text:
Friday, February 8, 2013
2 charged in burglary at home of retired cop
New wilmington, pa.
City police arrested two men, charging them in a burglary at the home of a retired city police chief.
Scott James Lauderbaugh Jr., 29, of Main Street, West Middlesex, and Daniel James Tukalo, 20, of South Irvine Street, Sharon, are each charged with burglary, criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass and attempted theft from a motor vehicle. Lauderbaugh also is charged with driving without a valid driver's license.
Both men are in the Lawrence County Jail on $25,000 bond, and a preliminary hearing for each is set for Tuesday.
The son of retired Chief Richard Hanna heard noises in Hanna's Beechwood Road home early Tuesday and found two men, later identified as Lauderbaugh and Tukalo in the basement with a flashlight, according to police reports.
West Branch workers extend pact for 1 year
West Branch Board of Education and the district's classified employees have agreed to a one-year contract extension.
The extension, approved by the board at a special meeting Thursday, expires in June 2014.
It grants all eligible employees a one-half step increase in pay for the 2013-14 school year. It also states that if the school district receives additional funding from the state in what is commonly known as the supplemental guarantee and that the guarantee is at least $200,000, then eligible employees will receive an additional half-step in pay.
The new contract also freezes medical-contribution rates for all district employees for the 2013-14 school year.
Water-service pact
Mahoning County commissioners Thursday approved a water-service agreement in which the county's system will supply up to 500,000 gallons a day to a drilling site of CNX Gas Co. off Blott Road in Jackson Township. The county will charge the company $6 per thousand gallons.
Washingtonville man charged in hit-and-run
A Washingtonville man will return to court next month, accused of aggravated vehicular homicide in the November dealth of a 9-year-old girl. According to Vindicator broadcast partner 21 WFMJ-TV, Todd Roberts, 27, appeared in court Thursday charged in the hit-and-run death of Olivia Thompson, who was struck by a truck authorities say was driven by Roberts while she walked along State Street.
Youngstown man jailed in Pa. shooting
MERCER, pa.
A Youngstown man is jailed in Pennsylvania on a $300,000 bond after a shooting and standoff Wednesday night in Pymatuning Township in Mercer County.
According to Vindicator broadcast partner 21 WFMJ-TV, Jessi Hudson, 22, faces nine charges including assault, burglary and making terroristic threats.
A township police officer says he wounded Hudson after shots were fired at him from a house along state Route 18. Police say Hudson barricaded himself inside the home, but he eventually was apprehended by the county's critical-response team. Investigators say Hudson shot a woman inside the home. There were no fatalities.
City man charged in child-porn case
A city man is charged with pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, accused of downloading explicit photographs involving children.
Vindicator broadcast partner 21 WFMJ-TV reported that authorities are searching the computer of Kevin Thompson after discovering the images. Court records show the charge was filed by a Boardman detective.


text:
You're on your feet all day--let the Women's Magnetic Insoles From Dr. Bakst Magnetics help. Doctor, lawyer, fitness instructor, caregiver, mom, police officer, teacher, assembly line worker--women's work is never done. Magnetic therapy is thought to assist in improved circulation and ease symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, arthritis, plantar fasciitis, heel spur syndrome, and other foot care concerns.
People with implanted electro-medical devices such as pacemakers or insulin pumps must not use this therapy. Magnetic products should not be used during pregnancy. Always check with your physician prior to using magnetic products of any kind.
***The contents of the Painreliever.com website are for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not use the information on this web site for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Painreliever.com website. Read Full Disclaimer***
Additional Features
Weight & Dimensions
Shipping Information
Free Ground Shipping
Ships via: FedEx Ground
Estimated Delivery Time
Related CategoriesShop by Category > Braces & Supports > Heel & Foot Supports
Shop by Category > Pain Relief & Therapy > Magnetic Therapy > Magnetic Foot Insoles
Shop by Body Area > Heel & Foot Products > Foot Insoles & Heel Cups
Shop by Body Area > Heel & Foot Products > Foot Magnets
Product Reviews
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
very quick service. easy to trim to size.
5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
My Doctor thinks that I have Neuropathy, I have SO MUCH pain and numbness in my feet its just awful. I think its a little too early to tell BUT the pain doesnt seem to be as bad. The numbing sensation is still there but also not quite as bad so we shall see. Thanks so much

subset: commoncrawl


text:
KENNEDALE – Brittni Colleps, the 28-year-old Kennedale teacher on trial for having sex with five of her students, has been found guilty in a Tarrant County courtroom.
The jury took less than an hour to find Colleps guilty on all 16 counts of improper relationship with a student. The five victims were all 18 at the time, but it is a crime in Texas for a teacher to have a sexual relationship with one of her students.
On Wednesday, the prosecution showed the jury video shot on one of the teen's cell phones of Colleps having sex with them in her bedroom. The next day, the state used photos of Colleps' bedroom as evidence, arguing that the pillows and sheets matched the setting the jury saw in the video Wednesday.
The prosecution told jurors that Colleps would invite between four and five teens to her house for group sex. They would frequently record the encounters, but the district attorney argued Colleps was aware and allowed it.
The fifth final victim testified before the state rested its case on Thursday. He told the court that Colleps took him to her home after attending a Texas Rangers game together. The affair began that night.
The victim said the next time it occurred was after a spaghetti dinner at Colleps' home with three other teens. After the meal, the teacher brought out some sex toys and tried on "form-fitting" lingerie.
The night became physical during a game of "truth or dare" in the 28-year-old's backyard. The victim said Colleps performed sex acts on each of the teens while the others watched.
Colleps' husband and three children were not around during the encounter. Jurors were told Friday that the husband was serving in the military at the time of the crimes.
A detective testified the teens recorded having sex with the teacher the day before police were called in May of 2011. Colleps had been working at Kennedale High School for less than a year when she was arrested.
After the state rested on Thursday, Colleps tearfully told the judge she didn't want to go to trial, but a plea bargain wasn't offered. The district attorney's office said it didn't offer a deal because it felt a jury of Colleps's peers should decide the severity of the crime.
Colleps did not testify, nor did her attorney present any evidence. During closing statements Friday, the defense argued the constitutionality of the crime, as each of the students were 18 during the affairs and bragged in text messages about sleeping with Colleps.
The district attorney, however, said the 28-year-old was aware that her actions were criminal; even after one teen stopped a relationship, she moved onto another.
Before the jury was released to deliberate, the district attorney derided Colleps' actions as "disgusting," "distasteful" and staggering." As the jury left the courtroom, Colleps exited while holding her husband's hand.
She showed no emotion as the guilty verdict was read. She faces up to 20 years in prison.


text:
MEBANE, N.C. --Two teenagers are dead after being hit by an Amtrak train, according to the Norfolk Southern railroad.It happened around 7:45 p.m. Friday in the area of Washington Street and 11th Street.
Orange County officials have identified the victims as Darian Davis, 17, and his brother Dustin Davis, 19.
Friends said they were all hanging out at a house when the two brothers decided to go home.
Investigators say a short time later, the boys were walking on the tracks when a train blew its whistle and pulled its emergency brake, but couldn't stop in time.
Friends told ABC11 they were surprised to hear the boys were on the tracks.
The incident remains under investigation.
Classifieds | Report A Typo | Send Tip | Get Alerts | See Click Fix
Follow @abc11 on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook


text:
Call us on 020 7188 7188
Getting here
A-Z finders
Most visited services
For patients
For researchers
For industry
Our vacancies
Why work here
Other types of work
Your pregnancy journey is an important and exciting experience and we would like to ensure that your maternity care and support is right for you. At Guy's and St Thomas' we offer a wide range of choices and services in hospital, community and home settings.
birth at home (a home birth)
Take a look at our video below to see a virtual tour of the maternity unit at St Thomas'.
During your pregnancy we provide antenatal care at St Thomas' and at clinics local to you. At these antenatal visits you will have blood tests, measurements and scans to make sure that you and your baby are well. Find out more about antenatal care.
We also provide specialist care for babies who need it and for women with conditions that make their pregnancy more problematic. We are proud to have an expert staff and a wide range of specialist teams - meaning that we can provide care that other hospitals may not be able to offer.
Once your baby is born, you will be cared for by a team of midwives, support workers and doctors who will help with parenting and feeding. Whether you have your baby at home or in one of our birth centres, we will give you and your baby the best possible start. More about postnatal care.
Help us to provide the best care for women using our services. Tell about your:
We will also ask you for feedback on your experience of labour, birth and postnatal care at the end of your hospital stay.
If you experience bleeding, pain or severe vomiting and are more than 18 weeks pregnant contact our Antenatal Assessment Unit on:
If you are up to 18 weeks pregnant and have problems, please contact our Early Pregnancy Unit on:
For emergencies overnight (7pm-8am on weekdays and 5pm-9am at weekends), please call the Hospital Birth Centre on:
St Thomas' Hospital7th floor, North WingWestminster Bridge RoadLondon SE1 7EH
Guy's Hospital Great Maze Pond London SE1 9RTTel 020 7188 7188
St Thomas' Hospital Westminster Bridge Road London SE1 7EHTel 020 7188 7188
Browser does not support script.


text:
Free delivery on online orders $100 and over — anywhere in Australia.
Stephen King
Stephen King's epic fantasy series, The Dark Tower, is being made into a major motion picture starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey. Due in cinemas August 18, 2017.
$19.99Buy now
Finding stock availability...
Sign up to receive our emails.


text:
rning, dear ones all." They looked up with blank, unanswering faces, and said: "Good morning, Marcia"--that was all. But Marcia's heart leaped at the recognition of her presence, for she had begun to fear that she was dead, and that it was her spirit that was wandering about.
She stooped and kissed her mother, who murmured abstractedly, "Yes, dear," never once looking up from the presents she was examining. With a sinking heart she turned away from her mother and went and stood behind her father's chair, and leaning over whispered in his ear: "Dear father, have you forgotten that this is my birthday?" He answered kindly but absent-mindedly: "Why, daughter, am I likely to forget it with all these tokens around me?"--and he waved his hand toward the gifts piled around his plate. This was almost more than Marcia could bear, for father was always specially tender and attentive to her on her birthday. She always sat on his knee a while; and he told her what a joy and comfort she was to him, and he always pa


text:
Two environmental groups are seeking to intervene in federal lawsuits in which St. Tammany Parish property owners are challenging the federal government's designation of about 1,500 acres as critical habitat for the endangered dusky gopher frog. The Center for Biological Diversity and the Gulf Restoration Network will defend the U.S. Fish & Wildlife's decision to place the "critical habitat" label for the frog on more than 6,000 acres in Louisiana and Mississippi, the groups said in a news release.
"To save the dusky gopher frog, we need to protect not just the few last places where they survive, but also those places where they could live again, including Louisiana," center attorney Collette Adkins Giese said in the release. "We're going to do everything we can to make sure these lawsuits don't undermine recovery of these gopher frogs and the intact forest habitats they depend on."
The groups filed a motion Thursday in U.S. District Court in New Orleans asking that they be allowed to intervene in Markle Interests LLC vs. U.S. Fish & Wildlife and others, which was filed in February. The groups say they also will seek to intervene in two similar lawsuits brought by other St. Tammany property owners.
Fish & Wildlife placed the "critical habitat" label on the property -- as well as on about 5,000 acres of public and private land in Mississippi -- in 2012. The agency has said its goal is to find more homes for the frog, which is warty, dark colored with ridges along the sides of its back. The species, placed on the endangered species list in 2001, has only about 100 adults still living in the wild in Harrison County, Miss., north of Gulfport.
The last time a gopher frog was seen in St. Tammany was in 1965, in one of several connecting ponds in the "critical habitat" area, Fish & Wildlife has said.
The family of Edward Poitevent II of New Orleans owns most of the property in question in St. Tammany. The government's actions, he said, amount to a land-grab that could cost his family millions of dollars by blocking future development. The timberland straddling Louisiana 36 west of Pearl River is not home to any of the frogs, nor does it contain the habitat the species needs to survive, Poitevent has said.
In addition to Markle Interests - which is owned by cousins of Poitevent - Poitevent's P&F Lumber Co. LLC and St. Tammany Land Co. LLC and PF Monroe Properties LLC filed a second suit against the government. A third lawsuit was brought by Weyerhaeuser Co., which has a lease on the timberland and owns a small part of it.
The second lawsuit describes the placement of the "critical habitat" designation on the Poitevent land as
"illegal, improper and illogical."
The federal agency's sole purpose throughout the process was to make the best recommendation for the conservation and recovery of the frog, as required by a settlement reached with the Center for Biological Diversity to find more places for the frog to live, officials have said.
Fish & Wildlife found that the St. Tammany lands are essential for the frog's recovery because they contain five ephemeral ponds, each within hopping distance of the next, the environmental groups said Thursday.
"The (Fish & Wildlife) Service cannot force landowners to take action to restore habitats, but the agency has programs to provide money and technical help for landowners interested in conservation," said Cynthia Sarthou, executive director of the Gulf Restoration Network.


text:
With business growth and expansion comes the need to protect additional assets, perhaps even property and employees, as well as more complex insurance issues. To address complex and additional exposures, a Commercial Package Policy (CPP) is often a way to tailor coordinated insurance coverage in a competitive fashion. Tri-State Insurance Agency provides businesses throughout Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey and New York with Commercial Package Policies, which include a combination of general liability and business property insurance along with business auto, equipment breakdown, crime, inland marine, business interruption extra expense, and some other liability insurance.
Additional protection can be added to the package including coverage for costs of debris removal, damage to outdoor property and signs, sewage/drain backup, and other damaging events.
The benefits of customization and flexibility.
A Commercial Package Policy can be structured with a great deal of specificity in insurance coverage, deductibles and payout limits. You can also enhance coverage with stand-alone liability policies, such as employment practices liability, pollution liability and other coverages that may be needed but not available under a CPP.
Our professionals at Tri-State will conduct a complete review of your current insurance program, your exposures, and business goals to identify where there may be any coverage gaps or even over-insurance. We'll tailor a program specifically for your company and obtain a competitive price from the numerous top-notch markets to which we have access. As your business evolves, our proactive approach will keep breast of any changes that could affect your insurance requirements.
Helping you protect your operation today and into the future.
Tri-State Insurance Agency provides a comprehensive business insurance portfolio for companies throughout Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey and New York. Give our professionals a call toll-free at 888.990.0526, email us or fill out and send the form on this page for a free consultation and quote.


text:
Words that start with bodypain
Found 1 words that start with bodypain. Browse our Scrabble Word Finder, Words With Friends cheat dictionary, and WordHub word solver to find words starting with bodypain. Or use our Unscramble word solver to find your best possible play! Related: Words containing bodypain
- Scrabble
- Words With Friends
- WordHub
- Crossword


text:
Roger Ebert Quotes About SchoolQuotes about: School
Parents and schools should place great emphasis on the idea that it is all right to be different. Racism and all the other 'isms' grow from primitive tribalism, the instinctive hostility against those of another tribe, race, religion, nationality, class or whatever. You are a lucky child if your parents taught you to accept diversity.
I am as fond of colorful language as anyone, but I try not to inflict it upon strangers. I suspect many people sense they should have better manners, and need only a nudge. In high school, I was addressed for the first time in my life as "Mister Ebert" by Stanley Hynes, an English teacher, and his formality transformed his classroom into a place where a certain courtliness prevailed.
It is strange how the romances of the teenage years retain a poignancy all through life - how a girl who turns you down when you're 16 retains an aura in your memory even long after you, and she, have ceased to be who you were then. I attended my high school reunion a couple of weeks ago and discovered, in the souvenir booklet assembled by the reunion committee, that one of the girls in my class had a crush on me all those years ago. I would have given a great deal to have had that information at the time.
Roger Ebert
- Born: June 18, 1942
- Died: April 4, 2013
- Occupation: Film critic
- Cite this Page: Citation


text:
James Lyng, President Reagan`s nominee to replace the embattled John Block as secretary of agriculture, faces about as bleak a prospect as any new cabinet member in recent history.
The nation`s farm economy is in a retreat not seen since the Great Depression, and farmers are frustrated and angry. A bewildered Congress keeps trying to spare the government`s crazy quilt of farm programs from the harsh realities of the budget and the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings law, with billions in waste and millions of tons of unwanted record crop surpluses the result.


text:
Hot Buy: Wool and Tweed Mix Parka Jacket ($138) by ASOS
With winter on its way, it never hurts to stock up on a sturdy jacket, and we think this tweed-and-wool jacket is the one. It takes on the country-chic trend without trying too hard and can definitely outlast the elements.
1 Comment
that model is absolutely gorgeous!!!


text:
Exclusive: Donald Trump on Bill Maher, Rosie O'Donnell and Katherine Webb
"Extra's" AJ Calloway spoke with the one and only Donald Trump on Wednesday to get his reaction to the $5-million offer from Bill Maher, Rosie O'Donnell's baby news and why he hired Miss Alabama, Katherine Webb.
Trump's lawyer accepted Maher's offer and provided the proof. Now Trump is ready to collect. The real estate mogul told Calloway, "He made the offer… I accepted his offer and he owes me $ 5 million, which I am going to give to charity. If doesn't pay the money we will probably sue him."
Mr. Trump also sent well wishes to his on-again/off-again nemesis Rosie O'Donnell and wife Michelle Rounds after news broke that they welcomed a baby girl into their family. "I think that's great, I am very happy for her."
As for hiring Miss Alabama, Katherine Webb, to be a judge at the next "Miss USA" pageant, Trump explained, "She is an outstanding person. She represents a lot of charities and a lot of charitable work. She will remain grounded."


text:
Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas revealed on Friday morning that there are ongoing talks with Bale's agent regarding a new contract for the Wales international.
But Spanish newspaper Marca claims Bale has told Spurs chairman Daniel Levy to stick to his word and let him leave after the club failed to qualify for the Champions League last season.
"You made me a promise," he said. "You promised me if we didn't qualify for the Champions League and a good offer turned up you'd listen to it.
"Well that offer has arrived and I want to play for Real Madrid. So keep your word and negotiate."
Marca is known to be closely affiliated with the Spanish club and the latest development may yet prove to be part of an orchestrated campaign to put pressure on Spurs to sell their star man.
Earlier this week Marca reported Bale had already agreed terms on a six-year deal to move to Madrid.
Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett has not responded to calls from Telegraph Sport.


text:
What is Managed Technology Services?
Managed Technology Services is the most critical engine to drive any business to success. It is rapidly evolving all the time and the businesses that can strike the right balance between technology innovation and business goals are the ones to earn the competitive edge and get ahead upfront. The investment in infrastructure, expertise, time and management required to maintain the optimal performance of such an engine critical to your success could be complex, time-consuming and costly.
Managed Technology Services is a strategic method for you to improve your operations, cut costs and stay focused. Businesses that make this a part of their process realize increased focus and success with their core business requirements such as expanding market share, building brand, increasing revenues and planning for future growth.
You simply hand off the hassles of technology management and operational responsibility to us; and we take it from there. This way you are able to scale quickly on all fronts. We become your performance assurance and innovation backend for scaling your technological capability. Our MTS delivers complete care for your technology investments through each stage of your entire IT systems lifecycle.
PROVEN 3-PHASE Approach to Managed Technology Services
Design & Consulting Services
We engage with business heads in your organization to identify requirements and analyze opportunities within your operations. It is critical to accurately tailor a solution that fits your unique needs; the resulting recommendation will fall in any degree within the scope of the available managed services.
System Integration & Deployment Services
Using a combination of modeled solutions, deployment services, trained and certified engineers and project managers, we help in orchestrating deep-level configurations from start-ups to large enterprises. We manage deployment from inception to post-integration support.
Managed Technology Solutions
Our managed technology solutions allows you to focus on your Customers, Innovations and Operations. Keeping in view the technology advances, we constantly evaluate your technological capabilities to meet the highest level of end-user demand.
Is Managed Technology Services Right for You?
MTS could benefit any business as it provides an operational model with access to highly scaled pool of tools and expertise to keep your IT infrastructure running reliably. So regardless of your size and business, MTS is right for you. Below are three examples of a customer's consideration for requesting the MTS.
Customer wants to build new revenue stream leveraging IoT & M2M
It is predicted that the market worth for IoT and M2M by 2019 will be $950 billion approximately. The challenges faced by IoT and M2M are – security for all the information available and accessible over Internet, customization of technology, and deployment to new technology. In order to meet all these challenges, organizations must develop cost-effective robust technology with integrating capabilities, so that the connecting devices can run on any type of platform, and thus, help to generate the revenues and profitability. Your ability to respond to these opportunities affects your win rate and how you respond affects your costs.
We collaborate with you to evaluate and propose adoption strategy and roadmap for IoT/M2M. This includes 'as is' evaluation of your current assets and processes, concept of solution and rollout strategies, and design of IoT and M2M architecture. Our consulting ability is derived from our vast experience and knowledge of domains that we work on and standard industry processes.
Customer has migrated 300 servers to the public cloud and needs Managed NOC Managed Public Cloud
From our remote Network Operations Center, we deliver 24 hours a day, 365 days a year monitoring of converged technologies, networks, systems and applications for performance and security. By taking advantage of our resources – engineering talent, reporting and customized escalation plans, world-class tool sets, compliance and security expertise – you can leverage our services at a fraction of the cost that is incurred when implemented in-house.
In this scenario, we migrated 300 servers to AWS. We now maintain and monitor Cloud NOC every minute of every hour on critical and non-critical technology so that your operations run smoothly, ensuring around-the-clock, reliable performance, as well as rapid escalation and quick remediation in the event a problem is detected. We go the extra mile by providing service-level customized maintenance programs and on-site maintenance. As an MSP for cloud, we provide multi-vendor support for various cloud computing environments.
Customer is looking to deploy a Wireless LAN and needs Deployment Support
With the changing technology landscape, the way people use technology changes – more so, the wireless LAN (WLAN). With the explosion of tablets and laptops, there is a huge drain on wireless networks. A lot of people who use tablets mostly rely on Wi-Fi. Users don't care how it works, they just want it to happen and be able to get connectivity on their devices to be able to use the tools and applications they need. The increasing trend of 'bring your own device (BYOD)' into the workplace also has an impact on the network.
In this scenario, we handle the day-to-day management of your wireless network. We keep the WLAN operational and available by monitoring it remotely, 24x7x365, troubleshooting and maintaining it from our Network Operations Center (NOC). We resolve connectivity and configuration issues before they disrupt your business. We manage routine updates and maintenance without distracting your staff. You can keep all the mobility benefits of your WLAN and stay focused on what's really important to you – your business.
Featured Managed Technology Services
What Next?
If you are interested in any of our Managed Technology Services, please contact us today or call 1-732-624-1951 for more information and speak to a member of our expert team.


text:
Portugal's second largest city is built into its hillside cliffs, overlooking the Douro River. Charismatic and picturesque, with an endless supply of nooks and crannies waiting to be discovered by the avid traveler, the city is best unearthed on foot. Filled with history and monuments, as well as a thriving, cosmopolitan downtown area, the charming city of Porto is well worth a visit.
Here are the top ten things to do when visiting Portugal's 'capital of the North'.
1. Stroll the Historic City centre
The historic centre of Porto is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that sits proudly above the Douro River, like a colorful popup town. Portugal's second largest city (after Lisbon) is characterized by rugged, tumbling houses, baroque churches and faded storefronts piled on top of each other in a seemingly haphazard fashion. Strolling along the narrow winding streets and up and down the rickety staircases is a must, to truly unearth the essence of the city.
2. Cross the Dom Luis Bridge
Opened in 1886, the Dom Luis Bridge once held the record for the longest iron arch in the world. Built by Gustav Eiffel, many people find the bridge reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower itself. The bridge sprawls across the Douro, connecting the historical centre of Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia. The upper level is where the metro runs, but cars and tourist may cross on the lower level. Walking across the bridge is an experience well worth the incredible views.
3. Tour a port wine cellar
On the hillside of Vila Nova de Gaia stand some of the most prestigious Port wine cellars known around the world. Many are open to the public for wine tastings and inexpensive tours that take you into the heart of the cellars. Private tours or those for large groups can normally be accommodated upon request, and if you want to buy port wine, dedicated personnel help answer all your port-related questions as you browse. With the famous names of port wine all in such close proximity, the most difficult part will be choosing which cellar to visit!
4. Beat the photo ban at the Livraria Lello
Certainly the oldest, easily the most interesting, and arguably the most beautiful bookstore in Portugal, if not the world – Livraria Lello is located in the city centre of Porto. The bookstore is widely tipped to have been an inspiration for parts of Harry Potter's magical world, since JK Rowling lived in Porto prior to writing the books. Taking pictures inside the bookstore is prohibited, and those caught snapping shots are often asked to leave…but that doesn't stop those hoping to seize a souvenir of the bookstore's famous staircase.
5. Tempt a heart attack with a Francesinha
Porto's most famous sandwich is quite frankly a coronary on a plate. The name Francesinha literally means 'Little Frenchie' as it is thought to have evolved from the croque monsieur. The signature lunch time dish comprises of two toasted bread slices, filled with three types of meat – wet-cured ham, linguica (fresh sausage) and steak. The entire concoction is covered in cheese, drenched in a tomato-beer sauce, and served on a plate of french-fries. Locals and tourists alike will argue over where to find the best Francesinha, often citing the sauce as the key secret ingredient in the success of the sandwich.
6. Ascend to the heights of Torre dos Clérigos
One of Porto's most characteristic symbols, the baroque façade of the Clérigos Church and its bell tower can be seen from most places in the city. Built by Italian architect Nasoni and completed in 1763, the church and its tower are open to the public. Those braving the climb -240 steps in total- are rewarded with breathtaking views over the city. (I recommend the climb after trying the Francesinha!)
7. Ride Tram # 1
Porto's tram #1 is one of three heritage line routes (the others being #18 and #22) Line 1 connects the city (at the Infante stop) to the seaside district of Foz do Douro. The ride is almost exclusively along the river bank and makes for wonderful views along the way. The ride itself – in a rickety antique tram car – adds to the all round experience of the tour. Although the line operates on a schedule, it arrived considerably late during our wait so I'd recommend allowing plenty of time for this activity. The tickets are sold on board and cost 2.5€ per person.
8. Feel the ocean breeze in Foz do Douro
Foz do Douro literally translates to 'mouth of the Douro' and is the seaside spot where the Douro River meets the Atlantic Ocean. This area is one of the most expensive places to live in Porto and is as such, inhabited by the city's most affluent people. The main boardwalk is lined with palm trees and upmarket cafes and there is a lively vibe at night with the Felgueiras Lighthouse – which is situated at the edge of the Douro's river mouth, creating a spectacular backdrop. Also worth visiting in the area is the Castelo do Queijo, a fortress dating from 1661, and Parque da Cidade, the largest park in Porto.
9. Soar above the city in the funicular
With unsurpassable views over the Ribeira, Douro River and Vila Nova de Gaia the Funicular dos Guindais is well worth the 2€ price tag. The journey is quite short, approximately 3 minutes – and at the top, travelers are treated to a panoramic view of the city and the Dom Luis Bridge. Whilst the funicular shuttles its fair share of tourists up and down the steep incline from Batalha to the quayside at Ribeira, it's also frequented by locals who avoid making the steep climb by foot.
10. Slow it down with a boat tour on the River Douro
Whether it be an hour-long trip along the banks of the city, travelling under the famous six bridges; or a longer cruise from Porto to a nearby town like Regua or Pinhão, cruising along the Douro offers a unique perspective of the Portuguese landscape. Some tours can last much longer – up to a week, and there are various tour operators in the area ensuring that prices are competitive.


text:
Hello & Welcome
Hello and welcome to my webpage, I have been an amateur photographer for some 4 years now, and after been bitten by the bug i have never looked back. On my website you will find in the portfolio section a few of my selected images that i have done, if anything you see that you would like printed, send me a message and i will respond as quick as i can.
Thank You


text:
Find Our Latest Video Reviews on YouTube!
If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It's free!
Monday January 9, 2012 11:49 am
Monster Inspiration is its first noise-canceling over-ear headphone
Posted by Andru Edwards - Categories: Accessories, CES, CES 2012, Music, Portable Audio / Video
The folks at Monster are on a roll with the CES 2012 announcements this morning, and we've got the scoop on another - feast your eyes on the Inspiration over-ear headphone. This is Monster Cable's first noise-cancelling over-ear headphone, and we're actually pretty surprised its taken the company this long to release something like this. These are ideal for frequent travelers, commuting, home use, or really anywhere you want the noise of the outside world to be drowned out. The Inspiration headphones are fashionable, and will be available in black, white, and a limited edition silver color. The headbands are interchangeable if you don't like any of those colors, with eight different style to choose from for $29 each. Expect to pay $279 for a pair of Inspiration over-ears when they begin shipping this spring. Also, the Inspiration Lite, an on-ear alternative, will be available in June for $229.
- Related Tags:
- accessories, audio, ces, ces 2012, headphones, inspiration, inspiration lite, monster, monster cable, monster inspiration, music, noise-canceling headphones, over-ear, over-ear headphones
Latest Gear Live Videos
- Subscribe:
- YouTube
- iTunes High Definition
- iTunes Standard Version
© Gear Live Inc. {year} – User-posted content, unless source is quoted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Public Domain License. Gear Live graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, videos, articles, blogs, forums, scripts and other service names are the trademarks of Gear Live Inc.


text:
Skin conditions and Acupuncture
The skin is the body's largest organ, living and breathing the skin reflects what is happening on the inside of the body.
Chinese medicine views that the underlying cause of many skin conditions originates internally. A healthy flow of Qi (Vital energy), blood circulation and fluids through out the body will be reflected in a healthy complexion. In Chinese Medicine the skin is also referred to as the "third lung", and is associated with the lungs and large intestine. Healthy lungs insure healthy fluid metabolism which moistens the skin and a build up of toxins in the intestine, can emerge as skin problems such as boils pimples and itching. The skin is seen as the intermediary between the inside of an organism or body and the external environment and enables us to feel protected and to resist invasion from external pathogenic factors.
Common skin conditions
- Hives
- Rashes
- Dermatitis
- Eczema
- Pimples/acne
- Rosacea
- Inflammation
- Shingles
- Psoriasis
- Dry, flaking skin
- Fungal skin problems
Acupuncture treatment plus moxibustion is safe and effective in the treatment of Acne and helps to reduce inflammatory lesions and improve quality of life [1]. Acupuncture helps to relieve symptoms in people with atopic eczema and psoriasis possibly by reducing inflammation [2] and increasing local circulation.[3]
Stress related skin problems can be successfully treated with acupuncture.
Acupuncture influences the body's homeostatic mechanisms and has been shown to affect areas of the brain that reduce sensitivity to pain and stress.[4]
Contact: 07787870841
[1]Li. (2009). Acne. Available: http://www.acupuncture.org.uk/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=1525:.... Last accessed 23rd Nov 2012.


text: Hi So in about one month I will sell my original DS and buy a DS Lite. Also im going to buy some cartridge. I was thinking about the EZ4 Lite becuase its small, cheep and it runs GBA and DS roms both good. Am I right? The G6 has an insane pricetag and built-in memory so I would NEVER buy that one. I play GBA and DS games as much as the other so do you think the EZ4 will be a good choise for me? Also I need a passkey of some sort. Will the MK4 Mini be good enough? Im also courios what the different is between the MK4 Mini and the other passkeys. I've read that it has "EEPROM Save" and "Auto Sleep Mode". Doesnt the other passkeys have that? And one last question. Someone told me to buy a fast microSD card. But the problem is that I can't find any one faster then the original one. Can anyone tell me if the DS and GBA games will slow down anyting if they are run trough a MK4 Mini and a regular microSD? Ofc some games may have slowdown and some may not but I was thinking if the speed on the memcard really make that much different here.


text:
By: Diana, Salina, Andrea Our machine starts with wind power. We used a fan. The wind blows a ball down a slide into a tunnel then a short slide. It then hits a bottle of potato fries, then the fries fall into a frying pan into oil. Then we put the fries into plates when it is done.
TroubleshootingWe had a lot of problems. First was that we couldn't make a long machine so we took out some parts like a bear, some books, a windmill, and we had to make the second slide shorter. We couldn't make the windmill work, it was hard work.
Reminds me of . . .Our machine is kind of like the one in a movie "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Both machines have a ball, a slide, and a short tunnel.


text:
Youth Programming
Healthy Food Product Development
Youth For Change - The Determined Divas & GoodFellas
A team of youth from this gang replacement program are private labeling Super Pasta from Barilla, with spice packs from Stuart's Spices, for a quick and easy family dinner cooked all in one pot. Just add the spice pack mixture, a tab of butter, and olive oil to the pasta after cooking and YUM ! Choose from either Ranch or Italian.
The youth have also developed a character named Chef Gawalli, who travels the world seeking out the best flavors and recipes. He travels in his "Busterant" (Gawalli's flying bus/restaurant) with his sidekick Cous Cous - a white tiger with a nose for spices. A facilitator from Writers and Books worked with the youth to develop the storyline for a limited edition brochure titled "The Adventures of Gawalli & Cous Cous", that will be included as a hang tag on the product.
Community Place of Greater Rochester
Youth from Community Place have developed recipes for 2 tomato based condiments they named "Sauce-A-Tude", with their tagline "Sauce With An Attitude". Flavors include Medterranean Magic (Spicy), and Latin Lemon (Zesty). Cafe International Foods has supported the procesing and private labeling of the condiments. 8,400 units were delivered to their warehouse mid February, and the youth have been out sampling the product and are will be selling mid March 2014.
Center For Youth After School Program at Monroe High
A team of youth from The Center For Youth's after school program at Monroe High School, worked on the development of 2 flavors of healthy carbonated drink products.
Roberto Tejada from Caribbean Liquid Sugar worked with the youth to share his knowledge about the variety of sugars available, how each is digested, and the healthiest low sugar options for their product. The youth taste tested several stevia/sugar cane combinations for their low sugar, carbonated soda.
Youth Initiative Updates
Participating youth explored the rhythms of their heartbeats under the direction of George A. Porter, Jr., MD, PhD from the University of Rochester's Medical Center, Division of Pediatric Cardiology.
Dr. Porter brought heart monitors for the youth to hear and see their own heartbeats, and to learn about heart health. Youth practiced in stress relieving and heart healthy drumming circles.
Youth learned how heartbeats have been used in media, and determined that actual heartbeat recordings will be used as backdrop rhythms for their public service announcement.
Drumming has been shown to be an excellent upper body exercise, trauma intervention, and stress release practice. Youth created collages of their personal brand for their drums.
In collaboration with WellVentions, youth completed Foodlink's Cooking Matters™ program. The program provided the skills, knowledge and confidence to make healthy and affordable meals. Participants learned to select nutritious and low-cost ingredients, and prepare them in ways that provide the best nourishment possible.
FuturPointe Dance will be heading up the performance team, with pop-up performances driving draffic to the
youth selling booth to support product sales.


text:
CC Cream Extra Hold
The original CC Cream for hair is now available for women with thick hair! Experience all of the 10-in-1 benefits of the original CC Cream but with more control and manageability. This product can be used alone or as a foundation for the layering of other styling products.
Apply evenly to clean, towel-dried hair & style as desired. Can also be used as a finisher on dry hair for added perfection.
Water (Aqua), Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Stearic Acid, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PVP, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-25 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Panthenol, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Caviar Extract, Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment, Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment, Saccharomyces/Silicon Ferment, Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment, Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment, Superoxide Dismutase, Ascorbic Acid, Polysilicone-15,
Biotin, Keratin, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Phospholipids, Ethylhexylglycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Potassium Sorbate,
Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Fragrance (Parfum). (10-15-33508)


text:
LAW Writer® Ohio Laws and Rules
(A) All persons and corporations shall be liable for damage done to works of a sanitary district by themselves, their agents, their employees, or by their livestock.
(B) No person shall willfully damage any works of a sanitary district. Whoever violates this division of this section shall be liable for all damages and costs.
The board of directors of the sanitary district may repair such damage at the expense of the person or corporation committing it.
Effective Date: 10-01-1953 .


text:
A vibrant and welcoming community centre in a wonderful Victorian building at the heart of TW1, the ETNA centre has something for everyone!
Our wide range of facilities offers a huge selection of classes and activities, from fitness and exercise to workshops, music and kids' groups. We also offer self help groups, mindfulness and meditation sessions as well as space for one to one counselling sessions.
We have a variety of activities for senior citizens based at the centre. Please see our timetable.
Every weekday morning the centre comes to life as Rosslyn Nursery and Preschool runs its day care for children ages two to five. To find out more please click here.
We have meeting spaces, conference and counselling rooms, a Hall which is great for children's, anniversary or wedding parties or AGMs and functions. With kitchen facilities and free parking, and helpful friendly staff on site we are a great venue for all different events. So please click here for booking.
If you want to offer a new activity or course to the local community then please get in touch.
ETNA is also home to some registered charity organisations: South West London Environment Network, The Environment Trust, The Conservation Volunteers, Arts Richmond, Metropolitan Housing and Twining Enterprise.


text:
Cell Biology and Physiology Curriculum
Students in the Cell Biology and Physiology track are required complete the core course curriculum listed below (10 credit hours), and take elective courses equivalent to a minimum of 6 credit hours, including a selected unit from Advanced Physiology course. Elective courses are generally chosen in consultation with student's research advisor based on student's research interest. Students will also take a seminar course by attending the physiology seminar series and presenting two seminars in this platform during the course of their dissertation. Additionally, students are expected to participate in journal clubs and will have the opportunity to present their research work in national meetings.
Core Curriculum
- Systems Physiology (4)
- Cell Biology (3)
- Molecular Biology (3)
- Cellular signaling (3)
- Cell Biology Techniques (2)
- Bioinformatics I (2)
- Bioinformatics II (1)
- Essentials of Animal Experimentation (2)
- Advanced Physiology (2)
- Biostatistics (3)
- Ethics
Laboratory Rotations
Students will have three 6-week laboratory rotations starting in January of first year. Students may choose a mentor after their second rotation and begin their dissertation research.
Admission-to-Candidacy Exam
Toward the end of second year students will complete admission-to-candidacy, which involves writing a grant proposal in NIH F31 format and successfully defend the proposal to their advisory committee. This should be completed by May 15 of second year.
Sample curriculum
Year 1
Fall Semester
- Cell Biology (3)
- Molecular Biology (3)
- Biostatistics (3)
Spring Semester
- Systems physiology (4)
- Cellular Signaling (3)
- Integrity in the Conduct of Scientific Research
- Assemble faculty committee
Year 2
Fall Semester
- • Advanced Physiology (2)– Offered once in two years. Therefore, this course is available during Fall Semester of 2nd or 3rd year. Although this is a part of the elective requirement, this course is a requirement for CBP track students. However, students can elect to take one of the 7 units to fulfill 2-credit hour course. The 7 units are: 1) Gastrointestinal Epithelium, 2) Respiratory physiology, 3) Vascular biology, 4) Heart, 5) Ion channels and Electrophysiology, 6) Developmental biology-Animal models, and 7) Lipids in cell signaling.
- Doctoral Dissertation and Research
Spring Semester
- Cellular and Molecular techniques (2)
- Doctoral Dissertation and Research
- Take admission-to-candidacy exam (place where appropriate)
Year 3
Fall Semester
- Advanced Physiology (2)– as described above (if not taken during second year)
- Doctoral Dissertation and Research
Year 4 and Beyond
- Students will defend their dissertation before their faculty committee
Contact Us
Cell Biology and Physiology
Track Director: Dr. Kristen M.S. O'Connell
Integrated Biomedical Sciences Program
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Nash Research Building,
Room 401
894 Union Avenue
Memphis, TN 38163
Phone: 901-448-2648
Email: email@example.com


text:
Are you in search of housing and wondering if Housing Up will fit your needs?
All of Housing Up's programs are for families. You must have at least one child under the age of 18 in your custody in order to qualify for any of our housing programs.
If you are in immediate need of shelter call:
Families: call the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center 202-526-0017
Individuals: call the DC Shelter Hotline 202-399-7093
How Do I Apply for Housing?
To apply for our Permanent Supportive and/or Rapid Re-Housing Programs:
- Contact the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center : 202-526-0017
- After they assign you a case manager, they will assess which programs are the right fit, and will refer you to those programs.
To apply for our Affordable Housing Programs:
- For the Webster Gardens Apartments call 202-621-6496
- For the Fort View Apartments call 202-450-3517
- For Weinberg Commons, call 202-621-6836


text:
For several years now, Barcelona have been considered to be the best club team in the world. They're not vastly wealthy like PSG or Manchester City, and they're owned by fans and supporters rather than a rich Arab Sheikh.
However, since Guardiola walked out on them, their form hasn't been so great, so it's time to start asking, are they still the best in the world, or are there other teams that could challenge them to that title?
The first obvious contenders are Real Madrid. El Clasico is a must watch for every football fan as we see two giants clash, resulting in an explosion of raw talent and beautiful play. Real are equipped with the "second best" player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo, who's supported by the likes of Ozil, Higuain and Kaka – on paper, they're unbelievable. This season, although Barca currently sit thirteen points clear of Real, who lie in third, Los Blancos did beat the Barca Boys twice in five days just last week. They're certainly up there with the best.
The next possibility is from Germany, and they have been the best from their country by far for the past 20 or 30 years. Bayern Munich, with such rich history, home of world-class players such as Ribéry, Robben and Gomez. Now will be managed by Guardiola, who had previously made Barca such an unstoppable force, it's not unlikely that they're on their way to the top. Since the epic final at the Nou Camp in 1999, when they were defeated by United in the dying embers of the game, Bayern have longed for major success, and have done so almost every season, winning the German top division, Bundesliga, seven times since then. Although Dortmund are on their way up, Bayern are the kings of Germany, as last season, so nearly became kings of Europe.
Third, we have the three Italian teams; Inter, Juventus and Milan. Giants in their own right, these three have dominated Italian football of the past few years. Players like Sneijder, Pato, Ibrahimovic and Pirlo have graced the Italian League through these clubs, and it's difficult to find more talented players than some of those who have played in Serie A. Although Inter are declining, Milan recently showed their presence to the world after a shock 2-0 win over Barcelona, which really got critics thinking. Juvé have always been a strong force, and have looked especially strong in this season's Champions League, and so have Milan – so the boys from Italy are far from faded.
You can't have this discussion without bringing any English club to the table, as debatable as it might be. The three that I believe are up with any contention would be the two Manchester teams, and Chelsea. Current champions of Europe, who shrugged off Barca on their way to that title, have faded of recent, and haven't looked strong since Benitez came in. City meanwhile, look strong but have recently dropped points, and didn't even make it to the Champion's League knock outs. Sitting 12 points ahead of them, are their neighbors from just across town, United. Since signing RvP, who has scored a respectable 19 league goals this season, United have been the dominant force in English football, and would still be in with a shout at reaching a European final, if it wasn't for a controversial match against Mourinho's Men.
So, if anyone's going to steal Barca's metaphorical title, it's most likely to be Madrid, Bayern, Juvé or United – but are any of them really up with the quality of Messi, Iniesta and Xavi? Possibly not, but changing manager can really switch a team, as seen with Barca's recent shaky patch. But with these teams really up and coming, and quickly, the Catalan boys could start to see some contention from across Europe.
Follow Myself and Soccerisma on Twitter: Welkin Football and Soccerisma


text:
Bariatric Surgery
San Diego Bariatric Surgery
Your next step in weight loss starts here.
Bariatric surgery is an important decision. So for those with a body mass index (BMI) above 35, weighing 80 to 100 pounds over an ideal weight — we're here to help. Our bariatric surgery program includes a variety of advanced, minimally invasive procedures with low complication rates, from gastric bypass and Lap-Band® to vertical sleeve gastrectomy. And our highly skilled affiliated surgeons take the time to understand your story — working with you to choose your very best option.
You deserve a weight-loss team.
Your weight-loss goals are our weight-loss goals. That's why our program goes beyond our advanced surgeries. We offer extensive maintenance services with support groups and individual diet plans. Our bariatric surgery informational seminars are completely free. And our thorough weight-loss assessments are completely personalized — catering your experience to you.
If your weight has become a health problem, don't struggle alone. We can help restore a stronger, healthier you.
And through our convenient Find a doctor tool, we make choosing the right bariatric surgeon easy.
Discover our weight-loss surgery news.
How Kristena took control of her health
Kristena struggled to maintain a healthy weight until she found a tool that changed her life.
Don't let excess skin hold you back
If you've lost a lot of weight and are dealing with excess skin, surgery may be a good option.
5 things you should know about weight-loss surgery
Weight-loss surgery can help you shed the pounds and improve your quality of life.
Experience our bariatric surgery seminars and support groups.
Choose the best doctor in San Diego for you.
View doctors specializing in general surgery - bariatric surgery in San Diego.


text:
Published: 2005/06/07
by John Zinkand
Umphreakin' Out West
"There's not a thing worth remembering when tomorrow can bring someone new. Get used to the thought, you can't be what you're not. Life has already got plans for you."
-from "The Bottom Half"
I had been looking forward to the west coast Umphrey's McGee run since the day that it was announced. I immediately jumped into action upon hearing the news by requesting time off at work, booking flight reservations, and calling friends and family to make plans. And the plan was simple. Fly down to the Bay and catch three nights of Umphrey's at the historic Great American Music Hall, then fly back up to Portland and catch the Eugene, Portland, and Seattle shows. I couldn't get the time off work to make the trek up to see the Vancouver show, but I'm not sure I would have even wanted to do that much driving anyway. With tickets secured and all the plans made, I sat back and patiently waited for the time to come to see my first extended run of shows with any band in a long time. Anticipation was high.
After some quality time hanging out with my sister, playing with little Marley, and enjoying some snacks and whatnot, it was time to head in for the show. I started the drive in to San Francisco from Davis a little bit early so I could see a friend of mine who I hadn't seen in years. He recently bought a first floor condo near Haight St. in San Francisco, so I planned on catching up with him there a bit before heading to the show. Traffic going into the city was awful. Once I hit Oakland, things slowed down to a crawl and pretty much stayed that way until I finally crossed the Bay Bridge. I arrived at my buddy's place a good hour or so later than I had told him, but we still had some time to hang out, catch up, and grab a Manhattan at a local bar on Haight St.
I decided to take a cab down to the show and back to make things easier. When I arrived at the venue, the line to pick up will call tickets was pretty long and moved incredibly and inexplicably slowly. The opening band Conspirator was already playing when I showed up, but after the painstaking wait for my ticket I did manage to catch some of the tail end of their set. Luckily, it was the part where Jake Cinninger was helping them out on guitar. While the band's trancier sound is not necessarily my cup of tea, the crowd was dancing and seemed pretty in to the lively opening set.
The Great American Music Hall is a beautiful old venue located right next to a very large strip club with a brightly lit sign and flashing lights. All distractions aside, upon stepping inside the venue I couldn't help but think of the history of this building, particularly the night of August 13th, 1975 when the Grateful Dead played a very historic show in the classy little room. It's shaped like a rectangle, basically. There are large pillars all around the perimeters of the dance floor. A very small balcony on the second level wraps narrowly around the room and actually does not provide all that much extra space up there. Full bars are located at the back of the room on both levels, and there are even some express cash only beer and shot lanes on the main level. The room is adorned with ornate decorative carvings and patterns, is colored in lush red and gold, and even has large chandeliers hanging down from the ceiling. It's a very intimate venue, as well, with a capacity of only approximately 400 people.
I managed to snuggle up in the front left corner of the stage in front of Joel's keys. I was feeling nice and festive from the beverages I was deftly able to supply for myself and was psyched for a killer rock show by the time Umphrey's finally took the stage. The band eased into the set with a rendition of an older tune, Example 1. The set quickly picked up steam after an improvisational Jazz Odyssey segment. By the climax of Mulche's Odyssey, the room was getting worked up into a frothy frenzy. The jam became a blistering wall of sound that pounded us all in the face as the lights twirled round and round. Jake's fingers were a blur as he worked the strings with the speed of a hummingbird. The thunderous drumming of Kris Myers slammed the tune home. My other personal highlight of the set was a smoking rendition of Tribute to the Spinal Shaft, a song I don't seem to catch live all that often. The band closed out the set with a great rendition of I Ran by Flock of Seagulls. Aron Magner came out to help and added an authentic 80's touch with some well played keytar solos. Overall, it was a jamming, fun first set.
The band kicked off the second set with their tune Ringo, but things quickly began to go awry when Kris Myers broke his kick drum. They handled things as well as they could, vamping for awhile in a percussion heavy jam while new equipment was found to replace the old. Jake and Brendan each played some percussion, Jake played Ryan Stasik's bass for awhile, and ultimately Brendan even found himself over at Joel's keyboards. It was fun to see the guys having fun up there and making the most of a bad situation like professionals. When the new equipment was in place, they continued on to play a very entertaining second set. While some momentum had been lost, overall they recovered quite nicely. They moved back into Ringo before playing a great version of 2×2 complete with Star Wars teases, then a cover of the Beatle's tune Baby, You're a Rich Man, and then back into Ringo to close the run of songs. The second part of the set was another long run of segues of well played Umphrey's tunes mixed with a verse or two of Def Leppard's Hysteria. The guys in the band were obviously having a great time as they joked festively with the intimate crowd.
By the time the Hangover>Pipeline>Hangover encore ended, I was just about completely wiped out. It had been a very long day of flying, hanging out, driving, imbibing, and dancing. I still had to get a cab ride back to my buddy's house and then drive the hour and twenty minutes back to my sister's place in Davis. I found a cab in no time and was soon driving east over the Bay Bridge. The drive home was uneventful, but I was extremely tired and came close to nodding off once or twice. By the end of the trip, I had the windows rolled down and some high volume heavy metal music pumping to help keep me awake. I hit the bed at around 3:40am and slept like a rock for 9 or 10 hours.
The show on Saturday night was completely off the hook. The band was in rare form from the very beginning when Brendan told us how he got to see Star Wars Episode Three that day. He joked, "Now, I don't want to ruin anything for you… But you know R2D2 and C3PO? They fuck." The off color but hilarious joke took the crowd by surprise and everyone was all smiles and laughter as the band broke into a solid version of the newer tune Nemo to open the set. This was followed by a fast-paced, heavily jammed out version of one of their classic tunes, Get in the Van. As the band broke into the chorus of the next tune, The Bottom Half, I couldn't help but think how the words described my current domestic situation perfectly. It hit me that I was on my own and doing my own thing and having a great time. Life can go on without her. I was realizing that life changes just as much as the improvisational music I love so dearly, the only thing I can do is roll with the changes and move on. Why worry when there's so much more to experience, especially when tomorrow can bring someone new?
After a bit of therapeutic introspection that made me feel much better, I tried to focus back on the music at hand. The rest of the set smoked with a great version of Prowler, a cover of BOC's ETI, and an absolutely epic and supremely powerful Der Bluten Kat to end the set. Der Bluten Kat is almost always a mind-blowing affair, but this version to close the set was downright face melting. The band seemed of one mind as they surged in and out of the different sections of the song effortlessly. It is a very long, disjointed affair, but the band nailed all the changes with the apparent ease of playing Mary Had a Little Lamb. The crowd was momentarily stunned and then overcome with enthusiastic emotion as the set came to its impressive climax and close.
I was in the bathroom upstairs using the urinal when I heard the first notes of the second set being played from the stage. I looked over at the guy next to me and asked, "Well, isn't that an appropriate song choice?" He laughed and appreciated the joke as the band opened the set with the tune Miss Tinkles Overture. The second set was a masterful display of great originals peppered with musical teases and references, fun cover songs, and seamless segues…business as usual for Umphrey's McGee. A bouncy and fun version of KaBump contained riffs from Toto's Roseanna and segued into 2nd Self. The band then launched off onto a long and danceable journey by playing their techno influenced tune The Triple Wide with a great cover of Blue Oyster Cult's Don't Fear the Reaper sandwiched in the middle of it. As if that weren't enough, a great version of Clapton's Layla was followed by a chunky JaJunk to close out the set. We were treated to an incredibly high energy version of Jake's tune 40's Theme for an encore. This was no ordinary version, however, as riffs of Yes's Owner of a Lonely Heart began. Somehow, the band was feeling wacky and changed the familiar chorus into "owner of a lonely big butt," much to the amusement of the sold out house. This show was explosive. It took me a little longer than the previous night to leave because I had to pick my jaw up off the floor first.
"No matter how you fall, it shouldn't bother you at all, it could take more to overcome less in a day. No matter how you break, you shouldn't be the one to take, your own opinions as they twist in your own way."
-from "2nd Self"
The second night's show ended earlier since there was no opening band. I was better rested for it in general, too, so the drive back to Davis that night was not nearly as bad as Friday night (though not entirely pleasant, either). I was able to hit the pillow by about 3:00am and woke to a Mother's Day gathering and feast. My brother-in-law's family came over and we all ate a tasty brunch of eggs, fresh fruit, pear coffee cake, and mimosas. They visited for a few hours and then I had to get ready to head back into the city for the final night's show. I was anxious, but getting a little tired. I decided that I would stay at my friend's place near Haight St. after the show so I didn't have to drive all the way back to Davis again at 2:00am. The traffic wasn't bad at all on the Sunday afternoon drive into the city, and I was at my buddy's place in no time drinking a beer or two before the show. I hopped in a cab and made it to the venue about 20 minutes before show time.
There were noticeably fewer people on this third night of the run, and everyone seemed pretty psyched for the extra dancing room. If the first two nights were any indication, we would all need it. They started the show off with some newer material by playing Don't Believe the Lie. It was a solid version and the band sure seems to enjoy playing this one quite a bit these days. At some point during the set, one of the prettier girls in the room excused herself as she squeezed her way up to the front row. She then proceeded to throw a flower at the feet of bassist Ryan "Pony" Stasik. I was very impressed by the apparent power the guy has with the ladies, as were a few other guys around me. Apparently, the women think he's dreamy.
The rest of the set was very good, but seemed more disjointed than some of the previous sets of the run. Something as subjective as song selection is what made the set feel a little choppy for me, I think. The tune Water slowed down the pace of the set, but then a nice All in Time picked things back up. There was definitely an ebb and flow feel for most of this set, with the band switching gears often and mixing it up. The tail end of the set included a great version of Uncle Wally, cover versions of the tunes Nopener and Running with the Devil, and then a nice long Bad Poker to finish out the set. With all the varied styles, influences, and tempos in this set, one could easily describe it as eclectic, or even neurotic. The crowd sopped it up like a biscuit, though, and was obviously pumped for the final set of this classic run of shows in San Francisco.
Umphrey's stormed back on the stage to kick off the second set with an epic combination of Pink Floyd's Shine On You Crazy Diamond which led right into a powerful version of the tune Plunger. Shine On was played perfectly and the jam became insane with guitars wailing, Joel going off on the keys, and everything clicking perfectly. Plunger is the first track off the band's album Anchor Drops, and it was a pleasure for me to finally hear this song played live. The tune is a very heavy, fast, progressive rock work out, and it was played cleanly and tightly – very similarly to the album version since there is no open ended jam in it. This powerful one-two punch set the stage for an excellent set of music to finish off the San Francisco run in style.
The Crooked One made an appearance next, and the band really stretched out this classic tune before diving into the upbeat and danceable song Hurt Bird Bath. But the highlight of the set for me was when Eric Levy from Garaj Mahal came out to lend his helping hand on keys for the tune Slacker. I had seen Eric Levy sit in with Umphrey's McGee one other time in New Orleans back in 2002, and the foggy memories of that show started coming back to me. The show was at the Blue Nile Club and it started at 2am. Many guests graced the stage that night and the band played until sunrise. In fact, when they ended their first encore, we all went out onto the street in front of the bar to greet the morning and decide what to do next. It was a pleasant surprise for all of us when the band came out and asked us if we wanted to hear them play one more. We filed back in at their request for another song or two, a unique experience to say the least.
The band played another newer one that has been in heavy rotation, Women Wine and Song, before heading back into the rollicking Hurt Bird Bath groove to bring things to a close. The double encore of Glory>Push the Pig was just what the doctor ordered. Glory is a gentle instrumental that slowly builds on itself until it blossoms into a majestic anthem that warms the soul. The Push the Pig encore was great, but it did bring up thoughts of the separation I'm going through yet again as that tune is my wife's favorite Umphrey's song. But with the three-show run in San Francisco behind me, my mind was mostly set on the second half of my tour up in my home turf of the Pacific Northwest.
"It was all illusion, fragment of the whole, product of confusion mastering my soul. Moments of division, lost about the way, I can't feel my vision, swallow and remain."
-from "Divisions"
Work was tough on Tuesday and Wednesday, but it was even tougher on Thursday. After a full work day on Wednesday, I took the two hour drive directly down to Eugene to see the band play at the WOW Hall. Since I had to work the next day, I had to drive back directly after the show. I think I held up pretty well, overall, since I'm not as young as I used to be. And any pain and grogginess I had to go through was definitely worth it. While the Eugene show was not quite up to the caliber of the San Francisco shows, it was certainly no slouch of a show and I'm very glad I got too see it.
The WOW hall is a small all ages room with a bar that serves beer in the basement. There are speakers and a small television screen down there, so I guess in theory one could hang out there and enjoy the show. It seems odd to me, but whatever floats your boat, I guess. After a quick beer in the bar, we headed up to stake out our territory near the front of the stage. Not that there was much staking out necessary in this supremely laid back venue. When the band took the stage, there were only about fifty people on the floor. Of course that changed within a few minutes and the crowd was packed in pretty tightly (for Eugene standards) by the time the first notes of music rang out.
The first set, while fun, was not a mind-blowing set. It was definitely solid, though. Walletsworth kicked things off and then segued into a series of tunes including Dump City, FF, a Jimmy Stewart jam, and finally Bridgeless. The crowd seemed to really enjoy the lilting, almost reggae groove of FF, then were totally blown away by the powerful new tune Bridgeless and it's intense, high-energy, body-pounding ending. A cover of Nirvana's In Bloom was next and went over very well with the mostly college aged Northwest crowd. After a few more tunes, they wrapped things up with my favorite newer song, The Bottom Half. The lyrics of to the chorus again soothed my battered soul and encouraged me to take all my current problems in stride.
After hanging with some friends at a nearby apartment and enjoying some set break festivities, we headed back inside to hear the second set. Front Porch got things started off in grand style before the band played a long, twisted, crazy version of Utopian Fir. This song is long and crazy almost every time, but the band really stretched it out and experimented, taking the sound into a number of varied musical spaces. After a well received cover of Equal Rights, the band went off some more for an extended Jimmy Stewart jam that eventually launched into one of the better version of Last Man Swerving I've heard. The guitar jam peaks just kept going higher and higher until it seemed like there was nowhere for all the energy to go – that the roof would most surely be blown off the venue. The set ended a bit abruptly due to curfew with the instrumental Atmosfarag. The set list the guys had on stage showed that one of my favorite tunes, Andy's Last Beer, was supposed to be the final tune of the set. Of course, they played it to open the show the next night in Vancouver, a show I would not be able to witness. A solid encore of Plunger closed out the show and I found myself driving through the darkness back up to Portland in no time.
I picked up a buddy who flew in from North Carolina on Friday morning, and we hung out all day. When the time finally arrived to head over to the Crystal Ballroom downtown, we were pretty psyched. Umphrey's seems to have a special affinity for Portland as it has been the location of some pretty serious shows. There have been two 4/20 shows in Portland and one Halloween show, so far (NYE any time soon, guys…please?). And nine times out of ten, the band just really kicks it down when they play here. Luckily for us, this show kept that tradition alive and then some. I could argue that the Portland show was just about as good as any of the three shows in San Francisco. The only difference being that the Great American Music Hall has a much more intimate feel than the echo chamber known as the Crystal Ballroom. Yes, the dance floor bounces at the Crystal and that is very novel and entertaining, but if you want good sound, you need to be in the front. We hung in the back of the room and had a drink until Kyle Hollingsworth's set ended, then quickly snagged space in the front row near Joel's keyboards where we settled in for the evening.
The band came roaring out of the gates with a great version of Roulette. Things were then kicked up a notch with a long, powerful version of Nothing Too Fancy, a personal favorite of mine, with Women Wine and Song sandwiched in the middle. After a quick breather with the mellow verses of Ocean Billy, the band brought the heat back to close out the set by ending the tune fiercely. That energy carried over into a sick version of Ringo that segued into a Jimmy Stewart jam that simply rocked. If that wasn't enough, the boys blew apart minds by ending the set with a sweet version of Rush's YYZ. The crowd seemed generally stunned at the close of the set as they tried to digest the awesome power of the music they had just heard. I was so psyched after the first set that I decided not to go anywhere for risk of losing my great spot in the front row.
The second set started out with 2nd Self before the band kicked down and turned the energy level knobs all the way up to eleven for the rest of the show. A ripping cover of Talking Head's Making Flippy Floppy complete with all sorts of experimental jams segued into a Jimmy Stewart jam with Kyle Hollingsworth sitting in on keys. Next was the debut cover of Marley's Burnin' and Lootin'. The band played a lot of reggae at the Northwest shows, and the kind crowds up here loved it. If the first half of the set was great, the second half may have been even greater. My second Der Bluten Kat of the run was as good if not better than the first. Not that one can really objectively rate music since it is such a subjective art, but this version of DBK blew my mind just as much as the version I caught in San Francisco. There was some serious crowd participation during the next tune, Hangover, as the crowd started chanting the "Break out the booty wax" chant. Wife Soup to end the set was perfect. The catchy chorus of this tune gets me every time and I had not yet heard this gem of a song on my run. Miss Tinkle's Overture was a great high energy choice for an encore, ending the show in excellent form. During the tune, the band started playing the riff from Rockwell's tune Somebody's Watching Me, and the crowd picked up on it and started singing the popular chorus. The band even quieted down so the audience could get in a nice vocal "solo."
We drove the three hours up to Seattle and arrived at my buddy's place in the early afternoon the following day. We hung out there for awhile, and then went to one of his friend's place for an evening barbecue. I'll happily boost my energy levels in preparation for an Umphrey's show by eating lots of tasty grilled delights any time. We arrived at the Showbox Theater with warm, full bellies and were ready to rock. By the time we got there, Kyle had just ended his opening set and I was surprised by how many people were inside this larger venue. It looks like Umphrey's has definitely made a name for themselves in Seattle.
The show, for me, was the weakest of the run. Not that there weren't some extremely tasty musical tidbits in each set, because there were plenty. And I don't think I even know of any Umphrey's McGee show that completely, flat out sucked. I think I was becoming a more experienced and picky listener over the six-show run. The most likely possibility for this show being weaker than the others is that both the band and I were getting pretty damn tired after this travel heavy west coast run. They kicked things off in a fairly mellow fashion with We're Going to War, then played Push the Pig with the help of the sax player from Kyle's band. After a basic cover of Steely Dan's Hey 19, the band finally began to wake up a little. They closed out the set with some energetic playing in a long run of tunes including Hurt Bird Bath, The Pequod, Ahab, and All in Time. The crowd definitely did not seem disappointed as they cheered like crazy at the end of the set.
The second set was a similar affair in that the boys didn't seem to be firing on all cylinders until near the end of the set. Plunger is a nice second set opener, but this was now the third time I had heard it. Partyin' Peeps kept things festive and it was followed by the Triple Wide, which gave everyone some time to dance and get their groove on. Unfortunately, the Triple Wide segued into two newer songs that I had already heard the band play a few times, Believe the Lie and Nemo. It felt like I was slipping back into having the perspective of a spoiled, over analytical fan like when I was a fervent Deadhead or Phishhead. A crazy 40s Theme and a nice long and jammed out JaJunk saved the set, however, and gave the audience something meatier to sink their musical teeth into. It was nice to hear Pink Floyd's In the Flesh into Bridgeless as the encore. They really rocked both songs hard, but Bridgeless was yet another newer song repeat for me.
As we drove back to my buddy's place to call it a night, I couldn't help but think back on the six great shows I had seen in just nine short days. It was a great run of music, and I had some really great times hanging with my family, as well as friends both old and new. Of course, one person that had been a presence in my life for the fourteen previous years was missing from the equation and that caused a great deal of stress and pain. I got together with my wife back in 1991 and we pretty much saw Phish shows non-stop together until 1996 or so. Last summer, we went to the local movie theater together to see the final Phish show. Ironically, that was exactly the time our relationship began its downward spiral and ultimate demise. It's almost like the relationship died along with our youth and Phish. But this run of shows really helped me to embrace the new and think positively. There are so many adventures in life and so many more good things to come. I can't wait to experience it all and catch a hell of a lot more Umphrey's McGee shows, too.
"We've all recovered though still to stand, with no excuses left to tell. So please allow some time to pass… Wouldn't even believe your eyes it's all your circus now. Couldn't even believe your eyes, it's all your circus now."
-from "Wife Soup"


text:
Just take a look at that quote. Despite being written around a century ago, it might as well have come fresh off the printing press today. Is it yet another indication that a world governed by neoliberals will only, for the majority, be regressive?
The quote in full:
'Poverty is not caused by men and women getting married; it's not caused by machinery; it's not caused by 'over-production'; it's not caused by drink or laziness; and it's not caused by 'over-population'. It's caused by Private Monopoly. That is the present system. They have monopolized everything that it is possible to monopolize; they have got the whole earth, the minerals in the earth and the streams that water the earth. The only reason they have not monopolized the daylight and the air is that it is not possible to do it. If it were possible to construct huge gasometers and to draw together and compress within them the whole of the atmosphere, it would have been done long ago, and we should have been compelled to work for them in order to get money to buy air to breathe. And if that seemingly impossible thing were accomplished tomorrow, you would see thousands of people dying for want of air – or of the money to buy it – even as now thousands are dying for want of the other necessities of life. You would see people going about gasping for breath, and telling each other that the likes of them could not expect to have air to breathe unless they had the money to pay for it. Most of you here, for instance, would think and say so. Even as you think at present that it's right for so few people to own the Earth, the Minerals and the Water, which are all just as necessary as is the air. In exactly the same spirit as you now say: 'It's Their Land,' 'It's Their Water,' 'It's Their Coal,' 'It's Their Iron,' so you would say 'It's Their Air,' 'These are their gasometers, and what right have the likes of us to expect them to allow us to breathe for nothing?' And even while he is doing this the air monopolist will be preaching sermons on the Brotherhood of Man; he will be dispensing advice on 'Christian Duty' in the Sunday magazines; he will give utterance to numerous more or less moral maxims for the guidance of the young. And meantime, all around, people will be dying for want of some of the air that he will have bottled up in his gasometers. And when you are all dragging out a miserable existence, gasping for breath or dying for want of air, if one of your number suggests smashing a hole in the side of one of the gasometers, you will all fall upon him in the name of law and order, and after doing your best to tear him limb from limb, you'll drag him, covered with blood, in triumph to the nearest Police Station and deliver him up to 'justice' in the hope of being given a few half-pounds of air for your trouble.'


text:
Three days since our two little embryos were transplanted. Three days until the Christmas holiday, and here we are again playing the waiting game. Is it wrong to ask Santa for a positive pregnancy test?
We have completed the last and final step of our journey. It feels as if we have crossed the finish line and are waiting to hear what place we will receive. It's exhilarating to know that we have completed the entire race, and it's excruciating waiting to know the outcome.
Transfer day was an out of body experience. The strict instructions of trying to keep a full bladder coupled with an hour drive and a 20 minute delay at the doctor's office, lead to a waiting room of dancing women. When we were finally taken back and given a bed, I almost hugged the nurse. When the woman next to me broke down and used the restroom causing us to be moved up, I nearly jumped for joy (with my legs crossed).
Before we knew it, both my husband and I were kitted out in our "party hats", as the IVF nurse had referred to them in our orientation, me lying and he sitting in the sterile room where we would meet our little embryos. The comedy continued as they strapped me in the bed and we waited for the doctor, the nurse trying to keep me distracted from my full bladder. It was difficult to embrace the moment, but soon the doctor and embryologist joined us, confirmed our information (making sure we didn't mix up any embryos with the patient switch), a quick "how many are we putting in", and next thing we knew he was pointing out two small specks of white on the screen as they were dropped in. Voilà!
We were informed that we had two healthy, pretty high level embryos, not that we really understood the report card we were given. What we did understand was the confidence in his voice, the assurance of a "good looking uterus" (yes they do say that sometimes) and that we had a 50 – 60% chance it was going to work. And with that, it was over.
As they wheeled me out, it hit me. We had just witnessed something amazing. Taking a moment to pause and grasp hold of our fortune in this process, we actually got to see our embryos go into their new home. As the doctor said, I was now "technically" pregnant.
And so the difficult part remains, the waiting. So far, day 1 was a piece of cake. Day 2, I had a meltdown. Day 3, has been a little of both so far. But now I am on the other side of the worry again. I have put down the Google (yes, I have slipped at the beginning of every new stage) and am now trying to embrace the moment. In ten more days, we will start a new life. That is how we are looking at it, no matter what. A new outlook, a new focus, a new passion.
Until then, we keep pumping the new hormones, will eat a little red velvet cake and will patiently wait. About as well as a child does on Christmas Eve. Can we open the gifts yet?


text:
**FileVirgina Governor Robert McDonnell
Caryn Freeman 12:14 EST
Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell discussed Virginia economic policy, healthcare law and Donald Trump at the National Press club today in Washington, DC. Gov. McDonnell began the news conference, moderated by Byron York Chief Political Correspondent at The Washington Examiner, by declaring "it's time to govern like a campaign and make some tough decisions." Constituents, who are mostly concerned with the current economic situation, the deficit are unhappy with current and past spending in Washington and are looking for low taxes and job growth. McDonnell may have answers for Virginia. The Governor is taking Virginia global with plans to visit China, Japan and Korea next month to encourage Pacific Rim countries to invest in Virginia. "If we are going to buy products from China, I'd like to have those products made in Virginia....we are not going to tax our way to recovery, we are going to grow our way." The Governor was also asked about the Ryan vs. Obama budget, "a balanced budget amendment is the only way to put a lid on spending," Gov. McDonnell said. "If you give people, (state, local and federal governments), clear direction and more limited resources they will rise to the occasion."
The Governor also discussed yesterday's decision by the Supreme Court to reject Virginias request to expedite review of health-care law saying it was "extremely disappointing" and the law "dramatically undermined the compact of federalism by mandating that states engage in commerce. If states don't comply, the federal government will take your property, your capital." The governor also said he believed the decision was linked in part to the Obama Justice Department and the 2012 elections.
Moderator Byron York also asked the governor about the field of Republican Presidential candidates. York asked Gov. McDonnell if he believed Donald Trump was a "serious candidate." "Yes, because he is doing what Americans like, he is straight talking." When asked about the birther issue McDonnell replied "the problem is not where Obama was born. He is the President and a citizen, the problem with President Obama is his policy, it's devastating for American businesses and our recovery."


text:
Hans Zimmer's score for "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" is as bombastic as usual, and yet all I heard was the sound of paychecks being cashed by everyone going through the motions for this perfunctory sequel. It's as much computer program as movie.
Trudging from cack-handed melodrama to the kind of low comedy you expect from an 80s comic-book movie or a second-tier franchise like "Fantastic Four," this one features Jamie Foxx as a John Hinckley-ish stalker-nerd who worships Spider-Man but, as happens in so many office buildings these days, gets both electrocuted and thrown into an eel tank at the same time. Where are the superheroes of OSHA when you need them?
Spidey (Andrew Garfield) and Gwen (Emma Stone) break up because he promised her late dad he'd keep his sticky palms off her, but it's hard to take their parting seriously when you know they'll reunite in a couple of scenes, as they indeed do. These two actors have the kind of sparks you'll remember from your most awkward job interview.
Each of them smiles hugely to cover for the lameness of the tragic banter that is the calling card of the transgalactic hacks Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, the screenwriters who belong back in B-TV like "Alias" and "Xena: Warrior Princess."
This is the kind of movie where the bad guy asks a question and then whistles the "Jeopardy" theme, right after he says, "My, oh my, how the tables have turned!" Where Foxx's villain, dubbed Electro after he turns into a human Taser, says, "It's time to meet your destiny."
Then, preparing to spray high voltage all over Times Square, "It's my birthday, now it's time for me to light my candles!" Which is not the only reason Electro reminded me of Schwarzenegger's Mr. Freeze. Alex, Rob: At the banquet of Hollywood, you're the Cheez Whiz.
Taking over for James Franco as Harry Osborn is the blanched 100-pound sylph Dane DeHaan. Despite his Hitler haircut, he's less scary than annoying, like a postal clerk or an eighth-grade hall monitor. Harry and Spidey's alter ego Peter Parker are old buddies, but Harry has the same disease that killed his father and hopes to get some of that experimental Spidey-blood to save his life. Which means, naturally, that he'll have to get his Green Goblin on, far too late in the movie, with his big rumpus thrown in as one of five or so endings.
Oh, and every few scenes we plod through some more unnecessary backstory about Peter's dad (Campbell Scott), the renegade scientist who came up with the Spidey serum in the first place.
Garfield, a smarmy Brit trying to do James Dean and Marlon Brando, instead comes off like a young Eric Roberts, jangled and weird. His cockiness is as off-putting as Tobey Maguire's innocence was endearing, and the writers and director Marc Webb keep ruining the cluttered action scenes with cutesy one-liners that show everything is way too easy for Spider-Man. An early battle with the villain Rhino (a woefully campy Paul Giamatti), in which Spidey has to dodge traffic while catching explosive canisters, turns goofy when he stops to take a whiny call from Gwen at her high-school graduation. If Spider-Man can come up with a line like, "Shake it off, it's just your bones, your muscles and your organs," he can't be that badly hurt, can he?
Even the effects are often lackluster, especially in an insipid, useless closing battle and in a mid-movie spectacle in which Times Square gets destroyed and it looks like the CGI program was set to "rough draft." Much better, and mildly thrilling, is the battle between Electro and Spidey during a blackout caused by Electro sucking all the power out of the grid.
Their climactic encounter raises the movie to the level of "not a total waste of time" and yields the single emotionally resonant moment, nicely told by Webb ("500 Days of Summer") in the only few seconds that have any visual poetry whatsoever.
Garbage isn't quite the word for the rest: garbage isn't what factories intentionally produce. Cookie-cutter? Nay. Who doesn't like cookies, or needs two hours and 20 minutes to consume one?
"The Amazing Spider-Man" is more like an old Xerox copy: Greasy, paper-thin, slightly faded, and probably made unnecessarily, but in any case destined to get lost in a pile of things exactly like it.


text:
Log in to make the most of Hymnary.org collections.
1 Day had softly faded
In the golden west;
Jacob, sad and lonely,
Laid him down to rest;
Tho' a stone his pillow,
Soon he calmly slept,.
While the stars above him
Silent vigil kept.
O that night at Bethel!
Bright with joy its holy beam;
There his soul uplifted,
Heard the voice of God in a dream.
2 On a wondrous ladder,
Reaching to the skies,
Angel forms descending,
Fill'd him with surprise;
From its lofty summit,
Came the words divine:
I, the Lord, have promis'd,
Lo, this land is thine. [Refrain]
3 Far from home and kindred,
In that lonely spot
God was watching o'er him,
Yet he knew it not;
Thus the hand whose mercy
Governs all our ways,
Out of deepest trial,
Brings the highest praise. [Refrain]
Source: Joyful Lays: a new collection of songs, prepared and adapted for the Sunday School #18
|First Line:
|Day had softly faded
|Jacob's dream
|Fanny Crosby
|Refrain First Line:
|O that night at Bethel
|Instances (1 - 1 of 1)
|First Line
|Tune Key
|The Cyber Hymnal #9951
|Jacob's Dream
|Day had softly faded
|[Day had softly faded]
|Frances Jane (Fanny) Crosby
|<cite>Joyful Lays</cite>, by Robert Lowry and W. Howard Doane (New York: Biglow & Main, 1884)


text:
NEW YORK — His most recent movie was the epic bomb of last year, the most reviled film in many a moon, pummeled from coast to coast, leading a studio almost into bankruptcy.
His new movie will probably not do so hot, either, being a depressing study of wife abuse, drug abuse and murder.
So why is this man smirking?
He's smirking not out of memory of "Bonfire of the Vanities" and "Mortal Thoughts." He's smirking not because he's supposed to smirk but because he likes to smirk. He's smirking because his wife is beautiful and pregnant and has orange hair. He's smirking because everybody says his summer movie, "Hudson Hawk," will be a giant hit. He's smirking because he's on the cover of Premiere magazine.


text:
Dressing your half bath to the nines can really create a 'wow factor' that this sliver of a space merits.
Toledo, OH (PRWEB) November 24, 2013
The half bath may be small, but it packs a big punch. Petite in size, this commonly used space in the home can really showcase your style and personality if properly designed. The half bath is usually placed adjacent to the main living area to ensure accessibility and convenience. Dressing your half bath to the nines can really create a 'wow factor' that this sliver of a space merits.
A half bath needs to contain only a few items for it to be a functional space. The minimum list of these items includes: a toilet, vanity, mirror and proper lighting. Other items to include, if space allows, are hand towel rings, under cabinet storage, window coverings and decorative accessories.
A typical half bath measures about 3 to 4 feet wide and 6 to 8 feet long. This area will be comfortable for guests to access and include the necessary elements to make it a suitable half bath. Using a single sink vanity with a cabinet makes storing extra items such a toilet tissue and towels easy. A medicine cabinet is not necessary in this space since it is not the every day bathroom, but if extra storage is needed, consider adding wall shelves to house decorative accessories and toiletries.
Regarding décor, the half bath is the perfect playground for that bold wallpaper or paint you may be afraid to use in other areas of the home. Covering one wall in a daring print adds interest to the room as a whole and allows for the remaining pallet to be neutral with splashes of color through accessories. This is the one area of the home that you can put most of your budget into the finishes because of the small size.
Another way to add interest is with the sink. A vessel sink (sometimes referred to as vanity sink) can add a pop of color and/or pattern to the room.Vessel sinks from MR Direct are available in glass, bamboo, stone, porcelain and even stainless steel. All of these sink models come in a variety of colors, sizes, shapes and patterns to ensure the best fit for your style.
With these tailored tips in mind, it is time to tackle that uninteresting half bathroom!


text:
Writing this sentence feels like a lie… but, I'm 20 years
old young today. How did this time pass by so quickly? It seems like yesterday when I would go on bike rides with my childhood neighbors, lugging a wagon behind us that was harnessed by a worn out rope. A sharp turn here and there, and in a blink of an eye, we would be sprawled over the cement, bruises and bloody scrapes included.
From Polly Pockets, to 400 page textbooks, and from hot chocolate (with millions of mini marshmallows – the best part) to glasses of rich, red wine, here I am. My hopes of becoming a matured, inspiring and loving young adult are still alive, hoping to harness me into the real world.
I'm not having a big celebration today (I've never been that kind of person), but my family will probably share a cake before I go to work. Yes, I work on my birthday, and it's a closing shift, so how exciting is that? I mean, I can watch the X-Factor, so that's pretty cool. However, I will be celebrating on Sunday and sharing that with you all next week.
Do you like big birthday celebrations? Or, are you more low key?