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Premiere Adult (Tue)
Sign up for our Premiere Adult Class
Tuesdays at 8:00pm (7:00pm first meeting)
January 21 – February 25, 2020
Six weeks, $225 (you save $25)
How our classes work...
In the Puppy Kindergarten, Premier Puppy, and Premier Adult classes, week one is an orientation between you and the instructor (no dogs), and weeks two through six are instructional sessions between you, your dog and the instructor. Graduate, Advanced and Private sessions always include both you and your dog. Our classes group your dog with other dogs of similar age and size.
Vaccination requirements
Puppies between the ages of ten (10) weeks and five (5) months must have received two (2) of their required puppy shots. Older dogs must be current with their DHLP-PC, rabies, and Bordetella vaccinations and have a recent stool check on record. A copy of your current vaccination record will suffice as proof of shots and must be brought to the first class.
Reserve your spot
We'll take your general information here to reserve your spot in an upcoming class. You will be billed on your first day of class.


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Puzzle Levels
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Romanian Puzzle Box - Small Green
Product Information
|Open the box.
|Level 7 - Challenging
|Istvan Bondi, Wooden Puzzle Boxes, Puzzle Boxes / Trick Boxes
|Approx. 8 cm x 6.4 cm x 4.8 cm / 3.2 in x 2.5 in x 1.9 in
|Bubble Wrap
Product Description
This is a small hand crafted wooden puzzle box which comes in black, brown, red, blue and green colors and is surfaced with shiny lacquer. It is a great conversation piece to set on your table. As its name implies, this beautiful, uniquely designed box was made in Romania.
Please note that there may be very slight variations in dimensions because of their hand-made nature.
Inside compartment measures approximately 5.8 cm x 3.4 cm x 2 cm / 2.3 in x 1.3 in x 0.8 in.
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Become a Web Designer, Web Developer, or Web Programmer
This website is a free resource for anyone interested in a computer programming or web design career. You will find a comprehensive listing of web design schools, helpful career resources, web design articles and more.
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Web Design Classes
Web designers are very much in demand these days as more and more companies and corporations turn to the internet for advertising and marketing campaigns. Students who are naturally artistic are the best candidates for a bachelor's degree program in web design. In a web design class, you will learn the technical skills required to create and design … [Read More...]
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Learning HTML and other basic elements of web design is not as difficult as you think. You can create your own amazing websites, handle marketing automation solution and manage your own domain. To be successful at web design, you must have a passion for computers plus creativity and artistic talent. You can learn web design on your own or take special … [Read More...]


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Inmates at Greene Correctional Institution in Coxsackie, N.Y., staff a state Department of Motor Vehicles call center.
When you call a company or government agency for help, there's a good chance the person on the other end of the line is a prison inmate.
The federal government calls it "the best-kept secret in outsourcing" — providing inmates to staff call centers and other services in both the private and public sectors.
The U.S. government, through a 75-year-old program called Federal Prison Industries, makes about $750 million a year providing prison labor, federal records show. The great majority of those contracts are with other federal agencies for services as diverse as laundry, construction, data conversion and manufacture of emergency equipment.
But the program also markets itself to businesses under a different name, Unicor, providing commercial market and product-related services. Unicor made about $10 million from "other agencies and customers" in the first six months of fiscal year 2011 (the most recent period for which official figures are available), according to an msnbc.com analysis of its sales records.
The Justice Department and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons don't break down which companies they do business with. But Unicor said inmates provide private call center service, including data review and sales lead generation, for "some of the top companies in America" under a federal mandate to help companies repatriate jobs they have outsourced overseas.
In a fact sheet, Unicor asserts that prisoners in the program are less likely to re-offend and are better trained for full-time work upon release. All revenue goes back into the program, which "operates at no cost to the taxpayer," it says.
The idea has filtered down to some of the states, among them Georgia, Arizona and New York.
When New York residents call the Department of Motor Vehicles, for example, they might get an inmate at Greene Correctional Institution in Coxsackie, near Albany, or at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women near White Plains, on the border with Connecticut.
"Obviously, it saves taxpayer dollars," Brian Fischer, commissioner of the state Corrections and Community Supervision Department, told NBC station WNYT of Albany. "Number two, it provides what we call a transferable skill."
Besides saving the state money, said Elizabeth Glazer, the state's deputy secretary for public safety, the program is "an investment in our state's overall safety."
"When we help offenders build the workforce skills necessary to find viable employment after incarceration, we lessen the chances they will reoffend and end up back in the state's prison system," she said.
The corrections department acknowledged that callers aren't told they're talking to a state prisoner. But they stressed that callers are protected — no personal information is displayed to the prisoners, who don't have access to computers, officials said.
In the private sector, states usually partner with business-to-business firms to run the services — the companies provide the equipment and facilities, and the state provides the labor. One such firm is Televerde, a Phoenix company that partners with the Arizona prison system to provide marketing services for major companies that have included Hitachi and Microsoft.
In a marketing paper, Microsoft says companies like Televerde "can reduce the burden on corporate marketing and local marketing teams can have more meaningful interactions with their customers." (Msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC News.)
For inmates, the appeal isn't the pay, which can be as low as 50 cents an hour. It's the training and the opportunity: "A lot of times, we need to feel like we are appreciated, and it builds self-esteem," John Howard of Brooklyn, N.Y., an inmate at Greene, told WNYT.
"It allows me the opportunity to speak to different people of different nationalities, regardless of what ethnicity, and it makes me feel like 'Wow, I can do better,'" he said.
Read the original story at WNYT.com
But Danny Donohue president of the New York Civil Service Employees Association, criticized the program for prioritizing marketable skills for prisoners over providing jobs to "law-abiding citizens."
It's "a bad idea generally and even worse considering the current economy," Donohue said.
By M. Alex Johnson of msnbc.com and Bill Lambdin of WNYT-TV in Albany, N.Y. Follow M. Alex Johnson on Twitter and Facebook.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News:


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Magnificent cockerel that's easy to embroider in cross-stitch on a pre-printed large-hole canvas. Size: 40 cm x 40 cm
The kit includes: pre-printed canvas, 100% acrylic embroidery threads, needle and full instructions. Cushion back and filling sold separately.
Ref : 30516
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Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Just Sayin' Sorry ..............
This plate of stamps is so funny that I had to go with the real humour of them. Can you imagine the family lining up to say sorry, even the cats.............she doesn't look best pleased does she.........lol
First masked the watercolour paper, then brayered over it with a Big and Juicy Pad. After stamping out the characters I then fussy cut them and adhered them into the scene. Coloured with Promarkers.
Hope it amuses you as had such fun creating this comic scene. Looking forward to seeing your masking tape projects. Take care of yourselves, keep warm and will be seeing you soon. Hugs Annette x
44 comments:
- Femmy said...
such a beautiful card!!
- 8 February 2012 at 10:07
- mustavcoffee, Gay Peplow said...
HI Annette, You are right she really doesn't look happy at all LOL Great card, love it,xxx
- 8 February 2012 at 10:31
- Fliss said...
A really amusing card Netty and you've made me smile too - necessary as I don't feel that happy due to terrible noise from my next door neighbours having an extension built, says she needing ear plugs lol
Fliss xx
- 8 February 2012 at 10:36
- Cath Wilson said...
Love the way you used the masking tape here, Netty - fab work and fun, too. A really cheerful card x
- 8 February 2012 at 10:49
- Sandy said...
So so beautiful to say Sorry.
Fantastic work netty. Love it. xoxo
- 8 February 2012 at 11:01
- Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...
Great fun card and I love the masking and the colour in the background. Tracy x
- 8 February 2012 at 11:38
- Doreen said...
What a fabulous card,I love the masking, a great fun card.xxx
- 8 February 2012 at 11:40
- Pam said...
Those stamps are a hoot! So fun! Love your masked squares of color!
- 8 February 2012 at 11:46
- PetraB said...
Oh dear, she really doesn't look happy ... they should be on their knees (lol) This is so hilarious and a great way of using the masking tape.
- 8 February 2012 at 11:50
- craftattack said...
Beautiful card and great image! Valerie
- 8 February 2012 at 11:52
- Helen said...
That is great - I saw it over at Gingersnaps earlier!
- 8 February 2012 at 12:20
- McCrafty's Cards said...
This gave me a chuckle Annette, great fun card.
Kevin xx
- 8 February 2012 at 12:26
- Carol L McK said...
Love the humor and very creative ~ namaste, carol ^_^
- 8 February 2012 at 13:19
- Marjie Kemper said...
Love how you cut and layered your characters, Nettie. So smart to use the masking tape that way!
- 8 February 2012 at 13:44
- Patti J said...
What a fun set of stamps! Momma doesn't look happy, and we all know when momma ain't happy, nobody's happy! Your card is adorable, Netty, and I love the use of the masking tape! Thanks for sharing!
- 8 February 2012 at 13:54
- Candy C said...
Netty, your card is darling! Oh my goodness...such cute characters! I love the way you've designed your card and how you colorized everything. <3 Candy
- 8 February 2012 at 13:58
- lazy_turtle said...
- 8 February 2012 at 14:11
- Meggymay said...
A real fun card, great humour, the cat looks a bit phased to me, the oldies are fabulous.
Yvonne x
- 8 February 2012 at 14:59
- 1CardCreator said...
Love the card Annette, great technique with the brayer and I love the humor!
- 8 February 2012 at 15:26
- froebelsternchen Susi said...
- 8 February 2012 at 15:35
- Carolyn said...
We all need to laugh and your card is hilarious. Great idea, Annette.
- 8 February 2012 at 16:18
- Fuchsia said...
Very amusing card Netty and expertly done xxx
- 8 February 2012 at 16:21
- Diana Evans said...
oh wow!!! very pretty Annette!!!! very clever and very funny!!!
- 8 February 2012 at 16:40
- Heidi said...
It's beautiful!
Lovely details:)
Hugs, Heidi:)
- 8 February 2012 at 16:45
- Anesha said...
Nettie, this is such fun, love it. :)
- 8 February 2012 at 16:46
- Jingle said...
Very cute!
- 8 February 2012 at 19:15
- Faye said...
Hilarious, Netty. What a wonderful set of stamps! If I got this "sorry" card, I certainly would be saying: "that's ok. We're cool." Love your originality.
- 8 February 2012 at 19:33
- Linda R said...
Your got me smiling..
Hugs, Linda
- 8 February 2012 at 19:37
- mustavcoffee, Gay Peplow said...
Hi again :0) You asked about the new Blogger, well it's a new interface to access your dashboard really, there is a button on your dashboard, I think it says try the new interface, everything's there just looks very different and I'm only just getting the hang of it. My problem is I can't find the button that takes me back OOOhhh noooo, LOL I'm going to try it for a while longer, good luck Annette, xxx
- 8 February 2012 at 20:11
- Silvia(Barnie) said...
Your card looks wonderful, great colors and images.
- 8 February 2012 at 21:20
- Daniele said...
such a great fun card
- 8 February 2012 at 21:23
- Gwen said...
Very amusing and just look at the expressions on their faces:)
- 8 February 2012 at 21:30
- Annette said...
Masking tape. OK you can tell I am new at this, gotta try that also. So funny the card is made me smile. xo
- 8 February 2012 at 21:38
- Anjas-Artefaktotum said...
Really funny, love your creation!
- 8 February 2012 at 22:04
- Sharon said...
LOL this is a great fun card Netty - love the stamped images - very cool!!
- 8 February 2012 at 22:33
- Kim B said...
What a fun card!!! You always make me smile!!! Thanks so much for continuing to visit my blog, when I havent been quite as active ... Hugs, Kim
- 8 February 2012 at 23:09
- Gerrie Johnnic said...
talk about humor! This is just too, too funny!
- 9 February 2012 at 02:12
- Junibears said...
Your work is always so brilliant dear Netty and I can't beieve how many comments you get!!
So nice of you to drop by and see me. Thank you dear! Hugs xx
- 9 February 2012 at 10:02
- coops said...
brilliant card netty.the fun image are fab and i love the clever design :D
xx coops xx
- 9 February 2012 at 12:04
- JeanFB said...
This is brilliant, Netty! Fabulous card, sooooo fun!
- 9 February 2012 at 16:38
- Brenda Brown said...
Such fun Annette, you are so funny with your designs sometimes, they really make me laugh.
hugs {brenda} xox
- 9 February 2012 at 20:51
- Shar said...
Love how you used the Just Sayin' characters! Those panels of wonderful purple are such a great backdrop!
- 10 February 2012 at 02:20
- Andrea C said...
This is one funny cool but crazily wicked card. xx
- 10 February 2012 at 08:21
- Healing Woman said...
Love that you created this beautiful and soft piece for your mother. Enjoy your precious mother.
- 10 February 2012 at 15:48


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Gold Coast Twilight Fishing
Discovery fishing charters offer a real fishing experience, not just a boat ride. our experienced owner operators work hard to help you catch the big one.
We use a variety of fishing techniques on our 5 hour reef and game fishing tours to maximize your catch rate. It doesn't matter if your a beginner that's never fished before or an experienced angler. Our skippers and deckhands will provide all the guidance you need to achieve a good fishing technique. Women and children welcome.
We actively target a range of species in our semi tropical waters. Species include Snapper, Jewfish, Cobia, Sampson fish, Marlin, Tuna, Mackerel, Sailfish, Tusk fish, and many more.
Included In Price $1440.00 Full Boat Booking or $130 Per Person
All bait and fishing tackle, ice cold bottled water, legal fish gut & gilled, fishing tips & techniques
Participant Guidelines
Safety of all our passengers is our first priority, upon boarding our vessels you will be briefed about our boats safety equipment and how to use it in the unlikely event of an emergency.
We advise all customers to listen to our experienced crews to ensure a safe day out on the water, we will brief you on the safe and correct methods of how to use our fishing tackle.
The Australian sun can be harsh, we advise all passengers to bring a hat and sunscreen to avoid the affects of the sun. Both of our boats are in current Queensland department of transport survey and are fully equipped with all required safety equipment, on board toilets, padded seats and full cover for protection from the elements.
Price Valid For
12 Anglers ONLY
Departure Time
Numbers on the day 12
12 passengers we can orginise multible boats can be arranged..
Weather Exceptions
Our skippers constantly monitor local weather reports, We do not fish if high winds or big seas are forecast. It is very important that you provide a phone number that we can contact you on the night before your trip in case the charter has to be re scheduled or cancelled in the event of bad weather.
We only cancel if high winds and/or big seas are forecast. We do not cancel if its raining, if rain is forecast we advise that you bring a suitable jacket or rain coat Light refreshments, Morning Tea All Fishing Rods, Reels and Tackle supplied
Our crew cater for all levels of fishing experience We will clean, chill and bag your catch Sunscreen provided
5hrs Full Boat 12 Mates
Muriel Henchman Dr, Main Beach QLD 4217


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Training for her place in the future. ;) She'll go far.
oppa gangnam style fuck yhea!!!
oppagangnam style!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:-D
deux belle nana à croqué
for those believing that this is real ... taking gullible to the next level
la piccola giocava con le palle di spaone; la mamma le insegna a giocare con altre palle.
Do Math!
She looks a lot like my favorite masseuse at a local massage parlor I used to visit very often for a few years. Both women in their 40s, very fit and beautiful and sexy as hell. In fact their bodies look exactly the same. Watching this video took me back to my times at the massage parlor having the hottest sex I have ever had in my life. It was that good. First time I was with my massage girl I went back the very next day for more with her. This hot MILF looks like a great fuck too. I will wear out this hot scene!
The "mother" is so fuckin' HOT!
I prefer the mother! she is hotter
SOOOO HOTTT!! Mom teaching sweet little teen to suck cock. I love it where Mom watches the cum drip out of the teen's mouth. This little teen is so incredibly cute. Makes me want to visit an Asian massage parlor now to get some teen Asian pussy.
I want that momma to suck me OFF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wow this is some bad acting, even by porn standards....like the twilight films bad
i think they cameout with this brand of juicy fruit
I have to show my gf this its hilarious
Looks like Annie and her Mom
Magnificent, and very talented young cocksucker!!! What a beauty!!
Very very hot would love for both of them to suck my cock
I'd have preferred it if the 'mother' didn't keep making the purring noises (only because I wanted to her the 'daughter' slurping some more), and would also have liked them to have kept their clothes on.
i could have both of them!!
Looks like she's got it!!! She can practice on me!!!
I'll have the MILF Daughter Combo Please. Look forward to the 69 tutorial.
Sure not real, but fucking hell, id love to have them both sucking me anytime !!!
The Daughter is hot :D
la maestra è brava ma l'allieva apprende facilmente
This is hilariously bad acting. Can tell it was improved. Very Funny
I think the mom is Yuki Mori
I guess I've never met a mom who would do this with her daughter, so that was a bit of a surprise. Secondly either that girl is a fast learner, or she had done that before because she did seem rather comfortable doing it. Third, not sure why they stripped down if all they were going to do was a blow job. However, I would fuck both mom and daughter in this clip.
holy fuck this made me cum so hard
yeah..,can i try you momy you look so yummy
great Mom
w0w anad nka ana hahhhhhh ayaw ku atika lami kayu vhaaaaaa
These asians ;)
me exitan las asiatias
incrivel quero que chupe o meu pau assim tbm rs delicia
she is good mom.
i could not masturbate. was laughing too hard.
Ann I can give it to you if u need it bb.
Things my mom never taught me !
Love to give the daughter one
Now to learn to swallow....That's how you keep good men like me.
Mom is way hotter
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How Millennials Want to Work and Live
Understand everything that matters most to the U.S. economy as it pertains to America's largest ― and least understood ― generation. Discover what millennials want and what that means for the future of your organization.
From the Chairman and CEO
PEOPLE OFTEN ASK GALLUP, "Are millennials really that different?"
The answer is yes ― profoundly so. Millennials will change the world decisively more than any other generation.
As this report shows, millennials will continue to disrupt how the world communicates ― how we read and write and relate. Millennials are disrupting retail, hospitality, real estate and housing, transportation, entertainment and travel, and they will soon radically change higher education.
Millennials are altering the very social fabric of America and the world. They're waiting longer to get married and have children, and they're less likely than other generations to identify with specific religions or political parties.
Defined by their lack of attachment to institutions and traditions, millennials change jobs more often than other generations ― more than half say they're currently looking for a new job.
Millennials are changing the very will of the world. So we, too, must change.
Gallup is recommending that our client partners change their organizational cultures this year from old will to new will. There are six functional changes that we call the "Big Six."
1. Millennials don't just work for a paycheck ― they want a purpose. For millennials, work must have meaning. They want to work for organizations with a mission and purpose. Back in the old days, baby boomers like me didn't necessarily need meaning in our jobs. We just wanted a paycheck ― our mission and purpose were 100% our families and communities. For millennials, compensation is important and must be fair, but it's no longer the driver. The emphasis for this generation has switched from paycheck to purpose ― and so must your culture.
2. Millennials are not pursuing job satisfaction ― they are pursuing development. Most millennials don't care about the bells and whistles found in many workplaces today ― the pingpong tables, fancy latte machines and free food that companies offer to try to create job satisfaction. Giving out toys and entitlements is a leadership mistake, and worse, it's condescending. Purpose and development drive this generation.
3. Millennials don't want bosses ― they want coaches. The role of an old-style boss is command and control. Millennials care about having managers who can coach them, who value them as both people and employees, and who help them understand and build their strengths.
4. Millennials don't want annual reviews ― they want ongoing conversations. The way millennials communicate ― texting, tweeting, Skype, etc. ― is now real-time and continuous. This dramatically affects the workplace because millennials are accustomed to constant communication and feedback. Annual reviews no longer work.
5. Millennials don't want to fix their weaknesses ― they want to develop their strengths. Gallup has discovered that weaknesses never develop into strengths, while strengths develop infinitely. This is arguably the biggest discovery Gallup or any organization has ever made on the subject of human development in the workplace. Organizations shouldn't ignore weaknesses. Rather, they should minimize weaknesses and maximize strengths. We are recommending our client partners transition to strengths-based cultures, or they won't attract and keep their stars.
6. It's not just my job ― it's my life. One of Gallup's most important discoveries is that everyone in the world wants a good job. This is especially true for millennials. More so than ever in the history of corporate culture, employees are asking, "Does this organization value my strengths and my contribution? Does this organization give me the chance to do what I do best every day?" Because for millennials, a job is no longer just a job ― it's their life as well.
Jim Clifton, Chairman and CEO
IN THE U.S., ROUGHLY 73 MILLION MILLENNIALS were born between 1980 and 1996. Like those in every generation before them, millennials strive for a life well-lived. They want good jobs ― ones with 30-plus hours of work a week and regular paychecks from employers. They also want to be engaged in those jobs - emotionally and behaviorally connected to them. In addition to finding steady, engaging jobs, millennials want to have high levels of well-being, which means more than being physically fit. Yes, millennials want to be healthy, but they also want a purposeful life, active community and social ties, and financial stability. Regarding that financial stability, millennials want to be able to spend money not just on what they need, but also on what they want.
However, Gallup has found that millennials struggle to find good jobs that engage them. Millennials have the highest rates of unemployment and underemployment in the U.S., and only 29% of employed millennials are engaged at work. Half of millennials say they feel good about the amount of money they have to spend, and less than 40% of millennials are what Gallup defines as "thriving" in any one aspect of well-being. Their overall well-being nearly matches that of Gen Xers and baby boomers, meaning that millennials have not been able to forge better paths for themselves than many Americans have before them. While it is every parent's dream to have their children lead a better life than their own, not all millennials are positioned for such success.
Why does any of this matter? Because the strength of the marketplace and workplace depend on what the millennial generation can accomplish. If millennials cannot find good jobs, the economy will continue to lag. If they are not engaged in those jobs, companies' profitability, productivity and innovation will suffer. And if they are not thriving in their well-being, they will struggle in life, affecting how they perform as citizens, consumers and employees.
In nearly every corner of the U.S., business executives, community and civic leaders, marketers and managers are talking about millennials and their behaviors, attitudes and beliefs. They want to understand how this generation is similar to and how they differ from their predecessors, as well as how to apply this knowledge to create more engaged employees and consumers and healthier, happier citizens.
Gallup has taken on a significant and wide-reaching research effort aimed at helping institutions, businesses and employers understand the millennial generation. Gallup gathered the data in this report from a variety of sources, including the Gallup Panel, Gallup Daily tracker, Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, and Gallup's employee and customer engagement databases. Through this extensive research effort, Gallup analyzed and uncovered the most important findings related to millennials, including how they present themselves as people, consumers and employees. From millennials' demographic makeup to their spending habits to their ideal employers, this report addresses everything that matters most to the U.S. economy as it pertains to America's largest ― and least understood ― generation.
Least engaged generation in the workforce
ONLY 29% OF MILLENNIALS ARE engaged, meaning they are emotionally and behaviorally connected to their job and company. Another 16% of millennials are actively disengaged, meaning they are more or less out to do damage to their company. The majority of millennials (55%) are not engaged, leading all other generations in this category of workers. Not engaging millennial workers is a big miss for organizations. The millennial workforce is predominantly "checked out"― not putting energy or passion into their jobs. They are indifferent about work and show up just to put in their hours.
Often, millennials are characterized as entitled job-hoppers, but the reality is that 55% of this group is not engaged at work. They feel indifferent about their job and company ― and indifferent and entitled are not synonymous. Many millennials likely don't want to switch jobs, but their companies are not giving them compelling reasons to stay. When they see what appears to be a better opportunity, they have every incentive to take it. While millennials can come across as wanting more and more, the reality is that they just want a job that feels worthwhile ― and they will keep looking until they find it.
On the lookout for new jobs
GALLUP DATA REVEAL THAT 21% of millennials report changing jobs within the last year, which is more than three times the number of non-millennials who report the same. Gallup estimates that millennial turnover costs the U.S. economy $30.5 billion annually.
Millennials also show less willingness to stay in their current jobs. Half of millennials ― compared with 60% of non-millennials ― strongly agree that they plan to be working at their company one year from now. For businesses, this suggests that half of their millennial workforce doesn't see a future with them.
Since many millennials don't plan on staying in their jobs, it makes sense that they are hunting for new positions. A Gallup study found that 60% of millennials say they are open to a different job opportunity; this is 15 percentage points higher than the percentage of non-millennial workers who say the same. Millennials are also the most willing to act on better opportunities: 36% report that they will look for a job with a different organization in the next 12 months if the job market improves, compared with 21% of non-millennials who say the same.
Performance management requires a constant focus on feedback
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MANAGER AND EMPLOYEE represents a vital link in performance management. As is often the case, communication is crucial for that relationship to succeed. Millennial workers are more engaged than non-millennials when their managers provide frequent and consistent communication and feedback. Forty-four percent of millennials who report that their manager holds regular meetings with them are engaged ― contrasting sharply with the 20% of engaged millennials who do not agree that their manager meets with them regularly. This finding is similar to older generations; 43% of non-millennials who report their manager holds regular meetings with them are engaged.
Regular meetings and consistent feedback pay dividends not only in engagement, but also in performance. Employees who meet regularly with their manager perform better for their team and company. They are also more likely to report that they regularly receive recognition and praise, that someone cares about them as a person and that someone cares about their development.
Effective feedback is rooted in a few essential tenets; chief among them is frequency. The more conversations managers have with their employees, the more engaged their employees become. But Gallup found that only 21% of millennials and 18% of non-millennials meet with their manager on a weekly basis. The majority of employees ― 56% for millennials and 53% for non-millennials ― say they meet with their manager as infrequently as less than monthly.
Most wired generation
MILLENNIALS ARE FIRST-GENERATION DIGITAL NATIVES who feel at home on the Internet. Technology ― particularly gadgets like smartphones, but also tablets and laptops ― has revolutionized the way they connect and interact with one another and with the rest of the world. While the vast majority of Americans surf the Web from a desktop or laptop computer at home or work, 85% of millennials access the Internet from their phones ― more than all other generations.
What are millennials doing online? Millennials, like Gen Xers, get the vast majority of their information and news from the Internet. They are far less likely to watch conventional television to stay up to date. On the other hand, more than half of baby boomers and traditionalists get their news and information from TV, and just 30% of baby boomers and 14% of traditionalists find it online.
But millennials rely on the Internet for far more than news and information. For instance, at least eight in 10 report using it to manage their finances, pay bills, shop online, and watch or listen to online content in the past 30 days. At least half use it for reading blogs, researching health issues, or researching or booking travel plans. Smaller percentages use it for taking classes, participating in online auctions and other activities. While Gen Xers come close to the percentage of millennials using the Internet for each of these activities, in most cases, baby boomers and traditionalists lag behind.
Of course, millennials also rely on the Internet and smartphones or other devices to manage their social lives online. In this way, they are no different from older generations. The vast majority of all Americans say they use social media to connect with friends and family, including 93% of millennials and 84% of older generations.
Least likely to say religion is important to them
A MAJORITY OF MILLENNIALS (55%) SAY that religion is important to them, but this falls far below the 65% of Gen Xers, 70% of baby boomers and 76% of traditionalists who say the same. Half of millennials say they seldom (24%) or never (27%) attend a church, synagogue or mosque, compared with 27% who say they go at least once a week.
The percentage of Americans who are eschewing religious affiliation also appears to be on the rise, with millennials leading this trend. In 2008, 23% of this generation said they had no religious preference. By 2015, this number climbed 7 points. The older generations also saw a modest bump in those claiming no religious preference, but no more than 1 to 2 points each.
In general, Gallup finds that Americans tend to grow more religious as they age. However, the traditional Christian denominations that once dominated American culture appear to be declining, with many younger U.S. adults turning instead to the amorphous "other Christian religion" category or shedding their religious identity altogether.
Most likely to identify as politically independent and moderate
THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF MILLENNIALS has now reached voting age in the U.S., affording this generation the potential to wield tremendous political power, given its size. For an example, look no further than President Barack Obama's historic election victory in 2008 and his re-election in 2012, when the youth vote was instrumental in putting him ― and keeping him ― in office. However, it would be a mistake to think all millennials align with the Democratic Party.
Instead, Gallup finds that the plurality of millennials (44%) describe themselves as independents. Only 28% identify as Democrats, and 19% identify as Republicans. The appeal of the major political parties is largely waning among this generation. However, millennials who do not identify as either Democrat or Republican are somewhat more likely to say they lean toward the Democratic Party than the Republican Party (33% vs. 26%, respectively). More millennials also classify their political views as moderate than they do liberal or conservative, putting millennials' political inclinations solidly in neutral territory.
Compared with their older cohorts, millennials represent the largest group of independents and the smallest group of Republicans. Their participation in the Democratic Party is on par with that of Gen Xers. Millennials also claim the highest numbers of moderates and liberals, as well as the lowest numbers of conservatives, among all generations.
Consumer experience misses the mark
ONLY ONE IN FOUR MILLENNIALS are fully engaged ― meaning they are emotionally and psychologically attached to a brand, product or company. Their engagement trails that of older generations.
Millennials also have low levels of customer engagement across most industries that Gallup tracks. In the banking industry, for example, 31% of millennial customers are fully engaged. In the hospitality industry, 20% of millennial customers are fully engaged.
What is more discouraging is that millennial customers are also much more likely to be actively disengaged than any other generation of consumers. In some industries, their level of active disengagement is nearly on par with ― or exceeding ― their level of engagement. In the insurance industry, 31% of millennial customers are fully engaged and 27% are actively disengaged. In the airline industry, just 12% of millennials are fully engaged, while almost four times as many (46%) are actively disengaged.
Spending lags behind 2008 levels
AMONG AMERICANS OVERALL, SPENDING HAS declined since 2008 ― the first full year of the Great Recession. Currently, millennials spend an average of $85 per day and account for 28% of all daily per-person consumer spending in the U.S. ― a number that is expected to climb as high as 35% over the next 15 years. Millennials' spending mirrors that of baby boomers, is below that of Gen Xers and is greater than that of traditionalists.
The U.S. economy has been recovering at a slow pace over the past eight years, with young adults' spending hit hardest by this lethargic state. In 2008, Americans ages 19 to 35 were spending an average of $98 per day. Among that same age group now, spending has fallen by $13. Among older Americans, spending is close to ― if not on par with ― 2008 levels. Perhaps because of their lower wages and higher amounts of student debt, millennials are unable to catch up to pre-2008 spending levels, while older generations are less likely to have those constraints. In any case, Gallup estimates that the difference in young adults' spending from 2008 to 2015 costs the U.S. economy at least $949 million each day.
Spending, saving behaviors show contradictions
AMERICANS HAVE USED A VARIETY of methods to deal with saving or spending money. With a few exceptions, Gallup discovered that across six different polling periods, millennials were more likely to have engaged in most of the spending and saving behaviors asked about than members of the other generations. These methods present something of a paradox, however, because some of the behaviors are less thrifty than others. On the thrifty side of the ledger, around seven in 10 millennials have gone online to compare prices (71%), compared with more than half of other generations (55%).
Over the past year, the percentage of millennials comparing prices and deals online has increased considerably, but the percentage of older generations doing so has remained largely unchanged. This finding is not particularly surprising, given millennials' familiarity with and use of technology. Millennials are also much more likely to have purchased used goods than members of the other generations.
Millennials and older generations are equally likely (84%) to have purchased generic or store brand goods. But while the percentage of millennials purchasing generic or store brand goods has increased over the past year, it has declined by 3% among the older generations. Finally, older generations have used coupons while shopping more often than millennials have (60% vs. 55%) ― the only item to show that pattern. Coupon use has declined among all generations over the past year.
Millennials are more likely to engage in a number of less thrifty behaviors, suggesting that they may be a little more free-wheeling with their spending than members of other generations. They are much more apt to have gone shopping for fun, to have made an impulse purchase and to have made a major purchase that cost at least one week's pay than members of the other generations. Impulse purchases and big-ticket purchases have notably increased among millennials ― but not the other generations ― over the past year.
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HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker men's soccer team suffered a tough 4-0 loss at the hands of the Carson-Newman Eagles on Saturday (Oct. 19) in South Atlantic Conference soccer action.
The tandem of Ross Frame and Jaschin Nicolai Noll led the Eagle offense, as they either scored or assisted on each Carson-Newman's goal. They scored two goals in the first half and added another two in the second.
The Cobras generated several offensive opportunities throughout the match, out shooting the Eagles 10-7, however, they were unable to find the back of the net. Coker also held the advantage on corner kicks 5-2.
Coker will return to action on Wednesday (Oct. 23) when it hosts Newberry in a SAC match at 7 p.m. Wednesday's match will be Scout Night at Coker, with all Boy and Girl Scouts receiving free admission to the games if dressed in uniform.
McDonald's Player of the Game: Jordan Snell


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We know that you would rather be riding and that's why we keep all of our parts in stock and ready to ship the same day, so you get what you need faster. Dennis Kirk has been the leader in the powersports industry since 1969, so you can rest assured that we have your back when it comes to outfitting your Yamaha Exciter with the right snowmobile parts and accessories. With our no-hassle return policy and FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $89, you can buy with total confidence!


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Yes, you can make calls on your iPhone, and browse the internet on your iPad, but there's so much more to the Apple gadgets than that. With the help of some nifty little add ons the touch-screen wonderkids can be transformed into fun games to keep the whole family entertained. Getting your phone or tablet back at any point could be a little tricky though.
What better way to get your festive or New Year's Eve party started than with a good old fashioned sing song? With a microphone and speakers, the Appsing turns your smart phone into a portable karaoke machine. All you need to do is download your favourites from the appstore and you're good to go.
£39.99 from all good toy stores or www.red5.co.uk
Speck iGuy Case
Little ones can be kept amused for hours with a gaming app – but the fun stops if the iPad slips out of little fingers and ends up in pieces on the floor. But the iGuy is a great solution to iPad danger, protecting iPads or iPad minis from bumps and scrapes. The legs and arms transform it into a sweet little computer person, and act as a stand or just provide something for kids to easily hold onto.
£24.97 for iPad 4/3/2 and £22.97 for iPad mini in a range of colours from MobileFun.co.uk
Forget charades or scrabble, this is the next generation of after-dinner party games. Download the free app and plug in your device and you can stage your own quiz show in the comfort of your own living room. There are thousands of questions to test the general knowledge of all the know-it-all dads out there, but will they be quick enough on the buzzer to beat the rest of the family?
£29.99 from all good toy stores or www.red5.co.uk
What if you could be transported back in time to the Eighties, but without the dodgy fashion and haircuts? The Arcadie can't quite promise that, but it does offer the thrill of button bashing down the arcades that some members of the family might remember from the era. Think Eighties games with the added auchenticity of an old style joystick and buttons – all you need is the free app, which is loaded with retro games – then slot your iPhone into the unit, no wifi, power cables (or spare change) required. It's hard to tell who will like this more, children or kids from the Eighties.
£14.99 from www.firebox.com
Anyone who ever had a Tamagotchi will know how much fun it is to have your own virtual pet to care for. The Appling takes things one step further, changing your iPhone or iPod touch into a furry little friend who responds to touch, motion and voice commands. All you need is the free AppLinz app from the Appstore and you're all set.
£14.99 from all good toy stores or www.red5.co.uk


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1. Accessories
It's about time to wear the most colorful pair of flip flops that you have. Colorful beach towels are also a must have. Even though you are not in the beach, these towels just work well in the pool too.
Photo from Garnet Hill
Bring your water hammock or other inflatables so you can relax while floating in the pool.
Photo from Pottery Barn
2. Seating
Foldable chairs are perfect when you are packing tight in your car. I love this chair from Gallant and Jones, which comes with a stool for your legs or for extra seating. It's just great for sunbathing.
Photo from Gallant and Jones
Photo from House and Home
3. Refreshments
We love fruit ice pops! They are so refreshing and delicious. Home made orange creamcicles are definitely a must try. And this just gives me an idea for a future blog post :)
Photo from The Party Dress Magazine
And of course, on a hot sunny day it's good to serve lemonade to your guests. My favorite type of lemonade: Pink lemonade. I first tried it at Bubba Gump and found out it was just lemonade mixed with sprite and strawberry puree. How easy is that?
Photo from The Party Dress Magazine
4. Food
Grilled kebab is a staple food in pool parties. And I love kebabs with veggies like bell pepper, tomatoes and cucumber. Nachos are great appetizers for pool parties too.
Photo from lechicelefant.com
Photo from Martha Stewart
Right now I am craving for the beach that's why I decided to write this post. Oh man, if I could just get out of my office chair and travel to the beach! I'll use the pool in the condo instead. I guess that will do.


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Jays extend Gibbons
Technically, it's not official, but it's close enough to being official that Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi and manager John Gibbons were willing to discuss it. "It" being the one-year contract extension that the Jays are giving to Gibbons.
Gibbons is currently under contract for $500,000 in 2007, and the new deal would pay him $650,000 in '08. Instead of looking at it as simply a one-year contract, Ricciardi preferred to view it as a two-year deal, considering the contract covers the next two seasons.
Ricciardi also said that the run-ins that Gibbons had with former players Ted Lilly and Shea Hillenbrand last year had no bearing on the length of the contract, or on how long it took to put together. Ricciardi said the club waited until the spring so that Gibbons could spend more time with his late father this past winter witout having to worry about any ongoing negotiations. His dad, William, passed away of cancer in January.
So that was the big news of the day. The contract should be officially announced later this week — maybe later. It's virtually done. Ricciardi said the rest of the coaches, who are signed through '07, will have their contracts dealt with at the end of the year.
The sun was finally out today and at lunch time there were no clouds in sight. By the time I left the Bobby Mattick Training Center, the temperature guage in my car said it was 64 degrees fahrenheit. Needless to say, it was a much more enjoyable day of work.
In camp today were former Jays pitchers, and now guest coaches, Pat Hentgen and Dave Stieb. We were joking that they might just jump into the mix for the open jobs at the back end of the rotation. "I was kidding them both today. 'Hey, get loose you guys,'" laughed Ricciardi.
Victor Zambrano — coming off Tommy John surgery — arrived to camp today and threw off a mound. He said he feels close to 100 percent, but Toronto is still going to take it slow with him. Pete Walker — coming off shoulder surgery — also threw and could be in the mix for a bullpen spot. Gibbons and Ricciardi had nothing but positive things to say about both pitchers. Tomo Ohka is expected to arrive in Florida on Tuesday, and should be in camp on Wednesday.
3 Comments
I feel it's too bad they signed Gibbons to another year. All you have to do is watch his actions at a game to know that he is full of himself. There has to be better people out there. Too bad when it appears that the Jays are going to be a great team.
Yeah Gibbons is just stewing in his own self worth? I have no idea where you get that from but anyways…
The deal is ok, I would have personally liked to see how he handled the team this year with the higher expectations. But he did an ok job last year and hopefully learned a few things. Don't forget, Gibbons is realativly inexperienced as a manager and with all things you learn from your past experiences. One thing I hope too see him improve on this year, is letting his pitchers battle through the tough innings a little more. I think he was just trying to protect the young guys last year, and with the added depth and experience in the rotation this year he should be able to have a little more confidence in his guys.
Good deal both ways.Gibby is a good manager and is still learning some things on the job.He has got votes of confidence from both Doc and Vernon.I agree that he should let his starters battle a little more.However, he really only had Doc and Lilly as regulars most of the year and the team finished in second place.As for his run ins with some of players,I think those players needed to get their heads out of their ***.If you are playing in the bigs,you are expected to give 100% to the team and remember that the field manager is the BOSS.Some guys start making this big money and start to think that they are bigger than the game.Gibby should run this team his way. If it dosen't work, he will be turfed.


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Grand Prix Madrid 2012
Grinning While You're Flinging
February 25-26, 2012
Grand Prix Madrid 2012
When Swiss player Ivo Grossholz came to Spain for Grand Prix Madrid, he had a big smile on his face. On holiday with friends, and ready to play some Magic. Known for his persistent grin, his signature cards this weekend have been Grinning Totem, Grinning Demon, and Grimgrin, Corpse Born. At the end of an incredibly close Grand Prix final, as he found the winning Fling to deal the final points while at just 1 life himself, it is safe to say that his grin was never wider.
1,318 players arrived in Madrid to play, and we've had a great weekend all around, with sealed deck action on Saturday whittling us down to an elite field on Sunday. Raphael Levy, with a 32nd place finish, took the lead in lifetime Pro Points from Kai Budde just a few short months before Kai's rumoured return to the Pro Tour at Pro Tour Avacyn Restored in Barcelona. Florian Koch and Martin Juza made it to the top eight, but could not get past the quarterfinals, meaning that four Grand Prix players scored shots at that very same Pro Tour.
David Garcia Copete just missed in the finals, but still received a huge ovation from his Spanish peers for defending their honour to the last. While Grand Prix Baltimore is still going on in the USA, right now is Ivo Grossholz' moment to shine, and with a big smile on his face, he's going to enjoy it.
Congratulations to Ivo Grossholz, our Grand Prix Madrid 2012 Champion!
top 8 bracket
(2) Ivo Grossholz
(5) Florian Koch
(1) Guido Sondag
(6) Marco Frantuma
(3) Fabio Rodrigues
(7) Martin Juza
(4) Christian Von Kalkstein
(8) David Garcia Copete
Ivo Grossholz, 2-1
Guido Sondag, 2-1
Fabio Rodrigues, 2-0
David Garcia Copete2-1
Ivo Grossholz, 2-1
David Garcia Copete2-1
Ivo Grossholz, 2-1
by Tobi HenkeTop 5 Cards of Grand Prix Madrid 2012
by Tim WilloughbyFinal:Ivo Grossholz vs. David Garcia Copete
by Tobi HenkeSemifinal: Guido Sondag vs. Ivo Grossholz
by Rich HagonSemifinal:David Garcia Copete vs. Fabio Rodrigues
by Rich HagonQuarterfinal:Martin Juza vs. Fabio Rodrigues
by Event Coverage StaffTop 8: Decklists
by Event Coverage StaffTop 8: Player Profiles
by Event Coverage StaffSunday, 7:00 p.m.:Drafting with Martin Juza
by Event Coverage StaffDay 2 Blog
by Event Coverage StaffDay 1 Blog
by Event Coverage StaffInfo: Fact Sheet
|1. Ivo Grossholz
|2. David Garcia Copete
|3. Guido Sondag
|4. Fabio Rodrigues
|5. Christian Von Kalkstein
|6. Florian Koch
|7. Marco Frantuma
|8. Martin Juza
pairings, results, standings
Sunday, 7:00 p.m.: Drafting with Martin Juza
All weekend I've wanted to watch Martin Juza draft, and right around top 8 time, everything has come together to let me. Before the draft, we spoke a little about his preferences, and how he sees drafting with Innistrad and Dark Ascension. The ChannelFireball team member was quick to credit one of his teammates for colouring his draft preferences.
"Ben Stark is just incredible when it comes to working out a draft format. Within 5 drafts he just knows what is going on. It takes me, like, 20 drafts to get there, but he just figures it out faster than anyone. It's a gift."
"With Dark Ascension you cannot afford to waste time with some of the cute decks that were available in triple Innistrad. Luis spent some time drafting decks with 3 Divination or something, and Ben was always telling him to just draft aggro. The decks that I like now are green/white, red/black and red/green, with lots of one, two and three drops. A lot of the green commons in Dark Ascension aren't that great, so there is the opportunity to get in green/white much more easily now, even if that means going heavy white in pack one and picking up a few bits and pieces in green."
Pack 1
The flip cards for pack 1 didn't look too threatening, apart from a Huntmaster of the Fells to Juza's immediate left. Juza had a few great picks instead of his flip card though. Lingering SoulsFlayer of the HAtebound and Burden of Greed are all good, but there was never really a pick beyond the Lingering Souls. No point fighting with Huntmaster guy.
A Loyal Cathar next looked interesting, but there was also a Vault of the Archangel. Time to fully commit to black white, or send a signal. Elgaud Inquisitor was interesting, and the land definitely gave Juza pause, but he wanted to let people know where he was in the draft and swidtly settled on Loyal Cathar.
Niblis of the Breath was the third pick for Juza, who is not the biggest fan of blue white. He preferred to be in green white, and signalled as such very clearly with a Scorned Villager. Next up, another Villager or Niblis of the Mist? He went with the flyer. Niblis of the Urn came next, cementing Juza's position in white, and keeping his curve nice and simple.
It wasn't until there were 8 cards left that Juza went out of green white, taking a Divination. He rounded out the pack with Break of Day, Faith's Shield, another Break of Day, Increasing Ambition, Executioner's Hood, Sanctuary Cat, and a final Saving Grasp.
Pack 2
Again to Juza's left the biggest flip card in the draft was opened – this time a Mayor of Avabruck. Juza chuckled a little, but didn't seem too sad. He got a first pick Travel Preparations, followed by Midnight Haunting or Avacynian Priest. Juza took the Haunting, and saw Silverchase Fox, Butcher's Cleaver, Doomed Traveller and Intangible Virtue as his options for pick four. The Cleaver was the pick, with white seeming open.
Chapel Geist was an easy pick next, and Thraben Sentry or Smite the Monstrous was Juza's next decision. Juza chose the removal. While not a powerhouse in rgreen white, Juza went for Runechanter's Pike in the next pack, and immediately followed up with a Grizzled Outcasts rather than a Moment of Heroism that might help turn on the power boost of the pike.
Unruly Mob came next, further adding to Juza's creature count. A speculative Clifftop Retreat, Inquisitor's Flail, One-Eyed Scarecrow, Somberwald Spider, Spare from Evil and Cellar Door finished things.
Pack 3
Just one pack left, and Juza found that his pack didn't have a double faced card. Time for a replacement pack. While waiting for it, Juza saw that a Bloodline Keeper was opened at the table. Fortunately for Juza, the deck with the Bloodline Keeper and the Mayor/Huntmaster deck would have to play each other in round 1, and if Juza faced them, he'd do so in the finals.
The new pack was not a very exciting one, with Village Bell-Ringer and Prey Upon as its best cards in green white. The Prey Upon made Juza's pile, and he watched in horror was Bloodline Keeper got passed. Juza's second pick was an Unruly Mob over Shimmering Grotto. Not too exciting. Better was a Midnight Haunting. Worse, that Bloodline Keeper kept on going, eventually being picked to Juza's immediate right.
Juza got a Selfless Cathar out of that pack, which had also included Bloodgift Demon. He found Prey Upon next, rattled at what was going on with the big black pack. Another Selfless Cathar made it into Juza's pile. He'd be able to pump his tokens like nobody's business. Urgent Exorcism was followed by Rally the Peasants, which Juza might even be able to flash back. Village Bell Ringer had lapped along with 4 blue cards, and that more or less rounded out Juza's draft, with little else coming that was likely to trouble Juza's maindeck.
At the end of the draft, Juza seemed fairly happy with his deck, with the exception of the Butcher's Cleaver pick. "Any of the other options would have been better. I should have taken the Cloistered Youth. Still... this deck can definitely fight, and I have sooo many pump effects."
Top 8 Player profiles
Guido SondagAge: 24
Hometown: Maastricht, Netherlands
Occupation: Student
Previous Magic accomplishments:
What was your most valuable card for the Sealed Deck portion and what was your record?
Angelic Overseer; 8-1.
What was your record in draft and what archetypes did you draft?
2-0-1 with blue-black crap; 3-0 with mono-black splashing two red cards and one white.
What GPs do you plan to travel to this season?
I don't know yet.
Ivo GrossholzAge: 24
Hometown: Bern, Switzerland
Occupation: Student
Previous Magic accomplishments:
Won a Rise of the Eldrazi prerelease.
What was your most valuable card for the Sealed Deck portion and what was your record?
Strangleroot Geist or Garruk Relentless into Angelic Overseer; 8-1.
What was your record in draft and what archetypes did you draft?
2-1 and 3-0 with blue-white.
What GPs do you plan to travel to this season?
No idea, about GPs, but maybe Pro Tour Barcelona …
Fabio André Maximino RodriguesAge: 25
Hometown: Silves, Portugal
Occupation: Accountant
Previous Magic accomplishments:
2007 Portuguese National champion.
What was your most valuable card for the Sealed Deck portion and what was your record?
Kessig Wolf Run; 8-1.
What was your record in draft and what archetypes did you draft?
2-1 with black-green Goodstuff; 3-0 with blue-white Spirits.
What GPs do you plan to travel to this season?
Lisbon, Moscow.
Christian von KalksteinAge: 32
Hometown: Berlin, Germany
Occupation: Consultant
Previous Magic accomplishments:
9th place Grand Prix Turin.
What was your most valuable card for the Sealed Deck portion and what was your record?
Bloodline Keeper; 7-2 (starting 1-2).
What was your record in draft and what archetypes did you draft?
6-0 with green-white splash red in both drafts.
What GPs do you plan to travel to this season?
Malmö, Bochum, Turin, etc.
Florian KochAge: 30
Hometown: Aachen, Germany
Occupation: Gamer
Previous Magic accomplishments:
Won Grand Prix Lyon 2009.
What was your most valuable card for the Sealed Deck portion and what was your record?
Deck performed really well as a whole, but nothing stood out; 8-1.
What was your record in draft and what archetypes did you draft?
3-0 with black-red aggro; 1-0-2 with green-red Wolfhunter's Quiver.
What GPs do you plan to travel to this season?
All European GPs.
Marco FrantumaAge: 30
Hometown: Lecco, Italy
Occupation: Student
Previous Magic accomplishments:
Attending some Pro Tours.
What was your most valuable card for the Sealed Deck portion and what was your record?
Lingering Souls; 9-0.
What was your record in draft and what archetypes did you draft?
3-0 with green-white; 0-1-2 with blue-black Zombies.
What GPs do you plan to travel to this season?
I don't know.
Martin JuzaAge: 24
Hometown: Plzeň, Czech Republic
Occupation: Tourist
Previous Magic accomplishments:
Won a GP with three Overrun in my deck.
What was your most valuable card for the Sealed Deck portion and what was your record?
Charmbreaker Devils; 8-1.
What was your record in draft and what archetypes did you draft?
3-0 with red-green splashing black for Fires of Undeath; 1-0-2 with green-white.
What GPs do you plan to travel to this season?
All of them!
David Garcia CopeteAge: 33
Hometown: Alicante, Spain
Occupation: Unemployed/teacher/engineer
Previous Magic accomplishments:
Top 16 GP Florence, several Top 32 finishes, 4th at Spanish Nationals, several Pro Tour appearances.
What was your most valuable card for the Sealed Deck portion and what was your record?
I don't know, one of the three Demons [Bloodgift Demon, Ravenous Demon, Reaper from the Abyss]. All of them did good work; 9-0 without byes.
What was your record in draft and what archetypes did you draft?
2-1 with black-white Humans; 1-0-2 with white-blue Humans/Spirits.
What GPs do you plan to travel to this season?
Every GP close to Spain.
Top 8: Decklists
Quarterfinal: Martin Juza vs. Fabio Rodrigues
So, you come along to a PTQ. It's not exactly local, in fact it's a country away. There are 15 rounds, because a lot of people show up to play. You make it to the final of that PTQ. Who do you have to beat to reach the Pro Tour? Why, it's Martin Juza, of course! Isn't he already qualified? Of course he is! Will he concede? Don't be silly! This is the ultimate PTQ final, because it's the quarter final of a Grand Prix, and only the top 4 make it to the biggest show of all.
Good luck then, Fabio Rodrigues. At least he knows what it takes to make it, having played for Portugal at Worlds 2007 in New York.
Game 1
The man from Portugal began his attempt to qualify for the PT (and reach the semi final here in Madrid) with a Plains and Island leading into Avacynian Priest. Two Plains from Juza meant no action, allowing Rodrigues to add Lantern Spirit before Juza's first play of the match, a Chapel Geist, with a Swamp joining his two Plains. After the two traded attacks, Rodrigues gained tempo with an end of turn Nephalia Seakite. Juza looked to claw back with Village Bell-Ringer, untapping his Chapel Geist and allowing potentially favorable blocks. I say 'potentially', because that's what tricks are for, and Rodrigues had Skillful Lunge ready.
Stuck on three land, Juza cast Loyal Cathar, falling to 11, in danger of being overwhelmed. He had taken a while before keeping his opening hand, and it really wasn't working out. Elite Inquisitor joined the team for Rodrigues, before a fourth land allowed Travel Preparations to work doubly hard for Juza.
After Dead Weight made the Loyal Cathar no less loyal but a lot less big, Rodrigues returned to the air with his Lantern Spirit and Nephalia Seakite, continuing to pressure with a new Voiceless Spirit. That opening hand had cost Juza dearly, and he resignedly scooped up his ineffectual permanents.
Juza 0 - 1 Rodrigues
The players shuffled in silence. Rodrigues was on the verge of a momentous PT appearance, and the chance at GP glory, while Juza needed to avoid any more deck malfunctions. Speaking of deck malfunctions, Rodrigues sent his seven back to the pack in search of a better six.
Game 2
Once the match resumed, Juza was under way with a turn two Loyal Cathar, which Rodrigues couldn't stop with Avacynian Priest. That 'non-Human' tag was important. The Portugese player added Voiceless Spirit, while Juza had Midnight Haunting for a pair of tokens. Niblis of the Mist got Voiceless Spirit out of the way for a turn, and Juza dropped Rodrigues to 14.
With four land, including two Forests, Juza was in much better shape than game one. As in game one, he got double use out of Travel Preparations in a single turn, but this time it was more than a token (no pun intended) gesture. Rodrigues used his Avacynian Priest, and Juza passed, still 20-14 ahead as we headed into the mid-game with no obvious edge to either player.
Elgaud Inquisitor for Rodrigues...Scorned Villager for Juza...One-Eyed Scarecrow for Juza...As the board built up, the fact that Rodrigues was still a couple of cards up on the Czech man seemed increasingly important. One of those was Chant of the Skifsang for Juza's Niblis of the Mist, the other remained unknown.
Prey Upon from Juza allowed his Loyal Cathar (pumped with the joys of Travel Preparations) to fight successfully with the Avacynian Priest. That led Rodrigues to cast Claustrophobia at the larger of Juza's Midnight Haunting tokens, as the small swings back and forth continued. Selfless Cathar from Juza did nothing to change the overal picture of near-stalemate. Perhaps Havengul Lich from Rodrigues would change things...? (Clue: It probably will.)
Juza attacked Rodrigues to 10, with the Czech player still on 20. The trouble, though, was the Lich. Rodrigues brought back Avacynian Priest and Elite Inquisitor, more than a little awkward for Juza. When Rodrigues started aiming at cards in Juza's graveyard, the Czech man was horrified. "Both graveyards?" he asked incredulously, before invoking a famous historical religious figure of significance.
Selfless Cathar left Juza's graveyard, and joined the Portugese team, that was growing. And growing. And growing. Avacynian Priest was back online, and while Juza wasn't yet about to be dead - he 'led' 16-12 on life - he was in desperate trouble. Somberwald Spider was next for him, but then Rodrigues showed the power of the Lich. SacrificeSelfless Cathar. Everything +1+1. Buy it back with the Lich. Sacrifice the Selfless Cathar. Everything +1+1 again. Attack for many. Prepare to do it again.
Juza had his Somberwald Spider tapped, and even Butcher's Cleaver wasn't enough to justify a foray into the red zone. With eight mana, Rodrigues was ready to do the whole go-round on the Selfless Cathar again. Then Rodrigues cast Feeling of Dread. And flashed it back.
Juza extended the hand, and Rodrigues was through (a) to the Grand Prix semi-final and (b) to the Pro Tour, five years after he represented Portugal at Worlds 2007 in New York.
"He's going to win the GP" said Juza ruefully. "In my eleven top 8s, I've either won it, or lost to the winner. He's going to win."
Martin Juza 0 - 2 Fabio Rodrigues
Semifinal: David Garcia Copete vs. Fabio Rodrigues
Having qualified for the Pro Tour by winning their respective quarter finals, it's time for these two to turn their attention towards the trophy. Copete represents the home side, while near-neighbors Portugal are in the capable hands of Rodrigues, the conqueror of the mighty Martin Juza in the previous round.
Game 1
Winning the die roll, Copete had to wait a while to begin, as Rodrigues chomped his way through seven, then six, before finally settling on five cards. When Copete did open, it was with Spectral Rider, while Stitcher's Apprentice began the match for Rodrigues, who followed with Lantern Spirit. Copete had Selhoff Occultist, using Shimmering Grotto - an important card in his three color deck - to cast it alongside three Plains. The Stitcher's Apprentice took to the air thanks to Spectral Flight from Rodrigues, and Copete went in search of more action via Divination.
The pace was fast and furious as the Rodrigues air assault continued, dropping Copete to 10. Still, he was on 12 himself, and we were still only moments into the semi final. Claustrophobia slowed the Spectral Rider, leaving Selhoff Occultist to attack alone. Bonds of Faith from Copete returned the compliment, Deranged Assistant joining the Spanish crew. Now the mana issues were for Rodrigues, who had only four land, and enough cards in hand to suggest an inability to cast some tasty goodness. Gallows Warden for Copete continued to add pressure.
When you're under pressure, a big juciy fat Makeshift Mauler seems ideal, and that's what Rodrigues conjured up, before Dream Twist piled up Copete's graveyard. That powered up Unburial Rights, bringing back a Makeshift Mauler. Feeling of Dread from Rodrigues got two creatures aside, with flashback leaving Copete apparently defenceless. He aimed Dream Twist at Rodrigues to see more cards, but couldn't stop the lethal attack.
Copete 0 - 1 Rodrigues
Game 2
Having seen both decks up close, Copete had a very powerful collection of spells across his three colors. However, two of those colors matched up with Rodrigues, and we had seen in the quarter final against Martin Juza just how powerful the Havengul Lich could be in the hands of Rodrigues, facing an opposing graveyard full of castable creatures. It looked as if both players might be hoping for the game to go fairly long, but one of them would be mistaken in that desire. Did Copete even know about the Lich? And how would he cope in game two, when he mulliganed to six, and then five, knowing that Rodrigues - keeping his opening grip this time - had taken game one off a mulligan to five?
Enough with the questions. Time for the answers.
Copete opened on a Plains, Island, and Shimmering Grotto. At least he had mana to work with. Rodrigues cast Voiceless Spirit, then saw Copete add a fourth different land in the form of Vault of the Archangel, superb if Copete could get it going. The Spaniard cast Silverchase Fox, but that couldn't interact with the Voiceless Spirit or Moon Heron from Rodrigues. When Copete cast a Moon Heron of his own, that stemmed the tide for a brief moment, before Rodrigues cast Avacynian Priest and Lantern Spirit, ready to command the skies once again.
Copete was putting up strong resistance, casting Gallows Warden, and knowing that he had card-draw spells elsewhere in his deck to bring him back into the game - that is, if Rodrigues gave him the time. Feeling of Dread allowed him to attack for 7, leaving Copete at 9. The flashback was ready to rock and roll, dealing with Moon Heron and Gallows Warden. Copete wasn't done, casting Dungeon Geists to keep Avacynian Priest permanently tapped.
Now Copete was right back in it, and the Vault of the Archangel was making itself felt. The momentum had entirely shifted, and it was starting to look as if two mulligans to five were going to prevail against the odds.
Dead Weight landed on Gallows Warden, but not sufficient to kill it. Although Rodrigues finally forced the 3/3 off the board his position was close to hopeless. Elgaud Inquisitor seemed highly unlikely to change things, with Chant of the Skifsang on Dungeon Geists not stopping Copete either, who was Vaulting his way to a game three. He now led 19-9, and couldn't realistically be stopped. With a Makeshift Mauler and Moon Heron now the beating team, backed up by Vault of the Archangel, the unlikely comeback was now all-but certain.
Then it was certain.
Copete 1 - 1 Rodrigues
Game 3
Finally featuring fourteen cards between them, game three started out with Silverchase Fox from Copete and a following Spectral Rider. Rodrigues waited until turn four for his first play, a Moon Heron, and with Lingering Souls next form Copete drawing a gasp from a large crowd, it was clear that tempo could be an issue here in the decider for Rodrigues. Thanks to Shimmering Grotto, Copete could flash the Souls back, too.
Claustrophobia went onto the Spectral Rider, as Copete offered to trade Silverchase Fox for Moon Heron. Rodrigues blocked, but paused before damage, representing Skillful Lunge or other trick. He elected (or was forced) to trade, leaving Copete to complete the four flyer package that is Lingering Souls. All Rodrigues had now was Elgaud Inquisitor, which promptly ran away to the top of his deck via Griptide. From the moment Moon Heron landed on turn four, Rodrigues was in danger of dying to tempo, and that was exactly what was unfolding. 18...16...12...8. Then it was Gallows Warden.
The Elgaud Inquisitor clawed back a little life, Avacynian Priest came to man the barricades, and Lantern Spirit was a presentable blocker. Copete didn't care. He sent in the team, seeing Lantern Spirit block and then kill the Gallows warden with the Skillful Lunge he'd telegraphed earlier. Copete replaced his 3/3 with a 4/4 Murder of Crows. Grasp of Phantoms tried to stem the bleeding. Rodrigues was down to 5, with the Elgaud Inquisitor now enchanted by Chant of the Skifsang, negating the lifelink ability. Could Makeshift Mauler and Invisible Stalker bring Rodrigues back?
Copete sent his flying army of Lingering Souls once more, with Rodrigues now at 2. Moments later an ear-splitting roar filled the arena. Spain would have a chair at the final table.
David Garcia Copete 2 - 1 Fabio Rodrigues
Semifinal: Guido Sondag vs. Ivo Grossholz
Both players had won their quarterfinals 2-1. Ivo Grossholz from Switzerland beat Florian Koch in the red-green mirror with a little help from his Huntmaster of the Fells, while Guido Sondag of the Netherlands and his red-black deck had dispatched Italian Marco Frantuma playing blue-black Zombies.
Game 1
Sondag won the die-roll and chose to play first, but the actual first play came from Grossholz who made Young Wolf on turn one. Sondag summoned Typhoid Rats off a Mountain and Shimmering Grotto and passed the turn back to Grossholz who attacked for 1, then cast Gatstaf Shepherd.
Not willing to trade his Rats for Young Wolf and resigned to see Gatstaf Shepherd transform into Gatstaf Howler, Sondag's Rats attacked for 1 as well. Grossholz delivered another 4, then continued the unusual theme of green evasion with Orchard Spirit.
On the next attack, Gatstaf Howler died to Sondag's Burning Oil, but Grossholz was ready to replace it with Ulvenwald Mystics. Desperately trying to not let this one transform, Sondag cast Harvest Pyre removing Burning Oil (!) to shoot 1 at Young Wolf. Ulvenwald Mystics stayed put for now, but Young Wolf transformed into a 2/2.
Grossholz went without play on his turn and got his Ulvenwald Primordials after all. The board was now Young Wolf, Orchard Spirit, and Ulvenwald Primordials on Grossholz's side against a lonely Typhoid Rats on Sondag's. When Grossholz added Flayer of the Hatebound to his already dominant team, Sondag shrugged and picked up his cards for game two.
Guido Sondag 0 – Ivo Grossholz 1
Game 2
Grossholz had the perfect opening with Young Wolf into Mayor of Avabruck, whereas things were looking grim for Sondag right from the start. Looking for a third land, he cast Desperate Ravings at the end of his opponent's turn—one of the more unimpressive cards in his deck as he can only pay the blue flashback cost via his one Shimmering Grotto. To add insult to injury, he not only randomly discarded the arguable best card in his deck, Bloodline Keeper, but also failed to find the land! He cast Undying Evil on the Mayor, simply to keep it from transforming, but Grossholz just attacked and passed the turn to, in turn, turn the Mayor.
Sondag found a land and summoned One-Eyed Scarecrow, while Grossholz's Wolves were joined by their token brethren. Sondag found another land and pointed Wrack with Madness at Howlpack Alpha, by now the only possiblity for him to maybe trý and claw his way back into the game. Alas, Grossholz had Spidery Grasp to save it. On his turn, he checked the lifetotals, cast Nightbird's Clutches on Sondag's solitary blocker and swung in for the win.
Guido Sondag 0 – Ivo Grossholz 2
Final: Ivo Grossholz vs. David Garcia Copete
From the very moment that Ivo Grossholz of Switzerland opened Huntmaster of the Fells in pack one of the top eight draft, there was a ripple around the table that he might be the person with the deck to beat. When Mayor of Avabruck joined his pile a pack later, that only added to the worries that the other players might have had.
For those watching in the room, it was likely that Ivo was not the person they were supporting. David Garcia Copete is the last Spaniard in the tournament, and is just one match away from winning the whole darned thing. His blue/white/black deck sports some powerful cards itself, including Lingering Souls and Vault of the Archangel – quite the combo.
Game 1
For the first game, on the play, David was forced to mulligan. Regardless of this, his Selhoff Occultist was the first creature of the game, followed a fraction of a second later by an end of turn Ambush Viper. David seemed fine with trading off these creatures, and gave a swift nod when Ivo played out an Orchard Spirit. In a pure race, that 2/2 would not outmatch his Moon Heron.
Grossholz' next play was a Scorned Villager; by no means the scariest werewolf in the Swiss player's deck. Garcia Copete cast a Dream Twist on himself in his turn to stop the werewolf from flipping, attacked for 3 and passed. The life totals were 17 – 18 in favour of Spain, but the Swiss player's attacks ensured this would not last long.
At end of turn David Garcia Copete flashed back his Dream Twist, and was quick to attack with his Moon Heron the following turn, even with a Kessig Recluse now on the other side of the board. After the two creatures traded, it became clear why, with a Skaab Ruinator coming down.
Grossholz had a second Kessig Recluse, but a Burden of Guilt kept it on lock and let the Spaniard get stuck in. It was time for Grossholz to start deploying rares. It wasn't a werewolf though, but a Flayer of the Hatebound. The rare was all very nice, but would do nothing against the speedy air force of David Garcia Copete, who soon won game one.
David Garcia Copete 1 – 0 Ivo Grossholz
Game 2
Garcia Copete had a good run of winning games having taken a mulligan. For game 2 he didn't have to. That didn't mean to say that he didn't wince a little as Mayor of Avabruck came down on turn two from Grossholz.
A Dream Twist (self targeted) stopped Mayor of Avabruck from flipping for one turn, but it was only a matter of time before that changed. As Howlpack Alpha it would still do plenty even under the Burden of Guilt that Garcia Copete found for it.
Riot Devils was the next play from Grossholz, who also got a Wolf at the end of turn. None of his creatures could block Spectral Rider from the Spaniard, but the Swiss player did not seem to mind. Burden of Guilt was not really tapping down Howlpack Alpha so much, as Garcia Copete chose instead to build his board up with a Mausoleum Guard.
Nightbird's Clutches meant that this new creature could not block, and would likely not be blocking the following turn either. What Garcia Copete could achieve though was to get that Mayor a little more manageable. Divination plus a flashed back Dream Twist flipped the Mayor to the light side. However, Ivo Grossholz had the answer, with Moonmist meaning that the alpha strike commanded by Howlpack Alpha would be good enough.
David Garcia Copete 1 – 1 Ivo Grossholz
1,318 players. After this game, one of them would be the champion. The Spaniard would be on the play, and for the second time in the match, he would be taking a mulligan. The six card hand met with an unhappy look, and went back too. The five card hand looked rough. Four blue cards and a Plains. It too went back.
Game 3
Ivo, normally with a substantial grin on his face (and being supported by copies of Grinning Demon, Grinning Totem and Grimgrin, Corpse Born next to his deck), was not smiling; at least not on the outside.
David Garcia Copete had Island for the first two turns, and a Shriekgeist. While he didn't have a third land, he did find a Deranged Assistant, and soon a Plains to allow for a Moon Heron. Somehow it looked like David Garcia Copete might be able to make a game of it. Ashmouth Hound was the only early play from Ivo Grossholz. Could it happen? A win off the mulligan to four?
A Kessig Recluse came down for Ivo, and Garcia Copete was quick to attack into it. Wary of what happened when he let a Recluse die in game one, Ivo elected not to block. The Spaniard simply followed up with a Mausoleum Guard.
The Mausoleum Guard traded with Ashmouth Hound, helping Garcia Copete build up an air force. This was soon wiped away though by a Blasphemous Act. Garcia Copete was now at one card in hand, a Dream Twist which he used on himself, digging for Skaab Ruinator.
All the Spaniard had was lands, while Ivo Grossholz had a Kessig Recluse with which to attack. David knocked on his deck one turn, but it wasn't listening. The next he peeled a card off more carefully. It wasn't until his third attempt that David Garcia Copete found something of value off the top – a Divination. This in turn got a Makeshift Mauler. The life totals were 15 to 6 in Ivo's favour, but this didn't stop David from attacking with his zombie, before casting Elder Cathar and a Chant of the Skifsang on Kessig Recluse.
Ivo cast had a Riot Devils, and attacked in even up 3 cards in hand, and a lot of life, he seemed nervous. With every card drawn now, David Garcia Copete was peeling it off the top carefully. A Skaab Runiator came. Ivo had nothing. David attacked in. Rending Vines killed the Ruinator, but it was soon back.
Ivo Grossholz seemed despondent. What had to happen to close out this game? The life totals were now 11 to 6, and he was facing a 5/6 on the ground (Makeshift Mauler with a +1/+1 counter) and a 5/6 in the air, along with a Selhoff Occultist. Attacks from David made it 6 life each.
Attacks put Ivo Grossholz to 1 life. Ivo pushed back to get in 2 points, and make the life totals 1 plays 4. After combat, a Fling of Ulvenwald Primordials was enough to seal the deal. While it might not have been the outcome that the crowd was hoping for, after a tantalisingly close game Ivo Grossholz defeated David Garcia Copete 2-1 to become the Grand Prix Madrid 2012 Champion!
Top 5 Cards
5: Avacyn's Collar
Over the weekend, Avacyn's Collar turned out to be a centerpiece of quite a few black-white decks. With lots of Humans, some of them even provided by the likes of Gather the Townsfolk or even Increasing Devotion, and other cards to sacrifice them for additional value like Falkenrath Torturer, the equipment proved itself again and again. All of the aforementioned could, for example, be found in Raphaël Lévy's day-one Sealed Deck which—in the hands of this grand master of Magic—managed a respectable 7-1-1 finish.
4: Wolfhunter's Quiver
While most of the equipment in Innistrad was all about sheer power, say Butcher's Cleaver or Silver-Inlaid Dagger, Dark Ascension instead goes for sweet build-around-me cards. Like Avacyn's Collar, Wolfhunter's Quiver won't be great automatically, but if you put in the effort, it might be able surprise you—and your opponents. Whether you combine it with Midnight Guard or the deathtouch trifecta of Typhoid Rats, Ambush Viper, and Kessig Recluse, the Quiver is not just good against Werewolves.
3: Forge Devil
The devil, as they say, is in the details, and this little member of the tribe was able to impress more than once. In the new format, which by all accounts is more geared towards aggro than its precursor, 1 damage was the small detail that sometimes made all the difference. No wonder Martin Jůza called it one of the most underrated cards of Dark Ascension.
2: Increasing Devotion
Tricks and neat little combo cards only get you so far, however. Sometimes you need to simply smash face. Nothing better to do that with than a combined total of 15 tokens now, is there? Which isn't to say that Increasing Devotion cannot be a combo piece itself. Raphaël Lévy had it in two different decks over the weekend. In Sealed, he turned all of those tokens into +1/+1 counters for Falkenrath Torturer or upgraded them to Spirits via Avacyn's Collar, while in his second draft deck, the Devotion boosted his two Champion of the Parish to absurd proportions. One of the most devoted players in the history of the game using Increasing Devotion to finally pull ahead of Kai Budde in lifetime pro points? Now that's Magic.
1: Fling
And finally, the card that decided the finals. In an incredibly close game three, David Garcia Copete had just turned the tide after a mulligan to four. He had battled his opponent down to just 1 life and was about to clinch the title. But Ivo Grossholz of Switzerland topdecked Fling to deal lethal damage and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.


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Grey Matter
Grey Matter
from 23.00
Giclee print of my original watercolor painting 'Grey Matter.'
The original painting is painted in watercolour.
Each print is printed on demand with Epson Ultra Chrome pigment inks on beautiful fine art archival paper. The colours are beautiful and vibrant and the print looks just like the original.
I sign the back of my prints.
Prints are sealed within an acid free plastic envelope and mailed flat in a rigid cardboard envelope.
The print is not matted or framed.
The prints are available in 3 sizes:
- 5 inches by 7 inches (12.7cm by 17.78cm)
- A4 - 11.7 inches by 8.3 inches (29.7cm by 21cm)
- A3 - 16.6 inches by 11.7 inches (42cm by 29.7cm)
Please note that colours may vary slightly because monitors are calibrated differently.


text:
Recent News
June 04, 2013
Nephron Pharmaceuticals Corporation Recalls EZ Breathe Atomizer
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services received information regarding a recall of EZ Breathe Atomizer due to a manufacturing defect which could result in the washer ("Plate A") becoming dislodged from the EZ Breathe Atomizer. If this occurs, users may accidentally swallow the washer or choke on it, which can lead to serious adverse health consequences or death.
The EZ Breathe Atomizer is a device that is intended to spray liquid medication in aerosol form into the air that a person will breathe.
The device was manufactured from May 2012 - October 2012 and distributed from August 2012 - April 2013. To locate the serial numbers of the affected products visit the EZ Breathe Atomizer information page.
The full recall can be found at www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/Safety/ListofRecalls/ucm355016.htm.


text:
This pet was originally looted from the Ice Chest after killing Ahune, the Midsummer Fire Festival holiday boss, prior to Wrath of the Lich King. It wasn't until Cataclysm (Patch 4.2) that players saw its return.
Searing Scorchling is taught by . Players have a rare chance (~5%) to loot it from Scorched Stone . Zen'Vorka's Cache


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June 10, 2011
History professor, photographer George Kren makes art of artists and art connoisseurs in 'Makers Framed'
Photographic portraits of artists and people with a connection to the arts, all taken by a former Kansas State University professor of history, are featured in a new exhibition running June 17 to Oct. 18 at K-State's Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art.
"Makers Framed" features more than 100 photographic portraits by George M. Kren, who taught at K-State from 1965 until retiring in 2000. Many of the subjects were from Kansas or the region. The exhibition is part of the Beach Museum's celebration of the Kansas sesquicentennial.
For Kren, photography was an abiding passion that profoundly engaged him for nearly four decades, said Bill North, senior curator at the Beach Museum. As a child, Kren observed his father, a physician and serious amateur photographer, as he worked in his darkroom in the family's home. In 1967 Kren set up his own darkroom in the Manhattan home he shared with his wife, Margo, a professor of art at K-State. The darkroom became an important and permanent fixture in the Kren home.
Kren began taking portraits of artists or persons with some connection to the arts in 1973. It was a project that would occupy him for the rest of his life. The portraits were the fruits of a collaboration between photographer and spouse, as most of Kren's subjects were friends or acquaintances of his wife -- people to whom she was connected through her work as an artist, a professor and a member of the Kansas City Artists Coalition. Many of the photographs were taken during day trips the couple made around the state and region; others were shot in the Krens' backyard.
Kren's photographic portraits are notable for their incisiveness, North said.
"Eschewing the obvious and contrived, Kren fixes his subjects as they are, not necessarily as they want to be seen. It is in the moments many would consider as falling between the frames, intervals during which a subject's veil of self-consciousness momentarily lifts, that Kren exposes something of their essence," North said.
Among Kren's subjects included in the exhibition are: Colette Bangert, Robert Brawley, Ronald Christ, Betty Dickerson, Raymond Eastwood, Ann Evans, Terry Evans, Joan Foth, Saralyn Hardy, Don Lambert, Elizabeth "Grandma" Layton, Denise Low, Andrea Norris, Mike Ott, Novelene Ross, Tom Russell, Reuben Saunders, Elizabeth Schultz, Alan Shields, Roger Shimomura, Michael Sims, Robert Sudlow, Eldon Teft, Jan Weiner and Howard Wooden.
Born in Linz, Austria, Kren and his sister fled their native country for England in 1939 as part of the Kindertransport, the British movement that rescued Jewish children from Nazi Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland during the months preceding the outbreak of World War II. Soon afterward the Kren's parents escaped Austria on a ship bound for the United States by way of Africa. Kren, who was 12 at the time, and his 9-year-old sister spent a year living in England before being reunited with their parents in New York City.
Over the course of his career as a historian, Kren distinguished himself as an authority on the Holocaust and a pioneer in the field of psychohistory, a method using psychoanalytic theory in the writing of history. Kren died in 2000.
This October the Beach Museum will publish a book containing several essays on Kren's photography, full-page reproductions of all the photographs included in the exhibition and biographical information on the subjects. Support for the project comes from Emprise Bank, Kansas Arts Commission, K-State Academic Excellence and Margo Kren.
The Beach Museum is on the southeast corner of the K-State campus at 14th Street and Anderson Avenue. Free visitor parking is available next to the building. Normal museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. The museum is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.


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My car was in and out in a single day.
I had a great experience with you and will continue to use you for all of my repair needs! Thank you!
I drove Mercedes Benz for several years and used B&B Auto Body in Edgewater. I thought they were the best in the area, but your operation is an equal. If you need a testimonial I would be happy to be involved.
The car looked great!! Keep doing what you're doing.
Outstanding! Fair price - Great job.
"I am totally pleased with the restoration work on my vehicle. Kevin Marvin accomplished all of my requests and kept me advised on the job progress.
Thanks so much for doing an awesome job on my car. Love it.