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|Obligatory headscarf required to look *around* (never mind, *in*) the mosque
Today we followed the two walking tours in Lonely Planet around the centre of Kuala Lumpur. From our hotel we walked up Bukit Bintang to get the Monorail to the main train station. One of the things that seems really confusing here is the public transport system, probably not helped because our edition of LP is a bit out of date and no doubt newer versions have more up to date information. There is the monorail, the three LRT lines (run by two different companies), and two Komuter train lines. Although they all seem pretty efficient and punctual, they are not integrated and this made us realise how good the system is in London (despite it being hot, cramped, dirty and not on time)!
The monorail, so well air conditioned that you catch your breath as you walk on board, took us to KL Sentral station and it took us a while to realise that this was not the start of the walking tour. The Komuter train then took us to the old KL station, which is a fantasy building of spires and minarets that I more usually associate with markets or mosques. We followed the walk past the Post Office and to the Kompleks Dayabumi, a large office block that from the outside has an intricate almost lace like pattern to it full of arches and windows.
Our route then took us down to the main Merdeka Square, home to the Royal Selangor Club, where the well to do hob knobbed in days gone by as well as the present day. On the corner of the square is the National History Museum. Small by London standards it was an interesting stop charting the development and history of Malaysia over the last forty thousand years.
On the ground floor exhibits mainly cover the pre-historic era. An old set of wooden stairs in the front corner of the building then curls up and round to the first floor where exhibits cover more recent history. The displays here chart the development the Malacca Sultanate and the history of the country then unfolds with the various different periods of foreign intervention. There is a real mix of cultures that have all come to play a part in Malaysia from the Portuguese, Dutch, British, Indian, Chinese and Japanese. Some of the treaties signed to agree territorial holdings were shown on the walls. They are interesting and quirky documents detailing reciprocal arrangements for dealing with debtors, criminals and other forms of mischief as well as for the trade and exchange of areas of land.
The 1900's were still a period of big change for Malaysia. Japanese occupation during WWII set the scene for future calls for independence, which came in the 1950's. But even that was not straight forward with original (British) plans being rejected and new plans formulated a few years later. Now the nine Sultans of the different states of Malaysia take it in turn to do five years stints as the Federal Ruler.
Contrary to the description in Lonely Planet, we found the museum to be a worthwhile diversion and it certainly provided a welcome break from the heat of the day. From the top floor of the museum you also get fabulous views across Merdeka Square. Along the left hand side of the square is the Royal Selangor Club, which had a very inviting looking bar. Unfortunately it seemed well and truly inaccessible from the square, no doubt their way of keeping out the riff raff of grubby travellers! The square itself is a perfectly manicured lawn, originally a cricket ground and with signs that it is still used for the game today.
Across from the club the Sultan Abdul Samad building is a beautiful fusion of Victorian and Moorish architecture which to me looks more like a fairytale palace than a building where serious business is conducted. The memorial arches frame the square at the northern end providing a cool place to relax for a while and creating the temptation to dip your hot feet into its very inviting surrounding fountains to cool down. Although there were no signs prohibiting a dip I had the feeling that it would have been frowned upon.
We by passed the cathedral opting instead to ponder what possessed someone to create the Tree House Fountain which is certainly an acquired taste. It is a mock tree trunk with huge pitcher plant style decorations around it. Its saving grace is that it is located in the middle of a small and pretty garden which makes the detour worthwhile.
|Collection urns at the Tamil Hindu temple
We then looped across and down to join the second walking tour, somewhat strangely named the Chinatown walk. Or at least we thought the name was strange because it was the least Chinese Chinatown we have ever come across. Little India, an area a bit further north, seems to have spread southwards. One of the early stops on the tour is a small street home to a Chettiar Indian community. I cannot say that it had the vibrancy that Lonely Planet implied but the old colonial buildings were interesting to see and the peacocks are still present at No. 85.
The Masjid Jamek was worth a look. Neither of us was dressed in a way that complied with Islam requirements for people visiting a mosque but help was at hand with a supply of scarves and long overcoats so that we were able to go in. I wished that they had people on hand to explain the purpose and function of the buildings and to explain some of the background to the rites and customs of the religion but unfortunately that was not the case. The mosque seemed to mainly consist of open sided pillared rooms where people were taking an afternoon nap. I am sure they are really prayer halls but I only saw one person praying. Water seems to be an important component not just in the areas designed for "ablutions" but also from a number of fountains in the grounds. We left none the wiser but the buildings were interesting to see.
From here we passed down Jl Benteng past more old colonial buildings and wiggled around past an art deco bank building, the old federal stores, painted in very faded green and pink, and KL's oldest pharmacy which was shut. The walking tour then diverted off to the Taoist Sze Yah Temple which whizzed us back in time a few months taking us straight back to China. From the number of large executive style cars parked outside the Chinese community are obviously living up to their commercial reputation and doing quite well for themselves.
The red and gold of the Taoist temple was fantastic but very much overshadowed by the Sri Mahamariamman Temple further down the road. This time we were whizzed back a couple of years to when we were in India. The temple gate is topped by a large highly decorative tower similar to many we had seen in Southern India. Inside, the temple was full of people counting large piles of money. They all seemed very busy but there was no indication that any progress was being made, they simply seemed to be shuffling piles of money around.
|Trying (yuk!) bitter tea in Chinatown
By this stage the heat was well and truly getting to us and we popped into a shop (one of the many Seven Eleven's in town) to buy a cool drink. I was in seventh heaven to find bottles of Ribena, an old favourite that I stopped buying at home because I was drinking so much of it. It was just the ticket to refresh and cool me down. We did a brief stop into the Petaling street market which was still setting itself up in readiness for the night's trade. As neither of us are great shoppers we headed off and back to our hotel.
The hotel's outdoor pool beckoned to us and we succumbed to the pleasure of relaxing in cool water with the sun beating down overhead. Unfortunately our peace and quiet was soon disturbed by a French family with two very lively young boys. Even though their Dad told them a couple of times to watch out for the other people in the pool they were having too much fun to heed much notice so we left them to themselves in the water and crashed out on the sun loungers for a while.
In the evening we headed out to an Arabian place we had passed coming back to the hotel last night. We had had no mid afternoon storm today and rain started to threaten as we reached the restaurant. In less than ten minutes the heavens opened and the rain cascaded down accompanied by big flashes of lightning and rolls of thunder. People sought sanctuary under whatever cover they could and only a couple braved the elements to dash to their destination. Fortunately for us the rain ceased as we paid our bill so we had a dry walk back to our hotel and to bed.


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Differences Between Truck Bed Liner Types
Do you own a small family farm? Do you use a pickup truck to move different supplies around your farm? If you're worried about protecting the bed of your truck, then a bed liner is for you. Here are some things you should know about the different types of truck bed liners:
Spray-on bed liners: Other types of truck bed liners may only be made for a certain make or model of vehicle. With spray-on liners, measuring is obviously not necessary. Because of the process involved, this is not a project that can be completed by the average person. You will need to take your truck into an appropriate mechanic or auto body shop and they will spray a protective coating onto the bed of your truck. Because there are no screws needed for the installation of this type of liner, rust is much less likely to be an issue than with other styles.
Rubber mat liners: These can be used on their own or to supplement other types of truck bed liners. While the rubber mats are often sold for a specific make or model, there is some leeway possible. For example, if you have double rear wheels, you may be able to purchase a liner that is meant for a truck with only single rear wheels. You would then use something like a strong utility knife to remove the additional rubber needed to make the liner fit in your vehicle. The main drawback of this type of liner is that it only protects the bottom of the truck bed. Depending on what you're hauling, you could still damage to the sides of your truck bed.
Drop-in liner: This type of liner offers more protection to the sides of your truck bed than a rubber mat liner. Unlike spray-on liners, a drop-in liner can sometimes be installed by the truck's owner, with just a little help. If you want the protection offered by a spray-on liner, but live too far away from an appropriate shop, a drop-in liner may be for you. Unfortunately, these types of truck bed liners may not be available for your make and model of truck. If your truck is more than a few years old or is an extremely uncommon model, you may have a hard time locating a drop-in liner that will fit. Since they are made out of molded plastic and not rubber, you won't be able to easily modify a similar liner to give adequate protection for your vehicle's bed.
For more help or information about truck bed liners, contact a professional like those at Jack's Bumpers.

subset: commoncrawl


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WASHINGTON (AP) — New research suggests babies don't learn to talk just from hearing sounds — they're lip-readers, too.
It happens during that magical stage when a baby's babbling gradually changes from gibberish into syllables and eventually into that first "mama" or "dada."
Florida scientists discovered that starting around age 6 months, babies begin shifting from the intent eye gaze of early infancy to studying mouths when people talk to them. Once they master the lip movements, they apparently shift back to look you in the eye again.
The research offers more evidence that quality face-time with your tot is very important for speech development — more than, say, turning on the latest baby DVD.
It appears in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.


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To facilitate the goal of producing well educated coaches, the Pacific Association USATF
Foundation (including San Luis Obispo, San Benito, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties north to the Oregon border in California, and central/northern Nevada) has made available up to 8 (eight) scholarships grants to pay the tuition to attend a USATF Level 1 Coaching Education School. Pacific Association member coaches who complete and submit the attached form by Sunday, 10 December, at 5:00pm will become eligible to have their tuition fee paid for the Chabot College School on 13-14 January 2018. Recipients are responsible for their own transportation, USATF membership fees, accommodation, and meals.
Submit your application today!


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What Sets Us Apart in Petroleum and Environmental Law
Nicholas J. Damadeo, P.C. is distinguished by its significant successes on behalf of clients in the areas of petroleum and environmental law. As an advocate for heating oil companies, petroleum storage terminals, and gasoline service stations, Mr. Damadeo has represented such trade organizations as New York Oil Heating Association, Oil Heat Institute of Long Island, and Hudson Valley Oil Heat Council. He has also represented such companies as General Utilities, Inc., Swezey Fuel Co., Inc., Romanelli & Son. Inc., Petro, Inc., Slomin's, Inc, American Energy Coalition, and many other heating oil companies and gasoline service stations.
Initial consultations are always free, and can be easily scheduled by calling +1 631 271-7400 or emailing email@example.com
Home || Personal and Business Law || Petroleum and Environmental Law || Mergers, Acquisitions & Joint Ventures || Business Planning
Commercial Collections || Estate Planning || Probate || Litigation || Civil Appeals || Principal Attorney || Topics of Interest || FAQs || Contact Us || Disclaimer
Web site created by Robert Schaefer Inc. • © 2009 Nicholas J. Damadeo, PC. All Rights Reserved


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Building a Muzzle Loader from Kit
page four of five
If you've ever wanted to build a muzzleloader, flintlock or black powder rifle from a kit, this is for you. With complete instructions from start to finish for muzzleloader rifle kit assembly. This page is photograph intensive and may take several minutes to completely load.
Filling the Grain
Two days have past since the stock was last
with a mineral spirits/tung oil mixture. It is now ready for the first of several
wet sanding
processes. This will fill the grain level with the surface of the stock and allow the stock to be polished smooth.
Because the maple stock is so light in color I will not dilute the tung oil. This will help to darken the wood a little. The oil being used is the same product used to seal the stock in the
Wet-or-dry 320 grit sand paper is used for the first wet sanding. Final sanding will be done using wet-or-dry 400 grit paper. About twelve to fourteen small rectangles of sand paper were cut and ready for each wet sanding of the stock. As the paper became too clogged with dusty oil to cut well it was replaced with a fresh piece.
Although not pictured below, the ram rod is also wet sanded in the same manner as the stock.
Left - Dipping wet-or-dry paper into tung oil.
Center - Wet sanding with 320 grit wet-or-dry paper and sanding block.
Right - Wet sanding area of flute with 320 grit wet-or-dry paper but without sanding block.
All sanding follows the direction of grain flow. Small areas are wet sanded until oil is thick enough with dust to be wiped into grain (below).
Left - After wet sanding a small portion of stock. Notice the sludge made by tung oil mixed with wood dust.
Right - The dust laden oil is gently wiped into the grain by
very lightly
dragging a soft cloth
to grain flow.
After the complete stock has been wet sanded sludge is cleaned from areas inside inletting.
The stock is set aside and allowed to dry at ambient room temperature for no less than two full days before wet sanding it again.
Polishing to Wood Surface
The stock was wet sanded, as shown above, three times. Two days were allowed to elapse between each wet sanding.
Two days after the third wet sanding the dry tung oil film was polished off the stock using a cloth and
Three F Stock Rubbing Compound. This took about six hours total. Then the stock was polished using Five F compound, a very fine grit polishing compound. This took about another six hours total.
Here is shown the reddish tint of the Three F compound soaked into a strip of grain that had not completely filled. This area had to be carefully sanded to remove the compound, then wet sanded to fill the grain. The area was again polished smooth to the wood surface after the grain was filled and had cured.
Applying Surface Finish
Once all dry oil was polished off the surface of the stock and the stock surface smooth the finish coats were applied.
Before applying any surface finish all inletting was scraped to remove polishing residue and dried tung oil that was used during wet sanding. The brass parts were then checked for proper fit. The inletting will be scraped again after all surface coats have been applied and dry.
Left - Using a file and sand paper, a scraper was fashioned from a beer can tab. Center - Using the scraper to remove excess oil from the surface of inletting.
Right - Inletting tools are easier and faster if available.
Permalyn purchased from
was chosen as the finish to use on the surface of the stock and ram rod.
About one teaspoon of Permalyn was mixed with an equal amount of mineral spirits. This thinned the oil so it would not dry too quickly while applying it and
it on stock.
Left - Applying finish/mineral spirits mixture to a section of stock. Right - Wiping excess off with soft cotton cloth. All rubbing is done in the direction of grain flow.
One side of the butt section was lightly smeared with the Permalyn mixture and wiped dry with a clean soft cloth and then the other side. The procedure was likewise repeated up the stock until all the stock had been done. Then finish was likewise applied to the ram rod. All wiping of the finish was done in the direction of grain flow and before the finish was allowed to become tacky. Although some finish gets into inletting,
no finish
was purposely applied to areas of inletting and any that remains will be scraped away before completion of rifle.
The stock and ram rod was softly wiped and rubbed with the cloth in such a manner as to remove the finishing oil. Left behind was an even and microscopic film of finishing oil on the surface of the stock. Addition coats will be applied until the desired depth and sheen is achieved. The end result will be a stronger, more resistant finish and more evenly applied finish than a few heavy coats of finish.
Before setting the stock aside to dry it was inspected for missed areas such as tiny spots that excess finish could hide and cause runs or build up, such as where the cheek piece tapers to the face of stock. All inletting was also checked for pools of finishing oil that could run out onto the stock while the stock was set to dry.
Each coat of finish is allowed to dry for one full day at ambient room temperature before applying the next coat.
A total of eleven surface coats of Permalyn mixed 1 to 1 with mineral spirits were applied to the stock and ram rod. After the final coat had dried the stock and ram rod were lightly polished using a small square of cotton cloth and
Five F stock rubbing compound. The stock and ram rod were polished in the direction of grain flow. Polishing was done to remove any microscopic ripples caused by applying by hand the numerous coats of finish. Sheen rose substantially as a result of polishing. Polishing the stock with Five F compound took about 1 hour 15 minutes. Shown above are the results.
A final, twelfth, coat of surface finish was then applied to the stock and ram rod but not polished.
One full day after applying the final coat of surface finish excess finish that had gotten into the inletting was carefully
away. Any bare wood left from scrapping was lightly coated with one part tung oil mixed with three parts mineral spirits. One day later the rifle was
To Page Five
Back To Page Three
Fitting Butt Piece, Patch Box and Forend Tip
Fitting the Barrel
Fashioning the Cheek Piece
Fashioning the Flutes
Fashioning the Bottom of Butt Section and Area of Trigger Guard
Lock Inletting
Polishing the Brass Fittings
Sealing the Stock
Filling the Grain
Polishing to Wood Surface
Applying Surface Finish
The Finished Rifle
Text and graphics Copyright Riflestock.Net 2006©
Written and compiled by Roger Linger. Email:


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Lost Boy by Ruth B.
So, something either very spooky or super cool happened to me the other day. On the very day that my publisher sent me some new promo graphics for The Secret of Bowring Park and told me the date for my Newfoundland launch, I had to travel into the city. (That's not the spooky and/or cool thing, although it is usually fun to get out of the house…)
I start my car, turn on the radio, and this song starts to play:
Have you heard of it? I hadn't, but wow it is beautiful. And, given where my mind was at that particular time, yeah…freaky.
What's your vote here, friends? Spooky or cool?


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Projekt 1065
Review by Peyton Ritchie on March 7, 2018
Categories: Historical Fiction, GA Book Award Nomine
This was a good book, with lots of twists and turns.
It is about a boy who joins the Nazis to spy on them from the inside. His father is in International Relations and is the Irish ambassador to Germany. His father is also a spy.
It would be better for 4th and up, since it has some rough patches. I would recommend it if you read Percy Jackson, since it has the same writing style.


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After posting about Summertime Granita Recipes, I received a note from Larry and Shannon of Dunrovin Resort in Hines, Minnesota regarding the use of soft serve ice cream in our Ultra machines. They were wondering about how often the equipment should be cleaned. Since we get these questions regularly, we decided it would be a good idea to share our response.
The answer to the question about using soft serve in the BUNN Ultra is really determined by the type of product you're trying to serve. The Ultra is NSF (food safety) listed for dairy products and as I mentioned in the previous blog post, we use it for this regularly. But before you decide to try soft serve in your Ultra machine, let's dive a little deeper into the definition of the term "soft serve".
Typically "soft serve" is used to describe a frozen dairy or yogurt based product that can be served in cups or cones. A true "soft serve" will dispense the product thick enough to pile high and hold its form for some time before it starts to melt. However, the BUNN Ultra is designed to dispense frozen beverages that are consumed by drinking. So the frozen ice cream or yogurt product would dispense more like a milk shake, thick enough that you could eat it with a spoon yet thin enough that you can drink it like a slushy.
Regarding the question around frequency of cleaning, BUNN strongly suggests talking to your product supplier if you plan to use a premixed product or concentrate. However, it is best practice to clean all equipment daily when used for storing and serving dairy based products. Some customers will dispense any remaining product at the end of the day into a food safe storage container and refridgerate it overnight. Then the machine can be disassembled for proper cleaning and sanitizing. The stored product is added back into the machine for serving the next day. For the non-dairy products such as typical fruity slushy drinks, most customers will clean these weekly. Follow the cleaning instructions in the manual provided with the machine.
For products that will be served and stored in an Ultra for several days, the equipment includes an automatic night time setting that will allow the product to thaw for an adjustable preset time period. For instance, if your store is closes at 10:00 PM and reopens at 7:00 AM, you can set the machine to go into "night mode" for this time period. The machine will allow the product to thaw, but keep it at a food safe temperature of around 35. In the morning it will go back to ice mode and get the slushy ready to serve. For stores that operate 24 hours, we recommend a minimum of 4 hour night mode to allow the product to thaw and remix. Try to select a time setting for night mode that will have the least impact on sales periods.
Thank you Larry and Shannon for your questions! If you have any other questions to ask or share with the BUNN team, please comment below. We would love to hear from you!
This may cause the BUNN website to function incorrectly.
In order to have the best experience with our website, we recommend that you update your browser to the most current version.
Continue to website
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This page lists events and places that should inspire you to go and take pictures. Please if you have any suggestions please let me know.
Photographing Motor Racing
Not all photographers sit quietly in the still of dawn's light, broken only by the chatter of birds heralding the day's break. Some need the growl of the V8, the scream of the two stroke so go to Mallory park racing circuit. In many places you are close enough to the action to need only a 200 lens or less, and a 400 will fill the frame from most of the vantage points. Free access to the Paddock on most race days and your car can be parked around the circuit. Click here for full details of the circuit.
Curbar Edge
Situated in the Peak District about 1 hours drive from Loughborough. A walk along the top of the edge with rocks and the odd mill stone and views out and across the valley. It is open for public access and can get a bit busy on Sundays or holidays. The cliff faces more or less due west so should be good for evening, sunset shots. The link below is to the small car park (Pay and Display).
Stanton Moor
Wild moor land with small old disused quarries. The moor land is covered with heather and crisscrossed with paths. Coming from Birchover there is a car park for the quarry company which seems to be used by all and sundry on a weekend. From the car park there is a path going down into the valley, also walking on up the road on your right there is paths off on to the high moor itself.
Lea Gardens
One of my all time favourites is Lea Gardens, Lea, Matlock Derbyshire DE4 5GH. Open early April - end June, but at their best, I think, from late May to end June, these azalea & rhododendron gardens are outstanding. As their publicity says, Lea Gardens is "....the place where rainbows grow!" Highly recommended. (Brian)


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Fire Safety for Children
The best way to teach children about fire safety is by example.
◆ Let your children see you being sensible and careful about cooking, candles, smoking and other potential fire risks.
◆ Teach them how to prevent a fire and what to do if there is a fire.
◆ You will probably need to talk about this more than once, to make sure they have remembered and understood what you have taught them.
◆ Install an audible smoke alarm.
◆ Have escape plans in place.
◆ Do not allow them to overload electrical sockets.


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Moonlight Forest - Lantern Art Festival at the Los Angeles Arboretum | 2018
This fall the Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanic Garden invites you to the Moonlight Forest, an unforgettable evening experience of art, culture, and discovery. Masterfully crafted lanterns beckon you into the gardens. Some depict beautiful animals, shimmering exotic flowers, and intriguing figures from Chinese legends. An evening of dazzling color and magic begins!
The Moonlight Forest will delight children, families, and the young-at-heart with an opportunity to experience the garden in a new light. The magnificent lanterns reflect three themes; Nature, Children's Garden, and Chinese Culture, all of which embrace the mission and communities of the Arboretum. Created by skilled artisans from China's Sichuan province, the Arboretum has partnered with Tianyu Arts & Culture Inc. to celebrate the time-honored tradition of lantern art.
Presented by the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden with Tianyu Arts & Culture.
Tickets are dated and timed.
Entry times: 5:30 PM, 7:00 PM, 8:00 PM (closes at 10:00 PM)
Please see FAQ below before purchasing tickets.
Arboretum members are eligible for a 15% discount! If you are an Arboetum member please contact Aboretum membership office at 626.821.3233 or email@example.com to get your discount code.
Thanks to our Lotus level sponsors:
Longo Toyota-Lexus
Merrill Lynch
Bank of America Corporation
Tito's Handmade Vodka
Scroll down for Frequently Asked Questions and important festival information.
What are the days and hours of operation of Moonlight Forest 2018?
Dates: October 26, 2018 – January 6, 2019
Hours of Operation: Wednesday – Sunday: 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM
Entry times: 5:30 PM, 7:00 PM, 8:00 PM (closes at 10:00 PM)
How much are tickets?
Wednesday – Thursday: Adult $25, Children (ages 3-17) $20, Senior (62+) $23
Friday – Sunday: Adult $28, Children (ages 3-17) $23, Senior (62+) $25
Where is Moonlight Forest Located?
Moonlight Forest is located at Los Angeles Arboretum in Arcadia.
I am a Los Angeles Arboretum member; do I have to pay?
Los Angeles Arboretum Members are eligible for a 15% discount on their ticket purchase for a limited time.
May I become a member and then be eligible for the discount?
Yes. Sign up to become a member here: https://www.arboretum.org/support/join-us/become-a-member/
How do I purchase tickets?
You can purchase your tickets online via Eventbrite.
Is there a limit to how many tickets I may purchase as an Arboretum Member?
Yes, there is a total 6 ticket limit per purchase whether you are a member or not. You may make more than one purchase.
Is there parking at the event?
There is limited parking on site. Street parking IS NOT available at any time. We highly recommend you use a rideshare service such as LYFT or UBER.
Where do I park?
There are three different parking lots at the Arboretum available for festival parking. Parking staff will direct you to the next lot as they are filled.
What is the parking charge?
Parking at the Arboretum is free.
Do you have discounts?
Yes, for Arboretum members. Find out how to become a member here: https://www.arboretum.org/support/join-us/become-a-member/
Group sales for companies and private parties are available. Please email email@example.com or call (626) 821-3222 for more information.
Moonlight Forest tickets and Arboretum memberships are not refundable. In the event you are unable to use your ticket, please consider your purchase a donation to the Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Federal Tax ID 95-1582650. Moonlight is a rain or shine event.
Choose your date carefully!
If you are not able to attend your initial date you can still change the date of your tickets. Please note there is change fee of $ 0.95 per ticket.
Instructions for changing ticket dates are available here.
Can I see the Moonlight Forest both during the day and at night with one ticket purchase?
Moonlight Forest is an event with live performances and light installations that are best viewed at night. Moonlight Forest admissions start at 5:30 PM.
If you visit the Arboretum during the day regular admission prices apply. The Arboretum is open 8am to 5pm daily.
Can I touch the lanterns on display?
The lanterns are considered works of art. Please do not touch, sit or climb on the displays.
How long is the walk-through Moonlight Forest?
The exhibition route is a gentle mile long and takes about 1.5 hours to walk through.
If you like to stay for a drink or a quick bite after your visit check out the food trucks and multiple bars we have at the festival site.
Is there ADA access at the Moonlight Forest?
It is accessible for strollers, wheelchairs, and mobility assistance devices.
I am a member of a reciprocal garden through the American Horticultural Society. Do I receive the member discount?
No, only Arboretum members receive the special evening discount.
Is there food and drinks? May I bring food from outside?
There are a variety of food trucks, food stands and bars at the festival site.
Outside food and beverages are not permitted.
May I take photos?
Yes, we encourage you to take photos – use the hashtag #MoonlightForestLA. For commercial or portrait photographers, please see our photography policy page. While waiting for that perfect shot please do not block pathways or the view of others. Photographs and videos are not to be used for commercial purposes.
May I bring a pet to Moonlight Forest?
No. The Arboretum does not allow animals, except for ADA-designated service animals. No bikes or running please, as this is a walking event only.
Am I allowed to smoke during Moonlight Forest?
Smoking is not permitted in the exhibition or anywhere in the Arboretum grounds.


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- Style: spring, casual, autumn
- Cut/fit: regular
- Closure: full-length front zip, wind protection strip
- Lining material: patterned
- Side pockets: side pockets
- Hood: with drawstring
- collar high-closing collar
- sleeve ends buttonable
- Extras: elastic hem
- Size information: rather small
|65% polyester, 35% cotton
|100% polyester
Item no: KJ1407209
Secure shopping and payment
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Pale Horse (Hardcover)
Hunting Terrorists and Commanding Heroes with the 101st Airborne Division
St. Martin's Press, 9781250072719, 368pp.
Publication Date: March 8, 2016
Pale Horse is the remarkable never-before-told true story of an army aviation task force during combat in the Afghan War, told by the commanding officer who was there. Set in the very valleys where the attacks of 9/11 were conceived, and where ten Medals of Honor have been earned since that fateful day the war began, the narrative races from ferocious firefights and bravery in battle to the quiet moments where the courageous men and women of Task Force Pale Horse catch their breath before they take to the skies again.
Jimmy F. Blackmon writes with a power and hard-hitting honesty that leaps off the page. He has the respect of the men and women of his brigade, and a command of the narrative to tell their story. From pilots of lethal Apache attack helicopters who strike fear in their enemies to the medevac soldiers who risk their lives daily, these are warriors from a variety of backgrounds who learned selflessness and found the closest brotherhood they ever knew through the crucible of war. Pale Horse both honors and commemorates the service of this elite task force from the unique vantage point of the commander who led them in battle.
About the Author
Praise For Pale Horse: Hunting Terrorists and Commanding Heroes with the 101st Airborne Division…
"A riveting account of extraordinary combat aviation operations during intense fighting in the mountains of Afghanistan by one of the U.S. Army's finest, most experienced aviation commanders." - General (Ret) David Petraeus, former Commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan
"In turns suspenseful and violent...Blackmon uses authentic jargon, he never loses average readers. More importantly, he adds personal touches that humanize the story. A vivid, action-packed combat memoir, Blackmon's book explores what life is like for those boots on the ground, as well as in the air." - Kirkus Reviews
"This is the Afghanistan War as you have never seen it before---the real ground truth---stunning, heartbreaking detail that will drive home to any reader how much we ask of our soldiers physically and mentally---and what they ask from---and give to---each other." - Bob Woodward, bestselling author and associate editor of The Washington Post
"In the mountains of Afghanistan, those of us who fought on the ground regarded the helicopter pilots of the 101st Airborne Division as nothing short of a godsend. They kept our supply lines open; they flew in our reinforcements and evacuated our wounded; and when things truly went to hell, they unleashed a deluge of hellfire that kept us from being wiped off the map. Jimmy Blackmon did more than lead these men and women into battle: in Pale Horse, he has captured the extraordinary story of these 'knights of the sky' in a manner that does justice to their skill, their courage, and the extraordinary sacrifices they made on behalf of the troops who depended upon them. An eloquent and inspiring account of an exceptional group of soldiers who personify the highest values of the American military.—Clinton Romesha, Medal of Honor recipient and author of Red Platoon: An Untold Story of American Valor
"Pale Horse is a fascinating window into combat on the most viscerally human level, and moving tribute to the brave men and women who fought." —General (Ret.) Stanley McChrystal, from the Foreword
"Pale Horse is a story full of heart stopping action as seen from the air! Men and women who fought boots on the ground owe their lives to the courageous personnel who provide support from the air. What these pilots do on a daily basis and what they do to save lives on the ground needs to be told. Truly unsung heroes. I personally would like to thank these men and women for the support they have provided us. Thank you!"--Nicholas Irving, Army Ranger sniper (Ret.) and New York Times bestselling author of The Reaper
"A fascinating insider account of American soldiers in brutal combat in some of the harshest terrain on the planet." --Sean Naylor, New York Times bestselling author of Relentless Strike
"Close Combat Attack (CCA) is where the rubber meets the road when it comes to aviation supporting and protecting ground forces in the thick of battle. Pale Horse is a look at the mechanism and personal stories behind the scenes of this lethal asset, as told against the backdrop of Afghanistan." - Michael Golembesky, New York Times bestselling author of Level Zero Heroes & former MARSOC team member
"An extraordinary book of real clarity and vision that illuminates war across the ages. On the dusty trails, high mountain passes, and thin air of the Hundu Kush, Jimmy Blackmon gives us the crucible of combat in all its bitter glory. A must read for anyone who wants to understand Afghanistan and America's path through our longest war"--Admiral James Stavridis, USN, (Ret), Supreme Allied Commander at NATO 2009-2013, Dean, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
"Army Helo pilots are a different breed. They fly fast, low, day and night in direct support of their 'band of brothers' in the ground fight. Jimmy Blackmon superbly captures the courage, heroism, skill and camaraderie in telling the story of his 101st Airborne 'Pale Horse' air cavalrymen during their yearlong combat tour in the dangerous and unforgiving battlefields of Afghanistan." --Dick Cody, General, US Army 31st VCSA


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- Edinson Volquez nearly didn't make it to the second batter on Saturday after a collision at first base. Less than 100 pitches later, he etched his name in MLB history.
The first no-hitter of 2017 displayed a keen sense of dramatic timing, and belongs to the pitcher with more losses thus far this season than anyone in baseball. Thirty-three-year-old Marlins righty Edinson Volquez allowed just two walks in a complete game shutout of the Diamondbacks, and he did it all in only 98 pitches. All that after tweaking his ankle in a collision with a baserunner and barely making it past the first batter of the game.
After it was all over, once Volquez struck out the side in the ninth inning and was mobbed by his giddy teammates, doused in Gatorade and hit with not one but two cream pies, he dedicated the win to the two great young pitchers baseball lost in the last year: Miami ace Jose Fernandez, and Volquez's friend and Royals teammate Yordano Ventura, who would have turned 26 on Saturday had he not been killed in a January car crash.
Volquez has had an uneven season following a rough 2016. Going into Saturday's game, he had been both erratic and unlucky, with a 4.44 ERA and a 1–7 record; he'd been walking 5.3 men per nine innings, with a WHIP of 1.576. Last season he had a 5.37 ERA for the Royals and gave up more earned runs, 113, than anyone else in the league.
So a no-hitter wasn't on anyone's mind as Saturday's game got underway—especially once Volquez hurt his ankle in a bruising collision at first base with Arizona outfielder Rey Fuentes, the very first batter of the game. Volquez came up limping and had to work to persuade manager Don Mattingly to let him stay in the game; indeed, he continued visibly limping even as the zeros piled up.
The Diamondbacks aren't a particularly easy team to no-hit: They're third in the NL in both hits and runs scored, though that's partly a product of the hitter-friendly nature of Chase Field. Even going by OPS+, which adjusts for ballpark, Arizona's offense is in the top half of NL teams.
But the control that has often eluded Volquez this season showed up in force Saturday. Volquez relied primarily on his sinker and his changeup, which he placed just where he wanted it, regardless of the count. Of his 98 pitches, 36 were changeups and another 23 were knuckle-curves, and Arizona was helpless against his breaking stuff.
Volquez's low pitch count gave him another kind of accomplishment—a "Maddux," a term coined by writer Jason Lukehart to describe a complete-game shutout that requires less than 100 pitches (named in honor of Greg, of course). Volquez became just the 10th hurler since pitch counts have been tracked to combine a Maddux with a no-hitter. The last one to do it was also the last Marlin to throw a no-hitter: Henderson Alvarez, in the very last game of the 2013 season, a memorably odd one that the Marlins won via walk-off on a wild pitch.
This was MLB's 296th no-hitter, and the first since the Cubs' Jake Arrietta pulled one off against the Reds in April 2016—the sole no-hitter of last season, after a cluster of seven in 2015. The Marlins came close to a combined no-hitter against the Mariners back in April, but lost it with one out in the ninth. Unlike Wei-Yin Chen in that start, Volquez kept his pitch count so low that Mattingly, who's often shown an itchy trigger finger when it comes to bringing in relievers in no-hit and perfect game situations once his starters get to triple digits, was never tempted to take him out.
As rough as the last several seasons have been, Volquez has had his share of good years (most recently 2014 in Pittsburgh, where he became another Ray Searage success story, and 2015 in Kansas City). His Game 1 World Series start for the '15 Royals was an indelible, emotional performance, just hours after learning of the death of his father. Saturday's game was on a different scale—just a run-of-the-mill June matchup between two third-place teams, with little reason to expect drama. But drama showed up anyway, along with an unhittable changeup, and in Fernandez's home park, on Ventura's birthday, Volquez dug deep and came up with another performance that no one present is likely to forget.
History. pic.twitter.com/9fictrdoPf— SI MLB (@si_mlb) June 3, 2017


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The Media continues to shape and influence our lives on a daily basis. To truly understand the information we receive and interact with every day is vital in modern society. Students of media studies will learn to create and deconstruct texts, to appreciate where they come from and who they are produced for. Knowing who owns our media, why certain representations are given to us, and what each production is trying to tell consumers is an essential part of understanding the world we live in today. Media studies rewards creative, imaginative thinkers, whilst preparing young people for the growing job opportunities they'll encounter in later life.
Please contact Media Teacher Mr S Benzie for further information.
No additional equipment is required but those with access to, or experience of using cameras and editing software will have an advantage.
For this information please contact the Head of Department
Follow De Aston Media Twitter: @DeAstonMedia
3 Components
Component 01 – Exam (35%): Textual Analysis
Component 02 – Exam (35%): Exploring Media
Component 03 – Coursework (30%): Creating Media
Component 01 – Textual Analysis (of an unseen crime drama).
Students will need to show an understanding/appreciation of: Audiences (how any why they consume media products), contemporary media issues, generic conventions, technical practices (camera, editing, mise-en-scene), character and place representations, institutional practices and theories on genre/narrative, all whilst using correct media terminology.Component 02 – Exploring Media.
Students will study 9 media forms, with a particular focus on 3 (online media, newspapers, marketing and advertising). Students should consider how texts communicate meaning via media techniques, as well as the cultural, social and historic significance of each product, whilst referencing several theoretical perspectives.Component 03 – Creating Media
Students will create a media product (likely a TV advert, music video or film opening/trailer) of their choice, for an intended audience, applying their knowledge and understanding of key media concepts throughout.
As well as the final product, students will submit a production log of drafts, scripts, storyboards etc.


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Wowzee wow wow, where can I begin?! I have just returned from a fantastical trip throughout the great state of Texas following around a Nebraskan band called The Good Life. This is headed up by Tim Kasher, also the leader of Cursive. Kasher is one of the greatest songwriters of all-time. I am a total fan. Like complete crazy. I don't get this way about bands often. Radiohead is one example of my raving lunatic fanaticalness. Love 'em. And now...Tim Kasher. Anything he touches is gold. Since being in love with him means I'm in love with whichever of his two bands he currently is recording/touring with, I usually just refer to him personally rather than either one of the bands singly. So if you asked me, "Who are some of your favorite bands?" I would just say, "Tim Kasher" instead of "Cursive" or "The Good Life", because I can't have one without the other. It's all good, baby. Well anyway, he is now touring with The Good Life, and he made three stops in Texas, so I had to go to all three of them. Of course. With my wife Stephanie, and our good friend Jane. We are all three of us rabid Kasherites, and it was Jane who introduced us to such wonderful music.
For the uninitiated, I suppose I should explain a few things. Tim Kasher is part of the Indie scene, that is, he records for independent record labels. No big time labels for him like Capitol or Sony. It's all pretty much a small-time thing. His current label is Saddle Creek. This is basically a group of friends and like-minded individuals who like to make music and need it put out some way. It doesn't work like the big labels, where basically executives own the bands and force them to work within the labels' specifications. No, these guys can do whatever they want. Saddle Creek just sort of puts it out for them. There is no big money promotions or anything. It's all pretty much just word of mouth. So of course, the shows are not big. No sold out arenas here. No, they just play at little clubs for something like $10 a ticket. Just bar bands that happen to tour the country or even the world. These bands cannot be really considered famous. At a big place like Best Buy you may find the latest CDs from Cursive and The Good Life, but usually none of their older stuff. A place like Wal-Mart is out of the question. The best places to find CDs by these type of bands is online or at weird CD stores that cater to indie kids. These stores are usually only found in the bigger cities, like Good Records in Dallas or Waterloo in Austin.
The darling of the indie scene right now is Conor Oberst, a complete moron whose leftist views have so completely softened his brain so as to be utterly useless, is gaining some sort of fame right now with his band Bright Eyes. They seem to be featured in every music or entertainment magazine and are appearing on every late night talk show. His music stinks, and he recently sold one of his most completely retarded songs ever to Sesame Street for $1.5 million. So, for those real indie kids who aren't so enamored with Conor that they can take an honest look at things from a historical indie perspective (which is the grandchild of the punk perspective), he is a total sell-out. He is quickly becoming one of those famous bands that supposedly represent the indie scene, but because of his rising fame, is automatically disqualified from being considered indie anymore. For those of you who are familiar with none of these things, don't worry; you're not missing much. The historical school of Indie thought is to say that anybody who becomes even remotely famous is now a sell-out, is no longer meaningful, and isn't "indie". I think this is complete nonsense. Why shouldn't talented bands become famous? And can they really help it if all of a sudden people like them? No, I only consider a person a true sell-out only if he compromises his original artistic and musical principles in order to sell more records. Now, I am not in a position to judge if whether or not Conor Oberst is a sell-out according to my definition because I don't know his intentions. Maybe he is just getting famous accidentally, as it were. But I will call him a sell-out for two reasons. One is that he sold a song to SESAME STREET! For $1.5 MILLION! I mean, COME ON! Secondly, I call him a sell-out because I know it will infuriate all of his silly little teeny-bopper fans and all those who like him mostly because of his retarded politics. Stephanie and Jane used to be big fans of his and were able to tolerate his stupid political views until a recent tour of Texas. At the show they attended, he said that he hated Texas and that all Texans did was rape Indians and rope steers. There he goes, biting the hand that feeds him. Let's not mention that Nebraska (where Oberst hails from) has a much more politically incorrect history with Native Americans than Texas does. It just goes to show what a completely small, closed-minded bigot he is. Now I use these phrases on purpose. Being some sort of bleeding-heart liberal, Oberst is exactly the kind of person that likes to accuse others of being closed-minded and bigoted. That is the way of the political left. Oh, you think abortion is murder? Well, you're just a small-minded bigot. But making a baseless caricature of over 22 million people is a-okay. Moron. I guess Stephanie and Jane still listen to his music, but that have agreed with me that personally, he is a big stinker. I always thought his music sucked even before I knew what an idiot he was, but now I have more reason to heap scorn on him.
Why did I mention Conor? I don't remember. I think it was probably to help explain to any of you not familiar with this aspect of the music scene what the Indie scene is all about, and since he is starting to appear on television, you may have actually heard of him. So I bring him up to give you a concrete example of all this stuff that I'm talking about.
Well, back to my boyfriend, Tim Kasher. He is probably an idiot, too, but he doesn't bash us over the head with it at concerts. So hoorah for him.
So the first Texas stop is in Austin at Emo's, then onto Denton where they played at Haileys', and finally Houston, at Mary Jane's Fat Cat. There were three other acts performing before the Good Life at each show. The first was Consafos. This is a delightful band that turned us into instant fans. Stephanie bought their new LP. This band is led by Stefanie Drootin, who plays bass for The Good Life and sometimes for Bright Eyes (the afore-mentioned band led by Conor Oberst). I guess you could say that she is an all-around handy bass player for the Saddle Creek stable of bands. I am glad to see her going out front with her own band and singing prettily after playing second banana to all these other guys. She deserves her own spotlight. She's awesome.
A second band playing is called Bella Lea. This band is also awesome. Stephanie and Jane weren't too keen on them at first, but they came around by the third show. For one thing, the singer, Maura Davis, is freaking HOT. Now, I know this has nothing to do with their talents, and that they would probably not be pleased at all if her hotness was the only reason to like them, but I can't help but mention it. Dang, she's hot! But the main reason I like these folks is that they play real rock and roll with real guitar solos and stuff. This is not very common in the Indie scene at all. As I have suggested earlier, the Indie scene and "emo" music (as it is often called) is a direct descendent of punk music. One of the hallmarks of the punk scene was its stripping from rock music all showiness. And this usually included guitar solos. For punk, it was usually considered a very bad thing if you could actually play guitar well. The Indie/Emo scene is similar. They may not be consciously anti-guitar solo, but I think it is a subconscious left-over. A lot of the music is also derived from folk music, which is also not very solo-y. Just basic chords on an acoustic guitar. Remember the uproar that occurred when Bob Dylan went electric and had Robbie Robertson play lead guitar for him? Scandalous! Well, it's kind of like that today. But not this band! For one thing, Maura Davis is a very good rhythm guitar player. From watching her, I could tell that she knew more than just the basic Mel Bay chords. She was playing figures all over the neck with weird fingerings that I couldn't recognize. And Matt Clark is an excellent guitarist. He wears his Jimmy Page influence on his sleeve with his bluesy guitar licks and, most notably, with his use of violin bow. I asked him about this after a show, and he said that of course Jimmy Page was an influence. Then seeing my AC/DC shirt, he cited them as an influence as well. Awesome! This band is good. They have a bluesy quality that I love. If you haven't noticed from my generally negative remarks, I am not a big fan of the Indie/Emo style of music. I love Tim Kasher, and I like a few others okay, but most of the scene is just not my bag. I'm a guitar player, I'm a rock 'n' roller, and I love the blues. So Bella Lea appeals to me in those ways. Yet they also have the sort of Emo sadness that I do like. It's the beautifully sung sadness of Tim Kasher that makes him appeal to me, and this is also one of the major appeals of Radiohead. Bella Lea's slower songs have this sadness that is sung so beautifully that just tears at the heart-strings. Lovely. If you click on the link I provided above for Bella Lea, you should start hearing one of these songs immediately. Beautiful.
The third band, Make Believe, just plain stunk. Oh my gosh, they were like the male Yoko Ono. Need I say more? If you like Yoko Ono, then knock yourself out and check this band out. If not, then I suggest that you leave this band alone. Man. They're the suckiest sucks that ever sucked.
And finally...The Good Life. And man, are they good. Let me tell you the story of Tim Kasher, as I have been told it. This may not be all true, but it sounds good. He used to make music, got married, and then stopped making music because his wife wanted him to get a real job. So there you see, he's a nice guy, changing his plans for the woman he loves. But it didn't work. She left him anyway. So, even though his songs were all sad before this point in his life, now they got really sad. The album that the Good Life is currently touring for, the aptly titled Album of the Year, chronicles a relationship through the course of a year. Kasher says that some is autobiographical, some is fictional, but it is all good. This is the album that I heard that turned me into an instant Tim Kasher fan. For one thing, the music is beautiful. I could be a fan no matter what the lyrical content was (well, except unless it was bigoted anti-Texas crap). His singing is so full of emotion so that you can't take your attention away. But the lyrics are what jumped out at me. This album pretty much describes word-for-word a previous relationship I was once in. Well, except for the bits about bars and drinking. I thought that I could have written this album. Except, of course, that I met my wife. This made me very happy, and so I could no longer write sad poems. Or any poems. I seem to be one of those guys (probably like Tim Kasher) who is creative when I am sad. When I am sad, I could put out great poems, and sometimes great songs. But happiness is a writer's block to me. Since I've been happy since December of 2000, I haven't had any real creative output since then. Darn you, Stephanie, for ruining my musical career! I kid her, of course.
Now then. As I said, these venues that the Good Life played at are small. Just little clubs. Bars, really. And again, these bands aren't really famous at all. So, you put these two facts together, and what you get is a bunch of awesome musicians wandering around the club with us regular folks when they're not needed on stage. Which means that I could, say, walk right up to my hero Tim Kasher and say, Hello, Mr. Kasher. Which I did. To my great embarrassment, I was so star struck on the first night that I just sort of blubbered at him and barely spit out what I was trying to say. He was probably very amused. He probably doesn't have grown men go a big gooey wet one on him very often. I think he was also amused by the fact that I called him "Mr. Kasher" instead of acting all cool like the other people there and just saying, "Hey, Tim, great to see you," as if they know him, which they don't. I got to talk to a lot of people in these bands. There are all cool and awesome. Especially when engaging in guitar talk with the guitarists. And even though Tim Kasher is my hero and I was there only for him, I think the most celebrity moment for me was meeting Stefanie Drootin, his bass player. As I have said, she also plays bass for Conor Oberst, and because of that fact, I have seen her on TV when Bright Eyes played on the Late Late Show with Colin Ferguson. So even though I am in love with Tim Kasher, I have never actually seen him on TV. Stefanie, I have seen on TV. So meeting her was, as I said, my most celebrity moment. It made me think of seeing wax figures at museums. I always see them and think, "This is way too small to be built to scale." But then you meet a famous person and discover that they are, in fact small. Other than that, they look just like they do on TV. Well, that was how I felt meeting Stefanie Drootin. Fortunately, I didn't go all gooey on her like I did on Tim Kasher. I was able to play it cool around her. I have a crush on her now, I've decided. Yes, I am in love. Stephanie (my wife) is cool with it because she has a crush on Tim Kasher. It all works out.
The first night, in Austin, we're watching the show and I had forgotten to bring my camera. Well, actually, I had remembered to bring my camera, but I had forgotten to put batteries in it. So I'm standing there thinking that I need to take pictures at the next show in Denton. And then I get a marvelous idea. Keep in mind that all previous concerts that I've been to were big famous ones. AC/DC, Radiohead, Velvet Revolver...that sort of thing. All these places are full of security guards and metal detectors. So I always had to smuggle cameras in my rectum and so forth. But not these shows. So I have this great idea. Nuts to my camera, why not bring a video camera to the next show? I asked my fine ladies with me, and they said that Haileys (the club in Denton that was next on the itinerary and with which they are very familiar) would have no objection to my bringing a video camera. I just needed to get permission from Tim Kasher. So I did! After the show. Well, actually, I got Jane to ask for me. Remember, I'm too star-struck to speak intelligible phrases at this point. Tim says sure, he doesn't care. So the next day I take my video camera with me.
Before the show I went up to my good friend Tim Kasher and asked him if he could manage to play my favorite song for me, "October Leaves". He said, "Oh, I'm sorry, we didn't learn that for the tour." I don't know if this is a cock-and-bull story or not. I see no reason why he should lie, because he takes lots of requests. Unless he thought maybe I was coming on to him. I suppose normally that it is girls who come up to him to request songs. Not some huge guy. But that's probably me just being paranoid. Maybe he honestly didn't remember how to play it.
And then I film the show. No tripod. Too short. Can't rest the camera on my shoulder. Too short. So I have to hold it up. For an hour and a half. Let me tell you, that is freaking hard work. Jane asked me if I'd film the Houston show, too, and I said no way. My shoulder is still sore. But it was worth it. Now I can see The Good Life live every night! Wee ha! And the fact that I got the blessing for its filming straight from Tim Kasher himself, well, that just makes it extra special.
But the absolute highlight of the whole experience came on the last day, in Houston. At every show, after about an hour, Tim would announce that it was the end of the "set proper." So all the other musicians would leave the stage, and he'd stand up there with his acoustic guitar and play a brand new song. Each night was a different new song. After that, the band would rejoin him and they'd play a few more songs. Anyway, he would always introduce the new song in some way, or dedicate it to somebody. So that last night, he's about to play his new song, and he stands there thinking of something to say. Then he points straight at me and says, "I dedicate the song to that guy, because he's been coming to all our shows. Following us around. But in a good way, not in a bad way. He hasn't been showing up at my doorstep." Well, I had an emotional orgasm right then and there, I can tell you that. Stephanie and Jane felt a bit slighted because they were sitting right next to me and had also been to every show, but he didn't mention them. Ha! So I am very special. I can die now. Just make sure you bury me with my recording of the Denton show.
Friday, May 06, 2005
The Good Life
Posted by Stephen Thomas at 3:37 PM
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Math and science are worthwhile and needed, however increasingly more the dearth of emphasis on English Language Arts (ELA) is being noticed in the best way individuals speak, the loss of the love for studying, and the shortage of writing abilities in our youth as they enter the work power and school.
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I recently made this for some friends of mine, i had seen a recipe with oreo and brownie all baked layered together, it was an evil and gratuitous recipe that was going to get baked simply for the OTT nature of the recipe... where less isnt more...more is ....well... more.
my guests loved it so i decided to blog it, cos it was sooo awesome!.... but i thought I'd do the cheaters version since its an easy recipe.... for the Time poor.


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By Guy Bunker
The commercial downturn that happened after the .com increase and bust has placed the price of IT within the spotlight. by means of following the foundations of software computing, sometimes called on-demand computing, real-time infrastructure, or adaptive firm, companies can increase the IT prone they provide, when lowering expenditures and bettering agility. supplying application Computing proposes and files a technique for offering software computing, and gives exact recommendation on its ideas and benefits. The authors describe an entire and step by step strategy for adapting to a software computing process, in response to confirmed methodology.Delivering software Computing: * presents a complete description of the application version, supplying suggestions on layout, deployment and upkeep matters, and a powerful part on carrier point agreements (SLAs). * Explains intimately the right way to enhance efficiencies and attain price relief within the IT division. * Adopts a radical procedure, bearing in mind present baselines, phasing, activity concerned, good fortune components and top perform ideas. * provides a style rooted in concept, but broad-based and useful, illustrated all through with examples and real-world case experiences. This priceless textual content presents CIOs, CFOs, process directors, IT coverage makers and pros seeking to strengthen application computing practices of their firms, in addition to researchers in desktop technological know-how, statisticians, engineers, and graduate scholars, with an in-depth realizing of the thoughts and practicalities of software computing.
Read or Download Delivering Utility Computing: Business-Driven IT Optimization PDF
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Sample text
It also traces some of the technological advances that have occurred to bring us to this point. 2 BACK TO THE BEGINNING The high cost of early mainframe computers made them inherently large business resources. The computer (usually singular) was shared out of fiscal necessity. The technology of the time also encouraged utility-style operation. Ordinary people did not interact with computers. They prepared 'jobs' on punched cards, which they submitted to specialists who, in turn, queued them for execution in an order determined by the user's importance.
With Ethernet and TCP/IP, businesses could deploy low-cost personal computers and small servers anywhere. Users were no longer dependent on a central system; they could process data even when not connected. As a result, both processing and data became distributed throughout businesses. The utility aspect of business computing was diminished further by the relative independence of many departmental and individual computers treated almost as private property by their owners. Just as Moore's Law predicts increased processing speeds, Gilder's Law predicts increases in network capacity.
6 Service level agreements Utility computing focuses around services and the associated service level agreements (SLAs). These are the contracts between the ITOs and the consumers of IT, the lines of business. There might be one SLA or many. In essence, each is a contract, much like that which exists between a home owner and the traditional gas, water or electricity utilities. It specifies what the consumer is to expect, in a language that they understand, the costs associated with using the service, along with any penalties that might be payable should the service not perform as expected.


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Rakhtbeej (2012) Genre: Drama
Genre: Drama
Release date: May 25, 2012
Rakhtbeej is the story of two men, from two different generations. Even though their worlds are different their lives keep intersecting.
Actor: Maanas Srivastava | Sanjay Gagnani | Mansi Dovhal
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Critics Reviews : 2 Reviews
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entire city portion drags what could've been a tighter film down into confusion plus gore - and howlers galore.
Mansha Rastogi
Rakhtbeej can actually be listed in the series of cult bad films that scarred Hindi cinema. Best avoided!


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*sigh of relief.
So everything is officially done. All the stressful events we had scheduled the last three months (our wedding, the holidays, traveling to France and Florida and run/walk 39.2 miles) are OVER. I can breathe again. Well, kind of. Greg got an offer from the company he interviewed with and now we are waiting to hear some answers to our questions before Greg decides to accept. I think we are about 70% on board with moving to London. Holy shit!!! It will mean less money but a better career opportunity for Greg. And an amazing adventure. I am always up for an adventure (backpacking Europe solo for 2 weeks, attending university in Virginia and in London sight unseen, moving to Austin jobless and sight unseen, putting a personal ad on Craigslist <INSANE>, you get the point) and thankfully I married a man who is willing to humor me. Sigh…so the idleness will not last long. If we decide to go that means we have to stage the house for a sale/rent, pack/sell our stuff, sell my car and get the cats prepped for crossing the pond. So much to do but I won't think about it too much until the offer has been accepted. Until then I will work on applying for work.
I went on an interview but apparently it didn't go as well as I thought it did. They were suppose to let me know today if I got the job or not and I never heard from them. Oh well. Back to the unemployment line. You may be wondering: why look for a job? Well, many reasons. First, it would be nice to have some extra spending money. I miss that. Secondly, if we decide that Greg shouldn't take the job that still leaves me needing one. And thirdly, it would be nice to actually do something with my days. With nothing left to plan or train for I am left with nothing much to do.
I started this post with the intention of posting a few Disney pics. But before I do I have to share my opinion on the Goofy Challenge. I was pretty fearful about doing it. I mean, who commits to 39.3 miles in the span of 2 days? Goofy is right. I like adventure so I signed up hoping to lose weight while training and get fit by the wedding. Sadly I burned out of running by September and I struggled to run at least once a week after that. Hell, I didn't run once while in Paris, so you can see where I was getting my doubts from. I didn't go into the challenge with much strategy except to take the half easy and save my legs for the full. Well, if you have ever participated in a race you know how easy it is to get carried away with the crowd and compete with those around you. I ran a decent half. Nothing amazing. I was a bit sore that night but I took it easy and rested.
Florida was not immune to the wretched cold front affecting the east coast. There was freezing rain during the half and it was 30 effin' degrees. Marathon day: low 20s. I couldn't feel my feet until after running a mile, both days.I have never in my life felt that cold in my life. It was pure misery waiting for the races to start. The shuttle buses picked you up by 4AM at the latest but the race didn't start until 5:40 (if you were in the first wave) or 6:10 (if you were in the last wave and I was). I wouldn't have mind waiting if it had been 50 degrees or so. Otherwise, the races were well organized. They had pretty good support, with water stops on both sides of the street (love that!) and a med tent at every mile after ten miles (I think). During the marathon I needed the med tent every mile after mile 19. The bridge in my right foot was KILLING me. Thank heaven for Bio Freeze! I finished that race by repeatedly singing, "Just keep running, just keep running," when I was able to run. I also kept thinking about the medals. I would be damned if I would walk around Disney jealous of everyone's medals. So I ran, mostly walked really fast, and finished.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to take pictures with the characters along the way because I was scared of wasting time. I had to complete both races with a 16 min./mile average in order to earn the Goofy medal. Yes, that's quite a lot of time to finish a race but not so when you're out of shape and under trained (me). Finally, if I had to mention another con, it's that it's hard to spectate without a car. Greg was only able to see us (my friend Michelle and I) finish, not cheer us along the route. Anyway, without further ado, the pics:
Notice that there is no line to get your packet. It's because no one is that goofy to sign up for this challenge.
See, there are A LOT of people planning to run the full and the half but not both.
We had to.
Wet from the rain but so damn happy I finished the Donald. I had 4 layers on. Kept all of them.
Here's Michelle high-fiving Minnie during her marathon finish. Notice that she still has her gloves on! I finished with my gloves too. It never warmed up.
Michelle with her bling.
Me, my bling, and my girl Daisy.
These are the baddest (yes, I went there) ass medals ever.
Being Goofy.
Chillin' with Minnie and Mickey. Of course.
Fireworks at the castle.
We were quite determined to get pics with Goofy before we left. We found him and he was pretty excited for us. So cute.
After all the stress brought on by training and missed training I would still totally do it again. The course is easy and very doable. My goal for next time would be to run fast enough to have time to spare to take pictures with the characters.
Next race: Austin Half Marathon February 14. I don't think I will train for that either 🙂


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Advances in OptoElectronics
Volume 2012, Article ID 347875, 5 pages
Conditions of Perfect Imaging in Negative Refraction Materials with Gain
1State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
2Department of Physical Electronics, School of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel
3Chemical Physics Department, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
Received 29 June 2012; Accepted 3 October 2012
Academic Editor: Alexandra E. Boltasseva
Copyright © 2012 Haowen Liang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
How to Cite this Article
Haowen Liang, Yifeng Shao, Jianying Zhou, Boris A. Malomed, and Gershon Kurizki, "Conditions of Perfect Imaging in Negative Refraction Materials with Gain," Advances in OptoElectronics, vol. 2012, Article ID 347875, 5 pages, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/347875.


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Quiet Electronics Moderated Newsgroup For The Electronic Professionals and Other Professionals
T&d tr-52 temperature data logger
T&d tr-52 temperature data logger
The TR-52 temperature data logger manufactured by the T&D Corporation is a compact, rugged temperature data logger with an external temperature sensor and display. The temperature measurment range is -60 to +155 C. The logger can take measurements in 15 intervals from once a second to once an hour and can store up to 16,000 data points. Their water resistant design allows these loggers to be used in harsh environments such as refrigerators, freezers or outside. An internal battery allows operation for up to 2 years. The logger requires a TR-50C reader to download data to a PC. This is a new unused


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A Life Free of Anxiety Disorder
Written On: April 11, 2016
By: Johnnie C. Miller
Anxiety disorder treatment is a necessary step to take for all people who suffer from panic attacks, OCD, generalized anxiety disorder or some other conditions which belong to this category. Before any kind of treatment, however, a diagnostic procedure needs to take place, where the doctor carefully examines the state of the patient, noticing the reasons behind his/her condition. This is very important, especially in cases where some other, underlying illnesses trigger anxiety disorders. Once a patient seeks medical assistance for anxiety disorders, it is advisable for him/her to notify the doctor about any previous treatments. All information is crucial for forming a new type of anxiety disorder treatment, so this form of cooperation is a must.
Based on the symptoms, the medical history and the general health of the patent, the treatment may take several different forms. The first step are usually medications, being considered as a temporary measure prior to psychotherapy.
Antidepressants are frequently prescribed for controlling anxiety disorders. The treatment requires taking the medications for several weeks before any noticeable effects take place. Therefore, persistence is a very important factor for this part of anxiety disorder treatment.
Alternatively, SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Prozac, Zoloft and Lexapro can be used for treatment of OCD, post-traumatic stress disorder and social phobia. Also, medications quite similar to these are commonly used in the treatment for generalized anxiety disorder. Since all of these disorders are subtypes of anxiety disorders, all these treatments are actually possible solutions for dealing with this larger health problem. MAO inhibitors and tricyclics can be used as alternatives for anxiety attacks too but, since these are often related to some potentially serious side-effects, consulting with your health experts before taking them is highly recommended.
Anti-anxiety drugs present a form of anxiety disorder treatment which has the smallest occurrence of side-effects, regardless of the prescribed dose, provided that the patients have not had any previous cases of alcohol or drug addiction.
As far as this category is concerned, Clonazepam is mostly used for treating social phobia and generalized anxiety disorder, while Ativan is suitable for treating anxiety disorders.
Xanax is more versatile and can be used for all three of these health problems.
Finally, beta-blockers, originally used for heart problem treatments, can find their purpose in anxiety disorder treatment too, especially for social phobia. Should medications fail to give any adequate results, psychotherapy is the next step towards a successful treatment. Cognitive-behavioral therapy has proven to be the most effective one for these purposes, helping people overcome phobias and anxiety by changing the attitudes and mental reactions that anxiety disorder tends to trigger. This individual therapy lasts for about 3 months. It can also take place in groups, most often for patients suffering from social phobia.


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In iOS 12, Apple gives the option for downloading the new update on your iPhone. Enable it, To get frequently up-to-date your Device when it comes in future. Most of the time, that's help to fix some bugs and improve your Device performance day by day. Follow the steps for Enable/Disable Automatic Software Update in iOS 12.
Stop auto Software Update and Install in iOS 12 on iPhone X, iPhone 8/8 Plus. Your iPhone will install new updates automatically in ideal conditions. That's caring your device battery, internet connectivity and more.
Steps for Enable or Disable Automatic Software Update in iOS 12 on iPhone and iPad
"iPhone will automatically install updates"
1: Go to the Settings App on your iPhone.
2: Now, Tap on General.
3: Next to General > Software Update.
4: Wait for while on the screen "Check for Software Update.." and Soon you can see "Automatic Update".
5: Turn off or Turn on Automatic Software option.
That's it.
Now you don't need to use iTunes software update.
Unfortunately, Apple gives this option on new iOS 12 Beta 1 version. Hope it will continue in new iOS update. Right now Automatic Update software is not available on WatchOS, MacOS Mojave.
Cheers! And Like and Share it! Enable iOS Software Update on iPhone and iPad. Sit back for the next update. And Enjoy!


text: Sometimes bad things happen to good people. An unfortunate misstep should not blemish a person for life. In the event you or a loved one is in the unfortunate position of needing the best DWI and criminal defense lawyer you can find, Doug Murphy is a decorated and accomplished DWI and criminal defense lawyer. Doug Murphy has a proven track record of success. Many lawyers claim to specialize in DWI defense and criminal defense, but Doug Murphy is one of only two Texas lawyers Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and also in DWI Defense by the National College for DUI Defense, accredited by the American Bar Association and the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Doug is a veteran trial lawyer who has spoken at over 100 legal continuing legal education seminars throughout the United States, and widely recognized as one of the best in the business.


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Prophet Russ Walden gives a video invitation to the Online Prophetic School. Find out what it's all about! Click Here for More Info: Watch the video below as Prophet Russ introduced the Online Prophetic School. These powerful courses sponsored by Father's Heart Ministry are now enrolling for classes beginning November 7th. Included this year is an all-new format – much improved with more course assistants than ever before. If you ever wanted to know more about hearing God's voice and moving in the prophetic – it doesn't get any easier than this (with 6 different courses to choose from!). In … (click link or title to continue)
Archive for October 18th, 2018
The Father says today, this is a now season for you. No more hope deferred and no more heart sick. I heal you this day with the fresh wind of My now. My now is a wind blowing through your life this day, says God. This is sooner and not later time for you. My now wind is blowing out the chaff of yesterday's thinking and the wounding that you have carried with you far too long. The scar tissues of past disappointments are slipping away, and your heart is now being renewed for the hope that lies before you, … (click link or title to continue)


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What is it like when planning weddings with your spouse?I've been working with the Regalo Design team planning weddings for 5 years now. In that time, I have worked with Sarah and Damon on countless Saturdays and helped them with the daunting task of pulling off wedding after wedding. Recently I started working in the office on the day-to-day. I'm now an associate planner on the team and I not only see how they work together in the stress of the wedding day, but also in the planning process.
So, I wondered what is it like working with your spouse? You don't see it too often, and you definitely don't see it in the wedding business. I decided to ask them a few questions to see if they really do enjoy working together.
Here are the answers that the dynamic duo who own Regalo Design gave me to share with you:
1. When working weddings together, do you ever think of/compare it to your special day?
Damon: Sarah may do this more than I do. During the actual day, all I'm thinking is "get this done!" Generally during the dances is when I sit back and reflect. But at that point I'm just thinking about what my dances with my baby girls will look like. We've got three weddings coming at some point in the next 25 – 30 years. That's three dances with my girls. Just saying this out loud makes my eyes sweat a bit.
At the end of the night there are many times where we are talking as we're headed home about how the wedding went. It's never a comparison though. We had an amazing day. As perfect as it gets. That's what we want for each of our brides. If she walks away as happy as we were, it was a success.
Sarah: Our wedding day was the inspiration behind starting Regalo Design. It was a perfect, personalized reflection of our love and our story. It is the reason why my love for weddings over corporate events started to blossom. However, I don't reflect upon our wedding day while planning or implementing another wedding as that was our special day and not our clients. They have their own visions, thoughts and inspiration. My job is to give them their wedding day and not ours.
Working together as husband and wife is very special. There are moments in the day, after everything is set up and ready to go, where I look at Damon and without saying a word, we know how special it is that we get to do what we get to do every day together. When I see a bride and her dad right before they walk down the aisle, I can't help but think about my dad. Those are the fun and exciting moments that make me so thankful for our perfect day.
2. What are some of the challenges of working with your spouse? How do you overcome those challenges?
Damon: The biggest issue and bonus for Sarah and I is communication. In any working relationship, you must be able to communicate well. It's an issue when we don't do it well and because we know what the other is thinking 99% of the time, we don't even have to talk. But those times that we don't it's much more personal because we're married. There are some days where it flows perfectly and others where the apologies are abundant. But I do know that us working together has improved our communication both in work and at home.
Sarah: The challenge is knowing when to turn work off and just be together as a family. When you build a business with your spouse, you get to experience the good and the bad. We celebrate in the joys, achievements, blessings and growing of the business. But, it isn't always good. We are there for each other in the nights where you don't know how you are going to pay the bills. Constantly navigating through clients' needs, good and bad. We watch each other have anxiety over what all needs to get done. In the end, through great communication, you become closer and stronger as a couple and as individuals. When you own it, it is hard to turn it off and rest.
3. Do you think there is something different or special about working weddings rather than working in an office or another profession together?
Damon: There's no question. Emotions are so high on wedding days… and in the days leading up to them. I sit with Sarah in the evenings after meetings and can feel whatever emotion the client had that night. She carries it with her. So, in that sense, we never leave the office. The same goes for the wedding day. We both deal with that emotion together. The good news is we work through it together and having the knowledge of how your wife processes things makes it much easier to talk through.
Sarah: Yes! Because we are married and do weddings, it is very special that we get to be with couples who are just about to start the journey of marriage. I wouldn't want to be doing this with anyone else. Damon knows how I carry the weight of each client. He is able to remind me why I do what I do and encourages me to be a better business women each day. More than anything, he challenges me to value myself in every interaction with any client or vendor. Weddings are an amazing moment in life and I get to experience it with my husband and for that, I am forever grateful.
4. What advantages are there to working weddings with your spouse?
Damon: I generally know what she is thinking before she says anything. And she knows when I need a nap! What I love is how we deal with the clients together. We get to bounce ideas back and forth. We problem solve for other people together. And we have both the male and female perspectives. That's a huge advantage!
Sarah: Well… we are with each other a lot so we get to talk through things together. Damon knows everything about me. He knows what I need when I am stressed or frustrated, and he also knows how to keep me focused. On the flip side, we don't have to talk much on the day of the event. We put our heads down and get it done! This is actually a benefit as we both understand what needs to get done and we do it quickly.
5. What do you love most about your spouse when working together?
Damon: The time that I get to spend with Sarah is priceless. If we weren't working together we'd see each other very rarely. What people don't see are our Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Those are 16 hour days with floral prep, loading the van, final phone calls to triple check everything, rehearsals, and wedding days. It's a non-stop pressure cooker. If one thing goes wrong that could be THE thing that ruins the day for the client. So being together and spending that time together means neither of us is ever alone in the stress. And the conversations on those late evenings are super entertaining… if only to us!
Sarah: I love the time we get to spend together. However, the thing I love the best is that Damon can make me smile and laugh in the times when I need it the most. The late-night flower production, the vendor who is making it all about them and the long list of things that need to get done. I love that he is with me to provide my much-needed comic relief.
I have seen a lot of Sarah and Damon in the last five years. And I can tell you that they truly care about each person that they get to serve. And they do it really well.
For more information about how we can help you create the perfect wedding day, just contact us using the form below. You'll see right away why having people who care about you and your vision make all the difference.
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