text:
Dreams of Teeth
Jack is upset. "My mouth hurts Mommy! And there's a bump!"
"Can you show me where baby?"
He takes my finger and places it on a wet, tender-firm lump all the way in the back of his mouth. Immediately, I am transported back to memories of teething babies. Those little swellings would form, followed soon after by sharp, ridgy dots of white, visible on smooth pink gums. Aaron and I would run our fingers over the ridges, fascinated by the tiny tooth emerging.
"It's a tooth!" I told Jack excitedly.
I did not expect him to burst into tears.
Nervously, I begin to ramble, trying to make it better. "No Sweetie. This is so exciting! "You're getting a molar! Those are the big teeth all of the way in the back of your mouth! Your molars are your grownup teeth! So, you know what this means?!!!"
He shakes his head slowly, sniffling, his face wet with tears, nose running.
"Your other grown-up teeth are coming! All of your baby teeth are going to get loose and fall out and your grown-up teeth will come in! The bump on your gums means that this will probably happen really soon! You get to put the teeth under your pillow!" I struggle to keep my upbeat tone though I am distracted by how bizarre my "reassurance" sounds.
Jacks eyes grow wide. His face is pale."Will it hurt?" he asks.
"Maybe a tiny bit. "
My voice takes on this high-pitched, falsely chipper tone. I sound insane to myself.
"Mostly it's kind of fun. I remember wiggling my teeth back and forth all day long. And it would hurt a teeny bit, but for some reason I kind of liked it and I just couldn't resist pushing it with my tongue more and more and more, until it would just pop out! And then you get to put your tooth under your pillow and the tooth fairy comes and takes it away! And she just might leave you some money!"
Jack starts shaking and crying so violently that he can hardly breathe.
"I like the teeth I have!" he moans, "I want to keep them!"
I'd never thought terribly hard about this process before, but with each excited word I uttered,as I desperately tried to drum up Jack's enthusiasm (Who doesn't want to lose a tooth?!!!) it became clearer and clearer how terrifying bizarre it actually is–
sharp edges of bone
bursting through tender gums.
the slight taste of blood in your mouth.
the exhilarating sting
as you tease a piece of your body,
once rooted reliably
to simply detach.
My shoulders tense as my mind fills suddenly with images of the tooth dreams that have plagued me for years. A quick google search reveals that dreams of teeth are common and completely unoriginal anxiety dreams. Common they may be, but mine are painfully vivid and leave me wide awake, filled panic and horror and deep shame.
What I always think of as my first tooth dream,though technically more of a "gum dream", is seared permanently on my mind.
I remember sitting up breathlessly in our house on Van Vorst St, in the room I shared with my sister. I frantically examined every corner of my mouth with my tongue to reassure myself that the dream was not real. I remember focussing my eyes on the familiar sight of Molly asleep in her bed surrounded by stuffed animals, to calm myself.
But most of all, I remember the details of the dream.
I can see it still.
It is a sunny, summer day. I am walking slowly down the path in front of our house when all of a sudden my mouth feels full.
there is this terrifying pulpy presence in my mouth.
this odd sense of emerging bulk.
heavy, wet, alarming.
I push the damp mass from my mouth with my tongue and I watch it fall heavily to the sidewalk.
Lying there is a large, pink chunk of my gums, mesmerizingly moist and spongy. It glistens in the sun, like a dropped chunk of watermelon.
I take another step and again my mouth is full. Again I spit out a wet hunk of flesh. It happens with each step and I remember reaching the end of the pathway, where our front walk met up with the sidewalk, and looking back at the ghastly wet trail leading up to the front porch and feeling overtaken by terror.
Over the years I have had similar dreams regularly. In them I am invariably in a place where I am supposed to seem normal and responsible– work, a family function– when I notice, to my horror, that one of my teeth is loose. The discovery is always marked by horror and shame that mounts as I find myself unable to leave the tooth alone. I can't stop fiddling with it with my tongue, both repulsed and fascinated by the way it gradually becomes looser and looser until suddenly,
it just breaks free.
It's no longer a part of me,
but a hard wet presence in my mouth.
A terrible object with smooth sides
and sharp edges
that slice my tongue.
There is always an awkwardness in the dream as I try to figure out what to do with the tooth and how to hide the mortifying gap in my mouth.
The alien feeling of the toothless gap,
deep and empty and vulnerable,
a part of you never before exposed to air,
and the compulsion to jam your tongue in there
to protect it's sensitive newness.
What if these dreams, so common in our culture, are really a memory of trauma?
A memory of the anxiety that Jack is experiencing right now.
Right now, as he attempts to wrap his mind around the idea that parts of his body can just fall off or that new parts can force their way in.
Somehow we push it down.
We make it normal.
We tell ourselves that a fairy and a shiny new quarter will make it all okay.
But still.
The memory lingers.
walk forward in a walking position….
"Walk forward in a walking position.
Put the bridge of your nose in the
crease of your opponent's neck.
Make a bridge with your body and
punch away from you and up."
The moment that my father said those words, I was instantly taken over by a wild feeling of giddy exhilaration.
"The first thing you do in boxing is
put your right hand next to your right cheek.
Put your left hand in front of your face."
He would stand on the floor and place me on the bed, standing in front of him, so that we faced one another, as equals.
And then it would begin.
Elated swinging arms and gentle jabbing of fists in the tickley belly parts. He would hold me steady with one hand on the small of my back and "jab" my tummy with the other hand until I was more giggling puddle than little girl.
When I'd had enough, he would pull the stabilizing hand out and I would flop down and bounce on the bed, hysterically happy and ready for another round.
My father boxed with the Grand Street Boys when he was a kid. This is not what it sounds like. He is basically the opposite of a tough guy. But, as a boy, he did take several years of boxing lessons at a community center on the Lower East Side.
There is a video of him boxing another little boy on the Perry Como show when he was 11. He is all smiles and skinny arms swinging in wide circles. He is a scrawny little torso hovering over enormous shorts, emerging from which are spindly legs that never stop moving. The constant dancing back and forth clearly fills him with such joy and was probably a perfect outlet for some of that extra energy that kids constantly need to shake off. The gleaming grin never leaves his face, or the faces of anyone else in the clip. The boys are playing at fighting, just throwing themselves at one another for the love of movement and life. The whole thing is accompanied by bouncy strings and you can't help but be happy when you are watching it.
The joy my father felt in those moments was clearly something that he wanted to give to my brother, sister, and me when we were kids, and so our crazy boxing game was born.
And I do something like this with my boys. We have wrestling matches on my bed where they leap on top of me and try to "pin me", basically by laying down on top of me and hugging me tightly. I always win– I've got 90 pounds on them– and I snuggle-pin them with little effort. We are always overwhelmed with laughter and the warmth of the moment fills the room, making me long for their childhood to last forever, making me squeeze them just a little longer, just a little tighter.
About two years ago, Aaron and I were looking for something new and different to sign Zeke up for and heard some good things about a karate place nearby. It seemed like a fun way to burn off some energy and we hoped it would encourage confidence and focus.
Zeke was beyond adorable in that floppy white uniform and I love watching him punch and knee-kick the air, run around, and shout out the count in Japanese.
Pride warms the dojo as gaggles of parents hold up their phones to capture their little sweeties yelling, "Tetsui!" as they pound their precious little mini- fists downward and count together:
"Ich! Ni! San! Chi! Go!…"
And when they spar, they are like puppies tumbling around the mat. Bodies loose-limbed, all shining eyes and playful punches. When Zeke fights his teachers or a senior student, his cheeks go pink and the absolutely extreme width of his smile makes his whole head resemble an apple split in half. It is a joy to watch them dance around one another, miming a kick with a tap of the tip of the toe, or just brushing their knuckles across their opponent's chest.
So when Aaron started taking class there too, I had warm feelings about the place and I was eager to support his cheery new hobby. That is, until I attended his first belt test. The first half of the belt test, where the children's skills were tested, filled me with the same pleasure that it always had, and I was not prepared for the dramatic shift in mood as the adult students took their places on the mat.
All of a sudden the glowing room of parents, cellphones raised, cooing encouragement, transformed into a room where fists are pumped and grunts of excitement echo each time the sickening thud of a solidly landed punch reverberated through the dojo.
Shouts of "Great Job Sweetie!" gave way to bloodthirsty bellows of "Now THAT's what I'm talking about!" as two solid adults square off against one another.
When Aaron's turn came I felt sick to my stomach. Every time he or his opponent landed a punch or a kick people in the dojo would shout triumphantly. The salivating anticipation of the fighter's pain among the spectators seemed to swell my chest making it hard to breathe.
Then Aaron lost his balance when he kicked the other guy, and fell down hard on the mat. This man in black-rimmed glasses standing next to me, barked, "Yes!" in excitement.
I felt ill. "That's my husband!" I wanted to yell. And I was glad that the boys were playing with their friends in the back of the room and not paying attention. I felt like karate just wasn't what I'd thought it was. There is nothing heart-warming about watching sweaty men try to make brutal contact with one another, even if they are doing it for fun.
A few months later, determined to be supportive and not a lily-livered spoilsport, I took the boys to watch Aaron fight in a tournament in Newburgh. I truly wanted to stand there and cheer him on and for the boys to be proud of their dad.
But when I saw the red-faced intensity of the people on the sidelines shouting at their family and friends to annihilate the person across from them I began to have real feelings of misgiving. When I looked around the school gym where the tournament was being held and saw lanky, acne-spattered teenage boys, barely able to stay on their feet, weaving, eyes unfocused from hitting their heads too hard, I began to feel that I was in the wrong place entirely.
When Aaron's match was finally called he was so excited, a boyish smile dominated his whole face and he couldn't keep still. He kept running and jumping in place, bare feet in constant motion as they stuck out of his gleaming white gi.
And then his opponent walked up and I felt my stomach hit the floor. I was overcome by the desperate need to stretch my smile out as wide as it will go so that no one, certainly not the boys, would be able to detect the horrid trepidation I felt about being stuck in this horrible place.
The guy was young, probably 24, and when I looked at his arm, I saw a prominent USMC tattoo and immediately cast him as a recently discharged veteran from the Middle East who needs an outlet for all of the anger he built up while witnessing the horrors of war. The idea of having to keep my upbeat attitude so that the boys won't start to feel upset is overwhelming and I was afraid that I was going to cry.
It was then that I thought of this Shel Silverstein poem that I'd always loved.
Hug O'War
I will not play at tug o' war
I'd rather play at hug o' war,
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug,
Where everyone kisses
And everyone grins
And everyone cuddles
And everyone wins.
This is the game that I thought we were all playing. I thought we were rolling around and laughing and just wrapped up in the playful love of parents and children. I don't want to know that I am training my sons for actual fighting in a world that is filled with actual violence. I just want to giggle and roll around on the rug.
I have managed to block out most of Aaron's fight in Newburgh. He didn't win, but he wasn't seriously injured either. And our children were not traumatized, but I've made only sporadic trips to the dojo since.
Fighting seems fun now, but sprightly violins will eventually give way to intense, pounding percussion and I have never lost my taste for the gentle games of my childhood.
"Walk forward in a walking position."
Those words still make me smile.
Global Warming
It is just after 4 o'clock in the morning. I know this because I hear my son's husky voice declare, "Omigod! I can't believe it's 4 to the 12!" (Me either. sigh)
He is looking at Aaron's cell phone, at the clock that dominates the screen when the phone is charging: 4:12. I see his face lit only by the eerie greenish glow of the phone, his hair all bed-heady, his eyes animated and intensely focussed.
I should be annoyed. Sleep is the most precious thing in the life of a parent of young children, and I do not take kindly to being woken up if someone is not puking or if there isn't, at the very least, a fire.
But Zeke catches my attention with what he says next, melting away any anger that might have been forming.
"Is the north getting cold again Mom?"
We've been talking about global warming. We heard a report on the radio about how scientists are struggling to find a way to preserve the polar bear species outside of their quickly disappearing natural habitat without placing them all on public display. The reporter said that, for the first time, it appeared quite possible that we would live in a world without polar bears within his lifetime. Zeke was riveted and concerned. He kept asking me how this could be happening. We watched some YouTube videos of polar bears sloshing through melting ice and swimming aimlessly through endless water, in search of something solid to stand on.
One chilly morning he leapt into my lap, threw his arms around my neck, and exclaimed,
"I have great news Mom! The earth is getting cold again! Look outside! The sky is all gray! I think it's going to rain!"
He was so exhilarated by this miraculous development, by the extraordinary fact that a horrible tragedy appeared to be reversing course, that there was just no way that I could explain to him that the whole mess was a little more complicated than that. So I just hugged him close, told him I loved him, and made him some breakfast.
This morning, though, the streets still relatively quiet, the street lamps still lit, Zeke's mind has clearly been buzzing with activity for quite some time.
He speaks quickly, inspired:
"What if I brought a big bucket of ice up to the north? I could pour it in the water and make it all cold again!
"And when that bucket gets empty, I could bring another and another and another."
Another idea occurs to him, "Or I could make a machine that shoots sticky snow! It could stick the snow to the other snow so that it was all one big thing again! But it wouldn't stick to the bears! Just to snow, and the bears would have a whole big ice land for their home again!
"It could be my GREATEST INVENTION!"
My voice is thick, hoarse with sleep, and I feel genuinely sad as I say, "I wish you could fix it that way sweetie, but unfortunately the problem is much bigger than that. What will need to happen is for all of the people in the world to change the way that they live and to try and take better care of the earth."
Zeke looks at me very seriously, his voice is world-weary (at 5) and thoughtful, "Yes. Because many people don't care about the earth. They are selfish and they only think about themselves and their families.
They don't realize that THE EARTH IS A LIVING THING!"
"You're right," I say. "It's a very big problem and the grownups spend a lot of time arguing about what to do, when they could be trying to fix things.
Then Zeke fixes his blue eyes steadily on mine and says, with a very adult determination,
"Well, then it just might be up to the boys and girls."
The Big Ooh
Lately, every night it's the same thing:
"Mommy, close the door," Jack whines, "So the monsters can't get in."
I don't know where this new fear has come from. I can't put my finger on exactly when it started, or what it is that sparked it. All I know is that now it has become routine to make a show of closing the door securely so that Jack feels secure enough to relax into sleep.
I was lying in my own bed, watching the shadows of the passing cars drift across the ceiling, contemplating Jack's new fear and whether or not it was worth being concerned about, when in a flash,
I recalled The Big Ooh.
I can still see Zeke laying in our bed, his little hands clutching the blanket tightly, where it was tucked beneath his chin, eyes wide and staring.
"Mommy," he would say, in a whisper. "I saw The Big Ooh again."
We live in a building that is right off of Flatbush Avenue, a busy street in Brooklyn, where it is never truly dark or completely quiet. Aaron's bicycle hangs on a hook near the ceiling and and as the cars rush endlessly by, headlights shine over handlebars and through the spokes of the wheel, creating patterns of light and shadow, which ebb and flow endlessly past.
Zeke watched the shadowy shapes roll across the ceiling night after night, and to him they became something alive:
The Big Ooh.
He was vague on the details of The Big Ooh. He seemed less frightened by her than intrigued. He told us that she had red eyes and that he only saw her at night because during the day she was busy "taking care of her children".
And, with a jolt, I remembered something else too.
When I was a little girl, there were these "people" that lived under my bed. I wasn't exactly afraid of them, but I was always very aware of their presence and that awareness made me a little uneasy. I'm not sure if I ever mentioned them to anyone, but I have very vivid memories of lying awake in bed thinking about them and being almost paralyzed by my profound awareness of their presence. I remember taking deep breaths and resolving to be brave enough to hang my head over the side of my bed and peek down at them. It would take me a while to summon the courage, and my glances were always brief and breathless.
They would lie with their backs to me, their stomachs on the floor, heads propped up on their elbows. They were fuzzy and gray; shadowy. They looked as if they were made of fog and hairballs and dust. And I knew they were under there, but I also knew that they would never come out.
My memory of them is as vague as their lazy silhouettes were, but they remain one of the oddest and most exhilarating memories that I have, because my rational adult mind tells me that they couldn't possibly have been under there. But I still remember them.
I saw them.
And I never had an "Aha" moment where I realized that my overactive imagination was spinning dust bunnies or lost socks into mysterious lethargic beings. Their presence was never explained away, and I can still remember the way they looked, the way I saw them as a child.
I have since asked Zeke about The Big Ooh and he has no memory of her at all. I suppose that whatever Jack imagines is lurking behind the door will fade away too.
And as they grow and their childhood fears disappear, so too will the world where magic is possible. Danger will be all too unavoidably real and even a door that is firmly shut will not make them feel safe.
As their mom, I desperately want to protect them from any and all danger, and to keep them safe within my tight and reassuring grasp.
But there is a part of me that wants them to hold on to the indistinct creatures of the night, somewhere deep inside, even if they can't really believe in them anymore.
To remember that once, you believed.
That is a gift.


text:
Reyes Dominates As Baseball Advances After 8-0 Win Against Fresno State
May 27, 2001
LOS ANGELES-Sophomore Anthony Reyes threw a dominating 3-hit shutout as No. 2 USC beat unranked Fresno State, 8-0, in the championship game of the NCAA Baseball Los Angeles Regional before 1,594 fans at USC's Dedeaux Field on Sunday afternoon (May 27).
USC, seeded first in this regional, improves to 42-17. The Trojans, winners of an unprecedented 12 College World Series, now move on to play the winner of the South Bend Regional in an NCAA Super Regional June 1-3 at a site to be announced on Monday (May 28).
Third-seeded Fresno State concludes its season with a 41-25 mark.
Reyes surrendered just an infield single to Nick Garcia in the first inning until Brandon Gemoll singled to right in the seventh. FSU's only other hit was a double by Tobey Riday-White in the eighth. Only 2 Bulldogs got to second base and Reyes picked off both to end innings. He struck out 10, walked none and hit 1 batter while improving to 5-3. Of his 108 pitches, 85 were strikes.
Reyes has been very effective lately, having allowed just 1 earned run in his last 33 innings. In his last 4 outings, he is 4-0 with an 0.27 ERA. This was his second complete game in his last 3 starts.
'I felt really good out there,' said Reyes. 'I wasn't spotting the ball as well as I wanted to. But they were getting themselves out. I was just throwing pitches I knew that they could hit, but not hard.'
Said USC head coach Mike Gillespie: 'It's obvious to everyone that we got a great pitching performance from Anthony Reyes. He's on a roll right now. And we again got really good production up and down the lineup.'
USC, playing as the visiting team, scored in all but 3 innings. The Trojans opened their scoring by getting a run in the top of the third when Brian Barre got an infield single, Seth Davidson singled him to third and Barre scored on a wild pitch by starter Francisco Nieves.
The Trojans added 3 runs in the fifth, all with 2 outs. Barre, Davidson and Concepcion hit consecutive singles, with Barre scoring on Concepcion's hit and Davidson coming home when Riday-White bobbled the ball in right field. Concepcion then came in when third baseman Nick Garcia couldn't get to Anthony Lunetta's popup down the left field line.
With 2 outs in the sixth, Abel Montanez hit an opposite field home run to right field, his second of the year. Nieves-who suffered the loss and fell to 7-4-was knocked out of the game when the next batter, Josh Self, doubled (he was relieved by Jason Gutknecht).
Concepcion blasted his fourth home run of the year to straightaway center in the seventh.
Michael Moon led off the eighth with a triple and came home on Montanez's double off reliever Ozzie Gonzalez.
In the ninth, Davidson walked, went to second on Gonzalez's wild pitch and to third on a groundout, and came home on Lunetta's single.
'That was a tough game for us,' said Fresno State head coach Bob Bennett. 'Reyes had great stuff, as good as anyone we've seen. We were well in the game until the fifth, when they scored 3 runs. We broke down a bit defensively and their hitters relaxed and got us out of our rhythm on the mound. With Reyes pitching and 5 runs, they had a sure thing.'
Davidson, Concepcion and Moon each had 3 hits to pace the Trojans' 17-hit attack.
Moon, who hit a game-winning 2-run homer on Saturday to beat Pepperdine and had 3 hits and 3 RBI in USC's opening win over Oral Roberts on Friday, was named the regional's Most Outstanding Player. He was joined on the All-Tournament team by teammates Reyes, Concepcion, Barre and Montanez.
Oscar Lopez, Josh Labandeira and Casey McGehee made the All-Tournament team for Fresno State, as did Pepperdine's Jared Pitney, Daniel Haren and Noah Lowry.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Having a particularly bad week, with irrational thoughts bombarding my logical space.
There is always one thing in my house that makes me smile and never lets me go to bed alone.
Yes a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and despite what some think, if raised in a loving home with the right boundaries, they are the most loving, affectionate dog but too often chavvy morons, buy them too use as a trophy dog to prance about the council estate or for dog fights (and the likes of you need stringing up by the jibblets).
My dog Russia is 10 tomorrow (and yes i am making her a cake) and has been with me through my whole diagnosis process, parenthood, relationship breakdown and depression. She is slowing up now and tends to sleep majority of the time but it hasn't always been like that.
In her early years Russia, who was one of a twin when born was very runty and the other puppies hated her, she was seen as weak and me being a soft arse knew she was the one for me (mind you i didn't want a pedigree dog, i dont see the point in expensive dogs when so many need homes).
Russias first furry friend in life came in the form of a big, grey cat called Marley, whom i rescued from a shelter. You couldn't meet a nicer yet naughty cat.
Marley would go out for his morning constitutional and Russia being very small would
follow him out of the cat flap. I would get phone calls from the local pub because Russia had ran over and was introducing herself to the locals, or out of my window i would see Russia and Marley wandering over the bridge into the Iceni village. When Marley passed away at 16yrs old, Russia refused to eat for 3 days and pined for her friend, it was heartbreaking.
The one occasion that always sticks out in my mind, that would of been more mortifying had i been present, was Christmas. I was going to my partners mums for dinner and we couldn't take Russia because she loves her pack which consists of 2 cats, but outside of that…not so much.
So she spent the day with my Mum and Dads dogs, Brother, Grandparents, Aunty and Uncle. She had her dinner, got very excited running around, ecstatic that so many people were there, when she stopped………..and puked all over my Nan's floor. Which wouldn't have been so bad if the little bin raider hadn't of produced in her puke a used condom. The phone call from my Dad to inform me, was somewhat amusing and a little embarrassing, yet somewhat disgusting on Russia's part.
One thing i have learnt from Staffie's is that they will eat anything, quite literally so don't leave anything lying around that is remotely edible, even if you wouldn't eat it. Russia has had soap, condoms, lip balm, toothpaste…..you get the message. She really has a lot of funny quirks that having everyone in stitches, especially her famous dry mouth look.
All in all anyone who is pondering over whether to get a dog, if you have the patience, time and money too….DO IT!. Every families life would be far richer if you had the privilege of allowing a dog to bring you laughter, comfort and company in the form of fur and four legs.
©Orchidrock 2017


text:
Howdy folks!
Long time reader, first time poster. You know the score, quiet 'til I need something, right?
So, I've just sat and flunked my MCA Class 2 Unlimited oral (BBBOOOOOOOOOOOO). To be honest, I don't think I was ever close to passing and the dude ripped me a new one within 5 minutes of sitting down.
One of the things he picked me up on was Refit Inspections. Now, I've always been 2nd eng on small ships and I have NEVER done a refit inspection, so you can imagine me flapping and bluffing and trying to fight my corner on something I know little about.
What I'm needing is a good (Idiots Guide) book that covers inspections to be carried out pre/post refit. The more detail the better, if it includes a step-by-step guide to planning and taking charge of a refit then double score.
Online resources are also welcome, as is any advice the older and bolder members of the forum could give me.
Many thanks,


text:
The Astronomy Club of the protagonist Sou Akiyama is filled with the big names on campus. Just before the festival on October 1, the club receives a request from the student executive committee to calm the uneasiness among the students. There are reports of ghost sightings, accidents, sleeping sickness, and other mysterious incidents at the old building. When Yui Furukawa, a quiet girl who transferred late into the school, appears before Sou, the gears of fate slowly begin to move.
Episode: 12 + 1 Special
Series: October 4, 2014 – December 20, 2014
Special: August 29, 2015
1. Le Jour [Opening]
2. Ashita Mata Aeru yo ne [Ending]
1. Ushinawareta Mirai wo Motomete
Published: September 26, 2011 – August 25, 2012
Volume: 2
2. Ushinawareta Mirai wo Motomete
Published: October 27, 2014 – October 27, 2015
Volume: 2
Here is the preview:


text:
Lions are the kings of the jungle; the roughest, toughest cat in the animal kingdom. This depiction of lions as a symbol of strength, courage, ferocity, and nobility has been handed down to us over the ages and across a wide range of cultures. We all know that lions are meant to be feared.
Lambert, the African lion, is certainly proud and majestic...
... but he's not too tough to enjoy becoming a lion-burrito in his favorite blankie!
Her first impression of Lambert was that he was like a puppy dog, just lazing around in the yard and soaking up the sun.
Keahey recalls how she "We received a call from the Global Federation of Animals Sanctuaries (GFAS). They were contacted by a private owner who had [illegally] purchased Lambert for his young children after going to see 'The Lion King.' The little kids told their daddy they wanted a Simba, so he went out and bought them one."
After just a few months, however, the family decided to give the cub away. He was too tame to ever release back to the wild, so GFAS contacted Keahey to see if she had a home for him. The rest, as they say, is history.
That's how she learned about Lambert's most peculiar quirk.
When he first arrived at In-Sync, Keahey noticed that after initially exploring his new surroundings, Lambert seemed anxious and started pacing around. That's when she found out he used to sleep in a bed with the previous family's grandfather.
He also had to learn to eat raw meat, which is important for a young lion. Up until now, he'd only been fed cooked meat and human food.
... he's also an avid skateboard enthusiast!
As you'd expect, Lambert has a big personality according to Keahey.
"If he likes you, you know it and if he doesn't like you, you know it," she says.
Still, he's basically a big ol' softie at heart.
He gets tons of love at In-Sync, and even gets birthday parties! When he turned two recently, he was treated to whipped cream, some paper to shred, and of course, his favorite blanket.
No matter what adventures he has growing up, they always end like this:
Here's to you, Lambert!
If you'd like to support the great work In-Sync Exotics is doing for animals like Lambert, please consider donating here.
Be sure to SHARE Lambert's story with your family and friends.
H/T: HeroViral | In-Sync Exotics


text:
Week of November 6, 2017 (see last week)
Consumer World Original
Quicken money management software users got a free 2018 upgrade CD in the mail last week. Before you upgrade, you better read the fine print because your price for using Quicken may have just tripled.
That story is in Mouse Print* this week.
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text:
oversized gathered hem blouse
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New! Order by phone
Multicolour oversized gathered hem blouse from Mulberry featuring a sleeveless design, a striped pattern, an oversized fit, an oversized fit, a tie neck and a gathered hem.
Designer colour: 430 BRIGHT BLUE
Made in Italy
Designer Style ID: MYWM563064YM440430
Farfetch ID: 12831194
Measurement Information
- Height:
- 1.76 m
- Bust:
- 89 cm
- Hips:
- 90 cm
- Waist:
- 61 cm
Model's wearing: 40 IT
- Height:
- 5 ft 9 in
- Bust:
- 35 in
- Hips:
- 35.4 in
- Waist:
- 24 in
Model's wearing: 40 IT
All measurements are made by Farfetch
Still need some help? Try our Size Guide
- Composition
- Polyester 100%
- Washing Instructions:
- Dry Clean Only
One shipping fee, on multiple pieces, from multiple locations.
No matter how many items you purchase, or where in the world you order from, you will only pay one fee.
Click here to find out more about our shipping options, including Click & Collect and Same Day Delivery.
Free returns pick-up
We offer free global returns.
You have 14 days from receiving your order to return the item. We strongly recommend that you book your free returns pick-up within 7 days of receiving your order to ensure that it arrives back in time. Click here to read our full returns policy.
Import duties information
Delivery duties are included in the item price when shipping to all EU countries plus USA, Canada, China, Australia, Puerto Rico, Switzerland, Singapore, Republic Of Korea, Kuwait, Mexico, Qatar, India, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, U.A.E., Japan. This means all import duties are included in your order. The price you see is the price you pay.
Delivery duties are not included in the item price when shipping to all other countries. This means you may be liable to pay import duties on receipt of your order.
Championing 'Le Style Anglais', Mulberry has become one of the most coveted luxury goods brands in the world thanks to its range of handbags named after the coolest girls in popular culture. Mulberry is still produced in a factory in Somerset, maintaining its ties to tradition.
Shop the look


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What information do I need to migrate from Exchange in UserActivation?
You will need the following information to migrate from Exchange:
- Your OWA Address
- The Outlook Web Access URL should be the URL you use to access OWA using your web browser.
- It should look as follows:
<http or https>://<host name>/<exchange or owa>
<http or https>://<IP address>/<exchange or owa> (bypass DNS name resolution)
<http>://<host name or IP address>:<port>/<exchange or owa> (port forwarding)
- Protocols used:
Exchange 2003 Web DAV
Exchange 2007 EWS or Web DAV (if EWS fails)
Exchange 2010+ EWS
Optional: Exchange Admin Credentials (gives you the ability to migrate mailboxes without providing user passwords, and the ability to automatically discover users, distribution lists, and aliases of the Source server).


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Skip to Content
We offer competitive health plans that cover a variety of options, ranging from help with everyday costs to more comprehensive private health insurance.
Find out how quick and easy it is to join AXA PPP healthcare and get a quote today
We can provide healthcare cover from one to 249 employees, supporting you and your team back to health and work as quickly as possible.
Our health and wellbeing section offers helpful information about medical conditions and illnesses. If you can't find the information you're looking for, please contact our experienced team of nurses using the online service, Ask the expert
Sign up to our monthly newsletter, Better Health, to receive our latest health and wellbeing updates
Online servicing provides a quick, convenient and secure way to get the information you need, when it suits you best.
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Latest app reviews tried and tested by our experts
App Reviews
This app is mainly aimed at USA phone users rather than the UK. The idea is that individuals can photograph a mole on their skin and send it along with other information to have the picture checked within a few days by a dermatologist who will then give recommendations.
The concept is a good one in that it is aimed at providing a fast response to queries regarding skin lesions. One concern is that a picture is never as good as actually seeing the patient in person, although this app does also attempt to put patients in touch with a dermatologist by giving them the contact details of the nearest clinics (USA only at the present time).With this app there are a few picture examples of cancerous moles and other skin lesions but this is far from comprehensive. It would have been more useful to have a section on 'signs and symptoms of skin cancer' to look out for which might indicate that a mole could be something of more sinister origin.Summary: If this app were to be developed further it could be a helpful dermatological tool but in its current form it does not appear to be particularly beneficial to the UK user.SpotCheck2 mole checker app RATING: 2/5 (mainly for the US market)
Dr Alasdair Wright
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Northern Bus Terminal
The Northern & Northeastern Bus Terminal, also known as Mo Chit ( or Mor Chit or Morchit ), this is the largest, busiest, and most modern terminal. The upper floor serves the North-East ( Isaan ) ; the ground floor serves the North, as well as sharing some destinations with Ekkamai ( including Pattaya, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat ). It's a 30-Baht motto hop (or a lengthy hike across Chatuchak Park ) from BTS Mo Chit/Metro Chatuchak stations ( N8 / 18 ), or take the 77 bus and pay the 7-Baht flat fare on board.
Many visitors also arrive or leave via the massive Mo Chit Northern Bus Terminal ( Sathanii Mo Chit ), also known as Mo Chit Mai ( new Mo Chit ) or simply Mo Chit as the old version has ceased to exist. This is the largest terminal in Bangkok and buses to all points throughout central, northern and northeastern Thailand, including Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai, all of Isaan and Aranyaprathet ( for Cambodia ) leave from here.
Buying tickets here is reasonably easy; find a window with your destination written on it ( in friendly Roman letters ), pay the fare in big numbers on the same window, and you will get a ticket on the next available departure. Note that blue writing means 1st class, red means 2nd class (avoid on longer trips), and tickets for northeastern destinations are sold from the 3rd floor. Ask the information desk on the 1st floor if you need help, or any of the BKS staff, easily identifiable thanks to their natty white shirts with gold buttons. Now just find the departure stall and you are on your way. If you have time to kill, there are two fairly decent air-con food courts at both ends of the main terminal building, plus KFC, Dunkin' Donuts and many 7-Eleven outlets.
The bus terminal is fair hike from the Sky train or subway stations across Chatuchak Park. Motorbike taxis do the trip for a fixed 30 Baht fare ( bargaining is pointless ), while tuk-tuks charge what they feel like - just remember that a real taxi with air - con will cost you 35 Baht ( albeit not including sitting around in traffic jams ). If you have a considerable amount of luggage the easiest, if not necessarily fastest, option is to take a taxi directly to / from the bus terminal.
Southern Bus Terminal
The Southern Bus Terminal, also known as Sai Tai Taling Chan, this terminal serves all points west and south from it's somewhat inconvenient location on the wrong side of the river. Note that in December 2007, the terminal moved to a new, even more remote location, at Phutthamonthon Soi 1 in the Taling Chan district.
Northern and Southern Bus Terminals, Bangkok


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Eastbourne: Santa's Grotto - ESK
Yesterday we took Clark to the Santa's Grotto at ESK, Eastbourne and he really enjoyed it... Well, not the Santa part as he hid behind me and cried, but the rest of it!
Outside the store they have their 'nativity' animals including goats, horses, ducks, chickens, a turkey and a donkey. There's also a local produce stall which had the most vibrant fruit and veg, though a little embarrassing when your 2 year old points to it all and asks what it is. I promise he eats it!
As we entered the store we were greeted by Anna and Elsa from Frozen, along with Mrs Christmas who were handing out chocolates and chatting to all the children. So if you have little people who love Frozen then definitely take them along to see them, they were in full costume and make-up. I read they do a little sing song too!
Our £8 Santa's Grotto ticket allowed us in to see their animated grotto with polar bears, penguins and an elf workshop which was fab! Nothing big, but enough for Clark to enjoy looking at everything. It was really quiet when we went which was perfect as queuing with toddlers is never ideal!
A little Elf then popped her head round a curtain to talk to us and to ask the boys their names and ages, then she took us through to meet Santa. The next part was a little rushed as Clark was crying but Santa chatted to my slightly-embarrassed 11-year old nephew and gave them both a present. He then went on to tell them what was in the present and that if they wanted to swap they could, and showed them the range of toys.
I was a little miffed as to why he told them what was inside, but I suppose there are parents out there who complain about the present. I personally think it's ridiculous to complain as it's about the experience not the present, and unfortunately some parents forget this.
I'd say the Santa wasn't the greatest, but still magical for children who enjoy meeting him, though Clark was not one of those! Clark (2) was given a set of Mister Maker craft sets and Max (11) a plastic dart board.
I thought it was worth the £8 per child, but I do think the animated grotto & elf workshop should be free to look at and you then pay to meet Santa.
Also don't go to ESK during the week in hope to see the animals at quieter times as they weren't there when we went last Monday!
Find out more info - http://www.esk.co.uk/index.php?page=christmas-grotto
Have you been? What did you think? Leave a comment below!
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July 2017


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Former ESPN host and Fox Sports 1 commentator Jason Whitlock slammed the sports media for its drift toward left-wing politics, criticized former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick for his faux anti-American protests, and even stuck up for Breitbart Sports.
In a new interview with Michael McCarthy of Sporting News, Whitlock pokes his finger in the eyes of presumptuous sports reporters who think they speak for African Americans, slaps around a few major sports stars, and dishes about his treatment at ESPN.
Long a lightning rod for his take-no-prisoners views, Whitlock has a long history in sports media. He's been a columnist for the Kansas City Star, a star commentator for ESPN, a radio talk show host, a writer for Huffington Post, the central figure of a popular sports website, and a Fox Sports contributor. He was also on the other side of the sports-media divide, having been an offensive lineman for Ball State University's Cardinals football program.
The interview started off with Whitlock criticizing NBA star LeBron James for essentially sitting out games after partying too hard the night before, but the interview then jumped straight to Whitlock's criticism of the leftward lurch of sports media. The topic kicked off as Whitlock slammed former San Francisco 49ers second-string quarterback Colin Kaepernick for his season of clueless anti-American protests.
Even as he doubted that politics had kept Kaepernick from landing a new team as a free agent — Whitlock said Kaepernick is "delusional about his standing in the league" — the sports writer called the quarterback's protests ill informed and muddled.
"Kap is running around with Twitter idiots who love to play the race card," Whitlock said. "No general manager or coach wants [black lives activist] Shaun King second-guessing them in the New York Daily News about a one-win quarterback who is trying to prove his blackness through public gestures."
Whitlock went on to urge Kaepernick to "get new friends," and stop hanging around with people coddling him over his ill-advised protests.
The sports firebrand also noted that he is one of the few who has the spine to point out that Kaepernick is likely dealing with a personal identity crisis due to his upbringing, too. Whitlock said, "I've angered the far left by pointing out that Kap has some understandable identity issues based on his unique upbringing and a society that is brutally harsh on mixed-race people. Kap is not a thought leader on race or even informed about the issues. He was a guy who liked to kick it, lift weights and be a celebrity quarterback. The Niners benched him and he became a militant activist, which made him attractive to the far-left movement."
That brought the conversation to the left-ward tilt of the media, something Whitlock has criticized.
Sporting News asked Whitlock if liberals are trying to "kill the golden goose" by corrupting sports coverage with left-wing politics. Whitlock was adamant that liberals really are ruining sports media with political content.
"Far-left political ideologues want to reshape sports culture to their liking," Whitlock said. "Sports culture has long had a major impact on American culture. The values taught and celebrated in sports are conservative. The far left wants to change that. They want sports to have a liberal impact."
The interviewer then asked about the charges made by Breitbart Sports that ESPN is too liberal. Sporting News labeled Breitbart Sports as an "Alt-Right" site trying to stir attacks against ESPN, but Whitlock shot that down, saying, "I think it's unfair to pin this on the 'alt-right media.' ESPN and most of the mainstream media have lurched farther left. That's a complaint from middle America and, in my opinion, objective America. ESPN's own ombudsman acknowledged ESPN's hardcore progressive slant."
Of course, Whitlock is referring to the piece written by ESPN Ombudsman Jim Brady last year exploring whether or not the network has drifted too far to the left. But, even as he spent several thousand words reviewing the claim, Brady ended up insisting that the network had not gone too far left. Despite Brady's pronouncement, this year ESPN issued new guidelines in an effort to put a dampener on its on-air talent's penchant for spouting off on liberal political topics.
Speaking of ESPN's new on-air guidelines, Whitlock sees the new rules as "confusing."
Before wrapping up, among the other topics in the interview, Whitlock criticized college player Lonzo Ball's outspoken and activist father, saying the man has "emasculated" his son with all his public shenanigans.
Whitlock said LaVar Ball is "hurting" his sons' basketball careers. "He's making their careers about him rather than about them," Whitlock continued. "LaVar is doing way too much. I hope he re-evaluates his role."
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at email@example.com


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November 17, 2015 @ 2:47 pm
Quietly by Billy James
Listen to a clip of Quietly, by Billy James, McGibbony Publishing.
This song is a haunting melody full of Melancholy, reminiscent of the tragic life of Marilyn Monroe.
You can purchase Quietely and all of Billy James' other songs on Billy's Site, http://fridayniteboogie.com/
Filed under Uncategorized Permalink · Comments


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How can you help get the word out about LFMC?
1) Purchase copies in bulk and give them away as gifts. Bulk copies are inexpensive and signed copies
of books make excellent gifts.
2) Start a small goup study. LFMC was designed with small groups in mind.
3) Post about the book on Facebook. When you join the Facebook group, you will receive materials
that will help.
4)Ask for the book at your local library and retail store.
5) Leave a review on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books A Million, Christianbooks.com and any other
online bookseller you can think of. Post a review on your blog.
6)MOST IMPORTANT - talk about the book. If you love it, tell as many people as possible.


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Prime Of Life from Sleeps With Angels the 1994 album by Neil Young & Crazy Horse.
Archive for the 'Rock' Category
Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Prime Of LifePosted: April 13, 2013 in Music, Rock
Former Zombies keyboardist Rod Argent formed the band Argent in 1969, they released their debut self-titled album in 1970. Dance In The Smoke, written by Rod Argent & Chris White, is a track on their debut, plus, it is also a track on the CBS double sampler album Fill Your Head With Rock. The band on the recording are Rod Argent keyboards & vocals, Russ Ballard guitar & vocals, Jim Rodford bass, guitar & vocals and Robert Henrit drums.
Gypsy from Minnesota, released their self-titled first album in 1970, it was a double album and the song Gypsy Queen, Part 1, written by Enrico Rosenbaum, was released as a single from the album. The band on this record were Enrico Rosenbaum guitar & vocals, James Walsh keyboards & vocals, James Johnson guitar & vocals, James Epstein drums & Doni Larson bass.
Matthews Southern Comfort – WoodstockPosted: April 7, 2013 in Music, Rock
Tags: 1970, Ian Matthews, Matthews Southern Comfort, Rock
Written by Joni Mitchell and taken from the album Later That Same Year, the 1970 single Woodstock by Matthews Southern Comfort reached no.1 in UK singles chart.
Canned Heat – Let's Work TogetherPosted: April 6, 2013 in Blues, Music, Rock
Tags: 1969, Blues, Canned Heat, Rock
Canned Heat made the UK charts in 1969 with Let's Work Together written by Wilbert Harrison. It is also on their 1970 album Future Blues.
Small Faces – Song Of A BakerPosted: April 5, 2013 in Music, Rock
Tags: 1968, Small Faces
Song Of A Baker written by Marriott/Lane is on the Small Faces 1968 album Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake. The Small Faces were Steve Marriott guitar, vocals, Ronnie Lane bass, vocals, Kenny Jones drums, Ian McLagan keyboards, vocals. Soon after the album's release, Steve Marriott went on to form Humble Pie with Peter Frampton while the other three Small Faces joined forces with Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart. both from the Jeff Beck Band, and became known as Faces.
The Who – The SeekerPosted: April 4, 2013 in Music, Rock
Tags: 1970, Pete Townsend, Rock, The Who
Written by Pete Townshend, The Seeker was released as a single in 1970 by The Who. It was moderately successful, reaching no.19 in the UK charts. It can be found on the 1971 compilation album Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy.
Humble Pie – Natural Born BoogiePosted: April 3, 2013 in Music, Rock
Tags: 1969, Guitar, Humble Pie, Rock
Released in 1969 as Humble Pie's first single, Natural Born Boogie, written by Steve Marriott, reached no.4 in the UK single charts, and was their highest UK entry. The single and its B-side Wrist Job cab be found as bonus tracks on the CD version of their first album from 1969, As Safe As Yesterday Is. Humble Pie were former Small Faces front man Steve Marriott vocals, guitar, former Herd front man Peter Frampton vocals, guitar, former Spooky Tooth member Greg Ridley vocals, bass and Jerry Shirley drums. The title was spelt Natural Born Bugie on the records.
Shocking Blue – VenusPosted: April 2, 2013 in Music, Netherlands, Pop, Rock
Tags: 1969, Pop, Shocking Blue
Dutch group Shocking Blue released Venus in 1969, it was written in 1969 by Robbie van Leeuwen and can be found on the CD version of their second album At Home. At the time of this recording Shocking Blue were Mariska Veres vocals, Robbie van Leeuwen guitar and backing vocals, Klaasje van der Wal bass, and Cor van der Beek drums.
Atomic Rooster – Death Walks Behind YouPosted: March 31, 2013 in Music, Rock
Tags: 1970, Atomic Rooster, Rock
The opening title track from 1970's second album by Atomic Rooster. Death Walks Behind You, was written by Vincent Crane keyboards and John Du Cann vocals and guitar, Paul Hammond drums, completed the line-up.


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I was in the mood for a super quick crochet project today and decided to make one of my favourites - a cupcake! I've made these quite a few times in the past (like here) and love doing different icing colours. The pattern is easy to follow and can be found here on Nimoe's blog.
A perfect little gift for young and old alike (in other words, there's nothing wrong with an adult like me keeping it for myself aye?!)...
For more crafty makings click here.


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Instagram trips
So many things happening on Instagram. We're all trying to make sense of it all. And it's frustrating.
It seems a lot of us are getting less likes on Instagram. And if we have less likes on Instagram it is hard to grow our account.
Instagram relies on this metric to assess if our account is valuable or not. If a lot of people like our post, Instagram will show it to more people.


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Prestige stories, books, poems, and more
7 results
Related Tags:prestige, death, love, doors, eye, god, great, happy, live, magic, power, river, situation, 98, absolve, abuse, abysmal, accosted, act, activities, actually, adventure, advised, afraid, again, allow, alms, am, amenities, america, americandream, amount, ancestors, ancient, anger, angry, animal, animals, answer, anything, anyway, apologize, approach, arrogantly, asked, assorted, atrocities, attractive, away, ayali
America loves John Cannon, its newest hero, and the President wants to present him with the highest civilian medal for bravery for saving the Annapolis midshipman from a terrorist plot to destroy them. While in Washington for the award ceremony, John unwillingly becomes an accomplice in another plan by the… Read More
A short poem about humanity Read More
Tags: death, christianity, pride, dream, power, wealth, prestige, americandream
taken from my book, "When Drama Traumatizes You" Read More
Now I am in a good position. Both of us, my wife and me, are employees and earning well enough to live happily. However, we do not feel happy in the sense of that purity of happiness we had had in our old village. Anyway, along with these memories of… Read More


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For our company we have defined two different kind of project profiles. Both project profiles have been assigned to their own respective settlement profile. THe settlement profile is customized as 'to be settled in full'.
As it is 'to be settled in full' it requires a settlement rule/distribution rule for each WBS level. If it does not contain as settlement rule/distribution rule an error will be shown during settlement of the project. My customer would like to remove this kind of error.
For one of the project profiles however, it is only required to maintain a settlement rule if the WBS element is marked as billing element or as account assignment element. If these are not flagged 1) no settlement can be entered (message CJ054) and no error is presented during settlment if there is no settlement rule.
Hence, for the other project profile, even though billing element or account assignment element is not flagged the user can still maintain a settlement rule and error is giving during actual settlement is no settlement exist.
I've checked user status assigned to project profiles, but these does not influence creation of settlement rule.
What other parameters control the different behavious between these 2 types of projects?


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Seattle Airport Town Cars in Seattle, WA USA
Here you will find all the information that we were able to gather about the Seattle Airport Town Cars in Seattle, Washington
Company info
Time Work
- Monday: 6am-11:30pm
- Tuesday: 6am-11:30pm
- Wednesday: 6am-11:30pm
- Thursday: 6am-11:30pm
- Friday: 6am-11:30pm
- Saturday: 6am-11:30pm
- Sunday: 6am-11:30pm
Seattle Airport Town Cars on map:
Relevant company
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- Seattle Taxi in Seattle, WA
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Taxis in Seattle, WA
Limousine Service in Seattle, WA
Popular Taxi & Trucking Seattle, WA
Seattle Town Car - Black Diamond Limo in Seattle, WA
Black Diamond Town Car and Limo Service aspires to become the leader in comfortable transportation. We provide you with the best Limousine Service in ...
Seattle Airport Taxi in Seattle, WA
Seattle Airport Taxi is a flat rate airport taxi in seattle offering 24/7 airport transportation which is Licensed by Seattle Taxi and Limousine Comm...
Farwest Taxi in Seattle, WA
Comprehensive taxi service and airport shuttles in clean, GPS equipped vehicles.Farwest Taxi is a taxi cab and airport transportation company located ...
Seattle Town Car Inc in Seattle, WA
Seattle Town Car Inc.™ main goal is to serve our limo service clients with dependable, personal and affordable transportation. Our limo rental focu...


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Want to raise fund for a cause? Carnival games are best as you can collect a real big amount if you plan it the real good way. And fund raising in school can be great fun through carnival games. School carnival are not just for fund raising, it is an outdoor activity where the students can get together and work towards the organizing of such an activity.
The best thing about a school carnival is that you can gather a number of participants including the students, their friends and family. And one more thing about school carnival is that the students provide loads of help in planning the carnival, arranging the games, and conducting it so it is much easier to plan.
Plan your carnival game at least one or two months prior to the event if you want it to be a success. Choose a few responsible students and at least two or three of the staff who would be working to organize the carnival game at the school. This does not mean everyone else has to shut up and keep their ideas to themselves, anyone with a good and innovative idea on anything like the games you are going to conduct, the prizes to be distributed or any new things to be introduced can indeed come forward to give their opinion.
School carnival game should be conducted on a ticket basis. Calculate the approximate number of players you are going to have and either print that many tickets or paint it. You can assign the ticket designing duty to one or two of the students who sketches well. If you are may be having a number of guests, it is better to ask someone to print the tickets as it will be more cost effective and easier. You can either decide on one ticket to play the entire carnival games (one chance for each game) or you can print tickets for each game provided at specific counter.
Planning the game for the school carnival has to be done carefully if it is a fund raiser or not because you don't want any bad comments on this grand function. You can do a thing to select the best and most loved ten or twelve games; put up an opinion poll among the students on the games they love the most and choose from the most suggested ones which is possible to conduct. Plan some games for little children, some for bigger children and some for grownups.
Some games recommended for the school carnival party are balloon stomp, dart game, spelling games, feel and name the animals, duck ponds, feed Mr. Jack, water gun shoot, hoopla throw, pin the donkey's tail, balloon dart etc.
Plan a layout of where you are going to set up each game booth, plan the size of each booth and which game you are going to conduct in each of them. Decide which games will come side by side, never plan two most popular games together as you are going to have a congested area in this side and the whole carnival fest will look unbalanced and out of order. Ask some of the students to make the booth by setting cardboard or plywood and painting the in bright colors. Decide the person who will conduct the game and the person to collect the ticket in each booth. You should also fix the amount to be collected for the tickets in each booth. The ticket fare can be kept fixed for every game or else you can fix a slightly higher ticket fare for more popular games.
Decide on how you are going to give the prizes, are you going to give away prize for each game won or are you giving away prize based on the points earned on the game. You can ask your students to contribute to the prize collection, ask them to give anything they don't want and which was never used, like something they got for their last birthday or anything which they have more in number.
They can even contribute candies or sweets if possible. Don't force your students to contribute make it a "do it if you like" collection. You will have to buy lots of new prizes for the winners contact the shop where you buy the stationary for the school; you can get pens, erasers, paint boxes and color pens at a slightly lower cost. Also buy some loads of sweets, stickers and other little things to give away as prize. Always remember to reduce your expenses as much as possible, you don't want to end up with more of expense and lesser amount of fund raised. But do buy something good for the grand prize winner with the maximum score.
What is the fun in carnival games without cotton candies and crunchy pop corns. If you want your players to enjoy themselves to the fullest and not to run off because they are hungry, you should also plan a food booth. Arrange two or more food booth to provide refreshment for the guests and that too at different places, you would never want all the hungry costumers pushing themselves to one corner. Organizing food is also an easy way to collect more funds for your cause. You can order the refreshment at a nearby bakery or ice cream parlor and ask them to deliver the food fresh on the day of the event. If you can, borrow a popcorn machine and a cotton candy one to make the school carnival more happening. You can organize food booth to serve hot dogs, ice creams, soft drinks, snacks, French fries and fried chicken.
So let your school carnival be the most memorable one this time and don't forget to plan before hand and assign every single task to a group or one or two responsible kids. Conduct everything as you have planned and if you would like, you can organize a trial carnival game two or three days prior to the main event and try to correct every big and small errors. Face painting and nail painting booth can also be set up to make the party more interesting and up to the mark.


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Vegas Vegas
Vegas Vegas
This is the photo set of my recent trip to Las Vegas. The girl in most photos is my girlfriend Sarah. Applause for the good posings!
We stayed in Encore at Wynn, and it was such a beautiful resort. I highly recommend everyone who hasn't spent time in there.
For more photos please visit my flickr page.
A day in Gastown
Some pictures I took in Gastown.
For whole set please visit my Flickr page.
Short Interview
This is an Interview between me and Sarah and Sarah will talk about her experience of taking the GMAT exam in 2012 summer.
Gangnam Style Flashmob in Robson Square @ DT Van
Gangnam Style Flashmob in Robson Square at Downtown Vancouver
For more image please visit my Flickr Page.
The Importance of Truth to Journalism Storytelling
Journalism storytelling is not like those "once upon a time" we used to hear in bed many years ago, although they can be very similar in some way. For example, despite both telling the same historical events, "Romance of the Three Kingdom" written by Guanzhong Luo in the 14th century is regarded as one of the greatest fictions in China, while "Record of the Three Kingdom" written by Shou Chen in the third century is seen as the official and authoritative historical text about the Three Kingdom period and later Han Dynasty's history. The most significant difference between the two books is the use of truth, which can be also considered as the boundary line of "literary" and "literary reportage": "Romance of the Three Kingdom" has many fictitious characters such as Chan Diao and Mao Deng, who do not appear in "Record of the Three Kingdom". Journalism, as well as journalism storytelling, is more similar to "Record of the Three Kingdom" as they both need to tell the truth without making anything up. There is no doubt that "truth" is the most important aspect to journalism storytelling.
Internet Explorer: Victim of fake news
A news report by PC World Report in August, 2011 indicated that PC users who use Internet Explorer, the internet browser which comes together with Windows, tend to have lower IQ than those who use other internet browsers such as Firefox, Google Chrome and Opera. The result was published by a Canadian company called AptiQuant Psychometric Consulting Co., who claimed that they have more than 100,000 candidates who took the online IQ test. They invited users to take their test through advertising links on other websites and made a note of which browser each user was using to make the ranking (Newman, 2011). This story was also reported by many other high profile news agents such as CBC, CNN, and BBC.
This story was quite convincing at the moment. Most people believed it for three reasons. First of all, the survey was claimed to be based on a large amount of testers, and the method that AptiQuant used sounds very effective: The amount of participating testers was more than 100,000, and they came from different channels as they clicked different advertisements on different websites; also, AptiQuant did not ask the users which browser they were using but collected the data in the background so that users were unable to lie about it. Secondly, the statement that AptiQuant made fits most people's common understanding: using one thing is stupid, using another thing is smart. This is similar to the everlasting iPhone vs. Android debate, where people argue if it is smarter to use iPhone or Android, and this debate continues even to the present days (Elite Daily, n.d.). Last but not least, Microsoft, who make Internet Explorer, did not put as much effort in promoting their own browsers than other companies such as Google who make Chrome and Mozilla who make Firefox as they believed that people have to use their browser because it is built in; yet people who were affected by the advertisements other companies made believed that using other internet browsers which comes with more features will also make them smarter.
However, the news story turned out to be a hoax. BBC news made a research on AptiQuant and found out that the company's website was only built for a month. Moreover, the thumbnails of the company's staffs were found identical to the ones of a Company called Central Test, which was also a psychometric testing company (BBC News, 2011). Some experts also raised their concerns towards this survey result. ZDNet expert Zack Whittaker claimed that collecting more than 100,000 candidates was a very difficult task on the Internet, and finding something meaningful from such large quantity of data would even take years (Whittaker, 2011).
The Fake News incident eventually went to an end, but the impact it brought afterwards was bigger than people predicted. Only three months after the browser hoax, a study by Ars in November, 2011 showed that web usage of Internet Explorer had dropped below 50%. It is worth noting that Internet Explorer dropped an outstanding 1.76 percent market share in two months from September while its drop rate was much lower in other period (Bright, 2011). Despite still retaining a majority of the market share, Internet Explorer is losing users rapidly, not only because of its lack of creativity and features, but also because of the browsers hoax which made a huge hit on it. Despite clarifications were made shortly after the hoax, a lot of former users of Internet Explorer decided to turn to other browsers which would make them "smarter". In this case, Internet Explorer became the biggest victim of the hoax.
Tom Henning Ovrebo: Victim of a wrong storytelling
Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel suggest that journalism's first obligation is to the truth, and when the journalists was interviewed for a survey asking what "truth" means, 100 percent of them answered "getting the facts right" (Kovach & Rosenstiel, p.36). Therefore, it is meant that we not only need to tell the facts, but to tell them in the right way.
Tom Henning Ovrebo, a psychologist, also a Norwegian soccer referee, was one of the victims from a wrong way of storytelling. He was famous for making many controversy decisions in many important soccer matches, and the most famous one was the UEFA Champion League semi-final second leg between Chelsea and Barcelona, which he turned down four penalty appeals by Chelsea. Chelsea players were enraged that Ovrebo ignored a foul by Daniel Alves on Florent Malouda, followed by a tug on Didier Drogba by Eric Abidal, as well as two handballs by Barcelona players inside the penalty area. The match was out of control for a time and players of both teams played roughly and brutishly. After the match, despite Ovrebo told UEFA match representative that he made "significant mistakes", members in Chelsea team all raged at Ovrebo about his referral performance (Fifield and Lawrance, 2009).
The match became the headline on sports page of all news agents very soon, and all the speeches and opinions turned against Ovrebo. Almost all media expressed their compassion towards Chelsea and harshly criticism towards Ovrebo (Soccernet, 2009). As a result, Ovrebo received a death threat the very next day and his home address in Oslo, Norway was also published. In 2010, after failing in entering the final referee list of South Africa World Cup, he decided to end his international career and only continues in the Norwegian Premier League in order to escape from the harassment. But even till now, he still receives abusive emails from Chelsea fans (Wilson, 2012).
Ovrebo's end was a tragedy made by the media. Instead of focusing on the mistakes made by the referee, the topic of how to improve the integrity of the match is more worth concerning. FIFA has urged more than one time to introduce technologies such as eagle eyes into soccer to help with referee's job, and they also suggest having more linesmen into the match to reduce misjudgements. FIFA President Joseph Blatter claimed that July 5 2012 was historical as FIFA promised to bring goal-line technology into 2016 Brazil World Cup; FIFA also looked forward to introducing more technology which helps the fairness of the game (fifa.com, 2012). He also claimed that many misjudgements happened due to the limitation of human eyes, and that referees were not supposed to be the ones to be blamed.
Truth: Tell the fact, and tell it right
As mentioned earlier, journalism's first obligation is to the truth. Microsoft lost millions of dollars because of the browser hoax, and Ovrebo lost his career and his safety was put in danger due to the wrong direction of reports by the media. These examples are countless and they all prove one thing: truth is the most important aspect in journalism storytelling.
Back to the basic, journalists work for the public, and they must report the truth to gain the public's trust; it is meaningless for journalists if their publications were not accepted by the public. One of the good ways to avoid reporting false information is to uncover as much information as possible; the more information a journalist uncovers, the less he will feel like to fill the unknown block. Ultimately, journalism is to tell the truth instead of catching people's eyes with some bogus sparkle to attract interests.
Newman, J. (2011, July 29). Internet Explorer Users Are Kinda Stupid, Study Suggests. Retrieved from http://www.pcworld.com/article/236944/internet_explorer_users_are_kinda_stupid_study_suggests.html
Elite Daily (n.d.). The Great Debate: iPhone Vs. Android. Retrieved October 28,2012 from http://elitedaily.com/elite/2012/great-debate-iphone-drod/
BBC News (2011, August 3). Internet Explorer Story was Bogus. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14370878
Whittaker, Z. (2011, August 3). Internet Explorer users 'stupid': Story was a hoax. Retrieved from http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/internet-explorer-users-stupid-story-was-a-hoax/53845
Bright, P. (2011, November 2). The end of an era: Internet Explorer drops below 50% of Web usage. Retrieved from http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2011/11/the-end-of-an-era-internet-explorer-drops-below-50-percent-of-web-usage/
Kovach, B. & Rosenstiel, T. (2007). The Elements of Journalism. New York, NY: Three Rivers Press.
Fifield, D. & Lawrance A. (2009, May 7). Chelsea rage at referee for not giving them four penalties. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/may/07/chelsea-barcelona-referee-penalties-hiddink-terry
Soccernet (2009, May 6). Hiddink fumes at Norwegian referee's display. Retrieved from http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=643931&sec=uefachampionsleague&cc=5901
Wilson, J. (2012, April 6). Referee at centre of Barcelona controversy still receiving abusive emails from Chelsea fans. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/9189650/Referee-at-centre-of-Barcelona-controversy-still-receiving-abusive-emails-from-Chelsea-fans.html
Fifa.com (2012, July 5). Blatter: Technology's time has come. Retrieved from http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/marketing/qualityprogramme/news/newsid=1660614/index.html
The modern Cinderella: How a girl found her way out of domestic violence
It was a warm summer evening. The clock on the wall showed that it was quarter to six. Remy Wan was putting away the kitchen knife and chopping board as she had just finished preparing the materials for dinner.
Just then she heard someone turning the lock. It was her mother Zhang Chen.
"Remy," Chen yelled to Wan as she walked into the dining room, "why isn't dinner ready yet? What have you been doing?"
"I've been preparing all this time," Wan argued.
"I told you I'm coming home at six and I want dinner ready by then," Chen was getting angry.
"But mom", said Wan, "you are home early."
Chen slapped Wan hard on the face. "How dare you argue with me? Go cook right away! I need to eat dinner!"
Wan covered her cheek with her left hand, and not a single tear fell from her eyes. Knowing that it was useless to argue, she walked back into the kitchen and turned on the electric stove.
Seeing the remaining water on the pan evaporating, she knew it was hot enough to pour the cooking oil. All of a sudden, Chen rushed into the kitchen, grabbed Wan's wrist, and pushed her hand onto the burning hot stove.
"How dare you! How dare you!" Chen yelled as she held Wan's hand on the element for what seemed like forever. Finally, Wan broke away with all her strength.
"No dinner for you tonight," shouted Chen, "Now hurry and cook! I am hungry!" Chen slammed the kitchen door, leaving Wan crying, kneeling on the floor.
This was just one of the days of suffering endured by Wan in the first 18 years of her life.
Wan had suffered from domestic violence since she was born. The violence mainly came from her mother. The fact that Wan was not a boy not only lowered Chen's status in the family, but also took away the love Wan wished her mother had given her.
Wan was born in a small town called Humen in the southern part of Guangdong, China. The concept of carrying on the family line is very important in Chinese culture, so naturally her birth was not celebrated like that of many baby boys, as her parents knew that their grandchildren would no longer carry the name Wan. Also, Wan's parents believed that sons can not only carry on the family line, but can also create wealth and take care of their parents when they are older, while daughters eventually become part of their husbands' families when they are married. These impacts, along with the one child policy in China, were maximized and reinforced the preference for sons among Chinese parents.
As early as Wan could remember, her family was wealthy and owned a big house, with several servants taking care of them. Her father was a successful businessman who had become rich from a shrimp sauce business. But as his business began to prosper, he had to go on more and more business trips and returned home less often, leaving Wan and her mother Chen alone in the house. When Wan was six years old, Chen dismissed the last servant and ordered Wan to do all the housework the servants used to do.
From that day, Wan lived her life like Cinderella who hadn't met the kind-hearted fairy yet. After getting up at six in the morning, she had to spend the whole morning wiping every square foot of the floor in the three story house; next she hand-washed all the dirty clothes from the previous night as Chen didn't allow her to use the washing machine. Later on she needed to do grocery shopping and make dinner, not to mention the dish washing afterwards.
"I had to do everything," Wan said.
According to a 2010 study by the Changsha Domestic Violence Prevention Group, a governmental research group in Changsha, China, almost 80% of the girls from urban families in Hunan Province, China, suffer domestic violence to varying degrees; this number increases to an unbelievable 96% in rural areas in the province.
The study also indicates a very significant sex imbalance of newborn infants in China. In 2010, for every 100 boys born, there were 95 new baby girls in the world. However, in China, there were much fewer girls than boys. For every 100 boys, there were only 85 girls in China; in Guangdong Province where Wan was born, for every 100 boys, there were only as few as 77 girls.
"The term 'gendercide' refers to the systematic elimination of a gender group," said Evan Grae Davis, a filmmaker and a director. "The UN estimates there are as many as two hundred millions missing women in the world today due to gendercide."
Davis recently made a documentary called "It's a Girl" to explore gendercide issues in China and India. He visited the two countries in order to do some interviews and he was surprised to find out that the local women were not only oppressed but also feel awkward and frightened to talk about how badly they were being treated. In China and India, many girls who survive from gendercide suffer from different levels of violence like Wan.
At the age of eight, Wan immigrated to Canada with her family. The Wan family bought a new house in Richmond and found an elementary school for Wan. During the first month after her arrival in Canada, Chen took Wan to many places to settle everything for their new life, and Wan didn't have to do any housework. For a time, she thought her life had finally changed.
But she was wrong.
After everything was settled, Wan's father returned to China for business, and Chen simply wanted Wan to do more than she could. School had taken some of Wan's time, but she was still forced to do all the housework she used to do after school.
"I once got beaten because my mother wanted me to translate a government document, but I couldn't," Wan said. "I had been here for only two months and I could barely speak any English at that time."
Bad news has wings. Although Wan didn't tell anyone, the fact that she suffered from domestic violence spread very fast and brought in some social workers to her home. But the social workers' visits simply made things worse. Wan always got beaten after each visit and she ended up in hospital two times, both for broken bones. Wan didn't know who could help her.
"Slippers, brooms, belts, forks…she just used everything she could handle to beat me."
Seema Ahluwalia is a sociologist in Kwantlen Polytechnic University who has spent years studying violence against women in Canada. She points out that women suffer all kinds of unfairness and violence even in developed countries like Canada.
"The government really needs to do more than just stepping in after the damage has been done," said Ahluwalia. "Shelters and women's centres are barely enough. Measures should be taken to prevent such things from happening."
Wan tried to run away from home several times. She hid in friends' houses and also looked for women's shelters; she even slept under a skytrain station once. But she was sent home time after time, and got beaten every time by her furious mother. On the last time when Wan was brought home by a social worker, she was told that she couldn't leave home and live alone until she was 18 years old.
Therefore, on Wan's 16th birthday, she made a decision that changed her life.
She would leave home as soon as she turned 18.
During the next two years, Wan didn't run away anymore and didn't even argue with her mother. She was treated even worse than before as her mom mauled her almost every day. However, she was not afraid anymore, for she knew she could rescue herself.
Despite many girls suffering from domestic violence like Wan in India and China, very few of them have the courage Wan has to resist and escape. On her 18th birthday, she carried two pieces of luggage with only her clothes, and moved in with her friend temporarily. She moved out and rented her own apartment two months later.
"Those two months," said Wan, "were the best time in my life ever."
Wan's life completely changed. After she left home, she went to beauty school and completed her International diploma. She did have some financial difficulties when she first moved out as she needed to make her living at the minimum wage, but that was nothing compare to the agony she had been suffering. After several years of perseverance, she now works as a laser technician in a downtown beauty salon, and she also has a boyfriend who loves her. Sometimes she wanders on Columbia Street in Vancouver, where there are a lot of bridal shops, and dreams of the day she will get married.
She still thinks of her mother, from time to time, but the memory only makes her frightened and tremble; her mother Chen didn't leave her a single good memory. For all these years she only went back home and visited Chen once.
"Once I saw her in the mall from a distance, I pulled up my hoodie and ran away immediately."
However, when thinking of her future, everything becomes brighter.
"When I have a baby, I hope it can be a girl," Wan said. "I will love her with all my heart, and give her everything I can."
"I will be the best mother in the world."


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BMX Raw / Webisode: Epic Battle of Hastings with Chase Hawk, Kriss Kyle, Chad Kerley, Bruno Hoffmann, Dan Lacey, Mark Love, Gary Young - More soon!
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Open Education evolves around sharing high quality educational resources which you may download, reuse and change. During this interactive workshop Willem van Valkenburg (manager Production & Delivery TU Delft Open & Online Education) will let you in on the world of Open Education. Together with Willem you will tackle questions like: how Open are MOOCs? What does Openness mean? Where can I find open and high quality educational resources? And many more.
More information and registration
This event is part of the activities during the global Open Education Week 7 to 11 March.


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Read about how these adopted pit bulls have been in their new homes!
UPDATE: Delilah
Delilah obviously loves her new home!
UPDATE: Anna
"Hope you don't mind me sharing this! It's Anna! She is an amazing loving pup and has integrated perfectly with our family! We love her!"
UPDATE: Kiah
"I got the pleasure to adopt Kiah the pit bull who can not hear. As soon as I walked her inside, she made herself right at home. You would think she has known us forever. My horse took to her right away and covered her in kisses. Thank you again. She is definitely a Jeep dog.. Loves her car rides, too."
UPDATE: Bullet
Bullet came in with Kane, but he was able to find a home last month and this is what he's been up to since then! Living life to the fullest! Thanks for giving us an update on Bullet and thank you so much for giving him the home that he deserves!
UPDATE: Noel (Jazzmine)
"I adopted Jazzmine (Who I have since called Noel) almost a year and a half ago. She has been such a wonderful blessing in my life since then! We go on as many adventures as we can and she is a very happy girl. I just wanted to say thank you for helping to match me with my best friend. She is such a goofy, sweet, loving girl and every day I am thankful to be able to spend my time with her! My life would certainly not be as happy and meaningful without her."
UPDATE: Chee Chee
"She has found her forever home. Chee chee has been amazing since she has been home. She is loving and she loves to play. Chee chee has made a very loving bond with me. She follows me wherever I go. My daughter loves playing with her. What a amazing pit bull she is." They love her so much, saying, "Whoever said pit bulls are mean is so wrong. Chee Chee is showing people that pit bulls are not mean dogs." She sleeps in their bed and loves on their daughter everyday, too!
UPDATE: Darwin (Ransom)
Ransom (now Darwin) is (and isn't) doing great. He has been a wonderful family member, we absolutely love him to death. He's still uncomfortable around my husband. We did some digging and think he reminds him of his old owner. He just does not want to bond with him and I think it's just cause he's had his heart broken. We recently adopted 2 kittens and Darwin really likes them. He is such a gentle boy, but definitely the older brother that will come over and give them a nudge when getting in trouble like walking on the table. Ever since we got the kittens, he doesn't act as afraid of my husband and actually sat with him and let him pet him!!! Unfortunately Darwin tore a cruciate in his knee a few weeks ago and has been taking it super easy since surgery. (He tore the opposite one at the humane society) I feel so bad for him, now that I'm constantly outside he had to stay in and be confined and of course I'm missing his company terribly.
UPDATE: Periwinkle and Spike
This family adopted first adopted Spike in January of 2015. He had heart worm and LPCHS helped him recovery. They fell in love and felt he needed a buddy. They came back and adopted Periwinkle in January of 2016. Now they are the dynamic duo!
UPDATE: Kato
Kato visited us at LPCHS because they were adopting a little sister for him! They say he is doing fantastic. He get's along with the cats at home and he is one of the best dogs they have ever had. His nickname is superman (hence the collar). Thanks for adopting!
UPDATE: Buster (Batman)
A year after adoption ->
"It's been over a year since we first brought Buster home. He's gone from thirteen pounds to and almost ninety pounds, but he's all puppy still. Loves to play fetch and pulls me around on my skateboard. We have given him a few nicknames. One is "Buster the hustler" because he is so good at begging for food at meal time. He's a giant cuddle bug at night though and always has to sleep next to someone. Tonight it's my son who gets to share his bed. He is a great addition to our family."
- Buster's owners
UPDATE: Ziggy
Ziggy got adopted on March 28th, 2015. She was found on the streets, and came in with a couple teeth missing. Along with missing teeth, she had scars on her face. We suspect she was not treated kindly. But despite her bad past, she was more than happy to begin a new future. And that's exactly what happened! She now lives with another adopted LPCHS pup, and is able to finally be a dog again. Plus, her new owner says that she has the softest fur ever!
UPDATE: Patton (Gizmo)
We spoke to Patton's dad when he came in and adopted another Pit Bull from us, Jack! Awesome right? He said that Gizmo is doing great! They go hiking 5-6 days a week with their other pittie friends. He sleeps on the bed every single night since he adopted him! Patton is a great house dog, and just fantastic in general. The owner told us a story about when he first adopted Patton, that he ran right to the jeep and jumped in! When they got home, he jumped right on the bed! What a good boy, Patton is!
UPDATE: Zoey (Florance)
We talked to Zoey's owner on the phone and asked about how Zoey (named Florance at the shelter) is doing!
"Zoey is fantastic with our son's dog. They sleep together on the bed and are amazing together! She get's about 3 walks a day, and she LOVES her belly rubs! She knows the family routine, and we can even leave the gate open while gardening and she doesn't go anywhere! So loyal and she is such a wiggle butt, always wagging that tail! She just loves life and is smart and just our perfect companion!"
- Zoey's owner
Sounds like Zoey is loving life! Thank you for adopting her!
"Zoey is fantastic with our son's dog. They sleep together on the bed and are amazing together! She get's about 3 walks a day, and she LOVES her belly rubs! She knows the family routine, and we can even leave the gate open while gardening and she doesn't go anywhere! So loyal and she is such a wiggle butt, always wagging that tail! She just loves life and is smart and just our perfect companion!"
- Zoey's owner
Sounds like Zoey is loving life! Thank you for adopting her!
UPDATE: Zoey (Penny)
"Zoey (Penny) would like to thank all my La Plata family for taking such good care of me until I found my furever home!! I love living in Denver and playing with all my puppy cousins. Dad bought me a warm pink coat for all this cold weather here on the front range. A special thanks to Katie Homra for falling in love with my adorable face and never giving up hope that someone would adopt me."
- Penny's owner
UPDATE: Coal
"Xander Coal is doing great. He's 18 weeks now, with all of his shots. He has nice long walks everyday and loves to play with ice cubes. He's 40 lbs. now and still growing. He loves to play with people, kids, dogs, plants, balls, pretty much anything that will let him. He is extremely smart in that he was house trained in two days, knows 6 tricks, and doesn't even fight kennel training anymore. We love him dearly."
- Coal's owners
- Coal's owners
UPDATE: Sara
Sara saves a life
UPDATE: Aiden
If you have any updates about your Pit Bull from LPCHS and want to share, please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com


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S4C will start broadcasting proceedings from the National Assembly of Wales from next Tuesday night (20 April) with a service entitled Y Dydd yn Y Cynulliad (The Day at The Assembly).
S4C announced in March that it intended to present broadcasts of Assembly proceedings on its main channel throughout the United Kingdom.
The Assembly's full sessions and some committees will be broadcast on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from around 23:30 for up to six hours each night.
Iona Jones, Chief Executive of S4C, said, "Giving prominence to the National Assembly's discussions on a channel which reaches all Welsh homes and Sky subscribers beyond Wales is an important commitment from S4C in this all-digital age.
"This is in line with the statement in our Programme Policy 2010 that we will continue to strengthen and expand our provision as a public service broadcaster."


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10 good reasons to savour the flavour of cashew
Cashews are grown by smallholders in countries like Côte d'Ivoire, Mozambique, India, and Vietnam, before they are shelled, peeled and sent to supermarkets. Follow the cashew on its journey from tree to taste bud with Olam
1. It's quirky!
Not only does the cashew nut come from a yellow and red fruit called an apple but it is actually a kidney-shaped seed stuck on the apple's underside. You can eat the apple but only when it's ripe.
The juice is drunk in parts of India and Brazil and it can also be distilled into a type of wine.
2: Cashews provide livelihoods for millions
In Africa farmers are often illiterate, with no financial backing, so yields can be low. Olam buys cashews either directly or indirectly from 400,000 African farmers. 42,000 are enrolled in our flagship Olam Livelihood Charter (OLC).
With expert partners like African Cashew Alliance, GIZ and the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), the OLC aims to holistically address economic, social and environmental needs.
Farmers in Bondoukou, Côte d'Ivoire, have boosted yields from 350kg per hectare in 2011 to 550kg in 2014.
3: Harvesting is hard with only five "snack packs" per tree
The cashews are ready only when the fruit drops, so farmers must gather them by hand. Then they must quickly and carefully detach the seed – if any fruit remains then it can affect the quality of the nut. This farmer is learning a new technique using taut string to make a clean break.
One mature tree provides 4-5kg of raw cashew nuts, but only 1-1.25kg of edible kernels. If they make it through transport and processing intact, these kernels would fill just 4 or 5 snack packs on the supermarket shelf.
4: The cashew has a hot, arduous journey from tree to warehouse
The farmers leave the cashew seeds to dry for three days in the sun. They are then cooled overnight under the trees before being transported along rough terrain to the warehouse on foot, bicycle or sometimes motorbike.
The cashew seeds are then laid out in the sun for another 4-8 hours, rattling when completely dry. They are then bagged, weighed and tagged for Olam, to ensure traceability.
5: It's a tough nut to crack!
Cashews are so fiddly to extract from their double shell that nimble fingers are required to ensure that the delicate kernels remain whole for discerning consumers. This means that mechanisation in cashew processing remains limited.
Olam's plant in Bouaké, Côte d'Ivoire, is one of the world's most advanced mechanised units and employs 2,400 people. In Olam's facilities the "waste" cashew shells are used as fuel for the steam boilers that roast the nuts to prepare them for shelling.
A skilled manual sheller can do over 17 nuts a minute or 8,000 per day!
6: It's also a tough nut to peel
Women are usually better at the delicate peeling that removes the nut from its casing.
Olam alone employs 25,000 people in 20 processing units in Africa and Asia, 90% of whom are women, and often in regions where there is little alternative employment.
A reasonably skilled Olam employee working a full shift can earn, on average, 25% more than the minimum wage. Olam also provides literacy classes to help women progress both at work and in their communities.
7: Inspiring entrepreneurs
In Djekanou, Côte d'Ivoire, one enterprising woman, Mme Constantine Kouadio approached Olam with a successful business investment case.
With training and support from Olam, she set up her own mechanical peeling unit to provide employment for around 300 women in a region still recovering from political unrest.
8: It stops ships from going rusty!
Well, not the nut, but the casing contains the dark, messy Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) which is used in industrial and marine paint, electrical boards and brake powder.
However, it's also an irritant – workers must wear protective gloves or coat their hands in a special oil.
9: Each cashew is designated one of 26 international grades
The quality and size of a peeled cashew is assessed in seconds and separated into different colour bowls.
The lowest grades go to animal feed, middle grades might end up as ingredients in confectionery products, energy bars, toppings and for products such as cashew butter, while the superior whole nut grades make it into your satisfying snack-packs.
10: It's a nut with potential!
Cashew consumption is increasing by about 5-7% a year, partly due to a growing recognition of its health benefits such as magnesium, which is important for healthy bones and teeth.
But there are still challenges to overcome, not least helping farmers and cashew communities achieve their potential.
To find out more about Olam our cashew journey click here


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The Virginia Beach SPCA is celebrating Cinco de Meow (& Bow & Wow) for 5 days starting May 5 - 10 with $55 adoption fees for select dogs and cats and $5 small animal adoptions.
Our first-ever Human Walking event was a huge success! Thanks to everyone who came out to visit with us and the Virginia Beach Animal Care and Adoption Center on Friday, April 17th from 10am-12pm.
We couldn't be more proud of Amanda Panuline Dunlap, Director of Adult Volunteers and Community Outreach Director and our adult volunteers!
Humane Ed Department recognized as a 2014-2015 Model Partner with Providence Elementary School by Virginia Beach Public Schools.
Because real life isn't a Hollywood movie that has a funny/happy ending after an unplanned pregnancy - we asked that pet owners get a ticket to snip it this World Spay Day!
VBSPCA celebrated the grand opening of our Satellite Pet Supply and Adoption Center in the Kempsville area of Virginia Beach on Friday, February 20th.
In honor of Homeless Animals Awareness Week, participating Hampton Roads shelters are offering $14 adoption fees on all animals this Saturday and Sunday!
This week the VBSPCA has partnered with 9 other local shelters to take part in an awareness campaign for homeless animals.