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News tagged 'Lion'
China Mobile Deal Can Boost iPhone Sales by 12 Million Units in 2014
According to the latest
Tony Fadell Denies Buying Product (RED) Mac Pro and Gold EarPods
Tony Fadell, former Apple executive, says he's not the person that purchased a Product (RED) Mac Pro and a pair of gold EarPods. Earlier this week, a few photos were posted on Twitter by Kevin Abosch, showing Fadell with both items mentioned above. These photos led to the rumors that he was the owner of one-of-a-kind Mac Pro and EarPods. And that is not true.
Apple's Orders to Make About 10% of TSMC's Revenue in 2014
Apple's orders for 20-nanometer chips are expected to make about 10% of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company's revenue in 2014. According to
iPod Creator Purchased Product (RED) Mac Pro?
Tony Fadell, iPod inventor and former Apple executive, is the person that purchased Product (RED) Mac Pro and exclusive solid gold Apple EarPods at Product (RED) charity auction, which took place in November.
Apple to Participate in So-Called "Hour of Code"
Apple on Monday confirmed that it will be participating in the so-called "Hour of Code", a campaign aimed to engage students in computer programming. The event will take place in U.S. Apple Stores on Wednesday, starting 5:00 PM. Those who want to come and learn something new should hurry up and make a reservation since the quantity of students for each workshop is limited.
Number of Apps on U.S. App Store Reaches 1 Million
The number of apps on the U.S. App Store for both iPhone and iPad has reached 1 million. As of Saturday, there were 1,006,557 apps available for download,
China Mobile Denies Signing Deal with Apple - Negotiations in Progress
A few days ago The Wall Street Journal published a report claiming that Apple and China Mobile signed the partnership agreement. Well, looks like these companies actually failed to finish the negotiations and the information, provided by an unknown source, is just fake. What that means is that we don't know for sure if the iPhone will debut on China Mobile network by the end of this year or not.
Apple Demands Compensation for Attorney's Fees
Apple spent nearly $60 million on a patent infringement lawsuit against its South Korean rival - Samsung. And now the guys from Cupertino are trying to recover at least a part of the money they wasted. According to the latest
Apple Finally Signed Deal with China Mobile
Apple has finally signed a deal with the world's largest carrier - China Mobile. What that means is that very soon, probably on December, 18th, all the iPhone fans from China will be able to purchase their beloved device on contract.
iOS 7 Demonstrates Highest Level of Adoption
iOS 7, released this fall, demonstrates probably the highest level of adoption, at least among the North American users. This is what the analytics firm called Chitika claims. According to the data, collected by the experts, about 74% of the internet traffic from iOS devices comes from those with iOS 7 on board.
Apple Purchased Another Small Firm Called Topsy Labs Inc.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Apple has recently purchased another small firm called Topsy Labs Inc. This is a company that creates software to search and analyse data from social media like Twitter and Google+. As to the sum of acquisition, it is $225 million or even more, Dan Primack of Fortune reports.
Kindle Fire HDX Ad Mocking iPad Air and Jony Ive
It's something like a new trend: companies that create tablets, smartphones and other mobile devices release ads, where their gadgets are compared with Apple's iPads, iPhones etc. Well, that's not a crime, but what is the reason for mocking iPad Air and Jony Ive?
As you might have guessed, somebody has filmed another short clip to make fun of Apple. But this time it's not Microsoft, it's Amazon.
More Workers Assemble iPhone 5s - Foxconn
Foxconn has been reportedly adding new workers to iPhone 5s assembly lines in order to catch up with the demand on this device. Earlier this month, the company from Cupertino decided to cut down the production of plastic iPhone 5c. As we can see now, this was the right decision as the number of iPhone 5s units available for purchase has grown dramatically since that time.
Apple Purchased Israeli Firm PrimeSense for $360
Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet on Sunday confirmed that the company from Cupertino has purchased an Israeli firm called PrimeSense. This sum of acquisition is $360 million and this is probably the only thing we know for sure.
Product (RED) Mac Pro Sold for Nearly $1 Million
Product (RED) Mac Pro, designed by Jony Ive and Marc Newson, was sold on Saturday for $977,000. The device, which was at first expected to be purchased for about $40,000-60,000, surprisingly became the most expensive personal computer ever created. The charity Sotheby's auction aimed at raising money for The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.


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A friend of mine recently told me about this smoothie and I've been hooked on it! In fact, any day that I can't have it for lunch, I just don't feel right... like I'm cheating on my "diet." LOL
I don't have A LOT of weight to lose, but I would love to lose 10 lbs and of course, tighten and firm my tummy. Having a small, nutritious breakfast of either a banana and half an orange or 2 kiwis and possibly a banana, followed by this smoothie for lunch, is helping me shed weight. I'm also going to the gym for 30-60 mins 4 times a week.
Here's what goes in the smoothie:
2 handfuls of spinach
1 apple
half an orange
1 banana
5 strawberries
1 cup of yogurt
I can't afford to eat organic all of the time, but I do try to buy it every other week. I also peel my apple about half the time, and just wash the skin really well the other half (all of the chemicals are absorbed by the skin BUT all of the nutrients are also in the skin). I am using fat-free yogurt, and I'm buying the tub, so I just scoop about 3 large tablespoons into my smoothie. Once I have all of my ingredients in the blender, I fill it with ice almost to the top, because I like it cold.
The length of time I spend at the gym just depends on how much time I have. I try to be there closer to an hour, but even when I can't stay long, I make sure to get my cardio in. If I am short on time, I jog for 10 mins. If I have a little more time to spare, I like to jog 2 miles to start my workout. I aim to keep my heart rate around 140, and that is more important to me than speed, so that's my purpose for jogging. After my jog, I focus on a muscle group (abs, arms, or legs). I spend the rest of my workout working on that area. For abs, I use the ab machine and do sit ups holding a medicine ball at my chest and over my head. For arms, I use free weights and a couple of machines. For legs, I use a few different machines. I LOVE working out!
One of the most important things about getting fit is drinking plenty of water. Remember never to drink your calories. You won't see any weight loss or notice a difference in your body if you drink sodas (diet or not), energy drinks, or any other sugary drinks. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, and absolutely stay hydrated while you're working out.
If you're unable to hit the gym, there is plenty to do at home. You can run outside or in place, and you can jump rope or do jumping jacks for indoor cardio. You can do sit ups, crunches, push ups, leg raises, etc. all in your home. You can also get a set of dumbells to work on those arms. :)
I hope this post has helped anyone who's looking to get fit, but doesn't know where to start!

subset: commoncrawl


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"No two journeys are ever the same,
The river knows your name."
John Hiatt, I think. Just caught a snippet on the radio. Not sure.
Just a lick, all I get.
Laeti edimus qui nos subigant!
Two Meat Tuesday (the book)
Pink Cake A commonplace book.
Hot stuff:
Hot Stuff! (nailed it)


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Is Sunday your jewellery and crafting day?
Here at London Jewellery School HQ we've noticed that a lot of people post pictures of what they've made to our Twitter and Facebook streams on Sundays, which makes us think a lot of you are busy turning your day of rest into a day of making. And what better way to destress from a busy week than having some "me time" with a pile of beads, some silver or an interesting collection of resin, leather or even Perspex elements?
We've also noticed that there are lots of blogs and Pinterest boards about jewellery and making which either mention Sundays or include it in their title.
So we've decided to get in on the act by adding a new day to our Diploma in Creative Jewellery courses. You can now take your Sunday jewellery making up a notch by taking this year-long course to develop your range of jewellery skills across beading, wire, silver, and mixed media as well as honing your design skills.
You can find out more about what the Diploma in Creative Jewellery involves here. The next Sunday course starts on Sunday 21 September 2014.
And whenever your "making me time" is please share links to pictures of your work in the comments.
Happy making.


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Stuck in the middle,
living in shades of gray,
in the end of days.
Wanting so desperately,
to seperate from the night
and be spirited away with him
the one who is so great.
Wanting to jump out of this
earthen vessel of clay.
And say see you later!
There are reasons why
it's hard to just go
when you want to slit your wrist
you see your reason for living
wrapped in a bundle of joy and light.
Selfishness is a sin.


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Brunswick County Sheriff John W. Ingram and his wife Michelle are parents of a newborn son.
The baby, named Tison, was born Monday, May 13, at Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center, Ingram's dad, Billy, said Tuesday.
All are doing well, and the baby is "beautiful like his grandfather," Billy Ingram said.
The new baby is Sheriff Ingram's fourth son.
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MMO and Gaming Blog from Tom Purdue. It's origins began in a journey through Wizard101 and grew to be much much more.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Crafted Wands - Moonlight Ponies - Triple A game from Kingsisle?
Edward sent me a link over to Central where one of the topics at hand is crafted wands. It's an interesting idea for how someone would go about custom crafting a wand of their own.
Personally I think the first order of action really should be the ability to stitch your wands, but this is all stuff we've talked about before.
I've had a couple questions about Moonlight Ponies crop up here and there. Basically the promotion to get a moonlight pony is now over. It involved subscribing to Beckett's Online Gamer Magazine during a certain promotional period. Most people read about it on Facebook or in their e-mail.
Hope you got yours!
This last thing I have to share with you today is an interesting find on KingsIsle's website. If you take a look at their career's page, you'll see some of these longstanding jobs have a bit of a cosmetic wording change to them. (WHAT? You mean you guys don't haunt the career's page at KingsIsle's website? I guess I'm the only nerd out there who does that. *grin*)
To quote: "KingsIsle Entertainment is currently looking for a" (insert job title) "to work on an exciting new family-focused AAA MMO video game."
So, Triple A is an interesting video game term that's a bit esoteric in its meaning, but I gotta say that a Triple A game out of the door from KingsIsle would be amazing. It's a pretty bold statement that I can't wait to see come to fruition.
To me, Triple A from the get go like this means slick graphics, killer game play, huge budget, and high expectations from everyone (and the hardware to back it up). It seems like Wizard101 wasn't really meant to be the Triple A game it became. Wizard101 is Triple A now because it went BOOM!
If you've never read the Wizard101 Post-Mortem article, now would be a good time to catch up on it. Case in point, modular world building isn't building a Triple A game out the door. It's definitely part of the reason why Dragonspyre, Grizzleheim, and Celestia look so much better than the other worlds.
To add to all that, it's interesting to see that they are seeking a new producer with some heavy background experience. Those just don't come a dime a dozen. I'm interested to see who they add to their team (that availability has been up there for a couple months now btw).
So it's my belief that Wizard101 is going to be starting work on a new game (perhaps a third game?) where all the post-mortem issues of Wizard101 are addressed and perhaps they have a few new tricks up their sleeves with some new talent. I'd love to see a really visually stunning game from KingsIsle with moderately high graphics requirements. If I was to also draw an assumption, it would be that perhaps the second game is drawing closer? What do you think?
Either way, it looks like good things are just getting underway at KingsIsle!
Happy Dueling!
8 comments:
- Victoria Spiritblossom said...
Actually I do look at their careers page really often. But seeing as I'm only fourteen, it just taunts me.
- 29/3/11 08:14
- Travis emeraldspear said...
I actually did stare at the career jobs and hoping to work there someday :). OH and did you see an Ice Dragon on the slideshow?
- 29/3/11 09:52
is the moonlight pony permanent
what does it look like
does it look like the starlight pony
can we win it temporarily from bosses in game
in the future will there be a sunlight pony?
- 29/3/11 14:13
- AutumnalDusk said...
Thomas, no matter what, you'll always be "the most important person KingsIsle never hired."
How do you quantify "inspiration" on a resume?
- 29/3/11 14:56
- Liam said...
i used to look every day
now i only look once a week
- 29/3/11 14:59
It doesn't make any sense for KI to create a game with high graphics requirements as that would potentially take out a large cut of their players (not hardcore gamers with serious gaming rigs). Based on that, I expect to see the same level of graphics as Wizard101, perhaps tweaked a little bit.
- 30/3/11 15:04
- Matthew said...
I would be extremely excited to see a AAA MMO come from KingsIsle. Ideally, it would have extremely rich graphics that would take a pretty darn good system to run at maximum settings - not like RIFT's settings - as those are pushing it, but still far superior quality than wizard101 - basically I want to actually use my system more than 5% as I currently do (i7 920+GTX 570), and with the option of a low-quality renderer that would be similar to the current wizard101 load on a player's system. Kingsisle definitely has the proper momentum behind it to develop and launch a top-of-the-line MMO. They're catering to a very neglected audience and anything they do is sure to attract some players.
KingsIsle is the kind of place that I would love to work. Their focus on the family is absolutely amazing compared to the countless other developers that I have seen out there.
I'm not going to be leaving the KingsIsle-sphere any time soon. As much as the community has changed over the past years, the community of the game is like no other. I have branched off into other games recently and have been shocked by the insanely unfriendly communities. Yes, the games are amazing, but Wizard101 - and future KingsIsle games is a community that I find enjoyable and proud to be a part of. I don't see how a future "AAA" MMO from KingsIsle can be anything, but successful.
- 30/3/11 16:24
- Stingite said...
@Victoria: haha! yeah. Maybe someday though, right?
@Travis: Yeah, they've got some cool original Wizard101 artwork there, right?
@anon: Moonlight pony is permanent. See next post in the blog for a picture. I'm not sure if you can get a rental of it or not. Yup there's a "sunshine" pony from what I understand.
@autumnaldusk: Aww! Thanks! It's been fun messing around with the prospect for sure.
@Liam: haha! IKR?!
@anonx2: I see what you're saying and I agree to an extent. I know they kind of pride themselves on how Wizard101 is lean enough to run on machines you wouldn't think could run it. It's a good point.
@Matthew: Good to see you again. Excellent reply. I agree that KI has something special that they should continue with for sure!
- 31/3/11 04:19


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The next generation PSP is officially announced. The new system currently codenamed Next Generation Portable (NGP), finally has two analog sticks. The NGP doesn't just solve that problem, the new system will have trophy, friend, and messaging support. In addition to these sought after features the NGP will have six-axis motion sensing. Among many new attributes the NGP will host a OLED multi-touch screen and a rear touch pad, also the system will include GPS features. The feature is said to not only be used for traditional GPS uses, but also a player can see who else is playing in the area, and what is the most popular game in that area. Some not as intense features include, front and rear cameras, and a microphone. With the NGP players will always be connected with both Wi-Fi hotspot and 3G support. UMDs will be a thing of the past because the NGP is taking a play out of the failed PSP GO's repertoire. The NGP will have digital distribution. Don't fret the system will also have a physical form of playing games: flash media format.
A price point for the system has yet to be released, however Shu Yoshida told Game Informer's Phil Kollar,"Hopefully when we announce the price, people will see the proper value."
There is no official release date for the NGP, but Joystiq talked to Jack Tretton, CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, and he said,"I think our goal is, we would get at least one territory out by the end of holiday 2011."
New hardware is all fine and dandy, but without software support the NGP will fall flat. Promisingly enough there is said to be 82 developers and publishers working on the system. Among them are Square Enix, Ubisoft, and Activision.
Are You excited for Sony's NGP? Do you have any concerns for the system. Tell us below.


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The Iron Lady
There isn't a movie buff out there who would argue that Meryl Streep is a bad actress. There probably isn't even one who would argue she's only good. The fact is she's great. She always has been and she continues to impress year after year. Her yearly nominations in awards shows of all types are all wholly deserved. The same can be said for her performance in The Iron Lady. She is phenomenal and I wouldn't be surprised to see her clutching an Oscar a couple months from now. That said, the movie is awful. It's so bad on so many different levels, it boggles the mind. It may very well be the worst movie I've ever seen with a truly phenomenal, applaud worthy performance. Meryl Streep is fantastic. Everything else is rubbish.
Streep plays Margaret Thatcher, the first Prime Minister of England. The film, in the loosest and strangest way possible, traces the steps through her life, from a young adult with dreams of political grandeur to the old maid she became. Though a biopic in nature, The Iron Lady tries to be more. Director Phyllida Lloyd, whose only other notable feature is Mamma Mia!, doesn't trust in the inherent intrigue of such a life and tries to spice up Thatcher's story with premonitions of her dead husband and child, panicked zooms, slow motion, extremely out-of-place canted camera angles that serve no metaphorical or narrative purpose and pretty much every other over-stylized technique in the book, including an awkward shot where Thatcher floats down the hall while a crowd of people walk behind her. The pizzazz is misplaced. Add some scary music and half of this movie could play as horror.
What The Iron Lady really boils down to is a brilliant performer at the top of her game in front of the camera and a pretentious director behind it. The movie is over-stylized nonsense, a visual mess. But its problems exist in every other facet too, including the terrible editing where it would be too much of a compliment to say it doesn't have a good flow (that would imply it has a flow at all). There are multiple cuts between past and present, some of which give no indication the switch was even made, and there are multiple moments where a time lapse happens, but the audio stays the same. Take, for instance, an early scene where young Thatcher's point of view (and thus, position in the room) changes while her father's words continue uninterrupted. These are rookie mistakes and they pervade the entire film.
To see those mistakes, however, you'd first to have to get past the writing, which is heavy laden with unbelievable and grating dialogue. Thatcher, a powerful figure and intelligent (though controversial) woman, comes off as a joke in the film, always speaking in "speech," as if she's addressing a crowd or nation. Even when she goes to the doctor's office for a check-up, she goes off on an unnecessary rant made all the more laughable given that she's in a patient's robe. By the time, you get to the end, you've already stopped caring (if you ever did at all), but the movie still manages to amaze by offering a silly, stupid, inane conclusion to the premonition plot thread.
The Iron Lady is dry, bland, slow, boring, pretentious, over-stylized, grating, amateurish and pretty much every other negative adjective in between with one shining star in the middle. As much as she deserves it, Streep's shoe-in awards nominations will only give the film more exposure and lead more people to watching it, wasting precious hours in their short lives. Perhaps, just this once, we should ignore the power of Streep and let her movie fade into oblivion. We'll be doing the world a favor.
The Iron Lady receives 1/5


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Sarah Michelle Gellar says she loves discount coupons and bargain hunting. The 'Ringer' actress – who has a two-ear-old daughter, Charlotte, with husband Freddie Prinze Jr. – loves to eat "fresh, organic" foods but insists it doesn't have to be expensive as she always has her eye out for a bargain.
She said: "Freddie and I go to the supermarket probably every day, because we like to eat fresh, organic and local. People think it's so expensive to eat like that, but there are ways to do it so it's not as pricey."
"We shop at Whole Foods, but we ask which fish is on sale. On sale doesn't mean it's bad! It probably just means it's overcaught. And I clip coupons all the time. Why should you pay more for something that someone else is paying less for?"
The 34-year-old actress loves spending as much time as possible with her daughter, but knows it is also important to focus on herself and her marriage in order to keep it strong.
She explained to the new issue of Self magazine: "Charlotte is my best friend, and any free time I have, I want to spend with her. But while it's easy to forget yourself, I can't define myself as only Charlotte's mother – one day, she's going to be an adult, and then where am I?"
"Like in any other relationship, you have to remember who you are through all this. After she goes to bed at 7.30, I might take a bath or read. And Freddie and I get our time together, too. Relationships are like flowers: They need attention to grow and develop. You have to make time to be there for the other person."
"Luckily, Charlotte's a sound sleeper, so once she's down, we can have friends over and have dinner and conversation and not worry."
|Recipe: Delicious Homemade Thanksgiving Stuffing - Once Upon A Maritime
|Tips For Cutting Thanksgiving Carbs - Once Upon A Maritime
|DIY: Stuffed Christmas Tree Craft For Kids - Celeb Baby Laundry
|Nick Lachey & Family Visit Disneyland - Celeb Baby Laundry
|Thanksgiving Cat safety Check List – Keep Your Pets Safe During The Holidays! - Cats & Meows
|Easy And Quick Chicken Cat Food Recipe - Cats & Meows


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Here is a quick tutorial if you want to make your own Market totes.
What you will need:
Pillow cover: I purchased these burlap like covers from Hobby Lobby for $5.99-$6.99 and was able to use the 40 % off coupon.
Pre made flowers or fabric scraps to make your own flowers: I purchased some pre made flowers and decorative grommets to add to my homemade flowers from Hobby Lobby. I chose to do homemade flowers with most to keep the cost down.
Trim for straps: The ruffled burlap with diamond trim came from Hobby Lobby, you can use any durable trim.
Good glue: I use E6000 anytime I'm gluing fabric.
Step 1: Open the zipper and flip the cover inside out. Using a seam ripper, carefully pull out the seam along what you want to be the top of the tote.
Step 2: Cut off the side housing the zipper about an inch along the entire side or bottom removing the zipper and cutting a seam along the entire side that is even. Keep the zippers! You can reuse them!
Step 3: Sew the side where the zipper was removed using a 1/2" seam allowance. I surged all the sides for extra reinforcement since these are designed for the market but that's not necessary.
Step 4: Create the bottom corners by pinching the side seam down to the bottom seam and stitching across about 1.5" from the corner. This will square off the bottom corner.
Step 5: Create the top seam. Since I was going for the rustic look I serged along the rim then folded over and ironed flat. For a cleaner look or if you don't have a Serger then you will want to fold over and iron the top 1/4" then fold over another 1/4" and iron flat. This will give the top a clean finished look.
Step 6: Pin and sew straps in place. I didn't take enough photos on this but after you pin your straps to the wrong side you will want to sew them in place using a double stitch or making two stitch rows so they will hold up when weight is added to the tote.
|Here is a picture of the top finished with the trim sewn to the inside of the tote.
Step 7: Top stitch along the entire top rim.
Step 8: Add flowers, bows or anything else you feel is beautiful to the front using the E6000 glue or hand stitching them in place.
To make flowers: I took fabric scraps and frayed them and used vintage lace and trim scraps to make my flowers. I make flowers by adding a gather stitch then while I pull the thread and gather I work the fabric in a circle. To hold it all together I put it under my machine for a quick stitch in the center. If it didn't come out the exact shape I was looking for I hand stitch it to shape it a bit. I then took off the metal grommet parts of my decorative grommets and glued the decorative front of the grommet to the middle of the flower. My goal was quick and rustic chic so there was no need for perfection with these totes. If you are interested in more details on making flowers This is a great tutorial and the flowers are beautiful!
I hope this tutorial allows you an easy way to bless loved ones with your gift sewing!
Merry Christmas


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|The Peaceable is the yellow house behind THND.
|the patio
|a beautiful, beautiful barn
|The Peaceable is the yellow house behind THND.
|the patio
|a beautiful, beautiful barn
fun to dream about!
A great piece of writing. It is way over priced but that is the spanish way so you can bargain down. I'm guessing as I live in alittle town more or less the same the price of 35,000 is more like it 10 years ago it would have been 50,000 but now things are quite different. Anyway I loved your description un abrazo LISA
I have only just discovered you and your wonderful writing - a gift - both!
I am starting to dream of this property you describe so eloquently, already....
I walked the Camino Frances last May - and now about to walk on my own again ( as a very different person) from Madrid - starting perhaps Wednesday week...
may I IF I get as far as you - call in and drink tea and talk and perhaps see this falling down barn.... I am looking for a new place to live and love....
yours - in gratitude for being out there - Buen Camino - Jane


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December 5th, 2015 was a lively day in the Town of Tazewell! The Community Dinner kicked off the day at the American Legion building, serving free turkey and ham dinners to area residents.
Then, the festivities continued on with the annual Christmas Tree lighting. Volunteers served up hot chocolate and treats to the crowds, while Mayor Donald Buchanan welcomed everyone and introduced the musicians.
The parade then followed, featuring performances by not only the Tazewell High School Marching Band but many other area marching bands as well. It also included antique autos from the Music On Main and Cruise In group, along with antique tractors and horses. Tazewell Today organized the parade this year, and did a wonderful job in uniting the communities. As the Town of Tazewell is kicking off its Sesquicentennial Celebrations for 2016, a float representing Christmas Through the Years – 1866 to Tazewell Today was also included. Stay tuned for more exciting news about the events planned for this special celebration!
And, the finale for the day concluded at the Tazewell Train Station's annual Christmas Open House. Christmas stories were read to the children around the tree, while Santa Claus made a surprise visit, passing out treat bags to all.
Full photos from the day:


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The robustness of the European fintech market has been helped by the presence of an increasing number of fintech hubs, from London and Berlin to Paris and Dublin.
"With Brexit on the horizon, financial services companies are searching for alternative locations, with Ireland, Luxembourg and Germany high on the list. Fintechs haven't yet made the switch, but we can expect to see them examining their options over the next six months", Anna Scally, Partner, Head of Technology and Media and Fintech Leader at KPMG in Ireland.
Total global fintech investment more than doubled quarter over quarter in Q2'17 to US $8.4 billion, up from US$3.6 billion in Q1'17, according to the KPMG Pulse of Fintech report.* In Europe, Fintech investment more than doubled in Q2'17 with over €2bn invested in the quarter.
Global M&A investment helped drive the fintech market rebound, with US$5.9 billion in deal value for M&A for the quarter. Comparatively, global VC funding to fintech companies declined slightly, with just over US$2.5 billion in VC funding raised by fintechs in the quarter.
In the Americas, a single deal – the buyout of Toronto-based DH – accounted for US$3.6 billion in deal value, contributing to more than half the total fintech funding during Q2'17. This deal aside, the US and Europe saw the vast majority of fintech investment, with each accounting for US$2 billion. Asia lagged significantly behind the other regions with US$760 million invested. A lack of significant megadeals in Asia likely kept investment relatively weak this quarter.
In Ireland, fintech start up Plynk turned heads this quarter with its Series A raising of $28.05 million from international investors, Swiss Privée - one of the largest Series A rounds in Irish history. "Fintech investment has made a comeback this quarter – a sign of renewed investor intent – particularly in the US and Europe," adds Scally.
According to Scally "Corporates are increasingly accounting for significant amounts of fintech investment – a trend that isn't likely to let up given the need for financial institutions to digitise the customer experience, become more cost efficient, and find new sources of earnings growth. A growing trend is for smaller, specialised B2C fintechs to form partnerships with other similar startups, allowing them to offer new options to consumers and compete on larger scale."
The Impact of Brexit
Commenting on the impact of Brexit, Scally explains: "Also important to Dublin is the Brexit fintech opportunity. As the prospect of a hard Brexit becomes more real, we've seen financial services companies authorized in London searching for alternative locations, and Ireland is high on that list. While regulators are pushing major banks and insurers to come up with a Plan B, fintechs haven't had to be as quick to make decisions. But expect to see fintechs increasingly examining their options over the next six months."
Key Q2'17 Global highlights
European fintechs funding increases overall, but VC specific funding drop significantly
Europe saw US$2 billion in fintech investment during Q2'17, a significant four-quarter high although well below the peak investment high of US$5.8 billion seen in Q4'15. Deal volume in the region declined from 110 to 90 quarter over quarter, still relatively strong historically.
Median VC deal size in Europe continued to be significantly higher than 2016's US$10.2 million, with a median of US$15.9 million at the late stage as of the end of Q2'17. Median VC deal sizes also remain higher relative to 2016 at the early stage (US$5.4 million) and angel/seed stage (US$1.2 million).
The UK saw a major positive move one year following the Brexit referendum, with US$1.4 billion in total fintech funding in Q2'17, a six-quarter high, and over US$1 billion more than the Q1'17 tally.
Americas region posts strong fintech results for Q2'17, buoyed by single Canadian buyout and broad US investment
The Americas region led in fintech funding for the quarter, lifted by the US$3.6 billion buyout of Toronto-based payments company DH by US-based Vista Equity Partners. The deal is the largest takeover of a Canadian company by a foreign firm since 2014.
Excluding the DH deal, the US continued to lead the pace in the Americas. The US saw US$2 billion in fintech investment during Q2'17, including four of the top 10 fintech deals globally – AvidXchange (US$300 million), Bright Health (US$160 million, Pos Portal (US$158 million), Fast Match (US$153 million) and Addepar (US$140 million). Strong PE and VC investment helped drive the fintech funding increase in the US, with VC investment rising to over US$1.5 billion across 105 deals.
Asia funding holds steady amid continued absence of megadeals
Total fintech funding in Asia remained relatively steady quarter over quarter, with US$760 million invested across 51 deals during Q2'17, compared to US$790 million across 56 deals in Q1'17. Asia's Q2 fintech financing trends were characterized by geographic diversity and a lack of mega-financings.
China notched nine transaction (VC and M&A) for a total of $282 million in deal value, a slight uptick from the seven closed in Q1'17. Despite a decline in deal value, India recorded 17 deals and remains on pace to post an impressive year for fintech investment.
Corporate participation continues to soar in the region, with CVC investment growing from a strong 22.5 percent in Q1'17 to a record high of 36.6 percent in Q2'17, revealing a deep interest in fintech innovation from strategic players in Asia.
"Fintech continues to evolve with many established fintechs looking to expand their product offering and their geographic reach," said Brian Hughes, Co-Leader, KPMG Enterprise Innovative Startups Network, and National Co-Lead Partner, KPMG Venture Capital Practice, KPMG in the US. "In addition we are also seeing new fintechs moving beyond customer facing services to target mid and back office inefficiencies."
*Data for the Pulse of Fintech report provided by PitchBook.


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Kittery, ME
Among The Best Seafood Restaurants in Kittery, Maine
This Weathervane Seafood location remains one of the premiere restaurants in Kittery, Maine—a burgeoning gateway town connecting Southern Maine to the rest of New England. As the oldest incorporated town in Maine, Kittery boasts a wide array of historically significant sites, which in turn drives tourist activity to the numerous outdoor recreation opportunities and retail outlets spread throughout this small town of less than 10,000.
Conveniently located immediately off I-95, our Kittery, Maine location is only a short drive from the quaintness of Kittery Foreside, a growing hub of arts, culture and cuisine and York; another pristine Maine community known for its beautiful beaches and tourism related activities. Directly across the street from our Route 1 location is the Kittery Trading Post, an outdoor retailer since 1938, and over 120 major retail outlet stores.
In addition to our family-owned restaurant, the community of Kittery features plenty of significant sites and installations; such as the 200-year old Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, which is one of four remaining naval shipyards in the nation. Visitors and residents alike enjoy walking through Fort McClary, a former defensive fortification used primarily throughout the 19th century, and Fort Foster, a historic fort named after American Civil War-Era Major General John G. Foster.
Today, the remnants of fishing, shipbuilding, and other marine-related industries that were once the center of Kittery's economy, are still very evident. Residents gather annually to recognize Kittery's place in history — whether it be during the annual Memorial Day Parade or the Kittery Block Party, an annual gathering that celebrates local art, culture and food and fosters lasting relationships and strengthens community in a fun neighborhood atmosphere.
While fresh seafood is certainly not a rare find around these parts, Weathervane remains one of the only restaurants in Kittery, Maine to offer a menu that features generous portions for a great price. Be sure to stop in the next time you're in town.


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© 2019 Steve Campsall
writing to entertain - an A* example
The following piece of writing would achieve an A* if written in response to a GCSE 'Writing to Describe' exam question - but it would be equally good as 'Writing to Entertain'.
Structure, point of view, characterisation, mood, and effective use of dialogue are the key aspects of a narrative a narrative - and it is how well you use these aspects in your own writing that decides your grade. When you write to describe, rather than entertain, your focus is on creating a sense of 'being there' for your reader - a piece of writing that almost seems to etch its sights, sounds and feelings onto your reader's imagination. In writing to describe, therefore, there is unlikely to be dialogue, for example.
As you read this fictional and imaginative account of a visit to the city of Leicester, notice how important the description is to it. Look for how the writer's choice of what is described is never randomly chosen. The writer has worked hard to create and maintain a sense of unity of purpose and coherence by ensuring that each thing described serves an important purpose for the story and helps the reader in some way that is relevant to the message or 'controlling idea' of the story; this is its theme. Which is? Quite simply... the excitement we enjoy feeling when we find ourselves stumbling upon something unusual. Notice how the description relies on the senses - sensory description - sight, sound, smell and so on; also, how it uses vivid and original figurative language.
Notice also how it is the description within the story that acts to create the illusion of showing rather than merely telling the reader of events. Can you see how convincing this is? Try hard to 'show' in your own writing, reserving 'telling' for the less important aspects. 'Showing' is unsurpassed at creating a sense of atmosphere, of being there and it is this that allows your reader to sense a particular mood and become more deeply involved with key parts of the story. Description also helps create an exciting sense of tension and excitement - and all of this helps the writing to be more interesting and compelling.
Perhaps you would never have thought of writing a story like this in response to such a question. Most students wouldn't, it's true. But in your own exam or coursework - dare to be different! - and you will be richly rewarded by your teacher or the examiner who marks your exam paper.
Here is the question and written response:
Describe somewhere so that what you saw or felt at the time is communicated to your reader. You might choose one of the following:
Cities on a Saturday can be such interesting places... full of people, full of cars, full of the hustle and bustle of life. And Leicester is no exception. I was born there so I can speak from personal experience. But something was different last Saturday. There were more people, more cars and much more hustle and bustle than I had ever seen or heard before.
I'd gone into town with my mates that Saturday - as you do! We caught the same No. 149 bus from Oadby - that's a small town south of Leicester. Nothing unusual in that. The journey was as predictable as ever - I'm so used to it. I can't even remember getting on the bus; but I can certainly remember getting off!
By the time we did get off we were all pretty fed up. We were also as hot as the proverbial Sahara and as bothered as a bumble bee trapped in a beer bottle. The usual breezy fifteen minutes' journey had taken us over an hour. We hadn't noticed to start with. You know what it's like when you're chatting about this and that. And 'Big Brother' had been pretty crazy last night, so that had kept us more than a little occupied. Time flies by. But you also probably know what it's like on a hot, packed bus crawling through the kind of traffic that the word 'jam' just doesn't adequately describe - thick porridge more like! Pretty awful once you realise what's happening. And what was happening? Not a lot.
Looking out onto the London Road to see what was going on - that was after wiping away mist as thick as a cotton sheet from the steamed up window - it looked as if someone had said to the whole of Leicestershire, 'Get yourself to Leicester today; there's a million quid going free under the Clock Tower!' The road looked more like the packed car park at an N.E.C. pop concert than a city road; and as for the numbers of people...
Anyway to cut a long story short, we did eventually climb - well tumble - off the bus. We'd have headed straight for our usual glass of cool Coke at Brucciani's but we were more interested to know what was going on. The crowds were incredible. It was as if every nation, every age, everybody was there! The noise hit us next - shouting, screaming, oohing and aahing. Then something else struck me. Was it my imagination, or was it darker than usual? There was something about the quality of the light that made us all stop and look at each other. We didn't have to ask the question, for we knew we all had the same thought in our minds. There was something odd about the sky... You know that feeling you have just before a really bad thunder storm, when the sky turns inky and the air feels oddly cool and fresh? Well the sky had certainly turned inky, but there was no freshness. It was weird.
It was then that we noticed that what we had thought was a grey cloud was moving and swirling a whole lot more quickly than any cloud we had ever seen move before. We suddenly realised that it wasn't a cloud. It was smoke: thick, dark, haunting smoke. There was a fire somewhere - surely a huge fire. And everyone was pushing and shoving to get a closer look at what was going on.
As we managed to push further through the crowd, the air began to feel electric. Ahead, the piercing 'flick', 'flick', 'flick' of blue lights were visible all around and we felt that strange mixture of wanting to see and yet being too frightened to look. And there it was - the new shopping centre. Ablaze. The smoke was like a wall of solid black, and the action unbelievable - fire-fighters, hoses, water jets and a crowd of faces looking on just like they would at a fireworks display, just looking and wondering.
If you saw the news last night, you'll know the rest. Not a lot to tell you, though, if you missed it. Unbelievably, no one was badly hurt and the fire-fighters had it all under control pretty quickly. By the time I got that Coke, I can tell you it was cooler and longer than any Coke I'd had before or I've had since. But we didn't get it from Brucciani's. Their new branch wasn't selling Coke any longer... and no chance of any ice!


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Shop Updates
Alrighty I think it's time for a little shop update post!
I finally made and posted patterns for these guys to etsy & ravelry. They've been requested for a long time so I'm glad I finally did it. I'm also offering a bundle of these 2 plus the sailor moon can for $8.
Haha this picture is ridiculous.
If you guys follow me on instagram, you'll probably know about the second shop I opened on etsy, called soft heritage.
Unfortunately after a couple of months I wasn't getting a ton of views or a single sale so I decided to throw in the towel and close up. I'll be moving the inventory over to HELLOhappy over the next few weeks, here are a few of them:
The reason I wanted to open a new shop is because the items I wanted to make don't really fit in with HELLOhappy's aesthetic, but I guess I can try to weasle in some non-kawaii things once in a while. 😀
Oh, I also posted the pattern for the sheep phone sleeve I made like 6 months ago!
Next post will be a free pattern! I had to rifle through my pattern notebooks to find the totoro headband pattern and came across the pattern for this guy that I never posted.
Look forward to that! See you guys later 🙂


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bill-swift - April 26, 2014
Jennifer Lopez knows how to make an entrance. Her weekly arrivals for the live tapings of American Idol shows where they do something that I don't watch or know about but I'm told it was awesome about ten years ago is more than impressive. Jennifer is headed into her job, but she also knows there are a million and one cameras going to hit her the minute she exits her limo, so she makes it all count in the only way she knows how, looking damn amazing and MILFtastic in one kind of form fitting dress or another.
Jennifer chose gold last evening, the symbol of wealth and power and lust inducement if you happen to have a 40-something still emoting booty like J-Lo does. I can't say much for the musical talent that comes out of American Idol, but I can tell you that Jennifer Lopez is always the winner in my book. And I'm not just saying that so she'll let me caress her derriere the next time we meet. Although, if that happens, it happens and I will be taking selfies. Enjoy.


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About Us
PACN is a 501(c)3 pregnancy resource center that educates and empowers regarding pregnancy and sexual health issues. Open since 1987, it is the only center of its kind in Montgomery County providing entirely free services to thousands of women and men each year.Read More...
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Tag Archives: SOHL
Celebrate SOHL with us – includes free resources!
Sanctity of Human Life (SOHL) Sunday is January 18, 2015 and PACN invites your congregation, small group or Bible study to observe this special day with us. Churches and organizations across America will acknowledge God as the Creator of all life and celebrate every age and season on this particular Sunday. Our theme for SOHL 2015 […]Continue reading...
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January is Sanctity of Human Life Month
On January 13, 1984, President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation declaring the third Sunday in January as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. The date, January 13, 1973, corresponds with the Roe v Wade Supreme Court case that made abortion legal in the United States. In 2014, it will be 41 years since the case […]Continue reading...
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