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Warning: Spoiler Alert
Okay, last week's episode of Once Upon A Time had a ton of plot movement with maybe not a lot of character development. Tonight's opening sequence suggests a more in-depth look at Rumpel and Belle, as well as the Robin Hood/Marian/Regina issue. As I was doing my notes for this piece, I distinctly wrote "Oh, please, please let this episode be steeped in some tortured love."
OUAT, you've never let me down.
We begin with Robin, Marian, and Roland idly strolling along Storybrooke's charming streets. The darling family stops in to the local ice cream parlor for a treat. But, when the local ice creamery's run by an evil Snow Queen that no one seems to recognize, someone's gonna get cursed. Not that I'm complaining about plot, but why does anyone from the Enchanted Forest still eat dessert? Between Regina's apples and the Blind Witch's gingerbread house, it seems like sugar comes with more of a risk than just some hyperglycemia.
The trio heads over to City Hall, where Mayor Mary Margaret's holding a fireside chat, hoping to foster a sense of trust between the mayor's office and the citizens of Storybrooke. A new mayor in a still-unfamiliar world with a newborn baby in tow hosting her fist civic event? Not even Snow White's blinding optimism and faith in her fellow-man can get this to go smoothly, especially when Leroy and Granny begin the rabble-rousing the minute someone breathes a words about that pesky ice wall surrounding the town. Things look to be getting hairy, and fast, but Marian collapses in a perfectly timed fairytale swoon. Technically, Marian fainting is directly related to the ice wall problem, but it's enough of a distraction to swiftly end the meeting.
Across town, Regina is meeting up with Henry at Granny's. It's nice to see her out of the house, isn't it? She confesses to Henry that she wants to know more about his Once Upon A Time book, because she's written as a villain in it, and she doesn't want to be a villain anymore. Regina, girl, the truth will set you free. Henry thinks her plan is absolutely brilliant, and the two begin to discuss their plan. Henry's growing up, and Operation Cobra is officially over. It's time for a new mission, with his other mama. Operation Mongoose. (And, I'm crying for the first time so far this episode. That. Didn't. Take. Long.)
Of course, Robin rushes in with news of Marian's plight. Regina, being the woman of steel that she is, vows to help her in any way that she can. Upon examining Marian, however, she realizes she can't do much. The magic is slowly freezing her. As Regina is attempting to slow down the spell, Hook, Emma, and Elsa arrive on scene. Regina, understandably distressed that she's barely able to save her ex-boyfriend's wife from ice magic, throws some shade Elsa's way. Elsa swears that she didn't cast the curse, but admits that she knows that an act of true love will stop ice magic.
An act of true love, eh? And Marian's husband is right there. Convenient for curse, breaking, but,Regina, please don't look. I could hardly bear to look, myself. Except, the kiss that Robin bestows on Marian while their son eagerly looks on doesn't work. She remains frozen, Robin remains distressed, Regina remains looking stunned and ill, and I continue to cry.
So, no True Love's Kiss to break this curse. The crew sets out to find other means of breaking the spell. Emma orders an indignant Hook to escort an equally indignant Elsa to the sheriff's station to keep her safe. The Good People of Storybrooke are proving to be rabble-rousers, and law and order is hard to keep while most of the citizens are scaring themselves out of their wits with panic. Emma and David take off into the woods to investigate, trusting that Elsa and Hook will be safe at the station. Hook isn't quite having Emma's insistence that he stay out-of-the-way, and instead takes Elsa to pay another visit to Mr. Gold's Pawnshop.
Elsa, Hook, Emma, and David had been there earlier in the day, demanding to know why Elsa was in an urn in Rumpelstiltskin's vault. He claims to have no idea, but the crew is (understandably) unconvinced. He swears to turning over a new leaf, invoking the memory of his lost son, and the hope of the new love in his life. He orders Belle to use his dagger to compel him to tell the truth. She's horrified, but she complies, and he repeats that he doesn't know Elsa, or her sister, and certainly has no idea why she was in his vault. That dagger, though? Remember how Rumpelstiltskin was using it to magic up those coasters at the end of the previous episode? Yeah, that dagger isn't real. RUMPELSTILTSKIN, WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING? YOUR WIFE IS GONNA BE SO MAD AT YOU.
Hook insists that he knows that Gold's earlier denial was false, and threatens to expose his deception to Belle. Gold doesn't bother feigning innocence, but deals with Hook to aid he and Elsa track down the origin of Marian's curse. He explains that every person's magic is unique. By converting a lock of Marian's cursed hair into the original energy of the curse, the magic will seek its source. Hook and Elsa follow the pillar of snowflakes as it drifts out of the shop and back towards Storybrooke's forest. Good job, Rumpelstiltskin, helping those two. Please keep doing the right thing.
Emma and David search another part of the forest, stumbling upon Robin Hood's camp. They discover someone ransacking the tents, and, after a brief chase and an Oklahoma-drill to the chest via David, they capture and confront the thief. Oh, and thief he is. Will Scarlett, former Merry Man, before he and Robin had some, uhm, differences in opinion. He heard about Marian's curse and thinks that he might know something about it.
See, in last week's blackout, he happened to be doing some low-key looting in Storybrooke. When he stumbled into the ice cream parlor, though, he realized that everything was still frozen. He's a thief, but he's no fool. He was trying to track down Robin to tell him about the ice magic he had uncovered. Emma and David escort him to the (closed-in-the-middle-of-the-day) ice cream parlor (which, by the way, appears to be named Any Given Sundae, and I don't even know what to do about that). Sure enough, they discover that everything is magically being kept cold. They also discover that they shouldn't leave a thief unattended, because Will Scarlett promptly empties the cash register and beats the scene.
The two are then summoned to the west side of the forest by a frantic voicemail from Captain Hook. Captain Hook has a cell phone. I love this show. He and Elsa chased the snow magic through the woods, to find The Snow Queen, in her stunning Bob-Mackie-esque regalia, working some of her magic. Elsa's enthralled –she's never seen someone else with magic like hers before. The Snow Queen discovers Elsa and Hook spying on her, and quickly greets Elsa as an old friend while imprisoning Hook. Elsa's stunned and confused; she claims she's never seen this woman before. But, admittedly, she doesn't know how she wound up in that urn, either…
Back in Arendelle, Kristoff and Elsa are discussing Anna's disappearance in what I can only assume is Arendelle's Oval Office/Situation Room/Batcave. Elsa is furious. An incredibly adorable stubborn-older-sister and a well-meaning-but-smart-mouthed-little-brother dynamic between the two is beginning to develop. As Elsa stews, furious with Kristoff's enthusiastic rebuffs, she's approached by a general bringing news of an army amassing in the mountains and headed toward Arendelle. In the Once Upon A Time universe, Anna and Hans' breakup must have been a bit more acrimonious than it was in the cartoon, because the army's headed up by Hans and his brothers.
Kristoff volunteers to go scout the army, since he knows the mountains so well. Elsa forbids it, as he is a civilian and she is the queen and he is not to put himself at risk. In true little-brother fashion, Kristoff agrees with Elsa and then promptly ignores her. He and Sven spy on Hans and his brothers' well-armed, well-staffed forces. Hans and his brothers don't have the adorable, teasing relationship that Elsa and Kristoff are developing. They have the kind of brotherly love that inspires siblings to hold each other down and spit in their mouths. The brothers are in the middle of a "who's gonna rule Arendelle" pissing contest when Hans reveals his secret weapon. A scroll, with a picture of a very familiar-looking urn. This urn, Hans explains, can trap Elsa and her magic, leaving the throne of Arendelle vacant and ready for a douchey prince from the south to take over as king.
Kristoff returns to the Situation Room to tell Elsa of their intentions, and, after a bit of very traditional chiding by her military advisors, it's decided that Elsa and Kristoff should try to beat Hans to the urn and destroy it. They set out immediately, their journey filled with more future-in-law bonding time. They manage to beat Hans to the urn, and Elsa picks it up to destroy it, but of course, it can't ever be that easy.
The urn reveals ancient runes that neither Elsa nor Kristoff can read. Kristoff urges Elsa to destroy the urn before Hans can use it, but Elsa's drawn to the writing. If urns like that exist, that must mean that other people with magical powers existed at one time, too, right? Elsa's powers are still a burden to her, and she very obviously feels isolated because of her "gifts." Elsa's personal crisis gets worse when Hans and his brothers enter the cave, demanding she turn the urn over.
Fighting ensues, ending with Hans opening the urn to capture Elsa, but not before Hans gives Elsa an obnoxious, hurtful lecture about how she's a dangerous monster. As he pours out the contents of the urn, a puddle creeps across the floor towards Elsa. Instead of imprisoning her, however, the puddle suddenly twitches and begins to form into something person-shaped.
SNOW QUEEN. WE HAVE ARENDELLE SNOW QUEEN. Elsa's enthralled, even as the Snow Queen wastes Prince Hans with some ice magic and sends his dude-bros running. Apparently, Hans shouldn't have made those lousy comments about people with magical abilities So! Even though Elsa can't remember The Snow Queen, they've obviously met. Elsa is ecstatic with the discovery of another person with magic like hers; the pair and Kristoff depart back to Arendelle.
Elsa and The Snow Queen do know each other, and The Snow Queen wastes no time in trying to convince Elsa that everyone who doesn't have powers like theirs is their enemy. Then, Queen begins dropping bombs. She claims the rock trolls that raised Kristoff removed her memories, and Anna's memories as well, because the effects of her magic were too painful to live with. Then, she insists that Anna herself is the one who trapped Elsa in that urn. She insists that Hook must die, because otherwise he will only betray Elsa. David and Emma arrive; The Snow Queen greets Emma warmly but claims that it's only Emma's reputation as sheriff and Savior that she recognizes. Emma uses her magic to save Hook, but The Snow Queen manages to escape before anyone can manage to gain any more information about her origin or purpose in Storybrooke.
Elsa is, again, horrified that her existence is bringing such trouble to the people around her. Emma begins to build the framework for this mystery—Elsa arrived in Storybrooke by accident, but The Snow Queen has been there all long, just waiting for her chance to spring into some unknown action.
We get another look into Arendelle, as Elsa gleefully shows her new friend the castle she occupies. The Snow Queen seems to fit right in as she glides through the stately rooms. The Snow Queen and Elsa share a moment admiring a portrait of Elsa's mother, and The Snow Queen admits that Elsa's mother was her own sister. The Snow Queen Is Elsa's aunt, and she is quite eager to see her sister. Elsa tearfully informs her that she died many years ago. The Snow Queen warmly assures Elsa that she'll help her find Anna and reunite the family.
Right. Because a secret aunt who got trapped in an urn all your life is clearly just looking out for your best interests.
Back in Storybrooke, the battle with The Snow Queen has left Elsa reeling with horrible possibilities and hasn't uncovered a way to save Marian. Regina and Robin are still watching over her, attempting to slow the curse before it reaches her heart. She may not know ice magic very well, but she knows heart magic. She offers Robin a risky treatment—it won't cure her, but it will keep her safe until they can find a permanent solution. Robin accepts.
And then he tells Regina that there was perhaps another explanation for why his kiss didn't wake Marian, and that explanation is that it wasn't True Love's Kiss. He's madly in love with Regina, but he's committed to his marriage with Marian, and I can't ever quit crying.
Before anyone dies of unrequited love, Henry arrives with materials to help Regina save Marian. He's retrieved a heart chest from Regina's vault. She plunges her fist into Marian's chest and removes her heart, unaffected by the curse. Regina holds her True Love's wife's heart in her hands, and responsibly puts it into a vault for safekeeping.
If this villain doesn't get a happy ending, I don't know what I'm going to do.
Hook and Emma are still fighting—Emma is outraged that Hook constantly ignores her orders to stay out-of-the-way and keep safe. Hook's frustrated with Emma constantly shutting him out. He demands to know why Emma won't trust him.
Sigh. Hook, you kind of don't understand women, do you?
Emma explains—it's not that she doesn't trust him. It's that everyone she ever loved, from Graham to Neal, has wound up dead, and she's not sure what will happen if she loses him, too. And because it's a fairytale, they make out like teenagers in the middle of the street.
The Snow Queen is still skulking around Storybrooke's forest, but she's not alone. Rumpelstiltskin is waiting for her in a clearing, wondering if she's ready to make a deal yet, or if Emma recognized her. So, we know that Belle doesn't have the real dagger, because he lied through his teeth when she compelled him to tell the truth about Elsa. If he knows The Snow Queen, he knows Elsa, and he knows Anna. RUMPELSTILTSKIN, YOUR WIFE IS GOING TO FIND OUT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN LYING TO HER, AND YOU ARE GONNA BE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE YOU'LL WISH ZELENA STILL HAD YOUR DAGGER.
But that's where we left it. Next week's preview gave us a taste of an actual, real-live, Emma-and-Hook date, but I quit watching after that, because I love it best when this show surprises me.
The Story Continues Next Sunday at 8:00 pm on ABC.


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The Red Cross vacated the building that housed their offices since the 40's after deferred maintenance projects began to pile up and it became too costly for them to occupy the building. They have since moved to 29 Main St which is the "Fidelity Bank" building downtown Leominster.
You can see from the picture to the right that the wooded area to the right of the house has been cleared in anticipation of the construction. The new building will actually be built next to the existing building where the trees were cleared and the existing building will be torn down and that portion of the lot will become the parking area.
Marc has received his approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals for the new building and is now before the Planning Board for site plan approval. I'm sure Marc will do a great job with this project as he has done with any other project he puts his name on.
The new building will most likely be home to attorneys, accountants, and other professional businesses looking to set up shop in Leominster. Small suites will be available from 2,000 to 2,500 SF but I'm sure if a business wanted to occupy an entire floor or even the entire building, they could be accomodated. Lease rates will be in the upper teens per square foot which is at the upper end of the leasing market for Leominster office space but it will be brand new space and for an attorney, the location can't be much better considering the proximity to the Leominster court house. Alternatively, Marc may be offering a couple of the units for sale as office condominiums, as he did with his last development at 30 Williams St, Leominster.
I'll keep you updated as the project progresses and I'll try and get some more photos from my handy camera phone. If you have any questions about this project or if you are intereted in office space in Leominster or the surrounding areas, please shoot me an email. I'd be glad to speak with you about my Buyer/Tenant Representation services.

subset: commoncrawl


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Well, in his latest column for Linux Journal he gives us a quick overview of some really cool items available to us in At the Sounding Edge: Dave's Distractions:
- A quick review of a The Rosegarden Companion (ISBN 2915925186).
For those of you don't know about Rosegarden, it is an integrated audio/MIDI sequencer with advanced features, including extensive system control and impressive notation facilities. The program has been in development since the early 1990s, beginning with a GUI based on the Xaw widget set and coming at last to a beautiful Qt interface. But Rosegarden is not only a pretty face, and McIntyre is an excellent guide to what's behind the program's good looks... For the Rosegarden novice, the book is indispensable... The assessment is a little different for a relatively advanced user of Rosegarden... Nevertheless, even advanced users can learn something new and interesting. [Link added.]I definitely foresee adding this book to my collection in the near future, being a Rosegarden novice myself, I could use some help. This looks like the info I need. Rosegarden sure looks cool when I open it, I just wish I knew what to do with it! Be sure to check out the rest of his review on this groundbreaking work.
- Next, a quick look at a project I haven't seen before, DSSI: Disposable Software Synthesizer Interface. "DSSI can be considered the logical successor to the LADSPA plugin API, a programmer's interface for the creation of effects and other signal processing plugins. Alas, LADSPA was not designed to support the features needed for plugin synthesizers, hence the DSSI." What really caught my eye was his mention of a DSSI synth called Hexter. "Hexter models the FM synthesis sound of the Yamaha DX7, loading DX7 patch files--if they're in the correct .syx format--and even accepting DX7 system-exclusive messages for editing patches."
Yes sir!!! This is what I have been waiting/searching for. Back in the day the DX7 was it. I remember musicians touring with loads of them. I always wanted one myself but at the time was not able to afford it. Then sampling systems took over and it seemed to me that FM synths just kind of faded away...
- DeMuDi replaces Planet CCRMA on his laptop. AGNULA/DeMuDi is my DAW distro of choice. Glad to see he was able to get it running on his Omnibook.
- To conclude he caps his distractions list off with another book review: Notes from the Metalevel (ISBN: 9026519753).
[Notes... is] a more general text that explores the world of computer-assisted music composition by way of Rick Taube's amazing Common Music... It covers an incredible amount of material, some of which is rather complicated to understand, but the author maintains a consistently engaging writing style throughout. Difficult things are explained clearly, and the author has supplied hundreds of examples and projects, all of which are available on the accompanying CD... I carry Notes from the Metalevel with me at all times, there's so much to learn from it. And in my daily life, it has become a permanent and always welcome distraction.This one probably isn't for me (yet). Maybe in a couple of years? Dunno.
I would really like to give Studio To Go! a spin, the literature, screenshots and reviews are all encouraging. We'll see. I have just purchased a few guitar related books this evening to learn some advanced techniques, so the purchase of any distro will just have to wait. If they would like to send me a copy for review, I would be certainly glad to try it! :-)
1 Yes, they are abiding by the GPL but they have also added some proprietary items to the CD that make a free download unfeasible it seems. Modified source code for the GPL applications is available.


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Flickr photo by laffy4kEver looked at the nursery school roster and wondered if it was a name list or a rainbow?
I saw the name Gray Powell pop up in the news this week (he's the guy who accidentally leaked the Apple iPhone 4G), and I had flashes of taking pictures in school buildings back in my newspaper reporter days and wondering whether I'd heard the kids right or I simply had colors on the brain.
Gray -- or Grey -- is apparently gaining momentum these days. It's sometimes short for Grayson or Grayden according to the Baby Name Finder, but it's starting to stand on its own as well.
Which isn't to say it's a color name you'll hear often.
For that, Violet (Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck's daughter's name), Amber, Rose, Iris, and Sienna (not just the car subject to annoying Toyota commercials but Jude Law's baby mama) get the nods.
Or for boys, how about Carmine?
Are you climbing on the rainbow for your baby?


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Chef Domenico Cicconi
Hailing from San Benedetto del Tronto, Chef Domenico Cicconi began his culinary journey at the tender age. Just off the coast of the Adriatic Sea, his hometown is regarded as a food and beverage paradise. Chef Domenico's childhood experiences would be an inspiration to him —he would watch his mother hone her culinary skills at work and at home as a first step to inspire his concept idea "homemade food is a translation of heart passion to take care your loving people".
The consummate chef pursued his dream at Istituto Alberghiero F.Buscemi, and upon graduation went to work with MotoGP as a private chef. His clientele included lauded Grand Prix motorcycle racers such as Valentino Rossi, Max Biaggi, Roberto Locatelli and Alex Hoffman. After that, he spent considerable time working with professional caterers known on the world stage. As such, he began to broaden his horizon, delighting epicureans in countries such as Europe, the United States, Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Today, he is the Executive Chef/Owner at Ciao@. His penchant for whipping up traditional Italian cuisines remains. Chef Domenico revels in being able to share his creations with his guests. Every dish is specially created, brimming with the authentic taste of Italy.


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I hear it a lot, that the world doesn't need another food delivery service or ride sharing app.
But despite this general stance being commonplace, these businesses keep popping up, and VC money keeps finding its way into the bank accounts of these seemingly doomed ideas.
The cynicism is not without merit, certainly. Most of these companies will probably fail after they struggle to find profits. Some of the biggest names in the industry continue to bleed money, even at scale.
But maybe it's best to think of this from a different perspective.
The other day, a friend said to me, with a hint of sarcasm, "what a world we live in, where I can order pie on my phone and it's delivered in under an hour." The thought suddenly hit me, that maybe it's best to just enjoy this VC-subsidized services economy while it lasts instead of being so cynical about it.
We're living in a time where it's possible to get dinner delivered to your door for FREE, a world where the two major ride sharing services offer discount codes for rides at a cost just a bit more than bus fare, and we can get just about anything, including alcohol, a doctor, laundry delivery, etc, at our front door in under an hour.
While it's certainly easy to step back and think, "this definitely won't last for long!" maybe that shouldn't be our concern. Instead, let's just enjoy the good times!
That coupon code for a free meal delivery? Take it!
The discount on a local massage parlor or yoga studio? Take it!
The free month of access to some new streaming service? Take it!
Let the chips fall where they may as these businesses figure out how to make money, that's not our job as consumers.


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1943 WWII Home Front Fire Campaign - Original Vintage Poster
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A poster that tells the worst case scenario if you play with fire.
The poster is an advertisement for "Fire Prevention Week" in 1934 made by the American National Fire Protection Association which sound encouraging people to be careful about not starting accidental fires. The reason why the poster artist displayed a plant burning has probably to something to do with the time period of the World War II. During wartime the plants and factories at home (in USA) played a very important role for the war effort as they produced important materials, supplies and weapons for the war overseas.
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Influenza (Flu) Clinical Research
Today, there are a number of influenza vaccine clinical studies being conducted around the United States. For many people, the effects of their condition can keep them from living the life they want to. While there are a number of influenza treatments available, researchers are constantly striving to develop more effective vaccines. Through new clinical trials on influenza, they are discovering new ways to combat this infectious disease, as well as better methods of diagnosing influenza following the onset of initial signals (fever and nausea). If you have exhausted all of the more traditional methods, and you're still dealing with the symptoms of influenza, then it may be time to try something new.
These influenza clinical trials taking place in Alabama are testing new treatment methods, which are currently being developed by pharmaceutical and bio-technical companies. They're designed specifically to test the safety and efficacy of treatments for humans. By volunteering for our fully supervised influenza clinical study, you may receive new investigational influenza treatments that may help us all understand your condition.
In many cases patients who could benefit from investigational treatment miss out on influenza clinical studies because their doctor isn't aware of a study in the area. In addition, there are some cases where patients feel they are going through so much they don't need to be treated like a 'guinea pig,' and nothing could be further from the truth.
The type of study being performed by Achieve Clinical Research directly reflects your involvement. Sometimes, participating in a influenza clinical trial in Alabama is as simple as agreeing to let our researchers have a copy of your test results, but most are more involved and would require some tests and a visit to our clinic. Participants are compensated for time and travel, and the study related care, including physical examinations, laboratory services and study medicines are all provided.
Influenza Clinical Trials in Birmingham, Alabama
Achieve Clinical Research is currently conducting a wide array of clinical studies focused on developing better vaccinations. You may be eligible to participate in one of our Alabama influenza clinical trials and contribute to the development and approval of a new drug or treatment. As a participant, there is no cost to you at any point during the study and health insurance is not required. Browse our clinical trials being conducted now to find the study best suited for you.
An Educational Video on Influenza Vaccinations
Additional Resources on Influenza (Flu)
If you live around Central Alabama, click here to learn more about participating in a influenza vaccine clinical trial. Also, our sister site Avail Clinical Research conducts vaccine clinical trials in DeLand, Florida.


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The ladies of CBS' The Talk are hitting it out of the park this season with their witty banter, hilarious guests, and informative segments, which is why it made it even more special to be invited on as a guest yesterday. Check out my behind-the-scenes recap with Sharon Osbourne, Julie Chen, Aisha Tyler, Sara Gilbert, and Sheryl Underwood!
Rolling up to the CBS lot in Studio City, where The Mary Tyler Moore Show was taped! I can hear it now... "You've got spunk! I hate spunk!"
How's this for the red carpet treatment? Your parking spot has a cone with your name on it! Of course, I wasn't sure if I was supposed to run over it, or get out and move it away. Actually, I didn't have to worry about either, as I had my own travel coordinator waiting to remove it! Can I come here every day?
My dressing room at The Talk! It even has its own shower. Take that, Joey Tribbiani (die-hard Friends fans will know what I'm talking about ;)).
A little fuel for the morning. You gotta have lots of energy when you go on a talk show!
Catching up on my daily reading...
Oh, hi there!
What backstage really looks like.
About to go on the show! Talk about an adrenaline rush!
About to walk on stage, I made it to the desk without tripping. Huge accomplishment.
Here we go! Chatting away about Kris Jenner's wardrobe malfunction.
Sheryl, Sara, Sharon, Aisha, and Julie could not have been more warm or welcoming. Such a wonderful group of ladies! If only the girls at the lunch table back in high school were so cool and sweet.
Back in my dressing room and about to raid the mini-bar! They don't actually have sensors on these things, right?
Hanging out in Aisha Tyler's very Parisian chic dressing room. Who's her favorite guest so far? "I really loved having Drew Carey on because he's a comedian, and I really love his personal story of transformation. Viola Davis is extraordinary too." What about her guest wish-list? "I'd love to interview the President and the First Lady. And either of the Ryans... Gosling or Reynolds!" Hey, Aisha, when that happens, I'd like to come back for that show!
Classy lady Sharon Osbourne chatted with me about her love of Dancing with Stars, political frustrations, and overcoming disappointment. Her advice for dealing with setbacks in life? "You have to remember that you always have time [to] do it better. You can do it better tomorrow. It's never the end. We all think, I blew it, oh no, what do I do now?' and you know what, you make it better. You can't carry things around. You say what you feel, and if you fail at what you're doing, you pick up and you get right back up." That's definite Glamour Do advice!
Check out the Halloween pumpkin in Sharon's dressing room!
Would Sara Gilbert ever make a full-time return to acting, a la fellow '90s star, Mayim Bialik? "I don't want to give this up. Maybe I'd do a guest-spot [on a show] or something, [possibly] in the next couple of years. I'll find a way to creatively do both acting and co-hosting the show."
The gorgeous Julie Chen and I practicing our hair twirls in honor of Glamour's November issue (which just happens to be all about hair!)
Meanwhile, I wanted to know Julie's favorite guests. "Betty White and Regis Philbin are some of my favorites. Also, Jerry O'Connell, who just always has such energy," she told me. As for the hardest part of doing the show? "When a guest is shy. You want them to be able to play and open up and have a good time, so sometimes that can be hard, especially since there are five of us. It's sometimes harder when there are so many people talking to one guest." From personal experience (it's nice to be able to say that!), Julie is so good at making guests feel comfortable, it would be hard to picture anyone not having fun at that table!
And last but certainly not least, is the energetic and soulful Sheryl Underwood, who pretty much lived out one of my dreams. "What kind of job do you have where you get to have John Stamos hold you and then sing to you? For me, everybody is wonderful. I'm just so excited about this job." And she means it. It's so nice to see someone so thankful for their job and recognizes what a dream job it is. By the way, check out Sheryl in her dressing room full of stylish wigs!


text: Robert Lunnon wrote: > >This might be a moot point. In general it isn't possible to copyright an >Interface definition under most copyright jurisdictions (other wise merely >using the interface in your own program would be a copyright violation). So >the exact header "expression" is protected IE you can't just copy the file. >But you can redescribe the interface in a file of your own. > >Bob > > > Then that applies to the DDK too. Ivan.


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Back to main Brian Willoughby & Cathryn Craig page
Following the Iraq war, Cathryn and Brian assembled a virtual "supergroup" from the UK folk world to record Cathryn's song, "Rumours Of Rain". Those involved on vocals included Harvey Andrews, Martin Carthy, Rod Clements, Bob Fox, Benny Gallagher, Clive Gregson, Nanci Griffith, Jez Lowe, Jacqui McShee, Ralph McTell, Tom Paxton and Steve Tilston as well as our own Dave Lambert and Chas Cronk. Even Brian sang for once, hidden away in the chorus.
Instrumentally, Fairport weighed in heavily with Gerry Conway, Ric Sanders and Chris Leslie, Rick Kemp of Steeleye Span played bass and Rod Clements of Lindisfarne played dobro and Lambert added bodhran. Probably the first time that members of Strawbs, Lindisfarne, Pentangle, Fairport and Steeleye have all played on the same track.
The single contains both the long and short versions. Brian and Cathryn had the process of making the single captured on video - the single has a six and a half minute QuickTime video documentary as a bonus track.


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DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - Mike Krzyzewski has big plans for the next few months. He wants to lead two once-dominant teams back to the tops of their basketball worlds.
Duke's Hall of Fame coach hopes to guide the U.S. national team through a qualifying tournament and into the 2008 Olympics while helping the Blue Devils rebound from their worst season in more than a decade.
Not even a family-mandated three-week vacation to a North Carolina beach could prevent Krzyzewski from planning for both programs' return to glory.
"Even when I'm on the coast, I think about my teams - my national team and my Duke team," Krzyzewski said Friday. "I'm excited about both. I feel really good physically. I feel great, and I'm very enthusiastic. I'm ready to go. The time away, it was great - even though you're not completely away."
Krzyzewski first is preparing for the U.S. national team's three-day minicamp in late July in Las Vegas. Three weeks later, the Americans will resume practice in preparation for the 10-team FIBA Americas Championship that begins Aug. 22. Two teams from that tournament will qualify for the Beijing games.
"I didn't know that until I started saying 'We better qualify here or else we're playing another tournament,'" Krzyzewski said, laughing.
But clearly it's not funny to Krzyzewski that the Americans haven't enjoyed worldwide prominence in quite some time. The U.S., which won gold at the 2000 Olympics, failed to win a title in its past three major international tournaments - including last year's world championships in Japan, where the Americans took the bronze medal.
"My guys, we really this spring spent a lot of time planning our conditioning for the summer, any new things we want to do," he added. "How can we get better? How can I empower my people to do more? I've got really good people who make me look good - how can I put them in positions to make me look even better? I'm anxious. I'm excited."
He's also eager to make amends for a disappointing, 22-11 season at Duke. His inconsistent, youth-laden team closed with four straight losses. The last one, a 69-67 loss to Virginia Commonwealth, gave the Blue Devils their first one-and-done in the NCAA tournament since 1996.
"We played a year where people, right from the beginning, treated us like Duke" of the past, Krzyzewski said. "We were always that team. Always. And that took its toll on those young kids. By the end of the year, we were worn out."
One reason: for the first time in years, Duke didn't have a productive senior to take the pressure off the younger players. That shouldn't be the case this year, Krzyzewski said, because rising sophomores Jon Scheyer and Gerald Henderson were hardened after spending their freshman season in the unrelenting spotlight.
"They were more closely scrutinized last year because you didn't have a senior that they were normally focusing on," Krzyzewski said. "When you have that scrutiny, you're not ready for it, and you are going to go up and down. ... They had an incredible amount of experience that a lot of freshman classes wouldn't get, plus the experience of being closely scrutinized.
"I think we are more veteran than a predominantly sophomore-junior team would be."
Krzyzewski spoke at the Emily Krzyzewski Family Life Center, a gym and community center near downtown Durham named after Coach K's late mother.
The center's basketball court is the one on which the Blue Devils won the 2001 national championship.
"Just walking past the court makes me want to get another court," Krzyzewski said. "Forget about another title - I would like to have another court."


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Project Description
October 28, 2017
Elizabeth Mputu presents sanza a performance event as part of the closing for A Situation of Meat, the inaugural exhibition of Disjecta's seventh Curator in Residence season with Julia Greenway. Responding to his/her exhibited video work "epigenetic therapy treatment" Mputu offers a healing workshop and performance in which the artist engages directly with participants to put forward tools for physical and emotional healing.
Mputu describes his/her work as an opportunity to give the gift of his/her ancestors' wisdom as guidance in order to better navigate life. Through video, interactive media, and performance, sanza reconstructs our notions of well-being, both in the physical and digital space.
Saturday, October 28, 2017
6:30 – 8pm
FREE and all ages


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When Roger Ebert was watching The Charlie Rose Show and saw director Tony Scott describe The Reader as another Holocaust movie, it set off a blog reverie on truth-telling. Ebert, who lost his voice after a protracted and heroic struggle with thyroid cancer and related complications, writes of keeping silent too often in past years. Now his words pour through the keyboard with startling ease:
I have devoted years to learning about the Theory of Evolution. I think Creationism is superstitious poppycock. I believe the problem with the literal interpretation of the Bible is that anyone can easily discover its support for the opinions they already hold. I believe Conservatism has proven itself disastrous every time it has been implemented in this country. I believe George W. Bush was not only the worst president we have ever had, but the first, as far as I know, guilty of being an accessory to murder and subverting the Constitution.
You see that I could be a problem at certain dinner parties. When I could speak, I was often invited to speaking engagements. Not so much now. The deal usually involved dinner with the Committee. Its members invariably included local luminaries who provided financial support but held grave reservations about the Sorts of People They've Been Inviting to Speak. These members make it a point to attack the points of view they fear you are about to express. For example, "They just don't make good movies anymore," or, "Ronald Reagan was the greatest president we've ever had." As a donor, that is their privilege. They get to scare me and get my autograph for their daughter who is my biggest fan.
Having to endure the opinions of philanthropists who admired President Reagan? Oh, the indignity. Ebert objects to people who believe they know the Truth, you see, and "Since my lifelong occupation has been learning the Truth for myself, I find this insulting."
But the Truth to which Ebert has devoted a lifetime of discovery reads as little more than a list of caricatures:
You may believe, as I do, that you know more actual facts that anybody else at the table. But what if "facts" are just one of the devil's tools to defeat faith? What if they're a smokescreen used by atheists, Satanists, liberals, intellectuals and the Elite to lead our young people, astray? Would it help to point out that one can believe in Evolution and God at the same time? No, because such people, like Catholics, Jews, mainstream Protestants, Hindus and Buddhists, have no religion at all if they have not been Born Again.
Ebert can even detect people's true motives when they are so boorish as to pray in public -- and he detects troubling authoritarian tendencies:
We have two kinds of prayer in this country, vertical and horizontal. I approve vertical prayer, which originates with the praying person and is directed straight up to heaven. It is private, as all privileged conversations should be. Horizontal prayer, on the other hand, radiates out from the praying person to all those within earshot. It translates as: I'm going through the motions of praying to God, but actually I'm praying for your benefit. I am expressing solidarity with those who believe as I do, and issuing an implied rebuke to those who don't. I am an example of how everyone should believe and behave. I believe that Freedom of Speech covers religious expression. But it also covers dissent. Public prayer tends to discourage any differing opinions.
Ebert confesses to cheating a blind man at chess 40 years ago, and he expresses clear remorse about what he describes as the worst thing he has ever done. The rest of his reflection, however, reads like one of those faux confessions that emerge when members of small groups are supposed to talk about their sources of shame.
I've been in situations like that twice in the past decade. Both times, group members were told to describe times when they were guilty of racism. Both times, I confessed to being frightened by the sudden approach of two men who wanted nothing more from me than directions. Both times, others in the group began one-upping each other with confessions that said, in essence, "If I am guilty of anything, it's of being too angry about the sins of racists."
"I have been a coward, a liar, a hypocrite, because I have been unwilling to act as I believe," Ebert writes. Here's a different point: When you believe unkind and ill-founded things about your neighbors, it's not hypocrisy to refrain from saying those things.


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Dear All
Well folks I have struggled through my first week back at work after a month off sick. It WAS hard work so it is with great gratitude that the coming week is a four day week with tomorrow being our May Day Bank Holiday - YES!
Not a lot to report to you all this week with regards to St. Hils except to say I have asked my sister, Catherine, of Dollhouse Heaven, to make something for me which will hopefully feature at Pentecost. I won't give away too much at this stage however because Catherine is already busy with two other commissions so I don't want her to feel over burdened by her sister's requests!
I guess from my title you may be able to work out that my husband has been vacuuming and cleaning near to where St, Hils is! I have to be very grateful to him though because, when he finished he came up to see me whilst I was lazing in bed (yep - energy levels still not 100% so morning and sometimes evening naps at home work well!) to tell me he had found a mouse on the floor! My initial reaction was - WHAT mouse? Now before you all worry too much I was not thinking of a REAL mouse! A slight detour is necessary here to explain that we did find something on our lounge carpet one morning some years ago and it was............a beautiful green frog! We had left the patio door open the evening before so the frog must have jumped in without us knowing! Fortunately we returned him to the garden with relative ease. You can see below a photo taken from our baptisms page where two frogs came into St. Hils and thought they could make thier home in the font much to Esther's and the vicar's irritation. The frogs, by the way, were made by my sister, Catherine. As Catherine says - her frogs may not be anatomically "perfect" but they have such character...........and she is right they do! Such cheeky little frogs as they are!
Where was I? Oh yes.......a mouse found on our carpet! After all the last time I checked St. Hils, despite the two dolls that had fallen over, the wildlife and pets were all present and correct!
So initially the questions was - WHICH mouse to which Andrew replied that it was "The brown one". Ah..........now that still didn't quite narrow it down completely because my rat, Sepp, is also brown.
However we soon understood each other.......it was my metalic/solid one, ie Nunc Dimittis. HOW Andrew managed to retrieve poor Nunc Dimittis off our blue carpet I have no idea but I also have NO idea how he fell out either. I do have a confession though. Since my sickness I have failed to bother putting our acetate sides up for the church so anything may have happened if one of us had knocked the church. It just goes to show doesn't it? How easy it is to lose miniature things in your dollshouse........frightening! If you all remember I have already lost one domino piece in one of my previous photo shoots. I never found it again either. To explain further...........we feed the wild birds and also have a free range cockatiel. Either way it means that we almost always have loose seed that has escaped sitting on our carpet so you can imagine it can't you? There's me on hands and knees trying to find one of my most tiny items and pick up what I think is something remotely domino shaped and when I bring it to the light is is a black sunflower seed husk discarded by our ground feeding cockatiel or something similar......arghhhhh
This photo was taken and used for our Easter page in 2005 and is no longer on the website so it is lovely to share it with you all again. Incidentally both our spider and butterfly was made for us by Tinytail Miniatures.
I love including wild life and pets in St. Hils because God made them all too and in the church all of our pets and wildlife are considered so special by God that they have their own patron saint in Saint Francis of Assisi!
I have no boundaries either as to how many more we will eventually include either......bats in the belfry is a most recently mentioned idea......... so watch this space!
I confess my energy levels are a bit depleted now sadly so I will leave you all in peace. I also hear my husband making a pot of tea so that beckons too..............
Til the next time
Sasha Celebration Weekend 2019 - Part 2
1 week ago


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- Not to be confused with Wizard.
A Witch or a warlock, the male counterpart,[TS2:AL] is a life state introduced in The Sims 2: Apartment Life and reintroduced in The Sims 3: Supernatural. In terms of functions, gameplay and features, witches are one of the biggest and most complicated life states in the game. Most features of the life state are focused on magic and the ways that witches can use it to manipulate their surroundings.
Becoming a witch/warlockEdit
The Sims: Makin' MagicEdit
In Makin' Magic, there are no special terms such as "witch", "warlock", or "wizard" for magical Sims, and being magical is not considered a life state. A magical Sim is simply one who has a wand in his or her inventory.
To acquire magic in Makin' Magic, an adult Sim can open the box left by the Mystery Man and get the magic wand. The box also contains some basic ingredients and a few MagiCoins. When the box is opened, A Hole in the Ground, a spellbook, and a wand-charger will appear. (These items can also be bought in buy mode.) The wand-charger also dispenses wands; an adult Sim who didn't get one from the Mystery Man's box can get one from a wand charger. A child can get a child's wand from the MagiCo NeoMagical Newt, which must be bought in buy mode. A Sim can give up their magic by going to Magic Town and selling their wand to the Mystery Man.
However, having both the powers and appearance of a witch/warlock is possible, and will require a Sim to use the Beauty or Beast charm, and select the witch/warlock costume so they'll temporarily take on the appearance of a witch/warlock (depending on the Sim's gender). This charm requires 3 Beeswax ingredients that can be homemade (by the beehive) or bought from Magic Town. The change in appearance will be lost, however, if the changed Sim changes into any other outfit or takes a shower/bath.
The Sims 2: Apartment LifeEditThe Sims 2: Apartment Life, a Sim (teen, young adult, adult or elder) must find one, and befriend him or her. Once done so, a new interaction appears: "Teach Me the Ways of the Light" (if the befriended witch is good) or "Teach Me the Path of Darkness" (if the befriended witch is evil). Once done, the Sim will become either a good or evil witch, depending on the type of witch they befriended, and will have an extended name including their alignment, for example, "Goneril Capp the Evil Witch". They will also receive a robe, hat, cauldron and spellbook. Their colors will be determined by the witch they were received from. At a glance, females may appear to wear laced corsets, but this is actually the lacing that holds the robe closed. The new witch may then purchase goods from other witches, including reagents (see below), as well as a new cauldron or spellbook.
While witches and warlocks receive distinctive clothing, they can change into normal clothing and headgear, which has no effect on their magical powers. Every time a witch or warlock passes an alignment threshold, he or she will automatically be dressed in a new robe and hat.
Players can use cheats or hacks to make a Sim into a witch or warlock. The testing cheat can be used to force a good or bad witch to visit the lot, through the "Make NPC..." menu, accessible by holding ⇧ Shift and clicking on the mailbox. Once the witch arrives, he/she can be controlled by the player by holding ⇧ Shift, clicking on the witch, and choosing the "MAKE SELECTABLE" option. Once the player is in control of the witch, he/she can have the witch cast the "Magus Mutatio" spell onto the target Sim, making them into a witch/warlock.
The Sims 3: SupernaturalEditThe Sims 3: Supernatural, a Sim that is a teen or older can buy the "Bottled Witches' Brew" from an alchemy shop. A Sim with at least level 9 in the alchemy skill can make the elixir using Aleister's Alchemy Station. Once the elixir is obtained, the Sim must drink it to become a witch. Sims can throw it onto others to turn them as well.
Sims also have a chance to be born a witch if one or both of their parents were a witch. They can't use their powers until they become a teenager. However, the ability to make toys disappear will at least let the player know whether the Sim is or isn't one.[confirmation needed]
Alternatively, Sims may be created as witches in Create a Sim.
The Sims 2: Apartment LifeEdit
Witches have many new abilities, including casting spells, crafting exclusive items, creating reagents and potions, being able to travel to other lots via broomstick, teleporting around lots and owning feline familiars. Atrociously evil witches can bring the dead back to life as zombies.
To cast spells or create potions and items (specifically, thrones, floor lamps, wall lamps and hanging lamps), reagents are required. As said above, these can be obtained by purchasing them from NPC witches, or crafted in a cauldron. Unlike in The Sims: Makin' Magic, Sims aren't required to pre-prepare spells before casting, but just need the right combination of reagents on the spot. Witches with higher magic skill have a higher success rate when casting spells and have access to the more powerful spells.
Spells are organized into three categories: "Good", "Neutral" and "Evil". Sims can study good, neutral, or evil magic in their spellbook. This increases their magic skill points, and changes their alignment towards the direction they are studying. To be able to use the strongest spells and craft the most useful items of each alignment, a witch must be at the maximum level of their alignment. For example, an "Infallibly Good" witch can cast "Expello Mortis" and also craft the "Throne of Light", a chair which charges all motives simultaneously if used by witch with correct alignment, whereas they would be required to earn full "Atrociously Evil" status before being able to cast "Vivificus Zombiae" and craft the "Throne of Darkness". The two thrones do exactly the same thing, but if a non-magical Sim sits in the chair, no mood effects will occur. If a witch sits in the opposite chair (i.e. an evil witch sits in the Throne of Light), the witch's motives will go down rapidly. Neutral witches will benefit from both types of chair.
Magic items/reagents can all be crafted in the cauldron, but some reagents can be bought at the secret magic lot of the witch's alignment.
Casting more "Good" spells will result in a witch becoming "Good", and casting even more will make the witch "Infallibly Good". Both alignments wear white robes and hats, craft items which suit the "Good" witch stereotype, and have cauldrons which emit blue smoke. "Infallibly Good" witches also have a blue aura and gold sparkles on their skin. Good spells are intended to improve other Sims' lives, or their environment.
While crafting with their cauldrons, good witches will often let go of their spoons and read what looks like a 'cook book' for the various craftables; the spoons will move by themselves, continuing to stir the brew.
Using a "Neutral" spell will move a witch closer to the neutral alignment. They will thus make a "Good" caster less good and an "Evil" caster less evil. Neutral witches and warlocks have spellbooks on plain wood stands and their cauldrons emit white smoke. Neutral witches, when wearing normal clothes and a normal hairstyle, will appear as almost completely normal Sims. The only known visible difference between neutral witches and normal Sims is that neutral witches have a tiny transparent yellow sparkle behind their right ear, which can't be seen easily. Hovering the cursor over the Sim to see his/her name will give the extended name that identifies him/her as a witch.
Once enough "Evil" spells are cast, a witch will become "Evil" or "Atrociously Evil". They will wear black robes, craft gothic-like items, and have a cauldron which emits red smoke. "Atrociously Evil" witches have green skin and a sickly green aura, similar to the Wicked Witch from the Wizard of Oz movie, or from the Broadway musical Wicked. (Despite the resemblance, they will not die when doused with water.)
While making craftables, evil witches will periodically stick their fingers into their cauldrons and taste their brew, then let out an evil cackle before resuming.
Feline familiarsEdit
If Pets is installed, a witch may find a feline familiar that reflects their alignment. Spectral cats can be summoned from "The Void" at any time, and may return to "The Void" when it's too uncomfortable, or when its owner leaves the lot. Feline familiars are like cats, except in appearance, the lack of the need of a litter box and ability to breed. If treated well, the feline familiar is more likely to stay. They can be trained, but cannot acquire a job.
It has been rumored that the high witch is Bella Goth, however, The Sims 2 Chat confirms that Bella Goth is not a high witch.[1] There are two high witches, one of light and one of dark. Who they are depends on the neighborhood. In Belladonna Cove, the high witches will always be Phoebe Adams (good witch) and Frances McCullough (evil witch). In other neighborhoods, the high witches will be chosen randomly.
In Magic stealth sub-neighborhood, there are three pre-made "Atrociously Evil" Witches and three pre-made "Infallibly Good" Witches. They will be the default high witches in the neighborhoods other than Belladonna Cove. There are also three pre-made neutral witches that don't appear in-game, and can only be found using cheats. Their names are randomized at the start of the game. The following names are only referenced in the game files.
- Witches can be combined with other life states, to make a hybrid, such as witch-zombie.
- Teens through elders can be witches. Like adults and elders, teens can reach maximum magic skill, too.
- Teens, regardless of aspiration, do not get any witch-related wants or fears. The want trees relating to becoming witches or being cured of witchery do not include the teen life stage. This makes it possible to turn non-knowledge Sims into witches, and possibly accept this life state even into adulthood.
- Although good witches and evil witches often have a rivalry, it is possible for them to be friends. If the player has non-NPC witches, they can most certainly make the witches develop a positive relationship. The rivalry between Frances McCullough and Phoebe Adams has been noticed by many players of the game. Evil witches have also been known to autonomously irritate or fight with good witches.
- Good and evil witches can summon "spectral assistants". An evil witch's assistant will fight a specified person, and a good witch's will clean up around the home. However, neutral witches do not have this ability.
- Witches can visit any secret lot independent of their alignment. There is no restriction for a witch from another alignment to go to the other alignment's secret lot (example: Evil witch goes to the good witch's secret lot.) There is no high neutral witch, unlike the good high witch, and the evil high witch, and neither is there a secret lot for neutral witches.
- Good witches can't buy stuff from evil witches and vice versa. Neutral witches can buy stuff from either. For example, if a good witch attempts to do business with an evil witch, the evil witch will cross her arms and look at the other witch with a dirty look, and on the upper-right of the screen, a comment will be made by the other witch.
- Players have discovered that in other neighborhoods besides Belladonna Cove, the head good witch is usually an elderly woman with high personality points in nice. There have been some cases where there were two high witches of each alignment, this is because the whole game (whether the neighborhood is custom or not) has 2 default high witches of each alignment.
- Witches can appear on player-owned business lots even while the player is running them, and will usually just cast Beautificus/Corruptus Locus, summon their familiars, and leave after a short time. However, a player can assess their desire and show them their wares, and even earn stars from them.
- If a player-owned business has an Electrono-Ticket Machine, the high witch or warlock will have to pay to stay on the lot, and will leave without casting a spell if he or she is not interested. That can be useful if the player does not want an evil witch to cause vermin to appear.
- If the witch has paid for a ticket, the player can make her stay by asking them to join playing poker, for example. The high witch's motives, except hygiene, are static, and she will remain doing her activities for a long time, which will provide the business owner with income and customer loyalty.
- If the high witch is somehow managed to be cured of witchery, he/she will be replaced by a new one. The player can do this intentionally by killing them or having them drink Witchbegone-E, for example.
- Reagents, potions and crafted objects can be put up for sale in a player-owned business if Open For Business is installed; there is, however, no controller that can be used to assign employed witches to craft reagents or other objects in a cauldron, which means that any witch-items crafted by anyone other than the lot owner will have to be manually transferred to the lot owner's inventory before they can be restocked.
- The appearance of an evil witch is similar to that of The Wicked Witch of the West, in Wizard of Oz.
- Witches in The Sims 2 are the only version of witches that can teleport in The Sims series. Teleporting is also the only spell that doesn't require any reagents.
- In The Sims 2, if a Sim's eyebrows and facial hair (if any) are a different color from their hair, the eyebrows and facial hair will change to the color of that Sim's hair.
The Sims 3: SupernaturalEdit
Witches make a return in The Sims 3: Supernatural expansion pack as one of the four playable life states included in that pack. Witches can cast spells, charms and curses to better their own or somebody else's life, or cause ruin and mischief.
Becoming a witchEdit
Witches can be created directly from within Create a Sim, by using the Supernatural Type selector.
Sims can also become witches, or turn other Sims into witches, by using the "Bottled Witches' Brew" elixir. The elixir can be mixed in an alchemy station (level 9 of alchemy skill required), or bought at the elixir consignment store, though it's not always available for purchase.
Sims can use a "Potent Cure Elixir" to cure themselves, or other Sims, of witchcraft. A witch's romantic interest can ask the witch to "Forsake Witchitude", which will trigger a special opportunity. Sims can complete the opportunity by visiting the Vault of Antiquity or the science lab and be cured afterwards.
Unlike the other life states, a witch's physical appearance has no special features; witches and normal Sims look just about the same. Witches can wear witch-styled robes, gowns, and pointy hats if the player so chooses, but those are ordinary clothing options available to all Sims, regardless of their life state.
Witchcraft is genetic, meaning that if one of the parents is a witch, then there is a 50% chance the offspring will be a witch as well. If both parents are witches, the offspring will certainly also be a witch.
Natural born witches are unable to use magic until they become teenagers, at which time they automatically receive a "Classic Witch Wand", the most basic magic wand, and the ability to learn the Spellcasting hidden skill. However, witch toddlers will occasionally make their toys disappear.
Since witchcraft is genetic, a clone of a witch will also be a witch.
Witches do not possess an extended lifespan, unlike the other life states.
Magic powerEdit
Like fairies, witches possess a magic power meter, which depletes every time a witch uses magic. Magic power regenerates over time, and can be replenished instantly by using an "Essence of Magic" elixir. During full moon, witches spend 50% less magic power and gain 25% more successful spell rate.
If the magic power meter is reduced to 50%, the witch will gain the "Magic Power Waning" neutral moodlet. If it is reduced to 25%, the witch gains the "Magic Power Critical" negative moodlet. When the Magic Power is completely depleted, the witch will get the "Magic Power Depleted" negative moodlet, which will prevent the magic power from regenerating for 6 hours, unless replenished via an elixir.
Other aspectsEdit
Witches also have several "passive" abilities, bonuses, or aspects, as following:
- If a witch owns a cat or a minor pet, it will give them "Animal Familiar" moodlet, which will increase the skill gain rate towards spellcasting hidden skill, lowers their magic power depletion. The moodlet is gained when in close proximity to the pet (or when carrying it, in the case of minor pets).
- Witches learn the alchemy skill faster than normal Sims.
- Witches will use a magic broom as their default long-distance transportation, even if they do not have one in their inventory.
- Witch children cannot cast spells, but can ride a broom. Like teen and older witches, the child will use a broom as their preferred long-distance travel, even without having one in their inventory, but the child's broom has training wheels.
- Witches benefit the most from using brooms, as their magic power replenishes faster while riding one, or while performing stunts and tricks on the magic broom arena.
- Witches can purchase a special Magic Hands lifetime reward for 20,000 lifetime happiness points. This reward enables witches to cast spell using their hands at low magic power cost without failing and eliminates the need of using magic wands.
- Once a witch reaches level 3 spellcasting skill, they gain the ability to engage in spellcasting duels with other witches. The winner is determined by the level of their spellcasting skill, and will gain a positive moodlet, while the loser will gain a negative moodlet, each lasting for 3 hours. The result may also be draw, in which both witches gain a neutral moodlet. This is a good method of increasing their spellcasting skill.
- Witches cannot clone themselves with the Clone Voucher lifetime reward.
- Toddler witches are unable to use magic, but they can sometimes make a toy disappear in their hand and reappear, while playing with toys from a toy box.
- Witches can also play with magic to increase their spellcasting skill, though very slowly. Playing with magic is also a frequent wish for witches.
- Witches with the evil trait can "Conjure Poisoned Apple" instead of the normal "Conjure Apple". The spell will conjure a poisoned apple by default, though there's a chance it will conjure normal apples.
- In the relationship panel, witches are displayed with a yellow border around their thumbnail, just like several other life states.
- During a full moon, a witch's spells consume less magic power and they are more likely to succeed.
- At level 5 of spellcasting skill, witches will begin performing more advanced animations when using magic, and the yellow magic trail emanating from their wand will become magenta with blue particles.
- Unlike The Sims 2: Apartment Life, both genders are called "Witch", instead of "Warlock" for males.
- Witches light fire pits and fireplaces using the "Fire Blast" spell, and extinguish them using "Ice Blast", by default, and can put out small house fires the same way.
- Learning the "Ice Blast" spell renders the brave trait redundant since they automatically fight fires with it.
Witch spells in Supernatural are categorized under charms, spells and curses. Magic power is required to cast spells, and each spell has its own magic usage. Spells also have a chance to fizzle or fail, which can yield negative results on the caster. It can be decreased by using higher quality wands or higher spellcasting skill.
There are a total of 20 spells, including "Bewitching Rain" and "Conjure Apple".
Note: Unless stated otherwise, all spells take 3 seconds to cast.
- (Level 1) Good Luck Charm: Grants the target the "Feeling Lucky" moodlet which gives +5 to mood and lasts for 24 hours.
- (Level 4) Love Charm: Grants the target the "Imminent Romance" moodlet which will cause the target to become attracted to the next person who talks to them and lasts for 24 hours. Advanced love charms also grant a big relationship boost, although the Sim can only become a romantic interest, and it doesn't allow Sims to start an official relationship with the significant other. However, if the spell fails, the target Sim will be an instant nemesis of the next person he/she talks to.
- (Level 6) Hunger/Thirst Charm: Replenishes the hunger or thirst need bar of the target.
- (Level 6) Bladder Charm: Replenishes the bladder need bar of the target.
- (Level 6) Hygiene Charm: Replenishes the hygiene need bar of the target.
- (Level 8) Sunlight Charm: Cures zombies and other negative moodlets including allergies[TS3:S] as well as granting the target the "Bathed In Sunlight" moodlet which gives +15 mood for 2 hours, immunity to pestilence curse, and protection from vampires. If used on werewolves in wolf form it will revert them to human form and it will cause the "Too Much Sun" moodlet to appear on vampires.
- Moodlets this spell is capable of curing include, but not limited to:
- (Level 4) Toadification Curse: Grants the "Toadified" moodlet which causes a few changes to the target, including their skin changing colors and their head becoming a giant toad head. There are a number of cures for the "Toadified" moodlet including the Cure Elixir, Potent Cure Elixir, Sunlight Charm, and a special toad kiss which the "Toadified" Sim may request from another. Normal Sims are the only ones to be affected by the curse, while all other occults are immune to the spell.
- (Level 5) Haunting Curse: Causes a ghost to haunt the target granting the moodlets "Haunted" and "Scared", or causes instant death to the caster. "Haunted" causes -20 mood and lasts for 2 days while "Scared" causes -25 mood and lasts for 3 hours ("Scared" will even affect characters who have the brave trait).
- (Level 7) Hunger/Thirst Curse: Reduces the hunger or thirst need bar to red.
- (Level 7) Bladder Curse: Reduces the bladder need bar to red.
- (Level 7) Hygiene Curse: Reduces the hygiene need bar to red.
- (Level 8) Pestilence Curse: Grants the moodlet "Sick and Tired", which if not cured within 24 hours causes the "Pestilence Plague" moodlet, which causes -30 mood and lasts for 2 days. Within the latter half of the "Pestilence Plague" moodlet the Sim will have regular coughing fits. Both "Sick and Tired" and "Pestilence Plague" moodlets can be cured by the Sunlight Charm, a Cure Elixir, or a Potent Cure; while the "Pestilence Plague" can also be cured by waiting for the moodlet to expire. Once either of the moodlets are cured the Sim will gain the "Immunity" moodlet which will make them immune to the "Pestilence Curse" for 2 days.
- (Level 0) Bewitching Rain: Cast on the weather stone to cause other Sims to go crazy and do the rain dance. The spell requires The Sims 3: Seasons.
- (Level 0) Conjure Apple: Randomly conjures either an apple or a poisonous apple.
- (Level 1) Conversion Ritual: Randomly turns one collectible into another collectible. Requires an end/coffee table or counter to use.
- (Level 2) Fire Blast: Shoots a blast of fire at the target. If cast at a Sim, will remove the "So Cold" moodlet (if applicable) and grant the "Singed" moodlet. It is possible for this spell to set the target Sim on fire.
- (Level 2) Ice Blast: Shoots a blast of ice and snow at the target. If cast at a Sim will remove the "Singed" moodlet (if applicable) and grant the "So Cold" moodlet which causes -10 mood and lasts for 2 hours (This spell can target certain items which will then break). It is possible for this spell to freeze a Sim solid; the resulting ice statue can either be thawed instantly with a Fire Blast or Sunlight Charm. It will also melt over the next few hours, freeing the Sim and leaving puddles.
- (Level 3) Magical Upgrade: Upgrades any object; this doesn't contribute toward handiness skill, however. The duration of casting is dependent on spellcasting hidden skill level.
- (Level 9) Restoration Ritual: Cleans up the lot it is cast on, but will not put toys away or make beds. It also repairs broken objects on the lot and disarms pranks set up by children and teenagers.
- (Level 10) Reanimation Ritual: Cast on a tombstone. It will bring back the target Sim as a zombie. (Doesn't work on children's graves.)
Notes and triviaEdit
- Witches in Supernatural are good in defending themselves from tricks pulled out by the other occults. For example, when a fairy performs a fairy trick on a witch, there is a good chance it will backfire to the fairy instead of the witch, then the fairy will receive a negative moodlet depending on the trick pulled.[citation needed]
- There is a reference to The Sorcerer's Apprentice film when the spellcasting skill is raised to level 9.
- Casting the "Haunting Curse" with a classic wand is not such a good idea. This is because the classic wand has the lowest spell accuracy which will often trigger the spell to backfire, causing death. To avoid this, try using a more expensive magic wand, witches that haven't been played will have a classic wand and may kill themselves by casting the haunting curse.
- Witches can cause untimely deaths to other Sims, though not directly.
- If the witch casts a "Fire Blast Spell", the target Sim will either be singed or be on fire. Alternatively, they can cast it around the floor of a household as many times as their magic power allows, likely resulting in some deaths provided that no Sims put the fire out or any fire alarms go off. Sims with the evil trait draw delight from this. Strangely, Sims will still get money from fire loss, even though nothing may be lost in the fire that a Sim casts.
- A witch can cause death using the "Hunger Curse" or "Thirst Curse" (for vampires). In that way, the hunger/thirst bar will decay and cause death.
- There seems to be a glitch related to the "Fire Blast Spell" where the indemnity granted by the insurance after a fire could reach ridiculously high amounts (going as far as §300,000) if the said fire was the result of this spell, even if no objects were destroyed. This could be exploited to make considerable amounts of Simoleons in a very short time simply by using the "Fire Blast Spell" anywhere the lot and then extinguishing the flames repeatedly. Purchasing the "Magic Hands" lifetime reward may cause this glitch.
Store contentEdit
Before the announcement of Supernatural, players can also buy the Lady Ravendancer Goth's Book o' Spells from The Sims 3 Store for 500 SimPoints. This item costs §72,000.[2] They can also buy Lord Vladimir's Magic Cauldron from the store for 600 SimPoints.[3] Both of the objects can be found in buy mode under Misc. Entertainment/Skills. They can be bought together in a set named "More Magic!" or in a compilation for January 2012 at the store.
External linksEdit


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Nonprofit Data Integration Project
Step Up Silicon Valley recognizes that assessing and measuring an organization's impact upon systemic social issues, such as poverty, is extremely difficult. Because so many players—other non-for-profits, governments and business—are involved in changing efforts, it is difficult to isolate the influence of any single organization. Measuring social impact of collaborative partnerships is even more complex; it is necessary to identify what the partnering organizations are doing differently as a result of their collaboration. Therefore, the Nonprofit Data Integration Project will help us streamline the process of evaluating the social impact of each organizations efforts and monitor success metrics through ongoing data sharing and inter-agency collaboration.
This initiative seeks to identify, design, test, implement and evaluate technological solution that enables social service agencies to port data directly from their unique, disparate client tracking software to a single shared data warehouse, or hub. This product will help to increase the timeliness of, access to, and accuracy of information to connect people in poverty and their professional and volunteer helpers to resources to help people move out of poverty, while tracking their progress.
The Nonprofit Data Integration Project will allow for:
- nonprofit service agencies in Santa Clara County to better coordinate and share information so that they can help create pathways of self-sufficiency with their clients,
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- and decreasing the time spent on paperwork and multiple data entry.
Almaz Negash, SUSV/CCSCC Sr. Managing Director
Angela Silveira, SUSV/CCSCC Program Coordinator
Len Hanlock, Technology Project Manager
Joseph Koduvathara, Project Assistant
Allen Gunn, Technology Advisor
Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence
The Bill Wilson Center
The Stride Center
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County
Nonprofit Data Integration RFP
Nonprofit Data Integration Project FAQs
For more information on the Nonprofit Data Integration project, contact Len Hanlock.


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Spring cleaning is a great way to spruce up your space after a long winter hunkered down in your apartment. And I'm all for a good spring cleaning, but there's another type of cleaning that I find even more necessary: after-summer cleaning.
At first, summer is great – spending the afternoons by the pool, grilling outdoors, vacations, trips to local parks, picnics … what's not to love? It seems that the beginning of summer is packed with outdoor fun, but then something strange happens right around the end of July … the kids get bored, they complain that it is too hot to go outside, and they spend the rest of the summer indoors, sprawled on the couch, watching TV or playing video games. Even the dogs, who at first wanted to be outside, frolicking in the grass and chasing the squirrels up trees, end up sprawled out near the air vents, napping. And somehow, we've collected objects we didn't have before … beach towels, souvenirs from our summer vacation, sports gear, swimming goggles, outdoor chairs … and strange dishware from barbecues and summer parties where guests brought covered dishes and then forgot to take the dishes home again.
With school starting on Monday, I took a look around and realized … I need to take my house back. Even though I've kept up with the house cleaning basics, I've noticed that the pantry is disorganized, household items have been relocated and shuffled around, and rooms look more cluttered than usual. And, with the beginning-of-the-school-year papers and whatnot that will soon arrive to my kitchen table and beyond, something needs to be done before this gets out of hand.
Getting organized (or re-organized) can be a lot of fun – especially if you think outside of the storage bin. Scour garage sales, antique stores, and thrift shops for unusual containers. For example, an old wire birdcage can be easily converted into a mail center (the wire slots are natural mail sorters), a tiered cake stand can organize lotions, perfumes, and makeup bottles in the bathroom, vintage suitcases stacked up make a great side table, an old trunk makes a great coffee table with tons of storage space, and old crates can serve as bookcases — or add castors and use them for toy or magazine storage.
Bookcases are great, but if you have one without doors and you want to hide some of the shelves, get a tension rod and a café curtain. Hang the tension rod and curtain above the portion of the shelves you want covered. You still have easy access to the items behind the curtain, but the clutter is hidden from view, and the visible shelves are open for attractive displays.
Peg boards and hooks make versatile storage that also looks great. Paint the peg board and hang in the kitchen; add the hooks and hang pots, pans, and utensils. In the hallway, the peg board and hooks become a great place to hang backpacks, tote bags, coats, scarves, and hats. In a closet, it can be used for purses, ties, necklaces, and scarves. And in a child's room, add a mesh bag or two for soccer balls and stuffed animals, and hang catcher's mitts, book bags, and jackets. You can even attach small bins and shelves for storing little items such as pencils, Legos, and small toys.
Next comes the cleaning. Start in one room and work your way through the spaces – finish a room completely before moving on to the next. If you hate cleaning, make it fun – set a timer and try to get all of your cleaning done before it beeps. Turn up some music and dance your way through it. Or, enlist some help from your roommate, spouse, or child and make it a race to see who can get done (and do the best job) the fastest.
If you prefer to use all-natural products, be sure to purchase white vinegar, lemons, lemon oil, orange oil, and baking soda. With just these few things, you can have your apartment in tip-top shape in no time. A great all-purpose cleaner (for windows, chrome fixtures, countertops, and shower doors) is a mixture of vinegar, baking soda, and water.
Orange oil is great for getting gum out of a wide variety of fabrics, and wiping a little lemon oil on the shower doors every couple of weeks is a great way to prevent soap scum build-up.
In small spaces such as apartments, clutter can very quickly become overwhelming. Tackle it now before the mad rush of school – and then the chaos of the holiday season – begins.


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The Ministry of Music at Rockville Presbyterian Fellowship consists of a choir, a contemporary praise band and many talented instrumentalists and soloists who provide music on special occasions. The Traditional service which features choral music is led by Stephanie Benton. Twice a year, the choir, often accompanied by instrumentalists from the community, sings a special cantata (collection of anthems) based upon the theme of the season (Christmas and Easter). The Contemporary Service music is led by the Reverend Steve Clark and fine group of vocalists and musicians. We are blessed with many fine musicians and voices, offering a rich musical worship experience for all who attend our services all in the service of glorifying our Lord.
Stephanie Benton
Stephanie recently moved to California after spending four years in Ramstein, Germany, where her husband Andrew was stationed with the USAFE band. Stephanie is a pianist and choral conductor, with degrees in both subjects from the University of Denver.
While in Germany, she directed a large international choir, played at a Presbyterian church, and taught piano lessons. Stephanie originates from Colorado, where her most recent positions were teaching college music courses and directing choirs at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs; and Pikes Peak Community College, as well as leading community choirs and church groups.
Last January, Stephanie met up with her choir from Germany in New York City, where they sang in Carnegie Hall with 200 other singers, which was a special treat. She also is a guest conductor with her choirs in Colorado on occasion. In addition to playing at Rockville, Stephanie also plays for the Orpheus-West chamber choir in Vacaville.
Steve Clark
Steve Clark is Director of the Church Praise Team. A graduate of Hope International University with a BA in Associate Ministry and Ordination he has served in Los Angeles and Solano County churches as a Home Group Leader, Elder, Worship Pastor and Associate Pastor. He brings contemporary worship to our services with songs from many groups such as Mercy me, Third Day, Jesus Culture, Casting Crowns, Newsboys and many more. His desire is to bring Scripture alive in Music. Steve asked Jesus to be the lord of his life in 1987 and felt the Holy Spirit guide him to music although he had little experience at that time. He has since recorded 17 original songs on a CD with one of his church bands.


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