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Do you have a question for Dr. Vinny? Ask it here...
Dear Dr. Vinny,
Regarding your suggestion of adding a small humidifier to a wine cellar, what about the problems of capacity of the humidifier? The ones I've seen only run for a few hours, and then they need more water. Corks like consistency, and I don't want to have to replenish water every day or so.
—Chuck G., Raleigh, N.C.
Dear Chuck,
I see that most of the humidifiers out there marketed towards consumers start off at 1-gallon capacity, but larger ones are certainly out there. A quick look at some search-engine results shows me an 8-gallon one for less than $100.
There are other ways to get (and keep) the humidity of a cellar to its optimal 50 to 70 percent relative humidity target. Start by making sure the space is insulated, so the humidity is staying where you want it. The cheapest way to add humidity is to simply place a pan of water on the floor. If the racking or walls are made of wood, you can mist with a water bottle now and again. There area also some really nice decorative humidifiers—a fancy way of saying "indoor fountain." You can hang them on the wall or put them on the floor, and they have the dual purpose of being decorative and exposing a lot of surface area so the water can evaporate.
I imagine that for most people, humidity isn't much of a concern. If you're worried that your wine storage is too dry, you can always get a hygrometer to measure it, and they start at around $15 or so.
—Dr. Vinny
We break down the basics—how to taste, serve, store and more. Plus:
» Maps of major wine regions
» Grape variety characteristics
Learn from the experts and get the most out of each sip. Take one of our online courses or take them all—from the ABCs of Tasting to in-depth seminars on Food Pairing, California Cabernet, Bordeaux, Tuscany, Sensory Evaluation and more.
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Learn Wine Forum: Got questions? Get answers


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GLOBALG.A.P. Technical Consultant in Brazil – Marco Giotto
25. November 2016
Marco Giotto is a chemical engineer, specialized in food technology. He joined GLOBALG.A.P. in 2015 and is happy to work in a non-profit company that actively promotes sustainable and safe agriculture. In his eyes the biggest challenge is the large-scale introduction of these concepts to Brazil, a country of continental dimensions, with an immense social, economic and climatic diversity. He is responsible for spreading GAP concepts among the country's different sectors, training consultant technicians and supporting new certified projects that serve as models.
He has worked in the food sector for more than 30 years and started his career working on a winery in southern Brazil. He joined White Martins, a Praxair Group company, which is a global leader in industrial gases, where he worked for 12 years in different functions and areas - always with a focus on food and beverages. This phase of his working life was very important in building a strong network as he developed projects that affected hundreds of producers and food processors in Latin America, USA and Europe.
Marco Giotto then left White Martins to start his own fresh cut vegetables company, Rio de Una, specialized in organic products. Rio de Una was the first and largest organic vegetables processor in South America. He projected and structured the company, and was CEO until 2010, when he sold the company. During this period he aggregated a wide network of supermarkets and food service sector stakeholders
Since then he has worked as an agribusiness consultant in supply chain integration projects, especially structuring agricultural production bases with a focus on small producers and sustainable crops.
Marco Giotto recently completed his MBA in sustainability development, and intensively coordinates and participates in different sector discussion forums across the country, actively promoting food safety and quality assurance in agribusiness.
He has promoted sustainable agriculture to the largest consumer chains and the government ministries of Brazil, seeking the implementation of policies that emphasize natural products and quality certification.
He is married to Vanessa and has two children, Helena 10 and Vinicius 8. They share a passion for horses and country life. Whenever possible, they dedicate their time to the family farm where they have horses, dairy cows and organic berry production.
Photo: GLOBALG.A.P.

subset: commoncrawl


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NEMONICS (Houston, TX) – Bebe's Kids (1999) /// UndergroundHipHopBLOG.comPosted: May 30, 2013 Filed under: Blog Features | Tags: Bebe's Kids, Houston, NEMONICS Leave a comment
Originating from Houston, Texas, Nemonics is a dude whose name says it all. Nemonics is a play on the word 'mnemonics', which means any device that helps you to remember certain information. For him that means going back to the lyrics in hip hop to remind listeners that lyricism is a big part of this art. Through his music he continues the remembrance of the age when positivity, dopeness and awareness were in the forefront of hip hop; The Golden Age. Nemonics started off flowing in cyphers in the school hallways and lunchroom of his high school. That's when he realized the power of words and fell deeper into crafting his lines. Having been influenced by a wide range of music throughout his childhood (Names like Sade, Shabba Ranks, Fleetwood Mac), and by the Golden Era as an older cat, he has crafted his own unique style.
His album, "A Thousand Pictures", dropped at the end of 2012. It has already been praised by reviewers. A reviewer with Vents Magazine said it "truly will not leave you the same after listening." His favorite and most critically acclaimed tracks from ATP are "Bebe's Kids", "Runway", and "Digital". Nemo is continuing to record tracks for his next album whose title is to be announced. He stated, "This new project is really forward thinking." Nemo also said," I have good messages to put out and I do it in way that the youth can still relate, like what Tribe did in their time but only now it's 2013."That album is scheduled to be released in early fall of this year. He's currently working on his next music video as well doing performances in both the Houston and Austin, TX area. Get familiar. Check out his stuff and you will quickly become a fan. Get connected with him:
CLOCKWIZE (Los Angeles, CA) – Self.Ish Devotion /// UndergroundHipHopBLOG.comPosted: May 28, 2013 Filed under: Blog Features | Tags: bad fame media, CLOCKWIZE, EooMuzik, los angeles, Self.Ish Devotion Leave a comment
Member of "Crop Circles720".
Mc/Dj/Producer "Clockwize" continues his solo journey by bringing you his 2nd single off the new E.P titled "Verbal In A Cup" out 6/25/13 on Echoes Of Oratory Muzik. Check the rhyme scheme as it flows undoubtedly over the featured solid production by "dRty". Video directed by Bad Fame Media. Enjoy!
Soundcloud link for free d'load: soundcloud.com/clockwize720/clockwize-self-ish-devotion
@clockwize720 /// EooMuzik.com
MELANIN 9 (North London) – "Heartless Island" ft. TRIPLE DARKNESS /// UndergroundHipHopBLOG.comPosted: May 27, 2013 Filed under: Blog Features | Tags: Heartless Island, melanin 9, TRIPLE DARKNESS Leave a comment
PSALM ONE (Chicago, IL) – Queen Until (Prod. By PANIK) /// UndergroundHipHopBLOG.comPosted: May 27, 2013 Filed under: Blog Features | Tags: chicago, PANIK, PSALM ONE, Queen Until Leave a comment
Panik & Psalm One (a.k.a. Hologram Kizzie) team up for the new single off Panik's upcoming album "Coloring Outside The Lines." Check out the new video directed by Sense Hernandez from Beast Factory Films.
Order the single now on Itunes & Amazon.
Download the clean version of "Queen Until" on SoundCloud.
With accesories and regimines being more exciting than some females these days, it's nice to know that some of us can still rap. Rhymesayers has its hands full with this one, but part of that is because she has boobs. Psalm One, the self-proclaimed "fuck a" fem-cee is gearing up for her second offering, the follow-up to 2006's critically acclaimed "The Death of Frequent Flyer". After telling academia to piss off, then inviting it into the bathroom again, touring, male-to-female-to-female contact, manicures and dirt baths, Psalm is doing the unthinkable: letting you in. With the skills that are hardly anything but stellar, new production, old friends and the world by the tight and curlies, it's on once again. And what more could you ask for? She's not your prom date; she's the one you hung out with at prom in the back of mom's volvo, got blasted and talked about all the people with their noses in the air and thumbs up their asses. And she plays drums. Go figure.
In 2005 she was named as on of URB's Next 100 and featured "as next to blow up" in such publications as: Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times and The Onion which only added fuel to her ever-glowing fire. In 2006 these same publication touted "The Death of Frequent Flyer" as the best Chicago album of the year. So let's get higher. The new as-yet-untitled album has all the makings of a masterpiece from a master who is still mastering herself. But masterbates. If you will. Back in the studio, back on her veggie tacos and ddr, and back for those who love her, who like her, and who just wanna look at a female spitting like that. Brace yourself for some searching and headnodding. It's totally lovely.Chicago remains on her heart, the universe is on her brain and you can be damned sure the world is her playground. She doesn't like oysters. Psalm One, Rhymesayer representer, Chicago darling and available for download right now. Don't slumber. Unless there's cute undies, fingernail art and pillows involved. Holla at her.
regularanddope.com /// facebook.com/psalmone
CHILDISH (Seoul, South Korea) – Wash My Tears Away /// UndergroundHipHopBLOG.comPosted: May 27, 2013 Filed under: Blog Features | Tags: childish, seoul, South Korea, Wash My Tears Away Leave a comment
Facebook: www.facebook.com/childishaka13
Bandcamp: http://childish13.bandcamp.com/
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/childish-1
Album Download Link: http://t.co/Wq9YzNP3cO
C PHYSICS (Columbus, OH) – "Fresh State Of Mind" MIXTAPE /// UndergroundHipHopBLOG.comPosted: May 27, 2013 Filed under: MixTapes | Tags: C PHYSICS, Columbus, Fresh State Of Mind" Leave a comment
Chris Payne aka C Physics, actively writing and recording music for 5 years! Got his recording start at The Remix Live Studio's, in Cols, Ohio. 20 yrs old MC that had no words for the amount of passion he have for music and dedication; ready to succeed in this business. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio but got his career jumping in Columbus Ohio. He recently got management with TeemMojo Promotions and Management LLC. (www.TeemMoJo.com 614-375-0987).
Music Links: reverbnation.com/cphysics


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IRVINE, CA – A fund managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, the asset management arm of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS), selected Stream Realty Partners to take over management, leasing and rebranding responsibilities of its newly acquired property, Newport Plaza located at 895 Dove Street, Newport Beach, Calif. The five-story, 107,472-square-foot building is situated in a prime location adjacent to Jamboree Road at CA-73, in the Orange County Airportoffice market. Currently 98 percent leased, Stream Realty plans to enhance the tenant experience, offering first class service and amenities.
The asset will be the latest property managed by Stream Realty to offer unique, high-end amenities to tenants and guests. New management and ownership will position individual suites, as they come available, to create a sophisticated, modern corporate culture for each tenant.
"This assignment includes new options that we're offering Orange County businesses to get the most out of their office space experience," said Blaine Annett, co-managing partner of Stream Realty. "Newport Plaza is an excellent opportunity to distinguish ourselves in the marketplace and offer the highest level of service to our partners and customers."
Located near the intersection of Bristol Street North and Jamboree Road, at the 73, Newport Plaza is located steps away from amenities including Equinox Fitness Club, Pascal Epicerie, Juliette Kitchen & Bar, Starbucks and numerous other restaurants.
About Goldman Sachs Asset Management:
Goldman Sachs Asset Management is the asset management arm of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS), which manages $849 billion as of June 30, 2013. Goldman Sachs Asset Management has been providing discretionary investment advisory services since 1988 and has investment professionals in all major financial centers around the world. The company offers investment strategies across a broad range of asset classes to institutional and individual clients globally. Founded in 1869, Goldman Sachs is a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and high-net-worth individuals. www.goldmansachs.com
About Stream Realty Partners:
Stream Realty Partners, L.P. is a full-service real estate investment, development, and services company. Since its formation in 1996, Stream Realty has grown from its two original partners to a staff of over 450 real estate professionals nationwide with office locations inAtlanta; Austin, Texas; Charlotte, N.C.; Dallas/Ft. Worth; Denver; Houston; Los Angeles; Orange County, Calif.;San Antonio; and Washington, DC. Stream Realty leases and/or manages more than 2.5 million square feet of space in Orange County and more than 100 million square feet of commercial buildings nationwide. Stream Realty completes more than $1 billion in real estate transactions annually and is considered one of the most active investors and developers in the Southwest. Stream Realty creates a distinct culture that is best summarized by its company values: Nice. Smart. Honest. Passionate. www.streamrealty.com
Nicole Inal at 714.263.8731 or [email protected]
Brian Devenny at 714.263.8748 or [email protected]


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RALEIGH --A crash shut down several lanes of Interstate 40 westbound just after 8 a.m. Monday.
Pictures from DOT cameras showed a vehicle tipped on its side smoking.
Another vehicle appeared to have spun into the median.
Officials said traffic was backing up at Exit 303 Jones Sausage Road.
Classifieds | Report A Typo | Send Tip | Get Alerts | See Click Fix
Follow @abc11 on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook


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Missional Communities enable us to mobilize together on mission and connect people to a caring community.
Aug 12, 2018
You can support the ministry of Port City Church by giving online.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.


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Hello everyone, I been seeing a lot of question coming up about getting keys. So I want to try and help clear any confusion, and hopefully answer your questions regarding it. As always, please feel free to leave a reply or contact me if you need anymore help.
I was in the Pre-Alpha, but I didn't get a key!
Everyone that was part of the original Pre-Alpha should have received a key. If you did not, then please double check the email you purchased the game with. That is the one we sent the key too, so make sure you are checking the right email. If you still do not have a key, then please PM myself or tevans. We will look into it and get back to you as soon as possible.
I am a Founder, but I didn't get a key!
As promised we are letting in all the Founders ahead of the other members. We are doing it in waves, based on your purchase date. This means if you pre-ordered 6 months ago, you will get a key before someone that did last week. Please be assured that all the Founders will get their keys early, we are just going in waves. So please sit tight.
It is extremely important that you have access to the email account you used to purchase the game as this is where we will be sending the keys to NOT the email of your forum account. If you no longer have access to the email used to purchase the game at xsolla.com please send a PM to either me (Jenilya), Csprance or Tevans.
Also, if you are a Founder you need to link your account! Please link your account so it shows you as a Founder in the system, this way you'll be able to access the alpha forums. If you do not know how to link your account, then please check here.
UPDATE: This post originally stated that we will be sending the keys to your forum email. This was incorrect and has now been corrected, sorry for any confusion. All keys will be sent to the email used to purchase the game from xsolla.com


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A play on uniform fetishism yet with nothing predictable. The model is a friend. This is first in a series of 5 with the sample model. The paper is archive semi gloss, the inks are archival and will last 100 years in there vibrant state without direct sunlight.
Icy Purple $25 per
Icy Lime $25 per.


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Adopted by the General Assembly on 8 June 2009 in London, England, and replacing the Bylaws adopted in 1952 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; later amended in 2004 in Kampala, Uganda, 2015 in Manila, Philippines and 2016 in Valletta, Malta.
- Introduction
1.1. The name of the organization is International Humanist and Ethical Union, abbreviated IHEU.
1.2. Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance that affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethics based on human and other natural values in a spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. It is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality.
- Objects
2.1. The purpose of IHEU is to promote Humanism throughout the world, to develop Humanism as a life stance, to represent organized Humanism in international bodies, to defend human rights and the rights of humanists, to develop organized Humanism in every part of the world and to build a strong and effective global organization.
- Membership
3.1. Membership is open to humanist organizations and individuals worldwide.
3.2. Member organizations must have objects consistent with Bylaw 2, and adhere to these Bylaws.
3.3. Individuals who agree with the objects set out in Bylaw 2 may become non-voting supporters of the IHEU.
- General Assembly
4.1. The General Assembly is the sovereign body of the organization. It is made up of representatives of Member Organizations and Sections, and the Board members. Its business shall be carried out in English and may be transacted by correspondence.
4.2. The General Assembly shall adopt and amend Internal Rules that shall include detailed provisions for the implementation of the Bylaws.
4.3. The Board shall call a General Assembly at least once in each calendar year.
4.4. An emergency General Assembly may be called at shorter notice by the Board, and the Board shall do so on receipt of a request from Member Organizations holding one fifth of the General Assembly votes provided that the calling Member Organizations come from at least three different countries.
- Board
5.1 The Board is responsible for the effective governance of the IHEU, and for the setting and monitoring of its strategic objectives, in accordance with the policies and directives of the General Assembly. The Board is responsible for ensuring that the IHEU is managed in accordance with all Bylaws and Internal Rules and Regulations. Board members shall be elected by the IHEU General Assembly.
- Policy
6.1 The official view of IHEU on humanism and on important issues of public concern consists of IHEU policy and IHEU position statements.
6.2 IHEU policy is agreed and may be amended by the General Assembly. The Board will periodically review policy for relevance, and propose changes if required.
6.3 IHEU position statements elaborate on existing policy in a way that is consistent with all existing policy. They are adopted and may be revoked by the Board.
- Sections
7.1. IHEU can organize sections by geographical regions or other criteria. A section can be an independent legal body.
- Congress
8.1. An international Congress shall be convened by the General Assembly not less than once in five years.
- Finances
9.1. The Board is responsible for budget and accounts and reports to the General Assembly. All members must pay annual dues.
9.2. The Endowment Fund shall contribute to the long-term financing of the organization. The capital shall only be used in dire need.
- Legal status
10.1. The IHEU is a non-profit organization incorporated in the State of New York, USA and registered there as a charity with 501(c)(3) status.
10.2. The headquarters is located in England, where IHEU is a corporation registered with Companies House.
- Amendments and dissolution
11.1. The General Assembly can lay down, change and revoke Bylaws consistent with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation by a two-thirds majority of the votes at the General Assembly on condition that two months notice of the proposed change has been given to all Member Organizations.
11.2. A decision to liquidate the corporation may be carried by a two thirds majority of the votes at the General Assembly on condition that no less than six months notice has been given to all Member Organizations together with the reasons for such a proposal and recommendations on the disposal of the assets remaining upon liquidation, being in accordance with the purpose of the corporation and any other consideration arising from the Certificate of Incorporation and subject to the approval of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
The Bylaws structure of IHEU is supplemented by:


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Cobblestone at Eagle Harbor Condominium Association, Inc.
Cobblestone at Eagle Harbor Condominium Association, Inc. is managed by KW Property Management & Consulting. www.CobblestoneEHOnline.com
Management Contact Information Property Manager:Donna Clawson Company: KW Property Management & Consulting Email: firstname.lastname@example.com Phone: (904) 215-1493 Fax: (904) 215-1424 Address: 11717 County Road 220, Clubhouse, Fleming Island, FL 32003
Click here to download the Covenants & Restrictions for the Association.
Board Members: Brian Connolly - President Mark DeTardo – Vice President Bob Kronmiller – Secretary/Treasurer Gary Spearin - Director Charlie Stillings - Director


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The poster features all 4 notable fighters as well as the venue and a list of match ups. We won't pretend it's a flawless poster but we certainly like it and it's brooding darkness in the background. Style wise it's pretty solid even and had to complain about.
(Image boxmob.jp)


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I decided to take the day off today. I worked out hard Friday, moderately Saturday, and hard on Sunday. I got lots of extra sleep. With a face like mine, lots of extra sleep is needed. I picked my children up from school this afternoon. We piled into the car and they started yapping about needing a snack. I told them that a snack was something I could accommodate for them. When we passed by the gas station they started moaning about me not getting them a snack. I told them I would stop and get them a snack, just not at a gas station where you can get a bunch of junk food. I took them to the local super market and got us some veggies and fruits. I am getting my children involved in eating healthy and exercising. We stopped at a local sporting good store today and they were picking out new shoes. I told them if they wanted the new shoes, then they would have to earn them. We already make them do chores as their way of giving back to living in the house and having all that they need. They agreed to my idea of them earning new shoes. I told them they would have to log 10 miles on the treadmill or on the track by Sunday and they could get new shoes. If they were in NEED of new shoes, I would have bought them on the spot, but they do not NEED new shoes. They are gung-ho about this idea. Each kid has logged at least one mile already. The two girls have already knocked out 2.
I am very much into this new healthy lifestyle. I have fought the temptation of the foods I know aren't good for me and I have stayed away from the sugary drinks as well. I cannot believe I am actually liking the salads and vegetables. I am turning into a gym rat rather quickly. I get kinda perturbed when I don't get to go to the gym or if I don't have enough time to finish my full workout.
My next 5K is just around the corner. I cannot wait. My goal is to get in under 31 minutes. I think I can get there, but it will take hard work and sticking with my training. Come out and join the Fat Funny Guy for the Walhalla Elementary 5K.


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Dubai Knowledge Village FTZ started to operate in 2003 and has become the place of concentration of the leading educational institutions in the Middle East. This beautiful and picturesque city creates the favorable conditions for development of various educational centers and institutions.
This zone represents the center contributing to realizing the long-term Nationals Development Strategy and speeding up economic development in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates in whole.
Key advantages for investors and sponsors:
- 100% share held by the foreign founders
- 100% exemption from taxes
- 100% repatriation of the assets and profits
- simplified visa procedure
Moreover, Dubai Knowledge Village FTZ provides its customers and students with the conditions that meet the highest standards, including quiet landscape, sports fields and gyms. Many companies and organizations from Australia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Russia, Belgium, Great Britain, USA, Ireland and other countries have already operated in this zone.
More than 350 partners represented by the training centers, professional development centers and recruitment companies cooperate with Dubai
Knowledge Village FTZ. DKV is the only free trade zone that entirely specializes in professional development and training.
Dubai Knowledge Village FTZ is comprised in Dubai Technology and Media (TECOM) that is the larger one and represents the core of educational services in Dubai.
Dubai Knowledge Village FTZ contributes to development of postgraduate education focused on e-learning. The purpose of this zone is to provide the students and corporate communities with the adequate infrastructure for development, transfer and acquisition of knowledge in the various areas.
Licenses and activities:
Dubai Knowledge Village FTZ provides issuing licenses for the following major activities:
1. Licenses to free-lancers:
Teacher is an individual providing any services on training and professional development to the persons specializing in IT, public relations, business and management, audit, logistic, languages and other areas.
Tutor is an individual providing the additional training in the curriculum given in secondary and higher educational institutions.
E-learning consultant is a person providing consulting services in distance education.
Scientific associate is a person performing research in the various areas.
Person engaged in the general educational support and providing the various services to ensure proper functioning of the educational system elements such as entrance exams, tuition, curriculum development, general assistance etc.
2. Licenses to limited liability companies:
Vocational training center is a company providing professional training courses with issuing certificates.
E-learning educational institution is a company providing special technologies for distance education and related student support.
Research center is a company specializing in any research and development.


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After a loud explosion, Brittany Smith looked out her second-floor window on Easton's South Side to see flames pouring from a blown-out window next door.
"Everything just exploded out," said Smith, who lives next to 1072 and 1074 W. Wilkes Barre St. in Easton, which caught fire at 7:52 tonight and continued to burn two hours later.
Easton Deputy Fire Chief John Price said a woman was in the home when the fire started, but was out by the the time firefighters arrived. He said no one was injured but the fire burned so hot that the home's windows exploded.
Firefighters were sent into the building at first but were ordered out because it wasn't safe, Price said. He said it was too early to determine a cause.
Firefighters trained their hoses on the upper floors, others cut through the roof for ventilation and doused the home from their perch on an aerial ladder. A Northampton County Emergency Management Incident Command Center was established.
As flames shot out of the roof of the duplex, the block became so thick with smoke that a crowd of a few dozen watching the fire covered their noses and mouths with their shirts, and also pulled shirts over their children's heads.
It wasn't until almost 10 p.m. that flames were no longer visible from outside the home. Shortly later, Price said the fire was mostly under control but that firefighters would stay all night to guard against rekindling.
Price acknowledged problems with water pressure and hydrants. He said the issues were probably due to how much water the crews were using but also could be due to an old system in the neighborhood.
Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr., who lives on South Side, was among onlookers and was thankful no one was hurt.
"That's the most important thing. Buildings can be replaced, people can't," he said.
Desi Cotignola lives across the street and also heard a pop, which she described as sounding like a gun went off. The noise prompted Cotignola to grab her phone and run out of the house with her family.
The side of the house where the flames originated, 1074 W. Wilkes Barre St., housed a family with teenagers, Smith said. The other side was home to several generations of one family.
"Nobody should have to deal with this, but it breaks my heart when it comes to children," Smith said while standing outside the flaming house.
Both Cotignola and Smith reported speaking with a man in his 20s who lived on the third floor. They were under the impression an air conditioner exploded, but authorities didn't immediately confirm that.
Firefighters from at least three communities -- Easton, Wilson Borough and Bethlehem -- responded while Palmer Township covered Easton's Central Fire Station and Forks Township covered the College Hill station.
Reporter Colin McEvoy contributed to this story.


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This range of fixed circular needles covers the smaller and shorter needle sizes that do not appear under the Interchangeable product range. These needles feature the same advantages as all Nova needles.
Engineered from hollow brass pipes and plated with high quality nickel, its polished surface is a knitters delight.
Sharp and gradually tapered points are ideal for all knitting projects Light weight insures comfort in the hand and hours of stress free, satisfying knitting Durability of metal guarantees minimal wear and maximum life Smooth join enables easy stitch glide and no snagging A streamlined manufacturing process makes Nova needles highly affordable The exceptionally smooth surface enables the stitches to move quickly and with no resistance Resilient and flexible cords lay flat with no kink or twist easy to store Knitter's Pride Nova - the best & most affordable metal needle
We accept PayPal, checks, purchase orders and all major credit cards
Low Prices and Worldwide Free or Discounted Shipping


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If you are looking for a voice which runs the range from commanding to soothing, you have found your next voice over professional. My unique brand of articulation can relay a corporate mission statement or present children's literature. I possess a friendly, natural style of speaking which carries authority, enthusiasm and believability. I can transform the most complex and technical script into absolute clarity. My sound has been described as infectiously friendly and self-assured. Let me make your next script come to life.
English (North American), English
Canadian, French, North American
Middle Aged, Senior, Teen, Young Adult
Special Skills
Animation, Audiobooks, Business, Documentaries, Educational, Internet Video, Movie Trailers, Music, Podcasting, Telephone, Videogames
Audiobook "Where I'm Bound I Can't Tell" available on (Website hidden), (Website hidden) and ITunes
English language dub overs for foreign language programming for (Website hidden)
WMHT- Public Radio- RISE radio reading of morning paper- 1 year
Various sales and management positions in the banking/financial services industry- 13 years
Albany Devils PA announcer - less than 1 year
Guilderland/Mohonasen High School Hockey PA announcer- 1 year
Union College Women's Division 1 college hockey announcer- less than 1 year
Lt. Governor Kiwanis Clubs of Capital Division, NY District - 2 years
Head Coach/ Manager of multiple youth baseball and hockey teams (Team building, presentation skills, teaching/coaching)10 years
Professional Voice Over Training at Creative Voice Development Group, Albany, NY
Siena College, Loudonville NY, BA in Psychology with a concentration in Philosophy
Past Lt. Governor of Kiwanis Clubs of the Capital Division, NY District (public speaking experience)
Education/motivation coordinator- Capital Region Networking Group
Blue SnowBall
Computer & Software
Dell Inspiron using Audacity software
Delivery Methods
Turnaround Time
24 hours in most situations
I have had the pleasure of working with Jerry as a voice over talent dubbing Turkish TV content into English. Jerry is the consummate professional. He is punctual, focused, and willing to adapt at all times to the demands that come about in the process of getting quality voice over work done.Lauren Gold ADR Director/Engineer/Talent Scheduler at Everest Productions
I look forward to with Jerry on other projects in the future and highly recommend him
I have known Jerry Witkop for over 7 years as we were both volunteers in our local Little League organization. During that time Jerry had always been a reliable resource and brought a positive, level headed approach to much of our decision making within that organization. He was also a volunteer coach and treated his youth ballplayers and their parents with respect and in a friendly, positive manner.Bob Ghizzoni Physical Therapist at Ellis Hospital
The Guilderland Mohonasen Varsity Ice Hockey Booster Club was in need of a public address announcer for their home games for the 2011-2012. We had heard Jerry was in the process of a career change and this was something that he might be interested in. We reached out to him based on our previous experiences with him at Pine Bush Little League. Basically, he was a good person who could be trusted and make a positive contribution to our organization.
We had no idea what his announcing skills would be. We realized in a very short period of time that his skills were outstanding and our group could not be more pleased with how handled his duties as the PA Announcer. He stepped right into the role without having to be directed. He did this in a very positive and professional manner making sure he was covering the tasks we wanted but also acting independently so the other board members could handle their tasks. He wanted to make sure our needs were met at every step of the way. Jerry did a professional job for a volunteer organization and as the season progressed it was obvious to see that he enjoys and is passionate about what he is doing. The Guilderland Mohonasen Ice Hockey Booster Club wants Jerry to return to this position next year which really is a testament to the job he did.
Voice Over Clients
(Website hidden)(Everest Productions)
Bona Venture Stables
WMHT Rise morning program
Albany Devils professional hockey team
NY State Section 2 hockey
Union College Women's hockey
Author Jeremy Lee for novel "Where I'm Bound I Can't Tell"
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Alessandra Ambrosio & Irina Shayk: Peter Lindbergh Exhibition
Alessandra Ambrosio is stunning as she steps out for the Peter Lindbergh exhibition at Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld Gallery on Saturday (September 7) in New York City.
The 32-year-old supermodel was joined by fellow Victora's Secret Angels Doutzen Kroes, Irina Shayk, Karolina Kurkova, and Lindsay Ellingson.
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Alessandra Ambrosio
Personally selected from his archives, the 35 black and white prints in the exhibition span the 1980s through the present, showcasing Lindbergh's daily life as a photographer through fashion.
30+ pictures inside of Alessandra Ambrosio and other Victoria's Secret Angels at the exhibition…


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Insert DekiScript (MT4)
This article covers how to insert DekiScript in a MindTouch page.
To insert DekiScript in a page, click on the Styles drop-down within the editor and choose "DekiScript":
You'll then be presented with a DekiScript block in the page:
Place your cursor in the DekiScript block, and your DekiScript. You should not surround your DekiScript with " or " curly brackets when adding code within a DekiScript block:
After saving the page, your DekiScript will then be rendered:


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Doc Searls – The Intention Economy
Doc Searls is one of the world's most widely read bloggers, senior editor of Linux Journal, and co-author of The Cluetrain Manifesto, a pioneering work about the web's impact on consumers and organizations. He received the Google-O'Reilly Open Source Award for Best Communicator in 2005.
Searls became a fellow of the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University in 2006, where his work focuses on the power of individuals in networked markets, the need for user-centric identity technologies and standards, and the importance of these to the continued freedom and growth of the internet.
Examples of his projects at the Berkman include leading Project VRM and being a partner in the development of the iPhone Public Radio Tuner.


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FRIDAY: It's another refreshingly amazing day on tap. Highs today will top out near 80° with low humidity air. Expect sunshine to clouds later in the day. Tonight, we dip to the low 60s; another comfy night for sleeping!
FOOTBALL: Enjoy the fresh air for Friday night football! We'll see increasing clouds and slowly dropping temperatures. We hover near 70° for the game tonight.
Penn State kicks off the season against UCF in Dublin, Ireland at 8:30AM Saturday (that's 1:30PM in Ireland). It's mild and dry under partly cloudy skies. Temperatures are in the low 60s with a westerly breeze at 10-20mph. Let's Go State!
LABOR DAY WEEKEND: A warm front approaches for Saturday. This brings some added clouds and some slow to rise temperatures. Highs will hit the low to middle 80s with humidity knocking on our door. A storm or two is possible, but it's a mainly dry day. Sunday, it's mostly cloudy with a cold front approaching. The heat and humidity builds. Highs make it to the upper 80s. Showers and storms look to arrive later in the day.
For Monday, keep all your plans outdoors. It's warm, muggy, and partly cloudy. A few storms are possible, but just have a backup plan for an hour or two to dodge the rain.
BEACH WEEKEND: The forecast along the shores looks pleasant and mild. Highs are in the upper 70s Friday & near 80° Saturday. Expect low 80s for Sunday and Monday. Today, enjoy sunshine but expect more clouds Sunday into Monday. Stray storms may fire Saturday, but scattered storms are possible Sunday and Monday. It's by no means a washout of a weekend. Waves are 2-5 feet and it's a bit breezy at times. Water temps are in the middle 70s. Rip current risks fade today. Have a great trip!
NEXT WEEK: It's warm and stuffy to start the shortened work week. Highs are in the upper 80s Tuesday with storms possible late as another front moves through. We clear and dry for midweek, with middle 80s in the cards. Enjoy!
Have a fantastic Friday and a safe holiday weekend!
"There is no such thing as fun for the whole family." – Jerry Seinfeld
- Jeff Jumper, WPMT FOX43 Morning Meteorologist
Follow me on Twitter: @JeffJumperWX
Like me on Facebook: Jeff Jumper FOX43


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Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
Department Head/Assoc. Professor:
Jeff Heys, Ph.D.
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Montana State University
310 Cobleigh Hall
PO Box 173920, Bozeman , MT 59717-3920
406-994-2221 Department Email: email@example.com
Home Page: www.chbe.montana.edu
The department offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science in Chemical Engineering degree and a Master of Science degree in Environmental Engineering. The department participates in the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Engineering through the College of Engineering, with options available in Chemical Engineering and Environmental Engineering.
Admission (M.S. and Ph.D.)
Students may enter the Master of Science or Doctoral programs with a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering or other engineering or science discipline. Non-chemical engineering students wishing to pursue a master's program may require limited remedial coursework. Students may be admitted directly to the doctoral program without a master's degree.
The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering has the following minimum requirements for admission to the graduate program:
- 3.0 GPA in undergraduate program (based on A=4.0)
- GRE Scores (145 verbal, 153 quantitative)
- International Applicants: TOEFL (internet exam - 75) or IELTS score of 6.5 or higher - required for non-native speakers of English
Note: Typical scores for admitted graduate students are well above these minima.
For further information, refer to Admission Policies and Application Requirements section of the department webpage.
Deadline for consideration for Assistantships
- Fall Semester: February 1
- Spring Semester: August 1
Domestic Applicants
- Fall Semester: July 1
- Spring Semester: November 1
- Summer Semester: March 15
International Applicants
- Fall Semester: May 1
- Spring Semester: September 15
- Summer Semester: January 15
This degree involves research in transport phenomena in complex systems, materials, biofilms, biochemical transformation, biotechnology, remediation of hazardous wastes, and environmental engineering. Research topics include extremophilic bioprocessing, in situ biocatalyzed heavy metal biotransformations in natural and engineered biological systems, biomaterials, biorheology, colloidal system dynamics, durability of materials, surface interactions, membrane materials, composite materials, separations, metabolic engineering, metabolic systems analysis, biofuels processing .
Some departmental research is conducted in collaboration with the Center for Biofilm Engineering, the Thermal Biology Institute and MSU's Surface Science Program. Research also includes materials science and engineering for energy applications including: high temperature corrosion and corrosion protection, advanced physical vapor deposition (PVD) technologies, and sustainable energy.
Financial Assistance
Research and teaching assistantships and scholarships are available on either a 9-month or a 12-month basis; only MS and Ph.D. candidates are eligible.
Degree Offered
- M.S. in Chemical Engineering
- M.S. in Environmental Engineering
- Master of Engineering In Chemical Engineering
- Master of Engineering in Bioengineering
- Ph.D. in Engineering
- Ph.D. in Materials Science
Program Requirements (M.S. and Ph.D.)
The Master of Science program requires 30 credits total (including a minimum of 10 credits of ECHM 590 Master's Thesis for Plan-A option). The chemical engineering program for students from other disciplines requires appropriate background remedial coursework in addition to the previously listed requirements.
The Ph.D. program requires specific coursework, depending on the option, 60 total credits (including a minimum of 18 thesis credits).
Doctoral candidates will register for dissertation research in one of the five departments offering the above options. Course requirements for the Engineering Ph.D. include completion of 2 credits of ENGR 610 Rsch & Mthds in Engineering , two courses in Mathematical systems, a minimum of eighteen (18) credits of doctoral dissertation, and other courses chosen to support the proposed doctoral program that are approved by the candidate's committee. All doctoral candidates will be required to pass three examinations: a Ph.D. Qualifying Examination taken during the first year of the student's doctoral program, a Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination taken within two years of qualifying for the doctoral program, and a Ph.D. Dissertation Defense. Students are expected to be familiar with the individual program degree requirements as well as those of The Graduate School.


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I only managed to make one dress whilst on holiday, I had to pack up my machine in between sewing and decided it was too much effort so had a snooze on the sofa instead. I did buy some amazing fabric though, well worth getting wet for. I seemed to find every loose paving slab whilst hunting down the fabric shop and ended up getting soaked from both ends :( I have also found the cutest fabric to make the Emery I am going to wear to the Christine Haynes meet and greet next month, can't wait to get it washed and made up, I want to try and keep it a surprise but am terrible and find it really hard not to share stuff I am excited about. Worst secret keeper ever!
Day 19 / Day 20 / Day 21
Day 22 / Day 23am / Day 23pm
Day 24 / Day 25 / Day 26am


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Acer Aspire 1825PT 11.6in touchscreen notebook
At last, a Tablet PC done right?
More of a problem, however, is the angle of visibility of the LCD screen itself. While the left-right angle is acceptably wide, the top-down angle remains narrow. This might not have been a problem if it wasn't for the fact that, once swivelled into tablet mode, the computer is likely to be used in portrait orientation. In this mode, even the slightest tilt left and right causes the screen image to turn very dark or very pale.
That said, since Acer seems to have nailed the left-right angle, you could rotate the screen horizontally around its pivot just a little and use the notebook to deliver close-quarter presentations. Colleagues and customers will feel much more comfortable sitting next to you rather than have to huddle in to your shoulder in order to view the screen.
On that note, the glossy display is bright, beautifully clear and satisfyingly contrasty. Acer should be congratulated on cramming a decent widescreen resolution into such a compact area. The built-in stereo speakers are not particularly loud but they wouldn't need to be.
Despite the compact design of the Aspire 1825PT, it still manages to find space for some essential I/O ports, including external VGA, three USB and - oh joy! - HDMI. Unfortunately, the one thing that's missing is potentially the most annoying in its absence: a CD/DVD drive.


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Our last two stops in China! The contrast between the two could not have been bigger as you will see below.
Let's start at the beginning: After 4 days in Yangshuo we headed for Guilin, a town not too far away. We used most of our time there to make plans for the following weeks, stroll around the lakes and watch groups of elderly people dance and do tai chi. We also booked a driver to bring us to the Longji rice terraces for a day. The area was beautiful and we ended up doing a 6 hour walk (with a 1,5 hour detour ;)) along the rice fields. Great day!
After a 9,5 hour train ride (our last!!) we arrived in Shanghai, our final destination in China. Since it was the Golden Week, when everyone in China has their holidays, we had set our expectations low in terms of what we would be able to see and do in two days. Turns out we were right: people everywhere! We still managed to see the Shanghai museum, the Urban Planning Center, the Bund and much more :). Overall a fitting ending to our amazing time in China.


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It's the last day of the year and there are an estimated one million people in New York City just to ring in the New Year in Times Square.
For the rest of us, there's plenty to watch on TV. Ryan Seacrest will host "Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve," which is in its 41st year, by himself for the first time. The always entertaining Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin will also be keeping things lively in Times Square. The two have already been laughing about their past antics — which included Griffin trying to undress Cooper, stripping down to her bra, and cursing. Below, see what to watch on New Year's Eve.
New Year's Eve 2012 On TV


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A £37.5bn plan to run and expand the railways in the period 2014-19 was unveiled by Network Rail (NR).
If approved, the plan will provide 170,000 extra commuter seats at peak times by 2019, by which time the railways could be carrying as many as 225 million more passengers than at present.
But despite the big investment plans, NR envisages no overall improvement in train punctuality compared with the trains-on-time target for 2009-2014.
A figure of 92.5 per cent punctuality was set for the period 2009-2014 – a target which NR has failed to meet.
In today's business plan, the company said it expected to achieve a trains-on-time figure of 92.5 per cent "by the end" of the period 2014-2019.
NR also warned that even with the extra trains and seats this would "not be enough" on the busy West Coast Main Line where the added capacity of the London to Birmingham HS2 high-speed rail line project was, it said, "essential".
And NR chief executive Sir David Higgins added, ominously, that the industry, under pressure to cut costs, had entered "the era of trade-offs".
He went on: "Increasingly we have to balance the need to build more infrastructure, run trains on time and cut costs, and in many areas choices will need to be made."
The NR plans come at a time of passenger anger at the above-inflation 4.2 per cent season ticket average fare rises this month.
Publication of the high salaries and attractive bonuses of some of the bosses of the train operators' parent companies has also done little to assuage commuter ire.
To be agreed with and approved by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR), the NR plan envisages improvements that by 2019 will:
:: See 225 million more passengers per year travelling and 355,000 more trains in service – the highest numbers ever;
:: Provide 20 per cent extra morning peak seats into central London and 32 per cent into large regional cities in England and Wales;
:: Provide 700 more trains a day linking key northern cities and a 10-minute reduction in journey time between Manchester and Leeds;
:: See 30 per cent more freight being carried than today;
:: Cut CO2 emissions per passenger by 37 per cent and reduce risk at level crossings by 8 per cent;
:: Plan a move away from more than 800 signal boxes to 14 major operations centres;
:: Reduce the cost of running Britain's railways by a further 18 per cent and cut annual public subsidy to between £2.6bn and £2.9bn in 2019 – down from £4.5bn in 2009 and £7bn in 2004.
Projects include various electrification schemes, including the Great Western and Midland Main Lines, station improvements at Birmingham New Street and Reading in Berkshire, and reopening 31 miles of railways in Scotland closed under the Beeching cuts of 50 years ago.
Sir David said: "One million more trains run every year than 10 years ago, more passengers arrive on time than ever before, our safety record is one of the best in Europe and, despite the daily challenges we face, customer satisfaction is at record levels.
"Successive governments have made this possible by looking beyond the short term and recognising the critical importance of the railway to Britain's future."
Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport union, said: "While we support any plans to expand and invest in Britain's railways, you cannot seriously expect to safely increase capacity while at the same time the government is looking to axe key frontline staff on trains, track and stations.
"Those cuts to safety-critical staff are right at the core of Sir Roy McNulty's government rail review and we repeat our call for his plans to be stopped in light of the surge in demand for rail services identified by Network Rail."
He went on: "If the government press on with the jobs cuts plans, they will simply be cramming more and more people into an overcrowded and unreliable service where safety is compromised and the profits of the private train operators are prioritised. That is simply a recipe for disaster."
Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) chief executive Richard Price said: "Ministers have shown huge faith in what the railways can add to Britain's society and economy, committing to around £20bn-worth of public money at a time when there is little money to go around.
"Key to maintaining rail's success will be openly justifying this significant commitment of public money. Taxpayers significantly fund the railways, and have every right see where this money is being spent."
He added that the NR plan "demonstrates the company's ambition to deliver an even better railway for Britain".
Price continued: "ORR will now scrutinise the plan on behalf of rail users and taxpayers to ensure every penny is made to count and that all those involved in delivering the plan work together to achieve the highest levels of efficiency and best possible value for money.
"Our analysis, informed by public views, will focus on ensuring NR delivers the right plans, in the right ways, at the right cost."
Michael Roberts, chief executive of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said: "We aim to build on today's near record levels of customer satisfaction by combining the best of the public and private sectors to provide newer trains, quicker journeys and more seats.
"Early clarity from government on the franchising and regulatory framework for rail will be vital in allowing train companies, Network Rail and our suppliers to deliver the best possible deal for passengers and taxpayers."
Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA rail union, warned ministers against big annual fare hikes to pay for rail expansion.
He said: "We obviously back rail investment to improve the service but passengers have already suffered enough pain with a decade of annual inflation-plus fare increases.
"They should not now be expected to face another six years of even higher fares. No one expects motorists to pay more for new roads or air passengers to pay for new runways. Well rail passengers should not be singled out to pay for new lines.
"They have been persecuted enough already."
Anthony Smith, chief executive of rail customer watchdog Passenger Focus, said: "Passengers will welcome the fact that Network Rail and train companies are working together on a plan to deliver passenger and government priorities – more trains on time, and more seats.
"Our research shows that the three clear priorities for passengers are value for money, reliability and the ability to find a seat.
"This work must be passenger-focused in the planning and delivery. Improvements in satisfaction are welcome, but we would like to see an earlier date for setting a satisfaction target.
"We are interested to see how all this will be paid for. Passengers already put in roughly £2 for every pound spent by the taxpayer.
"It is critical that industry tackles its value-for-money offering, reducing costs without cutting services, to head off another five years of above-inflation fare increases."


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MLB Opening Day: Nick Lachey & More Excited For Baseball Season
Play ball! America's Pastime returned on March 31, and the big day has Hollywood buzzing! From stars like Nick and Andy rooting for their favorite teams to big baseball stars celebrating the start of the season, Opening Day is all anyone can talk about!
Spring is officially here. We know because baseball is back — Opening Day is today, March 31, and it's clearly got everyone in a cheery mood and waving goodbye to winter. It's been a long, cold off-season, but now big stars like Nick Lachey, Andy Cohen, and Matthew Morrison are officially hitting baseball stadiums across the nation to root for their favorite teams. See all the celebrity Opening Day tweets below!
Nick Lachey, Andy Cohen & More Stars Celebrate Baseball's Opening Day
Happy Opening Day Cincinnati!! It's gonna be a perfect day down at GAB. Bummed i can't be there, missing my first one in 10 years!! #Reds
— Nick Lachey (@NickLachey) March 31, 2014
Happy Opening Day! Go @Cardinals!
— Andy Cohen (@Andy) March 31, 2014
Happy Opening Day! #CardinalNation pic.twitter.com/vlx6ZLMt5c — Andy Cohen (@Andy) March 31, 2014
Happy Opening Day MLB!! #Let'sGoMets! — Matthew Morrison (@Matt_Morrison) March 31, 2014
Opening day, enough said. #Rangers — Curtis Grimes (@CurtisGrimes) March 31, 2014
Opening day! #tigers who are you rooting for today? http://t.co/J2q7YWW0yz — Ginger Zee (@Ginger_Zee) March 31, 2014
Finally! #openingday pic.twitter.com/Wo6JPrcRvi — Kyle Park (@kyle_park) March 31, 2014
Happy Opening Day #MLB fans! #Rangers http://t.co/BrozeeGmAT — Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) March 31, 2014
Happy Opening Day!
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) March 31, 2014
Good luck to the @pirates as they open their 2014 season today! #letsgobucs #openingday
— Mario Lemieux (@MarioLemieuxFdn) March 31, 2014
Who knew Andy Cohen was such a baseball fanatic?
Opening Day: Bryce Harper & More Baseball Players Tweet
And then of course there were a handful of sexy baseball studs who were super excited to get back out on the field:
Who's ready for #OpeningDay !!#Angels
— Mike Trout (@Trouty20) March 31, 2014
No one should have a case of the Mondays today! It's Opening Day babyyyy
— Giancarlo Stanton (@Giancarlo818) March 31, 2014
Who's ready for some baseball? Opening Day is finally here! Things just got real! Let's go big kid!! #MLB pic.twitter.com/3ulks9kwvT — Bryce Harper (@Bharper3407) March 31, 2014
Ahh, it's just going to be so nice to be able to go slam a hot dog and hear the crack of the bat again! So HollywoodLifers, how excited are YOU for Opening Day? Let us know!
— Andrew Gruttadaro


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The African Boerboel is a breed of large stature. It is sturdy built and well defined. The males and females of the breed are easily distinguished between with the females being notably smaller and more delicate in features.
The appearance of an African Boerboel starts with the square shaped head with a thick muzzle. The overall head is quite large with a flat skull and high set wedge shaped ears that fold. The eyes are always a brown that coordinates with the color of the coat. The area around the eyes is dark in color regardless of the coat color. This breed often has a mask that cover the muzzle and top lip, but it is not always present.
The African Boerboel has an arched neck that is really strong in appearance, as are the shoulders. The chest is deep and broad. The legs in front are straight and back legs are slightly bent, both with well padded feet. The tail is often docked, but when in natural form is long and curves slightly up. The African Boerboel moves purposefully and athletically.
The African Boerboel has a short coat that is rough in texture. It is a simple coat that has no frills or fluff.
The African Boerboel came from Africa. It is a mix of several breeds and is considered a Mastiff. Breeding and natural selection have made them into a hardy dog breed. They are found all over the world today, but must be thoroughly checked to be registered with the African Boerboel Breeders Association.
The African Boerboel is a wonderful watchdog. It will come across as quite fierce and aggressive to a stranger with its loud bark and huge size. However, they quickly learn who to trust and who not to trust and will be quite friendly with those they trust. They must be kept well contained with a sturdy fence that can hold their massive strength.
As a family member, the African Boerboel is a great friend. He will show affection to family members and become very attached. This breed loves to play and will often bounce around with the energy of a smaller breed. However, they have a higher level of tolerance for rough play than smaller dogs, so they are great with children. To make them even more perfect as a family dog, they understand the need to be gentle with children and will treat them with a nice, easy manner. They are also quite good with other animals. The main key to a well behaved and friendly African Boerboel is training them to learn between friend and foe.
The African Boerboel is well bred which means that health problems are not very prevalent in the breed as a whole. Breeding is aided by the fact that these dogs come from a background that highly lacked health care, so through natural selection the healthiest of the breed survived and were used to breed. So, this breed rarely suffers from fatal or serious health problems.
There are two conditions that an African Boerboel may suffer from. Both are treatable and easily detected. Vaginal hyperplasia only occurs in females and is a genetic condition. Hip dysplasia is a common canine problem, especially with large or active dogs and is environmental in nature, although early x-rays can spot signs so the condition can be treated before it causes any health issues for the dog.
The African Boerboel is easy to groom. The coat requires only regular brushing to remove dead hair and keep the skin healthy. A grooming mitt can be used for super easy care. Regular dental care is important. The teeth can be brushed with a finger sleeve. The African Boerboel should be bathed when needed, but over bathing can cause problems with dry skin. The nails also need to be kept trimmed.
The African Boerboel really does not require a large amount of exercise because they will generally exercise themselves. They just need a nice fenced in yard to play in and so they can run. They will be especially active when they have other dogs or people to play with. The African Boerboel loves to play games like fetch. They will chase and fetch for hours if they can. They also love to travel, but you better have a large vehicle as they need a lot of room. They can be a wonderful walking or jogging partner. They are quite well behaved when taken to play. As the dog ages it may be necessary to initiate more exercise as they tend to become less active on their own and may gain weight.
The African Boerboel is quite smart and learns well. This dog is going to want to learn. They may often try to be in control, so it is important to establish dominance right away in training. Firm and consistent training is important to keep the dog focused. Maintaining control can not be stressed enough. This dog is huge and can easily become too much to handle, which is only another reason that training is super important.
The African Boerboel needs to be taught to obey and behave. They have to be taught socialization early. Sometimes it is best to hire a professional who has experience working with large dog breeds as this may be easier to get the training complete.
Training should be a combination of exercise and work. This helps the dog stay focused and helps him enjoy the process much more.


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These are great times.
These are great times.
Terrorist web sites are fighting among themselves.
Thats the beginning of the end,
One would think they might launch an attack
against the offending sites.
All of the terrorist sites are penetrated.
Even our moles are on them.
Are back up, they were taken down
around 911.
We wrote about it the day before.
They are back up, but useless.
They have posted an letter of apology
of sorts.
The number of active terrorist sites
are way down, and much eaiser
to monitor.
Security on all the terrorist sites
is sloppy and fighting among themselves
reflects how Islam is turning against them.
They said that the al-ekhlaas sites/forums
are run by Intelligence agencys.
So the terrorist should avoid all terrorism
al-ekhlaas has posted some propaganda
on their site.
Here is the Google translation.
In the name of God the Merciful
A letter from your brothers in the management of a network of Islamic devotionWe have withdrawn last year, the Web site fidelity Islamic beloved to prevent the Crusaders from the entry and tampered with. According to the direct orders we have received has retrospect site on the anniversary of the attacks glorious
But unfortunately because of poor cooperation between the Global Islamic Media Front and Fajr Media Center has resulted in an ugly slander against our beloved
Remain without prejudice to the integrity of our site, and you invite us dogs who spies you have to ask yourself, and you're not inmates of prisons and how one of you can walk freely?
Can not be guaranteed the honor of Dawn Center for Media and the Global Islamic Media Front, because they chose to act without reason and without direct approval by the leaders and opened a campaign against our beloved
So make sure the honor and integrity of the Dawn Center for Media and the Global Islamic Media Front, the network of Islamic sincerity will be hidden again, but is willing to call for the brothers, urging them to expel the crusaders from our
Do not forget us in your good prayers
Your brothers in the management of a network of Islamic devotion
The terrorists are becoming afraid of the net.
All terrorist sites are dangerous for the terrorist.
We are watching, waiting, and will act against them.
Tactical Internet Systems analyst.
Labels: These are great times.
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text: Michael B. Yeager, 77, 1280 Palmetto Road, Mount Dora, died Sunday. Born in Senecaville, Ohio, he moved to Mount Dora from Jefferson, Ohio, in 1983. He was a retired school maintenance supervisor and a member of the First United Methodist Church of Tavares. He was a Mason and a member of the Order of Eastern Star. Survivors: wife, Evelyn L.; son, Kent, Parma, Ohio; daughter, Joyce Stackhouse, Bethlehem, Pa.; sisters, Loretta Anderson and Rosetta Adams, both of Orwell, Ohio; five grandchildren. Rehbaum-Harden Funeral Home, Mount Dora.


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Light and Bright Beef Stew with Shiitake Crisps
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Author Notes: All too often beef stew is a stodgy affair, dull on the palate and heavy in the stomach. I wanted to create a beef stew that would be lively and light, full of satisfying umami flavors, and very beefy. Use a good red wine that's not too tannic, and the best beef you can find. I owe the idea for the shiitake crisps to Fine Cooking magazine, although I've tweaked their recipe. You'll see, they taste amazingly like bacon! —Abra Bennett
Serves: 4-6
For The Stew
bottle red wine, preferably Côtes du Rhône
cup beef broth
medium onion, chopped
large cloves garlic, chopped
teaspoons dried bouquet garni herb mix
pound shiitake mushrooms
large carrot, finely diced
ounces guanciale or pancetta, cubed
tablespoons fruity olive oil
pounds cubed well-marbled beef, preferably chuck
cup sundried tomatoes in oil
tablespoons butter
salt and pepper to taste
For The Shiitake Crisps
half of the sliced shiitakes from making the stew
tablespoons fruity olive oil
teaspoon salt
teaspoon dried thyme
- Pour the entire bottle of wine into a heavy pot, the one in which you will cook the stew. Add the beef broth, onion, garlic, and carrot.
- Remove the stems from the shiitakes and set the mushroom caps aside. Place the stems on a square of cheesecloth, add the bouquet garni, and tie into a tight bundle with kitchen twine. Place the bundle into the pot with the wine, bring to a boil, then let simmer gently for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat under the pot.
- Salt and pepper the beef liberally. In a heavy skillet, heat 1 T of the olive oil, add the guanciale or pancetta and sauté until golden. Remove from skillet and drop the meat into the pot containing the wine mixture. Using the remaining 2 T olive oil as necessary, brown the beef in batches, being careful not to crowd the meat in the pan. You want the beef to be really brown on all sides, almost chocolate colored - for best results, don't use a nonstick pan. As each cube of beef is browned remove it from the skillet and drop it into the pot containing the wine mixture. When all the beef is soaking in the wine, cover the pot and let it all marinate for 1 hour (no heat at this point!).
- Slice the shiitake caps into 1/4" slices. Half of the slices will go into the stew itself, the other half will be for making the shiitake crisps.
- To make the crisps, preheat the oven to 375° Place a Silpat on a cookie sheet, or use a nonstick sheet pan. Drizzle the shiitake slices with 2 T olive oil and sprinkle them with the salt and thyme. With your hands, toss it all together to thoroughly coat the mushrooms. Place in the hot oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, tossing and turning them occasionally, until they are crisp and brown. Set aside on paper towels to drain and dry.
- After the beef has marinated for 1 hour, remove the cheesecloth bundle, squeezing it well into the pot to extract all of the mushroom juices. Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce to a steady simmer. Cover and simmer for 1 hour. Add the other half of the sliced shiitakes and the sundried tomatoes and simmer for another 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until fork tender. Just before serving add the butter and stir well until the butter is melted and the sauce is shiny. Taste for salt and pepper and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Serve with mashed potatoes or polenta, and a dark green vegetable like spinach or kale.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Beef Stew
More Great Recipes:
Beef|Stew|Make Ahead


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Graham Attwell, Michael Prilla,Oliver Blunk and Jenny Bimrose (2018). Places and Spaces – Facilitating Professional Learning and Identity Transformation in European Public Employment Services. Proceedings of European Conference on Educational Research. Bolzano.
Karl-Falco Storm, Daniel Eckardt, Meng Zhang, Jörg Grieser, Michael Prilla and Andreas Rausch (2018). Long-Term Environment Prediction for Model Predictive Control in Vehicles: Pattern Recognition upon Primitive Driving Behavior and Driver Condition. ADAPTIVE 2018, The Tenth International Conference on Adaptive and Self-Adaptive Systems and Applications., 84–92.
Lisa M. Rühmann, Michael Prilla and Gordon Brown (2018). Cooperative Mixed Reality: An Analysis Tool. In: Proceedings of the 2018 ACM Conference on Supporting Groupwork. ACM, New York, NY, USA, pp. 107–111. doi:10.1145/3148330.3154510
Christian Stary (eds.), Mark Ackerman, Michael Prilla, Sean Goggins, and Thomas Herrmann. 2017. Designing Healthcare That Works: A Sociotechnical Approach. Academic Press.
Michael Prilla and Thomas Hermann. 2017. Challenges for Socio-technical Design in Health Care: Lessons Learned From Designing Reflection Support. In Designing Healtcare That Works: A Sociotechnical Approach, Christian Stary (eds.), Mark Ackerman, Michael Prilla, Sean Goggins, and Thomas Herrmann. Elsevier, 149–166.
Oliver Blunk and Michael Prilla. "Supporting Communities of Practice in Public Administrations: Factors Influencing Adoption and Readiness." In Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Communities and Technologies, 36–45. C&T '17. New York, NY, USA: ACM, 2017. doi:10.1145/3083671.3083699
Oliver Blunk and Michael Prilla. 2017. Prompting to Support Reflection: A Workplace Study. Data Driven Approaches in Digital Education, Springer, Cham, 367–372. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-66610-5_28
Angela Fessl, Oliver Blunk, Michael Prilla, and Viktoria Pammer. 2016. The known Universe of Reflection Guidance: A Literature Review. International Journal of Technolgy Enhanced Learning (IJ℡).
Bettina Renner, Michael Prilla, Ulrike Cress, and Joachim Kimmerle. 2016. Effects of prompting in reflective learning tools: Findings from experimental field, lab, and online studies. Frontiers in Psychology, section Organizational Psychology.
Oliver Blunk, Michael Prilla, and Graham Attwell. "Reflection Analytics in Online Communities: Guiding Users to Become Active in Collaborative Reflection." In Proceedings of the 6th Workshop on Awareness and Reflection in Technology Enhanced Learning In Conjunction with the 11th European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning: Adaptive and Adaptable Learning (EC-TEL 2016), edited by Milos Kravcik, Alexander Mikroyannidis, Viktoria Pammer, Michael Prilla, and Thomas Daniel Ullmann, 27–33. Lyon, France, 2016.
Graham Attwell, Andreas Schmidt, Christine Kunzmann, Teresa Schäfer, Michael Prilla, Oliver Blunk, Markus Jelonek, and Cyril Reynard. 2016. Workplace Learning Analytics for Facilitation in European Public Employment Services. In Learning Analytics for Workplace and Professional Learning (LA for Work). Workshop Collocated with the Learning Analytics and Knowledge Conference (LAK 2016) University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh.
Heinrich Recken and Michael Prilla. 2016. Pflege mit Durchblick. EHEALTHCOM: 46–47.
Markus Jelonek, and Michael Prilla. 2016. Motivational Aspects of Using Augmented Reality Glasses in Care. Mensch und Computer 2016–Workshopband.
Michael Prilla, Thomas Herrmann, and Michael Ksoll. 2016. CareGlasses: Supporting Collaboration between formal and informal care givers with Augmented Reality. In Workshop on Interactive Systems in Healthcare (WISH 2016) at the ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing (CHI 2016).
Viktoria Pammer, Birgit Krogstie, and Michael Prilla. 2016. Let's Talk About Reflection at Work. International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning (IJ℡).
Best Poster Award EC-TEL 2015:
For their submission Michael Prilla and Oliver Blunk received "Reflective TEL: Augmenting Learning Tools with Reflection Support" den Best Poster Award der European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning (ECTEL 2015).
Cover Story in CACM November 2013:
Michael Prilla has co-authored an article on "Technologies for Caring for People with Dementia" with colleagues from the MIRROR project, which has been chosen to be the cover story of CACM 11/2013. The article covers our work on the Talk Reflection App in combination with other apps from the project. Thanks to the other authors of this paper and to the IMTM MIRROR people for this achievement. You can view the article at cacm.acm.org.


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Ellie is your average girl. Until her dad becomes One...
The scars that cut the deepest
- by Directioner4eternity
- Rating:
- Published: 1 Oct 2012
- Updated: 14 Dec 2012
- Status: In Progress
Rowan has a cousin who happens to be in One Direction. When Zayn introduces her to Niall invisible sparks fly but does he feel the same way about her? They find themselves in unbelievable situations and its up to the boys to keep the girls out of harms way.
Join MovellasFind out what all the buzz is about. Join now to start sharing your creativity and passion
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Federal Perkins Loan Program
A Perkins loan is a low interest (5%) loan for both undergraduate and graduate students with exceptional financial need. Federal Perkins loans are made through a school's financial aid office. The school is the lender and the loan is made with government funds. Repayment begins nine months after the student graduates, leaves school or drops below part-time status. The nine-month delay of repayment is called the grace period. You have ten years to repay the loan, excluding periods of deferment or forbearance, during which time payments are suspended. For more information on Perkins loans contact your school's financial aid office.


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Kids In Nature; Why It Matters
Bill Bryson's A Walk In the Woods, and Robert Frost's iconic poem "The Road Not Taken" are exemplars of a lonstanding tradition and appreciation for the restorative powers of nature and humans' deep conection to the natural environment. New studies, book authors and child psychologists are also asserting that this connection has psychological and developmental influence on children that are far deeper and more lasting in impact than the mere enjoyment of lesuire time outside. Outdoor experience, exploration and play engages the child and fosters critical experiences in learning and psychological development. It also broadens a child's perspective and their understanding of the world.
"kids today are becoming more and more removed from nature, at the expense of their own psychological and physical well being"
Lauren Knight writes in a new Washington Post article about the impact of nature on children and she offers a list as a parent's guide to engaging in experiences in nature. Her list includes:
- Inspire curiosity by being curious yourself
- Simply be in nature with no other distractions
- Limit electronic devices while commuting
- Seek out natural, untouched spaces and return often
- Make time for unstructured outdoor play
- Stop thinking about nature time as leisure time
- Read about nature with your child
- Plant a small garden
- Look at the stars
- Get organized
"Children who spend more time in nature develop better motor fitness and coordination, especially in balance and agility. And the benefits of the mind are not to be overlooked..."
Read the details of each guideline for parents (including a great reading list) in the Washingtopn Post article
Photosgraphs of "Milo and Oliver at the river" & " Milo at Graveyard Fields in North Carolina" by Lauren Knight


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The idea for TRYME originated December 2009 and was primarily about designing MMA wear for women. So we started by developing an MMA shorts´ cut for women, taking the classic design and changing little details to fit the female body.
So far, we are still a very young and small company but step by step we are going to provide a greater range of MMA wear and equipment focussing on fabric quality, comfort and design.


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This is a warning to everyone that has received a letter from De-Lotto North American Sweepstakes Lottery On Shoppers. A letter that was mailed to me claimed I won $125,000 in a sweepstakes lottery. It included a check for $4,875 that I would deposit and then requires that I wire $2,875 to a "tax collector" to receive the rest of my winnings.
First of all, I have never entered a contest with this company and it is pretty obvious that it was fake. The envelope had with no return address with a stamp from Canada and the letter itself had an address based in Ontario, Canada. The letter was typed unprofessionally with many typos and errors. An authentic company would be able to deduct taxes from winnings without intervention by the user. In addition, when I looked into the light, I could tell that the check is actually a PICTURE of a check on printer paper.
I went to my bank to inform them about the scam and found out that hundreds of people in the area got the same thing. If you search "De-Lotto North American Sweepstakes Lottery On Shoppers" on search engines, you will see a whole lot of pages that show that this is not a legitimate company, but a SCAM aimed at stealing your hard earned money. BE WARNED.


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Best Buy Accidentally Sold Metro Last Light For One Cent
I don't remember when exactly, as I have a terrible memory, but Nvidia recently announced they would be giving away copies of Metro Last Light with the purchase of one of three different video cards. Best Buy pulled an "oops" though and put the free game in their regular marketplace for one penny. I assumed the one penny was meant as a regular credit check because the game itself was labeled as "free", with the purchase of a video card obviously.
After Best Buy was notified of the error, they started to cancel the orders. I find it hilarious how upset people have gotten over the fact that their orders got cancelled. The price was an obvious error. Best Buy's Facebook comments blew up with angry "customers". I quote that because they aren't really customers. Anybody that complains about not being able to basically rip-off a company is not a customer in my opinion.
Of course I snagged my copy, before going to Best Buy's Facebook page and reporting the error. Why? Why would I do such a thing? What an a-hole! Well, because I'm an honest person. "But you got the game for a penny!" I imagine you retorting in anger. Of course I did. It was an honest error, and I paid an honest penny for it. Was I trying to stop others from getting the same deal? No. Not at all. Before I reported it I had already shared it with friends and the public who view my personal Facebook gaming page. I'm sure thousands of people got their copy for a penny. There was plenty of time to purchase this obviously wrongly priced product. You have no right to be angry that you didn't get your order fulfilled in my opinion. And no, I would not be crying if I didn't get the game myself. I would think "dang I missed out", but I wouldn't scream and shout and demand my game for a penny or even a refund for that matter, that's for sure.
People are demanding Best Buy to honor their mistake because "Razer did in the past!" The difference is, Razer was already offering a discount, they just made the discount higher than they meant to. So I doubt they really cared that much. Yes, it was an obvious mistake, but in that case they were going to sell the product cheaper in the first place.


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You can return and exchange items at one of our 60+ store locations, or return items to us by mail.


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According to our web stats, if you are a reader of this site, there is a 96% chance you're using a Microsoft OS. So you know as well as I do that love 'em or hate 'em, Microsoft is still the best choice for most people to have on their desktop PC's right now.
Microsoft does more than just operating systems of course, and this is where they have to work even harder to win customers over. Some Microsoft products have been famously bad, while others have been very good. Some of Microsoft's initiatives are simply taken for granted, which is why I decided to do a writeup on what I think are some of the best and worst product in the infamous company's history.
#5 Best: Microsoft Streets & Trips
This is one that most people take for granted, now that we have Google Maps to do quick address searches online. But before Google Maps, our online choices were AOL's MapQuest and Yahoo! Maps. A few years ago, those sites offered decent functionality and served well for basically looking up addresses and sometimes get directions. But Microsoft's Streets & Trips was much more robust, giving multiple destination routes, multiple route choices (set based on speed or distance – sometimes the most direct route isn't the quickest). The routes were also highly customizable; simply drag the route line to wherever you like, and it will make the adjustments for you. You could set your car's fuel economy stats, and the program will tell you when you should stop for gas on long trips.
On top of all that, it was compatible with Pocket PC devices, so you could take it with you on the road, back when portable internet connection was somewhat rare.
Many of these features are still unavailable on the internet based maps programs, so Streets & Trips is still worth looking at. It was probably one of the MS products I used most besides Windows.
- More Info
- Buy it for around $100
#5 Worst: Internet Explorer 6
IE6 almost lead to the downfall of Microsoft, but that's not why it's one of their worst products ever. IE6 is quite possibly the least secure product that is so widely used; almost every week there are new security holes being fixed. Because of this, Internet Explorer saw its overall market share drop from about 82% down to 49% in the past year alone. We should mention however, that the browser is a huge target for hackers to begin with. Microsoft has to accept some blame though, for making it so easy for hackers to pick their browser apart so easily. IE6 is easily one of the top 5 worst Microsoft products ever, and that's not even taking into account the issues with compatibility with web standards.
- More Info
#4 Best: Verdana Font
You're looking at it right now. Verdana was created in 1996, but really didn't come into its own until people started using higher resolution. Verdana is a very easy to read font at smaller sizes, making it perfect for websites that are mostly content driven. I like this font so much, I have taken to using it in my emails, online chats, and printed documents. Despite how suitable Verdana is for smaller font sizes, it stands out even more at larger sizes. Verdana is a very robust font, and one of Microsoft's most overlooked products.
#4 Worst: Live Search
Microsoft's competitor to Google left beta in September of last year, but you wouldn't know it if you ever tried to use it. Although the search results aren't nearly as bad as they were during beta, there is just no compelling reason to switch to Live from Google.
One annoying thing I just came across now (as I wanted to test out Live Search a bit while doing research for this article) is that a search result's URL is not given as a direct link. Instead, you get a link that forwards from Live.com to the site itself… Just one of the many annoyances that make me wonder if Live Search really is out of beta.
#3 Best: Windows TweakUI
This was a small download hidden within the depths of Microsoft's website, and sometimes showed up on Windows install discs. It is basically a small user interface application that allows you to tweak various Windows settings without having to dig through the registry. Whenever I install a copy of Windows (and going back to Windows 95, this was a LOT), the first task is always to go through TweakUI and change the settings to how Windows SHOULD be.
Some of the best tweaks are setting the Start Menu to load instantly on mouse hover (called Menu Speed), as opposed to waiting 0.5 seconds (or clicking) to browse. I also always made sure to disable "detect accidental double-clicks" which is what causes that annoying delay when you click text forms in IE (back when it was the only really compatible choice). Other little tweaks are there to allow you to make Windows look the way you want it to; disable the "Shortcut to:" text that is added when you make a shortcut, or set an automatic login if you need to. At one time, all the AutoPlay settings (when you insert media) were only found within TweakUI as well, so some of the settings have found their way into Window's normal Control Panel.
TweakUI is now a part of PowerToys for Windows XP. I don't think they have a version for Vista yet, although Vista is highly tweakable to begin with. Still, I really would like to disable the Start Menu delay…
- More Info
#3 Worst: MSN Smart Watch
A few years ago, they were giving these away at CES to anyone who would take them… Back then it seemed like more of a tech demo of SPOT technology than an actual product. But sure enough, several watch manufacturers signed up, and to this day you can actually buy a watch that will tell you the weather (as if looking out the window is that hard) or tell you the score of the hockey game while you're at that tedious wedding dinner (in case you are somehow unable to sign up to an SMS service with your phone). The technology (which is based on FM, not WiFi or GPRS) is pretty cool, but the products are definitely not. If they opened the technology a bit, I think some creative people could do great things with it.
- More Info
#2 Best: Windows Media Player 11
As much as I hated WMP9, I became a big fan of WMP10. But then I installed Vista and got to try out Windows Media Player 11. Wow.
The new graphics-based listing is absolutely perfect, and allows you to sort through even the largest music collections with ease. CD covers are 'stacked' to represent a pile of CD's sorted any way you wish; via artist, genre, or year of release. The wheel-based search makes it even better, as results are shown as you type in a search phrase.
Media Sharing is another nice feature, and allows videos, music, and pictures to be easily shared across a network to PCs and even the XBOX 360 without the need to jump through hoops to allow access to the other devices.
#2 Worst: Microsoft Bob
This is almost too easy… Even if you don't recall ever using Bob, you would probably recognize the name and the stupid smiley face logo anywhere. I'm not sure whose idea it was, but possibly because the product manager was Bill Gates' girlfriend, nobody wanted to say that it was a stupid idea to turn the Windows interface into a cartoon. That's right, Bob was intended to be the new interface for Program Manager. Instead of boring old windows and icons, you would be able to explore cartoon Bob's cartoon living room, with help from his dog, Rover. If you're unfamiliar, it truly was as stupid as it sounds.
#1 Best: XBOX 360
Despite the venom I spat in the direction of the Elite Edition yesterday, the XBOX 360 is a pretty damn good gaming system. Ask any game developer, and they will tell you that the 360 is the better platform to develop on, so any multiplatform game will be native on the 360 and ported to the rest. Graphics will be better, and it has by far the best game library of the 3 newest consoles today.
I won't turn this into another XBOX 360 vs. PS3 debate, but the fact remains that the XBOX 360 is a very good gaming system, a pretty decent multimedia system, and easily Microsoft's best product to date.
- More Info
- Buy an XBOX 360 Premium console for about $288
#1 Worst: Windows Millennium Edition
Do I even need to explain? Easily the most maligned version of Windows since the first few versions, there was really no need for anyone to ever use Windows ME. It didn't offer much over Windows 98SE, except the (admittedly pretty useful) System Restore function. Aside from that, WinME was packed with bugs, incompatibilities, and a general feeling of overall shittyness.
Honorable Mentions:
- Sidewinder Freestyle Pro – Before the Wii Remote and the Sony SixAxis, there was the Freestlye Pro, the first motion-sensing controller from a major manufacturer. Unfortunately, it wasn't very precise at all, and most games were unplayable with it. Still, it gets points for being innovative
- MSN Messenger (now Live Messenger)- Sure it's a bloated ad-infested piece of crap, but how many of you have switched from using ICQ to MSN Messenger? It took me a while, but eventually it became my exclusive IM program.
- Pocket PC Smartphone – There's no question that the PDA market is dying, but thanks to the robust Windows Mobile OS for Smartphones, it's at least on life support for a while. You wouldn't believe how many times it has come in handy to have what is basically a PC that truly fits in your pocket. Add a camera and GPRS connection and you will be as much like Jack Bauer as possible without having to kill 3 men with your bare hands while handcuffed to a chair.
- Windows Media Center Edition – The idea is simple; create an interface for Windows to be used on screens being viewed from 10 feet away, while still offering all the functions one would need from that perspective. In other words, MCE is a great all-in-one solution for a basic Home Theatre PC. 3rd party options are sometimes better, but now that MCE is integrated into Vista, it deserves recognition as a good product from Microsoft.
Dishonorable Mentions:
- Office Assistant – Much like Bob, this was intended to make computers more accessible to n00bs. Unfortunately, it treated you more like a complete moron. Everything "Clippy" could possibly tell you could be easily found just by hitting F1 and doing a search. Instead, you will have to deal with a lame animation and cheesy dialog. Even turning it off was annoying, as you had to wait for the final animation to finish once you disabled it.
- Ms. Dewey – Although not really an official commercial product, Ms. Dewey was introduced as a viral marketing campaign to promote the Live search engine (our #4 worst Microsoft product ever). Despite the fact that the actress playing Ms. Dewey is absolutely gorgeous, the site is nothing more than an extreme example of Flashturbation remnant of the pre-dot-com bubble burst. To top it all off, the character's reactions suck, rarely matching what you typed in.
- Tablet PC – I didn't put this on the main list, because for some people these are EXTREMELY useful. But for the remaining 99% of us, they are prohibitively expensive and buggy. There is still a small but strong contingent of people who rely on these daily however, so they're not going anywhere, especially as wireless internet access becomes more readily available throughout the world.
- Mira Smart Displays – Imagine being able to pick up your LCD monitor this very moment, and being able to walk to another room while still being able to control small portions of your Windows XP system. Imagine the possibilities! I mean you could… umm… well… never mind. Just consider it one of the many 'solutions with no problems' from 2002.


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My husband loves apple pie, how could he not, its a classic! Usually when I bake we'll enjoy the goods, then bring whats left to work or to one of our parents. But when I bake an apple pie, its not going anywhere, Samer loves eating it for breakfast. So when I came across this recipe for a German Apple Pancake in the All American Test Kitchen book, I figured why not. It was a cross between an apple pie and a pancake. It was simple enough to make and I had all the ingredients on hand.
It was lighter than I'd expected, but filling at the same time, I used granny smith apples, so it wasn't overly sweet, just sweet enough for breakfast.
German Apple Pancakes
** Be sure to use half and half, if you use milk or heavy cream the pancakes will have a slight egg-y taste.