text:
Rock Center
Chances are if you've walked by an airport newsstand, watched a movie trailer or picked up a major newspaper in the last 20 years, you've stepped into James Patterson's world. It's hard to avoid.
The 65-year-old crime and thriller author has written 106 books, sold more than 260 million copies and boasts 76 bestsellers, a Guinness World Record. His characters and franchises have become household names- Alex Cross, Michael Bennett, The Women's Murder Club, Private.
"Somebody says you're lucky if you find something you like to do and then it's a miracle if somebody will pay you to do it," Patterson told Harry Smith in an interview airing Thursday, Dec. 20 at 10pm/9CT on NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams.
A glimpse inside the inner sanctum of Patterson's office reveals shelves stacked with paper. They are manuscripts in progress with everything from screenplays to a Christmas themed Alex Cross book to his latest passion, writing children's books.
Click here to read an excerpt of James Patterson's upcoming book, "Private Berlin."
The author is one of the most prolific of our time and has done it in a way that's garnered criticism from his literary rivals. Patterson often works with co-authors. By the end of this year, he will publish 13 books, most of them written with co-authors. Some critics say that Patterson is less of a writer and more of an assembly line. Patterson defended his work.
"You've been in my office, it ain't a factory. It is an artist studio. I'm deeply involved. I'm doing this thing seven days a week," Patterson said. "Nobody looks at Mercedes and goes, 'It's an assembly line.' They go, 'It's a Mercedes,' you know? And I think the books are good reads."
Patterson said that he usually does an initial outline of a story and a co-author will take a stab at a first draft. Then, armed with a sharpened, yellow pencil, Patterson fine tunes the draft into what he hopes is a page turner.
"People are looking for entertainment, that's what I try to do. I don't consider myself to be a super serious writer, but I think I do write entertaining books," he said. "I think there are a limited number of things that really are consistently entertaining and I think my books are consistently entertaining so people read them a lot."
Of his millions of readers, 70 percent of them are women, he says. Traces of his hometown, Newburgh, N.Y., can be found in his work. Patterson returns there to visit and has named characters after childhood friends.
In college, Patterson said he became a voracious reader and dreamed of writing, but never thought he could make a living from it.
After being rejected 31 times, Patterson's first novel, "The Thomas Berryman Number," was published in 1976. The mystery received the prestigious Edgar Award, but sold only 10,000 copies.
After the book's commercial failure, he made a decision that changed the way he approached writing.
"I made the decision I'd like to write books that sell better," Patterson said.
Patterson chose to write bestselling books and not the next great American novel, he said.
"I don't have those chops and I don't want to write something that's halfway there. I don't want to write a well-received literary novel that sells 5,000 copies and that people that I don't particularly want to talk to like it," Patterson said. "I don't want to write for those people. I could, but I don't want to."
Selling is something Patterson knows how to do. According to Forbes Magazine, he earned $94 million last year, making him the highest-earning author in the world.
Patterson learned how to sell after working more than 20 years as an advertising executive, overseeing popular campaigns for companies like Toys R Us and Burger King.
"The key is you have to hit people in the face with a cream pie, you have to get their attention and then you have to say something smart, something motivating, something that's worthwhile, but you do have to get their attention," Patterson said.
Patterson used his advertising background to make one of his most well-known novels, "Along Came a Spider," a bestseller. He had the idea to make a television commercial promoting it, something that had rarely been done for hardbacks when it was released in 1993. Patterson said he utilizes his time as an ad man when it comes to the covers and titles of his books. He has also helped his characters, like Alex Cross, journey from the page to the big screen.
Patterson, the father of a 14-year-old son, has started cranking out books for children, too.
"I in particular love writing the kids' books," Patterson said. "I think that's really my passion right now."
He has even launched a website, ReadKiddoRead.com, full of book recommendations aimed at getting more children to read.
"This is a passion and a cause for sure," Patterson said. "You got to give kids books that they're going to read."
Despite his success, Patterson has no plans to slow down.
"I love stories, that's it. I love storytelling. I'm addicted to it. I think it's a harmless addiction and one that's worked out very well for me," he said.
Editor's Note: Harry Smith's full profile of James Patterson airs Thursday, Dec. 20 at 10pm/9CT on NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams.


text:
I immediately went to my Literary Guild book club website and ordered the books!! Both the novel and Julia Child's cookbook. So, when it gets here and I make one of her recipes, I can't wait to say "Bon Appetit!" I wonder how many Weight Watcher points one of those recipes has...
OK, so who wants to share a favorite recipe???? If you've never been to CJ Tinkle's blog, you should definitely go read it. Not only is she an awesome seamstress with her quilts and home decor items, she is a real gourmet cook! She has a recipe for German Rouladen on her blog today. YUM! Go check it out!! http://tinkletimes.com/
Tomorrow is the Valentine Sewing Party. I don't really have any Valentine fabric or project to do, but DO have this awesome Schnibbles pattern to make in the same red/taupe/beige fabrics on the pattern photo! I love this little quilt, so can't wait to get started tomorrow morning!!
OK, so what are YOU sewing on this weekend???

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Windshield Replacement
If your vehicle has recently encountered windshield damage, you may be wondering whether repair or replacement is necessary. While Harmon AutoGlass® can repair most chips in your windshield glass, cracks typically indicate an immediate need for windshield replacement in order to protect the structural integrity of your vehicle and the safety of its occupants.
Is your best option replacement or repair?
Size and severity
Though there are a few exceptions, chips larger than 3/8 inch and cracks more than three inches long generally require windshield replacement.
Cracks near the edge of the windshield typically require replacement due to their tendency to spread. Chips directly in your line of vision often require replacement as well, as repairs often do not cure clearly, leaving disruptions in your line of vision.
The longer you leave chips and cracks unaddressed, the more likely dirt will build up making it difficult to perform a successful repair and requiring a replacement.
How does Harmon Auto Glass perform windshield replacement?
- The windshield is carefully removed to avoid damage to the bonding surface, which can cause leaks and corrosion.
- An OEM (Original Equipment Manufactured) quality windshield replacement is selected for a quality installation.
- Only Auto Glass Safety Council (AGSC) approved adhesives are applied to the vehicles during windshield replacement.
- The new windshield is replaced following procedures recommended by the AGSC. The recommended one hour drive-away time for passenger safety is then observed, allowing the adhesive to cure and form a proper seal.
Timely replacement is essential to your safety
In today's modern vehicles, the windshield is up to 85% of the structural integrity.
Will my auto insurance policy cover windshield replacement?
Harmon Auto Glass works with all major insurance carriers, handling the insurance filing for you. Nonetheless it is advisable to contact your local agent to verify coverage before having your windshield replaced. Windshield replacement due to cracks is typically covered under the "Comprehensive" section of your automobile insurance policy, which is elective. However, laws vary by state. Some states require the typical ($500) Comprehensive deductible, while others have laws specific to windshield replacement requiring no deductible or a state-mandated maximum. Protect yourself by becoming familiar with the laws in your state.
Choosing a trusted windshield repair service
To protect your vehicle's occupants as well as its value, our professional windshield repair specialists use only OEM quality glass and AGSC approved adhesives when replacing your windshield. This prevents leaks and the likelihood of the windshield becoming dislodged in an accident. Harmon Auto Glass offers mobile service that can typically be at your site within 24 hours. Our specialists are courteous and respectful of your vehicles, home and family.
Don't let a damaged windshield threaten the safety of your family. Contact Harmon Auto Glass today. Our professional specialists have the skills and experience necessary to determine your windshield replacement and repair needs. Harmon Auto Glass offers a complete auto glass product line including windshields, side window glass, mirrors, and more.


text:
Why are we focusing on rainwater harvesting.
Let us accept it. We are confronting water emergency and the circumstance is going to intensify later on. The expansion in populace, development in the industrial and farming division has expanded the interest for freshwater exponentially. Various techniques are taken after to gather the freshwater. Building reservoirs, dams, reuse the utilized water, desalination plants, burrowing wells or gathering rainwater. Out of all, the rainwater harvesting is a very prominent strategy for gathering new water.
Rainwater is the known source of freshwater other than glaciers and means recharging necessities of almost 75 percent of the horticulture area over the world. It recharges the groundwater levels as well as bolsters the requests of the urban and industrial segment. With its straightforward procedure, adaptable structure and worldwide acceptance, it is really the most well known source and picking up consideration widely.
The post further clarifies the significance of rainwater harvesting in both urban and rural parts.
Horticulture division and rustic range
Demand for freshwater in the agriculture and rural area is high because of its prime need in the development of the plants and products. The exhausting underground water table, expand saltiness in water and high levels of chemicals and composts in water has added to the reason of looking at rainwater harvesting to tackle the situation.
Regardless of whether the rainfall is inexhaustible or low, the water should be conserved to meet the requests when there is no downpour. Various techniques have been in place to gather the same. From age-old illustrations like abolish to johads are developed in villages to gather water for further use. the methods include covering fields with crops to let the water seep in, sloughing and contour farming.
In the rural area, the interest for rainwater is high and it offers multifold advantages.
Simple to build and keep up: The development, operation and, upkeep of the rainwater harvesting system is normally less labour intensive and tedious. he nearby catchment areas are within accessible range to save time in moving too far to get the water.
Reasonable for watering system: The water is additionally useful for plants and soil as it has a minimum quantity of dissolved impurities. This additionally prompts developing the better nature of harvests. The water that seeps underground will be less tainted and thus, goes about as a feeder for waterways and lakes with cleaner water.
Diminishes flood and soil erosion:
The areas where the precipitation is higher, the rainwater harvesting system controls soil erosion and chemicals and different pollution of the surface that gets broke up in water does not get blended with lakes or streams. The water that seeps in, lead to diminished in the possibility of flood.
Rainwater harvesting in urban region:
In the urban territories, the buildings, pathways, and yucca streets have left a little extent of rainwater to seep down the ground. This has prompted exhausting water tables. The rainwater harvesting assumes a pivotal part in keeping up the underground water table and lessening the requests of new water for non-consumable utilization like flushing, clothing, cleaning, watering the patio nurseries, auto washing and so forth.
Focal points of water reaping in urban region
Controls water bills: As the water gathered from the framework can be utilized for some non-drinking capacities, it lessens the interest for freshwater. Like rustic cultivating, water reaping serves the water to water the patio nurseries and parks if the framework is introduced in the spot. In the industrial area, a significant number of the assignments that don't require freshwater can be performed with rainwater sparing the adjacent freshwater hotspot for other consumable activities..
Adjusts underground water levels:
The increase in the population as has increased the demand for water multiple times. The underground water is been extracted to the alarming levels. The rain water harvesting help to furnish the ground water to balance the levels thus providing water to meet the demands.
No matter rain is high or low but it still counts for furnishing demand for fresh water. And every drop saved can help to meet the demand of the future. Nations are taking up measures to incorporate the system in every place but it is the responsibility of the people to use the water wisely and save it for their generations.


text:
Your platinum or gold charge card ought to live up to its name. These days, it might not.
Cards called for precious metals once offered exceptional benefits and were special to high-income cardholders. But with the exception of offerings from American Express which first presented the color-coded system today s best charge card wasn't include any gold- or platinum-labeled cards. In reality, nowadays you'll see metallic cards more regularly pitched to individuals with bad credit than to those with excellent credit scores.
Platinum and gold cards are actually heritage items, states David Robertson, publisher of the Nilson Report, a leading publication about the credit card industry. They're sort of like mass-market restaurants that have actually been around forever. In contemporary times, there's no sizzle related to it.
If you want to learn whether a credit card is really a good deal for you today, take a look at its rewards structures and interest rates not its color.
In the past, platinum dazzled.
AmEx presented its American Express Gold Card in 1966 for big-spending members. In 1985, the company came out with The Platinum Card from American Express, an even more unique product.
The credit card system of platinum, gold and plain represented the upper, middle and working classes in the stratification of financial obligation in America, Weatherford writes.
By the mid-1990s, gold and platinum credit cards were no more unique to AmEx. MasterCard and Visa charge card likewise began to use the terms as a sign of exclusivity. In 1998, each of the 8 largest banks in the United States issued a gold charge card, and three of the eight released a platinum card, according to a study from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
These special deals rapidly became not-so-exclusive. In a craze to clinch market share, some major issuers sent preapproved platinum and gold charge card offers to huge newsletter. By the first quarter of 2002, nearly a 3rd of households held platinum credit cards, financial experts David S. Evans and Richard Schmalensee compose in their book Paying with Plastic.
Gold and platinum became so ubiquitous as to be useless and for that reason, lost definitely any cachet they might have initially had, says Robertson, the Nilson Report publisher. Beyond that, they really lost any efficacy as a marketing tool.
Why the shine diminished.
Banks used to separate platinum and gold cards from timeless cards in three key ways. Historically, platinum and gold cards assured:
Greater credit limits.
Lower APRs.
Advantages, such as prolonged guarantees and various sort of travel insurance coverage.
In time, these differences faded, and platinum and gold cards ended up being less remarkable. Here's exactly what occurred.
One credit card provider made headlines in 1996 after revealing that its platinum card would offer credit limitations up to $100,000. By 2001, the average credit limitation on platinum cards was only $9,728, according to economic experts Evans and Schmalensee.
Nowadays, if you wish to get a card that promises a high limitation, you'll have a heck of a time finding one. Because of newer federal regulations and tighter underwriting requirements, charge card companies typically won't inform you how high your credit limit may be prior to you use. You still have the choice of requesting a credit line increase from your provider, however, regardless of what color your card is.
Zero percent APR periods got simpler to find. Numerous platinum and gold cards promoted low continuous APRs in the late 90s, and later, 0% initial APR durations. Other cards started offering the very same features. A charge card study from 2005 by the Woodstock Institute, a not-for-profit research and policy organization, reveals that numerous traditional cards had 0% APR periods, much like their gilded counterparts. In truth, the highest ongoing APR rate surveyed in that report 20.25% was discovered on a platinum card, not a classic card.
As low-interest cards became more common, platinum and gold cards struggled to contend. In fact, you can quickly discover platinum and gold cards these days with APRs north of 20% and no 0% APR period at all.
Add-on benefits became the standard. Visa and MasterCard require banks that provide gold and platinum cards to offer particular minimum benefits, Robertson says. Those include advantages such as various kinds of travel insurance, extended guarantees and emergency support. Years back, these secondary benefits used to include perceived value to cards. Not any longer.
These perks are now far simpler to find, as the Visa Signature and MasterCard World and World Elite programs have actually grown in popularity. Still, many cardholders put on to know such advantages exist or don t use them. The Visa and MasterCard platinum and gold programs still exist, however aren't marketed, Robertson says.
Platinum and gold today.
American Express Gold and Platinum cards continue to be exceptional products. They offer outstanding advantages to regular tourists and big spenders. Because they're charge cards that need to be paid completely monthly, they likewise have no spending limitation. However, beyond AmEx, the platinum and gold labels have actually largely disappeared from the best offerings by the leading providers. Instead, they now grow in the subprime charge card market, on offerings for individuals with fair or poor credit.
Take Horizon Card Services, for example, which offers an all-metal suite of unsecured cards for individuals with bad credit, a number of which include platinum and gold in their names: Horizon Gold Card, NetFirst Platinum, and Freedom Gold Card.
In some methods, these cards are similar to old platinum and gold cards. They market that they wear t charge interest, promise cardholders a $500 unsecured line of credit (something that's hard to discover when you have bad credit), and deal ancillary benefits that include endless access to their credit report in addition to real-time fraud monitoring, 24-hour emergency roadside support, access to legal counsel and marked down drug store savings, writes Robert Kane, president of Horizon Card Services, in an e-mail.
But if you put on t checked out the disclosures, you might miss some vital details: These cards can be utilized just to purchase product at Horizon Card Services online outlet and include monthly fees that can amount to as much as $300 per year. Kane, who formerly said that the terms were clear, stresses that if cardholders put on t desire the secondary advantages, they can drop them and pay $6.95 a month instead, which adds up to about $83 each year. Because of this, he writes, our company believe that the Horizon Card Services suite of products offers an affordable way for consumers to develop credit and get access to the benefits that they require.
You could build credit for less with a credit contractor loan or a secured card with a low deposit requirement; when you close a secured card in good standing, you get your security deposit back.
Forget the flash, concentrate on the advantages.
In the 90s, calling credit cards platinum and gold was a smart marketing gadget. If you desire to discover a card that provides the finest value to you today, you need to look beyond the name.
If you pay your balance completely each month, search for benefits. When you always pay your balance completely, you probably won't pay any interest, so there's no need to search for low APRs. Look rather for flat-rate benefits cards that offer 1.5% or 2% benefits on daily spending, or tiered cards that provide larger rewards in the categories you invest most on, such as groceries and gas. A big sign-up benefit might also help you increase your revenues.
If you're carrying a balance, look for a card without any annual cost and a low APR. You want to keep your costs as low as possible when you're carrying debt. Benefits cards most likely won't aid you with this, however cards with low ongoing interest rates or a 0% initial APR offers will.
A brand-new kind of good-better-best hierarchy still exists in today s charge card market, however it's absolutely nothing like the one from years ago. Today s finest credit cards are the ones with the most helpful rewards and advantages. They're not always the shiniest.
It's about substance and value. That's where American is in the post-recessionary period, Robertson says.


text:
Vanessa+Melissa, Hosts of Vanessa+Melissa, on Rogers TV Co-Founders of, Diapers + Lipgloss Inc.
"If you're looking for a Naturopathic Doctor, who is incredibly well versed on just about all aspects of health, nutrition, mental health, balance and parenting, it's Dr. Jen Forristal. We've worked with Dr. Jen, on many occasions and are always impressed with what she teaches us. Not only does she teach wellness, she lives it. If you need an expert in the field of Naturopathic medicine and wellness, we highly recommend Dr. Jen Forristal."
Ian Carswell, Head of Guidance St. Johns Kilmarnock
"Dr. Jen has a terrific sense of school culture and can effectively identify where faculty and student needs are in the area of overall wellness. She gathers evidence methodically, through a combination of anecdotal and empirical means, and then focuses on macro level, long-term solutions that are consistent with the strategic plan of the school. Her approach considers the optimization of student performance for years to come."
Lacey Heels
"Dr. Jen offers a kind, holistic and logical approach to health. She helps you to break down your health goals and sort out a plan to achieve them in a manageable way. I am so grateful to have My Dr. Jen helping me out! Highly recommend her!"
Ilona Farry
"Love Dr. Jen, have been a loyal client for over 10 years. She's honest, down to earth, easy to work with and genuinely has you health at heart. Works with her clients to figure out what fits into their lifestyle and what will work best for them as an individual. Always puts in 110% effort to get her patients to healthy, happy results."
Nadica Anne
"Dr Jen is intelligent, proactive and always has patients' best outcomes in mind. I have recommended her to many of my clients because I know they will thank me later!"
"Dr. Jen has been such a wonderful resource for me and my family. From helping with feritlity and becoming pregnant with both my boys to being available to answer questions from how to lose weight to keeping my kids healthy from colds and flus. I highly recommend Dr. Jen for any health concerns or for maintaining your health."
"I started seeing Dr. Jen as a patient in late 2006. In my visits to the clinic, I came to trust and respect my Naturopathic doctor, and in turn, formed a great relationship with her."
Who Is Dr. Jen
Dr. Jen is a Naturopathic Doctor and school wellness specialist.
Founder of the Umbrella Effect, she is creating a profound paradigm shift in the understanding of our personal well-being and that of our children. She has worked extensively with schools and organizations, delivering effective and integrated programming that target personal growth for all community members.
As a naturopathic doctor specializing in family medicine and paediatrics, Dr. Jen works with individuals and families providing primary care and teaching the tools required for flourishing.
Dr. Jen makes regular guest appearances in the media, offers one-on-one appointments in her office and can be booked as a conference and corporate speaker.


text:
Science Gallery Venice, part of the Global Science Gallery Network, will feature unique immersive experiences to explore humans relationship to nature and the interconnections with one another. Our main goal is to ignite creativity and inspire new ideas and collaborations in pursuit of a better future for the next generations. Science Gallery transcends typical art galleries and traditional science museums by finding new ways of engaging young people with some of the global challenges of our time. Our programmes will be dynamic, exciting, controversial, sometimes even subversive, and always able to capture the imagination and curiosity of the media and of all our audiences.
We aim at connecting with young adults' lives, being tuned-in to their ever evolving interests and concerns, enabling them to express their views and creatively engage with science, technology and innovation. We will offer them opportunities to boost their social connections with dynamic and inclusive events, to actively participate to innovative thought-provoking projects and to increase their skills' set to shape the future they dream through the programmes we design.
Science Gallery Venice believes that the most disruptive and exciting ideas are generated when people from different backgrounds and perspectives approach collectively a common challenge. New solutions require the ability to draw together insights from multiple areas, but our traditional education was designed to keep disciplines separated. In our culture science and are in fact conceived as separate and often seen at the antipodes.
At Science Gallery we see things differently. Bringing science and art together into creative collisions provides an opportunity to look at important questions from different angles. The aim is to foster creative collisions across and beyond traditional boundaries, bringing artists, scientists, designers, engineers and young adults together to explore and shape the future in an inspiring environment.
We are anti-disciplinary, we look forward.


text:
This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:
This post is password protected. Enter the password to view comments.
(830) 265-4366
Mon - Thu 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
[email protected]
Highland Haven City Hall510-A Highland Drive Highland Haven, TX 78654
TOWN Web Design, LLC © | Privacy Policy | Accessibility


text:
Almost three-quarters of mothers feel that taking maternity leave put their jobs in jeopardy and left them vulnerable to ambitious colleagues or redundancy, The Times reported yesterday.
This was one of the findings from a recent study among Netmums members to examine the challenges faced by working mothers or mothers-to-be.
One in three working women also said they felt they had been overlooked for a promotion because they were of child-bearing age.
As The Times rightly infers, "this and other studies show that although protected by law, mothers remain fearful during their child-bearing years, believing that they are first in line for redundancy and at the back of the queue when it comes to promotion and training opportunities".
The study also found that two-thirds of women now earn less than they did before having a baby, while only 5 per cent earn more. Despite all this 73 per cent of women believe they are better employees as a result of having a baby, making them more focused and organised.
This is not the first research to show that having a baby is the one single factor which limits women's career progression and thus their pay packet. The gender pay gap in the UK taking account of full and part-time work currently stands at 22 per cent, the sixth worst in the European Union. Part of the reason for this poor showing is that the gap between man and women's earnings dramatically worsens once a woman has had a baby. According to research conducted by the TUC, there is little difference in men and women's pay in their 20s, yet by the time they reach their 40s the gap between male and female hourly earnings is 15.3 per cent.
The study for Netmums was conducted by maternitycover.com, a specialist recruitment consultancy, and confirms many women's experiences of having children and trying to keep a career going.


text:
The costume department behind The Carrie Diaries is unarguably one of the best on TV, but it does occasionally take liberties with its 1980s timeline. Here's AnnaSophia Robb, filming exterior shots for The show in NYC, carrying yet another eye-popping Fendi Baguette. This time it's the Fendi Multicolored Mosaic Baguette Bag, which features colorful glass tiles set against calfskin trim and palladium hardware. You can currently snag this Baguette at Neiman Marcus for $4,600.
Several months ago, we spotted AnnaSophia filming scenes with another Baguette, the Fendi Enamel 3D Studded Baguette from the brand's Spring 2013 line. The Baguette is, of course, the bag favored by SJP's Carrie in Sex & The City, but it didn't actually exist in the 1980s. Making that decade look fresh and interesting again (and not like a crappy college "80s Night" party) is an arduous task for any pro TV stylist, however, and we can forgive a few misplaced Fendi bags.
P.S. Please consider supporting our small, bag-loving team by clicking our links before shopping or checking out at your favorite online retailers like Amazon, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, or any of the listed partners on our shop page. We truly appreciate your support!


text:
data analysis
Identifying and solving country-level impediments to full absorption of Global Fund money
19 Sep 2017
Roadblocks include inadequate human resource capacity, procurement difficulties and gaps is data collection and analysis
In raising concerns about the ability of countries to achieve full absorption of Global Fund grants, delegations from the African constituencies on the Global Fund Board pointed to a range of challenges they said need to be addressed, including several that consistently appear at the country level.
Process for planning the 2017-2022 Strategy has been significantly enhanced, OIG finds
5 Apr 2016
However, the OIG audit identifies problems regarding the timing and extent of data analysis
According to the Office of the Inspector General, significant enhancements have been made by The Global Fund to improve the process put in place for planning its 2017-2022 Strategy. However, the OIG said, there is room for improvement on the timing and extent of data analysis to inform strategic choices. As well, there are significant issues concerning the processes for implementing and monitoring the 2012-2016 Strategy.


text:
This movie is based on a contemporary children's book, not the usual Grimm Brothers stock. Hans Röckle is a puppeteer, inventor, blacksmith and more. He is challenged by the Devil (in almost a dozen fancy costumes) who offers him even more inventiveness, against his soul should he ever make money with an invention, build something twice, or cease inventing for 7*7 hours.
Click Here


text: Prep Cook Mirdiff City Center Chili's Posted on October 11, 2019 2 - 3 years Dubai - United Arab Emirates Any Graduation. Any Nationality Send Me Jobs Like This SEND Alert Set Successfully Opening 01 Job Description EMAIL JOB SEND Email sent successfully. SHARE JOB Prep Cook Mirdiff City CenterJob Posting Number: CFR005730Kitchen OpportunitiesMirdif City Centre Tripoli StreetDubai, Dubai, FranchiseThis location is operated by an independent franchise owner. Please apply at the address below.Mirdif City Centre Tripoli StreetDubai, UAEBe A Part Of What s Trending At Today s Chili s.Make Money. Grow Your Career. Be a ChiliHead.Our Heart of House Team Members are responsible for setting the pace for a great shift, every shift. They provide dependable, fast service that is absolutely Chili s. If you take pride in great team work and want to make money while growing your career with a flexible schedule, then we want to hear from you!We are seeking fun, outgoing, and high-energy individuals to join our team as part-time and/or full-time Prep Cooks.About the Job:• Properly execute all recipe procedures• Prepare a variety of foods with different methods of preparation• Follow company safety and sanitation policies and procedures• Complete assigned prep work to stock and set up stationsAbout Us:• Fast hiring process• Make money with a flexible part-time or full-time schedule• Great opportunities for growth into management• Great Team atmosphere and cultureAbout You:• Friendly, warm, and caring demeanor with Team Members• Thinks and acts quickly in a fast-paced, high-volume environment• Ability to use slicers, mixers, grinders, food processors, etc.• No experience necessaryBenefits packages may vary by location.Our Story:Chili s was born in Dallas, Texas in 1975. Since then, we ve boldly claimed our place in the casual dining industry as the place to go for Big Mouth burgers, house smoked ribs, full on fajitas, and hand shaken margaritas! With a legacy deeply rooted in service, hospitality, and giving back, we are committed to delivering the best experience to every Guest, every day. Our Team Members work in a positive environment that is committed to our Purpose to Connect, Serve, and Give to Create the Best Life.This location is operated by an independent franchise owner. Please apply at the address below.Mirdif City Centre Tripoli StreetDubai, UAE Company Industry Restaurants / Catering / Food Services Department/Functional Area Chefs / F&B / Housekeeping / Front Desk Keywords Prep Cook Mirdiff City Center REPORT THIS JOB Disclaimer: Naukrigulf.com is only a platform to bring jobseekers & employers together. Applicants are advised to research the bonafides of the prospective employer independently. We do NOT endorse any requests for money payments and strictly advice against sharing personal or bank related information.We also recommend you visit Security Advice for more information. If you suspect any fraud or malpractice, email us at email@example.com People Looking for Prep Cook Jobs also searched Dubai UAE All Jobs Prep Cook Jobs in Dubai Hotel Jobs in Dubai Job Posting Jobs in Dubai Prep Cook Jobs in UAE Hotel Jobs in UAE Job Posting Jobs in UAE Prep Cook Jobs Hotel Jobs Job Posting Jobs Chili's View Contact Details Contact Name/ Designation: - Website https://www.chilisjobs.com/job/5648690/prep-cook-mirdiff-city-center-dubai-ae/ Additional Information Required Employer has requested some additional information along with your application for this job Cancel Login to Naukrigulf Continue using GOOGLE FACEBOOK All your activity will remain private or Forgot Password?


text:
BIDII PRIMARY SCHOOL NairobiMrs. Ann Kate Ngundo Headteacher You are welcome to Bidii Primary Official School Website.We are humbled …
LIST OF TEACHERS 1. MRS. ANN NG'UNDO …!--[if>
Message from Heateacher
BIDII PRIMARY SCHOOL NairobiMrs. Pauline Makau Headteacher You are welcome to Bidii Primary Official School Website.We are …
School Infrastracture
The school has several infrastructures build within the vicinity.They include:Administration block (head teacher's office, deputy head …
Games & Sports
TThis Department is headed by Mr. Orori Zachary B. Assisted by the following:-Mr.Hudson Miheso, Mrs.Florence Onyango,Richard Omondi,Dinah …
School Circulars 2013
Welcome to this years newsletters/circulars page :1. circulars
This department deals with tree planting in the institution.Pupils plant trees in the compound along the fence in between the buildings and in the …
The drama club deals with drama (acting plays) and performing traditional dances.Headed by Teresia Mailu.�
Creative Writting
This club teaches learners on creativity in composition and insha writting.It also puts empasis on good hand writing.Headed by Ann Ngundo and …
Christian Union
Deals with the spiritual training of the learners in the school.Headed by:�Phresia MainaJosephine GovediJoyce WekesaElizabeth Omulando��
First Aid
Deals with first aid in the institution during any accident in the school.Its headed by Mrs. Mwinzi and Lilian Ohana�
This department co-ordinate internal and external exams in the school.It includes setting, marking and releasing of the results.Its headed by :Senior …
School Motto, Mission and Vision
School Motto, Vision and MissionMotto : Better your best Vision: To have the majority alumini as torch bearers of the positive change both …
Deals with building the drawing and painting skills of the learners in the institution.Lead by Pennina Murage, Saadia Yusuf and P.Egunza
Web Partners
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND EXTERNAL STUDIES (CEES) - UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBIClick here to access the CEES - University of Nairobi.
The club involvesteaching pupils/ youngsters on how to take care of our animals
Music/ Public Speaking
Deals with composing and singing music during school functions and national competitions.Headed by Dinah Onyango and Mr.Sammy Muasya
This club deals with general school cleanliness.It involves pupils personal hygiene. Both in class and outside class.
Child Friendly
This department makes sure that the school is child friendly, it enhances the provision of clean water tanks in classrooms, cleaning the toilets, …
School Curriculum
It deals with the school syllabus and subject panelsHeaded by Senior teacher Dinah Onyango
School Hot Lunch Programme
This programme offers hot lunch for children at low cost prices.This usually encourages children low-level backgrounds to persue continous …
Scouts & Guides Movement
This department trains young people on the same in the school and at the national level.During functions the movement does matching parades, the …
The fees
The Tenders PageWe can do all th stuff we wanna do here.


text:
Swinley Forest
Harry Colt is one of the icons of golf course design and Swinley Forest is, in his own words, "his least bad" work.
A very exclusive club with royalty among its small membership, I had heard many good things about the course and was very much looking forward to seeing it.
We had a beautiful sunny day, and the course to ourselves - apart from the deer- so we had a lovely time exploring the course. My GPS and the distance markers never seemed to agree and were often 2 clubs out - I never did figure out what was going on there - but this is the sort of course where perhaps any sort of distance advice is contrary to the spirit of the place. Swinley Forest has been in operation for a 100 years but until recently there were no handicaps, no competitions - just golf with friends...
Having seen and played the course I now need to do some "study" on various aspects of the design. We very much enjoyed it , but from a design aspect I have a number of questions?
The bunkering looked good and bunkers are supposed to be penal but I was not sure if the results I was getting were intended - all 4 bunker shots I had stayed right up the face or side of the bunker because of the bunker shape and type of sand...
And the positioning of some bunkers puzzled me..
And the mounding around greens like 7 did not look natural to me.
I would like to know the history on the linear hazards - often with heather over them - common to these heathland courses - are they simply the earth from drainage?
But there was much to like about Swinley - some wonderful par 3's and short 4's , and I could talk for ages on the strategy of holes like 18 - which look simple but...
June 2010


text:
FC: When I Got My Dog Bacon By Julie Tognucci
1: When I Got My Dog Bacon By Julie Tognucci
2: Ever seen something cute or cool and shout "Can I get this?" Or "Can we buy it?" Well that's exactly how I got my dog.
4: He was adorable. His cute little brown eyes, the white on his tail, the black all over his back with a white spot being surrounded by it, I asked, "Can I get him?" Like I say to every cute dog they actually said "Sure!" we would look at him in a couple of months.
6: First came January than February and finally March. We checked out the dog to see what he looked like and I saw a different dog Richey. Richey was in the ladies arms she put him down and he hid behind the kitchen sink.
8: I said softly "Richey, Richey, Richey." He slowly walked over like he was tiptoeing. I said louder "Richey come here don't be shy." He walked over I sat there. He climbed all over me he licked every spot he could reach.
10: Then while mom and dad talked with the lady, we walked Richey, we put the leash on him and we went outside.
12: We walked him about five houses down and back. He was very easy to turn around. So when we got back. The lady said "Do you want to check out Fritz?"
14: We said "Sure." When Fritz came in Richey was barking like an angry leprechaun yelling at a guy who stole his pot of gold, In other words he was barking at Fritz nonstop. Fritz barked back. We eventually got Richey out.
16: Fritz was coughing like no one had before. He would not stop coughing. He some type of dog cold. We took him on a walk only he didn't want to stop. We eventually got him to turn around. When we came back we all decided which dog to get.
18: We all said "Richey." Mom asked me and Jake "Why?" We answered "He was easier to turn around". So in the end we got Richey. Since he only had the name for a week we got to change his name to Bacon.
20: All because of that one question "Can we get him?" I got a dog. The End!


text:
Palisade Wooden Fencing
Read More
A naturally aesthetically pleasing fencing solution for areas where you require unobtrusive fencing. Our fencing is manufactured from quality pressure treated redwood and pressure treated for a life expectancy of 15 years.
Product Code: FPAL
If you would like to know more about this product then please speak to a member of our team by calling +44 (0)1354 638 359 or alternatively use one of the links below...


text: Details of businesses owned or based within the parish. Change Accountants When Change was formed, we put a lot of thought into what our clients wanted from their accountant & we built our team around that. Change clients come to us for support & because they want a business discussion in plain English. We help them to understand their accounts and tax. We explain what they need to do &, more importantly, when they need to do it. We do: Accounts for small businesses and limited companies, Tax - both personal and business, Payroll, VAT, Bookkeeping, Xero, Freeagent, Sage certified and coming soon, Quickbooks Online. Facebook.com/changeaccountants www.change-accountants.com 01904 567820 KRM Horse Drawn Carriages KRM Horse Drawn Carriage Services is a family run business with many years experience. We are based in Asselby & cater for all occasions, with weddings, proms & funerals being our speciality. You can always be assured of an impeccable turnout with both professional & experienced coachman & groomsman. Distance is no object, we trade throughout north and central England. We are fully insured & guarantee a personal service of the highest quality, at a very competitive Price. When you contact us for a quote you can be sure there will be no hidden extras. Facebook.com/krmcarriages www.krmcarriages.co.uk 01757 630620 Lucky23 Creative Design Good graphic design is about good communication, engaging your audience and making a memorable impact. Working directly with a freelance designer allows for clear, one-to-one communication and an intimate approach. Sheryl can create graphics that get your business noticed. From Websites & Printed Literature, Images for Social Media & Company Branding, she can help you stand out from the crowd. Offering friendly, knowledgeable advice that can truly help your business to grow. If you are looking for a designer who gets to know you & your business, you may have just found your designer. Facebook.com/Lucky23CD www.lucky23.me 01757 633721 Black Swan Asselby We are proud to be a traditional Yorkshire CAMRA pub. Our real ale house is popular with ramblers and East Riding families and is the hub of the village of Asselby. We like to keep things traditional and with that in mind, it's little wonder why we have become known as one of the best traditional Yorkshire country pubs in the area. Lounge around next to a roaring log fire with a real ale and chat to the friendly landlord Ian and the locals. We serve great food every day of the week. We hold regular live music nights, 2 pub quizzes every month and even a vinyl night where you can bring your own music. You will always be made very welcome at Black Swan Asselby. Facebook.com/blackswanasselbypub www.whelansofasselby.co.uk 01757 630409 See Your Company Here Please email the Parish Clerk if you would like us to feature your parish based or owned business here


text:
There have been a ton of leaks of Windows Mobile 6.5 on the Internet, and Microsoft is widely expected to announce the new version of Windows Mobile on Feb. 16 at the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona.
But today Windows Mobile 6.5 popped up on an official manufacturer's Web site – admittedly, a small manufacturer who hasn't yet successfully put out a product, but they're a manufacturer nonetheless. On Compulab's page for their new Exeda handheld they have a "Windows Mobile 6.5" tab, where they say, "To demonstrate just how friendly to developers exeda is, CompuLab software team brought-up Windows Mobile 6.5 Alpha on exeda the same day it was released."
The Windows Mobile Professional 6.5 home screen shown replaces the standard "today screen" list and Start menu with a big grid of hexagonal icons, presumably easier to click with your finger than the old home screen. Compulab also showed an alternate home screen with some rather mixed-up-looking media player functionality.
Whether Compulab's Exeda will ever hit shelves is a mystery, but we're sure to hear more from Microsoft about Windows Mobile 6.5 next month. For larger pictures, see Compulab's Web site.


text:
Saturday, Aug 31
Saturday, Sep 7
Character levels 1-5
Written by Leo Glass
When news arrives that one of the shards of the holy relic known as the Shattered Shield of Arnisant have been put up for sale in a Rahadoumi auction, the Pathfinder Society is highly skeptical, particularly since all the shards of the shield are safely accounted for, enshrined in the nation of Lastwall's capital city, Vigil. However, the Society's sources have confirmed that the seller does indeed seem to have a powerful magical relic identical to one of the shards, so the Pathfinders have sent a team to investigate. What secrets might be uncovered in this nation where religion is banned? And who besides the Pathfinder Society and their allies in Lastwall might be seeking the purported relic?
Contents in "The Shattered Shield" also contribute directly to the ongoing storyline of the Dark Archive faction.
Released December 2018.


text:
Plum is proud, and humbled, to be part of One Percent for the Planet. Founded in 2002, 1% for the Planet has grown into a global movement of more than 1200 member companies in 48 countries, all donating at least 1% of annual sales to sustainability initiatives. In just over 10 years 1% for the Planet companies have given more than $100 million back to Blue. Watch this video on 1% for the Planet to learn more:
Please note: it's 1% of sales, not 1% of profits!


text:
Total Wellbeing Diet
Having tried a million diets to lose weight, this was my go-to after finding Atkins far too restrictive.
The recipes in the CSIRO plan are fabulous, and the whole idea behind it is easy-to-follow and makes sense. However, it's the PRICE that you're paying to follow these meal plans that makes life difficult. Most meals are primarily meat-based, so it's not exactly vegetarian-friendly, and given the cost of meat, the plan can be quite expensive to follow. I'm also a bit skeptical about whether or not the average adult needs that much meat in their daily diet.
The idea is to limit carbs, but not remove them from the diet altogther. You're allowed more "natural," carbs, coming from fruits and wholegrains, which is great, and the fact that you're limiting carb intake will almost certainly help a former carb-monster lose weight. It's just a matter of being able to work the plan into your weekly grocery budget.
The meals are healthy and tasty, and I don't see why anyone with a little extra money to spare couldn't find this at least a good starting point for weight loss, or overall ongoing health.


text:
At fine dining establishments, wine may be called vin, vino, wein or other foreign words that hint of an exotic and mysterious
adventure for the palate. No matter which language wine is presented in, its appeal breaks through cultural boundaries, tempting drinkers with an exotic appeal that is undeniable. No matter which language is used, wine is consistently paradoxical due to its humble yet multifaceted nature. This drink has captivated those with discriminating taste for millennia.
Wine is to civilized gatherings what the Mona Lisa is to fine art. It is beloved, cherished and honored. At one time, winemaking was a mysterious and highly regarded career. Today, many backyard grape growers are making their own wines from their personal kitchens. Nearly anyone can learn to make wine when presented with proper tools, ingredients, supplies and instruction.
A Brief History of Winemaking
Ancient and with a shaded, mysterious past, winemaking began in the first civilizations established in Sumeria. In this region, ancient artifacts prove wine was made from numerous roots, berries and fruits. Most likely, winemaking began as a lucky accident and developed into a more scientifically replicable art form after many centuries.
Throughout the Mediterranean region vineyards have been owned by society's elite, from emperors and kings to elected officials. In many areas, vineyards are passed down generation after generation, along with their closely guarded family recipes.
The world's best known wines come from Europe, though California winemaking has stepped onto the global stage in a big way, winning many awards at competitions.
Perfected abroad over thousands of years, generation after generation, wine slowly spread to the rest of the world. Now, vineyards have popped up in every country where grape cultivation is possible. Needless to say, winemaking is a very sought-after career field both at home and abroad.
Types of Wine
Some wines are rich, dry or bold while others are mild and sweet. Wine tastes different when it is grown in different regions, so each country's wine has a distinct aroma, style and flavor.
Every wine has distinct characteristics that place it into a category. Factors determining the type of wine include the wine color, clarity, alcohol content, type of grape used, bouquet and flavor. Each of these factors are largely determined by the growing environment for the grapes and methods used by the winemaker. Each of the following conditions lend a unique flair to each batch of wine:
Soil type – Plants are what they eat. Nutrients from the soil vary widely by region. Soil acidity, richness, drainage, moisture content, exposure to sunshine, the occurance of weather events and available nutrients are different in every world region, so grapes and wines made from them are all unique based upon growing location.
Topography – Surprisingly, the angle of slopes where grapes are planted into terraces makes a difference to the flavor and quality of the grape.
Type of Grape – Every strain of grape used to results in a different flavor. Wine connoisseurs learn all about identifying the type of wine grape used just by using taste and smell. Some wines actually blend different types of grapes during the winemaking process in order to give a more complex and robust flavor.
Ripening and Harvesting Process – Generally, the longer the grape's fruit stays in contact with the skin, the sweeter the grape is when it is mashed. Additionally, grapes sweeten more with age. Iced wines are made from grapes aged to the point where they fall off of the vine naturally.
Fermentation Process – Longer fermentation periods strong affect the flavor of wines. Usually, wines allowed to ferment for long periods are dry due to the higher alcohol content. The barrels used to age wine also affects flavor, as wood flavors and aromas are absorbed into the wine naturally.
Aging Process – Wine gets better with age. The longer a bottle is allowed to rest, the more flavorful and aromatic it will be when opened. Wine should be aged with the absence of light and heat because the sun's rays can destroy the balance of the flavors of wine and heat can alter the alcohol content. Fine wine is aged in cellars where windows can not let in enough light to affect the quality of the wine and temperatures are relatively cool and consistent.
Wine Varietals
Wine can initially be categorized by color: either red or white. Both red and white wines come in variety of subtypes, including: dry or sweet, flat or sparkling, richness or lightness, light or medium, soft or bold, and more. Wines can be seasonal or specifically developed for certain food pairings.
White Wine
White wines are typically viewed as light and versatile, though more delicate than red wines. The flavor of whites is often more complex. Grapes for these wines are grown in cool climates, usually in high altitudes.
From coast to coast, white wine is a year round favorite, often drank at the beach, during formal occasions or paired with a seasonally appropriate sunset dinner. Whites are romantic, airy and filled with a golden warmth, making it a very popular choice year round.
The five most popular white wine grapes are:
Chardonnay – This wine made from this grape is the world's most popular and abundant. Chardonnay wine is fairly inexpensive and has rich buttery-smooth undertones. It is well paired with seafood and poultry. Grapevines are hearty and are the most flexible concerning growing conditions.
Pinot Gris – These grapes are smaller and less abundant than Chardonnay grapes, but produce an fantastic finished product. As a medium bodied wine, Pinot Grigio is a great choice with spicy poultry dishes. The wine is very aromatic, giving off a floral, fruity scent that is intoxicating. Pinot Grigio is perfect for parties because it appeals to a large audience.
Riesling – There are only three regions where Riesling grapes are grown with a world famous quality, and all three are in Northern France and Central Germany. Distinctly German in the precise winemaking process, Riesling is unique in its ability to pair well with seafood or fish, poultry and desserts. Riesling is an excellent choice for date nights, as it gives off a very romantic golden glow in the glass and has a highly appealing flavor.
Scheurebe – This is a favorite of sea food restaurants and is usually offered to customers as a house wine. It is sweet, easy to sip and gives off a gentle aroma of berries and fruit with a touch of golden honey.
Chenin Blanc – South Africa, the United States and France are well known for growing this variety of grape. This wine is highly dry and acidic, but pairs well with cheeses, appetizers and finger foods.
Red Wine
Red wines are very traditional and reminiscent of old world Europe. These wines are an excellent choice for cold winter nights, holiday gatherings, formal events or relaxing nights in front of the fire. Pour a glass of any of these wines to make the most of relaxing alone, having an intellectual discussion or enjoying a romantic, beautiful setting with a date.
Durif – This hybrid grape was first developed in the 1800s by the French Dr. Durif. Wine made from this grape is called Petit Sirah and is burgundy in color. This grape grows well in the California heat and is dry.
Merlot – This grape produces dry, rich wine that is full bodied. It pairs well with red meats or heavy meals and is a holiday favorite worldwide. To make Merlot wine, the grape must be blended with Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. The Merlot grape is very susceptible to mold, so crops must be harvested without being given time to age on the vine. The result is a dry but well-rounded flavor with a lingering berry finish.
Pinot Noir – Because this grape vine is very delicate, they can only be grown in certain areas where there is warmth and sunshine during the day and cool breezes at night. Pinot Noir offers a very rare berry flavor reminiscent of a hybrid strawberry and cherry fruit.
Sangiovese – This rare grape variety is native to Tuscany and is the main ingredient in making Chianti. Wine made from the Sangiovese strain is very rich and smooth. It is perfectly paired with a traditional Italian dinner, complete with pasta, garlic bread, alfredo and tomato sauces and meatballs.
Grignolino – This is another traditional Italian grape that is plucked from the vine early in the harvest season due to susceptibility to mold. The best part about this rare and expensive wine is that it may be drank with very little aging. It is delicious with sausage, baguettes and cheeses. Grignolino has a cult following, but is hardly obtainable outside of Italy.
Wine Pairing
Pairing the perfect wine with the perfect meal takes time and expertise. Begin by learning about pairing light foods and white meats with white wines and heavy or red colored foods with red wines. Experiment with seasonal dishes, wine blends and unique food pairings to discover personal preferences. Enjoy the aromas and flavors, and be amazed by the memories made over this simple yet complex liquid libation.


text:
Paul Beachler
As head athletic trainer for 23 years, Paul Beachler's unconditional commitment and loyalty to Hillsdale's student-athletes will always be admired, and deeply appreciated. As an accomplished trainer, he cared for and attended to nearly 10,000 athletes during his career at Hillsdale. His warm and pleasing personality, combined with a respected manner of discipline, resulted in an effective and productive athletic training environment. His presence will be missed.


text:
Frances Justine Post on "Self-Portrait in the Body of a Whale"
Self-Portrait in the Body of a Whale
We come upon the body of a whale, a fresh beaching.
It smells like a thousand fishes.
I crawl in on the carpet of its tongue, seeking the injury out.
Outside, you cough and look away as I squint
through the eye at you. I dig into the room
its ribs make and squat in the warm gloom. The heart,
a chandelier, hangs down, ringed with veins. Here and there
the skin, thinned by hermit crabs, lets in the light
like a stained glass window with blood red panes.
I lie down on the bed of its liver as the tide fills the body,
each wave, higher. You give the whale a kick
I almost didn't feel and gesture towards the dunes,
backing away, disappearing. Is this who you really are?
This is where I live now like a barnacle,
stern and grumpy. If you try to move me, I will cut you.
On "Self-Portrait in the Body of a Whale"
"Self- Portrait in the Body of a Whale" is telling the truth only in the first line, the rest is imagination. I did "come upon the body of a whale" on a trip to Block Island off the coast of Rhode Island in the middle of winter. There is nothing I love more than an island in winter. It is the only time you can have a whole beach to yourself. To me it is heaven. I grew up on an island, so perhaps that is why I feel so strongly about this.
I took the trip with my boyfriend at the time. The island was basically shut down so it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. I remember everyone we met asking us if we had seen the beached whale. I kept picturing this huge animal dwarfing beach, and, even though I knew it might make me sad, I wanted to see it. We walked down the beach, but didn't see anything remotely whale-like until we came upon this sort of carpet of flesh. It was a whale carpet. The body was so broken down that all that was left was this huge, flat mass of skin, covering bones, half on the beach and half in the water. It was not as disgusting as it sounds and was, in fact, kind of beautiful. It was bleached white by the sun with darker stripes in a wave-like pattern. It had probably been on the beach for weeks, if not months. Now I wonder how it must have felt for the Islanders to live with this decaying body for months. Was it too big to move, so they just had to wait for it to naturally decompose?
A couple of years passed before I wrote the poem. For a long time, I just kept saying to myself, "We come upon the body of a whale." Instead of writing the experience as it really happened, I wrote the experience as I would have liked it to happen. Anytime anyone inhabits a whale, there are of course the biblical, Jonah implications, but for me it was more a fascination with the actual physical body of this creature. My Dad is an ornithologist, so he was always skinning and stuffing birds at the kitchen table. You would look in the freezer for ice cream and out would fall an owl. Because I grew up like this, I am perhaps more at ease with the grotesque than many. Lots of poems in Beast focus on the mechanics of the body, the meat of the body, particularly the heart. The heart is used as symbol and metaphor in so much of poetry, but it's also just a machine that pumps blood and keeps us alive somehow. I will be endlessly fascinated with that.
The last line always makes me laugh. It is serious, but also silly and is supposed to be read both ways. Barnacles do seem grumpy to me. Little frowny creatures. They are tiny, so they have to make their presence known. They just sit there on the rocks and cut you if you dare sit on them. Little jerks. I love them.


text:
Bobby Rush - From Black Panther to Gun Grabber
The right to keep and bear arms is not only for personal, family and property protection but for protection from a government that fails to uphold its sworn oath to protect and defend the constitution.
No debate, no interpretation needed.
"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms . . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes . . . Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man."
--Thomas Jefferson, quoting Cesare Beccaria in On Crimes and Punishment (1764).
"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed."
--Thomas Jefferson to John Cartwright, 1824.
"What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms."
--Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 1787.
I get the feeling that Barack Obama is no Thomas Jefferson.
An early warning sign of possible gun control and the increasing power and militarization of the police state has been reported in;
Gun Law Update: Gun-Rights Testing Planned, Parts I - II - III.
An especially disturbing account of ex-Black Panther, Illinois congressman Bobby Rush's proposed legislation, HR 45, is reported in part II, which gives a detailed analysis of the bill.
Read it, it's gun control fascism totalitarianism at its finest. It is a dictator's dream of national gun registration with so many requirements and potential future interpretations by the Attorney General that many law abiding citizens may become instant criminals.
HR 45 is not so much about banning guns but about banning gun owners.
Those law abiding citizens who went through the process of getting carry permits will be first on the 'list' to be targeted to see if they are abiding by the new law.
If you think contacting your congressman and opposing this law will help, by all means do it. My personal experience in dealing with my own representative is that he will go along with the 'gang' not his constituents.
As a little aside, Bobby Rush was a co-founder of the Black Panthers. This group was a main target of the FBI's COINTELPRO program to disrupt and "neutralize" organizations perceived to be threats.
Now Bobby is trying to disrupt and "neutralize" lawful and constitutionally protected gun owners.
You might think that Mr. Rush, considering his experiences, would be more inclined to protect constitutional rights, not destroy them.
Joining the 'system' does that to some.


text:
Not in love or not the right size? You can return your item within 14 days of receiving it and we will fully refund you or if you prefer you can exchange it for a different item. Return shipping is paid by the customer and shipping charges for exchange items apply and are due before an exchange item is being shipped. Shipping charges are non-refundable.
Refunds/Exchanges will be processed once we have made sure that the item is unused, in its original packaging and with all tags still in place. Please note that items that are returned later than 14 days will result in us not accepting the return/refund.
Gift Vouchers cannot be refunded.
Wrong or faulty item?
If you have just opened this parcel and think that the item is faulty or that the wrong item was delivered, please contact us immediately at 01-6683945 and we are happy to help.
This does not affect your statutory rights.


text:
It's Official… I Have Left My Mark…
Yes it has happened, I have left my mark on the world…lol… well it's a start..
As some will know I have been getting ready for my ABIPP Assessment, for the last eighteen months I have been writing up all my information to go with my final images. Well as ever, I went way over the top, in the end I decided to layout the image, with all the info on the facing page including lighting diagrams, explanations on my approach to covering the subject or project.
After all this work it seemed a shame just to put it on a hard drive for ever more…. Myself, I do buy quite a few lighting books, I feel I will always get I idea of doing something a little different. I still go on a few workshops a year, one tip can add a new twist to my photography or my processing.
So after writing a lot more information, the book now covers over 30 different scenarios, covering both my main work, motocross but also a lot of the pet projects I have covered over the years. My approach and reason to each subject is explained, also my lighting setups. Making it easy to try the projects yourself, with projects from portraits, nature, sports, equestrian..
The book is now available through Amazon both in paperback & ebook… https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1549999036/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1


text:
Simple Canna Oil Recipe
Along with cannabutter, cannabis infused oils are a popular cooking medium for those who want to get high on marijuana edibles or the oil itself.
Any oil will do for making canna oil. But, the most popular ones are olive, canola, and coconut. Although I love olive oil, for this How-To I'm going to use coconut oil because I also want to try it in another way, besides just eating it all. Another benefit of using coconut oil – it masks the taste of marijuana.
The infusion process is simple. The plant material releases THC in the oil while being heated. Fattier oils happen to absorb more THC. Coconut oil contains around 90% of saturated fats. Thus, it's considered the best for absorbing most of the THC.
Even though this recipe is not a rocket science and you don't have to own a Ph.D. in culinary arts, there's still plenty of room for mishaps. One of the most common mistakes is overheating cannabis. If that happens, THC is basically burnt out of the oil. You might end up with a low potency oil. In the worst case, the oil won't get you high at all.
The reason I'm mentioning this is that I actually overheated mine while making it. It still works. But, it doesn't meet my potency expectations. It could have been stronger.
Let's get to cooking.
To Cook Canna Oil You Will Need:
Directions to Cook Canna Oil:
1. Grind or cut the buds finely. Be careful not to make them in a powder, or it's going to be difficult to filter them out of the oil.
2. In the slow cooker or the rice cooker heat the coconut oil on low temperature for a couple of minutes before adding marijuana to it.
3. Add your marijuana little by little to the oil, until you have added all of it. Stir while adding to make sure that all of it is covered in oil.
Note: You can add stems and leaves too if you want your canna oil to produce a calming and relaxing effect.
4. Cook on low heat for 4-6 hours, occasionally stirring.
5. Allow the canna oil to cool down before filtering it. Otherwise, you might burn your hands accidentally. You know, stoner clumsiness.
6. Put three layers of cheesecloth on the container you're going to store your canna oil in. Secure it with a rubber band.
7. Pour the oil through the cheesecloth. Wrap the marijuana leftovers in the cheesecloth and press out the excess oil. Congrats, your canna oil is officially ready!
You can store the canna oil in a room temperature for two months in a dark and cool place. Or you can extend its shelf life by storing it in a fridge.
Recommendations on Canna Oil
It's said that coconut oil is stronger than butter. But, just like butter, the effect takes around an hour to appear and is long lasting. Depending on the dosage it can last up to 12 hours. So, be careful!
Concerning the uses of canna oil, there are numerous. You can add it to your food while cooking or simply add it as a condiment that will guarantee a nice high. You can use it as a lubricant in your bedroom, and heck how excited I am about that. You can also put it in capsules for easier dosage and more enjoyable use.
Don't be afraid to experiment with the uses of your canna oil. Especially, in the kitchen.
- Posted by Zion420.com
- On June 28, 2017
- 0 Comments


text:
Your Senior Portraits are the IDEAL place to express your unique style, a point of view, or even just a place to have fun and live out a fantasy. It just takes a little dreaming and scheming to make your images stand out and look AMAZING.
After we book your session date, you can begin the creative process! Here are a few steps you can use to make this process fun and easy.
1. Conceptualize an idea: Preparation and Collaboration
Collect images and ideas-Pinterest
Pinterest is a great place to start. Start a "Mood Board" to collect your visual ideas.
If the digital route is not your style, go analog and use magazine clippings, bits of fabric, ribbon, and inspiration from life. Nature, photographs, etc! Anything can be inspiration! Collect your ideas on a corkboard or glue them to a poster board.
What is your personal style? Is it edgy, vintage or whimsical?
Kelcey Boyce
Taking photos is just one of the ways I can express my creativity and appreciation for unique beauty. I am a visual person, and I truly enjoy opening my eyes and capturing life. It is all art, and I revel in its creation. This is where I post my inspirations, ideas and overall brainstorms that fuel my creativity.
All Beauty Blackandwhite Bridal BuckBrannamanClinic BuckBrannamanHorsemanship Country Davenport Davenport Hotel Editorial Equine Portraits Family Family Portraits Fashion Ferris Floral Football Formal Fun Graduation Haley Ross Handsome Horse Horsemanship IndieBride Inspirational Jane And David Jen Jen Bell Jen Bell's Horsemanship Journey Junior Kelceyboycephotograpy Lake Love Lumberjack Makeup Model Outdoor OutdoorPortraits Paper Portrait Pretty Prom Rural Sam Senior Senior Boy SeniorGirl Senior Portraits Spokanephotographer Stying Styled Shoot Tim Tuxedo Urban Wedding Wedding Portraits Woodnymph


text:
The iPad now accounts for 1% of total global web browsing according to new figures from Net Applications NetMarketshare. The report also says that the iPad accounts for 2.1% of the total U.S. browsing traffic. Those are some impressive figures to attribute to just a single device, but they underscore the fact that mobile browsing in general has been seeing steady rises. Indeed mobile devices now account for 5% of global web browsing (meaning that the iPad accounts for 20% of global mobile web browsing!).
iOS devices in total i..e iPads, iPhones and iPod Touches account for a very healthy two thirds of all mobile browsing in the U.S. That leaves Android in second place with 31.6% and BlackBerry brings up the rear with 7%. The other platforms don't really register in the U.S. although with Windows Mobile coming up steadily and Android expanding at a breakneck pace these figures will no doubt change.


text:
Hi , i just upgrade from Qradar 7.2.8 patch 5 to patch 9 and we encounter this error
Aug 16 16:06:32 ::ffff:xxxxxxx [ecs-ec] [WinCollectConfigHandler_47] com.q1labs.sem.semsources.wincollectconfigserver.WinCollectConfigHandler: [ERROR] [NOT:0000003000][xxxxxx/- -] [-/- -]Encountered a problem in WinCollectConfigSocket Thread
currently new wincollect deployment will failed to reported back.
Answer by JonathanPechtaIBM (8228) | Aug 16, 2017 at 06:39 PM
A. What version of the WInCollect Agent is installed on the QRadar Console?
B. Is this only one agent or all agents experiencing this issue?
My guess is that your version of WinCollect is older. You should be on at least WinCollect agent version 7.2.5 or newer. When you install the WinCollect Agent SFS, there is a special protocol installed that manages connections with agents named "PROTOCOL-WinCollectConfigServer-". We previously had an issue described here (APAR IV69658) that older versions would experience that sounds very similar.
Log in to your Console and type: yum info Agent-WinCollect
You will see information that looks like this:
[root@csd32 /]# yum info Agent-WinCollect
Loaded plugins: product-id, search-disabled-repos, subscription-manager
This system is not registered to Red Hat Subscription Management. You can use
subscription-manager to register. Installed Packages
Name : AGENT-WINCOLLECT
Arch : noarch
Version : 7.2
Release : 20161123160813
Size : 9.6 M
Repo : installed
From repo : dsmrpms
Summary : AGENT WINCOLLECT Install
License : Proprietary.
Description : This program installs a WINCOLLECT AGENT plugin.
If you see information for an older version that is what is listed below, you can download a newer WinCollect SFS file and install it on your QRadar Console. If you want to verify the listening protocol, you can type:
yum info PROTOCOL-WinCollectConfigServer.
For example, WinCollect 7.2.5 RPMs installed with the SFS file:
- AGENT-WINCOLLECT-7.2-20161123160813.noarch.rpm
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectConfigServer-7.2-20161123160813.noarch.rpm
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectFileForwarder-7.2-20161123160813.noarch.rpm
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectJuniperSBR-7.2-20161123160813.noarch.rpm
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectMicrosoftDHCP-7.2-20161123160813.noarch.rpm
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectMicrosoftDNS-7.2-20161123160813.noarch.rpm
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectMicrosoftIAS-7.2-20161123160813.noarch.rpm
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectMicrosoftIIS-7.2-20161123160813.noarch.rpm
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectMicrosoftISA-7.2-20161123160813.noarch.rpm
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectMicrosoftSQL-7.2-20161123160813.noarch.rpm
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectNetAppDataONTAP-7.2-20161123160813.noarch.rpm
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectWindowsEventLog-7.2-20161123160813.noarch.rpm
For example, WinCollect 7.2.6 RPMs installed with the SFS file:
- AGENT-WINCOLLECT-7.2-20170512041055.noarch
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectNetAppDataONTAP-7.2-20170512041055.noarch
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectMicrosoftDHCP-7.2-20170512041055.noarch
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectJuniperSBR-7.2-20170512041055.noarch
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectMicrosoftSQL-7.2-20170512041055.noarch
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectMicrosoftISA-7.2-20170512041055.noarch
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectConfigServer-7.2-20170512041055.noarch
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectMicrosoftIIS-7.2-20170512041055.noarch
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectMicrosoftIAS-7.2-20170512041055.noarch
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectWindowsEventLog-7.2-20170512041055.noarch
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectMicrosoftDNS-7.2-20170512041055.noarch
- PROTOCOL-WinCollectFileForwarder-7.2-20170512041055.noarch
- DSM-WinCollect-7.2-922053.noarch
I would verify the list below and if you are still stuck, open a QRadar support software ticket for a further investigation. If you want to know what information to submit with your support ticket, see http://ibm.biz/qradarlogs.
Let us know if we can provide further information.
Answer by Fazryle (3) | Aug 18, 2017 at 06:11 AM
Hi @JonathanPechtaIBM , after the upgrade wincollect sfs . its working perfectly .
122 people are following this question.
Wincollect agent running but service is not 2 Answers
How to query WinCollect agents from QRadar command line 5 Answers
No Connection to WinCollect Configuration Server - "SERVER SIDE FINGER PRINT DIFFERS" 1 Answer
Wincollect heartbeating but not auto-updating 1 Answer
How to stop monitoring of a retired log source that must be retained? 1 Answer


text:
Up to 50% off
days out, kids eat free & more
Join from £1
Fun for all the family under one roof!
Xscape Milton Keynes
Christmas days out, weekly competitions and more!
Click here to find out
Festive Family Fun
Find The Best Indoor Skydiving in Limbury
We've rounded up the best indoor skydiving in Limbury in our quest to discover brilliant family attractions and places to visit near you. There are 2 Limbury indoor skydiving to pick from. Alternatively, why not explore some other sightseeing days out nearby, including indoor and soft play areas. Find the perfect places to go with your kids and get out on your next adventure!
All the indoor skydiving we list are rated according to the ages they are suitable for, facilities and whether they are suitable for rainy days or best when the sun is shining.
Many of the places we list are historic or educational in nature and would be suitable for class trips or as ways to keep the learning up whilst having fun over the school holidays.
Adventure Attractions in Limbury
Animals Attractions in Limbury
Sightseeing Attractions in Limbury
- Theme Parks and Funfairs in Limbury
- Museums and Art Galleries in Limbury
- Tourist Attractions in Limbury
- Landmarks in Limbury
- Castles and Palaces in Limbury
- Caves and Mines in Limbury
- Sports Stadiums in Limbury
- Tours and River Cruises in Limbury
- Stately Homes and Gardens in Limbury
- Railway and Transport Attractions in Limbury
Sports and Activities Attractions in Limbury
- Ice Skating and Rollerskating in Limbury
- Ten Pin Bowling Alleys in Limbury
- Go Karting and Driving in Limbury
- Paintballing in Limbury
- Skiing and Snowboarding in Limbury
- Horse Riding and Stables in Limbury
- Cycling in Limbury
- Crazy Golf in Limbury
- Arts and Crafts in Limbury
- Laser Tag in Limbury
- Indoor and Soft Play Areas in Limbury
- Pottery Centres and Ceramic Cafes in Limbury
- Cinemas and Theatres in Limbury
- Trampoline Parks in Limbury
- Indoor Skydiving in Limbury
- Sports Centres in Limbury


text:
Used car dealership in Calgary AB
Drive home in a like-new car, truck, van or SUV that will bring new life to your time on the road when you shop the used inventory at our Chrysler dealership near Airdrie, AB. Here at Renfrew Chrysler, we maintain an inventory of used vehicles from all makes, including used Ram trucks, pre-owned Jeep SUVs and used Dodge sedans. Test-drive a used Dodge Grand Caravan to find the pre-owned minivan you've been searching for, or get behind the wheel of a reliable used Ram 1500 truck to tackle Calgary roads with confidence. Visit Renfrew Chrysler to explore our selection of used SUVs, cars, vans and trucks, then buy the one that best fits your lifestyle.
View Our Inventory
We offer many models from quality brands such as BMW, Toyota and Land Rover here on our Calgary lot; many can also achieve as little as 9.5 L/100 km! If you're interested in getting a great vehicle for a better price, click the button above to see what we have available in our inventory!
Schedule A Test Drive
Most drivers will agree that the best part of every car buying experience is getting behind the wheel for the first time. We've made it easy to do so here at Renfrew, as you can test drive any vehicle you like with no hassle or obligation. Set aside the time that works best for you today!
Get Credit Approved
If you're dead-set on purchasing one of our vehicles and want to get a head start, head to our credit approval module now to get a great car loan set up. We'll just ask for some basic information from you (Date of Birth, Proof of Employment, etc.) and once approved we'll be in touch!
Benefits of buying a used car from Renfrew Chrysler
If you're in the market for a car to help you upgrade your daily commutes and weekend road trips alike, look no further than our Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram dealership near Red Deer, AB. From stylish sedans and durable trucks to versatile SUVs and family-focused minivans, we offer competitive market pricing on all of our pre-owned vehicles. If you're ready to experience car-shopping the way it was meant to be experienced, head to Renfrew Chrysler today to test-drive one of our used cars!
Choose from our wide selection of used cars and you're bound to find a vehicle that you love at an incredible price. With our rotating specials and used cars under $10,000 to our like-new trucks and SUVs, our dealership's inventory is second-to-none. We also offer Certified Pre-Owned cars if you desire additional peace of mind. In search of a quality vehicle of a different make? We offer many models from other quality brands that can help you tackle Alberta's challenging roads.
Stop by Renfrew Chrysler to discover our robust inventory of used cars. Searching for a durable truck to help you with job site challenges? Check out a used Dodge Ram 1500 or Dodge Ram 2500 for difficult tasks. In need of an SUV to help you get through frigid Canadian weather? Opt for the adventurous Jeep Wrangler or Dodge Durango.
We also offer a variety of used minivans -- including the Dodge Caravan -- that are perfect for your family, as well as an assortment of fuel-friendly solutions that will help you save at the pump.
The advantages of buying a used car at Renfrew Chrysler go beyond the price tag -- they also allow you to rest assured that you're receiving a vehicle that's in tip-top condition. That's because before our dealership accepts a pre-owned car for resale, our Jeep auto experts take it through a gauntlet of tests to make sure that it's perfect for you. We run our cars through a comprehensive multi-point inspection that ensures that everything from your air filters to your transmission and electronics is all working in unison. We also require that our used vehicles have a have a history report supplied by CarProof and a clean title on hand, so you know every last detail of your like-new car's history before you drive home.
Receive honest and up-front pricing along with a positive dealership experience anytime you stop in at Renfrew Chrysler. Visit our dealership today to test-drive a pre-owned Chrysler or used Dodge and explore our vast inventory of used cars!


text:
Almost a quarter of our planet is a single mountain range and we didn't enter it until after Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin went to the moon. So we went to the moon, played golf up there, before we went to the largest feature on our own planet.
Robert Ballard


text:
The Yorkie-Apso is a cross between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Lhasa Apso.
The best way to determine the temperament of a mixed breed is to look up both breeds in the cross and then understand you can get any combination of the characteristics found in both breeds.
In my case, Thelma is the watch-dog and more Terrier while Louise is the baby who loves to cuddle and has more of the Lhasa Apso characteristics. Their markings are almost identical, but Thelma carries her weight in her shoulders and she is very strong, while baby Louise had a fat bottom, her hair is softer, and she has an under bite. Here are a few pictures to enjoy.


text:
Dining at Northwest Hospital
Whether you are a patient, a visitor or a member of the community, Northwest Hospital & Medical Center offers many convenient dining options on campus.
Checkers Café
Our full-service cafeteria is located on the west side of the main hospital building and features indoor and outdoor dining. The menu changes daily and offers a wide variety of choices, including soups, sandwiches, entrées, desserts and special "spotlight" dishes prepared by Northwest Hospital's chef. Vegetarian options are available. Also look for special events and dinners, as well as seasonal meals such as summer barbecues.
The cafeteria menu is posted online. To view this week's menu, click here.
Hours of service:
Breakfast: 6:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Dinner: 4:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m.
Food and beverages are also available from vending machines located near Checkers Café.
The Northwest Hospital Starbucks serves a variety of coffee, tea and bottled beverages, as well as hot and cold sandwiches, salads, pastries, packaged sweets and snacks.
Hours of operation:
Monday–Friday, 6:00 a.m.–1:30 a.m.
Saturday and Sunday, 6:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
Room Service
Patients can take advantage of the hospital's hotel-style room service program, which allows them to order from a menu in their rooms and have meals on their own schedule. The menu features a wide variety of options, including selections for patients with dietary restrictions. Check the Room Service Menu to learn more.
Trillium Café
Trillium Café, located in the Northwest Outpatient Medical Center, serves soups, sandwiches and snacks.


text:
Akron brings the smell of industry! With the many factories and warehouses, we have offered Akron electrical services to owners and property managers; and, have assisted them realize a significant reduction in their energy bill.
With today's focus on minimizing the load on the grid, many energy efficient lighting and control methods are prevalent. What is the truth behind LED's? How much can you save on your electric bill if you changed out to fluorescent lighting? How can you improve the quality of light in your facility? Most importantly, what is my time frame for return on my investment? These are all questions that we have answered for 100's of customers.
We recently saved a customer $5000 annually by switching their lighting. With the retrofit, they got more light, a cooler area for the summer, and most importantly, an ROI of 4 years 8 months! They will be pocketing $5000 a year after the fifth year; tell me that's not a good investment! Give us a call now if you have any electrical issues you need resolved; good chance there is one of AC Electric's highly trained technicians providing Akron electrical services right now!


text:
So, uh.
I've been away.
Life takes us to interesting places. I've been chewed up and spat out by a few jobs, had more of my work published, and am even on the way to developing a production company. Obviously, updating a Blogspot account would fall by the wayside, because even though I enjoyed the run, writing here didn't pay. Corners had to be cut, and this was one of them.
However …I need to come out of retirement for this.
I've championed for proper superhero media for a long time. You've seen some examples here, and perhaps even shared my articles with your fellows (thanks for that, by the way). Since then, I've seen excellent examples of how to handle the subgenre and not -in-the-same-city-as-excellent examples. It was my hope that we'd see more of the former, that future films would look more and more at cool creative decisions rather than exploding planes and passing reference to Power Pack or some shit.
See how that worked out for us.
Now, I gave the first Avengers film a firm pat on the back, even if the plot was painted-by-numbers and the whole film was designed to succeed, certain to hit the right notes with the right nerds. Fine and dandy as it all was, I was hoping for more films that experimented with the source material – films like "Iron Man 3," which warned audiences about the mandrawing the propaganda poster rather than the man on it. However, the braying and mewling of insecure geeks who didn't appreciate the deviation led to future films becoming a little safer.
This is where "Age of Ultron" left me confused and uneasy. It made deviations from the source material, to be sure, but still failed so spectacularly that I found myself liking the film less and less the more I thought about it. It got me thinking, sent my mind spiralling into directions that the story could have taken, and character decisions that would have made more sense than what we were given.
I started saying "If I Did …"
And that's where we are now.
So let's get to it. My "Age of Ultron" would still open with a raid on a major Hydra base in rural Bosnia (Sokovia must wait), but not by the Avengers – not all of them. Steve Rogers would be leading a small crack team involving him, Black Widow, and Falcon, who've been hunting around for Hydra and Bucky since "Winter Soldier." Steve and company prepare for their standoff with Baron Strucker, who has prepared the Twins (Pietro and Wanda) to intercept them. Things go wrong for Strucker, however, when the bomb collars around their necks (my Twins weren't volunteers) suddenly turn off, along with the electricity in the building. The Twins escape.
Then, the Iron Legion arrives. A private jet lands and Tony Stark's on the scene, sweeping through and rounding up Hydra. The Avengers alumni reconnect, and Sam Wilson gets a proper introduction to everyone's favourite technocrat (rubbing him up the wrong way, considering the weapons tech Stark used during Sam's Tour of Duty). They raid Hydra's facilities, finding a basement with Loki's sceptre and a Chitauri Leviathan, the latter setting off some bad memories for Tony who is still dealing with the trauma we saw him experiencing in "Iron Man 3". He has the sceptre taken away in secret.
Tony invites Steve, Natasha, and Sam over to the "Avengers Tower," formerly Stark Tower, and we get re-introduced to Clint and Thor, who have been chilling in the lounge. Bruce is up there discussing research with Helen Cho (perhaps Helen can drop a reference to her kid brother Amadeus). Tony gets everyone reacquainted and pulls Bruce and Helen aside, saying that they need to fast-track the "Ultron" project, saying that if Hydra's using Chitauri tech they need to be ready for whatever they've got planned next.
At a gala hosted in their honour, Tony is distant, as he's continuing to modify and develop the Ultron program remotely (his smartphone is linked to the computers in his lab). As the party winds down, Ultron wakes up and goes haywire (Tony loses his phone) and downloads himself into the Iron Legion drones, and sending up a handful to harass the team while he makes off, disconnecting himself from Stark's control. The team (now including Falcon) confronts Stark, who reveals that Ultron was a pet project he cooked up after the fall of the Mandarin and the Dark Elf invasion of London, a security AI similar to JARVIS that was able to detect and intercept potential threats to the human race. They all agree to track it down before it causes any more damage.
Meanwhile, Ultron (who is far more detached and cold in my version, and not a whimsical jokester at all) has gone far, landing in Europe and running into the Twins who are trying to make their way back to Sokovia. Ultron tells them that he's been running algorithms and has determined that the Avengers are a threat because they are an overpowered force well above the law that could potentially use their abilities to enslave humanity. Being young and wary of the American war machine (no, not that War Machine), they agree to help take them out, using their powers to assemble a laboratory for Ultron.
Ultron sends out a copy of his persona and a handful of Ultron drones to stage a scene in a Wakandan city. The Twins provide support, and are surprised when the Evil Americans are helping the Wakandan military and assisting in evacuating the battlefield. However, Wanda succeeds in getting in close, using her powers to awaken The Hulk. This leads to the Hulkbuster being broken out, the admittedly-pretty-cool battle across town, but also the question being raised by the others as to why Tony has a special suit of armour designed to kill someone who's supposed to be his friend. Tensions build, and Wakandan king T'Challa personally tells the Avengers to get the eff out of his country.
Steve takes control of the situation and suggests that they all go off and chill their heads. Thor attempts to contact Asgard, to no avail (Loki's blocking him out), leading him to ask Selvig and Darcy to find other means of heading home; Sam crashes in Clint's bachelor pad (my Hawkeye has no family but the dog); and Bruce and Natasha talk about their messed-up lives at a former SHIELD safe-house.
Meanwhile, Ultron is posted up in his new lab, researching the data he's collected from the Wakanda brawl and building a new body for himself. His musings about the cyclical nature of humanity strike a nerve with the Twins.
Meanwhile-meanwhile, Steve and Tony head to a Stark-owned cottage and attempt to hash out their differences – finding out the hard way that all they have are differences. This is when Nick Fury steps in and blows the lid on Tony Stark, by exposing the laboratory in the basement, alongside Helen and the sceptre, and Tony's other pet project – Vision. Tony reveals that after stealing AIM's documents, he found specs for a mechanical organism that he decided to try and build himself. Steve chides him for keeping more secrets, and Tony insists that he had good intentions. Fury stops them both, as he's just received word of two more Ultrons appearing.
The team spreads out, with Thor, Natasha, and Stark attacking the Ultron laying siege to Miami, and Sam, Steve, Clint, and Bruce taking out the Ultron in Seoul – who is being backed up, once again, by the Twins. This time, however, Steve manages to convince them to turn against Ultron (they've having doubts, anyway). Ultron takes this opportunity to initiate Phase 3 of his plan, moving his lab to the Sokovian capital.
Back at the Stark ranch, Helen cracks open the sceptre and reveals the Mind Stone, which absorbs JARVIS and then attaches itself to Vision, giving him life. Vision and Helen head to Avengers Tower, and the team formulates their plan of attack.
The gang finds Ultron abducting Sokovians and testing a new kind of nerve gas on them. Ultron declares from his lab that he plans on wiping out most of the human race in order to prevent the rise of more Avengers, but says that he should first deal with the current crop of troublemakers. This is when Ultron in his final form – a twenty-foot colossus – steps out to confront them. This new version is strong and fast, and seems to know all of their weaknesses, and how to use their strengths against each other (using Cap's shield to break Hawkeye's bow, using Thor's lightning to subdue Hulk, etc.).
This is when the new members get their chance to shine, with Falcon, Vision, Quicksilver, and Scarlet Witch using their abilities to tip the scales in their favour (War Machine and the brand-new SHIELD still show up at the end). However, in order for the team to stop Ultron, Quicksilver and Vision end up sacrificing themselves.
At the new Avengers base, Steve rounds up his new team of Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, Falcon, and War Machine, and prepares them for a mission. The others, however, are off, with Clint being offered a job at Fury's side, Bruce considering volunteering for a space program, Thor finding a new route to Asgard, and Tony agreeing to stop being so secretive around his friends shortly before pocketing the Mind Stone and contacting some new friends in congress.
The mid-credits scene involves Baron Zemo retrieving Strucker and introducing him to his cabal of "Masters," including Samuel Stern, MODOK, and The Yellow Claw.
So there you have it. And with that, I vanish into the tubes again. I might update this space again if I feel so inclined, but don't hold your breath.
Until then, see you …well, see you when I see you.


text:
April 18, 2016 – Nigerian King, Oluwo Of Iwo Changes Status To Emperor & Domain To Greater Iwo Empire
From now on, the Oluwo of Iwo, a prominent king in Osun & one of the most prominent cities that makes up the state of Osun, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi (Itelu 1) would prefer to be addressed as Emperor now. Under this new identity, his domain also has been accorded a change as it would now be referred to as "Greater Iwo Empire".
The change of status was necessitated by the fact that according to the monarch, it takes between 10 & 15 kings to make an empire and in the Iwo kingdom there are not less than 27 ancient and powerful kings. So the city and king have now attained a new status. According to him this is all about development and enjoyment of improved welfare.
The royal father is a philanthropist extraordinaire. All hail the #Emperor