text:
Sep 20, 2005 | ISBN 9780877881988
Wicca's Charm…is intended for adults trying to understand why others practice Wicca. Sanders was a journalist on assignment when she was forced to examine her own stereotypical views of Wicca; subsequently, she secured a journalism fellowship to spend a year learning about Wicca and what makes it so appealing to its practitioners; an objective view of the tradition results. Discussion questions at the end of the book correspond to each of the chapters. The result is a good, basic overview of the origins and theories of the religion as well as plenty of firsthand accounts from current and former practitioners of Wicca..—Library Journal
"Wicca's Charm is one of those books that charms and beguiles you even as it informs you. The reporting is seamless and the writing effortless. Catherine Sanders has made a brilliant debut as a writer on a spiritual matter that should be of deep interest to all thinking Americans."
–David Aikman, former senior correspondent for Time magazine, and author of Jesus in Beijing, A Man of Faith: The Spiritual Journey of George W. Bush, and the novel Qi
"For Christians who want to understand the culture our own failures have sown and are now reaping, and for those who want to reach out persuasively to this emerging culture, Sanders's warm, clear, and helpful introduction to Wicca is essential reading."
–Os Guinness, author of The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life
"Catherine Sanders's work in this book is careful, thoughtful, and respectful. It will enable many outside Wicca to understand it better, and it will also allow practitioners of Wicca and other similar ways to gain a deeper insight into the best of Christianity."
–Frederica Mathewes-Green, author of The Illumined Heart: The Ancient Christian Path of Transformation
"Catherine Sanders has provided an eye-opening, sensitive, and honest journey into the heart of Wicca. Ringing no false alarms, she has made an erudite contribution to understanding this contemporary movement."
–Lilian Calles Barger, author of Eve's Revenge: Women and a Spirituality of the Body, and founder of the Damaris Project
"Wicca's Charm is a must-read for parents! A fascinating account full of stories and personal interviews, Catherine Sanders's book provides wonderful insights into why young people seek alternative spiritualities and what Christians should know about it!"
–Susan Alexander Yates, best-selling author of several books, including, And Then I Had Teenagers: Encouragement for Parents of Teens and Preteens
"Wicca's Charm is a fine demonstration of a rare Christian virtue: attentive listening. With a clear conviction that authentic Christian belief is a valid response to Wiccan yearnings, Sanders holds, in tension, a humble recognition that Christian compromise with materialistic rationalism and individualism in Western culture has driven many to take up dangerous alternatives."
–Peter Harris, director of A Rocha International
"Wicca's Charm provides an accessible, thorough, and sensitive guide to understanding contemporary interest in Wicca and neo-Paganism. It will be of help to anyone interested in understanding how nature worship under various names is reasserting itself in the Western world."
–James A. Herrick, professor of communication at Hope College, and author of The Making of the New Spirituality: The Eclipse of the Western Religious Tradition
"Catherine Sanders spent more than a year listening to Wiccans in an attempt to understand the growth and appeal of Wicca today. She encourages Christians to dialogue with neo-Pagans, clarifying points of common ground while simultaneously pointing out with compassion and sensitivity the inadequacies of Paganism to fulfill their deep and legitimate longings."
–Mardi Keyes, codirector of L'Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts, and author of Feminism and the Bible


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Views: 148
/agree on all points
I'd also like to add that I believe the concept of hell itself was created as a fear tactic to scare everyone into believing. After all, common people in the dark ages were as gullible as children nowadays (for the most part).
When I was in high school they were given us lectures about hell, torment of the grave, day of judgement, bridge of hell....
I remember the teachers and the school principal crying... I saw them crying and I cried because I was saddened to them not because I was afraid of Hell..
Also, I remember last time I had a debate and a crazy muslim that I argued with him he doesn't have anything to say but hell, repent, hell, repent...
and because this was my first debate..
I felt like he hit me on my head with a hammer. >I was like what ? where am I ?
suddenly my friends supported me and they said to him, hey you don't terrify her with hell..
Last thing he said to me, you are crazy and should go to psychiatrist or otherwise, you will go to hell and forever ..
Here is the Hell and the bridge of Hell of the merciful cute terrorist Allah.
I am sure I wasn't so much affraid as concerned. When I was 15 my boyfriend suddenly jumped on the Jesus wagon. As unhappy as I was about the entire thing I just kept it to myself and went with him anyway.
After about a week my BF decided on this small church located above a sub shop. A few dozen hugs and a cup of juice later we were sitting in our seats, the preacher screaming about the rapture and shaking his bible around like he was on fire. He was on a roll as he called for as many amen, Jesus be praised as he could. Then suddenly 20 minutes into the sermon, in the middle of his "god anoint us with your love" chant he dropped to the floor in a crumpled heap. Not even a twitch from him nor the people around him. There was no concern, no rush to emergency, they were calm and at best excited. Some sang while others prayed. I think one of them was even knitting....
Then for 45 minutes all our asses just sat there and for that entire 45 minutes I was bored and worried out of my damned mind. Most of the time I was trying to figure out if he was dead, sleeping, or if everyone there was certifiably insane. The rest of the time I was trying to figure out what I was going to tell the cops if or when they ever came. At one point I even started to get up to go and check on him when one of the women grabbed my arm and sternly told me to sit because "god is here with us, can't you feel him? He is testing us, he is anointing us with his love, don't sin child or he will punish you to damnation so sit and pray for his touch". I sat back down looked over at my BF who looked as stressed as I did if not more. It wouldn't be till after we left that I learned that the entire time this was happening, he was thinking we were all gonna die and that they had poisoned the juice we had when we first arrived.
Soon the paster in his wrinkle free expensive suite jumped to his feet panting and praising gods love. The people chanted and chirped right along with him as he recounted his journey.... He said and I quote! "I went into gods home, sat beside him at his table, we had tea, we had cookies, but there were few cookies so he brought me the most wondrous crackers, and as we ate together god spoke to me of his love, and BLAH BLAH BLAH". He lost me at tea and cookies. I was mentally shut off at that point.
Few minutes later as we drove away I couldn't help but burst out laughing. When my BF asked what was so funny I blurted out "I wonder if Jesus ate all the cookies".

subset: commoncrawl


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Where to buy Shell oils and lubricants.
Download the Shell Motorist app for iPhone and Android: your partner for every journey.


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You've Got Mail. Is it Full of Lies?Publication: MSN Tech & Gadgets Date: December 27, 2008 View Article
E-mail was a novelty when Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) logged on to her laptop in the opening scene of the 1998 hit romantic comedy "You've Got Mail." A mere decade later, e-mail is a cornerstone of modern communications. But a growing body of research suggests we've yet to adapt our social behaviors to fit with an era where every message we send is next to impossible to digitally erase.


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Please forgive me for not posting here firstly! It slipped my mind to introduce myself. Hello there everyone, my name is Matthew, my in game name is skuzzY. I am an older school mapper and used to create levels for Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Unfortunately the franchise and community have been dead for quite some time now, and recently I have decided to get back into one of my many passions. Level design!
I recently joined the Urban Terror forums and I'm excited to be posting my work on both forums
I should have some screens of an Alpha build from my project very soon, I can't wait to get feedback.
Happy summer everyone


text:
The PCM has detected a problem with the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler bypass valve circuit. A trouble code has been stored and a malfunction indicator lamp has been illuminated. Some vehicle models require multiple drive cycles for a malfunction indicator lamp to be illuminated. EGR coolers are used exclusively with diesel engines. "Bank 1" refers to the engine bank that contains the number one cylinder and "Bank 2" specifies the engine bank that does not contain the number one cylinder. Consult the manufacturer's service manual (or equivalent) for the location of the number one cylinder.
If the PCM does not detect the desired degree of change in manifold air pressure or temperature, when the EGR valve is activated, a code will be stored and a malfunction indicator lamp will be illuminated. Some models require multiple drive cycles to activate the service engine soon lamp and others illuminate on the initial failure. Some automakers use an EGR position sensor to monitor the EGR vales itself, and then the PCM calculates the desired EGR flow according to the percentage that the valve is opened at any given moment. If the manifold air pressure fails to coincide with the PCM calculations, a code will be stored and a service engine lamp illuminated. Fords typically utilize a delta pressure feedback EGR (DPFE) sensor to measure manifold air pressure and exhaust feedback. When these DPFE readings do not fall within manufacturer's specifications a code is stored and a service engine lamp is illuminated.
There will likely be no symptoms present when this code is presented. A code will be stored and a service engine soon lamp will be illuminated, although it may take multiple drive cycles.
The most common cause of this code is a defective exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler bypass valve but clogged EGR passages and clogged DPFE sensor passages may also contribute. You may also suspect a faulty EGR sensor, MAP sensor, faulty EGR valve, faulty EGR control solenoid, a broken vacuum line, or faulty electrical wiring (or connectors) as possible causes.
The most common misdiagnosis comes from those who see the phrase "EGR valve" and automatically replace an expensive EGR valve. The EGR valve is faulty much less frequently than electrical components, intake passages, or circuitry.


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NEW YORK -- An encouraging report on the labor market and better sales from Costco and other retail stores helped push the stock market higher Thursday.
The government reported that 367,000 Americans sought unemployment benefits for the first time last week. That's an increase from the previous week but fewer than economists had forecast.
The Dow Jones industrial average gained 65 points to 13,559 shortly after 11:30 a.m. Bank of America led the 30 stocks in the Dow with a 3 surge, rising 26 cents to $9.37.
"It's not just the jobless claims numbers on their own," said Brian Gendreau, market strategist at Cetera Financial Group. "They're coming on the back of ... manufacturing and service-sector reports that were better than people expected this week."
The Standard & Poor's 500 index rose six points to 1,457 and the Nasdaq composite edged down less than one point to 3,135.
The job-market report helped push the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note up to 1.64 percent from 1.62 percent late Wednesday. Traders tend to sell Treasurys following better economic news.
Stocks took another turn higher in mid-morning trading after the Commerce Department said that orders to U.S. factories came in better than forecasts, even though the 5.2 percent drop in orders was the biggest in more than three years.
Retailers including Costco and Limited Brands reported September sales that came in ahead of Wall Street's estimates. Costco gained 91 cents to $100.53.
Investors are looking ahead to minutes from the Federal Reserve's latest meeting, due out Thursday afternoon. The key event this week, however, comes Friday morning when the Labor Department releases its monthly jobs report. Economists forecast that the unemployment rate inched up to 8.2 percent in September from 8.1 percent in August.
In the first few days of October, the major stock market indexes have climbed steadily higher. The Dow is up 1 percent and the S&P 500 is up 1.1 percent.
Among other stocks making big moves:
_ Google edged up 61 cents to $763.11. Google and U.S. publishers announced they had settled a seven-year dispute over Google's book-scanning project. A lawsuit filed by authors remains, though.
_ Marriott International, which operates Ritz-Carlton, Courtyard as well as its namesake hotels, posted results late Wednesday that beat analysts' expectations thanks to higher rates and a pickup in customer traffic. Marriott's stock surged 10 cents to $39.10.
_ Hewlett-Packard continued its slump a day after CEO Meg Whitman told a gathering of investors and analysts that H-P could struggle for the next two years. The computer company's stock dropped 3 percent, or 40 cents, to $14.51.


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Mother's Day Brunch
Having my mom in town for Mother's Day weekend was wonderful and included lots of quality time together…especially in the kitchen. For brunch on Sunday, we served my go-to egg casserole (recipe here) a french toast bake (will post that recipe soon) and my fiance made his grandma's famous waffles – which were just as amazing as he told me they would be.
Freshly squeezed O.J. (made with the Hurom juicer), Diane Von Furstenberg colorful plates, table runner from Bergdorf Goodman and a mix of bright peonies for an easy centerpiece.
An easy appetizer for brunches, luncheons and open houses…or anytime you need to put out a little, delicious nosh – These are Trader Joe's Raisin Rosemary Crisps and you just add a little cream cheese and top with berries.
1 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 eggs, separated (separate yolks from the whites and keep in two separate bowls)
2 cups sour cream
3 tablespoons melted butter
*And you'll need a waffle maker
1. Sift 1 cup flour. Add baking powder, salt, sugar and baking soda to your sifted flour. Sift everything (all dry ingredients) together.
2. Beat egg yolks until light, add sour cream and butter.
3. Combine liquid and dry ingredients.
4. Beat egg whites until stiff, but not dry; fold into batter.
5. Use non-stick spray on waffle maker & pour batter. Cook until golden brown. Serve with powdered sugar, butter, syrup, favorite fruit or even whip cream.
*Serves 4-6 (we doubled the recipe for our large group)
Special thanks to David's grandma, Lee, for letting us share her special recipe!
Share this post:May 13 2013
Tags: best waffle recipe, best waffle recipes, breakfast ideas, easy breakfast, easy breakfast recipes, easy brunch recipes, easy waffle breakfast for family, easy waffle recipe, how to make the best waffles, jamie krell, Jamie Krell blog, Jamie Krell lifestyle expert, Mother's Day Brunch, Mother's Day brunch ideas, Sunday Brunch ideas, waffle recipe, waffle recipes


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Redundancy situations generally occur where you lose your job due to
circumstances such as the closure of the business or a reduction in the number
of staff. Redundancy may
also arise due to the financial position of the firm, lack of work,
re-organisation within the firm or it may be closing down completely.
Collective redundancies arise where, during any period of 30 consecutive
days, the employees being made redundant are:
Under the Protection
of Employment (Exceptional Collective Redundancies and Related Matters) Act
2007, a Redundancy Panel was set up in accordance with the partnership
agreement Towards 2016. Some collective redundancies may be referred
to the Panel to determine whether the redundancies were (or are being) carried
out in order to replace the employees with workers on lower pay or other less
favourable terms and conditions. These are known as exceptional collective
redundancies. If the panel decides the redundancies were carried out for this
reason, the employees concerned will be able to take action for unfair
In such a situation, under the Protection
of Employment Acts 1977-2014, your employer is obliged to enter into
consultations with a view to agreement with your representatives. This
legislation is separate from the Redundancy
Payments Acts 1967–2014. These consultations must take place at the
earliest opportunity and at least 30 days before the notice of redundancy is
given. The aim of the consultation is to consider whether there are any
alternatives to the redundancies.
Your employer is also obliged to provide the following information in
writing to your representatives:
Your employer is also obliged to inform the Minister for Employment Affairs
and Social Protection in writing of the proposed redundancies
at least 30 days before the occurrence of the first
redundancy. SI
140/1977 sets out the information your employer is obliged to provide to
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The Employees
(Provision of Information and Consultation) Act 2006 requires employers to
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If your employer has not complied with the requirement for a 30-day
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contravened Section 9 or 10 of the 1977 Act in relation to information and
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For further information about the Redundancy Payments Scheme contact the
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text:
Amanda Bynes was released from custody Friday following her arrest on charges of reckless endangerment, marijuana possession and tampering with evidence after allegedly throwing a bong out of her apartment window in New York. The "Easy A" actress claimed the piece of glass was actually "just a vase," not a drug-smoking device.
"My client completely denies illegally throwing anything out of her window," said her attorney, Andrew Friedman.
Bynes' somewhat inconsistent defense, which for now we'll take at face value, soon could place her in the pantheon of most-creative show business excuses.
While many people in trouble with the law try to explain away their misdeeds with inventive stories, celebrities seem to have a special talent for ingenious (if not wholly implausible) explanations.
Here's a collection of some of the better A-list excuses. Be sure to vote for your favorite at the end.
Charlie Sheen, following an apparent bender that left a New York hotel room in shambles: "What we are able to determine is that Charlie had an adverse reaction to some medication and was taken to the hospital," his publicist said.
Paris Hilton, after being arrested when a small bag of cocaine fell out of her purse during a Las Vegas traffic stop: That the purse, which contained her personal effects, wasn't really hers and that she thought that the cocaine was gum.
PHOTOS: More celebrity apologies
Britney Spears, after attacking a photographer's car with an umbrella: "I was preparing my character for a role in a movie where the husband never plays his part so they switch places accidentally. I take all my roles very seriously and got a little carried away."
Janet Jackson's tear-away outfit at the Super Bowl: "I am sorry that anyone was offended by the wardrobe malfunction during the halftime performance of the Super Bowl," Justin Timberlake said. "It was not intentional and is regrettable."
Eddie Murphy after being pulled over for having a transvestite prostitute in his car: "For years and years I'd go to corners where there are prostitutes and give them $5,000 and $10,000 to go home and get off the street."
Lindsay Lohan not showing up for court when she was partying in Cannes: "Her passport was stolen," her attorney said. "She is doing everything in her power to get a temporary passport and get home."
Martin Lawrence, for yelling at motorists in the middle of Ventura Boulevard with a gun in his pants: "Mr. Lawrence … [is] suffering from a case of complete exhaustion and dehydration," his publicist said.
Reese Witherspoon, after interfering with the arrest of her husband for driving under the influence: "I think I played a lawyer in a movie so many times, I think I am a lawyer."
Michael Richards, for a profane, racist tirade during a stand-up comedy appearance: "I got heckled and I took it badly.… I work in a very uncontrolled manner on stage."
Zach Galifianakis at 'Hangover Part III premiere'
Justin Lin steps on the gas for 'Fast and Furious 6'
Cars crashed, smashed and trashed in 'Fast & Furious 6'


text:
Sunday Sweets: Villain Edition!
San Diego Comic-Con is going on right now, but tragically I'm not there, which means I've been obsessively checking my Twitter feed all weekend so I don't miss anything. (It's not easy living vicariously through blurry twitpics of celebrities and great cosplay [and sometimes celebrities IN great cosplay] - but by golly, I'm trying.)
So since I've got major geekery on the brain anyway, I thought I'd focus today's Sweets on - what else? Geek cakes. But more than that, I've decided to feature geeky villain cakes. 'Cuz geeky villains are cool. (It's the outfits, am I right?)
First up, the horniest Loki cupcake you will ever see:
Submitted by Sarae B., made by Nerdache Cakes
I discovered this Tumblr blog a few weeks ago, and just about flipped for all of Ant's nerdy cupcakes. (And she's only 19!) You should click over and check it out - so much geek glee.
It takes a special kind of couple to have a Predator/Alien-themed wedding cake:
Submitted by Kenkire, made by Black Cherry Cake Company
Specifically, a couple who should be friends with me. (Oh, and to whoever decided to put a tiny top hat on the Predator: Bravo. BRA...VO.
I am deeply ashamed to admit that I've never read Dune, but I'm going to assume the giant sandworms fall more on the "villain" side of the spectrum:
Sub'd by Rebecca A., made by Jana's Fun Cakes
(I'm sure you guys will correct me in the comments if I'm wrong.)
Also, this is another wedding cake, if you can believe it. Check out all the tiny teeth!
Now here's a classic villain from my childhood, so I know him well:
Sub'd by Nick B., and made by Truly Scrumptious - the same folks behind that jaw-dropping standing Cyberman I featured last April.
It's here to EXTERMINATE your hunger, haha! (Sorry; obligatory Dalek joke.) I like how Dalek dresses are all the rage at conventions now, too. Who knew killer robots wielding bathroom plungers could be so chic?
Speaking of chic, here's the best-dressed villain in today's post:
Yes, really - she's handmade, and edible! (Check out another closeup here.) By the always-amazing Highland Bakery.
I have to take a quick break from the villains to show you the best Stargate cake I've ever seen:
WOWZA. Look at all that detail on the gate! And the watery texture on the event horizon! Seriously, this cake is encoding and locking ALL my chevrons, IF ya know whatta mean. (Stargate humor. Heh. Aheh. Heh.)
Ok, back to the bad guys:
Sub'd by Kat B., made by Cake O'Clock
I'd like to thank Cake O'Clock for going easy on the raspberry syrup. Thank you.
And now, perhaps the most iconic villain of all...
Sub'd by Elizabeth A., made by Crazy Cakes
Vader!! Shiny, shiny Vader. Seriously, I have my own Vader helmet at home (don't ask), and it's not half as shiny as this cake. I think this cakes looks better, too. Seriously amazing.
Of course, we can't have Vader (or at least his helmet) without an official Storm Trooper escort:
That, my friends, IS the dessert you're looking for: a life-sized Storm Trooper cake!
Don't believe it's cake? PROOF:
Oooh. Stabbed in the back - that's cold.
We haven't had enough comic book villains yet, so...how about Venom?
Sub'd by Gayle G., made by Chocmocakes
And an adorable stylized Harley Quinn?
I love this style SO MUCH. I only wish they had a matching Joker cake, too!
It's amazing what some bakers can do with just buttercream; check out this Sauron's Eye cake:
Sub'd by Claudia S., made by Emily/ emzstar
"So stop picking your nose. Srsly. That's disgusting."
And every evil disembodied eyeball needs a giant evil tower, right? Right.
This cake - yes, CAKE - was over two feet tall, and set on a One Ring cake base. Look at all the crazy detail in there:
I'm at a loss as to where - and how! - you'd even BEGIN to cut this. Care to weigh in on that, Erin?
Well, that's it for this week's Sweets, guys! So, to those of you enjoying the nerdvana that is Comic-Con right now: have fun! I hate you a little! And to the rest of you: mosey on over to Epbot for some of my favorite pics and video (ESPECIALLY the video - funniest thing I've seen all week) from SDCC - there's plenty there to make your inner geek squeal.
And, as always, if you have a Sweet to nominate then please send it to me at Sunday Sweets [at] Cake Wrecks [dot] com!


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Polaris Music Prize: Feist reacts to win, Drake skips out on 'surprise' appearance
"This is my worst fear."
Those were some of the first words out of Feist's mouth when the singer-songwriter took the stage at the 2012 Polaris Music Prize gala. Feist's fourth LP, Metals, was named this year's Polaris champion Monday night — winning Feist a prize that includes a $30,000 cheque and the distinction of creating the best Canadian album of the last 12 months, as decided upon by a grand jury of 11 music journalists and broadcasters.
But as someone who's already collected eight Juno trophies and four Grammy nominations, Feist clarified post-show that it wasn't winning the Polaris itself that was the stuff of nightmares. (Even if she did climb under her table as soon as Jeremy Gara and Tim Kingsbury of Arcade Fire — last year's Polaris-winning band — called her name.)
"It's not the prize," she told Postmedia News in a press conference after the show. "it's having to speak about it that's crazy."
But speak she did. She revealed that her $30,000 in winnings will likely go to charity, for instance, potentially backing the legal defense to stop the Southern Ontario "Mega Quarry." (Proceeds from her merch are already benefiting the cause, she said.)
And when speaking about the win, Feist frequently brought the attention back to the other artists on this year's shortlist — a collection of 10 albums that included selections from Cadence Weapon, Cold Specks, Drake, F*cked Up, Grimes, Handsome Furs, Japandroids, Kathleen Edwards and Yamantaka//Sonic Titan.
It was even a remark from one of the other nominees, Kathleen Edwards, that got her talking about her gratitude for the award.
Following her gala performance, Edwards thanked the Polaris Prize's founder for creating the award.
"I am grateful for creating a conversation about music," said the Voyageur singer-songwriter. "We sacrifice things good and bad to do what we do and thank you Steve Jordan for all of us who don't want to march in this sh*t parade."
"The sh*t parade! … I know what she's saying," said Feist during the press conference. After rising to fame with 2007's The Reminder — an album which was also shortlisted for the Polaris, in addition to netting her four Grammy nominations — Feist temporarily paused her career before creating the introspective and experimental Metals. "I have gone through the sh*t parade, too. And I went somewhere extremely and deliberately away from the sh*t parade," said Feist. "There's a lot of indignity and dilution," she said of what happens when you make and sell records, "and the Polaris Prize feels — it feels dignified."
Before being named the seventh winner of the Polaris, Feist powered through Metals tracks "Caught A Long Wind" and "The Band in Each Other" as part of the awards show, backed by members of Snowblink and Broken Social Scene. The two-song set closed a nearly three-hour evening at Toronto's Masonic Temple — a night that saw performances from the likes of Grimes (who was joined by a pole dancer named "Gary"), Cadence Weapon and F*cked Up (winners of the 2009 edition). Alexei Perry of the recently defunct Handsome Furs appeared on stage to tearfully share her gratitude for being included in this year's shortlist, though the husband-and-wife duo did not perform. "It's art and music and literature that saved my life," she said. "I'm glad you loved us."
There were also some noticeable absentees, including Vancouver rock duo Japandroids — and, one hometown act who very nearly pulled a surprise appearance: Drake.
The Forest Hill-raised superstar, shortlisted for his album Take Care, never officially announced his attendance, but in a post-gala press conference Polaris founder Steve Jordan and show host Grant Lawrence confirmed that Drake was waffling on his RSVP in the days — and hours — before the program went live.
"We were back there juggling the entire order of the show based on whether he would show up or not," Lawrence told reporters after the awards. If the rapper had, indeed, appeared, he would have given a short speech during the gala.
Said Jordan: "You know, he missed a great show."
The 2012 Polaris Music Prize will air as a one-hour special on MuchMusic Saturday, Sept. 29 at 10 p.m. ET. It was broadcast live on Sirius XM Radio and CBC Radio 3 Monday night.


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Nearly six years after filing a federal lawsuit against seven companies and their related counterparts for allegedly contaminating the local groundwater supply with a gasoline additive, the Crescenta Valley Water District has finally settled with the businesses for a combined sum of roughly $22.7 million.
U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton Tucker signed off on settlements for four of the seven as of last month. The other three have filed settlement documents with the court but they have yet to be approved by the judge.
Since all seven — Exxon Mobil, ConocoPhillips, BP, Lyondell Chemical, Shell, Valero and Chevron — have submitted settlements, a Sept. 10 jury trial has been suspended, said Tom Bunn, the water district's attorney.
The final settlement total is less than half of the roughly $50 million the district asked for when it sued the companies.
Exxon Mobil: $4.5 million
ConocoPhillips: $4 million
BP: $4 million
Lyondell Chemical: $700,000
Valero: $3.85 million
Shell: $4.5 million
Chevron: $1.1 million
District officials first detected the gasoline additive Methyl Tertiary-butyl Ether in the ground near several gas stations along Foothill Boulevard, as well as in well water, in 2004. District officials then shut down two wells after MTBE levels exceeded the state contaminant limit of 5 parts per billion and reached, at points, beyond 50 parts per billion. Once the MTBE levels dropped, the wells returned to service without any treatment, according to court records.
Water contaminated by MTBE has a foul taste and odor. While the health hazards of low doses of the additive are unknown, in high quantities it's a potential carcinogen, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. MTBE was used to oxygenate gasoline.
Despite the MTBE detection, district officials have said the water distributed to their 8,000 customers is safe to drink. As of January 2012, the district had spent more than $5 million on the MTBE issue, including paying for imported water to replace the tainted supplies. An engineering expert hired by the district estimated that installing and operating filters to strip MTBE from the groundwater would cost about $47 million.
The district argued in court documents that while MTBE levels have fallen over time and are now below state limits, they could rise again as the plume of the contaminant shifts beneath the ground. But the gas companies claimed that the district's assumptions about future contamination levels were flawed.
"The parties agree that in light of the expenses of future litigation, the uncertainty of any possible verdict, and any appeals which might have been successful if pursued, the amount of monies paid should not be construed as anything other than the compromise of disputed liability," according to the settlement reached with Valero and filed with the court Thursday.
The other settlements express similar sentiments. While most agreed to fork over about $4 million each, Lyondell Chemical is set to pay just $700,000.
According to its settlement agreement, Lyondell never operated any gasoline stations or storage facilities near the district's wells and merely sold MTBE to refiners and oil companies.
"There is no evidence to suggest that MTBE manufactured by Lyondell has ever reached or threatened to reach any of [the district's] drinking water wells or groundwater," their settlement states.
Bunn, the water district's attorney, said he could not expand on the latest developments due to agreements with the oil and chemical companies.
It could take a few months before the remaining three settlements are signed by a judge.
Follow Brittany Levine on Google+ and on Twitter: @brittanylevine.
Don't read this while driving: Glendale insurance rates among highest in state
Man allegedly stabbed woman who fell from car, is charged with murder
Crescenta Valley High parents, students, graduate stand up for Stengel Field


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Center for Ethics Events Open with Panel DiscussionThe Center for Ethics will kick off their fall programming with a campus forum, "How Should We Talk About Sex at Muhlenberg," on Tuesday, September 10, at 7:30 p.m. in Miller Forum, Moyer Hall.
Friday, September 6, 2013 08:25 AM
Muhlenberg faculty, students and administrators, including the College's President Randy Helm, will discuss the concept of sex, ethics, and pleasure politics from various perspectives. This event is free and open to the public, and provides a framework for the rest of the programming for the Sex, Ethics, and Pleasure Politics series.
Although sexual activity is a central part of socialization and identity formation, sexual behavior is generally considered a private matter and is seldom examined critically in the public sphere. Universities are no exception; college students - regardless of whether they choose to have sex - are immersed in a campus culture in which 'private' sexual beliefs and behaviors shape the 'public' undergraduate social experience, and yet the uncritical attitudes that shape these beliefs and behaviors are rarely interrogated or considered within an ethical frame.
The forum will be moderated by Lanethea Matthews, associate professor of political science, and will feature: student Mel Ferrara '15; Corey Goff, director of athletics; President Helm; Robin Riley-Casey, director of multicultural life; and Alan Tjeltveit, Professor of psychology.
This forum aims to utilize a variety of perspectives to begin exploring critical questions such as: How do differing moral, political and sociological attitudes toward sexuality shape our ethics? How do these attitudes enrich or inhibit the possibility of sexual pleasure? How do attitudes about pleasure, the body, identity and individuality define what sorts of sexual activity will be considered permissible or impermissible? Is pleasure something that we ought to pursue and promote? What is our ethical responsibility to the pleasure of others? How might a comprehensive sexual ethics cause us to rethink our understanding of justice and interpersonal responsibility?
For more information, visit the Center for Ethics online.


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Following Blizzard's Enslavers campaign, this (future) collection of small StarCraft Veterane Campaigns will tell the stories of rather unknown heroes of the three races. While the stories are kept interesting and full of atmosphere, the focus is set on the challenging aspect of these campaigns - they are meant to be a challenge for true veterans on the battlefield. These missions will be very hard to beat.
Only registered members can share their thoughts. So come on! Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation.
CoOp Campaign Darmeg Alliance


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Your browser does not support iframes.
Shelby County Community Theatre veteran Olivia Martin (shown as Rapunzel) in the "Mind's Eye" theatre production of "Into the Woods" was presented in the "Mex" theatre at the Kentucky Center for the Arts. Starting at age 13, she appeared in several SCCT productions. She credits this experience as giving her the confidence to continue participating in community theatre. A graduate of the University of Louisville, she is teaching in the JCPS system. Olivia is the daughter of Kelly and Lynn Martin of Shelbyville.
The Shelby County Community Theatre is stepping out of its comfort zone this month with the upcoming performance of Drowsy Chaperone, an award-winning Broadway musical.
"This is a huge undertaking for the theatre," SCCT President Cheryl Van Stockum said in an E-mail. "I am so proud of the theatre for taking on such a project."
The show's director David Pilkinton echoed her enthusiasm.
"We're mounting a major Broadway musical, it won five Tony's in 2006," he said.
Sixth and Main Coffeehouse will presents Kentucky artists and authors. Original works will be for sale at each event.
Ben Nay artist showcase, 2 to 4 p.m., Jan. 24
Monthly secular society meeting, 5 to 6 p.m., Jan. 31 — last Saturday of each month
Chad Waits artist showcase, 2 to 4 p.m., Feb. 21
Elizabeth Lauer Sharrett photography showcase, 2 to 4 p.m., March 28
A year after losing their gallery on Main Street, Shelby Artists on Main has a new focus and will soon have a new name for their group, as well.
And the group wants to share its vision with the community.
Taking in a play about murder and rape and other terrible atrocities committed against women may not seem like a relaxing way to spend a couple of hours at the theatre.
However, those involved in the play "Necessary Targets," opening Friday at Shelby County Community Theater, say that while the story of what five Bosnian women endured in a civil war in the 1990s may be gruesome, it's also very inspiring and uplifting.
Great American Dulcimer Convention
to be held at Pine Mountain State Resort
Dulcimer players from near and far will gather Sept. 26-27 at Pine Mountain State Resort Park at Pineville for the 2014 Great American Dulcimer Convention.
Matthews book reading
Sutherland to have
poetry reading
Eric Sutherland will be reading poetry from his latest book "Pendulum" on August 16th at 6th and Main Coffee House. Sutherland is a native of Shelby County and now resides in Lexington. For more information, contact the Sixth and Main Coffeehouse at firstname.lastname@example.com.
New Shelby Artists on Main workshops
Free guided tours
at Kentucky Artisan Center
On Saturday, Aug. 9, the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea will offer visitors free guided tours through the center's gallery exhibit, "Repurposed & Recycled: Works by Kentucky Artisans," and the lobby exhibit, "Kentucky Bourbon: Distillation and Inspiration."
Marilyn Foulke to demonstrate
during Berea's Quilt Extravaganza
Copyright © 2019
The Sentinel-News is your source for local news, sports, events and information in Shelby County and Shelbyville, KY, and the surrounding area.


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Events for Week of October 11, 2010
Written by Jess R.
A low key weekend began with a Dogfish Head Punkin Ale at Whisk(e)y Bar (my new favorite, local watering hole), several Firestone Walker Union Jack IPAs, a New Belgium/Elysian Trip III and several Fresh Hop beers (it was a rough week at work, ok). Other beer highlights include Port Brewing's Old Viscosity, an imperial stout worth a moment of silence and a couple of tall boys of Rainier. And now for your week in beer.
Monday, October 11, 2010
" I Love New York" Beer Week Begins: New York, New York
All week @ the Spring Lounge
Start spreading the news, its All New York, all week, with beer from Brooklyn, Ommegang, Captain Lawrence, Ithaca Brewing Co., Greenport Harbor, Coney Island, Sixpoint, Southern Tier, and more. Check out www.beermenus.com for details on the special events this week.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Green Flash Night: Whittier, California
7:00PM-9:00PM @ The Bottle Room
Not only will all patrons receive discounts on beer, the first 36 guests will receive a complimentary Green Flash Brewing Co. pint glass with the purchase of a regularly priced draft (minus $1 for LA Beer Week). From there, bring your pint glass in and receive a $1 off Green Flash drafts until the kegs are kicked. Green Flash flights will be available–4-4 ounce pours for $11. Expect some special Green Flash beers not available elsewhere to the public.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Avery Rumpkin Release: Boulder, Colorado
6:00PM-9:00PM @ Avery Brewing Co.
AN IMPERIAL PUMPKIN ALE AGED IN RUM BARRELS. Stop by Avery Brewing Co. (where the magic happens) and experience the release of what sounds like am amazing, seasonal brew. Imperial Pumpkin Ale brewed with pumpkin puree and a blend of five spices. Aged in extremely fresh Gosling's Rum barrels for six months. Consume fresh and often, preferably with a pumpkin pie and/or s'mores.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Unibroue Beer Tasting: Cincinnati, Ohio
6:00PM-8:00PM @ Catskeller
Just $10.00 and you get beer from Unibroue paired with small plates. What a deal! The menu reads as follows:
Maudite: with bruchetta
La Fin Du Monde: with bacon scallops
Ephemere: with brie and apricot phylo
Don de Dieu: with smoked turkey club with feta cut in fourths
Terrible: with sharp cheddar quiche
Trois Pistoles: with rich chocolate brownies
Friday, October 15, 2010
Cleveland Beer Week Begins: Cleveland, Ohio
From the website:
The second annual CLEVELAND BEER WEEK will take place from October 15-23, 2010. A celebration of craft and import beers, CLEVELAND BEER WEEK features plenty of tastings, dinners, activities and more at more than 100 venues throughout Cuyahoga County and beyond. We hope you will join us as we celebrate the world of craft and imported brews at CLEVELAND BEER WEEK.
This beer week will not disapoint with participating breweries such as Hoppin' Frog, Thirsty Dog, Great Lakes Brewing Co. and more. As if you weren't excited enough, 12 breweries who participated in the largest known collaboration of its kind in the world, creating six brews. Family members have already agreed to mail us a six pack. Oh man! For more information, visit the event site.
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Great Pumpkin Beer Fest: Seattle, Washington
(Saturday and Sunday) 12:00PM – the beers get tapped and the place shuts down @ Elysian Brewing Co., Capital Hill Location
I know we already did a write up about this event, but I am so damn excited, I had to mention it here- click here for details about the event from bb.com. Expect a crowd, a well-deserved crowd of people thirsty for pumpkin beers from Elysian, Russian River, Jolly Pumpkin and so many more. Sour pumpkin beers, pumpkin stouts, spiced ales and possibly beer brewed in a pumpkin. Also, get there early and you might get a sweet little taster glass (at least we did last year).
Sunday, October, 17, 2010
Farmhouse Ale Dinner: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
5:00PM-9:00PM @ The South Philadelphia Taproom
All you can eat harvest foods and beers for $50.00 (includes tax and tip). Featured beers include: Ommegang Hennepin, Sly Fox Saison Vos, Saison Dupont, St. Feuillien and more!
If you go to an event, want to talk about an event or a beer you had at an event, leave a comment or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com. Cheers!
October 12, 2010 at 9:20 am


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About Aaron McCollough
English Literature Librarian, University of Michigan
An interesting conversation is brewing on the ILI-I listserv (beginning with this post http://lists.ala.org/sympa/arc/ili-l/2012-02/msg00125.html) over the range and limitations of "library function" and "mission creep." The specific question pertains to citation instruction and related questions of academic integrity. Although it is pretty well established in the various Information Literacy guidelines (ACRL, AASL, etc.) that knowing how to "use information" is a key student learning outcome (along with knowing how to locate and to evaluate information), there is plenty of room for debate about what "use" means. Thus, the poles of the discussion on ILI-I seem to be: proper citation is a writing issue and therefore outside the scope of library function–on the one side–and–on the other side: proper citation is both a writing issue and a library issue… we need to be collaborating with writing programs insofar as we can.
I've refrained from entering the fray up to this point. In part, my feeling is that others have expressed my basic position, which is something like this: we all recognize that the world of information is changing in deep ways and at fairly high velocity, and we also want to foster student learning in whatever forms that world is taking, so "mission creep" might not be the right analogy here. In addition to this, I'd add that I think proper citation and a focus on academic integrity are really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to spheres of overlap between the information literacy goals tacitly operating in most introductory writing course learning outcome statements and potential growth areas in library-based information literacy instruction. In other words, I think "writing issues" are "information issues" and that they are the responsibility of many programs/units (including writing programs and writing centers, obviously, but also libraries). I also think that framing this responsibility as a new burden rather than a new opportunity is unfortunate. I'd rather view it as a way to think about demonstrating our value in new ways. Evolving.
Don't most of us LES members have a vested interest in seeing library instruction and writing instruction finding fellowship, especially as writing pedagogy trends towards focusing more on They Say, I Say-style engagement with the moves successful writers make and less on the traditional "research paper"? Shouldn't we be trying to articulate what the library can offer students trying to make successful writing moves, and–anyway–isn't this a vital question in how to "use" information?


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Permission Numbers - Faculty & Staff
- Permission numbers are given at the discretion of the instructor or department
- Permission numbers do not expire until successfully used
- Permission numbers can not override time conflicts. Thereby, instructors need to provide a Time Conflict Memo on department letterhead, indicating that student will be accommodated. Student will need to take the letter in person at window "R", in the Student Services Center(SSC). Our staff need to enroll for student.
- Assign only one permission number per student
SJSU Catalog : Fall 2012(or current term) - Policies and Procedures : Registration and Tuition Fees : Registration - Adding a Class : "Instructor Consent" or "Department Consent"


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If your commitment and longing for full awakening and freedom is the top priority in your life, if you have heard the ancient inner call to remember, then I invite you to join me in my awareness that you are truly the Divine Expression of All Love. I call you to enter the yes with me, and open to living within the Peace and Joy of All Love.
Most of humanity believes that the Divine Expression of All Love is so exalted that it is beyond their reach. The doorway of the Awakened Heart reveals that such magnificence is not exalted. Nor is it reserved for exalted beings. It is all there is, and as such is ordinary. The secret is within the ordinariness, where you embrace the simplicity of your magnificence that has always been the Divine Truth of All Love. I call you to join me in a world without struggle.
To enquire about a private sessions, personal retreats, or to ask a question, contact Chris Celine by clicking the button below:
News and Events
Chris Celine - Buddha at the Gas Pump Interview
Live Video Streams
Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 pm Pacific time
Recent audio recordings have been posted. These high quality recordings are available for listening or downloading to your iPod here.
Private one-on-one phone and Skype sessions now available
Contact us to learn more about how to get a private session with Chris Celine via phone or Skype.
Coming Events
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Transformational Session/Satsang
Most Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:45 pm
Please call Judith for address and directions: 541-951-5577
Requested donation $10-20
If you would like to make a donation, click below or contact us. Awakened Heart is a non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible .


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My vote is Andre Carter. He was deemed expendable by that idiot Mike Nolan when the 49ers switched to a 3-4 defense. He went to Washington and performed very well until those idiots decided to take good 4-3 personnel and change to a 3-4 defense. Now he's in New England with a coach who knows how to play him and he smacked Sanchize for 4.5 sacks.
Also, Andre Carter is a Cal grad. He's a polite and humble man as anyone who's interacted with him on twitter can attest. @mr_carter93
Andre Carter is my Man of the Week.


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The Thorn-Clarke family has a long history in the Barossa - six generations of involvement in the region's world famous wine industry. The winery owners - David and Cheryl Clarke (born Thorn), daughter Nicole, and son Sam - strive to ensure their children and the next generations will inherit a successful, respected, and environmentally sustainable business that continues to produce premium wines.
The name Thorn-Clarke represents the union between two families with deep roots in the Barossa Valley and six generations of grape growing. Cheryl Clarke's (nee Thorn) family were one of the earliest settlers in the region and have been growing grapes since the 1870s. The Thorn family property 'Clifton' is home to one of the oldest Shiraz vineyards in Australia, and perhaps the world, with earliest records for plantings dating back to 1854. It is still owned and operated by Cheryl's brother.
David Clarke's family was also a pioneer in the Barossa Valley but more famously for mining gold. An ancestor, James Goddard, was responsible for opening the Lady Alice gold mine in the Barossa goldfields, the largest gold mine in South Australia at the time. A geologist by training and wine lover at heart, David set about testing soils to identify prime plots of land to acquire and plant vines. David and Cheryl's first vineyard in 1987 was Kabininge, outside Tanunda (the name means "watering hole" in aborigine). They later acquired more land in Barossa and in The Eden Valley. This took a lot of Australian pluck at that time. During the late 1980s the South Australian government was sponsoring growers to remove vines, not plant them, to manage oversupply.
Following success as grape growers supplying other Barossa wineries with fruit, David and Cheryl founded the Thorn-Clarke winery in 2002 with daughter, Nicole, and son, Sam. The Thorn-Clarke family has a strong belief in the age-old saying "you can't make good wine from bad grapes." Theirs is a long term approach to serve as a custodian for the Barossa's reputation and their families' commitment to making great wines. The vineyard team focuses first on nurturing quality grapes from prime land without cutting corners. Once grapes are harvested and into the winery it's about balance: using specific strains of yeast and appropriate types of oak to create complexity without overpowering the fruit.
The approach has worked, and the family has struck gold with its wines, collecting a succession of trophies and medals at international wine shows. The Eden Valley vineyard has become synonymous with high quality white wines and the Barossa with high quality reds.
Thorn-Clarke has a strong belief in the age old saying "you can't make good wine from bad grapes" and to this they owe a lot of their success. In the late 1980's, governments were sponsoring growers to pull vines in an attempt to overcome an oversupply in the industry. Against trend, David Clarke, a geologist by training, set about testing soils and buying land (at one time under car headlights to avoid local farmer suspicion) with the intention of establishing his own vineyards in the Barossa. Developing a great understanding for the diversity of the Barossa, David purchased land in two sections of the Eden Valley and two in the Barossa Valley. The Eden Valley has since become synonymous with high quality white wines and the Barossa with high quality reds.
Barossa Valley
The Barossa Valley was settled in the early 1840s by small farmers and artisans seeking religious freedom from their native Silesia (now Poland). The warm, fertile valley is ideal for ripening grapes, especially red varietals.
Kabininge Vineyard
Located on the Barossa Valley floor at just 270 metres (886 feet) above sea level, the 33 hectare (81.5 acres) Kabininge vineyard is true Barossa Valley terroir. The dark grey to dark brown carbonaceous clay soil is referred to as "Bay of Biscay," named after the rough seas off the coast of France. While this reactive soil can cause mayhem for the foundations of buildings, it's conducive to growing grapes. The vineyard is predominantly Shiraz – the variety for which the Barossa Valley is best known – supported by smaller plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
Elevation: 270m (886 feet)
Rainfall: 500mm (19.7 inches)
St Kitts and Truro Vineyards
Cooler and with lower rainfall than Kabininge, these northern Barossa vineyards totaling 103 hectares (255 acres), have an elevation of between 380 and 410 metres (1,247-1,345 feet). Thin, moderately well-developed residual soils comprised of marble, schist, Truro Volcanics and Heatherdale Shale necessitate a careful vineyard layout matching variety to soil type, restricting yields. The tough conditions make vines work hard to produce voluptuous whites and enduring reds. Shiraz again is the predominant red varietel supported by plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec.
Elevation: 390 metres (1,280 feet)
Rainfall: 480 mm (19 inches)
Eden Valley
First planted with vines by Englishman Joseph Gilbert in 1847, this verdant cool climate region has become synonymous with white wines of exceptional quality and reds with a wisp more elegance than from Barossa. Thorn-Clarke has two vineyards in Eden Valley.
Mount Crawford Vineyard
With higher rainfall and elevations up to 475 meters (1,558 feet) above sea level, the 37 hectare (91 acres) Mount Crawford Vineyard provides a cool climate setting for white varietals Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. Its north facing location provides much needed warmth in spring and autumn, and the tough mountain soil makes the vines work hard to achieve excellent flavor and acid levels.
Elevation: 470 m (1,542 feet)
Rainfall: 775 mm (305 inches)
Milton Park Vineyard
Located between Angaston and Keyneton at 330-400 metres (1,082-1,313 feet) above sea level, the Milton Park Vineyard is located in classic cool climate sub-region recognized for its many outstanding Shiraz producers. Blocks of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are planted to maximize fruit exposure to lower autumn sun while Petit Verdot is planted to at lower levels for more direct sunlight.
Elevation: 350 m (1,149 feet)
Rainfall: 545mm (21.5 inches)
Thorn-Clarke's winemaking team has the philosophy that great wines are made in the vineyard not the winery and that the members of the teams are custodians rather than creators of quality. Helen McCarthy, who leads their winemaking team, strongly believes that to make wines with complexity and elegance, the first step is getting the vineyards right.
Once harvested, the winemaking team uses the differences in vineyard expression to their advantage. The winemakers spend enormous amounts of time tasting the wines and perfecting blends. Their yeast and oak philosophy is simple, they should add to the complexity and balance of the wine, they shouldn't dominate it. In both cases the selection of strain or oak type depends on the characters and structure naturally found in the fruit.
This successful, reasonably large operation with vineyards dating back to the 1850s offers an assortment of wines under various labels (Milton Park, Terra Barossa, Shotfire Ridge, and William Randall). Their offerings are undeniably seductive, modern-styled, classic South Australian wines exhibiting copious quantities of upfront fruit, full body, and abundant oak. The proprietors claim they "over deliver."
-Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #161, October 2005
I had loved [Thorn Clarke] values when I was covering Australia. They come from David Thorn and Cheryl Clarke, the latest family members following six generations of vignerons and wine producers in the Barossa Valley, tracing their history back through 1870. Like a number of producers in South Australia, the quality here is extremely high and the prices very consumer-friendly
-Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #201, June 2012


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With NYCFC comes grand vision for soccer
NEW YORK -- The metro area's newest sports team took center stage on Wednesday, when the Yankees and Manchester City Football Club joined forces to unveil their newest property.
Those two sporting clubs have partnered to create New York City Football Club, the newest member of Major League Soccer and a team with massive potential to change the game in America.
NEW YORK -- The metro area's newest sports team took center stage on Wednesday, when the Yankees and Manchester City Football Club joined forces to unveil their newest property.
Those two sporting clubs have partnered to create New York City Football Club, the newest member of Major League Soccer and a team with massive potential to change the game in America.
The new team, abbreviated as NYCFC, won't begin play until 2015, and it doesn't even have a permanent home yet. New Jersey native and former national team captain Claudio Reyna was named as NYC FC's director of football on Wednesday, but the focus was on a team that could become an institution.
"On behalf of my entire family and the Yankees organization, I just want to express my excitement about being a part of this endeavor," said Hal Steinbrenner, the managing general partner of the Yankees. "Soccer, as most of us know, continues to be one of the fastest growing sports in the country, particularly among our youth. And the MLS is one of the fastest growing leagues in the world. I do believe great things are going to happen here. This team is going to be a great thing for New York City."
That point, made by Steinbrenner and reiterated several times by other speakers, found itself a fitting backdrop on Wednesday. The club's opening news conference was located at Lexington Academy in East Harlem, a school that has already seen the difference soccer can make in the community.
Manchester City built a rooftop soccer field -- the only one of its kind in Manhattan -- on the sixth floor of Lexington Academy, and it provides staff that participate in free soccer instruction as part of the school's curriculum. More than 1,300 students have gotten a chance to play soccer as part of the program at Lexington Academy, and a sign on the rooftop field dares the students to dream big.
"Take your place," the sign said. "This is where dreams come true, where history is made and memories created. This is your chance to play your part in the latest chapter of an exciting new era. Be part of it."
Ferran Soriano, Manchester City's chief executive officer, said Wednesday that he wants that philosophy to be the guiding light behind the New York City Football Club. He made that point in an interesting way as he read a public statement from Manchester City's founding in 1880.
"By providing the opportunity to play football, we hope to improve the lives of people in difficult times," said Soriano, reading the statement and making it relevant once again. "This statement came in the time of the Industrial Revolution and indeed in very difficult times in Manchester. But today, we're here and we believe the same thing: We're trying to improve the lives of people through soccer. Isn't that amazing? It's 130 years later. Soccer can be a metaphor of life. It is life in 90 minutes, life on a pitch."
Manchester City, the Premier League champions in 2012 and the runners-up this season, have built similar fields and youth development programs in Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles and Miami. And while they look at developing the youth of tomorrow as a gesture toward the well-being of society, Soriano said that Manchester City also believes in the immense potential of soccer's growth in America.
"We're giving birth to a new football club: The New York City Football Club," said Soriano of sponsoring a brand new team in a foreign league. "We are enthusiastic believers of the development of soccer in the US. We are thrilled to be in New York, the capital of the world. And we found in the MLS one of the best-managed leagues in the world. It was obvious for us. This is what we wanted to do."
And if it was obvious for Manchester City, it was a godsend for Major League Soccer.
The league has expanded by leaps and bounds in recent seasons, growing from 10 teams at inception to 20 when NYCFC begins play in 2015. Los Angeles became the sport's first two-city market, with the L.A. Galaxy and Chivas USA sharing a home field and competing for the local fanbase.
NYCFC will have a rival in the New York Red Bulls, but the two teams aren't expected to share a field. The Red Bulls play in Harrison, N.J., and NYCFC is expected to break ground in Queens. But wherever it winds up, MLS commissioner Don Garber is confident that New York is big enough to house two teams.
"New York City has always been a soccer town," said Garber. "It's had sold-out crowds for World Cup matches ... and lots of international friendlies, including an exhibition game that will take place in Yankee Stadium this Saturday. We saw one of the largest crowds ever to attend a soccer match in this area when the MLS All-Stars played the World All-Stars in 1997. And now Major League Soccer will take center stage in this region now that NYCFC will begin play in 2015 with a cross-town rival -- or a cross-river rival -- in the New York Red Bulls, who play in Harrison, N.J., in Red Bull Arena."
Garber, whose league hopes to expand to 22 teams by 2020, said that Wednesday is another "historic day" for soccer in New York, and he pointed out that his league's average stadium attendance is third among American sports, trailing only Major League Baseball and the National Football League.
And while the new team's future home is uncertain, New York can point to a busy recent history of building new venues. Randy Levine, president of the Yankees, spoke before Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Wednesday, and he lauded the city's chief executive for presiding over the stadium boom.
"I just wanted to take a moment to thank the Mayor and congratulate the Mayor," said Levine. "Mr. Mayor, you may recall, just a few years ago, thanks to your leadership, Yankee Stadium was born. The Barclays Center was born. Citi Field was born. All the gloom-and-doomers were around, all the people who said it couldn't happen. ... Nobody is saying that or any of those things today."
Bloomberg accepted those plaudits and passed them on to his staff, but he said the important part is that sports pay the city back for their support. Bloomberg said that more than two million people in New York City play soccer, and he stressed that the game is tied to the region's economic growth.
"We haven't had a Major League soccer franchise in the five boroughs since the Cosmos left back in the 70s," said Bloomberg of the former NASL franchise. "Back then, many other businesses were leaving New York as well. But today was another example in how far we've come in reversing this trend and how we're bringing new jobs, new businesses and major investments back to New York. I think it's a great show of confidence in our city's future and in the future of soccer here. That confidence is well justified."
Reyna, the guest of honor, was the last man to speak on the dais Wednesday, and he expressed disbelief in the path his career has taken. Reyna, a native of Livingston, N.J., went on to play college soccer at the University of Virginia and played professionally both here and abroad.
Reyna played in Germany and in Scotland before playing for Sunderland and Manchester City in England, and he finished his career state-side with the Red Bulls. Reyna made 111 appearances for Team USA, and he said he's excited to be the director of the New York City Football Club.
"As a player here in the United States, I grew up and truly cannot believe today," said Reyna. "I grew up in New Jersey and didn't even dream of playing professional soccer, because we had no league. It was the tail end of the NASL, and I was very young, so I do have vague memories of the Cosmos and some of the other teams. But they're very, very vague memories. I think, as a league, the MLS, and as a national team -- US Soccer and the youth game, boys and girls -- how far we've come is really incredible."
It is, indeed, but the more daunting thought is how far the US has to go. Team USA beat England in the 1950 World Cup, but then it went four decades without appearing in the World Cup again. America has made some soccer strides in the last 20 years, but it is still by no means an accepted world power.
The MLS can change that, and it has produced many players good enough to compete for a chance at playing on the national team. Now, with two teams in New York, the lens has changed. MLS is making an aggressive move to expand in Manhattan, and the game at home could follow suit.
"Now, in our 18th season and with 20 teams throughout the US and Canada, we have a big vision," said Garber of the league's immediate future. "Our vision is to be one of the top soccer leagues in the world in the next 10 years. Today's announcement is one step toward achieving that big goal."
Spencer Fordin is a reporter for MLB.com.


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Patty Wagstaff (1951- )
In 1991 Wagstaff was the first woman to win the title of U.S. National Aerobatic Champion. She holds licenses to fly multiple aircraft, including commercial and helicopters. Today she is a premier airshow attraction, teaches aerobatics, and performs stunts in movies and television. The recipient of many awards and championships, Wagstaff was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2004.


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Week of 3.5.10
Food, Inc.Behind the food we love—Secrets that giant food companies don't want you to know.
It appears that your computer does not have the Flash Player required to view NOW videos. Visit Adobe to download and install the latest version of the Flash Player.
Americans have a longstanding love affair with food—the modern supermarket has, on average, 47,000 products. But do we really know what goes into making the products we so eagerly consume?
The Weekly Q
This week, David Brancaccio talks with Robert Kenner, director of the Oscar-nominated documentary "Food, Inc.," which takes a hard look at the secretive and surprising journey food takes on the way from processing plants to our dinner tables. The two discuss why contemporary food processing secrets are so closely guarded, their impact on our health, and another surprising fact: how consumers are actually empowered to make a difference.
Find out why you'll never look at dinner the same way.
This show was originally broadcast on June 5, 2009
Web FeaturesIn the News
What You Can Do To Change Our Food System
Ten steps you can take to improve the quality of your food (and your health).
A Food Poison "Epidemic"
An expert on foodborne illness litigation offers his advice on fighting food poisoning in America.
Q & A: Eric Schlosser
What do the food industry and the financial crisis have in common? The author of "Fast Food Nation" makes the connection.
BBC: Chicken into Nuggets
Boston Globe: Demand and prices rise for organic food, but supply falls
Forbes: Wal-Mart milk to be hormone-free
The New York Times: Second Company Is Implicated in Outbreak Linked to Spinach
NPR: Beef Recall Follows Animal-Abuse Scandal
Reuters: Starbucks revamps bakery food ingredients
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With 1970's The Vampire Lovers, the Hammer House of Horror took a turn toward softcore exploitation. It stars the short-lived but long admired scream queen Ingrid Pitt, a husky-voiced Eastern-European beauty who over the years has become an icon for Hammer fans and one of the genre's most attention-getting sex symbols.
The Vampire Lovers was made at a time when Hammer was in decline, as was most of the rest of the British film industry. With their Gothic horrors losing international appeal, Hammer crossed the censor barrier and introduced nudity into their product. Since a large part of the U.S. horror audience had appealed to kids, the move to more sex and nudity didn't help Hammer's fortunes. The Vampire Lovers was heavily cut for the states, yet still saddled with an "R" rating. Ads promoting the sex angle ruled out matinee crowds, and adults patrons were infuriated by obvious cuts that excised the promised erotic thrills.
In the late 1990s concerned film asset management specialists at MGM took special care to restore The Vampire Lovers to the longest original cut possible. Fifteen years later, it emerges once again on Blu-ray, on license to Shout Factory's subsidiary Scream Factory.
Tudor Gates' screenplay jams a lot of skin and too many characters into an adaptation (by Gates, Michael Style and producer Harry Fine) of Sheridan le Fanu's seminal horror tale Carmilla. Using different names -- Marcilla, Carmilla, Mircalla -- a lesbian vampire of the Karnstein line (Ingrid Pitt) decimates two noble families one virgin at a time. Brought for a visit by The Countess (Dawn Addams), Carmilla seduces and possesses Laura (Pippa Steele) while confounding the family doctor (Ferdy Mayne) and other male visitors like Carl Ebhardt (Jon Finch). As her circle of influence grows, it becomes apparent that both Carmilla and The Countess do the bidding of a mysterious Man in Black (John Forbes-Robertson), often seen waiting in the woods. But when the religious family patriarchs General von Spielsdorf (Peter Cushing) and Baron von Hartog (Douglas Wilmer) discover what is happening, a ruthless campaign of extermination begins.
Only fitfully involving as a vampire story, The Vampire Lovers wastes a substantial gathering of acting talent on a story which could have marked the revival of the Hammer tradition. With free rein finally given to raise the sex content to the level seen in European films, the studio had an opportunity to take the genre in new directions. The British Censors had given Hammer grief from the beginning of their success. The BBFC emasculated a potential Hammer classic when it stripped 1960's The Brides of Dracula of its more daring, reportedly superior screenplay. Ten years later, the 'new freedom of the screen' seems to have inspired little creative innovation beyond showing women's breasts.
The script relegates top talent Peter Cushing to a minor role as one of three vampire hunters. He goes into action for the gory conclusion, while one of his peers does the honors in the atmospheric prologue, beheading a silken-shrouded vampire woman (Kirsten Lindholm). In analyzing Hammer's Karnstein series, critics have characterized the older males as a kind of repressive posse, punishing the sensual excesses of the younger generation with puritan zeal. That theme doesn't really come to mind while watching the show: the choice of shots always makes sure we have a view of the celebrated Hammer breastworks.
Director Roy Ward Baker came to Hammer near the end of a sterling career in British film. His direction of Quatermass and the Pit shows some budget crimping but is inspired in comparison to his undistinguished work here. Whether a fault of production or script, no clear tone is created. The ethereal feeling of the prologue (admittedly, a flashback) never returns, and the majority of the film has an arbitrary, un-directed look to it. Baker knows how to put oomph into his vampire attacks, but too much of the story remains vague. The vampires can dematerialize or become invisible (take your pick), but never use that ability when in danger. Who exactly is The Countess, or for that matter, the Man in Black? Too literal and unexciting to be mysterious phantoms, they are mainly unrewarding, unexplained loose ends. Carmilla does her wicked business first in one household, and then moves on to repeat the same thing in another. The vampire attacks / seductions quickly become repetitious, even with the added spice of the nudity.
And what about the nudity? It's straightforward skin-magazine stuff, as if the makers' only previous exposure to sensuality were Playboy centerfolds. The various caressing and fondling is so tame, Carmilla hardly seems a threat as a vampire or as a lesbian. Because the naked Ingrid Pitt looks more relaxed and frankly healthier than anybody else in the picture, she's not particularly vampiric in any traditional sense. Newer vampire stories chasing a younger audience have envisioned the Undead as a new form of liberated beautiful people, but the Twilight movies haven't done the genre any favors. The Vampire Lovers is firmly rooted in the traditions of the Gothic story, but with the nudity throwing everything off balance. The icily physical, highly suspect Ingrid is able to go about her business and nobody even notices. Only closer to the climax does Carmilla loses control of events, when Kate O'Mara goes hysterical and Jon Finch (Roman Polanski's MacBeth) fails to fall for the old 'love me and die' routine. Then we see Carmilla in a more feral mode.
In narrative films hints and teases of nudity generally have a more erotic effect than the 'stand up and show 'em' displays here. The fleeting glimpses of skin in Ferroni's haunting Mill of the Stone Women and Polanski's creepy/comedic The Fearless Vampire Killers carry a stronger erotic charge, and the dramatic process of those shows isn't disrupted by a peep show. However, this reviewer will admit that for many Hammer fans this picture is the perfect mix of sex, blood, fangs and breasts.
The film restoration of The Vampire Lovers was the subject of one of Savant's first articles in 1998, the timidly-titled Restoring Prime Hammer Horror - Nudes and Gore Galore! Fans had long wailed about the raggedly censored film prints and DVDs. An American-International Pictures/Hammer co-production, Vampire Lovers was heavily censored for both England and the United States, leaving big continuity gaps in both the opening and the closing scenes. Savant's article lauded the film restoration work of MGM Technical Services 'team member' James Owsley, that required research to find uncut elements in England. Owsley first discovered the conflicting versions when the best available optical track elements didn't match A.I.P.'s printing negatives. Researcher Gary Teetzel brought forth documentation to support fan claims that the opening and closing sword beheadings were heavily censored. There was also an uncut bathtub scene with full frontal nudity that fans had seen excerpted in English TV docus, along with claims of a another brief angle in the first beheading. A final scene, a shot of a female vampire biting a bloody breast, is a rumor that nobody has actually claimed to have seen cut into the film.
In 1998, only the violent bookends were restored. In preparing the 2003 DVD, Owsley went after the missing nude scene, the absence of which had raised howls of protest in Dick Klemensen's excellent Hammer-phlie magazine Little Shoppe of Horrors. Again, the directors in MGM Tech Services supported returning to England for the original elements for the uncut, unreleased-version. At the time MGM was convinced that everything was restored that could be restored. It is possible that the breast-biting and extra decapitation shots are apocryphal, or that they were in an earlier cut that did not make it to finish.
It's now probable that most fans of The Vampire Lovers have never seen A.I.P.'s bowdlerized theatrical recut. The restored decapitations are a big improvement. The head of the busty first vampire is sliced off with a mighty whack, and now serves as a background for the main title without A.I.P.'s customary tinting nonsense. The main title credits are now a different color, and easier to read over the cluttered map background. At the other end of the picture, the final decapitation of the vampiress in her bier is greatly improved. Peter Cushing now leans heavily on the pike as he impales Carmilla, and holds the severed head, bloody neck and all, in plain view. The, "Wha - what happened? Is it all over?" disappointment of A.I.P.'s old cut is gone forever.
The much-discussed restored bath nudity is just a brief flash of Pitt's nether regions previously covered by a quick cutaway to another actress. It will doubtless thrill the fans that buy these shows to glom the girl flesh. Well, good for them and for Ingrid's ego as well. The film was meant to have it, so it's a proper restoration. 1
Shout/Scream Factory's Blu-ray of The Vampire Lovers presents an older MGM HD transfer that nevertheless displays this popular Hammer feature in a very attractive presentation. The added detail and contrast helps even out the movie's flat, unimpressive cinematography. Interiors are still over-lit and most exteriors tend toward the murky side. Even if the film is no prizewinner for cinematography, its color, texture, detail and flesh tones are improved. The added detail and brightness reveals the overall cheapness of the costumes, and reveals rather careless details. As coaches arrive at the General's party we get a better look past his mansion, and see what look like modern fencing around a grassy area. It may even be the U.K. equivalent of chain link fencing. Was this shot meant to be printed darker?
Also more easily admired in this Blu-ray edition is the dramatic music score by Harry Robertson, billed as Harry Robinson. He scored a lot of kids' shows in addition to all three of the Hammer Karnstein films.
Scream Factory's extras are quite good; the disc's tone is set when the first thing we see is a card from the poster reading: "Caution - Not for the Mentally Immature." Recycled from the older MGM DVD is a commentary with director Roy Ward Baker (sounding rather frail), screenwriter Tudor Gates, who is in fine voice, and Ms. Ingrid, who was genuinely ill but insisted on contributing. An unbilled Jonathan Sothcott moderates the conversation and does a fine job prompting faded memories. A 2003 audio excerpt of Ingrid Pitt reading from the novella Carmilla has been improved with a better still montage.
The featurette Femme Fantastique: Resurrecting The Vampire Lovers is producer-director Daniel Griffith's best making-of piece to date. The show has a clear through line and avoids unnecessary visual embellishment. The contributions of the expert contributors - Kim Newman, David J. Skal, Ted Newsom - offer an interesting analysis of the film. Director Baker is quoted as saying that he read Le Fanu's story twice, and never got the lesbian angle -- does this explain the film's girly-show limitations? Kim Newman ventures the notion that Ingrid Pitt is grossly miscast: as originally conceived she's supposed to be a teenager no older than her initial victims. That's how I remember the novella Carmilla -- like a Victorian sleepover party with an almost passive vampiress as the hungry guest. Another contributor points out that Hammer has reversed the novella's sexual politics. In the novella The Man in Black was not the vampire ringleader; just the servant of the all-commanding Carmilla. I guess the Hammer boys believed in the FVGC: Female Vampire Glass Ceiling.
A second new featurette produced by Greg Carson gives us some welcome input from one of the actresses featured in The Vampire Lovers. Whenever Little Shoppe of Horrors interviewed a 'Hammer Girl' from this period, the conversation eventually turned to the same subject: the gents at Hammer (or their outside producers) would almost without fail inform their actresses that the role would require nudity only just prior to filming. Interviewer Laurel Parker covers that topic in a separate interview with actress Madeleine Smith, who shared several nude scenes with Ingrid Pitt. The congenial Ms. Smith candidly explains that she also was told of the full nature of her role only after signing. The refreshing angle here is that Smith has no accusations to make -- she was an actress at a specific time in films, and she accepted that that's how things were done.
A.I.P.'s original trailer is a pretty good one, as the feature has more than enough sensational non-nude imagery to exploit. An animated "V" for "V"ampire flies onto the screen several times, just as in the trailer for the previous year's The "V"alley of Gwangi. Most of the trailer timing is darker than the feature itself, which makes some of its visuals look a bit richer.
The cover illustration is American-International's Vampire Lovers one sheet (color by Movielab!), possibly the trashiest-looking horror artwork A.I.P. ever put out for a movie not filmed in the Philippines. My copy stayed on the wall just one day before coming down.
1. For all its championing of things Hammer the Little Shoppe of Horrors magazine wasn't very kind to MGM's restorers. There is indeed an extra shot from the opening decapitation that was seen years ago on British TV's The South Banks Show. It's an extra second or two of the severed head hitting the ground. The magazine dismissed MGM's film work as worthless because they didn't find that one shot in either the original neg or Hammer's seps. Return


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Whoa! The blog has been severely neglected... for good reason. We have been busy! We have a lot of projects in the pipeline for some really great clients.
I wanted to take a second to highlight some of the work Bullsprig has recently completed. Over the past weeks, Flash has been the go-to software program. Yea, I know, Flash is not good for SEO, blah, blah. However, there are times when Flash is absolutely wonderful for project needs, e.g., video design and Google AdWords design.
We have been doing a lot of work for One Fund. For those not familiar, One Fund is a professionally managed, global stock ETF. One Fund recently launched and is in the middle of a huge marketing campaign. We've helped One Fund with all sorts of online marketing and design, including: website design, Flash video design, animated AdWords ads, landing page graphics, email marketing and email template design.
I am especially proud of the Flash video we created and produced for One Fund. For SEC reasons, I can't put the video on Bullsprig.com. However, you can view the One Fund video overview by clicking the "Watch Video" button on One Fund's website.
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Italy coach Massimo Barbolini: "I'm glad we won. It was important for us to win and stay with the top teams in the tournament. From the third set we did everything well - serve, block, defend. We have a tough match with the Americans tomorrow."
Italy captain: Eleonora Lo Bianco: "The game changed when we won the second set. We had a good reaction after that. The games are all important now."
Italy player Francesca Piccinini: "We are quite happy with the result. We lost two matches in Hamamatsu. We concentrated and put pressure on them."
German coach Giovanni Guidetti: "They played well in defence and attacked well. They found the Italian way to play. We made a lot of mistakes after the second set."
German captain Christiane Furst: "We played two sets at a really high level. We lost our energy and spirit in the third and fourth sets. They attacked better and found holes in our defence. We lost concentration."