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Not long ago, I had a chance to interview Megan Winn of www.bindingbee.etsy.com about her fabulous handmade journals. I enjoyed visiting with her and was delighted to find that her personality is as charming as her work.
Rae: Okay, Megan. These are some things I am curious about. I have been wondering what inspired you to first make books, and then what brought you to Etsy?
Megan: When I was in high-school, I loved pretty journals and used to go through them so quickly that I could hardily afford to support my habit. So, I decided that it made sense to go ahead and try my hand at creating my own. I checked out a 'how to' book from the local library and it all started there. The first ones were terrible! Most of them ended stuffed with my own thoughts, or as gifts to family and friends. All of them now are held together by rubber bands as my sewing skills were definitely beginner back then! Since then, I have had lots of practice perfecting my technique and have taken some workshops and private lessons to learn more binding styles & to get a better grasp on the history and art of book-making.
I came to Etsy a year ago as a buyer, not seller. It was amazing to have access to so many artists and their work! I was inspired and delighted, but at the same time too scared to open my own shop. At that point, I had been making and giving away greeting cards and journals for years, but only to close friends and family. I stalked the forums on Etsy and with a few of my favorite sellers, and after a few months finally decided to give it a go. I had my first sale within a week or two of opening my shop, even though I only had about 5 books for sale. After that, I was hooked! I have not stopped since.
Rae: Who or what inspires your work now?
Megan: I get a lot of visual inspirations from the materials I collect and salvage. I am a huge antique store junkie and love the weekend summer garage sale scene as well. I am forever in search of gorgeous old books in need of TLC, and I collect bundles of old fabric, lace, leather, pattern pieces, skeleton keys and photos. I love taking very old things and finding ways to work them into a new design.
Rae: There is a number in the back of my book…what does it mean?
Megan: That is just an id. #. I keep track of every book I make and sell. After each one is finished, they get a final once-over, a sticker, and a number. I make a little note of the materials, size, and price of each book and literally keep a journal of my journals. Obsessive, but true.
Rae: What kinds of material do you use to make your books?
Megan: Salvaged leather, vintage fabric, antique book covers, buttons, lace, ribbon, old photos, salvaged mat board, pattern pieces, and lots and lots of love and good energy. The only thing not up-cycled is the interior paper. I buy archival, blank paper for the inside text block of each book.
Rae: What is the strangest or most unusual/creative material that you have uses?
Megan: My favorite unusual material so far has been used tea bags. For my Thesis in Undergrad I made an entire quilt out of them. I collected bags for months prior to the semester, and it took my almost 4 months to complete the sewing. It turned out really beautifully, and still hangs in my dining room. In that show, I also had a piece made out of apple cores, and another of egg shells. I was trying to focus on the fact that art is in the daily… in the mundane. For photos check out this website: http://www.twinenfp.org/gallery/meganwinn.
Rae: Have you ever gotten to see one of your books after it was fill?
Megan: Yes. Many of my favorite people are avid writers and journal keepers. Quite a few of my journals live with my closest friends, my husband, my mom, and my little sisters. It is always fun to see my books tucked full of secrets and on people's bookshelves.
Rae: Finally, what role (beyond bookmaking) does (or has) creativity played in your life?
Megan: It's everywhere and inextricably tied to all aspects of my life. I love getting to be a part of the creative process, and feel like "art" and creativity extend way beyond traditional bounds. I participate and experience this while nurturing my garden, canning tomatoes, doing laundry, or by being in my studio. It's the mundane, the daily, and yet it is transcendent because of the accessibility.
As far as how that connects for me to the craft of book making, I think that is why I love using such a variety of materials, many of which have already been used for something else, and may or may not be considered "art worthy". I like to tie them back in, make them functional again, and cause people to take a second look… it is in the little things.
I would like to thank Megan for allowing me to visit with her and for being so gracious in sharing her story. I have been adding to the pages of my book here and there. For such a "little thing", that journal has made a big difference in my life.
When the desire for writing in this way comes up, I go in search of a new blank book. It has to feel just right. I have been bored lately with off-the-shelf journals, so I decided to delve into the realm of handmade. Now, I made a journal once. It is pretty, but less than what I wanted for my inner-prize. So I began perusing Etsy to see what I could see.
Etsy has some amazing book artists. From tee-ninsie to gian-ormous! Elegant, earthy, whimsical, or plain Jane. With so many options, it could be overwhelming to choose. But, as is often the case in picking a world of pages for my musings, the perfect journal for me came forward and announced itself without a doubt!
Binding Bee (www.bindingbee.etsy.com) is a cute little shop with great books. Megan Winn, the book binder/artist, turned out to be as sweet as the work she does. This journal is made with up-cycled leather and has pattern pieces incorporated into the pages.
To understand the call of this particular journal, it is important to get a sense of what I want to explore with it. In my last post, I talked about the metephoric knots I was presented with. It is maybe a strange thing to describe "issues" this way, but that's how it feels. It is as if I have one big problem, but a closer look reveals interlocked, inter-related variables. I find it hard to determine what all is in the knot, but I know that it includes how I live with and in my body and the things that have influenced my relationship with my body. So you see, the pattern pieces speak directly to the issues at hand.
I think it is easy to start to feel uncomfortable when someone starts pointing to the things in life that don't go quite right, but this knot is about something positive. It is about looking at the knot (every woman who has worn a necklace knows you have to put what's tangled in front of you if you want to get it off your neck) so that I can loosen it up, throw out what is broken, fix what can be salvaged and supplement what is missing. This is about opportunity and healing. So if my vulnerability has you at all on edge, take a breath. It's all good.
I hope you will enjoy hearing about my special little journal. In the next week or two, you can expect my first artist interview. I had a great visit with the book-binder who whipped up this jewel, Megan Winn. Her story inspires me to look at life with a new eye and to celebrate the gift of creative living in a more back-to-basics way.
Until then…
I am creatively yours,
Yesterday, over coffee, my friend Elizabeth asked me if I meditate. I didn't know how to answer her because I wasn't sure if she would agree that what I do is mediation. I know there are lots of ways to meditate and sometimes I do these more traditional ways, but what I do most is not listed in meditation books.
I dream on things.
I might sit and consider possibilities or call a concern to my mind in the times between waking or sleeping. I let go of my mind and watch it follow a thought from one place to another. In this way I can pull together complicated ideas or expand on more simple concepts.
I am able to get results from this which help me to be my personal best. For example, I will lay down and dream ona subject before Ibegin to write my term paper. This practice feels very indulgent, but I find when I skip this process that I get stuck and frustrated.
I looked up the etimology of the word meditate on www.etymonline.com. It is a dictionary which tells you the original use and meaning of words. Some of the meanings I found relevant to the kind of meditation I have been describing come from med which is to think over or consider something. But my favorite derivitive of that root, mederi means to heal.
A more personal etymology for the term dreaming on comes from the movie The Missingwith Cate Blanchett and Tommy Lee Jones. Jones plays the father of Blanchett. He has spent a good portion of his adult life living with and as a Native American. I believe the movie is set at the turn of the century. The father sits with his granddaughter and appears to be sleeping or at least napping. He is playing over in his mind the possibilities of the day to come. He explains to her that he is "dreaming on" what will happen. Later, the little girl uses that process to vision the life she and her family will have together.
I had discovered that tool for myself years ago but found Jones' term gave a worthy name to it.
Most recently, I have been dreaming on what feels like an intricate matrix of knots which are presenting themselves for untangling. Every person has something that keeps them from living their fullest potential. For me, I have a complicated series of inter-related events, beliefs, and responses having to do with my relationship to my body which keep me from being my best.
In Gestalt therapy, there is a concept that talks about how an individual becomes mindful of disturbances which come to the forefront of their awareness. The healthy individual has a dynamic interplay between the formation of these disturbances that come forward and the destruction of the disturbances. My knots have come forward to be destroyed. I am hopeful that I have what it takes to heal that for myself.
As I contemplate what has come forward, I find images and metephors that are helping me make sense of how one thing is related to the other. I have been doing some art about this and talking about it a bit, but because of how complicated it all seems here in the beginning of the process, dreaming on the matrix is the least overwhelming thing to do. It is a way of looking at the beast without touching it…so that I can discover its heart.
I think it is popular to be a vegetarian. There is something romantic about sacrificing your own cravings for animal flesh to uphold your value of life for the furry, scaled, and feathered ones among us. I watched Twilight a few nights ago and felt myself wanting to move closer toward that place of purity.
But this evening while logging onto the net, my homepage (Etsy.com) featured the handmade art of SweetMeats. I was mesmerized by the plush, huggable meat items.
Who doesn't need a little meat for their couch?!
And check out the bacon earrings!
I just know if I had a pair of these, I wouldn't be able to keep my husband off me! He would be trying to nibble on my earlobe all day long!
(These clever little earrings are made from polyshrink/shrink paper. That makes me love them even more. I have a special affinity for that craft. I posted an entry featuring my own shrink art last month. I think it is still on this page. I am glad to see more people using it.)
Maybe I will get me a pair! It's guilt-free meat.
The owner of the shop seems to be working on some other designs, so check out what they've got. If the creativity and humor shown thus far is any indication of what is to come, we are all in for a sweet treat….or should that be sweet MEAT?!
Check it out! Find her shop at www.sweetmeats.etsy.com or her blog at http://bizmiss.wordpress.com/2009/06/30/whoa-those-are-shrinky-dinks/
It has been years since I have done shrink art, but recently I fell in love with it all over again. While perusing Etsy, I came across www.LittleAngelsJewelry.etsy.com. I was delighted to find such exciting images. So I bought a few. The little ring featuring a ribcage with a heart has become my token reminder to tend to the emotional, spiritual and physical health of my heart.
Last night, I even had a dream in which a Wise Woman told me to relax and open my heart to the world. It is amazing what effect a tiny work of art, done with love, by a stranger across the country from you can have on your life. We just never know how we touch one another.
So in celebration of my renewed, growing love of shrink art, I decided I would offer a few tips for working with it. I even have a few of my old pieces that I think will be fun to revisit.
The tips for ONE of MANY ways to do Shrink Art:
I start out by using an artist grade of shrink art paper called PolyShrink. It is available from www.LuckySquirrel.com. The paper is treated by sanding it with a light sandpaper in a crosshatched pattern (horizontally and vertically).
Color can be applied a number of ways. I prefer Prisma Color Pencils and Sharpies.
Once the piece is colored, it can be cut out. I prefer to do it this way if I have shapes to cut out so that my pencil doesn't accidentally catch the edge and goober up the piece. (Is "goober up" a technical term?) This would also be the step in which you could use a hole punch for jump rings or dangly things.
Pieces are baked in an oven (300-350 degrees F or 148-175 C according to Lucky Squirrel) on a piece of cardboard, resting inside a cookie sheet. For more cooking directions, check out Lucky Squirrels General Instructions.
To glue on any backings, I used E6000. I have since heard others use a 2 part epoxy, but I haven't tried that. I would love to hear from anyone who has. The trick with E6000 is to apply a small amount to both parts, let it dry and then glue those parts together. You also want a tiny bit to well up over the edge of the stud disk or pin back to help hold it on.
- As for sealing, I used acrylic spray. The trick there is to keep your layer thin, especially with the matte or it will get cloudy. Without some kind of sealant, the pieces tended to scratch up a bit.
Well, I would love to hear from those who are doing Shrink Art. I am looking forward to playing with it again. What a fun Summer-time project!
Sometime last year I discovered an on-line marketplace for handmade things called Etsy. Being a creativity advocate, I immediately wanted to get involved. I joined with the knowledge that someday I would have my own Etsy Shop. Well, life kept getting in the way. Not in a bad way, I have been working on my Masters in Counseling and that just had to come first. But, I have had a break in my schedule and am devising a plan for the official opening of my shop due sometime towards the beginning of June.
Sneak Peak:
About 7 years ago, I opened a massage studio in downtown Corpus Christi across from Yin Yang Fandango and the Tango Tea Room (http://www.tangofandango.com/). It was very exciting to create the look of the shop and make decisions on what kind of life it would take on. I covered the windows with brown paper while we hammered, scrapped, plastered, and painted. Some people were so interested in what was going on that they were upset about the secrecy. That surprised me. I thought they would enjoy a big reveal. But what I realized is that some folks are just as interested in the process as they are about the product, and for those people, my paper denied them a beautiful opportunity to witness the blooming of the flower.
For that very reason, I am documenting the means to the end for this new shop of mine. If you are a big reveal person, STOP! Don't go any further. Your time will come. Feel free to leave your email in the comments or drop me a line, and I will give you a special invitation to the grand opening. BUT, if you are a process person, this is your chance. Peal back the paper and have a peak inside. Please excuse the mess, there is creativity in progress.
More about the process…..
I am doing everything in phases, holding onto an attitude of keeping positive but not demanding perfection. I have been doing some research by reading the hints and tips offered by Etsy and keeping up with their newsletter. If nothing else, they are inspiring. And the stories about people who are making it happen motivate me to do my best.
I have also ordered a few guides from Etsian how-to-ers. The first guide I got from www.TimothyAdamsDesigns.etsy.com. It has inspired this blog and given me the tools to build a community to share it with. I am eager to see how it goes. Then I found a guide from www.TheBuzz.etsy.com. This is another little jewel with great ideas on how to make my shop work. She takes the guess work out of where to start and where to put my energy. I think these two guides are a great combination for someone starting out. The first is blog-centered and the last shop-centered. From what I understand, those two things help to create a formula for success.
But nothing will say success like having the right products. When I say right, I mean many things by that. I am only willing to create art that feels fulfilling. With that in mind, I have been brainstorming about my favorite projects and have created a small grouping of printed photos of the projects I have most enjoyed doing. I have them in a little stack on my desk and look thru them when I am ready to work on something. Someday this wanna-be pile of pictures will be replaced with a an accomplishment pile, documenting the lives I have allowed my art to touch by sharing it with the world.
The other part of deciding about which artwork to sell is including items that others might like. As it turns out, I often do projects that others request but for which I have had little time to do. Luckily, these are usually the items I get the most fulfilment out of. This is what will ultimatly end up in the shop. It gives me a boost when others are enthusiastic about my work.
As I prepare for the opening, I find myself nesting as a way of getting focused. My art supplies become the twigs and leaves with which I am creating my warm, cozy spot. It is exactly what I need as I take a break from the hustle and bustle of University life. I think Laughing Lane Studios could ultimately provide a needed bit of balance in my life.
I hope you have enjoyed this peak at my process. Feel free to share with me the projects you are working on and what your progress is looking like.
Creatively yours,
Welcome to my guide for living a more creative life. You will find craft ideas, inspiration and motivation from people who embrace the spirit of creativity everyday. Follow my journey and discover your own path to becoming a crafter of the living arts.
For a peak-see at my shop, hop on over to www.laughinglane.etsy.com


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ESL Department
Roumyana Ivanova - Department Chair Elka DachevaPolia MarinovaVelislava TsvetkovaTanya BachvarovaCameron KnightLaurel Zmolek-SmithFrank QuinJulian Friend
The mission of the English as a Second Language Department is to prepare the eighth-grade students for the requirements of an academic career at ACS as well as to provide the ninth-grade students with opportunities to develop and expand their knowledge of key grammar, vocabulary, and lexico-grammatical areas as required by the rigorous academic program at ACS. This is accomplished by providing students with a solid understanding of the English language as well as building their academic confidence and competence, so that they can successfully fulfill the requirements of content-area classes in English. All language skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) receive constant attention. Quality instruction in a friendly yet structured environment that fosters mutual respect and intellectual curiosity is a major goal of the department. A vital part of the ESL curriculum is developing study skills, which are essential for the success of each student throughout their studies at ACS. Students learn how to use a daily and monthly planner, organize their time and study materials, take notes in class, study for and take tests and quizzes, and behave properly in an academic environment. Strong relationships and good communication between and among teachers, students, and parents are valued and encouraged.
SAT Preparation, Elective – Grade 11Post Modern Literature, Elective - Grade 10, 11, and 12

subset: commoncrawl


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All right, a nice story for a change.
Two former Birmingham students have defied death threats to make legal history by becoming the first Muslim lesbian couple to get married in a civil ceremony in the UK.
Rehana Kausar, 34, and Sobia Kamar, 29, from Pakistan, tied the knot at a registration office in front of their solicitors and two Pakistani friends earlier this month.
Great. Two people who want to be together are together. A happy thing. I like happy things.
According to Pakistani law, same-sex sexual acts are illegal and go against Islamic teachings.
Those who flout the law are often targeted and in the most extreme cases homosexuals have been murdered.
The country does not have civil rights laws to prohibit discrimination or harassment on the basis of a person's sexuality and same-sex marriages and civil unions in Pakistan have no legal recognition.
But the potential threat to their lives didn't stop Ms Kausar and Ms Kamar from going ahead with their marriage at Leeds Registry Office.
Wearing a traditional white bridal dress, the couple told the Registrar that they had known each other for around three years after moving to Birmingham from Pakistan on student visas.
I'm sure in actuality they wore two dresses, one each. The two of them crowding into one dress – now that would be wicked.
Ms Kausar, a master's degree holder in economics from Punjab University, and her new partner both came to the UK to study business and health care management.
Ms Kausar, originally from Lahore, said: "This country allows us rights and it's a very personal decision that we have taken. It's no one's business as to what we do with our personal lives.
"The problem with Pakistan is that everyone believes he is in charge of other people lives and can best decide about the morals of others but that's not the right approach and we are in this state because of our clergy, who have hijacked our society which was once a tolerant society and respected individuals freedoms."
And that is so dreadfully sad. It's so easy for a country to fall off a cliff, and it can happen so quickly.
I hope they get to stay and will be very happy. I hope Birmingham becomes a mecca (so to speak) for liberal Muslims.


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Denise's Spiderweb Cupcakes
My quadruplets' birthday is this week and somehow they always end up with a Halloween themed birthday party since they were born in October. I've made a ton of Halloween themed treats over the years, but so far these spiderweb cupcakes have been their favorite. I made three dozen of these to take to their [Continue]


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ABVC New Year's resolutions for 2017
Did you make New Year's Resolutions for 2017?
We as staff from Al Barsha Veterinary Clinic, ABVC Kennels & Cattery and ABVC Pet Travel and Relocation would like to improve our overall service to you, our loyal customers even more. Suggestions to achieve this goal are more than welcome and we like to invite you to take a short survey. All participants in our survey will receive 10% off on their next appointment or booking in either Clinic or Pet Hotel.


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Russian officials of up to the highest level were recommended to return their children, studying abroad, into the country, and transfer them into Russian universities.
Also, they should return their parents, if they live abroad but still keeping their Russian citizenship, reports Znak.com with reference to five different sources, directly affected by such an informal request from the presidential administration.
"Education of the Russian 'elite' children abroad is subject to the constant complaints and derision against the regime. Say, patriotism and anti-Western sentiment are cultivated at the state level, but at the same time children of officials are studying abroad. You can not serve two gods, you must choose one. If such a measure is initiated and implemented, it will bring consistency and certainty, which is currently missing," said political analyst Vitaly Ivanov.
The new requirements will affect employees of the presidential administration, regional administrations, MPs of all levels of government, and state corporations' employees. Those who delay fulfilling the request will face complications in their future careers, writes Znak.com.
Source: gubernia.pskovregion.org


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1 lb. boneless pork loin or sirloin, cut into
thin strips
4 tbsp. olive oil
4 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. prepared mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. dried oregano
Lettuce, shreaded
Onion, sliced thinly
Greek Salad Dressing (above recipe works well)
Combine the oil, mustard, lemon juice, garlic and oregano. Pour over meat and refrigerate 6 hours or overnight. Remove meat from marinade. Stir-fry in non-stick pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Halve 2 pita loaves and open for a pocket. Fill with meat. Top with lettuce and onion. Drizzle with dressing. You can also use plain yogurt with some of the dressing mixed into it.
| Veggie Dip | Greek Salad Dressing | Greek Pita Pockets | Vichyssoise | Whipped Carrots & Potatoes | Oatmeal, Rum Raison Cookies | Harvest Muffins |
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Such a great itinerary! Love to see a little creativity in destination choices. From your photos, it looks like Croatia and Slovenia were incredible. Would love to travel to that area one day.
Hope you're enjoying your trip so far!
Below is our itinerary as of January 30, 2015.
July 28, 2014 – August 28, 2014
Ireland: Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Howth
Brussels, Belgium; Barcelona, Spain; Paris, France; Budapest, Hungary; Prague, Czech Republic; Vienna, Austria
August 28, 2014 – October 1, 2014
Croatia: Zagreb, Pula, Split, Vis, Zadar, Dubrovnik, Makarska, Brac
Slovenia: Ljubljana, Bled
Italy: Venice
October 1 – October 11, 2014
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Mostar, Sarajevo
Austria: Vienna, Salzburg
Turkey: Istanbul
United Arab Emirates: Dubai
October 12 – November 7, 2014
Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, South Africa (Cape Town)
November 8, 2014 – January 2015
Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam
February 2015 – April 2015
Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia (Bali, Lombok, Gili Islands), Australia (Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne), USA (Hawaii), CANADA!
Are you going to be in any of these places from February – April? Shoot us a message and we can share our dates, and hopefully some drinks!
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You are so spoiled! Australia and Hawaii? What great choices. Enjoy and be safe.
Hawaii is a great choice ! Be sure to include Maui. Barry and I spent a week there and loved it so much we will be returning ! I have enjoyed following your trip and look forward to more great pictures and stories ! Cheers !
Daniel Goff from Carbonear is in Thailand right now.
Amazing! It's crazy to actually see it on a map, a great visual!! You're not going to hit up New Zealand? Haha! Easy to say I guess because it's hard to believe you guys have any limits! XOXO…
Hey Jessica, Melissa just told me about your adventure. I am glad you got to experience the east coast of my country. You probably understand why I want to move back so badly. We might be in Perth at the same time so let me know where and when you will be there.
Hi Steven and Jess,mod you know if/when you will be in Adelaide?


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Tagged With: Spring
I just downloaded these from my camera and I just had to share at least one of them!!
We went to the Wildlife Refuge after the rains. It was amazing to see everything to alive and bright since we've had a drought the past couple of years. There were huge herds of longhorns enjoying the green grass. Some were grazing and some were just laying around.
Check out the other "critters" being shared at….
Also, I'm going to be bringing back Foto Finish this weekend. I hope that you'll join in and link up!! If you'd like to find out more about Foto Finish, just click here.
Foto Finish: Show Us Where You Live
Today's optional theme for Foto Finish is "show us where you live". I think this is a great topic!!
For us, something that's part of our life on a regular basis is the Wildlife Refuge. We go out there quite often. This particular day, there was plenty of buffalo and many of the fields and meadows were in bloom. In this particular shot, you can see the purple wildflowers blowing in the wind while a lone buffalo grazes on the grass with Mt. Scott behind.
I love this shot and I hope that you do too!! Here's "where I live" for Foto Finish…..
I hope that you enjoy my Foto Finish!! If you do, please check out this week's Foto Finish participants for more great photography!!
Please click here to vote for my blog….thanks!!
Winning Flowers
I won the photography contest today! The subject was flowers. I thought that the subject was going to be hard since here in town nothing has been in bloom. But I was in luck because in front of our house we had a dogwood tree that was in bloom.
For the next contest, I picked "architecture". I thought it would be a fun topic since this city has very pretty architecture. I chose 4 photos so there is more choices for the contest.
I hope you enjoy my winning photo, and please let me know what you think of it.
Foto Finish: Spring
The theme for this week's Foto Finish is spring. Perfect timing for this once since spring does start this week!! Spring is definitely in the air, but not much sign of it around my house. My flowers are starting to sprout through the ground, but they're still way too small to have blooms on them. We do have a tree in front of the house that's got blossoms on it, but until we went to my parents for Spring Break, I didn't even know what kind of tree it was. We always thought it was a cottonwood like the huge tree in front of the house, but come to find out, the one with blossoms is actually a dogwood. Learn something new every day!!
With such a great topic though, it left me bewildered about what photo to share. Being me, I couldn't pick just one!! HAHA So, my submission for Foto Finish this week is spring times 3!!
Here's my Foto Finish….
Do you have any photos of spring?? Maybe you have some birds in your yard or you garden starting to grow. Whatever you have, just post your photos and click the button above to join in on Foto Finish!!
What's Up
I realize that it's been awhile since I just plain old blogged. So, I'm taking the opportunity to do that now. I decided it was time that I got you all caught up on everything that's going on around here!!
First, the weather has greatly improved since the arctic blast. In fact a couple days ago, the weatherman said that we were exactly 79 degrees warmer than the same day a week prior. That's a huge difference!! It's actually started feeling a little bit like spring. It's cooled down again, but it's nice. I just wish it wasn't overcast because that makes me gloomy!!
Religious education is in full swing again after a 2 week break because of weather. It was hard to get the kids focused again last week. Despite that, they're like sponges this year. Although a little hard to work with for crafts and writing, they're really taking it all in. Every time I review, at least one (or more) remembers the exact answer. That's a great feeling to know that you're getting through to them. It's a big class, but it's a great class. It seems that more than ever, they're really attached to me. They were so excited to get back and were all hugs after we missed those 2 weather weeks.
Lean Green is almost done with his certification courses. Oh, and I am done!! I went to my one class that I missed the first time around. Now, I'm even qualified to to facilitate a class!! Anyway, back to The Man. He has 2 classes left. He's really enjoyed them and comes home every Saturday and tells me what he got out of them. He'll be at the same level as me when he completes them. I'm really proud of him and he's fully embraced this experience. Also, while we're on the topic of Lean Green, he shaved the beard off!! Miss K is thrilled and I'm pretty happy myself. He's had facial hair pretty much since he retired. It was getting very old to me and I think he looked older. I asked him to shave it and gave him until the end of the month to do it. He surprised us by doing it last weekend!! He said that with it warming up, he felt dirty and irritated. Of course, then it cooled back down and he said his face was cold!! HAHA
Miss K isn't very focused on her studies right now. I think she's ready for spring too. She's doing great, she's just not focused. She's enjoying photography and has come up with some great shots lately. She's been a huge help setting up my mom's store. She's taken most of the photos for me. She's doing better with chores, but still not like she should. I know she has a better work ethic than that, just hard to get her to see it!! Oh the wonderful teenage years!!
I'm looking forward to spring so that we can finish up some much needed work on the house. All the rooms have been repainted and some for quite awhile. However, almost all of them still needs the trim painted or touch-up done. I've given up for now on putting the washing machine in the house despite a froze pipe in the garage this winter. I think I want new kitchen cabinets more. At least the washing machine works where it is, but my kitchen always seems to be a wreck!! We're also putting the tax money, if there is any toward new furniture. Ours must be about 12 years old and it's tired….and I'm tired of it!! I just hope I can find what I want and don't have to settle. <SIGH>
Well, I think that about gets you all caught up!! Really not much at all going on. I guess I'm boring!! HAHA If you like and/or your kids like Dr. Seuss, keep your eyes pealed because I'll be posting some materials to celebrate his birthday. That's next week, and I haven't decided if I want to post ahead of time or throughout the week up until that day. Either way, it's coming!!
See ya'll on the flipside!!
Catching Up
I took a couple days off from the blog to enjoy some time with the family. It was so worth it. We really had a great weekend. We each sort of did our own thing, yet we had time together.
I got some games made this weekend, that's for sure. I'll be sharing some of them on here as soon as I get them uploaded to my 4Shared account. I made 4 train games alone!! I think with the exception of a Cinco de Mayo tic-tac-toe game and some Spanish number cards for Cinco de Mayo, they're all file folder games. I got the most feedback from the train games. They'll probably be the first ones that I upload too.
Hubby got his new windshield wiper motor installed on his car. Kiddo got her room pretty well clean. Only problem now is that she's got a mound of clean laundry!! HAHA She says she can't win. Oh, if she only knew!!
The Man made his famous fried chicken today and while we ate, we watched "Quantum of Solice". Totally awesome 007 movie!! I must say, Daniel Craig as made a good replacement. Next to Sean Connery, my favorite is Pierce Brosnan. However, Craig has made James Bond all his own and the movies are just so action packed!! Also watched "Celebrity Apprentice" tonight. Boy is that show getting cut throat. They're getting nasty….and this is supposed to be for charity!! SHEESH I've lost respect for poker player Annie. She's about a dirty as they come and loves to lie. I guess she comes by it naturally, but she's mean!!
Alright, that gets you all caught up on our weekend. The skies are cloudy, but the temperature is nice. Had the windows open yesterday. Pretty typical spring settling in now!! Oh and a fantastic night race in Phoenix. Jr. had the lead for awhile, but a change of tires and he was at the back of the pack. It's amazing what a bad set of tires does on the track!! UGH
I'm out!! What did you do this weekend??
Days of Spring
Just yesterday morning, we woke up to a light dusting of snow on the ground. Friday it got incredibly cold with storms that turned to sleet. Yesterday was just plain cold. The wind was whipping across the plains and you'd think it was still winter. The sun came out, but there was a definite chill in the air.
Today was one of the most beautiful spring days you could imagine. When we went to church, it was cool, but nice. The sun was shining and it was so bright. By the time we came out of church, it was glorious. You didn't even need a coat. It's like the ideal temperature.
Just a day apart and such a contrast. Is it any wonder that so many people are sick!?!? So what's it like where you are??
Spring in the Air
The weather has been just glorious the past couple of days. The heater doesn't run until late at night and the sun is warm and bright all day long. I'm hoping that this means that Mr. Groundhog was WRONG!!
Miss K has been running the backyard. She's got her pretend house out there and she's clearing an area to plant a garden. She plans on growing herbs this year. I don't have the heart to tell her that it's never going to happen with our cat problems. Every flower pot or flower bed I've ever had has been dug up and destroyed by neighborhood pooping cats. Her garden will be no different. I'm going to let her plant it and do her best to tend it though. I guess I'm just going to have to go to the city and get some traps for the stupid cats.
My parents just left today. They were here for a quick and short visit. We sure did have a good time though. We took them to Santa Fe Steakhouse, which is new in town. They really enjoyed it. Then I took them to Wal-Mart to get some starter logs for their fireplace because they local store has been out most of the winter. Other than that, we just relaxed with them and how amazing it was that Lean Green worked all week and actually had a weekend. That's a new concept for us!!
So, how's the weather where you are??
To Shadow or Not to Shadow
Well that ole rodent, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow today. Supposedly that means there's 6 more weeks of winter left. Little do the people know that fall for this each year, but if you look at a calendar, there ARE 6 weeks left of winter. Anyone can read on a calendar the day that spring begins!!
I used to love Groundhog Day when I was little. Now I don't care one way or the other. I swear that groundhog takes after me though. He's fatter and fatter each year!! Truth be told, ole Phil has seen his shadow more often than not. It must be really sunny up there in PA!!
Did you know that a groundhog is just a woodchuck?? Yep, it sure is. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuch wood? Remember that growing up?? HAHA We had to learn that for English in school. We had to be able to properly pronounce all of our words and we had to do riddles in front of class and be understood when we did it. Too bad that's not something that's being passed onto our younger generation. Miss K had never heard that riddle until I told her today. Quite sad that school has forgotten the simple things that really did work at making us better.
Can you see your shadow today??


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Cape Coast, Ghana is the fourth poorest area in the country, and sadly ranks first in HIV/AIDS and Teen Pregnancy. There are many orphans, rescued trafficking victims and otherwise vulnerable children in the area who are not presently in school.
We are raising $16,300 to organically farm ten acres of land with eight crops: cabbage, carrot, green pepper, lettuce, watermelon, cauliflower, cucumber and onion so that our partner in Cape Coast, Children Helpers Foundation, can create jobs and become a self sufficient organization, also enabling them to keep orphans and other vulnerable youth in school while providing fresh food/nutrition to the school feeding program in the area.
The demand for fresh vegetables is strong - current farmers are unable to serve about 25% of the need for fresh vegetables in the region. The farm will use organic farming processes, differentiating it from other area farmers. CHF has targeted three buyer partners in the area: Ghana's school feeding program, the flourishing hospitality industry (growing 11% per annum), and local women who sell at markets.
The initial harvesting is projected to earn $28,000 net profit, of which 60% would go towards funding education and the remaining 40% would be put back into the farm.
Here are some of the areas where your donation can make a difference:
For $15, we can provide one of 170 needed pieces of interplus pipes for irrigation, a hand fork OR nose masks
For $25, we can provide one bag of natural fertilizer (manure), OR three shovels
For $50, we can provide one acre of tractor service
For $113, we can provide three wheelbarrows
For $300, we can provide one of five main sprinklers for irrigation
For $500, we can provide one of two water pumps OR all the needed tractor service OR pay for one farm hand
For $750, we can provide all the seeds needed for one season of eight crops OR
All donors will receive thank you notes from the children and photo and video links of the work in progress and outcome.
Want to go bigger? Donate $2500 and your name will go on the sponsor signage at the Farm as well as the sponsor wall at the Shaisiri Home for Children (the Children Helpers home that we are currently building) and the Learngrowlead.org and childrenhelpersfoundation.org websites.
Donate $5,000 and receive above benefits as well as a follow up phone or Skype call from Learn Grow Lead founders and Stephen Dankwah, Founder of Children Helpers Foundation to learn more about the project.
Donate $10,000 and we will invite you to come to Cape Coast with us (at your expense) in July 2015 to meet the children and see the farm and other projects first hand. You will also be the Lead Sponsor for the Farm with signage at the Farm, as well as on the wall at the home.
The Team: $10,917 TOTAL RAISED SO FARJOIN THE TEAM
Donor Comments
Denise Mullins
I love the work you are doing Erin...sending much love to you, your project and the people of Ghana. 4 years ago
Erin Douglas
To my African family in Ghana, may we plant seeds for abundance for years to come. 4 years ago
Melissa Wyatt
4 years ago


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Cat Mate Large Cat Flap White (221W)
Suitable for the very large cats or small dogs (Yorkshire Terriers, Pekinese, Dachshund etc).
- 00035368002212
- Cat Mate
This 4 way locking cat flap comes from one of the leading brands in cat flaps; Pet Mate.
The Large Cat flap is suitable for cats and small dogs, and features a 4 way locking system.
Doors/Panel (self lining thickness): 50mm (2")
Overall Width: 235mm (9.25")
Overall Height: 252mm (10")
Cut Out Width: 210mm (8.25")
Cut Out Height: 227mm (9")
|Product Brands
|Cat Mate


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Wifi Analyzer 20 alternatives
Wifi Analyzer is a handy tool which helps you to select a better channel for your wireless router. It turns you android phone into a handy Wi-Fi analyzer! App Permissions (from Google Play) Version 3.8.
All apps and software tagged with 'Scan and search for Wifi' in our database. Among these apps the most popular platforms are Android, Android Tablet and Windows. There are a total of 18 apps listed and 13 licensed as Free which makes it the most used license.
Wifi Analyzer is a handy tool which helps you to select a better channel for your wireless router. It turns you android phone into a handy Wi-Fi analyzer! App Permissions (from Google Play) Version 3.8.
NetStumbler is a tool for Windows that allows you to detect Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) using 802.11b, 802.11a and 802.11g.
LinSSID is graphically and functionally similar to iwscanner (Linux) and Inssider (Microsoft™ Windows®). It is written entirely in C++ using Linux wireless tools and Qt4.
Vistumbler is a wireless network scanner for Windows Vista and Windows 7.
If youre tired of clicking around trying different Wi-Fi connections to find one that works - You want WeFi. WeFi is software loaded onto your laptop or mobile device.
With Homedale you can search for Wi-Fi / WLAN Access Points and monitor their signal strength. Use the detected access points with Google Geolocation and Mozilla Location Service to locate yourself.
Optimize your WiFi network using WiFi Analyzer by examining surrounding WiFi networks, measuring their signal strength as well as identifying crowded channels.
How strong is your WiFi signal? You can use the NETGEAR WiFi Analytics app to get advanced analytics that help you optimize your existing or newly extended WiFi network.
BETA WiFi Buddy is an easy yet functional Wi-Fi network scanner tool. Its core features are: Automatic scanning for access points, Directly connect to open networks, Easy access to all Wi-Fi settings and Keep Wi-Fi radio active while idle.
Mozilla Stumbler is an open-source wireless network scanner that collects GPS data for the Mozilla Location Service, our crowd-sourced location database.
My wireless network is slow and I believe someone is connected to my Wi-Fi and using the internet without my knowledge.
Fast WiFi signal survey and coverage analysis. Calibrate blueprints online. (Indoor and outdoor survey) Wi-Fi measurements and site survey analysis.
The world's largest Wi-Fi database, finding you free Wifi all over the world based on over 500 million hotspots. Save on roaming when travelling by going to free hotspots in every major city in the world.
Strategic Wireless LAN Design Design your Wi-Fi network to be BYOD-ready by measuring the "true" end-user experience using your Android-based smart device.


text: Lakeland Non-Stick 28cm Lidded Frying Pan 5 "good, solid frying pan with a nice feel" John 12 February 2015 We needed to buy several pans when I replaced our old cooker with an induction hob. This frying pan has a solid feel but is not too heavy to hang on a rack. It needs a minimal amount of cooking oil and is ideal for souffle omelettes switching from hob to grill


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Looking for translation/ teaching work (New Delhi)
Hi all
I am a Russian - Dutch native recently arrived in New Delhi. I am looking for a job in translation with either of the three languages - English, Russian and Dutch.
I am a graduate in Finance and am familiar with it's jargon. I am also a qualified English teacher with experience. My level of English is the equivalent to that of a native. I am also happy to do language training.
If anyone hears anything that might be suitable or for any furthter information please PM me


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Emily Rose was born and raised in Portland, Or and started piercing in 2008. Happily a member of the Adorn family since 2015 and a proud member of the APP, she currently holds a Specialty Level 1 license and is actively in training on advancing to Specialty Level 2 under Desta Spence.
Emily is made of rainbows, puppies, and sunshine and enjoys creating a positive, memorable piercing experience for children 3 and up for initial earlobes. She is also passionate about creating space to aide in healing the psyche and body through piercing. She believes everybody is beautiful and that we all deserve to feel at home, welcome, and confident in them.
When Emily is not piercing you can find her out hiking the great PNW with her two Chihuahua children Olive and Violet, practicing multiple forms of dance, or eating her weight in desserts.


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Siblings Together USA Sibling Camp
Our primary goal is to provide a sense of belonging to youth as individuals, and as siblings, giving them opportunities to share childhood memories together and among other youth in the same situations. Siblings are often taken for granted; yet the sibling relationship can be the longest relationship in life.
Events at the camp are designed for the youth to have fun, gain emotional empowerment and establish sibling connections. Special programs to address these needs are as follows:


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Stefanie Palmer
Dental / Office Assistant
I was born in Norman Oklahoma and Grew Up in Erie, Pennsylvania. Yes, my Dad is Dr. Bursich!
I work in the dental office part time to free me up to take care of our 7 year old son and 13 year old step son and our 5 year old adopted dog daughter Belle as well as my husband of 8 years Jeff.
I attended McDowell high school where I was a competitive swimmer and spent my summer's life guarding at many interesting places, however my favorite place was Presque Isle State Park on Lake Erie.
I graduated college from Clarion University in Clarion Pennsylvania with a Bachelors of Science in Marketing. My father raised me as a Steelers Fan so you can talk football with me all day long.
I have spent the past 9 years working in the dental field. First for a dental practice management company, helping other dentists with their customer service and dental marketing. Then as the Practice Manager in my father's Western Pa. Dental Office. When I moved to Virginia in December I moved into dental assisting and I really enjoy comforting the patients and helping the doctor through the procedures.
When I am not in the office I am running my sons around, our youngest Colin is a Black Belt, so we go from the dojang to the soccer field and then to do homework.
If I am not driving around with my children I enjoy learning about nutrition and health and do my best to eat as a Vegan. I love to spend time in the kitchen cooking all kinds of food for my family. In the summer I love going out on our boat to the lake and traveling to visit our family in Chicago, Pittsburgh and Erie.
Frank Flores
Certified Dental Assistant
I was born in Peru and moved to Virginia in 2008.
I am excited to have joined the team at Sterling Dental Center. I'm here to assist the doctor, and the hygiene team with our care, and I am very glad to be part of it. I try my best to make patients feel comfortable by being gentle and calm. I love hearing great comments from patients when they leave our office, and I also enjoy helping patients overcome their worries and fear about getting the dentistry they need.
When I am not in the office, I spend time taking care of my little brother, and helping my sister with her studies.
I enjoy watching movies, and laughing with friends, and family. One of my hobbies is to mess around with computers, and teach my brother how to play soccer.
Jenny Flores
Certified Dental Assistant
I was born in Vietnam and moved to Virginia in 2012.
I am currently attending Northern Virginia Community College and plan to continue into the dental Hygiene program. I earned my Dental Assisting Certificate and Radiology Exam from DANB in 2014.
I just recently joined the Sterling Dental Center team, and I'm very glad to be a part of it. I find it fascinating to work with the team to create a friendly environment that can help a fearful patient enjoy their visit at our office. I love hearing patients tell their family how caring and patient our staff is to them!
Outside of the office, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I also like to travel, and do community service.
Anela Reilly RDH
Dental Hygienist
I was born in Johnstown Pennsylvania and grew up in Sterling, Virginia. My husband Mike, our children and myself have lived in a couple other states and have always made our way back to Loudoun County.
I have been a dental hygienist since 1995. I was fortunate to be able to stay home with our four boys for 11 years while they were young. Since moving back to Sterling, I have enjoyed coming back to the exciting world of Dentistry. I enjoy motivating and educating my patients with their individual dental needs.
When I am not at work, I love spending time with my husband and four boys. We are involved in our church and love to volunteer at the schools. I spend most of my time at my children's activities and sports. I am lucky to have most of my extended family here in the area.


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Welcome to Heartbeat FM The Love Song Station
Welcome to Heartbeat FM The Love Song Station
Welcome to the on-line home of Heartbeat FM – The internet's most romantic music mix! The greatest love songs ever recorded are just a click away.
Click on the listen live icon to hear hits from artists like Elton John, Celine Dion, Lionel Richie, Billy Joel, Phil Collins, Gloria Estefan, Chicago, Fleetwood Mac, Whitney Houston, Journey, Toto, Taylor Swift, Madonna, Kelly Clarkson and many more. See our listen live page for more ways to listen.
Download our Apps for free.
We would love to hear from you. Let us know what you think of our radio station. Contact us HERE


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It was mayhem under the full moon.
From the East Bay to the foothills, a series of bizarre and violent incidents this weekend left seasoned investigators and casual observers trying to make sense of it all.
In Oakland, a Rancho Cordova man rode his bicycle to the downtown police headquarters Saturday and allegedly fired shotgun blasts into parked cruisers until officers wounded and subdued him.
In Placerville, a patient wearing a hospital gown stole an ambulance Sunday and led police on a brief, slow-speed chase before she allegedly crashed into their cars and was fatally shot by one officer.
In Sacramento, a fusillade of bullets at 4 a.m. Sunday left an alleged gang member dead in the parking lot of an all-night bowling alley popular with families.
And in South Natomas on Friday, a coach and teacher was gunned down after police say he inadvertently walked into the middle of a home invasion robbery at the apartment of friends.
Authorities had little or no explanation for the incidents.
Some suggested the full moon might have played a role, while others said warm temperatures may have brought out the worst.
Read the full story at www.sacbee.com.


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Starlight is a 10 pound, three year old female Pekingese who is being fostered in Virginia Beach, VA. This adorable dog spent her previous life living in a crate located in a dark basement. As a result of her previous experiences, when she first meets new people she is scared and a bit shy. She needs a patient owner who will allow her to adjust at her own pace to her new home. Once she feels secure, she bonds to one or two people. Her ideal forever home will be with an experienced family who will understand her need of being a special little girl. Starlight had ruptured eardrums when she came into rescue, resulting in some hearing loss. She has had three videoscopes of her ears to check her progress and has come a long way in healing. Starlight must eat a special diet-- the H.A. (hypoallergenic diet), available at the vet or through prescription at Petsmart.
Starlight is an absolute sweetheart in her foster home and loves to cuddle and play with her toys (which she didn't know how to do when she first arrived). She will not be placed in a home with children. Once she trusts someone, she is wonderful, and loves to be picked up to get on the couch with her people. She is not bothered by other dogs in the house, but will not play with them. She seems to enjoy having them around, but prefers to keep to herself and do her own thing.
Starlight has been spayed and had eye fold reduction surgery. She is up to date on all her shots. This little girl will not be available to first time dog owners.
We adopt in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia and require home and vet checks. Starlight's adoption fee is $250.00.
Sponsor Me!
Please help with my medical expenses. Learn more about sponsorship and how to donate.
Adopt Me!
Download and complete an Application to Adopt a Pekingese, or complete an Online Application (coming soon!)


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2016-2018 GFWC Georgia Yearbook
Click the above title to download or the following link: GFWC Georgia yearbook.
Hint: You can download our yearbook and save it on your smart phone/Iphone/Ipad or computer. If you have an Iphone/Ipad you can save it to your bookshelf. Once you download the yearbook, you can find specific information by clicking Control F and typing in your search phrase or word.
Members please click on the titles below to download the CSP excerpt from our yearbook. The six Community Service Programs are as follows:
CSP Excerpts from Yearbook
Click titles below
|CSP Website
Click titles below
CSP Social Media
Click Icon below
|Arts Website
Conservation Website
|International Outreach CSP
International Website
Public Issues Website
|Project areas in which member clubs are involved:
Excerpts from Yearbook
Click titles below
Click titles below
Social Media
Click Icon below
GFWC and GFWC Georgia's Special Project – Domestic Violence & Prevention
|GFWC Website Link
|Donation Form
|Donation Form
Tallulah Falls School (founded by GFWC Georgia in 1909)
|GFWC Advancement Areas
Because of the integral nature of the GFWC Advancement Areas, these six areas are now recognized as core Advancement areas of any successful program. These programs are intended to benefit the Clubs.
Excerpts from Yearbook
Click titles below
Click titles below
Social Media
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|email us:
GFWC Club Manual
Click the Icon below or title to download 2018-2020 GFWC Club Manual.
GFWC partners are the organizations with whom GFWC has established a formal relationship and mutual understanding. Click underlined words to download:


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Fujitsu, IU collaborates on optical network research
Keywords:Network Communications polarisation mode dispersion
The Global Research Network Operations Center of Indiana University is providing dark fiber between Indianapolis and Bloomington, Indiana, plus access to patch panels, electrical power, the Internet, and physical space to conduct the tests. Fujitsu and the university have collaborated on the test plan to ensure that collected data can be used to influence future optical networking research and commercial products. Fujitsu researchers have conducted tests over a seven month period (with at least five more months of experiments planned), and Indiana University is supporting the configuration changes during the testing phase. Both parties are examining the test results and have co-authored several technical papers about their findings.
"Indiana University is constantly looking for ways to enrich the experiences of our research members with real-world experiments using cutting-edge technology," said Brad Wheeler, VP for information technology and chief information officer at Indiana University. "Our collaboration with Fujitsu has allowed us to interact with the scientists from one of the leading research entities in optical networking. Together, using advanced technology from Fujitsu, we were able to discover several optical characteristics that will have a profound implication on high speed networking across the globe. Our experience continues to be extremely positive, and we look forward to future research projects with Fujitsu."
"The researchers we are working with at Indiana University are providing exceptional support for this experiment, and are demonstrating why the school is considered one of the best research institutions for higher learning in America," said Takao Naito, director of Fujitsu Laboratories of America. "This experiment and the data we are obtaining as a result are proof that research collaboration between corporate and university entities can result in optical networking breakthroughs and an invaluable experience for university and corporate researchers. We will continue to look for opportunities to collaborate with R&E institutions through our active involvement with Internet2."
|Related Articles
|Editor's Choice


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Have You Back
Sam Smith- Stay With Me
Begging You...
Can I Have You Back
Sorry seems not enough let me restore you lost goddess
Begging you for all strong men telling you you have and got this
He calling you names if you're a Lady that ain't you
Say my Persian Queen wash you down in cool water's blue
Seems our disrespect, no love and neglect has taken its toll
Disgraced my Queens in songs, broken princess, life images told
Can I have you back? Times when respect and feelings stood high
Like when "I Need Love" came out and women were open yet still so shy
When we had to chase you and come at you "correct" she said
It seems times done change, you mirroring men just so easy getting you in the bed
Liked it better when you were mean but couldn't demean you girl
You were a mystery, some secret, Miss Around The Way girl
I just gotta be real..just really real
Let my Words replenish you I rightly become your Shield
As I block the World..Can I have you back? Life say Beautiful just not the same
Yes men, Yes men be messing up but you messing up to lets share the blame
Let me take you back...good women great women hurt/mad drives me crazy
I've been missing you...I choose you this black to beautiful, there's no secret misery
I'm falling victim cause I don't believe you want good men
Just a lust thing, short romance thing, unfaithful brother thing now and then
But can I have you back? Before I back off for good
Come back to me...believe in me like I do you and we'll be good
© 2012 WordNLipsAffair
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There's a matter I need to address, though, for anyone who is a fan of my other novel, Good Intentions. It has to do with the question of an "original version." One part of this "original" stuff is shared below. For some fans, I could cut right to the chase... but given how Poor Man's is working out for me, I quite likely have some readers now who didn't start out with me as a result of Good Intentions. So, here we go:
As I noted in an earlier blog post, I started out writing what became Good Intentions while I had hit a small snag in writing Poor Man's Fight. Good Intentions was originally a series posted on Literotica.com under the title of "Angels, Demons and Alex." It was the first erotic anything that I had ever written, barring some racy letters between myself and a gal in high school who... um... well, that was twenty years ago. Anyway...
"ADA" was posted, in the beginning, in a serialized format. I posted each chapter as I wrote it. I did a few things there that were simply a matter of shameless pandering to my (underinformed) perceptions of the Literotica audience. For one thing, I felt like I had to make sure there was sex in every chapter, or at least ALMOST every chapter. (The first had none, and there was no prologue originally.) When I put the series together as the novel of Good Intentions, I had to consider the whole work as one big story... and that meant some stuff, like a couple of sex scenes and a couple of plot threads that went nowhere, had to go.
There are a couple of cut pieces I'm happy to share here on my blog. My favorite of them comes after the cut below. I'll post another at some later date.
I need to make something clear: the notion of there being an "original" version of "ADA" is really something of a murky topic. You see, the story evolved as I wrote it--a topic for another blog post--and thus I went back and changed stuff in the earlier chapters even while I was finishing the later stuff.
So, to be blunt: I don't have an "original copy" to send to anyone. I have an old computer tower in my closet that may have some of the material you miss, but that would depend on what material you're hoping to find. Some of it I genuinely wish I had never written, and have no intention of sharing with anyone ever again. They were my growing pains as a writer of erotica, guys. This is not a "Han Shot First" issue so much as it's like remembering the pilot of a TV series as being awesome until you dig it up on VHS and watch it and realize it was terrible TV. I am very sorry if this disappoints anyone. I know we all have varying tastes. I stand by my decisions and Good Intentions as a complete work.
Now, all that said: I promised you a "deleted scene." I didn't delete this one so much as I replaced it, because it's a tiny bit of what is more or less fanfic included in an otherwise completely original work. I didn't want any issues of copyright or to look like I was somehow making money off of someone else's creative IP.
I was, however, quite proud of this piece. I kinda wish I had kept it in the book and called it a "parody," but, alas, it was a risk I wasn't willing to take in my first work. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you:
Alex Carlisle's Totally Not Safe For Work Marty Stu Wet Dream


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Abu Qatada appeal: May defends removal delay
The home secretary has defended her handling of attempts to deport radical cleric Abu Qatada, but said he is likely to remain "for many months".
Theresa May said Abu Qatada's lawyers had no right to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights because the deadline had passed.
But an official at the Secretariat of the Council of Europe said the appeal was within the deadline.
The PM said he was confident Abu Qatada would be removed from the UK.
But shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said "chaos has turned into farce".
In a statement to the Commons, Theresa May said the three-month deadline for Abu Qatada's appeal had passed before the application was submitted.
Mrs May said: "The government is clear that Abu Qatada has no right to refer the case to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights, since the three-month deadline to do so lapsed at midnight on Monday."
She confirmed she had written to the ECHR to argue Abu Qatada's application should be rejected and the case heard by the UK's Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) instead.
However Mrs May conceded that the deportation process and any potential Siac appeal were now on hold.
"Despite the progress we have made, the process of deporting Qatada is likely to take many months," she told MPs.
She also said Abu Qatada had chosen to use delaying tactics, which he had been doing since 2001.
In the Commons, Mrs Cooper criticised Mrs May for "partying with X Factor judges" as Qatada's lawyers launched their appeal.
"When the home secretary is accused of not knowing what day of the week it is, chaos and confusion have turned into farce," she said.
"But this farce has serious consequences: in additional delays; in a greater risk Abu Qatada will be out on bail; in a risk he will sue the government for recommencing deportation proceedings while injunction 39 was still in place."
An official at the Secretariat of the Council of Europe sent a message to the House of Commons Library regarding the appeal which said: "I would say that [the appeal was lodged] just in time, but of course the Court may decide otherwise."
Prime Minister David Cameron said: "[Abu Qatada] is a danger to our country and we want to remove him from our country. However long it takes and however many difficulties there are, we will get him out.
"I sometimes wish I could put him on a plane and take him to Jordan myself. But government has to act within the law. That is what we'll do. We will get this done."
Ministers believe the three-month deadline for appealing against the ECHR ruling passed on Monday night and, on Tuesday, Mrs May told MPs she had received fresh guarantees from Jordan that Abu Qatada would face a fair trial and that he could now be deported.
But on Wednesday the court said it had received a request for an appeal at 22:00 BST on Tuesday, which it said was before the deadline.
The deportation process cannot begin until a panel of judges has decided whether the case should go to the Grand Chamber of the court.
The ECHR originally blocked Abu Qatada's deportation to Jordan on 17 January.
The judges ruled that, while they were satisfied that the preacher would not face ill-treatment in Jordan, the UK could not deport him without assurances from Jordan that evidence gained through torture would not be used against him.
Abu Qatada's lawyers are appealing against the part of the court's ruling that stated it was satisfied that he would not face torture if he was deported.
An ECHR spokeswoman said the panel always considered the timing of the referral request and decided whether it was before or after the deadline.
Justice Secretary Ken Clarke dismissed the row over timings as "hysterical angst" and said he was not sure why everyone was "wildly excited" about a "procedural wrangle".
"I'm not sure why it's regarded as such a big deal," he told BBC Breakfast.
"We know perfectly well legal proceedings are still going to take a few months, they're bound to do so."
Meanwhile justice ministers from 47 countries have gathered in Brighton to discuss reforms to the ECHR - including whether it should hear fewer appeals.
The UK has criticised some of its judgements - including blocking the deportation of Abu Qatada - and wants to limit the court's powers.


text:
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|21 Feb 2015
Skipping programs during system restore?
Is there any way to skip the installation of certain programs during a full factory system restore? For one example, I have an antivirus I use rather than what OEMs choose. Currently I have to let the system install it, only to then uninstall it.
It seems there are different restore schemes. HP seems to do everything in one operation. Acer restores Windows and then adds its own programs afterward.
Is this what Image-X's Audit is used for?
|My System Specs
|21 Feb 2015
Why not do a clean install and do it exactly how you want ?
Clean Install Windows 7
|My System Specs
|21 Feb 2015
I usually do, but sometimes the factory restore is a better option for drivers' or licensing' sake. And I want to increase my understanding of the subject.
|My System Specs
|21 Feb 2015
Vista, Windows7, Mint Mate, Zorin, Windows 8
Unless you slipstream your installation disc, the answer to your question is NO.
|My System Specs
|21 Feb 2015
There will be no issues with drivers or licensing, just use the key on your COA.
|My System Specs
|21 Feb 2015
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
I have two Acers, yes, their factory restore is either all or nothing. I purchased Windows 7 Pro "blue-disks" [nonOEM] to have another option - clean install. Because I do not like either options, I keep plenty of restorable partition image backups around.
|My System Specs
|21 Feb 2015
Ok, thanks guys. Just wondering. I'm no Image-X maven, obviously. I don't do factory resets often because images are so much better. But sometimes the coa is worn and the FR can have advantages.
|My System Specs
|22 Feb 2015
Hi Paul-
Read the Special Note for HP Owners at the end of Clean Reinstall Windows 7
which explains the HP Minimal Recovery that is nearly as good as a Clean Reinstall.
It also explains how certain HP bloatware can be extracted from Recovery disks, although some is available for download on the model's Support Downloads webpage along with drivers - which should always be used second in preference to the ones Windows 7 wants via the installer and Updates.
|My System Specs
|22 Feb 2015
Hi Greg,
That's helpful. I didn't know the WU store was superior to the drivers from the oems. I had the extra thought this morning that one more reason to occasionally choose the factory reset is, as you allude, that some firmware is not available on the Web. Over time, one can accumulate his own store of what he needs, but for the one-off end user, the Reset might be the better option.
I had another thought, that maybe the factory reset could be manipulated by finding and editing the XML answer file. Until I might get an answer on that I'll not quite close this question in my mind.
|My System Specs
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Water sports on the lake of Ghirla
Because of the ideal location of your campsite on Lake Ghirla you can enjoy lots of water sports activities. Your kids can have plenty of fun on the lake and paddle their boats. The big brothers of Lago di Ghirla are nearby. On Lake Como or Lake Maggiore you can enjoy swimming, surfing, sailing, kayaking, fishing, paddle boats and even diving. All this in the stunning scenery of the beautiful clear blue water with in the background the beautiful rugged green Alps. The various rivers that adorn the landscape also offer lots of water sports. In short, no lack of water during a stay at a campsite at Lake Ghirla.
The mountains near your campsite at Lake Ghirla
Besides the many water around your campsite at Lake Ghirla, you can also find imposing mountains in this region also. The Lombardy region where the Lago di Ghirla belongs to is wedged between the Alps. The foothills of the Alps are ideal for making walks. Also, bicycling and climbing are among the possibilities. Be amazed by the stunning and beautiful nature that you find here. If you'd rather not walk or bike up the mountains from your campsite at Lake Ghirla? The cableway in the mountains is the perfect answer!
Heading out from your campsite at Lake Ghirla
You can make lots of trips from your campsite on Lake Ghirla. You can visit the more than 1000 year old abbey Gemlus or the border village of Ponte Tresa, located on the Italian / Swiss border. Do you like shopping? Then a trip to the fashion city of Milan is an absolute must. Stroll along the market in Luino and for who can not get enough of the water of Lake Como and Lake Maggiore, you can make beautiful boat trips with the whole family. You won't have to get bored on a campsite at Lake Ghirla.
A camping holiday on Lake Ghirla is there to let you enjoy all there is to offer.