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March 27, 2008
Book Notes - Jeff Gordinier ("X Saves the World")
In the Book Notes series, authors create and discuss a music playlist that is in some way relevant to their recently published books.
In X Saves the World, Jeff Gordinier examines the highs and lows of Generation X, and points out that the coda for my generation hasn't sounded yet. As a (sometimes) proud Generation Xer, I enjoyed this book filled with social history and biting humor. Long live Gen X...
In his own words, here is Jeff Gordinier's Book Notes essay for his book, X Saves the World: How Generation X Got the Shaft but Can Still Keep Everything from Sucking:
Since my book, X Saves the World, is about the rise and fall and quiet resurgence of Generation X, I suppose the right thing to do is to put together a playlist with popular "alternative" MTV chestnuts like Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Beck's "Loser," and Hole's "Miss World." But that seems a little too obvious, and Xers have a tendency to dodge the obvious. So let's try something a little different.
"Silence Kit," by Pavement. I love the way the song starts off in a state of burbling, squeaking, mumbling, farting chaos, and then unexpectedly lurches into a rush of power-chord euphoria, and then slurps back into entropy. Writing a book can be like that. I also love the way nobody really seems to know what the song is called. On the packaging for Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain it says "Silence Kit," but on the disc itself it says "Silence Kid." Writing a book can be like that, too. My book is printed up by now, but I feel as though I'm still not 100% sure what my title is.
"Don't Look Back," by Boston. At the end of X Saves the World, after the acknowledgements section, I include a "hidden track" — a three-page passage in which I pay flaming tribute to this song. Because the song is by Boston, those faceless dukes of the classic-rock radio dial, a few readers have presumed that I'm being tongue-in-cheek. I'm not. Really. There was a point in "the writing process" when I was so utterly blocked and downcast that I started to imagine myself jumping off the Tappan Zee Bridge. Then one night I heard this song on the car radio and it filled me up with a mutant surge of energy. I had a Tony Robbins moment! Yes! I bought the song for 99 cents on iTunes and wound up playing it almost every morning until I was done with the manuscript. Now I'm just waiting for Sonic Youth to cover it, along with Billy Joel's "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant."
"Deathly," by Aimee Mann. I'm drawn to love songs that boil down to a combination of "come closer, baby" and "get the hell away from me." Maybe there's something Xish about that doomy twinning of yearning and skepticism—or maybe I'm just screwed up. Either way, Aimee's opening line here is godlike: "Now that I've met you / Would you object to / Never seeing each other again?"
"Creeping Coastline of Lights," by Mark Lanegan. Lanegan is a growly Pacific Northwest troubadour who's never gotten his due, and The Leaving Trains, who originally wrote this song (which Lanegan covered on 1999's I'll Take Care of You), were a growly Los Angeles band that never got its due. The Trains' version is a churning rocker, but Lanegan slows it way down and gives it a Raymond Chandler makeover, complete with shimmering noir/lounge vibes and reverbing guitar arpeggios that seem to bob back and forth like a boat in the harbor just before a suspicious dame pulls the trigger. Hear it and it will haunt you. One of these days David Lynch is going to use "Creeping Coastline of Lights" in a movie, and then everyone will call it a classic.
"Meet Ze Monsta," by PJ Harvey. Hand me the blindfold, Polly. I'll do whatever you want.
"Can't Knock the Hustle," by Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige. Yes, I'm totally aware that this is the sort of choice that's going to show up on Stuff White People Like. Because look, I'm picking a track from Jay-Z's MTV Unplugged album! Don't white guys like me just love it when our rap is unplugged…and recorded with "real musical instruments"…and backed up by The Roots? But still, yes, I'm inspired by what Shawn Carter has to tell us. My own motto is not "stack rocks like Colorado," but I feel as though it should be.
"Mesmerizing," by Liz Phair. This isn't one of the more overtly sexual songs on the epochal Exile in Guyville, but it is the sexiest. I once spoke with Liz Phair on the phone and became convinced, after about five minutes of casual conversation, that she and I were long lost siblings and that we'd shared some sort of Cement Garden/Flowers in the Attic ordeal together that we'd managed to repress for 20 years. Naturally I figured that this grand delusion of mine was unique, but now I'm convinced that every male music writer in the 1990s had the same experience.
"River Man," by Katell Keineg. Technically Nick Drake was a boomer, but since the Woodstock generation ignored him, it was up to Xers to rediscover and reclaim his diffident, whispery melancholia. In sensibility, at least, he's one of us. Katell Keineg's live version of Drake's "River Man," from a hard-to-find EP of hers called What's the Only Thing Worse Than The End of Time, is so sublime that I can't even figure out what to say about it.
"Police on My Back," by the Clash. Replace the word "police" with "editors" and you'll get a sense of the ice-cube panic that slides down a writer's spine when he's on deadline. Especially at the point in the song where Mick Jones starts shouting, "What have I done!? What have I done!?"
"Gin and Juice," by Snoop Dogg. I remember being naively taken aback when I first heard this massive hit, because its key line—"with my mind on my money and my money on my mind"—was such a blunt celebration of cash, and I guess I thought that we, as Xers, were supposed to be above all that. Fat chance. Within two years I had become utterly obsessed with my 401(k).
"The Look of Love," by ABC, "Love My Way," by the Psychedelic Furs, and "Lions in My Own Garden," by Prefab Sprout. Nostalgia's a drag. But sometimes I really do miss the Eighties.
"The Needle Has Landed," by Neko Case. "The Needle Has Landed" is a different song every time you play it. There's something liquid about it. It shifts, wiggles around, floats on a lake of mercury. I have no idea how Neko Case pulls it off, but I've been known to study it 15 times in a single sitting.
"The Greatest," by Cat Power, and "Angeles," by Elliot Smith. Two beautiful ballads soaked through with the erotic allure of failure.
"Losing My Edge," by LCD Soundsystem. Generational friction you can dance to.
"Good Morning, Captain," by Slint. This comes from an obscure-but-influential 1991 album called Spiderland, which is a perfect title, because Slint specialized in weaving meticulous, ritualized, delicate-yet-deadly webs of sound. I once went down to Houston to write about a conference attended by hundreds of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Spiderland, intentionally, was the only CD I brought along in the rental car.
"The Next Movement," by the Roots. The groove hits your system like seven cups of coffee, and I'm automatically in favor of all songs that manage to rhyme "amethyst" and "panelist."
"Whiskey Bottle," by Uncle Tupelo. Back in the early Nineties, when my friend Rich and I were unemployed Ivy League grads getting our first taste of corporate cutbacks and hiring freezes, we used to drive around the nicer precincts of Pasadena listening to Uncle Tupelo and finding solace in Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy's twang-punk anthems of Rust Belt drift and despair. I can only hope that we had a sense of how ridiculous we looked.
"Wave of Mutilation (UK Surf)," by the Pixies. I first found this on the soundtrack to an absurd-yet-strangely-mesmerizing 1990 angstploitation flick called Pump Up the Volume. (Samantha Mathis, where have you gone?) It's not the same version of "Wave of Mutilation" that appears on Doolittle. It's much better. It's slowed down to a crawl, and it's full of hypnotic echoes and pings and hisses, and Black Francis sings like some kind of cracked Polynesian deity summoning a tsunami from the briny depths.
"This Charming Man," by the Smiths. What a gas it is to get a bunch of straight Gen X guys together, liquor them up, and hear to them singing "Punctured bicycle on a hillside desolate / Will nature make a man of me yet?" in unison.
"Moby Octopad," by Yo La Tengo. Someday I want to build a yurt in my backyard. I'll wire the yurt for "sensaround," the all-encompassing sonic wash that was used to pump up Seventies disaster movies like The Towering Inferno. Then I'll put a buckwheat hull zafu on the floor, sit on it, and meditate on this serpentine bassline for, I don't know, three or four days.
"I Will Dare," by The Replacements. It came out when I was a freshman in college, and back then I didn't really grasp the poetry of the line, "How young are you? / How old am I? / Let's count the rings around my eyes." I do now.
Jeff Gordinier and X Saves the World links:
the author's website
the book's page at the publisher
AlterNet review and interview with the author
FastCompany review
Wired review
Brainiac previews the book
Powells.com interview with the author
Washington Post article about the Details piece that inspired the book.
YouTube interview with the author
also at Largehearted Boy:
Previous Book Notes submissions (authors create playlists for their book)
Note Books (musicians discuss literature)
guest book reviews
musician/author interviews
directors and actors discuss their film's soundtracks
52 Books, 52 Weeks (2008 Edition)
52 Books, 52 Weeks (2007 Edition)
52 Books, 52 Weeks (2006 Edition)
52 Books, 52 Weeks (2005 Edition)
52 Books, 52 Weeks (2004 Edition)
tags: books music nonfiction generationx genx


text: Dollaro is a corrected grain leather coming from European cattle. The fine grain and the soft touch make this leather suitable for any purpose in interior decoration, boats interiors and contract. The hides are dyed with a passing-through process. The average size of Dollaro is approximately 5 sqm, the thickness is mm 1.3 – 1.5.The colour card include an exceptional number of shades.

subset: commoncrawl


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SBI PO Results 2017 – SBI Probationary Officer Merit List
State Bank of India (SBI) has successfully conducted the State Bank of India Probationary Officer 2017 Prelims written exam in the month of March and April, 2017. Large numbers of applicants were applied and appeared for this SBI PO Prelims 2017 written exam. After completion of the written exam, all the attended candidates are eagerly waiting for their SBI PO Results 2017. State Bank of India (SBI) is going to upload the SBI Probationary Officer Preliminary Merit List 2017 very soon at its official page. All the appeared candidates may check and download their SBI PO Results 2017 through online.
State Bank of India (SBI) has announced the recruitment notification SBI Probationary Officer Vacancies 2017 for 2403 PO posts. SBI invited the online applications from interested and eligible candidates. SBI conducts various exams for filling up unreserved positions in its branches every year. This year also SBI conducted the SBI Probationary Officer 2017 exam on 29th, 30th March, 2017 and 06th, 07th April, 2017 at various exam centers.
SBI is going to release the SBI PO Results 2017 after three to four weeks completion of the exam date at its official portal. All the candidates must download their SBI Probationary Officer 2017 Results PDF through online. Based on the results, applicants will get eligibility for the mains written exam and get call letter for the mains examination. Applicants who have qualified in the prelims exam are eligible for the mains written exam.
How to check SBI PO Results 2017:
- Candidates must log on to the official website of State Bank of India www.sbi.co.in
- After that, click on the link of State Bank of India PO Prelims 2017 Results.
- Then, enter your hall ticket number and date of birth etc.
- Click on submit button.
- SBI PO Results 2017 will be appeared on the computer screen.
- Download it and take a printout of it for future reference.
Official Website: www.sbi.co.in


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Pete Rizzo
Month: June 2016
Layne's swan song
- 3:57 pm Tuesday, June 28th, 2016 by Pete Rizzo
Grunge was well on its way to becoming passe when one of the genre's most distinctive bands played their last gig with their mysterious lead singer 20 years ago this month.
Alice in Chains played their last show with original lead singer Layne Staley on July 3, 1996 while touring with Kiss. Here's a clip of them performing, sad but fittingly, "We Die Young":
Though he would remain with the band for six more years, Staley never performed live with Alice in Chains again as his health steadily declined and he became increasingly reclusive until his death in 2002. But not before [More]
A Jones Beach 'Revelation'
- 3:53 pm Tuesday, June 28th, 2016 by Pete Rizzo
One of the better concerts I've seen in recent memory happened this past week when I went to see quite the dream pairing at Jones Beach; Sting and Peter Gabriel.
What a treat to see two Rock and Roll Hall of Famers having such a good time onstage! They were both in fine form vocally, especially Sting whose voice has not seemed to age at all through the years.
But in an evening of many highlights, this one courtesy of Sting (being the mega Genesis nerd I am) took the cake for me. It's only a few seconds long, but it's fantastic.
My [More]
Remembering Van Hagar's end 20 years ago
- 2:14 pm Tuesday, June 21st, 2016 by Pete Rizzo
It was a good run, but alas it had to come to an end. And that is what happened 20 years ago this month for Sammy's first tenure with Van Halen. This tune represented Sammy's official swan song with VH back in 1996.
Needless to say, neither camp was at a loss for words over the exit.
While I am now and will always be a Diamond Dave purist, I did like a lot of tunes from the Sammy era. Among my favorites were these:
How about you? What was your favorite tune from the Van Hagar era?
Können wir uns nicht einfach alle vertragen?!
- 2:06 pm Tuesday, June 21st, 2016 by Pete Rizzo
If you're wondering, what (I hope) the title translates to is 'Can't we all just get along?!' in German? In the case of the legendary Schenker brothers, that may be asking too much.
Guitar legend Michael Schenker went off again on his Scorpions guitarist brother Rudolf recently, saying that the band hasn't recorded anything of note for well over two decades now.
I may be inclined to agree with Michael if not for these two gems from the 90s,…
,…this one has become one of my all time favorite Scorpions tunes.
Still eating questions all these years later
- 2:10 pm Tuesday, June 14th, 2016 by Pete Rizzo
There a new documentary out soon on the always colorful and unapologetic Frank Zappa called "Eat That Question": Here's the trailer to whet your whistle:
Zappa was always a colorful interview with often pithy and hilarious (often one in the same) quotes, as these clips below display, many from his battle with the PMRC.
And even here, in one of his last interviews before his death:
Here's a collection of some of his best quotes: As for my favorites, I have to go with these classics:
"Music is the only religion that delivers the goods."
"A drug is not bad. A drug is a [More]
Getting Their 'Load' On 20 Years Later
- 2:05 pm Tuesday, June 14th, 2016 by Pete Rizzo
How do you follow up a landmark album as seismically successful as the Black Album?! If you are the guys in Metallica, you do (pardon me, Monty Python) something completely different. In their case, they released "Load", which turns 20 this month.
It left lots of fans scratching their heads and others absolutely apoplectic in their hatred of "Load". I was definitely not one of the haters. Was it different? Yes. I was one of the head scratchers when I first listened to the cassette of the album that I brought. But I liked a lot of the material that made [More]
Most 'Epic Rock Tales'
- 1:55 pm Tuesday, June 14th, 2016 by Pete Rizzo
There's a funny new online series of rock legends telling their often hilarious rites of passage involving groupies, fellow rock stars and everything in between.
As for my favorite rock tales, you really can't go wrong with two of rock's pre-eminent architects of mayhem, Ozzy Osbourne and Keith Moon. This Ozzy story is one of my favorites (NOTE: Never challenge the Prince of Darkness to a gross-out contest!)
This excellent BBC documentary has numerous folks ruminating on the depraved tales of Moonie. My favorite story may be the double shot of adrenaline in his ankles that may have worked a little [More]


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Bridge Across The Harbour
Everyone has somewhere they run to when the world gets on top of them. Most
places have a landmark that you see when you get there. When I see that bridge
across the harbour I know I've reached my safe haven.
Morgan's Creek
Morgan's Creek is an imaginary town in the heart of Australia. It's the kind
of small town you have to leave in order to see the world, but it's also the
kind of place you end up back home in, settling down. The song is about the
homecoming of someone who's been away travelling but has now come home to a
lover who's been waiting for them for a long time. The lyrics also try to
portray the world weariness of the traveller and the fact that Morgan's Creek is
a sanctuary from the madness of the world. Finally, it deals with the dangers
and opportunities of travelling, angel looking devils and kissing friends.
No Thanks
This is a song about falling in love with someone unsuitable. In particular,
they're unreliable, in that they gave you their love and then took it away
again. Because of this, the singer's dreams have died, with them no longer
believing in dragons (or other magic). The lyrics also hint that the singer
stood out on a limb for the subject of the song, specifically between the flame
(of passion) and the truth (of daily co-existence) and how you need to broker
co-existence (or build bridges) between the two.
Choice Not Freedom (Are You Really?)
This is all about a certain person from a remote town who met a traveller on
the road (the singer) and struck up a relationship with them. The individual
concerned had been married but the relationship broke up. Instead of a second
commitment, they got involved with the singer for a mostly physical relationship
that was bound to end when the traveller resumed their journey. Of course,
choices can be limited, whereas freedom is not, but many of us confuse choice
with freedom.
Bed Of Rhythm
This is pure sex really. It's all about the realisation that you fancy
someone with whom you've been friends for some time. It's also about doing the
right thing, knowing that the object of your desires had a prior relationship
that wasn't right for them (never went as far as wishes). There's a very obvious
sexual proposition running throughout the song.
Light Of The Day
This is about a young person who's grown up in an industrial city where the
old businesses have been closed down. They need to move on to a new place to get
a start in life. They've seen their father used, and in some ways exploited, by
their employers over the years. Now the industry that he gave his working life
to won't provide employment to his children. The middle eight is a rejection of
politicians who promise solutions but don't deliver them. It's also about
keeping the old traditions and memories no matter where you end up in life.
Family of Nations
This song is on two levels really and was inspired by being trapped in the
corner of a pub by an old bloke who just wanted someone to rant off at. On the
big level, it's about the fact that it's just as important to win the peace as
it is to win a war. There's a certain resentment I'm sure even nowadays against,
for example German or Japanese goods by those who fought against those nations
in the Second World War. There's also a certain resentment against the older
folk in a family by the younger ones who want to forge new friendships. By the
way, you are far more likely to be killed by someone you know as then there's a
reason to have an argument that might lead to violence.
Paint My Dreams
This is about those people who are visionaries and have the courage to stand
in a minority of one. It's all about having a vision of the future and being
prepared to work for it, no matter the cost. It's also about the pen being
mightier than the sword, and how it's hard to fight against an idea.
How Katie Feels
After September 11th there were a lot of memorial services for fire fighters
who had been killed at ground zero. A friend of mine at junior school had lost
her father when he went on a routine fire fighting job. After the papers
reported his death, no one remembered him. So I wondered how Katie felt watching
the memorials for the heroes of the New York Fire Department. This is a true
story, by the way.
How Do You Take It?
Ever tried getting rid of someone who won't accept that a relationship is
over? The break-up is due to the changes that the subject has gone through (I
love your bones but I don't recognise you). The chorus deals with the singer's
desire to end the romance (and how to achieve that) while the verses express the
singer's regrets and observations on the situation.
Nigel Clothier
Design By


text:
In 1947, legislators in California approved the creation of a special market for automobile insurance to extend coverage to individuals whose driving records made it difficult to find coverage. The California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan is not a standard insurance market. It caters to high-risk drivers who would otherwise be considered too hazardous by insurance companies.
The market share insurers command in the Golden State dictates the percentage of high-risk drivers they should extend coverage to. These drivers are considered a higher risk not just because of major violations or because they have racked up too many tickets. Younger first-time drivers may also be placed in the state assigned risk plan.
Here are some reasons you may be considered a high-risk driver.
Being a Teenager or First-Time Driver
Some Vista auto insurance companies consider teenagers as well as first-time drivers of any age to be high-risk drivers, and this designation may apply even if they have never been in an accident or received any tickets for moving violations. Depending on the insurer, this designation may only last a few months or for a single policy contract. In some cases, it may be removed after successful completion of a defensive driving course.
Receiving Multiple Tickets
This is the most common situation that results in a high-risk driver designation, particularly for drivers who receive two or more speeding tickets within a twelve-month period. Some insurers will also look at the circumstances surrounding the tickets to see if they fit a certain pattern. Driving just a few miles over the highway speed limit in your commuting route will not be as severe as going 10 miles over the limit in a school zone. These infractions take three years to be removed from driving records before drivers can be once again be considered low-risk.
Violating Major Traffic Laws
When it comes to driving under the influence and reckless driving cases that require court appearances, insurance companies may issue high-risk driver designations for up to five years. In this case, drivers must not only wait the required time but also comply with court requirements such as probation, license suspension, substance abuse counseling, defensive driving courses, and SR-22 filing.
Having No Recent Record of Prior Insurance
Drivers who leave the United States to reside in a foreign country for more than five years may be surprised to learn they now fall under the high-risk driver designation. In some cases, underwriters may accept insurance records from other countries with their respective translations. This designation can be cleared in as little as six months as long as drivers do not switch policies around. Making good on the arrangement to secure the policy with four monthly installment payments may clear the way for automatic renewal and preferred designation by the insurer. If you haven't had auto insurance in the U.S. for over five years, it's best to start looking now for online auto insurance quotes. Vista residents can contact American Tri-Star for reliable coverage.
If you need affordable car insurance, get in touch with Tri-Star Insurance, a leading provider of car, motorcycle, and motorhome insurance in Vista. Call 760-758-1600, and one of our friendly agents would be happy to assist you. We hope to hear from you soon.


text:
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A 4-year-old Kansas City boy is fighting for his life, after a driver in a gray or light blue Chevy Impala plowed into him and his family and then drove away.
K'Nari Hill, a preschooler, is now in the intensive care unit at Children's Mercy Hospital.
The boy was hurt in a hit-and-run that happened early Monday evening at the intersection of 31st Street and Prospect. Police said the collision occurred when K'Nari's mother tried to cross the street with him and his two young siblings.
Investigators told FOX 4 the family was walking east to west in the crosswalk across Prospect when a car turning right at the light hit them. Police are not yet sure who had the right-of-way, but they said the driver took off after impact.
Family members provided FOX 4 with gruesome photos from the crash site that show K'Nari lying on the ground and bleeding from the head as paramedics rush to his side.
"I came over there to assist with the baby, hold his hand and just told him it`s going to be okay, and to keep breathing," said one witness, who asked he not be named.
The good Samaritan said God pushed him to help the family during a moment of chaos, in which the child's mother was hysterical.
"She was hyperventilating," he said, "very petrified, disgruntled, and she really wanted her kids."
The mother and two other kids have minor injuries and will be okay, but it appears K'Nari got the worst of it.
"I'm hurt," said Cortez Doyle, K'Nari's grandfather. "I'm hurt. I'm really hurt."
Doyle said their family is distraught, as they try to comprehend who would hit a mother and her small children, then drive away.
"He likes playing," Cortez said of K'Nari. "He loves life He calls me 'Paw Paw,' will get the phone from his mama and call me all the time. So yeah, it's really, it hurts real for somebody to do that to an innocent kid and drive off."
Poice are now searching for a gray or light blue Chevy Impala with a temporary tag – as K'Nari's family is praying for healing and justice.
"Please turn yourself in," pleaded Doyle. " That's all you got to do and let's get down to the bottom of this."
If you know anything about the hit-and-run, call Crime Stoppers at (816) 474-TIPS.


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Initially meeting through friends, Adara and Jabon would find themselves always "running into each other." After numerous "chance" encounters they decided perhaps it was something more than serendipity bringing them together and began to get to know each other. After months of building a friendship they went out on their first date to a location that would come to hold even more significance as it would be the very place of their engagement...
Read all about Adar & Jabon's love story, intimate and sentimental proposal, and experiences in their beautiful ballroom wedding in Connecticut.
(View the vendor list below.)
Bride & Groom: Adara & Jabon
Occuptations: Probation Officer & Financial Trainer
Wedding date: 11/11/16
Wedding location: Trumbull Marriott Ballroom. Trunbull, CT.
Tell us how you met and all about the proposal. We met through mutual friends. We kept running into each other. Eventually we started speaking over the phone and built a friendship. A few months into us speaking we had our first date at Starbucks and it's been our favorite date spot ever since.
Jabon proposed on 11/11/15. We decided to go on a date to the Starbucks where we had our first date. We hadn't been to that particular Starbucks in over a year. It still didn't seem suspicious to me. We ordered our usual lattes (him chai and me green tea) and sat there chatting like we did on that first date there 4 years ago. Jabon started asking me questions about that first date. We sat there reminiscing, then he said that he knew that the next time we came to this Starbucks he would be asking me to be his wife. He then told me how on a previous date, to a different Starbucks he saw an old friend whose wife had on an engagement ring that he admired. He told me that in that moment he knew wherever that ring came from, he would buy mine. He then pulled out the ring box and sat it on the table. He began to tell me how he had sneaked and looked at my phone one night when I had left the room - he was getting my father's phone number to ask for my hand. Jabon said that when my father called earlier that day and asked to speak to him, it wasn't just to say hello. My dad was asking him if he had done "it" yet. At that point Jabon opened the ring box, got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Of course I said yes. No one noticed us in our own little world. We had a perfect, private, intimate moment that we'll always remember.
What was wedding shopping like for you? I went to two bridal shops before deciding that I wanted to have my dress made. I took the most flattering elements from the dresses I tried on and along with my designer, Joel, created my one of a kind, dream dress. My wedding dress was a lace, fit and flare, blush gown. I felt like Lisa in Coming to America. That dress made me feel so beautiful. I loved the volume on the bottom, my incredibly long train and cathedral veil. It was better than anything I dreamed up in my head.
Did you incorporate any culture into your wedding? I had the bible that my grandmother carried when she got married sitting out, where we said our vows. It was important for me to have a piece of her there. She was at the end stages of dementia and wasn't well enough to attend. We also had black cake (Jamaican rum cake) as favors, to pay homage to my West Indian roots.
Bridesmaid's and Groomsmen's gifts: gift cards towards their shoes, wedding day jewelry and wedding day make-up. Groomsmen gifts: ties, tie bars and socks for the wedding day.
Favorite item on the menu: wedding cake, each layer was different (sweet potato, banana pudding and carrot cake).
First Dance Song: "Just Me and You" by Tony Toni Tone'.
Describe your wedding style. We describe our wedding style as Urban Chic, with a touch of Glam. I wore a fit and flare, blush gown. Jabon wore a navy tuxedo. Our wedding party wore navy and blush as well. The girls in high low dresses and the guys in complimenting tuxedos. For the reception we all changed to our favorite sneakers, so we could dance comfortably all night.
It was important for our day to be a reflection of who we are. We wrote our own vows and were very candid and honest about our feelings in them. We are a very private couple so this was an opportunity to give people a peak into our love. We also wanted to show everyone the joining of our two families. Jabon has a 12 year old son (we call him by his middle name Vaer). He needed to play a big part in our day, as he has played a huge part in our relationship. Vaer served as Jabon's Junior Best Man and stood by his father's side.
What is your best memory from your wedding? My best memory is saying my vows to Jabon. We're normally so private, it felt good to express my love in a room filled with people who have supported us throughout our relationship. Jabon's best memory was doing his little dance, while taking off my garter belt. He later told me how he practiced and went over the music with our DJ.
What is the best wedding advice you can give to engaged couples? The best wedding advice would be not to sweat the small stuff. Everything will not go as planned the day of... Plan as best you can and just enjoy the journey. Also, make time for your significant other throughout the process. It can be easy to get caught up in planning but life doesn't stop. Make time for check-ins, to make sure each other are holding up okay.
Photographer: Chike Photography
Wedding Dress Designer: Joel Edwards
Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids
Bride's Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Bridesmad Shoes: BCBG (from DSW)
Emcee: Premiere Emcee LLC
Flourist: Blossoming Blessings
Make-Up Artists: Jade Staton, Angelina Kendall
Hair Stylists: Sharon Joy Hair Salon (Sharon Clemons, Joy Brown)
DJ and Lighting: Buddha LuvJonz
Cake, Wedding Planner and Event Design: Edible Couture
Ceremony & Reception Location: Trumbull Marriott Grand Ballroom
Wedding Invitations: Minted
Wedding Ceremony Programs: Robina Pierce


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Have you ever been to a party or an event where one central cake is the center of attraction? The cake that puts all the other cakes to shame. Looks amazing, elegantly decorated and placed on a pedestal. And when the host or the guest of honor cuts the cake, you start to salivate thinking about the cake in your mouth. And when it finally does go into your mouth, you can't help but feel disappointed.
Where's the moistness? Where's the delicately balanced flavors? Where's that decadent feeling?
And you can't but feel cheated. The cake that looked so beautiful and pretty is pretty empty on the inside. A shame really.
How do you find that balance? What makes that balance? Should the baker concentrate more on the cake or more on the decoration? Isn't that what society is these days?
We give more merits to what's on the outside rather than what's on the inside. No one cares if you have a nice personality. Everyone cares about how you look, what you're wearing etc. And the same applies to the baking world. Everyone wants a pretty cake. To be Instagrammed with hashtags.
How often do you see an Instagram of what a cake looks like on the inside? Unless it's a hidden layer cake. It's sad really. There really are good cakes made by incredible bakers out there who are losing out to bakers who are more decorators. Perhaps the latter are the smart ones. They made themselves evolve to stay ahead of the game.
So the question is, which matters most? The inside of the cake? Or the outside of the cake? And which should the client be charged more for?


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By: gobu (150) in faculty, staff, alumni, student
Terrier Nation's Mike Sullivan sits down with Boston University Women's Ice Hockey star Lauren [...]Cherewyk.
hockey, bu, boston, college, university, terriers, athletics, terrier, ncaa, 2009, women, sports, 2010, go, nation
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Xbox One Backwards Compatibility update: THREE new Xbox 360 games arrive from Microsoft
IN A NEW Xbox One Backwards Compatibility update, three new Xbox 360 games have been added to the Microsoft library.
New Xbox One Backwards Compatibility games revealed today
Xbox's Larry Hryb has announced a new batch of Xbox One Backwards Compatibility games are being launched today.
A total of three will be made available today via both disc install and digital library.
Child of Eden, Goat Simulator & KOF SKY STAGE are coming to Xbox One Backward Compatibility today, Microsoft have confirmed.
As usual, each games has a certain amount of votes on the official Xbox One leaderboards, with The King of Fighters: Sky Stage ranking in lowest this week.
Both KOF SKY STAGE and Goat Simulator have clocked in less than a 1,000 votes each, making Child of Eden the most wanted of the bunch.
Child of Eden is a rhythm action game created by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, which was originally launched on Xbox 360 in 2011.
"Child of Eden thrusts the player into the center of a battle to save Project Lumi, a mission to reproduce a human personality inside Eden, the archive of all human memories. As the project nears completion, the archive is invaded by an unknown virus. The player's mission is to save Eden from the virus, restoring hope and peace."
Goat Simulator is a third-person perspective action video game launched in 2014 by developers Coffee Stain Studios.
"Gameplay-wise, Goat Simulator is all about causing as much destruction as you possibly can as a goat. It has been compared to an old-school skating game, except instead of being a skater, you're a goat, and instead of doing tricks, you wreck stuff. Destroy things with style, such as doing a backflip while headbutting a bucket through a window, and you'll earn even more points!"
The King of Fighters: Sky Stage was released in 2012 for the Xbox 360 and published by SNK Playmore.
It follows news of original Xbox Backwards Compatibility games coming soon from Microsoft.
Xbox boss Phil Spencer said that original Xbox games are close, and that fans should expect some unannounced titles to be included.
Speaking to Gamespot, he said: "We're close, we're really close.
"I have a little dashboard I go to and I can see all the games [and] where they are in getting approvals in the pipeline.
"I know the games that are coming for the original Xbox but I don't think we've announced them all. We have to do this in partnership with partners, but we're still on track. I feel really good. The games look great."
Original Xbox Backwards Compatibility was announced at E3 2017.


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Pac-Man Championship Edition features some refreshingly new additions without compromising what made the original game such an engrossing experience in the first place.
Redesigning one of the most popular arcade games ever created must be an extremely challenging task since developers need to please both fans of the classic title and newcomers alike. Instead of making another complex 3D version of Pac-Man, Championship Edition is a heavily simplified iteration, featuring some refreshingly new additions without compromising what made the original game such an engrossing experience in the first place. This game is a clear example that reviving a classic franchise is definitely possible as Namco Bandai has updated the immensely popular 1980s classic by turning it into a time trial game where mazes are dynamically changing.
As in the original Pac-Man, the main objective is to move through various mazes, eating pellets. Thankfully, Championship has some refreshingly unique additions. Each maze is virtually divided into two and once you have cleared one side of the screen, an item appears on the opposite side. Additionally, when you eat that item, the side you have just cleared is completely redrawn and new pellets and power pellets appear so that the whole process can be repeated all over again.
The maze itself has been completely redesigned so that it may fit the widescreen and even though this may not appear to be a very significant change, it contributes to identify the virtual division between the two sides. The rest of the gameplay remains pretty much the same but small changes, like the fact that you can get a life every time you get 20,000 points, make the game feel fresh. Furthermore, the ghost pen is still in the middle of the maze and when you gobble up one of the scarce power pellets, the ghosts turn blue and they can be eaten for extra points. As you eat ghosts in a quick succession, more bonus points are received and in case you were wondering, doing this is as eminently satisfying as ever. Also, the game's speed increases as you get more points and decreases when you lose a life, making the basic gameplay a little more forgiving.
There are six main modes in Pac-Man Championship Edition: Championship Mode, Challenge Mode 1, Challenge Mode 2, Extra Mode 1, Extra Mode 2 and Extra Mode 3. There is a time limit in each mode (either 5 or 10 minutes) and the main objective is to obtain the highest score within that limit. Apart from that, the game has a wide variety of awards (read: achievements) that encourage you to do various things like finish all the modes, produce sparks for 5 seconds, get 400,000 points and so on. Although some awards are quite difficult, it shouldn't take you very long to get all of them. It should also be noted that each mode offers something different. For example, in Challenge Mode 2 you are surrounded by darkness and the board is only lit by pellets, power pellets and Pac-Man himself. So as you eat more and more pellets, the background becomes darker and darker, making the game a little more difficult as you progress.
The PlayStation Portable's D-Pad is extremely responsive, even when the game becomes way too hectic. As I previously mentioned, another addition is that by pressing on the direction you want to move right before a corner, Pac-Man emits sparks, allowing him to turn faster than usual. This move comes in handy when there are multiple enemies following you.
From a technical perspective, the game features enhanced graphics and sounds that definitely contribute to its revitalized look. Visuals feature neon lights that ooze a unique retro vibe. Most sounds of the original Pac-Man have been reused in Championship Edition, but some others were added. That is the case of the techno track which can be listened in the background as you play. What's good about the sound department is that most sounds are never intrusive, even when the game becomes very fast-paced.
Although Pac-Man Championship Edition is a great game, it definitely has some serious flaws. The main one is the fact that this isn't Pac-Man Championship Edition DX. Considering that Deluxe had already come out when this version was released, I don't think it would have been very difficult for Namco to put out the former as part of the Minis program. For the uninitiated, DX is a highly improved version of Championship Edition, rendering the latter pretty much obsolete as it included new modes, ghosts, music, graphics, a completely redesigned gameplay and many other features. The other problem is that the Minis version of Championship Edition doesn't have online connectivity of any kind. It should be taken into account that no Mini has online features, but considering that this is a championship-oriented title, the lack of leaderboards or multiplayer seems like a conspicuous absence.
Pac-Man Championship Edition is a terrific game and it definitely succeeds at revitalizing one of the most popular arcade titles ever made. Controls respond precisely to your input, the sharp visual design is exceptional, mazes are expertly designed and the title exudes a palpable sense of déjà vu. Unfortunately, the fact that this isn't the DX version and the lack of online leaderboards definitely hamper the package and makes it incomplete. The engrossing combination of old and new makes it almost impossible to go back to the original Pac-Man. And that's an achievement in itself.


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|DO NOT REPLY [Bug 32618] - Enterprise Commons Logging : Globalization & more
|Thu, 09 Dec 2004 22:50:41 GMT
DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL, BUT PLEASE POST YOUR BUG· RELATED COMMENTS THROUGH THE WEB INTERFACE AVAILABLE AT <http://issues.apache.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=32618>. ANY REPLY MADE TO THIS MESSAGE WILL NOT BE COLLECTED AND· INSERTED IN THE BUG DATABASE. http://issues.apache.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=32618 ------- Additional Comments From email@example.com 2004-12-09 23:50 ------- B.2. Fix fragile configuration problems. This area is more discussion, and less is currently represented in any proposed interface/class changes. Two things can/should be done here: a. tighten the 'discovery' process to minimize "non-deterministic behavior". b. give *serious* consideration to how we package commons logging. - Declarative Configuration: Now, regarding 'fragile' configurations, a declarative configuration driven programmatically by the "target framework" into which a component might be installed/executing within would resolve a lot of the problems. In such a solution, we should guard against any multiplicity of such "declarations". Throw exception, something, to if multiple occur in the runtime. - ONE Configuration Even in a dynamic "discovery" process, we should adopt a strategy of allowing only ONE configuration to exist. - In absense of an explicit declaration, if there is only one logger available, use it. - In absense of an explicit declaration, if there are multiple loadable loggers available, then configurable preference list could be consulted. Such a list MUST NOT be packaged with the commons logging distributable. - In presense of an explicit declaration, if that is NOT available, then fall back to a default logger (preference list or simple logger) AND log warning/info. - NO configuration of explicit/default loggers in ANY resource packaged with the logger. - Detailed diagnostics Detailed Internal analysis and dump on error/warning. Explain what has failed, why, and what should be done about it. References to a user guide would be acceptable I think. If there is ANY ambiguity, then WARN or INFO at a minimum. - Improve relationship with ClassLoader hierarchies The parent-first class loader mechanism causes problems with in some situations. Specifically, J2EE environments where applications attempt to use commons logging, AND where the runtime also supports it. The apparent solution is both a more deterministic discovery process for *configuration* data, and a more flexible config model. More deterministic ClassLoader behavior with respect to configuration files: - Force adherence to the parent-first ClassLoader precedence even if the ClassLoaders attempt to circumvent [force deterministic behavior]. - Walk ClassLoader hierarchy from top to bottom, discover and track WHERE resources [config files] are available. - Always defer to configuration found in lowest [closest to app] classloader. - Look for multiple copies of config resource loaded by any *one* classloader, throw a configuration exception or warning w/ fall-back to consistent default behavior in such an event OR warn and fall-back to behavior configured by PARENT classloader. - NO configuration file to be packed with commons-logging.jar Flexible config model: - Allow PARENT config to define a *default* attribute [such as logger] which applies to current classloader, and as a default to any child loader. These attributes are always considered in order of PARENT LAST. - Allow PARENT config to define a *must-use* attribute [such as logger] which forces behavior of child loaders. These attributes are always considered in order of PARENT FIRST, and override a corresponding *default* attribute. - The distinction between *default* and *must-use* to be made by different attribute names. - Repackaging Separate Interface from Implementations. Yes, this means TWO jar files (default). We might produce "utility" jar files that contain an interface with ONE implementation, and config for that implementation. We MUST eliminate packaging/solutions that dynamically adapt to environments were our users loose control of what the logger is doing. - Misc - is there any value in: Being able to query the logger implementation for it's "name"? An "Assert" the application/framework runtime can use to verify that all is as expected? Would be be better to "name" a logger, or a specific configuration? I think naming a configuration would lend better towards a deterministic behavior. -- Configure bugmail: http://issues.apache.org/bugzilla/userprefs.cgi?tab=email ------- You are receiving this mail because: ------- You are the assignee for the bug, or are watching the assignee. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: email@example.com For additional commands, e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
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Job Market
Job Market
Health Care
Young People
New college grads face difficult job market
By Lorraine Mirabella and Michael Lofthus, The Baltimore Sun
May 10, 2013
Jackie Carter had it all mapped out. She would attend college year-round and graduate early, land a job in criminal justice, start paying off student loans, move into her own apartment and invest in her first smartphone. But the 22-year-old Towson University graduate has seen her life after college veer off course. Carter, who graduated in December with a degree in sociology/anthropology with a criminal justice concentration, is living with her parents in Fallston, working as an intern and wondering whether her original goals are forever out of reach.
Spin v. reality in Md. job numbers [Editorial]
August 19, 2014
The headline on the news release out of Maryland's Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation yesterday sounded pretty great: "Private Sector Gains 18,700 Jobs Over-the-Year. " Read the body of the release, though, and you'll discover the actual news was not so great. In July, it says, Maryland actually lost 9,000 jobs, one of the worst performances in the nation and a distinct outlier in a month when 36 states and Washington, D.C., gained jobs. Not that the agency was dwelling on that.
Tough job market for young adults
By Jamie Smith Hopkins, The Baltimore Sun
March 15, 2014
Simone Knighten is hunting for a job. Hunting and hunting. The 20-year-old Baltimore resident thinks it's harder now than when she landed work at restaurants in the past two years. She's spending days at one of the city's Youth Opportunity centers, getting help with her search. "I've been looking since January," said Knighten, sitting in the West Baltimore building with brightly painted walls. "I've been going all around, calling back and everything, but it didn't seem like anything was working, so that's why I came here.
In a switch, more moms opt to stay home with kids
By Lorraine Mirabella, The Baltimore Sun
May 10, 2014
Megan Mocik never envisioned herself as a stay-at-home mother. After having twins four years ago, the former marketing manager for New York-based International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. was determined to press on with a career, even one that came with lengthy commutes and long workdays. But getting back into the workforce proved difficult and came with unappealing trade-offs. The Bel Air woman chose a path taken by more mothers today, choosing to stay home with the kids - reversing a decades-long trend.
The job market is bad enough; why add immigration reform?
May 15, 2013
Years ago it was unthinkable that smart, ambitious and college-educated young people would have trouble finding entry level work ("Slow start," May 12). Today, this youthful demographic has been simultaneously dumped on a shrinking employment market and also burdened with horrendous student loans. To me, it's just another example of our country's war on the middle class. Considering this glut of a highly trained, highly motivated generation, why is there a need to add immigration reform to the mix as it will only increase competition?
Graduating law students face tight job market
January 21, 1991
One on One is a weekly feature offering excerpts of interviews conducted by The Evening Sun with newsworthy business and civic leaders. Roberta Kaskel is assistant dean of the Career Services Office at the University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Law.Q. What is the job market like now for graduating attorneys? Is it more difficult for them to find jobs because of the recession?A.The recession has had a definite impact on the job market nationally, significantly in the Northeast quadrant.
Changes in job market affect savings strategies
By Carolyn Bigda
April 3, 2005
In the 1950s and 1960s, a man typically married at age 23 and a woman at age 20. With a high school education, the husband could find a steady job to support his wife and, later, their children. Today, that family would stand only a 50 percent chance of living above the poverty level, says Timothy Smeeding, a public policy and economics professor at Syracuse University. Gone is the ample supply of well-paid blue-collar jobs that allowed earlier generations to establish households in their late teens or early 20s. Now, the job market is more competitive, making it difficult for young adults to become financially self-sufficient and take the traditional steps to adulthood: career, marriage and child-rearing.
Job market improves for new college grads
By CAROLYN BIGDA
September 18, 2005
THE JOB MARKET is looking up for students. This school year, employers are expected to hire 14.5 percent more new college graduates than they did last year, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. That positive sign - the third consecutive year of projected hiring increases - might lead seniors and recent graduates to think a job offer will be in the bag. But no matter how strong the hiring environment, landing a job (at least one that you want) takes more initiative.
Life after college for many means returning home
By Jessica Anderson, The Baltimore Sun
June 20, 2010
Katie Blaha leaves her job in Hunt Valley at 5 p.m. every day to return to a house in Catonsville she shares with roommates who are a good bit older than her and ask a lot of personal questions. Even though she's got solid employment and has weathered the worst of the economic downturn, Blaha, like so many in her generation, is back living with her parents. "I want to save money, so I'm not just getting by," said the 22-year-old who graduated from Washington College in 2009, and spent nearly a year working internships — paid and unpaid — before she could put her degree to use in a marketing firm.
Medical school a cure for glut of lawyers in job market
By Elizabeth Wasserman and Elizabeth Wasserman,Knight-Ridder Newspapers
July 30, 1995
First, "E.R." bumped "L.A. Law" from the TV lineup.Now, life is mimicking art.Faced with a glut of lawyers in the job market, undergraduates in record numbers are forgoing jurisprudence for a dose of medicine and business acumen.Applications to medical schools nationwide have been steadily rising while they dropped off dramatically at law schools this year.At the same time, the bust in business school enrollments, forecast since the stock market crash of 1987, is now a boom. Some master's of business administration programs are seeing increases of as much as 39 percent in applicants this year.
For many, college isn't worth the debt [Commentary]
By Wala Blegay
May 6, 2014
President Barack Obama's recent grant award to three Prince George's county schools for the development of student apprenticeship programs in high-demand Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) industries, is a sign of a paradigm shift in American education. Traditional higher education is no longer the guaranteed pathway to successful, prosperous careers and wealth. President Obama and governmental stakeholders are recognizing that skilled job-training or apprenticeship programs in diverse fields are the best solutions to improve economic development for generations of young Americans.
Lab workers face challenges [Letter]
April 27, 2014
I am completely puzzled by the recent commentary on the shortage of lab workers ( "Help wanted: lab workers," April 23). Yes, there is a shortage and will be a great need for laboratory technologists as most of us are reaching retirement age, but the piece is completely misleading. I work in two different hospital laboratories, and since Obamacare was implemented, there has been a huge number of layoffs and furloughs at both institutions. The laboratory at another campus completely shut down!
Give offenders a chance [Letter]
March 20, 2014
As legislation that has every good intention gets watered down, the downtrodden get trod on even more ( "Banning the box," March 17). The intention of the "Ban the Box" employment bill before the Baltimore City Council is not to get jobs to those who need them, it is to get those who need jobs into the front door in order to have a conversation about a job. When we allow businesses to put loopholes in this kind of a law, we still allow the...
Tough job market for young adults
By Jamie Smith Hopkins, The Baltimore Sun
March 15, 2014
Simone Knighten is hunting for a job. Hunting and hunting. The 20-year-old Baltimore resident thinks it's harder now than when she landed work at restaurants in the past two years. She's spending days at one of the city's Youth Opportunity centers, getting help with her search. "I've been looking since January," said Knighten, sitting in the West Baltimore building with brightly painted walls. "I've been going all around, calling back and everything, but it didn't seem like anything was working, so that's why I came here.
Md.'s job base returns to pre-recession levels
By Jamie Smith Hopkins, The Baltimore Sun
September 20, 2013
Maryland's job base is finally back to the size it was half a decade ago — before the deep recession gouged a big chunk out of it. It's a psychologically important milepost in the long slog toward recovery, one reached as the nation is still climbing out of the hole. But numbers released Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor show the state's job market remains far from normal. About 219,000 Marylanders were out of work and looking for a job in August, 120,000 more than in February 2008, just before the effects of the Great Recession caught up with the state.
Veterans get help translating military skills to civilian jobs
By Lorraine Mirabella, The Baltimore Sun
August 6, 2013
Teresa Hicks' career in the Navy stretches back 24 years, with assignments on land and sea, and deployments around the world as both an enlisted sailor and an officer. Fresh out of the military, Hicks now is navigating a sea of a different sort: the civilian job market. And that has meant translating the military jobs she once held, such as "damage controlman," into titles such as "shipboard firefighter," that private employers can more readily understand. Today's job market is challenging, but particularly so for veterans whose experience isn't always clear to the companies that might hire them, Hicks said.
Laid-off airline workers face turbulent job market
By Kristine Henry and Kristine Henry,SUN STAFF
September 28, 2001
When US Airways Group Inc. lays off 11,000 employees in the coming weeks, the out-of-work pilots, flight attendants and mechanics will be cast into a job market suffering from a slowing economy. Compounding the problem, especially for pilots, is that not only are most of the other airlines having similar difficulties, but the workers' skills are so specialized that it will be hard for them to find other jobs for which they are qualified. "There will be thousands of pilots trying to start new careers over this," said Roy Freundlich, a pilot and spokesman for the US Airways unit of the Air Line Pilots Association.
Job turnover increases in recovering market
By Lorraine Mirabella, The Baltimore Sun
June 22, 2013
Patrick McAvoy knew his job had some drawbacks. As a contract employee at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, he lacked benefits and long-term stability, but he stayed on as an events coordinator for three years, hoping to be hired full time and seeing little opportunity elsewhere. This year, the job market shifted, and by spring, he had two offers. "It was pretty stunning. You send out resumes so many times and don't hear anything back. Then you hear back from multiple places, and all of them are good opportunities for your future," said McAvoy, 28, who turned down an information technology job at the Johns Hopkins University to be an events planner for the Downtown Partnership of Baltimore.
Uncertainty surrounds Ryan Clarke's potential return to Salisbury
By Edward Lee, The Baltimore Sun
June 21, 2013
Ryan Clarke's senior campaign at Salisbury ended prematurely after he suffered a ruptured spleen in the fourth game of 2013 and was shut down for the rest of the year after a brief appearance in the fifth contest. The midfielder, who registered 35 goals and 29 assists in 2012 and was an early candidate for the Tewaaraton Award, could use his final year of eligibility in 2014, but that is not a certainty. "That's yet to be determined," coach Jim Berkman said. "Ryan has eligibility to come back, but no decision has been made on whether he's going to do that or not do that.
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I thought it was time for an updated skincare routine as I haven't done one for ages and we all know the colder months are the best time to truly pamper yourself. I find myself having more baths and using a lot of different bath products from my favourite Radox Herbal Bath Salts (£1.05) and Radox Feel Blissful Bath Soak (£1) to something more special like a Lush Bubble Bar, Bath Oils or Bath Bomb but for me it's all about treating my skin like a queen and using the best (in my opinion) products.
For me winter is all about hydration and keeping my skin moisturised and protected from the harsh weather, I know everyone has it bad this time of year due to the snow, extreme winds and the everlasting rain so it's nice to load up on the moisturiser. I use different products in the morning compared to the evening as I usually wear makeup throughout the day and I don't want to wear anything that will make it slide off.
I have recently bought a few products that I have incorporated into my skincare routine including the PTR Firm X Peeling Gel which scrubs away dead skin, trust me when I say it is semi gross as the skin literally comes off on your hand but my skin has been loving it and its now being used 3 times per week to ensure it takes away the dead skin and leaves my skin looking fresh.
This isn't a high end only post, I don't use only high end as I feel drugstore brands are amazing too and do a perfect job in my opinion so let's get down to business shall we?
When I wake up I like to use my Clean & Clear Morning Energy Brightening Daily Facial Scrub (£4.20) as it smells amazing and leaves my skin glowing. I then pat my face dry and apply the Clean & Clear Blackhead Clearing Cleanser (£4.20) all over my face with a cotton pad before spraying the glorious Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe Herbs and Rosewater (from £5.95). I find this really calms the redness in my skin and just adds a layer of moisture before loading on the rest of my products. After this has settled on my face I apply a drop of Balance Active Hyaluronic 554 Youth Serum (£3.99) by using my fingers to gently pat it in until it's completely absorbed. While the serum is drying, I tend to get myself dressed and then head to my makeup desk and apply the silky smooth Dr Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Soothing Face Cream (£50) I only have a little sample of this, it doesn't smell great but it leaves my skin feeling hydrated and protected. As soon as it runs out I may buy the full size or I may try another moisturiser from Origins. Then it's time for makeup! I always use a primer but my current go to be the Nivea Post Shave Balm which again adds more hydration and makes a perfect base before applying foundation.
Night Time
The first thing I do when I get home from work or Uni is remove my makeup, 8 hours is more than enough to wear it so I double cleanse by using Raw Coconut Cream by RMS (£12.50). I apply this straight onto my dry face, massage all over which melts off my makeup and then I remove with a face cloth and lukewarm water. I then use Lush Herbalism (£6.95) as a second cleanser to make sure all traces of makeup have been completely removed before patting my skin dry.
This is a new step to me as it's a new product but I squeeze a generous amount of my Peter Thomas Roth Firm X Peeling Gel (£32.25) and apply all over my face. I only use this 3 times per week but let me tell you, it works! As I said above, it is quite disgusting when your skin is coming off but please don't be alarmed, it's just removing dead skin and it really does make a huge difference to the texture and appearance of my skin.
I don't apply a facemask everyday, I normally do this twice a week and apply after the PTR gel as I like it to get right into my pores and this is just the best way to do it in my opinion. I am currently alternating between the Don't Look at Me (£6.75) and Cranberry (sold out), both by Lush as they are so good! Both do different things but they give my skin exactly what its looking for. These masks are left on for 15 minutes before removing with a damp face cloth and then I pat my skin dry. After my facemask has been removed I then give my lips some much needed tlc, I normally make my own sugar scrub but I have honestly not had time so I bought Mint Julips (£5.50) from Lush, this does the job but its not a favourite, i prefer my own (bias much Lauren?!) as its offers so much more. I then apply my Balance Active Hyaluronic 554 Youth Serum (£3.99) the same way as in the morning and finish off with a thick layer of Nivea Crème (£1.39), this is so thick and so luxurious, it's been in my favourites forever and is something I could not live without. I then finish off with some lip balm (£6.75) and FLash Eyelash Serum and that's me, cleansed and polished!
|Winter Skincare Routine 2015
I`m not gonna lie to you when it comes to this skincare routine, I dont stick to it religiously guys so dont feel bad if you forget to do it every now and then. If I feel my skin is a little dryer than normal then I wont use everything in my stash, I will normally skip all steps (apart from washing my face) and head straight to my Nivea Creme or Caudalie Divine Oil (£27) to infuse my skin with everything it is in desperate need of. Equally if I dont have time in the morning but I dont want to miss out on the hydration step then I will go straight to moisturiser and spritz some of the Mario Badescu Facial Spray.
DISCLAIMER: I am not a skincare expert so I really dont know the best advice to give as everyone has different skin types but these products work for me (oily skin with a little dryness) and they have been doing so for a while. Its all about knowing your skin. Look at your skin and figure out what it needs, if you are breaking out with your current skincare routine then I would suggest scaling the products back and testing each one to find out if you are allergic. Equally make sure your makeup brushes are cleaned regularly to prevent bacteria building up.
|Winter Skincare Routine 2015
Please dont believe everyone on the internet, they may be paid for an "honest" review but the product could be rubbish. Do your research and take what I say with a pinch of salt because what works for me may not work for you. Ask for samples where you can as skincare is expensive and it would be a shame to see you waste your money on something that me, any blogger or youtuber recommended and it doesnt work for you. I cant use any butter ingredients such as shea or cocoa butter as my skin hates it and boy does it let me know so if I do find a product that really does work for me then I will be 100% truthful about it and let you know everything about it including pros and cons!
I hope you liked this post guys.
What are your winter skincare staples?
Have you read my latest post featuring Cheerz? Its a great way of keeping your best 2015 memories.
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Have you read my latest post featuring Cheerz? Its a great way of keeping your best 2015 memories.
I can also be found on Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram |
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STARS Complex
STARS Program
The Success Through Academic and Recreational Support (STARS) Program is the brainchild of former mayor Wilbur C. Smith III. The program was initiated to help the youth of the City of Fort Myers realize that their future need not be bleak and to help them set and obtain goals.
Through the STARS Program, our youth achieve alternatives to drugs, crime, illiteracy and poverty through activities such as sports, music, dance, arts and the academics.
The mayor created a partnership between the HUD, the City of Fort Myers, Fort Myers Housing Authority, Lee County School Board, Youth Partner Organizations and the corporate sector. All these groups have a common denominator: STARS.
Who Are the STARS
This innovate program is proving to be invaluable in helping our at-risk youth in the City of Fort Myers. These children are:
- Youths 6 - 14 years of age who either attend city schools or who live in our at-risk areas
- Children with little or no parental guidance
- Children who live in poverty in crime ridden neighborhoods, who are raised in poverty, and see a bleak future, with no way out
- The youth who seek acceptance on the street because that is where they can be "somebody"
Who Can Become a STAR
Students between the ages of 6 - 14 who have been identified as being at-risk can become STARS. The students and his/her parent(s) or guardian(s) must sign a performance contract agreeing the child will:
- Attend school regularly
- Display exemplary behavior in school and in the chosen activity
- Seriously commit to increasing his/her academic achievement
- Achieve and maintain a C average or agree to be tutored after school
- Participate fully in his/her chosen activity
- Maintain and support lifestyle without drug, alcohol and substance abuse
Importance of the Program
The children at-risk in our city are faced with situations that can be detrimental to their development into productive adults. Unless they are given positive, goal-oriented, adult guidance, they will be faced with obstacles such as drugs, child abuse, poverty and crime. All these factors contribute to the high dropout rates among our children at-risk.Programs have been designed to break this cycle and channel these youth into the mainstream of our society.


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Clique Community
Start Date: April, 2008
URL: Offline
Technology: php mysql ImageMagick
Community for the kids interested in the upcoming Clique movie.
This was an interesting project because, once again, we didn't have direct contact with the client. We dealt with a third party on all change orders so this affected delivery time lines dramatically. It would sometimes take weeks between hearing about a proposed change for it to be officially requested so there was a whole log of \"hurry up and wait\".


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Android 2016 Os
Powering screens of all sizes Android is the customizable, easy to use operating system that powers more than a billion devices across the globe from phones and .Best Android tablets of 2016. The following tablets are the highest-quality Android-based models available..The Best Android Tablets of 2016. By Sascha Segan. March 21, 2016 ; 10 Comments; Operating System: Amazon Fire OS Android 5.0 Android 5.0 Android 5.0 Android .Google's Android operating system powers everything from Smartphones to Tablets to Netbooks. Tom's Hardware is dedicated to getting all of the latest devices .Android is a mobile operating system OS currently developed by Google, based on the Linux kernel and designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as .In our new Android phones 2016 list, we look at the new devices which you can look forward to this year..Best Android phones of 2016. CNET editors picked the phones with the best cameras, screens and battery life..Android is the world's most popular OS, and it runs on everything from smartphones and tablets to watches and mini PCs. Tom's Guide gets you up to speed on the latest .Published January 04, 2016 | Updated April 28, 2016. We have released a security update to Nexus devices through an over-the-air OTA update as part of our Android .
Tags: #electronics


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Safety first — Always use a safety harness, rope an anchor point when working on the roof. The basic tools used in roofing are: a utility knife, a tape measure, a hammer, and a chalk line. A utility knife is used for cutting roofing material. A specialized roofer's utility knife has a knob that turns to open the tool — eliminating the use of a screwdriver to open and close the tool. The blade — held in place with a magnet — is hooked for cutting shingles and felt more easily. Hold a roofing nail with your palm facing up to get it started, rather than with your thumb and forefinger. This technique results in lessened injury if your hand is hit. A plastic cap nail has a plastic sheath around it to hold the felt better. It has a broader surface than a regular roofing nail and the flexibility of the sheath makes it less likely that wind will pull up the felt. A pneumatic nail gun allows the nail and cap to be driven into the roof more quickly and with less manpower. After nailing in the felt, make chalk lines as a reference to keep the rows of shingles straight. Lines should be six inches apart. Nail in the first row of shingles upside down. The first row should hang over the edge of the roof about 1-1/2 inch so that water will drip down the roof into the gutter. Nail another row of shingles on top of the first row. This will be the first exposed course of shingles. The tabs of each course should be six inches off-center from one another. When that course is done, continue to nail the next course with a six-inch offset. Shingles have a line of sticky material that makes them monolithic; they become like one piece so the wind can't blow them off the roof. Metal roofing is becoming popular, but a main drawback is that it is difficult to get into position to work on the roof. Suction cups solve this problem. Set the suction cup down on a flat surface and pump it up for a foothold to help you work safely.
You can also submit your Roofing request through the app
© 2017, Bid&Fix, Roofingwww.bidandfix.com


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The Beginner's Guide to ServicesPosted on
Benefits of Individual Therapy. Human being tend to go wrong when they are looking for health treatment ways without having a knowledge of their overall status. Before going ahead looking for the right treatment for your health status, the first thing you should know is human health is treated with either natural ways or through the scientific means. Natural treatment is considered to be effective when it comes to treatment of mental illness and also other human problems such as stress and anxiety. Mental illness is an adverse effect that human body experiences with medical institutions doing their research on a daily basis to find cure for it. To prevent this from happening to you, the introduction of therapy and counseling can be significant for you and you can opt to use it as a form of treatment. Benefits experienced through the use of therapy and counseling are many, but they depend on the kind of therapy you use between personal and group therapy. If you compare individual therapy to group counseling, many therapist or counselors prefer personal interaction than the group one.
Getting Creative With Services Advice
Therapist find it much easier assisting with advice, strategies and even guidance to their clients through individual therapy where there is a humble time of interaction.
Getting Creative With Services Advice
This type of treatment is referred to work successfully than the other type of therapy because the time spent in interaction with the clients and the therapist, give the therapist on …


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Beyond the Books: Iowa City taking proactive approach to cyberbullying
IOWA CITY, Iowa (CBS2/FOX28) —
Click here for the Iowa City Community School District's harassment page, where you can find a link to a grievance form.
School may still be out for summer, but the break away from the classroom doesn't mean the bullying stops.
Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat are providing a platform for children to target other children.
Cyberbullying is on the radar of many school districts across eastern Iowa, and the Iowa City Community School District is using summer to search for solutions.
"It's one of those situations kind of, speaking really frankly, that we need to spend or we need to move a significant amount resources to combat," said Kingsley Botchway, the district's director of equity.
Botchway said issues related to bullying start to emerge near the end of elementary school and continue all the way throughout high school.
While school staff can intervene when harassment manifests in the hallways, the internet creates obstacles, shielding the bully in some ways.
As districts move more toward one-on-one technology, the risks associated with cyberspace continue to pose serious threats for students.
Bullying behind a screen frequently turns into something more.
"When you see the fights, when you see some of the other altercations, verbal aggression, physical aggression, those primarily come from some type of social media action or occurrence," said Botchway.
The district is drastically ramping up its efforts to get ahead of the digital problem.
Madie Miller, who is serving as a district intern, is spearheading a campaign to educate incoming students on how to be responsible users of social media.
"It's so immediate, it can reach a wide audience instantly, and it can be permanent," said Miller of social media, which is precisely why the training is so critical.
Botchway said cyberbullying is growing, and he believes the numbers still don't reflect the reach of internet harassment, as some victims may be afraid to come forward.
Stigmas surrounding looking like a coward or the fear of retaliation may play a role in the underreporting, Botchway suggests.
The district is aiming to shatter those stigmas, encouraging students who may be experiencing harassment to file a grievance on the district's website.
The complaint, along with any subsequent investigation, remains completely confidential, protecting the reporting student from additional damage.
In extreme cases, law enforcement is asked to take action.
Scott Gaarde, the public information officer for the Iowa City Police Department, said bullying "can escalate to criminal charges such as harassment, even up to assaults."
Gaarde said those types of charges are a last resort.
Regardless of police involvement on the back-end, the partnership between the district and the police department is one Botchway said prevents more instances of bullying, as the proactive interventions create a system of consequences.
Click here for the Iowa City Community School District's harassment page, where you can find a link to a grievance form.
Click here for the Cedar Rapids Community School District's policies on harassment and bullying, where you can find a link to a list of anti-bullying contacts.


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Biking in Scandinavian Mountains
Sälen Bike Park in Lindvallen offers downhill and have tracks for beginners as well as experienced bikers. Two bikeareas for kids. Bike rental and bike service. In Rörbäcksnes you find some of the best single tracks in Sweden. You can also bike the Vasaloppet Arena or try the trails around Kläppen. Read more: www.biking-dalarna.se
Idre Fjäll
Idre Fjäll has 7 bike tracks that suits both the pro's and families with kids. Pumptrack and new skills area with jumps, falls and balance exercise. All tracks starts at the center square where you can rent bikes. The lift takes you and the bike up the mountain every day 26 June to 20 August. For more information: www.biking-dalarna.se.
Trysil is a bike eldorado. Trysil Bike Arena includes Gullia with high facilitation, two bike parks and 100 km graded tracks in the new bike map. Thursday to Sunday the lift takes you up to the mountain tracks and the spectacular Magic Moose. Three bike rentals and bike service that assist you in the terrain. For more information: www.trysil.com
Short or long, friendly or quite wild. A large network of gravel roads and single tracks is excellent for biking. Or bring your bike on the M/S Fæmund II and try biking in Femundsmarka. The brochure «Sykkelturer i ekte villmark» gives you some suggestions. More information: www.femundengerdal.no


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- A terrorist drove a truck into crowds of people watching Bastille Day fireworks in Nice, France, killing at least 77 people. A young girl was among the victims:
There's a new Fourth Amendment Caucus in the House of Representatives, led by Ted Poe (R-TX) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). There are 13 Republican and 12 Democrat members.
Tim Scott delivered a Senate floor speech about his experiences with law enforcement:
"In the course of one year, I've been stopped seven times by law enforcement officers," he said. "Not four, not five, not six, but seven times in one year as an elected official."
He shared several of his experiences with law enforcement – of the cops who terrified him as a teenager by pulling him over for a busted headlight, of the suspicious policemen who followed him for driving a nice car, even of officers at the U.S. Capitol who asked to see his badge despite the distinctive pin marking him as a senator.
- Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg apologized for publicly criticizing Donald Trump. Ginsburg's comments were a clear violation of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges.
Donald Trump reportedly picked Mike Pence to be his running mate. Joy Pullmann thinks they're perfect for each other:
Pence is a perfect political partner for Donald Trump. Like Trump, Pence is a political has-been who betrayed people who trusted him. Once a rising conservative star who himself considered, and was well-positioned to earn, a run for the presidency, as governor Pence traded his integrity for mere hopes of short-term political gain. All he got was angry constituents, a 23-point drop in his public approval rating, and a 2016 gubernatorial re-election bid he'll be lucky to win even though nobody knows his opponent.
Pullmann is only getting started here – read the whole thing.
Donald Trump's campaign (such as it is) is threatening to re-write Ted Cruz's speech to the Republican National Convention if they don't like it. It's basically guaranteed they won't like it.
Andrew McCarthy says that if you read Donald Trump's immigration plan, you'll realize he's the amnesty candidate in the presidential race.
The Federal Communications Commission opened nearly 11GHz of spectrum for 5G networks.
Tommy Hilfiger is selling a line of clothes designed for children with physical disabilities.
An American drone strike in Afghanistan killed Khalifa Umar Mansour, the commander of the Tariq Gidar Group. Mansour is best known for attacks on schools in Pakistan, including one in December 2014 that killed 141 people.
Turkey imposed round-the-clock curfews in 16 towns in the country's southeast as it fights the PKK.
Noah Beck makes an excellent argument for supporting Kurdish statehood.
New British Prime Minister Theresa May started building her own cabinet, which included naming Boris Johnson her foreign minister. The U.K.'s liberal media outlets are unhinged over Johnson's job.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro put the military in charge of distributing food, medicine, and household goods within his socialist utopia.


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Re: Anand Education College
Anand Education College is a reputed college which is offering admission in the following course ..
Course offered :
B.Ed. course
Syllabus :
Elective 1 Economics, English, Gujarati, Mathematics
Elective 2 Account, Hindi, Sanskrit, Science, Social Science
Foundation Course Computer Fundamentals in Education, Environmental Education, Guidance and Counseling at School, Measurement and Evaluation..
Fee Structure:
Total Annual Fee 30,000*/-
Facilities :
Hostel Facility
Name of teaching faculties :
Dr. Abhipsaben G. Yagnik
Alkadevi C. Mehta
Jenifar A. Christian
Daxaben I. Makwana
Pinalbahen R. Mistry
Dilipbhai J. Vasava
Kavita H. Joshi
Kirtikumar K. Patel
Contact details :
Anand College of Education,
Near Town Hall, Anand-388001
Gujarat , India
Contact No 02692241700
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|Aims College Anand


text: Liberty Safe is a top brand with a history of producing reliable and exceptionally secure safes. The Liberty Revolution 12 is one of their entry-level safes, and it's not cheap. But you also get what you pay for. With its 14-gauge steel support and military style locking, the Liberty Revolution 12 is six times harder to break into than other entry-level safes . It fits 12 shotguns or rifles and is fully padded. The drawbacks? At a $499 starting price, this gun safe may be out of reach for some customers. And it's not quite as roomy as the company claims it to be. But its security is top-of-the-line. Watch this video to see how secure Liberty safes are from burglary attempts.


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Kids & Family
Overcome Mom Fears and Dream Instead!
Celeste Barnard is a mom, speaker and author of Be Your Best Brave: Brave Journal
Hear her tips to overcome mommy fears and follow your dreams!
AND, win a copy of Celeste's Be Your Best Brave or Reflections: 31 Daily Devotionals
On ChannelMom this week:
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Industries we serve and our offering
Making the big difference to our customers
At the heart of Metso is our unending drive to make the big difference to our customers. What makes that possible is over 100 years of accumulated knowledge, deeply committed people and industry leading solutions.
Metso serves customers in the mining, aggregates, recycling, oil, gas, pulp, paper and process industries. Metso is well positioned in all of our customer industries, either globally or in a selected niche market.
Our customers' and their customers' needs derive from certain global trends – urbanization of communities, ever increasing need for minerals and the growing demand for oil and gas – and are at the center of what drives us. We provide our customers with world-leading products and services built on technological excellence, experience and the highest safety standards.
Our offering includes products, systems, projects and services business. Large-scale project deliveries are typical for the mining industry, whereas our deliveries to the aggregates and oil and gas industries mainly consist of individual equipment deliveries and smaller product packages.
Through our knowledge and experience, we work with our customers to create solutions that enable them to attain their objectives.


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Friday, December 18, 2009
Dealing with thieves
America has the wrong approach for dealing with thieves. Rather than "looking backwards" at their misdeeds and "punishing" them, we merely need to ask that they not misbehave in the future, then monitor their behavior.
Believe it or not, this is how congressional leaders are addressing the thievery of three little-known gangs. Congress' compassionate approach is not meant for common robbers. No, no — lawmakers are happy to punish them to the hilt. Rather, the kid-glove treatment is reserved for thieves named Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch's — the Big Three credit-rating agencies that exist to evaluate the worthiness of corporate-issued bonds, assigning a grade (from triple-A to "junk") that helps investors know the risk involved in buying the bonds.
But the Big Three run a rigged game that robs our pension funds and other investors. Moody's, S&P and Fitch are not independent public regulators, but for-profit firms that are paid fat fees by the very corporations whose bonds they rate.
Yes, this is an inherent conflict of interest! It allows rating firms to profit by merrily putting smiley-faced grades on lousy bonds, thus deceiving (and robbing) the public. For example, the Big Three gave thumbs-up to the subprime housing bonds that turned out to be worthless, leading to trillions of dollars in losses for the public and crashing our economy.
Yet, our soft-on-corporate-crime congress critters have declared these finaglers "too big to jail." Rather than taking the Big Three off the street, Congress is coddling them, meekly freeing them to continue their corrupt, for-hire, monopolistic system of credit-rating flim-flammery.
Thieving Bastards
The Glass Bottle
The Commercial Court has ruled that developer Bernard McNamara must pay almost €63 million to a group of investors, who along with the Clare businessman, part funded the purchase of the Irish Glass Bottle Factory site at Ringsend in Dublin.
The court also granted the investors summary judgement of €98m against Donatex Limited, a company owned by Mr McNamara, in relation to the same deal.
However, a stay has been put on the decisions until January so that an affidavit can be prepared in relation to what was described as Mr McNamara's deteriorating financial circumstances.
The claim arose in relation to a 2007 guarantee given by Mr McNamara over a loan advanced by the investors, through their Jersey registered company, Ringsend Property Ltd, to help the financing of the purchase of the site.
It was bought that year for a record €412m. The site is now estimated to be worth in the region of €60m.
In an affidavit, Mr McNamara alleged that the investors behind Ringsend Property Ltd include well-known businessmen Lochlann Quinn, Martin Naughton, Kieran McLaughlin and Barry O'Callaghan.
The investment opportunity was described at the time as a transaction offering 'the opportunity of participating with one of the most prolific and successful developers in the country in the development of the largest and most high profile property to become available in Dublin 4 for decades.'
Ringsend Property Ltd is seeking the repayment of its loan, because it claims a key clause of the loan agreement had been breached.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Shadow Land
Shadowland examines the future for Ireland's built environment in the shadow of NAMA.
The Shadowland exhibition takes place in the City Wall Space in the new Wood Quay Venue, Dublin City Council Civic Offices, from Monday 14 to Friday 18 December 2009.
A response to the current economic crisis, Shadowland highlights the lack of ideas and imagination in planning and construction over the last twenty years, which has left a legacy of half-finished projects, ghost housing estates and land zoned for development in inappropriate locations.
Shadow Land
Into The Bog
In a week when Greece and Spain both saw their credit ratings under attack (see article), the budget at least gave the government an opportunity to reassure international investors that Ireland, unlike some other EU countries, is serious about controlling its budget deficit and public-debt burden. Mr Lenihan has done this with the toughest budget in his country's history. Public servants face pay cuts of 5-8% on salaries up to €125,000 ($190,000); higher earners (who will include the prime minister) will see their pay cut by 15% or more. Unemployment and welfare benefits have also been cut, though not pensions. Next year's budget deficit, at around 11.6% of GDP, will be similar to this year's.
The budget came against the background of a sharp contraction in economic activity, far greater than that experienced in other euro-area countries. GDP is projected to decline by 7.5% in 2009 and a further 1.3% in 2010. An unemployment rate of 12% this year is at least showing some signs of stabilising. But consumer confidence remains weak and households continue to save more and to spend less, thereby depressing tax revenues. Next year, almost half of all income earners will pay no tax. In an effort to widen the tax base, the government proposes to introduce a new property tax.
The budget will put the government into direct conflict with trade unions for the second time this year. The pension levy may have been accepted by the general public, but the unions still protested vociferously. In pre-budget talks, the government noted a hostile public reaction to the unions' proposal for a temporary pay cut for public-sector workers and a promise of big public-sector reform. It chose a permanent pay cut instead.
These measures mark the end of two decades of social partnership, based on a consensus approach to pay bargaining between government, employers and unions. Whether this will usher in a long period of industrial conflict will become clearer in the coming weeks. Public-sector unions are already giving warning of a sustained campaign of strikes. But in these hard times they may not win much support from the Irish public.
The Economist
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Dub Bye
Like many he bought a flat off-plan in what was a red-hot property market. Today he is trapped, his passport confiscated until he repays bank loans he used to invest in a property that may never exist. If his work dries up before he can clear his debts he will go to jail.
We met at a coffee shop in Dubai's vast Mall of the Emirates. Around us were some of Britain's most familiar high street names — Next, Debenhams, Virgin, Costa Coffee and Harvey Nichols. For now trade is still brisk. "I'm struggling to know what to do really," he said.
Borrowing from family to supplement his savings, Ross, in his early thirties, moved with his family to Dubai from South London in late 2006, put down a £60,000 deposit and arranged a £30,000 loan to help to cover the initial instalments on a £350,000 two-bedroom apartment in the Dubai Sports City development.
"The plan was to let the place out to cover the loan and mortgage but it was scheduled for completion by the end of 2008 and they haven't finished the ground floor yet," he said. Without the apartment to boost the family's income, the high cost of living forced them back to Britain. The debts became overwhelming in a city where non-payment is a criminal offence. Ross returned for some contract work but he was held on arrival at the airport by the police.
The Sports City developer, Middle East Development, told him that work on his property will restart before the end of the year but will take at least 18 months to complete without any further delays. Even if it were to meet this schedule it will be three years late.
Ross's options are stark. He must keep working to pay off the bank, borrow from his family, leave Dubai illegally and lose the apartment or go to jail. "The worst-case scenario is that I have to lean on friends or family to get the money together. It's that or jail — it's a no-brainer really." For now he is looking no further than Christmas, trying to decide whether to fly his wife and three children out to Dubai for the holiday.
He is far from alone. The handful of cars dumped by expatriates at the airport each week bear testament to that, and talk of a speculative property market gone sour.
The scale of overbuilding in Dubai, paid for by a phenomenal debt binge facilitated by British and international banks, is hard to conceive until you see it. The world's tallest building, the 2,600ft Burj Tower, is due to open next month. Its spectral presence looms over the city, its pointed top a needle to the bubble.


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You probably remember Chronic Future if you've been around the 'Nix for a while... "Scottsdale Brat"?? nevermind that shit though, Mike Busse is a sick fuckin' MC these days, and they're down with one of the most innovative/weird/twitchy beatmongers around, Ryan Breen. Breen is known publicly asBack Ted N Ted
, laptop rockin' like a motherfuckin' weirdo on
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. So the ChronFuture kids got together with Breen, and made some freak-down tunes, which you can rock out to right here:
"Home Game": http://media.newtimes.com/id/148031/
"The Summer of 1980": http://media.newtimes.com/id/148032/