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Friday, August 21, 2009
Potty Training Surprises
Some of these surprises are left in the kids play tent, some are left in the backside of droopy underwear, some are left lying on the floor and on a few happy occasions, some are actually left in the potty.
Seriously, who am I trying to fool? After potty training 4, I've seen it all...and smelt it all, and cleaned it all. Aren't you proud of me? Wonder if I could use that in my resume should I decide to one day re-enter the work force?
Today while cleaning the kitchen after lunch, I put my very 'regular' son on his training potty. He's so regular that I can predict that as soon as he's finished eating his peanut butter & honey sandwich, he will slink out of his chair and quietly hide under the kitchen table to make his deposit, and we're not talking about into my checking account.
So while I was cleaning, listening to music and talking to myself, (which is no biggy around here mom always talks to herself, and no one had better interrupt an adult when they're talking).....he scooted his potty chair from the bathroom, through the dining room, out the kitchen door, through the "school" room, and out onto the patio, in plain view of my neighbors!
Scooted it. Get the picture. Like a dog would scoot on their hiney.
One of my daughters who was enjoying her sandwich outside came running in yelling, "Mom, Justice is outside sitting on his potty!"
What? Huh?
Did he just scoot his potty seat right past me and out onto the patio? It makes a horrible high pitched squeal as it slides across the ceramic tile. How'd I miss that? I must have been having a really interesting conversation with myself.
I hate potty training.
18 comments:
- Pastor and Judy Brodie said...
I just told my husband "You gotta read Portual Bound she's really good." I love your real down to earth, every day life stories! :)
- Friday, August 21, 2009 4:15:00 PM
- Pilar said...
Girl, you know I am right there with you. At least he took the potty chair, not like my daughter this morning, that after making us all excited with going in the potty chair, she went and hid in my room and left a number 1 and 2 for me to clean..... i am so frustrated i think I am about to give her the weekend off...
One more reason not to have any more kids... :) or working on a day care with 2-3 years old for that matter..... can you imagine potty training 10 kids all at the same time..... wow.....
- Friday, August 21, 2009 4:57:00 PM
- TCKK said...
That is too hysterical Nina!!!
- Friday, August 21, 2009 5:43:00 PM
- Amrita said...
But Nina , he looks so cute sitting on the throne.
- Friday, August 21, 2009 5:52:00 PM
- Starla said...
LOL! So cute!
- Friday, August 21, 2009 6:10:00 PM
- Jennie said...
Hello to my new "bloggy friend!"
I am chuckling as I am getting ready to potty train child number 6 in the very near future.
I do not not know if this post was inspiring or discouraging, ;) but I had a good laugh!
Thanks for sharing....
Have a great weekend!
- Friday, August 21, 2009 7:34:00 PM
- Rob and Deanna said...
LOL What a Great mental picture! This little guy scooting around with his bum in a toilet. :-) I am potty training my 2 1/2 yr. old, so I can totally sympathize.
- Friday, August 21, 2009 10:50:00 PM
- Dani Joy said...
It´s potty training summer for you and Pilar. I can honestly say I do not envy you!! I put in my time potty training three boys though. I think they still need some training.
Love the personal conversation. makes me feel normal or sane. jeje
You da best!!!
- Saturday, August 22, 2009 12:07:00 AM
- grayspirit said...
Hi. I enjoyed your blog and have done a short review of it and listed it as a reference on my blog. My blog is about Americans who live or retire abroad and provides general information about living overseas. I provide my readers with references to blogs like yours for more detailed information about living in a specific country overseas than I am able to provide.
- Saturday, August 22, 2009 1:52:00 AM
- Sandy Sellers said...
Oh how I remember those days. That is a very potty training story that will be entertaining to tell his future wife one day. lol I remeber the most when I was finished with potty training. After 5 children being close together, I changed diapers for 12 solid years. I was so happy when I did not have to carry a diaper bag any more.
- Saturday, August 22, 2009 1:56:00 AM
- Mom said...
That is hilarious... and that picture is even more so. I keep remembering (when I was there) what Michael said when he told you "we have to get him potty trained, this is like changing a 6yr old!"
Yep, I would say your conversation with yourself was a good one. To bad you no longer keep baby books. This would have been a good one to write down.
I'm sure it wont be long before the light goes on in his head and he will have the potty mastered.
Good luck... Love you Mom
- Saturday, August 22, 2009 3:26:00 AM
- The Hat Chick said...
The look on his face is priceless. This will be a good photo to use when he is a teenager....
- Saturday, August 22, 2009 2:27:00 PM
SO FUNNY! My son once went on the front lawn (#1). My neighbor informed me. How did he get out of the house and pee on the front lawn without me knowing? I'm a terrible mother.
Can't believe you caught a picture! That's great.
- Sunday, August 23, 2009 4:22:00 AM
- Betty said...
LOL! I can´t even remember those days anymore,they´re so far gone.... :)
Love your pic!
- Sunday, August 23, 2009 5:10:00 PM
- Jill said...
Oh, Nina, thanks for such a great laugh! The only good thing about potty training (aside from the hoped-for results) is that you can save these stories to threaten them with when they become teenagers! Hang in there!
- Sunday, August 23, 2009 7:54:00 PM
- Becka said...
I'm about to fall out of my chair,,
I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing with you..!!
you got to say THATS funny !!!
I'm sorry, it will be over before you know it.
love you girl,
- Sunday, August 23, 2009 11:52:00 PM
- Janice: AKA Nanny said...
That's the cutest potty picture I have ever seen, it's his PORTA-POTTY.
- Monday, August 24, 2009 4:42:00 PM
- Marytoo said...
In time everything becomes funny or forgotten...might as well be funny now!
- Tuesday, August 25, 2009 5:37:00 PM


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Top Ten Characters I Wish Would Get Their Own Book
10. Gavin Cocky and arrogant, but at the same time, hilariously funny, I'm DYING to know what goes on in his head!
That's my list! I should mention, a lot of these characters do have novellas from their POVs, but I don't think that counts. I want a whole novel or series!
So what do you think? Agree or disagree?

subset: commoncrawl


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To find the Boom box:
1. Go to the Dance Club (Main Floor).
2. Click on the box of Boomboxs that's beside the door.
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The party has 3 floors! This is the Main Floor:
The other floor is the Dance Lounge.
You can also party on the roof of the Dance Club!
Also, if you get to meet Cadence, she will give you a free background.
Also the new game is called 'Dance Contest'. It is awesome. You can do a dance challenge by your self or multi player. I will make a Dance Contest game tutorial soon.
-Cena12121, Team Club Penguin Cheats President
TCPC: Club Penguin Cheats and More!


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Candy Wanless was instrumental for the last 6 years to get our playground created from bare dirt. She, along with a dedicated committee, organized fundraisers, planned which equipment to buy, and installed it.
Manitoba Hydro recently gave a grant to Reston School to purchase 40 mature trees for our playground. We plan to keep track of their growth and hope they quickly give shade and shelter from the wind at our school. Mrs. MacKenzie helped get the grant and she will make sure they get the poster.
West Souris River Conservation District looked after securing the Hydro Grants for us and then they (Dean, Tim and Amber) delivered the trees here and planted them. Staff will take turns watering them in the summer.
Murray and Keri Vinck donated a row of willow trees and dug them in north of the playground a couple of years ago. Several had to be replaced but we hope this time they will thrive.


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Caroline Wozniacki will caddie for Rory McIlroy in the Masters Par-3 Tournament
We're used to seeing Caroline Wozniacki carry her own tennis bags out to the court before a big match, but I hope she's used to something a little heavier come Wednesday.
Her boyfriend and No. 2 golfer in the world, Rory McIlroy, confirmed on Tuesday that Wozniacki would be his caddie for the Par-3 Tournament, a yearly tradition at the Masters that brings family, kids and significant others out to enjoy a leisurely stroll around the short course at Augusta National before the first major kicks off on Thursday.
Q: On a happier note, will we see Caroline on the bag tomorrow?
McIlroy: Yeah, Caroline will be on the bag tomorrow.
McIlroy has struggled with his golf game much of the season, but found something last week at the Valero Texas Open, finishing second alone to Martin Laird and said he's excited about this week.
The advice we would give Wozniacki for her Wednesday caddie duties? Don't step in anyone's line, if Rory is the last one to putt make sure you grab the flag from the other caddie, and DON'T LET RORY WIN! No player has ever won the Par-3 and the Masters event in the same season, so if McIlroy is four or five-under heading into No. 9 I'd suggest tossing all the rest of those Nike golf balls in the pond and making sure he is forced to disqualify himself.


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Friday, July 6, 2012
Blue, Like Eternity
It was one of those afternoons where the land seemed particularly empty of animal life, human or otherwise. I did see a horse looking over a gate, a hand full of sheep, and a Hawk slow circling above a marsh, but there was a quality to the afternoon that was like an intake of breath. A stillness.
I walked passed the farm where a while ago I used to buy fresh vegetables. The land which had once been cabbages, carrots, berries, and beetroot, was now rough grass, and there were no sheep or lambs. I was invaded by sadness.
Mick that used to work the land there through summer heat and drought and winter cold, died some months ago, and I miss the chats that I had with him about the farm, and the sight of his woolly hat, his honest face and working hands. Sad, but good to think of him though.
I made my way to the beach. It is a journey of about 2 kilometers from here, maybe slightly more. I chose a route that went beside the golf course. Funny places golf courses. All that mowed grass, those sand traps, dainty trees, neither too big nor to small, and little clusters of people walking and stopping like remnants of an army on maneuvers. All that pacing, plotting, and practicing to hit a tiny hard ball a long way down green paths, past dangerous traps, and into a little hole, not just once, but eighteen times! I have never "got" golf. We did get shown how to strike a golf ball once. I could make contact with it before the lesson, but afterward I could either swoosh at air, or dig bone jarring craters in the green. Golf seems a very up tight sort of a game, and most of the golf players I know have bad backs! Walking down one fairway were a pair of Paradise ducks that seemed to be imitating a more distant group of golfers. They had the golfers' gait and the air of concentration. I got a laugh out of that!
The thing that I liked about my walk past the golf course was that this is where you get the first real glimpse of the sea. It is at the road's end, and is framed by the double line of blond trunked leafless trees that mark the road's progress through the landscape. The colour of the water, a strong purple blue, was so robust that it was almost shocking. It was a colour that lodged in my chest.
I stood on a sand dune and listened to the waves as they lifted above the mirror of the sea and galloped forward to their destruction below me.
The tide was nearly full, with just a narrow ribbon of sand above it, that was regularly swept by the advancing waves.
Beaches have their own sounds. There are pebble strewn beaches where the rocks grind against each other as the water stirs them, and waves can sound like a truck load of stones being dumped onto a hard surface. There are beaches where waves whisper, hiss, and sigh.
Our beach has long waves that tear like Velcro as the crest starts to topple, then the final collapse on the beach is accompanied by a growl that changes to a steam-like hiss as the water starts to suck back again.
The sand was white with two day old frost where it was in shade and untroubled by sea.
A man that I did not know stopped, and we talked about the difficulty, impossibility, of making a living as a fisherman. He had spent much of his life at sea and was from a family of seafarers, and now he worked on the wharf loading ships with a crane. Pale grey-violet with distance a cargo ship waited just off the narrow entrance to the Otago Harbour. "Loading that with logs is my job tomorrow", my companion said.
I returned by a path that took me through a grove of old pine trees, there the low sun cut shadows with the precision of a surgeon's scalpel and scattered them on the ground. You could trip on shadows like that.
24 comments:
- Linda Starr said...
Gripping post Peter, glad you slipped out.
- July 6, 2012 at 7:15 PM
- Tracey Broome said...
- July 6, 2012 at 7:17 PM
- smartcat said...
Beautiful day, beautiful country. Thanks for taking us along.
- July 6, 2012 at 10:14 PM
- Angie said...
What a beautifully written piece ...I really was with you on your walk ...hearing the sea ...you were so discriptive ...and the photos were stunning. Thank you so much for sharing your escape from captivity.xx
- July 6, 2012 at 10:39 PM
- cookingwithgas said...
Oh Peter, thank you for taking us on your walk- I could hear the ocean waves. Sweet, sweet post.
- July 6, 2012 at 10:39 PM
- Barbara Rogers said...
This lovely mix of pictures and prose gave me an emotional experience I had not anticipated. What a surprise! What pleasant feelings. Not just showing me your walk, your thoughts, but bringing it to another level. Thanks so much.
- July 6, 2012 at 11:57 PM
- Judy Shreve said...
Beautiful post Peter - feels as if I visited and took that lovely walk with you. And that blue - is stupendous!
- July 7, 2012 at 12:58 AM
- Arkansas Patti said...
So glad you played hookey from work Peter and just enjoyed that marvelous walk. Your pictures and descriptions were perfect. I actually feel refreshed myself. Thanks.
- July 7, 2012 at 3:01 AM
- Melissa Rohrer said...
Glad you got away for that walk. Beautiful pictures.
- July 7, 2012 at 4:48 AM
- Michèle Hastings said...
lovely scenery, thank you for sharing.
(and I feel the same about golf)
- July 7, 2012 at 4:56 AM
- Peter said...
Thank you, all of you, for your kind and thoughtful comments. It sounds like you traveled along with me! I am happy to share what I can of the beauty of this area with you, and the cool air, as I know that many of you are having a most difficult, and impossibly hot summer.
Welcome to Barbara Rogers, commenting here for the first time, it is lovely to hear from you.
Kind Thoughts, P
- July 7, 2012 at 6:47 PM
- Armelle said...
Beautiful New Zealand in your aera Peter !!! And the color of the sea, wowwwwwwwwwww !!!
- July 8, 2012 at 1:51 AM
- Peter said...
Wow indeed Armelle, I think it is my missing blue chun. Maybe I should try adding sea water to my glaze bucket!!!
- July 8, 2012 at 8:31 AM
- TropiClay Studio said...
I know how you feel about the color of the ocean. Here, it has such a variety of blues, depending on the depth and the composition of the bottom. It can range from a beautiful turquoise green, to the deepest navy blue, and so many shades in between...
Sometimes I miss the cold (I grew up in Minnesota - near the Canadian border) but then reason raises its head, and I realize that these ole' abused joints probably wouldn't work very well in the cold.
It's always nice to "step away" and take a break. It rejuvenates the mind, and the body. Watch out and don't trip on any of those shadows, you wouldn't want to bruise the knees!
- July 9, 2012 at 7:31 PM
- Peter said...
Thank you TropiClay Studio for your delightful comment, really good to hear from you. We are lucky living close to the sea. I used to be a painter before I was a potter, and I spent many hours with my watercolours trying to capture the colours of the sea. Here the colour varies with the time of the year, I wonder if that happens in the tropics where there is not so much seasonal change?? I still have some memories of the colour that the sea went one winter when we were living in the North of England, and the sea water nearly froze! At that time we were taught at school that we were heading for a mini ice age, and it certainly seemed like it!
I put hot water into the water that I use when I am throwing pots, it definitely makes winter potting more possible for my old joints!
- July 9, 2012 at 8:40 PM
- Julia said...
What a beautiful and moving post!
Thank you for your lovely comments on my blog! You made my week!
- July 10, 2012 at 1:54 PM
- Peter said...
Really nice to hear that Julia, good to hear from you. P
- July 10, 2012 at 3:44 PM
- Amy said...
What a gifted writer you are. Made me want to go out and take a walk again and experience the ordinary in it and let it take me. I had to laugh about the golf part- I feel the same way and there are golf courses everywhere here where I live. I myself would prefer those places to be left 'wild' and untouched by humanity. Thanks for sharing!
- July 16, 2012 at 7:16 AM
- Peter said...
Hi Amy,
Thank you for your really nice comment which cheered me up this morning (I had rather a difficult week last week).
Glad you got a laugh out of the golf part.
I agree that it is sad to lose the "wild" places. People seem to find the need to put their "stamp" on everything, and even the officially "wild" places often get information signs or warnings about the obvious ("danger sea water... may contain potentially harmful levels of salt"!!).
When I wrote the post I was feeling a bit bad that I had not included more glazing information in it, like I had promised to do, but it just seemed to detract from the walk to the sea, so I am saving the glaze information for next time.
- July 16, 2012 at 8:07 AM
I'm so glad that you took us along with you on your walk Peter.
Thanks for sharing your artist's eyes so beautifully.
It brings back happy memories.
- July 19, 2012 at 8:44 AM
- Peter said...
Thank you Anonymous,
I'm glad that this lovely area carries happy memories for you.
- July 19, 2012 at 1:19 PM
- Armelle said...
Maybe sea water, yes Peter, for your chün, it seems that your are lost in the blue, no news since a long time, I don't give much either. Here it's the desert, since 20 years we have never seen so few tourists, maybe the lack of sun ???
best wishes from Belle-Ile
- August 2, 2012 at 8:52 AM
- Linda Fahey said...
Sitting here in California in the dark of a very early morning catching up on some bloggers - so happy I stopped by, Peter. NZ is a wondrous place. I live near/walk on the beach every day - I felt the experience of your words. beautiful. thank you!
- August 14, 2012 at 12:45 AM
- Peter said...
Thank you so much for that, Linda, good to hear from you. Hum, "the dark of a very early morning", I suspect that a number of those of us who keep blogs do so either very early, or very late in the day!
- August 15, 2012 at 10:00 AM


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Good News! The Rangers Won, and Marc Staal Did Not Sustain a Head Injury
Before we get to the game itself, let's talk for a moment about how the MSG broadcast team scared the hell out of us last night with speculation that Marc Staal may have sustained a head injury after being hit by his brother Eric during the second period. Replays were shown, and questions were asked: Was it a headshot? (Joe Micheletti, at least, thought it might have been.) Or could Staal's head have hit the ice, perhaps explaining why he'd later leave the game? They even dissected a clip of the trainer returning to the bench and speaking to John Tortorella, presumably after evaluating Staal in the locker room.
Here's Micheletti describing Jim Ramsay's return to the bench, during which he rubbed his head as he spoke to the Rangers coach:
It didn't look very good. I don't know if he was just rubbing the side of his face, or the side of his head because it was bothering him, or because he was showing John Tortorella where his head made contact with the ice.
To be fair, Dr. Micheletti at one point mentioned the possibility that the injury could be something else entirely. (Bill Pidto echoed this on the post-game, as well. So did Dave Maloney, though he also added that "it looks like the real damage was when he hit his head on the ice.") It turns out, it was something else. After the game, John Tortorella provided the update: Staal had actually sustained a knee injury — one he didn't think was "real serious" — and it had nothing to do with that Staal-on-Staal hit.
Of course, the Rangers won, too, adding another point between themselves and Carolina with the 4–3 shootout win, and doing it with the type of third-period comeback we'd grown accustomed to seeing earlier in the season. A nifty Wojtek Wolski move and a bounce of a Hurricane stick tied the game with 1:50 remaining and gave the Rangers one point, then a Wolski goal in the shootout gave them another. Granted, they'd put themselves in that 3–2 hole by allowing two third-period goals. And we'd be lying if we said we didn't expect Erik Cole, who was flying all night, to eventually be rewarded with a goal that would seal the game. But he wasn't. Last night, it was the Rangers that were rewarded for their effort with two badly needed points.


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Jun 23, 2014
from 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM
|IMechE,1 Bridcage Walk, London SW1H 9JJ
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WES Member Concession £15.00
Non WES Member £50.00
Non WES Member Concession £25.00
Early Bird Concession until 30 April: £40.00


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Record Store Day seeks sponsors!
Why not join Record Store Day as a sponsor? 65,000 music lovers in 195 stores around this great nation, all having an amazing music day. Doesn't that sound like a wonderful thing?!!
Why not join Record Store Day as a sponsor? 65,000 music lovers in 195 stores around this great nation, all having an amazing music day. Doesn't that sound like a wonderful thing?!!
With a very heavy heart, we learned that Ros O'Gorman died last night – 29 May 2018. What a loss. Why are we posting this tribute here? Because Ros has been a staunch supporter of … Read more >
The Beatles turntable has been won by Laura, who is having it delivered to her work address in central Sydney. Her winning Instagram is here. We loved the comment! It made us laugh. Congrats to … Read more >
Here is a gallery of winning pics from Record Store Day. Lots of different #rsdausvibe being felt around this fair land. These are the winners of the Audio Technica headphones. Some winning entries were videos … Read more >
You've got to admit this is excellent. Thanks to Stephen Scott and he earned hmself some Audio Technica headphones!
Ian Thomas, better known as the creator of the Local Knowledge videos, won himself some Audio Technica headphones with this excellent video of his day around the stores in Sydney. He then hashtagged … Read more >
One of the winners of the Audio Technica headphones was Seb Alvarez, who hashtagged this amazing video from Backbeat Records in Parramatta, NSW. What a day! What a video! Huge thanks to Seb.
Lots of competitions this year and lots of winners. All have been notified and all have claimed their prizes. Huge thanks to everyone who participated. It was great to see all the photos. And the … Read more >
Here is the day in one short gif. People, music, records … more people, more records.
It was clearly rocking at Rockaway Records in Westfield Carindale Brisbane! They made these awesome gifs.


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There are countless activities for gamers of all ages at RetroGameCon, from cosplay contests to ultra-competitive gaming tournaments. Here are some of the things to do at RetroGameCon:
Vendors: Nearly 100 unique vendors with over 200 tables of games, consoles, and art to browse.
Exhibitors: Indie game companies, as well as industry giants like Sony and Nintendo can be found on our exhibition floor
Special Guests: Some of your favorite YouTubers attend RetroGameCon, as well as popular cosplayers and musicians
Cosplay: RetroGameCon features several cosplay contests, including a kids competition, plus other cosplay activities like the Cosplay Dating Game, a costume repair station, and more!
Music: RetroGameCon 2016 is our most music-filled show yet, with musical performances by You Bred Raptors?, The World is Square, Sammus, Chipocrite, and DJ Silenze.
Tournaments: Fighting game tournaments (Street Fighter V / Smash multi-platform) by Syracuse Smash, with game console prizes, a $500 pot bonus, and more! Retro tournaments with awesome prizes & custom trophies in the free play area! Magic: The Gathering 2K, Pokemon, and YuGiOh tournaments sponsored by Kirwan's Game Store.
Panels: Unique and interesting panel presentations on a variety of gaming-related topics. We spend a lot of time and effort brainstorming and recruiting talented and knowledgeable panelists for this portion of the show.
Console free play (Sponsored by Microgame Play & Trade): Our video game console free play area has over 40 game consoles and TVs with games from all eras for you to try. Our selection for the free play area changes each year!
Tabletop free play (Sponsored by Play The Game, Read the Story): RetroGameCon isn't just about video games. We have a huge tabletop free play area with a generous lending library, plus staff on hand to help you learn new games! Our tabletop free play area also usually has giveaways and prizes, just for playing games!
Charity: Our featured charity is Extra Life, which helps heal sick kids locally at Children's Miracle Network hospitals. Our convention features an "Extra Life Stage" where attendees can come play games on a huge 12′ projector screen while being streamed for an internet audience, with free giveaways throughout the show.
Kids Area: RetroGameCon is a family friendly event, and for the little gamers in our lives, we have a place where parents and their kids can participate together in making video game related crafts, coloring, and playing kid-friendly tabletop games. Please note: children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times – we do not provide a day care service.
The Artemis Spaceship Bridge Simulator (Sponsored by Syracuse Society of Geeks): A Star Trek themed cooperative video game in it's own room. Each player takes command of a different station aboard a single spaceship!
Pinball (Buffalo Pinball, CNY Pinball Club, Wizard's Pinball): You can usually find at least a few pinball machines set up at RetroGameCon, sometimes even a high score challenge, a machine or two up for sale, or a live-streamed episode of "Bro, Do You Even Pinball" by Buffalo Pinball!
LARP: A LARP (Live Action Role Play) demo by Haranshire.
Movies: A movie room, featuring FREE showings of award-winning video game documentaries.


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Have a battery charger in your car at all times. Dead batteries are a common problem for many drivers. Additionally, having a charger with you will allow you to aid other motorists in similar need. Be sure you know how to correctly connect the charger clamps to your battery and the battery you are charging.
Always shop around and get a second opinion before paying for an expensive repair. Not all shops will be upfront about their prices, so ask anyone available for this information. Make sure that you know exactly how you are going to be billed. Shops also often give you estimated repair costs and times. Simple repairs could be an all-day affair.
When you are experiencing car trouble, you may not have to call a mechanic. You can easily learn to perform small repairs yourself. Have a look on the Internet and see if you can narrow down what the issue could be. It isn't all that hard, and you can really save lots of money by repairing your car yourself.
Find technicians to do your auto repair tasks instead of your dealer. Great mechanics are everywhere, regardless of whether you visit a local mechanic or drive out of town to visit your dealer. You need to use a mechanic that you feel completely comfortable with.
Getting a good referral is the ideal way to discover a great auto technician. Talk to your relatives, friends and co-workers to get some recommendations. This lets you ask them about their experiences with that mechanic, how much it cost, and if they were satisfied. You can learn first-hand experiences about the honesty and skill of the mechanic.
A good mechanic will likely have some credentials. You should be sure they have been approved by the ASE. Viewing such credentials should leave you feeling fairly confident about the service you will receive.
See if you can find reviews about the body shop of your choice on the Internet. This can inform you of how the general public views their customer service skills as well as how well they do when it comes to solving the problem. This information can then be used to get with a shop that makes you comfortable.
If you need your car fixed, but are on a tight budget, you may want to contact your local vocation institution to see if they have an auto repair department. While you will get a discount, students can make the repairs as a licensed mechanic looks on.
Before you pay the mechanic, test drive the car to be sure that it is actually fixed. If you don't, you may find that you paid for nothing.
Always be wary of sellers claiming they have auto parts that will last a lifetime. This is usually a ploy to get more money from you. Lifetime deals are typically not legitimate. While this does not need to be changed as often as typical fluid, you should still change it every 80,000 miles or so.
Consider using OEM parts. These are original components from the manufacturer. Generic parts may cost less, but you cannot really tell if they are the best quality. What saves you a bit of money in the short term, may end up costing you dearly in the long term.
Call the manufacturer for serious issues on a new vehicle. Manufacturers issue recalls for some vehicles that have recurring issues and you can get your manufacturer to consider recalling the vehicle if other people run into the same problem. Your manufacturer might even cover the repairs.
Examine your headlights if they appear dim; they may simply need a good clean. Dirt and grease buildup can significantly dull your headlights. Cleaning your lights with a glass cleaner will allow them to perform better.
Consistency is actually very important when it comes to auto repairs. Take your vehicle to the same auto shop once you have found a good one. The same mechanic will know your car inside and out and will be best qualified to work on it. In addition, different shops may charge a different price for the same repair.
Pay attention to any red flags involving your auto repair technician. If they beat around the bush and act shifty, they may not be the one you want to work with. You need to trust a mechanic, and if you do not feel that trust, find another one.
Find out more about AAA to ensure your repairs are on the up and up. AAA members have an inside track on where to get auto repairs and can often have their car towed for free. You'll often find that AAA has great discounts that reduce any out of pocket costs.
Get a second opinion on all major repairs. Although shops usually can be trusted, you could end up having to pay extra money that you don't have. Shop around for shops with a good reputation and experience in your vehicle's make. These shops can better understand the needed repairs for your vehicle.
Getting your car fixed at the dealer's mechanic can cost more, but it if often the best choice. Service technicians at dealerships tend to specialize in your make and model. Therefore, they are able to pinpoint issues and resolve them very quickly. They are also trained in various programs they take part in regularly.
You may be able to replace the lights on your car yourself. In some vehicles, this repair is easier than in others. But, if you can do it yourself, you will save money. Ask a friend if they'll help you learn how its done.
You should be educated on the parts of your car so you can easily figure out what problems it has. A vehicle maintenance and repair class may be an option for you if you have very little knowledge. The cost is worth it through the money you save on repairs. Knowing the basics of car maintenance can help you pinpoint a problem before it becomes a major problem.
There are many "backyard" mechanics out there that preform excellent auto repairs. They may have learned through experience but still be competent, and are likely to have a lower labor rate. You could save a lot of money this way.
Set an expense limit that you are willing to let the mechanic reach without your authorization. When dropping off you car for needed repairs, do not give the shop carte blanche for these repairs. Tell them your maximum expenditure and ensure they'll call you if they're approaching it.
Check your tire pressure every time you fill up your gas tank. Closely inspect your tires to ensure nothing is wrong with them. If you notice a problem, seek repairs immediately. Faulty tires can cause major accidents so avoid this situation at all costs.
When you find a reputable shop, stay with them if you need mechanical work done in the future. Build a good relationship with a mechanic to ensure you get good work. They may also offer discounts to their loyal customers.
It may be a good idea to fully photograph your car internally and externally prior to taking it in for repairs. Most shops would not strip your car, but there are those who do this to make extra money. You should make sure you keep track of the way your vehicle is looking just in case something like this were to happen.
If you need to put your car in storage, you can avoid having to pay for repairs by placing the car on jack stands and filling the tank. Store it in a dry place and don't use the parking brake.
If your car has been having a small problem that you think is minor, it may be a good idea to have it checked out anyway. The problem might get worse if you do not get it fixed quickly, or your diagnosis might not be correct.
When you are getting a quote for repairs from an auto mechanic, be sure to have him itemize the parts and labor costs. You can then easily compare fees between different mechanics and make sure the estimates cover the same items. Parts will more than likely cost the same unless a mechanic is being dishonest. Focus on the cost of service to compare repair shops.
Consistency is key when it comes to auto repair. Choose a trustworthy shop and stick with them. Different shops may give you a different diagnosis of your car's problems. Sometimes you might be charged more for the repairs, and this isn't good.
Pick up a few heavy-duty, rubber mats to place in your car in the wintertime. This will keep the heavy salts, mud and ice from ruining the car's carpet. Particularly if you live in a place that gets a lot of precipitation, these are a necessity.
You should be able to do small auto repairs on your own, like adding wiper fluid and oil. It's a misconception that everyday maintenance must be performed by a professional repair shop. Figure out what you should be doing at first, but allow yourself to get things done on your own.
Modern vehicles are equipped to all kinds of warning lights and sensors that can tell you when there are problems. However, you should not just depend on these signals. Sometimes the sensor has issues, so it is a good idea to manually check your car every once in a while.
After you pay a mechanic and let them replace something on your vehicle, ask if you can get the old part back. If the mechanic refuses to give you the part back, it may because he never replaced it in the first place. This should raise warning flags that should be confronted.
Keep records of your car repairs. Keep the record in you car. This can help whoever is working on the car to find the problems much easier. This shaves unnecessary time and money spent.
Listen to all of the sounds made by your vehicle. Noise can mean a lot when it comes to a problem that a car is having. If the sounds can be describes to the mechanic, you can save lots of money by helping them easily diagnose the problem.
Once your car is at the shop, think about asking the technician to take a quick spin with you. Your mechanic will be able to see or hear the problems you are experiencing. This may be more effective than simply describing the issue.
Make it a habit clean your car mats every time you wash your car. Dirt particles stick to the rubber surface; as time goes on the particles can create holes. No hole looks great, and that hole leads to potential damage to your car's carpet.
Check the amperage of a burnt out fuse before changing it. Make sure the fuse you replace is with one that has the same amperage. Frequent fuse replacement may mean that it's time to have a mechanic look at your car's electrical systems.
Almost all cars have to be fixed at some point. You don't need a mechanic for all of them, though. For some jobs, you can save the money and do the repairs yourself. Apply the tips you just read to keep your vehicle running smoothly and improve its longevity.
Don't let your mechanic push you into extra repairs. Unless something is broken, stick with the repair guidelines given in the owner's manual. This can save lots of money.


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Fine Art Travel Photographer
Award winning Fine Art Travel Photographer. I specialize in richly textured images that celebrate the vibrancy of life. My images have appeared in books, magazines, CD covers and various advertising campaigns.
Prices vary by image. As each image sells and fewer photographs remain, the price of the image increases.
For licensing information, please see the About page.
Click on "Join E-mail List" above to receive my quarterly email newsletter.


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It was just what I needed last night. Charming romantic comedy. French.
Directed by Jean-Pierre Améris
Stars: Benoît Poelvoorde, Isabelle Carré and Lorella Cravotta
The new flavours of the chocolate include: paprika ganache, green tea whites, fresh mint with cashews, porcini tuiles. I love the language they use talking about chocolate (especially in French). Those scenes are very sensual as eating chocolate is.
Recently I have a craving on Cherries in Liquier from Solidarnosc (Polish chocolate producer) they have more alcohol that other and very nice dark chocolate.
Of course there is more to this movie than chocolate. It talks about taking risk, overcoming fear, support groups and that love is for everyone with this specific French sense of humour. Enjoy.


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Thursday, September 30, 2010
Is everyone aware that Troy Polamalu's hair is insured for one million dollars? We all know this, right?
Anyway, this is an illustration of Polamalu for Great Lakes Life Magazine. This is my second month with the magazine and I'm slowly weaseling drawings into various sections of the publication. The print version of this image is only about 2 inches by 2 inches so details weren't the highest priority.
Be sure to check back soon, because the October issue just hit stands so I'll be releasing other images from it shortly. I'd post them now...but I'd much rather eat some eat some leftover pizza.
Posted by Dave Armstrong
2 comments:
Golly gee Dave. All this illustration tells me is that I got to get a subscription to Great Lakes Life Mag. Look at you being all professional and stuff. Now lets discuss the fact that you are drawing a player that I despise. Colt McCoy and I are going to light his hair on fire then continue on with our lives being Texas gun slingers. Either way I love your style as always and that hair you did is truly classic.
- October 15, 2010 at 2:47 PM
- Mike Puncekar said...
I did not know that actually. I never watched ballfoot much. Either way, my hair is insured for one million... and one dollars. So why are you drawing this guy and not me.
- October 17, 2010 at 4:08 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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Sorry! We are temporarily sold out. Please check again at a later date.
- Non-slip base prevents moving and protects floors
- BPA free silicone
- Made for durable silicone
- Dishwasher safe (top rack only)
- Stain and color resistant silicone
- Two sizes to choose from
Introducing our new Silicone Bowl double feeder with removable stainless steel bowls. The double feeder is made from FDA approved food grade silicone, which is free of BPA or PVC. The entire feeder is dishwasher safe, making clean-ups extemely easy. The raised wide edges help contain spills or messes and also keep out pesky ants and bugs, which makes this feeder great for indoors and outdoors. The silicone creats a non-slip base preventing the feeder from moving around, meanwhile protecting your floors from any damage. Our durable Silicone Bowl double feeder is also stain and odor resistant. Truly a bowl design with purpose, style and function in mind.


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Today, I want to share a clean and simple card using the Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper. I got the idea from a card on Pinterest. It uses 6 strips of DSP which are woven together to form a design. A little texture and a sentiment from the Label Love bundle were added.
Card Details
Stamp Set: Label Love
Paper: Gingham Garden, Whisper White
Ink: Melon Mambo
Tools: 1" Square Punch, Artisan Label Punch, Chevron Texture Folder
Thanks for visiting!
Come back soon.


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Saturday, 02 April 2011 09:40 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is extending his deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif by protesters enraged by the burning of a Quran in Florida.
Obama says desecration of the Quran "is an act of extreme intolerance and bigotry."
But he says that does not justify attacking and killing innocent people, calling it "outrageous and an affront to human decency and dignity."
Eleven were killed Friday, including seven foreign U.N. employees.
And Afghans rioted for a second day Saturday, killing nine people in Kandahar and injuring more than 80.
Obama said in a statement that no religion tolerates "the slaughter and beheading of innocent people."
He said now was a time to draw upon the common humanity of all.
© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Skirt: Dolce & Gabbana (50% off!) | Top: Rag & Bone (48% off!) | Shoes: Valentino (I'm wearing the Rose Gold pair, but shop to Gold pair here!) | Bag: Ann Taylor, shop similar here
Hey guys!
My sister helped me snap these photos before we all sat down at Rosewood Tucker's Point's beach club restaurant for a delish dinner. I swear I ate more fish than I have in my life during that trip, but it's so hard not to because it's all so yummy! I found this Rosé (the Jean-Luc 2014 Colombo Cape Bleue Rosé) that I absolutely adore – give it a try!


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Retired servicemembers, except those recalled to active duty and entitled to active duty pay and allowances, and those who elect to waive all their pay in favor of VA compensation or civil service annuity, will have their retired pay electronically transferred to their financial institution on the first business day of each month. The following is a summary of what you need to know about retired pay:
- The Retiree Account Statement
- The myPay System
- Method of Payment
- Retired Pay Mailing Address
- Direct Deposit Abroad
The Retiree Account Statement
Retired Pay Operations will mail a Retiree Account Statement (RAS) when an account is established. Revised RASs are sent only when a change occurs in retired pay.
To make changes in retired pay, Retired Pay Operations should be advised before the 10th day of the month preceding the month of payment. Changes received after the 10th may not be made until the following month. All change requests must contain the retirees signature and Social Security number, unless you choose to manage your retirement pay through the myPay system online.
The myPay System
myPay offers faster enhanced services, security, accessibility and reliability to all customers of DFAS worldwide. MyPay is only for retirees and annuitants that receive their pay through DFAS, in other words myPay is not available to Coast Guard, NOAA, and USPHS retirees.
With myPay, you can:
- View, print, and save annuitant account statement
- View, print, and save tax statements
- Change federal and state tax withholdings
- Update bank account and electronic fund transfer information
- Manage allotments
- Make address changes
- Manage U.S. Savings Bonds
- Control Thrift Savings Plan enrollment
- View, print, and save retiree account statement
- Provide report of existence
- Update certificate of eligibility
- Turn off hard-copy W-2 tax statements
Visit the myPay website to learn more.
Retired servicemembers who waive all retired pay in favor of VA compensation will be paid by VA. Retired servicemembers who waive a part of their retired pay to receive an equal amount of VA compensation will receive monthly payments from both VA and Retired Pay Operations.
Method of Payment
Servicemembers who retired on or after October 1, 1990 must have retired pay sent by EFT to a financial institution. If retired pay will continue to the same financial institution as the active duty pay, a new form is not necessary. However, the routing number and the account number of the financial institution must be provided to DFAS-CL. To initiate a direct deposit of retired pay by EFT, contact your financial institution for an SF 1199A, Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form. This form must be completed by the financial institution and submitted by the retiring servicemember to the military finance activity during out-processing.
Checks of retired servicemembers residing in certain overseas areas are mailed directly to the individual. For those who do not use direct deposit, if it becomes apparent that a check has been lost, stolen, or destroyed, or if it has not been received within 10 days after the normal delivery date, the retiree should request for stop payment of the missing check to DFAS-CL, Cleveland Center, P.O. Box 998005, Cleveland, OH 44199-1126. A delay in the issuance of a substitute check should be anticipated.
Retired Pay Mailing Address
The simplest and quickest solution for changing your mailing address is through myPay. For any questions or concerns regarding myPay, call 888-332-7411 (option 5) for a customer service representative.
Those unable to use myPay can send their change of address requests to DFAS, U.S. Military Retired Pay, 8899 East 56th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46249-1300.
A request for a change in address or a change in the name of the payee should be received in Retired Pay Operations on or before the 10th day of the month.
A request for a change of home address must be made even if the retired servicemember waived retired pay in favor of VA compensation or a civil service annuity, or if pay is deposited in a bank or financial institution. A separate home address file is maintained by Retired Pay Operations for correspondence purposes.
Contact DFAS Retiree Services at: Retired Pay: 800-469-6559 Annuitant/Survivor Pay: 800-982-8459 Claims for non-receipt of payment: 216-522-5898
DFAS Customer Service Representatives are available Monday through Friday, from 8:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. Eastern Time. However, Monday is their busiest day, so they recommend calling Tuesday through Friday for shorter wait times.
Direct Deposit Abroad
U.S. military retirees living outside the States can now enroll to have their monthly payments directly deposited in their bank accounts. Those living in Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom have had the International Direct Deposit option since December, and 38 additional countries are slated to come into the program this year. Enrollment packages for the program will be sent to retirees and annuitants when the program goes into effect in their given country of residence. For more information on the direct deposit program, visit the International Direct Deposit webpage on the DFAS website or call 216-522-5955.


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Educational background
- PhD (ongoing), Department of Geography, Environment and Population, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Master in Urban & Regional Planning [MURP] (2010), University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. Specialization in environmental planning and urban design
- Leadership Certificate (2010), East-West Center Education Program / University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
- Bachelor in Architecture [B. Arch.] (2004), Tribhuvan University, Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk Campus, Pulchowk, Lalitpur District, Bagmati Zone, Nepal. Elective courses in energy efficient design
Professional Membership
- Regional & Urban Planners' Society of Nepal (RUPSON), Member No. 109
- American Planning Association (APA), student membership, ID# 235027
- Society of Nepalese Architects (SONA) Regd. No. 382
- Nepal Engineering Council (NEC) Regd. No. 241 Architecture
- Nepal Engineers' Association (NEA) Regd. No. 6551
- Rotaract Club of Mount Everest, Lalitpur, 2002-2008
- Leo Club of Kathmandu Balaju Height, 1997-2008
Employment history
University Tutor, August – October 2015,
Department of Geography, Environment & Population, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia
Roles and responsibilities: Tutor undergraduate students on topics of environmental management, climate change impacts and natural resource management; conduct workshops on data analysis and future climate projection tools; observe students' performance, and record relevant data to assess progress; grade student presentations.
Teaching Assistant, March – April 2012,
Department of Urban Planning & Architecture, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Roles and responsibilities: Supervise graduate students in studios; give feedback on student projects individually or in small groups; observe students' performance, and record relevant data to assess progress; grade student presentations and reports.
Planning Head (Urban Planner) August 2010 – September 2012
ADF Nepal Pvt. Ltd. (Kupondole, Lalitpur; www.adf.com.np)
Roles and responsibilities: Conducted field survey for periodic plans, physical development plans for various villages and market centres; conducted community mapping and project prioritization workshops; prepared disaster management plans, climate vulnerability reduction plans; prepared detail project reports; co-ordinated with line agencies; presented project plans to Department of Urban Development and Building Construction and Village Development Committees.
Architect January 2005 –August 2008
ADF Nepal Pvt. Ltd. (Kupondole, Lalitpur; www.adf.com.np)
Additional Experience
- Innovation Lab volunteer, June 2013 – present, Adelaide City Library, Level 3, Rundell Place, Adelaide
- Co-editor in chief for Journal 'Transformations in Leadership', Volume 1, No. 3, Spring 2009 published by East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA
- Served as Graduate Students Organization (GSO)-Representative for East-West Center Participants Association (EWCPA) board, 2008-2009.
- Trainee Architect at Architects' Collaborate (Nepal) Pvt. Ltd., November 2002-March 2003
- Managing Editor for Architectural Journal Vaastu Volume 5, 2002-2003
Software Skills
- Statistical analysis with R and SPSS: data cleaning; multivariate analysis; time series analysis and data visualization; literate statistical programming with R and knitr
- Spatial data processing and visualization using ArcGIS 9.x/10; spatial data visualization and geocoding with R, ggplot2 and ggmap; integration of ArcGIS maps with Google Earth/Google Maps
- Other software skills: SPSS, NVivo, Microsoft Access and Microsoft Project; intermediate programming knowledge on LISP, Visual Basic, JavaScript and HTML 5; content management with WordPress and Drupal


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Sermon Transcript/Article: What Does it Mean to Be a Committed Follower of Jesus?
Well, I'm going to answer that question, but first I want to tell you about a time when I was committed to something else. Back in 1982, I joined 4H. Our group wasn't an agricultural club though. We did cooking and sewing. We were called the Needles and Noodles 4H Club of Clackamas, Oregon. And I was a really active member of this organization. I even entered the 4H February food contests and participated in the local county fair and state fair. So, you could say that I was committed to my 4H membership.
Now what do you think would happen if I contacted the 4H headquarters and told them that I wanted to be publicly honored and recognized as an outstanding committed member of 4H? They would probably ask: Are you actively involved in 4H now? And I'd have to say "No" but back in the 80s, I was a very committed member. My mom was even the club leader. I even took the official 4H pledge. But just because I took that pledge back in the 80s and was committed to 4H - doesn't mean that I am still considered a committed 4H club member.
In the Bible, Romans 11 tells us a similar story. The Israelites had a heritage that centered around God. But throughout the Old Testament, we see that many of them got to the point where they really didn't take their faith seriously anymore. And after Jesus came to the Earth, many of them rejected Jesus as being the actual Son of God. Since their involvement with God ended, they were no longer considered followers of God. Like my involvement with 4H ended, I am no longer considered a 4H member. Since the unbelieving Jews were no longer serious about their faith – the offer to follow Jesus was now made available to everyone else too.
This offer for everyone to follow Jesus is recorded in Romans. Paul used the example of an olive tree to represent God's covenant of salvation that was made with the Jewish people through Abraham. He explained that some of the branches of the olive tree, which represented the unbelieving Jews, were broken off because they no longer followed God. But the branches from a wild olive tree, which represented Gentiles or everyone else, were grafted into the original tree because of their faith in God. I'll start reading at verse 17 of Romans 11.
17 It is as if some of the branches from an olive tree have been broken off, and the branch of a wild olive tree has been joined to that first tree. If you are not a Jew, you are the same as that wild branch, and you now share the strength and life of the first tree.
18 But don't act as if you are better than those branches that were broken off (meaning the unbelieving Jews). You have no reason to be proud of yourself, because you don't give life to the root. The root gives life to you.
19 You might say, "Branches were broken off so that I could be joined to their tree."
20 That is true. But those branches (the Jews) were broken off because they did not believe. And you (Gentiles or everyone else) continue to be part of the tree only because you believe. Don't be proud, but be afraid.
21 If God did not let the natural branches of that tree stay, He will not let you stay if you stop believing.
22 So you see that God is kind, but he can also be very strict. He punishes those who stop following him. But he is kind to you, if you continue trusting in His kindness. If you don't continue depending on Him, you will be cut off from the tree.
That's straight from the Bible.
I grew up thinking that the special prayer I said when I was 4 years old was what I really needed to keep myself from going to Hell. But there is so much more to salvation than just saying a prayer. It was what followed after that prayer that really proved whether or not I was a follower of Christ. I don't think that Jesus is really impressed when we join the group walking toward the altar to accept His salvation if there is nothing spiritual that follows later. I don't think He is impressed with our past church involvement if we're taking a break from Him and the spiritual stuff now. He wants us committed to Him now, every day, forever and ever. He wants us continually moving forward in our faith, and in our commitment to serve Him, and in our relationship with Him. It is this sold out serious faith that impresses Jesus.
Acts 5 tells the story of how some of the apostles were persecuted for obeying God rather than the Jewish officials. They continued to preach about Jesus and heal people in His name because they were committed to following Jesus no matter what it cost them. At the end of the story we're told that the apostles were flogged with whips. But they rejoiced because they had been given the honor for suffering for the name of
Jesus. And then, even though they had just been physically persecuted, they went back to the temple and went house to house teaching about Jesus.
Stephen, another dedicated follower of Jesus, spoke out against the Jewish people accusing them of rejecting God and killing His son Jesus. This boldness resulted in his death. But He is an example of someone who was truly committed to Jesus.
I'll read part of Stephen's speech that that he spoke to the legalistic Jews called the Sanhedrin to that you can hear his passion for following Jesus and for speaking the truth. I'll read near the end of his speech when he gets really fired up in Acts chapter 7 starting in verse 47. (NLT version)
46 "(King) David found favor with God and asked for the privilege of building a permanent Temple for the God of Jacob.47 But it was Solomon who actually built it. 48 However, the Most High (God) doesn't live in temples made by human hands. As the prophet (Isaiah) says, (about God)
49 'Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that?'
asks the Lord. 'Could you build me such a resting place? 50 Didn't my hands make both heaven and earth?'
51 "You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That's what your ancestors did, and so do you! 52 Name one prophet your ancestors didn't persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One—the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. 53 You deliberately disobeyed God's law, even though you received it from the hands of angels."
54 The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen's accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God's right hand. 56 And he told them, "Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God's right hand!"
57 Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at (Stephen) 58 and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, "Lord, don't charge them with this sin!" And with that, (Stephen) died.
Stephen was a really good example of what it means to be a committed follower of Jesus. It's not something that we can do half-heartedly or do just a few months out of the year. Jesus wants followers that are appreciative of Him, that are committed to Him, and are willing to be a little radical for Him. He's not going to ask all of us to go through physical persecution like the apostles did. But, He may ask us to do more than we are doing now and to be willing to sacrifice. But it will look different for each one of us.
We need to ask ourselves. Am I passionate about growing closer to Jesus? Am I sold out for Him? Am I in this 100%, 365 days a year for the rest of my life? Am I so dedicated to Jesus that I am willing to sacrifice whatever He asks of me? Or am I doing just the minimum and hoping that it's good enough to get me into heaven.
Let's remember what Paul said in Romans 11, verse 22. So you see that God is kind, but He can also be very strict. He punishes those who stop following him. But he is kind to you, if you continue trusting in His kindness. If you don't continue depending on Him, you will be cut off from the tree.


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The example Yaml configurations in this file are using the legacy 0.8 syntax. If you are using Drone 1.0 or Drone Cloud please ensure you use the appropriate 1.0 syntax. Learn more here.
This plugin allows you to publish Python pypi packages as part of your pipeline.
Basic example:
image: gjtempleton/drone-pypi
username: guido
password: secret
This block will first generate the relevant .pypirc file with the provided details generating a repo block, then execute the following command:
python3 setup.py sdist upload -r repo
You can also specify the distribution types you want to upload, as well as the repository URL and relative path of the setup python file.
image: gjtempleton/drone-pypi
username: guido
password: secret
+ repository: https://your-private-pypi.com/pypi
+ distributions:
+ - sdist
+ - bdist_wheel
+ setupfile: testdata/setup.py
Parameter Reference
- username
- Username to be used for the pypi publish. Can also be injected via secrets as username.
- password
- Password for the pypi publish. Can also be injected via secrets as password.
- repository
- The URL of the repository to be published to. (Optional, will default to https://pypi.python.org/pypi)
- distributions
- List of distribution types to publish. (Optional, will default to only sdist.)
- setupfile
- The relative path from the workspace root to the setup.py file to be used. (Optional, will default to setup.py)
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I wanted to have a practise run with only my own students first, before the launch of my first ever international wiki-project next month. In my experience, Wikispaces was very user-friendly, and the students soon got the hang of it without lengthy demonstrations. For a non-tech teacher like myself, tools like this are invaluable in learning to embed some technology in my classroom practises. I had invited each student to join our wikispaces by email, and then guided them not to try and save their work exactly at the same time with another student working on the same page. Only once did one group get their work stalled, and had to restart.
On the whole, it was a pleasure to be a teacher - actually a facilitator and guide! - in these classes. There wasn't a sign of the frequent passive yawning atmosphere of traditional language classes. Everybody was busy working (although I did catch some incorrigible slackers on messenger or playing games a few times!), lots of questions were flying about, more tech-savvy students helped others (even me when I got confused!), and, most importantly from the language learning perspective, they were really involved in using the foreign language for a purpose, not just to fill in gaps in a ready-made exercise. Students have got one more week to fine-tune their work on the wiki until next Thursday, when all the groups will orally present their pages and we will do the final evaluation of the unit. The finished pages, which will be qualitatively very heterogeneous, should be viewable online then.


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Today, Puerto Rico Limpio released letters to members of the Congressional Task Force on Economic Growth in Puerto Rico, Resident Commissioner González, and the Financial Oversight and Management Board, which urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Governor Rosselló to close Puerto Rico's toxic municipal landfills.
"The EPA continues to intentionally deceive the Puerto Rican people by claiming they are closing 13 landfills," said Hiram J. Torres Montalvo, co-founder of Puerto Rico Limpio, "We have written Congress and the Oversight Board to ask for their help in compelling the EPA and Governor Rosselló to ensure that these toxic landfills do get closed."
"Neither the EPA nor the Puerto Rican Government are using their authority to close these toxic dumps," said the group in its letter to the Congressional Task Force. "The Puerto Rican people can no longer suffer because officials refuse to enforce the preexisting law," Torres Montalvo exclaimed.
"The closure of toxic landfills is important to Puerto Rico's future. We urge that the responsible parties make the tough decisions needed to put locks on the gates of these landfills today," said Torres Montalvo.


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Castroneves Wants to race for a Few More Years
It looks like there's no stopping legendary Indy 500 driver, Helio Castroneves. During a session with industry players, Castroneves was asked to confirm whether he will continue racing, to which he answered a resounding "Yes."
Helio Castroneves is no stranger to adrenalin and asphalt. He has picked up three wins in the Indy 500 circuit, including a back-to-back win in 2001 and 2002. And he vows not to stop at 3. The 42-year old veteran is looking to join legends by competing for a fourth Indianapolis-500 win. If he clinched a fourth, he would join the likes of A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, and Rick Mears. In 2017, he almost clinched his 4th win, only to have Takuma Sato to edge him out by a painful .02 seconds.
This year, however, he made a shocking move to sports cars to team up with younger teammate, Taylor Ballantyne. Castroneves will have to learn the ropes of sports cars under Ballantyne who has also had an impressive career. He teams up yet again with long-term boss and mogul Roger Penske for the May event.
Questioned why he decided to make the shift to sports racing, Helio said, "It's an opportunity that Roger gave me to be here in sportscars. I couldn't pass it up," he said. "To do one or two more years in IndyCar, we talked about it. But I could see a longer future here, and that's why I decided to take it."
With names such as Fernando Alonso behind the power wheel, sports racing fans can expect exhilarating displays. On his juggling with the Indy series, the years that Castroneves seeks to put in might even yield him a historic five wins.


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Inside-Out Comes to University of Michigan- Ann Arbor!
Inside-Out is a national program that brings together incarcerated men and women with college students to study as peers. Participants are challenged to deepen and transform their understanding of crime, justice, freedom, inequality, and other issues of social concern through a variety of academic disciplinary fields. The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor will host its first two Inside-Out courses during the fall of 2016. One course offered through the Department of Classical Studies and called, "The Socratic Tradition of Conscientious Objection" will study prison writings of the world's greatest thinkers. The other course will be offered through the Department of Sociology and will focus on the theoretical and sociological study of crime and the criminal justice system.
The Center for Engaged Academic Learning (CEAL) will serve as the home for Inside-Out on the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor campus. CEAL will provide curricular and logistical support for faculty interested in teaching an Inside-Out course. The hope is that by centralizing the exciting efforts happening across campus, each course will receive the support it needs without having to recreate the wheel. CEAL also wants to promote a community of faculty who will be able to learn from one another and share resources.
Inside-Out began at Temple University in Philadelphia during the fall of 1997 and has grown to include more than 150 colleges and universities across North America. The goal is for the students on both the inside and outside to have transformative learning experiences while engaging in collaborative activities and dialogue. The hope is that this educational opportunity will promote communities that are more inclusive, just, and socially sustainable.
The goals of Inside-Out fits so naturally with the mission of CEAL which is to promote pedagogical innovation through community-based learning (CBL) initiatives that help students become adaptive, creative, and impactful in their engagement with the world. CEAL emphasizes the role of reflective practice within CBL which is a High Impact Practice. By combining reflection with the engaged activities of the Inside-Out curriculum, the inside and outside students co-learning through courses offered through the University of Michigan- Ann Arbor will be able to process the impacts of this transformative experience. If interested in learning more or to enroll in one of the fall courses please email email@example.com.


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For about a month now I've been in a funk....something I just haven't been able to shake. I've tried changing up my workout schedule (changing what days I would do what class), trying new foods, even getting in contact with a wonderful trainer in TX...it hasn't done anything. And because I haven't felt like going to the gym, I eat poorly & because im eating poorly, I feel like a fat ass and don't want to workout.....vicicous cycle! Because of that, I'm up 7lbs, eek!
So I randomly texted The Great Ashley....I look to her for wisdom, her extensive fitness knowledge and a much needed
conversation tongue lashing. She asked me the typical questions; "What's wrong? Do you have a plan? Anything change?" And then she asked me a question that caused me to think; "Do you enjoy the classes once you're there?" ie, Are you bored? I marinated on that for a while, pinned some new recipes, tried to get motivated to create a new plan...and then it hit me: I'm Bored!
Don't get me wrong, I love the classes I take. They are what got me here....fit, well fit-er and a better outlook on my fitter future, and although the routines change, the music changes...it's pretty much the same thing. And I've done these classes for 2 years (almost). I also love my instructors. These people have become my friends, people I never thought would ever be in my corner, let alone at dinner with me on a friday night. It's truly amazing what these classes & people have done to my life. They mean everything to me, which is why I've changed everything but the classes themselves.
So here I am
85lbs 78lbs lighter (damn 7lbs!) and a change of heart...and mind. If I'm going to reach my end goal, I have to change things up. I don't want to....I will miss the classes, the new launches, but most of all, the friends I have made....but I have to change if I want to see change!
Starting tomorrow, I'm headed to Bodypump, which is the program I started with when I first started this journey. It shaped my body, created curves I never knew I had...and it's all I really did when I started and honestly credit to my instant weight loss. I will be adding in some yoga & will be doing some crossfit classes I bought on Groupon to give it a try. I'm still continuing my monthly 5k's...my next one is The Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. I'm hoping these changes will help me get motivated & energized to follow through with the plan I started almost 2yrs ago: 130lbs & feeling great!


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Barr Trail
Dogs Yes
Mountain Biking
26 (miles)
Out & Back
~7,400 (+) (Elev. Δ - ft)
The Barr Trail is one tough grind, 13 miles each way and more than 7,000 ft. of elevation gain make it an extremely challenging trail. The trail leads to the summit of Pikes Peak, which is one of Colorado's 54 14ers and stands at 14,110 ft. If you are planning on tackling this monster in one day, the Forest Service recommends leaving very early and giving yourself at least 16 hours to complete the hike. If you would like to make it a 2-day affair, you can stay half way up the Trail at Barr Camp. There are charges and reservations are required. When attempting this hike, remember to carry plenty of water and you should probably bring a filter unless you want a date with Giardia. This is a serious hike and people have been killed, so always keep a keen eye on any nasty weather systems that may be brewing and remember use common sense. That said, this hike is truly amazing and well worth the effort. The Barr Trail passes through three biological life zones. Wildlife and wildflowers are abundant along the trail. Obviously, the entire length of this trail is not even close to kid friendly. There is camping available in the Pike National Forest.
Barr Trail is named after Fred Barr who built the trail from 1914 to 1921. Also, Pikes Peak is the place that inspired the song "America the Beautiful."
Red Tape
Entrance and Camping Fees
Contact: Pike National Forest 2840 Kachina Drive Pueblo, CO 81008
Wildlife on this Trail
Plants on this Trail


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Stir the ricotta and 2 tablespoons of cream in a medium bowl to blend. Using an electric mixer, beat the remaining 1/3 cup of cream, powdered sugar, and cinnamon in a large bowl until semi-firm peaks form. Fold the ricotta into the whipped cream. Place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to stiffen and yield a creamier filling. (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
Toss the strawberries, raspberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a medium bowl to combine. Let stand until juices form, tossing occasionally, about 15 minutes. Add the kiwi.
Spoon the fruit mixture into 4 dessert bowls. Dollop the ricotta cream atop the fruit. Sprinkle with the almonds and serve.