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Difference between revisions of "South Carolina"
(→South Carolina Department of Archives and History [http://scdah.sc.gov/])
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== Public Service Commission of South Carolina [http://www.psc.sc.gov/default.asp]==
== Public Service Commission of South Carolina [http://www.psc.sc.gov/default.asp]==
.Directory of Regulated Utilities
[http://dms.psc.sc.gov// ] of .<br >
[http://.psc.sc.gov/home/index.cfm ] by industry .
== South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services [http://www.dhhs.state.sc.us] ==
== South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services [http://www.dhhs.state.sc.us] ==
Revision as of 09:10, 21 January 2013
South Carolina State Agency Databases
This is an annotated list of databases produced by South Carolina State Agencies listed by producing agency.
If you are a registered user of this wiki, feel free to add a database to this list or fix broken links. If you're not a registered user, or are not comfortable editing wikis, you may also send an e-mail to Ed Sperr, the documents specialist for this page at esperr AT sgu DOT edu
Return to main page
- 1 South Carolina State Library [1]
- 2 Department of Health and Environmental Control [2]
- 3 South Carolina Legislature Online [3]
- 4 South Carolina Department of Archives and History [4]
- 5 South Carolina Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging [5]
- 6 South Carolina Secretary of State [7]
- 7 South Carolina Department of Corrections [12]
- 8 South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services [14]
- 9 South Carolina SLED [17]
- 10 South Carolina Arts Commission [19]
- 11 Public Service Commission of South Carolina [21]
- 12 South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services [22]
- 13 South Carolina Department of Education [25]
South Carolina State Library [1]
The South Carolina State Library is the official state depository of all state publications. In 2007 the collection of print, map, electronic, and other media format publications numbered more than 90,000. Publications in electronic format (SCEdocs) have been added to the library servers since 2005. In 2011 the Library began digitizing the collection of print state documents.
- SCLENDS is the catalog for the State Library and other county public library system holdings. To limit a search to the State Library, select that Library. Records for items that are state documents will include a link to the electronic format (Many are "scedocs" and are saved to library servers.) and number of copies available for loan.
- South Carolina Foundations Directory The Directory contains information on active private foundations, community foundations, and grant-making public charities located within the state of South Carolina or registered in South Carolina, AND that also give in South Carolina. Most entries were compiled from information found on 2006 Internal Revenue Service tax returns. Each private foundation is required to file a form 990-PF annually. This form includes information on the foundation's income, assets, expenses, grants or contributions paid, grants approved for future payment, officers or trustees, address, and telephone number. The directory is compiled by a Library staff member and is available in pdf or paper ($15.00).
Department of Health and Environmental Control [2]
- South Carolina Death Indexes 1915-1956 Use LizardTech DjVu to view scanned records (name, date, age, sex and race) for the years above. More current records are digital.
- SCANDHEC South Carolina Community Assessment Network is an interactive data retrieval system for community assessment, planning and health practices. Users can create tables, charts, and maps according to their interests and specifications at the DHEC Region, County, or Zip-Code level. Birth Certificate Data, Death Certificate Data, and demographics were the first data sets available on the SCAN system. Other available data sets include PRAMS (Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System), Pregnancy data, Fetal Death data, Mother's Health and Lifestyle data, Infant and Child Health data, Infant Mortality data, Childhood Lead Surveillance, Cancer Incidence and Mortality data from the SC Central Cancer Registry (SCCCR)and Live Birth Infant Death Cohort data. Future modules will include a Community Profile Module. Each data set can be used to create a table or map. FAQ's, and help pages are included.
- Restaurant Inspection Scores Search by restaurant name or street name in a city to find current regular (unannounced) or followup inspection scores.
- Health Facilities by County
- GIS Interactive Map Services generates maps for shelters, facilities and evacuation routes, and for certain health conditions (cancer, teen pregnancy, death).
South Carolina Legislature Online [3]
Legislature Home has a link to the SC Legislature "Quick Search", which enables full-text searching not only of the resources below, but the budget, Constitution and House and Senate Journals as well .There is also a Legislator finding tool and voting history.
Code of Laws of South Carolina can be searched by text or by Chapter.
Code of Regulations of South Carolina can be searched by text or by Chapter.
Search Legislation Enables full-text searching on all bills (1991-2013), bill titles, history and text of Acts (1980-1990), and bill titles and history (1975-1979)
South Carolina Department of Archives and History [4]
Online Records Index Database of records from SC Archives holdings indexed by topics, including: Will Transcripts (1782-1855); Records of Confederate Veterans (1909-1973); Plats for State Land Grants (1784-1868); Legislative Papers (1782-1866); Criminal Court Records (1769-1891); School Insurance Photographs (1935-1952); and National Register Properties.
SCArchCat Online catalog that allows searching and browsing of information about the holdings of the SC Archives, including non-current state, county, and municipal records, as well as copies of records relating to South Carolina government and history from other government and private sources.
Digital Collections Selected portions of SC Archives holdings digitized for online access via the Online Records Index, including Confederate Pension Applications (1919-1938); School Insurance Photographs (1935-1952); Grand Jury Presentments to the General Assembly (1783-1877); Colonial Plats; National Register of Historic Places; Will Transcripts (1782-1855); and Militia Enrollments of 1869.
ArchSite is an online Geographic Information System (GIS) that is focused on documenting cultural resources and archeological surveys. It currently includes the following data layers: National Register properties, Archaeological sites, Buildings and structures evaluated for National Register eligibility (surveyed after 1990), Areas surveyed for cultural resources (primarily since November 1998), County-wide historic architectural survey data for 13 counties and Civil War earthworks thematic survey data. Public viewers will have access to National Register listings, historic property survey information, and non-locational archaeology information.
The National Register of Historic Places - Search Records by County
South Carolina Lieutenant Governor's Office on Aging [5]
SC Office on Aging connects seniors with available services and providers.
SC Access [6] is a web-based service directory for seniors and people with disabilities. Includes more than 11,000 nonprofit, government, for-profit, and unicorporated agency listings in 18 categories. Entries contain uniform information without advertising. The website has many other links to useful information, most with larger text and icons for easy readability.
South Carolina Secretary of State [7]
SC Business One Stop [8] allows all types of businesses to file for licensing in South Carolina. They can set up a secure file, edit and submit applications, and make payments across agencies. The site includes many pages of instructions and links.
Business Filings [9] A Searchable database of basic filing information about any entity filed with the office. Registered agents' names and addresses, dates of business filings and types of filings are available.
Uniform Commercial Code Filings[10] Contains information on debtor and secured party names and UCC1 or UCC3 number searching. Names and addresses, dates of filings and types of filings are listed. Fee based.
South Carolina Charities [11] A searchable database of information on charitable organizations which are registered with the Secretary of State under South Carolina's Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act. Available information includes organization name, address, and a financial summary.
South Carolina Department of Corrections [12]
Inmate Search [13] The search displays photographs and public information on inmates currently sentenced to and incarcerated in South Carolina prisons.
South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services [14]
PPP has several databases on released or at large criminals.
Most Wanted [15] is a listing with photographs of the most wanted, absconded criminals.
Active Offender [16] search is for offenders currently on parole or probation and are under supervision by the agency.
South Carolina SLED [17]
SLED conducts criminal investigations for the state.
Sexual Offender Registry [18] includes cross references to aliases.
South Carolina Arts Commission [19]
The Arts Commission promotes arts and artists in the state through concerts, grants and assistance to artists, and grants to program providers.
Approved Artist Roster [20] is a database of currently registered artists. The search page gives many categories from which to select artists and entries include statements by the artists and contact information. Most have photos and links to webpages. The database replaces a print directory of approved artists.
Public Service Commission of South Carolina [21]
Directory of Regulated Utilities A series of HTML lists of the utility companies that are regulated by the PSC
Docket management system offers comprehensive searching of dockets, orders, hearings and other PSC materials.
eTariff system enables searching by industry and organization.
South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services [22]
Health and Human Services manages the Medicaid program for South Carolina.
Medicaid Statistics by County [23] The database contains pdf documents for each county and statewide covering enrollment, expenditures, Medicaid healthcare providers, and updates on the state's Medicaid reform effort. The page indicates that data will be updated on a semi-annual basis. The data currently is from a May, 2009 update.
Medicaid Provider Database [24]. Choose a county (drop down box) AND a service (drop list of 17 services) to get a neat listing of providers. Entries include name, service, address and phone number. The database replaces a print provider list.
South Carolina Department of Education [25]
The State Department of Education is responsible for K-12 public education in the state.
School Directory[26] gives information on locating schools of all levels in a city, district, or county. The "LookUp Tool" allows one to choose a district and then decide on the type of information desired, such as school address, district information, or district staff. There are also links for a printable directory in pdf, for lists of private schools and for homeschool organizations, and educational organizations.
School Report Card Portal[27]Not really a database, but a page linking to pages for each school in each district. The report cards are annual accountability reports of the challenge of having student achievement ranked in the top half of schools nationally. The searchable database of reports is available through the Education Oversight Committee.
School Report Cards Database[28] - Searchable by district, type of school, number of students, poverty index, performance factors, expenditure factors and teacher characteristics.


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LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Times Publisher Jeffrey M. Johnson was forced out Thursday, a month after he defied parent company Tribune Co.'s demand for what he considered potentially damaging staff cuts.
He is being succeeded by David D. Hiller, who has been publisher of the Chicago Tribune, the Tribune Co. said in a statement.
"Jeff and I agreed that this change is best at this time because Tribune and Times executives need to be aligned on how to shape our future," said Scott Smith, Tribune Publishing president. "We thank Jeff for his leadership of important advances at the Times and his significant contributions during his Tribune career."
Neither Tribune spokesman Gary Weitman nor Times spokesman David Garcia immediately returned a phone call seeking comment.
In a Web-posted story, the newspaper reported that Tribune had asked Johnson to resign and that Hiller was expected to ask Times Editor Dean Baquet to stay, despite the editor's own protests against further job cuts by the newspaper's Chicago-based parent corporation.
Times editorial staff had rallied behind Johnson and Baquet and sent a letter supporting them to Tribune executives.
Late last month, Tribune announced it would study the possible sale or breakup of the corporation, which owns the Chicago Tribune, KTLA-TV Channel 5, baseball's Chicago Cubs and other TV stations and newspapers.
The Tribune board is expected to decide on a course by year's end. Chief Executive Dennis FitzSimons has said plans would not include selling the Times.
Tribune has called for cuts at all its newspapers, which include The (Baltimore) Sun, Orlando Sentinel and Newsday. The Times, the nation's fourth-largest paper by circulation, has already cut 200 editorial positions during the past five years.
Johnson seemed to soften his stance regarding cuts after meeting with Smith before Tribune's Sept. 21 board meeting. In a memo sent to staffers, Johnson emphasized cooperation and shared goals between the newspaper and its owner.
Like many old media companies, Tribune has been struggling with declining advertising and circulation as readers age and younger consumers turn to the Web for news. Meanwhile, shareholders have been clamoring for the results that were promised when the company bought Times Mirror in 2000 for about $8 billion.
While the Chicago Tribune is the namesake paper of the Tribune media empire, the Times is its single largest asset, accounting for nearly 20 percent of its 2005 revenue of $5.6 billion, according to sources cited by the Times.
Johnson was executive vice president and general manager of the Times when he took over as publisher June 1, 2005. He replaced John Puerner, who along with Johnson joined the paper as part of a management shake-up shortly after Tribune bought Times Mirror Co.
Before joining the Times, Johnson served as president and chief executive officer of Landoll Inc., a former Tribune Education company. He joined Tribune in 1984 and has held positions at the Chicago Tribune and Orlando Sentinel.
© 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

subset: commoncrawl


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Set up more checklists in the screen builder or compare the expert models below...
This shows the total count of Earnings Estimate Upgrades from brokers/analysts in the last month. It should be contrasted to EPS Downgrades.
While broker recommendations in and of themselves do not appear to have much (any?) signal given the inherent positive bias in them, changes in a) forecasts and, to a lesser extent, recommendation have been shown by academic research to be much more meaningful.
This shows the total count of Earnings Estimate Upgrades (for FY2) by brokers/analysts in the last month. It should be contrasted with EPS Downgrades.
The Market Cap is a measure of a company's size - or specifically its total equity valuation. It is calculated by multiplying the current Share Price by the current number of Shares Outstanding. It is stated in Pounds Sterling.
Market Capitalisation only takes into account the value of the company's shares (equity), it ignores the amount of debt a company may have taken on and therefore isn't the best indicator of the company's size. The Enterprise Value adds the net debt to the Market Cap and is a better indicator of the minimum amount that an acquiring company may have to pay to buy the firm outright.
This shows the number of analysts that are actively covering the company, i.e. they are currently providing a forecast for the next year and contributing to the next year consensus estimate.
You can read more about the Consensus Estimate here.


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The Beta 58A from Shure maintains a true supercardioid pattern throughout its frequency range. The Beta 58A mic has a shaped frequency response that is ideal for close-up vocals. The superb performance of this Shure microphone is not affected by rough handling because of its rugged construction, proven shock mount system, and hardened steel mesh grille.
Shure Beta 58A Dynamic Vocal Microphone
The Shure Beta 58A Dynamic Vocal Microphone is a high-output supercardioid dynamic vocal microphone designed for professional sound reinforcement and project studio recording. The Beta 58A has become a leading choice among vocalists and touring professionals worldwide.


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That's a word, folks. I like this word, "violaceous." It sounds a bit like "bodacious," which can either mean "bold and audacious" or a kind of iris. So with this word: it can mean "a violet color," or violets.
In the spirit of a violet color, then, these little delights from near the Marys River in Oregon are violaceous.
One can also make an argument for "audacious," considering how late in the season they were blooming.
A lot of plants around here are audacious. The abundance of water makes the buggers all sorts of bold. Bodacious they are – they'll colonize just about anything. I've seen the most delicate-looking plants poking out of the most unlikely places.
Not that right alongside a river is an unlikely place. But vigorously blooming in October, that's a little more on the bodacious side. I like the risk-takers at the beginning and end of the season. I'm hoping it wasn't a more timid species deceived by the fine weather.
I didn't try these, but they look vaguely like the flowers we used to pluck as kids and slurp sweet little slugs of nectar out of. It would pool at the base of the long flower. And it was extremely yummy. But these days, I have a horror of destroying flowers just to get a sip of nectar, and I don't know if these were edible anyway. They might be. Many things up here are fairly kind.
There are many bodacious and violaceous flowers here in the Pacific Northwest. I hope to make the acquaintance of them all.


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What Is Bee Pollen and Why Is It Good for Me?
20% complete protein
Amino Acids
Vitamins A & C, as well as B vitamins
Essential minerals, including iron, magnesium, and zinc
Taste the Flora of the Spanish Countryside
"I absolutely love this product. I am obsessed. I sprinkle it on anything I can think of from Greek yogurt, roasted veggies, to on top of a slice of bread with peanut butter. I love the taste and am 100% happy with it!!" – Bernadette
Support the Bees!
Where Have All the Bee Products Gone?
2 – "Sub-lethal exposure to neonicotinoids impaired honey bees winterization before proceeding to colony collapse disorder." Chensheng LU, Kenneth M. WARCHOL, Richard A. CALLAHAN; Bulletin of Insectology 67, March 27, 2014.
Bee Pollen
Sunfood's "Natural Solutions" does not promote or suggest natural cures, natural healing or natural remedies for any disease, disorder or ailment thereof. This information should be treated as educational material gathered and discovered from various studies, clinical trials and customer reviews. It is designed to encourage healthy lifestyles, and independent conclusions in regards to natural products and alternative health choices. It is best to consult with your healthcare practitioner before attempting any form of natural cure, natural healing or natural remedy to any health issues.


text: Image 2 of 20 Previous Next Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 - free download As a free download, Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 provides can provide cost-effective server virtualization. This gallery's 20 images show you how to download and configure Virtual Server 2005 R2.In this The Right Tool for the Job? post, Joshua Hoskins explains how his company uses Microsoft Virtual Server R2 to effectively and diplomatically balance his users' desire for "their own servers", with the IT department's needs to consolidate server hardware.Virtual Server 2005 R2 is available as a free download from Microsoft. You can access the Virtual Server 2005 Web site at:http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/virtualserver/default.mspxSubmitted by Brien Posey 32-bit and 64-bit versions There are both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Virtual Server. You must select the version that matches the underlying Windows operating system. Four virtual servers for every one physical server Each physical Windows 2003 R2 Server is licensed to run up to four virtual server instances. No product key Virtual Server truly is free. You don't even have to enter a product key! Optional components Although Virtual Server is easy to use, there are a number of optional components that you can install. Enabling Web component If you want to use the Web component, you must make note of the port that will be used. You must also make a decision regarding authentication. Windows Firewall exceptions The installer can automatically create the necessary exception rules for the Windows firewall. Web interface Virtual Server is managed through a Web interface. Create a new virtual server You can use the Web interface to create a new virtual server. Configuring a virtual server's settings After creating a new virtual machine, you will see a summary of it's settings. Enabling remote control You must enable Virtual Machine remote control before you can install an operating system onto your virtual server. Remove control This is what a remote control session looks like. Navigating with the ALT key When you click on the virtual server, it takes control of your mouse and keyboard. The only way to regain control outside of the virtual server is to use your right ALT key. figure 14.jpg The Virtual Server interface contains a server wide status screen. This screen shows you which virtual servers are running, how long they have been running for, the current CPU consumption level, and events related to virtual servers. CPU resource allocation Virtual Server allows you to reserve CPU resources on a per virtual server basis. You can also set limits to prevent a virtual server from consuming an excessive amount of CPU time. Managing virutal drives The management console allows you to view the status of virtual hard drives and compact the drives if necessary. Storage management If disk space becomes a problem, you can create dynamically expanding virtual hard drives. You also have the option of creating a virtual floppy disk. Built-in DHCP Virtual Server has a built in virtual DHCP server that can be used to automatically assign IP addresses to your virtual servers. External resource access Virtual servers can be configured to use your server's primary network interface to gain access to external resources. Management console The management console can display the physical computer's hardware specifications. These specs should be treated with caution though. In this screen capture, my server's memory is being reported incorrectly. 32-bit and 64-bit versions There are both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Virtual Server. You must select the version that matches the underlying Windows operating system. Related Topics: Data Centers Hardware Virtualization Networking Storage Cloud Email Print Reddit Instagram


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After multiple emails from you, my kind and thoughtful readers, wondering where in the heck I have been – I have finally bit the bullet and entered the blogging world again. I've wanted to give you all an update for a little while now but after so long, I felt the heavy weight of thinking I had to tell you everything, which would take forever and was way too much to tackle. So I did what many of us do when we don't want to deal with something – I ignored it.
But, enough is enough! Let's start fresh! Here is what I've been doing instead of click, click, clicking away at my computer:
Hanging Out at the Pool with My Little Fish
Spending Time with Cousins and Friends
Seeing If I Like to Bike (and I do)
Starting Preschool
Running Back and Forth to the Hospital While Jason Spent 6 Weeks Recovering From Surgery
There. That's been my life. And it hasn't had time for blogging or browsing or facebook or following. Hey, I love Pinterest as much as the next girl but sometimes we have to put the computer away and live life, don't you think? However, now that the fall chill is setting in, I'm ready to pay attention to you and to my work a little more.
That's enough for today. I hear an awesome 3-year-old riding his plasma car around the kitchen calling, "Mom! Yo-de-lay-he-hoo!"
Way better than blogging.
Welcome back.


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So, how far have you guys gotten in this truly sadistic descent into madness? Anyone beat it yet?
Furthest I've gone is level 13 with a Rock heart Transmuter.
Also, since it's a tower, shouldn't all the stairs go up instead of down?
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests


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Trekkin' and Wreckin'
ATTN Parents: Today's post may not be appropriate for junior cadets.
The saga of the bakeshop Wrecksurprise continues...
Captain's Log, accidental:
Much has happened on our journey so far.
We cleared out some Cling-ons in orbit around Uranus...
...but the resulting explosion caused a gas giant to rip through the fabric of space time.
Even worse, now the engine room smells like cabbage. Ick.
We made contact with a new species on the outer reaches of the gamma quadrant. We had some initial trouble communicating...
...so I had sex with it, just to be safe.
Then I had to shoot it with a harpoon.
But I think we made some real progress there, all the same.
A transporter malfunction resulted in our first casualty:
I guess you could say he croaked. Haha!
And on a personal note, this crew has NO sense of humor during funerals. Seriously.
Bunch of killjoys, all of 'em.
Oh, and we lost another member of security:
We're not sure which one, though, since those red shirts never seem to last more than a few days.
In other news, there was a bit of a faux pas at our dinner with the Tellarian ambassador. It seems the new chef considers himself something of a practical joker:
Needless to say, the ambassador was not amused.
Anyway, long story short, we're now at war with Tellar Prime. Oopsie.
So, I guess you could say it's been an interesting week so far. Now we're on our way to Vulcan to assist with their first annual Knock-Knock Joke Competition. I can't wait to give them a hand!
"Knock knock."
"I do not understand."
"Just say 'who's there.'"
"But I already know your identity."
"Yes, but it's for the joke."
"This is a joke?"
"You better believe it, brother."
"Knock knock."
"This is illogical."
"Knock knock."
" ... "
"Knock knock."
"Very well. Who is there?"
"The Terran fruit or the pigment?"
"It doesn't matter. Either one."
"Then I choose Earth's pithy citrus."
"...You know what? NEVER MIND."
"I do not 'get it.'"
Thanks to Shannon K., Jenny C., Leila A., Lindy D., Dawn E., Erin, Jed R., and again to Sharyn for the continued inspiration. Happy Towel Day, guys! May your petunias live long and prosper!


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Here you will easily find the new Miniplay categories. We hope you'll enjoy them ;)
Haven't you seen Sky: Children of the Light Walkthrough Chapter 4 Valley of Triumph from Top Games Walkthrough yet? Have fun with this video and a lot more of them from your favourite gamers here at Miniplay!


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We decorated this clay pot in 1998 when he was two years old. The idea came when we were finger painting on the patio…and that's the paint we used fourteen years ago on an 8" pot. We made two more for his grandmother and great-grandmother and added cheery flowers for their Mother's Day gifts.
It's a treasured memento for me today – thought I'd pass this simple idea along.


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Sorry for not updating in a while....I've been a little busy with life.
I became pregnant with my little Nugget in October 2012, our last full month in Hawaii. We sold our house in 'Ewa Beach the month prior and had been renting a house in Kailua for the remaining almost three months of our time in Hawaii.
As my previous post mentions, we had just received orders to return to Charleston, SC for Nick's shore duty and couldn't have been more thrilled. We had been hoping everything would time out that way. I had already been looking into a birth center in Charleston just in case.
Most of our close family and several friends were aware that I was pregnant but on Christmas day 2012, the first day of my second trimester, we excitedly made the pregnancy announcement online. (And might I just add that I don't know who was blushing more when I sat on Santa's lap- me or Santa!)
One day maybe I'll write a birth story post that you may or may not choose to read- I won't get into that in this post.
To summarize, I had a smooth pregnancy for the most part and delivered Nugget at Charleston Birth Place in North Charleston, SC on July 15, 2013 at 3:27am.
Since our Nugget came along, our lives have completely changed, as they often do when you add children to the mix. Our little family is awesome and fun. Maggie and Lili love having a big backyard here in Charleston with lots of bushes and grass (something we were severely lacking on our dry side of the island in 'Ewa Beach, HI) to run and play and dig in. Nugget just turned one and gets into everything.
We made some great friends here through an infant massage class when Nugget was only two months old and have really having friends who have children close in age so that we have someone to drink, er, play with.
I've been able to hang out with friends that I met living here last time and have met new ones through swim class and yoga. Because I stayed in touch with the casting director of Army Wives, I was even able to work on its final season as an extra. I was a waitress once or twice (pre-bump in a very nearly belly-revealing shirt) and an Army wife (after the bump started showing).
We were only supposed to be stationed in Charleston for two years. We applied a while back to get an extension and were granted one! Our new plan was to leave in April 2015. As this summer has been slipping away it's been sad to think about leaving before summer next year.
Of course it's hot and can be miserable in the summer but the summer has the Charleston Farmers Market at Marion Square on Saturdays and Jeni's Ice Cream on King St afterwards to cool down. And days spent in the Aquarium with our membership looking at fishies and teaching my Nugget to sign "fish" (which she just did last week for the first time!). And Gose beer by local brewery Westbrook, which is now my absolutest favoritest beer in all the land and it is a summer beer and only available locally and I wasn't sure my supply would last all of winter AND still have leftovers to make it through next summer.
I couldn't be happier. Another summer. Nugget will be able to celebrate her birthday here. She'll be able to dance and maybe sing and do whatever two-year-olds do when they hear music at the Farmers Market next summer. She'll be able to go the Riverdogs (local minor league baseball team) games again. We can continue her swim classes for longer. She's been taking them since she was 4 months old and I really want her to be comfortable with water and, of course, the beach. She is bikini baby after all.
I hope to be better about updating this occasionally. Especially because I see that people sometimes visit this page. Who are you people who visit my page still? Hello! Thank you for visiting my page! That's nice of you.
Also, I'm way more active on Twitter and Instagram. Visit me there sometimes. Talk soon!


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Sioux Falls Dr. Wendell Hoffman Honored for Childhood Immunizations
PIERRE - A Sioux Falls doctor has been recognized for his work in support of childhood immunizations in South Dakota.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention honored Dr. Wendell Hoffman with a Childhood Immunization Champion award.
State Health Secretary Doneen Hollingsworth says Hoffman has become the leading authority on immunization in South Dakota during his 27-year medical career. She says Hoffman is the South Dakota State Medical Association's spokesman on childhood immunizations and has testified before the Legislature about the importance of maintaining state laws on immunization.
Hoffman is patient safety officer for Sanford Health.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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This Spirit Fitness is a folding treadmill that has a shipping weight of 306 pounds. It requires an area of 80 x 35 inches to set up. The maximum specified user weight for this machine is 425 lbs.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this product! Please focus on the product performance and quality. Your review will be posted on Consumer Reports for other subscribers to view. Please read our Privacy Policy and User Agreement for more information about the review process. If you'd like to report a safety problem with your product, please fill out this form.


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Computex: The Year of the Hybrid
Hybrid PCs, machines that can transform from a traditional clamshell notebook into a tablet, aren't a new idea but the concept seems to be gaining a lot of traction, as evidenced by dozens of examples on display at this year's Computex show.
Microsoft introduced its "Tablet PC" concept a decade ago, and for years, I carried a convertible notebook. Indeed, companies like Lenovo and Fujitsu have been making and selling such machines all along, through primarily in niche markets. The iPad changed all that of course, making tablets into a real consumer product for the first time.
Bluetooth keyboards became the standard way to connect a keyboard to an iPad, and such keyboards are available for Android tablets, as well. In some respects, though, I think credit for the renewed push for hybrid designs goes to machines like the Asus Transformer Pad, which added a lightweight keyboard dock that made the Android tablet look just like a typical clamshell notebook.
At Computex, Asus showed the latest version of that product, with a 10.1-inch display and a 1280x800 resolution.
It also showed an upgraded model, called the Transformer Pad Infinity, which increases the screen resolution to 1920x1080. Both run Ice Cream Sandwich and an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor. They looked quite good, and other Android tablets with similar keyboard solutions have also been shown.
The success of these machines, combined with Intel's push for Ultrabooks and for thinner parts in general, and Microsoft's renewed emphasis on touch capabilities in Windows 8, has led many companies to develop the convertible designs for Windows that were on the show floor. There were a variety of choices on the Computex show floor, and the multiple designs showed some very innovative thinking.
A number took the keyboard dock concept and applied it to Windows machines, with a variety of sizes and processors, sometimes with some interesting twists.
Not surprisingly, Asus was there with its Transformer Book, with Intel Core processors and promised 11.6-, 13-, and 14-inch displays.
But for more portability, Asus also showed off its Tablet 810, with an 11.6-inch 1366x768 display, running an Intel Atom processor (the upcoming Clover Trail version) and 2GB of memory. The company said it should weigh about 700 grams.
Similarly, Gigabyte also showed an Atom-based tablet with a docking station
Samsung, whose Slate line was given to attendees of Microsoft's Build conference, primarily displayed a version with a Bluetooth keyboard plus digitizer support to the tablet, so you can use a pen as well. The Series 7 Slate PC, running the Intel Core processors, is said to weigh 860 grams.
Samsung also showed a prototype with a keyboard dock.
Acer showed its Iconia W510 with a keyboard dock, as well as model with a cradle that acts as a stand and charger.
It also has a smaller version based on AMD's C-series that would presumably be less expensive.
Similarly, AMD was showing a Compal 11-inch hybrid design in its book.
Several models took an approach different from the removable keyboard design. They start with a basic laptop design but allow the screen to move in some way to convert it to a tablet.
Gigabyte was showing a 10.1-inch Atom-based notebook with a more traditional swivel hinge that rotates so the screen can lie flat like a tablet. This made it look more like the traditional Tablet PCs I've used in the past from companies like Lenovo and Fujitsu.
The more interesting designs, though, took the concept in new directions.
At CES, Lenovo showed an interesting concept called Yoga, in which the hinge rotates completely around so that the keyboard ends up on the bottom of the screen, making the top a tablet. It sounds unusual but it allows for different configurations, such as using the keyboard to act as stand for the tablet.
At the show, Asus introduced a concept it called Taichi, which looks like a standard notebook except that the top cover actually contains another display, so you can use it as a tablet when it is closed. You can run separate applications on the main and cover display. This will supposedly come in both 11.6- and 13.3-inch versions. It looks very cool, though I'm not sure how often I'd really want to use both screens at the same time.
Another approach is the "slider," where you start with a typical notebook design, lay the screen flat, and then slide the screen over the keyboard. MSI displayed such a design, called the Slider S20.
Toshiba showed a similar idea at the Intel keynote earlier in the week.
Intel also had a prototype from ODM Foxconn with an unusual hinge that rotates so the screen can lie flat as a cover or turn over to be used as a tablet.
Overall, I was incredibly impressed by the number of different designs and by the innovations many of the companies were taking to offer thin notebooks that could double as a tablet. It's likely that not all of these designs will actually ship, but many will, and I'm looking forward to seeing the final products and testing how they really work over a period of time. I stopped carrying a tablet PC around the time the iPad came out, but I may have to rethink that.


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Beth Kinsella dished out 40 assists and helped Harvard hit .369 as a team against Holy Cross (Gil Talbot).
Head Coach Jennifer Weiss Postgame Comments
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Holy Cross received a harsh welcome from the Harvard women's volleyball team, as the Crimson silenced the Crusaders, 3-0, Friday night in the second game of the 2011 Harvard Invitational. The win is Harvard's second over Holy Cross this season and moves the Crimson to 6-2 on the year. Both Harvard wins were by 3-0 scores over the Crusaders, who slip to 3-9 with the loss.
Holy Cross managed to knot the score at 4-4 early in the first set but strong hitting from the Crimson allowed the hosts to grab a comfortable 14-8 lead, forcing a timeout by the visitors. A 7-3 run by the hosts put Harvard up 21-11 in the first frame and rookie Kristen Casey ripped six consecutive serves to boost the Crimson to a dominating 25-12 opening set win. The hosts hit an impressive .542 for the frame, committing just one attack error to go along with 14 kills.
While the second set stayed close up through the midpoint of the stanza, it looked as though Harvard would run away with the set when an Erin Cooney kill gave the Crimson a four-point cushion at 21-17. The Crusaders dug deep and wrestled the next four points from the Crimson to knot the score at 21-21 and force a home timeout. The breather proved useful for Harvard as a 4-1 run to end the set put the hosts up 2-0 in the match.
An early 8-8 score in the third saw Holy Cross put together a string of solid attacks, but the Harvard offensive was too much as the Crimson erupted out to a 19-11 edge. At 21-15, kills by Casey, Teresa Skelly, Taylor Docter and Cooney finished off the match in style as the hosts took the third, 25-17, and the match, 3-0. Harvard totaled a match-high 19 kills and hit .372 as a team in the final frame.
Casey and Cooney led the Crimson with 11 kills apiece while Cooney made just one attack error and hit .476 for the match. Skelly wasn't far behind with eight kills and a .462 hitting percentage, and Docter finished the night with seven kills and a team-high 13 digs. Beth Kinsella was masterful at the net, compiling 40 assists while adding two block assists in the win.
Harvard is back in action in Day 2 of the Harvard Invitational Saturday when it takes on Navy at 1 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. showdown with local foe Northeastern.


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The video will show you how to transfer data from your old iOS phone to your new phone (using G6 as an example) using LG Mobile Switch. The method shown is wired, via USB OTG (On-The-Go) . Other available data transfer guides/videos: Android Device to LG (Wired) Android Device to LG (...
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WASHINGTON — U.S. housing starts rose less than expected in August amid a sharp slowdown in the multifamily sector, but a surge in permits for single-family homes pointed to sustained strengthen in the housing market recovery.
The Commerce Department said on Wednesday housing starts increased 0.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 891,000 units. July's starts were revised down to show a 883,000-unit pace instead of the previously reported 896,000 units.
Economists polled by Reuters had expected groundbreaking to rise to a 917,000-unit rate last month.
Starts for multi-family homes tumbled 11.1% to a 263,000-unit rate. Groundbreaking for single-family homes, the largest segment of the market, increased 7.0% to a 628,000-unit pace, the highest since February.
The drop in multifamily starts could be the result of a spike in mortgage rates, which might be making developers cautious about taking on new projects.
Higher mortgage rates have slowed the pace of home sales, but demand for accommodation as household formation continues to recover from multi-decade lows is expected to keep residential construction supported.
Mortgage rates have risen in anticipation of the Federal Reserve reducing the $85 billion in bonds it is buying each month to keep interest rates low. Economists believe the Fed will make an announcement on the future of the program at the end of a two-day meeting later on Wednesday.
Permits to build homes fell 3.8% in August to a 918,000-unit pace. Economists had expected permits, which lead starts by at least a month, to be little changed at a 950,000 unit pace.
All the drag last month came from the multifamily sector, where permits dropped 15.7%. Permits for single-family homes rose 3% to their highest level since May 2008.
© Thomson Reuters 2013


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IAM provides support to the immigrant community through educational, legal, and personal advancement programs that encourage integration into American society. The organization is committed to helping immigrants acquire necessary language skills in order to improve their economic and social status.
IAM. provides affordable English as a second language classes, free conversation mixers and free workshops on various topics that are of interest to the immigrant community.
"IAM is about empowerment," Ruiz said. "You can be anything."
After doing research on how to run a nonprofit, Ruiz and her co-founders – her sisters - hit the ground running and began to spread the word about the organization through social media. They partnered with St. Michael's School in Flushing and hold E.S.L. classes every Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. and recently branched out to Astoria.
So far, their impact has been tremendous, Ruiz said. Many people come to them because they are struggling to find a job, find it hard to communicate with their kids or simply want to adjust to life in America.
"My family and I were undocumented at one point, so it's very dear to my heart," she said. "Seeing young adults, moms and dads and senior citizens participating is inspiring."
Ruiz said she is extremely proud of what she has created, but never imagined it would have such a powerful impact.
"It's definitely been an amazing experience," she said. "I love what I do. It's a great opportunity to be part of something that's unique and special."
Ruiz said she is always trying to create new programs and on May 17, they will be holding an immigration resource fair at St. Georges Episcopal Church in Flushing. For information, visit www.iamnonprofit.org.


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A blonde sees a flier on a bulletin board that reads, "Cruise -- Only $5." She goes to the address on the flier and hands the receptionist $5. The receptionist nods to a burly man reading a newspaper. He walks over to the blonde and knocks her unconscious.
The blonde wakes up tied to a log floating down river. To her right, she sees one of her blonde friends. "Do you think they're going to serve food on this trip?" she asks.
Her friend replies, "They didn't last year."


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Puzzle Levels
Puzzle Categories
Download a FREE Solution for your puzzles!
Click Image to Enlarge
Turnstile: Revolving Maze Game
Product Information
|Strategy - Logical, Steve Hayton, Puzzle Games
Product Description
Take your brain for a spin as you navigate through this logic maze. The goal is to move the colored tokens through the maze to their respective corners. To do this, you must pass through turnstiles, shifting walls to form new pathways… and new barriers! Clever challenges exercise your strategic thinking muscles, as one turn may lead to victory or may leave you stranded. A great addition to our "Ignite Your Mind" logic puzzle series.
Ages: 8 to adult
Players: single player
Game Grid
4 Color Tokens
4 Gray Tokens
10 Turnstiles
Game-Go Bag
4 Color Tokens
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10 Turnstiles
Game-Go Bag
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Zandi on Family Tree Circles
sort: Date Alphabetical
view: full | list
view: full | list
Journals and Posts
"Looking for JONES of Victoria & N.S.W.
Hi i am looking anyone that may have information on Henry & Rosanna Jones Victoria/Henry & Flora Jones Gunbar N.S.W.
plus Campbell Jackson & Rosanna Jones of Gunbar
Please contact email@example.com
- Displaying 1-1 of 1 Journals
- 1
- of1


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maxmedia1 brauchte ein neues Logo Design und hat einen Wettbewerb auf 99designs gestartet.
Aus 80 Designs von 18 Designern wurde eine Gewinner gewählt.
We need a new logo for our e-commerce web development division. We are looking for something clean and professional, with the ability to be used on letterhead, website footers, and business cards.
Desired Style:
clean, fresh, trendy
Accepted File Formats:
Standard Web Formats (.jpg, .gif or .png); Layered Formats (.psd or .tiff)
Max Media Solutions specializes in transitioning traditional paper based catalogs to internet e-commerce. We are looking for a new look and feel to bring us into the new millenium. Previously we had the moniker of "the website construction company" and had dump trucks and back-hoes for our logos. This is tired and old and we want something vibrant and fresh.
No boundries on this project, and no tagline to be constrained by. We are looking for someone else's interpertation. Since this is new, the winner of the contest will be asked to offer additional work if they are willing.
During the contest we will give lots of feedback. We don't know what we want...but we know what we like.
Finden Sie heraus, wie ein Designwettbewerb funktioniert, oder lernen Sie mehr über unsere Logo-Design-Angebote.


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- Just Released
- Sale Bestsellers
- Advent & Christmas
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- Bible Study & Small Group
- Bulk Discounts on Books & Bibles
- Christian Book Award Winners
- Dove Awards Nominee
- New & Bestselling Fiction
- Gifts for Her
- Gifts for Him
- Keep Kids Safe Online
- Lifeway Resources
- Ministry Appreciation
- VeggieTales
- Wedding & Marriage
The Bible is meant to be read, understood, and shared. So your translation of God's Word should be true-to-the-original and one you like to read.
The Christian Standard Biblecaptures the Bible's original meaning without compromising clarity. An optimal blend of accuracy and readability, this translation helps readers make a deeper connection with God's Word and inspires lifelong discipleship. The CSB is for everyone—for readers young and old, new and seasoned. Click here to compare translations.
The CSB is accurate: the CSB is an original translation: more than 100 scholars from 17 denominations translated directly from the best available Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic source texts into English. Its source texts are the standard used by scholars and seminaries today.
The CSB is trustworthy: the conservative, evangelical scholars of the CSB affirm the authority of Scripture as the inerrant Word of God and seek the highest level of faithfulness to the original and accuracy in their translation.
The CSB is clear: it is as literal a translation of the ancient source texts as possible, but, in the many places throughout Scripture where a word-for-word rendering might obscure the meaning for a modern audience, it uses a more dynamic translation. This makes the CSB ideal not only for preaching and study, but for reading and sharing with others.
The CSB is Readable: In the many places throughout Scripture where a word-for-word rendering is clearly understandable, a literal translation is used. When a word-for-word rendering might obscure the meaning for a modern audience, a more dynamic translation is used. (see chart)
The CSB Engages Readers: Research shows that Bible reading is the number one indicator for spiritual growth. The problem of how to encourage more engagement with Scripture's transformational message is not new, but it is a problem we can help solve. Bible translation should never compromise on accuracy or readability. The Christian Standard Bible is a translation that balances fidelity and readability to open the door for every believer to share the Bible with someone who has read it for a lifetime, or with someone who has never before encountered its life-changing message.
The CSB He Reads Truth Bible includes robust, well-crafted theological extras to draw the reader back to Scripture, increase biblical literacy, and foster a growing affection for God and His Word. Color coded by genre, each book of the Bible features detailed book introductions, a reading plan with supplemental passages for deeper understanding, and full-color maps, charts, and timelines by the He Reads Truth team. In addition, the He Reads Truth Bible features 66 key verses, artfully lettered to aid in Scripture memorization. This Bible invites every man to count himself as part of the He Reads Truth community of "Men in the Word of God every day."
Features include: 66 hand-lettered key verses, 17 full-color timelines, 21 maps, 122 charts (including infographics and lists), and 4 illustrations, reading plans for every book of the Bible, one-year Bible reading plan, detailed book introductions, key verse list, smyth-sewn binding, two colored ribbon markers, and wide margins for journaling and note taking.
The He Reads Truth Bible features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible(R) (CSB). The CSB stays as literal as possible to the Bible's original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture's life-transforming message and to share it with others.
Beauty, goodness, and truth. The She Reads Truth Bible embodies all of the aspects of the She Reads Truth community. Featuring devotional readings written by the She Reads Truth team, this bible invites women to engage with God's Word every day. The She Reads Truth Bible also features 66 designs by top calligraphy and hand-lettering artists to aid in memorization and understanding of Scripture.
Features include:
- 183 Devotions
- 66 calligraphy verse designs
- 35 full-color timelines
- 20 full-color maps
- 11 full-color charts
- Reading plans for every book of the Bible
- One year and three year Bible reading plans
- Detailed book introductions
- Key Verse list
- Presentation Page
- Smyth-sewn binding
- Wide margins for journaling and notetaking.
The She Reads Truth Bible features the highly reliable, highly readable text of the Christian Standard Bible (CSB), which stays as literal as possible to the Bible's original meaning without sacrificing clarity. The CSB's optimal blend of accuracy and readability makes Scripture more moving, more memorable, and more motivating to read it today and share it always.
The CSB (in)courage Devotional Bible is an invitation for all women to find their stories within the tapestry of the greatest Story ever told--God's Story of Redemption. Featuring devotions by over one hundred writers of the (in)courage community, the CSB (in)courage Devotional Bible provides resources for women to explore the Bible, dive deep into Scripture, record their own stories, and find themselves among friends. Readers will experience Scripture in new ways in the company of women willing to "go first" with everyday stories that bear witness to God's grace to find beauty in brokenness and hope in the hard. (in)courage is a vibrant online community, reaching thousands of women every day, welcoming them just the way they are, offering a space to breathe, loving support, and resources for meaningful connection.Features include:
- 260 Devotions
- 52 Reflective response devotions
- 10 distinct thematic Reading Plans
- 66 Book Introductions connecting each book of the Bible to the whole biblical narrative
- Stories of courage from 50 women of the Bible
- Journaling space
- Topical index
- Two-column text
- Theme verses
- Specialized presentation page
CSB in Comparison to Other Translations
"I like to use the Christian Standard Bible because it's a translation that's faithful to the Bible's original manuscripts, with oversight by some trusted partners in ministry. While it's highly literal to the original text, it's also remarkably clear for Bible readers today. I highly recommend the CSB as I encourage our church members—and all of us—to read and share the power of God's Word with others."
Kyle Idleman, Teaching Pastor, Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, KY
"As I travel around the country teaching the Bible to women, I encourage them to draw on the promises of God as their main source and sustenance for life. The Christian Standard Bible lines up perfectly with my core ministry goals—theological soundness and accessibility for the everyday person."
Lisa Harper, Bible teacher and author
"The Christian Standard Bible provides a clear trustworthy translation of the Holy Scriptures in a style that the reader can clearly hear the voice of God in print speaking to their soul."
Tony Evans, Senior Pastor, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, Dallas, TX
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Christian Standard Bible?The Christian Standard Bible (CSB) is a highly trustworthy, faithful translation that is proven to be the optimal blend of accuracy and readability. It's as literal to the original as possible without sacrificing clarity. The CSB is poised to become the translation that pastors rely on and Bible readers turn to again and again to read and to share with others.
- How is the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) different from the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)?The Christian Standard Bible is a revision of the HCSB, updating translation and word choices in order to optimize both fidelity to the original languages and clarity for a modern audience. The Translation Oversight Committee, co-chaired by Drs. Tom Schreiner and David Allen, incorporated advances in biblical scholarship and input from Bible scholars, pastors, and readers to sharpen both accuracy and readability.
- How does the Christian Standard Bible compare to other translations?The CSB lands in the sweet spot between the more formal ("word-for-word") translations and more dynamic ("thought-for-thought") translations. An independent analysis has proven that the Christian Standard Bible is the optimal combination of fidelity to the original languages and readability for a modern audience. The CSB was created using a methodology called Optimal Equivalence, which balances contemporary English readability with linguistic precision to the original languages, making it ideal not only for preaching and study, but for sharing with others.
- Why was the word "Holman" removed from the name of the translation?Holman Bible Publishers carries the name of a Philadelphia-based book binder, Andrew Jackson Holman and has a proud heritage as the oldest North American Bible publisher, dating back to 1743. While the publishing entity retains the name, the Holman family name in the name of a Bible translation often created more questions than answers. "Christian Standard Bible" removes those questions and increases appeal to the broad audience that the CSB is designed to serve.


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And Now, a Musical Intermission
We here at Cake Wrecks know how much you all enjoy singing along with our various song parodies. However, this past week reader Simon S. went the extra mile by actually recording himself singing one of our song parodies - and it's so fabulous John immediately set out to make a music video with it.
So without further ado, we invite you to fall in love lose your lunch all over again, and be our guest:
Thanks again to Sharyn, our lyricist, and to Simon for the amazing pipe work. ;)


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Courtney Grimes and Ryan Gudal were married during a private wedding ceremony held July 24, 2010, at the Chapel of the Glades in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
The bride is the daughter of James and Linda Grimes of Indianapolis. She is a graduate of Decatur Central High School and Indiana Business College. She is in charge of accounts receivable at Rural-Metro Inc. in Indianapolis.
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Well, This Is Awkward
We at Cake Wrecks realize that there are some of you who don't celebrate Christmas. Or Hanukkah. Or Kwanzaa. Or any other winter holiday. Heck, you probably don't even like winter all that much. Or snow. Or puppies. Basically, there's just no making you happy. So, in an effort to placate your scrooge-ish sensibilities, today's commentary will be completely made up of awkward, holiday-free small talk. Enjoy.
You know, the guy from Firefly?
Firefly. C'mon: the Joss Whedon show? Really popular? No? You've...never seen it. Oh. Um. Never mind.
So... [puffing out cheeks]...yeah.
Probably the cold.
Hey, you know what I could use? A beer. [elbowing ribs] Nothing better on a cold night, am I right? Eh? Can I grab you one?
Oh. You don't drink. [nodding] Well, good! Good for you.
[scratching ear]
Now there is a smokin' fine woman. Hoo whee! Get a looksie at that caboose!
I'm terribly sorry. I didn't realize you had a daughter.
Do you know where the bathroom is? Over there? Oops, Janet just went in. Guess I'll just wait.
[fidgeting] [sigh] [adjusting cufflinks]
Woo boy. I'm getting kinda hungry... think I'll go check out that cheese platter. Want anything?
Lactose intolerant, huh? Bummer. Well, it was great talking to you... Christine, right? Ok, yeah, I'll talk at you later. You can count on it! Heheh, get it? That's a little number humor for ya.
Oh, and sorry again about the caboose thing. You have a lovely daughter. In fact, I...am leaving now, yes. Sorry. G'night.
Thanks, Tyler L., Vanessa D., Somer P., Reginia B., Rachel H., Jason D., David G., Christina N., & Ashley. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll just be over here sway-dancing in the corner and trying to avoid eye-contact.
CCC Day #10
Heifer International works to end hunger and poverty and care for the earth by providing gifts of livestock and training so that communities can generate sustainable incomes.


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My Favorite Little Boy Has A Birthday
Monday, December 26, 2011
I think every birthday post starts out with the words "I can't believe my baby...", but, really- I can't believe that my baby boy is another year older.
Three. This is a big deal.
Christmas came and went, and then this morning when we woke up, our favorite little boy was practically a grown up. He wakes up on his own in the mornings, between 5:00 and 6:30, and he walks himself downstairs, turns on a light, and gets to playing. After all, theres absolutely no time to waste, when you've got a brand new train table with railroad tracks just sitting there, demanding to be taken apart and put back together again.
The cutest part about Charlie's big day, was that he didn't understand that it was his birthday. Everytime we'd tell him "Happy Birthday Charlie!", he'd pick up a toy and say "Happy Birthday Lightning!", or "Happy Birthday Cranky!", as if we were playing a game? The birthday game. The one time that we tried to argue that it wasn't his trains birthday, and explain to him that it was his birthday, he burst into tears at the lunch table, and screamed until I corrected it all and said "No no, see what I meant was, its everyone's birthday today!!!".
One of the first things that he opened up, was a monster truck toy sent to him from my parents in Washington. Boy did they hit the nail on the head- he drove that monster truck with its ATV trailer up and down the window sill forever.
Theres just something extra special about a plastic thing with wheels, isn't there? I've never quite understood it, but little boys everywhere seem to speak the same language when it comes to vroom and zoom. He loved it.
And then came a suitcase full of over sized puzzle pieces, which didn't seem to interest him as much as it did his sisters (a treasure, for the girls). He dumped them out and put them back in the box a couple of times, but- they didn't chug or toot, so they didn't hold his attention.
Grammy sent some really cool stacking alphabet blocks- these was cool. Kids love things that stack in and out of each other. And these blocks get really tall. Taller than the baby even- which makes them that much more exciting. So we stacked and tumbled, over and over again. And over, and over, and over again.
Grammy and Gpa also sent a shiny new copy of Cars 2, so- I bet you can guess how we spent our afternoon.
We got him a few things too- our favorite being these wooden wheely dinosaurs. Dinosaurs and wheels... what could be better??
Oh, right- the train set that Santa brought him yesterday morning. Train set = greater than all.
Grandpa Dave really threw the confetti up in the air though, by sending Charlie train accessories. A new Cranky. I don't even know what a cranky is? But apparently Charlie does. Unwrapping Cranky was like unwrapping gold.
And somewhere within all of that- Charlie passed out on his bed with his Cranky in one hand, and his Lovey in another.
And when he woke up, we ate a delicious homemade "boofday cake". Peanut butter cheesecake, made of cashews, coconut oil, lemon, and agave- the best we've had yet. We couldn't find any candles in the cabinet, so he settled for some organic sprinkles instead. Oh the thrill of sprinkles.
Now, more about this train table...
This train table has become a way of life. Its the center of the house right now, and there isn't a waking moment that passes, where there aren't little hands touching it. Sometimes those little hands are knocking down bridges, or stealing freight cars from siblings, but- nonetheless, this is the current favorite.
Happy Boofday, Mister Charlie. You're my favorite little man. I love watching you wipe your nose after every bite you take, I love saying "goodbye, I'll see you when I come back" every time that I leave the room, and I love tucking you in 100 times every night when you cry out "cover me up", because you just want to see Mommy and Daddy one more time before going to sleep.
You're a pretty awesome 3 year old.
Tomorrow we'll watch Scrat.
I promise.


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Plan the Quilt
Designer: Patti Henderson of Cabin Fever Quilt Shoppe
Machine Quilter: Teri Sartain
To order a kit of fabrics for quilt top and binding for $79.99 plus shipping costs, contact Cabin Fever Quilt Shoppe, 530-885-5500; cabinfeverquiltshoppe.com.
23x41" tulip printed panel (quilt center)
1/4 yard yellow-and-white print (border No. 1)
6—3/4-yard pieces of each of the following: orange polka dot, white tulip print, green print, yellow print, red tone-on-tone, green tulip print (border Nos. 2 and 4)
5/8 yard green-and-white print (border No. 3)
5/8 yard yellow polka dot (binding)
3-1/2 yards backing fabric
61x79" batting
Finished quilt: 54-1/2x72-1/2"
Quantities are for 44/45"-wide, 100% cotton fabrics. Measurements include 1/4" seam allowances. Sew with right sides together unless otherwise stated.


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Family accommodation with references
Welcome – Family accommodation with references
Croatia is a country rich in historical heritage of different cultures and civilizations that have enriched each other for thousands of years.
Nowadays, Croatian citizens as your hosts in Zadar County with their lifestyles, different dialects, different traditional customs, and varied gastronomy are showing historical overview of thousands of years of memorized cultural imprints.
This uniqueness of Zadar County hosts with traditional hospitality that will make you feel like a part of our community is contained in a simple, universal message of welcome from the heart – WELCOME.
We are pleased to invite you to our home, as we want to share with you our lifestyle that has always been attractive and the main reason for our guests from all over the world to keep coming back to our islands, coast, rural and urban part of the Zadar County.
Welcome to WELCOME family accommodation, the host with the references
Villa Malibu, Besima i Hamid Karabegović
Bobovik XXI/46,
Type: Private accommodation (Apartment)


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NaturalWellbeing.com Privacy Policy
Your privacy is very important to us.
NaturalWellbeing is committed to protecting the privacy of our customers' information. Whether we gather your personal information on the Internet or by other means, we pledge:
- To ship your order in plain packaging.
- Not to sell, give away, or otherwise communicate your personal information to any other persons or companies.
- To use your personal information to provide you with information or materials only when you requested.
- To provide you, the customer, with the opportunity to remove your information from our database, at your request.
We will contact you via email:
- To confirm delivery and provide delivery notice
- To answer your inquiries
- For general communications
NaturalWellbeing DOES NOT and WILL NOT engage in the following activities:
- Unsolicited postal mail (junk mail)
- Unsolicited phone calls (telemarketing)
- Unsolicited faxes (junk fax)
If you have any questions or concerns about NaturalWellbeing's privacy policy, please contact us and we will be pleased to discuss our policy with you.


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Lately, more and more people are interested in finding the best products possible when it comes to commercial hardware. Many of them are involved in construction projects and they find themselves in need of various items.
Choosing the Internet is order to search for commercial hardware is definitely a good idea as it can help one save both time and resources. There are plenty of specialized websites, offering products from a variety of manufacturers at affordable prices.
Building can prove to be a difficult project and it requires some serious work, not to mention the search for commercial hardware. The best place to find all you need for such projects is of course the Internet. If one makes a proper research, the results will be amazing. Online, there is a lof of information available on the subject; each product is carefully described and analyzed.
Manufacturers are doing their best in order to promote their products online and they are ready to offer incredible discounts. They want to make their products known to the general public and demonstrate why they are considered the best. They do their job with total professionalism and are prepared to face any demand the public might have.
Commercial hardware products presented on the Internet are famous for their quality and durability. Producers are working very hard in order to meet the needs of the customers, providing them with efficient solutions and other supplies they need for their projects.
The Internet has certainly has proved out to be a reliable source for a wide variety of products. Today, online shopping is preferred by a lot of people who do not have enough time to browse the shops and prefer the ready availability of virtual stores. The offers are ample and quite attractive. One can find online basically any tool or supply he/she is interested in.
When it comes to deciding what products one needs for a construction project, the Internet is the first place to start looking. Door hardware is related to some of the most popular searches and there are many people interested in finding out more about the subject. They want to know what kind of products they can purchase, where to look for them and what producer they should choose.
Door hardware products include: weatherstripping, door closers, exit devices and locks. These are only a few examples that can help the concerned customer. The market is rich in choices and there are products to suit every taste and preference. The most important thing is to look for reliability and superior quality. Never purchase a product before making sure you got the best deal possible.
Not many people know that choosing the right door hardware is an essential step in any construction plan. Taking time to examine every little detail and fitting all the right pieces is important in order for the outcome to be positive. This is why the Internet is considered top-notch when it comes to door hardware products. One can find info on weatherstripping or types of locks, including the names of several manufacturers well-known for their superior merchandise.
Construction projects are not so easy to accomplish. There are a lot of hours that need to be spent involved in the project and there are a lot of products that need to be purchased. The Internet can offer the answer to many questions and aid one in buying all the items needed.
Manufacturers are also aware of the power the Internet has and they want to benefit from it. They advertise their products online and they also advise on how to use them. Do not spend any more time going from shop to shop; go home and use one of the most interesting technologies available today, the Internet.


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QEMU is a free x86 emulator for Linux and Windows. A preloaded QEMU image of ReactOS can be found here.
If you are looking for a faster virtual machine, give VirtualBox or VMware a try.
- 1 Installing ReactOS on QEMU
- 2 Using ReactOS LiveCD on QEMU
- 3 Grabbing debug messages
Installing ReactOS on QEMU
- Create a drive image, on which ReactOS will be installed, by typing:
qemu-img create ReactOS.img 1000M
1000M stands for 1000 megabytes- that shall be enough. It shall be greater, if you plan to install some application to try under ReactOS.
- In *nix only, type:
sudo umount /dev/shm sudo mount -t tmpfs -o size=144m none /dev/shm
- Type:
qemu -L . -m 256 -cdrom ReactOS.iso -hda ReactOS.img -boot d -localtime -serial file:ReactOS.log
-m 256 stand for 256MB RAM -boot d instructs QEMU to boot from the CD-ROM. Without -boot d it will boot from the hard drive (Reactos.img).
ReactOS.iso is the image of the installation CD, which can be downloaded from http://www.reactos.org/en/download.html
When reinstalling ReactOS, perform steps 2 (if necessary) and 3 only.
If you want to copy some files to ReactOS, you could create an CD-ROM image and mount it on QEMU. You can run QEMU this way:
qemu -L . -m 256 -cdrom Applications.iso -hda ReactOS.img -localtime -serial file:ReactOS.log
Setting up Sound
Using AC97 emulation (QEMU 0.10.1 or later)
- Set emulation to AC97 (-soundhw ac97)
- Install the drivers using Downloader! (You need to reboot twice)
Known Issues
- Audio sounds glitch when changing the audio stream with a high sample rate to a stream with low sample rate
Using ES1370MP emulation
- Set emulation to ES1370 (-soundhw es1370)
- Install drivers from here [1]
- Create a file named import.reg with the following contents
REGEDIT4 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\Settings] "WaveVol_Left"=dword:00040000 "WaveVol_Right"=dword:00040000 "WaveLineSM"=dword:00000000 "WaveWaveInSM_Left"=dword:01010101 "WaveWaveInSM_Right"=dword:00000000 "CDVol_Left"=dword:fffffff6 "CDVol_Right"=dword:fffffff6 "CDLineSM"=dword:00000000 "CDWaveInSM_Left"=dword:00000000 "CDWaveInSM_Right"=dword:00000000 "LineInVol_Left"=dword:fffffff6 "LineInVol_Right"=dword:fffffff6 "LineLineSM"=dword:01000001 "LineWaveInSM_Left"=dword:00000000 "LineWaveInSM_Right"=dword:00000000 "MicBoost"=dword:00000001 "MicVol"=dword:fffffff6 "MicLineMute"=dword:00000001 "MicWaveInSM_Left"=dword:00000000 "MicWaveInSM_Right"=dword:00000000 "AuxVol_Left"=dword:fffffff6 "AuxVol_Right"=dword:fffffff6 "AuxLineSM"=dword:00000000 "AuxWaveInSM_Left"=dword:00000000 "AuxWaveInSM_Right"=dword:00000000 "PhoneVol"=dword:fffffff6 "PhoneMute"=dword:00000000 "PhoneWaveInSM_Left"=dword:00000000 "PhoneWaveInSM_Right"=dword:00000000 "LineOutVol_Left"=dword:fff9f203 "LineOutVol_Right"=dword:fff9f203 "LineOutMute"=dword:00000000
- Import those settings by starting cmd.exe and regedit import.reg
- Reboot
If you don't hear any sound in QEMU 0.10.x, you'll have to set QEMU_AUDIO_DRV=fmod (available: dsound; fmod; sdl; none ; wav (dump to file) - see QEMU documentation for information.
Known Issues
After starting first audio stream, you need to leave QEMU and re-enter (seems to be a QEMU bug)
Setting up network
Networking should work by itself using the '-net nic' and '-net user' switches with QEMU.
Using ReactOS LiveCD on QEMU
- Move to the previously created directory with the
- There, type in the following command:
qemu -L <Path to your QEMU folder>\bios -cdrom <filename>.iso -m 64
Grabbing debug messages
By default, ReactOS debug messages are sent to the serial port (COM1). For grabbing that output, you need QEMU version 0.6.1 or later, in which you can specify the -serial option.
Valid arguments to -serial include file names, pipes, COM Ports and more. Those arguments could be:
-serial file:"C:\roslog.txt" -serial pipe:"\\pipe1\" -serial COM4
Redirect to a file
If you're using the QEMU virtual machine and want to redirect the serial output to a file, add the following to your QEMU command line:
-serial file:FILENAME
Replace FILENAME with the name of a file, into which the debug output shall be written.
Redirect to the console
The method above redirects the output to a file. If you want to redirect it to the console, there are two different methods. They depend on the operating system you run QEMU under.
- Under Windows, add the following to your QEMU command line:
-serial file:CON
- Under a Unix-based operating system, add the following to your QEMU command line:
-serial stdio
Serial port connection using com0com
Setup the com0com driver like explained in this com0com guide.
Add the following option to your QEMU command line
-serial COM4
Write "COM4" with capital letters otherwise QEMU won't use the serial port at all!
Open your terminal program and start a new connection to your second virtual port. If that port is not listed, try COM4.
Another option is to use the ReactOS Test Environment instead of setting this up manually.
If you feel that QEMU is too slow for you, consider using the KQEMU module.
Pleas bear in mind that it just works with QEMU up to 0.11 and isn't maintained anymore.


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On Thanksgiving Day, most brick-and-mortar stores close, but shoppers are wired up and ready to go.
Retailers are jumping the gun and juicing online sales by launching holiday-season discounts sooner than ever— as early as the evening before Thanksgiving. The adoption of smartphones and tablets play a role, too, making it easy to sneak in a purchase while socializing.
Shoppers are thankful—online sales on Thanksgiving have more than doubled since 2006, according to ComScore.


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Fall in Washington state can be a depressing prospect: the start of our annual 9 months of rainy winter.
But at least the apples are top-notch. And for the month of October, Trophy Cupcakes and Party is going to be offering up a delicious addition to their menu: Caramel Apple Cupcakes!
Per their most recent email,
More importantly, this new Trophy confection is the perfect dessert for all fall parties, including National Caramel Apple Day on Oct. 21. Imagine the smiles on little ones' faces when these cupcakes are unveiled at their Halloween or harvest celebrations!
Trophy's newest cake boasts chopped, organic Granny Smith apples from Washington, warm fall spices, organic cane sugar, and of course, local dairy and eggs. The spiced-apple cake is topped with Trophy's house-made caramel infused buttercream, and is edged in toasted pecans, and finished with a drizzle of more homemade caramel sauce, a pretzel stem and a green wafer leaf.
"Caramel apples are a childhood favorite of mine and I knew the only way I would be happy with it as a cupcake was if I could really taste both the crisp, tart apples and the buttery caramel," said Trophy Cupcakes and Party owner, Jennifer Shea. "By hand chopping the apples and making our caramel from scratch, we nailed it! This cupcake is my new favorite and I hope everyone who tries it loves it as much as I do!"
Caramel Apple cupcakes debut tomorrow, Sat., Oct 1, at Trophy Cupcakes and Party retail locations at Wallingford Center, University Village and The Bravern, and will be available for purchase for $4 throughout the month of October. To order Trophy's Caramel Apple cupcakes, please call 206.632.7020; for locations, visit the Trophy Cupcakes website.


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AMERICUS - Christine Prince of the University of Montevallo found an opportune moment to shut the door on Georgia Southwestern's season - and avoid a draw with the Lady Hurricanes - with a goal in the 109th minute to give the Falcons a 2-1 double-overtime victory on Saturday afteroon at Hurricane Field.
It was GSW taking the early lead on Senior Day and fittingly, senior Brittney Hill gave the Lady Hurricanes a 1-0 advantage when she punched a cross from Carolann Simpson to the far post from six yards out. The goal was Hill's 17th career score and ties her with Elizabeth Keller as the all-time leader in program history.
Montevallo was quick to respond. Camilla Alderin bent in a 25-yarder from the middle of the field in the 18th minute to even the score at 1-1.
From there it was a defensive struggle. Montevallo outshot GSW 9-6 through the rest of regulation, but only led 4-3 in shots on goal during that stretch.
The first overtime held more of the same defensive stoutness. Only two shots shots were taken, both by Montevallo.
Hill had the best look for GSW to end it in the second overtime, but her rebound off a cross drilled the post in the 105th minute.
With less than two minutes left in the match, it looked like a draw was inevitable, but Prince took a pass from teammate Olivia McKenzie inside the box, advanced to six yards out and punched a shot inside the far post with 1:15 left on the clock to give UM the win.
Montevallo (6-11-1, 3-6-1 PBC) finished with an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal and a 6-2 edge in corner kicks.
Hill and Simpson took two shots apiece for GSW (3-15, 0-10 PBC).
Goalkeeper Amber Bahri saved six shots for the Lady 'Canes. Alyssa Maxwell saved two in the first half for Montevallo before making way for Kaitlin Thomas, who stopped one shot in her 64 minutes between the pipes.
GSW recognized its four seniors at halftime. Hill, Nicole Hudson, Katie Mueller and Hanah Swinson wrapped up their collegiate careers on Saturday.


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The Nova Cafe, located in the heart of historic downtown Bozeman, Montana, is locally owned and serves up the best breakfast in town!
Breakfast is served daily from 7 a.m. - 2 p.m and lunch is served Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
The Nova Cafe desires to enrich the lives of its guests, employees and community. We strive to be an integral part of our community by supporting local farmers, producers, non-profits and other local businesses.


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Designing and manufacturing decorative lights for over 75 years and delivering nationwide, Endon Lighting have continuously focused on product design giving them an incredibly impressive array of modern lights on offer.
The standard collection from Endon, these lights are part of the Interior collection which includes a wide variety of decorative and functional designs whether it be a table lamp, pendant, wall light or any of the other great options available. Many of these designs are part of smaller sets that allow you to furnish a room in a consistent look so be sure to check for more.
Constructed with Steel, this Antique Brass finished Indoor Spotlights from Endon Lighting's Krius range has 1 light which supports GU10 reflectors (not included) upto a max wattage of 50W.
This Krius Antique Brass 1Lt Indoor Spotlights (811-AN) is dimmable.
For a quick snapshot of our shipping options on offer and delivery prices, see the table below.
|Delivery zone
|Free express shipping
|Next-day shipping
|United Kingdom
|Most UK postcodes qualify for free UK shipping.
|Scottish Isles
|Not available
|Isle of Man
|Not available
|Channel Islands
|Not available
|Northern Ireland
|Not available
|Republic of Ireland
|Not available
If you're still unsure which of the above delivery zones your postcode/delivery location falls into, then please ask our friendly delivery team, contact details can be found here.
Full delivery information
If you would like to see our full delivery information & terms, please see our delivery service page or get in touch to ask one of our team. We will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
30 day returns
We offer 30 day returns on any order placed on our website, with refunds processed within 3-5 working days of receiving goods back to our warehouse. Further returns or refund related questions may be answered by reading our returns policy. If you still have any questions after reading here, then get in touch and we'll be able to assist with any enquiries .


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2012 Shimano Deore XT and MT55 mountain bike wheels – Just in
Plus Magura MT8 disc brakes and Blackburn Toolmanator 3
Two of the latest mountain bike wheelsets from Shimano have just arrived in the post – the 'Race'-spec Deore XT M785 and the new entry-level MT55 – along with Magura's new range-topping MT8 disc brake. Look out for reviews on BikeRadar soon.
Shimano Deore XT M785 wheels
The 2012 Deore XT groupset is split into two halves, as with its pricier XTR stablemate – 'Trail' and 'Race'. We took a first ride on the M788 trail wheels back in June and now have a couple of sets of the M785 race variants to test courtesy of UK distributors Madison.
The new black and silver hoops have a more subdued look than the white-accented previous-generation XT wheels with their red anodised spoke nipples, but fit in better with the rest of the groupset and look a lot like the latest range-topping XTRs.
Shimano stick with their usual cup-and-cone hubs, and the rims are sealed for UST tubeless compatibility. They're laced with 24 butted stainless steel spokes, front and rear. The rims have a 19mm internal width (23.4mm external) which, based on past experience with Shimano wheels, should support tyres up to 2.2in wide.
If you want to run wider rubber, look to the 21mm-wide trail versions instead, but expect to pay a weight penalty of around 175g. The M785s weighed 1,747g on our scales – 757g for the 15mm-axle front wheel (a quick-release version is also available) and 990g for the rear, including QR skewer. Shimano claim 1,625g a pair.
Other features include a quick-engaging freehub body with pawl engagement every 10 degrees, and forged then anodised alloy hub shells for improved durability. RRP is £339.99 (quick-release front axle) / £349.99 (15mm).
Shimano MT55 wheels
The SLX-level MT65 wheels are unchanged for 2012 but slotting in one notch below, and one notch above the entry-level MT15s (which have been given a facelift for the new season), are the new MT55s, priced at £219.98 a set.
For this money you don't get tubeless compatibility, but you do get cup-and-cone hubs, a fast-engaging freehub at the rear, 24 straight-pull spokes per wheel and Center Lock rotor mounts. The rims are wider than the XTs at 24.6mm (external).
Claimed weight is 1,920g/set but on our scales the MT55s weighed in at 2,077g (945g front, 1,132g rear). There's a choice of colours – black or white – and a 15mm front hub option for £10 extra. A 29er version of the wheelset is also available.
Magura MT8 disc brake
We had our first experience of Magura's new stoppers at their 2012 press launch in Majorca back in April and came away impressed, but with a couple of concerns. Production sets have now landed in the office for more thorough testing so it'll be interesting to see how they hold up.
This is the first chance we've had to put the brakes on our scales, and the results are impressive at 599g a pair, including rotors and mounting hardware. This breaks down as follows: front calliper, hose and lever 180g; 160mm front rotor and bolts 100g; rear calliper, hose and lever 193g; 180mm rear rotor and bolts 126g.
You can find out more about the MT8 in our first ride review. There are three lower priced models in the range for those who can't afford the £299.99 (per end) pricetag. Look out for full reviews in Mountain Biking UK and on BikeRadar soon, and if you fancy a chance to win some Magura riding kit, head over to our Facebook page.
Blackburn Toolmanator 3
The final new product to land on our desks this week is the Toolmanator 3 from Blackburn. We first saw this clever little 17-function multi-tool at the UK's iceBike trade show back in February. What sets it apart from its rivals is the inclusion of a tiny shock pump.
Due to its size it's obviously not going to be much good for pumping up a rear shock or fork from scratch, but for small trailside adjustments, where you just want to add a few psi, it could be ideal. The tool also includes 1.5mm-8mm Allen keys, a Schrader valve adjuster and bladed and Phillips screwdrivers. RRP £35.99.


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The families of Sara Tschetter and Nick Kolegraff are pleased to announce their engagement. Sara is the daughter of Scott and Karen Tschetter. Nick is the son of Dr. Ron and Jill Kolegraff.
The couple, both 24, met while attending Okoboji Middle School. They continued to date through high school, college and up until their engagement this past August.
Sara is an assistant store manager of While House Black Market, and Nicholas is a large scale machine learning architect at Accenture, a global consulting firm.
Article Photos
Sara and Nick
The couple is currently working and living in the San Francisco Bay area. Sara and Nicholas are to be married by Pastor Lon Lewis this June at the Wild Rose Inn of Okoboji.


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Feliz Año Nuevo! If you're anything like Carlos, then you already have your 2014 calendar on display – If you're anything like me, then you're still waiting for Amazon to deliver your 2014 agenda which you ordered at the last minute. Either way, here are some dates to make note of which may not already be marked in your calendar or agenda. You don't want to miss National Taco Day, now do you?
Latin American and Latino-American Holidays 2014
New Year's Day/ Año Nuevo – 1st
Desfile de las Rosas – 1st
Independence Day, Cuba – 1st
Día de los Reyes – 6th
Día de la Candelaria – 2nd
Día de San Valentín/ Día del Amor y la Amistad, USA – 14th
National Margarita Day, USA – 22nd
Independence Day, Dominican Republic – 27th
Ash Wednesday/ El Miércoles de Ceniza – 5th
April Fools' Day, USA – 1st
National Empanada Day, USA – 8th
Domingo de Ramos – 13th
Jueves Santo – 17th
Viernes Santo – 18th
Domingo de Resurrección – 20th
Día de los Niños, US and Mexico – 30th
Cinco de Mayo, USA and part of Mexico – 5th
Mother's Day – 11th for US and most of Latin America, 10th for El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico
Independence Day, Paraguay – 15th
The beginning of FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil – 13th
Father's Day – 15th for US and most of Latin America, 17th for El Salvador and Guatemala
El Día E (Spanish language appreciation day) – 22nd
Independence Day, USA and Puerto Rico – 4th
Independence Day, Venezuela – 5th
Independence Day, Argentina – 9th
Independence Day, Colombia – 20th
Día del Amigo, Argentina – 20th
Día Internacional del Perro Callejero – 27th
Independence Day, Peru -28th
Fiestas Agostinas, El Salvador – 5th to 11th
Salvadoran American Day, USA – 6th
Independence Day, Bolivia – 6th
Independence Day, Ecuador – 10th
Independence Day, Uruguay – 25th
Independence Day, Brazil – 7th
Independence Day, El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua – 15th
Hispanic Heritage Month – 15th (to October 15th)
Independence Day, Mexico – 15th & 16th
Independence Day, Chile – 18th
National Taco Day, USA – 4th
Halloween, USA – 31st
Día de Todos los Santos – 1st
Día de los Muertos/Difuntos – 2nd
Independence Day, Panama – 3rd
National Pupusa Day, El Salvador – 9th
Universal Children's Day – 20th (Countries throughout Latin America celebrate it different days)
Thanksgiving, USA – 27th
Giving Tuesday (donate to charity) – 2nd
Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe – 12th
Las Posadas (to Nochebuenda) – 16th
Nochebuena – 24th
Navidad – 25th
Día de los Inocentes, Latin America – 28th


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Why We Need More Male Cake Decorators
Apparently this is supposed to look like a baseball field. For those of you who don't see a problem with it, do like I did and go ask your husband. (Or if you're at work, that annoying guy a few cubicles over who starts every conversation with "Dude, did you see the game last night?".)
Of course, if baseball fields were laid out this way, I bet the sport would be a lot more interesting. You know, in a Funniest-Home-Videos kind of way.
Further evidence of female involvement: that lace doily under the cake. I'm pretty sure no guy would feel the urge to "pretty up" the cake board - or for that matter, add an airbrushed red stripe on the side. What's that for, anyway?
MaryAnn C., I would say this is a home run, but on this cake you just can't do that. (The home run, that is.)
NOTE: Yeah, yeah, I know not all women are clueless about sports, just like I know there are probably guys out there who wouldn't know a baseball field isn't laid out in a giant 'X'. I simply choose not to acknowledge those people.


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The Haverhill VFW Post was friendly territory for Senator Scott Brown, a National Guardsman himself. Yet in the midst of his remarks to veterans this month, he stopped abruptly, distracted by a video camera in the crowd.
Brown fixed an icy gaze on the man behind the lens.
The cameraman was a video tracker for a liberal group that supports Brown's Democratic opponent, Elizabeth Warren. His mission, as it is most days, is to track the senator's every word, in hopes of catching an inconsistency, or better, a gaffe. The senator, too, reaps the benefits of a tracker, one assigned to follow Warren.
Brown ordered the young man out.
"Every word they'll use in some kind of negative commercial and it's shameful,'' Brown later said, according to the Eagle-Tribune newspaper.
The political equivalent of paparazzi, trackers have been used for at least 16 years in Massachusetts, since the 1996 Weld-Kerry Senate race. But this campaign season, with the Brown vs. Warren contest emerging as one of the most closely watched in the country, two media-savvy candidates have found themselves dodging the ubiquitous cameras, even demanding they leave.
With the stakes that much higher and the number of trackers growing, the constant filming can feel that much more intrusive, their presence that much more of a threat.
And that raises an important question: In this YouTube era, is the opposition's tracker actually any more dangerous than anyone else? Couldn't any citizen with a smartphone and a dose of cynicism capture the next "macaca moment'' - a reference to an on-camera ethnic slur that US Senator George Allen of Virginia made about a tracker assigned to follow him. Some say that slur, captured on video, cost Allen reelection.
"We live in an age where anyone can record anything at any time and publish it with global reach to anyone at practically zero cost,'' said Nicco Mele, an expert on integrating politics and technology who was webmaster for Howard Dean's presidential race and now teaches at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. "If you are a leader in this day and age, you need to operate under the assumption that even small private meetings of three people could be recorded and released on the Internet.''
Warren found that out early when she was captured on video at an Andover house party, speaking animatedly about her view that nobody got rich on his own. Her supporters flooded the Internet with it, thinking it showcased passion. But the Massachusetts Republican Party saw something different. They repurposed the video with ominous music and grainier images for a Web ad that made Warren look like an extremist, even slightly unhinged.
"Politicians have to assume that they are always being taped no matter where they are,'' said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania. She pointed to the comments that then-candidate Barack Obama made at a San Francisco fund-raiser about down-and-out Pennsylvanians who get bitter and "cling to guns or religion.''
The person who captured the quote wasn't a Republican tracker but an Obama supporter and blogger.
"That was a citizen journalist. We've all now got phones in hand that can tape,'' said Jamieson. "There is no such thing as a private moment for anyone running for office.''
Still, a tracker in the room can heighten the tension for candidates, reminding them of the stakes of every utterance.
"There's a person there whose sole purpose is to wait for you to screw up,'' said Jeff Berkowitz, former research director for the Republican National Committee. "It's stressful for a candidate. They can't be in a room anymore and just have a conversation and misspeak. As shocking as it may be for people, candidates are human beings and can't always speak as artfully as they want to.''
Campaigns generally let an opposition tracker into events that are open to the public - some candidates have even been known to embrace their trackers as de facto campaign staffers. But they also try to restrict access to events they consider private, whether they're in a home or club or rented conference room.
Sometimes, as with Brown in Haverhill, a campaign bans trackers from events where their candidate is expected to shine. Warren's team recently barred a Republican tracker from a rented space in a community arts center in Lynn where the Democratic candidate, a bankruptcy law expert and consumer advocate, was showcasing her expertise, disentangling complicated mortgage policies and unfurling sympathy for homeowners who were at risk of losing their homes.
What could have gone wrong for Warren?
"This cat-and-mouse game of kicking trackers out is just part of the great game of politics,'' said Mele.
Brown - a former model, a longtime state legislator, and a national political cause celebre - could hardly be considered camera-shy. Yet the GOP celebrity squirms under the gaze of a tracker, a twenty-something, entry-level staffer who makes $2,500 a month from the Massachusetts Democratic Party. None of the trackers would comment about his work for this story.
The senator has been burned before by those who infiltrate his events. Last year, a liberal blog caught Brown on video, thanking conservative billionaire David Koch for his contribution and asking for support in his reelection. And unlike the trackers, who are trained not to disrupt events, activists sometimes try to heckle the incumbent. At the Haverhill VFW Post, an activist pressed Brown to justify why he accepted health care for his daughter while objecting to Obama's health care plan.
These days, Brown routinely has more than one tracker trailing him. His Senate reelection campaign is one of 17 hot national races being followed by trackers for American Bridge, a liberal political action committee.
Rodell Mollineau, president of American Bridge, said trackers now need a thick skin, political savvy, and knowledge of the issues to help them sniff out news. Tracking is not just about capturing a "gotcha moment,'' Mollineau said, but about documenting a candidate's evolving positions or shifting rhetoric before different audiences.
Dominick Ianno, who tracked Senator John F. Kerry for Governor William Weld in 1996, recalled his satisfaction seeing his footage put to use, showing Kerry repeatedly talking about sponsoring a children's health bill he had never actually filed.
"That's sort of like your shining moment when you're happy that the video became useful,'' said Ianno. "You see it up on the nightly news.''
Stephanie Ebbert can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @stephanieebbert.