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The Story – The Last American #1 – 4 (1990-1991)
The Last American #1 – 4 (1990-1991) : The Last American is a four-issue comic book mini-series released by Marvel's Epic imprint in 1990. It was written by John Wagner and Alan Grant with art by Mike McMahon.
Free Comic Download
The Last American #1 – 4 (1990-1991)
Language : English | Year : 1990-1991 | Size : 202 MB
Screenshots :
Notes :
- If you have any difficulties to download the files, please refer to this how-to download page.
- All of the comic files are packed on .CBR and/or .CBZ file formats. Here are some of the reader apps that i can recommend : YAC Reader (Win, OSX, Linux, iOS), ComicRack (Win, Android, iOS), CDisplayEx.
- To extract any compressed files, I recommend using 7-Zip.
- If you encounter any broken links or corrupt files, please write on the comment section or message me through the contact form.
- Want to see all the comic list? Please go to this page.


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"In all things God works for good to those who love him, who are called according to his purpose." [Romans 8:28] Only in this sense can this day be called "good." We walk with Christ to Calvary and his crucifixion, reflecting on the extent of God's love for us. In the evening, the Liturgy Guild leads us in prayerful remembrance of the Good Friday events through The Stations of the Cross. As a sign of mourning, and in accordance with earliest tradition, there is no celebration of the Eucharist on Good Friday.
This Holy Week, I invite you to take a bowl in your home, fill it with water, and place it in a spot you pass by every day. Each day of Holy Week, make a sacred moment to be with Jesus by washing your hands with him in you. Wash your hands knowing the sacred love of Jesus for you, in you, and through you. Wash your hands not in dismissal or guilt, but in the cleansing power of repentance in all that this most sacred week of our life of faith is meant to be.
Come join your community of faith family as we remember this day of Jesus' crucifixion and death as we pray the Good Friday Solemn Collects with Sermon at 12 noon, and walk the Way of the Cross at 7:00 p.m.
Walk with Jesus on the Way of the Cross.
Walk with Jesus who loves you to death into new life beyond.
Walk with Jesus …
The Reverend Paul W. Gennett, Jr.
The Collect for Good Friday
Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

subset: commoncrawl


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I've been wondering what would happen with in-car navigation as a result of the new turn-by-turn navigation now available in smartphones. In-car navigation is much more expensive than the $50 app that allows you to use turn-by-turn navigation on your cell phone. The big plus of in-car navigation is the fact that you don't have to hold your device while trying to navigate busy streets. But the higher price tag of in-car navigation has car manufacturers thinking up ways to utilize the smartphone navigation system.
Solutions are in the works, according to an article in today's New York Times: Ford has teamed up with the navigation company Telenav to enable Telenav's Scout software to run on compatible vehicles outfitted with Ford's Sync system and software called Applink. A $25-a-year app, Car Connect, lets drivers connect Android phones to the dash. (An iPhone version is in the works.)


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I love Fall! Especially when it comes to the Fall Baby Show & Sale line up.
Again this year, One Tiny Suitcase is participating in the Calgary Baby Show. This is my favorite show and by far the best show for expectant parents to attend in Calgary.
The One Tiny Suitcase booth will showcase our convenient service available to new and expectant moms in Calgary. We carry the largest inventory of MEDELA Symphony (hospital grade) breast pump rentals. Our service includes FREE delivery!
For Expectant Moms we carry medical quality Fetal Doppler Rentals. These baby heartbeat monitors allow you to listen in to your baby's heartbeat from as early as 9-12 weeks pregnant. Our rentals include all the ultrasound gel, batteries and instructions you need to get started right away.
See you there October 2-3, 2010 10am-5pm.


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With a rare cosmic alignment to show its face over a narrow section of approximately nine states across North America this summer, Oregon is gearing up to be one of the many areas lucky enough to witness a total solar eclipse. This eclipse, called the "Great American Total Solar Eclipse," will pass directly over Salem and Albany on August 21 at about 10:00 a.m. with the center of its path being between the two cities. The path will also cross Lincoln City, Newport, Madras, John Day and Prairie City.
At around 239,000 miles away from Earth the moon is at just the right distance to be able to occasionally block out the sun when orbits line up correctly. On average, a few solar eclipses happen every year, however, the majority of these are partial, or annular, eclipses, meaning the sun is not fully covered. A total eclipse happens somewhere on Earth every year and a half or so, but only returns to the same place every few hundred years. The last time a total solar eclipse passed over North America was in 1979.
The earliest recorded total solar eclipse was on March 5, 1223 B.C.E., according to Live Science. In earlier times eclipses were often seen as signs of supernatural events or bad omens.
Eclipses provide scientists a chance to examine the sun and stars during the day. A total solar eclipse provides the best view of the sun's corona, or outermost layer. Scientists can also view stars that wouldn't normally be visible due to the sun's light and test certain scientific theories. Part of Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity, his theory of gravitational lenses, was tested during a solar eclipse in 1919. Gravitational lensing is defined as when a large object's gravitational field bends light rays similar to the way a lens does. This theory is tested during eclipses because it allows astronomers to measure stars with and without the sun interfering so that they can compare the difference. Most people today, however, simply see them as a rare opportunity to witness a cosmic event.
In an effort to view this astrological event, people from all over the world have been booking hotels and campgrounds near Salem and Lincoln City. An estimated one million visitors are expected to the state according to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Cities and towns that lie along the main path of the eclipse are gearing up for massive numbers by creating additional parking and preparing for big crowds in public places. Some cities are hosting events to celebrate. These include, an event at the Oregon State Fairgrounds put on by OMSI in Salem, a four day "Solarfest" in Madras and the "Global Eclipse Gathering" put on by Symbiosis Gathering in Prineville.
Though it will be outside of the main path of the eclipse, Eugene will still be a good place to view the event. In the Eugene/Springfield area 98 percent to 99 percent of the sun will be covered by the eclipse. Just like if it were 100 percent covered it will still darken the sky and lower the temperature very quickly when the moon passes in front of the sun.
The eclipse will only last for a few minutes and should not be viewed from Eugene without protective eclipse glasses. Viewers within the "path of totality" may view the eclipse only when the sun is completely covered. During that time onlookers can take off the glasses and see the outer edges of the sun in a way that many people won't see again in their lifetimes.


text: Mark D. Smith began his career with Ramirez & Associates in 1987 as a law clerk. In 1990 he became a lawyer and became involved in all aspects of the firm. Mark has extensive experience with commercial law, commercial litigation, eminent domain, corporate law, trusts and estates, and sales and distribution. He is skilled in the area of School Law and has represented several School Districts in Texas. Mark is currently a member of the Mesquite Independent School District's Advisory Committee for Discipline Management and Year-Round Schooling. He is also a member of the Business Law and Litigation Law Sections of the State Bar of Texas.


text: A US teen blabbed about her dad's financial win after a lengthy legal settlement, only to cost poor dad the money by breaking a confidentiality clause. By bragging "Gulliver is now officially paying for my vacation to Europe this summer. SUCK IT" on Facebook, the teen's ex-headmaster dad lost his age discrimination payout with Gulliver school. Whoops. [Miami Herald via Metro]


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Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, Republican appointed, decided with four other members of the Supreme Court, that America doesn't need a tyrant. His majority ruling rips the Administration's lame and convoluted reasoning that the President can do whatever he wants in a wartime situation, including his blowing off of the UCMJ and Geneva Conventions.
In particular, Justice Stevens' majority ruling deals a devasating blow to
tribunal rules which violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Geneva
Convenions. Indeed, the most signficiant news in Justice Steven's Hamdan
majority ruling is fierce insistence on the power of international law, and in
particular the Geneva Conventions, which the Administration has long dismissed
as irrelevant to non-state actors like Al Qaeda volunteers. Such dismissals are
nonsense, according to Justice Stevens' ruling: the Geneva Conventions' Common
Article 3 clearly prohibits "the passing of sentences...without previous
judgment...by a regularly constituted court affording all the judicial
guarantees ... recognized as indispensable by civilized peoples." For three
years, Administration lawyers have argued that the Geneva Conventions don't
apply to its "war on terror". That argument is finished.
Thanks, Justice Stevens, Justice Breyer, Justice Kennedy, Justice Souter and Justice Bader Ginsburg.
The four flies buzzing around Bush's ass were, Scalia, Thomas and Alito. Roberts had recused himself because he had earlier agreed to give Bush these powers while on an appeals court.
And a special thanks to those gutless Democrat Senators that rolled over for Bush and put Robert's and Alito on the Supreme Court.
Bush now plans to go to Congress to get the laws he needs to continue his un-American activities. Some in Congress are no doubt ready, but it would probably mean this country repudiating the Geneva Conventions.
Eugene Robinson at the WaPo puts it in terms that even the most thick-headed, anti-American, Bush supporter can understand. Well, probably not, but it sounded good when I typed it.
The administration's response was to design military tribunals in which the
detainees would not be able to adequately defend themselves. Yesterday the court
ruled 5 to 3 that show trials are the same as no trials. Predictably, the
majority opinion was written by 86-year-old Justice John Paul Stevens, who has
become the court's conscience. Predictably, the swing vote was Justice Anthony
M. Kennedy, who has assumed the old Sandra Day O'Connor role. And, predictably,
the court's hard-right faction -- Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and the newest
member of the club, Samuel A. Alito Jr. -- voted to let the Decider do whatever
the hell he wants. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. had to recuse himself,
since he had already ruled on the case (in favor of the president) when he was
on a lower court. Remarkably, even if he had been able to vote, the rule of law
would have been upheld.
Condi's having her own problems, after having a lunch with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, recorded. Condi was sticking to the Administration's policy of, it's what you say, not what you do that's important.
But a recording of the ministers' private lunch, made when an audio link into
the room was accidentally left on, showed that "Condi" and "Sergei" -- as they
called each other -- had several long and testy exchanges over Iraq. The
disputes concerned relatively minor wording changes in the five-page statement
issued after the meeting, but grew out of basic differences between the two
governments over how to proceed on Iraq.
The State Department's subsequent denial of tensions illustrates how
officials manage the information that flows to the public from such closed-door
meetings to create an image meant to advance foreign policy objectives.
Reporters often have no independent account of such discussions.
The V.A. has recovered their lost computer with the personal information of 26.5 million veterans and active duty personnel. The V.A. says the information wasn't accessed. The V.A. make no comment on the dumbasses that Bush appointed to run it.
Federal officials yesterday announced the recovery of computer equipment stolen
from an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs. They said that sensitive
personal information of 26.5 million veterans and military personnel apparently
had not been accessed.
The laptop and external hard drive, stolen May 3 from
a VA data analyst's home in Aspen Hill, contained the names, birth dates and
Social Security numbers of millions of current and former service members. The
theft was the largest information security breach in government history and
raised fears of potential mass identity theft.
The whores in Congress passed a resolution yesterday condemning news organizations that leak any of Bush's illegal activities against the American people.
WASHINGTON The House on Thursday approved a Republican-crafted resolution
condemning news organizations for revealing a covert government program to track
terrorist financing, saying the disclosure had "placed the lives of Americans in
The resolution, passed 227-183 on a largely party-line vote, did not
specifically name the news organizations, but it was aimed at the New York Times
and other news media that last week reported on a secret CIA-Treasury program to
track millions of financial records in search of terrorists.
17 little Democrat Bush groupies gladly spread their cheeks for the president on this resolution. They are, and yes, once again my Congressman turned Bush whore, voted right along with them,
John Barrow, Melissa Bean, Dan Boren, Leonard Boswell, Henry Cuellar, Peter DeFazio, Chet Edwards, Bart Gordon, Brian Higgins, Jim Marshall, Jim Matheson, Charles Melancon, Collin Peterson, Mike Ross, John Salazar, Ike Skelton, Gene Taylor.
The Overseas Press Club of America told King George and his flunkies what effect that their words and actions may have on the American Press that may be too gutless to speak for it self.
NEW YORK, June 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Defending The New York Times's recent
disclosures of secret government programs to monitor Americans' overseas phone
calls and financial transactions, the Overseas Press Club of America today told
President George Bush that his administration's attacks on The Times could have
a "chilling influence" on editors around the country.
The OPC president said the need to withhold news that might hinder U.S.
military efforts "must be weighed against the damage to our society and its
institutions that can be done by secret, unfettered spying on our citizens."
The Boston Globe says the NYT blow-up by the White House was just to divert attention away from the fact that the American commander in Iraq has a plan that is about the same as the so-called "cut and run" Democrats in Congress.
The Casey strategy sounds suspiciously similar to the scenario Vice President
Dick Cheney denounced on CNN as ``the worst possible thing we could do . . .
packing it in, going home, persuading and convincing and validating the theory
that the Americans don't have the stomach for this fight." Of course, at the
time, the vice president was talking about the Democrats' call for withdrawal --
not the Pentagon's plan for withdrawal.
And then, the president deftly changed the subject to another New York Times
story, this one disclosing a secret program to investigate and track terrorists
through an international database that includes Americans' banking transactions.
Bush condemned the report as ``disgraceful," administration officials piled on,
and the political right joyously joined the chorus. Senator Jim Bunning,
Republican of Kentucky, accused the Times of ``treason." The Washington Post,
The Wall Street Journal, and the Los Angeles Times also reported on the
financial tracking program, but most of the vitriol is aimed at The New York
Times, whose parent company owns The Boston Globe.


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H&M Entering Australia
Table of Contents
Introduction –
Hennes and Mauritz (H&M) was first established in 1947 and have since expanded internationally and currently operate in 34 countries (H&M, 2009). As H&M continues to expand every year, the following report has chosen Australia as the new market, where analysis has been conducted to provide H&M with recommendations of which market entry method they should adopt and the threats and issues they must overcome to be able to succeed.
1.0 - Country Analysis – Australia
For the purpose of this report H&M (Hennes & Mauritz) has chosen Australia as the foreign country in which they wish to enter and introduce their products. Australia is the largest island, however, is also the smallest continent in the world which is situated below South East Asia (Department of Immigration and Citizenship, 2009). Being the sixth largest nation on earth it also consists of six states and two territories with the lowest population density per square metre (REFERENCE).
As it is practically impossible for H&M to enter the whole Australian market simultaneously, H&M has, therefore, chosen Melbourne as the first Australian state they wish to enter.
There are many reasons for choosing Australia and Melbourne in particular including: •Melbourne is the second largest capital city in Australia with a population of 3,634,200 (REFERENCE). •Melbourne is renowned as the fashion capital of Australia, where the Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (MSFW) is one of the largest and most popular consumer fashion events in Australia (City of Melbourne, 2009). This may then make it easier for H&M to launch their products and also obtain brand awareness, as Melbournians are relatively 'fashion conscious'. •New business opportunity, since 2006 there has been a 15% growth in the segment where young female consumers are demanding for low priced yet high quality and fashionable apparel (Euromonitor, 2009). •Australia has a similar country profile as previous countries H&M has successfully entered and launched its product. Hence, H&M appears to have prior knowledge and experience in expanding internationally into a Western country. 1.0Product Analysis –
Hennes and Mauritz (H&M) was founded by Erling Persson in Vasteras, Sweden, in 1947. It was initially known as Hennes, which is the Swedish word for "hers", as the company only sold women clothing. Persson purchased Mauritz Widforss a small sporting apparel company and since then formed Hennes and Mauritz (REFERENCE). The company now operates in 34 countries including Germany, France, Hong Kong, USA and the UK. H&M continues to expand internationally where they expanded into the Japanese market in 2008 and will further expand into Russia and Lebanon by the end of 2009 and Israel and South Korea in 2010 (H&M, 2009). The core concept of H&M is to provide fashionable products at the lowest price possible, to compete with expensive department stores. H&M has 6 main product lines which include:
•Women – diverse range of apparel spanning from basic sportswear to corporate and party garments. •Men – includes tailored garments such as jackets to fashionable apparel that reflect the latest trends. •Children – is divided into three categories – babies, children and H&M Young which is aimed at children up to the age of 14. •Divided – targeted at teenagers and young adult, which offers fashion with a young look with creative designs that reflect those of the latest trends. •&denim Jeans – provides both traditional five-pocket jeans to the trendiest cuts. •Accessories – H&M also produces its own footwear, handbags, jewellery and even cosmetics. It should also be noted that H&M does not own manufacture any products, instead they rely on over 700 independent suppliers primarily in Asia and Europe which enables them to select the best supplier (H&M, 2008).
3.0 – Market Segments
With the diverse range of product lines, it appears that H&M has the...
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Oh sweet goodness, I love babies. and gorgeous parents. and cable knit sweaters. and a little 5 o'clock shadow. Welcome baby Caroline.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Robyn and Josh: Engaged
My favorite thing about being a photographer is getting to see all the ways people love each other. The still, deep love of a new mom and baby, the rambunctious, crazy love between little brothers and sisters, or the honest, all-consuming love between a couple. These two have all of these, AND THEN SOME!
They are the definition of a perfect match. Robyn and Josh, I am so so happy for you. Thank you for being true to exactly who you are - smart, fun, silly, happy, and so in love - and for letting me be a small part.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Belly to baby
I love meeting clients like this ...
And then seeing them again like this ...
Such a beautiful, beautiful family.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Giveaway - Word Posters
AND THE WINNER IS .... queenoftheclick! Congratulations! What a cute idea to use them in a classroom. Love it.
I can't believe this Saturday the moving truck takes our stuff to our first house! I'm excited to get there and revamp so I've been brainstorming about some new things that will make a big impact for a small price (Pottery Barn style on a Target budget as they say). In the process I've designed a few posters with my favorite sayings, proverbs, wise words, etc.
For extra entries: Post this sentence... awesome giveaway from Tiny Bird at http://www.tinybirdblog.com ... on Twitter, facebook, your blog, etc. and come back here and leave a comment with a link to your post.


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Boston Bombings Pull D.C.'s Attention Back to Terrorism
What was supposed to be a jam-packed week of controversial legislation on Capitol Hill was punctuated by moments of silence for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings and trepidation as security was tightened in the hours after the attack at key locales in Washington.
"Thoughts & prayers are with everyone in Boston," tweeted Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), a member of the Group of Eight. "Our bipartisan work on immigration will wait at least a day out of respect for the victims."
Whip counting continued at a quiet yet frenzied pace for the background check compromise of Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), expected to come up for a vote this week as the first amendment of the gun control bill, but indications were that they lacked support and may have to go back to the drawing board.
Both chambers paused to remember the victims even as details remained hazy in the early evening hours. "I hesitate to call what the event was but clearly it was a terrible tragedy," Boston Rep. Mike Capuano (D-Mass.) said on the House floor, adding "whether official terrorism or unofficial" the attack was committed by "an evil person." House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) ordered flags over the Capitol to be flown at half-staff.
The worst attack on U.S. soil since 9/11 was poised to dramatically shift the predefined agenda of the 113th Congress after a campaign season where the president said al-Qaeda was on the run and national security ranked low for voters concerned with economic recovery.
"I've updated leaders of Congress in both parties, and we reaffirmed that on days like this there are no Republicans or Democrats -- we are Americans, united in concern for our fellow citizens," President Obama said in an early evening statement in the briefing room.
"We still do not know who did this or why. And people shouldn't jump to conclusions before we have all the facts. But make no mistake -- we will get to the bottom of this," he continued. "And we will find out who did this; we'll find out why they did this. Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice."
The White House released a photo of Obama on the phone in the Oval Office with FBI Director Robert Mueller. The FBI asserted federal jurisdiction to swiftly take over the investigation, with the bureau calling it a criminal investigation and "potential" terrorism investigation.
There was no alert issued from the National Terrorist Advisory System, which was the administration's replacement for the Bush-era color-coded terror alert system -- but there's never been an NTAS alert since the system began nearly two years ago.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone impacted by this incident in Boston, especially the families and loved ones of those injured," Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement. "Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies continue to respond, and at the President's direction, the Department of Homeland Security is providing any support necessary in this ongoing investigation. We encourage the public to be vigilant, and to listen to direction from state and local officials."
As of Monday evening, three people were confirmed dead, including an 8-year-old boy, and more than 140 were injured, including 8 children, in a pair of sequential bombings at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Reports indicated ball bearings were packed in the explosive devices.
The April 15 date of the attack touched off rampant speculation about motive and timing: It was Patriots' Day in Boston, as well as tax day nationwide. It was Israel's 65th Independence Day. It was Kim Il-Sung's 101st birthday. It was the day the U.S. bombed Libya in 1986.
But target-wise, it was an internationally recognized event with inherent controlled chaos where Bostonians off work and school for the civic holiday were gathered for an annual tradition.
"As this situation continues to develop and our first responders continue their effort to ensure the safety of our friends and family in Boston, there are still far more questions than answers," said Sen. Mo Cowan (D-Mass.), who was appointed to John Kerry's seat after the longtime senator became secretary of State.
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) said members were carefully monitoring the incident as it unfolded.
"In the end, we'll get to the bottom of this incident and use any and all information from this horrible tragedy to bolster our security and response efforts and continue to do all that we can to keep events like this from happening again," he said.
And that turned to franker talk of terrorism among many lawmakers.
"Our first responsibility is to secure the support the victims and their families will need in the days and months ahead," said Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas). "We must identify those who committed this cowardly act, as well as those who encourage them through actions or silence, and hold them fully accountable for their crimes."
"Though it remains unclear who is responsible, this attack is yet another stark reminder that we must remain vigilant in the face of continuing terrorist threats," said House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.).
"While it's hard for us to imagine the kind of callousness necessary to so recklessly maim and kill innocents at such a wholesome event, we will not rest until the person or persons responsible for this tragedy are brought to justice," Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) said.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told ABC News that the bombings had the "hallmarks" of terror attack. "It could be foreign, it could be homegrown," she added.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) called on "my fellow members of Congress to use this attack on American soil to re-commit our commitment to protecting Americans at home and abroad."
"I am disturbed and saddened that anyone would ruin this day of celebration by targeting innocent people and murdering them in cold blood," Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said. "Once it is determined who is responsible, justice must be served to the fullest extent possible."
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, said she's "sure" congressional hearings will be called "when the investigations are complete."
"Within the next few months we must reevaluate the status of the safety and security of America's large venues and large events that are coming up in the pending weeks and months," she said.
Homeland Security Chairman Mike McCaul (R-Texas) said he was in contact with Boston authorities and federal officials to try to get information about who's responsible as it becomes available.
"I would urge the American people to remain calm but vigilant," McCaul said. "Today's events are a stark reminder that our enemies continue to plot against us."


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Geekerella - Ashley Poston
To read the official synopsis, click here.
Elle cannont believe that they cast some teen drama actor to star as her beloved Prince in the Starfield reboot. Elle has been a fan of the show ever since she was a little kid and would stay up watching episodes with her dad. She runs a Starfield fan blog, a blog that has been getting a lot of attention lately. When Elle starts getting text from a mysterious number she doesn't expect her new friend to be Darien Freeman the new Prince Carmindor of Starfield.
So I think I am in the minority for not loving this book. This is a Cinderalla retelling but with a healthy dose of nerd culture. I was very excited to read this book but it didn't live up to the hype for me.
I liked the alternating POVs. I loved Elle's deep love for all things Starfield and how excited she was to be around people that loved the show. I really liked her budding friendship with her coworker Sage and Elle introducing her love of the show to Sage. I really liked their friendship.
Darien felt a little more flat. I liked how conflicted he felt about his fame but there were so many moment where he felt a little to perfect or understanding. He didn't seem as authentic as Elle did. I still greatly enjoyed him and I did find some of his parts more entertaining than Elle's.
Where this book really fell flat to me was their communication. By sheer luck Darien and Elle started texting one another. They are supposed to have this deep friendship than romance all because of the texting but we don't really see that. There are few text convos that we see between the two, most of the time it is Elle or Darien telling us about past convos. I wish we saw more of those heartfelt conversations because even though I knew they have been talking for weeks, it just felt so instalove.
This book had so much potential it fell so flat because all of the hype.
I give this book a C.
To read the official synopsis, click here.
This is a bind up of three prequel novellas to the Dorothy Must Die series. We follow how Dorothy became so wicked.
I was not a big fan of these novellas.
I enjoyed seeing how Dorothy started to become the evil tyrant that she is now. After returning to Kansas, Dorothy felt so lost. She was just so lost and unsure about everything. While she was happy to be reunited with her aunt and uncle she just wanted to return to Oz.
Her novella was the only one I really enjoyed. It was the only story that I felt added to the story. The other two didn't feel like it was need.
I give this book a C.
The Stone Rose - Jacqueline Rayner
To read the official synopsis, click here.
Mickey shows the Doctor and Rose a stunning statue at the museum where he works, the stature has an uncanny likeness to Rose. The Doctor and his companion go back in time to Ancient Rome to discover who sculpted the statue. But once they get their the Doctor sets out to help a man try to find his missing son.
If anyone out there is a Doctor Who fan, I highly highly recommend picking up the audiobook. It was such a fun, fast listen that captured the mystery and shenanigans of a Doctor Who episode. Oh and did I mention it is narrated by David Tennant?
There were so many twist and turns in this book. It was so entertaining and it reminded me how much I love and miss Rose and the 10th Doctor.
I give this book a B.
Demigods & Magicians - Rick Riordan
To read the official synopsis, click here.
This a collection of three short stories starring Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, Carter and Sadie Kane. Demigods and magicians must find a way to not only trust one another but work as a team to defeat their common enemy.
This was such a fun collection of stories featuring fan favorite characters from both the Percy Jackson series and the Kane Chronicles. I loved seeing Percy and Sadie get along with all their reckless behavior while Carter and Annabeth tried to make a plan so that no one died.
It was the best of both worlds merging together while introducing us to a lesser known Greek and Egyptian god.
I highly recommend this for all Rick Riordan fans.
I give this book a B+.
To read the official synopsis, click here.
Sahar has been in love with her best friend Nasrin since they were six years old. But it is dangerous to be homosexual in Iran. When it is announced that Nasrin will be married soon Sahar's life begins to crumble. But she doesn't want to give up her first love and Sahar thinks she has found the perfect solution. Loving another girl might be wrong, but being born in the wrong body is a mistake. A mistake that can be legally corrected.
I really enjoy Sara Farizan's writing. This is the second book of her's I read and I greatly enjoyed it.
Farizan is able to capture that feeling of first love, that all consuming and sometimes irrational feeling of love. I felt that fear and desperation that Sahar was going through. There were so many times that I wanted to cry with her and so many other times I wanted to shake her.
My heart ached for Sahar. She was such a wonderful complex character.
It was really interesting to see how homosexuality and being transgendered are viewed in Iran. Homosexuality is illegal and there are serious consequences. But if you are born in the wrong body it is more accepted and people have access to gender reassignment surgeries. Sahar was able to go to a support group of people that have had the surgeries. Suddenly this naive and impulse idea was starting to become a lot more serious.
I greatly enjoyed this story, the writing, and and characters. It wasn't a perfect read but it was extremely well done.
I give this book a B.
To read the official synopsis, click here.
This beloved classic tells the story a young girl who lives on her own and all the wild adventures that she goes on with her two friends.
I wanted to read more classics this year and I know this is a much loved book.
But this book was not for me.
I think I missed the ideal age for this book.
I found Pippi to be so irritating and reckless. I was just so annoyed by everything she did.
I can definitely see why so many children love this book. To kids, Pippi seems to have the best of both worlds, independence and childhood fun.
I give this book a D.
To read the official synopsis, click here.
Charmain is being sent to watch over her uncle's home while he is away. The house isn't like normal houses, sometimes a taking a wrong turn will leave you ended up out in the country or a busy city. All she wanted to do was be able to read her beloved books but that plan gets dashed aside as wizards enter her life.
I can't believe this book was written over a decade after Howl's Moving Castle was first published. Jones was able to effortlessly jump back into this beloved world.
This book does follow the same formulas as the first two books in a series. Our main character finds themselves cursed or surrounded by magic, there is a mysterious element and things aren't always quite what they seem.
While that was fun for the first book, it made this one very predictable. I also didn't like Charmain as much as I loved Sophie or Abdullah. I ended up enjoying the side characters a lot more than Charmain. I lived for the moments when Charmian would interest with Howl and/or Sophie.
I still enjoyed this book but it wasn't my favorite in the series.
I give this book a C.
To read the official synopsis, click here.
Abdullah lived a very humble life as a carpet merchant until one day he buys a magic carpet. Since that first night the carpet takes him on a wild ride filled with beautiful princesses and mischievous genies.
This is the second book in the Howl's Moving Castle companion series. We follow a whole new group of characters and magic system.
I really loved how Jones expanded this world. We are introduced to a completely different culture that has their very own customs very different from the first book. This book reminded me of so much of Aladdin and Thousand and One Nights.
It is filled with interesting characters and had many fun twist and turns. I was really happy to see my favorite character's from the first book make appearances in this book.
While I really enjoyed this story, I did have a hard time getting sucked into the story. I wasn't able to connect with the characters as quickly as I did with the first book.
I give this book a C.
Startup - Doree Shafrir
To read the official synopsis, click here.
This is a debut novel that focuses on a startup company. This book pokes fun of startup cultures, millennials, and social media.
This book had so much promise, it was funny and talked about some serious topics. It talked about the millennial workspace, relationships, lack of POC in tech, and sexual harassment. This book was told through multiple POVs, the CEO of the company, a female writer at a buzzfeed like company, and a stay at home mother starting to work at the young start up.
There were so many distinct voices and characters but the book just ends so suddenly. I felt that this book should have had another 50 pages or so.
I give this book a C+
To read the official synopsis, click here.
Julia has just been kicked out of her school for the deaf for covering up an offense slur against her best friend with graffiti. She is now in a mainstream school, stuck with an interpreter and being treated like a common criminal for making art. When someone adds on to her new tag, Julia find herself in tag war.
I really, really loved this book!
I loved that the book included pictures of the art Julia created.
I loved how much art was talked about.
I really loved how authentic Julia came across. She was miserable for being kicked out, she was hurt that her best friend betrayed her. She hated that her moms treated her like a criminal. She was such an angry and hurt teen. I know that many people might find her to be "unlikeable" but to me she was going through all reasonable reactions.
This book focused mostly on female friendships, there was little to no romance.
But what I really loved the most was the writing.
Since Julia and her family are deaf every time they had conversation the dialogue was written grammatically correct. When Julia was talking to YP or someone who didn't really know how to sign the dialogue was broken. It depicted ASL as another language, that even though our characters communicating in English they aren't the same.
It showed how much research Gardner did to prepare for this book.
I give this book a B+.
I wish this book was a bit longer, we had more deep conversations with Julia and YP.
Becca "Buho"
I devour worlds with each new book. I am making up for lost time as a late bloomer of the reading world.
September 2019
2017 Reading Challenge
Buho has read 25 books toward her goal of 200 books.


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The Guitar Foundation of America currently offers three publications:
Soundboard Magazine. The world's premier classical guitar quarterly magazine.
Soundboard Scholar. The annual scholarly classical guitar journal.
Prodigies. The quarterly GFA kids magazine.


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Aggregate Limits
Total Aggregate Limits
The total amount that a student may borrow for the academic career is called the aggregate limit, which is specified in federal regulations.
Once the aggregate limit has been reached, students are no longer eligible to borrow Federal Stafford loans.
Per federal regulations, a student who exceeds the aggregate loan limit is ineligible to receive any additional federal student loans or federal aid, including the Federal Pell Grant, until the overage is resolved.
There is time limitation on Federal Direct Subsidized loans. For more information, please click here.
Total Aggregate Limit
|Academic Career
|Maximum Subsidized
|Additional Unsubsidized
|Combined Subsidized & Unsubsidized
|Dependent Undergraduate
|Independent Undergraduate
Total Aggregate Limit
|Academic Career
|Maximum Unsubsidized
|Graduate (includes Undergrad amounts)
National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS)
The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) is the U.S. Department of Education's secure central database for student aid, where students can view their federal student loan history:
- Summary of Disbursed Federal Student Loans
- Total amount borrowed
- Contact Information of Lenders and Loan Servicers
It is the student's responsibility to keep track of all federal student loans borrowed using NSLDS, including Federal Stafford, Perkins, PLUS and Grad PLUS loans. Optional/Private loan history is not stored on NSLDS.
In order to log on to the NSLDS Web site, students will need to provide the Social Security number (SSN), the first two letters of the last name, the date of birth, and the PIN. Students who do not remember their PIN may request a duplicate from the official PIN site.
Aggregate Checklists
Students who receive either the Subsidized or Total Aggregate Limit checklist on the To Do List must log on to the NSLDS web site to review their loan history. NSLDS will only include the running total of disbursed loans and will not include any undisbursed loans.
Students who receive the checklist could either be approaching the Subsidized or Total Aggregate Limit (depending on the checklist) with less than one year remaining in eligibility or potentially have reached the limit.
Students with any aggregate warning status must undergo careful review before the Stafford loan eligibility can be determined. In order for students to be selected for loan eligibility review, the following criteria must be met:
Students Must:
- File the FAFSA.
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Have a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Be fully admitted and meet UCF Admission requirements.
- Be classified as degree seeking at UCF in an eligible program.
- Enroll for at least half-time at UCF in UCF classes at time of disbursement. For more information regarding half-time enrollment please view our Program Eligibility Chart.
- Maintain UCF's Standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
- Complete all required To Do List Items.
- Complete verification (if selected).
- If in receipt of a Federal Stafford Direct Loan during this academic year at another institution, make sure that the remainder of that loan is canceled before applying for a loan at UCF.
Students Cannot:
- Default on any educational loan or owe repayment on a federal grant at this or any other institution.
- Borrow in excess of federal Aggregate limits. See the above Total Aggregate Limit chart.
NOTE: Students who have incomplete required documents on the To Do List or who are selected with Verification, will not have access to accept loans until all required documentation has been submitted and Verification has been completed.
Once the loan eligibility has been reviewed, the Aggregate checklist(s) will be removed from the To Do List.


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AUD $82.50 each
My improved HerbaSlim® New Generation Weight Loss Program is a modern approach to slimming - it is neither difficult nor unrealistic to achieve your goal weight. For the first time you can be in control of your body weight without hunger pangs or cravings and, unlike other eating plans, you will be surprised at the amount of tasty foods you can eat and still lose weight. You will not have to count endless calories, go hungry, exercise excessively or buy pre-packaged food/meal replacements.
Stage 1- first 14 days
You will lose weight quickly by limiting your intake of carbohydrates which are the hunger-stimulating and fattening foods. It's just a different way of eating (and one you will like) as you will be increasing your intake of satisfying foods. The body will be drawing on stored fat, which results in rapid weight loss. Your body chemistry will change - a natural response and an indication that the unwanted fat is being burned up in your body. It is one of the first signs of a slimmer you!
Stage 2 – after 14 days
You may choose from a selection of starch-based carbohydrate foods, providing you take CarbMaster™ capsules. Clinical studies reveal that these capsules, taken 30 minutes before meals, will effectively block the absorption of carbohydrate foods.
Use only as directed.
Not suitable for children under 12 years.
Do not use when abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting are present, or if you develop diarrhoea.
This low carbohydrate program is designed for overweight people who are in good health.
If you have specific dietary requirements (e.g. vegetarians, vegans) or if your overweight symptoms persist, consult your healthcare practitioner.
Not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Pack Contains
BowelKlenz™ 30 teabags - (Hilde's original teabag blend) - aids in the relief of constipation.
LivaBoost™ 60 capsules - a liver formula and digestive aid to help the assimilation of fats due to insufficient bile and to maintain healthy cholesterol levels and liver/gallbladder function.
CarbMaster™ 60 capsules - promotes slimming by neutralising starch calories - it is a starch blocker!
Detailed eating plan - no need to count calories or exercise excessively.
"I am 10 kg lighter from your diet in 2 weeks" (email from B.R)
"I followed your program 99.9 % and have lost close to 30 kilos and still going strong - from size 20 to size 14" (J.S. Sydney)
"It's just over a week and I have lost 3 kilos but more importantly I feel absolutely amazed that I'm not hungry" (email from F.S)
"I lost 4 kg in the first seven days" (E.S. QLD)
"I have lost 35 kg ... I was a very heavy 100 kg and I'm down to 65 kg, only 8 kg to go" (E.R. Hamilton Island)
"In my first week I lost an incredible 4.5 kg and kept losing 1 kg to 1.5 kg for 10 weeks till I started to level out" (G.D. Broken Hill)
"I was 72 kg and now I am only 62 kg" (K.P. Leicester, UK)
"I have at last found a diet that suits me - I have lost 20 kilos! My grateful thanks once again" (P.H. Port Augusta)
"For the first time a diet that is working" (A.D. Ipswich)
"I think your diet concept is wonderful - I lost 25 kg..." (J. NSW)
"While on a visit to Australia I purchased your product ... I shed some excess weight without much effort on my part" (D.H. Belgium)
"... I am pleased to tell you I lost 8 kg on it in five weeks and feel great" (email from M.A)


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Instructions for The Antique Store: It's the time to use your observing skills to discover the hidden objects in The Antique Store picture. Find the lost objects in short duration to get highscore. Use mouse to find the hidden mystery objects. Find them in a short time to score more. Good luck.
Categories: Picture Search Games (Gamesfree)


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Property Details
Workspace Address : 2124/ A, 2nd Floor, 6th Cross, 15th Main, HAL 3rd Stage, Behind Leela Palace, Kodihalli, Bangalore Kodihalli Bangalore
Workspace City : Bangalore
Workspace Area :
Workspace Type : Coworking space
Bangalore Coworking Hub offers a range of facilities and services to suit the needs of its discerning clients. It serves startups, freelancers, independent workers, consultants and emerging businesses seeking to help each other succeed. It aims to improve the lives and productivity of independent workers by providing a great platform for networking and collaboration.
3 Spaces
For Individual
Price : INR 3800/Month
Full Time Membership
For Individual
Price : INR 1500/Month
Part Time Membership(6 Week Days)
For Individual
Price : INR 250/Day
Daily Pass
Contact Details
Name :
Contact Number : +91-9964483636/ 080-41511115
Email :


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The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai, Mumbai
- Free WiFi
- Collect nights
Beautiful property with excellent thoughtful staff.
Excellent personalized service at the Taj. In particular our butler Pritesh housekeeping…
The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai, Mumbaifrom $316
- Executive Suite 1 Bedroom City View
- Taj Club Room City View
- Luxury Grande Room Sea View
- Taj Club Room Sea View
- Luxury Grande Room City View
- Luxury Suite 1 Bedroom City View
- Grande Luxury Suite 1 Bedroom Sea View
- Luxury Room (Windowless)
More great choices
What's around The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai, Mumbai
Top spots nearby
Recommended by this property
- Gateway of India (2-minute walk)
- Front Bay (3-minute walk)
- National Gallery of Modern Art (5-minute walk)
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum (5-minute walk)
- Cooperage Ground (5-minute walk)
- Bodhi Art Gallery (6-minute walk)
- Jehangir Art Gallery (6-minute walk)
Getting around
- Mumbai (BOM-Chhatrapati Shivaji Intl.) - 23 min drive
- Mumbai Churchgate Station - 20 min walk
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Railway Station - 27 min walk
- Mumbai Charni Road Station - 4 min drive
At a glance
Key facts
Hotel size
- This hotel has 285 rooms
- This hotel is arranged over 6 floors
- 24-hour check-in
- Check-out time is noon
- Express check-in/out
To register at this property, guests who are Indian citizens must provide a valid photo identity card issued by the Government of India; guests who are foreign nationals must present a valid passport and visa.
Taxes are subject to change based on Goods and Services Tax (GST) implementation. For more details, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
Required at check-in
- Credit card or cash deposit required
- Government-issued photo ID required
- Minimum check-in age is 18
Travelling with others
- One child stays free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding
- Babysitting/childcare *
- Pets not allowed
- Free WiFi in public areas
- Free WiFi in rooms
- Valet parking *
Payment types at the property
In the hotel
- Buffet breakfast daily (surcharge)
- 10 restaurants
- 3 bars/lounges
- 2 coffee shops/cafés
- Snack bar/deli
- Poolside bar
- 24-hour room service
- Outdoor pool
- 24-hour fitness facilities
- Full-service spa
- Spa treatment room(s)
- Yoga classes/instruction on site
- Fitness facilities
- 24-hour business center
- Conference space
- Meeting rooms
- 24-hour front desk
- Concierge services
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Limo or Town Car service available
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Laundry facilities
- Hair salon
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Luggage storage
- Wedding services
- Multilingual staff
- Porter/bellhop
- Number of buildings/towers - 1
- Year Built - 1903
- Elevator
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Designated smoking areas
- English
- Hindi
In the room
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Minibar
- Coffee/tea maker
- Bathrobes
- Slippers
- Iron/ironing board
- Pillow menu
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Turndown service
- Premium bedding
- Individually decorated
- Individually furnished
- Private bathroom
- Deep soaking bathtub
- Rainfall showerhead
- Designer toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Premium TV channels
- DVD player
- Desk
- Free newspaper
- Free WiFi
- Phone
- Free bottled water
- Daily housekeeping
- In-room safe
- Connecting/adjoining rooms available
Also popular with travelers from the USA
Special features
Jiva Spa has 4 treatment rooms including rooms for couples. Services include facials, body wraps, body scrubs, and body treatments. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy. The spa is equipped with a spa tub.
The spa is open daily.
DiningWasabi by Morimoto - This restaurant specializes in Japanese cuisine and serves lunch and dinner.
Golden Dragon - This restaurant specializes in Chinese cuisine and serves lunch and dinner.
Masala Kraft - This restaurant specializes in Indian cuisine and serves lunch and dinner.
Souk - This restaurant specializes in Mediterranean cuisine and serves lunch and dinner.
Shamiana - This restaurant specializes in international cuisine and serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Open 24 hours.
The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai, Mumbai's small print
Also known as
- Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai Hotel
- Taj Mahal Palace Hotel
- Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai
- Taj Mahal Palace
- The Taj Mahal Mumbai Mumbai
- The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai Hotel
- The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai Mumbai
- The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai Hotel Mumbai
Outside food is not permitted on the premises. For more details, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property. The policies listed are provided by the property.
Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments and can be made by contacting the property before arrival at the number on the booking confirmation.
Optional extras
Valet parking costs INR 500 per night
Rollaway beds are available for INR 5000.0 per night
Buffet breakfast is offered for an extra charge of INR 1300 for adults and INR 1300 for children (approximately)
Babysitting/childcare is available for an extra charge
We have included all charges provided to us by this property. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the unit you book.
Recent reviews
Exceptional 9.6 From 159 reviews
It was an awesome amazing experience staying at Taj. I would definitely come back again. Just loved it.
Really amazing hotel, great location, staff and service. great food
This place is simply amazing
What an amazing hotel with impeccable service! The location was great for walking around as well. Highly recommend this classic hotel!
Is the description of this hotel not correct? Tell us


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I read The Story on BlogHer and then started thinking about my own scars.
The ones you can see and the ones you can't. The scars you can't see are probably more important, but I like talking about them even less than I like admitting I have physical scars. I suppose that's another post I'll save for another day...
The ones you can see on my body are really obvious. Mainly because my body maybe hates me (up for keloid scarring, anyone?) and wants me to wear my scars for everyone to see so they'll ask me to tell my story.
...at least that's the only reason I can come up with as to why my scars need to be so obvious...
My scars are so out there that I often wonder if there will ever be a time when complete strangers don't stop me and say "what happened to your arm?!" (one of but many examples in this blog...)
And, there probably won't be a time in the near future that I feel comfortable wearing a bikini, either:
I will tell you that while I don't think this scar is pretty, I think the reason for it to be there is beautiful. What it covers up and protects is an amazing feat of science, nature and love - and it changed my life.
So, if I have to have this scar for what I got in exchange, then I accept it. Wholeheartedly.


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What does the Revelation warranty cover?
The warranty covers replacement caused by defective workmanship and materials. It does not include damage through mishandling by airlines and other travel operators, or cover damage due to general use.
We will replace your product if the product is bought in the UK. If you have purchased your Revelation product outside the UK your product may either be repaired or replaced depending on the discretion of the Revelation distributor in the country you purchased the item from.
How long is the Revelation warranty valid for?
10 year warranty for Suitcases: all large, medium and cabin Revelation suitcases – both soft and hard side.
2 year warranty for Casual Bags
Length of warranty is clearly indicated by each product on the site.
What do I need to complete the warranty form?
You will need a copy of your receipt, and a photo of your item. It is also helpful to include your 7 digit number or a 10 digit product code. To find this product code look at the back of the swing ticket attached to your purchase. The Product code can be found to the left of the barcode. An example of a product code is "3789172034".
How do I register my warranty?
Please complete the form here.
How do I make a warranty claim?
Please complete the form here.


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According to the City Council's Local Plan Policy LP5: Urban Extensions, each urban extension (housing development) should:
According to the City Council's Local Plan Policy LP5: Urban Extensions, each urban extension (housing development) should:
Whilst reading through the latest budget proposals from the the City Council, I noticed that money had been allocated for the primary and secondary schools, planned to be built in the area, commonly known, as Manor Drive.
For the Primary School, the Council has allocated just under £7,000,000 between now and 2021, and for the Secondary School, they've allocated over £25,000,000.
You might remember that originally, the plan was for just one school on the site, but once the secondary school places shortage kicked in, the Tories at the Town Hall decided to include a secondary school at the location, which also mean nearly 280 affordable homes would no longer be built.
It also meant that the planned opening of the Primary School was delayed by a year.
I've now sent of a request for more information on this planned development, relating to aspects like who will be constructing the schools, designing them, naming them and of course pushing for road safety assurances.
As ever, I'd love to read your thoughts and comments on this matter, so please do post below!
Did you know that Peterborough City Council has made a commitment to cultural, leisure and tourist facilities at the Manor Drive development?
If not, you're not alone!
Hence, why I asked Tory Councillor Janet Goodwin, with significant expansion planned in the coming years at the Paston/Norwood reserve, what cultural, leisure or tourist facilities, local residents could expect to see introduced at the aforementioned location?
MAP of Location: https://goo.gl/maps/mEzqkqyef1y
Cllr Goodwin responded, "…the council are currently undertaking a review of all leisure facilities including playing pitches and green space located in the city in order to build an evidence base for future development for which Paston and Norwood are included.
"The recommendations of this review will form part of the council's new active lifestyles strategy in partnership with Sport England and will be managed by a board with representatives from across the city. With regard to culture and tourism, the council's cultural strategy makes provision to expand cultural opportunities."
I then pointed out that according to Council's own core strategy policy CS18, 'the council will encourage development of new cultural, leisure and tourist facilities that will meet the needs of the growing population particularly in the proposed new urban extensions of Great Haddon and Paston Reserve and Norwood.'
I then asked for some precise examples of what will be introduced to meet the needs of the growing population and the Paston and Norwood reserve.
Councillor Goodwin concluded by stating that until a review is carried out they "…won't know exactly what the needs are and what we will be able to provide."
So, it looks like under the Tories at the Town Hall, it'll be another example of wait and see ………..coz that always works out, eh!?
At the last meeting of Full Council, I stood up and raised the issue of speeding and road safety in and around Manor Drive, with the Conservative's Cabinet Member for Growth, Planning, and Housing Development.
For the record, I regularly receive messages from local people who complain of a range of speeding and poor driving in the area.
Given the planned opening of a new primary and secondary school in the coming years at this location, plus further additional housing, I asked for assurances that relevant and required road safety measures would be introduced, and whether we could look forward to a 20mph speed limit, specifically around the planned location of the schools?
Councillor Peter Hiller, responded:
"The main spine road through Paston Reserve, Manor Drive, is subject to a 30mph restriction, as it will be for the remainder of it when fully built. Our highways officers will of course to monitor the traffic and the issues ongoing."
So not exactly the greatest response! But that said, I'll continue to formally raise the matter and push for action.
Suspect that the Tories know their time is coming to an end at the Town Hall, so hopefully when we get a change in administration, we'll start seeing some much more proactive attitudes?
PS – Before I forget, thank YOU to all those residents who have taken the time to contact me on this matter and please do FEEL free to post a comment or view below!


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Stewart Russell Award for MSc (Research) Science and Technology Studies
We are delighted to announce an award under the Stewart Russell Memorial Fund. An Award of £1000 will be offered to the strongest applicant for our MSc Research (Science and Technology Studies).
Stewart Russell, who tragically died in 2011, was a much respected colleague who contributed over many years to research and teaching in the field of Science, Technology and Innovation Studies.
To commemorate Stewart's commitment and passion in helping students achieve their full potential, friends and colleagues established a fund to support students at The University of Edinburgh.
For more information about the fund and to make a donation please go to:
Stewart Russell Fund
Further details on the MSc Research (Science and Technology Studies)


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If you follow me on twitter then you know that I was pretty excited about baking a cherry cheesecake as requested by Mountain Man for his birthday. I brought it over last night though we didn't get around to eating it. Perhaps he enjoyed some for breakfast this morning? Ha..
I had never baked a cheesecake before so I practiced during the week, and it is undoubtedly worth the points once in a while. Each slice was valued at 11 PointsPlus which is a bit extreme so using ounces I measured half of a piece for 5 PointsPlus, and that left me feeling satisfied.
The first one I made cracked, but it was delicious! I baked the second one in water so it didn't crack (awesome) though I can only hope it tastes as good as the first one.
My cheesecakes were flawed, but I feel proud of myself for trying something new. And once again, I have to thank Kelly for the recipe! 🙂 I shared the first one with friends and received a marriage proposal upon sight. It must be good, right? ha
I hope everyone is enjoying their Friday! I weighed at noon, and I lost 3.6 pounds last week. Yay! Tonight I'm headed to the hockey game with a guy who better be full of cheesecake when I see him. 😉
What are your weekend plans?! Also, to those of you participating in the Twelve Days swap, the deadline for shipping was today! Have you done it yet? Don't forget to communicate with your partners!
Enjoy the weekend friends!


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CHICAGO — A glass observation deck on a Chicago high-rise cracked under guests' feet, causing a scare Monday.
CBS reports the shattered protective glass layer covers the glass bottom of the deck on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower.
A witness said a woman and two kids were on the deck when the glass broke.
Tower officials said the protective layer did what it was supposed to do and no one was in danger.
The same thing happened in May 2014 on the same ledge, CBS said.
What other people are reading right now:
- Teen collapses and dies during conditioning drills on Tampa football field
- All Publix subs will be on sale for $5.99 for a week
- Florida ranked second most fun state in America
- Florida man accused of killing his wife of 50 years
- Blood pressure medication recall expanded due to cancer risk
►Have a news tip? Email firstname.lastname@example.com, or visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.


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Identity were approached to design two stands to showcase Thomas Sanderson's range of window blinds, shutters and conservatory blinds for The Ideal Home, Grand Designs Live and RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Running alongside these shows, we designed and constructed a stand for a further fourteen regional exhibitions around the UK, which required a smaller stand to incorporate both window shutters and conservatory blinds. This stand had to be adaptable in size and layout, to accommodate the differing requirements of each application.
ClientThomas SandersonEventThe Ideal Home Show, Grand Designs Live, RHS Chelsea Flower ShowIndustryBlindsLocationLondon, UK
If you like what you see and want to get in touch about a project or proposal please email us, or if you'd prefer to speak with us directly then give us a call, we'd love to chat.
Identity House
Westham Business Park
Eastbourne Road
East Sussex
Tel: +44 (0) 1323 469111
Identity Middle East
Al Neem Tower
Khalifa Street
3rd Floor
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tel: +971 (0) 2 2222440
Identity Asia
Room 1606, Lane 1565
Jiaotong Road
TongLian Plaza
Tel: + 86 (21) 61505198
© 2019 Identity Holdings Ltd | Registered Number – 04217845 | VAT NO – GB 813 0913 60 | Terms of Business | Privacy Policy | Additional Policies


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I didn't blog yesterday. Not for any good reason other than we dropped a meal off for a mom that had recently given birth, it was kinda far away, we got lost…by the time we got home it was almost Zara's bedtime…she needed a bath…we needed to eat dinner (luckily I had fed her)…no excuses. So anyway, I bring you a really really cute picture of my child and her friend Kai helping to make scones.
See, worth the blogging miss don't you think?
Anyway, yesterday we had a couple kids (and moms) over for a play date. I always like having something to nibble on, but we are not early risers in our household, primarily because we stay up SO late. So I wasn't quite ready when they first got here (meaning I had done nothing but preheat the oven).
This is not my recipe, in fact, it comes from a box and I added things (Don't judge, I got it for Christmas, thanks Leitha!,and needed to use it). It's Stonewall Kitchen, which has fantastic products. This is their traditional scones recipe. I actually make scones all the time, so I'll post my recipe soon. Really I made per the box instructions and then added blueberries, cinnamon and honey. This recipe has you add the butter in small pieces, while cold so that you would get that beautiful crumbly scone once baked.
Go get yourself a box, or make your own!


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Authors: Yunus Yildiz & Bunyamin Celik
Abstract: Commitment is a very important characteristic; therefore, it is a paramount need for the profession of teaching. A committed teacher is never satisfied with what she or he already has; rather always seeks for the new ideas and ways to contribute to the students. A committed educator will have the passion and enthusiasm for teaching and learning, as well. As she or he develops himself or herself, this fact will have a direct result on the learners' academic success and personal development. Such a teacher will be successfully able to create authentic and effective learning and teaching and consequently, the learning process as well as the teaching will be facilitated automatically and this will promote both the potential of the students and learners. This study puts a light on the committed teachers and effects of commitment on the process of learning and teaching.
Keywords: Commitment, Passion, Committed Teacher, Authentic and Effective Learning and Teaching, Dedication
Download the PDF Document from here.
doi: 10.23918/ijsses.v4i2sip93
International Journal of Social Sciences & Educational Studies
ISSN 2520-0968 (Online), ISSN 2409-1294 (Print), October 2017, Vol.4, No.2 (Special Issue)


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HighPoint is a church based in Lake Wales, Florida created and engaged to serve the community by expressing Christ's love through various words, deeds, and actions.
Regardless of who you are or where you've been in life, you're welcome at HighPoint Church. We welcome each new member as family, and we want to make sure that you get the most out of your time with us.
HighPoint Church is a non-denominational group of believer's in Jesus Christ. We are learning, working, and growing together and attempting to build friendship and a family of faith with one another, while being a real blessing to our community and our world.
Our desire is to LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE


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One of the products I have recently tried was Complete Skin Solutions Niacinamide Pure Vitamin B3 Serum 5%. This serum is professional strength serum for younger and plumper skin. I use serum on my skin a lot as part of my skin care routine in the morning, and sometimes at night before bed. This is the way to use this particular serum – you can apply it day or night.
This serum contains highly concentrated anti-aging formula stimulating collagen production to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps with hyperpigmentation issues. My skin is very varied, and I need all kinds of helps. Not that the skin is that old, but it definitely needs some TLC from serums. I use this serum because it improves the look of my skin, and makes me look younger – can't deny I need it!
When I applied this serum, I got a bit of burning feeling on my skin. I know that a lot of times when you feel something, it means that the contents of the serum are working well.
This product is natural, made in America, paraben free, gluten free, made without animal testing involved. Sounds good!
This serum retails on Amazon right now for $19.90. I liked it. I know I will be buying more!
I received this product free in exchange for my unbiased review. I was not compensated for my review and all my opinions are my own. One may or may not have the same opinion as myself when reading this. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
This post may contain affiliate links.


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The Use of Intranasal Ketoralac for Pain Management
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01736358
Recruitment Status : Terminated (Interim analysis showed futility of primary endpoint)
First Posted : November 29, 2012
Last Update Posted : March 2, 2018
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- Results Submitted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
|Condition or disease
|Postoperative Pain Management Urolithiasis
|Drug: Intranasal Ketoralac Drug: Placebo
|Phase 4
The prevalence and incidence of urolithiasis, or kidney stone disease, are increasing in the general population. Life-time incidence of urolithiasis is estimated to be between 5%- 12%. The treatment of kidney stones depends on stone type and size, symptom severity, and the presence of obstruction.
URS is a common ambulatory procedure as improved technological advances and increased clinical utilization have helped decrease postoperative complications. Despite an overall reduction in the perioperative complication rate, post operative pain management after URS remains a major factor delaying discharge of patients.
Post operative pain after URS is usually treated with opioids and non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs. Intranasal ketorolac (SprixTM) is an FDA approved pain formulation for short term management (5 days) of moderate to moderately severe pain that requires analgesia at the opioid level. The efficacy of intranasal ketorolac formulation was demonstrated in placebo-controlled studies in patients following major surgeries.
The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the role perioperative usage of single-dose of intranasal ketorolac on immediate post operative opioid requirements. Secondary objectives of the study are to (a) evaluate the post operative pain score 30 minutes after surgery, 1 hour after surgery, and 2 hours after surgery, (b) find the incidence of immediate (until discharge) and 24hrs post operative side effects in the target population, (c) find the level of anesthesia satisfaction in the target population, (d) find the time to discharge in the target population, (e) compare the two groups post anesthesia discharge score.
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Actual Enrollment :
|46 participants
|Intervention Model:
|Parallel Assignment
|Double (Participant, Investigator)
|Primary Purpose:
|Supportive Care
|Official Title:
|Evaluating Post-operative Pain Management Efficacy of Intra Nasal Ketorolac in Ambulatory Urological Surgeries-A Randomized Double-blinded Placebo Controlled Study
|Study Start Date :
|October 2012
|Actual Primary Completion Date :
|June 2014
|Actual Study Completion Date :
|June 2014
Experimental: Intranasal Ketoralac
A single dose of Sprix (31.5 mg) will be administered to patients 20 minutes before the end of surgery. 15.75 mg of Sprix will be sprayed in each nostril.
Drug: Intranasal Ketoralac
15.75 mg of Sprix in each nostril 20 minutes before end of surgery
Other Name: Sprix
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
A single dose of placebo will be administered 20 minutes before the end of surgery. 15.75 mg of the placebo will be sprayed in each nostril.
Drug: Placebo
15.75 mg of placebo will be administered in each nostril 20 minutes before the end of surgery
- Post-operative opioid requirements [ Time Frame: 3 hours after surgery ]To evaluate the role perioperative usage of single-dose of intranasal ketorolac on immediate post operative opioid requirements.
- Post operative pain score [ Time Frame: 3 hours after surgery ]To evaluate the post operative pain score 30 minutes after surgery, 1 hour after surgery, and 2 hours after surgery.
- Incidence of postoperative side effects [ Time Frame: 24 hours after procedure ]To find the incidence of immediate (until discharge) and 24hrs post operative side effects in the target population.
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 65 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Ureteroscopic stone removal surgeries with stenting
- Age ≥ 18 years and < 65 years
- Stable patient with stable vital signs
- Mentally competent and is able to understand consent form
Exclusion Criteria:
- Unstable patients
- Patients with multiple trauma sites
- Patients with allergies to ketorolac or any of the components in the nasal spray preparation
- Patients with active peptic ulcer disease
- History of asthma, urticaria, or other allergic-type reactions after taking aspirin or other NSAIDs
- Renal disease or at risk for renal failure due to volume depletion
- Pregnant or nursing mothers
- Nasal abnormality or illness that could affect the absorption of intranasal medication (such as: nasal discharge, rhinitis, acute upper respiratory infection, acute epistaxis, nasal polyp, nasal tumor)
- Any other contraindication to the use of Sprix, or in whom use of Sprix would not be consistent with the approved package insert
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01736358
|United States, New York
|Montefiore Medical Center- Weiler Division
|Bronx, New York, United States, 10461
|Principal Investigator:
|David Hoenig, MD
|Montefiore Medical Center
|Study Director:
|Singh Nair, MD
|Montefiore Medical Center
|Responsible Party:
|Montefiore Medical Center
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01736358 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|First Posted:
|November 29, 2012 Key Record Dates
|Last Update Posted:
|March 2, 2018
|Last Verified:
|February 2018
Intranasal ketoralac
Kidney stone
Uretal stone
Ureteroscopic removal of stones
Pain management
Ketorolac Tromethamine
Urologic Diseases
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Analgesics, Non-Narcotic
Sensory System Agents
Peripheral Nervous System Agents
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Antirheumatic Agents
Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors
Enzyme Inhibitors
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action


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News Archive
|Series 2 of BBC's Wallander premiers Sunday, 3 Jan, 2010
|Posted 2009-12-28
Kenneth Branagh returns to British television on 3 January as Kurt Wallander in the second series of the BBC's adaptations of Henning Mankell's novels. The three new films were shot on location in Ystad with a mix of British and Swedish actors, continuing the successful formula of the first series.
The second series begins with Faceless Killers on 3 January, followed by The Man Who Smiled on 10 January and The Fifth Woman on 17 January. Each film will be broadcast at 21:00 on BBC1.
View the preview for Faceless Killers:
There are a few interesting audio interviews with Kenneth Branagh which fans should enjoy. You can listen to him discuss returning to the role of Kurt Wallander with Swedish Radio and BBC Radio (part 1 & part 2).


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In the spirit of outdoor pumpkin fun, I looked back at photos from our pumpkin patch visit with Wild Thing two years ago, right after he turned 1. It amazes me to think that just two years later, we will head to the pumpkin patch this weekend with an almost 3 year-old and not quite 15 month old. As they say, time flies...
Even though we have not gone to the pumpkin patch yet, we are enjoying some creative, outdoor pumpkin fun in our own backyard and neighborhood that is absolutely free! No money spent, nothing special bought just a simple upcycle of our milk jug tops, which, conveniently, happen to typically be orange!
We are doing pumpkin hunts in our own backyard and on our neighborhood walks. A bonus to hiding these pumpkins and taking them along on walks is that it does not really matter if the pumpkins get lost. (On walks, I hide the pumpkins along the way and Wild Thing finds them on the walk bake home).
Another bonus is that these simple, homemade jack-o-lanterns offer is reinforcement of shape learning as Wild Thing would tell me if he wanted triangle, square, rectangle or circle eyes and noses. He also likes to match his jack-o-lantern milk caps with the jack-o-lanterns in this book we checked out at the library.
What pumpkin fun have you been having? Have you been to a pumpkin patch yet? Do you make jack-o-lanterns?
Sharing at: Outdoor Activities Fall Link-Up
This post was featured at The Kids Activities Blog by The Quirky Mommas It*s Playtime Link-Up!
|Also featured here!
|Go Orange Fall Bucket List
|Kids Co-Op: Fall Share + Play


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A man has been fined after he was caught by security staff with a lock knife when he was visiting Chesterfield magistrates' court for a benefits tribunal.
Chesterfield magistrates' court heard how Michael Gibson, 42, of Edward Street, Eckington, was searched by security staff when he arrived at the court on Tapton Lane and the lock knife was found on his key ring.
Prosecuting solicitor Marianne Connally told the court: "The most aggravating feature is that the weapon was discovered by security staff in this building as he was bringing the item into the court.
"It was among his personal effects as he went through security screening.
"It is not the largest or most menacing item with a blade of one inch to one-and-a-half inches long but it is the locking mechanism that makes it an offensive weapon."
Gibson stated that he had had the lock knife on a key ring for some time.
But Ms Connally added that Gibson was confrontational and was not amenable with the security staff and he believed the security staff had stolen the knife from him.
Here's who has appeared before Chesterfield magistrates in our latest round-up from the courts
Gibson, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon in a public place after the incident on December 11.
Defence solicitor Steve Brint said Gibson was a heroin drug-user and he has spent nine years in custody and his last court appearance was in 2015 for possessing an offensive weapon.
Mr Brint said this previous conviction had involved a friend's carpenter tool which had been left and found in a car.
But Gibson has turned his life around, according to Mr Brint, and the lock knife found by security staff had been a gift from his mother.
Mr Brint said Gibson had been attending a benefits tribunal because his Employment Support Allowance had been stopped when the lock knife was taken from him.
Magistrates fined Gibson £120 and ordered him to pay £35 cost and a £30 victim surcharge.


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Mexico's first upstream auction in 77 years proved to be a disappointment July 16, with the award of just two of the 14 blocks on offer. After months of highly promoted conferences and publicity following last year's energy reform, the weak response came as a surprise.
Only nine of at least two dozen companies or consortiums that had been qualified to bid actually did so, and some failed to even turn up.
Chevron and ExxonMobil were among the no-shows. So, too, was Pacific Rubiales, Latin America's largest privately owned company. Rubiales is listed as a Canadian company, but its operations are all in Latin America, particularly Colombia.
It's said to be a combination of factors including lower oil prices and terms that weren't as attractive as some thought they'd be. Also, many companies were sitting out this first bidding to get a feel for how it would go. Mexico has said it expects more participation in subsequent tenders.
Mexico produced the only winner of the day. Sierra Oil and Gas, a Mexican start-up, won both blocks that were awarded, with a consortium that included Talos Energy and Premier Oil.
Block 2, with an area of 194 sq km, was described as having potential in light oil. The Sierra consortium offered a government pre-tax take of 55.99% and an increase in a minimum work program of 10%. Hunt Oil made an offer of 54.57% and 5%.
The minimum figures for each block were contained in a sealed envelope before the bidding began. In the case of Block 2, they were 40% and zero.
At 465 sq km, Block 7 was one of the largest, and it had four bids. The Sierra-led consortium offered 68% and 10%. Statoil, Eni and Hunt placed bids that were lower. All the other blocks were declared null and void, either because there were no bidders at all or they failed to meet the government's minimum requirement.
Four public tenders will follow the July 15 event, to be held later this year and into 2016. They are expected to have a better turnout due to less geographic risk.
It could take four or five years to get production on stream from the exploration blocks tendered in the latest lease sale. Mexico's five-year plan forecasts a resurgence of the country's flagging production. Crude output peaked at 3.38 million b/d in 2004, but has dropped every year since then.
Currently, Mexico produces some 2.3 million b/d of crude. The plan forecasts an increase of 500,000 b/d by 2018 and 1 million b/d by 2025.


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In today's episode, we cover part two of our Evel Knievel suite. The man, the myth, the legend. Check in and listen to the latter stages of Evel's career as the world's most legendary daredevil.
Topics in this Podcast: Chuck, howstuffworks, josh, evel knievel, Evel Knievel stunt cycle, Harley Davidson, Honda, X-Games, documentaries, Snake River Canyon, Ceasar's Palace, stunts, daredevils, alcohol, SYSK, drugs, Stuff You Should Know, Motorcycles, 1970s


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A missing 17-month-old girl from California was found on the University of Kentucky campus on December 27. A telephone call from a concerned citizen led police to the girl who had been missing for over two months.
Safe and sound, the toddler is currently being cared for by Kentucky Child Protective Services.
ABC News reports that 17-month-old Alouette Day-Moreno-Baltierra of Los Angeles was discovered in a University of Kentucky parking lot after police received reports of a suspicious female walking the grounds with a stroller.
Responding officers observed that the child in the stroller was not properly dressed for the below-freezing temperatures, lacking coverings on her feet, head, and hands.
When approached by University officers, the woman identified herself as the child's grandparent and refused to cooperate with further questioning. Authorities then traced the toddler's birth certificate and learned that child was reported missing and last seen October 16 in an area of Los Angeles.
During a press conference on December 28 University of Kentucky Police Chief Joe Monroe stated:
"This is an example of where the responding officers followed a gut feeling that something just wasn't right with the situation. We have been working with the Child Protective Services, LAPD and the FBI to make sure that we get Alouette returned safely to her legal custodian."
An article by the Los Angeles Daily News writes that the woman, identified as 62-year-old Maria Baltierra-Dejesus, is now being detained by police and has been charged with child endangerment and custodial interference.
It is thought that Baltierra-Dejesus and the missing child may have been staying somewhere in Lexington, Kentucky over the course of several days, although the reasons are unclear.
In a strange twist, during the woman's arrest police discovered receipts from wire transfers purchased by members of the Baltierra-Dejesus family. Police Chief Monroe speculated on their purpose:
"Family members were financially supporting the alleged grandmother since the baby has been missing, since October, while she's been on the run with the child. We've received word [that] on one occasion she's tried to leave the country with the baby, possibly a second time. She received passports issued while she was in California, which dated a week before the child went missing in October."
What do you think of the missing 17-month-old girl from California being found on the University of Kentucky campus?


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Decoupage MannequinsMarch 11th, 2011 in member junk
These girls have long since been made and sold, but thought I'd share them with y'all for some ideas.
One is your standard adjustable mannequin that the icky fabric was stripped from. Using Vintage French Fashion illustrations, she was decoupaged. Vintage Millinery added to her neck.
The V shaped one was so cool. Pop art fiberglass that was cracked and damaged. Also covered in vintage and new papers.
Helpful hint: Photocopy your originals and use google search for fun images as well.
Have fun and be FEARLESS with your creativity!
Pattern or design used: My own design - Lisa Loria
posted in: member junk, vintage, artwork, white, black, chic, green, modern, table, brown, red, cream, pink, turquoise, beige, european, mannequin, sheet music, 20s, fuchsia, vintage dress form, 30s, french fashion, mod
Comments (3)
Midge Posted: 3:34 pm on March 19th


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Make in India drive will create immense potential to the market
The New Year is likely to bring some cheer to the Indian steel and iron ore industry, which was struggling for the last couple of years owing to slowdown in economy as well as scarcity of raw material, driven by the Make in India concept and expected resolutions of issues around the mining industry.
The Make in India concept envisioned by the new government and its supporting policies is expected to provide immense potential to the market in 2015. The optimism owing to an expected resolution of issues around the mining industry and the addition of new steel making capacities has held the hopes very high for New Year.
The healthy optimism is led by the expected reopening of the mining industry in coming months. Goa and Karnataka are likely to see some activity beginning by mid-2015, if not early. Green and brown field steel expansion plans are right on track and will boost production growth by nearly 5 to 6 per cent. Issues surrounding cheaper and inferior steel imports may resolve due to higher taxes and anti-dumping duties. Export duties and restrictions on iron ore may ease as the government has planned and introduction of GST would help in easier and faster movement of finished goods within the country, analysts said.
"Raw material situation is definitely going to give advantage to steel makers. Even if the steel majors would like to import or buy domestically, the markets will offer good opportunities in 2015. Global iron ore and coal prices will remain low due to surplus availability while domestically, the situation will open up after the restrictions are pulled down by the state governments and apex court. Orissa and Jharkhand are likely to come back full force around mid-2015 and with the state government signing up MoUs with steel producers for supply of raw materials, the situation is soon going to give support to the steel parties," said Prakash Duvvuri, head research, OreTeam.com.
Steel manufacturers like Sail, Tata Steel and JSW Steel also feel that the coming year is expected to bring back cheer in the sector with demand expected to revive.
"Forecasts indicate that the domestic economy will grow at around six per cent buoyed by a stable government at the centre, economic reforms and a turnaround in manufacturing. This is good news for the steel industry and Tata Steel will continue to service the market with innovative products and services. The scope is huge, with the Working Group on Steel for the 12th Plan projecting a crude steel capacity of 140 million tonnes by 2016-17," TV Narendran, managing director, Tata Steel, India and South East Asia told Financial Chronicle.
The first phase of the Kalinganagar Project of three million tonnes per annum capacity will be progressively commissioned from the early part of 2015. While the emerging scenario looks positive, steelmakers in India face a challenging future in the long run, as they may not be able to add capacity to keep pace with the rising demand. The need of the hour is to steer new investments in the industry with appropriate policy support so as to ensure that production of steel matches the growth in consumption, Narendran said.
The year gone by has been challenging for the industry faced with regulatory issues and sluggish demand from major steel consuming sectors like infrastructure and automobiles.
"Tata Steel performed better than the market with increase in sale of branded products, retail sales and maximising revenue from innovative service offerings. Differentiated and value-added product offerings enabled the Company to maintain its leadership position in the market," Narendran said.
Tata Steel was impacted by issues veering around mining lease renewals which led to intermittent stoppage of mining operations leading to disruption in the end use operations.
"Policy clarity and stability, especially with regard to renewal of mining leases and forest clearances, are imperative to ensure the growth of the steel industry. We are hopeful that the government will address the concerns of the steel industry in this regard in the New Year," Narendran said.
India is the 4th largest producer of steel in the world and also its 3rd largest consumer. India retained its 4th position among world steel producers in 2014 with a production growth of 2.4 per cent over 2013, surpassing the global average growth of 1.8 per cent.
"This production growth was maintained in spite of growing imports which may pose a challenge to domestic producers in 2015, if continued at the current pace. Consumption of steel remained almost stagnant during the entire 2014; however, the steel sector is hopeful of a strong revival of steel demand in 2015 backed by the new government's stated emphasis on performance of infrastructure and manufacturing sectors, which are both major drivers of steel consumption. In 2015, with a production growth of 6-7 per cent, India can overtake the US and jump to 3rd position, globally, in terms of crude steel production," said CS Verma, chairman, Steel Authority of India.
The Indian steel majors have been ramping up production capacities over the last few years. The current steel making capacity is around 100 million tonnes and 8-10 million tonnes of new capacities are in the pipeline. In public sector, SAIL has added 5 million tonnes and RINL has added 3 million tonnes to their existing capacities.
"Due to sluggish demand over last two years, capacity utilisation in the country is hovering around 80 per cent. With steel consumption expected to get a boost in 2015, capacity utilisation can improve, provided imports, particularly those from China, are checked. Chinese exporters are suspected to circumvent export duties by misclassification of material and thus drop prices in export markets including India," Verma said adding that in the last quarter of 2014, the Indian steel producers were forced to cut prices by almost 10 per cent on long products used in construction and by 5-6 per cent on flat rolled products due to higher imports coupled with subdued domestic consumption.
"Prices are not likely to drop further in 2015, as some of the Chinese and European Mills are barely able to meet costs at the current price levels. However, the global steel prices are unlikely to rebound soon, which may prevent any potential price hike in the domestic market," Verma said.
Seshagiri Rao, joint managing director, JSW Steel also believes that the sector will witness healthy growth in 2015 and hopes issues related to raw material will get resolved.
Analysts said that the country is on track with production but the demand growth is still dependent on the policies being implemented. While production has grown at a pace faster than the global average for a significant part of 2014, demand has been very slow and unsteady with the sector looking for a boost from the new government's stated emphasis on manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.
"The Make in India campaign is the best hope for the steel producers who are also looking to expand their capacities and provide nearly 125 million tons of crude steel strength to the country in the next fiscal. The campaign is likely to boost the country's steel consumption potential as well in the coming years. India's per capita consumption is around one-fourth of the international average sitting close to 60 kgs and this keeps the hopes renewed for further enhancement and betterment for the country. The potential is quite strong by the government's policies would build the path towards harnessing it," said Duvvuri of OreTeam.com.
The government is planning a wide array of infrastructure projects which includes major and minor ports, highways, freight corridors and even construction and rural projects to boost the consumption of steel and create a robust demand going ahead, said an analyst at Prabhudas Lilladher declining to be identified.
Automobile companies are looking at better sales in 2015 after the launch of many varied models in 2014. Tax reliefs have already been proposed for hybrid and fuel efficient vehicles. The real-estate is watching the markets closely as major land reforms are likely to come up enabling a more wider opening in this sector.Hence, after the worst possible fears coming true and spoiling the spirits in 2014, the entire industry is now pinning its hopes on 2015, the analyst said.
Zhejiang Yaang Pipe Industry Co., Limited


text: The 9th Annual Kansas State Science and Engineering Fair (KSSEF) will be held April 1 and 2 at the Hubbard Welcome Center of Butler Community College in El Dorado. This year's fair will feature 165 projects presented by 233 middle school and high school students from across the state. Judging takes place Friday evening. Exhibits are open to the public from 3-5:30PM on Friday. The awards ceremony is 10:00AM on Saturday.


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Your Ajijic-Lake Chapala Bed & Breakfast
Tel: 011-52-376-766-1027
(from USA and Canada)
Fax: 011-52-376-766-1762
Constitucion #105
Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico
Ajiic, located in the colorful state of Jalisco, nestles in Mexico's Sierra Madre Mountains on the northern shore of Lake Chapala. The almost perfect year around climate provides a haven for North Americans. Many come escaping cold winters and seeking retirement, where the cost of living is reasonable, and the locals friendly and hospitable.
Only thirty minutes from the Guadalajara International Airport, Ajijic remains a quaint, cobblestoned old Mexico village, a rustic reminder of an earlier time.
The village, founded in the early 1400's by Nauhatl Indians and colonized by the Spanish in the 17th century, absorbs the new, with its art galleries, chic shops and many restaurants, while remaining faithful to traditional ways. Ajijic's days are filled with the rituals of fiestas and markets, the raising of families, the preparation of food and the timeless rhythm of everyday village life. Donkeys bearing firewood, cement and topsoil are common sights and always photo perfect.
Visitors and residents alike find Ajijic the perfect place from which to visit surrounding areas that appeal to a variety of cultural, culinary and ecological interests. Van tours are available to the famous shopping areas of Tonala and Tlaquepaque for world renowned crafts, pottery and art. Ajijic attractions include: golfing, tennis, horse-back riding, biking, hiking, thermal spas.