text:
Roller Shades & Roll Up Blinds
- wide selection of colors and styles
- light filtering for views and light control
- blackout fabric choices to block light
- raise/lower in one smooth, easy operation
- minimal and discrete when raised
Roller shades add color, style and texture to any room easily and economically. With a wide array of colors, patterns, styles and features, roller shades can fit your needs perfectly. Fabrics range from sheer to blackout, depending on how much privacy and light control you need - semi-opaque fabrics offer a good combination of both. Roller shades "roll up" onto a tube, and are operated with a cord loop, a cordless spring system, or even by remote control, and are available with personalized features like a cassette valance or a decorative bottom hem.
Blindsgalore® Expressions Roller Shades: Patterns
retail $122.39 $82.00 + an extra 15% off
Certified Best for Kids
Products with this label meet or exceed safety recommendations approved by the Window Covering Manufactures Association (WCMA) and have undergone rigorous third-party testing.
Boutique Dwell Roller Shades
retail $173.13 $116.00
Certified Best for Kids
Products with this label meet or exceed safety recommendations approved by the Window Covering Manufactures Association (WCMA) and have undergone rigorous third-party testing.
Blindsgalore (1)
Save money without sacrificing quality. Choose from Blindsgalore's signature line of custom window treatments and coverings.
The Boutique (1)
Exclusively from Blindsgalore, a designer brand featuring a contemporary collection of window treatments crafted with built-in luxury features
- Blindsgalore (1)
- The Boutique (1)
- refine
Bathroom (1)
Choose from our selection of recommended window treatments for your bathroom
Expressions (1)
Choose your style, color and fabric for a one-of-a-kind expression of yourself
- Expressions (1)
- refine
customer reviews for roller shades
By pj from texas
Came in a timely manner and looks great on my windows. Much better than white blindsView this product
"laundry room blind"
By Eggmom from Connecticut
We bought for out bathroom/laundry room to hide the laundry closet after removing the bulky bifold doors. We mounted it inside the closet and lower the blind when we need to use the room for company. The blind is a high quality and operates smoothlyView this product


text:
Though much left to prove, Freeman making his mark
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com
ATLANTA -- When Freddie Freeman got off to a hot start last year, he spent a few weeks as the third hitter in the lineup. But it seems safe to say that the speed-challenged Freeman is now in a much more suitable spot as he assumes the enviable role of cleanup hitter for Atlanta's potent offense.
Freeman certainly has much more to prove as he goes through the early stages of this third full season at the Major League level, but the powerful 23-year-old first baseman already has gained the distinction of being the first Braves player since 1916 to drive in three runs in both of the regular season's first two games.
Freeman accounted for Atlanta's first runs of the season when he turned on a Cole Hamels fastball and sent it deep over the wall in right-center for a two-run homer in the first inning of Monday night's Opening Day win over the Phillies. During Wednesday night's win over Philadelphia, he showed his opposite-field power potential with a three-run double to left-center.
"I think he's just going to keep getting better and better with more Major League at-bats," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He's growing patient when he needs to be and trying to just get one RBI at time instead of going for the three-run homer. I see him getting better just because of that."
Hitting coach Greg Walker considers Freeman one of the most talented young hitters he has ever seen.
Gattis' debut doesn't alter Fredi's catching plan
ATLANTA -- On Thursday, one day after homering in his Major League debut, Evan Gattis was back on the bench. But manager Fredi Gonzalez has continued to say that Gattis could play every bit as much as the veteran Gerald Laird while Brian McCann continues to recover from surgery on his right shoulder.
Laird was behind the plate on Thursday night, when Kris Medlen started the series finale against the Phillies. He will also be in the lineup on Saturday, when rookie right-hander Julio Teheran makes the fifth start of his career, against the Cubs.
"I like that," Gonzalez said of matching Laird with Teheran. "They had some success in Spring Training. You've got a veteran and a rookie. I like that matchup a lot."
Gonzalez will not have any other specific arrangements with his catchers. He is confident that Gattis is quite capable of handling Tim Hudson and the other members of the rotation.
With Laird in the lineup, the Braves lose the power potential Gattis showed when he went deep through the stiff wind that was blowing during his fourth-inning matchup with Roy Halladay.
Gattis became the seventh player in Atlanta history to hit a home run in his Major League debut, following Bob Horner (1978), Jermaine Dye (1996), Marty Malloy (1998), Jeff Francoeur (2005), Jordan Schafer (2009) and Jason Heyward (2010).
Gattis' pinch-hitting opportunities will be limited by the fact that the Braves are carrying just two catchers and do not have a definite emergency option. But Gonzalez said there might be some instances in which he'd be willing to take the gamble of inserting Gattis in a late-inning situation and going the remainder of the game without a catcher on his bench.
"You can roll the dice in the eighth or ninth inning and see how it plays out," Gonzalez said. "But it's a tough feeling when you have to play the rest of the way with no backup catcher."
Wren proud of the Braves' athleticism and speed
ATLANTA -- Through the early days of the regular season, the Braves have maintained their reputation as a team that can hit a lot of home runs and compile a high number of strikeouts.
While addressing a group of fans during a luncheon at the 755 Club on Thursday afternoon, general manager Frank Wren provided the reminder that his club can also produce runs with the speed that was added with the offseason signings of the Upton brothers.
"I believe athleticism and speed are two of the best assets we have," Wren said.
Jason Heyward and the Uptons all have shown the potential to hit at least 20 home runs and record at least 20 stolen bases in a season. More important, since the start of the Grapefruit League season, each outfielder has shown a willingness to be aggressive by taking extra bases whenever possible.
"There are going to be some nights when we're going to get thrown out with nobody out or make the third out at third," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "But for the most part, over a 162-game season, we're going to push the envelope a little bit."
Worth noting
• The Braves are the fourth National League team in the live-ball era to open the season with two consecutive three-homer games, following the 2002 and 2003 Giants, and the 2003 Pirates.
• Tim Hudson is three wins from his 200th career victory. Craig Kimbrel entered Thursday's series finale 10 saves from notching the 100th of his young career.
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
In the Garden:
Pacific Northwest
February, 2007
Regional Report
One plant I'll keep in my garden this year is the 'White Swan' echinacea that grew beautifully in my sunny flower border.
Planning a Brilliant Summer Garden
In July my mailbox is surrounded with vibrantly colored annuals. In February, it's also filled with flowers -- inside all the seed catalogs. Page upon page of cheerful offerings remind me that spring is only a dozen weeks away. It's time to get out pencil and paper and plan my spectacular beds and borders.
Selecting Some Winners
Catalog plant descriptions and beautiful photos transport me from the rainy reality of winter in the Pacific Northwest to a summer garden bursting with color and heady with fragrance. I'm especially drawn to winners of the All-America field trials. This nationwide trial program awards the best annual flowers and vegetables each year. The chosen varieties are marked with an AAS-winner label. How could any plant selected for such a distinction fail to thrive in my garden?
Plan with Purpose
Induced by an enchanting collection of seed catalogs, one can easily get carried away with wishes and dreams. That's what makes planning on paper a must. Gardening on paper means you can rearrange plants without a trowel -- something infinitely easier than slogging around in the mud on a wet, wintry day.
Selecting Bright Flowers
I'll admit I prefer flowers in bright, bold colors, but having flowers of varying shades and hues in unexpected spots makes a garden much more interesting. This year I'll devote a corner bed to plants that bloom in pastel colors. I'm planning mounds of Phlox drummondii 'Coral Reef'. It's heavy with blooms in soft shades of apricot, shell pink, and creamy yellow. For an element of surprise, I'll dot the bed with Zinnia elegans 'Envy', featuring a chartreuse-green flower.
Planting Green Flowers
Speaking of green-flowered plants, more and more are becoming available, and I think they're intriguing enough to include a few in the garden, just for fun. Some of the others I'll grow this year include nicotiana 'Lime Green', amaranthus 'Green Thumb' (Amaranthus caudatus 'Viridis'), and bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis). I'm sure you can find additional selections at your favorite nursery.
Care to share your gardening thoughts, insights, triumphs, or disappointments with your fellow gardening enthusiasts? Join the lively discussions on our FaceBook page and receive free daily tips!


text:
3 dead in northwest Houston shooting
Updated 11:09 pm, Sunday, April 27, 2014
Three people are dead in an apparent execution-style murder at an apartment in the Spring Branch area, authorities said.
As many as three suspects, possibly wearing ski masks, burst through the door of an apartment at 7400 Hillmont near Hollister around 6:15 Sunday. They opened fire with a handgun and rifle, killing two Hispanic women and a man, according to Houston Police Department Sgt. Christopher Hassig.
Police are searching for the suspects who fled the Pine of Northwest Crossing apartment complex near Hollister and Highway 290 in a dark sedan.
The apartment appeared ransacked, but Hassig said there was no way to know if anything was missing.
Authorities said they'd responded to a call alleging prostitution at the address at an earlier date, but that no arrests were made.


text:
Sale Sharks 16-27 Northampton Saints, Aviva Premiership
Mallinder frustrated despite win
November 30, 2012
Tom May powers away to score a try for Northampton © Getty Images
Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder was left dissatisfied with his side's second half performance despite winning 27-16 against Sale.
Northampton scored three tries before the interval but failed to score after the break and Mallinder was frustrated that they could not build on an excellent display in the opening period of this Aviva Premiership fixture.
"I was slightly disappointed with the second half performance," he said. "I think in the first half we were very good and dominated the game.
"Our scrum was on top, as well as our driving maul. We defended well and therefore took our opportunities at the right time. We talked about doing exactly the same thing in the second half and we didn't do that.
"I'm disappointed with the second half but we got the win and that's important, particularly away from home."
Mallinder also praised Dylan Hartley who was at the heart of Northampton's scrum dominance after returning from injury. He added: "Dylan in particular is a leader and he leads from the front. He was dominant in that forward effort.
"Mike Haywood's done well over the last few weeks, but Dylan's got that experience and it's good to have him around."
Sale were left to rue their first half display as they found themselves 24 points down at the interval. Although the Manchester outfit reduced that deficit through Rob Miller and Tommy Taylor tries, they never seriously threatened to come back.
John Mitchell, who has taken over first team affairs from Steve Diamond, described parts of their game as "immature" and will look to improve the set-piece area after being dominated up front.
Mitchell said: "Northampton's forward pack was outstanding in the first half. The determining factor of that period was the lineout drive and I thought they were very effective.
"We never built any pressure or any starting position. In the second half, we showed better character and built some pressure. The forwards had a torrid time tonight. We're still very immature as a side and we get frustrated easily, so we've got to learn to become more patient.
"We've got a lot of work to do in the forward area. I thought we had made some growth in the scrum and the lineout, but we got hurt in that area tonight, so we're going to have to spend a lot of time on that going forward."
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Communication error please reload the page.


text:
Our defense, under MDA; is improving by leaps & bounds.
It's key to know that before the trade, NY only held teams under 90 pts two times. Since the trade, in only 7 games? 3 times. Held Atlanta to 79 points in a 92-79 road victory in a MUST win type of game.
I put that Cleveland loss behind me. I've moved on. It was a classic example of a team playing down to the level of their opponent. This huge win, on the road, against a tought Atlanta team (without Billups, Turiaf & Walker) is a big time step in the right dirrection.
Fields, Carter, Douglas, Jeffries... They can all D up. The potential is here. Even Melo can be a defensive force when focused on defense. Same goes for Amare. Even Walker & Shawne Williams play with heart. The best of the Knicks defense has yet to come. I truly believe that.
With our explosive offense, if our defense can become consistant... We can, & will; make plenty of noise come playoff time.


text:
June 12, 2009
*Super Spoilers* Behind the Scenes New Moon Filming
Source: iamlost Thanks, Caro and Ismarie!
10 comments:
Oh my beautiful Jacob.ReplyDelete
OMG!!!OMG!!! I can't wait! =)ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJune 12, 2009 at 5:46 PM
I'm so team Jacob!ReplyDelete
I'm so glad they kept Taylor as Jacob.ReplyDelete
I think that all of these spoilers are a really good thing. We can out our initial shock/screaming now and enjoy(drool over) the movie when it finally comes out. Though 10 ft half naked Edward and Tyler will illicit some screaming and I just hope there aren't any fainters in my row. =TReplyDelete
JACOB! I love that they put him in that smedium button down shirt, it makes him look like he had a growth spurt and could barely fit his clothes...and I swear I'm about to make a citizens arrest of myself for the thoughts that I just had of Jacob outgrowing his clothes, lol.ReplyDelete
loves it! I went to that high school the day they filmed the cafeteria and hallway scenes:)ReplyDelete
Wich part in the book is the scene in the rain? :SReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 28, 2009 at 10:26 AM
Kleine Mädchen lieben Taylor, alle anderen lieben Robert.xDReplyDelete
Rob ist so toll und Taylor sieht neben ihm total unscheinbar aus...TEAM EDWARD


text:
I upgraded to this version and after that i can't connect networkdrives wich are on my network.
They all are in the same networkgroup.I can ping them...but when connecting i get error 1231. can't reach the network location.I also see them in my router page.
Somebody an idea?
Operating System:Windows XP Pro
Software Version:8.0
Product Name:ZoneAlarm Internet Security Suite


text:
George L. & Julia Argyros - A $20 Million Gift and a Lifetime of Achievement
George and Julia Argyros' recent gift of $20 million to Eisenhower Medical Center has enabled a vision to become a reality in the form of the Eisenhower George and Julia Argyros Health Center in La Quinta. On January 18, 2008, a groundbreaking ceremony will be held for the threestory, 85,000 square-foot facility. The Eisenhower Argyros Health Center, expected to open in July 2009, will feature an urgent care center, imaging technology, a health and wellness center, physician offices, pharmacy, physical rehabilitation services and radiation oncology services.
"George and Julia's generous gift allows Eisenhower to provide for the health care needs of one of the Valley's fastest growing cities," explains Harry M. Goldstein, Chairman of the Board, Eisenhower Medical Center. Trustee Harry Rinker, who spearheaded the effort to connect George and Julia Argyros with Eisenhower's largest off-campus development prospect, says, "In honor of their dedication to Eisenhower Medical Center's mission, we are naming the health center building and the overall site for George and Julia."
George and Julia Argyros are noted philanthropists, donating time and money to causes that are close to their hearts, including health care, education, neglected children and the arts. George achieved success in real estate in the 1960s and is one of Orange County's most prominent businessmen. Says George Argyros, "The pleasure isn't so much in dwelling on past successes, but in planning new ones…If we can make a positive contribution in whatever way, that's how we derive satisfaction."
For George Argyros, success was earned through hard work. "We were rich in love and support," he says of his family. Growing up of modest means in Detroit, Michigan and later Pasadena, California, this grandson of Greek immigrants began taking on responsibility early in life. He earned his first few dollars as many children do—by cutting lawns and delivering newspapers. By age 14, George was ready for more responsibility. He took on a second job at a grocery store in Pasadena for just 25 cents an hour. As a senior in high school, he worked nearly full time to support himself and help his family, and he went on to work more than 50 hours a week as grocery department manager to help pay his way through Chapman College. "It was difficult, but it gave me a sense of self-worth,"Argyros reflects. "I think if we make life too easy, we don't appreciate it. I believe we appreciate things more when we're on the edge of our seats."
With a degree in business and economics, George became licensed in securities, insurance and real estate. Julia was preparing to work as a speech therapist for children and worked toward her credential in elementary education. Wanting to build a life together, George and Julia made the necessary sacrifices in order for George to get his footing in the business world. He invested in real estate and started selling and leasing land to oil companies for service stations and went on to purchase land for restaurants and retail development.
In 1962, George and Julia were married and began their family. In 1963, Argyros opened his own brokerage office, and by 1968, he had established his own company, later to be known as Arnel Development Company. To date, the company has been involved in the development, construction and management of more than 5,500 apartment units, in addition to several million square feet of commercial, office, and industrial properties. Argyros later became a general partner and principal financial partner in Westar Capital, a private investment company that provides capital for the acquisition of established growth companies.
George's and Julia's diverse interests have made their life together far from ordinary. From 1981 to 1987, George was co-owner of west coast based airline, AirCal, and from 1981 to 1989, he owned the Seattle Mariners baseball club. In the 1990s, Julia, one of the top female fly-fishing guides in the country, established a fly-fishing school for women only in Sun Valley, Idaho, which she still runs each summer.
Parents of three grown children and grandparents of six, George and Julia Argyros have been committed to giving to others as they achieve their own personal successes. Julia is a passionate philanthropist who has been recognized with several awards for her dedication to volunteerism and service from such organizations as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America®, Boy Scouts of America, and Philharmonic Society of Orange County. She is the president of the Argyros Foundation and has served as a board member and trustee for a variety of organizations, including the Orange County Performing Arts Center, South Coast Repertory, The Luminaires of the Doheny Eye Institute and Orangewood Children's Foundation. Julia's interests and distinguished record of giving served as an excellent background for an important role she would have as George accepted new challenges in his career. In November 2001, George Argyros was sworn in as the United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and the Principality of Andorra. "We need to inspire people to reach high and dare to dreambig dreams."
In addition to serving his country, George Argyros has also given his time by serving on numerous boards. From 1976 to 2001, Argyros served as chairman of the board of trustees of Chapman University, where he continues to serve as a board member. He is a trustee of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. and a board member of the United States Chamber of Commerce, as well as a member of the Library of Congress OpenWorld Leadership Board. Argyros is former chairman of the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace Foundation, founding chairman for the Nixon Center in Washington, D.C., and former chairman and board member of the Orange County Council Boy Scouts of America. He is a member of the Board of Directors for First American Corporation (NYSE); DST Systems, Inc. (NYSE); Doskocil Manufacturing Company; and Igloo Products Corp. Prior to his ambassadorship, Argyros was a member of the Board of Directors for Rockwell International Corporation (NYSE) and The Newhall Land and Farming Company (NYSE).
An organization important to both George and Julia is the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. In 1993, George Argyros was inducted as a lifetime member of the organization, which has honored such prominent members as President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Dr. Maya Angelou, Bob Hope, Gene Autry, OprahWinfrey, and Eisenhower Medical Center Trustees Jack Grundhofer, Richard Knowlton and Harry Rinker. Argyros served as the Association's president and chief executive officer from 1995 to1998 and as chairman from 1998 to 2000, and is currently serving as treasurer and chairman emeritus. Through the Horatio Alger Association, George and Julia Argyros established the first national scholarship program in the country exclusively for veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
"I have been greatly inspired by the Horatio Alger organization and its members," says George Argyros. "It has been an honor and privilege for Julia and me to participate in helping our young scholars pursue their dreams and goals. The American Dream is all about risk, reward, hard work, commitment, and dedication —the ideals the great author, Horatio Alger, repeatedly wrote about. Fight courageously for the principles you believe in. Use every resource at your command to improve and advance yourself. Create better lives for your families and work hard for the sake of your communities and your faith.We need to inspire people to reach high and dare to dream big dreams."


text:
The Effects of Third-hand Smoke
Many of us are familiar with first-hand smoke and second-hand smoke, but what about third-hand smoke?
Well, you better get familiar with it because according to a new study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Riverside, the effects of third-hand smoke may be just as deadly as first-hand smoke.
Let's break it down: First-hand smoke refers to the smoke inhaled by a smoker. Second-hand smoke refers to exhaled smoke and other substances emanating from a burning cigarette that can get inhaled by others. Third-hand smoke is the second-hand smoke that gets left on the surfaces of objects. Over time, these left over chemicals can age and becomes progressively more toxic.
"We studied, on mice, the effects of third-hand smoke on several organ systems under conditions that simulated third-hand smoke exposure of humans," said Manuela Martins-Green, a professor of cell biology who led the study. "We found significant damage occurs in the liver and lung. Wounds in these mice took longer to heal. Further, these mice displayed hyperactivity."
The results of the study provide a basis for studies on the toxic effects of third-hand smoke in humans and serve to inform potential regulatory policies aimed at preventing involuntary exposure to third-hand smoke.
Third-hand smoke is a potential health threat to children, spouses of smokers and workers in environments where smoking is, or has been, allowed. Contamination of the homes of smokers by third-hand smoke is high, both on surfaces and in dust, including children's bedrooms. Re-emission of nicotine from contaminated indoor surfaces in these households can lead to nicotine exposure levels similar to that of smoking.
The team led by Martins-Green found that the mice exposed to third-hand smoke in the lab showed alterations in multiple organ systems and excreted levels of a tobacco-specific carcinogen similar to those found in children exposed to second-hand smoke (and consequently to third-hand smoke):
- In the liver, third-hand smoke was found to increase lipid levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a precursor to cirrhosis and cancer and a potential contributor to cardiovascular disease.
- In the lungs, third-hand smoke was found to simulate excess collagen production and high levels of inflammatory cytokines (small proteins involved in cell signaling), suggesting propensity for fibrosis with implications for inflammation-induced diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
- In wounded skin, healing in mice exposed to third-hand smoke showed many characteristics of the kind of poor healing observed in human smokers who have gone through surgery.
- Finally, in behavioral tests the mice exposed to third-hand smoke showed hyperactivity.
Study results appear in PLOS ONE.
Read more at UCR Today.
Cigarette image via Shutterstock.


text:
On Sunday, July 1, 2012, Converse launched a limited edition Pro Leather World Basketball Festival (WBF) footwear collection to support World Basketball Festival 2012 held this July 13-16.
The World Basketball Festival 2012 is a four-day celebration of the performance and culture of the game of basketball held by Nike in collaboration with basketball's leading brands within the Nike portfolio – Converse, Jordan Brand and Nike Basketball. This year, World Basketball Festival 2012 will expand to bring energy to the basketball communities in London, Paris, Washington, D.C. and Barcelona.
The Converse Pro Leather WBF collection offers six footwear styles available in grey, red and pink suede and black premium perforated leather with pops of blue, orange and pink. Each shoe features a city abbreviation next to the classic Converse Star Chevron logo, highlighting the cities around the world that will participate in this year's World Basketball Festival 2012 events.
In celebration of the Pro Leather launch, Converse will host a series of Converse Block Party events this summer in Washington D.C., New York City, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, to commemorate the urban spirit of the Pro Leather and celebrate local street culture, basketball, music and art.
The Pro Leather WBF styles are available for a suggested retail price of $75 at Kicks USA in Philadelphia, Shiekh Shoes in Los Angeles, Shoe City in Washington D.C. and on www.converse.com.


text:
On the other hand, the smell of a million cars burning cooking oil in one city might just be overwhelming.
One supermarket in Llanelli confirmed it sold more cooking oil than any other branch in the country.
made me wonder why they didn't claim to be just using their Sospan Fach alot that week
For non Welsh viewers, Sospan Fach (english translation The Little Saucepan [lyrics [acronet.net]]) is the Llanelli Rugby Club anthem. Llanelli also happens to be my ancestral seat, which probably explains alot


text:
With the next season of Jersey Shore just around the corner you can't help but wonder what else the guidos and guidettes can do to get more attention. They have already been punched in the face, arrested and hooked up on national television and now are touring country, making bar appearances for thousands a night. What else is there?
How about write a book? Yes, you read that correctly.
Ronnie and J-Woww have signed a book deal with St. Martin Press, according to EW.
The book title, which is slated to be Never Fall in Love at the Jersey Shore, is supposed to be a how-to book for future GTL (Gym, Tanning, Laundry) compliers. We're sure there will be color pictures and handy tips on how to get your orange hued tan just right.
There is no word yet as to when the book will come out or what kind of "wisdom" these two will dish out.
The title of the book should be changed to something more appropriate too. Something along the lines of How to Convince Yourself That Being Orange All Summer Is Cool or GTL: Generation Tan Lines.
It has yet to be seen if they can put together two sentences without slurring their words let alone write a whole book. Whatever the case, you can bet your Jager bombs the fans and haters of America's guilty pleasure will be waiting in anticipation for the book to come out.


text:
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman "didn't like" it.
Phoenix Coyotes goalie coach Sean Burke called it "bullying."
A week after Philadelphia Flyers netminder Ray Emery inexplicably skated the length of the ice to lay a beating on Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby, NHL disciplinarian Brendan Shanahan waded into the debate surrounding goalie fights.
"I hate what Ray Emery did," Shanahan told Sportsnet's Hockey Central on Tuesday. "I wouldn't like it if I were a teammate of his. I wouldn't like it if I were an opponent of his. And I think, more important, if the rest of the caretakers of our game, the general managers, don't like it, it's important for us to say when a rule is not properly addressed in the rulebook. And I don't think it is."
Toward the end of Washington's 7-0 rout in Philly last Friday, a third-period line brawl preceded Emery's aggression.
Holtby, an unwilling participant, was taken to the ice by the 31-year-old Emery, who continued to pound away despite the Caps netminder failing to put up much of a defence.
Emery received 29 penalty minutes stemming from the fight but no further discipline was handed down by the league.
"I hated what I saw," Shanahan reiterated. "The general managers need to discuss it. If they have a proposal they will pass it to the competition committee. If they approve it, it will go back to our GMs and then to our board of governors.
"I have to follow the rule book."


text:
Robin Berrington '62
I was a sophomore in 1959 when Wesleyan called for volunteer Japanese language students for Professor David Abosch who was offering a first experimental Japanese language course then. Four of us signed up and thus began my adventure with Japan.
In succeeding years he offered Japanese history and other courses. We became quite close and eventually he told me of a year-long Wesleyan scholarship to Japan in 1961. I signed up for that too and after a few months three of us found ourselves on a Pan Am jet to Tokyo to live with a Japanese family and to study at the Kokusai Gakuyukai Japanese language school. It was my first time overseas and was for me a path breaking experience. I climbed volcanoes, explored coal mines, frequented the bars of Shinjuku, jostled daily with the rush hour crowds of Tokyo, observed labor union demos, went to the public bath every night, and lived the life of a Japanese student. I even learned a little Japanese!
A year later when I returned to Wesleyan I was told that the other part of the deal--working as a proctor for expanded Japanese language courses to pay back the scholarship--had been canceled. I was disappointed, but instead I worked on my honors thesis and left Wesleyan in January. The important point, though, is that I had found a career ambition, Japan, and knew that I wanted to concentrate on that.
After two years in the Peace Corps and an MA in Japanese studies from Harvard, I joined the U.S. foreign service and embarked on my long and momentous foreign service career--18 years in Japan, with time also in Ireland, the United Kingdom and Thailand. None of this would have been possible without the assistance of Professor Abosch and the financial support from Wesleyan. This is why I am grateful to the university and will continue to thank them for putting me on that career path.


text:
When I mentioned a few days ago on our Facebook page that the best way to store fresh bread was in a cloth bag, I had no idea that so many of my readers would ask the logical question: "why?" When I started to type the short answer, I realized something. There is no short answer.
Instead, there are several reasons why I believe that fabric provides the most hospitable environment for freshly baked bread. Those reasons are altogether simple and complex. The reason for my initial statement was the simplest of all: my friend Lisa from Fresh Eggs Daily had decided to treat me to one of her beautiful handmade linen bread bags.
A few weeks ago, we had been discussing the impending winter. While neither of us was happy to accept that we would soon need snow boots to travel out to our coops and barns, we were both looking forward to a few cold weather pastimes. One of those was baking fresh homemade bread.
I enjoy making bread, especially during the winter months. During the long, cold winter here in New England I don't need much encouragement to turn the oven on and commit to baking something for an hour or more. Bread provides me with the perfect excuse to do just that. Add in that it also provides fresh bread for my family to enjoy and you can see why I look forward to my cold weather bread baking.
I have been baking bread for my family for over a decade. During that time, I've learned a few tricks, had a few failures, and developed several family favorite recipes. I've also learned a thing or two about how to store fresh bread in order to preserve its texture and extend its shelf life.
There are several ways to store fresh bread. There are also several decisions to make before doing so. The first decision involves the use of refrigeration. While it seems logical that fresh food will remain fresh longer if kept in the refrigerator, bread should always be kept at room temperature.
Obviously, the spoiling process occurs much more quickly in a loaf of fresh bread. Whether it is of the homemade variety or purchased from a local bakery, these loaves typically do not contain preservatives. Without preservatives to slow down the process, it doesn't take long for the fresh bread to spoil.
In spite of this, bread should not be stored in the refrigerator. The cold environment in the refrigerator will dry out the bread and ruin its texture inside and out. In fact, a process called retrogradation takes place when bread is stored in the refrigerator. Retrogradation is the term used to describe the crystallization of the starch molecules in bread or other baked goods. This transformation is six times more likely to happen at refrigerated temperatures versus room temperature.
While the risk of molding is greater in a loaf of bread held at room temperature over a few days, refrigeration for a few hours can completely destroy the crust and crumb of a loaf. When this information is taken into consideration, it seems obvious that fresh bread that will be eaten quickly should be stored at room temperature.
If you find yourself with fresh bread that will not be consumed in a day or two, fresh bread can also be frozen. Frozen loaves should be allowed to thaw at room temperature and reheated briefly in a warm oven. The warmth of the oven will help to liquefy the starch crystals within the bread and help to return its crust and interior to its original texture.
Now that we understand where we should keep our bread for both short term and long term storage, it's time to decide what to store the fresh bread in. Our best options include bags made from plastic, paper, or cloth. Each material serves a different purpose and results in a different outcome for the loaf of bread inside.
First, let's start with plastic. I can't help but think of sandwich bread when picturing a loaf stored inside a plastic bag. There's a perfectly good reason that sandwich bread is so closely associated with its plastic bag storage. Soft sandwich bread and its plastic bag are a perfect match. The plastic bag serves two purposes with regard to the spongy textured sandwich bread.
Because the plastic does not breathe or allow for the passage of air in or out of the bag, the loaf inside tends to resist drying out. This helps to maintain the loaf's soft texture. During the natural process of trace amounts of moisture dissipating from the loaf, that moisture is actually trapped inside the plastic bag. Therefore, at least some of that moisture is returned to the loaf, helping to keep it soft.
For sandwich bread, a soft crust and spongy interior are both admirable traits. For a fresh loaf of crusty Italian bread or a French baguette, it is a disaster waiting to happen. The same trapped moisture that keeps the sandwich bread moist destroys the crispy texture of the bread's crust. Ironically, as the crust softens and overly chewy
Baguette or crusty loaves are better suited to storage in paper or cloth bags. Both of these offer an environment that allows the dissipating moisture to exit. While the bread will eventually become stale, the texture of both the exterior and interior will stand a much better chance of lasting a day or two.
Between paper and cloth, cloth is the clear choice for me. In my experience, loaves stored in paper tend to dry out more quickly than those stored in a cloth. In fact, before I received a linen cloth bread bag from Lisa, I sometimes kept bread wrapped in a clean kitchen towel. I think that you'll agree that her beautiful bread bag is a bit more stylish.
In the end, great bread isn't meant to be kept long term. It's meant to be enjoyed as soon as you bring it home. The Europeans are far ahead of us on this tradition. They view day old bread as a component for soups, bread puddings, croutons, and bread crumbs. Day old bread is the very reason that Panzanella was born. What better way to utilize slightly stale bread than by allowing it to absorb the delicious flavors of tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and vinegar?
Of course, I am speaking of Europeans who live in urban cities and can walk to any of a number of bakeries that produce delicious breads that can be purchased and enjoyed daily. I don't have that luxury, so I try to keep a loaf or two in the freezer and store today's fresh bread in a cloth bag for tomorrow. If I store it well, I have the option to warm it slightly in the oven and serve bread that is still delicious. Of course, if it's heirloom tomato season, I just might make Panzanella.
Now that you know how to store fresh bread, you need a good recipe for a homemade loaf and a fabric bread bag to store it in. You can see the recipes from our Bread Baker's Series and browse the selection of bread bags from Fresh Eggs Daily.


text:
Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Filstar Activated Carbon 5.3 oz (150 grams) is a high quality carbon for removal of dissolved organic wastes, foul odors, colors, and toxins your aquarium water.
Filstar Super Activated Carbon will not raise your levels of phosphate or affect the pH levels. Filstar Super Activated Carbon comes in a convenient ready to use pouch and fits theFilstar XP1, XP2, XP3 and XP4 Canister filters!


text:
B5302-002: Global Econ. Env. II: Business Cycles and Financial Markets
MW - B Term, 05:00PM to 07:00PM
Location: URI 326
Previous Terms Offered: Spring, Summer
Instructor: Michael Peters
Prerequisite(s): B6005: Global Economic Environment
Macroeconomics is in the news every day. The 2008
financial crisis lead to the most severe recession since the Great Depression,
and to massive swings in global stock markets. This in turn has triggered
historic policy responses by the U.S. Federal Reserve and Treasury, and by
governments around the world. The European Crisis has led to a fundamental
rethinking of the merits of fixed exchange rates, and the role of monetary and
fiscal stabilization policies within a currency union. These types of macroeconomic
events serve as the impetus for our analysis in the Global Economic Environment
II course.
This course is a sequel to the core course Global
Economic Environment I. Building on the fundamentals introduced in that course,
we develop a conceptual framework to explain business cycle fluctuations and
their implications for financial markets. In particular, we examine
macroeconomic forecasting, determinants and implications of budget deficits,
the conduct and implementation of monetary policy, and the determinants of
inflation in the U.S. and other market economies around the world. Special
attention is given to the interactions between macroeconomic forces and
financial markets. Since an important goal of this course is for students to
become informed and sophisticated consumers of economic news, the issues
discussed in this course draw heavily from current events and real-world


text:
28.1615 Credit unions.Cite as [A.S.C.A. § 28.1615]
When no transaction has occurred in a credit union member's share or deposit account for 12 months and his whereabouts are unknown, as verified by the return of a certified letter addressed to him at his last known address, all sums due to the member shall be credited to a special reserve account. If the sums are not reclaimed within a five year period, they shall escheat to the Territory and be forwarded to the Treasurer in accordance with procedures in this chapter.History: 1988, PL 20-64.


text:
OCEAN CITY – A little more than seven years after convicted killers Benjamin and Erika Sifrit brutally murdered and dismembered a Virginia couple vacationing in the resort on Memorial Day weekend in 2002, a new book detailing perhaps the most heinous crime in Ocean City history was released this week.
On Saturday of Memorial Day weekend in 2002, the Sifrits lured their eventual victims, Joshua Ford and Martha Crutchley, back to their resort condominium after spending the evening with them in a nightclub before brutally murdering them in a bathroom and dismembering their bodies, parts of which were found in a Delaware landfill nine days later. The Sifrits were caught during a botched attempt at a burglary nearly a week later and the trail of evidence led investigators to the scene of the murders.
In April 2003, Benjamin Sifrit was convicted of second-degree murder, first-degree assault and accessory after the fact for his part in the killing of Crutchley and was sentenced to 38 years in jail. Erika Sifrit was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Ford and second-degree murder in the death of Crutchley in a separate trial that same year and was sentenced to life in prison plus 20 years. Each has filed numerous appeals at different levels and for different reasons, none of which has come to fruition.
Seven years later, well-known crime expert, lecturer, investigative journalist and best-selling author M. William Phelps this week released his latest work, "Cruel Death," which meticulously documents the days leading up to the horrific murders in Ocean City and the days that followed. The non-fiction work provides vivid details not before made public as well as an insight into the psychology of the crimes following years of research by the author.
"Cruel Death" was released on Tuesday and has already made its way up the charts. On the day the book was officially released, The Dispatch interviewed Phelps about the book, how he became interested in the story and what he found out along the way.
Q. How did you come across the story?
A. A friend of mine at Jupiter Productions, Donna Dudek, a producer on the Snap series on Oxygen, brought it to my attention. They were doing some interviews for the story. She alerts me to stories she thinks I'll be interested in some times and while they were filming, she told me about it. I started to look into it and started to make some calls. First of all, I need to find out who's going to talk to me, you know. Without enough people, I usually just pass on the story.
I generally don't get mixed up in stories as gruesome as this. It's not usually my thing. My thing is usually female serial killers, or female murderers. It's kind of bizarre to put an index, a 1-10 on violence, but I tend to be at the lower end of the scale. It fascinated me because you have two people from such strong backgrounds. How do you go from the All-American basketball player and business owner and daughter of a wealthy construction guy, and an honor man and Navy SEAL? How do you go from there to dismembering two people? And later, what I found out they do to these people after death? How do you go from one to the other? There has to be something in between, so that started to pique my interest.
Q. I read somewhere you tend to stay away from the more gruesome stories. What drove you to write about this case?
A. My goal is to try to- I'm not interested in the trial. The trial is obviously part of the story, but if you watch a Lifetime movie about a crime, the trial is always the five minutes at the end. I try not to focus on the trial. I try to focus on what happened leading up to that point.
I like to write about fascinating police detectives and investigators who I think are above and beyond. In this case, you had two detectives who went above and beyond and one in particular who really ruined his entire career over it, I mean, who was just devastated by it, and that's Scott Bernal.
He had never spoken to anybody and when I approached him, when I approached people around him, I got the same thing. He's not going to talk to you. Then one day, I got a call from him, saying, 'Hey, come down to Ocean City and I'll be glad to talk to you. We ended up talking for about eight hours and it changed my entire career as a writer. The stuff that's not in the book is stuff that's not ever going to be known. This is a horror show that no one ever – I do outline some of it in the book – but it's just beyond belief. It really is.
Q. What new details might readers already familiar with the story find in the book?
A. The dismemberment is the beginning of the horror. That alone is enough to send chills down anybody's spine. Recently, it's been reported that there was cannibalism involved. That's true too, but still that's only the tip of the iceberg. There's so much more to it than that.
The main theme, so to speak, in the book is disputing Erika Sifrit's argument that she was the lonely, abused woman, that she was the puppet and he was the puppeteer. I think she's got that backwards. The book argues that she was the driving force basically behind this stuff.
The other thing is, it was premeditated. There's a simple piece of evidence to show it was premeditated. There's no blood found anywhere else in the condominium besides the bathroom. How can that be? How can you do something like that on the spur of the moment and not track any blood anywhere else? You can't. It's impossible. At one time, there had to be a half an inch of blood in that bathroom covering the entire floor.
If you didn't plan on dismembering these people, you'd be coming in and out of the bathroom saying 'oh my God. What are we going to do?' You would have tracked blood everywhere, but there wasn't any, which meant what? Which meant they drove to Ocean City with a plan.
Q. Maybe they didn't plan on those victims, but they had a plan in place when they got here?
A. They were the first people they came in contact with. So, boom, there it was. There was a certain randomness to it, and they were going to do it again, except BJ [Benjamin Sifrit] decided there wasn't enough time to clean up that bathroom again. There's another couple coming into this condo on Saturday and here it is Wednesday. How are we going to do this again?
Q. One thing that is still talked about around here is the fact they hung around for a week after the murders and kind of celebrated the whole thing. Is that consistent with what you found?
A. They did celebrate, not kind of, they did. They went out and played golf, they went out and ate crabs, they drank beer, they smoked grass, they drank themselves into oblivion and they were laughing and they were joking and having a grand old time. If that's not celebrating, I don't know what is. Erika makes the argument that he made her do all these things, but I have pictures in my hard drive of her smiling while playing miniature golf and laughing.
The one who looks like if there is any sort of shadow of darkness over one of them, it's him. He has this kind of hunched over look to him in most of the photos. But her, she stands erect, her head is straight, she's smiling and laughing. She gets a tattoo right where she made that first cut on Geney Crutchley to remember where she put it. For her to make this argument is ludicrous. She can keep appealing all she wants, she's done.
You should read the letters she writes in prison that I had access to and that I wrote about in the back of the book. If you read those letters, you'll understand the type of person she really and truly is. She talks about a dream she had of Joshua and they were in love and riding off into the sunset with his arms around her. BJ wasn't around, and Martha wasn't around. It was just her and Joshua together. It's all very bizarre.
Q. How did the research go? Was there ever a time when you tried to gain access to the Sifrits?
A. Of course, I wrote to both of them. I wrote to Benjamin. He gave me a two-word response – "not interested" – and that was it. She dabbled in the idea of talking to me and then not talking to me. We worked it through her father, Mitch. I spoke to Mitch. His quotes are in the book. There was a time when she was going to, then she wasn't going to, she was never going to talk to me.
Believe me, I didn't need her to talk to me. She had said plenty. That woman had said plenty after she was arrested. Believe me. I had a 300-page interview she gave where she said plenty.
Q. Everybody has their own theory, and you obviously have yours. One theory is that she was the wilting flower in this and he was the aggressor, but you seem to think the opposite is true?
A. According to the evidence, and according to her own words, in the letters that she writes from prison, and there's hundreds and hundreds of these letters, she never once mentioned any of this stuff about being the wilting flower. She only begins to argue this when she realizes BJ turned on her. Before that, she believes they're together, they're together, they're together, but when realizes he turned on her, that's it, she tries to turn it around on him.
Believe me, and I need to make this clear, I'm not saying he was an innocent party. This guy is a freakin' lunatic. He is as criminally insane as they come and any killer that I've ever studied. Where that wiring in him went wrong I don't know.
But her, she's full of rage, full of vengeance and full of hate. She's full of jealousy and you'll see that in the book. There's a scene in the book that's very compelling. Benjamin is going out, he's going to the doctor right down the street and she's all in a rage. She calls him like 15 or 20 times to see who he's going to be with. Is that a woman who is being controlled by him? No, that's a woman who is insecure, a woman who is trying to control him.
Q. What's the turnaround time on a book like this? How do you get from concept to release?
A. I write two books at a time. I work on collecting research and interviewing people for one, while I'm writing another one and I already have that material and I'm already involved. So my mornings are consumed with writing and my afternoons are consumed with research. It was a year turnaround on this for me and another 6-8 months for the publication. I've been working on this for a while. In fact, I just added some updates right before it went to press.
Q. There's always another story. How do you go from something like this to the next thing? Does the next thing seem mundane after a story like this?
A. It's all different. My editor is reading a book I've just completed and she thinks it the best thing I've ever written. It's an incredible crime story. There's no dismemberment in it or anything like that. It's more of a family saga of ex-wife and ex-husband with kids and a couple of murders take place in there.
These stories here, this "Cruel Death" story, just stays with you. You see those pictures of the arm- all they found was an arm, a leg and a torso- actually two arms. One of the arms is almost surgically removed, but the second is ripped off like you'd rip a chicken bone off. So that tells you what? The knife got dull during the process?
You see those types of things, and you know what happened inside that bathroom and it just stays with you. There's no way to explain it. I had to put this book aside a few times. It was just too much. I remember reading the galleys for it and I just couldn't do it. My wife asked me what's wrong and I said I just can't read this anymore. It's too devastating. It's a difficult thing. I just write it, read it and delete it and move on with my life and my job, which is telling these stories.
I get these crazy emails from people who just got out of prison saying 'how dare you write about this woman, she's such a nice, kind, caring person?' Well you know what? She very well may be all those things in prison, but she's also a freakin' double murderer who dismembered two people. You have to keep that in mind too.
I thought I was desensitized to it. I had written nine books up to this one, a few history books, but mostly about murder, and I thought I was, but I ran into certain sections of this story and there just is no answer. It will be my best-selling book. In fact, it is already. Barnes and Noble reported just yesterday [Monday] it's their number-one selling crime book in the country right now and 22nd overall in the non-fiction category. It's the number one true crime title for Barnes and Noble as week speak. Of course, the more gruesome they are, the better they sell. That's just how the genre is.
Q. Is this just story-telling, or is there a message in this book?
A. There's something I say in the beginning of the book. You're on vacation, or you're down at the beach. You're mixing it up with another couple you just met and the next thing you know, you're out to dinner with them and it's a nice couple. We've all done that. Well, this proves that you shouldn't do that. Here these people met a Navy SEAL and an All American basketball player from a nice family, and here's what happened.
There's a lot of rumors going around about why he got kicked out of the Navy. I got access to his complete military record and all of those stories about what he actually did to get kicked out of the military and it was all very telling. I came to find out who got him kicked out. It was her. There's all sort of stuff in there. I got a letter a few weeks ago that they were responsible for a murder in Altoona. There's a guy in prison in Pennsylvania for a murder I know that they did. I know they did it.
Murderers like Erika and BJ leave a signature, and I'm not talking about dismemberment here. There's other things. That signature can't be duplicated by anybody else. If you study serial murderers, you get into the psychology of it that can't be duplicated by anyone else. I'm just glad she where she's at and he's where he's at, for now anyway.


text:
This piece by Catherine V. Moore appeared on December 3, 2011 in the Beckley [WV] Register-Herald. It is reprinted here with permission.
Seventy years ago, U.S. Army nurse Ruby Bradley had just enjoyed a pleasant Thanksgiving in the Philippines. She looked forward to returning home to West Virginia soon and spent her days working some, but also luxuriating in her peaceful, comfortable surroundings. Bradley had no idea of the chaos that was about to enter her life. One day after attacking Pearl Harbor, Japan began its invasion of the Philippines.
Bradley subsequently spent three years as a prisoner of war there, nursing her fellow prisoners. She assisted in hundreds of operations and over a dozen child deliveries. She went on to serve as a nurse in the Korean War and was eventually promoted to Chief Nurse of Europe.
By the time she retired in 1963 as a colonel, Bradley, a Roane County, WV native, had earned more honors than any woman in the U.S. Army's history.
To commemorate Ruby Bradley's experiences, and those of the soldiers held captive by Japanese forces during WWII, Rebecca Park of Charleston is embarking on a project she calls "70 Years Ago Today."
This past weekend, Park brought Bradley's story back to life, portraying her before an audience at Tamarack as part of the West Virginia Humanities Council's "History Alive!" program.
"I'm going through these next six months thinking — what was happening to her?" says Park. In January, she plans to go on a rationed diet, just as besieged U.S. soldiers in Bataan were forced to do at the same time 70 years ago.
"It helps me remember," she says. "It helps me live in their present tense." Park says that feeling a strong sense of connection to Bradley, as she does with the other characters she portrays, hasn't always been easy.
"I was raised in Christian Science, and she was a medical professional. I'm a pacifist; she was in the Army. I'm a liberal democrat; she was a 1950s Republican," she says.
But Park recently found some historical sources that made getting into character less of a struggle. One, a book called Guerilla Life, published in 1945, is the story of an American woman living in hiding in the Philippines during WWII.
"These people began to breathe for me. I began to feel what temperature the air was, what they ate, the clothes they wore, and what they were afraid of."
An article from a 1945 edition of National Geographic put Bradley's experiences even further into context. Park discovered that when Bradley returned home in that year, the men who had gone on the Bataan Death March in 1942 were still missing. This detail triggered a strong response in Park.
"It was this horrendous period where we didn't know where our husbands and uncles and sons were. It was like looking through this window. It put me in what was her present. It wasn't history anymore. It was day to day."
Park's interest in Bradley grew out of everyday life in her native Roane County. Everyone in the county had apparently heard of Bradley, but Park eventually realized that they didn't know much else about her.
"That motivated me to uncover the mystery of who this person was," she says.
She spent time researching Bradley's life at archives. She read Bradley's personal papers and interviewed her before her death in 2002. And she talked with soldiers who lived through the Pacific Theater of WWII.
All that research has helped her step into Bradley's character. But certain physical cues, like flattening her naturally curly hair or donning a 1940s-era slip, are also important preparation, she says.
She has created a unique version of her performance for middle schoolers as well, which more deeply situates Bradley in time and place and appeals to the kids' natural curiosity and sense of drama.
"My concern is that the story is preserved and that we can make good sense of it," she says, drawing parallels between the war in the Philippines and the Iraq War.
"Part of my passion is that the more you know the story of what happened in the Philippines, the more you don't want it to ever happen again."


text:
Express yourself with the global language of color with BEHR MARQUEE #MQ4-33 Aloe Blossom Eggshell Enamel Interior Paint. Inspired by the spice markets and silk bazaars of Asia, India and Africa, the bright, bold colors of the ODYSSEY lifestyle collection will let you travel to exotic locales without ever leaving home. Use these colors to create an inspired, energetic feel in your environment or as a dramatic focal point for accent walls. BEHR MARQUEE Stain-Blocking Matte Interior Paint and Primer is our most advanced interior paint - delivering high-performance one-coat coverage with every color in the Exclusive MARQUEE Interior One-Coat Color Collection. One-coat coverage means achieving the look you want in less time. With superior stain resistance, plus an easy-clean, durable finish, your new look will stay looking fresh and beautiful year after year - backed by a lifetime guarantee.
California residents: see Proposition 65 information
- Suitable for family rooms, living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, kids' rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and hallways
- Exceptional hide, lasting beauty and durability
- Eggshell sheen offers a soft, velvety appearance
- Exceptional hide, 1 can covers up to 400 sq. ft. depending on color selected and surface porosity
- Superior stain resistance
- Scrubbable, easy-clean finish
- Easy soap and water clean-up
- Antimicrobial-mildew resistant finish
- Low VOC, 100% acrylic base provides adhesion to new and previously painted surfaces
- MQ4-33 Aloe Blossom Eggshell is part of the Exclusive MARQUEE ODYSSEY Interior One-Coat Color Collection
- Actual paint colors may vary from on-screen and printer representations
- GREENGUARD Certified products are certified to GREENGUARD standards for low chemical emissions into indoor air during product usage. For more information, visit ul.com/gg.
- Online Price includes a Paint Care fee in the following states: CA, CO, CT, DC, ME, MN, OR, RI and VT


text:
© 2009 – Routledge
448 pages | 12 B/W Illus.
From the United States to the Middle East, Asia and Africa, religion has become an increasingly important factor in political activity and organisation. This Handbook provides a definitive global survey of the interaction of religion and politics.
Featuring contributions from an international team of experts, it examines the political aspects of all the world's major religions, including such crucial contemporary issues as religious fundamentalism, terrorism, the war on terror, the 'clash of civilizations' and science and religion.
Four main themes addressed include:
References at the end of each chapter guide the reader towards the most up-to-date information on various topics. In addition, large amounts of information make this book an indispensable source of information for students, academics and the wider public interested in the dynamic relationship between politics and religion.
1. Introduction Jeffrey Haynes Part 1: 'The World Religions and Politics' 2. Buddhism and Politics Peter Friedlander 3. Christianity: Protestantism Paul Freston 4. The Catholic Church and Catholicism in global politics Allen Hertzke 5. Confucianism, from above and below Michael Barr 6. Hinduism James Chiriyankandath 7. Sunni Islam and politics Andrea Teti and Andrea Mura 8. Shiism and politics Mohammad Nafissi 9. Judaism and the state Shmuel Sandler Part 2: 'Religion and Governance' 10. Secularisation and Politics Steve Bruce 11. Religious fundamentalisms Jeffrey Haynes 12. Religion and the State John Madeley 13. Does God Matter, and If So whose God? Religion and Democratization John Anderson 14. Religion and political parties Clyde Wilcox and Payam Mohseni 15. Religion and civil society David Herbert 16. Religious commitment and socio-political orientations: Different patterns of compartmentalisation among Muslims and Christians? Thorleif Pettersson Part 3: 'Religion and International Relations' 17. Integrating Religion into International Relations Theory Jonathan Fox 18. Religion and Foreign Policy Jeffrey Haynes 19. Transnational Religious Actors and International Relations Giorgio Shani 20. Religion and globalisation David Wessels Part 4: 'Religion, Security and Development' 21. On the Nature of Religious Terrorism Rohan Gunaratna and Adam Dolnik 22. Conflict prevention and peacebuilding Atsuhiro Katano 23. Religion and Women: Canadian Women's Religious Volunteering: Compassion, Connections, and Comparisons Brenda O'Neill 24. Faith-based development aid Gerard Clarke 25. Religion, climate change and human suffering Noah Tully


text:
JUSTICE LEAGUE: DOOM Cast & Crew Talk DC Animation in LA
The second Justice League: Doom Q&A session of the week (read our report from Monday in New York City) at the Paley Center for Media in Los Angeles on Thursday featured vocal and behind-the-scenes talent, plus talk of the feature's screenwriter, the late Dwayne McDuffie.
McDuffie, who passed away a year ago this month, was praised by prolific voice director Andrea Romano for his skill at translating interior monologues and narration in comic books into effective on-screen dialogue.
"Dwayne had that remarkable ability of taking source material and making it actable," Romano said during the post-screening panel discussion.
Later, Romano further discussed adapting graphic novels to animation, saying "why bother" producing a literal scene-for-scene recreation, as the Warner team would rather make a story their own.
To that effect, a notable audience member — Nightwing writer Kyle Higgins — asked Romano what goes into the thought process of selecting different voice actors for the same role in different features; i.e., what makes long-time Superman Tim Daly right for Justice League: Doom, but James Denton the choice for All-Star Superman.
Romano answered that it depends on the project, and often Warner Animation will want a distinct look for a character and a different voice to go along with it, and stated that she would have cast Daly in the Justice League animated series had the actor not relocated to Rhode Island at the time.
Daly, who first voiced Superman in the character's solo animated series that ran from 1996 to 2000, said that when he originally played the role, he "didn't really realize how important Superman was to humanity," calling the superhero icon "bigger than comics."
"Superman is such a straight arrow," Daly told panel moderator Geoff Boucher of the Los Angeles Times' "Hero Complex" blog. It's an aspect of the character Daly originally struggled with, but now embraces. "He is just good, and that's OK."
Phil Morris spoke of the differences between the Vandal Savage he plays in Justice League: Doom and the one he portrayed in the Justice League animated series, saying that the one in the new feature is a less nuanced, more focused take on the ageless villain.
"I don't find it any easier or harder than playing the hero," said Morris, who played the live-action Martian Manhunter in Smallville, of voicing the villain of the piece. "It's not easy to play the straight arrow," he said, echoing Daly's earlier words.
Justice League: Doom, out on DVD and Blu-ray on Feb. 28 and based on the Mark Waid-written JLA story "Tower of Babel," also features the return of Susan Eisenberg as Wonder Woman. Eisenberg told the Paley crowd that voice acting is more active of a job that one might suspect.
"You're actually moving, you're standing up, and you're physically acting it out," Eisenberg said.
Olivia d'Abo — you might know her as Kevin's sister on The Wonder Years — is also back in a familiar role in Justice League: Doom, playing Star Sapphire. d'Abo said she didn't realize that Carol Ferris (whom she voiced in 2009's Green Lantern: First Flight) was a Star Sapphire until reading the Doom script.
"It's always nice when you discover something in a character," d'Abo said.
The biggest reaction of the audience-fueled portion of the Q&A came when a fan asked the panel how it felt to make a better Green Lantern movie than the live-action one released last summer.
"They give us a really low bar to jump over," said Justice League: Doom director Lauren Montgomery.
The panel ended with Romano teasing the upcoming DC Animated adaptation of the seminal Batman story The Dark Knight Returns, and while she's not yet able to reveal who's voicing the aged version of the Caped Crusader in the production, her excitement was clear.


text:
Country music has its share of sing-along songs, of uptempo feel-good songs, of heartfelt ballads, and of soulful songs that rhythmically and emotionally get under your skin. Dierks Bentley's new single "I Hold On" is all of those wrapped into one–an autobiographical track that's easily among the most powerful radio singles you will hear all year.
Today, Bentley premieres the video for "I Hold On" exclusively across Radio.com, CBS Radio station sites and CBS Interactive (watch it above).
The video was directed by Wes Edwards, whose extensive credits include videos for Jason Aldean, Gary Allan, Thompson Square, and — as well as videos for Bentley's songs "5-1-5-0" and "Tip It On Back."
The "I Hold On" video makes several references to Bentley's personal life, including his rise from barroom singer to country hitmaker, his marriage to Cassidy Black, his beloved old truck, and his relationship with his father, who passed away last year.
"It was really important to me that this video capture the story of this song…my story," Bentley said in a press statement. "But it also needed to take on the more universal themes that the choruses cover. The lyrics were written from such a real and emotional place, and I put a lot of pressure on making sure this video held up to what Brett James and I wrote that day. I hope when people listen to it, they raise their beers up, but this time for the bigger idea of what we all stand for as country music fans…faith, love and freedom."
Related: Dierks Bentley's Country Cares Concert Raises Over $476,000 For Arizona Firefighters' Families
The video was shot in Nashville and during a weekend of tour dates in Texas. Actors appear in various vignettes representing Bentley's life at various stages of his career. But the video's most powerful moments feature Bentley himself. As he hits the chorus of the song and the words "I Hold On," his eyes rising and staring straight into the camera, you can both feel and clearly see his conviction. "I Hold On" isn't just a well-crafted country song–it's a powerful statement directly from Bentley's core. And the video reflects that beautifully.
"I Hold On" is the lead single from Bentley's upcoming album Riser, which is due out in 2014. "I kinda threw the playbook away again," Bentley said of the album in an interview with KMLE 107.9 earlier this summer. "I'm working with a different producer, different engineer. Just different songs, man, and it feels really fresh."


text:
It's a rare hero indeed who makes his mark through inaction rather than action. This, "42" tells us, was baseball and accidental civil rights legend Jackie Robinson's most heroic quality.
It's a rare hero indeed who makes his mark through inaction rather than action.
This, "42" tells us, was baseball and accidental civil rights legend Jackie Robinson's most heroic quality. Like Gandhi and Martin Luther King, it was his stubborn refusal to sink to the level of the race-baiters and bigots that gave strength to his cause and helped him prevail. Does "42" overly simplify Robinson's story in the pursuit of greater drama? Of course, as is to be expected. But does it deliver the goods in a compelling manner? It sure does.
After a slick but ultimately useless montage to set the scene (did you know we had racism in America in the 1940s?), the movie opens in the New York offices of one Branch Rickey, owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers. As played by Harrison Ford speaking through a mouth full of gravel, Rickey is a curmudgeon, but he also sees that baseball is a game that appeals to everyone, including blacks, so it's good business sense to get a black player on the team to bring in those crowds.
Rickey selects Robinson (Chadwick Boseman), known as a troublemaker, because he wants a player who has "the guts not to fight back." It also helps that Robinson is quite the baseball player, and the Dodgers need all the help they can get to win the pennant. Robinson takes a spot with the Dodgers' minor league affiliate in Montreal despite his reservations and distaste for the spotlight, then sets about proving his worth on the field while enduring the slights, both spoken and unspoken, from his teammates, the fans and his opponents.
In the meantime, Rickey does his best to make life at least tolerable for Robinson by shielding him from some of the hate directed his way. Once Robinson proves himself and makes it to the majors, the abuse only gets worse, and he struggles to keep his cool even as a sea of hostility rages about him. And all the while, there's still a pennant to be won.
In both form and content, this is a thoroughly old-fashioned story, in the best possible sense of the term. From the sepia-tinged cinematography to the bombastic score, writer/director Brian Helgeland and his crew have created a movie that, paradoxically, is refreshing precisely because of how rooted it is in classical storytelling. Helgeland knows he has a great story on his hands, so he simply gets out of the way, lets the actors do their thing and keeps the proceeding on an even keel, balancing Robinson's on-field exploits with his off-the-field struggles.
Speaking of those on-field exploits, the baseball scenes in "42" possess a real kinetic energy. Robinson had power and was a great defender, but it was his speed on the base paths that made him a real threat; Helgeland wisely makes Robinson's base-stealing skills the focus of many of his biggest triumphs on the field. This will make longtime baseball fans cheer, as stealing is somewhat of a lost art (those same fans will likely weep when they see dearly departed Ebbets Field temporarily resurrected).
As the movie's closing titles tell us, the number 42 has been permanently retired from all of baseball, except for the one day a year when every player on every team wears it as a tribute to Robinson. While "42" may not tell us much we didn't already know about Robinson, it tells his story with enough conviction to make it plain why and how he earned that honor.


text:
Printing gives a face to all of your marketing tools like brochures, pamphlets, signage, banners, etc. Printing Services are vital for any company because a vision not transferred properly in print, would fail to impress your target audience. So it is essential to choose the best printing services to get positive results.
Print Media Concepts
E-221, Phase Viii-b, Indl. Area, Punjab - 160059, India
The proficient team is at work round the clock to serve the customers in the best possible manner. The company has witnessed accelerated growth from the time of its inception and presently it serves customers with a strong network spread in various parts of India. The company has established a name of repute in the industry offering sophisticated Printing Services.
Active Print
F-117, Phase-7, Industrial Area, Punjab - 160055, India
Print Media Concepts offers the best printing services with the help of their professionally competent team, state-of-the-art technology, high end machinery and years of experience to provide you with the best results. We have transformed the art of picture perfect printing into a piece of art! Our services include designing, scanning, presentation graphics, digital colours, image setting, printers proof, mounting, p
Print Media Concepts
E-221, Phase 8b, Indl. Area, Mohali, 160059, India, Punjab - 160059, India
Design is the planning that lays the basis for the making of every object or system. It can be used both as a noun and as a verb and, in a broader way, it means applied arts and engineering (see design disciplines below). As a verb, "to design" refers to the process of originating and developing a plan for a product, structure, system, or component with intention
Swift Innovation
Sco 14 , First Floor Phase 1, Mohali Punjab Near Dc Office, Mohali, Punjab - 160055, India
For ACTIVE PRINT- O- GRAPHICS, Office Stationery Printing is a specialized area of activity. Sophisticated machinery is used for the clear printing and perfect binding of the office stationary. The experts of the company take into consideration the requirement of the clients and make available the facility of printing the office stationery in all colors. The Office Stationery Printing service is availed from us by pr
Active Print- O- Graphics
F - 117, Industrial Area Phase - 7, Punjab - 160055, India
Airport / Railway Station Transfer
Deals in travel desk, sightseeing tour, Airport / Railway Station Transfer
Hotel Daawat
Sctor- 10- C, Phase- 5, Punjab - 160059, India
Post your Buy Requirement
Deals in events service, management service, Printing Service
Aditya Sanchar Pvt Ltd
Plot No -2 ,it Park ,sector- 67. Mohali, Punjab., Punjab - 160062, India
Deals in lamination services, dish recharge services, online bill payment services, Mobile Recharge Services, photostat services, Spiral Binding Services, color photostat services, photography studio
Honey Graphics And Utilities
At Gate Of Gmsss3b1 Mohali, Punjab , India
Billboard Graphics Printing Services
Deals in Billboard Graphics Printing Services
Advance Marketing Solutions
Plot No G-5, Phase 7, Industrial Area, Industrial Area Phase 7, Punjab - 160055, India
Deals in One Way Vision Printing Service, Digital Banner Printing Service, Signage Board Printing, Sunpack Sheet Printing Service, Flex Hoarding Printing Service, cloth banner printing service
Mukt Advertisers
Sec-82 Inds Area,plot.no.666, Punjab - 160071, India
Digital Visiting Card Printing Services
Deals in Laser Engraving Machine, Laser Printers, laser engraving equipment, Laser Marking Machine, Laser Engraving Machine, Laser Cutting Machine, Laser Printers, Laser Marking Machine, laser engraving equipment, Laser Cutting Machine
India Manufacturer Exim Vision
Industrial Area , S.a.s Nagar Mohali, Punjab , India


text:
What dampened enthusiasm a little were his stats from Europe and the Olympics. And, as has been pointed out on this forum previously by one of his countrymen, I believe, part of that is due to him being a young guy playing on established teams. I think how he was used by his coaches had as much to do with his stats as his ability. And he seems even better suited to the NBA game than Euroleague play.
I am super pumped to see what he is like by the All-Star break. Quite frankly, I don't even care how the Raps do this year, because watching this kid grow into one of the top 2-3 centers in the league in the next three years is going to give me goose bumps.
Oh...I am also super pumped about finding a facility with open gym time that I can get access to for $2.00 a trip. Maybe, with a couple of hours of practice to go along with the twice a week gaming, I can take the 6 blanks I shot during my old-timers game last Sunday and turn them into an ugly 3 for 6.


text:
We commend this sacrifice and urge the House to follow the Senate's lead by giving up their pay raises.
Under Sen. Jon Kyl's amendment to a spending bill covering federal workers, senators would forgo the estimated 1.9 percent cost-of-living increase that would otherwise have automatically gone into effect unless the Senate voted to reject it.
The pay increase would boost the salary for rank-and-file lawmakers by $3,100 to $165,200.
This generous gesture will help revitalize the economy and some of the areas severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. At the same time, there is much more our leaders in Washington could have done and still can do.
When the damage of Hurricane Katrina started pouring into the Gulf Coast, the government could have done more to get Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to act immediately, not after a few days.
The government also needs to review its expenditures and re-examine how its funds should be allocated.
It was great such a high percentage of the Senate was in favor of forgoing the annual pay raises. In fact, the measure passed by a margin of 92-6. However, this should not be the only personal sacrifice our leaders make.
U.S. Senators and Representatives could give up other benefits they receive in the interest of assisting those who do not have very much. The more they lead by example, the more individuals throughout the United States will follow.
Hurricane Katrina has helped remind us there are so many people in dire need of assistance. Unfortunately, our nation endures hardships annually. The Senate and House should always remember their donations could go to good use.
We have people out of work and starving. There is a war going on. National debts must be paid off.
The pay freeze was a good idea. Let's make no mistake about it. It just seems like our public officials should always have such a generous mindset, not only when we have a horrific tragedy to contend with.
We thank the Senate for being so generous and hope they keep it up whenever they convene and look at what is best for the people.


text:
Summing it up
With the Spurs (50-16) fighting to maintain their place atop the Western Conference, every victory is big — particularly without the injured Tony Parker. But there was the sense the Spurs didn't win so much as escape Thursday at the AT&T Center, where Vince Carter missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer under duress from Tiago Splitter. It was a position the Mavericks (30-34) should never have been in after the Spurs took an eight-point lead with 2:37 left.
Player of the game
It was shades of 2007 as future Hall of Famers Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki, veterans of so many classic battles, matched skills and wills once more. Nowitzki had 21 points and 11 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to surpass Duncan's 28 and 19. Duncan was particularly good in the second half, sinking 9 of 10 shots after a 3-for-10 start. His dominance on the glass helped San Antonio claim a 57-41 edge, the game's deciding factor according to Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle.
The turning point
Kawhi Leonard's late 3 was so big that even Gregg Popovich reacted, kicking out his leg as the ball dropped through the hoop to put the Spurs up eight. But the game ultimately wouldn't be decided until another 3, Carter's last-ditch effort over Splitter from the top of the key. Nowitzki didn't like the play call, saying the Mavericks should have run something to give Carter an option to drive. Carter, however, made no excuses: "It looked good and felt good. I got what I wanted. I need that shot to go down."
* Not even the returns of Duncan and Leonard could jump-start the Spurs following their 83-point dud in Minnesota. They had been playing relatively well offensively without Parker, but the past two games — 89.6 offensive rating, 39.8-percent shooting — have Popovich worried. "We continued to play in mud," he said. "We're going through a tough stretch. Everybody wants to do it on their own. No people movement. No hard cuts. Nothing that's hard to guard."
* On the bright side for the Spurs, Popovich said pregame that Parker continues to make progress two weeks after injuring his left ankle against Sacramento. He said once again that he expects Parker to beat his four-month prognosis, noting that he's begun light shooting work. "I don't know if I'm being too hopeful," he said, "but I think it will be shorter."
* The Spurs extended their NBA-record streak of 50-win seasons to 14 with Thursday's result. Thanks to the 2011 lockout, the next longest active streak is two by the Chicago Bulls. Next on the all-time list is the Los Angeles Lakers, who had 12 straight 50-win seasons from 1979 to 1990.
* It hasn't been the best season for Gary Neal, who has struggled with everything from plantar fasciitis to a cut finger on his shooting hand. He played a key role on Thursday, however, scoring eight of his 16 points in the fourth quarter to help hold off the Mavericks. It tied for his highest point total over the past three months.
* Only Lakers center Dwight Howard, with nine, has more games with at least 20 points and 15 rebounds than Duncan's seven.
* The Spurs swept the Mavericks for the first time since 1997-98.
Up next: Cleveland, 7:30 p.m. Saturday