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Monday, 12 September 2011
Welcome to our Reviewfest!
To begin I'm sharing a brief round-up of my recent reviews:
To Touch the Knight has been given a detailed and positive review by AAR (to read the whole thing, please go to their review page), and Joyfully Reviewed have made it a recommended read:
To Touch The Knight is a finely woven tale that has more than one intrigue you don't expect in a historical. Ms. Townsend is able to bring forth a happy ending to a group of people who were horrifically affected by the plague. I was so intrigued by the plot in To Touch The Knight I was unable to put it down until I finished the last page. If you want a little different historical romance then I Joyfully Recommend To Touch The Knight.
This book has also been given 4.5 ribbons from Lydia at Romance Junkies, who says: 'You will fall in love with the sensuous, but sweet interactions between Sir Ranulf and the mysterious princess as their story takes us on a journey through one of the most horrific times in history. A definite must read...'
Flavia's Secret at Dr. J.'s Book Place. The rating was 4 - Good:
A very complicated story that is set in the times of the Roman Empire with all its political ins and outs that are not often easy to understand. Lots of characters, a lot of tension between the slave population and those who own them, religious difficulties and persecution of Christians, and at the core, a very intense love story that is set in what appears to be an impossible situation. A good read and one that historical romance fans will find satisfying and entertaining.
Linda Banche giving me a super 5 Stars:
Alchemist Joanna must do the impossible--create an elixir for eternal life in order to free her father from the clutches of the evil bishop. The noble knight, Hugh seeks to free his brother, also a captive of the malicious clergyman. Together they join forces to defeat the evildoer and in the process, fall in love.
A KNIGHT'S ENCHANTMENT has everything I like in a romance--an unconventional heroine, a decent hero, a truly villainous villain and a story brimming with accurate history, tons of excitement and romance.
I love strong, capable heroines, and Joanna is one of the best. An alchemist, she is a predecessor of today's modern-day chemist.
I especially like the hero. Hugh is gorgeous (he's a romance hero, so it comes with the territory), but he's also a decent man who can be ruthless when needed, but also kind and gentle, especially with Joanna. Of course, she falls in love with him. Who wouldn't?
A KNIGHT'S ENCHANTMENT is another winner for Ms. Townsend. I can't wait for her next Knight book.
I hope everyone enjoys reading and sharing reviews in the next few days - and perhaps as readers, creating more.
7 comments:
- Maggie Toussaint said...
I'm delighted to see such awesome reviews for your work! You're such a talented writer and its high time that others are able to learn what you're all about. Very Well Done!
Maggie Toussaint
- 12 September 2011 at 16:25
- Lindsay Townsend said...
Thanks, Maggie! I'm looking forward to the reviews of other writers all this week, too!
- 12 September 2011 at 18:05
- Bekki Lynn said...
I echo Maggie, Lindsay. I love the Knight series and can't wait to catch up with the last two.
- 13 September 2011 at 03:04
- Savanna Kougar said...
Lindsay, great big congrats! And, I know that prickly hedgehog feeling. ~smiles~
- 13 September 2011 at 05:06
- Lindsay Townsend said...
Thanks, Bekki - I do hope you enjoy my latest knight novels!
Thanks, Savanna - oh yes, the hedgehog, I think as writers we've all had that. Looking forward to seeing your reviews up later this week.
- 13 September 2011 at 09:20
- Linda Banche said...
I like that your heroines are women of their time, and yet they're out of the ordinary. After all, they're heroines, not just the girl next door. And I like your knight heroes are decent men even though they've participated in the horror of war.
- 13 September 2011 at 13:43
- Lindsay Townsend said...
Thanks, Linda B. We clearly feel the same way, since I love those aspects in your heroines and heroes. I really enjoy reading your work because it's not set in a world of dukes and rakes.
I know with some of the romances of the 1970s the conflict between the hero and heroine was often so intense and so ongoing I used to feel their HEAs were all faintly unreal. I like tenderness and reality and the feeling a couple can take tea together as well as a manic swung from the chandeliers romp. (Nothing wrong with that, either, but I do like both.)
- 14 September 2011 at 08:51


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Response to Razib
8 Comments · Posted by Ibn Sina in culture, debate, Science & Faith
Preface by Razib: My friend Aziz Poonawalla responded to my previous post with a long missive, which you can read below. To the left is a photo of the both of us in late 2004 when I visited him in Houston. I've lost some weight since that time. In general despite our different religious outlooks there are core basic liberal democratic values we both adhere to. In general I've had a difficult time over the past few years talking about the subject of religion and Islam because my own views have become very "gnarly." Hopefully this exchange with Aziz will clarify some issues for both us.
I'm going to preface this with the observation that Razib is a dear friend, someone I genuinely trust. So anyone with an agenda who looks at this debate as an avenue to try and foment fitnat between him and myself is quite simply wasting their time. And mine. The truth is that friendship is a heavy responsibility and in a sense I abused it by leaving an intemperate (for me) comment, because (dispensing with false modesty) I am one of the few people that can trigger Razib to spend 1.5 hours writing a post in response to something I jotted out of irritation in 30 seconds. So I am suitably contrite.

subset: commoncrawl


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Since so many people have asked which MIDIs I personally have sequenced (as opposed to those sequqenced by Dave Choe, Markus Hein, Trevor Kuprel, Justin Horn or Joe Bickley), I have written up a list to save people the trouble of wondering who wrote what. Here are my accomplishments to date, listed by game.
the Robot War: Rockman (1)
Fireman's Stage
Robot Master Battle
Rockman's Victory
Central Core (Wily's 3rd and 4th stages)
Wily's Defeat
Dreams of Madness: Rockman 2
None (all of them are by others)
Loose Threads: Rockman 3
Snakeman's Stage
the Warrior and the Poet: Rockman 4
Prologue (part 2)
Brightman's Stage
Pharaohman's Stage
Diveman's Stage
Dr. Cossack's Citadel part II
Toadman's Stage
Train Ride Home (Ending Part I)
Ruby Fire, Lapis Flames: Rockman 5
Waveman's Stage
Starman's Stage
Crystalman's Stage
Napalmman's Stage
Chargeman's Stage
Gravityman's Stage
Gyroman's Stage
End of a Circle: Rockman 6
Stage Select
Plantman's Stage
Flameman's Stage
Centaurman's Stage
Tomahawkman's Stage
Knightman's Stage
Windman's Stage
Yamatoman's Stage
Symphony of Fire: Rockman 7
Forte's Theme (trumpet)
Springman's Stage
Turboman's Stage
Battle with Dr. Wily
Forte's Theme (sawtooth)
Right Totto's Theme
Ending Credits
Skull Castle Stage I
Skull Castle Enemy Battle
Metal Heroes: Rockman 8
Dr. Light's Lab
Swordman's Stage
Astroman's Stage
Stage Select
Forte's Theme (Dark Energy Remix)
Intro Stage
Duo's Theme
Wily Tower Stage 2
Aquaman's Stage
Frostman's Stage
Tenguman's Stage (Saturn version)
Rockman and Forte
Coldman's Stage
Right-Auto's Shop
Burnerman's Stage
Rockman X
Zero's Theme (original drums, bass, guitar)
All the rest were sequenced by Markus Hein
Sigma Redux: Rockman X2
Battle with Zero
Dr. Light's Capsule
Crystal Maiman's Stage
the X-Hunters' Theme
Battle with Sigma 1
Battle with Sigma 2
Ending Part I
the Doppler Effect: Rockman X3
Hollow Victory (Ending A)
Triumphant Return (Ending B)
Stage Select 1
Dr. Light's Capsule
Dr. Cain's Lab
Headquarters Under Attack (Stage 1)
Vava's Countdown (Vava's Mini-stage)
Electro Namazarus's Stage
Gravity Beetbood's Stage
Stage Select I
Shining Tigerd's Stage
the Repliforce: Rockman X4
X's Theme
Battle with Iris
Love is Not Lost: Japanese anime intro
Stage Select I
Split Mushroom's Stage
Storm Fukuro's Stage
Zero's Theme
Cyber Kujacker's Stage
Rockman World Games
1: None
2: None
3: None
4: None
5: Saturn's Stage
Rockman: Battle and Chase
Battle and Chase Theme
Rockman Soccer
Rockman: the Power Fighters
Napalmman Remix
Stage Select Remix
Fan Fiction Music
Neo Blues' Tale
Other Game Music
Battle with a Warlock: Magus' Theme (from Chrono Trigger)
Final Battle with Kondir (from Hunters in London)
Irregular Battle (from Hunters in London)
Upgrades (from Hunters in London)
London IHHQ (from, Hunters in London)
Stage Select I "Steel Barons" (from Hunters in London) Professor Mallers' Communication (from Hunters in London)
Vampire Killer from Demon Castle Dracula
Stalker from Demon Castle Dracula
Wicked Child from Demon Castle Dracula
Walking on the Edge from Demon Castle Dracula
Heart of Fire from Demon castle Dracula
Out of Time from Demon Castle Dracula
Nothing to Lose from Demon Castle Dracula
That's it as of right now. The Hunters in London Music is all original compositions of yours truly.
Added up, that makes a grand total of 100 MIDIs--just a bit of work.
Also, I've done remixes of Flame Mammoth, Armored Armadillo, Spark Mandrill, and Sting Chameleon, but I just used Markus Hein's work to piggyback off of, so I don't count that as my own work.
Return to the Rockman's World Gate
Return to Eddie's Rockman Music Archives


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Ithiyan Movie Video SongsIthiyan Movie Video Songs is a collection of products with 90 downloads. The most lightweight of them are DVD Clipper and Joiner (sized at 661,366) and DVD2one (sized at 678,780), while the largest one is Nero with 260,650,954 bytes. It includes 26 freeware products like iTunes and MediaMonkey as well as commercial software like Daniusoft Video Converter Suite ($59) and Karaoke Video Creator ($119)
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Perry comparisons: Thompson, Clark or ... Clinton?
AUSTIN — While some wonder whether Gov. Rick Perry's red-hot rise in the polls may cool as quickly as the fortunes of Fred Thompson and Wes Clark before him, others see a more apt comparison to a different late-starting candidate.
He was a governor and natural politician with a knack for working the crowds. He was late to join what was seen as a less-than-stirring field, and he had a laser focus on the economy. Perry might not appreciate his politics, but he'd sure like to emulate how Bill Clinton changed his address in 1992.
"Perry wouldn't necessarily like the comparison, but he may turn out to be the Republican Bill Clinton for '12," said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.
There are clear differences — a Rhodes scholar who tacked to the center versus a proud Aggie decidedly on the right — but it's the political path to which Sabato refers.
"Clinton wasn't the winner in either Iowa or New Hampshire (though he finished second in New Hampshire and called himself the 'comeback kid' after his controversies had cost him). Clinton finally started moving when the battles moved south. In that year, the key first race was Georgia, which Clinton won. In 2012 it will be South Carolina," Sabato said.
And both Clinton and Perry are Southerners. There's no question that the South is still America's most distinctive region, and there is a natural tilt by voters to a fellow Southerner," Sabato said by email after it became clear Perry would announce in South Carolina.
Perry's working Iowa hard and is poised to head to New Hampshire to kick off Labor Day weekend, but South Carolina could provide a firewall.
Steffen Schmidt, political science professor at Iowa State University, dismissed Thompson as a half-hearted candidate who got out before he'd hardly begun. Clark was "an impossible candidate" since he'd never held elective office, Schmidt said. Perry is a different political animal.
"Governors always do very well. .. You've got to have some kind of a job that's related to the exercise of political and governmental authority," Schmidt said. "Perry has that. Perry has proven that he can get reelected over and over again so there's no comparison there. Bill Clinton is a better comparison. Much better."
Sabato also stood by the comparison: "I realize skeptics are saying Perry will fade like Thompson and Clark and (former U.S. Sen. Phil) Gramm. Maybe. But look at his early poll numbers ... Doesn't mean Perry will win it all, but if he can get control of the brain-tongue highway and remember he has to run in a general election and win states not nearly as conservative as Texas and the GOP electorate, he'll be well positioned."
Interesting note: Clinton weighed in on Perry in a speech after he jumped in, calling the Republican a "good-looking rascal" but his rhetoric "crazy."
And top Perry political adviser Dave Carney was typically brief when asked what comparisons he sees between the two: "They were both governors."
Michele Bachmann was born in Waterloo, Iowa, but her performance at a fundraiser there has Black Hawk County Republicans chair Mac McDonald steamed. Bachmann drew attention with her delayed entrance to the fundraiser (she came in after Perry spoke) and for — in the eyes of some Republicans —hijacking the end of the program by offering T-shirts and autographs. McDonald had wanted to thank volunteers and make an additional fund-raising plea to a crowd excited by hearing from the candidates. He lost the chance at some extra funds for the party.
"It wasn't a political rally for her," he said. "I wasn't just upset, I was mad ... It wasn't Iowan-like to do what she did."
Texas Congressman Ron Paul was a study in gray in Winterset, Iowa, Saturday, his golf shirt and slacks and low-key style a contrast to his typically direct message.
He talked about monetary policy, his desire to bring troops home and his libertarian belief in personal freedom: "People who don't hurt other people should be making their own decisions."
He engaged those who lofted questions, including a man worried that if U.S. troops were pulled out of other countries, those who wish to harm the United States could benefit. Which enemy? "Islam," came the answer.
"I don't see Islam as our enemy," said Paul, who blamed U.S. occupation of other countries and the killing of "a lot of innocent people" for creating enemies.


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Romans by Andy Woods
Guilt of the Gentiles, Part 2 (Rom. 1:18-32)
Paul begins his exposé of the sins of all mankind by revealing the guilt of the Gentiles who know of God's existence from His self-revelation in creation yet actively suppress this truth. As men reject God, He abandons them to their depraved passion and its consequences. [56 minutes]
|Choose Format
|Audio Recording
MP3 Format
|Powerpoint Slides
Adobe PDF format.
|Introduction to Romans
Adobe PDF format.
Copyright © 2018 by Andy Woods
(Version 1.2 generated on Mon Jan 22 20:02:18 2018)


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Arts In Construction is a 2017 program created by Peter Holland to bring the professional visual artist onto the jobsite to get inspired, inspire others, and leave their mark on the house in several ways.
For years Peter has been incorporating art inspiration from outside the RiverStone building bubble into our projects. Unable to find the time to be more involved in the art world outside of RiverStone houses, Peter decided to bring the Visual Art world to RiverStone.
Each house will have at least one talented visual artist assigned to it and will use, when possible, extra materials that fill many of our 30 yard dumpsters during a job. Some of the work will be done off site, but most of the work will be on site. One or more permanent pieces will be incorporated into the house and one or more pieces will be exterior or interior works that can be sold to the homeowner and remain with the house or sold and installed at another home. The proceeds from the sale of the artist's work will go 50% to the artist and 50% to the RiverStone Kiva micro-lending charity where the artist gets to choose the person who receives the micro loans.
Joshua Ruder is primarily a figurative sculptor, currently residing in Newton, Massachusetts. He is a graduate of Brown University, where he received a degree in Visual Arts with honors. His work ranges from realistic to abstract and includes pieces in stone, steel, ceramics, plaster, wood, and glass.
He started sculpting when he was 15 years old in a yearlong art course dedicated to making and casting a bust. This exposure to traditional materials and methods of making sculpture launched him on a path of exploration of forms and materials that has continued to this day.
Here are some examples of Josh's previous work


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Glass Pool Fencing: The Smart Choice for Your Pool
If you have a pool at home and you have small children, it can be a dangerous combination. Hence, homeowners choose to hire builders of glass pool fencing Gold Coast has today as a safety measure. With cases of drowning pretty common even in household pools, it is important to take a preventive step by installing a safety fence.
When installing a pool fence though, you should not compromise the aesthetic style of your pool. Just because it serves a functional purpose, it does not mean that you should compromise on its aesthetic value either. The best solution for that is to find best glass pool fencing in Gold Coast. Glass is the number one choice of material that is recommended by expert pool fence builders.
Durable and Secure
When most people think of a glass pool fence, they might cringe at the idea. Glass sounds like a material that would easily break with contact. However, installers of Gold Coast glass pool fencing use a different kind of glass to build the fence. Specifically, it is a tempered glass that is formed into panels to make it easy to install onto your pool perimeter.
The tempered glass is manufacturing by heating them in up to 700 degrees and then cooled. This process improves the resiliency of the glass to make it extra durable. Hence, it won't break or crack easily and is durable enough to withstand impact. It should be able to stay intact even when it is hit with the weight of an adult.
Stylish and Modern Look
One of the primary reasons why homeowners choose glass pool fencing Gold Coast offers is because it looks modern and stylish. It represents a unique and minimalist look. It also looks very elegant, especially when you also have landscaping features near the pool. The glass fence will be able to showcase the beauty of the landscape design and does not offer an obstruction of your view. It does all of these without sacrificing the security within your pool.
Easy Maintenance
Unlike steel, it won't rust. Wood fence, on the other hand, is also subject to damage from the weather. Both of these materials can rust or decay when exposed to rain, sun or snow. With glass pool fencing Gold Coast has, you won't have to worry about the elements. It will not rust or decay. It won't require re-painting or oiling as part of its maintenance procedure. The only kind of maintenance it will require is the occasional hose down and cleaning it with a detergent solution in order to keep the glass looking clear and good.
Enjoy the View
A lot of homeowners refuse to install a pool fence (despite its safety risks) because they do not like how the fence obstructs their view. With a glass fencing system, you can lounge by the pool and see the landscape around it. It is not an eyesore and makes your pool look more expensive, too.
If you are ready to build your glass pool fencing in Gold Coast, there is no better team to call on for that than Artwork Glass. Their expertise in building glass pool fence is unparalleled. You can check out their portfolio on their website, or ask for a quote too: http://artworkglass.com.au/.


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On Saturday night Kimbo Slice will do something that many people would have thought unthinkable just one year ago – step into the UFC octagon for his official debut in the organization.
Despite losing to eventual finalist Roy Nelson early in the TUF show, Kimbo's presence on the show made it the most viewed season ever, and that, combined with his humble attitude have apparently convinced Dana White to allow him to fight for the promotion.
For his first fight they have matched him with another renowned striker from the UFC's roster, Houston Alexander, in what will be a 215lb catchweight bout.
Speaking ahead of the fight Kimbo Slice states his belief that this will be the kind of stand-up fight that he is known to relish.
"Everybody knows what my stronghold is," says Kimbo, clenching his fist. "Somebody's getting knocked out."
It is interesting to note however that Houston Alexander hints that things might not go exactly as people are expecting.
"If you, the audience, are thinking it's just going to be an all-out brawl…you know, I honestly think it's not going to be that way. I think it's going to be planned out. Both camps are going to come in with a gameplan."
Is the heavy-handed striker planning to take Kimbo to the ground?
Watch the interview and judge for yourself below.
The UFC have also posted another video with comments from both fighters as well as the thoughts of Dana White on this potentially explosive encounter. Watch it below…


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Planning Your Exit Strategy
Your exit strategy is your succession plan from your small business. For each small business, their succession plan could look different. It could involve, depending on the level of planning.
- outright sale of the business to a third party
- transfer of management to family members, along with some form of ownership control
- sale of the business to a staff management team
- closure of the business because options were not sought early enough, or
- a combination of various elements of the above.
A proper succession plan could take put to 3 to 5 years, depending on its complexity, so the earlier you start, the better. There is no one-size-fits-all. Each business is unique, with its own complexities and personal dynamics. It is important to establish goals and objections from the beginning, and have a clear focus as you go through the process.
The roadway to succession planing generally has 12 steps, with some steps being more complex than others. Some might be easy and quick for you. Others might take a fair bit of time to implement. Others might need the help from professionals, such as your accountant, financial planner, lawyer or insurance broker. These are roughly the steps:
- goals and objectives
- exit strategy
- business valuation
- business structure and organisation
- tax and legal considerations
- estate plan
- successor selection
- successor training
- contingency plan
- conflict resolution
- timelines, and
- communication plans


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I have had this blog for about two years now,and I honestly thought few people read it- maybe my writer friends, Don, some family members. After all, I am not a well known novelist or someone who has accomplished great things that make people stop and say, "Ooooh, Aaaahhh." But, today I believe someone from work dropped a subtle hint that she has seen my blog. Now, the questions come barging through! Does she read it? Has she shared it with other coworkers? What does she think? What do they think? I can hear you asking, "Why do you care?" My answer is, "I care about what they think because I care about them." I work with some really neat people. What more could a girl ask for?
Which brings me to the New Year. I have decided not to make any resolutions, because I end up getting sidetracked, or I simply choose not to follow through. But, if I decide on the spur of the moment to do something, such as taking knitting up after a 20 year dead spell, or I decide to write a story today, then I will follow through. I am just not good at keeping lists, or trying to decide what I want to do in the next year. All I want is to be a better person, to show compassion, and to have a great time at life.
Our Christmas was wonderful this year- we spent it with Don's family. I had not made yeast bread since I was a teenager, maybe even a young adult. But, I made a loaf of bread, cinnamon rolls and dinner rolls. Everybody at the dinner said the rolls were wonderful. If Mother were alive today, she would be proud of me!
It seems strange that it will be 2009 in a little over 24 hours. When I was a kid, 2000 seemed so far away that it gave me chills just thinking about it. I recall being ten years old and figuring out that in the year 2000 I would be 39 years old. Now, it's almost 2009, and I will turn 48 in November. In the year 2020 I will turn 59...I think. Kind of eerie, if you ask me.
I have been writing, but not as much as I would like. I submitted a memoir to the California Writer's Club annual anthology, but I have not heard back yet. I just completed a short story and need to find a market for it. As for my novel, I have put editing on the back burner. Sometimes I wonder if I am a better short story writer than a novelist. I don't know. All I know is that I love to write.
I wish a happy and safe new year to all. See you next year.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
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Hello, Everyone! I am throwing out a reminder to followers of this blog that I have launched a new website which I am now maintaining at w...
A few years after my grandmother passed away and my grandfather decided to move in with my aunt and uncle, I was given a large box containi...
I always look forward to the New Year because it means Thanksgiving and Christmas are done until the holiday season gives birth again ten mo...
Krups, who I often called K, was my best friend for twenty some-odd years. From the day we met, we were inseparable. The whir of her bladed...


text: Cassia Riley is back and horny again! Well, we all are happy and excited to see this babe, cause she's hot as hell! I'm telling you - those tits excite even me, and did you see her pussy? This horny cassia riley pictures has 330 x 485 61 kb Jpeg. Horny cassia riley is a popular picture for wallpaper. If you have a problem about intellectual property, child pornography or immature images with any of these pictures, please send report email to webmaster at Farimg.com, we will remove it immediately.


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Schwinn Meridian Adult 26 Inch 3 Wheel
Bought this for my Sister in law who has some diabilities and is unable to drive a car. She was depressed that she couldn't get around on her own or was limited by the distance because she had to walk unless we took her. She now goes all over town and picks up groceries, her medications goes shopping,etc... She has her independance back... I have a piece of mind because of the quality of the bike... I bought a trike from wal-mart for the same money and after bringing it home, took it back the same day because it was junk. I got on amazon and within minutes found this trike. I am very particular on quality and this manufacture put quality and safety first on their list... I am impressed not to mention the price was spectacular. The bike did have some scratches on the side of it and was missing a small fender bolt but I was so pleased with the quality I didn't even care... Thanks Amazon!
Mike Thacker
Chillicothe, IL


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Monday, November 17, 2014
Christmas Candle and Rose - Fred She Said
Here's another Christmas card for you. This one uses a pre-colored Christmas Rose and Candle from Fred She Said.
I made another Easel Card. They are very addicting. Especially when you don't want to make your focal image smaller and still want to add a sentiment. However, taking a really good picture isn't that easy.
The rose is actually layered twice on top of the original.
The sentiment is from Stampin' Up, which was stamped and heat embossed.
Challenges for this Card:
Card Mania - Use a DigiP
Craft-Dee Bowz - Anything with a bow
Dream Valley - Anything
Love to Create - Christmas
Melonheadz friends - Add a sentiment
Not Just Cards - Anything
Perfectly Rustic - Embossing
Stamp and Create - Ribbon and Bows
9 comments:
- Zoe said...
Such an adorable easel card. It looks so classy and elegant. Thank you so much for joining us this week at Not Just Cards Challenges Good luck and We hope you'll join us again soon.
Zoe x
Handmade with lots of Love
- November 18, 2014 at 3:44 AM
- Donna Maligno said...
Beautiful card -- love your coloring and layering. Thanks for sharing your art on the Craft-Dee BowZ November challenge. Don't forget we have a Diemond Dies giveaway on our blog this month, so hop on over and take a look and leave a comment - you could be a winner!
- November 18, 2014 at 5:08 PM
- Crafty and Green said...
What a beautiful Christmas Easel Card! The Image and design are fantastic!! Thank you so much for joining us this week at Love to Create: Make it for Christmas Challenge!! We Hope you will come back and play along with us again soon!
Many Blessings,
- November 18, 2014 at 9:46 PM
- La Papera Gialla said...
Thanks for playing with us at Not Just Cards Challenges this week!
Monica - DT
- November 19, 2014 at 2:23 AM
- Conniecrafter said...
Beautiful, love how you did the corners and border too!
- November 19, 2014 at 8:07 AM
- Claire Dale said...
Beautiful easel card! Thank you for joining us at Dream Valley for our latest challenge!
Claire xx
- November 19, 2014 at 4:29 PM
- Ruza Rebel said...
Beautiful card! Thank you for joining our "Make it for Christmas" Challenge at Love to Create this week.
Ruza ~ LTC Admin/Designer
Ruza's Craft Corner
- November 21, 2014 at 6:09 PM
- Kim Butterworth said...
Great easel card, I like the image you have used! Thanks for joining us at Perfectly Rustics!
- November 22, 2014 at 8:37 AM
- Margreet said...
Gorgeous card...thanks for sharing it with us at Melonheadz Friends!
- November 23, 2014 at 11:50 AM


text: In 1990 in Italy the company "Maritime Engineering and Technology for Transport, Logistics and Education" was created. The core business of the company was Research and Technological Development and Engineering in Naval Architecture, Navigation, Transport and Logistics. In 2 years, the company became a European Leader with many clients including major multinationals, cruise ships, container ships, shipyards, ports and public authorities. In 1997, a French branch was then opened in Sophia Antipolis. In 1998 a branch, Mettle International was opened in New York City, USA and in 2000 a branch, Mettle Deutschland, in Bremen, Germany. In 2001 the Mettle Group was created and its headquarters established in Sophia Antipolis. In the same year the group built its own offices and created an additional French branch, SCI les Nautiles. In 2002 two new branches were added, one in Italy M2M and one in Cyprus Mettle Institute. In 2004, two foreign investment companies acquired 100% of the shares. In 2005 a new branch Excalibur was created for the management of yachts and ships. Finally, in 2010 the company Mettle France changed its in name into the actual STR Europe.


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The LA Galaxy could have signed 85 Kyle Beckerman's instead of David Beckham. Beckerman is making $160,650 this year playing for Real Salt Lake. Beckham is making $5.5 million this year in base salary, along with $200 million over the five year contract.
However, even if Beckerman played in Beckham's Armani underwear, he wouldn't draw in the fans like Mr. David Beckham, whether they're real soccer fans or ones that just know Beckham by all the tabloid pics and like the way he looks - Beckham is just a big draw on a number of levels besides soccer. And that's why Mr. Beckham gets all the loot, not Beckerman.
What would we have though in LA if they signed all those Beckerman's instead of Beckham? A player who shows up week in and week out. Since he doesn't have to fly to England to play for his country. A player who works hard, but I think Beckham works hard. A player who is a team player, although maybe a quiet leader like Beckham, but meshes in well with the side. A player who wants to win desperately, but I think Beckham does too.
If you look at the Houston Dynamo, a team that frowns upon signing any big name players, they buy good players on the cheap rather than big named stars. They sign a bunch of quality players and spread the money around. Sure, this is what the LA Galaxy could have easily done, and won more games and maybe been even a championship.
It's the same old story though, and it's almost like people don't realize it or want to create drama, Beckham was signed broaden the appeal of the MLS, and not just the Galaxy.
Who else could they have signed on the cheap?
Or, let's take another player from Beckham's own Galaxy team, Landon Donvoan, LA could have signed 6 Landon Donvoan's. Or how about rookie AJ De La Garza from national champion Maryland, who is making just $36,000 a year. LA could have signed nearly 153 De La Garza's. He's a skillful defender, a fighter in the mode of Ashley Cole or Patrica Evra. But he's a rookie, new to the game, and you can only field 11 players at a time, not 153.
The LA Galaxy fans have to realize this is a business. That Beckham is a soccer player but also a global icon. This was a deal with the devil in a way, expand the MLS's game around the world, which they have done. Sell more tickets to games. Which they've done. Sell more jerseys, which they've done. Maybe win more games and some MLS championship trophies...not yet.
LA isn't losing money with Beckham. Teams are losing when he's not playing. With the number of jersey's they're selling and the increase attendance across the league. It would be interesting to see more recent numbers on this though. That will tell the real story. But his addition to the league has brought a lot of attention to the MLS around the world. Sure both good and bad stuff, but attention nonetheless.
And then they got a windfall of attention when there was a backlash against Beckham, fans booing and even Beckham confronting a fan. Beckham didn't need to do that, that was a poor decision by Beckham, but at least it was him and not his wife, Posh, throwing her shoes at the LA Riot Squad. A Posh outburst would have been good TV though.
Do the LA fans realize that the games wouldn't be as exciting without the Beckham show on board, the good and the bad?
Did anyone watch the Chivas versus Galaxy, incorrectly called EL Superclasico? It was boring. Zidane was there and left early. And then Beckham comes and plays his first game in New York and we've got some excitement.
Why are LA fans so upset, because he left to play in one of the best leagues in the world and he wants to play in the World Cup? He didn't go binge drinking with his Manchester United buddies over the summer or something. The guy just wants to get the most out of his final years of professional soccer. Deep down does Beckham wish he just would have stayed in Europe and not left Real Madrid? Maybe.
But there is more to this soap opera, Donvoan might just face up against David Beckham in the Serie A, as nearly promoted side, Livorno, wants to sign the American. Are the Galaxy fans going to complain now? 'Donvoan, you can't go, you owe it to us to stay.' Sports is all business, don't you know.
Still though, MLS commissioner Don Garber chose Beckerman instead of Beckham for the MLS All-Star game, and even All-Star team coach Dominic Kinnear snubbed Beckham. But I'm guessing it was because Beckham didn't want to play...or had an injury.
Is there another player in the world the MLS could have signed and created as much buzz and attention? I don't think so. Say they sign Zidane, he would have left after the first year in frustration.
The question now though, when Beckham is done and retires, who does the MLS sign to replace him. Who can the MLS sign that will sell jerseys and pack the stadiums. Who's the next Beckham. Or, will the league be strong enough to pay guys like Kyle Beckerman more money...
Quote of the Month:
"There is always someone out there getting better than you by training harder than you."
more soccer quotes...
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text:
[Caml-list] Bug with really_input under cygwin
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|2004-03-11 (15:17)
|skaller <skaller@u...>
|Re: [Caml-list] Bug with really_input under cygwin
On Thu, 2004-03-11 at 16:02, Nuutti Kotivuori wrote: > firstname.lastname@example.com wrote: > But - there's nothing ambiguous about slurping an entire file into a > string. And there's nothing complex about doing that portably. A file is an abstraction, meaning it is a collection of access methods. There's no 'bytes' in a file, the bytes are just values return from the read function or submitted to the write function. Many files exist with many different access methods. Even the same physical disk data can be different file abstractions: eg Unix directory. The data on an unbuffered non-blocking serial communication link cannot be read with the block reading algorithm I gave: end of data occurs before end of file -- if there is an end of file .. eg it won't work on a raw terminal. Yes, I know we have strayed a long way from the original question, but I think the issue here is: the manual isn't precise enough, but making it so is in fact very difficult, so the Ocaml team is 'forgiven'. That's what I think I was trying to say :D -- John Skaller, mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com voice: 061-2-9660-0850, snail: PO BOX 401 Glebe NSW 2037 Australia Checkout the Felix programming language http://felix.sf.net ------------------- To unsubscribe, mail firstname.lastname@example.com Archives: http://caml.inria.fr Bug reports: http://caml.inria.fr/bin/caml-bugs FAQ: http://caml.inria.fr/FAQ/ Beginner's list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ocaml_beginners


text:
Absent voter ballots are available for all elections. They provide voters with a convenient method for casting a ballot when they are unable to attend the polls on Election Day.
As a registered voter, you may obtain an absent voter ballot if you are:
Age 60 years old or older
Unable to vote without assistance at the polls
Expecting to be out of town on election day
In jail awaiting arraignment or trial
Unable to attend the polls due to religious reasons
Appointed to work as an election inspector in a precinct outside of your precinct of residence
Your request for an absent voter ballot must be in writing and can be submitted to the City of Gladwin Clerk's Office. Your request must include one of the six statutory reasons stated above and your signature. You may request an absent voter ballot by mailing the application or you can obtain a form at the clerk's office by calling (989) 426-9231, Extension 11. Requests to have an absent voter ballot mailed to you must be submitted to the clerk no later than 2:00 p.m. the Saturday before the election.
Return your application to:
City of Gladwin
Attention: Kimberly Bruner, City Clerk
1000 West Cedar Avenue
Gladwin, Michigan 48624
Once your request is received by the clerk's office, your signature on the request will be checked against your voter registration record before a ballot is issued. Requests for absent voter ballots are processed immediately. Absent voter ballots may be issued to you at your home address or any address outside of your city or township of residence.
After receiving your absent voter ballot, you have until Election Day to complete the ballot and return it to the clerk's office. Your ballot will not be counted unless your signature is on the return envelope and matches your signature on file. If you received assistance voting the ballot, then the signature of the person who helped you must also be on the return envelope. Only you, a family member of person residing in your household, a mail carrier, or election official is authorized to deliver your signed absent voter ballot to the clerk's office.
If an emergency, such as a sudden illness or family death prevents you from reaching the polls on Election Day, you may request an emergency absent voter ballot. Requests for an emergency ballot must be submitted after the deadline for regular absent voter ballots has passed, but before 4:00 p.m. on election day. The emergency must have occurred at a time which made it impossible for you to apply for a regular absent voter ballot. The clerk's office (989) 426-9231, Extension 11 will have more information about emergency absent voter ballots.
Voting is one of the most cherished and fundamental rights in our country. If you are eligible to obtain an absent voter ballot and cannot attend the polls on Election Day, use of the absent voter ballot is encouraged.


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Our purchases are now tied to our account and not the console. So I can stop buying the original Zelda for the 100000000th time.
Obvious move is obvious. But still appreciated.
Better late than never?
Delicious gaming news for your everyday enjoyment.
Our purchases are now tied to our account and not the console. So I can stop buying the original Zelda for the 100000000th time.
Obvious move is obvious. But still appreciated.
Better late than never?
An excerpt from an interview with Nintendo Director Takahashi-san:
Whereas people who have been traditionally Nintendo handheld gamers, they may buy Nintendo Switch and then for example, if a new version were to come out later, then maybe they would decide to upgrade to that. Or, for example, because you can take the Joy-Con off the system, then I guess that leaves open the possibility of something else that might get attached. There's obviously a lot of different developments that we could look at from that perspective as well.
(emphasis added by me)
May I please have a moment to react? Ah hem.
So it seems I will need to become independently wealthy. And quick.
I can see Nintendo releasing new colors and themed Switch consoles as they have done in the past, and special joy-cons I can get on board with but if they treat the Switch like they did the 3DS with multiple versions that didn't just upgrade battery life but actually limited the games you could play on them… that's a recipe for WiiU-like disaster. Even with how closely some follow the industry there was still confusion by all the new iterations of the 3DS and new 3DS and new 3DS+ and NEWnew 3DSi-Platinum Gold Sticker Model 2.0.
I hope they stick to one Switch and promote it like hell so it sells like hot cakes and every third party developer would feel stupid to not make games for it.
If they do decide to release upgraded versions of the Switch ala Xbox Scorpio and PS4 Pro I know what I'm gonna do…
…probably buy one anyway.
You can read the full interview with Takahashi-san from Time here.


text:
Text RAPF01 £10 (or whatever amount you choose) to 70070
Anna's trip to Romania. Anna is a trainee human rights lawer and RAP were delighted to facilitate her trip.
My Trip to Romania
As a law student with an interest in human rights I went to Romania hoping to gain more of an insight into the issue of human trafficking, an issue hugely prevalent in Romania. I was also very interested in the preventative and legal work being done in order to combat this issue. I was in Romania for a total of 3 ½ weeks. My time there has definitely shown me that I hope to be able to work in the future with organizations- such as the ones I spent time with – to tackle some of the big overarching social issues which face us today. My time in Romania has given me the belief that it is so important to spend time in and understand a culture and society before you try and tackle any 'problems' you may see in it – as without an understanding it is almost impossible to identify the fundamental root causes of these overarching issues.
The primary organization I spent my time with was eLiberare - they are concerned with the prevention of human trafficking through education, awareness raising etc. My main task while there was to work alongside the other intern to research and create the basis of a volunteer training manual to be used throughout Bucharest and beyond to train those who wish to volunteer with survivors of trafficking. The key focusses of the research I was doing were as follows:
- Understanding the mindset and mental state of a survivor of trafficking; for example the bond they may feel with the trafficker (be that for reasons of affection, or for fear of harm to them or their family if they disobey them), the impact of trauma on the way that person thinks and the different triggers which may send a person into a state of fear
- The theories behind, and practical methods of, practicing trauma informed care. This essentially focusses on an understanding that the brain of a survivor may work slightly differently as a result of the deeply traumatic experiences they have suffered; it then takes this understanding and uses it to enhance the healing process by reconsidering the way these people are treated and disciplined.
- There was also a section on vicarious traumatization (in which care givers and volunteers start to display physical and mental symptoms similar to those we may expect from the suffers they are working with) and methods to prevent or minimize the impact of this which I found very interesting as it was an issue that had never come to mind before.
Open Doors
I also spent a few days with Mirela - who works as the lawyer for the Open Doors Shelter for woman who have been rescued from trafficking. She was extremely generous to me, taking a few days out of her (incredibly) busy schedule to tell me all she knew and all about the incredible work she's been doing. In addition, she took me around all the different courts that there are in Bucharest – and a couple of the administrative buildings – explaining what work went on in each and all the procedural aspects (…and thus procedural frustrations!) involved.
She also shared with me her plans to create and run an 'Acadamie Anti-Traffic' for law students who wish to get involved in the fight against trafficking. Her aim was to extend this to foreign students and has told me should would be keen for me to return and undertake this programme, and perhaps have a hand in running it. This is very much a potential opportunity I will bear in mind.
What I Gained
I gained a much deeper understanding of the root causes of human trafficking - the personal situations, governmental position and also societal outlook which can increase the prevalence of it. In addition, I now have a deeper insight into what practical help and support is required by those who have recently been through trafficking, and also a greater understanding of the reasons why so many chose to return multiple times to their trafficker. On a personal level I feel I gained a sense of independence and confidence that I could probably only have gained from turning up to a completely new city, where I knew no one, to live and work their for a month!
Highs & Lows
- As warned the level of disorganization and lack of communication was somewhat frustrating, especially as
- The level of religious emphasis amongst everyone I met and worked with was something I personally found challenging. To me the focus on practicing religion in order to be part of many of the major organizations working to fight trafficking was highly frustrating as I feel this unnecessarily limits the help that many non-religious people like myself are keen to offer.
-Another frustration for me was that communication with Monica at open doors had suggested that I could spend a week staying in the shelter to get a grasp of what they were doing, however when I met her she was reticent to let me spend even an hour there so in the end I didn't really spend any time gaining an insight into that side of the matter.
- Meeting Mirela and the kindness, generosity and insight she offered me stands out as incredible highlight. The understanding that she has about the legal issues regarding trafficking, and the flaws in the legal/governmental system which need to be fixed before these can be overcome is evidently invaluable.
-Another highlight for me was knowing that the work I was doing would have real and practical utility throughout Bucharest and beyond to help improve the services available to those who are survivors of trafficking situations
-Further, I really loved discovering Bucharest. On initial encounter it seemed very imposing and dirty and in places very run down but actually when I spent time exploring it there were so many interesting shops and cafes and beautiful parks. My friend Kirsty visited for a weekend and we had a wonderful time visiting the cool bars and seeing the touristy sights.
-Everyone working at the eLiberare was quite young and there was very much a community/family vibe which was absolutely lovely. Twice a week we all ate a home cooked lunch together and often did things out with office hours. This was especially nice for me as I was there alone.
Human Rights Issues
There are evidently a huge number of human rights issues which arise when you look at the issue of trafficking relating to the right not to suffer mistreatment, the right to personal freedom, freedom of speech etc. However, I think the thing which struck me most was that it was blatant to me the real root of many of these issues, which is what I have decided to focus on.
From spending time in Bucharest I found it abundantly and unpleasantly apparent that there is a wide spread perception of woman as 'objects' to be 'admired' amongst the male population. I couldn't go out anywhere without having me – of all ages, some even while with their sons – stop in their tracks and stare until I was out of sight. Prolonged cat calling was an almost daily occurrence also. It was clear from talking to the other interns that these issues were noticed by them too. Against this background it is easy to see why sex trafficking is such an issue, society breeds a view that woman are there to be used and this means they become very vulnerable to exploitation. It seems to me that before any progress can really be made in tackling trafficking this fundamental outlook/perception will need to be challenged.
I met with Madalina from the CEDCD and talked about the work she does fighting for inclusive education for children who have special needs. I found her an incredibly inspirational and selfless woman doing incredibly thankless but necessary work. What really struck me was her frustration with the lack of understanding – or even knowledge – of the true (awful) state of special needs education in Romania, a European country. Essentially the special needs schools, which any child who does have some for of difficulty is essentially required to attend, are just 'holding pens' for while the parents work – no real education is given. In addition the children routinely still suffer sedation and physical manhandling. Evidently, Madalina found it highly frustrating trying to make her voice heard – both in Romania and the wider Europe – and I have offered my services should she ever find herself in need of a 'Scottish voice'.
Lastly, here is a link to a recent story on human trafficking by the BBC which links in Anna's story-


text:
Samsung Focus
- Marvin
Ravi, 09 Jul 2013Hi, Can I update my Samsung Focus i917 to Windows Phone 7.8? If ... moreJust Upgraded my phone to 7.8
search xda developer on google..
- 11 Aug 2013
- K7e
- kwasi
this phone doesn't hold up when taken off the home network. it's light and low-end and kinda beautiful. but it goes off all by itself and the network goes off for forever at a time- nothing makes it come back, until you have missed all your calls and the phone is now happy.
- 03 Aug 2013
- ftM
- Ravi
bhaumik patel, 19 Jul 2013I m using this phone !! Bt i dont k ow how to install various ap... moreDear Mr. Patel, Its very simple procedure. Just go to Menu by sliding Right, Now click on Market Place, There you click on apps & browse through different categories of apps you can find whats app, skype etc from social category. Hope this will help.
- 20 Jul 2013
- bhaumik patel
I m using this phone !! Bt i dont k ow how to install various application in my phone like - whatsapp, viber ,skype etc ...
When i go through google for download whatsapp its shows ans error like
= Note: For downloading this file you must install Zune Software on your PC or Download app in MarketPlace:
i want to knw whole the procedure how can i install whatsapp and other stuff !!
Need help please !!
Thank you !!
- 19 Jul 2013
- rJg
- Ravi
Hi, Can I update my Samsung Focus i917 to Windows Phone 7.8? If yes someone plz share the process to do so.
Thanks in advance.
- 09 Jul 2013
- Ravi
Hi, Can I update my Samsung Focus i917 to Windows Phone 7.8? If yes someone plz share the process to do so.
Thanks in advance.
- 09 Jul 2013
- karan
shac, 18 Apr 2013is Update 7.8 available for samsung focus?Yup.. windows 7.8 update for focus is available.. you can google "windows 7.8 for samsung focus" and catch tha link on xda-developers.com
- 02 Jul 2013
- utZ
- AnonD-158830
This phone is so good as my review . I like this and I would like to buy this.
and so many thanzzz to gsm arena to give the review
- 25 Jun 2013
- Sam
SANDEEP KUMAR, 01 May 2013my phone is not supported memory card so make sure when you buy ... morethere is a procedure for this phone to recognize your memory card you need to reset your phone
- 07 Jun 2013
- tUb
- Anonymous
why it does work if brought from a next country ..like usa..to carribean..network not holding up in some places
- 08 May 2013
- j09
- Akhil
man i dont know why this phone sucks for sure..i hate this phone..its better to take lumia 520 rather than taking this..
- 03 May 2013
- uuC
my phone is not supported memory card so make sure when you buy please check before
- 01 May 2013
- Lg4
- Sanchez
The phone has a purpose..but only the user of the phone can say how great it is..trust me this phone is great..but i have eared that some of them give problem meaning when turning on it turns off back..or when the phone battery is place in it turns on..i can tell u how to turn it on..but when things like this happen to ur phone its just a power problem that may cause that to happen..so u av to turn on the power button mean while holed volume up button the phone will turn on an off about 2 times before it actually come on now wen it comes on keep ur finger on the volume up button only until about 10sec after it is on...u can not lock ur screen or it will not going to turn on u would have to repeat the process thank you..hope this help
- 29 Apr 2013
- 8fE
- Joe
No you cant transfer you need WP 7.8 for that and I dont know if theres for the Original Focus
- 25 Apr 2013
- Pr@
- Anu
Anonymous, 17 Apr 2013Try factory reset switch off the phone and press capture button,volume down,and power button at once.press along when the phone asking you a format.then you can format it
- 21 Apr 2013
- iwp
- Anu
any body help me.my focus's bluetooth says unable to pair with my nokia n97 mini.is its bluetooth isnt compatible with another devices?
- 21 Apr 2013
- iwp
- Anzii
can we transfer data thru bluetooth to other devices(specially android phones)? nd can i transfer mobile data or sd card data of this phone to my pc??
- 18 Apr 2013
- P$k
- shac
is Update 7.8 available for samsung focus?
- 18 Apr 2013
- U2h
- Anonymous
Try factory reset
- 17 Apr 2013
- sgv
- shane
AnonD-102583, 13 Feb 2013thank u prashant...........how to reset filmware??????Its a nice phone but how do I get marketplace and wawhatsapp on my phone
- 03 Apr 2013
- jxX


text:
So I won't even lie- I had a bit of a breakdown earlier today.
Lately, I've been feeling overwhelmed and pressured to produce blog posts (on here & on my photography blog), social media content, products for my Etsy shop, You Tube videos for my subscribers that encourage me to keep at it…. and also still have time to document my own family & spend undistracted quality time with my husband & daughter, too.
It's too much.
When I was in the middle of multitasking this morning, my full glass of chocolate peanut butter Shakeology spilled all over my laptop, and that's when the tears started flowing. And because I was already feeling overwhelmed, I cried harder than I normally would have any other day.
My husband happened to be there in that moment and while helping me clean up, he suggested I take a break from blogging & social media in general because it seems to not be enhancing my life & only causing me unnecessary stress and frustration. To be quite honest, he's right… There's really no reason I should feel pressured to check in every day.
I appreciate those that follow my blogs, but those that really want to read it can simply subscribe and have it sent to their emails instead of waiting for me to post the link on FB or share on Instagram. (Scroll to the bottom of the page & you'll find the box labeled "subscribe.")
I also appreciate my YouTube subscribers, but to be honest, I can see the stats and on average, most people only watch 2-3 minutes of my 20 minute long videos…. I don't think it's selfish for me to say that it's not really worth the hours I spend to create those when I could be using that time for something a little more purposeful.
I don't want to shut down everything quite yet, but I do want a break & I know that something's gotta go! I have to figure out what my priorities are, but I'd be a bad mother and spouse if I didn't declare right now that tending to my own family comes before posting anything online! I can't give Nadia the proper attention she needs if my mind is always thinking about the world wide web… and I don't know about anyone else, but I'm starting to feel like a fly stuck in that web! I'm getting unstuck, y'all. 😉
So after my sticky-almost-ruined-computer incident, I deleted the social media apps from the homepage of my phone, turned off any notifications that were on, and kept my computer shut down until right now.
I took Nadia outside, and we played games in the backyard- silly made up games that we've never played before. We soaked in the sun. And we laughed…. hard.
I thought, "This is it. This is what I want."
I walked over to my garden. It's a pathetic sight. It was looking great until it rained for weeks on end, and now it's completely and totally overgrown. I started talking to God while I was over there in my garden. It was a simple conversation.
What is wrong with me? Why am I feeling this way?
He brought me to the point of feeling His Presence in such fullness that I took off my sandals, knowing I was walking on Holy ground. In the quiet, He said, "Circle the garden."
As I walked around and around, this is what He said:
"Marybeth, do you see all these weeds? This is what your life looks like right now. All the worry, all the pressure, every bit of stress you put on yourself- Those are all the weeds. And look. There is fruit underneath them all… The problem is, you've allowed that fruit to become buried."
He's right- always is. In my overgrown, unpruned, weed-filled garden, there are ripe tomatoes hidden underneath all the life-suffocating plants that have grown faster than I could keep up with them.
It will take quite a bit of time, but I need to weed out my own garden. That may mean no social media posts & no new videos. It might also just mean I have to learn how to simplify. Let those that truly care to keep up with my writing and my photography come to me instead of me always going to others.
When God says He wants us to have hearts like a servant, it doesn't mean constantly catering to others and not tending to our own needs. I think it would be very wise for me to take some time to disconnect from the creation to keep connected to the Creator.
It will be worth it. The world doesn't need any more unpruned gardens.
XOXO, Marybeth


text:
The Makes, Charles Ashman aka "Chicken" has a bunch of good photos and a bio over on the the Orchid website.
The Makes, Charles Ashman aka "Chicken" has a bunch of good photos and a bio over on the the Orchid website.
Want to get the first watch of the new A Bike Co "Cuts" video?
The Mongoose team are ready to go head to head on the road. TM Chris McArdle has booked their transport already. Check that out below...
Who's going to be on the Profile team for Ride To Glory?
Check out Kriss Kyle's day in the life video...
Does this post need a description……? http://mpora.com/videos/59C5pFVEYMPORA Action Sports >>
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text:
'Plan to be surprised.'
I didn't expect this movie to be any good at all when I picked it up among the other comedy drama movies that I decided to digest over the past couple of days. Yes, I am a movie junkie who just wanted to tune it for a simple laugh or some easy-going movie that doesn't make you think much which is the point when you are trying to escape from all the brainstorming sessions for the dreaded research. Anyway, as I have said, I never did expect the movie to turn out to be any good and indeed, it was more than I expected. The simplicity of the movie was the catch. Yes, very predictable stuff but that's the beauty about the movie. The following could be a spoiler so just ignore this if you have any plans to watch it.
The American comedian, Steve Carell, played the lead role, Dan Burns, who is an advice columnist who is supposed to be an expert in relationships but somehow struggles to succeed as a brother, a son and a single parent. Throughout the whole movie, he was pathetic. The whole family even the little kids were teasing him, jeering him as if he's like a nobody but though being treated so, he resisted it all until the day he met Marie, a "hottie" that is being played by the lovely actress, Juliette Binoche. Yes, obviously, he fell in love with her after 4 dreadful years being a widower. For a moment, he thought he wouldn't find love anymore after losing his wife but somehow the lovestruck was beyond his control and in just merely 3 days, the love forced him to break many rules that he had been trying to abide to all these years for his 3 daughters' sake.
I really liked the last part, a voice-over in which Dan narrates his column to the readers, indicating that he was chosen by the newspaper media company to have his column nationally syndicated. It goes something like this, "Dear readers, for most of you, this is my first column in your paper. In the future, I will be answering your questions but today, I want to break from my usual format and talk to you about the subject of plans. Not so much my plan for this column, more like, life plans. How we all make them and how we hope our kids make good, smart, safe plans of their own. But if we are really honest with ourselves, most of the time our plans don't work out as we hoped. So, instead of asking our young people, "What are your plans ?", "What do you plan to do with your life ?", maybe we should tell them this. Plan to be surprised."
I have always been the boring type person who asks those silly questions to others about their future plans and had been judgmental when someone answers they don't have anything particular in mind. And, of course, biased in many ways accordingly to my sets of values. I guess I am the type of person who gets weary about the idea of not planning. Plans are good, (since there's the saying, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail") I still believe but we must always remember there's a possibility that certain plans may not turn out as how we hoped, the main message that this movie wanted to convey. Life is filled with randomness and we, human, tend to want to be in control all the time and definitely, it could be easier for ourselves to 'plan to be surprised'. Anyway, there's quite a few cute scenes especially the quarrels between Dan and his 2nd daughter, Cara, who's in a rebellious teenage phase who's deeply in love with a young boy. The keyword, "murderer of love". *hehe* When you find time and want an easy-going movie like how I did, this could just be that movie.


text:
12 January 2014
New Year, New Look, New Schedule
9:52 PM | Posted by Unknown
Hey guys! Happy New Year!! I know it has been a while since I have posted anything here but hopefully that will change this new year because I really miss the book blogging community. So, first off I decided to redesign Books Ahoy with a new fresh clean design. A new look for a new year :). Secondly, I decided to take a page out of I'm A Book Shark's book and create a schedule for my blog so that I may keep my blog up to date daily. I think creating a schedule is a great way to plan out what you are going to post therefore keeping your blog organized and planned out. I may even buy a journal/notebook dedicated to planning out my blog posts. Here is the schedule I planned out:
Monday: Book Tours/Challenges
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday
Wednesday: Waiting on Wednesday
Thursday: Book Tours/Challenges
Friday: Follow Friday
Saturday: Book Review (Print)
Sunday: Book Review (ebook)
So that's my plan for this new year! What's your new year's plan for your book blog?
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- ► 2012 (56)


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So yeah, my Twitter/Reader/Facebook exploded after 7pm last night with everyone's reactions to Steve Jobs' death. My wife even teared up a little bit - more so because you're talking about someone passing at 56 after battling cancer for most of the last 7-8 years - but also because as a former photojournalist like me, we both have been avid fans and users of Apple products for over two decades.
I wouldn't be where I am today without Apple's influence - from the Apple II's I remember in our elementary school classes that let us program BASIC - to the all-Mac newsroom I walked into as a freshman in college, with a bunch of Mac Plus stations for writers and editors, running System 6.x with floppy drives - to the house I live in now with four MacBooks/iMacs and about 8 iPods/iPhones of various makes, models, and sizes.
We probably would have gotten to where we are today one way or another - but we wouldn't have gotten there as fast, or with the same refinement - if Apple would have gone under any of the multiple times it was on its deathbed since 1976. There's an obvious influence on all of our ways of life, on how we choose, ingest, and manage our media consumption, that's been incredibly disruptive over the last 40 years, and it's largely due to Jobs' reality distortion shield and force of personality as a product visionary.
To expand upon I point I made elsewhere - I find his comeback to Apple
after 1997 far more compelling and influential than the original
creation of the Macintosh in the 1980s. Hey, even Microsoft finally
figured out GUIs after 10-15 years: the concept wasn't that hard to
Donkin' around on Global Poker
1 week ago


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AWS Mobile Blog
Create an Android Mobile App with Pinpoint using Mobile Hub
Amazon Pinpoint is a new AWS service that makes it easy to run targeted campaigns to improve user engagement. Amazon Pinpoint helps you understand your users' behavior so that you can define who to target, what messages to send, and when to deliver them. Amazon Pinpoint tracks how your users interact with your app so you can monitor the impact of your campaigns.
Amazon Pinpoint provides real-time analytics with dashboards for analyzing user engagement, monetization, user demographics, custom events, and funnels so you can understand how users engage with your app. You can analyze and understand your user data by drilling down based on the segments you've defined, segmentation attributes, or time.
With Amazon Pinpoint, you can define target segments from various data sources. You can identify segments from app user data collected by Amazon Pinpoint. You can build custom segments from user data collected by other AWS services, such as Amazon S3 and Amazon Redshift. You can also import user segments from third party sources, such as Salesforce via S3.
Once you define your segments, Amazon Pinpoint lets you send targeted notifications with personalized messages to each user in the segment based on custom attributes, such as game level, favorite team, and news preferences. Amazon Pinpoint can send push notifications immediately, at a time you define, or as a recurring campaign. By scheduling campaigns, you can optimize the push notifications to be delivered at a specific time across multiple time zones. Amazon Pinpoint supports rich notifications, so you can send images as part of your push notifications. Amazon Pinpoint also supports silent or data notifications, which allow you to control app behavior and configuration in the background.
Once your campaign is running, Amazon Pinpoint provides metrics to track the impact of your campaign, including the number of notifications received, number of times the app was opened as a result of the notifications, time of app open, push notification opt-out rate, and revenue. You can also export event data reported by your app and run custom analytics using your existing analytics systems.
You can run A/B tests for different messages, track results, and then send the best message to your target segment.
With Amazon Pinpoint there is no minimum fee, no setup cost, and no fixed monthly cost based on your total user pool. You only pay for the number of users you target or collect events from, the messages you send, and events you collect, so you can start small and scale as your application grows.
Now let's have a look at how you integrate Amazon Pinpoint with your app.
Latest version Android Studio: https://developer.android.com/studio/index.html
Step 1 – Mobile Hub
Create a new Mobile Hub project from the AWS Mobile Hub console. In this example, we are naming the project PinpointMobileHub.
Enable Amazon Pinpoint by clicking User Engagement.
Enable app and campaign analytics by clicking Enable Engagement.
Choose Android and add your API Key and Sender ID.
To provide your API Key and Sender ID, refer to the next section for information on how to get these credentials from your Google Developer Project using Firebase.
Getting Sender ID and API Key
Go to https://console.firebase.google.com. Create a new Firebase project called PinpointMobileHub.
Go to your project settings by clicking on the gear icon next to your project name, and then click on Project settings.
Click on the CLOUD MESSAGING tab. Copy the Sender ID (also called Project Number) and the API Key.
Back to Mobile Hub
Provide your sender ID and server key (API Key).
Click Save changes. Click Integrate with your app . You will be redirected to the Integrate feature of Mobile Hub. Click the Android tab to download the Android Mobile Hub sample.
The Android sample contains the Amazon Pinpoint SDK, along with a Demo fragment demonstrating how to record analytics events and how to enrich an endpoint profile with custom attributes so that you can target users based on their preferences.
Mobile Hub Android Sample
Unzip the downloaded file PinpointMobileHub-aws-my-sample-app-android.zip.
Open Android Studio.
Click Open an existing Android Studio project, and navigate to the MySampleApp directory.
Android Studio will open the sample project. Now you should be able to run the sample in your device or on the simulator.
You can verify that your credentials are correct by checking the AWSConfiguration file inside the com.amazonaws.mobile package. Verify that your project contains a value for the GOOGLE_CLOUD_MESSAGING_SENDER_ID key.
Note: The Mobile Hub sample project uses the Google Cloud Messaging SDK and not the Firebase SDK. If you are using the Firebase SDK in your application, Amazon Pinpoint will still work with your project, however, there are some extra steps you will need to take to make it work correctly. See the section on Firebase integration.
Run the application on a simulator or device, if you are running the application on the simulator you need to make sure that you have logged in to Google Account on the simulator so that Push Notifications will work on the simulator. To add an account, go to Settings -> Accounts -> Add account -> Google, and log in to your account.
Demo App Analytics
On the demo application, navigate to the User Engagement section and tap on Demo App Analytics. You will see two buttons on the bottom, the left button records a custom event and the right button records a monetization event.
You can add custom attributes and metrics to an event. The sample code is the following:
final AnalyticsClient analyticsClient = AWSMobileClient.defaultMobileClient().getPinpointManager().getAnalyticsClient();
final AnalyticsEvent event = analyticsClient.createEvent("DemoCustomEvent") // A music app use case might include attributes such as: // .withAttribute("Playlist", "Amazing Songs 2015") // .withAttribute("Artist", "Various")
// .withMetric("Song playtime", playTime);
.withAttribute("DemoAttribute1", "DemoAttributeValue1") .withAttribute("DemoAttribute2", "DemoAttributeValue2") .withMetric("DemoMetric1", Math.random());
analyticsClient.recordEvent(event); analyticsClient.submitEvents();
The sample app records a custom event with event type _monetization.purchase. You can add also custom attributes and metrics to a monetization event. A monetization event must have a price, a product ID, a quantity, and a transaction id. The sample code is the following:
final AnalyticsClient analyticsClient = AWSMobileClient.defaultMobileClient().getPinpointManager().getAnalyticsClient();
// This creates a Google Play monetization event. To create an Amazon monetization // event instead, use AmazonMonetizationEventBuilder. final AnalyticsEvent event = GooglePlayMonetizationEventBuilder.create(analyticsClient)
.withProductId("DEMO_PRODUCT_ID") .withQuantity(1.0) .withTransactionId("DEMO_TRANSACTION_ID").build();
analyticsClient.recordEvent(event); analyticsClient.submitEvents();
Demo user engagement
We will now run through the user engagement and targeting portion of the demo and get a notification sent to the device.
Update an endpoint profile
Amazon Pinpoint is able to segment and target users based on an endpoint profile. The endpoint profile contains information about the device, such as model, make, version, etc., as well as custom attributes or metrics.
To demo the targeting feature of the demo application, navigate to the User Engagement section and tap on Demo User Engagement.
On the User Engagement demo, you will see information about your endpoint profile, such as your current locale, platform, and version. You can also set custom attributes on the endpoint profile. The demo is setting a custom attribute named `season` to signify the favorite seasons of a user.
Go ahead and select your favorite seasons, we will use it later to create a segment that targets devices with those preferences. For this example, we will select all four seasons.
The sample code to update your profile with custom attributes is the following:
.defaultMobileClient().getPinpointManager() .getTargetingClient().addAttribute("seasons", Arrays.asList("winter","spring","summer","fall")
Creating a campaign
Go to the Amazon Pinpoint console: https://console.aws.amazon.com/pinpoint/home/
Select the PinpointMobileHub application we created in Mobile Hub. It will be named pinpointmobilehub_MobileHub since we created the app in Mobile Hub.
Click New Campaign.
Name your campaign My first campaign, keep the campaign type as a Standard campaign, and click Next step.
Now let's create a segment to target users that have selected `Fall` as a favorite season. Name this segment `Fall` so that we can reuse it later.
In the section Filter by custom attributes, select fall and click Next step.
Give a title and body to the notification, then click Next step.
Schedule the campaign to be Immediate so that you get the notification right away.
Review your campaign and click Launch Campaign.
If you have the sample app in the foreground, an alert will show up. If the sample app is in the background, a banner will be displayed with the notification. You can also swipe down to see the notification center.
If your app is in the background and you tap on the notification, you will be able to see notification opens metrics in the Amazon Pinpoint console as a Directly Opened metric. Click on the Campaign analytics button.
At this point you should also be able to head over to Amazon Pinpoint Analytics and see the monetization and usage data populated in the console, it may take some time for the data to update.
SDK Integration
First add the Amazon Pinpoint SDK to your Gradle Build.
dependencies {
// … other dependencies go here …
compile('com.amazonaws:aws-android-sdk-core:2.3.5') // add the Amazon Pinpoint SDK dependency
compile('com.amazonaws:aws-android-sdk-pinpoint:2.3.5') }
Initializing the SDK
To initialize the SDK you must instantiate an instance of the PinpointManager class:
try { final CognitoCachingCredentialsProvider cognitoCachingCredentialsProvider =
new CognitoCachingCredentialsProvider( context, "YOUR_IDENTITY_POOL_ID", Regions.US_EAST_1,
new ClientConfiguration() final PinpointConfiguration config =
new PinpointConfiguration(context, "YOUR_APP_ID",
cognitoCachingCredentialsProvider); this.pinpointManager = new PinpointManager(config); //Save instance of pinpointManager
} catch (final AmazonClientException ex) {
Log.e(LOG_TAG, "Unable to initalize Amazon Mobile Analytics. " + ex.getMessage(), ex); }
Mobile Hub initializes the SDK inside its AWSMobileClient class. You may use that class to manage initialization of AWS SDKs.
Instrumenting Session Data
You must instrument session data manually on Android. You must record session start and stop events in order for Analytics to work. A session must be started before an event is recorded, and they should be stopped once the application goes into the background. Mobile Hub has an example inside its Application class utilizing the AbstractApplicationLifeCycleHelper that provides callbacks to detect when your application goes into the background and comes to the foreground.
The following example is taken from Mobile Hub's example code:
public void onCreate() { Log.d(LOG_TAG, "Application.onCreate – Initializing application…"); super.onCreate(); initializeApplication(); Log.d(LOG_TAG, "Application.onCreate – Application initialized OK");
private void initializeApplication() {
// The Helper registers itself to receive application lifecycle events when it is constructed. // A reference is kept here in order to pass through the onTrimMemory() call from // the Application class to properly track when the application enters the background. applicationLifeCycleHelper = new AbstractApplicationLifeCycleHelper(this) {
protected void applicationEnteredForeground() { final PinpointManager pinpointManager = AWSMobileClient.defaultMobileClient()
.getPinpointManager(); pinpointManager.getSessionClient().startSession(); // handle any events that should occur when your app has come to the foreground…
protected void applicationEnteredBackground() { Log.d(LOG_TAG, "Detected application has entered the background."); final PinpointManager pinpointManager = AWSMobileClient.defaultMobileClient()
.getPinpointManager(); pinpointManager.getSessionClient().stopSession(); pinpointManager.getAnalyticsClient().submitEvents(); // handle any events that should occur when your app has gone into the background…
} };
// …Put any application-specific initialization logic here…
public void onTrimMemory(final int level) { Log.d(LOG_TAG, "onTrimMemory " + level); applicationLifeCycleHelper.handleOnTrimMemory(level); super.onTrimMemory(level);
Setting up push notification with GCM
The SDK needs to register the device token received from GCM with the endpoint profile. Implement the GCMTokenUpdateObserver in a class and override the onGCMTokenUpdate method. The following example is taken from Mobile Hub's example code:
public void onGCMTokenUpdate(final String gcmToken, final boolean didTokenChange) { if (didTokenChange) {
Log.d(LOG_TAG, "GCM Token changed, registering for Campaign push.");
// Register the Device Token to receive Campaign Push.
final NotificationClient notificationClient = AWSMobileClient.defaultMobileClient()
.getNotificationClient(); notificationClient.registerGCMDeviceToken(gcmToken);
} }
On your class that extends the GcmListenerService add the following code inside the onMessageReceived method:
AWSMobileClient.initializeMobileClientIfNecessary(this.getApplicationContext()); final NotificationClient notificationClient = AWSMobileClient.defaultMobileClient()
.getPinpointManager().getNotificationClient(); NotificationClient.CampaignPushResult pushResult =
notificationClient.handleGCMCampaignPush(from, data, this.getClass());
if (!NotificationClient.CampaignPushResult.NOT_HANDLED.equals(pushResult)) { if (NotificationClient.CampaignPushResult.APP_IN_FOREGROUND.equals(pushResult)) {
// You can handle the notification any way you like if the app is in the foreground.
Add the following declarations to your AndroidManifest.xml. In this example taken from Mobile Hub, we register the PushListernerService to handle messages.
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK"/> <uses-permission android:name="com.google.android.c2dm.permission.RECEIVE" /> <permission android:name="com.amazon.mysampleapp.permission.C2D_MESSAGE"
android:protectionLevel="signature" /> <uses-permission android:name="com.amazon.mysampleapp.permission.C2D_MESSAGE" />
android:name="com.google.android.gms.gcm.GcmReceiver" android:exported="true" android:permission="com.google.android.c2dm.permission.SEND" > <intent-filter>
<action android:name="com.google.android.c2dm.intent.RECEIVE" />
<category android:name="@string/google_cloud_messaging_package" /> </intent-filter>
android:name=".PushListenerService" android:exported="false" > <intent-filter>
<action android:name="com.google.android.c2dm.intent.RECEIVE" /> </intent-filter>
Setting up push notification with Firebase
The SDK needs to register the device token received from FCM with the endpoint profile. Extend the FirebaseInstanceIdService in a class, and override the onTokenRefresh method.
On your class that extends the FirebaseMessagingService, add the following code inside the onMessageReceived method:
public void onTokenRefresh() {
// Get updated InstanceID token.
String refreshedToken = FirebaseInstanceId.getInstance().getToken(); AWSMobileClient.defaultMobileClient().getPinpointManager()
.getNotificationClient().registerGCMDeviceToken(refreshedToken); }
NotificationClient.CampaignPushResult pushResult = AWSMobileClient.defaultMobileClient().getPinpointManager().
getNotificationClient().handleFCMCampaignPush( remoteMessage.getFrom(), remoteMessage.getData());
if (!NotificationClient.CampaignPushResult.NOT_HANDLED.equals(pushResult)) { if (NotificationClient.CampaignPushResult.APP_IN_FOREGROUND.equals(pushResult)) {
// You can handle the notification any way you like if the app is in the foreground.
Add the following declarations to your AndroidManifest.xml. You must register this receiver so that we can launch the app when the user taps on the notification.
android:name="com.amazonaws.mobileconnectors.pinpoint.targeting.notification.PinpointNotificationReceiver" android:exported="false" > <intent-filter>
<action android:name="com.amazonaws.intent.fcm.NOTIFICATION_OPEN" /> </intent-filter>


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Austrian Dealers Admit Ordering Amphetamine on the Darknet
In a recent article, DeepDotWeb covered the arrest of two drug dealers from Salzburg responsible for the distribution of kilograms of various drugs throughout Salzburg. According to the arrest reports, the duo had been buying large quantities of drugs on the darknet and reselling the drugs to local distributors and smaller buyers. After Customs in Frankfurt, Germany, intercepted several packages ... Read More »


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Fresh Food at The Halfway Inn
At the Halfway Inn we pride ourselves on serving quality food, not fast food. Most dishes are prepared fresh to order and during busy periods there may be a wait. We believe it is worth the wait!
All of our produce is delivered daily by local independent suppliers. If you have any special dietary requirements or allergies please speak to a member of our team or call us direct. On a day to day basis we have Vegetarian and Gluten Free meals available on our main menu and specials menu.
Fancy a Roast? Every Sunday we freshly roast a selection of joints and carve your traditional roast to order. Our selection of joints vary weekly and are served from midday until we run out so please book where possible. All roasts are served with homemade Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, fresh vegetables and gravy. For the non-meat eaters we have a delicious homemade nut roast served with all the trimmings and veggie gravy.
Join us in our cosy 16th century thatched pub. With two log burners, a warm welcome and friendly atmosphere awaits.


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Forget Them Not/
Most of the Filipinos who first settled in Santa Clara Valley in the 1920s and early '30s were Ilocanos. One of the last of them still alive is Esteban ("Steve") Cabebe Catolico, a WWII veteran of the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment who survived his older brother Mariano Cabebe Catolico (1909-2009).
Mariano, who immigrated in 1928, and Esteban were cousins of my stepfather Dalmacio ("Danny") Laya Cabebe (1914-2008), whose first wife was my mother Mária ("Mary") Vidal (Lapaz, Abra; 1907-1970). The three Pinoys were from Barangay Pantoc, Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, and remained close, life-long cohorts working for and retiring in the City of Palo Alto. They were active in the fraternal organization Caballeros de Dimas-Alang, Malvar Lodge No. 7, San Jose, California, and in the Pantoc Association.
Dan, who immigrated in 1930, passed away a few months short of 94 years of age, and Mariano 12 months later, missing 100 years by a little over a month. That left his brother Esteban now 103, as probably the last of the pre-Tydings-McDuffie Law ("The Philippine Independence Act" of 1934) immigrants who lived near or frequented the now-vanished "Pinoytown" enclave in San Jose's old Chinatown.
However, the two Catolico brothers did leave a living legacy as they, along with other leading Filipinos in the early 1930s, founded the still functioning Filipino Community Center of Santa Clara County. Fortunately for later generations, the Catolico brothers with Frank Bravo, Leo Escalante, Sr., Alex Fabros, Sr., Val Ordonez, the Peralta brothers -- Max, Gene and Tony -- and Severino Ruste had the foresight in those years to lead the effort to raise the funds needed to purchase the land and build the Center.
These three First Wave Ilocanos are a part of the "un-storied" generation as there was no organized effort to document their early life experiences. Fortunately, we were able to video-record, for our history project, the life stories of Mariano and Esteban in person. We also recorded the history of some of their deceased peers, including Dan, through their children, the Fil-Am "Generasian," who are now in their 80s and often referred to today as the mánongs and mánangs.
Most of the Ilocanos I knew in the 1930s and '40s were employed as farm laborers or service sector workers who had only an elementary school, or maybe a junior high equivalent education -- 6th grade for my father Sergio ("Sharkey;" Pañgada, Santa Catalina, Ilocos Sur; 1907-1994), none for my mother (even with no formal education she could converse in Tagalog, Visayan and English, besides Ilocano). The three Pinoy boys were products of an educational system of the WWI era, less than two decades under American rule.
Mariano was unique not only for his longevity but also, in contrast to his town mates and friends, he wanted to go to a university and study for a degree. So he applied to and was accepted by the University of California, Berkeley, graduating in 1935 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. He went on to graduate school there to earn a Master of Arts degree in history in 1937. He was proud to be a U.C. alumnus, even though throughout his university years he had plenty of room in lecture halls for no white student would sit near him.
He was an unusual Pinoy, not only because of his struggles, degrees and longevity, but also for his sharp memory, being able to recall for our video interview details of Pantoc, family members, immigrating to and starting life in the USA, his town mates and friends, attending Cal, his Filipino U.C. classmates (all of whom returned to the Philippines), meeting his wife, Isabel, (Laur, Nueva Ecija), all the while naming dates, places and people. He proudly told us that all three of his children had college degrees, as did his wife (Manila Central University, 1951). Mariano was content and happy with how his life played out, with no regrets for living as a Filipino in the U.S., except for one, the same probably for others with a university education in the 1930s who were not white.
Mariano's dream was to teach history, the subject he loved, but he could not get a teaching position or even work in an office, supposedly because he was not a U.S. citizen but, he suspected, because he was brown. Even with his master's degree and, like so many other Filipino men of that era, he work variously as a houseboy, cook, farm laborer and even as a contractor of other Filipino laborers. For us Filipino Americans who went to college, we fortunately did not have to endure that kind of rejection, although that doesn't mean there is no discrimination in our academic, working and everyday lives. Mariano was a pioneer in that respect, but probably wasn't recognized as such then or given a tribute for his accomplishments.
For all those First Wave Pinoys, I made one small personal, private effort.
When Dan passed away, his wife, Editha (Laoag, Ilocos Norte), asked me to give the eulogy on behalf of her, his daughter Alice Joan and his grandchildren, Erik Regala, Treven Regala and Lisha Guin, and great grandchildren. I made up a short eulogy, and having given tributes before for my family -- my father Sergio (it was just too difficult to do one for my mother), brother Ruben, Uncle Benrabe Reg Ragsac and his wife, Aunty Mary Quenga, and Uncle Frank Rapadas Ragasa, and for my Fil-Am friends of many years, Dixon Campos, Rudy Calica, Harold "Hal" Canion, Matt DeGuzman, Paul Lagasca, and Rudy Tenio -- I accepted her request.
Lakay Danny (we called each other "lakay") was one of the last of my father's "Mánong Generation" who had passed away years earlier and, in reflection, I felt he and his generation should be remembered. The only thing I could think of at the time was to give the eulogy as if I were talking directly to Lakay Danny, but speaking in Ilocano, so that it would represent in a spiritual way a personal tribute to our late Mánongs.
After I was to present my comments in English, I would then give the short talk in Ilocano. It was only five short sentences, translated by my neighbor Jessie Blanco, who is also from Narvacan (Camarao). The English part was presented with only a few chokes (actually a hard one when I mentioned my mother), and then I started my eulogy in Ilocano, which I had memorized and practiced in my best imitation of those Filipinos of my youth.
I looked at the audience that filled that large chapel to standing room clear to the back wall, at a fearsome brown sea of staring Filipino faces, practically all Ilocanos… and went into brain lock! I stumbled over some of the tongue warping words I had so easily pronounced in practice. But I was driven by the thought that this was for those Ilocano boys and Lakay Danny's lodge brothers who were present in spirit for him; I completed it as clearly and firmly as I could. In my heart I knew they would appreciate the opening line that could have been meant for any one of them, especially my father, Sergio (for whom I wished I had done the same):
"Agyámanak únay ití saán nga nagpatínga nga ayát mo nga Áma, Lólo, ken maysá nga Asáwa."
"I thank you very much for being a loving and devoted father, grandfather and husband."
Lakay Mariano passed away in January 2009 recalling the melancholy fact that so many of the First Wave's life stories would never be told, especially for those who never married or had a family to remember them. I sadly gave a eulogy for him, but this time, to make sure those who were there would remember more than just the somber event, I summarized his life story on paper (some of which is repeated here, including the photo above) and had copies distributed.
Hopefully, the eulogy and paper provided a more personal and heartfelt tribute than just words in his obituary column, and maybe all those present would briefly think of those First Wave Filipinos and Filipinas who have passed and…Forget Them Not.
Robert V. Ragsac, Sr. is a retired space systems engineer, having worked in the aerospace and defense industries in various research and project management positions. Residing in San Jose, CA and currently working on a history of First Wave Filipino immigrants who settled in "The Valley of Hearts Delight," now Silicon Valley.
More articles from Robert V. Ragsac, Sr.


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Kelps are the largest members of the brown algae species. Norwegian kelp, or ascophyllum nodosum, grows abundantly on sheltered rock shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. As brown algae, this seaweed provides the same general benefits as all members of the kelp family. According to the Seaweed Industry Association, Norwegian kelp is very effective at accumulating nutrients and minerals from the surrounding seawater, making it a valuable resource for humans.
Mighty Minerals
Your body depends on minerals for nearly every process. A 3.5-ounce serving of fresh kelp contains 168 milligrams of calcium, which is nearly 17 percent of the daily value set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration based on a 2,000 calorie-a-day diet. The same portion also provides 121 milligrams of magnesium, which is 30 percent of the DV. Calcium helps build and protect bones and teeth, and magnesium is needed for proper muscle contraction and blood clotting.
Vital Vitamins
Vitamins are nutrients that don't provide energy but are necessary to many of your body's processes. Although they're needed in small amounts, they're essential for life. Each 3.5-ounce serving of fresh kelp contains 180 micrograms of folate, which is 45 percent of the DV, and 66 micrograms of vitamin K, which is nearly 83 percent of the DV. Folate, or folic acid, is essential for new cell formation and is linked to reduced risk for heart disease and colon cancer. Vitamin K is needed for proper blood clotting.
Phlorotannin Power
Brown seaweeds are well known for their medicinal effects because they contain substances such as phlorotannins, a type of tannin, according to an article published in "Advances in Food and Nutrition Research" in 2011. The authors noted that extensive investigations have been done -- both outside and inside living organisms -- to determine the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-diabetic potential of brown seaweed due to phlorotannins. The study results suggested that brown seaweed has promising potential as a therapeutic agent.
Important Iodine
Iodine, a trace mineral, plays an important role in making thyroid hormones, which are essential for your body's normal growth and development. About 70 to 80 percent of iodine is found in the thyroid gland in your neck and the rest is distributed throughout your body, particularly in muscles, blood and ovaries, according to University of Maryland Medical Center. Brown seaweed is an excellent source of iodine.


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Tarheel Golf Foundation Caddie Policy
Until further notice "NO Caddies Are Allowed For Any Division"
The TGF allows the 11 under division to use caddies for all tournaments.
The middle school and high school divisions are allowed caddies only for special designated events each year. You may identify these tournaments by clicking on the "upcoming tournament" tab. If you do not see any caddie information listed in the description then that means only the 11 under division may have caddies for that event.
All caddies must be at least 14 yrs. of age. A caddie may be a parent, sibling, friend, or golf coach.
Caddies are there to help speed the game up NOT slow it down! Caddies may perform the same duties that professional caddies do. Any golf rules that the caddie may breach may cause his player to be accessed a penalty. We ask that caddies do not get too involved with their player, (such as giving swing tips.) Please keep your interaction with the player to things like helping with yardages, cleaning clubs, helping read putts and giving positive emotional support.


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Very Happy with Edge customer service staff.
You are here
The ExcelaPure™ 96-Well UF Plate has a standard SBS footprint that is compatible with most vacuum manifolds. We evaluated the following vacuum manifolds during product development:
List of Validated Vacuum Manifolds
|Manufacturer Vacuum Manifold
|Manufacturer Catalog Number
|Millipore MultiScreen Vacuum Manifold
|QIAvac Multiwell Unit
|Whatman UniVac 3 Vacuum Manifold
Yes. This product will efficiently remove primer-dimers from your PCR products. We have tested the removal of a 50 base pair fragment.
Yes. Use deionized water to bring all sample volumes ≤50µl up to 100µl.
The minimum volume of PCR product that may be purified on these plates is 50 µl. Samples must be brought up to ≥ 100 µl using deionized water.