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So, I am just going to pretend like it hasn't been 4 months since the last time I blogged. And I'd appreciate it if you just all went along with it - thank you :)
Instead, I'm just going to tell you some of what I've been up to since the last time you ... err ... heard from me ... on this page at least.
1) I stopped my market stall at Archway Market. Come to think of it, I can't remember if I mentioned on here that I started a market stall but I did. And then I stopped it because it wasn't busy enough to warrant all the effort I was putting in. I'm on the look-out for a new London market - and in the meantime, I'll err, blog. Or not.
2) I went to Vienna for the first time ever. It was very pretty, and very hot! Austrian food though ... how do I put this delicately? It's not great.
I also didn't see or have any amazing desserts but lucky for Vienna, they had AMAZING ice cream! Like, really truly amazing! Like except for a select few Ben & Jerry's flavours (sold only in the US obvs), some of the best ice cream I have ever eaten anywhere. Yup Italians, I hate to say it but Viennese ice cream is better than Italian Gelato! I had one every single night!
3) I also went to Greece and Xilocastro which I've written about on here before so I'll leave that as a one line entry.
4) This past weekend, I ran the Bupa Birmingham half marathon which I've run for the last three years and I beat my half marathon personal best by almost 6 minutes! And my time was almost 18 minutes faster than last years time!
I keep going on about it but I've been trying to beat that damn 2:21 for four years! And finally I did it! And on a hard, hilly course too! Like fine wine, and everything else that gets better with age, I'm totally getting fitter with age - whoop!
5) Oooh speaking of fitness, I've probably sampled pretty much every gourmet (and not so gourmet) burger London has to offer in recent months. Meat Liquor (go for the Dead Hippy Burger), Patty & Bun (give it a miss), Burger & Lobster (though I've never had the burger), Shake Shack (see Patty & Bun comment), Five Guys (THE BEST burger in London in my learned opinion), Burger and Shake (meh) ... you name it, if it's a burger between a burger bun (brioche buns are my favourite), I've eaten it! I think that might be the secret to my getting fitter? Hmmm ... I'mma work on that theory and get back to you.
Anyway, I made these cookies MONTHS ago. And yes, I'm suitably ashamed that it's taken me this long to blog them.
I think macadamia nut and white chocolate, like in this cheesecake), is always a winning combo - and cookies are nice and easy to make (says the girl who once thought she lacked the cookie baking gene) so give these rich, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cookies a try!
Yield: about 2 dozen cookies
3 cups plain flour
1 tsp course salt
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
227g unsalted butter, cold and cut into large chunks
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp coconut extract (optional)
300g white chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
- In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Whisk to blend.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the cold butter and the sugars. Beat on medium-high speed until smooth and just combined, 1 - 2 minutes.
- Blend in the eggs one at a time just until incorporated, scraping down the bowl as needed. Blend in the vanilla and coconut extracts.
- With the mixer on low speed, mix in the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Fold in the white chocolate and macadamia nuts with a spatula. Cover and refrigerate the dough for about 30 - 60 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 180C / Gas Mar 4 / 350F. Line baking sheets with grease proof paper.
- Roll a scant half-cup of dough into a ball. Holding dough balls in fingertips of both hands, Pull apart into two equal halves. Rotate halves 90 degrees and, with jagged surfaces facing up, place formed dough onto cookie sheet, leaving ample room between each ball. (I know this shaping stuff may seem like shenanigans but I promise, it gives the cookies a nice appearance after they are baked.)
- Bake the cookies, rotating halfway through, until light golden and just set, about 14 - 16 minutes total. Let cool on baking sheets for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.


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C. African Republic rebel leader faces challenges
Mar 28, 2013, 11:21 AM EDT
(AP Photo/Joel Bouopda Tatou, File)
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Michel Djotodia showed up for peace talks a few months ago in camouflage and a turban as the face of Central African Republic's rebel movement. Now he has traded those fatigues for a suit as the country's new self-declared leader after overthrowing the president of a decade.
Djotodia, whose diverse resume includes studying in the former Soviet Union and working as a consul in Sudan's region of Darfur, initially signed on in January to serve as the defense minister in a unity government with his longtime nemesis, then President Francois Bozize.
But that power-sharing deal quickly fell apart. Only two months later, Djotodia's forces invaded the capital, and he declared himself president of the impoverished but mineral-rich country for at least the next three years.
Although Djotodia (pronounced joe-toe-DEE-uh) emerged as the dominant leader of the alliance of rag-tag fighters known as Seleka, which means alliance in the local Sango language, some of his colleagues are already saying they never intended for him to single-handedly lead the country after Bozize's ouster.
"We didn't battle to get rid of one dictator only to have another," says Nelson N'Djadder, a Paris-based rebel leader who is now threatening to fight Djotodia for leadership of a nation long plagued by coups and rebellions.
Djotodia, a 60-something longtime rebel, was once a civil servant under Bozize's predecessor and worked at the Central African Republic's consulate in Nyala, located in Sudan's South Darfur state. Recent developments come as little surprise to some observers.
"He has single-mindedly always wanted to be president of Central African Republic. He has been a tremendously ambitious man," said Alex Vines, head of the Africa program at Chatham House, a London-based institute on international affairs.
"In the end he had one vision, which was to take power and he has done that unconstitutionally now," Vines added.
Among a wide field of potential rebel leaders, he managed to position himself front and center, said Louisa Lombard, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley who has been traveling to Central African Republic for the past 10 years for research.
"I think he's mostly been successful through his diplomacy and negotiating alliances with different people and getting them on his side," she said. "It's a combination of being in the right place and having the right ambitions."
Djotodia hails from the country's northeastern Vakaga area, the poorest region of one of the world's most deeply impoverished countries. Analysts say he married and had children while living in the Soviet Union, and speaks fluent Russian and French.
By 2006 he had helped form the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity, known by its French acronym UFDR. His rebels sparked alarm when they seized the capitals of two northern provinces that year.
While the UFDR at the time "claimed to be fighting for greater government investment in the neglected northeast," its leaders seemed more interested in getting well-paying jobs within Bozize's government as part of a cease-fire agreement, according to a report by the International Crisis Group.
Djotodia later fled into exile in Benin in 2006 along with his colleague Abakar Saboune, where they were ultimately arrested and thrown into prison on international arrest warrants. He was released in 2008 at the request of the Central African Republic government, according to human rights groups.
It's not exactly clear where he was or what he was doing immediately after his release in Benin but after returning home, Djotodia spearheaded a rebel alliance that made partners out of sworn enemies.
His return to Central African Republic appears to have been a key factor in sparking the Seleka rebellion in December, say analysts and observers.
In an interview with Jeune Afrique magazine published the same week Bozize was overthrown, Bozize said he suspected foreign involvement in the rebellion.
"Six months before the launching of this rebellion, I sent a delegation to meet with (Djotodia) in his home city of Gordil," Bozize recalled. "He declared that he was in favor of peace and respecting the demobilization agreements. So I was quite surprised to see him launch this regrettable venture. Was he activated by external forces? It's probable."
Djotodia is believed to have cultivated ties with Chadian rebels while working in Sudan a decade ago. Those possible ties to elements in other countries and the shaky alliance between other fighters in the Seleka coalition could prove challenging, said Berkeley analyst Lombard: "I think it's likely that we'll see some struggles for control and power in the weeks to come."
Associated Press writer Angela Charlton in Paris contributed to this report.

subset: commoncrawl


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I've always basked in my ability to be clever. Watching expressions when I say something a little, or a lot off the wall… you could call it a form of entertainment if you'd like. I was invited to participate in the first annual Funny Blog Friday BlogHop & it was confirmed…
…someone thinks I'm funny & now there's a whole ridiculous bunch of us that are going to make your Fridays extra awesome.
You're welcome…We're all happy to be here for you.
(Disclaimer: I do not have permission to speak on anyone's behalf)
To make this dealio more enticing – we're all offering Giveaways! Each blogger participating will be listed at the end of this post – with their individual giveaways and instructions to enter in their own space of the intraweb – I'll provide you the links.
What's your giveaway, Jen?
(Now I'm speaking for you…)
Ben (another blog-hopper) suggested that I giveaway an autographed picture of myself. Initially, I didn't think the idea was awful; this is the picture I considered:
I mean… who can't appreciate a pink-tasseled-heart-sweater & massive chompers? It's funny…[I think].
In typical Jen-Fashion I became analytic to a fault & for a multitude of reasons I decided it was weird for me to giveaway a 2nd grade picture of myself. I wonder what would happen to it if I actually mailed it out to the "winner". Could they even really call themselves that? Congrats…?
So, anyway…you're going to have to get through my Friday Funnies before I tell you what I'm giving away.
I suppose you could skip it, and just move on to the end…but I'm asking you nicely to just give it a chance…if you don't like it: proceed. I hope you like my giveaway…even if you don't think I'm funny.
Costumes might seem like an obvious topic for today. (Happy Halloween!)…but, I'm going to run with it – cliche or not. The thing is, up until a child is a certain age, parents have the ability to dress their kids in whatever they want them to be for Halloween. That's some real power; some parents embrace it & some parents are stupid…I don't think I need to elaborate.
…I feel like I am able to see this kid's parents. Who raises a child who thinks that this costume is that funny? That's an odd, obnoxious family right there. Ridiculous.
But, funny. It's not like the parents are forcing the kiddos to include actual meth in their costumes – and I'm assuming that any parent that is going to go to these measures to make their children look like Mr. White & Jesse… aren't lazy or stupid. Their kids have no clue what they are…but they know everyone likes it & that… is what's important. Right?
I'm going to be honest – I'm not sure if this is a costume for Halloween or for a pageant of sorts… maybe? Isn't it gross that's even in the realm of possibilities? Ew.
I love Pretty Woman…along with the rest of my adult female friends – who the hello dresses their daughter up like a hooker? You can't even play if off as anything even slightly more socially acceptable; everyone knows exactly who that hooker is. Someone call CPS.
…The obvious is first that this litte girl is dressed up as a topless mermaid. As if that's not bad enough…that sir, behind her has a shirt on that says, "Mermaid Assistant". I have nothing more to say about this.
I'm going to end on a non-creepy note…
Could these kids look anymore like the cast of Jersey Shore?…Yet, they are fully clothed & adorable. Way to go 'rents!
all photos via: http://goo.gl/Xs8ANO
….If you skipped to the giveaway part of the post – you've found it.
Since I decided against the photo… (you're welcome) I'm offering a chance to win $50.00 towards your purchase of a Jersey Sweater!
If you don't see your favorite team…you can request a knit…pretty nice of them, eh?
If you don't have a favorite football team, head over to Onside Chick where the ladies can help you figure that out… [aka: Get It Together].
To Enter:
Like Properly Ridiculous on Facebook
Or, Follow Me On Twitter…
Or comment on this blog post.
Giveaway Entries will be accepted until 12:00PM CST Sunday November 7th & the winner will be announced on Properly Ridiculous at 5:00PM CST that day.
Now…not to be bossy – but check out this ridiculous bunch of bloggers & their giveaways.
Happy Friday.
The Funny Blog Friday Blog-Hoppers:
Victoria of Angst Anarchy
Alanna of White Girls Be Like…
Jamie of Fits of Wit
H.E. Ellis of H.E. Ellis
Jessie of Jessie Reyna
Alice of Alice at Wonderland
Ben of Ben's Bitter Blog
Lisa of Buddhaful Britt
JC of JCS Bloggery
Sarah of No Cry Babies
Elke of The Pretty Platform
Jack of The Things I see Up Here
Chicks A & E of Too Funny Chicks
Charly of Crazy Life
Kevin of Trailer Trash Deluxe
Karilin of That Nameless Color
[…we'll be attempting to make every Friday funny on Twitter with the Hashtags: #FBF and #FunnyBlogFriday]


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I read his novels "The Tin Drum" and "Cat and Mouse" soon after they were published - I was in my 20s then - and later "The Plebeians Rehearse the Uprising," a deeply ironic play that shows Brecht rehearsing "Coriolanus" with the Berliner Ensemble while outside the theatre in the streets, the people are rising up against the East German Communist regime and being crushed by Russian tanks. Both made a deep impression on me that has lasted through the decades since.
This obituary is very long, too long to reproduce here complete, and it is heavily weighted toward the newsworthy aspects of Grass's life and career rather than the qualities of his work. For me it doesn't matter what he did before 1945, only what he wrote afterwards. Worth reading nonetheless - follow the link.
Günter Grass, Writer Who Pried Open Germany's Past but Hid His Own, Dies at 87
By STEPHEN KINZER
Günter Grass, the German novelist, social critic and Nobel Prize winner whom many called his country's moral conscience but who stunned Europe when he revealed in 2006 that he had been a member of the Waffen-SS during World War II, died on Monday in the northern German city of Lübeck, which had been his home for decades. He was 87.
His longtime publisher, Gerhard Steidl, said that he had learned late Sunday that Mr. Grass had been hospitalized after falling seriously ill very quickly. The cause of death was not announced.
Mr. Steidl said he drank his final schnapps with Mr. Grass eight days ago while they were working together on his most recent book, which he described as a "literary experiment" fusing poetry with prose. It is scheduled to be published in the summer. "He was fully concentrated on his work until the last moment," Mr. Steidl said.
Mr. Grass was hardly the only member of his generation who obscured the facts of his wartime life. But because he was a pre-eminent public intellectual who had pushed Germans to confront the ugly aspects of their history, his confession that he had falsified his own biography shocked readers and led some to view his life's work in a different light.
Mr. Grass came under further scrutiny in 2012 after publishing a poem criticizing Israel for its hostile language toward Iran over its nuclear program. He expressed revulsion at the idea that Israel might be justified in attacking Iran over a perceived nuclear threat and said that such a prospect "endangers the already fragile world peace." The poem created an international controversy and prompted a personal attack from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Mr. Grass later said that he had not meant to criticize the country, but only its government.
He was propelled to the forefront of postwar literature in 1959, with the publication of his wildly inventive masterpiece "The Tin Drum." Critics hailed the audacious sweep of his literary imagination. A severed horse's head swarming with hungry eels, a criminal hiding beneath a peasant woman's layered skirts and a child who shatters windows with his high-pitched voice are among the memorable images that made "The Tin Drum" a worldwide triumph.
In awarding Mr. Grass the Nobel Prize in 1999, the Swedish Academy praised him for embracing "the enormous task of reviewing contemporary history by recalling the disavowed and the forgotten: the victims, losers and lies that people wanted to forget because they had once believed in them." It called "The Tin Drum" "one of the enduring literary works of the 20th century."
Mr. Grass was a playwright, essayist, short-story writer, poet, sculptor and printmaker as well as a novelist, but it was as a social critic that he gained the most notoriety, campaigning for disarmament and broad societal change. But ultimately, his uncompromising antimilitarism and his warnings that a unified Germany might once again threaten world peace led some of his countrymen to criticize him as a pedantic moralist who had lost touch with real life...
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/14/world ... at-87.html
Günter Grass RIP
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I have always thought that making play dough for my son sounded like a good idea... in theory. But it also seemed like one of those things that might be a big pain in the ass, and I wasn't certain the final product would be as good as the store-bought stuff. But, my son started preschool last week and they use school-made play dough. It looks pretty great and all the kids love it, so I decided to give it a shot last weekend.
Turns out, it's easy and the dough at the end is actually nicer than the store stuff. I used this recipe from Instructables. It involves cooking the dough for a little bit, but was still quite simple.
You stir everything together and then cook is mostly to dry the dough. What you end up with is something that looks a lot like sugar cookie dough.
After kneading briefly, I added food coloring, making colors based on my son's shouted requests: "yellow!" and "pink!"
He loves the stuff, and is constantly begging to play with it. I've the play dough it in a big airtight container on the counter, and it seems to be holding up wonderfully. Another nice thing is that this dough can really teach color blending. A little chunk of pink plus some yellow makes a lovely orange after some vigorous toddler kneading.
Oh, and if he eats it, no big deal. Everything in the dough is technically "food." I doubt he would want it after a quick taste, though. It's very salty.


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Love and partnership
You should spend today with your partner. Together you should create a conscious time in which you can experience some romantic hours with each other. Don't forget to nourish and cherish your relationship even if you have spent many years together. If you keep reminding each other of that and treat each other with respect, there is hardly any obstacle in your way to have a long lasting and happy relationship.


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App Review: Where's My Water? by Disney
by Dorothy on
February 23, 2012
Filed under Daily App Reviews, Entertainment, Games, Kids, iPhone Apps
I would never have thought to buy myself a Disney game. I don't exactly fit the target audience range for most of Disney's products. When a friend showed me this app, it immediately caught my attention and held it for hours as I struggled to get Swampy his water without filling his tub with gloppy green goo.
Who is Swampy? Swampy is a cartoon alligator living in the sewer under the city. He likes a good hot shower, and is more refined than the other alligator's living in the sewer. They think he is a little strange and like to sabotage his water supply. Your job is to get the good, clean water to the end of the pipe that leads to his bathroom and gather the three rubber ducks along the way. To accomplish this task, you need to draw a path through the brown dirt for the water to follow guiding it to the three ducks and finally to the end of the pipe. Yes, gravity is still in effect. The water only flows down. Sounds easy? At first it is. The levels get more and more challenging.
There are seven different collections of levels. Each one introduces another challenge to the puzzles. You must figure out what to do with green goo, purple poison, grass that grows to block your path, steam and that's just the beginning. You become a chemist as you figure out how all of these substances interact and change to help you achieve your goal or thwart your efforts at every turn. By the end of the game, all of the challenges that you have faced throughout the game come together to challenge you in whole new ways. You have to use everything that you have learned in the previous levels, and sometimes you just have to keep trying over and over to figure out what will work.
Along the way there are items to collect hidden in the ground. You can tell which levels have a hidden item by looking at the top of the screen for a question mark next to the 3 ducks. Be careful not to destroy your path while digging for treasure. There are also achievements to get ranging in difficulty from easy to nearly impossible, as far as I am concerned.
Recently, Disney released an update for the game that changes the whole perspective of the game. Now you are trying to help the alligator, Cranky, the very alligator who always sabotaged Swampy's water supply. Cranky has a different problem. He doesn't care about showers and clean water. He is hungry! There is plenty of gross, rotting food in the sewer, which he doesn't mind. What he can't stand is vegetables! Unfortunately, his foot has been sitting in the damp sewer so long that is covered in algae. I guess he considers this algae to be a vegetable because he won't eat it. He needs your help to get rid of the green stuff. So, you must use the purple poison to clean off the algae so that he can eat the food. You still need to collect three ducks on the way, but don't do it with water. These are Cranky's ducks. Water will kill them. Not only will the water kill his ducks, but it will make the algae grow making your job even harder.
These new levels start off easy, but very quickly build on the knowledge that you gained helping Swampy. The only drawback is that Disney only gives you five levels as a taste of the game. After that you must buy the rest of the levels in the iTunes App Store for $0.99. I haven't done it, but if the rest of the game holds up the the reputation of the first parts, it very well could be well worth the cost.
Where's My Water has been holding strong at #1 in the App Store for quite some time now, and I can see why. It is a great game for all ages.


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Creating solid nutrition programming within your health club can have its challenges. We know that it is important to the overall goals of our membership base, but not every fitness facility has mastered a strong structure for this area. Understanding the framework of this under-utilized department can mean dramatic enhanced revenue for your business.
Nutrition is dissimilar from personal training and should be treated as its own entity. Sessions are content-based versus action-based, and occur weekly or even bi-weekly rather than two or three times per week. Output also varies from a physical training session—rather than being sweaty and sore, participants in a nutrition session do more psychological exercises to enhance knowledge, set realistic goals and create a personalized plan for healthy eating.
Here are tips for starting a successful nutrition program at your club:
Make the investment in the expert. A registered dietitian (RD) must be at the helm of your nutrition program. When identifying the leader of this department, consider passion, presence, energy and the ability to network as key criteria. Success for a nutrition program lies not only in the level of education and expertise of the RD, but also in his or her ability to motivate both the staff and your members. The RD also brings personalized, hands-on experience to changing your members' lives, which cannot be found simply by reviewing the Internet or following a popular diet book. You can find potential candidates using the local chapter of the American Dietetic Association.
Evaluate the needs of your membership base. Provide program offerings that are consistent with what your members want. Weight loss, sports nutrition, family/child-driven programs, geriatric features, "hot" nutrition topics and disease-specific nutrition management are all popular areas of interest. Your RD should be well versed in all areas, but the main focus for promotion should lie in the area most desired by your customers.
Diversify your offerings. Personalized one-on-one nutrition counseling and group programming allow you to offer private and group options and various price points. These options also allow you to cater to multiple learning styles. Weight loss is the most common goal within our industry, but you also will identify other goals, such as general wellness assessments, sports nutrition and disease management (heart disease, diabetes and various gastrointestinal disorders.)
Awaken your staff. When you think of working with a dietitian, many people assume they'll have to give up favorite foods or that restrictions will be placed on their eating habits. This can be intimidating and overwhelming, not only for your members, but also for your staff to sell. It requires continued training, explanation, role playing and ongoing relationship building to succeed in helping the sales, personal training and management staff to understand nutrition programming. During a personal training session, members get an effective physical workout. During a nutrition session, however, participants perform mental exercises that make their lifestyles more effective. Dietitians can actually make eating easier, provide healthy recipes, gear meal plans towards an individual's lifestyle, family life, food preferences and health goals all while complementing their personal training programs.
Provide consistent programming. Once you have diversified your offerings, you can easily track successful promotions, programs and workshops. Strengthen those options by providing them consistently. Members should know when a weight-loss group commences, as well as when a regular schedule of healthy cooking classes begins, in addition to options available for private counseling. Success stories, referrals and momentum from previous programming will continue to build your nutrition department.
Provide attention-grabbing marketing. Move away from scientific, information-based flyers to market your nutrition program. Instead, bring some life and energy to your product. You will not have members running through the door for a session called, "Evaluating the Food Guide Pyramid." Shoot instead for "Busting Belly Fat" or "Want to Look Ten Years Younger?" in your promotional materials. Your marketing should be specific to draw the interest of your captive audience.
Incorporate creative visibility. Add healthy cooking demonstrations with take-away seasonal recipes or create displays that draw interest with visual appeal as an invitation for upcoming nutrition programs. Use talking pieces, such as tubes of sugar or fat, new food products on the market and easy-to-prepare recipes to start conversations with members walking through your doors. Allow your RD to be the visible expert for all nutrition questions and challenges.
Because nutrition is an essential key to overall health and wellness, do not allow your facility to be one that misses the mark with this area of programming and member experience. These easy guidelines can help you build the infrastructure for a successful programming model—both for you and your members.
Heather King, registered dietitian, is the nutrition programs manager for 11 Spectrum Athletic Clubs in San Antonio. Heather also has been the nutrition expert for NBC affiliate WOAI's "San Antonio Living Show" for more than 12 years. She specializes in weight loss, sports nutrition, healthy cooking and overall wellness. You can reach her at [email protected].


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Welcome to the new site, optimized to work on all devices. It's responsive, like a good partner; squeeze your browser and watch it all reformat all sexy/liquidy. It's Polyamory!
If you're new here, what we specialize in is erotic sex writing formed into--are you ready?-- stories in which something actually happens. Besides all the greasing and pistoning I mean.
We've also studied the social benefits of sexual literature in a scholarly way. Porn has been around since we learned to scratch on walls; there's a purpose to it. Don't let the dimwits take the social benefits of porn away.
So, we've prettified the site so the background for all this makes you feel calm and is easy to make out the words on the page. What's with all the psychedelic neon idiocy and tiny print of many "free porn!" sites. Who likes that?
So kick off your shoes and enjoy the stuff linked below.
Erotica, or, as we say, Literary Smut
We've scribbled a lot of stories over the years, and you'll find the bulk of 'em in a place called our Erotica Index, neatly laying out what each story is about. There are also two themed collections:
- The Erotic Adventures of Missy. Pure and unadulterated and lusty, just like Missy, these stories were written to celebrate the raw desire you just feel good about despite the yammering of the dried-up fools who demand you repress all natural urges so they don't have to feel they're alone in missing the best part of life. Erotica doesn't have to be soft, by the way.
- Juxtapositions: Notes from the Italian is a series of erotic stories set in different regions of Italy. Sometimes you get the recollections of each story from each participant.
You should be 18 to see any of these, of course. You won't understand a word if you happened to have been alive for only 17 years and 363 days. Then again, our fathers left their smut where we could find it so we knew what a breast looked like that wasn't all wrapped in some synthetic material with latches you couldn't understand. And most of us survived. Imagine!
Don't know what literary smut is? Want to learn to write some hot stuff? See: What is Literary Porn?
The social benefits of porn
When the Meese Commission Report was published in July 1986, Americans who actually read the nearly 2000 pages of it would come to know first hand how the conservative government stacked the sexual deck with a few closed-minded, biased, and shifty anti-sex warriors to deny the scientific research studied and reported on by an earlier commission (whose scientific report, published in 1970, recommended among other things that "A massive sex education campaign should be initiated, encompassing biological, social, psychological and religious information" as well as the horrifying "There should be continued open discussion, based on facts, of issues relating to obscenity and pornography.") Of course, nobody actually read it. It's what lots of folks wanted to hear, "Porn is bad for you and is worse than endless war and school shootings so we're going to ban it." What it didn't do was to stop the demand for it.
So, to aid this discussion, let's start with some basics:
- The Social Effects of Porn: Studies and Opinions
- The Social Effects of Porn: The Players
- Meese Commission Reports & Opinions
Think porn is a new thing? Head over to the secret room to see how the Romans lined their bedroom walls and their brothels with smutty frescoes.
We live in a world where our sexual options are socially regulated and entrenched in the idea of marriage. After all, you need to know what you spawn; inheritance is a big part of life in the consumer age.
Which, of course means that most thinking folks will talk about the cathartic nature of porn. In fact, back in the middle ages, folks had a little blow-out festival that illustrated how it all works. It was called the Feast of Fools. Carnivals today have remnants of this time out of time, when the slave laborer becomes king for a day (and the ass takes to braying at the pulpit while the poor folks made whoopy in the pews).
And...there's shopping!
I would be remiss if I didn't mention our dear Sally Ann, who recommends rather wispy things you might buy your sweet honey. Garter belts anyone? Perhaps you need a masturbation kit?
Our Sex and Eroticism Bookstore contains some provocative studies on Classic eroticism and ancient porn. Our new Recommended Erotica bookstore will lead you to the finest erotica written today.
And if books aren't your thing, how 'bout some sex blogs?


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Click here to hear Tom Joyner interview Barbara Floyd-Jones of NeighborWorks.
If you're like most people, you think you could never get scammed. Thousands of people were scammed in 2011, and of that, close to 11,000 reported being scammed while trying to get a loan modification or save their home from foreclosure. Many people never report so we know the number is higher. Since most people think they could never get scammed, how do so many people get scammed trying to modify their mortgage? Read on.
When you're having a hard time paying your mortgage or you're already behind, you could get frustrated with your lender if the help you desperately want seems hard to come by or not coming at all. Next you receive a foreclosure notice in the mail. That's when you get nervous. So imagine your family member or a friend from church recommends a company that guarantees they can get your lender to modify your loan. You call the company and the person you speak with really understands your situation. The company even offers a money-back guarantee so you can't lose. Sounds perfect, right? Wrong. You will probably get scammed.
Scammers may use names like loan modification consultant or forensic auditor, and usually represent that they can negotiate special agreements with your lender. They may contact you by phone, mail, online, or in person. They often seem legitimate and make big promises to modify loans and guarantee that they will save your home from foreclosure. They usually charge fees and then disappear although they provide little or no service. Unfortunately, many victims lose money and their homes. Don't be one of them.
The most common sign of a loan modification or foreclosure scam is being asked for money, either upfront or at some point in the process. The fees or money requested may have different names – administrative, processing, insurance, audit or securitization fees. But did you know it's against the law for a company or individual to ask you to pay any money before you have a written offer from your lender approving the loan modification or halting the foreclosure? It's called the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) rule, administered by the Federal Trade Commission. More scam signs can be found at www.loanscamalert.org.
So what should you do if you have problems paying your mortgage? Here are the top things you should do to avoid foreclosure and scams:
1. Contact your lender as soon as you get concerned about paying your mortgage.
2. Determine your options by speaking to your lender's loss mitigation department.
3. Be patient but persistent with your lender, because getting a loan modification takes time.
4. Call the Homeowner's HOPE Hotline at 1-888-995-HOPE (4673) to speak with a trained counselor 24 hours a day or to find a local HUD-approved counseling agency to talk to a counselor in person.
5. Avoid anyone who asks for a fee prior to providing any loan modification service, including companies, individuals and even some lawyers.
6. Avoid anyone who guarantees to get your loan modified or stop a foreclosure, because nobody has the power to make this promise.
7. Avoid companies that tell you to stop paying your mortgage and to pay them instead. This is a sure sign of a scam.
8. Report loan modification or foreclosure scams at any time by visiting www.LoanScamAlert.org or calling 1-888-995-HOPE (4673).
Lastly, beware of recent scams related to national foreclosure programs. If you watch the news, you may be familiar with the Independent Foreclosure Review and the $25 billion National Mortgage Settlement. The scammers are familiar with them, too. They are expanding beyond loan modification and foreclosure rescue to include these national initiatives. They now offer to "help" you get money from these programs and others – for a fee. This is a scam. There is no fee required to get assistance with completing or submitting the forms for these programs. For more information related to loan modification and foreclosure scams, visit www.LoanScamAlert.org.
Representatives from NeighborWorks® America have been educating homeowners about the warning signs of loan modification scams, a wave of fraudulent activity connected to the foreclosure crisis. The effort is an extension of Loan Modification Scam Alert, a national public education campaign to help homeowners protect themselves against loan modification scams, find trusted help and report illegal activity to authorities. The campaign brings together NeighborWorks America, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and other government and non-profit partners including 235 community-based affiliates.


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The Brand
First a warning. When I found out that branding was possible, I knew that it was right for me. It may not be right for you. If you decide to pursure branding or other modifications, do so fully informed. Once the procedure is done you can't go back -- the results are permanent.
Earlier this summer I got this really weird idea. "Get branded," I told myself. God only knows where the idea came from, but likely it was by accident while not really paying attention during a session on the insidious internet. I don't know a soul who's had it done and nobody I know has ever heard of a person fool enough to voluntarily lay down while someone applies hot metal to the skin.
Shortly after the decision was made I was sitting at my sister's house digesting a family dinner. Somebody brought up the subject of getting tatooed. I piped up and said that rather than getting tatooed like every other Tom, Dick and Harry, that I was going to get branded. My mother casually looked at me a said, "You have to make sure that the brand is good and hot. My father always said that if that calf felt pain, it meant that the brand wasn't hot enough." I guess nobody really beleived that I'd do it since nobody remembers that portion of the conversation.
After a little research, I found a person by the name of Bear Walsh in Vancouver who does this sort of thing when he's not piercing people. I had to make a trip into the city with my design to ensure that it was do-able and so that he could make sure that I was fully aware of what I was getting myself into. It turned out that the design was possible and it was emphasized that this procedure would be painful. I was told that since no anesthetics could be used that my endorphins would be my best friend. We set an appointment for two weeks later.
The branding had to be done at 7 p.m., after he had closed shop for the day. It seems that the smell of burned flesh is not conducive to good business so this sort of thing is only done after normal business hours.
I arrived on time and sat and BS'd for awhile with Bear and his assistant, Colin. Soon enough, Bear asked if I was ready and we went into the next room. Colin had prepared the brand, which consisted of five pieces of tin. Bear had transferred my design to a piece of tracing paper with a felt pen and applied this to my chest so that he'd know were the strikes were to be placed. Colin was the torch man while Bear actually performed the branding.
I layed on the same sort of table as you'd see in your doctor's office. Bear took the first piece of tin in a pair of pliers and positioned himself beside me. He then held the tin above me while Colin held the torch to it. I was instructed to take three deep breaths.
Then his arms came down.
I can't describe the feeling. It hurt, but it wasn't a bad hurt. I could hear my skin sizzle. I'd expected that the smell of burning flesh would be quite strong, but it wasn't. I think that he held the tin in place for about two seconds and then he removed it. The first strike was finished with seven more to go. I don't know exactly how long the entire procedure took, but it seemed to go incredibly fast.
Once done, Bear asked me how I was feeling. "Fine," I said. He asked about my feet and my hands. There was nothing special about my feet, but my hands were tingling. Then he asked about my head. I hadn't noticed prior to his asking, but I then realized that I had a buzz on! I'd gotten high on my own endorphins. The human body is truly a wondrous thing.
The same night that I was branded I was talking to my mother on the phone and she asked what I'd been up to that day. Naturally, I told her that I'd been branded. Silence.
"You mean you got a tattoo?" "No, I got branded." "You're kidding." "No, I'm not. Don't you remember when I told you that I was going to do it? You told me what your father had said about the brand needing to be good and hot." "You didn't tell me. It must have been one of your uncles."
And then she said the most wonderful thing: "I'm so proud of you. I always knew you were a leader; not one to follow the crowd."
I don't know about being a leader; this may be a mother's bias. However, I will admit to doing things my way, a bit askew of society's norms. While possibly biased, my mother is observant.
Other reactions have ranged from equally impressive to absolute indifference. One of my cousins just stared and asked, "Was it friendly?" Of course there's been lots of "you're nuts," and "you paid someone to do that?" And this from another person who I told beforehand and who casually passed it off: "I guess we'll have to pay attention to whatever he sais he's going to do because there might just be a grain of truth to it." Damned right!
photos are missing
This picture was taken about two hours after the procedure. The pain had fully subsided within an hour. Short of taking my shirt off and looking at it, I was fully unaware of the brand until the eighth day.
At this point the brand looks almost exactly as I designed it.
Taken one week later. The scabs are developing well.
Approximately two-and-a-half weeks after the branding. Scabs are fully formed. It was around this time that the brand bothered me the most; primarily at night. It wasn't so much that it was painful, but the darned thing was crusty and was sensitive to movement in my left arm.
This picture is at four weeks. Most of the scabs have fallen away.
You can see that the side closest to my arm is considerably thicker than that towards the center of my chest. Supposedly is this is due to the fact that I have more fat out there. Will have to wait awhile to see if the redness declines. I am told that I can reduce the scar by applying vitamin E.
submitted by: Anonymous
on: 01 Jan. 1997
in Scarification
Artist: +
Studio: +
Location: +


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New Candlelight season; other schedule news
The Candlelight Dinner Playhouse in Johnstown. Photo by John Moore.
The Candlelight Dinner Playhouse in Johnstown, flush off its first commercial and critical hit, "Phantom," has announced an upcoming schedule of Broadway family musicals that would indicate it plans to hang around for quite some time.
After "Clue, The Musical" wraps March 7, this will be the bill of fare:
March 12-May 30, 2010: "My Fair Lady"
June 4-Aug. 22, 2010: "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"
Aug. 27-Oct. 24, 2010: "Oliver"
Oct. 29, 2010-Jan. 16, 2011: "Will Rogers Follies"
Jan. 21-March 20, 2011: "Bye, Bye Birdie"
March 25-May 29, 2011: "The King and I"
Candlelight is located at 4747 Market Place Drive in Johnstown, anout 45 miles north of Denver. 970-744-3747, 1-877-240-4242 or coloradocandlelight.com
The show WILL go on: Thaddeus Phillips will soon return, as promised, to present part 2 of his "Mircroworld(s)" invention at Buntport Theater. But because of scheduling conflicts, he'll only be able to perform "The Undiscovered Country" from March 11-14. Part 1 was set almost entirely in a transformative white box roughly the size of an MRI machine representing a living unit in a recycling housing unit in Tokyo. 717 Lipan St., 720-946-1388 or buntport.com …
Gemma Wilcox will bringing her latest one-woman show, "The Honeymoon Period is Officially Over," to the Manitou Art Theatre in Colorado Springs from Feb. 18-21. 1367 Pecan St., 719-685-4729 or themat.org.
The show will NOT go on: Vintage will NOT be presenting Scott Gibson's "Love at Four O'Clocks" as a Valentine's weekend offering, as previously announced …
And the 73rd Avenue Theatre Company has canceled its upcoming run of "The Gin Game" (it was to open March 16 in Westminster).


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Islamic extremists impose reign of terror in Iraq
BAGHDAD — Police cars have been repainted to say "Islamic police." Women are forbidden from wearing bright colors and prints. The homes of Shiites and others have signs stating they are property of the Islamic State. And everyone walks in fear amid a new reign of terror.
That's what life is like in Mosul, Tikrit and other cities in northern and western Iraq under the control of Islamic extremists after their lightning-fast military campaign that overwhelmed the Iraqi army in June.
The new normal for these residents means daily decrees about attire and raids to root out religious minorities in a campaign to impose strict Islamic rule in cities that tolerated multiple religions for centuries.
Residents chafe at the radical changes, and some are starting to rebel against the militants as they try to "cleanse" the region of anything — and anyone — deemed non-Islamic. As many Christians in Mosul have discovered, their only choice is fleeing.
"I was shocked when I heard the new decision forcing me to wear a veil and totally cover my face," said Mais Mohamad, 25, a pharmacist in Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq. "I can't do that — I was always free to wear what I like. I can't live the rest of my life with my face covered."
The militants, an al-Qaeda splinter group so radical that it was rejected even by al-Qaeda, initially concentrated on providing services such as sanitation and restoring order. The group, which insists on being called the Islamic State, issued religious decrees soon after taking over the city but didn't enforce them, residents said.
Over the past few weeks, the group has begun to crack down in an effort to fulfill its ambition to create an Islamic territory spanning Iraq and neighboring Syria.
"The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (the group's original name) decided that anybody who utters their (old) name will get 70 lashes," said Ghaida'a Al-Rasool, a doctor in Mosul. "Their new name is simply the Islamic State."
The group has established Islamic courts controlled by muftis, or Muslim religious leaders. Fighters regularly drive through the streets in trucks using loudspeakers to inform residents about changes.
"They have told clothing merchants to sell what they have within 20 days and then only jubbas are allowed," said Saad Al-Hayali, an engineer in Mosul, referring to flowing, one-piece robes worn by Muslims throughout the Middle East. "They have forbidden dressing rooms inside stores, too."
More worrisome for residents is the Islamic State's move to cleanse its strongholds. Christians and other minorities were given an ultimatum: Convert to Islam or face execution.
"I left from my home when we received the threat," said Abir Gerges, 45, a Christian schoolteacher who fled to Irbil, a city in Kurdistan, a semiautonomous region of Iraq protected by its own military force.
"I told my husband, 'We have to leave,' " said Gerges, a mother of three boys. "He hesitated, saying, 'How can I leave the house I inherited from my parents?' But I told him they might kill us and kill our sons in front of us. What are we going to do with a house if that happens? So he decided to listen to me, and we took our money and my jewelry and a bag of clothes and left."
Gerges and her family quickly saw the scope of the militants' rule when they came upon a checkpoint far outside Mosul.
"I put on a veil, trying to hide, but they asked if we were Christian," she said. "We were afraid to lie to them, so we said yes. One of them — he was masked — advanced toward me and said, 'You must remove all the jewelry you are wearing. Now it's Islamic State property.' Also they confiscated all my husband's money. Afterward, they said, 'Now you can go. That's punishment for your refusal to be Muslim.' "
The new rulers are wiping out traces of churches and ancient shrines.
"The churches are closed," said Al-Rasool, the Mosul doctor. "Yesterday, I saw an old church in the streets of the Ras al-Kur historic district. The doors of the church were walled off with cement and blocks."
City Hall employees are expected to continue coming to work, but tolerance for non-Sunni Muslims is slight.
"They have reduced municipal employees' salaries by half of their former amount, and they've told the Christians, Shiites and Shabak (minorities), 'You are fired,' " Al-Rasool said.
The few Christians and Muslim minorities who remain live secretly, in fear of being discovered.
"I am still in Mosul, and I know for sure I will be dead if they know I am here," said Hassan Ali, 55, a Turkmen Shiite and father of three daughters. "But what can I do? I can't afford to move somewhere else. I prefer to die here rather than dying in refugee camps with no services and no food."
It is left to underpaid Sunni workers to restore city services and repair electrical lines and water treatment facilities that were heavily bombarded by retreating government forces. Under the Islamic State, electricity is rationed, water pumps run dry, gas prices are spiking and shortages of daily necessities are common.
Mahmood Faris, 24, a Mosul doctor, worries about how he and his neighbors will cope. Most private businesses have closed, run out of supplies or operate at irregular hours, he said.
"Ordinary people are doing their jobs despite the difficulties," Faris said. "A humanitarian catastrophe might hit Mosul due to poverty and the possible lack of medication in the hospitals."
The new hardships of daily living are particularly difficult for women and children. Though women are not barred from walking alone outside, the atmosphere has prompted many to remain indoors, keeping their children close at hand because schools have shut down.
"They want all women to be veiled and not to go outside without a man," said Omer Othman, 37, a shopkeeper. "This is a disaster for women. They used to perform half of the family's daily tasks."
The Islamic State on Sunday seized two more small towns in northern Iraq, Zumar and Sinjar, both religiously mixed, forcing thousands of residents to flee, the United Nations said.
But the extremists may have gone too far when they started blowing up revered tombs and mosques that did not conform to their religious views, such as the burial site of biblical prophet Jonah.
"It brought out the conscience of Mosul residents," said Al-Rasool, the doctor, referring to Jonah's tomb. "All people from all religions and ethnic groups revere this site – it is the guardian and heart of the city."
In late July, residents created a chain around the Crooked Minaret, a landmark dating back to the 12th century, to prevent the militants from blowing it up.
In response to the destruction of these sites, brigades named after prophets, such as Nabi Yunus (Jonah) Nineveh and Al-Anbi'a, have formed to fight the invaders.
The Nineveh Brigade has called for recruits on its Facebook page and documents attacks on the militants. Since it was created July 22, the page has 40,000 followers.
According to the page, the resistance groups shot four Islamic State members July 21 and published the names of those killed, including one militant suspected in the bombing of Jonah's tomb. Other militants have subsequently been killed, two as recently as Thursday, according to residents.
Atheel Al-Nujaifi, the governor of Mosul, announced last week that a popular rebellion against the militants will start soon.
The Islamic State "behaved very nice at the beginning of the takeover of Mosul, but they start to uncover their ugly faces. They blew up three prophets' graves, which opened my eyes," Othman said. "I think people won't be standing for these injustices, and they might rise up against them very soon."
Also fueling people's anger — and the sense of being held by an occupying power — is the fact that many Islamic State fighters are foreigners. Residents reported encountering Chechens, Saudis, Libyans and other Arabs — they dress differently and speak Arabic with different accents.
Until Iraq's government forces liberate the region — or residents themselves do — most say they are trying to cope as best as they can.
"My son is 18 years old. He adores playing the guitar, and he is a wonderful musician," said Al-Rasool, who wonders how long it will be before music is banned. "Now he is desperate — no exams, no going outdoors. But he is still playing. And I feel happy listening to him, knowing that as long as he continues to do so, there is hope for this life."
Nabeel reported from Istanbul. Contributing: John Dyer in New York.


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The program focuses on developing skills for problem-solving, critical thinking, communication and the use of constantly changing technology. These skills are needed to deal with a variety of decisions made by managers in manufacturing, service and public organizations. These encompass strategic long-range decisions (such as product, service and process design, facility location and capacity planning), as well as operational decisions (such as project management, operations planning and scheduling, quality assurance, purchasing and inventory).
Welcome to the Department of Systems and Operations Management
About Systems and Operations Management...
The option in Systems and Operations Management prepares students for rewarding careers in a variety of industries such as aerospace, electronics, automotive, health care, airlines, transportation, biotechnology, software and banking. The range of positions includes quality management, project management, operations planning and scheduling, inventory and materials management, systems analysis and design, decision support systems and supply chain management.


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CARE on Social Media
Join CARE on our social media channels to be among the first to hear about our groundbreaking work fighting poverty all over the world. In times of crisis, we turn to social media to give minute-by-minute updates as emergencies unfold and CARE deploys lifesaving aid.
Every day, our constituents connect with CARE and each other on social media to talk about empowering women in the fight against global poverty. By joining us on social media, you'll gain access to photos, videos and stories from the field that aren't available anywhere else. At CARE, we believe that social media is a conversation. We welcome you to ask questions, give us feedback or just tell us your thoughts on the global issues facing women, girls and their families.
We have a live person reading and responding to tweets and Facebook messages every single day. Join us right now and make CARE a part of your online community.
Follow, Like and Subscribe to CARE!


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Welcome to Tweet Repeat, your daily dose of the best celeb anecdotes found on Twitter. We've scoured the site looking for the funniest, weirdest, goofiest, deepest, craziest, sweetest, most intriguing thoughts of the day, from the most intriguing people on the
planet internet.
Kellie Pickler took home the Mirror Ball trophy last night on Dancing With the Stars and fans have been busy in the Twittersphere chatting about her victory! Stars like Wendy Williams and Carrie Underwood have also joined in by tweeting their excitement for the country singer. One Direction has also been a popular topic as the boys are performing in Barcelona tonight. Check out today's Tweet Repeat below to see what else your favorite celebrities have been buzzing about!
A teen invented a device that recharges cell phones in 20 seconds. Good for her, bad for the kid who made a paper mache volcano. #fallonmono
— jimmy fallon (@jimmyfallon) May 22, 2013
Congrats @kelliepickler!!!!! So happy for you. xox #TeamPickler #DWTS
— Wendy Williams (@WendyWilliams) May 22, 2013
dinner dates with dad never fail to make me shmilleee ☺
— Kendall Jenner (@KendallJenner) May 22, 2013
Morning Barcelona! Had a great day off yesterday ! Just love chilling on my days off! Pumped for the show tonight ! U ready ? Vamos !!
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) May 22, 2013
Thank you tweeties I can see you laughed with me,last night was so much fun,then a spontaneous party at Sur,paying the price this morning!
— Lisa Vanderpump (@LisaVanderpump) May 22, 2013
For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!


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In the last decade, two major technological trends have converged and look set to have a significant effect on corporate networks. In the past information technology was centered on PCs, servers and data centers. Now we have virtual computing and it has reached every corner of the IT world.
Companies are looking for solutions that mean less financial outlay for head-office whilst at the same time simplifying operations. Given these considerations, SD-WAN can be seen as an alternative that can be integrated within the entire WAN architecture.
In order to get the best experience reading this magazine, it's essential to follow these simple steps:


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March 6, 2006
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - This past weekend, the MIT women's fencing team competed in the NCAA Northeast Regional hosted by Harvard University. Gemma Mendel fell two spots shy of making the cut for the national meet as she placed 13th in foil.
Nancy Hua and Barrette Strickland bolstered the foil team's efforts with final rankings of 16th and 22nd. The members of the epee squad placed within several spots of each other, with Mika Tomczak leading the way (19th), followed by Joanna Tong (22nd), and Lele Yu (24th). Lynn Wang led the sabre team with an 18th-place finish while Shauna Jin was 23rd and Yushin Chen ranked 34th.


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Our shop is an online boutique. We offer state of the art efficiency and security. We are always adding new products, so check us out daily.
Rock V Top
As seen on the gorgeous hippie-rockstar-goddess, Vanessa Hudgens at Coachella, and the little fashionistas Kendall and Kylie Jenner on vacation and at Coachella, the Rock V Top is the perfect balance of sexy-feminine-rocker-boho-gypsy-goddess. The elastic band allows a relaxed, comfortable fit, and the V-shape gives the illusion of a longer, leaner waist. The ways to wear it are endless - pair it with skinny jeans and heels for a night out, rock it with the matching Newport Lace Shorts and combat boots to your favorite music festival, cover up your swimsuit at the beach, or wear it as a sexy nightie! 100% COTTON
NOTE: Shown here with matching Newport Lace Shorts, sold seperately.
SIZING NOTE: The fit around the chest is an elastic band, so it's flexible. Buy your size based on your height. An XS = 5'2'' and under, S = 5'2'' - 5'5'', M = 5'6'' - 5'9'', and L = 5'9'' and taller.
Get creative and tag us so we can re-post you, whoop whoop!!


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Star Trek Movie Tie-In
Are you willing to settle for an ordinary life? Or do you think you were meant for something better? Something special?"
One grew up in the cornfields of Iowa, fighting for his independence, for a way out of a life that promised only indifference, aimlessness and obscurity. "You will forever be a child of two worlds, capable of choosing your own destiny. The only question you face is, which path will you chose?"
The other grew up on the jagged cliffs of the harsh Vulcan desert, fighting for acceptance, for a way to reconcile the logic he was taught with the emotions he felt.
In the far reaches of the galaxy, a machine of war bursts into existence in a place and time it was never meant to be. On a mission of retribution for the destruction of his planet, its half-mad captain seeks the death of every intelligent being, and the annihilation of every civilized world.
Kirk and Spock, two completely different and unyielding personalities, must find a way to lead the only crew, aboard the only ship, that can stop him.
"The wait is over."
- Katelyn
- 2009/05/14
I loved this book. I wasn't even close to being a Star Trek fan, in fact I had only seen enough episodes to tell the difference between a Klingon and a Vulcan. However, after seeing this movie and listening to the book, I am so excited to learn more about Star Trek. I saw the movie before I listened to this book so it was just nice to have all of the gaps filled in where the movie just skimmed over poeple, places, and topics. I would definitely recommend this book to any Star Trek fan or someone who just enjoys a good sci-fi book. Zachary Quinto, who portrays 'young Spock' in the movie, narrates and I think he did a great job! He did all of characters and background noises.. it was kind of silly but I don't think the story would have been half as interesting if he hadn't been the one to read it. I hope he decides to read some of the other Star Trek books!
- Alan Burchill
- 2009/07/23
Just like the movie but more...
This unabridged version is like listening to a special extended version of the movie. It is well narated and would be an excellent listen before or after you hve watched the movie.
- Eugenia
- 2009/08/19
All Trekkers & others will love this!
This is a wonderful audio adaptation of the book. Zachary Quinto (who plays Spock in the movie) is a terrific reader. His accents and voice qualities are perfect for each character and you really feel he knows all of the characters very well.
I highly recommend this for serious Trekkers and for anyone who loves Star Trek or sci-fi.
- gatetraveler
- 2009/08/17
Better then the movie.
This was way better then the movie. It truly did live up to its title. The tie-in gave me the thoughts of each person. Very enjoyable and would recommend it to any new star trekkies.
- SoCalBonnie
- 2009/08/02
If you enjoyed the movie, you'll want this book
But even if you never saw the movie, you'll probably have fun with this title, especially if you're a Star Trek fan.
I AM a Star Trek fan, but wasn't sure if this would be worth the purchase; after all, it's a "tie-in". That doesn't sound promising! Sounds like it's merely a vehicle to cash in on the movie's popularity.
Maybe it is, but it is also an enjoyable listen as well a source that answered so many questions I had after watching the movie. For example, who was the kid Kirk hoots at in the opening scenes as he speeds down the road? And how in the heck did that Uhura and Spock thing go down? This book explains it all.
Zachary Quinto does a great job narrating, too.
- Kathleen R
- 2009/07/26
Very enjoyable
Excellent rendition by Quinto, I was afraid it would sound like his characters both on Star Trek and Heros, as they are similar in that they are anti-emotive and non-emotive respectively, however he portrayed different characters with aplomb and the narration was engaging. The book (imo)as always is better than the movie, which I enjoyed, it explains a bit more background of the story. Listened to on a long road trip- enjoyed by young(er) and old(er) alike, made miles fly by. No trouble with the download or the recording, via mp3 player.
- John
- 2009/06/15
Absolutely Great
I became engrossed in this audiobook from the very start. Foster did a remarkable job of bringing out the a depth of character as well as the intrigue of a great story. Quinto transistions his voice between characters seamlessly so you know who is speaking without the he said / she said. I could not wait to hear the next chapter and I did not want it the story to end. If you like any of the Star Trek stories then you will thoroughly enjoy this one.
You will not be disappointed with this selection.
- Fuzioncloud
- 2009/11/07
Entertaining, but NOT a Tie-In
While this book was well written and entertaining, I was expecting a bit more depth and side plot since it is advertised as a tie-in to the movie. This book is, in fact, THE MOVIE. Aside from a few minor changes, a couple extra details to JTk's life, and a slightly different ending, this is exactly as the movie plays out. The movie is very good, as is this book. I just wish it was not advertised as a tie-in. I gave it 4 stars. It would have been 5 if, like I said, there was more depth than the movie.
- Dennis
- 2009/05/28
If you like Star Trek, this is a great book!
I tend to disagree with some of the negative comments stated here. I was prepared to HATE Zachary Quinto as narrator, thinking that he could only be Spock in the audiobook, due to his role in the movie. I was very surprised.
His narration, complete with different voices for each character, is flawless. I have listened to other Star Trek audiobooks with other actors, like one with Marina Sirtis as narrator. I couldn't separate her distinctive voice from the story.
As for the story, it follows the movie pretty well. Having additional insight is great, but sometimes is seems TOO much information. I heard sections where the movie said it just fine with fewer words.
I would highly recommend it if you like Star Trek in general or the movie.
- Stephen
- 2009/06/16
A Great Presentation of the Move
I have been a Star Trek fan since it first came on the air in 1966, so this is hardly an unbiased review. I loved the movie (saw it twice) and decided to give the 'novelization' of the movie a try. I am glad to say that it was well worth it. The book provides more detail than the movie and in many instances, helps to guide you through what the characters are thinking or considering. I am generally not a fan of books made from movies, but this is an exception. I was able to relive the movie one more time and felt the book added much to the story. I'm not sure how good the book would if you haven't seen the movie as the description of the vessels and different technology can not live up to what was presented on the screen. However, if you liked the movie, I am sure that you will enjoy this book. Live long and Prosper.
- "graham_78"
- 2009/06/23
Suitable for Trekies only
Watched the film and just wanted to get some more detail. This book is not exactly faithful to the film, but then it is only an adaptation - and no one could agree that the film could be considered faithful. Still no clue where the attack on the Klingons comes in, and I think the film's method of having Spock lure Nero out system for the showdown is to be prefered. That said, I enjoyed it. There are one or two glitches in Audible's copy of the recording which are a little annoying. Most noticable is upon Spock's return to the bridge before the final battle. I loved the final punchline, though I had to play it back a few times due to the accent (it's Beagle not "Beekle").


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Notice of Filing of Application is provided under Austin City Code, Chapter 25-1 - General Requirements and Procedures, Section 25-1-132 (Notice of Public Hearing) thru Section 25-1-133 (Notice of Applications and Administrative Decisions). The cases listed below receive these notices.
Notices are sent to:
If you receive one of these notices and have questions about the specific case it references, please contact the Case Manager identified on the notice.


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Department of Primatology
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig
phone: +49 (0)341 3550 - 200
fax: +49 (0)341 3550 - 299
|Bachelor in Ecology, Università degli Studi di Roma "Tor Vergata", Rome
|Master Course in Ecobiology, Università degli studi di Roma "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy
|PhD student at the Max Plank Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig – Leipzig School of Human Origins, University of Leipzig
Field experience
|Field assistant,
Université de Montréal Constance Dubuc, PhD student
Determinants of paternity in rhesus macaques
Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico
|Field assistant,
Universidade de São Paulo - Ethocebus Project Michele Verderane, PhD student
Socioecology of Cebus libidinosus
Fazenda Boa Vista (PI), Brazil
|Data collection for Master dissertation
Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza" – ISTC-CNR, Roma - Ethocebus project
Supervisor: Elisabetta Visalberghi
Strategies of food processing in two wild groups of Cebus libidinosus
Fazenda Boa Vista (PI), Brazil
Other research experience
|Data collection for Bachelor dissertation
Università degli Studi di Roma "Tor Vergata" – Ethoikos
Supervisor: Monica Carosi
Spontaneous subtraction of two infants in captive Macaca tonkeana: behavioral and physiological stress response in mothers
Parco del Piano dell'Abatino (RI), Italy
|Collaboration in hormonal extraction from faecal samples
Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy, Dept. of Experimental Veterinarian Sciences
|Laboratory assistant
Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technology (CNR), Roma (IT) – Universita` di Parma (IT)
Coordinators: Elisabetta Visalberghi; Pier Francesco Ferrari
Role of imitation in increasing affiliation, empathy, and rapport between individuals in Cebus apella.
Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technology (CNR), Roma (IT)
Scolarships and Awards
|Grant by Ethoikos S.r.l. covering travel and accommodation costs during my staying at Faculty of Veterinary, Padova, Italy conducting a laboratory experience on hormonal extraction from faecal samples for my Bachelor dissertation.
|Grant by Ethoikos S.r.l. (€ 400,00). Contribution for further development of my Bachelor thesis project.
|Scholarship by Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza" (€ 1.095,00). Collaboration in university services (total 150 hours). Partecipating students are selected according to their academic results.
|Scholarship by "Poste Italiane" (€ 2.500,00) awarded to employee's sons/daughters with excellent academic results in their first degree.
|Grant by "Nordesta - reflorestamento e educaçao" www.nordesta.org (1.000,00 R$). Nordesta is a non governental association engaged in preservation of the tropical rainforests and the improvement of living standards of rural populations in Brazil. I received this contribution for my Master thesis work in Brazil.
Scholarship by Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza" (€ 2.800,00) for development of a Master thesis project abroad. Two scholarship are granted each year to students in Biology selected according to their academic results
Teaching experience
|Lecture on "Primate Cognition" within the module "Primate Behavioral Ecology", (module holder Dr. Anja Widdig; 11-BIO-0804), as part of the MSc. Degree program of Biology at the University of Leipzig, Germany.
Lecture on "Primate Culture and Tool Use" within the training program for volunteers participating in the PanAf project (led by Dr. Hjalmar Kühl) which took place at the Max Planck for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig Germany.
Fluent in Italian and English; Proficient in French and Portuguese.


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The Danube Delta is a dynamic interface between the geological history – the deltaic morphogenesis and the anthropic diachronic extension. The Danube Delta complex is one of the most important geo-political and cultural entities that can be described as a compound geographical unit which provides an exceptional biodiversity. This enabled it to be counted among the UNESCO biosphere reservations, thus presenting the image of a continuously huge developing area with a scientific potential yet unilaterally approached for the time being upon prevailing geographical or biological research directions. In spite of the fact that this area has been intensely inhabited during the envisaged historical periods, a fact otherwise underlined in the case of several ancient and medieval sources, only several archaeological sites have been identified up to the present and they are affected by the permanent extension and mobility of the Danube Delta. Among them, the Greek cities of Istros – Histria Orgame – Argamum, colonies established by Miletus, which later continued their development as Roman cities, were located in the lagoonal region on the coast, while the Roman fortification Halmyris was situated on the Danube Delta's southern branch and the small bastion was located on the island called "Bisericuta". Another two Medieval fortresses, Heraclea, probably a Genovese fortress (present day Enisala) and the Ottoman fortification of Vadu, both situated at the western and respectively southern limit of Razim-Sinoie lagoon were identified. All these settlements were exposed, in different manners, to the influences exerted by the deltaic morphogenesis and its lagoonal system.
There are still numerous scientific debates regarding the origin and evolution of the Danube Delta. The specific studies on recent evolution at the Danube's mouths (Antiquity and the Middle Age) can provide essential and significant contributions to the habitat's dynamic in relation to the deltaic geomorphology. Therefore, if the existence of the Beibugeac passage is either highlighted or refuted, the location of the famous island of Peuce will be clarified. From the geomorphologic point of view, it is known that human settlements placed at the littoral level have been strongly influenced by the oscillations of the Planet Ocean. This is why the old littoral settlements of the Black Sea (10000-20000 years BP) were covered by waters, as consequence of the gradual increase in the Planet Ocean level. The waters of the Mediterranean Sea burst extremely fast through the Bosporus Strait, in the Black Sea, with an increase of several cm/day. The rapid change in the shoreline determined the massive exodus of the populations from the areas covered by water. The Milesian colony of Histria and Argamum disappeared because of the rise of the sea level and because, in front of the Halmyris Gulf, a barrier beach was built, determining the formation of the Razim-Sinoie lagoon.
But what I wish to learn is this: supposing the bed of the Euxine Sea was lower than that of the Propontis and of the sea next after the Propontis before the opening of the outlet at Byzantium, what was there to prevent the Euxine from being filled up by the rivers, whether it was previously a sea or merely a lake greater than Lake Maeotis? If this point be conceded, then I shall go on to ask this question too: Is it not true that the water-levels of the Euxine and the Propontis were such that, so long as they remained the same, there could be no straining for an outflow, for the reason that resistance and pressure were equal, but that, as soon as the inner sea reached a higher level, it set up a strain and discharged its excess water? And is not this the reason why the outer sea became confluent with the inner sea and why it assumed the same level as the inner sea — regardless of whether the latter was originally a sea or once a lake and later a sea — simply because of its mingling with the inner sea and prevailing over it? For if this point be granted as well as the first, the outflow that now takes place would go on just the same, but it would not be away from a higher sea-bed, or from a sloping one, as Strato contended.
… Strabo, Book I, 6.
This study proposes a brief review of the main evolution stages of the deltaic area, according to the most recent discoveries in the field, as well as an emphasis on the new delimitating criteria for the hinterland in the ancient and medieval time. This is the reason for which a cartographic delimitation model for the studied settlements hinterlands was created. This model takes into account the physico-geographical realities of the surrounding field, and mostly that of the Razim-Sinoie lagoon complex. This model can also be applied for other settlements, which may lead to comparisons and to drawing certain conclusions regarding the way harbour settlements were chosen. The general research perspective that we promote is that of a discipline which intertwines methods and principles pertaining to the previously mentioned subjects, which is called limnoarchaeology. It is a well-known fact that the limnology is a border discipline between geography and biology, made up of two branches. One belongs to geography (physical limnology) in the sense that it studies the depression, its means of formation, the physical-chemical characteristics and the water dynamics, and the other belongs to biology (biological limnology) in the way that it studies the flora and fauna of the still waters (biohydrocenosis). Due to this context, our approach aims to develop a new holistic viewpoint over the human habitat from the neighboring area of the deltaic and lagoonary complex of the Danube Delta, by implying methods specific to the limnological archaeology related to the whole aforementioned sciences and connected subjects. Last but not least it is worth mentioning that, as the Delta is the most dynamic area of Europe where the nature-human interrelationships can be genuinely studied, the forwarded research is meant to provide important interpretative analogies of the past.


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Tools & Resources
This website is intended to provide rich information and resources for Education Cluster partners working at country and global levels.
The tools, guidance and resources highlighted are focused specifically on cluster work and coordination issues, rather than more general education in emergencies documents. For more general information and resources relating to education in emergencies, please visit the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies website.
This resources section can be explored in a two main ways on the right hand-side column:
- Key Resources : These pages take priority topics and summarize key resources to guide your work. They list a limited selection of relevant and concise resources to save you time and guide you through complicated topics.
- Resource Database : If you are looking for a specific document or just want to browse the resources available on this site, you can use the database to search by key word or using the tag system.
*Tools and Resources – photograph credits: © UNICEF/NYHQ2012-0197/Pirozzi
2 Responses to "Tools & Resources"
Great work and very helpful! Thank you very much!
I appreciate the great work of the Education cluster. These resources are fantastic.


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One Past 5
Denver's historic Phipps Mansion. Photo by Hans Osheim, Special to The Denver Post
Almost from the day construction was completed in 1933, Phipps Mansion in Denver's picturesque Belcaro neighborhood has been the setting for gatherings large and small, elegant or sporting in theme, with guests ranging from family to foreign dignitaries.
The Georgian mansion designed by Denver architects Fisher and Fisher, was built as a retirement home for the late U.S. Sen. Lawrence C. Phipps, who was born in 1862 and made his fortune with the Carnegie Steel Co. before retiring to Colorado. Phipps served in the United States Senate from 1918 to 1930. The home cost $280,000 to build.
It remains a popular destination today, although ownership has passed from the Phipps family to the University of Denver and events held there range from business conferences to weddings to charitable fundraisers.
Recently, it was the setting for "One Past 5," the second in a series of mixers designed to introduce Young Professionals to Historic Denver and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The evening's polo theme — a tip of the cap to the men of the Phipps family, who were polo players par excellence — inspired many of the 125 guests to dress as they would for a polo match. Hats, frilly dresses, linen slacks and seersucker suits were all represented at the early-evening affair chaired by Holly Kylberg and Tom Lorz.
Special guests were Lawrence Phipps III, a grandson of the late senator, and his wife, Marie, and Lincoln Phipps, who is a great-grandson of Senator Phipps. Lawrence Phipps delighted the group by sharing memories of the wonderful home and his days as a polo player, including matches at the nearby Polo Grounds.
Sponsors for the evening were Nordstrom, Denver ChopHouse & Brewery, Halcyon House Interior Design, Tryba Architects, Mark Sheldon, Fleur Décor, Solera Restaurant, Cherry Creek Audio, Modern in Denver Magazine, Pravda Vodka, Denver Polo Classic and the Denver Active 20-30 Children's Foundation, Hans Osheim Photography, Pura Vida Fitness & Spa Lawrence C. Phipps Memorial Conference Center-University of Denver, and the Phipps Family.
"One Past 5" is a program developed by Historic Denver, Inc. and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to raise awareness of local historic preservation issues, particularly among young Denver-area professionals.
Pictures taken at One Past 5 can be viewed at denverpost.com/seengallery
Denver Post Society Editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or firstname.lastname@example.com


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School engineers strategic plan from wide input
In an effort to launch their academic enterprise into the very highest national ranks, leaders at Princeton's School of Engineering and Applied Science have held 11 two-day workshops, taken ideas from nearly 800 participants, brainstormed with outside experts and compiled reports that lay out scores of possible initiatives and opportunities.
And they want more.
Now six months into its strategic planning process, the engineering school is soliciting further input to refine the ideas that have emerged so far and shape them into a final plan, which is scheduled to be completed this semester. The reports from the 11 workshops are available online .
In addition, engineering dean Maria Klawe and other leaders of the strategic planning process are traveling the country to host four "mini workshops" aimed at informing alumni of their efforts and soliciting further input. The regional visits are taking place in Boston, Seattle, San Jose and Washington, D.C. (For details and times, see the above Web site.) They also are holding one-on-one talks with many faculty members throughout the engineering school.
Read the full story in the Weekly Bulletin.
Contact: Eric Quinones (609) 258-3601


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Join us for our traditional name-day event when we will receive and confirm new members. This year our Ascension Day celebration takes on an additional dimension as Bishop Mark Sisk makes a farewell visit to The Church of the Ascension and consecrates the newly commissioned portrait of Father Andrew. Cake and champagne toasts will follow the service.
Get To Know Us
Ascension is a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive community of people who gather to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, to give praise and thanks to God through the beauty of worship, and to love and serve God and our neighbors.
Regular Worship Schedule
- Sunday 9am: Holy Eucharist at Side Altar
- Sunday 11am: Holy Eucharist in the Church with sermon, hymns & Ascension choir
- Sunday 7pm: Service of Meditations and Sacrament, including chant, interfaith readings and communion
- Monday–Friday: 6pm at Side Altar. Church open for prayer and meditation 12–3pm.
We'd like to hear from you!
Ongoing Events
- Mondays: Weekly Lectionary Bible Study
7 p.m. in the Parish Office, 12 W. 11th Street, 2nd Flr. For more information, contact Sibyl Piccone.
See all scheduled events
- Mondays: Weekly Lectionary Bible Study


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Been a while since I've had time to post anything here, but I've just got time for three quick announcements.
1/ Last week I ran some public training courses. I've just put the slides online.
2/ There's a London.pm technical meeting in two weeks time. It's at Net-A-Porter (above the Westfield shopping centre) on
October March 10th. A good line-up of talks. If you're interested, please sign up.
3/ I was going to explain how the context examples in my last post worked. If you haven't worked it out yet, I recommend a close read of the documentation for reverse.


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You associate the Australian burnout scene with beer-swilling tough guys. Who knew their hoonage could be so... beautiful? (Warning: the last pic is NSFW)
These pictures come from the magazine Man of the World. Check out their site right here, and a link to their current Issue 8 right here. The photographer is Simon Davidson.
I've seen a lot of burnouts, and I've seen a lot of pictures of burnouts, but these shots of flaming, smoking Holdens (and a Chevy Camaro) are like nothing I've laid eyes on.
All these shots are in high-res. Click 'Expand' in the upper left and you can see them blown up.
I mean, holy crap. Too hot. Need ice cream.
Photo Credits: Man of the World/Simon Davidson


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musescore issue getting a composition to play
apparently, now all of a sudden, I can only get my music to play if it is the default soundfont. If I use another soundfont library such as the SChristian Collins 1.471, it just processes indefinitely when I press play. I do not see a solution to this. If I can only use the default soundfont in uploads, it makes no sense to upload anything anymore. So, unless I can fix this, I won't be posting any more. So it goes.


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INFO PROVIDED BY ListHub
3 Bedrooms
Unit 3 Bed · Avail. now
3 Bed · 2 Bath · 1473 sqft
Listing Provided by ListHub
Catherine Wilder
Award Realty
Copyright © 2020 Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. All rights reserved. All information provided by the listing agent/broker is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified.


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For 2013, Ram has taken one of its most popular models and loaded it with attitude. The Ram Black Express takes a combination of style, performance, capability and value and transforms into the "baddest-looking" factory-built truck on the market.
The 2013 Ram Black Express is distinguished by its all-black exterior. Starting with 20-inch black aluminum wheels, it also adds a black front fascia with fog lamps, black grille surround with black hex-link inserts, black rear bumper and black Ram's head badges on the grille and tailgate. All body-side badging has been removed.
"Ram Trucks are known for their bold, in-your-face presence," said Reid Bigland, President and CEO – Ram Truck Brand. "The new Black Express takes Ram's aggressive good looks to an all new sinister level by 'blackening out' the entire truck while maintaining a great price."
The Ram Black Express also features premium bi-functional halogen projector headlamps with black bezels, 15 amber LEDs for park/turn/position lamp and three amber LEDs for the side marker. The taillamps also include black finishes and are comprised of 15 red LEDs with three red LEDs for the side markers.
The 2013 Ram Black Express is available in two- and four-wheel-drive models and a choice of regular cab, quad cab or crew cab body styles.
Ram Black Express pricing starts at $26,955, plus $1,095 destination charge.
The 2013 Ram 1500 Black Express will begin reaching dealerships in July 2013.
About the Ram 1500 Express
The Ram 1500 Express is aimed squarely at first-time buyers and owners who are seeking a vehicle with performance and style that they can customize and make their own.
"With HEMI power and sport-truck styling, the Ram 1500 Express has been one of our most popular models," added Bigland. "Young and first-time buyers expect to get a lot for their money. Ram 1500 Express gives them great looks along with HEMI horsepower, torque, towing and payload, in a choice of cab sizes — all at a fantastic price."
In addition to the 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine with Fuel Saver Technology, 395 horsepower and 410 lb.-ft. of torque, the Ram 1500 Express comes loaded with content that emphasizes its high-performance character.
The Ram 1500 Express features a racy, monochromatic paint scheme. A body-colored grille with black honeycomb inserts, body-colored front fascia and body-colored rear bumper with chrome-tipped dual exhausts emphasize its sport-truck credentials. The Ram 1500 Express also includes fog lamps and 20-inch aluminum wheels with locking lug nuts.
The Ram 1500 Express also features a locking tailgate, cargo lamp, rear-bumper step pad, 6-inch-by-9-inch sideview mirrors and rear wheel-well liners.
Standard features also include a 160-amp alternator, 26-gallon fuel tank, 3.55 rear-axle ratio, 700-amp maintenance-free battery, four- and seven-pin trailer wiring harness, multi-link coil rear suspension, heavy-duty front and rear shock absorbers, front and rear stabilizer bars, electric power steering, heavy-duty engine and transmission cooling, and a full-size spare tire.
The Ram 1500 Express Crew and Quad Cab buyers get a choice of cloth or vinyl 40/20/40 split-bench seats in black / diesel gray with either carpeted or heavy-duty vinyl floor covering. Other features include air conditioning, an instrument cluster with tachometer and 120-mph speedometer, 12-volt auxiliary power outlet, four-spoke tilt steering wheel, six-speaker media center 5-inch touch screen with MP3 audio jack and 1.5-amp USB input for mobile devices, automatic headlamps, dozens of storage bins, driver- and passenger-assist handles, power accessory delay, rear dome lamp, rearview day/night mirror, tinted-glass windows, tip start and variable intermittent windshield wipers. Power windows and locks, and front and rear floor mats also are standard on the Crew and Quad Cab models.
Safety features include advanced multistage front air bags, supplemental front-curtain and side air bags, anti-lock four-wheel disc brakes, electronic stability control, brake assist, rain brake support, ready alert braking, all-speed traction control, electronic roll mitigation, hill-start assist, trailer-sway control, height-adjustable shoulder belts, Sentry Key theft deterrent system and a tire pressure monitoring warning lamp.
Ram 1500 Express is available in Black Clear Coat, Black Gold Pearl Coat, Bright Silver Metallic Clear Coat, Bright White Clear Coat, Copperhead Pearl Coat, Deep Cherry Red Crystal Pearl Coat, Flame Red Clear Coat, Maximum Steel Metallic Clear Coat, Mineral Gray Metallic Clear Coat, Prairie Pearl Coat, True Blue Pearl Coat or Western Brown.


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Scotland's woodlands are the ideal places to help improve health and well-being as autumn continues and winter approaches, according to Forest Enterprise Scotland (FES).
With mounting evidence showing access to safe natural space is becoming increasingly important to physical and mental health, FES is promoting forests as free outdoor activity centres for everyone to enjoy.
FES manages Scotland's National Forest Estate and carries out regular improvement works to help maintain and improve access to woodlands for communities.
As well as offering the opportunity to appreciate the changing autumn colours, being outdoors provides multiple health benefits including reducing symptoms of poor mental health and stress and improving well-being while an increase in physical activity can also increase levels of community activity across different social groups.
Julie McAlpine, FES community engagement and employment skills manager, said: "The changing colours, wildlife preparing for the cold weather and the smell of ripening blackberries are just some of the fascinating things people can see in the woodlands and help take their mind off things.
"We are working to encourage awareness and use of urban woodlands amongst local communities and current non-users and get them to consider their local greenspace or forest as place to go."
Further information about green spaces across Scotland can be found at www.scotland.forestry.gov.uk


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YSA Y-bearing units
Optimize air handling bearing performance
The axial locking power is much higher using sleeve locking instead of set screw or eccentric locking. It also reduces the risk of bearing failure caused by vibrations and loosening of set screws. The YSA Y-bearing unit provides higher axial holding power and full load support under the bearing load zone. Benefits include:
- Fewer balancing problems
- Reduced vibration and noise levels
- Reduced risk of failures
- Reduced costs, as standard shafting can be used


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Bloomsburg University's Department of Economics offers a systematic study of the economic issues and prepare students for a wide range of career opportunities in for profit and non-profit organizations, as well as government.
The core of the curriculum enables the students:
To accommodate the diverse interests at undergraduate level, the department offers three tracks to economics majors that lead to a bachelor's degree.
The minor in economics is designed to prepare students with analytical and problem-solving skills that supplement student's major field of study.


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السلام عليكم
أقدم لكم
HiDownload Platinum v7.74
لتسريع التنزيل
HiDownload Platinum is a multi-threaded download manager that allows you to download individual files (or lists of files) from web and FTP sites while maximizing the potential of your internet connection. It also supports multimedia streaming and and RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) with optional resume, enabling you to download movies, music and capture streaming video and audio,record radio from Internet. It also offers a tool to analyze MMS/RTSP URLs, as well as a built-in Broadcast Manager. In addition, it provides all the standard features of a download manager, including scheduling, drop basket, download history, clipboard monitoring, download categories as well as zip preview and more.
Key Features:
• Accelerated Downloads:By splitting the files into several parts and downloading them at the same time you save time.
• Support HTTP,FTP,MMS/MMST/MMSU,RTSP,PNM protocols
• Support rapidshare, megaupload and other similar sites(Premium Account)
• Record Streaming Video and Streaming Audio
All the popular streaming formats are supported, including:
• Windows Media™
• Real Audio™ and Real Video™
• QuickTime™
• Flash Video (FLV)
• Streaming MP3 (Shoutcast™)
• Record all kinds of great online media, including:
• Music Videos.
• YouTube, PutFile, Google Video and other Video Sites.
• Live Internet TV and Radio.
• Streaming Webcams.
• Shoutcast™ and other Streaming MP3 radio.
• Support Meta-files: ram, smil, asx, wax, wvx, m3u, pls, ...
• Categories:you can easily have files of certain types downloaded automatically to a folder you specify
• Live Broadcast Manager
• Build-in Podcast Manager, schedule to download podcast
• Browser Integration:The program can detect clicks on certain file types in the most common browsers and automatically handle the downloads for you.Currently HiDownload Pro integrates with:
- Internet Explorer
- Mozilla Firefox
- Mozilla
- Netscape
- Opera
• Advanced Scheduler:you decide when and what will be downloaded!
• Zip Preview:view the contents of Zip files before download
• Zip Extract:download & extract specific files from zip archive
• Virus Checking:You may select files that have been downloaded and scan them.
• Support Proxy Server:You may set HiDownload to use a proxy server according to your network configuration.
• Cookies support
• Rename automatically
Version 7.75
* Fixed a bug of download realmedia
* increase the "Maximum Simultaneous tasks" to 30
المصدر: منتديات إسلامك
fvkhl[ jsvdu hgjk.dg HiDownload Platinum v7>74