text:
Have a safe and happy holiday!
A-Z Wednesday
The rules are pretty simple...
1. Visit Vicki to get this week's letter.
2. Browse through your shelves for a book that starts with this week's letter.
3. Post the following info about the book you've chosen on your blog:
~ Photo, synopsis/description, link (Amazon, Christian Books, Borders, etc.)
4. Hurry back to Reading at the Beach and post a comment with a link to your post.
A Passion Most Pure
(Daughters of Boston, Bk 1)
by Julie Lessman
Christian Fiction/Historical/Romance
Revell Publishing
Pages: 480
(from Amazon):
Refusing to settle for anything less than a romantic relationship that pleases God, Faith O'Connor steels her heart against her desire for the roguish Collin McGuire. But when Collin tries to win her sister Charity's hand, Faith isn't sure she can handle the jealousy she feels. To further complicate matters, Faith finds herself the object of Collin's affections, even as he is courting her sister. The Great War is raging overseas, and a smaller war is brewing in the O'Connor household. Full of passion, romance, rivalry, and betrayal, A Passion Most Pure will captivate readers from the first page. Book 1 of the Daughters of Boston series.
(sneak peek at first chapter): Sisters are so overrated, she decided. Not all of them, of course, only the beautiful ones who never let you forget it. Faith O'Connor stood on tiptoe behind the side porch, squinting through her mother's prized lilac bush. The sound of summer locusts vibrated in her ears as she gasped, inches from where her sister, Charity, stood in the arms of-- "Collin, someone might hear us," Charity whispered. "Not if we don't talk." Collin's index finger stroked the cleft of her sister's chin. Faith's body went numb. The locusts crescendoed to a frenzy in her brain. She wanted to sink into the fresh-mown lawn, but her feet rooted to the ground as firmly as the bush that hid her from view. Three years had done nothing to diminish his effect on her. He was grinning, studying her sister through heavy lids, obviously relaxed as he leaned against the wall of their wraparound porch. His serge morning coat was draped casually over the railing. The rolled sleeves of his starched, white shirt displayed muscled arms snug around Charity's waist. Faith knew all too well his clear, gray eyes held a maddening twinkle, and she heard the low rumble of his laughter when he pulled her sister close.
*** I absolutely LOVED this book...the entire trilogy, actually! Click here, to read my review. ***
My Review: Wild West Christmas (4-in-1) by Kathleen Y'Barbo, Lena Nelson Dooley, Darlene Franklin & Vickie McDonough
(4-in-1 Collection)
by Kathleen Y'Barbo, Lena Nelson Dooley,
Darlene Franklin & Vickie McDonough
Christian Fiction/Historical/Romance
Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Copyright 2009
Pages: 364
Charlsey Ames can ride, rope, and work the ranch with the best of them. But things don't add up when she finds herself attracted to accountant Harold Miller III, a citified tenderfoot. Will he ever see the gentle woman beneath the coating of trail dust.
Sharp-shooting Lucy Ames is thrilled to join Major Paulson's Wild West Show. But is she setting her sights too high when she begins falling for budding evangelist Gordon Paulson? Would she be better off aiming for a stable, widowed rancher?
Although horse-trainer Sarah Ames is stunned when her pa hires the part-Mexican Carson Romero to take over her job at the ranch, she gradually becomes attracted to the drifter. But when cattle go missing, Carson seems the prime suspect Has Carson stolen Sarah's heart as well as some prime longhorns?
An expert tracker, the plain Bessie Mae Ames resolves to spend her life taking care of her widowed father. That is until Texas Ranger Josef Mueller rides back into town, trailing a wanted man. Will the soon-to-be-smitten ranger find both he and his prey sweet on an unsuspecting Bessie Mae?
Will these cowgirls be tamed and live to celebrate Christmas romance?
My thoughts:
Well, I've finally gotten around to starting my annual Christmas read-a-thon...Wild West Christmas was a great choice to start me off! I made sure this book was on my must-read list for this year when I saw that it told the story of the 4 Ames sisters. You see, I'm the oldest of 4 sisters, so I knew I would be able to relate to that aspect of the book. It's set in the Texas Hill Country; involves cowboys, as well as, romance and Christmas...what more could a girl ask for?!?! :)
I hate to choose between them since they were all great stories, but if I HAD to choose just one...it would be the very first story, Charlsey's Accountant. I know, I know...all short-stories have a reputation of not being "fleshed-out" enough, and in some cases that is indeed true, but I didn't feel this way with most of the stories in this Collection. Sure, a couple of them may have seemed a little rushed at the end, but the overall story line was an excellent choice.
I enjoyed spending time with the Ames family, and hated to leave them behind. I would have loved to hang out with them a little longer to find out more about their married lives. *sigh* Oh well, all good things end sometime. I'm not too disappointed though...I have quite a few more Christmas-themed books lined up to read this year! Be sure to watch for more reviews coming soon! :)
If you would like to find out more about these wonderful ladies, please visit them at their websites, or blogs. I've listed the links below.
Kathleen Y'Barbo: website
Lena Nelson Dooley: website or blog
Darlene Franklin: blog
Vickie McDonough: website
* I purchased this book for my collection @ eBay.com *
A-Z Wednesday
1. Visit Vicki to get this week's letter.
2. Browse through your shelves for a book that starts with this week's letter.
3. Post the following info about the book you've chosen on your blog:
~ Photo, synopsis/description, link (Amazon, Christian Books, Borders, etc.)
4. Hurry back to Reading at the Beach and post a comment with a link to your post.
One Imperfect Christmas
by Myra Johnson
Women's Fiction/
Abingdon Press
Pages: 352
(from CBD):
Graphic designer Natalie Pearce faces the most difficult Christmas of her life. For almost a year, her mother has lain in a nursing home, the victim of a massive stroke, and Natalie blames herself for not being there when it happened. Worse, she's allowed the monstrous load of guilt to drive a wedge between her and everyone she loves-most of all her husband Daniel. Her marriage is on the verge of dissolving, her prayer life is suffering, and she's one Christmas away from hitting rock bottom.
Junior-high basketball coach Daniel Pearce is at his wit's end. Nothing he's done has been able to break through the wall Natalie has erected between them. And their daughter Lissa's adolescent rebellion isn't helping matters. As Daniel's hope reaches its lowest ebb, he wonders if this Christmas will spell the end of his marriage and the loss of everything he holds dear.
I haven't read this book yet, but it's definitely on my 2009 Holiday Reading Challenge list!!
Kreativ Blogger Award!!
Ashley @ After All...Tomorrow is another day
Thank you so much!!
Isn't it beautiful?? I love it!
Okay...this is what I'm supposed to do:
~ List 7 of My Favorite Things
~ Send this award on to 7 other bloggers
So, here goes...
7 of My Favorite Things:
1. Spending time with my hubby, Deezel (puppy), and my family
2. Books, books, and more books!
3. Blogging with my online friends {{hugs}}
4. Playing game swaps on PBS (PaperBackSwap)
6. Cute, Funky Purses
7. Flips Flops and Boots
Since I just passed another award along a few minutes ago,
I'm going to cheat and pass this one along to any/all of
my Followers who may/may not already have this award.
Y'all are the best!!! Congrats to you!!! :)
Honest Scrap Blog Award!!
for presenting me with this awesome award...I am honored!!
Since I've received this award, I have to now tell you 10 honest
things about myself, as well as, pass the award along to
10 more bloggers of my choice.
1. I have little or no patience for disobedient children...they drive me insane! (guess that's why the Lord chose not to give me any??) :)
2. I would love to open my very own bookstore.
3. Thunderstorms, tornadoes/hurricanes scare me to death!
4. I am a huge procrastinator!
5. I have a bad habit of being late (or almost late)...see #4. LOL
6. My "new" favorite ice cream is Edy's Drumstick...yum! I'm out right now, and craving it something awful! :(
7. I'm very stubborn/hard-headed.
8. I cried when I turned 30.
9. I don't make friends easily...in-person anyway...y'all were easy to become friends with!
10. I love Japanese food!
Now for the 10 bloggers I'm passing this award on to:
(most of y'all have already gotten it, so I'll send it to some who haven't)
1. Praying Mom @ What You Reading Now?
2. Colletta @ Colletta's Kitchen Sink
3. Jennifer @ Crazy-for-Books.com
4. Nely @ All About {n}
5. MJ @ Creative Madness
6. Rae @ Caffeine & Romance
7. Katy @ A Few More Pages
8. Ashley @ After All...Tomorrow is another day
9. Brande @ Book Junkie
My Review: Love Finds You in Poetry Texas by Janice Hanna
by Janice Hanna
(aka. Janice A. Thompson)
Christian Fiction/Historical/Romance
Copyright 2009
Summerside Press
Pages: 310
In the quaint community of Poetry, Texas, Belinda spies an opportunity. The tiny town is filled with farmers and railroad men in need of wives, so why not set herself up as a marriage broker? Belinda sends little poems to be prospective brides all over the country, and her plan seems to work. One by one, women begin to arrive in Poetry. There's only one problem: Belinda doesn't have a clue what she's doing, and most of the brides marry the wrong men! One client is particularly unhappy. Georg Kaufman, the local barber, has lost more than one prospective wife to Belinda's fumbled attempts. For some reason, she just can't seem to find Georg's perfect match, though it's not for lack of trying. Is there a poetic ending in store for Georg - and for Belinda herself?
My thoughts:
This was my second book in a row by Janice Hanna (aka. Janice A. Thompson), and I really enjoyed it as well. I love the different spin she put on Mail-Order Brides...it was witty, charming, and romantic, all at the same time!! Mail-Order Bride stories are a favorite of mine, so when I saw this book was going to be released, I knew I had to have it. I'm so glad I got the chance to read it, and now share my review with you.
It's 1904 in Poetry, Texas, where Belinda Bauer lives with her family and works in her Aunt Hilde's store, Poetic Notions. (Let me say here that I love how some of the stores/businesses are quaintly named with references to poetry!) Greta is Belinda's cousin, as well as her best friend. She is a little skeptical when she first hears Belinda's idea to become a Marriage Broker.
Greta and Belinda have been friends with Georg Kaufman since grade school, and Belinda feels led to use Georg as her first customer...without his knowledge!
Belinda searches newspapers from places as far away as Boston, Philadelphia, and New York to find the "perfect" wife for the men of Poetry. She believes that her heavenly Father will help her as she searches, but she also claims that finding a perfect match "comes down to science".
When the brides start arriving, not every couple works out as Belinda had planned. This leads to some hilarious, as well as heart-breaking, situations! A few of the couples end up in love "at first sight", for which Belinda is very thankful.
To find out more about Janice Hanna (aka. Janice A. Thompson), or her books, visit her at:
Her website ~ www.janiceathompson.com
Her blog ~ Books by Janice
My very FIRST Reading Challenge
Here it is:
1- Challenge will start Friday, November 20 and will end Thursday, December 31.
2- You can read anywhere from 1 to 5 books for the challenge and, of course, if you're like me, you are more than welcome to surpass that number.
3- And now, here's the clincher... they must be holiday related books. That's right, the holiday doesn't really matter, but it would be more "jolly" if your choices were Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc.
4- The size of the book does not matter, nor does the genre. It is also okay for the book to overlap with other challenges. The only thing I ask is that they are not children's books. YA is okay. And so are re-reads. I for one tend to read the same books every Christmas - they are tradition.
5- To sign up, leave a link back to your post (click link). There will also be a post for review links as well as one for challenge wrap-ups.
6- And.... there will be goodies. That's right, we'll call them presents. At the end of every week that the challenge is running I will choose one winner from the review links and I will allow them to pick a book of their choosing (of course, I will provide a list). Meaning the more books you read, review and link up, the more chances you have at winning a "present".
(In no particular order ~ I may not read ALL of these,
but this is the list I will be choosing from)
(my review)
(my review)
Elizabeth Godard & Elizabeth Ludwig
* The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall
Dooley, Darlene Franklin & Vickie McDonough
* One ImPerfect Christmas by Myra Johnson
* It Happened One Night by Lisa Dale (ARC version)
* A Cowboy Christmas by Janette Kenny
I'm so excited...I can't wait to get started! I've already noted the starting date on my calendar, so I won't forget (like that's possible!). If you enjoy reading Holiday-themed books, be sure to sign up to join in the fun. I hope to be reading your reviews soon! :)
My Review: Fools Rush In (Weddings by Bella, Bk 1) by Janice Thompson
(Weddings by Bella, Bk 1)
by Janice Thompson
Christian Fiction/Contemporary Romance
Copyright 2009
Revell Publishing
Pages: 330
This is not going to be my normal "serious" review
(it's also quite a bit longer than usual!).
There is no way I can review this book without just
letting my own "country" self show through!! This is going to
be a FUN review...at least I hope you think so! :o)
From the back cover:
with a SOUTHERN DRAWL?
Bella Rossi's life is just starting to get interesting. When her Italian-turned Texan parents hand over the family wedding planning business. Bella quickly books a Boot-Scootin' wedding that would make any Texan proud. There's only one catch ~ she doesn't know a thing about country music. Where will she find a deejay on such short notice who knows his Alan Jackson from his George Strait? And will Bella ever get to plan her own wedding?
Fun, fresh, and full of surprised, this flavorful combination of Italian and Tex-Mex highlights the hilarity that ensues when cultures clash.
My thoughts:
This was my very first glimpse of Janice Thompson's work as a writer, but it will definitely not be my last! I absolutely adored Fools Rush In!! It is my new favorite Christian Fiction Contemporary Romance for 2009. If you haven't given Janice's books a try...please grab your own copy of Fools Rush In...that's right, I'll be putting MY copy on my Keeper Shelf, to read again and again! :o)
Get ready for some side-splitting fun when you meet the Rossi's and the Neeley's!!! They are a GREAT bunch of people! I'm having a hard time deciding who is my favorite...I don't think I can have just one. I'll be doing this review a little differently ~ instead of just highlighting the main characters ~ I'm going to tell you a little bit about some of the quirky folks in this book, so hang on to your seat, it's gonna be loads of fun!
The story is mainly about Bella Rossi and Duh-wayne Neeley (you will get this when you read the book!!), but I can't tell you much about the Neeley's without giving away some key parts of the story, so I'll tell you a little about the Rossi's.
Bella has recently taken over the family wedding-planning business from her parents, and is in the process of planning her very first wedding, on her own. She lives at home with her parents (Cosmo and Imelda), her younger siblings: Joey and Sophia, her Uncle Lazarro (Laz), and her Aunt Rosa. Needless to say, there is always something happening in the Rossi household! Bella has two older brothers: Nick, who is married to Marcella, they have 2 sons, Deany-boy and Frankie; and Armando, who lives at home, "when he isn't in love."
Now a little about some of the family members...and a few friends... Uncle Laz...hmmm...where to start??? Okay, he is the owner/manager of Parma John's; he is a HUGE Dean Martin fan...he only plays Dean Martin music in his restaurant; he even names the daily specials after Dean Martin song titles! He and Aunt Rosa have a long-standing argument over who is the better singer, Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin, but they also fight about who is the better cook...which makes for some really funny events throughout the story! Oh, I've got to mention that Uncle Laz was once "affiliated" with the mob, which is how he ends up "baby-sitting" Guido...and more hilarity ensues! :o)
Aunt Rosa is Imelda's older sister. She is the designated cook at the Rossi home. She loves playing Frank Sinatra songs while she's in the kitchen, cooking or cleaning. She has a very short Italian temper, and tries her best the keep the family straight. She is always muttering Italian sayings under her breath...which Bella translates for those of us who can't speak Italian. LOL She had me laughing so hard at times, I couldn't read for the tears in my eyes!
Sophia is mostly responsible for watching after Deany-boy and Frankie during their summer vacation, but they quickly drive her insane with their annoying antics. She has to think fast to stay ahead of them. She's also having boyfriend issues, such as, will she ever find a "real" boyfriend? Sophia has a major crush on someone, but is sure he doesn't return her feelings.
Jenna works at Parma John's and is Bella's very best friend in the world. She is famous for spouting off the daily specials, with her Texas-twang. She's practically engaged to her long-time boyfriend, David. There's also Patti-Lou...she's the best florist in town and one of Bella's friends. They both seem destined to end up single, since there are no men in their lives at the moment. There are so many other quirky people who contribute to making this story a huge success, but I'm not going to be able to tell you about them all without going on and on for another couple of hours! You're just going to have to get your own copy of Fools Rush In and meet all these crazy folks for yourself! :o)
If you'd like a chance to see this book from a different perspective, please visit my friend, Rae!!
To find out more about Janice Thompson and/or her books, please visit her at:
Website: www.janiceathompson.com
Be sure to add it to your Christmas Wish List, since Christmas
is right around the corner. *wink*
** I won my autographed copy of Fools Rush In
@ Tiffany's blog: A Fiction-Filled Life **
A-Z Wednesday
1. Visit Vicki to get this week's letter.
2. Browse through your shelves for a book that starts with this week's letter.
3. Post the following info about the book you've chosen on your blog:
~ Photo, synopsis/description, link (Amazon, Christian Books, Borders, etc.)
4. Hurry back to Reading at the Beach and post a comment with a link to your post.
Never the Bride
by Cheryl McKay
& Rene Gutteridge
Christian Fiction/
Waterbrook Press
Pages: 320
(from Fantastic Fiction):
Eleven Bridesmaid Dresses Don't Lie
Since she was just a little girl, Jessie Stone dreamed up hundreds of marriage proposals, doodled the romantic ideas in her journal with her treasured purple pen, and fantasized about wedding dresses and falling in love. She's been a bridesmaid nearly a dozen times, waved numerous couples off to sunny honeymoons, and shopped in more department stores for half-price fondue pots than she cares to remember.
But shopping for one key component of these countless proposals hasn't been quite as productive-a future husband. The man she thought she would marry cheated on her. The crush she has on her best friend Blake is at very best.well, crushing. And speed dating has only churned out memorable horror stories.
So when God shows up one day, in the flesh, and becomes a walking, talking part of her life, Jessie is skeptical. What will it take to convince her that the Almighty has a better plan than one she's already cooked up in her journals? Can she turn over her pen and trust someone else to craft a love story beyond her wildest dreams?
be available for viewing/purchasing! :)
My Favorite Cover
A Tailor-Made Bride
by Karen Witemeyer
Release date:
June 1, 2010
Bethany House
Pages: 352
Christian Fiction/
(from PBS):
Book Description:
Hannah Richards is confounded by the man who runs the livery. The unsmiling fellow riles her with his arrogant assumptions and gruff manner while at the same time stirring her heart with unexpected acts of kindness. Which side of Jericho Tucker reflects the real man?
When Hannah decides to help Jericho's sister catch a beau -- leading to uproarious consequences for the whole town -- will Jericho and Hannah find a way to bridge the gap between them?
Isn't this cover beautiful? Even though it would be nice to see their heads/faces! Karen Witemeyer is a new author for me, so I'm excited to give her book a try. It sounds like a great story! :)
A-Z Wednesday
1. Visit Vicki to get this week's letter.
2. Browse through your shelves for a book that starts with this week's letter.
3. Post the following info about the book you've chosen on your blog:
~ Photo, synopsis/description, link (Amazon, Christian Books, Borders, etc.)
4. Hurry back to Reading at the Beach and post a comment with a link to your post.
Menu for Romance
(Brides of Bonneterre, #2)
by Kaye Dacus
Christian Fiction/
Contemporary Romance/
Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Pages: 320
(from Amazon):
Product Description
Cater to your craving for fabulous fictional fare with Menu for Romance, where a party planner finds herself torn between the contractor and the cook. After eight years of unrequited love, Meredith Guidry makes a New Year's resolution to find someone new and end her single status before the year's over. And when she meets a handsome contractor on New Year's Day, it seems like her prayers have been answered. Executive Chef Major O'Hara has forsworn relationships, knowing he could never saddle the woman he loves with a family situation like his. But when it seems he's about to lose Meredith Guidry to another man, he realizes he must concoct a menu for romance to win her back.


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Current as of July 31, 2013.
Howdy folks. Just a heads up if you are using the newest version of the ME3Explorer, there is a bug which breaks the ability to use both mesh mods and texture mods at the same time. If you try both you will likely get black texture bugs and errors.
Official bug report thread.
If you are using Texmod as your current method of texture replacement, you have nothing to worry about!
I will update again if I learn otherwise.
Update 08.04.2013: SVN 473 should be fixed.
A detailed explanation from Ottemis on the current state of ME3Explorer. This is relevant to both mesh and texture mods, users and modders alike!

subset: commoncrawl


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Eradicate dimensions.
Organics picked the wrong fight.
Call in the storm.
Individual chromas 290 RP
Chroma bundle 2565 RP (3005 RP if you need Graves)
Includes exclusive Ruby chroma
Chroma bundle 2565 RP (2857 RP if you need Fiddlesticks)
Includes exclusive Ruby chroma
© 2019 Riot Games, Inc. All rights reserved. Riot Games, League of Legends and PvP.net are trademarks, services marks, or registered trademarks of Riot Games, Inc.


text:
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The West Wales area is unique in fast becoming an energy centre in the UK with major oil, gas and electricity generating plants. Members of the committee are involved in these industries and are able to arrange relevant specialist speakers and site visits to construction projects and operating facilities. The evolution of the District to a Branch is also testament to the well-organised monthly meetings that offer members a variety of topics, CPD opportunities and a shared sense of community. Everyone is welcome, including non-members. So please bring along a colleague who might like to attend.
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Vision Statement: We are the internationally recognized leader in sustainable production, protection and utilization of tropical hardwoods.
Mission: The mission of the Tropical HTIRC is to advance the science of tropical hardwood tree improvement, utilization, conservation genetics and genomics, protection, and regeneration by:
Organization Description and Characterization
Who we are
A collaborative research, development and technology transfer center for tropical hardwood stewardship. Our partnership includes the USDA Forest Service Northern and Pacific Southwest Research Stations, National Seed Laboratory, Region 5 and 6 State and Private Forestry, USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, University of Hawaii-Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (UHM-CTAHR), University of Hawaii-Hilo College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management (UHH-CAFNRM), Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods, Kamehameha Schools, The Nature Conservancy, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center (HARC), Forest Solutions Inc., and Hawaii Forest Industry Association (HFIA). In addition, through its affiliation with HTIRC based at Purdue University, it is a member in the National Science Foundation Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (NSF I/UCRC) program titled "Center for Advanced Forestry Systems", a cooperative program with North Carolina State University, University of Georgia, Virginia Tech, University of Washington, University of Maine, University of Florida, University of Idaho, and Oregon State University. The tropical HTIRC is unique and differs from and expands upon the existing HTIRC on the mainland in several key aspects: 1) it has an international focus on tropical hardwoods; 2) it is a true partnership of federal, state, university, industry and landowner groups who contribute financial support and leadership; and 3) it generates basic knowledge and technologies for the genetic improvement, utilization, conservation, restoration, and regeneration of tropical hardwood tree species to support tree nurseries, forest industry, public land management agencies, and private and public landowners.
Tropical HTIRC is a virtual Center located at Institute of Pacific Island Forestry (IPIF) and Purdue University (HTIRC). The broad range of collaborators each bring unique experiences and perspectives to the partnership: (i) HARC has an important history and current program in disease resistance breeding for Acacia koa; (ii) UHM-CTAHR has a long standing Acacia koa classical tree improvement effort, research experience in developing new knowledge for plantation establishment, and a well established outreach and extension program for communicating results to land owners and managers; (iii) IPIF is a highly respected ecological research and development center with a depth of experience in Acacia koa forest management; (iv) HTIRC is a national USDA Forest Service Center and an expert in temperate hardwood tree improvement, Acacia koa nursery production, hardwood seed technologies, and integrated government, industry, and university research collaboration, (v) DHHL is actively restorating Acacia koa forest habitats and (vi) HFIA represents numerous entities involved in Acacia koa investment, restoration, and utilization.
Operating Environment
The idea for a Tropical HTIRC was conceived in early 2010 out of a desire to invigorate hardwood tree improvement and restoration research efforts in the tropical region of the USA. The birth of the Tropical HTIRC occurred at the same time that the region was experiencing a renewed interest in afforestation and reforestation of tropical species, such as Acacia koa, on lands that had been abandoned from long standing ranching and agricultural production efforts.
The hardwood industry was also concerned about the future quantity and quality of the resource for its lumber and secondary wood products sectors. In addition, due to previous land use, tropical forests have seen significant reduction in the volume of tropical hardwood timber that is harvested annually. Finally, the hardwood industry was concerned that it was not taking advantage of new technologies and research that could improve wood quality, growth, production of merchantable timber, and pest and disease resistance.
The larger community of professional foresters was also concerned about loss of genetic quality in remaining native forests. They felt that trees that are currently being managed for future timber harvest do not have the same desirable traits for straightness, wood quality, and vigor and that past forest harvest practices of continually taking the "best" trees may have resulted in loss of genetic quality of the remaining germplasm.
In addition, ecologists and land managers throughout the region were becoming increasingly concerned with the ability of native ecosystems to withstand threats from invasive species and climate change. Invasive species, including plants, insect pests and diseases, continue to invade Hawaiian forests. These invaders are changing the ecological dynamics of the forest environment and threatening many native plant and animal species with extinction. The ecology of our tropical forests may be further disturbed by climate change. As a result, regeneration of target native tree species is being inhibited and native forests are being transformed into exotic dominated forests of reduced conservation and commercial value. To address these global changes, tree improvement efforts aimed at providing improved stock can provide the conservation community with the tree genetic knowledge and resources for enhanced management of native tropical forests while simultaneously providing the forest industry with material required for enhancing forest-based economic development.
International Economic, Social and Cultural Environment
Forests are important across the tropical Pacific for ecological, economic, social and cultural values. Species such as Acacia koa are ecological, economic and cultural keystone species because they play essential roles in the biological functioning of native ecosystems, and through the diverse array of products from koa in the identity of native Hawaiian culture. In the case of Acacia koa, this species is clearly Hawaii's signature forest industry species..
For ecological, economic, social and cultural reasons, there is growing interest in restoring forests to the degraded landscapes of Hawaii and the Pacific. Water quality has been degraded by conversion of forests to agriculture and ranching. A historic reliance on exotic tree species for planting has degraded both ecological and cultural values of the forest resource. While there have been initial planting efforts with both exotic and native species in Hawaii and across the Pacific, these efforts have had limited access to improved native species and so exotic species have been and continue to be selected over native plant species in many circumstances, Thus, the opportunity exists for greatly enhancing the role that quality native hardwood species can play in reforestation efforts in Hawaii and across the Pacific.
Many of Hawaii's citizens are concerned about food security and food production systems have a long and rich history in the region – for example ranching and the paniolo cowboy culture are revered parts of Hawaii's history. These social and political forces can conflict with those of the conservation community and the forest industry, but there are important mitigating attributes to an enhanced forest sector. Wood security is also an important regional concern as well as an untapped source of economic development. Ranching in Hawaii has been declining for decades in large part because ranching is marginally viable as a livelihood. Many consumers assign important aesthetic and spiritual values to forests and even individual trees whether they are in an urban, plantation or natural forest setting. Critically, an enhanced forest industry would require only a marginal increase in the amount of land set aside and dedicated to reforestation. Further, many ranchers are exploring forest-based solutions to enhancing economic viability of ranch operations, and several creative restoration efforts are seeking to enhance ecological value of a landscape while producing economic value. In addition to ranching, fallow agricultural land is also available due to the demise of sugar cane production and diversified agriculture will be an important part of the future Hawaiian landscape.
In the conservation realm, there are now several funding mechanisms for conservation plantings, including the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP), Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and Wetland Reserve Program (WRP). These programs, funded primarily by federal appropriations, account for the majority of private, conservation and stewardship forestry focused hardwood tree planting in Hawaii and across the Pacific. Historically, improved water quality and wildlife habitat, native species restoration and small scale forestry have been the focal areas. In some cases where native species are considered, the genetic characteristics of the trees being planted under these programs are unknown with important questions regarding growth, form, wood quality and survivorship – especially at elevations or in areas where native seed sources are no longer present.
While the Tropical HTIRC will employ tools of modern genetics to understand target tree species, the Center will not support work that directly manipulates plant genomes and leads to creation of genetically modified organisms. We instead will rely on modern genetics to characterize existing, naturally occurring lines, and classical methods for improving these lines – the same methods used by Hawaiians to create 100+ varieties of taro.
Relationship with Other Organizations
Productive working relationships with scientists from a variety of institutions will be necessary for the success of the Tropical HTIRC. To this end, the Center is vertically integrated with molecular biology and classical geneticists, tree physiologists, silviculturists, entomologists, pathologists, ecologists, and nursery and regeneration specialists from its partners with the USDA Forest Service (NRS, PSW, Region 5 and Region 6), University of Hawaii, HARC, and Purdue University. Its strength is its ability to perform and communicate the results of basic, applied and developmental research so the basic knowledge that is created will be delivered to industry and private landowners in value-added products. In addition, partnerships with other tropical forestry research institutions in the US and internationally will be developed.
Tropical HTIRC will be one of many institutions performing tropical hardwood research desired by the hardwood industry, nursery operators, government agencies, forest landowners and managers, and the general public. The world has many outstanding scientists who perform valuable basic and applied research on various species, and it will be essential that the whole tropical hardwood scientific community remains viable to meet these research needs.
Annual federal funding appropriations and in-kind support are expected from the USDA Forest Service Northern and Pacific Southwest Research Stations. Funding will be sought in the short-term from the University of Hawaii for personnel, research, and extension efforts. HARC is expected to collaborate through diverse funding streams, including USDA Forest Service Region 5 and 6 funds. Scientists and collaborators within the Tropical HTIRC will apply for federal grants including NSF, NASA, APHIS, DOE, and USDA. In addition, where industry research funds are available, grants and annual funding allocations will be sought from landowner groups, forest industry, and other hardwood associations. Finally, funding from the private sector, including individual private citizens, will form an important part of our funding strategy, as has occurred with the Purdue based HTIRC. These opportunities will be pursued continually as they arise.
Strategic Directions
HTIRC has five strategic directions for 2011-2016:
The following are objectives for implementing the strategic directions categorized in terms of programs, facilities, staffing and funding:
Koa seed orchards for Hawaii reforestation
Recent land use changes have led to opportunities to reforest large areas of degraded land with koa and there is now a large demand for improved koa seeds and seedlings. To meet this demand, HTIRC members have been awarded a competitive grant from the Forest Service State & Private Forestry and are working together to establish seed orchards to produce an abundant supply of seeds for reforestation across a range of environmental conditions from high to low elevations.


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Submitted by Wayne Loehr
The Sun Peaks #2 Tour was held on January 9 to January 13. This was my first tour with the Rocky Mountain Seniors Ski Club and it will not be my last. All aspects of the trip unfolded as scheduled. Even the terrible weather that greeted us on the morning that we departed could not dampen the enthusiasm of all participants or throw us off schedule. Our tour bus operator was great at getting us to the Coast Sundance Lodge on time. The three days of skiing which followed provided three days of very different ski conditions.
The first day was overcast followed by a day of great sunshine. The weather coupled with groomed hills was magnificent. This is clearly demonstrated in the pictures below. On the third day, we woke up to 30 cm of new snow. Those praying for powder got their wish. As a person getting back into skiing, I found it hard to believe the excellent skills of our ski group. The group showed a lot of patience with me which I greatly appreciated.
Our two very successful evening functions, the Welcoming Reception and the Wednesday Evening Banquet, were attended by all. It was a great time for mixing, for having a coke and for meeting new people.
To sum up the experience: great skiing, great friends and a cinnamon bun at the top of the hill. What more could one ask?


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After close to some 30,000 people had fled cities in South India following rumors of reprisal attacks on them for the Assam violence where Bodo groups had been reportedly involved in attacks against the local Muslim population. Train loads of North Easterners living in south Indian cities, especially from Bangalore were seen to be fleeing homewards. And very soon India came out blaming Pakistan for the rumors that led to this mass exodus. While the simmering of communal tensions between the Bodo and non Bodo ethnic groups in Assam had been going for quite long, the communal violence there had taken a surge for some weeks now. And this ethic strife and internal community conflict had surely not been engineered overnight to give support and reasons for these rumors. The Assam ethnic strife apart, this rumor mongering was seen as part of a bigger plan to create currents of communal divisions and friction elsewhere in India. But was Pakistan really behind these rumors as claimed by India? Even this blame by India that Pakistan had fueled these rumors (and exodus) suffered from inconsistencies.
While BBC News reported Indian Home Secretary RK Singh saying "The bulk of these messages, of these clips, have their origin in our western neighbour, in Pakistan," However Group Editor NDTV, Barkha Dutt replied on twitter to another twitter handle (@bdutt on 19th August 11:29 PM) "home secretary told our reporters that it's not the smses but the doctored online images (originated from Pakistan)". Was the government (and Mr. Singh) shuffling between 'rumor smses originated from Pakistan" and "morphed imaged uploaded from Pakistan" because the quick blame had to be pinned somewhere; hence Pakistan was the convenient post to stick it on? Surely there is a hell lot of difference between 'bulk smses' and 'upload of morphed images', two different forms of communication. It is common knowledge that all voice and sms communication traffic from Pakistan towards India is likely to be monitored by security agencies, so how could all these 'bulk rumor sms'es' have gone unnoticed in the first instance? (even if we ignore the statement given by Mr. Singh to NDTV). And to note that most of the rumor smses in south India were known to have been delivered to specific north Easterners mobile numbers, prompting questions of who could have known about the ethic segregation of mobile numbers in such a scenario?
In yet another report on FirstPost Mr. R.K Singh has been quoted as saying "Morphed images and photographs of people who had died in cyclones and earthquakes were circulated as victims of violence in Myanmar in 76 websites. All these websites have been blocked. 34 more sites were identified and they will also be blocked soon," What Mr. Singh did not tell the press that the morphed images of Myanmar killings were already in circulation even before the Assam cycle of violence had spiraled out, much before the North Easterners exodus from Bangalore and other south India cities had happened. And what connection did India draw from morphed images of Myanmar killings and the Assam violence? In fact a Pakistani blogger in the Express Tribune Pakistan had already pointed to this 'morphed and doctored image circulation' (on 19th July, 2012) much before the Assam violent events reached a crescendo or much before the rumor exodus had happened. Such morphed images had been used earlier to draw attention to Myanmar Muslim killings (irrespective of the fact that these images had been wrongly attributed and used to portray and inflate them, the killings in Myanmar were actually happening). Where was the truth in India's claim that such images were uploaded with the sole intention of creating panic in Assam and north eastern community in rest of India? Even if we were to take the statement of Mr. Singh at its face value, the fact remains that an overwhelming population of North Easterners living in south Indian cities belong to the basic level of worker or migrant class with little or no access to internet. How could such a sparse and low internet footprint among them prompt a huge number of populations to migrate within a matter of hours? In fact there have already been reports on TV channels that most of the special trains that transported these migrations had been specially pre booked. Did the booking of these special trains point to a pre judgment of the events that were likely going to take place? So many coincidences and claims are unbelievably astounding!
Incidentally at the same time there were other videos also making rounds; gory and violent videos misrepresented to promote inter community strife against Muslims in India. In one such incident journalist Sadanand Dhume (@dhume01 on 16th August, 9.40PM) identified the provoking video tweeted by 'Internet Hindu' where a video originally from Indonesia had been presented as footage of 'violence in Assam by Muslims against Bodos'. Although these videos could also have been going viral on internet giving impetus to the fear psychosis, ironically Government of India and Indian media made no effort to recognize this threat or mitigate it. Since such threats came from right winged forces within India, it would provide India and its media no excuse for neighbor bashing.
Assam has been burning for long with growing number of incidents against Muslims by Bodos, violence which has already left more than 80 people dead and displaced more than 400,000. The state government has been seen to 'act' inefficiently, unable to control this violence and a sense of fear ruling over communities there. And it was this 'foreign hand' opportunity that Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi grabbed in his weak defense by stating "From the beginning I have stated that some foreign hands are involved. It is not merely a clash between Bodos and minorities. The Union Home ministry report that Pakistani elements were involved has vindicated our stand," Chief Minister's statement blaming Pakistan not withstanding, on Thursday (23rd August) Bodoland People's Front (an ally of the ruling Congress) MLA Pradeep Brahma was arrested for his involvement in Assam violence. Accused of leading rioting groups against Muslims, there were already seven cases registered against the MLA.
Indian government soon started a process for scanning of Internet content and in this effort blocked close to 245 sites by Monday (20th August). However the claims of India (both Mr. R.K Singh and Mr Tarun Gogoi) and the Indian Media were further punctured when it was found that there was hardly any mention of Assam and its violence in the identified and blocked sites. According to reports not more than one-fifth of these sites contained any reference to Assam or the people of Northeast and only a couple of the blocked web pages had been found to contain images or videos related to Assam violence. (Indian Express 'No Assam mention in most blocked sites' 22 Aug, 2012) According to the same report (information provided by government) less than 50 web pages contained hate messages against people of Northeast and almost all these hateful references and incitements had originated from internet users in India. Infact in yet another report it was stated that 'Agencies have also found clues indicating a large number of SMSs that spread panic among the northeast Indians living across the country were also generated by fringe Hindu groups'. (Times of India, '20% banned hate sites put up by Hindu groups' 23rd August, 2012) This report also claimed that 'A recent input from Bangalore about three women planning to bomb a train turned out to be a red herring. Later, the input was traced to an activist of Bajrang Dal.' So much for the 'blame it on Pakistan' game!
Not only had the blame on Pakistan been hugely exaggerated here, but it was also used by India to deflect attention from the real issues of ethic strife facing Assam. There is no denying the fact that there are some extreme groups in Pakistan with an anti India approach, but surely not everything wrong that happens in India originates from Pakistan.
Indian has its own ethic and community fault lines, coming out of centuries or decades of unaddressed social cracks; which get further deepened by political opportunism that political parties see in these ethnic divisions and the governance apathy that follows such political opportunism. With a refusal to identify and accept these division realities, India is only moving further away from resolving them. And blaming the neighbor for all such internal fires is surely not going to douse them anytime soon.
Time India looked within.
23rd August, 2012


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Everyone has complained about their job. The question is "how often and how derogatory do you complain?" Let me tell you a story about one of the best, or worst you might better say, complainers.
We will call him Charlie. That wasn't his real name because his first or real last name would clearly identify him to some. Anyway Charlie was a station officer. I followed Charlie's shift so I got to hear his rants every morning before going on shift.
Charlie didn't hold back on his criticism. It usually started in on the fire chief, his staff officers, and what a crappy job they were performing. Charlie would rip into the fire chief like a monkey on a cupcake. But it didn't stop there.
Charlie was so good at it that you would mention somebody you knew and he would rip into them too. Once he thought they were properly denigrated he would spike them like a football player would a football in the end zone.
One morning after Charlie had his typical rant, he left for the day. One of my fellow firefighters – Ron – commented. Ron said, "There's a lot of truth in what Charlie said this morning." I couldn't believe what he had just said.
I told Ron he was as crazy as Charlie. I explained that there was a method to the madness. Charlie would take a small piece of information that had a speck of truth and he would then spin his web of falsehoods off that one truthful nugget. If you boiled down his whole rant you would find under that intricate web that miniscule piece of truth.
Charlie had an impact on me. First of all I started showing up right before roll call so I wouldn't have to listen to Charlie but just a few minutes. Charlie also helped me recognize when I too was falling into the trap of complaining. One view of Charlie on my shoulder yapping his big mouth caused me to complain a lot less.
Being a constant complainer harms you. If you have a position of authority it's likely that those subordinate to you might not say anything. But, it doesn't mean they aren't thinking it.
Be careful whenever you find yourself speaking negatively about others. Understand that it can be solely you that's the problem, not somebody else. Put your positive view on and you will be much happier as will those around you.


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This is the story of a man named Richard whose job just transferred him to California. He tells his wife and family he is going to look for a car, and he does not come back home. So what could have happened to Richard you may ask, well Richard sees a car he likes a lot and meets a guy named Everett Hutchins. Well, Everett and his wife/prisoner Glory have a guest room in their home. When, Everett puts a dart into Richard, the plans are for this couple to get Richard ready to eat, so they lock him in the guest room preparing him for their dinner day by day. When you hear the description you are going to think it is going to be a torture porn, but the truth is it is more like Eating Raoul then it is Hostel. This is another one of those films that we are really not sure why to cheer Richard trying to escape, because when his past is revealed to us, Richard really is no better than his captors.
Richard knew way in advance his company was going to fold in his old town, so he took a transfer to another location and the rest of the employees at his old job lost their jobs and were mad that Richard knew. When the movie gets going, Everett comes across like more of a Hannibal Lecter type mind, more sophisticated than mad. There are a few blood moments, like when Everett shows Richard his fate on another person they abduct, and they kill the man and eat his brain within seconds. As Richard's time in this place goes on, he gets more and more desperate and has to do more and more things like cut up a body for Everett so that they won't punish him. The film takes a detour around the 30 minute mark when Everett is leaving for 6 weeks, and Glory is left in charge of watching over Richard. Richard sees in her a woman just like he is, trapped by Everett and tries to coax her into freeing him. When the plan fails, she says that she is under a curse and if Richard can help her break the curse, she can help him escape. All he has to do is become a powerful Shaolin and challenge Everett and kill him when he comes back.
I did not hate this film, but my problem with the film it lacked humor. Some humor in this film would have gone a long way. I just felt that the material needed some bite, a comic bite to it. Like maybe something along the lines of a Fish Called Wanda, the little dark jabs here and there. That being said, I really like this film, but I wanted to love it. The ending was really the selling point to me, I did not see that coming and it worked and had a little humor slant to it. I thought the acting was really good, and the script was smart. This film was slow at times, and sometimes seems to just completely stop, and even though the performances were strong, I just felt that the film needed maybe a little more killing, but what it did offer was both fun and very bloody. I thought the stuff with him trying to be a shaolin should have been more humorous, and that this film really should have made Richard's peril more of a priority. Like maybe seeing his family freaking out, or the police driving around looking for him. It just seemed that all those things were forgotten, and the film basically became a three people show. Again, I thought the talent was there and so was the script for the most part, and this may appeal to those non horror fans who want to see a drama that has blood elements. That is the one thing I can honestly say about this film, it has mainstream appeal and feels like it wants to be that indie film that just goes to be major, and with any luck it will be. All in all, this was good for the most part, but should have been great.
7.5 out of 10


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Local businesses rake in cash from the cleanup, but fear the future.
FORTUNE — BP continued its efforts to plug its gushing deepwater well off the coast of Louisiana on Friday when I landed in New Orleans. I traveled here to see the beginning of what's quickly becoming the largest oil cleanup in U.S. history—the BP (BP) spill already surpassed the Exxon Valdez disaster as the largest ever in the U.S.
As the country watches whether BP's Top Kill method plugs the well, an equally critical question here is: how far along is the cleanup? The answer: it's just the beginning. The company has spent $900 million on the disaster so far, according to BP spokesman Graham MacEwen on Friday. Analysts estimate costs rising to $5 billion to $10 billion — much of that involving containment, repair and litigation.
On my first day here I drove an hour and half west from New Orleans to a town of about 30,000 people called Houma, which is one of four Unified Command Centers that direct oil cleanup and containment crews to the coasts. (The response team posts daily updates to its operations here.)
On the drive from New Orleans, one of the AM radio shows simultaneously criticized President Obama, vilified BP, and announced the latest price for oil futures — a fair summation of many Louisianans' feelings and concerns, I've found.
Thousands of workers in the past three weeks have flooded Houma and coastal towns along the Gulf. All of Houma's hotel rooms are booked. In my search for a bed I met Maudrey Bergeron, 71, a lifelong Louisianan who grew up picking cotton in a family of 17. With her twin sister, Bergeron runs 25 bed and breakfasts in Houma and neighboring towns. She told me on Friday that her home's three rooms were all occupied by BP contractors, and more overflowed into her other homes.
It's been two weeks since the oil spill workers have started to crowd in, and in the 30-minute stretch we spoke, she answered another five calls. After stating the sober truth — "When a disaster strikes, I get rich" — she served me a free meal of meatloaf, bread, a piece of red velvet cake and a cup of coffee.
Like many Louisianans I met, she was frustrated. Her grandson is a shrimper who no longer has work. Her daughter's boyfriend's son has waited in lines for an oil spill contractor job without luck. "This has disrupted many lives down here," she said over lunch.
Houma is a coordination area for areas further south where oil has made it into delicate marsh bordering the Gulf of Mexico. One of those towns is Cocodrie, one of 17 staging areas across the Gulf Coast where a boom is deployed to contain moving oil and where workers are dispatched. Located at the end of a two lane road leading through 15 miles of marsh and bayous is the Co Co Marina.
On Friday, there were more than 700 workers in Co Co Marina. Many of them were being paid $12-and-up an hour to clean oil off blades of grass. I met Nyx Cangemi of the US Coast Guard who had just returned from an airboat trip in the marshes on the edge of the Gulf near the Grand Bayou Bourbeux. Five boats carried 20 workers out to the small area. A receding tide left a thin coat of oil covering the area that laborers then methodically cleaned, using absorbent blankets to wipe, blade by blade, 3-foot-tall oil-covered grass. "It's back-breaking work," Cangemi said.
Very true. And it's only the beginning.
[cnnmoney-video vid=/video/news/2010/05/28/n_Hayward_AMmorning.cnnmoney/]


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- Interested in working together?
- Would you like to find out more about my work or music?
- Would you like me to do a workshop, concert or talk at your studio?
- Or would you just like to say Hello?
Here's my contact information:
Jack Harrison
Co. Galway
email: email@example.com
Please send me a message using the form below and I will mail you back as soon as I can. And I promise that your details will never be passed to a third party!


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News Briefs
Filmmaker and VWC Associate Professor of Communication Stu Minnis will make the theatrical premiere of his documentary short, The Old World: Mistaken Point and the Ediacaran Fossils of Newfoundland, on Oct. 1 at Naro Cinema (1507 Colley Ave., Norfolk). The nine-minute documentary tells the story of the Ediacaran fossils at Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve in Newfoundland. The Ediacaran Period immediately predates the Cambrian explosion and constitutes the beginning of large-scale multicellular life on Earth. Minnis, who teaches video production and film and media studies, made the film as the result of a Batten Professorship, a three-year designation that includes an annual stipend for research or special projects. He traveled to Newfoundland in May 2012 and spent a little over a week interviewing experts and filming at several sites. "I've always been interested in geology and paleontology," Minnis says. "When I got the Batten grant my first thought was that I wanted to travel and make a film. Then when I researched this topic, I found that there wasn't really any significant film work on it." The documentary will accompany a screening of the 90-minute film Expedition to the End of the World and the evening will conclude with a post-film discussion with Minnis and Victoria Hill, a research professor with Old Dominion University's Department of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. For more information, visit narocinema.com.


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Cuisine: Italian
(516) 683-3377
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1246 Old Country Road, Westbury, NY 11590
(516) 683-3377
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Based on 13 Votes
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Wine List: Yes
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Animal Constellations
Dozens of animal constellations illuminate the night sky representing the world's most intriguing creatures, big and small, real and imagined. Select the constellation that represents your spirit animal or inner beast.
Available in a variety of colors and sizes, our constellations can be custom designed to match any style or theme. Singly hung or grouped for greater impact, constellations add character and tell a story unique to you. Shop now!
Aquila, The Eagle
Aries, The Ram
Camelopardalis, The Giraffe
Cancer, The Crab
Canes Venatici, The Hunting Dogs
Canis Major, The Big Dog
Canis Minor, The Little Dog
Capricornus, The Sea Goat
Centaurus, The Centaur
Cetus, The Whale
Chameleon, The Chameleon
Columba, The Dove
Corvus, The Crow
Cygnus, The Swan
Delphinus, The Dolphin
Dorado, The Swordfish
Draco. The Dragon
Equuleus, The Little Horse
Grus, The Crane
Hydra, The Water Monster
Hydrus, The Sea Serpent
Lacerta, The Lizard
Leo, The Lion
Leo Minor, The Little Lion
Lepus, The Hare
Lupus, The Wolf
Lynx, The Lynx
Monoceros, The Unicorn
Musca, The Fly
Ophiuchus, The Serpent Bearer
Pavo, The Peacock
Pegasus, The Flying Horse
Phoenix, The Firebird
Pisces, The Fishes
Piscis Austrinus, The Southern Fish
Scorpius, The Scorpion
Serpens Caput, The Serpent's Head
Serpens Cauda, The Serpent's Tail
Taurus, The Bull
Tucana, The Toucan
Ursa Major, The Great Bear
Ursa Minor, The Little Bear
Volans, The Flying Fish
Vulpecula, The Little Fox


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Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire
Haverfordwest is the county town of Pembrokeshire, Wales, and serves as the County's principal commercial and administrative centre. Haverfordwest is the most populous urban area in Pembrokeshire, with a population of 13,367 in 2001; though its community boundaries make it the second most populous settlement in the county, with 10,812 people. Haverfordwest is 6 miles away from the village of Broad Haven, part of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, the United Kingdom's only coastal national park, which attracts thousands of tourists each year. Haverfordwest is twinned with German town of Oberkirch.


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OSB board 8mm
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OSB board 8mm
Sheets Size 1220x2440x8mm OSB
Designed to withstand the toughest of conditions.
Sterling OSB is a precision-engineered board for structural use in load bearing and challenging conditions.
It performs well in humid conditions, making it ideal for house building and construction.
- Stronger and tougher than most softwood plywood, thanks to the tens of thousands of real wood strands that go into every board.
- Cut waste with precision engineered panels. Each pack contains uniform, high quality boards, with no knots, voids or delaminating problems.
- Make the job easier with a panel that's simple to saw, drill, nail, plane, file or sand. Nails can be driven as close as 8mm from the panel edge without splitting.
- Get the finish you're after with panels that can be sanded or un-sanded and finished with most popular surface treatments, for industrial or decorative uses.
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A 2016 Yale University study found that people who read books lived about 2 years longer than those who don't. Although the study found a correlation between reading and increased lifespan, the researchers did not identify the cause.
However, according to Josie Billington at the University of Liverpool, "Reading not only helps to introduce or reconnect readers to wider life systems and more broadly shared meanings. It can also remind people of activities or occupations they once pursued, or knowledge and skills they still possess, helping to restore their sense of having a place and purpose in the world."
Moral of the story: Cozying up with a book-a-day keeps the Grim Reaper away.


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For nearly 200 years, the Falmouth, Virginia community has come together to worship, learn, and celebrate life here. Please join us today to repair and maintain the Union Church Historic Site.
Listed with Virginia Department of Historic Resources as a contributing structure in the Falmouth Historic District in 1966
Listed as one of Virginia's "most endangered" sites
Designated as a Virginia State Landmark in 2008
Individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2008
The Narthex (or the façade) of the old Falmouth Union Church is all that remains of this important structure. After years of neglect, the church stands in a state of serious disrepair. The Trustees of the Union Church Historic Site are committed to preserving the structure and interpreting its history.
Although in disuse, Union Church continues to serve as a focal point, giving cultural identity to the historic town of Falmouth. It is a visual statement of the Town's past and a reminder of the much-needed role of preservation in the community. The Church deserves salvation as a fine example of Federal architecture in a religious structure and as a survivor of war, storms, and salvage assaults.
Help us preserve the Union Church Site as a Historic Falmouth, Virginia District landmark for future generations to appreciate!
Become A Member of the Union Church Preservation Project!
Upcoming Events
More upcoming events can be found on our Upcoming Events page
Dedication of Whiskey Barrels to Truman Cox
Sunday February 9, 2014 at 1 PM - The Union Church Preservation Project will formally dedicate the whiskey barrels that were donated to the UCPP. The late Truman Cox, who was the Master Distiller at A. Smith Bowman Distillery in Spotsylvania County was instrumental for the whiskey barrel donation.
Sadly, he passed away on February 9, 2013 - the same day that we picked up the barrels from A. Smith Bowman Distillery. The UCPP will place a plaque on one of the barrels on Sunday February 9, 2014, the one year anniversary of Truman's death to honor his dedication to the UCPP. Please join us for the dedication.
Recent Events
Union Church on the Radio
With Good Reason - Dreams of the Civil War
November 2, 2013 - The Union Church is featured on a radio program called With Good Reason which is a public radio program that airs on a number of NPR (National Public Radio) stations throughout the country.
UCPP head trustee and president Logan Metesh and UMW (University of Mary Washington) assistant professor of historical preservation Michael Spencer are interviewed to discuss his class's efforts to help preserve the Union Church.
Click Here to listen to the segment. (Right Click to save to your hard drive)
Planting of Whiskey Barrels
August 24, 2013 - The UCPP installed whiskey barrel planters in front of the Union Church Historic Site.
The whiskey barrels were donated to the UCPP by A. Smith Bowman Distillery. They will be installed in honor of Truman Cox, the Master Distiller that donated the barrels to us, and sadly passed away in February 2013.
Hogtown BBQ
May 18, 2013 - The Union Church Historic Site Preservation Project held its 1st annual HOGTOWN BBQ Festival at the former Grizzle Community Center on Butler Road, just down the street from the Union Church Historic site.
Over 600 people attended. We raised over $2000 to help restore the Union Church Historic Site.
We thank our sponsors, vendors, volunteers and most especially Stafford County Tourism for helping us out so much with the logistics of holding the Hogtown BBQ!
We will have pictures on here and the Hogtown BBQ website shortly.
One of our vendors - Cross Branded Country Church
Union Church On The Radio
May 1, 2013 - UCPP President Logan and Head Trustee Lenetta were interviewed on NewsTalk WFVA 1230 AM during the Town Talk hosted by Ted Schubel. Logan and Lenetta discussed the history of the Union Church and the upcoming Hogtown BBQ.
Listen to the show below:
From Falmouth to 'Freedom'
Article in the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star about pew donation to the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC)
Photo Sources: Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star
April 9, 2013 - Logan Metesh (President of Union Church Preservation Project) talks to Clint Schemmer at the Free Lance-Star about the donation of one of the church pews to the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). Read about it in the Free Lance-Star.
Falmouth Union Church Pew Added to
The Union Church Preservation Project Donates Pew to the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC)
Photo Source: Logan Metesh
March 27, 2013 - The
Smithsonian Institution has decided to include a pew from Falmouth Union
Church Historic Site in a 2015 inaugural exhibition at its new museum,
the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).
To read more, please check out the articles at the Fredericksburg Patch and the Stafford County Sun websites.
Anthony Burns and the Falmouth
Union Church
Blog Post at the Smithsonian National Museum
of African-American History and Culture
February 1, 2013 - Logan Metesh
(President and Trustee of the Union
Church Preservation Project) has
authored a blog post about Anthony Burns and his connection
to the Falmouth Union Church at Smithsonian National Museum of
African-American History and Culture's blog. Logan is a Museum
Technician at the NMAAHC.
Photo Source: Library of Congress
Congrats Logan!
Painting of the Union Church
January 2013 - The Union Church has a new coat of paint, thanks to some great local painters! Click Here to see more pictures.
Wedding at Union Church
January 18, 2013 - The Union Church was a backdrop for a wedding. Congrats to the wonderful couple. Click Here to see more pictures.
Union Church Bell at Stafford Admin Building
December 14, 2012 - The Union Church bell was moved to the Stafford County administration building to be on display while the Union Church Historic Site undergoes repairs.
Yankees at Falmouth
September 22-23, 2012 - The Union Church Preservation Project had an informational table at the 5th annual Yankees at Falmouth at the nearby Moncure Conway House.
UCPP trustee Logan gave tours at the Union Church. Watch the following video to learn more.
Opening of the Belmont-Ferry Farm Trail
June 23, 2012 - Stafford County celebrated the opening of the Belmont-Ferry Farm Trail. We held a mini Open House and rang the church's bell for the opening ribbon cutting ceremony! It was the first time since 1935 that the bell has been rung for a community event!
Click Here To See More Pictures
Union Church Historic Site
June 2, 2012 - On Saturday June 2, 2012, the Union Church Preservation Project held our first Open House of the Union Church Historic Site.
We wanted to thank the Falmouth community for the support of the Union Church Historic Site, as well as thank the Stafford County Board of Supervisors for the gracious donation for the roof repairs that were completed in March 2012.
We also had a bake sale thanks to the ladies at the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Overwharton Parish and raised over $425! Thank you all so very much for your support.
Important attendees from the Stafford County government included Stafford County Administrator Anthony Romanello and Stafford County Supervisors Susan Stimpson (Falmouth District) and Bob Thomas (George Washington District)
Click Here to See More Pictures
Roof Repairs Have Finished
Roof repairs have finished on the Union Church Historic Site!
March 2012 - GREAT NEWS! Repairs were completed in mid March 2012 on the Union Church's roof. We will no longer have gaping holes that let rain, snow, and animals inside!
A big THANK YOU goes out to Stafford County for providing the grant money to complete this project!
Another big THANK YOU for the Fredericksburg Free Lance Star for the following article from March 2, 2012. (Print edition only).
Click on the picture above to see a larger picture.
These roof repairs are only the tip fo the iceberg of what is needed to save the Union Church Historic Site. We are in a major funding campaign for foundation repairs and a longterm, historically accurate roof replacement.
More recent past events can be found on our Recent Events page.
Union Church Merchandise Is Now Available
Union Church Preservation Project merchandise is now available from CafePress. Help support the Union Church Preservation Project by purchasing T-shirts, Tote Bags, Christmas Ornaments, Drinkware and UCPP magnets!
Visit the Union Church Merchandise page for more details.
Important Links
Upcoming Events and Recent Events
It is the mission of the Trustees of the Union Church to return the church to its former status as the iconic symbol and centerpiece of the Falmouth Virginia community.
The Trustees of the Union Church Historic Site (TUCHS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
©2014 The Union Church Preservation Project
Falmouth, Virginia


text:
Politics & Government
Coalition says proposed voter ID law is costly, unneeded
A newly formed coalition will try to derail Kansas Secretary of State-elect Kris Kobach's attempt to get a voter photo identification law passed in the 2011 legislative session.
Kobach, a Republican, made voter photo ID the centerpiece of his campaign, which ended with a decisive victory last month over Democrat incumbent Chris Biggs.
But the Kansas Voter Coalition said Kobach used the "fear factor" to rally support for a photo ID and is launching what it calls an education campaign in hopes of stopping its adoption.
The coalition points to lack of evidence of voter fraud in Kansas and the financial cost to the state of providing a free photo ID for those without one. It says the requirement would suppress voter turnout without doing much to combat voter fraud.
"Kobach has said that the only people opposed to this are extremists," said Kevin Myles, president of the Kansas State Conference of the NAACP and president of the Wichita Branch NAACP. "Once those (legislative) committees see this will affect normal, everyday people, I think they'll make the right decision."
The state's chapters of the NAACP and League of Women Voters are two of seven confirmed members of the coalition. Organizers say they expect to grow to more than a dozen.
Kobach said a broad swath of people support voter photo ID, citing an August 2010 poll conducted by Rasmussen that said 82 percent of Americans wanted the requirement.
"Only a small fringe of the public opposes that," he said. "You can't get to 82 percent with just Republicans."
He began working on the draft of a bill calling for voter photo ID even before he was elected. He plans to have the bill completed by Jan. 1 and have legislators file it before the legislative session begins Jan. 10.
"The intention is to move quickly so Kansas has the most secure elections in the nation," Kobach said.
Coalition's plans
The coalition is also trying to move quickly. But it is scrambling after holding its first meeting in mid-November.
"We are trying to get ahead of the game," said Ernestine Krehbiel, president of the Kansas League of Women Voters. "But we believe it's important that it's not a forgone conclusion that people would automatically say, 'What's the big deal if we eliminate 11 percent of the people?' "
A survey by the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University's law school says that 11 percent of registered voters — or about 21 million Americans — don't have a photo ID. That same report says 18 percent of Americans over the age of 65, 25 percent of African-Americans and 15 percent of low-income voters don't have a photo ID.
Coalition members say those groups often don't have the documentation necessary to get a photo ID or the transportation to make it happen.
"I can't imagine that we want to see fewer people participating in voting," Myles said. "Why we would want to enact measures that we know would result in lower turnout is beyond me."
The coalition hopes to get people to raise objections to the proposal by contacting their legislators. It also plans to meet with legislators to discuss Kobach's plan and to bring those most affected by the bill before those committees to put a face on the issue.
"The reason we want to stop it at the committee level is because that's the group that's going to study it effectively," Krehbiel said.
How much voter fraud?
Only nine states have some form of a voter photo ID requirement; Oklahoma voters just approved a law with 74 percent support.
Most states allow voters without one to sign an affidavit saying they are who they say they are. Kobach has patterned his proposal after what is used by Georgia and Indiana, which don't have the affidavit provision.
Kobach said he has a mandate to push for a voter photo ID law after claiming 59 percent of the vote in November.
A similar voter ID bill was passed by the Legislature 2008, but it was vetoed by then Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat.
Gov.-elect Sam Brownback, a Republican, has consistently said he supports requiring photo ID at the polls.
GOP state Reps. Lance Kinzer of Olathe and Anthony Brown of Eudora are two legislators that Kobach cited as willing to co-sponsor the bill. He said he hasn't decided whether to have the bill introduced simultaneously in the House and Senate.
Kobach said the bill would also strengthen investigation and prosecution of voter fraud.
He has consistently insisted voter fraud does exist, claiming there were 75 reports of voter fraud in Kansas over the past 10 years going into the 2008 election.
But Brad Bryant, the election director for the Secretary of State's Office, said that through this week Kansas has seen only six convictions for voter fraud since 2002. There were three in 2008 and three in 2004.
All were for double voting — voting in Kansas as well as another state, or in two different counties, Bryant said.
For the 2010 general election, reports of five double voting incidents are still being investigated, Bryant said. Three were in Johnson County, one in Shawnee and Jefferson counties, and one in Leavenworth County.
NAACP's Myles said more than 10 million votes have been cast in the past five years in all of the state's elections.
"You have a better chance of being struck by lightning twice than you do of encountering a case of voter fraud," he said. "There's no evidence of it except for the passionate statements of those who already believe it."
Regardless of the number, Kobach said, "One is too many."
Critics of the plan say the greatest opportunity for fraud is with mail-in ballots. Kobach's proposal would require only those voting at the polls to present an ID, although the bill would require people to show proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, at the time of registration.
Cost of requirement
Cost of requiring a photo ID is an issue.
Kansans without a driver's license can obtain a state ID photo for $14. But the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states requiring a voter photo must make it available free to those who can't afford one — or it would be considered an illegal poll tax.
Kobach said he doesn't know yet what the cost of the requirement would be.
"If $14 is the true cost of a state ID, then it would be $14 times however many we need," he said. "I don't know what the numbers are, but it would be a tiny percentage (of the state's voters)."
Still, Myles said, "How do we come up with the money when we're already $450 million in the hole?"
It is important for everyone to consider the big picture, said Marge Zakoura-Vaughan, the human rights chair of the Wichita chapter of United Church Women, which is part of the coalition.
"Not just what does this mean to me," she said, "but what does this mean for those who are more challenged to get to the polls and get a photo ID. Stop and think, 'Is this going to be a hardship for people?' "
Other members of the coalition include the Kansas Equality Coalition, the Peace Center and the state's chapters of the National Organization of Women and the ACLU.


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So there we were, trundling along in a 30 year old German bus along the smoothest road in Eastern Europe. The black tarmac, so svelte and un-rutted, that despite the bus's suspension being made from wooden blocks, our ride was comfortable.
Vineyards either side of the road made the scene like an idlic French painting, our progress was now swift and smooth. For at least 7 minutes. Then the tarmac ran out.
It seems the road to from the border was being re-laid, four kilometers done, one hundred and twenty six to go! We crashed into the first pothole with such ferocity, that it's a wonder we were not supplied with parachutes. I suspect the driver, who did this route every day did it on purpose, to wake him from the boredom. I looked at the road ahead, with some trepidation, it was like the tarmac had gingivitis, it had more or less eroded from the sides inwards. This was even more unnerving because the traffic in both directions competed for the badly diseased blacktop. On several occasions, our large and solid bus was forced into the deeper recesses of the gravel pavements to avoid an oncoming truck. Scary was not the word, and the bus did not have a toilet!
We endured two and a half hours of this, before we eventually pulled into the frenetic chaos that was Chisinau north bus station. I stepped of the bus feeling like I had had an Indonesian massage, the Indonesian being a 400lb Orangutan with a bipolar disorder. Seven hours, of wooden suspension, third world roads, inefficient immigration and air conditioning that would make the Kalahari look cool had done little for my mood.
Our next challenge was to find a taxi. No I rephrase that; the next challenge was for Tania to find the cheapest taxi amongst the 3500 sitting outside the station. Sensing I was about to explode she found a deal for $2.50 and of we set for the Cosmos hotel.
I won't go into details about the hotel, it was a huge ex Soviet monolith that more than made up for in service what it lacked in looks. It was also cheap. We wandered around Chisinau for an hour or two before deciding our room was infinitely more interesting.
|Moldova - Its everything you expect
We checked out early the next morning and headed for the Ukrainian Embassy. When we arrived at about 8.15 we found we were, despite the early start, not alone. In fact, there was a queue of about 10 people. A rather loud Babushka was orchestrating proceedings, she told us to put our names down on a piece of paper, where it turned out, in fact, we were actually number 21.
More and more people arrived, the babushka explaining to everyone who arrived to put their names on the list. At this point, I should make it clear that she was not embassy staff, just a busybody who was also waiting for the 9.00am opening.
At around 8.55 she began marshaling people into line, Tania, always a sucker for a fight, had decided to help. The babushka, at this stage, had positioned herself about number 7. Tania asked what her name was, and it turned out she was actually number 15 on the list, a verbal sparring match ensued, with the Babushka slagging down Ukrainian and Ukrainians. Tania retorted, if she hated Ukraine so much why was she trying to get a visa to go there. In the ensuing mêlée, nobody noticed the security guard unlocking the gate. He called the first 10 people and one by one the people on the list walked in. So did the babushka. Tania was standing for none of this. She literally grabbed her by the arms and dragged her back through the gates telling the guard not to let her in until it was her turn. The other people applauded and a certain amount of civility returned. Ironically we actually managed to jump the queue by virtue of the fact we were paying extra to have my visa processed in one day. I won't bore you with the details other than to say the embassy were quick and efficient. When we left after about 45 minutes, the Babushka was still waiting. Tania gave her a wry smile.
So we returned to the concrete expanse of chaos called Chisinau North Bus Station, where, not without a certain amount of irony, we boarded the same bus, with the same driver. I would like to tell you the journey was the same hell on the way back, only it really wasn't. It was much worse.


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In the latest edition of the Blatant Homerism Podcast, advanced stats guru Bill Connelly of SBNation.com joins the show to discuss his breakdown of Oklahoma and the rest of the Big 12.
Bill and I hit on:
- OU's good fortune of 2013 reversing in 2014;
- What Lincoln Riley brings to the squad as the new offensive coordinator;
- The likelihood of defensive improvement;
- The Big 12 pecking order;
- And more.
(The Sooner Sports Radio app is now available for download on your iPad and iPhone. You can also subscribe to the show via iTunes.)


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Tory Burch Fall/Winter 2016-2017 RTW – NYFW
Tory Burch has made herself known for knowing how to dress women in smart, appropriately seasonal attire, with her most recent ready-to-wear showing for fall/winter 2016 at New York Fashion Week reminding us how chic sportiness can look when integrated in our daily looks. With a color palette based on cool shades of purple, blue, green, grey, pink, and others, Burch created looks with the modern woman in mind, and events for all hours of the day featuring varying levels of professionalism, casualness, and formalness.
The looks came alive on the runway, and even in the structured environment evoked the loveliest feelings of happiness and comfort. From the first look sent down the runway, a long coat with a patchwork-esque print, we were treated to a sense of nostalgia, which is something Burch tends to lean toward when creating her collections and campaigns, and set up the mood for the rest of the collection's simple color scheme and tastefully stylish silhouettes.
From there on out, a lot of the outerwear on the runway was sporty, making them the perfect choices for a woman on the go. Other coats and jackets were created in denim, which was a runway trend for this show, and others still were heavier duty for when the colder weather of winter hits. No matter what temperature it is outside, Tory Burch has outerwear to combat it.
The dresses and skirts in the Tory Burch fall/winter 2016-2017 collection were particularly lovely, as many hemlines fell at the sweet-spot location above the knee, without being too "mini." A dark rose skirt with wide pleated panels was paired with a black and deep purple and mustard sweater, which was one of the most flirty and sweet looks on Burch's runway. Another standout dress was a white and black tea-length number, with an interesting print, which almost mimicked a corset-styled bodice. But it was the leather strap detail that made this look particularly appealing, as it broke up the look in an edgy way, without losing any of the dress's feminine charm.
Many of the separates, on the other hand, were sharp and smart, perfect for a day at the office. A pair of deep green skinny trousers might not be the first thing to come to mind when thinking of officewear, but after this show, those feelings might change. They were the sleekest pants in the line, and weren't brow-raising, as one might expect with the concept of a green basic professional garment.
The other pants in the collection were flared slacks in the same shade of green and another flared pair of pink pants, with a matching blazer. The use of color was risky, in that they would be a hit or miss when they showed on the runway, with little room for error; and if you ask me, they were a clear hit and highlight of the show.
Between the masterful use of color and manipulation of silhouettes to best suit the models' bodies, Tory Burch's fashion week line was one of the smartest and well-executed ready-to-wear showings so far. And it wouldn't be too surprising to see the fashion month conclude with her collection being one of the most successful in terms of interest from everyday women, and then later on in sales.
Photos courtesy of Vogue