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If you are a Libertarian and you have not read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, you need to stop what you are doing right now and get a copy of this prophetic book.
For all of you Libertarians who have read Atlas Shrugged, you need to go to Amazon right now and order a copy of Atlas Snubbed by Ken V. Krawchuk. Here is my review of this sequel to Atlas Shrugged;For those who are not Libertarian, whether you be Republican, Democrat, Indepent or of no political interest at all, if you ever want to really understand the philosophical nuances of our political system, you need to have read these two books.When I speak of Ayn Rands Atlas Shrugged, I usually refer first to the political and philosophical lessons to be learned from it, with the fact that it is also an entertaining book as a secondary thought. I must say that Mr. Krawchuks Atlas Snubbed is foremost an enjoyably entertaining read, which also gives us much to think about pertaining to politics and philosophy. Bravo, Mr. Krawchuk!
Had Ms. Rands original lessons been heeded, her words would not have become prophetic, as they have for today. Mr. Krawchuk gives us pause to think about ways to deal with possible conclusions to Ms. Rands story. Having read Atlas Snubbed, I now prefer to want to work toward Societys according to the desires of the individual.
Mr. Krawchuk effectively channels Ms. Rands style of story telling so well that one can begin reading Atlas Snubbed immediately after finishing Alas Shrugged as comfortably as if going from one chapter to the next of any well written novel. While the paradigm shift in philosophy will soon be noticed, the respectful adherence to the basic writing style of Ayn Rand prevents any uncomfortable feel that plagues so many sequels. Along with Ayn Rands style of writing, I also detect more then a few nods to Stephen Kings The Stand, adding to my personal enjoyment.
I appreciate that Atlas Snubbed is a book that I can safely recommend to anyone without having to first think about if it is going to be offensive to some due to language or detail. Atlas Snubbed, even the unabridged version that I was fortunate enough to read, moved at a pace that was just enough faster then Ms. Rands original to enhance my reading pleasure enough to match the changes in social times since Ms. Rands origins of the story line.
All in all, Atlas Snubbed is a fun, entertaining and thought provoking novel that would do well on everyones reading list.
That's all. I don't expect any responces until you've read these books...


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THIBODAUX - On a hot, clear morning, Keri Turner was about to settle into the house of her dreams.
Turner, who teaches English at Nicholls State University, wove her way through a crowd of friends and relatives carrying ice chests and grocery bags full of goodies, making the final preparations for a housewarming party on the bayou.
Turner launched her homemade houseboat, the Katy Lucy, on its maiden voyage Friday down Bayou Lafourche. It's the name Turner's mother used to call her, when she was behaving.
"I'm so happy," she said, pausing to embrace a neighbor. "I think I'm going to cry."
Turner's inspiration for creating the houseboat started simply - she wanted a camp.
"All the ones I could afford weren't ones I would want," she said. "And I decided I didn't want to have to fight coastal erosion."
So what better way to deal with water, Turner figured, than to get a houseboat?
"I didn't see any houseboats I liked," she said nonchalantly. "So I decided to build my own."
The project started with a plain, flat barge, 55 by 22 feet. Over two years, Turner constructed a 680-square-foot wooden house on the floating foundation, from the water floor up.
Built from whatever wood Turner could get her hands on, the house has a fully functioning kitchen with a pantry full of pots, pans, and cooking supplies. There's a living room with a small TV and a wood-burning stove, a bathroom and a bedroom sporting a master bed and a pair of bunk beds.
"It's got all the comforts of a house," Turner said. "But I just love the motion of the water."Read more at http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20110617/ARTICLES/110619421/-1/living?Title=Nicholls-professor-builds-houseboat-from-scratch&tc=ar
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subset: commoncrawl


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MDOP Information Experience
The Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) is a portfolio of technologies available as a subscription for Software Assurance customers. MDOP helps to improve compatibility and management, reduce support costs, improve asset management, and improve policy control.
The MDOP Information Experience provides product documentation, videos, blogs, and other resources to help users implement and optimize their experience with the MDOP technologies. You can learn about updates and events by following us on Facebook or Twitter.
MDOP Documentation Links
The following table provides links to the product documentation for the MDOP products by version.
Supplemental MDOP Product Guidance
In addition to the product documentation available online, supplemental product guidance such as informational videos and virtual labs are available for most MDOP products.
MDOP Videos
For a list of available MDOP videos, go to Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack Technologies Videos (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=234275).
MDOP Virtual Labs
For a list of available MDOP virtual labs, go to Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP) Virtual Labs (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=234276).
MDOP TechCenter
For technical whitepapers, evaluation materials, blogs, and additional MDOP resources, go to MDOP TechCenter (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=225286)
MDOP Forums
Join in the MDOP community where you can ask and answer questions at the MDOP TechNet Forum (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=286973).
How to Get MDOP
MDOP is a suite of products that can help streamline desktop deployment, management, and support across the enterprise. MDOP is available as an additional subscription for Software Assurance customers.
Evaluate MDOP
MDOP is also available for test and evaluation to MSDN and TechNet subscribers in accordance with MDSN and TechNet agreements.
Download MDOP
MDOP subscribers can download the software at the Microsoft Volume Licensing website (MVLS).
Purchase MDOP
Visit the enterprise Purchase Windows Enterprise Licensing website to find out how to purchase MDOP for your business.


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Just wanted to open up a discussion about this film- the steadicam work in this film is just so well executed, and the blocking in these scenes is amazing. If Simon Baker is on these forums, I would love to hear from him about the experience of shooting these.
On the whole, every shot in this film was gorgeous- I wonder why Roman Osin and Joe Wright didn't continue to work together more. I think Pride and Prejudice is probably Joe's best film, and best looking one.


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They've been playing for just over a year, but Matty Jameson, Mark Anderson and Dave Moore only recently settled on a name — one that describes how they feel when they're together on stage.
"These are The Legendary Goodtimes," said Matty Jameson, guitarist and lead vocalist.
Anderson plays drums and Dave Moore the bass. The trio describes its sound as a mix of classic rock, modern rock, blues and country.
"We're straight-up rock 'n' roll with an old soul," said Jameson.
For The Legendary Goodtimes, creating all original music together has seemed easier than finding a name. They used to be called InBetween, but found a group had already laid claim to the name when they went to license their songs.
"We spent two weeks at every practice throwing out horrible ideas, and every time we had a good one, we would look it up and it would be taken," said Jameson. "At one point we wanted to be called Everything's Taken — but it was already taken."
Band members say their biggest influences have been Tool and Sound Garden, with a little hip hop and Middle Eastern thrown in. Their sound has a '90s rock feel with a '70s edge.
The trio will play at 9 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at Club 66, 1951 Ashland St. Cover is $5. The Legendary Goodtimes last played a show at Club 66 on Feb. 16, when they were still called InBetween.
"That was probably my favorite show," said Anderson.
The all-ages show allowed the band to play for kids, too, including Jameson's young children, who joined the band on the stage and danced.
"We've been really trying to incorporate the all-ages audience and get kids interested in music," Jameson said. "There's pictures on our website of that show with the kids dancing on stage and all of us have huge smiles on our faces."
For the Tidings Cafe, The Legendary Goodtimes performed an original tune called "Restless Soul" in their practice space at Jameson's house in Medford. To see the video, go to www.dailytidings.com/TidingsCafe.
Dedicated musicians, Jameson, Anderson and Moore have all been playing instruments for more than 20 years.
"I'm just a constant student," Moore said. "I pick up new instruments and try to learn new styles. I'm never satisfied with what I know."
The Legendary Goodtimes has one self-titled album recorded by Mark T. Johnson with Bluejay Productions.
"We totally went analog and recorded on 1-inch tape for a nice, warm, low-end sound," said Jameson. "It's really tough, but also the most rewarding way because you get a sense of what we sound like live."
The trio recorded everything on tape except for the vocals.
"Everything you hear on the radio today is really compressed and squished down — the sound is totally different," said Moore.
The group would like to record a new album every year and build up its name as a regional ensemble.
"The days of bands getting record contracts and touring the world is only for a very select few these days," said Moore. "We all have pretty stable lives here in the valley. This is what we do for fun."
Although The Legendary Goodtimes would like to tour regionally, they also hope to acquire a short bus to use for travel up and down the West Coast, with beds and a stage on top for impromptu performances.
"We're just getting music out there because we know what music does for us and we want to share that with people," said Anderson.
Reach Mandy Valencia at email@example.com.


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The new concept operating system is a joint project by ETH Zurich and Microsoft Research, Cambridge. The team argues that "the challenge of future multicore hardware is best met by embracing the networked nature of the machine, rethinking OS architecture using ideas from distributed systems." "We investigate a new OS structure, the multikernel, that treats the machine as a network of independent cores, assumes no inter-core sharing at the lowest level, and moves traditional OS functionality to a distributed system of processes that communicate via message-passing," they write in their article "The Multikernel: A new OS architecture for scalable multicore systems".
They didn't just investigate the concept, they also implemented it to show that it can work. They call their multikernel implementation 'Barrelfish', and according to them, it shows promising performance figures compared to other, more conventional operating systems. On top of that, the multikernel concept should be more scalable and adaptable for the future.
The team believes that challenges faced by traditional ccNUMA and SMP high performance computing machines are not the same as the challenges a general purpose operating system will face in the future. They argue that single computers increasingly resemble networked systems, "and should be programmed as such".
This resulted in the multikernel model. "In a nutshell, we structure the OS as a distributed system of cores that communicate using messages and share no memory," they write. It's based on three principles:
- Make all inter-core communication explicit.
- Make OS structure hardware-neutral.
- View state as replicated instead of shared.
"These principles allow the OS to benefit from the distributed systems approach to gain improved performance, natural support for hardware heterogeneity, greater modularity, and the ability to reuse algorithms developed for distributed systems," they claim.
The article goes into quite some detail about the motivations, implementation, and performance figures, but a lot of that simply goes way over my head, so I'll let the more educated people on this subject take over from here (lovely to have a reader base filled with people who actually understand stuff like this). It all sounds very intriguing and interesting to me, in any case.
The team has published their first snapshot release, licensed under a BSD-like license.


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WASHINGTON — Newtown activists on Thursday helped introduce the first gun safety bill in this Congress, officially kicking off the gun control debate on Capitol Hill.
The bill would ban large capacity ammunition clips for everyone but military members and law enforcement officers. It was introduced by Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District, in the House and Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., in the Senate.
The bill's proponents characterized the legislation as a needed safety measure, like seat belts or airbags, that would save lives, not only those threatened by a mass murderer, but also police who are often outgunned by criminals.
"This year is the first year in U.S. history...


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Mpofu Nature Reserve
The nursery where there is almost anything you might need. Safari Garden Centre hosts many garden shows and aims to please the customer.
There is a tea garden / Restaurant perfect for weddings, corporate meals, or just a lovely dining out. The play area for children is home to a variety of small farm animals and is in a secure environment with a sand pit and jungle gym. Entrance to the play area is free. Pony rides are often available at the kiosk for the younger ones.


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In Tuesday�s story on speed limits increasing to 70 mph on many Illinois interstate highways, it was reported that Sen. Jim Oberweis challenged IDOT�s decision to retain the 65 mph limit on I-55 around Springfield. He stated that drivers currently are traveling at 70 to 75 mph on this stretch.
No doubt true, as drivers are going to go as much over the speed limit as they can without getting a ticket. And their experience may very well be that going 10 percent or so beyond the limit usually is not going to result in a ticket.
His argument seems to be that when the new limits are in effect north and south of Springfield, drivers going 70 to 75 mph around Springfield will present a safety hazard to other drivers, apparently in the belief that the other drivers will not slow down and maintain their speed, presumably at 75 to 80 mph.
This argument seems to assume that the state police will not enforce the lower limit around Springfield, which I doubt will be the case.
There is good reason to keep that stretch of highway at a lower limit than those north or south of Springfield, as cited in the IDOT study (more traffic volume, fewer lanes of travel, more entering and exiting with sometimes short ramps, etc.)
Bottom line: leave the limit on that stretch at 65 mph.


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Good deals for a good night's sleep
Getting a good night's rest doesn't have to cost a fortune. Consumer Reports' most comprehensive test of mattresses found models that performed well and cost under $1,000.
Consumer Reports tested 12 models from Ikea, Sealy, Serta, Simmons, Stearns & Foster and Tempur-Pedic, plus Costco's Novaform brand. Simmons' performance varied the most in this test. The manufacturer's Beautyrest Glover Park Firm Pillowtop (sold at Sears), a CR Best Buy at $780, topped the Ratings of conventional, innerspring mattresses, while its ComforPedic Loft Crestwood Luxury Plush, $1,920, earned the lowest score.
Overall, foam models fared a bit worse than innerspring mattresses. The recommended Tempur-Pedic Tempur-Simplicity, $1,200, earned the highest scores. But Sleep Innovations Novafoam Memory Foam Collection Serafina (Costco), a CR Best Buy at $900, virtually tied the Tempur-Pedic – and for $300 less.
When it comes to mattress shopping, roughly 40 percent of surveyed subscribers said they had buyer's remorse.
Consumer Reports' latest tests confirm that more coils, fancier fabrics and frills found on pricier models don't guarantee a better mattress. And the best mattress isn't always necessarily the firmest, even for those who suffer from back pain.
• Try before buying. Don't rely on softness or firmness claims – nearly half the mattresses tested were softer than promised. Gauge comfort by lying on the mattress. Spend at least 10 minutes on each side, back and stomach – depending on typical sleep position.
• Win the name game. Mattress makers offer some lines nationally. Those available at major retailers like Macy's, Sears and Sleepy's are typically exclusive to those chains. And because retailers often change model names, it's hard to compare models store to store, so use Consumer Reports' ratings as a guide.
• Consider the winter months. Using a temperature-controller chamber, the tests found three innerspring and three memory foam mattresses that were better at retaining body heat, which should help keep users warm when the weather turns cold without feeling clammy when it's hot.
• Keep an old box spring if possible. Replacing the box spring that goes beneath a mattress can cost anywhere from $150 to more than $300. For those swapping out an innerspring mattress for a new one, keep the box spring if it is not sagging or damaged. If switching to memory foam, a solid platform may be necessary to provide enough support. But for both foam and innerspring mattresses, some brands require consumers to purchase their box spring to receive the full warranty.
• Don't forget to haggle. Most mattresses have huge markups that allow retailers to run frequent "sales" of up to 50 percent off. But don't wait for a promotion to save – one-third of Consumer Reports' subscribers who haggled slashed $150 or more off the price.
People typically keep their mattresses roughly 10 years before replacing them. Consumer Reports recommends tossing any mattress that shows sags or lumps. For a mattress that looks serviceable but causes discomfort, try these quick fixes before buying a new one.
• Flip or rotate it. Many older, conventional innerspring mattresses can often be flipped and rotated. But models with an obvious top layer can be rotated only, not flipped. And those with different firmness levels for each sleep partner, including some memory foam, can't be flipped or rotated.
• Check the pillow. A firmer or softer one may be what it takes to nod off. Evaluate the firmness of pillows by putting them on a flat surface and compressing them to about half of their original thickness; the more pressure needed, the firmer the pillow.
• Top it off. A mattress topper can improve a too-hard bed. Consumer Reports' tests have found that paying more for foam- and feather-filled toppers didn't guarantee more comfort.


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It's a safe bet that most conservative Republicans would rush to support a political leader with the following record, especially in a traditionally Democratic state:
-- Reversed a $2.2 billion deficit and brought it into balance without raising taxes, largely by reduced spending and eliminating wasteful and unaffordable programs, allowing for a projected fiscal 2014 budget surplus of $300 million.
-- Bipartisan pension and benefits reforms, saving the state $120 billion over 30 years.
-- Streamlining government by eliminating 5,200 government jobs.
-- Vetoing tax increase bills three times while cutting taxes for job creators.
-- Reforming the...


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Life Sciences Pharmaceutical Services
SGS has been a world leader in pharmaceutical outsourcing for decades, partnering with companies of all sizes, including the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world.
There is no better partner for high-quality analytical laboratory testing, clinical research and independent audit and certification services.
Our services use cutting-edge technology and highly qualified and experienced staff who stay abreast of the most recent developments in their field. Our aim is to provide a comprehensive package that is able to support clients 'from molecule to market', through research, clinical trials, product development, quality control testing, manufacture and supply. In addition, we provide robust pharma audit solutions for clients who are looking for advice on how to improve their processes, technology, or methodology. As a customer-driven company, our services are flexible enough to be used for a complete drug development outsourcing package or, as just stand-alone services.
Importantly, our services meet regulatory standards – both international and local – so you can be sure that yor product will progress towards market as quickly as possible, overcoming regulatory, quality, safety and efficacy hurdles.
Our experts are on hand to discuss how their services might be of use to let you stay ahead in your business. No matter whether we provide a complete package of pharmaceutical services or we provide support during periods of heavy activity, you can be sure to receive the same high levels of quality and integrity that we provide to all clients.


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Mike Kirsh and Mike Wise, of the rock band the Midway State, said that their new album, Paris or India, was a chance for the band to work together without any outside influences.
"There were a lot more external pressures on the first one," Kirsh said.
"The four of us were way more involved [on the new album], instead of leaving it up to our management," Wise added.
Kirsh and Wise, who make up the Jewish half of the Midway State, have been friends since they were students at Thornhill Secondary School. Lead singer and songwriter Nathan Ferraro and drummer Daenen Branberger, both from Collingwood, Ont., originally formed the band with two other musicians who were fired. Wise and Kirsh joined in 2006, and they said that they each of them brings a different skill sets to the band.
Bassist Kirsh controls the finances of the band, and guitarist Wise is in charge of promotion. Kirsh said that taking control of more aspects of the band made this album a better experience for them than their first one, Holes, which was released in 2008.
"We're doing exactly what we want to do as a group now, instead of doing what other people want us to do," Wise said.
Kirsh added, "After the first record we made sure we were in charge of every aspect of our career."
They both had advice for aspiring musicians. Wise said it's important to have a backup career plan but not focus too much on it. Wise added that if you're too focused on a backup plan, you lose focus from your real dream.
"You also need to be punctual," Wise said. "That's what my zaide always told me."
Kirsh added, "You need to focus on getting really good at your craft before you present your stuff."
Wise said that being Jewish doesn't really affect their music, but being in the band does make them miss a lot of Jewish holidays. Kirsh said there's a common pressure in many Canadian Jewish households to be something more stable than a musician but that their families had been very supportive.
"Music is a big part of the Jewish community I grew up in," Wise said.
He added that he knows a lot of Jewish musicians, especially from Thornhill. When Wise went on Birthright about five years ago, there were so many musicians in his group, including Dan Kanter, who is Justin Bieber's guitarist, that the trip's leaders booked a venue that they could perform in.
Wise and Kirsh said the band gets along well, and there haven't been any major fights. Kirsh attributes this to their relaxed attitude toward problems.
"Sure there's tensions, since we're four artistic beings, but there's also a lot of group instinct going on," Kirsh said.
Wise added, "We see it as like being in a relationship."
Even when they were playing small shows with their band in high school, Wise and Kirsh, who are now both 26, said they always knew they would be successful. Their songs have since been in television shows such as The O.C., and they have opened for Third Eye Blind, Death Cab for Cutie and K-OS. They were nominated for two Juno Awards and won a Much Music Video Award for Best New Artist in 2011. They did a duet with Lady Gaga, which was never commercially released but they said that it was fun to work with her.
During high school, Kirsh said they would make about $40 for a show, but they still knew that music would be how they would make their living.
"We always wanted to do this, and we always envisioned making it," Kirsh said.
When asked what they would be doing if they weren't in a band, they both had difficulty answering since they agreed that music was all they ever wanted. They said that they would try to answer for each other.
"Kirsh would be doing something cool, like running a scuba-diving school," Wise said.
"And he'd probably go to law school and become a very confused lawyer," Kirsh said, about Wise.
Their goals for the future are to keep playing and improving as musicians. They also want to continue to tour, and said they would love to play in Israel. They said they would like to have their songs in more shows and in movies. But, for now, they said they hope the band keeps doing as well as it currently is.
"If I could keep playing and have food on the table, it's hard to imagine ever doing something else," Kirsh said.
"If we stay on the trajectory we're on, we should be able to do that," Wise added.
Paris or India, released on July 19, has a different sound than their previous album, Wise said. The title track, Paris or India, written by Ferraro, is about choosing between two exotic and very different locations. He said the song is about a time in everyone's life when you have to make real adult decisions about the direction your life will take.
The album offers 10 tracks, and all of them show unique musical styles. Heart of Glass is a slow, romantic ballad, while Atlantic is a more upbeat melody and is a lot catchier. Other songs include All Anew, a more rhythmic track that's almost hyperactive it its pace. Change For You has a mournful-sounding chorus, but the verses have a bit more of a positive feel and are the type of lyrics that can get stuck in anyone's head for days.
Wise said that what the band learned from the first album made the second even better. "It's more eclectic than the first one and a little more linear," he said. "On this record every song is way more singular and unique.
Kirsh added, "We made a point to make a more upbeat album this time."
The Midway State will be touring around Canada in the fall. For more information, go to themidwaystate.blogspot.com or follow them on Facebook or Twitter at www.facebook.com/themidwaystate or @themidwaystate.


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Missoula Police to Auction Off Abandoned Cars on October 10 [AUDIO]
Whenever a vehicle is abandoned inside the city limits, Missoula police place it in their impound lot, and every few months these vehicles are sold at auction.
Annie Nordby, Abandoned Vehicle Coordinator at the Missoula Police Department said her office gets calls from citizens who see abandoned vehicles throughout the city.
"They report that a vehicle has been parked in their neighborhood, so we go out and check to make sure it's not stolen," Nordby said. "We'll put a five-day notice sticker on the vehicle with a copy of the city ordinances and contact information. If the vehicle is not moved, then we go ahead and have them towed. We send out a certified letter to the owner, and if they do not reclaim the vehicle, it is sold at auction, as required by law."
Nordby provides details about the vehicle auction.
"It'll be at the Pro-Towing lot located at 1922 South 3rd West, between the Council Grove Apartments and the Coca-Cola plant," Nordby said. "The auction will start at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 10, but folks can come inside the fence at 10 a.m. to inspect the vehicles before the auction starts."


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Impress your loved one a way they can't forget. This template is perfect for Valentine's Day, but you can also use it for weddings and another photo/video display.
A simple yet clean design gives all love and affection.
Update photos/texts in just few minutes and send your "Video-Card" to your beloved one over Facebook, email, DVD etc. Enjoy a Sweet Valentine's day !
This presentation is based on the awesome/irresistible track make by Tim McMorris – 'Make it last' at AudioJungle and you can buy it there.
It now has lyrics as text but you can replace as you want it. It has 16 placeholders for photographs.
Main features:
Music used in the preview is not included.
(buy it here : Make it last)
If you want use another music, you can do it but it should have matching beat.
free font used (link to download font is available in help file.)
font name : Bangle Normal
HD native resolution (1280×720), 25fps.
CS4 project.
Duration : 3 min
No Options included but any customizable is highly welcomed.
Video Tutorial Included. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbZGpva2jP0
Thank you and please forgive if there are minor mistakes. This is my beginning in video hive. I will promptly help you in any way i can. This is a start with inspiration from InlifeThrill, Balistique,sachinjoshi, and Tim McMorris
Thanks again.


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Women's Coats & Jackets
Trenches, car coats and Harrington jackets remastered with archive details.
The settings have now been applied. {0} items found
The settings have now been cleared
Sort by price
Heritage Trench Coats
Our made-in-England icon reimagined in three fits, two lengths and a timeless palette. Inspired by the archive, updated with modern details.


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Are we all lazy slobs who can't handle sexuality? That's apparently what the movie Noobz thinks about us.
If its biggest star is Casper Van Dien we have nothing to worry about.
I think you might be blowing this out of proportion...just a tad. It looks like your typical teen/coming-of-age comedy with all the endemic Hollywood caricatures and stereotypes. I don't see anything from this preview that casts gaming in a particularly bad light – any more so than your typical flawed, Hollywood protagonist – though as Bitmob and GamesBeat have slavishly documented, online and competitive gaming has made great strides to earn many of these stereotypes – be it the rampant sexism, homophobia, racism, or general immaturity.


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Allie Sorlie began her year as an AmeriCorps Vista volunteer at the University of Alabama's Museum of Natural History in August. As the museum's first AmeriCorps volunteer, Sorlie has added a "whole new layer of what we've been able to do," said Amanda Espy-Brown, the museum's education and outreach coordinator.
TUSCALOOSA | It was the perfect fit, combining her love of social science and museum work with her education background. Allie Sorlie could not imagine a more perfect placement.
The 26-year-old Niceville, Fla., resident began her year as an AmeriCorps Vista volunteer at the University of Alabama's Museum of Natural History in August. As the museum's first AmeriCorps volunteer, Sorlie has added a "whole new layer of what we've been able to do," said Amanda Espy-Brown, the museum's education and outreach coordinator.
"Our mission is to be a resource for the community, but a lot of people don't know that," she said.
That is where AmeriCorps Vista stepped in to help. A national service program designed to fight poverty, Vista volunteers commit to serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization or a local government agency. They volunteer in multiple areas, such as working to fight illiteracy, improving health services, creating businesses and strengthening community groups. In return, volunteers receive a small monthly stipend, health care benefits, as well as a small monetary award once the year is complete to be used for furthering education or to pay off student loans.
Sorlie learned of the program while in high school, and was intrigued by the idea of giving back to her country. She knew she wanted to do something similar after college — "it was either this or Peace Corps," she said.
Working as an education specialist at the museum, her focus has been on outreach and making community connections, particularly with the schools throughout Tuscaloosa and the Black Belt region. She has met with school administrators and teachers to explain the different programs the museum offers, created teacher guides for the classroom, started a museum club for students interested in pursuing a museum career and focused on building a volunteer base for the museum.
"She is finding out how we can serve teachers and students better and how we can match our programs to meet those needs," Espy-Brown said. "It's a been a great fit. She's really been able to fill in the some of the gaps and do things we've wanted to do, but haven't had the resources or available staff to do them."
With a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Central Florida, Sorlie has been able to relate more to the teachers, the challenges they face and what will help them in the classroom. But it has been a learning experience, as well. She was trained under Florida state standards, so Sorlie has had to learn Alabama's education standards. She also had a crash course in high school education.
While most of her time has been spent with administrators and teachers, she has had a little bit of student interaction and that has been one of her more memorable experiences with the program.
"I have really loved getting to meet the school administrators and staff, visiting schools in areas I've never been to and learning how to adapt," she said. "I also love watching the students react during programs. Their faces just light up when the see a fossil for the first time."
When Sorlie's year is complete, there is a possibility she could renew for another year or two, but that is also dependent on available federal money for the program, Espy-Brown said. If it was up to Espy-Brown, she would keep an AmeriCorps volunteer for the rest of the museum's existence.
"We're trying to reach out to the community. We've been in this building for more than 100 years, and we're an older museum, so we have to engage visitors in a different way," she said. "Alabama has a lot of unique natural history, and our main goal is to help people realize that. Allie has not only helped develop resources, she has engaged people once they are here. She has brought a fresh perspective and a creative approach."
For Sorlie, the program has given her a chance to experience new things, help people and provide a boost to her future career.
"AmeriCorps is more than what I thought it would be. I had no idea it would be so impactful," she said. "It's so far-reaching and helps so many different people in so many different ways."
Reach Kim Eaton at email@example.com or 205-722-0209.


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05 July 2010|
Owner: Brian Tilson
Location: Hurricane, WV
Vehicle: 2008 Scion XD
PASNATION Username: B1GP1MP1N
Car Club Affiliation: Scikotics
How long have you been tuning cars?
My oldest brother was always into cars and always in the garage. He passed away when I was only eleven years old and to this day I think his influence is what has kept me interested and passionate about custom cars.
What was your first car?
My first car was actually the car my oldest brother worked on in my family's garage. Once he passed away and I was old enough to drive I drove his car. It was a 59 Chevy.
"All Show", "All Go" or both?
All Show! At 135+HP it's just fast enough to get out of the way. I'd like to improve this in the future, as
I keep an eye out for reputable parts, products and companies making performance parts for the Scion xD.
Owner: Carl & Lynda Spivey | Location: Wilmington, NC | Vehicle: 1992 Ford Thunderbird
Any Shout-outs?
Well my good buddy John Goff did some photography of my Scion on very short notice. He helped me out and without some of his nice pics i'd have had nothing to submit as a reader ride this month. Thanks man... i owe ya one!
What events have you attended?
I've entered multiple car shows and stereo competitions ranging from New Jersey, Indianapolis, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, to my home state of North Carolina, and most notably on display at SEMA 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada
Any upcoming car audio upgrades?
I think it's time to bring the audio system up to date; it's been in there since 2003. so it's at least time for a new head unit and maybe a few more new items.
Any upcoming exterior?
upgrades? I'm planning to upgrade to 22's in the back for more "tuckage," I think that is a word? Also might do a black and white tattoo mural of a real life mermaid on the center of the hood. It should go well with the aquarium/underwater theme we have going on the inside and in the trunk.
Any Shout-outs?
I would like to give thanks to my wife Lynda, our sons William and Carlton, Jeff Cayton, Brandon Poirer, Daniel Krepps, Shane Clements, and all our friends and family who have helped and supported us on this 16 year endeavor.
Owner: Charlie Lewis
Location: McMinnville, OR
Vehicle: 2003 Dodge Neon
PASNATION Username: Chasillac
Car Club Affiliation: Team Excessive Speedz
What upgrades have you made to your car? The biggest task was sourcing and swapping my engine parts with upgraded SRT-4 and PT Cruiser turbo upgrades. All engine parts and transmission are swapped. Plus I've done a Dodge SRT-4 suspension and brake conversion. The whole car was converted into the SRT-4 model.
What events have you ATTENDED?
When I started going to car shows and winning 1st and 2nd place trophies, i was hooked. My very first car show attended was at Extreme AutoFest, where I took home the best domestic 1st place trophy. Since then, I have won this trophy 4 years in a row. I have placed at car shows like 2nd place Domestic at Tuner Bash After Dark, Best Domestic at Battle Of the Imports and I always take trophies at local shows too. Also won Best of show at 6 events so far. This Dodge Neon is the first show car project I have ever built. Not Bad for a domestic car competing against ore popular imports. I have won a total of 45 trophies over the past 5 Years.
Any Shout-outs?
Special thanks to god for everything. To my wife for being there for me and helping support my hobby. All of my family and friends for being there to help with this project. My car club Xcessive Speedz. Mick Forlines photography, my dad for the great paint work, Mick's customs and Kaos Kustoms.
Owner: Erich Breitkreutz
Location: Seattle, WA
Vehicle: 2004 Subaru WRX
Car Club Affiliation: Project One
Tell us about your car club...
I'm a proud member of Project One. Our car club website is at www.prjct1.com The club is a collection of car show enthusiasts. While all members all have varying interests within automotive culture, we all come together to promote our creations at car shows and other events together as a team.
What events have you attended?
In the past few years, I've shown my car at Hot Import Nights, Battle of the Imports, Driven to Perform, Sport Compact Nights, Import Motion, Global Import Car Show, Bond of Bellevue and Show for a Cause – in short, most of the events that have taken place in the Northwest (Washington, Oregon and BC area) in the past 4-5 years.
Any Shout-outs?
Russell, Tex, Armin and The Foth for being there to discuss, support, dissuade and generally just feed the auto addiction! My parents for providing support and not forcing me to spend money on other things, Mike at Memphis Car Audio, Todd and Ryan at Audio Integrations for providing the final piece of my build, Jessica for being there nearly every step of the way, from purchase to today. Everyone else that's helped me along the way... many thanks.