process has already begun: Earlier this week, city officials issued the first permit for a homeowner to rebuild, just 14 days after the fire was declared contained.
Joseph Boyd, whose two-story, four-bedroom home at the end of a cul-de-sac burned on June 26, said he looked at other homes but found nothing that appealed to him and his wife. They've since picked out a new, more energy-efficient plan and aim to restore the landscape.
At least eight of the 14 houses on his street intend to return and rebuild, he said.
"I have one neighbor that will not come back. It was pretty traumatizing for them," he said. "I don't blame them, but it's a memory that will fade. You have to move forward, either direction you choose."
– By Dan Elliott, AP Writer
Montoya Brian reported from Albuquerque, N.M. Associated Press writer Shannon Dininny contributed to this story from Yakima, Wash.
(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Wildfire Resources
– Visit CBSDenver.com's Wildfire Resources section.
– Read recent Wildfire stories.
Wildfire Photo Galleries
– See images from the most destructive wildfires (Waldo Canyon, High Park and Fourmile) and largest wildfire (Hayman) in Colorado history.


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Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Laudrup refuses to blame Hazard
Michael Laudrup admitted he had never seen anything like Eden Hazard's sending-off throughout his lengthy playing and managerial career, but refused to criticise the 21-year-old.
With just over 10 minutes remaining of the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg, and Chelsea needing to score twice to take the tie to extra-time, the Belgian lost patience when a ball boy refused to hand over the ball after it had gone out of play for a goal-kick.
The ball boy fell to the ground as Hazard attempted to get the ball from him with the Blues forward then trying to kick it from under him but instead he appeared to make contact with the youngster and referee Chris Foy produced a red card. Laudrup said: "Obviously I know that will take some headlines."
The Swansea boss added: "But I just want to say with a situation like that you have to try and understand what is going through the head of the one committing the offence.
"I was a player, so I can understand when you are frustrated and your pulse is high and you just want the ball, and in this case there is a ball boy who keeps the ball.
"Up to a certain point I can understand it but there are certain things you can never do, you can never kick another person but I am sure when he (Hazard) sees those images he will regret it.
"We now have to leave it to the player and see his reaction when he calms down and sees it. I don't think any of us would disagree that it was a huge mistake but let's hear from the main person."
The incident threatened to overshadow Swansea's achievement of reaching a first major final, where they will face npower League Two side Bradford at Wembley.
The Dane praised his side for creating history.
"To be in a final for the first time is fantastic," he said. "If you add that we have beaten the European champions over two legs then it is incredible. There were times when they have dominated but that's what you expect, they had chances but the way we started gave me the belief we would do it."


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Nicki Minaj's #1 Crazed Fan: Ultra Gay Man Gets Too Hyped Listening To Nicki Minaj's Album For The 1st Time!
Real fan..
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On 14 June, countries throughout every region of the world organize a huge variety of events and activities to celebrate World Blood Donor Day, from football matches to free concerts, and from mobile blood donation clinics to monumental decorations. Events are held to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank voluntary unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood. The theme of this year's World Blood Donor Day campaign is, "Every blood donor is a hero".
WHO and partners have decided to focus the 2012 campaign on the idea that every one of us can become a hero simply by giving blood. The everyday hero responds to an immediate need, whatever the conditions, despite inconvenience, putting the needs of others above their own. Voluntary blood donors come from all walks of life, all regions, backgrounds, religions and ages. By choosing to donate blood without getting paid, these individuals commit an "heroic" act, a gesture of human solidarity with the power to save lives. Some of them do so dozens of times over several decades.
Useful links:
The Brussels based United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe - UNRIC provides information on UN activities to the countries of the region. It also provides liaison with institutions of the European Union in the field of information. Its outreach activities extend to all segments of society and joint campaigns, projects and events are organized with partners including the EU, governments, the media, NGOs, schools and local authorities.
United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC Brussels)
Residence Palace, Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 155, Block C2,7th and 8th floor, Brussels 1040, Belgium
Tel.: +32 2 788 8484 / Fax: 32 2 788 8485


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True Blossom String (Out of stock)
Less is more: Delicate shimmering woven lace featuring integrated lurex threads and fine tulle combined with the floral design make this string a stylish addition to your lingerie collection. Delicate seams accentuate the lightweight feel.
• Cotton gusset
Trend accessory for summery styles.
Order Today: Estimated Delivery Date 24/09/2020
- lace 75% nylon, 25% elastane
- tulle 67% polyamide, 33% elastane
- gusset 100% cotton