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Despite a turbulent campaign on and off the pitch, Blackburn have hit form at the business end of the season, with the midweek victory at Millwall their third win in four games. A disastrous run of nine winless matches prior to that had plunged Rovers into a relegation battle, but three points against Palace would secure their Championship survival. Gary Bowyer's men will be determined to get a result today to avoid any final day nerves, when they face a tricky trip to Birmingham City.
Rovers have lost just once in their last eight home games – their only defeat coming in a 3-2 reverse against fellow strugglers Peterborough at the start of March. They will go in search of a third straight home win this weekend.
Star striker Jordan Rhodes has found the net in four of the last five matches at Ewood Park – but the former Huddersfield hitman has never scored against the Eagles.
Blackburn: Rovers have a number of injury worries, with Paul Robinson, Jake Kean, Adam Henley, DJ Campbell and Dickson Etuhu all ruled out for the remaining two games of the season. Colin Kazim-Richards suffered a shoulder injury in the win over Millwall and will be assessed today. David Dunn is also a major doubt after suffering a gash in the same match, while Jason Lowe (knee), Markus Olsson (hamstring) and Gael Givet (hamstring) all face late fitness tests. Martin Olsson and David Bentley remain doubtful with ankle and knee injuries respectively, while striker Leon Best serves the second game of his three-match suspension, following a stoppage time red card against Watford on Saturday.
Crystal Palace: Skipper Mile Jedinak returns to the squad after completing his two-match suspension for picking up ten yellow cards. Owen Garvan could be in contention after four months on the sidelines with a knee injury, while Jonny Williams may also return to the starting line-up following the knock that ruled him out of the draw with Leicester. Jonny Parr will miss the remaining three games of the season, while Paddy McCarthy remains out.
Referee: Philip Gibbs
Assistants: Danny Gratton and Robert Merchant
Fourth Official: Darren Bond
The clubs first met in August 1966, following Blackburn's relegation from the old Division One. After beating Palace's local neighbours Charlton three days previously, Rovers made it two straight wins with a 2-1 victory over the Eagles.
Palace won at Ewood Park for the first time in April 1969, but failed to repeat that feat until a 1-0 victory 16 years later. That was the first of three consecutive wins for the Eagles at Ewood.
Blackburn triumphed 3-1 in the first leg of the Division Two playoff final 3-1 in May 1989, but the Eagles turned the tie around by winning 3-0 at Selhurst Park to gain promotion, thanks to an Ian Wright brace and a David Madden penalty.
The teams have only clashed four times at Ewood Park as top flight opponents with Palace coming out on top on just one of those occasions, when Chris Armstrong and Simon Rodger bagged the goals in a 2-1 win in February 1993. That was one of only five away wins recorded by Palace in the entire 1992/93 campaign, as they suffered relegation in the inaugural Premier League season.
That victory was also Palace's last at Ewood Park, with Blackburn winning three and drawing two of the last five meetings on their turf.
The Eagles' last trip to Blackburn came as a Premier League club in April 2005, when Morten Gamst Pedersen fired the only goal of the game. Palace, under the stewardship of Iain Dowie, were again relegated from the top flight after a final day draw at Charlton, on what became known as 'Survival Sunday.'
HEAD TO HEAD (home and away)
|Palace wins
|Blackburn wins
|FA Cup
|League Cup
Adults £20.00
Senior Concessions 65+ years £12.00
Juniors aged 15yrs and under £5.00
(For supporters information Row 4 is lowest to the front)
Coach travel:
Depart at 8.15am
Guests £39.00
Season ticket holders/members £35.00
Will all supporters please note that Blackburn Rovers will not under any circumstances issue refunds to any visiting supporters on the day of the game. Should a visiting supporter require a refund then their ticket(s) must be returned to the CPFC ticket office the day prior to the match
Supporters purchasing a concession ticket please note that turnstile operators may challenge anyone considered not to be a genuine concession they will be asked to provide proof of age. If a supporters is unable to provide proof of age then access to the stadium will not be granted.
Away fans are housed in the Bryan Douglas Darwen End at Ewood Park, which is shared with home supporters. If you have not bought a ticket in advance, then you need to buy one from the away supporters ticket office at the ground as you can't pay on the turnstiles. The ticket office is located on the corner of the Darwen End & the Jack Walker Stand.
The refreshment areas at the stadium are opened 90 minutes before kick off and close 15 minutes into the second half. If you are looking to eat something prior to entering the ground, then there is a baker in Bolton Road selling hot pies from one of its windows.
The traditional haunt of away fans, the Fernhurst, is currently closed on matchdays. There is the Golden Cup pub which is further on past the Fernhurst heading away from the ground, on Bolton Road, tucked in by the motorway bridge. On the other side of the motorway on the same road is the Anchor Hotel, which is also used by away fans.
Don't forget that the whole 90 minutes will be LIVE on Palace Player - CLICK HERE to subscribe or to login if you are already a member of the Player service.


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Leicestershire pupils had their most successful British Schools Orienteering Championship ever with four individual winners. The races were at the Sandringham Estate on Sunday 15th November. In the three Team competitions there was first place for Leicester Grammar School in the Primary School and first place for Loughborough High School in the Small Secondary School competitions.
Winners were from Leicester Grammar School (Charlie Rennie), Twycross House (Ethan Tebbutt) and Ashleigh Howells from Loughborough High School. Elizabeth Bedwell (DVO) was a first time winner but all the other three had won the event in previous years. Charlie Rennie and Ethan Tebbutt have won both of the Autumn British Schools Championship formats.

subset: commoncrawl


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Marimekko Galleria Scarf
Description: To reflect Marimekko's commitment to supporting breast cancer awareness, Marimekko created the exclusive Galleria scarf. The oversized wool scarf features soft pink and gray stripes for a subtle yet stylish accessory that gives back. $25 from the sale of each scarf will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Marimekko Galleria Scarf $129.00 Available from October 1- December 31, 2015 Marimekko stores and us.marimekko.com $25 from each sale benefits the Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Price: $129.00 Visit the Website
SU2C 'Stand Up, Stand Out' Triple Bangle Set By Alex And Ani $78.00
Description: Available in Russian Gold and Silver, these fabulous Alex and Ani bangles are designed to focus on positive energy to adorn the body, enlighten the mind and empower the spirit. Featuring the SU2C Signature Arrow, these bracelets allow anyone who has been touched by cancer to show their support and express their love of fashion. The three expandable bracelets can be easily paired with any other piece of jewelry for a great layered look. This is a gift that gives back -- purchasing one directly funds groundbreaking scientific research that helps to advance the fight against cancer.
Price: $78.00 Visit the Website
Altruette Charms For Change: Breast Cancer Awareness Charm
Description: Trends come and go, but there's one thing everyone in the fashion world can agree on: coming together to battle breast cancer. This adorable heel charm helps Breast Cancer by 50% of the net profits from this charm go to the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer and its cause to spread Breast Cancer Awareness through fashion. Altruette is a stunning collection of necklaces, bracelets and charms that simultaneously benefit charities around the world. When creating a new charm Altruette selects a cause and works with the nonprofit to pick the perfect symbol ( a blue whale for Save the Whales, a park slide for KaBOOM.org, which builds playgrounds). Sterling Silver High Heel Charm: $75.00 Gold High Heel Charm: $95.00
Price: $75.00 to $95.00 Visit the Website
SU2C Short Logo Red Unisex ECO Tri-blend Fleece Pullover
Description: Stand Up in style with this Eco friendly SU2C fleece pullover. Made out of sustainable eco tri-blend fleece and organic cotton, this sweatshirt is great for all types of weather. Created for both men and women this pullover includes a kangaroo pocket and adjustable hood ties. This is a gift that gives back -- purchasing one directly funds groundbreaking scientific research that helps to advance the fight against cancer.
Price: $64.99 Visit the Website
BCRF Limited Edition Necklace
Description: In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, the A.T. Cares Collection: Fall 2015 Edition is now available in Ann Taylor stores and at AnnTaylor.com through December 31. The collection, which includes a charm-laden bracelet and necklace, features emblems tied to powerful symbols which each tell a story of love, hope and endurance. And, 50% of the purchase price of the limited edition jewelry collection will support the Breast Cancer Research Foundation®. For more information on the emblems, please see below. Rose- Love and Honor Rose Quartz- Healing Feather- Hope and Courage Pansy- Remembrance Swallow- Hope and Renewal Circle- Unity and Union Heart- Love in All Its Forms BCRF-An Iconic Symbol of Strength
Price: $49.50 Visit the Website
SU2C 'Cancer Doesn't Stand A Chance' Women's Slouch Top
Description: "When We All Come Together, Cancer Doesn't Stand A Chance" and now you can show your support too in this super soft, slouch top. With a loose fit and low-cut collar, this long-sleeved tee is made out of a tri-blend heather for relaxed and casual comfort. A great way to show your support for accelerated cancer research. This is a gift that gives back -- purchasing one directly funds groundbreaking scientific research that helps to advance the fight against cancer.
Price: $42.99 Visit the Website
SU2C Short Logo Totebag
Description: Hit the town with our new SU2C Short Logo tote bag. This zip tote bag features our signature Stand Up To Cancer logo on the outside and repeat pattern print on the inside. Tote bag is made with a nylon interior and canvas exterior and is perfect for the gym, beach or day out with friends. Bag measures 14" x 10" x 4.5". This is a gift that gives back -- purchasing one directly funds groundbreaking scientific research that helps to advance the fight against cancer.
Price: $41.99 Visit the Website
Fabletics Breast Cancer Awareness Capsule Collection
Description: The collection features the Fabletics Cure Reversible Bra ($34.95) and Gardenia Crop ($64.95). Fabletics is donating 100% of net proceeds from sales of the outfit to Bright Pink, a non-profit organization focused on prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer through innovative, life-saving breast and ovarian health programs for young women between the ages of 18 and 45 in the US. Fabletics joins Bright Pink in educating and inspiring women to move from awareness to action, practicing risk reduction and early detection as a part of a proactive life. It's time to empower generations of women to live healthier, happier, and longer lives.
Price: $34.95 to $100.00 Visit the Website
Stella & Dot Resilience Cuff Benefitting The Noreen Fraser Foundation
Description: Stella & Dot, a global social-selling fashion accessories brand announces the launch of the Resilience Cuff, a signature accessory co-designed by actor, Cobie Smulders, dedicated to support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. For each bracelet purchased beginning on September 10th continuing through the month of October, all net proceeds of eligible customer purchases will benefit the Noreen Fraser Foundation, a non-profit organization with a mission to raise funds for women's cancer research and awareness of the importance of early detection. The Resilience Cuff is made with hand wrapped thread accented with micro-pavé stones on a delicate vintage rose gold cuff with an arrow motif. These are malleable cuff adjusts to fit SM-LG wrists.
Price: $34.00 Visit the Website
Luca + Danni Breast Cancer Awareness Collection
Description: In support of October's Breast Cancer Awareness month, Luca + Danni has created the Breast Cancer Awareness Collection of handcrafted wire bangles and necklaces. Luca + Danni is donating 20% of the proceeds of sales nationwide to the Gloria Gemma Foundation, a RI-based foundation that stands strong in its mission to raise awareness, increase breast health education and enhance the quality of life for patients, all while generating funding for local breast health programs. Luca + Danni's charitable products are available to all retailers across the country and online at http://www.lucadanni.com/collections/breast-cancer-awareness-collection
Price: $32.00 Visit the Website
Collectable PINKTOBER Pin
Description: Hard Rock's Collectable PINKTOBER pin is guitar shaped with a fleur de lis, a pink breast cancer awareness ribbon and an inspirational message embellished with rhinestones; also comes with a second smaller pin that can be shared with friends to help spread support and awareness. Proceeds from the sale of the PINKTOBER pin benefits various breast cancer charities with 75 percent going directly to the cause. PINKTOBER merchandise can be purchased at participating Hard Rock Cafes, Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos, and online at www.hardrock.com.
Price: $12.00 Visit the Website
HipFits Collection
Description: HipFits is this year's must-have in fashion accessories! It's the new clippable accessory that gives girls the chance to get in on the hottest trend in personalizing accessories making headlines on the pages of People StyleWatch, Vogue and more. Girls can now collect their favorite fashions to match their moods, trade them and gift them to best tell their own story, day by day — all with a little charm from HipFits! These soft, fabric-covered, gel pad-filled, four-inch dress-shaped charms are tethered to colorful heart-shaped clips for easy attachment to backpacks, purses, strollers and more. Featuring more than 20 popular looks to reflect each individual's own fashion identity, each tastefully designed dress comes with a short poem that gives a personality to each HipFit that will instantly connect to any young girl's heart.
Price: $9.99 Visit the Website


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The Christian Union (CU) is a group of students at Newcastle University that work together to share the message of Jesus Christ on campus. Our faith is a huge part of our lives and we want to share that with our friends and coursemates.
We put on regular events that give people the opportunity to ask any questions about what being a Christian means and anything they want to know about God.
We firmly believe that God wants to know us each personally, and we hope – and pray – that he can work through us to reach all students on uni campus and show them how amazing he is.
We do not try to force people into becoming Christians. Rather we believe that God's love is the most important and special thing that could happen to anyone and so naturally we want to share it with everyone.
We are society at Newcastle University and are affiliated to the Student Union and UCCF (the national Christian Union organisation)
Here's a video showing a brief history of CUs:


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Surf Report: Kandooma Resort Maldives – 5-21 June
Once again I am late for the weekly report and as always I have an excuse for each day. The swell after my last report just kept on producing. The waves never once got below 4ft for 8 days straight. Most sessions were in the 6ft range and when the tide dropped the wave right at our doorstep turned into a perfect mechanical tube. The swell size and intensity was a bit much for a lot of the guest but everyone gave it a try. Some with better success then others. Riptides was a bit too big and not quite lining up but a few of the perfect wave guest had a great time at Quarters.
Quarters is a very mellow long boarders wave that gets shallower and faster on the inside section. Due to the strong SW winds we never got the chance to score tucky joes but midway through a riptide session the wind swung for just long enough for us to score 4ft and very hollow Foxy's.
Just as the swell dropped off my parents and their best friend came over to see what we do and to experience the life in which we are living while in the Maldives. Luckily for them they managed to do everything from swimming around the island, snorkeling at Turtle point, diving, sunset cruises and of course the famous Wednesday night 'Dine in the Kitchen' feast of seafood.
It was great to catch up with the family, but it sucked the energy out of us, as we were hosting them and performing our usual surf guide duties.
On the 20th June Kandooma celebrated International Surfing day with a bang, hosting its first ever Tag Teams surfing event.
It was definitely the most organized competition that I had ever taken part of. Everything was planned from the seating area in shade, music, free food, drinks, prizes, champagne showers and of course very fun offshore 2-3ft waves in warm waters. Everybody had a good time with judging scored according to surfer's skill level and surf ridding craft. Everyone was welcome to enter and we had competitors ranging from 10 year old grommets, right up to 60 year old men.
2 ten point rides were ridden. The first one of the day was Jon (The Chaos Surfboard shaper) who got one of the bigger waves of the event, a nice fast pump into the tube with a clean exit and a solid roundhouse to finish the wave.
Following this, in the next heat Samantha surfed her wave to perfection with two hang ten at the front of her longboard, a cutback and floater. This wave also happened to go the whole length of reef.
The waves since the last big swell have been between 2-4ft at riptides and slightly smaller at Kandooma. Plenty to keep everybody happy and it looks like something is brewing again for next week. www.magicseaweed.com/Kandooma-Right-Surf-Report/2964/
This morning the swell jumped back up to 4ft and as I write this at lunchtime a 6ft set just cleaned everybody up. I'll have a new blog for you next week but to be honest probably the week after.
Having fun takes priority here!


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GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. (CBS4) – Firefighters were called out Sunday after part of a building collapsed.
It happened at the Harvest Bread Company at 5910 South University Boulevard.
Part of the front of the building collapsed.
South Metro's Technical Rescue Team used equipment to secure the structure with the help of Littleton Fire Department.
Neighboring businesses were evacuated.
There were no reported injuries.


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The NBAPA's search for an executive director is taking an eternity, and the mysterious process has understandably frustrated players and their agents. Jeff Schwartz – the president of Excel Sports Management, who's NBA clientele includes Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, Deron Williams, Paul Pierce, Tyson Chandler and Kemba Walker – loudly questioned the union's tactics. Per ESPN:
As a longtime and ardent supporter of the National Basketball Players Association, I am deeply troubled by the clandestine process to date in the search for the union's next executive director.
This is a critical hire for the players, who have been impacted so negatively by the most recent collective bargaining agreement. Salaries are down leaguewide, contracts are shorter and include less guaranteed money than they once did, and free-agent movement has been curtailed significantly at a time that NBA franchises are reaching record valuations. Leadership from the union's next executive director is essential to the ability of current and future generations of NBA players to restore many of the critical benefits that were lost in the last round of negotiations. But here we are again witnessing a search marked by the sort of troubling secrecy that has been synonymous with the NBPA for years.
One of the most frequent complaints voiced by players and agents against the previous regime was the union's obsession with secretive practices and compartmentalization. The expectation moving forward was that the NBPA would start to insist on transparency in everyday business operations and in the search for its next leader. The NBPA, however, has unbelievably yielded again to opaque methods in choosing the next union leader. This approach can no longer be tolerated.
The only way to repair the damage that has already been done, in my view, is to bring an immediate stop to the current process and then start the executive-director search over from scratch with a much broader approach.
Transparency in NBPA matters is essential for the healthy functioning of the union and for restoring the confidence and trust of players, agents and the public. Aside from a short meeting at All-Star Weekend in New Orleans — which only a small percentage of players attended — information on the search process has been withheld from anyone beyond the union's nine-player executive committee and a handful of NBPA staffers. No one else has been provided information about who was considered for the position, what qualifications were sought from the candidates, and how those qualifications were valued. Aside from the executive committee, furthermore, no one else has been afforded the opportunity to meet with and/or screen any of the purported candidates.
Despite the fact that it was widely reported in the media during All-Star Weekend that there are two finalists for the position, their identities have yet to be publicly disclosed. I've also spoken personally with a number of qualified candidates who either dropped out of the search due to the cumbersome process or say they were ruled out of the search without explanation. This is far too important a decision to be made via such an uneven process.


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Home › Forums › Computer Problems › Blue Screen – Black Screen Problems › My Toshiba laptop fails on startup. › Re: Re: My Toshiba laptop fails on startup.
December 19, 2012 at 6:08 am #33428
Are all your drivers up to date?
The main culprit here seems with the video drivers. I would also recommend you to update your laptop video drivers. I am sure that this would sort out the problems with your laptop display.


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Weekend Question 1: Has Jeb Bush Gotten Enough Credit for What He Has Done as Florida's Governor?
ANSWER: He has received a lot, but it's almost impossible for him to get too much.
This BizzyBlog post in June pegged off of a Weekly Standard column by Fred Barnes that ran down Florida's impressive economic progress during Jeb Bush's eight years as governor.
But this little nugget that I found in the course of what was going to be another Ho-Hum Hiring Headline post really puts Jeb's tenure into perspective, especially compared to other states:
More than one-third of all jobs created in the United States during the past five years have been created in Florida, according to Tax Watch Center for a Competitive Florida.
Florida's population of 18,090,000 per the latest Census Bureau release (Excel file) as of July 1, 2006 means that it has barely more than 6% of the nation's population. So Florida's share of job growth has been running at a rate that is over 5 times faster than the rest of the nation (33% divided by 6%) based purely on population — and it's really more impressive than that, because the Sunshine State's relatively high retiree population means that its workforce participation rate is lower. I reviewed the past three years of Bureau of Labor Statistics data (Nov. 2003 through Oct. 2006), and Florida has added 789,300 jobs during that time, and its overall employment has grown by about 9%.
Here's a capsule reminder of Barnes' economy-related points about Jeb Bush from his column earlier this year:
- Political leadership: ….. he's changed the policy debate from how much government can do to how much it should leave to the people and the free market. "That's his greatest effect," says Robert McClure of the Bush-friendly James Madison Institute in Tallahassee.
- The economy: It's bursting at the seams. Florida is no longer totally reliant on tourism, agriculture, and the retiree industry. Under Bush, Florida has become the fourth largest high-tech state. Its bond rating has been hiked to Triple A.
- Taxes: Bush has slashed $20 billion in taxes over eight years and enjoys the heartburn this gives the media and liberals. "I do love it," he says. ….. His tax cuts are all the more shocking in a state with no income tax but with a balanced budget requirement.
- Education: Bush's education reforms have been vindicated by scholarly studies. Jay Greene and Marcus Winters of the Manhattan Institute found testing to end social promotion in Florida schools had led to "substantial academic gains for low-performing schools." ….. The percentage of African-American fourth graders reading at grade level doubled to 56 percent from 1999 to 2005.
This statement from his farewell a couple of days ago puts a fine exclamation point on what Jeb Bush has done:
"I really honestly believe we have made a difference," Bush said. "My core belief at the end of the day is that if we can just build the field of dreams, just build the fertile ground if you will that allows people, individuals and families, to pursue their own dreams there will be more prosperity, more innovation and more good things happening than any government program ever created."
"I believe that when I got here. And I believe it just as much as a leave."
Is it too late for everyone to ignore his last name and draft him?


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About Us
"Tintoria Filati Maino Pietro" was founded in 1960. Peter and his three sons: Pasqualino Bruno and Adelio led the company, initially in the dyeing cotton skein.
After the death of the owner, his children continued the business by increasing the production with the introduction of dye into the yarns and the beams, enlarging the field of finishing into technical, artificial and mixed fibers.
In the early 80s, with the third generation of Peter's grandchildren, the company has a new drive. Increasing the production thanks to wise investments in machinery, technology and qualified staff: making it more versatility in dipping and also in rapid services. Their attention to details continues to strive once again towards the dyeing of synthetic and technical fibers.
Still believing strongly in their work, in a period of textile market downturn, the company decided to invest expanding the production area: buying modern IT equipment and enlarging the laboratory which is the heart of the company for the constant research they order providing their customers with high quality, guaranteeing and certifying their production.
Professionalism, experience and love for this job have been embroidered in the work we do. "Tintoria filati Maino" wants to show how important they are in the field of yarn processing and finishing using high quality and technology instruments.
With more than 50 years of experience and a well-developed and well-established network of companies, which cooperate with us. We are able to provide cutting edge advice in chemical and textile industry.
Our future will be continuously investing in technology and training.


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The 48-year-old's side have won only once in nine Chinese Super League (CSL) games this season and languish one place off the bottom of the table.
A Hebei team containing former Barcelona star Javier Mascherano lost 3-2 at home to mid-table Henan Jianye at the weekend and had a player sent off for the fourth time in all competitions this year.
Angry fans held aloft a banner during Saturday's defeat that said in English: "Hello Mr Coleman, please go home! You're fired!!!"
Above that in Chinese it read: "Coleman, your mum wants you home for dinner."
Coleman, who took Sunderland down into England's third tier in his previous job, was appointed as a replacement for West Ham United-bound Manuel Pellegrini in June last year.
But despite guiding Hebei away from the relegation zone last year, he won only seven of his 28 games in total.
"After friendly negotiation and agreement reached between the two parties, with immediate effect, Mr Chris Coleman will no longer serve as head coach of Hebei China Fortune Football Club," the club said in a statement on the Twitter-like Weibo.
"We sincerely thank Coleman for his hard work and contribution to the team and wish him all the best in his future work and life."
Coleman's wife Charlotte, a television presenter, defended his record and said in a tweet that was later deleted: "We hoped to leave before the season started but were not allowed to, after losing players and not being allowed to sign any replacements."
Coleman was a defender for Crystal Palace, Swansea City, Blackburn Rovers and Fulham during his playing days, and later became the manager of then-Premier League side Fulham.
He spent four years in the hot seat at Craven Cottage and then had a spell with Real Sociedad in Spain.
But he enjoyed his most successful time in charge of his native Wales, taking them to a shock semi-final place at Euro 2016.
His sacking at Hebei comes as little surprise.
After a 2-0 defeat to Marouane Fellaini's Shandong Luneng earlier this month, Hebei issued an open letter to fans apologising and saying that it has been "the toughest start (to a season) in the club's history".
"We let you down and we can't make any excuses for the recent performances," said a statement.
"We have to say to you: sorry."
Hebei, who are above rock-bottom Beijing Renhe only on goal difference in the CSL, travel to seventh-placed Tianjin Teda on Sunday.


text: Advertisement SEE ALSO: College Finder Map|See, Sort All 300 Best College Values|SPECIAL REPORT: Kiplinger's College Rankings|How We Rank the Best College Values Smith College (Northampton, MA) (0) selected | Compare up to 5 View College Compare List Smith College is ranked 20 in Kiplinger's list of Best Values in Liberal Arts Colleges and is ranked 37 among all colleges. Visit College Website ACADEMIC QUALITY Applicants who took SAT 55% Applicants who took ACT 30% SAT Critical Reading Score 700+47% 600-69942% 600+89% SAT Math Score 700+36% 600-69942% 600+78% ACT Score 30-3665% 24-2929% 24+94% Students applied5,254 Students admitted1,956 Admission rate37% Students per faculty9 4-year graduation rate86% ANNUAL COSTS Tuition$49,760 Fees$284 Room and board$16,730 Estimated book expense$800 Total cost$67,574 Cost after need-based aid$25,788 Cost after non-need-based aid$51,101 Average debt at graduation$23,857 SALARY DATA Salary yardstick #$44,900 FINANCIAL AID % of aid need met100% Average need-based aid$41,786 Average non-need-based aid$16,473 STUDENT BODY Total enrollment2,514 Full-Time Men2 Women2,501 Part-Time Men0 Women11 Freshmen retained94% # - Based on the median earnings of workers who started at a particular college 10 years earlier and who received federal financial aid. The data don't consider whether the student graduated or went on to graduate school.NA - Not available SOURCES - Peterson's Databases (© 2018 Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.), U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. SEE ALSO: College Finder Map|See, Sort All 300 Best College Values|SPECIAL REPORT: Kiplinger's College Rankings|How We Rank the Best College Values


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Marcello Wants 'Big Event' Return, Welcomes 'Krazy Horse' Fight
Cristiano Marcello (left) has his sights set on a big show. | Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Cristiano Marcello is back, and he is looking to make a splash.
In 2007, the former Chute Boxe Academy representative left active competition for over two years in order set up his own gym, CM System. Returning to the ring in 2010, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt fought four times, winning three of those contests. Since he restarted his MMA career, Marcello has fought primarily for the Bitetti Combat promotion in his native country, avoiding the judges' scorecards in each of his four fights.
"I think everything is going well [since I've returned to competition]. Most of my fights haven't gone past the first round," Marcello told Sherdog.com. "[I am] showing a lot of technique and aggressiveness, which is what I think the public wants to see most."
Now the Pride Fighting Championships veteran is looking for another fight, possibly against old nemesis Charles Bennett. Marcello and "Krazy Horse" have tangled once before, though never in a sanctioned MMA contest. The pair met backstage at Pride Shockwave 2005 following a verbal dispute between Bennett and the Chute Boxe camp. The scuffle, which was famously caught on tape and posted on the Internet, ended when Bennett lost consciousness while caught in a tight triangle choke.
Though Marcello says a fight today would not be personal, he feels there is a large contingent of MMA fans who would like to see such a bout.
"I think it was simply a lack of professionalism and a lack of respect on his part that brought things to a head in the locker room [in 2005]," Marcello said. "To tell you the truth, [I am not interested in] him as an athlete [or] person, but I see this as an interesting fight for any event just based on the fact that there is a large audience that wants to see it. But for me, I think there are a lot more interesting fights with the top guys in Strikeforce or the UFC. The only reason I would fight Krazy Horse now would be to put on a good show."
Fighting for a major promotion is now one of the Brazilian's primary goals. But if the lightweight does sign with a big show, he will not be happy to simply be there. He desires gold.
"The dream of every athlete at the end of the day is to have the belt in a big event. In my life, everything I do, I do with fidelity," he said. "In Strikeforce or any other large event, my goal is to make my history within that event, put in my time and retire there."
Several of Marcello's former Chute Boxe brothers have found a home with the UFC, and the submission ace claims that he would welcome a reunion with his old teammates.
"Being in a big event is great and even more so with old friends," said Marcello. "We all have a history together, and for sure life has separated us, but it would be great to work with everyone again."
When asked what he would like to accomplish with the rest of his career, Marcello answered twice -- once as a fighter and once as a trainer. However, one quality in particular was common to both responses: excellence.
"My goal is to make my gym one of the best and to help produce some of the best athletes in the world, just like I did with my old team," he said. "And as a fighter, [I want to] get into a big event and eventually become the champion. I think I still have a lot to show as a fighter. I'm just waiting for my chance."
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(For National Poetry Month I am writing a stream-of-conscious poem per day. Each poem is a spontaneous poem single edit – could get messy! Here is Poem #16.)
barely we lie
lingering next
to tingling each
we are born this way
with skin calling
out to other skin
wanting touch
smooth caress running
curving down neck
full across chest
over ticklish belly
slowly down to where
hopeful desire waits
to be stroked
and stoked
tell me where
with your sighs
where these fingers
should go…


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Court of Inquiry to probe Sukhoi-30 mishap
| Updated: Aug 23, 2017 11:20 IST
Tezpur (Assam) [India], May 26 (ANI): A Court of Inquiry will investigate the cause of the accident of a Indian Air Force (IAF) Sukhoi-30 MKI jet that went missing with two pilots onboard four days ago. The wreckage of IAF Sukhoi-30 MKI jet has been found in thick forests around 60 kilometers from Assam's Tezpur, where it lost radar contact with the base. The wreckage was found today and ground parties are standing by to be airlifted to the crash site as the area is totally inaccessible. "Wreckage found. Close to the last known position of aircraft. As of now, the weather is bad and the place has dense foliage. A further update follows," said the IAF in an official statement. The search for flight data recorder and missing crew will be perused by ground parties after they reach the crash site. Search parties of the Army are also attempting to reach the crash site by trekking cross country. However, their progress is hampered due to inclement weather, thick vegetation and steep gradient of terrain. The jet lost contact on May 23 following which a massive search operation was launched to track the jet. However, bad weather acted as an impediment. The aircraft was on a routine training mission as part of a two aircraft formation. The aircraft was declared overdue. Search and rescue operations were launched to locate the aircraft and the pilots. The help from civil administration and military authorities was also sought to locate the aircraft. Aerial search was commenced based on the last known position of the Su-30 MKI. Incessant rain and dense clouds hampered the search operation in air and on the ground. The search parties of the IAF and the Army set out to the area where the aircraft was declared missing. (ANI)


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The Red Sox have never shied away from pushing younger players aggressively up the minor-league ladder - Lars Anderson, Jose Iglesias and Casey Kelly among the most recent and most notable.
The Red Sox have never shied away from pushing younger players
aggressively up the minor-league ladder - Lars Anderson, Jose
Iglesias and Casey Kelly among the most recent and most
When a league features mostly 21- and 22-year-olds, as the
Single-A South Atlantic League does, the Red Sox like to send their
19- and 20-year-olds there. When a league features mostly
23-year-olds, as the Single-A Carolina League does, the Red Sox
like to send their 21- and 22-year-olds there.
By the time top prospects such as Anderson, Ryan Kalish and Ryan
Lavarnway get to the International League - where the average age
is almost 27 - they're well-accustomed to the challenge of playing
against older players. As the Red Sox were signing their top draft
picks on Monday, they likely already were starting to plot
aggressive courses for those players most ready for tough
Red Sox farm director Mike Hazen has seen quite a few aggressive
promotions pay dividends this season. From first-round picks to
international free agents, the Red Sox have seen younger players
deliver breakout seasons despite being at the younger end of the
age scale at their respective levels.
"We don't push guys at random," Hazen said. "Anytime a guy moves
up a level, you hope that you had the discussions that were
relevant and important, that you made the correct decision, that
you focused on the right things."
One year ago Monday, Anthony Ranaudo was signing the paperwork
of his first professional contract. He didn't pitch at all the rest
of the summer. The elbow injury he'd suffered in the spring - the
same elbow injury that gave the Red Sox a chance to snag him in the
supplemental first round - made for a cautious approach.
The Red Sox stayed cautious with the 21-year-old righty at the
start of his first professional season, sending him to Single-A
Greenville, where he'd be among the youngest but not quite the
youngest. He compiled a 3.33 ERA and struck out 50 hitters while
walking just 16 in 46 innings pitched. He flashed the fastball and
curveball that had prompted the Red Sox to sign him for more than
$2.5 million, and he showed progress with a changeup he didn't
throw much in college.
In order to challenge Ranaudo - who became the top pitching
prospect in the organization once Casey Kelly was traded - the Red
Sox promoted him to Salem, their affiliate in the more advanced
Carolina League. Results so far have been mixed. He has a 4.86 ERA
in 12 starts in Salem, including a 6.02 ERA in his last eight
starts, and his strikeout rate has tumbled while his opponents'
batting average has climbed.
One important area of development for Ranaudo has been his
changeup, a pitch he rarely threw in college at Louisiana State.
College hitters with metal bats don't tend to treat changeups
kindly, forcing most pitchers to stick with fastballs and breaking
"Some of these college kids come in and are like, 'You want me
to throw it 10 times during a game? I may have thrown it 10 times
in a month,' " Hazen said.
But Ranaudo has bought into the program and has shown progress
with the command of what would be his third pitch. An average
changeup would complement nicely an arsenal that already includes a
94-mph fastball and an inconsistent but impressive curveball.
"I know the numbers," Hazen said. "They are what they are. But
we're not reading too much into a first full season on anybody.
People want to rush the college kids sometimes, want to put a lot
more stock in their numbers. We've still got to wait and see what
it's like the second full year."
When Ranaudo was promoted to Salem, he left behind in Greenville
one of the breakout stars of the Red Sox organization this season -
18-year-old shortstop Xander Bogaerts.
The Red Sox could have sent Bogaerts to short-season Single-A
Lowell, where he still would have played against competition a year
or two older than him. They instead decided to skip him past that
level to challenge him even further.
"In Bogaerts' case, the reason why we made the decision to push
him was he had dominated extended (spring training)," Hazen said.
"It's not the same caliber of competition as Greenville, no doubt,
but he had done so well and showed such a maturity about his game
that we felt like, 'You know what? Let's see this kid go out and
compete under the lights. Let's see what we've got with this guy.
Let's see those tools translate into those games.' "
What the Red Sox have in Bogaerts is a power-hitting infield
prospect who's well ahead of where he should be based on his age.
He's hitting just .232 with a .303 on-base percentage, but he has
hit eight doubles, two triples and 12 home runs - a .492 slugging
percentage - in just over 200 plate appearances against pitchers
three or four years older than him.
"He's still 18 at that level and going through some growing
pains here and there," Hazen said. "But we're very impressed with
what he's managed to do at this level, knowing that we've pushed
him and we were aggressive pushing him to a spot that he'll be a
little overmatched."
Sometimes aggressive promotions don't go so smoothly. When
Kalish was promoted to Double A at the start of last season, he hit
.222 in April. First baseman Miles Head was promoted from
Greenville to Salem after hitting 15 home runs before June 30, and
he hit just two home runs in the span of a month at his new
But learning to work through adversity is all part of learning
to play through the grind that is a baseball season - and it's
better to learn that at Single A, where the games don't matter as
much, than in the major leagues.
"Nobody wants to watch those guys go through that stuff," Hazen
said. "But you do have to keep in the back of your mind the
long-range vision for every player. It's going to be good for them
in the long run. It's going to be good for them to learn it here.
If they don't learn it at this level, they'll have to learn it at
the next level.
"The hardest part is to watch those guys when they have to learn
it up (in the majors) and they get sent back down. Those are the
ones - that's when the most is at stake and it's most
disappointing. Josh (Reddick) has had to figure that out here. He'd
come up, hit .100, go back, hit .100, and then figure out how to
dig out of .100."On the fast track
Here are five other players the Red Sox have pushed aggressively
this season:
�1. SS Jose Iglesias, 21, Triple-A Pawtucket
With so much hype and expectation surrounding him, it's easy to
forget how young he is. After a slow start to the season at the
plate, he hit .278 with a .333 on-base percentage in July.
�2. 2B Sean Coyle, 19, Single-A Greenville
A third-round pick out of high school a year ago, he skipped
short-season Single-A Lowell and still has hit 23 doubles and 11
home runs with an OBP of .371 in his first pro season.
�3. 3B Kolbrin Vitek, 22, Single-A Salem
After a brief stop in Greenville late last season, Vitek was
pushed to the more advanced Single-A affiliate - and while he's
held his own with the bat, he's committed 27 errors as he's made
the switch from second base.
�4. OF Brandon Jacobs, 20, Single-A Greenville
His placement hasn't been as aggressive, but his lineup spot has
been: Even as one of the youngest hitters on his team, he's hit in
the No. 3 hole more often than anywhere else - and he's hitting
.310 with a .404 on-base percentage in that spot.
�5. SP Stolmy Pimentel, 20, Double-A Portland
Sometimes an aggressive push doesn't pay off. The 21-year-old
Pimentel went 0-9 with a 9.12 ERA in 15 starts at Double-A Portland
before being sent back to Salem - where he still was young for the
league - to get his feet back under him. He has a 3.81 ERA in seven
starts since.


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Calendar Model: Ryan
Ryan is a 28yo Gemini originally from Lancaster, PA. Ryan has lived in Center City, Philadelphia for I just moved to Philly six months ago, so I am a newbie. and works as a Senior Clinical Analyst
Karen Cornell
I enjoy spending time with family and friends, reading, volunteering; I also enjoy spending time cooking.
Favorite Music:
Overall I enjoy most genres of music; I am a big fan of dance music and the top hits, Gaga, Rhianna, Beyonce, etc. I also enjoy listening to jazz while cooking or just to relax after a long day.
I love to lift and especially running out doors. I enjoy most sports, though I have to admit time does not always allot for fun.
Favorite Restaurant:
Audrey Claire
Favorite Gay Hangout:
Q Lounge
Favorite Straight Hangout:
Best part of Philly:
The big city look and feel, but the heart of a small town.
Ideal First Date:
Dinner in a quaint little restaurant following by drinks or coffee; conversation is key, I really want to get to know his style and personality.
What is Ryan looking for in a partner?
The perfect partner would be complimentary to who I am as a person. I look for their goals for their life, motivation, charm/humor, and a caring personality.
PhillyGayCalendar • Copyright © 2005-20 • Design and Concept by Steve McCann


text:
Blog Archives
Loving yourself is lonely
I am sick and tired of people telling me to learn to love myself and to be positive. It is hard enough to keep calm and carry on when shit keeps hitting the fan but to have to put a positive spin on it, smile and be grateful for whatever damn lesson it is supposed to be teaching you is a bit much.
Yes, yes, yes I hear you protest: you cannot love others or find true love unless you have learnt to love yourself. But you know loving yourself is very lonely. And most of the people who tell me this are in loving stable relationships. Which is kind of a double slap to the face. What do they know about heartbreak and rejection? Going home to be greeted by the blank four walls which do not greet you back nor wipe away your tears?
Not only do you have to suffer but you have to do it graciously; no resentment, anger, swearing, screaming, pulling of hair, smashing of plates. Just meditate, breathe in breathe out and thank God for caring about you so much to send you these precious lessons. Be still and contemplate what you can learn from all this. It will make you stronger, after all, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Whoever coined that phrase should be shot!
Ah appreciate all that you had cos now you have lost it all. But never mind, be positive, for then you can achieve anything and be anyone you want to be. Accept. This is how it is not how it should be. Live in the moment, breathe in breathe out. To be born is to suffer. All attachment bring pain.
If one more person tells me to be positive and to love myself I am going to scream at the top of my voice and I don't care if the men in white with the designer fitted jackets cart me off.


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The Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation announced a record grant of $2.35 million to the Menlo Park City School District for the 2010-2011 school year. This gift will fully fund 17 teachers, including full time elementary music, art and library specialists. More than 1,100 families, teachers, district staff and community members supported the Foundation's fundraising campaign this year.
MPAEF announces record grant of $2.35 million
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If you've followed this blog for a little while, you know my family spends summer weekends in Prince William Sound, Alaska. This is our 7th season boating -- by Alaskan standards this is green -- and there is no amount of preparedness that makes me feel totally safe on the water. Last weekend, for example, we awoke at 2 am when a 22-foot KingFisher aluminum boat dragged anchor and T-boned our bow (no harm done, unless you count their ego and our good night's sleep). Not only this, but we are lousy fishermen, spending a lot more time picking up marine debris from remote beaches than catching anywhere near what one might call a limit. Last year at anchor, the silver salmon my husband reeled in off the swim step was met with much squealing, petting and naming, until it was bonked on the head. After this, the children burst into tears and refused to speak to my husband for the rest of the afternoon, still glaring at him with red-rimmed stink eyes at dinner, all hiccup-y as they scarfed heaping plates of grilled salmon. We are nurturing these soft hearts while gently redirecting their intensity because, hey, we all like eating wild salmon and recognize the importance of understanding where one's food comes from. At the same time, it's the insistent, curious heart that saves lives of all kinds.
And while it's important to know where your food comes from, it's also damned important to know where your garbage goes, because, people, it's all connected. And in the words of my wise younger sister: "You say you're throwing something away, but there is ... no ... away."
On a trip to the Grand Canyon a few months ago, we stopped for breakfast in Flagstaff, and before we'd even finished our sit-down meal, I was complaining to the manager about the 4 plastic kiddie cups with lids and straws the staff had produced (unasked for) as well as all the other wrappers and disposables that came with our non-fast-food breakfasts. While my husband squirmed and my kids thought we were about to be escorted outside, I explained our sensitivity to garbage, how completely unnecessary this waste was (FOUR straws that no one wanted?) and how we find this exact debris on our beaches in Alaska.
This, the manager's parting comment:
"I will definitely take your thoughts into consideration. Trust me, I don't like spending money on these cups and lids either, but kids always spill. And I personally GUARANTEE this trash won't end up on your Alaskan beaches! Heh, heh." (Feel free to insert the term "Little Lady" anywhere in here, adding a pat on the head, and you'd be right on tone).
Okay. First of all, teach children how to drink out of a cup, America. Cleaning up spilled water and milk is a vital part of raising small, capable humans -- right up there with wiping ass and actually speaking to one another at the table instead of staring at your electronic devices.
Secondly, Mr. Personal-Guarantee-Arizona, you have no freaking idea how far the crap on our beaches has traveled.
While the polar regions are experiencing massive shifts directly related to climate change (ever heard of a Pizzlie? How about a Grolar? If not, you should check out that link), there are other changes afoot that are unexplained. Along with finding a modest amount of trash last weekend, we discovered more seabird carcasses than we'd ever seen before. Biologists have been tracking a huge common murre die off that started this winter, and while I'm no bird expert, I can definitely identify a dead one. We easily counted 30 on one beach outside of Surprise Cove alone. Cause of death? Unknown.
I realize no one wants to see these images. I didn't either and I still don't. And I always thought the last thing I wanted to hear on a beach was my kids yelling, "More plastic!" but now I realize hearing, "Another dead bird!" is worse.
The whole point of this blog is to wrap my head around the things that inspire me, frighten me and force the living questions to the surface, which then begin to inform my work. I'm not on a soap box here, but it's easy to dismiss issues that feel incredibly far away ... I know this because I'm guilty of it, too. But if I show the world a problem that is part of my family's life, maybe small simple things will start happening, like folks might start requesting no straws. (Yes, the restaurant wait staff will look at you like you have a horn growing out of your head, but if everyone started to learn to drink out of a cup like we used to, maybe we'd all do some other things differently as well). Living in a world that so easily disposes of things, leads to the easy disposal of culture, places, wildlife and people. And while trash doesn't go "away," animals certainly do, places are and people will.
Do I dispose of things? Yes. Do we burn diesel to get to these remote beaches? Yes. I am not without conflicts of my own. But environmental conflict has partly shaped my decision to use old cloth. To purchase used clothing. To carry a dented metal water bottle. To darn wool socks. Mend holes. Gather other people's trash. These are small things, but some of my children's personal choices of the future will be made based on what they see me do now. Other choices we all take for granted may simply disappear.
I'm not looking forward to finding a strangled seal carcass, but it might be inevitable. If I thought my children's howling over the silver salmon was bad, I can only imagine the wobbly chins and before-bed discussions that will ensue based on a meaningless death, but at least they'll have seen these creatures alive in their lifetime. They've watched whales breaching, Dall's Porpoises chasing our wake, curious seals circling our anchorages, Stellar Sea Lions hauled out on rocks, black bear pawing the water's edge. They've sat in the dinghy at the mouth of streams filled with so many jostling salmon that the boat has lifted.
They have counted and petted and named all of those silvery, slippery insistent heads. They remember places based on what they've seen, picked, eaten or found. They will go forth in the world with pockets full of stories and stories and stories.
If you are curious about our Alaskan beach excursions (not all of them this rant-y, but hopefully still thought provoking), check out the following posts:
- A history of relics.
- What we found, 2.
- What we found. (Mexican beach clean up, this one's actually pretty funny)
- The traveling eye 5: Holding
- The traveling eye 8: Fool's gold
- Some call it green.


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Listing courtesy of John L. Scott, Inc. Selling Office: Skyline Properties, Inc..
Welcome to Tambark Springs community in Bothell! The Camwest Willow EAST facing plan features 4Bd with 2.5 ba. The Open concept features a flowing hardwood throughout the main floor with an island granite tile Kitchen counter. The sliding door leads you to the fully fenced backyard for entertainments and play yard. The Northshore school district and convenient access to freeways , shopping, restaurants makes this home a unique one in the low inventory market. Don't miss out this gem!


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Happy New Year!!!
...she says on the18th, about half way through January...
So yes I'm a little late, but you know what they say: better late than never!
Our first week back was a jumble of melancholy, excitement, reviewing rules & procedures, and...HOT CHOCOLATE!
Yes, it was once again our hot chocolate week. Each morning we read Snowman Soup:
This week, we also learned about ABC order. Pocket Chart centre and Word Work 1 had kiddies practicing their knowledge of ABC order:
(from my Hot Chocolate mini-unit)
(from Cara's Back to School pack)
At Word Work 2, the kids took all of the letters from "hot chocolate" and mixed them up to see how many words they could make:
(also from my Hot Chocolate mini-unit)
Of course, at the end of the week we enjoyed describing and drinking some delicious hot chocolate with marshmallows. For a few more hot chocolatey activities you can check out the pack in more detail by clicking the pic below:
(pictures in this post do not reflect the updates)
Lastly, we have been cruising through our 2D Geometry math unit, and we had some fun creating our own symmetrical paintings:
(I was just quickly and "abstractly" throwing paint on the paper when creating my example with the kids, and they ended up totally convinced that I made an outstanding African statue! ...I totally see it, though. What a bunch of smarties!)
To make our symmetrical paintings, all we did was fold a big piece of paper in half to create a crease (we also talked lots about the concept of half throughout this unit), loaded lots of paint on to one half, and then folded and pressed both sides together to transfer the paint to the opposite side. *I say you have to load on lots of paint on since tempra paint dries quite quickly, and otherwise the paint will not transfer as effectively*
All of their symmetrical designs turned out so neat and are now hanging brightly on our hallway walls!
And that's all for now, folks! Stay tuned for our week of consonant blends, 5 Senses Frankie, and an engaging "northern style" descriptive writing activity.


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Know the dangers of allowing medical pot
Regarding the appeals court upholding the federal government's right to crack down on California medical marijuana dispensaries ("Court says feds can raid state pot shops," Jan. 16), the fact that marijuana use increases the chance of becoming psychotic is not widely known.
Researchers from the University of Bristol, Imperial College and Cambridge University examined 35 studies that tracked tens of thousands of people for periods ranging from one year to 27 years to examine the effects of marijuana use on mental health. They found that people who used marijuana had roughly a 40 percent higher chance of developing a psychotic disorder later in life. Dr. Wilson Compton, a senior scientist at the National Institute on Drug Abuse in Washington, called the study persuasive.
Furthermore, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 20 percent to 25 percent of the homeless population in the United States suffers from some form of severe mental illness, and mental illness was identified as the third-largest cause of homelessness for single adults.
If our city's next mayor hopes to reduce homelessness, it is important to understand the relationship between mental illness and the homeless and that marijuana for medicinal purposes be closely regulated.
Gloria G. Harris
La Jolla
San Diego County Mental Health Board member
Real solutions, not gimmicks for vets
Rep. Darrell Issa's proposal to end Saturday mail delivery to save the Postal Service and eliminate cuts in pensions to military retirees is misguided and infeasible.
It will do nothing to help our deserving veterans, nor fix the financial problems facing the Postal Service. Cutting essential services like Saturday delivery will only exacerbate the agency's current problems, disproportionately affecting those living in rural areas, and driving mail volume down as customers are pushed to competitor services. Instead of increasing savings, this measure would increase the Postal Service's financial woes.
As the U-T Editorial Board already pointed out ("Postal reform could save military pension," Opinion, Jan. 15), the USPS budget and the federal budget are completely separate. Therefore, any alleged savings from cutting services would just go to the Postal Service's bottom line, not provide excess funds to restore much-deserved military pensions.
The difficulties facing both veterans and the Postal Service deserve real solutions, not phantom savings that will evaporate as soon as the ink is dry.
Fixing the financial problems facing the Postal Service demands comprehensive, common-sense approaches, not short-term, piecemeal proposals that would prevent the agency from providing vital services depended on by millions of Americans.
Eva Divjak-Gaylor
San Marcos
Death-penalty case is a waste
Regarding "Two gang leaders convicted of murder, kidnapping" (Jan. 17), I wrote about the absurdity of this case months ago, and it is still continuing.
These guys were already serving life without parole and this case is for the joke of the death penalty. I wrote a letter to our court system asking for an explanation on why to continue this long and very expensive case, but, of course, got no reply.
We're not talking about cost to the taxpayers; we're talking about the death penalty, which I think works in a few other states.
All I can do is shake my head in frustration.
Allen Stanko
A vote for Todd Gloria
Regarding interim Mayor's Todd Gloria's state of the city speech last week, did San Diego miss out on the best person for the mayor's job?
Vic Heman
Gloria's and Dems' talking points
Is it me, or does Todd Gloria sound like every Democrat mayor in America. From New York to San Diego, it appears that the minimum wage and homelessness are the major issues in every Democrat-controlled city in America. How weird.
Gary Guodace
San Diego
Democrats' policies have destroyed jobs
To lower gasoline consumption, Obama's stated goal was to slowly increase gas prices from $1.90 to $4 per gallon. It worked, and consumption is way down.
By his actions, Obama clearly understands this basic economic theory of increasing prices to lower demand. This principle works 100 percent of the time.
Following, if you want less demand for employment (fewer jobs) then increase wages by increasing the minimum or by imposing mandatory increases in benefits, such as Obamacare.
Democrats, it's time you stop telling us your No. 1 goal is creating jobs. Your policies have killed jobs, and you know it.
Doug Austin
Rancho Bernardo
An argument for gun control
The NRA could not have asked for a worse example to promote their "more guns equals less crime" stance. The lives of Curtis Reeves, a gun-toting retired cop with numerous career commendations, and Chad Oulson, a hardworking finance manager and doting father, clashed inside a movie theater ("'Stand-up' guys collide in theater," Jan. 15).
Oulson was texting. Reeves, who was armed, didn't like it and asked him to stop. He also informed management of the annoyance. When Reeves returned to his seat, things went quickly downhill.
In any case one man is dead, and it's not the guy who had the gun. One upstanding citizen killed and the life of another upstanding citizen permanently altered because one carried a gun.
So if such violence can come from these two individuals of good character, what do you suppose would occur should there be more guns in the hands of more people who don't possess the same traits these two had?
It can only be imagined that more needless carnage would ensue.
Neil Proffitt
Dogs and Hippie Syndrome
A recent letter is typical and predictable of a person suffering from "Ancient Hippie Syndrome," one characteristic of which is a preference for animals over one's fellow human beings.
Particularly amusing was the writer's glittering generality that every dog he saw at the mall was a well-trained service animal, and that all those bipeds disturbed by their presence were "grumpy people." In contrast, my experience has been that most of the dogs seen snarling and yapping at each other in The Home Depot and some grocery stores are, instead, fashion accessories and icebreakers (the rarer the breed, the better.)
One hypothesis I can accept is that unruly children or dogs are usually the products of a lack of child rearing and animal training skills, and if your child or pet is a victim of such, leave them at home.
Salvatore Scafidi
San Diego
Mexican fan palm be gone
I am responding to a reader's assertion that Mexican fan palm (Washingtonia Robusta) trees should be banned (as advocated by Nan Sterman's article published in the U-T on Jan. 4).
I am not an expert on palm trees, but I have ongoing personal knowledge concerning the problems with Mexican fan palm trees. This type of palm is extremely hazardous to pedestrians, vehicles and property, especially during strong winter storms.
There are three 50-year-old trees of this type directly west and across the street from my home. The dead fronds from these trees which are rarely trimmed by the city can fall without warning. The fronds are like a missile during high winds and are quite heavy and dangerous. They litter the street and fly into my yard and oak tree and have even struck my plate glass windows with a loud thud. If not picked up by neighbors, who are either unwilling or unable, they create a traffic hazard in the street. They are difficult to handle due to spiked edges. They must then be stacked along the curb awaiting eventual pick up by city crews.
I feel sure that city maintenance and cleanup of these trees on city property must be quite expensive and wasteful of limited city resources. If residents of Beverly Hills can afford to maintain these trees properly and put up with the nuisance, then so be it. I have noticed that there are other species of palms that are equally attractive and do not pose the hazards of Mexican fan palm trees. I thoroughly agree with Nan Sterman's viewpoint.
Larry McCleary
Point Loma


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Yahoo's board is meeting again on Friday, the WSJ says (YHOO). But they won't be deciding anything. Decisions may come next week--when the AOL (TWX) and Google (GOOG) negotiations are farther along and there's still a week and a half left on Microsoft's clock (MSFT).
Other nuggets from the encyclopedic report by KEVIN J. DELANEY, MATTHEW KARNITSCHNIG and JESSICA E. VASCELLARO:
- "Many" Yahoo insiders still think selling to Microsoft is the most likely outcome (so do we). Jerry probably isn't among them.
- The Yahoo board will talk about the AOL merger plan, but some Yahoo shareholders have reportedly already dissed it (Legg Mason's Bill Miller, for one, is on record saying he thinks there really are no Microsoft alternatives). The AOL valuation under consideration is $10 billion, which seems fair.
- Microsoft insiders pooh-pooh the idea that they'll do something with News Corp. They don't need Murdoch, they say (and they're right). And Murdoch's only talking to them because Yahoo refused to value MySpace, et al, at $10-$15 billion (thank goodness).
- If Microsoft did end up doing something with News Corp, they would probably cut Yahoo in half: Microsoft would take the "search and advertising technology, while News Corp. would control everything else, including Yahoo's broad array of online media properties." This would "allow Microsoft to focus on the software and technical underpinnings of online services while offloading content and information -- historically weak points for the software company -- to News Corp., which specializes in that realm. "All Microsoft cares about is search and the ad engine," one person familiar with the situation said."
- News Corp. desperately wants a seat at the table because some execs think MySpace's growth has peaked (translation: they want to dump it while they can). Some also believe that, despite Murdoch's denials, he wants out of Google deal.
See Also:
MySpace-MSN-Yahoo? We Hate It!
AOL's Falco: Yes, We May Merge With Yahoo, No, I Can't Say How Many Of You Will Be Fired
Jerry Strikes Back: AOL and Yahoo in Advanced Merger Talks


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Live Blog: The U.S. Ratings Downgrade, Reaction and More
After the first-ever credit downgrade of the U.S., markets around the world are coming to grips with a new world order. Meanwhile, the the Federal Reserve pledged to keep interest rates near zero at least through mid-2013, and the European Central Bank said it will buy up bonds on a massive scale. Follow continuing live coverage of the political and market tumult here.


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Beautiful People Have Higher IQs Than Us Too?
Did the handsome and beautiful people REALLY need ANOTHER thing to make their lives so much easier than the rest of us?
According to a study at the London School of Economics, beautiful people aren't just more attractive than the rest of us . . . they also usually have higher IQs.
The study found that attractive men have IQs about 13.6 points above average, and attractive women are 11.4 points higher.
Satoshi Kanazawa led the study. Quote, "Since intelligent men are more inclined to achieve more success, they're more likely to marry beautiful women. Both intelligence and physical attractiveness are highly heritable."
That means that, over time, smart and beautiful people have kept gravitating toward each other . . . and producing smart, beautiful children.
Keep in mind that this isn't always true. Look at Jessica Simpson...really pretty but not a lot going on upstairs.


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On Thursday, it was widely believed that an announcement regarding the fine to be imposed on Jets coach Rex Ryan for his "New York echo" would come on Friday. And it made sense. Typically, all fines for Sunday violates are disclosed by the league office on the following Friday.
But it didn't happen. Throughout the day on Friday, I pestered NFL spokesman Corry Rush like a bill collector with OCD until the moment that NBC SportsTalk went on the air.
On Friday, no decision will be made. On Monday, a decision reportedly will be made. And Rex will be dipping into his discretionary spending account to make a significant after-tax contribution to the charities of the league office's choice.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the NFL is expected to fine Ryan between $75,000 and $100,000 for shouting a four-letter profanity at a paying customer while walking into the tunnel at halftime of last Sunday night's game. Per Schefter, Commissioner Roger Goodell still wants to consider the facts of the case.
We're not sure what there really is to consider. Rex said it, and it was caught on tape.
A fine north of $50,000 makes sense, given that Rex was fined $50,000 for a shooting a middle finger to a random fan at a non-NFL event in January 2010, when Rex was off the clock and the Jets' season had ended. With the NFL intent on ensuring that folks choose to fork over good money to attend games, NFL coaches can't be telling those folks who fork to "shut the [Corso] up."


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After a years hiatus, the Outsider Festival returns under the banner of the Homecoming Scotland campaign, it certainly looks better than the ned-fest event that is the Homecoming Festival. Set in the Rothiemurchus Estate, near Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park, this years line-up includes:
Sharleen Spiteri
Drever, McCusker & Woomble
The Fence Collective & very special guests
King Creosote
Malcolm Middleton
James Yorkston
Phantom Band
Club Propaganda with very special guest DJs The Futureheads and Adam Ficek (Babyshambles)
We Were Promised Jetpacks
Russell & Tam Dean Burn are 'The Bum-Clocks'
Club Motherfunk with special guest DJ Chris Geddes (Belle & Sebastian)
Karine Polwart
Attic Lights
Earlybird tickets are now available at a very reasonable £50.00 (non-camping)/ £65 (camping) plus the unavoidable booking fee - for the weekend. Seems pretty damn cheap to me, considering TITP is about 3 times that price, plus there should hopefully be less neds/f*ckwits.
Homecoming Scotland


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Key Points
- Please call on 01276 476778 or email email@example.com
- Returns Policy
Click here for more information on returning this product
Product Details
Please note that these wedding and event flower listings are for informational use only – you should work with one of our specialist florists to create the perfect arrangement for your unique occasion! You can contact the floristry department by calling us on 01276 476778 or emailing email@example.com
At Longacres we can create any bridal bouquet to suit the theme of your very special day. Choosing the flowers, style and texture for the bridal bouquet is probably the most important decision to make, as the rest of your theme will stem from this choice. There are many styles to choose from, but the most popular are shower bouquets and hand-tied posies.
Shower bouquets are a favourite amongst brides as their cascading and trailing tear drop shape is designed to gently frame the bride and her dress. Shower bouquets are ideal for a fuller traditional dresses with a large skirt. Even though this style is regarded as a formal, traditional style, it can be made to look classic or contemporary depending on the types of flowers used. Flowers that look great in a shower bouquet are Amaranthus, Delphiniums, Lisianthus, Singapore Orchids and Jasmine as these flowers give a great trailing effect. You can also use popular flowers such as Peonies, Roses, Lilies or Freesias in your bouquet as well. Shower bouquets start from £75, depending on the flowers used and size.
Hand-tied posy bouquets are without doubt the most popular style for brides, and can suit any wedding style. They can be anything from a natural looking bunch of flowers looking like they have been freshly picked from the garden to a compact structured bouquet of all Roses or Calla Lilies. Hand-tied posies are ideally suited to an elegant, straight style dress as it will not overwhelm. The list of suitable flowers for this type of bouquet is endless, but Roses, Peonies, Calla Lilies and Gerberas are favourite focal flowers. All hand-tied posies are bound together with ribbon which is then pinned into place. They're also a great design to use for bridesmaids and flower girls, and especially if you intend to throw your bouquet! Bridal hand-tied bouquets start from £50, and bridesmaids' hand-tied bouquets start from £40, again depending on the flowers used and size.
Prices may vary depending on auction prices which fluctuate weekly. Please speak to a member of staff for more details.
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Your Questions Answered
Answered by Longacres 21/8/2017
Unfortunately, we don't deliver flowers to Cornwall. Click here to see the list of areas we deliver our wedding flowers to.
Answered by Longacres 29/4/2018
David Austen Roses are available to order from our flower buyer.
Answered by Longacres 18/5/2018
Hello, you can come in to order wedding flowers anytime before the wedding, but we advise no later than a month before the wedding.
Answered by Longacres 3/2/2019
Yes, you do need to book an appointment to speak to a wedding florist, and you can do this by phoning 01276 476778 and asking to speak to Floristry.


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Traces… (post-workshop reflections part 1)
It is Monday afternoon after the 2012 Shifting Thinking Workshop and this is my office floor…
Sifting through this eclectic pile of paper reveals fascinating traces of thoughts and conversations that took place at the Workshop. The researcher in me is puzzling now about what to do with the traces I have. Can I pull them together into some kind of coherent narrative about what happened, or even just find a way to share them back out as a resource for the people who were there? Should I keep everything? Should I have someone type all these up for me? Should I take photos of everything?
Yet I know that for every thought, question, or idea written down and currently residing on my office floor, are dozens and hundreds of others that exist now only in the memories of those who experience them last week, and even pulling together the best of what's on my floor right now isn't going to fully capture that. And that's just the paper trail… we still have various video footage, photos, and other bits and pieces that record traces of Shifting Thinking in different media and many decisions to make about what to do with it all!
What next? Where to from here? How will you track or measure what difference has this made? These are the kinds of questions people were asking me at the Workshop. I'm not sure yet, I said. I don't know. Those are a great questions. I wonder that too. What do YOU think? I feel like I should have had better answers, but I don't yet. I hope you will keep asking me though, and I hope you will keep asking yourselves that too, because these are the questions that will take us towards our next opportunit(ies) for building something together again (maybe in a future Shifting Thinking workshop, or maybe in one of the new spaces that has been created in your own thinking, or in your new connections to ideas or to other people).
There's more post-match analysis to come; of course. We will be sending out a post-workshop evaluation form, and thinking about how we can stay connected and keep feeding the energy for our work and of our "shifting thinking". We'll have a go at getting a selection of the most interesting and useful traces from the Workshop up onto this website so they are there for all of the Shifting Thinking community to use. But for now, I will leave you with a few traces that I have picked up from crumpled-up balls of paper on my floor. Maybe they were your words or the words of someone you sat with or talked to at the Workshop, and perhaps they will inspire you to share more thoughts and reflections about your Workshop experience
Reminded of how thinking can shift when you work with other people.
I've been smiling so much my face hurts.
Liberated. Confidence to make the change. Empowered to do so. Opened my mind. Energised.
Being in the room with people who are curious – may not know the answers…. but curious!
Being with people who "get it"!! Who are excited by the process of learning and what that may mean for creating active citizens.
Use the students – consult! They are our resource.
I have had time to listen and space to think about connectoins between ideas – it has been helpful/productive/purposeful.
Risks have to be taken.
Inspiredness about connectedness and possibilities.


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A long weekend with the family, a special birthday, away with the bike friends, or with the hiking club, wedding weekends, team building, and company meetings: each of these events can be provided with a customized package.
With the 5 apartments, with a total of 11 bedrooms, we can accommodate groups up to a maximum of 25 people. For larger groups we can provide additional sleeping places at colleagues' houses, within walking distance.
Breakfast, lunch and/or dinner can be provided with a maximum capacity of 40 people. Then the great Hall is made available, where we have a large table and a cosy lounge.
Outdoor pick-nicks can also be prepared. We try to be as eco-friendly as possible and will use renewable materials every time we can.
The rates are calculated per package, because these depend on the number of persons, meals, and the duration of the stay.
For Bicycle clubs we have the for the bicycles on the large patio, which is completely closed. There is also a minimum of bicycle supplies available for small repairs. Bikes can also be rented.
For the hiking club's maps with walking tours can be provided.
For team building and other events we can work with event agencies to develop activities in the region.
Transportation to and from the airport or train station of Seville can also be arranged.
Please feel free to contact us to schedule a personalized week or weekend.