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NEW YORK (AP) — NBC has signed a new production deal with prolific producer Dick Wolf, ensuring an 18th season of "Law & Order: SVU" and the continuation of his Chicago trilogy of dramas.
The deal, announced Monday, binds Wolf with NBC Universal through 2020, by which time he will likely have even more programs on the network's schedule.
Wolf had seemed close to the end of his run at NBC at the outset of this decade, with the long-running "Law & Order" franchise down to the one show. But he's come roaring back with his signature cut-from-the-headlines procedural dramas, this time focusing on Chicago.
The deal promises a second season of the newest drama, "Chicago Med." NBC had earlier renewed "Chicago Fire" and "Chicago P.D." Wolf has delivered a handful of crossover storylines where actors from one of the series appear in the others.
NBC said Wolf is also developing a fourth series, "Chicago Law." He's also at work on a reality series, "Law & Order: You the Jury," where the audience decides the verdict in a court case.
"He's been a defining voice of NBC for over a generation, and he is most welcome at this company forever," said Robert Greenblatt, NBC Entertainment chairman.
Wolf said his relationship with Greenblatt is better than he's ever had with a network chief.
"I've been in the same office, with the same phone number, for 30 years," he said. "I'm glad people won't have to learn a new one. Staying was really a foregone conclusion."
Financial terms were not disclosed.


text:
The lesbian partner of Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon has had a baby boy.
Christine Marinoni gave birth to baby Max Ellington Nixon-Marinoni yesterday.
The couple had not revealed they were expecting a baby, and have not released any details about the child's biological father.
A spokesperson for Cynthia and Christine said: 'Christine and baby are doing great'.
Cynthia - who plays no-nonsense lawyer Miranda Hobbs in Sex and the City - already has two children with her ex partner Danny Morzes, who she was living with when she met Christine in 2002.
They had been together for 15 years when she met 43-year-old Christine at an education rally.
Speaking about her sexual identity at the time, she said:
'In terms of sexual orientation I don't really feel I've changed. I'd been with men all my life, and I'd never fallen in love with a woman. But when I did, it didn't seem so strange. I'm just a woman in love with another woman.'
Cynthia and Christine live in Manhattan with Cynthia's two children Samantha, 14, and Charles, eight. She recently said her children now also call Christine 'Mommy'.
She told The Advocate magazine: 'Maybe I'm just lucky, but I feel like Christine is so amazing with our kids - because they're our kids.'
The pair hope to marry in New York if and when same-sex marriage becomes legal there.
What do you think about this story?
Were you surprised to hear of a celebrity-baby story that hadn't already been doing the rounds for 9 months?
Related stories:
Baby boy for Elton John and David Furnish
The lesbian partner of Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon has had a baby boy.

subset: commoncrawl


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Imagine Dragons to Play Founder's Day Concert
Update (2/5/2013:) Tickets for Imagine Dragons will be available beginning on Tuesday, February 5 in Alumni Hall in the HUB from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All tickets are free and are limited to one per student with a valid Penn State ID.
Indie rock band Imagine Dragons (@Imaginedragons) will perform at Penn State for the annual Founder's Day concert on February 20 at 8 p.m. in Alumni Hall. The Vegas based band will play for free thanks to a joint effort between SPA and the Lion Ambassadors — the same duo that brought in fun. for last year's Founder's Day celebration.
Imagine Dragons was one of the top acts on the Movin' On shortlist, so their addition to the Founder's Day celebration makes the potential Movin' On lineup even more interesting.
The group is known primarily for their hits "It's Time" and "Radioactive." More details on the concert are to come, but here are two videos to get you excited:
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Monday, April 24, 2006
Mumps Outbreak From Sick Travelers
19 comments:
- AJ said...
Why would they do anyone a favor? It's all about them.
- Melissa said...
It's the "I don't care anymore about everyone else. I just need to go home" syndrome.
On one hand, you can understand how it feels. However, it also is very irresponsible since being contained inside an airplane will definitely mean that the disease will be spread.
Unfortunately, the percentage of selfless/responsible passengers would probably be less than those who'd think of others first.
- Astroprof said...
An aircraft is the perfect place to spread airborne disease. Sadly, not thinking about the risk to others when flying while ill is part of the epedimic of not thinking about anyone else that seems to be the theme of modern society.
However, does the airline offer any sort of refund or transfer of ticket to a passenger who voluntarily does not fly due to illness? Or, would such a passenger have to eat the price of the ticket or perhaps pay a stiff fee to change the date of the flight?
I would gladly do this if the air travel industry wouldn't charge me a fortune for doing so. Like most leisure travelers, I buy deeply-discounted advance-purchase tickets.
You show up at the airport the day of travel, feel a little -- but not too much -- off, and think, "Gee, I can play it safe...or I can avoid spending $150-$1000 for a new ticket." What are you gonna do?
(And, yeah, it really can be that much, because you have to pay the $150+ change fee on top of the difference in airfare, and last-minute fares ain't remotely cheap.)
Certainly it's not a completley trivial proposal, because you have to watch out for business travellers using this as a low-cost "change ticket" option and so on. But penalizing people hundreds or thousands of dollars just because they're trying to help other people stay healthy is not OK.
(P.S.: Fly Girl, believe me, I realize you don't set these rules. ;-) I'm just trying to offer up some constructive ideas to the multi-millionaires that do...)
- Fly Girl said...
Astroprof: I don't know what happens if you call the airlines and tell them that you are too sick too travel. I'd be curious to know how it would be handled. Has anyone done this?
Andrew: You make lots of valid points. Most of them come under the title, "If I ran the airlines. . . ."
- Teresa Valdez Klein said...
I tend to agree with Andrew. I've tried to avoid flying while sick, but there's not much for it when the airline industry wants an arm and a leg to make changes to my itinerary.
To be considerate of my fellow passengers if I'm flying while sick, I always make sure to bring along a surgeon's mask, and I keep it on the whole flight. I also bring hand sanitizer and plenty of virus trapping tissues.
- Teresa Valdez Klein said...
Oh, and once when I really was too sick to fly, I tried to get Alaska to change my ticket - and they did charge me.
- Fly Girl said...
Teresa: I wonder if you produced a physician's note which indicated that you were contagious and unable to fly how the airline would have handled it. This is an area beyond my expertise, so I'm just ruminating here.
It seems like the airlines can tell you that you are sick and they won't transport you. TSA can tell you that you are sick and can't fly. But what are the individual rights of the passenger to remove themselves from the very situation that everyone else wants them (and has the authority to) removed from?
It's a interesting question and,unfortunately, one that I'm unable to investigate and still preserve my anonymity.
Any takers to launch this a research project?
You will certainly be charged the change fee (usually around $100) plus any difference in fare - which can be substantial, especially if you're travelling on deeply discounted coach fares - if the change or desire to fly is "voluntary" or done by the you the passenger. While it can seem unfair, I'm sure the issue is that if this weren't the case you would have tons of travelers buying discounted, non-refundable, coach fares and just say that they are sick when they want to change flights at the last minute. Certainly an imperfect system.
I would imagine however, that if the airline involuntarily bumped you from a flight, they would put you on another flight without the change fees and/or fare differences. This is definitely the case when a passenger is involutarily bumped due to other reasons such as overbooking, etc... they are placed on another flight without having to pay the change fees/penalties. The real issue is that you can't PLAN on taking a different flight due to illness, you can only be "forced" if you want to avoid any fees.
I'm pretty sure that there are ways to avoid the fees without going all the way to the gate and getting denied boarding, but that is another story entirely.
As a very frequent business traveler - nearly every week - I am always wary about getting sick from fellow passengers on aircraft and do a couple of things to help prevent it. One BIG thing is VITAMINS... In fact a flight attendant a while ago told me about a fizzy vitamin drink that she and many other FAs take to increase their immunity, and it has been very helpful. The other big thing is always wash your hands... surprising how much these two easy things help.
- Fly Girl said...
Yes, I know that if you "voluntarily" change your flight that there is a change fee, plus any additional flight charges.
However, I do know that there are exceptions to that rule, depending on the carrier. My carrier, for example, does allow a "free" change if there is a death in the family. I think the person has to provide a death certificate or copy of a funeral notice or something like that.
So, my thought was that carriers may also have an exception for serious illness requiring a physician's statement or something like that. I'm sure that it wouldn't be publicized, but would be handled on a case-by-case basis by the reservation agents.
Anyone tried this or know?
I was sitting in a crowded airport one time next to this young woman on her cellphone. She kept talking about how she was running a high fever, and had been throwing up, and dizzy. She asked someone to come get her because she wasn't sure she was going to be able to drive her car home.
I got up and moved right away!
Fortunately, she wasn't on my flight, but I feel sorry for the people who were.
I'm not sure if any airline has an actual policy for bringing a doctor's note. I've never heard of one. I did know about the death issue, which isn't too uncommon.
The reality of the matter is, if I was truly too sick to fly, I would go to the airport and have a civil/friendly conversation with a ticket agent or gate agent and tell them that I was sick and then they could bump me "involuntarily". This really only works if the flight you're getting on is one that is leaving from home, if you get sick in the middle of the trip, I wouldn't think you'd want to hang out in a hotel and incur that expense until you're better, I'd bet that you'd want to get home to recuperate.
Also, thinking about it, it would only work (for the airline) if you were willing to reschedule the flight right then and there. For example, "I'm too sick to fly today, but should be ok by the day after tomorrow", and then change the ticket immediately. Leaving that type of reschedule, not to mention cancellation, open to "whenever I feel better" would not fly at all. In fact I'll bet that the death rule mentioned earlier probably doesn't give the passenger an open ended return either.
I guess sometimes doing the right thing (not flying while sick) is not the easy or cheap route... often times it's much more expensive.
You really can't reasonably expect the airlines to leave that kind of loophole open as they are a business and need to make a profit to survive... although there are a bunch of carriers now testing that theory.
By the way, I'm in complete agreement with fly girl that plane tickets are far too cheap. The pendulum has swung way too far, and it will end up hurting passengers and has already hurt service levels and the travelling experience.
I just stumbled across your blog while looking for info on flying while sick. My 5 yo son is running a fever of 104 at this moment and we are supposed to fly first thing tomorrow morning. I am struggling with the ethical and financial quandary as to what to do. I will share what I have found so far. The airline will allow me to change the fare if we pay the difference - which is not too bad in this case. They have no guideline stating he can't fly with fever or other symptoms. The Dr.'s office says he should be fever free for 24 hours before being out in public. (We are under that now.) They also pointed out that when already ill it is not only the other passengers to think about - some may be immune compromised - but also my child to think about. He is more likely to contract some other illness that someone else might have on the plane. We are leaning toward canceling at this time since the financial penalty is not too severe. I have to admit that I would be more inclined to mask him and take him on the flight if the financial penalty was more. We are on a tight budget & this trip is the first in 5 years to see a dear friend.
- Fly Girl said...
This is an easy question to answer, because the answer is, at the same time, ethical, financially prudent, medically sound, and just plain practical.
Stay home. Cancel your plans. And let your poor little five year old recover.
It won't be any fun for him to travel when he's sick. He's going to be miserable while on the plane AND at your destination. You are exposing him to further medical risk, to say nothing of the inconsideration show to fellow passengers, and the people you are visiting at your destination.
Why risk it?
I know travel is expensive, and you've saved up for this for a long time. But isn't the health of your child worth more?
There are enough things that can go wrong when you travel, and I can't understand why you would knowingly throw obstacles in you path.
Work with the airlines to cancel or change you plans. Get a doctor's verification, if needed, to reduce or eliminate change/cancellation fees.
Try again when your little one is feeling better. I hope it's soon.
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Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister and ruling Shiromani Akali Dal patron Parkash Singh Badal on Monday said his party will go by the decision of the NDA on the forthcoming presidential elections.
Badal said that as a constituent of the NDA, the SAD will back the decision taken in the context of the Presidential election.
"We are a part of the NDA and whatever decision they take, we will go with them," the 84-year-old veteran leader told reporters here during an informal chat.
"As a key ally of the NDA, the SAD is committed to support the line of action NDA takes," he further said.
Asked in case the NDA decides to back the candidature of the NCP leader P A Sangma for the President`s post, Badal said, "I have made my stand clear, which is we will follow whatever NDA thinks is best".
On being asked whether Sangma was coming to meet him to seek his party`s support, Badal said, "...I am leaving for Mansa now".
He also played down queries when asked whether his name was in contention for the post of the Vice President.
As he hurried to leave, Badal in a lighter vein said, "you can make me anything".
On June 4, Badal`s Deputy and SAD President, Sukhbir Singh Badal had said neither the NDA had offered the post of country`s Vice-President to Parkash Singh Badal nor he was interested in it.


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FREEHOLD, NJ (CBSNewYork) – Two New Jersey TRANSIT employees were arrested on Thursday for defrauding the public transportation company out of thousands of dollars in ticket fares, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.
Robert Broschart, a 49-year-old conductor from Howell, NJ, is charged with second degree official misconduct, third degree theft and third degree conspiracy. His alleged accomplice, 45-year-old Phillip Swanger from Bradley Beach, NJ, is charged with third degree theft and third degree conspiracy.
The prosecutor's office said that it conducted a seven-month investigation before arresting the alleged perpetrators. According to police, the investigation began when law enforcement authorities received tips that certain passengers were not paying their ticket fares on NJ TRANSIT's North Jersey Coast Line.
Broschart and Swanger are accused of recruiting passengers to ride the train and not having them purchase a ticket, allowing them to pay Broschart and Swanger at a reduced rate. Prosecutors say that the employees then pocketed the cash.
In an effort to fool onlookers and avoid any potential suspicion, the police say that Broschart and Swanger mimicked punching and approving passenger's tickets.
"NJ TRANSIT employees who abuse their authority and criminally violate the public trust will be held accountable and charged for their illegal actions," NJ TRANSIT Chief of Police Christopher Trucillo said in a statement. "The public should be aware that purchase of NJ TRANSIT tickets should only be made through authorized vendors."
If convicted, Broschart faces up to 10 years in prison for the official misconduct charge, and Swanger faces up to five years in prison for the theft and conspiracy charge.
Have you ever witnessed corruption like this when commuting? Is it more common than people think? Share your experiences below…


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Billy and Saxon Roberts are hard working people living in Oakland. When a issue erupts between the San Francisco bricklayers and the Oakland bricklayers, it leads to a riot that pulls both Billy and Saxon into the frantic fray. When the commotion settles down, Billy and Saxon realize that the growing labor unrest will only get worse and decide to find a safer place to live. They eventually find it -- in the Valley of the Moon.
Jack London was an adventurer and writer during the early 20th century. He wrote such classical works as Call of the Wild and White Fang, both of which were inspired by his year in Alaska as a gold prospector. Valley of the Moon is where Jack London eventually settled to raise record crops and champion livestock.
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Sunday, 21 December 2014
14 comments:
Two gorgeous cards Jan.xxxReplyDelete
They are both beautiful but I love the first one :-)ReplyDelete
Two lovely cards Jan! (and I think the snowman below is fab!! )ReplyDelete
These are gorgeous Jan, love the images.ReplyDelete
Linda xxx
Hi Jan, two fantastic cards Hope you have a Happy Christmas and all the best for the New YearReplyDelete
Janet xxx
Beautiful cards Jan........but I'm a sucker for Pion papers!!! 😄 The link you've given for Chloe isn't working..........any chance of checking it out please?ReplyDelete
Karen x
Fabulous Jan especially like the first one, very classy. hugs Jennifer xxReplyDelete
Two gorgeous cards Jan, I especially like the Reindeer one.ReplyDelete
Hi Jan both of these cards are gorgeous. Hugs JackieReplyDelete
Hi Jan, I love both of these cards but the deer card is definitely my favourite, it is just beautiful. I just love deer. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. Hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas.ReplyDelete
Hugs Jennifer xx
Both are fabulous cards Jan and I love the papers xReplyDelete
Gorgeous cards.ReplyDelete
Gorgeous card. I totally love that bow. AwesomeReplyDelete


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these are the latest two blocks, a bias binding vine and leaves(which arent actually appliqued on yet, but i am still working on it tonight) and a flying geese. i was really happy with how the geese turned out, i was afraid i wouldnt have nice points but all five have them! woohoo! tomorrow i am going to try liberated churn dash and shoofly.
this is what i have so far.
last nite i was able to go to wisconsin to visit with my niece(sisters daugher) and her little boy, then go to my nephews(brothers son) graduation. the class was rather small at 67 students but it was a really nice ceremony. afterward they had a little reception where the kids all had boards up with pix and accomplishments. after cruising the sweets buffet, i had a yummy pink cupcake and pink lemonade. we were just standing around taking pix and looking at the kids boards and i noticed something. my brother was the shortest one out of his son, and wife and him. i always thought he was kind of tall.... boy just goes to show you we are all aging, whether we like it or not. another thing i noticed, the older he gets the more he looks like my dad. i was never close to my dad as my mom and him got a divorce when i was a baby, and i hold a grudge but good. when i had my daughter tho i realized its hard to be a parent and i had forgiven him, for whatever i thought he had done to me. we were starting to get close and have a relationship, but sadly he died when my daughter was two. i just wanted to say happy birthday daddy, i miss you and im sorry i missed your birthday. im off to go blubber my eyes out now.


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brown butter maple pecan pie {sms}
7 comments:
Hey, this was great pie so that slice above would go a long way. This looks delicious. And I agree, the flavor was beautifully understated - now my go to pecan pie recipe.ReplyDelete
Your plate is so pretty, I love it! Glad this pie was a hit for you. I made a slightly different recipe this week, but hope to try the one in the book soon.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 21, 2010 at 6:10 PM
make it for the next family gathering, says your older brother!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 21, 2010 at 7:41 PM
Your pie looks great!ReplyDelete
Love the slice and love the plate! :) Nice job!ReplyDelete
Beautiful! I laughed when I read your comment about trying to save a piece for photographing. I am always trying to do the same.ReplyDelete
Your pie looks great! And I'm not laughing at the small slice at all, because I sent the pie to work with my fiance and there was hardly a crumb left - his co-workers LOVED it.ReplyDelete
I didn't know how I'd feel about chocolate in pecan pie until I tried Dorie's pecan pie last year and now I'm convinced it's the way to go.


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We are looking forward to your visit!
Your hosts
For over 25 years we have been working on and in our dream: this hotel and restaurant. And we have always tried to discover new ways to make your stay even more pleasant and comfortable.
We are very glad to have you as our guests.
Heidi and Beat Soltermann
Restaurant Team
- Barbara Häfliger: Chef de Service, since 2011
- Alena Langenegger: Chef de Service, since 2002 (with break)
- Manuela Fankhauser: restaurant specialist,
since 2000 (with break)
- Daniela Neuenschwander: hotel specialist, since 2012
- Julia Burger: restaurant specialist, since 2012
- Nicole Christen: apprentice 3nd year
- Eliane Sommer: apprentice 3nd year
- Mirjam Riedwil: apperntice 1st year
- Bethli Schranz: ouer goot soul
Kitchen Team
- Andrea Felder: Chef de cuisine, since 2010
- Lisi Wenger: Chef de partie saucier, since 1992
- Michael Gfeller: cook, since Mai 2015
- Cornel Schöpfer: cook, since February 2018
- Thomas Truffer: cook, since April 2018
- Madlen Rentsch: apprentice 2st year
- Raija Lanz: apprentice 1st year
Your host at the Hotel Emmental
Margrith Emmenegger
For more than 6 years Margrith has been managing Hotel Emmental with passion and meticulous attention to detail. She and her friendly team are doing everything to make your stay a wonderful experience and to fulfill your wishes.
Hotel Team
- Margrith Emmenegger: Hotel manager
- Leonora Lipp: apprentice 2st year
- Dario Zaugg: apprentice 1st year
- Doris Fankhauser: Hauskeeping, since 2013
- Sherife Sejdija: Hauskeeping, since 2013
- Jarka Zurflüh: Bier garden employee, since 2016
- Monika Richener: Bier garden employee, since 2015


text:
Playing By Her Rules {Book Look} by nobentspines featuring red shoes
My Two Cents
I got an email about this book from the publisher. Hell, is it how or what? *fans self*
That skirt and that clutch. They are actually everything I've ever wanted. I don't know about you, but I would wear this thing everywhere. Loooove. Love. Love. Loooooove.
Please. Give me. It all.
About the Book
In this grudge match, the first to score…
When style columnist Matilda Kent accidentally lets slip that she was once involved with the captain of the Sydney Smoke rugby team, she suddenly finds herself elevated to the position she's always wanted – feature writer. The catch? She's stuck doing a six-part series on her ex. Still, there's no way she can turn down a promotion…or the chance to dish the dirt on the guy who so callously broke her heart.
…could win it all!
Tanner Stone wants to be involved in a feature series about as much as he wants to snap an Achilles. But the thought of seeing Tilly again is a bonus—and has him more worked up than he wants to admit. Only he's not prepared for how different she is – all cool and professional. His Tilly is still in there, though…and he still wants her, now more than ever. All he has to do is charm her into giving him a rematch. And this time, winner takes all!


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[Continuing Art Discussion Month 2010. 31 days, 31 artists, a whole lot of discussion. The explanation behind my choice of comics and the archive can be found here.]
Reload #1-3. Written by Warren Ellis. Pencilled by Paul Gulacy. Inked by Jimmy Palmiotti. Coloured by Guy Major.
Funny how Black Summer got all sorts of notice for killing the President when this series begins the same way. Sure, it's not Bush and it's a not a superhero doing it, but still. Another high concept book: Chris Royal is Secret Service and the President was just killed by a mystery assailant. In investigating what happened, he notices inconsistencies in what the official story will be and is kidnapped by the assassin, a woman named Kiva, and she tells him why she did it. Turns out, a while back, the mob began worming its way into politics, figuring that was a good way to run business and, now, they had complete control of the White House without anyone knowing. She was trained to be a government assassin and hates who she's been taking orders from, so she killed the President and now wants to kill his Chief of Staff along with the rest of the Presidential team. Royal goes along with it. Mob takes over government, so government assassin kills them all. Lovely.
Gulacy's art isn't really like anyone's who I've looked at so far this month. He's very good at showing movement in a dynamic, interesting manner. He doesn't use any standard page layouts, changing it up to suit his needs at the time. His faces have a unique look to them, but I'm not sure how I would describe them other than 'they look like Paul Gulacy faces.' He uses a lot of shadows. He doesn't always use panel borders, having two pictures take place within what we think of as the same panel, but still look separated.
The sequence where the President is assassinated is stunning. Over two pages:
Page 1. Divided into three tiers. Top and bottom tiers are roughly 1/3 the height of the middle tier. The middle tier has one picture that takes up the space with two narrow, long panels laid at the top left and bottom right corners. So, five panels. The first two panels are shots of the President delivering his speech, first from a head-on view from way in the back of the crowd, then from just to the President's right, maybe five feet away. Third panel is the big one with the second and fourth panels overlaid -- it shows the bullet flying through the air, coming at an angle towards us. The fourth panel shows it about three inches from the President's forehead. The fifth has it about to hit him, seemingly between the eyes. We're right behind the bullet and the President has almost a cross-eyed look as if he sees the bullet coming and is thinking "Ah fuck..."
Page 2. Three panel, same proportions of the tiers, but the first and third panels go all the way to the edge of the page. First panel, heavy blacks, a little sketchy, a behind view of the President's brains being blown out. Second panel has those brains literally hitting the American flag behind him (which is hung on its side, so the stripes go vertically) with some of the brains and blood dripping down to the third panel, covering the President's head as he lays dead, SS agents all around. Go breaking of the panel border for a kind of shocking and graphic visual.
Chris Royal is drawn in an interesting fashion. He's got this look of a bit of a fuckaround about him. In the first issue, in one panel, I just get the sense from how he looks that he'd rather be somewhere else. He looks like the sort of guy that joined the SS because he believed in something, but that's deteriorated as he's had to deal with the bullshit that goes along with the job -- and who exactly he's tasked to protect. That doesn't mean he slacks on the job, it just means he doesn't look happy with his lot in life.
His action scenes use a lot of different layouts and perspectives. In those scenes more than any others, though, he seems to stick to panel borders. He's more inclined to have panels overlap slightly or have a larger image in the background with panels overlaid than have figures break the borders -- though the second issue is very confined compared to the first and third. In some cases, he does break the borders, often to give it a chaotic effect, like having a bunch of panels with two random shots of Kiva or Royal's guns firing laid on top a little without any panel borders.
I don't know if it's in Ellis's script, but he's not afraid to use a lot of panels in his art, especially in action sequences to show the more minute moments and movements, giving them a quicker pacing as a result.
He generally uses a thin line, but that breaks up in places. I don't know if it's too thin and doesn't print well, but, sometimes, characters aren't fully drawn in spots because the line just disappears. But, usually, when he works with heavier shadows, the lines are thicker and more lush, avoiding that trap.
Guy Major's colours are pretty similar to David Baron's, but a little darker. Since a lot of the comic takes place at night, there's a general level of shadow and lack of light in the colour tones. Even in the daytime, nothing gets too bright or shiny.
Tomorrow: Tokyo Storm Warning #1-3 by James Raiz.
Come Again
2 hours ago


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Kim Kardashian is Europe-bound! The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star was spotted arriving at LAX airport with her daughter North West and 12 suitcases in tow.
Kim, or Keeks as she likes to be known, is set to marry her fiancé Kanye West next weekend in a lavish ceremony in Florence, Italy. But first, Kim K is heading to Paris where the couple will host their rehearsal dinner for family and friends.
When she pitched up at the Los Angeles airport pushing baby North in a pram, the 33-year-old was wearing a black leather blazer and a black jumpsuit and sunglasses.
For months the world believed that the couple would marry in the French capital, but last week it emerged they had booked a 16th century fortress called Fort Belvedere in Florence.
But according to Mail Online, Italian officials have said Kim and Kanye's wedding will not include a legally binding ceremony. Does that mean the couple have already exchanged vows in California?
A spokeswoman for Florence City Council apparently said authorities hadn't received a request for a civil contract, which under Italian law has to be registered well in advance.
Meanwhile, Kanye has been busy explaining the couple's connection to the Italian city. Basically, he believes North was conceived there. Too much information, eh?!
Speaking to Le Nazione newspaper, West said: "I adore Florence. I love Italy and Italian lifestyle. To tell you the truth, I already came to the bank of the Arno [river] with Kim last year, just the two of us, incognito.
"I think that our daughter North was conceived here among the Renaissance masterpieces. It was our first honeymoon. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world - for me the most beautiful in Europe."
WANT MORE KIM K? Well you're in luck...


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Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Our New Official Website!
TLM has launched it's official website. We will be winding down the blog but there is a lot more going on HERE.
Check out our stuff. Videos, photos, upcoming shows/events, or request a show!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Stale Milk & Sour Cookies IV Is Coming!
Farmington - Many believe Black Friday signals the start of the dysfunctional holiday season and they would be wrong. It really begins on December 2nd and 3rd in UMF's Lincoln Auditorium as western Maine comedians Teachers Lounge Mafia deliver Stale Milk & Sour Cookies IV, a weekend of irreverent holiday improv. All proceeds from these shows will go to Western Maine Community Action's LIHEAP heating program.
For the past three years, Teachers Lounge Mafia have welcomed in the spirits of commercialism, familial stress, and eggnog with their own peculiar brand of improv and sketch comedy. This marks the fourth installment and should be the best yet with the audience providing the ideas and TLM providing the laughs. Those who have seen the group perform at regional venues such as Calzolaio Pasta Co., 49 Franklin St., or even in support of the A-T Hope with Every Step event in Livermore Falls, can expect much of the same. And there will be some new games, and a surprise or two, on hand as well.
Stale Milk & Sour Cookies is more than just a tradition for TLM. It marks the fourth anniversary of the group's founding. Over its history, the group has raised funds for disaster relief, medical research, and other charitable causes. This year, one hundred percent of the suggested donations taken at the door will go directly to heating area homes in the form of WMCA's Low Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). With an especially brutal winter forecasted and major cuts to its federal support dollars, LIHEAP now, perhaps more than ever, needs everyone to help however they can. Teachers Lounge Mafia hopes to reward that generosity the best way it can: laughter.
The western Maine troupe consists of local comic actors Jeff Bailey, Natalie Simmons, Alex Kreitzman, Gavin Pickering, Emily Pottle, Dan Ryder, and Kyla Wheeler. Taking inspiration from Saturday Night Live, Upright Citizens Brigade, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, The State, the writings of Dr. Suess and Gene Autry as well as their own twisted comic stylings, Teachers Lounge Mafia hope to bring something different to the foothills – and still be allowed to live here.
Stale Milk & Sour Cookies IV will be held in Roberts Learning Center's Lincoln Auditorium on the University of Maine at Farmington campus. Doors open at 7 p.m. with showtime at 7:30 p.m. The show contains mature content. Suggested donations of $5 per person will be accepted at the door. For more information, visit www.teachersloungemafiaimprov.com or call 578-0357.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Portland Improv Festival THIS WEEKEND!
We've done workshops and performances at Camp Kawanhee for Boys, workshops with Pilgrim Lodge, performed for the Jay-Niles Summer Reading Camp, and brought good ol' fashioned TLM power (credit to Steve Muise for putting that word in the lexicon) at Calzolaio Pasta Co. in Wilton.
And now we get to the main event: Portland Improv Fest 2011 at the Lucid Stage in Portland, Thursday, August 11th through Sunday, August 14th. More info is here.
We will be bum rushing the stage on Friday night alongside Active Ingredients and ImprovBoston MainStage. But get there each night because there will be something amazing happening on each and every one of them.
More Teachers Lounge Mafia news coming soon including fall performances, appearance at Boston Improv Fest, and a brand new website!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Teachers Lounge Mafia Returns with Furious Vengance in August
Teachers Lounge members have been busy doing all sorts of stuff. Participating in intense workshops at Upright Citizens Brigade's Training Center in New York, directing children's summer theater, prepping film camps, guiding kayakers through New Hampshire wilderness, preparing for company audits. And that was just this past Thursday.
Like a coiled cobra, we've just been waiting to strike -- but without the poisonous fangs. Or a taste that mongoose find irresistible.
August brings two performance dates to mark on the calendars.
August 5th, we return to Calzolaio Pasta Company in Wilton for a full-on performance. Unlike past performances, this one will not feature the Italian buffet. The bar will be open, menus available, and as a result the show is a mere $5. Showtime is at 7:30 p.m. Seating is limited so get there early.
A week later, August 12th, TLM performs at the 2nd Annual Portland Improv Festival, being held at the Lucid Stage on Baxter Blvd. in Portland. We will be appearing alongside Boston-area groups Active Ingredients and ImprovBoston's Mainstage. Showtime is 8 p.m. Be certain to check out the PIF 2011 website for the rest of the line ups. Brilliant stuff from throughout New England.
And we're doing a bunch of other cool stuff as well: working with summer camps, running some workshops, and setting up a mighty fierce Teachers Lounge Mafia fall season. You'll forget all about us being awful quiet June and July.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Amazing Spring So Far . . . More to Come?
What's on the horizon? We're workshopping some new games, making some connections, and performing at a handful of private events.
PRIVATE EVENTS!?!? What? Teachers Lounge Mafia Improv is available for hire?
We sure are. Follow the link on the blog to our request form or just sling a line to teachersloungemafiaimprov at gmail.com and we will get right back to you. Birthday and graduation parties, Project Graduation, fundraisers of all sorts, workshops and showcases, summer camps, festivals and fairs, professional development and company retreats; give us a holler if you have any interest at all in having custom-built improv be part of your next gathering.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Calzolaio Sold Out!
We are looking forward to another amazing crowd -- and some seriously fantastic eats.
And if you didn't make the show, drive just a short ways down the road on Saturday the 9th for TLM Improv dinner theater at Mountain Valley Middle School in Mexico to support the RSU #10 afterschool program. $10 for a great cause. Please note: it's a full on, mature content show.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Teachers Lounge Mafia Returns to Calzolaio Pasta Co. in Wilton!
Teachers Lounge Mafia Improv Comedy Returns to Calzolaio Pasta Co. on April 8th
WILTON - Last time they landed three days early for Valentine's Day; now they are a week late for April Fool's. At some point Teachers Lounge Mafia will perform at Calzolaio Pasta Company on a date of significance. Until then, audiences will just have to be content with an evening of pasta and comedy on Friday, April 8th at the Italian restaurant located in the heart of Wilton's downtown.
Built from audience-provided suggestions, Teachers Lounge Mafia delivers improvisational games and sketches designed to yank people right out of mud season and on to higher ground. The group performs interactive games similar to those popularized on television's "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?" as well as original formats and scenes. No two shows are ever just alike. The only guarantees for the evening are high energy comedy and brilliant Italian cuisine.
For these unique evenings out, Calzolaio Pasta Company serves up an Italian buffet featuring a served salad, meat lasagna, pasta primavera, chicken parmesan, crusty Italian bread and a soft drink. A cash bar will be available as well. The event marks Teachers Lounge Mafia's return performance to the downtown Wilton eatery after a sold out show in February.
Teachers Lounge Mafia consists of local comic actors Jeff Bailey, Emily Pottle, Dan Ryder, Natalie Simmons and Kyla Wheeler. Most recently seen raising funds for the Jay PTO, Teachers Lounge have performed throughout Maine and New Hampshire, including the Portland Improv Festival. Inspired by Upright Citizens Brigade, Saturday Night Live, The State, and the works of G. Gordon Liddy and Hugh Beaumont, Teachers Lounge Mafia strives to bring something different to the foothills of western Maine and still be allowed to live here.
Tickets for matured-rated event include salad, buffet, bread, soft drink, tax and gratuity, and an extra large helping of comedy, for $20. Seating begins at 6 p.m. with food served at 6:30 p.m. Seating is extremely limited and reservations are strongly suggested by contacting Calzolaio Pasta Company at 645-9500, or e-mailing firstname.lastname@example.com.
Photo by Kaija Fellman


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A new month is here and has been for a couple of days so I thought it was the right time to introduce the oil of the month. Peppermint! Not only does peppermint have a refreshing, cool, and minty smell it also has been known to help the body with respiratory problems, improve blood circulation, has a cooling effect for pain, fever, and hives, also can be rubbed on the temple and neck for headaches, stress, nausea, and dizziness( Using Essential Oils A Beginners Guide from www.shareOils.com) This month I will add other uses for peppermint and also some great DIY recipes using this great oil!
Here is an update on the doll, she is nearly finished. However, I am not too pleased with the eye lashes. She still has to get her bottom lashes on and could really use some more hair, but I was out so just dealing with what I have. Her outfit is compliments of my grandmother who is a huge Minnie Mouse fan! My grandmother is also the proud owner of another doll that I made! Who knows maybe she will like this one more?
A quick peek at the tomatoes they are looking a lot better and starting to stand up a little more, I think they are happy with their freedom! Hopefully they will start to become even more hardy! I have been busy looking up lots of great homesteading information and will share that with you soon!


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Metroland has released a new double EP, Synthetic Sound and Synthetic Sound (Remixes), as the second single from the Belgian electronica group's album Things Will Never Sound the Same Again. The double EP continues the album's theme of remembering the friendship between the remaining Passengers and late bandmate Louis Zachert (Passenger L). The album's first single, "Under The Roof" was an ode to time spent in the studio together, while "Synthetic Sound" moves on to the music itself, paying tribute to the group's shared passion for manufactured sound. All of the remixes on the EP project were created by Metroland in order to, "contain the true spirit of their synthetic sound." The new single and remixes are now available via Bandcamp.
Website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
Alfa Matrix
Website, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp
Lizzie Marie (MenagerieMacabreArt)


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Winrun - R 380 185/70 R14 88T
|Size ?
|Load Index ?
|Speed Index ?
|In stock
Vehicle Type Passenger car
Usage Summer tyre
Brand WINRUN
Model R 380
Width 185
Height 70
Construction R (Tyre of radial construction)
Diameter 14
Load Index 88
Speed Index T (max. vehicle speed 190 Km/h)
How it works
Select a local fitting partner
Prices start at $15 per tyre. Enter your postcode to see your local fitter's prices for your car.
We will ship the tyre directly to the fitter
The fitter will contact you to arrange fitting
Quick delivery after your purchase
- July 22nd, 2018good bang for buck tyres!
- January 20th, 2018I'm a huge fan of tyroola. I love my new tyres and one of the best parts was the service I received off the guy (unsure of his name) who went above and beyond and friendly excellent service. Thank you! 5/5 stars to him.
- July 13th, 2018Unable to comment as I have not been able to drive on them yet.
- June 16th, 2018Great tyres for affordable price. Can't complain.
- May 31st, 2018get the job done without breaking the bank
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- April 12th, 2018Great value for money and excellent quality for the price. Will be using tools again great prices and so many fitting locations too!
- April 9th, 2018Great value for money, very happy with my Tyroola experience, I've recommended it to all my friends 👍
- March 14th, 2018Good tyres in all weather conditions low road noise and great price would highly recommend them
- February 19th, 2017very happy with the tyres highly recommended
- October 22nd, 2017The factory tires (Yokohama Geolander) only run ~40000kms mainly with city driving then time for replacement. The total time used for off-road driving sums no more than half a hour. Now Winrun 380 tires only cost one third of the prices for "big brand" tires recommended and quoted by experts, but I feel so good and think they meet my current requirements quite well. The new tires are passenger tires. I feel more comfortable than when using the "hard" factory original ones. Under dry and wet conditions, they are all good or better. Fuel consumption is the same or even better. I did not find it tend to be easily worn out. So far so good. Indeed, I am confused by the tire markets. Big brand tires may be over valued or this winrun tires may terribly under valued. Why are there such a gap between their prices?
- February 15th, 2017my purchase was a great experience ,the tyres are great i have only traverl a little over 200o ks since fitted but are first class for my enviroment and being able to pay via afterpay was even more fantastic and made my life easy thankyou Tyroola and afterpay i wil always appericate this ! and i will be buying my next set of new tyers from you again regards from a very greatful customer Rob
- September 20th, 2017All good
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- September 14th, 2017Great tyre for someone on a budget, excellent grip in both wet and dry conditions and reasonably quiet on the road, very happy with my purchase.
- July 8th, 2018Can't fault them. Excellent value for money. I would definitely buy them again.
- May 17th, 2018Too early to tell about the lifespan but ride quality is excellent, quiet and smooth. The price is brilliant too. I have bought two sets so far.
- November 20th, 2017Tyres seem to be ok but it is so irritating how little stones get stuck in the treads, hundreds of them! I'm not sure if this is going to affect the tyres or not. I've never had this issue with other tyres
- May 6th, 2018Excellent value. Smooth, quiet ride. Too early to judge wear rate yet, only driven a few hundred Ks. I have since bought more in a smaller size for another car.
- June 11th, 2018Good value for money, we are trialing them in our fleet to see wear over time however all good so far.
- February 1st, 2017These tyres are fitted to a 1962 Triumph Spitfire and give very good performance in all conditions, very happy and at a great price.
- February 2nd, 2018Great value for money.
- January 31st, 2017Good value, medium grip range small vehicle tyres. These tyres are good for city vehicle applications, they run quiet with reasonable handling and cornering ability. Recommended.
- January 31st, 2017Very good value for money. Sensible tyre at a great price.
- February 17th, 2017son has moved to qld wil tread wear when we get there in may
- March 22nd, 2018Had them 2 weeks and a stick went right through one tyre. Any other brand I do t think that would have happen, so they are definitely cheap. Disappointed.
- January 24th, 2017
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- July 22nd, 2018
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- February 3rd, 2018
- March 29th, 2018
- September 16th, 2017
- April 27th, 2018


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Don't get caught out by a water leak or a burst pipe.
There is no need for separate tools, the LeakMate fits round pipe sizes 10mm, 15mm and 22mm (3/8in, 1/2in & 3/4in)
See for yourself how easy the LeakMate Tool is to use with the video below
Withstockists nationwide, or you can order yours here at less than half the r.r.p.
|Eco Home Product Ltd
Rink Drive


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Seven months of the year, Northern Vermont is a cyclists paradise. For the other five, its the coldest hell anyone's ever turned a pedal in. For the 65-member Green Mountain Bicycle Club/Excite/smartFUEL racing team, this means long hours on the trainer. So many, in fact, that the ceiling panels in team director Chris Lussiers basement have buckled and drooped from the sweat humidity. Lussier shares two of the teams favorite panel-bucklers.
King-of-the-Green-Mountain Hill RepeatsTime: 45+ minutes; Gearing: 53-12; Cadence: 50-55 rpm (moderate pace); Reps: Start with one, add one every week to four; Warning: Weak knees? Stay away.
Warm Up: light spinning for 15 minutes.
Workout: Elevate front wheel to stimulate climbing position of moderate (5 percent) grade. Set resistance that puts your cadence at about 50 rpm when pedaling in highest gear. On rollers, put a towel under one cylinder. Remain seated, relax your upper body and ride at a steady tempo for 5 minutes, then stand for 5 minutes (or as long as you can without shifting into a lower gear). rest: spin lightly for 10 minutes.
Cool Down: 10 minutes in a light gear.
Kicking-the-Dog Spin SprintsTime: 1 hour+; Gearing: 39-17; Cadence: 100-125 rpm; Reps: Start with 5 or 6, build up to 10
Warm Up: light spinning for 15 minutes
Workout: Set your resistance light, but heavy enough to keep you from flying off the bike when you sprint. Sprints can be done seated or standing. Sitting allows you to attain a higher RPM, while standing provides a more realistic simulation. On rollers? Stay seated! Sprints should last 6-10 seconds. Concentrate on form and attaining the highest RPM possible. The key to this workout is focusing on pulling up and snapping over the top of the pedal stroke. Imagine kicking a dog that is nipping at your front wheel.
Rest: spin lightly for 5 minutes between each sprint.
Cool Down: 10 minutes in a light gear.


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Q: I've had sciatica for a couple of weeks now. I'd like to exercise, but I don't seem to get any better or worse whether I do or don't. Can I exercise four days a week to keep on my fitness schedule? My back doesn't hurt at all — it's just the sciatica.
A: Sciatica is a condition in which the sciatic nerve is irritated or injured. The sciatic nerve is a large nerve that travels through the buttock and into the back of the leg. So that's usually the location of the pain. The pain often feels like a shooting or burning pain. And it's often worse at night or if you're sitting on a hard surface.
Possible causes include:
1. Compression of the sciatic nerve in the lower spine from a herniated (slipped) disc
2. Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the space around the spinal cord)
3. Compression of the nerve in the buttock
4. Trauma
5. Arthritis of lower spine
In many cases, no definite cause can be found.
"Exercise" is recommended, but that usually means a stretching program and strengthening of core muscles in the lower back and abdomen. It would not include jogging, playing tennis, or any other activities that might strain or put added pressure on the tissues surrounding the sciatic nerve.
That said, it's great that you're exercising! You did not say what type of exercise you enjoy. If it doesn't cause your symptoms to get worse, the benefits of exercise may outweigh the risk of it making your sciatica worse.
Other helpful treatments for sciatica include:
1. Loss of excess weight
2. Ice
3. Avoiding sitting for too long, especially on a hard surface
4. Changing to a firmer, more supportive mattress
5. Massage, yoga, or chiropractic care
6. Pain relievers, such as ibuprofen, naproxen or acetaminophen


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There's a great tradition over many decades of folk bands stretching the boundaries to take the genre into uncharted territories, sometimes magnificently so and on other occasions patchily successful. To the former category you can add the latest album from East Anglia based trio Keltrix.
The band currently comprise singer/songwriter Keri Kel, violinist/producer Sharon Jayne Sullivan and DJ Rose Wood, all hailing from the north west but currently Cambridge based. Keri and Sharon first crossed paths in the 90's at dance club nights through a shared love of the music being played. This was several years before Keri first formed the alt folk band Keltrix which Sharon later joined. There was a modicum of success over the next few releases before the Between Storms/Beyond Storms release which proved to be the crossroads at which the band would move to the more electronic and beats focussed sound that is prevalent on this release. Where this perhaps differs from other albums pushing the envelope of folk into other territories is the background of the musicians involved. Where others may have started from the folk perspective and taken it into other areas by adding instrumentation and beats from other musical forms, band members here had a love of trip hop and rave music prior to the forage into folk music. Add in that Sharon had been playing violin since the age of about 4 and you have the heady mix that is presented in the tracks on 'Bobby Says'.
Two of the constants brought over from previous releases are the song writing and voice of Keri. Her voice has some of the vocal inflections of Stevie Nicks but with less of the gypsy woman and more of the intensity and attitude of a Patti Smith. The acoustic guitar is pretty much mothballed and replaced with an array of beats and synth sounds ranging from 80's electro pop to techno and big beat. The third constant is the wonderful violin playing, at times soaring and spiralling beautifully as on Sea Song or on occasions complimenting and synchronising with the synth sounds as illustrated perfectly on the lovely Lilacs in the Snow. The former has plenty of nautical references, the shipwreck being spoken of perhaps being an allegorical reference to a floundering relationship? The latter is quite haunting, at times the keyboards remind this listener of 'Tin Drum' era Japan.
A rather militaristic beat heralds opening track 'Butter', with a defiant violin and vocal, the whole conjuring an image of Boudica emerging from the mists of the fens and marching to defy the Roman army, though this is perhaps just as relevant in the current political climate. 'Great Leader' features some nice harmonies which balance the more aggressive beats being deployed, along with some scat type singing from Keri. Early 80's synth pop sounds (think Blancmange, early Depeche Mode, even Grace Jones) are a feature of 'Rushing' with the rhythm track gradually building momentum before imploding on itself, while 'Hide' has an urgent, throbbing pulse and careering violin to back up a full on vocal.
Final track 'Signs' opens with something akin to an air raid siren, a violin and beat that is darkly foreboding and Keri singing of 'generations' and 'honesty- what's that' before warning in increasingly frantic robotic tones 'do not fail' and eventually fading with the return of that air raid siren.
The album succeeds magnificently in its attempts to pull together several strands and in doing so create a sound that, if not unique is certainly rare, engaging and very rewarding.
The album is released digitally worldwide on March 17th. CD's are available via the bands facebook page or at gigs.
Expected: 80
Actual: 88
Recommended: 85


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By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Training going well? Irina Shayk appeared to be struggling with her disobedient dog as she took him out for a walk in New York yesterday
It's a process most dog-owners don't look forward to.
And Irina Shayk certainly appeared to be struggling as she attempted to train her dog Caesare while on a walk in New York yesterday.
The 25-year-old model wagged her finger at her trusting Labrador, who appeared to have been pulling on his lead, as she made the most of the sunshine.
No! Irina wagged her finger at Labrador Caesare after he pulled on his lead
Clearly getting frustrated with the canine, Irina made Caesare sit down while she told him off for being disobedient.
Irina, who permanently resides in New York, once said that Caesare was named after Julius Caesar.
She also claimed that he was fathered by one of the dogs who played the title role in Marley & Me.
I'm sorry! The dog looked apologetic after he was told off by his owner
Despite the fact she was having difficulties with her dog, Irina looked stunning in her cut-out denim dress as she strolled the streets of Manhattan.
Teaming the bodycon outfit with a white Chanel handbag and black sandals, Irina looked in great shape as she enjoyed the warm weather.
But despite her toned physique, Irina recently insisted that she doesn't diet.
Disobedient: Caesare appeared to have got slightly excited and pulled on his lead when another little dog came up to him
She said: 'I'm never dieting, but it's very important to take care of your health. I work out a lot, love boxing and Pilates, but I also eat healthy food and drink a lot of water.
'But the most important thing is to be happy and to be in love with your body!'
Irina added: 'I do work out five times a week, but I'm never dieting. I try to be healthy because to be happy and healthy on the inside shows on the outside.'
That's better: After a stern talking to, Caesare appeared to have learned his lesson
Reward: The dog gazes adoringly at his stunning owner as she rewards him with a stroke
source: dailymail
Friday, August 5, 2011
Training going well? Irina Shayk struggles with her disobedient dog on day out in New York
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


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Thoughts on my work and my process in illustration, and sometimes, life.
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Process Post: 'In a World'
Alright - after my long foray into how I made a movie, it's back to process posts, where I take a detailed look into how I made a specific painting. I'll be picking up from my last process post which was...BACK IN FEBRUARY 2015?!?
Oh boy. I've a lot to catch up on. Luckily, since then, I've been doing a lot of painting and sketches so I'll be covering all that and more in future posts. Today, I'll be focusing on In A World, seen above.
This one is an interesting painting for a number of reasons, both good and bad. First, it was created in a completely unplanned manner. I was on a flight to, or from San Francisco, or Cleveland. I can't really remember. But it was a work trip and I brought a sketchbook to just play around with during the flight. After a few hours and getting motivated by the person next to me who was watching what I was doing, I ended up with this sketch in pencil. Ignore the clouds at the top, it was just me playing around with what I saw.
I quickly scanned it and colored it, which brought me here (ignore the floating foliage near the creature). Note that I added a few elements, the clouds, the plants, and the creature's scepter to add more balance to the picture as a whole.
At this point, there was a ton of back and forth. I'll just show you the final version again and talk about what I had to keep shifting back and forth.
Outlines is something I've always had a ton of trouble with. Sometimes I want completely black outlines akin to a comic, sometimes I want thick outlines that are darker, more saturated versions of what's being outlines. And most recently, I've played with light outlines that more just accentuate what's already there (which is likely the more correct decision, as that's the point of outlines).
Here, however, I have something else to consider - the original sketch's outlines. These are pencil/pen outlines that add a lot of texture to the drawing. Coupled with some of the other textural elements that the paper brought (see the clouds on the upper left hand corner), I thought keeping those elements intact would add a bit of an interesting flair to the piece.
Then I moved on to the bottom part of the image. I wanted to give the image a larger sense of depth, a sense that we were looking up at the creature. So I played around with the bottom foliage a lot, shifting the positioning and the colors. Ultimately, I took a little technique from some images I had seen: the blur tool.
It's a technique digital artists often employ to represent movement or depth. It's a camera function, not a painting function, bringing elements out of focus in order to further pinpoint focus on non-blurred elements. What I wanted to do was blur the plants and foliage and make the character much more in focus.
Here, I played around with the Gaussian blur tool, shifting how much the plants were blurred. Ultimately, I don't think it worked out for a number of reasons.
1) The blur doesn't add much.
There's no reason to try to add more focus to this character using the blur function. The character is clearly the element a viewer is drawn to because of the negative space around it, so a blur doesn't do much.
2) The blur is distracting.
The blur looks so different from the rest of the picture, which is more painterly and very non-digital because it's a mixed media piece (both pencils/inks and digital coloring).
3) The blur is not very well-done.
The blur would look better if it was done better (duh). The reason I highlight this is that it's done digitally and it's very obviously a digital technique. If I tried to apply a painterly technique and blur it manually (which I don't know if I could do, really), it would blend in better.
While I took this time to semi-crap on this piece, I like the rest of the piece in general and overall, looking at it again, I'm really happy with it. The character feels really original, despite taking from a lot of inspiration, I love the clouds, and the colors are a little bit off from my usual color palette but familiar enough that I was able to paint comfortably with it. The more I look at it, the more I also enjoy the feeling it brings. A strange sense of wonder and discovery. It works for me. Would I try the blur technique again? Yes, but in more subtle and careful ways. I'd like to practice with it a little more before using it in a final image and I'd also work on painting the blur rather than applying a blur. In other images, I've been paying attention to how other artists use and apply blur. Hopefully by next time, it'll work out better.
Thanks for reading.
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May 24, 2011
Ribbon Fish
19 comments:
- A-9ja-Great said...
If only i can just get a bottle of red wine to go with that!
- May 24, 2011 at 6:53 AM
- Naijamum in L. said...
See Fish oh.
This will go well with ijebu garri soaked with ice-cold water and sugar.
PS - as you can see, living abroad for half my life has not diluted the razz Naija in me! LOL
- May 24, 2011 at 7:47 AM
- Adura Ojo (Naijalines) said...
Hmmm...yum. Now I want to fry that sea bass in my freezer but I'll do it in a griddle pan. Thanks for getting me back to fish. I've avoided it for a while cos I occasionally get sick.
@ Naijamum, there is nothing razz about soaking garri jo. It is 'authentic'. Lol.
- May 24, 2011 at 8:56 AM
- NikkiSho said...
I want!!! gari with cold water would be PERRRFECTTTT!!!
- May 24, 2011 at 9:37 AM
- 9jaFOODie said...
@9ja-Great..... You and red wine hen. lol.
@Naijamum; I agree with Naijalines, there is nothing raz about garri o,infact in my part of the world,only rich people can afford it. lol.......
@Niajalines; I love fish, like seriously. You can do so much with different kinds.
- May 24, 2011 at 9:54 AM
- 9jaFOODie said...
@Nikkisho..... me and you both :)
- May 24, 2011 at 9:54 AM
- Ope Adebayo said...
Not a fan of fish but that fried fish would be nice on a plate of jollof rice. *Licking tongue*.
- May 24, 2011 at 2:24 PM
- 9jaFOODie said...
..I am sure it will! thanks much :)
- May 24, 2011 at 2:34 PM
- Myne Whitman said...
Looks so yummy! I baked some fish a couple of days ago, I prefer that to frying but fried fish can be so sweet sha, if you put aside the whole healthy thing.
- May 24, 2011 at 3:30 PM
- 9jaFOODie said...
Ms Myne... U know... but I guess fried or not, it's always better than red meat. as far as it's not breaded before it's fried.
Thanks much!
- May 24, 2011 at 4:33 PM
- Naijamum in L. said...
Hello 9ja Foodie,
Do drop by my blog.
You have inspired a post.
- May 25, 2011 at 3:25 AM
- 9jaFOODie said...
I am so so honored. Thanks a million :)
- May 25, 2011 at 6:59 AM
- MsNana_ said...
this blog is making me hungry
- May 25, 2011 at 8:25 AM
- 9jaFOODie said...
@MsNana: don't mind the blog oo... it has that effect on me as well :). lol.
Thanks so much for stopping by,come often!!
- May 25, 2011 at 9:12 AM
crocker fish or red nose? so delicious just looking at the pic. happy democracy day :)
- May 26, 2011 at 11:08 PM
- 9jaFOODie said...
Thanks Ibhade, it's definitely not Crocker. It's a very flat looking fish, tastes like fresh cod:)
- May 27, 2011 at 8:45 AM
- The Corner Shop said...
Oh wow. i'm not a fish person, but i want to put all this in my mouth all at once hehe
- May 28, 2011 at 2:42 AM
- Naijamum in L. said...
I have tagged you - (The Bag Meme)
Pls visit my blog to know more
- May 28, 2011 at 10:58 AM
- 9jaFOODie said...
@Adiya; u don't like fish??? u are missing out. lol
@naijamum; I am on it :)
- May 28, 2011 at 11:22 AM


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Well I had originally planned to share a photo or 2 from Ethan's birthday, but there are other people in each one, not just Ethan. Oh well no big deal. In your head, just picture a 2 year old boy trying to blow out 2 yellow candles that are stuck into 2 cake balls, and then shoving halves of them into his mouth. There's your pictures!
It's been a relatively slow week. We are finally back to our normal routine. Yesterday was my day to be in class with Dylan. It went well, it usually does. After those mornings though, I am so stinkin tired! We got home a little later than we normally do. Ethan went straight to sleep and Dylan went to his room to rest. I laid down on the couch and nearly fell asleep..again. I say again, because that has been the name of the game these last few days. The day before yesterday, I just fell asleep after the kids went to their room in the afternoon. Then, this morning, I fell asleep while the kids played. I can't help it. It is almost uncontrollable. I didn't sleep long this morning, but I do remember dosing off.
On top of being so tired, I have had little patience for anything. But that is probably because I am so tired. I'm sleeping halfway decent at night, so I'm not sure where all of the exhaustion in coming from. I don't think it helps that while we haven't had much of a "winter" it has been so dark and gloomy. We haven't had that many sunny days. It does take a toll on your mood. It hasn't been all that cold or snowy, but rain. Rain every week. Cloudy nearly every day. I would take cold and sunny any day over this pattern of above average temps and gloom.
As of Tuesday, Betty, the new kitty has been with us for a week. Things are a bit more settled now between her and the other cat, Max. For days, Max would run under the couch anytime he saw her. And there were a few times where we had to carry Max to the litter pan so he could do his business and eat dinner. It was a bit ridiculous. So one day, I got out some of the baby gates that we had, and blocked the back of the couch so he couldn't run under there. Sounds mean, I know, but ya know what? It worked. It forced him to stand up for himself. Now, they semi get along. They aren't curling up together for naps or anything, they halfway play together and they no longer growl and hiss at each other. So after only 1 week, Id say things are pretty good between them.
That's all for now. Hopefully I will be back tomorrow.


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Kourtney Kardashian Furious With Scott Disick Over New Miami Project
Scott's restaurant dreams continue, even after his NYC-based RYU bombed. But even with Kourtney's blessing, is it worth the risk?
Here's a familiar scene: Scott Disick plans to open a Miami-based nightclub, and Kourtney Kardashian is reportedly not the least bit pleased. Scott's most recent business venture was his NYC-based restaurant RYU, which closed its doors just six months after its grand opening. Now, a source tells New York's Daily News, Scott plans to buy into a new nightclub in Miami by Valentine's Day!
The source close to Scott says Kourtney is furious, especially since his last project was an epic fail. Plus, we all know how Kourtney feels about Scott being around the nightclub scene — and rightfully so.
The source continues to spill about Lord Disick's plans, adding that the original plan was to try NYC's swaggy Meatpacking District again, but decided with business partner Chris Reda on a restaurant with venue space in Miami.
Adding more fuel to the fire, Scott decided to stay in Miami after filming the hit E! show Kourtney & Kim Take Miami to look at empty space on Collins Ave.
Scott is reportedly investing big money into this project that Kourtney can't bear to watch him lose — if it bombs like RYU.
He's ready to make moves as he thinks it's the perfect time to invest, especially with all the Kimye news going on since the announcement of the power couple's pregnancy.
The world knows how Kourtney feels about Scott being on his own and how she doesn't trust him due to his past drunken shenanigans. So of course Kourtney would be furious to hear that Scott is also looking into buying an apartment nearby the Miami venue.
It never ends with these two.
What do you think, Hollywoodlifers? Should Scott be taking such a risk, especially if it's making Kourtney furious?
— Julianna Spence
More Kardashian News:


text: Back in November we announced our pregnancy and also our baby's gender. I knew that I wouldn't be able to convince John to do an outing specifically for this so we took the pictures ourselves with a tripod after we finished a photo session for another family. I think they turned out pretty well considering. I picked the setting and positioned things while John ran back and forth to push the timer. We make a pretty good team! Here are the results.


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I hope to win one of these three not-to-be-missed giveaways courtesy of my sweet friends in the blogosphere...
Sheridan French
Sheridan French, Super-Mom and fashionista, is giving away a piece of clothing from her spring collection. Oh the decisions! Love, love, love her home- which looks like it's straight out of a magazine...
Coral quadrille. Hello beautiful!
Her amazing, epinonymous clothing line is modeled here by moi:
And modeled here by Sheridan -- she's waaaaay more glam. That's right, it was a nursery you just saw in photos of Sheridan's home. She's a mom to TWO kids under two. Yep, I hope to look so chic and pulled together someday when I'm chasing around toddlers too!
Okay, enough gushing from me. Find out for yourself how funny and fabulous Sheridan really is by following her blog, The Southern Eclectic. I. Am. Addicted.
While you're there, don't miss the opportunity to participate in her giveaway from the 2011 collection. The rules are super-easy. I'm crossing my fingers (and toes) that I win and can add the Georgina in Hot Lips to my wardrobe. You might remember I begged for it before.
Deadline: 6 pm, Texas time, July 3rd
Let the Tide Pull Your Dreams Ashore
Follow the adventures of the always elegant EAS and her classic prep beau JCW at Let the Tide Pull Your Dreams Ashore. How adorable are they???
|Vote for them on Facebook's Lilly Lovers Photo Contest
Whether attending the races, sailing the seas or hitting the hottest restaurants in all the metro areas, EAS and JCW have an enviable social calendar -- and you too can live vicariously through EAS by reading her narratives and viewing her fun photos on her blog
EAS always has THE best giveaways too! Past loot includes Loggerhead apparel, Wm. J. Mills bags and Marley Lilly sunhats. This time, however, EAS has outdone herself with a Smathers & Branson belt giveaway. Visit her website for your chance to win. Deadline:5 pm, EST, July 1st
All of the men in my life (Big T, Father-in-Law and the Sailor) have received needlepoint belts as gifts in the past year. Not so creative of me to buy almost the same gift. But it was for different holidays, and they got different patterns. That counts for something. Anyhow, I guess it's now my turn to get one-- Does the Jolly Roger come in a pink belt, please? I think the pink skull and crossbones would look darling with green shorts!
I also stumbled upon this design on another needlepoint belt site. Not Smathers & Branson, but I couldn't resist including it. Gin labels?! Does that say Bombay Sapphire? I'm sold!
Laura Treavey, a talented artist, blogger, and fellow fan of Modern Family, shares her gorgeous paintings, shopping finds, home ideas and more on Bright, Bold and Beautiful. This week, Laura's giving away a Mykanos pearl and crystal necklace from Bamboo Pink.
Deadline: 8 am, July 4th
I'd wear it with something a l'il nautical, like this (minus the blue Essie polish):
So, click your way on over for your chance to win these great giveaways!


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Character alignment has been something that is largely overlooked in the D&D campaigns I am a part of – either as a PC or a DM. Generally the players are Lawful, Lawful Good or Neutral on their character sheet but this label is in no way connected to their character's behavior. The purpose of this post is not to discuss the merits or lack thereof of the alignment system, but to present how I dealt with a concern I developed in my campaign related to alignment.
My party is composed of "normal" players, meaning no one seems outwardly to be a dangerous sociopath. The group has mostly focused on "doing the good thing" and trying to save the day. There are times when morality is bent to achieve a certain end, and these situations have been roleplayed effectively by the players. But as the characters have leveled up and gained greater mastery in the world, the players also seemed to grow more confident in bending rules or blatantly disregarding laws.
I felt like the party's moral compass was spinning in circles, but I did not see it as my job as the DM to tell the party what to do. I saw my job as developing appropriate consequences for their actions. They did not do anything this heinous, but there were questionable actions in the game world. Namely, a murder of an unarmed man in one town who the party learned was abusing his wife and the murder of another unarmed woman in another town during an interrogation. I began to feel like the players were running roughshod through the world I created, but I was not sure how to address it without forcing the players to conform to my sense of morality and judgement in a heavy-handed manner.
In the end, I decided to place the characters on trial and allow them to defend themselves from a variety of accurate (and inaccurate) charges. I was most curious to see how the players would respond, and it turned into an enlightening – and hopefully enjoyable – skill challenge/roleplaying experience. Below, I describe how I prepared and executed the trial.
Tribunal Hearing
After a series of combat encounters inside a prominent building in town, which the Wizard decided to burn down in retaliation for being ambushed by a wealthy aristocrat named Leif, the party was surrounded by the city guard. I had to describe large numbers because otherwise, the players might have attempted to fight through the resistance. In the end, they relented and the party's mentor from Day One of the campaign provided counsel to the characters and intervened on their behalf to get them a hearing. Through a series of roleplaying segments – often with me talking to myself as different characters (something I try to avoid at all costs) – the characters agreed to defend themselves from the crimes they were accused of committing.
I established the guidelines for the trial through the voice of the party's mentor; he informed the party they would be under close watch by the town guard but had two days to come up with evidence to defend their actions. The players asked questions and then discussed a strategy in character before I initiated the skill challenge. For the Tribunal Hearing, I did not set a specific Complexity ahead of time but I had in mind something in the range of Complexity 3 (8 Successes, 3 Failures). I wanted to run the skill challenge in a free-flowing and logical manner and determine success or failure based on their actions and rolls. I allowed each character during their turn to use whatever Skill they like as long as they could justify how it would assist them in improving their chances during the Tribunal Hearing; the Difficulty Class was set to the party's level, and I determined if their intended goal was an Easy, Moderate or Hard Check.
To be honest, I was not sure how this direction of the story, roleplaying and skill challenge would work with the players. It was my intention to demonstrate to the players that their behavior has consequences in the world. I could imagine players being annoyed by this, but I felt it was worth the effort to demonstrate that now – in the Paragon Tier – many people are aware of the party and their actions and deeds are a source of news and gossip throughout the campaign world. So I set up the Tribunal Hearing in my mind and plowed ahead with it much more confidently than I actually felt.
When in doubt, act like you completely know what you're doing even if your plans are strung together with scotch tape and prayer!
"I Want To Do Some CSI Stuff"
With the skill challenge setup completed, it was time to let the players loose in the city for two days to do what they could to clear their names. I was curious to see how they would attempt to defend themselves, but more interested in whether or not they cared about the hearing in the first place. The manner in which the party was traipsing somewhat lawlessly through various towns and encounters, I thought they might dismiss the hearing entirely and not worry about the consequences. I was pleasantly surprised when the players fiercely set about to defend their actions and honor and to implicate Leif as the true villain and reason for the death and damage in the city.
The creative ways in which they did this was also rewarding because I could sense the players cared about their character's standing in the world – or at the very least, did not want to get into more trouble with authorities. One of the newest players in the group, playing a Dwarven Fighter, inquired if he could use Dungeoneering to return to the scene of the party's last battle to find evidence of shadar-kai participation in the conflict. The shadar-kai were either burned in the blaze or vanished, so the city guard had no knowledge of their participation in the combat. His backstory describes that he is a bit of an archaeologist and he announced, "I want to go back to the building and use my tools to do some real slick CSI shit." The actions fit into his character and it was a skill he'd been trying to use for a long time.
He rolled well and I discussed how he located fragments of weapons with dark markings typically forged in The Shadowfell. The party now had one piece of evidence to support their claims and they were on their way. The Cleric in the group used Heal to perform Raise Dead on the woman who had died during interrogation and ease the wounds of others hurt in the fire. He had previously voiced his disapproval of her death and carried her body out of the burning building, so this action fit in with his characters and his previous actions during the campaign. His check was also successful, and he hoped bringing the victim life and healing others to the best of his ability would improve the reputation of the party in the eyes of citizens.
The party previously obtained ledgers from the building where the shadar-kai ambushed them. The ledgers were so dense that they could not make sense of the numbers and names in the books. A member of the party took the ledgers to an accountant in town and requested assistance with uncovering the meaning of the volumes of transactions. This produced one of my prouder improvisational moments when I decided to act as a bookish old man studying the ledgers. I pinched my glasses to the edge of my nose, stooped low over the table and spoke in a muttering voice, "Hmmm, yes. Very interesting these values here. Lines up with these totals over here. Hmmm, intriguing. You got these from an official in town, you say? Very troubling, very troubling indeed." He proceeded to inform the party about what appeared to be illegal transactions involved property throughout the city and possibly vast quantities of stolen goods and weapons. I really milked this character for all he was worth, but the players seemed to enjoy him and their success with the ledgers provided more evidence to their case.
Our very proud Halfling Rogue decided to use his charming personality to win the support of a prominent community organization in town; he specifically sought out a woman's group, "If the woman think we're good guys, then they will tell other people and then everyone will think highly of us. It's a great plan!" It was interesting logic, and I was curious to see how he rolled as it would influence my reaction substantially. I set a Hard DC and his Diplomacy Check failed rather spectacularly. It was a brief moment during the skill challenge, but he had to back out of the organization's hall with his proverbial tail between his legs and report back to the party "Um, that didn't go well. That hate us more now."
The checks continued as the players used skills in a variety of interesting ways. Streetwise was used to feed information dealers positive stories about the party with the hopes that the rumors would spread around the city and improve the party's reputation. History was used to search through the Hall of Records to find rulings from similar Tribunal Hearings in the hopes the documents would improve the party's ability to defend their actions. Intimidate was used to coerce a witness to testify on the party's behalf, and other skills were used as well.
At the conclusion of the two days with the players mostly succeeding on their rolls, I roleplayed the Tribunal Hearing during the session. Each player produced the results from their skills challenge during the hearing, and the judge evaluated their defense. In the end, the party produced enough material to clear their name enough and implicated the prominent wealthy aristocrat, Leif, of illegal operations in the city. The judge sentenced the party to assist the town guard in the capture of the Leif so he might be brought to justice.
From that point, the party joined with the town guard to storm Leif's estate. Leif's informants had cued him to the judge's ruling and he attempted to escape, but the party chased him down and eventually captured him after the conclusion of a wagon-chase combat encounter that was a combination of scenes from Willow and Raiders of The Lost Ark (I played music from Raiders throughout the combat to add more personality to the encounter).
Judge Not
I was not sure how the events would play out, but the Tribunal Hearing felt like a success on multiple levels. First, it allowed me to demonstrate to the players that the actions of their characters produced in the world. Second, it created opportunities for the characters to use skills and their background to affect the world. The skill challenge was not specific to how they could act so there wasn't the typical conversation, "Okay, I can use Perception, then you use Endurance, and then I'll make an Acrobatics check, . . ." I find skill challenges can disintegrate into meta-gaming very quickly, so the open-ended nature allowed players to create their own checks rather than me telling them what skills they should use. And third, it allowed me to gauge the alignment and sense of morality in the characters without the need for me to directly ask, "So, hey – aren't you supposed to be Lawful?"
I can accept the feedback that the Tribunal Hearing was still heavy-handed, but I attempted to make the skill challenge interesting and meaningful to the story being told. And it eventually lead to the party capturing Leif – the villain that very recently tried to kill them all. So there was a payoff for the players at the end. Had the party failed on their checks at the Tribunal Hearing . . . well, they'll never know!
Consider using a similar Tribunal Hearing with a group of adventurers that are acting a bit lawlessly in the campaign world. At the very least, it should demonstrate to the players that their actions have consequences. In addition it should offer the players an opportunity to roleplay their characters and communicate clearly their alignment and relationship with authority in the campaign world.


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There is a story today in USA Today that broke my heart. Two girls, it is not clear whether they were sisters or cousins, needed to use a field to go to the bathroom because there were no toilets. They were gang raped, murdered, and their bodies left hanging. They were 14 and 15.
According to USA Today, "Indian TV footage showed the villagers sitting under the girls' bodies as they swung in the wind, and preventing authorities from taking them down from the tree until the suspects were arrested."
I don't know about you, but that is a pretty clear image for me. I don't need a photo to show me more. However, USA Today (and likely countless news organizations) got what I assume is a still of the TV footage via the Associated Press and it's online accompanying the story. Do we really need to see two dead teenage girls swinging from a tree to be horrified and enraged beyond belief?
And then there is the advertisement for Verizon that sits to the right of the image. Murdered teenage girls on the left, a time limited offer for Verizon on the right.
Has it come to this that we must further defile young women, murdered in the most heinous of ways, by posting pictures of their dead bodies to bolster news stories? Must we plaster their images everywhere in the most gratuitous of ways and then slap on advertisements as if looking at two dead girls is nothing more or less than looking at a story about who was wearing what on the red carpet?
Rape and murder are horrific, we shouldn't need images to show us that and adding advertising on the same page is so foul I just don't even have words.
This is not journalism, it is sensationalism and it must stop.


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Set of the already released Line Ark White-Glint and Vanguard Overed Boost in new color. Some changes to the proportion as compared to the regular version. A special booklet is included, some parts are printed with decal, and a new decal designed from the opening movie is included.
May release, 10,290 Yen (inclusive of tax).
Images are from Kotobukiya.


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So on a "I'm-feeling-awfully-lousy-from-fever-and-that-kind-of-stuff" day it was such an amazingly wonderful surprise to recieve a beautiful package in the post.
I could tell from the little round picture on the package, that it was from this gorgeous woman - that just made me even more excited about opening it. My son was rather curious too, and I think he would have loved to open it....
In front of me were two lovely, dotty gifts - both wrapped and decorated with a very special touch, which told me (once more) that Juliane is a very creative and caring person. They were almost too fine to open...
Inside of them were some beautiful things: a crocheted mushroom and an oil smelling like roses. Now, I happen to love mushrooms of all kinds - so getting one of Juliane's handmade ones was simply great. And the scent of roses have been my favourite ever since I played in my grandmother's garden (where we used the thornes from roses as tiny swords on our noses!!)
As I wrote to Juliane I have put the mushroom in my livingroom - and I have to wear a tiny bit of the rose oil today.......the rest will be saved for special occassions.
Both things will remind me of Juliane and her generous and heartwarming gifts. Thank you so, so much :0)) Isn't it just wonderful that women like her excists?
P.S. Remember that Juliane opens her shops on etsy and Dawanda very soon (28th of February)


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Eyes by InstaNatural
Just follow this link to get the freebie:


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UConn's Bria Hartley and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis were the top scorers in leading the U.S. women to a World University Games gold medal.
The U.S. defeated Russia 90-71 on Monday to complete an undefeated run through the Games.
Hartley led the 6-0 Americans, averaging 13.5 points per game. Mosqueda-Lewis was right behind with 13.0 ppg and a team-leading 6.8 rebounds per game.


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Slurry Tanks lagoonQube
What is lagoonQUBE?
LagoonQUBE is a flexible, removable cover that operates as a digester, floating on a lagoon or open top tank to collect biogas and importantly rain water.
LagoonQUBE has been designed by our partner Qube Renewables to float on top to allow operating levels to vary, so as stores are filled and emptied during the year the system will rise and fall. Heating and mixing equipment is suspended from the floating lagoonQUBE to enhance the natural biogas production processes, which is captured in the dome and used for onsite heat and power generation. Rain water landing on the cover area is captured and pumped from the cover. The biogas from each lagoonQUBE can be collected and used in small scale CHPs, or in biogas boilers for hot water generation.
For lagoons that change in size and shape, lagoonQUBE comes in modular hexagonal units that can be interlinked together to form a cover across the whole of the lagoon. As the lagoon is emptied the covers "beach" themselves on the banks, as the lagoon is refilled the covers float up again. For slurry stores, lagoonQUBE is made to fit the internal diameter of the store.
For more detailed information please contact...