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Oracle puts Java apps on iPads and iPhones
Summary: The company's updated mobile development toolkit allows coders to write once for both iOS and Android platforms, with iOS support coming through the use of a Java Virtual Machine.
Oracle has updated its mobile development toolkit, giving coders a relatively simple way to deploy Java-based enterprise apps to iPhones and iPads, as well as Android devices.
iOS does not naturally run Java apps, whereas Android apps are often written in the language. A month ago, Google released a tool for converting Java source code into iOS-friendly Objective C, as a way of helping developers code for both platforms at once.
However, Oracle's updated Application Development Framework (ADF) Mobile extension — unveiled on Monday — uses a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to support the write-once-for-multiple-platforms concept.
ADF Mobile uses a hybrid mobile architecture: according to Oracle, it offers developers "consistent cross-platform interfaces using familiar web technologies such as HTML5, JavaScript and CSS, while [allowing] deep access to native device services such as the camera, GPS, contacts, etc."
"Oracle ADF Mobile is tightly integrated with the Oracle Fusion Middleware product portfolio, supports Oracle Fusion Applications, and can easily integrate non-Oracle-based applications," Oracle application development tools chief Chris Tonas said in a statement.
ADF Mobile uses the same declarative programming model as Oracle's standard application development framework, and the company says this should speed up development.
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Package org.encog.neural.networks.structure
Class Summary Class Description AnalyzeNetworkAllows the weights and bias values of the neural network to be analyzed. NetworkCODECThis class will extract the "long term memory" of a neural network, that is the weights and bias values into an array. NeuralStructureHolds "cached" information about the structure of the neural network.
SCaVis 2.0 © jWork.ORG

subset: commoncrawl


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I realise I have a thing for pilot suits.
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Internet adventures with UniKoRn. Randomly sharing cool pictures I find around the web. Occasionally my own photos/art. Mostly just fangirling over whatever floats my boat at the time, in order to keep my livejournal cleaner :P
Cosplayer. Photographer. Yaoi perve. Gamer. Artist. Design Student. Webdesigner. Anime fan. Comic collector.
Luvs Naruto, Sailormoon, Reborn, Code Geass, Skip Beat, Vocaloids, X-men, KoRn, Alexisonfire, Marilyn Manson, Phantasy Star, World of Warcraft, Tales of Symphonia... and heaps more.
Gaara & Naruto (GaaNaru)
Suzaku & Lelouch (SuzaLulu)
Zelos & Lloyd
Tsuna & Gokudera (2769)
Miku & Kaito
Usagi & Mamoru


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The Vampire Diaries 100 Episodes Trivia
omg so many spoilers
I'm so sorry I'm kicking your ass in pizza fight.
myers-briggs personality types
↳ INFJ (The Counselor)
INFJs often appear quiet, caring and sensitive, and may be found listening attentively to someone else's ideas or concerns. They are highly perceptive about people and want to help others achieve understanding. INFJs are not afraid of complex personal problems; in fact, they are quite complex themselves, and have a rich inner life that few are privy to. They reflect at length on issues of ethics, and feel things deeply. Because Counselors initially appear so gentle and reserved, they may surprise others with their intensity when one of their values is threatened or called into question. Their calm exterior belies the complexity of their inner worlds.
Because INFJs are such complex people, they may be reluctant to engage with others who might not understand or appreciate them, and can thus be hard to get to know. Although they want to get along with others and support them in their goals, they are fiercely loyal to their own system of values and will not follow others down a path that does not feel authentic to them. When they sense that their values are not being respected, or when their intuition tells them that someone's intentions are not pure, they are likely to withdraw.
- least common type in the population
- among highest of all types in college GPA
- among most likely to stay in college
- most likely of all types to cope with stress by seeing a therapist
- highest of all types in marital dissatisfaction
- personal values include spirituality, learning, and community service
- commonly found in careers in religion, counseling, teaching, and the arts
- famous infjs: gandhi, carl jung, eleanor roosevelt, and emily bronte
if you think i'm over Pacific Rim ur wrong


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Hyderabad: In continuing shame for the nation, two Andhra Pradesh police constables were on Monday accused of sexual assault in two separate incidents. A senior constable was suspended after a 17-year-old lodged a complaint that he tried to pull her into his car on Saturday night.
In a separate instance in Vijayawada, a constable was charged with rape after a dowry harassment victim claimed that she was repeatedly raped by the policeman when she went to lodge a complaint for being tortured for dowry.
A case has been registered against him.


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Home > Iberian Peninsula
The far southwestern corner of Europe is the Iberian Peninsula, a large peninsula of land pointing out from Europe, toward Africa. Follow me as I explore Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar. The Iberian Peninsula section has been moved to a new section, Europa.
Follow Notes from the Road


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It's easy to return items to Virgin Media for FREE
Package the old equipment by following the Returning your old set top instructions on the box. Once everything's in the box, attach the pre-paid Collect+ return label over the old delivery label ensuring you cover the barcode.
Attach the CollectPlus label
You should have received a CollectPlus returns label with your order
Can't find the returns label? Create a new one
Please attach the returns label to the parcel, ensuring the delivery label is not visible and that your parcel weighs less than 10kg
Drop the parcel at a shop
You can drop off your parcel at ANY of over 5,500 local stores, open late, 7 days a week
The shopkeeper will scan the parcel and give you a receipt with a unique reference code, allowing you to track your parcel
Your return will be processed on arrival at Virgin Media


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|For Sale: 144
|New: 24
|Recently Sold: 1
|Reduced: 57
|Average Home Price
|Average Sold Price
|Property Records: 6,902
|Foreclosed: N/A
The average home price in 78702 is $428,263. The average home price per square foot in 78702 is $305 and about 0% of all homes in 78702 sold in the last 6 months. For 78702 home values, real estate prices, and city market trends, research the 6,902 property records or search our 1 recently sold or 144 homes for sale listings. Listing counts, 78702 home prices and home values in 78702 are sourced daily from listing and property data on realtor.com®, which is the most up-to-date and accurate aggregation of real estate listings in the industry and includes approximately 800 regional MLSs and is the official website of the National Association of Realtors®.
|Median Age
|Median Household Income


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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
RogueJedi86 said...
On that note, I have a semi-related anecdote. You know why I love BioWare's development team that's working on TOR? Because they never announce anything until they have something to show. They only announce a new class or planet or gameplay feature when they have in-engine footage of it doing its thing. The class pages all have videos of several special attacks, the planet pages all have video fly-bys of several regions, stuff like that. And if they make the announcement at a convention, they always have a demo of either themselves or press playing the game and the newly announced stuff. It's never something superfluous like "oh, we have this idea for new dances on paper that we hope will be in the game but we don't know if it'll actually make it in". Anything BioWare announces for TOR, it's guaranteed to be in-game and playable on their internal servers.
And that is just one of the many reasons I'm so hyped up for TOR.


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enjoy free online games with friends and family
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Survey: US manufacturing expands modestly last month as employment, exports rise.
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Yesterday was my birthday and it was filled with yummy foods, a little shopping, enjoying the beautiful weather in Boston and good good company. I will have many new things for my kitchen to share with you but I just couldn't wait to show my new favorite!
My #1 guy gave me this cupcake stand, which he custom painted yellow, just for me! He also made the best birthday card in the entire world (you can check out more of his stuff here).
Even though I was born on July 1st, I like to think my birthday lasts for days because of all of the 4th of July celebratory things. Today I am going to have a birthday picnic in the park with some pals and then party some more. I'm surprisingly not baking, but you'll see…


text: Mount Pleasant, Utah is located in Sanpete County. Mount Pleasant has a population of 3,497 and has shown 26.6% growth since 2000. Of the 1,115 households in Mount Pleasant, 64.6% are owned, 11.5% are rented and 24% are not currently occupied. The median age of homes in Mount Pleasant is 31 years and 26.0% of the homes have been occupied by the same residents for more than 5 years. Learn more about Mount Pleasant, Utah real estate at coldwellbanker.com.


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Bio Briefs
Posted By
Recent Posts on This Topic | See All >
Dec 13, 2013 AZBio hosts Trailblazer awards Tags: azbio, trailblazers
Joan Shapiro tapped by medical schoolTags: abrc, barrow neurological institute, com phoenix, st josephs, university of arizona
[Source: Phoenix Business Journal] - Joan Rankin Shapiro is leaving her post as vice president of clinical and translational research at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center to become associate dean for research at University of Arizona College of Medicine — Phoenix in partnership with Arizona State University.
After 20 years with St. Joseph's, Shapiro will oversee the medical school's research program. She will remain on the research faculty at St. Joseph's and will oversee compliance of the Phoenix hospital's research enterprise.
For more information: Joan Shapiro tapped by medical school
Quick Links
Now available: "Arizona's Bioscience Roadmap 2014-2025: Advancing the Biosciences and Improving Health Outcomes," is now available along with its supplement, "Summary of Goals, Strategies, and Potential Actions." An overview by Walter Plosila, Ph.D., Battelle senior advisor, is also available. The updated Roadmap provides a long-term strategy for Arizona to achieve bioscience success over the next decade.


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Smart answer to a dumb question by Ross Lynch
There was a projection of Teen Beach Movie in Paris this monday. Before the movie started, Ross came in the movie theater to introduce the movie. In the queue, we wrote some questions on pieces of paper for Ross and then during the presentation the discussant picked randomly some questions to ask him.
One question was " What is your type of girlfriend ?"
I started growling (unlike all the little teenage girls who started screaming) because we had the opportunity to ask interesting questions about the movie and about him as an actor and it got wasted for a cheesy useless question he already got asked like 2000 times.
But then I was really impressed and pleased by his answer.
Just watch it.
(I left the french traduction at the end)


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Website expands resources on workplace wellness
A Virginia wellness initiative for small businesses has expanded its new website to include employer profiles and other resources for companies that want to promote healthy lifestyles among employees.
SmallBusinessBeWell.com, developed by the Virginia Healthy Small Business Center in Richmond, debuted as a beta site in mid-December.
"Now it's fully loaded and ready to rock and roll," said Kevin Gaydosh, publicist for Small Business Be Well. "It's got a lot more functionality to it and a lot more resources added to it."
Those resources include inspirational stories about companies making strides in workplace wellness.
One example is SwimWays Corp., a Virginia Beach manufacturer of pool toys, floats, swim aids and other recreational water items.
The company provides health coverage for employees, but it was struggling with high insurance premium increases. It reduced those mounting expenses with several wellness programs, such as:
* A free on-site gym, which SwimWays converted from a vacant office at a cost of $5,000.
* Smoking cessation workshops.
* Compensation of $100 for employees who participate in athletic events including bike rides or runs
* Reimbursement of $200 for employees' off-site gym memberships.
* Healthier break-room snacks: fresh fruit instead of doughnuts.
SmallBusinessBeWell.com provides four tool kits - Live Well, Eat Well, Be Active and Be Safe - for employers and employees.
The site also offers "10 Easy Tips for a Healthier Workplace." For example, No. 2 encourages employers to designate just one area for copying and printing.
This not only encourages employees to get up and move more, but it also saves money on buying multiple office machines.
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Person DetailsUpdate
Todd worked as VP of Sales Operations at Yahoo before resigning in August 2008.
At Yahoo, Todd Teresi managed advertising customer service efforts and oversees the advertising policies for the Company's sales organization. Prior to joining Yahoo! in 1999, Mr. Teresi was a founding member of the high technology, mergers and acquisitions practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he was responsible for structuring, due diligence, execution and integration activities for business combinations ranging from $10 million to over $3 billion. Before this role, he served in the audit and business advisory services practice where he led audit and consulting engagements for prominent high tech and multinational corporations.
Mr. Teresi is also Chair of the IAB's Measurement Guidelines Task Force, which is working to develop a set of measurement and audit guidelines in relation to counting impressions for interactive advertising.
Experience (6)Update
Education (1)Update
Claremont McKenna College
BAEconomics, Accounting, Psychology
News (1)Update
More Yahoo Senior Exec Defections: Steve Boom and Todd Teresi08/27/08 -techcrunch.com


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Let us help you find the right one.
Call 954-759-7400 for assistance, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Broward Health Imperial Point's Man Van is taking men's health screenings across Broward. Find out more »
Broward Health offers a wide range of programs to improve the health of the people of Broward County, including: lectures, screenings and outreach, senior services, maternal and child health, school health, HIV/AIDS care, homeless services and more.
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Misuse of alcohol can lead to serious consequences. Alcohol-use disorder differs from alcoholism. Alcohol-use disorder is a pattern of drinking that results in failure to meet work, home, or school responsibilities, among other things.
Alcoholism is more severe form of alcohol-use disorder. It is considered a disease with symptoms that include an extremely strong craving for alcohol, loss of control over drinking, or physical dependence.
Learn more about the effects of abusing alcohol by taking this quiz, based on information from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
Alcoholism is also called alcohol dependence and has symptoms that may include:
An alcoholic cannot simply use "will power" to stop drinking; his or her need for alcohol can be as great as the need for food or water. Most alcoholics need treatment and support to recover. For someone who abuses alcohol but has not become dependent, intervention and education often will be enough to stop the abuse, although sometimes professional help also is necessary.


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Turkey Joints and Their Deliciousness…and That's Coming from a Vegetarian [OPINION]
What are turkey joints? For a moment we will step away from the journalistic creed of objectivity and describe them as "yummaciousness."
What are turkey joints? For a moment we will step away from the journalistic creed of objectivity and describe them as "yummaciousness."
Looking for some natural male enhancement? Try eating chocolate. I'm being serious too.
One of those things I know I hate doing is licking stamps. It's one of the weirdest feelings, and tastes in the world. I personally hate it. However, maybe someone should update stamp technology. The Belgian Post Office decided to enter 2013 in style, they have released over 538,000 Chocolate stamps that look like chocolate, and taste like chocolate, in time for Easter.
Have you ever heard of Kinder Surprise eggs? They're chocolate eggs that have a little toy inside of them. That's right, kids love candy that can potentially choke them to their death. American kids haven't been allowed to eat these delicious treats because they've been illegal here forever. The FDA has common since and have ruled them out as a choking hazard. Some how though, in time for Easter, these have been considered safe. Order yours here.
Hamilton, NY (WIBX) - To the unobservant passerby, a train wreck isn't exactly something people are supposed to celebrate.
Snickers! America's favorite chocolate candy is Snickers.
With Easter just around the corner, most kids are focused on one thing (besides being out of school for a week). It's that famous Easter Basket. Over the years, I believe, the contents of the Easter basket have become more and more extravagant...and expensive, I might add. Do they have to be?
If you're looking to improve your eyesight, drop the carrots. According to a new study, chocolate improves your eyesight. Who would eat Carrots over Chocolate?
"How can I have s'more of something, when I haven't had any?" blurts Scotty Smalls after Hamilton (Ham) Porter asks him if he wants "S'mores". "You're killing me, Smalls!" was Ham's reply. This delicacy, consisting of nothing more than chocolate, graham cracker, and melted marshmallow, has been a staple for American campfires for generations
While you are crying at the gas pump with the ever-rising gas prices, consider this: As transportation costs start to build up everything will get more expensive. WalletPop.com has listed other things that ar


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NEW ORLEANS, La. (CBSSports.com) - New Orleans Hornets owner Tom Benson announced Thursday afternoon that the team will be known as New Orleans Pelicans next season.
The team now formerly known as the Hornets officially announced they are changing their nickname to Pelicans and revealed new colors and logos. The brown pelican is the state bird of Louisiana.
The team will play the rest of the season under the nickname Hornets and then make the full transition to Pelicans starting next season. The primary colors are red, blue and gold.
The Hornets brought their nickname with them when former owner George Shinn relocated the franchise from Charlotte in 2002. But under new local owner Tom Benson, the organization wants to embed itself a little more directly with its community and city.
The pelican is the Louisiana state bird and was the name of a minor-league baseball team that played in New Orleans from 1889 to 1959, so it has direct ties to the city and state.
A video introducing the nickname can be seen here, which begins by saying, "The New Orleans NBA franchise is long overdue a name change. The Hornets were well-named in Charlotte but this doesn't carry over to a unique town with such rich culture and history as the Crescent City."
The organization reportedly filed for five name trademarks: Pelicans, Mosquitos, Swamp Dogs, Bullsharks and Rougarou.
View the photo in this story for the logo markings that were also released by the team.
Tune in tonight for the latest on the team's name change on News Channel 5. Please refer to http://www.kalb.com/ and @kalbtv5. Join the conversation on Twitter at #kalb5.


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The Springfield Democrats sent out a mass email to Springfield residents concerning the turf field bond ordinance up for discussion at the Township Committee meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14. The letter is below.
A bond ordinance in excess of $3.2 million will be introduced at the Springfield Township Committee meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012, beginning at 7:00 pm. The purpose of borrowing this money is to fund an artificial Turf Field in front of JDHS.
Although we may all agree that the kids deserve a field, there are issues that need to be clarified before moving ahead with funding. Of primary concern is the safety of the athletes and residents using the field. Documented health issues attributable to artificial turf have been raised by the Springfield Environmental Commission and have not yet been adequately addressed. The SEC, while supporting the need for a field, strongly opposes artificial turf. Before moving ahead, the Township must be sure they will not be putting our children at risk. Further, to move ahead without considering the health risks could put both Springfield and the Board of Education at risk of liability for future health problems.
Another concern is the current plan to build the field within a flood zone. Before proceeding with funding, we must be sure that construction of this field will not worsen the already disastrous flooding problems in many of our neighborhoods.
As with the municipal pool project several years ago, this project should be subject to a referendum; an open vote allowing all the residents of Springfield to express their opinion prior to committing to fund it. Mr. Shehadi has stated that the vast majority of township residents favor the project. If so, a referendum will make that clear, and will allow for a full examination of all the issues and a determination by the taxpayers if this is the best use of taxpayer funds.
This is not an argument against the new field, but a demand that no commitment of our money be made now, before a thorough study of all of the issues can be completed and the risks and benefits can be properly considered by all.
Please attend the Township Committee meeting to promote an open discussion about the Turf Field.
Let your voice be heard!


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January 27, 2012
Our Master of Arts - Workplace Theology, Ethics and Leadership is a cohort-based degree for those with workplace experience who desire to live out their Christian faith in the secular marketplace. This past week, they spent the week in New York City discussing money, finance, profit, debt, marketing, sales, and consumerism – in the perspective of biblical stewardship, honesty, truthfulness, and diligence. Below are a few pictures from their time in NYC.
Want to learn more? View MAR-WTEL details on our website or request information today and one of our Admissions Representatives will contact you!
Tags: equipping leaders for the church and society , student life , thoughtfully evangelical
January 24, 2012
Megan Hackman
Studying Colossians this week has reawakened my thoughts on Sabbath, which we started discussing in December. Colossians 2:16-17 reads, "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ." After studying this passage through the week, I spent Sabbath on Sunday considering whether or not the practice of Sabbath for me has become an embrace of shadow or substance.
The shadows Paul is discussing were all good, Old Testament instructions for the people of God. They involved dietary laws, festival guidelines, and Sabbath keeping. They cast an outline of beautiful promises given in the direct presence of God, including rest (Gen 2:3), provision (Ex 16:5), and remembrance (Ex 20:8; Deut 5:15). The unfolding of this promise of Sabbath rest continues straight through Jesus' proclamation of healing (Lk 13:16) and provision on the Sabbath day (Lk 6:3-5). Finally, it will find its fulfillment in eternity when we enter the Sabbath rest that remains for the people of God (Heb 4:9-10).
So my struggle this weekend centered on recognizing how much of the past two years I have spent enveloped and actually pursuing the promises of the shadow of Sabbath. By practicing Sabbath on Sundays, I actively sought rest and rhythm. These shadows are certainly provided by merely ceasing to work for one day. The promises of Sabbath shadows are good things, but we are able to walk in fellowship with Christ himself (Heb 4:16)! We no longer settle for mere shadows.
So what of the substance of Sabbath? I think it's possible that in my headlong pursuit of the shadows, I have at times missed the substance of Christ.
Sunday was a regeneration of the pursuit of Christ for me in the practice of Sabbath. I have been asked to expand upon what it means to "tune into the bass line," as discussed weeks ago. For me, to look upon the substance of Christ and to enter his presence requires stillness, confession, and prayer. Often I will follow that by meditating upon a particular verse. Sometimes I find walking slowly through the woods helps me to converse more naturally with my Creator. I suggest Adele Calhoun's Spiritual Disciplines Handbook if you are looking for some creative ways to hear God's bass line call in your life.
My aim is to not just embrace the outline of God's promises, but to embrace He who casts the shadows directly. I am inhibited from doing that the more I emphasize the pursuit of physical rest. Instead, when I envision the Lamb in the throne room or the man walking along the road of Emmaus, I can begin to dialogue with and expose myself to my God for transformation that satisfies the need for both physical and spiritual rest and that continues throughout the week.
That designated, full-day intimacy is worth the pursuit of Sabbath. It helps me embrace of the very substance of Christ in the rest of the week.
Megan Hackman and her husband, Larry, are M.Div. students at Gordon-Conwell's Hamilton campus.
Tags: Author: Megan Hackman , biblically-grounded , student blogger , student life , thoughtfully evangelical
January 20, 2012
Author's Note: Journeys are strange. You hardly ever end up where you thought you would, and you definitely never get there in the manner that you conceived. That has been as true for me as it was for Jonah the morning he woke up to take a leisurely cruise to Tarshish. Over the next few weeks I will be writing a series of blog posts exploring how I came to and through seminary. It's a strange tale with no straight lines. But it's my story, and it is the path that the Lord has led our family down. It's not idyllic. I hope that encourages you. Also, in case you just joined the conversation, Part 1 can be found here; Part 2 can be found here; Part 3 can be found here; Part 4 can be found here; Part 5 can be found here; Part 6 can be found here. Part 7 can be found here; Part 8 can be found here.
Remember senioritis? It hits everyone at some point during your final year of high school. For some people, it even starts in your junior year. But then you go to college and you are mature. You live on your own, you do your own laundry, you go to bed when you like and you eat what you like. Yet, when your senior year of college arrives, there it is again – dwelling in your being like a severe case of cabin fever for six straight months. You can't think, you can't focus, and that final exam just doesn't seem as important as it did the year before. At times like these you need a Jedi master to sit down with you and say: "Discipline, young padawan. Be mindful of the present."
The final year of my Master of Divinity, I was in my early thirties and had been in the work force for nearly a decade. So, I was completely blind-sided when senioritis hit me during the Fall semester of my final year in seminary. Yep, I suppose you're never too mature for this plague upon students. Every time I sat down to read, a flock of thought-mosquitos would begin to buzz around in my brain (yes, I just made that word up… 'thought-mosquitos'). Where would our family be next year? What would we be doing? Where would we live? On top of that, to help save money since I was no longer working, I studied during the days while also watching our youngest child. So, the few times that I was able to swat all of the mosquitos away, I would just begin to focus when a small cry would rise up and a bottle would need to be made. It was crazy. Yet somehow I made it through. And you can, too. How?
I needed a Jedi, as well. Someone tall, yet calm, with a beard. And an Irish accent (Yes, I love Liam Neeson). I needed him to sit down with me and remind me to be mindful of the present. But, unfortunately for us all, Jedis and midichlorians don't really exist in our world. So, I had to look elsewhere. And I found my counsel in Scripture:
"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11)
Yes, I know that this is not spoken to each of us as individual Christians. This is something that God said to the surviving elders of the Israelite exiles. But it tells us of the type of God that we have. One that has a plan for us. One that has an eternal plan to prosper us and not to harm us. So I took that step – that hardest of steps for people like me – and I decided to stop worrying about my future. I set aside time to think about it, but then I entrusted it to God, knowing that he has a plan, and I was able to study. Indeed, it can be said that the Scriptures were my Jedi. And it can also be said that trusting God with my future was my mosquito spray.
Brian has an M.Div. (2010) from Gordon-Conwell's Charlotte campus, a Th.M. (2011) in Historical Theology from the South Hamilton campus, and is currently strengthening his language skills while in the MACH program. He hopes to matriculate into a doctoral program in August 2012 that will allow him to continue in his study of the thought of Augustine of Hippo. He has a wonderful wife, three great children, and spent ten years in ministry to teenagers, primarily with Young Life International.
Tags: Author: Brian , student blogger , thoughtfully evangelical
January 18, 2012
Ever wonder what people do after seminary? In the video below, we talk with Dr. Paul Borthwick (M.Div. '80, D.Min. '07), professor at Gordon College and on staff with Development Associates International about how his experience at Gordon-Conwell equipped him for a lifetime of missions work.
Tags: Alumni , current students , future students
January 13, 2012
Author's Note: Journeys are strange. You hardly ever end up where you thought you would, and you definitely never get there in the manner that you conceived. That has been as true for me as it was for Jonah the morning he woke up to take a leisurely cruise to Tarshish. Over the next few weeks I will be writing a series of blog posts exploring how I came to and through seminary. It's a strange tale with no straight lines. But it's my story, and it is the path that the Lord has led our family down. It's not idyllic. I hope that encourages you. Also, in case you just joined the conversation, Part 1 can be found here; Part 2 can be found here; Part 3 can be found here; Part 4 can be found here; Part 5 can be found here; Part 6 can be found here. Part 7 can be found here.
After realizing that I was being called to a vocation of scholarship (which I wrote about in my last post in this series), a lot of changes came quickly for my family. Having gone to class part-time while working for six straight years, I was finished with two-thirds of my M.Div. My wife had a wonderful job as a nurse, and we decided to cut back (significantly) on our expenses so that I could attend school full-time and finish my M.Div. within the next year. After ten years in youth work, I notified the organization that I worked for (Young Life) that I would not be returning the following year, and they began a very healthy and patient process to find someone incredible to replace me (he is). It was an exciting time, but it was also a bit scary as we stepped away from our previous life and towards school – not knowing exactly where all of the finances that were necessary would come from.
Not everything about the transition to that final year was smooth or exciting. Learning to study again at a full-time pace was difficult – it took nearly a year for me to fully shake off the rust and get into a good groove. Our three children had spent most of their conscious moments in our town, but with a 2 ½ hour commute to Charlotte it seemed like a foregone conclusion that we had to move (from a house to an apartment…not as fun when your family is now five instead of two). We had wonderful friends in the area as well, and leaving them was heartbreaking.
I could probably continue this post and give a gaggle of details that mean a lot to me but not as much to you. But, since I remember the days that my wife first took me to her hometown and I was caught in massive groups of people that I didn't know without any possible way to remember all of their names or the stories surrounding them, I won't. Instead, I want to encourage you with one story…
Although many things were hard and difficult, God gave our family an amazing year that final year of my M.Div. I had considered it a foregone conclusion that our family was moving to Charlotte, as difficult as that was. My wife, however, felt that God was going to open up a way for our family to stay in the area. We lived in a beautiful resort town, and the cost of living there combined with travel expenses made staying financially impossible. So my wife prayed while I chuckled and worked on logistical issues. And then, right when we were preparing a trip to look at apartments in Charlotte, God came through with a miracle (O, me of little faith). While volunteering at our Young Life fundraising golf tournament, my wife began telling our story to a donor who had come to the tournament to share her story about becoming a Christian through Young Life when she was in high school. She asked how much we could afford (it was miniscule), and then said that she had an idea. A few days later she called my wife and invited her to come take a look at a rental home that they had, one that they would rent to us within our tiny budget. The house was huge. And gorgeous. And in a great neighborhood. In fact, we had never lived in such a wonderful home. That was the beginning of a wonderful year for our family – one that allowed us to stay within our community in a beautiful home while I was in the midst of a vocational change.
I am not telling you my story so that you think "God will give me things if I go to seminary!" Those of us here know that is not the case. In fact, I have never had less financial margin in my life, and I am going into this final semester at GCTS hoping that I will be able to pull together all of the loose financial ends. I am writing to encourage you that, if God is calling you to seminary, you should go. If you're already here, figure out a way to stay (if the calling is from God). It looks bleak, and it won't turn out the way you envision, but he knows your future, and he knows exactly what you need, when you need it. For our family, it was a house for a year. For you, it is probably something quite different.
Oh, and don't chuckle at your spouse when they are praying for something.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
Brian has an M.Div. (2010) from Gordon-Conwell's Charlotte campus, a Th.M. (2011) in Historical Theology from the South Hamilton campus, and is currently strengthening his language skills while in the MACH program. He hopes to matriculate into a doctoral program in August 2012 that will allow him to continue in his study of the thought of Augustine of Hippo. He has a wonderful wife, three great children, and spent ten years in ministry to teenagers, primarily with Young Life International.
Tags: Author: Brian , student blogger
January 06, 2012
Megan Hackman
(SPOILER ALERT! If you have not read the Hunger Games series, it won't bother you to continue. But if you're in the middle of book three, this may spoil the ending for you.)
The goal of the Hunger Games is survival. This is the quest. The only quest. The only conceivable quest for the districts, the tributes, and even the President is survival. As modern readers, we want more. And so we're given a love triangle, science fiction creatures, futuristic fashion, weddings, funerals, Roman-like arenas, history lessons, herbalist and medicinal instruction… there really is something for everyone! I caught the craze, and with a list like that, I can see where others have as well.
And yet, the quest is not our quest. Is life just about survival? What about hope? Identity? A future? Redemption? Even for those not as consciously theological, I can imagine a dissatisfaction that the characters are unable to be successful on quests for revenge, success, or even legacy in light of their overwhelming need just to survive. These goals are all taken away from the people of Panem (the nation of the Hunger Games) by its totalitarian rulers who require a yearly child sacrifice as penalty for their rebellion.
So why are we so wrapped up in a story line that ends with the achievement of mere survival for barely more than one character? (sorry, warned you about the spoiler alert) I know I'm fascinated by its nature as a cautionary tale. What if this world were only about survival? Would you still value your life? What kind of reaction would I have to such authority over me? Could I survive?
What if we had a Creator God who stepped away and said, "May the odds be ever in your favor," so to speak, and then sent us into an arena in which survival were only merely possible? There you have Panem. You have a de-humanized authority and a hero who does not have the power to save. Who is unable to redeem. Who is horrifically broken and unable to be healed, even after the quest for survival has met its end. And I hear in the speech and behavior of friends outside of the Church a similar expression of God—in which the Creator has left us to a life of luck and a quest for success against the odds. Yet, there is a belief and a drivenness today that one might actually by his own power save, redeem, and overcome.
I was struck by how unlike this quest is from the message of the Gospel. In our story, the ultimate authority has become the most intimate of creatures with a quest not for survival but for the healing and unity of the entire world. The shock of the Gospel message is, too, that the means for "life and life abundantly" (John 10:10), is through the sacrifice of our hero in death (1 Corinthians 5:21)!
While reading the series, I rode the wave of hope that this one young girl symbolically became hope for an entire nation, unifying people under the symbol of freedom. But the symbolic hope she represented was surpassed by her own quest for a survival. Finally, both quests lead not to the healing and unity of the entire world but a dark commentary on the individual's and the world's resonate brokenness.
I finished the first book months ago and the series over Christmas, and yet, I cannot get these themes nor the characters out of my head. I think the series' magnetism for me has to do with the people I know in this world who are living under this false quest to survive with a false belief that they, themselves, have the power to overcome but without realizing that the work of healing and redemption is accomplished by Jesus. It's like I want to sit down with Katniss and Peeta and talk about life as so much more than survival. I want to assure them that there is eternal and present justice for their brokenness. I feel like Suzanne Collins must know this because she gave us plenty of diversions so that we would maintain hope for the people of Panem. To me, though, the finishing tone was hopeless and broken.
What do you think has you enthralled with the series? Do you think survival is Katniss' sole quest? Do you think a social and economic commentary is all that can be harvested from this series?
Megan Hackman and her husband, Larry, are M.Div. students at Gordon-Conwell's Hamilton campus.
Tags: Author: Megan Hackman , equipping leaders for the church and society , student blogger , thoughtfully evangelical
January 04, 2012
Gordon-Conwell recently announced the new Partnership Program, which provides a full-tuition scholarship and biblical stewardship training. Take a moment to watch the video below to hear some of our Partnership students share their thoughts and experiences with this program.
Tags: current students , equipping leaders for the church and society , future students , training


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Synopsis: Bebe Daniels struck a blow for feminism--for at least 6 reels, that is--in The Fifty-Fifty Girl. It all begins when Kathleen O'Hara (Daniels) and Jim Donahue (James Hall) find themselves joint owners of a gold mine. Each party would like to get rid of the other and take full ownership. Thus, they strike a deal that might serve as an amusing I Love Lucy plot: O'Hara will dig for gold, while Donahue will stay home and do the housework. The first one to pull out of this agreement will forfeit his or ... Full Synopsis


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Just watched the time change…
Yes I am weird.
I just learned that he loves movies with proper language like pride and prejudice.
Been crazy busy with work and life. Expect some posts tonight
Dress Problems
So I went to David's Bridal today and I was less than ecstatic about the whole trip. Everything seemed so off from the consultant to the dresses to finding something I liked and could afford. I felt pressured into choosing this one that wasn't all that bad but it didn't feel like the one. I liked half of it and the girl said I needed the pick up skirt and it helped but the bottom was messy. Plus I was being stared at by all these girls and even the consultants looked at me as if I was not good enough to be in there. Even in the pictures I looked off, I felt ugly and fat. I wanted to hide and be in my glasses. This is not normal. I choose the guy but I can't commit to a dress…..
Christina Aguilera - The Right Man
Bridal Bootcamp!
Today I went to Zumba and to my CXWORX class for my core strengthening and it was amazing. It is probably my favorite class. I wish it was longer than 30 minutes!


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Dan Schaeffer, CEO, recently completed his four year term on NECA's National Executive Committee as 7th District Vice President. The 7th District is comprised of NECA contractors located in Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and the Dakotas.
President Chettle Elected to NECA St. Louis Board of Directors
SEC President, Tim Chettle, was elected to the Board of Directors of St. Louis Chapter NECA (National Electrical Contractors Association). Tim was installed at the annual Chapter Dinner on January 25, 2014 and will serve a three year term.
Green Energy – from ElectricalConnection.org
New Ways To Save Energy Never Get Old! 13 Tips from the Electrical Connection!
It Pays To Hire Union – from ElectricalConnection.org
Customers have wide array of companies to choose from when they select an electrical contractor. Please consider this article when doing so as Schaeffer Electric is extremely proud of its affiliation with the IBEW..
Complete – Mechanical Dynamics & Analysis High-Speed Balance Facility
See our new portfolio entry.
Schaeffer Awarded Polar Bear Point at Saint Louis Zoo
Schaeffer Electric has been awarded the Polar Bear Point project at Saint Louis Zoo! Thanks to Rhodey Construction, Alberici Construction, and the Saint Louis Zoo for trusting our company with this important project. For a little more information, have a look at this article on STLToday.com.
Staff Additions – Chris Simonds & Wendy Butler
Schaeffer Electric recently welcomed two new additions to our office staff.
Chris Simonds was hired in the Service Department as an estimator and project manager. Chris will be 'on the streets' working with customers in both the residential and commercial markets and has worked in the industry for over 10 years. He is looking forward to working with our team and will be happy to assist you with your electrical needs. His direct phone is (314) 565-2482.
Wendy Butler also has a wealth of experience in the electrical industry and will be working with our administrative staff in both the commercial wiring and communications areas. She will be assisting Laura Hoeing with job costing, invoicing and customer service. Welcome Wendy.
Robert (Bob) J. Schaeffer
We were saddened to receive the news last week of the passing of Bob Schaeffer on May 4. Bob was the 4th oldest of the 17 Schaeffer children born to Carl and Eulalia Schaeffer. After serving in the US Navy during the Korean War, Bob joined the family company in 1955 and worked as an electrician, estimator and Service Department Manager before retiring in 1992. He was also a co-owner of the Company from 1969-1988. Bob was very dedicated to the success of Schaeffer Electric and would often stop by after his retirement just to make sure that things were running smoothly. Quick with a smile and a laugh, Bob will be missed.
Complete – Washington University Mallinckrodt New Chiller & Switchgear
See our new portfolio entry.
MD&A Turbine-Generator Repair Facility Addition – Project Update
Site electric and building underground work is progressing at MD&A in South St. Louis. With such a small footprint, significant coordination has taken place to allow all the trades to meet schedule. Thank you to all the trades and the design team for recognizing the proximity issues and keeping themselves and their coworkers safe.


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WebGL-based MOOC on Interactive 3D Graphics
Mar 21, 2013
Udacity and Autodesk are now offering a MOOC on the basics of interactive 3D graphics. A MOOC is a massive open (i.e. free) online course. The self-paced course is based on WebGL through the popular three.js library. 19,000 people have signed up so far.
Category: Applications •
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A car accident that occurred on Interstate 24 Friday took the lives of a father and his two daughters.Authorities reported that the crash occurred at the 92 mile marker of I-24 around 11:20 a.m. Friday morning.Preliminary investigations revealed that 38-year-old Michael Mahan of Georgia, was driving a 1996 Toyota Camry westbound. His two daughters, 11-year-old Meagan and 16-year-old Savanah, were his passengers.Police reported that for an undetermined reason, Mahan's vehicle crossed the median and entered eastbound lanes of travel when it struck a Uhaul driven by Richard Dooley of Virginia.After Mahan's vehicle struck the Uhaul, it struck a Rav 4 behind it.Driving the Rav 4 was Richard Dooley's wife and children: 43-year-old Lisa Larimer, 7-year-old Ariel Dooley and 6-year-old Sierra Dooley. Once authorities arrived, Meagan, Mahan's daughter, was pronounced dead at the scene. Mahan and his second daughter, Savanah, both succumbed to their injuries at area hospitals.Lisa Larimer and her two daughters, Ariel and Sierra Dooley, were transported to Gateway Medical Center.At this time, Larimer is listed in stable condition. Her daughters are listed in stable but critical condition.Richard Dooley was not injured in the accident.Officials reported that the investigation is ongoing.
441 Murfreesboro Road Nashville, TN 37210
Telephone: 615.369.7222
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Categories > Celebrities > My Chemical Romance > The Kids from yesterday
You're never gonna fit in much kid1 Reviews
"Sounds like some sorta disease you get if you have sex in space, like space HIV or something."
Summary:"Sounds like some sorta disease you get if you have sex in space, like space HIV or something."
Frank's point of view.
I and Gerard decided to leave the new, loved up couple making out at the park and head for a local internet café seeing as how we got chucked out of the local star bucks and the closest one near us was in the town centre. We planned on going back to school for English as I refused to miss it much to Gerard's amusement. Might be a shock, but I'm actually pretty good at English thank you very much.
"I'm not missing it Gee." I repeated stubbornly.
"Yeah I know, it was just a suggestion." He replied giving me a crooked grin that sent my annoyingly perverted brain cells into meltdown.
"Ye-yeah I know I'm, I'm just saying, I mean its bad enough that I ya know." I spluttered blushing like crazy. And it was not helping that the guy causing my brain to malfunction was now smirking at me. Fuck, he looks so hot….
Wonder what it would be like to kiss him with that hot smirk on his lips? Probably feels good. He probably tastes pretty good too.
Then again, I wouldn't mind if those soft lips were attached to somewhere else…sure the pleasure would be just as good.
"Yo Frankie!"
Damn he looks so good in those jeans…that tight little ass…god I'd fuck that over a table any day…
"Frank! Watch out for that-!"
"AH SON OF A MOTHERFUCKING SHIT DUCKING FUCKER AND IN GOD'S NAME OF EVERYTHING GOREY AND CROSS DRESSED WHO THE FUCK PUT THAT THERE!" I all but screeched, having just walked right into a-
"Lamp post." Gerard finished lamely looking at me in exasperation as I muttered profanities under my breath, clutching my nose; Gee sighed, "You okay?"
"Yeah absolutely fine. Except the fact a lamp post walked in front of me." I frowned annoyed, glaring icily at the accusing lamp post.
If Gerard looked exasperated before, it was nothing compared to the look on his face now. It was beyond description.
"The lamp post walked in front of you?" he asked looking at me in disbelief.
"Course I am, when am I not?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"More like are you ever." Gerard muttered before rolling his eyes, "You're nose okay?"
"Ask it." I replied.
"Uh huh like it really can talk back." Gerard replied rolling his eyes, his voice laced with sarcasm.
"Stupid question then ain't it?"
"Though you're definitely making up for its lack of voice." he replied smirking again.
Okay to anyone who doesn't know Gee, you would probably find him an annoying, smart ass with an attitude problem. Well I'm not saying that isn't true but most people hate him for it. To be honest, I think they're just jealous that he's hot, sassy, makes the gothic art freak outcast thing look sexy and can shoot you down quite easily with his smart ass replies that come faster than a virgin teenage boy having sex for the first time.
Plus I found the 'attitude problem' quite sexy.
I did the mature thing and stuck my tongue out at him making him laugh.
"Besides it's your fault." he grinned as we continued walking down the street, leaving the abusive lamp post behind us, "You were the one who spaced out and drooled at nothing for like five minutes." He started giggling like crazy.
I flushed bright red. Shit was I really drooling?
Well he wouldn't say you were if you weren't.
Oh piss off I'm not in the mood for your shit.
Good point, you're too busy dying from embarrassment.
Didn't I just tell you to piss off?
"So…" Gerard said slowly, grinning as he skipped in front of me, hands clasped behind his back as he walked backwards, "What were you thinking about?"
"Nothing." I muttered, still bright red.
Oh yeah like I'm really gonna tell him I was drooling over the idea of his lips around my cock ain't I?
Why not? He might find it a compliment.
How exactly would he find that a-
I was cut off arguing with myself by Gerard clicking his fingers in my face making me blink rather rapidly. Honestly, he does it that quick its like a blur.
"How do you do that?" I asked awe struck.
"How do you space out so much?" he shot back laughing in disbelief, "Honestly, how would you survive on your own? You nearly walked into a-"
I was too busy trying to click my own fingers to pay attention so I paid for it dearly by walking into a-
"Sign post." Gerard sighed as I started yelling at it,, "Honestly Frankie what am I gonna do with you?"
I don't know Gee. Tie me up, hand cuff me to your bed, make me your bitch and fuck me over a table, I don't really have any preferences. Any one of those would do.
"And the ironic part is what the sign says." Gerard snapped me out of my sexual fantasy by tapping my shoulder and gesturing at the sign post I walked into. In bold white letters was the word stop.
"Ah I see what cha mean by ironic." I muttered perplexed.
Gerard just shook his head in amusement as we continued walking down the street.
Wonder what he would be like in bed anyway? Probably amazing. God, I would love it if he fucked me over a table. Wonder if he's a rough kisser? The whole shebang. Like tongues, biting… or would he be soft? Like nice and slow and romantic? Or a rough fuck. Just pounding in over and over.
I sub consciously noted Gerard sighing in exasperated amusement, taking me gently by the shoulders as he guided me across the road.
Damn it, why does my over hormonal brain cells have to be active now? Why can't they have waited until I was safely in the privacy of my bedroom where I can't embarrass myself in front of the sex on legs causing me to act like this? Oh and avoid any more concussions by walking into lamp and sign posts.
Just as I was wondering on whether I would end up being so concussed that there would be no need for me to smoke joints to look or get stoned, I hit something with a huge thud and hit the concrete road next to the sidewalk. Gerard being oh such a sweet, sexy, helpful friend did what any friend would do-burst out laughing.
Needless to say, I freaked.
"Frank, Frankie, you didn't get hit." Gerard choked out.
"The car." Gerard spluttered with laughter as he pointed at the silver ford I got hit with, "It, its-" he burst out laughing again, almost keeling over.
"Why are you laughing?" I whined, wondering if Mikey was right in saying his brother was unstable.
"It, the car! You walked into a fucking car!" Gerard all but shrieked with laughter, completely oblivious to the alarmed looks of passer bys who were probably thinking we were a couple of deranged asylum escapees.
"What the fuck?" I yelped, "What cha mean, I walked in to a car?! It fucking hit me! Where's the driver!? Oh I am so gonna kick his fucking ass and when I've done that, I'm gonna kick yours and you will be-"
"It's parked!" Gerard yelled abruptly still laughing making me look at him in shock, "The car is parked! That's how you-" he was over come with laughter again.
"What cha mean its parked?" I asked then looked at the car-it was parked, "FUCK!"
After ridiculously embarrassing myself, I somehow managed to make the rest of the way from the park to Starbucks without anymore stupid accidents. Though Gerard giggling like crazy each time I managed to snap outta it just in time to avoid another collision with a lamp post (and once almost managing to walk into a bin) and grabbing me by the shoulders to guide me like am some blind person probably made that possible.
The internet café was rather grimy. Typical jersey style. The walls were painted in a dirty dark red colour and the floor was covered in off white, grimy looking tiles. There were two mundane, muddy coloured leather brown sofas in the centre of the café, a chipped coffee table in-between with a dirty red rug underneath it. There was a set of computers set up in the back of the room and some grotty looking tables and chairs. The place was decorated in photos of 70' bands and sport icons and the waitresses looked at least in their thirties though they were probably just out of school. Despite how grotty, dirty and grimy the place was, I loved it. It showed everything I loved about New Jersey.
"Nice Gee, really classy and romantic place for a date." I joked winking at him making Gerard laugh before he old me to grab a table while he got us coffee.
"Okay Frankie." he sighed exasperated again though he was grinning amusingly as he sat down near the window with our coffees where I was already sitting, gazing blankly outside, "What's on your mind?"
"Huh?" I asked dumbly, way to go jackass.
Gerard just laughed, passing me my coffee which I took gratefully, "Honestly Frank, I've never seen someone space out so much! Gives me a run for my money, give you that." he held up his coffee as if in toast making me laugh before he took a sip, grinning.
"Sorry, don't know what's up with me today." I said apologetically before taking a drink of my own.
Gerard looked at me thoughtfully, hand tucked under his chin, a small thoughtful grin on his lips. I blushed, hiding behind my fringe, suddenly feeling self conscious.
"Why are you staring at me like that Gee?" I whispered, looking at him beneath my eyelashes like some chick.
Gerard went pink slightly, quickly hiding his eyes behind his fringe. I let out a small giggle and he grinned shyly at me.
"Looks like I'm not the only one who's spacing out a lot." I muttered smiling shyly back at him.
He smiled and tapped my leg with his biker boot clad foot and I felt my face go redder/
"Its contagious." he muttered grinning.
"Really?" I asked perplexed, trying to ignore the fact I was enjoying his foot was sliding up my leg.
"Uh huh." he muttered back smirking, "Space disease or something."
I giggled like crazy, making him frown slightly though I could tell he was amused, "What?" he asked innocently, "You got anything better?"
"No, but, space disease? Seriously?" I hiccupped.
"Yeah, why not?" he asked shrugging before drinking some coffee.
"Sounds like some sorta disease you get if you have sex in space, like space HIV or something."
Gerard snorted in laughter, spitting out his coffee. I burst out laughing ignoring the annoyed looks from other customers. The waitress who served us our coffee, looked over at us weirdly, chewing her gum loudly, hand on her hip.
"Seriously!?" Gerard choked out, wiping coffee from his mouth.
"Well it does." I giggled, actually hitting my foot against the table. You know when someone says something that is kinda funny yet you both find it so hilarious because it was completely random and you can't stop laughing once you start? Yeah we were having one of those episodes.
"Its absolutely ridiculous." I chuckled, "Space disease? I mean [come on/]"
"What it's good." Gerard said defensively still chuckling, "It's catchy."
"Yeah well so is herpes." I stated bluntly, "And no one thinks they're good do they?"
It was quiet-then we burst out laughing again.
"Oh shit, Satan is pissed." Gerard muttered glancing at the waitress and smirking; this just made me laugh harder.
"Fuck man we're gonna get thrown out again." I muttered in a sing song voice, grinning like a maniac as the over the top made up in make up waitress strutted over, shoes clicking on the dirty white tiled floor as a pretty pissed off customer pointed over at us, glaring.
Sure enough the waitress-Gracie according to her name tag that was pinned on her white blouse walked over. She was actually quite pretty. Her black hair was tied up in a high pony tail, a few strands falling into her heart shaped face. Unlike the other waitresses she wasn't wearing a mask of make up except from scarlet red lipstick, black eyeliner around her bright blue eyes and she wore a nose ring. She was quite pale almost sallow coloured and her cheekbones were rather sharp. Her body was quite small, fragile and thin and she had rather long thin, dainty legs on show due to the white skirt she had to wear and dainty black shoes.
Though despite how pretty and fragile she looked both me and Gerard tried very hard to sober up our laughter, bracing ourselves for a telling off.
Instead, much to our surprise, she smiled slightly, "You guys having fun?" she asked; her voice was quite soft and quiet.
"Uh yeah sorry about that." Gerard said hastily, "We'll try to keep the decimal down."
"Yeah didn't realize we were being so loud." I admitted apologetically, rubbing the back of my neck.
"Hey, I ain't here to piss on your parade." Gracie said holding her hands up defensively, "I've just clocked off and thought I'd come over to see what was so hilarious." she grinned.
Me and Gerard glanced at one another in surprise. Then we just shrugged, "You wanna sit with us?" I offered.
"If you guys don't mind." she smiled shyly.
"Course not," Gerard scoffed as if the idea of him actually minding something as small as that was stupid, "C'mon I'll budge up a bit. Or you can sit beside that midget. Pretty sure you guys can sit together without any hassle. He's small enough." he grinned teasingly at me.
I frowned playfully and kicked him gently underneath the table.
"Hey less of the height comments." I said in mock severity making him stick his tongue out at me playfully.
Gracie giggled and sat down beside me.
"Oh am Gerard and that's Frank." Gerard said introducing us.
"Hey so are you guys still in school?" Gracie asked curiously.
"Yeah we're supposed to be in P.E right now actually." I muttered trailing off.
Gracie laughed, "Skipping huh? Don't blame you, only reason I took this job was for my year councillor to get off my back."
"You still in school?" Gerard asked blinking, "Which one?"
"Bellville, year ten."
"So are we!" we both yelled in shock making her laugh.
"I thought I saw you last week." she gasped clicking her fingers at Gerard in realization.
"You did?" Gerard asked confused.
"Yeah I did! You were the guy wearing all black and fighting with your locker!" I bit back a giggle as Gerard blushed in embarrassment, "I didn't recognize you at first! You had brown hair when I saw you!"
"Yeah I thought changing the color would prevent people recognizing me as the douche who got beaten up by his own locker." Gerard said, "Pity it didn't work."
Me and Gracie laughed while Gerard actually looked disappointed his idea didn't work.,
It was quiet for a bit then,
"I still say space disease is good." Gerard muttered.
Gerard's point of view
After me and Frank had a pretty stupid-not to mention pointless- argument on whether space disease was a good thing to call it when you spaced out, with Gracie adding in that it was more like brain cells going to sleep, we decided to leave for school. Turns out Gracie is quite…eccentric. She's nineteen years old (she got held back in elementary school for a year due to illness-wouldn't say what but hey who was I to judge?) loves horror, obsessed with Metallica and really said the first thing that came into her head.
She grabbed her bag (Metallica messenger of course) and quickly went into the café's bathroom to change out of her 'shit ass uniform' as she called it. While we waited me and Frank had a general conversation.
"So what cha think about her?" I asked.
"She's…nice. " Frank said lamely obviously struggling to describe her, "But…off centred, eccentric ya know?"
"What, like the rest of us?" I asked grinning making Frank laugh.
"Yeah pretty much. Seems pretty cool though." he nodded.
Gracie walked over to us, now dressed in dark purple skinny jeans, Motor head shirt, black Doc Martens, a black belt that had a star buckle and a black denim jacket, her black ebony hair now untied loosely around her shoulders. Yep definitely pretty. Hey if I wasn't gay and crushing on Frank big time, I'd ask for her number.
"You boys ready to go?" she asked flirtingly giving us a playful wink.
"Yeah so ready to go to Hell, sorry did I say Hell? I meant school obviously." I said sarcastically.
"Easy to get mistaken." Gracie grinned.
She led the way out of the café and we made our way back to school, arms linked together, me in the middle and Frank on my left with Gracie on my right.
"What you got next Gracie?" Frank asked, as we skipped down the street, attracting a few weird looks.
"Um….English you guys?" she replied.
"Same." we said in unison.
Without warning, Gracie laughed, letting go of my arm and walked backwards looking at us with her head cocked to the right, her blue eyes wide.
"Aww you guys are so cute!" she squealed.
"Eh?" we both asked perplexed.
She giggled again, "Its so cute when you talk at the same time!" she squealed again "You should totally date!"
Frank blushed furiously while I slapped myself, "We're just friends Gracie." I pointed out.
She pouted, "Yeah I know." she rolled her eyes and huffed, "Hm! why is it all the hot guys are gay and look cute together but aren't dating?" she muttered under her breath.
Did I mention she was eccentric? Yeah well let me add to it. She's completely crazy and I've only known her for half an hour. She's crazy but in a good way of course.
After that outburst, we soon arrived at school, meeting Mikey and Ray at our cars -and rather…busy.
"HEY! TONGUE FUCKERS!" I yelled loudly making Frank and Gracie burst out laughing as Ray and Mikey all but jumped a foot in the air, Mikey falling off Ray's lap.
"WHAT THE HELL GERARD!? CAN'T YOU SEE I'M BUSY!" Mikey yelled outraged, standing up and adjusting his glasses.
"What playing tonsil hockey? And on school grounds too. Tut tut Mikes." Frank said in mock disapproval.
Me and Gracie giggled like crazy. Mikey rolled his eyes and waved at Gracie obviously already knowing her while Ray looked rather confused, obviously not affected by the fact his best friends just caught him making out with his best friends' brother, "Who's this?" he asked gesturing at Gracie who all but squealed going back into fan girl mode again.
"Oh my god you two are cute together!" she squealed, flailing her arms around excitedly; Mikey just sighed and Ray looked rather bewildered while me and Frank started laughing, "Oh am Gracie by the way! Gracie Tyler! I'm Mikey's partner in Biology hence why he's not affected by me." Gracie introduced herself rather rapidly.
"Watch out Ray, this chick is a crazy son of a bitch." Mikey muttered earning a punch to the shoulder, "OW! See? Told ya!" Mikey yelped rather childishly, rubbing his shoulder and pouting at Gracie who stuck her tongue out.
"I knew you were gay!" she pointed at Ray, "I got a gay-dar." she smirked , hand on her hip and tapping her head in a sort of knowing fashion.
"Don't all girls have those?" Ray asked not at all freaked out by Gracie's eccentric personality. Well he does have me and Frank as his best friends and is dating my brother.
"No it's a special gift." Gracie stated.
"Ah I see and you so happen to have it?" Ray asked amused.
"Uh huh, I mean I could tell these little baby dolls were gay the minute they walked in the door." she smirked jerking a thumb over at me and Frank.
"Hey!" we yelped, "We're not that obvious!"
"Oh puh-lease you totally are." Gracie said licking her hair back, "You were giggling like teenage girls."
Mikey and Ray snickered just as a group of cheerleaders walked past us.
"Aw look, the freak's finally found her own kind." Jennifer mocked earning a cackle of laughter from her posse.
Gracie was about to say something back when Frank beat her to it, "Aw look the Zoo did have a few hyenas escape from the zoo!" he said mocking Jennifer's voice.
WE snickered and Jennifer glared at him, "Shouldn't you be in the north pole with all the other elves?" she asked in mock innocence.
"WHAT! WHY I OUGHTA -" I quickly grabbed Frank by the waist as he freaked out making Gracie look at him rather bewildered.
Jennifer and her pack of hyenas just cackled wildly as they strutted past us.
"God she is such a bitch." Gracie said icily as I let Frank go who pouted, arms folded glaring at Jennifer's' retreating back.
"Ya think?" Mikey asked raising an eyebrow, "What's her deal with you anyway?"
"we used to be best friends." Gracie shrugged, lighting up a cigarette and sitting on my car's hood, her long legs sprawled out, "Until she started getting into pop music and make up and sleeping around." she said bitterly, exhaling, "So I told her she had better choose who she wants to be friends with: me or them."
"So….who'd she choose?" Frank asked also lighting up a cigarette.
"Me-at first." Gracie said, "Told me she stopped sleeping around and what not, but then I caught her."
"Caught her…?" Mikey asked confused.
"In bed-with my boyfriend."
We all flinched at that, "Ouch." I muttered sympathetically as Mikey put a comforting arm around Gracie's shoulder, "Shit dude I knew she was a bitch but that's way below the belt."
"Yeah that's what I said." Gracie replied, her head lying on Mikey's shoulder, "So we had a big argument, told her I didn't want anything to do with her. Next thing I know, its all over the school that was bisexual and was more into girls than guys and surprise!" she said sarcastically, "Am one of the most hated girls in the school."
"Hey don't worry." Mikey said bracingly, "You're just like us then."
"Yeah outcasts forever." Frank grinned exhaling; Gracie smiled slightly.
"Don't bother with her." Ray said, "You can stick with us. Anyone hurts you." Ray puffed out his chest trying to look macho earning a small smile and eye roll from Mikey, "Don't hesitate in asking us to kick some ass."
"Yeah may look weak and scrawny but I can kick some mother fucking bitch ass." I smirked smugly, folding my arms.
Everyone looked at me with raised eyebrows, "What?" I asked, letting my arms fall limply to my side.
"Dude, do you remember the amount of times you've beaten up by unanimated objects?" Frank asked nudging me in the ribs.
I frowned at him while they all snickered at me, "Okay fine, point made but." I said suddenly, "If anyone does mess with you. Just say you'll get Gerard Way to come into their house at night and suck their blood." I winked, smirking smugly and earning a few laughs.
"I'll keep that in mind." Gracie smiled, "Thanks guys."
"No prob now c'mon we better start heading for English." Mikey said, giving Gracie a hug before grabbing his bag.


text:
By mswatcher
via insouciant.org
Published: Nov 15 2012 / 15:26
Back when Mike Belshe was still at Google, he used to keep saying that SSL was the unoptimized frontier. Unfortunately, even years later, it still is. There's low hanging fruit everywhere, and most folks, myself included, don't know what they're doing. Tons of people are making basic mistakes. Anyone deploying a website served over HTTPS really ought to read Adam Langley's post on overclocking SSL. T
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text:
The CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Manatee County is in hot water after writing a memo that some say is racist.
A few weeks ago, the Boys and Girls Club of Manatee County was about to announce some job openings. CEO Marc Dosogne sent out an internal email, looking for qualified candidates who are driven, and can be role models.
But he was very descriptive, writing: "What I am not interested in, is potential candidates coming in with a lot of tattoos, face piercings, dreadlocks."
He didn't want candidates who became pregnant while they were teenagers, and he didn't want anyone who battled drug or alcohol abuse.
He wrote, "I am also not interested in people who can't take care of themselves physically. Please do not send any applicants like that to the HR office, as you will be wasting their time, and ours."
His wording has upset many people.
"I represent these people that he's talking about as an elected official. My constituents are very offended. I am offended!" said Charles Smith with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Smith is a Palmetto city councilman and civil rights leader. He is urging the Boys and Girls club to fire Dosogne.
"He has put judgment on these individuals and put them in a category that they're not qualified based on something that has nothing to do with their qualifications," Smith said.
Dosogne has been placed on administrative leave for two weeks. Board member Bob Spencer said the memo was inappropriate, but he says it doesn't reflect Dosogne's heart.
Spencer said, "Marc was trying to, in my opinion, trying to give young people a step over some impediments that might prevent them, people of all races, genders, from getting ahead in life," said Spencer.
News Channel 8 spoke with Dosogne by phone.
"I think I used a wrong choice of words in trying to get my message across... if any of my words were offensive to anyone, it was not my intent and I apologize," Dosogne told us.
Dosogne said over the course of his 32 year career with the Boys and Girls Club, he has hired many people with those traits. On the topic of young pregnancies, he said he has a lot of respect for single parents.
"We are all human. We've all made plenty of life mistakes…there is no perfect person," he said.
"Positive role models can come from all sources of backgrounds and communities," Dosogne continued. "We want to put the very best role models, skill sets and people in front of our young people, [so they can be] able to help them open the doors wide for opportunity."
Dosogne is confident that the board will see that he did not mean any harm.
During his leave, board members will decide what to do next.
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The purpose of the Student Government is to promote a spirit of unity and a Christian school spirit among the student's of Nebraska Christian College. As campus leaders they work with the college administration to solve problems, initiate new ideas, and increase overall student satisfaction.
The 2014-2015 Student Government Team:
•President – Shannon Sears -- firstname.lastname@example.com
•Spiritual Life Committee Chairperson – Jordan Reese -- firstname.lastname@example.com
•Secretary/Treasurer – Kelsey DePauw -- firstname.lastname@example.com
•Missions Committee Chairperson – Alicia Vonckx -- firstname.lastname@example.com & Brandon Grant -- email@example.com
•Activities Committee Chairperson –Jed Shermer -- email@example.com & Austin Ettleman -- email@example.com
•Class Representatives –Serve as a liaison between the class they represent and the rest of the Student Body Government, serving in the student body as needed.
-Freshman Class – Nominated and elected in September
-Sophomore Class – Reid Milliken -- email@example.com
-Junior Class – Adam Bates -- email@example.com
-Senior Class – Rachel (Ochoa) Hall -- email@example.com


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Jeff Banister Says He & The Pirates Can Finally Hold Their Heads High
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PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) – Pirates' bench coach Jeff Banister has been with the organization for 28 years, and has had to deal with the losing streak for most of that time.
He joined Starkey, Miller and Mueller to discuss what it's like finally putting an end to the streak and what the team's goals are from here.
"It gives me an opportunity to hold my head up and look at the rest of the baseball world and tell them we're still are relevant, that we do have a good ball club, and that we're on our way," he said. "But truth be told, it's still just a number that we had to get to to go to where we want to go."
As big of a deal as wins 81 and 82 are to the fans, Bannister told us that when they wrapped up win 81, that wasn't the biggest celebration they were having in the clubhouse after the game.
"We celebrated more in the clubhouse the 100th home run by Andrew McCutchen…81, 82, 83 is a footprint in the sand of where we need to go, where we want to go," Banister said. "It's ultimately to play in the playoffs, and ultimately in a World Series."
Bannister also talked about the feeling that this team is never out of a game, and the vision he has had of PNC Park being packed with fans celebrating a winning season.


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Lifestyle Lessons from History: Ben Franklin's 13 Tips for Happiness
Benjamin Franklin knew what was what when it came to mindful living. In addition to his more well-known scientific and political works, he wrote about cleanliness, order, finances, and domestic life, and indeed, it was his success in these areas that he considered the root to his happiness. When it comes to mindful living, some things don't change, and the eighteenth century can still give us some words of wisdom.
In The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, the 79-year-old reflected on what it was that made him so successful, and one of his main pieces of advice was something that he called his set of moral virtues. These were the principles that he deemed most important to happiness, human relationships, and creativity. Here they are, in all their glory:
1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
6. Industry: Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly; and if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation: Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
11. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.
Even if his list of 13 doesn't match your ideal list, there's still plenty of good advice to be gleaned from Mr. Franklin here, and much of it resonates with other discussions we've had about mindful living.
But Franklin knew that forming a habit requires repetition and practice, and here's where things get a little odd (but admirably diligent!): in order to internalize these virtues, Franklin decided that he would tackle them one at a time, only moving to the next virtue once he had perfected the one in question. He built a chart where he would mark his progress on each virtue, and he used black dots to note the faults that he had each day.
(Evidently, he had less of an issue with the latter virtues, with order coming in as the most difficult.)
This method might be too rigid for most of us to follow, but I thought it was worth sharing, since it's a good reminder that, just like anything else, the attributes that we want to exhibit require exercise, conscientiousness, and practice.
I decided to take Franklin's advice and came up with my own list of virtues, and while I don't make little black dots each day or keep a rigorous tally of my successes and failures, I found the basic exercise to be illuminating about my values and habits. Plus, it served as a valuable diagnostic, illustrating the values that I need to work more on.
Franklin's assessment of his exercise? "Though I never arrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet I was, by the endeavor, a better and happier man than I otherwise should have been if I had not attempted it."
(Image credits: Wikipedia ; The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (Dover Thrift Edition))
18 Comments
Um, I'm not certain that Franklin followed his own guidelines, especially number 12, but nice rules to think about.
Yes, he does mention having spent time with some "low women" in the Autobiography as well…. But, deviations in his personal life aside, I thought it was an interesting exercise :)
Having read his biography, Franklin is a great moral theorist and huge hypocrite.
I learned some new words from this article.
The fact is that Franklin had high ideals and goals, but, like most of us, fell short. It doesn't alter the fact that he accomplished much good in his life, more than most.
If this was interesting I would suggest you take a look at Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project. It's a great modern version of this approach.
Everyone is a hypocrite, even you. It's part of the human condition.
Before dying at 84, Franklin surely changed greatly in many ways. His behavior and writings done during the same time periods likely were consistent with each other and his current perspective, and so not hypocritical. His writings, taken together and chronologically, and considered against the mores of his time and place, would show him to be prolific throughout a long life rather than to be hypocritical.
Later readers may not recognize that some of his humorous work was written ironically, and so mistakenly consider him hypocritical. A number of his more frank writings were censored until long after his death due to anti-obscenity laws. Considering his humble origins and remarkable productivity, he was less a hypocrite than a man who by brilliance and hard work bettered both himself and his world. Hypocrisy accusations are just silly cheap shots.
@ Miami Elaine, well said.
I urge you all to read LePore's book "The life and Opinions of Jane Franklin,' Ben's intelligent and articulate sister, lost to history as women were. The mother of 12 children, she was unknown to the public but she and Ben exchanged letters throughout their lives. Not unlike the suppositions on what the life of Shakespeare's sister must have been like, and the options not open to her.
As for number 12: I think much of Ben's vaunted dalliance with the ladies was wishful thinking.
I second the "well said" for Miami Elaine. Thank you for this reminder of what a great, great man Franklin was. And thank you to the author for this thought provoking article. I could stand to follow old Ben's advice on most counts. (except number 12, lets not get crazy)
Do as I say, not as I do.
Indeed, so!
Had to ask my hubby what was going on with BF's funny coon skin cap (he's much more up on Amer. history than I- maybe you all know this one already). He said it was a popular convention at the time and BF's attempt to appeal to the common public. Like when Obama drops the "g" on "ing" words. Funny what goes around comes around.
Having slaves tend to your every need frees a persons time for intellectual pursuits.
Wikipedia: "...By 1770, Franklin had freed his slaves and attacked the system of slavery and the international slave trade..." That was twenty years before he died, another example of how he changed over his life and was ahead of his time (understatement).
Maybe there was a cerebral event during the key and the kite experiment thus causing the number 12 inability,it's to follow. Lol
Venery? haha
#2 is my favorite.


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Categories > Original > Romance > Dead Eyes, Black Skyes
Dead Eyes, Black Skyes0 Reviews
Sam, a thirteen year old girl, has to go live with her runaway father that she hasn't seen in 11 years for the rest of her high school life. What happens when she runs into trouble with a couple of...
Chapter 1
Samantha (Sam) Jones: Sam is 13. She's the quiet girl, one who always listens to her friends and family if they have problems, hence the reason her name is Samantha, which means 'the one who listens, quiet, calm'. appearance wise she has tan skin, which she hates, dark brown almost black hair that has red highlights in the summer sun, and dark chocolate brown eyes. Her favorite colors are red, grey, black, and white. she has two younger sisters, one just turned 9, and the other is 10 months old. Trapped into have to be a fake to her friends so they can like her, Sam's still trying to find herself, but has a vague idea. She hasn't seen her biological father since she was 2, but when she has to spend a couple years with him in LA she doesn't know what she's in for.
Winfrith(Winny) Jemstone: Winny is 13. She encounters Sam and her father at an airport with Winny's luggage for her vacation in New York. Winny has Brown Hair and Aqua eyes. Winny has an older runaway brother who was a cutter and also ran away from the mental institution his parents had him in. She is known to be hyperactive and overly cheerful, but knows when to be serious when it is needed.
Hailey Armstrong: Hailey is 13 and the adoptive daughter of Billie Joe Armstrong. She lost her parents to a fire that occurred one night when she arrived from a friends house. Her previous house was in Cincinnati. Hailey is also incredibly gifted in playing the guitar. Hailey constantly wears a handkerchif to cover her mouth and part of her nose, she also has black and green hair with her right bangs covering her right eye.
Isan Gareato: Isan is 14 years old and plays the bass. Not much is known about him since he got lost in a circus when he was 4 and was taken in by the ring master and his wife.
Haven(Heaven) Divine : Haven is 18 years of age and is the eldest son of the locol Church's pastor. Haven has Platinum blond hair and Black eyes, and a muscular build. Although muscular, this young man wouldn't even hurt a fly and volunteers at charities every week. Described by most girls in his high school as an angel that fell from Heaven, or Heaven itself entitles him the nickname of Heaven. He is as you may have guessed already the school's heartthrob.
Melentha (Mel) Ganger : Mel is 17 years old and has short pixie styled hair with two bobby pins forming an X on her bangs, and Dark blue eyes. Mel has also had a crush on Haven since she was 5 , and in kindergarten with him. Quiet and shy Mel was never good at meeting people, but when Sam comes into her life things start to change.For better or for worse?


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SAN FRANCISCO (AP)-- The anxiety-filled green room and draft day seem so long ago now to Aaron Rodgers.
Still, on this weekend, any lingering feelings of frustration about how far he dropped will be directed right at the team that passed him up with the No. 1 pick nearly eight years ago.
Rodgers brings the high-scoring Green Bay Packers (12-5) to Candlestick Park on Saturday to face No. 2 seed San Francisco (11-4-1) in prime time for a place in the NFC championship game. He'll take the field in the very venue where he became a regular fan as a boy rooting for Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Steve Young.
Watch the game on CTV and CTV.ca tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt.
Packers O-line has something to prove
Smith's return should boost 49ers D
Packers' Nelson, Cobb miss practice, should play
Packers beat Vikings; NFC on notice
Rodgers, who appeared in a preseason game at Candlestick in 2008, will play his first meaningful game at the stadium at last, as an eighth-year pro. He will look to avenge a 30-22 season-opening home loss to the 49ers.
"It will be fun. I went to a few baseball games there growing up, and saw a game there when I was in college," Rodgers said. "Stadium's got a lot of tradition. Looks like we're kind of fortunate with the weather right now. Still wonder what that's going to be like.
"But it will be a night game, it will be loud, it will be a great environment and it should be a good show for the fans."
Rodgers is putting on quite a show, all right.
He returns to Northern California, where he became a college star for California across San Francisco Bay in Berkeley, with a healthy cast of receivers and the swagger of a Super Bowl champion.
When Rodgers dropped to No. 24 in the 2005 draft after Alex Smith went No. 1, he was asked about his disappointment. He so matter-of-factly said, "not as disappointed as the 49ers will be that they didn't draft me."
Now, everybody in the Bay Area and beyond will be watching his every move again.
He already upset some friends he couldn't accommodate with tickets. Family first, with everybody else making the 4-hour trek from his hometown of Chico left to fend for themselves.
Most important, of course, is getting Green Bay one step closer to another Super Bowl. Last season's chance at a repeat championship came to a screeching halt at the hands of the Giants in this very round at Lambeau Field.
The Giants came to San Francisco the next week and won the NFC title game, 20-17 in overtime.
Just as the Niners moved on from that heartbreaking loss and used it as a motivational push each day this season, the same goes for Rodgers after being slighted by his beloved San Francisco on draft day.
"It's been a long time since the green room," Rodgers said. "I have a lot of good memories growing up watching Steve Young and Joe Montana on TV and the Super Bowl wins and being a 49ers fan. That was a team I enjoyed watching and dreamt about playing for. I'm eight years removed here, and obviously I'm really happy with the situation I'm in."
A lot has changed in that time for San Francisco, too.
The QB the 49ers picked ahead of Rodgers -- Smith -- spent the season's second half on the bench as coach Jim Harbaugh promoted second-year pro Colin Kaepernick. He will make his playoff debut Saturday.
In an odd twist, Kaepernick was born in Milwaukee and adopted before moving to California at age 4. Yes, he began as a toddler Cheesehead, then changed allegiances "when I got drafted," Kaepernick said.
He has never met Rodgers. He still knows plenty.
Even San Francisco's opportunistic, ball-hawking defence realizes just how hard it will be to rattle Rodgers or get him off his game. He hasn't thrown an interception in five straight games and 177 passes. His receiving corps is intact again at last, each of the big four of Greg Jennings, Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson and James Jones capable of game-breaking catches and career performances.
Jennings has 19 receptions for 226 yards and three touchdowns over the last three games.
The 49ers will need big performances from Aldon Smith and Justin Smith, the defensive pass-rushing menace expected back after he missed the final two regular-season games with a partially torn left triceps. Not to mention their talented seconardy.
Beating some of the NFL's top quarterbacks hasn't proven too much for San Francisco so far. Aside from the win against Rodgers in the opener, the Niners beat Drew Brees in New Orleans and shocked Tom Brady in New England.
"We've played some of the best quarterbacks this year and have done well," linebacker Patrick Willis said. "This Saturday is going to call for our best. We can't afford to not play our best football, play our best defence. There's no tomorrow, there's no next week."
Poll the players and coaches around the 49ers and everybody believes Kaepernick is perfectly ready for his biggest game yet.
"I don't think we're going to see any big eyes," offensive co-ordinator Greg Roman said.
This was the matchup everybody expected in last year's NFC championship game until New York came along and spoiled both teams' plans.
Back in September, San Francisco linebacker Ahmad Brooks said the win at Green Bay might be an "eye opener" and "maybe we'll see them again in the NFC championship."
He was only one week off.
Now, San Francisco wants to make sure it is still standing next week.
"We still feel we're just as good as we were last year," Willis said. "Hopefully this is a new season."
Same sentiments are coming from the Green Bay side. The Packers won three road games on the way to their championship two years ago, so why not keep a good thing going away from Lambeau Field?
And coach Mike McCarthy is counting on Green Bay being better equipped to pound the ball in the run game.
"We have to be," the coach said, "it's the playoffs."
The Packers defence looked much better against the win over the Vikings than they had in quite some time. A big reason for that was the return of Charles Woodson. Woodson not only helps the Packers out guarding against the pass, but also helps keep opposing running backs in check. This will be important again this week against Frank Gore and the 49ers.
Aldon Smith was a beast rushing quarterbacks for the 49ers this season and finished the year with 19.5 sacks. He has been shut out for three games in a row though and hasn't looked the same since Justin Smith went down with a triceps injury. With Justin expected to play this weekend, Aldon might just be primed to break out of his slump.
Green Bay lost to a strong 49ers ground game and efficient, mistake-free performance by Alex Smith in the first week of the regular season this year.
The second time around, they should focus on limiting Frank Gore and San Francisco's running attack because Smith has now been replaced by Colin Kaepernick. Yes, Kaepernick can create more offence than Smith but, considering he'll be making his first post-season start, could also be prone to more mistakes.
The Packers' defence will have success if they can force Kaepernick into making mistakes, something less likely to happen if Gore is constantly moving the chains.
On offence, Green Bay's running attack could be even less of a factor against a strong San Fran D than it was in last week's win. That means Aaron Rodgers will have to do even more, and in order for him to do so his offensive line will have to keep him upright against Aldon Smith and the relentless 49ers pass rush.
The 49ers shouldn't – and won't – completely ignore Green Bay's rushing attack, but it makes sense to focus more on Aaron Rodgers and the passing game than DuJuan Harris/Ryan Grant/John Kuhn. A game like this seems tailor made for a player like Aldon Smith (19.5 sacks in the regular season). If Smith can create consistent pressure on Rodgers, the Packers' passing attack will have trouble resembling the juggernaut it's been the past few years.
During Wild Card Weekend, Colin Kaepernick had the opportunity to watch and learn from four QBs making their first post-season starts – three rookies in Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin, and Russell Wilson, and the third-year Joe Webb, who went head-to-head against the very Packers Kaepernick faces this weekend.
A lot will be riding on the second-year man from Nevada, and against a veteran Packers' secondary, he'll have to use his legs and playmaking ability as much as his arm to keep the 49ers offence moving.
Michael Crabtree finally showed signs of breaking out in his fourth year in the league, especially late in the season. The former first-rounder needs to be reliable target for his young QB to lean on.
Alex Marvez of Fox Sports 1 joins the show to discuss Jim Irsay, Michael Sam, and J.J Watt.
WKYC Cleveland's Matt Florjancic joins Andy McNamara and John Letherby on Game Night.
Pro Football Hall of Fame VP of Communications Joe Horrigan joined Game Night with Jim Tatti & Andy McNamara to talk NFL Hall of Fame Weekend
San Diego Chargers at Buffalo Bills - 1pm et/10am pt (CTV Toronto, CTV Kitchener, CTV Ottawa, CTV Northern Ontario, CKPR)
Houston Texans at New York Giants - 1pm et/10am pt (CTV Vancouver, CTV Alberta, CTV Saskatchewan, CITL)
Oakland Raiders at New England Patriots - 1pm et/10am pt (CTV Montreal, CTV Atlantic, CTV Saskatchewan)
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints - 1pm et/10am pt (CTV Winnipeg)
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions - 1pm et/10am pt (CTV Two Toronto, CTV Two Ottawa, CTV Two London, CTV Two Vancouver Island, CTV Two Alberta, CTV Two Atlantic)
Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks - 4:25pm et/1:25pm pt (CTV Toronto, CTV Kitchener, CTV Ottawa, CTV Northern Ontario, CTV Montreal, CTV Vancouver, CTV Alberta, CTV Saskatchewan, CTV Winnipeg, CTV Two Atlantic, CKPR, CITL)
Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers8:15pm et/5:15pm pt (TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5)
Chicago Bears at New York Jets7pm et/4pm pt (TSN1, TSN3, TSN4, TSN5)
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authentic and very cosy hotel in quiet area of the Medina in Marrakech, no street noise, authentic setting with tourist markets without hassle, you can imagine yourself a century ago, hotel is very atmospheric, with many passageways, stairs and corners, beautiful roof terrace. We had a beautiful family room with fireplace, staff is extremely friendly and helpful, small but nice... More
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- Also Known As:
- Riad Dar Nimbus Hotel Marrakech


text: "I open my eyes, each morning I rise to find the truth I know that is there. I'm lucky to breathe, I'm lucky to feel, I'm glad to wake up, I'm glad to be here. With all of this world, and all of it's pain, all of it's lies, and all of its let downs... I still feel a sense of freedom - So glad I'm around." - SOJA