text:
Hello, this is JOEY310. I can't respond to you right now, so please leave your message after the beep.
Encyclopedia SpongeBobia News - Vol. 1, Issue 2 - August 3, 2014
Hello Encyclopedia SpongeBobians,
I am notifying you all of important announcements at Encyclopedia SpongeBobia.
- What is this?
This is a new notification system in which I will send out announcements to the walls of everyone who has logged into their Wikia account in the past month. The purpose of this is so that users of ESB can have a more direct way of receiving updates. These will be weekly announcments. If you wish not to receive these messages, you can add your name to the opt out list. The announcements and past announcements can also be viewed here.
- Administrator, rollback and chat mod changes
- As of July 5, 2014, JustinOnTheWiki has become a chat moderator.
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- A system for rating episodes at ESB was accepted, pending implementation. Let us know if you have any ideas.
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- Social media icons were accepted and implemented.
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- The character hover design feature was accepted.
- Round 2 of the summer background contest ended.
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- The discussion on whether or not to implement article comments did not pass.
- Meeting policies and location were made official.
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- Spoke too soon. The Gargery-Pirrip family will be going through the Christmas rituals after all.
- "So, we had our slices served out, as if we were two thousand troops on a forced march instead of a man and boy at home; and we took gulps of milk and water, with apologetic countenances, from a jug on the dresser."
- "Mrs. Joe was a very clean housekeeper, but had an exquisite art of making her cleanliness more uncomfortable and unacceptable than dirt itself."
- "I was always treated as if I had insisted on being born in opposition to the dictates of reason, religion, and morality, and against the dissuading arguments of my best friends."
- "I opened the door to the company,—making believe that it was a habit of ours to open that door,—and I opened it first to Mr. Wopsle, next to Mr. and Mrs. Hubble, and last of all to Uncle Pumblechook. N.B. I was not allowed to call him uncle, under the severest penalties."
- " the Pumblechookian elbow in my eye"
- If you've gotten this far into the book and are not feeling profoundly sorry for Joe Gargery, I'm not sure we're on speaking terms any more. That man needs a hug. And while I don't remember all the details from the last time I read the book, I'm fairly sure he's not going to get one.
- For the moment, things look bad for Pip, as it turns out he didn't water down the brandy to cover what he gave the convict, he poured the infamous tar-water into it.
- There's another reference to the fact that Pip is looking back and telling this story, and it's a curiously phrased one: "I moved the table, like a Medium of the present day, by the vigor of my unseen hold upon it." But I guess the paranormal stuff didn't really get started until the last third of century.
- This is one of the rare occasions in literature where the arrival of soldiers bearing handcuffs is actually a good thing. In a way.
Chapter 5
- For a character who never gets a name of his own, the sergeant is a rather clever bit on Dickens' part. He knows just what to say to everyone -- and manages to flirt with Mrs. Joe while keeping a straight face.
- Poor Joe. Everyone else gets to sit around and drink wine while he has to follow his Christmas dinner with a stint at the anvil.
- "I thought what terrible good sauce for a dinner my fugitive friend on the marshes was."
- I love that Pip now thinks of the man as "my particular convict."
- Curiouser and curiouser: When they catch the two convicts down at the marshes, Pip's convict makes a point of noting that he captured the other one. When the sergeant points out it's not likely to get him any time off, "'I don't expect it to do me any good. I don't want it to do me more good than it does now,' said my convict, with a greedy laugh. 'I took him. He knows it. That's enough for me.'"
- Clearly there's a history between these two men. Otherwise, wouldn't they put a little more effort into dealing with the fact that the soldiers have recaptured them?
- "It had been almost dark before, but now it seemed quite dark, and soon afterwards very dark."
- And Pip's convict is demonstrating his humanity here, claiming he stole the food Pip brought him. This chapter is really just a stroke of luck for Pip.
Chapter 6
- This is an excessively short chapter.
- Why Pip doesn't make a confession of his own: "The fear of losing Joe's confidence, and of thenceforth sitting in the chimney corner at night staring drearily at my forever lost companion and friend, tied up my tongue."
- And there's the theme, right there: "In a word, I was too cowardly to do what I knew to be right, as I had been too cowardly to avoid doing what I knew to be wrong. I had had no intercourse with the world at that time, and I imitated none of its many inhabitants who act in this manner. Quite an untaught genius, I made the discovery of the line of action for myself."
Don't forget, Leila's got the full list of posts over at Bookshelves of Doom!

subset: commoncrawl


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It's beyond bad when federal budget politics starts to resemble an absurd movie.
Yet now sequestration looks like a hostage situation right out of "Blazing Saddles." In this Mel Brooks film from 1974, the new sheriff, facing hostile townspeople, gets creative. Bart, the sheriff, induces them to put down their guns by taking a hostage: himself. Holding a pistol to his head, he says, "Next man makes a move, [the hostage] gets it!"
The sequester takes hostage our national economy, threatening to destroy jobs and undermine the economy.
It's the latest in high-stakes budget crunches. After the last one — involving the "fiscal cliff" — was resolved in December 2012, House Speaker John Boehner told his fellow Republicans that he wouldn't directly negotiate with President Barack Obama.
Republicans still refuse to talk unless it's an approach Americans don't want: all cuts.
Sequestration was adopted in 2011 to defuse Republicans' threat to default on the national debt and to force national politicians to make a deficit deal later.
With negotiation in bad odor among Republicans, sequestration would cut defense spending across the board by 9.4 percent and other spending categories by 8.2 percent. Since some programs are exempt, many sorts of domestic spending would be hard hit.
The Congressional Budget Office predicts 750,000 fewer jobs. Economist Stephen Fuller of George Mason University forecasts larger job losses – more than 2 million – when accounting for federally-funded workers losing jobs and the economic effects of laid-off workers' decreased spending. Whatever the number, this self-inflicted wound would cause the economy to shrink, perhaps pushing the nation back into recession.
In Maine, the defense cuts would lead to 7,000 fewer jobs, as Department of Defense civilian payrolls were cut by $41 million. Other cuts will hit Acadia National Park, border posts, air traffic control, Meals on Wheels, and myriad other federal grants and programs. These will drag down Maine's economy, already recovering slowly.
Meanwhile, people don't want most government spending cut. According to a new poll from the Pew Center asking about different types of spending – including education, crime-fighting, scientific research, health care, aid to the needy in the U.S. and more – in 18 out of 19, more people want spending increased or held steady than cut. And "there are only two possible reductions that draw majority support from Republicans – foreign aid (70 percent) and unemployment assistance (56 percent)."
What people overwhelmingly want is for government officials to compromise, to negotiate a plan that includes new revenues and spending cuts. Only 19 percent want a plan with solely cuts, with 76 percent supporting a mixture of taxes and cuts. On the revenue side, majorities of people across the political spectrum support closing loopholes that benefit the most wealthy.
Obama has a detailed plan to replace the sequester that includes 60 percent of cuts and 40 percent of revenues from closing tax loopholes. Yet congressional Republicans refuse to meet with Obama and won't consider a dime of new funds, even as they decry the harm that will come from the sequester.
As conservative columnist Byron York declaims, "Could the GOP message on the sequester be any more self-defeating?" "[T]he president certainly agrees with Boehner that the sequester cuts threaten national security and jobs. The difference is that Obama wants to avoid them."
Right now the annual deficit is falling rapidly; in January there was a budget surplus. Broad cuts would slow the economy and undermine this fiscal progress and create larger deficits.
Surely something will come along to prevent this self-inflicted wound. Right now it's unclear whether the solution will involve a turn to compromise or another plot line out of a Mel Brooks movie.
Perhaps this time House Republicans will plan, a la "The Producers," to induce too many investors to mount a play that looks like a sure flop. You never know.
Note: Congratulations to my fellow columnist Matt Gagnon, who "Business Insider" named one of the fifty "hottest people in online politics" for his work for the Republican Governors Association. My first memory of Matt dates to fall 2000. I invited Republican, Green and Democratic students to a class to make presentations on their parties' presidential candidates. Matt's was clearly the best. He is a graduate of UMaine's political science department and now an award-winning strategist. Once again, congratulations, Matt!


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The Studio
70a Lawford Road
London N1 5BL
Tel: 0044 (0)20 7812 9892Email
Location: Kensington Town Hall, Hornton Street, London W8 7NX
Hidden away behind metal grills, peeling paint and the dusty window display of a north London shop, resides Kristin Baybars and her magical toyshop. Only the very curious and inquisitive ever take the time to ring the doorbell and enter.
The shop, known as The Aladdins Cave to all who love it, is crammed full of toys, games and thousands upon thousands of tiny miniatures for dolls houses. It is the last of its kind and has only survived because of the dedicated network of friends who love the shop & Kristins enthusiasm for every tiny thing inside, so much so, that a lot of items are not even for sale.
Kristin Baybars' story is a fascinating one. Brought up in an unconventional, artistic family, she has been a central figure within the toy-making community since the 1960s. As she reaches 83, how will this magical shop continue when Kristin is no longer able to keep it open?
The full length version of our film about Kristin is now available!
You can view the trailer & download your copy of the film here www.vimeo.com/ondemand/apathwayofcrumbs2?
..and order a DVD copy of the documentary here using this Paypal link:
PLEASE NOTE: Customers in the US & Canada may not be able to view our DVD as it is in PAL format. We recommend you download the film from the Vimeo link above.


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Dennis Cholowski Men's Reebok Detroit Red Wings Authentic White Away NHL Jersey
Take your Detroit Red Wings support to the ice in this Men's Reebok Detroit Red Wings 95 Dennis Cholowski Authentic White Away NHL Jersey! This Authentic jerseys feature the authentic tie-down fight strap attached to inside lower back and are 100% double-knit polyester and have all crests sewn to jerseys.
- Fit: Authentic Jerseys are made to layer underneath. For a tighter fit, we recommend ordering one size smaller than your normally wear
- Material: 100% Polyester
- Shield patch sewn to bottom of front-collar fabric insert
- Woven jock tag above left hem
- wordmark embroidered applique heat-sealed onto jersey
- Twill name and number heat-sealed onto the back and sleeves
- 2-Way stretch mesh body
- Twill applique team logo heat-sealed on the front
- Tackle twill shoulder patches sewn directly to the jersey (where applicable)
- Rounded drop tail hem
- Back-neck taping - no irritating stitch on the back neck
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At six months you:
- are incredibly curious. Wherever we are, you scan your surroundings and all of the people around you. You particularly love loud patterns, moving vehicles, faces wearing glasses and beards/mustaches.
- recognize your mom and dad and both sets of grandparents
- respond to your name in both English and Greek
- listen to conversations in Greek intently and they never fail to make you smile, though your favorites are Pappou's silly talk and "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" with Daddy.
- are ticklish! The spots seem to migrate but we've gotten great belly laughs by tickling your feet, belly and right underarm.
- roll in both directions, and fast!
- are sitting on your own for several minutes at a time. You're learning to keep your balance as you reach for and grab toys around you.
- love being read to. Your favorite books are: Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?, Not the Hippopotamus, Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb and A Color of His Own.
- fall asleep best while being nursed and listening to Mommy singing Brahm's Lullaby. You aren't consistently sleeping through the night yet but, have done so several times in the past few weeks (fingers crossed!).
- are doing so well on solid foods and have liked everything you've tried so far. Right now, you are eating two solid meals each day.
- seem to be teething, although no tooth buds are evident. Still, you are drooling buckets and chew on everything. Everything!
- have a fascination with hair pulling, especially Mommy's. Probably my least favorite of your accomplishments.
- have gotten deliciously chubby through the cheeks, arms and legs. Oh, those meaty thighs! We haven't been to the doctor since your four month check-up and I can't wait to see how much you weigh at your next appointment this coming Monday.
- are a flirt! You give out big, gummy smiles to anyone who sweet talks you - and believe me, there are dozens no matter where we go. You already have natural charisma and easily draw people in.
- love to jump! Your exersaucer has springs in the legs and it is your personal mission to try to wear them out each and every day. Once you get going, you cause quite the racket but, are so happy about it that we can't complain.
- are such a happy, giggly boy. You may be serious when you are tired or concentrating on something but, you are generally quick to flash that adorable right cheek dimple.
You are the absolute joy in our life and Daddy and I are loving watching you grow and change every day. Although it's all going far too fast, each new stage is so fun and exciting that we can't help but look forward to whatever comes next.
I love you to the moon and back, sweet boy!


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MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFNS, 08/08/2013) – Students enrolled in Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy Course 14 Version 5 have until the end of September to complete the course or they will be automatically disenrolled and will have to complete the new version of the course.
Airmen who haven't completed version 5 by Sept. 30 will not receive credit for the coursework in version 6, said the director of education for the Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education, Maxwell Air Force Base-Gunter Annex, Ala.
"Because version 6 is significantly different, students will need to complete all of it. There will be no partial credit for version 5," said Rich Rafferty.
One of the differences, he said, is that version 5 tests at the knowledge level of learning, whereas, the updated version tests at the comprehension level, allowing students to "translate, interpret and extrapolate" when answering test questions.
"In addition, because of the significant differences between versions, senior NCOs scheduled to attend the in-residence Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Academy after April 2014 must complete version 6, as version 5 will not be accepted as a prerequisite for attending the course," said Rafferty.
The enrollment and testing processes for the new version also differ from the old version.
Instead of enrolling at a base education office to take the course, starting Oct. 1, students will be able to enroll online via Air University's Student Information System, or AUSIS. Furthermore, the interactive course will be administered through the Blackboard® learning management system instead of through Advanced Distributed Learning Service.
"This is good news for students who wish to access the material while on a network beyond the military domain," he said.
Students will also have fewer tests to take, he added.
In version 5, students take a test after each of the course's five modules. With version 6, one test is administered at the end of the course. The test will still be administered at base education offices.
Information on the steps to take to enroll in version 6 will be released in September.


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The summer will be here before you know it, although with the rainy and cold sub 50 degree weather we had the last couple of days it's hard to believe. It is nice though to see some of our flowers start to bloom with many more ready to be planted today and tomorrow into the garden soil weather permitting.
I've been so busy at work the last few weeks it has been difficult to have time to think about baking anything creative. I've had this bottle of Crema de Tequila sitting on my desk just asking to be used in a bread. I received this as a gift from one of my vendors after I noticed a poster he had printed with several different tequila on it with this being one of them. It tastes similar to an Irish Crème but slightly different due to the tequila versus whiskey.
I thought what else goes well with tequila but limes so I added some Persian Lime Olive Oil that I recently picked up from a specialty store which carries a whole assortment of olive oils and vinegar. My wife and I just visited yesterday and bought some maple balsamic, blue berry balsamic, and several infused olive oils. Certainly some of these will be incorporated in future bakes.
I learned from the past that when using a liquor it is best to keep it at 50% or less for the liquid element or it will affect the rising power of the levain and you end up with a brick.
I created a starter using French Style KAF flour, oat flour and Kamut flour and used the same flour combination for the final.
The final bread came out a little dry due to the fact that since I baked this as one big loaf and I forgot to lower the oven from my usual 450 degrees F. it took longer than expected to bake thus drying out a bit too much for my liking. You can definitely taste the tequila in this bread along with a subtle hint of lime from the olive oil.
The crumb turned out a little dense but that is too be expected when using a liquor in bread. Overall though the bread has a nice chewy crust and pleasant taste that goes well with some cheese and olive oil. A nice fresh mozzarella and tomato salad would go well with this bread as well.
Levain Directions
Mix all the levain ingredients together for about 1 minute and cover with plastic wrap. Let it sit at room temperature for around 7-8 hours or until the starter has doubled. I usually do this the night before.
Either use in the main dough immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 day before using.
Main Dough Procedure
Mix the flours, tequila and most of the water (leave a little to adjust after the autolyse) together in your mixer or by hand until it just starts to come together, maybe about 1 minute. Let it rest in your work bowl covered for 20-30 minutes. Next add the salt, starter (cut into about 7-8 pieces), and olive oil and mix on low for a minute. Add the rest of the water unless the dough is way too wet. Mix on low-speed for another 4 minutes. Remove the dough from your bowl and place it in a lightly oiled bowl or work surface and do several stretch and folds. Let it rest covered for 10-15 minutes and then do another stretch and fold. Let it rest another 10-15 minutes and do one additional stretch and fold. After a total of 2 hours place your covered bowl in the refrigerator and let it rest for 12 to 24 hours.
When you are ready to bake remove the bowl from the refrigerator and let it set out at room temperature still covered for 1.5 to 2 hours. Remove the dough and shape as desired. I made 1 loaf using a wicker basket. Place your dough into your proofing basket(s) and cover with a moist tea towel or plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray.
The dough will take 1.5 to 2 hours depending on your room temperature. Let the dough dictate when it is read to bake not the clock.
Around 45 minutes before ready to bake, pre-heat your oven to 500 degrees F. and prepare it for steam. I have a heavy-duty baking pan on the bottom rack of my oven with 1 baking stone on above the pan and one on the top shelf. I pour 1 cup of boiling water in the pan right after I place the dough in the oven.
Right before you are ready to put them in the oven, score as desired and then add 1 cup of boiling water to your steam pan or follow your own steam procedure.
After 1 minute lower the temperature to 450 degrees(if making 1 large miche style loaf, lower to 425 F). Bake for 35-50 minutes until the crust is nice and brown and the internal temperature of the bread is 205 degrees.
Take the bread out of the oven when done and let it cool on a bakers rack before for at least 2 hours before eating.
This post has been submitted to the Yeast Spotting Site here: http://www.wildyeastblog.com/category/yeastspotting/.
Some of the flowers are starting to bloom, so per Evon's request here are some photos of my gardens.


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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE (AP) — Redevelopment plans for a popular Lake Tahoe campground and resort dating to the 1930s would eliminate parking along busy Highway 89 and cut the number of camp sites by nearly one-third, but offer year-round camping for the first time.
The U.S. Forest Service released an environmental assessment last week for the remodeling of the Camp Richardson Resort Campground. The service bought the lakefront resort about 2 miles west of South Lake Tahoe in 1965.
At an overall cost of about $8 million, the plans developed by the agency's Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit are intended to reduce water quality impacts and traffic congestion on the highway corridor, upgrade campground and day-use facilities and improve parking over a total area of nearly 80 acres.
"This action is needed because the existing environmental conditions and trends in the area are resulting in environmental effects and the recreational opportunities are not responsive to current and likely future demands," Nancy Gibson, the unit's forest manager, said in a letter to interested parties.
Gibson said the three campgrounds at the resort and the highway corridor that connects them continues to be one of the most popular use areas within the entire Tahoe basin "despite the facilities' poor condition."
The plan would reduce the number of campsites from the current 325 to between 230 and 255. Many existing campsites do not meet Forest Service standards regarding water quality protection or access for the disabled, and some are within an identified stream environment zone associated with Pope Marsh, Gibson said.
Daniel Cressy, the Forest Service unit's landscape architect, said the goal is to reduce peak-season camping and encourage people to take advantage of the facilities during other times.
By making the area available year-round, he said, overall annual volume should remain the same.
Under the proposal, the Forest Service would build 100 new parking spaces to accommodate vehicles that used to park along the highway and add to congestion.
"The existing conditions have the potential to create waterborne and airborne sediment, which can negatively affect the water clarity and quality of Lake Tahoe," the agency said.
Cressy said a new campground entrance would be built south of Highway 89 and the interior road system would be improved to provide vehicle access to the campsites.
"Part of the goal is to eliminate the need for people to enter the resort core," Cressy told the Tahoe Tribune (http://tinyurl.com/b2p4665).
If all goes according to plan, Cressy said construction could begin on the campground north of the highway in summer 2014.
The second phase, which includes the new southern entrance to the campground, would start the following year. Construction on a new day-use restroom could start this fall, while hotel parking improvements might be under way as early as spring 2014.
"There's a bunch of moving parts," Cressy said. "We're not increasing capacity, we're just better maintaining existing capacity."
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE (AP) — Redevelopment plans for a popular Lake Tahoe campground and resort dating to the 1930s would eliminate parking along busy Highway 89 and cut the number of camp sites by nearly one-third, but offer year-round camping for the first time.


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On the last leg of my commute, I ran
over across three kids in their late teens with snow shovels. Apparently, I am a faggot as well. I've been called that a few more times than I can count. Way to be original, guys. Sadly, I'm taken by my wonderful wife. Sorry, boys. You ain't getting none of this.
To further amuse me, one of the impetuous youngsters had the chutzpah to ask me for a dollar. I can only assume that they were wandering around, offering to shovel driveways and parking lots for money. I gave them not word nor gesture in return, but if that's how they treat people they want money from, I'm thinking that their pool of beer money is going to remain scarce.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
... and a faggot, too!
On the last leg of my commute, I ran
7 comments:
- dvicci said...
You know, I've had very little negative feedback from the public at large while I've been on my bike, at large in the public. I'm starting to worry. Surely, with all the stories I've heard about verbal violence committed against cyclists, I would have, by now, been party to some of that. Do they not see me? Am I invisible? Could it be that some day a driver is tooting about, minding his own business when *WHAM* all of a sudden, there I am (or not, as far as they can see) careening over their hood in a poor imitation of some cirque de soleil acrobat, with neither the acro, nor the bat?
My experiences have, by and large, been very positive. When, I wonder, will the hammer fall? When it does, I'm sure I'll have much the same answer... a brief sideways glance simply because I can't help it, and silence as I move on by. I might flash them. You know, simply to tease them.
All that said, my favorite, all time and perhaps forever, is "Dip Ass."
- February 07, 2008 7:51 AM
- Noah said...
Well, I don't think the "Alien" comment was an insult at all other than to say "you look weird."
If it was an insult, it was half-hearted at best. I took no offense to it whatsoever. It didn't bother me. I thought it was funny, actually.
I do get offended at actual insults. However, there's a huge difference between getting offended and letting it bother me. One might deduce some kind of passive-aggressive behavior because I wrote about being called a Faggot. Sure, I was offended, but it was a fleeting moment and nothing more.
As far as being called names, the last time before this that someone called me anything was way back in October when some guy told me I was a dumbass. A few weeks prior to that, someone tried to save a few seconds by running right through a stop sign at a crosswalk while flipping me off. That was nearly four months ago. I can't remember any incidents prior to that, but among the 700-ish posts here I'd imagine there are a few more altercations. I'd comfortably say that in KC, encounters like these are few and far between and thus noteworthy when they do happen.
- February 07, 2008 8:18 AM
I've been called that more than a few times myself. Sometimes a specific reference is made to my riding shorts/tights, which is the only time I respond. This usually occurs riding the light rail to/from work in downtown Denver. The best comeback I've made is "Thanks. By the way, you're calling me that name but you're the one staring at my legs and ass." This usually shuts up all commenters, except one. This one challenged me to get off the train to settle this like a man. Needless to say I declined, while questioning his intent to "settle up". Giggles and laughs from other passengers saved the day that day.
- February 07, 2008 2:06 PM
- Noah said...
Just make kissy noises at the next one who pulls that crap.
As for me, I don't wear lycra or anything tight. This time of year it's athletic thermal underwear with plain clothes over the top. In the summer, I prefer the look and the feel of baggy mountain bike shorts and looser-fitting synthetic wicking running or golfing shirts.
To each their own, though. I think people getting homophobic over athletic clothing is kind of ridiculous. I choose not to wear it for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which is that I'd look like the michelin man in a get-up like that, and the fact that I don't race or train means I don't demand or require performance clothing for what I'm doing. I can't justify spending $100 on special clothing just to ride to and from work at a pace equivalent to what you'd find on a "social" (i.e. chatty) group ride.
- February 07, 2008 2:47 PM
- SD_pedalpower said...
I've been given the verbal tongue lashing before which is no big deal but the worst was having a super size cherry slurpee thrown on me. It hit me dead center and cover me in sticky crap. I still finished my 20 mile ride. No way was I going to let a couple of punk kids ruin my ride.
- February 07, 2008 6:14 PM
I've tried riding the 2.5 miles to the train in regular clothes, but chafed really bad. Enough of that! Just decided to wear the lycra since I have it for mountain bike riding and commuting. Commuting in nice weather is 18+ miles each way. This means speed (18-23mph) to keep times in the 55 minute range. This does require proper gear.
- February 08, 2008 2:55 PM
- Noah said...
Indeed. My mountain bike shorts have a chamois/padded liner. I can pull off my 14-mile each way in under an hour, but I think my personal best was 18.2 MPH. I don't usually want to push much harder than needed for a 15 or 16 MPH average. I definitely couldn't ride that far every day without some padding. Well, I could (and I've tried) and we'll just say the results aren't pretty.
- February 08, 2008 3:26 PM
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"What singularly impressed us was that you did not just attend at our office to give it a cursory once-over look and then submitted an estimate for moving, but that you discussed our company's relocation policy and process, spent time ascertaining what we were moving, and wanted to view the office space we were relocating to."
Abena Buahene, BA, LL.B, Registrar & CEO
"It was very reassuring for us at Infinite to be dealing with a team that had your knowledge and experience moving from one A-class building to another. The costs involved were fair and your professionalism was excelling."
Ali Zahedi, Managing Director
"I had the pleasure of working closely with Mike and Tony on every aspect of the move including premise design, selection of materials, furniture planning, selection of general contractor and trades, permitting, scheduling and moving logistics. Very professional and competent in their roles and demonstrated their experience through expediting many processes, presenting innovative solutions and controlling costs."
Kevin Feeney, CFO
"McGauley's were fantastic, right from the first phone call: always responsive, great problem-solvers, kept us fully informed of all the options at each stage and calm in the face of every crisis. I can only imagine how much hard work they were doing behind the scenes that we never saw. We would recommend their services without reservation."
Helen Leask and Nancy Richardson, Partners
"I appreciated your responsiveness, careful planning, strong project management and professionalism throughout the course of the move. Your willingness to assist in problem-solving unexpected issues and concerns as they arose was greatly valued."
S.M. Cheng, Executive Director, Ontario Public Health Association
"The team at D.J. McGauley helped us facilitate a two stage move recently.
I wanted to express my appreciation for all your assistance; it was invaluable. No matter what we asked of you or what we needed, you were there. You were sensitive to our needs and understanding of our economic position. Your dedication to your clients shows in everything you do.
Our moves went smoothly with no headaches due largely to your expertise and assistance. You helped make our move as stress free as possible.
Thank you again for your exceptional service.
Ludy Gibson, Office Manager
"They developed a budget and timeline to keep us on track while minimizing surprises. Assisted with furniture purchasing and coordinated the acquisitions and installations of all furniture for our new offices. All outstanding deficiencies were fixed and we restarted our business in our new premises as if we'd always been there."
Christine Hughes, CFA, President and Chief Investment Strategist
"Facilitated a remarkably smooth transition and we greatly appreciated your assistance and your expertise. Helping to organize the phone installation and dealing with the communications this transaction required really helped us to settle into our new space quickly and seamlessly."
Miriam Adams, C.M., Co-founder/Director
"Your expertise and ability to deal with any and every situation to our complete delight was invaluable. From evaluating our moving needs to completing repairs to the landlord's satisfaction, to managing the renovations and fit-out of our new location and the office and warehouse move… everything was seamless and painless as something like this can be."
Mark Thomas, Vice-President
"You really came through for us and we appreciated how professional and organized you were throughout the move. Everyone at Bilingual Recruiters Inc. commented on how well the relocation to our new home on Yonge Street turned out. I would recommend your firm to anyone having to go through the stress of relocating their office. "
Louis Cavalaris, V.P and Treasurer
"We are now moved into our new office and it appears that the office move went well last night. I am sure the move would not have gone as smoothly as it did without you coordinating and organizing the move for us. Much appreciated."
Kathy Nakanishi, Manager, Office of the CEO/Registrar
Call (416) 239-1931


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This was published 7 years ago
Rise in class actions drives up insurance costs
INCREASING payouts in shareholder class actions are pushing up premiums for directors' and officers' insurance.
The total value of class action settlements reached $506 million in 2012, up from about $200 million in 2007, according to a report by law firm King & Wood Mallesons.
With class actions becoming more common and with increasing responsibilities for directors under new regulations, insurers say directors' and officers' insurance is becoming less profitable for them.
This forces them to either reduce limits or increase premiums.
Some directors have already started increasing their indemnity, says Julie Hamilton, a national directors' and officers' insurance specialist at Aon Risk Solutions.
While the cost of insurance has not increased substantially - because there are still many willing insurers in the market - she warns this may not last.
"As a result of the increasing body of class action settlements there is an increased focus by many insurers on both capacity and retention management … While insurer competition is continuing to suppress rates, some insurers are 'testing the waters' by seeking opportunities for modest rate increases where circumstances allow,'' Ms Hamilton said. Some directors of ASX-listed companies have recently increased their indemnities after benchmarking their policies against peers and claims data.
And directors who specifically chose not to take coverage against class actions could get a discount, Ms Hamilton said.
A spokesman for insurer CGU confirmed the market remained competitive but said the company was ''keeping a watching brief on the issue and is closely monitoring claims costs''. "There has been a trend of increasing litigation against company directors in recent years,'' he said.
''Claims payouts for directors' and officers' insurance have also risen.''
The Australian head of financial lines at Zurich General Insurance, Stephen Bonnington, said rates for directors' and officers' insurance had ''remained relatively stable'' over the past two years.
However, Zurich has seen insurers reducing policy limits, particularly where clients elect to purchase coverage protecting them against securities litigation, he says.
''The litigation environment, and the increased powers of regulators, do have an impact on both the frequency and severity of claims and I am sure many insurers are carefully watching developments in these arenas,'' he said.
Directors' and officers' insurance is usually paid by the company on behalf of the board and senior management. It protects their personal assets if claims are made against the company, including claims by regulators, shareholders or individuals for breaches of duty or misleading and deceptive conduct.
Directors have also had to double-check what coverage they have under the new Australian Consumer Law, which can see directors disqualified if their company breaches the act. Companies are not allowed to indemnify directors against liability for these breaches, or against their legal costs.
However, companies can offer loans to directors to cover legal fees.


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Comfortable enough to be worn all day, and stretchy enough to fit newborns to kindergartners, our Knit Turbans are the perfect accessory for your little girl.
Care Instructions:
Machine wash cold with like colors. To keep your Lou Lou items looking their best, lay flat or hang dry.
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**Due to the nature of fabrics and dye lots, this print may or may not be the exact same shade, hue, or tone of a previous release of this same print.
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Noah, Jesus, Kids ... and Us
User's Guide to Sunday, Feb. 26.
Sunday, Feb. 26, (Liturgical Year B, Cycle II) is the First Sunday of Lent.
Genesis 9:8-15, Psalm 25:4-9, 1 Peter 3:18-22, Mark 1:12-15
Our Take
Catholic spirituality — starting with Christ himself — has great regard for the child's perspective. So we asked our youngest children about today's readings.
To show how important their perspective can be, we have matched their comments with theological categories.
First, on Noah's Ark:
Said one: "It must have been really hard to get two of each animal that live up in the trees. It would be hard to climb up in the trees trying to catch monkeys."
Said another: "I bet Noah wished Jesus had built the ark for him, instead of making him build it. But he wanted Noah to cooperate."
Excellent points. This is exactly what God wants to demonstrate with the story.
God saved Noah; Noah didn't save himself. Noah would have drowned if God hadn't given him explicit instructions on how to build the ark.
But God didn't just step in and deliver him; rather, he gave him the knowledge of the danger and the solution — and the free will to decide whether or not to follow his plans. And he didn't just make Noah a lucky guy who preserved himself: He made him a hero who saved all the animals.
What was true of Noah is true of each of us. Says the Catechism, 323: "Divine providence works also through the actions of creatures. To human beings God grants the ability to cooperate freely with his plans."
We also asked the kids about the 40-day fast of Jesus in today's Gospel.
Said our 4-year-old: "I bet Jesus got really fat before he went out there to fast."
Said another: "He definitely drank water out there. Otherwise he would die."
Said a third: "I would have snuck a loaf of bread out to the desert with me. But Jesus didn't."
Also very true. We are pretty sure Jesus didn't fatten himself up before his baptism and days in the desert. But he probably did prepare himself humanly for the ordeal, and we're sure he did drink water. Jesus was truly human; that is why we can follow his example.
Of course, our son who would have snuck a loaf of bread with him would decidedly not be following Jesus' example. That was exactly one of the temptations given to Jesus — to get bread on the sly to satisfy his hunger. But he did not yield to temptation.
The Catechism, 470, stressed "the full reality of Christ's human soul, with its operations of intellect and will, and of his human body. ... 'The Son of God ... worked with human hands; he thought with a human mind. He acted with a human will, and with a human heart he loved. Born of the Virgin Mary, he has truly been made one of us, like us in all things except sin.'"
He was really tempted. But he refused the temptations. God gave Jesus help. The Gospel says that "the angels ministered to him" in the desert.
So, this Lent, we can pray to be close to Christ as we follow his example and fast, giving up things we love in order to put love of God first. He will help us. He has been there.
And we would point out one last thing to our children. In today's second reading, St. Paul puts the stories about Noah's Ark and Jesus' sufferings together for us. He says Noah's Ark is like our baptism. In both, God used water to save us and unite us closer with him.
Just like with Noah, God doesn't just step in and deliver us. Rather, he lets us know the danger and the solution — and lets us decide whether or not we follow his plans.
His plan is baptism. He supplies the water and the priest. He tells us what to do: Be baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. But we have to make all the arrangements. And we have to live the life of a baptized person once we are baptized.
God's there to help us do that, too.
And Lent is a perfect time to try harder than ever, so that, at Easter, we can really mean it when we renew our baptismal promises.
And we will find that God won't just keep us safe. Like Noah, his instructions are not just to save ourselves, but to serve the world, too.
Tom and April Hoopes write from Atchison, Kansas,
where Tom is writer in residence at Benedictine College.


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10 Years of Daily Cocain Use
For over 10 years now i have put heavy doses of cocaine in my body, 5years snorting and now over 5yrs of smoking it. I am now over 40years old and am experiencing so many symptoms in several areas of my body. I know that you will advise me to see a doctor, of course I understand that is the only real way to handle this, however, at this time I am tring to stop first and then tell my physician all of the pains and ailment im going threw. Its just the way I am chosing to handle this. I was hoping that if I described some symptoms maybe your intelegence will assist my decision of how long is too long. I have all of the obviuos sign of physical deterioration, Extreme root Gingivitis,loss of teeth, large hole between nostrils and looks like i can see my brain in the back of sinus cavity. No control of bladder, when I think I may need to urinate, boom, right then I go with no control. Loss of hair, bad skin, nails and my overall appearance is not pretty anymore. For the past year I have felt heart palpatations, severe headaches, lung pains, left side waist pain,vericose veins going crazy out of the blue. (5 months now) Also numbness in feet, legs, hands ect. Blurred vision at different times of day or activities. swelling ankle w slight bruising 2 weeks ago till today, even though i didnt sprain it. Severe fatigue or lethargic behavior, very low red blood cell production is probably reason for that but could there be something else? I DO take Iron suplements daily. Also, about 4 months ago started a creamy vaginal discharge off and on (not yeast infection)- as well as this EXTREMELY painful experience several days up to 2weeks AFTER my period, my breasts will become sore slightly swollen but unbareable constant pain especially if I move. This will last about 4 or 5 days. the 2nd month it happend I did a mamogram(1st time) and results said negative for cancerous lumps. My neck gets super tight and sore off and on and there is a bad pain just below and left of where my rib cage connects, i guess my stomach. Ive done so much web research, hours and hours tring to figure out what all this crack abuse may have done inside my body. Tonight I spent 4 hours reading about breast lymphnodes, maybe thats the problem? I know I sound discusting, but Im really just scared. I know inhaling this burnt up-copper substitute metal, everyday for hours has GOT to be eating me up inside, right? What happens bc of the build up of nasties in my lungs? what about kidneys, how do I know they give up and just cant keep tring to clean things anymore? Sorry this is so long, its the first time Ive ever reached out for someones help or sdvise. What is phisically happening to my organs and bones?
Thank you for you questions. You describe many aspects of deterioration that can be related to cocaine addiction. I do not recommend that you spend time researching these symptoms on the web.
It would be much better for you to spend that same time: 1) seeing a physician immediately to get the medical symptoms evaluated 2) researching about your currently out-of-control addictive disease and 3) spending time with sober people in sober places.
At this point, anything else you spend time on is just distracting you from what you really need to do in order to protect your health and to protect your human spirit from the ravages of this disease.
Please seek professional help as soon as possible, and do not hesitate to write back.
For more information:
Go to the Addiction and Substance Abuse health topic.


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Moderator: pablo
Llewellian wrote:I dont know if you know "Nutella" in America, its a kind of chocolate cream for your toast.
TheTeague wrote:Cadbury Eggs are great, but what you really should try if you can find 'em in the store are "Milka Lil' Scoops". *Of course, in the supermarket, they're not nearly as expencive as this website seems to be selling them for. They're more like $4 or less.*
kinako mochi wrote:
Sapporo?!? I was born in Chitose! Small world. My family lives in Sapporo, Shiroishi, Hakodate, and Chitose. My late uncle ran a bakery and pastry shop there; I'll dig up the name out of the boxes I packed one of the customer bags in. It's orange-yellow and black with a clock logo on it. Unreal custard 'pan'.
Tanukitsune wrote:I want my Cadburry Cream Eggs! And I've never had a marshmellow Peep in my life!
I want a "proper" Easter...
Lugnut wrote:My sister actually melted Cadbury cream eggs last year, and poured it over ice cream. No crap. She didn't sit still for a WEEK...
Lugnut wrote:Chocolate talk...goodness gracious...
We're making truffles this weekend, I'm going to use cayenne in some of 'em. Debating how I could get some habanero into 'em...we shall see
And POCKY....dear LORD....I LIVED off that stuff during my otaku years. The chocolate mousse pocky is also to die for. Dammit. I need to go back to Mitsuwa (japanese market near me)...
And Tanuk, I will also contribute Cadbury Cream eggs and other easter related paraphenalia to your cause. Nobody should be forced to go without THAT sugar rush. My sister actually melted Cadbury cream eggs last year, and poured it over ice cream. No crap. She didn't sit still for a WEEK...
Llewellian wrote:I dont know if you know "Nutella" in America, its a kind of chocolate cream for your toast.
kinako mochi wrote:And the sticks are Pocky! My fave is Almond Crush.
Lugnut wrote:We're making truffles this weekend, I'm going to use cayenne in some of 'em. Debating how I could get some habanero into 'em...we shall see
kinako mochi wrote:Melted. Ghirardelli. Dark. Over. Breyer's. Grand. Vanilla. Bean.
Llewellian wrote:@Kinako:
Nutella with some spoons of Rum (stir it until its a good cream again) and pour that over the blackberries and the Vanilla Ice.
Lunchog wrote:Now that sounds yummy. The best way to do the Habaneros would be to use fresh ones, roast lightly, and scrape the pulp off the skin. Add the pulp to the melted butter before mixing in anything else.
And WEAR GLOVES WHILE DOING THIS! I pretty much always wear latex gloves when working with any peppers hotter than a serrano.
Llewellian wrote:@Kinako: Well, Pernod is something fine to drink - even if it reminds me on medicine.
Llewellian wrote:
Different big Eggs out of dark chocolate, filled with a yogurt cream in the taste either of strawberry-rhubarb or raspberry-vanilla. To die for.
I know what random is, and this isn't.
The fact that you joined the bandwagon of something that was created 3 years ago, something that got old and boring after 2 years of existence, and provided no new original material shows your inexperience with the internet as a whole.
Random can only come from inside yourself, something that no one else has ever seen or thought of. Prancing about with the creations of others that have been well documented will surprise no one but the most ignorant of fools.
kinako mochi wrote:Hmm. My buddy has some Pernod, which I absolutely love (in spite of its infamous reputation, it's a nice sipping drink composed, and never gives me a headache, even 375 mL at a time once, oops. ). I may try that with my melted Ghirardelli and some French vanilla (only appropriate ) and see if it's either craptastic or fabulous.
My bud CJ makes what we call 'crack dip', because its so addictive. It's basically a fresh pico de gallo with seat salt and two habaneros in it. He only serves it with his fresh green onion/garlic dip because it lights off about three chips in–and boy does it hurt to get habanero in a cuticle.
Roasted serrano, mmmm. Here we go again !
luchog wrote:Never been much of a fan of anise and chocolate, myself (tastes kinda vile to me). I prefer something like Grand Marnier or Kaluha. One of these days, I'm going to whip out my handy little state-of-the-art ice cream maker, and whip up some absinthe and single-malt scotch flavoured ice creams.
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Was GLaDOS, the artificial intelligence in 2007's critically acclaimed Portal, in fact a game designer? And if so, what does our relationship to the computer, and its abuse of our trust, say about the other games we play?
Guido Pellegrini at Playtime Magazine raises that point, among many others, in examining not just the meta-narrative of Portal, but also that of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Portal gets a deeper treatment, but both games deliberate puncture the illusion of control game players feel they have. In the end, Pellegrini writes, we are still following commands, taking cues and completing tasks in order to ultimately complete the game. Sons of Liberty in its way, and Portal to a much larger degree, are completely open about such manipulation.
If you haven't played or finished Portal and feel like you might want to some day, this essay should be treated as one long spoiler (the same for Sons of Liberty). Ultimately, Pellegrini raises this question: Within games is any restriction antithetical to one's freedom to act, or can there still be freedom within those boundaries? It is a question that extends well beyond the immaculate walls of Portal's test laboratory.
Portal and The Meta-Narrative Maker [Playtime Magazine, Oct 23.]
GLaDOS, then, is part adversary, part game-designer, guiding us across levels in an effort to finish the game of portal gun assessment. This antagonistic artificial intelligence is a diegetic representation of the creator or director, shaping up a fiction for the players to complete, providing context, giving orders, outlining our path, introducing complications, playing around with our expectations, intentionally misleading us, and so on. GLaDOS is our ruler and general, our boss. Meta-narrative elements are not terribly common in video-games, although they are not alien to the medium. We need only look at Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty to find an especially blunt and grandiloquent example of meta-narrative. In that game, a video-game player - a covert operative who has been trained solely through virtual reality simulations, or so he believes - ultimately realizes that his first official field-mission has been yet another simulation: every battle, death, and confrontation has been meticulously planned by an advanced artificial intelligence hiding behind the human façade of an iconic military general whom the protagonist has only communicated with through Codec, a sort of radio coupled with images of talking faces. The end of the game is infamously weird, culminating as it does with the advanced artificial intelligence commanding us to finish the game by killing the final enemy in a sword-fight atop the Federal Hall. Being coerced into finishing the game by the evil, back-stabbing computer that constructed the narrative we have been playing for the past twelve hours is surprisingly repulsive. We do not have a choice to do otherwise, unless we prefer to shut off our game system. But is this lack-of-choice a departure from other video-games?
Every video-game compels us to complete certain actions in order to reach the finish line. Every video-game controls us and directs our behavior through strict parameters. Even an open-ended video-game is not completely open-ended, only open-ended in the manner and to the extent decided upon by the game-makers. Our immersion into the fiction veils our status as prisoners. Yet we are no more than prisoners, forced to do what the dictator-storyteller demands of us. Now, this admittedly makes the whole business sound much more sinister than it necessarily is - we willingly pay money to be manipulated and led by the game-makers, after all - but it is interesting to note how foreboding and uncomfortable it can be when a video-game opts to make our dependency upon the game-makers a literal part of the plot. In most any game, we would not mind having to accomplish certain feats, and more importantly, we would certainly not complain about having to kill the final enemy, since that would bring upon the much-desired denouement. Alas, in the vast majority of games, these commands are gentle, imperceptible, implied through environmental and contextual cues. Thus, we receive the commands without protest. What Sons of Liberty and Portal do is to actually tell us these commands out-loud, through an in-game director, and suddenly the conceit of freedom that video-games tend to propagate is destroyed. Most games force us to do this and that. The above two games are honest about it.
If there is one divergence between Sons of Liberty and Portal, it is that the former provides no true escape from the fiction of the in-game director. To the very end, we are following the commands of an artificial intelligence. The closing cinematic (a movie-like animation that furthers the story using film language) suggests future freedom only for the fictional protagonist. As far as our interactivity is concerned, we never oppose the computer's authority. Our last action is to kill the final enemy, just as the computer has ordained. Portal, on the other hand, gives players the opportunity to walk backstage - to view the machinery behind the fiction - in order to confront the neurotic puppeteer.
We must constantly observe the architecture that traps, annoys, hinders, and informs us. Only by doing this can we find the opposite end of the labyrinth. Just as the architecture might facilitate our flight, it is also a participant in our entrapment. This double-edged quality makes our interaction with the environment a passionate endeavor. Equal parts savior and jailer, the environment is the middle-man in the tug-of-war between computer and human guinea pig, as each uses the same landscape to claim victory over the other. It is this battle that is the soul of Portal. The game-designer and the player are constantly at odds with each other. One tries to control, while the other hopes to achieve independence. One tries to dominate through a precise architecture that delimits movement, while the other explores his or her possibilities within this supposedly constraining architecture. The player's performance can flower inside a confined milieu. This happens in every video-game, but this one makes it literal and readily visible thanks to GLaDOS. We wake up inside a game and subsequently form a hostile relationship with its designer. Walking beyond the walls of this game, we find a parent game with more objectives and more puzzles. We wonder if the hostile relationship does not continue, despite our perceived escape. We turn off Portal. We play something else. We keep wondering about the hostile relationship, now in a new context. Video-games allow freedom of movement while restricting its degree. In a sense, Portal is about whether this restriction is enough to stifle any sense of freedom or whether there can still be freedom within restrictions. It is a dilemma that expands to the medium at large, if not beyond even that.
Weekend Reader is Kotaku's look at the critical thinking in, and of video games. It appears Saturdays at noon. Please take the time to read the full article cited before getting involved in the debate here.


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Caveat: Outputting errors to the screen can cause some screens or features to not work correctly, especially those which involve being forwarded to another page based on certain criteria or after certain steps are completed.
Caveat: Also, using this option poses a security risk because error messages will disclose path and database information to malicious visitors who attempt rogue behaviors on your store. THUS, THIS SETTING SHOULD ONLY BE USED IN AN OFFLINE DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT. Using it on a live store poses risks, and should only be used for short-term troubleshooting of a problem which can't be solved any other way.
Enabling STRICT_ERROR_REPORTINGTo enable STRICT_ERROR_REPORTING, simply use your FTP program to upload a simple file to your store's site like this:
- For storefront problems, put it at: /includes/local/configure.php
- For admin problems, put it at: /name-of-your-admin-folder-here/includes/local/configure.php
<?php define('STRICT_ERROR_REPORTING', TRUE);
Disabling STRICT_ERROR_REPORTINGSimple: When you're done with the tool, simply delete the "local/configure.php" file you uploaded above. (DO NOT delete the main configure.php file; only delete the one you put into the folder named "local"!)
If that doesn't disable it, then that means you've enabled it in another file on your server. You will need to search your entire site for that define statement and remove it. (See the Developer's Toolkit for that.)


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Last updated on February 2020
Micra Transcatheter Pacing System Post-Approval Registry
Brief description of study
Medtronic is sponsoring the Micra Registry to further confirm safety and effectiveness of the Micra Transcatheter Pacing System (Micra system) when used as intended, in "real-world" clinical practice, following commercial release.
The Micra Registry is conducted within Medtronic's Product Surveillance Registry.
Detailed Study Description
The Micra Registry is a global, prospective, observational, multi-site registry. Patients enrolled in the Micra Registry will be prospectively followed for a minimum of 9 years post-implant or until registry closure, patient death, patient exit from the registry (i.e., withdrawal of consent), or unless patient is participating in an acute performance sub-study of the Micra Registry*.
Enrolled patients will have scheduled follow-up visits at least annually or as prompted by reportable adverse events; however, all Micra system follow-up patient visits are to be reported. Therefore, if more frequent scheduled visits occur per a provider's standard care practice, those visits are reported. The total estimated registry duration is 11 years.
*Patients contributing to an acute performance sub-study of the Micra Registry do not contribute to the FDA-regulated Post-Approval Study which includes a long-term (minimum 9-year) patient follow-up period.
Clinical Study Identifier: NCT02536118


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With white yarn, Ch 4, sl st in first chain to make ring,
Row 2: Ch 3, turn, 2 dc (in the space between ch3 and 1st dc in row 1), ch 1, 3 dc (in space between 1st and second dc in row 1). Finish off.
Row 4: Switch yarn (orange) slip stitch to beginning stitch. Ch 3, 2 dc in first dc space), 3 dbl in ch 1 space, 2 dc in last dc space.
Row 5: Ch 3. turn, dc in first dc space, *3 dc in next space* 3 times, dc in last space.
Row 6: Ch 3, turn, dc in first dc sp, *3 dc in next space* 3 times, 2 dc in last dc space. Finish off.
Row 7: Switch Yarn to yellow w/ sl st in last stitch. Ch 3, *dc in each space* 4 times, dc in last dc space.
Row 8: Ch 2, hdc in next dc space, 2 hdc ineach space* 4 times, hdc in last space. Finish off.
Make as many candy corns according to your desired garland length.
Banner Chain:
Chain 10 -12 (+/-), depending on your preference for end-ties. Slip stitch to first stitch on top of candy corn. Sl st in each stitch across corn. I put 5 chains between each corn. Continue until all corn is added to banner. Chain 10-12 for end tie. Cut off or tuck in any end strings and find a happy place to hang.
Here is a very poor hand drawn pattern, that I hope makes it easier for those of you who (like me) are visual learners! If you cannot see the picture better by clicking on it and downloading, please send me an email and I will happily email you a .pdf file of the picture instead!
If you have any questions please let me know! And if you make one I would LOVE to see it!


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July 31, 2018
Colorado Real Estate Market Update
Posted in Colorado Real Estate Market Update by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate
Colorado continues to see very strong job growth, adding 72,800 non-agricultural jobs over the past 12 months—an impressive increase of 2.7%. Through the first five months of 2018, the state added an average of 7,300 new jobs per month. I expect this growth to continue through the remainder of the year, resulting in about 80,000 new jobs in 2018. In May, the state unemployment rate was 2.8%...
Read More >
July 30, 2018
Nevada Real Estate Market Update
Posted in Nevada Real Estate Market Update by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate
Employers in the Las Vegas metropolitan area continue to add jobs. A total of 27,800 new positions were added over the past 12 months, representing an annual growth rate of a healthy 2.9%. Interestingly, Las Vegas employment broke the million mark for the very first time in May of this year. Thanks to ongoing job growth, the unemployment rate continues to drop. The seasonally adjusted rate...
Read More >
July 30, 2018
Seven Steps to Yard Sale Success
Posted in Selling by John Trupin
Yard sale season has arrived! Many people shy away from the idea of having a yard sale, but do you truly need that broken-down accordion or the 80's-styled prom dress? A yard sale is a great way to get out with the old and make room for the new. Here are some tips to help make your yard sale a success…
Read More >
July 27, 2018
Preparing Your Garage for an Electric Car
Posted in Living by Guest Author
Electric cars help lower emissions and fuel costs, improve fuel economy, and bolster energy security. And considering the volatility of gas prices—and their general skyward trajectory—electric fuel shows promise as an economic alternative. But switching to an electric vehicle entails more than new driving habits and a conversation piece with strangers. It's also a lifestyle update.
Read More >
July 26, 2018
Southern California Real Estate Market Update
Posted in Southern California Real Estate Market Update by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate
The counties covered by this report—Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, Orange, and Riverside—added 110,200 new jobs between May 2017 and May 2018. As a result, the unemployment rate dropped from 4.2% to 3.6%. Employment growth in Southern California continues to outperform the nation as a whole, and I am confident this will continue as we move through the balance of the year.
Read More >
July 25, 2018
Western Washington Real Estate Market Update
Posted in Western Washington Real Estate Market Update by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate
The Washington State economy added 83,900 new jobs over the past 12 months, representing an annual growth rate of 2.5%. This is a slowdown from the last quarter, but employment growth remains well above the national rate of 1.6%. Employment gains continue to be robust in the private sector, which was up by 2.8%. The public sector (government) grew by a more modest 1.1%. The strongest growth...
Read More >
July 23, 2018
Windermere Foundation Donates Nearly $1 Million During First Half of 2018
Posted in Windermere Foundation by Christine Wood
Thanks to the generosity of Windermere agents, staff, franchise owners, and the community, the Windermere Foundation has proudly donated a total of $920,351 so far this year to non-profit organizations that provide services to low-income and homeless families. This brings the total amount of money that the Windermere Foundation has raised since 1989 to over $36 million.
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July 18, 2018
How Will the Real Estate Market Respond to Rising Interest Rates?
Posted in Economics 101 Videos by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate
Let Windermere Real Estate's Chief Economist Matthew Gardner walk you through what to expect from the real estate market amidst rising interest rates.
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July 16, 2018
4 Ways to Make Smart Tech Upgrades to Your Garage
Posted in Living by Guest Author
When it comes to upgrading your home with the latest technology, your garage is likely to be the last thing on your radar. But as electric vehicles and even self-driving cars are hitting the road across the country, real estate listings are touting smart garages in high-tech cities like Palo Alto, California and Austin, Texas. Not to mention the simple fact that garage tech can boost...
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July 11, 2018
When Buying a Short Sale Home is the Right Fit
Posted in Short Sales by Richard Eastern
Purchasing a home can feel overwhelming at times, but a short sale home offers a unique opportunity for a prospective buyer. A short sale occurs when a homeowner owes a lender more than their home is worth, and the lender agrees to let the owner sell the home and accept less than what is owed. Lenders may agree to a short sale because they believe it will net them more money than going forward...
Read More >


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It's hard out there for a broadcast network. Basic cable shows like The Walking Dead and Sons of Anarchy are scoring big ratings, while Showtime's Homeland is the toast of the water-cooler crowd. "We seem to be coming to a point where there are enough series to watch without coming to broadcast television," says one network veteran. The networks are also competing with themselves, as viewers in nearly half the country now use DVRs — which has helped big hits such as Modern Family and The Big Bang Theory grow even bigger but made it tougher for new shows to get a foothold. As a result, ABC, CBS and Fox have seen significant ratings dips compared with last year, causing worry among advertisers who still depend on the broadcasters to deliver mass audiences. Here's how each network is faring so far this season.
Dancing With the Stars: All Stars has been less than luminous (down 22 percent on Mondays, and down 33 percent in the advertiser-favored 18-49 demographic). Nashville is a critical darling, but the network's strength is attracting urban upscale viewers who are reluctant to sample a show about country music. While ABC picked up the comedy The Neighbors for a full season, new dramas 666 Park Avenue and Last Resort have sunk in the ratings and it's not yet known if they will earn full-season orders. "They have a lot of question marks," says an executive at a rival network. Grade: B-
Still the most watched network, with an average of 11.5 million viewers, CBS is down 10 percent from a year ago and 18 percent in the 18-49 demo. Sure, freshman dramas Vegas and Elementary are solid performers, but the new sitcom Partners is a dud, and Made in Jersey was the season's first cancellation. "Based on previous years, CBS batting .500 is a little off," says Brad Adgate of ad-buying firm Horizon Media. Grade: B
The CW
Turns out The CW audience loves its shirtless comic-book heroes. Arrow, which premiered with 4.1 million viewers and has held onto most of them, has given The CW a bona fide new hit (and it's been picked up for the full season). But the mini-network's other new shows, Emily Owens M.D. and Beauty and the Beast, are limping along. Grade: C+
Despite the buzzed-about addition of Britney Spears, The X Factor is losing the battle of the singing competitions to NBC's The Voice, while the network's New Girl and Glee have declined. Fox, down 24 percent in viewers age 18-49, still sees high creative promise in new sitcoms The Mindy Project and Ben and Kate, which have been given full-season orders despite lackluster ratings. The network is expected to soon take out a hit on the ratings-challenged drama The Mob Doctor. Mid-season hopes ride on the arrival of the Mariah Carey-led American Idol and the new Kevin Bacon drama The Following. "It's not too unusual to see Fox near or at the bottom in the fall, but can Idol pull them up like it did the past eight years?" asks Adgate. "Not so sure this time around." Grade: C-
After years in the wilderness, NBC is experiencing the residual boost that comes with a hit reality competition like The Voice. Dystopian drama Revolution, which averages almost 9 million viewers, has done a far better job of capitalizing on the lead-in from The Voice than Smash did last season. And Go On and The New Normal are delivering NBC's strongest numbers for new sitcoms in several years. Scheduling chief Jeff Bader says the reason for the ratings lift — up 24 percent in the 18-49 demo — is not complicated: "It comes down to putting on stuff that people want to watch." Grade: A-


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A record number of students are applying to the University of Houston this fall.
Total applicants for the 2011 fall semester have increased by more than 12 percent compared to this time last year. To date, nearly 41,000 applications have been filed from potential students asking to be admitted when the university begins classes the third week in August.
"Naturally, we appreciate this substantial rise in the overall number of those who are considering attending UH," said Stephen Soutullo, associate vice president for student access and success. "It indicates that our university is continuing to raise its profile and establish itself as an institution of choice. While you can't attribute such a broad increase to any one factor – the poor employment environment, for example – I think it is fair to say more people are recognizing us as a result of UH's recent noteworthy achievements."
In January, for example, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classified UH as a Tier One research university, joining UT-Austin, Texas A&M and Rice as the state's only designees. Additionally, The Princeton Review recently selected UH as one of the nation's top institutions for undergraduate education, including it in the educational services company's popular guidebook for the first time. And, UH has recently met the benchmarks to qualify for the National Research University Fund (NRUF) program created by the Texas Legislature and approved by statewide voters, reflecting the school's Tier One-worthy accomplishments in research funding, endowment size, faculty distinction and high quality undergraduate and graduate education.
Soutullo pointed out that this increase in applications comes even as UH raises its admission standards.
"Going forward, this will allow us to admit students who are better prepared to succeed academically," he said. "That, in turn, should help improve our graduation rate, which has been a priority in UH President Renu Khator's commitment to student success."
Breaking down the total applicants into broad categories, the current numbers for this ongoing process are:
- First Time in College (freshmen) – 18 percent increase
- Master's – 6.5 percent increase
- Ph.D. – 9.2 percent increase
The upsurge in prospective doctoral candidates is of particular interest since the number of Ph.D.s awarded is a prime indicator used to establish and maintain a university's Tier One credentials.
"The increase in applications to the doctoral and master's programs reflects a commitment by the university to gradually grow the graduate programs over the next several years," said Stuart Hall, associate vice president for graduate and professional studies at UH. "In particular, an increase in well-qualified doctoral students will both strengthen and enhance our capability to carry out research and scholarship consistent with those of a Tier One university."
Soutullo, whose department oversees admission and enrollment at UH, said concerns about drastic cuts in available financial aid being considered by the state legislature during its recent session could have dampened potential applicants' interest. But financial aid grants ended up being better funded than initially predicted and, said Soutullo, "I suspect a lot of students – and parents – were really paying attention to that."
Although the record number of applicants could likely lead to a record enrollment at UH for the fall – with UH officials forecasting as many as 41,000 students compared to last year's almost 39,000 – Soutullo stressed that sheer size wasn't the university's objective. "As a public university, we need to do our part providing quality higher education for the state of Texas. However, we're not aiming at simply getting more students," he said. "We want more and better students."


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I L-O-V-E this picture and I am so happy to finally share with you and hope that you fall in love just as much as I have. I took this in Grand Teton National Park and still can't get over the beautiful colors and serene setting. It makes me want to buckle up my cutest pair of boots, put on a long flowy dress, hop on one of those horses and ride around while yelling "Yeeehaw" and singing "For purple mountain majesties: Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed His grace on thee"!
Happy Friday!


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"The Mystery of Al Capone's Vault" aired almost three decades ago this week, and at the time, it was the most watched syndicated television show in history. The charismatic host of the show that evening promised the unveiling of long-kept secrets, the unknotting of historical mystery, and priceless artifacts from where Capone once lived. That host was Geraldo Rivera.
Yes, before he had his nose broken on daytime television; before he had fat sucked from his buttocks and shot into his forehead; before he was sent packing from Afghanistan for disclosing the location of US troops; and before that viral shirtless selfie on Twitter, Rivera had long ago revealed how ill-advised some of his decisions could be.
With 30 million people watching to see mysteries solved and questions answered, the vault was opened revealing nothing—unless you consider an empty gin bottle to be of historical importance. The opening of Capone's treasures was a story as empty as the vault.
I must confess that Easter can sometimes leave us feeling like Geraldo. On Resurrection Sunday we gather with the sold-out crowd and hear the report of Jesus coming back to life. "He is risen!" we are told, and his resurrection gives "hope for ourselves, for the world, and for the future."
But is this a publicity stunt? How can one man's resurrection centuries ago make any real difference within the scope of eternity? Isn't this a metaphysical fraud used to boost Christianity's ratings? Answering similar objections, the Apostle Paul wrote, "If Christ hasn't been raised, then our faith is worthless."
Unafraid to soften his words, Paul goes on to say that without Easter, Christianity is a farce; eternal life is a promise built on overhyped lies; God's grace has been misrepresented; and those who adhere to the faith are as pitiful as Geraldo in a warzone (that line is not a quote from Paul, though he might have appreciated it).
Nonetheless, in rising from the dead, Jesus signaled that he would redeem humanity by overcoming all enemies, even death, and return the universe to wholeness. He will bring all of God's creation back to life, making "life worth the living," as the old song goes, "just because he lives." So we confess this hope: "Jesus Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!" An ambitious confession? Yes, but confession that the tomb is empty is far more than an empty promise.
Ronnie McBrayer is a syndicated columnist, pastor, and author. His newest book is "The Gospel According to Waffle House." You can read more at www.ronniemcbrayer.me.


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Fr. Lürssen Werft GmbH & Co.,
Bremen, will be the prime contractor, as it was with the first two
units of the class, responsible for
the integration of systems onboard
the third unit. Construction on the
new vessel will begin this year,
with launching in 2010. The hull
will be floated to Kroeger Werft for
installation of the superstructure
and final outfitting. Unit three will
be commissioned in 2013.
Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding of the
United Arab Emirates (UAE) has
been awarded a $100 million construction contract to build two 42-
meter steel landing craft and two 16-
meter composite landing craft for the
Bahraini Amiri Navy. All four landing craft will be delivered by 2011.
The craft will replace the Bahraini
Amiri Navy's aging 1466-class land-
ing craft utility (LCU) acquired from
the United States in 1991, and its
Loadmaster II-class LCU commissioned in 1981.
The 42-meter landing craft is a
derivative of the UAE's 64-meter
landing craft currently in operation
with the UAE Navy. The 42-meter
LCUs for the Bahraini Amiri Navy
are multimission craft capable of
supporting amphibious operations
or mine-laying and logistics missions. The craft also are capable of
transporting fuel, water and combat vehicles, and can accommodate
up to 40 troops.
The 16-meter Sea Keeper 715
landing craft are made of composite
materials. They will be built at Abu
Dhabi Shipbuilding's Mussafeh
shipyard in its new state-of-the-art
composite workshop. This composite facility opened in 2006 and
is capable of building composite
hulls up to 50 meters in length.
The Royal Moroccan Navy has
ordered four new 70-meter offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) from
Raidco Marine of France. The total
price of the program is estimated at
around $140 million.
Designed by Constructions
Mecaniques de Normandie, the
OPV 70 design is being built at
Aker Yards in Lorient, France.
Aker will deliver the vessels to
Raidco Marine for completion
before further transfer to the
Moroccan Navy.
The first unit will be transferred
to Raidco in the third quarter of
2010 and delivered in 2011. All
four units are likely to enter service
by 2013. ■
AMI International Inc., Bremerton, Wash.,
is an international consulting and naval
intelligence services company.


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text:
LEAD Technologies Inc. V1.01
Copyright 2007 Winstonfoto.com Inc.
[#Beginning of Shooting Data Section]
Nikon D700
6/17/2009 16:56:37.30
World Time: UTC-6, DST:ON
Jpeg Fine (8-bit)
Image Size: L (4256 x 2832), FX
Lens: 50mm F/1.4D
Artist: ALLEN WINSTON
Copyright: WINSTONFOTO.COM 2009
Focal Length: 50mm
Exposure Mode: Manual
Metering: Center-Weighted
Shutter Speed: 1/60s
Aperture: F/11
Exposure Comp.: 0EV
Exposure Tuning:
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200
Optimize Image:
White Balance: Flash, 0, 0
Focus Mode: AF-S
AF-Area Mode: Single
AF Fine Tune: OFF
Long Exposure NR: OFF
High ISO NR: OFF
Color Mode:
Color Space: Adobe RGB
Tone Comp.:
Hue Adjustment:
Active D-Lighting: Auto
Vignette Control: High
Auto Distortion Control:
Picture Control: [SD] STANDARD
Quick Adjust: 0
Sharpening: 3
Contrast: Active D-Lighting
Brightness: Active D-Lighting
Saturation: 0
Hue: 0
Filter Effects:
Flash Mode:
Flash Exposure Comp.:
Flash Sync Mode:
Colored Gel Filter:
Map Datum:
Image Authentication: OFF
Dust Removal: 6/17/2009 16:36:50
Image Comment:
[#End of Shooting Data Section]


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text:
Christmas is just a couple of days away and I wanted to share with you an idea for a last minute gift that is very much a gift to the bank too.
A couple of weeks ago I saw this post on Makes and Takes about hot chocolate on a stick and although I've seen it in a few parties before, I never done it myself. So I decided to give it a try and make them this year. I wanted to give something extra to the whole idea so when I saw this monogrammed mugs at my local Anthropologie I just knew that the hot chocolate sticks and the mugs were made for each other.
The recipe given by Jane from Makes and Takes is very easy to follow, so easy I made a batch right before making breakfast.
Here is the recipe as written on Makes and Takes
Hot Chocolate Blocks
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- One 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 3 cups semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped or in chips (Jane note: I actually used 1 cup 60% cacao chips, 1 cup semi-sweet chips, and 1 cup milk chocolate chips)
- One 4-oz bar unsweetened chocolate (broken or chopped into smaller pieces)
- Wooden or cookie/lollipop sticks
- 8″x8″ pan, lined with parchment paper
Heat the cream and sweetened condensed milk over medium-low heat until it starts steaming, stirring periodically. Remove from heat and add chocolate. Stir and let sit for 10 minutes, then put back on medium-low heat and stir with a whisk until chocolate is completely melted and shiny. (At this point you could add some flavoring…vanilla, hazelnut, peppermint, whatever fits your fancy!)
Pour chocolate into prepared pan and spread chocolate as level as you possibly can. Let sit overnight (12 hours or so).
Adding a note here, I used Nestle Toll house Morsels – a bag of the dark and a bag of the chocolate milk (it was a bit over 3 cups); and also used the same brand for chocolate chunks- dark instead of the unsweetened bar.
Jane also used homemade marshmallows and I just went with the store bought ones. 🙂
I followed the recipe and waited 12 hours before I cut the chocolate fudge into squares.
Here is how they looked:
Once they were bagged and tied with a fabric ( I wanted them to have a rustic feel to it so I used fabric I had from the Sock Monkey baby shower instead of ribbon) I placed 2 of them inside the mugs and created a card with directions for the chocolate – used the text from Make and Takes (click here to download the cards with directions) but added a bit of Clemens to it 🙂
The result was one sweet gift.
I have to say I loved making it, and the best thing is that I was able to give a little something to the people we care without going over budget.
Gotta love that!!
Here is the result:
So what do you think?
And in case you still have people on your list you can put this together in less than 24 hrs.
I used mugs from Anthro because it was convenient but your local Dollar Tree can be just as good. What matters here is the thought and the effort you put into it.
A sweet idea, just my way of wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas!
For the full post on how to make the Hot Chocolate on a stick visit Jane's blog Makes and Takes


text:
The Spiritwolf created Apparently not capable of love a while ago for a Machinima.com contest. The movie was created by capturing still images from Model Viewer. Then, Spiritwolf animated the images in Flash. Add music from an unknown artist, and this music video is created. Spiritwolf warns in his Myndflame page that this video isn't premiere resolution, but I actually didn't find the quality bothersome at all.
I wasn't sure at first how I would feel about the animation style. Ultimately, I'm glad I took the risk. While I wouldn't want to see this animation style become a mainstay of production, I think it works very well for a one-off music video. The images provide a sort of artistic feel, and coupled with the kind of angsty lyrics to the song, gives the whole piece an overall funky kind of groove. Everything's fun to look at, and it has a kind of awesome, silly feel to it.
If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.
Previously on Moviewatch ...


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The worlds most beloved and popular musical, Les Misérables, will finally appear on the Utah Shakespeare Festival stage. Having been produced in 42 countries, collected hundreds of awards and breathless reviews, Les Miz is still going strong after more than 25 years. Its taken a decade of planning, but now Utahs well-regarded Shakespearean festival will stage this 20th century masterpiece.
To see Les Miz in Cedar City, a days drive away on divided highways, is just too good to be true. And then there are the other five productions, all playing in repertory.
The two Shakespearean offerings balance high humor with dark vengeance. The Merry Wives of Windsor is a comedic romp. If you havent seen it, the title characters play tricks on their husbands and upon Sir John Falstaff, that oversized, mischief-making life force.
Tradition has it that none other than Queen Elizabeth I put out a challenge for a play featuring Falstaff in love. The result, if true, is Merry Wives, and it lives up to its reputation as an oddball, off-center romantic comedy.
Titus Andronicus may be Shakespeares bloodiest tragedy. The Roman general of the title is pushed by events toward madness and unspeakable inhumanity. Like Thomas Kyds The Spanish Tragedy, Titus Andronicus was enormously popular in its time, partly because of the cutthroat competition at its dark heart and its extreme violence.
Some scholars have argued that Titus is not a great play, but, by golly, it can be great theater. Veteran Shakespearean actor and director Henry Woronicz directs with Equity actor Dan Kremer as Titus.
Friedrich Schillers Mary Stuart presents the quintessential battle of the queens. Elizabeth I will not brook Mary Queen of Scots, and a mighty power struggle ensues. The festival will present a new version by Peter Oswald based on Schillers masterwork. Performed in period dress, the new version will look like Elizabethan drama, but probably feel more like a modern-day thriller.
Adapted from Moliéres classic French farce, a new version of Scapin by Bill Irwin and Mark ODonnell may be both familiar and fresh. The famous clown and comic writer have kept all the French stepping stones of the original and tossed in a few ripe banana peels.
Scapin is a cunning servant surrounded by his dim and often frustrated betters. David Ivers, co-artistic director at USF, is one of the best comedic actors around. Expect to be won over by some fresh topical humor, quirky characters in increasingly tight circumstances, and even some improvisation.
This seasons contemporary play on the roster is To Kill a Mockingbird. Based on Harper Lees novel, the play, adapted by Christopher Sergel, has been produced all over the country.
Set in the South during the Great Depression, Mockingbird is a quintessential American drama about racism, intolerance and the dark and light of community living. Atticus Finch will be played by Martin Kildare.
Anticipating a huge demand for Les Misérables, the festival has wisely scheduled an extended run. The musical will open June 27 and run through Oct. 19. Based on the Victor Hugo novel, its an epic saga of war and peace, love and sacrifice. Centering on Jean Valjean, the story portrays the continuous human struggle to live uprightly and seek justice.
Valjean will always be a contemporary character because when faced with dilemmas, he summons his conscience and probes his true identity for the answer.
In one of the works most moving songs, Valjean poses the problem he faces and repeatedly asks: Who am I? For the 19th century, Valjean was the quintessential Everyman of the age. Because of Les Miz, he has become the Everyman of our era.
A veteran of American musical theater, J. Michael Bailey, will sing the lead role. Soprano Melinda Pfundstein will portray Fantine and baritone Brian Vaughn will bring Inspector Javert to life.
To see this musical under the banner of USF with its 51-year commitment to excellence will be worth the drive to southern Utah.
Judith Reynolds is a Durango writer, artist and critic. Reach her at email@example.com.


text:
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