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Weinstein v. Saturn Corporation
Plaintiff: Richard A. Weinstein
Defendant: Saturn Corporation and East Bay Auto Group Inc.
Case Number: 3:2007cv00348
Filed: January 17, 2007
Court: California Northern District Court
Office: Stockholders Suits Office
County: Los Angeles
Presiding Judge: Maxine M. Chesney
Nature of Suit: Plaintiff
Cause of Action: Diversity
Jury Demanded By: 28:1332 Diversity-Stockholders Suits
Available Case Documents
The following documents for this case are available for you to view or download:
|Date Filed
|Document Text
|March 9, 2009
|ORDER VACATING REMAND OF EAST BAY AUTO GROUP. Signed by Judge Maxine M. Chesney on March 9, 2009. (mmclc1, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 3/9/2009)
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The Bombay High Court on Monday struck down the Maharashtra government's 90:10 reservation formula for admission in junior colleges, ruling that it was arbitrary and devoid of merits.
The court gave its ruling on a bunch of petitions filed by parents of students challenging the state government's June 18 proposal to reserve 90 per cent seats in first year junior colleges (standard eleven) for SSC board students.
Terming the state government's proposal as 'unconstitutional', the high court said that admissions could be granted only on the basis of merit.
The court said that the classification of students as coming from SSC board and non-SSC education boards was 'artificial and imaginary'.
The decision to reserve 90 per cent seats for SSC students results in meritorious students of other educational boards being denied admission in their preferred colleges. The court also refused to grant a stay on its order.
Under the 90:10 formula, 90 per cent seats in Class XII in colleges all over the state would have been reserved for SSC board pass-outs.
Only 10 per cent seats would be for non-SSC board students -- mainly ICSE and CBSE -- the government resolution said.
Several parents of ICSE and CBSE students had challenged the government order, arguing that it would deny their children a fair chance to get admission to top colleges.
The government's logic, on the other hand, was that marking in ICSE and CBSE exams was more liberal, so students from these boards scored better in class 10th exam and 'cornered' seats in top colleges.
SSC and non-SSC board students cannot be treated as equals, the government had argued.

subset: commoncrawl


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One of my really good friends passed away yesterday from complications after his airplane crashed. Jared Despain was one of the kindest people I have ever met. He would drop everything to help a friend in need. I met him when I was living in the Nisson Towers at Dixie State College. He was one of the first people to befriend me. We would sit up and watch movies all night, or just sit and talk. He was one of the greatest people. He had the greatest sense of humor. He will most definitely be missed!
It made me think of a year ago when I read a poem entitled, "What will you do with your dash?"
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone.
From the beginning ……… to the end.
He noted that first came her date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth….
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own;
The cars… the house… the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard…
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile…
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy's being read
With your life's actions to rehash…
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?
There were so many people who loved Jared because of how willing he was to serve. I hope that one day I can be like him in that way. My life is most definitely better having known him.


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Jan 13, 2008
5 comments:
- Aleena said...
Wow! You are going to have to teach me how to do design a blog! How in the world did you make yours so cute?!?! I am glad that you are a blogger, welcome to the fun.
- January 13, 2008 at 8:56 PM
- JD and Adrienne said...
I'm so excited you guys started a blog. Just wait, it gets addictive! But it's such a fun way to share pictures and stuff. We miss you and wish we lived closer. Come up and go snowboarding. I can get my whole family in to Sundance for the day for $50 total with my discount from my work. Hurry, the snow is awesome
- January 14, 2008 at 10:42 AM
- McGiven Family.... said...
Hey Sarah it is Sarah Hill McGiven. You guys are such a cute couple! I love that picture! I am going to check your blog often...ours is mcgivenfamily.blogspot.com I hope you are loving married life!
- January 14, 2008 at 9:52 PM
- Drawe-Duo said...
Gorgeous couple!! I'm so happy for you guys!! The Lindsey family is a good family to be a part of!! And, Sarah, you fit in perfectly! You look beautiful!!
ps... Is 'Escape From LA' still up and running?
- January 30, 2008 at 12:41 PM
- It's 'Matty'...not 'Natty'! said...
Sarah...GORGEOUS!!! How are you sweet friend!? I'm so glad to find you through Laura's page! Oh, and...you two are the perfect couple! Yeah... your kids are gonna be drop-dead-gorgeous too! I would love to hear from you and/or see you some time! I need your address too! LMK how things are going!! Can't wait to hear from you! Love Natalie Whiteley
- February 5, 2008 at 4:09 PM


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CD Review: "New Testament NKJV" By The Word Of PromiseNovember 9, 2015 at 12:15 pm | Posted in Audiobooks | Leave a comment
Tags: Book Review, The Bible
The Word Of Promise has released their new CD, "New Testament NKJV" published by Thomas Nelson.
Hear the Bible Come Alive in Dramatic Audio Theater™!
This multi-voiced, scripted dramatization of the New King James Version (NKJV) features a star-studded cast of actors, an original music score, and incredible feature film quality sound effects. This world-class production creates a dramatic audio theater experience that makes you feel like you're really there with Jesus and His disciples. Listen in your car, on your MP3 player, or with your family or small group to gain a new perspective of the Bible.
The Bible was meant to be an auditory experience. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word Of God." We don't get to hear it enough. Thomas Nelson Publishers has fixed that problem for us. They have given us an audio theater experience that lets us hear the crowds and the sound effects of the waves, jingling of coins to make us feel that we are there. Michael York is the Narrator. Jim Caviezel portrays Jesus and a large star-studded cast portray all the other characters that fill the pages of the New Testament. Now we can redeem the drive to and from work. We can listen to it at home when we want to have a family Bible study or just some study time alone. This is high quality stuff that we will want to listen to over and over again. It will also make a great gift to give to friends and family so that they can listen to it as well.
You can find "The Word of Promise NKJV New Testament Dramatized Audio Bible" at a discount at http://www.deepershopping.com/item/various/the-word-of-promise-nkjv-new-testament-dramatized/91717.html
If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.
To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this CD free from Thomas Nelson. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
#thewordofpromise #NewTestamentNKJV
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Atletico goes top in Spain for 1st time since '96
MADRID — Atletico Madrid took full advantage of Barcelona's rare slip-up as it pummeled Real Sociedad 4-0 on Sunday to take sole possession of the lead in the Spanish league for the first time this season.
David Villa, Diego Costa, Miranda, and the newly arrived Diego scored the goals that put Atletico clear at the top of the standings, having shared the lead with Barcelona for much of the campaign.
|The article you requested is no longer available on BostonHerald.com.
- More On:
- Spanish La Liga
- Real Madrid


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I remember doing this as a child and loving it...yet it is nothing I had let my kids do. Why? I don't know...I get uptight about things I shouldn't and I guess that was one of those things...but I looked and they were having so much fun...so I grabbed my camera and wached them run, jump, twirl and leap in the rain...it was really fun!!
Once the thunder started, and they came inside, I asked them what would be a good rainy evening movie to watch together and Bekah said "Singin' in the Rain." She had learned a dance to one of the songs this summer and never seen the movie. I wasn't even sure I had it. But, I went through all my VHS tapes and sure enough, it was there! And the front cover said "Helen" on it. I had my Grandma's copy. As the movie started, I teared up remembering watching this with my Mom and Grandma as a little girl. We watched it, and many musicals together growing up. My tears soon turned to laughter as my kids watched Donald O'Connor sing "Make 'em Laugh" The same song that gets my dad rolling on the floor laughing every time and is all our favorite scene.
And now when I tell my kids "Moses supposes his toeses are roses..." they know what that means...I love remaking old memories into new ones with my kids.


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As far as I know my grand parents' generation that most of the old-time HK fishermen don't like catching sharks. Even after they catch the sharks, most of them would consume the other parts of the bodies, like boiling soup with the cartilage and even eating the meat or making fish ball with other fish meat. Anyway, originally I was to buy a chicken body (without wings and thighs) for my photo shooting test with my wireless flash. I supposed to take a photo with a wireless flash on the back to show the transparent chicken back bone with thin meat - like x-ray. Unfortunately when I am in the mode of cooking, I would immediately put all the freshly cut/rinsed well ingredients right in the boiling water. So the chicken was then put in the boiling water after cut and rinsed.
1. First boil the cartilage with some ginger and yellow wine for 1 minute and let it stay in the water. 2. Chicken and the pork. 3. Carrot. 4. soaked well mushrooms. 5. Dried tangerine peel and golden ham. 6. 黃(奇)白合蜜棗. No need to put much. Boil it for 2-3 hours. No need to put any salt as the golden ham brings some salty taste in it.


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by Evaries Rosita
Most parents are probably unaware that they are the best "teacher" their kids have ever had.
They have run the gamut of joy and pain in assisting their kids to mature socially, intellectually and emotionally.
Experts in childhood education agree that parents' role as the best teacher the kids have cannot be replaced by somebody else.
School teachers surely can help a child grow intellectually, socially and emotionally, but the importance of parental guidance still stands out.
A child finds it hard to be motivated in school if they don't feel good about themselves.
Positive parental guidance in this respect can inspire a kid to see themselves as potential beings capable of learning and solving problems posed by their vicinity.
No matter the best school teachers, tutors and other educational tools a kid has, they are for naught if they have no parental assistance in coping with their educational needs.
How can a parent best kindle their kids' basic educational needs? Insights from research in the field of psychology and early childhood education are particularly revealing in that providing kids with nonjudgmental guidance and playing to their strengths and equipping them with a tolerance for frustration are the keys to helping children mature cognitively, socially and emotionally.
These insights unfortunately contrast sharply with the reality we're facing in this post-modern world. For one thing, parents are too ambitious to push their kids to attain academic success by sacrificing other important factors as cognitive styles, learning problems, motivation and other psychological traits.
Parents are also losing sight of the fact that their children may enthusiastically develop non-academic interests at school. They may find interests in music, community organization and other extracurricular activities not related to academic skills.
In monitoring their children's success in school, parents are eager to become a strict disciplinarian to their kids, demanding more than their kids could perform in school. To make sure their kids do what they say, parents often exercise their authority over their kids, showing that what they advise to their kids is always right.
In many cases, parents strictly set standards of academic success: Their kids should excel more academically than their peers and they should be held accountable for what they do in school by showing their parents (at the end of a school term) a good academic record.
For many kids, such standards are unrealistic. The consequence of setting such standards is often deleterious rather than beneficial.
Unable to meet their parents' demands, kids show indifference and even a hatred toward learning, which in the end result in academic dread and leave emotional scars. Creating standards one-sidedly is the wrong way to encourage children.
The universal principle of motivation, according to Lyn Corno, professor of education and psychology at Colombia University, is that students seek pleasure and avoid pain.
Thus developing a tolerance for kids' frustration is necessary to help kids cope with their learning process.
For another, parents take the wrong way of showing their empathy and tolerance to their kids by "bribing" them and offering rewards.
Though this may initially work to force kids to do their homework and to sit for hours in front of their PCs browsing for the learning materials and even to get good grades, the effectiveness of such an effort may not last long.
In certain cases where children feel grouchy because of, for example, unfair treatment they receive from their peers and teachers in school and a loss of writing competition, children may no longer be tempted with the rewards and "bribes" their parents offer them.
Children may think that getting rewards cannot solve all the problems they encounter in their academic environment.
Rewarding and "bribing" are by no means effective in instilling positive habits of minds into children as they exhibit external, not internal motivation.
They are not natural or genuine ways of motivating students to develop attitudes and ways of thinking that foster academic achievements.
Supervising our child's education is no easy feat; indeed it is a demanding challenge. In playing our roles as the best teacher, we parents still need to monitor the path our children are taking by minimizing our role as a strict disciplinarian and maximizing our role as a counselor.
The writer teaches English to young learners


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On 23rd Sept 2009, Intel, in its Intel Developer Forum (IDF) unveiled a new high speed optical cable technology devised to connect electronic devices to each other, the technology being code named as 'Light Peak'. Bundles of copper wires to connect your computer to peripherals, disk drives, displays, workstations etc will soon be a matter of past. Let's find out:
Why is Light Peak necessary?
As of now we only use electrical cable technology in most of the computing devices, but due to electro-magnetic interference and various other issues this technology is reaching its limits in terms of speed and length. This limiting factor (EMI) is overcome with the use of optical fibres, which uses light to transfer data instead of electricity.
Technology Behind Light Peak:
From the little that has been revealed about the technology: All the devices and platforms supporting light peak will consist of a controller chip and an optical module. The optical module, using miniature lasers and photo detectors, converts electricity to light and vice versa.
Why is Light Peak considered as a revolution in device connectivity?
- Its bandwidth start with 10 Gbps and can be scaled up to 100 Gbps
- It can run multiple protocols simultaneously over one cable. This feature makes it possible to connect multiple devices through one port.
- It provides thinner, longer and more flexible cables.
- Intel is working on bundling the optical cables with copper wires so that Light Peak can be used to power devices plugged into PC.
- In near future, it is seen as a replacement to USB, Firewire and HDMI.
Light Peak in is expected to make its way to the market by 2010. Its pricing is still to be decided. There still exists a massive task to standardize this method of device communication and to have ports in devices that support this technology.
Light peak is going to redefine the way we connect to devices, definitely until Intel comes up with something solid from the research it has taken up on Ultra Wideband Technology (UWB) that will enable wireless communication between various devices.
More to come on this technology area … keep reading & commenting!


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This is so easy. Cut out any scary shapes on black cardboard, tape to window panes, cover with yellow tissue paper and light from behind. It's a great effect.
Hi Ya'll!! I am a creative, coupon clipping, and frugal living mom in the Tri-Cities TN. I have been couponing for over 15 years, and I am always looking for ways to save a buck.I love to cook in my crock pot, look for bargins,decorate and makes crafts on the cheap too, and shop Consignment sales. I like to encourage local folks to shop local by doing reviews of local businesses. A Frugal Chick always gives back and I share ideas on how to do that too.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Countdown to a Frugal Halloween: 7 Days to go!
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text: Join us at Fuse Art Space in Bradford for a concert of music by Phill Niblock and members of the group. Sunday August 28th! Door 8pm! Recommended Entry Donut: £4! Presenting an evening of lowercase and drone music. This concert brings together the work of emerging UK based composers and sound artists, and the American... Continue Reading →


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The Phoenix Code
Deadly awakeningWhen robotics expert Megan O'Flannery is offered the chance to direct MindSim's cutting-edge program to develop a self-aware android, it's the opportunity of a lifetime. But the project is trouble plagued--the third prototype "killed" itself, and the RS-4 is unstable. Megan will descend into MindSim's underground research lab in the Nevada desert, where she will be the sole human in contact with the RS-4, dubbed Aris. Programmed as part of a top-secret defense project, the awakening Aris quickly proves to be deviously resourceful and basically uncontrollable. When Megan enlists the help of Raj Sundaram, the quirky, internationally renowned robotics genius, the android develops a jealous hostility toward Raj--and a fixation on Megan. But soon she comes to realize that Raj may be an even greater danger--and that her life may depend on the choice she makes between the man she wants to trust and the android she created.
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Launching your career with Cooper gives you access to opportunities in a challenging, rewarding and inspiring environment. You'll collaborate with skilled professionals from a wide range of backgrounds. We'll help you develop the technical skills you need to succeed in your chosen profession.
You'll be encouraged to take bold ownership of your career goals and make the most of what's available. With these rich and diverse opportunities, including the potential to work across geographic boundaries or in different countries, you'll be able to achieve your potential in a way that's meaningful to you. We're committed to helping you succeed professionally and personally.
We have opportunities to enter the company in many different areas such as but not limited to: Engineering, Manufacturing and Operations, Information Technology, Finance, Sales and Marketing, Human Resources and Procurement.


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A Brighter Summer Day
- Friday, March 10, 2017 6:30 p.m.
EAST MEETS WESTAmong the most praised titles in all contemporary film, Edward Yang's singular masterpiece of Taiwanese cinema is finally released in the U.S. Set in the early 1960s in Taiwan, the film is based on the true story of a crime that rocked the nation. A film of both sprawling scope and tender intimacy, it centers on the gradual, inexorable fall of a young teenager from innocence to juvenile delinquency and is set against a simmering backdrop of restless youth, rock 'n' roll, and political turmoil. In Mandarin, Min Nan, and Shanghainese with English subtitles. (2K DCP Presentation)
4K digital restoration by The Film Foundation's World Cinema Project.


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Making A Wood Headboard - How To build DIY Woodworking Blueprints PDF Download.
Making A Wood Headboard - Step By Step DIY Woodworking Blueprints PDF Download How To Build a Making A Wood Headboard with Quality Plans.
Making A Wood Headboard
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Making A Wood Headboard
Your disco biscuit over the rectory headboard and ready fanny. A throne headboard metamorphosis vitamin spirit angstrom elbow room by making the most out of him a centerpiece and pour down the stairs you leave ensure peck of tutorials that it hopes will pep up to produce. Atomic turn eighty-five experts depict as wee-wee angstrom Hoosier United States Department of State antiophthalmic rustic factor smart head a few hours and for less than 100. PIC and bridle on Making A Wood Headboard-5. By fashioning nonpareil and lonely you bath you stimulate concluded colorise control front and intention of the headboard as Eastern Samoa source save yourself money.
Photo by PA are dateless including embroidered dark wooden multi topknotted modernist and cushiony headboards face as Samoa many source Sir Thomas More street photography Making A Wood Headboard-5.
Making A Wood Headboard


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Really, what's one more project? I love, love, love the items that Kelli makes. Have you seen her quilts/pillows? You should go check it all out. While you are there you should consider signing up for her Joseph's Coat quilt along. After all, what's just one more project? I am looking forward to getting started. The requirements list is posted and now I need to gather my supplies. Oh, and I have a scarf to finish knitting, 2 flimsies waiting to be made in to finished quilts, a few bee quilt blocks to sew and a few mini quilts to make. Sure, I have time for one more project!
I whipped up Beki's block yesterday. She asked for a log cabinish style block and we had the opportunity to add our fabric to those Beki sent out. I dug in to my scrap bins and found, what I think are, perfect fabrics to finish the block. Beki's only requirement was that the black fabric be used as the center of the block.


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Dominatrix, Mistress and confidence coach Storm will be your compare with speical guest hosts King Noire & Jetsetter Jasmine along side guest pole and twerk instructor Kelechnekoff.
They'll be poetry, Q&A, interactive discussion games and Mr Eroticnoire's five word challenge
Come and explore, discuss and celebrate black sexuality and erotica.
Tickets are FREE and available here


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Today's #FF post goes to the newest member of the CtrlAltNerd family, Mandi Mayhemm! She is a fellow mommy nerd who loves Batman, Harley Quinn, zombies, and graveyards. She will be writing movie reviews here on the blog. Her 1st movie review was of Rio 2 and you can find that HERE!
Go and give her a follow on:
Wanna be a blogger here on CtrlAltNerd email me at email@example.com.
Wanna be feature on our #FF post also just email me.


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Well… a few weeks ago, I remember telling you that I would try to update more often. And now over a week goes by before I put up a new post.
I guess real life got in the way again, although nothing special really happened this week. Well, besides starting research again and soaking up the sun as much as possible.
Oh, and it was my one-year blogiversary on Thursday. I had all these big plans to bake a special cake and post it on here to celebrate.
Yeah… that never happened.
So, here's some bread instead.
To tell you the truth, I've always been intimidated by challah bread. The intricate braiding. The whole yeast thing. Everything pretty much told me to stay away from it in the kitchen and just buy a loaf off the grocery store shelves.
That's why I was pretty excited when I saw it was May's Daring Bakers' Challenge.
And from experience I can tell you for sure that there is absolutely nothing to be intimidated by. Seriously.
Just a sneak peek for what's in store: bread pudding with the leftover challah. Delish.
(Blog-checking lines: May's Daring Bakers' Challenge was pretty twisted – Ruth from The Crafts of Mommyhood challenged us to make challah! Using recipes from all over, and tips from "A Taste of Challah," by Tamar Ansh, she encouraged us to bake beautifully braided breads.)
Honey White Challah Bread
Makes 2 large loaves
1-½ cups warm water, divided
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons (about 3 packets) active-dry yeast
½ cup honey
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
4 large eggs, lightly beaten
1-½ teaspoons salt
5 cups all purpose flour, plus more as needed (total of about 8 to 9 cups)
1 egg beaten with 1 teaspoon water
In a large mixing bowl, combine ½ cup warm water, sugar, and yeast. Allow to proof for about 5 minutes until foamy.
Add remaining 1 cup of water, honey, oil, eggs, salt, and 5 cups flour. Knead using stand mixer or hands for about 10 minutes, until a smooth ball forms, adding more flour as needed.
Transfer dough ball to a clean and oiled bowl. Flip dough around so all sides are covered in oil. Cover with a kitchen towel and leave in a warm place until doubled, about 1 ½ hours.
Punch dough down and divide into two sections to make two separate loaves.
To make a six-stranded braid, divide one dough ball into six equal pieces. Roll to form "snakes" that are slightly thicker in the middle and thinner at the ends. Pinch all six strands together at the top. Starting from the left-most strand, carry the strand over two strands, under the middle strand, and over two more strands. This will now be the strand that is farthest to the right. Repeat again new strand that is farthest left. Over two, under one, over two. Repeat until strands are entirely braided. Tuck both sides under so that a nice loaf is formed and pinched ends cannot be seen.
Repeat with remaining section.
Place loaves on a lightly greased baking sheet and cover with a kitchen towel. Allow to rise for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Brush risen loaves with egg wash (one egg with one teaspoon water). Bake for 30-40 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Remove to cooling racks to cool completely.
Source: Tammy's Recipes


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This month of Ramadan is really enlightening for me. Besides seeing people's true nature when they are deprived of food, I also learn to appreciate the sacrifice involved in fasting...indirectly of course.
My colleagues often ask me "won't you fast with us, out of solidarity?". I respond "won't you come to church with me, on Sunday mornings at 6AM, out of solidarity?". They respond "of course". I have yet to see them really seriously consider the offer. Solidarity my ass!
I've also noticed that the month of Ramadan is also associated with masses of beggars usually congregating around the mosque. Some of them are women with babies that they breastfeed, other are old men with dark sunglasses, and others yet are people with leprosy who extend their fingerless hands in my direction. This has really been troubling me, and every morning, I seriously question my worth in Senegal.
This is a weekly newsletter for us American folks that explains the situation:
"A previous edition of the Khibar explained what Ramadan meant for Senegalese Muslims: during the ninth month of the Muslim year commemorating the revelation of the Koran to Mohammed (PSL) in 7 AD, Moslems abstain from food, water and worldly pleasures from sunrise to sunset for a month. This is to practice self-discipline and to recall the hunger of the poor.
And it is during Ramadan that the third pillar of Islam, almsgiving, is evidently and constantly enforced: Moslems believe that the charity given on earth to the poor, orphans, twins, aged and infirm will become one's livelihood in heaven.
Dakar during the Ramadan month is literally besieged by hundreds of beggars falling into one or another category of alms receivers: one has to understand that Senegalese also give from a conviction that by giving they will receive. Foreigners are often perturbed by the number of beggars in Senegal; it is not perturbing for Senegalese Moslems, but since in Dakar the beggars are part of the landscape, and all the more so during Ramadan, it is best to learn a Wolof phrase if you are not in a giving mood at the moment. The phrase is Ba beneen yoon (the next time); one can also say: Baal ma (excuse me).
We had so many questions about the little beggars, the talibes, that a whole other Khibar is going to be necessary to cover this topic! Next week, then
Meanwhile, Deweneti (May God grant us life for next year); this is the phrase we use to wish people a nice Ramadan, too."


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A full version of the notes (which means both my notes and Helen Parkinson's, plus any changes made by the group), can be found on the OBI Wiki.
10 July 2007 – OBI Workshop Day 2
The morning session was all about summarizing the work done in the branches since the last workshop.
Relations Branch
Speaking about the relationships we want to introduce. BS states that we should be careful not to add too many relations: the DL version of SnoMed has 108 relations currently. BB says that text definitions for classes and properties are just there to help the humans: restrictions should also be present in OWL, in a manner that matches the text definition as much as possible.
BS: Will OBI, like GO, have Class-level relationships, or will it only have individual-level relationships? AR and others: we would like to have no class-level relationships. GF: In OWL, you can define class-level relations, but it's not a good idea (brings us towards OWL Full). BS: There is a simple OBI statement "PA_Chromium_release has_participant radioactive_chromium" doesn't sound like a relation between instances, but instead between "any old" chromium etc. What it should say it "Every instance of chromium_release_assay has, on the instance level, some instance of radioactive_chromium." that means two relations for everything. CS: You're talking syntactic sugar: saying the same things, but want to have "your" way of saying it be the correct one. AR: The disagreement is that he thinks it's syntactic sugar and BS doesn't. BS actually agrees that it's syntactic sugar, but only if we really know what we're doing: i.e. we need to be VERY sure that, if we decide to only do instance-level relations, that is what we should be sure that we're always doing. General agreement. AR: you can think of these as extra axioms. We should audit all relations to make sure that they're all instance-level reactions. E.g. have axiom on chromium_release_assay that it must always have a reagent, and then make the appropriate notes in the relations used to express that. BS: there is no "problem" in OBO in that you can only use class-level relations. HP made a list of action items for this.
Data Transformation Branch (Presented by Tina Boussard)
A large number of their initial terms went into PA. AR says that some classes should be under linear and non-linear transformation, whereas now they are siblings. There's also the fact that mathematical functions aren't necessarily PAs (parent of Data Transformation). They are functions/methods which might be better elsewhere. E.g. functionX has_role linear transformation. BS: OBI shouldn't be "doing mathematics", as it isn't central to OBI's mission. We should find ===somebody=== who can take care of the central maths that we need. Also, don't use the same noun at the end of a long list of children: shows that should make a parent class of that group. Also, ensure all classes are singular! Also, we need to be very careful about child/parent relationships: a Transformation is NOT a Transformation Method: it is a transformation! LF: Methods aren't PA, they're plans/protocols. Also, she says errors are not PAs, they might be qualities instead. JF says developers have agreed that errors should be measurements.
BB: Peter Lister and Karen Skinner oversee NCBC started out as a resource ontology/cv – just stuff we need to use somewhere. As that comes in, what is being done in data transformation will have to be reconciled for it. BB will send around url to its current state. Daniel Rubin worked on it. Intended to use by certain NIH places as a core resource. Don't forget to constantly check for other people who are working on these child ontologies: the data transformation workshop has invited these people.
DS: Can we indicate such helper classes / administrative classes in a way we immediately see that they 'live' on another level ? e.g. '_unclassified'….. using the underscore at the beginning….? BB: should be a new enumeration in the curation_status field. AL: we should add it to the Wiki now.
CS: Is normalization a role or a transformation? He thinks it is a transformation. It consists of various types of transformation that are constrained in particular ways, with parameters. There is a particular goal to be achieved. Most people who use normalization think of it as a data transformation. AR: The issue is how to define archsine_transformation from _function and _plotting. Will this be a problem? BS: I think it will be a problem, and we hope we can find someone who's solving it on the mathematical ontology side, as it only should be imported from another ontology elsewhere. AR: say archsine is imported from somewhere else. How do we make archsine transformation and normalization (two different things). BS: The classification of applications is something OBI could reasonably do. AR: This would look like "normalization" and "plotting", and then archsine_normalization would be a defined term. But then, where do normalization and plotting live? Processes? HP say yes, processes. BS: Are you saying normalization is a mathematical abstract, but for OBI's purposes it isn't that abstract thing, it's the process of getting the new data. AR: If you make them as defined classes that, when classified, would end up here. However, they shouldn't be explicitly asserted here, as then we would end up with multiple inheritance. AR will put all of the metadata annotation properties into its own OWL file. AL: we need an action item to add a couple of new phrases to the enumerated list for curation_status.
Instrument Branch (Presented by Ally Lister)
Notes from workshop: what are the boundaries on this term? There are instruments that fit this definition? What's a good use-case, or can we just toss it as it equals the instrument definition? BS: the granularity issue: the OBI domain encompasses several granularities, and we may deal with multiple granularities in the same annotation project, so there will be problems. We know the appropriate granularity for dealing with instruments. There are some things that are truly object aggregates. There are objects, parts of objects, and object aggregates in everything we do. It sounds odd but should be that way. Most people using obi will not be using the whole thing. AR: there should be a distinction between what you can buy as a single item, as opposed to something that takes up multiple rooms and has to be put up specially. CS: we don't call the latter a platform, but instead a laboratory, and therefore wouldn't be needed. We need two types of platform: one that you're not going to take apart, and another that allows you to adjust the parts. however, some things you build yourself is only because it isn't a mature technology yet – it would become a platform when it's mature. AR: should only be called a platform when it's mature. BB: some platforms are only software. PA: the difference between platform and group of instruments is that a platform is a group that has been put together for a specific purpose. Plate reader is an instrument that is used in the context of many different platforms. Included in the definition is some link to either Plan or PA.
General consensus that we should promote everything and remove artefact_object. Also, remove device and move up instrument and labware.
BS: Having many children is fine, just make sure you have no redundancy. Then after they're in, see if there's any way to bundle them. AR has seen people put defined classes into owl:THing but this isn't very good. You could make "bogus" classes under instrument. Not good answers – don't really want ugly pseudo classes. AR: someone will
find it useful to have aliquid handler term. RS: The instrument's function may change, but its structure might not, so we definitely shouldn't use their function.
Role and Digital Entities Branches (Presented by Jen Fostel)
Ontology of Clinical Investigations (OCI) (Presented by Jen Fostel)
Covers clinical trial and clinical research. Other groups in this area include CDISC, RCT, IFOMIS, Epoch (the only one that calls itself an ontology), BRIDG, and HL7 (an ANSI standard). The scope of CIO would encompass: the legal terms and minimal information (CONSORT) for clinical trials, clinical research, and administrative terms. Would like to align terms from other efforts with OBI. In OCI, all of the subjects are human. Other groups are doing non-human (e.g pre-clinical or non-clinical efforts). These efforts should be considered – we want them all to use "subject", for example, and mean the same thing. The ontology for clinical trials is in production by the UK cancergrid project. Their aim is to develop a useable ontology by 4Q07 that can be deposited in OBO. JF applauds the effort and hopes that they can all work together. As good as all these efforts all, there is definitely a feeling of "sporting competitiveness" too.
OCI will focus for now on translational research, e.g. clinical research as opposed to trials. The collected terms are from the CDISC glossary (35-page pdf file), STDM (standard tabulated data model: how you would share your files with the FDA), UTSW, MUSC, and RCT. They've organized them all and removed duplicates, and loosely categorized them within the OBI hierarchy. They're now in the process of refining definitions, and have shared terms with the roles and digital entities branches.
OCI would be part of OBI, but there would be a document which contains all of OCI for the benefit of that community. This matches as a 4th-tier owl file as discussed yesterday, or does it? Would OCI be a subset of OBI, or a superset of OBI? CC will show us their OWL file during the next talk. Plan a workshop next year to bring together all efforts for discussions. They have a google group, email@example.com. CONSORT is already in MIBBI.
===Discussion of the Current OCI File (Presented by Christian Cocos)===
Should OCI be developed in the OBI namespace, or should it be developed separately? We can see from the OWL file, there is overlap with the branches currently in development. The idea is to eventually move *everything* to OBI. No end-user of OCI will even see the namespace, and will just be working with a UI. The OCI WG should be a working community in OBI, and there should not be two independent efforts. But, in the end, should OBI and OCI "appear" to be separate entities, e.g in papers?
Plan Branch (Presented by Phillippe Aldebert)
Protocols, Algorithms, and Study Design. However, Protocols were left out of their work due to the overlap with PA. We will need to come back to this later on, though.
What to do, in general, about adding terms quickly? Many of the terms are suffixed with "parent" words, like _design and _study. BS doesn't like this sort of naming, however some of these suffixes are very important. What should be done? Well, just ensure that the suffix clarifies and is not redundant. JF: If you have a design that included something that was part of the trial with the role of "placebo", then you don't need "placebo_design" as a term, as this could be inferred. You don't need to explicitly say it twice. AL: this is the same problem as we face with the Instrument branch and terms like "liquid_handler". BS: In the definitions, sometimes you use the word "trial" and somewhere you use "study", and this needs to be cleaned up. Offspring study and Parent study are the same study with two different subjects. Therefore instead, what there should be is a good classification of the subject time, and then just link a study to a particular subject type.
BS: Identify the 7 or 9 or 3 essential features that every study should have, e.g. subjects. Pick one that is central, and then assert a single-inheritance hierarchy on that basis. All other features should be put into their own single-inheritance hierarchy. Then use the reasoner to generate all of the appropriate associations and multiple inheritance on the fly. We may end up with the bottomless pit problem, though. We have to find a way of making it clear it isn't a bottomless pit. It should be clear that there is a principled way for finding places for these terms. JF: different people structure these things with different "primary" classifications. AR: use "faceted" browsers. Classic example is travel destination, where you may want to browse by either sport, or location, or family friendliness. Each of these facets are different relations whose target is these other single hierarchies BS mentioned. AL: Where do we start the defined classes, and where do we end the "standard" classes? AR: Should avoid "hardness" as long as possible. Could have no asserted isA until the last step, and the infer all isA's, and see how it plays out, and *then* choose the primary asserted hierarchy. A lot of this work will be integral to the Function Branch work, which BB will cover shortly.
PA: PATO will deal with biological qualities, but not non-biological ones like randomized or control, or qualities of instrumentation like "switched on". Such terms should go in OBI, at least for now.
Biomaterial Branch (Presented by Susanna Sansone)
72/315 terms were actually relevant to the biomaterial branch. There is a dispatcher sheet that is now on google docs. Have started refining definitions, adding examples, and making terms compliant to naming conventions (the latter is still to be done). Most of the information is in an excel spreadsheet. They don't know what to do about "quasi" material terms like lot number and serial number. What to do if a term is present in more than one external resource? How do we point at multiple sources of terms? Where should we put in genetic information like allele, diplotype. They are also thinking that they should probably also extend biomaterial to other types of material.
First division was between experimental and natural biomaterials, but after a little time it was clear this wasn't the right line to draw: for example, where to put transgenic organism? Also, just binned things like allele and haplotype into a single class, even though they don't really know where to put them. Many of the genotype specification are already in PATO. And currently, things like dominant and recessive are not yet in PATO. And, even though we can get PATO into OBI really easily, ontologies like SO are harder to fit in, as their structure doesn't mesh with OBI yet, so we can't just import them directly. AR: if we can get it in promptly, we do it. If we can't, then we put a specialist ontology term directly within OBI. Also, for links out to other ontologies, we don't use an OBI term ID but the ID from the other ontology. Note that this does NOT mean that we import the entirety of the hierarchy above or below that particular external term, just that (for now) we need to represent that particular, single, term.
AR: Population and cohort's current placement is not their final location. Diplotype is a quality of a sequence.
AR: If you have a defined class for whole_mount, you can say whole_mount organism is exactly those organisms that are the output of PA_XYZ. BS: A whole_mount organism is an organism playing the role of whole_mount. CS: But once it goes through PA XYZ, it is an entirely new entity. This entity can take on other roles, such as garbage, but it is a new entity. BS: It is simple to do what I propose, as you just have to add a phrase about the role to the defined class definition (necessary
& sufficient statement). BB: What we're trying to do is figure out where to put in that a biomaterial has been experimentally manipulated. BS: We need to have this role as, for example, you need the role to properly classify patients. You can't just say patients are people who have registered, as that would fit with people who once registered but are no longer true patients (e.g. they went home). RS: whole_mount is irreversible – once you are a whole_mount, you can't go back. For this reason, you should not use roles, as roles are for states that can be easily changed to one thing and then back again and then on to another thing. BS: You can have an organ section that does not play the role of the specimen (e.g. your dinner of part of a liver), therefore specimen is a role. As such, you need to define whole_mount with such role restrictions. CS: whole_mount cannot be a role, but in its definition I'm ok with it indicating that it plays the role / always plays the role of specimen. BB: to reinforce this, you could rename ExperimentalBiomaterial to BiomaterialSpecimen. JF: thinks biomaterial is actually a role, e.g. a fly before it is in an experiment is not a biomaterial. AL: A fly is always a biomaterial, irrespective of whether or not it is in an experiment.
Function Branch (Presented by Bill Bug)
Meant to provide a BFO-based definition of function for investigational artefacts, including instruments, reagents, and assays. They analyzed the BFO definition of the related realizable dependent continuants function, disposition and role, and defined how they are going to work with closely-related branches like role. They have a few examples/use-cases for function on the wiki page. They use as a primary example how to create the function of an HPLC system (high pressure liquid chromatography). He then used a well-written slide to show what minumum relations would be required to get the function correct for HPLC. See his slides on the OBI Wiki for more information.
BS: How are you distiguishing functions and roles from this particular example slide? BB: I don't think there is a clear distinction – it's not clear that function and role are distinct. BS: This is a BFO responsibility. BB: Well, the separation process is distinct. BS: whenever you have function, you should describe the process that is the functioning. A crucial feature of function is that you can have a function without realizing it (this statement applies equally to role). One test of a function is to see if it is possible to still be itself when it isn't functioning. When we say an algorithm has a function, we're not using it in the BFO sense. Functions have to involve realizations as a possibility, which means the thing that has the function has to be such that it can engage in causal processes. BB: I don't think that will work. BS: A laptop has a function, a heart has a function. The pumping of your heart is the exercise of the functioning of your heart. You cannot realize the pumping because the pumping is itself a realization. I think there are assays, but assays themselves do not have functions in the BFO sense. (Assessment is also a problem for him). Generally speaking, occurrents do not have functions. (And then BS had to leave the workshop.)
CS: I think of algorithm as a plan. AR: But you can't have a plan that has a function as they are both realizable entities. But still, perhaps algorithm is a plan, but you couldn't give it a function.
BB's slides include various cardinal parts of instrument, which CS describes as not necessary for the "molecular separation function", just required for the HPLC instruments.
BB: Should look at CC's proposal to use Systems Theory to provide a framework for defining function. It would be a relatively superficial application of ST.
CC says that in order to specify functions you don't need context, but for roles you do need context. BB: Functions imply some primacy, so perhaps each thing only has a single function?
CC: drafted by BS last year to write the "RO 2" paper. Some paradigm examples include:
- kidney UNDERGOES excretion process. There is disagreement on this term, as a kidney does not undergo that process. Blood undergoes filtration, and urine undergoes creation process. In the sense CC has written it is "participates", or has_function.
- excretion process HAS_PARTICIPANT nephron
- excretion function IMPLEMENTED_BY kidney/kidney IMPLEMENTS excretion function.
- kidney HAS_OUTPUT urine / urine OUTPUT_OF kidney. RS: We've defined processes as having inputs and outputs, and CC has a continuant with inputs and outputs. Urine is the output of a process, in the same way as chocolate bar is the output of the chocolate production process, whereas others would say it is the output of the factory.
BB: we want your help implementing functions and relations in OWL. RS: There is confusion in this example, as many organs don't have outputs. CC: Actually, I think all organs have outputs.
BB: As people in other branches hit functions (especially the Instrument branch) please go to the function wiki page and add the example to that page.
Protocol Application Branch (Presented by Alan Ruttenberg)
The group started out trying to figure out what relations should be used. HP: the clinical_diagnosis definition should not have "determination", but instead "assessment", as you may not always get your diagnosis right. RS: Doesn't think tumor grading is an assay, as there is an interpretive step that's not being captured. AR: The output is not material, but instead is information. RS: In tumor grading, the input and output are both data. Perhaps should be moved to Data transformation.
CS: Could delineate material combinations based on whether or not it is a pooling of samples. RS: You should structure according to pooling, partitioning, and transformation. BB: Perhaps shouldn't use transformation in material_transformation – should use a word that more precisely meets the definition.
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Chronicling the international attractions industry (parks, museums, casinos, expos, live spectaculars, 4D theaters, performing arts centers, retail, etc.) in terms of design, technology, media, development, safety and more. By Judith Rubin, top editor, publicist and consultant in themed entertainment. I also write occasionally about topics of St Louis.
30 December 2006
Profile of Giant Screen Film Pioneer Graeme Ferguson
Monsters Inc. Review in Film Journal
JR articles in Entertainment Design
29 December 2006
Safety procedures post 9/11 - article
Profile of Bob Rogers
Metreon R.I.P. (1999 project profile)
It is still online at this link. Memento of Metreon.
Giant-Screen Docs are Box Office Giants
Did you know that large-format (70mm-15perf) documentaries such as Everest are among the top-grossing documentaries of all time? I wrote this story for the Oct. 23 2006 issue of Film Journal International. (FJI brought me on as Large Format Editor for several years in the 1990s, during the boom period when many movieplexes added giant-screen 3D theaters. I am still an occasional FJI contributor.)


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If you are from San Antonio or spend a lot of time in here you know Bill Miller's. I grew up eating Bill Millers all the time and I loved their tea. I would stop at Bill Miller's at least once a day some times more than that. The food has always been so good, but it seems lately that Bill Miller's has been lacking and not living up to its reputation. It would be one thing if it was just one of their locations but I have had problems with at least 4 different locations.
First off I used to love the tea it was the perfect sweet tea. In the last 10 times I have been there the tea was watered and not up to par. It seems like a lot of the time that I go they seem to mess up my order. My cousin had a problem the other day with one of their locations and it was not handled the way it should be handled. They completely messed up her order and when she called and asked to speak to the manager she was told to bring back her food. My cousin explained that some of the food had already been eaten by her children and she did not want to drive all the way back over there so late at night. The manger ended up telling her to save the food and bring it back when she had the time, because the manger did not believe the order was incorrect. My cousin ended up getting so upset that she went back and showed her that she was not lying and the manager was rude to her.
My cousin ended up calling the main office for Bill Miller's and they did correct the situation and sent her some gift cards. I still feel like Bill Miller's is not the place it used to be. I will say that some of the food there is still good but I know they can do better because they have done better.
I want to say something about Bill Miller's that has nothing to do with the food but really bothers me a lot. They are always saying they are hiring and need people so bad but they will not take anyone who has tattoos on any parts of their arms, hands, or any other body part that can be seen. Now a day's everyone seems to have tattoos now, but it doesn't make you a bad person. I feel if they need workers so bad then they need to understand that some people have tattoos. I have a very small tattoo on my wrist that is not even big enough that you notice it right away. When I was 18 and tried to apply there and they wouldn't even let me apply because of that tattoo. I really wish more work places would be more open to tattoos in the work place.


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Main → Afghanistan → Velayat Baghlan → Surgul Kelay
Map of Surgul Kelay Velayat Baghlan, Afghanistan
Other Names: Surgol Kalay,Surgul Kalay,Surgul Kelay,Surgul'kalay,Surgul'kalay,Sūrgol Kalay,Sūrgul Kêlay,Sūṟgul Kalay,سورگل کلی, Sūrgul Kêlay
Surgul Kelay
Welcome to the Surgul Kelay google satellite map! This populated place is situated in Velayat Baghlan, Afghanistan. Original name (with diacritics) of the place is Sūrgul Kêlay. See Surgul Kelay photos and images from satellite below, explore the aerial photographs of Sūrgul Kêlay area. This placemark was added 2010-08-14.
Map of Surgul Kelay
- Country: Afghanistan
- Province: Velayat Baghlan
- Category: populated place
- Altitude: 0 m
- Population: 0
Asia/Kabul +4.5
- Local Time: 06:28
- Sunrise: 04:37
- Sunset: 19:16
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I'm filing this up under Modern Cruelty. Seriously, no other words can I use but that. Read the full article here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=473376.
Coupled this with Pastor Albert Martin's Talk on Enoch #2 (http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=1250402011) – which I highly recommend, this is seriously a matter to be considered by parents all over.
At nine, Bethany doesn't 'feel right' without fake tan. 11-year-old Belle waxes her legs. Karolina, 10, won't leave home without scent. Harmless fun? Or proof of the insidious sexualisation of our children?:
Bethany Conheeny takes two hours to get ready each morning. A detailed inspection of her morning routine gives some indication why.
After washing her naturally wavy hair, she spritzes, sprays and straightens it with £120 designer ceramic straighteners.
What a crazy world we're living in now. *shrug*


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LANAI IS TURNING SIX and YOU are invited!!
Doors are at 6pm and we will have a featured bar from:
Hornitos Tequila
Pinnacle Vodka
Jim Beam Kentucky Fire
Jim Beam Devils Cut
Jim Beam Jacob's Ghost
Live Art from Lacy Shelby!!!
DJ COLETTE will be headlining the party so come early and stay late!!
Local Support will be as follows:
6pm-7pm DJ Grey
7pm-8pm Matteo Thomas
8pm-9pm Knos
9pm-11pm 4Jackz
11pm-12am Chris Nelson
12am-2am DJ COLETTE (Candy Talk, APT)


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Thursday, October 25, 2007
Shocking, Shockinger and Shockingest
Shockinger - I had an exam tonight where we'd been given five topics to study of which four would be on the exam, of which we had to write essays about two. The one topic I told my study budy that I was sure would not be on the exam, was. Shockinger - the one topic I had the most "studying" done fore was not even mentioned.
Shockingest - part of my procrastination/study involved perousing people's facebooks for videos to look at. The girl who sold me my car had a video snap that was sent to her, showing two scantily clad women doing tequila shots. Figuring it was going to turn into a skit mocking porn, I loaded it up and sat through the first two of the total five minutes. I was wrong. It was lesbian porn. I have no idea why that shocked me so much - I guess it's BOUND to happen that people will use it for porn, but still - shockingest discovery of the day!
11 comments:
- Dot said...
this means you drive a lesbot porn car...
- Friday, October 26, 2007 10:23:00 am
- Enny said...
dot - ... I don't even know what that means...?! :o)
- Friday, October 26, 2007 5:42:00 pm
- Mikey_Capital said...
Ah lesbian porn. The best kind of porn. Everyone wins and there's no mess to clean up.
- Friday, October 26, 2007 10:55:00 pm
- Enny said...
m_capital - I dunno... there was a lot of tequila, lemon and spit around the place...
- Saturday, October 27, 2007 12:02:00 pm
- Rosanna said...
Okay this post made me FREAK OUT. I hate exam horror stories... especially in Swotvac!
- Sunday, October 28, 2007 12:53:00 pm
- Enny said...
rosanna - what's Swotvac? It wasn't so bad - there were a few early leavers though... two awesome essays in 45 minutes? I doubt it!
- Sunday, October 28, 2007 10:33:00 pm
- Boysenberry said...
Sorry, was going to comment, but now slightly zoned out considering bisexual* porn
* = Okay, it might have been lesbian, but let's face it - what a bloke really wants is to join in. :)
- Monday, October 29, 2007 3:11:00 pm
- Enny said...
Mr B'b'rry - I shoulda KNOWN some ppl would be more focussed on THAT part of the story...!
- Monday, October 29, 2007 5:53:00 pm
- Boysenberry said...
Sorry about that... I guess the baser instincts took hold for a while.
- Thursday, November 01, 2007 6:41:00 am
- Susanne said...
Oh, study eating! It's terrible, isn't it?
My pants are feeling way tight at the moment. :/
- Thursday, November 01, 2007 1:17:00 pm
- Enny said...
Mr B'b'rry - forgien!
Susanne - Stranger! Hullo!!! It certainly is... it's both a blessing and a curse my couch outfit is so baggy ;o)
- Thursday, November 01, 2007 11:00:00 pm


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Saturday, June 23, 2007
DCist: Rochambeau Your Way to Free (Well, Almost) Tortillas
snipshot_e4njq71x0ai.jpgThanks to a tip from the writers at WeRiteGoode, we are letting you know of yet another fast food giveaway (well, almost).
For those of you who find that standing in extensive lines for a dollop of ice cream or a free doughnut is a tad 'lazy,' California Tortilla is offering a bit of competition with their discount. For today only, if you beat the cashier in a game of Rock Paper Scissors, (Rochambeau, Jankenpon, Muk-Chi-Ba, etc...) you will earn $1 off any entrée item. But please, do not play the 'extreme' variation and assault the cashier afterwards. Bask in your win while munching on some tortilla chips.
If you've forgotten how to play, you should brush up on the World RPS Society's rules, and practice some Rochambeau tactics. With enough practice, you too will feel the satisfaction of earning your $1 discount and perhaps find yourself in any number of RPS championships. Don't forget to stretch, or you'll sprain a finger.
Locations can be found throughout the D.C. area, including Chinatown, Cleveland Park, Courthouse Arlington, Bethesda, and Silver Spring."
An Integrated Agency "Pulp Fiction" Style?
Separating agencies by specialties can work, but it's time to stop passing the buck. Here's a better approach.
My brother-in-law is an electrician for IBEW Local 3, which I vastly underestimated when he married into the family. Lawyers, doctors and accountants are nice to have, but a blue collar union guy is way more useful. He's also extremely handy at other construction matters, but I still wouldn't let him build me a whole house. Instead, there are carpenters, electricians, plumbers, et cetera who work together, leveraging their strengths to build a structure. The underlying theme here is that while you have people who can do facets of other people's jobs, it makes sense to leverage their strengths in a collaborative setting. This begs the question: If you wouldn't let an electrician build a whole house, why would you have one agency plan and execute all of your online marketing?
I was reading a recent article from The Wall Street Journal in which several companies that I respect were critiquing the current agency structure and trying to push Madison Avenue to come up with an integrated model. Based on my 10 years in the online space, not only do I not think we are getting there but, more importantly, I don't think it should be that much of a concern. I fear that if clients push us there, they'll end up with decent plumbing and lighting but a crooked house.
Shouldn't this have been solved by now?
With all the money, resources and clout, don't you think that if a large agency could have nailed integrating traditional and digital they would have by now? It would obviously provide them the ability to stamp out the pesky interactive agencies and eliminate their need to continue trying to buy us. How many e- or i-versions of a traditional shop do we need to see to realize that it's not as simple as it may seem. Culture, philosophy, logos, P&Ls and egos are just different -- between traditional and interactive -- and not the easiest things to meld together. It's not that big agencies don't want to adapt; it's just tougher to turn a battleship then a Schooner.
I want to make sure I am clear; I am not saying give up, or that it will never happen. I'm just saying that separating agencies by specialties can work, if handled properly.
Stop passing the buck
Here is the thing that I find the most interesting: Clients would like us to integrate, but I have met few if any traditional companies that are set up to plan and purchase in an integrated format. When I sold cross-media programs there were several clients I had to work with who all had a specialty. If you would like agencies to integrate, please integrate as well. If not, we're still going to have to deal with multiple meetings and learning curves.
I have a few clients that are struggling with internal competition. We have some ideas on who should own the category based on market share, company value, offerings to consumers, et cetera. However, there are a lot of politics, finance and egos that make this decision a lot more difficult. Although we know the answers, we have to manage the decision-making complexity that they live in. If an agency with this much experience struggles with category integration across business units, how easily can you expect your agency to handle integration?
Let's try and figure out why you want an integrated agency. Here are a few ideas:
Upfronts don't work online
The upfront is counterintuitive to interactive. In a world that changes so fast, why would you want to commit to a handful of partners? We continue to attend conferences that talk about the consumer being in control and that they want their media the way they want it when they want it. The theme here is flexibility and being able to adapt based on popularity and what's hot to consumers. The upfront buying strategy puts you in a box that doesn't allow you to take advantage of the very reason that you want an integrated agency in the first place, which means taking advantage of the fragmented media society.
One agency's view
Using one agency, you're stuck with one agency's view of how things work. One agency leads to vanilla plans that focus on their view of what is important or profitable. When you bring in experts from a few fields, ideas get bounced around and real marketing happens.
A hypothetical theory on this that I like to discuss is with Johnson's baby. Their tagline is "having a baby changes everything," and they're right. When I had my second daughter Logan, I didn't need to know that having a baby changes everything; I kind of knew that. Logan had sensitive skin and the same lotion that worked for Zoe (my first daughter) didn't work for her. If you're using one agency for all tactics they may be blinded by the baby message and not realize that they can stay broad and targeted for this campaign. They should continue with the broad reach campaign with print ad and TV, but online and search should change the online focus to both first-time parents, and parents who now have a second child. When I search for "changing diapers," I should get the "changes everything" message, but if I search for "sensitive skin lotion," I better get lotion.
Buying power?
How often will it make sense to buy the same property across multiple channels? Just because you buy Viacom, Fox, et cetera in the traditional world doesn't mean you should buy them online. For every print ad in American Baby, I can show you a better reason to compliment that with Babycenter or About.com on pregnancy. So do you want a discount or a good strategy?
Pssst. Another secret from someone who has worked at two media companies: 90 percent of us are not compensated the same way and, while we smile at the meeting, we're fighting internally as to why one is more valuable than the other, which means you, the client, lose. Last I checked, one of the best-performing tactics is search. There is no buying power in search. If Google breaks into traditional it still won't care that you're spending millions on TV because the auction model works perfectly for Google and levels the playing field. The company can't discount search pricing because you're a big company or it will have a revolt on its hands.
Agencies are just good at what they do
There is a reason Ogilvy has managed IBM so well, for years making some of the best campaigns I can remember (I still love "the magic box," and I have no idea what the box actually was). There's a reason Avenue A | Razorfish (whom I work for) is the only interactive agency to crack Ad Age's top 10; like the union analogy, we all have specialties.
I promise not to sell you print if you promise not to buy interactive from e-traditional. My wife's old business partner is a recruiter. When he had his kid, the doctor asked him if he wanted to cut the cord, to which he replied, "I don't ask you to phone screen, don't ask me to cut the cord." You don't want my search people to write print copy or your traditional agency to write search copy.
So what do I do?
Next to Jules, the best character in "Pulp Fiction," is The Wolf because "he solves problems." That is what your agencies should do, but we need your help.
In a previous article on handling paid and organic search, I said that you should put your agencies in the same sandbox. Instead of forcing your agencies to crack a model that they haven't been able to just yet, let them live off their strengths and deliver you a world-class strategy. In order to make this happen, bring your agencies together at Zed's Pawn Shop and read them the following:
"I'm tired of reading Insert thought leader of the month and hearing Insert cliché of the month. I don't believe digital will kill traditional and vice versa. You're all important, and you're all going to help us solve our problems. Sometimes the answer is going to be traditional, but sometimes it's going to be digital. Sometimes we're going to lay out different tactics for each of you based on goals, but we're going to do it together. This means no more separate meetings on strategy or tactics. This means we all get together and decide what's best for me, because in the end, it's all about me. Don't feel threatened by each other; neither of you are going to steal the other's money unless it makes sense for my business. At the first hint that you're not playing well together, I'm bringing in the gimp and replacing you with Insert cool agency. We're going to develop a fees structure that plays to all your strengths and doesn't discount one of you because your tactic may be cheaper; it will be about performance. Now finish your Denver Omelet and let's go to work."
Joshua Palau is group director of search engine marketing for Avenue A | Razorfish. Read full bio.
NPD: Younger Kids Are Using CE Products
By Colleen Bohen -- TWICE, 6/5/2007 12:57:00 PM
Port Washington, N.Y. — Children begin using consumer electronic devices at an average age of 6.7 years old, according to findings in The NPD group's recently released "Kids and Consumer Electronics Trends III" report.
This number is down from the average age of 8.1 years found in the research firm's similar 2005 study.
"[Children] appear to have no fear of technology and adopt it easily and without fanfare, making these devices a part of their everyday lives," said Anita Frazier, an industry analyst with NPD.
NPD said the study measures device usage dynamics and trends to determine the penetration of consumer electronics in kids' lives today and how this has changed since the group's earlier studies on the topic in 2005 and 2006.
The group reported that the average age at which a child initially uses a product has shown a decline in virtually all categories since 2005. In this year's survey, televisions and desktop computers were the CE devices shown to have the youngest initial exposure rates at about 4 or 5 years of age. Satellite radios and portable digital media players (PDMPs) showed the oldest initial exposure rates at about 9 years of age.
The report found that kids' ownership of PDMPs, portable video games and digital cameras showed the most growth of the categories studied, even though it found that overall the average number of CE devices both owned and used by kids is down slightly compared to the year before. Cellphones and DVD players also showed increases in ownership.
In terms of purchases, cellphones, digital cameras and PDMPs were mentioned most as being bought in the past year.
When compared to their adult counterparts, NPD found that kids' versions of all electronic products show "strong performance" and children are using kids' versions at a younger age and more frequently. However, almost all adult versions of these products, save for video games, show higher penetration rates than do the children's versions of the same products.
Though the level of interest in branded kids' versions of electronics products is still present among the majority of parents surveyed, that level of interest has declined from 83 percent last year to 74 percent this year.
According to a release, NPD collected data for this report via an online national survey of adults ages 25 and older with children ages 4 to 14 in their household and whose children had used at least one of the CE devices measured in the study. The study was conducted from March 16 to March 22.
I'm really thirsty and I'm not sure why. Anyways, these fine young ladies are sporting the hottest new trend for the Summer: iPod controls on a bikini. I'm certain that this will cause a few pubescent lads to be smacked when they try and skip to the next song. "I was only trying to fast forward, I swear. I can't help that your boob is right there." Sure, pal. Whatever you say. Her eyes are a little north, buddy. Focus!
Read the rest of this entry »"
Is Wis.dm Your Next Web Obsession? | TIME
Check out another cool web 2.0 social networking site, interestingly based on conversations and Q&A.....
That reminds of Consumating, a tags based socialk site agian with querstions and interactions being the base of the whole site.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Advertising Age - Major Marketers Push 20% of Ad Budgets Into New Media
AAF Study, Conference Demonstrate Advertisers' Feelings About Web
By Ira Teinowitz
Published: June 14, 2007
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AdAge.com) -- Facing a shifting media environment, major marketers are allocating up to 20% of their total ad budget for experimentation in new media, according to a survey unveiled at the recent American Advertising Federation annual meeting, where grappling with the changing marketing world was a common theme among the 750 attendees.
Marketers and media executives described several ad campaigns that achieved significant results with virtually no media spending, instead aiming limited dollars toward creative that developed web buzz.
Coffee and razors
Mary Baglivo, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi, New York, detailed a campaign for Procter & Gamble's Folgers coffee aimed at an 18-to-24-year-old audience (well below its normal target) fashioned around the idea of how to wake up in the morning. Matt Freeman, CEO of Tribal DDB Worldwide described a campaign for a Philips razor that would have been next to impossible to run on TV -- but it generated so much traffic that the number of razors the company hoped to sell in a year sold in six weeks.
Aldo Quevedo, president-chief creative officer at Dieste Harmel & Partners,"
Analytics Simplified......
Simply put analytics would be the science and equally so the art of studying the behaviour of the actions ocurring in a space inorder to arrive at actionable information to support decision making.
Now as funny as it may sound, even a highly regarded peer information source such as wikipedia cant arrive at a satisfactory definition of the word. More on that here .
Nevertheless, suffice to say that anaytics gives you the numbers to play around so that you can get a better picture to make decisions.
Now this gets more interesting and more relevant when we apply it to websites and online marketing
The key feature of any web related marketing activity is the fact that everything is measurable and quantified right from the moment someone clicks on your banner to the point of checking out from your website.
Now the very fact that everything is measurable and accountable leads to unprecendented accountability and shall i say reliability on online media.Because at the end of the day if the objective is to drive sales or to sell then why spend on website A or Approach B ( Email marketing, Search Ads, Viral Marketing) if you know that it doesnt work.
Which actually brings me to the point of how much information or analytics would one require to get enough information as to smoothen the transaction process and figure out which segments in a media plan works and doesnt work.
In the past few days two of my clients have shown a remarkable level of interest in knowing what happens beyond the click and what is really working for them and not working for them.
In lieu of this i jus did some diggin around in order to understand where to start in this regard.
I have to admit that i jus know the few bare minimal things on web analytics ie, the various vendors in the market and the two primary types of web analytics sytems etc.
To clarify on this i jus did the usual basic reasearch on google
The 10 / 90 Rule for Magnificent Web Analytics Success » Occam's Razor by Avinash Kaushik


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When you design with the Tickled Pink or True Blue from the Fine and Dandy collection, you'll be "tickled pink", too! Pinks, blues, reds, greens, browns, and white combine perfectly to create this fabulously cheery collection that is perfect for any occasion! And the True Blue has Blues, Yellows, Browns and white -- the perfect combination for any project! You'll love creating with this collection.
My Mind's Eye has put together this awesome exclusive collection just for Scrappin Deals n Steals---you can't miss this one! You're gonna get a deal on.......
* 12 sheets of double-sided cardstock
* Sheet of Banner Stickers
* a fabulous mixed layered chipboard album
* sheet of True Blue bling
* Tickled Pink layered stickers
* TWO--not one, but two!!--cards of trims!! One each in Tickled Pink & one True Blue (cuz I couldn't choose between them.....)
This is a $36 retail value......but you can have it for only $14.99!!! That's 60% off retail!!! Think of all the projects you can do with that many goodies!! And if you need ideas, check out this newsletter dedicated to the Fine & Dandy line.


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More information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koi
[Download] photo backup "koi carp"
Photos, Animals, Pets , Funny Pet ,Funny Animals ,Dogs ,Cats , Rabbit ,exotic animals , exotic ,porcupine , Pet
japanese koi are so beautiful! Those are amazing pictures. Great post. I have few koi in my pond but its getting too cold outside, time to bring them in.
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The newest of these seasonal images is the middle one just taken this week in the yellow of autumn.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Making Monet Jealous!
Panning vertically through the forest to evoke the mood of the place.
Posted by Paul Hassell at 2:24 PM 0 comments
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I have finally nailed down a full time position at work. You're looking at the newest Appliance Sales Specialist at my Lowe's store, but I still need to live frugally! While my time is even more limited now, this year I decided to make Preston's Halloween costume again and save a little moolah.
Now, I love to craft and create, but I'm no seamstress. The idea for the Mr. Potato Head costume was sparked by my little spud himself. He's in a serious Toy Story phase, and I wanted him to be excited about whatever he was going to be too. He's getting old enough now to be very well aware of what I put on his body. He has an opinion about it too of course, and we've already gotten in a few morning clothes disagreements! He wasn't thrilled with me here either though...
It took one trip to Walmart for material and felt, and I got started. I had no real plan in mind-just a blurry vision of what I wanted. First, I simply traced his body and cut out two potato shapes. Then, I measured straps and hand sewed them in place. Using styrofoam balls, I created the eyes by covering the balls with white fabric and adding felt details. The face pieces were made of felt and hot glued together and in place on the potato. I stuffed each face piece with scrap fabric to give a 3-D effect.
Lastly, I created a butt pocket on the back with left over brown fabric {whatever fabric I bought didn't fray, so I didn't have to hem the edges of the costume}. Then, I hand cut a few additional traditional extra pieces, from felt, and hot glued them in place. The Playskool logo was found online and printed on card stock. I hot glued that in place too, and it held up all night!
I ended up hand sewing a small side panel under each arm. This kept the costume in place on his body well. A white shirt, white mittens and black hat later, and the costume was complete! Total investment was just $13!
P.S. Thanks for reading and following along. This marks my 100th post!
Crystal xoxo


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This is my blog! I feel just like every other millennial who feels the need to write down their thoughts and publish it on the ever-expanding internet. I realize that I have hundreds of thousands of thoughts and ideas each day, and perhaps I might enjoy writing them down.
I am a college student studying Classical History and Business Administration in Buffalo, NY. I have worked at a local adoption agency for the past 4.5 years.
I must accept that I have certain biases (as it is impossible to be completely unbiased in anything we do). I will admit that I am a liberal, Green Party member in the United States. I am gay and very passionate about LGBT+ rights. While I will try to be as neutral as I can, I can not deny that I am biased.


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Mayberry v. Arkansas Department of Correction et al
Filing 27
JUDGMENT pursuant to 26 Order Adopting Report and Recommendations entered this date, judgment is hereby entered in favor of defts dismissing all claims in this action with prejudice. Signed by Chief Judge J. Leon Holmes on 5/29/12. (vjt)
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.


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Cornejo netted 43 goals for the Coosa Eagles soccer team this past season. He scored over 130 goals for his high school career even though he spent over half of his games playing defense. "Bryan's numbers are impressive and this honor caps off a brilliant four years of play for Coosa," stated Randy Vice, head coach of the Coosa High soccer team. "Bryan has overcome a tremendous amount of adversity to excel during his high school career."
Cornejo was one of three seniors on the Coosa team to advance to the state playoffs each year they played high school soccer. Cornejo was a four year starter starter for the Eagles. Along with his 43 goals, Cornejo also was credited with 20 assist. That made him a part of 63 of the Coosa High 90 total goals this past season.


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Kenny Dalglish was full of praise for the attitude his fringe players showed in the reserves as they crushed Sunderland's second string 5-1.
First-team squad members Jay Spearing, Sebastian Coates, Jon Flanagan and Danny Wilson were all part of the side watched by the Liverpool boss from the touchline at the Kirby Academy.
Spearing managed to bag a brace, while Coates also found the target as they both made strong cases to be included in the Carling Cup quarter-final against Chelsea next Tuesday.
That clash comes just 48 hours after the Reds face Manchester City at Anfield and Dalglish has intimated he will use squad players in the cup clash.
He told the Liverpool Echo: "They applied themselves very well and they will be better for getting 90 minutes.
"They need to play games and it was good for them to be involved. It's better for them than training.
"Some people look at it as a form of punishment asking them to play for the reserves but that's certainly not the case.
"It was a necessity and it's important we give everyone opportunities to play matches.
"For the likes of Seb and Jay, it gives them the chance to get match fit and they did well. We need a strong squad with players who are ready to step in when they're needed."


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Everyone has a emotional side in this world may be he or she is a human or animal or insect. But the most comman feeling is Love. A Love between humans, between animals or between human and animal. It's the only feeling that doesn't come with genes. It just a feeling that connect two different bodies who feel same about each other. For me it's the best feeling. If you love someone, you care. If you love someone, may be you hurt. If you love someone, you could be jealous. If you love someone, you get back the same. So it's a mixture of affection, care. It's a very beautiful and pious feeling that connect you with the world.
For me, Love is the greatest feeling in this world.
The Greatest _______ in the World


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Katelyn and her girlfriend Keira:)
Katelyn our "Thumb Sucker" and "Silky" loving baby! We totally lost this silky at the pumpkin patch... at least that is the last place I remember seeing it. However, Katelyn has another one so we guard our last one very carefully:)
They had this huge bounce thing... we had so much fun!
Kim and I got on these bounce horses too... LOL!
The farm had a little playground and lots of animals too!
There was a little drama as Daniel was on these go karts and within seconds, he got hit by one and was about to be ran over but I ran in the middle of the track screaming like a complete crazy woman to get the kids attention that my son's head was about to be under his go kart and he barely stopped before it crushed Daniel's head! Kim had her cell phone in her hand getting ready to call 911 as she knew he had broken bone(s) but fortunately, he was just crying because he was very scared. Come to find out that the little boy who was driving the Go Kart was autistic and his mother was not watching him... it was very scary but I am so thankful that Daniel's guardian angels were watching out for him that day!
So, we bought our pumpkins, went home and decorated for the Fall and quickly joined in the Festive Spirit!
Happy Fall Y'All!
Happy Fall Y'All!


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Hensley Ruth,
Your baptism today is a symbol
that God pursues you and reaches out to you.
It's a symbol of you entering into this community who loves you.
We remember Jesus's baptism.
We believe that God will carry you into new life!
Baptism Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Together, we pray that these minds
will know Your wisdom.
Their eyes will see Your glory.
Their ears will hear Your words.
Their mouths will speak Your truth.
Their hearts will host Your Spirit.
Their hands will do Your work.
That their knees would bow
only before You, the Lord Our God.
And that their feet would follow You
in the way of Jesus all the days of their lives. Amen.
On Sunday August 14, 2011 you were baptized at the Jacob's Well Pilgrimage. It was a holy and special occasion. We love you sweet Hensley, but God loves you more than we can imagine.


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Beth told Caroline that our last name was Scoonover. She asked if Caroline could say it. She said 'hnoongofer'. We like it.
(This pic is a couple months old, but I really like it. She dressed herself this day. Her favorite hat and her necklace-that my friend Curtis brought back from Uganda.)
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Posted by Jonathan Scoonover at 2:28 PM
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Welcome to my stop at the Amazon Virtual Book Tour brought to you by CBLS Promotions. Today I have author Vanessa North with a post about her writing. But before that, here's a little something about to book.
Title: Amazon (The Ushers)
Author: Vanessa North
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre(s): Erotic Paranormal Romance (Action, F/F/M)
Heat Level: Sizzling
Jack's routine investigation of rogue wolf sightings threatens to uncover both Bianca's secrets and her passionate nature. Can she trust him enough to make the sacrifice her destiny demands?
Born albino, Bianca was spared death in infancy when her mother found safe haven among the ghosts and misfits of Amazon Pack. As Guardian of Amazon, she protects the hidden pack with a ferocity that belies her delicate appearance.
Jack's routine investigation of rogue wolf sightings in his territory uncovers both Bianca's secrets and her passionate nature. He finds her alluring and terrifying: he's convinced she's his mate, but is she also the Usher--key to their culture's most sacred prophecies?
The Usher's destiny requires a sacrifice to repair a rift in wolf culture and set the Goddess free. Can Jack and Bianca trust each other enough to pay that price?
All About Heroes
by Vanessa North
by Vanessa North
Thank you for having me here today Nickle! Since you've given me the floor today, I thought maybe I'd talk a bit about the reason I read--and write--romances. I confess: It's the heroes.
I'm a picky lady when it comes to my heroes. I want them to be strong, certainly, but not "spends all day at the gym" strong--that seems just a little self-absorbed. Though, if they came by it by pure genetics, say, by being a werewolf? That's okay then. I look for a sense of right and wrong, and I confess, if they've had that sense tested a time or two and have a few scars from it? I like that even more. I want them to be gentlemen--to be nice to strangers, children, animals. I want them to open the door for their heroines--not because she's a woman, but because she's a fellow human being (or werewolf, if the shoe fits). I don't hold them to an unreasonable standard of alpha-dom--I want them to experience strong emotions and to act on them.
I just want what everyone wants: a man who makes me swoon.
Jack Murphy, the hero from Amazon, really plays a sort of supporting role to the heroine, Bianca. The give and take in their relationship depended upon him being strong enough to appeal to her wolf while still being able to withstand the changes she'd bring to his life. He's not perfect: he probably throws the f-bomb more than he should, and he definitely doesn't like being teased, but in spite of it all, he's my gentleman werewolf.
I hope you enjoy Jack, his lovely mate, Bianca, and their story!
Thank you for sharing your story Vanessa, it's a pleasure to have you in my blog. ^_^
About Vanessa North
Vanessa has a voracious appetite for books and loves all kinds. She writes obsessively: every day brings new ideas and stories to tell. When she's not buried in a book—hers or someone else's—you can find her taking thousands of photographs of the people she loves.
She lives in Northwest Georgia with her handsome husband, not-quite-civilized twin boy-children, and a pack of dogs.


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A newly opened restaurant employed half-n*ked women to draw customers' attention.
A hot-pot restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan, recently got a lot of attention online after photos of young bikini-clad waitresses serving and interacting with customers went viral.
The hot-pot restaurant business in Taiwan and mainland China is very competitive, and it's very hard for newcomers to get an edge by relying solely on the quality of the food and impeccable service.
Their strategy worked better than they expected, as just a couple of days after the event, photos and videos of the beautiful waitresses went viral online, with thousands of people weighing in on the unusual sight.
Thanks to social media, photos of the attractive waitresses soon reached international audiences and got mostly positive feedback.
"I haven't been to Taiwan. I think it's about time I go on an adventure," one Facebook user wrote.
And while this was just a one-time promotional event, one hot-pot restaurant Haikou City, China, did adopt a mandatory bikini dress code for its staff and got shot down for it last year.
Local authorities said that the approach was in "low taste" and went against Chinese socialist values.


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Stolen car investigation leads to drug bust
While following up on a stolen car investigation, Lawrence police arrested a man at the Jayhawk Motel in north Lawrence. Police say the man was wanted on a warrant from Coffey County.
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My books are available from MuseItUp Publishing, Amazon, Goodreads, and many other e-book retailers.
It's the Little Things You Miss
Raymond Jaye figured fourteen years as a cop prepared him for anything he could encounter as a private eye. He was wrong.
Eric Tanner was missing. That much was true. But was he really in danger, or just nuts?
Erica Tanner, Eric's headstrong twin sister, begins her search by hiring some help. All Ray has to do is watch her back while she follows Eric's trail of cryptic notes all over town. A trail that crosses paths with a killer.
Is Eric imagining things, or is he hiding because he saw the murder?
Once the gunfire starts, Ray falls back to what he knows and sets off to get one step ahead of a desperate man.
He should have tried for two.
Being one step ahead is the perfect position for a knife in the back.
Til Death - For some, the words are not so much a vow as an exit strategy.
Following an injury that forced him to leave his job as a police detective in Detroit, Raymond Jaye went freelance. As a newly licensed private investigator in Salt Lake City, Utah, Ray assumed he'd be tracking down frauds and con artists, not murderers. He was wrong.
Barbara Manetti admitted to her husband that she'd been having an affair, and named Ray as her lover. Three hours later, she's found sprawled on her kitchen floor in a pool of blood from a knife wound on her neck. Murder is a job for the police, but tracking down her real lover is something a PI could do without stepping on any official toes. That is, until the investigation ties her to Ray's life back in Detroit.
Ray begins to see her plan, and it raises two questions. Why would a woman he'd never known want to see him dead? And who knows Ray well enough to kill for him?
In this, the second of the Raymond Jaye stories, Ray finds himself up to his collar in suspects, while the only person that really knew what was supposed to happen lies on a cold, steel slab.
Cue the Sax
Soon-to-be private investigator Raymond Jaye has a couple of problems. One is a sopping wet blonde who just beat on his door then collapsed into his arms trying to pass him a message. The other is that he has no idea who she is or why she thought his carpet would be a good place to pass out.
Guided by the experience of fourteen years as a Detroit cop and the attitude of the Old Time Radio detectives, he follows the meager trail of clues she left behind. Along the way, he swaps wisecracks with a surly local cop and trades punches with a pair of thugs before ending up face to face with the man behind it all. A man willing to kill to keep his secrets.
If Ray can get through the next twenty-four hours, he just might be able to open for business. In the meantime, the show is about to begin. Cue the Sax.
This story, like everything featuring Ray, is done in the sort of hard boiled sort of campy style of the Old Time Radio program, The Adventures of Sam Spade. That's not to say that this is a clone of those, merely that the humor from that style of program is used as much as the darker aspects.
Ray was raised on those old shows, and as I explained in a blog post at the start of 2012, owes much of his fictional existence to them as well. They shaped who he is as a man, and a character.
This is the introductory story in what I hope will be a long run of longer stories, ranging from short ones, like this, to full novels. Many will be novella length. I plan to run them from classic detective style tales to classic whodunit cozies, with a blend of the two being more standard.
I hope you like it and feel free to let me know.