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I WRAPPED A TOWEL AROUND my waist as Denise stalked into the bathroom. Avoiding her eyes, I wiped a clear spot on the steamy mirror and studied my reflection. A caged man, a Houdini, stared back at me. Bound inside a straitjacket, locked in chains, submerged in a tank, I could taste the metallic tang of the key hidden in my mouth. If I held my breath a little longer and waited for the right time to rip my shoulder from its socket, I would escape my stifling life.
"Did you wipe down the shower, Craig?"
What harm would happen if once, just once, I left droplets on the glass doors? I bit back my retort. "Of course, honey."
"Good." She peered into the brushed-silver mirror hanging above the white marble countertop—a bathroom that had cost me a month's wages—and added another layer to her lipstick. "Need to hurry if we're going to be on time."
"I'm not going." I said it as if I didn't care one way or the other what she thought of my bombshell.
"What are you talking about?" Her shoulders tighten into unnatural stillness.
I rubbed the scruff of my neck and scrutinized my image. A few wrinkles around the eyes. Two slight recessions on either side of the hairline. Not bad for a guy of forty-six.
"Craig, the deacons' meeting is right after the service and you've missed the last two. Are you trying to sabotage your position?" Her reflected hazel eyes drilled into me.
For a second I thought of giving it all up, going to church with her and the kids, acting as though that was all I had planned for the day. Then the image faded and a pair of deep brown eyes replaced hers. No, I wouldn't be setting foot in a house of worship this Sunday, or ever again.
She wouldn't turn away without some kind of explanation.
"Denise, every day of the week I'm looking into people's mouths. Different teeth, different breath, same office, same chair. Same mindless, indecipherable banter. This is my one day off and I'm not going to waste it sitting in a pew with a bunch of pretenders."
"Pretenders?" Her lipstick tube tumbled to the counter, leaving a blood-red slash against its starkness. "Sometimes I don't understand you at all." As she rubbed a tissue over the spot, the red smeared across the dead veins in the rock, veins that merged and parted, crossed and died, without purpose or pattern.
Had I pushed too hard? The last thing I needed this morning was an interrogation built on suspicion.
I'd planned this day for too long to blow it now.
I turned and put my arms around her. "I'm going crazy. Call it a midlife crisis if you will, but I can't put on a tie and sing a happy little hymn. I'm going hiking."
Relaxing into my embrace, she fingered my jaw line. "Hiking, huh? Along the trails in Washington Park?"
Why do you always have to make a suggestion so it still seems as if I'm still doing what you want? It was her fault I had to carry out my plan.
Yet I had to feign tenderness, feign caring. I tried to smile. "No, to Multnomah Falls. The weather's supposed to be great in the gorge."
Denise stiffened again and moved away from me, heading into the bedroom. "The Columbia Gorge is kind of a long drive for a spur-of- the-moment thing, don't you think?"
Trailing after her, I recalled all the weekends I spent following her from one of the kids' soccer games to her friends' barbeques after work on Saturday. Waking the next day to the usual church service, out for lunch with another of her friends—the husband and I pretending camaraderie even though we knew nothing more about each other than our favorite football teams. Back to church for the evening meeting. Finally dropping into bed, dreading the idea of telling people to floss more, brush with softer bristles, lay off the self-whitening strips for a while, and all the other advice I dispensed only to have it ignored.
I slipped on a pair of loose jogging shorts and a T-shirt over my head. "Give me today, and I'll do whatever you want next Sunday."
"Fine." She sighed. "Your mind's made up anyway. I'll figure out something to tell everyone."
"Say a dental emergency came up. A root canal."
She touched the edge of the dresser and balanced on one foot while she slid on a new shoe, a beaded red high heel. I'm sure it set me back a pretty penny. Dyed honey-blonde hair hung over her face as she leaned over to put the other shoe on, calf flexing. I was surprised at how young and attractive she looked. Apparently our physical connection still flowed deep, like the veins in the marble, but my heart sat cold and dense. What was I doing? Maybe I could—
No. I steeled myself, kissed her forehead for the last time, and wandered down the hallway in search of the boys. I found them in the bonus room, sprawled on the couch, playing a shoot-'em-up video game. Nicolas, fifteen, had gelled his hair into a conservative style and wore a blue Oxford. Twelve-year-old Jamie's hair stuck up in blond-tipped spikes. His orange shirt, black flames blazing across the front, shouted, "Look at me!" But the shirt was a button-up, so technically it met Denise's church dress code.
"Guys?" I cleared my throat. "Guys."
They turned their attention from the TV screen.
"Want to skip church and go for a hike?" I held my breath.
Jamie cocked his head back. "Are you serious?"
My heart stopped for a second. I'd been so sure they wouldn't take me up on my invitation. Asking them, and getting turned down—that was what I had counted on.
Nick paused the game and shook his head. "I'm helping with children's church."
Laughing, Jamie jabbed Nick's shoulder. "What he means is that he's helping Heather McCallister with children's church." He turned his attention back to me. "Mom's letting you play hooky?"
I nodded, ignoring the insinuation that Denise arranged my days. "Man." He kicked at the coffee table. "I'm skateboarding with some friends at the park after lunch. But I can ditch them and come with you, if you want."
"No, no. You do what you've planned."
Nicolas unpaused the game and they went back to shooting each other.
It struck me as an odd pastime to pursue before a sermon. I stood for a moment, gazing at my boys. Almost men. Would they miss me if I weren't around? Denise did everything for them, though I financed it all. I could still do that, fulfill my financial role, even if . . .
My heart thumped, sped up, grew louder, drowned out the sound effects of the guns. Blackness crept into the sides of the room, and I feared I would pass out right in front of the boys. Closing my eyes, I focused on breathing in and out slowly.
The episode passed.
I wanted one last contact with my sons as well. I squeezed the back of Jamie's neck and pulled on Nick's ear before I left the room.
Denise walked past me, positioning her body so we wouldn't acci- dentally touch. "Boys, time to turn off the game and get into the car."
The boys yelled their good-byes and clattered down the stairs and out to the garage. Denise followed. A mechanical drone signaled the garage door's opening; another, its closing.
I was left standing in the hall directly in front of the family portrait we'd ordered after Jamie's birth. Denise's face glowed, her arms wrapped around the baby. I stared at my image, a three-year-old Nicolas perched on my lap.
Would I have a different life if I'd been a different father, a different husband?
Probably not. No matter how intently I inspected the photo, I couldn't read anything but satisfaction in my expression. Had I really been happy? Or had I been more willing to fake it then?
"No longer." I rubbed sweaty palms over the front of my shirt and glanced down at the wet streaks. Without thinking, I'd put on a white shirt. Denise had to know I was wearing black shorts with a blue shirt. It was critical to the plan. Nervous energy surged through my body.
Should I call her? Say I've changed my shirt?
And have her think I'd completely lost my mind? I pantomimed holding a phone. "Hi, honey. I know you've just left the house, but I'm wearing a blue shirt now. It matches my eyes better." Yeah, right.
A reason. All I needed was a reason. I hustled to the kitchen, smeared some ketchup—she knew I loved scrambled eggs with ketchup for breakfast—on the sleeve as if I'd wiped my mouth on my arm. Upstairs, I threw it in the hamper and found the blue shirt I needed to wear.
"The devil's in the details." My father's voice echoed in my mind, vibrating like my childhood house after he slammed the door and walked away from our family for the last time.
THE SHOWER STOPPED and I heard Craig step out. I waited until I was sure he'd covered himself and hurried in to check my makeup. Thinking of the tension between us over the last few months had me biting at my lower lip again. Craig always thought that was so cute when we were dating, but now . . .
I rolled my lips in as I passed him. No sense in giving him the opportunity to ridicule me for a silly bad habit.
When he'd first started picking at me, I took everything personally. All my efforts at self-improvement came to naught. So I started talking. To Craig. To my pastor. Eventually to a counselor. I showed all my emotional cards and begged for some insight in return. Yet the tighter I pulled at him, the harder he fought.
My new tactic, besides constant prayer, was to keep it light and easy, distract with the mundane. "Did you wipe down the shower, Craig?"
He smirked, as if I were a prison warden set on micromanaging his life. "Of course, honey." The endearment demeaned me.
"Good." I ignored his inflection and put on a fresh coat of lipstick to cover my tooth prints. "Need to hurry if we're going to be on time."
He posed in front of the mirror. "I'm not going to church."
"What are you talking about?" I'm sure my eyes asked more questions than just that one. Like, Why don't I feel like I know you anymore? or Why do I hold my breath when you walk into a room and relax when you leave?
He launched into a tirade, sharp words filled with calm anger. My lipstick slipped through my fingers as I listened, numb. I searched his face, hoping to see some sign of the man who had stood next to me at the altar and pledged to be the spiritual leader of our home. All I perceived was a magic show, a sleight of hand, a transformation into a contained, painfully polite man. He gentled his voice and explained it all away with the phrase "midlife crisis."
I completely agreed with his self-assessment. Midlife crisis was not just some term to cover buying a convertible—which Craig already had—but a full-on assault to the durability of our marriage. According to my therapist, Craig and I were "dealing with major communication issues."
Yet, when he held me, my body betrayed me, practically melting onto him. Was I so desperate for his attention, his physical touch, I could ignore his uncaring behavior the instant his arms came around me? The implication rattled my dry soul. I pulled away, left the bathroom, and hunted for a pair of shoes that matched my red and cream suit.
Setting the heels next to the dresser, I remembered the first pair of brand-new shoes I'd bought before Craig's graduation from dental school. I made do with secondhand sandals while he studied and fretted over the baby on the way. Then—like the first beams of sunshine through a wrung-out cloud—he told me to get a new pair of shoes for the commencement ceremony. Soon, he told me, all of our sacrifices were going to pay off. Literally.
Tipping my head so my hair would hide the tears welling in my eyes, I slipped the shoes on. I kept looking at the floor as he kissed my forehead and left the room. Sinking onto the duvet, I couldn't keep the tears from seeping out. When had our joint effort at marriage turned into two Clydesdales pulling in opposite directions?
From the bonus room, I heard Craig ask the boys if they'd like to go hiking with him. A new veil of tears came. Yes, it was the first weekend of summer vacation, but had he even thought to ask if I would go with him? After all, he was right. He did work hard every day except Sunday. Surely the Lord wouldn't begrudge him one day of relaxation. A day to soothe the heat of burnout I felt flaming from him.
Was it his job? I'd seen an article once that said dentists had one of the highest rates of suicide for professionals. For Craig, I wasn't sure if the hours, the work, or the demands of his family stressed him more. Whatever the case, he had ceased flirting with me long ago. He He used to chase me around the house when the kids were little, catch me by the waist, and tickle me. As soon as the boys laughed, he'd chase after them. When was the last time we shared a laugh as a family?
I stood, dabbing a tissue at each eyelid. One glance at my watch said my mascara fix would have to wait for a red light on the way. Craig came out of the bonus room just as I entered the hall. His shoulders filled the doorway. Most people tended to think of dentists as little men, very precise, wearing glasses, with looming nose hair. My husband was nothing like that. He was built like a runner, a true athlete, one whose muscles snapped as he drove his arms forward and yanked his knees up. His fingers were fine and long. Adept at what he did.
One touch of his hand, and I would melt into an emotional mess again. I edged past him, praying he wouldn't reach out. My breath came a little easier once I walked out of range.
Nicolas and Jamie turned off the game the first time I asked. They had always been good at doing what they were told. Must have gotten it from me. Sure as rain deluged our part of Oregon in November, they didn't inherit it from their father.
Stomach clenching at the idea of leaving Craig with such little discussion about his decision, I mustered the determination to let him make his own choices and led the boys to the SUV.
Nicolas called shotgun a millisecond before Jamie, throwing himself into the front seat.
I fumbled to get the key into the ignition.
Jamie leaned forward through the gap in the front seats and punched the garage door opener clamped to the sun visor above my head. "Dad's really not coming?"
"He needs a break." The key slid into the slot.
"You okay with that, Mom?" Nicolas fastened his seat belt.
I patted his knee, grateful for his thoughtfulness. "Sure, I'm fine." My hand shook as I reached for the wheel.


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SPPf Club Index
The purpose of this thread is to provide a list of the active clubs in SPPf. This can help you find clubs you're looking for or clubs you may want to join, as well as being a way for you to make sure you don't post any duplicate clubs.
I will be updating this thread on a regular basis. If it's been more than a week since your club was approved and it hasn't been added to the index, feel free to make a post saying as such, with the name of your club and a link to the club.
General Pokémon Clubs
(General clubs relating to Pokémon)
(General clubs relating to Pokémon)
Bug-type Fan Club
Casual Battlers Club
Fairy-type Fan Club
Fire-type Fan Club
Flying-type Fan Club
Ghost-type Fan Club
Grass-type Fan Club
Ground-type Fan Club
Hoenn Fan Club
Ice-type Fan Club
Orre Fan Club
Poison-type Fan Club
Psychic-type Fan Club
Sinnoh Fan Club
Steel-type Fan Club
Water-type Fan Club
Pokémon Character Fan Clubs
(Clubs that are devoted to a single Pokémon character)
(Clubs that are devoted to a single Pokémon character)
Dawn/Hikari Fan Club
Misty/Kasumi Fan Club
Serena Fan Club
Animé/Manga Clubs
(Clubs on non-Pokémon animé or manga)
(Clubs on non-Pokémon animé or manga)
Avatar: The Last Airbender and Legend of Korra Club
Bleach Club
Magical Girl Club
Yugioh Club
TV Show Clubs
(For clubs focusing on any type of TV Show, apart from animé)
(For clubs focusing on any type of TV Show, apart from animé)
Doctor Who Club
Video Games Clubs
(Clubs on all non-Pokémon video games)
(Clubs on all non-Pokémon video games)
Animal Crossing: New Leaf Club
Kid Icarus Club
Kingdom Hearts Club
Legend of Zelda Club
Megaman Club
Mother/Earthbound Club
Super Smash Bros Club
The Legend Of Zelda Club
Miscellaneous Clubs
(For the clubs which do not fit in any other category)
(For the clubs which do not fit in any other category)
Artists' Corner
Aspergers Club
Bionicles Club
Christian Alliance
Fan Fiction Club
Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual Alliance Club
Mr E's Mystery Club
Music and Musicians' Alliance
Paranormal & Crypto-zoological Society
Vocaloid Club
Warrior Cats Club
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subset: commoncrawl


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Welcome to HotelGuide Network's alphabetical hotel directory for Wilmington Delaware area hotels with names that begin with the letter "W". Please select one of the links below to view HotelGuide's Profile PageSM about that hotel. To return to the HotelGuide home page, where you can search for hotels beginning with other letters, click on the "Wilmington Delaware Hotels" link at the top and bottom of the page.
William Penn Guest House206 Delaware St. · New Castle
302-328-7736 · 4 Rooms
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Battle Over Berlin
Tags: Flying Games / Aeroplane Games / Airplane Games / Flight Simulator Games / War Games / Aircraft Games
Publisher: FreeOnlineGames.com
Video Walkthrough
Battle Over Berlin is a WW2 based Flying Game where you control your fighter plane in an effort to destroy as many enemy planes as possible. Use the simple controls to maneuver your plane. Avoid enemy fire while trying to inflict damage on them using your standard guns or with bombs. Play in either 1 or 2 player modes for plenty of fun. Remember that if you fly off the right side of the screen, you enter from the left and vice versa. A strategy to this game is to avoid fire and stay behind your enemy so you can down him faster.
· Controls = Arrow Keys · Fire Gun = "" Key
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Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy is based on agriculture, accounting for almost half of gdp, 60% of exports, and 80% of total employment. the agricultural sector suffers from frequent drought and poor cultivation practices. coffee is critical to the ethiopian economy with exports of some $350 million in 2006, but historically low prices have seen many farmers switching to qat to supplement income. the war with eritrea in 1998-2000 and recurrent drought have buffeted the economy, in particular coffee production. in november 2001, ethiopia qualified for debt relief from the highly indebted poor countries (hipc) initiative, and in december 2005 the imf voted to forgive ethiopia's debt to the body. under ethiopia's constitution, the state owns all land and provides long-term leases to the tenants; the system continues to hamper growth in the industrial sector as entrepreneurs are unable to use land as collateral for loans. drought struck again late in 2002, leading to a 3.3% decline in gdp in 2003. normal weather patterns helped agricultural and gdp growth recover during 2004-07.
Deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management
Federal republic
82,544,840 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to aids; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (july 2008 est.)
Eastern africa, west of somalia
Total: 1,127,127 sq km land: 1,119,683 sq km water: 7,444 sq km
Slightly less than twice the size of texas
Conventional long form: federal democratic republic of ethiopia conventional short form: ethiopia local long form: ityop'iya federalawi demokrasiyawi ripeblik local short form: ityop'iya former: abyssinia, italian east africa abbreviation: fdre
Name: addis ababa geographic coordinates: 9 02 n, 38 42 e time difference: utc+3 (8 hours ahead of washington, dc during standard time)
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; theoretically, no compulsory military service, but the military can conduct call-ups when necessary and compliance is compulsory (2008)
Eritrea and ethiopia agreed to abide by the 2002 eritrea-ethiopia boundary commission's (eebc) delimitation decision, but neither party responded to the revised line detailed in the november 2006 eebc demarcation statement; un peacekeeping mission to ethiopia and eritrea (unmee), which has monitored the 25-km-wide temporary security zone in eritrea since 2000, is extended for six months in 2007 despite eritrean restrictions on its operations and reduced force of 17,000; the undemarcated former british administrative line has little meaning as a political separation to rival clans within ethiopia's ogaden and southern somalia's oromo region; ethiopian forces invaded southern somalia and routed islamist courts from mogadishu in january 2007; "somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities in berbera and trade ties to landlocked ethiopia; civil unrest in eastern sudan has hampered efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with ethiopia


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This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The U.S. military's intervention in Korea 60 years ago was a "game-changer in a perilous time in world history," a Pentagon official told nearly 40 Utah Korean War veterans and their families Wednesday.
Col. David J. Clark, director of the Department of Defense's committee commemorating the 60th anniversary of the war, handed out certificates to veterans of what he called "a brutal and bloody" war during a ceremony at Memory Grove in Salt Lake City.
Accompanied by two Utah veterans who served in Korea, Clark laid a wreath on the Korean War monument as a trumpeter played taps.
"It has taken a long time for historians to call what happened in Korea a war," Clark said. "It's been called a police action, a conflict, and at worst, the forgotten war.
"I am here to assure you [that] your country has not forgotten you. Nor have the people of the Republic of Korea [South Korea forgotten what you did on their behalf."
Some 1 million lives were lost in the three-year war, counting South Korea's losses and those of its allies. But those sacrifices prevented communism from spreading south from North Korea on the Korean Peninsula, he said.
Today, South Korea is one of the world's most prosperous democracies, he said.
The United States lost 33,000 men in the war, which ended in July 1953. Another 8,000 were missing in action and their bodies are gradually being recovered.
The Department of Defense says 141 Utahns died in the war, but Clark said the National Battlefield and Monuments Commission puts the number at 154.
Terry Schow, executive director of the Utah Department of Veterans Affairs, estimates 17,000 Korean War-era veterans live in the state.
Don Salas of Roy is one of them. He came to the ceremony with his wife, three children, two of their spouses and three grandchildren, including grandson Patrick Choffel, who at 17 is the age Salas was when he joined the Marines.
Salas was in the Marine Corps for four years, including 16 months in Korea, where he served in communications.
The only time he ever spoke of the war was one Christmas when memories of the bitter cold and filthy conditions brought him to tears, said his daughter, Monica Choffel.
On Wednesday, Salas told of staying on a ship for three days after landing in San Francisco; the Marines' uniforms were filthy and torn and new uniforms had to be found before they were allowed in public, he said.
"I'm proud of what I did," said Salas.
Joseph Tapoof came with his wife and sister from Duchesne to honor his father, John Ioupe, who served in the war.
There were so many members of the Ute Tribe serving in the Korean War that the tribe began dedicating its second Sun Dance each summer to men and women in uniform.
For years after he came home until his death in the 1980s, Ioupe was the organizer of that Sun Dance, his son said.
"Even today, they call it the Veterans or Second Sun Dance," said Tapoof, a Vietnam-era veteran.
Twitter: @KristenMoulton
Remembering the Korean War
Korean War-era veterans who would like to receive 60th anniversary certificates from the Pentagon can contact the Utah Department of Veterans Affairs, preferably by email: email@example.com. Phone 801-326-2372.
The Department of Defense plans a final observance of the 60th anniversary on Korean War Armistice Day, July 27, at the Korean War Memorial in Washington D.C.


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I adore movies. It's funny; if I spend two hours watching television, I sometimes feel guilty, as though I've wasted my time. But watching a movie rarely leaves me feeling as though I've just lost two hours to the brainless abyss (I will be polite and not mention the exceptions that come to mind). So I will almost always choose a movie over a television show. And even better than a movie, of course, is a book, and when comparing the two, the limitations of modern technology (particularly when compared to our own boundless imaginations), mean that books almost always win, for me.
Typically I find the book superior to the film, again because imagination is so powerful. Sometimes they get the villain's moustache wrong, or the romance feels false and wooden, or the director's vision just plain didn't match mine. Most importantly, even longer films have a limited amount of time to tell the story, and there are bound to be subtleties, nuances, and details lost in translation. Even the most well-respected literary masterpieces can fail dismally in movie form.
That said, there are certainly plenty of examples that buck the trend, wherein the movie is as good – or occasionally even better – when compared to the book. One of my favorite examples is The Princess Bride. The Princess Bride has something for everyone (unless you're a fuddy-duddy). Pirates, swordplay, murder, a princess, torture, kidnapping, true love, revenge (served ice-cold, of course), a giant, and even a fire swamp. The film adaptation is brilliant and amazing, and leaves me smiling and satisfied with every viewing (and there have been many). Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya ("Hello! My name is Inigo Montoya! You killed my father! Prepare to die."), Andre the Giant as Fezzik, Wallace Shawn, Christopher Guest, Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, and more…the characters are cast perfectly, and play off each other effortlessly.
Conversely, the book by William S. Goldman, meanders too far off course on several occasions, and is so rife with footnotes, asides, and strange tangents that it somewhat compromises the joy and simplicity of the main narrative. In that regard, the film is more successful and fun. However, I don't know if I'd enjoy the movie nearly as much as I do without having read the book, which also delves far more deeply into the personal histories of Fezzik, Inigo, Buttercup and more, and I wouldn't miss that for the world. This is a story so wonderful it should be enjoyed in every format available. If ever there is a puppet show of The Princess Bride, I'll be first in line.
Another example is Breakfast at Tiffany's. Truman Capote's novella introduced us to Holly Golightly, sure, but it was undoubtedly Audrey Hepburn who brought her to life. The film brought the character into sharper focus, and made her a living, breathing, three-dimensional human with flaws and feelings and the rest. And while some critics have lambasted the film as racist (Mickey Rooney's depiction of Mr. Yunioshi in particular), it was actually decidedly less so than the novella, in which Holly Golightly makes passing disparaging remarks about black people more than once. Director Blake Edwards (The Party, The Pink Panther, Victor Victoria) captured the essence of both the character and 1940s New York City, and expertly determined which parts of the story to focus on or discard.
So while many stories are lessened or lost by their adaptation to screen, there are indeed numerous examples where the writers, directors, producers, actors and crew come together to preserve or even improve our beloved books.
The selection below showcases books that have been made into superior motion pictures, both modern and classic.


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Have you been stolen by goblins?? I drove past your place on Tuesday but there was no signs of life
Merry Christmas and Happy new year hope u have a good one x
Yeah gimp get in the chat room
get in the chat you gimp!!
Thought i had better visit your secret hq so here i am
I'm not sure I'm comfortable with this "secret handshake" conjures up all sorts of wrong images lol
the printers have dem on order we will be a elite club and have secret hand shake and all
Where is afore mentioned T-shirt huh huh , i bet TC swiped it !
Never the Hoff will RULE the world very soon and we shall bask in the glow of the red speedo lol
sorry for delay has been a bad few weeks and have just checked CP, Hope your both well and the dogs are settling ok
I will send a Hoff T-shirt to Mr Mopp
Ohhh your first message. By rights I should come up with something witty and off the cuff for your "first" but its late and I'm tired so "HI" will have to do lol
Oh and please stop encouraging my husbands Hoff addiction lmso
Senior Member
Shiny Superstar


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Is there anything in this version that might affect another application on the same server utilizing MSMQ?
Essentially we shut down UltraVNC service and broke the other application, started it back up and it started working again. Don't see any direct references, but it makes extensive use of message queues.
I was just wondering if it might be disabling a shared resource?


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© - Steven A. Cerra, copyright protected; all rights reserved.
Earlier this year, the editorial staff at JazzProfiles posted reviews of two newly released recordings by the late, iconic tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon in Europe in the late 1960's: [1] Fried Bananas [Gearbox GB 1535] and [2] Dexter Gordon: Both Sides of Midnight [Black Lion Records BLP 60103; ORGM-1062].
The distinguishing features of both these recordings was that they were recorded in performance in Europe, with European-based rhythm sections [that included some American expatriates], and all showcased Dex and the group stretching out over extended improvisations.
If this wasn't a surfeit of riches, along comes a third recording by Dexter with these same distinguishing features in the form of ORG Music Group's LP reissue of the Black Lion LP - Dexter Gordon: Take the 'A' Train [ Black Lion LP 60133; ORGM-2085].
In our commentary about Dexter Gordon: Both Sides of Midnight we drew the distinction between "stretching out" [taking extended choruses] and "saying something" [playing a long solo that engages a listener's attention because of the manner in which it is structured and its storytelling qualities].
Besides the technical mastery of the instrument that allows for the easy flow of ideas, why are Dexter Gordon's extended solos so good?
The answer to that question lies in the late, great bassist, bandleader and composer Charles Mingus assertion that "You have to improvise on something."
And in terms of that "something," master Jazz musicians like Charles and Dexter Gordon knew that the better the melodic and harmonic basis for the improvisation the easier it was to take extended solos over them.
Interestingly, two of the tunes on Dexter Gordon: Take the 'A' Train are included with the 100 Jazz Standards in the eminent Jazz scholar Ted Gioia's book The Jazz Standards A Guide to the Repertoire because not only are all Jazz musicians expected to know the melody and the chord changes to these tunes, they are also melodies that musicians find intriguing in the sense that they facilitate their ability to say something in the form of expressive and meaningful solos. They can play all day on the melody and chords of these tunes.
And that exactly what Dex, Kenny and NHOP do on But Not For Me and Take the A Train. Ted explains why this is so in the following excerpts from his definitive book
But Not for Me
Composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin
"One of George Gershwin's most beloved standards, "But Not for Me" seems to find a new crossover audience every decade. Film makers love it—not only did the original Broadway musical (Gershwin's Girl Crazy from 1930) inspire three movie adaptations, but "But Not for Me" has regularly appeared in later hit films, including Woody Allen's Manhattan (1979), Rob Reiner's When Harry Met Sally (1989), and Mike Newell's Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). The song even inspired its own movie, Walter Lang's But Not for Me (1959), which was one of Clark Gable's final efforts.
The song gained some traction with jazz players during the 1940's—Harry James even enjoyed a modest hit with his 1941 recording, which featured vocalist Helen Forrest — but Gershwin's composition was better suited for the cool jazz stars of the 1950's. Chet Baker may have lacked Ella's technique and range, but his 1954 recording of "But Not for Me" ranks among his finest moments in the studio, both for its quintessentially cool vocal and his lyrical trumpet solo. Four months later, Miles Davis recorded the song for his Bags' Groove album, and his two released takes find him playing it initially in a medium tempo similar to Baker's approach, while the second take is faster, and a better setting for his front-line bandmate Sonny Rollins. Ahmad Jamal delivered an appealingly understated piano performance on his live recording from the Pershing from 1958, which was one of the best-selling jazz albums of the period. The Modern Jazz Quartet and Kenny Burrell offered similarly subdued interpretations around this same time.
Most later jazz renditions of "But Not for Me" have kept to the cool ethos. But Coltrane offered a dissenting view with his 1960 recording from his My Favorite Things album. He incorporates his "Giant Steps" chord substitution scheme into the Gershwin piece, and the result is a case study in the advanced harmonic concepts of the time, worthy of inclusion in the curriculum of any jazz educational institution.
Dexter Gordon dispenses with the Coltrane chord changes but achieves a similar energy level on his 1967 recording in Copenhagen, an intense 15-minute outing on "But Not for Me" — including nine full tenor choruses that persuasively demonstrate why this saxophonist was such a formidable combatant at a jam session."
Take the A Train
Composed by Billy Strayhorn
Strayhorn had been working on the piece as early as 1939, but was hesitant about presenting it to Ellington because he feared that it sounded like the type of song that Fletcher Henderson, an Ellington rival, might use. … Ellington's decision to adopt the song as his new theme was validated by its immense success. His February 1941 recording stayed on the chart for seven weeks, and soon the tune was picked up by other bandleaders. ...
The hook in the melody stems from its willingness to land emphatically on the flat fifth — the most modern and unstable of the blue notes — in the opening phrase. The effect is jarring but in an uplifting way, and demonstrates that what most Tin Pan Alley composers might have dismissed as excessive dissonance could, in the context of the Ellington band, serve as the most memorable moment in a hit song. …
"Take the A Train" remains a favorite among musicians and fans, and has become so well known that many outside the jazz arena—from Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones to the rock-pop band Chicago—have tried it on for size. Like other Ellington-Strayhorn standards, "Take the A Train" is often interpreted with reverent fidelity as a period piece, yet some have managed successful reconfigurations. Clifford Brown and Max Roach mounted a hot hard bop takeover of the tune in 1955, and even do a better job than the Duke at mimicking the sound of an actual train. Among the various solo piano versions, Michel Petrucciani's riveting boogie-woogie arrangement rises far above the usual cliches of that idiom, while Sun Ra's live performance in Italy from 1977 manages somehow to respect the original spirit of the composition while gradually layering on various avant-garde elements, eventually ending with a pedal-to-the-metal explosion that threatens to derail the proceedings. But no tour of "Take the A Train" is complete if it doesn't include composer Billy Strayhorn's own performance, captured in an elegant arrangement with strings from 1961."
Mark Gardner, a frequent contributor to JazzJournal and other Jazz periodical as well as a significant contributor to Barry Kernfeld, ed., The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, wrote the liner notes to Dexter Gordon: Take the 'A' Train [ Black Lion LP 60133; ORGM-2085] and they provide some wonderful atmospheric detail as to what was going down with Dexter at the time these tracks were recorded.
"The upstairs room of a Birmingham suburban public house was the unlikely setting for my first encounter with Dexter Gordon. That was in the autumn of 1962 when the tenor saxophonist was freshly-arrived in Europe and ready to embark on one of the most productive and happy periods of his career. Clutching a glass of the local brew with no great relish, Dexter chatted affably between sets.
I remember we discussed Wardell Gray at some length, and Dexter smiled fondly as he recalled their intermittent association. He also reported having recently made some recordings with Sonny Clark which he felt were better than his earlier comeback albums.
On the stand, the six foot, five inch figure, sharply togged in houndstooth jacket, charcoal grey slacks and button-down shirt, galvanized that audience with some of the most potent playing any of us had heard. Dexter made a lot of lifetime fans that night.
Five years later, I caught up with Dexter again during a brief weekend gig he made in Manchester, at the behest of the Garside Brothers. Once again on those evenings, his work was electrifying, as Peter Clayton will confirm, since we both sat together spellbound by the power and majesty of Gordon's improvisations.
Just a few months earlier, Dex had been captured on several peak playing nights at his favorite Jazzhus Montmartre club in a series of sets recorded under the supervision of Alan Bates for Black Lion. The resultant performances were of outstanding quality.
They caught Dexter in expansive, relaxed mood in front of an appreciative audience. The Black Lions are undoubtedly among his finest European recordings. This was recognized when a brace of albums from the "Montmartre Collection" were released in the early 1970's and it was comforting to know there were more of that calibre where those came from!
In this new compilation, some 15 years later, here are some of the "more" from those exciting sessions in the Copenhagen venue which was Preacher Gordon's pulpit.
His companions were men with whom Long Tall Dexter felt secure. He had worked with pianist Kenny Drew in California during the mid-1950's, and they had later recorded together for Blue Note in New York and Paris. Close friends as well as being longstanding musical associates, their partnership flourished anew on the Continent.
Niels Henning 0rsted Pedersen was only 20 at the time of these dates, but Gordon regarded him as the best bass player in Europe, an opinion he probably still holds to this day. Actually, Niels Henning long ago became an international favorite, super soloist and a rock in any rhythm section he graces. The big Dane has more than confirmed Dexter's excellent judgement.
As for Al "Tootie" Heath, drummer and youngest of the richly talented Heath brothers, his propulsive work suited Gordon and meshed perfectly with the accompaniment of Drew and NH0P So in this quartet
A measure of the group's ease and unity of purpose is the fact that practically every performance is an extended workout, but as Dexter and Drew unfurl chorus after chorus of inspired and dramatic improvisation who notices the march of time!
As the recording begins, the leader cuts a surging swath through But Not For Me territory. The leader's style, evolved through such carefully selected influences as Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Don Byas and Ben Webster, also reveals that he closely listened to younger men like John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. These ingredients were intelligently absorbed in a wholly personal framework. Tonally and rhythmically he is completely his own man, a proud, individualistic voice. But Not For Me contains archetypal Dexter with brilliant contributions from Drew and NH0P in deep examination of Gershwin's excellent progression. The long coda includes a number of throwaway quotations from Three Blind Mice and My Kind Of Love among others.
The other scorching item in this particular selection is an express version of Take The 'A' Train, a Duke Ellington chestnut well roasted by the saxophonist who maintains a musical outpouring that is positively majestic for nine incredible choruses. This is an object lesson in how to build a solo. Drew, whose clever paraphrase of Duke's own intro sets the scene, lays out for the opening brace by Dexter, but returns to prompt and probe. Gordon greets the pianist's resumption with a lick from "And The Angels Sing."
"Take The 'A' Train" is an essential piece of Dexteriana, a brilliant example of his colossal talent and artistic discipline. Listen to this solo 50 times and it will still surprise and satisfy.
Since the time of these recordings, Dexter Gordon has continued to flourish, making his mark as a sensitive actor in the movie Hound Midnight and recording prolifically. He re-settled in the USA during the 1970's and for the first time was signed by a major label.
However, I firmly believe that he performed at his peak in the 1960's and it is now clear that these Black Lion sessions are among his best works - full of vibrant energy and creative consistency.
I find it difficult to believe that the lean, lanky, youthful looking man I first met all those years ago is now a veteran in his 67th year. But with eyes closed and "Take
The 'A' Train" playing - the years roll back as I'm once again in that smoke-filled pub lounge, and Dexter, knees shaking, and fingers flying is educating us all over again. And it was exactly the same, I'm sure, at the Montmartre as the hip Danes worshiped at the master's feet. We are privy to that experience on this invaluable set."
Dexter Gordon: Take the 'A' Train is available in streaming, audio CD and vinyl formats from Amazon and other online retailers and it is also available through iTunes.


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7 Items You'll Need for a Visit to Hurricane Harbor
Important summertime gear to bring with you
You need to make sure you pack all the summertime essentials before heading to Hurricane Harbor for the day. These are some of the most important items you'll want to bring with you to ensure you have a comfortable and protective visit. If you forget something at home, you can always purchase it in one of our gift shops.
1. The entire bottle of sunscreen
It's not enough to apply sunscreen before you visit – stick the whole bottle in your bag and bring it with you. Your body's oils will cause your sunscreen to wear off every few hours and it may even rinse off in the pool. Be sure to re-apply it several times throughout the day as needed.
2. Waterproof sandals or water shoes
Sure, you can take your shoes off when in the lazy river, wave pool, or going down a slide, but you'll definitely need them to get around the park. The sun will make concrete sidewalks and walking areas very hot. Keep your shoes on as you walk around to stay comfortable. Be sure your shoes also have a rubber or tread sole to prevent slipping on wet walkways.
3. A plastic bag for your personal items
Protect your cell phone, car keys, cash, and other personal items by keeping them in a separate water-resistant bag. This way, if your sunscreen leaks or you accidentally throw a wet towel in your backpack, your important items will stay safe and dry.
4. A change of dry clothes
Your swimsuit will be soaking wet after a day of water park fun. Even after drying off with a towel, you'll probably still be damp when it's time to leave. Bring an extra set of clothes that you can quickly change into before you leave for a comfy and dry car ride home. We also recommend bringing a plastic grocery bag or trash bag to put your wet swimsuit in.
5. Waterproof camera
You'll want to document all the fun you're having throughout the day. Carry around a waterproof camera to take pictures of the family enjoying the lazy river or wave pool, and possibly get some cool underwater shots! If it's waterproof, you won't need to worry if it gets splashed.
6. Sunglasses and a hat
Protect yourself from the sun with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses. These will especially come in handy if you decide to kick back in a lounge chair and take in the rays.
7. Toiletries for a refreshing shower
We provide showers so you can rinse off the chlorine before you head home. Bring travel-sized bottles of shampoo and body wash to help you feel more refreshed after a long day of being in the sun.


text: One of our favourite forums is the SOHC4 forum. They always have the most amazing Cafe Racers being posted by their members. Like this spectacular yellow 1976 Honda CB550 by Chris from New Jersey. He purchased the original bike for only $600 and has turned it into one of the sweetest cafe racers we have seen this year. We are definitely bias to the Benjies style of cafe racer. The tank, seat and paint job are absolutely perfect. Hit the jump to see Chris's build pics and more details about this beast.


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Reality TV stars Bill and Giuliana Rancic of Style network's "Giuliana & Bill" recently sat down with "Today" to talk about the couple's toughest challenge yet—Giuliana's struggle with breast cancer and the possibilty of adoptiion or surrogacy while she is in treatment.
Giuliana said, "whether you have a baby naturally, adoption, surrogacy—it's your baby. You're going to love that baby and that's all that matters."
The Rancic's have been through tough times in their relationship and on Monday Giuliana told "Today" their experiences have made them "closer than ever."
On past seasons of "Giuliana & Bill" the coupled shared their struggle to conceive with viewers. In October Giuliana revealed on the "Today" show that she was in the early stages of breast cancer.
"It's actually helped us find the humor in everything, because when you go through something this tough, you have to, at some point, laugh and get back to your normal life … and that's what Bill helped me do," Giuliana said.
Since then, Giuliana has had a double mastectomy and the couple said they are exploring "other options" to become parents as Giuliana continues treatment.
"We absolutely want a child. As far as getting pregnant myself, with the medication I'm starting ... it's probably not going to happen any time soon," Giuliana said, "But we're definitely looking at other options ... Possibly adoption, surrogacy."
Giuliana said that her battle with cancer has changed their lives. She and Bill plan to renew their vows this summer and are expecting "good news" in regards to becoming parents in the near future.
The fifth season of "Giuliana & Bill" premieres Tuesday night at 8 p.m. ET on the Style network.
U.S. & World
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


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Texas Folklife preserves, promotes and presents the rich cultural heritage of our Lone Star State. As such, we look in all corners of our cities and towns, large and small, to find the people with meaningful lives and practices to share with the rest of us. In order to do that we depend on collaborating with other organizations who have relationships to their communities at the ground level. In the past years we have been fortunate to find a fabulous partner in PODER. Their Young Scholars for Justice have participated in our Summer Institute—our folklore in radio journalism program, as well as the Stories for Deep in the Heart Internship. We are nothing but impressed with their preparation, dedication, intelligence and perseverance for social justice. It always is a pleasure to watch the youths' discussion of radio production—always insightful in the development of their story, and they worked very, very hard to get things done. It was a joy to work with them; they are a testament to the quality of the Young Scholars for Justice program.
Listen to their stories here!
Soundslide clip of Sacred Plants and Folk Medicine produced during the 2011 Summer institute


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If you always wanted to get a TBS Crossfire but you're stuck with a previous-generation UHF system, here's your chance to get a huge discount! We want your old UHF gear, and we'll give you discounts (and free standard shipping) towards your TBS Crossfire!
How it works
- Fill out below form and print the generated PDF
- Ship items to the TBS facility located closest to you (addresses inside generated PDF)
- You will receive an order confirmation once the package has been received, with discounts applied
- Follow instructions in the email for payment. Package ships from our Hong Kong facility next working day, EU orders will be shipped from Germany.
The fine print
- Each item sent in generates a discount for ONE item. Multiple items don't create accumulated discount.
- Discounts apply to products only. Shipping is not affected
- Defective items must be labeled as "defective".
- Discount applies to end customers only.
- Discount applies to a maximum of 50% of the Crossfire item value (accumulated).
- Accepted trade-in items are listed below. Contact our customer support department if you have an UHF system not on this list.
Follow this link here:
The exchange is available until March 31st, 2016! I'm available for any questions or comments!


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inc. GST
|Out of Stock
|Register to Buy
K&N's Universal Air Filters are designed and manufactured for a wide variety of applications including racing vehicles, radio-controlled cars, generators, snowmobiles, tractors, and other applications. Regardless of the angle or offset diameter of the air intake, there is probably a K&N Universal air filter for your equipment. All filters are constructed with ultra-strong molded pliable rubber flanges which absorb vibration and allow for secure attachment and can also be stretched for up to 1/16" (1.5mm) to fit in-between sizes. K&N universal air filters are washable and reusable. When used as a replacement for the OEM air filter, modifications to the jetting may be required.
Air Filter Large End Diameter 4.75 in (121 mm)
Air Filter Shape Round Tapered
Base Outside Diameter 4.75 in (121 mm)
Filter Material Cotton Gauze
Filter Re-Oiling Amount 1.1 oz (33 ml)
Flange Inside Diameter 3.313 in (84 mm)
Flange Length 0.625 in (16 mm)
Flange Type Centered
Flanges 1
Height 6.5 in (165 mm)
Top Material/Finish None
Top Outside Diameter 3.5 in (89 mm)
Top Style Rubber


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This. Could you please add "KoLmafia Forums" to the end of thread page titles? So that instead of, say, Cooking confusion lol - , I can see Cooking confusion lol - KoLmafia Forums.
I see you banned cute little drainge09. And he was such a polite and amusing bump-bot. It's algorithms were charming in their ability to mimic vaguely correct posting for this forum. I'll never forget when he asked us to build an anti-botting script for turtles. That... almost made sense.
I love your username, fewyn.
Edit: Whoops this isn't a pm... heheh
I had a shock today - not just a new theme , but new forum software with lots of wizzy new features


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CorreosChile asks us to inform the designated operators of other Union member countries that the strike by Chilean customs staff is officially over. However, given the length of the strike, delays in the customs process for incoming postal items (letters, small packets, parcels and EMS) are still possible. CorreosChile is working to restore normal operations as quickly as possible.
CorreosChile thanks all member countries for their understanding.


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My Scrivener® - Measuring Effectiveness and Dose Response in Children
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00919906
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : June 12, 2009
Last Update Posted : October 28, 2010
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
|Condition or disease
|Asperger's Syndrome Dyslexia Cerebral Palsy Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD Traumatic Brain Injury Stroke
|Device: My Scrivener(R)
|Phase 1 Phase 2
This study builds on a large body of neurological research that uses robot-guided repetitive motion training to induce neuroplasticity and improvements in upper extremity motor skills in adults and children. This research study is looking at handwriting, a fine-motor task that is used daily.
In our study, we want to see if 3-dimensional robotic-assisted repetitive motion training can be a safe and effective intervention for school-age children with fine motor deficits arising from several different impairment origins. Our research construct is: Legible handwriting = function of (tactile feedback, visual feedback, duration, and fine-motor control).
Independent variables:
- Tactile feedback is a continuous variable of force-feedback measured in pounds of force.
- Duration is a continuous variable measured in seconds and number of repetitions.
- Visual feedback is the letter scribed on the paper.
Dependent variable:
- Legible handwriting will be measured by scoring on the Test of Handwriting Skills and the Print Tool™ evaluation.
- Fine motor deficit/control will be measured directly and objectively by quantifying the error between the desired scribing task and the actual scribing task.
The robotic device is an affordable (<$200) computer haptic (the Falcon(R)) that currently is approved by the FCC for home and office. It is *not* approved for medical use. This is an investigational, nonsignificant risk device.
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Estimated Enrollment :
|176 participants
|Intervention Model:
|Parallel Assignment
|Single (Outcomes Assessor)
|Primary Purpose:
|Official Title:
|My Scrivener® - Measuring Effectiveness and Dose Response in Children
|Study Start Date :
|April 2009
|Actual Primary Completion Date :
|September 2010
|Actual Study Completion Date :
|September 2010
No Intervention: Handwriting without Tears
Standard practice
|Experimental: Haptic guidance
Device: My Scrivener(R)
Twenty 20-minute sessions of the Handwriting Without Tears(R) instructional handwriting program, with substitution of hand-over-hand or self-generated repetitive motion writing by computer guided repetitive motion.
Other Names:
- Beery Motor Coordination Subtest [ Time Frame: after 20 interventions ]
- Print Tool and Cursive Tool [ Time Frame: after 20 interventions ]
- Deviations from desired 3-D writing path [ Time Frame: after 5, 10, 15, 20 interventions ]
- Brief Assessment of Fine Motor Skills [ Time Frame: after 20 interventions ]
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|5 Years to 19 Years (Child, Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Meet the following base prerequisites for writing: orientation to written language; eye-hand coordination, single handed utensil or tool manipulation (BAMF score >= 6), recognize all letters of the alphabet (unless the child has dyslexia).
- Children have illegible printing for their grade, or legible printing but a speed less than the norms for their grade and sex.
- Be able to grasp a pen.
- Be able to speak and understand English.
- Be able to follow instructions.
- Be able to devote at least 20 minutes to the assigned tasks (short breaks will be allowed).
- Be enrolled in school at grade K or above.
- A score lower than 80% on the Print Tool™ or the Cursive Tool.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Unable to pass the informed assent screener.
- Unwilling to sign or mark the informed assent documents.
- Uncontrolled spasticity.
- A BAMF score lower than 6 (includes severe paralysis of the upper extremity).
- Cerebral palsy other than hemiplegia cerebral palsy
- Severe autism or intellectual disabilities that prevent productive interactions with the investigator
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00919906
|United States, Oregon
|Susan Palsbo
|Eugene, Oregon, United States, 97405
|Principal Investigator:
|Susan E Palsbo, PhD
|Obslap Research LLC
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
|Responsible Party:
|Sue Palsbo, Obslap Research LLC
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|First Posted:
|June 12, 2009 Key Record Dates
|Last Update Posted:
|October 28, 2010
|Last Verified:
|October 2010
fine-motor skill
Brain Injuries
Brain Injuries, Traumatic
Cerebral Palsy
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
Asperger Syndrome
Brain Diseases
Central Nervous System Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
Craniocerebral Trauma
Trauma, Nervous System
Wounds and Injuries
Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Mental Disorders
Brain Damage, Chronic
Language Disorders
Communication Disorders
Neurobehavioral Manifestations
Neurologic Manifestations
Learning Disorders
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Child Development Disorders, Pervasive


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Eden Mennonite Church (Burns, Kansas, USA)
The Eden Mennonite Church (formerly Eden Church of God in Christ Mennonite Church), Burns, Kansas, was formerly known as the Burns church. The congregation sold its meetinghouse in the town of Burns in the early 1950s, and built a new meetinghouse south of the town, at which time it changed its name to Eden. In 1955 the membership was 174, with Norman M. Eicher, Dennis Smith, and A. Koehn as ministers.
In 2009 the membership was 168. The pastors were Roland Koehn, Lowell Koehn and Vernon Koehn. The church also operated the Eden Christian School.
Additional Information
Address: 14963 N.W. Boyer Road, Burns, Kansas
Phone: 620-726-5565
Denominational Affiliation: Church of God in Christ, Mennonite
Map:Eden Mennonite Church (Eden, Kansas)
|Date Published
Cite This Article
MLA style
, . "Eden Mennonite Church (Burns, Kansas, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1956. Web. 1 Oct 2020. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Eden_Mennonite_Church_(Burns,_Kansas,_USA)&oldid=140655.
APA style
, . (1956). Eden Mennonite Church (Burns, Kansas, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 1 October 2020, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Eden_Mennonite_Church_(Burns,_Kansas,_USA)&oldid=140655.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, p. 146. All rights reserved.
©1996-2020 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.


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I'm busily getting ready for Catmas! (aka Christmas) It's one of my favourite times of year. My humans are busy working but I'm soooo excited! I'm currently sitting here surrounded by wrapping paper and lovely presents! I would love to show you a picture but I don't want to 'let the cat out of the bag', so to speak, and let nosey human eyes see what I've got planned!
I'm having a few difficulties with the wrapping paper not staying where I want it, before I manage to get the pesky sellotape on it. The sellotape keeps getting caught on my paws! More than once I've had to unwrap an otherwise perfect corner, because my whiskers have been caught up inside it!
I'm Santa Paws's little helper, helping to spread the joy and I just love my job! I'll take some photos tomorrow once I'm finished and you can judge my wrapping skills.
Hope you're all having a lovely weekend.
Bisous Bailey


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Life Is a Gas David Burliuk was a living, breathing art paradox. At first glance, his life was more interesting than his art. Or was his life, rather than his paintings, his real art? There's an intriguing exhibition honoring him at New York's Ukrainian Museum, 222 E. 6th Street, to March 1. The exhibition, which originated at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, is entitled "Futurism and After: David Burliuk 1882-1967." Burliuk is the nearly … [Read more...]
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NBC's Domenico Montanaro discusses Sec. of State John Kerry's reported doubts about the administration maintaining its current policy on Syria. And while money continues to flow into Democratic campaign organizations, is another left-leaning group hurting the DNC?
Obama administration divided over Syria?... Where was Obama's cabinet after the State of the Union?... President heads to nearby Maryland tout broadband/wireless initiative at 11:30 am ET… Is OFA diverting resources away from the DNC?... Wrapping all of the Christie-related developments from last night… On last night's Sink-vs.-Jolly debate in FL-13… Top Obama operatives critical of Hillary's early 2016 positioning… And Scott Walker heads to Texas.
*** Obama administration divided over Syria? For the past week, we've been writing about intra-party divides -- Republicans on immigration, Democrats on trade. But now here's a different divide: One of President Obama's top cabinet members is reportedly criticizing the administration's handling of Syria, especially after the administration has touted Syria turning over its chemical weapons. Per the Daily Beast's Josh Rogin: "Secretary of State John Kerry has lost faith in his own administration's Syria policy, he told fifteen U.S. Congressmen in a private, off-the-record meeting, according to two of the senators who were in the room. Kerry also said he believes the regime of Bashar al Assad is failing to uphold its promise to give up its chemical weapons according to schedule; that the Russians are not being helpful in solving the Syrian civil war; and that the Geneva 2 peace talks that he helped organize are not succeeding. But according to the senators, Kerry now wants to arm Syria's rebels." Kerry's office has denied any split here. "At no point did he, during the meeting, did Secretary Kerry raise lethal assistance for the opposition," spokeswoman Jen Psaki said yesterday. "At no point did he state what, I think, was quoted, that the process has failed." And, of course, the two senators who were in the room with Kerry -- Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham -- are huge proponents of further U.S. intervention in Syria. But this is the latest Middle East headache for the administration. And if you are looking for the rationale for why U.S. policy on Syria MIGHT change and change soon, look no further than this overlooked comment from DNI James Clapper last week: "The Syrian militant group tied to al-Qaida, the al-Nusra Front, wants to attack the United States and is training a growing cadre of fighters from Europe, the Mideast and even the U.S., the top U.S. intelligence official told Congress."
Rainer Jensen / EPA
US Secretary of State John Kerry, during the opening of the so-called Geneva II peace talks in Montreux Switzerland, 22, January 2014. Representatives of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a deeply divided opposition, world powers and regional bodies started a long-delayed peace conference aimed at bringing an end to a nearly three-year civil war.
*** Where was Obama's cabinet after the State of the Union? Speaking of Obama's cabinet members, observers have criticized the White House for often underutilizing the cabinet, especially when it's trying to amplify a message. And this remains a legitimate criticism. Consider the activity (or lack thereof) after the president's State of the Union address last Tuesday. According to a First Read review of cabinet secretary travel, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell today is holding a roundtable discussion on climate change at the University of Washington. Also today, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, and Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack are on a panel discussing the "Promise Zones" Obama touted in his State of the Union. And on Thursday, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Vice President Biden attend a transportation-infrastructure event in Philadelphia. But that's it for the State of the Union-themed cabinet activity since Obama's speech last week. Yes, President Obama hit the road for two days after his speech (to Maryland, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Tennessee). Yes, he's holding an event today on promoting broadband/wireless access for students (more on that below). And yes, some of the cabinet members are overseas (like Kerry), working on the debt limit (like Treasury Secretary Lew), or working on signing up folks for health-care coverage (like HHS Secretary Sebelius). But if you were expecting a full cabinet blitz after the State of the Union, you didn't get it. And that's been a mystery for some time, especially when you have some pretty big heavy hitters,
*** Obama heads to nearby Maryland tout broadband/wireless initiative at 11:30 am ET: Meanwhile, Obama today heads to Adelphi, MD to deliver remarks at 11:30 am ET on "connecting 99% of students to next-generation broadband and wireless technology within five years," the White House says. This is his ConnectED initiative. But it's worth remembering that it's essentially a replay of announcement the White House did back in June 2013. See here.
*** Is OFA diverting resources away from the DNC? So far this 2014 election cycle, Democrats mostly have been outraising Republicans -- the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has hauled in almost $15 million more than the National Republican Congressional Committee, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has the edge over the National Republican Senatorial Committee. The DCCC also will release a memo today touting that its candidates have outraised GOP ones. But there is one exception to all of this: The Republican National Committee has outraised the Democratic National Committee, $73 million to $63 million. (And the DNC also has more than $15 million in debt compared with $0 for the RNC.) Yet here's another figure to chew on: President Obama's Organizing for Action raised $26 million last year, which raises this question -- is OFA taking money away from the DNC? Yes, OFA can accept unlimited checks from wealthy donors, while the DNC and RNC cannot (and some of the big-money checks OFA is getting are from maxed-out DNC donors). Then again, the average 2013 contribution to OFA was just $37, so not all of these donations are from big-money folks; in fact, they're from Obama's army of grassroots donors. But that brings up another question: Why doesn't OFA turn over that grassroots army to the DNC? The DNC has not been a great small-donor organization, and it appears Team Obama isn't exactly helping the effort as well as it could.
*** All of the Chris Christie-related developments from last night: Participating in a radio Q&A, the governor "acknowledged that his office had been subpoenaed by the U.S. attorney in New Jersey in relation to the bridge scandal that has rocked his administration," NBC's Mike O'Brien reports. He also dismissed the questions about his knowledge of the Fort Lee, NJ lane closures as "just a game of gotcha." Said Christie: "The most important issue is, did I know anything about the plan to close these lanes? Did I authorize it, did I know about it, did I approve it — did I have any knowledge about it beforehand?" But around the same time as the Q&A was being conducted, former Christie Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Kelley -- who wrote the words "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee" -- invoked her 5th Amendment rights in refusing to turn over documents subpoenaed by state investigators.
*** House Republicans continue to want something in return for debt-ceiling hike: And here's the latest in the debt-ceiling debate, per the Washington Post: "Several House members told The Washington Post on Monday that Republican leaders have narrowed their list of possible debt-limit strategies to two options: trading a one-year extension for approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, or trading a one-year extension for repeal of the Affordable Care Act's risk corridors. Both plans, which were first discussed last week at the House GOP's annual retreat in Cambridge, Md., will be debated further Tuesday morning, when House Republicans meet at the Capitol. House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) is said to be open to either approach, as long as it can win heavy GOP support." But here's what House Republicans face in opposition: The White House maintains, as it has in the past, that it won't negotiate over raising the debt limit.
*** About last night's FL-13 debate: Want to know why so many political observers are paying close attention to the special FL-13 congressional election between Alex Sink (D) and David Jolly (R)? It's because the two candidates in this swing district are test-driving many of the messages we could see in November. At last night's debate, Jolly hit Sink on health care, per NBC's Sarah Blackwill. "It was founded on a premise that now has been called the lie of the year, and how a candidate can favor Obamacare is beyond me. I would favor repealing it immediately." Here was Sink's response: "This Affordable Care Act has not been perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but my position is it should not be repealed because we cannot go to where we were before." More: "We have to fix what's wrong with the act, and one of the reasons I'm running for Congress is to go to Washington and work with others -- work across party lines -- and fix them." And here was Jolly defending his opposition to raising the minimum wage: "Barack Obama is not an economist and neither are most members of Congress. I think it's silly that we let Congress arbitrarily choose a wage rate. Let's decide on what the wage should be, index it to inflation, take it out of the hands of politicians once and for all."
*** Top Obama operatives critical of Team Hillary's early 2016 positioning: Turning to 2016 news, Buzzfeed has a piece with folks in Obama World criticizing Hillary Land's positioning so far. "Top advisers and former aides to Barack Obama say Hillary Clinton is repeating the mistakes she made in 2008, building a machine in lieu of a message and lumbering toward the Democratic nomination with the same deep vulnerabilities that cost her the nomination eight years earlier." The biggest problem in Hillary Land right now -- which we've noted before -- is that there are TOO MANY people involved. And the criticism that's not becoming public has the message: "It's time to rein in some of these people."
*** Walker heads to Texas: Lastly, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker today heads to Dallas to raise money from Harlan Crow.
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Day-Date 40
from $32,455
Day-Date 36
from $7,001
Day-Date 36mm (up to 2000)
from $7,001
Day-Date II
from $29,666
Day-Date Yellow gold
from $6,881
Day-Date White gold
from $10,088
Day-Date Rose gold
from $12,269
Day-Date Platinum
from $25,170
Day-Date Oysterquartz
from $10,383
Day-Date Diamonds
from $10,145
Day-Date Roman numerals
from $9,120
Day-Date Arabic numerals
from $14,666
Day-Date smooth bezel
from $25,170
The Rolex Day-Date is the watch of presidents. Available in gold or platinum, it was the first watch to display the date and weekday fully written out. Several US presidents, including Lyndon B. Johnson, have relied on the "President watch."
Introduced in 1956, the Rolex Day-Date was the first watch to display the date and day of the week written out in full on its dial. With this invention, Rolex once again became a pioneer in the field of watchmaking and in the luxury watch sector. The term luxury watch isn't a misnomer – this watch is only available in platinum or 18-karat gold. The so-called President bracelet is a semi-circular three-piece link metal bracelet developed especially for the Day-Date. Most of the other models, such as the Daytona, the Oyster Perpetual, and the Submariner, have the Oyster bracelet with flat three-piece links.
This watch, also known as the "Rolex President", isn't just popular among statesmen: Major financial players, actors, and other celebrities also enjoy wearing these unique timepieces. Cuba's former president, Fidel Castro, and James Gandolfini, best known for portraying Tony Soprano on The Sopranos, are among those who have enjoyed wearing a Day-Date. Business magnate Warren Buffett is one of the wealthiest people on Earth and also wears one of these elegant watches. One piece, in particular, comes with quite a story: Marilyn Monroe apparently gave one as a gift to her lover John F. Kennedy. The message "Jack / With love as always / from / Marilyn / May 29th 1962" was engraved on the case back. Kennedy then gave the watch to one of his staff members to make it disappear. The watch resurfaced at an auction in 2005, where it was sold to an anonymous bidder for 120,000 USD.
|Reference number
|Price (approx.)
|40 mm
|41 mm
|36 mm
|41 mm
|40 mm
|36 mm
A classic 18-karat yellow gold Rolex Day-Date 36 in mint condition costs around 27,800 USD. You can find pre-owned pieces for about 18,500 USD. This 36-mm version has a President bracelet and a fluted bezel. However, the yellow gold Day-Date 36 is also available with an Oyster bracelet or a diamond-studded President bracelet. There are a few different options for the bezel as well: In addition to the fluted version, there are also domed or diamond-studded bezels available. The variety of dials is even more extensive. The ice blue or cherry red dials on the platinum versions are particularly appealing. Those who prefer an alligator leather band to a massive gold or platinum bracelet should take a closer look at the Day-Date models with Everose gold cases.
If 36 mm isn't large enough for you, perhaps you would like the Day-Date 40. Its 40-mm Oyster case is the same size as many other Rolex models and still contemporary. Be sure to have around 29,300 USD on hand for a new example in 18-karat gold. The 41-mm Day-Date II is one millimeter larger and comes in at around 32,100 USD when pre-owned. You can purchase this watch in mint condition for nearly 37,100 USD.
Models made from 950 platinum are the highlights of the Day-Date collection. This precious metal is even rarer and thus more expensive than gold. The variant with an ice blue dial in a quadrant motif and the reference number 228206 is especially striking. A mint-condition Rolex Day-Date 40 in platinum costs around 57,600 USD, while pre-owned versions sit around 48,900 USD. A platinum Day-Date II is a few thousand USD less expensive at 50,700 USD for a new piece and 44,500 USD for a pre-owned one. The 36-mm version goes for around 48,200 USD in mint condition, making it the most affordable platinum Day-Date. You can get a pre-owned edition for as little as 29,300 USD.
The Geneva-based manufacturer exclusively uses yellow, white, and rose (referred to as Everose) gold or platinum for the cases and President bracelet. Even the index markers are made of 18-karat gold and won't tarnish over the years. The designers didn't just create the different colored dials in-house, but they also produced them almost entirely by hand.
Dials come in blue, green, silver, ice blue, orange, black, and brown. Variants with mother-of-pearl dials are stunning, and many models feature diamond index markers . There are two types of bezels: fluted or, since 2000, a glossy, domed bezel that borders the sapphire glass on the platinum watches. The fluted bezel has been in production since 1956, as long as the Day-Date itself. The case is available in two diameters: 36 mm or 40 mm. The Day-Date II is available with a 41-mm case.
Models with reference number 18038 are highly sought-after vintage watches. Pre-owned pieces go for as little as 12,000 USD. These Day-Dates from the 1970s and '80s have the so-called "Stella" dial. Stella dials are made of solid enamel and come in a variety of colors including white, yellow, blue, orange, pink, turquoise, brown, salmon, or even black. Enamel dials are usually "fired" in a furnace, but these colorful faces were created using a special kind of enamel varnish. The origin of the term "Stella" is not known, but there are at least two theories. The first holds that the dials were named after the American artist Frank Stella, as the colorful faces supposedly resemble Stella's colorful artwork. The other hypothesis is that the name comes from the Latin word for star, stella, and refers to the brightness of the dials.
The first Day-Date with reference number 6511 was powered by the automatic caliber 1030. The day of the week disc, now available in more than 25 different languages, rotates over the date ring. Its small window is positioned in such a way that the correct day is displayed in full at 12 o'clock. Furthermore, the date window at the three o'clock position features the well-known Cyclops lens.
The caliber 1055 powered the watch with reference number 6611 from 1957. Rolex optimized this movement's date mechanism: In the very first versions of the Day-Date, the accuracy would decrease when the date changed. This problem was solved in the new generation of calibers.
More improvements came in the 1970s. Starting in 1972, some watches were available with the caliber 1556, which featured a stop-seconds mechanism. This allowed wearers to set the time to the exact second. Towards the end of the '70s, Rolex introduced the quickset date feature, which greatly benefited the Day-Date. The crown can be pulled out halfway, allowing the wearer to quickly set the date as well as the day of the week.
Rolex has used their in-house caliber 3255 in the Day-Date since 2015. This movement has 14 patents. The designers reworked more than 90% of the caliber's components and further optimized them. For example, they made the barrel 50% smaller, allowing space for a spring with larger capacity. Thanks to the highly efficient Chronergy escapement developed by Rolex, the movement has an impressive power reserve of 70 hours. The caliber can power the watch through the weekend and still show the correct time Monday morning. The Chronergy escapement is an improvement on the Swiss anchor escapement made from a nickel-phosphorus alloy. Thanks to this alloy, the movement is not affected by magnetic fields. The manufacturer claims that the watch is 15% more efficient with this escapement system.
The caliber's balance wheel operates at 28,800 alternations per hour. At the core of the movement is the classic Rolex blue Parachrom balance spring made from a niobium-zirconium alloy. Like the escapement, the balance spring is unaffected by magnetic fields. According to the manufacturer, it is up to 10 times more precise than other movements when subjected to jolts. The movement also has the classic upraised last coil in its spring, also known as a Breguet balance spring. This also improves the movement's accuracy. Precision index adjustment occurs via the Microstella nuts on the inner side of the balance wheel. Every Rolex caliber is certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). The caliber 3255 also undergoes an internal testing process and is subjected to realistic conditions. The manufacturer claims that this process is twice as strict as that of the official COSC certification authority.
No other watch is enjoyed by so many powerful people as the Rolex Day-Date. The "President Watch" embodies pure luxury, prestige, and power. Whoever wears a Day-Date emphasizes their influential position in economics, politics, or society. Every Rolex watch is a solid investment thanks to the company's consistent model and marketing policies. Timepieces from Rolex are therefore timeless, coveted collector's items which enthrall everyone, not just heads of state.


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Full interview + videos of Rob outside signing for fans and tons of fan picture
HD video Youtube or watch at the source
Fan Pictures
Source: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
Videos: 1 | 2 3
Rob, looking, oh SOOOOOO very very handsome.
Stupid interviewer, saying that it must be annoying to him being asked personal questions, and 1 minute later she's making one...but Rob handled that perfectly well, so did Kristen yesterday.
Why ask that, when it is OBVIOUS that they are together.
Kristen walking out of the interview isn't exactly what I would call "handled perfectly". Also saying that her fans can keep on watching the movie that they think their lives are and to keep them guessing, is like a slap in her fans faces. No wonder less and less people like her. Best example: only 18 people were waiting for her at the today show and afterwards fans of her complained (after waiting for up to 9 hours in the cold) that she only went to one fan and then left.
Anyway, since for me it's more than obvious that they're not together, an actual answer would have been interesting. But the movie isn't out yet, promo isn't done yet, so let's keep the old game of "are they, aren't they" going a little while longer.
The mystery keeps people talking about it after all.
There we go again. It seems that they both enjoy being hounded by media and papparazi. A simple "yes" would suffice. Move on, guys. Laarni
Sometimes I feel like I'm missing something in another reality when I read something that never actually happened but someone believes it so much that they wish it into existence just to find another reason to hate someone.
Kristen did not walk out of her interview all you had to do was watch the interview to see that. Her keep'em guessing comment was completely sarcastic & everyone, well almost everyone could see that. The interviewer said the fans want to know which she thought Kristen would fall for. Kristen knew who really wanted her to answer the question it's sweeps time on these shows they are trying to get scoop by using the fans as bait. That is why Rob said "Is it in your contract" to ask that question.
Nope not together at all. LOL nope sighs.. If you don't believe they are together by now, nothing they ever say out loud will change your mind unless they say what it is you want to hear. They have already said (both of them) they aren't going to answer the question ever & that was 4yrs ago & people are still asking.
Anyway Rob looked amazing! They are really killing it on these promo tours. We were introduced to Bear & Bernie officially yesterday! How cute was that pic?!!
Even if they answered the question a million times the paparazzi would still be there in force, people that don't believe they are together would still believe they aren't together.
The leeches following them around aren't waiting for the obvious answer to that question that's already answered. Their pics sale thats why they can't even stand in their yard without being photographed.
I think that some people just don't get it. They're promoting a movie. They don't go to these shows to answer these totally intrusive questions. They don't owe anybody ANYTHING. It's about time some so-called fans understand that. Whoever asks such a blatantly rude question as this one is going to end up getting something as Rob's answer today or Kristen's yesterday.
However, it's painfully clear that if you ask being respectful, they end up sharing lots of things. You can find tons of examples in this promo. So stop living in delusional-land and see things as they're.
Fanny! <3333
You can tell how much Rob or Kristen respect the interviewers by how much they reveal to them.
@RC It's just so obvious LOL
I heard on the East Coast or somewhere...the show cut to commercial as soon and Kristen commented. So people may have thought she stopped the interview...but I saw it on the West Coast and she stayed till the end. Just Sayin'


text: In recent years, more and more mathematical methods and results from the field of category theory have been employed in the foundations of physics. These methods enable us to reconsider conceptual and structural issues in the foundations of quantum theory and possibly beyond, often providing surprising insights and new points of view. The workshop "Categories, Quanta, Concepts" (CQC) will bring together researchers from a variety of backgrounds, physicists, mathematicians, theoretical computer scientists and philosophers, all with a common interest in the foundations of physics. With talks in the morning and workgroups and in-depth sessions in the afternoon, the workshop will provide ample opportunity for interaction between the participants from this emerging community. The workshop also serves as an ideal platform for PhD students to get insight into the field and to discuss their own work.


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Getting your digital images perfectly sharp is something that most photographers want – however clean, crisp, sharp images can be difficult to achieve.
Perhaps before we start exploring how to improve sharpness it would be good to talk about the main causes for lack of sharpness:
Here's a list of 10 basic things to think about when shooting to get sharp images (note – there's also a lot you can do in photoshop after taking you images.
A lot of blur in the photos that I see is a direct result of camera shake (the movement of your camera for that split second when your shutter is open). While the best way to tackle camera shake is to use a Tripod (see below) there are many times when using one is impractical and you'll need to shoot while holding your camera. I've written a tutorial previously on how to hold a digital camera but in brief – use both hands, keep the camera close to your body, support yourself with a wall, tree or some other solid object etc.
Regular readers of this site will have seen my recent series on tripods and know that I'm a big fan of them as a way to reduce (and even eliminate) camera shake. While not always practical, the result you'll get when you do go to the effort of hauling one around can be well worth it.
Related: A Beginners guide to using Tripods.
Perhaps one of the first things to think about in your quest for sharp images is the shutter speed that you select. Obviously – the faster your shutter speed the less impact camera shake will have and the more you'll freeze any movement in your shots. As a result you reduce the likelihood of two of the main types of blur in one go (subject movement and camera movement). Remember the 'rule' for handheld shutter speeds:
Choose a shutter speed with a denominator that is larger than the focal length of the lens.
Keep in mind that the faster your shutter speed is the larger you'll need to make your Aperture to compensate – this will mean you have a smaller depth of field which makes focussing more of a challenge (read more on Shutter Speed).
Aperture impacts the depth of field (the zone that is in focus) in your images. Decreasing your aperture (increasing the number – say up to f/20) will increase the depth of field meaning that the zone that is in focus will include both close and distant objects.
Do the opposite (for example moving to f/4) and the foreground and background of your images will be more out of focus and you'll need to be more exact with what you focus your camera upon.
Keep in mind that the smaller your aperture the longer your shutter speed will need to be – which of course makes moving subjects more difficult to keep sharp (read more on Aperture).
Related reading: How to Get Landscapes Sharp with Hyperfocal Distances and Aperture Selection
The third element of the exposure triangle is ISO which has a direct impact upon the noisiness of your shots. Choose a larger ISO and you'll be able to use faster shutter speed and smaller aperture (which as we've seen help with sharpness) but you'll suffer by increasing the noise of your shots. Depending upon your camera (and how large you want to enlarge your images) you can probably get away with using ISO of up to 400 (or even 800 on some cameras) without too much noise but for pin sharp images keep it as low as possible). Read more on ISO.
Many cameras and lenses are now being released with different forms of image stabilisation (IS) which won't eliminate camera shake – but can definitely help reduce its impact. I find that using IS lenses that it will give me an extra two or three stops (ie I can use slower shutter speeds but 2-3 stops) when hand holding my camera. Keep in mind that IS helps with camera movement but not subject movement as it allows you to use slower shutter speeds (not good for moving subjects).
Also – don't use image stabilisation while mounted to a tripod.
Perhaps the most obvious technique to work on when aiming for sharp lenses is focussing. Most of us use 'Auto Focussing' with our cameras but don't assume that the camera will always get it right.
Always visually check what part of the image is in focus before hitting the shutter and if it's not right try again or switch to manual focus mode. This is particularly important if you're shooting with a large aperture (small depth of field) where even being slightly out can result in your subject being noticeably out of focus.
Most modern cameras have a range of focus modes you can choose to shoot in – choosing the right focusing mode is really important (learn how to do that here).
This one is for DSLR owners – if you have the budget for it invest in good quality lenses as they can have a major impact upon the sharpness of your images. For example shortly after buying my DSLR I was in the market for a everyday zoom lens that would give me the ability to have both wide (ish) and telephoto zoom capabilities. I bought a Canon EF 28-135mm lens. It was a good lens (and reasonably priced) but it wasn't as sharp as some of my other lenses. A few months later I borrowed a Canon EF 24-105mm 'L series' (the professional series of lenses from Canon) lens from a friend and was amazed by the difference in sharpness between the lenses. While the first lens was good for what I paid for it I ended up going for an upgrade and the new lens is now almost permanently attached to my camera.
Since I was young I've worn glasses but in recent years I've been a little slack in getting my eyes checked. Recently I got them tested for the first time in a number of years and was surprised to find that they'd deteriorated significantly. Getting new glasses improved a number of areas of my life, one of which was my photography. Also connected with this is checking the 'diopter' on your camera (if it has one. The diopter is a little adjustment that you can make to how your viewfinder works – it's particularly useful for people with poor eye sight – it's usually a little wheel next to your viewfinder.
Recently my wife and I went on a window cleaning frenzy at our place. Over the previous months the grime on our windows had gradually built up without us really noticing it. When we did clean them though we were amazed at how much more light got through and how much better the view outside was. The same can be true for your camera's lens. Keep it clean and you'll eliminate the smudges, dust and grime that can impact your shots. Similarly – a clean image sensor is a wonderful thing if you have a DSLR as getting dust on it can produce noticeable blotches in your end images.
Lenses have spots in their aperture ranges that are sharper than others. In many cases this 'sweet spot' is one or two stops from the maximum aperture. So instead of shooting with your lens wide open (ie where the numbers are smallest) pull it back a stop or two and you might find you get a little more clarity in your shots. Learn more about identifying the sweet spot of your lenses here.
Learn more on how to take sharp images with the following tutorials in our archives:


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Once you're set up, you can access your account here or you can log in by clicking 'Customer Account' in the menu bar at the top of any page of the website.
How to locate a stop valve in case of a leak
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