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It is the year 12,090 A.D. The world has all but ended, ravaged in a firestorm of man's wars and madness. But from the wreckage a few humans manage to survive. A few humans... and something else.
Doris Lang knew what her fate would be when the vampire lord Count Magnus Lee bit her: an agonizing transformation into one of the undead, doomed to be stalked by her fellow villagers, or cursed to become the bride of the unholy creature and face an eternity of torment, driven by the thirst for human blood. There was but one option left, and as she watched him ride in from the distance she knew there was hope. Salvation... from a vampire hunter named D.
Magnus has his own problems. His beautiful daughter Larmica refuses to let a human into her family. Enlisting the help of Garo, a werewolf retainer, she attempts to kill Doris before the wedding, only to find D standing against her.
Greco Rohman, son of the chief, wants Doris for himself. The same goes for the skilled fighter Rei-Ginsei and his Fiend Corps. Both men are eager to eliminate D, as his skills and Doris' favor makes them see him as a threat. Doris knows she isn't the only one in trouble - her younger brother is perceived as her weakness, and there is more than one person out there willing to use him as leverage against her.


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Hoeven To Announce For ND Senate Race
I saw this at Dan Riehl's place early this morning and now it is at Memeorandum...
Hoeven To Announce For ND Senate Race
Keep your eyes peeled on prospects just like this folks. The defeatorats are losing and losing BIG.
David Catanese / The Politico: Gov. Hoeven to announce for Senate
North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven is expected to kick-off his candidacy for U.S. Senate Monday evening at a GOP district convention in Bismarck, according to a state Republican familiar with his plans.
Hoeven's announcement will come just six days after Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan said he would retire rather than seek a fourth term in 2010.
Hoeven's entry into the race is no surprise. A Rasmussen Reports poll conducted last month showed Hoeven lead Dorgan by 22 percentage points. Dorgan's abrupt and unexpected exit from the campaign made the race even more appealing to the widely popular three-term governor.
In recent days, top Republicans, including 2008 presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, have encouraged Hoeven to make the run in a contest in which he's presumed to be the favorite.
Hoeven, the nation's longest-serving governor, is expected to begin speaking to the Bismarck Republican District Convention around 6:00 p.m. Monday in order to snag live coverage from the local evening newscasts. [...]
It is time, people. It is time.
The Snooper Report.
Join us as we Take Our Country Back.
Sic vis pacem para bellum
Fight Accordingly

subset: commoncrawl


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Following the addition of its primeval beech forests and 15th-17th century Venetian works of defense, Italy has become the global leader for the number of properties included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The latest additions, decided at the 41st session of the World Heritage Committee that closed in Krakow on Sunday, take the number of Italian properties to 53. China ranks second with 52 properties, trailed by Spain, France and Germany respectively with 46, 43 and 41 properties.
From Tuscany to Calabria going through the province of Viterbo, UNESCO recognized that in Italy there are ten award-winning secular beech tree forests, for a total area of 2,000 hectares. These are now part of the 'Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe', the transboundary extension of the World Heritage site of the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany, which stretches over 12 European countries.
The splendid fortress of Palmanova – national monument since 1960 -, wanted by the Serenissima to defend Christianity from the Ottoman impact in 1593, called the starry city for its star-shaped polygonal plant with nine tips; the bastions of Peschiera del Garda that seem to be born from the waters of the lake; the powerful Venetian Walls, which were built by the Serenissima Republic of Venice in the second half of the 16th century to defend the city. The Ministry of Cultural Heritage Activities and Tourism, which supervised the 500-page workbook that summarize years of work, pointed to the fact that these works constitute a unique testimony to the military architecture that has evolved from the 16th to the 17th centuries, a fundamental period in the long history of the Republic of Venice: "Fortresses and walls together testify to the presence of a unique defensive network between the Mainland State and the Sea State. These presidios, integrated in landscape of extraordinary suggestion, describe a unitary defensive project that can boast civil, military and urban connotations."
Wonders of Italian nature and ingenuity that are added to UNESCO World Heritage list next to the ones already present, like Pompeii and the Valley of the Temples of Agrigento.
The previous Italian properties to be included on the World Heritage list before the latest ones, were Arab-Norman Palermo and the Cathedral Churches of Cefalú and Monreale, together with the vineyard landscapes of Langhe-Roero and Monferrato in the northern Piedmont. Next year the committee is set to consider the candidature of two more Italian properties, the 20th-century industrial town of Ivrea in Piedmont and the Prosecco hills. In 2019 the rules will change to allow countries to present only one candidate site each to a total of 35 worldwide. Due to the high number of properties already on the list in the event of 'oversubscription' Italy would see its proposals examined last.
Ilona Catani Scarlett


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Beautiful wedding photography for Lovers
It was exactly what they hoped for. An outdoor wedding surrounded with their family and friends as they were getting married together with their little son. So the day could not have started any better when it felt like summer with hardly a cloud in the sky.
Tatiana was so relaxed as her hair was done and here best friend, sister, mother, nephews and brother inlaw were all talking and laughing, playing music excited about the day ahead. She couldn't wait for Robby to pick her up and get married. But there were so many other things planned for this day.
Today a preview of this lovely couple getting married.
Today the result of the whole session of Frans and Mark and I can say I am proud and thankfull to all the couples that we had in front of the camera. We had 4 seasons in one weekend, great venues, great vendors to work with, great service when we stayed in the Hilton hotel and 5 beautiful couples to capture.
So you can image that we look forward to show this final set of images of Frans and Mark that we captured at Doubletree by Hilton. Have fun with this sessies.
Location: Doubletree by Hilton Amsterdam
Suits: Roka
Photography: Admiron Photography
Every wedding has at least a bouquette and a boutenier but a wedding day can look so much prettier with flowers, decoration and wedding day styling. José of Stijlvol Groen is a master at creating beautiful flower arrangement that you can use through out the day. In this special segment she tells all about it and why you should choose for flowers on your wedding day. Have a look at the interview and the magazine below. Of course also some nice images of José's session.
A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of photographing José from Stijlvol Groen. We have worked together a couple of time and every time she knows to surprise with beautiful flowers and styling. She is full of great ideas and always make certain that the final result is what the couple envisions. Normally the flowers take center stage so it was super fun to have José alone in front of my camera. The weather was helping a lot and the trees were full of blossom. Today a preview
Today you can see the result of the session we did with Kirsten and Michiel. We were lucky to get a beauiful day, a beautiful view and a beautiful couple with their beautiful son. So every ingredient available for a great day. Kirsten and Michiel are a great couple. Every look was returned by a smile.
On one of the top floors of the DoubleTree by Hilton venue near Amsterdam Central Station you get treated to an amazing view and an amazing location for a wedding and party. The rooftop garden gives you access to dance the night away.
Today you can see the result of the portrait session with Liesbeth. This special blog post also contains a vendor spotlight with images of Liesbeth. It also includes images of brides that she has beautified en some behind the scenes shots of Liesbeth in action. It is so great that she is sharing this information with you.
You can read the interview below.
This year we got the chance to work closely together with Liesbeth Dubelaar of Liesbeth Dubelaar Visagie. What a talented lady she is. She has beautified lot's of brides and this time was no exeption when three beautiful women were transfered into beautiful brides reliving their wedding day again. Liesbeth is a real pro and knows how to accentuate the beauty in a woman. As a bride you will be all made up in the comfort of their own home so you can get ready without any stress and the result is stunning. She knows what looks good on camera. So you can imagine why I would recommend Liesbeth for hair and make-up on your wedding day.
But this time the spotlight is on Liesbeth. No fan of being the center of attention it was a pleasure to have Liesbeth in front of my camera this time. I have to blog a sneak peak because I will show you the result of our session and more this week.
It was just to cold to go outside eventhought the sun was shining. It is nice to shoot outside but when the temperatures drop it is time to look for alternatives. So we stayed inside and had a great time moving around the living room to capture some beautiful images of Peter and Kanika.
As always there were just to many shot to choose from to show on the blog but here a small selection of their portraits. Enjoy.
This year will be a great year to welcome new life into this world. A baby is always special but it is even more special when past brides are expecting. This year four of my past brides are expecting a baby and so are Peter and Kanika. Their destination wedding in Sorrento Italy happened almost three years ago. What a special day it turned out to be and I am still so proud to have been their wedding photographer.
You can image how happy I was for them to receive the news that they are expecting their first child this Spring. But also honored when they asked me if I wanted to be the one to capture their happiness. So this past weekend we had their session. With the sun shining through the window we has some beautiful light to capture their portrets.
Here a preview of their sweet session.
What is the most fun of photography? My answer is photographing people. As a wedding photographer I love to shoot details, I am a huge fan of details but in the end I like to photograph people. Capture them in way that they recognise themselves. Hear them say that they look beautiful, great, funny, amazing, etc. in an image is one of the best complements that I can get.
So every time I capture people I try to let their character shine through and if possible have them smiling, having fun. With people having fun they are themselves, they forget the camera and can be who they really are.
A little while back I had the chance to photograph the lovely Gerti and capture these fun images and have some fun.
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Ebook on maternal mental health released
Global shortage of health workers in mental health: WHO
Govt decriminalises suicide, bans electric shocks to mentally ill children
So, what about the wounds on the inside?
Nadda pitches for detection of mental health disorders at health and wellness centres
A movement aimed to spread awareness on mental health among 10,000 people has been launched here by a non-profit organisation.
The White Swan Foundation, with its mission to deliver knowledge services for mental health and wellbeing, has announced the launch of "Mission 10K" programme.
"Mission 10K aims to reach out to 10,000 people in Bengaluru and engage them in conversations on mental health," Foundation's Chief Executive Officer Manoj Chandran said.
The Foundation will train 200 volunteers, who as mental health champions, will reach out to 50 people each to have these conversations through October and November.
"Of all the challenges that surround the mental healthcare space, the most fundamental is the lack of access to right knowledge among people. Without the right knowledge, people's decision on mental health is often ill informed," Chandran said.
"We cannot address the challenges of the mental healthcare space without the involvement of the people...," he added.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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The Reluctant Resistance: The TUC and the Tories
September 14, 2011
Although Trade Unions in the UK are being pushed by their members to take strike action over pensions and the broader drift of British economic policy, the record of the TUC and many individual union leaders in resisting cuts to public services and job losses has been atrocious.
The TUC head Brendan Barber now talks about "the need for a much more radical approach to responding to the crisis" and assures us that "we have a responsibility to co-ordinate trade unions who take industrial action on this issue. We are certainly prepared and stand ready to do that."
But nobody should mistake him or other union leaders for reliable allies of working people. When the students were being kettled and seeing their futures evaporate, trade union leaders were almost all silent. It took over a year for the TUC to organize a protest march to bring its members together in opposition to the coalition government's cuts program – a year of time lost when the agenda was clear to anyone capable of reading a newspaper.
Why is this? Much of the blame must lie with Barber himself, a union careerist and political naïf, who has little courage for a fight but a strong sense of self-importance. Nowhere was this toxic combination of attributes shown clearer than in a cable released by Wikileaks last year.
The cable describes a meeting between Barber and the US Ambassador on December 9, 2009 at which the two discussed the likelihood of a Conservative victory in the 2010 General Election. As the Ambassador reported, "Barber stated that the Tories have actually been "courting" the unions a bit, because they know they would need union support in any effort to reduce public sector employment as a deficit-fighting measure."
Barber expressed his pleasure at being courted by the Tories, saying that "If the election were to result in a hung parliament, the union movement might actually be in the strongest political position, since all three parties would need its support."
This is Brendan Barber in private, scheming with the Ambassador of a foreign power. He doesn't come out well. On one hand, he was astonishingly naïve, suggesting that the union movement, which has long been shedding members, would be in a 'strong position' whatever the result of an election in which, he was well aware, all parties were committed to deficit reduction. Since then, the unions have shown very little evidence to the public that their strength has grown due to political developments.
On the other hand, Barber appears slimy and self-satisfied in his position as a midwife for the Tories delivering their noxious economic program. The phrase "because they know they would need union support in any effort to reduce public sector employment as a deficit-fighting measure" bears repeating. A good question for union leaders would be, just how much support have you given the Tories in their deficit cutting crusade, and what rewards have you received in return?
Now, union after union is balloting its members. Workers are putting immense pressure on union leaders to take action against massive increases to their pension contributions and rises in the pension age. The act of striking, however, so long a staple of workers (and absolutely guaranteed under international labour law as a basic right) is still being resisted by those leaders. As Len McCluskey, seen as one of the more radical union leaders, told the Guardian, "Hopefully the government will see the anger and perhaps take a step back, be a little bit more flexible and less intransigent. We have heard union leader after union leader saying they don't want to do this, but the anger comes from the ordinary men and women in the grassroots."
McCluskey seems almost embarrassed by the passion coming from the "grassroots" (presumably he sees himself and his other well-paid leaders as beautiful flowers, and certainly not "ordinary men and women.") And well might Len be shamefaced. After all, in November 2010, he promised us all that "I feel passionate about it. I will stand on the rooftops and shout about it and we will do everything in our power to resist it. We will join together the public and private sector workers."
Back then, Len was thinking about the March demonstration, which came and went. He wanted it to "[rock] the establishment and [make] them step back" but it was the youthful occupiers of Fortnum and Mason who made the biggest stir, while Trade Unionists were babbling on in Hyde Park (even if Ed Miliband was booed at the rally).
McCluskey was promising to lead a truly radical campaign of resistance, however, even going so far as to liken himself to Nelson Mandela. As he put it, "Do I believe the law is sacrosanct? Absolutely I do not. If there are bad laws not only is it right to oppose them but your duty to do so…[Nelson] Mandela may have taken that position over the laws of apartheid and [Mahatma] Gandhi may have taken that position over the laws of colonialism and imperialism…"
We still await his heroic stand in the streets of London. Right now, what we are seeing is a promise of action on pensions – an issue that unions can legally strike over. But Len's heroic rhetoric has been well and truly exposed as cynical posturing. And we should probably put Brendan Barber's concern about pension rights and cuts in the same bracket.
Whatever happens over the coming months – and action will certainly be plentiful – it will be the anger and passion of workers that impels and shapes it. The power of men like McCluskey and Barber has long been an impediment to workers' own power. They may now, hopefully, discover how irrelevant they can be made by a confident upsurge of organized labour.
One Response to "The Reluctant Resistance: The TUC and the Tories"
September 15, 2011 at 8:03 am
Len McCluskey's passion concerning pensions may well be sincere, particularly in relation to his own retirement prospects. Derek Simpson, former joint leader of Unite, has recently taken a £ ½ million severance handout, which is possibly being funded by the 5% subscription increase demanded of the rank and file. Trade Union leaders are virtually indistinguishable from FTSE 100 company directors in their attitudes and aspirations. They are only too happy to play the Francis Maude game of setting public against private workers. They can safely be ignored by those who are really trying to effect a shift in resources from rich to poor.


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Blue Jays
Posted on March 5, 2014
Watch Us Grow!
There is no question that a whole lot of growth happens in and around PIC!
Posted on November 19, 2013
Did you know that several of our classrooms are actively participating in recycling programs?
Posted on November 6, 2013
Parents Sharing with Peanuts
There are many important ways families help the Center while logging those ever-needed parent participation hours, but coming into your child's classroom to share just about anything with the class is the mo


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|Artwork by the children of the Mercy Centre
"Waltz Me Around Again, Willie" -- my song with the Washington Square Harp and Shamrock Orchestra -- has been released on the CD entitled In Partnership with the Poor: Irish musicians for the Mercy Centre, pictured above.
To order, click HERE.
Your purchase will help fund a music program for the children of the Mercy Centre, a highly successful charitable organization in Bangkok, Thailand.
Maybe you're wondering how the Washington Square Harp and Shamrock Orchestra (WSHSO) came to be involved with an organization on the other side of the world. Well, Mick Moloney who sponsors our group spends a portion of every year at the Mercy Centre. He has been most impressed with their work with children and communities in the desperately poor Bangkok slums. The children are often orphans, victims of AIDS and/or various types of abuse. The Mercy Centre provides schools, hospitals, homes and, above all, love. From time to time, Mick sends the WSHSO reports from the Mercy Centre. Some members of our group, like Donie Carroll, have visited there. After his visit, Donie felt compelled to do something to help the kids, and thus his CD project was born.
Many events have promoted the sale of the CD:
- October 10 - golf outing at Forest Park Golf Course sponsored by the Grandstand Pub and Restaurant in Elmhurst (Queens), NY
- November 14 - concert at Irish Repertory Theatre in Manhattan
- November 19 - Murphy's Bar in Sunnyside (Queens), NY
- November 24 - The Landmark Tavern in Manhattan
- November 30 - Dunne's Pub in White Plains, NY
- December 11 - Shanachie Irish Pub and Restaurant in Ambler, PA near Philadelphia
In Partnership with the Poor is a compilation of songs from many artists, all of whom contributed tracks free of charge. The 20 tracks constitute a really nice mix of Irish music in a variety of styles. Below are the songs and artists:
- Rolling Hills of the Border - Emily McShane and Girsa
- McNally's Row of Flats - Mick Moloney
- The Night the Goat Broke Loose on Grand Parade - Donie Carroll
- The Cat's Meow - Joanie Madden and Cherish the Ladies
- Dancing at Whitsun - Marian Makins and Gabriel Donohue
- Walts Me Around Again, Willie - Linda Mason Hood and the Washington Square Harp and Shamrock Orchestra
- Star of the County Down - Congressman Joe Crowley and Sean Crowley
- The Fox and the Hare - Jimmy Crowley
- Miltown Malbay - Victor Cuneen
- In Memory of Coleman / Paddy Fahy's - Athena Tergis
- The Jetty Queen / The Apple Tree Polka - Máirtín de Cógáin
- The Ploughboy - Sean Hennessy and Blackwater
- Days of Wonder - Mick Curry
- Maudabawn Chapel / Never Was Piping So Gay / Fisherman's Island - Brian Conway and Brendan Dolan
- Uncle Jim - Larry Kirwan and Black 47
- Murphy Can Never Go Home - Donie Carroll
- Johnny, Lovely Johnny - Kitty Kelly
- Young Reilly, The Fisherman - Deirdre and Mattie Connolly
- Danny Boy - Cathie Maguire
- Surgo Hodie / I Rise Today - Marian Makins and Gabriel Donohue
Please give In Partnership with the Poor to lots of people this holiday season. Since all the music and labor was donated, 100% of the proceeds will go to the Mercy Centre in Bangkok. It's the gift that keeps giving!! Place your order today.
© 2011, Linda Mason Hood
Truffles, Turtles & Tunes Copyright Statement


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-An article from Gurav Kale-
The concept of spirituality to study quality of life and health is not new, but has returned to the scene during recent years and has gone through an evolutionary process. Recently, most of the advanced hospitals have begun to incorporate spirituality with health to encourage patients in the faith aspect while they are hospitalized.
Spirituality and health in real meaning, is to look beyond the physical body. In ancient systems of body meditation, mind and soul were seen as interconnected and inseparable, and if one part of the whole system was stimulated, it affected the other parts as well.
MSU's initiative toward studying the effect of spirituality on cancer patients and validating the results can assure the use of holistic medicine in healing patients.
A recent study at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson center in coordination with Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana research foundation in Bangalore, India, showed that involving the practice of yoga during breast cancer treatment actually helped in improving the quality of life of the patients. Lorenzo Cohen, associate professor and director of the Integrative Medicine Program at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, said, "Cancer and its treatments are associated with considerable distress, impaired quality of life and reduced physical function. This is true for women with breast cancer who receive multi-modality treatment over an extended period of time." The study showed significant increase in general health, physical function and enhanced quality of life of the participants.
Yoga is generally referred to as the union of the individual atma, or soul, with paramatma, or the universal soul. This translates to a union with the divine by integration of body, mind and spirit. Ayurveda — a Sanskrit term for knowledge of life — is a healing side of yoga, and yoga is a spiritual tradition from which Ayurveda emerged. It is based on the view that the elements, forces and principles that comprise all of nature, holding it together and making it function are also seen in human beings.
Through yoga one prepares the body and mind for self-realization or union with the divine, and through Ayurveda one supports the spiritual journey by maintaining body and mind in a state of balance and well-being.
According to Ayurveda, each person has a constitution that determines the basic physiology and personality. This constitution is an inherent balance of three doshas — a unique mix of three mind-body principles, which creates our specific mental and physical characteristics — which are vata (motion), pitta (metabolism) and kapha (cohesiveness).
The basic theory of mind-body medicine is to treat the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual states of human beings in such a way that there is a balance between them. According to Daniel Goleman and Joel Gurin, mind-body medicine is "an approach that sees the mind — our thoughts and emotions — as having a central impact on the body's health."
The therapies of mind-body medicine include relaxation training, meditation, hypnosis, psychotherapy, guided imagery and prayer. Ayurveda provides an integrated approach in preventing and treating illness through lifestyle involvement and natural therapies. In Ayurveda, the mind, or consciousness, and the body not only influence each other, but also have to work together in overcoming a disease.
Another idea of mind-body medicine is prevention of disease by helping patients realize the healing potential in themselves by empowering them with the use of those therapies. The practice of yoga along with Ayurvedic therapies has been noted in ancient Ayurvedic texts and found to be beneficial in treating diseases or conditions such as hypertension, bronchial asthma, anxiety and depression, neurosis, gastrointestinal disorders, headache and insomnia.
Also, Ayurveda contributed a specialized and elaborate system of massage therapies like acupressure therapy. Martial arts, such as qi gong, tai chi and karate, were adopted and practiced in Chinese monasteries for centuries and also originate from Ayurvedic traditions.
Ayurveda is not only getting popular in medical establishments, but also in cosmetology institutes. Aveda Institutes headquarters in Blaine, Minn., took inspiration from Ayurveda in manufacturing of skin care, cosmetics, perfume and hair-care products, and trains students in cosmetology. Aveda's spa framework is based on the foundation of elemental nature philosophy from ancient wisdom of Ayurveda.
The United Nations health agency aims to bring traditional or alternative medicines, including Ayurveda, for research into their effectiveness and safety by promoting their proper use and regulation and by helping countries integrate them into their health-care services. The combination of integrative medicines, including mind-body therapies, with mainstream biomedical therapies in one practice that can offer added value to existing systems.
Gurav Kale is an MSU packaging graduate student. Reach him at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Please visit http://www.statenews.com/op_article.phtml?pk=36704 for more information.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Spirituality, mind-body medicine plays valid role in health, healing
Posted by Ayça Gürelman at 1:14 PM
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Our boy is 3 weeks old today. I can't believe it! Right now he is snoozing in his swing, so I thought I would post some new photos below- taken yesterday.
He is really developing quite the personality. It is so cute to see his little facial expressions – his pouts and smiles melt your heart! We are still having good nights and bad nights. The "bad nights" usually only give me about 2 or 3 hours sleep…the "good nights" 6 or 7! Breastfeeding is still challenging, but we are doing okay. He has a big appetite and seems to really be growing. We don't have to go back to the pediatrician until he's 2 months old – which we're happy about. She predicts he'll be about 13 pounds at that point.
We are trying to finalize our decision on vaccines, which is so tough. We have a list of the ones we are not going to do, and ones we are considering. Our "no" list seems to be larger than our "yes" list. I can't imagine putting some of that stuff in him. The ingredients honestly give me the chills. And, if I'm being honest, I DO worry about the link between vaccinating and autism. I know the general population will say there is NO link….but I've heard many people swear that after a vaccine, their child was never the same. It's scary. Karli and I both refuse the flu vaccine each year because we strongly believe that it does more harm than good. The vaccine debate can get as heated as a conversation about circumcision….I know people feel very strongly one way or the other. Ultimately, everyone has to make the best decision for THEIR family. All these choices you have to make as Moms are tough though!
We had a pretty nice, relaxing weekend. We had friends over Friday night and went out for Mexican, then came back to the condo and played trivia and laughed till we cried. We had brunch with K's dad and brothers yesterday and they got to meet their nephew for the first time. Her youngest brother (who is 11) kept saying "I can't believe he was inside you, and now he's out…and alive….it's pretty crazy…" It really IS mind-blowing to think about it. They were so cute though. Also, we had one of our friends from our natural birthing class come over to meet Lach yesterday evening. She brought us Cuban food from her husbands restaurant- yum! She is 36 weeks pregnant and planning a homebirth with our MW as well. It was so great to tell her the birth story and encourage her. She is so excited for her own birth and I know she'll do great!
Totally switching gears, K and I watched The L W.ord last night online. What are your thoughts on the season premiere??
And….Photos (he likes to flare his nostrils!):


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The Pink Pony Blog REVIEW!
Chloe & Andrea
"Hoof Hi-lites is right on point with healthy hoof care. I know this as a fact because my own farrier took a sniff, then like any good farrier, he took a taste and said "Yup…this is GOOD hoof conditioner! Seriously, this is good stuff. It's great that Natalie is excited about it." In fact he believes it so much he asked how to get some so he could pass it on to other clients he shoes for!"… Read more at THE PINK PONY BLOG


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Venesta is committed to raising the standard of our children's school and play centre washrooms.
Children have a right to be safe at all times, this includes when going to the bathroom. We have introduced a number of important features into the designs of our school toilet cubicles to give you extra peace of mind. Our children's toilet cubicles, for nursery and primary school toilets, have low level and shaped doors to allow adult supervision. Our clever safety hinges mean an end to trapped fingers and we also include door lock options for emergency release.
We know children love the colours and boldness of our washroom designs. To spark young imaginations, our school toilet cubicles feature 36 contemporary colours, with bold screen prints for both primary and secondary school toilets. The fittings range from the bright, primary colours of our Lollipop washrooms, to the smart powder-coated grey of our Award range of school toilets.
At Venesta, we work hard to ensure our stylish and robust designs for university and secondary school toilet cubicles, encourage respect and discourage vandalism.
Contact Us
For more information on Venesta's washroom systems please call us on 01474 353 333


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PEEKSKILL, N.Y. -- A budget proposal submitted by Peekskill City Manager Anthony Ruggiero would include a 3 percent tax increase for residents, according to theexaminernews.com .
Even with the increase, the budget for the city is in better shape than it was at this time last year, when the city raised taxes 3.8 percent and was forced to eliminate nine full time positions from the payroll, according to theexaminernews.com.
The proposed budget of $50.5 million would be a decrease of over $600,000, but would still require the use of $106,000 from the city's fund balance. By comparison, Peekskill had to use $1 million from the fund balance last year, according to theexaminernews.com
For the average Peekskill resident, the proposed 3 percent increase would constitute an increase of about $75 in additional taxes, according to theexaminernews.com.
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Idaho judge grants class action status for ACLU lawsuit
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho judge has ruled that a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho over public defender funding can move forward as a class action.
The ACLU initially filed the suit against the state in 2015 on behalf of four plaintiffs who claimed their representation from public defenders was inadequate, the Post Register reported .
The judge issued the ruling Wednesday.
The new status means more plaintiffs who say they've received deficient public defender representation can be included in the lawsuit.
"This decision is about ensuring even the most vulnerable among us have adequate legal representation and that public defenders have the time and resources they need to defend their clients against the colossal resources government can use to lock up Idahoans, break up their families, and take away their liberty," ACLU of Idaho Executive Director Leo Morales said in a statement.
The ACLU is challenging how public defenders are funded, claiming the system is unprepared to handle the caseloads because the funding is managed by individual counties instead of the state.
The state had argued against making the case a class action lawsuit, claiming there was no commonality between defendants who use public defenders because of the differences between the counties.
In his ruling, Judge Samuel Hoagland found the differences from county to county were not relevant.
The initial suit named the state, the state Public Defense Commission and Gov. Butch Otter as defendants, and it was dismissed in 2016. The suit was reinstated last year, and the Republic governor was removed as a defendant.
Information from: Post Register, http://www.postregister.com


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Monday, September 30, 2013
glasser : interiors (album stream)
Posted by kappy at 10:55 PM No comments:
Labels: album stream, glasser, interiors
Thursday, September 26, 2013
the field : cupid's head (album stream)
the field doesn't really make bad albums. like, if you're a fan of the field, it's never a question of which album you like the least but which album you like the most, if that makes sense. anywho, stream the new one below. rec'd if you have the patience to let a song unfold. the hooks are there, but they're buried.
Posted by kappy at 3:31 PM No comments:
Labels: album stream, cupid's head, the field
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
haim : days are gone (album stream)
stream haim's (sure to be on everyone's best of 2013 list) debut over at npr.
Posted by kappy at 12:00 PM No comments:
Labels: album stream, days are gone, haim
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
mø : never wanna know (stream)
got some lana del rey vibes on this one.
Posted by kappy at 11:00 AM No comments:
Labels: mo, mø, never wanna know, stream
Sunday, September 22, 2013
feist + timber timbre : don't give up (stream)
feist and timber timbre cover peter gabriel.
Posted by kappy at 7:03 PM No comments:
Labels: cover song, don't give up, feist, peter gabriel, stream, timber timbre
Friday, September 20, 2013
local natives : ceilings (video)
shot by the band cellphones while touring.
Posted by kappy at 8:01 AM No comments:
Labels: ceilings, local natives, video
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
kings of leon : mechanical bull (album stream)
head over here to stream the new kol album from itunes. as any long-time kings fan would come to expect from an album post-because of the times, there are a couple keepers, a couple throwaways, and a couple that are absolute garbage (see song #4, "temple", which is possibly the worst song they ever wrote). most everything on here has a stadium-rock studio sheen on it, so those looking for the grimy dive-bar bathroom-stall recording sound from their first few lps best look elsewhere.
Posted by kappy at 11:39 AM No comments:
Labels: album stream, kings of leon, kol, mechanical bull
mgmt : cool song no. 2 (video)
also, check p4k for a well-written album review that sheds some light on the bands self-induced trajectory.
Posted by kappy at 11:24 AM No comments:
Labels: cool song no. 2, mgmt, video
grizzly bear : will calls (marfa demo)
for those not in the know, grizzly bear demoed a bunch of songs for their last album in the artist/farmer/rancher enclave of marfa, texas, before scrapping the sessions and continuing the process on the east coast. this track would be a product of those marfa sessions that didn't make it to the final album, and it's quite nice. i wouldn't have minded it taking the place of a couple songs that made the final cut. take a listen below.
Posted by kappy at 11:11 AM No comments:
Labels: b-side, demo, grizzly bear, stream, will calls
Monday, September 16, 2013
New songs from us coming very soon....!
— Grizzly Bear (@grizzlybear) September 16, 2013
Posted by kappy at 4:28 PM No comments:
Labels: grizzly bear, tweet, twitter
mazzy star : seasons of your day (album stream)
stream the dreamy, gauzy, atmospheric new album (first in 17 years!) from mazzy star (of "fade into you" fame) over at npr.
Posted by kappy at 1:38 PM No comments:
Labels: album stream, mazzy star, seasons of your day
best coast : i don't know how (stream)
a really really solid country-punk jam from best coast. stream at npr.
Labels: best coast, i don't know how, stream
four tet : parallel jalebi (stream)
excellent track. trance-inducing.
Posted by kappy at 12:47 PM No comments:
Labels: four tet, parallel jalebi, stream
chvrches : the bones of what you believe (album stream)
stream the new and good album by chvrches over at npr. rec'd if you like la roux, anthemic synth pop.
Posted by kappy at 12:36 PM No comments:
Friday, September 13, 2013
low : stay (rihanna cover)
for those that h8 rihanna (me) but can appreciate the songwriting talent that backs up her songs (that is to say, the people that write the melody, the lyrics, play the instruments, and otherwise construct everything about the entire song [none of those people being rihanna] aside from actually singing it), this is the cover for you. it is absolutely gorgeous. anyone else picking up some sheryl crow vibes?
Posted by kappy at 11:07 PM No comments:
Labels: cover song, low, rihanna, stay, stream
kings of leon : dancing with myself (robyn cover live)
the verse is a little soft, but that chorus packs a punch.
Posted by kappy at 6:08 PM No comments:
Labels: cover song, dancing with myself, kings of leon, live, robyn, video
gambles : so i cry out (video)
rec'd if you like highly emotive singer-songwriters.
Posted by kappy at 12:28 PM No comments:
Labels: gambles, so i cry out, video
arctic monkeys : hold on, we're going home (drake cover)
comes out much much better than you'd expect.
Labels: arctic monkeys, cover song, drake, hold on we're going home
Thursday, September 12, 2013
mgmt : plenty of girls in the sea (fallon)
this is probably the best song on the album.
Posted by kappy at 12:15 PM No comments:
Labels: fallon, live, mgmt, plenty of girls in the sea, video
buy american
glasser : design (video)
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
local natives : ceilings (conan)
Posted by kappy at 12:19 PM No comments:
Labels: ceilings, conan, live, local natives, video
heavenly beat : honest (stream)
smooth grooves.
Posted by kappy at 12:17 PM No comments:
Labels: heavenly beat, honest, stream
father john misty : i'm writing a novel (video)
Posted by kappy at 12:15 PM No comments:
Labels: father john misty, i'm writing a novel, video
volcano choir : repave (fallon)
Posted by kappy at 12:04 PM No comments:
Labels: fallon justin vernon, repave, video, volcano choir
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
kanye west : bound 2 (fallon)
this is actually a really great performance. the kids choir looks like they're loving life and kanye seems like he's enjoying himself.
Posted by kappy at 1:22 PM 2 comments:
Labels: bound 2, fallon, kanye west, live, video
keep shelly in athens : at home (album stream)
after a couple eps, greecian duo keep shelly in athens are finally here with their debut album. listen at p4k.
Posted by kappy at 12:40 PM No comments:
Labels: album stream, at home, greece, keep shelly in athens
Monday, September 9, 2013
cut copy : free your mind (stream)
it's a good one.
Posted by kappy at 6:05 PM No comments:
Labels: cut copy, free your mind, stream
arcade fire : reflektor (video)
first single from the grammy winners' upcoming fourth lp, produced by lcd soundsytem's james murphy.
Posted by kappy at 4:51 PM No comments:
Labels: arcade fire, reflektor, stream
son lux : lost it to trying (stream)
a lot going on here. like sufjan stevens on steroids.
Posted by kappy at 11:01 AM No comments:
Labels: lost it to trying, son lux, stream
Friday, September 6, 2013
cults : high road (stream)
i like this much better than first single "i can hardly make you mine". more to dissect.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
ryan hemsworth : against a wall (stream)
rec'd if you like early toro y moi, drake.
Posted by kappy at 12:47 PM No comments:
Labels: against a wall, ryan hemsworth, stream
reflektor 9.9.9
arcade fire is doing something at 9 p.m. on september 9.
Posted by kappy at 11:58 AM No comments:
Labels: 9, arcade fire, reflektor
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
arctic monkeys : am (album stream)
Posted by kappy at 12:52 PM No comments:
Labels: album stream, am, arctic monkeys
delorean : apar (album stream)
p4k has the new album from barcelona's delorean streaming in full. click here. still got a bit of that "indie-ibiza" vibe going (like their last album), but the beats are all slowed down a step or two.
Posted by kappy at 12:23 PM No comments:
Labels: album stream, apar, delorean
matt kivel : rainbow trout (stream)
sounds like a song someone would play under a willow tree next to a stream after catching some rainbow trout.
Posted by kappy at 10:23 AM No comments:
Labels: matt kivel, rainbow trout, stream
arctic monkeys : i want it all (stream)
Posted by kappy at 10:22 AM No comments:
Labels: arctic monkeys, i want it all, stream
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Author Archive
Filed under: Pop, Rock
Achiko – Lonelinessby admini on Apr 8th, 2013ჯგუფი "აჩიკო" – Loneliness (© ACHIKO – Archil Zarnadze 2011) Through the silence I feel memories fading Through the infinite edge of moments escaping Every day becomes much more difficult to recall Yesterday and I face insurmountable sorrow. Only time I felt happy when I was close to you Pain in my heart deepens, and I am longing so much for you Though you caused me pain and this suffering takes its toll ...Read More » Tags Share Comments (0)
Filed under: Pop
ADO – Eightby admini on Mar 26th, 2013© ადო (ანდრონიკე ბაბაიანი / 4Star) - Eight (Guitar: Gega, Drums: Choke) Eight eight eight Eight eight eight It's euphoric feeling What a fake sight You can do nothing When you are on the road to infinity Each attempt to get out Tightens you more and more In eight Eight eight eight Eight eight eight Girl do you remember What you said yesterday Will you remember what You will say tomo...Read More » Tags Share Comments (0)
Filed under: Pop
Nodi & Sophie – Waterfallby admini on Mar 3rd, 2013Nodiko Tatishvili & Sopho Gelovani - Waterfall (Text: Thomas G:son, Music: Thomas G:son & Erik Bernholm; Eurovision 2013, Malmö, Sweden) There's no me without you Don't know what I would do You're my heartbeat, I'm breathing because of you. There's no world without us Dreams would turn into dust You're the reason, the reason I make it through. Feels like I'm flying, like if I had wings Like I am sailing on a sea of dreams You'r...Read More » Tags Share Comments (0)
Filed under: Pop, Rock
P. I. Light – Cyber meatby admini on Jan 6th, 2013P. I. Light (Private Inferno Light ) - Cyber meat (Band members: Manana Kokhreidze, Jemal Mirzashvili, Archil Bediashvili, Nick Rukhadze) Flesh-eating cyber demons I can feel them in my blood Forgive me, for I have sinned Baby, come to close my eyes. I'm ready, I'm a hunter Just lo look into my eyes If you accidentally kill me I will, I will rise Flesh Flesh Swallow, eat cyber meat Buy flesh for some cash Swallow, eat c...Read More » Tags Share Comments (0)
Filed under: Pop, Rock
November – Againby admini on Dec 31st, 2012ნოემბერი - Again Woke up alone in bed, "Take a care" - a footnote says, Now figure out who the hell was she? Getting drunk all night and day, Smell of Whiskey on my breath, Missed 5 calls from my pretty girl... Again, You're on my top, Again, I'm outta my mind, Again, You're screaming my name Again and again and again. (interlude) Get up, get down, lets hang around - boys are back in town, Girls get ready for...Read More » Tags Share Comments (0)
Filed under: Pop, Rock
Buddhuza – Fallby admini on Nov 16th, 2012ბუდდჰუზა - Fall Fall's coming soon, I see you're getting cool, I feel myself As someone else I didn't want to be, I'm leaving first. I looked through my life And found so many times I cursed myself Because of my past mistakes, And now I see It's just the same. Fall's coming soon, I still turned out a fool, It's just my stop And looking back, The play is on, I see the same. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...Read More » Tags Share Comments (0)
Filed under: Pop, Rock
Sons of Carpenter – Dreamersby admini on Sep 22nd, 2012Sons of Carpenter - Dreamers (feat. Charles Bukowski) Fairy tale for them is us When we smile, slowly moving fingers And when we dance around People that surround us, they can't see the scars They think they're watching dreamers And when we dance around People that surround us, they can't see the scars They think they're watching dreamers. [soundcloud url="http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/57226138"]...Read More » Tags Share Comments (0)
Filed under: GeoLyrics, Pop
Tamta Goduadze – Akou tin kardiaby admini on May 31st, 2012Τάμτα Γκοντουάτζε / თამთა გოდუაძე - Άκου την καρδια (Music: Beetkraft, Αντώνης Σκώκος, Text: Βίκυ Γεροθόδωρου) Ποσο πιο πολυ να νιωσω το φιλι που καιει σαν φωτια, στο σωμα μου μαζι για πες, εσυ τι θες παλι με ρωτας πραγματα πολλα Ζησε τη στιγμη και α�...Read More » Tags Share Comments (0)
Filed under: GeoLyrics, Pop, Rock
REGGAEon – I'm Georgianby admini on May 31st, 2012რეგიონი - I'm Georgian I can tell you a short history about a country About a country which is small and which is rich Which had many wars and many, many troubles But today it has sun, see, love, piece again Chorus: .. Because I'm Georgian, Georgian, Georgian solder and I'm Georgian, Georgian, Georgian reggae-men X2 It was long, long time ago, long, long way we crossed With our traditions and trusting in God,...Read More » Tags Share Comments (0)
Filed under: Pop
Katie Melua – The walls of the worldby admini on Apr 8th, 2012ქეთი მელუა - The walls of the world (Music: Mike Batt) The sun is only shining like it always does, But I never noticed it in the sky before. And you don't need to worry, 'cause I need your love, my friend. There's a strong kind of feeling when I know you're near Nobody alive can take it away from me; And I feel like I've known you for a thousand years Bring it out into the light. 'Cause I think I'm gonna write i...Read More » Tags Share Comments (0)


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We are up and running!!! woohooo!!!!
After months of horrific dreams plaguing their sleep our heroes made their way to Tyrsis. Some to discover whether there is truth in them, and some just to stop the visions of madness.
Upon their arrival at the "Flying Donfish" tavern and after a not so friendly encounter with some locals… our heroes discovered that it is quite possibly the last Druid Bremen who has been sending them these dreams. With only his last known location as a guide our ragtag group of heroes left the tavern behind. (quite quickly I might add) But then again if I had killed thugs in the middle of the street in plain sight and angered a Federation officer I would leave rather quickly too.
Nursing injuries and low on supplies our heroes took a slight detour north to the Gnome Camp to resupply before their long journey to the Upper Marche. During this detour our Heroes learned the value of water and that a half-orc can't fit into any Gnome buildings. Sad face.
Our heroes decided that the short route to their destination, laden with dangerous swamps, a federation controled dwarf capitol, and the Kree was not the smartest route and elected to circumvent Lake Pyra to the west and south to reach their destination.
Well things are never quite as easy as you plan… on their quiet trek through the Elven lowlands our heroes engaged in battle with a group of gnome raiders after their lives. Bloodied and exhausted our heroes prevailed and have a unconscious gnome to interrogate…. to be continued( two words… "water boarding")
We resume with our heroes injured with a gnome raider prisoner deep in the Elven Lowlands. The farming village of Pettel is burning to the south. Our adventurers decide to hold off on the interrogation of the Gnome and go to the aid of the Elves. Upon reaching the outskirts of the village a battle worn elf named Lieutenant Landler warily greeted the group. Upon explaining the situation the group was allowed into the village agreeing to help put out the fires…except for Falgrim. The Elf explicitly forbade him from entering the village, which is just as well for Falgrim had planned on interrogating the prisoner in private….wink wink.
During the process of aiding the elven survivors Alanna, Makoa, and Acer discover that the federation was behind the attack on Pattel/ had stolen an elven artifact of great importance to the elven royal family. (or did they? dum dum dum!!!) They also discovered that the last remnants of the elven army were fighting the federation to the south in Twilight Vale. Meanwhile in a rather unorthodox fashion (eye gouging by bird, gluing fingernails, and other bazaar methods) Falgrim interrogated the prisoner. He discovered that the gnome raiders were hired by a seeker of the federation to capture our heroes. Shortly after discovering this information the gnome bit into a poison pill and kicked the bucket.
After restocking their supplies our heroes decided to head south to Twilight Vale to inform the elven commander that his people's most valuable treasure has been…misplaced. Our heroes crossed the Ruune River undisturbed but the smell of rotting corpses that rose from the river and the sound of battle was heard coming from the forest surrounding Twilight Vale. Cautiously our heroes made their way into the forest determined to find the elven commander, but instead they were ambushed by the Federation army led by a seemingly crazed man in seeker garb. Due to supernatural or magical causes our party was overcome by sleep and poison.
Waking up in a dungeon our party "escaped?" with the assistance of the seeker's brother only to be led from corridor to corridor by his voice. Running out of time due to rising water levels in this dungeon of traps and trickery our party discovered they themselves were completely enveloped in an illusion. They stopped playing the voice's game and awoke to find themselves in the same location where they were ambushed with no sign of the soldiers who attacked them.
Searching around they notice a door in the woods that wasn't there before. Ace went to check if it was an illusion like everything else but it opened! Through the door was Twilight Vale and the elven army. Walking through the door the group attracted the attention of townspeople and soldier alike. Taken aback by our heroes' entrance into the village General Rose questioned the group. After earning his trust General Rose revealed that only an elf instructed by the royal family can access the treasury and retrieve the artifact. Curiouser and curiouser. To be continued….
After a pleasant conversation with the elven commander our heroes decided to rest up in the village. After a good nights rest the inquire to see if there is anything they can do to help in the fight against the federation, but Commander Rose quickly denies their help. The heroes then decided to continue on their journey to the Upper Marche to find Bremen. As they were leaving a young elf boy gave the group horses expedite their travel.
As the group made their way east they continued to have the feeling as if someone was following them. It didn't make them feel any better that with each passing hour they were getting closer and closer to the stronghold of their enemy. (The Federation outpost) That combined with Falgrim's mental state continuing to diminish (aka horrific bird/ animal calls) our heroes were on edge.
About a mile out from the outpost our heroes sent animals to scout ahead for danger. Surprisingly it appeared as if the entire area was abandoned. Fearing a trap our heroes decided to give the outpost a wide berth to the south and then continue on their way east to the Upper Marche.
Our party reached the Upper Marche without incident and noticed very strange happenings in the woods. What began as a very beautiful forest began to whither and die as the heroes went deeper into the forest. Noticing something was wrong in the air our heroes prepared for combat. Two assailants appeared in the trees above them bearing a falcon insignia on their arms. (the mark of the seeker) These men were well trained and combat was fierce, but finally our heroes succeeded in dropping one while the other vanished into thin air.
Our heroes cautiously moved forward noticing changes in the woods. trees warped sideways. Air was bending around them. Then finally when they thought they would be sick from the distortion the group came into a clearing with a large obsidian black tower in the center. When our heroes approached the tower great orbs of colored light flew forth from them and shattered the tower's protective warding.
Once inside the tower our heroes faced many trials… electrifying books, trip wires, poison arrows, trapped chests, R.O.U.S., falling rocks, and trap doors. Most of which ended with Falrgrim getting hurt. Now our heroes stand on the 5th floor of this terrible tower facing a giant sleeping stone golem. What will happen next I wonder?
We rejoin or heroes as the ascend to the top of the druid tower. Face to face with a sleeping rock golem our heroes needed a way around without disturbing it's slumber. Too bad! They woke it up and it was angry! Luckily the combination of lost druid knowledge and Falgrim's heritage quieted the beast long enough to slip by. Unfortunately in it's rage the golem sealed their way out.
With no rest for the weary our adventurers were forced up an endless staircase which increased in temperature like an oven..shrinking… till they could barely move forward. Well, only Makoa had a hard time. Coming upon a pitch black corridor Acer lit a stone with magic to reveal the way which could barely penetrate the dark. Fed up with the delay Makoa ventured into the black. The rest followed shortly.
Once inside the black faded to reveal a library in which seekers (shapeshifters) lie in wait. Combat ensued and the creatures could not be felled by ordinary steel. Magic and Magic infused weapons were to be their undoing. Finding a chest Acer believed it would seal the beasts away but only succeeded in fusing them together to a more powerful form. A giant pitch black dragon… Makoa tried to break the chest to slay the enemy but to no avail. Magic was still the creature's weakness and fire brought it down. (caused it to explode)
Wounded and weary our heroes climbed the stairs to what would be the final floor of their test. A study filled with alchemist's materials/ telescopes/ancient books/ and a magic circle carved by druid markings. Once Acer saw the madness through the telescope the runes activated and a shade appeared before them. This shade was Bremen. holding onto the world long enough to give our heroes their charge. Feeling warmth flow from their chests similar to that of their entrance into the tower elemental light flowed through them. ruby fire for Makoa, sapphire blue water for Acer, a gentle emerald breeze for Alanna, and steadfast topaz earth for Falgrim. When the light subsided Bremen was gone.
A giant golden chest reveals itself and inside was a great treasure for each of our heroes. A gold ring with a sapphire stone for Acer, a silver emerald necklace for Alanna, a dwarven mythril gauntlet for Falgrim with a topaz encased on the dorsum, and finally a steel open helmet with a bright red ruby for Makoa.
After some alchemical shenanigans that almost killed Falgrim the party decided to depart the tower and head north to the Fireforge to begin their new task. Unlocking the lost magics of Valorin. Upon exiting the tower our heroes discovered that the Federation seekers were not far behind and fled north out of the forest.
As our heroes fled north the came upon the entrance to the mountains that lead to the Fireforge. ( The Orc homeland) They entered the mountains with Makoa in the lead. Confident he could lead his companions to his home. After many hours of wandering the fog filled maze they came upon a wondering bard. Being wary of humans the were not quick to trust this drunken fool. But after some charismatic humor and puking on Falgrim's shoes they decided to let the man join them till they reached the Fireforge. As the companions continued surprisingly the fog faded away…This revealed creatures neither living nor dead that quickly attacked our heroes. Our heroes dispatched of these creatures easily and with the aid of their new companion. They were disturbed by what they saw and confused. When our heroes finally made it to the Fireforge they were taken aback by it's enormous size and prowess. Unfortunately their awe was short-lived for Alanna fell ill to the ground. Luckily a passing orc took her to a shaman for healing. Afterwards our heroes found an inn to rest for the night. The following day they headed east to find Makoa's teacher. Quickly they found that all was not right with the Firefordge. As the buildings became more dilapidated and the people more sickly they knew something was wrong. With the shaman gone and Mokoa's father missing the heroes did not know where to go. When they came upon a blacksmith… that after some proper coaxing game them the information they needed, but not necessarily what they wanted to hear. "Mokoa's father had led the attack by the creatures neither dead nor alive that destroyed 1/3rd of the orc homeland. They continued east to a newly created bulwark defense where the commander told them of a Tomb of the hero Rognack where these fiends seem to be pouring out of….
After resting and restocking supplies at the Orc fortress our heroes made their way into a deadly and unnatural swampland that stood between them and the tomb of Orc chieftains. As they pressed forward it became quite clear that they were being watched. Deep in the fog figures danced around them. A quick glance here and there was all our heroes got of these mysterious figures. It didn't help that the rot of the swamp was hard to bear. After many hours trudging through the muck our heroes found a large tomb with orc inscriptions. Makao and Acer walked out of the swamp to get a closer look only to fall through a trap door down over a hundred feet into a dark pool of swamp water. While in the process of trying to save their companions the rest of the party was ambushed by more of the men neither alive or dead. Now separated from their companions Makoa and Acer explored the crypt that they found themselves in. They came upon an alter surrounded by trip wires. After easing around the wires Makoa Placed a skull on top as an offering. This action had the unfortunate side effect of summoning a dead orc chieftain. After the deadly encounter Makoa claimed the chief's pretty axe. On the upside Arth was doing a great job of being a punching bag while Falgrim and Alanna sniped their attackers from atop the orc tomb. Upon defeating their foes Alanna found a creepy looking voodoo doll and Arth found an amulet. Falgrim sniffed it out and tried to solve the amulet's puzzle. This resulted in him being branded by a magic seal and having a vision in which he was attacked by a man with red eyes. (Totally possessed for life dude) After disabling the tomb's traps by…unconventional means (by throwing corpses in tripwires) The party descended into the tomb. They Then found a door separating them from Mokoa and Acer. With the group now together again they prepared to continue their descent into the tomb. Acer examined the voodoo doll and it sprang to life! It jumped out of her hand and fled under the door heading deeper into the tomb. The crew quickly followed solving a puzzle so simple only an orc could devise it and gaining new tools and weapons to prepare for what lie ahead. In the central chamber they found Makoa's father holding the doll in his hands. After some vulgar gestures from the doll combat began. The doll put up a worthy defense summoning axes and barriers to defend itself, but the rage of Mokoa proved too much for it and it was decimated. We leave our heroes having rescued Mokoa's father and him receiving the blessing of fire.
We rejoin our heroes in the crypt of The Orc Chieftains. They have prepared to leave with Makoa's father on a makeshift stretcher when they came upon a door they had not opened. Whether it was curiosity or greed or both the drove them forward we don't know. but through the door they went. After barely solving a jar puzzle with their life they came upon an elevator that led in a blackness below. After much debate Alanna and Acer were the ones to explore below. A dark pit of dead orc bodies. Fresh. Curious. A crypt puzzle solved. A new friend suspiciously talking to no one. A dead seeker?What treasures does the bag hold? It'll have to wait because holy crap there are a lot of undead orcs surrounding everyone. After spending quite a bit of time trying to determine if Makoa could control the undead or not (still up for debate) The party made their way back to the Fireforge! The visited Makoa's mentor. A shaman that had lost his marbles. He vowed to help Makoa's father recover and slipped a drawing into Makoa's pocket. What was it? The artistic styles of a three year old! Or a young Jackson Pollock! Who knows! The party began to head north to the Great Dwarven City of Eastwatch, but was forced to retire early due to inclement weather. Arth sneaks off to talk with a friend? Question mark? He barely gets away with it! Morning comes and low and behold Eastwatch has come under siege by the Human army! They must circumvent the army and use a secret passage only known by the Royal Family…and the enemy! After a battle that will leave Arth with trust issues forever we continue!
We rejoin our heroes in the underground path to Eastwatch. We have a burnt human and a long way to go! The group continued forward till the reached a giant steel doorway. After Allana disabled the traps protecting the Dwarven stronghold the group cautiously moved forward. After narrowly dodging stairwell traps and an empty armory (curious) the adventurers came upon a doorway and the sound of a ferocious battle. Suddenly silence… Creeping through the door into the dwarven barracks a grisly scene lay before them. A dozen dead heavily armed dwarves and a figure covered in their blood. Arth nearly took out their foe silently but there was something supernatural protecting it. A terrible battle took place leaving the group with more questions than answers. Identified as a blood golem the party wondered what it was doing there. Continuing forward the heroes reached the entrance to the forward bulwarks of the dwarven city. Seeing the ferocious battle taking place Falgrim knew they would need protection if they were to reach the dwarven throne room to confront his sister. Sounding the dwarven war horn of his family. A few dwarves recognized the sound and rushed to his aide. Safely escorting the party out of the battle zone and into the keep. Betrayal! The group was surrounded by the dwarven home guard. They did not believe Falgrim was who he said he was. (probably due to the blonde hair) But luckily Falgrims mentor and leader of the remaining dwarven forces recognized him and they embraced. In a warm, totally no homo, man squeeze. After catching up on what had occurred in the dwarven capital the group made it's way to the royal burial chamber to visit Falgrim's father and sister. After obtaining some cool stuff from the desecration of their final resting place a secret stairwell was found. A cursed and lonely boy. After many years of lonely forced seclusion in a stick… had finally found friends… until Acer exorcised him and banished him to the nether realms to forever be tortured by the demons of the Forbidding… or maybe we will see him again. Who knows? Finally before heading to the old Dwarven capital our heroes restocked on supplies and gear. Our lovely lynx companion final found some armor. And a whole new adventure lies ahead. What will happen next?
After a night of much needed rest our heroes made their way to a cave on the north end of the dwarven capitol. After a little convincing the dwarven guards let them pass. Their journey to the old capitol had begun. Many hours had passed before the group had seen any changes in the tunnel before them. It was slowly getting bigger. After deftly circumventing a few traps they found themselves in a large underground cavern and the way forward collapsed. No bottom of the cave could be seen even with the help of Acer's light stones. Luckily they found a small ledge to the side and began their climb. A short while later the group came upon a lever based widget with two platforms. Makoa attempted to step on the closest platform and it shot down to the base of the system. After some intense finagling and clever tactics the group used their weight to drive the mechanism forward. After what seemed like forever and a close call or two the group reached another system with only one platform. Also they could see a rock formation further out with a juicy looking treasure chest! Oh Boy! After nearly killing themselves they got close enough to descend to the chest. Alanna and Acer being the lightest of the group ( and with greatest track record in such matters) attended to the treasure. With each attempt to disable the trap the formation began to fall. Luckily the rope they descended upon was attached to the chest, otherwise they'd have a severe case of the dead. After looting the chest the group continued forward acrossed the chasm. Finally reaching the other side a great door appeared before them. Once opened a supernatural fog surrounded the group. Unable to see anything Acer cast a spell to give them some distance between themselves and the fog which revealed a rickety old bridge before them. After some close calls due to over zealous acrobatics. the group reached the other side. Unscathed by creatures that appeared in the fog. They did not attack, which was quite odd to our heroes. The end is in sight! An exit to the cave was found ahead covered in snow. A blizzard raged outside! The group found this to be a good place to rest for the night. Having not slept through the entire ordeal the dwarven cave forced upon them. Strange sounds perturbed our heroes through the night but their rest otherwise went undisturbed. This is where our story continues…


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X Factor Australia judge Guy Sebastian gives his verdict on Honey G… and it's not good
The singer tells us what he REALLY thinks about the UK's hopefuls
X FACTOR Australia judge Guy Sebastian has revealed what he REALLY thinks about this year's UK hopefuls… and he had a lot to say about one particular act.
The 34-year-old should know a thing or two about talent shows as he was the first ever winner of Pop Idol Australia.
The singer chatted exclusively to The Sun Online about our contestants, and give his thoughts on controversial act Honey G and her formance last weekend, he said: "I think it was really dated.
"I thought it was a bit out-of-date with the gold tracksuit and the Nikeys and the swag, she's got a bit of a 90s way of rapping"
He added: "I mean Honey G, even the name, it's a bit Warren G, it's just a little bit dated."
However he didn't agree that an online petition had been started to get rid of her saying that was "unfair".
He said: "There is so much self-doubt anyway, you don't need that."
He then added: "I think she is primed for a 'prove them wrong moment'".
Related Stories
THE MAXWELL FACTORStella Maxwell stuns in lingerie shoot as she's snapped as new face of make-up favourite
'It's boring without quirky acts'Amanda Holden talks The X Factor's Honey G and Simon Cowell's birthday bash
WAY TOO SOON?X Factor wrong'uns Brooks Way claim they're set to headline London show... but promptly delete tweet
LOU SHUT UPLouis Walsh refuses to discuss Brooks Way as he gushes about X Factor's Four of Diamonds
'he's not shallow like you'X Factor winner Louisa Johnson hits back at troll for mocking boyfriend's looks
'MY MONEY'S ON HONEY'Xtra Factor host Rylan Clark backs Honey G to win X Factor as he refuses to dismiss joke act
The singer, who has been a judge on X Factor Australia since 2011, also gave his thoughts on the other acts.
He thought Emily Middlemas sounded a bit nervous and it wasn't the best song choice for her or challenging enough.
He tipped Freddie Parker to win.
Although he thought Matt Terry had a stronger voice, he thought Freddie had the swagger, he said: "Freddy has the swag factor over Matt, so it's going to be interesting to see how it pans out."
He added "I think Ryan (Lawrie) is a bit out of his depth compared to the other two."
Guy also added he thought Matt looked a bit "cheesy" compared to Freddy.
Meanwhile, he told us to expect fireworks as Mel B now joins his judging panel on the Australian version of the show.
The Spice Girl surprised him and fellow judges Adam Lambert and Iggy Azalea on the last show when she announced she would be joining the judging panel.
He said: "I reckon Iggy and Mel are going to furiously clash."
Guy also talked about his relationship with Scary Spice saying: "We get on really well but she gives me a lot of s**t!"
Guy's new single Candle is out now
Got a story? email email@example.com or call us direct on 02077824220


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Sony 32GB UHS-II SDHC Memory Card
Sony is pleased to introduce the world's fastest series of UHS-II SD cards, raising the performance bar available to professional photographers and videographers. This new SF-G series of UHS-II cards is Sony's new top of the line SD cards, with a blazing fast read speed of up to 300MB/s* and an industry leading writing speed of up to 299MB/s*. Used with mid-to-high end digital cameras, video camcorders and other devices that support UHS-II SD cards, the new SF-G series of UHS-II high performance SD cards, available in capacities up to 128GB, are rated for 4K video shooting*, maximizing workflow efficiency whether transferring data or burst shooting and continuous shooting. When used in UHS-I compatible devices, performance is still industry leading, with up to 95MB/s read speed* and up to 90MB/s writing*. The new SF-G series are scheduled to begin delivery in March 2017.
*Device dependent
- Speed/Class : UHS-II, Class 10, U3. Also compatible with UHS-I equipment at reduced performance.
- Five Year Limited Manufacturer's Warranty
- Software: Downloadable File Rescue software, recovers the files of:
- XAVC S format, taken by Sony digital imaging devices, up to 4K
- RAW image and MOV files
- AVCHD format up to full HD 60p, and other type of files


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Saskatoon Police are requesting the public's assistance in locating a missing 11 year old boy. Rocky Pooyak was last seen at approximately 5:30 p.m. in the 3700 block of 33rd Street West.
Rocky is described as being Caucasian, 5'1" tall, having a medium build with sandy coloured hair and hazel-brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue sweater and black sweatpants with cuts on the knees.
A photo is attached for distribution.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Saskatoon Police Service at 306-975-8300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
(Occurrence Number: 17-24974)
(Click to view full size)


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Hello.First of all - Happy New Year
Second... I have a question about Prodigy WiFi #1530 module.My friend and me have been using Prodigy DCC systems for last 10 years. We have 3 Prodigy Advance 2 handhelds. Surprisingly, all three handhelds have a broken LCD digital display. These displays just stopped working at some moments in the past. Definitely, there is something wrong with this part. Handhelds are still operatable and we use them for running trains. However, it became quite difficult to use them for programming. You can easily make a mess when you don't see what you programme.
I found that MRC released WiFi module.My idea is to buy this module and use smartphone or tablet instead of buying a new handheld. I see that recommended apps are WiFi Throttle and Engine Driver. I saw on Youtube movies how it works. There is only one problem - all movies show how to run trains. There is no single word about programming decoders.
So the question is.Is it possible to programme decoders (on main or programming track) using these apps and Prodigy WiFi module?
PSMaybe someone can recommend a replacement part of an LCD display? Part number and producer name would be helpful.
I do not think this allows for programming - WiThrottle and Engien Driver allow control of locos and accessory decoders, but not programming.
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
As others have noted, ED and/or WiThrottle basically allow controlling mobile and stationary decoders.
The better solution would be to get the appropriate MRC to computer interface device (MRC 1516) and use JMRI for your programming needs. Easy point-and-click programming, AND you'd be able to use all the other JMRI apps.
Thank you very much for all answers. I wrote to MRC with a question about LCD display availability.I will check the option with USB adapter and JMRI.


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Tag Archives: CouncilBudget
Cuts to Labour councils five times higher than in Tory heartlands
The average cut in spending power per household for Labour council areas is more than five times higher than for those in Tory local authorities areas over the period between 2012 and 2020. MORE
Government hands leafy Surrey an extra £24m – while Wirral gets nothing
Labour Leader of Wirral Council Phil Davies says it's "Shameless and an absolute scandal"
(But are we surprised at the Tories looking after their own?)
Wirral Labour council plans "pragmatic, innovative and bold" response to further £120m of Tory cuts
The Tory government will make a further £120m of cuts in the council's budget in the next five years. In response the Labour council has approved a plan for the next five years which includes securing £250m of private sector funding to create 5000 jobs and sharing services with neighbouring local authorities to reduce cost.
Phil Davies the council leader has described the plan as "pragmattic, innovative and bold". Other plans include, improving standards in schools and clamping down on anti social behaviour.
Labour protects services, builds communities
and deals with £17m overspend by previous Tory/Lib Dem administration.
£600,000 to improve property conditions in the private sector
£1.5 million for a new house building programme
£4 million for LED street lighting
£2 million more for highways – over and above Government funding
£365,000 to tackle anti social behaviour
"Our budget is responsible, sustainable and delivers social justice" Cllr Phil Davies, Council Leader
Labour freezes council tax, cuts car park charges
The Labour group's budget has been approved by the full council by 57 votes – 4.
It includes:
Council tax FROZEN
Car park charges CUT
£7million investment in child and adult services
Extra £1.9million for schools
£800,000 of grants for local businesses
Labour Group delivers budget to protect local communities and help local businesses
"Government cuts have slashed Wirral's budget by £151m since 2010 – that's equivalent to a 57% cut in income – and disregarding the Tories' political scaremongering, we have announced a budget that will protect vital services, makes our neighbourhoods safer and cleaner and supports local high streets and small businesses."
Details here
Wirral Labour Group delivers: Council Tax Freeze AND…
CUT in car parking charges
EXTRA funding to tackle anti social behaviour
NO CLOSING of libraries; children's centres or One Stop Shops
MORE MONEY for social services and homelessness
Proposals to go to full Council meeting on 24 February.
Full details here
Following the massive consultation with local residents and community organisations the Labour leadership of Wirral Council will submit its full budget proposals for 2015/16 – which include all of the above – to a meeting of the full council on 24 February.
Why May 7th 2015 matters
Earlier this week the Council agreed to cuts of £2.5m in its budget.
It's todays style to denigrate all politicians, but the truth is that the services that they are responsible for matter and have a major impact on their local communities, on families and individuals. The latest cuts, including reducing library opening hours and ending a 5% council tax discount for people over 70 are no different. But the Council has a duty to set a legal budget and the hard, cruel fact, is that in the last four years this government has imposed massive cuts in funding for local authorities and and, as a result, the local services that they provide. In the Wirral the Council has had to make cuts of £150 million in the last four years and next year will need to cut another £18 million.
Cuts on this scale cannot be made by tinkering at the edges. The Council has the difficult responsibility of trying to ensure that the massive cuts that the Tory/Lib Dem austerity policies require are made as fairly as possible. Any cut, whatever it is and wherever it is made is likely to provoke opposition, but if savings aren't made in one place they must come somewhere else. To borrow a phrase used by the late Tory Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and often quoted by her Tory supporters, there is no alternative. Not for the next four months, until the General Election on May 7th.


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Mackinac Island Tidbits
How to say it
You can blame the French and British for the area's confusing spelling. Mackinac and Mackinaw are both pronounced "mak-in-aw." The French, who first occupied the area, spelled it Mackinac, but when the British took over Mackinaw City, they opted for the -aw spelling.
The Bridge
Known as the "Mighty Mac" or just "The Bridge," the 26,372-foot Mackinac Bridge is the third-longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere. It spans the Straits of Mackinac and connects Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. Take the 5-mile walk across the bridge this Labor Day during the 60th Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk.
Horse power
During the season, more than 500 horses live on the island. Although a few remain on the island year-round, the majority come over on the ferries in May and return to the mainland in late October. Much like the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, watching the horses trot down the streets to and from the ferries is always quite the sight.
West side story
Follow the winding cliff road that runs up the west edge of the island. Spectacular 19th-century homes dot this route. With sweeping views of the water and the Mighty Mac, these homes are a myriad of architectural styles: Colonial revival, stick or shingle style, Queen Anne, Victorian and neoclassical revival — all fronted by lovely and well-tended gardens.
Calendar of Events
June 2–4
: Titanic at the Grand
June 10 & 17: Purple Pig Roast at Mission Point Resort
June 9–18: Lilac Festival
June 15: A Taste of Mackinac
June 22 – August 17 : Every Thursday, Music in Marquette Park
June 30 – July 2: Grand Hotel 130th Anniversary Celebration
July 3 : The Pink Pony Fourth of July Sailboat Race
July 4 : Star Spangled Fourth of July at Fort Mackinac
July 4 : An All-American Picnic at Fort Mackinac
July 15–18: Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac
July 19 : Round the Island Race
August 12: Mission Point Mac to Mac Regatta
August 18–20: Mackinac Island Fudge Festival
September 1–4 : Grand Hotel's Labor Day Jazz Weekend
September 2: Horns Bar Labor Day Regatta
September 4: The 60th Annual Mackinac Bridge Walk
October 27–29: 27th "Somewhere in Time" Weekend at Grand Hotel
October 29–30: The Grand closes for the season
- Mackinac Island State Harbor 906-847-3561 michigan.gov/dnr
- Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau mackinacisland.org
- Mackinaw City Marina 231-436-5326 michigan.gov/dnr
- St. Ignace Public Marina 906-643-8131; 800-447-2757 stignacemarina.org
- Upper Peninsula Travel & Recreation Association UPtravel.com
Jewel of the Great Lakes
But we're not just talking about late 19th-century Mackinac Island — we're talking about present-day. Phil Porter, director of Mackinac State Historic Parks (MSHP), summered on the island as a child, completed an internship here during college and then started working for MSHP in 1976 (and never left). He says the island has one of the largest collections of pre-1850 historic structures in the Midwest. This long list includes Michigan's oldest hospital, the 1828 Post Hospital, and the oldest public building, the 1780 Officers' Stone Quarters. Both buildings are located in Fort Mackinac. The Mission Church, built in 1829-30, is the state's oldest church, and the gable-roofed McGulpin House, built in 1780, is the oldest home in Michigan.
Despite the fact that the island is considered the "Jewel of the Great Lakes," early settlers didn't choose this remote island for its beauty, but its location. Dating back to the late 1680s, the Straits of Mackinac was a major nexus for fur traders. By 1815, John Jacob Astor's American Fur Company (AFC) was fur-trading central. It was here on Market Street that the AFC's agents and clerks built their homes next to a large warehouse used for processing furs.
Today, many of these historic buildings are museums, open for tours and located in the downtown next to the many shops, restaurants, art galleries and, of course, bike and horse rentals.
Fortified historyConstant battles between the French, British, Americans and Native Americans led to the establishment of forts along the Great Lakes coastline. Still remaining today are Fort Mackinac on the island and the even older Fort Michilimackinac on the mainland in Mackinaw City. In 1715, the French fortified the settlement of Michilimackinac — the summer destination for thousands of French and Native American fur traders.
During the Revolutionary War, when those pesky Colonials were giving them a hard time, the British — who controlled Fort Michilimackinac by then — moved it across the straits to Mackinac Island and changed the name to Fort Mackinac.
After the war, the Americans occupied Fort Mackinac until the British recaptured it during the War of 1812. Two years later, in 1814, the Americans tried a power grab but failed. When the British were defeated, the fort fell into American hands again. Since then, the only British who have come back are part of the 1.5 million tourists who visit the island each year.
Rising on the south bluff of Mackinac Island, Fort Mackinac now overlooks the charming island town and the bay just beyond. Reenactors dressed in 19th-century garb fire cannons over the ramparts and shoot muskets on the green for show. Lunch and dinner are served inside the Fort Mackinac Tea Room and outside on the ramparts. The fort's 14 rooms are open for touring.
Can't get enough early frontier life? Fort Michilimackinac hosts a variety of reenactments, including battles, a French wedding and the arrival of the voyageurs who chanted songs (in French, of course) to keep pace. Women in long, flowing dresses perform domestic chores, such as candle dipping, hand-washing laundry and soap making.
Grandeur of the GrandThe majesty of the island may best be reflected in the magnificence of the Grand Hotel, which is now celebrating its 130th anniversary. When the Grand first opened in 1887 — set high on a bluff overlooking the Straits of Mackinac — it was one among a thousand luxury resort hotels in the United States. Now, the Grand, with its ornate cupolas, bay windows, gables, balconies and classic columns, is one of only 12 or so remaining from that era.
The hotel's opulence is centered on old-fashioned style. White slatted rockers line the three-story-tall porch, which, at 660 feet, is the longest in the world.
Each of the 393 lavish rooms in the Grand Hotel has a different style and theme, including the Hollywood Suite, the Jane Seymour Suite and the "Somewhere in Time" Suite — named after the 1980 movie starring Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeves that was filmed on the island.
A vast emerald green lawn slopes towards the hotel pool where Esther Williams (ask your grandfather about her) filmed scenes for the 1947 movie, "This Time for Keeps." The gardens brim with more than 100,000 annuals and perennials, including tulips, daffodils, geraniums, roses, peonies, lilies, daisies and begonias.
During high tea in the parlor, the background noise consists of clinking china and the soft sounds of a tuxedoed pianist playing a grand piano. Dinner in the Main Dining Room is a formal affair, with men required to wear a coat, tie and slacks. At the very top of the Grand, the Cupola Bar is the best place for a late night drink, with its panoramic view of the Straits and Mackinac Bridge.
It's all very, well, grand.
Local flavors
Back in the early 1900s, fudge shop owners would turn on electric fans, wafting the scent of chocolate, sugar and cream out onto the busy streets of Mackinac Island. Windows were set up to show fudge being made in large copper kettles or being rolled out on slabs of marble. It was an advertising success. Despite a plethora of restaurants, fudge is now the major food group on the island. During peak tourist season, the combined output of the island's fudgeries is 10,000 pounds per day; tourists are often affectionately called fudgies.
Doing personal research, I've determined (though I'm still working on it) there's no such thing as bad fudge on Mackinac Island. But if you're looking for a taste of sweet history, check out Murdick's, which opened in 1887 and was the first fudge shop on the island.
The Mac attackBefore CNN founder Ted Turner competed in the 1970 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac — the longest freshwater race in the world — he somewhat derogatorily described Lake Michigan as "a millpond." The angry lake gods showed him a thing or two by sending winds as strong as 60 mph. Of the 167 starters, 88 withdrew; though Turner completed the race, he acknowledged that Lake Michigan was indeed more than a millpond. But things could have been worse: During the 1911 race, winds clocked in at 82 mph.
Chicagoan Matt Gallagher, owner of the <<ITAL>>Endeavour, a Beneteau Oceanis 37 sailboat (which he sails in the race every year) says: "When you look at the boats back when the race first started, you realize there were some very good boats and no matter what has changed, it's still the forces that move the boats — the wind and water — that make the race." No matter the weather, Gallagher considers a visit to Mackinac Island after the race the highlight of his summer.
Not ready for the big-time race? Nowhere near as grueling as the Race to Mackinac, the fun, family-oriented Pink Pony Fourth of July Sailboat Race — sponsored by the Pink Pony Patio Bar and the Chippewa Hotel — is open to all sailboats. No entry fee is required, and an after party and awards ceremony is held at the Mackinac Island Yacht Club immediately after the race.
Lilac powerThe annual Mackinac Island Lilac Festival is a 10-day celebration of all things lilac. The island's love of these fragrant flowers dates back to the Jesuit missionaries who visited here in the late 1600s and planted masses of lilacs. More than 300 years later, some of these flowers remain and are considered to be the oldest living lilacs in the country.
This year's festival takes place on June 9-18. Festival activities include the horse-driven Grand Lilac Parade, which has the distinction of being the world's longest horse hitch parade; garden tours; wine tastings; A Taste of Mackinac culinary event; Mackinac Island Dog and Pony Show; fireworks, Irish dancers; free outdoor concerts; and boat cruises.
Beyond the downtownThere's a totally different vibe on the other, less crowded side of the island; it can be reached by horse, bike, kayak or boat. You can walk there, too, but it's a little bit of a hoof — pardon our pun. Pass the entrance to Fort Mackinac and follow the narrow roads that meander through the woods. Don't miss the 50-foot-wide limestone Arch Rock and Skull Cave, where Wawatam, a Native American, hid English trader Alexander Henry during the Fort Michilimackinac uprising in 1763.
Bike or hike the road circling the island's 8-mile coastline for views of the surrounding waters and land.
Three island cemeteries offer a sobering view of early island life — one of hardship and early death. Soldiers are buried at the Post Cemetery, while Saint Anne's Cemetery shelters the oldest grave on the island: That of young Mary Biddle, the daughter of successful fur traders, who died in 1833.
Come ashoreThere are several ways to get to the island but driving a car isn't of them. There's a small airport on the north side of the island for private planes. Ferries to the island leave from Mackinaw City or St. Ignace, located just north of the Mackinac Bridge.
Half the fun of a Mackinac Island experience is a ride aboard Shepler's Ferry. This three generation, family-owned and operated business has been plying these waters for more than 70 years. Shepler's offers lighthouse cruises, night sky cruises, private charters and a not-to-be-missed Fourth of July fireworks viewing experience.
For boaters, the lovely Mackinac Island State Harbor is open from May 15 to October 15. Nestled under the bluff in an inland bay, the marina has a total of 80 slips: Six seasonal and 74 transient. The marina's amenities include a dog run, grills, an immigration station for those traveling from Canada, pumpout, shore power, restrooms, showers and water. Downtown is just steps away, and you can always catch the island's version of a cab — a horse and buggy — to take you places.
On the mainland, the Mackinaw City Marina offers 78 transient slips, pumpout, 30- and 50-amp power, gas and diesel, water, cable TV, Wi-Fi, bathrooms, showers, laundry, a swimming pool and whirlpool, a recreation area, grills, picnic tables and a dog walk.
The 136-slip St. Ignace Public Marina features 30- and 50-amp power (and 200 amps for large slips), gas and diesel, water, cable TV, Wi-Fi, wells up to 120 feet, 24-hour security, showers, laundry, grills, picnic tables and a dog run.
…And stay ashoreFor those who want to lodge on-land, there are many one-of-a-kind, family-owned resorts, hotels and inns to choose from. In addition to the Grand Hotel, Mission Point Resort is an award-winning, historic resort located on the island's "sunrise side." The 18-acre property boasts an 18-hole putting course, a fitness center, five restaurants, croquet and bocce ball lawn games, and even a movie theater.
Island House Hotel, established in 1852, overlooks the harbor. Enjoy a cup of coffee on the waterfront veranda and terrace, or rent a bike at the curbside Island House Bike Shop.
Chippewa Hotel Waterfront is yet another impressive waterfront hotel, located in the heart of downtown Mackinac Island. This hotel is home to the Pink Pony Patio Bar, a favorite spot for boaters. The hotel offers 31 guest rooms and 26 luxury suites.
Located on the waterfront behind the historic Bay View Bed and Breakfast, you will find the colorful studio and gallery of Noel Skiba. This award-winning, third generation artist can often be found painting somewhere on the island during the summer months. With a style of painting compared to Monet, she often paints spontaneously on site to capture an event or landscape. She can even be commissioned to paint your boat and family during your visit to the island.
From the first sight of the approaching harbor and a ride on a horse and buggy, to eating freshly-made fudge and taking in the view from a rocking chair on the Grand Hotel's porch, Mackinac Island opens the world of the past in a delightful, memorable way.


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Portion of Route 30 reopens after crash
Portion of Route 30 reopens after crash
West Hempfield Twp., Lancaster County —
A portion of Route 30 eastbound has reopened after a multi-car crash this afternoon.
It happened at Stoney Battery Road in West Hempfield Township, Lancaster County.
Lancaster County 911 tells News 8 that two vehicles were involved. No injuries were reported.


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The best Open Source event on the planet returns, once again, to Portland, Oregon in summer, 2018.
O'Reilly Media and its OSCON team put on a fantastic convention, not to be missed if you are a budding programmer or veteran, or just an Open Source fan. Keynotes, classes, sessions … the topics are plentiful, timely and critical to the tech industry present and future. OSCON will be July 16-20 at the Portland Convention Center. For all details and updates on OSCON, please visit the OSCON web site.
Once again, too, we are proud to announce that O'Reilly, O'Reilly's User Group Program, and the OSCON staff are supporting Oregon Apple User Groups by donating a full OSCON 5-day Super Pass to Omug, who will award the Pass to a lucky Oregon MUG member on, or shortly after, June 10. Omug is currently requesting up to 2 candidates from each Oregon MUG (those groups that tap into Omug, free) to be submitted to Omug by June 7. For Omug's "Call for Nominees" please see the Events category above to go to this OSCON-specific page.
For all others in our Oregon MUG community, O'Reilly and the OSCON staff has provided a 20% discount code for those who wish to attend OSCON. Please see your local MUG leader/Ambassador for this code.


text: Selfies from January 2016 Posted on February 2, 2016 by RunningBetty I love that my iPhone has now automatically created a selfie folder! For "almost Wordless Wednesday", here are my selfies from January. My inlaws were in town for 3 weeks, so there are a lot of family photos!: New Years Day with DD1 home from college Jan 10 warm enough to swim with cousins Jan 16 with my father-in-law showing off his Grandpa Gator Tshirt Jan 17 at 3am when the tornado was hitting Siesta Key and the news told us to stay in a windowless room, i.e. the bathroom with my inlaws! Jan 22 my mother in law saying hi to my daughters Jan 23 seeing my cousin Stacy. She is 24 today, Happy Birthday 2-2!! Jan 24 with the wife of a cousin. We realized she teaches the daughters of a girl I went to 4-11th grade with, so we sent her a photo. Should I be ashamed to say this is at a cemetery? Jan 24 Cousin Sari, me, my husband at a family gathering Jan 28 When your morning DJs become your lunch dates! @Datz #NationalCheatDay Jan 29 Arts Alliance MUSE Awards 2016 with my husband Arts Alliance MUSE Awards with Suzanne and Beth Arts Alliance MUSE Awards with Tom and Brian


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I'm still feeling oodles of pride about my little girl. She's sooo excited about starting at the National Ballet School this fall. I have to say I'm pretty excited too, even though weekend sleep-ins will be a thing of the past.
It's no secret that dance was my first love and I always wondered what life would have been like if I'd followed that path. (Thirty pounds lighter, I'm guessing!)
Well, I'm doing my best not to project my dreams on to Sid and become a crazy stage mother.
Really. I. Am.
Since she could move she's been a dancer. Even before she could walk she would wiggle her shoulders and hands to the music. She's had a love for music and performing. Here's a video of her doing some ballet moves at the age of three...and yes there's some very silly crazy fat mother in there too. Hope you have a good laugh at my expense!
Next up for your viewing pleasure is her recital last year. Tell me that girl doesn't have presence!
Sorry for the gloating post....I'll be more scrappy next time!


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