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Hammers held by Potters
West Ham missed out on the opportunity to move up to fifth in the Barclays Premier League after being held to a 1-1 draw by Stoke at Upton Park.
The Hammers fell behind to an early Jonathan Walters goal as Stoke went in search of their first away league win in 15 outings but ended up with a share of the spoils courtesy of a rare goal from Joey O'Brien.
West Ham's task was always going to be harder after conceding the lead as Stoke looked to sit back and soak up the pressure.
Sam Allardyce's side struggled to create chances in the first half but were much more potent after the break and dominated proceedings following O'Brien's strike, only his second goal for the club.
The hosts saw more of the ball in the opening 10 minutes but Stoke showed their usual aerial threat on a couple of occasions, most notably when Ryan Shawcross angled a long ball forward which Peter Crouch knocked down into the path of the onrushing Charlie Adam, who could not keep his shot down.
Unsurprisingly Stoke's opening goal came from a set-piece but it was not scored in the manner usually associated with Tony Pulis' side.
George McCartney cleared the ball behind after 12 minutes and Glenn Whelan rolled the corner across the ground and into the area where a clever run from the far past allowed Walters to convert with a thumping effort past Jussi Jaaskelainen.
West Ham were struggling to break down a resolute Stoke defence that had been given something to protect thanks to Walters' early goal.
Andy Carroll, still searching for his first goal for the Hammers, managed to get a head on a Gary O'Neil cross but Asmir Begovic collected with ease.
Stoke, playing on the counter-attack, pushed forward and almost doubled their lead through another corner.
This time the corner was launched high into the penalty area and Robert Huth powered a header towards goal that was pushed clear by Jaaskelainen.
Mohamed Diame and Kevin Nolan combined well after 25 minutes but Nolan's through ball had too much weight on it and Begovic gathered at the feet of Diame.
Nolan came close to a sixth goal of the season as he finally forced Begovic into a decent save with West Ham starting to control the game.
Allardyce was up in arms moments later, along with most of the West Ham players, as referee Chris Foy seemed to miss Geoff Cameron's push on Carroll as he challenged for the ball on the edge of the penalty area.
The visitors came within inches of doubling their lead seven minutes before half-time as Steven N'Zonzi fired in a shot from 25 yards that crashed off the crossbar and bounced just in front of the goalline with Jaaskelainen well beaten.
West Ham should have equalised within a minute of the start of the second half.
Diame combined well with Modibo Maiga down the left flank to free McCartney.
The left-back's cross was perfect for Nolan but the Hammers' skipper put his effort too close to Begovic.
The leveller did come only moments later as Diame's shot was charged down and O'Neil delivered from the right for O'Brien to convert from the middle of the goal.
Stoke appeared rattled by the West Ham equaliser and Maiga came close to putting the home side ahead with 35 minutes left on the clock.
Mark Noble's corner was won in the air by Carroll and Maiga latched onto his knockdown but could not beat Begovic who made a smart save.
Allardyce's side had taken heart from O'Brien's goal and the hosts again came close as O'Neil's cross deflected off Huth and wide of the near post.
Former Middlesbrough man O'Neil then came close with his own effort after a well-worked short corner routine found the 29-year-old, making his first league start of the campaign, free in the area but his whipped effort curled just wide.
Stoke seemed to find some composure as the half wore on and came back into the game, although a wayward effort from Walters was all they had to show for their endeavour.
West Ham's goalscorer O'Brien was replaced with 13 minutes remaining by Guy Demel, who arrowed an effort wide of Begovic's goal six minutes later.
Winston Reid also had a good chance to secure all three points with a late header but the New Zealand international did not get enough on his effort.
Source: DSG
Source: DSG


text: Hopefully Sasha and Malia Obama won't be going online or turning on the TV in the next few days, because every news outlet in America is reporting on what President Obama bought them for Christmas. This afternoon Obama took Bo to Pet Smart and bought him a bone and a chew toy for $41. Then he headed to Best Buy, where he bought the Wii game Just Dance 3 and two $50 iTunes gift cards. "The girls beat me every time on these dance games," he told reporters. "You'll never get a picture of me [playing] because I get graded F every time."

subset: commoncrawl


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- This event has passed.
Walk for Your Health @ the Library!
February 15 @ 8:30 am - 9:30 am
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 8:30 am on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, repeating indefinitely
Kick off your mornings with a healthy dose of low impact cardio! Get your heart pumping & have some fun as we follow a variety of walking workout DVDs with Leslie Sanson & Jessica Smith.
Join us in Rooms A & B in the basement of the Library!
ALL are welcome!


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OS X includes two utilities to verify and repair disks: Disk Utility and fsck (a command-line utility). You can also use these even when your computer starts up fine but you want to check the disk for possible file system issues. For Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later, see the section "About live verification in Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later," below.
Important: If you're using Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you should use Disk Utility instead of fsck, whenever possible.
In some situations, file system errors may prevent your computer from starting up. This can occur after an improper shutdown, forced restart, or power interruption. If your computer shows any of the following symptoms on startup, use a disk repair utility:
- Your computer partially starts but then displays a command line in a text-only environment. You may see the message, "file system dirty, run fsck." Below it, you'll see what's called a command-line prompt, indicated by a number sign (#), that allows you to type a command. If you see this, you'll need to run fsck from the command line (see "Use fsck if necessary," below).
- Your computer starts but doesn't reach the login screen.
- Your computer reaches the login screen but does not load the Desktop after you log in.
If your computer exhibits the above issues, here are some things to try to get your computer back to starting up properly again. If you can't start from the Recovery System or Internet Recovery in OS X Lion or later, see the section "Use fsck," below.
Try Safe Mode
If you're using Mac OS X 10.2 or later, you can start up your computer in Safe Mode, which includes an automatic disk check and repair. If you're using Mac OS X 10.1.5 or earlier, skip to the next section. A Safe Boot, which starts up your computer into Safe Mode, might allow you to start up your computer successfully. To do this, follow these steps:
- Start up in Safe Mode.
- After the system has fully started up, restart your computer again normally.
If your Mac successfully restarts, the issue should be resolved. If the issue continues, try using Disk Utility.
Try Disk Utility
Use these steps to use the Disk Utility app to verify or repair a disk.
- If you're using OS X Lion or later, start the computer from Recovery System or Internet Recovery. If you're using an older version of OS X and your computer came with a Mac OS X Install disc, insert the installation disc and restart the computer while holding the C key instead.
- When your computer finishes starting up, choose Disk Utility from the Utilities window, or from the Installer menu if you're started from an installation disc.
- Click the First Aid tab.
- Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the hard drive icon to display the names of your hard disk volumes and partitions.
- Select your Startup Disk (usually named "Macintosh HD").
- Click Repair. Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk.
Tip: With Mac OS X v10.6 and earlier, always start up your computer from an Install or Restore disc when using Disk Utility to verify or repair your startup volume. Otherwise, you might see some disk error messages.
Use fsck if necessary
The command-line utility fsck can also be used to verify and repair a disk. If you can successfully start up in Safe Mode or use Disk Utility while started up from a disc, you don't need to use fsck. Here are some situations in which fsck may be necessary.
- Your Mac can't be started from the Recovery System or Internet Recovery.
- Your Mac OS X disc isn't available.
- Your optical drive isn't available.
- You can't start with a Safe Boot by holding the Shift key during start up.
Tip: If you use a Mac OS X Extended (Journaled) formatted volume, such as with Mac OS X 10.3 or later, you probably don't need to use fsck. If you do use it for any reason, please be aware that benign error messages can appear.
If you're not sure how your volume is formatted and you can't start up from your Mac OS X volume to find out, type the following command in a command-line interface and then press Return:
diskutil info /
If you see "File System: Journaled HFS+" returned, you have a Journaled volume.
To use fsck, you must use it from the command line. Unlike using your pointer to open an application to do something, you'll need to type a text command at the prompt (#) to tell fsck what to do. The Terminal application (/Applications/Utilities) and single-user mode are two examples of command-line interfaces where you can type these kinds of commands. To use fsck:
- Start up your computer in single-user mode to reach the command line.
Note: If your computer is unresponsive, force it to power off by holding down the power button for several seconds. Then press the power button again to start up the computer.
- At the command-line prompt type:
/sbin/fsck -fy
Press Return. fsck will go through five "phases" and then return information about your disk's use. Once it finishes, it'll display this message if no issue is found:
** The volume (name_of_volume) appears to be OK
If fsck finds issues and alters, repairs, or fixes anything, it displays this message:
If this message appears, repeat the fsck command you typed in step 2 until fsck tells you that your volume appears to be OK (first-pass repairs may uncover additional issues, so this is a normal thing to do).
- When fsck reports that your volume is OK, type
rebootat the prompt and then press Return.
Your computer should now start up normally and allow you to log in.
Learn more
About live verification in Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later
In Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later, you can verify your startup disk while your Mac is started from it. This is known as live verification, and can be used in three different ways.
Option 1: Verify your disk using Disk Utility while started from the startup disk. To find out how to do this, see this article. Please note that live verification does not involve any disk repair, so if verification finds something that should be repaired, start up from your Mac OS X Install disc and use Disk Utility as described above in "Try Disk Utility."
Option 2 (advanced): Use the command line and the command-line utility, diskutil.
- Start up your computer and log in as an administrator.
- Open Terminal (/Applications/Utilities).
- At the prompt, type the following command and then press Return:
diskutil verify /
Note: Don't use this method to check non-startup volumes.
You should see messages such as the following during the disk check:
Could not unmount disk for verification, attempting live verify
Started verify/repair on volume disk0s3 Macintosh HD
Checking HFS Plus volume.
Checking Extents Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Checking multi-linked files.
Checking Catalog hierarchy.
Checking Extended Attributes file.
Checking volume bitmap.
Checking volume information.
The volume Macintosh HD appears to be OK.
Mounting Disk
Verify/repair finished on volume disk0s3 Macintosh HD
Option 3 (advanced): Use the command line and the
fsck_hfs -l command.
Start up your computer and log in as an administrator.
Open Terminal (/Applications/Utilities).
At the prompt, type the following command and then press Return to determine your filesytem ID:
df -hl
Look for lines of text that look like this:
Filesystem Size Used Avail Capacity Mounted on
/dev/disk0s3 37G 20G 17G 55% /
/dev/disk0s5 37G 37G 641M 98% /Volumes/Storage
Make a note of the first "disk" name that appears after /dev/, such as "disk0s3." This is your filesystem ID for your startup volume.
At the prompt, type the following command and then press Return:
df -hl
Then type the following command, where "disk0s3" is your filesystem ID you noted in step 4, then press Return:
sudo fsck_hfs -l /dev/disk0s3
When prompted, enter your admin password, then press Return to begin the verification.
You should see messages like these during the disk check:
** /dev/rdisk0s3 (NO WRITE)
** Root file system
** Checking HFS Plus volume.
** Checking Extents Overflow file.
** Checking Catalog file.
** Checking multi-linked files.
** Checking Catalog hierarchy.
** Checking Extended Attributes file.
** Checking volume bitmap.
** Checking volume information.
** The volume Macintosh HD appears to be OK.
Advanced information
If you're interested in UNIX-style command-line syntax, here's a look at how a couple of flags used above can influence fsck:
The -y flag: Tells fsck that you want to answer "yes" to all questions about fixing, repairing, or salvaging information. This is the optimal approach, as answering "no" to any question causes fsck to stop. You cannot determine that all necessary repairs have been made until fsck completes and gives its final report.
The -f flag: Forces fsck to check filesystems that are marked as "clean".


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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
The low-down on recycling in Albuquerque
Looking at a glass mountain from a distance, it's nearly impossible to tell it's not the real thing. You almost swear you see piñon trees. But, upon further inspection, the tiny pulverized stones of blue, brown and green become apparent, and the way they glimmer in the sun is certainly not like any typical topography.
Guest Editorial
A Living Wage
The city councilor for district six rejoices that the minimum wage initiative has made it onto the October ballot
In Albuquerque today, there's cause to celebrate. Just last week, the Albuquerque City Clerk verified the 13,393 valid signatures necessary to place a minimum wage initiative on the October ballot. It is worth noting that this is approximately four times the number of valid signatures needed to run for governor of NM. In fact, because the bar is so high, this marks the first time a city ordinance has ever been successfully placed on the ballot by the citizen petition process. Congratulations.
The Real Side
Do Endangered Species Really Matter?
A Supreme Court shaped by Bush will want to know
What does a wolf matter? What difference would it make if we lost every silvery minnow, Chiricahua leopard frog, checkerspot butterfly, willow flycatcher or any other of New Mexico's endangered species?
Ortiz y Pino
Urban Removal
Is the city abusing the nuisance abatement ordinance?
Earlier this summer, when suspicion about our federal court system was already raging at white-hot levels, stoked pyromaniacally by neocons in Washington eager to undo 50 years of judicial progress, the Supreme Court casually tossed a tad more gasoline onto the flames.
Odds & Ends
Dateline: England—When 59-year-old Melvyn Reed woke up from a triple-bypass heart operation earlier this summer, he was greeted by his loving wife and his loving wife and his loving wife. Obviously, the British bigamist didn't count on all three of his spouses turning up at his bedside at the same time. Reed had apparently tried to stagger the hospital visits of his wives, but a scheduling conflict ended with all three of them in the hospital at once. British media reports say that, upon realizing something was amiss, the wives held a meeting in the parking lot and learned they were all married to the same man. A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that Reed, a company director from Kettering in central England, turned himself in to Wimbledon police on May 12 and confessed to being a double bigamist. He pleaded guilty to two charges of bigamy on July 19 and was given a suspended sentence of four months in prison and ordered to pay 70 pounds ($126). According to Metropolitan Police, Reed married his first wife, Jean Grafton, in 1966, then left without divorcing her. He went on to marry Denise Harrington in 1998, then married Lyndsey Hutchinson in 2003. British media have widely reported that Reed recently moved back in with his first wife. Harrington and Hutchinson had sought advice on getting their marriages annulled, but lawyers have advised the women that their marriages were never valid.
Gas prices are up. Demand for oil is up. Americans are dying in Iraq and dependence on Persian Gulf oil is up. Even the president agrees that climate change is a growing concern. Instead of addressing these problems head on, the energy bill just signed into law by the president displays an abject failure of leadership.
Planting Day
Help plant over 300 trees at the 3rd Annual Bosque Planting Day on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 9:30am to 3pm. RSVP by emailing Alejandría at email@example.com, grab your gardening gloves and get on down to Bosque Cultural Healing Garden Project for a day of reforestation with volunteers revitalizing the Albuquerque Bosque. It's free and open to arborists of all ages.


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Excited and inspired by the upcoming 3-day weekend, we thought we would give a special shout-out to all our military brides this Memorial Day week.
Bella Pictures has been privileged to photograph many military weddings and we know that planning one can be tricky if you don't know all the protocols – and finding the right information isn't always easy. We want to share some of the beautiful moments we have captured over the years in our wedding photography, as well as tips and best practices we have learned from our amazing military brides and their families.
If you are in the military, you have the option of wearing your dress uniform just as the groom is required to wear his. The difference with the ladies is that you have the option of choosing to wear the dress of your dreams instead. We're sure you have been busy adding beautiful dress over beautiful dress to your Pinterest inspiration board, so if it is your dream, why not take advantage of all those gorgeous ideas? We love the idea of a white dress with red lipstick and navy accents to really make that regal military look "pop".
Military members within the wedding party typically wear full ceremonial dress uniforms with their military decorations serving as boutonnieres (so for the boys in uniform – no flowers for you). The color of the uniform will depend on the season; blue is typically used in the winter and white in the summer. Other items include white gloves and swords for those in the Navy and Coast Guard and sabers for those in the Army or Marine Corps.
If the groom wears a sword or saber, then the bride stands to his right at the altar in order to avoid the blade.
Bridesmaids get to wear what bridesmaids always get to wear…fabulous dresses in bright tangerine (or whatever color you decide). You can even mix up the colors for greater impact - a red, white and blue bridesmaid dress theme would make for some stunning wedding photos.
If you are having a more formal wedding, we have noticed that most brides seat their military members by rank and title so captains sit by captains and sergeants sit by sergeants. If you are not familiar with military ranks, it's a good idea to learn them now – or at least the ranks of those attending – so you can introduce your military guests to the civilians in attendance.
The arch of sabers is what really sets a military wedding apart from a civilian service.
When the bride and groom leave the service and enter the archway lined by honor guards holding the ceremonial weapons, tradition dictates that as you pass through the arch, the last two bearers drop their sabers or swords, forming a cross to block the path. The groom then kisses his bride (make sure you hold it long enough for another super sweet picture).
The crossed swords are then raised for the couple to pass through. The bearer on the bride's side, as she passes by, gently swats the bride on the back side and says something along the lines of, "Welcome to the Army, Ma'am." Again, this is all done to your comfort, so decide together where (and if) you want to have the arch and if you want this particular welcome from the military.
One of the best (and potentially most funny) wedding photography moments is the cutting of the cake. And, of course, the military puts its own unique spin on this tradition. On command, the saber or cutlass bearers enter the reception room in formation in front of the wedding cake, facing each other. The bride and groom pass beneath the sword/saber arch again and approach the cake. The groom hands his new bride his unsheathed sword/ saber, and with his hands over hers, they cut the first piece of cake together. An incredibly romantic photo opportunity, if you ask us.
All weddings are special and one of the most important days a couple can experience in their journey together. However, military weddings – steeped in tradition, patriotism and emotion – have just a little something extra going for them and we salute all those brave brides and grooms taking the plunge together. Share with us your special day (you know we love the stories) in the comments section or on our Facebook page and we may feature your wedding here!
With Mother's day quickly approaching, we were inspired to write a post featuring different ways to honor a very special woman on your very special day.
For many of our brides, they call that woman "mom", but many others may also be known as "grandmother", "aunt" or "daughter". Whomever it is in your life that holds a special place in your heart, we thought this the perfect opportunity to share some memorable moments and ideas.
While weddings are an exciting time for you and everyone in your family, it can also be a big day for the moms. Taking a moment to acknowledge their love and support can be as simple as giving them a flower when you arrive at the front of the aisle or thanking them in your speech at the reception or even rehearsal dinner.
Dads always seem to get the spotlight at the wedding – walking down the aisle and the first dance – but there are ways you can incorporate the ladies, as well. Have both parents walk you down the aisle or ask your mom or grandma to bless the rings. Invite her to do a reading or be part of the unity candle ceremony. Include pictures of you and your mom in the slideshow. Duplicate one or two elements from her wedding, like her bouquet, or put out her wedding photos as part of the décor (this also has the added bonus of contributing to a vintage theme).
Another idea is to ask your officiant to mention any deceased parents or grandparents in a special prayer during the ceremony. Make a note in the program honoring the deceased and recognizing their influence in your lives.
Some of our brides also have the unique pleasure of celebrating this time with their own children. There are many great ways to incorporate your kids into the day, from having them be part of the bridal party to including them in the ceremony or even sharing your first dance with them.
We love to hear and share these kinds of creative ideas and special moments with all of our Bella readers. Leave a comment below or post on our Facebook page your great idea and you could see it here!
This past Sunday, April 22nd, was Earth Day and in honor of the earth friendly celebration we've gathered together some fun ideas and easy tips to make your wedding a success while still being eco-conscious.
A good way to reduce your carbon footprint is to hold the wedding ceremony and reception in the same venue. Or, plan for group transportation, which is not only a great way to reduce nasty emissions, but is an added perk for your guests. In bigger cities, parking and traffic is difficult. Providing transportation, like a van or bus, also allows for your guests to relax, have fun and enjoy the wedding day.
Choosing local, sustainable and organic foods for your wedding menu is not only a good choice for the earth, it's also good for your community, yourself and your guests. Local means it hasn't had to travel very far, it's fresh and that you are supporting your community of farmers and food suppliers. Organic means less pesticides going in you and your guests. All of this makes for a delicious menu at your wedding that you can be proud to serve.
Show off your creativity with signage and other printed materials by using recycled paper, or better yet, no paper at all! Repurpose wood, old signs, anything you can think of to cut out waste and add a touch of cleverness to your wedding. For instance, instead of individual escort cards, use a large blackboard as a seating chart.
If you'd like to give favors, then flower seeds, potted plants and edible gifts are a great idea – less waste and more love to spread. You can even use potted plants instead of cut flower arrangements for the tables, making this a great economic, as well as earth friendly, alternative.
Vintage is in! Whether it's a family heirloom or some treasure you found in a vintage shop, this is the perfect time to be a little (or a lot) sentimental and show off your originality by incorporating family jewelry, your grandmother's dress or cute vintage accent pieces into your wedding day.
There are a lot of great ideas and options to help make your special day the perfect combination of unique, beautiful and good for the earth. Share with us your crafty ideas in the comments section or on our Facebook page
For those couples who are having (or even just considering) a church ceremony, we want to pass on some advice and tips that will ensure incredible wedding photos. From vaulted ceilings to grand frescoes, the possibilities for amazing ceremony pictures are endless.
Keep in mind that churches – like many religious institutions – have special regulations. In order to make this process as smooth as possible for you, we have come up with a helpful list to consider while planning the photography for your big day.
Religious venues generally have some photography regulations they would like you to follow. You should find out their requirements ahead of time so there are no big surprises that day.
Timing is key when planning the photos for a church wedding. Churches have pretty busy schedules on the weekend, so may only be able to grant you a limited amount of time before and after the ceremony for portrait shots. We suggest you find out the following:
Because there may be some time limits and guidelines to remember, passing along all the information you gather to your photographer will help your day run more smoothly.
Wherever you decide to have your ceremony, empowering your Bella Pictures photographer with solid information, such as a timeline and "must-have" shot list, will ensure they capture your special day just the way you want it.
Share you story with us. Did you have your ceremony in a church? Leave a comment below or on our Facebook page and we may feature your wedding!
As you prepare for the BIG DAY, there are a lot of details that you are probably in the midst of perfecting to ensure that everything goes exactly as planned.
While there are a lot of things that we can control (wedding favors, flowers, the shoes) there is one big thing we cannot…the weather. As spring rolls into summer, bringing the rains with it, there is the possibility that your sunny skies may suddenly turn grey.
We know that a rainy wedding is on the top of the "wedding day disasters" list, but we think there is a great opportunity to turn lemons into lemonade and wanted to share our top 3 tips for making your rainy wedding fabulous.
We asked our Bella Pictures Photo Coaches for their expert advice on how to achieve beautiful photographs when it's raining, and here is what they had to say:
You may have picked a ceremony or reception spot that is outdoors, but see if there is a good indoor space that would work for the portraits. You can ask your venue if they have special or dramatic lighting (usually reserved for things like first dances) that can be used during the photo-shoot.
If you absolutely have to have that outdoor shot, pare down your group. That way, if there are good-weather breaks, you and the photographer won't have to chase down a large, scattered group.
Bring some towels, a hairdryer and some extra shoes for walking around in. Better yet, bring some fun, cute rain boots to wear in the photos!
Scope out the space ahead of time and see where it may get muddy and cross those spots off your list.
Find colorful umbrellas for you, your wedding party and your guests. Those are sure to brighten up any photos.
Place the towels or small blankets and some garbage bags on the wet floor while taking photos to keep the bottom of your dress clean.
If you are willing to sacrifice getting wet for good photos, it may be worth the extra primp time afterwards. But remember, as long as you look like you're having fun, the pictures will reflect that. Rain or shine, this is your special day to enjoy and cherish.
Have you had to deal with the elements taking over your wedding day? Share you tips and stories of rainy day weddings with us in the comments or on Facebook and your photos could be featured here.
Kids are adorable. They bring a rush of energy everywhere they go, they love to giggle and play, and in our experience, they're incredibly photogenic. Here's the catch - they also need constant stimulation to keep from getting bored. This brings up the age-old question that can trouble a bride and groom: host a kid-friendly wedding, or suggest they stay home with the sitter?
For those of you hoping to include young ones on your big day, here are some tips:
Lots of kids would rather jump in the mud than put on formalwear, so if you approach dressing up as an engaging activity in itself, they're more likely to warm up to the idea.
Many kids love to play grownup, so if they are given tasks that make them feel important, they're less likely to get bored. Whether it's ring bearer, flower girl or usher, a child that's preoccupied with a Big Kid role has less time to be idle and get into mischief.
The reception is the perfect place for everyone - including the kids - to have fun. Play fun music and let the kids dance away all that energy. Set up a kiddie corner with coloring books or other games and activities. Provide fun snacks to munch on and bubbles to blow in celebration. There are plenty of ways to create a kid-friendly wedding reception.
Whatever your wedding style, all it takes is a little planning beforehand that considers how kids will fit in or not. If you choose to have a kid-friendly wedding, we hope this insight will help your wedding day go off as smoothly as possible. If you'd like help planning the photography portion of your wedding, call us at 888.556.7590.
Dancing is a classic way for people to let loose and connect with each other, and moments like these create a perfect opportunity for great wedding dance photography.
With the formal ceremony over and the loving feelings running on high, the reception is the time to relax and have fun. By enjoying yourself in the moment, you're less likely to be self-conscious – leading to candid special moments captured on camera.
This couple was photographed sharing sweet smiles during their first dance...
... while these happy pairs were caught having a blast.
But wedding dance photography doesn't have to be limited to the reception. Have a little fun during the portrait section of your day by dancing. It can help the two of you focus on each other, ease camera-shy feelings, and lead to unique portraits.
This silhouette shot of the couple at sunset is made even more striking with a bit of dancing...
... and the energy and movement of dance adds a burst of joy into this awesome shot.
Wedding dance photography isn't the only type of imagery that can feature special moments. Even if you don't care to dance, the key to these great photos is that they are candid, special moments. Just focus on enjoying yourself and your photos will reflect the emotions of your day! To see more great photos of special moments, visit our Portfolio Page.
Whatever you have in mind, our digital retouching artists can work magic with your pictures. Here are the most popular digital retouching services that are requested by couples.
The Groom's cake is a huge trend in weddings right now. Usually the groom's cake is a gift from the bride to the groom and is designed around a hobby or interest of the grooms. A lot of the time the cakes are sports related depicting the groom's favorite sport or team, but the possibilities are endless! Here are a few photos of our favorite groom's cakes we have taken!
One of the most important aspects for any wedding, is the selection of flowers, from the bouquet, to the table settings, and even the groom's boutonniere. There are many different ways to spice up a plain black suit on your wedding day. Some grooms opt for a very clean look with simple colors and classic flowers such as roses and tulips. Other grooms choose to use brighter, more exotic flower arrangements and incorporate aspects of nature. Now that you have your boutonniere in order, make sure you take a look our wedding day checklist for grooms.
Strapless with Detail: On her big day, Caroline opted for a classic and sleek empire waist dress with simple beaded details. Her minimal make-up and modest jewelry choices are perfect for the "laid-back" bride.
Simple with Bold Accessories: Mikaela took a simple white dress and accessorized it with bold and bright statement pieces for a chic look. This pairing is both fun and trendy!
Old Hollywood Glam: Kristi's dress is a tribute to the glamour of the 1940's; paired with bold make-up and no jewelry, this dress is a statement of its own.
Vintage: This vintage gown that Kelly chose for her wedding looks amazing with all her vintage accessories (earrings, veil, and ring!)
Couture Gown: For Tovah's New Year's Eve Wedding, she went for a dress as extravagant as the event. Her pink wedding/party dress is a great option for the non-traditional bride.
Sheer with Embroidered Details: Kristen's simple and elegant dress is perfect for the classic bride. She opted to pair her dress with other classic staples like a long veil, pearls and a simple updo.
Princess Gown: Cristina's style of dress is the number one choice for many brides. It's classic and elegant and when paired with a tiara, it will really make you feel like a princess on your big day!
We have been doing free portrait sessions in San Francisco since January, which have been a big hit! Here are a few of the beautiful shots. You can use your free portraits for save the date cards, engagement announcements or however you like ' they are yours to keep. Schedule your free portrait session for the month of April!
We had free portrait sessions at Clark's Landing in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ last month. Check out this beautiful venue!
The WeddingWire Bride's Choice Awards ™ recognizes the top local wedding professionals from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellence in quality service, responsiveness and professionalism. This year's winners represent the top five percent of WeddingWire's vendor community.
Your wedding photography is a record of your big day that you will keep forever and be able to pass on to your children and grandchildren.
Your wedding day is one of the most important events of your life, so you'll want to be sure to capture every beautiful, memorable moment.
Jaret Rieana and Tommy took advantage of the beautiful and urban city of San Francisco. The couple opted to have an industrial style engagement session at Fort Point right below the Golden Gate Bridge. Of course they did not miss the opportunity to take a picture with the bridge itself! Visit out planning section for San Francisco engagement photography hot spots!
Table settings endow your wedding theme with utmost exquisiteness. Elaborate table settings may compliment your wedding theme and colors, or may be set up to make a statement in and of itself. With so many color, crystal, and china combinations to choose from, its easy to make a table setting your own. Here are some of our favorite table setting photos!
Just like cake toppers, you can add some flair to your wedding cake with some exquisite details. Details make your cake unique and portray your wedding theme in full extravagance; no seashell or starfish cake details are unwarranted on a beach-themed wedding! Here are some of our favorite cake details. Don't forget to check out our creative cake toppers!
Today Proposition 8, which was passed last November banning same-sex marriage in California, was overturned and ruled unconstitutional! Bella Pictures was there on the first day gay marriage was legal in San Francisco back in June of 2008 capturing happy married couples as they exited City Hall. We've been photographing same-sex ceremonies since Bella Pictures started in 2005 and continue to be a supporter of Equal Rights.
Using sparklers at your wedding are becoming an increasingly popular trend. Along with birdseed and bubbles, sparklers are a great way to celebrate the "spark" between the newlyweds. When you think of sparklers, you probably think of Fourth of July and celebrating America when you were a kid, but why not bring that sense of fun and excitement to one of the most important days of your life? They also make for some fun photographs!
Persian weddings typically happen in 2 stages. The first being the "Aghd" which is considered the ceremony where the bride and groom sign a marriage contract. The second stage is the reception called the "Jashn-e Aroosi' where a celebration and feasts take place which can last several days. Some of the traditions are featured below:
A scarf or shawl is held over the bride and groom's head throughout the ceremony by happily married female relatives.
The Sofreh-ye Aghd is a table on which many items are placed to represent many good things for the couple and to guard them from harm. Most notably is the mirror that is always placed on the table. The mirror which represents fate should be the way in which the groom sees his bride's face for the first time after she takes off her veil.
A bowl of gold coins representing health and prosperity is set out on the "Sofreh-ye Aghd".
A tray of multi-colored herbs and spices ( Sini-ye Aatel-O-Baatel) is also set out on the "Sofreh-ye Aghd" to guard the couple from evil. The seven herbs and spices are poppy seeds, wild rice, angelica, salt, nigella seeds, black tea and frankincense.
A copy of the couple's Holy Book is placed on the table as well to symbolize God's blessing for the couple.
A decorated flatbread adorned with nigella seeds symbolizes prosperity for the couple's life from there on out.
An assortment of sweets and pastries including the Persian staple Baklava is shared with the guests after the ceremony.
A basket of pomegranates and apples are placed on the table representing the hope for a joyous future.
Usually a wedding cake is a staple at most wedding receptions, but lately we have been seeing a trend of having different wedding deserts. The most common alternative to a wedding cake are cupcakes; they're easy to eat and can be easily arranged into a shape of a cake. Other alternatives include cheesecake, tiramisu, parfaits and a variety of assorted goodies! Here are a few photos of our favorite cake alternatives.
Golf/Country Clubs are ideal locations for weddings and receptions because of their versatility. You can decide to have an outdoor wedding on the greens or an indoor reception in the club itself. One thing that is a must: wedding photos on the fairway with it's sloping hills and abundance of greenery. Here are a few of our favorite photos taken at Golf/Country Club weddings!
The topper for your cake is a great way to express who you are as a couple in style and personality. Finding the perfect mini-representation of you and your fiance is very easy nowadays with the variety of options out there now ranging from the traditional to the comical. Here are a few of our favorite cake toppers over the past couple of years we found to be unique and portray the couple very well!
We end our journey across this great country with the West coast! We bring you some of our favorite wedding portraits from Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle. Check out the beaches of California and the lush greenery of Washington state. Wherever you live, we hope you have a Happy 4th of July weekend!
Our stop today brings us to the mountains of Denver, Colorado. With its amazing vistas, Denver is an ideal location for nature ladened wedding portraits. Visit our planning section to see ideal locations for wedding portraits in Denver. Check back tomorrow where we will end our journey across the country with the beautiful West coast!
We are continuing our journey across the county and today we are stopping in the South; bringing you our favorite wedding photos from Dallas, Austin, Houston and Atlanta. Check back tomorrow where we venture into the mountains of Colorado!
Today's stop across the country brings us to the midwest; which to many people is the heart of America. Here are some of our favorite wedding portraits from Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Indianapolis and Detroit! Check back tomorrow where we will feature our favorite wedding photos from the South!
In honor of Independence Day, this week we are bringing you some of our favorite wedding photos from across the nation. Today we are starting with the East coast; which includes photos from New York City, Boston, Washington D.C., Philadelphia and Miami! Check out our posts all week long as we move across the country featuring our favorite wedding portraits.
Winery weddings are very romantic and can lend themselves to some beautiful photography (and an ample amount of wine!). The usual rolling hills and lush greenery of wine country provides the perfect backdrop for a dream wedding ceremony. You can take the reception inside and celebrate among the many barrels of wine where you can practice the adage to "eat, drink and be merry". Be sure to visit our planning article on wine country weddings!
Here at Bella, we shoot a lof of gorgeous weddings steeped in Indian traditions from Hindu to Bengali ceremonies. Here are a few of our favorite photos of Indian weddings from the past couple of years. Visit our planning section to read more about Indian weddings traditions!
Getting to and from your wedding can be a stylish affair. It can range from the traditional limousine to the non-traditional speedboat! Here are a few of our favorite shots of fun and unique modes of transportation. Check out our planning section for more ideas for wedding transportation! Head over to our Facebook page and let us know the mode of transportation you are planning to use for your wedding day!
Philadelphia, the Birthplace of America, is loaded with plentiful picturesque locales for your wedding photo session. Historic haunts, stately museums and spacious parks make up the city's vast & varied landscape. Below are a few favorite spots for capturing your special day.
Although it generally takes far less time for a groom to get ready than his bride, it is still a very important part of the Big Day. It is a time for the groom to bond with his groomsman and maybe have a drink to calm the nerves! He can always count on his Best Man to help him with that tricky tie and his mom to pin the boutineer just right. Make sure you plan enough time to capture both the bride and the groom getting ready, which is where a second photographer comes in handy. Check out the Bride's Edition!
There are many things to consider when choosing the jewelry you'll wear for your wedding with number one being the style of your dress. You definitely want to find something that compliments it well and doesn't outshine the dress. When choosing a necklace be aware of your neckline as some dress styles don't warrant a necklace. Another thing to consider are the colors in your wedding. Brides are increasingly stepping away from the traditional pearl or diamond jewelry and opting for colored stones that match their wedding colors. Whatever jewelry you choose to adorn yourself with, rest assured that you'll at least have your something old, something new, something borrowed or something blue!
In honor of Asian Pacific Heritage Month, here are a few of our favorite photos from weddings with Asian traditions; ranging from Chinese Tea Ceremonies to Thai Blessings. The majority of our Asian tradition photography comes from Chinese weddings, visit our planning section to read more about those traditions.
When planning your wedding day shot list with your photographer, make sure to let them know all of the details you want remembered, including your wedding rings! Here are a few creative ways to have your wedding rings photographed. Bright colors, textures and fun patterns in the background always help to capture your perfect ring shot. Check out our planning section for other must-have shots!
Studio Blue is the smart photography solution for the budget-savvy bride. Studio Blue offers a modern approach to capturing lifelong wedding memories at an affordable price, with introductory pricing starting at $1,250. Start building your package today!
The Lurie Garden | This beautiful spot in the heart of Millennium Park is great for colorful photos and perfect for spring engagements.
Cloud Gate | One of Chicago's most visited sites, this amazing structure is bound to offer you some great pictures and a fish eye view of the chicago skyline!
The Jay Pritzker Pavilion | This outdoor concert venue designed by Frank Gehry is a perfect place if you want photos with an industrial and modern feel to them.
See more Chicago Engagement Session ideas!
We have been doing free portrait sessions in Los Angeles since January, which have been a big hit! Here are a few of the beautiful shots. You can use your free portraits for save the date cards, engagement announcements or however you like ' they are yours to keep. Schedule your free portrait session for the month of April!
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Mplus Discussion
Latent Variable Mixture Modeling
Tom Cheong
posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 1:18 pm
1. For a 2 class model, is it correct that one of the alphas has to be zero and the other one will denote the difference in the factor means between two classes? Could they be constrained to be the same?
2. I included algorithm = integration in the analysis. I read from the other post that says that it should be removed for continuous variables. Is saving computing time the reason or that is not allowed? I seem to get the similar answers.
3. What does the parameter gamma(c) as reported in tech1 (with algorithm = intergration) denote? There isn't such a parameter when I commented out the algorithm = integration command. I could not find info. about that parameter in the user's guide.
4. I plotted a series plot for the results using the estimated means. Could one get s.e. for those means? Are those means computed using the formula nu + lambda*alpha?
Thank you.
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 5:53 pm
1. Yes, the mean of the factor in one class must be zero. To constrain them to be the same, factor means must be fixed to zero in all classes.
3. You go down a different path in the program if you leave ALGORITHM =INTEGRATION in the input. The convergence criteria are different which could account for small differences in results.
3. Gamma (c) contains the multinomial regression coefficients for the categorical latent variable regressed on a set of observed covariates. See page 596 of the user's guide.
4. MODEL CONSTRAINT can be used to obtain standard errors of the predicted values using the formula you give. You can use the standard errors to create confidence intervals.
Tom Cheong
posted on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 3:20 pm
Thank you, I looked up the user's guide on p. 555-558 on Model Constraint and have not been able to find out how to figure out the standard error of the estimated means. My understanding is for the formula for the estimated mean, I'll label those parameters of interest, then use the NEW keyword to create the new variable, but I'm not sure how to get the se. Here is my understanding:
1.lambda: f by x1 (p1)
x2 (p2)
x3 (p3);
2. nu [x1] p4;
3. alpha [f] p5;
estx1 = p4 + (p1 * x5);
Am I on the right track? How would I be able to get the se. of estx1? Thanks.
Linda K. Muthen
posted on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 - 10:52 am
When you define a new parameter in MODEL CONSTRAINT, a standard error is estimated for the parameter. You do not give it.
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When you hear of a school district allowing advertising on campus, there are a couple of things that probably come to mind. First and foremost what kind of ads are we talking about? Parents tend to be protective about what they let their kids watch. Standing guard at the door of their children's minds. The next question is why?
The latter is obvious. California's budget crisis has led to massive cuts in education that have left public schools lacking in many areas. Times have gone from tough to desperate and, as the saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures. In the case of some of these schools, those measures have led to advertising on campus and the revenue that comes with it.
Businesses have been advertising in extracurricular school and sports programs for years. It's a nice way to support the local school and build rapport with the parents and students as they peruse the pages.
But this is different. This is taking advertising directly to the campus and it's not a very popular idea with some. Lisa Ray is the founder of Parents for Ethical Marketing. "I totally understand the position school districts are in but this is just not a good solution", she says.
In San Diego county it's the Sweetwater Union school district that's taken the lead allowing advertising on campus. Blistered by $32 million in budget cuts over the past 3 years, Sweetwater has given the green light to on campus advertising. The district has a goal of $1 million per year in advertising revenue. Apparently they've also got their first potential advertiser at the table.
Which takes us back to our first question. What kind of ads are we taking about? In this case it looks like Platt College which is a local design school. If both sides agree to terms, Platt will invest $6,000 to have two banners placed in each high school in the Sweetwater district. Lillian Leopold, a spokesperson for the district says that none of the banners will be in classrooms and that the placement location will be determined by the schools.
The San Diego Unified school district has rejected the on-campus advertising option. Board member John Lee Evans suggests that the revenue generated won't be worth the effort to put the program in place. Richard Barrera, another member of the board insists that advertisers should be screened to Gage their support for public education as well as other causes.
It will be interesting to see how many more California school districts go the way of on-campus advertising. It's an divisive issue that won't be going away anytime soon. One thing most parents would agree on is that ads should stay out of the classrooms. Period. They should be positive, productive, and whatever is advertised should be beneficial to every student. With clearly defined rules and and supervision, just maybe the kids in California will find a new source of funding during a time of serious fiscal crisis.


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hanskainz necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 149 diseños de 37 diseñadores freelance.
I´m a 29 years old blogger from Austria/Europe. I need a new logo / header for my blog at http://iwatchblog.com. Their will also be a new bloglayout (something like this: http://hanskainz.com/testblog). My blog is about fashion, celebs (gossip) and lifestyle. I don't want to stifle any creativity by putting too many requirements, but this logo should be brandable and marketable. Logo should be able to be used in print and on the web.
Desired Style:
elegant magazin style
Accepted File Formats:
Vector Formats (.eps, .pdf or .ai)
The Basics
Please see my blog at http://vanityblog.com but keep in mind that my new blog layout after the redesign will look something like this testlayout (magazin style) but don´t let you influence by the colors, the actual colors are for another blog.
- The logo/header should represent the blog in style!
- I need a logo that is fashionable, stylish, professional and that wouldn't go out of style in 6 months.
- It should be an elegant, crisp, contemporary, professional logo
- The logo should include the name of my blog "vanityblog"
- The logo can include some kind of symbol / icon (left beside the blogname) but it´s no must-have I'm open to anything creative that you can come up with - so don't feel you need to stick to what I have on my blog at the moment. I'm looking for something stylish and new, so let your creative forces go with the flow.
The Text
As mentioned, the logo should include "vanityblog"
The Symbol / Icon
The logo could have some graphical element (symbol / icon).
Remember that the logo needs to be stylish, creative and more importantly professional.
The Colors
The logo should not have to much colors. And it should even work in black & white and for use in print.
The Feel
Here are a few keywords to describe the "feel" of the logo I'm looking for:
- elegant
- fashionable & stylish
- crisp
- contemporary
- professional
- uniqueThe Logo should have that fashion or/and lifestyle "magazin" style - like the big fashion magazins (thats really important for me!)
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Search results
Framed around key concepts of media literacy, the That's Not Me tutorial examines how entertainment and news media represent diversity and the impact these media portrayals can have on the value we place on individuals and groups in society. The tutorial explores how the media industry is changing to better reflect Canadian society and provides strategies for challenging negative representations and engaging young people in advocating for more realistic and positive media portrayals.
Framed around key concepts of media literacy, the Facing Online Hate tutorial examines how the Internet is used to spread and incite hate, how radicalization occurs, and how youth encounter hate online both through traditional hate sites and "cultures of hatred". The tutorial also provides strategies for building critical thinking skills in young people to help them understand the nature of online hate, how they may be targets and how to respond appropriately when bias, stereotyping and hatred are encountered online.
In e-Parenting Tutorial: Keeping up with your kids' online activities, Alice, a witty and cyber-savvy mom, takes parents on a tour of the many different Web environments and activities that are popular with children and youth.


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Ford Flies with Robotic Press Tending
|Ford replaced straight-path automation on Line 8 at Woodhaven with R-2000 six-axis robots located between presses. Production capacity doubled as a result.
Replacing Aging Automation
Of course, older robots with diminishing cycle times and outdated technology must be replaced, and in the past two years, Ford has set about installing new-generation robots and controllers at Woodhaven.
"Although the lines were productive, there was some downtime associated with the aging robots," explains Peter H. Stephan, program manager for stamping for Fanuc Robotics America, Inc., Rochester Hills, MI, which supplied much of the original and new robotics. "There was a general consensus that replacing the robots could improve productivity on these lines by as much as 20 percent."
Line 8 at Woodhaven, a 120-in. tandem setup fronted by a 1000-ton dual-action Danly draw press and backed by four 800-ton Danly presses, was part of that automation upgrade.
"On that line, with its old automation and frequent breakdowns, if we yielded 200 parts/hr. we were walking in tall cotton," says Randy Dively, an electrical controls engineer at the Ford stamping plant.
Straight-Path Automation Taxed Diesetting
The old automation, referred to as straight-path automation, consisted of an unloader that removed a part from one press and placed it on a shuttle that moved forward to another piece of equipment that then loaded the part onto the next press. In the late '80s and early '90s, these setups got the call over robots owing to higher cycle times. But diesetting was a challenge.
"To dieset these lines, we would have to unplug everything, pick up the shuttles with cranes and move them out of the , then put everything back after exchanging dies," Dively says. "Doing all of this at least once per day (tandem lines at Ford Woodhaven typically undergo one or two job changes daily), over the course of 20 years we had pins wearing out, cables getting crushed… very uncompetitive diesets."
Robots Help Double Line Productivity
Ford replaced the straight-path automation on Line 8 with Fanuc R-2000iB/100P six-axis robots located between presses, along with Fanuc and R-J3iC controllers. The difference?
"Now we produce up to 550 to 575 parts/hr.," says Dively, "and do so reliably. Quality is improved because the robots better locate parts on the dies."
Also, diesetting has improved on a similar scale.
"One switch locks all of the robots, and we go in and replace the robot tooling arms, then command the robots to 'go to dieset,' where they position themselves out of the for die change, then we hit startup for the next job," Dively explains. "That is much quicker and easier than with the old straight-path automation."
On Line 8's entry end, a robot loads the press with mild-steel blanks, 0.031 to 0.040 in. thick, from a manually stacked tray. After forming, the stamped doors, dash panels and reinforcement bars, primarily for F-150s and Explorers, are gathered, aided by an air-clutch-driven exit conveyor and automation that enables limited stacking prior to manual handling and rack storage.
"We may be able to stack four parts and then index for a couple of seconds, so the worker at the end of the line is not overwhelmed with parts rolling at him," says Dively. "He receives a stack of parts and racks them, and by the time he turns around he has another stack of parts waiting."
Line 8 is dedicated to six or seven jobs, but took on three more jobs after a similar line went down a few months back. That speaks to the flexibility and speed built into the line, especially in the automation.
"We were running the original jobs on Line 8 six days per week to cover a five-day production schedule, and now we are running those plus the three new jobs on a four-day schedule, and are lucky if we have stock to run on Fridays," says Dively. "That's what speed can provide. And we don't store inventory, so the line has to be up and running."
With assembly plants sending in orders, and blanks arriving from an outside supplier to meet orders for a particular week, if the line doesn't run, assembly isn't fed, and a shutdown has negative cost and schedule effects all throughout Ford. Shutdown for automation switchovers also can be costly, but Dively says excessive shutdown was no factor in retrofits for Line 8 and other lines.
Speedy Automation Retrofits
"We've worked with Fanuc since the early '90s, and that familiarity pays off when we retrofit," Dively adds. "Think about pulling off all of that equipment, removing all of the cables from the floor, removing all of the interlocks, placing plates in the floor for mounting robots, locating all of the new interlocks, running power to the robots and running the control cables. We can do that here in about five days of downtime. Why? Because we receive the drawings quickly, and Fanuc knows that we want to see a fencing layout and floor-plate layout right a. So six months ahead of time we call up the steel company and order the floor plates, take a Saturday and pull out all of the old automation, pull up the floor blocks, weld the floor plates down, and then place all of the old automation back to run again on Monday. That is all done ahead of time. Then when the robots come in, the floor plates are already installed, as are the new cabling and power, and we remove the old automation and hook up the new robots."
Automation Upgrades Continue at Ford
The Line 8 success detailed here is just part of the robot revolution under at Ford Woodhaven. New robots and controls enable a huge tandem line to spit out 8-ft. truck-bed sides at a mind-boggling rate of 350/hr. Larger Fanuc robots handle those parts press to press, aided by unique automation to handle transport of heavy loads over long distances.
"For robots on this line, higher payload is required as is longer reach, and the greater the reach, the less the payload," Dively explains." So, the robots ride on air-driven carts that maneuver them in and out for diesetting and position them near the press centerline for maximum reach and payload capability."
Fanuc also has supplied state-of-the-art automation on entry ends at Ford Woodhaven.
"New techniques have been implemented that allow accuracy and speed in picking blanks off a stack and transporting them to the first press operation," says Fanuc's Stephan. "A cornerstone of these destackers is the use of intelligent vision systems to determine blank orientation. Using vision systems eliminates the complexity of setup and maintenance for mechanical crowders. Ford Woodhaven boasts several applications of robotic destackers and loaders used to determine orientation of single and double nonattached blanks. Although throughputs are not greater than with traditional crowding systems, benefits arise from ease of setup during die change." MF
See also: FANUC America, Inc.
Related Enterprise Zones: Automation, Presses


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Saturday I made a trip to Barr Lake State Park in Brighton, Colorado for a sunrise meetup that I was leading. I have noticed it is hard to get people to attend sunrise meetups. I assume this is because they generally start at 5am. Unfortunately that is when some of the best light (warm and some what soft) is available to photograph. It ended up being a friend and myself making the 3 mile hike from the parking lot to the gazebo and back. It was the second time I visited the park, and just like the first time, I found some photographs.
The gazebo area especially would be a great place for engagement photographs or a senior portrait session. The bugs were a bit crazy at times but maybe that's from the recent rain and snow we've had. The water level did appear higher this time compared to the last time I was there and there weren't very many bugs last time. I would think a little bit of bug spray would probably help keep them away during a photo session.
Once we were done with the hike, I headed home. I was tired from the morning activities, but decided to go back out in the afternoon. I filled myself with a little bit of caffeine and sugar and mozzied up to tthe Five Points Jazz Festival in Denver, Colorado. I think they need some better directions on their website or maybe a map. (Oh wait... I see they have one. <face palm to the forhead>) I drove around a bit in the area I thought the event was taking place and ended up catching a view of some artwork being added to the side of a building. Denver has a ton of buildings with artwork added to the sides. I love seeing the creativity covering what would otherwise be a dull side of a building.
Here are a couple more decorated buildings I saw during the festival.
And I found this one as I was leaving that I thought was intersting.
Once I made it to the event, the pay off was the great music, intersting people, interesting part of town and fun I had taking photos and talking with people. The jazz music filled the air with it coming from the shops and stages all around the 4 or 5 block area around the event. Everything from funk, classical, drums, and vocal could be heard wafting through the area depnding on the time of day.
One of the parts I really enjoyed was the open mic in one of the music shops. Performers would get up one by one or a couple at a time to fill in the main melody for a piece while the drums, bass and piano players played the meolody. There were some amazing performances. A few second bits of the performances I recorded can be seen in a video toward the end of this post. The performances also offered some great photos of interesting people.
Above is the sign on the door to the studio. Below is the great jazz pianist who played backup as well as performed some great solo pieces.
Overall the Five Points area of Denver really has some character to it and the added character of a jazz festival just made this a fun and easy self assignment to photograph. I think a meetup might be in order for the event next year or maybe just the area in the future. Here are a few more photos from the event as well as the video I spoke about.
5 Points Jazz Festival 2013 in Denver on Vimeo.
5 Points Jazz Festival Gallery
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Who really won Tuesday's elections?
A. The Democrats did. Despite all the talk of the coming Republican wave, they held onto John Murtha's 12th congressional district Pennsylvania seat, with Democrat Mark Critz actually doing better than polls expected, besting Republican Tim Burns 52.6%-45.1% despite a concerted Republican effort to take this seat. In Senate races in both Pennsylvania and Kentucky, meanwhile, Democrat turnout easily trumped Republican turnout, and it was up in Arkansas over previous Democratic primaries – a good sign that Democrats are poised to come out in force the upcoming midterms.
B. The Republicans did. Once again, President Obama – the titular head of the Democrat party – pulled his now familiar Al Pacino impersonation, issuing the kiss of death to a Democrat candidate running in a statewide election. This time the victim was Arlen Specter, who switched parties in 2009 in part on the understanding the Obama would support him in the Democrat primary and that Democrats would clear the primary field for him. Someone forgot to tell Joe Sestak. Although Obama backed Specter, Specter still lost to Sestak, 54%-46% – a bigger margin than polls had forecast. The lesson seems clear: when Obama campaigns, his candidate loses – exactly what Republicans want to see heading into 2010. Moreover, Critz' victory in the 12th district was largely fueled by Democrat turnout for the up-ballot Sestak-Specter Senate primary race, rather than for any particular support for Critz. Come November, when the two square off again, Burns will benefit from a more balanced partisan turnout.
C. The Progressives did. Sestak's victory in Pennsylvania against an establishment Democrat backed by the party stalwarts, including the President, is evidence that Democrats will do better come November by running to the Left, not to the Center. In Arkansas, meanwhile, conservative incumbent Democrat Senator Blanche Lincoln could not break the 50% mark in the Democrat primary, in narrowly winning Tuesday's race, 45%-42% over the more liberal Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter. Her margin was not enough to avoid a runoff election with Halter. These Senate races indicate that it will be better for Democrats give voters a real choice rather than simply the thinly-veiled warmed over Republican-lite policies espoused by Lincoln and Specter.
D. The Tea Party did. In Kentucky, although the Republican establishment led by Senator Mitch McConnell threw its collective weight behind Trey Grayson, libertarian candidate Rand Paul – backed by the Tea Party – crushed Grayson 59%-34% in the Republican primary in a race characterized by unusually heavy turnout. In his victory speech, Paul promised not to back away from the Tea Party's ideals of smaller, less intrusive government when running in the November Senate election.
In the days following Tuesday's election, all four scenarios received backing in pundits' sermons – which homily one heard depended on which particular Church of the Blog/Media Pundit one attends. By now, of course, you should know that I'm usually skeptical of efforts by pundits to weave a single narrative to explain election results that often are driven by different contextual factors. This is particularly the case when we are dealing with special elections, as in Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district, or elections with their own unique twist, such as a Democrat primary involving a former Republican senator. Because these elections turned on somewhat unique circumstances, they likely defy a single explanation. In this respect, all four explanations presented by various pundits may contain a kernel of truth, but none likely explain all the results.
And yet, I think the results are consistent with a particular hypothesis, one I've been cautiously developing as election results begin to trickle in. For some time, I've been skeptical that voters appear willing to turn on a dime – that is, that they will reverse the pro-Democrat direction they seemed to embrace in successive national elections beginning in 2006. The more I analyze recent election results, however, the more I wonder whether what we are seeing is not a reversal of 2006-08 – it's a continuation of that election cycle, one in which voters expressed anger at the party-in-charge by voting them out. In the aftermath of the financial meltdown, the unprecedented budget deficit, and the perceived failure (true or not) of the government stimulus bill and bank bailout bills to create jobs or reduce home foreclosures, that anger seems only to have grown. Now it is directed primarily at Democrat incumbents, but the motivation hasn't changed: it's "throw the bums out!" Consider the following statewide election results table (contested Senate races only):
|Did Incumbent/Establishment-Backed Candidate Lose?
|Massachusetts Senate Race to Replace Kennedy
|Illinois Democrat Senate Primary
|NO BUT – Establishment candidate won only 38% of vote, with opposition candidates fragmenting support.
|Indiana Republican Senate Primary
|NO BUT – Opposition fragmented vote; Establishment candidate won with only 39% of the vote
|North Carolina Democrat Senate Primary
|NO BUT- Establishment Candidate wins 36% of vote, Runoff to be held June 22.
|Utah Republican Convention (to Determine Republican Senate Primary Nominee)
|Pennsylvania Democrat Senate Primary
|Kentucky Republican Senate Primary
|Arkansas Democrat Senate Primary
|NO BUT – Incumbent wins only 46% of Vote. Runoff to be held June 8th
Now, there are self-selection effects here; contested races are typically those in which the incumbent is vulnerable or in which the seat is open. So I don't list races, such as Tuesday's Oregon Democrat Senate Primary in which the incumbent Ron Wyden easily won renomination after facing no opposition. Moreover, eight Senate primary races do not constitute enough data points to detect a trend. Nonetheless the results, to date, are consistent with a common theme: there is a strong anti-incumbency tide driving electoral outcomes, regardless of party. Moreover, I could go back further and cite off-year gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia as consistent with this interpretation.
The anti-incumbency/establishment sentiment is the simplest explanation for Tuesday's results, but one that is easy to miss because of analysts' tendency to view politics through a fairly comprehensive and quite developed ideological lens. (Note that the major media outlets mostly framed the results as sending an anti-incumbent message, even if bloggers did not). That is, pundits on the Left and the Right tend to have a logically-constructed world view, one in which they view separate election outcomes as validation of a single political ideological scenario. From this perspective, when voters vote, they do so because they support a particular set of policies and the candidates who espouse them. So, in 2006 and 2008, the country sent a clear signal that it embraced Democrats because it wanted to move Left, toward the policies espoused by Democrat candidates: more government regulation of the financial sector, more government spending on jobs, health care reform, etc.
On Tuesday, however, we see races won by a Tea Party candidate, a Left-leaning Democrat and more mainstream candidates. How to make sense of this? What ideological signal is being sent? Keep in mind that unlike political pundits pontificating on cable and in the blogosphere, most voters don't, in fact, have a clearly developed world view. In the parlance of political science, they exhibit little "attitude constraint". That is, they are quite willing to hold views that are logically inconsistent and to vote in ways that seem somewhat contradictory, as in supporting Democrats in 2008 and Republicans two years later. (I'll develop this point in a later post that dissects the Tea Party ideology). This does not mean Joe and Jane Q. Sixpack are voting randomly, without much thought. In fact, if I'm right – a big IF – there is a very simple, consistent logic driving their vote through the three most recent election cycles, at least so far.
As further evidence that voter anger is driving results, consider that turnout was up in at least two of Tuesday's contested elections. In the Arkansas primary, more voters showed up than did during the state's 2008 presidential primary. In Kentucky the proportion of registered Republicans voting in the primary was actually greater than the proportion of registered Democrats for the first time in decades (although the absolute numbers of Democrats was higher, consistent with their higher overall numbers in the state.) I don't have Pennsylvania turnout figures as yet, although indications are that it was light.
Whether one agrees that Tuesday's results are consistent with the motivations of voters in 2006 and 2008, I believe the unifying theme of Tuesday's elections was voter anger directed at incumbents or those who are stand-ins for incumbency. Americans don't want ideologies, they want results, and they aren't particularly choosy about who brings them those results. In this respect, I think the Tea Party has probably come closest to tapping into a growing voter anger in part because as a social movement encompassing a diverse if combustible mix of elements – libertarianism, fiscal conservatism, populism and yes, even a touch of racism (but not, interestingly, moral conservatism) – it has proved flexible and adaptable enough to embrace candidates of different political stripes. And yet we shouldn't overstate the degree of support it has among those likely to vote in the general election come November. Many of those potential voters have not yet begun paying attention to the current electoral cycle and when they do the economy may be on the upswing. For now, however, the Tea Party may represent the culmination of voter backlash dating back three election cycles, but if so they are only a symptom of that discontent – not the driving force. I do not think they have the numbers to consistently focus that discontent in a particular direction – at least not yet.
So who really won Tuesday's elections? Angry voters did.


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Despite an increasingly noisy chorus of resistance to many of its provisions, the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) passed the House, 248-168, on April 26. Passage in the House was assured with more than 70 percent of those supported by the Tea Party voting for it. It moved to an uncertain future in the Senate.
That opposition noted that the bill's many flaws included precious little "protection" for rights guaranteed in the Bill of Rights, especially those guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment:
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
In the zeal to "protect" the country against "cybersecurity threats," Internet providers and other communications companies would be allowed to share their customers' private information with agencies of the federal government, and vice versa. As Techdirt's Leigh Breadon explained,
[The] government would be able to search information it collects under CISPA for the purposes of investigating American citizens with complete immunity from all privacy protections as long as they can claim someone committed a "cybersecurity crime."
Basically it says the 4th Amendment does not apply online, at all.
Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul said virtually the same thing in his opposition to CISPA:
CISPA permits both the federal government and private companies to view your private online communications without judicial oversight [as required by the Fourth Amendment] provided that they do so of course in the name of cybersecurity.
The bill is another heavy-handed effort to expand government's surveillance of private citizens' communications without restraint. By using words such as "may" instead of "must" and "cybersecurity" without defining the term, the bill creates just the sort of opening through the Fourth Amendment that has, until now, largely protected such private communications from governmental view. As Juan Williams, a commentator at Fox News, put it, CISPA gives "the government a whole new box of tools to fight terrorism … free of any legal restraint."
Although the bill doesn't require telecommunications giants such as Facebook, Google, or Yahoo to share information with government agencies, it creates the opportunity for the government to pressure them into disclosing all personal communications. As Paul noted,
CISPA encourages some of our most successful internet companies to act as government spies, sowing distrust of social media and chilling communications in one segment of the world economy where Americans still lead.
Even some liberal Democrats are gravely concerned about CISPA if it becomes law. Representative Jared Polis (D-Colo.), who sports a dismal Freedom Index rating of 11, said during the debate that "allowing the military and NSA [National Security Agency] to spy on Americans on American soil goes against every principle this country was founded on." But he found himself in the minority.
One of the key passages of CISPA that concerns civil libertarians is the section that says, "Notwithstanding any other provision of law [companies may share information] with any other entity, including the federal government." With that single word "notwithstanding," the bill would sweep away all privacy protections built into the Fourth Amendment and all existing federal and state civil and criminal statutes. This would include Internet companies' privacy protections, educational record laws, gun laws, census data, medical records, and every other statute that protects private information.
But the majority in the House weren't listening, or weren't interested. Instead they bought the line presented by one of the authors of the bill, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.):
In just the last few years, nation states like China have stolen enough intellectual property from just defense contractors, that would be equivalent to 50 times the print collection of the US Library of Congress. We have nation states who are literally stealing jobs and our future. We also have countries that are engaged in activities and have capabilities that have the ability to break networks, computer networks. Which means you can't just reboot. It means your system is literally broken. Those kinds of disruptions can be catastrophic when you think about the financial sector, or the energy sector, or our command and control elements for all our national security apparatus.
You know, without our ideas, without our innovation that countries like China are stealing every single day; we will cease to be a great nation. They are slowly and silently and quickly stealing the value and prosperity of America. One credit card company said that they get attacked for your personal information 300,000 times a day, one company.
And so, for this "protection" the House sold out the privacy of American citizens.
But CISPA is far from becoming law. Built into the Constitution that the House is so willing to ravage is the path by which all bills, including odoriferous ones such as CISPA, must travel in order to become law. The path is arduous and tortuous and slow, and may spell the end, temporarily at least, of CISPA.
When the bill moves to the Senate, it could be voted up or down, and then move to the President's desk for signing. But in this case, that is highly unlikely. First of all it is an election year, and the citizens whose privacy is being threatened are paying more attention than usual to Washington's goings-on. Second, the White House, surprisingly, has come down against CISPA for many of these same reasons, and the President has promised to veto the bill if it arrives on his desk in its present form. Third, 34 Senators are up for reelection this year, many of them Democrats whose races are in serious doubt. So, passing CISPA in its present form would be, according to Alex Wilhelm in his blog, www.thenextweb.com, "a fool's errand."
Besides, the bill is complex and lengthy and has suffered many revisions and amendments in order to get past the House. Those would have to be sorted out and approved before passage. Finally, there are two other so-called "cybersecurity" bills pending in the Senate already — the McCain bill and the Lierberman bill — neither of which is much better than CISPA but both of which would further complicate, and delay, final approval.
Wilhelm is pessimistic about the Senate coming up with something much better than CISPA but offers hope that perhaps another bill, more respectful and protective of precious rights guaranteed by the Constitution, might be offered. At present there doesn't appear to be any such bill in the offing, but time will tell.
And that is the beauty of the Constitution and the wisdom of the Founders who created it. They well knew the federal government's propensity to try to control everything that moves, and that by slowing down the legislative process, and dividing it up between competing branches of the government, it would reduce the chances of such a travesty as CISPA from ever seeing the light of day.


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Return to Index
Group Therapy: Can It Help You?
Group therapy offers an alternative to one-on-one sessions with a therapist. It allows for individuals to work through their problems by sharing common issues in a confidential atmosphere. For some, it helps them gain support and realize they are not alone in their struggles.
In general, group sessions may consist of up to 10 people led by a trained psychotherapist. Group therapy can be used for many different conditions or situations.
Although it is natural to feel uneasy when talking about your problems to strangers, the interactive environment may make it easier than you think. Psychotherapists are trained to encourage trust, openness, and helpfulness among group members.
Is Group Therapy for You?
People who are dealing with interpersonal problems are often good candidates for group therapy. You may find group therapy helpful if you have experienced a traumatic situation or sudden illness. In both instances, group therapy is useful because members can take risks and share their common feelings in a non-judgmental setting.
If you are considering group therapy, make an appointment with a therapist to discuss your options. In some cases, individual or couples therapy may prove to be a better solution for your particular situation. The therapist should make a recommendation that is based on your best interests.
What Are the Benefits of Group Therapy?
Through a process of supportive confrontation, group members are coached in alternative ways to handle themselves and their feelings. Group therapy can help you:
- Form goals
- Increase self-awareness and self-esteem
- Gain insight into the ways others perceive you
- Discover effective patterns of relating to others
- Develop more satisfying relationships
- Receive support for sharing common problems
- Learn how to apply new behaviors to situations outside the group
While there are many benefits to group therapy, it does differ from one-on-one therapy. Group members usually receive less individualized attention in group sessions, as opposed to individual therapy, which is completely focused on you. People that go to group therapy tend to need fewer sessions than those in individual therapy.
What Happens in the Session?
Psychotherapists may guide the session by encouraging interactions where group members take on different roles. By taking on different, sometimes opposing roles, members learn how to face their problems head on. Two different people with opposing viewpoints can role play with one other. This fosters self-confidence and trust. It also helps the members to deal with situations outside of the group therapy environment.
Group therapy also provides a non-judgemental atmosphere to express feelings and viewpoints, which may not always be popular. In cases like this, people get to work out their differences in a healthy manner. It also help members to understand how others perceive them, which may lead to a better sense of self.
Many times, tools or methods are used to develop trust and sharing. For example, something as simple as cooking together provides a sense of teamwork toward a common goal. A psychotherapist may also use art, drama, or other themes to foster interaction.
What Types of Groups Are There?
In general, most sessions last less than 90 minutes. Groups are held weekly or biweekly for a specified period of time. There are many different types of groups. Some are specialized, whereas others deal with broad issues. And groups can be highly structured or casual.
- General therapy groups —Most of these types of groups focus on self-understanding and improving your overall relationships with others. The therapist leading the group will often ask members to define goals they would like to achieve within the timeframe of the group therapy program. Most of these groups contain both men and women, but some are specifically intended for men or women only.
- Specialized therapy groups —There are several therapy groups for people with specific needs. These include groups that deal with women's issues, sexual assault, stress management, men's issues, parenting, and divorce. Before joining any therapy group, talk to the therapist to make sure that it is a good fit for you.
- Support group —These differ from therapy groups in several ways. In many support groups, facilitators are not required to have professional credentials, although some may have them. Support groups are intended to offer general support by having members offer support to each other, whereas therapy groups improve behavioral patterns and social interactions in all types of relationships.
How Long Does Group Therapy Last?
Although some groups are time-limited, running anywhere from 6-20 weeks. It is not unusual for people to stay in a group for a year, while others attend for a few months and do not return. It really depends on what you need or want from the group you join.
When looking for a group, ask for specific information on how the group works, such as whether members can leave and rejoin at a later time. Ask whether the group runs for a certain timeframe and then starts a new cycle. Asking questions ahead of time will help you determine if a potential group will meet your needs.
Deciding when to leave a group is another issue. In most situations, therapists will require that you explain to members why you are leaving, so that participants do not feel abandoned or angry.
How Much Does It Cost?
Group therapy often costs less than individual sessions. It is important to discuss payment before you start a group. Some insurance providers cover group therapy, while others will pay only for individual sessions.
If money is an issue, ask the group therapist if a sliding-scale payment schedule is available. In this case, the cost of group therapy is reduced based on your annual income. Many community mental health centers offer such programs.
How Do You Find a Qualified Group Therapist?
A therapist with a master's degree in social work (MSW), a doctorate in psychology (PhD), or a master's in counseling (MA) are all examples of credentialed group therapists. Organizations like the American Group Psychotherapy Association (AGPA) provide searchable databases of group therapists in your area. When searching, keep in mind that the therapist should also be licensed to work in your state.
Therapists should show as much interest in the person's strengths as in their problems. A participant should also have good rapport with the therapist and feel encouraged and respected. If a therapist does not listen with respect, criticizes you, or pushes you to stay in therapy for a long time, it is time to find another professional. Remember that you hired the therapist, and you can also end the relationship.
Keep an open mind by discussing any fears with the therapist prior to starting group therapy. This will make your group experience a positive one. At first, it may be unsettling to share your feelings with others, but group therapy can promote healthy change and provide you with valuable insight into your life.
American Psychological Association
Mental Health America
Canadian Psychological Association
Healthy Canadians
About group therapy & its benefits. Group Therapy Portland website. Available at: http://www.grouptherapyportland.com/benefits.html. Accessed May 30, 2017.
Group therapy. Group Therapy website. Available at: http://www.goodtherapy.org/group-therapy.html. Updated December 18, 2013. Accessed May 30, 2017.
Group therapy—is it right for me? American University website. Available at: http://www.american.edu/ocl/counseling/Group-Therapy-Is-It-Right-for-Me.cfm. Accessed May 30, 2017.
Understanding psychotherapy and how it works. American Psychological Association website. Available at: http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/understanding-psychotherapy.aspx. Accessed May 30, 2017.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: Michael Woods, MD, FAAP
- Review Date: 05/2017
- Update Date: 09/13/2013


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This 0.6m tall AT-AT Walker is very possibly the most ridiculous boys' dollhouse ever constructed. It is goddamn enormous. It holds over 20 figures; Luke Skywalker even dangles between its legs. You have to see this thing up close:
It's the largest toy AT-AT Hasbro's ever produced, and amazingly, it's only $US100.
(Approximate Retail Value: $US99,99; Ages: 5 & up; Available: August 1, 2010)
In space, size does matter, and Hasbro certainly kept that in mind when creating its all-new, highly detailed STAR WARS AT-AT. The AT-AT (All Terrain armoured Transport) played a significant role in the Empire's military assault in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and it will play an equally important role in every fan's toy collection this year! Measuring more than 24 inches tall, nearly 28 inches long, and 12 inches wide, this colossal vehicle holds up to 20 STAR WARS figures – 6 of which can fit in its head alone! – and includes so many play and electronic features true to its on-screen counterpart that it's hard to believe! From the zip-line in its body and articulated legs for superb poseability, to its LED lights and authentic movie sounds and phrases, this is the must-have addition for STAR WARS fans of all ages. Includes a 3 ¾ inch AT-AT driver action figure and a pop-out speeder bike.


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Ice Bucket Challenge Roundup: 30 Stars Including Katy Perry, Demi Lovato + Many More Raise ALS Awareness
Lately it's been impossible to check Facebook, Twitter or Instagram without seeing a barrage of videos of people participating in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge -- and we couldn't be more grateful! Not only is it raising awareness and a ton of money for ALS/Lou Gehrig's disease research, but it also let's us watch some of our favorite celebrities get drenched in ice cold water.
We thought the challenge reached its peak this weekend when the pop star trifecta of Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez all dumped buckets of water on their heads in the name of charity. Not so, because this social media fad is the gift that keeps on giving.
Everyone from Katy Perry to Niall Horan (still waiting on the rest of One Direction!), Emma Stone to Anna Kendrick has taken part in the Ice Bucket Challenge. We've collected 30 (!!!) of the best videos of celebs dousing themselves in ice water for your entertainment pleasure. Check out the vids below!
Katy Perry chose a pirate ship setting for her challenge!
The Vamps received some help from their pals Fifth Harmony.
Niall Horan jumped on board and did all One Direction fans a favor by wearing a white shirt.
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner had a ton of fun filming the challenge! Maybe Ben more so than Jennifer...
Lucy Hale wasn't messing around. She nominated a ton of people!
Keegan Allen needed a script for all of his noms!
Ashley Benson didn't look too pleased after her ice bath.
Bella Thorne took on the ALS challenge with a group of bikini-clad friends!
This video taught us that Vanessa Hudgens laughs when she's nervous!
Little Mix decided to "take it like women"! Represent, girls.
Ashley Tisdale and Zac Efron conquered the ice water together!
Anna Kendrick took the challenge and was environmentally conscious by skipping her shower to conserve water.
Calvin Harris showed off his mega-abs in his video.
How does Emma Stone manage to looks so adorable while getting drenched in water?
Lady Gaga stayed true to her character in her ALS video.
Ed Sheeran took the challenge immediately upon waking up. That's one way to get the day started!
Shakira went all out by nominating Pope Francis!
Emma Roberts couldn't pick up the bucket on her own, but that doesn't mean she escaped dry!
Lily Allen opted for a green polka-dot bikini for her video.
LOL! Britney Spears came super close to dropping an 'F'-bomb during her challenge.
Lily Collins graciously wished her noms good luck after pouring ice water over her head!
Carrie Underwood and her husband Mike Fisher needed heavy machinery to complete their challenge.
Jimmy Kimmel made his own version of the Ice Bucket Challenge!
Jennifer Lopez took the challenge with a view.
Chris Pratt drank some Blue Ice Vodka and Smirnoff Ice to ease the pain of the actual ice.
Yep, even Oprah joined in!
Lance Bass sat on a swing before unloading a bowl of water over his blue hair.
Demi Lovato took on not one, but five buckets of ice water! (Might want to watch this one in private -- there's some NSFW language!)
Keith Urban chose a massive bucket of water for his challenge vid!
Gwen Stefani helped soak Jessica Alba, Gavin Rossdale and Nicole Richie!
Wichita Falls Ice Bucket Challenge: When in Drought, Do This