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If you've ever attended an American Street Car Series event like the Run to the Coast (RTTC), you know the amazing caliber of drivers and performance machines that make an appearance. RTTC III was no different this year, which brought out some heavy hitters, and we were there to take it all in. To check out our complete coverage of the event click here.
Run to the Coast took place this year the weekend of March 9th at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station in Irvine, California. Picture-perfect Southern California weather, boisterous pro-touring cars and tons of neat people made it the perfect kick-off event to the summer race and show season.
While our full coverage of the event covered a lot of territory, we discovered that we had far too many pictures of the weekend festivities to cram them all into one article. But, we also wanted to share the full visual experience of the event with you, so we decided to dedicate a page specifically to all the photos from RTTC. Yes, some are blurry and some are over exposed, but too bad!
If you can deal with that, check out some of the amazing shots we captured at RTTC below and see if you can spot a favorite muscle car tearing it up on the competition courses.


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Martin Crowe sways away from a bouncer, England v New Zealand, 3rd Test, Old Trafford, 1994 © PA Photos
Dion Nash celebrates the wicket of Alec Stewart
© PA Photos
Graham Gooch plays a stroke on his way to a double-century
© Getty Images
Phil DeFreitas finished with nine wickets in the match
© PA Photos
Ken Rutherford tries to avoid a ball
© PA Photos
A portrait of Stephen Fleming
© Getty Images
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I am from Grantsville, MD and I've been a Club Horse member for 9 years, 9 months and 19 days
Nicknames: Fred... Baby... Buddie-boy
Age: 13 years old
Gender: Gelding
Breed: Morgan
Height: 15.2 hands
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My Horse's Achievements: He has never bitten or kicked anyone.
My Horse's Favorite Treat: Carrots, Apples, Peppermints and Fresh grass
My Horse's Favorite Things To Do: Listen to music with me, hang-out,get spoiled,play,ea- t,have fun, (The list goes on and on)
Pet Peeves: He hates to have his legs wet
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J1939 Controller Area Network Solutions
Product Announcement from LADD Distribution
Controller Area Networks, or CAN are multiplex data systems. Multiplexing allows multiple data signals to travel on the same wires, integrating separate electronic systems and applications to a single point control and monitoring system. Using signals sent over a serial network, CAN systems provide instantaneous monitoring of diagnostic and control systems allowing early detection of potential problems. Early detection of problems leads to lower repair costs and reduced downtime. CAN systems allow an operator to use a single command station to control diagnostic systems and receive such varied information as brake and transmission temperature, tire pressure, fuel effi ciency, and emissions levels. Anything that can be measured and controlled electronically can be monitored and directed by a CAN system.
ISO/CD 11783-2 & J1939/12 ISO Box and Associated Connectors
Originally designed for agricultural applications, the DEUTSCH J1939/12 ISO Box creates a communication pathway between an on-board CAN system and the electronic components on an attached implement. The HDBox, which holds two DT13 connectors and an HD30 Series receptacle, mounts on the vehicle and mates with an HD30 plug connector that features a breakaway coupling ring. DEUTSCH breakaway couplings are designed to prevent damage to the vehicle or the attached implement by fragmenting and separating from the vehicle in the event of a drive-away disconnect.
J1939/13 Universal 9-pin Diagnostic
The DEUTSCH J1939/13, HD10 9 pin connector is a standard diagnostic tool for on- and off-highway OEMs. The HD10-9-1939P is a data port connector designed to allow an on-board CAN system to mate with a diagnostic computer. The DEUTSCH HD10 J1939/13 connectors offer several mounting options for the receptacle, and a mating plug that is available with or without a coupling ring.
SAE J1939/11 DEUTSCH Connector Options
DEUTSCH J1939/11 connectors are rugged fi eld proven DT 3 pin connectors designed to meet the SAE requirements for 3-wire CAN applications linking ECUs for serial data communications. The DT 3 way connectors accommodate the CAN_HI, CAN_LO and shield wires with a variety of options including "Y" receptacles, connectors with mounting flanges, keyed wedgelocks to prevent mis-mating, and network terminating connectors with molded-in 120Ω resistors.
SAE J1939/15 DEUTSCH Connector Options
SAE J1939/15 defines the requirements for reduced physical layer 2-wire CAN systems consisting of an unshielded twisted pair of wires. DEUTSCH DTM 2 way connectors are offered in several modifi cations to meet the requirements of this standard. DTM connectors for serial data communications include "Y" receptacles, connectors with end caps and shrink boot adapters, and receptacles with molded-in 120Ω resistors for network terminations.
|More Info


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Ganassi Racing confirms they will not switch to a Prototype 2 car as they stick with their Riley DP.
Now that the current teams were given a heads-up of the plans for the combined Prototype 2s from the American Le Mans Series and the changes for the Grand-Am Rolex Series Daytona Prototypes, decisions are being made.
Earlier Wayne Taylor decided to stay with his Corvette DPs, and others have hinted that they will stick to the Daytona Prototypes for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship instead of switching to the P2 cars which at this time are Honda Performance Development powered by Honda racing machines.
Extreme Speed Motorsports announced earlier today that the will contest the new series with two HPDs.
Ganassi Racing's general manager Mike Hull, told RACER's Marshall Pruett in an exclusive interview that they will remain with Riley Technologies for 2014 in the DP class. "For us, I think we're going to stay the course," said Hull.
It was noted that Hull did not name the engine that manufacturer which has been BMW. That would indeed seem odd if they did switch the powerplant after five GRAND-AM championships.
However the NASCAR team is powered by Chevrolet and after winning their fifth IndyCar championship this past weekend at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana with Honda, the team will move to Chevy next year.
Now that the first set of the specifications for the DP and P2 cars have been released, there will be more news from teams on their plans for the 2014 inaugural TUSCC series.


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This is exactly what RAILA did to Governor MVURYA that forced him to defect to UHURUCounty Politics, News 10:36
Friday September 9, 2016 - Embattled Kwale Governor, Salim Mvurya, has moved to clarify why he ditched former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's ODM last week.
Speaking yesterday, Mvurya, who is now under pressure from the Opposition to quit and join Jubilee, accused Raila of forcing him out of ODM literally.
Mvurya explained that the former PM ignored him on..
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Academic Spotlight
Wethli's Public Art Celebrates Civic Life
Story posted February 06, 2012
Bowdoin Art Professor Mark Wethli's Percent for Art installation at the University of Southern Maine (USM) was honored at a dedication ceremony Feb. 2 in Portland.
Wethli and a crew of all-Bowdoin assistants recently put the finishing touches on a 6-by-35-foot wooden sculpture for USM's Wishcamper Center, home of The Muskie School For Public Service.
The angular, low-relief sculpture, titled Civitas, spans an airy inner courtyard. It is the second of two works Wethli created for the commission. His earlier work, Locus, adorns a large wall of the adjacent Osher Library building.
"In a formal sense, Civitas is a dance of architecturally inspired forms that are meant to suggest both conflict and harmony," noted Wethli in his opening remarks. "It is meant to evoke the ideal process of civic life, community building, and the common good. E pluribus unim, out of many, one." (View an installation slideshow.)
The mural Locus also evokes a sense of place, with a network of black lines reminiscent of roadways, or lines of latitude and longitude, superimposed on a large, green silhouette of Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion map.
"Just as map-making renders the three-dimensional world in two dimensions, and public policy projects abstract principles into real life, so do Locus and Civitas represent and symbolize these processes through their structure and design," noted Wethli.
"My ambition for each of these pieces is to create a space that actively places every viewer in the foreground of the events and activities that happen here."
Maine Percent for Art is made possible by a grant from the Maine Arts Commission.
« Back | Campus News | Academic Spotlight | | Subscribe to Bowdoin News by Email


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Volume 37, Issue 12 - Dec 2013
Volume 37, Issue 11 - Nov 2013
Volume 37, Issue 10 - Oct 2013
Volume 37, Issue 9 - Sep 2013
Volume 37, Issue 8 - Aug 2013
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Comparative Study on DAE Solution Methods for Effective Multi-Body Dynamics Analysis of Unmanned Military Robot Based on Subsystem Synthesis Method
Kim, Myoung Ho ; Kim, Sung-Soo ; Yun, Hong-Seon ;
Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A, volume 37, issue 9, 2013, Pages 1069~1075
An effective method is necessary for the real-time analysis of an unmanned military robot. To achieve highly efficient simulations, a subsystem synthesis method has been developed. The subsystem synthesis method separately generates equations of motion for the base body and for the subsystem. The equations of motion are expressed by DAE, which consist of differential equations and algebraic equations. To increase the accuracy and efficiency of solutions, DAE solvers such as the Direct, CS (Constraint Stabilization), and GCP (Generalized Coordinate Partitioning) method are employed. In this study, the subsystem synthesis method is applied for effective multi-body dynamics analysis of an unmanned military robot, and a comparative study of three different DAE solvers is carried out.
Development of Racing Track Cycle for Elite Players Considered Stiffness and Aerodynamic Effects
Kim, Taekyun ; Lim, Woochul ; Lee, Tae Hee ;
Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A, volume 37, issue 9, 2013, Pages 1077~1082
To improve cycling performance, the power output of the rider and the sources of resistance (e.g., air resistance, frame stiffness, and cycle mass) must be considered. From a mechanical viewpoint, we consider how the bike frame performance can be increased while decreasing the resistance. First, to improve the competitive ability of a racing track cycle, we should consider the stiffness of the bike frame including the pedal loading and aerodynamic effects when riding. Therefore, we obtained the cross-sectional area of each part of the bike frame and then aimed to minimize the drag force through an aerodynamic parametric study. In addition, the frame should remain safe under the loading applied by the rider. Under the guidelines of the UCI (union Cycliste Internationale) regulations, the bike frame has been evaluated under the proposed loading condition, and we developed a racing track cycle for elite cyclists.
Study on Penetration Characteristics of Tungsten Cylindrical Penetrator
Jo, Jong Hyun ; Lee, Young Shin ; Kim, Jae Hoon ; Bae, Yong Woon ;
Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A, volume 37, issue 9, 2013, Pages 1083~1091
The design of missile require extremely small warheads that must be highly efficient and lethal. The penetration characteristics of each penetrator and the total number of penetrators on the warhead are obvious key factors that influence warhead lethality. The design of the penetrator shape and size are directly related to the space and weight of the warhead. The design of the penetrator L/D was directly related to the space and weight of the warhead. L and D are the length and the diameter of the projectile, respectively. The AUTODYN-3D code was used to study the effect of penetrator penetration. The objective of numerical analysis was to determine the penetration characteristics of penetrator produced by hypervelocity impacts under different initial conditions such as initial velocity, obliquity angle and L/D of penetrator. The residual velocity and residual mass were decreased with increasing initial impact velocity under
Development of Intelligent Multiple Camera System for High-Speed Impact Experiment
Chung, Dong Teak ; Park, Chi Young ; Jin, Doo Han ; Kim, Tae Yeon ; Lee, Joo Yeon ; Rhee, Ihnseok ;
Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A, volume 37, issue 9, 2013, Pages 1093~1098
A single-crystal sapphire is used as a transparent bulletproof window material; however, few studies have investigated the dynamic behavior and fracture properties under high-speed impact. High-speed and high-resolution sequential images are required to study the interaction of the bullet with the brittle ceramic materials. In this study, a device is developed to capture the sequence of high-speed impact/penetration phenomena. This system consists of a speed measurement device, a microprocessor-based camera controller, and multiple CCD cameras. By using a linear array sensor, the speed-measuring device can measure a small (diameter: up to 1 2 mm) and fast (speed: up to Mach 3) bullet. Once a bullet is launched, it passes through the speed measurement device where its time and speed is recorded, and then, the camera controller computes the exact time of arrival to the target during flight. Then, it sends the trigger signal to the cameras and flashes with a specific delay to capture the impact images sequentially. It is almost impossible to capture high-speed images without the estimation of the time of arrival. We were able to capture high-speed images using the new system with precise accuracy.
Study on Weight Reduction of Urban Transit Carbody Based on Material Changes and Structural Optimization
Cho, Jeong Gil ; Koo, Jeong Seo ; Jung, Hyun Seung ;
Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A, volume 37, issue 9, 2013, Pages 1099~1107
This study proposes a weight reduction design for urban transit, specifically, a Korean EMU carbody made of aluminum extrusion profiles, according to size optimization and useful material changes. First, the thickness of the under-frame, side-panels, and end-panels were optimized by the size optimization process, and then, the weight of the Korean EMU carbody could be reduced to approximately 14.8%. Second, the under-frame of the optimized carbody was substituted with a frame-type structure made of SMA 570, and then, the weight of the hybrid-type carbody was 3.8% lighter than that of the initial K-EMU. Finally, the under-frame and the roof-panel were substituted with a composite material sandwich to obtain an ultralight hybrid-type carbody. The weight of the ultralight hybrid-type carbody was 30% lighter than that of the initial K-EMU. All the resulting carbody models satisfied the design regulations of the domestic Performance Test Standard for Electrical Multiple Unit.
Spatial Randomness of Fatigue Crack Growth Rate in Friction Stir Welded 7075-T651 Aluminum Alloy Welded Joints (Case of LT Orientation Specimen)
Jeong, Yeui Han ; Kim, Seon Jin ;
Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A, volume 37, issue 9, 2013, Pages 1109~1116
This study aims to investigate the spatial randomness of fatigue crack growth rate for the friction stir welded (FSWed) 7075-T651 aluminum alloy joints. Our previous fatigue crack growth test data are adopted in this investigation. To clearly understand the spatial randomness of fatigue crack growth rate, fatigue crack growth tests were conducted under constant stress intensity factor range (SIFR) control testing. The experimental data were analyzed for two different materials-base metal (BM) and weld metal (WM)-to investigate the effects of spatial randomness of fatigue crack growth rate and material properties, the friction stir welded (FSWed) 7075-T651 aluminum alloy joints, namely weld metal (WM) and base metal (BM). The results showed that the variability, as evaluated by Weibull statistical analysis, of the WM is higher than that of the BM.
Numerical and Experimental Approach to Investigate Plane-view Shape and Crop Loss in Multistage Plate Rolling
Byon, Sang Min ;
Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A, volume 37, issue 9, 2013, Pages 1117~1125
A finite element based approach that can be used to investigate the plane-view shape and crop loss of a material during plate rolling is presented. We employed a three-dimensional finite element model to continuously simulate the shape change of the head and tail of a plate as the number of rolling passes increases. The main feature of the proposed model lies in the fact that the multistage rolling can be simulated without a break because the rolling direction of the material is reversibly controlled as the roll gap sequentially decreases. The material constants required in the finite element analysis were experimentally obtained by hot tensile tests. We also performed a pilot hot plate rolling test to verify the usefulness of the proposed finite element model. Results reveal that the computed plane-view shapes as well as crop losses by the proposed finite element model were in good agreement with the measured ones. The crop losses predicted by the proposed model were within 5% of those measured from the pilot hot plate rolling test.
Development of User Subroutine Program Considering Effect of Neutron Irradiation on Mechanical Material Behavior of Austenitic Stainless Steels
Kim, Jong Sung ; Jhung, Myung Jo ; Park, Jeong Soon ; Oh, Young Jin ;
Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A, volume 37, issue 9, 2013, Pages 1127~1132
The failure of reactor internals may have a significant effect on the safe operation and shutdown of a reactor. Various agings related to neutron irradiation occur or can potentially occur in the reactor internals owing to high neutron irradiation levels. Austenitic stainless steel, one of the principal materials constituting the reactor internals, shows different mechanical material behaviors such as tensile/creep properties and fracture toughness with neutron irradiation levels. This variation should be considered when the structural integrity of the reactor internals against agings during the design lifetime or continued operation period is evaluated. In this study, user subroutine programs considering the variation of mechanical material behaviors with neutron irradiation levels were developed. The programs were validated by testing them for various conditions.
Probabilistic Calibration of Computer Model and Application to Reliability Analysis of Elasto-Plastic Insertion Problem
Yoo, Min Young ; Choi, Joo Ho ;
Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A, volume 37, issue 9, 2013, Pages 1133~1140
A computer model is a useful tool that provides solution via physical modeling instead of expensive testing. In reality, however, it often does not agree with the experimental data owing to simplifying assumption and unknown or uncertain input parameters. In this study, a Bayesian approach is proposed to calibrate the computer model in a probabilistic manner using the measured data. The elasto-plastic analysis of a pyrotechnically actuated device (PAD) is employed to demonstrate this approach, which is a component that delivers high power in remote environments by the combustion of a self-contained energy source. A simple mathematical model that quickly evaluates the performance is developed. Unknown input parameters are calibrated conditional on the experimental data using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm, which is a modern computational statistics method. Finally, the results are applied to determine the reliability of the PAD.
Study on Effect of LSP Process Parameters Using Dimensionless Analysis
Kim, Ju Hee ; Kim, Tae Yang ; Kim, Yun Jae ;
Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A, volume 37, issue 9, 2013, Pages 1141~1149
Dimensional analysis is an important tool for developing mathematical models of physical phenomena in order to understand the effects of laser shock peening(LSP) process parameters. By using the Bucking
theorem, we proposed an applicable dimensional analysis method to verify the effects of LSP process parameters on the residual stresses. Furthermore, by using finite element analysis, we proposed a finite element method of LSP and discussed various parameters, such as peak pressure, pressure pulse duration, laser spot size, and multiple LSPs.
Reliability Evaluation Through Moisture Sorption Characterization of Electronic Packaging Materials
Park, Heejin ;
Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A, volume 37, issue 9, 2013, Pages 1151~1158
Knowledge of the moisture sorption properties of a material is essential for optimal material development and analysis of the delamination failure caused by vapor pressure at the interlayer during the manufacturing process of integrated packaging devices. In this paper, both temperature dependent absorption and desorption properties according to temperature and humidity model are parameterized and the effects of water activities and temperature are discussed. The activation energy obtained from the parameterized diffusivity determines the acceleration factor for the equivalency of moisture sorption levels, which enables the effect of moisture diffusivity on the equivalent elapsed testing time required for evaluating the reliable life time to be estimated. The acceleration factor evaluated at the reliability testing standard of the flexible packaging module is exampled.
Effect of Normal Operating Condition Analysis Method for Weld Residual Stress of CRDM Nozzle in Reactor Pressure Vessel
Nam, Hyun Suk ; Bae, Hong Yeol ; Oh, Chang Young ; Kim, Ji Soo ; Kim, Yun Jae ;
Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A, volume 37, issue 9, 2013, Pages 1159~1168
In pressurized water nuclear reactors (PWRs), the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) upper head contains penetration nozzles that use a control rod drive mechanism (CRDM). The penetration nozzle uses J-groove weld geometry. Recently, the occurrence of cracking in alloy 600 CRDM penetration nozzle has increased. This is attributable to primary water stress corrosion cracking (PWSCC). PWSCC is known to be susceptible to the welding residual stress and operational stress. Generally, the tensile residual stress is the main factor contributing to crack growth. Therefore, this study investigates the effect on weld residual stress through different analysis methods for normal operating conditions using finite element analysis. In addition, this study also considers the effect of repeated normal operating condition cycles on the weld residual stress. Based on the analysis result, this paper presents a normal operating condition analysis method.
Reliability Analysis of Mechanical Component with Multiple Failure Modes
Chang, Mu Seong ; Choi, Byung Oh ; Kang, Bo Sik ; Park, Jong Won ; Lee, Choong Sung ;
Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A, volume 37, issue 9, 2013, Pages 1169~1174
Most products are indeed governed by multiple failure modes. However, there are few cases in which reliability analysis applies to only one failure mode at a time. Furthermore, reliability data do not include information about failure modes, or the reliability analysis is performed using a representative failure mode. The Weibull shape parameter for failure modes is more important than one for products in the reliability qualification test. This paper presents reliability analysis methods for a mechanical component with multiple failure modes. These methods include the competing failure modes (CFM) method and the mixed Weibull method. Pneumatic cylinder test data with three failure modes are presented to estimate the shape parameter for each separate failure mode. In addition, reliability measures (B10 life, characteristic life) of the pneumatic cylinder considering three failure modes were compared with those assuming a single failure mode.
Evaluation of Improvement of Detection Capability of Infrared Thermography Tests for Wall-Thinning Defects in Piping Components by Applying Lock-in Mode
Kim, Jin Weon ; Yun, Kyung Won ;
Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A, volume 37, issue 9, 2013, Pages 1175~1182
The lock-in mode infrared thermography (IRT) technique has been developed to improve the detection capability of defects in materials with high thermal conductivity, and it has been shown to provide better detection capability than conventional active IRT. Therefore, to investigate the application of this technique to nuclear piping components, lock-in mode IRT tests were conducted on pipe specimens containing simulated wall-thinning defects. Phase images of the wall-thinning defects were obtained from the tests, and they were compared with thermal images obtained from conventional active IRT tests. It showed that the ability to size the detected wall-thinning defects in piping components was improved by using lock-in mode IRT. The improvement was especially apparent when detecting short and narrow defects and defects with slanted edges. However, the detection capability for shallow wall-thinning defects did not improve much when using lock-in mode IRT.
Study of Wear Characteristics of Hydraulic Equipment Used in Power Plants
Lee, Yong Bum ; Lee, Gi Chun ; Chang, Mu Seong ;
Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A, volume 37, issue 9, 2013, Pages 1183~1188
The reliability of hydraulic equipment used in power plants is especially important because failures that occur in the power plant can have a great ripple effect on human lives and financial losses. In this study, specimens using the materials used in the spool and sleeve of hydraulic valves of power plants have been produced, heat-treated, and tested under the precipitation conditions of phosphate ester hydraulic fluid with a variety of conditions. 23 full factorial designs have been applied to evaluate the significance of factors that affect the wear loss of the specimen, specifically, the load, velocity, and temperature. The significance evaluation was performed on the main effects and two-way interactions for wear loss based on the experiment results, and the mathematical equations between the wear loss and the three factors were derived from the analysis results.
Evaluation of High-Temperature Structural Integrity Using Lab-Scale PCHE Prototype
Song, Kee Nam ; Hong, Sung Deok ;
Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A, volume 37, issue 9, 2013, Pages 1189~1194
The Intermediate Heat Exchanger (IHX) of a Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) is a core component that transfers the high heat of
generated in the VHTR to a hydrogen production plant. The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute manufactured a lab-scale prototype of a Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger (PCHE) as a candidate for an IHX. In this study, as a part of a high-temperature structural integrity evaluation of the lab-scale PCHE prototype made of SUS316L, we carried out high temperature structural analysis modeling and macroscopic thermal and elastic structural analysis for the lab-scale PCHE prototype under helium experimental loop (HELP) test conditions as a precedent study prior to the performance test in HELP.
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ANGOLA, Ind. (WANE)–Police in Angola say a woman there will be facing charges after faking cancer and collecting donations during a benefit.
Detective Tim Crooks with the Angola Police Department said April Landis, 27, told people she had a rare form of brain cancer. The newspaper there did a story about her and on March 18, there was a benefit in her name at Sliders. Folks in the community raised thousands of dollars for Landis during the benefit. Several businesses were said to have donated prizes, merchandise, and gift certificates. Landis is said to have come with her head shaved.
There were rumors around Angola that Landis' benefit was a scam. Police say Landis spoke with them on Thursday, told them she didn't have cancer, and returned a large amount of money.
Folks around the community were shocked.
"I just felt sick and I just thought about how it's going to hurt," said Debra Keller, whose band played at the Landis benefit. "She has no idea what she's done for other cancer victims and people that really need the benefits, because it could really be devastating."
Police say they're receiving a lot of calls from people trying to get their donations back. Crooks said it's been a mess trying to figure out who is actually entitled to money back.
Police are working to figure out exactly how much money was donated toward Landis.
If you donated money as part of April Landis' benefit, contact the Angola Police Department at (260) 665-2121 with as much proof and information as possible. Police will be returning checks, but say the cash donations will be up to the discretion of the court.
If you are in possession of money that people donated in Landis' name, you're supposed to turn it in to police. If you're holding on to it, you could be held responsible.
Police say Landis is married with four kids and think she lied about having cancer for financial reasons. She will most likely be facing theft and fraud by deception charges.


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Sally Hansen Gilded lily is probably my favourite nail polish at the moment. It's such a stunning gold that really catches the light beautifully. I was chatting with Sharon on Twitter and mentioned that it was apparently a dupe for OPI Golden Eye. She is amazing and sent me her mini version of OPI Golden Eye to do a comparison (she loves the polish and has the bigger version) So how do they both compare?..
So at one coat it's clear that Sally Hansen Gilded lily covers a bit better. The gold seems to be a bit darker but it's actually the same. You cannot tell the difference at all when you even it out. On the right you can see both the OPI and Sally Hansen are opaque in 3 coats. Now I have a little tip for ye ;) Don't paint on the polish like you would a normal nail polish. You have to do a coat and then dab at the bald spots so you get a far better level of coverage without having a really thick layer of polish at the end.
So they are dupes in terms of appearance.Price wise the OPI sells for the bones of €13. Sally Hansen is normally €8.95 but I got it for €6.95. Application is a tiny bit different too. As mentioned Gilded lily gives a bit more coverage in one coat compared to Golden eye. You can get them both opaque at around 3 coats if you are careful though :) I would suggest using a gold nail polish base just as an added precaution. That's how I roll anyway.
Drying time is different again. OPI Golden Eye dries a bit quicker. If you are using a quick dry top coat then I wouldn't worry about this in fairness. Finally the bottle size. OPI Golden Eye comes in a 15ml bottle and the Sally Hansen comes in a 14.7ml bottle. Not a huge difference!!
My verdict: I prefer Sally Hansen Gilded Lily over OPI Golden Eye. I know they are the exact same in appearance but the price is a huge factor for a lot of people and I feel you are wasting your money if you go for the dearest polish when you can get a spot on dupe for almost half the price. Removal on both is a pain in the arse but that means wear time is pretty amazing!


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Album Review | Top Of The World | Ewan McLennan – Stories Still Untold
Posted on November 27th, 2014 in Recent posts, Reviews by Songlines Magazine.
Words by Tim Woodall
Scots folk singer adds several storeys to his stature
Ewan McLennan continues his evolution into a major figure on the Scottish folk scene with his third album. Stories Still Untold is the next step along the path for McLennan rather than being a new departure, and is all the better for it. Like its predecessors, the album brings together old and new songs. Also consistent is McLennan's musicianship – the delicate brushstrokes of his exact guitar-picking and his stirring, quavering singing – and his storytelling focus on social politics. Warm and subtle instrumental contributions from leading folk players fill out the sound, including Lauren MacColl's viola and Ross Ainslie's whistles.
Traditional material researched by McLennan and original song-writing are perfectly balanced, with old texts put to new music on 'Song of the Lower Classes'. That McLennan's story-songs stand up next to traditional tunes like 'The Shearing' (arranged with beautiful backing vocals from Siobhan Miller) show their true quality. One of his pieces in particular, 'Out on the Banks', is hair-raising in its nostalgic simplicity. Each one of the 13 tracks here, whether pub ballads or great history stories from Scotland and Ireland, adds to the whole picture of an artist whose music lives and breathes.


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Detectives are canvassing the neighborhood for leads after releasing surveillance video of the suspect.
He is seen hiding in a vestibule, moments after he allegedly tried to rape a 20-year-old NYU student on Thompson Street.
She told detectives she was walking alone, with headphones on, at 1 a.m. on Tuesday.
Then, she was dragged between two parked cars where the man tried to assault her.
But he took off, stealing her bag, after she screamed and resisted. Then he hid in the vestibule where he removed his coat before leaving, calmly, as if nothing had happened.
"She was approached by an individual from behind punched in the head, attempted to drag her into an area. She was inappropriately touched and then the individual ran away," Police Commission Ray Kelly said.
Women Eyewitness News spoke with said it's a reminder to be vigilant. Even in neighborhoods that have long been regarded as safe.
The victim was treated for injuries to her face.
The suspect seen on the surveillance camera is described as a black male with long hair that was pulled back in a pony tail. He was last seen wearing a dark plaid jacket over a gray shirt.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).


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Stepping toward knittingSubmitted by joeXmaspunk on Tue, 2006-11-14 01:05
Friday, a friend and I hanging out at the local bookstore, and he came across this zine called CRAFT. It had alot cool stuff, but the thing that intrest me the most was the knit robot on the cover. I instantly thought I want to make one. But I also was thinking I would have no real time for it now. Saturday, those robots where bouncing around in my head while I was studing. I really want to learn how to make a knit-bot. Luckly, some other friends and I went back to the bookstore. I was going to but that zine, but it was 15 dollars, and it didn't teach you how to knit. So I just scratched the idea. However, Sunday, those bots were just pounding my head all day and night while I was studying—I had a test today, thus all the studying. So went on line and tried to some research. And tell you the truth, I was redundant. Itn't his a chic thing? I was glad to see that it was not. So I joined this group.
TODAY, after I took my exam, I went the bookstore looked at the books mentioned on Menknit.com and another called "Knitting With Balls: A Hands-On Guide to Knitting for the Modern Man". They were expensive for me right now. I have to be really tight with working less hours and Christmas coming. However, my friend, who was also interested in knitting, showed up. We glanced at the books and went to Hobby Lobby and he bought some needles and yarn, plus a cheap $5 booklet called something like "My First Knitting Teacher". [He kind of embrassed me when he asked a worker helping us if there were many straight men that knited (She said she knew no male kniter that was gay). I guessed he felt it was necessary to claim his machismo.] We later went to a friends house and the first thing we tried to do was make a ball of yarn. That took us an hour. Yeah, sad. We were not able to really understand the book. So we were getting frustrated and gave up for the day.


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Two Topeka natives, Bryne Gonzales and Natalie Scott, received Kansas University's Excellence in Community, Education and Leadership Award during halftime of KU's homecoming football game Saturday.
Gonzales, a speech-language-hearing major, is a founding father and vice president of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
Scott majors in psychology and pre-occupational therapy. She is also a student senator and member of the University Honors Program.
Both are seniors.
Gonzales and Scott will receive an annual $500 scholarship. They were selected from a group of 10 finalists based on leadership, communication skills, involvement in the KU and Lawrence communities and academics.
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.


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Cal Bears Football: Why Cal Fans Should Be Worried About Their TeamSeptember 11, 2012
Cal came into the 2012 season looking to exceed expectations and have a successful season.
So far, not so good.
Cal fell to Nevada in their season opener and held off Southern Utah 50-31 in their second game of the season, and they now stand at 1-1. Even though Cal managed a win over the Thunderbirds, Bears fans shouldn't be impressed.
The Golden Bears weren't able to stop Nevada's pistol offense, and Southern Utah managed a good amount of points against them. The Thunderbirds scored on a Hail Mary, and Cal's secondary had some problems against a team that got blown out by Utah State in Week 1.
With Ohio State and USC coming up on the road, Cal certainly has a lot to do in practice. If they have the same philosophy, commit a million penalties a game and play sloppy football, both teams will blow them out and send them back to Berkeley with a record of 1-3.
And I can guarantee you Jeff Tedford and his team don't want that to happen.
Tedford has coached some decent teams, and with him as coach, Cal has won a share of the Pac-12 title and they almost made the Rose Bowl. In 2007, the Bears were ranked second overall. However, now, the Bears and their fans just have to accept being a mediocre team.
Cal won't be elite this year, and that's a guarantee. Their defense, which consists of lots of young talent, couldn't contain the pistol offense of Nevada and even the offense of Southern Utah. It will take awhile for them to get used to playing with each other, although they could dominate at the end of the year.
But for now, the Bears' defense will struggle. And, unfortunately, Ohio State has a great running quarterback.
Oh, and did I mention that Matt Barkley might be the first pick in the 2013 NFL draft?
The Golden Bears have to improve on a lot of things if they even want to reach a bowl game. Sure, they have talent on both sides of the ball. But if they're not coming up with key plays and not doing what it takes to beat good teams, they can kiss a bowl game goodbye.
Cal has to play Oregon, Washington, Ohio State, USC, Stanford, UCLA and other tough teams this year, and they'll all challenge and most likely beat Cal. Sure, the Bears have most of those teams at home, but they didn't exactly do too well at home in the first two weeks of the season.
If Cal can patch up their issues quickly, or if they can come up with a key win over Ohio State and USC, they'll be alright. However, Cal has committed an atrocious number of penalties so far, and that will cost them against better teams.
Jeff Tedford has done a nice job patching up issues in the past, but he has a lot to do this year. If he can't get a hold of his team and put a stop to those unforced and forced errors, Cal will be in for a long, long season.
And Tedford may not have a job.


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Brittany - posted on 06/20/2009 ( 3 moms have responded )
My daughter has become so active that the craziness of our loose schedule isn't enough for me... Here's what our day looks like now:
6:00-7:00 Wake up and eat breakfast
7:00-7:30 Play with books by herself while I clean up
7:30 Get dressed and ready for the day
8:00-10:00 Run errands, go to the gym, play outside (weather permitting)
10:00-12:00 Nap
12:00-1:00 Lunch and clean up
1:00-3:00 Play with books, number cards, etc and a snack
3:00-4:30 Nap
When she wakes up, she plays with her dad while I finish dinner. She eats, then at 6 gets a bath and is in bed by 6:30-7pm.
Like I said, it's loose, but I'm burned out trying to figure new things for her to do and it's the 'general' items that leave me totally exhausted. Any ideas of what you do with your little one or schedule advice?


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etour | My OHIO Portal
ATHENS, Ohio (Oct. 23, 2006) ? Three major themes emerged at the first-ever University Town Hall Meeting, hosted by President Roderick J. McDavis and intended to encourage dialogue among members of the Ohio University community. These themes were safety, diversity and shared governance.About 127 students, faculty, staff and community members attended the event. "There's been an increase in violence in Athens lately," contended the first student questioner, who identified herself as an Ohio University sophomore and Athens native. This sentiment was echoed by Chris Knisley, a university administrator and Athens resident, who suggested the university and community collaborate to address the issue. Other students, however, expressed concern that campus and city police are overreacting in their law enforcement tactics."I take your concern very seriously. There is no higher priority than the safety of our students," McDavis said about safety. He committed to engaging with the Athens community and Ohio University students on that and other matters. "What I think is important is (that) our students develop a sense of personal and civic responsibility."Questions about diversity came from a number of stakeholder groups. Students wanted to know about amenities and cultural sensitivity for African-American students; funding and staffing for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender programs; funding for the International Student Union; recruitment of Appalachian students and service to the region; and a comfortable climate for conservative students. Administrators ? the president's cabinet, deans and the director of athletics were all on hand to answer questions ? promised follow up to specific questions about diversity. "Our diversity does not have blinders," McDavis maintained, adding "we have found a way to make room under the big tent for everybody." Shared governance was the major topic of conversation from the mostly student questioners. A number of members of Students for Effective and Accountable Leadership said they want to see shared governance with students and other stakeholders in the university.?Shared governance at Ohio University means every constituent group gets to have input into decisions the university makes,? McDavis said. Vice President for Student Affairs Kent Smith added, "Should we involve students in decision-making? Absolutely."But students pressed the administrators to clarify and expand what they mean by shared governance. Student Olivia Dawson said that student senate "only has the power to suggest." Will Klass contended that "our voice is heard and they can just ignore it and they have."Dominic Barbato, president of Graduate Student Senate pointed out that governance structure at the university hasn't changed in about 30 years. "Maybe we need to re-examine whether the representation works," he suggested.Provost Kathy Krendl responded by saying, "This is an invitation to look at what changes we may make and to look at best practices."McDavis observed that "some students have some very tough questions and they've been good questions." He invited the questioners to return to the next event, saying "this is about trying to open up more communication channels within our institution."Rounding out the discussion were questions about graduate student health insurance, health care facilities for women, Vision OHIO goals, high-risk drinking policies, the fate of the Oasis and availability of off-campus housing.
[ 30 ]
Media Contact: Director of Media Relations Jack Jeffery at 740-597-1793 or firstname.lastname@example.com


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The New Canaan Food Pantry is seeking bags of donated non-expired, nonperishable foodstuffs to help stock the shelves.
More Information
Items in need are pasta sauce, canned stew, canned tomatoes (all types), cookies and large family snacks. No beans or soup are needed at this time.
The New Canaan Food Pantry also needs dish soap and feminine hygiene pads.
Food donations may be left at the pantry, St. Mark's Church, 111 Oenoke Ridge. Financial donations are also accepted. Checks should be made payable to New Canaan Food Pantry and mailed to 77 Main St., New Canaan CT 06840.
For more information, call 203-966-4515.


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[CANCELLED] RIS Maintenance Announcement: Thursday 26 October, 2006
Erik Romijn eromijn at ripe.net
Wed Oct 25 11:29:48 CEST 2006
Erik Romijn wrote: > On Thursday, 26 October 2006, there will be planned maintenance on the > Routing Information Service (RIS). This work will allow us to avoid > several issues related to disabling keepalives for BGP sessions. This maintenance has been cancelled as 26 October 2006 is a public holiday in Austria. This means noone will be in the office at our host, which is inconvenient if we would need them. We have not yet set a new date for the maintenance. Once we have, we will send another notification. Kind regards, -- Erik Romijn RIPE NCC software engineer http://www.ripe.net/ RIS operations


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New mom Charlize Theron and "Shame" star Michael Fassbender stunned fantasy geeks and film fans on Saturday when they stopped by the WonderCon 2012 convention in Anaheim, California to promote new sci-fi movie "Prometheus."
Theron, who announced the news she had adopted a baby boy earlier this week, and the Irish actor met fans and the media and chatted about their much-anticipated new film, and revealed the event gave them the chance to see clips from the film for the first time.
Theron said, "It's nerve-wracking for us because we haven't seen anything, so we're actually seeing what they're (fans) seeing for the first time too."
Fassbenber admitted he was thrilled to be at the convention: "Anything in the comic book fantasy world it breeds a very passionate fan base."
The film's director Ridley Scott, Milla Jovovich, Emma Stone and Joseph Gordon-Levitt also attended WonderCon on Saturday.
Theron also joined her "Snow White & The Huntsman" co-star Kristen Stewart for a panel chat about that film too.
Asked by one fan why she likes to take on dark film roles, Theron answered, "It's because I'm a b**ch!"
The actress plays the evil queen in the fairytale adaptation.


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This resource is no longer available
From Workforce Management to Workforce Productivity
Organizations are increasingly focusing on the contact center as a key contributor to customer retention and attraction as well as revenue. These businesses need to implement the right technology and strategies to take the contact center concept from workforce management to workforce productivity.
This white paper reveals the technologies that support workforce productivity and offers tips for choosing the right supplier. Learn about effective productivity goals, practices, and the importance of analytics. Discover how your contact center can match data to relevant tasks, analyze for root causes of performance issues, draw information from business applications, and more.


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I felt the mid-morning sun shining on my face as I lay in my bed, slowly waking up from a restful night of sleep without dreams. I squeezed my eyes shut as tight as I could, trying to postpone reality as long as possible; it turned out to be a worthless effort.
I kicked the blanket that was wrapped around my legs onto the floor, and let the cool air wind it's way around them before getting up and walking across the room to my antique dresser.
"Ugh." I examined my straight, black, shoulder-length hair in the mirror. It was flat and lifeless, the static from my pillow causing it to stick to my face. A shower, I knew, would improve things a bit.
I looked at the reflection of my small, diamond-shaped face. The dark freckles sprinkled across my nose and under my eyes stood out from my light complexion like the chocolate chips in chocolate chip cookies, except I never got quite as tan as the cookies did.
One thing about my face, though, was out of place. My eyes were still bright green as usual, but they looked different… sad, almost.
I sighed.
It was finally the day before the first day of summer, also known as the last day of school.
Anticipation is hanging in the air; all the kids are eager to finally get out of the classroom for the next couple months. Most of them already have plans with their friends, and they can hardly wait for no more teachers and homework assignments.
At least, that's how my best friends Sam and Connor always described it.
I had been home-schooled my entire life, so I'd never felt the same kind of anticipation. I was usually more excited because now Sam and Connor wouldn't be in school all day, and we could hang out more.
This particular last day of school though, was one filled with more dismay for me than excitement. This day meant that tomorrow my best and closest friends were leaving town for the entire summer. I was excited for them, yes, but I would also miss them both like freaking crazy.
I was one of those people who, in the entire, rather small city of Pensacola Florida, had only a couple close friends.
It's not that I didn't fit in at church or my small group or anywhere else I went; I actually had plenty of "friends". You know, the ones you say hi to, ask what's up and exchange a few meaningless sentences, and then move on…. Yeah, I had plenty of those. I got along with almost everybody.
It was just with Sam and Connor, we'd all become best friends way back in the kindergarten Sunday school class, and we didn't plan on ending that friendship any time soon.
We just had to spend this summer in completely different places. Sam would be in Ireland with her aunt and uncle, Connor would be staying with his grandparents in Utah, and I'd be here at home.
When I got the news, they both tried to cheer me up by telling me that we would all do something together the day before they left.
The whole "cheering up" thing worked… as long as I only thought about that day, and not anything after it. I kept on a happy face though, to keep my parents, friends and pastors from worrying about me. That was one of the last things I wanted.
So, it was finally the last day of school, and Sam and Connor would be out by noon today. I had no idea what we were going to do, which was a problem since I was supposed to be the one deciding. I hated deciding, and they knew that. Losers.
I had been slightly pre-occupied the last few days, what with testing for college classes for my last two years of high school, babysitting every day that week, helping a neighbor with a yard sale, working in the nursery at church and fitting that all in between my Bible-reading and prayer time in the morning and before I went to bed, I hadn't had a whole lot of time to think about how I was going to spend my last day with my best friends before they abandoned me. Sadly, it hadn't been one of my top priorities.
But on this particular morning, or rather half the day, I had nothing to do. So after I showered and got dressed, I thought about all the possibilities while eating a bowl of cereal.
Both my parents had already left for work earlier in the morning, but I had decided to sleep in, and it was already nine o' clock. Being alone, I probably would've ended up talking to myself, so I decided it was good I was eating.
The beach was a possibility, I knew. If it was just me and Sam, we might've gone shopping. If it was just me and Connor, we probably would've gone golfing or…
"Boating!" I dropped my spoon into my bowl and left my cereal sitting on the kitchen counter while I went into my room to get my cell phone so I could text Sam.
She'd said she wouldn't be doing anything important today, and she told me to text her when I knew what I wanted to do.
Well, I knew what I wanted to do.
Connor had just gotten his boating license a few weeks ago, and he had promised to take us both out. Well, that was before he found out he was going to Utah, but now he still could!
I was actually pretty proud of myself for coming up with this idea. I knew Connor would love me for it. Or at least thank me. He was really bummed when he found out he wouldn't be able to put his boating license to good use this summer.
I text messaged Sam and told her about my inspiration. I also made sure and told her not to tell Connor, because I wanted to be able to personally tell him when they came to pick me up. She understood and agreed, and told me she'd do her best to act surprised when I told them both. I thanked her and then went to the kitchen to finish my cereal.
And I would have finished it, if it hadn't turned into mush while I was in my bedroom. I had been almost finished with it anyways, so I turned on the garbage disposal and washed the rest of it down the sink.
I spent most of the morning getting ready for the rest of the day. It was sunny that day with absolutely no clouds, which was in itself, a miracle. I finally decided on my favorite swimsuit, yellow tank top and cut-off jean shorts, and pulled my hair into a ponytail.
I grabbed my cell phone and sat down on the couch to read a new book I'd gotten a couple weeks ago for my birthday. I hadn't gotten very far when I realized I'd forgotten to put shoes on.
This was typical, unfortunately. I sometimes made it all the way to the car before I felt the concrete underneath my bare feet.
I ran back to my bedroom and rummaged through my small closet, attempting to find my sandals in the clutter that collected every couple of weeks.
I had a small square bedroom with walls that were a pale, creamy yellow like the inside of a banana, and one window facing the east and the street that ran in front of our house, caressed by two jet black silk curtains, handmade by my mom when I was five. I was thankful for the curtains on weekends when I could close them at night after turning out my light, so the sun couldn't wake me up, and I could sleep a couple extra hours.
Underneath my window was my desk, on top of which sat my laptop (close to becoming obsolete, what with all the new technology that was continually being spit out); my few school books and a considerably large stack of recreational reading books, with a broad range in subjects; frames that held pictures of Sam, Connor and I at all our sixteenth birthdays; and my MP3 player, which I used often.
To the left was my bed, which was really only two twin-sized mattresses, set on top of wooden planks, held up by twelve cement blocks, two under each corner and four supporting the middle; it was my idea, and at the time we had done it, it was less expensive than buying a frame.
Across the room from my desk was the door and my antique dresser, which held my jewelry box, a random assortment of facial and skin care products, and a ton of old clothes and random junk in the drawers. In the corner at the end of that wall was my bookshelf, full and overflowing with books stacked on top of it because there was no room left to shove any more onto the shelves.
Beside my bookshelf and across the room from my bed was my closet, from which I finally emerged, desired sandals in hand.
I stopped by the bathroom and grabbed a can of spray-on sunscreen. No need to start my summer off with a sunburn if it could be avoided
I went back to the couch and sat down again to read my book. Once again, I hadn't gotten very far at all when the thought occurred to me that my parents would probably want to know where I was going to be. I decided to call my mom at the bank on her cell phone, and leave a message if she didn't answer.
And, of course, as I'd predicted she wasn't on her lunch break yet, so she didn't answer; it was barely eleven thirty. I left her a message telling her what my plans were and that I'd try to be home by at least seven. It seemed reasonable to me.
I figured I had at least an hour to fill, maybe more. I decided to try reading my book again. I was totally engrossed in it, not even aware of the time passing by, when the doorbell rang.
I dropped my book on the couch and ran to get the door. Just as I'd figured, Sam and Connor were standing in front of my door, Sam trying not to bust out laughing at Connor being so oblivious, and Connor, well, being oblivious. I was glad he was though, because then I could surprise him.
Of course, he'd owe me big time, but that's not why I wanted to do it. I just wanted to make him happy. After all, he was going to have to spend his summer in Utah, though none of us understood why.
"'Sup?" I tried to sound casual, and apparently it worked, because Connor didn't suspect anything.
"So do you know what you want to do yet?" He asked the question as if he thought I still didn't know, which didn't surprise me.
He walked into the house and walked right through it into the living room as if he lived here himself, Sam walking beside me, following Connor at a distance so he couldn't hear her snickering.
"Yes, actually, I do," I said as Sam and I entered the living room. "I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yet." My tone was slightly sarcastic, but Connor quickly understood. He wasn't slow, like me.
"Thank you, Alyx!" He jumped up from where he had just sat down on the couch, wrapped me in a bear hug and spun me around. He was on the football team, very muscular and probably twice as big as me, and I laughed as he crushed me.
"You're welcome," I said when he finally put me down. I could tell he was genuinely happy from the smile on his face. I was satisfied.
"Well what are we waiting for?" He turned to Sam. "Do you need me to stop by your house?"
"Yeah, I need to change. Great idea Alyx, by the way." She winked at me, and I smiled in return.
"Well, let's go then," Connor said. "You ready, Alyx?"
I grinned at him. "Absolutely."
Success. My plan had worked; Connor was definitely happy. I was glad, and I knew we'd all have a good time. It made me even more depressed inside though, that they were leaving. But luckily for me, I was good at keeping it inside.
"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" Connor's voice was filled with doubt. "You don't have to do this for me, you know."
"Yes, I'm sure this is what I want to do, Connor. And it wasn't entirely for you, if that makes you feel better." I was sure he could at least hear the smirk in my voice, since he couldn't see it on my face.
I was laying on the backseat of his car, my head resting on the passenger side of the seat, and my feet propped against the opposite window. I could see the side of his face as he leaned back against the seat, moving his eyes with his right index finger as he traced the steering wheel.
He didn't look convinced. He looked… guilty? I wasn't sure.
"I swear, Connor, you think better of me than I deserve. I'm more selfish than you think." I was being dead serious, but I kept my tone joking to try and cheer him up.
He chuckled.
Ah, sweet, sweet success.
"I always said that you'd be the one to take over the world someday. Looks like I was right. And it's just like you, starting with your best friends. Shame, shame, Alyx; what would Sam think if she knew what you were planning?"
I laughed at the thought of Sam not being in on anything. It was pointless trying to keep secrets from her. "She'd be laughing at you, again, for being so oblivious."
"Oblivious? How?"
I sat up in the seat and looked at Connor in the rear-view mirror. He'd stopped tracing the steering wheel, his hand frozen at the top, directly in the middle. His right eyebrow was arched, and his turquoise eyes were questioning. He looked so adorable when he was confused.
Somehow, and I wasn't quite sure how, I managed to keep from laughing at him.
"Sam's always been my partner in crime, didn't ya know. Doesn't surprise me though, that you never figured it out. Not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, now are we?"
"Ha, ha. You're hilarious Alyx, really." He stuck his sarcastic little tongue out at me.
"Oh, very mature Connor."
He rolled his eyes and smiled.
It was quiet for a moment while I thought about how much I was going to miss Connor and Sam. We'd been together every summer, all summer, since 3rd grade. I'd completely forgotten what summer was like without them. I had no idea what I was going to do.
I thought back to 11 years ago when I first met Connor, and then Sam a month later, both in the Kindergarten Sunday school class at our church. I had only been 5 the first Sunday we attended, and that was the day I met Connor. I didn't make a fuss about my parents leaving me like some of the kids did, but as soon as they dropped me off in the 4- and 5-year-olds room, I walked hesitantly over to the toy bucket, grabbed a doll with blond curls and a frilly dress, and went and sat in a corner at the far end of the room.
I didn't mind if nobody noticed me; I'd become a pro at self-entertainment since I was a home-schooled only child.
I was sitting in my safe corner, talking to the doll and smoothing out her hair when something obstructed the light that had been reflecting off of her curls. I looked up, annoyed, but my irritation quickly made way for surprise when I saw a boy with light brown curls and bright, turquoise blue eyes, standing right above me, smiling.
I smiled back.
"I'm Connor," he'd said shyly, still smiling.
"I'm Alyx." And after that, there was never a day when he left my side as long as we were both in that room. And I never thought of leaving his. We were like siblings, only closer.
When Sam joined our class a month later, it was a very different situation, but the same, strong, instant connection. When her parents dropped her off the first time, Sam came right up to Connor and I, and asked if she could play with us. It was like destiny. And a very cool destiny, I must say.
My reminiscing was interrupted by a loud knock on the passenger window. The sound startled me and I jumped. Connor laughed at me, and I realized he'd been watching me the entire time. The thought made me smile, but also a smidge uncomfortable.
I looked up as Sam opened the passenger side door and got in.
"And we're off!"
"So," I said to Connor, "Utah?" I was sitting on the front of the boat, my legs stretched out in front of me, saltwater droplets drying on my legs, leaving white spots.
"Yeah," he said, shaking his head, "I don't really know. My grandparents don't even live in Utah." He was sitting in the driver's seat, his short brown hair still dripping and sticking out every direction possible. I couldn't help but notice his perfectly defined abs. He was in the best shape possible, and an absolute health freak. It was unbelievable.
"Supposedly I'm going to be surprised." He made quotation marks with his fingers. "But, I dunno. I mean, what the heck is in Utah except desert and some 'Salt Lake'?
"Like I would know. The farthest west I've been is Louisiana, and that's still in the south. Not even the southwest. It's Cajun."
"What?" The confused look on Connor's face was priceless, and Sam was giggling as she dried her hair with a towel.
I just laughed and rolled my eyes. "Nothing. So you honestly don't have any idea why you're going to Utah?"
"Nope. I got nothing." He sighed. "But you know, I hate leaving you here behind like this. It sucks that you have to stay here by yourself. Well, with your parents but, you know…"
"Yeah, I know. This'll probably be the most boring summer on record for me. But… oh, Sam!"
"Promise me something?"
"Take tons of pictures?"
"Of course! I'll have to carry my laptop around with me so I can empty my card every couple minutes."
I laughed. "Good."
"So," Connor said, standing up, "you dry Alyx?"
"Pretty much, yeah. Why?" I was completely oblivious, which was very typical, and not so good for me.
"Just making sure." I saw the left corner of his mouth creep up into a half smile.
"What do you mean, 'making sure'?" I had no idea what was coming.
In three long steps he was right beside me. It took less than a second for me to catch on, and in what seemed like a split second Connor had one arm beneath my legs, and the other one supporting my back.
He carried me to the edge of the boat, and before I could protest, I was being catapulted through the air, and before I could get out a good scream, I hit the water and crashed through the surface of the Gulf of Mexico.
The water felt cold to my skin that had been warmed by the sun, and as much as I loved the ocean, I didn't know what was in the water beneath or around me. I frantically pushed at the water surrounding me, trying to heave myself upward, towards the surface.
I came up coughing water and immediately started to yell at Connor, though I knew it wouldn't do anything except amuse him.
"You so did not just do that Connor Elijah Anderson!"
He laughed, probably more at my reaction than at me. "It sure looks like I did, don't you think Sam?"
"Don't be a pain in the brain, Connor," Sam said in my defense, but even though I couldn't see her face, I could hear a hint of the laugh in her voice that she was trying to hide.
Connor leaned over the side of the boat with a huge grin on his face and stretched his hands out in my direction to help me up. All my irritation melted away instantly.
I grabbed his hands and, somehow, he pulled me up and onto the boat. I walked around him to where I had been sitting and grabbed my towel and started drying my hair.
There was no way I could still be mad at him, but I decided to mess with him a bit.
"So, I decide to go boating for you, and this is how you thank me? I see how it is now." I was glad he couldn't see my face; because there was no way I could keep from smiling. This was always so much fun, and he fell for it every time.
He took a step towards me. "Come on, Alyx, you're not still mad at me, are you? Grudges aren't your thing ya know." It always amazed me how he could be so annoying, yet so… sincere.
I flipped my head back up and showed the smile I couldn't hide. For a tough football player, he could be an absolute sweetheart.
He smiled the same half smile he had earlier, except now there was no mischief in it.
Gah! My best friend is so good-looking, not gonna lie.
"Well, aren't you two adorable now," Sam said in a "western" accent, stepping out from behind Connor's massive, muscular frame.
I just rolled my eyes at her, but I saw Connor look down as he forced a laugh.
Sigh. Sometimes I wonder if you can read my thoughts. Well, if you can, I didn't mean anything by what I just thought. That's why I thought it, instead of saying it. Sometimes Connor, you can make things so complicated for me without even trying.
I stood back and watched quietly as Connor and Sam bantered back and forth about something I'd missed, as usual.
That was the key word here, though. I just wanted everything to be normal, none of this complicated, boy-likes-girl-who-just-happens-to-be-his-best-friend stuff.
Right then, with them arguing, and nothing going on between Connor and I, and both of them here, not everywhere else… it felt right, and that was how I wanted it to stay.
I don't need anybody else but the ones I've got. Nobody could be as amazing as the people I know.


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Namco Bandai Begins Namco Generations Project
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX to be followed by Galaga and Aero Cross.
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX will hit Xbox Live Arcade tomorrow and PlayStation Network (PS3) next week. But this new take on Pac-Man is just the start of Namco Bandai's plans for classic Namco franchises.
The company detailed today the "Namco Generations" project. This series revives Namco titles of old with modern technology and "sense" for release on PS3 and Xbox 360.
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX is the first game in the series. It will be followed at an undisclosed point by Galaga Legions DX and Aero Cross. Namco Bandai says that it plans on adding new titles periodically.
Those who buy any of the Namco Generations titles will be able to receive a community newsletter called "NG News." This newsletter includes game strategies, development secrets, and information about upcoming titles and campaigns. The latest issue of NG News can be obtained from within the games themselves.


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ok bear with me a min
ok bear with me a min
knowlesy (04-04-13)
Ok need to sort some pictures out so give me a bit of time x
Your posting the HTML code, all you need to do is copy and paste the IMG code (2nd from bottom of image links) and that should work as above.
Ahh am wondering if you clicked the html link as its just above the img one here is a pic hun its the link with the black arrow pointing to it that you want, hope this helps
You can't have a signature for a while yet
You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.
- Jon Kabat-Zinn
I don't know if it's just me or what, but can you upload pictures from photobucket from a phone? I don't see the way to do it.
I'll ask the techie team as I don't know! My phone isn't capable of doing anything at all so I wont know.. lol
You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.
- Jon Kabat-Zinn


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The Open to return to St Andrews in 2015
The 2015 Open will be staged at St Andrews, officials confirmed Tuesday.
Royal and Ancient chief executive Peter Dawson confirmed the 144th championship would return to the spiritual home of golf from July 16-19.
"We are delighted to announce that The Open will be returning to St Andrews and the historic Old Course in 2015," Dawson said.
"St Andrews has proved time and again that it is perfectly equipped to host The Open and I am certain we will yet again see a worthy winner lift the Claret Jug.
"Players, spectators and officials alike will welcome a return to the game's spiritual home and I fully expect that we will witness another thrilling Championship."
The Open has been staged at St Andrews every five years since 1990, with South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen winning the 2010 tournament.
Royal Lytham in northwest England will host the championship in 2012 before it heads to Muirfield in Scotland in 2013 and then onto Hoylake's Royal Liverpool in 2014.


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The marine, who was not named at his family's request, died after suffering severe injuries in the explosion which destroyed his Snatch Land Rover.
Two children were also killed in the attack by the suicide bomber, who attacked the two-vehicle convoy on foot, defence officials said. Seven civilians were reported to have been wounded. Lashkar Gah has been relatively safe, compared with outlying areas to the north of Helmand province where most of the 18 British troops who have died as a result of enemy action since June have been killed.
In a statement, Brigadier Jerry Thomas, commander of 3 Commando Brigade, said the attack took place just before 11am local time. The marine died of his wounds after being airlifted to hospital and receiving the "best possible medical attention". The injured marine was being treated at the British field hospital at Camp Bastion.
Brig Thomas expressed his sympathy for the families and friends of those killed and injured in the attack. He added: "My troops are performing their jobs here with admirable courage and professionalism and will continue to do so."
British soldiers in southern Afghanistan will be provided next year with new armoured vehicles which provide greater protection than Snatch Land Rovers, which are only protected by composite fibreglass designed to stop rifle fire.
However, in response yesterday to the Commons defence committee which has expressed concern about the vulnerability of the Land Rovers, the Ministry of Defence said the new vehicles would "complement", not replace them. It added: "Maintaining a low patrol profile in Iraq and Afghanistan can be helpful, so where appropriate, a more mobile and less aggressive patrol vehicle such as Snatch, which enables us to engage with local people, could be the best vehicle to use."
Next month, marines in Afghanistan will be provided with German-built long-range automatic grenade launchers, the MoD said. They will cost £4.3m, be capable of firing 340 high-explosive rounds a minute at a range of 2,000 metres and will be mounted on adapted Land Rovers.
Nato's secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, said yesterday there was "no military solution for Afghanistan ... security alone is not enough. [Afghans] also want a job. They want to see reconstruction and development across the country. They want to see their children have a better future." He said the UN and other international agencies "must now step up their game in order to exploit the window of opportunity our military action is creating. In terms of cooperation, we simply must do better than we have done to date."
He acknowledged that Nato forces faced "stiff resistance" in the south.
Mr de Hoop Scheffer was asked about comments earlier this month by General David Richards, Nato's commander in Afghanistan, who repeated his request for more troops and warned that the country was at a "tipping point". He replied : "We should be careful not to impose deadlines on ourselves. But I agree with Gen Richards that it is of great importance to win the battle for hearts and minds. He is right when he says that a number of people in Afghanistan are sitting on the fence and looking [at] how things will develop."


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The NHS should record the ethnicity of all patients to tackle health inequalities and understand the medical needs of minority communities, according to a report.
The suggestion comes from the head of Manchester NHS primary care trust who warns that inadequate data is hampering attempts to improve services to groups susceptible to specific genetic conditions.
Writing in the NHS funded study, Leading Action on Race Equality and Health, released yesterday , Evelyn Asante-Mensah, chair of NHS Manchester, says: "I do not understand how we can even begin to [meet health needs] without knowing who the people are who make up our communities, and what their lives are about."
The report – a collection of essays from senior figures in the NHS – highlights ethnic health inequalities and focuses on reducing the incidence of conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers which disproportionately affect some black and minority ethnic communities.
According to study, infant mortality among Pakistani-born mothers is twice the national average, only 40% of Bangladeshi children in the UK have a dentist compared to the national average of 90%, while those of Indian origin are three times more likely to develop diabetes than the rest of the UK population.
But there appears to be no uniform practice on recording ethnic data in the NHS – some trusts collect statistics by ethnicity, others do not.
"We really must get to grips with robust data collection and patient profiling," writes Asante-Mensah. "We already collect information about age, next of kin, medical history and a whole lot else besides.
"What prevents us from also collecting patient information on ethnicity and spoken languages?"
Asante-Mensah's mother, born in Ghana, is a typical example of the problem, she suggests. "Her cultural, environmental and social experiences have made her the person she is today, and her genetic inheritance has given her a predisposition to some specific health problems."
The report warns that the NHS needs to do more to tackle these inequalities.
Cynthia Bower, chief executive of the Care Quality Commission, writes: "The NHS has a legal responsibility to promote race equality and tackle discrimination, both as an employer and as a provider or commissioner of health services. Even so, studies continue to show that people from minority ethnic groups have more difficulty accessing healthcare and when they do, the experience and the outcomes for them are not as good as for other people."
Fuad Nahdi, director of the Muslim grassroots group Radical Middle Way, says that better healthcare provision would prevent social alienation in minority communites that can lead to extremist violence.
He writes: "In healthcare, as in other public services, if we don't get things right for minority communities, the result can be marginalisation and radicalisation.
"In contrast, if the NHS can really achieve good health for minorities, it will secure their sense of citizenship, a feeling of security and inclusion."
The report was released to coincide with the Race for Health summit yesterday, attended by chief executives and chairs of leading NHS trusts, primary care trusts and Strategic Health Authorities.


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Wow it has been so long, still remember me?
First thing I wanted to say is gratz for the 6th birthday of the tribe! *fires some fireworks*
So how's everyone? I really miss you guys and it could be that i will come back so you'll probably see a application from me soon hehe.