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Confessions of a Shopaholic (US - BD RA)
Gabe confesses that he has no interest in high fashion, and he has good credit
Rebecca Bloomwood (Isla Fisher) is desperate for a job writing for the high-fashion New York magazine. After a minor setback she gets her stilettos in the door writing a personal finance column at a sister publication. Much to everyone's surprise, her column, 'The Girl in the Green Scarf', becomes a hit, and she falls head over high heels (groan) for her handsome, socially aware, and overworked boss (Hugh Dancy). But her secret obsession with shopping threatens to unravel her newfound success.
If I weren't reviewing it, or more realistically, if I weren't watching it with someone that was particularly enjoying it, I probably would've turned Confessions of a Shopaholic off about halfway through. I found the lead character and what I perceived as the movie's flat-line message repugnant, and personally let myself get frustrated enough that I'd written the whole thing off as one of the most socially irresponsible movies I'd ever seen. Glorifying credit card debt and frivolous spending? Who the hell did these people think they were? Jerry 'money buckets' Bruckheimer's name on the credits didn't help my unrealistically angry perception. My hatred peaked with a revolting scene of the film's idiot heroine adding up her debts in horror, which I immediately contrasted with my own debt adding nightmare. The difference between the exercises is that Rebecca's debt is due to buying clothes she doesn't need, while my debt was an accumulation of life saving medical procedures. But I digress.
I was so blinded by anger I almost missed the point of the entire film, one of the major problems of emotional responses to film criticism (reactions to horror films being the most broadly misconstrued). Confessions of a Shopaholic is a very fiscally responsible film in the end, and even goes as far as to stick its protagonist in an emotionally shattering series of events straight out of a drug addiction flick. Rebecca devolves into a full blown junkie, minus track lines, and just short of back alley sexual favours. It's heavy-handed, but there's a chance the film had an effect on someone, so I'm willing to forgive a lot of basic filmmaking problems.
Realistic criticism comes in with director P.J. Hogan, who is genuinely better than this, and really should've brought more to the table. Structurally speaking the film is about as by the numbers as a romantic comedy can get. It's numbingly beat for beat, and what's worse it goes about it in a slow fashion. The whole thing feels about thirty minutes longer than it actually is. The characters are pretty thinly drawn, but they do each have at least a few traits that separate them from every other romantic comedy cipher in recent history. I'm actually quite fond of the film's main antagonist, Derek Smeath, the bill collector who is slowly revealed over the course of the story. The actors do well with the thin characters as well, pressing the compelling aspects over the cliché aspects, especially the warm-hearted supporting cast.
Confessions of a Shopaholic comes fitted as expected, with a bright and vivaciously colourful 2.35:1, 1080p transfer. Director P.J. Hogan and cinematographer Jo Willems go for that soft and candied Disney look. The look is relatively soft (as if everything were lit through filtered, glowing white lights), and the focus is relatively shallow, so details aren't a big part of the high definition performance, but they are sharper than the somewhat fuzzy DVD release (as seen in these screencaps). The darker warm tones are a little noisy, and the edges of some of the brightest colours bloom ever so slightly. There's very little grain or compression over the whole of the transfer. Contrast is even and textures are smooth, but the deepest blacks are still quite rich, and the lightest whites are clean.
Confessions of a Shopaholic may be a Jerry Bruckheimer production, but that doesn't mean it's brimming with bombast. There isn't a single explosion of controlled demolition in the entire thing. Most sound effects are either incidental, or used for a pointed comedic effect. I noticed just about nothing so far as surround effects are concerned, save some echo effects and a few ringing office phones. The all important dialogue, and the majority of crowd noise and the like is diverted to the centre channel, and it all sound very natural, even, and consistent, while making a clear distinction between narration and on-screen dialogue. The majority of stereo and surround (not to mention bass) work comes out of the relatively non-stop soundtrack. One poppy chick-track bleeds into another, with varying volume depending on 'the feel' of the scene. It's not a big workout, but there's some oomph to the LFE, and a few neat stereo effects (the rear channels are mostly echo effects).
Fans of the film will find a slight extra incentive to purchase the film on Blu-ray format instead of DVD (besides the A/V upgrade) in the form of several brief behind the scenes featurettes. 'Behind the Fashion' features 'Wardrobe by Patricia Field' (03:00, HD), a look at the costume designer herself, 'Temple of Shopping' (02:30, HD), a look at the production design, 'The Green Scarf' (01:30, HD), a look at the design of that piece of wardrobe, 'New York: Fashion Central' (02:30, HD), a look at shooting in NYC, 'Sample Sale Madness' (02:00, HD), a look at filming the shopping frenzy, and 'Window Shopping' (02:00, HD) a quick look at the totally unnecessary CG models (I figured they were people in suits, and it has the same effect either way).
The disc also includes the DVD extras, which are four deleted scenes (06:20, HD), a blooper reel (02:00, SD), three music videos, and Disney trailers. The deleted scenes include an entirely context-less gag, a frustrating scene of Rebecca trying to work at a designer store, a failed rooftop kiss, and a writer asking for his own nickname.
Confessions of a Shopaholic isn't the irresponsible mess I initially thought it was, but it's still a by-the-numbers exercise in romance, with only minor character twists to make it interesting. It's also overlong. The video and audio qualities are fine, but not overly impressive, mostly due to the film's limited A/V ambition. There are some extras available on the Blu-ray that are not available on the DVD, but they're pretty brief, and not entirely worth the upgrade if you aren't looking to spend the extra cash.
* Note: The images on this page are not representative of the Blu-ray release.
Review by Gabriel Powers
Some material may not be suitable for children
Disc Details
Release Date: 23rd June 2009
Discs: 2
Disc Type: Blu-ray Disc
RCE: No
Video: 1080p
Aspect: 2.35:1
Anamorphic: No
Colour: Yes
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English, Dolby Digital 5.1 French, Spanish, and Portuguese
Subtitles: English SDH, French and Spanish
Extras: Behind the Scenes Featurettes, Deleted Scenes, Bloopers, Music Videos, Digital Copy
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: P.J. Hogan
Cast: Isla Fisher, Leslie Bibb, Hugh Dancy, John Goodman, Joan Cusack, John Lithgow, Kristin Scott Thomas
Genre: Comedy and Romance
Length: 105 minutes
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Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes
Meeting date: 12/04/2013
A Regular meeting of the Board of directors of EMS, was held at 687 McKinley street, Suite #2, Eugene OR on Dec 4th , 2013. The meeting convened at 6:22 PM, Rick Osgood, presiding, and Clif Cox secretary.
Board Members in attendance: Rick, Clif, Bob, Kevin
Board Members not in attendance: Kassie
Quorum present? Yes
Also Present Were: none
Approval of Agenda:Motion was made by Rick, and seconded by Clif to approve this meeting's proposed agenda (as amended?) as amended.
Unanimous approval.
Motion carried.
Approval of minutes: Motion was made by Rick , and seconded by Bob to approve the minutes as amended of the 11/20/13 meeting.
Unanimous approval.
Motion carried.
Kevin has vetted all the voters, and has changed how he interpreted payments from members to apply to the next month.if they pay late in the month. Taxes for 2012 will be submitting submitted very shortly.
Brief disscussion discussion about Ellery's key access. Sponsors are RIck, Rick, Bob, Kassie, Clif, Kevin Kevin.
MOTION - Bob moved, and Rick Seconded that: Ellery gets a key
Unanimous approval.
Motion Carried
Rick made a wiki page to pull together all the ideas from verious various business plans, and to outline the steps we would take to impliment implement them. We would feel much better about moving int to a bulding building if we had an action plan. We should have a moving commitee committee or two before we jump on the new space. We need to get people signed up to teach classes, likewise we need groups signed up to use our meeting room.
We should deffinitly definitely start one and not sign the lease unless a commtee committee is activaly actively working on it.
What would we want in our lease? We made a short list:
We need the utility bills first then wait for the new board to conviean and have a super board. convene, perhaps with the old board there to help out.
We felt like we vote on should make some adjustments to the annual meeting voting requirements for next year. Some felt that the conditions set for board members to qualify were too complicated for general members, so we needed make a rule simpler version for them.
MOTION - Kevin moved, and Rick Seconded that: for future years members need to be in good standing for the 60 day period prior to the annual meeting date.
Unanimous approval.Kevin Ayes, Kevin Rick CLif, Bobs abstain Clif, Bob abstains
Motion Carried / Failed.
Bob moved for adjournment, Seconded by Kevin.
Unanimous, the meeting was adjourned at 7:36PM.
____________________________ ___________________
Secretary Date of approval
Eugene Maker Space

subset: commoncrawl


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COMMERCE CITY CO (August 19 2008) - Play in a soccer league with your office buddies? Think your co-workers can hold their own in a small-sided tournament? Looking for a great team-building opportunity for your employees?
Then you should sign your company or organization up for the Rapids 2008 Corporate Cup!
The Rapids announced today the creation of the inaugural Colorado Rapids Corporate Cup a small-sided 6v6 World Cup format soccer tournament that will take place on the beautiful field complex at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on Saturday September 20.
The final match of the tournament will be held later that evening on the main stadium pitch prior to the Rapids' match against the New England Revolution!
A minimum of 16 teams will be invited to participate in the tournament which features a small-sided 6v6 format including a goalkeeper. Registered teams can field 10 players per roster and each team is guaranteed 3 matches in group play with the top 2 teams from each group advancing to a knock-out stage.
Each team will be recognized for their participation during the Rapids match later that evening.
The tournament champions will receive the Colorado Rapids Corporate Cup Trophy and a championship banner with the company name that will be displayed inside the stadium for the remainder of the season!
Each Rapids Corporate Cup Registration Includes:
-Guaranteed 3 matches in the tournament!
-20 south stand group tickets for the Rapids' match against New England at 7pm!
-4 north corner season tickets for the 2009 Rapids season!
-All participating players receive a Rapids Corporate Cup commemorative jersey t-shirt!
-Company in-stadium recognition during the match vs. New England in front of the crowd!
Your team can register for all of this for only $1500 per team!
To register your company's team today call the Rapids at 303-825-GOAL (4625) and we'll see you at Dick's Sporting Goods Park for the 2008 Rapids Corporate Cup on September 20th!


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A degree in finance provides you with knowledge to deliver strong investment, finance planning and real estate decisions. The finance major is recommended for students who are interested in a career in financial management and for students interested in career positions with firms that provide financial services such as banks, insurance companies, brokerage firms, personal financial planning services and real estate firms. Private businesses, not-for-profit organizations and government organizations also need financial managers and analysts to help efficiently raise, allocate and manage their resources.
|Student Managed Endowment Fund (FINANCE 438)
|Financial Programs & Elite Student Opportunities
|Financial Executives International (FEI) Award
|Financial Executives Institute Outstanding Seniors
Achievements and Distinctions
- Our value to students and the business community is reflected in finance faculty certifications and nationally recognized research.
- Substantial national media coverage for Dr. Scott Beyer's co-authored paper, "Gridlock's Gone, Now What?"
- Fully-managed undergraduate Student Managed Endowment Fund program, located in a dedicated Trading Room.
- Two of the six CFA-designated faculty in Wisconsin from UW Oshkosh
- Two of seven faculty with professional designation in finance
Career Opportunities
- Corporate Finance: analyst, capital budgeting manager, financial planning manager, tax analyst, credit manager
- Financial Institutions: bank loan/credit analyst, mortgage analyst, bank branch manager, trust officer, corporate lender, investment banker, financial risk manager
- Investment: stockbroker, financial planner, security analyst, portfolio manager, mutual fund manager, director of investor relations
- Risk Management: life, health, property or casualty insurance agent, claims adjuster, insurance underwriter, risk manager/ self-insurance, employee benefits sales representative, insurance portfolio manager
- Real Estate: commercial/residential real estate agent, property manager for a mall/industrial park, mortgage underwriter, mortgage analyst, urban planning
- Corporate Finance: Certified Management Accountant, Certified Treasure Professional, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor
- Investment: Chartered Financial Analyst, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™. Passing an exam administered by the National Association of Securities Dealers is normally a prerequisite for being licensed by the state. Before a broker-dealer or investment adviser can work with investors, they must pass the Series 6, 7 and 66 (or 63 and 65) exams.
- Risk Management: Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™


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Armed man robs Pleasant Ridge restaurant
Suspect showed clerk gun
Armed man robs Pleasant Ridge restaurant
Suspect showed clerk gun
Cincinnati police are investigating a robbery in Pleasant Ridge.
Police said a suspect robbed the Burger King in the 6100 block of Montgomery Road around 7:20 p.m. Sunday.
Police said the suspect showed a gun and passed a note to the clerk demanding money.
Police said they are looking for a black male who is 5 feet 11 inches tall, 200 pounds. He had braids and wore a hood. The suspect was wearing a blue jacket with the word "Goodwill" on the front. Police said he may have been wearing another jacket under the one seen. He was also wearing black pants.
Police asked anyone with information about the suspect to call Crimestoppers at 513-352-3040.


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The founder of a Bible-themed museum who debated evolution with TV's "Science Guy" Bill Nye says fundraising after the widely watched event helped resurrect its stalled Noah's Ark project.
Creation Museum founder Ken Ham says a municipal bond offering to fund the theme park attraction has raised enough money to begin construction on the 510-foot wooden ark.
Ham says the "high-profile debate helped encourage more of our ministry friends to get involved in the past few weeks."
Reached by phone Thursday, Nye says he is disappointed that the project would go forward and he hopes it "goes out of business."
Ham was speaking about the project during a webcast Thursday night. He says the entire theme park plan would be built over several years. The first phase with the ark will cost about $73 million.


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I've written before here about the documentary film Pandora's Promise, in which prominent environmentalists have changed their mind about nuclear power. Then a couple weeks ago several prominent climate alarmists, headed by the egregious James Hansen, put out an article advocating a return to nuclear power. Naturally this has upset the retrograde/reactionary environmentalists who are stuck in 1979 and can't get over Three Mile Island.
Last Thursday CNN decided to broadcast Pandora's Promise, and pair it with an episode of Crossfire about the topic between the fossilized Ralph Nader and my stylish pal Michael Shellenberger. Michael had called me in advance of the debate, saying he was a bit nervous about debating Nader, but I expressed confidence that he'd wipe the floor. If you have 10 minutes or so to spare, here are two of the Crossfire segments:


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Lana Del Rey, "Paradise" (Interscope Records)
Lana Del Rey's new eight-track EP "Paradise" shows the singer is still in the same emotional flux she was when she released her debut album 10 months ago. She's lamenting the pains of love.
Del Rey has an almost affected vulnerability in her voice, at certain points its quivering adds to the gravitas of the lyrics, like when she sings "Don't turn around, leave me high and dry" on the Rick Rubin-produced first single, "Ride." The song was co-written by Justin Parker, who helmed most of her debut, "Born to Die," along with Emile Haynie. "Ride" is as perfect as "Video Games," the single that propelled her into the limelight.
"American" uses simple strings and piano which allows her smoky, effortless vocals to take control. "Cola" continues the Americana theme, but in a playful, tongue-in-cheek way. And "Body Electric" sounds like it's straight from a Western film, where Del Rey is again playfully poking fun at America — "Elvis is my daddy, Marilyn's my mother," she claims.
The 26-year-old's entrancing vocals make it almost hypnotic to listen to anything she sings, but that's not always the case: "Bel Air" and "Yayo" are just fillers.
CHECK OUT THIS TRACK: Del Rey's sings the 1950s classic "Blue Velvet" as if it was written for her.
Follow Sian Watson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/sianwatson


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Bandai has created a toy line based on the upcoming film, Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return. It features a contemporary take on Dorothy's signature dress, as well as an assortment of dolls, collectible figures, and plush. One of the fashion dolls sings two songs from the film, as sung by Lea Michele, who plays Dorothy in the movie.
The story follows Dorothy, who has just returned home from her first trip to Oz, only to be whisked back on a magical rainbow as her old friends go on a new adventure. However, Dorothy enlists the help of an entirely new group of friends when her old ones are held captive.
The 3D-animated musical adventure is set to open May 9.


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Senior reporter John Flowers makes a weekly Tuesday radio appearance on Morning News Service, a program on Waterbury-based WDEV, 96.1 FM. He wraps up recent Addison County news for listeners across Vermont.
This week he chats about Lincoln's solar electricity plans, the proposed position for an economic development director in Middlebury and a Cornwall resident who headed to Japan to help with recovery after the March earthquake.
November 1, 2011
Audio courtesy WDEV Radio


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MOPAR NOS 1960-1961 PLYMOUTH VALIANT HORN RING Part#2072978
October 13, 2011 By
Great Lakes MOPAR ships and consults with clients world-wide!
Please contact us if we can be of assistance.
Specializing in NOS (New Old Stock) parts for Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge and DeSoto cars and trucks.
We carry a very large supply of NOS MOPAR parts, and can ship world-wide!
We're based in Greenville, Michigan.
Free to give us a call!
Or - use our Contact Form to get in touch.
Copyright © 2018 Great Lakes MOPAR - all rights reserved · WEBSITE BY: Niedzwiecki Creative Solutions · Log in


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Your cooking recipes...hints and tips.
Your cooking recipes...hints and tips.
I thought it might be interesting to have a thread to share recipes, wether they are passed down from generation to generation, something that you have learnt that you enjoy to even your countrys signature dishes.
Over the years I have done little cooking but over the last year I have started to try to cook every meal from scratch.... I have also started to do a lot of baking as well and when I get paid at the end of the month I am thinking of investing in a bread maker.
Im very surprised at how much cheaper my shopping bill has become since I have started cooking from scratch..... I know exactly what is in my meals and also enjoy the diversity it affords me.
One of the best things I have bought recently is my slow cooker...... this has saved me no amount of money as I can buy "tougher" meats and after 24 hours in my slow cooker they become the most tender bites of meat
Well Ill start off simply and give one of my recipes for my soup I make a lot.
Bemores Veggie Soup.
(I make this in my 4 litre slow cooker, although im sure you can split the ingredients into two/three large pans if cooking on the hob)
5 Large potatoes.
3 Large carrots.
1 Suede.
1 Onion.
5 Mushrooms.
1 Leek.
3 small cloves of garlic.
1 Vegetable Stock cube/Homemade stock.
1 large Red pepper (for deep colour)
Peel all vegetables and dice. Add all ingredients to slow cooker/ One large pan/ two to three other pans and add stock. I find one stock cube is enough and simply top up with more water so everything is just covered.
I cook the lot on high in my slow cooker for three hours...... although if cooking on the hob bring to the boil and then slowly simmer. Simmer until all veg are softened enough to your liking (I like mine to retain a small amount of crunch)
Remove 3/4 of the vegetables and stock and add in small parts to blender...... be carefull when blending hot ingredients as the pressure can sometimes blow the lid off the blender so small "burts" before releasing the top to let any steam out. Blend until smooth.
Add 3/4 of blended ingredients back to the remaining solid vegetables and stir well.
Enjoy with buttered bread
(This will easily serve 4 people+ and will prob cost approx £4 to make)
Eggy Bread
1 Slice of bread.
1 Egg
Whisk egg very well and add salt and pepper. Pour mixture into small dish and soak bread for approx 2 minutes each side or until all of the egg has been absorbed.
Fry in a small non stick pan on a medium heat, turning over frequently until the egg has browned on both sides of the bread.
This simple dish is awesome hot or can be prepared the night before and stored in the fridge and tases just as nice cold in the morning for breakfast
I feel so much, and yet I feel nothing.
I am a rock, I am the sky, the birds and the trees and everything beyond.
I am the wind, in the fields in which I roar. I am the water, in which I drown.
The following 3 users Like bemore's post:3 users Like bemore's post
Erxomai (15-04-2012), GirlyMan (15-04-2012), Thumpalumpacus (22-05-2015)
RE: Your cooking recipes...hints and tips.
Well, I love cooking and baking, I even started a baking book where I write down my favourites.
I have no hightech stuff to cook AT ALL, not even a mixer.
My favourite soup, that I got from my grandmother a lot. She also always added some meat but I don't.
I make a lot of this soup because I love it so much!
Nearly root vegetable soup:
2 large carrots
2 onions (not red! normal onions)
some fresh parsley
1 small or 1/2 large celery root
~ 125 gramms peas (~ 1/2 cup)
200 gramms (~ 4/5 of a cup) rice
soup cubes (I like the vegetable soup cubes)
pinch of salt
1. Dice carrots, leave onions as a whole, cut the parsly, dice the celery root.
2. Put carrots, onions (as a whole), celery root, peas, in a pot.
3. Put water in the pot (as much as you want, the stock will be fantastic!)
4. Bring to a boil, put the salt and soup cubes (as per directions on your pack) in
5. Turn down the heat and let it simmer for at least 20 minutes or until the water became a little brown and all veggies softened up.
6. Boil the rice in an extra pot and later serve the soup with a bit of rice in it. The cut parsley is added only once you serve, otherwise it won't be as tasty.
When everything is ready it depends on what you like. We cooked the onion as a whole for the color and the taste, if you like, you fish the onions out, peel them, cut them and put them back in, if not, just fish them out and eat the soup without the onion.
RE: Your cooking recipes...hints and tips.
Morondog's tasty spaghetti bolognese
Go to Sainsbury's.
Buy a can of Heinz spaghetti bolognese.
Go home.
Empty the can into a bowl that's too small because you're too cheap to buy another one.
Stick it in the microwave for 5 min on high.
Meantime make toast.
Your supper has now exploded.
Clean the microwave.
Meantime make coffee.
Take the remains of the spaghetti bolognese and your coffee and toast.
Go back to bed.
Spill coffee on yourself.
You may now eat your spaghetti bolognese.
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Erxomai (15-04-2012), GirlyMan (15-04-2012), Leerob (15-04-2012), aurora (16-04-2012), robotworld (16-04-2012), FSM_scot (16-04-2012), DeepThought (17-04-2012)
RE: Your cooking recipes...hints and tips.
(15-04-2012 12:10 PM)bemore Wrote: One of the best things I have bought recently is my slow cooker...... this has saved me no amount of money as I can buy "tougher" meats and after 24 hours in my slow cooker they become the most tender bites of meat
(15-04-2012 12:22 PM)Anjele Wrote: Were it not for a slow cooker my family would have starved a long time ago.
I've found that my pressure cooker does an even better job on cheap cuts of meat than my slow cooker. I'll put a chuck roast or pork shoulder in it and 30-40 minutes later I have to use a ladle to get the meat out because it just falls apart as soon as you touch it with a fork.
There is but one truly serious philosophical problem. - Camus
RE: Your cooking recipes...hints and tips.
(15-04-2012 01:08 PM)morondog Wrote: Morondog's tasty spaghetti bologneseI'd like to try this but I don't care for cleaning the microwave. Nor do I have a Sainsbury's near me.
It was just a fucking apple man, we're sorry okay? Please stop the madness
The following 1 user Likes Erxomai's post:1 user Likes Erxomai's post
morondog (16-04-2012)
RE: Your cooking recipes...hints and tips.
(15-04-2012 01:42 PM)Erxomai Wrote:(15-04-2012 01:08 PM)morondog Wrote: Morondog's tasty spaghetti bologneseI'd like to try this but I don't care for cleaning the microwave. Nor do I have a Sainsbury's near me.
Cleaning the microwave is not strictly necessary. It adds flavor to subsequent SpaghettiOs meals.
There is but one truly serious philosophical problem. - Camus
The following 2 users Like GirlyMan's post:2 users Like GirlyMan's post
morondog (15-04-2012), FSM_scot (16-04-2012)
RE: Your cooking recipes...hints and tips.
For the longest time I thought I seriously loathed Talipia fish. Made the discovery it is actually very good when cooked in a brown butter sauce and pepper jack cheese!
Brown butter sauce? Simply put....saute butter on a skillet or in a sauce pan until the butter is finely melted and starts to look a light brown.
The talipia does not have to be put on the skillet at this point, in fact I recommend it is put on as the butter is melting! Makes the fist more moist!
Not an expert here, but hubby is a chef and a good friend of mine cooked Talipia this way for me hoping to prove me wrong in my taste for the fish, and she sure did! Lol!
Note: Asparagus is also good cooked this way, just not sure about it with cheese yet.
A man's greatest pitfall is none other than himself. For only he can dig himself a hole he cannot get out of.
RE: Your cooking recipes...hints and tips.
I do a little cooking myself. Actually, I probably average three hours a day at it. I'll start with an easy recipe. One of my favorite egg recipes for people who don't really like eggs.
Stark Raving Egg Bake,
8 eggs.
1 c milk (goat milk is best if you have it, fresh from that morning is better)
2 tsp sugar
Pinch salt
Half pound (bout 250g) Monterey jack cheese
Half pound onion flav cream cheese. Buy the little tub of spreadable, and experiment with the different flavours to find your favorite
1 tbsp butter
Half c flour.
1 tsp baking powder
Beat eggs. Mix in milk, sugar and salt.
Cube cheeses and butter, add to mix
Combine flour and baking powder and add to mix.
Pour into 9x13 greased Pyrex dish.
bake at 350f for 40 minutes.
Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes (you'll notice it "deflates". That means it's ready to eat)
So many cats, so few good recipes.
RE: Your cooking recipes...hints and tips.
We love breakfast foods at our house, may have to try the Egg Bake..especially since we will have company here in a couple weeks. No available goats though...would evaporated milk be better than regular whole cow's milk? I use it a lot in things I want to be creamier.
Sounds yummy with some pancakes and some bacon or sausage.
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(Reuters) - Dish Network Corp said it was still examining Sprint Nextel Corp's books just two days before shareholders were due to vote on rival bidder SoftBank Corp's proposed $20.1 billion purchase of 70 percent of Sprint.
Sprint shareholders were due to vote on Wednesday June 12 on the SoftBank deal, which Sprint accepted in October 2012.
But satellite TV provider Dish, which made a $25.5 billion counter offer for Sprint in April, said on Monday that it was still in the process of negotiating the terms of an agreement of its own with Sprint, the No. 3 U.S. mobile provider.
Dish, whose chairman Charlie Ergen is looking to expand into the wireless market, has been involved in a due diligence process with Sprint for a few weeks. Ergen had said his offer was subject to completing an examination of Sprint's books.
Sprint has said that it would evaluate Dish's bid but has yet to change its recommendation for the SoftBank offer.
Speculation has swirled that Sprint's board may consider delaying the vote on the SoftBank deal until Dish finishes looking at Sprint's books and decides whether it wants to make a binding offer. Sprint has declined to comment on whether it will change the date of the meeting.
SoftBank has been under pressure from investors to raise its bid for Sprint as several shareholders have said they believe Dish is offering better value.
Sprint shares have risen more than 15 percent since Dish made its unsolicited bid on April 15.
So far, just one Sprint investor, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan - the fifteenth biggest shareholder in the No. 3 U.S. mobile service provider, has come out and said it would vote in favor of SoftBank's offer.
"It's going to be very difficult for SoftBank to garner enough shareholder support to vote the transaction through under the current agreed upon terms," said Roy Behren, a money manager at Westchester Capital, which owns more than 19 million Sprint shares and believes Dish has made a better offer.
Hedge fund titan John Paulson, whose fund is the second biggest shareholder with 7.7 percent of Sprint according to public data, said in April that Dish's offer was compelling. Omega Advisors, the ninth biggest Sprint investor with more than 2 percent of Sprint shares, has also said Ergen's offer was in the lead.
Dish reiterated in a statement on Monday that it believed its proposal "is both economically and strategically superior to that of SoftBank".
On June 13, shareholders of Clearwire Corp, which is majority owned by Sprint, are due to vote on Sprint's offer to buy out the rest of Clearwire it does not own for $3.40 per share.
But Dish has also complicated that deal process by making a $4.40 per share counter bid for Clearwire, which is currently evaluating Dish's offer. Clearwire will have to make a statement about the Dish bid before the shareholder vote.
However, the Clearwire vote also looks like it could run into trouble, as investors have already boosted the company's share price well above Sprint's offer price of $3.40 per share. Clearwire shares closed at $4.27 on Nasdaq on Monday.
"It's not likely anything would be approved at the June 13 meeting," said one source familiar with the matter who asked not to be named.
Dish shares closed down 28 cents or 0.7 percent at $38.86 on Nasdaq, while Sprint shares ended off 6 cents or 0.8 percent at $7.18 on the New York Stock Exchange.
(Reporting by Ben Berkowitz, Nicola Leske and Sinead Carew; Editing by Maureen Bavdek, Carol Bishopric and Bernard Orr)


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Glossary of Energy Terms
Click on the alphabet letter you wish to go to.
Note: No entries for Y or Z.
Letter B
BALANCED SCHEDULE - A Scheduling Coordinator's schedule is balanced when generation, adjusted for transmission losses, equals demand.
BALLAST - A device that provides starting voltage and limits the current during normal operation in electrical discharge lamps (such as fluorescent lamps).
BARREL - In the petroleum industry, a barrel is 42 U.S. gallons. One barrel of oil has an energy content of 6 million British thermal units. It takes one barrel of oil to make enough gasoline to drive an average car from Los Angeles to San Francisco and back (at 18 miles per gallon over the 700-mile round trip).
BARRELS PER DAY EQUIVALENT (BPD-Equivalent) - A unit of measure that tells how much oil would have to be burned to produce the same amount of energy. For example, California's hydroelectric generation in 1983 was 58,000 barrels per day equivalent.
BASE LOAD - The lowest level of power production needs during a season or year.
BASE LOAD UNIT - A power generating facility that is intended to run constantly at near capacity levels, as much of the time as possible.
BASELINE FORECAST - A prediction of future energy needs which does not take into account the likely effects of new conservation programs that have not yet been started.
BASE RATE - That portion of the total electric or gas rate covering the general costs of doing business unrelated to fuel expenses.
BATTERY - A device that stores energy and produces electric current by chemical action.
BDT - Acronym for "bone dry tons." This is a measurement of biomass that has zero percent moisture content. Amounts are usually given in BDT/year.
BENZENE - A type of colorless liquid hydrocarbon that can be used as a motor fuel. Its chemical symbol is C6H6.
BGP - The acronym for Burbank, Glendale and Pasadena, three electric, municipal utilities serving those southern California cities. The three are usually grouped statistically, though they are separate entities.
BIENNIAL REPORT - The report formerly issued by the California Energy Commission to the Governor and the Legislature every odd-numbered year assessing California's energy industry. (See also Commission reports page.) The Biennial Report is supported by four policy documents that are issued every even-numbered year: the Electricity Report, the Fuels Report, the Conservation (or Efficiency) Report and the Energy Development Report. The Biennial Report was replaced by the Integrated Energy Policy Report.
BI-FUEL VEHICLE - A vehicle with two separate fuel systems designed to run on either fuel, using only one fuel at a time. These systems are advantageous for drivers who do not always have access to an alternative fuel refueling station. Bi-fuel systems are usually used in light-duty vehicles. One of the two fuels is typically an alternative fuel.
BI-GAS - A process being developed as a means of making synthetic gas from coal. The synthetic gas would be intended to substitute for natural gas in meeting industrial and home energy needs.
BILATERAL CONTRACT - A two-party agreement for the purchase and the sale of energy products and services.
BIOCONVERSION - Processes that use plants or micro-organisms to change one form of energy into another. For example, an experimental process uses algae to convert solar energy into gas that could be used for fuel.
BIODIESEL - a biodegradable transportation fuel for use in diesel engines that is produced through the transesterification of organically- derived oils or fats. It may be used either as a replacement for or as a component of diesel fuel.
BIOFUEL -- Fuel produced from renewable biomass material, commonly used as an alternative, cleaner fuel source.
BIOGAS -- The mixture of methane, carbon dioxide, and other minor gases formed from the decomposition of organic materials.
BIOMASS - Energy resources derived from organic matter. These include wood, agricultural waste and other living-cell material that can be burned to produce heat energy. They also include algae, sewage and other organic substances that may be used to make energy through chemical processes.
BIOSPHERE - The zone at and adjacent to the earth's surface where all life exists; all living organisms of the earth.
BITUMINOUS COAL - Soft coal containing large amounts of carbon. It has a luminous flame and produces a great deal of smoke.
BLACKOUT - A power loss affecting many electricity consumers over a large geographical area for a significant period of time.
BOILER - A closed vessel in which water is converted to pressurized steam.
BOILING WATER REACTOR - (BWR) A nuclear power unit in which water used as a coolant is allowed to boil at the core. The resulting steam may be used to drive electric turbines.
BOTTLED GAS - The liquified petroleum gases propane and butane, contained under moderate pressure (about 125 pounds per square inch and 30 pounds per square inch respectively), in cylinders.
BOTTOMING CYCLE - A means to increase the thermal efficiency of a steam electric generating system by converting some waste heat from the condenser into electricity rather than discharging all of it into the environment.
BPA - (short for Bonneville Power Administration) - One of five federal power marketing administrations that sell low-cost electric power produced by federal hydro electric dams to agricultural and municipal users. BPA serves Idaho, Oregon, and Washington as well as parts of Nevada and Wyoming. It also sells power to California companies in "wheeling" trades.
BREEDER - A nuclear reactor that produces more fuel than it consumes. The breeder, invented in the United States, is used as a power source in several European countries.
BRITISH THERMAL UNIT (Btu) - The standard measure of heat energy. It takes one Btu to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit at sea level. For example, it takes about 2,000 Btu to make a pot of coffee. One Btu is equivalent to 252 calories, 778 foot-pounds, 1055 joules, and 0.293 watt-hours. Note: In the abbreviation, only the B is capitalized.
BROKER - A retail agent who buys and sells power. The agent may also aggregate customers and arrange for transmission, firming and other ancillary services as needed.
BROWNOUT - A controlled power reduction in which the utility decreases the voltage on the power lines, so customers receive weaker electric current. Brownouts can be used if total power demand exceeds the maximum available supply. The typical household does not notice the difference.
BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS - California Code of Regulations (California Code of Regulations), Title 24, Part 2, Chapter 2-53; regulating the energy efficiency of buildings constructed in California.
BUILDING ENVELOPE - The assembly of exterior partitions of a building which enclose conditioned spaces, through which thermal energy may be transferred to or from the exterior, unconditioned spaces, or the ground. [See California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Section 2-5302]
BULK POWER SUPPLY - Often this term is used interchangeably with wholesale power supply. In broader terms, it refers to the aggregate of electric generating plants, transmission lines, and related-equipment. The term may refer to those facilities within one electric utility, or within a group of utilities in which the transmission lines are interconnected.
BUNKER C FUEL OIL - A very heavy substance, left over after other fuels have been distilled from crude oil. Also called NO. 6 FUEL, it is used in power plants, ships and large heating installations. California's Bunker C fuel oil has high sulfur content, which causes air quality concerns when burned as fuel.
BUSBAR - In electric utility operations, a busbar is a conductor that serves as a common connection for two or more circuits. It may be in the form of metal bars or high-tension cables.
BUTANE - A hydrocarbon gas found in the earth along with natural gas and oil. Butane turns into a liquid when put under pressure. It is sold as bottled gas. It is used to run heaters, stoves and motors, and to help make petrochemicals.
BUY THROUGH - An agreement between utility and customer to import power when the customer's service would otherwise be interrupted.
BUYER - An entity that purchases electrical energy or services from the Power Exchange (PX) or through a bilateral contract on behalf of end-use customers.


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Lithobates chiricahuensis
|Scope: Global
Language: English
|Scientific Name:
|Lithobates chiricahuensis (Platz and Mecham, 1979)
Common Name(s):
Rana chiricahuensis Platz and Mecham, 1979
|Taxonomic Source(s):
|Frost, D.R. 2015. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. New York, USA. Available at: http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.html.
|Taxonomic Notes:
|Northern populations of this species might represent a distinct species. Smith and Ciszar (2003) consider the record of L. pustulosus from 13km W Matáchic, Chihuahua, Mexico, to actually refer to L. chiricahuensis.
|Red List Category & Criteria:
|Vulnerable A2ace ver 3.1
|Year Published:
|Date Assessed:
Needs updating
|Georgina Santos-Barrera, Geoffrey Hammerson, Michael Sredl
|Global Amphibian Assessment Coordinating Team (Simon Stuart, Janice Chanson, Neil Cox and Bruce Young)
Listed as Vulnerable because of an observed population decline, estimated to be more than 30% over the last three generations, inferred from a shrinkage in distribution due to habitat destruction and degradation, and the effects of exotic species, disease, and unknown factors. The generation length is estimated to be five years.
|Range Description:
|This species is known from Arizona and New Mexico in the United States, and from Mexico (Platz and Mecham 1979). The range of this species is divided into two areas. The first includes northern montane populations along the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau (= Mogollon Rim) in central and eastern Arizona and west-central New Mexico. The second includes southern populations located in the mountains and valleys south of the Gila River in south-eastern Arizona and south-western New Mexico, and extends into Mexico along the eastern slopes of the Sierra Madre Occidental (Platz and Mecham 1979). Populations in the northern portion of the range might soon be described as a new species (Platz pers. comm.). Elevations of Chiricahua Leopard Frog localities range from 1,000-2,710m asl (Platz and Mecham 1979; Sredl et al. 1997; Smith and Chiszar 2003).
|Countries occurrence:
Native:Mexico; United States
|Additional data:
|Range Map:
|Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.
|It is rare in suitable habitat. It is known from several dozen locations in Arizona and New Mexico, in addition to others elsewhere in the range. Local abundance appears to fluctuate greatly. Populations in stock tanks generally include fewer than 100 individuals. Historically, it occurred at 212 sites in Arizona, 170 in New Mexico, and 12-13 in Mexico (USFWS 2000). These numbers pertain to both R. chiricahuensis and the undescribed new species from the northern portion of the range. It is now absent from many historical localities and numerous mountain ranges, valleys, and drainages within its former range (USFWS 2000). Where still present, populations often are few, small, and widely scattered (USFWS 2000). Possibly some disappearances from historical sites represent natural fluctuations rather than long-term declines caused by human impacts, but in most areas disappearances appear to reflect real, on-going declines (USFWS 2000).
|Current Population Trend:
|Additional data:
|Habitat and Ecology:
|This species occurs in a wide variety of permanent and semi-permanent aquatic systems in oak, mixed oak and pine woodlands, chaparral, grassland, and even desert habitats (Stebbins 1985b). The perennial or near-perennial habitats from which they are known or likely to have occurred and reproduced include springs, cienegas, earthen cattle tanks, small creeks, and slack water of main-stem rivers (Sredl and Jennings 2005). Many habitats are modified or artificial aquatic systems (Sredl et al. 1997; Sredl and Saylor 1998). Deep areas, root masses, and undercut banks are used when escaping capture. Habitat heterogeneity is likely important. The frogs will move into newly created suitable habitat rapidly, if near to occupied habitat (Sredl and Jennings 2005).
|Terrestrial; Freshwater
|Major Threat(s):
|The most important threats are disease (chytridiomycosis, documented in this species as early as 1992), non-native predators and competitors (bullfrogs, sport fish, crayfish), effects of small, isolated populations, loss of aquatic habitat through drying, damming, diverting, or siltation, and heavy grazing (USFWS 2002).
|Conservation Actions:
|It occurs in Coconino, Tonto, Apache, Sitgreaves, Gila, and Coronado national forests (Jennings 1995; Sredl et al. 1997). Both the northern and southern populations of R. chiricahuensis are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2002, and a recovery team was established in 2003. Conservation actions will include both short-term interim actions to prevent further deterioration of the species' status, and longer-term planning for eventual recovery of the species. Arizona Game and Fish Commission Order 41 prohibit the collection of this species from the wild in Arizona. It is included as Wildlife of Special Concern in Arizona (Arizona Game and Fish Department 1996). Priority research topics include identification of the importance of disease, pesticides and other contaminants, climate change, UV radiation, fire management, and possibly other threats to the status and recovery potential of the Chiricahua Leopard Frog. Also, research is needed on key aspects of the frog's status, distribution, and ecology.
|Georgina Santos-Barrera, Geoffrey Hammerson, Michael Sredl. 2004. Lithobates chiricahuensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2004: e.T58575A11805575. . Downloaded on 23 September 2018.
|To make use of this information, please check the <Terms of Use>.
|If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown on this page, please provide us with feedback so that we can correct or extend the information provided


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Huddersfield Giants Community Trust is a registered charity (1117768) and, as such, is a non-profit making organisation. Using the influence of professional sport, it is responsible for all community sports and educational activities on behalf of Huddersfield Giants Rugby League Football Club. Huddersfield Giants Community Trust are based within the indoor venue The Zone which is where the community work and activities of our umbrella charity, Huddersfield Community Trust, are co-ordinated from.
Huddersfield Giants Community Trust has the ability to engage people, improve community cohesion, improve fitness and wellbeing and raise the hopes and aspirations of the people of Kirklees. The charity uses the power of sport to inspire people of all ages engaging with 60,000 people every year through four key areas;
1. Sport
2. Education
3. Health
4. Social Inclusion
Over 15,000 of these people are directly engaged in rugby league programmes which include community rugby league delivery, healthy eating assembly blitzs and rugby camp programmes.
Huddersfield Giants Community Trust are based at the indoor venue The Zone. The Zone provides a variety of opportunities for fitness and fun with facilities including; Play Zone, Cafe Zone, Education Zone, Sports Zone with 3G pitches, Dance Zone and Gym Zone. With over 200,000 people visiting The Zone every year it truly is the place to be all year round, whatever the weather!
Call - 01484 484178
Email - firstname.lastname@example.com
Address - The Zone, off St Andrews Road, Huddersfield, HD1 6PT.
Follow - @giantsCT
Copyright Huddersfield Giants. All Rights reserved. Registered Office: The John Smith's Stadium, Stadium Way, HUDDERSFIELD, HD1 6PG.
Reg No: 1810029 Registered in England. Site managed by www.fluidcm.co.uk


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PITTSBURGH (AP) — A Pittsburgh man is facing animal cruelty charges after he allegedly used a machete to decapitate his mother's Chihuahua.
Authorities said they were called to the home Wednesday evening, and Matthew Ondo's parents showed them the remains of the dog, named Izzy, along with a bloody machete and butcher knife.
According to a criminal complaint, Ondo, 30, at first denied killing the dog, then claimed the devil, Allah or "the Mexican" did it. Ondo's parents told police their son is an unemployed drug addict who has emotional problems.
His mother, Debra Ondo, told police she was playing upstairs with the 14-month-old dog when she heard her son call for Izzy. Her husband later came home and began yelling when he discovered what had happened, according to the complaint.
Ondo is being held at the Allegheny County jail, unable to post $25,000 bond. No attorney was listed on court papers.
A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Feb. 26.


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You are here: Home : Topics A-Z : Law
Health Insurers: We–ll Continue with Reforms, Regardless
Three plan to keep offering some popular benefits even if the law is struck down.
June 12, 2012
[Editor's note: this article, including the headline and sub-heading, have been updated from the original version because of additional announcements by insurers.]
Just over two weeks before the Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), three large insurers announced today that they will continue some of the consumer-protection provisions of the health-care reform law no matter what the court decides.
The court could opine that the law's "individual mandate" provision is unconstitutional and, based on that position, decide that other provisions or even the whole law would not be able to stand without the mandate. But UnitedHealthcare (UHC), by many measures the largest health-care-benefits provider in the United States, had its own idea. It said early today that it will continue the law's requirements to cover dependents up to age 26 under their parents' insurance, provide preventive health-care services without co-payments, and prohibit lifetime dollar limits on policies.
Also, UHC will not pursue rescissions - retroactive terminations or cancellations of coverage - except, as provided for in the reform law, in cases of fraud or intentional misrepresentation of a material fact.
"The protections we are voluntarily extending are good for people's health, promote broader access to quality care, and contribute to helping control rising health-care costs," said Stephen Hemsley, president and chief executive of UHC, in a press release announcing the company's new policy.
Later in the day, just before press time, Humana and Aetna said they would also cover children to age 26 as well as some preventive-care services without co-payments. Cigna, though, announced it would wait for the Supreme Court decision before revealing its intentions.
But the insurers may have other, less magnanimous reasons for its commitment to continuing many of the most popular ACA provisions. Health insurers were very much against the reform law for a variety of reasons, but in large part because it caps their profits relative to their medical costs for insureds and administrative costs, says William Sarraille, a health-care attorney and partner at Sidley Austin.
If the individual mandate and, by extension, the intact law itself remain in place, most U.S. residents would have to buy health insurance starting in 2014. That would put health insurers in line for a revenue boom. On the other hand, besides having their profits capped, they would have to share a portion of their new income with the government in order to fund the state health exchanges slated to be operational by 2014.
"The insurers feel the law created price controls on them, and they foresee a tremendous potential benefit in striking the law," says Sarraille. "If enough insurers join this pledge, it might suggest to the Supreme Court that it's not that big a deal if it decides to strike down the law" because key consumer-protection provisions would effectively remain in place.
None of the three insurers included a major ACA provision - a ban on refusing coverage to those with preexisting health conditions - among those they will adhere to even if the reform law falls. "Critics will point to the absence of that as an indication that the ACA is still needed," says Sarraille.
He adds that if other insurers do emulate the UHC, the state exchanges could address the preexisting-conditions issue or the federal government could expand its high-risk pools, which are lately showing some signs of success.
The high-risk pools, created under the ACA, were among the earliest implemented aspects of the law, which took effect in March 2010. They were designed for patients with preexisting conditions and were funded, state by state, with federal dollars. The thought was that by collectively negotiating through the pool, government administrators could help cut the costs for such patients. After a rocky start, with relatively few people signing on, the government increased its subsidies and significantly more participants joined the pools.
"If the law were to go down, it might be possible in the lame-duck session that follows the election or thereafter to convince a group of Democrats and Republicans to continue the high-risk pools," suggests Kathryn Bakich, senior vice president and national health-compliance practice leader for The Segal Company, a benefits consultancy.
For her part, Bakich says the insurers' moves may not affect corporate health-plan sponsors as much as it might appear at first blush. The ACA requires insurers to give rebates to employers and individuals when the percentage of an insurer's revenue used to satisfy medical claims falls below 85%. That threshold applies per state and per each insurer's product and service lines. However, most "large" employers (those with more than 50 employees, as defined in the ACA) already are at or above the 85% figure in most jurisdictions and for most products and services, she says.
Further, even before the ACA took effect, many such employers had already done away with caps on lifetime coverage and the exclusion of preexisting conditions.
Still, employer health-plan sponsors could be hit in the wallet. "Most employers did not previously cover kids up to 26, and they had lifetime coverage limits, and they did not provide the extensive free preventive services that the ACA requires," says Bakich. "So, if the law is overturned but these insurers continue [to offer services that were mandated under the law], the related price increases we saw with the ACA are going to be maintained."
Not only would the current high prices remain, they could go up. UHC did not, for example, say whether it would charge an extra premium to cover kids to 26, something that was prohibited under the ACA. "They're keeping these reforms in place, but how much are they going to cost? That's the big question," says Bakich. Read more...
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This is my first free build for the month of July. The story is a continuation from my entry into the latest Outlaw local challenge, "The Lenfel Traitor."
After the lengthy journey from Lenfald back to the lands of Southern Roawia, Arlis smiled at the sight of the Summit Inn. He knew of a busty barmaiden there and with his earnings from the job at Lenfald he would have plenty enough to stop off for a few nights. He grinned. He and the accompanying Wolfpack mercenary continued south into the lands that the Wild Claw Clan of the Wolfpack claimed as their own. Buying off the former Lenfel captain had been easier than he had imagined. Arlis only hoped that the Wolfpack along with the other bandits of the southern lands could use the plans he had procured to get rid of the pesky northerners. Until then he would have plenty of coin to keep him in drink and women thanks to a bit of paper. Suddenly, two men appeared on the trail. They wore the garb of Wolfpack bandits. One wore a predatory smile, and he wielded a blade. Arlis looked to the mercenary at his rear and found a sword leveled at his back.
"I suppose this was the plan from the start," he said, raising his hands in supplication.
"Of course," the double-crossing mercenary sneered. The other two bandits stepped in closer.
"There is no need for bloodshed, gentlemen," Arlis said. "I'll hand over the plans and we can all forget about this."
"I'm afraid that won't work, Mr. Wolfstar," one of the bandits said in a menacing voice. "The chief says you are to go the bottom of Blackhand Bay, and that's exactly where you'll go."
"Perhaps so," the smuggler said with a sly grin, "but I'll still be breathing when I hit the water." And with that being said, Arlis jerked sideways, just avoiding a thrust from the mercenary at his back. He made a mad dash toward the coast with the bandits in pursuit. It would be a long way down to the cold waters of Blackhand Bay but he had a better chance of living through it if he went in with his throat uncut. As Arlis jumped from the rocky ledge to plunge into the unforgiving sea below, he realized just how foolish it had been to trust the Wolfpack. There is no honor among outlaws, after all.
More pics on my MOCpage!


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VIBE & Rock Genius Present: 5 Most Emo Lyrics From 'Kiss Land' LP
To say that Abel Tesfaye has matured into Kiss Land—The Weeknd's new album—is not quite right. At the same time, he has learned much and matured personally and artistically since his maiden mixtape. That chaos—a split between good and bad, high and low—leads to some of the best sung lyricism of the year. Rap Genius and Rock Genius present the five most lyrical tracks from Kiss Land, a must-listen project. —Ronald Metellus


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Choosing a resort
Choosing a resort
Before you book that holiday or jump in your car, ask yourself what is it you want from a resort. Do you need instruction? Are you there for the boarding or the night life? Freeride or Freestyle? Do you need a hotel to pamper you or do you want the freedom of your own apartment? And the big one, how much cash do you have?
In the Northern Hemisphere most resorts open fully in mid December but some open late November. If you get early snow you could find yourself alone on the slopes. Resorts generally close in late April with some high altitude resorts having summer boarding on glaciers. Christmas, New Year, February half term and Easter are steer clear times, the resorts are always packed and accommodations at a premium. If you have to go at these times pick a resort with an extensive lift system or you'll find you're queuing more than boarding. The choice of holiday options has never been better. If you want to spend big you can with some European resorts offering 5 star hotels on the piste. If cash is short you can often find a bunk house. You can also get great last minute deals with tour operators offering hassle free half board chalet based weeks.
Altitude is vital. Some of the lower resort's struggle for snow and often rely on artificial snowmaking. Higher normally means better snow fall and coverage although some high resorts suffer from strong winds which damages the off piste conditions as well as the piste. Altitude of the resorts town as well as it slopes is important, the higher the better or you may find yourself picking your way through rocks and grass if you want to board back to your accommodation. The higher resorts mostly come with a higher price. If money is no problem head high, it could mean the difference between a great trip and a good one.
Small may be better
Often small resorts which may be cheaper will join up with huge interlinked areas, such as Le Trois Vallees in France or the Port du Soleil which links 14 resorts in France and Switzerland. Before rushing to a huge area and paying that hard earned cash for a expensive lift pass think about your standard. Beginners will only use a few pistes and most riders tend to find favourite spots and stick to those, some just hit the fun parks and don't even need a lift pass. In most resorts you can buy a daily upgrade on your pass which allows you to board other valleys. This could save you money if the weather turns bad and the top lifts are shut all week, and gives you the freedom to decide on the day.
Next: Getting there


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Barrow County commission chairman Danny Yearwood has called a meeting of the Barrow County Board of Commissioners for 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29, to discuss the fiscal year 2012 budget.
On Aug. 23 Yearwood cast the deciding vote against setting a tentative tax increase of 1.92 mills for the fiscal year starting in five weeks. He said he wasn't sure Georgia law required the board to set a tentative rate prior to its adoption of the final rate in September.
But the following day – after learning that a specific rate would have to be included in the advertised public notice prior to the start of public hearings – he attempted to have the county's chief financial officer advertise the higher rate without the board's approval.
But CFO Rose Kisaalita stated that she could not do that after consulting with the county's chief appraiser, the tax commissioner, and the secretary of the Board of Assessors – who all told her the BOC "has to vote for a tentative mill increase."
Sources told the Barrow Journal on Thursday afternoon that Yearwood on Monday is planning to start over on the budget. He did not participate in the months of budget committee meetings.
For now, the three public hearings required for implementing a tax increase are scheduled for noon and 6 p.m. on Sept. 6 and 6 p.m. on Sept. 13. The BOC's adoptions of the budget and millage rate are scheduled for Sept. 13, which is two weeks before the new fiscal year begins.
However, since this week's public advertising deadline was not met, the budget timetable could change.
Yearwood calls Mon. meeting of BOC; no tax rate yet set
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Beaumont/Port Arthur
According to Officer Doug Kibodeaux of the Beaumont Police Department, at 10:49 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, a male subject entered A&E Billiards at 1705 College in Beaumont as it was about to open for business. Once inside, he confronted the manager, demanding money. The subject displayed a handgun. The store manager, who has a concealed carry permit, attempted to draw her own pistol; however, the suspect stopped her by pointing his weapon at the manager's face, and then disarmed her.
While we harbor no disrespect for the Wall Street Journal who called us "that scrappy little paper from Southeast Texas," we prefer to think of ourselves as simple seekers of the truth. We're of the opinion that headlines and sound bites never tell the whole story. Our readers demand all the facts, facets and flavors of every story or event. And, they expect to be informed, educated and stirred to action.
For this week's New York Times crossword puzzle, pick up a copy of this week's The Examiner on newsstands now.


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Wednesday, 19 March 2014 14:25
Twilight Time's 5-day / $10 off sale is on, plus BD reviews & announcement news
We've got a couple more Blu-ray reviews for you today from Tim, once again both Scream Factory titles: Wes Craven's cult classic Swamp Thing and Kevin Tenney's Night of the Demons. Both are worth a look for fans of horror and are now available.
Don't forget that Twilight's 3rd Anniversary sale is now on and will run five days, giving you $10 off many of their great Blu-ray (and even a few DVD) titles in stock at Screen Archives Entertainment. Be sure to take advantage if there are titles you're looking for. [Read on here…]
Published in My Two Cents