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Sunday, December 24, 2006
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Out of This World!
Out of this world, or other-worldly, or something. Look far enough on the 'net, there's truly something for everyone...
Friday, December 22, 2006
Here's a lovely bit of wall art for the holidays, making good use of those leftover toilet paper rolls and a bit of colored paper. There could be anything inside those compartments. Anything.
I had a bit of an experience myself recently with some colored paper...
Yesterday afternoon, the doorbell rang. Alex, age 18, answered it, and called out "Mom? Fundraiser at the door..." Fundraiser? 3 days before Christmas?
I went to the door and found 2 neighborhood boys with whom I have occasional short conversations, standing there holding 2 Cascarones. The older boy appeared to be the spokesman...they were selling confetti eggs hoping to raise money to buy "his mom" (nudges his buddy) a Christmas present.
Oh, I see. How much were they thinking of selling them for?
Well, they weren't sure.
Hmmm...what did they think they might like to buy for mom?
Well, maybe a pretty bracelet. Mom likes bracelets.
"I see. How will you get out to do your shopping?"
"His dad" (nudges buddy) would be taking them.
Seems their affairs and plans were very much in order (whether or not "Dad" actually knew it was not my concern).
"Well, those are really pretty confetti eggs...very bright purple. I guess I could use those on Christmas eve, couldn't I?" (Big nods...). "How about $5 for BOTH of the eggs?" (VERY big nods...).
I repeated the offer, just to make sure we were all clear on the details. I pay them $5, I keep both purple eggs, they buy a present for Mom. Yes, we were all in agreement.
I got the money, paid the boys (who wished me a "merry Christmas") and I took my eggs inside (to be greeted by the hysterical giggling of my assembled family, who had been listening in on the transaction).
About 10 minutes later, the doorbell rang...
Older brother of the previous spokesman. "I'm selling confetti eggs, and I just have one left! Would you like to buy it?"
How could I refuse? THAT egg was a beautiful burnt orange U-Texas color, and the boy WAS wearing a U-Texas t-shirt...
Too bad for him, though. My only remaining cash was a $1 bill and I rather doubted that he'd accept my debit card. I asked him if he knew there were other people out before him, ALSO selling eggs. His eyes got large. "REALLY? There ARE?" I offered him the $1, he looked confused, but accepted it and gave me the orange egg.
I would LOVE to know what conversation then transpired between older and younger brothers.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
A Thousand Words to Make a Picture
No picture today...instead, check out these detailed instructions for making your own Advent calendar in the pattern of your choice. Next year, you'll be ready.
Click Here
Click Here
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
More Creatures Great and Small
Another startling take on the Advent calendar. It's a dog's world, and all.
We've not had a dog in this nuclear family, but one year we did have a Christmas...well, let me start at the beginning.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
And Grandma and Grandpa were soon to be there.
We all were relaxing, full of good cheer
When what did our wondering ears seem to hear?
A scritchy-scritch scratching from up in the flue
The kids were excited! Who was it? They knew!
It had to be Santa, scritch-scritching about
Please, Mom and Dad, won't you let him come out?
You might imagine that it was not the jolly elf in the chimney, and you would be correct. No, somehow a squirrel had managed to take a holiday journey and was unable to get out without help. We closed off all of the house except the back door and locked the cats in the garage. Dave armed himself with a broom, I grabbed the camera and we all waited in great anticipation as Dave lowered the flue...
For a split second, a soot-covered squirrel stood on the grate, looking at us with beady black eyes, then in a flash he was out of the fireplace and rocketing around the family room, bouncing off the walls, up over the chairs and even across the piano keys, leaving sooty foot smudges behind.
Dave made a few ineffectual swipes with his broom, and I will admit to not being too much help myself, as I was prostrate on the floor with laughter. Three children watched wide-eyed as the Santa-turned-Rodent worked his mayhem, finally zipping out the back door exactly as planned.
Everyone wanted to be first to tell Grandma and Grandpa.
Meowy Christmas
Sometimes you just luck into a good picture. Sometimes the cat is not so well behaved.
You'd better watch out, you'd better not climb
I've taken you down for the very last time
Santa Paws is coming to town!
He's making a list and he's checking it twice
Deciding which cats deserve some toy mice
Santa Paws is coming to town!
He sees where you've been sleeping,
He sees what you've knocked down,
He knows what you have shredded,
Do you WANT to go back to the pound?
You'd better watch out, you'd better not climb
I've taken you down for the very last time
Santa Paws is coming to town!
Home Made Love
My friend Sophia got tired of her preschool-aged son asking the inevitable December question, "HOW much longer until Christmas?", and she created this Advent calendar overnight to answer his question.
I'm impressed on so many levels.
First, it's just plain cute and fun. Each one of those rectangles is a matchbox, and each matchbox holds a little treat. The boxes are attached to a metal cookie sheet with magnets, and the new boxes appear each day.
The craftmanship is beautiful; this will undoubtedly become a family tradition as the family grows. Her children are small enough that they probably will never remember a December when they DIDN'T count the days with little boxes.
But most of all, I'm impressed that Sophia took her child's question seriously and took the time to answer it with love.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Curses, Foiled Again
Adjectives used to describe Barbie:
I can think of quite a few, but I'm not sure that "Fresh" is one of them.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
A place for everything, and everything in its place
Here's a fun little twist on the "open the window" Advent calendar...a three dimensional house with...that's right...windows.
Here's what's good about these houses: They can sit out on any horizontal surface (no wall space needed).
Here's what's bad about these houses: They can sit out on any horizontal surface (and the cats are likely to knock them down 6 times between now and December 25).
This all sort of assumes that you actually HAVE some open horizontal surfaces available, and as Christmas draws nearer and nearer, the open space dwindles.
The open space dwindles because all of the "required" Christmas decorations are coming out and being placed in their normal, required, every - year - that's - where - we - put - it places. The tree goes where the tree always goes, the tall gold angel goes on the book case, the snow globes go on the fireplace...even the stockings get hung in the same order. Santa probably would get the presents mixed up if we hung the stockings in the wrong order!
For years, Dave had a pair of large "floor speakers" (remember those?) for his stereo system. Roughly a 12 x 18 inch footprint that by necessity were within about 12 feet (wired) of the stereo cabinet. Those speakers were sort of a pain in the neck 11 months out of the year, but in December they became very useful...two more horizontal surfaces for placement of Christmas decorations.
One was for the little white wooden Christmas train. The other was for a white ceramic angel.
Several years ago, Dave ran all the music through the computer system, miniaturized the speakers, and I still haven't figured out where to put the train or the angel...
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Preparing the Way, your own way
There's a lot to be said for making your own, personal HOME MADE Advent calendars.
Especially when they cater to your own, personal tastes...
Friday, December 15, 2006
This is enough to make the brain hurt.
This item is actually available for purchase, and marketed as...
Are you ready?
Are you SURE?
"An Advent Menorah"
Yes, that piece is really available, from an otherwise reputable online retailer. The concept is fine...8 little doors, 8 little gifts. There even appear to be little "flames" to be added to one candle per day. The name, I think, is not so fine. The season of "Advent" is all about preparation and waiting. Hannukah, more about celebration of an ongoing miracle and a spirit of rededication and praise for long-term survival (please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).
While I am solidly behind ecumenism when it fosters understanding among people, combining traditions just for the sake of combining traditions hits me as fundamentally wrong. This reminds me uncomfortably of an enthusiastic Girl Scout leader who gave a group of 4th graders a spirited talk on holiday traditions, including "Hanukkah - the Jewish Christmas!".
As traditions go, perhaps we're better off aligning Christmas with Passover, rather than with Hanukkah. As one of my daughter's friends pointed out, the tradition of "hiding the pickle ornament in the Christmas tree" sounded a whole lot like the tradition of "hiding the afikoman" at the Passover meal. I think he's on to something.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Things I don't Want to Know
There are quite a few things that I can go my whole life without knowing.
I don't want to know what my college-aged son eats for lunch every day. Not really.
I don't want to know what the cat is so happily chewing on in the corner. I don't want to know where those muddy shoes by the front door have been, I don't want to look in my younger son's closet and I don't want to see what chewed up food looks like, ever. If the question is "Can I tell this joke at the dinner table?", the answer is probably "No".
I don't want to know what the Scotsman wears under his kilt, and I do not want to look under the rather unfortunate placement of windows 6 and 23 of this Advent calendar.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
The Chocolate Monster
This one is for Alex.
Well, it might have been for Alex if I had been willing to pay shipping from England for a chocolate Advent calendar purchased off of Ebay, which I was not...but he would have enjoyed it, no question.
That's a Dalek, one of myriad bad guys in the British Sci-Fi series Dr. Who. The longest running science fiction series in the world, Dr. Who morphs through new actors as necessary, a time traveling sort of dashing James Bond melded with the innocent goodwill and ageless wisdom of a Don Quixote. Aliens feature heavily in many episodes, the Dalek being one of the best known.
I don't know, though. I can't quite wrap my mind around waiting for the coming of the Prince of Peace with a character whose main conversation consists of the single line "Exterminate! EXTERMINATE!"
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
All Creatures Great and Small
We don't have either one of these.
I'm not quite sure why not; after all, we have two cats who think they are people, and of the 8 Christmas gifts I bought today, 4 of them were for cats (Sushi, Pandora, Tabi and Zelda will get presents...all of our other cat friends will have to make do with a card).
No question about it...an animal who comes home from the pound with one of our family members is a lucky animal indeed, and I'll add that we are lucky to have them.
A discussion of animals gives me a chance to put in a plug for one of my favorite charities, Heifer International. They do amazing work distributing farm stock to people in need, and at the same time providing the teaching and resources to encourage self sufficiency. Quite a few years ago, now, Mom and Dad offered to donate to Heifer International in our name as part of our usual lavish "American" Christmas. It has become a tradition since then, but as is often the case with such things, the first year was special. I recently found a copy of the reply that was sent to Grandma's and Grandpa's question of exactly WHICH animal should be donated in our names.
Mom and Dad:
As a family, we spent a fair amount of time looking at the Heifer Project site this evening. Here are the conclusions.
1. The "Ark", at $5000, is out of price range, though most desirable.
2. Whatever animal we give must most emphatically NOT be killed and eaten.
2a. This rules out all of the lower priced chickens, geese, ducks, rabbits, some of which might be egg-layers for a while, but ultimately...the cooking pot.
3. Isaac is strongly in favor of BEES. At $30 per unit of bees, he votes all bees. That is three stands of bees, coming in at under $100. He knows. He worked it out.
4. Goats were of major interest, as were trees, but neither drew as much interest as...
5. Llamas. Everyone loved llamas. The idea of those wooly, spitting, long-necked beasts, one of whom Mom (aka Jean) actually met in the backwoods of Sky Ranch...(actually, what everyone REALLY wanted was a camel, but that was not an option...). Llamas would provide wooly blankets for small children, perhaps even for the Baby Jesus. Llamas have lovely, long eyelashes. Llamas are wedding gifts to young brides. Llamas are companions to children, even more so than a burro or a horse, being by nature a more companionable beast (except for the spitting).
5a. Drawback. Llamas are $150, over our price limit.
5b. Saving grace: Llamas may be had in "shares", according to the Heifer Project website.
Conclusion, and a decision worthy of Solomon: We choose two stands of bees and some shares of a llama.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Sleep in Heavenly Fleece
There you have it. Open the windows in the morning, count sheep at night.
Isaac has a long history of being a shepherd in Christmas pageants. Before he was a shepherd, though, he was a sheep.
He must have been three years old and that year, I was directing the Sunday School program. Costumes, lights, rehearsals and scripts for the characters who had speaking lines. Feeling a bit left out, I suppose, Isaac finally suggested to me that HE needed a script.
"No, you don't", I told him.
Yes, he did.
"No, you don't...all you say is 'Baaa', and you say that quietly. You don't need a script".
He drew himself up to full sheepy height and said "I DO need a script! If I don't have a script, I might just say "MOOO!"
I like that. A sheep who knows what he wants, and goes after it.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Resisting Temptation
I've already admitted my addiction to the yearly Playmobil Advent calendar. A couple of years ago, it was brought to my attention that LEGO makes a similar item.
So far, I have resisted the temptation. Having recently purged the second floor of the house of Legos acquired over a span of about 15 years, I intend to maintain a Lego-free zone.
However, if anyone reading this actually HAS one of these wonders...I'd love to hear what appeared on the 10th of December...
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Gifts From the Heart
This astonishing Advent display belongs to a friend of mine (and thanks, Jill, for sharing your picture with me!). Each day of December has its own dedicated stocking and her two young sons are getting treats and fun every single day. She tells me that one super day, they will find a roll of Mentos in a stocking, because they've been dying to try the Mentos-in-Diet-Coke trick ever since last summer...and so they shall.
This year, I'm having a bit of trouble shopping for my parents. I'd love to fill 24 little stockings for them, but they will be moving soon. After 40-some years in the same house, they're downsizing, and the last thing they need is a few more little items from me that will need to be boxed up, moved, unpacked and stored. I come up with ideas, then I think "no...not this year".
What they NEED is about 50 good strong cardboard boxes and a mountain of packing peanuts. Wonder how they'd like it if THAT showed up on their doorstep, courtesy of the Big Brown Truck? Maybe they'll get that yet...look out, Mom and Dad.
But what would I give them, if I could give them anything?
I'd give them the first golden aspen in the fall and the first snowfall on the Front Range of the Rockies. I'd add the iris in May in the garden at the west end of the house, and staining the redwood fence on a hot afternoon.
I'd package up the aroma of dinner cooking as I walk into the house and a banana cream pie with bananas carefully left out of 1/4 of the circle. Christmas cinnamon rolls baked in the shape of a tree and clam chowder on Christmas Eve.
I'd give them dialing the phone to announce the safe delivery of a healthy grandchild, then I'd give them the same thing, twice more. I'd add the first glimpse of each child, and the first photos of tottering steps, kindergarten haircuts and Confirmation robes.
I'd wrap new white Easter shoes every year and a new dress for the first day of school. I'd wrap stepping out of the car after a 12 hour trip across Kansas or Nebraska, in August, with no air conditioning and being greeted by grandparents who had been waiting for those same 12 hours, ready to carry in suitcases and pour glasses of iced tea.
I'd put tissue paper around piano lessons, Scout meetings, new wallpaper and curtains in my bedroom, driving lessons, choir concerts and 6 bicycle trips in a single day to the elementary school to see if "class lists" were posted yet on the large windows of the cafeteria.
I'd put all of those things in small stockings if I could, but the truth of the matter is that you can't gift wrap Love.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Magnetic Attraction
Here's an idea for those of you with limited wall space...a series of magnetic tiles that live on your refrigerator door during December. Flip one over each day and have a merry message by December 25. Advent Scrabble, as it were.
The refrigerator here is never going to win any neatness awards, and I like it that way. We never intended to collect refrigerator magnets (which brings up the side question..."Does anyone EVER 'intend' to collect anything?" Someone gives you one ceramic tiger because they thought once that you mentioned you liked the tiger at the zoo, which means next year you're ripe for an orange-and-black striped sweatshirt, tiger-shaped candy dish the year after that, tiger-printed notecards at your birthday and by then, you hardly know how to say "No, it wasn't Tigers...it was Tapirs that I liked!")
However it got started, we have quite a collection of refrigerator magnets, from the wooden block proclaiming "Look what Alex did in school today!" (a gift from his kindergarten teacher...Alex is now a freshman in college) to the most recent acquisition, a flat panel proclaiming "Luther is my Homeboy", a gift from the people at Old Lutheran in appreciation for my patronage. There's a miniature plate from Greece, several kitten faces, glass "marbles" over tiny pictures from a crafty phase, and homage paid to Minnesota, the Green Bay Packers and the University of Colorado. I am reminded every time I open the door that "No outfit is complete without cat hair" and there's a heavy-duty clip magnet from my insurance company...not pretty, but very, very functional.
If there's a magnet, there's probably going to be something held up WITH the magnet. Not Alex's schoolwork any more, but recipes-to-try, the check for the lawn guy, a stellar report card, a snapshot of someone's wedding or new baby or trip to Disneyland. The front of the refrigerator is a quick glimpse of our lives in 3-D, held together with magnetic force.
Elizabeth visited a friend's family over Thanksgiving and sent some pictures of the dinner preparations. In the background is a refrigerator, liberally covered with magnets and fluttering papers. I could learn to love that family...they think like we do.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Advent in the 'Hood
Would you trust these men? Is there a reason they have obscured facial features? Maybe stockings pulled over their heads, hmmm? Why do I expect them to whip open those pocket trench coats and hiss "Hey! Wanna buy a cheap Rolex?"
Oh, no. Looks like they got to Santa, too.
"Hey, you in the red suit! Hands in the air, hand over the bag of toys and no one gets hurt!"
But just in case, your mug shot number is 1-2-3-4-5-6...
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
And unrelated to Advent...
Maybe more like Epiphany...
How did I miss the fact that Isaac is quite the poet? Where has THAT been hiding all these years?
Due to a printer hiccup last night, he printed two copies of an English assignment due today. One went to school in his backpack. The other was left on the printer, where I found it this morning.
Ten poems, each a first-person narrative from the perspective of a character in "Huckleberry Finn". Wow.
How did I miss the fact that Isaac is quite the poet? Where has THAT been hiding all these years?
Due to a printer hiccup last night, he printed two copies of an English assignment due today. One went to school in his backpack. The other was left on the printer, where I found it this morning.
Ten poems, each a first-person narrative from the perspective of a character in "Huckleberry Finn". Wow.
Action Items
This little gem was a gift to our children from friends perhaps 15 years ago and it is one of my all time favorites. For variety, it begins on December 6 (Saint Nicholas' Day) which means we have to exercise a bit of patience, wait a bit longer each year to use it, but it's worth the wait. It's long and skinny and needs a flat surface, and often gets moved around and knocked off of counters, but then, the best things in life aren't necessarily "convenient" or "easy", right?
Rather than doors to open, there are paper figures that slide out from behind a frontispiece, and it's heavy on little gnome and fairy type characters with friendly animals thrown in for good measure. Some of the parts slide horizontally and some drop down from behind clouds...the 18th of December never HAS stayed up where it belongs and needs to be taped from the back, untaped at its appointed time.
These are "action figures", if you will.
"Go and see!"
"Go and tell!"
"Go and teach/share/speak/feed/clothe!"
History is full of actions waiting to be done, often by people who didn't think they were up to the job at hand.
What action is calling you?
* * * * * *
In answer to those who wondered "Just how many Advent calendars do those people USE, anyway?" I'll say that this is the last of "ours". Tomorrow, I'll move on to others that have struck my fancy...or my funny bone.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
The Gift of Guilt
Here's one for you Boy Scouts. Find the square knots. Find the overhand knot.
This one's simple enough to make with your preschoolers, or, as has happened at our house several times, to make FOR a preschooler. It seems that this was the "gift of choice" from teachers to class when the boys were in preschool and we had several different versions ... hard candies, candy canes and once a series of chocolate kisses hot-glued to a poster board background. I don't recommend this option.
Quite a few years ago in a fit of holiday goodwill, I conspired with my mother to make a similar candy chain for my younger brother. It would be slipped in his Christmas stocking and I would be "helping Santa". I was probably 7 and Andrew, just over 2. I chose my very favorite candy for the project (butterscotch kisses!) and felt the spirit of Christmas in my very being as I knotted the candies together in a golden chain.
On Christmas morning, Andrew's eyes danced as he held the rope of candies, and I urged him to "Taste one! They're good!"
He popped one into his mouth and immediately choked on it. Hard candy discs and 2-year-olds aren't really the wisest combination. Of course he was fine 10 seconds later, but the candy chain was taken away "for later", and of course, HE never saw it again. It was offered to me; after all, butterscotch kisses were my favorite candies, but I couldn't bring myself to eat them.
There was enough guilt to carry me right on into Lent...
Monday, December 04, 2006
Toys, toys, toys
We've covered the calendars with verses, pictures, chocolate and bits of old Christmas Cards. Today, we move onto TOYS.
This had to be an incredible coup for some marketing expert at German-based toy manufacturing company Playmobil. They produce a new themed calendar every year, always with the same setup but different backgrounds and a different series of little toys in 24 numbered boxes. The novelty has worn off for the children who live here, but now I've become addicted! (We don't have a dozen of these stashed around the house...we use them for one season, then pass them on to young friends for the next year. A little TLC and careful storage and the paperboard base and gift boxes are good for several rounds).
Of course, what the packaging never mentions is that the whole setup comes very much "unassembled". The first year we had one, I opened it about 11 PM on November 30, expecting to assemble a background, hang up the "banner" with the gift boxes and be done. Not so! Not only did each little box have to be assembled and stuffed, but quite a few of the little people and furniture items and sleighs had to be assembled from smaller Playmobil "stock parts"! At about 12:15 AM, I was finished...
Some things are predictable each year. There will be children. There will be animals. There will be a Santa character and the Santa character will be in box #24.
Except this year. And that's all I'm saying.
(As an aside, Alex informs me that the Playmobil toys circulated in other countries can be a bit "edgier" than those on the American market. Toy collectors with the right connections can find little plastic devils and harlots. Nice!)
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Rushing the Season
Guilty as charged.
Yes, we put most of our Advent calendars out on December 1, along with most of the Commercial Christmas Crowd. (MOST of our Advent calendars? How many do these people HAVE, anyway?) Advent, by popular demand, seems to be generally accepted to be December 1-24.
Liturgically, though, it begins today, December 3. This year it does. Last year it began on November 27. You've heard of the movable feast, right?
Really, the formula is pretty easy. Nothing like the determination of Easter, which is The-First-Sunday-After-The-First-Full-Moon-After-The-Spring-Equinox. Sounds more like Druids or Stonehenge than the Son of God! Advent in the "western churches" begins on the 4th Sunday before Christmas. If Christmas itself is on a Monday, Advent it "short". If Christmas is on a Sunday, Advent is "long".
Still, in the interest of conservation of paper, making a general Advent calendar beginning on December 1 isn't a bad compromise.
When the calendar is home made, there's room for improvisation. The pictured calendar was made about 16 years ago when I had more time than common sense; it was a project in the church junior choir group. 18 kids, 18 trees, 18 stars, 18 numbered panels, 18 cut out words of hope, and a cartload of little pictures cut out and glued on to felt discs. Eighteen kids with glue and glitter, too. Like I said, a bit short on common sense.
It has become an absolute family tradition.
Each year, I add a few new pictures cut from last year's Christmas cards and glued on new felt disks and retire a few of the old ones. The number of "ornaments" to be pinned to the tree varies with the year; when necessary, a couple of November days cluster near the bottom of the tree; "gifts", as it were, of a few more days in the season of preparation.
It's most certainly a huge safety hazard for children and cats, what with all the little straight pins holding up the "ornaments" but we like it. It's always been a visual barometer of the season to me...first row empty, second row empty, third row going fast and there are years that instead of my rushing the season, the season rushes to me and past me, leaving me behind in a virtual whirlwind of candles, cookies and Christ.
Today is the first Sunday. It's a day devoted to Prophecy. I never dreamed 16 years ago that the glitter would still be shining on that star today.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Best laid plans
If the Advent calendar with the pictures is better than the Advent calendar with the verses, what is better than the calendar with the pictures?
The Advent calendar with the chocolate, of course.
We have rather more of those than we need this year, due to a complication in November. Dave "needed" a chocolate calendar for a coworker (something to do with a spinoff from last year) and I said "Sure, I'll get one for you before the end of the month". I decided to go for the upper end quality (a full 8 ounces of chocolate in 24 days!) and ordered online. To make the shipping worthwhile, I ordered 4. Then I waited.
And waited.
When my shipment had not arrived by the end of Thanksgiving weekend, we had to put Plan B into effect. We tried a large holiday store downtown; surely THEY would have chocolate calendars. They didn't.
We tried a specialty candy store in a shopping area nearer to us. Not only did they not have candy calendars but the whole shop had disappeared without my notice. We finally found a chocolate calendar at a discount import store, and while it was "OK", it wasn't as nice as I had hoped we could get. Dave took it to work and the joke was a success and the next day a shipment of 4 Advent calendars appeared on the porch.
Sometimes you can plan all you want to and things still go awry.
Chocolate, anyone?
Friday, December 01, 2006
Can't Tell a Book by Its Cover
Two Advent calendars. Similar in size, price, quality and theme. From the outside, they appear essentially equal. Which one would a child choose?
Answer: The bottom one.
Reason: Pictures.
See, the top one starts each day with a Bible verse, and while there's no arguing that there is some value in reading the Gospel according to Luke in 24 snippets of verse, it just doesn't have the same appeal as opening the little door and finding a little picture. Didn't have the same appeal to Andrew or to me when we were growing up, and things hadn't changed by the time Alex, Isaac and Elizabeth were opening the little doors. Sometimes you get a warning on the product packaging, sometimes you don't, and there you are on December 1 with a brand new Advent calendar and nothing to look forward to for the next 24 days except the Christmas story reduced to 24 rhyming couplets. Probably your brother lucked out, too, and got the calendar with pictures of toys and candy every day. Lucky him...
Remember Jane Eyre, and her first visit with Mr. Brocklehurst, the intimidating master of the Lowood School? Mr. Brocklehurst took some time to instruct young Jane in appreciation for the written word, especially for the words of the Bible by telling her about his young son who would choose a verse of the Psalms over a sweet cookie treat:
"And if you ask him whether he would have a gingerbread nut to eat or a verse of the Psalms to learn, he replies
'Oh, the verse of the Psalms! Angels sing psalms and I wish to be a little angel here below!'
and then he is rewarded with TWO gingerbread nuts in recompense for his infant piety."
Infant piety, my foot. There is clearly a kid who has learned to work the system.
Elizabeth learned to work the system when she was six years old, on Christmas Eve. She wandered through the hallway at 10:30 or so in the evening, ostensibly going in search of a drink of water and discovered Santa in the guise of Dave sitting on the living room floor assembling a set of dolly bunk beds. Being a child of considerable insight, she assessed the situation, deduced the Truth About Santa in a flash, and returned to bed without a drink of water.
Being also a child of considerable wisdom, she kept her discovery to herself for many years with the reasonable assumption that if she SAID she didn't believe in Santa, the toys and presents would stop coming. The whole truth was only divulged when she was about 20. By that time, there was no worry about "spoiling Santa" for her younger brothers and the Rite of the Christmas Stockings was firmly entrenched in the family holiday traditions, so she had nothing to lose anyway.
Pictures or verses? The verses might be good for the character, but pictures are good for the soul. That's one reason Christ came to us as who he is. Part God for our eternal welfare, but part Man for our day to day lives.
We don't have to work the system and make a choice. We get both, bundled together in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.
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Manicure, pedicure electric drill machine. For professional or home use. Rated speed: 0-30000RPM Input Voltage: 220V & 110V AC Power max: 35W Drill handle size: 135 * 27mm. Size: 130 * 130 * 80mm. Weight: 1047g. Please select a plug type. FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING Note: EU plug (220V) / US plug (110V)
Nail art brush pen. Head material: fiber hair. Suitable for UV gel nails. Handle material: aluminium alloy, rhinestones. For drawing lines, fine details, flowers, patterns, etc. Perfect for professional and personal use. Please select a type.
Easy french cutter. Anti-rust, durable. Material: stainless steel. For professional and home use. Please select a type.
Nail drill machine set. Material: aluminum. Speed: 3,000-23,000rpm Input Voltage: AC 100-240V 50-60Hz Output Voltage: direct current 12V 1A Collet Size: 3/32" Size:~ 12.8 * 2.2cm. Weight: ~ 111g. FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING Package: 1 x Nail drill machine 1 x Power adaptor6 x Drill bits6 x Sanding bits
Electric nail machine. Portable, easy to carry. For pedicure and manicure. Quiet, smooth and low vibration. LCD speed display: 0-35000RPM Material: ABS, stainless steel. Power: 65W Size: 14 * 20 * 9cm. Weight: ~ 2.2kg. Please select a color. FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING
Brand name: SUNUV Model Number: SUN3 Quality Certification: 3C,CE Material: plastic, aluminum. Type: LED lamps Voltage: 110-240V Power: 48W Plug type: EU Size: 213 * 200 * 100mm. Weight: 1.05kg. FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING
Professional, quality nail gel, varnish. Gives glossy, long-lasting nail color. Volume: 10ml.
Soak-off enamel, nail art gel. Suitable for: UV & LED lamp. Volume: 75ml. Weight: 35g. Please select a type.
Holographic paper, foil, nail art sticker. Suitable for UV gel and acrylic nails. Sheet width: ~ 5cm. Sheet length: ~ 1m.
Art nail, manicure kit. Material: acrylic. Quantity: 6pcs. Package: 1 x 4-way nail art shiner buffer1 x Cleaning brush1 x Pink sandbox1 x Black sanding file1 x White sanding file1 x Flower sanding file
Cuticle revitalizer oil, nail treatment. Fruit nutrient pen, easy to absorb, easy to use. More moisture, shinier, stronger nails, prevents from damage. Ingredients: grapeseed oil, amino acids, natural keratin, calcium, safflower oil, vitamin A, vitamin E, sesame oil, thymol. Please select a type.
Hands, feet nails, repairing liquid, soft essence. Inhibition of skin fungal, anti-inflammatory for onychomycosis. Shelf life: 3 years. Capacity: 30ml.
UV LED Soak Off Nail Gel Polish. Amount: 15ml. Please select a type.
Red Diamond Hybrid Gel Nail Polish. Weight: ~ 50g. Net Weight: 12ml. Please select a type.
Mini 12W Nail Dryer. With 5V USB adapter. Model: LED-034 Material: PC & ABS Power: 12W Wave Length: 365nm + 405nm. Service Life: ~ 50000h. Timer: 30s, 60s, 90s Size: ~ 165 * 70 * 50mm. Package: 1x Nail Lamp1x USB Line
Top & Base Coat UV Gel Nail Polish. Volume: 10ml.
Type: Nail Art Stickers. Material: rhinestone For: professional or home use, nail art, mobile phone decoration. Features: transparent crystal, multi shape. Quantity: ~ 200pcs.
Type: Nail Nursing Tool. Material: ceramic & stainless steel. Size of Bit Head: ~ 14 * 5mm / 0.6 * 0.2in Drill Bit Length: ~ 5.0cm / 2.0in Drill Bit Weight: ~ 2.5g / 0.1oz Total Size: ~ 6.9*1.2*1.2cm / 2.7*0.5*0.5in (L * W * H) Total Weight: ~ 6.0g / 0.2oz
For natural and false nails. For private or professional use. Color: clear - transparant Weight: 30g. Size: 3.4 * 5cm. Amount: 10 pcs.
3D soak-off UV gel polish. Capacity: 10 ml. Please select a type.
Professional UVLED SUN9s nail dryer Fit Gel Type: UV Gel / LED Gel / builder / hard gels Wavelength: 365+405nm Lifttime: 50000hrs Adapter: 100-240V 50/60Hz 1a Size: 21*122*8 cm Power: 24W Weight: 450g Please select a color and plug** FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING Package List: 1x Nail Lamp1x Manual1x Power cord
Cuticle Nail Clipper. Material: stainless steel. High quality For finger and toes nails
Nail Glitter Dust Powder. Material: Glitter Weight: 3g Please select the correct color
Electric Nail Drill Manicure Set. Easy to use speed control. Automatic safety overload protection system. Light weight pen design for comfortable grip and easy to use. Include 6 standard bits / filing heads. For pedicure and manicure. Suitable for professional, nail salon or home use.
UV LED lamp nail dryer. Material: metal, ABS LED quantity: 15 CCFL quantity: 1 Power: 48 W Input voltage: 110-240V AC 5/60 Hz Output voltage: DC 12 V Power / current: 5A Size: 22 * 8.50 * 15.50cm/8.66 * 3.35 * 6.1" Weight: 1350g. Please select a color and plug type. FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING Package Content: 1 x LED & UV lamp 1 x English manual
Bling Soak Off UV Nail Gel Polish Base Coat + Top Coat The color will keep shining up to 30 days. Net content: 6ml Product Weight: 50g*2
Best for metal tools. Color: white black Suitable for professional or personal use. Voltage: 220V Power: 100W only glass ball can be allowed to put into the inner pot of the machine ( any liquid not allowed to put into the machine )
Portable nail art manicure set. Material: stainless steel. Size: see pictures.
For private and professional use Lasting period: ~ 3 weeks Soak Off - Quick dry Volume: 8ml Certification: MSDS, SGS, CE Please select a type
Adhesive nail art stickers to fit all fingernails, toenails and nail tips Size: 4*100cm Material: transfer foil Weight: 6.6g ( stickers + bottle) Color: Black
Gold chrome decal stickers For professional and private use Material: water film foil Size: 105*60mm Amount: 16
Suitable for professional or home use Self-adhesive, no glue needed, clean and easy to use For UV Gel / acrylic nails / nail polish / etc Size: ~ 4.3cm (diameter) Colors: 10 mixed shipped Quantity: 10 rolls
Nail decoration stickers Design: feather Size: 6.5 * 5.2cm.
Compact design nail clipper. Includes clippers, nail file & keyring. Strong stainless steel. Size: ~ 6 * 1.2cm.
Professional electric manicure nail file drill pen. Light weight and portable. Powered by: 2 AA batteries (not included). Five attachments included. Used for file, shape, sculpt and polish. Pen size: ~2.6cm x 16.5cm(dia x L).
Hypoallergenic,high filtration mask. Elastic ear-loops. Protects against dust, dirt, etc. For woodworking, house cleaning etc. Made of non-woven material. Without glass fibers. One size fits most. Size:17.2 x 9.5cm. Weight:124g(50 pcs).
Powerful UV Lamp designed for instant gel nails curing Can be used for professional and personal Suitable for hands and feet. Net weight: 1000g Item Size: 24.5L x 23W x 9.5Hcm (Approx) Power: 36W FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING Packaging Content: 1 x White 36 Watt UV Lamp Light (220V) 4 x 9 watt lamp tubes
Professional 10W nail drill frees Aluminium parts Low noise and vibration (comfortable) Speed control knob Forward and reverse operation switch 6 optional standard 3/32" bits (change without tools) Suitable for natural nails and artificial nails Multi use: carving, sanding, polishing, shaping and so on Up to 30.000 RPM FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING
Unique Chameleon Color Change UV Gel Long lasting en 24 different colours ( please select ) Suitable for professional use or home use Volume: 15ml Note: it's best to use a dark uv gel before putting on the chameleon gel
24 colorful glitter nail powder Easy to apply on artificial nail or natural nail. Quantity: 24 bottles Size: About 27*13.7*2.8cm Weight: About 429g FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING
Nail Onychomycosis repair liquid Amount: 20ml Main ingredients: Chinese native medicine ingredient, plant extracts, without any side effects Usage: apply an adequate amount on the infected nail
Rhinestone Nail Decoration Wheel Material: Acrylic Size: About 1.5mm / 2mm / 2.5mm / 3mm / 4mm Wheel Size: App 6cm Weight: About 11 g
Rice shaped, round shaped and heart shaped beads Easy to apply on natural or artificial nails. Decoration Size: App 0.7*0.2cm, 0.3cm, 0.5*0.5cm Material: Jelly diamond, Plastic Weight: App 12g
Elegant LED nail dryer lamp Small and efficient Voltage: 100-240V 50-60HZ Power: 9W Size: About 150*75*95mm Weight: About 170g
Can be used on natural and false nails Provides a fantastic natural look Perfect for home or professional use Package included:1 * White UV Gel 14gr1 * Pink UV Gel 14gr1 * Clear UV Gel 14gr

subset: commoncrawl


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Serious bodybuilders think it is important to take supplements to aid them in muscle building. In case you are intent on bulking up hard muscles, continue looking over this article to learn the top 4 muscle building supplements which are waiting for you.
Supplements for bigger muscles
Protein powder
Protein powder is synonymous with muscle building. Protein is essential for body building because it helps muscles to recuperate after vigorous workouts. Protein also supplies your system with proteins (the inspiration of protein) which aid muscle growth. What you ought to know is that there are three forms of protein powders; egg protein, casein protein, and whey protein. Egg protein allows you to lose excess fat. Casein protein helps to build along with preserve muscle mass. Pure Whey Protein, on the other hand, actually contributes to promoting muscle growth, nourish depleted cells and improve your immune system. You can select from a variety of protein powders you can purchase including CFM Whey Isolate, Pro Blend 55 and Naturade Mega Protein.
Creatine, much like protein powders help parts of your muscles to recoup after your intensive workout session. Creatine helps as well the development of muscles resulting in bigger muscles and greater strength. Research has proven that creatine is 80 percent effective. Naturally, creatine can be found in meat (not in vegetables). When consumed only 20 grams each day, creatine will not present adverse negative effects on the human body. It only helps you to construct your muscles if you undergo intensive and extensive workouts. Therefore, you're only advised to consider creatine supplements as long as you are prepared in bodybuilding. CEE (creatine ethyl ester) is regarded as the great creatine supplement; it is said to achieve the capability of being absorbed by the body faster. Alternatively, you can take creatine monohydrate or creatine citrate.
Fish oil is the origin of Omega3 (fatty acids). Omega3 protects and relieves joints and tissues from injury during workouts, preventing cancer in addition to preventing cardiovascular diseases. This supplement comes in two forms; capsule and liquid form. You can select from many different brands such as Omega Care, Nature's Bounty as well as Modern day
Vitamin B
Why do you'll need B vitamin? Proper metabolism ensures that carbohydrates (carbs) are utilized when you workout. Therefore helps you to burn fat more efficiently and to produce energy that you should continue exercising. Vitamin B1 (or known as Thiamine), really contributes to allow you to get packed muscles. Vitamin B2 (or Riboflavin) along with Vitamin B3 helps with your fat burning capacity.
Muscle building just isn't just about receiving into an exercise system. Help your workout routine using the proper mixture of muscle building supplements that can deliver quicker and far more productive outcomes in a short time. Ultimately, there need to be a balance of wholesome diet regime and exercise to achieve better physique mass for improved muscle toning and building.


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From Miramar, Florida, USA:
When my daughter starts complaining of a stomachache, I check her blood sugar and she's in the 80 mg/dl [4.4 mmol/L] to and 99 mg/dl [5.5 mmol/L] range. If I check her again a few minutes later, she's lower so I treat her. When I treat her low, even if I give her juice, she starts zoning out and looks like she's going lower and lower. I give her more juice or something else to get her stable and it seems like it takes about 30 minutes to get her focused again. It seems like I treat her and treat her and I feel like I'm losing her. Of course, when I check her blood sugar an hour later, she's often around 300 mg/dl [16.7 mmol/L]. At that point, I just wait about four hours to correct her. How do you know when a low is going to continue to keep going down? Even is she starts coming back up (checking her blood sugar), but physically she's still out of it, should I continue to treat the low? Am I overreacting too much?
It sounds like maybe your basal rates are too high and/or the insulin to carbohydrate ratios are too high. Both possibilities should be discussed with your diabetes team. Continuing to fall is a sign of too much insulin. You need to treat earlier, but, really, I would think you need to reduce the insulin.
[Editor's comment: One way to judge if the blood sugar is going to continue to fall is to know how much insulin is on board (IOB). Some pumps will calculate this for you. If yours does not, you can estimate the IOB by knowing how much you last bolused and when you last bolused. So, if your daughter's pre-lunch blood sugar was in range at noon and it's 4 p.m., you can usually assume that she has no IOB (except her basal insulin). If you check her around 1:15 p.m., you can assume that she still has about half her bolus insulin left, so she might continue to drop. Of course, the rate of drop also depends upon what foods were eaten and what exercise was done in the previous few hours. Some children will drop quickly just after exercise, some several hours later, and some many hours later.
In addition, with low blood sugars, the liver may begin releasing glucose, causing a "rebound" high blood sugar later. And, with additional fast acting carbohydrates to treat the low, you can contribute to the high. You might want to review our page on Hypoglycemia and consult with your daughter's diabetes team about treating lows. You may also want to review our Ask the Diabetes Team questions about rebound.BH]
Original posting 2 Aug 2007
Posted to Hypoglycemia
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Last Updated: Tuesday April 06, 2010 15:10:12
This Internet site provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other health care professional.
This site is published by T-1 Today, Inc. (d/b/a Children with Diabetes), a 501c3 not-for-profit organization, which is responsible for its contents. Our mission is to provide education and support to families living with type 1 diabetes.
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© Children with Diabetes, Inc. 1995-2018. Comments and Feedback.


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Investing for long-term goals is governed by the following tenets.
1) Beat inflation either by investing more and/or with adequate exposure to volatile but productive assets. Preferably 'and', not 'or'.
2) Understand the importance of containing volatility and that trying to maximise returns by being more aggressive is like trying to run a marathon like Usain Bolt.
3) Knowing how to contain volatility.
a) never ignoring debt. Not more than 50-60% equity exposure is needed for any long-term goal.
b) having the maturity to diversify the folio among productive asset classes and within each asset class
c) having the maturity to periodically shift gains from a performing asset class to a meek if not underperforming asset class. Also known as rebalancing.
I am convinced that investors, especially the young earners, must keep things as simple as possible and avoid portfolio clutter like the plague.
For most people, the best way to diversify a portfolio within an asset class is by not trying! If they don't know what they are doing, this is what happens:
Here are a few long-term (15 Y plus) portfolio ideas that are minimalist in nature. All of them are likely to produce a real-return to the disciplined and un-wavering investor.
Be warned that, none of them will work
- if you expect anything more than 12% CAGR (I prefer 10%) from the equity or equity-oriented component.
- if you jump up and down each time other funds do better than yours.
- if you think having more mid and small-cap funds will fetch you more returns because your goal is far away.
Minimalist Portfolio 1
- Single Large Cap mutual fund (60%) + PPF (40% only!)
Core and satellite principle be damned. Solid large caps will be relatively less volatile. Size of the fund does not matter as large caps are liquid stocks.
Minimalist Portfolio 2
- Single Equity-oriented balanced mutual fund
My favourite for the following reasons
1) Tax-free debt component.
2) Automatic rebalancing
3) Fund return = portfolio return. Goal tracking is the easiest.
4) Most liquid portfolio of them all.
5) The equity component could be diversified too
Minimalist Portfolio 3(a)
- Single Large and Mid-cap fund (60%) +PPF (40% only!)
For those worried souls who long for mid-caps. Some have a touch of small-caps too!
Fund size could be an issue. Larger the fund, the more large cap it becomes in nature.
Minimalist Portfolio 3(b)
- Single Large Cap mutual fund (60%) + PPF (40% only!)
- Single Large and Mid-cap fund (60%) +PPF (40% only!)
The fund in this case has exposure to international stocks.
Robust diversification. Solid long-term returns but with the short-term impression of being a laggard (diversification requires maturity)
Down the line, a debt mutual fund can be added to the above portfolio to aid rebalancing. Initially, one-way rebalancing, that is shifting excess equity allocation (say 5% or more) to PPF is more than enough.
If you are starting to invest for all your long-term goals at the same time, a unified minimalist folio will do the trick. If there is a gap of a few years between the investment for each goals, you can construct separate minimalist portfolios for ease of tracking and rebalancing. A unified folio could also work, but tracking the corpus of each goal can be a pain.
Individual minimalist folios allow independent risk management. A 25 year goal is not the same as a 15 year goal. I would prefer to rebalance more often for a 15 year goal.
That is it. Don't chase after that hot mid/small/micro cap fund.
Keep it simple.
Avoid portfolio clutter like the plague
Consider a minimalist portfolio:


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Presenting the Freckleberry Finds giveaway for a Kolcraft Contours Lite Stroller in Tangerine! Woohoo! Want some deets about this fab stroller? I'll serve 'em up for ya hot and fresh.
• 6" front single swivel and 8" rear wheels for low resistance strolling - single wheels for more contemporary, sleek look
• Convenient free-stand 1-hand fold gives parents a free hand
• Child snack tray with extra-large drink holder rotates and removes for easy access
• Features for baby's comfort include multi-position reclining seat, 3-tier canopy and height adjustable 5-point harness with strap cover sleeves
• Large basket accommodates all baby's gear
This bad boy carries kiddos from 5-40 pounds and has a spring loaded suspension. Spring loaded?! Are you serious?! Awesome. The seat reclines into FIVE different reclining positions to accommodate napping little ones, or little bitty babies who just don't have the best head support yet. The storage basket is MASSIVE, and can be accessed from the front AND the back, so gone are the days of unloading all of your junk to get to the one pack of wipies at the front of the storage basket.
Basically, the Kolcraft Contours Lite has all of the comforts of a full-size stroller, but with the convenience of a lightweight!
Mandatory Entry:
You MUST be a Google Friend Connect follower and comment telling me that you're a follower. That's it! Not too shabby for a fab prize like this!
Extra Entries ('cause your tot belongs in this stroller!)
Like Freckleberry Finds on Facebook and comment with your Facebook name. (+1)
Follow Freckleberry Finds on Twitter and comment with your @username. (+1)
Tweet up to THREE times daily using this text: "My kid's gonna look fly in the @Kolcraft Contours Lite Stroller that I hope to #win from @freckleberrymom! #giveaway http://bit.ly/eLiNXK". Comment with the permalink to your tweet. Make sure there's at least an hour in between tweets, pretty please! (+1 per tweet)
Grab my NEW button and leave me a link so I can find it! If you have my old one (the purple owl), you need to update it for this to count! (+3)
Grab the special Kolcraft Contours Lite Stroller Giveaway button and stick it on the main page of your blog. Leave me a link to check it out! (+3)
Blog about this post with a direct link pointing to this giveaway. Leave me a link so I can check it out! (+5)
Enter this giveaway into a linky (aside from my own). Leave me a link and the # on the list. You can find tons of giveaway linkies for each day of the week here and here. (+1 per linky entered)
Subscribe to Freckleberry Finds via email in the left hand sidebar (+1)
Vote for me on Picket Fence Blogs. The button is in the left hand sidebar. You can vote once a day! (+1 per vote)
Enter another one of my giveaways. When you comment on this post, tell me the comment number of your other giveaway entry. (+1 per giveaway)
Remember, you gotta be in it to win it! Good luck, Freckleberries!
Make sure that you leave an additional comment for each additional entry! For example, if you tweeted twice today, make sure you comment back here two separate times with the two separate links.
*Disclosure: The review above is my own words and honest opinion. I did not receive a product in order to complete my review. By entering this contest, you release Freckleberry Finds of any liability.


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Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is now 5 days to release and advance booking has started all over across India. In a special strategic move makers have planned to open advance booking from Saturday itself. Film will release on coming Thursday (12th November) on National Holiday on occasion of Diwali. With 5 days of advance booking makers are hoping that by the release time of the film hopefully whole weekend will be Sold Out.
Salman Khan tweeted about advance booking yesterday -
Advance booking for Prem Ratan Dhan Payo starts tmrw in multiplexes . #PRDP
— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) November 6, 2015
Sonam Kapoor Tweets about advance booking -
Advanced bookings for @prdp have started today!!! #PremRatanDhanPayo #premaithili pic.twitter.com/SbgV3Rhsmi
— Sonam Kapoor (@sonamakapoor) November 7, 2015
Prem Ratan Dhan Payo running time is around 2 hours 45 minutes. Originally film was scheduled to go over 3 hours. But makers have made a few cut and censor did 3 cuts which made it to around 15 minutes short of 3 hours. Film has got U Certificate and it will be delight for family audiences this festive season.


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Some of the duties of a dental office manager include market coordinating, payroll handling and budgeting office expenses. Dental office managers may also schedule patient and staff appointments and perform bookkeeping and billing duties.Continue Reading
Dental office managers are responsible for the general administrative roles in dental offices. They work closely with other dental office employees to ensure that they all perform their duties effectively. Dental office management duties are similar to those of any other business, requiring effective organization and financial management skills. Dental office managers are responsible for paying office bills such as payroll, electricity, gas, taxes, garbage pickup and supplies. They may delegate some of these duties, but they are ultimately responsible for ensuring that each task is completed successfully.
Dental office managers also manage the clinic's reputation and maintain patient relationships. They often rectify the situation when a patient has a negative experience with the office. They must discover the negative situation's cause and take steps to address the problem and appease the patient, especially as word of mouth plays a key role in bringing in new patients. Office managers also have the duty to advertise the dental office both in person and online, which often includes regular website updating and maintenance.Learn more about Dental


text: The wristlet is the easiest way to carry your clutch bag. Little strap goes around your wrist to make this the perfect bag to take shopping or out on the town. These bags are perfect for carrying your phone, lipstick and a few credit cards or ids. Carry these on a night out on the town or shopping to keep you hands free.


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I don't know of a better turn-based computer game. Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup is the best there is and has been so for a long time. Forget the hoopla about commercial games or fancy graphics. DCSS has everything one will ever want in a game and the replay value is excellent, in part because the game receives active development and constantly is getting new features. Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup fully supports Linux, Windows and Mac. The system requirements are modest.
For those who feel that the game is too tough, see http://techlorebyigor.blogspot.com/search/label/dungeon%20crawl%20cheat for two methods of making the game easier.


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One of the main tenets of Social Media was the reality that brands could join a conversation (to quote my good friend, Joseph Jaffe), but by the looks of things there aren't really any conversations happening at all.
It's not just Jaffe who pushed that idea out with his second business book, Join The Conversation. Many other Bloggers and Podcasters (myself included) have explained to brands that Social Media is a conversation and that they can either be a part of it or watch it from the sidelines (while also watching what the ramifications are of not participating in the content).
But, things have changed.
In the past few weeks, I've been on a personal journey of re-evaluating this Blog (more on that here: Comments And Conversations), while at the same time watching the evolving face of Facebook (more on that here: 500 Million), evaluating the growth of Twitter, and even how some of my favorite Blogs and Podcasts have been changing over the years. The net output of this research made me think one thought (and one thought only)...
There is not much conversation going on at all.
Here's what I do see:
- Blogs that have comments, with little back and forth. Some Bloggers respond to the comments and some don't.
- Those that do have comments, usually have no further comment from the person who left a comment in the first place. That's not a conversation. That's feedback.
- Individuals not leaving a comment to engage in a conversation, but simply to promote their own links or to chest-thump.
- Twitter doesn't really bring out a conversation. It's a great place to broadcast and get some quick tidbits, but let's face it, unless you're creating spiritual and motivation tweets, it's hard to have substance in 140 characters (or less - if you're looking for a retweet).
- Even in cool arenas like the #blogchat that takes place on Twitter every Sunday night, it feels more like everyone screaming a thought at once than a conversation that can be followed and engaged with.
- Facebook has some great banter with the wall posts and status updates, but it's more chatty than conversational and it's not an open/public environment.
None of this is a bad thing... it just is.
I can hear some Social Media purists say that these are the "new conversations" but I don't believe that to be true. Why? Because if you do look at platforms like Podcasting (ones done on platforms like Blog Talk Radio or Talk Shoe) and certain message boards, you do see instances that resemble a conversation (people do call in, expand on a thought and have some good back and forth banter), but the majority of "conversation" I have come across is nothing more than the posting of a thought with very little engagement beyond that.
And then, this happens...
Dave Winer (known as one of the Godfathers of RSS and Podcasting) is changing how comments happen on his Blog, Scripting News (which is also one of the first weblogs ever published on the Internet). In a post published yesterday titled, Proposal: A new kind of blog comment system, Winer writes: "I know some people think that blogs are conversations, but I don't. I think they're publications. And I think the role of comments is to add value to the posts. If you want to rebut a post, then you can create your own blog and post your rebuttal there. I've always felt this way about what blogs are, and in a similar way I feel Twitter is not a conversational medium. it is even more inappropriate to try to converse there because of the 140-character limit."
Are we seeing a new shift in Social Media? Are the conversations dead? Were they ever - really - alive? What do you think?


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Amazing, Authentic, Warm, Safe Wickless Candles and Creatively Inspired Warmers brought to you direct from the heart of a Scentsy Independent consultant.
Me and My girlfriends got together and had a PARTY!! to experience the Scentsational value, scents and warmers that Scentsy Authentic wickless candle and their friendly, creative Independent consultants have to offer!
You have to see & smell them they are SCENTSATIONAL!!
You have to see & smell them they are SCENTSATIONAL!!
by Simplyscentful February 03, 2010
buy the domain for your travel blog


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Yogtowers receive an email asking them to play a new...
Becoming Independent
- by Charley1404
- Rating:
- Published: 24 Oct 2012
- Updated: 6 Dec 2012
- Status: In Progress
Emily is starting her last year of school and realise that she knows nothing. Feeling a little stupid, she decides to give herself till she turns 21 to get herself a life. This is her notebook, her project and she calls it BECOMING INDEPENDENT.
Join MovellasFind out what all the buzz is about. Join now to start sharing your creativity and passion
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Some tourists don't want to see just the African landscape, but also explore the local beauties. Slim bitches offer intense pleasures, making this white boy's staying there more exciting. Click to see slutty Tiny naked and sucking Antonio's big cock with passion! Enjoy the hardcore scenes.
- amadeus
- : 4min 54sec
- : 14 Oct 2010
- Exclusive video
- : Antonio, Tiny


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With Labor Day right around the corner, summer is soon coming to a close! But what better way to end the summer with some delicious new ways of eating sweet corn? It's easy to find right now, so get it while you can. I came up with the combination for this recipe because they are three of my husband's favorite foods – corn (he's from Indiana), lima beans, and potatoes. This is a really an incredible dish, and I paired it with some delicious scallops. Stay tuned for that recipe tomorrow – they taste great with this fresh, summer salad. I thought about adding black beans, feta, and basil at different points along the way, but it tasted so good, I didn't want to mess it up. They could be worth a try though.
2 ears of corn – de-cobbed (is that a word?!)
1/2 cup lima beans (I used frozen and thawed them out)
Fingerling Potatoes – diced into 1 in. pieces (as many as you'd like)
1 Leek – thinly sliced and soaked in water
1 clove garlic minced
1 Tbs Dijon mustard
2 Tbs. lemon juice
2-3 Tbs. Olive Oil (for dressing)
Salt/ Pepper to taste
1) Bring saute pan to medium/ high heat. Add 1-2 tbs. olive oil and saute the garlic and diced potatoes for 8-10 minutes or until almost cooked through. Salt/ Pepper to taste.
2) Add the lima beans, corn, and leeks to the mixture. Add a little more salt/ pepper – it's always good to season as you cook so you can adjust along the way. You might also need to add a little more olive oil if you need more moisture.
3) Meanwhile, prepare the dijon vinaigrette. Whisk the Dijon and the lemon juice, then slowly add the olive oil until it emulsifies. I try not to add too much olive oil, since there's already some in the veggies.
4) After the potatoes, beans, and corn have cooked for 10-15 minutes, remove from heat and add the Dijon vinaigrette. Toss and enjoy!
To see the final dish come together – check out my scallops later this week!


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Diploma of Leadership and Management
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*Please remember to complete and submit our enrolment form located on the Diploma of Leadership and Management page of our website, linked above.
Event Details
Diploma of Leadership and Management is a 12 x 1 day program.
Upcoming Classes:
Class A (Monday)
Day 01: 19th February
Day 02: 19th March
Day 03: 16th April
Day 04: 21st May
Day 05: 18th June
Day 06: 16th July
Day 07: 20th August
Day 08: 17th September
Day 09: 15th October
Day 10: TBA
Day 11: TBA
Day 12: TBA
Total investment for the qualification is $3800. (Price includes 12 x 1 day training, course notes, all assessments, one-on-one mentoring, templates, access to online resources via the Student Management System, tea & lunch during training and qualification parchments).
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Hey guys! It's the Dreamy December Days Readathon hosted by Francine @ Always Lost in Book and Farzy @ Books Keep Me Sane! This is a week-long read-a-thon that runs from DEC 1 -7 and it's December so why not read a ton of books!? Basically, it's a good excuse to read anything you want! Those new releases that just came out, or the ones that's been on your TBR list forever, or a new pick that's holiday/snow them to match up with December winters! To sign up, checkout the hostess' sites and sign-ups are up until Dec 4th! So go, go,go!
Alright so this is my tentative list as of Nov 30th:
So I just have the three books for now (click the images for Goodreads) because it's the last week of school and I really need to finish off my last paper…and maybe study too haha. Maybe I'll add another book if I feel confident in studies later on in the week (: So I have two new releases, No Good Duke Goes Unpunished, which I've been waiting forever for! And Searching for Someday, which I wasn't even sure I wanted to read at first, but now that I know it's a matchmaker with a bit of magic I couldn't resist. Also one ARC, Shadowdance! I'm so excited for this one. Maybe I should tack on a novella or an anthology. Any suggestions for a must read?
What's your guys goals for the Dreamy December Days Readathon?
Shadowdance by Kristen Callihan (Dec 3 -5)
Searching for Someday by Jennifer Probst (Dec 1 – 2)
No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah MacLean (Dec 5 – 6)
4. Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein (Dec 6…)
DAY 1: Started Searching for Someday!
DAY 2: This book is cute and steamy and banter and things! I can't tell how much I like it. 4 Stars it is.
DAY 3: Starting SHADOWDANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DAY 4: 78% my gosh I love this book so much
DAY 5: 5 SHAPESHIFTING STARS! for Shadowdance! Now starting No Good Duke Goes Unpunished!
DAY 6: Fantastic romance! Damn that epilogue! I need Chase's story no please :'( Since I've finished all my books, and it's not Day 7 yet, starting Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein.
DAY 7: Liking it so far, I'm glad to see Maddie from Code Name Verity.
Author: Cyn
a bum OT, procrastinator. reader. eater. sleeper. music listen-er. movie go-er. Loves food too much.


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SR-628 cross band Duplex Repeater Controller with cable Motorola Talkabout
The SR-628 is a multi-function and cheaper device that connects any handheld or mobile radio.
By equipment and so on our assemble the build, the new generation trunk-line board, the internal structure design are finer, the outward appearance is more attractive. Besides can provide a the basic repeater function which has following the receiver transmitter, furthermore has the Simple connection, provides the more ideal 2-way radio conversation region for you, causes you maintains the relation in the bigger operating region.
When the radio units are connected, the received signal on a radio unit will be real time transmit on the other radio unit.
e.g. VHF/VHF, UHF/UHF, VHF/UHF or UHF/VHF modes
Input A: Channel A is TX When channal B is RX.
Input B :Channel B is TX When channel A is RX .
The purpose can be done in two different places and using different frequency bands intercom, through our mutual communication relay station.
This is a radio cross band duplex repeater controller. It is an easy of operation and cost effective and highly flexible platform for setting up bi-direction cross band duplex repeater with mobile radio and handheld radio.
The SR-628 has 2 audio ports input and out , they are used to connect with mobile and handheld radio. DTMF remote control function with password protection is available in the . User can control the repeater ON or OFF remotely by DTMF. Multi-LED display 2 of radio status , and build-in battery Level
Major Features
Connector Radio unit:
Build in 3.7V Li-ion Battery:
Ext.DC Jack 5.5/2.1mm:
Standby Time:
Standby Current:
Work Current:
Red Charge/DC in
Blue Full
Red Power on
Red flash Sleep mode
Red Radio A RX , B TX
Blue Radio B RX , A TX
Battery Life
Yellow LED 100%
Yellow LED*** 80%
Yellow LED** 50%
Yellow LED* 40%
Yellow LED*Flash 10~30%
Photo will have chromatic aberration compared with the product
409shop Group : SURECOM | DAXSHINE | 409shop-TWO-WAY-RADIO | 409shop-moible
Quick buy: Buy Earpiece | Buy Speaker/Mic | Buy Antenna | Buy Adaptor | Buy UV5R 3800MAH battery | Buy SURECOM PRODUCT


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Before you begin, take a look at the finished movie that you'll create in this lesson.
Double-click the 07Final.mov file in the 07Lesson folder to open the final QuickTime movie, and then click the Play button.
This scene with special effects consists of an actor who was filmed against a blue screen background and then composited over an old-fashioned still image of a feed store. An animated compact disc appears out of the sky and hovers over him. A glowing light also follows the motion of the actor's hand.
When finished, quit the MoviePlayer application.


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This week in Belladonna
Main character animations
Though this is a 2D game I am creating a 3D model of the main character. The idea is to animate it and render the frames into 2D sprites, in order to avoid having to draw every single frame by hand in eight different angles.
When it comes to animations I have asked my friend Stina Boberg for help. She is a very good animator and I am excited to have her assistance in this endeavour. There is still a long way left until we have a finished character walking around in the game, especially the considering the time it will take for me to render all this and importing the frames correctly, but during this week we have started to really bite into the animation work.
Cat added into the game
On a related note, this is actually precisely what I have been working on myself. The cat model I mentioned a few weeks ago has now been rigged and skinned. There is indeed more than one way to skin a cat! With a proper rig I could animate the cat, render it just as planned and put inside the game.
The cat will wag its tail and play with a small object it has found somewhere. If you go near it, however, it will be very angry and aggressive, and it will not let you near its treasure.
Cats have always been thought of as having very keen senses when it comes to the supernatural, and this cat reacts strongly to the phenomena Prometeans the Created calls "Disquiet". You are playing as a reanimated corpse, and the cat senses how your very existence is just fundamentally wrong.
The cat gives you a taste of how you will be met with nothing but hate from living creatures, but the question is; how will you handle that?


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Earth's wind systems
When it comes to predicting the weather, it helps to have as much information available as possible. Meteorologist have created some very sophisticated mathematical models that can predict the weather more accurately than ever before, yet without the fundamental data concerning what the weather is doing now, these models are useless.
The wind forms the basis of atmospheric circulation, which governs the weather and climate.
Some areas of Earth receive more heat from the Sun than other areas. This leads to differences in air temperature, density and pressure, which in turn, cause the air to move – creating wind.
The movement of air constitutes the general circulation of the atmosphere, transporting heat away from equatorial regions towards the poles, and returning cooler air to the tropics.
Rising warm air is associated with areas of low surface-pressure called cyclones, while areas of high surface-pressure, known as anticyclones, are associated with subsiding air. These pressure differences are balanced by air motion – wind.
Since Earth rotates and is spherical, winds to not move directly from high to low pressure areas. The greater the difference in air pressure between two regions, the stronger the wind will be. The wind continues to blow until the pressure difference changes.
The Coriolis force explains why winds generally blow perpendicular to the direction of the pressure difference.
The Coriolis force acts at right angles to the direction of motion, so as to cause deflection to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. The force increases from zero at the equator to a maximum at the poles. Winds are therefore deflected relatively little at low latitudes and at higher latitudes the degree of deflection is much larger.
In order to improve numerical weather prediction so that we can benefit from better weather forecasting, there is an urgent need for detailed near-realtime observations of global wind-fields at all scales. This is something meteorologists have needed for some time now.
Aeolus has been developed to fulfil this need. The mission will generate about a 100 wind profiles an hour, which will give meteorologists better information with which to predict the weather.
Aeolus will be able to provide wind profiles for the entire planet, including remote areas lacking ground-based weather stations.
The Aeolus mission will be the first space mission to acquire profiles of the wind on a global scale and pave the way for future operational wind missions.
Last update: 17 January 2012


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How to buy
Gusset Components doesn't currently sell direct to consumers.
We believe that one of the best ways to purchase specialist bicycle products is via your professional local bicycle shop that should be able to offer you expert advice to assist you with your purchasing decisions and also provide you with the best on-going service, setup and after sales support. We encourage you to buy via your professional local bike shop where possible.
Gusset Components should be available from most good bike shops, please ask your favourite dealer for the Gusset Components you require.
Please use our UK dealer finder below, or for international customers, please contact your designated distributer. Please note that we are unable to inform you about specific stock positions at each distributor or dealer.
Find a dealer
Currently, the default setting on the Dealer Locator is set to deliver results showing all bicycle dealers that have the option to order products from Ison Distribution, and are within a 25-mile radius of the post code you enter. Many of the bike dealers listed will be able to assist you with ordering items required if they do not have them in stock.
Note: You can customise the results by changing the radius distance from the post code. You can reduce the search radius to 10 miles, or search up the whole of the U.K.
If you encounter problems in obtaining our products from your local distributor or dealer, you might also find it useful to try some of the UK shops that can offer UK and International mail order shipping including those such as Billys
UK Dealers
*Please contact stockist before making special visits to ensure they have the stock you require.


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SEND Workshop : All Our Concern
Workshop : All Our Concern
Addressing the Special Education Needs & Disabilities & Mental Health Needs of Liverpool's BME Communities
At FACT Monday 21st September 2015 – 1.30 pm – 4.pm
What's the aim?
This event follows up from the 'Whose Concern?' workshop earlier this year. Its aim is to review current initiatives and ideas as to how to effectively engage with Liverpool's Black &Minority Ethnic (BME) communities and improve their health outcomes. This in turn is a priority for the Healthy Liverpool Programme.
Who is this for?
Anyone working in the area of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and also in mental health.
A detailed programme for the event will be circulated shortly. To book a place at the workshop please email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone – mobile: 07816598114
As space is limited please can you confirm whether you will be attending by Thursday 10th September 2015.
The workshop will be held at: FACT: 88 Wood Street, Liverpool L1 4DQ


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From tiny insects to mammals and amphibious water loving creatures, the Arboretum is home to a wide variety of wildlife, trees and flowers. Nature loving young visitors can discover more about just some of these amazing living things at our monthly interactive Wildlife Watch sessions.
Each Wildlife Watch session provides a great opportunity for you and your child to engage with the vast variety of nature that calls the Arboretum home.
During the October Wildlife Watch session the young visitors will be discovering more about what small mammals can be found in the Arboretum.
Parents / guardians must remain with their children at all times. The session will be held in one of our covered Discovery Shelters so it is important that all children are appropriately dressed. In the event of inclement weather, an indoor space will be provided for the group.Read more


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HIJRA's Interventions
HIJRA aims to address the most basic needs of our Host communities. Our priorities for health are in providing treatment for common conditions by involving all available health providers, including local traditional healers and birth attendants. Our goal is to strengthen the local community; thereby enabling the communities we assist to become self-reliant.
HIJRA's programs in education have been designed to respond to the overwhelming needs of the urban refugee population in Kenya. Our programs are focused on the implementation of quality primary education in Nairobi; Komarock, Kayole and Eastleigh.
Water and Sanitation
Since its establishment HIJRA has worked to implement programs designed to address emergency interventions in Water and Sanitation. Our WASH projects in Somalia work to implement improved access to safe water and essential public health materials for the displaced found throughout the many IDP camps in Mogadishu and The Afgooye Corridor.
Together Livelihoods and Food Security programs work jointly to ensure that each person has the tools and the choice to live in a secure and self-reliant community. HIJRA�s activities are targeted to initiate resilience for the most vulnerable. Our programs are focused on immediate emergency intervention and designed to unify theme needs.


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MS Sharepoint Developer - PRAGUE CZ (Prague)
A major and fast expanding international company, operating all over world is looking for qualified candidates to fill the position MS Sharepoint Expert. Your tasks will be: * Design and development of SharePoint based applications * Quality assurance * Testing, technical documentation * Provide support in migration projects * Ensuring communication within technical department also on client side
Požadujeme: Successfull candidate should have: * Excellent knowledge of Sharepoint Foundation, Sharepoint Designer * SQL server, Active directory * .NET technologies (MS Visual studio, ASP.NET Web Forms etc.) * C# or VB.NET * Sharepoint API * XSL, XSLT, * Javascript, JQuery * English language on a good level * EU candidates should apply
Nabízíme: - Meal tickets - Trainings, certifications Protected content holiday - Financial bonuses - Language courses and more
If interested, please apply via JobMaster at Protected content


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The three two-story houses at 406-410 Chartres St. are under demoliton in this photograph taken on July 15, 1914. In the following year the city built a new Third Precinct Police station on the site. That structure now houses the Williams Research Center of The Historic New Orleans Collection.
Back to June Thumbnails


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Meridy is an award-winning figurative artist, known for her innovative use of color and texture. She works in oils, pastels, and oil pastels. She teaches life drawing at the Desert Art Center, and painting at The Lakes. The Springs, Marrakesh, and Presidential Estates and privately. She also is Director/art teacher of the Art with Heart Program working with at-risk and gang teens.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: (760) 668-9852
550 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262 ● PH: (760) 323-7973 ● firstname.lastname@example.com


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Despite the growing popularity of e-readers, it is unlike the printed book will ever disappear completely. There are simply too many people who adore the tactile experience of turning pages to discover what happens next in a story!
If you are looking for a small treat to give to your favorite bookworm, this origami heart bookmark is a great choice. It is easy to fold, but the heart embellishment makes it a bit more decorative than an ordinary origami corner bookmark.
The origami heart bookmark in... this tutorial is made from a single sheet of square origami paper. The best option is to use paper that is either 6 inches x 6 inches or 4 inches x 4 inches, depending upon how large you would like your finished bookmark to be. A solid colored paper or a paper with a subtle pattern looks best for this project; bold patterns detract from the simplicity of the heart shape.
01 of 09
Create an "X" Crease Pattern
To begin making your origami heart bookmark, start with the patterned side of your paper face down. (If your paper is a solid color on both sides, you don't need to worry about what side is face down.) Fold your paper along one of the diagonals to make a triangle shape. Crease well, then unfold. Fold in half along the opposite diagonal. Crease well, then unfold. When you're finished, your paper should have an "X" crease pattern in the middle.
02 of 09
Fold the Paper in Half Horizontally
Flip your paper over so the patterned side is facing up. Fold it in half horizontally. The crease you make should go across the intersection of the "X" crease pattern you created in the previous step.
03 of 09
Fold the Bottom to the Middle of the Paper
Open your paper up. Fold the bottom up to the middle crease as indicated in the photo to the left.
04 of 09
Collapse the Paper to Create a Triangle
Unfold the paper. Push in gently on the horizontal creases to collapse the paper into a triangle like the one shown in the photo to the left. This collapsed triangle form is known as a balloon base. It is used to create many different origami projects, including a basic origami butterfly.Continue to 5 of 9 below.
05 of 09
Start Forming Your Origami Heart
With the crease you made in Step 3 facing you, lift the top layer of the triangle upward. Flatten as shown in the photo to the left. This will eventually become the heart embellishment on your origami bookmark.
06 of 09
Fold Down
Flip your paper over. Fold the top triangle flap down. Fold the top horizontal edge down so it meets the crease you created by folding down the triangle flap.
07 of 09
Flatten the Corner Pockets
Stick a finger in each corner pocket and flatten the paper so it look like the photo to the left.
08 of 09
Create the Top of Your Origami Heart
Fold the exposed corners in as shown in the photo to the left. This creates the two sides of the final heart shape. Then, fold the top left and right points down to round out the corners of the heart.Continue to 9 of 9 below.
09 of 09
Complete Your Origami Heart Bookmark
Flip your paper over and bring the triangle flap from step xx back up. Congratulations! Your origami bookmark is complete!
If desired, you can decorate the origami heart bookmark with stickers or write a message on it. If you use stickers, try putting a large sticker over the part where the two sides of the heart join together to prevent the reader from accidentally unfolding the bookmark. You may also want use a glue stick to glue the top of the heart to the triangle base.
Origami heart bookmarks are fun to make throughout the year but would be especially cute as a handmade Valentine's Day treat. Origami heart lollipop covers are another fun idea for making homemade Valentine's Day gifts for friends and family.


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James "Jim" E. Willey, of Pendleton, Ore., passed away June 15, 2012, at the Oregon Veterans Home in The Dalles after a long illness.
He was born Jan. 6, 1940, in Hood River, Ore., to Fred W. and Henrietta (Kolterman) Willey. Jim married Marilyn Flory on July 5, 1985, in Manteo, N.C. He graduated from Wy'east High School in Hood River in 1958 and also attended trade and cooking schools.
He served in the United States Navy for 10 years and later as a chief steward for the merchant marines until his retirement in 2005.
He enjoyed taking photographs while exploring and traveling, computers, fishing, music, woodworking and spending time with his family, friends and his dog Bandit.
He was a member of the Freemasons and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Willey, of Pendleton; mother, Henrietta Willey, of Hood River; brother, Bill (Karen) Willey, of Dundee; sons Jerry (Noelle) Decker, of Brentwood, Calif., Gene (Sandra) Decker, of Odell, and Walter Willey, of Portland; daughters Karla (Ronald) Fransen, of Dallesport, Wash., and Lee Vaughn, of Molalla; and grandchildren Alex, Brandon, Bryan (Ellen) Kelly, Chelsea, Corey, Katalina and Kory.
He was preceded in death by his father, Fred.
Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the Pendleton Fire Department and the American Lung Association.
Visitation will be held Friday, June 22, from 3-5 p.m. at Anderson's Tribute Center. A graveside service will take place Saturday, June 23, at 11 a.m. at Parkdale Cemetery with a reception to follow at 12:30 p.m. at Grace Su's China Gorge Restaurant.
Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson's Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; 541-386-1000. Please visit www.andersonstributecenter.com to leave a note of condolence for family.
Condolences are being received online.
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Package: mach (0.9.1-3.1)
Links for mach
Debian Resources:
Download Source Package mach:
Similar packages:
make a chroot of a rpm-based distribution
mach allows you to set up clean roots from scratch for any distribution or distribution variation supported.
This clean build root can be used for several goals:
- making clean packages - set up chroots for services to run it - make disk images of clean roots (for example for UML)
Currently, mach works for rpm-based distributions that can work with apt for rpm.
Included at this moment is the necessary information to set up:
- Fedora 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and development - Red Hat 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 8, and 9 - CentOS 4 - Dave/Dina - Conectiva 9 - SuSE 8.1, 8.2, and 9.0 - Yellowdog 2.3, and 3.0
Some handy features of mach include:
- "caching" of downloaded packages using the build hosts's apt the build root - ensures clean packages by reverting to the base set of build packages - uses apt to resolve dependencies - parsing of BuildRequires to install necessary packages for building - build ordering when doing multiple builds - support for flavours of distribution - multiple build roots - locking of buildroot to avoid concurrent builds - optional signing of built packages
Other Packages Related to mach
- dep: adduser
- add and remove users and groups
- dep: libc6 (>= 2.2)
- Embedded GNU C Library: Shared libraries
also a virtual package provided by libc6-udeb
- dep: python
- interactive high-level object-oriented language (default version)
- dep: python-rpm
- Python bindings for RPM
- dep: rpm (>= 4.1)
- package manager for RPM
- dep: yum
- Advanced front-end for rpm
- or apt-rpm-client (>= 0.5.5cnc2)
- Package not available
Download mach
|Package Size
|Installed Size
|71.9 kB
|342.0 kB
|[list of files]


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|Lost Roy Lichtenstein painting "Electric Cord" surfaces in a warehouse in New York City
|Resource:artdaily 2012-08-03 08:49:16
File photo of artist Roy Lichtenstein posing at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City in October 1993. AP Photo/Chrystyna Czajkowsky.
A painting by the late pop artist Roy Lichtenstein that disappeared 42 years ago has turned up in a New York City warehouse and is in legal limbo.
Lichtenstein's black and white "Electric Cord" was reported stolen after it was sent out to be cleaned by owner Leo Castelli in 1970 and never returned.
The painting shows a tightly wound electrical cord. Court papers say it re-emerged last week when the Roy Lichtenstein Foundation notified Castelli's widow, Barbara Castelli, someone was trying to sell it.
Castelli's court filings say the painting recently was on display at a museum in Colombia. They say Castelli is "deeply concerned" the painting may disappear again.
A judge on Tuesday signed an order barring the Manhattan warehouse from selling or moving the painting until a hearing next week.


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Win Korean beauty products with Get Your Glow On, a new series from DramaFever Studios and Glow Recipe
Introducing Get Your Glow On, a new series with Sarah and Christine, the founders of Glow Recipe. Sarah and Christine are here to answer your skincare questions, as well as provide Korean beauty product reviews and demos based on 19+ years of industry experience and insider knowledge. To kick off their new series, they're having an awesome giveaway of the latest Korean beauty products straight from Seoul! Find out how you can enter and more in this video:
In case you missed it, here are the giveaway rules:
- Comment on the YouTube video with questions, tutorial requests, and video ideas for "Get Your Glow On"!
- The person with the best comment wins! Anything related to Korean skincare and beauty goes.
- You can comment as many times as you want. The giveaway closes on June 30th!
We can't wait to see your comments! Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel and stay tuned next Thursday for the first episode of Get Your Glow On. In the meantime, you can find out more about Glow Recipe on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


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As soon as we start talking about obedience, some will think of legalism. It's kind of a buzz word. It's something I've been accused of several times though I make continued attempts at clarity.
First, let's define legalism. Since the word does not occur in the Bible, let's looks at some other definitions.
Legalism, in Christian theology, is a pejorative term referring to an over-emphasis on law or codes of conduct, or legal ideas, usually implying an allegation of misguided rigor, pride, superficiality, the neglect of mercy, and ignorance of the grace of God or emphasizing the letter of law over the spirit. Legalism is alleged against any view that obedience to law, not faith in God's grace, is the pre-eminent principle of redemption.
According to dictionary.reference.com:
- strict adherence, or the principle of strict adherence, to law or prescription, esp. to the letter rather than the spirit.
- Theology.
- a. the doctrine that salvation is gained through good works.
- b. the judging of conduct in terms of adherence to precise laws.
These definitions make three points: 1) the doctrine of salvation/redemption is at stake; 2) legalism refers to an over-emphasis or pre-eminence; 3) legalism is used for strict obedience to the law.
The Doctrine of Salvation/Redemtion is at Stake
So why does one definition of legalism put the doctrine of salvation/redemption at stake? Christianity teaches that being saved is a work that only God can do and only He does it (Ephesians 2:8-9). God the Father supplied Jesus Christ, His Son, to pay fully for sinners to be saved. If we begin to add any stipulation beyond faith for people to be saved, then we convey a gospel that is no gospel at all (Galatians 1:6-9).
Over-emphasis or Pre-eminence
Although obedience is important, it is not the primary focus. Faith in Jesus Christ is the primary focus of obedience. As Romans 14:23 says, "For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin". We need to have faith in Jesus' full life and death of obedience. If we elevate our own obedience above His, which was given to us by God's grace, then we tread on the ground of legalism.
Strict Obedience
Our own obedience should be strict, so long as we keep the above two points in mind: salvation is by faith alone and our obedience to God is only obedience if it is grounded in faith. Romans 1:16 tells us that the gospel is the power of God for all of salvation, each part. It is the power to change our hearts as well as the power by which we obey. And basing our obedience by faith on God's word we guarantee growth (1 Thessalonians 2:13). When we read Philippians 3 we see how convicted Paul was that He needed to press on and strain forward.
So, the word legalism has at least three uses. In the first it describes a distorted gospel into what is no gospel at all, a salvation based on how good you are. The second use describes confused priorities: God should always be primary in our lives and His gifts of grace should be central, just as God and His grace is central in our salvation. The third use just means strict obedience. Every Christian should be strictly obedient but always consious that only by faith do we please God. But we must continue to deal with new applications of the Bible, such as sky-diving (are we taking our lives into our hands unnessasarily?), eating fast-food (can we eat it and remain/become more healthy by doing so?), video games (what are the implications of imaginary paticapatory violence?), television (it what ways does watching TV impact our conscience?). The Bible applies to these areas, as it does to every area of life. But are we legalistic in our application?