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Product Data Command (PDC) is a premier provider of Product Information Management software and service solutions. We have developed a powerful product data services practice that is comprised of a proven set of service solutions. These solutions address the changing dynamics of product data management.
Our expertise lies in our ability to tailor strategies for companies who want to effectively present and sell their products online by using our proprietary tools and our product information management knowledge.
Typical e-commerce solutions only tell your customers what products you have. The PDC solution explains to your customers what your products do and why to buy them.
Product Information Management has emerged as a vital function for companies throughout the supply chain. In the past, product information was collected and used as required by business processes focused on ERP, customer service, print catalog, price sheets, data sheets, etc. With the addition of E-Commerce, a new set of requirements is now needed to accommodate web sites and customer requests for product data in electronic formats. Existing inefficiencies such as duplication of work and duplication of data have become untenable.
Effective management of product information can drive down costs, improve time to market and increase customer satisfaction through accurate, available product data. Analysts recognize that Product Information Management can provide a competitive advantage in today's market, and they predict that it will be a requirement to compete in the near future.
We focus on getting products into a presentation state and ready for internet sale so you can reduce support costs and increase internet product sales, so your customers can make intelligent purchasing decisions.
PDC maximizes the effectiveness of your e-commerce system and gives you several bottom-line advantages, such as increased revenue and decreased costs, with results you can track.
PDC was born with one single philosophy in mind – provide affordable value to a customer demographic that has been ignored. In the past the kind of service and software we provide was only viable for companies that could afford software and implementation efforts that cost hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars. With that in mind we set out to build a solution that addressed the major needs of any online manufacturer, retailer or distributor. We are happy to say that we've not only met but exceeded our own lofty expectations.
Today we boast the least expensive Product Information Management solution on the market. Our solution gives small to mid-sized online businesses the ability to compete on a level playing field with their wealthier competitors. Our solution allows you to maintain the proprietary nature of your product data. For those companies that want to outsource all or a good part of their product data management operations you need to look no further. Our award winning Product Information Management services allow you to concentrate on the things that matter to you most – making money. With our solution you can be confident that we will deliver the kind of value you need and at a price you can afford. In fact we do this work for far less than typical in-house resources.
PDC provides the most extensive product data management services at the lowest price. We also have the lowest priced full featured subscription based Product Information Management solution on the market. Whether you elect to use us as your structured data delivery mechanism or our software to build and manage your product data you will do so knowing that you have selected the least expensive solution on the market. We will not be undersold.
You will find that we only sell what we can deliver and value every one of our customer relationships as though it were the only one we had. For these reasons we believe you will find working with us to be a pleasant but more importantly wise business move.


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Notable apps and app updates for March 22, 2016/
On a regular basis, Apple World Today posts a list of notable new apps or app updates that have been released. They may not necessarily be new, but they're popular and deserve mention. Here are today's picks for Mac OS X and iOS.
Mac OS X Apps/Updates
The first DLC pack for XCOM 2, Anarchy's Children, is now available for the Mac from the Feral Store and Steam. This rebellion-themed pack introduces more than 100 new customizations for the entire arsenal of armors available to your XCOM soldiers.
These options are cosmetic and don't alter the stats of a soldier. If you have purchased the Reinforcement Pack, or the XCOM 2: Digital Deluxe edition, don't purchase Anarchy's Children separately, as you will be charged for it again. For more information about Anarchy's Children, go to the XCOM 2 minisite.
Paul Matthijs Lombert, Roelof de Koning and Boy van Amstel have created Hedge 1.0. It's a Mac OS X (Yosemite or El Capitan) video importing app designed to streamline the process of importing data from cameras.
Hedge creates multiple copies simultaneously, and guarantees every file is bit-for-bit perfect, says Matthjis. It imports files while verifying others and cross-references every copy against its source. Hedge shows transfers as "copying" or "completed" viaprogress indicators.
The app auto-launches AppleScripts for extendable workflows (sorting, transcoding, renaming, tagging. It supports all regular drives, including REDMAG, Compact Flash, XQD, SxS and P2.
Hedge is available to purchase for $15 a month or $150 for a year outside the EU, or Euro15/Euro150 within the EU. A free version, limited to two simultaneous transfers, is available for download.
iOS Apps/Updates for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
Pilcrow AG has introduced Document Manager 1.0. The $4.99 app handles everything from scanning papers and receipts, converting the scans into an editable format and finally altering the document, so that it can be saved, shared or used in other apps. The built-in editor allows creating and altering documents to save them either as txt, rtf, html and markdown. The app includes full cloud access, NAS/SMB supprt, WiFi File Sharing and more.
FlowVella, a mobile-first presentation platform, has launched its free iPhone app, giving users the ability to build and edit app-like presentations on the go. The app optimizes the platform for the bigger devices, or so-called "phablets."

subset: commoncrawl


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Hi Everyone,
I have a new kit available for you today. It is masculine themed and called "My Boy." This kit is 8 pages total and features 2 of our specialty paper packs: Rustic Home Fundamentals and Enchantment Fundamentals.
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Layout #1 - holds 5 photos
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Layout #4 - holds 5 photos
This kit is available to purchase and have shipped directly to your home. If you would like more than 2 different kits from my site, email me for a reduced shipping fee and I will invoice you directly. After 2 kits, there is NO ADDITIONAL shipping charges.


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Eye creams seem like an unnecessary luxury, but when you use them your skin feel firmer and looks tighter. If you don't already have an eye cream in your skincare repertoire, you need one, and you will be able to tell the difference when you do. The new generation of eye creams are for busy, on-the-go women who need something that works and is easy to use. In high-end outlets like Sephora, the new eye creams are about lifestyle: it's portable, it's lightweight and it offers a great experience.
Read on for reasons you need to invest in an eye cream immediately.
Your eyes need care: The skin around the eye area is thinner; it doesn't have as many oil glands so it is prone to dehydration, which causes accelerated ageing. Eye creams work wonders to give your face a youthful look, particularly when they contain ingredients such as peptides, because they help stimulate collagen production and stop it breaking down. For an improvement to your skin texture, look for chlorogenic acid and glycerine as they give instant hydration. Also be on the lookout for eye creams with SPF if you are often outside and have an active lifestyle, your eye area needs the protection.
You can apply it over your makeup: There are cream gel products that super-absorbing and lightweight, that you can use when you require a touch-up during the day. Just take a swipe and dab it on over your makeup and it won't move. They also function as an instant refresher, when you want to give your eyes a little refresher, a good eye cream product feels cool and light on your skin, perking it up.
The formulas are better than ever: There are so many new ingredients, and also the textures have changed a little bit, with the use of different polymers and silicones now, the latest eye cream products are silkier and are absorbed by your skin faster. Many products also do not leave a white residue, and they are better suited to applying over your makeup after. Many products also have more micronised titaniums, so in formulas with an SPF they are more comfortable to use. A big change is also in aesthetics — there are new tighteners and film-formers that are introduced into products — so you get a tightening sensation without any cracking or dusty residue.
Picking your perfect product: First, determine your primary concern: dark circles, crow's feet, or puffiness. For wrinkle prevention, reach for a night cream with retinol or antioxidants. If tired, swollen eyes are your issue, then seek out a cooling gel with tightening ingredients does the job nicely. Looking to divert attention from fine lines? Try an eye cream with illuminating particles and vitamin K.
"It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed."
"Envy comes from wanting something that isn't yours. But grief comes from losing something you've already had."


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What is the Meaning of Disjunction | Definition and What is Disjunction
From latin disiunctĭo ("disunity"), the disjunction is the action and the effect of disunity and separation. The concept is used in many fields such as genetics, grammar and philosophy.
The genetic separation is the separation of the chromosomes through mitosis (division under which each daughter cell gets a complete batch of chromosomes due to duplication of genetic material) and meiosis (the sequence of two cell divisions in the process of the formation of the gametes, resulting in four cells each with one chromosome of each pair of the original cell).
In grammar, mean disjunction or disjunctive the word (or group of words) which indicates an exclusive alternation. «We're going to Miami or Punta Cana» includes a disjunction "or". Other examples of these conjunctions are "Want sausages or hamburgers?", "I do not know whether to call the section head or Director", "We must think to the car or other property to pay the debt."
For rhetoric, the disjunction is a formed figure where each sentence contains all necessary parts even if none of these phrases is necessary to the meaning of the previous or the next.
The philosophical disjunction implies separation of two realities despite the fact that the two are intrinsically linked one to the other (in high /en down, left / right, etc.).
The logical disjunction, finally, is the assertion which is true when one of the assertions is true.


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Lindell Audio 506 Power by Triscuit
This is my first venture into anything "outboard," and while I was quickly overwhelmed with the amount of 500 series modules out there, one thing needed to be solidified: will it be an API Lunchbox? A Radial Workhorse/Cube? Or the quiet and shy looking Lindell Audio 506 Power?
When I looked at pricing, the Lindell quickly took the top of the list - not because it was "cheap," per se, but because it made sense. Compared to competitors, the Lindell was showing up strong in all foundational needs of a portable 500 series power supply. The chassis is extremely sturdy (Aluminum and lightweight); and no, it doesn't have a handle or wheels or hovercraft capabilities (although that would be sweet) but it does keep six 500 series modules neatly packed into a stealthy bundle.
Getting into 500 series gear requires a pretty significant commitment from a lot of us. I don't make boatloads of cash to spend, so I need to spend it wisely. I am a guy who enjoys functional design and would be happy without a bright coat of paint or "Feed" switches (which, by the way, not all 500 series modules are compatible with). When you build your channel strip in the Lindell, you'll have to patch it with XLR on the back end (the XLR I/O is gold plated). The unit is extremely quiet, and has some built in protection from any potential overloading or shorting out.
Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend this to anyone interested in 500 series gear. The options are not in mass quantities when it comes to a great portable chassis, and the Lindell 506 delivers on its commitments. Dollar per slot, it makes sense. By the way, it also comes with a neat neoprene bag. I can't wait to travel with this guy. The only drawback I find is that the power switch is a bit far out of reach; I'm not going to complain though!
And for anyone interested, I went with the GAP Pre 573 to start with. I was torn between the Lindell 6X-500 and the GAP 573, but when it came down to it I felt like the 573 met my needs a bit farther along. I do, however, have my eyes on the Lindell 7X-500 compressor.


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While I've struggled to function this week on any useful level, I have been kept entertained by Twitter.
The year is 2017. The resistance, led by women, park rangers, scientists and Shia LeBeouf enters day 7 in the struggle against Darth Orange.— LivingBlue (@LivingBlueinRed) January 27, 2017
American federal agencies were told to halt external communications with news media unless it had been cleared by senior officials. Read more here. For instance, @BadlandsNSP was forced to delete a series of tweets on climate change. Honestly, did the new administration not expect what would happen next? Of course a series of rogue accounts proliferated with the same information.
Rogue! US science agencies are going rogue! pic.twitter.com/ejatlWYtbC— Carl Miller (@carljackmiller) January 26, 2017
If you're wondering why the hell I'm focusing on American political wrangling again, I refer you back to my earlier post in the week and this post from Chuck Wendig, Trust Me I Don't Want to Talk About This Shit Either.
Third, and I dunno if you've noticed this, but things are really going slippery in this country. We're all in a tractor-trailer driving across a frozen lake, man. The back end has gone wobbly. We're fishtailing here and the ice is fracturing underneath us as we rip forward. I don't open the news and find much good there — it's hard to say, OH, THANK GOD THEY'RE PUTTING GAG ORDERS ON VITAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T TALK TO THE PUBLIC, YOU KNOW, THE DEPARTMENTS THAT THE PUBLIC FUCKING FUNDS WITH OUR PUBLIC FUCKING MONEY. Our president and his press secretary get up there and spout easily disprovable lies (remember: the duck is a dog, you traitor). Read more here.On a note of levity, let me leave you with this tweet.
3 months from now romance editors will be buried under submissions involving a rugged park ranger bravely fighting for what he believes in.— Elizabeth Hoyt (@ElizabethHoyt) January 25, 2017


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Welcome to Raines Ranch.... our lil peice
of the good life with goats,rabbits
We are located in the panhandle of Nebraska.
Currently we have 3 Nubian does, 1 Nubian buck,
3 Boer does, and 1 Boer buck.
Yep, we like variety, it is the spice of life !! We breed our Nubian does
mainly for milk (milk production, udder attachment , teat placement and nice handles are a major priority for us),disposition, mothering
abilities (we like our does to be capable of dam raising
whenever possible), breed character, well balanced body and
last, but not least, color (pretty colors and
patterns are *ALWAYS* fun!!).We are proud
to be a member of AGS (The American Goat Society) ,our
herd is registered under the name Raines Ranch .We
register all of our dairy goats with them. We
also have some does and bucks duel registered with ADGA
(American Dairy Goat Association) but we do not
have a current membership with ADGA, mainly due to
their support with NAIS. ADGA and AGS do recognize each other and are interchangeable. . We do test
for CAE and all of our does and bucks are current and Neg!!
I am looking at possibly doing owner sampling with DHIR this next year (2014). I have been wanting to do milk test I just didn't have anyone
close by that would be available to ladle and send out tests
for me. But with owner sampling I will only need to have someone come out once for a verification test
. If all goes as planned I will set up a page
for the results and post them monthly as well.
Along with our goats we also raise rabbits. Mainly for 4-H
and meat pens. We currently raise Siamese and blue Satins along with Californians too .
Along with our goats and rabbits we also have.....
Our kids (meaning people kids!) are very involved with the
animals and showing them at county fair, as of this year they will all be enrolled in the local 4-H club,
the Bunker HillBillies and Wranglers club.
Fall 2009 "The herd"
[ Skip Next | Next 5 Sites | Random Site | List Sites ]
~*~Contact us!~*~
You can contact us via e-mail at ...... firstname.lastname@example.com


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House Cleaning and Janitorial Quotes
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Use the form below to request a free house cleaning estimate.


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Speaking on the eve of a 3-day meeting with Pope Francis about a massive clerical abuse scandal, several Chilean prelates said they are ready to listen, and to work toward eradicating sexual abuse in the Church.
In a May 14 press conference ahead of their May 15-17 meeting with Pope Francis, two leading Chilean bishops said clerical sexual abuse is unacceptable and intolerable, and is something they are committed to eradicating.
The bishops said their attitude going into meetings with the pope this week is one of pain and shame, and that their main goals are to listen to what Francis has to say and to find a way forward which brings both healing and reparation for victims, as well as stricter prevention measures.
In comments to the media, Bishop Fernando Ramos, auxiliary bishop of Santiago, said he and his fellow prelates feel pain because there are victims, people, who have suffered these abuses and this causes us great pain.
They also feel shame, he said, because these abuses happened in ecclesial environments, the environments where these types of abuse must never happen again.
Ramos spoke alongside Bishop Juan Ignacio González of San Bernardo at a news conference ahead of a 3-day meeting between Pope Francis and 34 Chilean prelates this week, 30 of whom are still in office.
Pope Francis summoned the bishops to Rome last month following an in-depth investigation into abuse cover-up by Church hierarchy in Chile conducted by Maltese Archbishop Charles Scicluna earlier this year, which resulted in a whopping 2,300 page report on the investigation's conclusions.
The investigation was centered around Bishop Juan Barros of Osorno, who was appointed to the diocese in 2015 and who has been accused by Cruz and several others of covering up Karadima's abuses, and of participating in acts of abuse.
Allegations were also made against three other bishops Andrés Arteaga, Tomislav Koljatic and Horacio Valenzuela who Karadima's victims accuse of also covering the abuser's crimes.
While on the ground Scicluna interviewed some 64 people, many of whom were victims or potential victims, but the scale of the investigation went beyond Barros. It is said to be much more extensive, including details from other cases, such as those involving the Marist Brothers, who are currently under canonical investigation after allegations of sexual abuse by some of the members surfaced in August 2017.
Pope Francis had previous defended Barros, saying he had received no evidence of the bishop's guilt, and called accusations against him calumny during a trip to Chile in January.
However, after receiving Scicluna's report, Francis issued his major mea culpa and asked to meet the bishops and more outspoken survivors in person.
The pope's meeting with Chilean bishops will begin Tuesday, May 15 in the early afternoon as a group, and will continue over the next two days. During the discussion, Francis will focus on Sciclunas report and is expected to share his own personal conclusions.
Pope Francis is expected to meet with the bishops as a whole, however, no Masses are planned and it is unknown whether or not he has scheduled private meetings with individual prelates.
In his comments to media, Ramos said a main goal of the encounter, apart from listening to the pope, is to discern ways long, medium or short to restore reconciliation and justice.
This path of discernment, of listening, gives us great hope that these meetings with the pope will give us the strength and greatest availability to change and renew our Church, he said.
Focusing on the need to make reparations, Gonzalez said that this must happen at an ecclesial level, but the victims come first.
Neither Ramos nor Gonzalez commented on the possibility on the culpability of certain bishops or the possibility that some would be removed from office or sanctioned, including Cardinal Javier Errazuriz archbishop emeritus of Santiago and one of the pope's nine cardinal advisors. This decision, the prelates said, rests with the pope.
It doesn't depend on us...each one has to discern with the pope, Gonzalez said, adding that it's not my job to know what path another should take.
It's possible that the Pope has more information than us, because many people go straight to the Holy See, he said, adding that the Church in Chile is doing what they can and have made significant progress in terms of education and formation compared to even the recent past.
Errazuriz was recently accused of a cover-up by three survivors of clerical sexual abuse from Chile Juan Carlos Cruz, James Hamilton and Andres Murillo after holding individual meetings with Pope Francis at the Vatican earlier this month.
Last week Errazuriz released a statement saying he would not be present for the meeting with Pope Francis due to personal reasons. However, according to sources close to the situation, he landed in Rome after receiving a call from the pope himself.
When asked whether they felt they could trust the pope's judgment given his previous comments to victims and his staunch defense of Barros, Gonzalez said the pope's apology was impressive, and shows how a leader should act.
According to Ramos, the bishops themselves, like the pope, will also ask for forgiveness. To ask for forgiveness is a moral imperative for us, he said, voicing his hope that they will receive a forgiveness that allows for healing and reparation to take place. This is our greatest desire.
Going forward, Ramos said the meeting is a moment of pain and of shame for all bishops in Chile, and for the victims who endured abuse at the hands of priests. However, it can also be a moment of renewal for the Church, he said, noting that the Church isn't made up of just bishops, priests and religious.
The Church, he said, is composed of the People of God, and while it might be a complicated time for Chile, it is also an opportunity to evangelize and to go forward.
Part of going forward, the bishops said, is doing an auto-critique of ways they can improve in terms of formation, prevention, healing and reimbursement.
Prevention, Gonzalez said, has a lot to do with the formation of our priests, and a task of the bishops must be to form priests from when they enter seminary until they go forward.
This training in abuse prevention is not something that was done in the past but now it is essential for seminaries, he said, explaining that he is ashamed by what has happened, but I have a lot of hope in the future.
However, Ramos stressed that finding the right way forward is not something that can happen in one 3-day meeting with the pope, but it will take longer. Using the words of Francis himself, he said it is a synodal process that everyone has to work on together with the guidance of the pope.
Referring to a letter written by Benedict XVI to Irish bishops in 2010 after the country's massive abuse crisis was uncovered, Gonzalez said Chilean prelates have all read the document, which is a precious and beautiful text full of guidelines that we will follow or all following.
However, the what is needed now is to listen to Peter, to listen to the Pope...conclusions will come, new paths will come out, he said, the pope gives us light indicating path to be taken.


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I am not much on email forwards. You know – those "if you send this to at least ten people from your contact list, you will receive the biggest blessing of your life in 10 hours" kind of emails. So silly. Even some of the so-called "religious" or "spiritual" emails are ridiculous, MOST of the time. I've come across a few that I really liked. I got this one just yesterday, and it is probably my favorite. I just had to share!
Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.
Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.
Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.
Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.
Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those that are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.
Now that is something Brittani needed to hear. How about you? So often I find myself entirely wrapped up in my wants, my desires, my needs, my worries, my fears, my cares, my EVERYTHING. (Notice a reoccurring word in there anywhere?) How self-centered and just plain WRONG. There is an entire world of people out there – both Christians and not – who are hurting. They are scared. They are just as busy as I am – some even more, no doubt. My "problems" pale in comparison to so many; yet, I still will often yell in my car when someone pulls out in front of me, think rude thoughts when I see a "freak" at the mall, look the other way when I see someone begging for money, and become disgusted with people who are in my way.
I don't write this hoping to make people feel bad about themselves. I write it simply so that all of us will take a good look at our lives and see that we can all do better. As the email said, Love is the greatest gift. We had a perfect example of true love in Jesus Christ. He DIED for us. The least we can do is LIVE for HIM. And living for Him means loving ALL – regardless of skin color, social status, age, and yes – even religious affiliation, standards, sexual orientation and anything else you can think of. Do we agree with everyone on everything? NO. Absolutely not, in fact. As an example, let's take homosexuality. It is a blatant sin against God. I hate it. It is disgusting. But those who are involved in it need Christ. They need to be loved. What is that phrase we've all heard so often? "Hate the sin; love the sinner." It's time we walk the walk, instead of talking the talk alone.
Help me, Lord, to love everyone I come into contact with. I may not love the things they do or say, but I need your help to love their soul. In Jesus' name…Amen.


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Earlier this month things looked pretty grim for Billy Ray Cyrus and his wife Tish Cyrus, as they filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court.
However, yesterday afternoon (June 23) the Achy Breaky Heart singer and his lady looked pretty darn affectionate as they took their daughter Noah out for lunch in North Hollywood.
Billy Ray put his arm around his lady as they exited Little Tonys restaurant, signaling that there still may be hope for Miley Cyrus parents.
Previously, Tish cited irreconcilable differences for her reason for leaving Cyrus, noting, This is a personal matter and we are working to find a resolution that is in the best interest of our family. We ask that you respect our privacy at this time.


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ahh love this thread...great idea!
edit: just saw kingsley responded to a question about his favorite songs from PO!
- @TylerScipione Undo It, Unapologize, Quitter and (of course) Cowboy Casanova lol
Unapologize and Quitter -- the two most polarizing songs in Carrie's discography.
I love Carrie's tweets so far! She's so polite, positive, and sweet!! It's so sweet we have Carrie and Mike tweeting together!!
Lol, I never thought this day would come.
Well , I have no idea who Kingsley is. Can someone enlighten me? I hope, now that Carrie is on twitter, she doesn't get someone crazy like the girl on the Mike Fisher Girlfriend website leaving her nasty notes.
^ Kingsley is a popular youtuber who makes videos talking about various topics and such (through "humor"/sarcasm/parodies) -kind of like Raywilliamjohnson, Nigahiga, kevjumba, whatthebuck, and etc.
He has over half of million followers on twitter so I'd say that it's good exposure through word of tweet.
Gotta love the Carrie fans on Tumblr! :P
I hope this is really her tweeting instead of her people doing it for her like Britney Spears! I also hope she won't get involved in Twitter wars like Rihanna!
Idk... if she doesn't intend to tweet herself, it wouldn't make sense that Mike had to take time to convince her to get a twitter right? Her management could just sign one up for her for promo purpose only. Just a guess.
So excited to have Carrie on Twitter !!!! I join Twitter too today, lol !!!!!!!
Great thread. Thank you for creating [the thread].
It's great that Carrie has finally joined Twitter. Hopefully she will send a few direct Tweets. I hear her management will monitor the account. Still, I'm glad Carrie Underwood has an official page.
If Carrie's Twittering becomes a regular fixture, perhaps this thread (and future ones like this) should be bookmarked (or whatever you call it) like the Official Keeper Thread and other notes so they don't get lost in the Sightings thread over time
Carrie Underwood @carrieunderwood
"@RyanSeacrest: say hello to @carrieunderwood" Hey Ryan, it's been too long! Thanks for the welcome!
Awnnnnn. It's so fun... stalking Carrie!
Talk about massive replies and retweets


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Wednesday, March 2, 2016
IWSG: Reading Differently
This is the IWSG post for March. The IWSG is a great group for writers at all stages, where we commune and discuss our writerly insecurities every first Wednesday of the month. March's co-hosts are: Lauren Hennessy, Lisa Buie-Collard, Lidy, Christine Rains, and Mary Aalgaard!
Years ago, a writing professor told me that the more I wrote, the more I read, the more I might not enjoy reading for the sake of reading as I used to, that writing more seriously would change the way I read things.
Y'all, it's happened. I mean--it's been happening. I know it has. It's not that I've grown pickier over what I read--seeing what I've been reading laid out on Goodreads has actually shown me my own reading habits and forced me to go and find other things to read.
But I am a lot more critical of what I read. I decided to review every book I read this year, when in the years past, I only reviewed the ones I felt compelled to.
I read a historical romance last week and while the story was entertaining and I liked the lead characters, I was also mentally noting, "Hmm. Head hopping. Oh, omniscient point of view. Info Dump! Stilted dialogue. Really, would that character do that?"
A few weeks prior, I was reading a historical fiction called Tidewater when there was a sequence of sort-of supernatural-ish bits. They were there to illustrate the belief systems of the 16th century Native American character, but they stood out compared to the more authentic and grounded rest of the story.
None of this is to say that my writing, though it's come along, is perfect. Pearl's first chapter is a bit info-dumpy. A short story I submitted last month for an upcoming anthology (The Thing That Turned Me--out May 31st!) definitely needs some editing and perhaps a touch of rewriting. Plotting is still a challenge. Finding the not-so-great bits of your own writing doesn't happen as easily as finding it in someone else's.
But having your writer helmet on while reading is super useful--but then again, if I'm reading something that blows my mind, the insecurity bell goes off in my head.
20 comments:
I do pick apart what I read sometimes. I've been doing it for a long time. Books, movies, plays. There's no telling how many tangents friends and family have been subjected to over the years. That said, if something is amazing, I just go with it. After all, nothing is ever perfect. I'll forgive a lot of grievances if the story is good enough. One of my most favorite books of all time has this stupid scene in it where the main character starts speaking Italian for no reason, which of course the author has to translate, and to this day I still think it's pretentious and pointless. Kind of makes me wonder why she thought that was a good idea. The character wasn't Italian and up until that point, there was a bunch of fragmented French in the book, which now that I think about it, also makes no sense.ReplyDeleteReplies
Wait, so the character wasn't Italian, didn't speak Italian up to that point, so...why was that there? Weird. I notice that I pick apart romance novels the most these days. Maybe because I've read them all this time, so I kind of know what the formula is.Delete
It happened to me too.ReplyDelete
I don't enjoy reading the way I used to...
Gone are the days when I'd simply switch off, shut out the world around me and lose myself in the story...
Yes, reading mind-blowing stuff is a double-edged sword! *sigh*
Happy IWSG Day!Replies
I enjoy reading--I love it--but my brain is definitely still going as I read and that can be annoying. It's less likely to do that in genres I don't read very much of, though, so I'm going to read some fantasy next.Delete
Seconded. But when I read something that blows my mind, I also pause to analyze what it is that got to me. Was it the concept? The characters? The way the story was told? It usually boils down to character for me. If I don't like the characters or the way they evolve, I will throw the book aside.ReplyDeleteReplies
I agree--it starts with the characters. It starts that way in writing them for me, so it makes sense that it would be that same thing that often grabs me.Delete
It's happened to me too. I feel tempted to write notes in the margins of books about where the author could have tightened up the prose or tweaked some character development. I miss the days where I could lose myself in a novel. When I read something great, I find myself going back and looking for how the author built the story so well.ReplyDeleteReplies
Word choices jar me a lot. "Why did they choose that word? Why not that one?" When I read a novel that carries me along and I love, I try to figure out why I liked it so much, too.Delete
Writing does change how you read, I think it helps me spot my errors when I see it in someone elses too. I also find myself noticing how writing styles have changed over the years - books I read in the 80's often seemed to have headhopping, perhaps it's become less acceptable over time (or maybe it's just the books I read then!)ReplyDeleteReplies
I read a book last week that had headhopping--I think it was in omni, but it was written pretty recently, I think. I notice filtering a lot more now.Delete
So wonderful you are part of that anthology, too!ReplyDelete
I notice those things, but what I really notice is how well a character grabs me. If it's not a really compelling character, if I don't relate, it dumps me out of the story so fast.Replies
Yeah, for me, I need to be able to know what or how the character is thinking or else I can't relate to them or the work itself.Delete
I do this kind of thing more in movies. Saying things like: must be the midpoint twist. I just don't see stories as stories anymore.ReplyDelete
Anna from elements of emaginetteReplies
I think it's easier to notice it in movies because the plot and everything is a little more compressed than a book.Delete
One of the writers I mentor told me recently that she saw a kids show and began picking it apart, pointing out what didn't make sense, much to the annoyment to the company she was with. She realized she had me to thank for that, as I kept challenging to break a story apart and really understand what things were. Now she's learning how to turn it off.ReplyDelete
I can't help but analyze what I read or what I watch, and I love that about myself, but it also means I can't just enjoy something for the entertainment its meant to be. I've come to accept that about myself.
As I say to my proteges, it is a blessing and a curse.Replies
I notice it especially with dialogue. If dialogue seems really contrived in a movie or TV show, then I hear it and I'll start picking it apart.Delete
Yes. That happens. As we get more educated in our craft, we read or watch with a critic's eye.ReplyDelete
Thanks for visiting my blog. Mary at Play off the Page
IWSG co-hostReplies
Yup. It certainly does happen.Delete
- AnonymousMarch 4, 2016 at 1:44 PM
Yes, I do that, too. I have a hard time reading anything without the writer/editor part of my brain kicking in. And I know what you mean about the insecurities. When something's that good, I always think mine could never compare. Sometimes, you just can't win. :)ReplyDeleteReplies
Yep. It's gotten worse (or better) since I started publishing, actually.Delete
Thank you so much for your comments and thoughts. Check back soon. I reply to all comments. Happy reading!


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The Land Rover Range Rover : The real history Of Powerful vehicles
The land rover range rover is the cachet of power without any uncertainty. Range rover and almost the Land Rover would be the symbol of power in automobiles. Their journey started to supply the vehicles with huge power. Wherever there's a demand of strong and rough road driving the name of range and land rover rover will be recalled first of all. Its was built to construct the hills, hence running on the hilly regions is it innate features.
Land rover and range rover's several first generation was entirely considered its toughness everywhere. Every portion of its own construction and engine specification was to give stamina that is full by every meaning. Beginning from body casing it was showed concreteness. Facelift of range rover and each and every land rover was intrusive by its own appearance. Its had its front and rear bumper were made up with stamina that is pure and they were used to provide the overall land rover range rovers look nothing else. The on board features were considered to provide the demanding protection instead of relaxation to bumps. The dash hadn't much functionality using at least amusement characteristics. But the steering was smoothly tough.
The radical changes are done together with the historic range rover land rovers. The theme of every bit of changes is never been into them away from its innate aim of powerfulness. Also there are distinct model is introduced into the power love market by range and land rover rover cachet. The original purpose is obviously kept in line of the initiation. There are five distinct of Range Rover Body Electrical Control Module the range rover and land rover.
All of them are pretty power full in look. The land rover and range rover's power look is now with increased smartness. The key initiation was done improve the facelift appearance with small bit of smartness and intrusiveness. They aren't just demanding inside now. These brand new range rover and land rovers are now has much more amusing ability with extra strong engine under the bonnet.


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Case Study: Dean Shoes
Using a cloud-based platform has helped Dean Shoes to better collaborate with factories around tracking of orders, shipments, and payments. Vendors can access all information in real time by logging on to the platform. This transparency has improved buyer-vendor communication and supply chain management.
Download PDF


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UltraLab™ is QEC's line of premium quality translucent HDPE and polypropylene rigid plastic containers. Excellent for sampling sludge, soil, and water for metals. Constructed from top-quality laboratory-grade resins, these containers undergo rigorous pre-manufacturing design inspections and testing:
Engineered to withstand excessive vibration and eliminate closure back-off during shipping. Closures are molded polypropylene for excellent chemical resistance.
Related Product Line: Lab Grade Plasticware


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New and in original packing.
The Fish-Hook is a classical pacific jewelry of the Maori. This symbol stands for wealth, strenght of will, power, peace and a secure travel primarily across water. That probably is the reason that "fishhooks" are so well liked by surfers and sailors but also by snowboarders.
Total Size: approx. 40x27mm | Ø Eyelet approx. 5mm
Supplied on a black, waterproof waxed and lenght-adjustable cotton necklace.


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Posted By Barb Edson
General Manager, Marketing and Business Development
In March, we marked a major milestone for enterprises, OEMs and our entire ecosystem: the general availability of Windows Embedded 8. Today Microsoft took the second step as part of our commitment to help enterprises capitalize on Microsoft's devices and services strategy by harnessing the power of Windows throughout intelligent systems. Now, enterprises can access specific versions of Windows Embedded 8 directly from Microsoft. The new volume licensing options for specific versions of Windows Embedded 8 offer enterprises the opportunity to upgrade their Windows Embedded software to Windows Embedded 8 Industry, seamlessly and affordably, without upgrading their devices. It also allows enterprises to unlock powerful enterprise features in their devices already running on Windows Embedded 8 Standard.
You can read much more about this opportunity for enterprises in our feature story on the Windows Embedded News Center, and visit the Windows Embedded 8 page on our website to learn more about the technology.


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Our neurologists provide care for a wide variety of neurological disorders including stroke, seizures & epilepsy.
A neurologist from the La Crosse Clinic provides care at the Tomah Clinic on an outreach basis once a month. Please contact the Neurology Clinic for schedules and additional information.
Information and Appointments:
Please call 608-392-9862.


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New Pioneer Speakers and Amplifier promise superior sonics and durability
Pioneer Electronics AsiaCentre Pte. Ltd. – 7 October, 2015 – Pioneer Electronics AsiaCentre, a leader in aftermarket car audio, today released its latest A-Series speakers and Champion-Series amplifier, promising greater sound quality, durability and set-up flexibility.
The 2016 line-up consists of nine models, boasting a maximum music power handling from 300W to 650W – the TS-A1606C and TS-A1306C component speaker packages with tweeters, woofers and crossover, plus the TS-A6996S, TS-A6986S, TS-A6976S, TS-A6966S, TS-A1686S, TS-A1676S and TS-A1376S standard (coaxial) 3- to 5-way speakers. Also available is the new GM-D9605 Champion-Series amplifier, Pioneer's first 5-channel kit with Class FD technology.
"Hi-Res Audio files and high-quality music sources have significantly higher detail and clarity, which are often lost when played back through lacklustre car stereos. Our new A-Series speakers and Champion-Series amplifier are developed to faithfully reproduce every nuance of a sound track, regardless of the music genre and volume level for a truly engaging listening experience," said Mr. Isao Nomura, Deputy General Manager of Business Planning and Marketing Division, Pioneer Electronics AsiaCentre.
The following are the key enhancements for these 2016 products:
Now with an increased dynamic range and linearity, users will be able to hear and feel deeper bass, in addition to smoother and extended treble.
The accurate reproduction of lower frequency notes is made possible thanks to a more rigid Multi-layer Mica Matrix (MMM) woofer cone, which is employed throughout the entire range. The TS-A6996S and TS-A6986S also feature an improved high-frequency tweeter, leveraging a new Direct Drive Diaphragm (DDD) technology.
The TS-A6996S, TS-A6986S, TS-A6976S, TS-A6966S and TS-A1676S can handle up to 10 percent more power than their predecessors, enabling a higher peak reproducible volume at minimal distortion.
Complementing the stylish design of these speakers is a new full-face mesh grille, used by the TS-A6996S, TS-A6986S, TS-A6976S and TS-A6966S to prevent dust from entering the units, which can damage the internal components.
The GM-D9605 Champion-Series amplifier offers an unparalleled level of flexibility, easily configurable to either 2 or 4 channels with both line-level speaker and pre-out audio input. Besides supporting up to 4 speakers, it is also equipped with a dedicated subwoofer (sub) output and variable low-pass filter, ensuring a seamless integration of the speakers and sub.
Another highlight is its class FD technology, which is extremely efficient and accounts for the amplifier's compact size, while delivering amazingly high power output.
Here are other proprietary Pioneer technologies, which demonstrate the brand's commitment to deliver the finest sound quality:
- Progressive Flex Suspension System (PFSS) – Originally developed for the flagship PRS-Series, PFSS further enhances bass performance and durability of the TS-A6996S, TS-A6986S, TS-A6976S, TS-A6966S,TS-A1686S and TS-A1606C speakers.
- Total Vibration Control (TVC) concept – TVC minimises the detrimental impact of vibration like signal distortion, which is a common issue in an automotive environment and can potentially affect the sound.
- Automatic Signal Sensing and Turn-On– Once an active signal has been detected, this function will automatically select the relevant input and switch on the amplifier to initiate music playback.
- Protection Control System – Designed to bolster reliability, this system reduces the risk of damage due to an overly high input power, by sensing the internal temperature and moderating the signal on-the-fly.
The new 2016 Pioneer A-Series speakers and Champion-Series amplifier will be available at Pioneer authorised dealers from November 2015.
*Product availability varies by country. Please contact your nearest country's Pioneer office for more information.
For more updates on these products, please visit the Pioneer Car Entertainment Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PioneerCarEntertainment/.
About Pioneer Electronics AsiaCentre (PAC) Pte. Ltd.
The regional headquarters of Pioneer Corporation since 1992, Pioneer's core business is in car audio visual. Pioneer aims to be a leading aftermarket manufacturer and supplier to leading car brands, providing comprehensive infotainment solutions for in-car, by developing next-generation devices and innovative cloud services for the growing connected car market. For more information, please visit www.pioneer.com.sg.


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Equities First Holdings is a leading alternative source of capital during the harsh economic climate. When the economic climate is not favorable, banks and other companies issuing fast working capital using credit solutions are better in preliminary. As a matter of fact, no one has better business development in a way that cannot be matched in the industry. For this reason, the use of stock-based loans has been adopted as the better option during the harsh economic conditions.
No one can deny that the country is not in an economic crisis. Furthermore, the economic condition is also characterized by the increase in commodity prices. For this reason, the use of stocks to get money is the next best thing in the market. The harsh economic situation has also been worsened by the exit of Britain from the European Union. Over the past few years, Equities First Holdings has been adopted as the better option in the use of stock-based loans. During an economic crisis, companies and rich individuals seek the use of stock-based loans because the use of credit to secure loans is mitigated by banks and other financial institutions.
During the harsh economic crisis, many other options exist to obtain finance. However, the use of loans through banks has limited use. For this reason, people are prompted to look for better options to secure finance during the period. As a matter of fact, Equities First Holdings has been traced as the best company in this line of duty. For the company, they always engage in the issuance of fast working capital to those who want to use their stocks as collateral. It is also one of the most innovative ways of securing fast working capital. For this reason, you can get better business through the use of stocks as collateral.
https://www.morganlewis.com/news/pr_efhacquiresmeridianequity_25sept14 for more.


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When Toronto, Canada's Alliance Atlantis Entertainment Group cut 80 jobs in January, the word of the month was streamlining. 'There were just too many hands holding onto the same baton,' explains Alliance Atlantis CEO Peter Sussman.
In the kids division, the VP of children's programming position held by Suzanne French was eliminated, and former VP of TV distribution Ken Faier has taken on a new title and a lot more responsibility. As VP of production, distribution and licensing, Faier will now manage the kids unit single-handedly, reporting to AAC president of production Seaton McLean and president of distribution Ted Riley.
Faier admits there's one drawback to streamlining the kids division. 'We can't do the volume,' he says, noting that the game plan curtails the number of projects the rejigged unit is capable of managing. But he feels that slimming down the infrastructure sets AAC Kids up to create kids brands more efficiently, and will allow the unit to move more quickly on new business opportunities that pop up.
Faier aims to bolster AAC Kids' position on the North American programming scene by going after a new string of opps that have opened up in the U.S.–specifically at Noggin and Discovery Kids. Noggin, which recently bought AAC Kids' Degrassi: The Next Generation, is on a spending spree in order to fill its new tween-skewing lineup, and Faier feels that he has a lot to offer the growing channel.
'As a smaller network, Noggin has to be more financially creative because it can't pay what an outlet like Nick can,' he says. 'For now, we're not looking for it to cover 50% to 75% of production budgets. Noggin's ability to finance series will grow as its penetration does, and we want to grow with the channel.'
Faier says AAC Kids has enough capital to cover most production costs, which he hopes will eventually be offset by license fees from international distribution and licensing. He cites AAC Kids' ability to tap into the Canadian market and the company's proven track record for delivering international sales as other strengths that would benefit a broadcaster such as Noggin or Discovery Kids.
Faier will also focus on European expansion via the growth of AAC Kids' distribution and co-production partnership with TV-Loonland and new deals with the BBC. Faier says last year's ventures with the Beeb–a co-owned BBC Kids digital channel that launched in Canada last November, and co-pro agreements for Ace Lightning and Oscar Charlie–poured a foundation for AAC Kids in the European market, as well as providing a key broadcast outlet for the unit's product in Canada.
While strengthening these pre-existing relationships, Faier also plans to seek new projects for which AAC Kids can obtain worldwide rights. Specifically, Faier is hunting for live-action offerings targeting the tween set, as well as non-violent action-adventure shows for six- to 11-year-old boys–but only those concepts with toyetic potential need apply.
On the licensing front, Faier will lean on the expertise of VP of merchandising and licensing Jennifer Bennett, who now reports directly to him.


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Some gamers play for just fun, while others play to beat the game and complete every aspect of it that they can. If you are the kind of gamer who has to "catch them all", here is some cool news. You will be rewarded for completing Pokémon Black 2 and White 2.
There are three surprises in store for players if they were to complete the game. You need to catch every Pokémon, fill out the National Pokédex or see all Unova region Pokémon. You will get either a level 60 Haxorus, a Round Charm which increases the appearance of Pokémon eggs and/or the Shining Charm which increases the chances of players meeting a Shiny Pokémon.
The game will be arriving for North American markets in the fall of 2012 on the Nintendo DS portable gaming console.
Source UbergizmoFiled Under: Gaming News


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Amy Adams Flaunts Major Cleavage On 'Vanity Fair' Cover
The actress looks red hot in a plunging satin dress that accentuates her figure. Do you love the cover? VOTE.
Amy Adams heats up the Vanity Fair January 2014 cover, where the redhead oozes Hollywood glamour in the stunning shoot. From her cocktail dress to her blinding bling, the 39-year-old looks every inch a bombshell as she poses with one hand on her hip with her signature locks cascading down her back.
Amy Adams' 'Vanity Fair' Cover:
The actress was captured by famed photog Norman Jean Roy for the cover, and inside the mag she opened up about the highly anticipated release of her upcoming film, American Hustle, in which she stars alongside Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. For the role, the actress admits she went through a transformation of sorts, as she embodied a "hungry and tan" look throughout the film.
[poll=7618424 align=right]
"Yeah, that's terrifying. It's amazing what a tan can do. Because I'm not tan, so that was fun to play with," she said of a clip from the film that shows the star dancing in a white bathing suit.
In a majority of the movie, the star rocks a slew of slinky '70s looks — and a majority of them required her to go braless! She said surrendering her bra for the role required both confidence and a "sort of a laissez-faire attitude about what your breasts are doing."
For more on Amy, (and her stunning spread in the magazine!), be sure to scoop it up on newsstands.
What do you think of Amy's stunning cover? VOTE.
Katrina Mitzeliotis


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The Lakers will most likely do whatever they can to trade Pau Gasol this summer in order to help keep their salary books under what is currently $100 million.
Gasol knows it. But that doesn't stop him from giving his all on the floor for this team.
In a crucial game against the Mavericks on Tuesday, Pau put on a defensive effort on Dirk Nowitzki that really set the tone for the Lakers' defense the entire night.
Averaging 21.3 points on a 57.1% clip in the prior 10 games, Nowitzki was held to just 11 points on 4-out-of-13 shooting, including 1-of-3 from distance.
The credit also goes to Earl Clark, who had himself a phenomenal game and was the biggest reason behind the Lakers' 7-0 run after Dallas used their own 11-0 run to cut their deficit to just 5 points in the 3rd quarter, but it was Gasol's intensity on the defensive end from tip-off that kept Nowitzki out of rhythm offensively.
That is not an easy feat by any stretch of the imagination despite Pau's similar height and length to Dirk — but especially when you consider that Nowitzki usually thrives in the 4th quarter. But since Gasol, who was playing just his 6th game back from missing 20 games due to his torn plantar fascia, never gave him a chance to get comfortable on offense, Nowitzki missed all 3 shots he took down the stretch when the Mavs needed him most.
Even the very best defenders in the league know that stopping the best scorers in 2 consecutive possessions is extremely tough. But to keep a shooter like Nowitzki out of his element for 48 minutes in a must-win game, especially from someone who isn't known for his defense, is unheard of.
Gasol has taken plenty of harsh criticisms from a lot of people the past couple of seasons.
They thought that, along his declining physical traits, he had lost that hunger, that desire to win another title like he showed during the last 2 championships.
For one night, at least, Pau gave Laker fans a glimpse of that old championship grit.


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elizabeth st. cafe continues to be one of my favorite spots in town (as evidenced by my ravings of it here and here). the interior is beautiful and the food is one of a kind. i usually eat outside on their patio, but it's been a continuous 100 degrees here lately, so i gladly welcomed the air conditioned atmosphere engulfed in natural light and flecked with bright colors. i usually come here for breakfast, but as we learned this week, the lunch & dinner menu is as equally impressive as their morning offerings.
before we were even two bites into our delicious poached shrimp and avocado spring rolls we'd befriended the couple at the table next to us. i am definitely my mother's daughter when it comes to a habit of striking up conversations with strangers. they simply asked us if it was our first time there, and no less than five minutes later i had pen and paper out writing all of my favorite restaurants down for them. note to all of you out there: if you're looking for privacy, don't sit at the table next to me – especially if i'm with my mom. moving on, moms got the grilled tofu vermicelli bowl and i got the keffir lime fried chicken banh mi. both were fantastic. we followed it all up with a peach galette with chai ice cream. all of their pastries and breads are made in house so save room for a few macarons or eclairs for the road. they are not to be missed.
i surely don't mind reliving this meal on a busy monday. yes, i day dream about food, doesn't everybody? below is yet another unsuccessful attempt for my mom and i to not pose exactly the same for a picture. at least i made her move her hands and i recrossed my legs opposite hers this time. it's a work in progress people. enjoy the week!


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Local bowler Nicky Brett has retained the English national indoor mixed pairs title at Lincoln with long-standing City of Ely partner Ellen Falkner.
They defeated Lorraine Kuhler and David Hubbard, from the Adur club in Sussex, 24-16 in the final after recovering from 11-15 down to defeat Amy Stanton and Andrew Walters, from the Welford-on-Avon club, 19-17 in the semi-finals.
They had few problems in the other two rounds, beating Torquay United 22-7 and Cumbria 25-7.
It was Brett's third success in this event, two of them with Falkner, and now takes his tally of national indoor titles to a remarkable 20.
The only title to elude him so far is the singles – he reached the final in 2004 – but he'll have to wait at least another year having failed to qualify from the area rounds.
Brett's back in World Bowls Tour action next week when he competes in the International Open in Blackpool.
The world number three, who will be hoping to add to his Scottish International Open success earlier in the season, faces Welsh qualifier Damian Doubler in the opening round on Monday afternoon.
City pair Catherine and Stuart Popple, with City of Ely partners Matt Marsden and Sarah Seymour, were beaten 23-9 in the quarter-finals of the national mixed fours by a rink from Kent club Swale, having pipped Clarrie Dunbar (Somerset) 21-20 in the opening round.
In the Northants Bowling Federation indoor competitions, Jenny Harvey remains on course to retain the women's singles.
She defeated Sheila Craig 21-6 in the semi-finals and will meet Julie Masters, a 21-14 winner over Chris Ford, in an all-Peterborough final at Stamford on Sunday, March 15.
The men's singles has reached the semi-final stage, and defending champion Simon Law is through to face James Harford, with Andrew Thurston meets John Holroyd in the other.
Quarter-finals: James Harford bt Michael Humphreys 21-17; Andrew Thurston bt Andrew Warrington 21-7; John Holroyd bt Howard Shipp 21-11; Simon Law bt Martyn Dolby.
Semi-final draw: Law v Harford; Thurston v Holroyd.
Quarter-finals: Lee Welsford bt Richard Montgomery; Neil Wright bt John Wiles; Peter Edwards bt Joshua Clark 24-7; Andrew Thurston bt James Harford 18-17.
Semi-final draw: Brian Martin/Welsford v Nick Wilkie/Thurston; Howard Shipp/Wright v Stephen Harris/Edwards.
Quarter-finals: Nick Wilkie bt Derek King 20-12; Richard Allam bt John Holroyd 19-17; Brian Martin bt Howard Shipp 20-13; Joe Martin bt Mike Ramsden 27-5.
Semi-final draw: Joan Robinson/Wilkie v Carol Hunter/Joe Martin; Karen & Brian Martin v Ann Holmes/Allam.
Quarter-finals: Bob Warters bt Roger Ward 21-6; Peter Edwards bt Joe Martin 21-12; John Burrows bt Dennis Henshaw 21-11; Martyn Dolby bt Mick Linnell 21-6.
Semi-final draw: Dolby v Warters; Edwards v Burrows.
Quarter-finals: John Holroyd bt Richard Montgomery 21-7; Nick Wilkie bt Graham Agger 22-6; Andrew Thurston bt Derek King 28-11; Brian Martin bt Neil Wright 22-15.
Semi-final draw: Mary Malton/Stephen Harris/Wilkie v Les Sharp/Sheila Craig/Martin; Sarah & Jeff Newson/Thurston v Dave Hudson/M. & John Holroyd.
Semi-finals: Julie Masters bt Chris Ford 21-14; Jenny Harvey bt Sheila Craig 21-6.
The Peterborough senior men's team swept to a convincing 103-42 win over City of Ely in the Cambs League to maintain their bid for a top three finish.
Peterborough 103 (10), City of Ely 42 (0) – (Peterborough rinks only):
Les Sharp, Ivor Jackson, Richard Day, Mick Linnell won 32-7.
Dave Smith, Terry English, Pete Harvey, Wilf Redhead won 29-11.
Mick Fuller, Jeff Clipston, Mick Greaves, Frank Paul won 23-10.
Martin Hawkes, Don Paul, Phil Afford, Joe Martin won 19-14.


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Collagen Lift® Paris Reviews & Ratings
A group of rubies and bloggers received a 2 month supply of Collagen Lift® Paris Red Carpet in April. Over the last 2 months they have been taking the ampoule once a day and we have their results and feedback to share with you. (Click here to buy online now)
Our rubies thoroughly enjoyed testing this product, (click here to read their reviews) and one ruby even saw a visible difference in her scars from a medical surgery she had done. BUT, we'll let the feedback speak for itself….
- 100% would recommend to friends and family
- 94% noticed a visible difference in their skin tone
- 100% noticed a visible difference in their skins moisture and softness
- 71% noticed a difference in their hair and nails
- 65% noticed a difference in the appearance of fine lines
- 42% of the test group are going to purchase and continue taking the product daily
- 18% have already purchased and will continue taking the product daily
Anouschka (Pamper Me Now Blog) shared her thoughts here on video after using it for 2 months.
Shahnaz (Shahnaz Loves Beauty) shared her 2 month journey with us here.
Read Lynette's (Pink & Purple Dots Blog) 2 month experience here.
See what Aneesa (Life & Style of Aneesa Vally) thought here of her 2 month review.
Have you tried Collagen Lift® Paris, or are you currently using Collagen Lift Paris? Click here to share your review with our rubies.


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Spectra Vondergeist Hairstyles
Played 848 times
Spectra Vondergeist Hairstyles game information:
Spectra Vondergeist is the daughter of a Ghost. She is 16 years old in monster years and very much into fashion. Today she is looking for a new hairstyle and you must help her out. Give it a good washing first and then put together a lovely hairstyle. In the end choose a beautiful dress and some stylish makeup.
How to play:
This game is played with the mouse only
Add this game to your website or blog!
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Key Point: Managing Your StressSKU #: NW-20638
Item DescriptionMore InformationAdditional Information
The different types of stress, physical, psychological, and behavioral are covered. Plus ways to cope including exercise and relaxation methods. Fact-filled fold-up guide to interesting and informative topics. 8 panels front and back fold to credit card size. Price includes: 1-color imprint, 1 location
Price includes the cost of a one color imprint in one location. Please contact us at 888-206-3047 for more print options, a custom project, or additional print locations.
|Made in USA
|Product Dimensions
|2-1/8"w x 3-3/8"h (folded)
|Imprint Method
|Full Color
|Imprint Dimensions
|Back(Standard):1-3/8"w x 2-1/2"h
|Standard Production Time
|7 business days


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While introducing the Sandy Alderson Era, Mets Chief Operating Officer Jeff Wilpon promised a different mentality emanating from the top. The Mets would be more aggressive in obtaining talent, and perhaps just as importantly, more diligent and proactive in keeping that talent on the field.
The Mets have long been criticized for their handling of injured players, including David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, Ryan Church, Pedro Martinez, Ike Davis and the list goes on.
Injuries haven't been diagnosed properly, players played when they should've been benched or were rushed back. Players also haven't been proactive in reporting injuries, which in the case of Matt Harvey, this likely lead to his surgery. Perhaps most bizarre was when Beltran opted to have surgery on his own.
This season has been about injuries and an 11-game winning streak. That streak is why they're where they are considering they lead the major leagues with 12 players on the disabled list.
Eight players are gone from the Opening Day roster, and three players in the starting lineup in Sunday's game at Arizona were injury related. There's not a day when injuries aren't the focal point. Injuries will dictate if the Mets make the playoffs; what, or if, they'll make any trades; and possibly, their offseason agenda.
What should also happen is a complete overhaul of their injury protocol. From the trainers, to the team physicians, to the organization's philosophy in handling and treating injuries, everything should be on the table for review. What they are doing now isn't working.
Why, over the years, has there been a glut of arm injuries resulting in Tommy John surgery? Why have there been so many muscle pulls and strains? Is there a problem in the offseason training program? Are players encouraged or discouraged to report aches and pains?
Do the pitchers throw too much or not enough? Is nutrition an issue? Do the players stretch enough? Is there too much weight lifting during the season?
There's not a constant with each injury, but something isn't right and it must change. Teams like to say, "next man up,'' but for the Mets it seems to be "who's the next to go down?'' Yes, injuries are part of the game, but for the Mets it seems to be all nine innings.
What should also be noted is playoff caliber teams need to overcome injuries and adversity, and that brings us back full circle to Wilpon and Alderson. Will ownership provide the financial resources, and does Alderson have the capabilities to fill the void?
We're waiting.


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Why You Should Design-In AEC-Q200 Standard Components
…in harsh non-automotive environments, too!
There is no doubt that there are great demands placed on passive components in an automotive environment. These parts could be exposed to a multitude of variables at any given time including high temperature, thermal shock and moisture. In the quest to guarantee the reliability and quality of passive components used in these conditions, the AEC-Q200 global standard was created by the Automotive Electronic Council (AEC).
Now you might wonder if these parts should be used in non-automotive products, like solar panels, that experience similar environmental demands – and the answer is YES. This standard uses stringent tests to qualify components, ultimately confirming they are safe for use in harsh environments regardless of the market. Here are some of the test and test conditions used during this process:
Visit the AEC website for a full list of these standards.
"Parts that pass the AEC tests are seen as qualified, high quality components that can be used in critical environments." - Murray Slock stated in his article.
Suppliers often recommend that engineers use AEC parts. A key provider of these parts is Panasonic, offering over 100 AEC-Q200 qualified component Series. Panasonic is a preferred manufacturer by many engineers as well as Fortune 500 companies because of the proven performance, quality, and reliability of products across the Panasonic brand. Take a look at their AEC- Q200 Compliant Passive Components Selection Guide for a detailed list of parts available.


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August 2003
A short history of file sharing
Find out about how the original Napster introduced many people to file sharing, until it was shut down.
This history of file sharing was written by Sean McManus while conducting research for the Rock & Pop Timeline book by Johnny Black, which presents a year by year history of the music industry, its stars and fashions. The article doesn't appear in the book in its original form, so I thought I'd share it with you here...
In 1999, Shawn Fanning launched a new program that was to change how many people used the internet: Napster. The software enabled music fans to swap songs stored on their computers with each other and to find each other through a central directory. Napster users could trade in bootlegs, rare tracks and current releases by major artists.
The Record Industry Association of America (RIAA), which represents five major record labels and a host of smaller labels, was annoyed. "We love the idea of using technology to build artist communities, but that's not what Napster is all about. Napster is about facilitating piracy, and trying to build a business on the backs of artists and copyright owners," said Cary Sherman, senior executive vice president and general counsel for RIAA. In December 1999, the RIAA sued Napster for copyright infringement.
The publicity and word-of-mouth attracted more Napster users and inspired the web community to start building its successor for if Napster should be shut down. Early in 2000, file sharing program Gnutella was briefly released by Nullsoft. Although Nullsoft soon withdrew support for the software, programmers started hacking it apart so they could publish the code needed to adapt it and build new software based on it. By 2003, the site www.gnutelliums.com was listing 14 programs based on Gnutella, including Bearshare and Morpheus.
In February 2001, a judge ruled that Napster had to stop the distribution of copyright material through its network. Record companies provided filenames and song titles that should be removed and Napster blocked over 250,000 songs using over 1.6 million filenames.
But that wasn't good enough. In July 2001, a judge told Napster it must block all files infringing copyright, effectively forcing it to shut down. Napster folded in September 2002 when its sale to Bertelsmann was blocked by a Delaware court. Bertelsmann had invested heavily in the company in the hope it would provide a secure commercial file sharing application.
The RIAA has continued to pursue Napster clones in the courts. In June 2003, it claimed it would use software that seeks pirated music in the file sharing networks to gather evidence against individuals.
The recording industry has been quick to accuse internet piracy of causing a drop in CD sales, but a survey by Forrester Research in August 2002 concluded that's not true. The company said that frequent digital music consumers weren't buying fewer CDs and that the 15% drop in music sales over two years owed more to the recession and competition from the booming markets of video games and DVDs. By 2007, Forrester predicted that digital music revenues would be worth US$2 billion as long as record labels made it easy to buy songs from any record label without having to pay a flat subscription fee.
Metallica was among the artists strongly opposed to Napster, and the band launched its own law suit against the company. But not everyone has opposed Napster-like technology. In June 2003, Ween announced that it was developing its own P2P client. WeenAmp would connect fans to a peer-to-peer network for sharing concert recordings and enable them to view webcasts and listen to a Ween radio show. The band said that the software would enable them to get music to fans in minutes and prevent fake or illegal MP3s from being traded as rarities. "The taping community has always done a great job in circulating shows and this should really pull everyone into one central location to trade good sounding shows and other mp3s," said the band.
In July 2003, owners of the Napster name Roxio announced that it planned the launch of Napster 2 in time for Christmas. This time, Napster will sell digital music on behalf of record companies, but many regret that the rarities and bootlegs will no longer be available and wonder whether the spirit of Napster will survive along with its name.
Napster finally launched in the UK in summer 2004, by which time it was up against Apple's iTunes and a wide range of other paid-for music sites.


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Rush, honey........Get a grip!!! It's time to lay off the OxyContin. Everything isn't about you, sugarplum. Everything isn't even about Obama,or American politics. Sometimes things happen in Iceland that are about the geology of Iceland. This may not be so good for the airlines, but Armageddon it's not. So just relax and try not to appear too whacko or they just might cart you off to rehab."You know, a couple of days after the health care bill had been signed into law Obama ran around all over the country saying, "Hey, you know, I'm looking around. The earth hadn't opened up. There's no Armageddon out there. The birds are still chirping." I think the earth has opened up. God may have replied. This volcano in Iceland has grounded more airplanes — airspace has more affected — than even after 9/11 because of this plume, because of this ash cloud over Northern and Western Europe. At the Paris airport they're telling people to head to the train station to catch trains out of France, and when people get to the train station they're telling people, "There aren't any seats until at least April 22nd," basically a week from now. It's got everybody in a shutdown. Earth has opened up. I don't know whether it's a rebirth or Armageddon. Hopefully it's a rebirth, God speaking."
Link to the original post on Think Progress


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Particularly undriveable is the hill that leads from my town home out to the main road. So, when it snows, I'm stuck at home. The Z just won't do that hill.
Being stuck at home is not without its consolations. I have ample time to read, eat, paint, eat, bond with the cats, eat, etc. Sunday was rather pleasant. I spent it reading by the fire with cats lounging about me. I managed to finish Harry Sidebottom's latest Warrior of Rome book, The Caspian Gates.
|Rhiannon, my heat pig, enjoying the crackling fire
I didn't paint. I should have. I have so many projects I want to work on. I just felt no desire to sit at my painting table. I seem to be most eager to paint only when I must be doing something else (like working). With time on my hands, I tend to be more indolent.
|Grendel is intrigued by this cold white stuff, but not for long
The snow looks to last through mid-week. I hope it's the last snow of the season as well as the first. I've spent too much time living in snowy places to have any interest in winter wonderlands. I can enjoy being inside only for so long. After a few days of this, I may go crazy.


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Wyclef Jean Reminds President Trump To Respect Black People's Sacrifices
(TMZ) - President Trump needs a refresher on the everyday tragedies African-Americans faced for years ... according to Wyclef Jean.
TMZ asked 'Clef about Trump's Tuesday visit to the National Museum of African American History -- with Dr. Ben Carson -- and he told the outlet what he HOPES the prez learned ... including tolerance for opposing viewpoints.
It's interesting ... Wyclef quoted Dave Chappelle's plea to give Trump a chance -- yet it definitely sounds like his patience for POTUS is wearing thin.
Photo: Getty Images


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Leader lobbies government for "no strings" business rates deal
Leader lobbies government for "no strings" business rates deal
6 February 2018
Page Content
Essex County Council's leader Cllr David Finch lobbied MPs yesterday for urgent clarity over the Government's business rate reform plans.
Cllr Finch was invited to give evidence to the CLG Select Committee where he sought greater transparency on plans to let all local councils keep 75% of business rates from 2020/21 when central Government funding ceases, eventually moving to 100% retention.
In Essex, £625 million of rates are currently collected but just £304 million is spent locally – the rest goes back to the Treasury.
"Keeping business rates would give us the financial stability we need to realise our strategic ambitions for Essex and drive prosperity for all," said Cllr Finch.
"But there are still too many unanswered questions to enable us to plan effectively for our future.
"We have not built 100% retention into our financial projections because we don't have enough information, such as how much we could get, how the money will be distributed and what responsibilities will be devolved to us from Whitehall."
When central Government grant funding comes to an end in 2020/21, the Council estimates a funding gap of £94 million.
Cllr Finch added: "We are an innovative council. We explore commercial opportunities, we investigate alternative ways of providing vital services, and we focus on ensuring we are efficient and effective in everything we do.
"But we simply don't have enough money and we need the Government to trust and empower us by letting us keep 100% of our business rates, with no strings attached."
If the Council, along with Southend Borough Council, district, borough and city councils, had been chosen to become a 100% retention pilot area, local councils would have received £38 million of extra funding, including £8 million for Essex County Council.
Cllr Finch said: "The loss of this funding is significant. It could have provided 550,000 care hours or fixed 16,000 defects on our highways network.
"It is unclear if the 75% scheme even helps. The additional 25% comes with a series of commitments, such as business rates being used to fund items like public health, which is currently funded by a separate grant.
"So we will lose the specific grant but maintain the requirement to deliver the service. The majority of funding under the 75% scheme is therefore merely a transfer of funding streams, it does not provide any additional money.
"We need greater clarity as a matter of urgency so we can plan safely for the future.
"It must be recognised that local government services cannot be switched off overnight, so the sooner we have clarity on this issue, the better."
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Hidden Costs Of Backup: Front-End Capacity
We are all too familiar with the concept of hidden costs. You work with suppliers and/or vendors, and it looks like their published pricing matches your expectations.
That is until you get their quote (or worse, the invoice), and you see a very different figure. What happened? There were fees, charges or the licensing models that you have not taken into account.
It could happen in every aspect of your life and work, and backup solutions are no different. Let's talk about potential hidden costs you need to be aware of.
Front-End Capacity
In this model, the customer pays only for the volume of original data they submit to a data protection solution, before compression or deduplication. On the surface, it looks very attractive, and customers mistakenly believe they can save costs substantially, because the pricing is based on the data's original file size. In reality, this licensing model is one of the most deceptive and overcharging models in the data protection business. No wonder you will see many vendors touting this mechanism, as it, in fact, allows them to raise their profits at customer expense.
How do they do it?
Let's take for example, two companies — let's call them "X-Cell" and "C-Quell". The "X-Cell" is old-fashioned and uses Microsoft Excel, and the "C-Quell" uses Microsoft SQL Server database.
Let's also assume that both of them serve the same number of customers, and perform same number of transactions – and have the same amount of data recorded.
It would be fair to assume they should also be equal in terms of data protection, right? Not so fast.
The "X-Cell" has all the data in the XLSX spreadsheet, which is compressed data in XML format, and as a result — their "customer database" file size is small.
The "C-Quell" will be at hands of Microsoft SQL Server database file format. While it is rather efficient when it comes to storing data, it is not compressed. It also comes with indices, and most importantly – database transaction logs, which may be quite sizeable.
If these companies would use front-end backup capacity licensing model, they would be charged differently. Depending on the database settings, the "C-Quell" could pay many times more than "X-Cell" – backing up the same data.
In essence, the backup vendor overcharges "C-Quell" and other companies just because they chose a different database engine.
If they would use database engines, like Oracle, designed for performance and scalability, they could pay even more.
Maybe it is time for you to stop overpaying and switch to an easy, complete and affordable solution? With Acronis, there are no hidden surprises — the costs for "C-Quell" and "X-Cell" would be absolutely the same. Acronis does not charge for the data you back up — only for the systems you protect.
Visit Acronis website for more details or download Acronis Backup 12 trial version.


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The majority of clients have a house design in mind. We will meet with you to get a feel for your lifestyle and location needs. We can help you find the ideal lot for your house, so that you don't end up with a lot that does not accommodate your design plans.
You will work closely with our design team who will help you achieve your vision for your new home. You can log into Co-Construct from your home or office to access, view, and print... all online. We will always combine the uniqueness of the individual client with the practicality of function.
Pricing out your home to give you an accurate idea of cost is a job taken quite seriously by Craftsman Construction. If you have specific custom design elements you'd like incorporated into your new home, we encourage you to bring pictures of it. At the end of the pricing process, we can offer design changes to help accommodate your budget.
After the initial contract documents are signed, we are ready to start construction. We have resources that are available to assist you with your financing, if needed.
Construction begins with the excavation. At this time you'll be given a time line for your home selections. Some clients choose to work with an interior designer and some choose to use our resources; we can assist you either way. At each critical point of construction, we will go through the house together to help answer any questions or concerns.
As completion draws near, we will keep you abreast of the projected completion date. Many clients have existing homes to sell and we can assist you in the marketing and selling of your home. Prior to closing, we will do a final walk through together and make notes of any unfinished details, and get them taken care of before closing.
Your new home is covered under a one-year limited warranty. Every new home goes through a "breaking in" phase and it's our guarantee that all warranted items in your home are corrected in a timely manner.
Our success depends on your satisfaction with the home building experience. We would be pleased if you would refer us to any friends, family or co-workers looking to build a new home or remodel their current one.


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Put A Cherry On Top.
No matter how shitty things get, there's always a way to turn things around. Take, for instance, San Diego's Stone Brewery, which has figured out a way to make beer with recycled sewage. It reportedly tastes very "clean" with "hints of caramel."
Today might feel like something of a letdown, what with it being the post-SXSW, post-St. Patrick's Day hangover. But we have a list of surefire ways to turn that shit around. — Cory Graves
Cherry Glazerr at Three Links
Behind the swaggering rock of rising L.A. rock trio is a 19-year-old girl wise beyond her years. "It's about women having to fight for space," she tells Billboard about the band's new album, Apocalipstick, "It's about women having to create space for themselves — politically, economically, and socially. A space that doesn't exist and isn't open to them and isn't for them yet." The world needs more Cherry Glazerrs. It'd be a lot more bitchin place, that's for sure. — CG
Colony House at Trees (Sold Out)
Fun fact: Two-thirds of Franklin, Tennessee rock trio Colony House are the progeny of noted Christian musician Steven Curtis Chapman. The band sites everyone from Kings of Leon to Tom Waits and Switchfoot as influences on its sound. Oof. — CG
Hip-Hop Book Club at Josey Records
If you're a hip-hop fan, then you've probably argued with your friends about which Jay-Z album was really the best or whether Yeezus was actually a good Kanye album. But rather than keeping these thought-provoking conversations limited to individual friend groups, the folks behind a new idea called Hip-Hop Book Club wants to turn these debates into public forums. With the launch of their new monthly concept at Josey Records, they hope to bring Dallas audiophiles together on the regular to wax poetic about the rap game's most notable albums. — Porttia Portis
A League of Their Own at Alamo Drafthouse (Richardson)
In this '90s flick, Gena Davis and Tom Hanks lead an all-star cast through a great story about a rag-tag group of misfit women playing for an all-female baseball league. Other cast members include Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell and Lori Petty. The great Penny Marshall directed this film that didn't receive that much acclaim when it was released, but has stood the test of time and remains a classic. — Roberto Aguilar
The Bralettes Benefit Show at Shipping and Receiving
The Dallas bubble gum punk trio is raising money to make an album. All the proceeds from the $5 entry fees to this show – which also features live sets from Period BOMB, Mango Blossom and others –will go to the cause. — CG
New Math Monday at Off the Record (Free)
This week's special guest is DJ Spinderella – and it's still free. Well, how 'bout that. — CG
Jackie Brown at Alamo Drafthouse (Cedars)
My favorite Quentin Tarantino movie is the only one he didn't write himself. His adaptation of Elmore Leonard's Rum Punch is an exhilarating homage to the Blaxploitation movies of the 1970s with Pam Grier and Robert Forster getting the complex roles that were always denied them. — Kip Mooney
Adulting101 — Healthing: The Basics of Taking Care of Yourself at Union
There's not an instruction manual for raising kids. And figuring out the whole adult thing on your own can be even harder. Don't go it alone, let's all figure this crap out together with these regular, peer-led gatherings. — CG
La Vida Bohème, La Beriso at Cambridge Room
The top-selling Venezuelan alt-rock band La Vida Bohème is best known in the U.S. for its song "Radio Capital" from Grand Theft Auto V. — CG
To find out what else is going on today, this week and beyond, check out our event directory.


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If you read my last post,
you'll understand why the
last couple of days have been rough.
The tears flowed all day Saturday.
Sunday and Monday were fewer tears,
but still feelings of sadness.
I couldn't motivate to do anything,
even some orders I'm need to finish.
We all laid around the house.
I tried to think of something, anything
that might get me up and moving
or at least make me feel a little better.
I had no desire to go for a run, read a book,
go anywhere, or sew something.
And then I remembered how I've been
wanting to try making hexagons.
I had all the supplies already
and it turned out to be a relaxing
little project that I could
do while watching tv.
It doesn't require too much thought
but yet is still productive.
Want to see?
And last night when I couldn't sleep,
(stress will do that to a girl)
I pulled out my Accuquilt and made some squares.
No plans or projects intended for these little goodies.
Some good therapy though.


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MoveOn.org ad targets lawmakers on gun issue
The liberal group MoveOn.org is jumping into the battle over gun control with a new advertising campaign to target lawmakers in their home districts during next week's congressional recess.
The effort kicked off Friday with a 30-second ad, featuring Ohioan Jerry Thompson, described as a MoveOn member and gun owner.
"After the Newtown massacre and the NRA's disgusting response … I've had enough," he says in the ad. "You take money from the NRA – and then continue to do their bidding – we're gonna remember that come election time."
The group will spend $120,000 on its ad campaign. The ads will air on national cable for a week and on Sunday morning talk shows. A separate version of the ad will target Ohio Sen. Rob Portman, who has an "A" rating from the NRA but told reporters in December he was willing to consider some gun restrictions.
The group also will stage rallies and visits to congressional offices and plans to distribute "The NRA Doesn't Speak for Me" bumper stickers.
"Senators and representatives will get a loud and clear message over the congressional recess: The American people are tired of gun violence and are demanding that Congress take immediate action," Garlin Gilchrist, MoveOn's campaign director, said in a news release.


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Grill or dry toast the bread until light golden brown on both sides. Trim a small chunk off the end of a garlic clove and rub the cut surface all over the toasted bread (the garlic will wear down as you rub the bread).
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Score the skin of the tomatoes with a small x using a paring knife. Blanch the tomatoes in the boiling water for 30 seconds, then drop them into a bowl of ice water. Peel the tomatoes, halve them and then squeeze the seeds out. Chop the tomatoes into small dice and mix in a bowl with the parsley, chives, anchovy if using, shallots and a splash of sherry vinegar. Season generously with salt and pepper, and drizzle with olive oil to taste. Set aside.
Slice the Serrano or Iberico ham into thin slices, leaving the fat on. Heat a large nonstick fry pan over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and then the ham slices. Allow the ham to render for 15 to 20 seconds, turning the slices occasionally. Remove from the pan to a plate and keep the rendered fat in the pan.
Turn the heat up to medium-high and add the asparagus pieces to the pan. Season the asparagus with salt and pepper and saute until tender and the asparagus begins to color slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the asparagus to the plate with the ham.
Fry the eggs sunny-side up in the same pan (add olive oil to the pan if necessary).
To assemble, drain some of the liquid off the tomato salsa. Smear each toast with a good amount of tomato salsa. Place the ham and then the asparagus spears on the toast next. Then top off with a trimmed sunny-side up egg. Sprinkle with smoked paprika, salt and pepper, then drizzle with olive oil. Serve immediately.