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FOOTED CRYSTAL: Many women fantasize about having a beautiful pair of Christian Louboutin heels caressing their feet. This holiday season, a lucky few will also enjoy a little Louboutin on the lips.
Piper-Heidsieck and Christian Louboutin have come together to create Le Rituel, a luxurious brut gift set featuring a crystal champagne flute modeled after Louboutin's signature style.
According to Wine.com, the tradition of drinking champagne hearkens back to 19th century Russia, where gentlemen celebrated a ballerina's exceptional performance by toasting with her slipper full of champagne. Apparently, the practice moved into Paris where it took on more risqué overtones, but that's another story.
Le Rituel is available in very limited quantities, and only one order is allowed per person.
GET IT: Online at Wine.com for $500. Wine.com, (800) 592-5870.


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I have this home - Don Gardner Merrifield (W-G00-235)
which was built in 2000 and we purchased in 2008. I noticed a year or two ago, that one of the covered porch beams (that extend down from the roof to the ground) seemed to be "dangling" - that is not secured to the small concrete pad under it. I paid it no attention. Until last weekend. I got intimate with several of the beams and come to find out, several (there are 10 total - as shown in the diagram) are indeed "hanging" there -- not touching the pad. With shrubs and the porch itself in the way it's hard to confirm each one, but clearly there are more than one that are not supporting any weight. But there are some that do rest on the pads -- in fact the corner two for sure.
Also.. the pads they sit on -- there is a larger concrete pad, about 16" or so in diameter that is about 4 to 6" thick. That pad sits on a smaller pad that is maybe 6 or 8" in diameter. I'm assuming the small "pad" actually extends down below frost line (I'm hoping really). In several cases the larger pad is free floating atop the smaller pad. On those where the beam is not touching the pad -- I could pull that larger pad out if I wanted. In a few cases the smaller pad protrudes through the larger one, and the beam rests more-so on the smaller one. The beams are 6" x 6" rough sawn cedar I believe. They do measure a true 6" vs 5.5". And they sit or "hang" directly onto the larger concrete pad (there is no metal bracket). My 1st concern was beam rot. There is some -- and I need to clear away soil and debris to further prevent. But now my new concern is the issue with 1) the beam not contacting the larger pad, 2) the larger pad just "resting" on the smaller pad and 3) the structural integrity of the smaller pad.
It looks to me like the larger pad was poured atop the smaller one (hopefully a pillar below frost line) because the smaller did not align directly under where the beam was. So they poured the large pad atop the smaller one. Then it seems something has moved -- either the pads downward -- or beams upward such that the beam no longer is in direct contact with the pad. It also seems that the weight of roof, etc is now being transferred to only the few pads where the beam is clearly sitting on the pad.
Those beams support the covered porch. There are floor joists to which painted t&g porch planks are attached. I have some rot in the outside 2x10 that is notched into the beam. There is also an inside 2x10 (or maybe 2x12) that too is notched into the beam. I need to replace the rotted boards, but before doing all that I want to be sure about what to do with the beams and supporting concrete pillars/pads.
Any help very much appreciated. I'll be tearing away some of the the porch decking and floor support, so now is the time for sure to remedy any major structural issues.
Kind Regards,

subset: commoncrawl


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Bugaboo and Viktor & Rolf Stroller
Bugaboo Collaborates With Viktor & Rolf on Couture Stroller For Baby's First Ride
Bugaboo Collaborates With Viktor & Rolf on Couture Stroller For Baby's First Ride
Now that's a statement piece! When it comes to merging fashion and function, Bugaboo always gets it right. Over the past 13 years, the Dutch stroller company has successfully collaborated with the likes of Missoni, Marc Jacobs, and Bas Kosters on pushchairs to create must-have pieces for fashion-focused mamas. Its latest partnership will not only appeal to runway-oriented moms, but to car-loving dads as well.
The Bugaboo My First Car brings Viktor & Rolf's signature style to the newly updated Cameleon3. Taking their favorite car features and adding them to baby's first chariot, the Dutch duo's stroller will feature a mono-color anodized gray chassis, gray sports-car-style fabric, a faux leather canopy with matching faux leather hub caps, rear silver alloy wheels, and a hand-stitched handle bar. Finishing off the streamlined look will be custom-made license plates with cheeky send-offs from the designers.
The two hundred Bugaboo Cameleon3s by Viktor & Rolf won't hit retail stores until September, but starting today, Gilt.com is launching the stroller with a My First Car Viktor & Rolf for Bugaboo package that includes the custom footmuff, a Bugaboo Snack Tray, and the Bugaboo Organizer for $1,775. If you really like the stroller don't delay — Gilt only has 20 strollers available at this preview price! Click through to see an up-close look at the stroller.


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Copyright © 2019 My Florida Regional MLS DBA Stellar MLS. All rights reserved. The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange Program of My Florida Regional MLS DBA Stellar MLS. Information provided is for consumer's personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Homestead Realty Inc. participates in the My Florida Regional MLS DBA Stellar MLS Internet Data Exchange (IDX) program, allowing display of other My Florida Regional MLS DBA Stellar MLS broker's listings on this site. However may not include all listings currently available. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Information last updated at 2019-09-16 14:47:52.


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During a debate over regulation, Mitt Romney took a hard tack to the middle, extolling the values of good regulation, and saying that Dodd-Frank was a major "kiss" to New York banks.
In his Morning Money letter, POLITICO's Ben White says it blew up his inbox.
"NEW YORK BANKS" - Here is the Romney line that blew up M.M.'s inbox like no other, in the section on whether he would get rid of Dodd-Frank (he said he would, and replace it with something else, though who knows what): "One is it designates a number of banks as too big to fail, and they're effectively guaranteed by the federal government. This is the biggest kiss that's been given to — to New York banks I've ever seen. This is an enormous boon for them. There've been 122 community and small banks have closed since Dodd- Frank."
All that being said, the numerous Wall Streeters who support Romney will be over the moon at his excellent performance. He clearly won. And this should help Romney in the home stretch with fundraising.
More generally, Romney's victory is the lead item on many of today's morning analyst notes, and investors who think a Romney victory would be market bullish are taking the debate as a big, positive sign.
And here's the video.


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KLM Australia
Contact us
In order to know more or to be contacted by one of our advisers:
- by email: firstname.lastname@example.com
It looks like your browser is out of date.
To use all features of KLM.com safely, we recommend that you update your browser, or that you choose a different one. Continuing with this version may result in parts of the website not being displayed properly, if at all. Also, the security of your personal information is better safeguarded with an updated browser.


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At the U.S. Olympic orientation camp in Arlington, Va., in late August, coach Peter Laviolette seemed genuinely bullish about the Philadelphia Flyers' chances this season.
He talked about how Brayden Schenn would be at another level, how Andrej Meszaros was finally healthy and what an impact Vincent Lecavalier would have. He spent five minutes talking about how well depth defenseman Erik Gustafsson played for Sweden at the world championships.
Laviolette was so optimistic that it convinced me to make them a playoff team in preseason projections. I joked to a colleague that if I had spent another 10 minutes with Laviolette I might have picked them first in the Metropolitan Division. He was confident the team would perform better this season.
Now 42 days later, Laviolette is unemployed, replaced by assistant coach Craig Berube.
FOR THE WIN: Bad year for Philadelphia coaches
The 0-3 start with only three goals scored was the final straw, but Laviolette was fired more for what happened last season than this season.
GM Paul Holmgren wanted to believe that last season's Flyers struggles were an aberration, caused by the lockout and the abbreviated season. But what he witnessed this season convinced him that the Flyers had issues.
The Flyers have skill. They have grit. They hope they have goaltending. They expect their defense to be improved with the addition of Mark Streit. But they have looked flat and uninterested in their first three games.
It's hard to pinpoint exactly what's wrong with the Flyers. How do you explain that Claude Giroux, Scott Hartnell, Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, Sean Couturier and Matt Read all have zero points?
And when there is no obvious reason for a team's struggles, the conclusion is usually to fire the coach. It's almost a rule.
MORE: Biggest surprises in NHL so far
Holmgren called it a "gut decision." It didn't help Laviolette's cause that the Flyers didn't seem to have any spark in the preseason.
It also didn't help that Schenn and Couturier haven't developed as quickly as had been anticipated.
The decision to promote Berube is logical because he is popular with players. The idea is that players will want to play hard for the former Flyers tough guy and former coach of their American Hockey League affiliate. At the very least, this should give the team a short-term lift.
It's also assumed that Berube will have more a defensive emphasis than Laviolette.
Holmgren can now be second-guessed for not firing Laviolette after last season. Clearly, he believed Laviolette deserved another shot to turn it around. Laviolette won a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006, and took Philadelphia to the Stanley Cup Final in 2010. Plus, it seemed reasonable not to read too much into what happened last season when the season started late and many players were out of sync.
MORE: Early NHL trends that can be sustained
But by waiting, Holmgren missed out on the opportunity to consider whether Alain Vigneault, John Tortorella or Lindy Ruff should be the Flyers' new coach
The biggest issue is whether this team has the right mix to be successful long-term.
It seems as if owner Ed Snider or upper management might have the same concern, based on the team's decision last summer to hire Flyers legend Ron Hextall as assistant general manager.
Holmgren is well-liked in the GM community, and many of his friends in the hockey world said, "Uh, oh" when Hextall was hired.
Hextall was an assistant GM with the Los Angeles Kings, and he's on the short list of executives who are overdue to land a GM job soon. He made a lateral move to come back to Philadelphia. Feel free to draw your conclusions on what that means.
But it sure seems that if the Flyers don't rise up under Berube, then Holmgren will be out and Hextall will be in as general manager.
Follow Kevin Allen on Twitter @ByKevinAllen


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Diabetes and Yoga
Intimidated by what you've heard about yoga? Don't be! Yoga can be a restorative and enjoyable way to engage in physical fitness.
To help get rid of some of the mystery surrounding yoga, Clinical Exercise Physiologists Jacqueline Shahar, M.Ed., RCEP, CDE, and Michael See, MS, RCEP, of Joslin Diabetes Center, answer some of your questions about this ancient form of physical fitness.
What is yoga?
Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India, where it has many different spiritual meanings. Outside of India, however, yoga is mostly viewed as a helpful form of exercise that focuses on easing the body into several postures, which are intended to increase flexibility, balance, strength and enhance one's sense of well-being. There are different styles of yoga, including hatha, ashtanga, iyengar, and many more; it is important you research each to find the one that best meets your needs.
What are the benefits of yoga?
Different people have varied outcomes after practicing yoga, so not everyone will experience the same benefits. However, many people who practice yoga report a deep sense of relaxation, substantially increased flexibility and blood and oxygen supply after regular classes—regardless of aerobic exercise, points out Jacqueline Shahar. In addition, some reports suggest that because yoga can decrease stress, it may be helpful in controlling glucose levels in people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
Is yoga a replacement for my cardio exercise?
Yoga isn't a replacement for your cardio exercise, and should be done in addition to your regular exercise routine.
"While significant research exists regarding the benefits of aerobic exercise like walking or swimming and resistance training on the management of blood glucose and risk factors that accompany diabetes, the research has not been as plentiful in regards to yoga and diabetes," states Michael See. However, See emphasizes that those findings don't mean that yoga isn't beneficial. "On the contrary, yoga is an excellent type of exercise for posture, balance, relaxation--and some forms of yoga can favorably impact strength," he concludes.
Do I need special equipment for yoga?
Yoga studios or classrooms usually provide all of the tools you'll need to get started with yoga, but you may want to bring your own yoga mat to class. The only other equipment you'll need is your body. Yoga is often practiced without socks, so if you have any problems with your feet, be sure to touch base with your doctor to make sure practicing barefoot is alright, and if not, ask about some alternatives to going barefoot.
How do I find a yoga class?
Referrals from friends and family about yoga classes in your area can be helpful; however, if you have diabetes, it is important you look for an instructor who is qualified and experienced enough to understand that yoga is a process that shouldn't be rushed.. Check out Yoga Alliance, a website through which you can search for yoga teachers based on several variables including state, level of expertise, and style of yoga offered. You may also want to ask your healthcare team if they have any recommendations.
What kind of teacher should I look for?
If you have diabetes, and especially if you're starting a new yoga routine, you should look for an instructor that has at least 200 hours of training from their home institution. Once you've made a list of potential instructors based on a search through Yoga Alliance, contact each one to ask them if they have worked with people who have diabetes before, and discuss your fitness level, too. If you're just beginning to exercise or practice yoga, tell the prospective instructor in advance. If they're a good teacher, they'll advise you to start slowly, and offer advice on easing into the practice of yoga. Don't worry that you're not putting in enough time to see the benefits. As Shahar points out, "you can practice [yoga] for five to ten minutes each day and see results."
How do I know if I can perform a yoga routine?
As with any new fitness routine, you'll need to consult your doctor before starting yoga. "Various postures may not be appropriate for individuals with eye complications secondary to diabetes," See advises. In addition, if you have any muscular or skeletal problems, be sure to discuss them with your doctor—or a clinical exercise physiologist and certified diabetes educator—and how they might affect your practice of yoga. Shahar also cautions those with diabetes complications such as retinopathy, neuropathy, foot problems (foot ulcer or charcot foot), or high blood pressure to avoid certain yoga postures. If you have any of these complications, your best bet is to ask your healthcare team what risks these compliations may pose.
"The good news is that yoga can be modified, and it will still provide as many benefits for people with diabetes as it does for those who do not have the condition," says Shahar. If you do have special concerns, you may want to try one-on-one yoga classes to start out with, and move onto group classes once you get comfortable with the experience.
What are some resources for people with diabetes who are interested in the practice of yoga?
Joslin's Why Wait? Program is a one-of-a-kind program that was created to address the unique weight-loss and weight-control needs of people with type 1 and 2 diabetes. The newest addition to the program is a gentle yoga practice that emphasizes the importance of the body-mind connection, and introduces participants to various forms of yoga.
For more information about the Why Wait? Program, please contact Joan Beaton, Coordinator of the DO IT and Why Wait? Programs at The Joslin Diabetes Center, at 617-309-2628, or via email: firstname.lastname@example.com.
Related Links
You may schedule an appointment with an exercise physiologist at the Joslin Diabetes Center for a one on one consultation at 617-732-2440.
This session is often covered by insurance under 'diabetes education'. Call your insurance provider for more information about coverage for this helpful and informative session.
Page last updated: September 18, 2019


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TomTom TomTom XL LIVE IQ Routes pinouts
The connector/pinout information may be applied to the vendor TomTom, model TomTom XL LIVE IQ Routes in category GPS Receivers
There is one pinout found for TomTom TomTom XL LIVE IQ Routes.The pinout (pin-out) is a cross-reference between the contacts (pins) of an electrical connector and their functions. The pin assignment diagram is listed below. Click for details
- GPS devices with standard mini-usb interface pinout any standard mini-USB cable should work with them


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Hey everyone. I got some time to do the latest update to the board software, but it meant that all the old modifications and styles wouldn't work anymore. So, here you have the newest iteration of LabourTalk. Please let me know by Private Message if you run into any issues with the new styling. Some new features on the board are:
We hope you like the changes!
- Latest HTML5 Responsive Styling - You can now see a new, more modern styling on the board. Along with this, you can resize the browser to see the board change with it. The board is now functional on all sizes of screens, including your cell phone, table and desktop/laptop.
- Post Sharing - Although you could previously, the new layout means the sharing icons are more visible on the lower right hand corner of each post. Click your favourite social media outlet to share the desired post with them.
- Multiple Themes - Previously there was only one theme in an attempt to lower the workload when modifications were put in place. Fortunately, the new modification system is much simpler to implement and we now have multiple colour options for you to enjoy. You can change these from your User Control Panel under the Board Settings heading.
- Announcements - Announcements can now be posted here (where you're seeing this one) and, in most cases, can be dismissed. To dismiss them, please click the "X" in the top right corner of this box.
- Collapsing Categories - Categories, such as News & Announcements or Welcome (below), can be collapsed to clear up some of the clutter. This state should be maintained as long as you're logged in.
We hope you like the changes!
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Trimble Inc.
935 Stewart Drive
Post Office Box 3642
Sunnyvale, CA 94085
1.408.481.8000 phone
1.408.481.7781 fax
John Deere and Trimble Loadrite Introduce Integration of
LOADRITE L2180 Scale with John Deere WorkSight
Wheel Loader Production Data Can Be Viewed Remotely in JDLink to Boost Loader Productivity
LAS VEGAS, March 4, 2014—Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) and Deere & Company's Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division today announced the integration of the LOADRITE® L2180 payload scale for John Deere four-wheel-drive loaders with the JDLink™ Ultimate telematics system - part of the John Deere WorkSight™ suite of business optimization solutions. Scale integration with JDLink gives quarry and aggregate operations instant access to production information in real time through their JDLink Ultimate online interface. JDLink Ultimate enables remote analysis of this production information to help increase loading efficiency and track material movement for improved profitability.
Integration with the JDLink Ultimate interface and the LOADRITE L2180 includes information such as total bucket loads, trucks loaded, and totals by material in addition to other JDLink data. The LOADRITE L2180 for John Deere system has a separate monitor in the cab and accommodates an optional printer for outputting load tickets or end-of-shift reports in the field.
"John Deere WorkSight turns data into solutions to optimize machines, uptime, and customers' jobsites," said Liz Quinn, product marketing manager, John Deere WorkSight. "Utilizing JDLink telematics, we're able to bring LOADRITE L2180 for John Deere payload reports straight to the quarry manager in the office, giving the customer more visibility to operations; which is incredibly valuable for making quick adjustments to cycle times or watching production trends over time."
"The collaboration between Trimble Loadrite and John Deere reinforces our commitment to serving machinery manufacturers and their customers with the tools to maximize loader utilization. This recognizes Loadrite as the market leading scale provider across a wide range of machine sizes, brands and uses in construction, mining or aggregate sectors," said Johan Smet, general manager of Trimble Loadrite.
With machine data from the four-wheel-drive loader and payload data from the LOADRITE L2180 scale now available in a single interface, managers can easily optimize loading performance.
The LOADRITE L2180 for John Deere scale is available now on all 444K-844K models. Additionally, all Z-Bar and High-Lift K-Series Loaders shipped by John Deere will be pre-wired for simple installation of the LOADRITE L2180 system.
About Deere & Company
Deere & Company (NYSE: DE) is a world leader in providing advanced products and services and is committed to the success of customers whose work is linked to the land - those who cultivate, harvest, transform, enrich and build upon the land to meet the world's dramatically increasing need for food, fuel, shelter and infrastructure. Since 1837, John Deere has delivered innovative products of superior quality built on a tradition of integrity. For more information, visit John Deere at www.JohnDeere.com.
About Trimble Loadrite
Since 1979, Loadrite, previously Actronic Technologies, has been designing, developing and manufacturing applied technology solutions to improve productivity in the aggregates, mining, waste management, forestry, and other industries. Loadrite is a leader in the field of measurement, and was acquired by Trimble in June 2013. Loadrite load weighing technology and payload information systems are installed on wheel loaders, excavators, garbage trucks and other heavy loading equipment to ensure optimal loads, and provide quality data for productivity analysis. For more information, visit Loadrite at: www.loadritescales.com.
About Trimble
Trimble applies technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on applications requiring position or location—including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies, such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solutions may include software content specific to the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user and to ensure a tight coupling of the field and the back office. Founded in 1978, Trimble is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.
Investor Relations Contact: Willa McManmon of Trimble: 408-481-7838
Media Contact: LeaAnn McNabb of Trimble: 408-481-7808


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He was paid $10, plus $2 expenses. by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. He was the 8th pick Authentic Mark Clayton Jersey 1985 draft by the Mavericks. He continued to collect his $80-per-year salary while serving four months a halfway house for income tax evasion. And I literally went home and said, 'Tell me again - what's Wi-Fi?' the tech folks have seen WiFi as the way to untether. Participants the drill felt that the Jeremy Lane Jersey and exercises given were useful to them, she said. Furthermore, Authentic Matthew Slater Jersey Guion is facing substantial drug charges, prosecutors could also seek criminal forfeiture of the cash -- a separate legal process which Authentic Chris Owings Jersey would be linked to the outcome of the criminal trial. Fabric: BODY: 91% NYLON David Andrews Jersey SPANDEX MESH: 88% NYLON 12% SPANDEX 11.
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Fur Trim is a Trap
Each year in Canada, over 3 million animals are killed for their fur. Some are trapped and killed in the wild, and others are raised in confinement in fur farms. Fur is not humane. Fur is not green or environmentally friendly. Fur is not necessary, even when exploring the Arctic. The use of fur is justified by a number of reasons, but it's a trap. Retailers are feeding us misinformation. Companies like Canada Goose have been chiefly responsible for the recent resurgence in fur trim.
In December 2012, we turned all of our shops in Eastern Canada - 25 shops in Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia, into campaign centers where employees, customers, and supporters came to sign postcards urging Dani Reiss, the CEO of Canada Goose to stop using fur trim on his products. We also transformed our Queen St location in Toronto into a live performance for 24 hours to share the brutal cruelty of the fur industry.
During the busy Christmas season, we managed to get over 3000 postcards signed and sent.
Our Partners
Once again we've proudly partnered with The Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals. Sales of Charity Pot support their efforts and awareness campaigns. Since 1944, The Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals (also known as Fur-Bearer Defenders), has been working to end the commercial fur trade by exposing trapping cruelty and through protecting fur-bearing animals in the wild of in confinement.
Please visit www.furtrimisatrap.com for more information and to get involved.


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I've been having an interesting exchange with a young fellow in England. His name is Dean and he's concerned about the way his dick looks. I share this with ya'll for several reasons. First, it's always good to have an opportunity to talk about the mysteries of the male member.
Second, it's SOOO refreshing to discuss a concern other than dick size. —Holy cow guys, give me a freakin' break with the "how do I make my cock bigger? questions. I've written and talked about this so much it's makin' me nutty. My definitive response to all such inquiries is here: Much Ado About Very Little!— Or you can search the categories on the left-hand side of this blog. Look for Big-dick Envy. If ever I change my mind about any of this, or discover a product, technique or device that really works, you'll be the first to know. I promise!
Third, there are a lot of men out there who sport a curiously shaped cock and I want to give them some time and attention. Our friend Dean, here, is one such fellow, but he is surely not alone. I try to get to the bottom of this with him, but I don't think I was overly successful. You be the judge.
— If there are other men in my audience who are similarly challenged, I'd love to hear from you. Maybe we could get a little discussion going. Write to me! —
Name: Dean
Gender: Male
Age: 18
Location: England
Hey! I am having difficulty with the appearance of my penis. When I watch porn, the guys on it have a different top part to mine. Mine's rounded, and does not have a 'slit' or extra skin. Its just like a bent oval, stuck on a rod. Why?
Hey Dean,
This might be hypospadias, but I can't be sure. If it is, it's not particularly uncommon. But I can't say for sure, because I can't see, or picture in my mind's eye, what you are describing. I don't suppose you have a photo of your dickhead that you could send me, do you? The only way I could say for sure is if I could see what you're describing for myself.
What I can tell you is this. Hypospadias is a condition where a guy's dick does not fully develop in the womb. As a result, the baby boy is born with a penis for sure, but the urethral opening is not at the tip of his dick. It is often on the underside of his dickhead or even somewhere on the bottom of the cock shaft. Sometimes other malformations are associated with hypospadias too, like a twisted shaft, a hooded foreskin, and/or an otherwise hooked appearance to the guy's unit.
This condition has levels of severity, from the hardly noticeable to very obvious. Some children are born intersexed, and have ambiguous genitalia, which requires sexual reassignment surgery. But I'll save that discussion for another time.
Some guys, particularly those with conspicuous hypospadias can develop a complex about their appearance. This in turn, impacts on their self-image and complicates their ability to form lasting sexual/partner/marriage relationships. Severe hypospadias can also interfere with procreation. Other men, perhaps those with less conspicuous or severe hypospadias show little to no concern for the appearance of their dick and live completely normal lives.
Some parents of children with mild hypospadias seek a surgical correction to the problem. I view this as a highly risky means to solve a less relatively innocuous cosmetic problem. There are men who were operated on as a child who now, as adults, resent the interference. Matters are often made worse rather than better. And of course, there's always the risk of complications, infections and the like. There are, however, more serious cases of hypospadias that demand reconstruction. But I don't think that's what's going on with you, Dean. If your dick issue is causing you anxiety or low self-esteem, help is available. Check out: The Hypospadias and Epispadias Association
Good luck
Unfortunately, I do not have a picture. However, description wise: It is about 5″ long. The rod part looks completely like other men, a tube with a thick 'vein' at the back. At the head, there is a bent oval shape slanted on the top of the rod shape. It only i on one side but covers both. it does not bend or anything, and does not have a slit in the middle like the diagrams on the URL's shown in your previous email.
This is covered in skin (obviously! lol). At the top there is a little circle uncovered in skin. It is from there I wee and release cum. do u think it can be very late puberty?
However, something inside my penis (on my right hand side) occasionally starts to hurt when I wee. If I drink a lot of water (or something with water) for around 2 days, it decreases and then goes within a week. It doesn't hurt otherwise. What's happening?
Anyway, if there's anything I can do please tell me! By the way, if I don't get the operation done, and I have the disease will anything happen?
Thanks a lot for your help!
Luv Dean
Well, Dean I still can't make heads or tails out of your written description. Any chance you could just cut to the chase and see a doctor about your concern. He'd be able to advise you much better than I, at this great distance.
I am concerned with your comment that your dick sometimes hurts when you pee. That oughtn't be happening. You'll definitely want to have a physician take a look on that account alone.
Finally, if your dick issue is truly hypospadias, it is not a disease. It's a condition. And like I suggested above, I do not recommend reconstructive surgery except in the most severe cases.
Good luck
Hey! I have found a picture on google. Take a look. Mine looks like the first one. However, if you push the skin upwards, it reveals something that looks like the second. However, mine doesn't like that. My skin covers my penis head, but there's a little hole 'cut out' of it; from which I piss and release cum. What's happening? — Dean
Once again, darlin', I simply can't say with any certainty what's happening with you. I appreciate you sending me this diagram, however. And I applaud you going the distance in searching the internet for something helpful.
Why not just take yourself to a doctor, or a free clinic, or even an STD/STI clinic and have someone tell you about your special dick. Once you get the 411 on this, get back to me ASAP. I'm dying to know what you discover.
That being said, I can tell you that if your cock looks like the first illustration, then it's safe to say that you're uncut. What you see when you retract your foreskin is still a mystery. Please, do us both a favor and have your johnson looked at by a professional. Once you have some clarity about what's goin' on with you, you'll be able to share it with me and I can share it with everyone else.
Good luck


text:
CFDA Number: 84.925
Program Type: Noncompetitive grants
Also Known As: Advanced Credentialing, formerly the Eisenhower Federal Program
This program supports activities to encourage and support teachers seeking advanced certification or advanced credentialing through high quality professional teacher enhancement programs designed to improve teaching and learning.
The program provides grants to develop teacher standards that include measures tied to increased student academic achievement and grants to promote outreach, teacher recruitment, and teacher subsidy or teacher support programs—related to teacher certification or credentialing such as the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), or other nationally recognized certification or credentialing organizations.
Additional Information
In FY 2010, Congress provided $10.6 million to the Advanced Certification or Advanced Credentialing program to provide funding to the NBPTS to encourage and support teachers seeking advanced certification or advanced credentialing. The goal of the NBPTS is to certify outstanding teachers who will improve student achievement in the nation's schools. More than 82,000 teachers have achieved national board certification since 1995, in all 50 states, and the District of Columbia. The Federal funding has provided resources for the research and development of the standards and assessments for 25 certificates in 16 content areas. The FY 2010 funding primarily will be used to expand beyond the NBPTS original goal to certify individual teachers to a whole school or whole district model specifically targeted to the highest need schools and districts. Primary uses of the new funding will be to: 1) provide resources and other supports to teachers in high-poverty/low-performing schools to assist them to become nationally board certified, 2) target outreach, recruitment and support programs for these teacher candidates; 3) update standards in the assessment process, and 4) conduct research on the NBPTS certification system.


text:
...yet another scam by environmentalists. Don Surber comments: "So we have an expert on birds guessing that white blobs on a photo are drowned polar bears. That's it. That's the science."
Yet from this "science," from one non-expert guessing what's in a photo, comes national policy decisions that are destined to cost billions upon billions of dollars and countless jobs.
Welcome to the Brave Green World.


text:
Since posting fotos of our souvenirs from El Salvador, some of you have been asking me for more – And so I went back into the closet, (you'll see why some of this stuff is in the closet and not on display), and I've returned with more of my in-laws generosity in souvenir form… Ándale…
Okay, this isn't officially a "souvenir", but some of my husband's old stuff just must be shared. These are some of his cassettes. The tape on the left is a mix of Guns 'n' Roses and Bon Jovi. The tape on the right is Milli Vanilli, and I can't even make fun of him because I loved Milli Vanilli. Now, the tape in the middle. {Ahem} That is Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby Got Back"… Now I know why he liked me.
Here are my husband's botitas from when he was just a cipote. (Cipote = Salvadoran slang for "kid".)
Okay, on to the real souvenirs… One of the Tías made this for me. It's woven out of some sort of straw-like material. I don't use it although I admire the craftsmanship. All the Tías and Suegra are very creative.
See? This is from another Tía. I'm not sure what this is. It's a thin lacy piece of fabric covered in embroidered fruit. Maybe it's a tablecloth.
They've sent me a lot of cloths like this. They aren't very absorbent so I'm at a loss as to what to do with them. I guess I could wrap tortillas in them. I keep one in the freezer for wrapping ice when the kids get hurt.
I wasn't joking when I said I have a box full of Last Supper wall hangings. I don't know why they like to keep sending these to me. This one also is not hung up because it's holographic. I don't know if you can tell in the photo, but it's quite shiny.
And this one looks like it belongs in a Red Lobster. What's up with the rope along the edges like it's a life preserver ring on a boat?
These are more capiruchos, (a type of toy.) Apparently there are even Capirucho competitions. (If you watch the video and you see a weird guy dressed in white with a big sombrero talking in a high-pitched voice, I'm pretty sure that's supposed to be Cipitio. Pay no mind…that um, has nothing to do with anything.)
This is a mini T-shirt which is supposed to hang in the window of a car. It's the jersey of the main fútbol team of Chalatenango.
This little desk calendar is one of my favorites – It's been useful in teaching the kids the months in Spanish.
It has my name inscribed on it, and they even spelled it right on this one. (For some reason my in-laws like to write my name as "Traisy", which I guess is exactly how they say it.)
And luckily they got my name right on this one, too – because I really like this thing… (Everyone in the family has one.)
Cute earrings a Tío sent me. I don't wear them though because I look like a gringa fresh from the tourist shop when I do. All I need is a sunburn and a pancho to complete the look.
Unfortunately, I don't own a pancho, but I do have this shirt. Again, this is one of those things I admire but can't imagine wearing myself.
Speaking of shirts – here is one of my husband's. That's Mauricio Funes, the President. His election was a big deal last year. From Wikipedia: "Funes won the 2009 presidential election, achieving an absolute majority with 51.32% of the popular vote. He is the first FMLN party leader not to have fought in the civil war. His presidential campaign was highlighted by statements endorsing moderate political policies." On the flip side, (also from Wikipedia): "Mr. Funes has been heavily criticized for lack of a plan to fight El Salvador's rapidly increasing criminal activity. Since taking office in June 2009, criminal statistics on homicides, robbery and extortion have increased considerably."
Enough politics. Maybe it would be better to discuss this luggage tag?
I like this necklace pendent. It's hand-painted and made from natural materials.
A little folding chair which the boys are much too big for now.
This is a rock. You may think this is the worst souvenir ever, but I actually brought it back myself. I picked it up on a beach in La Libertad. I love my rock.
Well, I think that's it for souvenirs. Suegra goes back to El Salvador in October and returns in February of next year. We'll have to wait and see what she brings me, (porque bien sabes, she is definitely coming back.)


text:
McCain and Clinton's bipartisan bond
Sen. John McCain renewed his attacks on U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice on Tuesday, but he's gone soft on Hillary.
As she wraps up her tenure at Foggy Bottom and mulls over a possible 2016 White House bid, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's decade-old bipartisan friendship with McCain appears to have helped shield her from GOP fire — even as her agency finds itself in the thick of a partisan battle over Benghazi.
Story Continued Below
( Also on POLITICO: Rice vs. GOP as Benghazi fight escalates)
Their deep bond and mutual respect was born out of eight years serving in the Senate together, their shared admiration for the military, numerous trips around the world to war zones, security conferences in Germany — they once even took in a sunset in the Arctic Circle.
But McCain and Clinton also are battle-tested veterans of Washington who have seen their families become targets of nasty political attacks — and who have often turned to laughter to get through it all. For Clinton, it was Monica Lewinsky; for McCain it was the smear campaign during the 2000 GOP primary aimed at his Bangladesh-born adopted daughter.
"I think it was the best version of strange bedfellows and at the same time a perfect match," Tamera Luzzatto, Clinton's Senate chief of staff from 2001 to 2009, said of her former boss's relationship with McCain. "They share a sense of public service but also a sense of humor."
( PHOTOS: Who's talking about Hillary, 2016?)
McCain, a leading voice on defense and foreign policy matters, has spent weeks belittling Rice as "not very bright," incompetent and "not qualified" to succeed Clinton as secretary of state. Rice's offense: incorrectly characterizing the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya as sparked by spontaneous protests rather than as a deliberate act of terrorism — a lapse she has blamed on administration talking points that were approved by intelligence officials.
But the Arizona Republican has largely spared Clinton from any criticism over the Sept. 11 Benghazi assault that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. When Clinton tried to fall on her sword, saying she alone was responsible for diplomatic security, McCain wouldn't have it. He called Clinton's act "laudable" but was adamant that the buck stops with President Barack Obama and that he would try to block Rice's possible nomination as the nation's top diplomat.
( PHOTOS: Hillary Clinton's life and career)
While McCain seemed to dial back his attacks on Rice over the weekend, the senator was at it again Tuesday after he and fellow GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire sat down with Rice at the Capitol to quiz her about why the Obama administration mischaracterized the attack as other than terrorism.
"We are significantly troubled by many of the answers that we got and some that we didn't get," McCain told reporters after the meeting. "It is clear the information that she gave the American people was incorrect."
( PHOTOS: Susan Rice's life and career)
Asked pointedly why he hasn't been as critical of Clinton, McCain did not directly mention the secretary, who has decided against staying on for a second term.
"I've said it continuously that the State Department has responsibility," McCain told POLITICO. "I have been very critical of the State Department and their actions. I've been critical of everybody's actions."
It wasn't the first time this year that McCain came to the former New York senator's defense. In July, McCain took to the Senate floor and denounced Rep. Michele Bachmann and four other House Republicans for alleging that longtime Clinton aide Huma Abedin was working with the Muslim Brotherhood to infiltrate the top rungs of the U.S. government.
The allegations, McCain said in his speech, amount to an "unwarranted and unfounded attack on an honorable woman, a dedicated American and a loyal public servant."
The gratitude from the Clinton camp that day was palpable.


text:
A week or so ago we headed out to pick up a Christmas tree. We almost didn't buy one at all because Ollie is still at the age where Christmas trees pose a danger, and I drew a giant tree on a canvas in our living room so it feels festive enough, but it just didn't feel like Christmas without a real tree so we ventured out to find one.
Friends recommended Baum's Christmas Trees (1650 N. 1250 W.), a family owned business located right in their yard, and the trees were so fresh and cheap! (And I didn't know they still sold flocked trees like that. I haven't seen one in ages)
It was so fun walking around and we will absolutely buy our tree there next year.
This year, however, we headed to a different lot because Creed spotted some tiny trees on an earlier drive by and fell in love, and a tiny tree seemed like a good idea to us when keeping Ollie in mind so everyone was happy (the tiny tree actually cost about as much as a 6 ft tree at Baum's, which made me laugh, but they didn't have any that small at Baum's)


text:
Wis. DNR plans meetings on deer recommendations
The Associated Press
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — State wildlife officials are planning a series of public meetings on how to best implement a Texas researcher's recommendations for improving Wisconsin deer hunting.
The first one is set for March 9 at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
The Department of Natural Resources is planning to hold a half-dozen more at the university through July.
Attendees will be allowed to join action teams and offer input on which recommendations to implement and how to do it.
Gov. Scott Walker's administration hired James Kroll last year to study deer hunting and how the DNR can improve its relationship with hunters.
Kroll came up with 62 recommendations, including holding mini-hunts on private land, setting more localized deer population goals and a more passive approach to handling chronic wasting disease.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.


text:
The PC's enter a town amid a giant celebration, the Spring Wedding Festival. Unmarried men and women from all over the provinces gather her every spring to be matched by the most sacred matchmaker ever to live, Holly Lovard. Holly is now ancient and must be carried everywhere she visits and rumors are that this will be her last visit to the Wedding Festival so any matches made this spring will be doubley blessed.
Enter PC's, wrong place at the wrong time. Molly sees one of them, calls him/her out of the crowd and that are unable to resist the push and pull of the mob. Brought in front of Molly Lovard, the PC is declared the lifemate of
Could be the king's daughter, a peasant, member of the thieves guild. Could be anything to add a twist to an already building plot, or just throw the characters into an awkward situation.


text:
Translation of the Georg Schlager Passport
Translated from Russian to English by Donald Koenig, Glen Burnie, Maryland
Original passport for scanning provided by Julie Blume, Kathryn, North Dakota.
Page 1
24 pages (Double-headed Eagle Emblem of the Russian Empire) No. 1058
Signature of the Bearer (This in Russian, German and French): _______________
Pages 2, 3
The bearer of this passport, the colonist from the colony of Kanowo, Mozdok Area (Otdel), Tersk Region (Oblast), Georg (son of) Peter Schlager, age 21, along with his wife Louisa, age 19, and children: Olga, age 2, and Johannes, age 2 months, is going abroad.
In witness of this and for unrestricted passage he is given this passport with official stamps affixed. In the city of Vladikavkaz on March 18, 1913.
For the Chief of the Tersk Region
(Stamp of the Tersk Region Chief)
For the Office Chief Adamov? (signature)
(Kanowo – 4401N 4420E; Mozdok – 4345N 4439E; Terskaya – 4343N 4443E; Vladikavkaz – 4302N 4440E. All geographic coordinates from the website: http://www.Jewishgen.org/Communities/LocTown.asp )
Pages 4, 5
(Preprinted information in German and French and appears to be the same as the preprinted information in Russian on pages 2 and 3. Added information in German is probably not germane to the original document, but is as follows):
Page 5: George Schlager, born in the year 1892. Louisa, born on 28 July, 1892.
Pages 6,7
(Information on these pages is a listing of Georg and Louisa Schlager's children and birthdates and is in German.)
Olga, born 21 June 1911
Page 10, 15
Page 10
(This page seems to be written down after the fact as remembered. Most of this data is repeated in the same handwriting on the inside of the back cover of the passport.)
Tersk Region (village of Terskaya, 4343N 4443E, located on the River Terek in the North Caucasus)
(All the above communities are located in the North Caucasus area, in or near present-day North Ossetia. All given geographic coordinates are found on the website
Rubber Stamp Notes
For Departure Abroad
(Information printed by a rubber stamp):
During departure was presented at Verzhbolovo (5438N 2249E) 9 Apr 1913
For return from abroad
(Verzhbolovo, also carried as Wierzbowo, Wirballen, Wierzbolowo and Virbalis, is in present-day Lithuania next to the border with Kaliningrad Region (Oblast) but in 1913 was probably a border control point into East Prussia from the Russian Empire. Source for spellings: http://www.Jewishgen.org/Communities/LocTown.asp)
Page 18, 19
Written on the side vertical to the remainder of the page:
This form is to be completed by the issuers of the passport.
Issued by the Chief of the Tersk Region
March 18September 1, 1889 under No. 1058 to colonist Georg Schlager along with family from the colony of Kanowo, Mozdok Area.
Page 20, 21
Pages 22-24
Extractions from Regulations
Concerning Passengers' Belongings
Page 24 and Back Cover
Inside back cover. This page is in the same handwriting and contains much the same information as page 10.
George Schlager, Robinson N.D.


text:
Another long-running patent case may be drawing to a close. Earlier this week, a retrial of the patent infringement lawsuit filed by Eolas Technologies against Microsoft was supposed to begin in a Chicago courtroom. Citing active settlement discussions, Microsoft asked the judge for a 30-day postponement, to which Eolas agreed.
"We are in active discussions with Eolas Technologies regarding a possible settlement," a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed to Ars Technica in an e-mail. "We are hopeful that we can resolve our dispute amicably."
The legal battle dates to 1999, when Eolas Technologies sued Microsoft for infringing on a patent for browser plug-ins. The technology itself was demonstrated as far back as 1993 by its inventors, and the patent was granted in 1998, four years after it was filed. Eolas claimed that Microsoft's ActiveX implementation infringed on its patents.
In August 2003, a jury found Microsoft guilty of infringement and awarded Eolas over $520 million in damages. Web luminaries such as Tim Berners-Lee weighed in against the Eolas patent, and in November of that year, the W3C also made its case to the US Department of Commerce that the patent should be overturned due to prior art.
Soon thereafter, the US Patent and Trademark Office began a review of the patent, and provisional rulings in March and August of 2004 invalidated the patent. In March 2005, an appeals court sent the case back to a lower court for retrial, ruling that the jury ignored some of Microsoft's key arguments.
Things were looking brighter for Microsoft, but that changed later in 2005. In September, the USPTO decided to uphold the patent after all. Oddly enough, the USPTO gave Microsoft another chance to get the patent invalidated last spring. The decision came after the USPTO issued Microsoft a patent for the same technology, using the same wording as the Eolas patent.
Microsoft eventually appealed the case to the Supreme Court, which declined to take the case, setting the stage for the retrial that was supposed to begin this week.
A settlement would put the whole matter in Microsoft's rear-view mirror once and for all. It is possible that the USPTO could ultimately rule in Microsoft's favor sometime in the next year and that a jury could find in its favor. Conversely, it's also quite possible that six months and another trial later, Microsoft could still find itself on the hook for a nine-digit judgment.


text:
|2012-12-10, 21:48
|Link #21
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Age: 33
I haven't seen anything to indicate Haru's punches and kicks are anything more than mere punches and kicks. The same kind you can simulate from watching a movie, fighting game, or anime.
Taku's fight against Noumi definitely showed the difference that true skill makes. Remember, Kuroyukihime even mentioned that physical fitness in the real world makes you stronger and faster in the Accelerated world. It only stands to reason that skill and muscle memory would further that.
|2012-12-10, 23:11
|Link #22
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Further, there's no way that Haru could execute a jumping heel-kick, or a spinning roundhouse. Again, it would take more leg-strength and flexibility than he possesses in real life, let alone skill.
The game is obviously making up for his deficiencies in unarmed combat by allowing him to execute various punches and kicks even when he doesn't understand -- on a muscle-memory level -- HOW to do them.
Cyan Pile doesn't have a sword either; his Cyan Blade is also produced by cheating the system. However, his avatar was MEANT to use a close-combat weapon, AND he already had kendo skills before becoming a Burst Linker.
So, Dusk Taker would not have had the training wheels, and Cyan Pile didn't need to have them.
But I agree with the rest.
|2012-12-10, 23:57
|Link #23
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Cainta, Rizal, Philippines
Since time in Accel World runs 1000x faster than in real life, so that 1 second IRL = 16m 40s in AW, one can simply enter the UNF at a high enough level and then train himself in physical combat there, for as long as he wants to.
That said, this feature can become very useful for Haru to train physically (so that when he comes back in Real Life, he's now a fat guy endowed with the reflexes of a karate master) or for Taku to become a weapons master (spear and sword) in Real Life (given that he doesn't use BB to cheat in Kendo tournaments anymore).
We should really take this discussion further in something like a "Duel Avatar Abilities and Techniques thread".
Last edited by judasmartel; 2016-07-21 at 07:22.
|2012-12-11, 07:40
|Link #24
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
A master is someone who has either scientifically studied how to turn a form of combat into an efficient art, or someone who has studied the teachings of such a master. It's easier to stand on the shoulders of giants.
There's also the problem that, even if one can create new muscle-memories in the Accelerated World, those memories might have been created for a completely different body-type (as with Silver Crow and Haruyuki), and the physical body hasn't become any more fit or flexible than it was before.
After 10 virtual years of Brain Bursting, Haru might become a little more likely to pull of a spinning roundhouse kick in real life, but he's still liable to pull up short on overtight tendons, misjudge the height and angle of his kick, and fall on his butt because of a radically different center of gravity.
Or which abilities ought to spend SP without actually being Special Moves, like Silver Crow's wings and Ash Roller's Wall Ride.
|2012-12-11, 20:23
|Link #25
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Getting back to Taku, I really don't understand why he was on the outs with the Blue Legion, even before they discovered he was using an illegal cheating program.
For the most part, the characters make it sound like he was exiled because he was low on points, but that makes no sense. It's like ostracizing someone when they're weak or injured, or out of money.
They COULD have been disgusted that he was using Acceleration to cheat at kendo; perhaps the Leonids abhor such a thing. However, they could only know Taku was doing that if they knew Taku was Cyan Pile, and Taku never mentions any idea that lots of powerful enemies know his real identity -- which would be a dangerous liability when he transfered to Haru's school and started hanging out IRL with the Black Legion.
Maybe instead all that they knew was that Cyan Pile was getting greedy for Burst Points. The public status information (or at least the status available during one of your matches) tells people EXACTLY how many BP you have left, so his legion could quickly figure out that he was always running low on points, and therefore spending a lot of them.
Maybe he was bullying weaker players, or begging for thrown fights, or begging for others to help him hunt Enemies for points?
Or maybe someone confronted him about his excessive spending and he blurted out the truth regarding his kendo cheating?
|2012-12-12, 03:19
|Link #26
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Cainta, Rizal, Philippines
If the Blue Knight knew all about Pile's activities, I'm not really sure why he spared him for defecting to NN, despite being perfectly capable of doing so (via Judgment Blow).
Maybe Knight just wants to know how Pile can play the game more or less honestly?
|2012-12-12, 03:31
|Link #27
Diamond is Unbreakable
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: The Middle Way
They absolutely did it because he was low on points.
He was initially thought to be a promising Duel Avatar, and yet at the time he was experiencing a shortage of points.
They weren't planning to use Judgement Blow on him for being low on points, but it lowered their image of him.
|2012-12-12, 23:08
|Link #29
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Shelving Blue Knight's reasons for sparing Cyan Pile's virtual life, what about the reasons why Cyan Pile was considered "promising"?
I get this sense that most of the Blue Legion actually have Blue avatars and are kendoka in real life. Since kendoka would tend to produce Blue avatars, and since they would also tend to recruit other kendoka in their Legion's area. Taku's own "parent" was his kendo captain, likely at a school in Leonid territory.
Cobalt Blade and Manganese Blade, the twin sisters who serve Blue Knight, are actually Metal colors. They just happen to be bluish metals, just as copper is reddish and gold is yellowish. But they're avatars also wield swords and bear samurai-esque armor, which hints at practicing kendo.
No doubt, Burst Linkers of other colors could exist in Leonid territory, and might even be part of the Legion. But Blue colors would be more respected, and invited to serve as Vanquish's honorguard.
Even if we think that he should have been a bit on the purplish side, Cyan Pile is a color very near to pure Blue, which automatically gets the Legion's attention.
The other side of "promising" would be having talent. The Accelerated World does a lot to equalize players by eliminating many physical advantages, but most mental advantages still remain.
Actual skill with kendo, tactical and strategic intelligence, a competitive edge and ambition, an agreeable and reasonably obedient attitude...
But for some reason, Takumu was either burning through Burst Points faster than other Blue Legionaires, or wasn't able to acquire points fast enough to offset the expenses. That is to say, either Takumu was using Acceleration more than his compatriots, or he was less successful at winning fights and group-hunting Enemies.
Being low on BP because of a really bad losing streak would make sense as a reason why he lost the respect of the Blue Legion. He can't be a very good honorguard if he's a poor fighter who can't seem to make up for his shortcomings.
But Taku doesn't imply anything like that happened, and aside from one fight where he was psychologically at his worst (against Haruyuki), he's fought well and smart, giving as good or better than he gets. I also think he phrases the problem as "spending a few too many points".
So it goes right back to this idea that no one else in the highest ranks of the Leonids were burning through points as fast. Maybe they generally, as a group, don't rely on Acceleration for sports and tests?
Except the highest ranking avatars are probably Level 6 or so, and the stronger one becomes, the easier it becomes to farm enemies for BP. Even if you can't do it alone, other players are probably more eager to accept a higher level player's invitation to go hunting. So maybe Taku's superiors were being biased?
|2012-12-13, 10:17
|Link #30
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Age: 33
I have a feeling that other legionnaires didn't abuse physical burst like he did.
|2012-12-14, 12:35
|Link #31
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
I agree with the majority of your point, but I doubt he would bother to use Physical Burst during daily practice. Maybe a couple of times, to get used to the opportunites afforded by Physical Burst, but not daily.
If Taku was truly addicted to Brain Burst's power that he was using it just to show off, like Noumi did, then he couldn't simply stop doing that after starting over again with Haruyuki. The problem would run too deep.
Chiyuri provided the answer when she pointed out that Taku's reasons for using Acceleration were different from Noumi's. Noumi did it to feel superior to everyone around him, but Taku used it because his victories made Chiyuri happy.
This helped justify, at least in Taku's mind, why he put the backdoor program in Chiyu's linker. Since he was using Brain Burst so much for her sake, and it was putting him in a desperate situation, it was only fair that she help him out, even unwittingly.
It also explains why Taku could so easily stop abusing Brain Burst. Once Chiyu knew about it, she wouldn't be happy anymore if he kept using it to cheat. She would instead be happier to know that he was giving his best while playing fair.
Takumu didn't need Brain Burst to feel better about himself anymore, since he had finally mended his relationships with his best friends.
|2012-12-14, 12:45
|Link #32
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Age: 33
I think he'd have to use it daily if he wanted to truly have people believe he was the best. Be quite odd to be just good enough to get into the tournaments, and then completely obliterate everyone.
His reasons may have been different than Noumi's, but it doesn't mean he was abusing it any less.
|2012-12-14, 13:34
|Link #33
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Noumi wanted to make everyone around him feel inferior to him. Takumu was not so bad.
Even when Taku was haboring a grudge against Haru, Taku never bullied him for it, in word or deed. Rather than try to make Haru feel inferior, Takumu just tried to make himself look superior.
|2012-12-14, 23:14
|Link #34
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
In episode 7, Black Lotus says that she asked an envoy of the Blue Legion (Leonids) about Cyan Pile, and they were able to tell her that Takumu dropped out of a kendo tournament.
Unless there's some mistranslation or misunderstanding here, that would mean the Blue Legion, or at least its leaders, know exactly who he is.
Why the hell would Black Lotus continue associating with him, when hanging out with her could give away her real identity? And Haru's.
|2013-01-14, 08:57
|Link #35
Anomaly / 矛盾存在
Join Date: Jan 2013
Age: 25
I can only guess KYH decided to forgive him. Remember they duelled while KYH was still in hospital? KYH got him to refocus his energy into something more productive than gicing up on himself, and earned his respect for her too. Taku wouldn't betray KYH afetr that...I believe
|2013-01-14, 09:46
|Link #36
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
If the Leonids KNOW who Takumu is, they only need to watch who he hangs out with.
KYH wasn't very discrete with her Swallowtail Butterfly dummy avatar when she made her return appearance. None of the observing Burst Linkers went to their school, so none would have seen the avatar in her school's network, but anyone who investigates their school and asks questions about the peopel Takumu hangs out with will eventually learn of the Swallowtail Butterfly.
There's also the fact that she looks black and everyone calls her Black. Poor evidence, yes, but hasty decisions have been made on such, and in this case it's true.
Oh, and she started dating this short, fat, unpopular, younger guy on the very same day that Silver Crow made his first appearance.
|2013-01-28, 21:56
|Link #37
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Supposing there was a method by which a Burst Linker could pay Burst Points to re-spec their avatar... that is, void out all the choices they made for their level up bonuses and pick new ones...
What do you think Taku ought to do with Cyan Pile?
Given that Cyan Pile is level 5, Taku has chosen four bonuses. The obvious ones are the Splash Stinger normal move and the Spiral Gravity Driver special move. He might have put other bonuses into upgrading Cyan Lightning Spike or his basic extending jab attack, or perhaps his armor.
The extending jab and the Splash Stinger are both solid, dependable, useful moves. While slightly redundant in that both are (somewhat) long-range attacks, they are otherwise different enough to have specialized uses.
What Cyan Pile could use is some method of fighting an opponent who gets inside his range; lacking that ability is rather sad for a Blue avatar.
Cyan Lightning Spike is underwhelming. (Which makes perfect sense for a ranged attack coming from a Blue avatar). It's over-extending and over-penetrating. Since it's likely his starting Special Attack, he can't get rid of it, so he needs to invest some bonuses into making it suck less. Perhaps include barbs or anchors that grab an opponent and carry them along with the spike rather than just leaving them in place when it pierces through them. Speeding up the recovery time would also help, since he's vulnerable while the spike is extended so far out.
The Spiral Gravity Driver is useless. There's really no reason why it ought to be weaker (or at least no stronger) than his basic extending attack. Takumu should get rid of it and use the bonus to buy himself a sword.
Not only will this let him better fight at close-range, it also allows him to more easily employ his Incarnate Skills. By applying Cyan Blade to the sword, he doesn't lose access to the Pile Driver's extending jab or Cyan Lightning Spike attacks.
|2013-01-29, 10:34
|Link #38
Anomaly / 矛盾存在
Join Date: Jan 2013
Age: 25
Typically, you don't expect a pile driver, of all things, to be a long-range weapon. Heck, when I first saw LCS my jaw hit the floor with dat range.
The pile driver itself does seem to be a close-range to ranged weapon, he's not shown to have used LCS in the territorial battle at all, IIRC.
However, imagine Scarlet Rain just summoned her fortress. From a hundred miles away, Taku can just aim, drop anchors, and let flyyy~
It would be the last thing an opponent who has never seen Cyan Pile before expects.
Spiral Gravity Driver is just less useful, IMO. Unless it's because SC was a level one when he got hit, SGD put him down to 5% HP in a single hit. But it's ridiculous aiming lasers and crest casting, it's basically begging for an interruption. I'll concede that.
I'll just leave Splash Stinger alone, I like it and it's useful when Pile is pinned.
So overall, if Taku had the second chance, I say he pour his upgrades into increasing the range of the normal move Cyan Spike and the range of LCS. It's a risk, but over-penetration at long-range is less of an issue. Unless you're like Nickel Doll, just grab that spike and start conducting, I'm leaning towards the 'more range for spikes' side.
|2013-01-29, 20:11
|Link #39
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Tus, have you read my posts on the first page of this thread, in which I talk about the weaknesses of Cyan Pile's two special attacks?
I mean, I could state my points again, but why? I already made them in posts #7 and #8.
No one expected Silver Crow to fly, but pretty soon people were coming up with counters to his aviation ability and his winning streak was over.
Besides, I've already talked about how the range on the Cyan Lightning Spike is not enough on its own to make the attack worthwhile, and how that actually makes its extreme range a dangerous risk.
Further, Takumu's aim can't be all that great at his maximum range, which imposes a maximum effective range -- the reach at which he can reliably HIT a target.
In the first Amber Penguin -- a long-ranged avatar! -- charges at Pile with his bare hands. This is absurd.
Equally absurd is that Cyan Pile doesn't skewer him with his Pile Driver, but instead lets him get close enough to strike and dodges. Hell, even without using the Driver's range, Taku could have punched or clubbed with the weapon.
In the territorial battle, Pile is locked in a grapple with Powder Bear, despite the fact that both of them are built with extending strike weapons (Bear has piston-fists) and that Cyan Pile has a chest-mounted weapon for when his arms are occupied like that.
Also considering that Taku needs at least 40% Special Meter to use CLS, whereas Niko doesn't need any.
The Immobile Fortress can also fire more than one weapon, at longer range. And since they are projectiles, they're fire-and-forget. The CLS, on the other hand, leaves Cyan Pile anchored to the ground and defenseless until his spike retracts.
He also can't fire off another shot until it returns, whereas Rain can just spam volley after volley.
(Granted, maybe the CLS already includes a conveniently-instant retraction feature. It already ignores physics, given the length of the pile is longer than the driver could contain.)
All together, SGD has so many demands that it ought to be an Instant Death attack. But it inflicts LESS damage than the basic attack which costs no Special Meter at all, so it's useless.
Seriously, if Taku had just used the regular pile driver, he could have stabbed Crow to death right there with a shot to the head or heart. Even two or three stabs would have been faster and more painful than SGD.
I mean, if the pile took off so much health from a glancing blow on a mobile target at range (and despite Silver's resistance to piercing), a few point-blank shots to the vitals would have instantly won the fight.
After the tip penetrates, the attack can't really do anymore damage, no matter how much farther the spike reaches past them.
(Unless someone else happens to be standing behind them -- and lining up a shot like that is really difficult at long range if you can't cover a LOT of ground to circle around distant targets.)
To make the most of the CLS's reach, the length of the pole should be bladed. Thus, the more length that penetrates someone, the more it rips them up internally.
Of course, that would also steal the momentum in a hurry, so it becomes an alternative mode: If there's just one target, bladed pole. If there's another target directly behind them but too far out, standard smooth pole.
With a full Special Meter, Cyan Pile could potentially use Cyan Lightning Strike three times. The reward for inflicting damage with the first two shots could give him enough energy for a third.
While one CLS is unimpressive as a special attack, I would consider a TRIPLE Cyan Lightning Spike assault to be pants-wettingly terrifying.
Of course, IF the CLS already has impressive retraction speed, then it may already be capable of such a triplicate assault.
|Thread Tools


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Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber are back together, but with one very big condition governing the reunion.
Gomez has taken the bad boy back as long as he amends his behavior and changes his ways. While The Biebs seemed headed for a meltdown that no one could curtail – not his mother Pattie, his father Jeremy or his manager Scooter — Gomez might be the guiding force and positive influence necessary to set him on the straight and narrow.
It's not lost on us that The Biebs began to lash out and behave like a jerk once he and Gomez split. He was on a downward spiral when she bounced. Perhaps her influence will help him rehab his image, which has taken quite the beating since 2013 kicked off.
Sources say that Sel had been hesitant about taking back her wayward ex. The pot smoking, the repeat car mishaps, the general brattiness is so not her scene. The Biebs allegedly used his many charms to win her over and promised on July 4 to change his ways and clean up his increasingly messy act.
That was all Sel needed to welcome him back into her open arms… as long as he means what he said. Toe that line, Biebs, or risk losing Selena Gomez FOREVER.
Maybe Selena, who is still squeaky clean, only acting like a bad girl in films like 'Spring Breakers,' can exert some of her goodness over The Biebs. At this point, SOMEONE has to.


text:
Food For Thought
Aki Kamozawa and H. Alexander Talbot are the chefs and owners of Ideas in Food. Their company, based out of the central hub of New York City, strives to provide creative cooking and presentation techniques for home and professional kitchens. The basics? Sustainable, organic, and artisanal food products, and the idea that dining shouldn't be an obligation, but an experience. They combine basic flavors with creative and original presentation and extensive knowledge of service to create unforgettable, unique meals, time and time again.


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This is not an offer for credit and should be used for estimation purposes only based on the information you provided. You should not base your decision on this estimate alone. Title, registration, tax and other fees, and personal circumstances such as employment status and personal credit history, were not considered in the calculations.
The Renegade X mr 1000R is the most powerful mud ready ATV on the market.
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Front - Double A-arm
Rear - Torsional Trailing arm Independent (TTI)
Factory - 6-months limited warranty
Extended - Up to 36 months B.E.S.T. coverage


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We specialise in movement of personal effects/household goods and commercial cargo. We mainly deal with 40ft Containers, 40ft High Cube Containers 45ft Containers but can provide quotes for other types including reefer, pallet wide, flat pack. Our full container service is suitable for shipping of bulk commercial cargo, personal effects/household goods, multiple cars and even full relocation container shipping services to Georgia, exporting cargo, personal goods and removals purposes to Georgia from UK
We ship Containers, Cars, 4X4s, Vans, Minibuses, Trucks, Tractors, Coaches and Buses from the UK to destinations in Africa, America, Asia, Australia and Europeusing both Container & RORO Methods. Most Vessels depart on a weekly basis and takes between 14 – 28 days to reach their respective destinations. The RORO Vehicle Shipping Service is a useful money saving way of shipping vehicles as the cost is purely based on the amount of space the vehicle takes on the Vessel. The RORO method is usually cheaper compared to the Container method, However the Container method is more secure and the shipper can also load personal goods in the container. Please contact a member of our team by phone or email for Car Shipping Rates
FCL /LCL Container shipping to all the Major Ports Worldwide
Freight Forwardings Ltd provide container shipping services for export cargo, personal goods and removals purposes to all the major destinations worldwide, we will deliver the container to the client's address for loading, once loading is complete we will transport the container to the port for export to your destination. We also offer Container loading service for clients who may wish to use this service at our Warehouse located at Tilbury Port, Most of our container vessels depart from Tilbury port, and all other major UK ports are also supported. We arrange the shipping of various sized freight containers including 20ft containers, 40ft containers and 40ft high cube containers.
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We can deliver the container to your warehouse, home address, and office or storage unit anywhere within the UK. Tilt tray truck will slide the container off the rear of the truck into place at your premises for 3 hours to allow you to load your goods. Once loaded, our driver will deliver the container back to our warehouse ready to be shipped. Please note that there is a £50 charge per hour extra if you do happen to go above the 3 hours allocated loading time. We can also palletize, crate your full container load cargo or block and brace cars at extra cost however you may load and secure your personal goods in a container yourself. When you are finished loading and securing your cargo, the truck driver will seal, side lift the container on to the truck and return the full container load to start its international Journey. Please contact us for a competitive FCL/LCL rate, or use our online instant calculator.
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Thomas J. McGovern, 80, of East Stroudsburg, died Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, at home.
Born on Nov. 8, 1932, in Jersey City, N.J., he was the son of late Peter and Bertha (Schuettich) McGovern.
Thomas is a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the Army. He was decorated with the National Defense Service Medal.
Thomas was a member of the American Legion Post 922 in Cresco and a member of St. Matthew's Catholic Church in East Stroudsburg.
He enjoyed reading, taking long walks and spending time with his great niece and nephew, Danielle and Matthew Catrillo.
He is survived by his sister, Agnes Spanarkel of Ocean, N.J., and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Peter and John McGovern, and two sisters, Emma Coote and Margaret Karst.
There will be a visitation from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 25, at St. Matthew's Catholic Church, 200 Brodhead Ave., East Stroudsburg. The Rev. Msgr. John A. Bergamo will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at the church.
Cremation service was entrusted at Bolock Funeral Home Crematory.
Bolock Funeral Home & Crematory
6148 Paradise Valley Road, Cresco
Thomas J. McGovern
Thomas J. McGovern, 80, of East Stroudsburg, died Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, at home.


text:
Relief on China Growth Comes With Caveats
Crash-Landing Fears Subside After Late-Year Rebound, but Concern Over Income Inequality, Labor Supply Clouds View
BEIJING—China's year-end economic rebound puts to rest for now concerns that the world's No. 2 economy will crash-land.
But a rare official statement on the wide gap between China's haves and have-nots and the first signs of a shrinking labor force underscore the major obstacles the nation's new leaders face in sustaining strong growth.


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Manual sex feels fine, so why does intercourse hurt so much?
Heather Corinna replies:I am a virgin, but my boyfriend has had sex before. I am positive that I am ready to have sex with him and we have attempted to do so three times already. The problem is that is causes me excruciating pain. I understand for most girls it causes some pain, but this pain is unbearable and I haven't been able to go through with it. When he fingers me he can fit 3 fingers in so I don't see what the problem is. We take our time and don't just skip right to sex. What should I do?
Sometimes, when we perceive pain before it happens, we feel pain because (primarily) of that perception. It's called a perceived pain event when that happens.
Suffice it to say, that happens a LOT to a lot of women with first intercourse because of all the stories we hear about how terribly painful it can be or is going to be. When we anticipate genital pain, too, the vagina tends to clamp itself shut, so trying to force anything inside at those times is going to hurt. And when it IS painful, we tend to -- logically -- expect it to be painful again and again.
But more times than not, when there is not a hymen issue (which doesn't sound to be the case with you, since manual insertion is no problem) or an infection, and everything else is in place, even with first timers, it really shouldn't be painful. And for those who don't expect it to be, it's less likely to be.
So, let's check the basics first.
Are you:
• Using PLENTY of latex-safe lubricant? Even if you're not using condoms, that's important, especially for women on hormonal methods of birth control, as they can make natural lubrication more scanty. Plus, lube always makes even already-great sex feel better. Really.
• With a partner who is VERY gradual in his entry? In other words, who is going very slowly, as it feels good to you, and only going as deep as feels good to you? Are you communicating well throughout?
• REALLY taking your time with other activities beforehand, even to the point of reaching orgasm BEFORE attempting intercourse?
• ONLY having intercourse when that's something you really want to do? For instance, if for the time being, all this pain just bums you out about it, are you taking some time away from it, and only engaging in the activities you know you enjoy?
• As relaxed and aroused as you can possibly be (and I know, with expecting pain at this point, that isn't likely possible) before intercourse?
• Part of a healthy relationship and dynamic overall? Do you trust your partner, feel safe with him, and feel safe exploring your sexuality with him?
If ANY of those items aren't the deal, time to tend to them. If they all are, then it never hurts to check in with your OB/GYN and make sure nothing is amiss physically.
And if all those items are in place, and your gynecologist doesn't see a reason for the problem, we can pretty safely assume it's likely a psychological issue -- you either really don't want to have intercourse, or can't stop expecting pain. In that case, the best advice I could give you is to suss out what that is, and take a break from attempting intercourse until you work it out.
I've gone over most of this already, but as supporting advice, I'd suggest you take a look at this Yield for Pleasure and this From OW! to WOW! Demystifying Painful Intercourse, and also pass them on to your partner.
More like This
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Dixons Retail: A mirror held up to Europe
Southern pain, northern gain, Pixmania ruining it for everyone
Dixons Retail's top and bottom lines slipped in fiscal 2012 ended 28 April, according to preliminary results.
Group pre-tax profits fell to £70.8m, down from £85.3m in the previous financial year and sales dipped three per cent to £8.05bn, compared to £8.3bn in fiscal 2011.
The total loss before tax narrowed to £118.8m from £224.1m last year, after non-underlying items of £189.6m, which Dixons said are predominantly non-cash and relate to the write-off of goodwill on Unieuro, Kotsovolos and PIXmania.
The High Street is no easy place for retail outlets to ply their wares as consumers' disposable income has been hit by rising household bills, amid high unemployment and government austerity measures.
And of course bricks and mortar retailers are under constant threat from lower cost Internet rivals that undercut them on price.
Dixons said it had made "good progress" in the UK and Ireland and the Nordics with profits up 15 per cent and 12 per cent respectively but this was "offset" by "weaker" output in Southern Europe and Pixmania.
However, the group, which owns Currys and PC World, said things are looking up after a five per cent sales spike in Q4.
CEO Sebastian James, who succeeded John Browett some months ago, said he was "pleased that by focusing our efforts on delighting customers, we have outperformed [offline] competitors".
That said the company is still forging ahead with cost cutting plans, with £60m reduced in fiscal 2012 and another £90m targeted over the next two years.
Net debt fell to £104m on the £206.8m it was burdened with a year ago.
"The new financial year has got off to a good start with the trends seen in the final quarter of last year broadly continuing. However, we continue to plan cautiously and manage costs aggressively," said James. ®
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Workshop on Cosmic Acceleration
August 24, 2012 - August 26, 2012
Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Location: Giant Eagle Auditorium, Baker Hall A51
The Bruce and Astrid McWilliams Center for Cosmology at Carnegie Mellon University will host a Workshop on Cosmic Acceleration from August 24-26, 2012 (Friday-Sunday) in Pittsburgh, PA. The workshop aims to bring together leading researchers and students, working on both the theory and observations of the inflationary Universe and various areas of dark energy such as modified gravity.
Graduate students are especially encouraged to participate in the workshop. There is no registration fee for students. For all other participants, the registration fee is $125. The registration fee includes a workshop dinner at the Carnegie Museum (see schedule).
Registration is now closed.
Plenary Speakers
Rachel Bean, Cornell
Claudia de Rham, CWRU
Gregory Gabadadze, NYU
Dragan Huterer, Michigan
Will Kinney, Buffalo
Kazuya Koyama, ICG Portsmouth
Rachel Mandelbaum, CMU
Alberto Nicolis, Columbia
Sarah Shandera, Penn State
Henry Tye, IAS HKUST/Cornell
Mark Wyman, UChicago
Local Organizing CommitteeNishant Agarwal, CMU
Fred Gilman, CMU
Shirley Ho, CMU
Richard Holman, CMU
Tina Kahniashvili, CMU
Arthur Kosowsky, Pitt
Rachel Mandelbaum, CMU
Ross O'Connell, CMU
Andrew Zentner, Pitt
Advisory Board
Rachel Bean, Cornell
Justin Khoury, UPenn
Uros Seljak, Berkeley
Sarah Shandera, Penn State
Andrew Tolley, CWRU
Mark Trodden, UPenn
In case of any questions, please contact Nishant Agarwal at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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December 2006, 2007, & 2008
Single Family Stats Huntersville, NC (Lake Norman)
Don't you just love stats . . . well I do! Maybe it's all the Statistical math classes I had to take to get my degree . . . oh well, let's blame it on Gardner-Webb University.
Anyhow do to the current market conditions I thought it would be interesting seeing how real estate sales in December 2008 looked against December 2007 and December 2006. So here's some interesting stats of single family sales in Huntersville, NC (Lake Norman); going back to December 2006, December 2007, and December 2008.
I hope that if you are thinking of buying and/or selling in the Huntersville area that you will find these figures helpful.
If you are thinking of moving to the Lake Norman ~ Charlotte areas please contact me. I have a Newcomers/Relocation Kit that I will send to you . . . FREE!
About the author:
Teresa Harris is a Lake Norman Residential Real Estate Broker who can assist you with the purchase and/or sale of real estate in Lake Norman and surrounding counties. Please visit www.TeresaMHarris.com for your relocation and/or your local needs. The information in this post is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed.
Teresa Harris - Holbrooks Real Estate, Inc. - 704-458-1807 - firstname.lastname@example.com
Copyright © 2009 By Teresa Harris, All Rights Reserved...*December 2006, 2007, & 2008 Single Family Stats Huntersville, NC (Lake Norman)*


text:
Like Our New Look?
Hmm, something seems a little different here on Cake Wrecks today, doesn't it?
Yep, behold the glory of our brand new site design! Thanks for the many lovely comments so far; I do hope you'll all find it more streamlined and purty-like.
Shout-out time: many MANY thanks to Awesome Aric (yes, I think that's how I shall refer to him from now on) of Tiki Kitchen Design. Aric has been working with me and John for weeks now, and for every "hey, what if we tried THIS?" he gave us multiple options and somehow managed to mask his desire to throttle us with unbridled patience and enthusiasm. Those of you familiar with web design know just how difficult it is to design a customized site in Blogger, so the fact that Aric was willing to try - and had the skills to write code from the ground up when necessary - has been a godsend. We'll be continuing to tweak some of the links and pages this week, but in the meantime y'all be sure to thank Aric in true CW fashion, k?


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Few things, after three-quarters of a century, manage to stay the same. But any dancer—and specifically, any ballet dancer—perusing Alfred Eisenstaedt's dance photographs that ran in the December 28, 1936, issue of LIFE magazine will recognize the shoe fittings, the repetitive warm-ups and the seemingly interminable "waiting around" that marked rehearsals at New York's School of American Ballet more than 75 years ago. The intimate pictures in this gallery celebrate the many ways in which ballet, as an art form, has resisted change: a plié is ever a plié, and a dancer should still turn the legs out from the hips, rather than from the knees.
Yet ballet is by no means immune to some forms of transformation: the forces that quietly mold other facets of modern culture have also marked the classical dance form. Renowned companies like the New York City Ballet avidly promote their repertoire on Facebook and Twitter. Artistic directors turn to psychedelic backdrop projections and costumes to bring balletic creations to life. And no longer is the "story ballet"—think Cinderella and Swan Lake—the go-to anchor for choreographers: thanks in large part to the great Russian-born 20th century choreographer George Balanchine, abstract, non-linear works have successfully embedded themselves in the culture's idea of what ballet can be.
Dancers have changed, too, of course. "The technical training across cultures and facility that dancers have now is so much greater," Princeton Lecturer in Dance and longtime member of the Mark Morris Dance Group Tina Fehlandt told LIFE.com. Higher expectations accompany the rigorous preparation: flexibility is boundless, and Odile's thirty-two fouettés standard fare. Dancers are often strikingly thin—not exempt, it would seem, from societal assumptions about weight. And ballet, like so many practices built on aesthetics, is more than ever a province for the very young.
"It's important not to judge [Eisenstaedt's] photos and the dancers in them by the technical standards of today," Fehlandt said. "I love looking at old photos for that very reason — you can compare and contrast."
That is exactly what we can do with these photos from 1936: examine the directions in which ballet has evolved, and where it has stayed put. The pictures certainly reveal differences: the dancers are, for the most part, bare-legged (today most wear nylon tights) and their bodies are curvier that today's ballet norm. But the routines and rituals are strikingly familiar, as is LIFE's assertion that "ballet dancing is a hard, steady, painstaking job." As art around the world—including ballet—seizes on new possibilities in multimedia, social media, advanced technology and new forms of collaboration, it's nice to know that, at the most elemental level, some things really don't change.
Tara Thean is a freelance writer and graduate student in biological sciences at Cambridge University. Follow her on Twitter @tarathean.