text: Home / Skirting Board Profiles / Hazel Profile Skirting Board / Hazel Oak Skirting BoardHazel Oak Skirting Board£0.00 Skirting Heights Choose an option119mm144mm168mm194mm219mm94mm Clear selection Hazel Oak Skirting Board quantity Add to basket SKU: N/A Categories: Hazel Profile Skirting Board, Oak Skirting Boards, Skirting Board Description Additional information Reviews (0) DescriptionHazel Oak Skirting Board is a standard profile skirting board that has been used in the majority of houses and buildings for a number of years. Hazel profile is the safest choice when you are unsure what skirting profile to use.Additional informationSkirting Heights119mm, 144mm, 168mm, 194mm, 219mm, 68mm, 94mm ReviewsThere are no reviews yet. Be the first to review "Hazel Oak Skirting Board" Cancel replyYou must be logged in to post a review.Related products Edge 2 MDF Skirting Board0 out of 5 £0.00 Jazz 3 MDF Skirting Board0 out of 5 £0.00 Jazz 2 MDF Skirting Board0 out of 5 £0.00 Oak Skirting Board Profile Browser0 out of 5 £0.00


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How to Make Khao Suey
By Rajyasree Sen
There aren't many things as good for the soul as a big bowl of chicken noodle soup. And if you want to feel like you've received manna, then you can't beat a bowl of Burmese chicken noodle soup – or khao suey.
Khao suey is a delectable spicy coconut milk broth made with boneless chicken (although you could use lamb if you want) and accompanied with a multitude of toppings. The toppings are the best part of the meal, because you can fix the soup according to your taste.
Khao suey is very popular in Kolkata. Every home has its own version, with the basics remaining the same. Usually what differs is the amount and type of accompaniments and the thickness of the soup or the amount of coconut milk used.
But why is a Burmese noodle soup so common in Kolkata? Myanmar is of course in close proximity to eastern India, and the story goes that many Indians who shifted back from the country during World War II brought it with them.
My maternal grandmother also lived in Myanmar, and we follow her recipe religiously.
I remember eating khao suey at my home and also at the homes of various friends in Kolkata as far back as 30 years. But it's only in the last eight years or so that it seems to have started appearing in menus in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.
As we say, what Bengal does today, the rest of India does many decades later. So on that parochial note, here's my family recipe for khao suey. I don't know how authentic it is, but I do know that my friends and family lick the bowl clean every time. So if you stick to the recipe you shouldn't fare too badly.
All the measurements are approximations. Tweak the ingredients to your taste. If you'd like it less spicy, leave out the chili powder. And if you'd like it thicker, increase the quantity of coconut milk. Or do it the traditional way by adding two tablespoons of besan or gram flour, or ground chana dal.
One packet of egg noodles (egg noodles tend to soak up the soup best, but you can use normal rice noodles as well)
- 2 tbsps garlic paste
- 2 tbsps ginger paste
- 2 onions (paste)
- 2 tomatoes (skinned and pureed)
- 2 tsp red chili powder
- 500 ml coconut milk
- 250 gms boneless chicken or lamb chopped into small pieces around 1 inch in length and thickness
- 1 tsp freshly ground garam masala (equal portions cinnamon, cardamom and clove)
- Salt to taste
For vegetarians: replace the chicken with chopped mushrooms, brinjals and cottage cheese or paneer
Accompaniments (the best part of the soup):
- 1 small bowl chopped spring onions
- 1 small bowl lemon wedges
- 1 small bowl chili flakes
- 1 small bowl roasted garlic
- 1 small bowl crisply fried baby prawns
- 1 small bowl sliced boiled egg
- 1 small bowl chopped coriander
- 1 small bowl chopped green chilis
- Heat a teaspoon of vegetable oil in a pan. Add the onion and ginger and garlic pastes. Sauté till they change colour.
- Add the chili powder. Keep sautéing.
- Then add the chicken/lamb pieces.
- If making the vegetarian version, add the vegetables now.
- Keep sautéing until the chicken changes colour and is coated with the pastes. Then add the tomato puree and salt to taste. Sauté until the tomato puree is cooked through.
- Then pour in the coconut milk, bring to a boil once and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the garam masala powder at the end and salt to taste, stir and take off the flame.
- In the meantime, boil the noodles.
To serve:
Each person should have a large soup bowl, in which they take one serving of noodles. Top it with as much soup as they want and the accompaniments of their choice. The lime should be squeezed on the individual soup servings.
We usually serve this at home with spring rolls and steamed momos.
If you can't be bothered to make it at home and you're in Kolkata, just get yourself invited to another Kolkatan's house.
If you're in Gurgaon, you could go to Khaaja Chowk, 3rd Floor, Plaza Mall, MG Road, Gurgaon. (Phone :0124 401 9112)
Or try the seafood khao suey at The Kitchen in Khan Market (9910879696, 41757960, 41757961).
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text:
Lincolnland Technical Education Center's Building Trades home in
Mayfair completed and up for bid
Send a link to a friend
[June 05, 2014]
- The latest house completed by the Building Trades Program of the
Lincolnland Technical Education Center (LTEC) is now on the market.
The house at 260 Southgate in Lincoln marks over 47 houses in the
last 50 years constructed by students of the program.
The property in a lovely, tree filled neighborhood had become
rundown and was bought out of foreclosure by the school just over a
year ago. Its completion represents another contribution to our
community in the form of quality home, in this case renovated,
through the work of young people.
The all brick ranch style home is set in the Mayfair Subdivision on
Lincoln's northeast side. The home features an open floor plan and
all new or refurbished floor to ceiling surfaces throughout.
During the school year program, students learned many skills. Each
step of the way they learned new skills, such as how to operate a
floor sander and restore wood floors.
The home features plenty of new built-in lighting - requiring
electrical skills; new interior trim and baseboards and interior
doors - carpentry skills.
The kitchen features new appliances and cabinets - more cabinetry
Upstairs features three bedrooms, a living room with fireplace sided
by two built in bookcase/displays areas, dining area and two
full-bathrooms; all completely remodeled - add plumbing skills.
There's lots of storage space plus a livable basement space in the
1,350 square foot home. For the most part, no surface was untouched
by some form of treatment - so lots of hard work and lots of
learning took place.
The basement features some redesign with all new materials. Its
clean architectural lines and light colors lend an open feeling.
The space includes an optional extra bedroom, living and storage
space. It has freshly painted walls, trim and new carpeting
Outside, where the project began last fall; students put on an all
new roof and soffits with inset lighting. And lastly, this spring;
the grounds were cleaned up and a spacious wood deck added off the
back of the house. The deck is accessible from the dining area
through a new double sliding door or from the outside by custom
built wood stairs.
A new double wide concrete driveway gives access the attached double
car garage.
An early estimate offered by a professional on the value of the home
estimated it to be in the range of $140,000. The house will be sold
by bid with the minimum bid price set at the amount invested for its
renovation, $120,000. Bids are to be opened on June 12.
For LCHS Superintendent Robert Bagby it was his first project as the
new LTEC director. He is proud of the transformation that the
students performed, especially in light of how the work began. He
said that before the project could begin, just after its purchase
there were four loads of trash and debris hauled out last July.
[to top of second column]
Students were exposed to many skills of different professions in
the scope of completing the project. From roofing to electrical
to plumbing to carpentry and more; they got it all.
Students from Lincoln, Williamsville, Hartsburg-Emden, Mount
Pulaski, Illini-Central and Greenview high schools participated in
this year's Building Trades Program through the LTEC. Bagby
appreciates what the LTEC can offer to students by consolidation of
school programs, and he is pleased to that students from Athens and
PORTA/Ashland-Chandlerville Central would also be joining the LTEC.
In addition to the building trades program, students can also choose
from auto mechanics, welding, electronics, certified nurses
assistant, work-study and the newest - culinary arts and cosmetology
programs. The programs are designed to enrich general studies and
prepare students for success beyond high school, as well as
providing work experience and training.
Mr. Bagby expressed great appreciation for the Building Trades
instructor, Mr. Justin Dietrich, and pride in the work the students
accomplished in so short of time.
Dietrich is also head wrestling coach for LCHS.
The following students completed this year's
Brandon Crawford
Hayden Sloan
TJ Mullins
Jake Koechig
Luke Bramwell
Devin Hollinshead
Brea Elston
Brandon Icenogle
Nick Rowden
Quintin Beightel
Jordan Varboncour
Kenny Bacon
Tommy Taft
Keaton Letterle
Logan Thompson
Connor Albertson
Braxton Schutt
Jordan Yarcho
Tyler Horchem
Dalton Presswood
Brock Byrge
Collin Antoine
For a tour or more information on the home, you may contact Lincoln
Community High School, District #404 at (217)732-4131 ext. 245.
Bids will be opened on June 12, 2014.
By JAN YOUNGQUIST]
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If you are concerned about meeting an event date, please contact our customer service department at 800-742-5354 for assistance.
Our Stock "Ask My Dad How to Lose Weight" Buttons are a quick and affordable option when you need your buttons as soon as possible. These buttons come with a Standard Pin Back, or you can choose to upgrade to a refrigerator magnet, clothing magnet, or bulldog clip for an additional charge. With a small minimum quantity and beautiful Color Imprint, we know you'll love our Stock "Ask My Dad How to Lose Weight" Buttons.
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Error code E69 occurs when you use your Xbox 360 console
You may see the following error message and code when you use your Xbox 360 console:
System Error: Contact Xbox Customer Support
Error code E69
This means there may be a problem with the console.
Try the following steps:
- Xbox 360 E console and Xbox 360 S consoles
- Disconnect and reconnect all accessories. If the power button light is red after reconnecting a specific accessory, it indicates the accessory is faulty and should be replaced. If the power supply light remains green after you have reconnected all accessories, your issue may have been a loose accessory connection.
- Remove the hard drive. If the system error message is not displayed with the hard drive removed, your hard drive may be experiencing a hardware failure. Order a new Xbox 360 Hard Drive from our Xbox Online Service Center (sign in with your Microsoft account). Console registration is required to replace a hard drive under warranty.
- Remove any USB flash drives.
- If this step resolves the problem, reattach the USB flash drive to make sure the error occurs only when it is connected. If this is true, use another USB flash drive.
- Original Xbox 360 console
Use our Flashing Lights Solution. Choose one flashing light as the problem and follow the steps in the solution.
If these steps don't resolve the problem, you'll need to request a repair. Learn how to request a repair.
Repair or warranty questions? See Xbox 360 warranty, registration and repair: Frequently asked questions.
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How to stop a cat from peeing when scared?
Forest's peeing when scared has escalated to the point I can't even walk near him without him peeing.
He used to pee when we scruffed him, we stopped that b/c of the health issue associated with it and b/c it would trigger him to pee.
Last night, I heard a noise when I was reading in bed. I went out to check what was going on and saw Forest running away from where Gizzy was. They prolly were playing and knocked something over. I wasn't yelling, just checking around, and I walked a little closer to Forest and he runs away leaving a puddle of pee on the floor! (he had also went to the bathroom 10 mins before the noise happened so why wasn't he empty?) As I am getting the paper towels to sop up the pee he runs around the freezer to go under the couch in the drawer that pulls out in the middle, I step in his other puddle of pee that he left trailing. In BARE feet no less ! This is when I really yelled, causing my bf to wake up and come out to see what the problem is.
What do I do?? I can't even walk near him after he knows he has caused noises that he knows I will investigate?! I wear slippers if I'm not wearing socks, but I thought this would be a quick trip to the living room and didn't put on my slippers.
Any advice would be great on how to break this habit!
You're probably not going to like what I have to say.
The type of peeing you describe is fear based and an extreme reaction to being under stress. He is obviously afraid of you now because of the "scruffing" (do you mean being grabbed at his neck?). It's obvious Gizzy is a very sensitive cat, and you'll have to make efforts to regain his trust again. If he looks like he's trying to avoid you, sit on the floor and try to coax him to come to you---use treats if you have to. If he does come, do give him lots of loving, and play with him. Give him lots of attention. Your yelling upset him as he knows you're mad and displeased with him. If he pees out of fright, just clean it up, don't yell at him or sound angry. In fact, you should do the opposite, with a sympathetic tone of voice say, "Ah Gizzy, did I scare you? I'm sorry!" You and hubby will have to be consistent with this, and don't yell at or be angry with him. This is a very stressed cat!
I appreciate all advice, I just want a happy household!
It's not Gizzy, it's Forest who pees when scared. Grabbed by the neck is what I meant but we haven't done that since February.
Forest isn't avoiding me or anything, I've just chosen to stay away from for awhile for fear that he will pee just cuz I walk by him now.
I know cats are knocturnal and more active while we're sleeping at night, but b/c I'm not working I have a different sleeping schedule then everyone else. So today I went to bed at 6am to read and make me sleepy, and that's prolly when they woke up to play and run. They know that I always come out when I hear noises. So I guess it's too much to expect for Forest not to pee and be surprised when I do come out? And I'm guessing there's no cure to make him not pee when he's scared?
Last edited by dollface; November 13th, 2009 at 12:45 AM.
I agree with catlover2, you need to work on calming and trust, maybe dont go investigate the noises right away, just ignore that anything happened.
Most importand i would go to the vet asap to see if there is a reason he cannot hold his urine when he is scared, it is very likely there is, try and investigate this as much as you can.
It is possible to fix this, you will have to modify behavior, stay calm, and most important get him checked. Do you feed dry food? Dry food can cause all kinds of urinary troubles in males. Good luck!
I prefer my people to wear fur..
Gonzaga's Lady Perdita "Lady" CKC Yellow Lab
Adoptee Gucci super fuzzbutt
Adoptee Prada crazy dog extrodinaire
Tickles Tortie cat the owns my daughter
I agree with catlover. Please don't ever use force on your your kitty unless it is life or death for the cat.
Cat maid to:
Jasper, male Ragdoll ?? (approx 10 yrs)
Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 7 yrs)
Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014)
Puddles RIP (1996-2014)
Snowball RIP (1991-2005)
In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb
While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions. Stephen R. Covey
I know medicating isn't always the answer, but if you can't help Forest with positive reinforcement, perhaps some medication for anxiety will help him.
There are only two rules at my house: House rule #1. Cats rule. House rule #2. See rule #1.
Sorry I got Forest & Gizzy mixed up, it was late when I posted. Good luck with Forest re his fear peeing. The cure is to gain his trust so that he feels safe, calm and comfortable. Let us know how things turn out. We like to hear updates.
I really hope this is something that can be fixed cuz it's looking hopeless. Usually after he has a peeing episode the next day he is looking for lap forgiveness, so it doesn't seem like it's lack of trust, but then again who knows.
We are on a canned diet, albeit cheap at the moment due to low funds. Since February we have transitioned from dry Iams to high quality canned to NV raw and now to Fancy Feast wheat gluten free canned.
I appreciate everyone's advice and really hope this issue can be fixed! Will update when there is one!
Cats react to the moment, not necessarily what happened the day before. So it would be your actions at the time that he pees that scares him, not the times that you are sitting quietly on a chair. At those moments he may not feel threatened or scared.
Cat maid to:
Jasper, male Ragdoll ?? (approx 10 yrs)
Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 7 yrs)
Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014)
Puddles RIP (1996-2014)
Snowball RIP (1991-2005)
In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb
While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions. Stephen R. Covey
But this is what I don't get. Usually he pees if we yell at him, but this time all i did was walk near him to to check under the coffee table, and he "jumps the gun" and pees in reaction to me being near him? That's never happened before, and I wasn't even yelling.
My bf has confirmed he is a sensitive cat, so that's one answer resolved. Found this link: http://www.our-happy-cat.com/scared-cat.html
I'm hoping to get him to the vet this weekend or next week. He's good with getting medication but in case that doesn't help, Feliway/Rescue Remedy/Bach Flower Drops possibly do the trick?
Cats ears are very sensitive and Jasper gets very stressed if we are talking loudly and even when I am choping bones making their food, perhaps this is the same as Forest . It could have been your stride that stressed him .
Cat maid to:
Jasper, male Ragdoll ?? (approx 10 yrs)
Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 7 yrs)
Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014)
Puddles RIP (1996-2014)
Snowball RIP (1991-2005)
In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb
While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions. Stephen R. Covey
"To close your eyes will not ease another's pain." ~ Chinese Proverb
We must not refuse to see with our eyes what they must endure with their bodies. ~ Gretchen Wyler
Maybe Kegel exercises???
is that something clicker training can help with
Has Forest's "fear-peeing" stopped or does he still do it?
He hasn't done it since, even when i heard a big bang last night, all he did was run and hide behind the couch when he heard the door open and i calmly looked around but didn't find anything out of place
Happy to hear Forest didn't pee . But he did run to hide behind the couch, so he's still in fear of a reprimand and/or being yelled at. Whenever my guys do something like that, but nothing gets knocked down. I'll say something like "Hey, what are you guys doing?" in a friendly inquisitive voice. Usually, they both stop and just look at me as if to say, "Who me?" But if something gets knocked off a table, I'll reprimand with a stern "Bad!" and if I know who did it, and stare at the guilty one while saying it. They know when they've misbehaved.
Oh catlover2, you should be an animal behaviourist! You have soo much knowledge it's amazing!
Most of the time, he will run away if he's close to the door even when I wake up for the day Maybe the answer to all my problems is to keep them separated forever
Thanks for the compliment. I wouldn't call myself an "animal behaviourest", but I've always enjoyed observing the interactions of cats over many many years, so maybe that makes me an animal observer?
As for keeping them separated forever? I don't think you'll have to do that. When cats really love and respect you, I think they like to please you and behave themselves most of the time. Cats do like to "play fight" to have fun, and chase each other around. Sometimes they do it to attract attention, if they think they're being ignored. I know my two get into play fights or into mischief if I get into a long conversation on the phone just to get my attention. So they're really like two y.o. kids! But could never live without them, right?
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University of Denver's Korbel Dinner draws Madeleine Albright, who's-who of political figures
Retired Judge Robert Fullerton had it right when he saw this reporter frantically scribbling names during cocktail hour at the 15th annual Korbel Dinner, an event that raised $450,000 for the University of Denver's Josef Korbel School of International Studies.
"Everybody and his brother is here," Fullerton declared.
That was for sure.
Starting with Madeleine Albright, the 64th U.S. Secretary of State. The daughter of the late Josef Korbel, Albright was there with her siblings, Kathy Silva and John Korbel, and John's wife, Pam.


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DWTS Damian Whitewood And Peta Murgatroyd Attend The Htc Status Social Launch Event In L.A.
Tuesday night, Dancing With The Pro dancers and couple, Peta Murgatroyd and Damian Whitewood, graced the Red Carpet (actually from what Damian tweeted it was GREEN carpet instead!!) at the The Htc Status Social Launch Event Held At Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, CA. According to Peta's tweets, she was wearing two Australian labels Pascucci Couture and Shoe Dazzle. You can view some high quality photos of the two HERE and HERE. Peta also posted this picture at her twitter. Gorgeous!


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Once upon a time in the past, we were all kids who loved playing. Arcade Bug Pop - Ant Match Master Crash allows you to relive kiddie outdoor moments with color, candy and insects, too!
"The game play is challenging and will engage you for hours without you noticing!"
"Colorful design, amazing game play and simple instructions! Play anytime anywhere!"
Play the role of a naughty young kid who means no harm, but intends to play outdoors where nature is always fun and kind! Colorful insects catch your eye and your playful mind starts to see them as your little toys. You pick them up and stack them one-by-one, matching them by color!
Arcade Bug Pop - Ant Match Master Crash puts together simple, but thought-provoking game play for hours and hours of fun. The amazing and colorful interface adds a playful touch that will ensure lots of eye candy and maintain a lively mood. You can easily distinguish one insect from another because of the color and design so you can forget worrying about confusing interfaces and focus on playing the game and having fun!
- Colorful design and user-friendly interface
- Fun and playful in-game theme for both the young and young at heart
- Easy-to-distinguish blocks and insects
- Simple instructions combined with challenging and addictive game play
- Features Game Center integration with leader boards for some friendly competition


text:
If you've got one more production of "Cats" left in you, you owe it to yourself to check out Theatre By The Sea, where this Andrew Lloyd Webber classic is enjoying a terrific run through July 13.
SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. -- If you�ve got one more production of �Cats� left in you, you owe it to yourself to check out Theatre by the Sea, where this Andrew Lloyd Webber classic is enjoying a terrific run through July 13.
This show�s got excellent voices, first-rate dancers and solid direction from Richard Stafford, who�s something of a heavy hitter when it comes to �Cats,� having worked on several productions of the show. Stafford is also responsible for the excellent choreography, which borrows from ballet and features cartwheels and a nifty tap number led by a sizzling Amanda Pulcini�s Jennyanydots.
Unless you�ve been living under a rock for the past few decades, you are no doubt aware that �Cats� is Lloyd Webber�s ode to a pack of junkyard felines, inspired by poems by T.S. Eliot. But don�t go looking for much in the way of plot. There isn�t even any dialogue. Just songs.
Really, the musical, which won seven Tonys in 1983, is just an excuse for a lithe cast to slink about the stage and to sing the haunting hit �Memory� twice in one evening. And of course, there is Grizabella�s final ascent on an old tire into the Heaviside Layer to be reborn, which is the musical�s big, dramatic moment.
But otherwise, the evening is spent introducing us to the cast of characters, such as Gus the over-the-hill star of the stage played by Felipe Barbosa Bombonato, and Craig Donnelly�s Mr. Mistoffelees, who fired off some of the most impressive dance moves of the evening, all classical leaps and spins. Bombonato doubles as Growltiger, and it seems clear that he has had some operatic training.
Then there is Peter S. Adams� Old Deuteronomy, the venerable cat who made such an imposing presence as the leader of the clan, and who got to show off his glowing baritone during the concluding �The Ad-dressing of Cats.�
And Katy Blake makes a wonderful Grizabella, who is old and infirm but is still able to belt out a ringing version of �Memory,� a rendition that was full of longing.
The large cast of singers is backed up by a six-piece band under the direction of Milton Granger, one of three keyboard players. And scenic designer Anthony R. Phelps has assembled an oversize stove and the rear end of a derelict car for the junkyard where the neighborhood cats hang out.
As they sing their songs at the opening of the show, a giant sneaker comes sailing down on stage, as if some human was trying to say �Enough already!�
Stafford manages to pull the show together nicely, even though not a lot happens as the cats make their appearances. But what is lacking in dialogue is made up for in the dance numbers and singing. This �Cats� is a solid production, and surprisingly, a first for Theatre by the Sea.
"Cats" runs through July 13 at Theatre by the Sea, 364 Cards Pond Rd., Matunuck. Tickets are $39-$59. Call (401) 782-8587, or visit


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We just added tons of more free books to the directory. Now the directory has over 100,000 free online books and ebooks, WOW!
Due to large number of books we have collected, it is impossible to manually sort each of them. All books are sorted and categorized automatically by a computer program. Some of them might have been misplaced in a wrong category. Please report any problem you might have here, and help us to improve the site to better serve you.
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One of digg users submitted this site, and it was on the frontpage.
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Build a Website
Bajet ₹600-1500 INR
Hi, I'm looking for creative WordPress developer with wide knowledge of SEO and google Adsense. (worldpress + google adsense).
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Jaywon – My Family ft QDot, Danny S & Savefame
Next Word Music artiste, Jaywon comes through the big stage with a new single titled "My Family", features Nigerian singer Qdot, Waka Jeje singer Danny S and fast rising act Savefame.
Simply stream, download, then share your thoughts and opinion in the comments section below.
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Gaal Creative.
It was really easy too. Simply cut cardboard to fit the inside of the frame and run the masking tape in long lengths up and down your 'board'. It is ok if the tape is not completely flat or you get small wrinkles in the tape, this adds to the texture and authentic feel. Leave a little gap .5 cm or 1/8inch between the tape to create groves and a bead board effect.
Paint the grove between the tape with a glaze paint to create a resist, and you know I recommend Tattered Angels Sugar Cane or Cowboy. Before cleaning your brush, wipe it against the raised wrinkles and a couple of light brush strokes up the panel to add texture. When the dries it is time to paint your beadboard.
A broad sponge brush with a thin light coat of white or cream paint is next. Depending on the level of moisture in your paint and thinness of the tape you may already see bubbles lifting. Let that dry and add a second coat of paint. You will see bits of the darker glaze peeking through in the grove and variations of colour in the wood panels that give you a presto bingo there you go – faux wood panelling.
Tattered Angels design team is celebrating this month with a peek into our craft rooms follow the link to see what other creative projects are on show. Linked to Sarah's BC Good Life Wednesdays and Jenny's Alphabe-Thursday.


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Two charged in doughnut shop robbery
BROOKFIELD -- Two Waterbury men were arrested after a strong-arm robbery at a Dunkin' Donuts shop on Federal Road on Wednesday night, police said.
Dion Bernier, 21, was wearing a ski mask when he ran into the store about 8:52 p.m., demanded money, then struggled with the cashier and stole her purse, police charge.
He fled in a vehicle operated by another man that had been parked in an adjacent lot, police said.
A witness was able to provide a description of the getaway car, and Bethel police stopped it in the Stony Hill area a short time later. A search of the vehicle yielded property that was stolen in the robbery, police said.
Bernier, who police said was homeless, and the man police identified as his accomplice, Blerim Hodza, 25, were both charged with third-degree robbery, sixth-degree larceny and two counts of conspiracy, police said.


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Structural Glazing Spacer for Field and Shop Glazing
Superb Spacer for Two and Four Sided Structural Silicone Glazing Systems
Chemically Compatible with All Silicones Tested
CRL Norton V2100 Thermalbond Tape is a semi-rigid foam tape with an aggressive pressure-sensitive adhesive. This high density tape has a specially formulated cellular substrate, and is used as a spacer for joint dimension control in structural silicone glazing systems. It is the most widely used spacer tape for structural silicone systems.
V2100 has proven to be compatible with all commercial silicone sealants used for structural glazing. It has a highly aggressive adhesive on both sides, and a semi-rigid, open cell structure that maintains the required spacing, and allows air and moisture to reach the silicone to allow optimum curing. Its low conductivity reduces heat transfer and inhibits condensation on windows, doors and metal systems. It comes only in an architectural black finish, and five stock sizes.
Color: Black
Thickness of Tape: 1/8 in (3 mm)
Width of Tape: 3/8 in (9.5 mm)
Feet per Roll: 50 ft (15 m)
Additional Product Information:
V2100 tape is designed: as a spacer for glass, metal, stone, mineral cement and plastic panels in structural silicone glazing systems, including two-and four-sided structural silicone glazing of curtain walls, storefronts, skylights and windows; to temporarily secure glazing or panels to framework in shop fabrication of unitized structural silicone glazing and cladding systems; to temporarily secure lightweight veneers to substrates while permanent structural silicone adhesives are curing; as a thermal break to reduce the conduction of heat; to provide an even sight line in vision areas.
Important Note:
V2100 Thermalbond Spacer Tapes are for use as spacers only. Their adhesive properties cannot be used as part of the permanent fastening system or in any way to reduce the amount of silicone adhesive recommended by the silicone manufacturer. With some surfaces, it may be necessary to prime the surface with Norton Tite-R-Bond adhesion promoter.


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European System Of Financial Supervisors (ESFS): Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the new European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) needed?
The report of the de Larosière group 1 identified serious shortcomings in the existing system of financial supervision in Europe. There is a single market, and financial institutions operate across borders, but supervision remains uneven and often uncoordinated. A stronger financial sector in the EU in the future needs to have convergence between Member States on technical rules, and a mechanism for ensuring agreement and co-ordination between national supervisors of the same cross-border institution or in colleges of supervisors. A rapid and effective mechanism to ensure consistent application of rules is also necessary, as is co-ordinated decision making in some areas in emergency situations. The current advisory financial services committees are not currently equipped to carry out these functions.
What is the current situation?
The current financial services committees at EU level have advisory powers and can issue non-binding guidelines and recommendations. National supervisors of cross-border groups must co-operate within colleges of supervisors, but if they cannot agree, there is no mechanism to resolve the issue. Many technical rules are determined at Member State level, and there is considerable variation between Member States. Even where rules are harmonised, application can be inconsistent. This fragmented supervision undermines the single market, imposes extra costs for financial institutions, and increases the likelihood of failure of financial institutions with potentially additional costs for taxpayers.
What will be the powers of the new authorities?
The new authorities build on the existing powers of the current financial services committees 2 , with a number of additional technical powers, including the following:
Developing draft proposals for technical standards – to help to ensure more consistent rules within the EU, working towards a common rulebook;
Facilitating exchange of information and agreement between national supervisory authorities, and where necessary, settling any disagreements, including within colleges of supervisors – to ensure supervisors take a more coordinated approach;
Contributing to ensuring consistent application of Community rules – to ensure incorrect or inconsistent application is dealt with quickly and effectively;
Exercising direct supervisory powers for credit rating agencies;
Co-ordination and some decision-making in emergency situations.
How will the new authorities be able to contribute to the creation of a "common European rulebook" for financial services?
The new authorities will play an important role in working towards a common rulebook by developing technical standards where necessary, in the areas defined in legislation, and by drawing up interpretative guidelines to assist national authorities in taking individual decisions. The technical standards can only become binding law after formal endorsement by the Commission.
How will the new authorities be able to arbitrate between national supervisors which cannot agree, and on what subjects?
By ensuring a more complete exchange of information and views at an earlier stage, the new authorities will considerably reduce the likelihood of disagreement. Nevertheless, being in a position to resolve any remaining disagreements is a key role of the authorities, to ensure consistent decision making in the EU, and certainty for firms. In the vast majority of cases, this would take the form of the authority assisting the national supervisors in coming to an agreement. But where they cannot agree on a matter. In case of a persisting disagreement, the European Supervisory Authorities should, through a decision, be able to settle the matter, taking into account the views of all supervisors involved.
Why can the new authorities address decisions directly to financial institutions?
In certain defined situations the authorities will be able to take decisions directly applicable to financial institutions but only at the end of a long procedure for the consistent application of Community law, in order to ensure the effectiveness of that procedure, and only in cases where there is directly-applicable EU legislation.
Will the ESFS interfere with the system of colleges of supervisors?
No. Colleges of supervisors and the new authorities are complementary parts of a comprehensive supervisory reform. Colleges of supervisors will remain at the heart of supervision of cross-border financial groups in Europe, and are being introduced for all such groups. The authorities will complement colleges by ensuring that supervisory standards in the EU are of the highest quality for all institutions by, for example, helping to develop a common rulebook for financial services regulation. They will further facilitate colleges by playing a role in distribution of information, and can participate in colleges themselves. They will also provide a mechanism for ensuring that supervisory colleges are consistent for each cross- border group.
Why is it proposed that some specific institutions with Community-wide reach be supervised at the EU level?
First of all, domestic financial institutions in Europe will continue to be supervised by national supervisors. Cross-border institutions will be supervised by colleges of supervisors. Entities with a Community-wide reach by their very nature are most efficiently supervised at European level since national supervisors would only have a partial view of their activity. In the near future this would only be appropriate for credit rating agencies. The Regulations creating the authorities do not grant them any direct supervisory powers over any institutions, they merely open up the possibility for subsequent legislation to grant supervisory powers for any particular category of institution.
What powers will the authorities have in emergency situations?
In an emergency situation, the existence of which will be determined by the Commission, the authorities will have an important co-ordinating role between national supervisors, and will also be able to adopt decisions requiring supervisors to take action. An example of how this power might be used would be to adopt harmonised bans on short selling on EU securities markets, not unco-ordinated bans in different Member States, as happened in 2008.
What will the new authorities cost and how will they be financed?
The total costs of the European Supervisory Authorities have been estimated at about € 37 million in the first full year of operations (2011), reaching just over € 68 million after three years (2014), given increases in activity and staff levels. This is a very small budget compared with the more than a billion euros incurred by Member State governments in rescuing banks in difficulty, so if the new authorities can prevent even a small part of that outlay in future, they will have paid their way. It is proposed that the share of this cost for Member States and the Community budget should respectively be 60% and 40%. The shared funding is intended to reflect the architecture of the ESFS which brings together a European dimension with a key ongoing role for national supervisors. It also reflects the fact that the current "financial services committees" are funded entirely by the Member States.
How will the independence and accountability of the authorities be ensured?
Firstly, the voting members of the boards of the authorities are under a legal obligation to consider only EU interests, not national or any other interests, in their decision-making. The authorities will be accountable to the Council (representing the Member States) and the Parliament (representing the Community), not to the Commission. The Chairpersons of the Boards will be selected on merit after an open selection procedure and subject to conformation by the European Parliament. The EU's Court of Auditors and Anti-Fraud Office will have full competence to inspect the books of the authorities.
How will the new authorities respect the better regulation agenda?
Better regulation principles are fundamental. Before submitting draft technical standards to the Commission, the authority will use better regulation tools including open public consultations on technical standards and analysis of potential related costs and benefits. Moreover, a balanced stakeholder group for each authority will enable stakeholders to be consulted on all regulatory matters such as technical standards or guidelines developed by the authorities. These stakeholders will include financial institutions, their employees, investors, and end users including SMEs. In addition, the current public consultation practices developed by the financial services committees should continue to be followed.
Is this a Europeanisation of financial supervision in Europe?
No. Day-to-day supervision is best done on national level, close to the ground, where there are strong local traditions. There will always be a pivotal role for national supervisors. The proposed system is a "hub and spoke" type of network of EU and national bodies. The new authorities will act only where there is clear added value, such as the development of technical standards which will apply throughout the EU, and settlement of disagreements between national supervisors on matters which require co-operation. The areas where the authorities can act will be strictly defined by Council and Parliament in co-decision. The Commission's approach is based on common rules applied at national level but consistence and co-operation ensured by Community bodies. The European System of Financial Supervisors will be evaluated after three years. While it is not possible to pre-judge the outcome of the evaluation, this will be the opportunity to take stock of how well the ESFS is working and to look at whether further steps are needed.
What safeguards are in place to protect the fiscal prerogatives of Member States and national taxpayers' money?
The purpose of the new European supervisory system is precisely to prevent us getting to the point reached in autumn 2008 where banks had to be bailed out. The system will save taxpayers' money by helping to make bank failures less likely in future, through supervision strengthened by the ESAs, and warnings of the European Systemic Risk Board which should be acted upon. As an additional safeguard, the Regulations establishing the new Authorities clearly prohibit them from taking any decisions which impinge on the fiscal responsibilities of Member States. In case any Member State considers that its fiscal responsibilities have been impinged upon, there is a clear and robust procedure for deciding whether this is genuinely the case, with the Council taking a decision.
Will the new authorities be dominated by the big Member States?
No, there will be a balance of influence. The boards of the authorities will vote by qualified majority voting on key issues developing technical standards and guidelines, as well as budgetary matters. But one-member-one-vote will apply to enforcement and implementation matters. This differentiated voting system ensures a balance of interests between Member States; and between home and host state supervisors' interests.
Will there be different rules or enforcement standards for small domestic institutions and for multinationals?
No. The whole point of the new system is to achieve convergence of rules not divergence. The goal is one set of rules for all financial institutions in the EU, big or small, domestic or multinational. The new authorities will contribute to common rules and common application of rules, and not develop different rules for multinationals. This was the spirit of the de Larosière proposals which the Commission fully supports.
Will financial institutions be subject to additional reporting burdens?
The new structure should not lead to a duplication of reporting burdens. National supervisory authorities generally have the necessary information available, and the European Systemic Risk Board and the European Supervisory Authorities should rely on these data. Only where in a specific situation the data available from national supervisors is clearly insufficient for the European Supervisory Authorities to carry out their tasks, it can be envisaged that they could request information directly from financial institutions.
Report of 25 February 2009 on financial supervision by a high-level group of experts chaired by J. de Larosière.
The Committee of European Banking Supervisors (CEBS), Committee of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Committee (CEIOPS) and the Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR), widely known as the "Lamfalussy level 3 committees".
Source: Mondovisione


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What is the logic behind scrolling backgrounds? I'm doing a 1942 clone so the back ground isn't tiled or anything it is just one image the same size as the screen and I want the effect that the plane is constantly moving (along the y axis). Any ideas?
Before somebody talks about DX matrices, I'm back to using SDL again because I have myself a GP2x on order


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EMS freshmen bond in nature, overcome jitters through orientation program
EMS freshmen bond in nature, overcome jitters through orientation program
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Everyone has heard of — or experienced — the freshman jitters. But throw in campfires and s'mores, boating and swimming, cooking challenges and scavenger hunts, add faculty, staff, upperclassmen and alumni to the mix and you have a freshmen orientation experience designed to overcome those jitters — the Total Orientation Trip for Earth and Mineral Sciences. Otherwise known as TOTEMS, it is a three-day orientation program for first-year students in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS).
The 2014 TOTEMS adventure began Tuesday morning (Aug. 19) when more than 30 faculty, staff and upperclassmen sporting bright red T-shirts met the college's first-year students and their families outside their assigned residence halls. Breaking the ice with smiles and welcomes, they rolled up their sleeves and helped unload family vehicles and assist with the move-in process.
After move-in, the students and their families shared a lunch with the TOTEMS volunteers. Anxious parents started to relax, confident their progeny were in good hands. After one and all had their fill of pulled pork, hamburgers and other comfort food, the big blue busses pulled in, ready to transport the students to Lake Raystown, a nearby recreation area. Tearful but proud moms and dads bid farewell as the students waved goodbye, ready to embark on the next chapter of their lives
At Lake Raystown the students spent the next three days bonding with fellow first-year students, networking with current students, faculty and alumni, and forging supportive relationships that will help carry them through their Penn State experience.
Eric Barron, former dean of EMS and now president of the University, created TOTEMS in 2003 with the goal of making new EMS students feel welcome by imparting a sense of belonging and engagement from the start.
"The idea for TOTEMS started when I was taking my daughter to look at small liberal arts colleges. One college's orientation included the opportunity for freshmen to take a trip to one of a few different locations, based on their interests — joining like-minded students. I thought, since EMS is the size of a small liberal arts college, we should take the students someplace where they could get to know each other. My family had always enjoyed Raystown Lake, so we went to look at the cabins and were sold on the idea," said Barron.
William Easterling, current dean of EMS has continued the TOTEMS tradition started by Barron. "The key to a successful college experience starts with building a sense of community and network of support," said Easterling. "TOTEMS is designed to provide a supportive and informative environment that connects first-year students to faculty, staff and current EMS students. The goal is to help build connections that will enable the students to have the best college experience possible. And it's a lot of fun."
TOTEMS also gives faculty and staff from all five EMS departments an opportunity to show new students just how dedicated they are to making students feel comfortable and welcome. The college's administration also gets involved and this year's participants included the dean, all three associate deans, two department heads and one associate department head, three department associate heads for undergraduate programs and academic advisers.


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- This event has passed.
Seeking Peace Workshop
September 10, 2019 @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, repeating indefinitely
Please join us (almost) every Tuesday for Seeking Peace Poetry & Meditation Workshop, open to the community. Please arrive on time, workshop begins promptly at 4pm.


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Catcher of the day: More backstops set to bust out
Excuse Bengie Molina for being slightly biased. After all, we're talking about his little brother on one hand and a player he mentored into a rapid rise to stardom in the Major Leagues only a few years ago on the other.
But that doesn't mean Molina is wrong.
When he talks about Yadier Molina and Buster Posey as the very elite among current catchers in the Majors, he has a strong case. He's talking about two players who really stand -- and squat -- in a class by themselves.
"They're the best, so it's not really fair for the other guys to be compared to them," said Molina, a catcher's catcher for more than a decade in the Majors and now assistant hitting coach for the Cardinals.
As the 2013 season begins, most anyone would agree that the two backstops who met in the National League Championship Series last October remain the best of the best when it comes to the players wearing the so-called tools of ignorance.
But a broader look than Molina's reveals that there are quite a few younger catchers who are rising to their potential, a number of veterans who remain key two-way players in the Majors, and a couple of surprises behind the mask for 2013.
Really, guys all over the Majors are putting on the tools of ignorance and putting on a show, on both sides of the ball.
"To me, it's the best crop of catchers in I don't know how many years," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, a former catcher himself. "If you look around baseball and see all the great catching in the game today, it's changed a little bit. There are better athletes now, there are better offensive talents, and it's fun to see the gifts and talents of guys like Posey and Molina play."
Among those looking to elevate their games to the top level in 2013, there's the American League Central duo of the Indians' Carlos Santana and the Royals' Salvador Perez, both showing signs of great things to come after injuries sidetracked the starts to their Major League careers. Matt Wieters of the Orioles showed he could handle all aspects of the job in 2012, helping lead his team to the postseason.
In the veteran category, there's Joe Mauer of the Twins -- remember, he won the AL MVP Award just four years ago, and he has made strides back in the direction toward his 2009 form at least. Veteran backstops A.J. Pierzynski and John Buck found new homes this winter, Pierzynski heading to the Rangers as a free agent and Buck landing with the Mets after two trades. And both of them are showing that they are still able to serve their clubs well on both sides of the ball. Arizona's Miguel Montero and Milwaukee's Jonathan Lucroy, too, have established themselves as core players for their teams. And, yes, there are veteran catchers who aren't off to the greatest of starts in 2013, like the Pirates' Russell Martin (3-for-35 start) and the Reds' Ryan Hanigan (2-for-32), but both have track records and the fact that they're leaders of the pitching staff to support them.
As for the you-never-know category, how about Evan Gattis, the former janitor who's batting cleanup and playing catcher for the Braves? With six-time All-Star Brian McCann out until May, Gattis is showing that he could be here to stay, contributing both behind the plate and beside it.
"He's not an offensive guy who just cares about hitting," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "He calls a good game and takes care of the pitchers."
There are other guys under the radar, such as Oakland's combo of John Jaso and Derek Norris and Seattle's 23-year-old Jesus Montero, and even more young talent on the rise, such as Colorado's hot-hitting Wilin Rosario.
Catchers are even enjoying a heyday in the dugout. There are currently 11 managers who played catcher professionally, nine of them in the Majors. Having experienced the game from the position's unique perspective, be it from behind home plate as an All-Star or mostly from the bench as a backup, catchers in recent years especially have been considered naturals to be the brains of the on-field operation.
One of those catchers-turned-managers is Mike Matheny of the Cardinals, and he agrees with Bochy that there's a "good crop" of catchers in the game today.
"If you go team to team, guys are stepping up and taking advantage of the great position that it is, and using both sides on offense and defense," Matheny said. "There's some good examples around both leagues."
But none better than in San Francisco and St. Louis, where the top dogs are plying their trade. Posey and Molina certainly have the tools to work a game behind the plate. Add in leadership and offensive abilities, and the two backstops are hard to match. Posey became the first catcher in 40 years to win the NL MVP Award, and Molina earned strong consideration as well after a career year offensively and a fifth consecutive NL Gold Glove Award.
"As a catcher who evaluates catchers even when I don't want to, you can't help but on a daily basis appreciate what Yadi Molina brings to the table. It's hard to quantify," Matheny said. "But I also know that Buster does so many things beyond the statistics for the Giants' club as well, which is really the heart and soul of the catching position's all about. It's the influence and impact you make when your time comes up to shine, but also all the peripheral things that happen inside the clubhouse and on the field, and both of these guys are great examples of that."
They really do it all, that's true. But when it comes down to it, a catcher needs to put down fingers and make good things happen for a pitching staff, and that's what Bengie Molina -- who ushered in Posey's debut in 2010 as a member of the Giants -- really likes about his kid brother and his former prodigy.
"For me, I loved to call the game, and these two kids are probably the best in the game," Bengie Molina said. "The more you watch them, the more impressed you are."


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Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Servings and Times
Cups of Fruits and Vegetables Per Person: 2.0
Ingredients and Preparation
- Combine plums, berries, cinnamon, and red wine in saucepan.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Whisk cornstarch with ½ cup water. Add to soup and cook, stirring until thickened.
- Add sugar to taste.
- Cool. Discard cinnamon then puree in electric blender.
- Chill until ready to serve.
- To serve, portion soup into shallow bowls. Add small scoop of low-fat frozen yogurt to the center of each bowl and garnish with mint, if desired. (Note: Frozen yogurt is not included in the Nutritional analysis per serving.)


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REX is a think-and-do tank that helps leaders navigate massive change.
Our theory of change is the Relationship Economy.
At REX's core is the private REX cohort, whose members are change agents from diverse industries.
The Relationship Economy depends on a healthy Commons. For a variety of ways to get involved with REX at no cost, check out the REX Commons, below.
REX's spark and guide is Jerry Michalski.
The Private REX Cohort
The private REX cohort brings together like-minded people who agree with the Relationship Economy vision and want to help their organizations – and one another – thrive in that future. REX offers them a trusted private place to collaborate.
- How we work: We meet twice a month by phone and twice a year in person. We have a private mailing list and wiki.
- Who we are: REX members work at the Institute for the Future, Coca-Cola, the American Heart Association, Deloitte, the U.S. Department of State, a Hungarian startup and other organizations from across the globe. Diversity brings insights. Our functional departments and titles vary from marketing to strategy, from head of HR to COO.
- What we get (and give): We dive into the Relationship Economy, play out its effects on industries and governments, and map ways to thrive amid those changes. We share what works and what doesn't in our experiences. We co-author OpEds, position papers and presentations. We improve one another's projects. We're working our way toward designing startups.
The REX Commons
The public side of REX explores the Relationship Economy in a variety of open media, including:
- The REXpedition blog, with its screencasts, braincasts, sketchcasts, videos and posts (subscribe to it by clicking the orange icon at the top right of this page);
- The weekly Yi-Tan Tech Community Call, a free podcast series about change that started in 2004 (to get the weekly topic via email, add yourself to this mailing list); and
- Jerry's Brain, a freely browsable concept map built over the last 15 years, containing 190,000 interconnected nodes, each of which points to a concept, book, website or other item of note.
Joining REX
REX membership is by invitation. To set up an opening conversation, please click here (it will initiate an email to us).


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v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} Colonial Parking launched a new app to help drivers in the area find Colonial Parking locations with available spots.
The app powered by ParkMe will use GPS technology to provide drivers with real-time information about Colonial Parking locations. The app will also provide crucial information such as rates, entrance points and what times the lots open and close. It also reminds you which garage you parked in if you forget.
Colonial Parking operates 250 parking facilities across the region.
To download Colonial's app, go to www.ecolonial.com or search Colonial Parking on the iTunes Store.


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According to insiders at Bergdorf Goodman, Saks and Browns, camel is the new black–what do you think? Check out Style.com's Fall 2010 Buyers' Guide for some specifics and then take a look at our favorites for autumn. Are you already investing in camel or is it too neutral for you?
CHANEL Beige Caviar Quilted Classic Flap (above)


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The Hamre Real Estate Team is proud to announce that this Aug 20th, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM we will be hosting an Open House at 1356 Gaultois Avenue in the Chateauneuf neighborhood, Orleans. This is an opportunity to visit this excellent Bungalow w/Walkout for sale in beautiful Chateauneuf.
Please come with any questions you may have. In the meantime you can take a virtual tour of this Chateauneuf Bungalow w/Walkout for sale.
As always please do not hesitate to give us a call at 613-841-2111 if we can answer any questions before the open house, or if you would like to book a private showing.
Hamre Real Estate Team | CALL 613-841-2111
RE/MAX Affiliates Realty Ltd.


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Canal boat and narrowboat holidays
Waterway Holidays
A wide choice of self-drive waterway
holidays with Viking Afloat throughout the Waterways,
(Canals and Rivers) of England and Wales.
Afloat will introduce you to one of Britain's best kept secrets,
the 2000 mile network of waterways and navigations, for which
the canal boat was specially designed, that meander across
some of the most beautiful countryside, and past pubs, cottages
and warehouses. Here you will discover the Britain most tourists
miss on their holidays.
We will introduce you to Viking
Afloat one of Britain's largest and most successful waterway
holiday operators.
First time boaters are given a friendly welcome
by everybody on the canal. But you won't be
inexperienced for very long, for within a short time you will
be gliding serenely around the first bend into a whole new
and different world.
The specially designed canal boats are easy
to handle and of course, everything happens at a relaxed pace.
You will be given all the instruction you need by the holiday
company and will soon head off on your very own adventure
like a seasoned boater.
Your canal boat will be fully equipped with
every modern amenity, so self-catering becomes a pleasure,
but there are also many canalside pubs, once essential 'staging
posts' for the working boats of the last century, which are
now popular watering holes for holiday boaters; and most offer
great food at reasonable prices.
Most visitors appreciate the independence,
the peace and tranquillity of 'getting away from it all'.
You can choose between the challenge of some of the densely
belocked stretches of canal - quite astounding feats of engineering
- or choose lazy days drifting along the many stretches with
very few locks. The canals and rivers go through the heart
of the cities as well as through open countryside, and your
boat can be a mobile base for exploring the history of our
great trading routes, or for the diverse entertainment you
will find in our largest city centres.
Two thousand miles of tranquil waterways,
threading their way through some of Britain's most beautiful
and unspoiled countryside, offering a haven for wildlife and
an insight into our industrial heritage. A network of waterways
taking you to the heart of major cities, with all the entertainment
and leisure facilities that they provide.
There is nothing quite like a holiday on
Britain's Inland waterways. Camaraderie when you meet other
boaters, friendliness when you tie up at the pub for a drink
or a meal. A holiday of contrasts, taken at a slow pace.
The variety is endless, city, town, village and country, wide
canal, narrow canal and river. Every bend brings forth some
new feature. You can never see it all, no matter how many
times you return. But why worry? waterway
holidays are for relaxation, for unwinding from every
day pressures, for doing what you like, when you like.
Short Breaks
Week end breaks:You start out
on a Friday afternoon around 3.00 pm and following a full
demonstration of how to handle the boat and work the locks
(all very straightforward) you are off on a carefree 3 night
break, exploring the real Britain. Saturday and Sunday
are yours to do with as you please and the only thing you
really need to remember is that these Weekend breaks finish
at 9.30 am on the Monday morning, when you have to hand the
boat back to the boatyard.
Mid week breaks: These equally popular
breaks, have you cruising away from the boatyard around 3.00
pm on a Monday afternoon and the good news is that you don't
have to be back until Fiday morning at 9.30 am! This
gives you a full four nights away and yet the price is exactly
the same as for the Weekend.
We rate personal choice very highly - choice
of cruising routes from one of our four bases; choice of hire
periods, including Short Breaks, one and two week holidays;
choice of no less than four different start days and a remarkable
choice of boats which are fully equipped for parties of two
to ten people. We want you to enjoy the special experience
of a holiday with Viking Afloat and so we try to make your
booking as all inclusive as possible whilst at the same time
offering genuine flexibility.
As a result of listening to what our customers
say, we provide one of the most extensive inventories to be
found on a hire craft anywhere in Britain. We are also one
of a very few companies that provide pure filtered drinking
water on all of our boats and as part of the service, we provide
everyone with a full demonstration of the boat and its systems,
as well as teaching newcomers how to handle the boats and
how to work the canal locks. Every boat has on board a comprehensive
manual and we provide expert help around the clock with our
24 hour emergency helpline.
For your added convenience we are now able
to offer an online booking availability request. Just select
a base and class of boat, decide when you would like to take
your canal boat holiday and then click on the 'check availability'
Our waterway holiday
Heart of England - WORCESTER
Our base at Worcester is situated on the Worcester/Birmingham
Canal close to its junction with the River Severn and close
to the heart of the historic Cathedral City. It's the
ideal starting point for a number of great holidays and short
breaks, including the Stourport Ring and the Avon Ring.
Welsh Borders - WHITCHURCH
From our Whitchurch site, on the spectacular Llangollen
Canal, you can cruise to Llangollen itself, visit Chester
or take two weeks out and explore the waterways of the North
West of England.
Shakespeare Country - RUGBY
Our Rugby Wharf site is on the northern section of the
idyllic Oxford Canal, close to the town of Rugby, from where
you have an extensive selection of rural routes to explore
and enjoy, including the very popular Warwickshire ring.
Potteries and Peak District - GAILEY
Located on the Staffs and Worcester Canal just a few miles
from Stafford, Gailey Wharf is the perfect starting point
for a variety of trips, including the outstanding Four Counties
Ring or a visit to the delightful Caldon Canal.
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The Fades caught us off guard with its surprisingly fast-paced and unconventional apocalyptic storytelling, but there's no word on a second season yet. But there's other news, which might turn out to be even better: BBC America has commissioned the show's production company, Clerkenwell Films, to create two brand new shows for American audiences. BBC America needs more programming to keep its "Supernatural Saturday" bloc going, and this could be a huge boon for audiences who crave something in between U.S. airings of O.G. Being Human and Doctor Who.
Here's how the BBC America press release describes the two new shows:
'Wired' takes place in a world that looks exactly like today, except for one thing: this is a world with 'Syns' ('Synthetic Organisms'), exact replicas of human beings and the newest luxury accessory money can buy. Wired explores our evolving relationship with technology, the boundaries of society's values and moralities, our hypocrisies and contradictions – holding up a mirror to who we are today and what we might become.
In 'The Dead Beat', two cops, one dead and one alive, become a reluctant team, working from leads in the world of the dead to track down killers in the world of the living. Subverting the crime genre, The Dead Beat brings a whole new meaning to cold cases, underworld informants, dead leads and buried evidence.
Wired sounds a bit like NBC's Beautiful People, but maybe it'll manage to channel a bit of that Black Mirror subversiveness as well. And The Dead Beat sounds like the zombie buddy cop show we've been waiting for. Fingers crossed! [Zap2It]


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The rising death rate in Japan has lengthened the average wait for cremation to roughly four days. That's a long 96 hours to let you lay there and ripen. So what do you do after shuffling off this mortal coil? You get yourself to a corpse hotel, obviously.
The Lastel Hotel can host up to 18 recently-deceased guests at a time in refrigerated caskets. The nightly rate runs about $160. This is no gussied-up city morgue, mind you. The Lastel offers hearse and funeral services, viewing rooms for family, as well as sells a variety of caskets and urns. It's all very convenient, were you alive to appreciate it. [Business Insider]


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When state drawings, specifications or any other data are used for any purpose other than for the reproduction of a state flag, the state thereby incurs no responsibility nor any obligation whatsoever; and the fact that the state may have formulated, furnished or in any way supplied said drawings, or any other data, is not to be regarded by implication or otherwise as in any manner licensing the holder or any other person or corporation, or conveying any rights or permission to manufacture, use or sell any patented invention that may in any way be related thereto or to reproduce the seal of the State of Washington.
The Washington State flag should be folded and stored in a way to preserve it from damage.
When the condition of the Washington State flag is such that it is no longer fit for display, it should be disposed of in the same manner as the U.S. flag, preferably by burning, and with the same dignity as is accorded the disposal of the U.S. flag.


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Food & Drink Halloween Costumes
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. And who can resist some peas in a pod? They're small, wholesome and loaded with vitamins. Well if you want to look like your favorite food for your next Halloween bash, then check out the costumes on the following pages. Shop now for your Food & Drink costume!
Baby Pea in the Pod Bunting Costume For Babies
Reg. $16.90You Save $1.00
Food & Drink Halloween Costume Ideas & Inspiration
What is the one thing all people on Earth have in common? Easy, we LOVE food! No matter what country or culture you look at, food and drink is often found somewhere in the center of it. This Halloween, dress up as your favorite food or drink yourself when you put on one of our high quality Food & Drink Halloween Costumes!
Whether your favorite food is pizza, a taco, a banana, a hamburger, or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, we certainly have you covered with our wide array of food costumes. Or, are you looking for something to wash down your food with? Whether you're looking to dress up as a beer or a cup of soda, choose from one of our great beverage costumes and you'll be hydrated all night long. Enter the party donning a hot dog or fruit costume and you'll instantly get the party going.
Everybody knows that the party isn't truly a party until the food arrives! Keep everybody full and happy all night long while donning one of our delicious food costume items. If you're really looking to make this Halloween a scrumptious one, then why not dress up with your friends with a big Food and Beverage costume theme? Can you imagine anything more fun than crashing the party while all dressed up as pizza, pasta, sushi, burgers, sandwiches, and fish with all of your best buds?
If it's your child who is looking to dress up as their favorite food, then don't miss out on any of our tasty costume options for children, toddlers, and babies. Your little tot will look absolutely adorable while dressed up as a precious little sushi roll. And don't stop at the kids either. Get your puppy dressed up as a delicious taco or hot dog and you'll have the time of your life this Halloween. Buy one of our food and drink costumes today, and go make this Halloween a yummy one!


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Fresh off their performances at the recent American Cup, world championship gold medalists Jordyn Wieber and Gabrielle Douglas will lead the U.S. women's squad at this weekend's Pacific Rim competition in Everett, Wash.
Held every two years, the competition features senior and junior gymnasts from nations bordering the Pacific, including Australia, Canada, China, Japan and Russia.
USA Gymnastics announced its women's lineup Monday morning, following a training camp in Houston. Wieber, the 2011 world all-around champion, won her third American Cup title on March 3 in New York City. Douglas, who was competing exhibition, outscored Wieber but her results did not count toward the results.
The U.S. lineup also includes first-year senior Kyla Ross, junior national champion and Seattle native Katelyn Ohashi, Japan Junior International champion Lexie Priessman and Cincinnati clubmate Amelia Hundley.
The U.S. women are expected to dominate the competition. With the exception of world team member Tan Sixin, reigning Olympic champion China sent a squad of newcomers. 2010 world champion Russia — preparing for its national championships March 21-25 — did not send any Olympic contenders.
Olympic qualifiers Australia and Canada, however, are sending top teams. 2010 world floor exercise champion Lauren Mitchell leads Australia, while Christine Lee, Victoria Moors and Kristina Vaculik represent Canada.
The U.S. men are represented by world team members Chris Brooks and Jake Dalton and Olympic contender Sam Mikulak. Their strongest challenge will come from Japan, which is sending 2008 Olympian Takuya Nakase along with Koji Uematsu and Tatsuki Nakashima. Uematsu, a finalist on parallel bars and high bar at the 2010 Worlds, is returning from a torn ACL suffered in April 2011.
Check back with International Gymnast Magazine Online for daily blogs and updates from Everett.
External Link: USA Gymnastics
2012 Pacific Rim Gymnastics Championships
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Hey folks!! What an amazing fall it's turning out to be. Here's the scoop.
First of all, some huge news: I was chosen to perform at the prestigious Folk DJ showcase at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance (NERFA) this November. This is the queen of folk music events, and it's an amazing honor– I will be performing in front of nearly every folk DJ in the country! Cross your fingers for me, and thanks to the legendary Ron Olesko for making it happen.
Last week, I was interviewed and my music featured on an internationally-broadcast radio program, Making Contact. The program focuses on voice, specifically what our voices say about us, and I talk about losing my voice, and regaining it concurrent to my coming out as trans. It's pretty special – please check it out!
I have a few things happening this coming week. On Monday October 20, at 7, I play a few songs for a songwriter's evening at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 3, 185 Orchard Street. $10, with a great group of friends inclusing Jacqueline Francis and Ina May Wool.
On Thursday October 23 from 7-11, I will be helping to host the Third Wave Fund's REVIVE! Party at 200 Orchard St, to benefit youth activism for gender justice. Legendary DJ Juliana Huxtable will be spinning, and it's sliding scale – no one will be turned away.
But the big, big show is next Saturday night, Oct 25, I perform with my friend Marci Geller at First Acoustics, at the First Unitarian Church, Pierrepont Street at Morgan, Brooklyn Heights. This is a premier folk venue, and will be a great evening. I hope very much you will come down if you're in the area. Tickets are $20 in advance, and $25 at the door, 8 pm sharp.
So that's about it. Sending lotsa love…and my new CD is almost done, btw! I can't wait for you to hear it.


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Adelaide Cup by Astier de Villatte
With its knobbly texture, this Astier de Villatte white ceramic tea cup certainly makes a statement as a serving piece or as a decorative piece for the table or mantle.
To understand a little bit more just why we love everything that Astier de Villatte creates, please read our story below.
Please note: We are only able to sell this item over the phone or in our stores. If you wish to purchase, please click the button above to call or visit us in store where we would be very happy to help.
Due to the exquisite nature of this product, we recommend to hand wash only.
Approx H: 5.5cm
Approx Dia: 4.5cm


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After six weeks of NFL action, it's become clear that the Chiefs and Broncos, barring any serious injuries to key players, look primed for playoff action. The New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, despite blemishes on their records at 5-1, also appear ready to contend for the Super Bowl. Everyone else is in a weekly fight for potential playoff position. Even the 1-4 Vikings and Steelers have a glimmer of hope considering the weakness of their divisions. The same can't be said for the Giants, Jaguars and Buccaneers though, who have way too many problems, on both sides of the football, to even get back to .500 by the end of the season.
Here's what else we learned:
Peterson Plays After Family Tragedy: Just two days prior, Minnesota Vikings' star RB Adrian Peterson's 2-year-old son was killed in an alleged case of child abuse in Sioux Falls, S.D. Although the Vikings lost 35-10 to the Panthers, Peterson's performance, 62 yards rushing and three catches, was more an emotional victory. " I never thought about not playing," he told The AP after the game. "It was all about just going out there and praying that I have the strength to get through and help my team. That was my focus."
U.S. & World
Patriots Break Hearts in Stunning Win over Saints: Tom Brady needed 84 pass attempts over the past two games to get a TD under his belt, but his fourth quarter diamond to Kenbrell Thompkins earned the Pats the last second 30-27 win over the then 5-0 Saints. The return of Stevan Ridley (20 carries, 96 yards, two TDs) also sparked New England running game. "I feel like that game took five years off my life," Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick said after the game. But the Pats and their coach may find their fountain of youth soon. Still without TE Rob Gronkowski, New England hasn't come close to reaching their true potential yet.
Jacksonville Has At Least One Jaguar: Justin Blackmon's 14-catch, 190 yard performance against the Broncos may be the best game by a wide receiver this season. Even in defeat, the Jags held their own for so long and Blackmon, one of their prized young receivers, was able to put that type of game together against an undefeated defense. That's something for Jacksonville fans to be prideful about.
Giants Still Winless: Big Blue hasn't been 0-6 since 1976, a year they went 3-11 with Hall of Famer Larry Csonka as their fullback. Eli Manning's performance this season has been far from the 26-TD performance he had in 2012. 12 of Manning's NFL leading 15 interceptions have come in the first or fourth quarter, putting the team behind the eight ball from the start or breaking the team's morale in close games. The defense hasn't helped either. If the Bears would have scored three more points in their 27-21 win over the Giants on Thursday, Big Blue would have been the first team in NFL history to give up 30 points or more through the first six games for the season.
KC and Denver Still Perfect: Denver had it easier than KC against the 0-6 Jaguars and Peyton Manning continued to find all of his receivers in a solid 35-19 win. Jamal Charles ran for two TDs in a 24-7 win against the 2-4 Raiders, where Kansas City pounded Oakland QB Terrelle Pryor for three interceptions and 10 sacks. In six games this season, the Chiefs defense has given up an NFL low 65 points.
Hope for Steelers?: The Steelers 19-6 win over the Jets gave them their first win of the season, but it wasn't pretty on offense. The Jets defense limited them to just one-TD, a dramatic 55-yard catch by Emmanuel Sanders and four Shaun Suisham FGs. The Steeler defense though, was stellar, with two interceptions three sacks and six quarterback hits. With an offense that has weapons and a defense that has shutdown potential, Pittsburgh's season may not be over yet.
Matt Schaub Days Over in Houston? After throwing six interceptions over the last three games, the Texans QB looked solid in two and half quarters against the Rams going 15/21with no turnovers and 186 yards passing, but a right ankle injury took him out of the game. Backup T.J. Yates looked like the Schaub of week five and threw two interceptions en-route to a disastrous 38-13 drubbing to the Rams. With Schaub having the worst season of his career and now injured, how long with the Texans wait to find a replacement?
Bengals Roaring: Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton has been average for most of the season and the combination of "The Law Firm," BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Gio Bernard have been far from stellar, so how are the Bengals 4-2 and sitting pretty atop the AFC North? In high drama situations, they have a knack for coming out victorious. After Dalton and Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden were blasted by local media, Dalton steps up and has a 337-yard, three-TD day and Green-Ellis ran for 86 yards on just 18 carries. Add in another game-winning FG from Mike Nugent and the Bengals continued to scratch and claw their way to victory in a 27-24 OT win over the Bills.
Jets Continue Hot and Cold Ways: If Gang Green had a theme song this season it would be Katy Perry's "Hot and Cold." Flip-flopping wins and losses through the season's first six week's QB Geno Smith continues to show flashes of brilliance, but reeks of inconsistency. Case in point. In the Jets three wins, Smith has six TD passes and three interceptions. In the team's three losses, he only has one TD and seven interceptions.


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Liverpool may be around 17,000km from home during the club's first-ever visit to Australia, but they are certainly not lacking support during stop two of their overseas tour.
Thousands of fans welcomed Brendan Rodgers and his players at Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne, where they will play the Victory on Wednesday, and they again flocked to see their heroes when they made an appearance at Federation Square – as the above photo of defenders Martin Skrtel and Sebastian Coates proves.
Liverpool Football Club's popularity Down Under is indebted to Craig Johnston. When the Australian was 14, his parents sold their house in New South Wales so they could afford to send him for a trial at Middlesbrough. The midfielder passed, had a successful spell on Teesside, joined Liverpool in 1981 and became a fans' favourite during seven trophy-laden years at Anfield.
Johnston went on to concoct the adidas Predator football boot, which was famously worn by Liverpool players including Steven Gerrard and other mega-stars including Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Xavi.


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Aim. To characterize the clinical and immunological profile of patients with PF or PV with umbilical involvement.
Methods. In total, 10 patients (7 women, 3 men; age range 24–70 years, disease duration 3–16 years) diagnosed with either PV (n = 5) or mucocutaneous PF (n = 5) were assessed according to their clinical features, histopathology and immunological findings .
Results. Erythema, erosions, crusts and vegetating skin lesions were the main clinical features of the umbilical region. DIF of the umbilical region gave positive results for intercellular epidermal IgG and C3 deposits in eight patients and for IgG alone in the other two. Indirect immunofluorescence with IgG conjugate showing the typical pemphigus pattern was positive in all 10 patients, with titres varying from 1 : 160 to 1 : 2560. ELISA with recombinant Dsg1 gave scores of 24–266 in PF and 0–270 in PV. Reactivity to recombinant Dsg3 was positive in all five patients with PV (ELISA 22–98) and was negative in all PF sera.
Conclusions. All 10 patients with pemphigus with umbilical presentation had the clinical and immunopathological features of either PF or PV. This peculiar presentation, not yet completely elucidated, has rarely been reported in the literature. A possible explanation for this unique presentation may be the presence of either novel epitopes or an association with embryonic or scar tissue located in the umbilical-cord region.
Full article available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2230.2012.04468.x/abstract


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Written by Mary Schmich and published in the Chicago Tribune as a column in 1997, and made famous by Baz Luhrmann on YouTube (see bottom).
-- Author unknown
A new minister was walking with an older, more seasoned minister in the garden one day.
Feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was asking the older preacher for some advice.
The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any of the petals.
The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of God for his life and ministry.
-- A True Story
Joe Kittinger is not a household aviation name like Neil Armstrong or Chuck Yeager. But what he did for the U. S. space program is comparable. On Aug. 16, 1960, as research for the then-fledgling U. S. space program, Air Force Captain Joseph Kittinger rode a helium balloon to the edge of space, 102,800 feet above the earth, a feat in itself.
Then, wearing just a thin pressure suit and breathing supplemental oxygen, he leaned over the cramped confines of his gondola and jumped--into the 110-degree-below-zero, near-vacuum of space. Within seconds his body accelerated to 714mph in the thin air, breaking the sound barrier.
Source: "Long Walk To Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
During Nelson Mandela's 19 years imprisoned on Robben Island, one particular commanding officer was the most brutal of them all:
"A few days before Badenhorst's departure, I was called to the main office. General Steyn was visiting the island and wanted to know if we had any complaints. Badenhorst was there as I went through a list of demands. When I had finished, Badenhorst spoke to me directly.
Dwight Nelson recently told a true story about the pastor of his church. He had a kitten that climbed up a tree in his backyard and then was afraid to come down. The pastor coaxed, offered warm milk, etc.
The kitty would not come down. The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the pastor decided that if he tied a rope to his car and pulled it until the tree bent down, he could then reach up and get the kitten.
That's what he did, all the while checking his progress in the car. He then figured if he went just a little bit further, the tree would be bent sufficiently for him to reach the kitten. But as he moved the car a little further forward, the rope broke.
This is a TRUE STORY -- Author Unknown
One day, a poor boy, who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so she brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you? "You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."
-- Author Unknown
An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.
-- Author unknown (used with permission by Servant Quarters)
A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists."
"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.


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OK. Sorry for the geeked out LOST reference. Couldn't help it. But seriously, Dubai is planning to build this huge, talking statue for the Zaabeel Park. And I think there's a discotheque in the head.
Called al hakawati (the storyteller), the naked Dr. Manhattan/Jolly Green Giant monolith will ironically contain a children's library in the feet, some elevators, and will—get this—move as it recites stories to passers-by.
Special joints in the arms and neck will ensure the people lounging around inside don't notice the movement, and that the elevators work properly. The gaudy "Gold Room" (looks like a discotheque to me, hit the link) will take up most of the head, with the eyes serving as view ports.
Dubai has outdone itself again.
Updated: Yes, this appears to be a contest entry, and could be built someday. But it's Dubai, so I remain convinced this will stand tall near the Burj al Arab. [Design Boom via Design Blog]


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Annual Royals Caravan set to hit the road
KANSAS CITY -- Since 1968, the year before Kansas City's expansion American League club started play, there's been a Royals Caravan journeying through the Midwest. This year will be no different.
The 2014 Royals Caravan will travel on Wednesday and Thursday, with three simultaneous trips that will include stops in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Nebraska. Involved will be current and former players, broadcasters, officials and mascot Sluggerrr.
That also serves as a lead-in to the Royals FanFest on Friday and Saturday at Bartle Hall in downtown Kansas City.
Royals players scheduled to appear at various stops include designated hitter Billy Butler, outfielders Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain, infielder Johnny Giavotella and pitchers Aaron Crow, Jeremy Guthrie, Donnie Joseph and Everett Teaford. Also on board are manager Ned Yost and Royals alums Dennis Leonard, Jeff Montgomery and Brian McRae.
Added to the mix are broadcasters Joel Goldberg, Rex Hudler, Ryan Lefebvre, Steve Physioc and Steve Stewart.
Tour stops on Wednesday include Cameron, St. Joseph, Clinton, Springfield and Joplin, Mo.; Overland Park, Olathe, Emporia, Topeka and Lawrence, Kan. The stops on Thursday include Lincoln, Blair and Omaha, Neb.; Fayetteville, Ark., and Coffeyville and Wichita, Kan.
For details on the appearances, go to royals.com/caravan.
Again on this year's Caravan, the Royals will collect items for members of the military, in conjunction with the USO chapters of Ft. Riley and Missouri. Items wanted are washcloths, individually wrapped toothbrushes, beef jerky, drink packets and pudding cups to be distributed to the military overseas and returning from duty. Fans can also bring hand-written "thank you" cards for troops; for each card, Royals Charities will donate $1 to the USO up to $10,000.
On Feb. 4, the Royals will make a "Salute to the Military" trip to Manhattan and Ft. Riley, Kan., with Royals Hall of Fame members George Brett, John Mayberry and Denny Matthews. Details will be announced later.


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It's time to stop the campaign to make La Donna Porter a political martyr.
Porter is the doctor at San Joaquin General Hospital who became a star -- and a lightning rod -- by starring in ads opposing Prop 29, a June ballot initiative backed by health groups to raise cigarette taxes for health programs and cancer research.
Those ads, and the campaign against Prop 29, were funded by tobacco companies.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
Your blogger has written critically in this space about Prop 29, though for different reasons than Porter (The doctor focused on No on 29 talking points about flaws in the measure; your blogger's point is that while cigarette taxes make sense for California, the inflexible way the initiative doles out the money is more of the same bad budget policy that's gotten the state in its current mess).
In any event, Porter was an effective spokesperson -- an African American doctor in white lab coat -- so effective that health groups and their political allies launched personal attacks on her.
Gov. Jerry Brown, in the face of this pressure, removed her from a state panel that classifies toxic chemicals.
Porter's allies -- the tobacco industry and the No on 29 campaign -- are making the argument that she's being treated unfairly.
Aaron McLear, a thoughtful political consultant, argued in this column that the attacks on her were out of bounds.
Oh, please.
Porter is paying a price for taking a political stand--but there's nothing wrong with that. Politics is a rough-and-tumble business.
Dr. Porter, of her own free will, agreed to make herself a public political figure by appearing in an ad. When you do that, you are agreeing to accept the consequences, including losing a political appointment and having people protest you.
The fact that this point has to be made speaks volumes about California's weak political culture.
There's an expectation that people and institutions need to be protected from politics. That's why we have so many more rules than other states -- Californians have chosen formulas and constitutional amendments over the real back-and-forth of political fights and compromises.
All those rules have made the state a fiscal basketcase. Politics isn't as nice and clean as a formula, but politics is a better, more flexible tool for getting things done.
That should go double for people who get involved in the initiative process.
Porter has long been a player in initiative politics, serving as a spokesperson for previous measures.
The state body on which she served until Brown's decision to remove her was itself a product of an initiative to regulate toxic chemicals.
California's inflexible initiative process is very powerful; once you do something via initiative, it's almost impossible to undo it. If you want to play in a game with such high, you should expect rough play.
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Lead Prop Zero blogger Joe Mathews is California editor at Zocalo Public Square, a fellow at Arizona State University's Center for Social Cohesion, and co-author of California Crackup: How Reform Broke the Golden State and How We Can Fix It (University of California, 2010).
Send us your thoughts via Twitter @PropZero or add your comment to our Facebook page.