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For those who enjoy thinking, and the thinking man's game.
Members: 39
Latest Activity: Sep 3, 2013
Started by John Jubinsky. Last reply by AgeOfAtheists14 Jan 3, 2012. 3 Replies 0 Likes
Chesstafarians unite! Or .. battle!
Not take backs! ; )
enjoy~ I really dig melle' though like wrath unleashed on ps2... or 3 equivalent Lucas arts whaaat! peace
Music to my ears to hear the female computer voice say "check mate..."
I am not a good player,but i am trying to make chess program.I have a super computer available at college that have speed of 180 Gflops.
Computer programs now use a large database for openings as well as for end games.i am not questioning the capability of the programs but majority of them depends on the computational power.Sometimes these programs fall for anti-computer chess tactics.
In 2006, World Champion Vladimir Kramnik lost a match to Deep Fritz, 4-2. That was thought to be the last time that a human would have an even chance in a match against a top computer.
There is no question that the top computer programs today are stronger than any human. Rybka beats grandmasters at odds of Pawn and move.
computer opponents are weaker than human opponents
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The second dreambikes auction is in full swing, and you'll definitely want to check out the second set of one-of-a-kind mountain bikes put together by the team at crankbrothers! This is your chance to bid on and win the mountain bike of your dreams while knowing that all of the auction proceeds will provide funding for Hans Rey's Wheels4Life charity. Wheels4Life is a non-profit organization that provides bikes for people in developing countries, working directly with communities around the globe by donating bikes to deserving individuals who desperately need them to get to school, to work, or to provide health care to patients.
To create the dreambikes, Crankbrothers partnered with premiere frame builders Ibis, Titus, Focus and Tomac, and component and accessories makers SRAM, Rock Shox, Avid, Fizik and Continental Tires to create a stable of impeccably equipped, one-of-a-kind dream bikes that were displayed at cycling events across the western U.S. and Europe.
Up for bid in this second dreambikes auction are a size XL Tomac Carbide XC and this sharp-looking blue-and-white size large Titus FTM Carbon:
If full-tilt is how you roll, the Titus FTM (Full-Tilt Moto) deserves a closer look. It's a lightweight, hill-sprinting, singletrack-ripping trail rig with the chops to excel on the XC or endurance race circuit. And even if competition isn't in your blood, you can take satisfaction in knowing the FTM's crankbrothers Cobalt- and SRAM X0/X9-infused DNA makes the dreambikes edition FTM Carbon look like a full-tilt winner even when it's standing still.
Be sure to check out the rest of the dreambikes, and the upcoming auction schedule, on our website right now. You'll definitely want at least one of these bikes!
So what are you waiting for… don't miss your chance to bid on a bike & change a life!

subset: commoncrawl


text: Brief Encounters: Gregory Crewdson –Its all in the Details Photography is renown for its spontaneity and ability to capture a fleeting moment. In the race to the finish line, many photographers forget that the little details matter. Follow Gregory Crewdson as he shows us how attention to detail can transform the most ordinary scene into [more...]


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Abstract Jumpsuit
Added Nov 19, 2012
By MegH
Toronto, Canada
I was very excited to get started on a project from the the new book BurdaStyle Sewing Vintage Modern and I had this awesome fabric from Hart's Fabric.
I had to opportunity to choose a fabric from Hart's Fabric, and since I love working with spandex I immediately started browsing the swimwear fabric section. This abstract green watercolor fabric caught my eye. I love working with anything limegreen and stretchy. When I received it, I thought the beautiful print would look super cool in a jumpsuit and I also had this black spandex mesh that really complemented it.
I used two of the base pattern from the book to create my jumpsuit. For the bottom I used the Jean Stirrup Pants and the Elizabeth Gathered-Waist Dress bodice for the top portion. I raised the waistline and omitted the pintuck and waistband for the bottoms and I drafted a bustier variation found in the book using the master pattern for the top. The drafting and sewing instructions in the book were so easy to follow, and I love all the variations you can make. I took two different master patterns and made it into one garment, and it turned out great.
With my leftover fabric I decided to make a headwrap to complete my look! I followed our Headwrap DIY. I love how this jumpsuit can be styled, here I wanted an athletic look but you could easily wear heels and a glittery clutch to jazz it up for nighttime!
Material Notes
Printed Lycra, Mesh
Related Techniques
9 Comments Sign in to add a post
Feb 6, 2013, 07.25 PMby Maria Sanchez
i really like the colors on this jumpsuit!
Nov 23, 2012, 09.22 PMby AlbertGilbert
This is just too much fun! This young lady made my day with this colorful number. ;
1 Reply
Nov 26, 2012, 07.15 PMby MegH
Hehe thanks !
Nov 23, 2012, 04.58 PMby fatimafarasha
super cute, how do I get the stirup pattern? getting a mssg that says put in a code from the ebook? Can I just buy this pattern?
1 Reply
Nov 26, 2012, 07.15 PMby MegH
Thanks ! Actually, the stirrup pant pattern is from the new book and cannot be purchased individually. To get this pattern you must either buy the eBook (which will then give you the code to download) or purchase the book which will have the physical pattern inside. BurdaStyle Sewing Vintage Modern http://www.burdastyle.com/burdastyle-sewing-vintage-modern is available to but December 11th. Hope this helps!!
Nov 22, 2012, 01.21 PMby AilsaJaneLeonard
Great choice of fabric! Love it!
1 Reply
Nov 26, 2012, 07.11 PMby MegH
Thanks, this fabric really jumped out at me.
Nov 22, 2012, 11.01 AMby arisaid
Nice to see something so original and so "you". Love the photos too.
1 Reply
Nov 26, 2012, 07.11 PMby MegH
Thanks so much! This jumpsuit is VERY "me" haha.
Nov 20, 2012, 03.57 AMby Jamie Lau
You look fab! Can't wait to see your next project.
1 Reply
Nov 20, 2012, 03.08 PMby MegH
Thanks !! Can't wait to start working on my next project.
Nov 20, 2012, 02.40 AMby kisses
Nice fabric and great photos
1 Reply
Nov 20, 2012, 03.08 PMby MegH
Thank-you, I just love the fabric…so comfy and stretchy.
Nov 20, 2012, 12.52 AMby mollytov
Radical jumpsuit. The fabric rocks. Love it.
1 Reply
Nov 20, 2012, 03.09 PMby MegH
haha thanks! I think it's pretty neat, always wanted a radical jumpsuit.
Nov 19, 2012, 11.01 PMby Mary Athey
just gorgeous and so origional.!! you choose well.with the fabric and the jumpsuit and headband are fab on you x
1 Reply
Nov 20, 2012, 03.09 PMby MegH
Thanks so much!!!
Add to Favorites 4 people added it


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Expert Reviews
2011 Hyundai Equus
The Equus is Hyundai's first foray into the large luxury car market segment and it is effectively an all-new model in a very competitive environment. Equus aspires to compete with the Lexus LS 460, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and BMW 7 Series.
As well as being an insouciant gesture to the world's premium car manufacturers that it intends to play in every important segment, this model signals Hyundai's unshakable confidence in its own ability to engineer and build world class vehicles. And it might have been easy to discount the threat this company poses to established players were it not for the impressive recent introductions of the Sonata midsize sedan and Genesis near-luxury sedan and coupe.
Now, after driving the new Hyundai Equus, we can confirm that it is comparable in many ways to the key players in the upscale market. Still, after just an introductory drive in Northern California we are not about to proclaim it the best car in class. Considering the stratospheric panache permeating the luxury-car industry, that would have been an unbelievable achievement.
And yet, with its stylish, European-flavored exterior design, a roomy, comfortable interior clad in tasteful textures, mechanical attributes at the leading edge of automotive technology, and tactile and esthetic qualities good enough for the most discerning customers, the new Hyundai clearly has the goods to play in this league.
At the very least, we'd say the Equus is a fantastic vehicle to move into from a lower segment. We don't see potential Mercedes or BMW buyers considering the Hyundai brand, particularly when their aspirations are linked to social status. But with a base price of less than $60,000, the Equus offers all the performance, refinement and amenities this class of car offers at considerably less money than the entrenched opposition.
That on its own is worth consideration. Add intensive engineering, tasteful design and intelligent use of supplier's technology, and you have a car worth owning in its own right. While it might be tempting for some to discount this car as a luxury wannabe with derivative styling and a copycat format, our experience inside the car tells us that Hyundai has closed in on the concept of fine car-making in a way that confirms there is no going back.
Model LineupHyundai Equus Signature ($58,000); Ultimate ($64,500)
Walk Around
At first glance, the Equus flashes styling cues at you from various other brands. There's a little Mercedes in the grille, some Lexus at the rear lights, perhaps a bit of Acura RL from directly behind the car. But that's true of many new cars these days. And the Equus goes on to establish its own look after you see it enough times.
In the process, it looks better and better to us, revealing some of the subtlety in former Hyundai design chief Joel Piaskowski's design. (He's now gone off to join Mercedes-Benz, in an ironic turn of events.) Hyundai calls its new design language Fluidic Sculpture.
At the front, the grille design we know well from the Hyundai Genesis has been skillfully integrated with the headlight shapes, and carefully beveled front corners allow the light forms to carry around as vivid slashes into the quarter panels. The effect visually shortens the front overhang appreciably, to good effect. It is functional, too, allowing the auto-cornering HID headlights to swivel more effectively as the car turns.
The side of the car is distinguished by a contour crease that runs across the top of the front fender and then arcs through the doors before kicking up over the rear door handle to meet the rear light, lending the rear fender a muscular outline as it does. Chrome window surrounds and a bright strip below the doors adds further detail, while large, bright 19-inch wheels cram the wheel housings to emphasize a solid stance.
A fast roofline reduces the impression of size, so it is a surprise when you discover just how much interior space the design allows. Mercedes and Lexus have to field long-wheelbase models to be comparable. And the sleek Hyundai roof doesn't hurt rear-seat headroom much, either. The Equus is 0.8-inch shorter and 0.6-inch wider than a Lexus LS 460 L yet the Hyundai has 7.3 cubic feet more interior space than the Lexus does.
As you'd expect from an ambitious luxury-class contender, the Equus features a tidy leather and wood trimmed interior. There's nothing adventurous or experimental about the design, it's straightforwardly classic, but with some interesting arcs and curves in the dashboard wood inlays and vent register shapes to add character. An Alcantara headliner lends a real sense of privilege, and the seats are generous in size and support.
Contemporary instrumentation technology makes for an attractive display, and the main gauges are large and legible. A driver's information display is incorporated into the IP, providing all trip and vehicle status alerts, with accompanying audible warnings when appropriate.
Considering how much equipment the car has, the control layout is relatively uncluttered, with easily found switches and a fairly intuitive iDrive-like function controller. As is typical of the class, the Equus mounts some of the more commonly used switches on the steering wheel, further simplifying the layout.
Tall drivers will like the Equus, since it flaunts a roomy interior with large door apertures for easy access. And sybarites will enjoy the many luxury and convenience devices. We found no difficulty operating the stereo system or navigation without recourse to the manual, although a quick review of the voice-control glossary will certainly help if you plan to handle those tasks verbally.
Both models come with an extremely high level of interior equipment, including a heated wood-and-leather steering wheel with power tilt-and-telescopic adjustment, heated and cooled front seats, Alcantara suede headliner, driver's seat massage, dual automatic climate control with separate adjustment and rear-seat vent control, 60/40 power-reclining rear seats, power rear and side sunshades, auto defogging system with rain-sensing wipers, and 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat.
The Ultimate model adds a forward-view parking and cornering camera, a power decklid, reclining rear seats with powered headrests, cooled rear seats, rear seat massage and leg support, rear seat refrigerator and a rear seat entertainment system. Harden's Lexicon stereo system is among the best available in-car sound systems we've ever heard, with full 7.1 Discrete Logic Surround Sound for brilliant separation and imaging.
Driving Impressions
Drivers will find much to enjoy behind the wood and leather steering wheel and the unusual winged emblem found at its center. The combination of a very stiff structure, elaborate sound-insulating disciplines and an air-spring suspension produces an experience that is at once quiet, smooth and responsive.
Hyundai's 4.6-liter Tau V8 wrings out its 333 pound-feet torque peak at a fairly low 3500 rpm, but sustains much of that throughout its operating range by dint of variable valve timing and variable intake volume, so it's seldom found wanting. And on the rare occasions where engine speed is too low for the driver's needs, the 6-speed ZF transmission is reasonably quick to find a lower gear.
Of course, the shifts are made in keeping with the Equus's quest for refinement, and the avoidance of shift-shock is a big priority. If you need more response, the selector slips over into the manual slot and puts command back at the driver's right hand. It still takes a full-throttle, high-rev run for the redline to showcase the Tau's real strength, when the fairly hefty car displays an impressive surge of acceleration.
With multi-link suspension all around, the big Hyundai's chassis handles accurately, abetted by the Continental air-struts and the Sachs electronically controlled damping system. There's a driver-selectable Sport position, which subdues ride motions quite well without introducing much abruptness into the ride, but this is not really the kind of car one wants to fling around. It does very nicely with deliberate inputs at a brisk pace.
Hyundai's decision to adopt a hybrid electro-hydraulic steering mechanism was a good one. Utilizing an electric motor to drive a power-steering pump, it benefits from the energy savings enjoyed when cruising straight ahead with the motor at rest, and from the more natural feel of hydraulic assist once the electric motor has been summoned into action. Compared with a Lexus LS 460L which happened to be on hand for reference, the Equus has a far more organic sense to its steering than the Lexus can muster with its fully electric system.
That comparison revealed that the Lexus still has the upper hand, if only fractionally, in terms of noise and vibration damping, and perhaps also in regard to ride quality. But the Equus isn't far off, and it's certainly in the game as far as luxury attributes are concerned. It proved quieter than a Mercedes-Benz S550 that was also on hand, and its standards of fit and finish left very little to be desired. Altogether, it's an impressive interloper in rich company.
Conventional wisdom suggests that you can't move an everyday car brand upscale without a name change and a new dealer outlet. Hyundai is about to contest that assertion, using a store-within-a-store point of sale system and an at-home vehicle demonstration system called your time, your place. The company says it will offer a modern premium experience, where the owner's manual comes in the form of an iPad and a valet service program will pick up the vehicle for services, providing a loan vehicle until its return. It's a new way of doing business, and a bold new luxury model to accompany it.
Barry Winfield filed this NewCarTestDrive.com report after his test drive of the Equus near Palo Alto, California.


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Wrapping up with Kent at XP2005
The end of the conference featured Kent Beck, twice. First he joined a panel discussion on Leadership (summarised here by Steve Freeman, and from which I took away the strong conclusion that leadership starts with holding one's own congruent stance in the face of resistance and then pulls others in to acting congruently as well). Then he had the stage to himself for the keynote speech, entitled Another notch. It addressed in a wide-ranging way the possibilities opened up by embedding the values of XP in an organisation's culture and philosophy, a theme that seemed to be bubbling under many of the sessions in the conference.
Initially Kent pursued the idea that XP is bigger than mere practices, that "technical success is not success", and that all the best TDD and refactoring and continuous integration in the world won't matter if a project fails to meet the needs and timetables of its sponsors and users. "Typing in a line of code has consequences" he said, and those consequences are part of a larger world-view that needs to be embraced if XP is to move up another notch. Is programming really the best focus of all of our energy? Perhaps the application of the technical processes described in the first edition of the white XP book has moved project constraints away from programming to a different aspect of the development process? (The theory of constraints shows that micro-optimisation of one step in a complex process can in fact degrade the throughput of the process as a whole.) There might be a lot of other non-programming tasks that can be done right now to eliminate the constraints in the wider team, department or organisation: "it's a fiction to believe that if I get all my tests green then the project's ok and I've done my part" as he put it.
The next part of the speech was a request for the XP community to take accountability - "rendering an account of your actions to others" - more seriously. Accountability is a synonym for fault in blame-ridden organisations, but this is not its real meaning. To hold myself accountable is to be proud, honest and open about what I do, to live the values I espouse. To "overcome the disconnect between the satisfaction I get from programming and the dissatisfaction I get from life". To understand that I can't really change my organisation, and I can really change myself. To cope with the realisation that enacting the transition to XP requires respect for the starting point, and is "more than saying everything will work out if everyone does as I say". (At which point Kent started praising the approach taken by Appreciative Inquiry, which was nice...)
He wrapped up by sketching out his vision for what will happen as XP is taken up another notch. People and projects will be truly accountable and have nothing to hide. Teams and individuals will express their XP values in all their actions and interactions. The confidence to hold onto ones self in the face of pressure will engender trust, creativity and learning. And as a happy side effect software projects will get delivered quickly and at high levels of quality too.
I'll sign up to that.


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Easy walk – a melancholic, yet optimistic and positive tune. Suitable for happy endings and quiet scenes. "Easy walk" – this Beautiful calm melody to sound – as background sound for animation, cartoons, cinema, puppet theater and sound background Audio-Books! (the melody sounds like a narrative story
Travel & Adventures ) – This solo piano soundtrack "Easy walk" a lovely selection of audio track for background audio book or cartoon!


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Weary of snow, northern Corn Belt farmers headed to Owatonna, Minn., last week to stroll through the indoor North American Farm and Power Show. The show featured plenty of big equipment geared for corn and soybean production.
Here's a look at machinery from AGCO Challenger, Kubota, Blu Jet, Kuhn, Manitou and Precision Planting.
See more equipment from the N.A. Farm and Power Show.
Like photo galleries from Farm Industry News? Subscribe to Farm Industry News Now e-newsletter to get the latest galleries and more straight to your inbox twice weekly.


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The Road to Dune (and how we got precisely nowhere)
By DuneFish on Apr 2, 2011 in Dune Movie News, Featured
Morel has wandered off into the desert (in a curious twist he was finally lured away by a Hasbro boardgame adaptation just like Peter Berg), Paramount is out of the picture and "Right now, Dune has no commitments or attachments" (Deadline New York).
After more than three years Paramount has finally given up on Dune. The film's Executive Producer, also responsible for the miniseries and is the Herbert estate's go-to guy when it comes to films, Richard P. Rubinstein "said that Paramount's exit came down to dollars" . This isn't surprising, the film would have reportedly cost $175M – no small sum, and Paramount were understandably cautious in light of David Lynch's spectacular failure in 1984. And they seem to have taken an active interest in how their investment will be spent – endless script revisions and even apparently vetoing the appointment of Neil Marshall (The Descent) – producer's favourite replacement director after Peter Berg left.
So now freedom – Paramount's option for the rights has lapsed and they have decided against renewing. Rubinstein and Herberts now have a script which they think is good, and they will pass it around the production companies and try to secure funding. Dune is a well known brand and there will be proposals – in fact on the Official Dune Facebook page Byron Merritt gleefully suggests that "big production companies are banging on the door." The question is – how many of those big production companies are just after the brand name, and how many are interested in either the existing Chase Plamer/Pierre Morell script or the proper literary adaptation that Dune deserves? Quickly the list gets shorter.
But the Herbert's wouldn't just surrender the Dune brand to the highest bidder would they? Well, the film in it's current incarnation seems to be slowly going nowhere, the new books by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson are selling less well with each publication – Dune as a franchise needs another shot-in-the-arm like the one it got from the Dune miniseries. And the Estate has never really put a premium on integrity – Young Paul "This will be your first time offworld" Atreides joined an intergalactic circus in their last offering, so you might imagine that they might even go for an easy option and just get some money into the bank and word onto the street… But at the same time they do like to keep the property on a tight leash. Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson were both listed as co-producers on the movie – a strictly ceremonial position, but a potential sticking point for already wary investors concerned with potential interference.
It's unlikely that they will leave a cash cow as big as Dune untapped for long, although what comes from it is anyone's guess. Low budget films are able to take risks, where as a behemoth like Dune requires conventional Hollywood funding and that means it must succeed. The script they have is most likely an action heavy stripped down version – Pierre Morel directed Taken, before him we had Peter Berg and his "muscular… violent" interpretation, and it will be a single film. It's also worth remembering that the meeting that started this whole journey was Brian and Kevin pitching their own Dune works as a movie. So with real Dune flagging is it time again to concentrate on the big battle, young-adult heroism and cartoon treachery of the truly awful (but popcorn friendly) House Atreides?
We will see.
The film of Dune is the result of a paradox — product of an industry that pretends to creativity and shies away from risks. Creation takes risks and that's the movie industry's dilemma.
–Frank Herbert; Introduction to Eye


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The Adirondack on the D+H in the Seventies
I recently found a box of old slides that I shot on the Delaware and Hudson RR mostly between 1974 and 1976. The Adirondack is an Amtrak passenger train. But in the 70's it had the look and feel of a pre-Amtrak railroad operated pasenger train. The Alco PA locomotives generated considerable interest in this train in the railfan community. I have not been back the D+H in quite awhile and I do not remember all the location names.Read More
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In an age when the text and the tweet can destroy a movie an hour after it opens, Hollywood market research firms are scrambling to rethink the way they help movie studios promote their films.
That has created new challenges for companies such as Capstone Global Marketing and Research Inc. in Sherman Oaks, which must adapt their testing methods to the changing habits of the tech-savvy moviegoer.
"None of us knows the answers," said veteran marketing strategist and researcher Catherine Paura, Capstone's co-founder. "And when you think about the rapidity of technical change between 1990 and now, who knows what is going to happen in the next 30 years?"
PHOTOS: All-time box office leaders
Paura, 62, and her late business partner, Joe Farrell, founded Hollywood powerhouse National Research Group 35 years ago. Paura and Farrell, who died in 2011, sold the firm in 1987 but ran it until 2003.


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|February 12, 2011, 07:10 PM
Junior Member
Join Date: December 22, 2009
Posts: 2
England Arms of Killeen
Anyone in the Killeen Texas area in need of gunsmithing services, needs to be advised that England Arms in Killeen is very customer unfriendly. They accept your weapon and then can't or wont give the customer a estimated time of delivery. It is owned and operated by two guys, one of whic is very customer friendly and helpful, the other who is a BS'er and with an attitude. I will say their work is among the best, but unless your willing to drop off your weapon and not be given even an estimated finish date and be without your weapon for a month or more be advised this is not the gunsmith for you. I know this first hand as I dropped off two weapons for rebluing and after a month and a week I got one back, that looks real good and the other not done. This was after being told it originally would be a couple of weeks and then promised to be done a week later and then told they did not know when it would be done. They refused to even compensate me on the price because it wasn't done and when I confronted the one partner (Mr Attitude) that I knew he was blowing smoke then I was told he would not do the weapon at all, under lying message "Take your gun and get out". Needless to say they wont have to worry about me stepping foot in their business again. So if you dont mind an attitude and a very long wait for descent service then they are the people for you.
|June 1, 2011, 11:41 AM
Junior Member
Join Date: March 26, 2011
Posts: 5
Even less pleasant experience!
I wont go into tons of details but i had a dealing w/ "Mr. Unfriendly" too. A trade that went bad, where he tried to back out of his end of a trade and keep my property and it ended up going to small claims court. He lost and I am now still working to get the debt he owes me. I was courteous and tried to avoid court and costing him more money. Totally unprofessional! Stay clear of this place.
|August 30, 2011, 10:13 PM
Junior Member
Join Date: August 30, 2011
Posts: 3
Mixed Reviews
I originally visited their store when they first opened almost a year ago. I had the same experience as other guys on this forum. My husband bought me a new Sig that was jamming and needed some maintanence. It took them 3 weeks until I got it back and they had quoted me one week. I was upset and didn't go back UNTIL now. The next nearest Gun Smithing store is quite a drive so I decided to give them another shot. They had moved a few doors over. This time I had a nice 1920's Colt my husband gifted to me and I wanted it reblued and needed the grips fixed. My hands are really small. They not only had it done faster then they quoted me (4 weeks quoted, and had it done in 2) but they also help find me a Glock 19 that I wanted! I complained about how angry I was after I saw them in the old shop and they apologised and said that the shop now has more appreciation for thier customers and that there have been some changes made. I can't remember who I spoke to a year ago but this wasn't the same guy so I am guessing new management? The store looks a little rough, but they have restored my confidence in them and they have proven themselves with the quality of work they have done for my guns. I am looking to get my husband's AR Duracoated soon and I can't wait! In my opinion, these guys have cleaned up their act, now they need to clean up their shop!
1 being bad, 10 being excellent
Cleanliness of shop: 3 (looks like they just moved in!? forgot to ask)
Friendliness of staff: 9
Wait Time: 8
Pricing: 9
Answering My Questions: 10
Not treating me like I'm a retarded female who knows nothing about guns:10
I can appreciate guys who respect me and answer my questions seriously and don't talk down to me. I went to buy a new gun from Guns Galore and they talked to me like I was in 5th grade! duh! This is the trigger? Seriously guys! My husband now comes along with me and a few of his buddies have too and we are all satisfied with the quality of work. ESPECIALLY with my 20's colt! There's a guy there that does specifically antiques and I haven't found anyone else that will work on collector's pieces that does as good a job as him. VERY Detailed. I was shocked by the work he did on the grip! Better then any other collector pieces of mine! I think I am going to bring the rest of them there and see if they can tweak what was already done. Prices are fair. Cheaper than others I have had work done for, but only by a little. $10 here, $20 there, but it adds up. I will comment again after I use them next month and I will keep up the status and see if things change. They were jerks when I went in a year ago, but this time they had a "customer is always right" attitude....we'll see!!!!
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A little blog about life, family, food, and living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Germ Fest 2010
Have tons of recipes to share, and it's nearing that time of year again ... Gardening Time!
Hope to be back to blogging sometime soon. Miss You All!
17 comments:
- Marjie said...
I was going to email you later to see if you'd all gotten Germ Fested! I'm so glad you're well enough to at least update us. I owe you a nice, long email, and you shall have it, but not until after my grocery delivery arrives. I plan to play the part of princess, and sit on my duff supervising the gents as they move and put away everything! Hugs to all of you.
- February 16, 2010 at 1:38 PM
- Cathy said...
Oh, Paula, you poor thing. This has been going on forever it must seem. My gkids just got their adnoids removed and we're hoping this reduces some of the problems they've been having. Hope you all are feeling better very soon.
- February 16, 2010 at 4:05 PM
- gemma said...
Really glad to hear things are heading in the healing direction. I will be checking in daily to see when those recipes are up and to hear about the road to health I hope all of you are on.
- February 16, 2010 at 4:05 PM
- Pam said...
Oh my goodness Paula! I've been worried about you and yours. Hopefull everyone will be back on their feet soon.
- February 16, 2010 at 4:49 PM
- Lynda said...
So sorry for all your family's sicknesses this winter Paula...it's not only hard on the ones sick, but doubly hard on poor mom!
I pray your daughter gets well soon and that the surgery takes care of the problem.
I'm also looking forward to your new posts! Blessings!
- February 16, 2010 at 4:58 PM
- grace said...
hang in there, paula! this is one festival i'm glad to be missing out on. :)
- February 17, 2010 at 3:49 AM
- noble pig said...
Oh geez, I'm so sorry. Your poor family! I hope you are all well soon!
- February 17, 2010 at 11:11 AM
- Cheryl said...
I miss you too, hopefully everyone is on the mend in your little hospital!
- February 17, 2010 at 12:11 PM
- Manggy said...
We miss you too Paula!
That sounds miserable :( I hope things start to look better soon (and pasteurized, lol.)
- February 17, 2010 at 4:47 PM
- Lo said...
Oh, my... Paula, you've been through it all this year. And I send warm fuzzy thoughts. You've been missed. And I'm wishing you all a swift recovery... and a respite from all the nasty germs!
- February 17, 2010 at 7:41 PM
- Mediterranean kiwi said...
well i am waiting to hear that its all gouda once again!
- February 18, 2010 at 12:22 AM
- Mickle in NZ said...
Oh Paula, I guess you're very thankful that older gouda girl was spared. What a time of it. Now, rest up and heal - we can wait for the food goodies.
I was sneezing myself silly this Summer - turns out is a bad Summer for allergy issue. Thankfully found some tablets that work.
Sending huggles to you all, Michelle and Zebbycat (from under his quilt)
- February 18, 2010 at 2:26 AM
- DayPhoto said...
Oh, goodness Paula! I am glad you are doing better, but don't rush. We will be waiting for you.
- February 19, 2010 at 1:37 PM
- Jan said...
Goodness me, Paula, you have all been through the wringer. I hope you are all on the mend. I haven't been around much myself lately, I guess we've all had our troubles. Well, things can only get better from here on in. Take care.
- February 20, 2010 at 4:24 PM
- Pam said...
I hope you guys are feeling better soon! UGH.
- March 3, 2010 at 8:11 AM
- Robynn's Ravings said...
Paula! I was gone too and just checked in. So sorry to hear you have all been so very sick, especially your little girl. :( Hopefully, you are all mending now and you are just getting caught up. I had to take about a month off just to regain my sanity.
One of my blogging friends has had to go gluten free so I sent her over here. One of the best sites I know. Take care, friend. Prayers for you and your family.
- March 3, 2010 at 5:39 PM
- LadySnow said...
Sorry to hear about the sickness. Just wanted to let you know that Robynn sent me your way. :-D
- March 3, 2010 at 7:07 PM


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Ladies and gentlemen,
Tomorrow is the anniversary of the day on which Anna Lindh, a well-known champion of human rights, was fatally stabbed here in Stockholm. This was a particular tragedy in Sweden, a country which has an international reputation for its dedication to human rights and for being an open society.
Nine years later, what Anna Lindh fought for is still on our agenda: European democracy continues to face challenges, many linked to the economic crisis.
So, what is the future for democracy and human rights in Europe, which you have kindly invited me here to discuss today?
Electoral procedures and the parliamentary process are, of course, vital for a functioning democracy. But just as important is the premise that each citizen has a voice and can participate. And that is where human rights come in. Human rights and democracy are closely interlinked and interconnected. After all, it is difficult to imagine a democracy without a profund respect for human rights, and we know that human rights protection is weak in countries without democracy.
The Italian writer Antonio Tabucchi said "Democracy isn't a state of perfection. It has to be improved, and that means constant vigilance". This can also be said of human rights.
The future of Europe depends on the extent to which Europeans actively participate in the European project and work to ensure that their human rights are protected. Europe belongs to everyone of us. We must take ownership of this project. We must guarantee that the European Union of tomorrow ensures the rights of all those who live in it and is a fully sustainable endeavour.
But how can this be achieved? I would like to mention three of the elements that are essential for us to build a strong, mature and confident Europe:
Standards matter. Words matter. And participation matters.
1) Let us begin with standards.
The EU is built on a bedrock of core values: democracy, equality, fundamental rights and the rule of law. These principles became part of EU law early on, yet it was only with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which entered into force in December 2009, that the EU obtained its own'bill of rights'.
So the rights exist on paper – both in the EU and throughout the Member States. But there is still a lot to be done on implementation. This is evident from our work at the Fundamental Rights Agency.
Let me give you some examples
- People with intellectual disabilities do not just face social prejudice alone. They are also excluded from participating in elections in more than half of the EU Member States, both in eastern and western Europe.
- According to various international conventions, in particular the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, all children should have access to free primary education. But in practice, legislation in several Member States excludes children of irregular migrants from this basic right. From the surveys of the Fundamental Rights Agency we also learn that Roma chidren are often discriminated against in the education system with the result that they lag far behind the majority population in education. This not only violates international law; it also means we waste a prime opportunity to use all the talent at the EU's disposal. More generally speaking, human rights are also an economic factor. Without measures in place to involve all people living in the EU, the economy cannot thrive in the longer term. Human rights are not a luxury for better times.
- The longer the crisis continues, the more cases we see of acute labour exploitation, or what one might call modern-day slavery. Take the cheap workers employed to clean private homes, or those who pick the fruit and vegetables we eat. Despite their contribution to our societies, irregular migrants who try to access healthcare or education services, or seek justice in cases of abuse, often find closed doors. The FRA has highlighted the situation of irregular migrants and of domestic workers in a number of reports over the last year. But it is not only migrants who face such problems.EU citizens who are made redundant are finding themselves forced to work in underpaid or even unpaid jobs, often in dangerous or unhealthy conditions.
- Let me also mention that, in some EU countries we are seeing a creeping assault on one of the EU's founding precepts, namely the rule of law. This principle is closely linked to other core values and requires that certain basic conditions are guaranteed, including the separation of powers and the legality of administration. The weakening of the judiciary and watchdogs has significant repercussions on the balance of power. And it is exactly in times of crisis that we need a strong and independent judiciary, ombudsinstitutions and national human rights institutions in order to counter the risk that core human rights values are undermined.
So what can be done? Well, I'm glad to be able to tell you things don't look so bad, because we already have the means to right some of these wrongs.
If the EU suspects unfair competition in the markets, it initiates infringement procedures. If Member States fail to comply with directives, the same happens. These are powerful tools to bring errant companies and countries back on track.
Until now, they have been used more often to regulate economic performance than ensure human rights compliance. But EU fundamental rights legislation is equally binding, whether the issue at hand is the deportation of Roma or the laying off of judges. And in such cases we have indeed recently seen that the EU not only stands for but also insists on human rights compliance. Commission Vice-President Reding has said there will be "zero tolerance" for any violation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights. So the EU does have tools at its disposal and uses them to ensure that democratic deficiencies and inequalities are addressed.
As the former Irish prime minister John Bruton said, the EU "is a guarantee of democracy, freedom, justice and human rights. Nations cannot stay in the EU if they do not respect these guarantees". Perhaps Member States should be asked to undergo an annual check-up on their fundamental rights and democracy compliance. This could then result in an annual report of the situation in all EU countries. Compliance with the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights must be the minimum standard.
In addition, no EU country should take lightly the so-called Copenhagen Criteria once they have joined. These criteria are the rules a country must conform to in order to be eligible to join the European Union – and these include the requirement that a state must have the institutions to preserve democratic governance and human rights. Why not check current EU Member States against these criteria every year?
2) Now I come to my second point – words matter.
Words can both create and destroy. They can be a powerful tool to promote human rights, as we saw in the aftermath of the London bombings of 2005, when religious leaders appealed jointly for non-violence and for greater cooperation between believers from different faiths. This resulted in far fewer attacks against Muslims in the EU than after 9/11.
But words can also be used to incite violence, hatred and human rights violations. Last year, 11 Roma were killed just for being Roma; and in Greece some migrants were recently hunted down and murdered. It is well known that language influences perceptions, and the tone of political and public discourse can therefore have a huge impact. Persistent racist, xenophobic and hate speech from public figures can fuel prejudices against ethnic minorities and migrants, people with disabilities, or sexual minorities.
In the time of crisis as we know far too well in Europe there is a real risk of creating scapegoats. All actors on the public scene need to carefully consider the words chosen.
Italian Premier Mario Monti on Saturday proposed a special European summit to confront growing populism in the face of the financial crisis. "We are in a dangerous phase," Monti said, "a divisive populism is present in nearly all eurozone countries, and it aims to divide nations at a moment when the impetus is for greater integration…..".
Let me turn to another dimension of how we use language. I mentioned the extreme labour exploitation or slavery that persists in Europe. This is hardly talked about and we have not yet found the language to address it. Instead, all too often we dress it up to make it go away. When the talk is about trafficked women from African countries exploited on the European sex market we often hear: "They are probably better off here then at home" and the same is said about men who are exploited in parts of the industry or in the agriculture. We make the human rights violations go away and consequently little action is taken to combat these violations. What is needed instead are clear-cut facts that relate directly to the situation on the ground combined with clear languge articulating the problem.
Many EU Member States still lack well thought through and consistent ways of recording and collecting cases of human rights violations.
The FRA stands ready to provide EU and national decision makers with more facts on many of these issues.
3) Now to my third and last point: participation matters.
Democracy is not only an offer, or a right. Caring for and nurturing it are also a duty and a responsibility.
The double challenge for policy makers is to ensure both that the majority is willing to participate and in addition that minorities and migrants are allowed to participate. We need to ensure that everyone can be heard and can take part. Europe cannot be constructed from above, and participation brings ownership. In this context, we must not forget that participation goes far beyond elections and instruments of direct democracy; and there are many promising examples of participatory democracy emerging.
In this sense, participation is vital to guarantee not only the legitimacy and the ownership of the democratic system, but also to ensure that we can work together on addressing the challenges ahead. New technology will certainly help us with this, such as e-voting or social networking tools. But the bottom line is that leaders will have to explain that democracy and European integration are not a zero-sum game but that, on the contrary, they complement one another and develop together.
We cannot run a society, or a Europe, that is not run by ourselves. Europe must be a shared ambition. Take the European Citizens' Initiative. This tool allows a group of one million EU citizens to participate directly in the development of EU policies, by calling on the European Commission to make a legislative proposal. This is a milestone on the path to real participation. In fact, amongst the first Citizens' Initiatives launched was a call for more voting rights and the like.
However, when we speak of governments, we should not think solely of the EU, or for that matter the Riksdag or Westminster or the Bundestag. It is also regional and local authorities that make decisions, decisions that facilitate people's access to their rights on a daily basis. Sweden has done a lot to strengthen the interaction between the many different levels of governance, and Europe can take inspiration from here. In the studies of FRA on persons with mental health problems, on Roma and on asylum seekers we often see that violations occur because the local authorities do not realize that they too are accountable to protect the human rights of the people in their city or village. Often the national policies are not understood or suffiently well developed to be implemented on the ground. On joined-up governance there is still a lot to be done throughout Europe.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
To conclude. What we are here to discuss today is of the utmost importance for the future of Europe. Neither democracy nor human rights can ever be taken for granted. They must be constantly fostered and tended in order to be sustained.
Thank you very much for your attention.


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Dozens of small businesses and legislators participated in the celebration.
According to Block's office, small businesses contribute 75 percent of California's gross state product. California Small Business Day was created by Assembly Resolution 5 in 2000. Volunteer small business organizations throughout the state work together to host the event in Sacramento.
"Even through the challenges of the recession and the toll that took on our tourism industry, owners Rich and Donna Grosch practiced creative marketing to keep the rooms occupied and bring tourism into Ocean Beach," Block said.
In addition, said Block, the high-quality restoration and repair of the OB Hotel has catalyzed the redevelopment and revitalization of the entire Ocean Beach community.
Block praised Rich Grosch for his history of developing and enhancing the quality of life in Ocean Beach.
"As chairman of the Ocean Beach Community Development Corporation, Rich led the effort to create a pedestrian park at the entrance to the Ocean Beach community, created two business improvement districts and developed a comprehensive development plan for the district," said Block.
Grosch's civic and business accomplishments include his current service as president of the board of trustees of the San Diego Community College District.


text:
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Legal, Wikipedia.
a broad-spectrum semisynthetic antibiotic, used as the hyclate and calcium salts against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative organisms; administered orally or intravenously.
A broad-spectrum antibiotic.
doxycycline/doxy·cy·cline/ (dok″se-si´klēn) a semisynthetic broad-spectrum tetracycline antibiotic, active against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative organisms; used also as d. calcium and d. hyclate.
doxycycline(dŏk′sĭ-sī′klēn′, -klĭn)
A broad-spectrum antibiotic, C22H24N2O8, derived from tetracycline.
a tetracycline antibiotic.
indications It is prescribed in the treatment of infections caused by susceptible bacterial strains, especially Chlamydia, Rickettsia, and Mycoplasma.
contraindications Renal or liver dysfunction or known hypersensitivity to this drug or to other tetracycline medication prohibits its use. It is not given during pregnancy or to children less than 8 years of age.
adverse effects Among the more serious adverse reactions are GI disturbances, phototoxicity, potentially serious superinfections, and hypersensitivity reactions. Discoloration of teeth may occur in children exposed to the drug in utero or under 8 years of age.
doxycyclineInfectious disease A broad-spectrum antibiotic used for rickettsiosis–eg, Rocky mountain spotted fever, typhus fever, Q fever, rickettsialpox, tick fevers, RTIs from Mycoplasma pneumoniae, lymphogranuloma venereum, trachoma, inclusion conjunctivitis, etc, due to Chlamydia trachomatis, psittacosis–C psittaci, nongonococcal urethritis–Ureaplasma urealyticum, relapsing fever–Borrelia recurrentis, gram-negative microorganisms: Chancroid–Haemophilus ducreyi, plague–Yersinia pestis, tularemia–Francisella tularensis, cholera–Vibrio cholerae, Campylobacter fetus, Brucella spp, Bartonella bacilliformis, Calymmatobacterium granulomatis, malaria prophylaxis–Plasmodium falciparum in travelers to chloroquine and/or pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine resistant areas Adverse effects GI tract disturbances, anorexia, N&V, diarrhea, glossitis, dysphagia, enterocolitis, anogenital Candida overgrowth, photophobia
A broad-spectrum antibiotic.
doxycyclineA tetracycline antibiotic drug, deoxytetracycline, that is well absorbed when taken by mouth, even after food. Doxycycline is also used for the prophylaxis of MALARIA. The drug is on the WHO official list. Brand names are Periostat and Vibramycin.
A broad-spectrum antibiotic.
a second-generation, lipid-soluble tetracycline derivative with greater activity against anaerobes and intracellular bacteria, and a longer half-life. Used as the monohydrate.


text:
glossy brauchte ein neues Website Design und hat einen Wettbewerb auf 99designs gestartet.
Aus 42 Designs von 13 Designern wurde eine Gewinner gewählt.
We want the homepage design, category design, product page design for online shop selling mainly computer parts, laptops etc.
You can download the logo from http://www.netstudio.gr/myhardwarelogo.zip
You can see the needed elements for the product page at http://www.netstudio.gr/mhlayout.png
fixed width for 1024 resolution (990px wide)
logo top left, search on the right, flags english, greek for language change
left column: vertical menu with categories
right: various modules like login, banners
top horizontal menu:
Home, About, My Account, Contact
footer: Terms of Use, Privacy, FAQ, ssl seal (e.g. verisign, thawte etc.).
Copyright Notice
home page main content: featured products
category: product title, picture, price, sku, add to basket icon, select for compare icon
product page: Add to Wish List button, Tell a Friend button, Print Button
tabs with info
products in basket, buttons underneath (continue shopping, refresh, payment)
graphic with buying steps (payment, shipping, confirmation).
If possible, keep the magnifying glass image on
the search button(home screen)
add to cart button, amazon like in fill color and font color, include
cart image in button
Additional notes:
.Please keep in mind we're looking for a clean interface as much as possible
2.Amazon.com ideas I'd like copied
a. The main Add to Cart button, to be found in the product's details
page: the specific button color, shading, button borderline, font
color. Not so wide, more height, a larger and clear cart image/symbol.
Please use the button shown below as a rough guide. Would like to see
proposals of both-sides-square (such as the button shown below) and
left-side-rounded (such as the amazon button shown)
b. Small "Add to Cart" button shown on the home page under
featured/new/offers products to follow the example of the small amazon
c. Less critical options such as "Print Page" "Tell a friend" "add
to wishlist" to follow the "muted"/unobtrusive amazon theme (perhaps
with an icon on the button as well if it doesn't get overloaded)
- clean, modern, eye catching design...
- Item 1...


text:
Welcome back fans of Latin roots as they relate to English vocabulary words! Recently I have been focusing this SAT and GRE English vocabulary blog on analyzing the Latin root words of titles of great English and world literature, and then discussing why those great works are nonpareil. I have recently perused Patanjali's great work concerning yoga, the Yoga-Sutra, translated by Chip Hartranft. I have found the aphoristic style of the Yoga-Sutra to be not only engaging, but also deeply profound; in it, Patanjali discusses the considerable spiritual, mental, and physical rewards that one can derive from the practice of yoga, which is much, much more than the usually held western conception of yoga as just the asanas, or physical postures/poses.
The purpose behind yoga, according to Patanjali, is seeing things as they really are, not as our minds construct them to be; to do this, the ultimate goal or teleology of yogic practice is to cease the fluctuations of the mind, to calm the sem, that part of our minds that generates an annoying 60,000 random thoughts per day, and can lead us down paths of irreality. This causes suffering to cease, the ultimate goal of what yoga can do for us.
During the next two years or so, I will devote myself to writing about each of Patanjali's aphorisms, sequentially, contained in his remarkable 2nd-century BCE text, with a focus on analyzing the text in terms of its classical Greek and Latin roots of the fine English translation, and then providing an individual's exegesis of the text itself, based upon my own wonderful experience with yoga beyond the asanas. It has been said that memorizing the Sanskrit text of the Yoga-Sutra in and of itself can re-pattern the mind; I am most curious to see if this phenomenon is also metalinguistic, that is, can English and its root words via Greek and Latin effect the same transformation? Last week I focused on the Latin roots of the Yoga-Sutra: Chapter 1: Aphorism 10. This week I move on to: Aphorism 11: Memory holds mental images of things perceived, without modifying them (courtesy Stephen Nachmanovitch: www.dharmaviolin.com + www.freeplay.com ). Memory is the not letting go of an object that one has been aware of. (courtesy William Q. Judge) Remembering is the retention of experiences. (Hartranft)
You will recall that aphorism 11 is a direct answer of the last of aphorism 5: There are five types of patterns, including both hurtful and benign and aphorism 6: They are right perception, misperception, conceptualization, deep sleep, and remembering.
Let's first discuss the Greek and Latin roots of three of the following words in aphorism 11:
Mental: via the Latin root mens, mentis: mind. The adjective "mental" means "of or pertaining to the mind." Many SAT-level vocabulary words derive from this Latin root, including but not limited to: mentor, commentary, dementia, mentality, reminisce (via reminisci--to call to mind), commentator, and memento.
Images: via the Latin root word imago, imaginis: image, likeness, idea. A mental "image" is a likeness or idea that the mind creates from experiential perception of the world "without," that is, supposedly independent of the mind. Consider the ff. SAT and GRE vocabulary words that derive from Latin root: image, imagery, inimitable (via imitor--copy, resemble), emulate (via aemulus--comparable with), unimaginative, and imitative.
Modifying: via the Latin root word modus: measure, manner, method, way, rhythm, moderation. To "modify" something is to "make the measure or manner or way" of it different in some way, but not to change it wholesale. Multiplicitous English SAT words come from this root, including: outmoded, mode, modality, immoderate, moderate, accommodate, unaccommodating, modulate, modernization, modem, and Quasimodo (Quasimodo, the Hunchback of Notre Dame, was "part-way" human, kyphotic and reclusive as he was; the Latin word quasi means "as it were, nearly, almost").
Object: via the Latin verb iacio, iacere, ieci, iactus: to throw and the prefix (preposition in the Latin language) ob: in the way, against (formally obicio, obicere, obiece, obiectus; an "i" often turned to "j" when coming over into English, so the "obiectus" turned into "object."). An "object" is therefore something that is "thrown in the way" of your mind, which you then perceive as clouded by that mind. A huge number of SAT and GRE derivatives arise from iacio, including but not limited to: projectile, projection, adjacent, subjectivity, interject, trajectory, dejected, objectionable, gist, conjecture, jettison, jetsam, circumjacent, and malaise. Interested in even more SAT and GRE words that come from this root (there are many, many more)? Check out www.wordempire.com, the most complete classical etymology source available.
Retention: From the Latin root teneo, tenere, tenui, tentum: have, hold; "retention" is the "holding back" or "thoroughly holding" of that which the mind has received. Teneo, tenere is another one of those huge roots that have given rise to a multiplicity of English derivatives, such as: abstain, abstinence, tenacious, pertinacious, tenet, pertinent, detain, appurtenance, malcontent, etc. etc.
Experience: From the Latin root word experior, experiri, expertus sum: to try, test, attempt. Experience, therefore, is the "testing" of the world by the mind to figure out what it's all about. Other derivatives that come via this word or are related to this word include: empirical, experiential, perilous, piracy, malapert, experiment, and expertise. Interested in the connections of these words? Check out the most comprehensive Greek and Latin roots dictionary available today.
Now, let's take a look at Aphorism 11: a. Memory holds mental images of things perceived, without modifying them. or: b. Memory is the not letting go of an object that one has been aware of. or c. Remembering is the retention of experiences. Remember that this is the fifth response to aphorism 5: There are five types of patterns, including both hurtful and benign.
A note on translation: it's fascinating to see how the same Sanskrit can give such varied English translations, although, at core, these are pretty much the same.
Memory holds impressions of the world as the mind/ego perceives it. The ego believes itself to be the ultimate experiencer or arbiter of the world as it is, which, according to Yoga and Patanjali, is misguided. Ego, or the perceiving mind, is but another manifestation of prakrti, the phenomenological world that is eternally being created for the seer, or the Witness (purusa) to perceive. In yogic belief, the Witness, or that eternal part of each of us that purely witnesses or sees the empirical world about us, is a pure mirror perceiving (in a thoughtless, noninterpretive state or completely pure apprehension or perfect reflective transference) the endless fluctuations or inflections of prakrti. Ironically, one of those manifestations of prakrti is the ego, the mind, our own individual perceiving apparatus itself, that thinks it perceives reality, but is really nothing but another form of prakrti (although it doesn't know that). This perceiving ego, since it belongs to the world of praktri, is impermanent, possessing no stasis or eternal qualities.
When one realizes this, that the ego in and of itself is deluded, one can then witness that ego in its delusions, and be liberated. The purpose of Yoga is to move us towards the realization that the ego, the perceiving entity in each of us, is illusory and flawed, and leads us all down the path of suffering; once one realizes that prakrti (the beautiful and eternal feminine matrix) exists only for the transcendent purusa or Witness, to perceive (in complete clarity with no attachments of any thought whatsoever), one loses all yearning, all kleshas (forms of suffering), and one becomes liberated from both fear and desire (deep mythological roots abound here -- the suffering and joys of this world are all in terms of polar opposites). When one transcends the opposites of prakrti, one becomes enlightened.
This is difficult to do, but is the way that yoga offers us.
Hence, memory of empirical observations, clouded by the ego which believes itself to be the arbiter of ultimate truth, cannot lead she who seeks liberation towards the path of revealed luminosity; rather, memories, in and of themselves, can be Witnessed, but cannot be taken as Real, but simply as an even more clouded form of phenomenological irreality. Memory is clouded from Reality, from Truth, and, in truth, is nothing but an illusory manifestation of the ego that perceived it, and leads the sufferer down the path of suffering. Hence, tainted, opaque, and turbid memory can only be hurtful towards he or she who seeks shelter from suffering.
Consider all the memories that we daily go through; how much suffering does that cause us? How much worrying do we do (which is all, after all, based upon nothing but mental impressions, which, in turn, is clouded by memorial time) that is needless? We worry based upon memory, which is suspect; but when memory is based, itself, upon a suspect observer, who claims hegemony over truth but is nothing but another part of that which is observes (as the brain cannot objectively perceive itself, so too the ego, cannot objectively observe that which it, itself, is a part of), we can be thankful that the Witness dwells, unruffled and rife with equanimity, continuing to observes impassively, impartially, luminously, and Truthfully.
What a gift that is. We all have it. We all are equal. But it is our task to get there. To see the world, as William Blake said, "unclouded from the senses five," in its true "infinite" state. Dharma megha samadhi.
Consider the shelter of this concept: since the Witness is eternal, and our single experiencing mind is duly flawed, cannot we take comfort in the fact that this Witness, that we all possess, but which has been clouded by our ego, is there for us? Let us learn to dispassionately still our minds in order to awaken purusa, the Witness, and be set free.
Fascinated with English vocabulary words? Want to pick them apart into their constituent Greek and Latin roots? Want to know even more SAT and GRE words that come from the Latin root words mens, mentis; teneo, tenere; and iacio, iacere? Studying hard for the SAT or GRE verbal section, and just can't get a handle on all of those vocabulary words, which are truly legion? Check out the Greek and Latin roots site Word Empire, where you will find the most comprehensive Greek and Latin roots dictionary available today, and also the most beautiful...it's in full color, and artistically designed. There's even a Greek and Latin roots poster available, which nicely illustrates the full power of what Greek and Latin root words can do for you.
Interested in Greek and Roman mythology? Check out Mr. Brunner's Greek mythology!


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Make a whole gang of these cute critters with just rocks and foam. This is an easy preschool craft that both boys and girls will enjoy. Make the Frog Princess to go with the Frog Prince.
Items needed:
- Rocks
- Sheets of Foam
- Non-toxic craft glue
- Scissors
- Wiggly eyes or buttons for eyes
- Non-toxic poster or craft paint
- Brush
- Print pattern for frog legs and crown.
- Cut out pattern and then trace onto foam or substitute thin cardboard. Cut out.
- Paint the rock and set aside to dry.
- When the rock is dry, glue eyes into place and let these dry.
- Attach legs with glue and then glue crown together. Place crown on frog\'s head and secure with a few drops of glue.
This same procedure can be utilized to make a whole assortment of animals or original characters your child creates.


text:
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|The Sigma 18-125mm F3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM is a high ratio zoom lens which is designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras This compact high zoom ratio lens incorporates Sigma's original OS (Optical Stabilizer) function. This system uses two sensors inside the lens to detect vertical andhorizontal movement of the camera and works by moving an optical image stabilizing lens group to effectively compensate for camera shake. It offers the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower. It is the ideal lens for several type of photography such as wide-angle, telephoto and close-up. SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass, a molded glass aspherical lens and two hybrid aspherical lenses provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations. The super multi-layer coating reduces flare and ghosting. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 35cm (13.8") at all focal lengths, and has maximum magnification of 1:3.8, making it ideal for close-up photography. This lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), which ensures a quiet and high-speed autofocus. Features High zoom ratio lens designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras and incorporating Sigma's original OS (Optical Stabilizer) function. SLD glass and Aspherical lenses provide high image quality throughout the entirezoom range. Super multi-layer coating reduces flare and ghosting. Compact construction of 88.5mm (3.5") in length and 74mm (2.9") in diameter. Minimum focusing distance of 35cm/13.8 inches and maximum magnification of 1:3.8, making it ideal for close-up photography. HSM ensures quiet and high-speed autofocus.
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text:
Exclusive DetailsYoung man, there IS need to feel down ... because the cop from Village People says he's BANNING the L.A. Clippers from playing "Y.M.C.A." at home games ... thanks to Donald Sterling.
Victor Willis -- who reportedly owns the rights to the song -- is furious ... saying, "Sterling, you're banned from playing "Y.M.C.A." or any of my music @LAClippers games. And I mean it!"
Victor's rep tells us the singer is dead serious about the ban -- and will be sending an official notice to Donald Sterling first thing tomorrow morning.
So, in conclusion ... you can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal, but you CAN'T do whatever you feel.


text:
Amber Rose On Foxxhole Radio! (How She Turned Out Kanye West With Hennesy That Led To His VMA Stunt + Comparison To Her & Kim Kardashian, & More) [Audio]
Posted by @Mahad_worldstar
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text:
Groves children scramble to find eggs at Easter celebration
About 100 children went home heavily laden in goodies from the Groves Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday.
But calling it a "hunt" is a bit of a misnomer, as the pastel-colored plastic eggs are scattered in plain sight on the lawns of West Grove Park.
It's more of an Easter egg "scramble" in which the fleetest of foot and swiftest of hand acquire the most goodies - but then, perhaps "Easter Egg Scramble" has its own unfortunate connotations.
But whatever you call it, the Groves Chamber of Commerce pulled out all the stops in ensuring a fun activity for children.
In addition to a very respectable cache of eggs, 5-year-old Jolee Hollier found a shiny purple doubloon in the grass.
Jolee could not quite explain her proficiency in egg-gathering.
"I just found 'em!" she said when asked of her special technique.
Brothers Chase, 8, and 6-year-old Brice Fontenot arrived only to find that Chase had already aged out of the age 7 and under event.
Chase had sage advice for good egg gathering, mainly, watch out and don't trip over ant hills, which had happened to him in his single-minded focus on picking up eggs in years past, but as little brothers will do, Brice said he disregard the advice.
"I'm not going to care about the ant hills," he said.
In any case, Brice ended up with a very decent share of eggs.
After the (so-called) hunt, organizers raffled off Easter baskets stuffed with toys, in addition to some smaller gift bags, with enough on hand for everyone to leave with something.
The Chamber was able to provide the lavish outlay of gifts through generous donations from local chamber businesses, both in cash and merchandise
Ani Manell, 5, left the event lugging a basket almost as big as she was.
Best friends Elisa Elliot and Alyssa Harper, both 7, each received one of the large Easter baskets that went in the first round of raffle tickets.
They were pleased with that, as well as with the baskets of eggs they gleaned - perhaps all the more as it is the last year they will be able to do the hunt.
They weren't sad about that, however. Being 8 years old will be compensation enough for missing out on the egg hunt.
The event also featured celebrity appearances from reigning Groves Pecan Queen Lauren Rogers and the Easter Bunny, who participated in photo ops with the children.
Some youngsters rushed right up to him, and others hung back, alarmed by such a large rabbit that walked on two legs.
Lilly Michalk, 2, was one of those who had no trepidations, while her cousin, McKenna Michalk, also 2, smiled and laughed, but refused to get within arms reach of the bunny.
A few minutes later, the same scene played out with Avery Monk, 3, and her 2-year-old friend Daisy Hunt.
Kane Rivas, 3, took his picture with the Easter Bunny.
"I liked it," he said bashfully.


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29 Colleen O'Rourke
|Milford, N.J.
|High School:
|Delaware Valley
2010: One of York's most consistent defenders … named a captain for this season … will provided solid leadership from the backline … a tough centerback who will be a key cog in the Spartans' defense … is very athletic … plays intelligently … combination of athleticism and intelligent play make her tough to beat … possesses a great attitude … is an exceptionally hard-worker whose work ethic will permeate throughout the squad.
2009: Had a breakout campaign … started 20 Spartan contests while playing in 21 games … consistently thwarted opposing attacks … became on of the top defensive players in the conference … scored a goal in York's 5-2 victory at Albright on October 1 … registered an assist against Goucher in the Spartans' 3-0 win on September 22.
2008: Started all 20 games in which appeared … quickly became a reliable facet in York's lineup … recorded 14 shots during the year … posted a personal-best four shots against McDaniel on September 30 …
Personal: Is a business administration major … is the daughter of Tim and Catherine O'Rourke … born on September 18, 1990… played club hockey for New Heights … was a two-time first-team Skyland Conference selection in high school … names her mom as the person she most admires … favorite athlete is Scott Stevens … chose York because of its good size and nice fitness center … lists York scoring first on Salisbury during senior day as her most memorable athletic moment while with the Spartan program … after graduation she plans on getting a job she loves.


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Chair Taylor will call the meeting to order.
Chair Taylor will address the Board and present the Chair's Report.
President Delaney will address the Board and present the President's Report.
Chair Taylor will offer opportunity for open comments.
Chair Taylor will address the Board and ask for approval of the consent agenda.
Proposed Action: Approval. Motion and second required.
The minutes from the November 13 workshop have been amended to include a statement on the session the Board held with Dr. MacTaggart.
This regulation is being proposed in response to a Board of Governors' request. The regulation broadly defines responsibilities for setting policy and administering financial aid.
The Finance and Audit Committee reviewed the financial aid regulation and is recommending approval by the full Board.
The approval of undergraduate and master's degree programs is vested within the authority of the University of North Florida's Board of Trustees. In accordance with these procedures, the university is submitting its request to add a new academic program. This request is to initiate a new master's degree in mental health counseling. This degree would be offered through the Brooks College of Health.
The proposed degree has been reviewed by the Faculty Association and approved by the Provost and the President. Also, the proposed degree has been reviewed by the Educational Policy Committee and is being recommended for approval by the full Board.
The purpose of this item is to approve tenure for Dr. Kenneth Laali, incoming chair, Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences.
This item has been reviewed by the Educational Policy Committee and is being recommended for approval by the full Board.
President Delaney will present this item.
Trustee Twomey will present the reports from the Finance and Audit Committee.
Under this item the university will provide the Board with an overview of the treasurer's report.
Proposed Action: Report. No motion required.
The purpose of this item is to present this quarter's budget report.
This item is provided as a quarterly report to the Board of Trustees and describes current progress on each project, funding sources, and any current issues including change orders. The capital projects quarterly report is being provided for review by the Board of Trustees.
The Board authorized the President or his designee to approve change orders in the name of the Board for pre-established amounts. Approvals are for the purpose of expediting the work in progress and are to be reported to the Board and entered into its official minutes.
Proposed Action: Report. No motion required.
Provost Workman and Vice President Serwatka will share the draft list of peer aspirants that the university proposes to use in benchmarking its progress in meeting strategic planning goals. The item will include a discussion on how the list was chosen and an examination of the metrics for these universities
Proposed Action: Update. No motion required.
Chair Taylor will adjourn the meeting.
Masters of Science in Mental Health Counseling
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DailyDirt: Stupiditry, Yah
from the urls-we-dig-up dept
- Tony Robbins, the motivational speaker, tried to convince a bunch of folks that "there is absolutely nothing you can't overcome" with an exercise of walking over hot coals. For 21 people, though, it was second or third degree burns that needed to be overcome. [url]
Stubbs the cat has been the mayor of the Alaskan town of Talkeetna for 15 years. Stubbs doesn't raise taxes and has high approval ratings -- and he was named "Stubbs" because he has no tail. Mayor Stubbs also takes advantage of his political power: he will only drink water out of a wine glass laced with catnip.Ah, stupiditry strikes again, and we fell for this hoax. [url]
- Catherine Venusto faces six felony charges for altering her kids' grades with the unauthorized use of a computer. This mother could be looking at up to 42 years in prison or a $90,000 fine, which should definitely teach her kids a lesson about cheating. [url]


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National Crisis Hotline
Kognito Virtual Conversation Simulator
SIUE Helping Students in Distress Handbook for Faculty and Staff
Optional Emergency Disclosure Form
Counseling Services actively promotes the personal, social, emotional, and cognitive growth of SIUE students. This service is provided through individual counseling, counseling groups, healthy living workshops, consultation, and referral. Our staff works closely with students, faculty members, student affairs administrators, public safety officers, health care services providers, housing staff, and parents of SIUE students. Special attention is paid to the ongoing issues affecting college students today, specifically, sexual assault and substance use awareness and prevention. Another important focus is on the awareness of social and cultural differences among the SIUE community.
Counseling Services values and maintains the highest professional ethical standards in fostering psychological well-being and development. We value integrity, openness, cooperation and collegiality. We appreciate and respect diversity and individual differences.
Counseling Services is committed to becoming a premier provider of psychological services. All staff will be licensed and in a continuous pattern of professional growth and development. The staff will supervise the training of new counseling professionals. Counseling Services will be located in facilities that are appropriate to its function and accessible to all members of the SIUE community.
SIUE Counseling Services is a training site for master's and doctoral level therapists. These trainees are required to video record their sessions for quality control and training purposes ONLY. These recordings are destroyed in a timely manner and never become a part of the student's counseling record.
Mailing Address:
SIUE Counseling Services
Box 1154
Edwardsville, IL 62026-1154
Phone: 618/650-2842
Fax: 618/650-5839
Hours: 8 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday - Friday.


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Residential Sauce Pans & Sauciers
To make the finest sauces you'll need a good quality sauce pan. KaTom Restaurant Supply makes finding the best sauce pan for your needs easy with a wide selection of available products. Matching your existing cookware is easy; KaTom carries sauce pans in copper, stainless steel, and aluminum varieties. You'll be happy to see that KaTom also sells sauciers at a great value. Add a saucier or sauce pan to your home cookware collection by shopping with KaTom!


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Home Page
Buf's has been in business in Beaufort, South Carolina, since 1975. We offer a variety of products from Boy Scout and Girl Scout Supplies, to Custom Laser Engraved Acrylic Awards and Plaques, to Laser engraved KA-BAR Knives and Military Plaques, to Personalized Coffee Mugs, with everything from Company, Team or Military Logos, to Personal Pictures and /or Signatures of Team Members, Family, Friends or even Pets, and promotional products for all your fundraising and advertising needs.
At Buf's we pride ourselves in offering the highest quality products with a fair price and outstanding service. Let us be of service to you!
SCOUTING ITEMS - We are a full-line licensed stocking distributor of Boy Scout and Girl Scout Supplies, including Uniforms and Patches, Books and Literature, Leader Literature, Crafts, Camping Items, Gifts and Accessories. Please click "Scouting Items" to request a free Catalog or place your order for "Scout Stuff".
CUSTOM AWARDS - Laser Engraved Awards and Plaques are the ultimate way to recognize the accomplishments of others. We offer a full selection of Award Plaques in Walnut, Oak and Contemporary Styles, Acrylic Awards, Desk Sets and Gift Items. Please click "Custom Awards" for more information and ordering instructions.
MILITARY AWARDS - Buf's is located near the Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot, the US Naval Hospital in Beaufort and the Marine Corps/Air Station; therefore, we have a large selection of Navy and Marine Awards, Logos and Custom Acrylic items. However; we are constantly building our Army, Air Force and Coast Guard Logo Library and invite you to contact us with your request. Please click "Military Awards" for more ideas.
KA-BAR KNIVES - KA-BAR Knives, the classic U.S.M.C. fighting knife in World War II, can be Laser Engraved on the blade in exquisite detail to your specifications with Wording and Logos. Sold separately or mounted on an Award Plaque. Please click "KA-BAR Knives" for examples and On-Line ordering.
COFFEE MUGS - Personalized Coffee Mugs can be the perfect, inexpensive Gift or Award. Sublimated in Full Color, let us put your Team or Company Logo, "Holiday Picture", Loving Pet or just a Favorite Saying on a Coffee mug for you. Please Click "Coffee Mugs" for more ideas and ordering information.
Satisfaction guaranteed! If you are not completely satisfied with your product, Buf's will refund your money or replace your product within 30 days of purchase.


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Brand Label: St John Collection
ITEM MOVED TO ARCHIVE: On February 12, 2018 12:08 am, Fashion Stylist Online noted this item may be out of stock at Neiman Marcus because it was not referenced in their latest online catalog. If this item is out of stock at Neiman Marcus, you may be able to find similar fashions sold there or elsewhere on our St John Collection Designer Brand Directory.
Available for Purchase Online at Neiman Marcus for $138.00Pin It
St. John top in heavy jersey with asymmetrically draped crepe de Chine panel and diamante trim. Scoop neckline. Long sleeves. Relaxed silhouette. Pullover style. Hip-length hem. Viscose; contrast, silk. Imported of Italian materials.
Shop other brand label items from St John Collection on FashionStylist.com.
This item was published for sale online by Neiman Marcus on February 11, 2018 10:46 pm and last updated by us February 12, 2018 12:08 am.
Editor Picks: Top of the Weekend
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Editor Picks: Top Handel Bags for Tip Top Style
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Editor Picks: So 70's Clothing Inspiration
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Editor Picks: The Flare Collection
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Editor Picks: The Denim Collection
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7 For All Mankindr Women's 7 For All Mankind A
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- $489.99
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New promo codes and links offering limited time promotions, sales coupons, and special offers on St John Collection designer fashions and accessories will be posted on each designer label apparel page. For the latest up to date information on this St John Collection Scoop Neck Sleek Viscose Jersey Top | Clothing fashion item, including product specifications, ordering options, pricing, shipping details, high resolution pictures, shopper comments, and other sales media, visit the Neiman Marcus Online Store.


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Below is a collection of links where we have found Power Rangers Samurai free online: ↴↴
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The new version of the DIVX player, which you are prompted to install, will not work with the megaupload and 2...
There is more than 600000 links in my movie links table and its been slow for the last year or so... but this ...
|link name:
|season: episode:
|Links Posting Rules:
-only post links to full movies or full tv show episodes.
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I cant see anyway of deleting mysterious text at top of page - its a copy of a paragraph further down the page dont know how it got there or how to delete it. its not appearing in any of the edit page panels url is http://www.mynationalparks.co.uk/ offending para is top one about brecon beacons.
Any ideas appreciated?


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EXPO Plenary Remarks by Dan Tangherlini -- Video
Event: EXPO Plenary Remarks -- Video
Principal: Dan Tangherlini
Date: Tuesday, May 15
Time: 9:00 AM
Hi, I'm Dan Tangherlini.
First, let me say welcome to GSA's 2012 Expo. I'm sorry I can't be with you today to kick off the conference, but I will be joining you later on and I look forward to meeting with GSA's partners and working to deepen our relationships with the hundreds of vendors both large and small who are joining us here.
I'm relatively new to this job -- I've been at GSA for a little over 6 weeks now.
The circumstances of my arrival are well documented, and I won't dwell on them, but I would like to say that the actions of those responsible for the Western Regions Conference cut to the heart of who we are and what we do.
The misconduct was irresponsible, indefensible, and completely contrary to the way that GSA does business and delivers value to our customer agencies. It undermined both our mission and the trust we have developed with those we serve, including our most important customer: the American public.
In response to the events detailed in that report, we have begun a top-to-bottom review of operations including all conferences, events, and travel. We are reforming our accountability structures and increasing financial oversight and controls. We will hold those responsible for misconduct and abuse accountable.
At the same time, we must look to the future, which is why we are doubling down on our core mission of promoting efficiency, boosting productivity, and, above all, saving taxpayer dollars.
GSA executes on that mission every day. Across our enterprise and within our business lines, GSA is committed to driving steeper bargains, delivering better value, and creating greater opportunities for governmentwide savings.
From cloud computing to high performance buildings, from shared IT services to supporting a fuel efficient federal fleet, we have a strong record of delivering value and promoting efficiency.
But you don't have to take my word for it: the numbers speak for themselves. Annually, our online travel booking system saves federal agencies tens of millions of dollars; Annually, our fleet contracts save customers hundreds of millions of dollars on vehicle purchases; Annually, our CityPairs airfare contract saves the government billions of dollars over commercial ticket prices.
In 2011 alone, GSA lowered federal building energy consumption by nearly 20% over 2003 levels. We reduced the federal building inventory by 3.3 million square feet. We recouped $298 million in charge card refunds. We helped agencies avoid nearly $300 million in package delivery fees and $660 million in telecommunications charges.
And we're not done yet. Not nearly. Among other things, we plan to: issue robust strategic sourcing options that will drive steeper savings for federal agencies; invest in innovative green-tech products and services to reduce the environmental and financial footprint of our building portfolio; partner with small businesses across the country to increase their opportunities and support these engines of our economy.
We've got a full agenda. But we can't do this alone. To succeed in our mission -- to save taxpayer dollars -- we need the best ideas from our industry partners, including our small business partners, many of whom are joining us today.
After all, it's that partnership that has been the bedrock of some of our nation's finest achievements. Together, government and industry have pushed the boundaries of science, technology, engineering, and medicine. Together, we've brought relief to those in need and rebuilt communities when all seemed lost. Together, we've mapped the genetic origin of our species and the birth of our solar system.
That's why today I'm confident that together, with clear-eyed optimism and an eye on the bottom line, we can continue our partnership and overcome our nation's greatest challenges with resolve and determination.
One of those challenges is the budgetary reality faced by federal agencies. Across the government, GSA's customers are being asked to do more with less. They must continue their critical operations while finding areas to scale back.
In this time of fiscal austerity and budget uncertainty, the role of the GSA and the expertise of our contracting officers have never been more vital.
That's why Expo this year is so important: it's focused squarely on training. Training to find new, effective products for the government. Training to reinforce contracting rules and regulations; and training on how to secure for the American people the best bargains to protect their tax dollars.
So thank you for attending the 2012 Expo, and let's be sure that the work done here reflects our commitment to service -- and to savings.
I hope you have a productive time, and I look forward to hearing about the good work you accomplish.
Thank you.