text:
Bay Area Hospital strives to improve the health of our community every day.
Bay Area Hospital is a tobacco-free campus.
We provide some of the most advanced and compassionate care in the region.
Whether you are receiving care or visiting a loved one, our goal is to make your stay with us a positive one.
Bay Area Hospital offers a wide variety of support groups and programs to improve the health of our community.
We are continually looking for opportunities to improve our organization and keep our community informed.
It''s tough to listen to a crying baby. Follow these tips for coping with the tears.
The dream: Your baby sleeps through the night after just a few weeks, gurgles happily while you run errands and fusses only when hunger strikes.
The reality: Your baby''s favorite playtime is after the 2 a.m. feeding. Crankiness peaks when you''re out and about. You had no idea a crying baby could keep the tears flowing for so long.
Sound familiar? On any given day, a newborn might cry for up to two hours — or even longer. Find out why babies cry, and what to do about it.
A crying baby is trying to tell you something. Your job is to figure out why your baby is crying and what — if anything — you can do about it.
Consider what your crying baby could be thinking.
I''m hungry
Most newborns eat every few hours round-the-clock. Some babies become frantic when hunger strikes. They might get so worked up by the time the feeding begins that they gulp air with the milk, which can cause spitting up, trapped gas and more crying.
To avoid such frenzy, respond to early signs of hunger. If your baby begins to gulp during the feeding, take a break. Also take time to burp your baby during and after each feeding.
If you''re breast-feeding your baby, the flavor of the milk might change in response to what you eat and drink. If you suspect that a certain food or drink is making your baby fussier than usual, avoid it for several days to see if it makes a difference.
I want to suck on something
Sucking is a natural reflex. For many babies, it''s a comforting, soothing activity. If your baby isn''t hungry, try a clean finger or pacifier.
I''m tired
Tired babies are often fussy — and your baby might need more sleep than you think. Newborns often sleep up to 16 hours a day. Some newborns sleep even more.
I''m wet
For some babies, a wet or soiled diaper is a surefire way to trigger tears. Check your baby''s diaper often to make sure it''s clean and dry.
I want to move
Sometimes a rocking session or walk through the house is enough to soothe a crying baby. In other cases, a change of position is all that''s needed. Keeping safety precautions in mind, try a baby swing or vibrating infant seat.
Weather permitting, head outdoors with the stroller. You might even want to buckle up for a ride in the car.
I''d rather be bundled
Some babies feel most secure in a swaddle wrap. Snugly wrap your baby in a receiving blanket or other small, lightweight blanket.
I''m hot
A baby who''s too hot is likely to be uncomfortable. The same goes for a baby who''s too cold. Add or remove a layer of clothing as needed.
I''m lonely
Sometimes simply seeing you, hearing your voice or being cuddled can stop the tears. Gentle massage or light pats on the back might soothe a crying baby, too.
I''ve had enough
Too much noise, movement or visual stimulation might drive your baby to tears. Move to a calmer environment or place your baby in the crib. White noise — such as a recording of ocean waves or the monotonous sound of an electric fan or vacuum cleaner — might help your crying baby relax.
Remember that many babies have predictable periods of fussiness during the day. This kind of crying can help your baby get rid of excess energy. There might be little you can do but comfort your baby as the crying runs its course.
Over time you might be able to identify your baby''s needs by the way he or she is crying. For example, a hungry cry might be short and low-pitched, while a cry of pain might be a sudden, long, high-pitched shriek. Picking up on any patterns can help you better respond to your baby''s cries.
If you''ve tried everything and your baby is still upset, consider letting your baby cry it out. Crying won''t hurt your baby — and sometimes the only way to stop a crying spell is to let it run its course.
Of course, listening to your baby wail can be agonizing. If you need to distract yourself for a few minutes, you might take a shower, call a friend or make something to eat.
Some babies have frustrating periods of intense, inconsolable crying known as colic — typically starting a few weeks after birth and improving by age 3 months.
Colic is often defined as crying more than three hours a day, three days a week for more than three weeks in an otherwise well-fed, healthy baby. The crying might begin suddenly and for no apparent reason. During an episode, your baby might be difficult — or even impossible — to comfort.
What causes colic remains a mystery, and treatment effectiveness varies.
If you''re concerned about colic, consult your baby''s health care provider. He or she can make sure your baby is otherwise healthy and help you learn how to care for a colicky baby.
It''s tough to listen to your baby cry. To take the best care of your baby, it''s important to take care of yourself, too.
It''s also important to recognize your limits.
If your baby''s crying is causing you to lose control, put the baby in a safe place — such as a crib — and go to another room to collect yourself. If necessary, contact your health care provider, a local crisis intervention service or a mental health help line for additional support.


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|2006-01-18, 08:10
|Link #61
Kira_Naruto, the ecchi
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: http://www.exciting-tits.com/
Nice.. tho I usually go with black and white then color them up... but that just are preferred way I guess .. Also, play a bit with brush opacity .. it gives a bit of depth .. to change brush opacity, press a number on the numpad while in brush mode .. pressing 7 would result in 70% opacity .. And unless the main girl of your is a kickass crazy buttkicking monster fighter .. keep awaaaaay from grunge style brush
And since Yuiichi have kept his promise.. I guess Im next huh?
|2006-01-19, 11:12
|Link #62
Kira_Naruto, the ecchi
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: http://www.exciting-tits.com/
OK.. keeping my promise .. this one teach how you can color up your sig .. For this, the BG would have to be black & white to begin with .. of course using a colored one would do no harm but .. you get the point
To begin with, you need a main picture .. and a BG. Both are covered in this thread so I wont go into detail there .. we start with
Once you are satisfied with composition of the sig .. and my main image is a bit blurry there.. so I duplicate the layer (Ctrl+J) .. on the duplicate layer, Filter->Blur->Gausiann Blurr (Small radius[OK]) and change the layer blending mode to softlight.
Now, its coloring time
OK.. now the 2nd adjustment layer is totally block the main color layer from showing right? No worry, make sure that layer is selected .. go to filter->render->cloud. Happy with the result? Press Ctrl+F to reapply the cloud filter again and again and again till you get a satisfying result
OK.. so there.. we added some colors to our sig.. finalized your sig by adding some text and border it up nicely.
Done.. And a big BOOO to anyone try to steal this one as their own.
|2006-01-29, 18:42
|Link #63
I am mowing clowns
Join Date: Dec 2005
One way to add a border to animated GIFs
Software: ImageReady.
There are a couple ways to add a border to all the layers of an animated GIF in ImageReadywithout adding it to each layer one at a time. The easiest way to add a border to all layers in one shot is to make a new layer and have it be the top layer. What ever you do in that top layer, can affect the other layers.
Here's an animation with 7 frames (layers).
Spoiler for Image 1:
Let say I want to add a simple square 1 pixel black border to it. So, without any layers active, I create a new layer (layer 8 in this example):
Spoiler for Image 2:
That gives me a new blank transparent layer. What ever I do to this layer (Fill, Stroke, etc), will filter down to all the other layers.
Spoiler for Image 3:
So…make that layer active by clicking on it and do a Select All (Ctrl+A).
Spoiler for Image 4:
That will give you the crawling ants dashed border around your composite image:
Spoiler for Image 5:
Just apply a Stroke and the border will be added to the current layer as well as the rest below it:
Spoiler for Last few images:
And you're done. You now have a border on all frames in the animation. Cheers.
Last edited by Catgirls; 2006-01-29 at 19:14.
|2006-03-10, 01:31
|Link #69
Kira_Naruto, the ecchi
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: http://www.exciting-tits.com/
A relatively simple one to play with -
We gonna start with this..
So what we can do with this lovely young lady? we change the her hair color ^^ ... Blue look so unnatural
her hair color is blue.. unfortunately, so does her Dhuran's head... so select the blue part at dhuran.. and invert the selection (Ctrl+Shift+I)... this way, Dhuran wouldnt be touch ... of course this can be skip if you want ^^
Now open the Hue & Saturation window (Ctrl + U) ...
And you get this ...
Change the edit dropdown box to the color you want to change ... There are several colors to choose from the dropdown
Dont tick the colorize checkbox.
If you move your mouse over the pic, it will became an eyedropper tool, just click the color you want to change.. in this case, her hair .... The lower part would changed automatically as you click the colors on the pic....
Now just go crazy with the hue--hue changed the colors slider to find your choice of hair color for Natsuki ^^ ... Change the saturate for more vibrant, and light for the color tones ..
My result .. a blonde Natsuki (a prove that she love Shizuru )
There, a simple tutorial... what can you do with it? make a funky av, get several hair colors, animated it so natsuki get neon hairs... maybe use in wallpapers .. i dont care, be creative, One advice, anime char skins tend to be yellowish too, so changing blondes would result in changing their skin as well... unless you do the step one to select out the skin portion
|2006-03-10, 21:46
|Link #70
|2006-03-19, 06:28
|Link #74
♪~ Daydreaming ~♪
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Italy
Tutorial: How to do a (non continuos) loop
I've been asked for, plus I see it as a common trouble for the beginners.
Hence I thought to realize a quick and (hopefully) handy tutorial on how to realize a good loop on an animated gif.
Done with Adobe ImageReady CS2.
Let's start with something extremely simple.
She's Saber, from Fate/stay night. Cute, isn't she? ^^ Anyway, that's not how the original sequence was.
Please notice that the gif is already bordered because this guide isn't meant to explain that.
Step 1 : Starting Point
After having captured the frames and removed the double ones, I had something like this:
Spoiler for Step 1:
Step 2: First frame and Last frame.
The solution is quite simple, just define and remember the first and the last frame of your sequence. Because those are very important, and also won't be touched for now.
Step 3: Middle Frames
The frames in the middle, instead, will need to be duplicated and then placed backwards.
Sounds difficult? It isn't. Just follow the samples:
Spoiler for Step 3:
Step 4: Proceding along the road
Now just proceed with the same method with the frame remained, be careful not to duplicate frames you had already duplicated before.
Again, you'll need to duplicate them and to place them in the last position. Practically, you're placing the frames of your original sequence again, but backwards, that's why the order is so important.
Spoiler for Step 4:
Step 5 : The Timing
Necessary to have a fancy gif.
Do you rememeber I told to define and remember a first and last frame for our sequence? Ok, now let's change their timing.
This is not a continuos loop hence put quite an high timing (I mean, not 0.1 seconds or alike).
Spoiler for Step 5:
Final result:
As for the transitional frames (the ones between the first and the last, and those that we have duplicated and replaced as well), it's your choice to either let them timed to 0 sec or slightly retime them.
With them being at 0 sec (or "no delay") the sequence will look a bit faster
You can retime the transitional, I'd say.. up to 0.15 seconds each. Either way, the gif would become choppy.
I usually go with 0.12 each, and here it goes our final result, which was our starting point as well.
The difference is very subtle but still I prefere this way ^^
As for continuos loops:
Done with this tutorial, hope I've been clear enough. ^^
Good gifmaking to all
Last edited by Pellissier; 2006-03-19 at 11:23.
|2006-03-19, 06:41
|Link #75
Kira_Naruto, the ecchi
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: http://www.exciting-tits.com/
You can also select the 2nd frame, then press shift + 2nd last frame ( In above example, select the 2nd frame, then Shift + the 5th frame.. This select all frames in between.. Duplicate them ( the new frames should be selected as a result) then on top left of animation window, you can see a small triangle button .. click it then select reverse frames. Now drag the selected frames to the left of the last frame. And you are done ^^
|2006-03-20, 01:07
|Link #76
Sugar has side effects
Last edited by NightWish; 2006-03-21 at 18:53. Reason: Please don't quote long posts with short answers ^^;
|2006-03-27, 15:29
|Link #78
~Nanchatte Renai
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Australia
Age: 25
This is really annoying me now if we want our animation to have round borders we ahve to open up the frames in photoshop and do the round borders but heres my thing how can I get all the round edges straight for alll the frames one frame will be good the second one will be shorter in size be really happy if someone told me how thx
|2006-03-27, 17:43
|Link #79
I am mowing clowns
Join Date: Dec 2005
There are a few steps involved in creating rounded corners using only ImageReady, but it's actually rather easy. It's not difficult at all. If you end up reading my method and don't like it, then so be it, but it may help you develop your own, better solution.
So then...in a few hours I'll post one of my methods (and I need to reply to some PMs as well) for creating rounded corners using only ImageReady. Cheers.
/Edit: 10:20 PM - EST - Looks like I'll have to do it tomorrow. Too much work at the moment.
Last edited by Catgirls; 2006-03-27 at 22:21.
|2006-03-29, 20:14
|Link #80
"Show it to me"
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: In solitude, where we are least alone
how do you put a border around the image? and how can you put a text that doesn't look like it was just put there? (like the text is blending into the background)
-- oh! and i have photoshop 7...but i dunno how to use it.
Last edited by Cyz; 2006-03-29 at 20:25.
|avatar, graphic, photoshop, signature, tutorial
|Thread Tools

subset: commoncrawl


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On Stage
The Little Prince
The classic fable takes on new life with inventive puppets and actors in a creative retelling of this heart-warming story. The parable tells the tale of an air pilot who meets a Little Prince when he has to make a forced landing in the Sahara Desert. The clever adaptation uses creative design and music to further enhance the story, which emphasizes the importance of looking beneath the surface to find true beauty in even the most common things.
Friday and Saturday, March 8-9, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. $25, $15 children. Madison Theatre, Molloy College, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. (516) 678-5000 ext. 7715 or www.madisontheatreny.org.
St. Patrick's Day Fun
Celebrating the 'Old Country'
Step back in time to Old Ireland at Old Bethpage Village's second annual St. Patrick's Day celebration. The village salutes Ireland with plenty of entertainment, traditional food and beverages and Irish merchandise to entice visitors. Featured entertainment includes the rock bands The Legendary Murphys and the Sporting Paddies, along with bagpipers and a performance by the Donny Golden School of Irish Dance. The festivities begin at the Reception Center and then visitors can make their way to the village's Crossroads on foot or by hopping on a horse drawn wagon.
Saturday, March 9, 12-5 p.m. Old Bethpage Village Restoration, Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage. (516) 572-0200 or www.oldbethpage.org.
Irish Festival
Feel the spirit of St. Patrick's Day at Hofstra University's 15th annual salute to all things Irish. You don't have to be from the Old Country to join the hooley and celebrate St. Patrick's Day in true Irish style! Enjoy music and dance performances throughout the day, sample Irish cuisine and browse among the various crafters who exhibit their wares. This year's festival features The Tommy Mulvihill Band, performing classic Irish music; the Black Velvet Band, also playing classic tunes, along with the always-enjoyable Hirten Family Irish Dancers, a festival staple, and Katie's Puppets.
Sunday, March 10, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $7, $5 seniors. Hofstra University, Mack Physical Education Center, North Campus, Hempstead. (516) 463-6582 or www.hofstra.edu/festivals.


text:
It's me, Tobi!
I am a 28 Year old lover of photography, and nearly all other kinds of art. Was here before, earlier in my life. Maybe it was the wrong time and anyway the "not so high" quality of my releases. Many things have changed since this time.
Maybe will be writing each other, soon. On some comments or discussions.
I am looking forward to a nice time!
Most welcome to the community,
I am also new here, nice to have you on this board. Enjoy learning here.
Welcome on board to the community!


text:
Let's have a ShamWich ... our own take on a sandwich for St. Patrick's Day or any other day of the year. Our Irish friends will surely love this one and the kids will too!
The outer part of the sandwich is created from healthy wraps, that are spinach-based or veggie-based. Just use a round cookie cutter to 3 inch circles. Or you can just use a glass, setting the top rim on the wrap and, carefully, cutting around it to get your circles.
The insides of your ShamWich can be most any favorite sandwich ingredient, but here we used slices of cheese, cut into circles, and slices of tomato. You can choose to serve this cold or heat in the microwave, on a paper towel, for 25 seconds.
Arrange three completed circle sandwiches on a plate and then garnish.
Use a piece of celery for you garnish of the Shamrock stem. Wallah ... a fun ShamWich to serve on St. Patrick's Day. And what an easy fun food to serve the kids ... they will even have fun helping to make these.


text:
Virtual Jackson Hole Website Home
Jackson Hole Landmarks
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Queen Room, Snow King Resort
Located in the heart of Wyoming ski country, Snow King Resort offers comfortable Jackson Hole lodging at the Snow King Resort Hotel , the adjacent Snow King Condominiums and the luxurious Love Ridge Resort Lodges. Only 6 blocks from downtown Jackson, our resort is close to shopping, restaurants and nightlife while surrounded by the Bridger Teton National Forest. Jackson Hole is the year round gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks.
Virtual Jackson Hole Tour : Snow King Resort
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Upgrading your flash player will allow you to view some amazing imagery from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Teton County, Grand Teton National Park, Idaho, and the surrounding Greater Yellowstone Area. Real Estate Professionals can use our services to display their Condominiums, Townhomes, Ranch, or Unimproved Properties
Click here to Download Flash


text: Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance is comprised of over 50 independent shareholders who offer a wide array of quality auto products with one main focus...SERVICE. The Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper warehouses, parts stores, and certified service centers are found internationally across the US, Canada, and Mexico, and even into Europe. With over 1.9 million parts and accessories, we have the part you want and the service you deserve!


text:
For Seattle electronic music fans, Decibel Festival has spent the last 11 years working its way from mythical creature to household name. The festival has hosted some of the best electronic music in the Emerald city since 2003, and in the last couple years, has expanded into an year-round sponsor to bring more brilliant internationalRead more…
Listen Live:
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KEXP AND THE UWKEXP is an
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iTunes and KEXPYou can now find KEXP under "Eclectic" in iTunes after the demise of the "Public" category, to better represent the diversity of our daytime variety shows and numerous specialty programs.
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text:
Going above and beyond is a way of life for St. Thomas Academy senior Danny McManus.
In the business world, he is a shareholder in Mendota Heights Lawn Care, a corporation founded by his oldest brother, Tim, the president of the company. Another brother, Ryan, is the vice president, and Danny is the secretary.
The brothers service about 30 clients, with profits going toward tuition at St. Thomas Academy and Dartmouth College. Tim has graduated from the Ivy League school, where Ryan is a sophomore and Danny will attend next fall.
"I learned very quickly how important it is to deliver a high level of customer service to each and every one of our clients," Danny said. "Regardless of the project I'm doing, I'm a perfectionist. I don't just do the job; I take the necessary steps to make sure it's a great job. I like to give it my all on everything."
It's no different on the football field.
McManus was St. Thomas Academy's "Mr. Everything" this fall, leading the Cadets to a 10-2 record, the Class 5A, Section 5 championship and a state tournament appearance that ended in Friday's 30-27 semifinal loss to Owatonna. He played strong safety, returned punts and kicks, and at times was needed to fill in at running back.
His do-it-all performance against Owatonna typified his season. He had 13 tackles, two tackles for loss, an interception and a 63-yard kickoff return, was the holder for two field goals, and delivered a block that sprung teammate Pat McFadden for a first-quarter touchdown.
"He's all about taking care of business and doing so at an elite level," Cadets coach Dave Ziebarth said.
For his elite-level play this season, McManus was selected the Pioneer Press high school football player of the year.
McManus admits it would have been strange if he had attended any other high school but St. Thomas Academy.
"I wanted to go to STA on my own, to follow in my brothers' footsteps," he said. "They might have put a little pressure on me had I not wanted to be a Cadet, and that's OK. They didn't have to put the squeeze on me. It just showed me how impactful their high school experience was at St. Thomas Academy."
Tim and Ryan, both quarterbacks, had standout football careers at STA before moving on to more success at Dartmouth.
The brothers' competitive spirit began with pillow fights, escalated to wrestling matches and then played out on football fields throughout the youth program in Mendota Heights and then at St. Thomas Academy.
"It really was a blessing to be raised in a football family," said Danny, whose father, Tim Sr., was a 1977 STA graduate who went on to play football at Drake University.
"Playing with my family taught me to never be afraid of playing with bigger, older kids," Danny said. "It made me better. It pushed me to be better. It taught me to never give up on a play. Seeing what my brothers did also gave me a goal and dream to work my hardest to be the best player and best person that I can be."
His father could tell early on that his youngest son was going to be a special player.
"When he was in second grade, he was supposed to play flag football," Tim McManus said with a laugh. "He wouldn't have anything to do with that. Instead, he played on the third- and fourth-grade team. That's when I knew he kind of had that "it" factor. He played like a fourth grader as a second grader. He had a quick understanding of techniques and fundamentals. He got it the first time. I kind of pinch myself now when I see the kind of player and young man that he has become."
McManus said his sons did college-designed workouts last summer in preparations for their seasons.
"I saw Danny's quickness and how he was keeping up with his brothers, and that was really impressive," Tim McManus said. "When I saw what he was doing in those workouts, I knew he was going to have an excellent senior season at St. Thomas Academy. Looking at what he has done, and where he is going, he could start as a freshman doing some things at Dartmouth."
The 5-foot-9, 175-pound McManus finished his senior season with 97 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Midway through the season, he was asked to help out on offense and he responded with 373 rushing yards, four touchdowns, six receptions for 131 yards and two more TDs.
He is extremely competitive, and the bigger the game, the tougher he gets," Ziebarth said. "That is a quality you can't teach or coach. We knew he was going to have a strong senior season, but we didn't see it exploding like it did. He gave us such a huge lift on both sides of the ball. He is a fantastic player. He will be a dynamite player at Dartmouth."
McManus, who also plays hockey for the Cadets, loved playing on both sides of the ball.
"I'm the kind of player and person who's willing to do anything at any time to help my team," he said. "My brothers taught me about leadership and making the right decisions. They told me about playing hard and being willing to go over and above when putting in the hard work. In training, you just can't take short cuts."
He also learned to multitask.
While working for the lawn service, be it cutting grass or blowing leave, McManus said he might do some football visualization drills. He envisions making plays, challenging himself in certain situations and reminding himself to be keen on the little things like a lineman who is slightly on his heels, a move that tells McManus the player is going to pull out for a running play.
"My dad calls it 'Football IQ,' " McManus said. "I also think about how I'm going to tackle a guy. I remind myself to take hold and don't let go until I hear the whistle. I want to succeed in everything I do. Nothing will stop my drive toward that goal."


text:
After the Hike
Sherran Andersen 4/12/2012 8:38:18 PMPoor baby... love the comp Maria. #1456195
Maria Coulson 4/13/2012 9:56:01 AMSherran, he has a lot of heart and does not gives up. I have taken him on 12 mile hikes and he loves it. #10088954
Kathryn Wesserling 5/25/2012 6:41:38 PMI feel his exhaustion! lollllll What a great picture! #10150421
Renee Doyle 5/26/2012 3:10:47 AMSo sweet!!! Congratulations Maria! #10151662
Anita Hogue 5/26/2012 4:47:53 AMJust way cute, Maria! Congratulations on your finalist! #10151865
Nancy Marie Ricketts 5/26/2012 9:37:15 AMExpert composition, clarity, and artistry! You capture the emotion of your "tuckered out" sweetheart.
Congratulations on this superb Finalist! #10152757
Nancy Marie Ricketts 5/26/2012 9:47:00 AMExpert composition, clarity, and artistry! You capture the emotion of your "tuckered out" sweetheart.
Congratulations on this superb Finalist! #10152772
Nancy Marie Ricketts 5/26/2012 10:50:48 AMExpert composition, clarity, and artistry! You capture the emotion of your "tuckered out" sweetheart.
Congratulations on this superb Finalist! #10152886
David M. Montero 5/26/2012 1:42:27 PMCongratulations on your Finalist selection of this wonderful capture Maria. #10153417
JO ANN CLEVELAND 5/26/2012 6:35:59 PMCongratulations on your outstanding finalist Maria, I love it!
jo ann c. #10154290
Lucy Abrao 5/26/2012 6:55:23 PMSo Cute, Maria. Congratulations on this well deserved finalist.
Agnes Fegan 5/29/2012 10:33:53 AMThe hike was worth it lol! Congrats on your win! #10159084
Nancy Marie Ricketts 5/29/2012 11:06:42 AMCongratulations om your very deserving GOLD badge!!! #10159185
JO ANN CLEVELAND 5/29/2012 12:29:41 PMBig congratulations on this outstanding 2nd Place Gold Winner Maria!
And sooo well deserved too..I just love it!
jo ann c. #10159297
Mary Beth Aiello 5/29/2012 1:10:04 PMJust so cute, Maria. Huge congrats on this beautiful Gold. #10159439
Anita Hogue 5/29/2012 2:51:29 PMCongratulations, Maria! This is absolutely wonderful! #10159735
Memoriee G. Sconce 5/29/2012 3:14:10 PMCongrats great shot.
Kimber Wallwork-Heineman 5/29/2012 3:56:39 PMI love this shot too! Nice work and Congrats #10159909
Kim Andelkovic 5/29/2012 4:06:50 PMCongratulations Maria, beautiful win :-) #10159933
Renee Doyle 5/29/2012 5:55:47 PMCongratulations on this wonderful winner Maria! #10160134
R. J. Laudenbacher 5/29/2012 6:15:41 PMLOL...I LOVE this Maria! Makes me smile just looking at it. That is tired if I have ever seen it! LOL Congrats on your second place win! #10160179
Lucy Abrao 5/29/2012 8:28:48 PMCongratulations on your achievement.
Maria Coulson 5/29/2012 8:56:15 PMThank you all so much for all of your wonderful comments. #10160527
Rolando Rosito 5/30/2012 2:07:35 PMThis is a fantastic winner Maria, Congratulations!! #10161832
Mariann Kovats 5/30/2012 9:21:49 PMFantastic capture, Maria! Congratulations on your win! #10162392
Maria Coulson 5/30/2012 9:24:56 PMThanks Rolando and Mariann. Tahoe feel very proud. #10162397
Mary K. Robison 5/31/2012 3:42:26 PMCongratulations on your well earned Gold Winner, Maria!
Thomas E. Hinds 5/31/2012 6:27:25 PMWhat a great Winner! Congratulations, Maria! #10163670
David M. Montero 6/8/2012 12:53:42 PMI apologize for my tardiness. Congratulations on your gold award for this cute capture Maria! #10173103
Merna L. Nobile 6/8/2012 3:09:20 PM
Achievement begins with belief, CONGRATULATIONS on your achievement!Merna
Mick Burkey 6/12/2012 6:18:08 PMCongratulations, Maria. Great shot! #10178123
Exif: F Number: 8, Exposure Bias Value: 1.00, ExposureTime: 1/30 seconds, Flash: did not fire., ISO: 3200, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 55.00 mm, Model: NIKON D300
Uploaded on 4/12/2012 10:35:39 AM
Camera: Nikon D300 Digital SLR Camera
Copyright for this gallery photo belongs solely to Maria Coulson. Images may not be copied, downloaded, or used in any way without the expressed, written permission of the photographer.
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"Chill Beats Pack 01" is a 3-track collection of chilled electronic beats.
1. Assembly (3:18) http://audiojungle.net/item/assembly/5259122 2. Fluid Motion (3:21) http://audiojungle.net/item/fluid-motion/5493403 3. Floating In Eternity (5:26) http://audiojungle.net/item/floating-in-eternity/5512190
Total duration: 12:05
This item includes full instrumentals arrangements in .wav quality. If you have any question or concerns, please feel free to contact me.


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Home Secretary Theresa May will tell MPs on Monday that the Government intends to opt out of a raft of EU police and justice measures.
In a move that will delight eurosceptic Tory backbenchers but inflame coalition tensions, she is expected to use a Commons statement to confirm plans to exercise a treaty right to withdraw from 130 cross-border agreements including the European arrest warrant.
But Liberal Democrats said agreement on the issue was "not even close", amid continued dispute over which parts of the package Britain should negotiate to re-enter if it does deploy the all-or-nothing opt-out.
As pressure mounted from within his party to renegotiate British membership of the EU and seize back powers, Prime Minister David Cameron declared during a visit to Brazil last month that Britain "will be exercising that opt-out".
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg retorted that nothing had been decided and that national security and public safety needed to be safeguarded before any agreement could be reached.
The arrest warrant system is particularly contentious, with Tory opponents arguing it has led to British citizens facing unfair trials abroad but Mr Clegg and others point to its use to return suspects - such as runaway teacher Jeremy Forrest - to the UK.
News that Theresa May will reinforce the Government's intention to press ahead was welcomed by Tory MP Dominic Raab, who was among the leaders of a 100-strong group which demanded the move in a letter to the premier earlier this year.
"Given rising demand for Britain to renegotiate its wider relationship with the EU, this is a test for them as much as it is for us," he said - calling for a fresh start based on "practical cooperation not giving up democratic control".
A senior Lib Dem source played down the significance of the statement however - claiming Mrs May did not have the authority to go beyond the Government's stated position of being "minded" to use the opt-out while detailed talks continued.
"They won't be able to say that we are definitely opting out...until we are a lot closer to agreement about what we would opt back into," they said - which meant going through all the 130 elements "one by one".
It comes after it was reported that Education Secretary Michael Gove wants the UK to threaten to pull out of the EU altogether unless important powers are returned to the UK - and would vote to quit if there was an in/out referendum.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said his Cabinet colleague was reflecting a wider change of mood.
"The point that Michael is reflecting - and many of us feel - is that we are not satisfied with the current relationship," he said.
"The mood has changed...because for the first time in a decade, those of us who are uncomfortable with the way that relationship has developed see an opportunity to renegotiate it.
"It makes sense for Britain to be in the single market but to reset the relationship so we have a balance of competences which works for Britain and the British people."


text:
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Kural Tamil Software is a keyboard manager that helps to input Tamil directly in all Microsoft Windows Applications. It is completely free!Kural Tamil Software


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Jensen Ackles & Jared Padalecki: 'Supernatural' at PaleyFest
Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki attend PaleyFest 2011′s panel honoring their show, Supernatural, on Sunday (March 13) at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Jensen brought wife Danneel Harris, while Jared hit the red carpet with his wife, Genevieve Cortese, who previously appeared on the CW show.
Jensen, who directed the "Weekend at Bobby's" episode earlier this season, said "he'd love to" go behind the camera again.
"As long as [Jared]'s not in it," he joked, TV Line reports.
FYI: Danneel is wearing a Jenny Han top.
15+ pictures inside of Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki at PaleyFest…


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Less than a week after reports first surfaced that he would be transferring from Oregon, Devon Blackmon has apparently found a new football home.
And,as it turns out, he'll remain in the same conference and the same division as well.
According to 247Sports.com website DuckTerritory.com, the wide receiver intends to transfer to Washington. The Huskies have yet to confirm Blackmon's intentions.
If the move were to come to fruition, Blackmon, who informed the OU coaching staff Monday of his decision to leave the program, would be forced to sit out the 2013 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules
After redshirting as a true freshman last season, Blackmon had played in two games in 2012. he did not have a catch in that pair of games.
Blackmon was a four-star member of the Ducks' 2011 recruiting class, rated as the No. 5 receiver in the country by Rivals.com.


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Apr 10, 2007
April 10, 2007
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Following a pair of hard-fought victories, the No. 2 doubles tandem of Mark Egan and Peden Nichols was named the NEWMAC Doubles Team of the Week. The selection marks the second conference weekly award given to nationally-ranked No. 22 MIT this season.
The pair recorded a 9-8 (5) decision against No. 16 Bowdoin College in a 5-3 loss last Friday. The next day, they outlasted their opponents from Babson College, 9-8 (2), en route to a 9-0 team victory.


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It is the first of October and that means Lynne is hosting Fresh Sewing Day!
Here's what I've been up to last month.
It's a little bit of everything. I made a couple things just for me, a few bee blocks. Some things for others and I've added quite a few new items to the shop as well.
This month I'm hoping to finally get my AMH quilt finished it is taking forever to hand quilt those flowers so it better be worth it ;-) And I'll be back in a few days with a give away for you all!
Now head on over to Lily's Quilts to link up!
Have a fun weekend,
x Leila


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Recently in this blog, we looked at the strong generating set (SGS) algorithm for permutation groups, and how we can use it to investigate the structure of groups. Last time, we saw how to partially "factor" intransitive groups, using the transitive constituent homomorphism. (Recall that by "factoring" a group G, we mean finding a proper normal subgroup K, and consequently also a quotient group G/K - which is equivalent to finding a proper homomorphism from G.) This time, I want to do the same for imprimitive groups. So, what is an imprimitive group?
Well, given a permutation group acting on a set X, it can happen that X consists of "blocks" Y1, Y2, ... of points which always "move together". That is, a subset Y of X is a block if for all g in G, Y^g (the image of Y under the action of g) is either equal to Y or disjoint from it. A full set of blocks (that is, blocks Y1, Y2, ... which are disjoint, and whose union is the whole of X) is called a block system.
For example, suppose that X is the vertices of the hexagon. The symmetry group of the hexagon is the dihedral group D12, generated by a rotation and a reflection:
> :load Math.Algebra.Group.Subquotients
> mapM_ print $ _D 12
A block system for the hexagon is shown below. The blocks are the pairs of opposite vertices. You can verify that they satisfy the definition of blocks: any symmetry must take a pair of opposite points either to itself, or to another pair disjoint from it.
A given group can have more than one block system. Here is another block system for the hexagon. The blocks are the two equilateral triangles formed by the vertices.
There are also the trivial block systems, consisting of either just one block containing all the points, or a block for each point. From now on, we will silently exclude these.
So, I was meant to be telling you what an imprimitive group is. Well, it's just a group which has a non-trivial block system. Conversely, a primitive group is one which has no non-trivial block system.
When we have an imprimitive group, we will be able to form a homomorphism - and hence factor the group - by considering the induced action of the group on the blocks. But I'm jumping ahead. First we need to write some Haskell code - to find block systems.
The idea is to write a function that, given a pair of points Y = {y1,y2} in X (or indeed any subset Y of X), can find the smallest block containing Y. The way it works is as follows. We start by supposing that each point is in a block of its own, except for the points in Y. We initialise a map, with the points in X as keys, and the blocks as values, where we represent a block by its least element.
Now, suppose that we currently think that the minimal block is Y = {y1,y2,...}. What we're going to do is work through the elements of Y, and work through the generators of G, trying to find a problem. So suppose that we have got as far as some element y of Y, and some generator g of G. We know that y is in the same block as y1, and what we have to check is that y^g is in the same block as y1^g. So we look up their representatives in the map, and check that they're the same. If they're not, then we need to merge the two classes. Here's the code (it's a little opaque, but it's basically doing what I just described).
minimalBlock gs ys@(y1:yt) = minimalBlock' p yt gs where
xs = foldl union [] $ map supp gs
p = M.fromList $ [(yi,y1) | yi <- ys] ++ [(x,x) | x <- xs \\ ys]
minimalBlock' p (q:qs) (h:hs) =
let r = p M.! q -- representative of class containing q
k = p M.! (q .^ h) -- rep of class (q^h)
l = p M.! (r .^ h) -- rep of class (r^h)
in if k /= l -- then we need to merge the classes
then let p' = M.map (\x -> if x == l then k else x) p
qs' = qs ++ [l]
in minimalBlock' p' (q:qs') hs
else minimalBlock' p (q:qs) hs
minimalBlock' p (q:qs) [] = minimalBlock' p qs gs
minimalBlock' p [] _ =
let reps = toListSet $ M.elems p
in L.sort [ filter (\x -> p M.! x == r) xs | r <- reps ]
Once we have this function, then finding the block systems is simple - just take each pair {x1,xi} from X, and find the minimal block containing it.
blockSystems gs
| isTransitive gs = toListSet $ filter (/= [x:xs]) $ map (minimalBlock gs) [ [x,x'] | x' <- xs ]
| otherwise = error "blockSystems: not transitive"
where x:xs = foldl union [] $ map supp gs
If we have an SGS for G, then we can do slightly better. For suppose that within the stabiliser Gx1, there is an element taking xi to xj. Then clearly xi and xj must be in the same minimal block. So in fact, we need only consider pairs {x1,xi}, with xi the minimal element of each orbit in Gx1. (Of course, the point is that if we have an SGS for G, then we can trivially list a set of generators for Gx1.)
blockSystemsSGS gs = toListSet $ filter (/= [x:xs]) $ map (minimalBlock gs) [ [x,x'] | x' <- rs ]
where x:xs = foldl union [] $ map supp gs
hs = filter (\g -> x < minsupp g) gs -- sgs for stabiliser Gx
os = orbits hs
rs = map head os ++ (xs \\ L.sort (concat os)) -- orbit representatives, including singleton cycles
Let's test it:
> mapM_ print $ blockSystems $ _D 12
Okay, so given a group, we can find its non-trivial block systems, if any. What next? Well, as I hinted earlier, this enables us to factor the group. For if there is a non-trivial block system, then the action of the group on the points induces a well-defined action on the blocks. This induced action gives us a homomorphism from our original group G, a subgroup of Sym(X), to another group H, a subgroup of Sym(B), where B is the set of blocks.
So as we did last time, we can find the kernel and image of the homomorphism, and thus factor the group. How do we do that?
Well, it's simple. In the following code, the function lr takes a group element acting on the points, and returns a group element acting on the blocks (in the Left side) and the points (in the Right side) in an Either union. If we do this to all the group generators, and then find an SGS, then as the Left blocks sort before the Right points, then the SGS will split neatly into two parts:
- The initial segment of the SGS will consist of elements which move the Left blocks. If we restrict their action to just the blocks, we will have an SGS for the image of the homomorphism, acting on the blocks.
- The final segment of the SGS will consist of elements which fix all the Left blocks. These elements move points but not blocks, so they form an SGS for the kernel of the homomorphism.
blockHomomorphism' gs bs = (ker,im) where
gs' = sgs $ map lr gs
lr g = fromPairs $ [(Left b, Left $ b -^ g) | b <- bs] ++ [(Right x, Right y) | (x,y) <- toPairs g]
ker = map unRight $ dropWhile (isLeft . minsupp) gs' -- stabiliser of the blocks
im = map restrictLeft $ takeWhile (isLeft . minsupp) gs' -- restriction to the action on blocks
blockHomomorphism gs bs
| bs == closure bs [(-^ g) | g <- gs] -- validity check on bs
= blockHomomorphism' gs bs
Let's try it out on our two block systems for the hexagon:
> blockHomomorphism (_D 12) [[1,4],[2,5],[3,6]]
I've formatted the output for clarity. The first line is (an SGS for) the kernel, consisting of elements of D12 which permute points within the blocks, without permuting the blocks. In this case, the kernel is generated by the 180 degree rotation, which swaps the points within each pair. The second line is (an SGS for) the image, consisting of the induced action of D12 on the blocks. In this case, we have the full permutation group S3 acting on the three pairs of points.
> blockHomomorphism (_D 12) [[1,3,5],[2,4,6]]
In this case the kernel is generated by a 120 degree rotation and a reflection, and consists of all group elements which send odd points to odd and even points to even, thus preserving the blocks. The image has only one non-trivial element, which just swaps the two blocks.
Armed with this new tool, let's have another look at Rubik's cube. Recall that we labelled the faces of the cube as follows:
Last time, we split the Rubik cube group into two homomorphic images - a group acting on just the corner faces, and a group acting on just the edge faces. Let's look for block systems in these groups:
> :load Math.Projects.Rubik
> let [cornerBlocks] = blockSystems imCornerFaces
> let [edgeBlocks] = blockSystems imEdgeFaces
> cornerBlocks
> edgeBlocks
It's obvious really - in the corner group, we have a block system with blocks consisting of the three corner faces that belong to the same corner piece, and in the edge group, we have a block system with blocks consisting of the two edge faces that belong to the same edge piece. Furthermore, these are the only block systems.
So we can form the kernel and image under the block homomorphism:
> let (kerCornerBlocks,imCornerBlocks) = blockHomomorphism imCornerFaces cornerBlocks
> let (kerEdgeBlocks,imEdgeBlocks) = blockHomomorphism imEdgeFaces edgeBlocks
If we look at the sizes of these groups, the structure will be obvious:
> orderSGS kerCornerBlocks
> orderSGS imCornerBlocks
These are 3^7, and 8! respectively. The kernel is the permutations of the corner faces which leave the corner blocks where they are. It turns out that whenever you twist one corner block, you must untwist another. So when you have decided what to do with seven corners, the eighth is determined - hence 3^7. For the image, we have eight blocks, and 8! permutations of them, so this must be the full symmetry group S8 - meaning that we can perform any rearrangement of the corner blocks that is desired.
> orderSGS kerEdgeBlocks
> orderSGS imEdgeBlocks
These are 2^11 and 12! respectively. For the kernel, whenever we flip one edge piece we must also flip another. So when we have decided what to do with eleven edges, the twelfth is determined - hence 2^11. For the image, we have twelve pieces, and 12! permutations of them, so we have the full symmetry group S12 on edge blocks.
That's it.
Incidentally, my references for this material are:
- Holt, Handbook of Computational Group Theory
- Seress, Permutation Group Algorithms
both of which are very good - but expensive.
These books, particularly the latter, go on to describe further algorithms that can be used to factor even transitive primitive groups, enabling us to arrive at a full decomposition of a group into simple groups. Unfortunately, the algorithms get a bit more complicated after this, and I haven't yet implemented the rest in HaskellForMaths.


text:
Make every ride safer with the first tail light designed for daylight visibility. Flare R's balanced optics set off with a powerful CREE LED can be seen from over 2km day or night. 65 Lumens and 270 degrees of visibility help make you the biggest distraction on the road.
The Flare R's powerful CREE LED shine bright through balanced optics ensuring visibility of over 270 degrees. Visible over 2km day/night for the ultimate in riding safety.
- 65 Lumens for visibility from over 2km day or night
- Be seen with balanced optics designed for 270 degree visibility near and far
- Two day-time visibility modes and two night modes
- Day modes: 65LM flash-4.25hrs, 35LM all-day-10hrs, 25LM steady-4.5hrs
- Night modes: 65LM flash-23hrs, 5LM steady-21hrs
- Battery save mode at 5% life helps ensure a safe ride home with depleted battery
- Quick Connect bracket with 16 degree offset compensates for seatpost angle
- Includes quick connect bracket and USB charging cable
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Reviewed by 22 customers
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How can I turn the light 90 degrees?
Best Uses
I used this light for three years before it finally failed (plug where cord is plugged in pushed completely in). Being a year around rider this light has seen everything that Minnesota can dish out. The only times that I have had a problem with it is when I have ridden in the rain for extended periods of time (ie. Minnesota Ironman). After it dried out, the light worked perfectly again. It's easily strapped to any one of the four bikes that I own which makes buying multiple lights unnecessary unless you want more on a single bike to be even more visible.
great light but broke in 13 months
I've now owned 2 of these. First one failed after a Summer of use, wont recharge. My new one won't stay on stobe any longer than an hour.
I do a lot of early morning rides to work and was told by a fellow employee they could see my light very bright from a long distance. Only had one problem a couple of times could not get the light to turn off. I now use two lights keep one blinking and the other on steady.
Best Uses
I would buy Bontrager Flare R without even thinking for a second. I have used many other taillights in the past and I can easily say this taillight is the gold standard of bike taillights. Visibility is very important for us road cyclist and Bontrager Flare R does its job perfectly. I see many cyclist on the road with poor visibility and I cringe. I worry about their safety. A taillight is not a worth anything when a car driver can only see you when they get really really close. It's often too late. It sounds a bit pricey but it's worth every penny when you think about the alternatives.
Best Uses
I was impressed with the brightness of this lamp. I had no difficulty attaching it to my seat post. It is easily removed for charging. Testing it in direct sunlight, it was quite bright and visible from well over 200 yards away. Drivers should easily see this from a long way away. While a little on the pricey side, I think the safety factor makes it well worth it. This is easily the brightest bike tail light I have ever seen or used.
This bad boy works like a champ. Super bright. On my first ride with this light I even noticed more girls honking, waving and smiling. One even rolled her window down and asked if I wanted to go out. Get this light.
I was hesitant because of the price and reading that others had difficulty shutting the light off. Neither of those reasons should prevent you from ordering. Money well spent because of visibility and everyone who sees the light wants one because of that. Turning the light off is easy - just hold down the button for about 3 seconds and the light turns off. Apparently these people have not tried holding the button down till the light shuts off. Easy to use. The difficulty for me was attaching it to the clip. LOL but once you line it up and it goes click you have a VERY secure attachment. No bumps are going to knock that light off! Really good product and could save your life because everyone can see you!
Powerful and bright flash mode but not well built used it about 5 times over 4 months now it does not hold a charge.
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text:
Fitted sheets, with their odd round elastic-y corners, are a puzzle to fold. That is, unless you know how to fold a fitted sheet like a pro, as the video above shows us.
To get a fitted sheet into a nice flat rectangle, the key is to have all the corners tucked into each other. Watch the video from YouTube user Hisgirl777 for a better demonstration, but here are the steps:
1. Take the sheet warm out of the dryer (for fewer wrinkles) and shake it out.
2. Lay the sheet down with the long side facing you (across your body).
3. Stick your fingers into the bottom left corner.
4. Take the opposite corner right above it and pull it over the corner in your hand.
5. Repeat on the right side: place your right hand in the bottom right corner, then pull the opposite corner over it. You'll now be holding the corners in each hand.
6. Turn the corners in your left hand over the corners you're holding in the right. Now all four corners will be on your right hand.
7. Lay down this new square and smooth it out.
8. Square off the corners as best you can.
9. Fold into rectangles.
When done you might not even be able to tell it's a fitted sheet. Now you don't need to stuff balls of fitted sheets in your linen closet.
Crash Course is a twice-weekly series of guides to life skills everyone should know but you may have been afraid to ask. Do you have an everyday problem you wish someone had taught you to solve? Let us know at firstname.lastname@example.com.
You can follow or contact Melanie Pinola, the author of this post, on Twitter.


text:
Peoples Bank of Alabama v. BP Exploration & Production Inc et al
|Peoples Bank of Alabama
|Transocean Offshore Deepwater Drilling Inc, Transocean Deepwater Inc, Transocean Holdings LLC, BP Exploration & Production Inc, BP America Production Company, BP PLC, Transocean Ltd, Halliburton Energy Services Inc and Sperry Drilling Services
|Case Number:
|April 19, 2013
|Alabama Northern District Court
|Northeastern Office
|Presiding Judge:
|C Lynwood Smith
|Nature of Suit:
|Other Statutory Actions
|Cause of Action:
|33:1365 Environmental Matters
|Jury Demanded By:
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text:
Straight from the Barrel: A Gentleman's Gin
- August 27, 2003 |
- By Jack Bettridge
If you're in a bar and you see a rather British-looking gent wearing a bowler hat, say hello. You might get a drink -- and a laugh -- out of it.
Andy Dawson, director of Broker's Gin Ltd. in England, has been visiting the United States monthly of late to promote his new premium gin, a product he says that is meant to "attract the attention of people abroad who have an affinity for gin and things English." To that end, not only does the label depict a British gentleman in a business suit with umbrella, financial newspaper and a bowler, but the bottle sports a miniature plastic version of the same hat on its cap.
So it was appropriate then, despite the heat, that Mr. Dawson recently showed up at our offices topped by a real bowler. Once we were convinced he wasn't Alex from A Clockwork Orange, we were pleased to share a taste of his new spirit.
Developed in 2000, Broker's Gin is the brainchild of Dawson and his brother Martin, who identified a spirits market void and decided to fill it with premium gin that doesn't take itself too seriously. "We want to build lightness and fun into what had been a rather staid, old-fashioned spirit," says Andy Dawson.
And they have. Promotions include a postcard of an airport waiting-room scene in which a man wearing nothing but a bowler and a strategically placed magazine sits among other oblivious travelers. The tagline, of course, is "Don't forget your hat." The same words are printed on a handout that appears to be a matchbook, but contains a condom and a recipe for "the Lubricator" (1 part Broker's Gin, 1 part espresso, 8 parts steamed milk, 1 part chocolate syrup and a topping of whipped cream). The slogan is also the name of drink the company has concocted, involving its gin and trace elements of pineapple, orange and lemon juice, as well as bitters.
The brothers apparently felt that dry gin could use a little dry humor to shore up a spirit that has been a bit parched in the alcohol world of late. Andy Dawson says they took a look in liquor stores and bars and saw that "whiskeys took up this much room on the shelf." He holds his hands a few feet apart. "And that vodka was like this." He stretches his arms out completely. "But that gin was like this." He brings his hands to within a few inches of each other. "There was room for another gin, and I'd say ours is reflecting that."
If the promotions are whimsical and blithe, the gin isn't. It's serious stuff made from a recipe that contains juniper, coriander, orris, nutmeg, cassia bark, cinnamon, orange, lemon peel and angelica root. As with all premium style gins, it is made with the botanicals themselves, not essences. The orange is more pronounced than in most gins, the juniper less. The effect is a bright, somewhat fruity, but still dry choice in the gin spectrum. The recipe comes from Alcohols Ltd., the distiller that the brothers approached to create their gin. Andy Dawson says that the maker had a number of recipes that weren't being used on file from its more than 100 years in the business. They tested them all and chose the one they liked best.
The aim has been to position the gin with other premium market leaders that Dawson calls the "Big Three," that is Tanqueray, Beefeater and Bombay Sapphire. The price has been set at a dollar below that competition (about $19) in whatever market it is sold.
Andy Dawson had no experience in liquor previous to the endeavor (he worked in the oil, real estate and film distribution industries on the financial end previously). Brother Martin, however, had previously worked in spirits as a marketer on such brands as Canadian Club and Tia Maria. Andy is the finance director and Martin the marketing director.
The gin is available in America on a limited basis. The Northwest (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Utah) is where it first gained a foothold. It is also sold in Texas, Arizona, Connecticut and the Carolinas. Dawson is hoping to breech the large East Coast markets of New York, Boston and Washington, as well as California. He welcomes offers from serious parties.


text: Do you have the capacity to take on more business? Are you prepared to do more? With a global network of over 150,000 members in 50 countries, BNI is taking business networking to the next level!! Last year members of BNI in Australia generated business referrals that resulted in more than $233 million in new business. (In that same period BNI worldwide passed over 6 million referrals, this translates to over A$3.1 billion of business). BNI provides a structured system of giving and receiving business. It does this by providing an environment in which personal relationships can be developed with dozens of other qualified business professionals. By establishing this 'formal' relationship with other people, each member has the opportunity to substantially increase his or her business.If you're interested to see what BNI can do for your business, come along as a visitor to our dynamic, friendly chapter. We'd love to meet you!


text:
Brett Sube Skater Profile
Sponsors: Stacks Skateboards, Rogue Status, Skate Sauce, Gracias LA, Quintin Co, Autobahn (flow), Footprint Insoles
Hometown: Sacramento CA, Stance: Regular, Age: 30, Status: Am
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text: Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums :: View topic - My favorite dog Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in My favorite dog Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Pets View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message manaminJoined: 15 May 2003Posts: 1 Posted: Thu May 22, 2003 10:47 pm Post subject: My favorite dog I like dogs very much. I wanted to have a dog, but my house cant have and my father has to remove. So I cant. But last year I hold my friends dog, so my mother and I like a dog more and more! The dog is very pretty and she is very friendly. Therefore she likes people, so if she found a person, she runs to a person very speedy! So I like such dog! Back to top candyleeJoined: 03 Aug 2003Posts: 5 Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2003 8:15 pm Post subject: my favourite dog I have a big dog. He has long hair. his mane is Done. Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Pets All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Student Forums----------------ComputersCurrent NewsCultureEnglish SchoolsFamilyFilm and CinemaFoodHealth and FitnessHelp CenterHobbiesHolidaysLearning EnglishLiteratureMaking FriendsMusicOpinionsPetsScienceSportsThe Strange and MysteriousTOEFL and Other English ExamsTravel You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum Dave's ESL Cafe is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Banner Advertising | Bookstore / Alta Books | FAQs | Articles | Interview with Dave Copyright © 2018 Dave's ESL Cafe | All Rights Reserved | Contact Dave's ESL Cafe | Site Map Teachers College, Columbia University: Train to Teach English Here or Abroad Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group


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Message Board
Kathleen Lawless Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Lawless has written!
Author Lawless's Book Reviews
Pocket, Aug 2004, 12.00, 194 pp. ISBN: 0743476743 In 1899, grand adventuress Aurora Tremblay rides an air balloon so that she can breech the estate of wealthy Grayson Thorne, who has ignored her attempts to make an appointment with him. However, when the wind sends her balloon away, Aurora is forced to rely on the hospitality of her host who insists he has no one available to take her back to San Francisco. Aurora wants to get San Francisco's G...


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Assembling Y-bearings into housings with fitting slots
When mounting a Y-bearing into a housing with fitting slots, the bearing should be inserted into the fitting slot in the housing bore (fig. 1) and then swivelled into position. The misalignment of the bearing relative to the housing should not exceed 5°. Eccentric locking collars should be removed from the bearing prior to mounting and reinstalled when the bearing is in position in the housing.
The locking device should face in the same direction as the fitting slots, except for stainless steel housings and composite housings for SKF Food Line with designation suffix L. When mounting bearings into these housings, the locking device should face in the opposite direction to the fitting slots.
Make sure that no relubrication hole or groove in the bearing outside diameter coincides with either of the fitting slots in the housing, otherwise grease leakage may result or contamination might enter the bearing (fig. 2).
If the bearing has to be relubricated, make sure the relubrication features in the outer ring (hole or groove and hole) coincide with the relubrication feature in the housing bore. The misalignment of the bearing relative to the housing should not exceed 2°, otherwise relubrication will not be possible (fig. 3).
SKF recommends mounting SKF Y-bearings only into SKF Y-housings to avoid a mismatch of components and to enable proper bearing relubrication.


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SOCHI SCENE: Like selfies to a flame
SOCHI, Russia (AP) — The Olympic flame in Sochi has become a selfie hotspot.
Taking a self-portrait with a cellphone camera has become wildly popular, and the opportunity do it with one of the most iconic Olympic symbols in the background is proving to be one of the biggest attractions at the Sochi Games.
In fact, so many people are doing it upon entering Olympic Park that a bit of a competition has broken out, with fans going for unique poses to set themselves apart from the flood of flame selfies on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
A state-run children's ballet ensemble from the nearby city of Rostov-on-Don broke into a choreographed dance when Swan Lake came over the loudspeakers, while their instructor took pictures with the flame just behind them.
"We're seeing it for the first time," Yulya Podgurskaya says. "It's very beautiful."
For some Russians, it's become a can't-miss chance to express some patriotism and revel in having the biggest sporting event in the world in their backyard.
Philip Shustov went one step further, putting his 10-year-old son back in Moscow on FaceTime on his iPhone to let him see the flame.
Shustov says the flame is the defining symbol "of the games, of New Russia. I don't remember previous Olympic Games because I was only 3 years old. Now it's history here in Russia."
Russia is hosting the Olympics for the first time since the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow.
-- Jon Krawczynski -- Twitter http://twitter.com/APKrawczynski
Associated Press reporters will be filing dispatches about happenings in and around Sochi during the 2014 Winter Games. Follow AP journalists covering the Olympics on Twitter: http://apne.ws/1c3WMiu


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Their performances powered the St. Joseph's College baseball team to a doubleheader sweep of John Jay College, 13-2 and 9-1, on Sunday afternoon at James Madison High School.
The Bears (14-8) sweep the season series with the Bloodhounds (3-18) and improve to a season best six games over .500 and open a busy stretch of nine games in seven days.
St. Joseph's improves to 12-3 in the all-time series against John Jay, winning the last 10 meetings.
Cutrone becomes the seventh Bear to knock 100 career hits, achieving the mark in 89 games. Mendez is the fourth Bear to score 100 runs and his two jacks ties the single season record for home runs with seven.
Cutrone also improved his reached base safely streak to 20 games. Francis Rapp's reached base safely streak ended at 12 games, tied for third longest on the team this season.
Meanwhile, Mike Cundari moved into a tie for second on the all-time runs scored list with 109, tying Joseph Boccia. He sits seven runs away from being the all-time leader.
St. Joseph kicks off the week against Cairn in Langhorne, Pa., to open a stretch of three straight road games in as many days.


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If you thought Menny Lindenfeld's original Hollow was good, you're going to love "Hollow 2" even more!
A card punched with a small hole is displayed, and shown on both sides. The performer then removes a magnifying glass and holds it over the hole to let a spectator have a closer look. While the spectator is looking through the glass, the magician moves his finger back and forth under the enlarged hole. While talking about how dramatically things seem to grow under the magnifying glass, the performer holds the glass a bit further away from the card, making the hole look even bigger. When the magnifying glass is removed, the hole has unbelievably grown to a huge size! The performer holds the magnifying glass above the hole again and it visually shrinks back to its original size! Everything is then handed out for examination.
Do you own this product? Write a review.


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Deciding which style case is best for your HTC Merge can be tricky. There's a wide variety of cases available ranging from leather cases, waterproof cases, and skin cases to holsters and hard cases for the HTC Merge. Although each are different in their own way, they all serve one similar purpose: Protecting your HTC Merge.
HTC Merge Hard Cases
These hard cases for the HTC Merge offer a great level of protection against drops, dings and scratches that can occur when you least expect them to. With cut-outs for all of the device's features, the HTC Merge hard cases provide optimal coverage while keeping a slim form factor for your smartphone.
Waterproof Cases for HTC Merge
It's difficult to enjoy all outdoor activities without having to worry about getting your HTC Merge sweaty or soaking wet. This is where waterproof cases for the HTC Merge are extremely handy to keep around for weekend excursions.


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Market Watch: The latest farmers market news by David Karp
Encino farmers market is a top choice for fresh produce in the Valley
Farmers Markets: Among the farms selling at the Encino market are Givens Farms, Underwood Family Farms and Tutti Frutti Farms.
Culver City farmers market hits the sweet spot with a wide selection
With 30 growers including Finley Farms and Cuyama Orchards, the market makes for a weekday pick on the Westside.
Farmers Markets: Persimmons come calling early at Tuesday Torrance
Tuesday Torrance doesn't sell as much as the Saturday market at the same spot, but it has great finds and many farmers.
Kenter Canyon Farms reaps harvest of locally grown wheat
Farmers Markets: Kenter Canyon Farms has launched its 'farm to toaster' program, with heritage wheatberries, freshly milled flour and breads. It's the first of several such projects.
Farmers Market: Fall Fiesta has post-season plum taste in Brentwood
Fall Fiesta, which looks like a standard purple pluot, is a Zaiger hybrid: plum, cherry, peach and nectarine.
Farmers Markets: West Hollywood market a mixed bag for Mondays
The West Hollywood farmers market for more than 25 years has served its community well by sticking to the basics. Along with Bellflower and South Gate, it's one of just three markets in the Southland held on a Monday, when farmers are usually busy farming or are reposing after working all weekend....
Farmers Markets: Medjool date line moves east into Arizona
In Yuma, Ariz., 2,700 acres of Medjool date palms are planted, for a harvest that will surpass the production at Bard, Calif.
Farmers Markets: Sudachi, a citrus that spices up late summer and fall
The Japanese citrus Sudachi is small and juicy and used to flavor soups, fish dishes and matsutake mushrooms.
Farmers Markets: A refresher course on specialty apples
It's prime season for specialty apples. From the Golden Russet to the Hauer Pippin, the flavorful specimens will be available at local farmers markets over the next few months.
Wax apples come to Temple City, Pasadena farmers markets
Farmers Markets: Wax apples, popular in Taiwan, are uncommon in Southern California. But now Lung Ke Wu is growing and selling them here.


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You can't beat a system you can't understand
You can't beat a system you can't understand
A new year's resolution
A woman in a small New England town left her car door open while she wheeled her cart back to the store after shopping. During the minute she was gone, thieves stole some of her groceries. The woman returned to find her bags overturned and two of them missing. Only one man witnessed the incident. She was in tears when the man offered to assist her. He called the police, and when a patrol car arrived, the policeman asked the man to help fill out a report.
"How many were involved?" the officer asked.
"Two," the man replied.
"Were they African-American, white, Pacific Islanders, Hispanic, or Native-American?" the policeman continued.
"I am an African-American," the man answered. And I am as pale an occidental as you'll ever encounter. I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. From my perspective, the term African-American would hardly describe the identity of the thieves whether they were black or white. And incidentally, my wife was born in Honolulu, in the sovereign state of Hawaii. That makes her a United States citizen by birth. She does not appreciate being referenced as a Pacific Islander. The terms are offensive," the man said.
The policeman, becoming frustrated, then said, "I didn't write the form. Please help me describe the thieves as best you can. What were they wearing? Did they have coats? If so, what color were they?"
"Yes, they had coats, the man said. One was brown with a red collar, and the other was black. They both had dark eyes and facial hair."
The policeman could tell by the man's attitude that he wasn't going to get much more information. The man was obviously offended by his questions. He mumbled a perfunctory thankyou and went on his way. The thieves were never caught. Why? Because they were dogs. A category for species was not included in the police form.
The point is: if we want to erase the racial lines that divide our society, then we must stop identifying ourselves with labels that clearly point out our differences. Where these so-called politically correct terms originated, I have no idea, but I wish they would go away. Terms indicating ethnic division can hardly be expected to bring a society together.
We, as a country, are over two centuries old. We have a culture with an ideology that is like no other. We have a constitution that has lasted longer than any in recorded history. We are Americans. Why do we have such difficulty embracing that idea?
As the great actor Morgan Freeman said: "Stop calling me a black man and I'll stop calling you a white man, and we'll just be men." If we truly want this country to be united, as our name implies, then let's identify ourselves as Americans and be proud of it. I believe that would be a great New Year's resolution for the entire nation. It's a system all of us can understand.
That being said, I wish you and yours a happy, healthy and productive New Year.


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Vboy Swerv - ExtarOrdinary [Label Submitted]
"The 1st single off magnum muzik vol 2 VBOYZ from NY to ATL 2 N" - VBOY Records
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
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Barely minutes after the news broke earlier this month that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) was planning a major effort on Capitol Hill to garner support for the Obama administration's plan for a limited military operation against the Syrian regime, the conspiracy theorists were having a field day.
As always, it's instructive to note how the notion that American foreign policy is a prisoner of organizations like AIPAC, the main pro-Israel lobbying group in America, is an idée fixe on both the far left and the extreme right. Juan Cole, a left-wing academic with a strong online following, grabbed the opportunity to argue that AIPAC, in advocating for what he described as "attacking Syria," is out of touch with the opinions of most American Jews, who are not evil neoconservatives but solid progressives. The anti-Zionist Jewish blogger M.J. Rosenberg ranted about how "AIPAC and its cutouts are the only lobbying forces supporting the administration's plans for war."
Not to be outdone, Rod Dreher of The American Conservative, a magazine founded by Pat Buchanan, wrote that in supporting military action, AIPAC was endangering the lives of Syrian Christians, whom he believes are better off under the Assad regime.
Such concern for the plight of Christian minorities in the Middle East is touching, but also a tad disingenuous, as The American Conservative has never shown much sympathy for the fate of those Christian communities, from Nigeria to Pakistan, who suffer from Islamist atrocities. When you bring Israel into the equation, however, the magazine suddenly finds its voice.
The combined message here is clear: Syria is Iraq Redux, another "endless war" America is being pushed into by a shadowy Jewish cabal.
Critics of these conspiracy theories have rightly pointed out the anti-Semitic pedigree on display here. The idea that Jews are powerful enough to manipulate their governments from behind the scenes is a staple of modern anti-Semitism. Still, let's for a moment take the Israel Lobby thesis on its own merits. Is the charge that the "Lobby" is the real authority when it comes to U.S. foreign policy empirically verifiable?
The answer to that question is a resounding no. In fact, what the latest developments on Syria demonstrate is that rather than the "Lobby" running the administration, it is the administration that runs the "Lobby."
AIPAC, along with mainstream Jewish advocacy organizations, had been largely silent on the atrocities taking place in Syria. In that sense, they were no different from the other influential groups and individuals who were either undecided on the issue of a limited military operation or firmly opposed to it. It's no secret that Obama always faced a rough ride in Congress, especially as some of his traditional supporters, like the MoveOn.org PAC, actively opposed any intervention in Syria.
Similarly, the Jewish left is uncomfortable with the prospect of taking on the Assad regime; J Street, a group that once ludicrously claimed to be Obama's "blocking back" on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict issue, has deserted the president over Syria.
Rather than pushing for war, then, AIPAC and similar groups were drafted in at the last minute to boost support for a president who was looking dangerously isolated. The irony of an administration that includes Chuck Hagel, the defense secretary who famously bemoaned AIPAC's influence, running to groups like AIPAC to secure backing shouldn't be lost on anyone. Even so, away from the political point scoring, what this shows is that the influence of pro-Israel groups is something this administration values. Equally – and this is key – these groups will wield that influence when the administration requests that they do so.
Importantly, this is not the first time the administration has turned to the "Lobby" for support on Middle East-related matters. Part of the reason Secretary of State John Kerry was able to galvanize support and publicity for his efforts to renew the Israeli-Palestinian peace process was that he turned to American Jews, whose principal organizations dutifully trumpeted his message. The fact that Kerry's diplomacy has yielded few results isn't really his fault, nor is it the fault of American Jews. The stasis on the Israeli-Palestinian front is the consequence, as it always has been, of rejectionism among the Palestinians, whose leaders remain distinctly queasy about doing anything that might smack of accepting Israel's legitimacy.
Any worry about all of this on the part of American Jewish organizations should relate not to accusations of outsize influence but to association with failure. So far Israel has little to show for its decision, under pressure from the Americans, to release Palestinian terrorists ahead of the talks; meanwhile, the Syrian intervention proposal is mired in confusion because of widespread concern that an American-led operation will be too little, too late.
If the Obama administration can be confident of anything, it is that its American Jewish partners will never go so far as to openly criticize the president. Far from being the war-crazed cabal depicted in the imaginations of conspiracy theorists, the "Israel Lobby" is in reality an oasis of calm reliability for a president who may just be on the cusp of his biggest foreign policy failure.


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Shortly after the election, CNBC began an initiative urging politicians to
rise above
partisan bickering and come to terms on various budget and tax plans. Without it, most economists agree that the country will fall back into recession. As part of the initiative, CNBC viewers and followers could request their very own #RiseAbove pin to show support. Many of our #RiseAbove fans have shared their photos on Twitter. We've sifted through your tweets and present the 10 most memorable photos.
By Mary Catherine Wellons, Eli Langer and Meredith Kenyon
Posted 11 Dec. 2012


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Curator's Gallery Talks
Virginia Heckert, associate curator of Photographs, the J. Paul Getty Museum, leads gallery talks on the exhibition. Free; no reservations required. Meet under the stairs in the Museum Entrance Hall.
Thursday, July 8, 2010, 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 15, 2010, 2:30 p.m.
Getty Center, Museum galleries
J. Paul Getty Museum
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049-1687


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Using GPS
Suunto Ambit2 R uses Global Positioning System (GPS) in determining your current position. GPS incorporates a set of satellites that orbit the Earth at an altitude of 20,000 km at the speed of 4 km/s.
The built-in GPS receiver in Suunto Ambit2 R is optimized for wrist use and receives data from a very wide angle.
Getting GPS signal
Suunto Ambit2 R activates GPS automatically when you select a sport mode with the GPS functionality, determine your location, or start navigating.
When you activate GPS for the first time, or have not used it for a long time, it might take longer than usual to get a GPS fix. Subsequent GPS starts will take less time.
To minimize GPS initiation time, hold the watch steady with GPS facing up and make sure you are in an open area so that the watch has a clear view of the sky.
Troubleshooting: No GPS signal
- For an optimal signal, point the GPS part of the watch upwards. The best signal can be received in an open area with a clear view of the sky.
- The GPS receiver usually works well inside tents and other thin covers. However, objects, buildings, dense vegetation or cloudy weather can reduce the GPS signal reception quality.
- GPS signal does not penetrate any solid constructions or water. Therefore do not try to activate GPS for example inside buildings, caves, or under water.
GPS grids and position formats
Grids are lines on a map that define the coordinate system used on the map.
Position format is the way the GPS receiver's position is displayed on the watch. All the formats relate to the same location, they only express it in a different way. You can change the position format in the watch settings under General / Format / Position format.
You can select the format from the following grids:
- latitude/longitude is the most commonly used grid and has three different formats:
- WGS84 Hd.d°
- WGS84 Hd°m.m'
- WGS84 Hd°m's.s
- UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) gives a two-dimensional horizontal position presentation.
- MGRS (Military Grid Reference System) is an extension of UTM and consists of a grid zone designator, 100,000-meter square identifier and a numerical location.
Suunto Ambit2 R also supports the following local grids:
- British (BNG)
- Finnish (ETRS-TM35FIN)
- Finnish (KKJ)
- Irish (IG)
- Swedish (RT90)
- Swiss (CH1903)
- UTM NAD27 Alaska
- UTM NAD27 Conus
- New Zealand (NZTM2000)
Some grids cannot be used in the areas north of 84°N and south of 80°S, or outside the countries that they are intended for.
GPS accuracy and power saving
When customizing sport modes, you can define the GPS fix interval using the GPS accuracy setting in Movescount. The shorter the interval, the better the accuracy during exercise.
By increasing the interval and lowering the accuracy, you can extend the battery life.
The GPS accuracy options are:
- Best: ~ 1 sec fix interval, highest power consumption
- Good: ~ 5 sec fix interval, moderate power consumption
- OK: ~ 60 sec fix interval, lowest power consumption
- Off: no GPS fix


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ConsultativeRisk needed a new stationery design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 20 designs submitted by 6 freelance designers.
The Wellborn Group
Commercial/Business Insurance Brokers. Strictly business to business advisers.
Please work the slogan into all stationary.
Chic, modern and upscale. High end. Please help us make the designs scream instant credibility!
SLOGAN: Insuring Risk. Assuring Wealth.
(must have a small SM after the slogan for Service Mark)


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Mar 21, 2012
Weekly Muppet Wednesdays: Beauregard
Performed by...
Dave Goelz
First appearance...
The Muppet Show Episode 310: Marissa Berenson (1978)
Most recent appearance...
Muppets Most Wanted (2014)
Best known role...
Dim-witted janitor of the Muppet Theater
Famous quote...
"What color are their hands now?"
Beauregard is the custodian, janitor, and general handy man for the Muppet Theater. He is not very bright by any means and usually finds a way to mess up the job he's supposed to be doing. Beauregard, sometimes just called "Beau," has been employed at the Muppet Theater as the janitor since Season 3 of The Muppet Show, replacing George the Janitor, who worked at the theater in Season 1. Beauregard has been known to get on the nerves of Kermit, Scooter, and Miss Piggy (though he does seem to have a sweet relationship with the latter).
In his first appearance on The Muppet Show, Beauregard was part of the song "Do Re Mi" with some of the other Muppets. It wasn't until three episodes later that he was first seen working as a janitor/stagehand. In Episode 313: Helen Reddy, Beauregard greases the floors and later uses way too much sand, inadvertently causing the closing number to be desert-themed. Beauregard would continue to appear in numerous episodes of The Muppet Show throughout the course of its run, flubbing up his duties and adding another frustration for Kermit.
One of Beau's most notable moments on the show was in Episode 503: Joan Baez where he befriends a group of rats, including Rizzo, after he lets them eat from the refrigerator. The rats quickly dub Beau an honorary rat and even elect him rat president. When Kermit threatens to fire him unless the rats leave, Beauregard fights for his rat friends and prepares to take the hit. Shockingly, it's Miss Piggy who helps Beau come to his senses and see that the rats are using him to get what they want.
Beauregard's largest role of all came in The Great Muppet Caper in 1981 where he played a taxi driver in London. He drove Kermit, Fozzie Bear, and Gonzo around London town until finally crashing into the lobby of the Happiness Hotel--a practice that doesn't seem new to Pops or any of the other residents. Later, when the Muppets are planning their heist, Kermit says that they'll have to catch the thieves of the Fabulous Baseball Diamond red handed. Beauregard blinks and asks, "What color are their hands now?" This line became a fan-favorite and a defining moment for the dim-witted Beauregard.
The lovable dope faded into the background after The Great Muppet Caper. He did have speaking parts in A Muppet Family Christmas and The Muppets at Walt Disney World. In the latter, he took Miss Piggy on a whirlwind tour of the Disney Parks, making her suffer through all the thrill rides while he sat back and enjoyed them quietly. This pairing was very interesting and effective in the special, but unfortunately it has yet to be seen again.
Unfortunately, Beauregard faded into the background, and thus obscurity throughout the 1990s. He had a brief line at the end of the Sandra Bullock episode of Muppets Tonight, but other than that remained completely silent for almost 20 years, even though he appeared in Muppets From Space, It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, and Letters to Santa. Beauregard returned to a speaking role on Muppets.com in 2008, where he starred in three "Better Living with Bobo the Bear" videos alongside Bobo the Bear. The duo was hysterical together presenting topics such as working out, makeovers, and removing unsightly hares (not a spelling error). This pair-up essentially proved that Beauregard can work will with almost any Muppet.
In the past few years Beauregard has held a steady tertiary role in Muppet productions, most notably appearing and singing in 2009's "Bohemian Rhapsody" viral video. Beau also appeared in an episode of The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora, helping to a mess of the World's Biggest Sandwich. He also appeared with a large group of Muppets in "The Muppet Show Theme Song" music video with OK Go. Beauregard's biggest role recently was in The Muppets in 2011. In the feature film, while the Muppets are cleaning up the theater, Scooter opens up a broom closet only to find Beauregard there with a hammock set up. Beauregard is thrilled to see Scooter as he says, "Scooter! Good to see you! Where's everybody been?" It's good to know that after all these years Beau is still dedicated to his janitorial job and his dim-witted nature.
Beauregard has appeared in many books and comic books as well, including his own starring book "Bo Saves the Show." Not much Beauregard merchandise exists, but an action figure of Beau was made in 2004 as part of Series 7 of the Palisades Toys line of Muppet action figures. The figure appropriately came with a broom, a mop, and a mop bucket. A Sideshow Bust of Beauregard was also produced in 2002.
The Muppets need Beauregard because he cleans the place up (although apparently not very well, as the state of the theater in The Muppets shows clearly). Though that is important, Beau is also dependable, caring, and loyal. He is a friend to everyone he meets--even insignificant rats. All he wants to do is help, and what's not to love about that?
Moreover, Beauregard works hilariously well with nearly anyone. Kermit (Helen Reddy episode), Scooter (Gene Kelly episode), Piggy (The Muppets at Walt Disney World), Fozzie (Harry Belafonte episode), Beaker (Elke Sommer episode), Bobo the Bear (Muppets.com), Rizzo (Joan Baez episode), and so many others. Dave Goelz once said that Beauregard didn't become a star because he was too passive and didn't want anything so the writers didn't know what to do with him. I think that's what makes him special... because he doesn't want, he gives. Beauregard may seem dumb on the outside, but he is truly a caring, special character who has a lot to offer other than a sweeping broom.
The Muppet Mindset by Ryan Dosier, email@example.com
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