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!MPOSSIBLE Good Deals
!MPOSSIBLE has a few on the wall items marked down to dollarbies. I grabbed mine around midnight on Saturday and just went over to check and they are indeed still out. Since there is a large variety of nice things in the store, the looking is a pleasure too. You never know what you might find that you simply can't live without.
Both this cute dress and the shoes with diamonds were prizes late last eve. These items are also TRANSFER which means you can pass them along to a friend if they turn out not to be you. An extra plus -- aside from the cuteness factor -- about this dress is that the pants are on the underwear layer. Hence, you can wear this as a top under lowrider pants -- always a bonus in my book.
Shown with jewelry from Mooontan.
If you love long skirts and feeling regal, this is for you. And, if you are not into outfits quite so formal, simply lose the skirts and you have a fancy jumpsuit. Add a white open jacket and voila -- another fab look. This also comes in a blue version. See, I WAS looking at the vendors *wink*
So what are you waiting for? Let's go shopping.
Poses by LAP.
And guys, this on the wall hunt is for you too! Yippee. I found some items in the male section of the store, so head on over.
Donnarama @ Baiastice
There is a launch party happening at 1 PM today at Baiastice. TP up to the spaceship to party.
From the notecard:
Sissy Pessoa of Baiastice announces the release of her new skin line, Donnarama Gloss. The skins are available in 7 tones, with 44 makeups for each tone. Each skin comes with 4 different eyebrow colors: Blonde, Red, Brown, and Black. The makeups range from day to night to special events.
The skins are lovely and with ALL those makeups there's bound to be a perfect one -- or two or twenty for you. This is the sunkissed tone which is number four in the tints to shades offerings. There are two gift skins at the landing point at Baiastice. The come in different eyebrow colors to go with your hair shade of the moment.
My back to the seventies top is New Yippie by Baiastice. It comes with the gold belt with sash. I paired it with some shiny leggings from MALT. My earrings are from Lilith, eyes from Treasured Visions, hair by Exile.
Pose by Torridwear.
From the Blogs
I thought I'd feature a few items and posts from other blogs here. Some give you new views of things I blogged, some give you new things I don't have time to check out but look good. You may already know about these if you are a blog connoisseur, but if not ....
- Suri took some great pictures of the Tantric Loving lucky board prize from Belle Belle should you need more convincing to check for your letter during the month. Further down the post there is the CS Fandango tropical bikini in all its glory.
- FabFarah posted about the leyda style – Eliezel dress. It's a linden and looks good from her picks!
- There is a new kind of "hunt" going on for three days - KINKY. We are in day two. Items will be out at stores during certain times but you don't know which day. I went a few places but didn't find anything so can't report any more than that. If you are an avid hunter though you might be interested. The prizes look very nice. Scroll down to the bottom for pictures of all the stores and SLURLs.
- The SXY2ND magazine with the free bikini is now available.
- ICING has a very pretty new dress in the lucky chair.
- Wondering how Designer Showcase Network actually works? Like visuals? This post from the DSN tells it like it really is.
Melt the Guns, Ivey!
Posted by Chic Aeon in shopping on Saturday, May 30, 2009
This is simply and easily my favorite outfit from A-Bomb. I am in love! Melt the Guns is the outfit. The matching shoes are called Ivey. Put them together and you could easily start a riot! So cute.
The capris have cuffs with straps and a prim belt is included. One note here. If you are a tiny avatar you may need to edit the waistband a prim at a time as shrinking isn't an option. The belt is copy and mod so that is certainly possible. If prim manipulation isn't your strong point? Just add a black belt. Not a biggie.
The shoes are platform stunners. There are six colors of sets to choose from. As a bonus, the pink outfit AND the pink shoes are on sale at 25L until Wednesday! I'd call them a dark magenta actually. Not a little girl pink for sure. Other colors are $150.
I added giant black hoops from Ticky Tacky and a double bangle onyx bracelet (NLA).
Poses by LAP.
DSN - Guys 2!
Two nice surprises showed up in my Designer Showcase Network dropbox this morning. The first was this shirt from Has Been Designs. Now -- it is from the MALE clothing channel of DSN. I specifically signed up for that to keep you guys abreast of any new great places. It turns out I really like this shirt. So we'll call it "unisex" shall we? The shirt came along with some matching board shorts, some tees with Hawaiian motifs and such, but this one is the star. The details are extremely nice with the tiniest buttons down the front and fine white trim. The shirt comes in a variety of colors. Tucked in a corner of the store amidst unisex and gal stuff, they sell for $50.
The second sample of note was from Eclectica. It contained a great bangle set in tortoise shell, matching earrings and the cutest scarf. Shown here with a top from L`Abel. This will be such a great set for Fall and Fall will be coming around again. Mother Nature rules. I TPed over to what I thought was a new store to me and found I had been there not long ago. In fact, I featured a gorgeous necklace from there in this post not long ago. I so love that new search feature in the sidebar. Yeah!
So, not a new discovery, but still wonderful things. Definitely stop by! The designs are superb.
Poses by LAP.
Dulcet by Moonshine
Posted by Chic Aeon in shopping
Moonshine has a new shop (party and sale info at the bottom of this post) as well as a cute new release, Dulcet. It features some above the knee pants in a nicely matched check pattern, a great belt and a top on all layers.
I'm not sure if it was the chilly day or my temperament, but I felt the need for a bit more covering up, so I added a jacket from Schadenfreude and a cap from Fashion Nomads. It's breezy on the waterfront after all. With the top on all layers it is easy to build all sorts of looks.
The details are extremely nice on this set including the prim work. I love the laced cuffs, and the belt makes a great mix 'n match accessory for other outfits.
Dulcet comes in pink, tan, aqua and charcoal. Find it near the center of the store on the new release board.
Moonshine is also participating in the Make Him Over Hunt which starts tomorrow. I'm happy that the guys are having their own hunt. Yeah!
There is a reopening party Sunday 10 - 2. Special gifts are in store during those times, DJ spinning tunes and store cards are half price all day. So says the sign.
Have fun.
Poses by Torridwear and LAP.
Style File: Harlow by Journey
If you love PINK and FUN -- and who in their right mind doesn't? -- then Harlow from PRISM is an outfit for you. Full of shimmering highlights with a muli-level skirt and daring front "V", it's difficult not to feel a bit like a showgirl or movie star. The dress comes in two different patterns, plain and striped. If my math club memory can do the permutations, that is two pieces in two colors so -- that's four different dresses in one pack.
OK, the math wasn't that hard. But add all the changes you can do with accessories and the number grows. In this first styling I added some fine fishnet leggings from another Journey set, some gloves from Sn@tch and a hat from Sentou Yousei .
Harlow comes with these stylish, lace up the side, boots. What a great bonus.
Poses by Torridwear.
For a different look, I changed to the sparkly pink top and skirt --the ones sans stripes, added some shiny leggings from MALT and some tall heels from WISH. The great pearl drop necklace called Teaser goes so well with this. It's from Artisty by E.
Hair by Shop Seu. Pose by LAP.
Gardening in Style!
There are a few things I like more than gardening -- but not many. It's something about digging in the dirt, watching the colorful flowers emerge and eating your own just picked produce. And now, for those of us that like to garden in SL too, there is a fun new outfit out at the French Farm. Even better -- it's the dollarbie for the next week.
The great shoes shown here are just like the ones I wear to work in the garden in RL. How's that for realism? They are by Lestat and you can get them here. They are $200 and very cute. Ya just gotta have matching shoes! Well I do *wink*.
I added some old, well used and probably no longer available gloves of my own. They are from SF Design. The very cute sculpty head wrap comes with the set. I love the little flower applique on the back of the short vest.
Poses by [u:ka], Flowering and LAP.
Fade To Black
The designs from Prim and Pixel Paradise keep getting better and better. There is a lovely picks gift out for the ladies called Belladonna. It is darkly Gothic with a huge skirt and very pretty. The male version of the set is shown here, It is available for free until almost midnight on Saturday. With many ways to wear from full regalia to a simpler version, you can fit most any mood. As you can see it looks good on the ladies also. Find it next to the giant picks vendor outside the shop. You can of course have the gown AND this outfit. We are so lucky as women. Yeah!
There are two skirt versions with sash and two cuff versions. You can wear it with the collar or without. So many choices. The skirt flows so nicely and the sash is very nice. Guys can use the sash too if they like to be a bit more Edwardian than my friend here. So zip on over and check this out -- and the store too as there are lots of great things to discover.
Shown with my black leather ankle boots from Shoe Fly.
KaoSome has a new gift out. It is a basic black mini. This isn't just any "basic" dress though simply because it works so well. You can MOVE in the sculpty skirt without walking through the edges. The tiny lace edging, low squared back and built in texture belt add just enough details to make it special and still let you accessorize to your hearts content. For me, that makes it a winner. It comes with a cute lace system skirt option but systems skirts aren't working for me at all currently. So I'll save that for the future. Thank you Linden Labs :D
Find this on the main floor in a giant vendor. It will take a bit of patience for things to rez, so stay calm. If you didn't get the gifts I blogged earlier in the month they are on the second floor on a FREE board. The quality of the design work is excellent in these gifts, so you might want to scan those vendors. You never know what you might find.
I just finished categorizing all my jewelry; it took about eight hours - LOL. But I found a few things I thought I had lost and discovered some I don't remember at all. The necklace shown here is perfect for this ensemble. It is undoubtedly ancient and most likely not available any longer, but it was made by Joanne Capra, so thanks Joanne for making such a fun item.
Second pose by Flowery from Blogger Appreciation week. Thank you!
Hues and Shades
We are a brightly hued bunch this morning. Benicia and Xia are both in free outfits from PasDeDeux. Benicia's Bonbon dress in green was a 10 minute camp at the main PasDeDeux shop. Xia's dress is from the PasDeDeux SLD hunt which is actually at this location. We are all wearing the ballerina leggings gift from the main shop. So this gets a bit complex but there is also a black version of the Bonbon dress at both shops for $1. There is a very cute peach dress dollarbie at the satellite shop. Both stores have lots of other cute clothes to peruse.
I am in New York Couture's Technicolor Dream Coat which arrived in a DSN box this morning. The coat comes with both jeans and plain black slacks but I wanted to match my gal friends so donned a pair of shorts from CS Fandango. The beauty of the coat is that it goes with most anything :D. The jacket comes with a system skirt overlay in two sizes, but neither fit me. Luckily it looks great without it. New York Couture has an eclectic mix of designs. Some very far out and some very traditional. The jacket is in the unisex area of the store and yes, the shirt does come with the jacket; it's an all in one layer.
As a side note, CS Fandango of the green shorts above, has a lot of great things to check out and the summer give away board outside seems to be changing daily. That's pretty exciting. There is also a very cute swim set on the wall by the lucky chair as a dollarbie and the one I blogged the other day is now $10. The great Tropical outfit is still in the MM board. At least that was how it was early this morning :D
Same room, same poses, same gals -- but what a change. Benicia on the left is wearing the feather dress from Never 30. Remember the gift a day for Memorial Day? Well this was one and it is still available at the shop. Xia has on today's free outfit from hO wEAr. It's a sexy black cat suit with very little back involved *wink*. Get it before 8pm as usual. Click the vote box before you head out as a TY and of course shopping is GOOD.
If you've been around Tuli's sim looking at the new skins and such you might have wandered into the Ivalde shop. This Vinca dress is a dollarblie. Find it on the wall in a large vendor. Lots of pretty colors and fun for photos. The big skirt doesn't "walk" very well as you might expect :D. By the way, L`Abel -- the sister label to Ivalde -- has a whole new summer line on the horizon. Lots of great looking things.
Poses by Juicy and Cyanide.
Smart Shopping 'n Prizes
Once again Belle Belle has a fantastic new lucky board prize. It is JUST out and the watch is already on. There are two boards in the two neighboring stores, so four chances and lots of time on the boards to call in friends and let them win. Lucky me, I showed up just in time for an "O" to turn to a "C". Yeah. So I am one of the first with this lovely item.
Here is the info from the notecard:
Retreat for meditation, cuddling, kissing, or relaxing with your favorite person in this beautiful sphere with pretty particles and light effects.Belle Belle Fantasy (two boards here also).
If you're ready for a well deserved break in your long SL day, come and get one today!
The beautiful -- and color coordinating -- silks are from Analise.
My MM box from SD Wears showed up today. I heard there was an issue with the older boards not sending out after breaking. So nice that they regained their "memory" when they got rebooted. Yeah. This is a super cute outfit. I love purple so it gets extra stars from me. Check out the MM board at the shop. It changes from time to time and has been known to have some really great thing in there if you are up in the early morning SL hours. As I write this there are ten slots left. There is also a landmark giver to a satellite store with another board. Today or tomorrow looks like a good time to get this outfit. And of course if you love this, return and SHOP :D .
Viviane is a small shop with some good values. This tank set arrived via DSN this morning and I took a quick trip over to the shop to see what I could see. Prices seem to range from free (SLD Hunt cute tank) to $250 for the newest releases. Most items are in the middle of the road category -- things more than a few of us would wear in RL. But many have a quirkiness about them and that makes it a place you might want to check out. For the budget conscious I found some $1, $5 and $10 items and I wasn't looking all that hard.
The tank above has layers so that the dark teal addition can be left off if you choose. The pants are nicely textured with designs on both front and back and the pockets are where pockets should be -- always a plus. I added some bangles from Pretties by JB as an accent. A gals gotta have her jewelry.
TOWA has one of the new balloon dresses as a limited time dollarbie. Find it on the wall -- soon would be good. While not *my* style, it certainly could be yours. The colors are yummy for sure and they go very well with my Duh! teal clogs. Always nice to have matching shoes.
Other News:
Some of the vendors at the MALT sim have joined to put up a free and dollarbie cart which will change from time to time. From the notecard:
The talented creators at .: MALT :. Village have pulled together to offer you an ongoing Free Stuff Stand. Every item placed on this stand is exclusively provided for you to enjoy, and will be continuously changing freebies/dollarbies so make sure you check back regularly to see more stuff.
Hair by Tiny Bird. Poses by Pffiou and Torridwear.
NEW @ ! RFyre: Providence
Posted by Chic Aeon in shopping, showcase review
Debuting this Saturday, Providence from !RFyre reaches into the depths of your soul. Darkly urban with beautiful textures, the twenty one piece set offers options for every mood.
Shown here with sleeve extensions, cape, sheer leather tunic and one of two pants options -- action is the word of the day.
The lower trench coat with shimmering textures and buckle accents flows gracefully. A resize script is built in for ease of adjustment.
A harness top and alternate pants offer additional choices. Gloves are included as well as open (bare breasted) versions of the tops. Find the new release at !RFyre this Saturday and beyond. It sells for $800 for the 21 piece set.
Black Leather Ankle Boots with Bullets by Shoe Fly, Olivia hair by Tiny Bird, Goggles by Eat Rice (NLA).
Poses by Torridwear and 5ifth Order.
Style File: Black Mirage
Drama is a word I often associate with Sissy Pessoa of BAIASTICE. Black Mirage definitely adds to her legacy of outside the box designs. The shiny belt is extra wide, defying you to ignore it. Buckles and sculpty pieces abound. I especially like the gloves and the scallop texture on the peplum. While the very brave could wear this as a dress, I'm not quite there. So I riffled through my inventory to see some of the various looks this lovely piece would inspire.
For a casual look I peeled off my gloves and added some Where the Boys Are cropped pants from Sn@tch. My new clogs from DUH! are definitely coming in handy and they were perfect for this unconcerned look. Adding some giant black hoops from Ticky Tacky , I'm set for a fun and stylish day. Hair by Tiny Bird, Pose by Mela's.
Switching to the alternate set of shoulder prim pieces gives this a more feminine look should that be your style. Skirts are a bit tricky as so many attachment points are filled, but clever folks can make a copy of existing skirts and attach to a spot not taken. I found the skirt from Lemania worked without adjustments and looked cute to boot. I added some Juicy slingbacks, some bangles from Harlot and I was set for a ladylike adventure. You may have noticed that the belt changed colors. It is mod, so tintable and that gives you LOTS more options. And we love options, don't we?
Pose by LAP.
Dark and dangerous, a creature of the night Black Mirage moves into RP land. Changing skins and changing character, I added SYD - Vampiress Skin - 9/11 Makeup (now Tea Lane), leggings from the Roxy outfit by MALT and Manhattan boots from ORA TREI DESIGNS. My Medusa hair with snakes (natch) is from The Stringer Mausoleum and Shrine.
Pose by Lazy Places.
Pastel Pleasures
Freebies, gifts and dollarbies add wonderful touches to our existing wardrobes. We can have splashes of color and try out new styles (and designers) without breaking the bank. Donna Flora has a fun top and super scarf for a dollarbie on the bargain table. This outfit comes with a short system skirt that is quite nice. That is until you try and wear a system skirt under the new server code. For me at least, it isn't an option. So until SL(R) gets it together and fixes that, I suggest you save the skirt and go with pants or shorts. I got on my new [LeLutka] - MICK pants and the super belt that comes with. What a cute outfit. Boot credits below. Hair from Tiny Bird.
LeeZu! has some gifts out in the bargain area. Find them wrapped up prettily and grouped on a large table display. The outfit I am wearing came with a short open skirt. I gave that up in favor of the white stole from Peppermint Blue (an IZUMYA gift previously blogged). I added some white stocking (NLA) and my Image Reflections short boots. The oh so pretty necklace I blogged a few days ago from Shine goes perfectly. My Total Betty tank (NLA) keeps those abs warm.
Poses by IZUMIYA.
RP to Mainstream
hO wEAr which I have come to love has a great free outfit out today until 8 pm. In all its glory, it is a pirate wench dress and comes with sword, beige blouse with flowing sleeves and pirate hat. I went without a bit of the RP accessories to make it more mainstream. I did keep the snake armband *wink*. The red skirt, open at the side is very fetching -- as a pirate wench might desire; the nylons are super cool. All in all there are lots of possibilities in this set, so if you have even a bit of wenchiness in ya, you might want to journey over to HeidiHo's place.
Hair by Magika, shoes by Juicy and poses from Torridwear. The poses are part of a sample set from DSN and they are fantastic. Very different with lots of character. And what is RP without a bit of character thrown in?
The MM board changed yesterday at RBZ Design. There are two leather biker jackets up for clicking. This is the guy version which I actually like better, but who says you can't click on both? The male version has a eagle on the back, the gals a rose. This style comes with an opened look option so you could wear all sorts of shirts and undershirts underneath. Ah the possibilities.
Worn here with leather pants from the same store. Find them upstairs or wait patiently for a DSN box to arrive. The boots are from Ora Trei Designs. Poses by Torridwear (DSN).
Also of interest:
SD Wears has a cute new summery outfit on the MM board. Not enough folks clicked last night (or failed delivery which happens) so I don't have a sample to show you. It is locked down now, but keep your eye out in the next few days as it supposed to remain there.
Belle Belle's MM board has changed to the other couch if you are collecting the set.
IBIZARRE has a cute sweatshirt set out as part of an upcoming hunt. The hunt doesn't start until the first and you might be busy then with the OTHER umpteen hunts premiering. So getting this now could be a plan.
If you are part of the TULI update group and didn't receive the new Hope skin gift pack, check the archives :D With so many people in that group, SL often fails to deliver. There is also a Picks prize of a special makeup for Hope.
Style File: Lemania
I started to write "Lemania released a new outfit ...". This is true, but if you know your fashion even a little bit, you know that it is always true. The very cute Kate Bosworth Ethnic set shown above came out a week ago and I actually went over to scope it out. SL wasn't being kind to me that day however, and so I never made it out of the gray phase. Then this morning it was offered to members of one of the blogger groups. And, since there are so many of us, I wasn't planning on featuring it. I guessed that you would be seeing it here and there and I'm trying hard to find the "undiscovered" stuff out there for you.
Not long after that somewhat hasty decision I read a post on Shayariel's blog about the dress and agreed with her. I would definitely like to see more outfits like this coming from the castle and farm. So aside from a big thumbs up here, I decided to morph this post into something about "style".
Pose by Torridwear from her DSN set.
I am certainly no authority. All I have is a largish (I clean house a LOT in SL, even more often than RL) inventory and lots of practice. My choices certainly wouldn't be your choices, and that is the beauty of personal style. But I wondered about the many ways you could wear these pieces and which would feel the best -- for me.
So, I worked on a little experiment. I added the belt and leggings from the last (and my personal favorite) MALT group gift. Since I am trying to categorize my inventory, I decided to make that part of this process, disguising work as play I guess. I made it though my multi bangles and while I had several that would have worked, I found an old and very lovely set from Silent Sparrow, so that went into the mix. I made the scarf quite a bit smaller, and was thrilled that was a possibility. Yeah!
Hair by Exile. Pose by Vain.
In this version I traded the scarf for a necklace from WoE, the contrasting texture belt for a sculpty black number from *juelles* and boots for my Juicy slingbacks. I added a cute summer hat from ::69. This is another of my great new poses from Torridwear (DSN).
Whether you chose to wear this outfit straight from the box, or add your own touches, it is indeed fun. You can find it here at Lemania's.
FrantastiFree News
Posted by Chic Aeon in freebies on Monday, May 25, 2009
CS Fandango has a great new gift bag out chocked full of wonderful things. The set includes two pair of shorts, bikini tops, tanks, flowers for hair wrist and ankles, extra jewelry, shoes -- and the list goes on. There is even a visor. The waist wrap is my favorite; now who would have guessed that? Find a huge poster before you enter the store and click it to get your pink bag. And if you missed that fantastic Tropical Breeze set last week, it is up on the Midnight board again and the number is getting close.
Hair by A&A Avril from the weekend. Pose by LAP.
Beanie has done a superb job of keeping us non Japanese speaking folk apprised of what's going on in her world. Today she posted about a great looking freebie store as well as some old man skin. I went over to have a look see and indeed there is a huge selection of items. I, of course went for the props first. Then I picked up a few things just to show you. You can venture over to -Milk Hall- Fair's Attic yourself and most likely find something you can't live without. A tip jar is over by the counter.
The dress, hair, bench and picnic basket are all from Milk Hall. I also picked up a couple of coffee trays, some textures, fencing (soon to be installed I hope) and other fun items. There is something for everyone here including furniture and buildings.
HiediHo is back from vacation and there is a new freebie out at the store until 8pm. I really love the pants with this. Not sure personally if I would wear the top without a jacket, but we all have our styles and this one might be tame for you *wink*. Join the group to get all the news before I get it to you.
Worn with my new boots from Ora Trei Designs. I'm sure you'll be seeing these often. Hair by Exxess (still $1 on vendors out in the open area). Pose by LAP.
ELISA - Poses For Friends is having a $1 closing sale. This is on everything from poses, to pose balls, to giant cupcakes with poses to flying umbrellas to a house. I was at the last closing sale a couple of months ago and so I had already purchased many of the items. Be sure and check upstairs though. I completely missed that last time. There weren't that many people in the sim and the server said full so be patient. I'm out of the loop on the mini sims and the rules but this might be part of that -- or who knows? I do have some new purse poses to use and that will be fun.
Through the Looking Glass hunt has started. You can find the vendor list here. The magnifying glasses are much like the SLD ones and some stores are in both so if you actually FINISHED the SLD hunt (gold stars for you) you need to find the other one. If not, you might get two prizes in one store. That works.
Fashion Mode Mall is opening officially at 6 - 9 pm with a party and many freebies provided by the merchants. This is a huge two story mall with tons of shops. If that works for you, then zip on over and explore.
Phoenix - Firefall - Free
**Phoenix Design**and**FireFall** have new items in their lucky chairs. Hence, you guessed it, a watch has been on for the last couple of days. Benicia has been the lucky one of our group winning all the items I have been lusting over AND a new one. Those "B"s just kept on a comin' I guess. Good for her. My friends know the drill and so Benicia was waiting for me this morning at the teahouse to take some photos. This is the Darkside set. The belt is fantastic as you can see. And the good news is that it is small. Benicia isn't big at all and she had to enlarge it. So no worries about having a huge belt. It fits her perfectly. Two armbands come with the set as well as earrings. She's wearing them beneath her Maitreya hair. The Marquise Dress is also in the chair now. She detached the skirt so you could see her new adornments better. I have her trained well *wink*.
She also won the boots and the elusive equestrian belt. I told you the chairs were smiling on her. She is wearing part of the Robin outfit no longer in the chairs. The Marquis dress is the only clothing item in the prize list at the moment. There are plenty of other accessories though as well as the skins and necklaces that have been there awhile. The guys aren't left out either; both accessories and boots are waiting for them to claim. The prizes are posted around the four chairs which are in the middle of the store. You won't have any trouble finding them. Just look for the green dots. Depriming is a GOOD thing, or at least lowish prims. It can get laggy and we don't want those chairs confused.
Pose by Glitterati.
The detail on all these designs is superb of course. That's why the fan club is stalking so heartily. I heard one gal say she had been there three hours. I just drop in and watch while I read Fashcon notices and peruse the feed. And, sometimes I get lucky.
Wonder garnered the Fighter Belt to find that it contains three sizes and is transfer. Wonder, a big guy by my estimation, wears the medium so even the big boys can enjoy this without too many alterations. A unisex gift to share. Yeah!


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You Can Help Save Ontario's Turtles!
All eight of Ontario's Turtle species are suffering major population declines. And a major reason they all are on the...
Ontario Read more
The Voices of Georgina is an adult mixed, community fun choir and welcomes new members. We rehearse Monday nights 7:15 pm at The Link in Sutton.
For more information, please call Susan 905-716-2565 or email
firstname.lastname@example.com or just come out and see what we are about.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Lesson 5
July 22 - 28
The Action Words of Witnessing
TAKE YOUR MARKS! GET SET! GO! We often hear these words at the beginning of a race, just before the runners begin to compete for the medals. The sleek muscles of the athletes seem to vibrate with expectation and actionwitnessing as they do to years of training.
As Christians, we, too, run a race, full of action and expectation (1 Cor. 9:24-27). And as we do, we demonstrate our commitment to Jesus within the power of the Holy Spirit.
Action words are verbs that transmit the idea of life, energy, movement, and purpose. Space and time do not permit us to study within the confines of these pages all the action words that pertain to witnessing. The Christian witness should arise, go, move, give, proceed, travel, walk, depart, heal, feed, etc. "The disciples were to work earnestly for souls, giving to all the invitation of mercy. They were not to wait for the people to come to them; they were to go to the people with their message."Christian Service, p. 23.
Like the runners in a race, we, too, have received our instructions: "Go ye therefore." What are you waiting for? Take your mark! Get set! Go!
I. Testify! (Acts 5:32; 18:5, 9; John 15:26, 27).
II. Teach! (Acts 8:1-4; 20:20).
III. Prove! (Acts 17:2, 3).
IV. Proclaim! (Acts 8:4-8; 5:42; 15:35).
V. Persuade! (Acts 28:23, 24; 14:20-22).
MEMORY TEXT: "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20).
What action words regarding witnessing can you find in the following verses?
John 15:26, 27 _______________________________________________
Acts 18:5 ___________________________________________________
Acts 18:9 ___________________________________________________
It is natural for a person to talk. But to speak suggests talking to communicate a message. Disciples "cannot but speak the things" which they have seen and heard in such a way that many will believe (Acts 4:20; 14:1). Because we are surrounded by many different people each day, we should learn how to start a conversation. Usually it is easy to smile and say, "Good morning," adding a few words and giving your name. If you have a newspaper, for instance, you can ask, "Did you read the paper this morning?" A conversation may develop on the signs of the times and the return of Jesus as the solution. You may then have the opportunity to give your testimony about how knowing Jesus has helped you.
The verbs witness and testify are intimately related. To testify means "to declare emphatically about some truth," "to make a serious declaration to substantiate a fact." To witness means "to serve as an evidence of a fact." The apostles gave "witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 4:33). And Jesus asked His disciples to be His witnesses (1:8).
When Peter told the people to repent (Acts 2:38), he had himself repented of his own lying, denial, and profanity (Matt. 26:69-75). So he witnessed both to the necessity of repentance and to the power of God to transform the repentant one. That is why he could declare, "We are his witnesses of these things" (Acts 5:32). Experience lies at the foundation of all true, effective witnessing.
"No man has any right to recommend to others what he has not himself tasted and tested. Some people need something to tell more than they need power to tell it. Too often we preach of things in which we have no personal experience. I earnestly ask: What have you to tell that makes you so eager for God to give you power to tell it?"Froom, The Coming of the Comforter, pp. 104, 105.
What did the scattered ones do as they fled from Jerusalem? Acts 8:1-4.
These were "ordinary" Christians"men and women who had learned to love their Lord, and who had determined to follow His example of unselfish service. To these lowly ones, as well as to the disciples who had been with the Savior during His earthly ministry, had been given a precious trust. They were to carry to the world the glad tidings of salvation through Christ.
"When they were scattered by persecution they went forth with missionary zeal . They knew they held in their hands the bread of life for a famishing world; and they were constrained by the love of Christ to break this bread to all who were in need."The Acts of the Apostles, pp. 105, 106.
What two approaches to teaching did Paul use in Ephesus? Acts 20:20.
Thirty times, the gospels refer to Jesus as a teacher. From the early days of Acts (Acts 5:21, 25) to the last verse of the book (28:31), teaching was an essential part of Christian ministry. We are instructed that "there should be less preaching, and more teaching."Gospel Workers, p. 407. One of the modern approaches to witnessing through teaching is a seminaror specialized class. Many universities and colleges offer seminars as do businesses who want to give their employees further training in a specialized area. In a seminar, there are no preliminaries such as a song service, special music, or the collection of offerings. They are conducted largely by local pastors and church members rather than by professional evangelists. A seminar often offers a great deal of interaction between the teacher and the class. Prophecy, lifestyle, and family life are common seminar topics.
"Every message we teach . ends up with the Man of Galilee, the Lamb of God, the resurrected Savior, the in filling Lord. What Christ said, what He did, and what He does are all part of preaching Jesus Christ."Lloyd Ogilvie, Acts: The Communicator's Commentary Series (Waco, Texas: Word, Inc., 1983), vol. 5, p. 152.
Why do you think teaching often can be more effective than preaching? What are the special needs of your community? How could those needs be addressed in a seminar?
What approach to witnessing did Paul follow? Acts 17:2, 3.
To reason is to think in a logical way, to form judgments, and to draw conclusions from facts. The word used in the original language suggests the method of questions and answers. Dialogue is related to it. According to Acts 17:2, 3, reasoning involves explaining and demonstrating, "as if one, having broken the rind, were to disclose and exhibit the kernel."Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (McLean, Va.: MacDonald Publishing Company, 1888), vol. 1, p. 536.
Reasoning also involves answering objections. "Many a laborer fails in his work because he does not come close to those who most need his help. With the Bible in hand, he should seek in a courteous manner to learn the objections which exist in the minds of those who are beginning to enquire, 'What is truth?'"Gospel Workers, p. 190.
An objection is an honest block to a decision. An excuse is an attempt to avoid making a decision. You can know whether the people with whom you are studying have a sincere objection by asking them whether that objection is the only reason they have for not committing their life to Jesus. Get a decision from the prospects based on the reasoning that if the objection could be removed they would make a commitment immediately. Then answer the objection and ask for a decision.
Which of the following examples from the book of Acts would help to answer the objection "I cannot decide now because everything is happening so fast"? Acts 2:41; 9:36; 16:25-34; 22:16.
Related to the word reason is the word prove. Read Acts 9:17-22. Because Paul's proofs were convincing and overwhelming, some of the people attempted to kill him (9:29). That Paul would attempt to prove the gospel to synagogues full of his fellow Hebrews is "an act of the greatest moral courage. It was to these very synagogues that Paul had received his letters of credit as an official agent of the Jewish faith and of the Sanhedrin. It would have been very much easier to begin his Christian witness somewhere where he was not known and where his past did not stand against him. Paul is saying, 'I am a changed man and I am determined that those who know me best should know it.' Already he is proclaiming, 'I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.'William Barclay, The Acts of the Apostles, rev. ed. (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1976), p. 73.
|Where is there room for emotions in our witnessing?
The word "announce" means "to call the gospel to people's attention." it is close in meaning to the terms "to preach" and "to proclaim," so it is translated as such in many passages (see Acts 4:2; 13:5; 17:3; 26:23).
What did Philip preach in Samaria? What did his message do for the people who accepted his message? Acts 8:4-8.
The purpose of preaching is not to demonstrate or to prove a truth. "We need far less controversy, and far more presentation of Christ. Our Redeemer is the center of all our faith and hope. Those who can mirror His matchless love, and inspire hearts to give Him their best and holiest affections, are doing work that is great and holy . The many argumentative sermons preached seldom soften and subdue the soul."Evangelism, p. 172.
The biblical term for preaching means to announce an event, a fact, a truth, and to proclaim it with the authority of a herald.
The early Christians proclaimed that the Messiah had come (Acts 9:20). They announced the good news that in Jesus there was room in God's kingdom for a repentant heart (13:38). They exhorted people to accept their message (2:40). Even today, "no discourse should ever be preached without presenting Christ and Him crucified as the foundation of the gospel."Gospel Workers, p. 158. This kind of preaching will "touch invisible chords, whose vibrations will ring to the ends of the earth, and make melody through eternal ages."The Desire of Ages, p. 823. Sermons promoting specific programs within the church do not convert people. But preaching Christ will always win many to Him.
What two witnessing functions are often found together? Acts 5:42; 15:35 (compare Eph. 4:11, 12).
"Both teaching and preaching had to be done to set forth Jesus as the Saviour, and to instruct in the way of life for God; doubtless this was especially essential for Gentiles, who, it was becoming clear, were now partakers of the new covenant under the gospel."SDA Bible Commentary, vol.6, p. 315.
|Even though "announcing" in the book of Acts usually refers to "preaching," what other forms of announcing may be used in witnessing?
How did Paul work toward getting people in Rome to make a decision for Jesus? With what results? Acts 28:23, 24.
Persuasion means "to bring another person to a point of view." According to the divine principles of free will, we cannot coerce people. But we can help them by:
1. providing all necessary information,
2. answering their objections,
3. making their options clear,
4. inviting them to side with biblical truth,
5. affirming them as they make the right decisions, and
6. inviting them to open their lives to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.
The specific purposes of evangelism are to persuade people to:
1. accept Jesus and His truth, and
2. serve Him in the fellowship of the church.
These two objectives are intimately related. You cannot have one without the other.
One way of helping people make a positive decision concerning a point of doctrine is by asking three leading questions:
1. "Is this subject clear to you?" (generally they will say "Yes").
2. "Do you have any question related to this subject?" (Answer their questions. Then ask the first two leading questions again until they have no more questions).
3. Finally ask, "Do you really believe in this subject?" (Will you act upon it? Some useful texts at this point are Acts 22:16; Matt. 9:9; Isa. 1:18).
After accomplishing what two purposes did the apostles leave Derbe? Acts 14:20-22. How important is the second purpose to the health of the individual member and the church at large?
Evangelism should not end with a person's decision to follow Jesus. Neither is baptism the conclusion of the process. True success in evangelism is related to the involvement of new members in church life and their continued spiritual growth.
|How can we help new believers "to continue in the grace of God"? What responsibilities are appropriate to assign to a newly baptized member? Why are they appropriate? Which responsibilities might not be appropriate, and why? Explain how the appropriateness of a specific activity might vary from church to church.
FURTHER STUDY: Read Matthew 25:31-46. List the action words in this parable that relate to witnessing. Then list at least four things this parable teaches you about witnessing. Or look up some of the following action words in a concordance. Which verses do you find with these words in them that relate to witnessing? What do these verses teach you about witnessing? The words are arise, go, move, heal. feed, confess, praise.
Read any or all of the following: Christian Service, "Witnesses" pp. 15-17; "The Divine Commission" pp. 22-24; and "Profession vs. Expression" pp. 94-98; The Acts of the Apostles, "The Great Commission" pp. 25-34; The Desire of Ages, "Go Teach All Nations" pp. 818-828.
"God does not generally work miracles to advance His truth . [He] works according to great principles . . . and it is our part to mature wise plans, and set in operation the means whereby God shall bring about certain results."-Evangelism, pp. 652, 653.
"As His representatives among men, Christ does not choose angels who have never fallen, but human beings. . . . Divinity needed humanity; for it required both the divine and the human to bring salvation to the world . Humanity lays hold upon divine power, Christ dwells in the heart by faith; and through co-operation with the divine, the power of man becomes efficient for good."The Desire of Ages, pp. 296,297.
SUMMARIZE this week's lesson by listing and explaining the active ways we can witness to unbelievers. How do we continue to witness to those who accept the gospel? What part of this week's lesson was most interesting to you? How will it help you to become a better witness?
J. H. Zachary
Ulzhan Omarbekova [OOL-zhan oh-MAR-beh-ova] is a famous musician in her native Kazakhstan. But her success as a singer could not fill the emptiness in her life. She recognized that forces of good and evil existed in the world, but she did not know what their existence meant for her. She read books on various religious philosophies, but was disappointed when they did not point her toward Allah, or God. She began studying the Qu'ran and the Bible, but she found the Qur'an too difficult to understand.
Then while browsing a bookstore, she found The Acts of the Apostles and Steps to Christ. In these books she found answers to her deepest questions. She accepted their teachings and began searching for a church that followed the principles taught in these books. She visited several religious meetings, but was disappointed. Finally she started her own small group.
Then she met Victor, a literature evangelist, who shared his faith with her and made the Bible seem easy to understand. But she politely refused his invitations to attend religious meetings. "I do not trust religious teachers," she answered. "They have disappointed me."
Victor invited her to watch video Bible studies, and Ulzhan agreed. She was delighted with the videos, and after viewing several, she and her friends decided to visit the church with Victor. Ulzhan was so thrilled with the church members' friendliness that she offered to sing for the service. But the cautious pastor told her that she would have to be a member before she could sing. Rather than being put off, Ulzhan and two of her friends joined the baptismal class. She was baptized in 1996.
However, her road to faith was not smooth. When she became a Christian, her husband left her. Nevertheless, she rejoices in the peace and joy she has found in Jesus. "Jesus is everything to me," she says. "I don't know how I existed without Him."
Ulzhan now is the speaker for Adventist World Radio's Kazak-language programs, where her talents in music and drama draw listeners as she explains the Qu'ran in the light of the Bible. Her ministry is touching many lives in the Islamic community.
J. H. Zachary is coordinator of international evangelism for The Quiet Hour and a special consultant for the General Conference Ministerial Association.
Produced by the General Conference Office of Mission Awareness
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Tick Tock: RRSP Season is Here!
Posted on
I am continually amazed at the number of people, who have high incomes and savings, that fail to take full advantage of the preferential tax treatment of RRSPs versus other types of investment or savings accounts. This is especially true for business owners who often have retained earnings in their corporations while also having massive amounts, sometimes $50,000 or more, in unused RRSP contribution room.


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- Stabler stared at the money on the desk. It was clear from his bemused expression there was some interest. [not bad]
- Stabler gaped at the stack of twenties, then wiped his mouth. He looked at me. "What do you want me to do?" [better]
Let me know how "show versus tell" works for you.


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The Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) will honor RV brands built by 13 manufacturers with its Quality Circle Award Nov. 26, prior to opening of the 50th Annual National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Ky.
According to a press release, these brands/manufacturers received at least 15 dealer responses and scored 80% or above for overall dealer satisfaction in the association's 19th Annual Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) survey.
"The DSI Quality Circle Award recognizes the high level of success these manufacturers have had in working with their dealer business partners," said RVDA Chairman Jeff Hirsch of Kingston, N.H.-based Campers Inn. "Their commitment to continuously improving products and services ultimately helps dealers serve customers better and preserves our industry's share of consumers' discretionary dollars."
The towable RV manufacturers/brands receiving awards are (in alphabetical order by manufacturer): Airstream Inc.; CrossRoads RV (Zinger/Z-1/SE/Hampton); Forest River Inc. (Flagstaff travel trailers and fifth-wheels, Palomino RV travel trailers and fifth-wheels, Rockwood/Roo expandables, Sierra/Sandpiper, Indiana-built Surveyor/r-pod); Heartland RV LLC (Big Country/Elk Ridge, Bighorn/Landmark, Cyclone/Road Warrior/Torque, North Trail/Wilderness, Prowler); Jayco Inc. (Eagle/Super Lite/HT, camping trailers, Jay Feather/Select, Jay Flight/Swift/SLX, Pinnacle, White Hawk); Keystone RV Co. (Bullet/Premier, Cougar/X-lite, Passport, Raptor); KZRV LP (Durango, Sportsmen/Sportsmen Classic, Spree/Spree Escape); Lance Camper Manufacturing Corp. (truck campers); and Prime Time Manufacturing Inc. (LaCrosse/Trace, Crusader/Sanibel).
The six motorized RV brands/manufacturers receiving awards are (in alphabetical order): Forest River Inc.; Jayco Inc./Entegra; Leisure Travel Vans/Triple E RV; Pleasure-Way Industries Ltd.; Tiffin Motorhomes Inc.; and Winnebago Industries Inc./Itasca/ERA.
When rating the brands/manufacturers, RVDA asks dealers to express, confidentially, their level of satisfaction on eight core issues: Sales support; sales territory; vehicle design; vehicle reliability/quality; competitive price/value; parts support; dealership warranty support; overall dealer communications
The 19th Annual DSI survey was conducted between April and July 2012. Four hundred and sixty-one dealers responded to the DSI this year and provided 2,709 brand ratings, an average of nearly six per dealer. A summary of the DSI survey aggregate results will appear in the November issue of RV Executive Today.


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HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Seven months after his arm was nearly torn off by a 1,000 pound alligator, 23-year-old Will Nace is back in the alligator pit at Native Village.
The alligator wrestler has had 11 surgeries since the July 2013 incident. He has two metal plates and 20 screws in his arm and wrist.
RELATED: Alligator attacks man during demonstration
Nace says, "Lunge," the gator who bit him, is still his favorite.
"It wasn't his fault. I looked away from him for a second. He jumped and grabbed my arm," said Nace.
While many people would walk away from the danger after an incident like his, Nace won't.
Nace is back giving tours, teaching kids about the animals and mentoring.
Native Village is an alligator park and wildlife sanctuary at 3553 North State Road 7 in Hollywood.
"I love it. I love the animals. I love the learning experience. I get to learn every day," he added.
"Teaching kids about animals is a passion. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world," Nace said.
His medical bills have reached $400,000, and Nace still needs more surgery.
"Later on down the road, I'm going to need to get my two tendons fixed for two fingers because they are so tight because of the scar tissue," he said.
Nace volunteers his time at Native Village. He has no insurance and no family.
He says those who work and volunteer at Native Village have become his family.
Those friends have now started a fundraiser.
One Hollywood family even provided a credit card for one of Nace's surgeries.
"He's a great guy. He educates my son Jordan. He educates all the people that come for the tours. He's a really wonderful guy. I feel for him," said Randi Meschel.
So far, $900 has been raised.
"I appreciate all he's done and I feel bad that he's been in pain and he has nothing to fall back on," said Native Village volunteer Melodie Rasumoff.
If you would like to donate, visit gofundme.com/willnace.


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The term sounds very "internet" but actually hyperlink movies do not have any real hyperlinks in them. 'Hyperlink cinema' was coined by Alissa Quart in her review of the movie Happy Endings and also used by Roger Ebert in his review of the movie Syriana. Although it isn't strictly defined, one of the common elements of hyperlink movies are the presence of multiple storylines within one movie that either intertwine with each other, or have a common theme. The presence of multiple stories and plots evokes a feel of multi-tasking for the movie viewer and if done successfully, delivers the movie's message or theme very effectively.
Wikipedia lists some movies that fall within the definition of hyperlink cinema. I have a couple of favorites myself (see below). In all of the following films, multiple storylines intertwine to tell the grand arc or theme.
A successful hyperlink film manages to evoke the central theme in much the same way critical thinking can interrelate multiple evidence (qualitative in this respect) to support a central argument. This is not to say that filmmaking or hyperlink cinema is strictly meant to be a logical argument or within the bounds of evidence per se–as standards of creativity can vary from person to person (and from viewer to viewer). What I personally find compelling about hyperlink films is that the usage of multiple character plotlines for the film's grand exposition is akin to the critical thinking process of finding analogs or parallels between multiple concepts or abstracts.
Other than that, I also enjoy watching movies in general anyway.


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Story highlights
- Parents praise Harrods for "Toy Kingdom" in which toys are arranged by theme, not gender
- "Bullied" author says "color-coded" toys foster animosity toward kids who are different
- Carrie Goldman, mother of "Star Wars Katie," wrote book after outpouring of support
- Boys more likely to get picked on for defying gender norms than girls, expert says
Like many parents, Carrie Goldman was thrilled to learn that Britain's biggest department store recently reopened its toy department with a fresh look: dolls and trucks side by side.
Instead of organizing toys into color-coded aisles of pink for girls and blue for boys, Harrods' new 26,000 square-foot "Toy Kingdom" is broken into six interactive "worlds." Looking for costumes, a rocking horse or stuffed elephants? Try the Big Top, which Harrods describes as "a fairground of circus acts and candy floss, with magicians and jugglers on stage." In the Odyssey, "a gigantic space rocket crashes through the floor and a huge sun bursts through the wall in front of an Area 51-inspired space and gadget zone, complete with alien space pods and limited-edition pieces."
For Goldman, a mother of three in suburban Chicago, it's a step in the right direction toward breaking down the gender divide erected at an early age through playtime. She experienced firsthand how those barriers can hurt children and make them feel like they need to change who they are to gain acceptance on the playground.
Two years ago, Goldman's 7-year-old daughter came home in tears after classmates teased her for carrying a "Star Wars" thermos to school, saying "Stars Wars" was for boys. Goldman shared the story on her blog, Portrait of An Adoption, and within a matter of days, the tale of "Star Wars Katie" went viral, drawing support from around the world.
Her plight didn't just strike a nerve with parents and children -- George Lucas' daughter, also named Katie, and the actor who played Chewbacca also had words of wisdom for Katie based on their experiences getting bullied for somehow being different.
The sheer volume of responses compelled Goldman to delve into why so many people could relate to Katie's story. That research culminated in her first book, "Bullied: What Every Parent, Teacher and Kid Needs to Know About Ending the Cycle of Fear," released this month. In it, she explores the subtle and not-so-subtle ways in which society fosters a fear of those perceived as different and what parents can do about it.
The negative effects of enforcing gender norms emerged as a prominent theme, including the way girls are often nudged in the direction of princess fantasies and dolls while building blocks and train sets are traditionally boys' toys. It's part of the reason why Goldman saw the move by a large retailer such as Harrods as promising. Removing gender-specific connotations from packaging or displays sends the message to children that they're open to everyone, she said.
When stores separate toys into aisles for girls and boys, however, they learn that anyone who deviates from their designated shelves deserves to be ridiculed.
"We can't truly address bullying without talking about the fear of people perceived as different," Goldman said. "If you have a 6-to 8-year-old boy who goes into Harrods and sees 'Star Wars' toys next to other dolls and action figures, maybe it'll make him think differently when he sees a girl with a 'Star Wars' thermos. We could be preventing future bullies by teaching them to be open-minded now."
In the chapter "Calling on Toy Retailers to Eliminate Gender-Based Marketing," Goldman posits that the reason stores segregate by gender is so they can sell more of the same product. If a store carries soccer balls in pink and blue, a mother shopping for her son and daughter can buy one for each. In addition to reinforcing gender stereotypes, the brother and sister no longer need to share, "eliminating an opportunity to develop their social skills," Goldman says in the book.
With children returning to school, Goldman's book lands at a time when bullying is front and center in parents' minds. It also comes in an era when the connection between gender norms and bullying is getting increased scrutiny from parents, educators and activists, prompting more direct action instead of just talk. When Lego announced plans to sell a new line of sets packaged in pink boxes and containing busty characters, salons and spas, girl-led activist movement SPARK launched a petition to quash the toys.
Restricting train sets to boys and dress-up to girls not only reinforces outdated gender roles but also stifles creativity, said psychology professor Deborah Tolman of the Hunter College School of Social Work in New York and co-founder of SPARK.
"Kids get a lot of ideas early from play about what they can do, what they like and what they can aspire to," Tolman said. "By making those themes gender specific, it leaves out a whole range of possibilities."
Efforts at gender neutral play are not about eradicating the sight of pink or blue from toy stores or necessarily pushing children away from toys traditionally associated with their gender, she said. It's simply a matter of making them feel like all options are open.
"It's about making all these ways of playing part of the human experience. Anxiety about gender has created codes that have nothing to do with how people should be people," she said. "There's nothing wrong with pink. It's the meaning we infuse it with."
Many independent toy stores across the United States have been doing what Harrods is doing for decades. Nancy Stanek was tired of toy shopping for her children and seeing the same limited offerings of Barbies and baby dolls in the girls' aisle and cars and action figures designated for boys. So she opened a toy store in Chicago in 1974 with "open-ended activities" in mind: puzzles, games, building blocks, train sets and dolls arranged by theme instead of color-coded aisles of pink for girls and blue for boys.
But more than 30 years later, Stanek is concerned by the marketing direction she said some toy manufacturers are pushing on her. She's reluctant to carry makeup sets and spa kits targeted at tweens and doesn't see the point of selling green Rollerblades with a picture of a boy on the box. For that matter, why should she fill her tiny store with pink bicycles adorned with flowers instead of yellow or purple ones that might appeal to boys and girls?
"I am becoming increasingly concerned with how we seem to be veering back into very gender-specific toys and activities," said Stanek, who owns four Toys et Cetera locations in the Chicago area. "It's almost as if we've backtracked. We're pushing little girls into princess dresses and ballerina costumes."
That's not to say her stores don't carry fairy dresses or knights. But she tries to balance it out with costumes of doctors, chefs and pirates that show boys and girls on the packaging. She wouldn't even mind selling green in-line skates as long as the packaging isn't directed at one gender over the other.
"There are a lot of good, responsible manufacturers out there that go out of their way to depict objects in play showing both girls and boys," she said. "I generally opt for the ones that are basically presenting the activity appropriate for both sexes."
Goldman's book also looks at how reducing a woman's value to her physical attractiveness plays into bullying, especially among girls. With makeup kits being marketed to children at younger ages, beauty and body adornment become ways in which children choose bullying targets.
"Toys for girls are overwhelmingly spa kits and princess parties, all these things to beautify themselves with," Goldman said. "There's nothing wrong with wanting to look pretty, but if your reason to look pretty is to please the kids at school, that's where it's a problem."
It's not just an issue for parents of young girls. Cheryl Kilodavis and her son are used to dealing with odd looks and comments from strangers over his affinity for all things pink, including dresses, jewelry and toys.
When 7-year-old Dyson's preference for "pretty things" emerged at an early age, Kilodavis struggled with how to handle it. The bumpy road to acceptance prompted her to share her family's story in the picture book, "My Princess Boy," which came out in 2010, stirring a bit of controversy.
Kilodavis said she supports him, even though she still has occasional moments of hesitation when he emerges from his room in a red dress.
"As parents, we all want our kids to be happy and to be themselves," she said. "But things get in the way of expression and letting kids choose toys or clothes that express who they are."
In public though, adults seem to have the hardest time accepting it. Just last week, a little girl in the toy aisle told Dyson that he couldn't have the mermaid toy he wanted because "it's not for boys," Kilodavis said. When the girl looked to her mother for guidance, she agreed.
"I think there's a lot more anxiety around it on the parent's side, but we set the example for our kids," Kilodavis said.
Boys are more likely to get picked on for stepping outside of the box to play with dolls or wear a pink backpack than girls are for playing with cars or wearing jeans, said Tolman, the psychology professor. It only makes matters worse when parents attach negative connotations to boys acting on traditionally feminine tendencies out of fear that they'll be labeled "gay," she said.
"If kids are coming into social situations with more constrained ideas about what boys and girls should be from playing, you can see how that would contribute to the negative reinforcement of ideas about identity and sexuality," Tolman said.
Well-intentioned parents might feel like they're saving their sons from bullying by pointing them away from traditionally feminine toys or behaviors. But Goldman said that encouraging them to change for the sake of others protects the bully and not the child.
"In the short term, they might protect the child from being taunted, but in the long term, it shows the world that who he really is isn't as important as the status quo," she said. "Those are the kids who are really tormented because they're not allowed to express themselves."
Are you a parent whose child plays across gender lines? What do you think of Harrods' new toy department design? Share your opinion in the comments section below.


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Grade 4, Module 5, Lesson 22 WorksheetsLesson 22 Concept Development
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This very important season will held also in the 20th year of GPL
So, our idea was to celebrate it with a CLASSIC Papy tracks + Original 1967 F1 cars combo in the division A and honour modders with the 1965 mod for Division B. Divisions will race at tuesdays (B ) and wednesdays (A) nights.
In the Div. A we'll race with free chassis along the season with only two constraints:
(1) Each chassis can be used as much as in two races.
(2) The BRM has to be used at least once (penalty of 20 points if it's unused)
In the Div. B the chassis is free but fixed along the season.
We're also in Facebook as "Mybroga (Grand Prix Legends)"
We still have some slots, especially in the B.
Cheers and Long Live GPL!!
Edited by mcmirande, 08 February 2018 - 06:46 AM.


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Valentines Day Gift Ideas for her Women's Lingerie, Thongs, & French Knickers. Brands including Shirley of Hollywood, Leg Avenue many more.
Choose from a wide range of Sexy Fancy Dress Costumes including Uniforms , Angels, Catsuits, Nurses for your ultimate sexy fancy dress outfits.
Sexy Hoisery solutions including stockings, suspenders and tights for all size ladies.


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Multi-day hiking backpacks
Whether you're on a hut-to-hut trek or ticking off the miles on long mountain trails, our multi-day hiking backpacks are full of features to keep you cool, comfortable and organised.
Our multi-day hiking backpacks from 30 to 55 litres incorporate integrated rain covers, walking pole and axe attachments and easy-access hip belt pockets. With an expandable lid and stable load support, the Altus 40 is the ultimate the AirZone Trek+ 45:55 multi-day pack is great for long-distance hiking; the AirZone Camino Trek 30:40 multi-day travel backpack features bellows side pockets and a SpiderPlate bungee for overnight trips as well as fast day hikes.
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Finding Individual Native American Information
This article originally appeared in "Native American Research" by Curt B. Witcher, MLS, FUGA, FIGS, and George J. Nixon in The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy
As you continue Native American genealogical research, working from general Native American materials and documents into more tribe-specific accounts and information, focus increasingly on obtaining individual (person-specific) details. As with other stages in the research process, there are a number of records at this level that are useful to genealogists. One example is the applications by individuals who appear on the Eastern Cherokee Roll of 1909, such as that of Will Rogers (figure 19-4). Annual Indian census lists are another example. They became required in 1884. These census records are contained on several hundred rolls of National Archives microfilm. Transitional census records, which indicate both Native American and English names, are most useful. Be careful in the use of the census materials, however: being listed in the census does not mean that a person was of the particular tribe; there were many mixed-tribe marriages. Only persons on enrollment lists are actually considered tribal members, or enrolled members.
Enrollment records are often called the 'official census records' for any given tribe or nation. Typically, they contain the name of the Indian tribe and date of validity, roll number, name (including given name, birth name, and married names), sex, date of death (if applicable), probate number (if applicable), blood degree (degree of Native American blood), names of both parents, and blood degree of parents. If a person or family was denied enrollment, a suit was often filed in court. Significant data may be available in court proceedings of the federal district courts.
Allotment records detail the allotment of land parcels among adult Native Americans who were of at least one-half Native American blood. They are often referred to as 'heirship records' because ownership of the land would pass to the allottee's heirs upon death. Will and probate cases carry extra importance for the Native American researcher when they relate to allotted land. Normally, probate material is found in local courthouses. However, when allotted lands on reservation tracts are involved, federal records need to be consulted. Still other property records available for the Native American researcher are land claims. The land-claims system enabled native tribes to file claims against the government for monies owed them for lands taken and not adequately paid for during treaty eras.
Many significant census and enrollment lists are being reprinted in indexed or transcribed form, making the information more widely accessible for today's researchers. A Complete Roll of All Choctaw Claimants and Their Heirs Existing Under the Treaties Between the United States and the Choctaw Nation provides a complete alphabetical list, including aliases and English names (where known).22 Bob Blankenship's series Cherokee Roots lists the names from nearly a dozen official lists.23 These types of publications contribute significantly to the accessibility of Native American historical and genealogical data and should be sought by the family historian.
A number of other works published as monographs contribute substantially to the body of data available to researchers seeking individual-specific records. A more contemporary example, Toni Jollay Prevost's The Delaware & Shawnee Admitted to Cherokee Citizenship and the Related Wyandotte & Moravian Delaware, provides many lists, including signers of treaties, property owners, children enrolled in mission schools, and partial citizenship lists.24 Divided into fourteen sections, it provides many names, dates, and places to assist directly in developing ancestor charts and ancestral proof.
A number of Indian schools were operated as part of the process of attempting to assimilate Native Americans. Records of these schools, which had agricultural, industrial, or missionary focuses, may provide the researcher with plentiful details about a potential ancestor, including such facts as tribal affiliation, degree of Native American blood, names of parents, home address, dates of arrival and departure, attendance records, health cards, and letters to parents and social workers.
An abundance of both tribe-specific and individual-specific records can be found in periodical literature. The historical and genealogical periodicals that cover the geographic areas where Native American tribes historically lived, as well as areas of removal and contemporary settlement, should be considered by the serious researcher. Every type of record that can be found in manuscript collections or published in monographs may be available in indexed, abstracted, transcribed, or reprinted form in periodical literature. One of the best subject indexes to these quarterlies and newsletters is the PERiodical Source Index (PERSI), which indexes more than four thousand periodical titles.25 Another source of access to this material is the Genealogical Periodical Annual Index (GPAI). (See chapter 3, 'General Reference and Guides.')26
Some of the more notable geographically oriented periodicals include the Oklahoma Genealogical Society Quarterly, Stirpes (the journal of the Texas State Genealogical Society), and the Topeka Genealogical Society Quarterly.27 These journals contain indexes to and transcriptions of numerous Native American records. They can also provide leads to individuals and institutions that might be contacted for further historical and genealogical data. Other fine periodicals worthy of note cover both general Native American history and tribe- and nation-specific details. The American Indian Quarterly provides excellent information about the many sides of Native American life and assists the researcher in the same manner as do general histories; a recently published cumulative index to this quarterly makes accessing this information quite easy.28 Donna Williams's Cherokee Family Researcher and the Journal of Cherokee Studies are examples of tribe-specific periodical publications that can provide specific records of genealogical value as well as detailed historical data on particular tribes.29
The Bureau of Indian Affairs, its regional offices, and specific tribal offices are rich sources of genealogical information. In fact, they contain the richest collections of individual-specific data for Native Americans. Guides to these collections and offices are available in some major libraries and by contacting the Bureau of Indian Affairs offices in Washington, D.C. Contact the bureau or its organizations directly for both general information and individual-specific requests. Typically, neither the bureau nor tribal offices and archives will engage in genealogical research. Success in interacting with these entities will be determined largely by the specificity of the information request as well as how well that request is contexted with other historical data.
The exploding number of resources available for genealogical researchers on the World Wide Web makes the Internet an invaluable research tool for genealogists exploring Native American family history. The websites of federal agencies, particularly the Library of Congress and the National Archives, as well as tribe-specific websites can provide much information for the researcher looking for individual-specific data as well as information that will lead to sources of individual-specific data. Employing an Internet search engine such as Google and searching for the specific name of the tribe one is investigating often nets the best results. Many sites that provide data about Native Americans have significant links to other related sites. All of these links should be explored to maximize one's potential for identifying sources of new information. If a large number of search results are the outcome of a particular search, using some of the helps and suggestions under an 'advanced search' option can be most beneficial.
Employment of sound research methodology, fine attention to detail with complete and accurate recording of all relevant and associated data, and a willingness to search for all possible data from a multiplicity of information sources'these are the keys to successful Native American genealogical research. The following sections provide numerous vital details useful for identifying extant records, becoming familiar with the historical and genealogical data included in those records, and accessing specific materials needed to further research endeavors.
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The Tesla Model S will disrupt like the iPhone (thoughts on my Model S test drive experience)
Once in a while a disruptive technology comes along that changes the way I look at something. The ATM. The Walkman. The Internet. The PlayStation. The Wii. The iPod and the iPhone. And now that I've driven one, the Tesla Model S. I'll never look at a car the same way again. Ever.
I've test-driven driven two other production electric cars – the ill-fated GM EV-1 and the Leaf. And while I love my biodiesel-powered Mercedes, I made a promise that as soon as the right electric car hit the market I'd buy one. When I test drove the Nissan Leaf a few months ago, I tried to like it, it just didn't have the performance I wanted. It's a great car for a sedate, mellow Prius-like driver. That's not me. It really bothered me that all the torque inherent in an electric car was software-limited. Let me decide when I need power. Don't make the decision for me, Nissan. The Volt is a gas hybrid so I never even looked at it. I looked at the Panamera but it's also gas so I'm not interested, and Porsche is terrified apparently to bring a diesel to market in the U.S. So that's out. BMW? They run ads for a vaporware electric car that looks amazing. Who knows when it will be available? The Tesla Model S is real and delivering today (well, if you signed up a couple of years ago).
I've followed revolutionary electric car company Tesla's story from the early days. The Roadster is beautiful and would have been perfect for me ten or fifteen years ago. But I kept a close eye on the Model S. So when Tesla opened up a permanent showroom in Portland yesterday, I felt the timing was right. I signed up for a test drive last week and didn't hear back. I had a feeling they were getting a ton of inquries, so today I headed over to the showroom.
And I hit the jackpot.
I was excited to see the Tesla showroom and it didn't disappoint. It was packed, as in Apple store packed. Great energy in the place. The Tesla people struck me as authentic, passionate and caring – the polar opposite of the typical car saleswoman experience I had at Nissan. All I really cared about was the car, and they had two on display plus an exposed aluminum chassis along with tires, battery, brakes, motors and the like.
Visually, the Tesla S is beautiful inside and out. I don't know about you, but I grew up on a diet of late 20th century sci-fi where everyone drove kick-ass looking electric cars. It feels like I've been waiting my entire life for one to show up, and it finally has. The Tesla S is the first 21st century car I've seen. From the way the recessed door handles pop out to the massive touchscreen, Tesla has put a massive amount of thought and effort into what a car can be from the ground up with no assumptions, except the ones you want, like a steering wheel, an accelerator on the right, a brake on the left.
The level of passion from everyone – literally everyone – on the Tesla team that I interacted with (about eight or ten in total) tells me that they really have something here. You can't fake that passion, and you can't buy it. It's real. And they have the passion not simply because they've all driven a Tesla S, but because they believe in the company.
I'm sure people can and will find faults with bits here and there. I didn't see a cup holder. The center console is 100% screen and nothing else; there's no place to stick anything. Someone said the back seat headroom was a little low. There's probably more little things.
The software engineer in me is excited about the SDK they're going to release. I know the OS is built on top of Linux, so that makes me happy. I hope they'll expose enough of the car to allow people like me to write interesting interfaces and do more with the car. I can already think of some amazing apps.
The doors have a nice way of popping open and a solid fit. I found the interior to be high design, free from clutter, and immediately intuitive. The seat felt great, had an obvious method for adjustments, and lays entirely flat if you need it.
The touchscreen is amazing; it incorporates a web browser, bluetooth, a music library with two USB ports you can plug in to, and a wealth of logical controls for a wonderful array of sensible items. Things like, do you want the car to lock itself after you start driving? Click. You're done. Anyone who has ever mucked with an OBD II connector and a laptop trying to flip bits on car firmware knows what a hassle it is to tweak these things, if you can do it at all. But now, finally, it's at the touch of a finger. There was lots more – a sweet UI for adjusting where the sound locates, a high res visual display of open doors, touch to adjust suspension height (yes, really), swipe your finger to open the sunroof and tap to stop it… lots more. Two of the guys I talked to were fired up about different software tweaks and updates they have planned. I've heard that story a million times, but if they can follow up on it, it will be amazing.
Sitting in the car, putting my hands on it – it was all I needed. So I put down 5k for a reservation. I'm #10,631 on the list. Their website doesn't allow you to do a PayPal echeck as we discovered, so I covered the deposit another way. As a result of the delay, they put me into a test drive to compensate me for the trouble of PayPal not working, which was really unexpected and extremely nice of them (thank you Maria!). So an hour later I found myself climbing into a Tesla Model S for a real test drive, something I thought I'd have to wait months for. Sweet!
The door handles lie flat on the car – if you push on them they pop out and then behave like an ordinary door handle. The keyfob automatically unlocks when you're close. Inside, the massive sunroof was open. You push in the shifter, put your foot on the brake and the car is ready to drive. No key. No start button.
So I glided away in nearly complete silence. You can hear a little wind and the rolling of the tires. That's it. When you lift off the accelerator the car slows down rapidly and pulls some of that energy back in the batteries. It took a few moments to get used to how quickly the car slows when you lift. It turns out you can adjust that on the touchscreen if you want less energy recovery. I did it half with and half without on the test drive, and discovered that I liked the way slowing with power recovery felt.
The dashboard has a sweet user interface that displays power drain or recovery as green or orange lines that parallel the curve of the high resolution analog-looking speedometer. The driver's display has a sort of mini display of the big 17″ center console with a few bits of information including iPod-like album art of whatever you're listening to. I wasn't able to fully demo the sound system while driving as I honestly didn't care at the time, but I heard it in the showroom and the stock system sounded pretty good.
So I took it quite easy all the way up to the freeway entrance, and I found the car to be easy to drive, smooth, quiet and just delightful to drive at low to average street speeds. Near the freeway onramp the Tesla guy advised me to try and get some clear room so I could get the full zero-to-sixty acceleration, and fortunately we were first at the light so I was able to accelerate to freeway speed from zero and… well… no wait. Before I describe the feeling let me just put it in perspective. I've driven 500hp racecars on a real racetrack, Ninja motorcycles, 160hp karts, and my trusted BMW M3 at absurdly high rates of speed. Driving fast is not new to me.
Having said that, I have never, and I mean never, felt acceleration like that. The Model S goes zero to sixty in 4.4 seconds. It felt like less. There's no shifting. No delay. You just get instantaneous and mind-blowing acceleration. It's the kind of rush you get when you ride a roller coaster. It's addicting. The thing literally rides like it is on rails. It's like this liquid feeling you get of pure bliss. Part of it comes from the extremely low center of gravity this car has because of the smart way Tesla put the batteries on the floor of the car. Part of it comes from the 21 inch tires. The end result is magic.
The rest of the test drive I spent creating space in front of me to feel that acceleration rush, accelerating from stops, taking corners hard, and having, no kidding, the driving time of my life. The Tesla guys were genius on the route they chose – I drove the freeway twice, took chicane-like S curves, straightaways, downhill runs, and got a really nice feel for the car. I felt the traction control bite where I could have gotten in deep trouble, though it cut in a little early and hard in my opinion – not quite as tight as on my M3. I felt strong and responsive brakes that kept up with the car, entirely unlike that Saleen Mustang I rented in the 90s that nearly killed me with absurdly underpowered brakes and a high center of gravity.
I didn't want to surrender the car when I got back, and the smile on my face is still there hours later. I am so glad I reserved one of these things, because they are going to sell like crazy. The hardest part for me now is having to wait for a year until I can get one. For once, something exceeds the hype.
Thank you, Tesla.
P.S. I am in no way affiliated with Tesla, I don't own Tesla stock (at least at the time of writing this), nor have I been compensated to write this in any way.


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WISE - Selfish [Unsigned Hype]
Official single from the Album "SELFISH" Produced by Multi Man Music Group. Available on iTunes. Directed By Picture Candy Productions
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