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Creator of Yoon-Suin and other materials. Propounding my half-baked ideas on role playing games. Jotting down and elaborating on ideas for campaigns, missions and adventures. Talking about general industry-related matters. Putting a new twist on gaming.
Friday, 6 March 2009
What Tolstoy Had to Say About Player Characters
And that is why I like crappy (i.e. Intelligence of 3, 1 Hit Point at first level, or whatever) characters. They're just more flavourful that way.
6 comments:
Great quote! I like my crappy characters. :) Builds character, you might say. ;)ReplyDelete
Yeah, I only got that far into "Anna Karenina" too. ;)ReplyDelete
I've long thought that playing a crappy character successfully ("...to win" - if that's not a misnomer) is one of the rites of passage for roleplayers.
Winning with an ubermensch is easy; winning against the odds takes skill and dedication.
Zach: Heh. Exactly.ReplyDelete
Chris: Aside from that, though, I genuinely become more attached to crappy characters. I think it's to do with a sense of paternalism, or something.
From my personal experience running games I found that usualy crappy characters tend to outlive the ubber ones.ReplyDelete
Go figure.
I love crappy characters too. I am finally getting a chance to play, which is awesome! I role my characters up with 3d6 in order and just let that dictate what I play. I think that I rolled really well! Nothing over 14, but nothing under 10 either, so not bad. Clearly above average, but compared to the other characters, who all rolled their stats with 5d6 rerolling 1s and 2s, he is so well balanced that he is boring.ReplyDelete
I had his family all these fabulous classes, everybody is rangers and bladsingers, and he just lacks that kind of skill so nobody expects anything greater then being a farmer out of him.
What is really funny is that when it came to rolling hit points, we all rolled terribly. How terribly? Between the 5 of us, if you add all of our hp it equals 8 whole hp.
Now THAT is true bravery there, is it not?
edsan: It's that paternalism thing. You want the crappy character to do well because you feel protective towards him, and that makes you invest more energy into preserving him. Also, DMs hate super-characters. That could be a factor. ;)ReplyDelete
Ripper X: That most certainly is true bravery. One hit kills!


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This blog seeks to spotlight noteworthy UNESCO science and communications programs; it emphasizes links between the United States and UNESCO.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
UNESCO Resources for Those Who Wish to Study Abroad
The book, "Study Abroad", is UNESCO's international guide to higher-education study opportunities and scholarships offered by higher education institutions and international organizations in over 145 countries. It includes some 3,000 entries on courses and scholarships in different higher-education academic and professional disciplines. There is information on: addresses (including Internet sites), admission requirements, application deadlines, financial aid, fees, living expenses and other topics. Entries are presented in English, French or Spanish according to the language of the country concerned.
UNESCO's online "Study Abroad Database" contains some 3,000 opportunities for post-secondary studies in all academic and professional fields in 147 countries and territories for the years 2005 and 2006.
Posted by John Daly at 4:25 PM
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subset: commoncrawl


text: Gwen Harrison Education Desk: Concussion Law Adds New Protocols For Rung Bells By Dusty Rhodes • Aug 6, 2015 Courtesy of Gwen Harrison Ted Harrison is proud that his son, Malik, plays football for Eastern Illinois University on a full scholarship. But ask Harrison about his son's history of concussions, and he's not sure he knows the exact number. He thinks the first one occurred during an afternoon practice early in Malik's playing career at Springfield High School. The Harrisons weren't notified by the coaching staff. "We were alerted by Malik," Harrison says.


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Siamese cobra (Naja siamensis) is one of the most amazing creatures on Earth, one of the three who are never ill. That is why at all snake farms of the South-Eastern Asia many medicines made "with help of" Siamese cobras are offered.
Dried gallbladder of snakes are used like immunomodulator, the medicine reinforcing immune system; encapsulated snake oil is a natural product containing collagen - good for CVD prevention; powder made of snake genitals is a secret of men's sexual drive.
There is one more thing - you may try to drink fresh snake blood and eat its still warm heart. It's believed that drinking blood of a creature with perfect immune system makes your own immune system much stronger - that's the reason why people drink blood of crocodiles and snakes. Heart is eaten to obtain the power of the animal that was killed.
First of all Siamese cobra must be chosen.
It is let our from the cage and it crawls right at your feet, it seems the cobra needs just a second to get to you and make a deadly bite, but it's known that snakes don't attack first.
Then the snake is caught, its throat is corded and stretched.
Then its body is cleaned.
Shallow notch and the snake's heart is taken out.
Blood is drained into a glass
When the heart is extracted it still beats for some time...
Blood is diluted with whiskey and tossed off.
The heart is cut for two persons. It's eaten and washed down with alcohol.
The cooked meat of the cobra looks like this.
Snake liver tastes like beef liver, there is no much meat but it tastes rather well.
Good Thing is Indians feeling Snakes are like GOD
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How and Why Snakes are Eaten
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[Go to Documents]
|Filed June 9, 2008
[Download as WordPerfect]
Baukol Builders, Inc., Plaintiff and Appellant
County of Grand Forks, Defendant and Appellee
No. 20060120
Appeal from the District Court of Grand Forks County, Northeast Central Judicial District, the Honorable Lee A. Christofferson, Judge.
Opinion of the Court by Sandstrom, Justice.
Aaron Anthony Dean (argued), Fabyanske, Westra, Hart & Thomson, 800 LaSalle Avenue South, Suite 1900, Minneapolis, MN 55402, and Thomas L. Zimney (on brief), Zimney Foster, P.C., P.O. Box 13417, Grand Forks, N.D. 58208-3417, for plaintiff and appellant.
Douglas A. Christensen (argued) and Sarah S. Barron (on brief), Pearson Christensen & Clapp, PLLP, P.O. Box 5758, Grand Forks, N.D. 58206-5758, for defendant and appellee.
John J. Petrik (on brief), Vogel Law Firm, P.O. Box 2097, Bismarck, N.D. 58502-2097, for amicus curiae Associated General Contractors of North Dakota.
Baukol Builders v. County of Grand Forks
Sandstrom, Justice.
[¶1] Baukol Builders, Inc., the lowest dollar bidder for a public improvement construction contract with Grand Forks County, appeals from a district court judgment dismissing Baukol Builders' action for injunctive and declaratory relief against the County after the court decided the County's decision to award the contract to another bidder was not arbitrary, unreasonable, or capricious. Baukol Builders also appeals from orders denying its post-trial motions. Baukol Builders claims the County used unstated and unwritten criteria in awarding the contract to another bidder and the County's decision violated applicable competitive bidding statutes. We hold the County did not use unstated or unwritten criteria in awarding the contract to another bidder, the County's decision to award the contract to another bidder did not violate the applicable competitive bidding statutes and was not arbitrary, unreasonable, or capricious, and the court did not abuse its discretion in denying Baukol Builders' post-trial motions. We affirm.
[¶2] In 2005, Grand Forks County decided to construct a new regional correctional center to alleviate crowding at its jail facility. Grand Forks County sold about $16 million in bonds to pay for the new correctional center and planned to help finance the new correctional center with revenue from housing additional federal prisoners. According to the correctional facility administrator, the federal government had been paying the County $70 per day to house federal prisoners, but the rate was scheduled to increase to $110 per day per prisoner on October 1, 2005.
[¶3] Grand Forks County hired an architect to develop plans and specifications for the new correctional center, and it was decided to solicit bids for the correctional center in a series of three bid packages. On July 23 and 30, and August 6, 2005, the County published an "invitation to bid" in the Grand Forks Herald for Bid Package #2, which consisted of the exterior shell for the new correctional center. The invitation to bid said bids would be received until August 11, 2005. A "call for bids" said construction would "start immediately" and the County's "suggested completion date of work [was] July 31, 2006." The "instructions to bidders" said the County anticipated an immediate award of the contract, and "[a]ll work should be substantially complete as soon as possible and the bidder shall indicate on his bid form the date he proposes to have the Work completed. The Owner's anticipated substantial completion date is July 31, 2006." The "bid form" required the bidder to state the number of calendar days in which the bidder agreed to complete the work. A pre-bid conference to consider questions from prospective bidders was held on August 2, 2005. Representatives from two other prospective bidders attended the conference, but no representatives from Baukol Builders attended the conference.
[¶4] On August 11, 2005, Grand Forks County opened bids for Bid Package #2 from three bidders: Baukol Builders, Construction Engineers, and Peterson Construction. Baukol Builders' bid for the project was $3,666,337, with a completion date of July 31, 2006. Construction Engineers' bid was $3,700,000, with a completion date of 270 calendar days, which the County calculated to be May 7, 2006. Peterson Construction's bid was $3,853,900, with a completion date of 329 calendar days. The Grand Forks County State's Attorney advised the County that a bidder's proposed completion date was a factor the County could consider in awarding the contract, because the bidder's proposed completion date was stated in the bid specifications, was required on the bid form, and would become the completion date in the contract between the County and the successful bidder. The state's attorney also advised the County:
The present GFCCC is built to house 80 inmates. As of today, there are 110 inmates, not including work release. The GF County Commission has a right (if not a duty) to consider multiple factors in determining the lowest and best bidder. Given the plain wording of the bid specifications, and given the state of the law in ND as it exists today, the completion date of the project is a factor to be considered. Additional factors that have been considered by the Committee include: 1) cost of continuing to operate in the present GF County Correctional Center; 2) cost of debt/money (in the form of bonds); 3) the ability to generate revenue two months sooner under [Construction Engineers'] proposal as opposed to [Baukol Builders'] proposal; 4) other factors that the architect may deem relevant.On August 16, 2005, after discussions about the bidders' proposed completion dates and the potential for increased revenue from housing federal prisoners, the County awarded the contract to Construction Engineers.
In short, the award of the bid may be based upon other factors besides purely pecuniary factors.
[¶5] Baukol Builders then sued Grand Forks County to enjoin it from rejecting Baukol Builders' bid and to preclude the County from awarding the contract to another bidder. Baukol Builders sought a declaration that the County's decision to award the bid to the second lowest dollar bidder was illegal and void and that Baukol Builders was the lowest responsible bidder. The district court denied Baukol Builders' August 2005 request for a temporary restraining order.
[¶6] After a trial to the district court in November 2005, the court dismissed Baukol Builders' action. The court decided Grand Forks County's publication of the invitation to bid less than 21 days before opening the bids did not adversely affect Baukol Builders because it made a timely bid. The court concluded the County complied with the "lowest responsible bidder" requirement and the "lowest and best bidder" requirement of the applicable competitive bidding statutes, because those statutes allowed the County to exercise discretion to consider the ability, experience, integrity, efficiency, reputation, and capacity of the bidders. The court concluded each bidder's estimated completion date was an item of competition and the County was entitled to consider that an earlier completion date would generate additional revenue from the housing of federal prisoners, which could be applied to reduce the County's obligation on the bonds. The court found the County's decision to award the contract to Construction Engineers was not the result of favoritism, fraud, collusion, or coercion. The court decided Baukol Builders failed to establish that the County's decision to award the contract to Construction Engineers was arbitrary, unreasonable, or capricious.
[¶7] Baukol Builders appealed. While the appeal was pending, this Court granted Baukol Builders' motion for a temporary remand to resolve post-trial motions. Baukol Builders then moved for a new trial under N.D.R.Civ.P. 59(b)(4), claiming newly discovered evidence that, contrary to the trial testimony of the correctional facility administrator, the County did not have a signed written contract to house additional federal prisoners at the increased rate of $110 per day beginning on October 1, 2005. The court denied Baukol Builders' motion for a new trial, concluding the claimed newly discovered evidence would not have changed the result of the trial. The court also granted Baukol Builders' request for additional discovery from the five county commissioners in office when the bid was awarded to Construction Engineers. After conducting additional discovery, Baukol Builders renewed its post-trial motion. The court denied Baukol Builders' renewed motion, again concluding the claimed newly discovered evidence would not have changed the outcome of the trial because the County had no reason to believe a rate increase for federal prisoners would not take effect on October 1, 2005. The court decided the County acted in good faith in August 2005 in deciding the anticipated increased jail revenue warranted an earlier completion date for the project. The court concluded the County's failure to subsequently receive a rate increase did not negate its August 2005 decision to award the contract to Construction Engineers rather than to Baukol Builders.
[¶8] The district court had jurisdiction under N.D. Const. art. VI, § 8, and N.D.C.C. §§ 27-05-06 and 32-23-01. Baukol Builders' appeal is timely under N.D.R.App.P. 4(a). This Court has jurisdiction under N.D. Const. art. VI, §§ 2 and 6, and N.D.C.C. §§ 28-27-01, 28-27-02, and 32-23-07.
[¶9] Baukol Builders contends Grand Forks County did not comply with the statutory requirement of N.D.C.C. § 48-01.1-03 (1999) for advertising for bids by publishing notice for three consecutive weeks before the date for opening bids. Baukol Builders contends the district court erred in failing to reject or annul the bidding process on that ground.
[¶10] At the time of these bids, N.D.C.C. § 48-01.1-03 (1999) provided that, if the estimated cost of a public improvement construction contract was greater than $100,000, "the governing body shall advertise for bids by publishing for three consecutive weeks, the first publication to be at least twenty-one days before the date of the opening of bids." See N.D.C.C. § 48-01.2-04(1) (Supp. 2007) (implementing same 21-day requirement).(1) Grand Forks County does not dispute that its first publication of the advertisement for bids was less than 21 days before the opening of the bids.
[¶11] A party cannot seek to enjoy the benefits of a transaction under the law and thereafter challenge the validity of the transaction. Quist v. Best W. Int'l, Inc., 354 N.W.2d 656, 664-65 (N.D. 1984); Frieh v. City of Edgeley, 317 N.W.2d 818, 819-20 (N.D. 1982). In Frieh, at 819, the City of Edgeley advertised for bids for the collection of garbage. Id. The plaintiffs submitted bids for the contract, but another bidder was awarded the contract. Id. The plaintiffs then challenged the city's decision, asserting it was improper for the city to engage in a bidding process for obtaining garbage services in the absence of a city ordinance or a resolution authorizing the process. Id. In holding the plaintiffs were precluded from challenging the city's contracting process, this Court said:
Our Court has repeatedly held that a party seeking to enjoy the benefits under a law cannot thereafter, in the same proceedings, question the constitutionality of the act. We are not aware of any valid reason why the same rationale and concept should not apply to an action challenging the validity of the city's action as distinguished from an action challenging the legality of the law under which the city acted.Id. at 819-20 (citations omitted).
Frieh's voluntary participation in the city's bidding process, not only once but twice, without raising any objection as to the city's authority or proper procedure amounts to consent and he cannot now be heard to complain or object because he did not receive the bid and contract.
[¶12] The district court decided that opening the bids less than 21 days after the first publication of the advertisement for bids did not adversely affect Baukol Builders, because it made a timely bid. We agree with the district court that Baukol Builders did not establish it was harmed by the early opening of bids, and Baukol Builders, after submitting a timely bid, cannot now complain about the early opening of the bids.
[¶13] Baukol Builders argues Grand Forks County used unstated and hidden criteria in its bid solicitation and specifications and awarded the contract to Construction Engineers in violation of the applicable competitive bidding requirements of N.D.C.C. ch. 48-01.1 (1999).
[¶14] Baukol Builders claims Grand Forks County's decision to award the contract was based on three criteria that were not stated in the bid specifications: (1) job schedule and date of completion, (2) potential revenues for housing federal prisoners, and (3) saving interest expenses. Baukol Builders contends the County's failure to state those criteria in the bid specifications violates this Court's decisions in Mini Mart, Inc. v. City of Minot, 347 N.W.2d 131 (N.D. 1984), and Danzl v. City of Bismarck, 451 N.W.2d 127 (N.D. 1990). Grand Forks County responds it did not rely on unstated and hidden criteria in awarding the bid, because the job schedule and date of completion were identified in the instructions to bidders.
[¶15] In Mini Mart, 347 N.W.2d at 133, an applicant for a retail beer license challenged a city's refusal to issue the license. The applicant claimed the city relied upon unwritten criteria of "the demography of the area, the geography, and the public mood respecting driving while under the influence of alcoholic beverages" in denying the license application. Id. This Court affirmed the district court's decision to grant a writ of mandamus and order the city to issue the license to the applicant, concluding the city could not rely on unwritten standards and criteria in denying the application. Id. at 141.
[¶16] Here, Grand Forks County's "call for bids" and "instructions to bidders" said construction would "start immediately" and "[a]ll work should be substantially complete as soon as possible and the bidder shall indicate on his bid form the date he proposes to have the Work completed." The bid form specifically required each prospective bidder to state its completion date for the contract. Baukol Builders does not contend a completion date cannot be an item of competition for competitive bidding. We agree with the district court that the language in the call for bids, the instructions to bidders, and the bid form made the completion date a stated item of competition for the contract for the new correctional center and authorized Grand Forks County to consider the prospective bidder's proposed completion date, which necessarily implicated additional potential revenue from housing federal prisoners and savings on interest expenses. Because the County's decision to award the contract to Construction Engineers was not based on unwritten criteria, we conclude Baukol Builders' reliance on Mini Mart is misplaced.
[¶17] In Danzl, 451 N.W.2d at 128, this Court considered an appeal in a taxpayer's action to enjoin a city from constructing an addition to a public building. After bids for the four separate prime contracts for plumbing and heating, ventilation and air conditioning, electrical, and general were opened, the city negotiated with the four low bidders for lower prices based on revisions in the plans and specifications, and contracts were executed on the basis of those revisions. Id. The taxpayer claimed the procedure for renegotiation and revision of plans violated the competitive bidding statutes. Id. This Court described the purpose of the competitive bidding statutes:
Statutory competitive bidding requirements are enacted for the benefit of the public and taxpayers to invite competition; to prevent favoritism, fraud, corruption, improvidence, extravagance, and collusion; and to secure the best work or supplies at the lowest price practicable. Competitive bidding requirements "promote honesty, economy, and aboveboard dealing in the letting of public contracts."Danzl, at 130 (citations omitted). This Court concluded the city violated the competitive bidding statutes when it revised specifications to reduce construction costs and negotiated with the four separate low bidders without affording other bidders an opportunity to bid on the revised project. Id. at 131. See also Becker Elec., Inc. v. City of Bismarck, 469 N.W.2d 159, 162 (N.D. 1991) (holding contractor not entitled to recover bid preparation costs after court decided city violated competitive bidding statutes). Danzl involved a change in contract plans and specifications after bids were opened and is not controlling because this case does not involve changes in plans and specifications.
[¶18] We conclude Mini Mart and Danzl are not controlling, and we consider Baukol Builders' arguments about the competitive bidding statutes in the context that the completion date was a stated item of competition for the contract.
[¶19] Baukol Builders asserts it was the "lowest responsible bidder" for the contract under N.D.C.C. § 48-01.1-02 (1999), and the district court erred in deciding Grand Forks County's award of the contract to Construction Engineers satisfied the requirements of that statute. Baukol Builders argues the plain language of N.D.C.C. § 48-01.1-02 did not give Grand Forks County discretion to weigh a bidder's relative responsibility in determining the most responsible bidder. Baukol Builders asserts the particular language in N.D.C.C. § 48-01.1-02 regarding criteria for awarding contracts controls the general language in N.D.C.C. § 48-01.1-07 (1999) to "award the contract to the lowest and best bidder."(2)
[¶20] Grand Forks County argues N.D.C.C. §§ 48-01.1-02 and 48-01.1-07, when construed together, required a governing body to award a contract to the "lowest responsible bidder" and to the "lowest and best bidder," not to the lowest dollar bidder. Grand Forks County asserts those statutes, construed together, authorized the County to exercise discretion in awarding the bid and allowed it to consider the ability, capacity, experience, integrity, efficiency, and reputation of the bidder.
[¶21] During the bidding procedure for this contract, N.D.C.C. § 48-01.1-02 (1999) authorized a governing body to award a public improvement construction contract to the "lowest responsible bidder" and provided:
A governing body shall award a contract for the construction of a public improvement under this chapter to the lowest responsible bidder. The governing body may reject any bid and readvertise for proposals if no bid is satisfactory, or if it believes any agreement has been entered into by the bidders or others to prevent competition. If the governing body determines that an emergency situation exists, a contract may be made without seeking bids.Section 48-01.1-07, N.D.C.C. (1999), dealt with awards of public improvement contracts to the "lowest and best bidder" and provided:
At the time and place specified in the notice, the governing body shall open publicly and read aloud all bids received and thereafter award the contract to the lowest and best bidder or reject all bids. The governing body may advertise for new bids in accordance with this chapter until a satisfactory bid is received. The governing body shall require the contractor to whom the contract is awarded to post a bond in accordance with chapter 48-02.Other statutes in N.D.C.C. chs. 48-01.1 (1999) and 48-02 (1999) also referred to the lowest and best bidder or bids. See N.D.C.C. §§ 48-01.1-05(4); 48-01.1-06; 48-02-10.2.
[¶22] Statutory interpretation is a question of law, fully reviewable on appeal. In re P.F., 2008 ND 37, ¶ 11, 744 N.W.2d 724. The primary purpose of statutory interpretation is to determine legislative intent. Estate of Elken, 2007 ND 107, ¶ 7, 735 N.W.2d 842. Words in a statute are given their plain, ordinary, and commonly understood meaning, unless defined by statute or unless a contrary intention plainly appears. N.D.C.C. § 1-02-02. Statutes are construed as a whole and are harmonized to give meaning to related provisions. N.D.C.C. § 1-02-07. If the language of a statute is clear and unambiguous, "the letter of [the statute] is not to be disregarded under the pretext of pursuing its spirit." N.D.C.C. § 1-02-05. If the language of a statute is ambiguous, however, a court may resort to extrinsic aids to interpret the statute. N.D.C.C. § 1-02-39.
[¶23] Sections 48-01.1-02 and 48-01.1-07, N.D.C.C., are both general statutes that deal with the "award" of public improvement construction contracts, and when construed together, they do not require a public entity to award a contract to the lowest bidder. Rather, the plain language of those statutes requires the award to the "lowest responsible bidder" and the "lowest and best bidder." In 2002, the attorney general issued a formal opinion, stating the term "lowest and best bidder" in those competitive bidding statutes was at least as comprehensive as the term "lowest responsible bidder." N.D. Op. Atty. Gen. 2002-F-04. Relying on Chaffee v. Crowley, 49 N.D. 111, 190 N.W. 308 (1922), and Ellingson v. Cherry Lake Sch. Distr., 55 N.D. 141, 212 N.W. 773 (1927), the attorney general concluded a public entity has discretion to determine the lowest responsible bidder and may consider the bidder's ability, skill, reputation, integrity, experience, efficiency and capacity. N.D. Op. Atty. Gen. 2002-F-04.
[¶24] In Chaffee, 49 N.D. at 114, 190 N.W. at 308, this Court said it was well recognized that an earlier version of the law for awarding public construction contracts to the lowest responsible bidder granted the governing body discretionary authority to consider the bidder's ability, capacity, reputation, experience, and efficiency. This Court affirmed a decision to award a bid to the prospective bidder with the third lowest dollar bid, stating there was "no showing [the county commissioners] did not exercise their best judgment within the discretion they possessed in selecting the lowest responsible bidder, nor that they acted in bad faith or other than for the best interests of the county." Id.
[¶25] In Ellingson, 55 N.D. at 148, 212 N.W. at 775, this Court reiterated that the word "responsible" in the phrase "lowest responsible bidder" means something more than mere financial responsibility; it means responsibility regarding the duty to be assumed by the contractor under the particular contract and includes all the various elements that bear on the question, such as the integrity of the bidder, and the bidder's skill, ability, and capacity to perform the particular work. This Court sustained a school board's award of a contract to a highest dollar bidder, stating there was no claim that the school board acted arbitrarily, fraudulently, or collusively, or that its judgment was influenced by improper motives. Id. at 148-49, 212 N.W. at 776.
[¶26] Formal opinions of the attorney general are entitled to respect, and courts should follow them if they are persuasive. Roe v. Doe, 2002 ND 136, ¶ 12, 649 N.W.2d 566. Although not binding on courts, an attorney general's opinion nevertheless has an important bearing on the construction and interpretation of a statute. Edinger v. Governing Auth. of Stutsman County Corr. Ctr., 2005 ND 79, ¶ 13, 695 N.W.2d 447.
[¶27] We conclude the 2002 attorney general's opinion is persuasive and consistent with this Court's prior interpretations of lowest responsible bidder and the language of the applicable competitive bidding statutes. We conclude those authorities allowed Grand Forks County to exercise some discretion in awarding the public improvement construction contract to the "lowest responsible bidder" and, when coupled with the use of the date of completion as an item of competition, allowed the County to consider the bidder's ability, capacity, reputation, experience, and efficiency. See also 64 Am. Jur. 2d Public Works and Contracts §§ 67, 70 (2001) (recognizing public authorities have some discretion in awarding public contracts under statutes requiring award to lowest responsible bidder and lowest and best bidder). We therefore hold the district court did not err in construing the applicable competitive bidding statutes to authorize a governing body to exercise some discretion in awarding a public improvement construction contract to the lowest responsible bidder.
[¶28] Baukol Builders argues that even if Grand Forks County had discretion to award the contract to Construction Engineers, the County abused its discretion.
[¶29] As we have already concluded, the completion date was a stated item of competition for the contract, and this record reflects an early completion date and the additional potential revenue and interest savings were important factors in Grand Forks County's decision to award the contract to Construction Engineers. The district court found there was no favoritism, fraud, corruption, or collusion in the County's decision to award the contract to Construction Engineers. See Danzl, 451 N.W.2d at 132 (no allegation of favoritism, fraud, corruption, collusion, or lack of good faith); Ellingson, 55 N.D. at 148, 212 N.W. at 776 (no claim school board acted fraudulently, collusively, or arbitrarily, or its judgment was influenced by improper motives, and record showed school board acted in good faith); Chaffee 49 N.D. 114, 190 N.W. at 308 (no showing governing authority acted in bad faith or other than in the best interests of the county). The court's factual findings about no favoritism, fraud, corruption, or collusion are not clearly erroneous under N.D.R.Civ.P. 52(a). On this record, we conclude the district court did not err in deciding Grand Forks County did not abuse its discretion in awarding the contract to Construction Engineers.
[¶30] Baukol Builders argues the district court erred in denying its post-trial motions and in not awarding it attorney fees.
[¶31] Baukol Builders claims Grand Forks County used false testimony and false evidence to further its justification for awarding the contract to Construction Engineers. The claimed false evidence pertains to trial testimony by the correctional facility administrator that there was a federal contract beginning on October 1, 2005, for housing federal inmates in the new jail for $110 per day, which would help pay for the jail and justify an earlier completion day for the project. Baukol Builders asserts Grand Forks County knew there was no federal contract at least by December 2005, which was after the November 2005 trial, and failed to correct the record before the district court issued its decision in February 2006. Baukol Builders asserts this Court should "correct this massive fraud."
[¶32] Under N.D.R.Civ.P. 59(b)(4), a district court may vacate a decision and grant a new trial if there is newly discovered material evidence that the party, with reasonable diligence, could not have discovered and produced at the trial. Before a new trial is granted on the ground of newly discovered evidence, the movant must establish: 1) the evidence was discovered following trial; 2) the movant exercised due diligence in discovering the evidence; 3) the evidence was not merely cumulative or impeaching; 4) the evidence was material and admissible; and 5) the evidence probably would have produced a different result. Johnson v. Johnson, 2001 ND 109, ¶ 6, 627 N.W.2d 779. A motion for a new trial on the ground of newly discovered evidence is addressed to the sound discretion of the district court, and the court's decision will not be reversed on appeal absent an abuse of discretion. Keyes v. Amundson, 391 N.W.2d 602, 604 (N.D. 1986). A court abuses its discretion if its decision is arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable, or if it misinterprets or misapplies the law. Bertsch v. Bertsch, 2007 ND 168, ¶ 10, 740 N.W.2d 388.
[¶33] The district court decided the claimed newly discovered evidence would not have changed the outcome of the trial, because when Grand Forks County made its August 2005 decision to award the contract to Construction Engineers, the County had no reason to believe a rate increase would not take effect on October 1, 2005, and the County's failure to receive a subsequent rate increase did not negate its earlier decision. There was evidence that when Grand Forks County awarded the contract in August 2005, it believed it would receive a rate increase for additional federal prisoners, effective October 1, 2005. On this record, we cannot say the court's decision to deny Baukol Builders' post-trial motions was arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable, and we therefore conclude the court did not abuse its discretion in denying Baukol Builders' post-trial motions.
[¶34] Baukol Builders claims it is entitled to attorney fees under N.D.C.C. § 28-26-31, or Chambers v. NASCO, Inc., 501 U.S. 32 (1991).
[¶35] Absent statutory or contractual authority, each party to a lawsuit bears its own attorney fees under North Dakota law. Danzl v. Heidinger, 2004 ND 74, ¶ 6, 677 N.W.2d 924. Section 28-26-31, N.D.C.C., authorizes a court to award attorney fees for "[a]llegations and denials in any pleadings in court, made without reasonable cause and not in good faith, and found to be untrue." In Chambers, 501 U.S. at 35, the United States Supreme Court held federal courts have inherent power to assess attorney fees as a sanction for a party's bad-faith conduct in litigation.
[¶36] Here, the district court found Grand Forks County acted in good faith regarding the information about the reimbursement rate for federal prisoners and the later information would not have changed the court's decision. In view of the district court's finding about the County's good faith, we conclude Baukol Builders is not entitled to attorney fees under N.D.C.C. § 28-26-31, or, assuming its rationale is applicable here, under Chambers.
[¶37] We affirm the judgment and the orders denying Baukol Builders' post-trial motions.
|Dale V. Sandstrom
Daniel J. Crothers
Mary Muehlen Maring
Allan L. Schmalenberger, D.J.
Gerald W. VandeWalle, C.J.
[¶39] The Honorable Allan L. Schmalenberger, D.J., sitting in place of Kapsner, J., disqualified.
1. Chapters 48-01.1 and 48-02, N.D.C.C., were repealed in 2007, and the current provisions for public improvement bids and contracts are in N.D.C.C. ch. 48-01.2. See 2007 N.D. Sess. Laws ch. 403.
2. The current provisions for public improvement bids and contracts define "lowest responsible bidder" to mean "the lowest best bidder for the project considering past experience, financial condition, past work with the governing body, and other pertinent attributes that may be identified in the advertisement for bids." N.D.C.C. § 48-01.2-01(19) (Supp. 2007). See n.1.


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Wednesday, August 06, 2014
At the Center of the World
John Eliot Gardiner, Bach: Music in the Castle of Heaven (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2013), p. 476, with endnote on p. 596:Newer› ‹Older
Towards the end of his more than thirty years as music director of Berlin's Singakademie in 1827, Carl Friedrich Zelter wrote to his friend Goethe, 'Could I let you hear some happy day one of Sebastian Bach's motets, you would feel yourself at the centre of the world. I hear the works for the many hundredth time, and am not finished with them yet, and never will be.'34 After knowing them for more than sixty years I feel exactly the same. The glorious freedom that Bach exhibits in his motets, his balletic joy in the praise of his maker and his total certitude in the contemplation of death—this, surely, is the best possible response to our mortal entrapment.Id., p. 478, with endnote on p. 597 (a minor misprint corrected):
34 Briefwechsel zwischen Goethe und Zelter, Vol. 2: 1819-1827, Ludwig Geiger (ed.), p. 517, quoted in Schweitzer, J.S. Bach, Vol. I, p. 241.
Bach in fact makes it a great deal easier for us to focus on the injunction to love one's neighbour than on all the filth and horror of the world. We emerge from performing or listening to a Bach motet chastened, maybe, but more often elated, such is the cleansing power of the music. There is not a whiff here of those 'foul fumes of religious fervour' that Richard Eyre sees today 'spreading sanctimoniousness and intolerance throughout the globe, while those far-from-exclusively Christian virtues—love, mercy, pity, peace—are choked.'37I like those YouTube videos that show the musical score, thus allowing one to sing along, e.g. O Jesu Christ, mein's Lebens Licht (BWV 118).
37 Richard Eyre, Utopia and Other Places (1993).


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Thursday, February 16, 2012
Early lineup for Shiloh anniversary
Shiloh National Military Park and two re-enactments will mark the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Shiloh. Tennessee also is planning observations at Pickwick Landing State Park. • Details
Posted by Phil Gast at 10:45 AM
Labels: anniversary, battle, shiloh, tennessee
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Taylor Swift as Rapunzel: Behind-the-Scenes Pics!
Rapunzel, Rapunzel, Let down your hair to me
Taylor Swift strums on her small guitar as Rapunzel for Disney Parks' Dream Portrait ad campaign.
The 22-year-old entertainer's picture, which was photographed by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz last year, is titled "Where a world of adventure awaits."
PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of
In addition to some behind-the-scenes campaign shots, Taylor is also seen arriving in Madrid, Spain to a crowd of fans on Wednesday afternoon (January 23).
WHAT YOU YOU THINK of Taylor as Rapunzel? Have you read the fairy tale?
10+ pics inside…
Posted to: Taylor Swift


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Perhaps the Creator has decided to embody the diplomatic "deep freeze" that has been taking place between the White House and Jerusalem -- showing what that can actually look and feel like when words become physical reality.
Jews who learn Torah know, of course, that words do translate into reality at some level in any case. It is why we are warned to be careful with our words.
So this week has been an interesting one for weather around the world but especially in the United States and Israel.
Meteorologists reported record-breaking low temperatures in the United States and saw the second 'super storm' of the winter in Israel.
The Holy Land was covered with snow on Friday morning -- with some areas buried under as much as 10 inches of the white stuff -- and the central region continued to benefit from a gullywasher's worth of rain. But by midday the southern region of the Holy Land shone with brilliant sunshine and temperatures were back in the mid-50s.
|Early Friday morning, Feb. 20 2015 this Negev yard was covered in snow. Four hours later, it was beautiful -- but bare.
Just one day earlier Israelis were shivering in the cold with freezing temperatures and blizzard conditions.
|The second "super storm" of this winter blanketed even southern Israel's Negev towns with snow on Feb. 19, 2015.
Even communities in the northern Negev saw a few inches of snow and lost power for short periods of time.
Meanwhile, at the same time 5,000 miles away on the other side of 'The Pond'...
The Hudson River was freezing over, on the West Side of New York City. The East River did the same on the other side of the city, with New York commuters who use the ferry service standing at the riverside, staring at the ice with wonder mixed with horror.
Broadcast news anchors repeated the symptoms for frostbite on local channels and correspondents issued warnings for locals the "make sure to keep every body part covered."
At two degrees Farenheit the temperature dropped to a record low for the third time this week.
Pipes burst: not only water pipes but also those carrying sewage through the Big Apple.
Further north, the fast-flowing river beneath Niagra Falls was sluggish and in fact had begun to freeze over by Friday as well.
Weekend weather forecasts predict more snow for New York – and rain for Israel. Go figure.
Has Barack Obama made up with Binyamin Netanyahu yet?
Has Barack Obama made up with Binyamin Netanyahu yet?


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Yep folks, that's my beautiful mother in 1958, at the Presidio in San Francisco, California. She was just 20 years old. She entered the Women's Army Corps [WAC's] in 1958. Took her training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and then went on to the Presidio at San Francisco as a clerk.
In the fall of that year, she met a Navy sailor, also stationed at San Francisco. They dated for a very few months, and were married in December.
Just a couple of months later, she was discharged from the military as she was expecting her first child, [at that time, if you were expecting it was an automatic discharge]. That child was none other than the Texicanwife. So, I guess you could say I cut short my mother's military career!
Any way, isn't she a beauty???


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Friday, December 17, 2010
Christmas Drinks
I finally got the chance to visit Sydney and start the first of my Christmas drinks. It was a bittersweet, farewell/catch up with my good friend Kirsty! We had a long cruisy lunch at Manly Wine. It was hard to leave, such a gorgeously decorated bar with views of the ocean and Kirsty ;) I had to refrain myself from photographing all the interiors, so I just kept the photo's to my model friend, rocking a Elkhorn Scarf and our yummy Giggly Rose cocktails!
Kirky hope you have good travels home and a fantastic Italian Christmas! xx Miss you!
Only 4 days left of making and creating for Elkhorn, then back to Sydney for some more festive fun!
Posted by Elkhorn at 4:46 PM 0 comments
Labels: dahlia, Elkhorn, Manly Wine, Scarf
Friday, December 10, 2010
Labours of love...
I love making one-off cushions... not that all our cushions are not "one-off" and individual, as they are all handmade. But it's good to have a break from the norm... it helps keep me sane! I often have a few side projects on the go, mostly experiments & a mix up of our current designs. They do become a labour of love and sometimes it's hard to let them go... but one can only have so many cushions.
My favorite part is adding small touches of stitching, I love seeing natural cord next to sparkles of gold. Here are a few of my favs, some of which have already gone to a good home.
Posted by Elkhorn at 4:12 PM 0 comments
Labels: Cushion, dahlia, Elkhorn, feather cushion, Feature, hand screen printed, hand sticthing, one=off, patchwork, seagulls, waves
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
The Finders Keepers - starts this Friday
Some how it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! I don't know how it happened but the festive season, seemed to of rubbed off onto Elkhorn's latest limited edition(very limited), Table Runners & Dahlia Tanks. We have combined soft neutral colours with pop's of bright red to create, fresh table features & vibrant tanks! These will be at our stall at The Finders Keepers this Friday night & Saturday! I will be saying goodbye to my collection of swans, planted with sweet little Haworthia succulents, unless I am the only person in love with them... in which case I will gladly take them home again.
Okay, I love the rain but it has to stop so we can finish the last of our screen printing!!
So come along for some crazy good Christmas shopping. Mother Elkhorn and I will be there Friday night and Gbone & Libby will be helping me out Saturday so come say Hi!!
Posted by Elkhorn at 1:51 PM 1 comments
Labels: Christmas, Dahlia Tanks, Elkhorn, Swans, Table Runners, the finders keepers
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We were invited to a potluck dinner on the weekend and were asked to bring a salad. I made my fabulous Bean Salad and it was a hit.
This bean salad is so tasty and good for you, you're gonna want to smack yo' momma. But don't smack mine; she's the originator of this recipe.
Bean Salad
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1 tsp salt
1 16oz can green beans
1 16oz can yellow beans
1 16oz can kidney beans
1/2 cup diced red onion
Drain and rinse the beans. Blend the first four ingrediants and add the beans and onions. Toss and chill at least 6 hours; overnight is preferable.
**NOTE** I always substitute one of the cans of beans for a can of mixed beans. Sometimes I take out the green beans, sometimes the kidney beans. Anyway you make it, it's good.


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Jan 16, 2010
Ozaukee Ice Center
Concordia skaters appeared to have an extra gear as they got to every loose puck and dominated from beginning to end this afternoon during a 5-0 win over Finlandia.
Jim Ingman's team, in their third year of existence, scored
their first-ever shutout win and exceeded their record for most
wins in a season with seven.
It was 1-0 Falcons after the first session on an Alyssa Isaackson tally.
CUW's "A Train" poured it on with two goals in the second (Alisha Java and April Forar) ) and another pair in the final period. Alexandra Barton scored the first of those before Sarah Luberda ended the alphabet domination and the afternoon's scoring.
The Falcons moved closer to the .500 mark at 7-8-2 overall.


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This is a writing prompt otherwise known as an OOD or Obect of Day. I pulled it from the "inspiration box" my sister made me... I started doing this in effort to keep writing new things, as I obsessively edit my WIP. Leave your own piece in the comments : ) I've decided to give myself a word limit: 100. So here goes:
"If you can hold it...I would," I said to Suz.
"It's that bad?"
"I haven't seen a toilet like that since the rest stop in Amarillo."
"How far until the next town?"
"60 miles."
"I'll take my chances…" Suz tapped open the door with one finger.
I strolled the isles of the station and piled my stash on the counter: water, gum, snickers. The clerk beeped each item into the bag. I grabbed a postcard off the rack on the counter. I wasn't ready to call Mom. But at least we could let her know we were alive.


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MAYO Communications wins Operation Blankets of Love FB contest
(This story first appear on YAHOO.com.)
When you're driving more than 600 miles a week to deliver much needed pet supplies to a half dozen animal shelters in California transportation is critical. Operation Blankets of Love got an early Christmas president, a 2013 Toyota Sienna Van with a GPS system this week from Hamer Toyota, Mission Hills, as part of the Toyota Cars for Good program. It replaces an old white van that kept breaking down.
"It important to give back to the community," said Dave Gilman, general manager, Hamer Toyota, Mission Hills. "Our community supports us by getting their cars serviced here and buying vehicles. We believe it's very important for Toyota to give back to their communities."
Toyota awarded 100 vehicles over 100 days to 100 nonprofit organizations via a Facebook contest, where each charity had to produce a video and get their FB fans to vote on an assigned day.
"We provide aid and comfort to animals in shelters, in rescue groups and even wildlife sanctuaries," explained Founder Eileen Smulson, Operation Blankets of Love (OBOL). "We collect old and new items like blankets, towels, portable shelter and we have received so much support that OBOL has become the Red Cross of animal shelters."
OBOL serves some 60+ Animal Shelters rescuing about 1,000 animals per month at no charge.
The charity started out as an idea to provide a few blankets to the shelters, but when the Smulsons asked pet stores and friends to donate blankets and supplies, dozens became hundreds and now thousands of blankets and items are donated monthly.
Brad Smulson, OBOL's driver, who receives the daily SOS calls from shelters and other animal rescue organizations, shouted out a "Big Thank You!" to all supporters and Facebook fans Online. Moments before receiving the keys to the Van, "We drive hundreds and hundreds of miles each week to deliver blankets, towels, comforters and food. We just want to thank Toyota, Hamer Toyota, all our community friends and MAYO Communications that supported our campaign."
To donate or learn more about OBOL visit:Operation Blankets of Love (OBOL) or on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OperationBlanketsOfLove .
Related articles
Hollywood Celebs to join Join USC 2nd Annual L.A. Prostate Cancer 5K Benefitting Prostate Cancer Research and Treatment
The USC Institute of Urology and USC Norris Cancer Hospital announced today the 2nd Annual L.A. Prostate Cancer 5K race scheduled for November 6, 2011. The 5K is open to all levels of runners, joggers and walkers, and will be held at the University of Southern California, starting at 8:30 a.m.
The 5K was created to raise awareness about prostate cancer – the most common cancer among men aside from skin cancer – affecting more than two million men in the United States who are currently living with the disease right now.
Because of the lack of knowledge and concern with the potential side effects of the treatment process, many men avoid treatment – despite effective therapy. About one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.
"USC is honored to host this second annual 5K to benefit those affected by prostate cancer," said C. L. Max Nikias, president of USC. "Our support reflects the USC community's determination to bring this important health issue to the fore, as well as our ongoing commitment to advancing cancer research, prevention, and treatment."
The 5K supports the growing need to promote research for furthering the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. All proceeds and donations from this event will be dedicated to prostate cancer research at USC.
"Last year, more than 232,000 new cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed," said Dr. Inderbir S. Gill, professor and chairman of the USC Institute of Urology. "One new case of prostate cancer occurs every three minutes and a man dies from it every 19 minutes. Treatment is most effective when diagnosed early on, and early detection can save lives. Today, 2.2 million live with the disease."
Health Expo
In addition to the 5K, there will be a health expo where attendees will learn the latest in prostate cancer treatments and research. The da Vinci robot will be on display highlighting the advanced surgical treatment system for cancer. Other activities will include live entertainment, and participants will receive free giveaways.
5K Registration
For more information about the 5K and to register, please visit http://www.uscurology.com/prostate-5k
To receive regular updates, "Like" USCLos Angeles Prostate Cancer 5K on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/LAPC5K and follow us on Twitter @LAPC5K.
About USC Norris Cancer Hospital
USC Norris Cancer Hospital is dedicated to the exclusive treatment of cancer patients and research. The Hospital is a part of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center – one of the original eight comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute. The USC Institute of Urology's physicians, post-graduate residents and fellows provide a complete range of specialty care to deliver comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for urologic disorders. The institute's urologists are among the more than 500 physicians who make up the doctors of USC and are also faculty members of the renowned Keck School of Medicine of USC.
About the USC Institute of Urology
The USC Institute of Urology provides a complete range of sub-specialties, delivering comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for urologic disorders. The Institute is comprised of 20 full-time faculty and over 30 post-graduate residents and fellows, all committed to providing exceptional patient care in the Institute's eight specialty centers.
Media Contacts:
Steven Yamin
Conscience Entertainment Group
Children of the Caribbean gets a big boost for its "Back-To-School Initiative"
A Back to School surprise for Children of the Caribbean
A message from Executive Director Rosie Hodge-Adams, cofounder, COTC
My sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. – Sigma Lambda Omega Chapter generously donated backpacks and school supplies to the Foundation's Back-To-School Initiative this past Saturday.
Many children in the Caribbean are without even the most basic of necessities. Even items we may take for granted, such as simple school supplies, truly make a difference in the lives of these children.
Thank you Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. – Sigma Lambda Omega Chapter for your support!
For more about Children of the Caribbean please visit
the website at: www.CaribbeanChild.com.
Children of the Caribbean, Inc. taps MAYO Communications for National PR
"I love MAYO Communications'
energy and we're so excited to have them onboard," said Co-Founder and Executive Director Rosie Hodge-Adams, Children of the Caribbean (COTC)
MAYO Communications, Los Angeles, has been retained as the agency of record by Children of the Caribbean, Inc. (COTC), a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization. Founded in 2010 by Rosie Hodge-Adams and her husband, Julian Adams, the COTC mission is to create lasting positive changes in the lives of disadvantaged children across the Caribbean. The Foundation focuses on improving living conditions, educational opportunities, medical care and overall quality of life for disadvantaged children.
"They have a track record for brand awareness, I love MAYO Communications' energy," said Co-Founder and Executive Director Rosie Hodge-Adams, Children of the Caribbean, Inc. (COTC).
MAYO Communications is no stranger to branding nonprofits and corporate social responsibility clients.
For nearly a decade MAYO branded the late Chief Economist Jack Kyser, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), and WTCA LA/LB. MAYO's client International Trade Education Programs (ITEP), which helps high school students with careers in international trade, was featured several times in the Los Angeles Times in the past two years.
Last year, MAYO grabbed national media attention and breast cancer awareness for MAMMOJAM 2010, a packed Hollywood dancing event benefiting the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation. It featured a host of celebrities, including ABC Dancing with the Stars' Louis Van Amstel and Jonathan Roberts.
Earlier this year, MAYO helped promote a Manhattan Beach fundraiser for Exceptional Kids Parent Teacher Organization (EKPTO) for children with special needs.
MAYO will work with COTC on its expanded 2011 Educational Initiative, which helps supply backpacks and other essential school supplies to needy schools of the Caribbean. The LA based PR firm will also assist in fundraising events and social media for Children of the Caribbean.
MAYO Communications is a PRSA award-winning relations firm, with offices in New York, San Diego and Bern, Switzerland. MAYO offers business, entertainment, high-tech, financial, hospitality, lifestyle branding and social media publicity.
MAYO's niche is media placement. MAYO's slogan: "We don't guarantee media, we just get it!"™
For more on MAYO Communications visit: MAYOCommunications.com or contact George McQuade or Aida Mayo, MAYO Communications, 818-340-5300.
For more information about Children of the Caribbean visit: www.CaribbeanChild.com. On Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/COTCINC, On Twitter: https://twitter.com/COTCINC
PERI Software helps Latino Business Chamber of Greater LA get plugged in with new computers
Latino Business Chamber of Greater Los Angeles moves up to the 21st Century in Technology offering the only Computer Center to its members in Southern California.
"I think we are the only Chamber offering this service, including classes on 'How to use software applications, social media and computers to excell your business," said Chairman & CEO Jorge C. Corralejo, LA Business Chamber of Greater Los Angeles.
PERI Software Donates Computer Workstations To Latino Business Chamber of Greater Los Angeles
PERI delivers and installs new computer workstations at the Chamber's Business High Tech Center
Los Angeles, CA – The Latino Business Chamber of Greater Los Angeles
(LBC-GLA) has joined other organizations in keeping up with technology thanks to PERI Software Solutions, Inc., which installed five computer work stations today (Tuesday). The
Center is located at the Chambers new offices in downtown Los Angeles located at 634 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, 90014.
Earlier this summer, the Chamber held a recent open house and ribbon cutting ceremony to officially dedicate its new offices and High Tech Center. The five work-stations were donated by PERI Software Solutions, Inc., which also has a Los Angeles office downtown, in the Wells Fargo Tower in the business district.
"Technology is critical in today's working environment, and having the right tools to get the job done is equally important," said President & CEO Sarav Periasamy, PERI Software. "We believe that technology helps any business organization on the move. As a business solutions company we know the value of having a business training center."
About the Latino Business Chamber of Greater Los Angeles (LBC-GLA) -The LBC-GLA, is a 501(c)3 and (c)6 non-profit, non-partisan organization established in 2008 in Los Angeles, CA. For more info visit: For more information about LBC-GLA visit http://www.LatinoBusinessChamber.com or by phone at (213) 347-0008.
The Latino Business Chamber of Greater Los Angeles (LBC-GLA) is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization and a 501(c)(6) trade group corporation as designated by the IRS in October 2008. The purpose of LBC-GLA is to organize and unify Latino business owners to:
- advocate for small- and medium-sized businesses on a regional, statewide, and national basis;
- provide valuable and permanent member services for the improvement and success of their businesses;
- generate increased levels of business from outside the Latino community;
- provide overall leadership on relevant business issues as well as community economic development issues;
- generate increased levels of business between members.
About PERI
Founded in 1999, PERI is a global business solutions company, which has grown to more than 1,000 plus employees and delivers high value-cost effective technology based business solutions. PERI draws on deep industry expertise and a portfolio of interrelated consulting, business processes, application development along with smart-intelligent hardware and software products. For more about PERI Software visit:www.perisoftware.com.
[Editors: For images and advanced media interviews with PERI Founder and President Sarav Periasamy, please call: Aida Mayo or George McQuade at 818-340-5300 or 818-618-9229 or email email@example.com.]
About Latino Business
Chamber of Greater LA
The Chamber's goal is to help business retain employees, create new job opportunities, and participate in new contracting opportunities by providing consulting, training, financing, and procurement opportunities to our member businesses.
He holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix with concentration in business operations and strategic planning.
Holguin sits on the boards of the San Fernando Valley Financial Development Corporation, Economic Alliance, and the Boy Scouts of America. Past chair of the Supervisory Committee for the Pacoima Federal Credit Union, and is an Adjunct Faculty at Cal State Northridge, College of Business & Economics.
Holguin is also the recipient of the United States Small Business Administration's distinguished "Small Business Minority Champion of the Year" award for 2006. For more info visit: http://www.latinobusinesschamber.org/
Noble technology is Smart Grid – says PERI Software Solutions Inc.
"This is all about how technology can transform the way utilities
can deliver power to customers," said President and CEO Sarav
Periasamy, PERI Software Solutions Inc.
Newark, NJ – "Utilities have discovered that smart grid will change every aspect of their business –from customer care to service delivery and infrastructure management," said PERI Software president and CEO Sarav Periasamy is attending DistribuTECH Conference and Exhibition (March 23-25, 2010)in Tampa Convention Center, Tampa Fl. The conference focuses on givingexecutives the knowledge for creating a sustainable energy future."But more importantly we need to educate and engage consumers in the transformation. By doing so customers worry less about rate hikesand feel more comfortable in saving energy and the environment." PERI Software, a business solutions company based in Newark,NJ offers a solution that consists of smart electric meters that are capable of collecting fine grained household electrical usage data and
transmitting the data securely over mobile phones using general packet radio service (GPRS) or WIFI Mesh. GPRS concentrators areused to avoid the repetitive and cost intensive maintenance for
each meter.
"The data collected is integrated into a smart grid enterprise information system," explained Periasamy. "The application supportsdata collection, analytics, system planning, engineering, operations, energy management, asset management, and value-added customer services. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Smart Meter and Demand Response formthe core enabling technologies for the smart grid. Beyond automated meter reads for billing purposes, smart meters serve as information gateways to customers. They also offer improved revenue management and proactive customer communications about energy efficiency."
In a case study for a utility company, PERI provided solutions for using outdoor wireless mesh and GPRS solutions for implementing smart grid solutions. PERI had to overcome the challenges of deploying wide-area wireless broadband IP networks on a large scale, making wide-area broadband coverage possible. PERI provided a solution that is scalable, reliable, performance bound and secured that the customer needed. The backend application is an enterprise-wide geographic information system (GIS) supported by a business intelligence application.
Additionally, PERI helped the utility company with the follow smart grid business solutions:
• Pilot implementation with sample automatic meter reading (AMR)
• Setting up AMR processes to collect, process and record power consumption data at preset interval
• Building MIS/GIS solutions to understand electrical load in real time
• Provisioned to download collected data into handheld device for instant
billing at consumer site
• Integrated Billing and Analysis module
• Management of the collected data on Smart Grid asset, system and device
• Operation and maintenance of the Smart Grid systems including hardware,firmware, and software
• Management and use of data collected to improve the utility business, including operation efficiency,
planning and utilization, energy efficiency and customer service
• Scope, evaluate and deployment of Smart Grid systems and devices including smart meters
• Security and Information protection politices, guidelines an dprocesses
• GIS based energy management system, distribution and outage management systems
Founded in 1999, PERI is a global business solutions company, which has grown to more than 700 plus employees and delivers high value-cost effective technology based business solutions.
PERI draws on deep industry expertise and a portfolio of interrelated consulting, business processes,application development along with smart-intelligent hardware and software products. PERI blends strategic design, proven technology, and timely delivery of solutions that maximize customers return on IT investment. For more info visit: www.PERIsoftware.com
[Editors: For media interviews and images contact Aida Mayo or
George Mc Quade at
818-340-5300 or 818-618-9229 or email: email@example.com.]


text:
"What's that awful smell?" Henry thought before he opened his eyes. He had been dead asleep a few seconds ago, but as soon as his eyes focused he new something was not right. As he slowly rose to sit up on the bed, he spied the source of at least one of the components of the offending odor that woke him. It was an ashtray on the night stand, overflowing with cigarette butts. Another component of the stench seemed to be originating from the bed itself, the sour stink of sweat and dander.
"Where…?" his thought trailed off in his head as his brain suddenly became alert and tried to process his environment. His head nearly spun off as he looked about the room. Nothing looked familiar to him. Then it hit him.
"This isn't my bedroom" He thought.
As he scanned the room again, a feeling of dread came over him and he felt the first throb of a headache.
"What the fuck happened last night?" He asked himself.
The room was small and unkept. There were clothes of varying levels of cleanliness in piles around the floor. Next to the bed was a cheap night stand on which sat the smelly ashtray, as well as an assortment of change, a glass of water, a reading lamp and a generic alarm clock radio that could be well over twenty years old. Nothing looked unusual, but everything was unfamiliar. As his headache grew, Henry held his head in his hands and tried to recall the previous night.
He felt a wave of nausea hit him as the memories unclouded in his mind. It was a stream of vague but regretful things. A dark and loud bar, strangers' voices, a youthful bartender pouring shots of something colorful, a drunken drive to parts unknown, and Lisa's face.
"Oh shit," Henry cursed. "I need to get out of here!" He thought.
Henry sprang from the bed and realized that he was stark naked. He grabbed the nearest pair of pants he assumed were his, and as he put them on observed something strange on his leg. The dark of the bedroom and the shock of being in that unknown place had kept him from noticing earlier. It was a tattoo, a big one. It took up almost his entire calf, from knee to ankle. Then he saw his arm. In a state of awe, Henry pulled his pants up quickly and sought out the bathroom.
"How did this happen? How drunk did I get? How am I supposed to explain this?"
The bathroom was a shabby place as well. It seemed hard to believe it was a young women's apartment, either she had a male roommate or was a complete slob. There was an abundance of hair clippings and soap scum in and around the sink. The toilet's porcelin had yellowed and so had the seat, one of those one-time plush but now flattened and cracked toilet seats that pinch your ass when you sit on it. He was beginning to think this may not be Lisa's place.
It took Henry a few minutes of confusion and intense staring in order for the image in the mirror to make sense. It was him, his reflection, only different. His hair was shorter and less balding. His ears had huge holes in the lobes and hung limp. He was also covered in tattoos, both arms and legs with a few more here and there. A strange depersonalization hit him and suddenly he felt as if he were looking at a stranger.
"Who is that? Who am I? Is that me or am I me?" He pondered for a minute or two.
Then, as suddenly as the feeling came, it went and his mind was filled with more pressing issues.
"What is going on? How did this happen? I must be dreaming."
He pinched himself but did not wake up from the dream. He threw water on his face, smacked himself hard and looked back at his reflection, but nothing changed.
"Still here," he sighed.
After a long drink straight out of the faucet, Henry remembered the he was in someone else's home and might not be alone. He stuck his head out the bathroom door.
"Hello?" He asked loudly. "Is anyone here?"
There was no reply.
The combination of headache and nausea had grown enough to overpower the search for answers. Henry was familiar with the typical hangover, but this was something beyond the normal experience. He wasn't sure if the normal cure of aspirin, water and crackers would work on this one, but it was a start.
He opened the medicine cabinet above the sink and saw some tylenol in the back. As he reached in to grab the aspirin, his hand knocked a prescription pill bottle off the shelf and into the sink. Henry reached down to pick it up and his eyes were immeadiately drawn to the contents.
"Vicodin? Nice! This will help." He thought, as he turned the bottle to read the label.
Hydrocodone w/Acetaminophen 5/500mg
Dorsett, Henry C.
6901 Seaward Rd. Apt 7 Madison, WI 54777
Henry stared at the label, dumbfounded. He read the label three more times.
It made no sense. His heart was pounding as hard as his headache, and his mouth became dry as a desert.
A million thoughts raced through his brain trying to think of a rational explanation of how any of this could be possible, but nothing made sense.
"What the fuck is going on?" He asked himself again.
"What's that awful smell?" Henry thought before he opened his eyes. He had been dead asleep a few seconds ago, but as soon as his eyes focused he new something was not right. As he slowly rose to sit up on the bed, he spied the source of at least one of the components of the offending odor that woke him. It was an ashtray on the night stand, overflowing with cigarette butts. Another component of the stench seemed to be originating from the bed itself, the sour stink of sweat and dander.


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The short version of the story is that the insurance companies have given almost a million dollars to our lawmakers in Albany over the last few years and it has been worth every penny for them. Read this:
Ever since the release of a 2004 report by the respected Brennan Center for Justice, it has become an accepted truism that New York has the "most dysfunctional" state legislature in the nation.1 We believe the Legislature's response to that report missed the mark,2 because it failed to address one of the central causes of that dysfunction: the influence of campaign contributions on the laws that are ultimately passed.
As an earlier campaign finance report said: "[c]ampaign money -- not votes -- is now the currency of our democracy, determining who is able to run a viable campaign for office, who usually wins, and who has the ear of elected officials."3 This explains to us better than anything else why, despite the general agreement that we face a crisis of health insurance coverage and affordability, the Legislature has consistently been unable to pass even common-sense incremental steps to
address the health care crisis, such as reining in escalating health insurance rates and profits that gouge consumers.
This report examines the role of contributions by health insurance interests in blocking regulation of health insurance rates in the New York State Legislature, and particularly the State Senate, despite the high cost to New Yorkers of the rapid escalation of health insurance premiums. We find a strong correlation between campaign contributions and State Senate opposition to reforms that would benefit health insurance consumers, including the reinstitution of rate regulation.4 The report concludes that campaign finance reform, particularly full public funding of campaigns, is necessary to reduce the undue influence of corporate contributors on the legislative process.
New York State reduced its regulation of health insurance rates and profits in the late 1990s. Since then, health insurance rates have risen rapidly, as have insurance company profits, as summarized in section IV. In response, legislation (A.7485/S.2740) was introduced to restore significant oversight of health insurance rates and industry profits. The bill would require prior approval of rate increases by the New York State Insurance Department, public hearings for increases of greater than 5%, and greater limitations on profits. The rate regulation bill was passed by the State Assembly every year from 1998 to 2006, but never passed by the State Senate. We looked at campaign contributions by health insurance interests -- providers of health insurance and their representatives such as trade groups and PACs -- to the State Senate and the State Assembly and found that health insurance interests alone contributed $900 thousand to the State Legislature from 2003 to 2007. We also found that Senate Republicans received more than three times the campaign contributions from health insurance interests as the Assembly Democrats in the 2003 to 2007 period: $618 thousand as compared to $178 thousand.
At the same time as they were receiving the lion's share of insurance industry contributions, former Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and his Republican colleagues failed to pass insurance rate regulation. The Senate's failure to pass this proposal has meant that New Yorkers have had to pay large health insurance rate increases. This is a clear example of how New York State's "pay-toplay" campaign finance system is taking money out of the pockets of New Yorkers by preventing pro-consumer legislation from passing. The investment the health insurance industry makes in campaign contributions is paid many times over in the form of higher profits. To consumers, the cost of the state's failure to act is measured in higher rates, and in some cases, inability to afford any insurance, and poorer health outcomes.
This pattern of money and influence also demonstrates why supporters of health insurance reform cannot just work on health insurance legislation to achieve their goals. They must also address New York's "pay-to-play" system, which one veteran Albany reporter described as a "system that allows lobbyists to buttonhole a lawmaker at the Capitol at 4:00 pm to discuss an issue, then write him a check three hours later at a fund-raiser held just across the street."5 This system gives health insurance industry interests an unfair advantage over consumers through campaign contributions. This report therefore calls for passage of clean elections, full public financing of campaigns ("clean elections"), which would enormously help to even the power imbalance between the industry and consumers.
Want to know why our health insurance is so expensive? It is because the insurance industry has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to make sure that it stays that way. They are paying our lawmakers to stop them from doing anything about our skyrocketing health insurance premiums.
Want to know who is number two on the insurance companies money list? (Only one senator has taken more money from the insurance companies)
Kemp Hannon!
Kemp Hannon has taken $58,750 from the insurance companies that want to keep our premiums sky high!
Enough is ENOUGH!


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By: Danielle Coty (friend of the Course of Horror)
My journey to reading Horrorstor began when I became hooked on reading Grady Hendrix's reviews of "Under the Dome." His intensely sarcastic reviews, which became more desperate as the show went on, made me laugh. Even though I didn't watch the show, I became invested in the weekly articles. When the season ended I discovered he had written a horror book.
As soon as I looked at the book I knew I had to get it. Its vibrant layout appeared remarkably similar to an Ikea catalog. At this time I only saw the front cover, and I didn't catch the creepy undertones. I saw a cheerfully colored couch, not the screaming face that looms out of the picture frame on the wall above it. It wasn't until later that I gave the back cover a thoughtful glance. Then my roommate and I went through the chapter pages before I read the book. Each one features an item with a fake-swedish name on the blue Ikea layout. But the descriptions of the items become increasingly sinister.
Yet when I sat down to read the book I still was not fully aware that it was a horror book. Instead the book starts off mocking Ikea. The new employees are trained to guide customers along the "Bright and Shining Path," a route that has been engineered to make customers most likely to buy items. One could argue Ikea is naturally horrifying. In fact, the Wall Street Journal even published an entertaining article about how purchasing and assembling Ikea furniture has led to couples breaking up.
Despite the fact that Horrorstor includes torture, ghostly possession, and what might be categorized as zombies, I thought the scariest message was about the consequences of being trapped in a terrible job forever. With steady pressure to choose the right career, many college students fear that instead of finding a job that will inspire and support them, they will be trapped in a mindless daze for forty hours a week. The analogy Hendrix draws between working at Orsk and being a prisoner in an authoritarian prison with a devilish warden is rather obvious, but I don't think the book suffers from that. Instead it made me think of my experience straightening shelves for hours after the store had closed, making it appear perfect so that customers could return to wreak their usual havoc in the morning. While some people may have found such a task rewarding, such as Ruth Anne in Horrorstor, I quickly figured out that job was not right for me.
Even if most of the events in Horrorstor are not everyday concerns, and being kidnapped by zombie-inmates is not high on my personal list of fears, Hendrix makes them more frightening by placing them in something that seems normal and everyday. With the sinister plot of Horrorstor hidden behind its colorful cover, it has been easy for me to recommend it to numerous friends. Sitting on a table, it appears ever-so enticingly like an Ikea catalog while the story within waits to snag unsuspecting readers. Even in the unlikely case that you dislike the book (so far everyone has loved it) I guarantee your next trip to Ikea will feel quite strange.


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Before explaining how to connect to a Web service using Cocoa, you have to understand what is Web Service.
A Web Service is a site that contains methods and functions that can be consumed by other applications or websites. And whukeeping my methods and functions in the web service when I can have them in my application or website?
Sometimes you need to maintain the methods and functions outside of our application, when you need several applications or sites, re-use the same methods and web service functions, and not replicated for each application.
There are two types of web services
SOA. - Are the services that use a base architecture of communication messages.
ROA. - Are the services that use resources (resources) and communication based architecture, which is an implementation of REST, using technologies like XML, JSON, XHTML, plists.
Now going to the point in question, let's see how you can connect to a type of Web Service REST ...
For HTTP you can perform the following orders:
In this case we will make a GET request to the service, so we need to follow the following steps:
- Know the web service information such as your address URI, or the methods that we check, and their respective parameters
HTTP-Request Ordering
-Obtain and crumble the result
The result that we will get will be something like this:
- <results>
- <head>
- <name>Nicolas</name>
- <entity>2</entity>
- <date>Tues Jun 07 06 GMT 2011</date>
- <description>Example of response</description>
- <method>ObtenerInformacion</method>
- <lon>-73.993525</lon>
- <title>iPhone Example</title>
- <url>http://iphoneexample:7074/.....</url>
- </head>
- </results>
Since we know that we're going to find once you make the request to the web service, let's move to write code:
- / / We set the web service URI (Remember that the @ is always strings below)
- NSString *urlWebService = @"http://ejemploiphone:7074/...";
- / / Create an NSURL object with the web service
- NSStringEncoding encoding;
- NSError *error;
- NSURLResponse *response;
- NSError *error;
- NSMutableURLRequest *urlRequest = [NSMutableURLRequest requestWithURL:url];
- //Handle the request
- NSData *urlData = [NSURLConnection sendSynchronousRequest:urlRequest returningResponse:&response error:&error];
- NSURLConnection *connection = [NSURLConnection connectionWithRequest:urlRequest delegate:self];


text:
let it snow
Jeni Mc Friday, December 16, 2016 5 comments
I wanted it to be a c and s card so stamped it on to the card . I coloured it with Promarkers and coloured stickles . To complete the card I added Liquid Pearl snow ,a 3d snowflake and peel off border and sentiment .
I would like to enter this card into the following challenge(s) ----------
5 comments:
A gorgeous creation for our Black and White plus One theme at Penny Black and More challenge Jenny, many thanks for joining in.ReplyDelete
There are a few day's left if you've not joined in for the chance of winning a Crossover die cutting machine here
B x
Lovely card, thanks for joining us at Cutie Pie Challenge A Day in the Snow theme. Merry Christmas and cheers Sue N xReplyDelete
Sweet card Jen...love that border. Thanks for playing along with us at The Cutie Pie Challenge. Pat K xReplyDelete
Thanks for joining Penny Black & More @ Allsorts challenge with this great entry, good luck.ReplyDelete
Happy crafting
Tracy x
So lovely and cute card!ReplyDelete
Thank you for sharing at Penny Black and more.
Wishing you Happy New Year;-))m


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Nobel Peace Prize could have helped Zimbabwe....
Yes, a huge missed opportunity...
And who should have gotten the prize?
....Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, who had been tipped as a favorite for the prize, told Reuters that Obama was a deserving candidate and an "extraordinary example."
He is being polite. When the Nobel committee gave the prize to Obama, in spite of the fact that he has no accomplishment other than getting elected, it robbed Zimbabwean labor leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Tsvangirai became the Zim PM earlier this year after enduring over a decade of frame-up charges, beatings, assassination attempts, fraudulent elections--and the murder of hundreds of pro-democracy activists by the genocidal socialist Mugabe regime.
The Nobel committee bypassed an opportunity to shine an international spotlight on the struggle of the Zimbabwean people against dictatorship and the socialist demolition of what was once one of the most prosperous countries in Africa.


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Next week ... the box/container collection (mostly David's). That is intense!
Week after that ... woven baskets!
Here is a little sample of my collection. Goodwill finds that I simply could not leave behind:
My mom's tortoise glass bowl she bought in Malta in the 70's.
This is an very old pottery bowl I found in a vacant house next door to us in Malta, circa 1970's. It has something stamped on the side. (Glazed on the inside).
This is a small (hand-painted?) Scandinavian bowl I found so long ago in an junk store in San Angelo, Texas.
Bought this lovely footed bowl at a Mountlake Terrace street fair from the artist.
Not really a bowl but I use it for one. Found at some junk store 1990's.


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The cats help the visitors to chill whilst in their company but not one of them has yet to pay the bill. There has been a rumour going around that a mother cat and her kitten dined there and had an arguement about the bill paying which turned into a furious spat and fur flying. They haven't miaowed to each other for several days now.
Meanwhile I'll continue to cuddle my neighbours' cats for free.
Me and Mr Harris -san.


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Here's a great TEDx talk about Improvising and how it relates to everyone, not just performers. Good life lessons! (shout out to fellow Level 2 Automatic Improve student Surriya Colleen for posting this on Facebook)
A couple of short, entertaining dog videos. One puppy looks smart; the other, not so much.
This is one of the most moving stories I've ever heard. Unfortunately, comedian Mike DeStefano passed way too early. But he left us a great legacy of honest, raw comedy and incredible life narratives. Give yourself a few minutes to listen to this.


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Miss Miranda Jones is indisputably the most beautiful, elegant and sought after courtesan in all of London. She hides a past full of pain and rejection beneath an exterior of pride. She knows that noblemen put their own fickle interests first and cannot be trusted. Scorned by ducal father, she never needed or expected anything from a man, except his financial support. Luxurious living makes a soothing balm against the sting of the ultimate rejection.
Now she's madly in love with a nobleman who cannot afford to keep her in such extravagant style. And she wonders if a courtesan can ever afford to indulge her own passions? Can she really gamble so capriciously on her own future and put the happiness of the moment above future security? Will her gentleman prove himself no better than any other nobleman that she has known?
Adrian Sutherland, the Earl of Danvers, has seen the men of his family destroyed through their obsessive need to possess beautiful women. He'd always thought himself immune to such unworthy drives. Now he's fallen under the spell of Miss Miranda Jones.
Miss Jones' high standards and past reputation foretells that she'll be a most demanding mistress. Despite his relative lack of funds, Adrian is determined to work hard to protect and provide for her. Passion led this skeptical gentleman to declare himself in love. Yet as they enter a protector and mistress relationship, Adrian finds himself consumed with possessiveness. And he can't help but wonder if is it true love that motivates him? Or is it the need to own her stunning beauty? He must find the answer before their tempestuous romance breaks both of their hearts.
A Most Demanding Mistress is part of the Fashionably Impure Series and is best read after Miranda's Dilemma.
Reader advisory: This story contains frank sexual language and general bedchamber naughtiness. Abuse issues are alluded to in the backstory.
This book is the second in the series , and wrote from two points of view, We meet Miranda a courtesan , she . she is the courtesan that every body is after. she is beautiful and elegant and she uses this to her advantage . She has had a very rough life of pain and rejection which she hides well. Miranda doesnt trust anyone and but she uses the men around her so she can live a luxurious life she is used to living.
Miranda finds she is madly in love with a man but worries, he wont be give her the life she is used to. She struggles with her inner demons trying to decide if it is all worth the risk to give up on the life she has known. is this nobleman going to be worth the risk.
Adrian is the earl of Danvers , hes watched the men in his family struggle with the need to possess beautiful women. Adrian was adamant he wasnt going to be the same but he hadnt counted on meeting Miranda Jones .
Adrian knows from the stories he has heard about Miranda that she will be very demanding.Adrian knows its going to be hard work but he is going to do all thats in his power to provide for the woman he is falling in love with.As they start up there relationship Adrian stuggles with the nee to possess Miranda and keep him for him self. Adrian has to work through what his feeling for Miranda means before it destroys the both of them
Yet another amazing read from Natasha, beautifully written as all of her books tend to be. it gives you a look from both Adrian's and Miranda's point of view and easily drags you into there story. you cant be timid to read Natasha's books as they are very erotic and they will have your tummy doing back flips in response. I really REALLY recommend everyone reads this story. you will not be sorry and it be a very pleasant experience.


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By DAKOTA FINCHER
Aries (March 21-April 19)
Taking risks is your specialty. Go ahead and do what you've been wanting. Just don't get too cocky with it. No one likes a showoff.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and you're exactly it. Take that skill with you always, because not a lot of people have it. It's a good look for you.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
You're quick to say the first word and last, nice. Go ahead and continue being the life of the party, and don't think too much. That'll destroy your good time.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
Understandably, you don't open up easily. We get it. Try. It might be your biggest challenge yet. But there could be some unexpected beauty behind those doors.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
Now. The time is now. Do what you want and never look back. The only thing in the way is you. Yes, curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back.
Virgo (Aug. 23- Sept. 22)
You know exactly what you're doing and that in itself deserves applause. Don't get lost in that fact. Let your hair down, literally or not. Sorry if you're bald.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Being the kind, gentle sweetheart you are, you constantly put others before you. Stop. Right. There. It is your turn to have the talking stick. Just make sure it's worth the time.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov.21)
You've got heart, kid. I'll give you that among other things. The word "greatness" was named after you. Don't let us down. We know what you're capable of.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec.21)
Take your curious energy and do what you please with it. There is an entire world out there waiting for you. Are you ready?
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan.19)
Stop. You're doing it again, constantly being the man (or woman) with a plan. As Taylor Swift once said, "The best people in life are free."
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
What's supposed to be negative about you is how unpredictable you can be. BS. That can be used to beautiful advantages. Yes, that is a challenge.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
You selfless person, you. Take a minute and look at the big picture. Don't forget about yourself. You're more important than you know.


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Monday, February 21, 2011
Just Another Manic Monday
Oh great now I am going to have that song stuck in my head for the rest of the day and I don't have anyone to blame but myself. LOL For you regular followers my daughter made it back from Florida and had a fabulous time, and as you can see I survived as well, but just barely....I missed her!!! So basketball season is over and baseball season hasn't quit started yet(I'm not counting registration)so it's that limbo time where I feel like I am supposed to be somewhere but I'm not, but shhhh don't tell anyone because they might come up with someplace for me to be. If you have not figured it out yet the is Nikki Duncan's Sensory Ops week . WOO HOO Welcome Nikki!!! I met Nikki a few years ago at RAW and I happen to think she is one of the nicest, funniest people around, so if you have not read her books now would be a great time to start. The first book in the series is Sounds to Die By and that would be where we will begin this week.
Sounds to Die By, Nikki Duncan, Samhain Publishing, October 2009
Rookie FBI Agent Kieralyn Beckett is in a delicate position. Her team refuses to buy into her theory that a string of kidnappings is connected. If she pushes too hard, they'll discover the latest victim was her college roommate and boot her off the case. A garbled recording is the only evidence, and there's only one man who can decipher it. The hard part will be convincing him to take the case.
Blinded as a child, NSA "listener" Ian Cabrera spends the majority of his time analyzing data while secretly searching for his father, a missing CIA operative. His plate is full, but Kieralyn's passion and determination, as well as the erotic beat of her heart, spark his interest. So does the mention of his father's code name on her recording.
There's only one way to follow this new crumb-trail of clues without tipping her off about what he's really after. Convince her she needs him to be her undercover partner, despite his handicap. Between her eyes and his ears, they make one beautifully orchestrated team. Every time they touch, though, the arousal they generate creates one red-hot element of distraction…
When Kieralyn Beckette's best friend disappears and the only clue is a bad recording she won't take no for an answer from NSA listener Ian Cabrera. She needs his help to prove that her friend is part of a kidnapping ring. Her FBI team won't beleive the kidnappings are connected and he is her only hope of convincing them that they are. She is determind to have him listen to the recording to find the evidence that she needs to convince her team before they realize that she has a personal interest in the case. So she sweet talks her way past Ian's security and finally convinces him to listen to the recording. He helps her break down the converstions on the recordings but Kieralyn knows he is holding something back.
When Ian Cabrera agrees to help Kieralyn with her recording he had no idea how it was going to change his life. While listening he hears the name "El Dogo" which was his fathers undercover name before he went missing, and was presumed dead, several years before. Ian can't believe his father would be involved in a human trafficking ring but he also never thought his father would just leave his family. Instead of giving all of the information to Kieralyn he decides to investigate it himself.
While both characters are incredibly independant they cannot ignore the instant and mutual attraction they have for each other. But the questions is...can they trust each other enough to solve this case and take their attraction to the next level?
I enjoyed this book for several reason. The first was the very well thought out story that is full of action and suspense. The second was the development of the realtionship between the characters, I loved that Ian was first attracted to Kieralyn because of her heartbeat. The incredibly descriptive way that Ms. Duncan writes about the way that Ian "sees" was very believeable and added so much to the story line. We get enough information about the secondary characters that you want to read about what happens next for all of them. Great first novel and I couldn't wait to read the next one. I give Sounds to Die By 5 chocolate dipped strawberries.
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