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We're set up in our winter home on the Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. From our secluded site surrounded by forest, we can hear the fog horn in the nearby harbor and on quiet nights, the pounding of the surf. Our site, on a former cranberry farm, has full hookups, a laundry room, workshop, and a locked gate. We're just down the road from the picturesque town of Bandon, and 20 miles from the Oregon coast's largest city, Coos Bay.
After ten years of spending the winters in Texas and Arizona, we've come to enjoy the winter weather here. It rarely freezes or snows, daytime temperatures hover in the 50s, and while it rains, it's the price we're willing to pay for all the green forests and grass. On days when the weather gets depressing, all it takes is a trip to the beach to be energized by the crashing waves, screaming gulls, and howling wind.
As volunteers for US Fish & Wildlife we're involved in a number of projects, but our favorite activity has always been showing visitors the marine mammals at the Simpson Reef overlook near Coos Bay. With our van decorated with coastal wildlife, Swarovski spotting scopes, and spiffy uniform jackets and hats, we head out to the overlook on most good weather days.
The reef is special place; here you can usually see all four of the major Seal and Sea Lions on the North American Pacific Coast. In this picture you can see Harbor Seals (small gray ones), Northern Elephant Seals (BIG gray ones), California Sea Lions, and on the rocks in back, the light brown Steller Sea Lions.
Other frequent visitors to the area are Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and this time of year a flock or "parcel" of Black Oystercatchers.
We managed to fit in a trip to Newport and the Hatfield Marine Science Center, one of the country's leading marine laboratories. We spent an afternoon in the visitor center, filled with interesting and interactive exhibits. The displays and tanks held colorful aquatic plants and animals, but the highlight of our visit was the feeding of the Giant Pacific Octopus. Although it wasn't yet a "giant" it was entertaining. As soon as a crowd began to gather near the tank, the octopus knew it was feeding time, became excited, and moved to the front to watch. Then, as the staff member stood at the tank telling us about the octopus, first one tentacle, then another would slowly creep up the glass and up her arm to where she held the food. Without missing a beat, she would gently grab the tentacle and with the sound of suction cups popping, pull it from her arm. Eventually her talk was finished and the octopus received a large clam, which disappeared quickly into the tentacles.
We had a great Thanksgiving holiday thanks to a visit from our daughter Kim, her husband Bill, and their friends Brian and Patty. They found a waterfront VRBO (Vacation Rental by Owner) with a great view of the Cape Arago lighthouse. We took a tour of Bandon, which always includes a stop at Washed Ashore. Here volunteers make art from beach trash and their art is displayed around the world. Their work is amazing – like this whale skeleton made of white plastic bottles and cups.
On Thanksgiving Day we traveled up the road to the Three Rivers Casino and a buffet with unlimited Dungeness Crab. We kept a fair number of the casino staff running back and forth emptying our shell-filled buckets. We heard a rumor that there was also turkey and ham on the buffet, but since the crab didn't run out, we couldn't be sure. The next day Brenda and Kim created a memorable Thanksgiving dinner of smoked turkey, ham, and all the traditional sides. The food was magical – it had to be to have vanished so quickly – and the table setting that Brenda created would make Martha Stewart envious! It's hard for us to believe that we'll soon be celebrating our 13th Christmas on the road. But once again, we've hauled out the decorations and Brenda has turned the motorhome into a Christmas wonderland. We've had another remarkable year of experiences and memories. As we enter year 14 we're thankful for our health, our ability to do what we love, and for our friends. Brenda and I wish all of you a merry Christmas and a happy, healthy, and fulfilling new year.


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Choosing the best door is tough.
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What is the Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA)?
This study explores a door's life cycle and the associated replacement and maintenance costs. We will discuss the costs associated with initial investment, operation, cleaning and maintenance for the following door types: wood veneer, plastic laminate (P-LAM), hollow metal and Acrovyn® Doors.
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The goal of this study is to objectively evaluate cost savings supplied by Acrovyn Doors compared to other options in today's door industry. We explore the ways in which doors undergo routine maintenance and replacement while providing realistic cost estimates to help you choose.
Download the case study

subset: commoncrawl


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The city of Barcelona is constantly processing hordes of data from all its citizens. With sensors all over the city, the "smart city" tracks everything from movement and noise to air quality and traffic. This has sparked a thriving hidden culture full of entrepreneurs, app developers, and tech giants. But with unemployment and homelessness plaguing the city, some question whether this is what Barcelona really needs.
Barcelona is a city that is constantly moving. Its streets are continuously abuzz with the hustle of everyday life, with locals and tourists pouring out of restaurants and shops into the street; Some are enjoying their time with friends, others are reading the daily newspaper, and still others meander down the Ramblas, perusing different shops and stands.
If you ask any of these people to describe Barcelona, they would most likely refer to its thriving Spanish culture, ice cold Sangria, and tapas bars. "I'm here for the nightlife," a young American backpacker tells me, as we wander Barcelona's Gothic quarter together. Miriam Schule, a German artist, says Picasso's finest work, Gaudi's stunning architecture, and the unique Catalan-style art is what drew her to the city. "I've always heard about Barcelona's rich art scene," she says. And as I wander the streets with these two other travellers, they are constantly snapping pictures and recording the scenes we pass. I am hard-pressed to find a single individual who does not have their cellphone, tablet, or electronic device at-the-ready, for any personal use they might require. Schule pauses to search for a WiFi network to upload her photos, and a network named "Barcelona WiFi" appeared at full strength. "That's cool," she says to me as she connects to the Catalan capital's internet.
What most travellers and plugged-in citizens don't notice is that Barcelona itself is as busy as its inhabitants. As they tweet, record, post, and check-in, the city is doing the same. Amongst the throngs of people, unbeknownst to many, are sensors, cleverly placed in the busiest parts of the city. Perched high on street lights and traffic posts are sleek black boxes that appear unassuming to the untrained eye. But once you notice one, you can't help but notice the rest. Scattered around Barcelona are hidden computerized systems that regulate the city, buzzing and recording and processing hordes of data.
There are digital chips hooked up to garbage containers, small sensors underneath parking spots, motion and weight detectors for escalators and moving sidewalks, and light sensors for street lamps. This elaborate computer system, called the Internet of Things, collects data on noise, pollution, crowds, traffic, social media activity in the area, and more, and it's just a minuscule part of Barcelona's hidden tech culture.
The Internet of Things
The Internet of Things Global Standards Initiative defines the IoT as a "network of physical devices, vehicles, buildings and other items— embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity that enables these objects to collect and exchange data." It is not uncommon for cities to have IoT networks for various service systems. But Barcelona differs in that it has begun to weave together its various IoT applications, referring to it as a "network of networks," according to Data-Smart City Solutions. This integration of all information into one central system has established Barcelona as a leader on the world stage.
Sentilo, a digital platform, is the secret behind this network of networks. It acts as a mediator between the various sensors— allowing them to communicate via a single grid. "Sentilo allows the city to receive sensor data in a unified way and to share sensor data with municipal applications," says Gloria Grau, a Sentilo representative. "Barcelona is constantly receiving about 15,000 signals from more than 2,000 sensors installed in the city. It processes more than 3 million records per day." This information is then implemented by the city to improve ways of life for its citizens.
The movement towards a savvy city can be traced back to almost thirty years ago, when Barcelona installed fibre optic cable underneath the city. Then, after the 2008 recession, the government of Barcelona decided to battle the economic challenges by developing "data-driven, sensing, smart urban systems," according to Data-Smart City Solutions, a research project focused on innovative cities. Technological innovation became the new focus of Barcelona, with Mayor Xavier Trias forming a "Smart City Barcelona" team. The group implemented responsive technologies to help manage parking, street lighting, and waste management, and to improve the way of life for citizens and businesses. Smart City Barcelona eventually found 12 areas for intervention, and so began a technological overhaul of the city.
Smart City Barcelona
These small and seemingly insignificant additions to Barcelona's infrastructure have revolutionized the way it functions cohesively as a city. They expanded the fibre network to span 500 km, according to the BBC. The cables now run underneath the pavement, branching off into opposite directions and up into hollow lampposts.
This underground network provides free city-wide WiFi that can be connected to anywhere, anytime, at a decent strength. The fibre optic network has also served as a building block for the IoT system. The city has developed interactive bus stops, that display a GPS-monitored bus schedule and allows users to explore routes and times. Barcelona is also now hooked to a public parking pay app, called ApparkB, that allows residents to bypass the parking meter process and pay with a few quick taps of a screen. "It's helpful," says Barcelona resident Alba Carbo. "The changing bus schedule is nice for when I'm trying to get somewhere. I have a better idea of when a bus will come if it is running late." While she doesn't drive around the city, Carbo says she has friends that make use of the parking app. "I know it's been useful for them to find parking spaces," she says. The in-ground sensors communicate to the driver's app, and shows them which spaces are vacant. It is designed to save time and avoid drivers lapping around parking lots, in search of spot.
While these features seem more like gadgets and quick fixes, there is more functioning underneath the surface and behind the scenes. Traffic lights are wired to interact with emergency vehicles to make their route easier as they travel to incident sites. The city also utilizes sensors in irrigation systems to save money and water — instead of having an old-fashioned timer that goes off regardless of conditions, the new sensors monitor and control the output of water by collecting and analyzing data on weather, rainwater, evaporation, and drainage. Trash cans are decked out with sensors that detect how full they are, and indicate to the city's waste removal department when they will need to be emptied.
These new changes have allowed Barcelona to carve a new path in city planning and urban development, pushing its way to the forefront of innovation. Barcelona now sits as a world leader in "Smart Cities". It was voted Smartest City in the world in 2015, and was the runner-up— trailing Singapore— in 2016. The selection process is conducted by Juniper Research, and is measured by a city's use of smart grids, smart traffic management, and smart street lighting. Juniper Research wrote that Barcelona "performed consistently well across all metrics and serves as an exciting model of success from which others can learn, bolstered by strong environmentally sustainable initiatives."
Energy Conservation
Juniper Research also made a point to highlight that Barcelona's focus on environmentally positive projects is what set it apart from other leading smart cities, such as New York and London.
Barcelona has improved energy efficiency by installing 19,500 sensors to optimize energy consumption. More than 1,100 lampposts had been transition to LED, according to the Cisco. LED conserves energy, while sensors on the posts will automatically dim the lights when streets are empty. The tops of the lampposts are equipped with sensors to monitor air quality and pollution. Other sensors detect hazardous waste material. It has introduced new
transportation strategies, such as electric cars and bike sharing, while also improving its bus systems in order to make public transportation more user-friendly. Bus stations now have USB charging stations, free WiFi, GPS updates on bus location, and tools to help riders learn more about the city.
The Tech Culture & Circular Economy
Many contributors to these innovations can be traced back to 22@Barcelona or the Districte de la Innovació (Innovation District). Almost two decades ago, the city introduced a plan to repurpose the Poblenou area. It became one of Europe's biggest urban regeneration schemes. The goal was to transform this industrial neighbourhood into a technological and innovation centre.
Now, the streets of the neighbourhood are lined with high-rise buildings and modern architecture, where windowed buildings offer glances into offices and work spaces housing entrepreneurs and innovators alike. In some areas, the regrowth is still visible; old repurposed factories, vibrant with graffiti and crumbled brick, offer a stark contrast to the new, sleek, glass-walled buildings. The juxtaposition of old reworked creative spaces and new tech giant centres are an ode to the unique nature of 22@.
Local, organically-grown tech companies have found their home in 22@, serving to cultivate a culture of technological innovation. Financed with $230 million taxpayer funds, neighbourhood companies are given data from the IoT, which they use to create apps they believe could improve the city. This centre is called the Urban Lab. Nestled in the northeast corner of Poblenou near the Mediterranean coast, it is the epicentre of Barcelona's plan to foster innovation and ultimately create a circular economy.
In essence, entrepreneurs bring their ideas and initiatives, which come to fruition with 22@'s support. Barcelona then allows them to test it around the city before they market their products on a larger scale. These include Worldsensing, a company based in 22@ that developed Barcelona's in-ground parking sensor, and Fastprk, a parking application designed to make parking vehicles faster and more efficient by guiding users to an open spot. While the city does not always use these companies— Barcelona chose to use a different application, ApparkB, for its city-wide parking— Fastprk's trial run in Barcelona helped it find business elsewhere.
Urbiotica is another Barcelona-based company that creates sensor-based products for smart cities. Its most recent product, the U-Sound sensor, was recently approved for installation around Barcelona. "Cities are facing more and more problems involving noise pollution," said Marc Boher, Urbiotica's Chief Commercial Officer. "Until now, they were making measurements every three to five years to see what the situation was. But this was not enough to regulate the sound level in cities. It is still one of the number one complaints." Boher explained that Urbiotica's solution was to create a sensor that continuously monitors city's sound levels. "Here in Barcelona, these sensors are in different parts of the city where they know that they have conflicts that could be provoked by traffic, nightlife, sports events, etcetera," says Boher. This solution, designed in Barcelona for Barcelonians, is an example of a functioning circular economy.
Not All Effective
While Barcelona's plans for apps and digital services are great in theory, some of its apps are not as much of a success with the users. Bicing, an application aimed at making bicycles accessible for citizens, has only a two-star rating on Facebook, with the majority of the reviews rating it with a mere one out of five stars. The concept is simple: a subscription to the service means that users can pick up a bike at stations scattered around the city.
But what separates this from other big cities is the ability to track where available bicycles are, using a mobile app. The intended purpose is to save users the hassle of finding available bikes and racks. But it hasn't been executed in such a way.
One user, who wishes to remain anonymous, says that he has been using the service for three months now, with many issues. "The concept is very cool, unfortunately the service is not reliable," he says. "What was supposed to make me save time is actually wasting mine." The user described several instances where the app was incorrect, and there were no open or functioning spots available for him to return his bicycle. He spent up to 45 minutes trying to scope one out. "It's a gamble overtime I use it," he says. Bicing user Marta Gomez also commented on the poor customer service, little availability of bikes or spots to park, poor condition of bicycles, unfair fines, and lack of money reimbursement.
Professor Ramon Ribera Fumaz, Director of the Urban Transformation Research Program at the University of Catalonia, described three shortcomings of the smart city planning to students from a RMIT Master of media course."First, because of the smart city policies, there is not a clear understanding of the needs of the citizens," he said. "Second, they do not know how to define a citizen. And third, maybe the problems of the citizens doesn't need high tech technology." He continued, "You have this kind of top down vision of how technology should help people, without taking into account what are the real needs the city, of the citizens first." With Spain's alarming 18 per cent unemployment rate the second worse in Europe, it makes sense that Fumaz is concerned about social programs more than technology. Barcelona is also known for its soaring rate of homelessness and unstable housing. There are over 3,000 people living on the streets — which causes Fumaz to question the effectiveness of smart cities in improving life for all citizens.
"Social problems are not technological problems," he said. "The lack of food in the city, for instance, is not a technical problem." Furmaz doesn't buy into the smart city campaign. "For me, when you use the words 'Smart City', you are buying an ideological package… this is driving society or the city towards an agenda and a way of organization that I don't like," he finished.
Other professors are also wary of Barcelona's focus on a "smart city". Dr. Maarten Hajer, a professor of Urban Futures at the Universiteit Utrecht, wrote in an article in Parliament Magazine that there must be a focus on "smart urbanism" rather than "smart cities". He critiques the focus on technologies, saying that it is a top-down. The city should focus on social supports, he says, such as "reordering the housing market" and designed a "transport strategy".
What's Next?
The municipality recently released its Barcelona Digital City Plan for 2017-2020, to "drive technological sovereignty for its citizens," according to the Municipality of Barcelona website. Its goal is to involve technology with "social transformation and public innovation," says the government website. The plan is broad, and lacks specifics.
Under the "circular city" subheading, the city proposes bringing the "Maker technology invention and innovation culture closer." Similar to 22@Barcelona, the city wants to continue to expand its tech culture. This means activities, events, workshops and projects, that promote interaction between the local community and citizen initiatives. City-led initiatives are the focus here, with Barcelona looking to support its own tech start-ups and continue to build a circular economy.
The city also proposes implementing technology for women, inclusion, training and empowering teachers, although it does not identify the process behind this. It remains unclear as to whether this targets the other social divides characterizing Barcelona, such as homelessness and unemployment.
Despite the uncertainties and criticisms, somewhere in Barcelona, a street light is turning on for a citizen as they pass, a nearly-full garbage bin is being emptied, and traffic lights are responding to waves of cars. People go about their daily lives, unaware of the sensors that are collecting data every second. For now, the tech culture remains to be a hidden aspect of the city.


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Complete Story
Tech Background Checks, Bioterrorism, DME Bill, Medicare Surety Rule, E-Prescribing
March Legislative Update
Pharmacy Technician Criminal Background Checks
Although we are awaiting promulgation of rules for the new pharmacy technician law, there is one piece of the new law that will go into effect on April 8, 2009. The new law requires all qualified pharmacy technicians, who have not worked for you for more than five years, to successfully (no felony convictions) pass a criminal records check. The check must be done through a WebCheck provider and consist of both BCI criminal records check and an FBI criminal records check. The Board of Pharmacy is currently working on writing rules for this, and OPA will keep you posted on the details.
All 88 county sheriffs' offices are WebCheck (BCI & FBI) providers, even if they are not listed on the WebCheck Community Listing. If you select an agency other than a sheriff's office, make sure that it has "(BCI & FBI)" listed after the name. Contact the WebCheck (BCI & FBI) provider agency to determine the total fee(s) and the accepted method(s) of payment. Fees include: BCI/$22 plus FBI/$24, and some agencies may charge a processing fee (e.g., $5 to $40). Also, verify if any additional materials are needed (e.g., photo ID). Note, some agencies have restricted hours and may require you to schedule an appointment.
Below is a link to the Attorney General's website that will give you phone listings for WebCheck providers in all 88 counties.
How Will the New Pharmacy Technician Law Affect Your Pharmacy? The Board of Pharmacy has provided information clarifying how the new pharmacy technicians law will affect technicians you currently employ, as well as technicians you hire after the effective date of the law. For more information use the links below:
Bioterrorism and Your Pharmacy
Are you aware that your pharmacy should be alert to medication trends that may signify a bioterrorism event? HB 6, the bioterrorism bill which became effective in February of 2004, requires a pharmacy or pharmacist to report, to the Ohio Department of Health, significant changes in medication usage that may be caused by bioterrorism, epidemic, pandemic disease, infectious agents or biological toxins posing a risk of human fatality or disability. Events that the rules require reporting include the following:
(1) An unexpected increase in the number of prescriptions for antibiotics;
(2) An unexpected increase in the number of prescriptions for medication to treat fever or respiratory or gastrointestinal complaints;
(3) An unexpected increase in sales of, or the number of requests for information on, over-the-counter medication to treat fever or respiratory or gastrointestinal complaints;
(4) Any prescription for medication used to treat a disease that is relatively uncommon and may have been caused by bioterrorism.
Bill Introduced to Exempt Pharmacists from DME Accreditation
Reps. Berry (D-AR) and Moran (R-KS) have introduced H.R. 616, a federal bill which addresses the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Part B durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) accreditation requirements. Specifically, the bill would add pharmacists and pharmacies to the list of health care providers that CMS could exempt from meeting the September 30, 2009 accreditation deadline. For information on how to contact your Congressman about supporting this bill, go to the OPA Legislative Page.
Withdrawal of Medicare Surety Bond Rule Sought
The National Community Pharmacists Association, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, and the Food Marketing Institute recently wrote CMS urging withdrawal of a rule requiring $50,000 surety bonds for state-licensed pharmacy suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS).
The groups said the "recently finalized regulation creates costly, onerous requirements for community pharmacies, and jeopardizes patients' access to necessary health care products and services." The bond rule, required for each pharmacy location supplying DMEPOS, was issued to address fraud and abuse and to create a pool of funds for recovery of erroneous payments. The usual charge for a bond is about $2,000 annually.
"According to CMS, over 25,000 DMEPOS suppliers currently enrolled in the Medicare program will stop participating due, in part, to the cost of the surety bond," the groups said. "While we believe this estimate is very low, even this figure likely includes many pharmacies that would be unable to withstand the high surety bond costs, forcing many chronically ill patients to forego their doctor's recommendations."
Is Your License at Risk?
The OPA E-Prescribing Task Force is very concerned about an increasing number of pharmacists who have encountered problems with e-prescribing. These problems include: the wrong drug transmitted; sigs and drugs truncated (cut off, not complete); wrong sigs coming through; physicians using the "comments" section to put the sig they really want while leaving the prepopulated sig on the prescription; wrong strength, etc. The State Board of Pharmacy needs examples of problems, so they can get to the cause. You can mail or fax examples to: Ohio State Board of Pharmacy, 77 South High Street, Room 1702, Columbus, OH 43215-6126,
Attention: Bill Winsley, R.Ph., Executive Director,
Telephone: 614.466.4143; Fax: 614.752.4836.


text: Roy Jones Jr. was born on the 16th of January 1969 in Pensacola, Florida. Over the course of his career Roy has won world titles in the middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight divisions. He is the only boxer ever to start his career in light middleweight to go on to win a heavyweight title. Named the "Fighter of the Decade" for the 1990s, Roy won 59 of his 67 fights, including 42 by knockout.


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PyCharm Links
Tagsansible aws bdd buildout code analysis CoffeeScript coverage Cython database debugger diagram django Docker docker compose documentation editor Flask GitHub grouporder i18n Jinja2 Jython learn programming licensing Mako mercurial newsletter nose pandas plugin postgresql py.test python rc refactoring remote interpreters SQL ssh teach programming template UI Vagrant vcs vim webinar
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Tag Archives: SQL
PyCharm 2.6 goes Beta and adds diagrams for SQLAlchemy
We're probably done with new features for this release and have just published a new build which we call PyCharm 2.6 Beta. The major additions since the last EAP are the following: Diagrams support for SQLAlchemy Infer function return types … Continue reading
Posted in Early Access Preview Tagged diagram, SQL 5 Comments
PyCharm 1.5 Released! Documentation, SQL/Database, Django templates debugging and more
PyCharm 1.5 final release is now available for download. It's been an interesting version to work on. We've added a number of useful features that should make you more productive and your code better. Here are the main new features … Continue reading
Posted in Release Announcements Tagged database, debugger, django, SQL 10 Comments


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A very simple game which requires no brain. All you have to be is heartless. Play it now, play it again 5 years later, play it whenever you are down.
(Play Now!)TiltFactor, Layoff, via OffWorld.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Play Layoff, Financial Crisis Game
Posted by Unknown at 10:52
3 comments:
- DK said...
Can fall asleep play this game man. Too slow already.
I guess that is what people do when they got retrenched. Plan slow boring game.
- Wednesday, 18 March, 2009
- Unknown said...
Agreed. Only emotionless people will enjoy laying off worker.
- Wednesday, 18 March, 2009
Bejewelled is much better than the Layoff Game, but it's a clever idea at least
- Sunday, 22 March, 2009
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Our primary concern is helping you achieve your best skin, and with that in mind we are featuring a new line of medical grade skincare that will help you create a lasting change in your complexion, texture, and overall skin health.
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Today, I interrupt your seemingly non-stop stream of bookish rambling to bring you food-related rambling! Hehe. Remember back in August when I wrote and rambled my way into a boba craving, said I was going to post a simple recipe for homemade boba, and then promptly forgot about it? GUESS WHAT I FINALLY REMEMBERED
a few months later. Better late than never, right?
**HEADS UP I'm probably going to screw up and use boba and tapioca balls interchangeably throughout this post. They're the same thing, though! Its all good^^
The Ingredients
- 100 grams of tapioca starch (+ some extra for shaping)
- 80 grams of hot water (+ more water for shaping)
- 40 grams of brown sugar
- FOR BOBA DRINKS: brown sugar or honey (to flavor – as much as your heart desires) + your favorite drink
- makes roughly 2-3 servings
The Method
- Melt the brown sugar in hot water – make sure the water's boiling before you add in the sugar. I didn't have the grain-type sugars on hand when I made the ones in the pictures above, so I used brown rock sugar crystals (I think that's what it's called in English?), and that worked just fine too. Remember not to let it boil for too long with the sugar, though! As soon as the sugar melts, you're good to go.
- Add the sugar to the tapioca starch!
- Shape your mixture into little balls! Okay, this step's kind of tricky – there's a lot of boba-making recipes online that makes the shaping part super easy, like the mixture's super pliable and well-behaved. But it isn't! It looks kinda hard (it isn't), dries pretty quickly, and when it dries, it crumbles easily. So if this happens to yours? Don't worry – that's normal, and your boba should (probably hopefully most likely) come out juuuust fine. What you want to do is try to get this done as quickly as you can. There's a lot of ways to shape boba – you can lay the whole thing out flat, cut them into squares (divide in horizontal lines, then vertical) and shape the squares into little balls, or you just can grab little pieces of the mixture and shape them into balls. They also don't have to be round – you can make them any shape your heart desires! – though do bear in mind that they do get slightly larger when you cook them. It's not enough to be too troublesome, though.
- Once your tapioca balls are formed, place them in a container and sprinkle a little extra tapioca starch over them to keep them in shape, and from sticking to one another. At this point, you can either store the container in the refrigerator and go about your day, or you can cook them to eat right away!
- So you've decided to eat your boba now! Fill your pot with hot water – you want enough water so that all of the boba is completely submerged, with plenty of space at the top. I'd say the height of your water should be at least twice the height of your boba when it rests at the bottom of the pot – maybe three times the height?
- Bring the water to a boil, then add in your boba.
- Bring the water to a boil again. When your boba starts to float at the top of the water, put a lid on the pot, bring the flames to a low heat, and let it cook for 15 minutes.
- Once 15 minutes are up, turn off the stove and, without removing the lid, leave the pot as is and let the boba steam for another 15 minutes.
- You're done! You're now the proud owner of a pot of homemade boba 😀 How you eat this is now entirely up to you. I recommend mixing your boba with some sugar or honey to taste. This flavoring step you'll want to do as soon as you take the boba out of the pot, as it starts to harden once cooled. Then just add however much you want to a nice drink, add a thick straw, and you're done! As far as drinks go, I'm pretty basic, so I recommend milk tea, fruit tea (you could even be all fancy and chop up some fruit into cubes the size of your boba), or just plain fresh milk). You could also be like my brother and just dump the entire thing into a bowl and eat it as is. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Tips + Tricks
- So, turns out, shaping the boba into little spheres is actually kind of a pain in the ass because of how quickly everything dries. To make things easier, boil some extra water and set it on the side. While shaping your boba, dip your fingers into the extra warm water every once so that your boba mixture stays wet enough to mold.
- Dust your workplace with a layer of tapioca starch – the mixture dries rather quickly and requires lots of water, but too much water and the whole thing gets really sticky! Also remember to add extra tapioca starch into the container you put all your newly shaped boba into – this prevents the individual boba from sticking to each other, and from losing shape. Turns out boba's pretty temperamental^^;;;
- If you're only feeling like drinking one cup, cook a small portion of your boba, and stick the rest of it in the container in the refrigerator! I'd say this could hold for about a week at least. Remember though – once heated, you'll have to eat it – re-refrigerating the boba will cause it to lose that delicious chewiness. And that would kind of suck.


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The issue of identity theft is no longer limited to a few stray cases but has become a rampant problem, affecting millions of online users annually. Internet technology isn't the only thing that's becoming more innovative with each passing day; hackers are also coming up with new methods to steal your identity.
This has made it tougher to shield yourself against cybercrime, while the safety of your personal information hangs in the balance. It is surprising how even the most vigilant of users slip up. For example, nobody would supply their private details to a total stranger, but that is precisely what people are doing every time they sign up for a social networking site.
Dangers of Insufficient Security
Social media websites use personal details for targeted advertising to gain revenue. This is exactly the reason why registered users are encouraged to provide as much information as possible. Unfortunately, inadequate identity and privacy protection, limited government oversight, and almost zero industry incentives or standards to educate visitors on security – the combination of all three factors exposes users to identity fraud and theft. Moreover, social media platforms have lots of confidential user details, and they are at a risk from both internal and external attacks.
Hackers – Strike Hard, Strike Fast
Social media usage has increased exponentially throughout the world, and there are more opportunities than ever before to perpetrate online fraud and steal people's identities. User status updates are a way for criminals to learn about you, your family and friends, and track your movements. For example, if you mention that you're away for the weekend, you might've inadvertently set yourself up for burglary.
While some personal information, like your driver's license and your social security number, should never be shared, a lot of social media sites ask for, if not require other sensitive details that might land you in trouble later on. Some of the riskiest profile elements include your full name, your DOB, hometown, relationship status, date of birth, your pet's name, graduation dates, etc.
Phish Attack
You might be wondering how "insignificant" details like the name of your pet and the year of your high school graduation could possibly be used to commit fraud. One word – phishing! Your information is often used by phishing attempts to gain trust so that it becomes easier to access non-public details through online chats. Moreover, GPS enabled smartphones that share your location may disclose sensitive information such as your home and work address, and the places you visit. Many social media profiles contain at least one application that hasn't been reviewed and has the potential for abuse. Your personal information might be used to create a false profile and resume defamation of character or fraud.
A Way Out
Before you start canceling your social media accounts, know that there are smarter ways to deal with this problem. Be careful about what you share and who you share it with. Always choose unique passwords and usernames, and don't discuss them with third parties. Never make your details public. You should never accept invites from unknown users, and invite only those into your network that you know. Always be careful of what and where you post; it could be used against you later. However, despite your best efforts, if your personal details do get compromised, there are certain services available for identity theft protection that can help you recover from the situation.
Swearing off social media isn't really an option anymore as we all need to stay connected in this day and age. For this reason, consumers must familiarize themselves with correct social media usage as it involves the protection of their security and privacy. You should always exercise caution when it comes to how much information you share on your accounts. Gaining control over how these details are used will afford you some protection against fraud and identity theft.


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All SERVICES AND FACILITIES
Fitness Center
Our serviced apartments in Makati, Aruga by Rockwell, has a gym with the latest exercise equipment. Guests who use this facility may opt to have a personal trainer or work out alone. At Aruga's serviced apartment in Makati, travelers can continue their exercise routine even while they are away from home.
Outdoor Pool
There is an outdoor swimming pool as well as a kiddie pool for both you and your child to enjoy.
Business Center
Our Business Center is equipped with Apple MAC computer desktops, high speed internet, and the latest security software and firewalls to safeguard your data. Additional services that we offer are printing, copying, and faxing.
Aruga Café
Start your day by enjoying our breakfast buffet at the Aruga Café. The intimate setting also encourages one to entertain guests or take breaks in between meetings. The café is open daily from 6am – 10pm.
Function and Meeting Room
Be it a large gathering at Aruga, a business conference, or an intimate lunch or dinner, we have a private function room good for up to 160 persons, that cater to every need. For inquiries, you may email [email protected]
In-Room Massage
Treat yourself to a discreet sanctuary in the middle of bustling Makati. With our meticulously trained therapists, you are sure to leave feeling rejuvenated and satisfied.
Building Features
- E-lounge
- Meeting room
- Function rooms
- Fully equipped gym
- Swimming pool
- Coffee shop
- 24-hour front desk
- 24-hour security
- Business center services
- Airport transfer service


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Get set for high performance.
We've put together this set for stylists looking for high performance kit without the high performance price tag.
It features one of our exclusive Kobe Green Line scissors with offset handles for comfort and convex blades for slicing and detail work. They have a beautiful inlaid green ring around the finger-adjustable tension screw (see picture) which adds an attractive finishing touch.
Also included is a bestselling YS Park 339 cutting comb in green. These combs are a masterpiece of design and technology and give incredible performance matched only by superb durability.
To finish off there's a Riga scissor case. Made from leather and aluminium with loops for 2 scissors inside, this hard case will keep your new scissors safe between cuts.
And if that's not enough all this kit comes at a very pocket-pleasing discount to the cost of buying all 3 items separately.
The Kobe Green Performance Set is available with scissors in 2 sizes: 5 or 6 inches.
Cowboy-style, hard leatherette scissor case with 5 scissor loops and space for combs and clips too.
Can be worn on your own belt or using the webbing shoulder strap supplied with it.
Nylon-bristle block that keeps several pairs of scissors protected from accidental splashes or drops and easy to access whenever you need them.
Dimensions: 8 x 8 cm and 10.5 cm high.
Revitalise your tools with our professional services
Copyright © 2005-2020 CoolBlades.


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Although I am a control freak and have the need to plan everything, I let V choose the restaurant for our summerlicious dinner without telling me and with no surprise, she chose one I had always wanted to try.
Bosk is located on the ground floor of the Shangri-La Hotel overlooking one of the busiest streets in the Entertainment District. I've never been inside the Shangri-La before and was blown away by the decor. Now I wish I didn't turn down previous invitations to come here for a glass of wine after work!
Seated at the back of the restaurant, we had a mini window view.
I loved how the menu matched the wall decor!
Seared Albacore Tuna | rice noodle / jicama / peanut / kaffir lime dressing
Soy Glazed Pork Belly | crispy rice / sweet corn / daikon / seaweed / miso broth
Roasted Flat Iron Steak | polenta fritter / herb garlic puree / roasted carrot / red wine jus
Dark Chocolate Mousse | chocolate soil / coffee granite / condensed milk syrup
Overall, I really enjoyed my visit. The service was great, and the food was delicious! As I'm not a tuna kinda gal, the only way I'll eat tuna is if it is seared. So I enjoyed the appetizer and actually liked the rice noodles with the sprinkle of crushed peanuts (I thought it would be weird, but it was good). The pork belly as my main was very juicy and fatty, just how it should be! However, the dessert was a tad too sweet for me so I couldn't finish it, but the few bites I did have was very rich and delicious.
Although I was half-sleeping due to my jet lag from being in Asia, I really enjoyed my meal. For a fine dining restaurant in a beautiful hotel, it's no surprise that Bosk was one of the top tier restaurants on the Summerlicious list. Priced at $45 for dinner, I would say that it was worth it since a normal three-course meal for two would start around $200 on a regular night.


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Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Happy Valentines Day!
My children were very predictable for their valentines this year. My daughter is still into penguins, therefore we designed this little guy together.
My son is still a huge hockey nut and our entire city is still quite enamoured with having an NHL team. His valentines are a little more masculine but fun.
These were great to make with my kids although I wish I had started sooner than yesterday afternoon...
Have a wonderful day!
Posted by The Cropping Canuck at 8:37 AM
4 comments:
How adorable! Love their little cards. TFSReplyDelete
I bet they had sooo much fun! They are adorable. The penguins are sooo cute! Happy day!ReplyDelete
Love those adorable penguins. :)ReplyDelete
Those are just tooo darn cute!!! I don't have to ask if everyone enjoyed them; I can look at them and tell they did!!! Great job!ReplyDelete
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Tips for Buying Custom-Made Danish Furniture
It is essential that you get to understand that Custom-made Danish Furniture are a bit costlier and you have to have an adequate amount of money that will cater for that. At all times you need to purchase the right type and quality of Custom-made Danish Furniture since they transform the appearance of a house in a greater way. In order for you to purchase the right Custom-made Danish Furniture you have to make sure the store where you are making your purchase is reputable and reliable one. In order for you to buy the right Custom-made Danish Furniture you have to make sure that6 you are putting into consideration the following tips.
Get to consider looking at the quality of the material that is used. If you want to have a long lasting furniture make sure that the material used to build is high quality one. So that your satisfaction can be achieved you have to make sure that the Custom-made Danish Furniture store that you are making your purchase from builds top quality items.
As you plan to purchase Custom-made Danish Furniture you need to check the design. Always consider choosing the right design of Custom-made Danish Furniture so that it can make you feel satisfied and pleased. In this regard, you are supposed to be in touch with the designer that you are choosing so that you can be led in finding the most appropriate designs of Custom-made Danish Furniture.
In order for you to make the right selection of Custom-made Danish Furniture you need to carry out an online research. Therefore, you have to make sure that you are purchasing the right Custom-made Danish Furniture and through research, it will be easy for you to make your selection. From the internet you will get to know the right design and even the best dealer to incorporate hence making your process of selection a bit simpler.
Another tip to check is the cost. At all times you need to consider choosing the Custom-made Danish Furniture that is sold at a price that is favorable to you. Since the Custom-made Danish Furniture is expensive you have to ensure that you have enough amount of money that will make the purchase of this type of items a bit simple and faster.
It is always essential that you get to purchase the best Custom-made Danish Furniture as referred by your close friends. It is always advisable that you get to incorporate your trustworthy friends to give you referrals and more so ensure they have knowledge concerning Custom-made Danish Furniture as they will lead you. In most cases, your trustworthy and reliable friends will make sure that you re making the right purchase hence you need to consult them. As you purchase Custom-made Danish Furniture ensure that you are using the above guidelines.
What Has Changed Recently With Products?


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Wait a minute. Not that Hulk, this Hulk.
Mark Ruffalo, The Hulk in last summer's "The Avengers," just kicked off a White House petition to declare war on climate change. If you consider yourself a climate hawk, you better get over there quickly.
If you find yourself reeling from the failed attempt to commission a Death Star, this is your chance to get right back on the horse. We need twenty-five thousand signatures to force a response. Let's make it happen.
Please, click on this link and go add your name to the petition now! (Then pass this along to your friends.)
If you need a little more convincing, here's the full text of the petition.
Declare War On Climate Change. We demand President Obama and Congress accept Climate Change as an enemy of the people.
We, the people, demand the President of the United States and it's legislative body recognize Climate Change as great and Grave a threat to this nation as they would any other aggressive enemy. We demand that the President and Congress act against Climate Change as they have acted against Saddam Hus(s)ein, Bin Laden, and Hitler for that matter. We demand a National Energy Policy that quickly begins to ween us off of Carbon Based fuels and expedites the inevitable and necessary transition to Clean Energy. We demand that our leaders act on the recommendations coming from an overwhelming majority of the scientific community to halt Climate Change and save the lives of untold millions.
Created: Jan 13, 2013Issues: Climate Change


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Honeywell is moving away from the "Lyric" platform. It is now calling it "Honeywell Home". We like the change and think that it more reflects the product features and solutions in the Lyric family.
For a while, users will be able to use either app to operate their Honeywell connected product.The Honeywell Home App will go live on May 1, 2018.
Stay tuned for more information.
For a list of our Honeywell connected products, visit https://jacksonsystems.com/category/honeywell-10.html


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An Editorial Review of "Raven's Run" by John D. Trudel
A covert CIA mission gone sideways, a harrowing post-WWI transatlantic flight, and a research facility with "remote viewing" capabilities: three seemingly separate stories woven across time and locations bring us to the brink of an attack that would annihilate North America in this entertaining and suspenseful novel titled "Raven's Run."Mechanical techies will enjoy Raven's Run's detailing of weaponry and engine mechanics on airplanes and ships, in both military and private use. Trudel challenges some widely held positions on climate change, Islam, the JFK assassination, Vietnam, international incidents occurring between WWII and today.


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How's this for a modern medical miracle – two new arms from a cadaver.
A German farmer had both arms ripped off in a threshing machine.
Six years later, he's the recipient of the first ever simultaneous double arm transplant.
Pretty soon we will be able to put Humpty Dumpty together again or at least create Steve Austin, the Six Million Dollar Man.
Remember when 6 million seemed like a lot of money?


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NSF Ice Core Facility (NSF-ICF)
Technical Director
Lindsay Powers, PhD
Program Coordinator, National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program and National Capabilities
U.S. Geological Survey
Box 25046, Mail Stop 975
Denver, CO 80225
Phone: (303) 202-4828
E-mail: lpowers at usgs.gov
Geoffrey Hargreaves
National Science Foundation Ice Core Facility
Phone: (303) 202-4830
E-mail: nicl at usgs.gov
Assistant Curator
Richard Nunn
National Science Foundation Ice Core Facility
Phone: (303) 202-4830
E-mail: nicl at usgs.gov
NSF-ICF Science Management Office
Science Director
Mark Twickler
* Interested in samples? Click Here *
Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space
Universty of New Hampshire
Morse Hall, 8 College Road
Durham, NH 03824
Phone: (603) 862-1991
Fax: (603) 862-2124
E-mail: nicl.smo at unh.edu
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Antarctic Research Facilities and Special Projects
Mike Jackson, PhD
National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22230
Phone: 1-703-292-8033
Email: mejackso at nsf.gov
Location & Address
NSF-ICF is centrally located at the Denver Federal Center, just south of the intersection of Kipling and 6th Avenues in Lakewood, Colorado. The lab's proximity to major transportation corridors and to the Denver International Airport ensures timely shipping and handling of ice cores arriving and departing the facility.
Shipping and FedEx Address
National Ice Core Laboratory
U.S. Geological Survey
One Denver Federal Center
Building 810, Entrance E-11, MS 975
Denver, CO 80225-0046
Mailing Address
National Ice Core Laboratory
Box 25046, DFC
Denver, CO 80225-0046


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Cheeky Elephant Crosses Railway Track: SNAPPED IN THE WILD
A cheeky elephant crosses a railway track in Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary. The tuskless male elephant - called a Makhna - used its trunk to push up the crossing barrier, then ambled his way across the tracks before crushing the second barrier and trampling over it.
Videographer / director: Rony Chowdhary
Producer: Charley Sutton, Nick Johnson
Editor: Joshua Douglas


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Yog Nisarga, Palolem
Near Palolem Bus stop, Opp Magic Italy Restaurant, Near Palolem Beach Resort, Main Beach Road, Palolem, Goa, Goa - 403702
Yog Nisarga is one of India's finest Yoga teacher training schools. Having a positive experience in Yoga teacher training is essential—at Yog Nisarga we take your practice and teaching ability to the next level or beyond. Yog Nisarga is registered with Yoga Alliance USA CANADA which is the globally recognized body that approves and gives credibility to Yoga schools in India and around the globe.
- Yoga Teacher Training
General Info
- Both Male and Female
Payment Methods


text: Protected: second Thursday 15 March 2018 jademotherhood Hello, friend! This post has been password protected for the following reason: With a rebel yell, she cried.. Usually I will be happy to tell you the password if I have at least some inkling of who you are, or sometimes there are clues in the reason. If you have trouble, just ask. Password: Protected: second


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Another Moving Poems original. The poem is from The Poetry Storehouse, and originally appeared in B O D Y. I included Nic S.'s reading from the Storehouse in the soundtrack, mixed with a piece by an Austrian-based electronic composer who uses the handle strange day.
The dollhouse footage is mine. The rest comes from the free stock-footage site Beachfront B-Roll, whose proprietor continues to impress me with the non-generic, idiosyncratic quality of his clips. They also happen to look way more professional than mine, which is no wonder since I have crappy equipment and no training. I hope the footage I've chosen is oblique enough to avoid a feeling of redundancy.
Tara Skurtu is a poet and a lecturer in Creative Writing at Boston University. Visit her website at taraskurtu.com. She also has a YouTube channel with some videos of her readings.


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newborn films
What can be better than actually hearing and seeing the movements and sweet sounds of a new baby interacting with their family. We are offering a new way of introducing your new baby to your family and friends with film. We will come to your home during the first couple weeks after you bring baby home and film you and your family interacting with your new addition. This is a relaxed and natural shoot, and very much just capturing a moment in time of your new family. This shoot will last about an hour and other children are encouraged to participate. You will receive a custom flash drive, as well as the completed film online so you can share with family and friends. The edited film will be 2-3 minutes in length. This film would replace traditional printed baby announcements. Please contact us for pricing and to book your session.


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I'm going to stop posting or checking in here pretty soon – new site address is:
Please come and say hello!
Posted in 1, tagged Housekeeping on April 9, 2009| Leave a Comment »
I'm going to stop posting or checking in here pretty soon – new site address is:
Please come and say hello!
Posted in General Infertility Rants, tagged Housekeeping on March 22, 2009| 8 Comments »
Yeah, you thought this post was going to have something to do with quest for sprog, right? Hah. Baby-quest is no fun and leads only to disappointment, whereas website is the source of all good things and many laughs, and my blog never ever sticks needles in me. No, this post has to do with my quest for complete autonomy! I'm tired of WordPress.com telling me what I can and cannot do on my own blog! Sick and tired of restrictions on what I put up and how I choose to categorize it!
Which all boils down to the fact that I finally bought a domain name & am in the process of setting up a personal, non-hosted-by-a-blogging site website. It's still sprogblogger, and therefore, it'll still be mostly blog, but I also wanted to be able to post video & music clips (if I can ever get off my ass and just do it.) I also wanted to have a bit more creative space than this platform affords me, so I'll be making the switch officially in a few days once the site looks less like a work-in-progress and more like a working blog.
As far as babymakin' goes, there aint nothin' goin' on here. Taking my shot faithfully, but still no sign of a damned period. Which means my week off will not be so much of a help, stress-wise as I'd hoped. Things are not working out as planned? Why, no, actually. Not even on the tiniest details.
Nothing new there.
Posted in General Infertility Rants, tagged Housekeeping on January 22, 2009| 3 Comments »
For those of you who care about such things, the WP gurus fixed my header by reformatting it into a .png file. Unfortunately, in doing so, they faded the color out to the point where you can't see the top half of my giant representation of a human egg.
Much fiddling is now in order, but will have to wait til the weekend, when I shall also be able to do a bit of fussing, and perhaps, fidgeting with it.
But for now, injection and ice cream and Star Trek! See? I have my priorities straight.
Posted in General Infertility Rants, tagged Housekeeping, IVF #3 on January 22, 2009| 1 Comment »
Took my first Bravelle injection this morning, after rushing home from the clinic to do so. "You wanna start today or tomorrow?" the nurse asked.
"todaytodaytodaytodaygoodbye" was my answer.
So I did.
As remembered, having to use 6 Bravelles per injection stings more than 4, but no Lupron & no second Bravelle in the pm shot is much less sting per day, so this is already a more comfortable cycle.
Not that I give a shit at this point. If they wanted me to use razor blades to administer the stuff – rusted razor blades dipped in salt like the rim of a margarita glass – I would. Happily. Pain = progress in my sick&twisted mind.
Housekeeping note: I've got the wordpress folks trying to figure out what's up with my header. I can see it on some computers but not others, so I think it's a wordpress issue & nothing more. Will let you know what they say, & BTW is their support ever quick! I posted a question re: this on a forum & they were emailing me within a few hours. Not bad for a site that serves a few hundred thousand active bloggers!
Posted in General Infertility Rants, tagged Housekeeping on January 20, 2009| 2 Comments »
No header to be seen from my work computer, either. Not that I'd ever blog from work or anything…
Sorry, I'll deal with it tonight, & try to figure out where the image got lost.
At the moment, though? Too busy smiling like a fool and wiping tears away. Folks, we have a new president. And it feels good.
Posted in General Infertility Rants, tagged Housekeeping, limbo on January 20, 2009| 1 Comment »
I'm bored. Tired of the great big thankless (so far, at least) waiting game that is IVF. Hell, the stupid waiting game that is IF in general. This sucks and I'm tired of playing. Ok? Thanks. Yeah, you win, Fates. As fucking always.
Despite my RE's predictions, I don't seem to be gearing up for a period any sooner than I would normally. You could set a (very slow) watch by my cycle. Which is a bummer. I'd rather like to get going sooner rather than later. Don't know if you noticed, but I'm feeling a bit impatient here.
Part of which is because my first due date is coming up and I'm already getting panicky feelings in my gut. A couple of women who were super-supportive of me during my (brief) pregnancy and afterwards, as they awaited their first IVF experience, are now getting ready to go in for caesarians or inductions. (Twins) I'm supposed to go in to work on the 12th, and I probably will, because the alternative is sitting at home and wailing – ugh. But I'm really ready for that date to be over and done with. Preferably with me sitting smug with a hand on my belly feeling totally assured that this time, the medical magic worked.
I'm also feeling a bit anxious since this is the last cycle I could get pregnant on, in which I would likely deliver before my 40th birthday. I know, I know, it's just a number. But it's a big scary-ass number and I hate it. Not for any other reason, I'm not someone who dyes her gray hairs or cringes over every line in her face. But to me, turning 40 really does mean that this whole infertility thing? It's real. There's a reason I can't have a baby – it's because I'm too damned old, and who do I think I am fucking with the way things are? – the way things are for a very good reason! Remember the miscarriage? Because I have crappy old-lady eggs! Remember the ectopic? Thank deity that one miscarried too, because otherwise it'd've been a lot worse.
You know what else I'm tired of? I'm tired of feeling old and used up at 39.
I have as much energy as I ever did. I think I'll be a much better mom than I would have been 20 years ago. I'm not worried about being old when my kid is middle-aged, or whatever is in vogue for us older moms to stress over. But I'm tired of being a failure at this reproductive effort, despite my best efforts. Tired of being old. And of course, if this IVF fails, we're moving to donor eggs. Get some nice young eggs out there while mine warm the bench.
I wish I didn't have bench-warmer eggs.
On a more prosaic note, I've heard that some folks can't see the new header. If this is happening to you, you might try refreshing your screen. I think headers generally get stored in cookie-type spaces (mmmmm, cookie-spaces! I'd like mine to be chocolate chip cookie-space flavored, please!) , so if you have a computer making very efficient use of its space/time, it might not reload the header each time the blog updates unless you force the issue. I think it'll eventually show up regardless, and it's not that exciting, so you're not missing much in the meantime!
Posted in General Infertility Rants, tagged Housekeeping on January 19, 2009| 2 Comments »
the origami/header project, though I have to say that I MISS my Adobe Photoshop & may just have to spring for a new version.
Origamically speaking though: Design on the new header is a "buckyball" made from 270 Sonobe modules. 12 Pentagrams, each surrounded by 2 rows of hexagrams to form an almost spherical whole. Plus some little origami tadpoles I had lying around that got tapped to play the part of boy bits. Have I mentioned that I have a slight problem with compulsive & useless behavior?
Will it surprise anyone that the "new header" concept was merely an excuse to fold paper for way too many hours instead of thinking about/worrying about things I can't do a damned thing about?


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Looking for computer repair shops in Appleton, WI? Sometimes it can feel overwhelming when your computer won't work and you don't know who to turn to. Can you trust the kid down the street? Will the Geek Squad do a good job and charge a fair price? How do you know? That's why we have testimonials posted of all our happy clients 🙂 so that you know A) These guys know what they are doing. AND B) You'll be satisfied with the job you paid for.
Fixing a computer can sometimes be as simple as plugging in a loose cable. And other times it can be one computer program hidden amongst a hundred others causing the whole computer system to lockup.
Whether you need to fix a computer virus, backup your data, or get Quickbooks networked for your employees; we do that! So many business owners and just ordinary people who use our services come with a story of how "The last guy was rude." or "He didn't even fix the computer problem." or even "He came out once, did something and now I can't get him to pick up the phone." These problems vanish from your life when you hire Smart Computing to fix your computer, network, and/or general IT problems. The only thing that happens when you call us is you get a friendly "Thank you for calling Smart Computing, how may I help you?" And then guess what happens then? You get the help you need! 🙂 Mind boggling I know, but it's true it's true. I do joke, but we take your needs very seriously and will leave you glad you found us. We go beyond mere professionalism and best of all, we speak to you in english ( and not in geek speak ).
With our free onsite analysis, you can get your computer systems looked at and get a chance to test drive us as your computer service provider before you have to pay anything. You can't go wrong there. That coupled with our computer and general IT expertise has landed us many loyal clients who know they will be treated well and with urgency when they need help with their PC, server, network, virus, or whatever. If you call 920.460.0440 or email us and mention promotion number 68715, you will get an extra discount on your computer fix. Call us now, even if you just have a quick question.


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Isn't it funny that Fred Phelps from the Westboro Baptist Church died so close to the International Day of Happiness? I know I'm super happy now!
Good fucking riddance to this guy! What a hateful monster! Look at the all of the poisonous family members he created that now spew out his intolerance and hate. I hope they all die a pitiful death like he did. Even though he was excommunicated from his own church, he is to blame for all this evil they brought in the world!
This one is for you dickbag:
This is from CNN:
(CNN) — Fred Phelps — the founding pastor of a Kansas church known for its virulently anti-gay protests at public events, including military funerals — has died, the church said Thursday.
The 84-year-old died of natural causes at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, according to church spokesman Steve Drain.
Phelps founded Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, in 1955 and molded it in his fire-and-brimstone image. Many members of the small congregation are related to Phelps through blood or marriage.
In a statement Thursday, the church chided the "world-wide media" for "gleefully anticipating the death."
According to Westboro, the church has picketed more than 53,000 events, ranging from Lady Gaga concerts to funerals for slain U.S. soldiers. Typically, a dozen or so church members — including small children — will brandish signs that say "God Hates Fags" and "Thank God for Dead Soldiers."
Phelps was often called "the most hated man in America," a label he seemed to relish.
"If I had nobody mad at me," he told the Wichita Eagle in 2006, "what right would I have to claim that I was preaching the Gospel?"
Under Phelps' leadership, Westboro members have preached that every calamity, from natural disasters to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, is God's punishment for the country's acceptance of homosexuality. Phelps had advocated for gays and lesbians to be put to death.
"Fred Phelps will not be missed by the LGBT community, people with HIV/AIDS and the millions of decent people across the world who found what he and his followers do deeply hurtful and offensive," the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force said in a statement.
Phelps began his anti-gay protests in Wichita in 1991 after complaining that the city refused to stop gay activities in a public park. He rose to national notoriety in 1998, when Westboro members picketed at the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a Wyoming man who was tortured and murdered because he was gay. Phelps and his church carried signs that said Shepard was rotting in hell.
The Southern Poverty Law Center calls Westboro Baptist Church "arguably the most obnoxious and rabid hate group in America."
In 2011, the Supreme Court upheld Westboro's right to picket military funerals on free speech grounds. Congress and several states, though, have passed laws aimed at keeping church members at a distance from funerals.
In 2013, more than 367,000 petitioners called on the White House to legally recognize Westboro Baptist Church as a hate group. The White House called Westboro's protests "reprehensible" but said that "as a matter of practice, the federal government doesn't maintain a list of hate groups."
Anti-gay preacher once fought for civil rights
Born in Meridian, Mississippi, on November 29, 1929, Phelps had his sights set on West Point before he attended a Methodist revival. He said the sermon inspired him to enter the ministry.
"I felt the call, as they say, and it was powerful," Phelps told the Topeka Capital-Journal in 1994. "The God of glory appeared." Later, Phelps was ordained by a Southern Baptist church in Utah.
He bounced around several Christian colleges as his preaching and his theology took a hard right turn.
A Time magazine article from 1951 describes Phelps as a "craggy-faced engineering student" who harangued fellow students about the dangers of promiscuity and profanity.
Tim Miller, a professor of religious history at the University of Kansas who has studied Westboro Baptist Church, said Phelps liked to consider himself a "primitive Baptist preacher who held to the old ways."
Despite its "Baptist" name, Westboro is not affiliated with any larger church denomination. Most Christians criticize the congregation's harsh anti-gay rhetoric and penchant for pursuing the limelight at inappropriate moments.
Phelps married his wife, Marge, who survives him, in 1952. The couple moved to Topeka on May 4, 1954, the day the Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision Brown v. Board of Education, which desegregated public schools.
Phelps interpreted that as a sign and soon began a law career that centered on civil rights, winning awards for his work and praise from local leaders.
"Most blacks — that's who they went to," the Rev. Ben Scott, president of the NAACP's Topeka branch, told CNN in 2010. "I don't know if he was cheaper or if he had that stick-to-it-ness, but Fred didn't lose many back then."
Phelps was disbarred from practicing law in state courts, however, after being accused of badgering a witness and making false claims in court affidavits. The Kansas Supreme Court said that Phelps "has little regard for the ethics of his profession."
Phelps surrendered his license to practice law in federal courts in 1989, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal, after nine U.S. District Court judges filed disciplinary complaints against him.
Most of the members of Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church are members of his large family. Phelps has 13 children; 11 are attorneys. One son, Nathan, is estranged from his father and from organized religion. He is an atheist.
Nathan Phelps posted a Facebook message March 15 saying that his father had been excommunicated from the church. Later, though, Nathan Phelps said it was "unclear" whether his father had been expelled from Westboro.
A church statement issued on March 16 said that "membership issues are private" and that eight unnamed elders lead the congregation.
On Thursday, the church added, "Listen carefully; there are no power struggles in the Westboro Baptist Church, and there is no human intercessor — we serve no man, and no hierarchy, only the Lord Jesus Christ."
For years, Phelps joked about the possibility that his own funeral would draw protests. During a sermon in 2006, he said a CNN reporter once asked how he would feel if that occurred.
"I'd love it. I'd invite them," Phelps told the reporter, according to the Wichita Eagle. "I said: 'I'll put in my will to pay your way. But not first class.' "
But Shirley Phelps-Roper, Phelps' daughter, said Westboro will not hold a funeral.
"We do not worship the dead," Phelps-Roper told CNN.
CNN's John Blake and Katherine Wojtecki contributed to this report.


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A trio of stories to start your week in the know.
First up, the Discovery Channel, tied to the International Day of Yoga, is going to air a program that seeks to demystify yoga and its spread across the world. From the Economic Times:
The hour-long-special programme titled 'The story of Yoga' aims to celebrate the first International Day of Yoga and takes viewers through a journey to rediscover the age old practice. The show would be telecast in five languages including Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu and Bangla and explores the evolution, mysticism, spiritualism and cultural ethos of yoga.
"'The Story of Yoga' is one of the most comprehensive narratives that provide an in-depth view on the evolution of yoga from an ancient practice to a lifestyle choice that's making tremendous impact on people lives around the world," says Rahul Johri, EVP and GM – South Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific.
No mention of Ashtanga and Pattabhi Jois, but there is mention of Iyengar and Sivananda. Watch for it.
Secondly, still tied to June 21 (International Yoga Day) is news of how it'll affect the railroads in India:
Indian Railways has issued orders to its over 13 lakh employees across the country to turn up at office at 9 a.m. on the International Yoga Day on June 21 and perform Yoga as all railway offices will remain open on forenoon on the day despite being a Sunday.
In a letter to all 16 zonal heads, PSUs and others, R R Prasad, executive director (Training & Manpower Planning) Railway Board has said that since it would be the first occasion for the celebration, it has been decided that lndian Railways may celebrate June 21, 2014 as the lnternational Yoga in a big way befitting the occasion and to spread awareness.
To observe the day, the railway has ordered that all offices will open on June 21 in the forenoon and officials may be directed to report at 9 a.m. and even there will be prize distribution to best practitioners of yoga.
And finally, folks are worried that as meditation spreads (in part, I suspect, under the whole mindfulness trend), it will lose its religious roots — like yoga has (according to them, at least). From the Washington Post:
Yet in gyms, businesses and public schools in every direction from the museum — which sits on busy Georgia Avenue — meditation is often presented as something akin to mental weight-lifting: a secular practice that keeps your brain and emotions in shape. Gyms list it alongside Zumba classes, and public schools say it can help students chill out before tests by calming the mind and training it to look upon disruptive thoughts from a non-judgmental distance.
This rough juxtaposition between the religious and secular versions of meditation epitomizes a key debate about the ancient practice as it explodes in the United States: What is the purpose of meditation? And who decides?
To Mahraj and her community, called the Brahma Kumaris, promoting the religious component is part of the purpose of the Silver Spring center, which is more about spiritual advocacy than a museum in the classic sense.
It does sound familiar.
Posted by Steve


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Voodoo Circle are the stunning hard rock band from guitarist Alex Beyrodt (Silent Force). The band are just about to release their fantastic second album 'Broken Heart Syndrome' on AFM Records and we caught up with the bands mainman to discuss the making of the new release, his gear preferences and the outlook on Silent Force.
Alex, many thanks for speaking to us again.The second Voodoo Circle album 'Broken Heart Syndrome' is about to see release. We gave it a glowing recommendation, how has it been going down elsewhere?
So far I received almost only very good reviews. Only one or two silly ones…with comments like "the band tries to impress with Spanish guitars and ZZ Top riffs"….I will never understand some of those Internet mags and self proclaimed "Journalists"…sorry! I'm even more thankful for mags like yours, were people have knowledge!
When did writing for the record commence?
Oh, I write constantly. It is hard to tell, but I probably started 2 years ago.
Do you normally write a big batch of songs and pick the best, or have little riffs and melodies you piece together when in the studio?
I usually write and record the song in my studio. I always have around 20 songs ready. In fact we could easily record another Voodoo Circle album tomorrow.
How closely do you work with the rest of the band when writing?
Well, I always compose the music, then we decide which songs have the best feel and spirit. Then David visits me and we work together on the vocal melodies. After that we have another vote, we make an A and B list……A goes on the record, B will be redone in the future.
Is most of this work done in your home studio?
The writing process is done in my studio, yes. The rest we do in different studios. It is important to me to have good rooms, especially when recording the drums.
Whereas I felt there was a more nod to Malmsteen on the debut the new album sees a lot more Blackmore, is that a fair assessment?
Absolutely, on the new album I go way way back to my roots….and I enjoy it a lot. I am a melodic player, always have been. I love to play with a lot of feeling and also to let the music breath. In fact, Yngwie and me, we have the same roots….I scalloped my Strat by myself when I was 16, so did Yngwie…..I grew up with Purple, so did he. And, I am very proud to let you know that I just got back from touring with the "Rock meets Classic" show were I played 3 weeks every night with Ian Gillan…..a Best of Purple Set. That was a real highlight.
Your guitar tones also feel a little more vintage as well, was this intentional?
I wanted to have the right sound for those songs, so ..yes…intentional.
We are loving the tones you are coaxing out of your Strats. It sounds like a very stripped down approach; can you tell us what gear you used this time around?
I used a Marshall 1987X, a Voodoo Amp, my famous GuitarSlinger Double Dealer Booster and Overdrive (www.guitarslingereffects.com) and around 5 different Strats.
Here is the complete list:
Guitars: 2001 Siggi Braun Alex Beyrodt Custom Stratocaster Vintage White, 2010 Siggi Braun Alex Beyrodt Custom Stratocaster Black, 72's Fender Stratocaster Vintage White, 60's Fender Stratocaster 3 Tone Sunburst, 60's Fender Stratocaster Sonic Blue, 57′ Gibson Les Paul Gold Top Reissue, Gibson Flying V Arctic White,
Amplification: Marshall 1987X, Marshall Plexi, Marshall Cabinet (Vintage 30's), Voodoo Amps V-Rock
Effects: GuitarSlinger Effects Double Dealer & Fireball, WEM Copycat Echo Unit, Jim Dunlop Cry Baby Wah Pedal, Jim Dunlop Uni Vibe, Boss OC3, not to forget: Rübli Rock Alex Beyrodt Custom Picks & Live Line Cables.
How were the amps mic'd up?
SM57 and a room mic
Was there one particular piece of gear that you really connected with this time round?
My 72 Strat is the main guitar on the record.
David Readmans' vocals are again superb. He sounds like he has chosen a darker tone this time around with some smokey Coverdale-isms. How did the pair of you work on the vocals, melodies, lyrics etc?
David came down to my studio at the Canary Islands and we worked for one week on the material, besides hitting the pool and the beach, drinking red wine hah…
Was there any particular vibe you were shooting for this time?
Late 70's, early 80's
Do you have any favourite tracks/performances on the new album?
I think I have never recorded a better rhythm guitar then on "Blind Man". It has a very bluesy, Hendrix-ish vibe and this is a side of me not many people know. I love Power Blues, have you heard Philip Sayce…..I love him!
I know you were looking to get out on the road with the last release, can you see that happening this time round?
Well, we have been touring for around a week after the first release. We are recently looking for a tour to hop on….as 120 other bands too.
Any videos lined up at all to promote the release?
We released a promotion clip with interviews.
What else is in store in 2011 for Voodoo Circle?
Besides interviews, touring and song writing…..not much ha-ha
Are Silent Force over? On hiatus or what? It's been ages since we've heard anything, is there likely to be any activity there down the line?
Well, DC is back in Royal Hunt, I am a constant member of Primal Fear, Voodoo Circle, plus I have my own effect pedal brand www.guitarslingereffects.com, Andre is drummer in Rage…we are all very busy. I am not saying we will never record another album but right now it has no priority….plus….let's say….there are still some internal issues which have to be resolved first.
Any final messages?
Rock' Roll isn't a rocking chair!!!
Official website


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Truckers of Husk – Physical Education EP
It was completely by accident that I stumbled upon this great EP by Welsh/British band Truckers of Husk. I was trying to find a video on YouTube when I accidentally clicked on one of the popular videos titled 'Sleeveface'. While the video was mildly amusing, it featured music by Truckers of Husk which led to me looking for the band, visiting their MySpace page and then on to Amazon UK and finally 7digital from where I bought and subsequently downloaded their recent EP, Physical Education EP, for £1.79 (€2.26).
Apparently increasingly popular in Wales and specifically Cardiff, the band plays a structured, yet extremely pleasing style of math rock with several elements of post rock thrown in, with a mellow sound that's outlined by clean guitar arpeggios, edgy drumming, slap bass and cello, occasionally complemented by stylised vocals. The results are a very pleasant and intense soundscape.
You can listen to much of their work on MySpace, although I guess €2.26 is definitely worth it for the music, especially if you enjoy instrumental math rock in general.


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The Mill at Sonning
Wed, 18 Jan 2017
LOUISE STEWART, MATTHEW MILBURN & MARTYN STANBRIDGE have all begun rehearsals for DEAD SIMPLE at The Mill At Sonning
Click HERE for more details
19 January - 11 March
Evening shows from Tues - Sat.
Saturday matinees every week.
Sunday matinees from 29 January.
Michael Harrison has it all - good looks, charm, a successful career and to top it all he is about to marry the most beautiful girl in the world.
But when Michael's friends decide to pull the ultimate wedding prank, the groom-to-be finds himself buried alive in remote woodlands with absolutely no way of getting out.
But the joke backfires. The friends are involved in a car crash. Who is going to release Michael? No-one knows he is there! Detective Superintendent Roy Grace investigates Michael's disappearance. The mystery deepens as the Detective unravels a tangled web of deceit. Grace begins to fear that Michael's chances of survival are slim. And getting slimmer and slimmer with each passing moment…
Following on the success of THE PERFECT MURDER, The Mill is delighted to produce another edge-of-the-seat thriller by bestselling UK crime author Peter James.
Certain to jangle the nerves, DEAD SIMPLE is nail-biting drama from beginning to end. Book your tickets today...if you dare!


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Mayor Catherine Pugh Raids: 4 PM WJZ Coverage
Mayor Catherine Pugh Raids: 4 PM WJZ Coverage
Sponsored By
Program: Eyewitness News EveningCategories: News, Local News, WJZTV
Latest Videos
Maryland Church Holds Drive-Thru Memorial Day CookoutDue to restrictions on gatherings this Memorial Day because of the coronavirus, an Owings Mills church hosted a drive-thru cookout.
Baltimore Police Ask For Public's Help After Violent WeekendEight people were killed in a series of shootings across the city, bringing the number of homicides in the city this year to 118.
Trump Visits Baltimore On Memorial Day Despite Mayor's OppositionDespite pleas from Baltimore Mayor Jack Young to stay home, President Donald Trump was at Fort McHenry on Monday for a Memorial Day ceremony.
BPD Commissioner Addresses Media After Memorial Day Weekend ViolenceBaltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison addresses the media following a number of fatal shootings in the city over Memorial Day weekend.
Ravens Quarterback Lamar Jackson Congratulates USNA Class Of 2020Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson wanted to make sure he congratulated the Class of 2020 for all of their accomplishments.o
Baltimore County Offering COVID-19 Testing At All Sites Without Doctor's OrderResidents are required to call the county's COVID-19 hotline at 410-887-3816 to make an appointment where they will receive instructions. It operates seven days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
52-Year-Old Motorcyclist Killed In Crash In AnnapolisA 52-year-old motorcyclist was killed in a crash in Annapolis Saturday, police said.
Meteorologist Tim Williams Has Your Monday Afternoon ForecastMeteorologist Tim Williams Has Your Monday Afternoon Forecast
HealthWatch: Epilepsy-Related Deaths Among Young Adults Hasn't DecreasedHealthWatch: Epilepsy-Related Deaths Among Young Adults Hasn't Decreased
Coronavirus In Maryland: May 25, 2020 (Afternoon Edition)Coronavirus In Maryland: May 25, 2020 (Afternoon Edition)
People Gather Near Fort McHenry During President Trump's Memorial Day VisitThe president landed at Fort McHenry via Marine One shortly before noon.
President Trump Speaks At Memorial Day Ceremony At Fort McHenryThe president marked Memorial Day at Fort McHenry on Monday, speaking in remembrance of those who have fought for America's freedoms.
WJZ Morning News & Weather Update 5-25-2020WJZ Morning News & Weather Update 5-25-2020
Coronavirus In Maryland: May 25, 2020 (AM Edition)Coronavirus In Maryland: May 25, 2020 (AM Edition)
WJZ News For Amazon 5-25-2020WJZ News For Amazon 5-25-2020
Monday Morning Weather With Meteorologist Tim WilliamsCloudy start, but the sun burns off most by the afternoon. High's in the mid 70's.
Coffee With: Maryland Half MarathonCoffee With: Maryland Half Marathon
Baltimore Buzz: CBS Hosting Haircut Night in AmericaWhat's trending in Baltimore.
Baltimore Buzz: CBS Hosting Haircut Night in AmericaWhat's trending in Baltimore.
Meteorologist Chelsea Ingram Has Your Latest Sunday Night ForecastMeteorologist Chelsea Ingram Has Your Latest Sunday Night Forecast
Recall Expanded For Healthy Choice Over Rock ConcernsAn initial recall last month involved more than 130,000 pounds of products made by Conagra Brands, Inc. It has since been expanded to include nearly 277,000 pounds of food.
Car Caravan Protests President Trump's Planned Fort McHenry VisitPresident Trump and the First Lady are scheduled to be at Fort McHenry on Memorial Day as a way to honor the fallen men and women who died fighting for our freedoms.
Seven Killed In Baltimore Over Memorial Day WeekendSeven people were killed and four others were injured in separate shootings in Baltimore on Memorial Day weekend, police said.
Maryland State Troopers Crack Down On Speeding, Reckless Drivers On I-83The majority of the citations were for speeding, with more than half of those drivers caught going more than 85 miles per hour.


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Celebrate New Year's with #eventup!
December 28, 2012
We want to ring in the New Year with you! Celebrate 2013 with Eventup by sharing your pictures and tagging #eventup. Let us document and help you remember the start to an incredible year!
Check out our NYE Infographic and see who else has been celebrating with us:
[instapress userid="" piccount="12" size="160" tag="eventup" effect="fancybox" title="1"]


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Posted in Color, Photography Tags: back cove, baxter boulevard, blue, City, lights, Maine, night, Nikkor AF-S 24-70mm f/2.8, Nikon, ocean, other plans, photography, Portland, purple, reflection, sea, the unexpected, water, waterscape, yellow
Posted in Black and White, Color, Photography Tags: 50mm, black & white, blueberries, chalk, color, Deering Oaks, ducks, f1.8, farmers' market, flowers, green, Nikon, photography, poet, pond, Portland, produce, purple, red, sign, strawberries, summer, sun, yoga
Posted in Black and White, Exhibits, Photography, Projects, Waterfront Project Tags: black, black & white, bow, captain, Colin Archer, D70, dark, exhibit, Grebe, Maine, Nikon, ocean, photography, Portland, rebuilding, sea, show, snow, waterfront, waterfront district, white, wood
Posted in Black and White, Photography, Portrait, Senior Tags: 50mm, black, black & white, D7000, f1.8, field, Maine, Nikkor AF 50mm f1.8, Nikon, Portland, portland museum of art, senior portrait, steps, waterfront, white
Posted in Color, Photography, Portrait Tags: 45mm, 70mm, bark, bokeh, brown, cat, crab apple, crab apple tree, D70, eyes, f/4.0, f/4.5, grass, green, kitten, leaves, Lucy, Maine, maroon, Nikkor AF 35-70mm f/3.3-4.5, Nikon, nose, pink, Portland, red, tree, whiskers
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37 years Mario has jumped through hoops, bounced over mountains, trekked through deserts and crushed thousands of fungal opponents in the endless quest to keep the danger-prone princess out of the clutches of one Bowser - everyone has their calling - Mario's just happens to be damsel recovery
But a man's gotta keep things fresh right, between those hikes to the Dark World and back, he's found time to stretch his legs in football, tennis and golf, fancies himself a world-renowned racer and even has a life-sized board game for his own personal R&R time
But in those 37 years, you know what never changes?
The music
Mario appreciates those talented Nintendo composers but after 37 years of video game instrumentals, he's not sure he can take it any more - he's going mad, crazy even. His brother Luigi has enlisted the help of a very strange group of individuals to help Mario out of his rut here
Oddly enough, these strange individuals are us
The green brother has enlisted our help to produce a menagerie of levels with what we consider the best music of our colourful world to bring some variety into his stressed sibling's job
When the event ends, this levels will be compiled into a hub-centered SMBX game and sent to Mario by express mail. As per standard, it will also be downloadable on RMN, because of course it will
- This is an SMBX event, you will need to submit levels created with the SMBX engine, specifically, RMN's classic fav, the SMBX 184.108.40.206 engine (I know there's fancier and arguably better engines out there, but I'm aiming to try and keep this a simple casual event, so we'll stay tried and trusted for now)
- Your level must utilise your favourite song as it's sole and only theme, remixes and alternative versions can be used in conjunction but it must be clear that the songs are obviously related.
- Your level must have a checkpoint, 5 dragon coins and end with a SMB3 star
- Your level must not contain SMW stars or the infamously buggy duo of Unskinned Dry Bones and SMW Bowser Statues, it is possible to get textures for dry bones that avoid being buggy and SMB3 Bowser Statues work much better
- Take this from the man himself, there is nothing worse than trying to guess "Am I allowed to swim in THIS water?" Water must be swimmable and waterfalls must be decorative
- All characters must be able to clear a level unless a level is made with a specific character in mind, then you must make sure the player is definitely that character before they begin the main meat of the level
- Avoid pesky softlocks, there should be no situation where you are still alive and yet unable to progress
- Try to avoid one-block high dead end gaps, this causes SMBX's infamous zipping trick and can cause some unwanted effects
- Luigi would like to remind you that the Mario Bros. are generally a U-rated brand and while he will grant some slack, if a song is too vulgar, he will kindly request you to either find a less vulgar or censored version or in extreme cases may ask you to use a different song. if you're not sure, leave a link in the event comments and he'll let you know
- The level must have Luigi of Mushroom Kingdom's Seal of Approval. The level will be judged and feedback provided in order to make sure there is a consistent level of quality, once all feedback has been taken care of - the level will be accepted
- There will be a strict one level at a time rule, you will be allowed to make another level (presumably with your second favourite song and so on) upon the acceptance of the previous
- And finally do not begin work on your level until the event's official start date: November 10th
You must be logged in to sign up for Mario's Musical Marathon.
|Entry Status Key


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Head to Head: The Air-Fi Touch vs Revo Wireless
By Dig Om
When it comes to headphones, who wants a tangle of cables if you don't need them? And who needs buttons, when touch-sensitive headphone controls are the wave of the future? This week we're taking a look at two of my favorite pairs of Bluetooth, touch-controlled, on-ear headphones, to see how they compare.


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We value our customers and we always work towards exceeding the satisfaction of our customers. Our qualified team divert all their efforts in providing optimum satisfaction to the customers present in India as well as ac ...
Celestial Associates
No.26, Mannar Mudali 1st Street, Vadapalani, Chenn
Chennai, TN 600 026
Manufacturer · Business Service
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Singing, dancing, acting... you know... all that jazz demonstrates the excitement and amazement of musical theater. With Foster Dance Studios, learn what it's like to prepare for opening night as you transform into a Broadway character -- perhaps, you'll even be the next Phantom of the Opera. You will be taught intricate ensemble formations, possibly from your favorite musical, and practice each routine as if the show launches in a week. Let the world, or the class, witness your theatrics and become the star you were always meant to be.
Note: No street shoes are permitted in the studio.
Theater Dance
What to expect
- Open your eyes to the world of musical theater and dance ensemble
- Become a high-energy character by learning Broadway style dance
- Explore intricate ensemble formations, possibly from Tony Award Winning musicals
About this Activity
Key Highlights
|$15.00 per guest
|Duration / Session
|90 min
|# Sessions
|1 positive reviews
Cancellation Policy
There are no refunds; all sales are final.


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26328 Pennfields Drive, Orange, VA
is SOLD!
26328 Pennfields Drive is a Log Home Charmer with Low Maintenance Metal Roof is a Lake Anna Gem at $215,000! Relax or entertain on your Large Wraparound Front Porch. The interior boasts an Open Floor Plan for entertaining guests and family, a kitchen with Prep Island and pantry for added space & storage, & three Oversized Bedrooms. This home also features a Large Fenced in Back Yard, perfect for your canine family members! Tractor and Trailer Convey with the home! A deeded Boat slip located in the Private Common Area conveys as well! BRING ALL OFFERS and come see all that Lake Anna Living has to offer in this serene setting!
Click here for more information on this property: