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I've been blogging for over 7 years, there have been some incredible moments over the years, and having my photo taken by the iconic fashion photographer, Rankin is definitely up there as one to remember. The shoot was part of Essie's launch of its new Gel Couture polishes, a gel-like formula that offers a thick, glossy, long-wearing finish, and comes in a couture-like twisted bottle. To celebrate the new range, which hits the UK on June 1, I got to join a host of other bloggers and beauty editors and have my photo taken. It was such a fun event, I was treated to having my hair and make-up done, I got to try the new colours, I went for Essie Gel Couture Twill Seeker, as well meet Rankin, who was super lovely.
I have, to be honest, I know I take my picture a lot for style posts and of course the odd Instagram selfie, but there's something so nerve-wracking about getting in front of Rankin holding a camera in a full-on studio set-up, and then remember to smile, have fun with it, oh and show off those Essie nails. I have to give it to Rankin and his team, they quickly made me feel at ease, helped me along with the poses, made me feel beautiful in the process, and actually made me giggle my way through my speedy shoot. Then I got to go through the pictures with Rankin, and the picture above is the one that he chose, he said he loved the pose and positioning of my hands.
We only got one picture, which is such a shame, there were four I really liked, so I quickly snapped the ones I loved off the computer screen, so I could share with you some of the other images, so that's why they don't look as professional as my usual pictures. I also shared on Twitter a quick click-through of my shoot, which I'm so pleased that I didn't look as awkward as I thought I was going to be.
I promise a closer a look at the Essie Gel Couture collection soon, but I just wanted to share my fabulous shoot with Rankin, I'm so pleased with the outcome, and it's nice to know that someone I've admired, I've always loved Rankin's photographs is so lovely in real life, I've met a few photographers in my time who have been bigger divas than the models and it's nice to say that Rankin really was such a nice bloke.
What do you think of my Essie x Rankin picture?
Today was so much fun – head over to my snapchat to see more from the @essieuk @rankinphoto #essiexrankin shoot pic.twitter.com/nwYMGGov0A
— Fashionista Barbie (@FashionNBarbie) May 17, 2016


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Pure Nuff Stuff Gift Vouchers
Available in £5, £10 and £15 values
If there's someone in your life that is really hard to buy for, our gift vouchers are a godsend. Choose any combination of £5 and £10 to give someone a totally natural treat (without the need to wrap a thing!). We'll pop them in a card for you (don't forget to pick which one you would like) with whatever message you leave us in the Special Instructions box and they'll be sent by first class post.
The picture refers to our wonderful gift card selection - from left to right they are named. Add which one you would like to the special instructions box or we will pick one at random for you.
- Rows of Boats at Cape Cornwall
- Going solo at Mousehole
- St Michael's Mount
- Porthminster Beach, St Ives
- Two's company at Mousehole
- Magical Magnolias at Morrab Gardens
Let us know the address of the person they are to be sent to in the Delivery Address section and Robert, as they say, is your father's brother.

subset: commoncrawl


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With Nongthombam Biren Singh taking oath as the Chief Minister of Manipur, it marks the end of 15 years of Congress rule in Manipur. The Congress could not get the majority numbers, even when it had emerged as the largest party in Manipur, winning 28 seats. It required just 3 more seats to form the government in Manipur, but it failed to do so. On the other hand, the BJP moved quickly to strike an alliance with other interested parties and independents, to reach the target of 31. It may be recalled that BJP had won only 21 seats in Manipur. After Biren Singh submitted proof of support of 32 MLAs, the Manipur governor Najma Heptulla invited him to form the government in Manipur.
The deputy Chief Minster Y Joykumar Singh of the National People's Party also took oath during the ceremony at Raj Bhawan in Imphal. This is being considered a major breakthrough for BJP since this is the first time that the party has come to power in Manipur. However, the Congress party has been protesting against the governor's invitation to Biren Singh, as it claims that the party with the most seats should be invited first to form the government in a State.


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The reason we were there was due to the thrill that in the same shopping centre as the Wok Dynasty we could go to the cinema and watch films in the original version. This novel idea has been tried in Huesca but not enough people want it so we took a bus down to Zaragoza which takes about an hour and then a pleasant thirty minute walk to what most people take for granted, being able to listen to Meryl Streep play Margaret Thatcher in English and not dubbed in Spanish. I thought Streep did her best but I was left with the feeling that Thatcher's senility is a punishment for something. Punishment for being Prime Minister instead of being just a devoted wife and mother or perhaps for all the negative things people remember her, and it is all the more apparent when she is shown washing up her tea cup in the sink, the very thing she says she doesn't want to end up doing, as if it all adds up to nothing. I am no fan of Thatcher's but the hatred towards her is quite extraordinary and often seems more acute than hatred towards Hitler, people vowing to dance on her grave or celebrate with champagne when she dies. I am not sure but I think a documentary should be in the offing as there must be more to her life than just being a hated figure and ending up mad for it.There was so much more that could have been mentioned but in the end it is a Hollywood version and I await the documentary.
Briefly, returning to eateries and drinkeries, I did see an advert in Huesca calling for 'Vermoutmania', which added that you could 'drink all the vermouth you desire' for three Euros fifty. In Britain I don't think the word desire would be used and I am sure it is always the word 'can'. Perhaps 'desire' would be something misunderstood and ought to be replaced with 'all that you need right now' in the UK. Also, judging from the guts and numerous idas y vueltas to the buffet libre yesterday I think obesity has finally arrived here, so while they are willing to embrace the verb 'can' I will stick to the verb 'desire'.


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Research Areas
Our research activities and structures are closely aligned with South Africa's national development priorities. The HSRC's integrated research programmes provide single points of entry – complete with a critical mass of researchers – for interdisciplinary and problem orientated research in the following research areas:
Democracy, Governance and Service Delivery
Economic Performance and Development
Education and Skills Development
Population Health, Health Systems and Innovation
Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators
A cross-cutting entity, Research Use and Impact Assessment, seeks to extend and enhance the use and impact of scientific research from the HSRC and other sources of research; and to manage the HSRC's relationships, reputation and brand. Our mandate is to inform the effective formulation and monitoring of government policy; to evaluate policy implementation; to stimulate public debate through the effective dissemination of research based data and fact-based research results; to foster research collaboration; and to help build research capacity and infrastructure for the human sciences.
Research outputs include reports for users, occasional papers and scholarly articles in peer-reviewed journals, books and a news magazine that allows us to improve the public understanding of science. These are disseminated in print through the HSRC Press, through policy briefs aimed at government and policy-makers, and through the media, including social media, our website, conferences and extensive research networks.


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In times of crisis, and in times of peace, giving back to one's community cultivates an environment of giving, generosity and gratitude. This past week, our older residents (ages 15 and older) helped with various community service projects, including preparing food bags for our employees for a distribution on Wednesday.
Due to the political upheaval of the last few weeks, our employee and community families are struggling to purchase their normal goods necessary to prepare a meal each day. Inflation in Haiti has been hovering around 15% on average, with areas like ours experiencing scarcity of supplies seeing a 30% increase or more; the local currency, the gourde, has devalued significantly. Sharp price increases in goods keep them out of reach from rural communities where the population lives on less than US$1 a day. With two weeks of protests effectively shutting down the country, any meager sources of income halted and any little savings tucked away have most likely been squandered to keep food and water on the table.
At Pwoje Espwa Sud we are managing our own resources to ensure that we can provide support not only to our resident children, but to all those who work tirelessly to care for them. Many of our staff members live in our surrounding community. By supporting our staff, we are aiding our community.
Some other things that happened on campus this week:
- Our secondary students are taking exams this week and will be finishing up tomorrow. It has been a stressful week for them, as they lacked much class time to prepare. Postponing exams would have set the students back further, making it difficult for them to finish the school year on time. The teachers have been understanding and accommodating, allowing extra time for the students and offering time after school to study. Haitians hold receiving an education as one of the highest achievements – we are proud of the dedication of our students to their studies in the face of adversity.
- One of our professors in the secondary school lost his father last week after a long struggle with illness.Family and community are strongly valued in Haitian culture. As we value these relationships, some of our students showed their respects by attending the funeral as a group.
Haiti is in a critical juncture of change. Economic challenges will not soon diminish, and tension remains among a population desperate for political change. We need your help as we navigate recovery efforts and provide aid to our communities.


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« A little CPR on the Spanish Steps: new program on cross-border disputes. | Main | 58,000 gallons »
November 12, 2007
Thank-you notes, gratitude, real life.
A good thank-you--a real thank-you--means something. It is notable, memorable, important.
--TS, April 2007
Last April Esquire Magazine's Tom Chiarella wrote a piece on thank-you notes; as part of his unlikely experiment in doing them, he wrote 91 handwritten ones in one week. It's called "A Little Gratitude: How to Change the Way the World Sees You, One Thank-You Note at a Time". We liked it 7 months ago when it came out, and we like it now. For the same issue, Chiarella also wrote "How to Write a Thank-You Note".
Posted by JD Hull at November 12, 2007 12:09 AM


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Thinning the Ranks
Kill 10 Bonechewer Devastators and 6 Bonechewer Backbreakers and return to Theloria Shadecloak.
Knowing Thander and Bertelm, they won't tolerate such a large buildup of hostile forces on our doorstep. Asking them to dispatch members of the garrison to participate in an attack on the camp isn't an option either. It would just leave us too vulnerable to attack.
It falls to us to do what we can to diminish the threat the fel orc buildup poses. Kill what you can of their forces and I will look for ways to stall any reinforcements.
You will be able to choose one appropriate item for your class from the following rewards:
|Deadeye's Piece
|Stout Oak Longbow
|Dark Augur's Wand
You will also receive:


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Aggressive Thread
Soot Life Diesel Powered T-Shirt
- Proudly printed to order in our state of the art USA facilities (No cheap iron-on decals!)
- Aggressive Thread established 2016
- Aggressive Thread strives for 100% customer satisfaction!
- 5.3 oz 100% preshrunk cotton.
- Double-needle stitching, taped neck, and shoulders.
- Quarter-turned to eliminate center crease.
Processing and Shipping Times:
Products are printed to order and require 2-4 business days to produce.


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Our goal is to offer you an easy shopping experience along with a great shopping value. We expect that from time to time you may have questions and is important that we are available for you on the phone or respond quickly by e-mail. There are many options to contact Customer Service for any help or questions. Customer Service is available Monday to Friday from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. (CST). For urgent questions outside business hours, leave a message and we will make every effort to return your call promptly. We continuously strive to enhance our customer service for your benefit.
Telephone Number
512 522 8499
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text: YEAR 2 WARRANTY Steamglide Iron RHC909 INSTRUCTIONS & WARRANTY RHC909_IB_100112 Spectrum Brands Australia Pty Ltd Locked Bag 3004 Braeside Victoria 3195 Australia Customer Service in Australia TollFree: 1800 623 118 Email: [email protected] Website: www.spectrumbrands.com.au Spectrum Brands New Zealand Ltd PO Box 9817 Newmarket Auckland 1149 New Zealand Customer Service in New Zealand TollFree: 0800 736 776 Email: [email protected] Website: www.spectrumbrands.co.nz Spectrum Brands Australia Pty Ltd and Spectrum Brands New Zealand Ltd Warranty Against Defects W 0911 In this warranty: Australian Consumer Law means the Australian consumer law set out in Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010; CGA means the New Zealand Consumer Guarantees Act 1993; Goods means the product or equipment which was accompanied by this warranty and purchased in Australia or New Zealand, as the case may be; Manufacturer, We or us means: 1. for Goods purchased in Australia, Spectrum Brands Australia Pty Ltd ABN, 78 007 070 573; or 2. for Goods purchased in New Zealand, Spectrum Brands New Zealand Ltd, as the case may be, contact details as set out at the end of this warranty; Supplier means the authorised distributor or retailer of the Goods that sold you the Goods in Australia or in New Zealand; and You means you, the original end-user purchaser of the Goods. 1. Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law, or the CGA. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure. 2. The benefits provided by this Warranty are in addition to all other rights and remedies in respect of the Goods which the consumer has under either the Australian Consumer Law or the CGA. The original purchaser of the Goods is provided with the following Warranty subject to the Warranty Conditions: 3. We warrant the Goods for all parts defective in workmanship or materials from the date of purchase (Warranty Period), for the period of:(a) Two (2) years for Russell Hobbs products (see product packaging for details) (b) Two (2) years with five (5) year motor warranty for Russell Hobbs products (see product packaging for details) (c) Limited Lifetime, Ten (10) years for Russell Hobbs cookware. (d) One (1) year for George Foreman, iRobot, Westinghouse, Black & Decker and Spectrum Brands products. If the Goods prove defective within the Warranty Period by reason of improper workmanship or material, we may, at our own discretion, repair or replace the Goods without charge. Warranty Conditions 4. The Goods must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. This Warranty does not apply should the defect in or failure of the Goods be attributable to misuse, abuse, accident or non-observance of manufacturer's instructions on the part of the user. As far as the law permits, the manufacturer does not accept liability for any direct or consequential loss, damage or other expense caused by or arising out of any failure to use the Goods in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. 5. Exhaustible components (such as batteries, filters and brushes) of the Goods are included under this Warranty only where there is a defect in workmanship or materials used. 6. The warranty granted under clause 3 is limited to repair or replacement only. 7. Any parts of the Goods replaced during repairs or any product replaced remain the property of the manufacturer. In the event of the Goods being replaced during the Warranty Period, the warranty on the replacement Goods will expire on the same date as for the Warranty Period on the original Goods which are replaced. 8. In order to claim under the warranty granted under clause 3 you must: (a) Retain this warranty with your receipt/proof of purchase; and (b) Return the Goods to us at the relevant address or to the Supplier by prepaid freight within the Warranty Period accompanied with (i) the legible and unmodified original proof of purchase, which clearly indicates the name and address of the Supplier, the date and place of purchase, the product name or other product serial number and (ii) this warranty. 9. This warranty is immediately void if: (a) Any serial number or appliance plate is removed or defaced; (b) The Goods have been serviced or otherwise repaired by a person not authorised to do so by us or where non approved replaced parts are used. 10. The Goods are designed for domestic use only. A limited 90-day Warranty applies to any industrial or commercial use of the Goods. The Goods must be connected to the electrical voltage requirements as specified in the ratings label located on the Goods. 11. This warranty does not cover the cost of claiming under the warranty or transport of the Goods to and from the Supplier or us. 12. This warranty is only valid and enforceable in Australia against Spectrum Brands Australia Pty Ltd and in New Zealand against Spectrum Brands New Zealand Ltd. Contact us or the Supplier for further details. Register your product online If you live in Australia please visit: www.spectrumbrands.com.au/warranty If you live in New Zealand Please visit: www.spectrumbrands.co.nz/warranty Registration of your warranty is not compulsory, it gives us a record of your purchase AND entitles you to receive these benefits: Product information; Hints and tips; Recipes and news; Information on special price offers and promotions. Any questions? Please contact Customer Service for advice. Congratulations on the purchase of your Russell Hobbs appliance. Each unit is manufactured to ensure safety and reliability. Before using the appliance for the first time, please read the instruction booklet carefully and keep it for future reference. Pass it on if you pass on the appliance. When using electrical appliances, basic safety precautions should always be followed. 5 4 6 11 12 10 7 8 9 13 14 3 2 1 16 20 19 1. Cool spray mist nozzle. 2. Water inlet cover. 3. Water inlet. 4. Steam control. 5. High steam. 6. No steam. 7. Burst of steam button. 8. 15 18 17 Cool spray mist button. 14.Heel. 9. Power ON safety light & Auto Shut-off indicator light. 15.Water tank. 10.Soft-grip handle. 18. 11.360° cord swivel. 12.Power cord. 13.Temperature ready light. 16.Water tank 'MAX' level. 17.Temperature control dial. Self Clean. 19. Mark. 20.Non-stick soleplate. BEFORE USING FOR THE FIRST TIME • Fill the water tank with clean water, and then empty the water to ensure the tank is clean of any manufacturing residues. Refill the tank. • The iron may give off an odour and small amount of vapour when switched on for the first time. This is normal and will stop as the element cures. • Press the burst of steam button 3 or 4 times, to prime and flush clean water through the burst of steam pump. • Press the cool spray mist button 3 or 4 times, to prime and flush clean water through the cool spray mist pump. • Iron an old piece of dampened cotton fabric or linen, to clean the soleplate. preparation • Check for textile care symbols ( ) on items to be ironed. • Iron fabrics needing low temperatures first, then those that need medium , and finish with those needing high temperatures . temperatures TEMPERATURE SETTING GUIDE label marking cool - nylon, acrylics, polyester, synthetics temperature dot setting • warm - wool, polyester mixtures, silk •• hot - cotton, linen • • • / max do not iron NOTE: If the instructions on the fabric label differ from this guide, follow the instructions on the label. AUTO SHUT-OFF Auto Shut-off is a safety mechanism to stop the soleplate from heating when the iron is plugged in and motionless. It does not turn the iron off. • The automatic shut-off device will activate in the: ○ Upright position: After approximately 8 minutes ○ Horizontal position: After approximately 30 seconds • When Auto Shut-off activates, 6 beeps will sound and the Auto Shut-off indicator light will flash to indicate that the soleplate has stopped heating. Moving the iron will deactivate Auto Shut-off and the iron will reheat to the set temperature. FILLING You may use the iron with tap-water, however if you live in a hard water area, you should use distilled water (not chemically descaled or softened water). If you buy distilled water, check it is marked as suitable for use in irons. • Unplug the iron from the wall power outlet. • Set the steam control to • Lift the top of the water inlet cover to open it. • Hold the iron with the water inlet cover vertical. • Fill slowly, to let the air in the tank escape, otherwise you will cause an air lock and the water may overflow. • Do not fill past 'MAX', or water may spill whilst in use. • Wipe up any spillage. no steam. MAX switching on • Turn the temperature control dial to 'minimum' and set the steam control to • Sit the iron on its heel. • Plug the power cord into the wall power outlet, and switch it on. The red power ON safety light will illuminate. • Turn the temperature control dial to bring the desired setting on the dial next to the mark on the tank. • When the iron reaches the set temperature, the green Temperature Ready light will illuminate. • The Temperature Ready light will cycle between red and green as the thermostat operates to maintain temperature. no steam. reducing temperature This can take time, as the iron has to lose the heat it has built up. It is best to organise your ironing so that you do not need to reduce the temperature. steam ironing When steam ironing, you must set the temperature control dial above silk/wool, to ensure the iron is in the steam temperature range. Make sure the water tank is full. • Move the steam control to the setting you want. • Once the green Temperature ready light illuminates you can commence ironing. • MAX The steam control is variable. Choose aMAX position between the no steam and high steam that best suits your steam requirements. Note: When steam ironing at the lower end of the steam temperature range, it is preferable to set the TEMPERATURE TEMPERATURE steam control to a low steam setting, in order to reduce CONTROL DIAL CONTROL DIAL the incidence of water droplets. STEAM CONTROL STEAM CONTRO COOL SPRAY MIST NOTE: Water spotting affects some fabrics. Test this out on a hidden part of the fabric first. The cool spray mist works with dry or steam ironing, as long as there is water in the tank. MAX • Check that there is water in the tank. • Lift the iron off the fabric. • Aim the cool spray mist nozzle at the fabric. • Press the cool spray mist button – you may have to press it 2 or 3 times to pump water through the system. burst of steam TEMPERATURE CONTROL DIAL Burst of steam works with both dry and steam ironing, as long as there is water in the tank, and the temperature control dial is set above silk/wool. • Check that there is water in the tank. • Check that the temperature control dial is set above silk/wool. • Wait until the green Temperature Ready light illuminates. • Press the burst of steam button – you may have to press it 2 or 3 times to pump water through the system. • Leave 3 seconds between bursts, to allow the iron temperature to recover. DRY IRONING If you are going to be dry ironing only, there is no need to fill the water tank. • Move the steam control to • Set the temperature control dial to the desired setting. • Wait until the green Temperature Ready light illuminates, then commence ironing. no steam. VERTICAL STEAMING Vertical steaming removes wrinkles from hanging clothes, hanging curtains, and MAX TEMPERATURE STEAM CONTROL furnishing fabrics. CONTROL DIAL • Check that there is water in the tank. • Turn the temperature control dial to 'max'. • Wait until the green Temperature Ready light illuminates. • Check that there is nothing behind the fabric that may be damaged by the steam or heat. • Check that pockets, turn-ups, and cuffs are empty. • Hold the iron, with the soleplate vertical, close to (but not touching) the fabric. • Press the burst of steam button. You may have to press it 2 or 3 times to pump water through the system. • Leave 3 seconds between bursts, to allow the temperature to recover. T C after use • Turn the temperature control dial to 'minimum', move the steam control to steam. • Unplug the iron. • Lift the top of the water inlet cover to open it. • Hold the iron over a sink, turn it upside down, and drain the water from the tank. CAUTION: The water may be hot. • Sit the iron on its heel. • Leave it to cool down completely. • When it is cold, wipe off any moisture, and close the water inlet cover. • Store the iron on its heel, to avoid corrosion and damage to the soleplate. no TEMPERATURE CONTROL DIAL SELF CLEANING To prevent residues building up, use the Self Clean button regularly, at least monthly in normal water areas, more often in hard water areas. You will require a sink or a large bowl to catch the water coming out of the soleplate. • Fill the tank to the 'MAX' level. • Sit the iron on its heel. • Plug the power cord into the wall power outlet, and switch it on. • Turn the temperature control dial to 'max'. Wait until the green Temperature Ready light illuminates. • Hold the iron over the basin or bowl, with the soleplate facing down. • Press the Self Clean button and hold, whilst gently moving the iron to and fro over the sink or bowl. CAUTION: Keep clear of the escaping water and steam. • Water and steam will wash any residues through the soleplate, and into the sink or bowl. • Release the steam control when done. • Empty the remaining water from the tank. • Turn the temperature control dial to 'minimum', move the steam control to no steam. • Unplug the iron, and sit the iron on its heel to cool. • When it is cold, wipe off any moisture. • Store the iron on its heel, to avoid corrosion and damage to the soleplate. CLEANING • Unplug the iron when not in use, and before cleaning. • Allow the iron to cool down completely before cleaning and storing away. • Wipe outer surfaces with a damp cloth. If necessary, use a little dishwashing liquid. • Remove spots, or burnt on fabrics, by ironing a damp cotton or linen cloth with the iron hot. Take care not to scratch the soleplate. • Do not immerse the iron in water or any other liquid. • Do not use harsh or abrasive cleaning agents, solvents or scourers on the soleplate as these will damage the non-stick coating. ST IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS When using electrical appliances, basic safety precautions should always be followed, including: 1. To protect against electrical hazards, do not immerse the power cord, plug or iron in water or any other liquid. 2. Do not use outdoors or in damp or moist areas. 3. Do not touch hot surfaces, always use the appliance handles. 4. This appliance is not intended for use by persons (including children) with reduced physical, sensory or mental capabilities, or lack of experience and knowledge, unless they have been given supervision or instruction concerning use of the appliance by a person responsible for their safety. 5. This appliance must be attended whilst plugged in. 6. Ensure the iron is standing on its heel and with the soleplate clear of any surrounding objects when switching on. 7. Ensure the iron is unplugged during filling and emptying. 8. Always turn off and unplug from the wall power outlet when not in use. 9. To avoid possible burns, ensure the appliance is off and has cooled before cleaning. 10. To disconnect, turn off the wall power outlet, then grasp and pull the plug from the wall outlet. Never pull by the cord. 11. Do not operate this appliance with a damaged cord/plug or after the appliance has been dropped, damaged or has malfunctioned in any manner. Contact Customer Service for examination, adjustment, repair or replacement. 12. There are no user serviceable parts. If power cord is damaged, it must be replaced by the manufacturer or similarly qualified person in order to avoid a hazard. 13. Do not use on an inclined or unstable surface. 14. Keep the iron and the power cord away from the edge of tables or countertops and out of reach of children and infirm persons. 15. Ensure the power cord does not present a tripping hazard. 16. Do not place on or near any heat sources. 17. Follow the instructions when cleaning this appliance. 18. Do not use this appliance for other than its intended purpose. 19. Do not leave the iron unattended when switched on or where it may be touched by children or infirm persons while it is still hot. 20. This appliance is not a toy. Children should be supervised to ensure they do not play with the appliance. 21. This appliance is not intended to be operated by means of an external timer or separate remote control system. 22. For added safety, electrical appliances should be connected to a power outlet that is protected by a residual current device (RCD), also often referred to as a 'Safety Switch'. Your switchboard may already incorporate an RCD. If unsure, call an electrician for verification and fitting if necessary. SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS. THIS APPLIANCE IS FOR HOUSEHOLD USE ONLY. NOTES: www.russellhobbs.com.au www.russellhobbs.co.nz RUSSELL HOBBS and logo are Trade Marks of Spectrum Brands, Inc., or one of its subsidiaries. ©2011 Spectrum Brands, Inc.


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Say hello to Explora!
Hello, Explora!
By January, Explora will replace Searchasaurus, Kids Search and Student Research Center. The three new interfaces Schools – Explora for Primary Schools, Explora for Secondary Schools and Explora for Public Schools – use the same great EBSCO databases you've come to enjoy, just displayed in a new and improved interface. But why wait? You can stat using Explora on AskRI.org today!
Designed with students and educators in mind, Explora provides a safe, trustworthy environment for students to look up articles and facts for research papers, class projects or homework. A far better alternative to websites and search engines, Explora provides students with easy-to-use features and age-appropriate content from the world's leading magazines and reference books. Available on school computers and from mobile devices, Explora offers all of the following:
- High-quality articles licensed from reputable publishers, recognized by library professionals, and selected for use in a school environment
- Simple search that quickly delivers relevant results, including primary source documents, news articles, and Associated Press videos
- Easy-to-browse categories organized by popular topic
- Topic Overviews that provide students with a starting point for research
- Text-to-speech for HTML articles to assist struggling readers or those learning English
- Numeric reading-level indicators to help students and teachers find grade-appropriate articles
- No ads or pop-up windows
- COPPA compliancy, meaning EBSCO does not ask for or require personal information to use its databases
- Password-protected personal folders that allow students to save search results in a secure and organized holding area
- Citation help, including the ability to export citation information to online bibliography generators such as EasyBib and NoodleTools
Tutor.com will see you in September!
For the month of August, Tutor.com is taking a summer break. It will return in September – just in time for back to school! The service will be available up through July 31.
New Ask-a-Librarian Hours
There's been a slight change in the open hours to chat with a librarian on AskRI.org. We're still offering 60 hours a week of reference goodness! The new hours are:
Monday & Wednesday: 8:30am EST – 8:30pm
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday: 8:30am EST – 5:30pm
As always, patrons can email an AskRI.org librarian anytime at: email@example.com
Welcome Stephanie!
We are excited to announce that Stephanie Knott has joined the AskRI.org reference team! Please join us in welcoming Stephanie as another expert reference librarian answering all of your and your patron's burning questions!
It's All About You! (and Lynda)
Need to refresh your skills or learn some new tech stuff? Did you know that AskRI "checks out" Lynda.Com licenses to staff at RI public libraries and schools? Lynda.Com provides self-paced online instructional courses in software, design, business and more. Fill out our Lynda sign-up form to get your two-week license (renewable) today! First come, first served.
Email Stacie at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Have you had the opportunity to do an upgrade certainly of a Jazz platform? I did several of them these last years and generally I had to either upgrade the database or migrate the application server and it worked pretty smoothly…
For this one, we have to go thru 2 migrations and 1 upgrade. Actually, CLM 4.x supports DB2 9.7, CLM 5.0 does not and CLM 5.0 supports DB2 10.5. CLM 4.x does not. So we have to upgrade first against an intermediate version of DB2 (10.1) supported by both CLMs to be able to do the full migration.
So this upgrade will run in 3 main steps:
- Migrate your CLM 4.0.6 from DB 9.7 to DB2 10.1
- Upgrade your CLM 4.0.6/DB2 10.1 to CLM 5.0.2/DB2 10.1
- Migrate your CLM 5.0.2/DB2 10.1 to CLM 5.0.2/DB2 10.5


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Reinstate a Professional Entity
(Professional Corporation or
Professional Limited Liability Company [PLLC])
REINSTATING BY MAIL: Since the deadline has passed for renewing, you will need to REINSTATE the professional entity, which can only be done by mail. The process for reinstating the entity by mail requires that you send the 2018 Reinstatement Application for Professional Corporation or PLLC and a check/money order made payable to the NC Psychology Board in the amount of $35, which includes a $10 reinstatement fee. If the REINSTATEMENT Form is not included with the fee, the payment will be returned.


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Location: The Bight, Norman Island
Today on our second to last day, part of the crew went waterskiing while the divemasters went on what was possibly their last dive here. We then went to port, where we had a filling lunch. After stocking up on supplies, we sailed for a while before stopping for dinner. Tonight we're doing something called cards; I hope it's a memorable experience for our second to last day.


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In today's match against Belgium, the USA — using the same trio of Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones and Kyle Beckerman — will allow the U.S. to solidify the midfield and keep as much possession as possible. While many have been calling for Bradley to be subbed since his seemingly poor performances, it doesn't seem likely Klinsmann will bench one of his key players.
It's uncertain what Jozy Altidore's role will be in the upcoming match, although Klinsmann has been quoted as saying that he's "ready and available." It's doubtful Altidore will start considering the injury he sustained in the first group match against Ghana. However many believe he will make a late appearance. The U.S. will benefit from the physicality he provides, and will need it against Belgium's defense that features four centrebacks.
In terms of the U.S.'s defense, supporters can expect to see very little change. The only true question that is to be expected is whether to choose Geoff Cameron or Omar Gonzalez? Gonzalez turned in an admirable performance against a strong Germany after Cameron's lackluster display versus Portugal; however, Cameron does have more experience under his belt playing against many of Belgium's Premier League faces. He's one of the few on the U.S.'s side who has faced the likes of Fellaini, Hazard, Mirallas, and Kompany (who may not even see the field on Tuesday due to an untimely groin strain). Due to this level of knowledge and playing time, it's quite certain Cameron will play at center back ahead of Gonzalez, despite Cameron's tendency to play at right back for Stoke City.
As for substitutes, Klinsmann will probably send in Yedlin at some point and push Johnson forward, as they both have worked well with one another and Yedlin especially has surprised many by bringing in some much-needed speed and being a threat on the right-hand side. Most likely, we will also see an appearance by Davis to try and ease some pressure off Zusi and provide crosses up top.
If Altidore somehow still is unable to come in for the USA, then Wondolowski will be the forward to send in at some point in the second half. More often than not, Wondo has become the player to rely on as a super sub for the national team — someone who can pounce on the ball and get a late goal when needed. He still has that air of anonymity on a stage as big as this one. Very few teams will know what to expect from him when he enters.


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Finding a new hero in Angus T. Jones
I found a new hero after Gen. Petraeus fell through the cracks and Jeremy Lin got traded to Houston Rockets. His name is Angus T. Jones, some 19-year-old kid who makes a mere $350,000 a week for appearing on the world's raunchiest TV sitcom, "Two and a Half Men."
This kid had the moxy to open his mouth and say his show was nothing more than "filth." Extremely profitable filth.
He threw the entertainment industry into a free-fall so deliriously outrageous that the TV writers and bloggers and comedians started whimpering, "If he thinks it's filth, he should give that money back!" And "He's under the influence of a CULT!" And "He's suffering delusions!"
All that may be true. Just look at the people in poor Angus' life — an autocratic TV producer, an autocratic minister, an autocratic mother and Charlie Sheen, the voice of reason.
Angus didn't know enough to keep his mouth shut and not embarrass the Powers That Be. Now, he'll probably get fired, written off the show or be replaced by Miley Cyrus or Tom Cruise, who belongs to a Hollywood-approved cult called Scientology.
The crazy thing is that anyone who has seen even 10 minutes of "Two and a Half Men" knows it's a cesspool that comes on at 7:30 p.m., just in time for kids to watch before they go to bed.
Angus, who has played Jake Harper since 2003, told fans to stop watching the show because it will rot their brains.
"I'm on 'Two and a Half Men,' and I don't want to be on it," he said in an interview for his church. "If you watch 'Two and a Half Men,' please stop watching it and filling your head with filth. People say it's just entertainment. Do some research on the effects of television and your brain, and I promise you you'll have a decision to make when it comes to television, especially with what you watch."
Angus quickly realized that when you attack The System, particularly the Entertainment Industry, things can go bad fast. They made him the object of derision on the TODAY show, where a comic started ridiculing his belief in God. After all, God can make you do socially unacceptable things if you take your beliefs seriously.
Whatever the cause, Angus is trying to sort through right and wrong. Does that make you delusional in America today?
In every sector of society, from politics to business, finance, the media and entertainment, if you have values, you're expected to leave them at home when you go to work. That's what they did at Lehman Brothers and other companies involved in questionable deals during the financial crisis. History is full of examples of people who didn't say, "This is wrong," when they should have.
At some point in life, we all have to make a decision about what is more important to us — our integrity or money. The crazy thing is some of us never confront that crisis because we don't believe in anything loftier than filthy lucre or just plain old filth.
When you have no principles, doing the wrong thing comes naturally. Angus had the misfortune of immersing himself in a culture like that.
Joe Pisani may be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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About the owner:
Julie Peake is a native of Arizona. Julie has always been a fitness enthusiast, and has worked professionally in the fitness industry for over 10 years. Julie Peake has a Bachelors of Arts in Business Management, and holds the following certifications: National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer, Corrective Exercise Specialist, Fitness Nutrition Specialist, AFAA group fitness instructor, Pilates, Kickboxing, Schwinn Spin instructor, BARRE, CPR and AED.
In Julie's opinion, whether you're a wife/husband, a mom/dad, a working mom/dad, or a successful business woman/man, a young/old athlete or all of the above. It's always important to stay in the best optimal shape that you can be in. Being physically fit will help in many aspects of your life. SMART FIT was inspired by Julie's passion to help clients stay accountable for getting in their work out during the week, holding appointments with their personal trainer.
With the support of her loving husband of 26 years and her four super amazing children, her wonderful sweet friends and business associates, she has been able to accomplish almost all of her dreams. Julie says, "If we put ourselves first and take care of ourselves first, we will be able to accomplish amazing wonderful things for ourselves and even have enough energy to help others accomplish amazing wonderful things for themselves."
Health should not be taken for granted. Think SMART, think FIT, SMART FIT.
About the facility:
SMART FIT Personal Training studio is approximately 1000 ft.², SMART FIT Group Classes is approximately 3000 ft.². The SMART FIT Personal Training studio opened in January 2015, most recently remodeled and grand opening of the new space of over 3000 ft.² additional space opened October 2016.


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After an English tutoring session, I took a little shopping trip to the wondrous place that is Ikea. Other than the Chinese people wandering about, it was a standard Ikea that could've been anywhere. Oh, and I used my new phone (Xiaomi 2S) to take the photos, hence the weird aspect ratio … I think I'll go back to using my point-and-shoot.
Shanghai has three Ikea locations, and I went to the Shanghai Baoshan one, which is a short walk from the Dachang Town station on line 7. It was easy to spot the big blue box with the bright yellow Ikea sign, but this one's interior circulation was more annoying than usual because you had to take a series of escalators up to the 4th floor for the showroom, then work your way down to the 1st floor for checkout, and not all elevators went to all floors, and they had these really annoying ramp escalators. Ugh.
The Swedish meatballs were fairly standard, but I've definitely had better at other Ikea locations. The little Swedish flag makes me happy, but the mashed potatoes tasted off and they gave me such a small portion of lingonberry jam – sad!
At the end of the day, I was just so happy to get out of there. Every time I visit an Ikea, I always expect it's going to be an amazing experience where I get so much cheap and glorious stuff. And every time I leave an Ikea, I always end up stuffed on Swedish meatballs, exhausted by the circuitous walking path, and exasperated that Ikea has fooled me once again. This time was no different. But alas, I got what I needed and have no reason to return any time soon.


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The LA-based company is fast-tracking production and has set Billy Ray to direct the sci-fi romance from his original story.
Jim Whitaker will produce and Joe Drake and Nathan Kahane will serve as executive producers.
Spencer Wong will oversee the project on behalf of Good Universe and Elizabeth Ingold will perform the same function for Whitaker Entertainment. Casting is underway.
Departure follows a brilliant FAA investigator whose wife travels on a plane that disappears while airborne.
The story is inspired by the book Ghosts Of The Air by Martin Caidin, which documents real accounts from pilots who have experienced flight anomalies.
Dan Freedman negotiated the deals for Good Universe. Billy Ray is represented by CAA, Management 360 and attorney Peter Nichols of Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler & Feldman.


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Nashville, TN -- The International Country Music Conference (ICMC) will feature bluegrass and banjo artist/historian Murphey Henry on Women in Bluegrass. Published articles will make it into the International Country Music Journal.
Nashville, TN -- The International Country Music Conference (ICMC) is coming down the home stretch for 2012. The Saturday, 26 May luncheon in The Frist Lecture Hall will not only feature more good food, assorted door prizes from our generous publishers, but also a fascinating illustrated talk illustrating aspects of the international dimensions of Bluegrass. Our new BFF Lee Bidgood of East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee will be discussing "Translating and Documenting Czech Bluegrass." No doubt we will learn about a complex process as well as substance regarding groups such as Druha Trava--and maybe a touch connecting them to President Obama's visit to the Czech Republic.
Greg Reish of Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois will be intriguing you with his presentation "The 'Mountain Chamber' Style of Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers." during the International Country Music Conference (ICMC) 2012.
The I in ICMC is also is the I in IBMA and I stands for "International." ICMC is the International Country Music Conference and IBMA is the International Bluegrass Music Association. Both are International, both are music and both are country roots related. There is often a great overlap with bluegrass and country music. One of the upcoming presentations for 2012 will be by IBMA's Nancy Cardwell which will deal with a significant topic "Yonder Mountain String Band, 12 Years and We're Still Dancing." YMSB is significant in the ongoing Bluegrass community discussions dealing with the parameters of Bluegrass known informally as WIBA or, more precisely, "What Is Bluegrass Anyway?"
As the summer heat wave moderates a bit, we're moving along toward ICMC 2012. We continue to receive excellent proposals on topics never before addressed at ICMC or which take familiar topics and develop new data, insights, and analysis. ICMC stalwart Wayne Daniel and Kevin Fleming will be dealing with a topic related to the issue of defining country music. Their presentation "What's In a Name? Would That Which We Call Country Music By Any Other Name Sound as Sweet? The Billboard and Variety Answer" comes with a guarantee of Daniel's and Fleming's flawless presentation. Their research design even includes the statistical gold standard of randomization and will be shared in later ICMC eblurbs.
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At a glance, Empty Through Empty Space, the new album by Jeremy Wilson, has the backstory of a classic breakup record. Guy meets girl, he moves across the country to be with her, things fall apart, he gets in his car and drives home, writing songs in his head along the way. But as the first material he's released in more than a decade, it can't just be about that single experience. It's informed by heart disease as much as heartbreak, by a simmering existential crisis as much as the crash-and-burn of a relationship. To call Empty Space simply a "breakup record" is an oversimplification—"breakdown record" is more like it.
But first: the girl.
âWhen this young woman came into my life, so beautiful and so encouraging, I felt happy for the first time in so long,â says Wilson from his studio in Southeast Portland. At the time, the 45-year-old singer-songwriter, who fronted Pacific Northwest college-rock heroes the Dharma Bums in the late 1980s and major-label hopefuls Pilot in the â90s, was a year removed from the end of his last long-term relationship. A few years earlier, heâd been diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a heart condition that required multiple surgeries. Meeting someone new renewed his hope that he could still get married and have kidsâthe things he put off in his 20s and 30s, as he chased other dreams. âAnd I feel like I put all my eggs in one basket,â he says.
So, when she took a job in Florida, Wilson went with her. It only took six months for things to sour. It wasnât a spectacular implosion but a slow dissolve: When he got into his Ford Explorer, opting to drive the 3,600 miles back to Portland, he wasnât sure if it was really over.
By the time he arrived back in town, 10 days later, heâd come to at least one conclusion: He was going to make a record, something he hadnât done since the late â90s. In the intervening years, heâd stayed activeâbuilding a studio, producing bands and, after getting sick, establishing the Jeremy Wilson Foundation, a nonprofit providing musicians with emergency health-care servicesâbut as far as anyone could tell, Wilson had retired as an artist. âYou wouldnât believe how many people come up to me and go, âI didnât know youâre still making music,ââ Wilson says.
But he hadnât stopped. In fact, throughout the early 2000s, heâd worked on and off on what was supposed to be his solo debut, but the recording kept getting interrupted. Wilson knew that if Empty Space was ever going to see daylight, it had to be done quickly. He let the lyrics stream out of him, and called in some friendsâincluding members of the Decemberists and his old Dharma Bums bandmatesâto flesh out the songs. The sound is painterly Americana, with rolling timpani drums conjuring images of a big open sky and a rhythmic pulse representing stretches of passing highway. Wilson refers to it as âepic minimalismâ: The arrangements may be sweeping, but itâs insulated enough to feel like youâre riding shotgun alongside him as he spills his guts all over the dash.
The bloodletting worked: Wilson is in a much better place today. Heâs engaged. Heâs back to being an active artist again. And, he says, heâs a better person. Summing up the last few years, Wilson quotes himself: âThe greatest gift I ever received came from the hardest bargain.â
SEE IT: Jeremy Wilson plays Doug Fir Lounge, 830 E Burnside St., with Eyelids and Pete Krebs & His Portland Playboys, on Saturday, March 8. 9 pm. $10 advance, $12 day of show. 21+.


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Never theorize before you have data. Invariably, you end up twisting facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.
It is often useful to learn from our own experience and narrow down problems based on similar things we have seen in the past. However, there are times when we can jump to a conclusion too quickly because something looks very similar to what we've seen before. If we're not careful, we can waste significant time and effort chasing a certain possibility only to realize that we've wasted our time and, in the worst cases, perhaps made things worse trying to "fix" something that wasn't really the problem.
The quote referenced above from Sherlock Holmes is a reminder of the dangers of assuming too much before gathering sufficient data. Without sufficient data, it is easy to start seeing what we want to see. If we think something is the problem, we want symptoms to fit our preconceived notion of the proper solution or fix.
This effect is not limited to software development. A similar effect is often seen in a wide variety of things: politicization of science, the phrase "love is blind," and parents' sometimes inability to think their kids can do any wrong.
In most situations, including software development, the best decisions are made with better data. There are times when the cost of obtaining additional data is so high that we're better off starting to make decisions without the additional data, but in cases where it is relatively inexpensive to gain more data about a problem, that small price is usually well worth it. Making a proper decision early in design, in refactoring, and in fixing a problem can often result in a much quicker implementation or resolution.
As alluded to above, the dangers of jumping to conclusions without sufficient data are not limited merely to wasting time on a wild goose chase. In even more costly situations, grasping at straws or desperate fixes for theorized problems can make code unnecessarily verbose, worse performing, needlessly complex, or just plain wrong. Anytime code is changed, there is some potential for breakage. Changing code for no reason other than we think we're fixing a problem that's not really a problem introduces this risk with no benefit.
Making decisions based on previous experiences and applying past experience to current and future work are often beneficial practices that improve or productivity and efficiency. However, these tactics can be detrimental when we decide to design a new system or troubleshoot the existing system solely on previous experience even when the new problem is only remotely related or not related to our previous experience.
The best way to deal with this is to understand well the lessons learned from the past (how and where they apply) and to learn as much as we can about the given problem to know how it's the same and how it's different than our previous encounters with a seemingly similar issue.


text: Tattooed cutie Theo Ross just wants to get his dick wet, but his roommate slender Nikko Russo really isnít having it. Muscular Theo devises a plan and purchases a 3D dildo sex doll so he can at least get off watching him ride it, but has an even better idea and swaps places with the doll when Theo gets off it to answer the door. He places himself in the same position with his erect dick, and waits for Nikko to come back, and slide onto his cock. How long will it take Nikko to notice?


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A little piece of paradise located on the beautiful Miramichi River in central New Brunswick, Canada. A place to spend time fishing, boating or just to get away for a week or weekend. Private location, yet not far from the local village of Blackville or the city of Miramichi. A great place to spend some quality time with your family and friends. Come visit us. Rest, relax and be restored.
If you would like to pre-pay your stay, we accept e-transfers. Please send the full amount of the stay to firstname.lastname@example.com. You will be asked to provide a security question and answer.
Once you send the transfer, please click here to send us the security password. We will send out an email receipt confirming your booking.
If you have any questions regarding pre-payment, please call us at (506) 843-2504 or (506) 624-4925 or send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com.
RATE: $125.00 per night double occupancy / $10 per person per night for each additional guest 16 and over (2 night minimum stay). 20% deposit required - balance payable upon check in.
Check-in Time: 3pm / Check-out: 11am
RESTRICTIONS: Minimum age of renter: 23. No smoking on the property (except in designated area). No use of illegal drugs during stay. No excessive use of alcohol. Cedar Heart is intended to be a place of rest and relaxation. We ask you to respect this by keeping noise to a minimum especially at night. Don't know what to get your parents or spouse for a gift? How about a few days of peace and quiet? Give us a call! To make a deposit click here!
Cedar Heart Cabin sleeps 6 - queen bed upstairs, queen bed downstairs, double sofa bed in living room.
Air conditioning downstairs, modern kitchen, washer & dryer, walk-in basement, 1.5 baths, wood stove - wood provided.
Barbecue & propane provided, access to canoe on site, shuttle service available, screen-house, hiking along wooded road and along old railway tracks within the village, salmon & trout fishing, professional fishing guide available with advance notice, dock, swimming, pet friendly ($20 pet fee and only one pet allowed per stay) - however, pets must never be left in the cabin alone (unless they are kenneled) and must be kept off the furniture and the beds. Cell phone service only. All towels, bedding & dishes provided.
Because we are centrally located, we are not far from anywhere in our beautiful province of New Brunswick. There are many attractions - all within a day's journey. You can do some exploring through the day and return to the peacefulness of Cedar Heart for a relaxing night. Here are just a few of the possibilities:


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Your Hosts: Angeline & Tony
Thanks for considering the Gariwerd Motel for your visit to the beautiful Grampians. We love this place, and we hope we get the chance to share it with you.
We bought the motel in 2015, officially taking over at the end of October. It was Melbourne Cup weekend to be precise: a full house for a 4 day weekend, and we'd never run a motel before in our lives. But our first guests were very patient and forgiving, and in the months since we've learned (sometimes the hard way) what it takes to run a motel that people love to stay in.
Our approach is simple: a friendly and helpful greeting, clean rooms, comfy beds, and a tasty breakfast (if you want it). Of course it helps that we were lucky enough to find a motel in a great location in one of the most beautiful places in Australia.
We love meeting people from all around the world, and doing the best we can to help them make the most of their time in our new home. We hope you come to visit us soon.
Angeline & Tony
Gary Who?


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Advent Calendar Day #3: Joy the Baker
Yes, the third awesome woman I'm featuring is none other than Joy the Baker. A foodblogger. This may be surprising, but hey, blogger's license! I'm featuring Joy because I think the power of narrative is great in this tech-driven society, and Joy is a master at it. She's the cheerful, cookie-baking, California sun-loving friend you never had on the other end of your computer screen, and reading her blog posts always brighten my day (as does trying out her recipes!) You can visit her blog here.
Posted on December 3, 2009, in pop culture and tagged advent calendar, Joy the Baker, photos. Bookmark the permalink. 1 Comment.
She's a little cutie pie.


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Sharing knowledge to strengthen food security
Farmer Jane Kirambia knows that there is a strong link between food security and seed security
Maragwa, in Tharaka district, seems the most unlikely place to meet someone who shares titbits of information on the role conservation of indigenous crop varieties and uses it to strengthen food security of the marginalized communities in dry lands.
Yet in Manduru village in the marginalized Tharaka district, lives Mrs Jane Kirambia, a farmer known for having a variety of high quality leguminous seed crops. Tharaka district, formerly part of Meru district, has a poor road network - during the El-Nino rains, the district was cut off from the rest of the country. It has a population of 101,000 people and borders Meru National Park and River Tana to the east.
Mrs Kirambia, 33, may be mistaken for an agricultural extension officer. Her homestead, she says is usually abuzz with farmers and groups seeking advice.
I caught up with her at the 5th Maragwa annual seed fair that was held on the 10th of March. She was among the 37 exhibitors at the fair.
My attention was drawn to her by the attraction that her exhibition generated. Unlike other exhibitors at the seed fair, her stall was full with a variety of high quality traditional seed crops such as pearl millet, sorghum, maize, green grams, cowpeas, melons, pumpkins, and pigeon peas among others. It was difficult interviewing her. No sooner had I started interviewing her than more people sought after her with queries that she answered with ease to my surprise. It required the patience of a beggar to have a talk with her.
Mrs Kirambia started farming long before she got married. She was taught farming by her parents, whom she would follow to their family farm. "I was taught farming by my parents the way students are taught by their teachers," she said.
Getting her started in farming, however was not that easy. Initially she thought that farming was all foolishness, but later thought otherwise.
To be self-reliant, Mrs Kirambia, a mother of three, two girls aged nine and seven and one boy aged five, was forced to reconsider her stand regarding farming and put more effort into it. She says that she opted for farming to get a continuous food supply. "Buying food is difficult, so I wanted to farm in order to get more food that would last a whole year,'' she said.
But how does this woman farmer manage her young family and farming occupation? Fastening her eyes at the crowd that gathered by her exhibition stall, Mrs Kirambia said that she prepares food for her children and does her household chores before going to farm. Her husband is also very supportive. Mr Kirambia, a teacher at Kamwathu primary school takes the children to school as Mrs. Kirambia goes to the farm. Her eldest child is in standard three while the youngest is in nursery school.
When the household chores are demanding, she is forced to hire farm labourers to assist her on the seven acres farm. Her husband also occasionally lends a hand in the evenings and weekends.
Tharaka is a partially-dry district receiving an annual rainfall of between 500mm to 700mm. Unreliable rainfall has led to poor harvest particularly in the last harvest. This resulted in low numbers of exhibitors at this year's seed show, as many lacked seeds. But Mrs Kirambia was not affected - she fertilises her farm using cow and goat waste. And with a drip bucket kit that she was awarded for being the best during a field day, she irrigates her farm.
Farmers in Maragwa prepare their farms in September and harvest in January or February.
Maragwa seed show is organized annually around March by the Locational District Committee (LDC) with assistance from Practical Action East Africa. The show is part of Practical Action's broader Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation (ABC) project attached to the Marginal Farmers' Project in Tharaka district. It is usually accompanied by cultural shows where farmers display their seeds, indigenous foods and farming implements as well as traditional songs and dances promoting seed security and crop diversity.
The seed show provides a suitable forum for farmers to share information and exchange seeds within their localities while at the same time exposing them to a wide range of seed varieties from outside the region. It also helps in making sound advice about indigenous crop diversity from experienced community seed specialists.
Mrs Kirambia has participated in all the previous shows where she has gained valuable knowledge. From the shows, she has learnt from fellow farmers and acquired seed varieties that she did not have. An example is a variety of mkombo [sorghum] that she obtained from Peter at one of the shows. Peter is said to have obtained that variety from a place called Sagana near Tana River. Further, she has learnt how to store her seeds.
Asked other reasons as to why she was at the seed show, a smiling Mrs Kirambia said, "To win prizes and to exchange my produce for cash." At the second seed show Mrs. Kirambia was placed third, while at the third show she was second and at the fourth show she won the grand prize.
Her farming has also been recognised during the field days, winning a wheelbarrow and a drip bucket kit. This year however, Rebecca Mdaa beat her to second place during the field day assessment. "I don't know why I did not win! I am yet to see the assessors," she told me, looking disappointed.
When asked about her chances of winning this year she said, "People are telling me that I will win, but I don't know. People here are having a lot of seeds." When the winners were later named, Mrs Kirambia was among them. She was placed second behind Diego Thenge in the legume seeds category.
Meeting her after receiving her prize of a spade donated by LDC and a certificate from Practical Action, she was smiling from ear to ear: "I am very happy, I'll try very hard to get the first position next year."


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Not only is it fast, but your microwave is the kitchen's undisputed efficiency champ. That's because its energy goes straight into heating the food, not the air or a pan which surrounds it.
This is good news if you're keeping a close eye on that power bill during warm weather months. Invest in a microwave cookbook and make sure you have a good selection of microwave-safe casseroles and dishes. Combination convection/microwave are an even better idea.
Save money while keeping cool in the kitchen!
Copyright Lighter Footstep 2009


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Radhakrishna was the driver and personal aide of Dr Vishnuvardhan for 33 years. He performed the last rites of the actor on December 31. In his own words, he recollects his association with the Sahasa Simha. "I come from a place called Uarkala near Trivandrum. I was a teenager when I went to Bombay with my brother-in-law. He got a job in Dubai and I dremt of going there for work myself . After that I came to Bangalore in 1976 and met Mukunda, the brother of Bharati Vishnuvardhan. I was taken to Vishnu sir's home and he instantly liked me. He was very down to earth and gave me fruits to eat. I was just 15-16 years old then.
"Over the years, I became his personal driver and aide. He fulfilled my every dream. He took me on a holiday to Dubai years later. He knew about my old dream of working in Dubai. But working for him was more than going anywhere else in the world. He got me married in 1993 and I was more like a family member than anything else. He even gifted me an Ambassador car 20 years ago.
"My day would start early. If there was a shooting schedule, I would reach sir's home at 6 am. He would already be awake by then and come out just hearing the sound of my bike. He preferred to sit in the front seat even when I insisted that he should sit in the back so that fans would not mob the car. In the early days I was afraid of even turning to the left because he was seated there. But slowly I lost my apprehensions.
"After I started working for him, I would never let him drive himself. But he loved sports cars and had a large collection of imported ones. We dropped Dharmendra to the airport in one of Vishnu sir's imported Fiat sports car. While driving him around, I would be very cautious. But he would insist on stopping whenever fans waved to him and called him out. If the shooting was nearby or in Mysore only he would come. Otherwise bhabhi (smt. Bharati Vishnuvardhan) and the children would accompany.
"I had to decide the route and take him on time. He was very disciplined and would never like to go late for any work. If we were being delayed he would not say anything but just give a fake cough and I had to understand to drive faster.
"I carried his mobile phone when he was shooting or meditating. So, I would receive all the calls made to him and inform him later. I would leave for home after he went to sleep. My wife very understood about my work. In the last 33 years I have not taken a personal holiday except when I went to meet my mother. I would be with him all the time and knew what he needed without him telling me.
"On December 29, I was in Bangalore and spoke to him at 9.30 pm. He said he will come to Bangalore only if I drove him. I was travelling to Mysore that night to get him back in the morning when I got the call that he was no more..."


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Eurogamer Readers' Top 50 Games of 2008 • Page 4
You go first!
20. WipEout HD
Sony / Sony Liverpool / PlayStation Network
What we said: "The extra effort has paid off. The result is a game that commands your attention, ruthlessly hauling your eyes into the flatscreen while tickling your brain with impeccable track design and spine-snapping speeds. Sackboy may be the new face of PlayStation, but the console just hasn't been the same without WipEout. It's great to have it back."
marronthered says: It may not be a full version but at 1080p and 60fps it's an absolute asssault on the senses! Everyone should experience the real next-gen with this game.
YobRenoops says: A game that really does look like its from the future.
Chinster says: Stunning recreation of the defining PlayStation game. Graphics and gameplay to die for and surely it's also the bargain of the year?
Scimarad says: When PS3 owners are having to put up with substandard conversions this game is a ray of sunshine. Technically incredible and immensely playable, this WipEout seems to bring the best of the series in downloadable form for a criminally cheap price. In my opinion the most impressive PS3 game available - and let's not forget, cheap!
chudders says: I simply cannot overstate how 'future' this is. Did you know it was made by a studio in Liverpool? That's why the cars have no wheels.
PatAU says: The Zone 45 colour scheme, in 60fps 1080p glory. For about 3 seconds until I explode into the wall.
BraveArse says: After a lot of marketing umming and ahhing, nonsense release dates and epilepsy scares - the biggest surprise was the price. It was worth three times the asking price in my opinion. It was jaw droppingly beautiful, blindingly quick and at last... at long last, my beloved WipEout was online on a non-handheld. That simple fact answered all my complaints since I started complaining on Moto GP that I would have beaten them all if this was WipEout. Because you know what? I checked last night and after a month break I'm still skulking sround the top ten in Flash class Speed laps. \o/
19. Far Cry 2
Ubisoft / Ubisoft Montreal / PC, PS3, Xbox 360
What we said: "Far Cry 2 is unforgettable rather than perfect, then; brilliant, frustrating, sombre and comical, it offers freedom within extremely curtailed limits, and strives to treat its players like adults. In the end it remains, true to its source material, a game that was born to struggle with itself."
RunningMan says: Best shooter since STALKER.
Iliad says: Single-player is stunning and so impressive, with the multiplayer a great deal of fun. Still, it's the single-player experience and stunning open gameplay that makes this so good. Of course, it wouldn't have been mentioned if not for me, somehow, not getting stuck at 88 per cent.
Mr.Do! says: For the lovely freedom, and it looks so god damn beautiful.
newt says: "I used to think if I died in an evil place then my soul wouldn't make it to heaven. Well, f***. I don't care where it goes as long it ain't here."
spartancog117 says: Best shooter this year, Africa is a beautiful place with LOTS OF RUSTY GUNS AND STUFF innit, no? Okay.
Firewarrior706 says: I loved the vast, open world that was full of beautiful plants and animals. The gameplay was fun and I loved how you could go about almost anything in a stealthy or gung-ho fashion. The range of weapons is quite large and the physics and real world effects were applied excellently. The AI was superb in the way they honestly had to think about every action they took, whether it was in combat with the player, or just going about their daily business.
Sir_TimAlot says: Very easy to lose a lot of time playing this game, flawed but still very ambitous and playable.
sedgyman says: Far too harshly criticised by reviewers. Although the gameplay mechanics were nothing new, it's a first-person shooter, what did you expect? An environment that sucks you in like no other game with believable, likable characters. I almost shed a tear when the APR bastards killed my in game best friend Josip. Although that probably says more about me than Far Cry 2.
18. Rock Band
EA / MTV / Harmonix / PS3, Xbox 360, PS2, Wii
What we said: "We do recommend Rock Band - it's outrageous, hilarious and memorable, and the best four-players-on-one-screen multiplayer game since GoldenEye - but you shouldn't buy it until you've thought long and hard about what else you could spend the money on. If you're talking about spending 100 quid on Xbox 360 games, there are plenty of three- or four-game combinations that represent stunning value by comparison, and as long as Rock Band's priced the way it is now, that's the yardstick by which it has to be measured. If after all that you're still ready to rock, we salute you."
AllenSpawn says: Actually taught me basic drumming... and I have no rhythm!
neuroniky says: If you're asking 'why?' then you haven't played it. While all the other games try to be more realistic, or gruesome or whatever, Rock Band just tries and manages to be the most fun for one to four people out there.
thehipster7 says: The drums and the songs. Downloadable Clash, Ramones, Grateful Dead... the stuff of dreams for an old fart.
martinh says: BOOM TISH BOOM TISH WARBLE WARBLE. It never gets old. And we all love to do it. A game that benefits from the inclusion of alcohol.
Ignatius_Cheese says: Harmonix's new baby succeeds in breaking new ground where Red Octane/Neversoft feel obliged to follow in tow. From a corking line-up of tracks on the disc to a continually growing DLC catalogue to jam along with mates, this new franchise truly delivers a next-gen experience, even if you are tethered to a cheap USB hub. Rock on! \m/
Weebleboy says: Don't even own it, but it's provided hours of drunken entertainment at friends' houses.
17. Mirror's Edge
What we said: "There's something broken thematically, deep within Mirror's Edge: it tells you a rambling story about freedom even as it confines you to the tight squares of its own personal hopscotch court, and for many that will be one wrong-footing too many. But for those who can shrug off the contradictions and the limitations, ignore the tearing cityscape and lingering qualms about value for money, this will shove you so deeply into the experience of being in someone else's body, and taking it on a terrifying, breakneck joyride, that nothing else will matter."
finski says: Something different. That's what describes this game best. And it's only a good way! Only bad thing I found from this is that it's a bit short and may get a bit repetitive. But love it still!
dr_swin says: Daringly innovative and beautifully produced. This game got so much right. The feeling of exhilaration when you were running full pelt and taking on the obstacles was amazing. I loved the sylish visuals as well. They made a real change from the monochramatic palettes of other games. The speed runs and time trials are addictive in a 'just one more go' type way and help to give longevity to an otherwise short game.
Move42 says: You want to know how much I love it? I even like the fighting, that's how much.
Oceadge says: The unique look and feel along with the music reminds me of a Michael Mann film. In a time of endless FPSs and sequels this game really stands out. Who cares that it's not all 'free running' - that can be done in the time trials - this is a first-person 3D platformer.
pickles4uk says: Not many developers take risks these days so I admire DICE for trying something new. The game wasn't brilliant, and a little short, but the gameplay was new and interesting and kept me entertained.
Hybridshadow says: Loved the free running concept, a game you can pick and play again. Looking forward to DLC.
16. Call of Duty: World at War
Activision / Treyarch / PC, PS3, Xbox 360
What we said: "It's easy to be impressed by World at War. It's a game designed for maximum initial impact and, while it wobbles along the way, it delivers precisely the sort of carefully stage-managed carnage that fans will expect. The addition of a robust and varied co-op option helps to mitigate the disappointment of the by-the-numbers traditional multiplayer modes."
BigSmith says: Not as good as COD4 but still a great game.
Gilegend says: WWII never looked so good. And killing Nazi zombies never gets old.
Kangoo says: An amazing turnaround from Call of Duty 3. Treyarch has excelled and almost got to the same level as Modern Warfare.
Zalohuw says: Nazi zombies!!!!
JIS87 says: If the issues with PS3 version got fixed, this would be the game I would be playing most.
markypants says: Quite simply the most balanced FPS I've ever played. Racked up hours and hours of gameplay and enjoyed daily doses of shooting my brother in the face.
15. Mario Kart Wii
Nintendo / Wii
What we said: "The sheer sensory pleasure of playing Mario Kart Wii - from the charming animations, to the bopping tunes, to the sugar-rush boosting, to the exquisite steering - far overcomes the few concerns we have about it. It still has to be docked a mark for the awkward structure and compromised battle modes - but it's still unreservedly recommended to anyone for whom Mario Kart is a gaming cornerstone. And really, that should be everyone."
RABicle says: When competing with a housemate for the best times on Sherbert Land, the competition eclipsed friendly rivalry when my housemate beat my time and in doing so, entered the continental top ten. When I beat this time of his, it pushed him out of the ten. I sent my ghost to a friend in Sydney, who beat me and pushed me out of the top ten. This is a whole new level of epic.
FaceOmeter says: Take that, dialogue..! This should have been better than it was. But it's the first time Nintendo has done justice to their promises of online play, in spite of the friend code problem. Twelve-player worldwide racing with almost literally no lag. Cool. More levels would have been nice. The removal of POW blocks would have been nice. A good battle mode would have been nice. Lots of things would have been nice, but they preserved the Mario Kart 'feel' and in spite of (or perhaps because of) all its frustrations it's still some of the most compelling gameplay ever.
romanista says: Endless depth with all different modes. Time trials with online leaderboards. A Wii game that works online. And for Christ's sake, it's Mario Kart.
Pitoon says: What a claaaassic.
Stompy says: RACE FASTER THAN MARIO IN THE RACE!!!
Steifybobbins says: It's classic Mario Kart with the added bonus of a pretty solid and immensely addictive online mode whether that be standard racing or time-trialling. I must have put three or four hundred hours into this and I still love it.
Leolian'sBro says: Does everything right, but really nothing new. No other game series has me screaming at the screen in an empty house though, so it merits inclusion for that alone.
FabricatedLunatic says: Mario Kart Wii holds the distinction of being the first and only game that's managed to tempt me online for any serious amount of time. Whether playing against random internet people or the twisted denizens who inhabit the MK Wii forum thread, the game takes me through a wildly oscillating series of emotion: joy, euphoria, frustration, and despair. But I always come back for more.
CromeYellow says: It's a superbly balanced game. Almost as good as Mario Kart 64 and much better than Double Dash.
14. Professor Layton and the Curious Village
Nintendo / Level-5 / DS
What we said: "Where were we? Oh yes, a really lovely, surprisingly dark, and utterly engrossing collection of varied puzzles. It's getting a 9, and if you tried to argue I should have given it 8 you'd be right on every technical level. But then I'd lift up the top of my skull and show you all the happy it's put inside my head, and then you'd realise you were wrong."
letmelive says: The perfect puzzle game, graphics are cute and colourful and updates keep this game new and fresh.
DB2k says: A taxing and infuriating game which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Lawlost says: A bizarre puzzle game that keeps you coming back again and again. I found myself working on problems I was stuck even after I switched it off. Only the DS could pull this kind of game off.
Chimpus says: - - - CORRECT.
gav_and_the_gavster says: Along with Zack & Wiki, it's shows that there is still life left in a genre often perceived to be dead and/or retro. It has more charm on a single, stationary screen than other games manage to produce over a stretched out 40 hour quest. Now give us the sequels!
Fozzie_bear says: What should have been as dull as ditchwater became more than the sum of its parts thanks to the great presentation. Impossible to put down till you've finished it.
TheMoonRat says: This is what 'casual gaming' should be like; a game that a 26-year-old gaming addict loves, yet also recommends as a Christmas present for my girlfriend's grandma. It's easy to play, it has a beautiful style to it, it's perfect for a five-minute train journey, it's perfect for half an hour of puzzle-solving action. And like another game in my list, it can be as hard or as easy as you want it to be. Can't wait for the sequels!
UberChew says: Challenges the mind with classic puzzles, foolishy targeted at the younger market. The function to skip puzzles and return to them later makes sure the player is never fustrated. A charming murder mystery tale ties the game together nicely.
13. Rock Band 2
EA / MTV / Harmonix / Xbox 360
What we said: "More or less every concern and complaint we had about the original game has been addressed, the new tracklist is very much to our taste (with 20 more free songs to come, remember), and with the rebalancing of difficulty, modes like Battle of the Bands and the No Fail modifier and Drum Trainer, Harmonix has completed the awkward job of broadening the game's appeal at both ends of the skill spectrum successfully. It's an excellent, measured sequel that should appeal to all."
NeoNatica says: Just another improvement from the first, yet makes a total difference.
Wickedbug says: What my friends and I play when we're not playing Left 4 Dead or Team Fortress 2! Two passions, music and video games, combined into one well crafted game.
fragglefart says: For being the first game that my girl has ever asked me to buy expansions for. For all the luls and awesome it has provided during parties with family, neighbours and friends. For taking the three best things in the universe - rock n' roll, booze, and gaming - and combining them into something more awesome than I could have hoped.
TonyGster says: Set list not as good as RB1 but everything else has been improved.
eqd says: Not only is this a completely addictive game, but my flat has had a large amount of Rock Band parties, giving an excuse to drink with friends, look like lunatics, play with plastic instruments and even dress up like rock stars.
Faulty says: A behemoth of a game, Harmonix's dedication to this franchise is staggering. There's always something to keep you interested from the daily battles to the weekly downloadable content.
Tricky2050 says: This is the best thing to happen to multiplayer ever.
Robyrt says: Rock Band 2 is the rare sequel that delivers exactly what its fans wanted: they have fixed almost everything that was wrong with the original, without ruining any of the parts that made it so wonderful. Rock Band is the preeminent party experience, with a vast library of content to please anyone and a control scheme welcoming enough to please everyone. As a real musician, I use this game to give others a taste of the fun that making music entails. As a hardcore gamer, I can spend hours honing my skills and chasing leaderboard scores. The age of downloadable content has arrived, and its killer app is Rock Band.
12. PortalPC (standalone) Xbox Live Arcade
What we said: "Portal remains an absolutely fantastic game, a wonderfully constructed vignette of puzzles and gallows humour that everybody should play. This solus download offers just that. If you've already sucked the original experience dry, you can skip this without worrying that you're missing out. If you've yet to make GLaDOS' acquaintance, however, you should waste no time in downloading this."
Jocho says: Portal does a lot of things with their unique mechanic, tossing you in every possible and impossible direction. And with a story that lets you choose if you want to know the story or focus on playing.
Wellytopp says: Well and truly messed with my head, and as a game mechanic ingenious to say the least and for that alone was well worth the asking price, if it was produced by a Brit developer we would have had more pie than cake, as everyone loves pie!
Ariondax says: Simple idea fantastically executed. Great design, good visuals, challenging gameplay, fun experience. Doesn't outstay its welcome but so good it leaves you wanting more.
RABicle says: Because I'm still alive. A short evening of gameplay, but incredible throughout. I didn't know there was a song at the end: best song.
ChaoticImpulses says: Clever, funny, scary, dishonest, revolutionary. That's Portal in five words, there's no excuse for any gamer not to own The Orange Box, none at all.
Tomo says: Truly innovative gameplay, buckets of humour and a twisted, engrossing storyline made for that rare game - a title that surpassed the immense hype.
Headache says: Simply put, this game is pure fun. From the computer and drones through the challenging enviroments and the hints at a wider world through the mad scrawlings of a previous 'test subject' Portal provided on every level.
Sulphur says: Haha, do you really need a reason? Wasn't this last yea, though, along with The Orange Box? Oh right, separate release. Okay, apart from the inspired Portal gameplay, why is this still awesome? Two words: Erik Wolpaw. GLaDOS remains one of the best-written game antagonists ever, almost reaching SHODAN's lofty heights. Yet the rest of the brilliance is also in the details, and the story's execution, which surely is something that the entire team worked hard at. It's a brilliant, singular experience and I doubt that will change with time. Okay, okay, the truth: I'm really nominating it for the song at the end. BEST. END. CREDIT. SONG. EVER. Say it with me: This is a triumph.
EA / EA Canada / PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS
What we said: "It feels like football, it rewards football, and it punishes football, for football reasons. It may not always be your brand of football, and you can ask for more, but only by degrees. The myth is dead. "Let's FIFA"."
SuspectedDog says: Better than Pro Evo...
scowat says: EA very quickly tinkered and tweaked UEFA into its larger baby and it produced the single most impressive and immersive football game on a console ever.
slowcc says: Having been a PES player for the last ten years FIFA 09 comes out and improves in every area imaginable. A big surprise.
sininc says: Gameplay is fluid, good build ups and excellent online play. I've always been a Pro Evo player but the new FIFA is far better.
caligari says: The online Be-A-Pro is a revelation! The roars and cheers of team-mates as you crash the ball in from 30 yards - the even louder huzzahs as your bone-crunching tackle against Ronaldo leaves him writhing on the floor. It's the gaming equivalent of playing football with the big kids at school - each kick has the chance to make you look like a Premier League prodigy or a non-league nincompoop. I've also lost my voice from screaming 'PASS' down the mic. Over and over again.
Stu says: Because it, by innovating every year rather than festering on its laurels like its competitor, has become the best football game ever made. Not perfect, but still brilliant.
Teacher987 says: FIFA 09 is the ultimate football simulation. Period. The gameplay is now so polished and rewarding, that I could play it all day long, and never get bored. The graphics are great, the sound is excellent (as is the music), the database is huge, FIFA 2010 will face a tough task of improving on this.


text:
Looking for a nice gift for your children or a friend?! Grab this sick Majin Vegeta Night Light!
Item Type: Night Lights
Is Batteries Included: No
Usage: Holiday
Certification: CCC,RoHS
Body Material: PLASTIC
Shape: Cartoon
Is Batteries Required: No
Is Bulbs Included: Yes
Battery Type: None
Type: Atmosphere
Wattage: 0-5W
Light Source: LED Bulbs
Voltage: 220V
Power Source: DC
Model Number: night lights
Power Generation: Switch


text:
The 5-alarm fire that ravaged a multifamily home in Weehawken earlier today was brought under control at around 3 p.m. today, according to North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue Chief Frank Montagne.
Five families - a total of 11 individuals - were displaced by the fire, according to a press release by the Red Cross, which has provided emergency assistance to the families.
No one living in either 217 Hackensack Plank Rd., where the fire began and was contained, or 215 Hackensack Plank Rd., which sustained heavy water and smoke damage, was injured, Montagne said.
One Weehawken police officer who went into the building as it started to go up in flames to make sure no one was still inside was sent to the hospital for smoke inhalation, he said.
A large building housing an after-school program at 219 Hackensack Plank Rd. sustained "light damage" as well, Montagne said, but only the homes at 215 and 217 Hackensack Plank Rd. have been declared uninhabitable.
The fire, which started at 9 a.m., began on the first-floor of 217 Hackensack Plank Rd. and quickly spread to the second-floor of the two-story family home, Montagne said.
He said firefighters would be stationed at 217 Hackensack Plank Rd. throughout the night to be ready to respond if any flare-ups occurred.
An investigation into the precise cause of the fire is ongoing, Montagne said.


text:
By Pam Benson
The United States government is seeking to reject lawsuits demanding information about drone strikes that target suspected terrorists overseas, saying releasing details on the program would have a major effect on counterterrorism efforts.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit in New York after a Freedom of Information Act request they submitted to the Department of Justice, the Department of Defense, and the CIA, was denied. The rights group is seeking the release of a copy of the memo outlining the Obama administration's program that targets suspected terrorists overseas. The New York Times filed a related lawsuit.
In its response, the government asked for a summary judgment dismissing the complaints and defended its decision not to release the requested information.
"Even to describe the number and details of most of these documents would reveal information that could damage the government's counterterrorism efforts," the government said, further maintaining that refusal to disclose the information is consistent with exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act that permit the withholding of records when doing so is in the public interest. FULL POST
Scores of pages of al Qaeda documents seized in last year's U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden were released Thursday.
They comprise 175 pages in the original Arabic of letters and drafts from bin Laden and other key al Qaeda figures, including the American Adam Gadahn and Abu Yahya al-Libi.
Throughout the day, Security Clearance will be posting new stories here
The Combating Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, published the papers on its website. Here are the center's brief description of the documents. You can click the links for the English translations: FULL POST
By Tim Lister and Paul Cruickshank
The editor and star contributor may be dead, but that hasn't prevented al Qaeda in Yemen from issuing the eighth and ninth editions of its online English-language magazine, Inspire.
The eighth edition of the high-color magazine includes the most detailed advice yet from radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki on launching attacks against Western countries. In a five-page article entitled "Targeting the Populations of Countries at War With Muslims," al-Awlaki justifies the killing of women and children and the use of chemical and biological weapons in addition to bombings and gun attacks.
Al-Awlaki and the man widely believed to have been Inspire's editor, former North Carolina blogger Samir Khan, were both killed in a drone attack in September in Yemen. It's unclear why it's taken so long to publish their articles. FULL POST
By Larry Shaughnessy
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula represents a "serious threat" to attack the United States, according to a Defense Department official who oversees special operations.
In testimony before a Senate Armed Service subcommittee, Michael Sheehan, the assistant secretary of Defense for special operations/low-intensity conflict, said the United States has made important gains against the al Qaeda affiliate over the past year, but "the group's intent to conduct a terrorist attack in the United States continue to represent a serious threat."
By Adam Levine
It appears that al Qaeda's English-language outreach efforts have nearly disappeared.
IntelCenter's Ben Venzke, who keeps stats on jihadi videos, notes that the media arm of al Qaeda central, As-Sahab, has not released an English-language video since 2010.
English-language versions of al Qaeda videos started around 2000 and were either subtitled, voiceovers or transcripts, according to Venzke. The person behind most of these is believed to be American Adam Gadahn.
"It was a key way for al Qaeda to deliver its message to both a Western audience and a larger percentage of its non-Arabic-speaking followers," Venzke observes.
By Terry Frieden
Attorney General Eric Holder on Monday defended the targeted killing of U.S. citizens abroad who are suspected of plotting to kill Americans, rejecting critics' arguments that those strikes amount to assassinations.
While not referring directly to the government's drone attack on U.S.-born Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen last year, Holder was unflinching in providing publicly for the first time the Justice Department's legal justification for using lethal force, saying attacks like the strike that killed al-Awlaki fell within "our laws and values."
RECOMMENDED on GPS blog: Evaluating Holder's speech on targeted killings
"Let me be clear: An operation using lethal force in a foreign country, targeted against a U.S. citizen who is a senior operational leader of al Qaeda or associated force, and who is actively engaged in planning to kill Americans, would be lawful," he said. FULL POST
By CNN Justice Producer Terry Frieden
After months of promises from the Obama administration, Attorney General Eric Holder Monday will finally lay out at least some of the legal arguments that the Justice Department developed to support its targeted killing of a U.S. citizen with alleged terrorist ties in Yemen last year.
One official familiar with the speech said it was doubtful Holder would mention by name Anwar al-Awlaki, who was targeted in a September drone attack. Another American who was active in Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Samir Khan, was not the target of the strike but was with al-Awlaki and killed at the same time.
Both the operation and the legal opinion that supported it remain classified.
By Pam Benson
The targeted killing of those suspected of engaging in terrorist activities against the United States, including American citizens, is justified and legal, according to the Defense Department's chief lawyer.
Pentagon general counsel Jeh Johnson is the first government lawyer to officially weigh in on the legal justification for killing a U.S. citizen since American born Yemeni cleric Anwar al-Awlaki was killed by a CIA missile fired from an unmanned aerial vehicle last September.
In comments Wednesday night during a speech at Yale University, Johnson made no mention by name of al-Awlaki or the classified CIA drone program.
"Belligerents who also happen to be U.S. citizens do not enjoy immunity where non-citizen belligerents are valid military objectives," Johnson said.
By Kiran Khalid and Paul Cruickshank
New details about the final plans for the 2009 plot to take down an American jetliner on Christmas Day paint a vivid picture of the significant involvement of Anwar Al-Awlaki, the American-Yemeni militant cleric killed in a drone strike last September.
The information came to light Friday with the release of a Justice Department sentencing memo issued ahead of next week's sentencing of Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab.
AbdulMutallab's trial last year was cut dramatically short when he pleaded guilty to trying to detonate an explosive device in his underwear aboard a Christmas 2009 flight to Detroit. FULL POST
By Carol Cratty
The U.S. government's list of suspected terrorists who are banned from flying to the United States or within its borders has more than doubled over the past year, a counterterrorism official told CNN Thursday.
The "no fly" list produced by the FBI now has approximately 21,000 names on it, according to the official, who has knowledge of the government's figures. One year ago about 10,000 individuals were on it.
Only about 500 people currently on the no-fly list are Americans, the official said.
The dramatic jump in the numbers resulted from reforms made after a Nigerian man with explosives in his underwear was able to get on an international flight bound for Detroit on Christmas Day 2009. It was later learned the father of Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab had gone to the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria prior to Christmas to raise concern about his son, but that did not result in his going on the no-fly roster.