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Naim NAIT integrated amplifier
The real problem with the NAIT, however, is its lack of features. There is no Aux or CD input. If you have a tuner, a tape deck, and a CD player, you're out luck. Of course, you wouldn't need, or even want, a CD player in a Linn/Naim system. (I wonder if Julian Vereker, of Naim, will change his mind about CD now that Linn is producing their own electronics. A Naim high-end CD player might make great competition for Mission and Meridian.) There are also no tone controls on the NAIT, and no moving-coil input. [The phono input is MM-only.—Ed.]
The Naim looks very cheaply made, inside and out—like it took $40 worth of parts and $40 worth of labor to build (footnote 1). The unit turns on and off with a fairly loud pop, and has a strange balance control.
All Naim dealers are Linn dealers, too—at least for the time being. You're therefore likely to hear the standard Linn sales pitch: put most of your money into a Linn turntable, equip it with a Linn Basik Plus arm and Basik cartridge, run it into a Naim NAIT driving a pair of Linn Index speakers (and forget about FM, tape, and of course, CD). Summary: spend 48% of your money on the turntable, the other 52% on arm, cartridge, amp, and speakers.
Madness? Absolutely! The Linn table is among the best and the Naim NAIT is quite good for what it is, hut such a system is entirely out of balance. The problem with the NAIT isn't sound quality, but lack of features. Overall, it doesn't seem very good value for the money (especially with units like the Rotel available for significantly less).—Sam Tellig
Footnote 1: That's probably about right. With a 5:1 cost-to-retail ratio (which is sometimes worse on imported gear), that $80 translates to a $400 retail. What's amazing is the companies who seem to do so much more for $400.—Sam Tellig


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We are currently working on a short film, set during the first world war1917. "Thousand Yesterdays" The story is of a young British soldier trying to survive the trench's so he can come back home to meet his future wife. We have recreated a extensive first world war trench's which will be used in the filming process. If anyone is interested in photos and a video please visit our crowd funding page. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/thou ... ays-film#/
We will also be arranging trench visits with a detailed talk as we are being helped by Military Advisor
Andy Robertshaw – Warhorse, Wonder Woman.
I'm sure anyone interested in ww1 history would be interested in this. Also we are also looking for kind people who may want to donate towards the campaign. Details on our crowd funding page.
Thank you
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/thou ... ays-film#/
Thousand Yesturdays a ww1 short film
Anything with a vague historical bent
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The Official Progressive Field Baseball App
Everything you need at your fingertips. Including your tickets.
A redesigned MLB Ballpark app for iPhone and Android
The MLB Ballpark app is your mobile companion when visiting your favorite Major League Baseball ballparks. The official MLB Ballpark application perfectly complements and personalizes your trip with digital ticketing functionality, mobile check-in, offers, rewards and exclusive content.
- Access and manage your tickets (MLB account required; select clubs)
- Team schedule, ticket information and sales and promotional event listings
- My History: View scores and photos from all your ballpark visits
- Customize to feature a designated favorite MLB team
- Directions and parking information


text:
Art From Africa: Long Steps Never Broke a Back
By Pamela McClusky and Robert Farris Thompson
Contribution by Seattle Art Museum Staff
304 pages
189 color plates, 50 halftones
8 ½ x 10 ½"
Art From Africa: Long Steps Never Broke a Back, includes essays by Robert Farris Thompson, Professor of African and African American Art History at Yale University, and Pamela McClusky, Seattle Art Museum's founding curator of the Department of African and Oceanic Art. Known for his scintillating analyses of African art, Thompson devotes his opening essay to introducing the missing dimension of motion, exploring the meaning of postures and gestures in various African cultures. McClusky explores subjects ranging from royal art of the Kom and Asante kingdoms, masquerades from the Yoruba, Dan and Mende cultures, hunters' shirts from the Mande empire, sculpture from the Kongo kingdom, Mercedes-Benz coffins from the streets of Ghana, photographs from Mali, and Maasai body ornaments.


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Spicy Moroccan rice
Ready in 20 mins
Spice up plain old chicken with a taste of the exotic
Nutrition and extra info
Nutrition: per serving
- kcal602
- fat15g
- saturates7g
- carbs77g
- sugars0g
- fibre4g
- protein45g
- salt3.29g
Save to My Good Food
- 4 skinless chicken breasts, diced
- 1 tbsp Moroccan spice seasoning
- 1 onion, finely sliced
Onions are endlessly versatile and an essential ingredient in countless recipes. Native to Asia…
- 50g butter
Butter is a dairy product made from separating whole milk or cream into fat and…
- 300g rice
Rice is a grain, the seed of a type of grass, which is the most widely grown and the most…
- 12 dried apricots, halved
- chicken stock cube
- 410g can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 15g pack flatleaf parsley, chopped
Coat chicken with the Moroccan spice. Fry the onion in butter until soft.
Tip in the chicken, then cook for a few mins more. Stir in the rice and apricots, then pour in the stock cube with 700ml boiling water and the chickpeas.
Cover the pan and simmer for 10 mins until the rice is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid. Toss in the chopped flat leaf parsley and serve.
You may also like
Comments, questions and tips
18th Feb, 2009
Delicious and very easy. Used a pre-mixed Moroccan spice combination from one of the 'major supermarkets' and it was really rather tasty. I did use closer to 2tbsp than 1tbsp, though, as 1tbsp didn't seem like quite enough. Also, as suggested above, served it with some wedges of lemon and some lightly toasted wholewheat pittas cut into quarters.


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Forum Romanum
The Roman Forum was the political and religious centre in ancient Rome
Take me to the pictures! (111 photos in photo gallery)
The Roman Forum (Forum Romanum) was the political and economical centre of Rome during the Republic. It emerged as such in the 7th century BCE and maintained this position well into the Imperial period, when it was reduced to a monumental area. It was mostly abandoned at the end of the 4th century.
The Forum Romanum is located in a valley between the Capitoline Hill on the west, the Palatine Hill on the south, the Velia on the east and Quirinal Hill and the Esquiline Hill to the north. The Velia was levelled in Antiquity.
The importance of the Forum area is indicated by the presence of many of the central political, religious and judicial buildings in Rome. The Regia was the residence of the kings, and later of the rex sacrorum and pontifex maximus; the Curia, was the meeting place of the Senate; and the Comitium and the Rostra, where public meetings were held. Major temples and sanctuaries in the Forum include the Temple of Castor and Pollux, the Temple of Saturn and the Temple of Vesta. Commercial and judicial activities took place in the basilicas, the two remaining are the Basilica Aemilia and the Basilica Julia. Due to the political importance of the area there were also numerous honorary monuments.
Originally the area of the Forum was humid and covered in grass, as it was not suitable for construction. A necropolis has been found, dating from the 10th century BCE, but otherwise the area doesn't seem to have been used much. This changed in the 7th century with the construction of the Cloaca Maxima. This sewer system was based on a natural stream, which was enclosed and covered to drain the area, a sign that the settlements on the Palatine Hill was spreading into the valley.
Gradually more public buildings were constructed around the square, thus forming a natural centre for the rapidly growing town. According to legend, the second king of Rome, Numa Pompilius, instituted the cult of Vesta and built the Regia, Tullius Hostilius built the first Curia and enclosed the area of the Comitium, and Tarquinius Priscus ordered the Forum paved around 600 BCE. While the role of the kings cannot be proven, the dates are largely confirmed by archaeological research. Other very old monuments in the Forum area are the Vulcanal and the Lapis Niger.
In republican times the construction on the Forum continued, with a series of basilicas, notably the Basilica Sempronia and the Basilica Aemilia. Also from this period are the Temple of Saturn, the Temple of Castor and Pollux and the Temple of Concord.
The current image of the Forum Romanum is a result of the changes made by Julius Caesar as pontifex maximus and dictator, which included the construction of the Basilica Julia where the Basilica Sempronia stood, the building of a new Curia and the renovation of the Rostra, the speakers platform. Caesar didn't see all his plans realised before his death, but most was finished by his successor Augustus, including the Temple of Divus Julius, dedicated to Caesar deified.
In imperial times the importance of the Forum as a political centre diminished, but it remained a centre of commerce and religious life. Construction and restoration continued, but now mostly in the form of honorary monuments, such as the Arch of Augustus, the Arch of Titus and the Arch of Septimius Severus. Other arches, such as the Arch of Tiberius, have disappeared completely. New religious buildings included the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina and the Temple of Vespasian and Titus. The Basilica of Maxentius from the 4th century is one of the last major additions to the Forum.
The Column of Phocas was the last monument to be erected in the Forum in 608 CE, but at this time the area was already half in ruin.
The Forum Romanum suffered damage and destruction repeatedly. When political strife in republican times deteriorated into violence, the Forum would regularly be the scene of fierce fights between rivalling factions, often followed by destructive fires. Fire was always a problem in ancient Rome, and parts of the Forum burnt down several times, the worst fire being in 283 CE. Later the Forum suffered destruction and pillage at the hands of invaders. Most of the buildings on the Forum was destroyed completely in 410 CE, when the Ostrogoths of Alaric sacked the town. Many religious sites were abandoned and fell in ruin after the ban of non-Christian cults in 394 CE.
After the fall of the empire in the west, the area was abandoned. A few buildings were converted into churches, including the Curia, the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina and the Temple of Divus Romulus; the rest was left to shepherds and their animals, to the extent that the popular name of the area became Campo Vaccino, the cattle field.
Many of the buildings served as quarries for other construction sites in the city during the renaissance and later, and gradually dirt piled up to 5-7 m above the street level of antiquity, covering all but the tallest ruins. This difference can be seen clearly on the church of San Lorenzo in Miranda (Temple of Antoninus and Faustina), where the door now sits halfway up the wall. It used to be level with the ground.
Archaeological excavations began in 18th century, but the site have only been excavated systematically in the 20th century. Many of the later additions to buildings and monuments have now been removed and the original street level has been restored over large parts of the Forum.
The site of the Forum Romanum is still subject to excavations, and several parts of the Forum cannot be visited, but the whole area have the status of an archaeological site, open to visitors.
Filippo Coarelli: Roma, Guide Archeologiche Laterza, Laterza, Roma, 2001.
Amanda Claridge, Judith Toms, Tony Cubberley: Rome: an Oxford Archaeological Guide, Oxford Paperbacks, 1998. Order from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.
Recommendations for "Roman Forum (Rome, Italy)" from
Below is a subset of the photographs taken in the Roman Forum. Many others are available on the pages for the individual monuments and buildings of the Forum. Please use the links in the text and on the menu to the right to find these photographs.
Photo gallery of 111 pictures for "Forum Romanum"
Prints of the photographs are available — read more here.
The pictures above are taken in the following locations:
Documents contained within "Forum Romanum":
Documents related to "Forum Romanum":
Documents linking to "Forum Romanum":
This page is linked under the names "Forum Romanum", "Roman Forum" and "Foro Romano".
|� � � Copyright © 1999-2020 Ren� Seindal � � �


text:
A cheery-of-mood (if not lyric) piano-led number, single three from last year's Friend Or Foe album might not be Menomena at their most immediate, but 'Rotten Hell' will nevertheless open fresh ears given a concentrated listen.
References: Arcade Fire, 13_-era Blur, something between the two. Seems ample detail enough to get _you clicking the below for a slice of downbeat indie-rock pie most tasty.
- -
8Mike Diver's Score


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Pedro Fernández
Pedro Fernández's international career began when he was seven years old. His fame rose with his composition of the theme song for the film "La Niña de La Mochila Azul", in which he also played a starring role. Full Bio
Dana Scallon
International recording artist and television personality Dana is one of Ireland's most successful entertainers. Full Bio
Danielle Rose
A music missionary who serves to spread the Gospel through a joyful witness of story and song, Danielle Rose is a renowned Catholic performing artist who has produced numerous hit albums. Full Bio
The Guadalupe Celebration will be an international event featuring renowned speakers and performers in honor of Our Lady.
Archbishop José Gomez
Archbishop José Gomez was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles by Pope Benedict XVI on April 6, 2010, and was installed Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on February 27, 2011. Full Bio
Supreme Knight Carl Anderson
Carl Anderson is the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus and the author of several New York Times bestsellers, including Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of the Civilization of Love. Full Bio
Msgr. Eduardo Chavez
Msgr. Eduardo Chávez Sánchez is co-founder and rector of the Institute for Guadalupan Studies, and is a canon of the Basilica of Guadalupe. Full Bio
Letter from Archbishop Gomez to Priests
"I hope you will attend this event, and I ask for your support in encouraging the attendance of your parishioners in order to make this celebration a truly remarkable witness of faith in Los Angeles." Read More
Welcome to GuadalupeCelebration.com
GuadalupeCelebration.com will be the place for updates on performers, speakers, event details, and information on how you can get your free tickets to this historic event. Read More
Knights of Columbus Marian Prayer
A new Knights of Columbus Marian Prayer program began Aug. 3, 2011 at the 129th Supreme Convention in Denver. Read More


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World-renowned wilderness trainer, Nate Ostis, will be in Anchorage this July to teach two River Rescue Technician courses. He is the wilderness rescue instructor for NOLS and has taught these classes internationally. He instructs Search and Rescue teams, Fire Departments, Commercial River Professionals, College Outdoor Programs, Military and Law Enforcement, and many more across several states.
Curriculum includes:
● River Rescue Principles: Risk Management & Prevention, Hydrology & Hazards
● Video Analysis: Incident reviews of rescue departments responding to real calls
● Knot Tying: Focus on rescue family of knots, hitches and bends for rope and webbing
● Swimming: Swiftwater Entries, Aggressive & Defensive techniques, Strainer Encounters
● Throw bags: Underhand, Overhand, Coil Tosses, Belay Techniques
● Shallow Water Crossings: Wading Techniques to effectively traverse the riverbed bottom
● Contact Rescues: Tethered Rescue Swims (Live Bait), Spinal Precautions, & Combative Patients
● Managing Entrapment: Two-shore vs. One-shore. Heads-up vs. Heads-down
● Anchors: Load Sharing vs. Load Distributing
● Mechanical Advantage: 3:1, 5:1, 9:1, Pig Rigs, Vectors, Tension Diagonals, Rope ferries, etc.
● Scenarios: Practical hands-on scenarios
Class is three days and includes both classroom and field work.
Two date choices: Fri-Sat, July 13-15 or Tues-Thurs, July 17-19
Cost: $310
Location: BP Energy Center in Anchorage and on the water on Eagle River
Contact Kristen at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 194
Location: San Diego, CA
Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 11:32 pm
Post subject:
I have a dog now. Here's how it happened . . .
It all started with a phone call from my mother while I was at work. For the past two weeks, my mother had seen a small dog at the park she passes on her way to work every day. This poor dog seemed to be wandering aimlessly near the park and my mother became quite preoccupied with it, speaking about it every day as if it were the little match girl from that Hans Christian Anderston story. One Friday, exactly a week before my trip to Japan, my mother calls and tells me she wants us to go to the park first thing Saturday morning and take this dog home.
I love dogs but I had no intention of adopting one, especially right before our vacation. I decided to humor my mother and asked her if she had spoken to my father. She said no, and I figured my dad would put a stop to this and that would be the end of it. Oddly enough, my dad didn't put a stop to it and we were at the park Saturday morning with a leash I picked up from the pet store the day before. A leash, I might add, that I intended on returning once we couldn't find this dog my mother wanted to save.
Saturday morning, everyone was out walking their dogs, so my mother impulsively thought that every dog walking on a leash was this dog she had seen all week. Of course, we didn't find the dog she wanted to save.
A man with a dog following behind him, without a leash, comes into the park and notices that we're wandering around with an empty leash in our hands. He asks if we lost our dog. My mom explains the situation, describes the dog, and the man tells us that this particular dog lives on the corner but comes out on his own to play at the park during the day.
At that moment, we were supposed to go back to the car and laugh this off as a mere misunderstanding. Then, the man points to the dog that was following him and tells us that this dog needs a home. The man, it
turns out, is homeless himself. The dog has been following him for the past two weeks after its owners dropped it off at the park. The man slept in the park last night and has been bringing the dog to friends'
homes for food and shelter.
Of course, we took the dog. The man had been calling the dog "Boy" and Boy did not want to come with us because he was attached to the man. The man helped walk the dog over to my car and we parted ways with a
depressed Boy in tow. The dog was thoroughly depressed for the first three days, not even bothering to lift his head off the floor while the vet gave him 3 shots in the neck the first day. After a few days, however, he slowly started to accept us as his new owners. It's been a little over 6 weeks now that we've had the dog --- a Chow and German Shepherd mix
--- who we've decided to call Guapo (after the bad buy in the movie "Three Amigos"). Guapo seems to love our home and is
acting like a normal dog again, unsettling pots and tearing up shoes.
"Help! Help! I'm being repressed!" --- Monty Python and the Holy Grail
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Joined: 23 Jan 2006
Posts: 1324
Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 12:19 am
Post subject:
Oh harpospeaking I hope all dog lovers who frequent C&Z read this (I know David is one!). Our 12 year old Lab mix was a "foundling" too--now the most affectionate animal in the world--ain't they great?
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Joined: 30 Sep 2004
Posts: 1855
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 5:44 pm
Post subject:
My heart soars harpospeaking! I love what you have done and huge kudos to your mom and the poor homeless guy---and damn those folk who just dumped Guapo off---though he is obviously much better off with you1 Aren't dogs amazing--the way they roll with the punches and decide to give their love to those who will take it??
Vivant Linguae Mortuae!!
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Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 194
Location: San Diego, CA
Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 7:29 pm
Post subject:
I was reading Cesar Millan's book on dog care and he said something to the effect of "sometimes dogs come into our lives to teach us something" and I think it rings true for me. This dog has taught me that sometimes, somehow, things will will always get better in ways you never expected them to. He's also getting me off the couch and walking every day, which is wonderful for my state of mind!
"Help! Help! I'm being repressed!" --- Monty Python and the Holy Grail
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Joined: 21 Feb 2005
Posts: 861
Location: Paris
Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 7:34 pm
Post subject:
Congratulations on the new baby!!!!!!!!
I ditto what the others said. Good on you for giving a home to a poor little orphan furbaby. You guys obviously have huge hearts and lots of love to share and have returned. Hope he settles in quickly and gives you many many years of pleasure.
We are awaiting a decision on a furbaby adoption ourselves. A friend has a cat which is having a hard time adjusting to a new home and baby (they already have a toddler) on teh way. She has no time to spare and feels guilty. The cat loves us - and we love it. In fact we babysit when they go away. Waiting to see how the cat copes and if it doesn't, then it is ours.
If our adoption falls through we are going to wait till after summer (and the dumping of pets by families going away) and adopt a puss from the cats home.
I cannot go through another winter without a cat to curl up with.....
If you cannot feel your arteries hardening, eat more cheese. If you can, drink more red wine. Diet is just "die" with a "t" on the end. Exercise is walking into the kitchen.
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Joined: 13 Sep 2005
Posts: 194
Location: San Diego, CA
Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 8:41 pm
Post subject:
I hear you about the cats Debbie. I have two cats as well (abandoned kitties --- one found in a hospital parking lot and another left behind with her mom and littermates after an eviction). One of them jumped onto my stomach while I was sleeping this morning, and while I was somewhere between waking and sleep, my mind translated this sensation into my dream of an adorable little girl jumping into bed with me for a nap.
"Help! Help! I'm being repressed!" --- Monty Python and the Holy Grail
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Mugen, heater of Hondas, has announced it'll debut its juiced CR-Z at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this July. The speedier-than-that {edition|version} of Honda's {activity|sport} hybrid is purely a {one|1}-off at this {stage|point}. The {overall performance|performance} {arrives|comes} courtesy of a reprogrammed Integrated Motor {Help|Assist} and a {great|good} {previous|old}-fashioned blower atop the {one|1}.{5|five}-liter gasoline powerplant. {In accordance|According} to Mugen Euro's Colin Whittamore, "A supercharger and complementary electronics {permit|allow} us to {extremely|very} neatly map the IMA to the {additional|extra} {energy|power} and torque of the engine in a {distinctive|unique} {package deal|package}, {providing|giving} a {sleek|smooth}, integrated and {potent|powerful} driving {expertise|experience}." {Neglect|Forget} the PR fluff: in {actual|real} {figures|numbers}, Mugen's claiming its {automobile|car} {tends to make|makes} 197hp and 181 lb-ft of torque, {in contrast|compared} to the {manufacturing|production} CR-Z's 122-hp, 128-lb-ft rating.
In the Other Dynamics {division|department}, Mugen's {place|put} the {automobile|car} on a {diet plan|diet} and worked {more than|over} the suspension, {including|adding} {5|five}-{stage|step} adjustable shocks all {about|around}, and killed some unsprung {excess weight|weight} {by way of|via} 17″ wheels. {By natural means|Naturally}, the brakes have also been upgraded to {4|four}-piston monoblock {work|jobs}. {Whilst|While} a blown CR-Z {may|might} not be on the H's {manufacturing|production} calendar, we {picture|imagine} Honda will be {searching|looking} at response to the {automobile|car} to see {whether or not|whether} a {small|little} {much more|more} zap {may|might} {transfer|move} a {couple of|few} {much more|more} of the {small|little} coupes off the {plenty|lots}.


text:
sponsored by
Roads resemble parking lots after
snowfall in Little Rock, Ark.
Send a link to a friend
[February 10, 2014]
By Suzi Parker
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (Reuters) — Abandoned cars littered roads in Little Rock on Saturday, after heavy
snowfall the night before led motorists to leave their vehicles behind,
police said.
At the same time, residents of Pennsylvania were coping with the
aftermath of wintry weather that has left about 107,000 homes and
businesses still without power in the southeast part of the state.
Main roads in the Arkansas capital were increasingly open to travel
on Saturday as police towed away abandoned cars and crews worked to
remove 2 to 4 inches of snow that fell in two hours on Friday night.
Little Rock police said they received reports of at least 151
accidents, and some streets resembled parking lots.
It was not clear how many cars were left abandoned, but a police
dispatcher said one street alone had about 30 vehicles left behind.
Forecasters on Friday warned of the snowfall, and schools let out
early in anticipation. But the snow was heavier than forecast and
took some motorists by surprise.
"It was terrifying with all the cars sliding around," Angie
Thompson, a Little Rock resident, said after abandoning her car
three blocks from her home.
"It looked like a lifesize pinball machine. I hit someone who was
stuck and then had two cars hit me within 10 minutes."
Frigid air stretched from the northern Great Plains to the Great
Lakes, and the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch
for Little Rock. The city could get more than 6 inches of snow from
early Monday into Tuesday, the weather service said.
On Wednesday, a winter storm in the northeast United States cut
power to more than a million homes and businesses. Pennsylvania was
hardest hit with about 849,000 customers without electricity.
[to top of second column]
Repair efforts have been hampered as utility crews have been forced
to dig out snowbanks and chip ice off damaged electrical equipment
before they can begin repairs.
About 107,000 customers were still without power in the Philadelphia
area, said Cathy Engel Menendez, a spokeswoman for local utility
PECO, an Exelon company.
Some people in hard-hit rural and suburban areas may have to wait
until early next week to get power restored, Menendez said.
The storm also knocked out power to nearly 200,000 customers in
Maryland, but 99 percent of them had seen service restored by
Saturday afternoon, according to a Baltimore Gas and Electric
National Weather Service said storms were expected to bring
much-needed rain and snow to the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains
and parts of California. The northern part of California could get
up to three feet of snow in parts of the Sierra Nevada, it said.
(Reporting by Suzi Parker in Little Rock, Writing By Jonathan Allen
and Ian Simpson; editing by Alex Dobuzinskis and Chris Reese)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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By Kerry Magro Apr 25, 2014 0
Communities of Advocacy
Over the past year at my job at Autism Speaks I've seen countless news and feature stories covered on our website. Three items that have been very inspirational have involved people in our autism community giving TEDx talks. TEDx talks have become very popular over the past few years for their ability to start dialogue in local communities about important issues. Most TEDx events consist of a day-long conference which showcases several talks, each one lasting 18 minutes or less.
The three talks that I found inspirational were:
- "My life with Asperger's" by Daniel Wendler at TEDx University of Arizona;
- "Rising Pride" by Thomas and John D'Eri at TEDx CoconutGrove;
- And "Forget What you Know" by Jacob Barnett at TEDxTeen.
Each talk provided me with greater insight into the autism spectrum. Wendler discussed his experience growing up on the spectrum and teaching social skills to others with learning disabilities now as an adult on the spectrum. The D'Eris offered insight regarding a father and brother's perspective on having a family member on the autism spectrum. Then there was Barnett's story which was brilliant because it discussed what he felt his future has in store as he moves into adulthood.
These talks were all truly inspiring to me. A few weeks ago I learned about a TEDx talk that was going to be held in my hometown of Jersey City called TEDx Jersey City. Applications were open and if accepted, applicants would audition to be part of the TEDx event. My mom encouraged me to get involved based on my interest in speaking.
I have gained confidence in my speaking abilities as of late, and I realized this would be a tremendous opportunity to have people in my own community hear my story. However, sometimes that motivation to spread awareness is coupled with overwhelming anxiety about how the audience will react to me and whether I will freeze and want to run off the stage as I did when I first performed in plays as a little boy.
So I did apply for the event and was accepted to try out last Saturday. AND I DIDN'T GO. I decided to push the interview off so that I would have more time to prepare. I have come to instantly know what I can and can't handle. For many years I have agreed to every opportunity, primarily because I didn't think I would have these opportunities later. This weekend I realized that it is OK to say "No," or in this case "Not now" when I am feeling overwhelmed. I understand my difficulties with transitions and just accept that I can just be Kerry. And thankfully there will be other self-advocates out there giving TEDx talks and telling everyone what it is like to be on the spectrum—mine is not the only voice. There are other voices and they thankfully are growing louder each day.


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Looking for a decent 4 channel DVR system not including the monitor. Something around $300.
Any suggestions would be appreciated
DVR system
Started by MikeR , Jan 03 2014 05:30 AM
2 replies to this topic
Posted 03 January 2014 - 05:30 AM
Posted 03 January 2014 - 08:12 AM
Try going to http://www.mcmelectronics.com They cary a complete line of security recorders / cameras at various price points.
Visit my website, "The Paranormal DESTINATION"
Visit my website, "The Paranormal DESTINATION"
Posted 03 January 2014 - 08:55 AM
Most entry level systems are just that. But even if it means you don't end up with 4 cams, get the best ones your budget can afford. Just being able to monitor and record 4 areas is not a plus as you will end up having to squint and guess at the fuzzy mess you recorded for the last 6 hours. Also check at the format the DVR uses. Some recorders are designed originally for security systems and use formats that take 3 physicists and the staff of Hogwarts to get to a point you can use them.
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Game Segment
The cast learn about pachinko and then must try to win the most amount that they can on their machine within a limited time. Those who lose out get a batsu.
MEGA Download
On-Location Segment ダウンタウンとロケしよう (MISSING)
Rikiya Yasuoka is back again (from the previous Waking the Cast segment) and from the description Imada and him seem to again confront the cast late at night to pose a challenge.
--------------> Compilation Thread Link < | >Housei Tumblr <


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Photographer's Note
The guide on our one-day safari in the Everglades National Park in Florida told us that these grasshoppers, which at this point had just broke out of the ground getting ready to dissipate, taste really bad. The only time most predators can stomach them is for a short while after this point.
Critiques | Translate
adam (860) 2004-04-05 2:04
This is a case of the thumbnail not doing proper justice to the actual image. I never saw grasshoppers with such vivid colors like that before! The contrast between their orange/black color and the green leaves is powerful, and I like the crispness of the the part you focused on as well. Nice one!
Photo Information
- Copyright: Martin Bailey (Bayleaf) (1484)
- Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2004-03-20
- Categories: Nature
- Camera: Canon EOS 10D, 100-400 4.5-5.6L Ø77, JPEG ISO 100
- Exposure: f/6.3, 1/500 seconds
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Theme(s): The Sunshine State-the real Florida [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2004-04-03 21:48


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The American Dream
● By ACL
By Bryan Golden
The American Dream is freedom. Freedom from oppression, tyranny, and subjugation. Freedom from dictatorial individuals and government. Freedom to control your destiny. Freedom to benefit from your hard work and creativity. Freedom to succeed or fail. Freedom to determine your level of prosperity.
The American Dream was established on the principle that, for the first time in human history, a country was established with a government designed to be a servant of the people. The American Dream is one of self-sufficiency, not government dependence and control.
The American Dream cultivates the limitless power of the individual to build, create, discover, invent, and innovate. The American Dream is the pioneer spirit that motivates people to succeed against all odds in order to do what has never been done before.
Prior to America's founding, countries around the world had been so oppressed by totalitarian regimes that individual freedom was an unknown concept. One's position in life was determined by those in power. There was no hope of a better existence. An individual had no control over his destiny no matter how hard he worked. The position someone was born into was where they remained for life. The American Dream recognized the equality of each person as being an inalienable right. It didn't matter who you were or where you started, you could go anywhere.
The American Dream is simple. It puts the destiny of every individual into their own hands. Each person is free to benefit directly from their efforts. The American Dream taps into the essence of human nature; when people have the freedom to determine their own destiny, productivity flourishes.
The American Dream unleashed the power of the individual as never before. In less than 200 years from our founding, America had surpassed all other nations in wealth, production, and innovation. Americans have created and maintained the highest standard of living ever known.
The American Dream attracts people from every other country because of its unparalleled liberty. The American Dream is one of equal opportunity, not equal outcomes. The regimes people escaped from all proved that the only outcome that can be guaranteed is the equal distribution of misery.
Every American benefits from The American Dream. Success has a positive impact on all. It creates a vibrant, growing society filled with opportunity. People are willing to work hard when they are free to benefit from their efforts and able to retain the fruits of their labor.
Nothing is better than The American Dream where each individual has the right and freedom to determine their own life. What is the alternative? Is it being told what you can and cannot do? Is it having some person or government deciding what is fair for you to have?
There are those who don't like The American Dream. The reasons are many: greed, power, control, or the destruction of our country. Regardless of their motives, the result if they are successful is the same; the loss of freedom and the inability to control your life and destiny.
Although it's difficult to believe that anyone could be opposed to liberty, both history and current events clearly demonstrate that those who want to destroy The American Dream exist and are determined to subvert your freedom.
The ever-present threat to The American Dream is people who believe the government should control you, dictate how you live, and determine what is permitted. These power hungry authoritarians seek to enrich themselves by creating laws designed to confiscate the results of your hard work. The American Dream attracts vermin who view government as an opportunity to enrich themselves by confiscating wealth from others. The success of the productive attracts economic parasites.
The American Dream requires your constant care, vigilance, and support to keep it alive. Freedom is your right, but it isn't free. Take it for granted, and it will vanish. No one has the right to steal your American Dream. Stand up for liberty and reject anyone who wants to take it from you. You are The American Dream.
Bryan is the author of "Dare to Live Without Limits." Contact Bryan at firstname.lastname@example.com or visit www.DareToLiveWithoutLimits.com.


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Sounds a bit dull, it's not really.
This easy to understand series is not just for those studying the Law or working in the profession, but is for anyone with even a passing interest in legal matters.
Sounds a bit dull, it's not really.
As well as detailed case studies, in shorter "Brief Notes" episodes, Chris will tell us what being a barrister is really like, as well as explaining the court system, legal tactics and even answering any questions listeners may have. If you've ever enjoyed a legal drama on TV or film, or can't get enough of novels featuring crime and courtroom battles, then this series will give you a further insight into that world.
Follow us on social media @mondeolaw on Twitter and Instagram. Mondeo Law is written and produced by Alex Boardman and Chris Kehoe, and was developed with Ant McGinley (@antmanlovesyou) Music in order of appearance under creative commons 3.0 Switch it up – Silent Partner Late – Topher Mohr and Alex Elena


text:
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text: Rio de Janeiro - Brazilian star Neymar vowed on Friday to help fire Brazil to a third straight Confederations Cup title at the expense of world champions Spain to show fans they can expect fireworks when he arrives in La Liga with Barcelona."We will be playing for our families, our friends, but above all for the Brazilian nation."We are ready for what will be an historic match," the 21-year-old starlet said as he looked forward to a mouthwatering encounter with the Spanish on Sunday in Rio's Maracana stadium."We shall be defending our country," added Neymar, who scored in all three group games before helping to create goals for Fred and Paulinho in the semi-final success over Uruguay."It will be a great match. Both teams are out to create history," added Neymar, noting that while Brazil are gearing up for an even bigger prize next year when they host the World Cup for the first time since 1950, landing Spain's scalp on Sunday would send out a message that a new Selecao has landed.Spain, who have never won the Confederations event, will go into action on the back of a record 29 matches unbeaten and seeking an unprecedented fourth consecutive victory in a major tournament after Euro 2008 and 2012 triumphs sandwiched their maiden World Cup success in 2010.Brazil meanwhile came into the tournament having dumped former coach Mano Manezes for 2002 World Cup-winning handler Luiz Felipe Scolari, despite the latter enduring some less than stellar recent spells in club football with Chelsea and Palmeiras.Since Scolari's return, the auriverde have slowly begun to shape a team based on a blend of youthful exuberance encapsulated by the likes of Neymar himself and the experience of older players such as Fred, whose three goals, following a run of five in six friendlies, have fired up the new machine."This will be a real final showcasing great players. "It should be a great game and I just hope I come off happy and a champion with my team," said Neymar, who added he was not afraid of the close attention the Spanish defence will undoubtedly seek to shackle him with."I will just go out there and do what I always do to help my team - take free kicks, spray passes around, score goals. I want to help the team."Brazil are desperate to showcase the giant nation at this event as well as the World Cup, amid an ongoing battle to revamp sagging infrastructure and sometimes chaotic public services.Since before the event started on June 15, more than 1.5 million Brazilians have been out in the streets in more than 100 cities protesting at the vast bill of some $15 billion to host the two football jamborees, angry that the government has put money into that rather than health, education and transport.A recent poll indicated two-thirds of citizens back the World Cup but the protests have continued and President Dilma Rousseff has been forced to promise wide-ranging institutional reform.In allusion to the protests, Neymar said that just as the pressure was on the team to win trophies so it was on the government to improve the country's lot."The people know the importance of what is happening in Brazil and we are pleased if we can bring joy to the many who are not happy. Of course we all back the protests - as long as they are peaceful, without violence or vandalism."Anything which makes Brazil a better place."


text:
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text:
Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai, a top Afghan peace negotiator, said he was cautiously optimistic about prospects for reconciliation with the Afghan Taliban and that all sides now realized a military solution to the war was not possible.
Stanekzai also told reporters that Kabul hoped to transform the Afghan Taliban, who have proved resilient after more than a decade of war against US-led NATO and Afghan troops, into a political movement.
He predicted the highly lethal Haqqani militant network, the most experienced at guerrilla warfare, would join the peace process if the Afghan Taliban started formal talks.
Signs are emerging that the Afghan government is gaining momentum in its drive to persuade the Taliban to lay down its arms before most NATO troops pull out of the country by the end of next year.
Members of the Afghan government, the Taliban and some of the group's old enemies in the Afghan Northern Alliance, which fought the Taliban for years, discussed ways of easing the conflict at a recent meeting in France.
"I think one consensus was that everybody acknowledged that nobody will win by military [means]," Stanekzai said.
Pakistan, long accused of supporting Afghan insurgents such as the Taliban, has sent the strongest signals yet that it will deliver on promises of helping the Kabul government and the US bring stability to its neighbor.
Stanekzai, who studied at Cambridge and was in charge of disarmament in Afghanistan before becoming a senior member of the Afhanistan High Peace Council, stressed that to bring long-term stability, reconciliation efforts should aim to bring the Taliban and other insurgents into Afghan politics.
Some activists fear that Kabul will make concessions to pacify the Taliban that could hurt efforts to improve women's rights.
Stanekzai said Afghan security forces had made progress, but acknowledged that more work was needed to ensure they would be ready to take over when the US combat mission ends next year.
He also believes a free and fair presidential election in April next year is essential to prevent further conflict. The last vote was plagued by allegations of widespread fraud.
"This is the time where we have to enter in negotiations to make sure that does not happen, but, as you know, politicians are always politicians. They are always in a power game," he said.
Stanekzai warned that reconciliation was complex, with many moving parts having to be synchronized.
The Haqqanis, who are close to al-Qaeda and have been blamed for a number of attacks on Western and Afghan targets in Kabul, are regarded as a possible spoiler.
However, Stanekzai did not seem too concerned about the group.
"When you go to a market, you always use a brand name and then you sell your very low-quality product under that brand name," he said. "We enter a negotiation with the Taliban, which is the brand marketable name. The rest is easy."
Asked if he thought there would be a breakthrough in peace efforts this year, Stanekzai said conditions had been established to make that possible. However, he added that Afghanistan was highly unpredictable.
"Anything can happen. You don't know which direction these different actors will take," he said.
Stanekzai knows that first hand.
He recalled how a man posing as a Taliban peace envoy kissed the hand of former Afghan president and High Peace Council chairman Burhanuddin Rabbani before detonating a bomb hidden in his turban.


text:
This is the first entry in a fourteen part series discussing the time management classic Getting Things Done by David Allen. New entries in this series will appear on Tuesday afternoons and Friday mornings through July 16.
The first question a lot of people are going to ask is why am I writing a fourteen part series on a time management book on a personal finance website. Sure, there's the obvious maxim that time is money, but what does that actually mean in people's lives?
This book has changed my life radically over the past several years and has made my current life possible. The best way I can think of to explain how it has helped is to use my own life as an example, and so I'll be doing that over and over again throughout this series.
Right now, I have three young kids at home that each require some time and focus and attention, as well as a wife and a marriage that need care and feeding. I have a writing career that involves having written two nonfiction books in the last two years (and working roughly on a third), writing short stories and polishing them for publication, and kicking around a novel. I also write two articles each day for The Simple Dollar, deal with the cavalcade of email and comments that produces, and manage advertisers and other demands related to that. In order to remain a good writer, I need to read quite a lot, too. I'm on multiple volunteer committees in the local community. My son is in a t-ball league, my son and daughter will soon be in a soccer league, and they're both in a dance class. I share responsibility for maintaining the house with Sarah, with my part usually focusing on meal preparation (which I take pride in) and general cleanup. I have several friendships to maintain. Over the next three months, I have trips to Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Chicago, and Decorah (IA) planned. I also have a series of speaking engagements and book signings and other media appearances related to the book scheduled. I'm also learning the piano with weekly lessons and taking time to practice whenever I can.
Whew. How is all of that even possible? When I write it down, even I can scarcely believe that I pack it all in.
The thing is it's not possible without a system of time management that actually works. If I didn't have a good system in place, I simply wouldn't be able to do all that stuff. Something would have to go, and it would hurt to remove any of it.
Allen sums this up pretty well on page four:
A paradox has emerged in this new millennium: people have enhanced quality of life, but at the same time they are adding to their stress levels by taking on more than they have resources to handle. It's as though their eyes were bigger than their stomachs. And most people are to some degree frustrated and perplexed about how to improve the situation. […] A major factor in the mounting stress level is that the actual nature of our jobs has changed much more dramatically and rapidly than have our training for and our ability to deal with work. In just the last half of the twentieth century, what constituted "work" in the industrialized world was transformed from assembly-line, make-it and move-it kinds of activity to what Peter Drucker has so aptly termed "knowledge work."
Allen hits on two big factors here.
First, we tend to take on more than we can chew. Modern lives are so full of possibility that many people want to jam them full with as much as possible. We want a great job that pays well, but we also want the freedom to enjoy the rewards of all of that hard work. We feel personal responsibility towards causes, towards our family, and towards improving ourselves. Add that all together and you have days without much breathing room at all.
Another interesting factor is the blurred line between work and personal life. Many, many people are tethered to their jobs. Everyone who works at home, is self-employed, or runs a business can attest to this, as can anyone who carries a work cell phone with them everywhere they go and constantly receives calls about work-related issues. From a writer with a home office to a nurse constantly on call, we all have blurred lines between our work life and our personal life. We mix together work tasks and professional tasks constantly, like answering an urgent call during dinner with friends or picking up a birthday cake during our lunch break at work.
Allen argues that the most effective way to deal with all of this is to find ways to get the most done with minimal effort. He points to the idea of being "in the zone" – and reaching it as often as possible – as the key to success. On page 9:
There is a way to get a grip on it all, stay relaxed, and get meaningful things done with minimal effort, across the whole spectrum of your life and work. You can experience what the martial artists call a "mind like water" and top athletes refer to as the "zone," within the complex world in which you're engaged.
My days are pretty much constantly filled with being "in the zone" or trying to find a way to get there.
What exactly does that mean? I can't really say what it means for others, but I certainly can describe what it's like for me.
When I'm in the zone, I usually lose all track of time. That's a big reason why I maintain my schedule electronically so that when an event occurs, it alerts me in various ways (usually a loud beep) to interrupt me and get me to my appointment. I also somewhat lose track of the mechanics of what I'm actually doing. So, for example, when I'm writing, I will lose all track of the fact that I'm sitting at a computer and typing. I get lost completely in the words and don't notice anything else for long chunks of time. Also, when I pop out of the zone, I'm usually stunned at how much I've accomplished while in the zone compared to the amount of time that has passed.
In other words, when I'm in the zone, I'm incredibly productive, to the point that it's very useful for me to arrange my other life activities to maximize the amount of time I'm in that state.
Thus, the best time management scheme would be one that is focused entirely on maximizing the amount of time I'm in the "zone." And that's exactly the point of Getting Things Done.
The entire idea rests on one core principle: dealing effectively with internal commitments. In other words, if something is on your mind, it's going to make it much more difficult to get into that zone state. If you're trying to remember the three things you need to get at the store and also remember to make it to your kid's soccer game at 6, it's going to be hard to drill down into the task you need to work on right now.
(There's also another big factor here: the money. If you're consistently able to get into "the zone," you're going to be much more productive and produce higher-quality stuff. This sets you directly up for better performance marks, pay increases, and the potential for better, higher-paying work. It can also make the non-professional elements of your life work much better – for example, practicing the piano works much better if I don't have anything else on my mind.)
Allen touches on the basic requirements for managing commitments on page 13:
Managing commitments well requires the implementation of some basic activities and behaviors:
– First of all, if it's on your mind, your mind isn't clear. Anything you consider unfinished in any way must be captured in a trusted system outside of your mind, or what I call a collection bucket, that you know you'll come back to regularly and sort through.
– Second, you must clarify exactly what your commitment is and decide what you have to do, if anything, to make progress toward fulfilling it.
– Third, once you've decided on all the actions you need to take, you must keep reminders of them organized in a system you review regularly.
In other words, if something's on your mind, you need to get it out of your mind and into some sort of external system that you trust and that you review regularly. If you don't, all the stuff you're trying to keep in mind will make it harder for you to devote your maximum brainpower towards the task at hand, which is really needed to help you get into that "zone" state where your productivity goes up, your quality of work goes up, and your stress about it goes down.
The interesting thing, though, is that all of the stuff we store in our mind boils down to action. We keep facts in our mind to help us with a project (an action). We remember an appointment because we have to go to it (an action). We make a project plan so that we have an orderly flow of actions. It's all about managing your actions – nothing more, nothing less.
Allen spells it out on page 19:
In training and coaching thousands of professionals, I have found that lack of time is not the major issue for them (though they themselves may think it is); the real problem is a lack of clarity and definition about what a project really is, and what the associated next-action steps required are. Clarifying things on the front end, when they first appear on the radar, rather than on the back end, after trouble has developed, allows people to reap the benefits of managing action.
The best way I can make this idea clear – and it's a powerful idea – is to give you an example from my own life.
It's 2:55 PM. I have an hour-long teleconference at 3 that I'm going to have to focus on. I also need to do a load of laundry, get supper started and in the oven, and get in some piano practice between now and five o'clock, when I have to go to a t-ball game. There is pretty much no way to slot in all of those projects because none of them fit before the conference call and the rest take more than an hour combined (and I have only an hour after the call), so something's going to have to go.
Or is it? What I can do is simply identify the "next action" for each of these activities.
Finding the sheet music I want to practice with and setting it out on the keyboard is the next action for the piano practice, and it takes a minute or so.
Starting a laundry load, which is the next action in the "do laundry" project, takes about three minutes.
Pulling chicken out of the freezer and putting it on the counter to thaw is the next action for preparing supper, and it takes about thirty seconds.
My next action for the conference call is to get out my note-taking software and dial in. I focus entirely on the conference call and it's over at four.
I then head downstairs and put the laundry in the dryer, the "next action" on the laundry project, taking about a minute.
I then walk straight to the keyboard, sit down, and am completely ready to begin banging out "Fur Elise," which I do for twenty minutes or so.
I then go upstairs and proceed into the next action for making supper, in which I assemble a casserole and get it in the oven. It's ready at 4:40 and the next action is to bake it, so I preheat the oven.
I then go downstairs and pull the clothes from the dryer, folding the items that need to be folded and changing my shirt, taking me until about 4:50.
I go back upstairs, where the oven is preheated, and put the casserole in the oven to bake while I'm at the t-ball game.
I walk out the door and drive to my son's game, arriving on time with all of the projects completed.
By focusing on the "next action" and not stressing out on the projects as whole items, I was able to accomplish more than I thought.
It goes even further than that, as Allen explains on page 23:
For example, in the last few minutes, has your mind wandered off into some area that doesn't have anything to do with what you're reading here? Probably. And most likely where your mind went was to some open loop, some incomplete situation that you have some investment in. All that situation did was rear up out of your [short term memory] and yell at you, internally. And waht did you do about it? Unless you wrote it down and put it in a trusted "bucket" that you know you'll review appropriately sometime soon, more than likely you worried about it. Not the most effective behavior: no progress was made, and tension was increased.
So, unless you have all of the things you need to do out of your head and somewhere else, the undone things interfere with your progress on the immediate action you're tackling right now.
So, in that example above, if I don't have a trusted system for getting all of those plans and next actions out of my head, I wouldn't be able to concentrate well on that conference call because my mind would wander into those undone things. I wouldn't be able to concentrate on my piano practice. I also wouldn't be able to make a great supper for my family – I'd likely botch something while my brain wandered through the things I need to do.
If I know it's all recorded and down on paper, my mind doesn't wander. And if I've extracted the next action for each project I'm invested in, I don't have to worry about those, either. I simply think about the item I'm tackling now on my current to-do list and nothing else has to eat up my focus. I can get in the zone when practicing the piano and really grow my playing skill. I can get in the zone on that conference call and wow the people I'm talking to, which helps my career.
Next time, we'll look at the second chapter, which covers the five stages of mastering workflow – in other words, how exactly do you take the garbled collection of facts and ideas and things to do that eat up your short term memory and actually deal with them all in any sort of coherent way?


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MINNEAPOLIS - Pedro Hernandez pitched five shutout innings for his first major league win, Josh Willingham homered, and the Minnesota Twins beat the Texas Rangers, 7-2, Saturday to end a three-game slide.
Anthony Swarzak, Brian Duensing and Jared Burton each work a scoreless inning before Glen Perkins struggled in the ninth, giving up a two-run double to Mitch Moreland.
Derek Holland (1-2) pitched seven innings of five-hit ball for Texas, which lost for just the second time in nine games.
Leading 1-0 in the sixth inning, Willingham gave the Twins some breathing room with a two-out, two-run homer to left-center.
With so many weather postponements reducing the need for a fifth starter, Hernandez (1-0) was making just his second start - and fourth appearance - for the Twins. His first start was April 7.
In five innings, he allowed just five hits and struck out three. After getting into a third-inning jam, Hernandez retired eight of the final nine hitters he faced.
A ground-rule double by Ian Kinsler gave the Rangers runners on second and third with one out in the third inning, but Craig Gentry lined out to the shortstop and Adrian Beltre flew out to left field to end the threat.
Instead, Minnesota scored the game's first run in the bottom half as Aaron Hicks - who reached on an error by Moreland - scored on Brian Dozier's sacrifice fly.
Hicks' first career extra-base hit, a two-run double, keyed a three-run eighth inning.
Holland was outstanding in his first three starts, lasting at least seven innings and allowing no more than two runs in each. But Monday in Anaheim, he allowed six earned runs on six hits while walking four in 5 2-3 innings. He felt as if he pitched well in that contest, but Los Angeles' hitters forced him into deep counts and took advantage of the free passes.
Other than the homerun to Willingham, Holland scattered seven hits, and allowed four runs - three earned. He had four 1-2-3 innings, but he also threw two wild pitches.
Joe Mauer, who started at first base for the first time this season in place of Justin Morneau, went hitless for the third straight game and is 2 for 21 in his past six games.
NOTES: When Hicks threw out Cruz, it marked the fourth straight game a Twins outfielder has an assist and fifth in seven games. ... Gentry, the Texas center fielder, took a hit away from Eduardo Escobar in the sixth with a diving catch. ... Escobar started at third base for the Twins replacing Trevor Plouffe, who had a pair of defensive miscues Friday night. ... Texas 3B Jeff Baker returned to the lineup after being out since Tuesday with a bruised right knee. ... Right-hander Alexi Ogando (2-1, 3.12) is scheduled to pitch for Texas in Sunday's series finale against Minnesota right-hander Kevin Correia (2-1, 2.86).


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In my never ending pursuit of scalp relief, I stumbled across these Redken scalp treatment tonics.
Applied after shampooing, I figured these would be a worthy investment. I bought all three since I suffer a little from each of the symptoms mentioned here, and (mainly) because I found them on eBay for about £4 each (retail is about £14/99). Bargain!
Oil Detox for oily scalps. This is a very light oil that made my scalp feel soft and quite nice, although it didn't stop flaking:
Has a Specialized Lipa-Sponge System = instantly absorbs, purifies and protects against excessive oil caused by overactive sebum production.
They Say: This formula utilizes the advanced Lipo-Sponge System technology combining lipacide to rebalance pH level, micro-sponges and lemon extract. Thoroughly cleanses pores, absorbs excess oil and purifies the scalp. Rebalances scalp to its natural moisture equilibrium, while mattifying and controlling oil.
Dandruff Control – this is a clear liquid which stung like a mutha….
I don't think it worked *that* well for the flakies if I'm honest. It left my scalp feeling really clean though.
Pyrithione Zinc = to fight, control and help eliminate scalp scaling, flaking and irritation
Glycerine = to hydrate
Lavender Extract=to soothe and clarify
They say: It is formulated with the powerful Hydro-Zone System that utilizes lavender extract and glycerin to help soothe, calm and clarify scalp. Purifies, moisturizes and hydrates dry scalp while soothing and calming. Scalp is clarified, hydrated and relieved.
Finally, Soothing Balance which is so far, my favourite. This was kind of tingly at first, then soothing and stopped me from scratching at my scalp.
It contains eucalyptus and liquiorice extracts = instant calming, soothing, and relief of sensitivity and scalp stress.
They say: It is formulated with Redken's exclusive Calming Suspension System technology that utilizes eucalyptus and liquiorice extracts to help gently soothe, calm and de-stress while moisturizing, refreshing and rebalancing the scalp. Relieves scalp tension and tightness while providing scalp equilibrium.
All in all, I will keep using these products and see if they make a long term difference.
In a way, all these three leave in treatments overlap each other. As someone with a sore, irritated, itchy scalp with occasional flakies, I think I could have closed my eyes and picked any as a treatment. That's kind of irritating.
However – I did not pay retail price for these which makes me feel better – they are being sold at about 80% less than rrp on eBay! Well worth a go at the discounted price.


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Atlanta Hawks to host Casino Night benefiting Hawks Foundation
ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Hawks Foundation announced today the date of their annual fundraiser, "Casino Night," where every single member of the Atlanta Hawks roster will participate in the evening's activities, on Sunday, March 10 from 6-10 p.m. Tickets are available to the general public by clicking here. All proceeds from the event go directly to the Atlanta Hawks Foundation for community programming and grant giving throughout the state of Georgia.
Tickets on sale now for 13th annual event
All guests of the event will enjoy award-winning food from A Legendary Event, music, a variety of casino games and a silent auction. Guests will also have the opportunity to be at the center of the casino action with Josh Smith, Al Horford, Jeff Teague, Lou Williams and the entire roster of Hawks players and coaches, as well as team legends and executives. Autograph signings and pictures with players will be available.
The 13th annual "Casino Night" is set to begin at 6 p.m. at Opera. Hawks public address announcer and V103 on-air personality Ryan Cameron is serving as emcee for the event. Tickets for the evening can be purchased here at a cost of $150 for the general public and $125 for season ticket holders through Feb. 1 and $150 thereafter. Alternative purchase methods include visiting any guest services location inside Philips Arena during Hawks home games as well as calling (404) 878-3250. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend.
Platinum Sponsors for this year's "Casino Night" include Philips, Jim Ellis Audi, United Distributors and A Legendary Event.
For more information, call (404) 878-3250.


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Relax at Our New York City Midtown Hotel
The Blakely Hotel in Midtown NYC offers tradition and luxury with a committed, professional staff.
It is our attention to detail that sets The Blakely apart from other hotels, giving you a traditional New York City experience. Whether it is our NYC hotel rooms' cherry furnishings and oak baseboards, our pillow-top mattresses and Egyptian cotton linens, or our marble bathrooms with Frette robes and Penhaligons Amenities, nothing is overlooked. Each day, your stay includes a full host of in-room and facility amenities.
As a guest of The Blakely, you have the opportunity to indulge in one of the highest-rated hotels in Manhattan New York City has to offer. We put you in the ideal location for exploring New York City's most spectacular attractions. In fact, you'll be just steps away from NY attractions like Central Park, Times Square, Carnegie Hall, and the New York City Center, as well as many other world-famous museums, shops, and restaurants when you stay at our Midtown hotel.


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The February, 2009 challenge is hosted by Wendy of WMPE's blog and Dharm of Dad ~ Baker & Chef. We have chosen a Chocolate Valentino cake by Chef Wan; a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Dharm and a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Wendy as the challenge.
This is a flourless chocolate cake inspired by Malaysia's "most flamboyant food ambassador", Chef Wan. The recipe comes from Sweet Treats by Chef Wan, and was chosen by Wendy at wmpesblog and Dharm at Dad - Baker and Chef. It is a decadently rich and fudgy cake, reminiscent of a brownie. The depth and intensity of the cake's chocolate flavor is completely dependant upon the quality of the chocolate used. In other words, use a great chocolate and you'll get a great chocolate cake!
The challenge for this month was to bake the cake and serve it with the homemade ice cream of our choice. Because of the complexity of this cake, I chose to go with an ice cream in its simplest and purest form: Fleur de Lait Ice Cream. Luckily, it also happens to be my all time favorite ice cream. The particular recipe that I used is one of David Lebovitz's from his fab ice cream cookbook, The Perfect Scoop.
Fleur de Lait Glace or Fiordilatte Gelato, if you're Italian, is probably the easiest frozen dessert in the world to make, comprised of only four basic ingredients: Milk, cream, sugar and cornstarch as a thickener. But, when those ingredients collide and are swirled into this dreamy ice cream - watch out! The result is nothing short of sublime!
Fleur de lait and fior di latte literally translates to flower of milk in French and Italian, respectively. This ice cream is the perfect base for any kind of add ins you'd like. But, if you're a purist like me, there is nothing better than grabbing the biggest spoon you can find and just digging right in!
Instead of making one large cake, I decided to go the mini route and made 6 small cakelets in 4"/10 cm tartlet pans. I cut the baking time down to about 17-18 minutes and they turned out fine. The only problem that I had was that the cakes were so dense and fudgy, they started to fall apart a little when I was unmolding them. Instead of taking any chances, I popped them in the freezer for a few hours. That seemed to do the trick.
The light and delicate flavor of pure, sweet cream permeates the Fleur de Lait Ice Cream and is the perfect complement to the deep, chocolaty richness of the Chocolate Valentino Cake. Try them both together and I swear, you will swoon. I know I did!
Chocolate Valentino Cake
16 ounces (1 pound) (454 grams) of semisweet chocolate, roughly chopped
½ cup (1 stick) plus 2 tablespoons (146 grams total) of unsalted butter
5 large eggs separated
1. Put chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl and set over a pan of simmering water (the bottom of the bowl should not touch the water) and melt, stirring often.
2. While your chocolate butter mixture is cooling. Butter your pan and line with a parchment circle then butter the parchment.
3. Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites and put into two medium/large bowls.
4. Whip the egg whites in a medium/large grease free bowl until stiff peaks are formed (do not over-whip or the cake will be dry).
5. With the same beater beat the egg yolks together.
6. Add the egg yolks to the cooled chocolate.
7. Fold in 1/3 of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture and follow with remaining 2/3rds. Fold until no white remains without deflating the batter.
8. Pour batter into prepared pan, the batter should fill the pan 3/4 of the way full, and bake at 375F/190C
9. Bake for 25 minutes or until an instant read thermometer reads 140F/60C.
Note – If you do not have an instant read thermometer, the top of the cake will look similar to a brownie and a cake tester will appear wet.
10. Cool cake on a rack for 10 minutes then unmold.
Fleur de Lait Glace (adapted from The Perfect Scoop)
2 cups whole milk
3/4 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup heavy cream
Combine the milk and sugar together in a saucepan over medium heat to warm it up. In a bowl, whisk the cornstarch and cream together until smooth. Add cream mixture to the saucepan stir.
Heat while stirring until mixture begins to boil. Remove from heat and continue to stir for a few minutes. Pour the mixture into a bowl and let cool for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently to release the steam. Refrigerate until for several hours, until well chilled.
Once chilled, freeze the mixture in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions.
Makes about 1 quart.


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Many Android devices provide users with an option to change the default wallpaper through Settings -> Personalize options. However, several new devices including the Samsung Galaxy Tab, LG Nitro HD and more do not provide a straightforward option to change the default wallpaper.
If you are someone who is confused on how to change the wallpaper for your device, you can follow the simple instructions given below to apply a wallpaper of your choice to your Android device.
Step 1: Long Press (press and hold) any blank space on your screen
Step 2: You will see the "Add to home screen" option popup which will allow you to add widgets, shortcuts, folders and wallpapers to your home screen.
Step 3: Select the wallpapers option from them and then choose the wallpaper from the "Gallery" or "Live wallpapers" and then choose from it.
Step 4: Once you have chosen the wallpaper you want, click the "Set wallpaper" button and it will replace the current wallpaper.
Understandably, this is a longer process than having an option to "Personalize" your device, but it is easy nevertheless.


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Level 5 Off Road UTV/Side by Side Racing
The Level 5 Off-Road UTV/Side by Side Series has partnered with the Lucas Oil Speedway in Wheatland, MO for the 2018 season to bring you some of the regions fastest, high flying, wheel to wheel, most incredible Short Course UTV racing on their new World -Class purpose built off-road track at their incredible facility. Level 5 Off Road Series will offer drivers multiple different classes to accommodate all skill levels. Our Classes include Pro Unlimited, Production 1000, RS1, Sportsman, and Youth.
Special Links: www.facebook.com/Level5OffRoad
Season Passes and Family Passes are available at the ticket office, or by calling 417-282-5984.
***No on-Track Action on Friday***
Reserved w/ Electric + Water: $35/Night
(Limited Availability) Reserved Dry Spots: $20/Night
(Limited Availability) Dry Camping: $10/Night
Please review the Campground Rules and Regulations.


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Angkor Essentials - 2Days
Location : Siem Reap
Travel Style : Classic Tours
Duration : 2Days
Price : US$ 270.00
Angkor Essentials 2 Days, Discover the wonder of ancient Angkor with our two-day Angkor Essentials tour of Siem Reap and its surrounds.
Discover the wonder of ancient Angkor with our two-day Angkor Essentials tour of Siem Reap and its surrounds.
Our experienced tour guide shares the incredible history of Siem Reap's ancient temples. Soak in the beauty of the Angkor Thom complex, the ancient Khmer empire's last capital city. Within its walls, visit the many faces of Bayon and walk along the Elephant Terrace past Baphuon Temple and get up close to the incredible elephant sculptures.
Day 1
Our experienced tour guide shares the incredible history of Siem Reap's ancient temples. Soak in the beauty of the Angkor Thom complex, the ancient Khmer empire's last capital city. Within its walls, visit the many faces of Bayon and walk along the Elephant Terrace past Baphuon Temple and get up close to the incredible elephant sculptures.
After lunch at a local restaurant explore the shady ruins of Ta Prohm and the clash of nature and civilization where giant trees grow up between the walls. Finish the day at the famed Angkor Wat, one of the ancient wonders of the world.
Day 2
Start day two of the Angkor Essentials package exploring Banteay Srey temple – the Citadel of the Women – home to some of the finest stone carvings in the world. Renowned for its pink-tinged stone and the outstanding condition of its well-preserved sculptures, it is small but incredible.
Nearby, at the Landmine Museum, learn about the horrific destruction landmines have caused to Cambodian lives and the great work this team is doing to remove them from the nation.
Then walk through an enclosure of rare and colourful butterflies at Banteay Srey Butterfly Farm – the largest butterfly display in South-East Asia. Beautiful and practical – this project aims to break the poverty cycle.
After lunch, experience life on the great Tonle Sap Lake, with a visit to one of the floating villages.
SMART TOUR TRAVEL would like to thank you so much for your traveling with us. We wish you all the best and hope to arrange your next Cambodia holiday.
- All transfers and transportation in private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- English speaking guide (Other languages on request)
- Entrance fees to indicated sights and activities as indicated
- Bottled mineral water during touring days
- Drinks
- Meals
- Insurance
- Personal expenses
If you do not know how to plan your Smart Tour Travel, please read our FAQ's below to get some information or send us an email at firstname.lastname@example.com and one of our experienced travel consultants will be ready and happy to answer your questions as well as organize your amazing Cambodia Kingdom of wonder.
How to plan your Cambodia tour with Smart Tour Travel?
1. Send us an inquiry by submitting one of our online forms (Click). Tell us as much information as possible. For example;
- Please tell us how many people will be traveling with you, date of birth, if you have children, please tell us how old is/are the kid(s).
- Please tell us your preferred hotels, level of hotel (3, 4 or 5 stars), type of hotel, and type of room...
- Please tell us your type of travel, length of travel and activities that you are interested in. For example; Family with kids, Honeymoon, Sightseeing, Adventure & Discovery...
- Please tell us where and what you want to visit, if you do not know much about Cambodia, just give us your travel plan and ideas.
- Most of our tour guides are English speaking tour guides, but if you want another language like French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese... we can always arrange. Please tell us what you do you expect from your guides, for example; you want a guide with sense of humor? Good knowledge in history & culture? Male/Female guide/ Talkative/Talkative/ Young/Old guide.
- Please advice if you want breakfast included only or also Lunch and Dinner, and please let us know if you are a Vegetarian, the food you can eat or cant not, if you want local food in local restaurants or western food in tourist.
- Actually, you do not have to send us all information, but the more we know, the better we plan your Cambodia tour.
Private Guides & Transportations
Smart Tour Travel offers private tour packages in Cambodia; during the tour, you will have a private tour guide, private driver, and an air-conditioned vehicle escorting you at every destination you travel Cambodia. This will provide you with maximized personal care, security, and flexibility.
Tour Guide:
Smart Tour Travel does understand that a good tour guide will make your Cambodia Kingdom of wonder a beautiful time and tour guides who work with us are well-paid, experienced with a university background, eager to exchange our culture, lifestyle, knowledge...with travelers, and have a great passion for their country and understand the personal touch. At every departure, you'll be escorted & assisted until you have checked in and passed through the security checkpoint. All of our tour guides in Cambodia are local guides. Knowing the area well, they are good at guiding you around and telling background stories of the tour sites, as well as showing you the secret spots for best photos. If any change of itinerary is needed for unexpected reasons, your private tour guides will be more than accommodating in suggesting alternatives to ensure that you always have a wonderful experience
Smart Tour Travel guarantees to offer the best means of transport during your holiday in Cambodia. The safety, comfort and security of our customers come first. We use only the latest modern cars, vans, coaches and all our drivers are full time workers, government licensed in the tourism industry with at least 5 years driving experience. We are fully in control of our quality and service as we own our vehicles.
Smart Tour Travel requirements for a driver:
- Our drivers must have good driving skills with at least 5 years of experience
- Our drivers must keep the vehicles clean
- Our drivers are not allowed to hear cell-phone or smoke, chat, drink when driving.
- Our drivers must be friendly, helpful.
- Our drivers are not allowed to take you to shops unless you ask for.
- Your vehicle in each destination is air conditioned, insured, clean, and regularly maintained.


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"Science Fiction has become an exclusively literary genre, with books inspired less by new scientific research than by previous science fiction books, and, regrettably, movies. Ideas turn into tropes, and instead of extrapolation, we get variation: of the generation star ship, the space alien, the artificial brain, the parallel universe.
"Not that there's anything wrong with that. Writers like Ted Chiang and Gene Wolfe write brilliant books by breathing new literary life into these old tropes. But their concerns are ultimately moral. They're not interested in New Ideas About Everything as much as in the problems and choices those ideas pose.
"In the last thirty or so years, the only sub-genres of Science Fiction willing to take on new science and technology have been cyberpunk and its cousin ribofunk (addressing respectively info- and bio-tech.) But recently, both these sub-genres have been petering out because, I would argue, real-world progress in both those areas has been both too fast and too gradual: fast enough to make most writing obsolete shortly after, or even before, publication; too gradual to produce anything truly transformative for the long view (we're still waiting for AI, immersive VR, and genetically modified humans.)" - Dmitry Portnoy's Amazon.Com review of Neal Stephenson's Anathem [via Wading Through Treacle]


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Editors' Picks: January 2011 Scrapbook Products
Editors' Picks: Scrapbook Products
If you're looking for the coolest new papers, embellishments, and more for your scrapbook layouts, look no further. These delightful products will keep you scrapbooking all winter long! Check out the following products:
1962 by Stacy Cohen as seen on page 33 of the January 2011 issue of Creating Keepsakes magazine.
Add a fashionable metallic shimmer to your layouts with the graceful silver and gold patterns in Making Memories' new Paper Reverie - Metallique line. These paper designs are fabulous for any layout where a touch of elegance is in order, from weddings to graduation day.
Everything free-spirited and feminine takes center stage with Sassafras' Indie Girl line of scrapbooking paper and stickers. You'll love adding the breezy pink, green, and blue homespun patterns and liberty florals to your carefree "Saturday Morning" scrapbook layouts.
The folks at BoBunny Press have created a unique line of trims, just right for adding stylish texture to your layouts. Reach for green leather and orange lace for sunny summer looks and brown leather and newsprint cotton for a rich academic feel on your scrapbook pages.
- see more cool products on page 2 -
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