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The launch of Windows Phone 8 has ushered in a new mobile age for Microsoft. Not only has the software been rebuilt from the ground up for better performance and simpler app development, but the hardware is considerably more drool-worthy. Nokia continues to pump out attractive Windows Phone devices under its Lumia brand and the 920 is its crowning jewel, at least until next year's model.
But the Lumia 920 isn't alone at the top. HTC has stepped up to the plate and released its Windows Phone 8X, the first real competitor to Nokia's impressive line up. While Nokia chose a larger profile and stuffed the Lumia 920 with extras, HTC went the minimalist route, leaving Windows Phone 8 untouched and wrapping it up in a slender package.
The differences don't stop there, however, and we are here to point out each and every distinguishing feature. In the process, the true champion of Windows Phone will be revealed and the choice between HTC and Nokia will be that much clearer.
Design and Construction
The Lumia 920 and 8X are entirely different pieces of hardware, only sharing a fondness for brightly colored casings and polycarbonate. Design-wise, these two devices couldn't be less alike and yet each one is attractive in its own way. However, beauty is relative and so we need to look at the practicality behind their design to pick our winner.
As we said before, both devices are made from a polycarbonate unibody. The Lumia 920 is 10.7mm thin and 185 grams, quite heavy for a smartphone but not excruciating by any means. The weight is justifiable since the body holds a large battery, floating lens, and wireless charging components. Seams only appear where absolutely necessary (around the screen and the SIM card slot). Nokia curved the Gorilla Glass 2 display into the casing here, making the device feel like a cohesive unit. The body's finish depends on the color you prefer. Black and Cyan are matte and scratch-resistant, but prone to fingerprints. The other colors use a shiny finish that is more susceptible to scratching.
When compared to the beastly Lumia 920, HTC's Windows Phone 8X is quite slim. 10.1mm thin at its thickest point, the 8X feels much smaller than the Lumia 920 because of its tapered sides. Like the Lumia 920, the screen slopes into the body and is also made from Gorilla Glass 2. HTC chose a soft-touch covering for the polycarbonate shell, much like what it used on the new One X+. Unlike Nokia, every color comes with the same finish. Because of its smaller screen size (4.3-inches as opposed to the Lumia's 4.5-inches) and tapered edges, the 8X is definitely more pocketable. There is also a small LED embedded in the speaker grill for notifications, a feature we wish was included in every smartphone.
Both phones are made well with top-notch materials and eye-catching designs. With no physical flaws in construction or design, personal preference prevails. Those who like 'em big will choose the Lumia 920 and the rest will prefer the 8X. No shame either way.
Winner: Tie
The Lumia 920's rounded sides make it comfortable to hold. However, due to its rather large size, it can be difficult to get a secure grip, especially when you're using a thumb to poke and prod the screen. After a while, the extra weight does seems natural and – depending on the person – can actually feel comforting. Nokia's button placement here is worth mentioning as well. The Lumia 920 takes the logical route when designing a larger phone by placing the camera and power buttons, as well as the volume rocker along the right side. The sharper corners can also dig into your skin at certain angles, a minor gripe but still bothersome at times. In the end, it just isn't the most ergonomic handset.
In terms of design, HTC checks every box. The 8X is thin, attractive, and original. The best way to describe holding the 8X is that it feels almost identical to cradling a well-used and dry bar of soap. The edges are rounded and sink easily into your hand. The soft-touch exterior is smooth and begs to be held. Due to its slimmer profile, the HTC 8X is easier to grip and much harder to drop. Our one objection is the button placement, all the physical buttons are too flush with the body and the power button should have been moved to the right side. But when it comes to overall in-hand feeling, the 8X wins without a question.
Winner: HTC 8X
The Lumia 920 and 8X have very similar displays. Both use an LCD and both sport a very similar resolution that only differs because of their respective screen sizes. The 4.5-inch Lumia 920 is rocking 1280×768 pixels, while the 8X has a 1280×720 panel. Both displays have impressive color reproduction and blacks that are deep enough. The Lumia 920 and 8X both use a technique which reduces the space between the glass and touch sensors for reduced glare. Nokia calls this ClearBlack, saying it uses polarizing layers of glass to minimize reflections. HTC simply calls it optical lamination. Regardless of name, both devices have great viewing angles and are visible under direct sunlight.
There are a few distinctions that make the Lumia 920 pull ahead by a slim margin. PureMotion HD+ is a technology employed to smooth out transitions and reduce lag when using Windows Phone 8. It works well too, animations look the slightest bit smoother on the Lumia 920 when side-by-side with the 8X. There is also the Lumia 920's extreme touch sensitivity that allows it to be used while wearing gloves, a feature that those in colder climates will appreciate.
In the end, both the Lumia 920 and 8X have stellar displays. Nokia's PureMotion HD+ and ultra-sensitive touchscreen may provide an edge over the competition, but ultimately the features are more gimmicky than game-changing.
Winner: Tie
Processor and RAM
This one comes down to numbers, pure and simple. Because of Microsoft's strict hardware requirements, there is no difference in processing speed between the Lumia 920 and 8X. Both run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor combined with 1GB of RAM. It's worth noting, however, that the Lumia 920 does feel faster because of the PureMotion HD+. But due to quality internals and the newly streamlined Windows Phone 8, both smartphones are snappy and quick to load.
Winner: Tie
Another one for the numbers and once again, the Lumia 920 is squarely in the lead. Featuring 32GB of internal storage, the Lumia 920 has enough room for a respectable mobile media library. The 8X is no slouch either, but only offers a maximum 16GB of internal storage. Neither device supports additional storage via microSD, though that isn't surprising since Windows Phone 7 steered clear of expandable storage as well.
Winner: Lumia 920
Nokia's PureView camera technology puts the Lumia 920's snapper near the top of any smartphone heap. The 920's 8.7-megapixel camera may not seem impressive on paper, but suspended optics stabilized by springs and superior low-light performance boost its usefulness. The spring-held optics help to reduce blur from shaky hands both when snapping photos and filming video. In practice, they work great and motion blur is a thing of the past. Photos taken in low-light are really clear and details are more pronounced than they look to the naked eye, as if every available speck of light was magnified to illuminate the scene. However, the low-light photos aren't perfect and can be tainted by a light source, causing the image to adopt an odd hue. Color reproduction on the Lumia 920 in general can be jarring to the average user. Colors tend to be more true-to-life, resulting in a "cold" look that may be more accurate but still seems odd in quick snapshots.
On the other hand, the 8X's rear-facing camera is much more snapshot-oriented. Color reproduction is solid, offering the familiar warmth that is typical of smartphone shooters. It also performs well in low-light conditions, though it won't capture the amount of detail the Lumia 920 is capable of. The 8X handles macro photography quite well for a smartphone as well, perhaps a niche interest, but still worth bringing up. Video recording is the 8X's true forte. Besides capturing 1080p video, the 8X handles motion very well and moving objects can be seen clearly with no blur. The 8X's front-facing camera also has some tricks. HTC decided to include an ultra-wide angle camera that can fit "up to four faces and additional background into your self-portraits."
Both cameras will take care of on-the-go snapshots, but the Lumia 920 is more geared towards hardcore shooters. For the average user, the HTC 8X is going to take photos that are more pleasing without editing and ready to be shared with friends, family, and strangers on the internet.
Winner: HTC 8X
As you may have noticed, the Lumia 920 and 8X are pretty evenly matched across the board. This pattern holds true in the battery category as well. The Lumia 920 has the slight advantage with a higher-capacity 2000mAh battery, compared with the 8X's 1800mAh juice pack. It's a bummer for the 8X because that bump in battery size is actually noticeable and alleviates charger anxiety while using the Lumia 920. During moderate usage (web browsing, texting, calling, apps, etc.), both smartphones are able to stay alive from morning to night without a hitch, but the Lumia 920 will still be primed and ready for a late night rendezvous. Under minimal usage, however, the Lumia 920 is fully capable of lasting 2 days on a single charger.
Winner: Lumia 920
The HTC 8X is available from Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. The Lumia 920 is an AT&T exclusive, though once unlocked it can be used on any carrier. The 8X still wins out in this category for offering consumers a much broader choice of carriers.
Winner: HTC 8X
Keeping with its "more is more" mentality, Nokia stuffed the Lumia 920 with software extras, including some exclusive apps like Mirror's Edge – a popular side-scrolling game ported over from consoles. The standouts here are Nokia Music, Nokia Transport, Nokia Maps, Nokia Drive Beta+, Nokia City Lens, Panorama, Smart Shoot, and Cinemagraph. Nokia Music is a free music-streaming app that isn't available in all countries, but is a welcome addition to WP8. Nokia Transport covers public transit in most major cities, Nokia Maps offers a speedy interface for directions, Nokia Drive Beta+ produces turn-by-turn navigation, Nokia City Lens directs you to shopping, restaurants, and more in your area. Panorama, Smart Shoot, and Cinemagraph are add-ons to the stock camera app. Panorama allows for panoramic photos. Smart Shoot employs burst photography and allows the user to choose the best features of each one. You are even able to pick between different faces if someone blinked or made a weird face. Cinemagraph lets users create their own animated GIFs. It can be fun to play around with, but the novelty wears off pretty quickly.
The 8X sticks to the classic Windows Phone 8 experience for the most part. On the app front, the HTC Hub provides easy access to news, weather, and stocks. For Instagram fans, the Photo Enhancer feature supplies photo filters for retro-transformations of modern photography. Finally, Beats Audio is featured just like on HTC's Android line-up. Opinions of Beats Audio are all over the map, but it is hard to argue with the increased bass levels made possible by the addition.
Winner: Lumia 920
The Nokia Lumia 920 is available exclusively through AT&T, but comes at a more desirable price of $100 on contract and $450 without one. The HTC Windows Phone 8X is available on more carriers (AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile), but the 16GB version is priced at $200 on contract and $550 without. Considering all the extras that come along with the Lumia 920, the 8X seems really expensive.
Winner: Lumia 920
Overall winner: Lumia 920
After duking it out with the 8X, the Lumia 920 takes the crown as reigning leader of Windows Phone 8. It may have won by a slim margin, but it looks like Nokia's primary focus on Windows Phone 8 has paid off. Let's tally it up.
- Design and Construction: Tie
- Feel: HTC 8X
- Display: Tie
- Processor and RAM: Tie
- Storage: Lumia 920
- Cameras: HTC 8X
- Battery: Lumia 920
- Availability: HTC 8X
- Extras: Lumia 920
- Price: Lumia 920
The Lumia 920's win is a direct result of Nokia's aggressive desire to bring a flagship device to WP8. The HTC 8X only lost be a slim margin, however, and shouldn't be considered a sub-par device. A lot of the features included in the Lumia 920 won't be essential for everyone and the 8X has a much slimmer and pocket-friendly design for those who prefer a lighter device.
Once all is said and done, we'd recommend getting your hands on these devices at a wireless store to see which you prefer. Though we found the Lumia 920's weight negligible after considerable use, some people are utterly turned off by its tank-like body. But if you are a spec-hungry, mobile photographer extraordinaire, that appreciates exclusive features then the Lumia 920 is the only option.


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A PENSIONER whose car was smashed up by a Gwent police officer after a chase said that "the law has failed", as the officer is set to receive a payout of over £400,000.
The video of former traffic cop Mike Baillon, 42, hitting the car window of 73-year-old Robert Whatley 15 times in Usk went viral on the internet, being viewed more than 30 million times on YouTube.
This led to Mr Baillon quitting the force after he became the butt of daily jokes.
But following a tribunal, he is to be awarded £429,434.64 for loss of pension, and will receive a further sum for loss of earnings since leaving the force.
Mr Whatley said: "I consider myself the victim of his actions as he was in a position of authority. It's an obscene figure to be awarded and on this occasion the law has let the public down."
The incident happened in 2009, where Mr Whatley was seen driving without a seat belt, which resulted in a pursuit after Mr Whatley drove off.
He was found guilty of not wearing a seat belt and failing to stop, but won a payout from the police over the damage caused to his vehicle.
Mr Whatley claims that he didn't realise the police wanted him to pull over.
He said: "I suffered an acute stroke previously and was in recovery so I was trying to get home to take my medication.
"It was bang out of order what happened that day."
Following the events, Mr Baillon was taken out of his traffic police role, as Gwent Police chiefs claimed he had become "obsessed" with "the Whatley incident".
He resigned in August 2012 after he became the victim of unpleasant comments from other police officers and on one occasion his locker was defaced.
He won a constructive dismissal claim at a Cardiff employment tribunal and at a remedy hearing on Wednesday, his solicitor Nick Smith criticised Gwent police force.
He said: "Mr Baillon was removed from a job he loved and it was a gross abuse of power by the police."
Following the decision, a Gwent Police spokesman said: "We will now reflect on the judgment."
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Baillon said he felt let down by Gwent Police.
He said: "I felt to draw a line under the incident, I needed to make the organisation aware of how they dealt with the incident and the effect that had on me and my family.
Referring to Gwent Police, he added: "They've cost me my job and they've cost the taxpayer an awful lot of money. I was highly trained and highly committed, but it counted for nothing in the end."
After leaving the force, Mr Baillon set up a company called Celtic Woodcraft.
Video of the incident in Usk in 2009:

subset: commoncrawl


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"If any fans are hoping for Carroll to pull the trigger and replace Wilson with veteran backup Matt Flynn, they shouldn't hold their breath.
Unless Wilson suffers an injury, he will remain the starting quarterback. Carroll and the Seahawks don't think his smallish stature is affecting his play, and they believe the 5-foot-11 signal caller can be the long-term answer at quarterback."
Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/10/2 ... ookie.html


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EMERGENCY ROOF REPAIRS Tadworth KT20 | EMERGENCY ROOF LEAK REPAIRS Tadworth KT20 | FLAT ROOF REPAIRS Tadworth KT20 | BROKEN TILES & SLATES REPLACED Tadworth KT20
Are you in need of an Emergency Roof Repair in Tadworth KT20 ? Then Call Surrey Roofing Services Rapid Response! We specialise in Emergency Roof Repairs n Tadworth KT20 .
For Emergency Roof Repairs call us now on 0203 553 1093
Based Locally we can be in anywhere within 20 minutes, we offer qualified tradesmen who are fully insured to carry out any Emergency Roof Repairs at your property. Our Emergency Roof Repairs service is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week and we do have tradesmen on call over the holiday periods.
So if you are in Tadworth KT20 and need an Emergency Roofer then contact us and we will get someone out to assist as soon as we can.
In an emergency it is vital to deal with professionals who possess expertise across roofing types and techniques. Surrey Roofing Services possess over 25 years' experience, and offer a prompt response from a roofing professional.
Whatever the cause of your emergency, we understand that it is a stressful time, and that swift and appropriate action makes a significant difference- both to your property and to your peace of mind. As we are a full-services company we are able to rapidly mobilise experts across Surrey, and are able to source all materials from stock.
We offer free, no-obligation quotations, which are comprehensive and contain no hidden costs.
Care, Dedication, Professional Workmanship
When you first contact Surrey Roofing Services you will speak with one of our friendly and knowledgeable admin staff who will direct your call to the appropriate contracts manager in charge of our Roofing Services. Where necessary, this manager and a site foreman may visit your property in order to conduct a full survey of the job and discuss, in detail, your requirements and creative aspirations. Our team are also able to help and advise you with both of these areas if needs be. We will then provide you with a detailed quote which will set out exactly what services we intend to provide for a set price (which will include VAT). We pride ourselves on thinking ahead and anticipating any additional work which may be required, in order to minimize the dreaded hidden extras renowned in the building trade! Our quotes for any area of Roofing can also include costs that you may incur but will not be provided by Surrey Roofing Services (for example, the costs of a building notice).This will allow you to budget the entire roofing project at an early stage, once again, giving you peace of mind that Surrey Roofing Services are the team you can trust and rely upon. Contact us for more information or to arrange a visit today!
Felt Flat Roof Repairs Tadworth KT20
As fully trained mastic asphalt installers (as well as a felt flat roofers) we can usually attend to all aspects of mastic asphalt flat roofing repairs. Usually traditional wooden fascia surrounding a flat roof will perish along with the felt flat roof itself. It is quite simple and not over expensive to fit new fascia as the roofing work is being completed. Until recently a lot of felt roofs were installed upon a chipboard base. Unfortunately when chipboard becomes damp either through condensation created above humid kitchen areas, or via a minor leak it deteriorates very quickly and has to be replaced. Today we only use top grade plywood above any kitchen and living areas. (10 year Guarantee)
We would also recommend an annual inspection if you have noted any of the following conditions: roof surface problems such as blisters or bubbles, worn surfaces, open seams, visible cracks, ruptures or other holes, and loose surfaces or fasteners.
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Slate roofs can occasionally become loose, worn-out, or broken through natural wear and tear. Tiled roofs are susceptible to the same problems, which can lead to water invading the roof, causing damp and even pooling water in the roof space. If it's happened to you – don't worry!
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If a larger job is required e.g the entire roof needs stripping back due to damaged underlying structural timbers or updating with a breathable membrane, we have the know-how and years of experience, our main specialities are of Damp, Timber and Basement work. Replacing the roof on any property is a large undertaking, and here at Surrey Flat Roofing Services we make sure the process is worry-free, from quote to completion. Every quote is set in stone. So you know exactly what the price is, and we never vary it, not even by a penny, so you can be certain that there will be no unexpected or hidden costs involved in your roof replacement.


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A4Flash is a team of professional and experienced website developers.
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Copyright © 1999-2016 WebUnion Media Ltd. All rights reserved.


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It was just 24 hours between the time that Microsoft re-released its revamped Official YouTube app for Windows Phone and time that it became virtually unusable due to crippling error messages.
We surmised that the "revoked developer key" causing the error was the result of Google blocking the key being used by Microsoft's app, and it turns out that that was indeed the case. Despite collaboration efforts between Google and Microsoft, Google has told The Verge that they are responsible for the revoked key.
War: Google pulls the key for Microsoft's YouTube app
Google said in a statement that the HTML5-based YouTube app still violates Google's terms of service, and therefore cannot be permitted to remain active.
"Microsoft has not made the browser upgrades necessary to enable a fully-featured YouTube experience, and has instead re-released a YouTube app that violates our Terms of Service," says a spokesperson. "It has been disabled. We value our broad developer community and therefore ask everyone to adhere to the same guidelines."
Even though the two tech giants were working together on the app, either the release into the Windows Phone Store was premature or Google somehow failed to realize the breach in terms of service. Either way, Microsoft has released a statement of their own:
"Google is blocking our updated YouTube app for Windows Phone," says a Microsoft spokesperson. "We are working with them to resolve the issue."
In the meantime, we can only hope that this latest collaborative effort yields better results. Stay tuned.
Source: The Verge


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Fall Sports
Winter Sports
Spring Sports
Temperature: 28; Wind: N at 7; Conditions as of Fri Feb 22 at 11:00 PM EST courtesy of The PSU Weather Center
Plymouth State University Karl Drerup Art Gallery & Exhibitions Program. 17 High Street Draper and Maynard Building, MSC 21B. Plymouth New Hampshire 03264-1595 Call: (603) 535-2614.
Plymouth State University. 17 High Street. Plymouth, New Hampshire, 03264-1595. Main Switchboard: (603) 535-5000.
A member of the University System of New Hampshire. © 2006-2019. All rights Reserved.


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This 39' Hanse Yachts is the perfect boat for you to enjoy a nautical adventure in Aegean.
Sail in style while enjoying beautiful views for a relaxing trip!
Member since November 2015
Providing unforgettable experiences out on the water is my specialty, and I look forward to sharing my love of boating with my customers!
Usually this boat operates around Aegean, TR.
Plan your sailing holidays from Šibenik, Croatia - a well-protected natural harbor located in the center of the Dalmatian coast. Rent a boat and explore the old town of Sibenik, or choose a sailing charter to the charming Primošten, Croatia. Hop on your sailboat and cruise along the Krka river and have a day of fun at the waterfalls in the national park. Don't miss your chance to visit some of the most beautiful islands in the Adriatic sea: Žirje, Kaprije and Kakan.


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President John Kennedy
Address to the United Nations General Assembly
September 20th 1963
called off the Cold War and nuclear arms race
offered to convert the Moon race into a cooperative effort with the Soviet Union
full speech at jfkmoon.org/un.html
''Finally, in a field where the United States and the Soviet Union have a special capacity--in the field of space--there is room for new cooperation, for further joint efforts in the regulation and exploration of space. I include among these possibilities a joint expedition to the moon. Space offers no problems of sovereignty; by resolution of this Assembly, the members of the United Nations have foresworn any claim to territorial rights in outer space or on celestial bodies, and declared that international law and the United Nations Charter will apply. Why, therefore, should man's first flight to the moon be a matter of national competition? Why should the United States and the Soviet Union, in preparing for such expeditions, become involved in immense duplications of research, construction, and expenditure? Surely we should explore whether the scientists and astronauts of our two countries--indeed of all the world--cannot work together in the conquest of space, sending someday in this decade to the moon not the representatives of a single nation, but the representatives of all of our countries. ....''
"Never before has man had such capacity to control his own environment, to end thirst and hunger, to conquer poverty and disease, to banish illiteracy and massive human misery. We have the power to make this the best generation of mankind in the history of the world--or to make it the last."
- President John F. Kennedy, September 20, 1963 speech to the UN calling for an end to the Cold War and converting the Moon Race into an international cooperative effort, two months and two days before he was extrajudicially removed from office.
"It is not easy to see how the more extreme forms of nationalism can long survive when men have seen the Earth in its true perspective as a single small globe against the stars."
-- Arthur C. Clarke
"For the first time, we saw our world, not as a solid, immovable, kind of indestructible place, but as a very small, fragile-looking world just hanging against the blackness of space."
-- Brian Cox on the Apollo 8 photo of Earthrise
TED talk, Why We Need the Explorers, 19 April 2010
"Take all that money we spend on weapons and defenses each year and instead spend it feeding and clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would pay for many times over, not one human being excluded, and we could explore space, together, both inner and outer, forever, in peace."
-- Bill Hicks


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Most U.S. stocks fell, pulling the Standard & Poor's 500 Index down from a five-year high, as Wal- Mart Stores Inc. tumbled after an e-mail showed an executive called February sales a "total disaster." Treasuries pared earlier losses, the yen weakened while gold and oil sank.
The S&P 500 dropped 0.1 percent to 1,519.79 at 4 p.m. in New York after closing yesterday at the highest since October 2007. The index capped a seventh straight weekly gain, the longest streak in two years. Ten-year U.S. Treasury note yields increased one basis points to 2.01 percent after climbing four points earlier. Japan's currency lost 0.7 percent versus the dollar after Group of 20 finance chiefs resisted adopting a tougher stance on exchange rates. Oil sank 1.5 percent and gold dipped below $1,600 an ounce for the first time since August.
Wal-Mart led an afternoon retreat in equities after Bloomberg News obtained e-mails showing the biggest retailer's sales were off to the worst start to a month in seven years as payroll-tax increases hit shoppers. Earlier gains in stocks came after U.S. consumer confidence increased to a three-month high and a separate report showed manufacturing in the New York region unexpectedly expanded in February. U.S. markets will be closed Feb. 18 for the Presidents Day holiday.
"This is the first sign that consumers are going to have a weak period here," James Paulsen, chief investment strategist at Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Wells Capital Management, said in a telephone interview. His firm oversees $325 billion in assets. "It reinforces what a lot of people were worried about in December, with the payroll tax impacting consumers. The market is extrapolating this and that's why we've seen this intraday action."
Five-Year High
The S&P 500 index closed yesterday at the highest level since October 2007. The index has climbed about 6.6 percent in 2013 as U.S. lawmakers reached a budget compromise and earnings beat estimates at 74 percent of the companies that have reported the latest quarter's results so far. The S&P 500 has more than doubled since bottoming in March 2009 as the Federal Reserve conducted three rounds of bond buying to lower interest rates and boost economic growth.
Trading of stocks in the S&P 500 was 11 percent above the 30-day average as options on stocks, equity indexes and exchange-traded products were set to expire. The Chicago Board Options Exchange Volatility Index, the gauge of S&P 500 options prices known as the VIX, fell 1.6 percent to 12.46 today, near a 5 1/2-year low.
Wal-Mart extended lost 2.2 percent. The company's struggles come after executives expected a strong start to February because of the Super Bowl, milder weather and paycheck cycles, according to the minutes of a Feb. 1 officers meeting Bloomberg obtained.
Copyright 2014 Bloomberg. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Copyright 2014 Bloomberg. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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The Current State of Zen in Europe
Here is a photo of me in Amsterdam lamenting that reality is based on space and time.
Or is it... ?
I recovered from the recent hospital stuff and now my European tour 2011 is well and truly on. The first date is in Nijmegen, Netherlands (where I am writing this) tomorrow at 7 pm. The info for tomorrow's date is at this link.
The next stop will be Bonn, Germany on Saturday at the San Bo Dojo. That will be a day-long zazen thing. This will be followed by another day-long zazen thing on Sunday (the next day) in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Info for that and for the talk I'm giving in Rotterdam the following day (Monday) is at this link.
Find out about the rest of the tour by clicking here.
This is the second European Zen tour I've done. I'm gradually becoming familiar with how Zen is perceived over here. It's a bit newer to Europe than it is to the United States. That is to say, Zen literature got to both places around the same time. But it seems like the establishment of actual practice centers lagged a little behind the US.
The largest Zen organization in Europe appears to be AZI, which stands for Association Zen Internationale. This was established in France by a Japanese monk named Deshimaru. Deshimaru and my teacher Nishijima Roshi were friends. Even so, I've never been invited to speak at an AZI center. I think they're very particular about having only people from their lineage speak at their places. Fair enough.
Noah Levine has authorized a few teachers to start Against The Stream groups over here. And I'm speaking at a couple of their places in The Netherlands. Noah isn't a Zen teacher. But he's "Zen friendly." I've spoken at a number of the places he established in the US, Canada and now Europe.
Over in Poland and Finland, where I spoke last year, Philip Kapleau established a few centers that are still active. Kapleau was the author of the highly influential book Three Pillars of Zen.
The San Francisco Zen Center has a couple things over here, I think. But they run their organization pretty loosely. When a teacher from SFZC leaves, she or he usually establishes a place that has no official ties to San Francisco. However, the centers they establish all seem to network quite closely with each other. The only place I've been to in Europe that was started by an SFZC teacher is the Black Mountain Zen Centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
There are a number of other teachers over here on the continent. One of those I met last year was a Dutch guy named Ton Lathouwers. He was a fun and funny guy. He studied with Masao Abe.
All of the foregoing doesn't tell you much about the overall state of Zen in Europe. And it's hard to say with any authority what that is. I've encountered a number of very sincere practitioners working hard at making Zen available. It's not all good news, though. Genpo Roshi is quite active here in The Netherlands. But his influenced has waned considerably lately. It's hard to tell if that's just because of the very highly publicized and largely meaningless sex scandal or because people realized what a joke the whole Big Mind® thing was.
New Age stuff is as much a booming business in Europe as it is in America. This stuff always has a kind of run-off effect upon Zen. New Age book shops usually stock a few Zen books. Which is good in that it gets the written part of Zen out there. But one wonders if purchasers just combine all that stuff in their minds into one big eastern spirituality blob the way Americans tend to.
I'll be seeing a lot more Zen in Europe over the coming six weeks. I'll let you know what I find.


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Raymond Carl Wellman, 91, died on Nov. 22, 2012 at the Syracuse Good Samaritan Center. He was born on the family farm on April 2, 1921 near Syracuse to Fred and Caroline (Holtgrewe) Wellman.
Raymond Carl Wellman, 91, died on Nov. 22, 2012 at the Syracuse Good Samaritan Center. He was born on the family farm on April 2, 1921 near Syracuse to Fred and Caroline (Holtgrewe) Wellman.
Raymond was confirmed April 14, 1935 at St. John's United Church of Christ. From 1942 to 1946 he served in the United States Air Force as an airplane engine mechanic.
He was married on May 16, 1949 to Lois Gunn at the Congregational Church in Avoca. They lived and worked together for over 30 years on the family farm before moving into Syracuse in 1981. Ray continued to farm until 1995.
He was a life-time member of St. John's UCC and served on the church council. He was also a member of American Legion Post 100, Farm Bureau, and served on the County School Board.
Raymond is survived by wife Lois Wellman; children Diane and Danny Kepler of Omaha and Steven and Susan Wellman of Syracuse; grandchildren Jason and Amy Kepler of Lenexa, Kan., Adam Kepler, New York City, Sarah Wellman and Tyler Wellman, Syracuse; great-grandchild Libby Kepler of Lenexa; sister Mabel Kruse, brother-in-law C.M. Petersen, and sister-in-law Marcia Daffer, all of Syracuse; nieces and nephews.
He was preceded by sisters-in-law Pansy Berner and Phyllis Petersen and brothers-in-law Paul Berner, Gary Daffer and Joy Kruse.
Funeral services were held Monday, Nov. 26, at St. John's United Church of Christ in Syracuse with Pastor John Finster officiating. Burial followed at Park Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Seth Kruse, Brett Kruse, Lynn Berner, John Sutton, Dale Henke and Duane Kepler.
The family suggests memorials to St. John's United Church of Christ or the Syracuse Good Samaritan Society.
Fusselman-Allen-Harvey Funeral Home, Syracuse, was in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be expressed at www.fusselmanallenharvey.com.


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Yoga Poses to Help With Doing Zazen
Since I keep getting asked this question I've now added a permanent link to the drawing that Patrick of Yoga Garden in Yokohama drew up for me showing the various yoga poses he recommends for helping people get into full or half lotus posture. It's right there next to this article and it will be forever accessible via a link in the links section over to your left.
Although I do yoga myself, I didn't really personally use these poses to be able to get into full lotus. For reasons I cannot understand, I've always been able to get my legs into the full lotus posture, even back in the days when the rest of my body was so stiff I couldn't even touch my toes. The only problem was I couldn't hold the posture for more than a couple minutes. What I did was just hold the full lotus posture as long as I could and then switch to half lotus. After about six months of doing this twice a day every day I could hold the full lotus for a full 40 minutes.
But that's my story, not yours. These postures have helped yoga people get into the lotus posture for a few thousand years. So maybe you can benefit from them.


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You know how you read a title of a story that says "I'm back..." and what follows is "did you miss me?" I hate that. That is NOT what I'm going to say. You know why? I missed YOU guys. Holy smack-a-doodles did I miss you guys! I mean seriously, I felt like I was gone for a year. I know I led you all to believe that I was away on a nice, peaceful, relaxful vacation. I wasn't really. Something at home happened that made our lives just stop and go "whoa". It wasn't anything life threatening, but it was truly scary enough.
To make a long story short, all is fine now, our lives are back on track and things are finally coming around to a normal schedule again. Grateful. A HUGE thank you to all my friends for your emails and phone calls--you know who you are and I love that you cared about me and my family. Thank you, that meant the world to me and the hubster.
On to the good stuff! Let's talk about food and whats happening. Have I been the only one pigging out this summer? Tell me (lie please) you've been pigging out too? Make me feel better. The gym, my workouts have been non-existent. Bad, very bad. But I have been swimming, so that counts a bit. I've been swimming daily and nightly watching Shark Week on TV (in HD too--super wild that way). So while I'm in the water swimming away what thoughts go round and round in my head? Yes, those thoughts of humans getting bit by sharks! Always a ton of sharks in the water while I swim; this is whats played through my head as I swim back to the shore. Well, it gets me swimming faster, so........ Amazing what your brain will do when you let it ride on it's own, unsupervised.
I didn't know which latest food creation to share with you first so I picked the one I ate the most of this week: peaches. Lately those peaches at Whole Foods have been fabulous! So flavorful, so plump and huge. I've been eating a lot of them and saved a few for this wonderful peach and creme fraiche pie I saw over at Martha Stewart's website.
This is a peach & creme fraiche pie. The recipe is found here. Changes I made were adding double the crumb topping and serving it with fresh whipped cinnamon cream (just add a couple teaspoons of cinnamon sugar to your whipping cream while you're whipping it). Also, before you're ready to whip your cream add the bowl and beaters to the freezer. This way they'll be nice and cold when you go to whip it up--wonderful little tip. This pie was really good, I mean really good. I truly thought this pie would be heavy and dense, not at all. It was very light tasting, I'm sure it's not so light in calories, but the overall texture was light--surprisingly.
Peach & Crème Fraiche Pie
recipe from martha stewart
print recipe
My notes: Changes I made were doubling the crumb topping. Her version there was hardly any crumb. I also served this with fresh whipped cinnamon cream (just add a couple teaspoons of cinnamon sugar to your whipping cream while you're whipping it). Also, before you're ready to whip your cream add the bowl and beaters to the freezer. This way they'll be nice and cold when you go to whip it up--wonderful little tip.
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 large egg yolk, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons ice water, plus more if needed
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup cold (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 1/2 pounds ripe (4 to 5 medium) yellow peaches, pitted and quartered
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Pinch of salt
5 tablespoons creme fraiche
Make the pate sucree: Pulse flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor to combine. Add butter; process until mixture resembles coarse meal, about 10 seconds. add egg yolk, and pulse. With machine running, add ice water in a slow, steady stream through feed tube until dough just holds together. Turn out dough onto a work surface; shape into a disk. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate at least 1 hour (up to 2 days).
Make the streusel: Sift together sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Using your hands or a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to about 1/8 inch thick. Fit into a 9 1/2- or 10-inch pie plate (about 1 1/2 inches deep). Trim edge to 1 inch; fold under, and crimp as desired. Pierce bottom of dough all over with a fork. Transfer to freezer for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cover edge of crust with foil. Line crust with parchment paper, and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake, covered, 10 minutes. Remove weights and parchment (keep foil on edge).
Bake until pale golden brown, 5 to 8 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly; remove foil; reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees.
Make the filling: Put peaches into a medium bowl, and sprinkle with sugar and salt; gently toss to coat. let stand 15 minutes.
Spread 2 TB creme fraiche onto bottom of crust; sprinkle with one-third of the streusel. Arrange peaches on top; spread or dot with remaining 3 TB creme fraiche. Sprinkle with remaining streusel.
Bake pie until creme fraiche is bubbling and streusel is golden brown, about 50 minutes. Cover edge of crust with foil if it's browning too quickly. Let cool on a wire rack 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.


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Stanczyk, has been churning since about November of last year (2011). I have a number of ideas rummaging around my brain for genealogy apps. For over a quarter century, I have been a computer professional and used and/or developed a lot of programs using a myriad of technologies. At my core, I am a data expert: design it, store it, query it, manage it, analyze it and protect it. It being the data.
Before going to #RootsTech 2012, I knew GEDCOM was the core of our hobby/business/research. GEDCOM is our defacto standard. It is how data in exchanged between us and our various programs. I say defacto because as a standard goes it is not a very open standard (one organization "owns" it, and the rest of us go along with it). It also has not changed in about decade and a half; So Ryan Heaton was correct in calling it "stale". It does still work .. mostly. Although if a standard does not progress then you get a lot of proprietary "enhancements" that prevent the interchange of data completely — since one vendor does not know how to deal with another vendor's file in totality.
At present, GEDCOM maxes out at version 5.5, although there are various other variations you might see. But 5.5 was the last standard version. I counted 128 total tags and a provision for creating non-standard tags (they start with an underscore).
[Mike thanks to Tamura Jones! Even though GEDCOM v5.5.1 was never finalized, it IS the defacto max version of GEDCOM. GEDCOM v5.5.1 added 9 tags, removed the BLOB tag, so we now have a total of 136 tags. — I will need to update even my high level graphic syntax diagram]
Tags are like:
INDI, FAMC, FAMS, SOUR, REPO, HEAD, TRLR etc. -or- ALIA, ANCE
The first bunch is familiar and are probably in your family tree (if you ever exported the GEDCOM file). The ALIA tag is one that Dallan Quass said was universally used wrong by all programs. After seeing its definition, I can see how it is confusing. As for the ANCE, tag I do not recall seeing any program letting me do any functionality that might utilize this tag. This tag is probably one of those tags that Dallan said is not used at all.
I looked at the "MULTIMEDIA" section of the standard. It looks like it is woefully out of date and probably not used at all (at least not in any standard way), which is probably why our pics, audio, and video (or any other media file like PDF, MS Word) do not move with the GEDCOM. Has any program ever used the ENCODING/DECODING of a multimedia file? The standard seems to imply a buffer of only 32K (for a line) and even if you used a large number of CONC tags strung one after another you need 100 lines to store a 3.2MB file in-line in the GEDCOM. I do not think I have seen that in a GEDCOM. They probably stored these binary large objects (BLOBs) outside the gedcom and refer to their path on the computer/network. I did some noodling. I have 890 MB (or approximately 890,000 KB) in pictures and scanned source documents for about 1,000 people in my family tree. So I use nearly a gigabyte (1GB) for my family tree and all other multimedia — and I do not have any audio or video! So I use almost 1MB/person.
If we did have this magical new GEDCOM standard that could carry all of our multimedia from one GEDCOM program to another GEDCOM program, the copying would take a long time. If I uploaded/download it to/from the Internet, I might incur an overage on my ISP's usage charges, if this were technically feasible! Imagine if I did this multiple times a month (as I got updates). I am beginning to understand why no vendor has tackled the problem. I would also like to store PDFs and other documents besides GIF/JPG/PNG which can be displayed on the Internet web pages natively in a browser. Those are not a part of the existing GEDCOM standard. Let me sling some jargon — I'd want to store any file type that there is a MIME type definition for, that I can currently embed in emails, or utilize in Java programs or that the HTML5 standard will allow for multimedia.
The GEDCOM 5.5 was in its infancy on dealing with character sets. It was predominantly ASCII with some funky ANSEL coding of characters to handle latin alphabet diacriticals, although it is not clear how I would do the data entry for those and it looks incomplete. It did mention UNICODE, but only cursory and just to remind us that the lengths in the GEDCOM standard were in 'characters' not bytes –which was correct. Although those multibyte characters (say in Hebrew, Russian or Japanese or Chinese) would quickly use up the 32K byte line buffer limit, which would effectively become about 8K characters per line. In fact, GEDCOM 5.5 says it will only deal with LATIN alphabets and leave Cyrillic, Hebrew and Kanji for some far flung future. Stanczyk is Slavic, I need UNICODE to represent my ancestor's names and places. Fortunately, I do not feel the need for Cyrillic (Russian, Ukrainian, Belorussian, Macedonian, etc.) or I'd be out of luck. I'll just use the Polish version of those names in their 'Latinized' forms.
Oh that is another area the standard needs to be enhanced. NAMES. Dallan mentioned that Personal Names do not get a thorough treatment in the standard (I am refusing to read the data model and I am a Data Architect). Location Names get almost no treatment — they do give you a place to store your locations (PLAC tag). What language should I use, after all my ancestors are from POLAND for God's sake. Besides the obvious Polish, I have German, Russian and Latin to deal with and being American I prefer English. Slavic names often do not translate well. For example Wladyslaw is Ladislaus in Latin, but in English there is no equivalent — maybe that is why my ancestors use 'Walter' instead. But the point is, how should I store the name? Can I store all of the equivalents and search on any of them? Nope.
Damn, Russian is Cyrillic. GEDCOM doesn't deal with non Latin alphabets; And even though I can read the Russian genealogy records, I 'd rather not nor would I want to try and do data entry that way either. Besides, the communists reformed the language in 1918 (making War & Peace considerably shorter in Russian); That reform eliminated several characters. Most modern software is not aware of the eliminated characters much less able to generate them. This whole Language/Unicode/Name thing is complicated and I have not even mentioned the changing borders or the renaming of cities in different languages or over time or their changing jurisdictions. I cannot fault GEDCOM for all of these woes. I have them in my own research and I have not yet found any satisfying way to handle them. I find it helps to have a very good memory and keep these things in my head — but there is no backup for that.
How are we ever going to arrive at the vision Jay Verkler put forth at #RootsTech? GEDCOM needs to become an open standard. Once it is standardized again, then it needs to become modern again and deal with the current technology, so we can get around to the tough problems of conforming: names, places, sources/repositories, calendars/dates and doing complex analyses like Social Network Analysis as a way to gather wayward ancestors into a family for which we lack documentation to prove (Genealogically). I hope the future includes Bieder-Morse phonetic matching and can deal with folding diacritical characters into a base character (ex. change ę into e) for searches.
FamilySearch, if you are going to register GEDCOM tools, then please do a few more things for the NEW standard. First, make each vendor add to an APPENDIX the name and complete definition of their NON-STANDARD tags, in case anyone else wishes to implement or deal with them. Put a section in the header (HEAD tag) that lists all NON-STANDARD tags (just once each) along with its vendor so that someone else can go look at the standard and see what these tags mean and possibly implement the good ones. Forget that two byte thing before the HEAD tag. Just make the HEAD tag 's CHAR sub-tag indicate the character set (ANSI | ANSEL | UNICODE ). Please administer a #RootsTech keynote to vote on annual changes to the GEDCOM standard. Provide a GEDCOM validator and also a GEDCOM converter webpage to allow users/vendors to validate/convert their gedcom file(s).
Make multimedia be meta-data and allow users to define "LOCATIONS" where multimedia files can be found using either a PATH or a URL (or a relative path / URL). Make it a part of the standard that the meta-data must move, but the multimedia files can optionally stay put. Multimedia should be able to be placed on a LOCAL/NETWORK, or on the INTERNET or on a multimedia removable volume(s) [thumb drives, CDs, DVDs, etc.]. Make the multimedia "LOCATIONS" editable so a user can switch between LOCAL/NETWORK, INTERNET, or REMOVABLE including using some of each type of LOCATION. Allows these files to exist or not (show "UNAVAILABLE" or some equivalent visual clue, if accessed and they do not exist). The mapping between an Individual (INDI) or a family (FAM) or some other future GROUP and its multimedia file(s) must move as a part of the meta-data (even if the multimedia file(s) do not). That way the end-user need only edit his LOCATIONS meta-data (and ensure the files are in that/those location(s)) when he runs the software.
Define an API for GEDCOM plug-ins so that new software can access the GEDCOM without parsing the gedcom file. The API should give the external plug-in a wrapped interface to the underlying data model without having to know the data model, just the individual, family, or location, or a name list of individuals, families, or locations. This will allow new software to provide additional functionality to a family tree or to provide inter-operability between trees/websites. Obviously security/privacy rules would limit this kind of plug-in access.
That's Stanczyk's vision of the GEDCOM future!


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Dior: From Paris to the World
Thursday, February 21, 2019 - 2:00 PM
Experience the glamour of Dior: From Paris to the World. This must-see fashion exhibition will examine 70 years of the House of Dior's enduring legacy and global influence. Experience a world of fashion with a selection of 170 couture dresses, costume jewelry, photographs, runway videos, and art.
Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended.
Gianfranco Ferré, Robe Hellébore, Dior Collection Haute Couture, Spring 1995 (detail). Photo ©Paolo Roversi/Art + Commerce


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What's another Friday without an update from WhatsApp? (Seriously, the last four updates were all on a Friday, crazy, eh?) The famous messaging service used to see monthly updates but now it seems to be on the Facebook-fast track, getting an update per week. We're okay with that and we're sure you are too as the service has steadily grown into a reliable and fantastic messaging app for Windows Phone.
Earlier this week, WhatsApp turned on their Voice Messaging service on all platforms, including iOS, Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone. It was a slick move by the company and was seen as a largely successful move to fight off the likes of Voxer and other competitors.
Now, version 2.11.40 is live in the Store and it brings some "Voice Messaging improvements", which is kind of vague yet also revealing. Clearly that new feature will need a couple of tweaks here and there and that's what this update brings.
Overall, WhatsApp's Voice Messaging is a pretty great feature to get tacked on for free. Are you folks using it? Let us know in comments.
Otherwise, grab your WhatsApp version 2.11.40 update here in the Store right now to get your weekend started! All Windows Phones.
Via: WindowsPhoneApps.es


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The filling is like a melt in the mouth, velvety smooth chocolate truffle. You can make the chocolate as bitter or mild as you like; I used two-thirds milk chocolate (Green and Blacks 34% cocoa) and one-third dark (Green and Blacks 70% cocoa) to strike a good balance.
The recipe is adapted from a wonderful book I recently came across called "Chocolate" by Sverre Saetre. I haven't even looked through all the recipes yet but this one leapt out and demanded to be made; I can be very obedient when it suits me!
As I had some whipping cream left over I piped it around the edge of the tart. This not only gave a nice colour contrast, but also was a good accompaniment to the rich tart.
The tart is not difficult but does take a bit of time to make; however, the results are reason enough to tackle it. We all agreed that this tasted like professional patisserie, the sort of thing you see in the window of fancy cake shops.
For the pastry:
200g unsalted butter, cold
100g icing sugar
300g plain flour
1 egg
For the filling:
150g chocolate (I used 100g milk, 50g dark)
3 gelatine leaves
315ml whipping cream
1 vanilla pod
Optional decoration: Whipped cream, raspberries, chocolate vermicelli
How to make:
- Start by making the pastry: place the butter, icing sugar and flour into a food processor and blitz until you have fine bread crumbs.
- Add the egg and blitz until the dough just starts to come together.
- Tip the dough out onto a sheet of clingfilm and bring together into a ball, handling as little as possible. The pastry is incredibly soft – more like a thick paste, than a dough.
- Flatten the pastry into a disk and wrap in clingfilm. Refrigerate for at least an hour, the longer the better.
- Butter a 22cm loose bottomed flan tin.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan oven 160°C/350°F/Gas mark 4.
- Roll the chilled pastry out so that it is about 2 inches bigger than the flan tin all the way around. As the pastry is so short and buttery, I rolled it out between two sheets of clingfilm; this prevents having to use any flour and changing the consistency of the pastry.
- Line the flan tin with the pasty and leave any overhanging pastry.
- Chill the pastry for a further 30 minutes. This will stop the pastry shrinking in the oven.
- Line the pastry case with a sheet of baking paper and fill with baking beans, or lentils, dried pulses etc
- Bake for 8 minutes, then remove the baking paper and beans and bake for a further 5-10 minutes until the pastry is golden. Leave to cool.
- Chop up the chocolate into small, even pieces and melt in a large bowl (it has to be big enough to take the cream too) above a saucepan of simmering water. The heat should be low as you don't want to overheat the chocolate and have it seize on you. Also make sure that the water does not touch the bottom of the bowl.
- In a bowl of cold water, soak the gelatine leaves so that they are soft.
- Slice the vanilla pod in half lengthways and scrape out the seeds.
- In a saucepan bring the cream, vanilla pod and seeds to the boil. Remove from the heat.
- Remove the vanilla pod.
- Squeeze the water out of the gelatine leaves and, one at a time, stir into the hot cream and ensure that they dissolve.
- Steadily pour the cream into the chocolate and stir with either a wooden spoon or spatula. This will ensure that you don't create air bubbles that might spoil the finished look of the tart.
- Stir slowly and steadily for a few minutes. At first you'll worry that the cream and chocolate won't mix but eventually you will have a glossy and thick chocolate sauce.
- Pour into the cooled pastry case and refrigerate until set (approx 4 hours).
- Decorate as required – I used piped cream, raspberries and chocolate vermicelli.
- Remove from the refrigerator 15 minutes before required in order that the lovely chocolate flavour will be at its peak.
- Bask in glory at the wonderful thing you have made.
- Eat.


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An ongoing rift between Kent County's current and former dog control contractors took center stage during last week's public hearing before the state animal welfare task force.
An ongoing rift between Kent County's current and former dog control contractors took center stage during last week's public hearing before the state animal welfare task force.
Accusations of mismanagement, neglect and abuse made by supporters and opponents of Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary in Georgetown and Kent County SPCA in Camden dominated the task force's two-hour hearing at Legislative Hall on Thursday.
The dispute prompted others to suggest that the task force recommend greater state oversight of animal shelters through a central agency capable of investigating such accusations.
"I think there needs to be one localized position, hopefully in the Department of [Agriculture], … that can go in and inspect all of the shelters, all of the rescue groups," veterinarian Erin Whaley of Lewes told the task force. "Somebody needs to be going in and checking those places out, making sure that they're following protocol and doing spot checks unannounced."
The 22-member Animal Welfare Task Force was appointed by the state Senate in June to review the state's animal cruelty laws and propose a more coordinated approach to animal welfare.
While several people testified Thursday about the need for state guidelines on vaccination schedules, clearer definitions for "unadoptable" pets and tighter control over the state's feral cat population, most of the testimony at the hearing centered on Safe Haven and Kent County SPCA.
Kent County Levy Court awarded a one-year, $830,000 dog control contract to Safe Haven in July, after negotiations with Kent County SPCA, which held the contract since 2010, fell apart.
The loss of the county contract forced Kent County SPCA to layoff 13 of its workers. Meanwhile, Safe Haven, which opened less than a month before winning the contract, has come under intense criticism over allegations of mismanagement and mistreatment of animals.
"There have been an alarming amount of instances that cannot be explained or rationalized any longer at Safe Haven," Camden resident Allison Lindsay, a former veterinary technician at the shelter on Shingle Point Road told the task force. "This shelter has failed in its mission statement and become an actual mess."
Lindsay, along with foster pet owner Brittani Mayan, of Hartly, and Lost and Found Dog Rescue adoption center founder Marleen Oetzel, of Rehoboth Beach, claimed Safe Haven Executive Director Anne Gryszon has created a hoarding situation by failing to institute an adequate spay/neuter program or a competent adoption program for dogs they claim are being kept in cages at off-site kennels.
Safe Haven co-founder Lois Fargo disputed those claims, insisting that the agency is the target of harassment because of its no-kill policy.
"It is a group of people led by one woman who worked with us for two weeks and she later told our board of directors that she really wanted the executive director job," she told the task force. "Marleen here tried to break into our facility to steal a dog but we did not press charges."
Oetzel adamantly denied that claim.
Meanwhile, Safe Haven supporters privately accused Kent County SPCA Executive Director Kevin Usilton of coordinating a smear campaign against the Georgetown shelter, while others publicly claimed his agency failed to properly care for animals when it had the county contract.
Smyrna resident Frank Furr said his wife, Carol, was removed from the Kent County SPCA's board of directors after questioning the high temperature in its dog kennels during the summer months.
"…(H)ow can you sit back when its almost 90 degrees in the kennel and 70 degrees in the office and say you have the best interests of the animals in your heart," he asked. "If you spent as much effort trying to come to a solution to the problem as they have spent bickering and mudslinging, we wouldn't have this problem today."
The task force, which includes the executive directors of Safe Haven and Kent County SPCA, is slated to deliver its final report to Gov. Jack Markell by March 30.
Thursday's meeting was the only mandated public hearing for the task force, although its chairwoman, state Sen. Patricia Blevins (D-Elsmere), indicated a second public hearing could follow the release of the task force's final report.
Sussex chooses Kent Co. SPCA
Sussex County Council voted Tuesday to extend its one-year, $669,230 dog control contract with Kent County SPCA, effective Jan. 1. Kent County SPCA, which has held the contract since 2010, was chosen over Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary.


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Belmarsh ConstructionCertificate of Excellence 2019
We offer a full comprehensive service to the Construction Industry, with Ground work Teams, Interior designers, and every trade and specialist to design and build a property or demolish and crush industrial demolition projects, whether it be a small or large landscaping project an extension or House building project, in addition Professional in House Design and administrative teams at our company office. We have in house Teams of operatives all specialists in each Trade, offering a professional service, delivering Workmanship to the highest of standards. We Boast a huge client base delivering Professionalism and the highest standards of workmanship, we have clients ranging from small domestic projects and completing large scale commercial projects and housing developments including the design and build of super homes throughout the United Kingdom, we offer a wide range of services creating and completing the very best projects ensuring all of our clients are satisfied with the quality of build of any scale project large budget or small budgets. We have the capability to deliver projects on budget and on time ensuring that every project no matter what scale has a dedicated project manager.
Allforone&oneforallCertificate of Excellence 2019
We are local,friendly,and very well known for our quality of work and value for money. We put pride and knowledge into every job we do from a tap washer to a major re build with AllForOne&OneForAll you know you're in professional hands every time. * Built on Recommendation,Trust & Commitment * Real reviews from real people * We don't do it for the money * 100% satisfaction guaranteed * Fully insured * Years of experience * We are also part of the safe trader scheme backed by lancashire county council and trading standards * All major credit & debit card payments * Rubbercover specialists * Pointing specialists * Roofing specialists * Gutter specialists * Cctv supplied and installed /Install only / Supply only * Domestic cleaning ( commercial ,regular & one off cleans, carpet cleaning, office cleaning, steam cleaning, oven cleans, friendly lady staff With on site photo ID and full company uniform. DBS checked (formally known as CRB ) YOU NAME IT WE DO IT
APS Plumbing and Heating Ltd
Mr dads
Gas Service Ltd
Dawn Symeou
The All In One Group is an established Building, Maintenance and Property Management company based in Barnsley,Yorkshire delivering a quality and professional service with a strong customer focus. Possessing a wide range of skills and resources it provides a comprehensive building service from the very beginning to completion. The Group consists of closely managed teams of directly employed Tradesmen including Builders-Joiners-Electricians-Plumbers-Heating Engineers-Roofers-Plasterers-Painters & Decorators and Flooring Technicians
C.R plumbing and heating services
Cavity Wall Help
Croston Plumbing and Heating Ltd
NEWDECO Bathrooms
Professional bathroom refurbishment services. Design. Supply. Fit
Gas heating solutions
Ellis Plumbing and Heating
Ellis plumbing and heating is a family run business. With a wealth of knowledge and skills developed over many years. We offer the customer a total solution to all their domestic heating and plumbing needs. If you require a complete central heating system, boiler swop, new bathroom or any plumbing needs then we pride ourselves on giving you, the customer, best advice and service. Our installations have proved to be very saisfactory to our customers and ensure that our work load is measured and consistant. Why not contact us and find out what we can do for you.
ARG Plumbing and Heating (NW) ltd
Baileys Plumbing & Heating
Ridgeway plumbing
M1 plumbers Manchester
Established in Chorley, Lancashire in 1979, THERMAGAS offers the most comprehensive range of gas appliances, central heating equipment and spare parts. We offer full installation, repairs , service , breakdown, fault finding, power flushing, energy efficiency surveys, landlords safety certificates, water saving & energy saving.
D R Walker Plumbers
Complete New Bathroom Installation, including plumbing, electrics, tiling and joinery. Also a Bathroom Refurbishment Service. Domestic and light commercial plumbing. We are a family business commencing 1930 and have been going strong ever since. Our work is clean and good quality and can provide verbal testimonials for previous work completed. No job too small and guaranteed to get back to you within 24 hours. You have tried the rest, now try the best.
Craven Home Heat
Inked Plumbing Services
Installation Services Group Ltd
Bathroom and Kitchen design, supply of products, & project managed installations. We offer Free virtual reality design consultation at our Wilmslow based studio for all new customers. We are a Which? Recommended company and registered with the BIKBBI Many 5 star reviews about us available online
Northern Tiling
New tiling company in the north west wall and floor tiling wet rooms under floor heating slate and stone tiling tanking, waterproof and sealing fireplace tiling Call for a free quote
Talks Plumbing and Heating Services
Talks Plumbing and Heating is a CITY and GUILDS QUALIFIED, GAS SAFE REGISTERED HEATING ENGINEER and WATER INDUSTRY APPROVED PLUMBER with a 24hour call out service. Any job undertaken is prided on being completed to a very high standard. From a leaking tap or blocked pipes to full bathrooms, wet rooms along with full central heating system installations, repairs and gas safety checks and servicing. A friendly and reliable service with customers safety and satisfaction being priority.
Jackson ServicesCertificate of Excellence 2015
Welcome to Jackson Services Maintenance Ltd We are able to cover all your domestic, commercial and industrial plumbing, heating and Gas requirements - no job is to small or far away and we offer services including - Emergency repairs Planned maintenance Gas appliance repairs and servicing Full system installation Boiler breakdowns Powerflushing Bathroom design and installation Landlords and home owner inspections RPZ (Type BA) valve testing General pipework Boiler replacements System conversions Pressurised / Unvented systems Alternative energy Solar panel systems Ground source heat pumps Air to water Air to air Radiator replacements / relocation Condensing combination boiler specialists Underfloor heating Plus much more Contact us on 01204 523339
Pipeline Services
Pipeline Services is a Water Company Approved contractor with over forty years experience in the industry. ISO registered we specialise in repairing and replacing water supply pipes, water mains and completing lead renewal work. Based in the South Manchester area our family run business has grown rapidly and is suitably placed to serve the North West as well as providing nationwide coverage. Our customer focused engineers are both highly skilled and experienced and receive continuous training as well as CRB certification.
We are a Building firm based in Southport, Merseyside covering all areas of the North West, Lancashire, Cumbria, Manchester and Cheshire. J Lloyd Design & Build have been established for over ten years and specialise in the design and construction of Domestic and Commercial projects including, extensions, renovations, conversions & alterations. We offer services for individuals or businesses and are able to liaise with insurers in relation to property damage claims. J Lloyd Design & Build can arrange all plans required, negotiate the construction project, and manage the process from conception through to completion. You will benefit from qualified personnel experienced in planning and design. High quality tradesmen and exceptional high standards. Have your own ideas or need inspiration? Contemporary Extension? Loft Conversion? Please contact us for no obligation discussion and quote to formulate your ideas into reality at a competitive cost.
Established in 1988, Hillside Kitchens set out to build a business based on reputation and customer service alone. Through word of mouth, the business prospered and moved to a larger showroom with its own onsite warehouse. Over the next 21 years the business expanded into bathrooms, office, bedroom furniture and had begun to provide small building works as well. In 2011 the business was acquired by Graham Ormerod Jnr. and with a change of name to HKB, began a process of rigorous reinvestment. This involved updating the showroom to allow for larger displays and purchasing new equipment to create an even better end product. And yet despite these improvements, HKB still prides itself on providing exceptional customer service placing the client at the heart of every project. Unlike others, we spend the time to find out the desires and requirements of each and every one of our customers.
armitage plumbing solutionsCertificate of Excellence 2019
Peter Walker plumbing
Enable Bathrooms
1st Class Gas (Northwest) ltd
ACS Gas Services Manchester
Bradford gas co
We are experienced GasSafe registered engineers, we are fully City & Guilds qualified, insured and dbs certified. We would like to offer you our services. Landlord / Homeowners Safety Checks Annual Boiler servicing Boiler Repairs Plumbing Repairs Emergency call outs Key collection and drop off service , evening and weekend appointments available. All at competitive rates. If you would like to discuss your requirements contact me directly on 07877 814 175 or email firstname.lastname@example.com
Simon Bury Plumbing &Heating
11 year experience in the industry Providing quality workmanship For competitive prices Honest and professional and reliable
DG Construction SolutionsCertificate of Excellence 2015
Welcome to DG Construction Solutions. Here, you can find a professional service for your simple to complex needs. Finding the right carpenter, bathroom installer, tiler or plumber to complete your project can be a task, let alone communicating with each to achieve a professional result. I have worked 30 years in many roles from foreman to site manager with qualifications and experience in carpentry, tiling, plumbing and bathroom installations. I have worked for larger companies and small, finding lots of inconsistencies and very bad customer relations resulting in ice cold atmospheres to awkward meetings. End result being dissatisfied customers. With DG Construction Solutions, you deal with one person, who takes upon himself the role of project manager and skilled worker to complete your project as to your expectations. No errors or miscommunications, lack of thought or taking days off to do a little job elsewhere while leaving your job unattended or partly finished. I have witnessed this practice too often!! This is why I started my own business. Conscientious worker who enjoys his job and enjoys making your dream a reality. Offering fully fitted kitchens from design to install, to bathrooms or wetrooms. Windows and doors to staircase and bedroom fitting.
LEX Plumbing & Heating
Pipe-fitters on Bark
We'll reach out to them as well as others, based on your requirements.
Within hours, sometimes minutes, they'll contact you on Bark.
Professionals value their reputation on Bark and strive to do a great job for customers they find on our platform.
Example Pipe-fitters Barks
What is the type of property?
What appliances are affected by the pipe problems?
Sink, Shower or bathtub
What material pipes would you need?
As recommended by professional
Will you provide the materials?
No, I will need the professional to provide materials and parts
What kind of sewer or water system do you have?
Mains water
When do you need the work carried out?
Within 1 month
Any additional details?
The job is to mole 32mm water service (about 25 meters of PVC pipe) from property edge to a new 22mm stopcock (to be installed) in the house.
What is the type of property?
What appliances are affected by the pipe problems?
What material pipes would you need?
As recommended by professional
Will you provide the materials?
No, I will need the professional to provide materials and parts
What kind of sewer or water system do you have?
Mains water
When do you need the work carried out?
Within 1 week
Any additional details?
Need to move the existing position of the toilet. So diversion in the old cast iron pipes is required. I need an experienced, honest and reliable plumber with good know how of what is required and how to go about it. As the last thing I want is water leaking in the flat below, hence a good experienced plumber is needed. Thanks
What is the type of property?
What appliances are affected by the pipe problems?
Replace supply pipe from water meter to internal stopcock length 1.5 mtr
What material pipes would you need?
PVC, CPVC, PEX, As recommended by professional
Will you provide the materials?
Yes, I will provide the materials and parts
What kind of sewer or water system do you have?
Mains water
When do you need the work carried out?
Within 1 week
Any additional details?
Kitchen worktop fittings shelves to be removed and pipe replace and fittings to be refitted


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Type: Single adjustable chain sling with a grab hook attached to a (1) one foot chain (Type B)
Steel Grade: Made from grade 100 steel
Application: Used for general purpose overhead lifting adaptable for basket hitches - Ideal for harsh environments such as steel mills, foundries, and machine shops
Country of Origin: USA
Description: Chain and components are made from alloy steel for greater strength - Incorporates an oblong master link holding one long chain on branch 1 and one short chain (1 foot length) with a grab hook on branch 2 - Components are powder coated and mechanically assembled - Complete assembly is tested and tagged with the rated capacity - Resistant against a load's sharp edges that can be abrading to other softer sling materials - The most durable type of sling and is easily repaired in the event of damage - Colors may vary
Quality: Made and proof load tested in the USA - Complying with OSHA requirements, each assembly bears a permanently affixed tag displaying the rated capacity - Meets or exceeds overhead lifting safety standards under ASME B30.9
Industry Names: Also called a 'rigging sling', 'crane lifting sling', and 'single adjustable loop basket sling'
Steel Quality: Grade 80 steel was the quality standard for many years. Rigging.com is now offering the higher quality grade 100 chain slings. Due to our commitment to safety we no longer carry grade 80 with one exception: During our transitional period, chain size 7/32" slings are still sold as grade 80 and will be upgraded soon.
The Difference: Low quality slings can cause injury and damage. Look-a-like chain slings, often found at lower prices, are also often advertised to conform to the same safety standards if at all. Be aware that it may refer to safety ratings in effect decades ago. So for example, under the same safety standard a decade ago, a chain sling may be rated to 100% without proof load testing while today it may be 300% with proof load testing. Be assured that we only sell the highest quality chain slings and our advertised safety standards conform to the current ASME standards.
Includes: (1) one chain sling
Additional Information: To find the best sling material for you lifting job read 'Lifting Slings & Lifting Chains: Different Materials and Types Compared'. Explore additional information on Lifting Slings and Rigging Equipment at our Educational Library.
Color: Assembled using multiple individual components such as the chain, links and fittings - Individual components are sourced from a variety of high quality manufacturers - Color of the chain sling may vary
WARNING: Never exceed rated capacity!
A low quality chain sling can cause injury and damage. A look-alike chain sling often found at lower prices is also often advertised to conform to the same safety standards (if at all). Be aware that it may refer to safety ratings in effect decades ago. So for example under the same safety standard a decade ago, a chain lifting sling may be rated to 100% without proof load testing while today it may be 300% with proof load testing. Be assured that we only sell the highest quality chain slings and our advertised safety standards conform to the current ASME standards.
To accommodate various applications, a chain sling can be utilized using a vertical hitch, choker hitch, basket hitch or bridle hitch. See diagram below. It is important to know, however, that the chain sling's load capacities change with the type of hitch and angle of use.
Working load limits (capacity) vary depending on the angle of use. The capacity of a chain sling is reduced as the angle of use declines. See drawing below how a 1,000 lbs capacity is reduced as the angle of use declines. The capacity is always highest at a 90 degree angle of use and smallest at an angle of 30 degrees (or less).
Length (Reach): Measured from the weight bearing surface of the master link to the weight bearing surface of the lower fitting.
Sling material comes in three basic types: chain, wire rope, and fabric, each of which has its advantages and limitations.
Chain Slings
The chain sling has the advantage of being durable, very flexible and its length can be made adjustable. These assemblies employing steel chain are resistant against a load's sharp edges that can be abrading to other softer sling materials. The chain slings is the most durable type of sling and is easily repaired in the event of damage. Chain slings are ideal for harsh environments. A chain sling will tolerate a wide range of temperatures; however, compared to other types, it is relatively expensive and, depending upon the grade of chain used, relatively heavy.
Wire Rope Slings
The wire rope sling is not quite as durable as a chain sling. It is not as flexible as chain but its greater stiffness can be an advantage if it has to be inserted through a small opening or beneath a load. However, when wrapped around a load, it often tends to deform permanently to the shape of the load. Wire rope suitable for slings comes in a variety of grades and constructions. In most cases looping back and securing the loop with a metal sleeve terminates the rope. This forms a loop or soft eye, the simplest form of sling end. Thimbles are used to support and protect the eye from abrasion. Wire rope is generally cheaper and lighter than chain which can be a plus, particularly for applications that require long lengths.
Nylon and Polyester Slings
A nylon and polyester sling, commonly refered to also as a fabric sling, has the advantage of lightweight in comparison to a chain sling and a wire rope sling. They are very flexible and relatively soft; therefore, they are suitable in applications were minimal damage to the load's surface finish is important. The rope is made endless or terminated with an eye by means of a handmade splice. Similar to a wire rope sling, various terminal fittings are available. Without adequate protection, nylon and poly slings are susceptible to being severed when impinging on even a relatively moderate sharp edge.
Chain is fabricated from a number of materials; however, only certain grades are acceptable to OSHA for overhead lifting. Grades 80 (G80) and 100 (G100) for chain lifting slings are those types that are suitable to OSHA. The numbers represent 10% of the tensile strength (N/mm2) of the carbon, high (very strong) alloy steel material. Tensile (breaking) strength is dependent on chain size. The testing and rating methods of chain is highly standardized. Attached fittings should at a minimum be of like material.
Components and Assembly
Chain sling components (master links, chains and hooks) are assembled in one of two ways: Mechanically or welded. "Mechanically" assembled means that the fittings are attached to the chain with a hammerlock (see picture of components). This provides the flexibility to change out the fittings later. A "welded" assembly means that all components are permanently welded together.
* A Grab Hook is used to grab a chain. It hooks and locks the chain(s) in position for shortening of a chain leg.
** A hammerlock coupling link consists of a pair of body halves, a tubular stud and hardened alloy steel pin. This special type of link can be disassembled and re-used. It is used for joining attachments such as hooks, larger links, or more chain to the chain leg.
A chain sling generally consists of a master link, a chain leg, and some type of terminating fitting such as a hoist hook. Most chain sling manufacturers use a standardized sling designation using a three letter combination.
For example a chain sling with designation (model) SOG has a single leg (Letter S), with an Oblong Master Link (Letter O) and a Grab Hook (Letter G). The first letter indicates the number of chain legs: S = Single Leg, D = Double Leg, T = Triple Leg, Q = Quadruple Leg, C = Single leg with a normal chain link on the end and no fitting. The second letter indicates they type of master, or end ring: O = Oblong Master Link, P = Pear Shaped Master Link, S = Sling Hook, G = Grab Hook. The third letter (if present) designates the style of hook supplied. S = Sling Hook, G = Grab Hook, F = Foundry Hook, L = Latchlock Hook, O = Oblong Link, H = Hammerlock Couling Link. Basket chain slings have designations as follows: SB = Single Basket, DB = Double Basket, SAL = Single Adjustable Loop, DAL = Double Adjustable Loop.


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While Hubby was away in Vegas enjoying the fun and sun, I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little envious.
While Hubby was away in Vegas enjoying the fun and sun, I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little envious.
On Tuesday he called to "check in." After describing all the fun adventures he had already had and what he had planned for the rest of the week, he asked how I was.
I began to explain to him the trials and tribulations I had already overcome since he had been gone a day and a half. Midway through a sentence he interrupted me to say he really had to go and abruptly ended the call.
How rude! I gave him the cold shoulder until Friday night when I picked him up at the airport.
Before this Vegas trip was even an idea, Hubby and I had planned to spend this past weekend on the Iron Range watching Mason play a junior high basketball tournament.
When I wouldn't budge on postponing the weekend for his Vegas trip, Hubby decided he could have his cake and eat it too.
He booked a return flight on Friday from Vegas to Duluth and from there we would attend Mason's basketball game the following day.
Can you tell he's a gambling man? Who books a return flight 300 miles from home and then "hopes" that winter weather cooperates with flight schedules?
I'll admit, the plan seemed reasonable–almost do-able–until a host of things went wrong all week while he was gone. By Friday when the car broke down and was in need of repairs before I could leave town, I was beginning to unravel.
I called him near tears recapping a weeks worth of breakdowns, disappointments and disasters in one breath. When I finally stopped to take a breath Hubby jumped in with his advice.
Calm down.
When I'm in crisis mode those two words ignite a fire of anger inside me so hot I practically turn into molten lava.
Before I melted Hubby with the searing words I was thinking I did the next best thing–I hung up on him. My next thought was to leave him stranded at the airport in Duluth.
Rest assured I didn't.
I knew I was being irrational, but I just needed to vent off some steam! It seemed like everything that could go wrong while he was gone, did, in fact, go wrong. The car breaking down on Friday morning was just the icing on the cake.
When all was said and done, the car received a shiny, new water pump and despite starting my trip several hours later than I had anticipated, I still made it to Duluth in plenty of time to meet Hubby at the airport.
I spent most of the five hour drive to Duluth composing an "I'm sorry" speech for basically blaming all the troubles of the week and the car breaking down on Hubby's absence while he vacationed.
He looked anxious as he came off the plane. We really hadn't spoken anymore on Friday after I hung up on him besides the text I sent him when I was finally on my way.
At dinner that evening Hubby admitted to feeling the icy shoulder I had been giving him since the Tuesday of his vacation. He apologized for being insensitive.
I apologized for blaming a week's worth of disasters and problems on him while he was on vacation.
On Saturday we arrived a half hour late to the basketball tournament. After we found our seats Mason's dad informed us that Mason already had four fouls in the first half of the game. It was only another three minutes later when Mason fouled out of the first basketball game completely.
I approached Mason after that game and he gave me the same icy shoulder I'd given Hubby all week. When he did finally speak to me he was near tears and scolded me for being late so he couldn't talk to me before the game, which, according to him, threw off his focus.
This scenario was so familiar to the one I had on Friday that I almost choked on the slice of humble pie I'd just been served.


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The recent bomb threat at Mars High School wasted the time of police, firefighters and emergency medical services, not to mention the disruption that it caused at the school.
It's time to put in the newspaper the names of the people who make such threats, so we know who they are.
Plus, there should be an automatic, mandatory five-year prison sentence, with no parole, no pleas and no excuses of being misguided, confused, or a victim of a poor childhood.
If someone does the big-boy crime, he or she should do the big-boy time.
By the time such a person gets out of prison — in some cases, at 19 or 20 years old — perhaps he or she will have gotten the message.


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While I was working the overnight shift at a mental hospital in Fargo, N.D., I would often skip across the state on a midnight drive to Duluth. It was a way to escape and get my mind off of work for a weekend.
While I was working the overnight shift at a mental hospital in Fargo, N.D., I would often skip across the state on a midnight drive to Duluth. It was a way to escape and get my mind off of work for a weekend.
At that time I had a 1992 Hyundai Elantra that I had been given from my uncle for a case of beer after my freshman year in college. It was a junker, but it got me from point A to point B most of the time.
The vehicle didn't start when the temperature dropped below 32 degrees and was unbearable when the temperature got warmer because the AC didn't work and only one of the windows would roll up.
It had computer speakers for listening to music – but that didn't matter because the car was so loud even if you cranked the stereo as high as it would go you wouldn't hear a word.
The car constantly smelled like gasoline, and would die if you took your foot off of the clutch just for a second. It was a difficult, but fun car to drive. Riding around in it felt like going everywhere in a go-kart.
On one of my cross-state trips to Duluth it started raining and when my car came across a puddle, the water shot up into the undercarriage so hard that my entire exhaust disconnected from my car and fell down onto the street.
My Elantra was loud before, with a rusted out exhaust that had seen better days – but a car with no exhaust sounds a bit like an old-time airplane. I got pulled over twice for the noisy vehicle.
The first time I hadn't even made it to Duluth yet, and there was nothing I could have really done. When I got to Duluth I generally tried to use my car as little as possible. The problems with the clutch made it an extremely difficult car to drive anywhere where there were lots of hills.
However, with more rain coming I had made the decision to buy some Rain-X (since the mechanical function of the windshield wipers didn't work and I wanted to be able to see on my ride home).
Now, in the Elantra all of the doors could be locked and you could still open the driver's door from the inside. That being said, I never made a habit of locking my car. The vehicle was such a piece of junk that there was literally nothing worth stealing. In the absence of any common sense, when I reached my store I dropped the keys on the floor of the car and locked all of the doors. I was locked out.
About an hour later I had someone help me into my car – for a price.
When I finally got in, I began to make my way home when I was pulled over for the second time. It was like being kicked while I was down – and I'm sure the officer could see that because I was let off with another warning. However, he told me I had to get the car fixed within the day. So I made an appointment at a car shop in West Duluth and brought it there later that day.
I had what I could find of my exhaust sitting in the trunk of my car, and the mechanic was nice enough to repair the exhaust free-of-charge.
That's not to say the car was quieter than before, but it was quiet enough that it would be able to avoid getting pulled over everywhere I went.
I guess the point of my story is that junky cars are a right-of-passage. I got rid of my Elantra when I purchased the Taurus, but still miss driving it from time-to-time. It was a good beginner car – one that I could work on without worrying I would destroy it.
I believe every person's first car should be a real junker, one that you can grow with and learn to maintain. It will help you to appreciate your new set of wheels when you can finally afford a new vehicle.


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Melissa Block
Melissa Block is a 26-year veteran of NPR and has been hosting All Things Considered since 2003, after nearly a decade as an NPR correspondent.
Frequently reporting from communities in the center of the news, Block was in Chengdu, China, preparing for a weeklong broadcast when a massive earthquake struck the region in May 2008. Immediately following the quake, Block, along with co-host Robert Siegel and their production team, traveled throughout Sichuan province to report extensively on the destruction and relief efforts. Their riveting coverage aired across all of NPR's programs and was carried on major news organizations around the world. In addition, the reporting was recognized with the industry's top honors including a Peabody Award, a duPont-Columbia Award, a National Headliner Award and the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi Award.
Throughout her career, Block has covered major news events for NPR ranging from on-the-scene reporting from the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the days following Hurricane Katrina to a series from Texas gauging the impact of the Iraq War on the surrounding communities. Her reporting after the September 11, 2001 attacks was part of coverage that earned NPR a George Foster Peabody Award. Block's reporting from Kosovo in 1999 was cited among stories for which NPR News won an Overseas Press Club Award.