text: Previously, on "Who called who what and when" Dec 81. Jason calls Turner Bates dirty and a drifter. Turner Bates calls Jason drunk. Emma calls Jason dead. Julia calls Emma catatonic. Julia calls funerals upsetting. Angela calls Julia impetuous. Angela calls Jason a man of the soil. Gus calls Jason's death a mystery. Angela calls Gus unskilled. Chase calls Gus his right hand man. Chase calls Angela the Queen of the Mountain. Angela calls Chase a proud man, a stubborn man and the oldest Gioberti man in the family. Paul calls Chase the only man he ever knew who could fly a chopper like it was a fighter plane. Vicky calls Chase the homey type. Julia calls Chase a war hero. Lance calls Chase a problem. Chase calls himself a nerd. Chase calls Maggie a fine writer. Maggie calls Vicky a great plasterer and very intuitive. Maggie calls Cole nineteen years old. Chase calls Cole an archeology buff. Lance calls Cole an honest lad, a doer of good deeds and a dumb eastern preppy. Cole calls Lance a swell guy. Angela calls Lance exceedingly irresponsible and smug. Angela calls Jason's house dilapidated. Chase calls Angela's house a hornet's nest. Paul calls Chase's newfound morality insipid. Chase calls Paul the kind of guy that's got to make an entrance. Maggie calls Chase and Paul a couple of overgrown kids. Maggie calls Cole and Vicky born and bred New Yorkers. Vicky calls the Tuscany Valley the middle of nowhere. Angela calls the Tuscany Valley a small gossipy little town. Cole calls the Tuscany Valley Lance's little kingdom. Angela calls Falcon Crest a kingdom. Douglas calls Falcon Crest Angela's first love. Angela calls Douglas an early riser and a sentimentalist. Angela calls a vineyard an unforgiving mistress. Jan 82. Lance calls Tony a phoney. Lance calls himself the heir to Falcon Crest. Lance calls Falcon Crest a mad house. Chase calls himself mad as hell. Lance calls Chase one hell of a poker player. Angela calls Lance prideful. Julia calls Lance Lord of the Manor. Turner Bates calls himself King of the Road. Gus calls Turner Bates a loser. Angela calls Turner Bates dangerous. Cole calls Turner Bates kinda weird and some jerk. Cole calls Michael West some jerk who wants to put Vicky in a movie. Chase calls Michael West pathetic scum. Chase calls Rimrock Canyon awfully rough country. Chase calls Angela the Dragon Queen. Vicky calls Angela a witch. Cole calls Angela a tough lady. Maggie calls Angela a tough lady. Angela calls Maggie a very sharp New Yorker dying of boredom in the Valley. Angela calls Rome beautiful. Angela calls Macbeth delightful. Angela calls Sheriff Tobias a dunce. Angela calls kidnapping a federal offence. Diana calls Vicky the perfect fantasy girl. Cole calls Vicky Nerd Face. Mario calls himself the first person in his whole family who has ever had an opportunity to go to college. Feb 82. Julia calls Wagner's Ring Cycle too long. Vicky calls the Giobertis a little weird. Vicky calls Mario really hung up on this ethnic stuff. Chase calls Mario a liar and a coward. Maggie calls Chase very sensitive to his past. Carl calls Chase the best hope we've got. Angela calls Chase a dreamer, a wild-eyed radical and a threat to the community. Vicky calls Chase obsessed with Falcon Crest. Carlo calls Angela the lovely matriarch of Falcon Crest. Lori calls Falcon Crest awesome. Lance calls Lori the only person that's ever allowed him to feel anything. Angela calls Lori Lance's little shop girl. Angela calls Melissa Lance's obligation. Angela calls Elizabeth an obligation from the past. Julia calls Elizabeth one of Angela's pet charities. Julia calls Emma pregnant. Vicky calls Emma different. Angela calls Emma flawed. Emma calls her baby dead. Lance calls Ed McKay dead. Elliot calls Chase politically dead. Eberhardt calls Angela a dead woman. Lance calls Eberhardt a maniac. Lance calls Angela larger than life. Maggie calls Angela dangerous. Jacqueline calls Angela treacherous. Angela calls Jacqueline a ruthlessly ambitious woman. Philip calls Jacqueline a very wealthy woman and a tough opponent. Elliot calls himself an old man with an awful lot of money and no place to spend it. Chase calls himself madder than hell. Maggie calls Eberhardt angry enough and disturbed enough to kill. Mar 82. Melissa calls Cole a man of the soil. Lance calls Cole a big New York tough guy. Angela calls Cole a nobody. Angela calls Melissa a young lady of breeding. Vicky calls Melissa a man-eater. Lance calls Melissa the woman he's supposed to marry. Bill calls Cole a rotten friend. The minister calls Bill a vibrant young man with a spirt of adventure and the heart of a poet. Carl calls Bill's death a stupid ridiculous senseless accident. The minister calls death an inevitable tragedy that all of us must face. Douglas calls himself too mean to die. Angela calls Douglas a stubborn man. Philip calls Carlo the only man in the valley whose holdings remotely rival Angela's. Philip calls Chase a very single minded individual. Chase calls Emma one bizarre lady. Angela calls Emma erratic and distracted. Emma calls herself disturbed, crazy and impossible to live with. Apr 82. Philip calls Cole criminally violent. Philip calls Vicky sexually promiscuous. Lance calls Cole the clean cut type. Cole calls Lance a snake and a bastard. Lance calls himself insanely jealous. Melissa calls Lance just like everyone else at Falcon Crest. Melissa calls the Agretti vineyards second only to Falcon Crest. Melissa calls herself just as much a part of Falcon Crest as anyone. Philip calls Falcon Crest a multi-million dollar enterprise. Philip calls Angela a woman of great pride. Melissa calls Angela ruthless. Carlo calls Melissa his only child. Carlo calls Chase no fool. Angela calls Chase a fool and a fraud. Cole calls Chase a little paranoid. Maggie calls Chase a complete workaholic. Lance calls Emma a kleptomaniac. Philip calls Emma an unstable personality. Chase calls Emma practically a prisoner in her mother's house and the key to this whole thing. Douglas calls Emma a very fragile girl. Father Bob calls Douglas a strong man and an empire builder. Father Bob calls the San Francisco Globe one of the major social forces of our day. Philip calls Richard Channing Douglas's son and the primary beneficiary of the San Francisco Globe. Philip calls Martin Deering one of these do-gooders who harbour notions of justice and equality that fly in the face of tradition. Mr Lomax calls Chao Li some Chinese guy. Oct 82. Angela calls Alicia a poor darling. Alicia calls Gus a good man. Angela calls Gus's death a tragedy to all of us. Chase calls Gus the first real friend he had in the valley. Angela calls Phillip her best friend. Lance calls Phillip a handsome devil. Lance calls his marriage to Melissa a sham. Emma calls Lance rude. Emma calls Melissa two-faced. Angela calls Emma a disturbed young woman. Julia calls Emma gone. Phillip calls Emma a lot brighter than we give her credit for. Phillip calls Carlo more than a simple vineyardist. Angela calls Carlo a madman. Richard calls Carlo an old man past his prime. Carlo calls Richard a true war monger. Carlo calls Cole scum. Cole calls Carlo dead. Sheriff Robbins calls Carlo's death a straight up out and out murder. Richard calls Carlo's murder a great story. Phillip calls Richard the bastard son of Angela's ex-husband. Angela calls Richard's birth an unfortunate accident. Richard calls Angela the source of his father's marital failings and the woman who's going to help him deliver the entire California wine industry to Henri Denault. Phillip calls Henri Denault a potent trading figure who seems to be sticking his thumb into the international money market pie. Henri Denault calls newspapers economic anachronisms. Richard calls simplicity the key to genius. Mario calls his puppy Te Amo. Nov 82. Tony calls Falcon Crest a cancer. Angela calls Falcon Crest a business not a charity. Angela calls labour a commodity. Angela calls the New Globe trash. Chase calls the New Globe a scandal sheet. The New Globe calls itself a fearless champion of individual rights unfettered by special interests. Richard calls himself a sentimentalist. Chase calls Richard simple minded. Angela calls Chase shortsighted. Chase calls a murder charge a damn tough thing to be up against. Cole calls his arraignment the social event of the season. Lance calls his marriage a complete sham. Melissa calls Lance obvious, brazen and a fool. Lance calls Melissa the laughing stock of the valley and a slut. Melissa calls Cole the father of her baby. Melissa calls her baby Joseph. Julia calls Joseph a good name and solid. Dr Howell calls Joseph susceptible. Angela calls Joseph stronger than the doctors think. Chase calls Angela afraid to let herself be human. Cole calls himself left handed. Maggie calls Cole innocent. Chase calls Maggie's father short and very bald. Chase calls Maggie's screenplay darn good. Maggie calls Katherine a good deal older than Cole. Steve Barton calls Katherine an older woman and a liability. Nick calls himself old enough to be Vicky's father and Count Dracula. Miss Hunter calls Richard Prince Charming. Miss Hunter calls Chase a knight in shining armour on a holy quest. Miss Hunter calls the Tuscany Valley the product of some writer's fertile imagination. Dec 82. Melissa calls Dr Edson the best neonatalist in the world. Dr Edson calls love the best medicine of all. Melissa calls Joseph a tiny speck of life and a means to ultimately control Falcon Crest. Richard calls Joseph the key to Falcon Crest. Chase calls Richard dangerous, deceptive, violent and unpredictable. Phillip calls Richard clever and manipulative. Jacqueline calls Richard the lesser of two evils. Richard calls Jacqueline Mother. Angela calls Jacqueline a bitch. Jacqueline calls Angela the enemy. Richard calls Angela a very formidable lady. Richard calls Phillip a man of ethics and principles. Phillip calls Eric Kenderson heavily connected, eminently exploitable and a drug addict. Maggie calls herself a grandmother. Chase calls himself Prince Charming. Maggie calls Chase a wise and wonderful man. Chase calls Maggie an impulsive creature. Maggie calls Hollywood very discouraging. Vicky calls Chase's pancakes pitiful. Linda calls herself a Boston Pops washout. Jan 83. Phillip calls Amanda the woman he loves. Phillip calls Jacqueline a very private woman. Richard calls Melissa one of the more interesting women he has ever met, if only because she's so damn devious. Melissa calls Richard nothing but scum. Diana calls Richard obsessed with hurting anyone involved with Falcon Crest, whatever the cost. Angela calls Richard childish, spiteful and vermin. Melissa calls Lance just like Richard, childish, spiteful, his own worst enemy and a fool if he thinks he can divorce her. Chao Li calls Lance an outcast to this family. Julia calls Joseph the only joyful thing that's happened to this family in years. Lance calls Joseph a little bastard. Angela calls Joseph the key to the Agretti vineyards. Lance calls the Agretti vineyards vital to Falcon Crest's wines. Angela calls Lance Joseph's legal father. Cole calls Joseph his child. Melissa calls Joseph an innocent child. Melissa calls Chase the only one around here who seems to care what happened to her father. Maggie calls Chase a dime store Dick Tracy. Maggie calls Angela the Wicked Witch of the West. Angela calls Lori that little tramp in San Francisco. Melissa calls Lori that little slut and Lance's sleazy little girlfriend. Melissa calls the New Globe a sleazy little newspaper. Chase calls the New Globe a scandal rag. Richard calls the New Globe's legal department a bunch of clucking old hens. Richard calls himself damned. Richard calls Jacqueline an adulteress. Jacqueline calls Richard bitter. Jacqueline calls Vicky infatuated. Angela calls Vicky an embarrassment to everyone. Chase calls Vicky a young adult who doesn't seem to have any direction in life. Chase calls wine making an art, a ritual, a tradition and more than just land and money and power. Angela calls wine making a business, pure and simple. Angela calls Puccini a master of intrigue and passion. Feb 83. Angela calls Amanda a charming person. Phillip calls Amanda a mistake. Phillip calls himself a living breathing man with certain needs. Phillip calls us all mere performers upon the stage of life. Angela calls Phillip a bit presumptuous. Richard calls himself and Phillip an unbeatable team. Richard calls himself a bad loser. Paolo calls Richard an extortionist. Angela calls Richard the enemy. Melissa calls Angela the enemy. Melissa calls Lori that little bimbo in San Francisco. Melissa calls Cole the new crown prince of Falcon Crest. Lance calls Cole the preacher's son. Lance calls Chase Detective Gioberti. Richard calls Lance wet behind the ears. Richard calls Emma Vice President of Internal Affairs. Emma calls herself a high powered business executive and a whizz at solving problems. Emma calls Falcon Crest the same old war zone it's always been. Emma calls Maggie and Chase both stubborn and full of pride. Maggie calls Chase possessed. Chase calls Julia a mystery buff. Chase calls Angela a woman who had a lifelong feud with Carlo Agretti. Angela calls Henri Denault a Nazi. Sister Marie Therese calls Henri Denault the Dark Angel and a traitor who sold secrets to the Germans. Mar 83. Angela calls Melissa the raisin queen of the Tuscany Valley. Angela calls Nick the man with the foam rubber spine. Richard calls Henri Denault a man who symbolised American ingenuity. Fong calls Winston Fong a great man and an old man but a strong man. Fong calls Carlo a rich man, a powerful figure, but he had no heart. Sheriff Robbins calls Fong an accessory to murder. Chase calls Fong a key to many questions. Chase calls Phillip an acrobat. Richard calls Phillip a big San Francisco legal legend. Richard calls Julia Falcon Crest's master winemaker. Richard calls Chase sick and a vulture. Richard calls Sheriff Robbins a vulture, Angela Channing's puppet and a two bit sheriff. Richard calls Diana a terrible disappointment, her voracious sexual appetite aside. Richard calls the cartel a complex organisation. Richard calls Vicky the cream of the crop and the loveliest bride he's ever seen. Vicky calls Nick all she could ever ask for. Chase calls Nick a member of the family. Angela calls Chao Li a part of the family. Julia calls the family a snake pit. Chase calls Julia full of surprises. Julia calls Cole made to order and a little hothead with a history of trouble with Carlo. Jan 86. Riley calls Sudden Friendship a dandy book. Emma calls Sudden Friendship wonderful and romantic. Angela calls Sudden Friendship libellous and disappointing. Maggie calls Sudden Friendship half fact, half fiction. Greg calls himself sick to death of Jordan's half-truths. JJ calls Jordan his special little girl. Angela calls Terry a high-priced call girl and an entertaining little pest. Angela calls Melissa a cheap little conniver. Angela calls Miss Jones a presumptuous little thing. Greg calls Robin a poor thing. Maggie calls Robin a scared little girl and confused. Christopher calls himself confused about life, about love. Lance calls Christopher a threat. Melissa calls Christopher the best friend she ever had. Cole calls Melissa a tramp. Melissa calls Cole cruel. Melissa calls herself a fool. Harriet calls herself alone. Terry calls herself the next Mrs Richard Channing. Lance calls Peter the next Howard Hughes. Emma calls Dwayne the Peter Stavros of trucking. Angela calls Dwayne three classes below Emma. Dwayne calls Emma a practical woman. Richard calls Angela Spider Woman. Richard calls Terry's marriage proposal senseless. Jordan calls Terry's marriage proposal bizarre. Angela calls Terry and Richard's marriage a coalition. Chase calls himself and Richard reluctant partners. Jordan calls Richard absolutely intolerable. Richard calls Jordan Little Miss Perfect. Maggie calls Richard and Terry perfect for each other. Jordan calls JJ the perfect father, brilliant and a bastard. Jordan calls herself an ungrateful daughter. Greg calls Jordan a spoiled brat. Terry calls Greg a bore. Terry calls Richard a good looking man. Christopher calls Chase a decent man. Ralph calls JJ a powerful man. Greg calls JJ a man of principle, a pillar of the community and the ideal of every young attorney in this state. Greg calls JJ's political philosophy homespun. Greg calls politics much dirtier than he ever imagined. Angela calls politics ninety percent personality and ten percent double talk. Angela calls Chase an interloper. Angela calls Philippe headstrong. Lance calls Philippe a high stakes gambler who doesn't like to lose, especially an inheritance.


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AXIAL AX90038 Yeti XL 1/8 4WD Electric Monster Buggy Kit
This is the Axial "Yeti XL" 1/8 Scale 4WD Electric Monster Buggy Kit. Now in kit form, the Yeti XL monster buggy kit is a skillfully engineered truck with a solid rear axle and independent front suspension. Its distinct aesthetic and technical elements were inspired by full-size desert trucks. Its strategically engineered design supplies bashing stamina while delivering a high level of technical rock racing abilities without compromise in either category.
This kit version will accept standard 1/8th scale brushless 4-pole systems and most industry standard stick packs. Precision Icon Vehicle Dynamics aluminum shocks are standard equipment and deliver smooth suspension movement for consistent handling. Axial has also included a rear sway bar (medium, 3.4mm), 3mm aluminum lower link plates, aluminum 17mm hex hubs and nuts, adjustable steel turnbuckles, and officially licensed 3.8 Falken WildPeak M/T tires in their S30 compound.
AR60 XL Solid Rear Axle
The AR60 XL solid rear axle is constructed from high strength composite material which has a low flex rate but is not as brittle as standard glass filled nylon. An added reinforced axle truss strengthens the rear axle by reducing flex and by distributing the force of potentially damaging impacts. The combination of our axles and a true 4-link suspension gives you optimal performance for any terrain with the look of a real 1:1 vehicle. Maintenance is easy - simply remove four screws to access the rear differential.
17mm Aluminum Hex Hubs
Industry standard 17mm hex hubs, hard anodized with a 3x17mm steel pin and set screw. The machined serrated 17mm nut helps eliminate wheels from coming loose by biting into the wheel as you tighten them down. The front universals feature an all metal, super strong CVJ design and they're completely rebuildable. The benefit of a universal joint is an increased steering angle and precise fitment for an efficient driveline. The captured pin design allows for better reliability and easier maintenance.
- ICON VEHICLE DYNAMICS SHOCKS: Icon Vehicle Dynamics aluminum shocks feature Big Bore 16™ precision machined pistons which offer smooth performance throughout the range of travel. Made to tight tolerances, these aluminum shocks feature clear coated polished aluminum bodies and are threaded for quick ride height adjustments and pre-load tuning. They also feature non-functional aluminum shock reservoirs with official Icon Vehicle Dynamics graphics for realistic scale looks!
- 3.8 RACELINE MONSTER WHEELS: Raceline is by far the most popular wheel for extreme off-road duty. Their ability to stand up to the abuse demanded by the full-size racer and their show quality finish is second to none. The officially licensed Raceline Monster gives the Yeti XL™ that authentic racing look as well as providing the strength to handle whatever you can dish out! With a name like Monster, you know this Raceline wheel is ready to bash!
- 3.8 FALKEN WILDPEAK M/T TIRES - S30: The WildPeak All Terrain tire has amazing traction on many surfaces, even with its rather conservative pattern. This fact alone has had the entire industry on the edge of their seats waiting to see what the Falken rubber will be able to do with a more aggressive pattern. The WildPeak M/T version of this tire is here, albeit in a prototype stage. These prototypes are already being put through their paces by the who's who of the off road world. With tremendous success in competitive rock racing, this tire is already in very high demand. The Axial S30 compound will offer the performance you have come to expect from Axial.
- 3mm ALUMINUM LOWER LINK PLATES: Includes four hard anodized 3mm aluminum lower link plates for added durability and stiffness of the rear 4-link suspension.
- LONG TRAVEL REAR SWAY BAR: The pursuit of horsepower and the ability to put the power to the ground is one of the main aspects of offroad racing. This unique torsion bar design with long pivot arms used in conjunction with the long travel suspension is designed to help control the torque twist associated with massive power. This system also helps reduce body roll and adds stability at high speeds.
- 4-LINKED REAR SUSPENSION: The Yeti™ features the proven AR60 rear axle with a completely new 4-linked rear suspension. The Yeti™ chassis offers three upper link positions to adjust the anti-squat. The lower link mounts can be flipped to change the roll center. These advanced tuning options will help you get the most performance from your rig.
- ADJUSTABLE STEEL TURNBUCKLES: CNC machined turnbuckles for precision and steel construction for durability. Left and right handed threads for adjustments on the fly.
- INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION (IFS): The Yeti™ is equipped with an Independent Front Suspension [IFS] system to help maintain high speed stability when running through a diverse range of terrain. Every rock the Yeti XL™ will encounter is individual. They come in random sizes and are scattered throughout the course, making the terrain varied from one side of the vehicle to the other. The IFS system allows you to better control the intended direction of travel at high speeds when one side is adjusting to overcome road obstructions. This stability that the IFS front end provides is paramount when rock bashing.
- DUAL RATE SPRINGS: Each shock absorber utilizes two springs which work together to form a dual rate setup. The upper spring is softer and works by a absorbing smaller bumps and whoops. The lower spring is stiffer and does the heavy work by absorbing the impact from large rocks and big jumps.
- WB XL CVJ REAR DRIVESHAFT: This design uses less parts for a stronger, more durable and tighter fitment. While this is a more compact design, it uses larger diameter bearings to keep the input gear stable under instant heavy power. Axial has continually developed our plastic driveshafts and has taken this accumulative knowledge and put it into this beefy driveshaft. The composite material was specifically chosen for it's resistance to heat and the ability to withstand direct impact.
- DUAL SLIPPER CLUTCH: Our dual slipper design uses an aluminum pad on each side of the spur gear which provides the right amount of slip for performance and heat resistance for durability. The all-metal spur gear features 32 pitch gearing for high torque applications. The protective transmission cover helps keep dirt and debris out of your pinion and spur gear for a quiet and efficient drivetrain, and it also prevents any loose wires from getting chewed up!
- All-METAL / HI-LO TRANSMISSION: Metal where it matters most! The Yeti XL™ features an all metal gear transmission specifically designed for this chassis, along with CNC cut metal gears in both the front and rear differentials. With all metal internal gears, this full ball bearing transmission has the strength to endure the harshest rock racing environment and brushless power. The factory gearbox comes as a single speed with the high gear installed for high speed fun. The integrated motor mount features a wide range of movement for endless gearing options. (Optional two-speed transmission component sold separately.)
- CNC METAL CUT GEARS: Massive brushless power requires heavy duty drivetrain components. The Yeti XL™ features hardened steel CNC cut metal gears in both the front and rear differentials for the ultimate in strength and durability.
- WB XL CVJ PROP SHAFT: The rebuildable prop shaft delivers the power from the transmission to the front differential. The prop shaft features an all metal, super strong CVJ design and they're completely rebuildable.
- EASY ACCESS BATTERY TRAY: Twin battery trays can be easily accessed by removing the two front body pins and pivoting the entire body up. Install or remove your batteries by removing the remaining body pins. Foam blocks are included to help keep the batteries in place.
Battery tray dimensions:
Length: 6.89in(175mm)
Height: 1.3in (33mm)
Width: 1.7in (43mm)
- RECEIVER BOX, WATERPROOF: A waterproof receiver box is integrated into the bottom of the Yeti XL™ chassis. Three different silicone seals are included, one for the antenna, one for the servo wires (includes three slots for three channels), and one acts as a gasket for the receiver box cover. No more stress when running in mud, water, or snow! NOTE: Electronics not included.
- FUEL CELL WEIGHT BOX: The scale fuel cell doubles as a weight box, or additional electronics box.
- SWAPPABLE DRIVER HELMET STYLES: Includes realistic driver figures complete with a race suit and two sets of three different interchangeable helmets with decals: a motocross, open skull-face or motorsport version of the helmet are included. Choose your own style! Decals included.
- REALISTIC SCALE DETAILS: Realistic scale details include: Inspired by real race cage design, polycarbonate interior tray with molded driver figures and dashboard, and six black styrene helmets with decals.
- SPARE TIRE CARRIER: Spare wheel and tire included with a quick release spinner for mounting.
- CLEAR POLYCARBONATE PLASTIC BODY: The kit includes an unpainted body molded in tough .040 thick polycarbonate plastic, ready for your custom paint scheme. The body bolts to the scale Y-480 cage assembly using multiple mounting points.
Length: 25.75in (654mm)
Width: 16.3in (414mm)
Height: 11.10in (282mm)
Wheelbase: 18.5in (470mm)
Ground Clearance: 2.48in (63mm)
Recommended Battery: 2x 2S 7.4V LiPo packs, or 2x 3S 11.1V LiPo packs
Weight: 12.75lbs (5.78kg) (weight with electronics)
Needed To Complete:
- 2-Channel Radio System
- 1/8 Scale Electronic Speed Control
- 1/8 Scale Motor
- Steering Servo
- Polycarbonate Paint
- (2) 2S LiPo Battery or (2) 3S LiPo Battery
- Compatible Battery Charger

subset: commoncrawl


text:
There is no marker for the swift passage of time like watching a child grow. The old adage is true: time really does fly. I love documenting childhood because it is always changing: the way they look, the treasures they cherish, the way they interact with their siblings or loved ones, the silly faces they make, or how sweetly they fit on the side of your hip. All of these moments are fleeting.
For me, documenting a family's story is capturing the heartfelt connection between loved ones. Sometimes it may be everyone huddled together on a blanket looking at the camera, or a couple cooking breakfast together; it may be teenagers dancing in the yard, or a toddler running around the yard with berry juice dripping from their face. These moments are the ones I strive to capture during our time together. By taking the time to document, we record a chapter in your family's story in it's natural, imperfect and beautiful state.
Family has many definitions, and I welcome all configurations.
If you are interested in a session that captures family life in this way, I'd love to speak with you and tell your story. Send me a note here.
If you want to learn more about how I work, check out my FAQ's here. For individual portrait information, click here.


text:
The Hawaii Council of Engineering Societies (HCES) and the Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers (HSPE) with the assistance of the College of Engineering of the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) are tasked to select individuals who will receive annual prestigious awards. One of the highlights in the yearly observance of Engineers' Week during the month of February is the presentation of awards in the following four categories:
Lifetime Achievement Award
Engineer of the Year
Young Engineer of the Year
Student Engineer of the Year
These awards are intended to give due recognition to the outstanding accomplishments, contributions, and achievements of individuals in the different specialized fields of engineering. The HCES Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a professional engineer who has retired within the last four years. The recipient of the Engineer Of The Year award is selected from among current senior practicing professional engineers who are 36 years of age or older. The Young Engineer Of The Year award also recognizes professional engineers but who are 35 years of age and younger. The Student Engineer Of The Year is selected from among engineering students currently enrolled in the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
The deadline to submit nomination forms is December 15, 2016.


text:
This is so especially cute because my husband loves any kind of sport, any kind of ball and is actually a head golf instructor at the local country club. He lives and breathes sports and my little guy is going to be the same way. Just as his father, my little man's first word was ball.
Maybe he'll get a scholarship because of his mad skills one day.


text:
Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system is a flop.
This chart from Statista, based on data from Net Applications, shows that Windows 8 was used by just 9.3% of the computing population. At this point in Windows 7's life, it was twice as high in terms of computing share.
What's worse for Microsoft, notes Will Oremus at Slate, is that Windows 7 is still growing faster than Windows 8. It's not in this chart, but a recent report from Net Applications had Windows 8 market share growth of .05%, while Windows 7 grew .22%.
"In other words, Windows 8 is actually falling farther behind its own four-year-old predecessor even today," says Oremus.
This is really bad for Microsoft. Windows 8 was supposed to be the future of the company. It is deploying the look and feel of Windows 8 across the board — in Windows, in Windows Phone, and on Xbox.
If users are rejecting it for computing, what does that mean for all the other platforms?
Get the latest Microsoft stock price here.


text:
Serving Western New York since 1989.
Welcome to the Guitar Woodshed. We are the premier guitar, bass, music production, and music performance school in Western New York. We specialize in providing high-quality, individual and group lessons for guitarists, bassists, and music producers of all levels and abilities. Whether you are an absolute beginner, avid hobbyist, returning to the instrument after time away, or a seasoned professional, we are confident that we can help you reach the next level in your musical journey.
Our students range from ages 5-88, and include beginners to very advanced professional players. Guitar playing is our passion at the 'shed. Our mission is to help share that passion with the community, and to grow it through nurturing future generations of players in Westen New York while continuing to connect with and grow musically with established players.
The core of the 'woodshed program lies within individualized private lessons. During your lessons, we will help define your goals as a player, develop and implement strategies to help you meet these goals, and provide enough inspiration, support, and creative playing challenges to help you realize growth as a musician. This holds true for all ages and levels.
Outside of our core private lesson program, we also offer group lessons, ensembles, workshops, recording projects, and master classes with visiting artists. We provide many opportunities to meet, hang with, and play with other members of the 'shed and the larger guitar and music community. Our goal is to share and celebrate our passion for music.
Our students are given ample opportunity to perform in concerts to a supportive and listening audience. Our performance opportunities and community provide the right environment to develop confidence as an artist and performer. Many alumni of our program at the 'shed have gone on to have profiles as players on all of the local stages in Niagara and Erie Counties, and on regional, national, and international levels.
Feel free to relax in our spacious studio while your child has their lesson, take in an art exhibit in one of the many art galleries in the building, or enjoy some food/coffee in the Artisan Cafe. The Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, where the Guitar Woodshed is located, is a vibrant historical building that is host to one of the most concentrated arts communities in Western New York.
Contact us today to schedule a trial lesson, or sign up for a weekly lesson time.
Please note: We are a dog friendly studio.
Music Education.
Western New York.


text:
Job seekers may have a tendency to believe that being open to anything will help them with getting hired. After all, shouldn't you cast a wide net to improve your chances of finding a job and isn't it a good thing to show that you are flexible and open-minded?
There are two major problems with this "I'm open to anything" approach.
First of all, you're actually not. Once I start talking to candidates who say they're open to anything, there are usually a number of things they are not open to: long hours or lack of flexibility, lower than expected compensation, location, nature of the responsibilities, etc. So, you end up wasting your time applying for a job you won't take or know you won't like even if you did.
Secondly, you are a weaker candidate. Here's why: From the employer or hiring manager's perspective it's a way of conveying you haven't done your homework. You come across as simply hoping an opportunity presents itself so you can say yes or no, rather than proactively identifying and pursuing jobs that are a good fit for your skill set. You will also have a hard time competing with people who are able to demonstrate both a strong interest and fit for that particular job.
So what can you do if you are a job seeker, but not sure of what your job targets are? Try these simple solutions:
- Invest the time in learning what jobs and companies you would be a good fit for. Start with companies in industries you have an interest in. They will usually have a page dedicated to "careers" where you can learn a lot about the company, career paths and their culture.
- Find out about trends in the industry of interest, key issues or problems the companies are trying to solve. Would your skill set or background be helpful to the company and their goals?
- Another place to learn more about specific jobs is job boards. I always encourage job seekers to browse job boards to research their job targets. They give you a sense as to who is hiring, what positions are open and what types of candidates they are looking for.
- Be sure to network with people who are in jobs that interest you so you can get a firsthand understanding of what it's like to be in their profession. Can you envision yourself pursuing the type of career path they describe? Again, not only do you want to improve your chances of getting hired by knowing more about your job targets, you also want to ensure you're taking on a job that you will enjoy and do well in.
Hiring managers want to know that you have done the due diligence and know what you are getting into. They want to see that you are motivated and interested in that specific job! They want to hear from people who know what they are good at and what they can contribute.
Don't be mistaken, it is important to explore different job targets with an open mind and look into a range of different things, but when you are ready to engage a recruiter or hiring manager, take it seriously. Don't make the mistake of presenting yourself as "open to anything." Instead, prepare yourself with knowledge and understanding of the job at hand so you get hired.


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Just Transition: Building an Economy for the People & the Planet
Just Transition is framework for building campaigns that are both visionary and oppositional. Many times our movements are so focused on fighting against the attacks we are facing, we don't have the capacity to also advance demands that offer an alternative vision of the things we want. The concept of Just Transition grew out of the environmental justice movements over the last 30 years, where the struggles from impacted communities against coal mines and oil refineries are met in direct opposition by workers who depend on these dirty industries to survive. Just Transition campaigns across the country are not only fighting some of the worst manifestation of extraction, militarism, and pollution--they are also advancing real alternatives for both energy production and economic self-determination so that livelihood cannot be pitted against health or the environment.
In partnership with the Climate Justice Alliance, GGJ is supporting our members in both broadening the understanding of Just Transition strategy through a series of Just Transition Assemblies across the country. We are also supporting our members in sharpening the application of this strategy to local conditions and campaigns through Just Transition Strategy Labs.
Just Transition Assemblies
Seattle, Washington: September, 2016 hosted by Got Green? and Front and Centered
Providence, Rhode Island: August 2016, Political Education Intensive hosted by the Environmental Justice League
Burlington, Vermont: May 2016, hosted by the Vermont Workers Center and Migrant Justice
Detroit, Michigan: April 2016, hosted by the East Michigan Environmental Action Council
Bellingham, Washington: August 13-15, 2015 hosted by Community to Community Developmend and Got Green?
Jackson, Mississippi: June 26-28, 2015 hosted by Cooperation Jackson
Just Transition Strategy Labs
Iraq Veterans Against the War - Just Transition Strategy Lab on the Drop the MIC Campaign, Date and Location TBD


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Publish your book with us
We particularly welcome proposals of books to publish with us in the subject areas of: development studies; energy access; gender; humanitarian assistance; enterprise development and microfinance; urban services; water supply, sanitation and hygiene, all in the context of international development.
Authors should consider publishing with us because:
- Your proposal and typescript will be considered by an experienced editorial team and our expert subject reviewers.
- We co-publish with major international aid agencies such as Oxfam GB; FAO; the Emergency Capacity Building Project; The SEEP Network; and IRC, Netherlands. We also co-publish with leading research organizations such as IDS, University of Sussex; Overseas Development Institute, London.
- Our book catalogue, website and sales agents will bring your book before international development practitioners, researchers and students.
- As part of our digital strategy most books will be converted to ebooks for reading on e-readers; and all books will appear as pdfs in our digital Knowledge Database.
- Our production team can source designers and printers from around the world to produce your book efficiently and attractively.


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Motorcycle racers' physical development
In Bamboo Body we have a special section where we gathered very special set of tools that is aimed specifically on development of people involved in Motor Sports. Wide body of research we possess in this area together with personal experience of our trainers in various motorcycle disciplines opens you doors into pain-free riding and longevity in the sport. Prehab and rehab tools, reaction speed training, vision training, specific strength conditioning – all of it and many more we out on a table in order to make changes in the world of Motorcycle Racing. Suited for both professionals and amateurs in such branches as road racing, motocross, moto freestyle, enduro, etc. We provide complete following of the athlete's pre- and on- season physical preparation/maintenance/recovery and nutrition in collaboration with their medical stuff.
Please contact us for further information.


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When using the User Registration addon for WPForms, you'll have the option to send the user an email that contains their login information and, if enabled, activation details.
If either option is enabled, the user will receive an email with their username and password, as well as your site's login URL.
If Enable user activation is checked, this same email will also include additional details based on the method chosen:
- User Email: End of email will include brief instructions and an activation link.
- Manual Approval: End of email will let user know an admin must approve the user.
The code below can be used to customize all content for this email, including any conditional content for user activation. For example, if line 17 was deleted, the password would no longer be included in the email.
* Change user email for the User Registration addon.
* @param array $email
* @return array
function wpf_dev_user_registration_user_email( $email ) {
$blogname = wp_specialchars_decode( get_option( 'blogname' ), ENT_QUOTES );
// Set the email subject line
$email['subject'] = sprintf( __( '[%s] Your username and password info' ), $blogname );
// The primary part of the email message consists of providing the user
// with their username, password, and login URL.
$email['message'] = sprintf( __( 'Username: %s' ), $email['user']->user_login ) . "\r\n";
$email['message'] .= sprintf( __( 'Password: %s' ), $email['password'] ) . "\r\n\r\n";
$email['message'] .= wp_login_url() . "\r\n\r\n";
// Add more details if to the email message if user activation is enabled
if ( $email['activation'] ) {
// Append "Activation Required" to the existing email subject line
$email['subject'] .= __( ' (Activation Required)', 'wpforms_user_registration' );
// If activation method is User Email
if ( 'user' == $email['activation'] ) {
$email['message'] .= __( 'IMPORTANT: You must activate you account before you can login. Please visit the link below.', 'wpforms_user_registration' ) . "\r\n";
$email['message'] .= $email['link'];
// If activation method is Manual Approval
} else {
$email['message'] .= __( 'Site administrator must activate your account before you can login.', 'wpforms_user_registration' ) . "\r\n";
return $email;
add_filter( 'wpforms_user_registration_email_user', 'wpf_dev_user_registration_user_email', 10, 1 );


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Anglicans - What do we believe?
Many people wonder just what Anglicans believe, and why we worship the way that we do.
When did the Anglican Church start?
Why do so many Anglican Priests /Ministers wear vestments and are we the Church of England?
Our Spiritual Growth
EfM - Education for Ministry
EfM is a small group operating within the Parish, but using a very different format to other groups. It is a 4 year program, but participants are asked to commit for 1 year at a time. Therefore it does not fit into the "Taste and See" mould of other groups. eg try a group for a few weeks or months to see if you like it. It does however embrace many of the elements of other small groups such as worship, prayer and pastoral care.
Cursillo - Enriching your Faith and Christian Life
The Anglican Parish of Waterloo Bay has a strong membership of parishioners who have attended a Cursillo weekend and who continue to meet together regularly for worship, fellowship and share in a "pot-luck" dinner. They constitute an integral part of the church and enjoy lively uplifting songs of praise and through their faith contribute substantially to the life of the church.
Alpha Courses
Come along to Alpha: make lots of new friends; eat good food;
ask all the difficult questions you have about religion and spirituality;
have fun; and discover that there is a lot more to life.


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Hungary and democracy: Viktor Orbán's smart and cynical EU strategy
Many ask for the ruling Fidesz party to be expelled from the EPP group at the European Parliament for not respecting core European values. Something not likely to happen, as both have a common interest in the status quo, says analyst Dániel Bartha.
Recently, there has been ongoing coverage, in both the domestic and international press, over how the EU should deal with the political situation unfolding in Hungary. Some reports are calling for the European People's Party (EPP) to expel or at least to suspend Fidesz's membership from the group.
The support for such an action has broad appeal; one of the latest examples was a newly-launched international campaign by the Human Rights Watch.
A similar solution has already been on the agenda for many years and would not be without precedent. Back in 2006, the Party of European Socialists suspended the membership of the Slovak governing party Smer after they entered into a coalition with the far-right SNS.
However, the winds blowing from Brussels have changed direction, and although many people believe that the EU is still following the idealistic, federalist footsteps of its founding fathers, in reality Realpolitik is dominating the Belgian capital.
The Janus Effect
Hungarian readers could be easily confused during the election campaign when Manfred Weber, leader of the EPP Group in EU Parliament, one day threatened Orbán to keep the party line in the negotiations on resolving the immigration crisis and then, a few days later, provided support and praised Fidesz and certain aspects of Orbán's migration policy. The picture has only become more muddied after the landslide victory of Fidesz earlier this year.
In May, Weber repeatedly stated in an interview that if the Hungarian government does not respect the rule of law, it should not be a member of the European People's Party. Less than a week later, Weber joined Orbán and the two campaigned together to support the Slovenian People's Party candidate for prime minister, Janez Jansa.
Of course, this two-faced approach is not an aberration in politics, but even the duplicitous Weber could learn from Orbán's mastery. Issues that often ring alarm bells for democrats in Budapest are orchestrated in much softer tones by Fidesz politicians in Brussels.
That being said, the EPP has had plenty of time to realise that their Hungary member is playing a double game. Orbán's closest ally is the Law and Justice (PiS) party ruling Poland, and they are fierce opponents of Donald Tusk and his party, the EPP member Civic Platform (PO).
The enemy of my enemy
Kaczyński is not the only (previously ideologically-opposed) partner whom Orbán has wooed. Clearly sensing the upcoming radical changes in the composition and factions of the next European Parliament, Orbán started to build new alliances already years ago, and not necessarily only from his own camp.
He is on friendly terms with Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch Freedom Party (keeping in mind that Fidesz recently severed relations with its Dutch sister party CDA as its MEPs would like to expel Fidesz from the EPP, this relation might have a special importance in the future). Similarly, Orbán has fostered a rapport with the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ), and even the leaders of Alternative for Germany (AfD) praise his policies on a regular basis.
Orbán has been planning a European engagement for a long time, not only because Hungarian politics don't provide him with much of a challenge these days. For years, he has emphasized on every international forum he is invited to the lack of strong leadership in the European Union, nor has he been cagey about his own ambitions for a more prominent European position. It is clear that these ambitions will not be able to be realised in the current framework, even with EPP's potential support.
Of course, there won't be an immediate change, especially before the 2019 European Parliamentary election. It is rather obvious that the Hungarian Prime Minister is formulating options, and he has the capacity to potential blackmail.
Fidesz is currently interested in maintaining a strong People's Party, one which respects them. Seeking any alternative setup before the European Parliament elections would risk the strongest faction turning against them. If this were to occur and with the support of the Party of European Socialists and most likely the ALDE, infringement procedures could be launched against Hungary along with potentially strong financial and legal penalties.
Orbán has evaluated correctly that implications of Brexit as well as the budding new political platform of Macron's En Marche movement will bring significant changes to the EU and protecting Hungarian interests in a whole new European Parliament will be practically impossible. Almost every opinion poll forecasts a significant decline for the EPP and Socialists and a resurgence of support of liberal and eurosceptic parties. Obviously, these studies have not calculated the potential of Macron's pro-EU platform to attract further members of the major parties, including the EPP.
Regardless, the parties of the coalition are exhausted with internal disagreements, euro-scepticism and political deadlock. In other words, the EPP's ability to effectively block potential procedures against Hungary will diminish.
Playing crocodile
For Orbán, its worth waiting for the results of the European parliamentary elections and calculate accordingly as the decision is solely in his hands. Either he can create a fraction of nationalist, EU critical parties that could easily dominant in Europe. In this faction, he could play a leading role, but he would also have a great chance to stigmatise and isolate other major parties, or he could remain in the EPP.
The People's Party has fewer cards in it hands as the departure of Fidesz would be a serious blood loss for an already weakened fraction. Weber understands this threat; at the same time, he has to keep those in the party who would want to leave because of politicians like Orbán. This dichotomy illustrates why the EPP is so powerless. Currently, one of the key political necessities for Weber is to prevent an Article 7 procedure to be launched against Hungary.
Therefore, it is worth noting for the Hungarian opposition – those waiting for a Messiah coming from the West – that they need to provide an alternative to Orbán in the European arena. Perhaps a strong pro-integration program, which, according to opinion polls, could still be popular in Hungary. This platform could be part of the Macron's new pro-European group, and then the Hungarian people might sit up to listen.
The article is published as part of the #DemocraCE project organised by Visegrad/Insight. It was originally published in Hungarian on HVG.hu and can be found here.
Translated from the Hungarian by Visegrád Insight
This article is published in association with Visegrad Insight.


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by TJ Acena
It was interesting to watch the elections unfold from China; I had to remind myself that everything I was reading about was happening in my country, my state. It's not that I think that China is my home after two months away; I constantly feel like an outsider every time I leave my apartment. It's the simple fact that physical distance makes things look smaller; America is a place across the Pacific Ocean I read about in the news and the news is emotionally exhausting. One of my seniors asked me about the elections. He has a pretty solid understanding of American culture and history but I managed to surprise him. I told him about how low voter turnout is, about how the Republicans try to disenfranchise voters, and about how Citizens United let loose untold billions of dollars into election advertising.
"Elections are an ugly time in America," I said.
"I wonder if China will ever have elections," he said to himself.
He hoped that it will one day. And because he hoped for it I hoped for it to.
I'm glad to see that Oregon decriminalized marijuana, not that I am looking forward to lighting up as soon as I land back in PDX, but I think the drug laws in our country disproportionally affect people of color both in the states and, as Martha reminded me, in Mexico.
Right before I arrived in China Jackie Chan's son got caught with marijuana. He could go to jail for three years.
Anyway, back to Xi'an. The weather is turning here as well. The days are getting shorter, colder, and smoggier. Industrial parks and factories surround the school I teach at; there are only a few smoke stacks around my campus, I'm not sure exactly what they are releasing into the atmosphere. I notice clear days now; blue sky is something unusual, worth noticing. In a way it reminds me of the clear days that break out in the middle of Portland winter. I've been watching the air quality more closely now; most of the days range from 'moderate' to 'unhealthy'. It's hard to make sense of how worried I should be; none of the students here on campus wear an air mask. I finally asked one of my English classes why they don't wear masks, they said they wait till it gets really bad. They're used to it. I often wake up with a sore throat. Thankfully I inherited an industrial strength air mask from a former teacher at the school.
I also inherited a space heater, which is good because the radiator next to my bed could not even melt cheese.
I went to Hua Shan recently, one of the five sacred mountains of China, and got some amazing fresh air. It's about thirty minutes away by bullet train. There was a surprising amount of people climbing the mountain. 'Climbing' is the right word to use, but perhaps it's making you visualize the wrong thing. Stairs are built into the mountain, so you're actually climbing and descending seemingly endless amounts of stairs, not that it makes it that much easier. There is a famous ascent path of mountain where you have to climb using footholds while holding onto chains or walk on planks miraculously attached to the side of the mountain but I didn't take that path. I took the cable car.
It was cold that morning. Once I got to the first peak I walked up to the simple chain guardrail and looked down, my sense of vertigo was dulled by the mist that rolled up the side of the mountain and floated away over my head, hiding the 6,000-foot drop. The guardrails are covered in locks engraved with the names of lovers and thick red ribbons representing wishes and prayers.
Despite the crowds something still felt sacred about this mountain, and when the fog broke in the afternoon, slipping away like a tide, revealing the full scope of the towering peaks it became very clear. I didn't understand these mountains, the slender shapes, the impossibly steep and smooth faces, it wasn't like any mountain I had been to before. It seemed impossible that I should be up there, that anyone should be up there, that anyone would have ever made it up there and built one of the small temples or shrines that I saw.
I also made it to the Terracotta Army recently, which is just a short bus ride from the city center. It was nice, but I enjoyed Hua Shan more.
I taught a lesson on Thanksgiving for my classes, mostly because it was easy to come up with and I am not very good at lesson planning. I even made a PowerPoint presentation. I don't think about Thanksgiving a lot, I usually just show up somewhere with a side dish or a bottle of wine and leave feeling bloated and sleepy, but explaining the tradition to my classes made me sad that I wouldn't be able to sit down with a group of good friends and share in that food you only have the patience to make once a year.
I'm constantly marking the passage of time back home: the election, the holidays, my Facebook feed, calls from my family, these updates, and it's hard not to see how the life you stepped out of just goes on without you. The country is changing, Portland is changing, my friends are changing, and it all changes together. And it somehow changes within a framework I understand, even from across an ocean. My life is changing too, but it feels separate from everything back home. Sometimes it's trips to strange and beautiful mountains with new friends and sometimes it's sitting alone in my apartment lying in bed watching Netflix to try to distract myself from how aimless I feel.
I guess I'll find out how much I changed when I get back. Homecomings are a mirror you can hold up to yourself.


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Here at Palmetto Place all of our house parents are important to our mission, but in honor of Mother's Day, we want to take a moment to recognize our house moms. Each and every day our house moms work to make sure the kids who call Palmetto Place home are safe, loved and cared for. For some of our kids, the staff at Palmetto Place are the only mothering figures they've ever known, others may have moms who love them very much but can't take care of them. Our house moms fulfill this vital role in a child or teens life, and they deserve a big shout out.
There is no such thing as a typical day at Palmetto Place because each new kid changes the dynamic of the house, but in some ways we do have routine. Every morning our house parents arrive at 6:00 AM to make sure all the kids are ready for school. They put together a nutritious breakfast so the kids can concentrate in school and make sure they have everything they need for the day. Some of our kids get dropped off while others ride the bus. Once the kids are at school, our house moms make sure the house is clean and help with any chores that were missed that morning. They run errands to make sure we are stocked with food and supplies, or take kids to doctor appointments and counseling.
The next shift comes in at 2:00 PM and prepares for after school activities. They pick the kids up from school, provide snacks, and get them started on homework. After homework, the kids can play outside or watch TV until dinner. Some nights volunteers bring dinner, which is nice because then our house parents get a break from cooking, which any busy parent can appreciate. Other nights, our house moms do the cooking for as many as 30 kids. After dinner, they make sure the kids have done their chores and get them ready for bed. Our overnight house moms arrive at 10:00 PM. Every 20 minutes they check on the kids to make sure are safe and sleeping sound. These house moms also do a lot of laundry; with so many kids there are also multiple loads of laundry to do each day!
There are days where Palmetto Place accepts new kids or says goodbye to a resident who is going home. On those days, the routine is shifted a bit. On weekends, we do a variety of activities with volunteers and almost no weekend is the same as the last. Each kid who lives here brings their own special spark to the house and make it their own. That's why it's so easy to get attached and can be sad when they leave.
Many of our house moms have worked here for many years and have so many stories to share. Some of their favorites are below:
"Five years ago a very special child came to live at Palmetto Place and stole my heart, as so many do. Today she's a college student and is living the life she always dreams of. She still calls to keep in touch with her Palmetto Place family and share her adventures. Her favorite part of college so far has been taking a trip to Africa with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for families living in poverty. This project meant so much for her because she was able to help families overcome some of the struggles her own family faced before she entered Palmetto Place. Her past will always be a part of story and even though it can be hard to move forward and heal she is trying. Recently, I mailed her a scripture about putting the past behind you:
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:12-14
Her response brought tears to my eyes, she said Palmetto Place has always been her pillow of comfort even though she no longer lives with us. Her life if now so full of joy and excitement, and I'm proud of her accomplishments and achievements. It's so wonderful to see such a bright light shine through someone who has been through something so terrible.
She will be graduating in 2 years. I know she'll do well because of the values Palmetto Place instilled in her of never giving up, and not letting the past hinder your future."
– Ms. Jenny, Lead Houseparent
"My favorite part of working at Palmetto Place is getting to know the kids we serve. Some of them have been through so much trauma and pain, but while they're here, they're just kids and teens. We become their family, I've comforted broken hearts and laughed until I couldn't breathe! I've worried about them and be prouder than I ever thought was possible. Without a doubt, the kids and teens who call Palmetto Place home are my reason for coming in each day."
- Houseparent
Would you like to show our house moms how much your community appreciates their hard work? Click here to find out how you can do just that!
Happy Mother's Day!


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SMACKBOMB.com began life as Elite Magazine Online – an online zine of an obscure humor magazine found in the Flint, Michigan area.
Before long, other sites were added and a banner network was created to link them all together, and the Elite Entertainment Network was born. The Weird Picture Archive, About The Beatles, Famous Fonts, Motor City Bad Boys, and The Nolan Ryan Express were all part of the first wave of sites that were created in 1997-1998, as well as a number of now-defunct sites.
The Elite Entertainment Network became SMACKBOMB.com in 2002, resulitng in new domains for many sites which were not, at that point at their own domains.
Unofficial Survivor Guide was founded in 2001 as SMACKBOMB.com's first foray into television show coverage, with spoiler lists and episode summaries and commentary. It was later converted into a discussion forum and gained notoriety around the web in 2004 when it uncovered exclusive spoilers for Survivor: Vanuatu including set photos, contestant information, and partial boot orders.
The Comic Board (known as Ultimate Central until August, 2009) joined the party in 2003 as a place for news and discussion on Marvel Comics' Ultimate imprint, and expanded in 2007 to cover all of comics as well as other pop culture including manga, anime, tv, movies, and more.
SMACKBOMB.com got back to its Detroit roots in 2004 with Detroit Sports Vibe, which covered Detroit sports scores, later converting to a discussion forum.
In 2007, The Daily Weird and The Sports Dirt were created as the first blogs to be part of the SMACKBOMB.com network, and Detroit Sports Vibe was also converted into a blog.
Opinz was introduced in December of 2008. Later that month, Unofficial Survivor Guide was converted into a blog, still keeping the exclusive commentary and summaries. In 2009, SMACKBOMB.com expanded their social media outreach with profiles set up on Twitter and Facebook.


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Hear What Our Clients Have to Say About Us!
Khushbu J
Reviewed On 7/06/2017
"Chandni and her team made sure that our wedding day was everything we imagined and more. They followed through on our requests and did more than expected. The team at Pearls Event & Co. is extremely professional and fun to work with and ensured that my husband and I were completely at ease during our wedding. I definitely recommend Pearls Event & Co. for anyone who wants a perfect, flawless, and fun-filled wedding. Thanks to Chandni and her team for their dedication and effort during our big day! 🙂"
-Jenis R
Reviewed On 7/05/2017
"Chandni and her team did an amazing job for our wedding! The point of contacts that were assigned to my husband and I were very attentive. They made sure we had everything we needed for the big day! Chandni and her team did an amazing job throughout the day in making sure everything was on schedule which was an hour earlier than expected thanks to everyone's hard work and dedication! I would recommend Chandni and her team for any of your events! Amazing Job!!"
Sweta C
Reviewed On 11/14/2016
"Absolutely amazing! I don't even know where to begin! Chandini was an amazing event planner and decorater. Working with Pearls Events and & Co. was the best decision I could have ever made. She planned and decorated our Mehndi, Vidhi, Garba and Sangeet and it was phenomenal work. The entire team was very friendly, personable, on-point and prompt with time. I was extremely stressed for time and they helped me steam my outfit half hour before my Sangeet. We had a Sangeet with 350 people and the event proceeded very smoothly (this is unheard of for such a huge Indian wedding party). I definitely recommend them for every event you are planning."
Sunita E
Reviewed On 8/01/2016
"Pearls Event & Co. were beyond excellent throughout our wedding day! Chandni and her crew exceeded our expectations whether that be waking at 2am or finding a pair of dress shoes (last minute) for one of our Dad's! They were extremely helpful, caring, thoughtful and kind every step of the way. They always had a smile on their face and were constantly making sure everything was done/taken care of. They made sure my husband and I were as comfortable as possible at all times. The communications between Chandni and her crew was extremely efficient as well. Pearls Event & Co is everything and more a bride would want in event coordination! My husband and I couldn't have imagined our special day without the help of Pearls Event & Co. We highly recommend this amazing team to any and all! We can't thank you enough for all your hard work and dedication!"
Bhoomi T
Reviewed On 7/10/2016
Farrah S
Reviewed On 7/14/2017
Robin K
Reviewed On 7/10/2017
Kiran B
Reviewed On 6/14/2016
Vishal B
Reviewed On 5/11/2016
"I don't even know where to begin! Every member of their team was super professional and thorough during all of my wedding events. They paid very close attention to detail, recreating the wedding we always dreamed. Going with Pearls Event & Co. for your big day will be one of the best decisions you ever make!"
"I can't thank Pearls Event & Co enough for being there with me every second of the day during my wedding. Chandni and her team are such caring and hardworking individuals and were there to help both Rob and I and our families with anything. I can't tell you the number of times we had to send someone to go back to our hotel rooms to help our families get things and bring them to us... and without hesitation, they were on it before we even asked. They were there to hold our phones, hold my dupatta because it was so heavy on my head, had waters ready for Rob and I when we were taking pictures outside in the heat, and constantly asked if we were ok. Chandni, Jeevan, Anandi, Priya and Sarika, thank you for EVERYTHING! We couldn't have done it without your help! Please keep in touch!!! <3"
"Pearls Event & Co. did wonderful job as our day-of coordinators for our 300-guest wedding in Boston. As the bride, I was beyond stressed and their 6-person team were an absolute delight to work with. Each member had a dedicated role in taking care of myself, the groom and our parents. They helped coordinate transportation and went out of their way to fulfill our requests - and they did so with professionalism and enthusiasm. They were a wonderful group to work with and I would highly recommend them to any other couple for their wedding day!"
"Pearls Event & Co. helped set up a trunk show for BrownGirlMagazine.com's sponsor, IndiaBoulevard. With 55 people in attendance at a studio in NYC, PEC was able to transform a bare room with white walls to a beautiful space that reflected a mini South Asian wedding. We had a backdrop for photos, ornate centerpieces for the tables, candles and so much more. The team was with us from start to finish, and they seamlessly cleaned up the room post-event without any hiccups. We look forward to working with PEC soon! Best, Trisha - EIC at BrownGirlMagazine.com"
"Pearls Event & Co. planned our engagement party, which just a small celebration for about 25 people. They helped us pick the venue (which was beautiful) as well as handled all coordination, decoration, and cake. Overall, the room looked beautiful and although certain things got delayed, they event was a huge hit and we had a great time! Thanks to Pearls Event & Co. for helping us plan this special event!"


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Investment Management
Wealth preservation; growth; portfolio optimization; we understand your investment goals, and will provide an investment plan tailored to you. Through proper asset allocation, scheduled rebalancing, reinvestment, and tax-loss harvesting and tax awareness, we will chart a course to your financial security.
Retirement Planning
Proper investing and planning for your retirement is one of the most important and also most daunting processes you may encounter. Let our experienced team guide you through this process. You'll see that with proper goal identification, strategy, and discipline you can retire with the lifestyle you desire.
Estate & Special Needs Planning
You've worked hard to grow and protect your assets. Now you want to ensure that those assets are properly distributed to your loved ones in the future. We can help create a structured plan to most efficiently protect them from the burden of unnecessary taxation and protect your wealth for future generations.
Small Business Retirement Plans
A retirement plan ranks among the most important benefits when attracting and retaining high-quality employees. Offering retirement benefits to your employees is not only an enticing incentive, but also demonstrates to employees that their employer cares about them and their future. Find out how easy it can be to set up an attractive retirement plan for the workforce that keeps your business going.Learn More
College Education Plans
The cost of a college education has been consistently rising, with little sign of leveling off, and relying on the hope of scholarships or student loans can be a dangerous gamble with the future of the children you hold so dear. Ask us how you can best plan for their education, and find out about the tax advantages of such savings as well. An investment in education will pay dividends in life that cannot be measured.Learn More
Insurance Planning
Though it can be easier not to contemplate the unthinkable, the reality is that unforeseen circumstances can often strike when we least expect them to. Having a contingency plan for unexpected illness, disability, death, or other hardships is your responsible duty. Speak with one of our Wealth Advisors for a comprehensive analysis of your coverage or to start a coverage plan.Learn More


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: strength :
Strength doesn't come from what you can do; it comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn't do. When you are at your lowest point, you are open to the greatest positive change. Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the strength to deal with… Continue reading »


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Better Belly Month is a bit of a dumb name but it's the best I can come up with. I want to reduce my waistline but in a healthy way. I'm planning a couple of half-marathon races during the next 4 months and I'm going to add a couple of changes into my lifestyle, all in the hopes of shrinking my gut a bit:
- Work core and abdominal exercises into my training program.
- Eat better: not give up sweets completely (and I freely admit that my eating habits haven't been great during the past couple of months) but use moderation and focus on adding more healthy foods back into my diet.
In terms of my running schedule, I'm going to incorporate hills and speed training into my running. I haven't done a lot of this because I've been trying to focus on distance running. However, since I won't be doing the REALLY long training runs for the next few months (probably no longer than 15 – 16 miles at the peak of the training program), I'm more comfortable with pushing myself with speed and with hill training.
Let the challenge begin!


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So far we have seen several disclosures that have notably highlighted information about the new HTC One Mini, however nothing substantial or legitimate, accurate information has been provided to draw a proper conclusion. There has been no divulgence of information from HTC, but certain dispatchments have notably signified the existence of such a handset.
With reports based from two informants who were briefed about the plans of a Smartphone, it is construed that the HTC One Mini will arrive by August this year. It is a notable fact that these sources have wished to remain anonymous till the information is disclosed officially by HTC. It is also a point to be noted that this divulgence is similar to the release date information that was presented before and these tidings highlight the possibility of the existence of this product.
It is regarded that this revelation will be shipped along with a less-powerful Qualcomm processor with the facilitation of a lower-resolution screen than the flagship model. This again confirms the rumors that circulated previously.
The HTC One mini constitutes a dual-core processor, a Snapdragon 400 rather than the equipped Snapdragon 600 quad-core which is existent in the HTC One. Additionally 2GB RAM, 16GB of internal storage space, and a 4-megapixel camera using HTC's UltraPixel technology is available with the existent HTC One mini revelation. With reports in from Bloomberg, it is understood that the screen size will be cut down to 4.3 inches. Additionally a resolution of just 720p will be available than the fascinating 1080p 4.7 inch display available in the HTC One. So far it is a point to be noted that HTC hasn't revealed anything on this product, but it is a matter of time that the Smartphones specifications get released out to the consumers.
Therefore this innovation will be another important revelation because the company plans on developing new products for aggrandizing its sales figures. Hence, it could tussle out with Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini to fight it out on the competitor front.


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There are many elements to the teaching and learning of Maths: it is not only the ability to calculate (being mathematically fluent) but also the ability to apply these skills to real life scenarios (solve problems and investigate) and also to talk knowledgably about mathematical working (reasoning).
'Mastery' Principles through a Phased Approach
At Fonthill, we value the principles behind the Mastery approach to teaching Maths, however many of our lessons are taught through the phased approach in order to meet the varying needs of the children in the class. The teacher will always work with every group in the class, and pay particular attention to the children who are just below age-related expectations in order to close the gap. We quickly identify children who need support to achieve their curriculum objectives and providing high quality support in personalised intervention sessions by Teachers and Teaching Assistants. Where there is a TA in class, they will support different groups throughout a lesson.
The depth of learning principles allow children to enjoy a range of investigations, activities and games, which really consolidates their understanding and ensures they are best prepared for their next academic year. In this way, they are applying their understanding and skills in different (and often real-life) contexts.
Calculation Policy Values and Aims
The calculation policy was written with both Little Mead Primary Academy and Henbury Court Primary Academy, in order to align the Endeavour schools' calculation policies. Our Maths Policy and this new Calculation Policy can be found on the Policy page of our website.
Resources, images and the Bar Method
Fonthill teachers use a range of resources to support children throughout their Maths learning, including when learning new content.
We believe in the concrete – pictorial – abstract principle, where children need to use resources to 'do' and 'see' the Maths, before using images, and then being able to work independently. This does not just happen during children's early years, but throughout their Maths learning. For example, Upper Key Stage 2 children would use Base10 resources to 'see' calculations with decimals before being able to 'do' the Maths without them.
Numicon is key feature of our EYFS and early KS1 children's Maths learning – it is used in play and in explicit teaching of number facts / early calculation. Dienes are used for Y2 onwards to demonstrate calculation strategies, including those with decimals, and cuisinaire rods are also used, particularly when learning fractions.
Images are also a key feature of our Maths teaching and learning. They support children to understand the Maths (when it is related to real life) and indeed children are encouraged to 'show' the Maths by drawing their own images. (Can they draw 3 x 5 to demonstrate an understanding of arrays.) They also invent and solve their own word problems from a range of mathematically rich illustrations.
The Bar Method is used to support children in understanding and solving word problems. It begins in Y1, where 1 symbol represents 1 unit, and progresses up the school where the bar represents a quantity.
Being able to talk about Maths, explain what is happening and use it to solve problems is a very important part of Maths at Fonthill. Children are encouraged to talk about their Maths every session and there is written evidence of this in books. Problem solving, activities and investigations are a key part of a sequence of Maths lessons; again, this is evident within the children's Maths books.
Click on this link to the National Curriculum Page for Maths
Have you ever wondered what happens during a day at Fonthill?
Here is a snapshot of what Fonthill's mathematicians do on a daily basis, from our little Nursery stars, all the way to our Year 6s!
In Nursery, the children work with the Numicon every morning. They are learning to recognise the shapes, count them accurately and order them by size up to 10. Then, when they go to their continuous provision, there is Numicon in a wide variety of areas for them to play with and explore. (It gets quite dirty in Nursery as it is in the sand, water, mud kitchen, playdough……!)
The Reception children also use Numicon in their daily Maths sessions. They are learning to order it by size up to 20, and match the numeral to the Numicon. They have also been learning to spot which one is missing when someone takes a piece away, and how they can use the Numicon to fill a 10x10 base board. They have also built some Numicon towers to find out which numbers add together to make a given total.
In other Maths challenges, they have made 3D shape towers, learnt the names of the shapes they have used, and explored how the angle of tubing can make water (and things) travel down it faster!
The Year 1 children begin each Maths session using Miss Brill's super glittery counting stick. They have learnt to count forward and backwards in ones from any number up to 100, in 2s, 5s and are soon going to be learning to count in 10s. When they are calculating in their books, they have Numicon available to them to use, and they have used it successfully to work out how much money they have in 5ps, how much more they would need to make a given total and many other addition and subtraction calculations to 20.
Year 2 had a practical measuring week, where they explored measuring in centimetres and metres using practical resources. They found things which were the same as a meter in and around the school, and then learnt how to measure accurately with a metre stick, applying their knowledge of counting in 10s. This was particularly hard when things were longer than 1 metre. They also used tape measures to measure each other's body parts, and became confident working with smaller units of measure (centimetres and millimetres.)
The Year 3 children have still found Numicon helpful when learning to count in 3s initially, although now they are so confident, they don't need it anymore! They have been using other practical resources to learn division by grouping, and can really 'see' what is happening each time. They have learnt to solve a range of division (and multiplication) activities relating to the 3 x table.
This week the Year 4 children have started to learn all about area and perimeter. They have just begun learning about area, so used squares of the same size to explore how shapes can be different but have the same area. Next, they are going to learn how to calculate the area and perimeter of rectilinear shapes, and solve problems involving area.
Year 6 used rice and cups to explore fractions and really get a sense of what a fraction is and 'feels like.' They used this strategy to help them compare 2 different fractions, and to order them on a number line. This practical approach to teaching has really helped the children with their understanding, and they are now able to apply this when completing fraction work without the need of resources or visuals.
During their multiplication week, the children in Year 5 applied all of their place value knowledge to multiply and divide by 10, 100 and 1000. They played a game to practice this, which involved rolling a die, completing a mathematical operation on it, and seeing if they could beat their partner. They have now applied this understanding in their mental maths work, and also in their written formal methods.


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Speed Play: The Fun of Fartlek
Here is an early-season Fartlek workout that both half and full marathoners can utilize, after their winter base training, as well as a runner who is in the early stages of training for a 5K and is not yet ready for 5K-specific speed work. It's a very effective workout to do as you transition between the roads and the track.
Fartlek is another word for speed-play. Fartlek workouts are continuous runs that alternate between paces and are a great (and fun) way to keep the workout varied and interesting. They can be done either on the track or on the roads.
This workout utilizes your 10K target pace as your workout pace, and your half-marathon target pace (HMP) as the recovery pace. The target pace should be your goal or projected race pace. If you don't know what your 10K or half marathon goal pace is then you can estimate it based on your other race times and using the McMillan Running Calculator (https://www.mcmillanrunning.com/). This is just a suggestion. Your target pace should always be your goal race pace and not your current pace or fitness level.
Dynamic stretches
10 minutes of easy warm-up running (conversational pace)
5 minutes at half marathon pace (HMP)
1 minute at 10K pace
4 minutes at HMP
2 minutes at 10K pace
3 minutes at HMP
3 minutes at 10K pace
4 minutes at HMP
2 minutes at 10K pace
5 minutes at HMP
1 minute at 10K pace
10 minutes of easy cool-down running
Static stretches
A simple but effective workout in only fifty minutes!
Treadmill Option:
If you don't have access to a track or the weather doesn't allow you to run on the roads, you can perform this workout on the treadmill. If you do, make sure that you're running at 1% incline throughout. This incline most closely simulates the running effort on the roads. Obviously it takes a few seconds to adjust the speed on the treadmill so use your recovery time (time spent running at HMP) to adjust the speed. Here is a useful guide for treadmill pace conversions, something to help you plan ahead and set the right treadmill speeds: http://www.hillrunner.com/training/tmillchart.php
Try this out and let me know what you think! Got questions about any of it? Catch me at the next Wednesday run or email me at email@example.com
Run better. Run smarter. Run for life.
Coach Mwangi


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Sagaform Rocking Whisky Glasses (6)
Sagaforn Rocking Whisky Glasses are glasses that resist spilling and knocking over. Their tilted design makes it so. With six glasses in each nicely presented box, they're also one of the best value presents in The Good Store.
The Sagaform company is from Sweden and they're a proud part of that country's New Wave Design Group initiative. They create contemporary products based on classic Swedish design traditions - with a stated aim of "solving gift problems". We like that.
Rocking Whisky Glass designer Roger Persson, studied in Goteborg (Sweden) and New York City, and is now re-installed in Goteborg. His glasses pay a passing nod to fellow Swedes Normann Copenhagen's Rocking Glasses http://www.thegoodstore.com.au/d97-98/normann-copenhagen-rocking-glasses/ , but Roger's design is more linear, and is distinctively pointier at its base. Style-wise, they're literally sharp.
- Beautifully gift boxed
- Six glasses per box
Specifications : height = 8.9cm ; diameter = 8.5cm; volume = 200ml ;
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text: Cape Town - South Africa fast bowler Vernon Philander believes the Proteas pacemen may need to make the Australian batsmen uncomfortable at the crease especially if they start to get on top.While Australia have been warned against excessive sledging by former players the right-arm quick feels South Africa will benefit from disrupting the concentration of the Aussie batters.Ahead of the first Test, Philander said: "There's going to be a time when a partnership will develop and it will require one or two bowlers to put up their hands and get a bit ugly and make things uncomfortable.Philander is looking forward to the bit of niggle between the two sides which he thinks brings the best out of him.The paceman went on: "That tests your character, it's a part of Test cricket and testing your skills - you need to get out there and win that moment for your team. It's going to be fun."Philander has a point to prove down under having never quite played his best against Australia away from home despite being chief destroyer when Australia collapsed to 47 all out in Cape Town."It's very important for me personally and it's also important for us as a unit," said Philander."We've got to take 20 wickets and as long as I play my part in taking 20 wickets in a Test match, then I'll be happy."The big fast bowler feels South Africa won't fiddle with how their attack is made up too much and are likely to play a spinner in each Test regardless of what the surface looks like."We've always had three seamers with a spinner and a part-timer and we're pretty used to that," he added.The Proteas bowlers will be used to pace and bounce but Philander said it was key that they remain disciplined in their bowling: "The simpler you keep it, the better it becomes, you can get carried away by the pace and bounce but for seamers you need to be ultra-disciplined here."Regardless what is said or done though Philander says it is critical the Proteas keep their cool.He rounded off saying: "Moments are going to get heated but you as a person have to be stay calm and collected."


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Anyway, got the camera. Haven't done much with it. I bought two cheap adapter so I could use my T2i lenses on it. For you non-camera people, jump to the next section.
Thing is(as I understand it, and I could be off on a lot of this)--when I put my 35mm 1.4 lens on the new camera it becomes essentially a 70mm 1.4 lens. That's kind of cool. I'm a little vague on why that is(usually it's because of the image sensor size difference in the lens the camera was meant for and the lens it's being used with).
But I'm looking at ACTUAL Micro 4/3rd(MFT) lenses and they keep saying things like this:
- 20mm focal length, equivalent to 40mm on a 35mm film camera
The reason I'm looking for an actual MFT lens is because my other lens(a Tokina 12-16mm) does not have a manual aperture ring, so I can't adjust the lens' aperture at all when it's on the new camera without getting a very expensive adapter. I might as well just buy a new lens.
Anyway, am looking forward to shooting some stuff. It does 4K, slow motion, it's pretty great.
And shocking good news! The two biggest places I contacted got right back to me. The first one normally licenses images to the press for $200 an image, but after finding out we had mutual interests(the guy was an editor for Marvel Comics, as well as a DC rep for quite some time), he said I could use them for free as long as he could approve which images I used.
Then the second guy got back to me and said it sounded very cool, and didn't mind. They both said they could send me higher-res images if I needed them.
And remember that awesome pumpkin-carving guy I mentioned a while back? I'd sent an inquiry before Halloween and never heard back, so I sent another and they got right back to me. Said send them the questions, they'd be happy to answer them.
They didn't mention my picture inquiry, but I plan on sending them the 2 pages when I'm done and see if they're cool with it. The images will say Copyright them, Used With Permission, so I'm not asking for any copyright.
So I'm 3-for-3 so far. Got a lot more to go through, then have to make some judgement calls on some of these "public domain" images I've found.
Saw the Kingsman tonight. Pretty fun movie. If you liked the quirky action of Kick Ass, it's very similar, so you'll like this one.
But the crazy part is this guy who sat next to my wife:
If I'd had to go that way I'd have just run right into them. Fuck that dude.
And they wonder why movie attendance is down.
Also, have hit my plateau. My lowest weight was 204, the next day it was 205 inexplicably--I didn't cheat.
Then I got back down to 204 but the needle's not budging. So I either keep the course until it breaks, or I radically cheat, which sometimes results in the body not knowing what's happening and reacting by burning calories faster.


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*This post originally appeared on October 17, 2011. I have taken new pictures to update the post. * I have made applesauce every year for the last 10 years. After living in the Pacific Northwest (Portland area) for 5 years I became spoiled by all the amazing apple splendor. One particular house we lived in {…Read More…}
How to Can Applesauce the Easiest Way in the World
October 14, 2015 By 40 Comments


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My first visit to CityCenter was blessed with a vision. Reader, I saw her, an apparition in a jewelry-store window.
Mesmerized by the diamonds, I saw a tiny figure materialize in the glass reflection. "Marie?" I hesitantly whispered. Because it's strange to find a childhood TV crush next to you at the mall. And because Marie's a first-name-basis kind of girl.
After scanning me for stalker-likelihood, she acknowledged she was herself, and I reminded her that we had met before.
In fact she had kissed me—squarely, center forehead—during one of my, um, four viewings of Donny & Marie at the Flamingo. Marie squeezed me and brought me up to speed on her day: waking up in her Green Valley home, feeding the homeless, followed by "retail therapy" with her co-ghost writer, who's helping her on her third book (spoiler alert: Christmas theme); later, she'd join the newly-crowned Dancing With the Stars winner for that night's show.
I took the Marie sighting as a good omen for CityCenter. But I had blown her cover—she was quickly surrounded by tourists bearing flip cams. She didn't seem to mind at all.


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Little Mix made history earlier this month when they became the first group to win The X Factor.
More than 15million viewers saw Jesy Nelson, 20, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 19, Jade Thirlwall, 18, and Perrie Edwards, 18, land the life-changing record deal.
And according to the One Direction boys - who finished 3rd in last year's show - they can go on to conquer the world.
Liam Payne, 19, said: "They are a little bit different. They haven't gone for the same look as Girls Aloud."
Harry Styles, 17, added: "They're just like a girl version of us. They're like the girls you would go to school with."
Little Mix were are the first girl group to win the X Factor Since last year's X Factor, the five lads have become Britain's hottest male group.
Their debut single What Makes You Beautiful has already smashed sales records and netted the biggest ever pre-orders for their record company Sony.
However, Harry Styles, 17, insists the success hasn't turned their heads.
One Direction's debut single What Makes You Beautiful smashed sales records
He said: "We think a massive part of it is to remember where you have come from, know who you are and don't get caught up in it all and believing in your own hype and remember what you are and stay grounded a bit."
Asked about who they would to collaborate with most in 2012, the lads said they are keen to work with Bruno Mars.
Zayn Malik, 18, said: "He's amazing at the moment and whacking number one on top of number one out at the moment. He's wicked."