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Old Fashioned Toys
Classic Toys For Modern Tots
Classic Toys For Modern Tots
Sometimes, older is better. Toys do not have to be powered by batteries, controllers, and electricity to be a lot of fun. In fact, many knickknacks that current moms and dads grew up with required nothing more than a hearty imagination. Take a nostalgic look at some classic playthings that have stood the test of time and would make memorable additions to any modern day toy box.
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News & Events
For the Media
Silvana Andreescu Named Egon Matijevic Chair of Chemistry at Clarkson University
Silvana Andreescu has been named the Egon Matijevic Chair of Chemistry at Clarkson University.
Andreescu, who was named a full professor in May, has been a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science at Clarkson since 2005.
"Dr. Andreescu epitomizes everything we could wish for in a member of our faculty," said Peter R. Turner, Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, in announcing the news. "Her research has been both prolific and profound; she has successfully trained graduate students and postdocs, while also drawing many undergraduate researchers into her team; and she has been a dedicated and successful instructor, matching her high expectations for her students with their abilities and performance."
The endowed Egon Matijevic Chair was created in 2002 through a $2 million gift from Charles and Lucia Shipley to honor Clarkson University's Victor K. LaMer Professor of Colloid and Surface Science Egon Matijevic for a lifetime of professional achievement in the field of colloid chemistry. The endowment of a chair in his name recognizes Matijevic's pioneering work in monodispersed colloids and fine particle science and his enormous contributions as a brilliant teacher who has shaped many lives.
Andreescu received her master of science degree in biosensors from the University of Bucharest, Romania, and a joint Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Perpignan, France, and the University of Bucharest. She was also an NSF-NATO postdoctoral fellow in analytical chemistry at SUNY Binghamton from 2003 to 2005.
Her technical expertise is focused on analytical and bioanalytical chemistry, with special emphasis on biosensing technology for clinical and environmental monitoring. At Clarkson, she has designed a variety of sensing platforms that incorporate colloid/particle technology thereby enhancing detection capabilities and performance of these devices in a variety of measurement environments.
Andreescu's research projects include investigations of basic biochemical mechanisms at biointerfaces, bioimmobilization, biomimetic materials and biosensors.
Many of the sensors developed in her laboratory are used to understand fundamental molecular mechanisms in biological systems, to determine clinically important analytes associated with medical conditions and to address environmental challenges.
Her recent research focuses on the development of portable nanoparticle-based technologies for point-of-care diagnosis and therapy.
Andreescu is the recipient of a French government graduate fellowship, the NSF-CAREER award, and Clarkson University's John W. Graham Research Award, and is a member of the Million Dollar Club at Clarkson.
She has published more than 60 peer-reviewed journal articles and 13 book and encyclopedia chapters, has co-edited two books for McGraw Hill and Oxford University Press, and has delivered some 100 presentations at professional and academic conferences throughout the world.
She has mentored nine graduate students, three postdoctoral associates and more than 45 undergraduate students in research projects at Clarkson. She has provided international research opportunities in Europe to seven Clarkson undergraduate students through NSF-sponsored research and has co-directed the NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program in environmental science and engineering at Clarkson.
Andreescu has received external research funding totaling more than $2 million from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, United States Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Army.
Clarkson University launches leaders into the global economy. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, VP or equivalent senior executive of a company. Located just outside the Adirondack Park in Potsdam, N.Y., Clarkson is a nationally recognized research university for undergraduates with select graduate programs in signature areas of academic excellence directed toward the world's pressing issues. Through 50 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, sciences and health sciences, the entire learning-living community spans boundaries across disciplines, nations and cultures to build powers of observation, challenge the status quo, and connect discovery and engineering innovation with enterprise.
[A photograph for media use is available at http://www.clarkson.edu/news/photos/sandreescu.jpg .]

subset: commoncrawl


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Car Forums / Audi / Audi A4
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Audi A4 Lease Questions
Socal Audi deals show the Allroad lease offer below.
my question is, can these advertised lease offers be negotiated for better deals? as in lowering the the payments or adding more options etc...
Not so much negotiating a new lease deal from scratch ">but working off the advertised offer for a better deal.
any luck?
Special $529 lease per month for 36 months with $3,223* due at signing and $0 security deposit
$529 per month for 36 months
$3,223 cash due at signing
MY 2013 allroad 2.0T quattro Premium
Offer only valid 4-04-2013 through 7-08-2013
$0 Security Deposit
$529 First Month Payment
$695 Acquisition Fee
$1,999 Down Payment
$3,223 Due at Signing* (Excludes taxes, title, other options and dealer fees)
Hi arn636. Audi Financial Services' May buy rate lease money factor and residual value for a 36-month lease of a 2013 A4 2.0T Sedan Premium quattro with 12,000 miles per year are .00069 and 55% for consumers who qualify for its top credit tier.
The numbers for 39-months are .00089 and 53%.
The numbers for 42-months are .00089 and 51%.
Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum
Hello donchar. Most manufacturers' official advertised lease payments assume some sort of discount to the vehicle's selling price. Having said that, savvy consumers who are in an area that has a decent level of competition are usually able to negotiate lower selling prices, and in turn lower lease payments, than the ones that are being advertised.
Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum
The manual transmission car with the colors/options I want is almost impossible to find in SoCal where almost every car on the lots is a black on black CVT or Tiptronic, so I'm leaning toward a factory order for the following car: 2014 A4 2.0T quattro Premium, 6MT, Brilliant red with beige/black interior with S-line style package and wood trim as options. I am looking to lease the car for 3yrs/12K miles per year with minimal drive-off. Here are my questions:
1) what is considered a good or great selling price ($ over invoice) for a factory ordered 2014 car to be ordered in June/July timeframe? I don't think 2014 pricing is out yet, but I estimate the MSRP of my configured car to be in the $38-39K range. I live in the LA area with a dozen Audi dealers within a 40 mile radius. I was thinking something like $500 over dealer invoice would be feasible for a car which will not take up lot space.
2) Does adding AudiCare still add 1% to residual values? How much is AudiCare these days and would you recommend getting it? I recall that it was something like $740 a few years ago, but it's likely over $800 now.
3) Does Audi Financial offer the $1,000 conquest money they are offering right now on 2013 models all the time? My wife drives a 2009 BMW 328i and we would qualify for the conquest money offer but the program right now applies to 2013 models. Just trying to gauge if they will have it still once the 2014 MY cars start arriving.
Here is the deal i have on the table. Can i do any better?
MSRP: $37,870 (A4 Quatro Premium with Convenience Package, Lighting Package, Heated Seats, Floor Mats)
Sales Price: $36,000
Residual: 53%
Money Factor - .00089
Lease Term - 39 months
The base (buy rate) money factor for May is 0.00069, so the dealer is marking it up for some extra profit. I have to assume that the residual is correct for the trim line and lease miles you are getting. I think you can do better on the selling price and ask the dealer to not mark up the MF.
Carman had the May money factor at .00089 and 53% for a 39 month lease.
Should it be .00069? See a couple posts back.
Thanks for the response.
The 2014 (model year) A4 can now be ordered. As best I know the prices have not yet been released. Any idea on pricing for an A4Q Premium and Premium+ ? The dealership is offering $500 over invoice; take it or leave it.
Any idea of the actual wholesale price (or holdbacks, incentives/volume targets) ?
I have an offer for a 2013 A4Q, Ibis, P with Heated Seats, Conv and Lighting, for $35.5k.
What do you think – 2013 P at a good price (steep depreciation ahead)or go with the 2014 P+ ?
Thanks in advance
My mistake. I do if d it odd that the MF is higher for 39 and 42 month leases. Normally only the residual values change. This for me makes it a no-brained to skip on 39- or 42-month leases. In CA the yearly registration for an A4 for the fourth year will easy be $300 or higher. It makes little sense to pay a full year's registration for 3 months of use. Unless you can turn the car in early by the 36th month without a penalty, I'd skip the 39 month lease.
What's the MSRP of the 2013 car? It makes a big difference if its a manual or Tiptronic car. I think 2013s should be at least $1,000 under invoice, exclusive if any loyalty or conquest $1,000 cash.
Hello Bada
Its a 2013 Quattro tiptronic (8-spd) with an MSRP of $38,045.
We do not qualify for loyalty incentives (its been a few years since we've owned 3-series - with too many warranty repairs)
Thanks for your insight
I'm beginning to negotiate a lease on a 2013 A4 Premium Plus, and am trying to figure out what an "acceptable" discount to MSRP is. Can anyone help??
Hi bada_bing. In answer to question 2, yes Audi Care does indeed still add 1% to the residual values of leased vehicles. I would definitely consider getting Audi Care on a leased Audi.
No, the $1,000 conquest cash that Audi is currently offering on the 2013 A4 will not automatically be available on the 2014 model when it arrives. Audi might offer it on the '14, but it might not. The conquest cash has been available on the '13 model since last fall but it did not exist when the '13 was first introduced. It's tough to say whether that will be the case on the 2014 model.
Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum
I am being quoted the following if it gets done by month end
$2,500 off msrp
55% residual
.00069 money factor
In general, is this a good deal?
ydol Posts: 12just purchased A4 a week ago. I'd assume above lease term is 36 mo/10k and without knowing the MSRP, I'd assume $2500 off is close to invoice (please verify using edmunds new car calculator). With a new 2014 model coming in few months, you should be able to take advantage of few incentives currently offered (e.g. Audi Preferred Equipment Credit, Loyalty cash, conquest, etc.) In addition to the discount offered. These will lower the cap cost, hence mo. payment. In general, you should aim for about 10% below MSRP and work your way up or down a little. If you follow the Audi forum, discount seems varies by region, for ex. Vegas has a very good deal for Audi compare to East Coast region. Lastly, shop around 250 miles radius for comparison and good luck!
Does anyone know the June mf and res. for an a4 PP 36 month lease 12k? Thanks!
Hi CarMan-
Any new numbers for June or same as May for Allroad Premium plus.
Also what is the usual add back for 10K vs 12K miles on the resid?
mylo5 Posts: 12013 A4 Quattro Premium Plus, manual transmission
36 mo, 12K
Navi + backup cam
Central NJ
Trading in my 2003 325i for $5000 w/ $1000 conquest
So with the $5000 towards the initial fees and cap reduction:
$397/mo (taxes included)
Can I realistically get it down to $375/mo? Or better?
joelk01 Posts: 44That is a sweet set up. I couldn't find a 2013 with that set up and Sport Seats.
Hi boone25. Audi Financial Services' June buy rate lease money factor and residual value for a 36-month lease of a 2013 A4 Premium Plus quattro with 12,000 miles per year are .00069 and 55% for consumers who qualify for its top credit tier.
In June, Audi unexpectedly began waiving the first month's payment on leases of this car, which is a nice bonus.
Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum
Hello Car man,
I have an offer on the table for a 2013 A4 Premium Plus/MMI/Nav Package/Exhaust Tips/6-Speed Manual:
$5,000 Trade on a 2001 Jeep Cherokee Sport (Good Condition; 90,000 Miles (They claim to be doing me a favor to the tune of $1500 dollars))
True Market Value per Edmunds: $39,328
Lease Term: 39 Months
Miles: 15,000
Residual: 51%
I am assuming there is somewhere around $2200 in fees being taken out of that trade in as the payments they are coming up with are around $515 a month.
Do you have any sage advice/comments on this offer?
I posted this in the other s4 buying thread and thought I would post it here too...
I am in NJ thinking about leasing an S4. The person that I talked to said they are selling the 2013 S4s at invoice, but then add on the other chargers, like destination, doc fees, ext.
If I get them down to a selling price I want (assume invoice), the standard buy rate and residual %, what else is negotiable? Can I say I don't want to pay destination or doc fees? One or the other? I understand the taxes are not negotiable as well. are "supplemental title fees"? Assignment fee?
Hey donchar. Yes the June lease program for the allroad is exactly the same as it was in May...with one minor difference, Audi began waiving the first month's payment on leases of this model. Bonus .
AFS adds 2% to its 15k residuals for leases with 12k and 3% for leases with 10k.
Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum
Very appropriate username, prudentlease . I'm surprised that one wasn't taken.
The money factor that you were quoted is correct. That's a good sign. The Edmunds.com True Market Value pricing for the A4 looks reasonable right now as well.
Are you having the dealer cut you a check for your trade or applying the proceeds towards your lease. You would be much better off if you had them give you a check. I always advise consumes to avoid making capitalized cost reductions on leased vehicles.
Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum
Hi jdomasi. You're not going to be able to avoid paying the destination charge or the acquisition fee. The destination charge is basically part of your vehicle's price. It is charged by the manufacturer and cannot be avoided.
The bank that you are leasing through, Audi Financial Services, charges a $695 acquisition fee on every vehicle that it leases. You can roll this charge into your car's acquisition fee to bake into your payment rather than paying it at lease signing, but again it is unavoidable.
The doc fee is levied by the dealer. This is between you and them. If they won't waive it, you might be able to get them to lower your vehicle's selling price by that amount if they want your business bad enough.
Prices Paid: Buying & Leasing Experiences Forum
Car man,
Yes, I was surprised that the name was not taken as well. I was going to have them apply the proceeds of the trade-in toward the lease. I assume the logic is that what you put towards cap cost reduction is money that is not recoupable should something happen i.e. an accident. However, I believe I am correct in my assumption that not applying a cap cost reduction would significantly increase my monthly payments, possibly out of what I find to be economical.
Secondly, I have looked online at Edmund's current list of incentives and rebates section and see that there is currently the following lease offer for a 2013 A4 quattro Sedan Premium Plus Package/Advanced Key/MMI Nav Plus Package:
Down Payment: N/A
Security Deposit: N/A
Term: 36 months
Annual Mileage: 10,000
Monthly Payment: $429
Would it be a valid argument to reference this lease payment amount in negotiating a 15,0000 mile lease (they currently have me at $515 with cap cost reduction of 5,000)? Or is that just what 15,000 additional miles over the 36 month term would cost?
I am also a bit confused because the "My Audi/Finance" section of the Audi website states that an A4 Premium Plus2.0 TFSI should be somewhere in the 36,700 to 38,800 range, with a trade-in cap cost reduction of $5,000 my monthly payment estimate would be $378 to $396 at 12,000 miles/36 mons.
I apologize, I know that was a lot of hypotheticals/questions. I am just having trouble understanding the disparity in estimated payments/lease specials advertised by Audi/Audi Financial Services and the dealerships current monthly payments with cap cost reduction.
Hi Car_man,
I've been researching for several months and feel I have come to a pretty reasonable offer. When you get a chance, can you please let me know what you think?
Cap Cost: $41000
10k / 39 month lease
$750 drive off
Summer of Audi Rebate
Monthly: $514 + tax
Total I'd be paying is $22600 over 39 months, or equivalent 20920 over 36 months
Thank you for your help and insight
Oh I should add - 2013 Audi Premium Plus with Navi, Sport, Lighting, Convenience Package
tell them you talked to bmw and have the opportunity to get a 328 at invoice due to the new cars coming in Aug. I said that and they instantly said they would sell at me a car at invoice (true car was spot on with that they had in their computers). Some people on these forums have even gotten below invoice. Also look into multiple security deposits - it can reduce your payment by about $30-$40 a month, which works out to be about 9% annualized risk free return (unless you think VW is going to default on their debt, lol)
Pricing for 2014 A4 has started trickling out. Audi just announced base prices are all trim levels but option prices have not been released. Some of the option packages have changed, so I am sure prices will be changed from 2013 option packages. If I were to place a factory order for a 2014 A4, what would be considered a good price relative to invoice? I live in SoCal with plenty of Audi dealers in the area. My research from what other people consider feasible ranges from $500 over invoice to $1,500 under invoice. I doubt any dealer will talk to me if I walk in and say I want to order a car from you, and by the way, I want to pay $1,500 under invoice. Now I have no doubt that dealers can sell cars at invoice or under and still make a profit based on holdbacks and other money based on meeting monthly sales targets, but on paper the dealer's cost per vehicle is the invoice price. So what is a reasonable offer to make for a factory order 2014 car? I am looking at a Premium or Premium Plus quattro manual 6-speed with MSRP in the range of $38-41K.
This discussion has been closed.


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Walk on, with hope in your heart and show your support for England's most successful football club in the official Liverpool Away Shirt 2016-17.
Made for Liverpool, the inside of the 2016-17 Liverpool away shirt carries the message "Liverpool was made for me and I was made for Liverpool" - the words of legendary Reds boss Bill Shankly.
Occupying the Anfield hotseat for a transformative 15-year spell, Shankly led the club to promotion, two FA Cups, a trio of top flight titles and European club honours; successes that defined an era.
In this contemporary update of the club's change colours, Liverpool fans can now show their support for current manager Jürgen Klopp and his efforts to bring silverware to Merseyside once again.
With its modern, black and silver palette incorporating red horizontal lines at the sides, a unique collar construction completes the updated Liverpool away jersey, to be worn by stars such as Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge in matches on the road this campaign.
As the shirt's sponsor branding maintains its smooth design, the upper left chest provides a home for the Liver Bird motif; adapted from the LFC crest of 1968 to 1987 and adopted in its present form in 2012.
More delivery information
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Listen To God: Hear the Poor - join the week of prayer for Christian social action
Monday 7th April 2014Each day this week Archbishop Justin Welby and Cardinal Vincent Nichols invite you to join them in praying for the church's work serving the poor. Daily reflections will be posted here, along with prayers and Bible readings, so you can join the Archbishops in praying for Christian social action.
Find out more about Listen To God: Hear the Poor and download prayers and readings for the week
Sunday 6 April: Cardinal Nichols introduces Listen To God: Hear the Poor
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster and head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, introduces this special week of prayer for the social action of the church, and reflects on Psalm 72 and John 13:2b-5, 12-15.
View the prayer and Bible verses
Monday 7 April: Ula Michlowicz on knowing Christ's love
Ula Michlowicz, a Catholic Sister and member of the Chemin Neuf community based at Lambeth Palace, speaks on the temptation to focus instantly on action to help others - and reflects on today's reading from John 3 which tells us that first we need to know Christ's love for us and develop our relationship with him, which will support, nourish and guide us through our work. Today's Psalm is 46:1-5, 10-11 and the reading is 1 John 3:16-22.
View the prayer and Bible verses
Tuesday 8 April: Bishop Stephen Cottrell on 'entertaining angels'
On the third day of Archbishop Justin and Cardinal Nichols's week of prayer for the church's work serving the poor, Bishop Stephen Cottrell, the Bishop of Chelmsford, speaks on why recognising our own need helps us give generously to others. Bishop Stephen is reflecting on today's prayers and readings, which are Psalm 112 and Hebrews 13:1-3.
View the prayer and Bible verses
Wednesday 9 April: Matthew Reed on welcoming a child
On day four of Archbishop Justin and Cardinal Nichols's week of prayer for Christian social action, Children Society chief executive the Revd Matthew Reed reflects on Jesus' words in Matthew 18 'Whoever welcomes a child welcomes me' - and what it means to truly welcome and listen to children. Matthew Reed is reflecting on today's prayers and readings, which are Psalm 34 and Matthew 18:1-5.
View the prayer and Bible reading for today
- These resources can also be found on the website of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster: http://rcdow.org.uk/news/listen-to-god-hear-the-poor/


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Medical Definition of Emboli
Emboli: Something that travels through the bloodstream, lodges in a blood vessel and blocks it. Examples of emboli are a detached blood clot, a clump of bacteria, and foreign material such as air.
Pulmonary emboli are blood clots that have been carried through the blood into the pulmonary artery (the main blood vessel from the heart to the lung) or one of its branches, plugging that vessel.
Emboli is the plural of embolus, a word that comes from the Greek "embolos" meaning a wedge or plug. "Embolos" was derived from "en" (in) + "ballein" (to throw) so emboli are something thrown in.Source: MedTerms™ Medical Dictionary
Last Editorial Review: 5/13/2016
Drug Medical Dictionary of Terms by Letter
Medical Dictionary Term:


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Disney Princess Costumes — Disney Princess Dresses & Frozen Costumes
They're every little girl's favorite. This year Frozen costumes are the hot commodity, but every year, Disney Princess costumes sell like crazy because they never go out of style. Disney Princess dresses are timeless and classic, just like the movies from which they're derived, and the characters are so beloved and familiar that a girl wants to be not just any princess, but a Disney princess in her shimmering gown. Here, we offer outfits for all the well-known Disney princess, from reinterpretations like Snow White of the 1930s to Disney inventions like Frozen's Anna and Elsa, or Princess Tiana. Several of these gleaming dresses are exclusive to Party City — you can't buy them anywhere else. All are officially licensed by Disney, and most are pre-accessorized, so that when your purchase the Disney dress, you're already well on your way to the look shown on the page. So shop with us for that princess costume designed to make your little girl's dreams come true. As a partner of Disney, Party City carries more princess costumes, tiaras, dresses, wands, wigs, and shoes than just about anyone — all priced for a happy ending on Halloween.
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text: Other than his Head deal. ST - ran out of money to pay any bonuses to him when he won 4 out of 5 majors and 3 in a row. Slow inventory also means lower sales and lower royalty fees. Adidas - dropped him (or vice versa), rumored to have zero sponsorship money from them. Only got a few free pairs to wear but Adidas is getting silent advertisement from the top player in the world. Uniqlo - Don't know the true dollar amount he banks but Uniqlo is not as loaded like Adidas or Nike. I doubt he is receiving anything close to what Fed, Rafa, or Murray are getting from their sponsors. General Uniqlo stores don't even stock Djoker clothing. All I saw was a poster of him wearig the heat tech under shirt. The coolest deal is properly AP's. Free AP watches alone is worth it even no extra money is involved. I like Rolex too but AP is a class higher in general. RM is cool but these watches doesn't have heritage.


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Katherine Jackson Reinstated As Permanent Guardian Of GrandchildrenKatherine Jackson was reinstated as the permanent guardian of Michael Jackson's three children.
Katherine Jackson Speaks Out About Family Drama, Reportedly Returns HomeMichael Jackson's mother, Katherine, is reportedly back in Southern California Thursday after speaking out for the first time since last weekend's wild disappearance rumors.
Katherine Jackson Is Safe With Family, Despite Missing Persons ReportA person who asked to remain anonymous says Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, is not missing, but resting with one of her daughters on doctor's orders. The 82-year-old guardian of the King of Pop's three children was reported missing by her nephew on Saturday.
Michael Jackson Remembered, Three Years After Death: Family & Friends TweetToday, Jackson family members, celebrities and fans took to Twitter to honor Michael Jackson on the third anniversary of his death.


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Discussion in 'Racquets' started by holytennis, Feb 9, 2012.
anyone tried blast and biophase by the way as a hybrid
I disagree. I bet the reason dg David can't hit big with the pdr is because he is not getting enough racquet head speed to control the ball. I love that stick but it is a 12 oz racquet and it needs real good racquet head speed if you want to control it. it's stiff...heavier and has a bigger swingweight.
The pd plus was my choice because the swingweight is good out of the box considering how much power the stick has. It's easy to control since it is around 320 grams after strings and over grip. You can also mod the regular pure drives with lead and make them spec however you want.
But I hit with a big hitter today who played open tournaments when he was a little younger and my racquet never got pushed around because I could always meet the ball out in front.
Also it sounds like he is buying too many racquets and not spending enough time to figure out his game or what he really needs. Pick a racquet and use it a few months so you can figure out exactly what you need or you will be chasing your tail. 2 sets of tennis is just not long enough to know in my opinion.
I love this racquet! This racquet excels with good raquet head speed. I currently have it strung with a copoly in the mains and synthetic gut in the crosses to soften it up. Lots of spin and power with comfort. I am curious about a gut/poly setup. Anyone try the setup yet?
after reading all the hype in TT forums.. I had to try one for myself.. We demo the BLX PS 95 for my son but it's not as good as I thought so when we were there we bought the PD Standard L2 for him to play.. My 6 year old son hit awesome with this racket but for me it's quite light.. and the grip is big on Babolat compare to other brand.. so I went back and bought the PDR grip 1, string it up with VSGut main 45lb and RPM 40lb.. It plays much much better than the PD standard and it's still a little too light for me.. I play with a custom KPS88 395g for the past 4 years.. ..
PDR perform extremely well compare to the last 2 versions.. I hate Babolat but this PDR 2012 is nice..
After about 3hrs of play I felt my wrist and elbow stiffen a little bit.. Yeah, the racket feels very stiff even at that low tension.. next time I will try my old setup which is 40lb main on gut and 35lb main cross..
I am planning to put in a fairway leather grip, with few grams of lead at 3,9 and above the grip to crank up the SW and static weight a little bit..
The 1HBH perform great on this new PDR but my forehand kept hitting the net.. The volley touch is unbelievable good.. First hard flat serve is awesome but I double fault alot more than I used to with my KPS.. Even I crush the balls very hard but my wife told me it is not feel as heavy as my KPS88.. I think after the tuning every thing will click..
I will be soon. Most likely gut at 60#s and poly at 55.
I love this racket too. It would be perfect if it has little bigger sweet spot though. If they can make this racket into isometric head shape then i think this could become the GOAT of all rackets.
Isometric is patented. Whats wrong with the Babolat's Sweetspot? According to TWU data, it is supposed to have a pretty large sweetspot.
LOL what the heck are you talking about?
This is buckethead. Im about positive.
LOL, this is not buckethead, nor am i the fedace fellow who i thought was federer in the beginning.
but i do know buckethead from facebook site. He is one of the most knowledgeble guys in that yonex site and seem to be a nice guy too. I have been using the RDIS 100 for a while now so i do visit that yonex site frequently.
But i will tell you that Babolat has made something very special with these new 2012 pure drives. This model could become their new best seller.
What is your point and why the hell should they make the PDR isometric? IMHO the babolat is the most forgiving 100 sq inch racket right now.
Well, i agree but if you hit way up top of the racket head or hit the plastic or graphite parts, you can lose control of the ball and go wild. With Yonex isometric head, i had found that you can hit on the edge of the racket and still maintain control of the ball.
So the racquet's no good because it isn't forgiving enough when you frame shots??? :shock:
Wahahaha fedfail fedfail lol! Yeah only yonex allows you to hit with the frame and still manage ball control ROFL!
This is Fedace at his finest.
On the old Prince Triple Threat racquets, if you hit either of the tungsten / graphite sections at 10 or 2 those were like 2 more sweet spots. The feel was incredible and you could get an extra 10 mph on yer serve if you hit em just right.
I though if you hit it all in the right order it becomes a magical sword lol!
^^ Yes, not only did hitting the ball eccentrically at 10:00 or 2:00 close to the frame produce remarkable results but the three ("Triple Threat") graphite/tungsten areas (10:00, 2:00, and on the butt cap) could be used to line up your shot, by triangulation, like Optispot.
Playtested Pure Drive Roddick 2012 today, adjusted the specs to ~345g/31.5cm and here we go:
+ my 2hbh has never been that effortlessly powerful, just wow
+ off centre hits are no longer an issue, even late returns go through
+ this stick is a serve monster, my service was lethal at times
+ spin city, could be hitting topspin groundstrokes all day long
+ maneuverable and solid by the net, volleys better than I expected
- too much power on my fh side, difficult to control with a full swing
- limited feel, the racket seems to be somehow hollow and dull
- not precise on touch shots, drops etc, perhaps it needs some getting used to
- expected better stability, but this might come from lacks in my technique as well
- the shiny lustrous parts of the paintjob suck, but that's my subjective opinion
Overall, definitely a keeper for me. Needs some getting used to as I usually play with much flexier and thinner beam control frames. This user-friendly stick will be great for the games when I lack my own power or play not against my rivals but against the d**n hangover after Saturday night parties
Forgot to mention, PDR was strung with Solinco Tour Bite/Head RIP Control @53lbs. Strings were moving a lot, perhaps full poly at similar or higher tension will do the job for those who doesn't like string movement.
Had my first go w/ the PDR 2012 on the wall and practicing serves.
First thing I noted is that their handle is bigger than Yonnex/Wilson. I use a 4 3/8ths and this felt like a 4 1/2. Might be another factor for why people're having arm problems w/ this frame. Also helps explain why Nadal uses a relatively small grip.
The big thing is that the frame felt good and very stable. I'm used to having the frame flex and feeling the ball shoot out w/ my Yonex... that feeling is gone w/ the PDR, the swing is more like the wave of an ocean swallowing the tennis ball. Can see how some might want more feedback from hitting the ball.
I was most surprised by how well I hit the one handed topspin BH. Especially against the wall, I struggle to hit the ball early or on the rise w/ my regular racquet, but the PDR despite looking thick, felt very manueverable and was exceptionally stable.
Slice BHs felt awkward but it may be more the head shape coming from YY.
The big thing is the serve of course? Initially I wasn't too impressed. My legs were sore from having worked out the day prior. Switching to my old frame for a few rounds, I could see though that the PDR definitely had more power. It may have more spin too but not sure. I felt the 2nd serves had the same height but a bit more velocity.
With the serve again there's the difference in feel. With the Yonex if I hit the ball right, there's a wonderful flex and the ball shoots out just as hard as anything. With the PDR I feel I can consistently hit a hard/heavy serve.
I'm a 4.0 all court player. The demo was strung w/ a Prince multi. Coming from a racquet TW reviewed w/ a power level nearly 20 points lower, I was surprised how easily I adjusted to the PDR. Will try it in some matchplay to see about volleys, touch shots.
The only nagging issue is b/c of the gripsize or shape, I don't plan on playing more than a set at a time. It feels comfortable but I hope this week will be enough of a test on my elbow.
This racket is easy to play with as long as you get the right string and tension.
First day playing some points (rained out past 2 days)... overall I feel no discomfort. By the end of the day, I felt adjusted more adjusted for serves... but still finding my range. The neat thing I found is that I can defend much better... but missed a lot of shots into the net b/c 1) I was worried about hitting the ball out and 2) There's a lot of spin here... Net play was awkward... I hit a lot of volleys deeper than intended.
Best news is there isn't any pain or twinge of pain. I feel I can adjust/control to the frame but it will take me longer than a week.
I'm thinking of buying a PDR for an extended go at it. Worse case if I have arm issues, I'll sell it in the classified around Christmas.
But if I like it, I'll need to order more frames. I've heard quality control can be sketchy on Babolats. Is this true w/ their flagships as well?
If I just weight this first frame and have them send out frames w/ close weight, is that going to close enough? Or do I need to take it up a level and ask for SW measurements?
I mentioned I feel this handle is slightly bigger than most 4 3/8ths I've used. I was going to order a 4 1/4th but is this something that may vary as well?
I've tried quite a few setups and I think I finally find the right set up for this racket (took recommendation from other thread). In my experience, the hybrid of pacific classic main and co focus cross 58/54 is perfect for this racket. It is very easy on the arm. It is soft and it gives you control, and spin. If you string yourself, it costs around $20 per set.
Thanks for the suggestion... I honestly feel my control issues are primarily related to the new frame. If I can control the serve then it's more a matter of technique than equipment...
Don't want to change anything for the next month or so, but I'll keep your stringing recommendations in mind when I do get around to mixing it up.
Do you have any advice related to quality control? How many frames do you have? Are they pretty even? I'd prefer to have three or so frames in the end and want the other two match the first one...
I have 2. I bought one new and one used. They are not even but very close. One feels a little head heavier than the other but they are still acceptable.
Anyone tried to weigh a pure drive into a pdr? What were your experiences? Could you get it to feel the same?
lol shocking it was too much to control on the FH side with an extra 10 or so grams of lead...lol I don't know how I missed this post before...the trick to this baby is tons of spin off both wings...if you hit a flatter ball, I think you want to look elsewhere.
Push through the ball more to hit flatter.
Picked this up from a local shop for an excellent price. Coming from the PDR GT the transition was not much. But the specs are what I love. It does feel a little more dampened than the PDR GT.
I have been playing the gt plus for sometime and thinking about taking the plunge on some new 2012s....is the dampened feel the only difference between the raquets?
I can slightly feel the lighter swing weight. I have them both leaded at 3 and 9.
The dampened feel makes the racket feel just enough less stiff imo.
In all honesty, I'd have to be majorly tuned in if someone where to give me my old racket paint jobbed to the 2012.
The reason why I "upgraded" was the deal was too good and it was the last in my grip size.
I am pretty sure from talking with my buddy who is a babolat rep that they haven't discontinued this baby yet... I was going to wate for a better discount before I picked up a couple.
Separate names with a comma.


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I just found this post about the 2003 Web Design Fashion Trends, and i find it quite interesting.
The trends are as follows:
- The continuing spread of CSS layouts.
- The use of alternate fonts within a limited choice.
- Unordered lists are all the rage.
- Fahrner Image Replacement.
- The comeback of old fashioned fonts.
- The comeback of the background image.
- The humongous page banner.
- The decline of web skinning.
- The cluttered front page.
- Restrained, pale color schemes.
For all the details and explanations of each trend, check the full post: 2003 Web Design Fashion Trends.


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A favorite casserole or dish can bring back memories of a loved one or a special occasion in the past. Mothers pass down recipes to their daughters who pass them on to their own, keeping memories and traditions alive for generations.
That�s the premise behind a new cookbook, �Plenty to Go Around� by Gaston Hospice - the food we eat is often a celebration of the people we love.
Emily Craig, the communications director for Gaston Hospice, always thought a cookbook filled with family recipes would be a good project for the organization. So much of life is connected to the food we eat and the love that goes into preparing it.
So she and the Hospice staff asked clients, volunteers and staff members to share both favorite recipes and a story about what made that dish special to them. People answer the call and by the time the book was ready to be printed, it had more than 300 recipes.
�Gathering together around the table has been man�s way of acknowleding his relationship with family, community and Creator since the beginning of time,� Richard Lahm, executive director of Gaston Hospice writes in a forward in the cookbook. �It is no coincidence that daily, when we share a common need to to feed our bodies, we gather together at the table to also feed our spirits by sharing our day�s experiences, our plans for tommorrow and by thanking our Creator for the blessings we have been given.�
The cookbook is divided into sections by categories - appetizers; soups, salads and sandwiches; vegetables, pasta and rice; entrees; and desserts and breads. There�s also a catchall chapter, call �This-n-That.�
Included throughout the book are touching stories written by Craig about people who have been helped by Hospice. There�s Joe Leonhardt who shared his love of gemstones and Arthur Blackwelder who survived both the attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of the Midway, and Josette Laney, a native of Marseilles, France, who Craig writes �brings light and laughter to every day.� Many of the profiles by Craig have appeared in Hospice�s newsletter. In words she captures the true spirit of her people.
Family members have also included touching remembrances about loved ones. Sharon Hudalla submitted � Marly�s Lemon Gelatin Cheesecake� in honor of her mother, Marlys Manahan. �She has carried countless posts of homemade noodles and gallons of her famous sweat tea to church dinners, dozens of freshly baked cookies to new neighbors and hundreds of casseroles to friends in need of comfort,� Hudalla writes.
Delores Ballad Gill shares the story and recipe behind her mother�s Egg Custard Pie. �After the children grew up, mother continued to make egg custard whenever we would return from places around the United States,� Gill writes. �Sometimes she would make four or five egg custards just so each returning child and grandchild would be sure to get at least one piece. Once, as we traveled from California back to North Carolina, mother instructed me to call her as we neared home. Five egg custard pies were already waiting, she said, as she wanted to be sure she was fully prepared.�
The book also includes the stories of volunteers, some in their own words, including Lynn Leonard. In a 1997 column she wrote for the Hospice newsletter, �The patients� sharing with me their lives has become one of the biggest blessings I�ve ever experienced. The courage and compassion I�ve seen has made me a different person. Hospice serves when live is at its most precious and precarious stage. They show people how to live while they are dying... how to make the most of the days they have.�
�Plenty to Go Around� includes a full history of the inspiring story of the founding of Gaston Hospice and how it has grown in its 36-year history. It also provides an overview ot the Hospice movement and its mission.
The cookbook would not have been possible, Craig said, without the dedicated support of Sharon Hudalla. In addition to typing up all the recipes, she meticulously went through each one, double checking the ingredients and measurements as well as the preparation instructions. She even drove to the grocery store to double check quantities and sizes listed in the recipes.
The artwork in the cover of the cookbook � a view of Crowders Mountain � is by longtime Hospice supporter and artist Scott Boyle. The artist specializes in outdoor paintings and the original piece of artwork hangs at the Robin Johnson House, the Gaston Hospice inpatient facility, in Dallas.
WANT A COPY?�Plenty to go Around,� which comes with a sturdy hardcover, costs $20 with proceeds benefiting Hospice programs. The book is available at the following locations:
Gaston Hospice, Water Tower Place, 258 E. Garrison Blvd.
CaroMont Regional Medical Center, Court Drive
Libby Lou�s Gifts & Accessories (inside The Teacher Box ), 730 Union Road
Medical Center Pharmacy, 515 Cox Road
Moss Drugs, 701 W. Franklin Blvd.
Torrence Stationery & Gifts, 245 W. Garrison Blvd.
Blythe Gallery, 117 N. Main St.
The Frame at Art Shop, 6825 E. Wilkinson Blvd
Hip Chicks, 140 N. Main St.
Splat! Cakes N� Such, 116 N. Main St.
Mount Holly
Splat Cakes N' Such, 1133 S. Main St.
Nadine Painter Ballard Smith
1 cup sugar
5 eggs
2 cups evaporated milk
2 Tbs. vanilla
4 Tbs. melted butter
� teaspoon salt
2 unbaked pie crusts
Beat eggs, sugar, cutter and salt together. Pour in the milk and vanilla and mix. Pour mixture into the 2 unbaked pie crusts. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes, and then reduce to 350 for another 20 minutes
Submitted by Delores Ballard Gill - February 2013
Marlys Manahan
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 Tbs. confectioners� sugar
� cup butter, melted
1 (3-ounce) box lemon flavor gelatin
1 cup boiling water
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 (8-ounce) container frozen nondairy whipped topping, thawed.
Stir together cracker crumbs, confectioners� sugar and butter. Set aside � cup of the mixture and pat remainder in a 13-by-9-inch dish to form crust. Whisk gelatin into boiled water until dissolved. Add cream cheese and vanilla, mix with mixer, on medium speed, until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Pour mixture over crumb crust. Sprinkle reserved crumbs over top. Refrigerate until set, about three hours.
NOTE: Substitute sugar-free gelatin and sugar-free whipped topping for a lower calorie version.
Submitted by Sharon Hudalla


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NCUA Approves 23 Mergers in July
The NCUA approved 23 mergers in 18 states in July, bringing the total number of approved mergers to 155 for 2013.
Four of July's mergers occurred in California and all but one of the credit unions had assets of less than $50 million, according to the agency's monthly Insurance Activity Report.
Sixteen of the small credit unions merged with larger counterparts to expand services to members, while only one merged because it was in poor financial condition and two consolidated due to the "inability to obtain officials" or were unable to find a new CEO, according to the NCUA report.
One credit union merged because it lost its sponsor, one consolidated due to lost or declining membership, one merged because of lack of growth and one consolidated with a state-chartered credit union, the report said.
The $7.3 million Delta Wye FCU in Dorchester, Mass., which merged citing poor financial condition, posted a net worth of only 2.60% in 2012 and 3.06% on June 30, according to NCUA financial performance reports.
The credit union, which was chartered in 1961 by the Electrical Workers Local 103 and served 1,789 members, consolidated with the $85.6 million River Works CU in Lynn, Mass.
Over the past five years, Delta Wye had seen a gradual decline in its loan and investment income, though it posted slight increases in its fee income. The credit union's loan income had fallen from $291,750 in 2008 to $257,035 in 2012, while investment income dropped from $132,993 in 2012 to $44,217 in 2008, according to NCUA financial performance reports. Over the past three years, the credit union posted total net income losses of more than $427,000.
One of the smallest credit unions to merge was the $1.4 million Angelus Can Employees FCU in Los Angeles, after its corporate sponsor shut down the Pneumatic Scale Angelus plant in November 2012, laying off 111 steel workers and shipping those jobs to a factory in Ohio, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Though the plant has been running since 1910, the credit union wasn't chartered until 1963 and served only 226 members when it consolidated with the $407 million Vons Employees FCU in El Monte, Calif.
Another very small credit union, the $2.8 million Harper & Row, Keystone Employees FCU in Throop, Pa., merged because it was seeing its membership dwindle for more than 10 years. In December 2002, the credit union was serving 1,282 members. By June 30 of this year, it had only 832 members, according to Callahan & Associates.
The $3.5 million Lima Ohio Postal Employees FCU in Lima, Ohio, cited lack of growth for its reason to merge with the $27 million Topmark FCU also in Lima.
In nearly all of the Lima Ohio Postal Employees FCU's financial performance numbers were below peer averages, including loan yield, return on average assets, non-interest income and net margin, though its cost of funds and operating expenses were lower than peer averages, according to NCUA financial performance reports. Chartered in 1936, the credit union served only 504 members.
Other mergers included the $56 million Security One FCU in Arlington, Texas, into the $763 million Texas Trust CU in Mansfield, Texas; the $42 million Carepoint FCU in Anaheim, Calif., into the $807 million Financial Partners CU in Downey, Calif.; the $40.6 million NEO FCU in Miami, Okla., into the $1.3 billion TTCU Credit Union in Tulsa, Okla., the $31 million Fort Bragg Community FCU in Fort Bragg, Calif., into the $135 million Mendo Lake CU in Ukiah, Calif.; and the $20 million Kilowatt CU of Madison, Wis., into the $195 million Heartland CU in Madison, Wis.


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What Winemaking Consultants Really Do
From refining a style to rescuing a difficult vintage, how outsiders can help a winery
WHEN MICHEL ROLLAND was named the winemaking consultant to France's Château Figeac two months ago, a great protest was registered in certain wine-drinking circles. The St. Émilion grand cru would be ruined; the wine would be "Rolland-ized," opined drinkers posting on a popular discussion board. One reader even declared that the move was "a disaster for all fans of Figeac." The impassioned discussion ran to seven pages and lasted two weeks. Who would guess that a winemaking consultant—even the world's most famous one—had the power to provoke such an outpouring of passion, not to mention a purported ability to destroy a Bordeaux estate?
Winemaking consultants range from professionals who might offer a word of advice on the final blend to those who are involved in every phase of the winemaking—from the vineyard to the bottling line. While consultants have been employed for decades, the profession has lately been the subject of much debate: Do consultants actually help elevate the wines of an individual estate, or do they simply stamp out the same wine over and over again? For example, to members of that particular discussion board, a " Michel Rolland wine" was shorthand for an "overripe, over-extracted, high-alcohol" product. But was that fair? I contacted some prominent winemaking consultants—starting with Mr. Rolland—to hear what they had to say.
Mr. Rolland has around 200 clients all over the world, in his native Bordeaux as well as Argentina, Chile, California and far beyond (he even has a project in Bulgaria). Mr. Rolland, who spoke to me from Argentina, declined to divulge his exact number of clients, comparing himself to a priest who wouldn't "talk about how many people he sees in confession." (A charming if rather odd analogy; priests don't take money for confessions, after all.)
What did Mr. Rolland think of the critics who talked of his "ruin" of Figeac or alleged that he turned out one wine after the other that tasted the same? Mr. Rolland laughed. "That is ridiculous. To compare Le Bon Pasteur to L'Évangile is ridiculous," he replied, citing two famous Bordeaux estates, one of which he owns.
Mr. Rolland noted that he has been making wine—quite successfully—for more than 40 years, and he questioned his critics' relative experience. "How can someone say that all of my wines are alike? They need to learn how to taste," he declared.
As to turning out wines that were "big and ripe and alcoholic," Mr. Rolland cited a tasting of Bordeaux put together about six or seven years ago for an English journalist. The wines, among them one made by Mr. Rolland and another made by consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt, were served blind. The wine that was "big and strong with woody tannins" was declared "definitely" the Rolland wine—but it was the Derenoncourt. A wine deemed elegant was "definitely" not Rolland—ah, but it was. Mr. Rolland laughed again.
There are few specialists who can match Mr. Rolland's comprehensive global approach, save perhaps for American consultant Paul Hobbs, who has his own wineries in California and Argentina and clients in those places as well as in Chile, Uruguay, Ontario and even Armenia. He said he now consults for 35 to 40 clients. Did Mr. Hobbs have a "Paul Hobbs model" of wine? I asked. "I hope not," said Mr. Hobbs. "I want to make a wine that makes sense for the client and the region."
Mr. Hobbs, who was on his way to visit a potential client in Virginia when we spoke, has small winemaking teams in California's Sonoma County and Mendoza, Argentina, and an assistant winemaker, Julian Gonzalez, who accompanies him overseas from time to time. Mr. Hobbs's focus is always the vineyard—and that's where he spends most of his time. "I make four visits [a year] to every client—except Europe, where I visit three times a year," he said. Beyond that, Mr. Hobbs is willing to "jump on a plane" to visit a client, even if it's just for one day and even if the client is located in France.
If some wine drinkers are critical of wines produced by consultants, aspiring young winemakers hold them in high regard. According to Napa-based winemaking consultant Aaron Pott, whenever he talks to students at the oenology school of the University of California, Davis, "I meet a kid who wants to be Michel Rolland."
Mr. Pott consults to 10 Napa estates and also makes his own wine. He said he believes that one of the chief benefits of hiring a winemaking consultant is having someone with wide-ranging experience—especially when circumstances are dire. For example, Mr. Pott said his years of working in Europe enabled him to know what to do during the cold, rainy 2011 vintage in California's Napa Valley. "Consultants who had that kind of experience were able to make good wines in Napa in 2011," Mr. Potts asserted. "That's when consultants pay off."
Philippe Melka, a Bordeaux native turned Napa winemaking consultant, told me that "extreme involvement" with clients is a hallmark of his work. That's one of the reasons he doesn't really work outside Napa (and he also likes to go home at night). He has one client in Sonoma and one Washington state, but the rest are in Napa. How many was that? "Between 16 and 20. I'm trying not to know so I don't panic," he said.
There are weaknesses to the consulting profession, Mr. Melka conceded, but mostly they have to do with "the level of service" and lack of information made available to clients. Too many winery owners are left in the dark about the day-to-day realities of winemaking. Mr. Melka created a comprehensive database that his clients can use to find out the exact dates of harvest or blending, or the type of barrels purchased. He even hired a full-time data-entry employee.
A winemaking consultant also needs to know how to talk to his clients, said Mr. Melka, and to "understand the personality of the owner and incorporate it into the wine." David Ramey, a Healdsburg, Calif.-based winemaker and winemaking consultant, compared it to an architect-client relationship. "One is paying the architect for their inspiration but one also [ideally] has an idea of what one wants," he said.
Off Duty's Half Full
How much does it cost to hire one of these consultants to interpret an idea or a vision? No one wanted to give exact numbers, and there is quite a range, but Mr. Rolland's annual retainer can run as high as $100,000 or even $250,000 a year. However, he noted he has clients for whom he works for free. "Those are all the pretty women," joked Mr. Pott when I told him this. (Mr. Pott and Mr. Rolland are working together on a project in Napa.) Mr. Pott charges a retainer of $10,000 a month, while Mr. Melka's fees average $8,000 a month.
Winemaking consultants have been known to receive bonuses if their wines receive high scores from critics, though Mr. Melka said that doesn't really happen anymore. In fact, he has only one longtime client who still pays him a bonus. What was the minimum score? "Ninety-two," replied Mr. Melka. "But today, it would probably be at least 95."
How much power does a winemaking consultant actually possess? Certainly all of these consultants have earned some impressively high scores. And they're all paid very well for their work. But a wine consultant's power and influence is ultimately determined by the wine drinker—and how much he or she enjoys the wine in the glass.
See wine videos and more from Off Duty at youtube.com/wsj.com. Email Lettie at email@example.com.


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bluemaria wrote:I have always liked the poem Fire and Ice by Robert Frost that is used in Eclipse. It is so true hate and apathy are equally deadly and would both suffice to kill someone, or at the very least mortally wound their heart. The relevance of the poem to the story, for me, has a lot to do with my interpretation of Fire and Ice which is basically that Frost is saying that the end of the world could come because of passion, hate, fire or the opposite, apathy, coldness, ice. Frost would side with fire (and this I think is fitting as he is a poet) but concedes that ice would also be great and would suffice. Bella's sheer passion for Edward could be overwhelming and possibly deady. On the other side the fact that she does not share the same love for Jake as he does for her (her cold sholder) might be the death of him. I think it is kind of funny how the two are turned around in that way (Edward the fire and Jacob the Ice) However, I have to say that my feelings concerning the relevance of the poem to the book are a little skewed since it has long been one of my favorites.
That is totally beautiful in the interpretation of that poem. I just believed that it alluded to Edward(Ice) & Jacob(Fire) and the ending a give away to Bella choosing Edward. Both elements(fire & ice) are equally powerful; both can give life(fire warms, destroys to bring about new life & ice when it melts is life giving water) both can bring death and destruction. Both can cancel out the other. Fire melts the ice and ice, when melted can put out the fire.
Interesting how these elements represent two very strong, opposite characters whose only comparisons are each is a mythical creature and each love the same woman.
I'm rambling - pardon.


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Date : Nov 28 - Dec 5
Website : http://kirtipur.org/courses_theme_retreats.html#chod" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The essence of Chod practice is to develop the perfection of Wisdom.During the second sermon, Lord Buddha Shakyamuni gave the Prajnaparamita teaching to his followers. The essence of his teaching was to develop the perfect wisdom of Enlightenment. Later on, the Indian saint Dampa Sangye and a Tibetan great master Machig Labdron introduced a unique method of cutting ego clinging instantly based on the essence of the Prajnaparamita teaching. In Tibetan, this practice is called Chod.
This practice then flourished and spread throughout the entire Himalayan region. In Tibet, the practitioners of the Chod practice established the Shijed Tradition. Many masters practised Chod and attained Enlightenment within one lifetime. One of the main lineage holders in the later years was the 3rd Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje. Through His Holiness, the lineage of Shijed flowed into the Karma Kagyud tradition. It is extensively practiced in the monasteries and hermitages of the Karma Kagyud practitioners.
Chod is a method using a drum and a bell and has been practiced for centuries. The combination of the nice melody of the chanting and the instruments makes the whole atmosphere blessed. It is a method for healing and cutting through the root of defilement, that is the ego clinging or the attachment to self and phenomena and all the subsequent defilements such as hatred, desire, pride, fear, fixation and ignorance; that arise from it.
Benefits of the practice
The main practice of Chod is to recognise the defilements of ego clinging, attachment to oneself and phenomena, which obstruct the Path to Enlightenment. The practice awakens one's awareness of the pure nature of emotions and the emptiness of mental obscuration, thus rid one of the roots defilements of hatred, desire and ignorance. The practice is also a powerful tool for accumulating merits because one practices the generosity of offering one's body to the objects of Refuge, Lamas, Meditational Deities, Dakinis, Protectors, as well as to the gods, spirits and to many other beings to whom we owe karmic debts.
Chod Retreat in Nepal with Shangpa Rinpoche Nov 28 - Dec 5
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An affecting new video by Julie Garreau, director of the Cheyenne River Youth Project, in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, encourages tribal members to get to the polls and cast ballots. A collaboration that was shot and edited after work, on nights and weekends, with videographer Chris "Mo" Hollis, the 2-minute movie has a sense of urgency.
Currently voter turnout at Cheyenne River is low—12 to 18 percent according to Scott Davis, one of 13 tribal members, including Garreau, who appear onscreen. That means politicians can afford to ignore Native people, according to Chase Iron Eyes, another speaker.
Several who appear in the video link voting and sovereignty: Dr. Jim Garrett admonishes viewers that Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe is a sovereign nation and needs to act that way. Lorraine Davis says, "This is our land. Own up to it. Take it back. The first step is voting." Others who appear, like Denise Lightning Fire, Hazel Red Bird, Marcella LeBeau and Tammy Granados talk about making the world a better place for the generations to come.
"This film has its hand on the pulse of Indian country. You have areas with high Native American populations but low turnout," commented O.J. Semans, Sicangu Lakota, head of voting-rights group Four Directions, headquartered on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation. "If you don't vote, politicians don't have to listen to you. That's not what you want. You want them to feel beholden to you when you send your leaders to negotiate with them. You want them to know who you are and honor the treaties."
"People say Indians are apathetic about voting. But that's not true," added Garreau. "Instead, many of us feel county, state and federal governments are not really 'ours,' the way tribal government is. So we tend to vote only in tribal elections." In the movie, Garreau made clear that all these governments affect the lives of Native people, who therefore need to participate in more than tribal elections.
The video and its message are not just for the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation or even just for Lakotas, according to Semans: "The movie makes sense on any Northern Plains reservation. Native communities in North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and, to some extent Colorado, are in constant contact and dealing with similar issues. In fact, I'll be showing the video at an upcoming tribal chairman's meeting in Montana."
Garreau will show the movie in community meetings around Cheyenne River and will create voter-engagement brochures to go with it. She noted that it's a non-partisan message: "It's not about voting a particular way. It's about becoming an informed, engaged electorate. It's about being empowered."
She also said there's work to be done to facilitate voting on Cheyenne River. It's not yet clear that during this presidential-election year, reservation villages will have the same amount of early voting as the rest of South Dakota. "That's not just an Indian issue," she said. "Insufficient numbers of polling stations affect any thinly spread rural population." There's also local concern that holding tribal and national elections simultaneously, which occurs without a hitch on other reservations, will somehow be confusing on Cheyenne River.
Maida LeBeau makes sure viewers understand that voting may be a facet of mainstream culture, but Native people can make it their own. "It's Lakota medicine—for change," she says in the movie's final moments.


text: After my doctor indicated that my PSA level had increased each of the past several years and any further increase would require medication, I started to use this product. I took it 3 times a day for a year and my PSA level decreased slightly. I am convinced this product actually works since I did not change my diet or lifestyle.


text: Super 8 Searcy - Deals & Coupons See more about this business In-room coffee maker, hair dryer, iron, ironing board, microwave, refrigerator, cable television, business center, free continental breakfast, free high-speed Internet access, fitness center, heated indoor pool; truck/bus parking; Jacuzzi suites available Find Deals and Coupons Key: Deals Coupons Sorry! No deals found for this search. Showing 1 - 0 of 0 Page: « Previous Next View: 20 per page 50 per page 100 per page Find more deals


text: Events AVI Systems Technology Showcase Please visit Lifesize at the AVI Systems Technology Showcase! When: Wednesday, May 21, 2014 Where: Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Aiport 3800 American Blvd E. Open Map Register: May 21st - May 22nd Wednesday, May 21, 2014 9:00 AM - Thursday, May 22, 2014 2:00 PM Hilton Minneapolis/ St. Paul Airport Register for this session Add to calendar


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Submit News
Report: iPad Mini Production Has Begun
Tiffany Kaiser
October 3, 2012 3:04 PM
Recipient E-mail
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(Source: i.i.com.com)
Apple is expected to announce the iPad Mini sometime in October
The iPad's "mini me" has started production as Apple attempts to ward off competition with a smaller, cheaper tablet.
Apple's Asian component suppliers have kick-started mass production of the new iPad, nicknamed
iPad Mini
. The new tablet will measure 7.85 inches diagonally, putting it more in line with the other 7-inch tablets crowding the market.
Apple's iPad is the king of tablets and eats up a majority of the tablet market share. However, the 9.7-inch display and a load of features like 4G LTE connectivity and a Retina display with 2048x1536 resolution makes the iPad a tad expensive. In fact, the new iPad starts at $499.
Cheaper and credible alternatives to the iPad have emerged recently, offering the iPad a bit of competition. Amazon's Kindle Fire, which is a 7-inch tablet for $199 that was released last November, was the first to take a chunk of the iPad's market share last holiday season.
Other tech companies have since followed suit, offering smaller and cheaper alternatives. Google recently launched its 7-inch
Nexus 7 tablet
for $199, which is not only smaller and cheaper than the iPad, but also has features more comparable to the iPads'. Amazon also kicked its Kindle Fire line up a notch by launching the Kindle Fire HD models.
The Kindle Fire HD line
offers a refreshed 7-inch model for $199, an 8.9-inch model for $299, and a 4G LTE model for $499. What's more is that Amazon is offering a generous data package for only $49.99 per year.
As if that wasn't enough, Barnes & Noble recently announced its updated Nook tablets,
Nook HD and HD+
Clearly, Apple needs to jump into this market if it wants to hold onto its No.1 spot. Not many details are known about the iPad Mini, such as price, but it has been confirmed that it won't have the Retina display that the new iPad has. This was likely an eliminated feature in order to keep the iPad Mini competitively priced.
Apple is expected to announce the iPad Mini sometime this month, according to
The Wall Street Journal
"People Don't Respect Confidentiality in This Industry" -- Sony Computer Entertainment of America President and CEO Jack Tretton
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July 5, 2012, 1:19 PM
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Our collection of truly original St. Patrick's Day flowers & gifts is better than a pot of gold! From festive green flowers to bloomin' plants, there's something to make everyone feel lucky!
Send the luck o' the Irish with St. Patrick's Day flowers, plants, and gourmet gifts that are sure to deliver a smile. Whether you choose a box of delicious shamrock cookies or a festive tin filled with popcorn, 1800Flowers.com has St. Paddy's treats that will make them feel like they discovered a pot of gold.
Some customer favorites in this wide array of St. Patrick's Day gifts include everything from green flowers in various festive vases to a kelanchoe plant in a lucky leprechaun planter. Our personalized Irish pub sign is also a great way to make this year's holiday a little more personal.Back to Top


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When I start the nREPL on the Android device (by calling `(clojure.tools.nrepl.server/start-server :port 9999)`) it all goes well. But when I try to connect to this REPL using any of the clients I find myself in an empty namespace (or something like that). The var ns is unbound, no functions from the clojure.core are available. At the beginning REPLy tries to perform some actions but they fail (says that it cannot find symbol `defn` - because nothing from clojure.core is being mapped).
However I can do (in-ns 'anywhere) it works. Everything else in the REPL works correctly (as far as I see). The issue itself is minor but I'm afraid that it is caused by some crash during nREPL initialization that might lead to other problems in future.
Chas Emerick made changes -
|Original Value
|New Value
|Open [ 1 ]
|Closed [ 6 ]
|Completed [ 1 ]


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Biden: Pols need courage on guns
DANBURY, Conn. – Two months after the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting and a dozen miles from Newtown, Vice President Joe Biden came here Thursday to raise the rhetoric on gun control: Stalling lawmakers are cowards.
"When I look at the courage you've shown, it's incumbent on politicians to show some political courage, too," Biden said, addressing shooting victims' families at a conference at Western Connecticut State University. "If you're concerned about your political survival, you should be concerned about the survival of our children."
Story Continued Below
( PHOTOS: Politicians speak out on gun control)
President Barack Obama made a repeated call in the State of the Union last week that victims of gun violence deserved a vote. Biden went further.
"There's a moral price to be paid for inaction," he said.
The trip was Biden's first to the state since the shooting, and the first time a top Obama administration official brought the gun control push to the state since the president spoke at a memorial service for the victims the Sunday after the massacre.
But it comes as gun control advocates have begun feeling anxious that the delays in getting something passed may mean that nothing will get done.
( CARTOONS: Matt Wuerker's political cartoons on gun control)
Speaking ahead of Biden, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy expressed this fear, saying "we have changed, and I believe it is now time for our laws to do the same" at the state and federal levels. "We run the risk of making a critical moment in history pass" without making real change, he said, but lawmakers must take "clear, common-sense steps."
"We have to speak for those 20 beautiful children who died 69 days ago 12 miles from here. They can't speak for themselves. We have to speak for the voice of those six adults who died trying to save the children and their care that day who can't speak for themselves," he said. "You have to speak for the 1,900 people who have died at the other end of a gun just since Sandy Hook in this country."
Biden and the members of Congress who joined him here stressed the message they've said since December: Newtown truly was different in changing the conversation — and therefore the current lack of movement is different from the failed efforts at gun control after previous shootings. Americans are still shaken by the December shooting, advocates are continuing to speak out and emotions remain raw, Biden said, and the call to action resonates just as strongly.
Without getting into details on where potential legislation stands, Biden acknowledged that the effort faces continued resistance, particularly from the National Rifle Association, but asserted that the dominant national mood hasn't changed in the past two months and that politicians will be rewarded for standing up to the NRA.
Biden reassured gun owners who fear the administration is out to get their firearms that this isnn't the administration's intention, but he was deeply critical of people he said have tried to warp the debate around those claims.
The "organized opposition" tries to set up "roadblocks" to new gun laws, but the White House and its allies will not yield, Biden said. Instead, the administration is trying to strike a balance, encouraging Americans to take advantage of their constitutional rights while backing efforts to make doing so less dangerous.


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The Cleveland Museum of Art's Indian and Southeast Asian collection is rated as one of the leading collections in this area, both nationally and internationally. With the grand opening of the building and completion of the renovation and expansion project, the collection, along with the museum's distinguished collection of Chinese art, is on view once again. Just before the opening, we caught up with Sonya Quintanilla, George P. Bickford curator of Indian and Southeast Asian art, to talk about some of the highlights in the new west wing galleries! She shares with us an in-depth background on four of the must-see works in the collection.
The Thinker: A CMA Blog
It's been an exciting and eventful 2013 at the Cleveland Museum of Art, culminating with the grand opening of the building and west wing galleries! To celebrate, the Cleveland Museum of Art is hosting a variety of public programs and activities to commemorate this historic moment. Come See Amazing this week at the Cleveland Museum of Art! Take a look back at the last 12 months in our Instagram highlights flipbook, and add your own CMA Instagram moments to the reel. Happy New Year!
The Cleveland Museum of Art's Indian and Southeast Asian collection is rated as one of the leading collections in this area, both nationally and internationally. To add to its collection, the museum is pleased to announce a significant acquisition of the Catherine Glynn Benkaim and Ralph Benkaim Collection of Deccan and Mughal Paintings.
In the development of an exhibition, curators and designers work together to create a spaces where visitors have an immediate understanding of another place and time. We spoke with Michael Bennett, Curator of Greek and Roman Art and co-curator of the Sicily exhibition, and Jim Engelmann, Exhibition Designer, to get a behind-the-scenes look at how they orchestrated the design of a major exhibition: Sicily: Art and Invention between Greece and Rome.
The CMA's renovation and expansion project will come to a completion on December 31. In recognition of this historic moment, we sat down with Interim Director Fred Bidwell to talk about the building expansion and grand opening, his new role and top priorities for the future, and the impact of the Cleveland Museum of Art on the community.
Multimedia artist Camille Norment's current trajectory of work includes live performance as a mode of exploring the formal and cultural consonances and dissonances in music, freely collapsing any given genre and aesthetic spectrums. She performs with her trio as part of the CMA Concerts at Transformer Station series on Sunday, December 15.
Make and Take: Craft with Style at the Cleveland Museum of Art is a monthly event where we invite people create DIY projects in the museum atrium. Each month introduces a new and easy craft to make and take home. This month, in the spirit of the holidays, we focus festive creations. Patty Edmonson, Intergenerational Interpretation Specialist, shows us how to create one-of-a-kind stationery from stamping.
See, Shop, and Support Amazing! This holiday season, enjoy a festive event over the holiday season, experience the collection with out-of-town guests, and give the gift of art to a loved one!
Provenance at CMA Chef Partner Douglas Katz shares his grandmother's challah stuffing recipe that you can impress your family and friends with on holidays. Enjoy!
The great 19th century American landscape painter, Thomas Cole, said that "the frame is the soul of the painting." And for many Clevelanders, the soul of local, artistic practice was ushered in with the Cleveland School movement, a period of intense artistic growth and achievement that spanned the turn of the 19th century through the 1950s. Help us realize new, custom-built frames for this piece and others in the Cleveland School collection.


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Update on Equine Australian Bat Lyssavirus Case
- May 24, 2013
- Topics:
Chief veterinary officers from across Australia met May 21 to discuss the Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) case confirmed in a horse on the Southern Downs in Queensland. This case, which Biosecurity Queensland reported May 17, is the first known case of ABLV identified in a horse.
Queensland's Chief Biosecurity Officer Jim Thompson, BVSc, MACVSc, said Biosecurity Queensland officers revisited the property May 21 and reported that no animals were showing any signs of illness.
"A number of options for managing the property were considered yesterday by the chief veterinarians," Thompson said. "Biosecurity Queensland will be discussing these options with the property owner, including isolation and potential vaccination of animals and will continue to work closely with them in managing the situation.
"Through our understanding of this virus, it is believed that the infected horse was most likely infected through being scratched or bitten by a bat," he added. "Testing has confirmed the virus in the infected horse was the type of ABLV found in one species of insect-eating microbats, not flying foxes."
Thompson said researchers from the Queensland Centre for Emerging Infectious Disease had been conducting property profiling to identify the type of bats and their movements in the area.
"Through their initial work, researchers have identified microbats in the area, including microbats roosting in buildings on the property," Thompson said. "I must reiterate that we haven't before seen ABLV in a horse in Australia, however, experts from around the country are continuing to work together to learn more about the virus.
"As has been our long-standing advice, it is recommended that animal owners take all reasonable steps to keep their animals away from bats," he stressed. "This may include restricting animals at night, particularly when bats are feeding. If owners suspect an animal might have been bitten or scratched by a bat, they should contact their local veterinarian.
"It is also important to ensure sound hygiene and biosecurity measures are routinely adopted for all contact with animals including their saliva, blood, and other body fluids and associated equipment," Thompson concluded. "This is to protect people against a number of diseases that can be transferred, not just ABLV."
In a recent press release, Australian Veterinary Association spokesperson Chris Reardon, BVSc(Hons), BSc(Hons), MACVSc, CMAVA, said ABLV is "similar to rabies, but a completely different virus."
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USDA Working to Reduce Wildlife Rabies
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Saddlebred Exhumation Under Way
POLL: Checking for Gastric Ulcers


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Climate Change May Increase Mercury Content in Fish
Mercury pollution can be a serious health threat as once mercury enters our body, it acts as a neurotoxin, interfering with the brain and nervous system. Mercury is emitted to the air by power plants and other industrial facilities and becomes a serious threat when it settles into oceans. As the mercury enters waterways, naturally occurring bacteria absorb it and the pollutant makes it way up the food chain as larger fish consume smaller fish. As an example, mackerel, swordfish, tuna, and grouper rank high when it comes to mercury content. We have known about the effects of mercury in fish for some time now, however, looming changes in climate could make fish accumulate even more mercury, according to a study in the journal PLOS ONE.
Researchers at Dartmouth College studied killifish under varying temperatures in the lab and in salt marsh pools in Maine. Fish in the marshes ate insects, worms and other natural food sources, while the lab fish were fed mercury-enriched food. Results showed the fish in warmer waters ate more but grew less and had higher methylmercury levels in their tissues, suggesting increases in their metabolic rate caused the increased uptake of the toxic metal.
Besides the warming of the water, the paper states that physical factors including wind flows, atmospheric circulation, and precipitation, will also affect mercury deposition and bioavailability.
Until now, little has been known about how global warming may affect mercury bioaccumulation in marine life, and no previous study has demonstrated the effects using fish in both laboratory and field experiments.
The paper suggests that the increase in mercury bioaccumulation at lower trophic levels can be propagated to higher trophic level fish which is consumed by humans. This increases human exposure to these dangerous concentrations. As a result, the paper urges that this effect should be incorporated into policy and management efforts aimed at reducing human health risks from high-level mercury exposure.
Read the study at PLOS ONE.
Fish image via Shutterstock.


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Hi everyone! I am so excited to be a part of the M & J Trimming Challenge this year! (Excited and nervous! Did you see the fabulous projects last year??)
On my blog, Flamingo Toes, I love to create things for my home, jewelry and fun sewing projects. The amazing box that we were given has so many fabulous items – and I knew I wanted to make something for the home and something to wear!
First up is the Circles and Waves Linen Set I created for the dining room.
Placemats, Napkins, Napkin Rings, a Table Runner and a Pretty Vase to go with it!
Let's start with the Table Set first.
I love the raw edges of these – they look so fun and rough – I think it makes a great contrast with the quilting!
Materials you'll need:
• 3 yd of 60″ white cotton fabric
• 2 Colors of Rit Dye
• 2 Coordinating Threads + a spool of white
• 1/2 Coordinating Print Fabric
• 1 1/2 yd cotton batting
• 4 Wooden Napkin Rings
• Grosgrain Ribbon
• Coordinating Color Rhinestones
• Glue (I used hot glue)
1. Cut out all your pieces. You'll need 8 rectangles 14″ x 20″ for the placemats, 4 – 19″ squares for the napkins and assorted circles for the embellishing the napkins and placemats. I used circles from 4″ – 6″ for the placemats, 1 1/2″ – 3″ for the napkins and larger 6″ – 12″ circles for the runner out of the white. Cut out several circles from your coordinating print as well.
2. Following the instructions on the packages, dye the napkins along with several of the circles each color. I dyed 2 napkins in each color. Plus several extra circles. It's better to have too many than not enough. 🙂
3. Wash, dry, and iron all pieces.
4. Cut pieces of batting 13″ x 19″ and layer each piece between two placemat pieces. Pin together well.
5. Mark along the top and bottom every two inches with a disappearing marker.
Start at the far right mark and with your first color of contrasting thread, sew a wavy line down the short side of the placemat that ends at the first mark on the right at the bottom of the placemat.
6. Repeat across the placemat working your way to the left, sewing wavy lines down. Try and make the waves different with each line.
7. Change out your thread and sew contrasting wavy lines down the placemat, starting and ending at the same marks, but making your waves move opposite the stitching you did before.
8. Stitch around all 4 sides of the placemat, starting with your darker thread, 3/8″ from the edge. Sew another line with the lighter thread 1/4″ inside this.
9. Lay out an assortment of circles in prints and solids on the placemat. Sew them down 1/4″ from the edge.
10. Now your placemats are all done!
I put the circles in different places so each placemat would look just a little different.
11. For the napkins, sew around all 4 sides with a wavy stitch. Use thread that contrasts with the napkin color.
For the blue napkins I used yellow & white and for the yellow napkins I used blue & white.
12. Sew around all four sides again, with your contrasting thread. Make your waves in this stitching opposite what you sewed before.
13. Choose three small circles that contrast with the napkin color and sew them on one corner of the napkin.
That finishes off the napkins!
14. For the Napkin Rings, tear 1′ – 1/2″ strips of white fabric. This will make straight strips with raw edges.
Wrap them around the napkins rings.
15. Continue wrapping until your ring is covered. Glue the end down.
16. Make a Ribbon Rosette out of pretty coordinating grosgrain ribbon.
17. Add rhinestones to the center of the rosette for a little bling.
(I love the tools they provided with the rhinestone kit! It made picking up and gluing the rhinestones super easy!)
18. Glue a small dyed fabric circle behind the rosette.
19. Glue the rosette onto the napkin ring and you're done.
They look so sweet with the matching napkins slipped in!
20. For the Table Runner, lay out your larger circles in the pattern you'd like. My runner measures 30″ x 10″ approx.
21. Cut out a white piece of fabric the outside shape of the runner and a piece of batting about 1/2″ smaller than the total shape.
Pin them together like you did the placemats.
22. Start sewing your layers together with the bottom circles first. For the solid, dyed fabrics I did three rows of circles around the edges, 1/4″ apart.
For the prints, I sewed around the outside 1/4″ from the edge then sewed down a few of the wavy lines.
23. Once the bottom circles are sewn on, do the next layers, until all the circles are sewn down.
Then the Runner is finished!
I love the pretty colors of the dye paired with the white fabric and the bright thread. It makes for such a fun place setting!
Next let's do the Pretty Vase to match the set!
I love the vibrant colors!
Materials you'll need:
• glass vase
• white spray paint
• matte sealant
• 2 colors of cording
• rhinestones in asst. colors
• Glue (I used E-6000)
1. Start by spray painting your vase white. I used a plain freebie glass vase.
2. Once your spray paint is dry, I recommend spraying it with a matte sealant.
(This will help the paint stay on.)
3. Measure down from the top rim of the vase to where you'd like the first row of cording to start.
Make small pencil marks every few inches around the vase.
Glue on the first color of cording in two rows along your markings, making sure to pull the cording snug against the vase.
4. Repeat with the second color of cording, wrapping it under the first two rows.
5. Decide how you would like your rhinestones to look. I decided to follow the wavy pattern in my set.
M & J Trimming has some great tools for applying rhinestones!
Start by adding glue to the small syringe. Dot the glue on the vase where you'd like your first few rhinestones to go.
The syringe adds a tiny spot of glue, just where you need it.
6. Use the wooden tool to dip into the beeswax just a bit. Pick up a rhinestone with the tool and place it on the spot of glue.
The wax is just tacky enough to pick up the rhinestone but not so tacky that it won't stick easily to the glue.
7. Once all your rhinestones are placed, the vase is finished! Let the glue dry for about 12 hours before moving the vase or adding flowers.
The vase makes such a pretty addition to the table set!
The last few 2 things I needed to use in the Challenge Box where the vibrant pink mesh ribbon and the most gorgeous silk ombre ribbon I'd ever seen. This ribbon feels so smooth and the colors are just beautiful!
Since I make a lot of necklaces on my blog, I knew that was what I had to do. I really wanted to showcase the colors in the ribbons and I love how it turned out!
Materials You'll Need:
• Silk Ombre Ribbon
• Mesh Ribbon
• Cotton Cording (just over 2 yards)
• Silver Chain
• Fabric for neck ties (2 pieces 28″ x 5″)
• Small amount of fabric for ruffled and netting roses
• Vintage brooch or other similar piece
• Glue (I used hot glue because it dried quickly)
• Needle & Coordinating Thread
• Sewing Machine (for neck ties)
1. Begin by cutting your cording into two pieces. One 35″ and one 37″.
Fold each cording piece in half and beginning at the two cut ends, glue the halves together.
2. Repeat for the other cording piece.
3. Once the cording is glued together, start wrapping the silk ribbon around the cording. Make sure as you wrap that the colored, ombre portion of the ribbon shows. You don't want to cover up the gorgeousness. 😉
Add a dot of glue at the beginning and then every few inches to help hold the cord in place. Not too much because you don't want to have the glue show through.
4. Wrap the other cord as well. Shape them just a bit so that they both form a "U" shape, with the smaller cord inside the larger one.
5. Hand sew the two left wrapped ends together with a few stitches. Without cutting your thread, sew the top link in your silver chain to the two cordings. Knot and cut your thread.
6. Lay out your cording so that the chain is under the wrapped cording pieces. Loop the chain around the left, longer cording piece and bring it around through the two cording pieces.
Bring the chain around the right, shorter cord piece and then back through between them. Pull the chain snug without being too tight.
7. Continue wrapping the chain around the cording pieces, keeping the "U" shape intact as much as you can. Finish off the other end by hand stitching the chain and the two ends together.
8. Trim off any excess chain.
9. With your cut fabric pieces, on one short side turn the fabric to the wrong side in a small fold and hem the side down.
Fold the rectangles right sides together so that you have a long rectangular tube. Sew the ends together starting with the hemmed end and tapering to a point at the other end.
10. Trim the curved end. Turn right sides out and press.
11. Around each cording end, wrap a few inches of the mesh ribbon. This will help hold the cording pieces together and add a really fun texture to the top of the cording.
12. Slide the hemmed end of the fabric tie over the cording end. Make sure you leave some of the mesh ribbon showing.
13. Pull the tie so the seam is away from the cording. On the back side, hand sew the mesh ribbon down and sew the tie down along the edge.
14. Pull the tie snug and fold the extra fabric back over the cording. Stitch the edge and a little bit of the fold down.
15. Now the basic part of the necklace is finished. Time for some embellishing!
16. Make a ribbon rosette out of the silk ombre ribbon and a 2 other flowers out of coordinating fabric. I used a solid dark pink and a light pink netting.
Add the rosette and the solid flower to the right side of the necklace, where the tie ends.
You can add a vintage brooch or a fun button between them.
17. To add a little more texture, add a larger netting flower behind the others, to the back of the cording.
And that finishes off the necklace!
I love the way the ribbon and the chain look woven together. I think it makes the ribbon even more eye catching!
I hope you liked the projects – I would love for you to come visit my blog sometime and check things out!
Thank you so much M & J Trimming for including me in the challenge this year! It was so much fun and an honor to participate!


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The LA Galaxy will hold four tryouts for their Galaxy Academy Under-12 teams in the month of February. Two tryouts will be held in Orange County while an additional two will take place in the South Bay in conjunction with Galaxy Alliance clubs West Coast Futbol Club and South Bay Force.
READ: Galaxy form Academy Alliance
Two tryouts will be held in the South Bay at Manhattan Village Field in Manhattan Beach, Calif. on Friday, Feb. 15 and Friday, Feb. 22 from 4-6 p.m. The coaching staff of the Galaxy Academy U-12 team in the South Bay, led by South Bay Force director Todd Saldana, will be on hand to oversee the tryouts.
The Galaxy Academy will also hold two tryouts in Orange County, with both tryouts taking place at Concordia University in Irvine, Calif. The first tryout will be on Friday, Feb. 15 from 6:30-8 p.m. while the second tryout will take place a week later on Friday, Feb. 22 at the same time. The coaching staff of the Galaxy's Orange County U-12 team, including former MLS midfielder Braeden Cloutier, will be on hand to oversee the tryouts.
These tryouts are open for players that were born in August 2001 or after. Registration for all tryouts will be handled on site. For more information about the tryouts in the South Bay, please visit the South Bay Force's website. Please visit West Coast FC's website for information about the tryouts in Orange County.
For more information about the LA Galaxy Alliance, a program which will allow the Galaxy to better identify and develop the top young players throughout the Southland, please click here.
Register for South Bay Tryout Register for West Coast FC tryout