text:
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. All characters are 18 or older.
No part of this e-book may be republished or used without the written consent of the author or publisher.
Heidi LeFleur Publishing © 2017
Heidi The Blackmailer
"Hey Jack, you see we
got the fiery dyke back again for another week," I heard the
voice behind me and knew without looking it was the sweaty guy from
the local paper with the big gut and the comb over. I could just
sense the way he was sprawled out in the press room, his sweaty arms
hung over the chairs on either side of him, looking smug and fat.
Since I could already see the walrus, I chose not to look at him. I kept my eyes to the front of the room where the dais was located, waiting for the Mayor's Communication Director, or maybe even the Mayor herself, to arrive and begin the press conference. Nonetheless, I felt my fingers grasp my pen a little tighter and noticed my heart beating a little faster. A whole week in town and I was still the object of derision, it would seem.
"Well lucky us," Jack, a reporter from the state capital said and the clucked his tongue, "Now I hate to correct you there Pete, but while our new colleague is certainly fiery, I mean right down to her hair, I don't know if dyke is the correct word. I think they call the manly ones dykes. This one, I am guessing she is a lipstick lesbian, better known as 'a true shame.' She's about worth trying to convert. Though, if she had a girlfriend around, I wouldn't mind watchin'. With that said, I hope she grills the mayor's people again on the gay marriage ordinance. I feel like that dead horse could use a couple more whacks." Pete and Jack, the good ol' boys just covering local politics, laughed together, knowing that I could hear them. I knew that there wasn't anything I could do that would be constructive; they were just trying to be trolls. But a week of this had been enough. I turned quickly while they were laughing.
"The term for what I am is not 'Lipstick Lesbian' you stupid fuck. I think the crude, shame-inducing slur you're looking for is 'Shemale.' So why don't you shut up so I can prepare my questions on the gay marriage ordinance for the mayor." I said and I turned around quickly, not waiting to see the looks on their faces.
I already knew what the face looked like. As an attractive non-operative transwoman who was extremely open about my identity, I had seen the complex mix of confusion, disgust, and arousal before. Oh, just so we are clear here, when I write that I am attractive, I am not (just) tooting my own horn, I am trying to explain why my identity is so troubling to queer-bashing men.
I am relatively short at 5'5 and I only weigh about 110lbs. I have very long dark red hair (I was 28 at the time and I had been growing it continuously since I was 18) that I wear in a long ponytail down my back. I have wide green eyes, very thick lips (the lower one pierced on the left side), small ears, an upturned nose (with a stud), and a light complexion. I wear a 32-B bra, have a tight, compact body (with a belly button piercing), lithe legs, and very small feet. I have thin arms, the right one has a sleeve of vaguely floral tattoos (I also have a tattoo on my left thigh of a butterfly and a honey bee on my left foot). I guess I look like the slightly skanky bad girl that the straight-laced type of guys fantasize about when they are alone. I guess when then realize that I also have a 5-inch cock (also with a stud) it sort of messes with their minds. Although that day (and every day for the past week) I was dressed conservatively with a gray pencil skirt a red blouse, and a gray jacket that covered up most of my arm tattoo.
"Well I guess you hope the ordinance passes now," I heard Pete say, "then you can go about converting the shemale." He started laughing
"Fuck off," Jack said, a little discomfort in his voice now, which I was happy to have implanted. I wasn't here to make people comfortable. In fact, the two local rubes were right about one thing, I was here to talk about the "gay marriage ordinance." Although, that characterization was, at best, misleading. I had left L.A. a week and a half earlier to cover a local ordinance that would require employers to provide the same benefits they provided to married employees to employees who had completed same-sex commitment ceremonies (verified by notarized certificate). (I won't tell you the city, let's just say it isn't big enough to have professional sports teams but it is big enough that everyone in America has at least heard of it).
At the time I was working for a website that covered news stories important to the LGBTQ community. When I'd heard that the city in question was considering this ordinance I was intrigued. Then I heard that four of the ten members of City Council were solid yeses, three others were on the fence leaning yes (including a Republican) and that the Republican mayor was threatening to veto the measure. I knew I had to be there and cover it.
I'd flown in the week before and been desperately trying to get answers to my questions ever since I got there. The first week, things had not gone well. Initially, they'd refused to give me a press credential, claiming that the site I worked for was not a legitimate news outfit. After threatening a lawsuit, I was finally allowed into the press conference where various local elected officials pretended that I wasn't raising my hand when it came time for questions. On top of that indignity, there were the Jack's and Pete's of the world. I'd taken the weekend to relax in my hotel room (a suite no less, if in a part of town that rolled up the streets at 5:05) and now it was the start of a new week and I felt my hurt pride adding to the righteous indignation I'd already felt as soon as I'd heard about this story.
"Alright, the Mayor will be arriving shortly. She will be taking questions for no more than 15-minutes, Thank you," My head shot up as I heard the voice. It was the communication's director. This was good, I'd only been allowed into one press conference last week when the Mayor had actually taken questions. She hadn't called on me, but I figured: another day, another chance. I folded my lip ring into my mouth, hoping to prevent her from seeing it, maybe making her more amenable to hearing what I had to say. I grabbed my notebook with my handful of scrawled notes and felt my adrenaline start to rush.
In a few moments, the door behind the podium opened up. The first person through the door was someone I recognized. It was the Mayor's personal assistant or aide or whatever, her name was Hena something. Hena Dutta I believe. I was always surprised when I saw her walking near the Mayor. One does not often associate the Republican Party with beautiful, young, Indian college girls, but that was what Hena was. She was a tall girl, maybe 5'9 and very slim. I write girl, but she was probably 21 or so. She had long dark hair and the most beautiful, even, dusky-colored skin I'd ever seen. She had enormous almond colored and shaped eyes and perfect teeth. She looked like a Bollywood star, complete with medium-sized perky breasts, a tight butt, and long legs (though those were particularly obscured by the unimaginative pants suits she wore every day).
After Hena entered the room she sort of shuffled off to the side behind the podium and looked out at crowd. After a moment, the Mayor appeared in the doorway. Mayor Sara Barker was every bit the youngish Republican, female pol. I mean, if you looked at her on the street, the first thing you would think would be "that chick voted for George W. Bush twice and is still proud of it." She was blonde (of course) with incredible blue eyes, perfect teeth, and flawless white skin. She was a college cheerleader and it was clear that she put a lot of time and effort in maintaining her youthful looks even if she was now 42 years old. Her breasts were exceptionally large, but the rest of her body was very slim. She was short in person at around 5'4 but she looked taller on camera. She always wore snappy red or blue dresses that accentuate her still youthful curves and her round ass. I wondered if the fact that she had her husband (a real estate developer) had never had any kids explained how she kept it so tight. Hey, she might've been the enemy, but credit where credit was due.
"Okay everyone," she said in her breathy, sunny voice, "Thanks for making it to the Monday morning press conference. I have meetings today about development on the Johnson Street corridor and another with some local girl scouts, so I only have about 15 minutes. I don't have anything in particular I want to talk about, but I am ready for questions." My hand shot into the air.
"Yeah Pete," she said pointing to my old friend. I knew she always called on a local guy first, but I had to raise my hand anyway.
"Do you think that the permitting situation for the Johnson Street development can be handled by the Mayor's office or will you be coordinating with Public Works?" Pete asked and I rolled my eyes. Heavy-hitting, investigative stuff wasn't really Pete's deal. He'd asked once last week why the mayor had such a good rapport with voters. Seriously: what a tool.
"Well as you know, I abhor government red tape, I think we can solve this in a way that involves government as little as possible, with that said, the issue does not so much involve the Public Works department as it does..." by now I could barely stand to hear what she was saying anymore. I just listened to her drone, waiting for a break in the mundane details of city management to raise my hand again.
"Thanks that helps," Pete said, making some notes. My hand shot into the air again. This time she called on someone from a national news network and I prayed that he would ask about the ordinance, something I could piggyback on. I was disappointed when he asked about something related to a local university's football team. I looked down at my watch, seeing the second tick away. She said 15 minutes, and we were already 10 minutes into the conference and she'd answered two questions. I began to strategize about what I'd do if I couldn't ask her questions today. But none of my options seemed right. I realized I was too busy being worried about time and started listening to the mayor again
"And I think that Coach Cruz made an excellent point in his press conference yesterday. If that woman did not want to have group sex with the offensive line, why was she in the locker room to begin with?" she asked with a hint of disgust. Ah sports! Wholesome fun it seemed. Wonder why I never got into it?
"I believe she was just an 18 year old and an athletic trainer. Her doctors said..." The reporter pressed. The mayor clearly didn't want anything to do with this toxic line of questioning and I saw her look about frantically.
"Any other questions?" I knew it was now or never. She was off balance and would respond to anything that wasn't related to the football team. I didn't raise my hand this time; I just stood up and started asking questions.
"Mayor Barker, Heidi Drake from QueerWire," I said and I saw her actually wince, "In light of the wide support for Resolution B in the public at large, how do you justify your continued insistence to veto the measure if passed by the city council." Mayor Barker gave me a look that indicated she knew she'd jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.
"Well, beyond the obvious moral issue," she said, making my teeth grate, "I think this is a financial issue. Our city is not exactly swimming in tax revenue and increased benefits..."
"We are not talking about increased benefits. We are talking about extending the same benefits to everyone," I interrupted. I wasn't going to let her create these sort of false-rational arguments.
"Please let me finish my answers," the mayor said coldly. She gave me an injured looked and I could feel some of the local reporters reflexively sympathize. Our pretty lady mayor is being bullied by the big city outsider. I didn't care, "The point I was trying to make is that it really is a moral issue. I strongly believe that God designed men to be the head of a household and that a wife should be his helper. Now, that can take different forms in a modern marriage, but those are the essential pieces. But, even if that weren't the case, I would still oppose this measure because doing so saves the taxpayers money." She said and acted as though that were an actual policy argument. She turned to ask someone else for a question. But that wasn't nearly enough, I spoke again.
"But several polls show that the taxpayers in this city believe that their dollars should go to benefits for same-sex couples. So really, it isn't about protecting the taxpayers. It is about enforcing your moral code on everyone else," I said.
"Again with the interruptions," the Mayor said, shaking her head, "Listen, I explained my position very calmly and politely. It seems that you don't like to play by the rules. Which I suppose is typical. You work for a 'publication' called QueerWire, so you apparently believe that rules, whether set by man or by God, do not apply to you. And that is fine; you don't have to believe that, it is a free country. But the citizens of this city elected me for two reasons. One, because they wanted the city's fiscal house put in order after 8 years of Mayor Carter and two, because they believe in my strong moral convictions. On this particular issue I feel that I get to prove to the voters that they made the right choice on both counts. Thank you for your questions."
"Stop trying to be cagey and answer the goddamn questions I ask," I said, feeling the adrenaline running in my veins and my heart pounding like a hammer. I knew even as the words came out of my mouth that they were a mistake. There was a little bit of a murmur in the room and the Mayor shot me a look like I'd fucked her dog or something.
"I will not dignify such behavior with a response," the Mayor said after a moment. She sounded almost like her feelings were actually hurt. I could feel sympathy waving out to her in the room. I had been so gung-ho to start asking questions that I hadn't even really been prepared for her obvious head fakes. Now I looked like an asshole. I had to salvage something.
"But..." I started. But I felt someone tapping on my shoulder. I looked over and saw the Mayor aide, Hena, standing next to me. She quickly hissed into my ear.
"You failed to follow the proper protocol. The Mayor will no longer be answering your questions today. If you interrupt again, a police officer will escort you from the press room and you will not be permitted to attend any more press conferences," Hena said. She gave me a stern look that seemed to indicate that while she was young and foolish, someone with real power was putting words into her mouth. I shot her an evil glare, but I closed my mouth and sat down. They weren't going to get rid of me that easily.
But at that moment, the mayor finished her answer to another softball question and then turned and left. And just like that they were rid of me, easily.
Chapter 2: An Applied Tutorial on Power
"Listen, I am not trying to tell you that you're bad at your job or something," said a reporter, Kent, from a prestigious national newspaper (if there is such a thing anymore), "I am saying that you are going about it the wrong way. You can hit them hard on the page, but if you go into their arena, the place where they are in control, and try to take the fight to them on their terms, especially with a tiny outfit like QueerWire behind you, you are going to get smacked down."
I was in a bar about three blocks from the city hall. After the fiasco at the press conference, two other out-of-town reporters had invited me out for drinks. Kent was a middle-aged male reporter from D.C. who seemed full of conventional wisdom. The other was an almost-elderly woman from New York named Carol. It was apparent that they knew each other from way back and seemed comfortable together. They both seemed nice enough and were trying to help. But I was on my third drink and no longer in the mood for it.
"Well, with all due respect, I think you both have forgotten what this is all about," I said, noticing that I was slurring a bit. I wasn't much of a drinker, especially for a reporter.
"And what is that?" Kent asked, downing another shot. His face was red and it was clear he was not unused to drinks on a Monday night.
"It's about, you know, tipping things over. It's about making the comfortable uncomfortable and all of that. I mean, at least today, I tried to do that," I said. Oh yeah, when I drink I get self-righteous.
"Well you certainly did that," Carol said dryly.
"What do you mean?" I asked defensively. Carol spoke less than Kent, but when she did, it went right to the heart of things.
"I mean that you stomped in there like an elephant and made sure that everyone knew that you were there to do it. I mean you left your damned punk lip ring in for God's sake." I tongued my lip ring and wondered if she was right. Had I made tactical mistakes? But I had to bluster now, couldn't let her see that I knew she was right.
"Well someone has to. All of you other reporters, you were just happy to be stenographers, to write down whatever anyone said and just take it. I don't regret not doing that."
"Hey kid, I like you, but go to Hell," Kent said and then laughed. He clearly wasn't overly offended, but it was obvious he thought I was an idealistic kid, off base, not correct about the situation.
"You just think that because your right and you know it that if you spray it all out there people will just agree with you. That the power of your logic is like the gravity of the sun," Carol said, "But you're full of shit." She looked over at the bartender and ordered another glass of wine.
"If people get all the facts, they make the right decision," I said, "People who love one another deserve to be together. When people see injustice, they react."
"False," Kent said.
"People react to power. That's what you don't understand. What did you do today? You played into the mayor's hands. She got to show all of the people who already support her that she is a victim, she got to show those on the fence that the other side is rude and demanding, and she got to make you the sneering face of the opposition, and she can now use you against your allies. And you made her a bunch of money, because she is going to use your little exchange to raise money from the religious right. You might've spoke truth to power, but power doesn't care. You don't win by getting to the truth. You win by having more raw power and using it better. That is what you don't get," Carol said. I was starting to get annoyed and my well-lubricated sense of righteousness led me to squawk back. Again.
"What the Hell do you know about it?" I asked, "I've read some of your stuff. You write well, but you don't seem to be interested in winning or losing anything, you just write what you think will get eyeballs."
"Well there Edward R. Murrow, that happens to be the job," Kent said, reveling in my anger. It was clear he was just stirring the shit at this point.
"You are an activist-journalist," Carol said, not coming back at me with the same anger I did, "I don't think that ever works. Kent is right. Writing is the job, that's what I do. I am not telling you how to do my job. I don't give a damn about any policy in particular. I am too damn old to care about gay rights or anything else. I mean, I don't dislike gays in particular either. Based on who you work for, I assume you are gay," she stated.
"I..." I started to let her know I was transgendered pansexual (as I always did, got to fly the flag) but she put up her hand.
"And I don't care. That's not what I am in this for. For these sorts of issues and talking about 'people' and all that nonsense. But you clearly are. And I am telling you, I have seen activist-journalists before. If you keep running out there full-flame you are going to burn yourself out. And you won't accomplish anything. I am just trying to provide a word to the wise from someone who has seen it all."
"Why, if you don't
care?" I asked, it seemed like a killer question.
"Activists give me something to write about and someone who really knows how to shake things up, not just shake her fist at power, she is going to provide a lot of interesting stories," she explained, "But you've got to learn how to play the game." And with that she took a deep drink of her new glass of wine.
"Amen," Kent said, smiling a little in awe of Carol. I guess I was too. She was pushing all of my buttons, hitting all of my professional insecurities all at once. Was I doing anything good? Was it my role to try to do good? Could I sustain this kind of career if I didn't ever get a win? I had been working so hard all week to get any traction and it wasn't working. And it went beyond this week; it felt like Carol and sort of summed everything up. I slumped down at my stool at the bar. Well, if nothing else, Carol had given me a lot to think about. Kent said something to Carol and they spoke briefly, but I wasn't paying attention. I thought back again to my humiliation at the press conference. Maybe Carol wasn't as full of shit as I wanted to believe. I sat for a while, not listening to them, just thinking.
"What do I do?" I asked suddenly, interrupting their conversation, "It's all fine and well to tell me to get power and use it, but what does that mean?" They looked at me, confused, for a moment.
"Come honey, don't be naïve, you know that. You have a youthful pair of tits, you know how power works" Carol said with a knowing look.
"What does that mean?" I said, confused.
"It means that you find something that gives you leverage. Then you apply it," Carol said and downed the last of her wine.
* * * * *
About two hours later it was well past dark and I was stumbling a little down the street towards my hotel. Kent and Carol had called it a night and I had decided I had better leave as well. I hadn't had as much to drink as Kent, but certainly more than I usually did on a work night. Or a Friday for that matter. I thought back on my day, my thinking seemed to become clearer in my drunken state.
I hadn't really engaged with Carol and Kent that much after Carol had explained to me her concept of power. I had just sort of sat in the bar and considered it. I knew, to a certain extent, that she was right. Posting little bits of anger and outrage on the internet wouldn't get things changed. But I also didn't really know how one went about collecting leverage. It sounds easy in the abstract, but where did I start? As I walked back to my hotel, I continued to consider all I'd learned that day.
In order to get to my hotel, I had to walk past the city hall. As I moved in front of it, I stopped for a moment and looked up. It was a simple municipal building with a charming brick façade and a small dome at the top. It looked like the seat of local power that it was and I shook my head.
"Fuck you," I slurred a bit to myself. I don't know if I was talking to the mayor or to myself or what, but it felt nice to say. Then I was suddenly struck by another idea.
"You can't keep me out. You think you hold all the goddamn cards because you do, but I have just as much a right to be here as you," I said. It made sense at the time. But I decided I was going to go back into the press room, when I wasn't supposed to, and I was going to ask my questions again and I would stand there in the empty room and wait and see if I got a better answer than the one I got from the mayor. It might have been a totally empty gesture and it might not have made any difference, but at least it would make me feel good. Carol wouldn't have liked it.
I climbed up the stairs to the front door. Actually it was a bank of doors. I started with the farthest on the left but it was locked. Slowly, I worked my way down, checking each one. The farther I went, the less and less certain I was that I was going to find a door that would open. But finally, on the second to last door, as I gave an exceptionally hard pull, the door swung wide open.
I walked into the abandoned city hall, waiting for security guards or police officers to rush in at any moment and arrest me. But the building was still and silent. Several lights were on, but not many. I didn't even hear the sound of a janitor. It felt a little ominous now, and I stood for a moment in the reception area and just sort of soaked it in. Then I remembered why I was there.
The mayor's press room was on the third floor, the same floor as her office. I quickly walked over to the stairwell (wincing as my heels clicked on the marble floor) and started to make my way up. In a few minutes I was on the darkened third floor. I made my way over to the press room, the scene of my earlier misfortune. It felt suddenly drained of all power, like I was seeing it with its clothes off. It was dark and small and didn't feel at all like an intimidating arena that someone was trying to shut me out of.
I walked up to my seat from earlier in the day and stood in front of it. I looked up to the dais in front of the room. I took a deep breath and got all of my thoughts together. This was going to go exactly the way it was supposed to go this time. I opened my mouth to speak and...stopped.
I heard something, I couldn't quite make out what it was. But I felt a prickle in my skin and a sense of nervousness I hadn't felt a moment before. I stopped moving and listened intently. For a moment there was absolute silence. I was about to start to move anyway, when I heard it again. Now that I was focusing I could tell it was laughter. Just a small amount of laughter. It was coming from the opposite side of the third floor.
At first I thought that the smartest plan would be to get out of the building. If someone were there who had the right to be there saw me, I could get into serious trouble. But, being a reporter, and a drunk one at that, my curiosity got the better of me. Who was in the building? Why? All thoughts about consequences for my actions flitted out of my head. I moved out into the hallway.
Now that I looked, I could see a light on at the end of the hallway, underneath a door. It was the mayor's office. The mayor was in and she was laughing about something. I wondered what it could possibly be. I started to slowly make my way across the floor, past offices and copy machines and the like. I walked past the little reception desk that sat directly in front of the mayor's office. I crept as quietly as humanly possible, but quickly as well. I felt my heart pounding. I don't know if I knew intuitively that something interesting was occurring or that I was just getting off on creeping around, but it was fun.
Finally, I made it up to the door. It was open the slightest crack, but at first I was afraid to look in, afraid that I would somehow block something and get notice. But I heard a strange sound. Not a laugh like before, but I muffled noise that was hard to place. I had to see what was causing it. I slowly slid around to the side of the door. I titled my head slightly and looked into the Mayor's heavily illuminated office and I saw...the Mayor and her aide Hena. Kissing passionately!
For a moment my head reeled. None of this made any sense! I could not be seeing this! But there it was, in front of me. I didn't know what I was supposed to do. But as I watched them, I began to feel... strange. Their kisses weren't just passionate, they were electrifying. The last conscious thing I remember doing was grabbing out my phone, clicking the video button and pointing it towards the action. After that all I could do was watch.
Mayor Barker...maybe I will just call her Sara for this, it will be a little awkward to refer to her by title...Sara and Hena were sitting on a couch in the mayoral office. It was directly in front of me, about fifteen feet away, from the opening of the door. There was a table in front of the couch with a bunch of papers scattered about it. There were two big bottles of diet cola sitting on top of the papers. It was clear that Sara and Hena had been working late into the night and were now doing a different sort of work.
Sara was still wearing the tight red dress and white blouse she'd worn earlier in the day, but her suit jacket was removed, showing how large her breasts were when not confined in fabric. Her knees were together and her feet spread apart on the floor and she was leaning over towards Hena. Her long blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders giving her a sexy, disheveled look. Her left arm was resting across the back of the couch and her right hand was resting on Hena's left thigh.
Hena was sitting right next to Sara. Unlike Sara, it looked like she had changed after work. The unflattering pants suit was nowhere to be found. Instead, Hena was wearing a pair of skin tight yoga pants (a particular favorite of mine) and an equally tight white t-shirt that fell just four inches or so below her breasts, exposing her slim mid-rift. Even from the distance I could see Hena's black bra showing through her t-shirt. Hena was barefoot and her legs were curled up underneath of her on the couch. Her left hand gently rested on Sara's waist and her right hand was placed lovingly on Sara's cheek.
And the women were kissing. Both of their eyes were closed and their lips were pressed together. I saw Hena's mouth open and Sara's did as well. Their tongues poured out of their own mouths and then into the space between them. I could hear the wet, enticing sounds of their tongues pressing together. I could hear a groan escape from Sara's mouth and saw Hena smile around their kiss as she heard it as well. Hena made her tongue rigid and I watched as Sara slowly started to bob her head back and forth on the tongue, sucking it gently.
While they were kissing, Hena's left hand began to move. First it started to press harder into Sara's waist. Then her fingers started to crawl up Sara's body. I saw her fingernails gently tickled the bottom of Sara's right breast. Sara opened her eyes and gently grabbed Hena's hand and moved it away from her breast. She let Hena's tongue fall from her mouth, but gave it one last quick lick.
"No, No, No," she said coyly, "You know what I need first." Hena bit her lower lip and nodded. Then the young aide jumped up from the couch and walked slinkily around the coffee table. She stopped facing right towards the door, her back to Sara. (At this point I absolutely froze, even holding my breath, as Hena was only about eight feet away and facing me, but I kept the camera running).
"Something like this?" Hena asked. She turned and looked over her shoulder for a moment. Sara leaned forward on the couch, putting her elbows on her knees. Her breasts squeezed together, pushing out her cleavage. Sara nodded and spoke in a baby-doll voice.
"Do what I like baby," Sara said. (Any thought that it was in any way a first time, or a sort of one-off thing disappeared at this moment). Still facing away from Sara, Hena grabbed the bottom of her t-shirt and tossed it across the room. She was still facing me and I saw her smooth stomach, gently curved hips and black bra exposed. Her work clothes had not done her justice! She was stunning. The body of a bikini model.
But she wasn't done yet. Now she reached behind her back, finding the hooks to her bra. She unhooked it and quickly worked the bra down her arms and tossed it as well. She was still facing me and I saw her beautiful breasts. They were incredibly perky, bouncing out of her bra like they were still being held there. Her nipples were about the size of quarters and short, and a dense chocolate color.
Now she turned, but not completely. She stood to the side so that her left arm was facing Sara and her right arm was facing me, giving me a gorgeous profile shot of her body. The way her flat stomach rose up to the softly angled bottom of her breast and then to the delicious points of her nipple, only to recede back in a slightly convex shape up to her throat was stunning. And I was also enticed by the way her long, black hair cascaded down her back. Her head was turned slightly so that she was looking at Sara.
"How do I look?" Hena asked, and rather than use the sort of faux-sultry porn voice she'd affected before, it seemed like she was actually asking this time. I could sense a little vulnerability in her voice. Sara paused a moment before speaking.
"You look...beautiful," she said and Hena smiled widely. Then Hena reached up with her hands and cupped the underside of both of her breasts.
"Really?" she said, more playfully now. She shook her reddish brown breasts slightly, and watched as her nipples hardened in the cool office air.
"Incredible," Sara said. Hena giggled in a youthful way (that reminded me that she was probably only 20 or so). Hena started to squeeze her breasts tighter and she fingered her nipples gently. Doing so clearly had an effect on her and I watched as she arched her back a bit, closed her eyes and moaned. Sara shifted on the couch. I could now see her nipples poking out ever slightly from blouse. Hena rolled her nipples between her thumbs and forefingers and let out a little squeal.
"Oh God!" she moaned. Sara shifted again.
"Okay," she said, seeming very hot and bothered, "Stop torturing me and do what I like!" she begged.
"Take you shirt off," Hena said and Sara's eyes got big.
"That isn't how we play this game," Sara said, sounding like she was actually a little put out by the request. Hena seemed to know she was pushing something. She slowly bent over at the waist, pushing her ass far out into the air. She still cupped her breasts in her hand.
"Please," she said. For a moment Sara just looked at her. But the older woman's eyes moved all over Hena's body and it was clear her will was broken.
"Fine," she said with a sigh, "but you didn't say anything about the bra!" Then Sara quickly unbuttoned her blouse and tossed it onto the floor. Her large, and surprisingly perky, breasts were encased in a thrilling red bra that would've looked scandalous on a porn star, let alone a conservative mayor. But once she was out of the shirt, she crossed her arms in front of her tits and leaned back into the couch. (I was surprised, for a woman approaching middle age, her stomach looked flawless, I don't know what she did to keep it that way. But seriously: kudos.)
Hena seemed to accept that she'd gotten all of the concessions she was going to get out of her boss. She released her breasts and then reached back to her hips. While she did this, she turned so that her back was to the mayor. She slipped her fingers into the waistband of her yoga pants. Slowly, she worked the pants back around her round ass; exposing more and more of her brown skin (it was readily apparent she wasn't wearing panties).
As the pants slipped over the bulge of her ass, Hena once again stood up. The pants slipped down her legs and pooled on the floor at her feet. She quickly stepped out of them and stood naked in the mayor's office. Her legs were long and perfectly proportioned. And, from my angle, I got an unobstructed view of her pussy. She had a small patch of well-kempt black hair above tight looking brown lips. I could see the little nub of her hard clit from that distance and could almost smell the thin film of clear liquid that was erupting from inside of her.
Now she turned and faced Sara. Her ass looked tight and her long hair fell all the way down and touch just above her hips. I thought she was going to walk over to Sara now. But I was mistaken. Instead, she slowly dropped down onto the floor, sitting her bare ass down on the dirty office carpet. Then she leaned back. She tucked her left arm under the neck so that as she put her head down, she was propped up slightly, looking towards Sara on the couch (And luckily keeping her eyes where they wouldn't be looking at my narrow crack in the door). I got a thrill seeing the way her pert breasts splayed out across her chest as she laid down, her nipples looking even more prominent in that position.
Then, Hena lifted her legs in the air and then spread them wide apart. She gently lowered them so that her heels landed on the coffee table, in a slightly inclined position. Her ass was just slightly off the ground now and her dripping pussy was facing Sara. I could see the mound of her pussy thrust slightly into the air. Sara's eyes were firmly planted on Hena's body, and the mayor did not move.
"What does looking at me make you want to do?" Sara asked, her voice sounding thick now. Her face was flushed and I could see her chest rising and falling rapidly. I felt like I could see her heart beating in her chest.
"I want to play with myself!" Hena gasped. Her free hand, the right, was gently kneading one of her breasts, playing with the nipple. Her hips rocked in the air and she twisted slightly. I could hear her panting. The little strip show had clearly gotten her motor running. (And mine too, I could feel my cock pressing hard against my panties, but I couldn't even think to touch it.)
"Then do it baby," Sara said, just above a whisper. Hena's hand snaked down off of her breast, giving her nipple one last little flip before gliding across her ribs, over her flat stomach, and nestling into her little patch of pubic hair. Hena gasped loudly as her finger grazed her clitoris. A tremble moved through her entire body. Her fingers slipped lower, rubbing against the juices that were dripping from her pussy. When her fingers were sopping wet she moved them back to her clitoris.
Now that her fingers were lubricated, Hena's hand moved quickly around her pussy. It looked like she was putting her middle and fore-finger together and quickly circling them over her clit. Occasionally, she would dip back down to her open pussy, get her fingers wetter, and then move back up to her clit. She was moaning slightly as she played with herself and her legs trembled on the coffee table. Sometimes, her hips would thrust up into the air, the bottoms of her feet flattening onto the coffee table and her tits moving up towards her face. The whole time, her eyes stayed intently on Sara.
At first, Sara stayed in the position she'd taken since she had taken off her shirt, leaning back with her arms crossed. But as Hena got more and more involved in her actions, Sara seemed that she was feeling it more. Her arms dropped and her nipples were now like little beads in her bra and her breathing was even lighter than before. Around the time that Hena lifted her fingers once to her mouth and licked off her own juices, Sara seemed like she could barely take stand to look professional and detached anymore.
She nestled back into her couch, her large breasts jiggling as she did so. For a moment, she just watched from that position. But then I saw her breath in deeply. From where I was sitting I could smell Hena's sex in the room, it was intoxicating. I was sure that where Sara was located, the scent was overwhelming. Sara carefully reached down unzipped her skirt (it helpfully zipped on the side). When it was all the way unzipped, she flung it off of her lap, exposing her beautiful legs and her cute red panties. As soon as the skirt was unzipped her legs splayed open, giving me an amazing view of her inner thighs. Her body looked incredible. Not just for a woman her age, but for a woman half her age. I could see that her panties were wet (as though there had been any doubt that she was enjoying the show).
Sara lifted her ass off the couch and slipped her fingers into the waist band of her panties. Her legs briefly went back together. I watched as her panties slid down her hips, over her knees, and then down onto the floor. She even kicked them off her small foot in a particularly sexy way. Once she was disrobed (with the exception of her bra) her legs split open again. Sara had soft, smooth pink pussy lips and an inflamed, red clit that seemed to be begging to be played with. She also had a small, well-kempt patch of hair, but hers was a particularly cute little bit of blonde shaved into a landing strip.


text:
CharlesR comments on Facing the Intelligence Explosion discussion page - Less Wrong
You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.
Less Wrong is a community blog devoted to refining the art of human rationality. Please visit our About page for more information.
You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.
OK, if you insist.
The amount I give to charity XYZ ought not be completely determined by my income. For example, if charity XYZ sets fire to all money donated to it, that fact also ought to figure into my decision of how much to donate to XYZ.
What ought to be determined by my income is my overall charity budget. Which charities I spend that budget on should be determined by properties of the charities themselves: specifically, by what they will accomplish with the money I donate to them.
For example, if charities XYZ and ABC both save birds, and I'm willing to spend $100 on saving birds, I still have to decide whether to donate that $100 to XYZ or ABC or some combination. One way to do this is to ask how many birds that $100 will save in each case... for example, if XYZ can save 10 birds with my $100, and ABC can save 100 birds, I should prefer to donate the money to ABC, since I save more birds that way.
Similarly, if it turns out that ABC can save 100 birds with $50, but can't save a 101st bird no matter how much money I donate to ABC, I should prefer to donate only $50 to ABC.
From Scope Insensitivity:
Once upon a time, three groups of subjects were asked how much they would pay to save 2000 / 20000 / 200000 migrating birds from drowning in uncovered oil ponds. The groups respectively answered $80, $78, and $88 [1]. This is scope insensitivity or scope neglect: the number of birds saved - the scope of the altruistic action - had little effect on willingness to pay.
Now I haven't read the paper, but this implies there is only one charity doing the asking. First they ask how much you would give to save 2000 birds? You say, "$100." Then they ask you the same thing again, just changing the number. You still say, "$100. It's all I have." So what's wrong with that?
Agreed: if I assume that there's a hard upper limit being externally imposed on those answers (e.g., that I only have $80, $78, and $88 to spend in the first place, and that even the least valuable of the three choices is worth more to me than everything I have to spend) then those answers don't demonstrate interesting scope insensitivity.
There's nothing wrong with that conclusion, given those assumptions.
Pick a username and password for your Less Wrong and Less Wrong Wiki accounts. You will receive an email to verify your account.
Already have an account and just want to login?

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- This event has passed.
Creative Writing Meetup – Maitland City Library
May 19, 2017 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
An event every month that begins at 10:00am on day Third of the month, repeating until October 20, 2017
Event Navigation
Creative writing meetup
Join an informal and supportive writing group for tips on how to begin or receive advice and encouragement to continue your writing projects. With new topics each month, you will learn the basics of story structure, how to create dynamic characters, bring dialogue to life and much more. Come along once or every month.
3rd Friday of the month, May to October
10.00 am – 12.00 pm
East Maitland Library
$12.00 per session
$60 for 6 sessions if booked in one transaction
Presented in partnership with Hunter Writers Centre and Lake Mac Libraries.
Bookings essential www.maitlandticketing.com.au/maitlandlibrary/writing-workshops


text:
October 16 2013 - Products
Hogebuilt has introduced two new stainless steel half tandem fenders to its portfolio. The new 430 bright anneal option compliments the existing premium 304 mirror finish fender line.
Tags: Aftermarket, Fenders, Hogebuilt
June 12 2013 - Products
Hogebuilt has recently introduced two new products expanding their M-Series
430 stainless steel quarter fender offering.
The 30-inch and 34-inch quarter fenders have a bright annealed mirror shine finish and contain Hogebuilt's unique three inch side flange which is the widest in the industry.
Tags: Fenders, Hogebuilt


text:
|Synth Site: Ensoniq: Mirage: User reviews Add review
|Average rating: 4.1 out of 5
|page 3 of 9: <<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >>>
|David Vesel a part-time user from St. Louis, MO, USA writes:
The one that started it all. Clearly, if you're looking for realism these days, look elsewhere. But crunching 8-bit sounds and a whale of programmability makes this beast an excellent and low cost (around $100 these days) noise maker for electronic musicians. The quality of samples to be found are all over the map, and the best ones tend to be the ones off the beaten path. Today, it's worth more than you'd pay, just keep your expectations modest.
|Rating: 4 out of 5 posted Monday-Jul-05-2004 at 19:27
|mooghead a professional user from england writes:
Ignore this guy that states an sk1 is better.I think he needs to take a shit because it is coming from his mouth and not his arsehole.He obviousley has never spent the time required to learn this machine or he has not got the intelligence,mmm,probably the latter. This comment is from someone who wants a machine to do all the work for him and gets no enjoyment out of making uniq sounds with machines.I think he should wait until the technology is available that has a button on it that says 'make music for me' and he will be in his element. trust me this guy is talking utter shit,this sampler sounds the bomb.sample some beats into it and you will wonder why people spend a fortune on an amu sp1200 when this is just as phat sounding. Obviousley i would not have this as my only sampler but i do have hard disk recording and use the mirage for making phat bass sounds and beats and I have been on loads of great albums includingDJ sasha's and that says it all. This sampler is awesome and if you take the time(as with anything) I promise you will be rewarded and you can leave toy music to talentless people who use toys like the sk1..so to the user who keeps making this ridicules statement about the sk1 ...Man if only you realised how riducless you sound you would be ashamed...you fool.my advise.get some time,get some kit,learn how to use it and enjoy oh and maybe buy some new ears as the ones you have got are fucked.sooo soo sad. I am giving this machine a 5 out of 5 because it just always comes up with stuff that you would never get from a new sampler its all down to the bandwidth and 8 bits and analog filters and analog envelop generators for both the filter and amp and lfo's and chorusing and waveform selct by modwhhel or velocity and loads of so many features that make this great.To the guy who prefers the sk1..go back to school do some maths and get your head into a mirage and make some phat beats,then smoke loads of dope and make some more beats.Hex is easy,the op system on this is simple,you just do not have a clue man..
|Rating: 5 out of 5 posted Wednesday-Jan-07-2004 at 12:13
Buy an SK1. More fun, better user interface, same sample features and 1,000% easier to use. Also, they cost £30. The SK5 does more. This is an horrendous waste of time and money.
|Rating: 1 out of 5 posted Monday-Jan-05-2004 at 11:51
|synaptic_gap a professional user from england writes:
Let me just say this sampler is fantastic.Really gritty sounds are to be had from this freak. Very small sampling time 2.2 seconds at its highest sample rate of 29khz more seconds if you lower the sample rate and this is where the fun begins becuase the gritt that is applied to sounds when you sample them in 8 bits at a low sample rate and play around with the input frequency to in turn play around with the nyquist frequency which aliases big time but in a good way. Yes programming is in hex but this is not so difficult. basically to sample into one of these things do the following:- 1...set parameter 26 to 1(this is sample no.1-8) 2...set paramet 73 to 34 this is sample rate(29khz 3...set parameter 74 to 80 input filter 4...set parameter 75 to on 5...set parameter 76 to 10(sample trigger threshold) 6...set 77 to on(multisample) set parameter 72 to 35(no of keys from 1st left key) 7...set paramete 60 to 00(memory start of sample)(in hex =00) 8...set parameter 61 to ff(this is 255 in decimal and depicts the sample end in memory(you can set this smaller for shorter values) 9...press sample lower and the disply should read sf and after a few seconds you should get a bar in the screen which should fluctuate when the sound you want to sample is playing(get the level so the bar just flickers into the top) press enter.
hey presto you have a sample. utilse parameter 67(course tune and 68 fine tune) to tune sample. if the sample sounds like a fast theeep sound you probably need to ajust paramet 67 lower.
hope this helps anyone who does not have a manual. any info needed email me..
|Rating: 5 out of 5 posted Monday-Jan-05-2004 at 11:02
|Solid_state_freaks a professional user from uk writes:
Ok let me just say this machine is truly wonderfull,I love it.Yes it is not straight forward to program because every parameter is accessed by keying in a number but once you get used to it(which wont take long) it is cool. The sound is so lo fi and dirty it really adds a bit of fizz to a mix in this world of super clean audio and hard disk recording.I have 3 mirages two keyboards and 1 rack and always use it for philphy drums before recording them to my mac running logic.Pure Filth.Ensure you get a few disks with it and a manual or buy a manual from web.Try to get the masos disk.
don't pay more than 100 pounds for one. but hey they are sexy little noise makers.
Just smoke loads of dope then try programming it,it should then make sense.
I am giving it a 5 out of five because depsite its limitations such as sample time and it will not give perfect reproduction of sound.no i am giving it 5 out of five because if you take the time to learn this machine and use it you will be rewarded with samples that will add interest to your tracks and this machine is great because you never quite know what she is going to do with your sound that you just sampled.
And all this is an honest opinion of mine.
Peace brothers.
|Rating: 5 out of 5 posted Thursday-Dec-11-2003 at 19:20
|page 3 of 9: <<< 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 >>>


text:
Nineteen more people have been charged for their alleged involvement in Vancouver's Stanley Cup riot that made international headlines in 2011.
The B.C. Criminal Justice Branch says 17 adults and two young people face charges including taking part in a riot, break and enter, assault and mischief.
During the June 2011 riot, hundreds of people looted stores, torched cars and assaulted others following the Vancouver Canucks' loss to Boston in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup final.
So far, police have recommended charges against 352 people, and the Criminal Justice Branch says charges have been approved against 277 of them.
To date, 202 people charged have pleaded guilty and 141 of those have been sentenced.
Only one riot-related trial has been completed, and the accused, a 26-year-old man, was found guilty.
To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted.
By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.
Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.


text:
Alteon Training yesterday began operations at its Singapore Training Center, which will open officially in early 2007. "With this latest addition, Alteon now offers seven training locations in the Asia/Pacific region," President Patrick Gaines said. Located near Changi Airport, the Singapore center will be capable of training more than 6,000 pilots and flight attendants annually.
Subscribe to Access this Entire Article
"Other News - 10/02/2006" is part of ATW Plus, our online premium membership. Subscribing will provide you access to exclusive news, carefully researched airline financial, fleet and traffic data, plus the option to receive our popular, award-winning print magazine. To learn more, click here. If viewing via ATW Mobile, please login and click "Read web article" to view fully. Questions? email@example.com.


text:
The West Terrace
Learn all about advertising and how it affects you as a consumer here in the West Terrace.
What's in this section of the mall?
Questions and Answers: Advertising
Shuman's Shoes
Shoe sales at Shuman's have been low this month. Learn about how effective advertising can help boost his sales.
Market-Match Wireless
Claire's a target marketing expert. Find out how she matches her cell phones with the perfect buyers.
Gr8 Gadgets
Gr8 Gadgets has it all… but is it all great? Find out why some products aren't as good as they seem on TV.
Nutritional Emporium
If it's "Doctor Approved," it has to be good, right? Maybe not. Pay close attention to advertising claims.


text:
Social.im, a desktop IM client built as an application on the Facebook Platform, has been acquired by mobile VOIP company iSkoot, TechCrunch reports. iSkoot likely plans to use Social.im's client to expand its VOIP service inside social networks. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Before Facebook launched Facebook Chat, Social.im looked like it could build a meaningful service on top of the Facebook Platform. However, Facebook deemed chat too central to its communication platform vision, and Social.im was left competing with the Platform it largely depended on.
Despite a fantanstic angel investment team including Facebook board member and original investor Peter Thiel, Aydin Senkut (of Google and now Felicis Ventures), and Georges Harik, it looks like Social.im saw the writing on the wall and found a buyer that could use what it had built (a well functioning IM client connected to the Facebook Platform) to work toward a different goal.


text:
If a decision has the potential to touch the lives of millions of people, the least you can do in this democratic age is conduct your deliberations out in the open, where everyone can see the arguments for and against and judge the outcome in the light of all the facts. As the EU's only directly elected body, this is a lesson the European Parliament has taken to heart. Every step in its decision process is taken in the open, with citizens able to scrutinise every document and every meeting. This also helps keep Parliament responsive to public feeling on the questions that really matter to people. For example, it went toe to toe with the US in 2010 when it blocked a controversial agreement over allowing American investigators access to European bank data in their fight against terrorism.
It is now set to play a key role in another international agreement which awakens passions across the globe. The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), which aims to beef up enforcement in the fight against counterfeit products and copyright infringements (including on the internet), has led to wide-spread protests around the world, especially amongst internet freedom activists. Supporters call the agreement necessary to protect developed economies from losses due to piracy and counterfeiting. However opponents fear it will protect large companies at the expense of individual privacy and civil rights.
How the Parliament votes in the end will prove crucial to the fate of ACTA, as without its consent the EU will not be able to go ahead with the agreement. This decision is yet to come. However, one thing is already clear: it does know it wants to come to its decision in a clear and transparent way. From the start indeed Parliament has called for more openness on ACTA. As early as 11 March 2009 it adopted a resolution to urge the Commission immediately to make all documents related to the ongoing international negotiations on ACTA available. There was also a resolution on 10 March 2010 to reject secrecy around ACTA.
Over the coming months the Parliament will be reaching out to as many people as possible. It wants to draw on all the expertise and knowledge available and hear all different views before making an informed choice. Although the parliamentary Committee on International Trade will be responsible for coming up with a recommendation, four other committees will be delivering their opinions on the agreement. Most of these meetings will be broadcast live on the European Parliament's website for all to see. Documents will be available through Parliament's website. Anyone with concerns is also free to contact their MEP. When the recommendation is delivered, it will be made public as will the reasons for it. And finally, when the vote comes, it will again be broadcast live on the website.
As yet, it is impossible to tell which way the Parliament will vote. But at least it will be in a transparent way.


text:
Here are a few images of the Solar Photosphere, the outer layer of the Sun.
For most of my WL images I use a 6" f8 achromatic refractor with a Baader WL filter plus usually a couple other colored filters that help cut through atmospheric turbulence.
The camera is a pure monochromatic high speed video camera which captures frames at about 60 per second. Each capture is usually 1 minute for about 3600 frames which are then processed into a single image.
Close ups with good conditions show a granular surface. These granules are ~1000 km across and have a life of about 10 to 20 minutes.
-John Minnerath
Post a comment
Comments are moderated, and will not appear until the author has approved them.
Your Information
(Name and email address are required. Email address will not be displayed with the comment.)


text:
Q: Is there a sense of comfort because this game is at home?
A: I hadn't even thought about it. The only thing that we've thought about is making sure that we put this Jet game behind us and focus on the obstacles that a very talented Cowboys team is going to bring in here. We haven't even thought about playing at home.
Q: It should be an advantage?
A: It should be, definitely. We love the atmosphere in our stadium and we know it's going to be a playoff-like atmosphere, a playoff game for both teams. Win or go home. You have to love that.
Q: Last week you said you didn't know what team was going to show up. Anything change on that for this week?
A: Ask me Sunday night or Monday morning. I can tell you which team did show up.
Q: In the past were you more certain week-to-week?
A: I thought I was, but you never know anything. We always think we know stuff, but like I say, no one knows what the future holds but the big man upstairs.
Q: What's it like to see Coach Coughlin take a hit like that?
A: We are all all in. Coach Coughlin is the same as all of us. I know that leg is banged up a little bit, but he wasn't showing any ill effects today and came in excited about the opportunity that we have this week.
Hit the follow botton to join the Giants community! Follow @Giants


text:
We have recently been working on an incremental indexer for our Solr based search implementation, which was being updated sporadically due to the time it took to perform a complete re-index; it was taking about 5 days to create the 13GB of XML, zip, upload to the server, unzip and then re-index. We have created a Windows service which queries a denormalised data structure using NHibernate. We then use SolrNet to create our Solr documents and push them to the server in batches.
Solr Update Process
Communicating with Stakeholders - Cucumber and a new Cucumber learning resource
Here at 7digital, we see the relationship between the customer and the developer as one of the most important aspects of software development. We treat software development as more of a craft than an engineering discipline. Craftsmen back in the day would have constant communication with their customers, receiving regular visits from their customer to discuss progress and alterations as the item takes shape.
Over the last twenty years, the agile software movement and extreme programming in particular has championed this with its short iterations, customer showcases and active customer participation in the creation of features.
Processes like Behaviour Driven Development (BDD) have attempted to bridge the gap between craftsman and customer, giving developers processes to guide software development based on the desired behaviour of the system rather than through more traditional software engineering disciplines.
Tools, such as Cucumber, actualise this process. Cucumber (and similar, older tools such as Fit, Fitnesse and Storyteller) provides an interface between the customer and the developer by providing a human readable specification of the software that is also understood by the computer. Based on the description, the computer executes the software accordingly. The customer can then see immediately if the software behaves according to the specification.
Of course, translating human text into instructions for a computer isn't easy. While modern programming languages on the surface do read like English, and tend to use English words, it takes a certain amount of experience to appreciate what the actual behavior of a piece of software is just by reading the code. The skill in using tools like Cucumber is in translating what the customer understands into something the machine can interpret.
If you've been looking for some time for a resource that offers a good grounding in using a tool like Cucumber then you'll be pleased to hear that one has arrived courtesy of Matt Wynne and his Cucumber School.
The Cucumber School is a series of video tutorials for learning and practising how to do this. Matt Wynne takes you on a journey from the initial planning session with the customer through developing an application ('Shouty' - a social networking app). Throughout he highlights potential pitfalls that many teams using this tooling hit the first time they try it out. He does this with wit and aplomb. The videos are lovingly animated and include advice that Matt has built up from his many years of using and contributing to Cucumber. All this advice is condensed into six 20 minute chapters and it is advice that would otherwise take you hours and hours of trawling through blog posts and talks to discover.
Cucumber School covers just about everything you would want to tell developers about BDD in a little over 2 hours. To get a flavour of the style of the course the first video is available for free at the Cucumber School website and in itself demonstrates the power of BDD as a communication tool.
At the heart of successful software development is constant communication between the development team and customers with a business problem to solve. Cucumber provides an effective way of taking these conversations and turning them into a set of automated specifications that describe the software built. Introducing Cucumber to your development process can initially seem daunting so to get you started try The Cucumber School, which will help you to get well on the way to making it a useful and valuable part of your development process.
About the author:


text:
For Sunday, Nov. 20:
This year you note conflicting and sometimes confusing currents. This aura could make decision-making confusing, especially about home or domestic matters. If you are single, forming a relationship with so many factors in chaos could be interesting. If you are attached, you need to bond as a team in order to handle several different issues. Libra likes peace.
The Stars Show the Kind of Day You'll Have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult
Aries (March 21-April 19)
••• You might have legitimate concerns when making plans. The unexpected punctuates even the best-laid plans. Tonight: Time for that special person.
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
•••• Don't try to suppress your childlike joy when facing certain situations. Some of your friends might not feel the same way. Tonight: Think "tomorrow."
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
••• You might be happiest close to home. Stay centered and get on top of a problem. Tonight: The fun surrounds you.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
•••• Make calls early and touch base with others. A parent, older relative or friend could meet you at the last minute. Clearly, plans will need to be tossed. Tonight: Make it early, if possible.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
••• Sunday brings news that might cause you to stop and think. Confusion marks a key partnership. Tonight: At home.
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
•••• Finances are a wild card. The cards can fall either way. A neighbor or relative has a lot to share, like it or not. With his or her body language and dominance, this person demands your attention. If you choose to pass, you better have a good excuse! Tonight: Don't cook; go out.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
••• Nap and relax. You do need extra time off from your daily routine. Whether watching movie upon movie, reading the Sunday paper or playing video games makes no difference. Tonight: Perking up.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
•••• Use the daylight hours to the max. You could be overly tired and drawn. Tonight: Play it low-key.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
••• Take a stand if need be. You are able to handle a lot, but you also want to relax. Clear out as much as you need to. Tonight: Where the action is.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
••• Make calls to loved ones at a distance. Your concern means a lot to another person. Tonight: A force to be dealt with.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
••••• Someone seeks you out — finally. Be receptive to this person. Please, no judgments. You need time to feel the situation out. Tonight: Hang out.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
••••• Others dominate. You can be sure there is no shortage of options. Follow through on what is happening. Tonight: How about an intimate chat now?
Copyright 2018 The Lawrence Journal-World. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. We strive to uphold our values for every story published.


text:
35k price reduction for immediate sale!
This 1996 Mainship 40ft Sedan Bridge is powered by twin Cummins 330 Diesel engines that have only 600 hours on them. Originally the boat came with gas engines but they were changed out to these diesel approx 5 years ago. New Stanford generator, new davit, comes with a dingy and small outboard. Electronics include a ray marine C120, 2 VHF radios, stereo and more. The floorplan is arranged with two staterooms forward, and huge head with a stall shower. The salon is big for a 40 footer and the cherry woodwork, fabrics, and Corian countertops combine to create a stylish interior.
3704 Del Prado Blvd. S
Cape Coral, FL 33904
United States


text:
Dr Selanikio is a practicing paediatrician, former Wall Street computer consultant, and former CDC epidemiologist with a passion for combining technology and public health to address inequities in developing countries. Dr Selanikio leads DataDyne's pioneering efforts to develop and promote new technologies for health and international development, including the award-winning EpiSurveyor mobile data collection project.
He was winner of the 2009 Lemelson-MIT Award for Sustainability and the 2009 Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Award for Healthcare IT.
In his former role as an officer of the Public Health Service, he served as the chief of operations for the HHS Secretary's Emergency Command Centre in the aftermath of 9/11.


text:
Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva grateful for support during lay-off
Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva has thanked the club's fans for their support during his lengthy injury absence.
Last Updated: 30/11/12 9:18am
The Brazilian, who also missed a large part of last season with a knee problem, is set to return to first-team action after a three-month lay-off in Saturday's home game against Southampton.
He told the club's official website: "Ever since my first injury, the fans have been very important to me.
"When you don't play, you think that people might forget about you but I think it has been completely the opposite.
"People send me nice messages and they say that they really miss me. So this has given me the confidence to come back.
"The players, on a daily basis, have really supported me. I remember when Luis scored and he had a message for me on his shirt. These are the small things that really mean a lot and they keep you going. Now it's the time for me to repay that and help them.
"Brendan Rodgers has been very good to me since my first day. When he arrived I was just recovering from the knee injury, so he gave me a lot of confidence and was always very clear about his plans for me.
"He has tried to keep me very calm and not tried to rush me, in terms of my rehabilitation."


text:
Ocean Point Golf Links at Fripp Island Resort
You might say the Ocean Point Golf Links at Fripp Island Resort is a view with a course around it.
Designed by George Cobb in the 1960s, the golf course is a little dated, but the views from it have only improved with more elevated tee boxes, said Head Professional Todd Stratton.
Fripp Island's Ocean Point course isn't a long track, but strategy, shot placement and factoring in the wind are keys to a good round at the scenic round.
Related Links


text: On 11/12/06, James Simmons <firstname.lastname@example.com> wrote:>> > I'm trying to display the bootup logo on a monochrome LCD (1 bit per> > pixel). I had to hack fbmem.c in a couple of place to make it> > works. I'm wondering now if these changes are correct since I'm not> > familiar with this code. Could anybody take a look and tell me ?>> There are quite a few bugs in the code. I have a patch I have been working> on for some time. The patch does the following:>I'd like to give your patch a try but have some trouble to apply itcleanly. Care to resend it ?> I.> Merge slow_imageblit and color_imageblit into one function.> II.> The same code works on both big endian and little endian machinesDoes this suppose to fix this issue I encountered:http://marc.theaimsgroup.com/?l=linux-kernel&m=116315548626875&w=2Thanks-- Franck-To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" inthe body of a message to email@example.com majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.htmlPlease read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/


text:
hi all,
Im interesed to create a porno blog here no wordpress.com but i didnt know allow-ed or not ?
Can anyone here tell me allowed or not allowed ?
WordPress.com is an easy way to start blogging. Get a blog, check out our features, read the latest announcements, choose from great themes, or learn about the team behind it.
Need help? Check out our Support site, then
hi all,
Im interesed to create a porno blog here no wordpress.com but i didnt know allow-ed or not ?
Can anyone here tell me allowed or not allowed ?
By making Content available, you represent and warrant that:
the Content is not pornographic,
I'd say your best option is to email support directly and get a definitive opinion from WordPress as the volunteers here in the forum won't be able to give you a definitive answer, only their opinion:
I have posted a link from their TOS, that's not an opinion.
The text above is copy/paste from their TOS
I'm not sure how WordPress are viewing the difference between 'pornography' and 'adult content' (if they are) so as I say simply email them, tell them what you want to blog about and let WordPress decide.
WP could possibly do with clarifying their TOS and support pages on that issue to make life easier.
Pointing a member to the TOS is not the expression of an opinion. But I do agree that due diligence would be to approach Staff.
P.S. I note the OP has a "make money" blog > imakemoney365.wordpress.com and the only Blogroll link is to an affiliate make money site.
Oops, @arifsali - I hadn't refreshed the screen.
I wasn't criticising what you said, just that WP seem to use 'pornography' and 'adult' as two different things - -and it isn't clear to me at least how WP split them.
The person above is asking for pornography in clear terms. I don't see why this topic needs clarification.
Blimey, I don't want to get in to a philosophical debate over it. But many of the worlds legal systems have trouble defining exactly what is pornographic. And at risk of inflaming things your interpretation of WP's TOS is actually an opinion.
I say let WP make the decision (and clarify their TOS) and save us all some hassle.
hi TT, bye TT - I'm retiring from the battlefield.
I didn't mean to get into philosophical debate either so I simply posted the text off of TOS without adding anything on my own :)
Any case, I believe WordPress is pretty lenient in terms of freedom of speech. However, based on this person's already published content, we can pretty much deduce what he may mean by pornography.
There is also a difference between a blog about porn and a blog of porn.
This topic has been closed to new replies.


text:
2D gel analysis software - (Oct/07/2013 )
Hi everyone,
I wanted to do the 2D gel analysis of my tissue proteins. Can anyone guide me regarding any free online software for 2D gel analysis.
imagej with the appropriate plug-ins.
there is also regstatgel (downloadable through link found in this paper). i'm not familiar with this (it may require matlab).


text:
Having problems with your Dirt Devil BD10035 7.2V Easy Lite Cordless Hand Vacuum ?
Dirt devil easylite 7.2 v does not hold charge
\015 Vacuum only works for a few minutes before the battery charge winds down\015
Answers :
Repair Help & Product Troubleshooting for Dirt Devil BD10035 7.2V Easy Lite Cordless Hand Vacuum
Tips for a great answer:- Provide details, support with references or personal experience .
- If you need clarification, ask it in the comment box .
- It's 100% free, no registration required.
Suggested Questions/Answers :
Dirt devil easylite 7.2 v does not hold charge
... Dirt Devil BD10035 7.2V Easy Lite Cordless Hand Vacuum
Dirt devil kone won't hold a charge. Its constantly on the charger but yet won't hold a charge long enough to do anything
... Dirt Devil KONE Hand Vacuum MO213BLU Vacuum
Dirt devil does not want to hold charge - Dirt Devil Vacuums
... Dirt Devil Vacuums
Hand Vac Does not hold a charge 15.6 V extreme power Dirt Devil
... Dirt Devil Vacuums
I have a Dirt Devil Broom Vac that won't hold a charge. I need to replace the rechargable battery. Is there a dealer near Bartlett, TN that can do that or would I be able to do it myself if I bought a new battery?
Http://geeksquad.fixya.com/ThreadView.aspx?prdid=0&thid=730257\015\012Generic problem for all Vacuums\015\012I have a Dirt Devil\015\012Posted by maryk813 on J ... Vacuums
My Mom has a Dirt Devil Featherlite and the belt falls off all the time. I put it on three times today and it falls off within a few minutes. The belt post I put it on doesn't have anything to hold the belt on. Is there supposed to be something holding the belt?
It sounds like the belt is too worn and loose to stay on. Buy a new belt specified for that model of vacuum and install. Ensure that there is only a slight amount of give in the belt when you press the middle. ... Dirt Devil CE6100 Featherlite Upright Vacuum
Oreck Electrikbroom (battery) won't hold charge and pick up dirt.
Battery needs to be replaced. All rechargeable batteries have limited recharge cycles. NiCad's are usually used in these and also develop "memory' which keeps them from recharging fully.\015\012Contact Oreck or reputable dealer for replacement. ... Hoover Floormate H3000 Upright Wet/Dry Vacuum
Wont charge - Dirt Devil BD20035 Bagless Stick Vacuum
Probably the battery pack is worn out or has a "memory" problem. A worn out pack will have one or more cells shorted internally (one or more cells read 0 Volts, and an ohmmeter reads less than 1 Ohm when connected to the 0 Volt cell). If it is a memo ... Dirt Devil BD20035 Bagless Stick Vacuum
Hi, I have a Dirt Devil Model # M08100REDC. I desperately need to change the bag, but I don't see an obvious way to do it. I'm afraid to try pulling on the cloth tab thingy that's just below the handle, between the rubber ring that holds the bag on the vac, because it seems like stuff will fly everywhere from the force required to remove it, and I might not be able to get it back on there. Should I just pull on that cloth tab until the bag comes off? Thanks, Roberta
You can pull on the tab to remove the bag, but probably a better way is to gently pull on the rubber ring that attaches the bag to the back of the vacuum body. If you don't yank and ****, it should come off without spilling the dirt. There may also b ... Dirt Devil Classic M08100 Bagged Handheld Vacuum
How long does it take to charge a Royal Dirt Devil Broom Vac, Model BV2030Red?
... Dirt Devil Royal Cordless Rechargeable Sweeper Vac with Swiffer Vacuum
I just purchased the Dirt Devil 9.6V hand vacuum. The manual says to charge for 24 hours, etc. Is this hand vac supposed to be on the charger when not in use?
Yes, it shoud be charged when not in use. ... Vacuums
Not charging - Dirt Devil Accucharge Stick Vacuum
Hi there,\012\012\012Well first of all check it directly, means if it works when it was in charging mode, if yes that means you need to change the battery of your vacuum or if it don't work in charging mode means there is a problem in the ... Dirt Devil Accucharge Stick Vacuum
Whiskers won't charge - Seventh Avenue Dirt Devil Whiskers
... Seventh Avenue Dirt Devil Whiskers
Manual for easylite cyclone Dirt Devil
... Dirt Devil Vacuums
My Dirt Devil Kone will not turn on. It used to work, and looks like it charges (the light is on) but nothing happens anymore. I didn't drop it and am surprised that it simply doesn't turn on. Is there a way I can fix it myself?
I have the same problem. Sometimes it will work. I believe it is the switch that is faulty but I can't get at it. Anyone have a solution? ... Dirt Devil Kone Vacuum- Blue Vacuum
Light says its charging but it wont turn on - Dirt Devil KONE Hand Vacuum MO213BLU Vacuum
Hi there,\012\012\012Well first of all you may check that the charger (adapter) is working or not, you may use a volt meter to check it out or use another charger to make sure....... further you may follow the step below -1. Remove ... Dirt Devil KONE Hand Vacuum MO213BLU Vacuum
Dirt Devil Quick Power hand vac model 0896 won't charge. Red light doesn't go on when plugged into wall. We've lost our manual, need help troubleshooting.
... Dirt Devil M0896 Quick Power Bagless Handheld Vacuum
I have an older dirt devil scorpion hand vac. silver. Do you leave them plugged in all the time or just charge them when they run down?
Leave them plugged in all the time so they will be ready when needed. ... Vacuums
Won't charge - Dirt Devil Kone Vacuum- Blue Vacuum
... Dirt Devil Kone Vacuum- Blue Vacuum
Dirt Devil 085845 . Sucks the rug up
... Dirt Devil Vacuums
Dirt devil easy lite trouble shooting help needed! Our Dirt Devil doesn't pick up now and has dirt/dust kicking up as I vacuum. It behaves like a dirt devil spreader instead!
... Dirt Devil Easy Lite Quick Vacuum
How to close dirt cup on 10 amp dirt devil 10 AMP dirt devil power air cyclone vac
Go here.> http://dirtdevil.com/search/?q=UD40135&type=3 click on your vac then you can download the manual ... Vacuums
I need to find a Clean Water Tank Assembly for a dirt devil platinum force Model Number: MCE7900. Any suggestions? I'm trying to find it cheaper than on the dirt devil web site.
Check your local vacuum stores. I don't know if you'll get one cheaper, but they mat be able to supply a good used one and save you a few bucks. ... Vacuums
Dirt devil ce7300 won't dispense solution - Dirt Devil Easy Steamer Upright Wet/Dry Vacuum
... Dirt Devil Easy Steamer Upright Wet/Dry Vacuum
I need the dirt devil floorkeeper manual. - Dirt Devil CE5500 Floor Keeper Upright Wet/Dry Vacuum
... Dirt Devil CE5500 Floor Keeper Upright Wet/Dry Vacuum


text:
|Oracle FAQ
|Your Portal to the Oracle Knowledge Grid
Home -> Community -> Mailing Lists -> Oracle-L -> RE: Cause for index corruption, Metalink Note Id 457021.1?
What's the query?
Is it a function based index?
Chris Taylor
Sr. Oracle DBA
Ingram Barge Company
Nashville, TN 37205
Office: 615-517-3355
Cell: 615-354-4799
Email: chris.taylor_at_ingrambarge.com
-----Original Message-----
From: oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org [mailto:oracle-l-bounce_at_freelists.org] On Behalf Of Riku Räsänen Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 10:57 AM To: oracle-l_at_freelists.org
Subject: Cause for index corruption, Metalink Note Id 457021.1?
Customer is apparently hitting index corruption, or more likely data dictionary corruption, as documented in Metalink Note Id 457021.1. Any ideas, what is causing this corruption? Any usual suspects?
Oracle SE 184.108.40.206, regular multi-column index. Apparently no index rebuilds done, indexes are validated every now and then. The corruption has hit this same index twice. No error messages anywhere, the query using the index just does not return any data.
http://www.freelists.org/webpage/oracle-l Received on Wed Oct 31 2007 - 11:13:34 CDT
Original text of this message


text:
If you're still using the old T-Mobile G1, but thinking of upgrading to an Android 2.1 device. Well hold your horses, as Cyanogen has cooked up an unofficial Android 2.1 ROM for the first Android handset. The video below serves as proof:
Unfortunately it's not yet available to public.
Add comment


text:
Patients who choose to buy drugs deemed too expensive for the NHS will no longer lose their right to free health service care, Alan Johnson, the Health Secretary said.
At the same time he insisted that only a "small number" of patients would be faced with the choice of buying their own medication, under plans to allow greater access to the drugs without charge on the NHS.
To achieve this the Department of Health will work with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) to reduce the amount of time it takes to evaluate drugs, with a target of three months.
Most healthcare trusts will not purchase drugs unless they have been approved by Nice, a process which has in the past taken up to two years.
As revealed in the Daily Telegraph, Nice will also look more favourably on drugs which offer extra time to patients with terminal illnesses.
The new proposals will affect drugs taken by fewer than 7,000 patients a year, which can often prove expensive as drugs companies struggle to recoup their initial investment with a small number of patients.
Mr Johnson said that he was also hopeful that negotiations with drugs companies would allow the NHS to buy more drugs at discounted prices, which would rise only if they proved clinically effective.
He denied that giving the green light to some patients to buy their own drugs would create a "two tier" NHS.
He said: "What will damage and jeopardise the future of the NHS is if we carry on with a system (of withdrawing NHS care) which the vast majority of people see as a cruel procedure."
Mr Johnson ordered a review of "top ups" earlier this year following a widespread public outcry over the case of Linda O'Boyle, 64, from Essex, who died after being told that she was no longer eligible for free NHS care because she had bought an expensive bowel cancer drug.
Professor Michael Richards, the Government's Cancer Tsar, who led the review, said that he expected very few people to go on to buy their own drugs.
Patients who choose to "top up" their NHS care will be treated on separate wards and will be forced to pay for all costs associated with the treatment, including the time of nurses and specialists, to ensure that no other NHS user is adversely affected.
"At any one time it should be clear if the patient is NHS or private," Mr Richards said.
Sir Michael Rawlins, the chairman of Nice, said that it would not be possible to reduce its appraisal time to three months overnight, but said that the body would work towards that target over the next year.
Ciaran Devane, chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support said: "It shouldn't be about the right to re-mortgage your house to pay for these drugs, more about the right not to have to re-mortgage your house to pay for these drugs."
Jeremy Hughes, Chief Executive of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, warned that the success of the plans depended on the NHS, NICE and pharmaceutical companies working together and on "major improvements" to the information given to patients.
Harpal Kumar, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said the move struck "the right balance between significantly improving access to effective medicines for cancer patients and not giving a blank cheque to pharmaceutical companies".
He estimated that tens of thousands of cancer patients would benefit from all the changes proposed.


text:
NSW art gallery visitor statistics released
Museums and Galleries NSW have released details that identify the biggest art-lovers in new South Wales - older, low-income earners.
- Print page
- Email this
- Permalink
I may not know much about art, but I know who enjoys looking at it.
Researched published by Museums and Galleries NSW has revealed that almost fifty per cent of visitors to NSW art galleries in the past three years were aged 55 or older.
Around forty per cent of those surveyed earned less than $40,000 a year, with only twenty three percent earning above $80,000.
Minister for the Arts Virginia Judge says that the study's results highlighted that galleries were no longer the "preserve of the urban elite."
"Culture belongs to every one of us," she said.
"Be they young, old, rich or poor, they all delight in the arts, and access to the arts culture is an essential part of life for the majority of people here in NSW."
The Newcastle Region Art Gallery seem to agree; the gallery's weekend ARTCART programs are targeted to get local kids interested in creating and appreciating gallery works.
The study, called "Guess Who's Going to the Gallery?" gathered more than 7000 responses from guests in 41 public art galleries throughout the state.
The responses were gathered between August 2007 and September 2010 from gallery attendees aged above 15 years old - with school groups excluded.
Gathered data reveals that just over one in five was between the ages of 15 to 34, while 32 per cent of guests were between the ages of 35 and 54.
Tourists made up nearly 25 per cent of all NSW gallery visitors and around 10 per cent came from residences where languages other than English were spoken.
The Newcastle Regional Art Gallery's ARTCART classes are held every Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 am.
Latest videos
Latest audio
- Scholarship opens doors to elite resources
- Families describe what it is like to manage the child care juggle
- NSW coroner confirms foul play in Sage Sagittarius deaths
- BHP drops 'Billiton' in major rebranding to counter trust deficit
- Report finds Defence and NSW EPA delayed informing community about water contamination


text: Exit this survey Water Taxi Harbor Connector Survey 1. * 1. Do you ride the Water Taxi Harbor Connector? Yes No * 2. How often do you ride the Water Taxi Harbor Connector? 4 days a week or more 1 - 3 times a week A couple of times a month Infrequently * 3. Where do you live? Zip code: * 4. Where do you work? * 5. Give us your feedback. What changes would you like in the service? * 6. Your Contact Information Name: Email: Done


text:
Photos on Facebook
Fall 2011 Calgary Media Press Release
In 1992, Kathleen Gleeson and Michael and Doreen Kot travelled to Cochabamba, Bolivia and became aware of Amanecer, an organization set up to support children in need. While there, they recognized the incredible knitting talents of Quechua and Aymara women. Sweaters were brought to Calgary and sold at home sales.
Today, there are over 45 incredibly gifted knitters working hard to support themselves and their children. These women are proud of what they do and have committed their efforts to educating their children and grandchildren. The Bolivian women appreciate the positive efforts of Canadian volunteers. There are now fewer families in need.
Dedicated volunteers in Calgary, Edmonton and Cranbrook are committing hours to organize and manage fair trade sales. Through these efforts, all profits are returned to the knitters under the guidance of Save the Children Canada. For the volunteers this work is challenging and rewarding.
Knitting sweaters is the primary source of income for the knitters, however, they still require secondary jobs to sustain themselves. Future goals for Minkha include increasing the number of sweaters sold at each sale and expanding into new markets.
Minkha, means "women working together" and has a loyal following, but it is only with your help that we can get the word
"Shop with a social conscience! Minkha Sweaters, a non-profit volunteer organization, is proud to offer the opportunity to buy a contemporary hand knit designer quality alpaca or cotton sweater, while at the same time supporting an indigenous micro-industry. This knitting cooperative, under the guidance of Save the Children Canada, enables the Bolivian women of Cochabamba to become self-sufficient and to provide education and opportunity for their children.
Sweaters, coats, ponchos, hats and scarves will be available for direct sale. We take custom orders for men and women. Prices range from $20 for a hat to $300 for a coat.


text:
Return to Index
February 12 2010 at 9:45 PM
Iceman (
no login
Response to
One Sould Think...
Those who elect people only upon their religious belief certainly don't think.
It is no longer culturally taboo to question religion, or a persons personal belief. Quite the contrary.
And what is wrong with questioning something with virtually no substance at all?
Respond to this message
Find more forums on Religion and Philosophy
Create your own forum at Network54
Copyright © 1999-2018
. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use
Privacy Statement


text:
After watching a marathon of Food Network programs, I realized that much of the advice from top chefs regarding fab cooking is the same type of advice for content creators.
Inspired by the chefs who want to serve fresh, attractive food, I drew an infodoodle for marketers wanting to serve refreshing, flavorful content to their customers.
Here are seven tips for content marketing, based on advice from top chefs.
1. Use fresh ingredients. Fresh content retains its natural flavor. Avoid stale or processed content.
2. Know your customers. Present content that pleases your customers' palates.
3. Keep the menu simple. Don't overcomplicate content or overdo the dish with too many flavors.
4. Be seasonal. Use content that you align to the seasons.
5. Know where to shop. If you curate content, curate the good stuff.
6. Experiment in the kitchen. Try new forms of content. See what pleases your customers... and have fun!
7. Experience matters. Be patient. Take time to learn from your mistakes. Breathe.
You can download a PDF of the infodoodle here.


text: This video you are watching "Bangla Sex Youtube" is in our website and shared by our users in anal videos category. More videos can be found in big ass, creampie, cumshot, solo girls porn videos in our community. Our categories updating by our users everyday. Bangla Sex Youtube is uploaded 1 year ago.


text:
Under the deal, AKTEL and JTL will now have access to each other's network.
Vijendran Watson, chief operating officer of AKTEL, and Zakaria Ahmed, managing director of JTL, signed the deal on behalf of their organisations, says a press release.
Director (Coordination) Fazlur Rahman, Chief Coordination Manager QM Rezaur Rahman of AKTEL, Operations Director AM Nowsher Ali, and General Manager (Finance) Fazle Rabbi Quased of JTL, among others, were present.


text:
Drinks retailers buying a Husky chiller over the next three months could bag themselves a ticket to see England's cricket team play India in the NatWest Series International. The company is giving away three hospitality tickets worth £1,000 for the match on Aug 21 in three prize draws. For more details or to order a chiller, call 01455 555340 or visit www.husky-direct.com.l Imperial Tobacco has revamped its flagship cigar brand Classic. Replacing the traditional flip-top box, tins will contain 10 foil-wrapped fine cigars.
Marbran has launched what it says is the UK's first wheat and potato baked snack. Crips is made using a biscuit baking process rather than being fried so it's lower in fat . Marbran has patented the recipe so it can never be replicated outside of the Crips factory.


text:
The French based automaker Peugeot has relaunched the 508 model, in five new versions, in Malaysia, and the cheapest model has a starting price of RM169,888.
After being official revealed last year in Malaysia, the Peugeot 508 is once again being placed into the spotlights in the Asian country, where the model has been recently relaunched, in five versions. According to the car manufacturer, the current 508 is now known as the 508 Premium and, besides this, the 508 Standard, the 508 SW, the 508 GT and the 508 SW GT have been introduced.
The HDi powered Peugeot 508 models, in the GT spec, are equipped with the modern 2.2 liter FAP diesel engine, which is developing a total output of 204 HP at 3,500 rpm and it has a peak torque of 450 Nm, available from 2,000 rpm. The engine is providing good flexibility, a strong pulling power and a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration of just 8.4 seconds, with a top speed of 235 km/h. The petrol burner affects the fuel economy and this is a familiar unit, the 150 HP and 240 Nm of torque 1.6 liter twin-scroll turbo, which is allowing the models to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.2 seconds before reaching a top speed of 220 km/h.
Peugeot is saying that the SW versions are sharing the same wheelbase with the sedan, which is 2,817 mm, but the overall length has increased by 21 mm, in the rear overhang. The load height in the station wagon is 88 mm lower than the one in the sedan which means that cargo can be lifted in more easily and the tailgate is being closed at the touch of a button.
The entry-level version of the Peugeot 508 in Malaysia is getting standard features such as six airbags, Hill Start Assist, EBD with BA, ABS, ESP, bi-xenon headlamps with auto leveling and washers, LED daytime running lights, front and rear parking sensors, automatic wipers for the windscreen and headlights, USB / Bluetooth connectivity, eight-way electric front seats, steering wheel controls or paddles and many more.
The Premium version is adding a JBL 10-speaker audio system with a 500W subwoofer, keyless entry with push start, premium leather seats, four-zone air conditioning, electric parking brake, an LCD and many more, while the GT is coming with extra Nappa brown leather upholstery plus massage and memory function for the electric seats.
Peugeot 508 Standard – RM155,888
Peugeot 508 Premium – RM169,888,
Peugeot 508 GT (diesel) – RM199,888
Peugeot 508 SW (petrol) – RM179,888
Peugeot 508 SW GT (diesel) – RM209,888


text:
APD Urban Planning and Management LLC. is seeking a full time senior project manager for our Atlanta office. We are interested in an experienced, highly motivated, detail-oriented professional with a background in real estate development and community/urban planning. The senior project manager will play an integral part in the creation of real estate redevelopment plans for communities throughout the Southeast and Midwest. APD-U is a national planning firm focused on urban neighborhood revitalization with an emphasis in project implementation. Our firm consists of experienced professionals in multiple disciplines, including neighborhood and urban planning, community development, and real estate development.
Minimum Experience & Training
A minimum of four years of professional experience in the planning and real estate development field, working in urban neighborhoods. Combined masters and undergraduate degrees in degree in real estate development and urban planning and at least two years of experience managing projects and staff. Will accept candidates with a bachelor's degree in real estate development, planning or a related field and six years of professional experience inclusive of a minimum of two years' experience managing projects and staff. Professional certifications in real estate and/or planning are a plus.
Job tasks include but are not limited to:
Please submit the following documents no later than March 23, 2018 via email to Bridget Wiles:
Incomplete submittals will not be considered or reviewed