text:
By Rick Rothacker
July 12 (Reuters) - For nearly three years, as Kyle Lagow
struggled to find work and his finances crumbled, he kept a
secret from nearly everyone he knew, including his wife: He was
a whistleblower.
Lagow had filed a suit against his former employer, subprime
mortgage lender Countrywide Financial, alleging appraisal fraud.
He couldn't discuss the case, filed under seal, until this year
when he was awarded $14.5 million for his role in sparking a $1
billion settlement with Countrywide's current parent, Bank of
America Corp.
"You have to sit there in silence, and you just get up every
day and beat your head against the wall," Lagow, 50, said in a
recent interview.
The settlement has brought Lagow financial security and a
measure of redemption. But it was a long, hard path. And even
after his travails, he fears little has changed in the mortgage
Lagow's suit, first filed in May 2009, was one of five
whistleblower cases folded into the broader $25 billion mortgage
settlement reached in February with Bank of America and four
other lenders. The suits were brought under the
U.S. False Claims Act, a Civil War-era law that targets those
who swindle the government. Under the law, successful cases can
earn whistleblowers between 15 and 25 percent of a settlement.
Lagow, who speaks with the drawl of his native Texas, ran
his own appraisal company for 14 years before Countrywide
offered him a job with more growth potential in 2004 at a unit
called LandSafe Inc. Countrywide got into the business of
valuing homes to earn additional fees during the mortgage
lending process. Lagow's job was to hire and train new staff
appraisers in multiple states.
Appraisers are supposed to offer independent analyses of
home values to help a bank determine whether it makes sense to
lend. If the home -- the collateral for the mortgage -- is
estimated to be worth less than the buyer is willing to pay, the
bank is foolish to make the loan.
What Lagow learned was that Countrywide wanted to make loans
whatever the collateral was worth. LandSafe executives routinely
pressed staff appraisers and independent appraisers to boost
home values to ensure sales went through, according to a suit he
filed in 2009.
Lagow also spotted trouble with a joint venture Countrywide
had with homebuilder KB Home, according to his suit. The
builder would only work with select appraisers, who were
inflating home values to make sure sales went through, according
to his suit. KB Home declined to comment.
Lagow did not set out to be a whistleblower. He started out
trying to talk to Countrywide executives.
In January 2008, after supervisors had repeatedly ignored
his warnings, Lagow sent an email to Countrywide Chief Executive
Officer Angelo Mozilo, according to the complaint. Mozilo
responded that someone from his staff would get in touch, and
Lagow later talked with Countrywide's chief operations officer,
Jack Schakett, and its chief compliance officer, Richard Wentz.
Two weeks later, Lagow received an email from Wentz stating
that his complaints had been investigated and there were no
issues that needed to be addressed, according to the complaint.
Schakett and Wentz did not respond to requests for comment.
David Siegel, an attorney for Mozilo, said his client was
not involved in or aware of any of the alleged wrongdoing. "The
complaint establishes that when first advised by Mr. Lagow of
his allegations Mr. Mozilo responded promptly and appropriately,
referring the matter for investigation."
In January 2008, Bank of America agreed to buy Countrywide
as it verged on collapse. That November, Lagow was fired. At the
time, he was undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer; he has
since recovered.
Bank of America declined to comment on Lagow's case. "We
have a strategy to put Countrywide and other legacy issues
behind us as quickly as we can," bank spokesman Rick Simon said.
Lagow did not know he had a whistleblower case until the
spring 2009 when he called the Seattle-based law firm of Hagens
Berman, which had brought suits against KB Home on behalf of
homeowners. False Claims cases are filed under seal so as not to
impede government investigations. Because talking about the case
could jeopardize the probe, his lawyers told him not to mention
the litigation to anyone, even his wife.
That summer, he met with prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's
Office in the Eastern District of New York, who then subpoenaed
Countrywide loan files.
Investigators not only found evidence of appraisal fraud, a
government source said, but also rampant problems with the
underwriting of Federal Housing Administration loans, which
allow consumers to buy homes with low down payments. The case
focused on loans made by Countrywide, not Bank of America.
As the litigation dragged on, Lagow suffered. He could only
find spotty contract appraisal work. At a low point, the
family's water, power and gas were shut off. A daughter who was
a law school student ordered pizza for the family to make sure
they had something to eat.
Lagow and his wife, DeAnn, have five children, including
college-age and adult children who lived with them during part
of the ordeal.
"If somebody stuck your head underwater and just held it
there I'm not sure it would be as bad as not being to tell your
family, not being able to tell your friends, having (car
repossessors) knock on your door, having your neighbors look at
you as a failure, having your kids look at you as a failure,"
Lagow said.
When prosecutors decided to roll his case into a bigger
settlement, officials determined Lagow's portion of the pact was
worth $75 million. In May, he received his cut -- 19 percent of
the total. Taxes and legal fees come out of the $14.5 million.
Lagow had been able to tell his wife about the case only a
few months earlier.
"I don't think anybody actually believed it until it
actually hit the bank," Lagow said.
His reward was one of the larger ones among recent
finance-related whistleblower cases. Citigroup Inc
employee Sherry Hunt received $31 million in a mortgage-related
case settled by her employer, and homeowner Lynn Szymoniak
received $18 million in one of the suits wrapped into the
mortgage settlement.
Lagow says his goal was to help fix the mortgage system, not
to strike it rich. He is unsure if he met his goal.
Bank of America, for example, still owns LandSafe. A rule
approved by the Federal Reserve Board allows lenders to continue
to own appraisal companies if they have appropriate firewalls.
The bank says it has those firewalls.
And banks can still certify on their own that a loan is
eligible for FHA guarantees, with little government oversight,
Lagow said, an issue he brought up in his complaint.
But by taking on Countrywide, Lagow has helped bring some
relief to some of the lender's former customers.
In the $1 billion settlement -- the largest False Claims
case related to mortgage fraud -- the bank will pay $500 million
to the FHA and use the rest to fund a loan modification program
for Countrywide borrowers whose loan balances exceed the worth
of their properties. If the bank doesn't make enough
modifications, it will pay the remainder to the government.
Lagow would still like to find work as an appraiser but so
far has had no luck. He has bought a new home and has treated
his family to a trip to Disney World, but he plans to leave most
of the award to his kids.
"They are the ones," he said, "who suffered through this."


text:
Reviewed by Chris D. (age 10)
I chose to read this book because I like alot of history and biographies.The part I liked best is when Benedict Arnold goes into battles.
I recommend this book to people that are eight and up and boys and girls who like history. This book reminds me of the times I watched fireworks of the Fourth of July. You should read this book because this book that has action, history, and alot of excitement! This is why you should read the book Traitor.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A new fine art gallery in town is juxtaposing ceramics and photographs, creating unusual and eye-catching exhibits.
Forest and Ocean Gallery opened just a little over a month ago. Eleven artists have their work on display there. Robin Lee Riddell, who lives in San Clemente, is one of those artists. Riddell, who has a background in fashion design and fine arts, creates ceramic pieces out of clay.
"My process is continuos," Riddell said about her art. "You can never learn enough about clay."
Her ceramics mix dark and light clay or porcelain, with titles like "Mad Hatter" and "Let it Flow."
"I just like to play the dark and light off each other," she said, adding it makes a hard surface appear soft.
The gallery is owned by Ludo Leideritz and his wife Barbara, who live in Rancho Santa Margarita. They previously had the gallery in an industrial park in South Coast Metro.
"We created quite a buzz there," Ludo Leideritz said, "but overall it was a tough road there."
The Leideritzes frequent Laguna Beach quite often, Leideritz said, attending the weekly farmer's market. It was at one that his wife noticed a vacancy at what was once the video store on the corner of Forest and Ocean avenues. The couple moved on the space.
"It's a fantastic location and we are on a beautiful corner across from the biggest parking lot in the city," Leideritz said.
There's also a little patio in the back area and the gallery had a reception opening for the artists last month there. A ribbon cutting with council members will take place Aug. 30.
Mixing photographs and ceramics appeals to the Leideritzes.
"It's a great balance between the two," Leideritz said. "They are three- and two-dimensional [pieces of art] and they complement each other very well."
One photography exhibit, by Carol Cirillo Stanley, shows off different types of cement and concrete as one image, photos she captured in Hollywood and downtown L.A.
The artists featured in the Leideritzes' gallery have either been close friends or those the couple has known and followed their work. Alan Ross, assistant to Ansel Adams, is a good friend, Leideritz said, and expressed interest in being in the gallery, and they took him up on that offer. More artists could eventually be added.
"A few local artists have expressed interest in our gallery and of course have come to us since we opened," Leideritz said. "We'd like to expand to include more artists, possibly three to four more artists depending on the amount of space we can give them."
Forest and Ocean is at 480 Ocean Ave. Suite B; (949) 371-3313, forestoceangallery.com.
Twitter: @coastlinepilot


text:
Welcome to the CRG Discussion Forum!Forum registration problems: Make sure you enter your email correctly and you check your spam box first. *Then* email KurtS2@gmail for help.Classified ads are not allowed on the forum.
smkz28, thanks for the pics of the 68 camaro pace car at mid-ohio. the link also has a lot of other neat shots from other trans-am & can-am races. bit mixed up, so one has to scroll through them. mike in canada


text:
The Chicago Teacher's Union voted unanimously Thursday to hit the picket lines on September 10.
The results of the vote, cast at a Chinatown union hall, was met by cheers from the more than 700 delegates who voted.
The decision comes a day after CTU president Karen Lewis issued a 10-day strike notice. September 10 is the earliest that teachers can strike, and the date falls a week after many students head back to class.
"We're tired of being bullied, belittled and betrayed," Lewis said at a news conference following the meeting. "We have done everything asked of us, yet we continue to be vilified and treated with disrespect."
Lewis said negotiations will continue until a contract is hammered out. The teachers are concerned worried about issues that include wages, job security and a new evaluation system.
Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard released the following statement in reaction to the strike date.
- "Should CTU leaders decide to strike on September 10, more than 350,000 students will be taken out of their classroom, just as they're making progress with a Full School Day. Varsity sports for 11,000 student athletes will be suspended. More than 400,000 daily breakfasts and meals will no longer be served. College transcripts and recommendations for 20,000 seniors will be put on hold. If our priority is our kidsk, then strike should never be an option. That's why we need to take advantage of each of the next 11 days and work until we reach a fair resolution for our teachers that will allow our kids to stay in school where they belong."
CPS officials have been making preparations in the event of a strike.
Schools chief Jean-Claude Brizard said the district plans to keep 145 schools open for half-days even if the Chicago Teachers Union calls a strike and teachers walk off the job. The union on Wednesday filed a 10-day strike notice that would allow them to strike as early as Sept. 10, just a week into the school year for a majority of public-school students.
If that happens Brizard said CPS will partner with City Sister Agencies, local faith organizations and other non-profits to keep kids engaged.
"We need to be prepared to provide our students with services they need should CTU leaders decide to strike, and our Children First plan will do that," Brizard said.
As part of the precautionary strategy announced Thursday, CPS would keep the group of schools open from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to provide activities to children and keep them engaged in independent reading, arts, sports and computer-based programming.
Per the plan, the schools would be staffed with Central Office personnel, non-CTU employees and organizations that submit a request for proposals to provide programming. Brizard said the staff-to-student ratio would be capped at 1 to 25.
CPS also said it will provide breakfast and lunch to all students at the locations and will extend between 70 and 80 Chicago Park District summer camps.
Brizard said he's committed to avoid a strike but says CPS will be ready if the teachers strike.
"These plans are simply a precaution," Brizard said, "but we have an obligation and responsibility to our children and their parents to make sure they are not left behind in the event of a strike."
CPS said it is seeking a waiver from the Illinois High School Association to continue sports if teachers strike.


text:
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text:
Jennifer Lopez is still proudly boasting about her moniker "Jenny from the Block."
As the InStyle magazine cover girl for April, the "American Idol" judge defended her title, insisting that's who she really is.
"It's funny when people say 'Jenny from the Block isn't real' or 'You've already done that.' I keep doing it because that's who I am. I love where I grew up and it's such a part of who I am," the singer said of her upbringing in the Bronx.
Ain't it funny, though?
Posing for photographer Michelangelo Di Battista in a Chanel swimsuit and skirt, Lopez also opened up "about men, marriage and her modern family," according to the cover line.
Indeed, the "In Living Color" alum's career has transformed her from the borough girl she sings about in her 2002 hit song to an A-list celebrity setting trends and piquing interest with her personal life — as well as her acute awareness of aging in her industry.
"The turning point was a couple years ago, when the September issue of women's magazines had cover girls that were all over 40 — Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry, Sandra Bullock, Julia Roberts, me," the 44-year-old said. "It was hard not to be happy. That says something about our society. People who used to believe their life — or at least their life as a performer — was over at 28 or some ungodly age! God, when I think of myself back then, I had no idea who I was. I think I'm barely getting that under control now."
Shall we remind you, Jenny from the Block?
The fashionista from Puerto Rican roots has come a long way since her breakout 1997 portrayal of Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla-Perez in "Selena," and her love life has arguably made more headlines than her sometimes-questionable choices in film roles. She's dated Diddy (remember that infamous plunging Versace dress), Ben Affleck (think the original "Bennifer" and the "Jenny from the Block" video) and recently joked that if she were forced to save one of them from a sinking raft, she'd let them both "drown."
Lopez married singer Marc Anthony in 2004, and they had twins Max and Emme together, but the pair announced their split in 2011, marking her third failed marriage. Her latest boyfriend, Casper Smart, is one of her backup dancers and 18 years her junior.
"Look, I don't love being alone. I don't. I can't beat myself up for that. What I have to do is figure out why I don't like it. Why am I not OK being alone? And can I ever be OK facing that?" Lopez said.
"In the past, love for me has always meant forever, and sure, you still nurse some of those fantasies, but I don't try to force it anymore. I hung on to my fairy-tale ideals for a long time. But where I am now, what I've been through, there are no rules."
Aside from "Idol," fashion design, the release of her 21st fragrance Glowing Goddess and shooting the mothers-on-a-mission drama "Lila & Eve" with Viola Davis, Lopez is also working on her 10th studio album.
"This album is tough. I used to be all, 'I love you, hearts and flowers,' but now it's 'I love you, I'm not going to let you take advantage of me," she said. "There's strength but also humor. It's about being smarter about love — and not taking yourself so seriously."
The April issue of InStyle hits newsstands Friday. Read more from the interview here.
Follow Ministry of Gossip @LATcelebs.


text:
Today is National One-Hit Wonder Day
To celebrate this awesome day, today's 5 O' Clock "Happy Ending" was all about the One-Hit Wonder.
We played "Black Betty: by Ram Jam, David Essex "Rock On", Norman Greenbaum "Spirit in the Sky, and Argent "Hold Your Head Up"
What are some of your favorite One-Hit Wonders? Comments below please


text:
Thank you, Dr. Peter Haiman, for supporting parents!
Expert Parent-Child Advice and Forensic Testimony, Peter Ernest Haiman Ph.D.
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text:
The Spurs offseason work got me all inspired, again.
(I tried a Jefferson Spurs franchise for a bit... The guy significantly changes the game for the team. Trying to double-team Duncan is suicide. Not double-teaming Duncan is suicide. Uh...?)
I started up a franchise with the idea of just deconstructing and building up a team. The obvious candidate was the Stolen Sonics. I simmed the first season, just working trades... I could prattle off the long boring story, but suffice to say I worked one blockbuster trade, one huge free agent signing, and drafted a stud starter over the first sim-season and offseason.
2009/10 Thunder Roster:
Russell Westbrook: (One of the few players I ended up keeping. He isn't Nash, but he can still be a gamechanger at times. He's also young and has a ton of potential for development.)
Smush Parker
Gheorghe Bacu: (First draft pick at #4 for the Thunder. The guy is absurdly versatile. For example, he's averaging 22ppg in the first two games... playing out of position. By far. This is a drafted SG starting at PF and excelling. Major ROTY chances, I'd say.)
Quinton Ross: (He's starting at SG at the moment, due to injury, but don't see him as more than a role player.)
Simon Arthur
Danny Granger: (Awesome. Just a phenomenal player in our game.)
Kyle Korver: (This slot was initially filled by Jason Kapono. A straight trade for Korver accomplished... well, absolutely nothing, really. They're role players with a deadly outside shot. Korver happened to be cheaper and more nimble.)
Jeff Green: (I like Green's potential, but don't see as how I'll have the time to develop him.)
Pau Gasol: (I was stoked when I worked this trade. Gasol is the reason Durant isn't on the roster, and it's a trade-off I can live with. Unfortunately, Pau broke his ankle in preseason and it'll be 4-6 weeks until we actually get to see what he does for the team.)
DJ White
Brendan Haywood: (Most of the time, he's just kinda 'there'. When defenses start to ignore him, though, he can hurt you for double digits in a hurry.)
Yunlong Wang: (Second-round draft pick we used to follow the trend of improbably gigantic Chinese guys. 7'1" and a rebound vacuum.)
The team is actually set for a few years... I'd like to improve at Center, but otherwise all of the pieces are in place for the next four years or so. I'm not sold on resigning Carlisimo next year when his contract expires, but for the moment it seems to be a good blend.
I thought it was going to be utter horror tragedy with Gasol injured. I tried to build my team around him, after all -- and the gimp goes and breaks his ankle in preseason.
BUT... we started 2-0 with wins versus the Pacers and the Mavs in Dallas.
Granger seems able to do it all. The first game against Indy had him logging 43 points. Offseason work with Westbrook's passing has him with 20 assists for the first pair of games. The biggest surprise is the rookie. Bacu, our drafted SG, has been filling in at PF for Gasol.
Obviously, he's tall and has good elevation for a SG... he's averaging over 20ppg at PF, and logged four blocks against Dallas... while guarding Dirk. I'm almost scared to see what happens to our chemistry when Pau comes back, and he's our 'Star Player'.
The team has issues -- We went into the fourth against Indiana up by 20... and jacked around enough to let them make a game of it. BUT, beating Dallas handily in Dallas boosted everyone's confidence.
Meanwhile, I'm fairly amused by the frequent shots of Pau Gasol looking rather irritable sitting on the bench.


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Congress has passed a controversial law permitting IRS, upon concluding an audit, to collect US tax from partnerships, in order to raise an estimated US$9.3 billion over ten years (Bipartisan Budget Act of 2 November 2015). This changes the historic requirement that IRS must collect tax from the partners rather than the partnership, via tiers of intermediate entities if necessary, and was enacted to improve the low rate of IRS annual inquiries into large partnerships (currently 0.8% versus 27.1% for corporates).
It applies to any entity treated as a partnership for US tax purposes, which has either at least one US owner, or some US assets or activity but no US owners. Because of the easy elective regime for US partnership status, all electing corporates and trusts formed under non-US law are subject to the new law. The law does not apply to entities that are fiscally transparent for reasons other than US partnership status (e.g., REITs, mutual funds, and trusts).
The new law comes into effect after 31 December .2017, but there is no grandfather exemption for existing partnerships. Also, existing partnerships can elect for the regime to apply before that time. Accordingly, the following should commence protecting their interests now:
- Any existing partnerships which expect to continue beyond 31 December 2017, their current partners, and anyone acquiring partnership interests henceforth; and
- Any partnerships to be formed henceforth, and any partners acquiring interests in them, directly or from another partner.
If no action is taken, a partnership and its partners are subject to the following disadvantages starting 1 January 2018:
- Assessed US tax falls on the partnership (and so burdens the current year partners) even if the partners in the prior, audited year have departed (or have changed their relative interests).
- The tax is computed at the highest US marginal rates on income, with no automatic reduction for capital gain rates or the tax attributes of partners (e.g. individuals with brought forward losses, pensions, charities).
- The IRS will deal only with a single "partnership representative" who has wide powers to negotiate and compromise, need not be a partner, and can be appointed by the IRS if the partnership fails to do so.
- Partners are not automatically entitled to be notified of the start of an IRS audit.
There is an exception for small partnerships, and a means whereby the liability can be shifted to the audit year partners if the partnership representative promptly elects.
Items that should be negotiated in the partnership agreement or an ancillary document include:
- The identity of the partnership representative and indemnification rights.
- Agreements on desired elections and how the representative should resolve conflicts of interest between partners or affiliated entities.
- Covenants from partners to cooperate, in case they leave the partnership before the IRS commences an audit.
- Representations/warranties to be given by a partnership or a selling partner to an incoming partner.
Typical transactions which may be affected by this new law include:
- Joint ventures between corporates
- Private equity acquisitions of targets if holding partnerships are formed
- Private investment fund formation
- Carried interest vehicle formation
- "Separate accounts" in partnership form
- "Secondary" or "funds-of-funds" purchasing interests in primary funds; due diligence on entity-level tax liabilities
- Scuritisations involving partnerships
- Securitisations of entities intending to avoid partnership status but which could be considered such upon IRS audit (e.g., thinly capitalised Delaware trusts issuing notes)
- All real estate funds involving US assets or partners
- Investment by pension schemes or charitable endowments in US investment funds
Partnership status is the norm for US business ventures, whether private or widely held (other than those which need to access the capital markets), so this new law is widely applicable. Participants are encouraged to protect their interests now.


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Justin Bieber Loses His Pants While Performing in Singapore! [VIDEO]
Justin Bieber sank to a new low, at least when it comes to his pants. While performing in Singapore, Bieber's already hanging-too-low pants dropped even more. Oops!
The Biebs was shirtless, which already had Beliebers worked up into a tizzy. As he sang and grooved, his leather pants, which have a low crotch, sagged even further. Jumping up and down during the song only exacerbated the problem.
But don't start breaking out into a sweat, Beliebers. He only dropped trou, albeit accidentally. His tighty whitey undies remained up and covering his bum. So there was no mooning of the Belieber faithful, although we doubt anyone other than their parents would complain about that.
We're impressed that The Biebs didn't get knocked off his game despite dealing with pants that didn't want to stay up.
He merely held them up with his hand and then ran off the stage, presumably for a fix. He's able to deal with high pressure situations like a pro. He's also got enough money to BUY A BELT! Come on, Biebs. Splurge on a bling, swaggy gold belt to avoid a repeat, kiddo!


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DIY Christmas Crafts: 18 Homemade Holiday Ornament Ideas
There are so many beautiful ornaments for sale out there, but the ones I love best are the ones we've made ourselves, from my kids' cobbled together crafts to my own hot glue gun creations. I love them because they're inexpensive, because they're unique, and because they have a story to tell. And just because they're handmade doesn't mean they can't be just as lovely as the store-bought kind. Here are eighteen of my favorite DIY handmade holiday ornaments that prove just that:
1. A Trio of Felt Ornaments: The Purl Bee
2. Simple Neighborly Clay House Ornament Gifts: Creature Comforts
3. Painted Ornaments: Oh Happy Day
4. Five Days of Felt: Twig & Thistle
5. DIY Colorful Yarn Pom Pom Ornament: A Lovely Lark
6. Snowflower Ornaments: The Purl Bee
7. Yarn Ball Ornaments: Funnel Cloud
8. Simple Sweater Hearts: A Subtle Revelry
9. DIY "Confetti System" Ornaments: A Lovely Lark
10. DIY Acorn-Topped Ornaments: Creature Comforts
11. Paper Party Ball Decorations: Hand & Hunt
12. DIY Salt Dough Ornaments: Katy Elliott
13. Twiggy Skate Ornaments: Michelle Made Me
14. Charley Harper Puzzle Ornaments: Creature Comforts
15. Security Star Ornaments: Maya Made
16. Paper Stars: Home by Linn
17. DIY Felt Christmas Ornaments: Chickabug Blog
18. Birch Bark Tree Ornaments: Noralill


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With 0 Comments, Category: Retreat,
The retreat is based on the rock solid concept of " True Faith" and the orthodox principles, which the Holy Syrian Orthodox church had been following since its inception. The retreat is aimed at building up a concrete faith in our Lord and thus reliving every one from the difficulties that had been haunting them. At the final moment of revelation, one finds out "Who I am?" and "What is the real reason behind all my ailing problems?"
During the 5 days retreat, one gets the golden opportunity to assess one's life as a Christian and to understand what a rotten spiritual life one had been leading, until then. This awareness leads him to accept the ritual ceremony,' The Holy Confession". With this Holy Sacrament, our Lord Almighty- the merciful shepherd purifies us-his long lost lambs with thy holy blood and enfolds us in his arms!!!
With thy blessings- the suffering, fragile and sorrowful people who have been frantically searching for a rescue-route from their sins, illness, mental stress ,strains, business failure, debts, children's problems, disastrous family life etc—would gain peace of mind and happiness as they leave 'Mor Gregorian Retreat Centre" !!! Their minds would swell with prayers and hymns to Jesus-their hope and rescuer.
Only 100 people are admitted to the 5 days retreat, on a first come first serve basis. The retreat is held once in every month. Food and accommodation will be provided by the Retreat Centre itself.


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La Grenouille
Rating: ★ out of four
844 Mont-Royal Ave. E. (at St-André St.)
Phone: 514-903-1244
Website: restaurantgrenouille.com
Open: Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 2:30 p.m., and 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Wheelchair access: Yes
Licensed: Yes
Parking: on the street with meters
Vegetarian-friendly: Yes
Reservations: Recommended
Price range: Starters, $5.50-$13.50; main courses, $16.50-$24; desserts, $6.50-$10.50.
MONTREAL — When interviewed about what her plans were post-retirement, the great ballet dancer Suzanne Farrell said, "I figured I'd do what everybody else does. Open a restaurant." Of course the Prima did not go on to open a restaurant, but there's a grain of truth in her response. Indeed, there is an attitude floating about that even though it's considered one of the most difficult of businesses, a restaurant is a breeze to run. And I'm convinced that many secretly harbour a fantasy about doing just that. No doubt, it would be easier for most to open a restaurant over say, a bank, a garage or a tango studio.
This may explain the endless draw of celebrities to the restaurant scene. Ryan Gosling, Lady Gaga, Ashton Kutcher, Eva Longoria, Justin Timberlake, Sandra Bullock, Richard Gere and even Bono have added restaurants to their investment portfolios. On the local scene, vedette restaurateurs include Guy A. Lepage of Accords, Jacques Villeneuve formerly of Newtown — and let's not forget Céline Dion, recently anointed Grande Dame of the world-famous deli, Schwartz's.
Now comes a new face, Marie-Claude Savard, a TV "animatrice" who made her name as host of Salut, Bonjour! and is now a contributor for La Taverne TV. One of four owners, Savard's three cohorts include Thibault Le Nedic, Jacques Dehouck and Mélanie Holder. The Holder name should look familiar as the Mélanie in question is the sister of the famous Montreal restaurateur clan known as The Holder Brothers. At the media launch of the restaurant last summer, Savard was front-row centre, describing her new shared venture as, (I'm translating here), "A friendly and accessible neighbourhood restaurant where you can find dishes that bring us back to our childhood, like beef and chicken. There will also be vegetarian plates. We will serve generous portions and people will eat well." Gotcha!
The strip on Mont-Royal where La Grenouille is located between St-Denis and Papineau is packed with small neighbourhood restos. Most are quite casual, yet some, like Chez Victoire and La Salle à Manger push into the realm of fine dining. With ingredients like snow crab and foie gras and main-course prices that climb into the $20 range, La Grenouille straddles the world between fine and casual dining.
The menu is as predictable as a gruesome murder in an episode of Game of Thrones, with best-of-bistro dishes including duck confit, pan-seared sweetbreads and salmon tartare. Some effort has been made to add a touch of creativity to the offerings, though I can't say I find the idea of a clam-chowder style poutine all that appealing. The decor is appealing, however, with its New-England-general-store-meets-bistro look. Blackboards adorned with coloured chalk curlicues are everywhere. Vintage TVs and signs add an appealing layer of nostalgia. It's the kind of restaurant that whispers, "like me" and I do, as do my two kids who look around this welcoming space in awe.
Our waiter is French, as in from France, very friendly and well-informed. When we request a carafe for our Chinon wine, he returns minutes later with a lovely vessel. The bread basket is constantly refilled, the dishes come at a quick pace. The background music plays at just the right volume. The room isn't crowded; it's hockey night in Montreal so that's understandable. The wine list isn't long, but what's there is well-chosen and well-priced. A handsome terrace out front is ready to welcome the stream of locals and tourists that crowd this groovy street in summer. So far, so good.
But when the food arrives, my spirits sag. The beauty of offering a bistro menu is that you're sure to draw in the folks who want a no-fuss meal consisting of tried-and-true favourites. The drawback with a bistro menu is that though the dishes are simple, that simplicity must be mastered. We are so used to classic French food in this city that most of us are familiar with the bistro canon. Sadly, a lot of what we tasted fell flat.
Though the kids fought over who could order the macaroni and cheese starter, the ramekin of neon orange macaroni set in front of them could not have been less appealing. The dish was described as being made with aged Île-aux-Grues cheddar, and if it were, you'd never know it. All I could taste were onions.
Across the table I was eating the foie gras au torchon. Served in three slivers, the fatty duck liver was paired with a slice of Queen Elizabeth cake, a dried fig and a swirl of fig jam. I liked the flavours and the cake was an original touch that worked. Considering the small amount of foie served, the $13.50 price was steep, but at least it was tasty.
Our third appetizer, a zucchini croquette with haloumi and grilled aubergine and a tomato/onion compote, sounded promising. As much as I liked the concept, the croquette was dull, I couldn't detect any haloumi in the mix, the aubergine was dry and burnt and the compote was boring. It's the kind of dish that makes you pity those poor vegetarians.
Main courses didn't win many raves either. The best of the four we selected was the steak frites and the duck confit. Even though the steak was completely forgettable and the accompanying brown sauce (I'm thinking pepper?) was congealed upon arrival, the french fries were very good. The duck confit was an odd affair where the duck meat was crisped with a coating of bread crumbs. Never seen that before. Underneath was a pile of arugula drenched in a creamy vinaigrette with tomatoes and sliced, browned potatoes. The flavour of the duck was appealing but the whole affair was too heavy and rich.
Arugula played a supporting role again in a dish of grilled salmon. Served with an odd mealy sauce (sun-dried tomato pesto?), sliced heirloom tomatoes and shards of grated Parmesan, the dish lacked cohesion. Yet its downfall lay not in its makeup, but the fact that the salmon filet was undercooked. I like my salmon a little bit raw at the core, but save for the thin end pieces of the filet, this piece was almost completely raw.
Our last dish, a bouillabaisse, failed on all fronts. What to criticize first? The mealy broth … the stringy hake … the bland rouille ... the broken bits of shrimp? Or how about having to extract the meat from a snow crab shell bathed in soup? What a mess.
Desserts were homey and not much else. An ice cream-topped and chocolate-sauced brownie was cloying and sweet, not much else. A slice of Queen Elizabeth cake was an end piece that benefited greatly from its caramel sauce because it was so dry. And that token Québécois dessert, pouding chômeur, was a sad little piece of sponge cake that tasted like uncooked flour. Rarely has unemployment seemed so grim.
Some might say going down hard on a Plateau bistro is a waste of time. Why not tell us instead where we should eat, what's hot instead of what's not? But here's the thing: La Grenouille is an affordable restaurant where chances are more people will dine this year than at restaurants like Joe Beef or Toqué! These are the eateries we want to know about, where "monsieur and madame tout le monde" can afford to grab a bite. And this is what irks me about La Grenouille. We need restaurants like this that offer good simple food, which is not the case here or in so many second-rate bistros around town. With offerings this pedestrian, La Grenouille risks losing favour with its core customers: the in-the-know locals. Ultimately, star power may get people through the door, but excellent food is the only thing that makes them long to return.
Twitter: LesleyChestrman
You can hear Lesley Chesterman on ICI Radio-Canada Première's (95.1 FM) Médium Large Tuesdays at 10 a.m., and on CHOM (97.7 FM) Wednesdays at 7:10 a.m.


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We do not sell army
surplus. If it's not good enough for our soldiers or healthcare workers, it is not good enough for you. We only
stock brand new ISO or NIOSH approved protective suits and masks. For example, our mask
maufacturer supply gas masks to the US army, UK army, local government and the French
Buying Bird Flu Masks, Swine
Flu Masks or NBC products
will most likely be a new experience for you. It is essential you read and understand what
it is you are purchasing. We have put together a comprehensive FAQ's section that will
cover most of your questions. However, if you cannot find the answer there, contact us. We
are here to help.
Finally, if you do
decide to make a purchase from us, make sure you read the instructions and practice. It is
imperative you know how to use the product.
Be Prepared.
We use a live booking system. If it lets you
order, it's in stock and the goods are reserved for you. All orders dispatched within 48hrs.
Our price: £87.00


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Find the perfect hotel in Laguna Woods using our hotel guide provided below. Find cheap and/or discounted hotel rates in or near Laguna Woods, CA for your business or personal leisure travel. We show the best Laguna Woods, California hotel and motel rooms. Browse the Laguna Woods area hotels to find the perfect lodging! Please use the provided map of the Laguna Woods hotels. Coordinating a group? Get Laguna Woods Group Hotel Deals
The Laguna Woods center is around 2 miles south of Irvine Spectrum Center and 3 miles south of Irvine Amtrak Station.
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Image courtesy of Shutterstock
The United States is the one and only industrialized nation that refuses to offer paid maternity leave for families. A massive government fail in our opinion - a fail that apparently assumes only the rich deserve to raise a family. What this means for you, sadly, is that figuring out how to afford to have a baby and finance maternity or paternity leave can be very tricky. In good news tricky is not the same as 100% impossible. If you plan ahead, unpaid maternity leave can be easier to handle. We've got seven great ideas below that may help you out if you're trying to afford maternity leave.
Plan Ahead for Financial & Personal Health
If you and your partner are even mildly discussing baby plans then you should also be discussing saving extra money so that both of you can take leave when the baby arrives. Typically financial pros recommend you save at least 10% of your pay for rainy days, but you'll need much more than that. If you're only saving 10% of your take-home pay, after a year, you'll likely only have enough for about a month of maternity leave and zero money in savings for emergencies. A better way to save is to decide how much maternity time you'll need, figure out the amount of money you'll need to cover bills during your time off, then aim to save that amount. Simply saving an arbitrary 10% or 15% may leave you lacking funds. You should also be planning goals that help you stay healthy. If you're fit and in great shape when you become pregnant, you'll have a better chance of having a low-complication, and thus, way lower-cost pregnancy and birth. If you're overweight, ill or generally out of shape, you'll be much more likely to need potentially dangerous and costly pregnancy and birth care and interventions. If babies are in your future, make sure to eat right, get plenty of exercise and see your doctor regularly. By the way, did you know that around 50% of U.S. pregnancies are unplanned? Even if babies are the farthest thing from your mind, it's a good rule of thumb to open a savings account and start saving plus work on staying healthy, just in case a surprise bundle comes your way. Planning ahead is hard at times, but worth it once you have your baby in your arms.
+ Get great financial planning advice from Expecting Money
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
Suspend Your Retirement Plan Temporarily
If you've got a 401(k) or other retirement plan in place, suspending your payments while you're expecting can add up to a week or more worth of leave, depending on how much you contribute monthly. If you and your partner both suspend your retirement payments, it'll help even more. However, don't forget to reinstate your account to normal payments after you return to work, because in the long run, retirement savings are important.
Save Vacation Days
Many workers in the U.S. do have access to paid vacation, sick and personal leave days, and if you're one of them, start saving them up as soon as possible. Hoarding these paid off days now, may allow you a bit more time home later on with your baby. While a babymoon may sound appealing, it might be best to skip it, go on some simple, yet fun in-town dates with your partner, and save your paid vacation days so you can use them after your baby arrives. Plus, if you save enough, you can always go on a fun vacation later with your baby in tow.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
Investigate Employee Benefits
While it's true we live in a country that doesn't require paid leave or even decent leave policies for new families, this isn't across the board. Many states are setting their own paid leave laws and some innovative and supportive companies go way beyond the basics, offering actual decent maternity leave benefits. Ideally, research your own company's benefits before you become pregnant. Some U.S. companies' insurance policies offer a full six to eight weeks of full or partial pay for workers with an illness, but luckily, since the U.S. considers pregnancy a "condition" rather than an experience, new moms are often eligible too. Other companies offer Employee Assistance Plans (EAPs). Often people associate EAPs with dramatic events like drug counseling or therapy, but many EAPs do include benefits related to pregnancy assistance. Other workplace options to look into that may help you save money for leave time include flexible spending accounts (FSAs) or medical expense FSAs (sometimes called health care FSA). Both types of FSAs allow you to set aside pretax earnings for medical expenses and in some cases child care expenses.
+ Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Adoption Leave Statutes by State
Use Your Home
If you own your home you may be able to take out a home-equity line of credit to help fund maternity leave time. If you're eligible for a home-equity line of credit, a benefit is that you'll have access to the money if you need it, but there are no requirements to use it if you end up not needing it.
+ What you should know about home-equity lines of credit (pdf)
Attach, Go Green & Save on Baby Costs
There are plenty of benefits to both attachment parenting and going green, but a major perk for new parents is the money you'll save. Co-sleeping, an attachment parenting method, means no costly crib, organic mattress or organic crib sheets. Breastfeeding can save you tons of cash on bottles, insanely expensive formula and health care (breastfed babies are usually healthier). Even if you factor in the best nursing bras and a pro breast pump, you'll still save money by breastfeeding over formula feeding. Other green and attachment parenting ways to save money ongoing include homemade baby food, homemade green cleaners, cloth diapers and homemade reusable baby wipes. Of course, basic green practices such as turning off lights, taking shorter showers and driving less all save you money as well.
+ 7 Thrifty Ways to Save Money and the Planet
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
Buy Less – Spend Less
Most Americans buy way too much useless stuff as it is. Once you're expecting, the urge to spend money and buy useless junk can become even more intense. From cute little clothes to designer diapers to educational toys to give your baby an edge, new parents often think they need it all. In reality, you don't. Babies need very little in terms of material goods to survive and thrive. Some diapers, a safe car seat, a basic layette, some blankets, burp cloths and a few books and toys is seriously bare minimum what you need. Plus, don't forget, people love to give expecting parents gifts. You'll get baby goods galore from other people, so don't go out the second you're pregnant and buy out Babies R Us. If you're not sure what you need vs. what you don't check out the following guides.
+ 10 Things You DON'T Need for Your New Baby


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One of the greatest comforts you can give our troops is letting them know their families are taken care of while they spend months serving their country far from home.
These words from one military wife offer a glimpse of that special feeling our troops get:
"The night before my husband left for deployment he was reading the children their bedtime story, but in the middle of it, he broke down. He hugged them and told them he was just going to miss bedtime stories with them. Our son put his arm around his dad's shoulders to comfort him and said, 'It's okay, Daddy. Remember? You can still read to us on the DVDs that you send…just like last time!'"
Through your support for the USO's partnership with United Through Reading's Military Program, you can help deliver powerful moments like this to tens of thousands of our troops. It would mean so much to them.
Your support will allow our troops to read a bedtime story to their children and then send a personalized DVD recording of it back home. I asked one troop to describe what this program means to him, and his response nearly brought me to tears:
"The USO and United Through Reading® filled a communication void with my two-year old son. He interacted with the video of me reading, and my wife reported back on the parts of the story that he responded to and what he said. I felt like I was having a dialogue with him that I couldn't have had by any other means."
There's nothing more powerful than a parent's love for their child. And nothing more touching than knowing you've helped a parent in the military play an important part in the life of their son or daughter.
It's the least we can do for these selfless and brave individuals who sacrifice so much to serve our nation and protect our way of life.
Thanks for making this amazing program possible – Kelli Seely, Senior Vice President, Chief Development Officer, USO


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Xarelto Internal Bleeding Information for Residents of Nebraska
Risk of Severe Internal Bleeding and Hemorrhagic Stroke Linked to Xarelto
Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is an oral anti-coagulant which is used to prevent the formation of blood clots that can obstruct blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. Though initially to offer a safer, more convenient alternative to warfarin drugs, Xarelto is now known to cause severe and unstoppable internal bleeding and hemorrhagic stroke. Today, some doctors and researchers say the risks posed by Xarelto for internal bleeding and stroke likely outweigh the drug's benefits. This page contains comprehensive information on the uses, risks, and dangers of Xarelto.
Xarelto Bleeding Risks
Xarelto was approved by the FDA through a fast-track regulatory review in 2011 for use in patients to prevent deep vein thrombosis following knee and hip replacement surgery, and to prevent stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.
When Xarelto was first released, it was seen as a more convenient and more effective blood thinner, among a new class of oral coagulants – alternatives to Coumadin (warfarin), which had been the standard anti-coagulant in use since the 1950s. Doctors embraced the new drug, and many patients quickly switched to Xarelto, glad to be relieved of regular dosage monitoring and dietary restrictions.
As with any blood-thinner, dangerous bleeding events and hemorrhagic stroke were a known risk from the start with Xarelto. In the ensuing years since receiving FDA approval, Xarelto internal bleeding deaths have far exceeded the drug maker's estimates. The threat of hemorrhagic stroke and severe internal bleeding caused by Xarelto has been the subject of an FDA warning letter. The makers of Xarelto, Bayer and Janssen, were chastised for making false claims, both minimizing the risk of Xarelto bleeding and overstating the effectiveness of the drug.
Perhaps most alarming about the drug Xarelto is that no antidote has been found to stop Xarelto bleeding once it begins. Patients have been hospitalized, and have even died while under advanced medical care at a hospital, as a result of Xarelto bleeding. Once hemorrhaging or internal bleeding begins, doctors have no reliable method to halt it. This fact alone makes Xarelto more dangerous that warfarin drugs such as Coumadin, which can be quickly counteracted with Vitamin K.
How Xarelto Works
Xarelto has been approved to treat patients who suffer from atrial fibrillation, as well as patients in recovery following hip and knee replacement surgeries. The drug "thins the blood" to prevent dangerous blood clots from forming by inhibiting factor Xa, a naturally occurring enzyme in the blood that is essential to blood clotting functions.
Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition suffered by over 2 million Americans. Characterized by an irregular heartbeat that can result in a dangerous pooling of blood in the heart's atria. When blood pools in the atria, blood clots may form. If a blood clot becomes lodged in the brain, it is known as an embolus and it causes disabling and potentially fatal embolic stroke. For this reason patients suffering from atrial fibrillation are seven times more likely to suffer from embolic stroke than other Americans of a similar demographic.
Patients who have undergone hip or knee replacement surgery have a high risk of stroke immediately following the surgery. For this reason, Xarelto and other blood thinners are commonly prescribed to patients following such a procedure. While Xarelto offers convenience over warfarin drugs, it is also quote expensive, costing patients approximately $3000.00 annually.
Xarelto Internal Bleeding and Hemorrhagic Stroke
Far from offering a safer, more effective alternative to Coumadin, Xarelto is now thought to be less effective and more dangerous than warfarin drugs. Post-market reports of Xarelto bleeding exposed a pair of serious issues with the drug. One was that the internal bleeding complications were taking place at a higher rate than had been projected in the fast-track regulatory approval process. The risk of bleeding problems is a concern with any blood thinner, but Xarelto bleeding deaths have been far more common than product warnings led consumers to expect.
The other issue that arose in relation to Xarelto was that the drug had no corrective measures to combat the bleeding complications it caused. The drug's makers have failed to provide medical professionals with reliable instructions to stop Xarelto bleeding. For these problems, and for their failure to adequately warn patients of the risks associated with the drug, Bayer and Janssen Pharmaceuticals are now facing Xarelto internal bleeding & death lawsuits.
The risks and shortcoming of Xarelto were documented in a 2011 study known as the ROCKET-AF study, which compared warfarin and Xarelto in 14,000 patients suffering from atrial fibrillation. The study concluded that Xarelto is less effective at preventing stroke and embolism than warfarin. Additionally, serious bleeding events were more likely to occur in patients taking Xarelto.
Nebraska Xarelto Bleeding Lawyers Offer Free Case Review
Our attorneys handling Nebraska Xarelto bleeding lawsuits on behalf of individuals and their family members who suffered from severe internal bleeding or hemorrhagic stroke while taking Xarelto in Nebraska. They will work tirelessly on your behalf to assure you get the compensation you deserve. If you or a loved one suffered from severe internal bleeding or hemorrhagic stroke while taking Xarelto, a Nebraska Xarelto bleeding attorney can help by answering your questions and giving you a sense of your legal options in Nebraska.
Nebraska Xarelto Bleeding Lawsuits
Persons in Nebraska who suffered from or died as a result of severe bleeding or hemorrhage while taking Xarelto may have grounds for a Nebraska Xarelto bleeding lawsuit. We provide legal representation for Nebraska Xarelto lawsuits on a contingency basis, meaning that we never charge a fee unless we win compensation on your behalf.


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We have listened to your suggestions and we are working hard to make them reality! Come on in and see the new improvements!
Check us out and enter to win our weekly drawing for a FREE lunch for two!
Big Chair coffee is open 7am-9pm Monday - Saturday.
We love Anacostia and we love our community and it is our pleasure to make your experience with Big Chair a great one!


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Scientists and policy-makers who gathered at the " Planet Under Pressure" conference in London Monday say we are getting dangerously close to the point of irreversible climate change, Reuters' Nina Chestney reports.
If current trends continue, the world will likely blow past the 2 degree Celsius (3.6 degree Fahrenheit) warming barrier that scientists believe is the minimum for safety.
"If you look at the commitments today from governments around the world, we've only got a 50-50 shot at a 3 C (5.4 F) world, almost no chance of a 2 C (3.6 F) world, and to be quite honest I would say it's not unlikely that we will hit a 5 C (9.0 F) world," Bob Watson, former head of the UN's climate panel and chief advisor to Britain's environment ministry, told the AFP.
Rising temperatures would trigger changes such as the melting of ice sheets and massive tree loss from droughts that cannot be reversed.
The four-day conference will discuss the planet's health in a new geological era shaped by humans.


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Main Index
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Browse the site choosing a game from the menu, here you'll find Story, Screenshots, Arenas, Props and Fighters of the game, each fighter page includes: A complete Spritesheet, Biography, Animations, Props, Movelist, Fatality Videos, Ending, Renders, Cut-Out Pictures, Wallpapers and more!
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Mortal Kombat 11
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Ultimate Mortal Kombat came out yesterday for the Nintendo DS and I got it. Here are some notes about it for the people who are looking for some info about the game:
- The game lists the movelist for your chosen fighter on the second screen, however combos and stage fatalities are not displayed, you can get those on our UMK3 Fighters section.
- As always, to perform a Friendship or Babality you can't press R (block) during the last round, and to perform an Animality you must be on the third round and perform a Mercy: Hold L (run), press down three times and release L.
- If you transform into Human Smoke (choose Cyborg Smoke and press and hold Back + L + R + X + Y) the movelist screen will not change to display his moves, you can get those here.
- There's an "Extra" option that lets you see the bios, unlocked characters and every Kahn Treasure you've previously unlocked, which is pretty cool.
- The Ultimate Kombat Kodes are as follows:
Mileena (2-2-2-6-4)
Ermac (1-2-3-4-4)
Ninja Sub-Zero (8-1-8-3-5)
Once you beat the game and after the credits (you can skip the credits by pressing start) you must touch the screen as many times as indicated to unlock each character.
That must be all the info you should need for the game, see ya in the next update.
57 responses to "Ultimate Mortal Kombat"
Your website has everything! It roxs!
Can you do "Mercy" on Mortal Kombat Trilogy? If you can, teach me that.
Note: Where are they selling Ultimate Mortal Kombat for the DS?
I just made my website 2 days ago.
Hey Murdoink, is it easy to win UMK on the DS?
I got UMK for the DS at Eid.
Murdoink? Hellooooo?
Rather great post. I just located your weblog and wanted to say that I have genuinely loved exploring your blog articles. Regardless I will be opt-in to your information aggregator and I am hoping you write again soon!
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- Celebrating 15 Years of MKW
- Mortal Kombat XL Kontent out of nowhere!
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Mrs. Xanax: "It's very stressful. My sister and I aren't speaking to each other right now."
Dr. Grumpy: "I'm sorry to hear that. Is this the one who's having a baby? Last time you were here you were knitting a blanket for her?"
Mrs. Xanax: "Yeah, but that's where it all started. I was going to have the blanket done when she got to 36 weeks, but then she had all kinds of complications, and had a seizure, and they had to deliver the baby at 29 weeks, and the blanket wasn't done by then. Now she just spends all her time at the hospital visiting the baby, and I finally called and told her that I wasn't happy about how she ruined my plans to have the blanket ready in time, and that it's not all about her."


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Perhaps more than the planned cuts themselves, investors are worried that uncertainty concerning the market framework could continue for several months or more given the slow pace at which Romania has been known to change laws.
Romania would have to get European Commission approval for the changes in the incentive framework to go into effect, but its track record for getting the go-ahead for legislation in Brussels quickly and smoothly is not strong. It took roughly two and half years for the government to gain final European Union approval for its current market framework.
According to the draft law, the maximum price for green certificates would be cut from the current EUR 55/MWh to EUR 30/MWh. The planned change is crucial because the maximum price has been the going rate for certificates and had been expected to remain so for the next few years. The minimum price would remain unchanged at EUR 27/MWh, although market players have pointed out that the minimum price is actually not a floor — there is no guarantee that the price of green certificates could one day dip below that if there were no certificate buyers. There is no buyer of last resort.
Observers say it is hard to predict whether the legislation, which has already been changed from an initial version and is likely to be subject to further adjustments, would also cut the number of green certificates issued.
Wind farms are supposed to receive two green certificates per megawatt hour of production through 2017. Romanian energy regulator ANRE is expected to be the only authority in Romania with the power to assess both whether producers are being overcompensated and whether the number of green certificates made available to specific renewable energy technologies should be cut.
However, a footnote to the law cites a government evaluation that for some technologies, a smaller number of green certificates would be sufficient. For wind, the government has estimated that one or 1.5 certificate per megawatt hour would be enough.
"The fact that this issue of a reduced number of green certificates is already being raised by the government in footnotes is a reason for concern for investors," said Bryan Jardine, managing partner of the Bucharest office of law firm Wolf Theiss. "Some companies who were actively looking to invest are taking a more wait-and-see approach."
The Romanian Wind Energy Association (RWEA) is pushing the government to withdraw the legislation. "The energy regulator believes the current law works well," said RWEA director Ionel David. In the meantime, uncertainty has already clearly taken its toll. "The market is frozen."
However, Romania is still the leading wind market in the fledgling eastern European market, with 900MW set to come online this year. The fear is that its actions could have a domino affect on the region's other countries, which are seen as vital for the growth of Europe's wind industry.


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this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; On a recent sweltering afternoon in Times Square, people might have been too busy searching for an open hydrant to pay much attention to the man wearing a New Orleans Saints jersey tossing copies of the soon-to-be released Madden NFL ...
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: New Haven Ct
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Title in Hand, Brees Embraces Platform
On a recent sweltering afternoon in Times Square, people might have been too busy searching for an open hydrant to pay much attention to the man wearing a New Orleans Saints jersey tossing copies of the soon-to-be released Madden NFL 11 video game into the crowd.
But the pinpoint accuracy of the throws some plastic cases landing in the hands of sunbathers in elevated bleachers at West 47th Street made it clear this was not a heat-induced mirage.
Drew Brees, the most valuable player of the Super Bowl and the quarterback featured on the cover of the Madden game, was in Manhattan last week to film a commercial for the game and to promote the publication of his book, Coming Back Stronger.
Brees, 31, invited fans to play the game with him as he tried to win the Super Bowl again, this time on a large screen above Times Square.
The more that you play the game, the more that you think the game, he said of his football video skills.
For Brees, there is no off-season if you are trying to defend a championship, especially for a Saints team that will have to replace players like offensive tackle Jammal Brown, defensive ends Bobby McCray and Charles Grant, linebacker Scott Fujita and running back Mike Bell.
Any time you win a Super Bowl, other teams want to pick guys off your team as free agents or in other deals, Brees said. It was unfortunate to lose those guys. But I feel that means there are opportunities for the young guys on the team to step up.
Brees knows that teams will be motivated to beat the champions, so he wants the Saints to be up for the challenge.
I think the level of expectation definitely has been set, looking at what we did last year, he said.
The Saints will open the season at home against the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 9.
Brees says he expects to see a familiar adversary taking the snaps for the opposition.
I believe Brett is coming back, he said, referring Brett Favre, who has not committed to returning to the Vikings. Despite what everybody might say, I believe hes coming back.
Although the Saints will not face the Jets during the regular season, Brees said he liked what he had seen of Mark Sanchez, another undersize quarterback competing against giants.
Hes kind of a gym rat, always wanting to learn more and be good, Brees said. Hes on a very good team with a very good offensive coordinator, Brian Schottenheimer.
Brees said he thought the Jets would benefit from the presence of running back LaDainian Tomlinson, a former teammate of his in San Diego who signed as a free agent in March.
LaDainian will absolutely help them, he said. Not only with his productivity on the field, but hell also be a great complement back to Shonn Greene, whos an extremely talented runner.
Brees said Tomlinson would help stabilize the young Jets offense.
His veteran presence and his experience will make a difference, he said. Hes played a lot of football. He will go down as one of the best running backs in the history of the game. Hes played at that level and knows what it takes to get to that level.
When Brees is not playing football, an important part of his life is his charity, the Brees Dream Foundation.
The organization supports cancer research and provides care, education and opportunities for children in need.
We started the foundation in 2003, Brees said. So in the last seven years weve been able to raise or commit over $5.5 million. By the end of the year, we would like to have that number around $7 million. That would be a huge accomplishment. I take as much pride in that as I do in my on-the-field performance.
The foundations latest project is Hope Lodge, a place where cancer patients can stay when they come to New Orleans for treatment.
There has also been speculation that Brees could enter politics after he throws his last pass.
I wont close the door on anything, he said. Theres a lot of things Ive love to do later on in life. I mean, Im 31 years old. I feel like Im pretty young. Hopefully, I have another 5 to 10 years in the N.F.L. ahead of me. There are a lot of opportunities out there.
Right now I see the platform that I have, not only as an N.F.L player but as someone who can make a difference in the community and have an impact in young peoples lives.
He hopes his new book also has an impact on young people. In it, Brees details how he has coped with adversity, including his mothers suicide and his career-threatening shoulder injury.
I wrote the book because I understand the impact that I have as a professional athlete, he said. Ive been given a chance to reach out and motivate and inspire young people.
" Anyone can take a picture Only a Photographer can take a photograph "
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Issue link: http://dc.ee.ubm-us.com/i/130774
28 News Trends \\\\\\ Breakthroughs \\\ Developments Trends Breakthroughs \\\ Developments Chip Suppliers Target Vehicle Complexity Freescale's Qorivva MPC5748G uses two main cores to help with the division of electronic tasks. CHIP MAKERS ARE hoping a new breed of microcon- D e s i g n N e w s M AY 2 0 1 3 w w w. d e s i g n n e w s . c o m Freescale's Qorivva MPC5748G uses two main cores operating at 160 MHz and a smaller I/O core running at 80 MHz, to help with the division of electronic tasks. gateways. The second, a family of mixed-signal MCUs, is aimed at adding intelligence to end nodes in the vehicle, such as door lock and seat control modules. Both will perform specific chores in an effort to clean up the electronic mess. The multicore family, known as the Qorivva MPC5748G, will ultimately help automakers reduce the number of body control modules, which serve as electronic hubs for the end nodes. The keys are the Qorivva's multicore architecture, high bandwidth, and onboard Flash memory. Using two main cores operating at 160 MHz and a smaller I/O core running at 80 MHz, the MCUs help with the division of tasks. That functionality, in turn, is augmented by the presence of up to 6 MB of memory, which helps eliminate messaging bottlenecks between modules and nodes, Freescale says. The ultimate goal is to enable the body control modules to take on more communication tasks. By making those modules smarter and faster, suppliers and automakers hope to cut the number of the modules by more than half. Whereas a high-end vehicle today might have 25 modules that talk to 100 microcontrollers, the hope is that future vehicles could have 10 or fewer modules. "There's a massive amount of data that needs to be processed and handled," Loane told us. Source: Freescale Semiconductor trollers (MCUs) will begin laying the foundation for a solution to one of the auto industry's most vexing design problems — electronic complexity. Using more cores, bandwidth, Flash memory, and onboard intelligence, the new MCUs could begin to chip away at the complexity issue, which is growing worse, even as suppliers struggle to make in-roads. "It's out of control," Brad Loane, auto body microcontroller product manager for Freescale Semiconductor, told Design News. "There's so much more lighting, so many new user interfaces, so many more sensors and actuators. It's getting so complex that it's driving up the weight and the cost." Indeed, automotive electronics are now so pervasive that they account for at least 30 percent of the overall cost of a vehicle — and some experts suggest that's a conservative figure. For hybrids, it could be as high as 45 percent. And, in a few years, hybrids could reach as high as 80 percent. The high costs are a product of additional hardware, software, and engineering. Today's high-end vehicles typically incorporate more than 100 onboard MCUs, 150 pounds of wiring, and tens of millions of lines of software code. But even as those numbers rise, engineers continue to face the task of adding more features for infotainment and safety, and enabling all those new and old MCUs to talk to each other. Those growing concerns have led semiconductor suppliers to develop solutions to the problem. Freescale recently rolled out two product portfolios that will almost certainly inspire other suppliers. The first, a family of multicore MCUs, is targeted at body control modules and network Design News | MAY 2013 | www.d e sig n n e ws.c o m –28– magenta cyan yellow black ES244594_DN1305_028.pgs 05.02.2013 06:59 UBM


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Brief: Rohn Engh
More than a decade has passed since Rohn Engh, photographer, "stepped off the treadmill" and moved into the rolling hill country of western Wisconsin. "I thought it would be a snap to market photographs from my large, economy-sized mailbox. But I was wrong," Rohn admits. "So — by necessity — we took to gardening seriously, and doing more with less."
Still, Rohn kept his shutters snapping: "I didn't have to travel more than three miles from our farm for good subject matter. Children with their parent, pastoral scenes, schoolyard theatrics, medical emergencies ... there was no end of material, even way up here at the end of the earth."
Interestingly enough, the "farmer with a camera" soon found that his rural mailbox was not a total loss after all. As word of Rohn's work spread, scores of publishers began to demonstrate their eagerness to buy his uncommonly natural photographs to illustrate textbooks, magazine articles, posters, and brochures. Not only local and regional firms clamored for the output of Engh's country camera, but Harper's, Woman's Day, Reader's Digest ... even THE MOTHER EARTH NEWS.
Furthermore, as Rohn's lens-work grew in favor with art directors, so too grew the exotic nature of their demands. "I began to get photo requests for iguanas of Arizona or mountain climbing in Alaska. These appeals went into the wastebasket ... until one day I realized that assignment I couldn't fill myself should be mighty valuable to other photographers — and to me — if I put them all together in a newsletter."
And so, in October of 1976, Rohn began to crank out The Photoletter — two mimeographed pages reporting up-to-the minute requirements from photo buyers — and mail it out to other professional shutterbugs.
The idea soon proved to be a lively seed that had fallen on fertile soil. Editors liked it because they saved bucks by not going through a photo agency. And photographers loved the publication because it saved them hours of research, querying, and pavement pounding. Nor did the newsletter hurt Rohn Engh's own business at all: "I found that by sharing what I know about the blossoming field of photo illustration I've not only discovered many new outlet ... but also learned more about photography and its possibilities."
In it two years, The Photoletter's original subscription list of 14 has boomed to over 1,000, and the former monthly is now published once every two weeks in a four-page format.
Yep. Today's Rohn Engh is a far more settled character than the rootless young wanderer whose first photo story — "I Crossed the Sahara on a Motor Scooter"—appeared in a 1958 issue of the Satur day Evening Post. Engh now prefers to let his newsletter subscribers trek all over the country and the world for their pictures, while he and his cameras continue to record the life that Rohn has become part of right in Star Prairie, Wisconsin. Engh's portraits have been included in The Family of Children (Ridge Press' sequel to The Family of Man). And now Rohn is both author and illustrator of his own book-an outgrowth of what he's learned about growing his family's food-called A Very Simple Garden Book: Vegetables, recently published by Paul Eriksson, Inc.
So take heart, rural artist, writers, and other craftspeople. Maybe you're not as isolated from your markets as you thought. Rohn Engh lives out in the country too. And his mailbox marketing system, coupled with a loving eye for the land and its people-not to mention his share-a-chance philosophy — has made Rohn Engh one of America's most published photographers. — Harry T. White.
Brief: Dr. Paavo Airola
Everyone knows that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" ... but nobody really does a whole lot about raising the national awareness of this approach to health. Right? Wrong ... if Dr. Paavo Airola is any example.
The internationally known naturopathic physician has recently created an effective means of spreading the word about what he has named the "three steps to well-being:" proper mental attitude, vigorous exercise, and good nutrition. Airola's International Academy of Biological Medicine, Inc. accomplishes this feat by offering professional seminars in biological and nutritional medical therapies to both conventional and alternative doctors, who then pass that learning on to their patients. (IABM members range all the way from psychiatrists and family practitioners to chiropractors and iridologist, and more than half of them also belong to the American Medical Association.)
As a service to prospective patient, the Academy publishes an annually updated Directory which list it over 300 member physicians by state and country (in addition to the U.S.A., there are IABM practitioners in Sweden, Switzerland, Mexico, Japan, Germany, and Canada).
"This little pamphlet puts the growing number of patient looking for someone who uses nutritional and alternative approaches to health and healing in contact with doctors who do exactly that in their practice," explains the Finnish-born nutritionist. "With its help you find the physician who is pursuing such studies and doctor and patient become a team. These doctors like to treat people who understand their perspective, and vice versa."
Although Dr. Airola has published 12 books on health in the past 10 years and is working on a thirteenth, he feels that his most important activity is serving as president of the IABM: "Once we reeducate a doctor, he will be able to guide thousands of others along the road ... with good nutrition and natural methods of healing."
What can you do if you're interested in robust health but there is no member of IABM in your area? Counsels Dr. Airola, "Read, listen to everything available on health and nutrition, and then make up your own mind. Use your common sense. Be skeptical of anyone who is representing himself as an expert and is trying to sell you a product."
"And create consumer demand! When you go to the supermarket, demand what you believe is best for you. If everybody would buy only those foods good for them, supermarket would be changed to health food stores in no time!" — Patsy Goosen
Brief: Cravens Wanlass
According to California inventor Cravens Wanlass, most of the electric motors in use today waste tremendous amounts of energy. "They're built with oversized wire coils that are necessary only to get them started," he says. "But once the motors are running at their normal operating speeds, they simply don't need those heavy coils to keep going."
Electrical engineers, of course, have known about this inefficiency for years ... but it took "Chris" Wanlass to come up with an inspired-but-simple solution to the problem: an electric motor with two sets of coils. Both are activated during start-ups, but one switches off as the motor reaches its operating speed.
"This double-coil concept can allow us to operate most any electrical device — an air conditioner, window fan, refrigerator, conveyor belt, etc. — with 20-to-30 percent less electricity," says Mr. Wanlass. "In fact, if every common electric motor now operating in the United States were converted to my controlled-torque design, the country could realize an energy savings of more than 1.2 million barrels of oil per day!"
Scientists at the Southern California Edison power company and officials of several major corporations have field-tested the new motor and agree that it works and that it does save energy. But the giants in the field — such as Westinghouse and General Electric — tend to look down their noses at the invention. They say it's not a new idea at all and that similar designs are already on the market.
"Bunk!" answers Mr. Wanlass. "If those companies knew about this concept years ago, why haven't they come forward and promoted it to the public? They're just afraid of looking foolish for not inventing such a simple, energy-efficient electric motor before now."
What we seem to have here, then, is the classic "little guy with a better product battles the entrenched interests" story that pops up so often in the energy field. This time around, though, the tale has a happier than usual ending: While the major manufacturers of electrical equipment continue to "study" the Wanlass patent ... the inventor himself is already beginning to turn out industrial-sized controlled-torque motors at his new Tustin, California factory. And orders for the units are beginning to flood in from all over the world! — Johann Rush.


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Meg Werner takes photographs. She loves to travel. She has lived and studied overseas, and she recently returned home to the U.S. with a degree from Oxford. She sells prints of some of her dreamy, evocative photographs on Etsy, along with other handmade treasures.
Can you tell us about some of the things on your inspiration board?
I just realized that right now there is more of my work on my inspiration board than what is usually up on my wall, which I think is really evidence of my wanting to bring bits of nature inside. (I promise I am not usually so self-centered!)
Instead of bringing in pine, I snap a photo of it and hang it up. I also have a little moo card by Jenny Vorwaller, as well as some prints by Maria Vettese of Port2Port Press which have really inspired me lately. The prints are from last year but I keep going back to them for inspiration, and they are especially appropriate because they inspire holiday cheer.
There are also some polaroid postcards from Maditi (last year's), which I just love. You'll also find a half-hidden photo by Hannah, as well as a print I ordered from Liz Shuman.
Normally I also have more tear sheets posted, but the ones that I am loving I've been carrying with me as I sort out a few projects I'm working on.
How often do you change your wall?
Sometimes every week, sometimes not for three months. I think it really just depends on how much the arrangement inspires and stays with me.
I am always taping things up. The poem on the wall is A Story That Could Be True by William Stafford. The last stanza topples me over every time. It's so good.
Who or what is inspiring you right now?
Oh, what a tough one! Memories (I always get rather nostalgic in winter; I have no idea why), tartan and plaid, the scent of wild sage (a friend gave me the best candle, goodness), the chilly air, the starkness of winter contrasted with the warmth and coziness of a home decorated for the holidays, Léon Gimpel, the compass rose, this window, this star garland, acoustic John Lennon, stars, The Outsider by C. Wilson, Maditi's black-and-white Holga shots (+ this one, a favourite I am always returning to, at least once a week if not more), peppermint tea… the list goes on and on.
What do you do to "refill the well"?
I usually head outside for a walk or two. Being outside in the fresh air and forcing myself to look at things a little differently usually cures me of the blahs. If I'm still feeling unproductive or uninspired, I promise myself that I won't work on any projects for a week. Usually I declare this on my blog. But then once the pressure is lifted, I usually feel inspired again! Sometimes I think a lack of inspiration is the result of too much pressure, whether it is pressure someone else places on us, or pressure we place on ourselves. Once I let go of that, I'm fine.
How do you come up with your next idea?
Hmmmm. I think I come up with my ideas on my own, either from past experience, a great memory, or the need to capture something on film. I get so many of my ideas from travelling and appreciating the outdoors.
I have to say, however, that often when I think I've come up with something on my own, a few months later I'll stumble upon something in my journal or take another look at my inspiration board and realize that I was inspired by someone else. Lately I have really loved conifer, and after looking at my inspiration board for this interview, I'm wondering if this inspiration didn't come from one of Port2Port's prints, or maybe a photograph I saw last year on flickr that I love. Sometimes the source of inspiration is so hard to pinpoint.
Tell us a little bit about your blog and business.
Well, my blog was created as a way to connect with my friends in the USA as I was living abroad for an extended period of time. Then I was lucky enough to start making connections online. I think the first blog I ever commented on was Shari's. I had read her blog for a long time and loved it dearly so I decided to brave the comment waters. She ended up commenting on my blog quite a few times after that one little comment, and that really encouraged me to comment on other people's blogs.
So while my blog is not wildly popular by any means, I've found a few treasured blog friends online who read my blog, and that makes me enormously happy. From my blog came my Etsy shop, and that is a place where I can sell a few prints that I really like (and that I hope other people like, too). Truthfully my Etsy shop was more about proving to myself that I could put my work out there and be confident that it would be worth something not only to me, but also to somebody else. I was hoping for even one customer. The fact that more people have ordered my work than I ever dreamed has me on cloud nine, and it really encourages me to get out there and take some more snaps.
How long have you been taking photographs? How did you start?
I have been taking photographs in a serious way since I received my first manual SLR camera… I was about 16, I think. I started photography because I was required to meet a fine-arts graduation requirement at my high school. I really dreaded it, because I had formed this idea about who I was, and "creative" wasn't a word I would have used to describe myself. I was incredibly academic and politically active at that time. But I really grew to love photography over the duration of that semester. I loved that it allowed me to edit my world, to communicate how I saw things, to capture those fleeting but important moments, and for a perfectionist like me, it was a blessing that in photography, there is no going back. In drawing class I would ruin drawings with the amount of erasing I did, and that was truly disheartening. Photography gave me the freedom to toss the eraser in the rubbish bin and just have fun.
What is your background?
I just graduated with a second BA from Oxford University in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. It will eventually turn into a MA as it is a "read" (researched) and not a "taught" degree. Oxford is funny like that. For my undergrad I studied French, Philosophy, and Institutions and Policy. Right now I'm looking for a job in consulting for a few years. I really want to push myself in that field for a little while and get some experience under my belt before I pursue work in the microfinance field. That said, I take my photography very seriously. I just fear that if I pursued photography as anything more than a hobby I'd grow to resent it. I wish I functioned in such a way that my passion for arts and music was transferable to self-supporting work, but I know myself too well to know that eventually I'd end up frustrated if I were to put pressure on something that I enjoy so much. Silly but true.
What other talents do you possess that we might not know about?
I've talked about it a little bit on my blog (once or twice?) but I planned on studying piano performance and music theory at university until I was about 17. I play the piano pretty well still, and at one time I could play oboe and viola well. (Not so much anymore, though. I took my oboe out the other day and frightened myself! Ha.)
Do you make other types of art or crafts?
I sew quite a bit, actually. I'll be revealing a few things on my blog soon. The past three years have been difficult because I've been living abroad without a sewing machine, and I'm not one for embroidery. Now that I have access to a sewing machine, life is good.
Where does your training come from? self-taught? college/art school?
Both! I have taken a few classes and picked up a few things doing photography and working in a darkroom at Oxford (as an extra-curricular activity), but otherwise I'm self-taught.
How do you keep things fresh?
Sometimes I worry that I don't. Usually I just try to follow my heart and do that which speaks to me. It might not be fresh, but if I like it, I like it. I try not to make excuses if I'm behind the trends or marching to my own drummer.
What do you do to keep yourself motivated and avoid burn-out?
That's hard. I'm feeling a little burnt out right now, to tell you the truth. But I've decided to shake things up a bit and post less on my blog; I'm hoping that frees up time to do some more exploring. I've also realized that I want to be more serious about my photography, to really develop long-term projects that mean something to me. I'm excited about that, so perhaps my answer is this: burn-out is often unavoidable, but it's part of the creative process. I just embrace it, eat some chocolate, and be patient. Stepping back and slowing down always help, too.
What's your perfect creativity-inspiring day?
Early morning, sunshine, fabulous cup of coffee, twenty rolls of film, time with a special someone, my sister, my friends, a visit to few fabulous blogs (including this one!), and a walk outside.
What are some of your current projects?
Right now I'm working on a series of garlands inspired by my travels and all of the Tibetan flags that I came across. You can see a peak at one of the first prototypes on my inspiration wall, and there's another beginner's garland over here (already sent out to a friend who I knew wouldn't be bothered by the lack of polish). I'm also working on a few handsewn teddy bears made of tartan fabric. I also have a few ongoing long-term photography projects that I'm working on, but they are secret. ;-)
Any advice to the many people who are inspired by you?
Have fun! And also, really be proud of what you do. There are only so many hours in the day; I am impressed by anyone who makes time to pursue their passion and/or explore the world, especially those women that hold down the full time of job of being a mum or working in an office (or both, crikey!), and who have to make time for their craft. Even if people don't have time for major projects, I'm impressed by people who can even maintain a blog. Being creative is rewarding but it's hard work!
What is your favorite inspirational quote?
"I am done with great things and big things, great institutions and big success, and I am for those tiny invisible molecular moral forces that work form individual to individual, creeping through the crannies of the world like so many rootlets, or like the capillary oozing of water, yet which if you give them time, rend the hardest monuments of man's pride." — William JamesI think James was right. Big success is a wonderful thing, but I hope people are proud of those small successes that accumulate over a day, a week, a lifetime. Making someone feel better, spreading kindness, inspiring laughter… that is the good stuff, you know?
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