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Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Shoots to Kill by Kate Collins
*Quick note: This review is done from an ARC, so the BCC or any other mentions may be slightly different from the official book*
Shoots to Kill by Kate Collins
Last I heard, being a five-foot-two, green-eyed redhead wasn't a crime. But that's precisely why I, Abby Knight, was yanked out of my Corvette by a state trooper, handcuffed, and thrown in jail.
This isn't your average case of mistaken identity.
Eight years ago Abby babysat Elizabeth Blume, a teen who seemed intent on making Abby's life miserable. Elizabeth imitated Abby's dress, pored over her diary, and sabotaged her love life. Now Elizabeth is back in New Chapel, and she soon adopts a new look: Abby's. Elizabeth, now going by Libby, copies Abby's entire life - she even drives a bright yellow car and opens a nearly identical shop. But when Libby comes between Abby and her boyfriend, Marco, imitation becomes the sincerest form of trouble, and that's before Abby is accused of murder. Is Abby's devious double the real killer? Or is there a more sinister suspect in town who's using them both to cover his evil crime?
Back in my d&D days, I "reviewed" (can I even say that's what I do?) two of the books in this series. Click here to read those first, and then come back for this! Go ahead. I'll wait.
Do you see a pattern in those posts? Ya know, kind of that I ADORE these books and Abby Knight? Or maybe you could see that I want to live in New Chapel and work in Bloomers? Or perhaps you noticed that I think Kate Collins ROCKS OUT LOUD?! Let me just say, all of that is true and even more so now that I've read the latest in this series!
Kate Collins has truly outdone herself in Shoots! You've all heard about identity theft, right? You know, when some one steals your social security number and ruins your credit while living high on the hog?
Well, forget identity theft. In Shoots, Abby is faced with the extreme version, which I have come to refer to as Life Theft. The last time Abby Knight saw Elizabeth Blume, she was an obnoxious pre-teen with a famous mother and slightly off-kilter wanna-be Army man brother. Elizabeth wasn't just the run-of-the-mill annoying that most of those kids we used to babysit for were. No, Elizabeth wormed her way into dinner at Abby's, Christmas and Birthday presents from the Knights, Abby's brothers refered to her as the other little sister, she read her diary - and wrote entries in it as Abby! - and broke into Abby's locker and humiliated her. Boy, was Abby ever glad to see the last of that brat.
But Elizabeth is back, and she wants a job at Bloomers. But when Abby says "NO Thanks" Elizabeth isn't quite happy. Before Abby can blink, Elizabeth is now Libby, driving a car like Abby's, hiring Marco, charming her dear friends and staff, stealing her mother's "art" from Abby's shop, and out and out making herself into a clone of Abby.
To Abby's dismay, she's the only one who sees it at first! When Abby loses her boyfriend (I nearly CRIED people, that is how close I feel to these characters!) and then gets arrested for murder - of Delphi Blume, Libby's super bitchy, uber famous mother, no less - she doesn't care if anybody believes her, because she knows that things have gone too far and it's time to act!
After all, Abby is great at righting the injustices of the world, it just so happens that this injustice happened to her! But, as Abby digs deeper and faces more danger, the questions mount, and this may just be the first time that justice is not served.
I'm telling you people, this book is by far THE BEST book in the series, and that's saying something, because The Flower Shop Mystery series is stellar. In the review for the last book in the series, I said this - I also don't know if I've just gotten really good, or if this mystery was an easy one to solve. I had it figured out really fast. Collins is good though, she almost had me changing my mind, and that was fun, but I stuck firm to my culprit and I was right. Well, mostly right, my motives were a bit off. - and I think Collins took it as a personal challenge, because I was guessing until the very end.
Filled with laugh out loud moments, an amazing mystery, fantastic sub-plot, and all the great people that live in New Chapel, SHOOTS TO KILL is one book you do not want to miss.
Cozy Mystery Fan? Clear your schedule and get thyself to the book store when they open August 5. You'll want your copy of this great book and you'll want to find a spot where you can read uninterrupted, trust me, this one is a page turner.
Never read cozy mysteries? Get thyself to the book store now so that you can buy the first books in this fabulous series. Then, no one will be able to stop you from waiting at the door on release day.
Take Care
P.S. While blog hopping, be sure to check out Kate's joint blog, The Cozy Chicks: Cozy Up To Some Killer Books , it's a great blog written by some great authors!
6 comments:
- Dru said...
I've been waiting for this book to be published and now the wait is almost over.
Don't say it, Abby and Marco to break up? No, they can't. Now I don't know if I want to read it now:(
- July 30, 2008 at 5:21 PM
- ChariDee said...
Trust me on this one, Dru. This one is a MUST read for any Collins fan. Seriously, you will not be disappointed. And I felt the same way you did, like I said, I nearly cried when I read they weren't a couple anymore! But read it, you will LOVE it!
- July 30, 2008 at 5:36 PM
- Dru said...
okay, thanks. Now I feel there is hope. It's amazing how we feel about characters in a book.
- July 30, 2008 at 6:28 PM
- Brandy said...
Off to plunder the library's database........*G*
- July 30, 2008 at 9:09 PM
- Marg said...
I've read the first three books in this series but haven't read any more. There's no real reason for that, but I have to say, I thought Marco was one of the best things about that early books. Maybe I should hurry up and catch up with the series so I can find out for myself what is going on!
- July 31, 2008 at 4:41 AM
- ChariDee said...
Brandy, I hope you can find them. All of these books have a permanent place on my keeper shelf.
Marg - definitely catch up to the series. It's wonderful. This last one in particular is the BEST so far. It really makes me excited to see what's next.
- July 31, 2008 at 8:00 AM


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Stir-Fry Seasonal Greens with Mushrooms 鲍鱼菇炒时蔬
Remember I said that while I was moving (and handling moving stuff for the past weeks), I missed some of my own cooking and home-cooked food? As I was busy, I had to make my life easier by simplifying my own cooking, falling back to a lot of quick and easy one-dish meals - chicken noodle soups or chicken congee, stir-fry noodles, sandwiches, baked fish and veggies dishes etc.
I definitely want to have some rice or congee with side dishes like this.
How do you pull it off in your kitchen during a busy day?
Stir-Fry Leafy Greens with Oyster Mushrooms 鲍鱼菇炒时蔬
Fry thinly sliced ginger, then finely chopped garlic in a hot pan/wok, then add in stalks/stems of leafy greens and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms, and mix well with veggies and cook for about 3 minutes. Add soy sauce and splash of cooking wine, and allow the mixture to simmer, pan covered, for about 2-3 minutes. Add the leaves of the greens last and do a quick fry under medium heat. Ground white pepper to taste.
Tag: oyster mushrooms, mushrooms, leafy greens
An Escape to Food on Facebook

subset: commoncrawl


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Wednesday, November 26, 2008, is a day I will soon never forget. It began as a normal day with a woman running late to get to her appointment while she knew her husband was more-than-likely already there. He's been amazing throughout all of this pregnancy. He hasn't missed a single thing. I'm so grateful for that.
It went on into a small doctor's office where nurses prodded at this woman's stomach and found the most beautiful heartbeat you've ever heard. In that same room, an expectant father asks if the ultrasound he's been waiting for over four months could be done that moment. He really wasn't pushy; he just felt as though he had to ask with it being the day before Thanksgiving, and WHAT A GIFT to be thankful for!
Soon, that same office had a knock on its small door telling this family that they were going to see their baby, not two weeks from then, but that day! The blood drawing and poking weren't half bad after that. I wasn't so excited to see this little miracle within me.
Not long after lying down on the table, this young couple learned that their baby was a little boy! They watched as he moved his hands around his face, kicked his feet, rolled onto his stomach, and clasped his hands to pray. I was in complete awe of him. RIGHT THEN. I was so, completely, and totally amazed at this little child, growing right under my nose... I cannot explain the love I felt in that moment. I'd never knew what it felt like to be a parent... until then.
Driving away with their faces full of joy, the Johnsons couldn't help but see who their Father truly is. He had given them so much to be thankful for, and He completely showed Himself strong. In his father's chin, his mother's nose, and a heart to "pray" after the Lord, how else could God prove His love to them?! Lord, I am completely in awe of You. Thank you for this sweet gift...


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is going to change the world as we have known it. The following are just a few of the ways that climate change is impacting our world, and will likely continue to impact life on Earth into the foreseeable future.
- Increased drought, floods, and wildfires
- Shifts in seasons and growing zones
- Possible increased national security risks and conflicts around the world
- Wildlife and marine life stresses and extinctions
There may also be conflict between species, as some species move to more hospitable habitats when their primary habitat changes due to climate change.
- Stronger storms and increased storm damage
- Increased heat-related illnesses
- Rising seas
Since much of the global population lives along coastlines, there is likely to be a great deal of disruption to much of humanity's way of life as sea levels continue to rise.
- Economic losses
- Environmental refugees
- Adaptation and mitigation
If we act swiftly and decisively right now, we also have the opportunity to work to mitigate some of the worst impacts of climate change by choosing to live more sustainably and in harmony with the natural limits of our planet. This will mean many changes to our way of life, including the ways that we use energy and where that energy comes from, how we produce our food, and a re-examining of our current infinite use of the Earth's finite resources. All of this is possible, but we must start this sustainable journey today before it is too late.
1 http://goo.gl/cFUus7
2 https://goo.gl/IkW4m2
3 http://goo.gl/9ND3tv
4 http://goo.gl/kG3dTK
5 http://goo.gl/9AprL5
6 http://goo.gl/fm54st
7 http://goo.gl/Ohte0Q


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Wednesday, May 13, 2015
(Almost) Wordless Wednesday 13/May
16 comments:
I love being at the beach. Lovely views of the sky and water.. Beautiful photos, enjoy your day!ReplyDeleteReplies
I love the beach too, even in the winter, though right now I'm really happy with the sunny days we've been having here lately. Thank you for stopping by!Delete
Your 4th photo is my favorite! I love how you caught the large flock of birds in flight over the water going across the sky with the sun in the background ~ fantastic job!! Have a fototastic day!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you Cathy!Delete
- AnonymousMay 13, 2015 at 2:04 PM
So beautiful!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you Christine!Delete
So pretty! I shared beach photos this week too!ReplyDeleteReplies
I've checked! I love your photos too! Thank you for stopping by!Delete
How serene! We have been wanting to get to the beach. Our favorite is in San Simeon on the California coast.ReplyDelete
We live 10 minutes from the beach and basically go there all year-round, though my favorite times are those when you catch good weather but the beach is still relatively empty from the summer crowds...Delete
We went to the beach in Florida for spring break. I miss it already!ReplyDeleteReplies
I know what you mean, that's why I love living close to the sea!Delete
Great shots, makes me want to go to the beach!!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you Camille!Delete
Nice beach shots, I enjoyed seeing them and appreciate that you linked up at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2015/05/a-walk-on-beach.htmlReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you for stopping by, have a wonderful (rest of the) week!Delete


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A friend just shared this video with me. Just another one of many reasons I want to go on staff… to preach the gospel to those who think they've heard it or to those who really need to hear it. Click the link for Skye Jethani's interpretation of why so many young people are leaving the church!
"An entire generation is leaving the church. But why? Is it the way we relate to God… life over, under, or even for Him? What's the difference and what if the next generation pursued life with God?
Church practitioners have been sent scrambling by the growing awareness that an entire generation is leaving the church. Many have attempted to answer why they are leaving, but few are offering solutions to stop the mass exit.
Author Skye Jethani says the answer might be changing the way we're relating to God. Instead of lifeover, under, or even for God, he says this generation should pursue life with God."


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Here's the thing:
Me to Someone: How have you been?
Someone: Well I'm still at [job] and I'm dating [person] and [other person] [got married, had a baby.] You?
Me: Welllll ... in April my then-girlfriend went manic and decided to re-create Don Quixote in real life, I got to be Sancho .... etc etc ... in July I wrote this gay sitcom with a girl I met on the internet and then I went on this gay cruise 'cause my BFF was singing "Mama Who Bore Me" and we did a staged reading of our sitcom on the boat and the girl from Annie read the lead but now we've got this web version and a broadcast thing and we're developing ... etc etc ... in October I got fired for doing drugs and vodka bottles with people from the teevee ... etc etc ... then I didn't leave my room for about six weeks, I built a cave out of bookshelves ... wanna see my boyshorts? They're hot. I'm never doing laundry again, I'm just gonna wear my own merch forevs and evs.
You know? Like, I just don't know what to say. I really don't know what to say. Unlike words, there are no stories I'm able to abbreviate just yet, so I end up just sounding like an asshole.
My aunt and uncle have lived in the same house in rural Ohio for as long as I can remember. At 4 A.M on the 24th I was out there on the backporch with my cousin (the view: endless cornfields, cold, windy, acres) smoking cigarettes and he said, essentially out of nowhere, "You know, I won't judge you, Marie. You can say anything to me, whatever, there's nothing you could say that would change my mind about you being tops, Marie." (Imagine that said in a post-20-beers voice, though.) We'd just spent a few hours watching old videos and discussing our family's attribution of the "genius" label to various cousins at different times (my father was a genius, truly was, we remain awed, want someone to carry it on). It was perfect, him saying that. That was everything to me, even if I didn't say what he was probably getting at to begin with.
I can say people won't accept me for who I am, but that's bullshit, they totes will, I go into everything assuming from the get-go that everyone secretly hates me and seeks to affirm that, but actually maybe they really love me and all my weirdo-dom! Really! Even though we're all! So! Different! I just don't know who I am, and "quirky crazy writer artist girl" seems to be the easiest category to sit inside and speak from.
I took this while driving:
So anyhow! I'm in Somewhere, Ohio in a hotel. The woman at the desk had a lot of flair. I'm kinda emo right now, just a warning. I know that comes as a total surprise after reading the first two paragraphs.
... in which my entire life changed.
Being told I'd have to move out of my apartment, which I loved.
Not selling the book. This is 50% the fault of this book
which came out at the exact wrong time.
K-Lily visited, from Reno, the first weekend in March (which burdened her with the responsibility of playing the "What should my Top Ten be?" game with me all weekend. Our final choice: Top Ten Things You Should Know About Your Friends). I think it was because of her and Tara I even became open to the idea of making real friends on the internet. K-Lily and Tara, both legitimate people with plenty of real-life friends and no deep affiliations to the Star Trek franchise, had plenty of cyber-friends who they'd never met but nevertheless felt super-close to and spoke of with an assumption of legitimacy. Thus, I realised these friendships could matter deeply and that that was okay -- it was possible, or just simply valid. This would end up helping me when later in the summer I couldn't share as much with my 3-D friends as I needed to in order to go on.
On March 8th, OurChart asked for guestbian nominations. Because I always leap at the opportunity to write free stuff for the lesbos, I asked everyone to nominate me, and they totally did, it was awesome, I felt like the super-cool winner of the lesbian Olympics. Wait, that actually exists, doesn't it?
I didn't know what to write about so I suggested writing about bisexual stereotypes/issues and Tara countered that'd be like "making a giant bullseye and putting it on your forehead." We joked I could write about the gayest shit ever instead, which became the Gayest Shit Ever Top Ten, which I must've completely forgotten about when Carly and I put together the Top Ten about all the gay shit that'd be missing from our brill GLBT sitcom, because there's a lot of repeated topics: cats, processing feelings, etc.
I was on fire then! I was falling for this girl, you know? And that became, obvs, my OurChart column: "How I Met the Girl"... I wrote about cyber-sparks and I'm actually totally proud of that essay. I must have written it really fast too. I don't know, like when your world gets totally shook up like mine was then, your mind has to go fast to keep up.
... and just like that. Public. It was the first time since I'd started writing that I'd been open about who I was dating and it felt dangerous and possibly unwise but the material was so beautiful and consequently easy to write about and quickly ... quickly ...
At my first "In the Flesh" reading, I'd met an editor at [redacted] magazine and he called on March 13th about the possibility of replacing their long-time sex&dating columnist. I said we could talk about it, 'cause I knew it'd be a fantastic opportunity, but I'd essentially have to lie about everything since I'd just sort of stopped dating like, that week. Not like I'd been dating. But you know what I mean, whatevs. A few days later he called and gave me my first major unsolicited magazine article assignment of all time. 3,000 words. $1/word. Seven days of my "crazy bisexual life," like Chapter 11 of my book which he'd really liked. [Chapter 11, not to be confused with bankruptcy, was about the one week of 2005 that I actually went out a lot]
But I don't have a crazy bisexual life anymore, I wanted to say. Instead of saying that, I figured I'd just lie, but my bad habit of lying and "lying about a fact to get at an emotional truth" was already tricky ground w/r/t my book -- my agent had already expressed concern that I was gonna have to come clean about a lot of serious skeletons if I did a straight memoir, which is what all the editors wanted me to do, we were finding out as they rejected the half non-fiction angle one by one. James Frey, that asshole, fucking it up for us all. So there was that too: if I lied for the magazine, then would I have to tell the same lies in my book? There were already so many I was trying to navigate then ... "'I can't imagine anyone caring enough about my little book to go on CNN and say I [fill in unimaginable acts here], like it's not like I'm going to be on teevee or something." My agent said, No, you are. This is going to be big, if we do it right.
[Now: I believe that is true. Then: unreal.]
And so I thought this would be good practice: with honesty.
The ides of March. I figured I had a book deal more-or-less, I had this big magazine article -- it'd be okay then to quit my job though I had about $500 to my name. [redacted] magazine was covering my expenses. As soon as I finished the article, I'd get a 9-to-5 that fit me better than my old gig. So I quit.
I think March 15th was the official "first night" of the article, the "Seven Days of Dates" (with the same person??) thingie. There was a Shortbus DVD release party, that weekend Tara and her friend had a joint b-day party. I recall a randomized snowstorm and hopping through it, giddy about love and everything.
March 17th, my real journal: "It is amazing how many hours truly occupy a single day. It is remarkable that we bear it at all."
Sunday, March the 18th I wrote on Reasons to Drink During the Daytime -- it was St. Patrick's Day and my girlfriend's birthday. She drank a lot then, eventually she'd drink even more than that, and then even more, and so eventually I'd start flirting with purposeless daytime drinking from time to time, too.
But also I was learning -- through The L Word recaps (obvs I was trashed for 95% of L Word viewings, it is almost completely unbearable to watch sober) and then through this sort of occasional mid-afternoon buzz -- that intoxication does not inhibit my ability to write. I totally did not need to know that about myself. Like when I learned I could take six Vicodin and still drive a car.
So, March the 18th: we had a house meeting, I was told I'd be moving out because my roommate's BFF was moving in from California. I cried like I'd been voted off Tila Tequilla ... fo'reals, I loved that apartment and its location. I loved Maggie and we'd totally been through it together. I didn't want to go. Everything just felt uneasy: in flux. And I'd quit my job on the assumption that I'd be fine as long as no major unexpected expenses occurred out of nowhere ... like moving.
I was totally like "I am not gonna tell Tara, it's her birthday, no bad news today," but I think I told her about twenty minutes into lunch. My eyes were kinda puffy. It was a really beautiful birthday, holla. Later that day, Tara'd meet Haviland and see The L Word for the first time ever ... [the episode in which Henry clipped his toenails henceforth ruining my life forever] ... and this was all (gonna be we thought) immortalized in a magazine article that was making both of us process my feelings and analyze too quickly, and it wasn't until it was over and got killed that we realised how much that had affected everything. But then we still thought all kinds of good things that had started would continue like they'd been, so who cares, you know? Back then, everything just felt on fire, but not like fire that burns things or minds, just the kind of fire that lights the sky.
In the first post that Haviland admitted she didn't read (it was about food, her least favorite topic):
French Fries
NY Mag said: The Farm on Adderley (1108 Cortelyou Rd. Ditmars Park, Brooklyn)
I say: Arby's. (National Chain)
Hands down totes Arby's. I can never even decide: homestyle or curly? They are both delicious, but in totally different ways. You know, like men and women. That being said, I usually chose curly fries. I think they are just more emotionally complex.
Tara's comment:
i. Providing gmail sponsored link context for my epigraph:
"Free Trade Purses
Gorgeous Purses made by girls in Cambodia.
You win. They win. $19.99
We all automatically win. Yay child labor!"
"Hands down totes Arby's" is my new battle-cry. Love that sentence construction; it made my night. Totes.
Hands Down Totes: An enthusiastic endorsement of something that seems very obvs to you.
I Win. You Win. We All Auto-Win: A [hopefully] adorable way of saying this is good for me and also good for you!
"I don't want to be in flux anymore. I am very tired. I want rest and respite." (my real journal, 3-18)
See, I'm still on March 18th. That's how the days had started to go, by April I felt we'd been together for years.
And March 25th ... finally (finally!) The L Word's season finale. [redacted] magazine sponsored the party. Ironically, when I did get reiumbursed for my article-induced expenses, I didn't apply it to cover the credit card bills I'd racked up for the magazine ... I had to use it to pay rent.
We go through draft after draft. (I talked about this more in August, when I decided just to publish the article on my blog.) Heather, Craig, Sherri and I go to see The View and Havi in her little adrogynous get-up, it was awesome.
I had to start looking for a place. In that post, in which I detail what I want in an apartment based entirely on fictional apartments I'd liked in movies, I say that I did find a place but actually that fell through. Anyhow, I thought my head might explode and sometimes I'd feel like I was running so fast I couldn't breathe, like I was so alive I might just explode. Not exploding was so hard I could barely do anything besides that.
Tara and I fantasized about the end of it all -- the end of the article madness, the apartment thing, my employment flux. We're also both kinda hermits and loners and so all that socialising was like, weird. We wanted to just lie around, gaze into each other's eyes and have feelings like real lesbos.
So hm. By the end of March, I was like, 95% certain that the article'd get published. They were sending a photographer and everything. The book was totes rejected and I was supposed to re-work it as a straight memoir, that's what everyone wanted, lots of interest, and I thought I'd do that super-quick and we'd be onwards into book deal land: still haven't done it. The L Word thing happened, the OurChart thing happened, like everything was marching happily forward!
You know what: seriously, March kinda rocked. I mean, knowing now that the article wouldn't be published, it rocks less, but I was totally like, walking on air then: I was in love and my writing was getting better and consequently, becoming something I could do for a living.
Go March! Best Month Ever! Because that is the month! In which this happened!
That's the greatest thing to happen to the human ass since the invention of Auto-Straddle boyshorts, which actually came later. But whatevs, I love time travel.


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Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Eastern Conference Predictions 2008/9
The big Qs- Can Boston repeat? Will Detroit rebuild? Does Lebron leave Cleveland? Does Marion get traded? Why did D'Antoni take that job?
Boston Celtics (55-27)
Losing James Posey will definitely hurt. Don't forget that throughout their march to the ring, Doc referred to Posey as 'the fourth member of the Big Three', whatever the fuck that means. I'm also expecting slippage due to post-title complacency and the Limberger effect of Darius Miles. No repeat here.
Toronto Raptors (48-34)
Did you know that Jermaine O'Neal makes twenty million dollars this year? That's a lot of scratch for a guy who plays the same position as Chris Bosh. I know, I know, it's the East, 'Jermaine can play center.' But he's not a center, right? He's a power forward, and a brittle one at that. Underrated Anthony (Don't Call Me Candace) Parker and Jamario Moon will continue to compensate for the overall suckiness of former #1, Andrea Bargnani.
Philadelphia Sixers (43-39)
Don't get me wrong, I like Elton Brand. I do. But Philly got to the playoffs last year by trapping and running off of turnovers. Not exactly Elton's forte. Also, I can't help but think that having EB down low on offense means less open floor for slashers like Iggy, Thaddeus Young and Andre Miller.
New York Knicks (25-57)
OK, here's where it starts to get ugly. D'Antoni wants to play uptempo but he's got a roster full of slugs. Only Jamal Crawford, David Lee and Wilson Chandler are good fits. Everyone else is available for sixty cents on the dollar. On the bright side, those slugs will get plenty of shots to pad their stats, making them easier to deal.
New Jersey Nets (23-59)
Is Vince Carter really the guy you want around your young, impressionable players? Expect VC to get moved when the Nets drop out of contention...by the third week of the season.
Detroit Pistons (57-25)
Joe Dumars has a reputation for recognizing talent. I'm quite certain that Kwame Brown has absolutely no talent whatsoever. Fortunately, this squad still has Rip, Chauncey, Rasheed and a strong crop of emerging youngsters on the bench, led by Maxiell and Stuckey. If they underachieve, look for Joe D to trade Sheed or Billups and build around Tayshaun. More likely is a return to the Finals, where they'll lose to the Hornets.
Cleveland Cavaliers (50-32)
Nervous days ahead for Danny Ferry. With Lebron's momentous stay/go decision looming, the GMs big signings lately have been Mo Williams and Lorenzen Wright. Eeesh. And it's difficult to picture getting much more mileage out of Big Z. The guess here is that James stays put but not without seriously considering his options first (think Kobe and the Clips a few years back).
Chicago Bulls (42-40)
Ben Gordon's got a legit gripe. Larry Hughes is making twelve mil a year. Nocioni's getting eight. Pax finally paid Luol Deng (smart move) but appears to be content letting Gordon walk, forgetting that two years ago, Gordon scored more points in the fourth quarter than anyone not named Bryant or James. Rookie Derrick Rose should be good enough to make Kirk Hinrich expendable.
Indiana Pacers (33-49)
Jim O'Brien's offense requires good three point shooters. So the team acquired TJ Ford and Jarrett Jack, neither of whom can shoot a lick. Genius. Danny Granger continues to look amazing next to the plodding Dunleavy and Murphy. The Pacers boast the worst pivot platoon in the league with Foster/Nesterovic/Hibbert/Harrison.
Milwaukee Bucks (24-58)
Where to start? Overpaid for Bogut. Obtained Luke Ridnour to be the starting PG. Drafted Joe Alexander way too high. Additionally, I don't see Skiles and Redd getting along. This front office consistently makes awful decisions.
Orlando Magic (47-35)
Despite another growth spurt by Dwight Howard, the Magic will discover they can't rely on PG Jameer Nelson. Hedo and Rashard Lewis will do what they do- make threes in bunches and play porous defense. Stan Van can coach, though, and that ensures them another division title, if nothing else.
Miami Heat (46-36)
With DWade back at full-strength, the Heat will be competitive once again. Beasley will do just fine on offense but struggle to match up with power forwards, infuriating Riley. Props for the James Jones signing- shrewd move. Not so much with Jamaal Magloire. Hey, Riles- how about Marion for Odom?
Washington Wizards (44-38)
Is Gil Arenas healthy? Butler and Jamison will do their thing, as always. The real problems lie with the less-than-stellar bigs (Haywood and Thomas).
*Note: Arenas just had knee surgery AGAIN and will miss the first month of the season- ouch.
Atlanta Hawks (40-42)
Continued progress by Al Horford means they'll vie for that 8-spot again. Losing Childress makes their bench wafer-thin, however. Seriously, name someone on Atlanta's bench.
Charlotte Bobcats (30-52)
Why exactly is Michael Jordan a GM? Expect a bumpy first year for Larry Brown as he discovers that few of the fellas on MJ's roster 'play the game the right way.' Could be some more crying from Adam Morrison on the horizon.
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1939 11:30 Worked on Molly to-day – very slow stuff. – Marguerite + Sara + I went to "On Borrowed Time" – I wrote a follow up ad for Sylvia's –
1940 10:45 It's real and yet it isn't… Here I am a School Teacher – I felt so very young in faculty meeting… Like I was one of the kids that got in by mistake… If anyone had said "boo" – I would have burst into tears… Silly, adolescent. But they are all very nice to me.
1941 Sun I sewed on my dirndl all day. It isn't done yet… I shouldn't do things quite so intensely I guess. Marie + Chils + I went to a marvelous Melwyn Douglas movie – Out to the airport + had hamburgers. They are swell. They can't quite figure me out, I'm sure!
1942 MON FOR THE LAST TIME FROM YOU, MR. L! WE REALLY HAD A PRETTY NICE EVENING; BUT I DON'T LIKE THE WAS YOU'RE ALWAYS RAGGING ME… WHEN I SAID I WOULDN'T GO OUT WITH HIM AGAIN IF HE DIDN'T TELL ME WHAT HE STARTED to, I really MEANT IT!


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When we moved to Brazil I had no idea how much it would remind us how close we are. Dealing with this whole adventure is the ride of my life, and I love every second. Even if it takes some reflection to love the shit bits.
Right now I'm sinking cold beer on the beach, waiting for him to wake up for the next installment of his glorious 2 year old life. I just want to share every last drop of it. (his 2 year old life, not my beer)
And to be honest I'm pretty knackered too.
Still... She'll be back before we know it. Best go and do the pots.
|another cheeky Copa tinny, in a glass this time - it is Sunday after all....


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It is now a near certainty that we will see coordinated public sector strike action within the next couple of months.
UCU have already balloted. PCS is putting a motion to its conference in May. The NUT will be seeking permission to ballot this weekend. Even the moderate ATL already has a mandate to ask members for strike action. Unite has hinted its support. The only question now is how events unfold once the ball gets rolling.
The significance of such action shouldn't be understated. Up to 800,000 people could be out on strike if the action goes ahead, more than official estimates of the TUC's March for the Alternative. That this action is economic, rather than a simple A to B march, also means that the action will have an exponentially greater effect upon the government, without us having to listen to speeches by the likes of Ed Miliband.
But we ought to be honest about the limitations of this action. There is a tendency on the left to overplay the value of one-day strike action, and this instance is no different.
John McInally, national vice president of PCS, writes for the Socialist that whilst "PCS supports demonstrations, peaceful direct action, building the anti-cuts movements in our communities and all other forms of campaigning," ultimately "the key to defeating the coalition is widespread, coordinated industrial action." This statement is not entirely true, and in effect marginalises the effort of those beyond highly organised workplaces.
less than a quarter of workers are in a trade union. The unemployed, a demographic which is growing in the wake of the ruling class's austerity agenda, cannot take traditional strike action. Yet it would be wrong to say that these groups have no economic power, or that they must play a secondary role in class struggle. To marginalise these groups, on such a spurious basis, is to guarantee failure.
To fight the cuts effectively we need to recognise the value of other forms of direct action beyond traditional walk-outs. Economic blockades can have the same effect as a strike. Occupations are a useful weapon against closures. Not to mention the numerous forms of disruptive action that workers can take without having to sacrifice a day's pay – from go-slows to sabotage.
It is thus important not to see action in the public sector as some kind of substitute for broader class action. There needs to be a more explicit effort to connect the struggles of various groups, for example claimants who face being chucked off benefits and Jobcentre workers facing an increasingly repressive targets culture. Greater coordination of action is also a must. Not just between different groups of strikers but also between different forms of direct action.
In building for these coordinated strikes, militant workers should be emphasising this point. They are not occurring in isolation, but within a broader climate of class struggle. With the PCS and NUT ballots both for discontinuous action, allowing them to call further strikes without having to re-ballot, the link between struggles can be made more explicit in the future.
In building for the action we ought also to be arguing not just for a "yes" vote but also for mass attendance of picket lines and strike rallies. But we should not simply be mobilising the rank-and-file simply to be led. We should be arguing for workers to organise on a horizontal basis, and for a willingness to go beyond the limitations of the trade union bureaucracy. Whilst the left will be concentrating its efforts on attempting to build militancy in the leadership, how the struggle turns out will really depend on what we can build at the grassroots.
This means not just mass militancy, but locally-controlled strike funds and strong solidarity across workplaces and communities. But it also means a recognition of the fundamental nature of bureaucracy and top-down organisation.
A bureaucracy by nature has interests apart from those it is supposed to represent. In the case of trade unions, this means being of value as a mediator between labour and capital. Indeed, the value of this role has long been recognised by the bosses, who have on numerous occasions used union leaders as a way to police the workforce. Changing the faces behind the union may change the degree to which this happens, but it will still happen. The problem is not in the specific figures at the top, but in the structure.
Thus, anarcho-syndicalists recognise that reform of trade unions is akin to alchemy. Instead, we would argue for workers to take control of our own struggles. It is now more important than ever that this principle is put into practice.


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I've read two memoirs in the last week or so (this one and this one). They have me thinking about the power of writing down our stories (even if we don't want to publish them). Not so we can MAKE something happen, necessarily. More that life goes a little better when we remember.
One of the unexpected benefits of writing He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not and A Maze of Grace is that they remind me of how uniquely (and bizarrely!) my life has unfolded. These stories are real. They lay out the details of all these unexpected collisions between me & God, and how synching up with him has kept things moving along at a rather breathtaking pace ever since. And because I wrote it all down, I have no business whining, "Waaaa...God must have lost my file!" (although, of course, I do). Skimming a few of those pages, I'm forced to concede that life looks very different in the big, aerial view than it does in the narrow bit of each day that I see.
And these pages protect me against the false-security of a 10 year plan, because really: who could have planned any of this?
My point? YOU should write things down, too! Even if you think your life is dull right now, I'll go out on a limb and say: It might be dull, but it's meaningful. Things that seem unimportant now might be key aspects later to a mystery you'll want to unfold, or a progression so subtle you didn't even see it happening.
Do you keep a journal?
Monday, October 24, 2011
Write it down
Posted by Trish Ryan at 8:02 AM
2 comments:
Too funny - two weeks ago I decided to start writing in a journal again and although I did not write once last week before dropping into bed at 11:00 PM, I am going to try harder this week. You're so right that even through the trying times, it is helpful to write it down, get it out and then look back in a few years and thank God for how things change!
- Trish Ryan said...
I've had that happen! I'll decide to go back to keeping a journal, and then weeks pass before I write a word on the page. I do better in the morning than at night, but really--any captured moment counts :)
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Baked spiced tempeh chips served with creamy avocado make one perfect lunch!
Enjoy the five tastes – sweet, sour, bitter, salty, umami – of Penang Asam Laksa!
Amazing Balsamic Strawberry Butter Icing with Fluffy Vanilla Cake and Pink Heart Macarons
Here's a delicious vanilla custard tart recipe and useful how to tips and tricks for making a beautiful tart crust.
Whipping custard with soft butter makes a buttercream just as silky as Swiss, but with the rich flavor of old fashioned vanilla ice cream
Sweet figs infused with vanilla to make perfect preserves.
Chicken and red lentil stew a meal for anytime of the day
How to: Peel a Peach - A great simple and useful kitchen technique!
Myulchi Bokkeum (stir-fried dried anchovies) is a popular Korean side dish. These anchovies are sweet, savory, sticky and crunchy!
Mini Pavlovas with Pineapple and Pastry Cream
Lechon sa Hurno (Oven Roasted Pork) with homemade lechon sauce
Sweet Corn Salsa~This salsa goes wonderfully well with corn chips
Nutella & Cinnamon Swirl Bread - This combination rivals a cinnamon bun!
Gluten-Free Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes -Retro favorite makeover with homemade vanilla pudding & topped with a river of chocolate.
Chicken Afritada - Chicken, potatoes, carrots and capsicum stewed in tomato sauce
Pappardelle with Pork Ragù - The ragú improves after a night in the fridge!
Decadent honey mustard chicken with Texas sweet potatoes
Pumpkin Cheesecake Brownies - It's like 3 desserts in one!
Indian Curry Paste by Prerna Singh
Napa Cabbage Hulled Barley Soup. A bowl of comfort.
A spicy and oh-so-tasty recipe adapted from Indian cuisine authority, Madhur Jaffrey: Salmon in Bengali Mustard Sauce.
A pumpkin pie which is both delicious and stealthily healthy!
Fried Sweet Plantains ~ Reminiscent of bananas foster!
Elderberry pie and almonds - A delicious bit of foraging!
Chocolate Pumpkin Cake, dedicated to a very special couple
Peas, eggs, mint and yogurt magically go great together!
Blueberry Muffins with a twist of cream cheese and blueberry jam. Excellent!
Five Spice Snickerdoodles. The warm flavours and sweetness are perfect when the days become gloomy.
An easy one bowl recipe that celebrates the flavor of Fall!
Pebbly Beach Fruit Squares - With the crunchy pastry layers and a chewy fruit filling this is a great technique to try with lots of different flavor combinations!
This Apple Chess Pie in a traditional southern specialty. Sweet apple slices in a buttery custard with a crunchy crust.
Vegetarian Mushroom Moussaka - with vegan version
Candy Corn Vodka Tonic - Miss Make has done the unthinking-able and made a candy corn infused vodka.
Celebrating Fall - Anjou Pear and Almond Tart
Carrot, Courgette, Mushrooms and Smoked Tofu Salad
Angela Pia (Pious Angel) dessert. This elegant, luscious frozen dessert was made popular mid last century by a San Francisco eatery. Airy and light, flavored with vanilla, brandy and rum.
Apricot-Rosemary Squares. Sweet catches a hint of savory and falls madly in love!
A very healthy and moist banana apple bread with lots of nuts!
Caramel & Coffee-Infused Crème Brulee
Whole wheat pita filled with veggies, avocado, and arugula. Then, topped with tzatziki sauce. What a great combination of flavors!
Coconut, lime and macadamia cake - a surprising cake.
Coconut Chocolate Cinnamon Buns - And amped up versino of the standard cinnamon bun!
Truffled cauliflower puree ~ Made with a full 4 tablespoons of truffle butter!
Golden, tasty and rich Vanilla Cupcakes made with oil instead of butter.
A Taste of Istanbul with the NYtimes.


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Interesting story at stuff.co.nz about how footwear may be contributing the spread of the invasive freshwater alga known as didymo (Didymosphenia geminata, also known charmingly as "rock snot"). Apparently the felt-soled boots that have become popular among anglers are impossible to clean or disinfect in a way that assures they are algae-free. The cleaning products that anglers normally use cannot penetrate the felt properly, and the felt stays wet for a long time, allowing any embedded algae to survive.
While there is currently no legal regulation outlawing the use of felt-soled boots, freshwater anglers are being urged to switch to foam-soled ones that dry out faster and are easier to clean. As far as I can tell, the advantage of the felt soles is to prevent slipping, but IANAF so anyone who knows for sure should feel free to leave a comment.


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|Always use the best chocolate
|Melted and ready to go
|Add the sugar
|Don't forget to set the oven
|Now the flower
|Oh Shit! Don't forget the eggs
|Will it make a difference?
|The book says don't be stingy buttering the pan
|Plop it in!
|Spread it 'round
|Bake for 20-25 minutes
|Awaiting your taste test...


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An EP's Worth Of New Material (Including A Richard X Mix) On Next Pet Shop Boys Single
Naturally, that won't happen, and all extras are getting spread over no less than three digital bundle singles, two CDs and a 12" vinyl release.
Out in the U.K. on June 1, "Did You See Me Coming?" will contain in its various formats a 12" mix (Yay!), the "Unicorn Kid Mix," three B-sides ("After The Event," "The Former Enfante Terrible" and "Up And Down"), their Brits medley and a Richard X mix of Yes track "The Way It Used To Be."
UPDATE: (From April 24) Chris Lowe says on Twitter, "Just finished our new mix of 'Did you see me coming?' It's got a lot of new vocals, both spoken and sung."
The video for "Did You See Me Coming?" was shot yesterday in London, with former Jesus And Mary Chain member Douglas Hart directing.
Yes was released in the U.S. this week. So far, it's reached #10 on the iTunes Store's top albums ranking, and #6 on Amazon's best-sellers list.
Labels: Pet Shop Boys


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Given the fact that I will be living on my bicycle for the next few months, I wanted to make sure that I gave it a few "homey" touches during the off-season. With that in mind, and some holiday cash, I settled on a few things to make riding a bit nicer.
My first investment was a new saddle that I hope will make those longer rides a bit more comfortable. After studying a number of options, I finally selected a Cobb Plus 2 saddle. It's an updated version of their Plus saddle (obviously) and its major differences have to do with some of the styling as well as longer rails, which allow for greater adjustment in terms of moving the it forward or backward. I've played with the position a bit, and I believe I may have it dialed in, with only a few minor adjustments still to go. The saddle feels a bit firmer than I anticipated, but I also know that there is a bit of a breaking in period. I'll keep fiddling with it, but so far so good. I did opt for the "green" saddle which doesn't really fit the overall color scheme of my bike, but I kind of like the mismatch that way. I also figure that a bright green saddle might be easier to spot in the sea of bike saddles that is a transition area. We'll see.
For a long time, I've been looking at hydration systems to install for Ironman this summer. Originally I'd planned to put something on the back of my bike given the aero benefits that this offers. As I was shopping around on the internet however, I found a "starter kit" from XLAB that included an aerobar mounted Torpedo system, along with a small pocket for storing gels, CO2 cartridges, etc. (an nanoflator was also included). I ultimately decided to go with the aerobar mounted system for a number of reasons, but one of the most important is that it will encourage hydration and nutrition during the longer bike stage of the Ironman. I have a tendency to neglect these things, and I know that will be more important during the 112 miles on the bike.
The last "addition" to my ride is something that I won't have with me on August 2nd, but is also a great tool for indoor riding. It's the upgrade to our DirecTV system. After many years with a different set up in each room, we finally upgraded, and got the "genie" system that let's us record/ watch in any room. It is definitely nice to have options during those long rides in the basement!
|Now I can catch up on Homeland!


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Name as it Appears on the Ballot: Michael D. Andrews
Full legal name, if different: Michael David Andrews
Date of Birth: April 27, 1958
Campaign Web Site: http://andrewsforsheriff.com/
Occupation & Employer: Sheriff, Durham County Sheriff's Office
Years lived in Durham: 56
Home phone: (919) 596-9887 Work Phone: (919) 560-0853
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
1. How do you rate the current functioning of the Sheriff's Office? What's good? What's not so good and needs improvement? If elected, what are your priorities?
I am proud of the commitment to public service consistently demonstrated by the leadership and as part of that, building on the long tradition of community engagement of the Sheriff's Office. One way we are improving service, with the active support of the leadership, is through new technological initiatives. Specifically, our agency has connected with citizens in innovative ways by developing a social media presence through Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. The agency has taken substantial steps toward implementing video visitation at the Detention Facility. We have worked to expand our efforts through the Project Lifesaver program, which enables deputies to locate and rescue citizens with cognitive disorders who are at risk of wandering. Our agency has strived to welcome new technology such as specialized software that analyzes and visualizes crime trends, allowing deputies to make optimal use of policing resources.
I have also sought to engage with members of the community. In particular, the Sheriff's Office implemented the Creating Healthy Opportunities Inspiring Children to Have Everyday Success (C.H.O.I.C.E.S.) program, which educates young people about the consequences of crime. Our deputies also provide gang awareness presentations to parents at schools and El Centro Hispano.
While the Sheriff's Office has made significant advancements, I continually endeavor to maintain a progressive posture and respond to the ever-changing environment of law enforcement and detention services.
In my continued role as Sheriff, I will strive to facilitate safe and humane conditions at the Detention Facility. Mindful that the number of detainees with mental health issues has increased, I am currently attempting to install additional suicide prevention vents in the Detention Facility and increase the number of detention officers and deputies who receive crisis intervention training. I am also seeking to equip detention officers and deputies with critical safety tools, such as additional deadly force alternatives and protective equipment that would protect our personnel if it became necessary to respond to a mass disturbance.
Our agency continues to meet the challenges of providing animal related service through the Animal Services Division, which the Sheriff's Office assumed control of in July 2012. In particular, agency-wide calls for service increased 40% in 2013, many of which can be attributed to requests of the Animal Services Division. Specifically, over 11,700 calls were related to animals. This places significant demands on Animal Services staff and tele-communicators. Accordingly, I am working to bolster resources in the Animal Services Division to provide exceptional service.
2. Some residents complain of poor relations between minorities and Durham law enforcement, even alleging racial profiling. If elected, do you anticipate making changes to better serve the African-American and Latino communities?
I am aware of those complaints and would note that they have not been made about the Sheriff's Office, but I also realize that this requires vigilance. As Sheriff, I have worked to continue a culture free of bias-based policing. Investigation and enforcement actions are conducted without regard to race or ethnicity. This is a broad effort, which begins in the recruitment and training process and continues as we serve all citizens and visitors of Durham through accountability and supervision. As a component of this effort, our agency is in the process of implementing specialized software that tracks potential areas of concern, such as citizen complaints, and provides an early warning system that allows supervisors to track possible trouble.
Our agency has also taken a proactive approach to community outreach, striving to involve citizens in the policing process. In particular, gang awareness presentations have been offered to parents at schools and El Centro Hispano. Deputies attempt to combat impaired driving through the Impaired Driving Education and Awareness (IDEA) program, which has been offered at local high schools and El Centro Hispano. Additionally, members of our organization have assisted with events at the Durham Rescue Mission, participated in National Night Out events, and provided safety presentations at churches, community centers, and schools.
3. What in your record as a public official or other experience demonstrates your ability to be effective on the issues you've identified? Please be as specific as possible in relating past accomplishments to current goals.
As Sheriff of Durham County, I have strived to ensure public safety, combat crime, and provide public access to the Sheriff's Office. This effort has been realized in a number of ways. Under my leadership, the Sheriff's Office pursued a number of new initiatives designed to improve our ability to deter criminal activity, and solve crimes.
Through new and enhanced technology projects, we equip deputies with tools that will aid them in protecting the public and increase citizens' access to the Sheriff's Office.
The agency has bolstered its crime mapping tools with its implementation of ATACRAIDS. Using data from past criminal activity, this innovative technology analyzes and visualizes crime trends. The analytic information will be provided to deputies in the field, which allows them to make optimal use of enforcement resources. ATACRAIDS also provides greater information sharing among law enforcement agencies, a vital component of combating crime in our mobile society.Social Media
So long as I am Sheriff we will build on these accomplishments, address the challenges of policing, and strive to deliver exceptional service to the citizens of Durham County.
4. The INDY's mission is to help build a just community in the Triangle. Please point to a specific position in your platform that would, if achieved, help further that goal.
I am committed to community engagement as a critical component of effective public service. As the Sheriff's Office strives to develop relationships with the public, we are mindful of Durham's diversity and endeavor to maintain an agency that is responsive to the needs of all of our citizens. In particular, I recognize the need to expand contact with the Hispanic/Latino community and involve these citizens in the policing process. Accordingly, I am seeking to bolster our bilingual ability within the agency and increase our participation in community events to facilitate greater rapport with the Hispanic/Latino community. A law enforcement agency that is responsive to the needs of all its citizens can build trust, promote a greater sense of community, and realize greater effectiveness in crime reduction efforts.
5. Despite recent growth in business and urban development, Durham is perceived by some to be a place of persistent crime. Is that a fair assessment?
While crime is a persistent issue in our society, not just in Durham, the Sheriff's Office endeavors to combat crime through a diverse array of efforts. In particular, our agency relies on innovative technology, community outreach, and proactive crime prevention measures. Fortunately, the crime rate in the County of Durham, which does not include the City limits, decreased 21% in 2013.
6. Durham's jail and courts are full of drug defendants. Has the so-called War on Drugs been taken too far?
Illegal drug activity, and the crimes that can result from drug use, need to be addressed. However, this is not a matter that should be relegated solely to law enforcement agencies. Specifically, the criminal justice system should utilize assistance from community partners to address rehabilitation needs and the underlying issues that often lead to substance abuse. Accordingly, our agency supports the use of drug court to provide an alternative to incarceration. Additionally, we host the Substance Abuse Treatment and Recidivism Reduction (STARR) program and an additional component for STARR graduates, the STARR GRAD program, for inmates in the Detention Facility.
7. What do you think about the decriminalization of marijuana?
As Sheriff, I will continue to enforce existing federal, state, and local laws. North Carolina law prohibits active sentences for minimal marijuana possession violations, and I support that provision. Further, minor marijuana possession offenses remain among our lowest law enforcement priorities. Our agency focuses on preventing crimes against people and property.
8. Some inmates have complained about unsanitary jail conditions. Is there any way to eliminate such complaints?
The Sheriff's Office has worked to provide a safe and sanitary facility. Recently, I directed that cells that had been defaced with graffiti to be repainted and we are more closely monitoring those conditions to stop inmates from defacing their cells. Under my leadership, we have upgraded kitchen equipment, replaced flooring, and exchanged outdated laundry equipment for new models. Our staff constantly monitors these and other related issues to ensure that we are providing an appropriate confinement environment. Moreover, we encourage inmates to voice concerns and we strive to address any in an expedient manner.
9. When you suspect a newly admitted inmate is an undocumented immigrant, do you feel the need to report it to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement?
We continue to comply with the requirements of North Carolina General Statute 162-62, which requires us to run checks with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when any person is charged with a felony or impaired driving offense.
10. Identify a principled stand you have taken or would be willing to take if elected, even if you suspect might cost you popularity with voters.
I have and will continue to enforce the State prohibition against internet sweepstakes businesses, so long as the law is in effect. The Sheriff's Office has proactively responded to citizen reports, conducted thorough investigations and initiated enforcement actions. While this has generated some public resistance, I will continue to enforce the North Carolina law related to internet gambling.
11. Identify some areas in the sheriff's department budget where money could be cut and others where more funding is needed.
In recent years, the Sheriff's Office lost 21 positions, which impaired our ability to serve the citizens and visitors of Durham County. For instance, our ability to combat juvenile truancy and elder abuse were diminished because of the lessened capacity to devote workforce resources to specific issues. Instead, existing employees were required to absorb these specialized functions. We have not regained these positions. Accordingly, I find it difficult to identify areas where the agency budget could withstand further reductions.
As it relates to funding needs, my current budget priorities are to provide additional suicide prevention measures in the Detention Facility, equip deputies and detention officers with additional alternatives to deadly force, and obtain additional in-car cameras to promote officer safety and enhance transparency. Additionally, I am seeking funding to add positions, some of which would bolster the resources of the Animal Services Division to adequately respond to citizen complaints and effectively enforce laws related to animal protection.
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Below is an example of how to write a custom LogParser input plugin, using SharpSvn to query an svn repository.
Download the LogParser.Svn project here. You will need Visual Studio 2010 Express to build it. Make sure that the build tab in the project properties has "Register for COM interop" checked. You will also need to download the latest build of SharpSvn and update the references in the project.
Any reference to examples refer to the following command line:
LogParser.exe -rtp:-1 -i:COM -iProgID:LogParser.Svn.SvnLogParserInputContext -iCOMParams:startDate=2010-01-01 "Select Count(1), Author From http://my.svn/repo/trunk Group By Author Order By Count(1)"
To start, create a new "Class Library" project in Visual Studio. I've called mine LogParser.Svn.
Next, we need to create copies of the COM interface and enum our code will use:
public enum FieldType : int { Integer = 1, Real = 2, String = 3, Timestamp = 4, Null = 5, }; public interface ILogParserInputContext { void OpenInput(string from); int GetFieldCount(); string GetFieldName(int index); FieldType GetFieldType(int index); bool ReadRecord(); object GetValue(int index); void CloseInput(bool abort); }
Now we need a class that implements the interface defined above. Let's start with the OpenInput method. This method will receive a string that is entered in the query given to LogParser that represents the "FROM" statement. Taking the command line above, it would receive a value of "http://my.svn/repo/trunk".
public void OpenInput(string from) { // System.Diagnostics.Debugger.Launch(); _client = new SvnClient(); _repository = from; SvnLogArgs args = new SvnLogArgs(); if (_start.HasValue) { if (_end.HasValue) { args.Range = new SvnRevisionRange(_start.Value, _end.Value); } else { args.Range = new SvnRevisionRange(new SvnRevision(_start.Value), SvnRevision.Head); } } else if (_end.HasValue) { args.Range = new SvnRevisionRange(SvnRevision.Zero, new SvnRevision(_end.Value)); } if (_startDate.HasValue) { if (_endDate.HasValue) { args.Range = new SvnRevisionRange(_startDate.Value, _endDate.Value); } else { args.Range = new SvnRevisionRange(new SvnRevision(_startDate.Value), SvnRevision.Head); } } else if (_endDate.HasValue) { args.Range = new SvnRevisionRange(SvnRevision.Zero, new SvnRevision(_endDate.Value)); } _results = new List
First, the code above creates a new SvnClient object, which we will us to view log messages. Next we create an SvnLogArgs object, and set the revision range we want. Finally, we call SvnClient.Log. In the delegate, we receive each log entry matching our SvnLogArgs object. We then create an array of values and store them in a List. Ideally, we would only prepare to receive a value, and then receive each entry during each call to ReadRecord, but I haven't gotten around to doing that (but it shouldn't be too difficult to change the code to work this way).
The next few methods are very straight forward:
public int GetFieldCount() { return 5; } public string GetFieldName(int index) { switch (index) { case 0: return "Author"; case 1: return "LogMessage"; case 2: return "Revision"; case 3: return "Time"; case 4: return "ChangedPaths"; } return null; } public FieldType GetFieldType(int index) { switch (index) { case 0: return FieldType.String; case 1: return FieldType.String; case 2: return FieldType.Integer; case 3: return FieldType.Timestamp; case 4: return FieldType.String; } return FieldType.Null; } public bool ReadRecord() { return ++_rowNumber < _results.Count; } public object GetValue(int index) { return _results[_rowNumber][index]; } public void CloseInput(bool abort) { _client.Dispose(); }
GetFieldCount returns how many fields your parser can return. GetFieldName returns what the field name is for a given index. GetFieldType returns the type of field for a given index. ReadRecord is where your plugin should advance to the next record, and return true if another record is found. GetValue returns the value of the specified field for the current record. CloseInput is called at the end, and is where you should do any cleanup needed.
You can also create some write-only properties that can be set on the command line using -iCOMParams:prop=value. See the attached code for an example.
I hope this helps people trying to start using SharpSvn or writing their own LogParser input plugin.


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Yo. Been a while. I've been around, but mostly on my food & fitness blog: http://wholefoodfitness.blogspot.com/ ~ Lots of yoga, lots of juicing. And then I went and got sick. Great idea, that. Highly recommend it. Hanging out in bed, not being able to breathe, developing bronchitis while the kid gets an ear infection. It's fun times.
I have slacked on the contest judging this past few weeks, and I'm about to remedy that. I realized too, I ran out of pre-written contests, so this week we're running without one. Need to filter through the pictures and get some more set up for Friday and later this month.
I'll post on each contest individually as I choose a winner, but I'll also pop up a this week, that week, etc list on a main post since it's been a while.
Sorry I'm such a slacker! Well, really, not slacking all over, just easily distracted. My bad! :) I am still around, I promise!!!


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Our only problem now: Whatever missive could possibly be worthy of bearing such a seal?
Monday, January 5, 2015
Holey Moley Guacamole!
Our only problem now: Whatever missive could possibly be worthy of bearing such a seal?
36 comments:
Well, Caroline could tell you.ReplyDelete
As for me, I'm impressed, dude! What a very cool treat!
They are very impressive indeed, Spitty. Looks like you're going to have to issue snail mail proclamations to the whole world and ask your human to seal each envelope with a sticker. She's going to be busy, isn't she?ReplyDelete
Sydney, Australia
Being Royalty, it is only fitting for you to have stamps or stickers bearing your likeness!ReplyDelete
Your Royal Highness, you may affix your stickers anywhere you'd like! *stifling grin*ReplyDelete
OMC, they're Spitty Stickers. How pawesome!ReplyDelete
Wowza! Very nice! Santa Paws extra gift you, super special you are!ReplyDelete
Spitty--try one on. We dare ya!ReplyDelete
Now that's pawsome, Spitty!ReplyDelete
OMC! Those are so kewl! They're for your important proclamations to your viceroys or whatever we are who run parts of your kingdom of SF.ReplyDelete
O-M-C, those are AMAZING! What an awesome surprise! Well, now you are just going have to take over the world so you can use them.ReplyDelete
Wow Spitty. Your very own seal stickers. That made me think about seals. They're neat animals, but noisy. Oh, sorry - back to you. Now you can put your seal of approval on things.ReplyDelete
First came the King Spitty royal coat of arms and now your very own handsome likeness on the first official King Spitty designer stickers We are sure you will find many missives worthy to adhere your regal adhesive backed image to over time King Spitty. them. Perhaps you could use them to reward the cats & goat that govern your territories for you when they do something exceptional. Who wouldn't be inspired to work twice as hard, knowing they may be rewarded with a King Spitty sticker of their very own to gaze upon as often as they desired? Everyone & their mother, that's who!. This ultra- cool gift from Glogirly, Katie & Waffles more than makes up for that dreadful inflatable unicorn horn you received last year. so be stingy with The royal gift jinx has been broken at last!ReplyDelete
They obviously need to go on spirits or wine. Or maybe nip.ReplyDelete
Sir Spitty, I think put on your human' car is COOL !ReplyDelete
Pawsome stickers ! PurrsReplyDelete
Oh wow, King Spitty! Those are awesome stickers! Maybe one could go on your royal nip canister. We know you got one ;-)ReplyDelete
They are wonderful and must be distributed carefully, to your most esteemed loyal readers.ReplyDelete
Did we ever send you the LEGAL postage stamp with me on it ?
Dat are pawsome!ReplyDelete
Wowwee! Those are awesome!!! Those are the most handsome stickers EVER!ReplyDelete
O.M.C squared...cubed...to INFINITY! What I wouldn't give to be gifted by a Royal gift such as this and you look positively GAWJUSS! OH what a GIFT!ReplyDelete
Bring on and stick it on the tubby when you come over and lay with me on the edge. xxooxxx
Awesome indeedReplyDelete
YAY!!! So glad they made it. : )ReplyDelete
Certainly you'll find many communications worthy of the Spitty Seal.
Happy New Year to the King!
- AnonymousJanuary 6, 2015 at 7:58 AM
Gosh King Spitty those ROYAL SEALS are fabulous......purrrrhaps you should hang onto those - don't just give them out for the heck of it - they may be worth millions one day!ReplyDelete
Hugs, Sammy
OMC!!! Totally pawsome! Now we all want stickers!ReplyDelete
How cool is that, Spitty! Royal seals!ReplyDelete
Those are the most beautiful stickers that I have ever seen. They need to be preserved in an album.ReplyDelete
Now those really are most amazing, as are you King Spitty!ReplyDelete
dood !! way total lee rockin mega soooper grate N awesum !!! we think yur mom shuld go bout de naybor hood N place yur stickerz on door wayz, entree wayz, car windowz, light postz, traffic signz & groceree stores....all bout yur viceroyship... way kewl !! ♥♥ReplyDelete
What a lovely surprise! Those are not just stickers, they are royal seals of approval.ReplyDelete
Wow, Spitty, those stickers are pawsome!ReplyDelete
Purrs Georgia and Julie,
Treasure and JJ
It's the Year of the SpittyKing Cat for SURE! Those are a MEOW zing!ReplyDelete
Oh Spitty! Those is glorious!!!ReplyDelete
My goodness gracious!
Spitty these are the BOMB!!!ReplyDelete
OMC, Spitty, those are absolutely stunning, just like you. What an extraordinary gift. You are one lucky kitty and Glogirly, Waffles and Katie are so generous! XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista JoReplyDelete


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Tag Archives: CEO Global ITU
What was Apple Co-founder Steve Wozniak doing with Global IT University CEO Charles Fox?
Apple Co-founder, Steve Wozniak and Charles Fox, CEO of Global IT University were at an International Town Hall meeting. This conversation spanned everything from educational funding, legislative mandates, government contracts for small businesses, and how e-Learning is changing the course of how people learn. Check out more pictures here http://i1306.photobucket.com/albums/s579/GlobalITUniversity/DSC01295_zps91a34908.jpg Advertisements


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My Father's Voice
Tonight we had dinner with friends and I found myself saying negative things about the teacher's union, supporting smaller government, questioning the state-owned liquor stores here, and so on. After awhile Tom just looked at me, shook his head in wonder, and said I was repeating my father's old tapes. And he was right. My father considered himself an independent though he was really more a libertarian. And he had very persistent tapes about the teacher's union and smaller government.
At the time I said those things I thought they were my opinions, at least my opinions of the moment. But when Tom pointed out that I was repeating my father's words, I wondered if perhaps I was just trying on those opinions like trying on new clothes. How do these words sound to me? What kind of reaction do I get from others? Do I really think this?
Why now at 57 would I be saying things that only a few years ago I would argue against? I know Churchill's saying: Anyone who is not a liberal when young has no heart and anyone who is not a conservative when old has no brain - or something like that. And I have watched myself become more conservative with time - not just with politics but also with personal choices and preferences.
I just read about a 92 year old woman who still runs marathons. She said she relished the challenge -- and she looked at least 20 years younger than her age. Perhaps I can use her image as a prompt to curb my conservative tendencies. The challenge for me over the next ten years is to balance my cautiousness with some risk, and to listen carefully - if my father is speaking through me, I need to head the message and change the subject.
Labels: changing the subject, marathons, old tapes


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Several weeks ago I wrote about combining words and word parts to form new name candidates.
Today I'll address several ways to make these combinations. And then I'll continue with some additional approaches to combinations next week as well.
So first let's look at prefixes and suffixes.
It is possible to find and combine a prefix or suffix to a common descriptive word, usually a noun. I've done this successfully for several clients, most notably, Ideatrics and Profitology.
The former is a company that helps surgeons design, manufacture and market custom surgical instruments. So combining the Greek suffix "atrics", meaning medical treatment, with "idea", I created a name that is both unique and descriptive. Profitology uses the suffix meaning "science of" with "profits" for a consultant who sets up and trains incoming call centers for her clients.
All you need is a comprehensive list of prefixes and suffixes. I forget where I attained my list, but an Internet search will surely find such a list you can print out and put in your "Naming Aids" notebook.


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That's right folks, be sure to head to the Wild West Arena on Friday night and party with the Dice crew! Danny G will be laying down the tracks and a few brave souls will be taking the mic for their chance to be crowned the "Karaoke King".
Bring your tent and camp under the stars.
Please help us get the word out by posting the flyer on your sites.
See you there!


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Demon Lover
Memoirs of an Anti-Semite
Gregor von Rezzori is a multilingual Rumanian novelist brought up in Bukovina and Bucharest after the liberation from the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, educated in Vienna, and writing in German. In Germany his startling powers are admired, but he is almost unknown in the English-speaking world because of the difficulties of translating his eccentric, part-baroque, part-almost-slangy talking prose. Two of the stories in Memoirs of an Anti-Semite were written in English. He worked for British radio in Hamburg during World War II. The second sentence in the following passage—
Troth. She must have used it quite unconsciously, without a second thought as to the word's immeasurable profundity. This made me rather pensive for a couple of days…
—has the note of, say, P.G. Wode-house's disarming clichés.
Those who expect the sensational or a tract from Rezzori's title will find something very different. He might even be described as anti-Semite manqué, coming from a country where anti-Semitism—among other "anti" passions—was endemic by tradition. More accurately, like the arrogant young Jewish pianist whose gifts enchanted him but of whom he was violently jealous for other reasons when he was thirteen, Rezzori is an artist with a demon in him.
The episode with the young pianist occurs in the first of the four half-fictional disquisitional stories in which this vivid toing and froing autobiography is enclosed. They are speculative dramatizations of the myths against which he rebelled in a youth that went adrift in the political catastrophes in the Middle Europe of his past. In an epilogue his mind scurries through a kind of reverie about some of the private disasters of his middle years which had not taken story form. This, I think, is a loss. But his conclusion revives a very generalized misanthropy which reminds one of Spengler's Decline of the West: the once confident Western "goys" themselves may, in their turn, become displaced persons, too gifted for a banal proletarian dispensation.
The word "troth" spoken by the most engaging and sisterly of the Jewish women the author has been in love with is at the heart of all his stories of a changing self. For his father, a minor landowner in Bukovina, troth means an inherited loyalty to the Austro-Hungarian Empire which had been betrayed when Rumania became a separate kingdom, and even goes back to a mystical regard for the Holy Roman Empire, the West's knightly and armed bulwark against the Oriental swarms of Asia. The old gentleman could go on for hours about the tragedy of the split between Rome and Byzantium—until his wife, who did not love him, left the room. He saw himself as a betrayed colonial outpost and therefore, when Rumania became independent, a second-class citizen.
The warlike history of his class had turned into an expensive passion for hunting in the Carpathians, and he automatically hated the Jews, whether humble or educated or above all rich, for they "spoiled the hunting." It infuriated him that his wife asked poor Jews to…
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For the most part, the 2014 NFL season was a positive one for Pittsburgh Steelers' Le'Veon Bell as the running back broke out in style with 2,215 combined yards and 11 touchdowns.
His emergence as an elite star, though, was tempered by a late season knee injury that required surgery, as well as an NFL suspension for marijuana possession that will rule him out of the first three games of the upcoming campaign.
Comeback talk
While the suspension gives Bell extra time to recover from the knee injury that put pay to his (and effectively the Steelers') 2014 postseason, fans have been nervous to discover how his recover has been going. The star offered a hugely positive update after taking part in team OTAs this week.
"I am feeling good. I am feeling as good as I can remember," Bell told the Pittsburgh Steelers' official website today. "Week 17 last year was a scary moment when I hurt my knee."
"My knee is now close to 100 percent. I am excited about my progress and how my body has been holding up after all the carries I got last year and I am ready to go."
Even though the season is still a few months away the fact that Bell is speaking so positively regarding his fitness levels will be a big boost to those at the Pittsburgh franchise. Indeed, going as far as to say it is feeling better than ever will give hope that another stunning season of production could be on the cards.
Ban ramifications
Before going down injured in the final game of the regular season, Le'Veon Bell hadn't missed a fixture in 2014 and had taken on the bell cow role for the team.
Even if he recovers to 100 percent in plenty of time for the Steelers 2015 opener against the New England Patriots, however, there is little to no chance that he lines up in the back field.
Thanks to a delayed suspension relating to a marijuana possession charge from August 2014 Bell is currently sitting on a three game ban.
He is busy appealing that suspension but at present it looks like, no matter how much Pittsburgh fans want to see a fully healthy Le"Veon Bell reeking havoc all season long, they will have to make do with new recruit DeAngelo Williams for the early part of the campaign.
At least if the ban is not reduced their star man will have even longer to recuperate. By the sounds of it, though, he wants to get back on the gridiron ASAP.
Is Le'Veon Bell now amongst the top three running backs in the NFL? Have your say in the comments below...
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