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Just some cool links I came across.
– NSA wants to pwn Skype, I don't think this would be really hard.
– RFID cats for the win!
– TeraBit Ethernet using chalcogenide glass chip
– US nuclear weapons lab loses 67 computers
– The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement
– Debian 5.0 Lenny is out.
– kcope's new FreeBSD telnetd 0day
– Celebrating time_t
– Batwoman = Red headed lesbian
– Two satellites collide in orbit
– Intel vPro
– Honestly, how awesome was that Aitel adv.? Every time I read it it's like the first time ;p
– legion joins .aware
– when the time passed
– F=ma from QM. Really cool notes on combining classical mechanics (Newton's 2nd law) with quantum mechanics.
At last, there is no such thing as Valentine's day. There are eleven valentine's days according to Christian martyrs named Valentine but none of then has anything to do with love crap. This hole shit is based on pagan Lupercalia from ancient Rome and Athens. For fucks sake… stop wasting your time with these stuff.


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Thursday, October 17th, Danielle Peck will once again host the Passion For Fashion benefit show at the Hutton Hotel for the Bootstraps Foundation. Her co-host this year will be Titans Wide Receiver, Damian Williams
Last month Danielle Peck & Rob Bironas got together to help Safe Haven of Tennessee and recorded a PSA to help fight homelessness in Tennessee. Safe Haven has always been an organization close to her heart because it helps homeless families get back on their feet after a life changing event that found them without a roof over their heads.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Wow, who needs a bird hide to see them -
but on the other hand we did spy this rare and unusual bird
eating a snake
William the lurcher Welcome to my little corner of the internet
Wonderful post, William! It's nice to see another part of your surroundings. What a spooky forest! And that is a very old tree! I love the bird eating the snake! :)ReplyDelete
Those are amazing shades of green! Pretty walk!ReplyDelete
Great pictures, William! The estate looks beautiful! And thanks for the eco lesson about veteran trees! Very informative and interesting!ReplyDelete
How kind of you William, to take your humans out. I am sure they benefitted from the fresh air and beautiful surroundings you took them to :)ReplyDelete
What a lovely walk. I love the photo of you sneaking a peek in the hide!
What a beautiful place to visit and enjoy and what a great guide you are!! :-) I love that the tree that had died is still a 'living tree! When we have trees or branches that fall we put them into our woods to make shelter for some of the smaller animals.ReplyDelete


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|Do they? Here's hoping hihi
I want to work towards my dreams and see them come to life, is that too much to ask?! Gee whizz..
I was filled with hectic angst earlier, so I headed off to the gym at 8pm. Nothing like working out while you wait for things to work out.
What would you like to work out? It's a good question to make us wonder about our dreams and which ones we really want to come true.
May you figure out what you want to work out. Better yet, may some things just come to you.
The Universe provides. (This takes believing)


text:
List of animal names
List of animal names (Wikipedia) is a very usefull resource.
Relationships between distributions
John D Cook has created a nice graph of relationships between distributions.
Conjugate priors
John D Cook has posted a nice diagram of relationship between sampling distribution of the data i.e. the likelihood and the conjugate prior. He also posted a link to a compendium of conjugate priors by written by Fink.
Lactation curve demonstration
Here is another demo plot. This time a lactation curve is showed. Lactation curve shows how the amount of produced milk is chaning over the lactation - from parturition to drying off. In this demo I used the so called Ali&Schaeffer function as applied to some goat data. Some special "things" added to the plot:
- a line to show the time of weaning the offspring and
- a line to show the time of drying off.
Ali and Schaeffer. 1987. Accounting for covariances among test day milk yields in dairy cows. Can. J. Anim. Sci. v67. 637-644.
## Days in milk
dimMin <- 1
dimMax <- 300
dimBy <- 0.5
## Days in milk
AliSch <- function(x, c=305)
cbind(x / c,
(x / c) * (x / c),
log(c / x),
(log(c / x)) * (log(c / x)))
x <- seq(from=dimMin, to=dimMax, by=dimBy)
XInt <- rep(1, times=length(x))
XDim <- AliSch(x=x)
## Design matrix
X <- cbind(XInt, XDim)
## Parameter estimates - from one analyis in goats
int <- 2800.222
aliSch <- c(-1678.68038, 219.29628, 53.04481, -55.26959)
b <- as.matrix(c(int, aliSch))
## Estimate
yHat <- (X %*% b) / 1000
## Plot
## 2.47
yMax <- 3
yMin <- 1.5
## Open PDF
## pdf(file="lact_curve.pdf", width=5, height=3.2, pointsize=11)
par(bty="l", # brez okvirja
mar=c(3.2, 3, .5, .5), # robovi od osi
mgp=c(2, 0.7, 0), # robovi za stevilke na osi
pty="m") # maksimalno izkoristi povrsino
plot(x=x, y=yHat, type="l", lwd=2, ylim=c(yMin, yMax),
xlab="Days in milk", ylab="Daily milk yield (kg)")
text(x=0, y=yMin - 0.15, xpd=TRUE,
xP <- c(80, 120, 145, 180, 210, 240, 265)
points(x=xP, y=yHat[which(x %in% xP)], cex=2, pch=19)
points(x=xP, y=yHat[which(x %in% xP)], cex=3, pch=21)
text(x=200, y=yMax - 0.8, labels="Test-day records")
abline(v=75, lwd=2, lty=2, col="gray")
arrows(x0=75 - 30, x1=75 + 30, y0=yMin + 0.005, y1=yMin + 0.005,
lty=1, lwd=2, code=3, length=0.15, col="gray")
text(x=75, y=yMin - 0.15, xpd=TRUE,
text(x=30, y=yMax - 0.2,
labels="Suckling period")
abline(v=275, lwd=2, lty=2, col="gray")
arrows(x0=275 - 30, x1=275 + 30, y0=yMin + 0.005, y1=yMin + 0.005,
lty=1, lwd=2, code=3, length=0.15, col="gray")
text(x=275, y=yMin - 0.15, xpd=TRUE,
labels="Drying off")
text(x=175, y=yMax - 0.2,
labels="Milking period")
## Close the plot
## dev.off()
Plot of normal distribution with shaded area
Theory of quantitative genetics much relies on the normal (Gaussian) distribution. Therefore, one would often like to plot it for presentations, class notes, etc. This is not that hard with excellent tools we have today. I played with plotting in R and came up with the following plot of normal distribution showing:
- the density of standardized breeding values with a mean of 100 units and a standard deviation of 12 unit and
- shaded area that roughly corresponds to upper 5 % of the distribution.
## Define the mean and the standard deviation
mu <- 100
sigma <- 12
## Define the % of upper are to shade
k <- 0.05
## Define the grid
x <- (seq(-5, 5, 0.01) * sigma) + mu
## Compute the density of normal distribution over the grid
y <- dnorm(x=x, mean=mu, sd=sigma)
## Compute the "threshold" for upper K % of the distribution
t <- qnorm(p=1-k, mean=mu, sd=sigma)
## Open PDF
## pdf(file="normal.pdf", width=5, height=3, pointsize=12)
## Open Windows metafile --> good for inclusion into MS Office documents
## win.metafile(filename="normal.wmf", width=5, height=3, pointsize=12)
par(mar=c(5, 4, 1, 1) + 0.1, # c(bottom, left, top, right)
plot(y ~ x, type="l", axes=FALSE,
xlab="Standardized breeding value",
ylab="Distribution", lwd=3)
## Mark the mean and the "threshold"
abline(v=c(mu, t), lwd=2, lty=2)
abline(h=0, lwd=3)
axis(2, labels=FALSE, tick=FALSE)
## Add shaded polygon
testK <- x >= t
xK <- x[testK]
yK <- y[testK]
polygon(x=c(xK, rev(xK)), y=c(yK, rep(0, times=length(xK))),
col="black", border=NA)
## Add arrow --> this will need some manual work, i.e. modify the values
x2 <- t * 1.1
y[which(round(x) == round(x2))[1]]
arrows(x0=(mu + sigma * 3.3), y0=y[which(round(x) == t)[1]],
x1=x2, y1=y[which(round(x) == x2)[1]], lwd=2)
text(x=142, y=y[which(round(x) == t)[1]] + 0.0015, labels=paste(t, "%"))
text(x=(mu + sigma * 3.3), y=0.02, labels="Good\n(+)")
text(x=(mu - sigma * 3.3), y=0.02, labels="Bad\n(-)")
## Close the device
## dev.off()
Runnning R2WinBUGS on Mac
New Mac computers/laptops (I do not know the details) are shipped with Intel processor. This brings the possibility to install a lot of UNIX/Linux software since Mac OS X is essentially a desktop Linux - I am again stating that I do not know the details about this since I can not afford a Mac.
Why is this important? WinBUGS is a great software for running Bayesian analyses. The name WinBUGS comes from two "parts": BUGS means Bayesian analysis Using Gibbs Sampling (though also other samplers are implemented), while Win corresponds to MS Windows. Therefore, one can natively run WinBUGS only on MS Windows. I personaly like the R2WinBUGS package, which allows one to run WinBUGS (and OpenBUGS, a new incarnation of BUGS software) directly from R. This approach is to a large extent promoted by Andrew Gelman in his "ARM book". Another possibilities are BRugs (using BUGS as directly linked with R - I can not find the link to BRugs package, since it is now in CRAN Extra repository) and rbugs (support for Linux systems with OpenBugs is emphasized) and the following two packages for interfacing JAGS (Just Another Gibbs Sampler): rjags and runjags.
It is quite some time since we managed to "tweak" R2WinBUGS so that it works also on Linux like systems that have installed wine emulator. One just needs to install R, wine and WinBUGS to "C:/Program Files/WinBUGS14" and the bugs() function will work out of the box on Linux!
This week as well as before we had a long discussion about running R2WinBUGS on new Macs with Intel processors. Rodney Sparapani found out that the following is needed:
schools.sim <- bugs(data, inits, parameters, model.file, n.chains=3, n.iter=5000, bugs.directory="/Applications/WinBUGS14", working.directory=".", WINE="/Applications/Darwine/Wine.bundle/Contents/bin/wine", WINEPATH="/Applications/Darwine/Wine.bundle/Contents/bin/winepath")Some notes are needed:
- bugs.directory="/Applications/WinBUGS14" - this seems to be a reasonable default for installation of WinBUGS on Mac, however, we will not "hardwire" this into the R2WinBUGS code since this place can vary a lot between different operation systems and locales
- working.directory="." - this is needed for the moment, since it seems that Mac launches wine emulator as another user, who does not have a permission to write to a temporary folder created by tempdir() by R; update on 2009-03-25, setting working.directory to "." will not be needed anymore in R2WinBUGS version 2.1-13 and later
- WINE="/Applications/Darwine/Wine.bundle/Contents/bin/wine" and WINEPATH="/Applications/Darwine/Wine.bundle/Contents/bin/winepath" are paths to wine and winepath binaries that we use in R2WinBUGS; unfortunatelly we can not find these programatically from R as it is the case in UNIX/Linux - if one cretaes links to /usr/bin or /usr/local/bin, there is no need to set this two arguments in bugs()
MathGL (library for scientific graphics) has some very cool examples. I like this one:
Financiranje rejskega programa za lisasto pasmo govedi v Italiji
Te dni se mudim v Italiji na tečaju, ki ga vodi Ignacy Misztal. Tečaj sicer organizira ANAPRI - rejsko organizacija za lisasto pasmo govedi v Italiji. Po pogovoru z gostitelji sem izvedel, da se rejski program financira v grobem na sledeči način: 60 % iz proračuna, 15 % s strani rejcev in ostalo z "aktivnostjo" same zveze. Rejci morajo na kravo na leto plačati 11 EUR. S tem prispevajo del stroškov za izvajanje kontrole in ostale dejavnosti povezane s selekcijo.
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text:
While Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) wraps up another tough week with nearly 6% plunge in its share prices since 5th October, the social networking firm has won some points in new surveys of folks that mean something to Wall Street, especially teenagers.
A survey including 7,700 teens in the US has ranked Facebook as their most significant social networking hangout. Twitter followed up and so did photo-sharing service Instagram, as per Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray. Facebook owns Instagram and that is another plus point for the company.
Munster repeated his overweight rating on Facebook and has concluded it remains well positioned to keep up its spot as the top social networking site even through it is facing competition from Twitter.
On the down side, Piper's survey involving the teens revealed that mobile gaming is as unpopular among teens as it has ever been. Analysts have cut their ratings for Zynga to neutral this week.
Sterne Agee has joined the market research party on Facebook. It said that a survey involving more than 750 Facebook users has exposed that average 18-29 year old members are spending equal time on Facebook as they used to do six months back, even through the number of ad s have increased since then.
However, an analyst at Sterne Agee, Arvind Bhatia has pointed out that a mere 33% of Facebook's mobile users said that they are immensely content with the service. Bhatia said that considering the fact how important mobile is to the future of Facebook, he believes that the percentage of 'extremely satisfied' feedback needs to improve.
Even though several folks are 29 and younger still remain a challenge on the income front, Facebook still manages to get all the attention, even more than Twitter.
The ability of the company to reach out to the younger audience, who are valued by marketers, aids its prospects of growth in terms of revenue, profits and advertising.


text:
I like trees because they seem more resigned to the way they have to live than other things do. --Willa Cather
Yes. Precisely. Gorgeous. True.
At the same time my grandmother was in hospice last February, a pine tree in my front yard was dying. Just all of a sudden. Could have been the ice storm, could have been the tap root was damaged from the new water line, could have been...age. It was 50 years old at least, and that's way up there for a pine.
Anyway, it started shedding sheets of bark-- peeled back like skin-- and there was the white, tender woody flesh underneath. Exposed. The pine beetles and the insects burrowed in, and the woodpeckers after them, and the tree, somehow, put out gobs of pine cones-- they covered the yard...and when the tree surgeon came he said-- yeah, they'll do that-- fruit like crazy right before they die. And then he pronounced the tree dead, and brought his cherry picker and stump grinder, but I waded through all those pine cones-- heaped up, the last gasp of a pine and I thought how the tree had put all its last energy in propagating the next forest, and I found that Darwinian and poignant and comforting all at once. And then I went to my grandmother's funeral.
So...resignation and trees...yeah. The Pecan in my backyard obviously agrees.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Willa Cather's Beautifully Crafted Sentence
Posted by Mindy Friddle at 1:32 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Thursday, September 27, 2007
"She picked me! She picked me!"
This bell pepper is just damned charming. While volunteering at the community garden last Saturday (trying to get in my Master Gardner volunteer hours..not easy) I was harvesting the peppers and, lo and behold, there he was GRINNING at me, exclaiming (if vegetables truly exclaim and clearly they can) that it's such an honor to be part of Project Host's meals for the hungry, even if that part means being tossed in a salad.
I assumed that he (and of course the pepper isn't a HE...vegetables don't have genders...except, maybe Italian eggplant or the occasional lascivious, waxed cucumber) was only too glad to be plucked and carted off to the soup kitchen, chortling the whole way...beside his pal the scarlet red tomato. Turns out (the Silver Queen corn told me--such a gossip, that one-- in one ear and out the other, and not a kernel of truth) the real reason this jolly little pepper was laughing and the tomato blushing? They saw the salad dressing.
Posted by Mindy Friddle at 11:26 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: Happy Vegetables
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text:
Shares of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS), slanted 10.64% to $40.87, amid its last exchanging session.
Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVSC) is an engineer of destination properties that offers housing, gaming, diversion and retail, tradition and show offices, superstar gourmet specialist eateries and different pleasantries. The Company's important working and formative exercises happen in three geographic zones: Macao, Singapore and the United States.
Sands China Ltd. (1928.HK) joined Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS) and universal social venture Clean the World to finish an exceptional 24-hour worldwide volunteer exertion Saturday, Sept. 26, building 200,000 cleanliness packs to be conveyed to populaces in need around the world, tallying in Macao.
More than 4,000 LVS colleagues and group volunteers take partd in the Las Vegas Sands Global Hygiene Kit Build with Clean the World – which was both associations' biggest volunteer push to date, bringing about the most units ever constructed for Clean the World at one time. The assemble was held at LVS' Singapore, Macao, Bethlehem and Las Vegas properties successively and all inside of a 24-hour period on Saturday. It started at Marina Bay Sands, LVS' property in Singapore, at 9 a.m. neighborhood time and finished at 6 p.m. nearby time in Las Vegas. The exertion was a piece of LVS's worldwide corporate citizenship system, Sands Cares, and its continuous association with Clean the World.
More than 1,500 Sands China colleagues and volunteers from the Macao group cooperated at The Venetian® Macao's Cotai Expo 2-9 p.m. Saturday to gather 75,000 units, supporting the worldwide exertion initiated by Sands China's guardian organization, Las Vegas Sands Corp. Ming Fai Group was supporting substance for the Macao fabricate.
Shares of BP plc (ADR) (NYSE:BP), slanted 5.01% to $32.51, amid its last exchanging session.
BP p.l.c. (BP) is an incorporated oil and gas organization. The Company gives its clients with fuel to transportation, vitality for warmth and light, oils and the petrochemicals items used to make ordinary things, including paints, garments and bundling. The Company works in three business fragments: Upstream, Downstream and Rosneft.
Subtle elements will be known soon in a $18 billion settlement understanding announced in July to determine years of legitimate battling about harm done by the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil slick, as indicated by AP.
The Justice Department says the understanding including the government, five Gulf states and BP PLC will be recorded Monday. At that point comes a 60-day open remark period — the following stride toward last court endorsement.
The settlement would end fights over monetary and ecological harm done by the about 134-million-gallon spill. The spill took after the April 2010 blast of a seaward apparatus that murdered 11 specialists. AP Reports
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All the respectable visitors to this website are kindly advised to conduct their own independent research into individual stocks prior to making a purchase decision.
This article contains an advanced information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as well as statements regarding the forseeable frequent growth of the market for the corporation's products, the corporation's capability to fund its capital requirement in the close-to term and in the long term; pricing pressures; etc.
Furthermore, any statement that expresses or involves discussions with respect to forecast, expectations, beliefs, strategy, projection, objectives, aims, assumption, or future events or performance may be forward looking statements. In addition, the forward-looking statements are wholly and solely based upon expectations, estimates, and projections at the time the statements are made that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those presently anticipated. An easy way to identify the forward looking statements is through the use of such words as be expecting, will, foresee, guess, considered, or by statements that indicates certain actions may, could, should/might occur.


text:
It's one of those lucky days. I must apologise about the lack of updates; despite being summer, creative drought is an all-time season in my mindscape. But nevertheless, here are some captions.
"Where's mommy and what have you done to her?""What do you mean, Jimmy?""Shut up! You're not mommy, I saw it. I saw you putting her skin on!"Jim's mother stood there, dressed in corsets and stockings, her head cocking onto one side and frowning as if in confusion. Her face, however, cleared into a relief as she bent down and hugged Jimmy as he struggled in her hold."Oh Jimmy, were you dreaming again?" She cooed as she stroke his head resisting his struggle to break her hold."W-wha?" Jimmy stopped."Remember those scary nightmares you thought it was real?"Jimmy slowly nodded."Oh you, do you remember the previous time it happen? You thought there was a monster clawing out of your bed and it took me a long time to calm you down?"Jimmy sheepishly nodded."Now, if I were some stranger wearing mommy's skin, do you think he would ever know that you wet your bed 2 weeks ago after another bad dream?"Jimmy's eyes widened as he blushed; he nodded furiously now."There, there, it's okay. Mommy is here and there's no bad people wearing your mommy, okay?" Jim's mother whispered tenderly as she cooed her son to sleep.After putting her son to bed, Jim's mother, Diane heaved a sigh of relief, "What a troublesome brat," Diane growled as she starts to feel up her own body. "I should be careful next time but whatever," As Diane starts to fondle her own breast, she tried to trace where her original self had done wrong. It was a routine, picked the lock of the door silently, zapped the women with the costume gun, wore her, lived her life, ditched the skin, repeat. "Must have made a noise that the boy had heard; thank goodness for the costume gun, else I would have not remembered that Jimmy boy has night terro-," Diane moaned, interrupting the stranger's thought as Diane's hands pinched her clit."Now Diane, until your husband gets home, I should start familiarising with your, I mean, my body," the stranger grinned as he started to massaged his stolen snatch.


text:
Answer: Not all identifying names and phrases can be protected by trademarks. Protection depends on a mark's strength, which is determined by how it is categorized. There are four categories (in descending order of strength):
- arbitrary
- suggestive
- descriptive
- generic
An arbitrary mark receives the most protection since the name bears no relationship to the product -- it implies imagination and thought. Kodak is an example of an arbitrary mark because the name itself suggests no connection to film or camera equipment. We learn this association only after the name has been used and becomes associated with the source of that product. A descriptive mark receives protection if it has secondary meaning in consumers' minds. A generic mark rarely receives protection because it is naturally associated with something in consumers' minds. An ordinary description is not special enough to warrant protection. However, if consumers connect the mark and its source in a way that would not exist without the mark's use in commerce, then the mark can be protected.
Alphabet letters, initials, abbreviations and acronyms may be entitled to protection if they are so original that they constitute an arbitrary mark (e.g., NICAD for nickel cadium). Otherwise, they may be protected only if they had acquired a secondary meaning which means that consumers have come to recognize the mark and associate the goods with a particular manufacturer (e.g., IBM and BMW).


text:
Hi I realise that since setting this up I've posted well.... Nothing!! So here's an overdue blogging/blabbering.
Since the last time I was on here me and a group of chums were given the task of making a small business and trying to profit from it.
Within a 5 minute debate we came up with the idea of Mothers day cards. So in our group we gave ourselves the task to design one card to be printed and will go on sale. They will in-fact be sold today and hopefully will bring in a tasty profit.
Any-who I'll leave you with what I managed to quickly conjure up.
Simple I know, I don't know what to think myself.
Bye for now, x


text:
is hard at work and helps
make something of the world."
- Heraclitus
filled with hooded figures in colorful gowns floating dreamlike past us as strange music filled the darkness:
Mark shivered as one wraith stroked chill fingers along his throat. Even Freud seemed shaken.
"W-We arrive at S, Roland. What occurs to you at the sound of that letter?"
"Sleep and the dreams that dwell in it."
Freud tore his eyes from the departing wraiths with an effort and said,
"The reason you struggle to remember your dreams, Roland, is because the superego is at work.
It is doing its job by protecting the conscious mind from the disturbing images and desires conjured by the unconscious."
Mark nodded, "I often slept-walked as these figures seem to be doing."
He shook himself as if a dog fresh from a bath and assumed a jovial face though neither Freud nor I were fooled.
The wraiths swirled and parted around the tables they passed, their frozen footprints breathing icy vapors up into the shadows.
" Go to bed early, get up early--this is wise.
Some authorities say get up with one thing, some with another."
Mark pulled his eyes from the spectral walkers with a visible effort.
"But a lark is really the best thing to get up with.
It gives you a splendid reputation with everybody to know that you get up with the lark;
and if you get the right kind of a lark, and work at him right,
you can easily train him to get up at half-past nine, every time--it is no trick at all."
The last walker in shadows kissed a lone customer at a table. The man gasped and faded bit by bit into nothing.
Mark shivered and jabbed his glowing cigar end at me.
"Now that boy there!
He goes to sleep at once.
There is a sort of indefinable something about it which is not exactly an insult, and yet is an insolence.
I get to feeling very lonely, with no company but an undigested dinner."
I shook my head at him. "Ghosts don't eat."
The lagging figure in black robes stopped, turned around, and laughed softly,
the sound of it trailing off like icicles slowly bleeding.
Mark husked, "In that you are wrong, son."
Now, it was my turn to shiver.


text:
|Azalea in my front yard
Each year more precious,
the rebirth of Spring!
As if now, at my age, I have my doubts,
mired down in tasks and obligations,
living just day-to-day, sunrise to sunset.
But this! The joy of brand-new life,
a quickening in the brown Earth,
and in my soul.
The lilac is back,
each bud bursting into four-petalled sweetness.
Deep in the dry leaf mold,
bloodroot arises from the forest floor,
its sap vermillion, exploding with life energy
into unique white variegated wonder.
Dandelions resume their relentless growth
with a yowl!
Trillium emerges, complete,
ready to live a miracle of grace.
And I too burst forth.
Spring flowers gorgeously in my chest,
silencing my fears,
pulling me back, whee!
into my place in the wonder of living.
Annelinde Metzner
April 8, 2016
|Baby jewelweed


text:
MIUI GB 2.3.7 Custom Rom for Samsung Galaxy Y is developed and shared by the member of Xda forum Gamer R so dont forget to thanks him. This Rom is Based on Cyanogenmod 7. This custom Rom is currently in beta Stage the latest beta version is Beta 2 according to dev Further versions will only be released after a stable Cyanogenmod 7 is available. So if you are a flasholic you will certainly like to try out this ROM, can't say yes that it is perfect for daily uses but choice is yours. So here are few screen shot of MIUI GB 2.3.7 Beta 2 running on galaxy y.
Use at your own Risk.
Changelog in Beta 2:
MIUI GB Beta 2 Download Link
MIUI GB Beta 1 Download Link
Bugs of Beta 1
- Music Player not working
- WiFi
- Red and Blue Swapped
- Bluetooth
- Not applying custom themes
Changelog in Beta 2:
- Added Battery Bar in the notificatin bar
- Added Chobits NitroSpeed tweaks for enhanced performance
- Theme Fixed
Installation Instructions:
- Install merruk pre-2.0 kernel
- Format System
- Mount System
- Install MIUI Zip file
- Wipe Data
- Reboot
- Note during first boot the phone will vibrate twice. Not to worry


text:
Designs by thislittlestreet
Audrey Smit
Berkeley California
Inspired by childhood memories, outdoor adventures & jumping over puddles. Tag us on IG!@thislittlestreet . You can sell items you make with our designs, but please credit This Little Street as the designer. For licensing opp: firstname.lastname@example.com
Shop Tags
Shop Tags
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Hi all,
I am finally back home. Yes, after a very very long trip to Kolkata... The trip was wonderful, I must say. Mixed emotions and feelings... I had been waiting very long for Richa's wedding... and now it is almost 3 weeks since then and she is miles away in the US. Time either crawls or just whizzes past; there is no middle path!! We were all very busy throughout last month-first, in preparation for the wedding and then, in attending other weddings.
Richa looked like a princess on her wedding day! Really! Attaching a snap of theirs along with this post, so you'll know how serious I am. Richa, I miss you a lot... though we mostly talked on the phone!
And there is something more I have to share... Chirag got me this superb set of papers for card making!! I am so thrilled with the sheets that I don't know what to do with them :-) Hoping to get down to card making soon.
Aaryan has just started going to school this week. I am looking forward to loads of fun with him and his talks about school... but when will my little one speak!!!!!! God! Nobody is more anxious about it than I am... but he is attempting now, and I guess that is a positive sign. I am also looking forward to packing great food in his tiffin box, but the guy doesn't eat a thing!! :-( Aaryan... eat so that Mamma is inspired to cook :-)!!!


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Friday, August 8, 2008
Busy... Busy... ^^;
sorry for wait too long. I never open and check my blog... T-T I was sooooo busy. Busy with school, and busy with everything, include many organizations. Yeap, now I was in second year of senior high school! Mwahahaah! I took Social programme. Far away from Chemical, Biology, and so on~ lalala~ :P My boyfriend now is Arief Sodiq Alfani~~ muach to him~~~ ^*^ Hehe... be ready! my cosplay photos will coming soon!!! thanks for Adella (www.adellacosplay.com) that inspired me lot! and also my parents, who supply me money... mwahahaha! XD Okay, that's for now... I'll continue my duty and homew0rks! thx for coming! ^^
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Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Corruption in Venezuela and Argentina: the media role
In Argentina from the major newspapers to the media, with the provision that there is also an electoral campaign going on, there has been a general desire to examine this affair of the 800 000 USD. All want to know why, how, how often such entries of cash happen in Argentina.
It is important to note that the Kirchner administration, as a good old fashioned Peronist ersatz, deals with the press in hardly better terms than Chavez. However Kirchner has not been as diligent at silencing the press and the media as Chavez has been. Perhaps it is due to a tough journalism corporation who had to survive the awful dictatorships that came and went in Argentina. Perhaps it is due to a better general level of education of Argentinean citizens. Perhaps it is due to a genuine basic respect on freedom of information. Whatever it is, the Argentina media have managed to put enough pressure on the Kirchner administration and have forced him to investigate and take sanctions. Oh! Not as much as some would have liked to: for example it seems that there is some difficulty in finding a judge who is willing to take over the case, a difficulty rumored to be due on strong governmental pressure as a swift and benign decision is wished for before the Cristina Kirchner campaign goes South, literally...
But when the chips are down, one minister assistant is out, one minister is in trouble, an arrest warrant for Antonini is issued and more is expected to be unveiled (not to mention that Argentina is demanding answers to Venezuela). In fact, we, in Venezuela, are learning a lot of things about our own affairs through Argentinean or Uruguayan journalists investigations. The Fourth Power is working there.
But in Venezuela there is only some provincial newspapers, Globovision, El Universal , El Nacional and mostly Tal Cual that are on top of it. Chavismo media (dozens of radio stations and TV) are ignoring the affair of if they allude to it is to denounce the whole thing as an imperialist plot, the standard fare for ANYTHING that goes wrong in Venezuela. The alleged "independent" media, from Ultimas Noticias to Televen or Venevision, barely touch the subject, if at all. In fact some commentators are even wondering whether the affair is dealt with at all in Venezuela just because of the fuzz in Argentina.
I have to admit that I agree with these observations, the bulk of the media has stopped any strong criticism, and investigative work in depth such as we see in Argentina. In fact most of the investigative stuff we watch or read is usually mediocre. Self censorship? "Give up" syndrome?
Or is it a general sensation in the country, a resignation to the Chavez imposition? People just cannot be bothered, too involved in a daily life each day more and more time consuming with road traffic, difficulty in finding supplies and services, a sense of nothing can be done about it anyway so why bother.
Or perhaps even worse, the Gag Law, the modification of the penal code, the subservience of the judicial power to chavismo, the violence against journalists, the constant stonewalling of any public servant have finally taken their toll, have finally made the press to self censor. Has Chavez managed to eliminate the freedom of information in Venezuela? Is freedom of expression still a reality in Venezuela, or is it reserved to a small group of individuals that do care? Has the high oil price and the slow percolating of part of it (what is not stolen by the Antoninis and Kirchners of the world) manage to remove a social conscience from Venezuelans?
We will see. But if some awakening does not happen after such a scandal at home, then we will only get what we deserve when Chavez changes the constitution soon. Moral eunuchs always have it coming.
-The end-
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Do not be repetitive.
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Insults and put downs are frowned upon and I will be sole judge on whether to publish them.


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5/27/15, "L.A. labor leaders seek minimum wage exemption for firms with union workers," LA Times,
advocating last-minute changes to the law that could create
an exemption for companies with unionized workforces. of the citywide
minimum wage increase approved last week by the Los Angeles City
Council, are
push to include an exception to the mandated wage increase for
companies that let their employees collectively bargain was the latest
unexpected detour as the city nears approval of its landmark legislation
to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020.
much of the past eight months, labor activists have argued against
special considerations for business owners, such as restaurateurs, who
said they would have trouble complying with the mandated pay increase.
But Rusty Hicks,
who heads the county Federation of Labor and helps lead the Raise the
Wage coalition, said Tuesday night that companies with workers
represented by unions should have leeway to negotiate a wage below that
mandated by the law.
"With a collective bargaining agreement, a
business owner and the employees negotiate an agreement that works for
them both. The agreement allows each party to prioritize what is
important to them," Hicks said in a statement. "This provision gives the
parties the option, the freedom, to negotiate that agreement. And that
is a good thing."
representatives said the proposed exemption would ensure the city
complies with federal laws which they say give collective bargaining
agreements precedence over local ordinances. They also contend that it
would keep L.A.'s ordinance consistent with previous city wage laws.
business leaders criticized the proposal, however, calling it ironic in
light of union leaders' past opposition to special considerations for
some employers.
refer everyone back to the statements of labor leaders over the past
seven months that no one deserves a sub-minimum wage," said Ruben
Gonzalez, senior vice president for public policy and political affairs
with the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, which opposed the minimum
wage increase passed by the City Council.
Gonzalez said the
change sought by labor officials could pressure companies into letting
employees unionize as a way to seek relief from the mandated wage hike.
again, the soaring rhetoric of helping the working poor is just a cover
for city government acting as a tool of organized labor," he said.
City Council voted last week to gradually increase the hourly minimum
wage to $15 over the next five years. Since then, City Atty. Mike Feuer
has prepared an ordinance that would put the increases into effect. The
council's Economic Development Committee is scheduled to review the
language on Friday.
Last fall, the council approved an ordinance increasing the minimum wage at large hotels
to $15.37 per hour. That law says that provisions of the hotel wage
hike may be waived in workplaces that have collective bargaining
agreements." via Free Rep.
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Last minute exemption from minimum wage increase sought by LA union leaders. "Once again, the soaring rhetoric of helping the working poor is just a cover for city government acting as a tool of organized labor." Gonzalez-LA Times
Posted by susan at 8:52 PM
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the spirt returns chapter 8 February 16, 2007Posted by opaswer in the spirt returns chapter 5.
1 comment so far
one day a penguin called joe344 went on club penguin it was a normal day when…………….. he found a spirt then when he looked closer at the spirt he saw it was himself! so he knew something was wrong he took one last look at the spirt and then he herd him say la no chi wel dwo then he remberd it and went to club penguins tallest mountain it was the coolest thing he had ever seen there was a sericet door to there he always went there it was fun but he knew he was looking for somthing then he remberd la no chi wel dwo then it opend then he saw a ninga he said hi to the ninga then he asked him about la no chi wel dwo the niga didnt move then he said thats the name of an old ninga but he wasnt just a ninga he was a super hero he was baned forever somewone paid him 5 buck to get banned he got banned 4 time and got 20 bucks you may have seen him around beace he hacked into club penguin but messed up his penguin he still does good deeds though i must go joe344 watch yourself he might do a good deed to you someday joe344 but ninga he looked just like me! joe344 that means your the chosen one your job is to find him and get him in club penguin without hacking ok ninga ill go but where do i go ninga go to the ice burg and tip it joe344 but ninga im not a member i know there is one other way good luck joe344 ok to the ice burg! wheres a jack hammer when you need one! hey whats that wow i tiped the ice burg and got 400 coins talk about geting money hey i think ill go to the hQ oh my god! the penguins are dead! i better find out of how thats even possoble! thats very weird hey the mission folder changed to! it said dear agent if you are reading this you are a lucky one this the is a mission of a person hacking into clubpenguin you must find him and baned him forever oh no i got to save him! but where is he you want to know where he is joe344 yes i do well that would be me now tell me i will go to your igolo and stay there ok now sed me a post card joe344 ok thanks bye now how shoud i save him? thats it ill give him my penguins password wait no i know a guy with a cheat code for that hey ninga what is that cheat code to un baned somewone that old cheat code you have to hack i cant hack there has to be a way ninga is there a way yes joe344 there is a way good what is it its a mega cheat code you must go to club penguin.com when it says play now log in then go on another computer and log in but this time go to play.clubpenguin.com/load.swf/icebox.com then un baned him joe344 good luck! ok wait a mnite i only have 1 computer! lets see what state im in im in mitins sounds cool well ill find out a place with two computers mom! can we go to the boys and girls club? ok get you back back son got it now lets go! mmm i am ready to unbaned him 20 MINITES LATER i unbanneded him! yay! hey i got 10000000 coins now well it over no more ghosts no more work it was fun though well good bye spirt! ill miss you
the end?
the ice casle February 16, 2007Posted by opaswer in the ice casle.
add a comment
look the ice casle is on fire!


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Fabian Bielinsky's "The Aura" and Daniel Burman's "Family Law," two acclaimed Argentine films, have been added to the slate of IFC First Take, the day and date distribution label launched this year by IFC Entertainment. The deal, with sales company Celluloid Dreams, follows the recent Cannes market acquisition of "Destricted" for the label that unveils films simultaneously in theaters and via VOD on cable television. The company is planning to release 24 films per year under the new banner.
"This continues to be an exciting time in the world of film distribution and while IFC is boldly treading this new ground, we are finding immense support from sales agents, filmmakers, producers and colleagues across the board," said IFC Entertainment president Jonathan Sehring in a statement. "We are dedicated to reaching the broadest audience possibly and these are unique, critically acclaimed films by renowned and talented directors that might otherwise be limited by a more traditional model. Our hope is that First Take brings freedom and flexibility to the marketplace and empowers us to serve independent film beyond the boundaries of tradition."
Bielinsky's "The Aura" follows his recent "Nine Queens" and is described as the story of "a shy taxidermist who secretly dreams of executing the perfect robbery. On a hunting trip, his dreams are made reality when he accidentally kills a man who turns out to be a real criminal and inherits his scheme: the heist of an armored van carrying casino profits."
While Berman's "Family Law," which screened at the Berlinale earlier this year, is described as telling the story of, "Ariel Perelman who works for the justice department and has a complicated relationship with his father, who dies suddenly and leaves Ariel to face life-changing decisions." It is the follow-up to his acclaimed "Lost Embrace."
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Please see website for dates.
The Official Website is Located Here: http://www.safesitter.org/
This program is held at the Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children.
SafeSitter is a medically oriented instructional program designed to train young people for babysitter certification. The curriculum includes units on babysitting as a business, behavior management, child development, safety, injury management, rescue breathing and choking techniques. Safesitter is a two-day, comprehensive class combining classroom lecture with hands on practice to facilitate an effective learning environment for the target audience of primarily young adolescents. The class is taught by professionals and maintains a small teacher/student ratio.
SafeSitter is a popular program in the community and seeks to ensure that graduates will be safe, confident babysitters. In addition, a goal of SafeSitter is to teach information and skills which are not only useful for babysitting, but in other life arenas as well. The Safesitter motto, "Better sitters today, better parents tomorrow" expresses this intent.
Class is limited to a maximum of 8 students who must be at least 11 years of age to participate.
Cost: $65 per student
Advanced registration required. For class location or more information, please contact the Women's Center at (256) 265-7440.
Phone: (256) 532-5940 | Circulation and Renewals: (256) 532-5984 | Contact the Library | Privacy Policy | Employment | Staff Login


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"White Death" Finnish Sniper Simo Häyhä Taken Down by Russian Marksman
Simo Häyhä, (1905-2002), dubbed the "White Death" by Russians
Finnish super-sniper during Russo-Finnish War (1939-1940)
(Unless otherwise indicated, all illustrations are courtesy of Wikipedia)
Today in Military History: March 6, 1940
The military history of the human race comprises not only stories of large groups of men and machines clashing, but also the small histories of individual men fighting an enemy. Today's posting is one of those small stories.
In the opening months of the Second World War, as Germany conquered Poland, the Soviet Union decided to bully a different neighbor in order to obtain more land and another outlet to the Baltic Sea. That country was Finland (known to its inhabitants as Suomi). From the 12th century until 1809, Finland was part of Sweden, though Finland shared its eastern and southern borders with Russia.
However, two wars between Sweden and Russia in the early 18th century convinced the Finns that their destiny lay with neither Sweden nor Russia. In 1809, the nation was promptly subsumed into the Russian Empire as the Grand Duchy of Finland after another war between Russia and Sweden. After 100 years of Russian rule, the Finns began agitating for independence. After the February and October Revolutions of 1917, Finland broke away from the Russian Empire (Soviet Union). In 1919, the Finns set up an independent republic, but were constantly on guard for Russian interference in their national affairs.
Northern Europe in November, 1939. Denmark, Finland, Norway and
Sweden were neutral at the beginning of the Second World War
In August 1939 Nazi-Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, where Finland and the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) were given to the Soviet "sphere of influence". After the invasion of Poland, the Soviet Union sent ultimatums to the Baltic countries, where it demanded military bases on their soil. The Baltic states accepted Soviet demands, and lost their independence in the summer of 1940.
In October 1939, the Soviet Union sent the same request to Finland, but the Finns refused to give any land areas or military bases for the usage of the Red Army. This caused the Soviet Union to start a military invasion against the Finns on November 30, 1939. Soviet leaders predicted that Finland would be conquered in a couple of weeks. However, even though the Red Army had huge superiority in men, tanks, guns and airplanes, the Finns were able to defend their country for about 3 1/2 months and still avoid invasion successfully.
This conflict, known variously as the "Winter War" or the Russo-Finnish War, ended on March 13, 1940 with the signing of the Moscow peace treaty. Finland lost the Karelian Isthmus to the Soviet Union after the war. The Winter War was a big loss of prestige for Soviet Union, and it was expelled from the League of Nations because of the illegal attack. Finland received lots of international goodwill and material help from many countries during the war
At the beginning of the Winter War, the Soviets held a huge advantage in nearly every relevant category: more soldiers (425,000 to 250,000 Finns), tanks (2500 to 32), and airplanes (3800 to 114). The Russians, however, were so certain of a quick victory over the Finns that many Soviet troops were not even issued white camouflage uniforms for winter use. [Apparently, the Soviets had forgotten the lessons learned by French Emperor Napoleon during his invasion of Russia in 1812.] The Finnish Army, though outnumbered, put up incredible, heroic resistance to the Soviet juggernaut.
"White Death"
One of the most incredible stories of the Winter War was a Finnish soldier named Simo Häyhä. He was born in 1905, in the town of Rautjärvi, on the Russian border. He worked as a farmer and a hunter. In 1925, the 20-year-old Häyhä enlisted in the Finnish Suojeluskunta. [The exact translation of the term is "Protection/Defense Corps," but it was a home guard militia that functioned similarly to a National Guard. It was known generally as the "White Guard" when it fought against the Communist Red Guard, and opposed leftist groups during the Finnish Civil War of 1918. According to one website, the White Guard was comparable to American minutemen in the Revolutionary War.]
Häyhä received training in marksmanship, and he excelled in local shooting competitions. After serving his mandatory one year of training, he was mustered out with the rank of corporal. He returned to his farm and continued his bucolic life.
But, when the Soviets invaded Finland in November of 1939, he was called back to the regular army. He brought with him his favorite rifle, the Mosin-Nagant Model 28-30. Originally a Russian-designed and manufactured firearm, thousands of earlier models were left behind after Finland achieved its independence from Russia. The Finnish White Guard made several improvements to the basic Mosin-Nagant design, and developed the M/28-30 version.
Finnish White Guard-designed Mosin-Nagant M/28-30
On display at the Military Museum of Finland, Helsinki
Assigned to the 6th Company of Jaeger (rifleman) Regiment 34, Häyhä soon got to work doing what he did best: shoot at and hit things with deadly accuracy. He worked alone in the Finnish forest and tundra, where the temperature wavered between -4 to -40 degrees below zero. Häyhä wore his warmest clothing, dressed in a white camouflage outfit, and wore a mask to both keep his face from freezing and to conceal it from the enemy.
The Finnish marksman used a number of tricks to achieve his objectives. First, he never used a telescopic sight on his rifle; the sun might flash on its lens and give away his position, plus using such a sight required a sniper to raise his head to peer through it, exposing his head to danger. Therefore, Häyhä used the regular iron sights on his rifle.
Another stratagem involved packing snow around his hidden position, again to cut the glare of the sun, and to suppress the flash of the rifle. Thinking out every possibility, Häyhä would put snow in his mouth, to keep his breath from fogging the air in the cold, cold battlefield and possibly giving away his position. Finally, at 5' 3" tall, Simo was easy to overlook.
Häyhä spent about 100 days on active duty during the Winter War. In that time period, he was credited with 505 official kills. The Russians gave him the nom de guerre of Belaya Smert (white death). His main targets consisted of Russian officers, artillery crews, and NCOs. As his kill total grew higher, the Soviet command sent out counter-snipers to take him out; none ever returned. The Russians grew so enraged by his successes that they began using artillery barrages to blanket whole stretches of forest and tundra to try to take out belaya smert. This tactic also failed.
"White Death" In action vs. Russians; photographer and date unknown
Image courtesy of http://orzzzz.com/top-6-deadliest-snipers-of-all-time.html
Unfortunately, Häyhä's luck ran out on March 3, 1940. A Russian marksman sent out to hunt him got lucky, and using a variety of explosive bullet, struck Belaya Smert in the left cheek. According to Häyhä himself, though badly wounded, he picked up his rifle and killed the Russian who had just shot him. A fellow Finnish soldier who found him said that "half his face was blown off" (a slight exaggeration, but close). The lower left side of Simo's face was badly injured. He spent the next 10 days in a hospital unconscious. On the day he awoke – March 13, 1940 – a treaty to end the Winter War was signed in Moscow. The "White Death" was out of a job…
Simo Häyhä was discharged from the army, promoted from corporal to second lieutenant, and went home to quietly live the balance of his life. He devoted the balance of his life to moose hunting and dog training, and died on April 1, 2002 at the age of 96.
Footnote #1: In 1998, Häyhä was asked how he became such a good shooter, his response was terse and to-the-point: "Practice." He was asked if he regretted any of the deaths he had caused, Häyhä replied, "I only did my duty, and what I was told to do, as well as I could."
Footnote #2: After the end of the Winter War, Russia and Finland fought a second war, known as the "Continuation War" (1941-1944), with Finland fighting as an ally of Nazi Germany. Then, Finland fought another war, known as the Lapland War (1944-1945) to expel German troops from their nation.
Footnote #3: It took several years of surgery for Simo Häyhä to recover from his wounds. He carried the scars to his dying days.
2nd Lieutenant Simo Häyhä, c. August, 1940
Photograph courtesy of Finnish Military Archive
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Chuck Spence (not verified)
April 21, 2017 - 8:57pm
The world's greatest sniper.
It is a shame that they have not made a movie of this incredible man's accomplishments. Carlos Hathcock is the legend by which all others are measured yet this man had 5 times more confirmed kills.
FANCY CHIEF (not verified)
May 5, 2017 - 12:18pm
"The White Death" movie.
But they are making a movie. it's set to release in 2018.
Haden Havey (not verified)
June 1, 2017 - 11:54am
Hathcock himself might
Hathcock himself might actually agree with you on that; he looked up to Simo Häyhä! Funny how things work out.
Bryan Curnel (not verified)
May 2, 2017 - 12:36am
Simo Hayha
This story should be told on screen biography for all to see this man deserves to be recognized by all military world wide
Sherry Krot (not verified)
August 11, 2017 - 6:50pm
SuomiPoika (not verified)
September 2, 2017 - 12:39pm
Some correcting facts:
Some correcting facts:
In picture ""White Death" In action vs. Russians" there is no Simo Häyhä (n the picture there is apparently Swedish volunteer fighter). First he did not use any face mask. Secondly the rifle is not M/28-30 Pystykorva which was modified from russian Mosin-Nagant M91 rifle parts, barrel was changed and front sight had vertical covers on both side hence the name "pystykorva" (like a dog ears up). Thirdly snipers do not use bayonet...
Häyhä did not wounded by sniper but it was normal combat situation. The company has attacked against the Russian troups but the attack did not successed so Finnish troups had to retread. He just got enemy´s exploding bullet in his face.
Good article, except these minor flaws
SuomiPoika (not verified)
September 2, 2017 - 12:49pm
Furthermore, Häyhä´s comrades
Furthermore, Häyhä´s comrades thought he was dead and his death was published in the newspapers. Häyhä read the news in the hospital he was recovering his wounds. He send letter to home: "Stop the funeral, the decedent is missing..."


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Rollarama Skating Center
Friday, October 31, 2014
Halloween Party tonight 7 to 10 pm at Rollarama!
Enter if you dare, at Rollarama you're sure to get a SCARE! Costume contest tonight! Prizes given for top costumes, cider and donuts while they last!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
This weekend
What's up with all of you this weekend? We would like to hear what you are planning!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Our first ever blog!
Hello everyone! Who is coming skating tonight?
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text:
Margaret Cho - Beautiful
"The delightful and dreary sides of gay life. The views and experiences of a thirty something guy trying to navigate his way through life. Sometimes funny, sometimes serious, but always entertaining."
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Gay Bitches
Margaret Cho - Beautiful
4 comments:
- GLBTQ Jamaica Linkup Mod said...
hhhhhmmmm looks like this bitchy issue is a worldwide phenom however I love the way you ended the piece.
Another great post
- July 29, 2010 at 1:27 PM
- Pierre said...
Thanks GLBTQ Jamaica Linkup Mod.
Where there's homosexuals there will be bitching, at least we do it fabulously!
- July 29, 2010 at 1:58 PM
- Tipce said...
OMG. I love you.. haha this is the first post i read from you and i have officially become a fan... I love your attitude and yes gay folks have a bitchy side. I know I do and i think its worse because I am a lesbian.. lol. I love it though. Wouldnt change it for the world. Shit gets down with a smile (wink)
- August 2, 2010 at 3:17 AM
- Pierre said...
Tipce, cool I'm glad to have another satisfied reader. Keep on fanning those flames of faggotary!
- August 2, 2010 at 7:59 AM


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Women's influence in Spain had a profound influence on political decision-making during the rise of the Spanish nation and the New World.
Queen Isabella I was born on April 22, 1451 and she is often referred to as "La Católica" (the Catholic) a "title" given to her by then Spanish Pope, Alexander VI. She was the daughter of John II, King of Castile and his second wife, Isabella of Portugal. Isabella father died when she was young and her older brother became King Henry IV.
Isabella was declared Queen of Castile after King Henry IV died, and during this period, her husband Ferdinand became King Ferdinand II of Aragon. Isabella showed her greatest leadership abilities when she decided that Ferdinand and she would equally rule the two Kingdoms while married. She created the motto "Tanto monta, monta tanto – Isabel como Fernando" (As much as the one is worth so much is the other – Isabella as Ferdinand).
Isabella and Ferdinand were rulers that set out to achieve some goals. The first goal was to lessen the power of the nobles, the second, was to re-organize the courts and the administration of justice. As a result of them both being both devoutly Catholic, they felt that they had to rid Spain of anyone who was not Catholic. Or at least get them to convert! And, for such reason they got Pope Sixtus IV to establish the Spanish Inquisition in 1478, and the Inquisition officially lasted until 1808. Citizens risked torture and death if they did not renounce their own religion and become Catholic. Even converting was not good enough for the Chief Inquisitor, Torquemada. He convinced, Isabella and Ferdinand that the Jewish people posed a threat to their Kingdoms, even those that had previously converted. On March 31, 1492, Isabella and Ferdinand ordered that by July 1, 1942 all people of the Jewish faith had to leave Spain or be put to death. Some of these people remained secretly in Spain.
"The Spanish Inquisition was an ecclesiastical tribunal started in 1478 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms, and to replace the medieval inquisition, which was under papal control.
Unfortunately, this was not a good period for Spain, and it was particularly bad during the reign of Isabella and Ferdinand. For anyone who was not a Catholic was suspected of being against the church. The inquisition was aimed at the Jews and Muslims, who like Christians and Catholics are still fighting today numerous centuries later over "Papal Supremacy."
Some Jews and Muslims settled in Portugal, Africa, and some decided to join with a sea captain who was looking for sailors to help him find a new western route to India. The name of the seafaring captain was Christopher Columbus. On August 3, 1492, Columbus set sail with three ships the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa Maria and 87 men from around the Mediterranean.
Columbus reached America on October 12, 1492. "He did not find a new route to India, but found for Spain a land rich with gold, silver and spices." He was convinced that he had found a new route to Asia and the East Indies — hence the quest for the Spanish to search for more gold in the New World.
Columbus had actually been asking for money to support his trip for several years. Being of Italian decent Columbus first asked for money from the rulers of the cities of Genoa and Venice. He then asked the King of Portugal. He tried Isabella and Ferdinand but they had been turning his request down because they still had one more goal or problem they needed to resolve.
A portion of Spain was still under control of the Arabs (Moors), which was the area of Granada. By January 1, 1492, Granada was under Spanish control. In contrast to the way that they had treated their Jewish citizens, they treated the Moors (Muslims) quite well.
In the Treaty of Granada they allowed them to freely practice their religion and even be exempt from taxation for a number of years. Once the problem of Granada was solved they began to listen to Columbus and his plans to find a new route to India, and a route not by sailing east around Africa, rather west across uncharted waters. They also decided that it would not cost much money to pay for the trip and the rewards might be quite extravagant. The person who was in charge of the Royal Treasury said the cost of the trip (3 ships and crew) would be about what is cost them to entertain a visiting noble for one week.
During the late 1400's and early 1500's Spain began its rise into greatness, and this was the beginning of the "Golden Age" of Spain and the "Age of New World of Discovery." Queen Isabella was able to see the potential of Columbus, and the New World.
Columbus returned to Spain in 1493 bringing with him natives. Queen Isabella became the protector of the Native Americans. She established laws against the abuse of the Native American people by colonists and adventurers. None of this would have been achieved without the leadership of Queen Isabella. She saw the New World he described. Her laws and the fair way she treated her citizens (with the exception of her horrible treatment of the Jewish citizens) enabled Spain to be at peace internally. Her strong army and maritime navy made Spain a world power against Great Britain and a great trading power.
Isabella and Ferdinand had 5 children, four girls and 1 boy. The children were Isabella, John, Joan, Maria and Catherine. Isabella made sure that the girls were well educated. But, her son died in 1497, her daughter, Isabella became Queen of Portugal, but she died in 1498, while giving birth. Her grandson, Miguel died when he was three, and Catherine married King Henry VIII of England, but he divorced her when she was unable to produce a male heir, and Joan, who was to inherit the throne, became mentally insane.
Although she co-ruled with her husband, it was actually her that was the better ruler. Her husband did bring to their marriage the Kingdom of Aragon which enabled them to unite Spain. Spain and the New World needed a ruler such as Isabella who had the leadership skills to guide and make Spain a great country.
Isabella died on November 26, 1504 in Medina del Campo, and in her will she asked that her successors protect and treat the people of the Americas the same as they would the Spanish people. Her husband continued to rule for 12 more years until he died in Madrigalejo on January 23, 1516. He was succeeded to the throne by his grandson, who was the son of his daughter Joan. This person was to become Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.
Spain was always loyal to those in the Mediterranean who assisted her rule and explored the New World including, to name a few, Africa, Portugal, and Italy. Without Queen Isabella, we would not be here in Spanish Florida about to celebrate 450 years of American History in the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in America.
Derek Boyd Hankerson
St. Augustine, FL
Derek Boyd Hankerson is the Managing Partner of Freedom Road, LLC. Derek is former vice president of the St. Johns County Republican Executive Committee and was an alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention. Derek has been a leader in numerous community projects in support of Fort Mose, multicultural education and heritage tourism. Historic City News is pleased to be able to publish Derek's periodic guest columns which are both informative and entertaining. Derek and his wife live in St. Augustine.


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GENEVA (AP) — The U.N.'s top human rights body has approved a proposal by Muslim nations urging the passage of laws protecting religion from criticism.
Members of the Human Rights Council voted 23 in favor of a resolution Thursday to combat "defamation of religion." Eleven nations, mostly from the West, opposed the resolution and 13 countries abstained.
The resolution was proposed by Pakistan. Muslim countries have cited the inflammatory effect of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad as an example of unacceptable free speech.
Critics say the resolution, while not binding, will have a chilling effect on free speech and may worsen relations between faiths.
Unacceptable free speech is still free speech and must be protected.


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|Message view
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|"Hadoop QA (Commented) (JIRA)" <j...@apache.org>
|[jira] [Commented] (MAPREDUCE-3437) Branch 23 fails to build with Failure to find org.apache.hadoop:hadoop-project:pom:0.24.0-SNAPSHOT
|Sat, 19 Nov 2011 06:24:51 GMT
[ https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/MAPREDUCE-3437?page=com.atlassian.jira.plugin.system.issuetabpanels:comment-tabpanel&focusedCommentId=13153406#comment-13153406 ] Hadoop QA commented on MAPREDUCE-3437: -------------------------------------- -1 overall. Here are the results of testing the latest attachment http://issues.apache.org/jira/secure/attachment/12504337/MAPREDUCE-3437.patch against trunk revision . +1 @author. The patch does not contain any @author tags. -1 tests included. The patch doesn't appear to include any new or modified tests. Please justify why no new tests are needed for this patch. Also please list what manual steps were performed to verify this patch. +1 javadoc. The javadoc tool did not generate any warning messages. -1 javac. The patch appears to cause tar ant target to fail. -1 findbugs. The patch appears to cause Findbugs (version 1.3.9) to fail. +1 release audit. The applied patch does not increase the total number of release audit warnings. -1 core tests. The patch failed the unit tests build +1 contrib tests. The patch passed contrib unit tests. Test results: https://builds.apache.org/job/PreCommit-MAPREDUCE-Build/1325//testReport/ Console output: https://builds.apache.org/job/PreCommit-MAPREDUCE-Build/1325//console This message is automatically generated. > Branch 23 fails to build with Failure to find org.apache.hadoop:hadoop-project:pom:0.24.0-SNAPSHOT > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Key: MAPREDUCE-3437 > URL: https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/MAPREDUCE-3437 > Project: Hadoop Map/Reduce > Issue Type: Bug > Components: mrv2 > Affects Versions: 0.23.1 > Reporter: Jonathan Eagles > Assignee: Jonathan Eagles > Priority: Blocker > Attachments: MAPREDUCE-3437.patch > > > [INFO] Scanning for projects... > [ERROR] The build could not read 1 project -> [Help 1] > [ERROR] > [ERROR] The project org.apache.hadoop:hadoop-mapreduce-examples:0.24.0-SNAPSHOT (/home/jeagles/hadoop/trunk/hadoop-mapreduce-project/hadoop-mapreduce-examples/pom.xml) has 1 error > [ERROR] Non-resolvable parent POM: Failure to find org.apache.hadoop:hadoop-project:pom:0.24.0-SNAPSHOT in http://stormwalk.champ.corp.yahoo.com:8081/nexus/content/groups/public was cached in the local repository, resolution will not be reattempted until the update interval of nexus has elapsed or updates are forced and 'parent.relativePath' points at wrong local POM @ line 17, column 11 -> [Help 2] > [ERROR] > [ERROR] To see the full stack trace of the errors, re-run Maven with the -e switch. > [ERROR] Re-run Maven using the -X switch to enable full debug logging. > [ERROR] > [ERROR] For more information about the errors and possible solutions, please read the following articles: > [ERROR] [Help 1] http://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/MAVEN/ProjectBuildingException > [ERROR] [Help 2] http://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/MAVEN/UnresolvableModelException -- This message is automatically generated by JIRA. If you think it was sent incorrectly, please contact your JIRA administrators: https://issues.apache.org/jira/secure/ContactAdministrators!default.jspa For more information on JIRA, see: http://www.atlassian.com/software/jira
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Thursday, September 30, 2010
I didn't get my act together in time to run a Go You Big Red Fire Engine project this year, you say?
But I got a t-shirt made instead? To wear? All the time?
Pics to come!
Delhi 2010: 3 Days to Go! More Media
Lauren Mitchell features in this article, reaffirming her opinion on the event's security.
"We have had the police escorts behind the buses everywhere but I wouldn't be here if I didn't feel comfortable."You tell 'em, Loz.
Her Worlds teammate Georgia Simpson was also featured in an article. Thanks to Christine for the scan (click for zoomed size).
Many thanks to Brindabella in WA for scanning the following The West Australian article on AGB'S OFFICIAL BEST FRIEND Liz Chetkovich (Click for zoomed size).
"I put gymnastics ahead of pretty much everything else; if you want to be successful you can't count your working week and clock off after 37.5 hours. You live the position rather than work the position and if you're lucky enough to have your job as your passion, you don't ever see it as a sacrifice."
Keep your eyes and ears peeled as the media bandwagon rolls on!
On a sidenote - you can spot Shona Morgan towards the end of this video, training with the Stanford team:
Update 5:45pm Channel Ten News just showed the MAGs and WAGs in training! All looked good (glimpsed Ash on beam, Sam O on p-bars, Josh on vault) and there was a brief brief BRIEF grab from Vladimir Vatkin. It was a blink-and-you'll-miss-it piece, the gym arena is red and white (Gymnova floor mat?). Steve Monaghetti earlier today described it as "huge... about the same size as Rod Laver Arena". The excitement builds!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Delhi 2010: Team Touchdown
MLC Gymnastics gives us some tidbits:
The team arrived in Delhi last night after a four hour stop over in Dubai and some shopping. It was 33 degrees and humid when they arrived. The team had to wait an additional 3 hours to wait for the Nigerian team so were late to the village.The team is on its way to its first training session right now. They were in too late last night to do any training so did a short physical program and stretch in the apartment lounge. The transport is not up and running yet - so they are taking cars to training today.
There is a lovely picture of Ashleigh Brennan in today's Herald Sun, though no mention of her in the article that accompanies it. Thanks to the VWHPC for the scan:
MAG hopeful Luke Wiwatowski is profiled here.
"I'm a bit nervous of the competition, it's my first big multi-sports competition," Wiwatowski said. He said athletes would have to get used to a lot of media reporting on gymnastics at the Games. "Gymastics is not a big sport in Australia,'' he said. Of the negative reports about security and hygiene at the games, Wiwatowski said: "I have not heard anything that would stop me from going."
GA has put up a photo and video montage from Worlds camp! Clap your hands say yeah!
The VWHPC Facebook page has also put up some new pictures of the team trying on their official uniforms and checking out the Games Village (complete with huge mosquito nets in their rooms).
Leader Newspapers have an interview with first-time commentator Steph Moorhouse here.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Delhi 2010: And They're Off
''Four years ago, the Commonwealth Games was the best time of my life,'' she said. ''I got to stand up on the podium with my best friends, and I shared the experience with them all. We have the chance to do that again, it's an amazing thing to be a part of."
There is also a brief competition preview here.
Our men's team was among the first of the athlete cohorts to arrive in Delhi today.
Edit 10:40pm: Channel 10 News just name-dropped Wheeler and Little (as "the youngest athletes at the Games")... I kinda thought they were going to throw straight to an interview but they didn't. It was just another "athletes are arriving despite venues not being completely finished or clean yet" piece.
Edit 7:40am Tuesday: Huh. This article might explain it.
With officials aiming to tighten security as Sunday's opening ceremony approaches, Australia's gymnastics team was strangely denied a chance to speak to the press after touching down at Delhi's Indira Gandhi airport late on Monday.
Despite having waited almost three hours for a delayed flight to speak to gold medal hope Lauren Mitchell, Australian media people were told by police shortly before the arrival they would not be able to ask any questions.
It came despite reporters having arranged the interview and having earlier spoken to members of Australia's bowls team at the same location on Monday morning.
"You will not speak to them, you will never speak to them," one inspector told bemused reporters.
Despite the protests of Australian officials, the gymnasts were ordered straight to their waiting bus and were allowed only to wave and smile at the cameras.
If you keep your eyes on Sky News, you will glimpse Lauren, Ash, Georgia W and Tom in a very quick CommGames update, wheeling their suitcases past media and, indeed, just smiling and waving as they do so. All are in dark green Adidas shirts with gold stripes on the sleeve.
You should also see the issue get mentioned on Sunrise (with longer rolling footage letting us see Josh and Georgia B heading for the bus as well).
Oooh! Fox Sports News has tantalising footage of a PR woman arguing with the security team, gesticulating furiously with biro in hand. Gotta love someone who goes into bat for gymnasts.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
The Village People
In case you missed it in the earlier post, check out Peggy Liddick's camp report here.
I have a couple of items I want to share with you, because we've all been concerned of late with the state of the Commonwealth Games athlete village and sporting venues.
The first is an update on of the Games site. The following email was circulated yesterday, from CWG Association head Perry Crosswhite to all participating athletes and coaches.
We have now been in Delhi for more than a week and I thought it a good idea to provide another update on the things we have done to prepare for your arrival to take part in the Commonwealth Games. We now have moved into the Village and are occupying the apartment buildings which will be the home for all of us for the next few weeks. I understand that there has been reporting in the media about the poor state of the Village and I wanted to let you know of what is the current situation.
As mentioned in my previous update the residential part of the Village is made up mostly of 8 storey tower blocks which have 3 and 4 bedroom apartments on each floor. These are newly constructed and had in some cases not been adequately finished, and/or had not been cleaned to an acceptable level. The pictures which have been published recently in the Australian media were possibly taken in the residential part of the Village but certainly were not of the Australian Team's area.
With respect to the buildings where the Australian Team will be staying (Towers 19, 20 and 21) we are ensuring that these buildings are thoroughly cleaned, and that required repairs carried out. All of this work should be completed within the next two days.
We have received our sea and air freight which has the equipment and supplies needed to support you. This includes everything from energy bars to medical supplies to vegemite to wheely bins (for ice baths). Jimmy Tansey from adidas is with us in the Village and is setting up the uniform exchange store.
We are confident you will be safe and comfortable in the apartments and today I took the Channel 10 reporters on a tour of one of our buildings so that viewers might have something they can see rather than only reading adverse media reports about the state of the Village.
As mentioned in my previous update the food in the Dining Hall is excellent, while the training and other facilities in the International Zone are good.
With respect to health issues, our Team Medical Director, Dr. Peter Harcourt, who arrived at the Village yesterday has, among other things, spent time in the dining hall looking at food preparation. He has also been monitoring other Team health areas such as water treatment and the Village mosquito spraying program.
As mentioned in my previous update there is a highly visible level of security for the Games (Village, venues, transport routes, and airport). This remains the case, and if anything there appears to be more security persons on duty than a week ago.
I am aware of the not unexpected concerns of the Team members regarding thier personal safety and the Games. All of us have found the Village to be a safe place to live.
The second item is a video of the Games Village's inaugration from Indian news network LiveX. It shows many of the facilities and amenities in a totally different light to what we have been seeing. Make up your own minds about what to expect in Delhi (once they stop spinning from all that zaaaaaany camera work).
Friday, September 24, 2010
(In other ace CommGames news, Liz Chetkovich and Gary Wilkinson have been confirmed as Foxtel's gym commentators!)
(And in other OTHER awesome news, the October issue of International Gymnast features a profile on MLC's Amelia McGrath!)
After two weeks at camp and a World Championships Trial, we just had our second verification on Wednesday and the girls are really looking like a well prepared team. The stability of their programs is getting better day by day. Some of the highlights of the verification & trials are:• Lauren Mitchell's double twisting Yurchenko gets an incredible amount of air time and distance, I hope the International judges will reward her for that. She is scoring 14.80 for it. Lauren scored a 117.41 over the two-day World's trial last week in the All Around and achieved the automatic selection score of 116.00.• Emily Little's STUCK double twisting Yurchenko. Emily is getting a great block off the table and has a very clean & tight twist; she scored a 15.20 for it. Emily achieved the automatic selection score on vault with a 5.8 D-score and a 14.80 or above final score. Emily's bars are really cleaning up, she is capable of scoring between 13.60-13.90 now, if she sticks her double layout dismount, she could crack the 14+ barrier.• Larrissa Miller's bars have been the most stable program of all. She must have seen the light after Nationals, because she is all business here at camp. Fit and spitting out complete bar routines time after time. Larrissa has won bars at the last two verification and both day of trials, all with scores between 15.0-15.30. Larrissa also achieved the automatic selection score of a 15.20 on an apparatus. Larrissa will most likely make the floor line up as well, she presented a beautiful floor routine at the trials, opening with a front whip + 2/1 twist front layout, she can score 14+ with that routine.• Ashleigh Brennan has been very stable at camp and her landings on floor are very clean. Stacey Umeh has been working on the performance aspect of her dance and I can't wait to put it up on the podium. Ashleigh's beam dismount, double pike, is very high, when she sticks it; she has no deductions as her posture is up and high as well. Ashleigh is getting her groove back on bars too, she will contend for a spot in the line up as well with her double layout dismount. Ashleigh's vault has been extremely stable, with her two stuck landings on both days of the trial, 13.75.• Georgia Bonora has been the stuck landings queen of the camp; she has really come in good shape. Even though she is only performing a Yurchenko Layout 1/1, it is big and she can stick it, maybe can break 14+. Georgia's beam routines are very stable and she looks ready to go, with a 6.2 D-Score and she scored 15+ on both days of the trial. Georgia's bar training has been very good, the best shape I have seen her in the last five years. Shoa Yi Jiang has been up at camp the entire time helping us to stabilize the BEAM TEAM, as this is the apparatus we start on in Delhi.• Georgia Wheeler has the biggest Tkatchev of almost any women I have seen, I love watching her train bars. She swings bars like men's high bar. Her program is stable and I can't wait to start adding some massive skills to her bars when she returns from Worlds. Her FF-FF-Double Pike dismount from beam is becoming more and more stable with less and less deductions on her posture on landing.• Emma Dennis is getting fitter by the day. Her stability has also improved over this last week as well. Emma is a good athlete and has a good sense of humour, she keeps us all laughing. Emma's vault is now starting to get up off the table like it was in 2008, she is getting some serious air time now. Stacey has been working with Emma many sessions to decrease the execution deductions on all of her transitions of floor and beam.• Georgia Simpson is one of the most elegant gymnasts around. Her uneven bar work is "Korkina-like". Her lines on bars and her flexibility on beam and floor are beautiful. Her 5.7 D-score on beam with a FF-FF-Double Tuck dismount is competitive with anyone on the team now. She just added a Toe on Handstand 1/1 + Tkatchev to take her D-score on bars to the mid-5s. She will be a surprise package to many, but I knew when she had potential when she was the Stage 4 National Champion back in 2006.Last night the CWG Team opened up all of their gear, it was like Christmas. We also debuted the new leotards, they are really beautiful, you will see them at the CWG. The girls are so excited to put them on and perform.
We have a big training session tonight, light Friday morning and then another full verification on Friday night. Saturday we will get some more full routines in and the a light physical conditioning session in on Sunday morning, before we board a bus that will take us to Sydney airport to catch our flight to Delhi. We are all looking forward to the adventure.More later.Peggy Liddick
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Delhi 2010: Pre-Event Media Nuggets
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Red Set Go
Team fitness training:
Team retreat:
"I'm really excited, I'm making S'mores!"
Fwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw. Love her. And YES I will henceforth dub her Shona S'more-gan. Ye wanna fight abouddit?
Speaking of retreats, Mel Jones and Olivia Vivian also recently attended Oregon State's pre-season team retreat (photos courtesy OSU at Facebook).
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Rotterdam 2010: Team Australia (WAG)
Congratulations and very best wishes to
Ashleigh Brennan
Georgia Bonora
Emily Little
Larrissa Miller
Lauren Mitchell
Georgia Simpson
Georgia Wheeler
with Emma Dennis as non-travelling reserve.
See more training camp and trial photos here.
While we're on the topic of World Championship teams, very best wishes to Naazmi Johnston, Danielle Prince, Janine Murray, Enid Sung and the NSW group who are over in Moscow for the Rhythmic World Championships.
Understandably these are all exciting developments, but please remember to maintain a respectful manner when discussing the team members and the team's prospects as a whole.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Breaking: Rizzo Reneged
Steve Quartermain then went on to introduce a Sam Offord profile piece. You can see both pieces here.
Door closes, window opens, etc.
Best of luck for a full recovery, Phil.
Edit 9:45pm: Confirmed by the Sydney Morning Herald here.
"I was going through a routine and could feel the pain in the shoulder and I knew basically there and then that my Games were over," he said.
"It had come to the point when I just had to find out one way or the other whether I was right to compete in a major competition like a Commonwealth Games."
NSW gymnast Luke Wiwatowski, 23, is set to replace Rizzo in the five-strong men's team 17 days before the Games commence.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Remembering Sydney 2000
It's been TEN YEARS since I sat feverishly next to our VCR with a finger hovering over the record button.
TEN YEARS since I begged my parents to let me stay up late and watch The Dream With Roy and HG so I could see their funny commentary again.
TEN YEARS since I cut pictures out of Ten magazine and stuck them on my wall.
TEN YEARS since I scoured every newspaper every day for news and coverage from the Games.
TEN YEARS since I tried to take a tippy-toed look over the Myer cosmetics counter for Poppy King's lipstick she made for the Australian girls.
TEN YEARS since the biggest sports event in the world hit Australia, and Australia said "Well, here's how we do things down our way!"
Ten Years since a packed-out Superdome, since the vault disaster, since I Still Call Australia Home, since the historic floor final, since the gala performances, since battered savs and brown-eyes, since a bouncing novelty won us our first Olympic gymnastics medal.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Delhi/Rotterdam 2010: The Countdown Begins
"We are all staying in the same building together, in our own rooms, so we tend to walk as a group to training."
I don't exactly know why, but this made me go, "Awwww. Yay them."
You can see additional photos at GA.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Featured Artists
"I think I had an opinion of the circus as many other people do," says the 29-year-old with a laugh, relaxing after a training session that found her suspended eight metres above the ground on a spinning metal hoop. "It was animals and carnies and things like that. It was never part of my life plan.
Lauren Mitchell features in this Commonwealth Games preview article, appearing in a nifty pic alongside Emily Little and Janine Murray.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Help Wanted
No no, keep the hat. It suits you.
Just wondering if anyone out there has .wmv files of recent competition footage featuring our Senior MAGs? Specifically, the guys heading to Delhi/Rotterdam? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
If you have any available video nuggets, or know where I can access some, please drop me a line at email@example.com
Looooove yoooooou.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Not A Duke? No, I'm a Writer
... Oh alright.
If you insist.
Watch out for a future edition of International Gymnast magazine featuring an article by yours truly!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Shaken and Stirred
Thoughts in particular go out to Holly Moon, whose Commonwealth Games progress was updated thusly at Facebook:
"Holly's preparation for Delhi has been affected, it is difficult to get sleep with tremors coming through frequently. CSG [Christchurch School of Gymnastics] is also closed at least for another 24 hours"
With more information from the Gymnastics Coaching Blog here.
Speaking of issues, click through to read a new article about the recent WAG Commonwealth Games team lineup change. Includes statements from Peggy Liddick.
Liddick was adamant Monckton's future remained bright despite the prospect of another six-month lay-off. "She certainly won't give up - a lot of people would walk away," said the long-time national coach.
"She was actually consoling me when she called to tell me. She's a very brave girl."
Sunday, September 5, 2010
"I guess I'm nearly 20, and it's a very demanding sport, and challenging and that's why I think everyone loves it. But as long as you've still got that passion for it and your body can tolerate it, you can keep going, I guess.''
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Gold Is So Hot Right Now
Tomorrow, September the 3rd, head to Melbourne City Square (cnr Swanston and Collins St) at 10:30 to see Georgia Bonora among a handful of Aussie athletes unveiling our official Commonwealth Games team uniform. It coincides with Spring Fashion Week, so... expect lots of strutting and pouting under those patriotic blazers.
A press release is available here.
Read more and see video from the uniform launch here.
GA has linked to video from Channel Nine News here.
Happy Birthday To...
Have an absolute corker and many thanks for all your hard work!
Your birthday present from, er, the internet, is the news of THIS Getty photoshoot featuring Ashleigh Brennan!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
CWG: Monckton Out, Wheeler In
Gymnastics Australia has the full details here.
The 15-year-old landed on an edge of a tumbling strip, forcing a short landing which resulted in a rupture of the ligament between the tibia and fibula (Tibiofibular Syndesmosis).
MLC Gymnastics has issued a statement here, including an update on Georgia's skills.
"... On vault, Georgia has made some good improvements with her double twisting Yurchenko, but this is certainly not ready for competition this year. This type of skill will take a long while to consolidate for competition readiness, and we are certainly not taking any risks at this stage in Georgia's development, but her sound improvement in the basics of this vault will certainly allow her a good platform for 2011."Very best wishes to Mary-Anne and to Georgia in these new circumstances.


text:
woodentop update - now with even more stuff!
Whilst I've yet to sort out the domain and make sure it points to the right place, I have had a chance to review woodentop's postings and put back previous songs covered. I've also got a bit carried away and posted three tracks for the next installment.
Check it out.


text: 'Vampire' Unearthed in Venice Gravediggers took steps to stop corpse feasting on other plague victims By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff Posted Mar 14, 2009 2:04 AM CDT 3 comments Comments The 16th-century remains of a woman with a brick stuck between her jaws, unearthed in an archaeological dig near Venice, northern Italy. (AP Photo/Matteo Borrini of Florence University) View 1 more image (Newser) – Italian archeologists have discovered evidence of an ancient vampire-slaying ritual in a 16th-century plague pit near Venice, the AP reports. A female skeleton was unearthed with a brick wedged between her jaws, in what experts believe was an attempt by superstitious gravediggers to stop the corpse from eating through its shroud to feast on the bodies of other plague victims. Historians say that when mass graves were opened again for reuse during plague outbreaks, diggers would sometimes find bloated bodies with blood in their mouths and holes in their shrouds—all caused by decomposition—and believe the corpses had come to life to drink blood. Scientific texts of the time taught that the plague was spread by "shroud-eaters" seeking to increase the ranks of the undead. View 1 more image