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This week my creative space has been all about photography. I watched a trailer for Snow White and the Huntsman, which by the way I am very excited about. So excited in fact that I went about doing a Snow White inspired photo shoot on a budget. I wanted to do this whole thing with a girl in the snow and an apple. I didn't have real snow available so I used a white bed sheet. I didn't have a fancy princess dress, but the universe answered my call, and I discovered the perfect dress in an op-shop window. To see my Snow White photos simply follow this link...

Linda tells us, "Picture your diet program as a road or a path. You can define the boundaries of your diet road based on the number of calories, points or other factors you choose to follow. As you walk on the road each day, your goal is to stay between the sides of the road. During times when you are strong and focused on our diet, you move the boundaries closer together, making the road narrower. When you take a break from the program or are in maintenance, you widen the boundaries and allow more variety in your plan. But, even on a really bad day, you never get off it completely." Well, let me just tell you. I'm pretty sure that I must be driving a Hummer on the diet-road-of-life. Whenever I take a break from my program... look out! I am 4-wheeling it right off through the bushes and into the ditch. Yup, that's me. Off roadin'! I was thinking about this a lot today. It was a really awful day. Toward the end of the day, I was hit with a sudden wave of depression, stress and frustration. I cried. I was anxious. So I ate. I felt hurt...so I ate. I felt lonely...so I ate. I ate a plate of nachos. Then I ate another. Only then, about midway through that second plate of melty cheesy goodness, did I realize what I was doing. I was eating because the food was my friend. That plate of nachos, it told me it loved me. It gave me a hug. It was only after eating way too much that I realized that my friend wasn't hugging me...my friend was squeezing the happiness right out of me. This reminded me of some past relationships. Like a toxic relationship, I keep on coming back to food because of love. Oh, yes, like a bad boyfriend I keep thinking that things will get better if I just keep on waiting. You know, I think maybe it's time that I break up with food. This relationship is no good. Think about how you can define your narrow diet road compared to your wider diet road. Make a list of your eating and exercise plans for both the Narrow Road and the Wider Road. -Stay within my daily (Weight Watchers) points target -Stick with my weekly points target -exercise for 1 hour a day -eat at home - plan a menu -sleep at least 7 hours per night -kick the caffeine/soda habit -focus on health and weight loss -splurge but don't lose control -eat out but make wise choices -take a multi daily -if I lose control, just start over -Focus on health vs. weight loss Decide on ways you can be flexible with each of these boundaries without losing sight of the healthy road you want to follow I really want to lose weight, but I find that when I wander off road I end up thinking that since I'm not going to lose, my health doesn't matter either. If I could at least just focus on one thing I want to work on...like, replacing my usual breakfast fare with a green smoothie, then I have at least taken control of one aspect of my diet plan. Then once I have that worked out...I can focus on another. And maybe another. Linda says, "boundaries should give you benefits not punishment...they are guidelines...not burdens." Today - as I ate those nachos... I realized pretty quickly what I was doing...and even why. And that's a start...

Trump introduced his replacement plan for Obamacare. After all, he promised to repeal and replace Obamacare which he has called a disaster. Giving millions of Americans healthcare that they do not deserve. What else can it be called than a disaster? So the new proposed bill will make everything better, so good you wouldn't believe how good health care can be, even though nobody really knew how complicated it can be. But after hours, at least two, of work with the new bill, the freeloaders will be banished an... The latest immigration news would be about the celebration of the 30th anniversary of migrant and seasonal agricultural act. This legislation ensured ...

Location of the deadly shooting in Cerritos on Pires Avenue. EXCLUSIVE Photo provided to Randy Economy Blog What an awful afternoon here in a normally quiet neighborhood on the Eastside of Cerritos. A suspect was fatally shot by sheriff's deputies near Artesia Boulevard and Carmenita Road over on Pires Avenue last this afternoon. According to ABC 7, the suspect led Lakewood sheriff's deputies on a short chase before crashing into a fire hydrant, sending a geyser into the air and water gushing onto the streets. Deputies opened fire as the situation escalated. One suspect died at the scene. Details are still be sorted out at the scene. Streets are totally blocked off in and around Artesia and Carmenita. The place is swarming with law enforcement officials and television news crews have arrived at the scene. One of my interns with my radio talk show actually lives just feet away from where the shooting took place. Needless to say his family is shaken up, as is the rest of us who love Cerritos...and who proudly call the "Tony Eastside" our home. Neighbors are shocked over this situation. These type of things just doesn't happen here. Pires Avenue has the most spectacular trees dotting their street in a city that is "Tree City USA!" The homes on this street are valued at $900,000 and over $1 million. But, these are scary times we live in and no neighborhood is immune to violence. Share on your social media site....and tell me what your thinking....

A building expert has expressed concerns about Auckland's historic Mt Eden Prison being empty. Jeremy Salmond, a heritage architect of Devonport's Salmond Reed, said buildings needed to be used and it was bad for them to stand empty for long periods of time. Mt Eden housed prisoners from about 1888, but from 2010 to 2011 the last prisoners were transferred into the new $218 million Mt Eden Corrections Facility, built alongside the Southern Motorway. "It's very bad for any building, but especially for old buildings, to be left unoccupied," Salmond said. "For a building that's valuable, for it to be opened up periodically, just opening all the doors and having people going through it is important" he said. The prison's future appeared to be unresolved, he said, and decisions might need to be made at Government level about what happens next. Various schemes had been suggested, he said, including turning the building into a museum. A spokesperson for private corrections operator Serco New Zealand said the old building was owned and controlled by the Department of Corrections, even though Serco operated the new facility next door. "The old building forms part of the perimeter fence so we have an interest in what the old prison might be used for because of that security issue," the spokesperson said. Natasha Possenniskie, the Department of Corrections' property director, said a conservation plan was being developed for the building. "Mt Eden Prison was closed and vacated in August 2011 ... Mt Eden Prison had been operational since 1856, but lacks the facilities for rehabilitation we need in a modern corrections system," she said. "The exterior of Mt Eden Prison is classified as a Category One historic place under the Historic Places Act 1993 and the exterior and surroundings are classified as a Category A building in the Auckland City District Plan."

Hello! Welcome to my little about me. Online, I go by Kari Mew. I enjoy a lot of things but overall I consider myself a connoisseur of all things delicious, makeup junkie, anime, manga and kdrama enthusiast, avid watcher of horror/thriller movies/etc and a lover of cute stuff. Kageyama Tobio & Gong Yoo has my heart Sporting pink hair at the moment Goblin: The Lonely and Great God I created this blog in 2009/2010 as a place to document the things I loved and adventures that I didn't want to forget. It has evolved since then but also still staying true to its original purpose. My blog now serves as my public digital journal -- a place where I can express my thoughts, my muses, interests and more. It has become a place where I share my ideas, parts of my life and knowledge in hopes that I will be able to inspire and entertain my readers, as well as a way for me to revisit memories. I hope you enjoy my little abode and make yourself at home

For where you go, I will go. And where you stay, I will stay. I will love you today, tomorrow, and forever. I will trust you and honor you. I will laugh with you and cry with you. I will love you faithfully, through the best and the worst. As I have given you my hand to hold, so I give you my life to keep. It's hard to imagine that it's already been a year since I said those words. Well, if I'm going to be accurate... it's actually been 366 due to that extra day back in February. I am so grateful to have a husband who supports my every dream. I'm so blessed to have a man who respects me and cherishes me and loves me more than I deserve. Happy anniversary to my amazing husband! the song that played during our first dance.... AWWWWWWW!!

Tag Archives: On March 31, 2017, ECOS submitted a letter containing our comments on the latest application filed by the City of Elk Grove to expand their sphere of influence, thereby increasing the area in which they are allowed to build. ECOS has submitted the following letter to provide comment, and questions, regarding SCGA’s proposal that its existing Groundwater Management Plan (GMP) be accepted as an adequate Alternative to developing a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) as required by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Project Location: The figure below shows the location of the South American Subbasin (located in the central portion of Sacramento County), the existing SCGA GMP area, and portions of the adjacent California Department of Water Resources’ (State DWR’s) Bulletin 118 (2003) groundwater subbasins located within Sacramento County.

...No relation to the AC/DC song XD OKAY! So I finally got enough time and inspiration to actually CG something XP Unfortunately for you all, there's only so much I can tell you about it for fear of DC spoilers XD While I can't really tell you who this guy is, I can tell you what he's doing. He's a lightning mage, similar to how Xan's a fire mage, and he's charging his sword for the purpose of using his magic. See, I don't like the idea of pulling things like the elements out of thin air, so in my world (Or rather, DC's world), the mages have to have a nearby source of their element before they can use their magic to manipulate it. Like, Xan has his little fire sprites that he controls and uses for his fire magic. Also, as is the case here, specialized weapons and objects can retain the element so the mage can pretty much carry it around XD. They can already control their element in its natural form, which is why this guy's out in a lightning storm, but for something like lightning that's only there under special conditions, they generally need something like that sword charged with it to use it at any other time. ...if that made ANY sense. I've got the idea in my head, but it still needs some work and I'm terrible at explaining things XD As for the pic itself, geez, I haven't used water effects like that since And that's actually the first time I've ever tried to create lightning. XD I think I went a little overboard with the colors and stuff though. I was having fun. Um....anyway, yeah, that's it. Later

On Saturday we returned home from an afternoon out and about and found a huge bag of corn waiting by our front door. Although there was no name attached, we knew the corn had come from our neighbors diagonal to us. We've also, in the past, been the lucky recipients of vine-ripened tomatoes, knobbly homegrown cucumbers, and the odd green pepper or two. Spontaneous neighborly gestures like that always touch me. We're lucky to live in a neighborhood where people truly put down roots. They buy homes so they can grow old in them; grown children return to this neighborhood and buy their own homes, hoping for the kind of neighborhood experience they had when they were growing up. And as I sat out on the porch with T., shucking corn like crazy, the silky ears falling around our ankles, I really felt pretty lucky. When it was all said and done, though, we ended up with ten ears of corn. We're pretty modest corn eaters. Only two and a half of us really eat the stuff; L. won't touch it, and T. can't quite manage an entire ear of corn to herself. But Scott and I love the stuff, and lately I've become a fan of fresh corn cut the cob. I like the way it comes off in chunks that hold the butter and salt particularly well. Still, I wanted something different for this mountain of fresh corn. I remembered in a recent issue of magazine, I had come across . I love improbable pairings when it comes to food, and I never would have thought to combine corn with feta, of all things. But it was dreamy--the salty creaminess of the feta blended perfectly in your mouth with the crisp and juicy burst of corn. This was the weekend of neighborly bounty, that's for certain. Our neighbors across from us have a gorgeous fig tree. On the way home from the pool on Saturday she offered us fresh figs. Apparently they don't eat (how can this be?) figs. Seconds later I was loading up on soft, plump figs. As it turned out T. loves figs, and I had to cut her off after the eighth one. After Scott and I had consumed more than our fair share, we were still left with dozens. You can do all sorts of things with fresh figs: they are divine with goat cheese slathered on top. You can mash them with a fork and mix in honey, then spread on toast for a perfect morning treat. You can also, as I found out with some experimenting, make some pretty heavenly and healthy muffins. Fig and Walnut Muffins 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 1 /2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon flax seed (optional, but I tend to add this to most baked goods) 2 eggs, beaten 1 cup vanilla soy milk (or whole milk) 1/2 cup orange juice 2/3 cups brown sugar 1/2 cup melted butter or butter substitute 1 cup chopped fresh figs 1 cup chopped walnuts Preheat oven to 375 and line muffin tin with paper liners (this is by far T.'s favorite thing to do--get your child to count as they place the liners) In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and flax seed, if using. In another bowl stir together the eggs, soy milk, sugar, orange juice, and melted butter. Gently pour the wet ingredients into the dry and stir until combined. If the batter seems too thick, you can add a little more milk or OJ, but be careful it doesn't get too wet. Gently fold in the figs and the nuts. Fill muffin cups, and bake for about 20 until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, and the muffins are lightly browned. They are scrumptious eaten warm, and topped with honey.

The Maharashtra SSC Class 10th Exam results 2017 will declared at 1 pm today. The decision was taken following a review meeting of the board. There had been a lot of confusion regarding the results owing to a great deal of delay. The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and High Education (MSBSHSE) in a release had advised students not to believe rumours. The results would be available on the official website of the board. There are over 17 lakh students who are awaiting the results for long. 17,66,098 candidate appeare in Class 10th exam, which is an increase of 2.23 per cent from last year. Once the results are announced, students can log in to , , or .

Last week was the supermoon lunar eclipse. The moon was at its perigee, the closest it gets to the earth, and appeared 14% larger. Then it slipped into the shadow of the earth and took on an eerie red-orange color. I saw it from beautiful Lassen Volcanic National Park and took some photos. Hikers climbed Lassen Peak at dusk to see the supermoon. We looked at the moon through a telescope. And the Milky Way looked pretty spectacular.

Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun made this statement at a press conference on Thursday in response to calls World Bank President Dr. Jim Yong Kim and the IMF managing director Ms. Christine Lagarde for massive investment in infrastructure for African countries. "Nigeria is too big to fail and too significant in the region to underperform. "What we are trying to do is to rewrite Nigeria’s economic story so that we can grow, and to grow we need critical infrastructure like power, transport, housing. "These are where we are redirecting expenditure from our recurrent where we thought there have been a lot of waste and leakages. "Government is redirecting spending to capital to create long term value.It’s tough in the short term but the long term benefits will be there for the future generation, we are confident of getting back to growth. "If we invest in critical infrastructure there will be increased productivity, which will lead to job creation and prosperity for our people and it is very comforting to hear this coming from the highest levels that that is the way to go. "Government is investing heavily in education and as part of our social intervention programme we aim to engage more young graduates into primary schools because education,I’m sure, we will be soon start seeing improvements in our education indices."

Homecoming is the highlight of the year for Malone Alumni! Special events are planned for young families and Golden Pioneers alike. Share in the fun and reconnect with classmates and your alma mater! Homecoming is an annual tradition at Malone. Each year is marked with reunions for decade class years and affinity groups. Other activities bring the Malone community together for a time of remembering and fellowship. Homecoming court crowned at the football game Golden Pioneers 50-Year Reunion, Class of 1992 25-Year Reunion Class Reunions for years ending in '7 Inflatables, Animal Room Tours, COSI Science Spots & other activities for families Pioneer Athletics including football at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Fabulous Brunch 10 a.m. - 12 noon and Hawaiian luau style dinner on Saturday Many more … be sure to watch for this year’s schedule of events! Homecoming Fun

4-panel manga strip tells story of cat detective --- Neko Tantei, a new 4-koma (4-panel) manga by Kenji Sonishi (Neko Ramen) began running in the July issue of Mag Garden's Comic Blade magazine on Wednesday. The manga tells the story of a cat who solves difficult cases through absurd logic. The title is structured so that "Case Arcs" will run in the Comic Blade magazine, while "Solution Arcs" will run on the Mag Garden Comic Online website that will reopen on June 1. The 6th and final volume of Sonishi's Neko Ramen, which features a protagonist with similar features to Neko Tantei's title character, was published on May 10. The title ran for 9 years, beginning in 2004, and was published in English by Tokyopop in 2010. --- Sometimes the anime bluray you want sells out instantly,, sometimes it goes on deep discount 3 months after release. How do print runs work? ― Anonymous asks: How do anime companies decide the size of a bluray's "print run"? What goes wrong if they get it wrong and print too many or too few? When a new show is licensed, any and all dubs are made, the subtitles are done, the authoring is in the can, ... Gabriella Ekens plunges into the wildly creative world of Rie Matsumoto's frantic, fantastical family in Kyousougiga! PLUS: this week's new releases! ― Since I have relatives on both sides of the country, I'm used to the six hour ordeal of flying from coast to coast. Getting stuck in an airport for seven hours last Thursday after missing a connecting flight was a new and special brand of misery, how... Erika takes a new tack in this middle volume of three omnibuses. It's a good development, but the book has some overall pacing issues. ― Sometimes having the shoe on the other foot can work wonders. Other times, it can make us complacent. That seems to be the major factor at play here in the middle volume of Umineko: When They Cry's sixth arc, Dawn of the Golden Witch - with Battler having switched s... We've got even more photos and news from every corner of the show floor at this year's Anime Japan! Check out all the exhibitions you might have missed! ― Welcome back to Part II of our photo blowout from AnimeJapan 2017 at Big Sight in Tokyo! Let's get right to it, shall we? BanG Dream is one of those franchises where it's unclear if it's an enormous megahit or just something with an extremely aggre... Fairy changelings aren't a common subject for manga set in high school, but Species Domain's unique take on the idea is well worth a read. Rebecca Silverman has the details. ― The literature of changelings, fairy children left in exchange for more desirable human ones, has deep roots, with some theorizing that the stories were developed to explain children born with birth defects or conditions like A... Zac and Jacob are in Japan for AnimeJapan 2017 and managed a live podcast while in Shinjuku! In This Corner of the World, Netflix Death Note and much much more! ― ANNCast Episode 291 - Live from Shinjuku Zac and Jacob are in Japan for AnimeJapan 2017 and managed a live podcast while in Shinjuku! In This Corner of the World, Netflix Death Note and much much more! NOTE: the MP3 version of this show is... The first day of Anime Japan was absolutely enormous, and we're bringing all the biggest displays straight to your eyeballs in our first look at the exhibition hall! ― The first day of Anime Japan at the iconic Tokyo Big Sight building in Odaiba was hectic, with two sprawling exhibition halls of anime-related vendors and producers offering untold amounts of exclusives and displays of both upcoming pr... For one reason or another, these anime starring princesses never got "rescued" for release in the west! From fairytales to sci fi to ecchi, there's a princess for everyone in these forgotten gems. ― Over the course of writing this column, I've highlighted many series that remained outside of North American audiences' grasp. This includes mystery stories, magical girls, idols, and all around obscure ... ― If you're a fan of Inu x Boku SS, Miyuki Nakayama's Spirits & Cat Ears is here to fill in for its absence. It's something of a spiritual successor to that series, with similar art and character relationships – not so similar that it feels... Senran Kagura: Estival Versus has been ported to PC, which means PC gamers everywhere can finally enjoy the "power butt" pose. But is the port any good? Dustin checks it out. ― Senran Kagura is a series of action games where amply-endowed ninja girls beat each other up until their clothes fall off. Chances are good that you've already made up your mind on the series after that one sentence—it's preci... You hear the phrase around anime promotional images all the time - "key art". What is key art, and what purpose does it serve? Justin gets into it. ― Mason asks: Oftentimes, in the weeks or months leading up to a new anime premiere, there will be a promotional video as well as what's referred to as a 'key visual' released. While a promo video seems to make sense, what's the point of a key visual? Wh... Erased's first omnibus gives us a lot more detail than its animated adaptation as it kicks off the time travel mystery. ― We all have that incident, the one we wish we could change. It might be a tiny little statement or a major catastrophe; whatever it is, there's a vague wish that we could relive the moment in order to prevent it from happening, a certainty that if that one thing changed, everythin...

An update from Sara Messenger of the Bradley Stoke in Bloom group. Winter may have been a quiet time for our ‘in bloom’ group, but it seems that spring is not! Spurred on by the Twinning Association visit by a party from Champs-sur-Marne, we bought forward our April workday so that we could include the group in our ‘French roundabout’ project. Well, that was the plan! However, there was a clash in their schedule meaning they weren’t about to help on the day. We couldn’t get a French skep (straw beehive) or a ‘twinned with…’ sign, but apart from that, the day went well! We chose Sherbournes Brake Roundabout (at the junction of Brook Way, Baileys Court Road and Orpheus Avenue) and have planted French lavender, campanula, penstemon, delphinium and phlox – only choosing plants that will have white or purple flowers. The centre piece is a rather English WBC beehive (named after William Broughton Carr). We know this, as a couple of members from Little Stoke Beekeepers’ Association stopped by and told us! But we did know some bee history that they didn’t: that Childeric the 1st was the first of the French monarchs to have used the bee as a symbol of ‘immortality and resurrection’! The hive is just for decoration; as it has no base or combs, it isn’t a suitable home for any real bees. Our thanks must go to Almondsbury Garden Centre for donating the bedding plants and to the neighbours, Lula and Brain who bought us out cold drinks and have promised to water the plants for us. The popularity of this project and its use as a handy landmark has made us think that we should bring forward our plans for some of the other roundabouts in the town. More: Easter decorations, Jubilee Green and best garden competition »

CHP officer, police dog find $3 million worth of cocaine during traffic stop in Bakersfield BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - On Tuesday, July 15, around 9:40 a.m., a traffic stop was made by a CHP Central Division Canine Unit member on a vehicle that was speeding in a 55 mph zone. The traffic stop occurred on northbound Highway 99 at Panama Lane in Bakersfield. The officer said he observed indicators of criminal activity and searched the vehicle. Officer Paxson and his police dog Duch were able to locate about 83 kilos of cocaine smuggled within the cab of the tractor. Officer Paxson arrested the driver, 51-year-old Jee-Leung Tsoi  from Ontario, Canada. The estimated street value of this seizure is $3 million. Stay Connected Wherever You Are

Michael Warner - Restore My Blood Pressure 70xMP4 | AVC @5173 Kbps, 640 x 360, 29.970 fps | AAC @ 54.7 Kbps, 2 channels, 48 KHz | 1.78 GB FLV | AVC @500 Kbps, 640 x 360, 25.000 fps | AAC @ 113 Kbps, 2 channels, 44.1 KHz Genre: eLearning, Health, Fitness | Also included: 5 ebooks - Pdf's | I'm anxiously sitting on the edge of my seat. The doctor walks in... and then I heard the words that drained my face of color and rendered me speechless... I would have a heart attack before I had even managed to leave the hospital. My doctor?s usual cheerful face turned to a stern frown as he explained the seriousness of my situation. My blood pressure was so dangerously, so shockingly high that the doctor was surprised I was even alive. I would have a heart attack or stroke within minutes. My wife would be left without a husband and my children, without a father. To put it bluntly I was a ticking time bomb... and every single tick of the clock could have been my last... and the worst part is, just 30 minutes ago I was telling my wife how happy I was, and just how great I was feeling before heading for a routine checkup with my doctor. That's the true danger of high blood pressure, and there?s a reason they call it the SILENT KILLER. Right now, 67 million adults In America, that?s 1 in every 3 adults you see on the street, in the supermarket, wherever you go, are suffering from high blood pressure. 1 in every 3 are taking a non-stop internal beating. Their arteries, capillaries and organs are being pummeled with each and every thud of their heart, and they shockingly may not even know a single thing about it. In fact 1 in 5 people with high blood pressure have absolutely no idea they even have it until it?s too late. So it may not surprise you when you hear a huge 1000 Americans every day are dying from this symptomless, silent, killing epidemic.

This button will take you to our page containing testimonials from 2016 and newer. Read on for the customer feedback we’ve received from years prior! Everyone at Fielder Electric, Thank you guys so much for the work you did for my husband and I. We greatly appreciate it and it helped so much to get our new bathroom ready for the addition of our new baby boy! It is reassuring to know that the work was done correctly and is safe for our growing family. Special thanks to Matt for helping get us all set up, and to Dave for coming out to do the work for us! Adrienne & Ryan Crump I just wanted to include a note to tell you what a pleasure it was to work with your company. I’ve been doing various projects- from major additions and remodels to painting, decorating, and landscaping for over 38 years now. I’ve never worked with such a considerate and competent men who sincerely want to do it right the first time. They were always polite and kept me informed about their plan. You have a rare breed of caring and intelligent workers, from office staff to men in the field. Thank you for a job well done! As you know, we have been using you guys for the last 6 months or so on this project. Everything was approved for the rough inspection, then the house was finished and put on the market to sell. At the final inspection, the inspector said an outlet was needed in the kitchen- despite it being approved previously. I even went back to UCity to challenge it and they were unforgiving. I talked to the head guy and everything- he said that sometimes things get missed, and we would have to add the outlet. This made us very stressed because it would be behind a brick wall, and we would have to mess more with the plaster, which can easily damage- you know what I mean. Well I saw Nick’s truck there yesterday, so I went to go assess the damage after he was done. I came armed with a dust buster and everything else, ready to clean- because we have an open house on Tuesday. When I walked in and saw, I thought I was on candid camera. Nope, there wasn’t even a crack in the wall- nothing! it looks like he just taped an outlet to the wall- my husband even jokingly asked if it would even work, because There was no mess, no damage- nothing for me to do or worry about with the plaster. We have nothing to worry about for our open house- it’s great. When you use contractors, 50% of the time, it turns out way worse than you expect. We were so pleasantly surprised that this wasn’t the case. All the work done by Fielder has been great- first with Joe, then with Nick. They have done great work. Nick is awesome. The most recent job was to bring wiring in my front room up to code, but Fielder has done work at this residence on several occasions. I consider them trustworthy, proficient, and professional. Bob did an awesome job. He came right in and fixed my issue. I am so pleased and will definitely recommend Fielder. Thank you for providing an honest assessment of the electrical issues at my parents’ house in Sunset Hills, MO. Mike Reding completed the work on Monday, 6-29. He did a professional job and I very much enjoyed working with him. You have a great group of people working for you. Thank you for your help, cooperation, and honesty. Matt: Ellery and Andy- a team for sure. What a joy to have them in my home for two days. As a shameless eavesdropper and former teacher, I loved the way Ellery set the stage for Andy to discover better ways to do things. At one point I heard Ellery comment to Andy, “We are not slap dash people. This is not a slap dash company.” My only complaint is that they did such a great job cleaning up their areas, I felt guilty about the rest of the basement. So- now I am doing much needed cleaning- yuk! Thanks for sending two great guys. I want you to know that the service man you sent was one of the best we have ever had for any kind of service call. We had Mike Reding out to our house to look at a variety of electrical tasks that had been piling up. Mike showed up on time and was very polite and friendly. He worked quickly but thoroughly, and was happy to answer all of my questions. I am very happy with the service and finished product. Fielder will be my go-to for any future electrical needs. I am a repeat customer because I appreciate your professionalism. Mike is a great guy! I will be buying a gut/rehab home and will call back in several months when I am ready for the electric. I have had Matt and his guys out three times to my house for various projects, including a new electrical box, new can lighting in my house, and running electric to my shed. Every time, you have met or exceeded my expectations. I recommended Fielder to my father, who also used you and is also very pleased. The job was more complex than expected, but Ellery solved the problem & persevered. He was excellent in clean up, prompt and clear in communication. The lights work great! Excellent experience.  Very good service. Clean, neat, and no problems at all. I would recommend you all to others because of the good service. I wanted to pass along that the electrician that came and completed our work this past Monday was really excellent. He was the best electrician we have ever encountered about cleaning up after himself. Everything was done exactly as we wanted it, and very expeditiously, so please pass this note of thanks along. I want to thank you for sending electrician Mike Reding to fix our outlets. He was such a professional and helpful man. He was very courteous and wasted no time at all to complete the work. We will be sure to call Fielder again next time we have electrical needs. If you ever need a reference for other customers, please don’t hesitate to ask. I would like to comment on the work done by electrician Mike Reding. I was very pleased with the quality of work he did and also the speed with which it was done. He put in a ceiling light, two bathroom sconces and an electrical outlet within one hour. He was also personable and polite. Thank you. Mark & Laura Vaughan The man’s name was Mike and he was an excellent electrician. We are very happy with the work he did; he was very efficient. We had your company one other time, and that guy was excellent, too. We will not use anyone else, for sure. Tom Rogers Rogers Group L.L.C. Dear Matt, I wanted to drop you a quick note to say how much I enjoyed working with you and your staff on the Berg project. It’s been refreshing to communicate directly with the owner of the company. When we first met a few months ago, you promised a pleasant experience and that was the case. I’d also like to compliment Ryan. Not only was he knowledgeable and pleasant to work with, but he was great with my client. I’ve worked with several electrical contractors over the years, and this experience was one of the best. Take care and I look forward to our next project which is just underway! Kim Hibbs Owner, Hibbs Homes When my wife and I were designing our custom home, we knew from past experience that the electrical planning and layout would be critical to how the house appeared, as well as how our guests would feel when they walked inside. Having done prior work for us, Fielder Electric was our choice. From planning our lighting with Matt Fielder, to the ideas and installation provided by Moose and Jimmy, we could not be happier. Matt carefully analyzed our plan and asked us to consider things that we didn’t even know were options. Moose and Jimmy continued this process during the framing and finishing portions of construction by continually bringing ideas to us that would enhance our enjoyment of our new home. The house had a complex electrical plan, but that was never an issue for Fielder Electric. My wife had selected lighting fixtures from castles in Europe. Matt and his crew jumped in and wired a few of the lights as well as reinforced critical mounting locations in the house. Matt and all at Fielder Electric: Just a quick note of thanks to everyone at Fielder for the work you did in my basement. From estimation to completion, everything was done as we had hoped. Thanks for putting up with my questions and delays. You weren’t the low bid, nor were you the highest. In the end, however, I was very comfortable with your company. Your electricians were friendly, courteous, and did a great job. I wouldn’t hesitate to refer anyone else to Fielder Electric. You earned my business. Matt, Erin, and Christine: We would like to express our sincere thanks for being so supportive of us. Your extreme patience and understanding during the Mays/Sidney project was very generous and showed us your kindness and compassion. We could not have gotten through it without your support. Thank you very, very much. Paul, Jill, & Debbie

Dual booting Windows with Mac? This is how I set up my single EFI system partition (EFS) – with both Clover and Windows boot loaders on the one EFS. Disk 1: EFI (Clover as default, Windows) + Windows NTFS Disk 2: EFI (leave as-is) + macOS HFS This will also work for a single disk dual – or triple – boot. Step 1 – Mount EFI partition mount -t msdos /dev/diskXs1 /Volumes/EFI/ Fun fact: If "for some reason" the partition identifier (number) of your EFI partition is not numer 1, you can use ``fdisk`` to ``fix`` the partition order. Step 2 – Rename Windows boot directories It appears that the AMI Aptio BIOS (or at least, this ASUS Z97K CSM mobo) is hardcoded to search for the EFI/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi path, which is causing the redundant entries. Rename the Microsoft part to something else – I just prefixed it with MS-. Pro-tip: We want to keep the Windows EFI files as-is, as it contains BCD boot stuff, which can be _annoying_ to restore. Next, we should also deal with of the EFI/BOOT directory. I also prefixed it with MS- just in case I ever want to revert from my Hackintosh set up. Warning: Whenever you wish to run bcdedit from Windows, you’ll first need to restore the Microsoft folders back temporarily, then afterwards rename it back. Step 3 – Install Clover EFI files Download the latest Clover EFI Bootable ISO and mount the ISO. Copy the BOOT and CLOVER folders over to your EFI partition. You should now end up the following: At this point, configure your Clover config.plist, kexts, and drivers64UEFI. Copy a backup from USB (recommended to have one). Follow a guide if you don’t know how. Fact: When we replaced the BOOT directory, we replaced the default boot loader for the drive. Step 4 – Create custom boot entries Make sure you have the latest version of Clover Configurator. (Fetching partition UUID’s was recently added!) File > Open > navigate to your config.plist Under the Gui section, create a new Custom Entry with the following: Volume – Select the EFI partition that we’ve been working on (from Step 1). The UUID automagically appears — hooray time saved! Path – Use your new custom path, e.g. EFI/MS-Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi Type – Set to Windows Everything else is probably optional Similarly, repeat for your Mac partition. Unlike my screenshot, keep Scan Auto=Yes for the next step (or the UEFI Shell boot item won’t show up). You can turn it off after everything works. Step 5 – Purge all boot entries Reboot. Clover should boot! Run this command: dmpstore -d Bo This will clear the BootOrder and any other Boot entries from the EFI NVRAM. That’s what you want, right? Alternative method: see this forum post Conclusion By circumventing the hard-coded search paths in the UEFI firmware, we prevented the firmware from erroneously adding a “Windows Boot Manager” boot entry on every boot, thus preventing the scenario of the firmware freezing/hanging on boot due to too many entries. Neato

You probably heard that the word of the year in 2013 was Selfie. What that even says about our culture I won’t try to get into here. In the photography world however, the Self Portrait has always been a valid part of Portraiture. And the thing about being the photographer in the family is that very rarely do you end up in front of the lens. You’re almost always behind it, right? The re are three ways to go for a self portrait with a DSLR. With a self-timer or remote, holding the camera at arm's length, or to do a reflection shot, which is what I did here. The location is our local antique shop. I know they have way more beautiful mirrors and interesting backgrounds for a reflection photo than my house. In keeping with the setting I edited the image into a sepia tone and added some minimal vignetting around the edge. What do you think? I’m not 100% sure, I think it could use some practice. There could be more focus on the eye. I’ll schedule another attempt another Friday and see if it can improve. Are you also the photographer who’s never in the photo? Are you a professional selfie-taker? I’d be happy to hear your tips!

There are people around the world who dedicate their lives to noble and humanitarian causes. You get to see documentaries about these individuals often on TV channels and in film festivals. Offering a collection of these documentaries and short films is a site called “Explore”. Explore is a collection of videos and photographs that “document leaders around the world who have devoted their lives to extraordinary causes.” Ranging from animal rights to saving the environment, Explore covers a variety of important topics. The videos and photographs found on the site can be shared across a variety of social networks. They can also be embedded on your own site or blog. By browsing the site you will be able to familiarize yourself with the important issues being faced by people around the world; you will learn how these issues are being dealt with and how they can be solved. A user-friendly website. Provides videos and photos that cover important issues around the world. Familiarizes you with important global issues. Lets you share videos and photos on a variety of social networks. Provides embeddable code for videos and photos. Check out Explore @

Git vacuuming you slacker. So on Tuesday April 2, on MPT, the Maryland PBS station on the kids' show I saw an image that I could even explain it to my daughter I'd have to start with suffragism, and segue into Simone de Beauvoir and A Room of One's Own and discourse on why we have Bratz dolls and the sisters Kardashian and not yet a woman president. It was a convergence of the mystical and the slogging truth of the second-shift of motherhood and its inexorable chores. It was a unicorn mother pushing a vacuum around a room with her nose. Oh yes it was. I had to rub my eyes. Fairydust, surely. Was I really seeing this throwback nonsense? Yes, unicorns do exist. (There's a comfort.) But even in the land of make-believe there is housework. And, appallingly, we cannot (even in fiction) imagine it's anyone else but the mothers who do it, with their noses literally to the grindstone.

When I sat down to write this post, I wasn't really sure what to say or how to start. I always feel like I need to say something incredibly important & meaningful when these kind of posts come along. I mean, how often will I really get to talk about the first year of my life with my husband? It's daunting. In the three years that Danny & I have been together (since April 15, 2011), we've been through some huge ups & downs. Our year apart was incredibly difficult, marked by my grandfather's passing & a variety of other emotional issues, including my work accident. When Danny moved to Oregon, I thought things would get better -- and in some ways they did. Relationships are hard work though. Learning to live together -- and to love each other despite all the little annoying things -- takes a lot of work. The first year living together was just as tough as the year we spent apart, but for entirely different reasons. Some of them revolved around our relationship & some of them were environmental (crappy jobs, crappy feelings, crappy everything). I can easily say though: the day we got married was one of the best days of my life. It was in the midst of one of our toughest periods together (funny that!) and it took a lot of work to get to that day -- and to work our way away from it. Weddings put a lot of pressure on relationships. A lot of people expect a relationship to magically become a marriage the next day. Danny & I aren't fighters and we don't argue -- but we do both stew and stress and pace and snap. We can both be very tense. But, like I said, relationships are hard & marriage doesn't work like that. The first six months -- okay, eight months -- of being married were difficult. Yes, as difficult as our year apart. As difficult as our first year living together. But this time, it was mostly for external reasons. I became increasingly unhappy with my job, with my body, with everything. Of course that impacts everything else too. The last three months have easily been the happiest we've ever been together -- except for maybe the first five months! It's funny how one thing that seemed so awful at the time (leaving my job with no new job waiting, spending three months unemployed) can be the start of a complete life overhaul. It was for the best though. Three months of uncertainty & worry has lead to my being vastly more happy -- and I know Danny is happier too. Danny is absolutely my best friend in the world. He makes me laugh -- he makes me cry with laughter sometimes! I love his taste in movies. I love that we can talk about books and politics and cartoons and everything in between. I love that he thinks I'm still the prettiest girl in the world when I've washed off my make up and dabbed toothpaste and/or Neosporin on my break outs. I love how he has changed how I see the world. I love that he is consistently inconsistent -- always surprising me with something new. I love that he thinks I am the best cook in the world. I love our Friday pizza nights, Saturday morning coffee dates, and Sunday trips to Target. I love watching him play video games on the couch. I love him, period. One more time: relationships are hard work. There are definitely days where I want to drive away into my past, curl up in my childhood bed and not have any responsibility. But those days are getting fewer & farther between. Despite how hard the last few years have been, I wouldn't change them for the world -- because I got to experience them with Danny. Throughout everything -- all the stress, all the outbursts, all the tears -- Danny has stayed beside me & still thinks I am the most beautiful person in the world. And he is the most kind, handsome, passionate, & intelligent person I've ever met. I cannot believe it has been one year since Danny & I got married. I still remember how excited I was. How much I looked forward to walking through Disneyland with him. It has been a roller coaster of a year, but it was worth it -- because Danny is worth it, always. Happy Anniversary, Danny. To many more!

The Chillicothe Campus’ Student Success Center is focused on earning its name by offering the resources that help students make the most of their college experience. The center’s efforts are vital to the campus’ retention efforts which, in turn, align with the statewide landscape of higher education. As OU-C Dean Martin Tuck mentioned in the recent fall semester opening meeting, the state subsidy model for higher education is shifting toward an emphasis on course and program completion. In However, the center makes an impact on campus that goes beyond measurable, pragmatic terms. “The Success Center adds to campus life by offering students an opportunity to experience being an intellectual and engaging in those types of conversations,” said center coordinator and English faculty member Debra Nickles. “It can become an important part of their college experience. In terms of retention, those conversations are often what help students feel a special connection to campus and build the spark that keeps them coming back.” Among outcomes of the center’s work are better and more engaged classroom discussions, which make for a more vibrant learning community on campus. Mathematician Dennis Ray, who doubles as an adjunct faculty member and math center coordinator, noted, “As a classroom teacher, I see the success center pay off, particularly in terms of students’ participation in class. In addition to higher performance in terms of grades, the students have more confidence and, consequently, are more willing to participate in classroom discussions and ask the really good questions.” Beyond technical skills, an emphasis of the center is on helping students develop the critical thinking and communication skills that cut across academic areas and will serve them well in their future academic and professional pursuits. Nickles has a front-row seat to that component of the center. “We look to stay true to our mission of helping students succeed, and that means working with students so that they become learners who can think analytically and express themselves. As both a faculty member and staff member in the Success Center, I tell my students that I am in a neat position. I get to see writing across the curriculum from a broad perspective,” she said. The center supports classroom teaching by offering students an opportunity to talk with a fellow student about particular concerns they may not feel comfortable articulating in a larger setting. “The center and classroom instruction complement each other, especially in terms of providing two learning environments,” Nickles said. “I see students writing across the curriculum and putting their writing skills to use beyond English and communication studies classes. No matter the subject, good writing is important as students learn to express themselves.” A key to the success of the center is the focus on peer interaction between the tutors and their fellow students. “Our student tutors are quality individuals who care about their fellow students,” Ray said. “The peer-to-peer approach is particularly effective. The tutors understand the student’s perspective and base of knowledge.” The student tutors confirm that from their own experience. “Our job is to help students get on their feet so they can succeed. If not for the success center, many students may not have the opportunity they need to develop the skills they need for college,” said student tutor Hautumn Greenleaf. “The whole point is to help students find their academic voice.” Greenleaf was a tutor as an undergraduate student at OU-C, and she is now pursuing a master’s degree in clinical counseling at Ohio University. “We help to fill in the gaps for students,” Greenleaf said. “Faculty members have varying levels of expectations of students and teaching styles. Students can ask questions of us they may not feel comfortable raising in class. If students feel overwhelmed or intimidated, they may leave and wind up dropping out of college.” Math tutor Ryan Holdren said, “It all comes down to the fact that there actually are students who are tutors. We can go more in-depth with the material than they can in class.” Holdren, who is majoring in middle childhood education with an emphasis in math and science, is in his second year as a tutor. “We often become more than just a tutor. Rather, we become a mentor to the students we are helping,” Holdren said. “Maybe if the students we help can excel in math, they will have the confidence to do better in other classes.” The writing center is offering workshops this fall in Quinn Library room 19 on the following topics: • MLA/APA (Modern Language Association and American Psychological Association) Documentation, 3 p.m. on Oct. 10 and 4 p.m. on Oct. 11 • Avoiding Plagiarism, 3 p.m. on Nov. 12 and 4 p.m. on Nov. 13 Seating is limited to 20 individuals on a first-come basis. The center also offers classroom instruction and in-class writing workshops.

This medium distance walk embraces one of the loveliest churches in Sussex and some of the more gentle scenery. It also passes the internationally famous Hickstead Horse Show ground and the marks left by some energetic 1990s road building. The phantoms to be met along the route are inoffensive, though that did not stop one of them hitting the local headlines. 1) From the corner of Bolney Street and Ryecroft Road walk east along Ryecroft Road. This lane ends in a T-junction with what was once the main A23 London-Brighton Road. The modern road lies a hundred yards further east and is constantly busy with the roar of high speed traffic. The old road is now a quiet road running north to link up with lanes that run off to other villages nearby. This stretch of road is haunted by a ghost that was briefly notorious back in the 1980s when it caused a road accident here. The phantom in question is that of a young lady wearing a long coat or dress of some dull colour, such as beige or grey. She is usually seen walking along the side of the road, but on one occasion took a very different route. She stepped out in front of an oncoming car. The driver and passengers all felt the sickening thump as the car hit the woman, whom they took to be a real person. The car swerved out of control and ran off the road. Fortunately neither the driver nor any of the passengers were badly injured, though the car was a wreck. Of the woman who had been apparently run down, there was no sign. The badly shaken driver spent some time searching for the body he was certain must be there, but found nothing. He reported the accident to the police but they, too, were unable to find the missing body. Only then did a local intervene to tell the well known local tale of the haunting. With no better explanation to hand, the missing woman was assumed to have been the ghostly woman of Bolney.

Our Story Since 1987, generations of our students have learned to appreciate the stories, music and techniques of classical ballet in fun classes led by experienced teachers. Your Studio Our supportive and nurturing class experience helps students develop respect, teamwork and leadership as they pursue excellence together. Classes Our students start as young as three years old and many stay with us through high school. Most of our classes last one hour and there are multiple classes every day. Performances Each season, we cast and stage a fully-staged ballet production written and choreographed especially for that season’s dancers with props and scenery.

I know that it can be hard to figure out what help you need. It’s equally difficult to find the right person to support you. Don’t go at it alone! It’s confusing when you’ve heard conflicting advice and read so many recommendations that it makes your head spin. Let me help you clear the fog. While, I may not be the right person to help you, I’m 100% confident that I can help you figure out who is. “At first people refuse to believe that a strange new thing can be done, then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be done–then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago.” ~Frances Hodgson Burnett

The title is Hitch 22 and it appears it will be released this June. He apparently has a whole chapter on Salman Rushdie, and one Amazon reviewer recounts this: he tells of accusations against him of turning on his friend, edward said, at the time said was on his death bed. his account will have him appear as an apologist to his detractors, but there’s no way he can avoid this. [Saul] bellow, of course, was baiting him in manhattan, not only with the magazine with the article about edward said, but also by drawing hitchens out with a question about wordsworth’s political persuasion. That all sounds about right. Perhaps to market this book Hitchens will be prompted to blog, if even temporarily. His writing often reads like, and sometimes is, correspondence -albeit an entirely overwrought correspondence- which would lend itself to blog form.

The metal-truss pedestrian bridge located in Sparta’s Balyeat Park will be replaced this spring with a new pre-cast structure that won’t have the history of the current bridge but will make it easier for pedestrians to get between the park and Sparta library parking lot. The Sparta Village Council voted this week to spend $160,000 to replace the rusting bridge, which village officials say is at the end of its lifespan. “The bridge was moved there from another location on the Rogue River,” Village Manager Martin Super said. The bridge has steps on both ends making it impossible for those in wheelchairs to use and difficult for those with strollers to navigate, Super said. Moore and Bruggink Consulting Engineers, of Grand Rapids is designing the new bridge. The current 60-foot-long metal-truss structure will be carefully removed, leaving the existing abutments in place for the new pre-cast cement structure to use. “We will raise the west end of the bridge so that there aren’t steps and then build a new abutment on the bank of the creek on the east end of the bridge so that an eight-foot-wide handicapped ramp can be built on that end,” Super said. Village officials hope to have the new bridge in place before the start of its annual Town & Country Days festival held each year the third week in July. “The bridge is the choke point for all of the events that use Balyeat Park,” Super said. “People use the park parking lot and the upper lot and they need to be able to get back and forth.” While the old bridge had been re-purposed when it was installed at its current location, Super said the metal bridge is now ready for the scrap pile.

'A socialist poet par excellence . . .' If you remember the sort of things that Ewan McColl sang about then you will have a feeling for Neil C. Young’s Lagan Voices. It is the sound of industrial city, with people at work, sketched in between the dirty river and the back alleys of a depressed town. The river itself is the subject more than once: You are no Liffey or Shannon, Those sinewy channels of myth and rhyme, No fiddles ride over your tide Or lilt a Lagan lullaby, Yet you have the ghost of me still, My childhood all over your bridges and banks, I kicked my dreams like stones Neil Young's Lagan Voices offers poems in the folk idiom, many of which you will feel could do with a tune, such as Maggie's Song. Other poems tell of the plainest moments of a working class childhood, characters like those recalled in Auld Hand, Willie-John and Lizzie, and then a poem like Street which contains 'the batter of doors', 'the scuff of boots on the street', 'a column of blue overalls' and other images combining to present as only poetry can do, a remembered community. Belfast is everywhere and so is tragedy, as in the poem Dan which in 12 lines carries all the pathos and sadness one might find in a short story — though with sheer economy it tells of the fate of one person who ‘upset the big man’. Light shines through the poems, and illuminate a time and place not known to most poetry readers — the working class eras of dances, and factories, tug boats, docks and smoke. In Maggie’s Song, a young lass sings an unheard call to a potential lover, which captures much of the flavour of an era that few will know, outside of the period cinema of the 1950s and 1960s, Distilled within Lagan Voices is that sweet feeling of the joys of childhood, combined to the last detail with the realities of the adult world or work, poverty and grime, and it makes for a memorable experience as readers will travel with Neil Young, back to a finely evoked red-brick world of a lost Belfast.

This video is breathtaking! These two have such a gorgeous practice... they really seem to embody the beauty and grace of being in flow. They are alive with breath, in tune with the body's connection to nature, and so at peace with their yoga. A smile with eyes closed... the slow, sweet movement of hands in prayer from the third eye to the heart center... the effortlessness of finding balance in each pose. Definitely inspiring! Watching this really makes me want to be at Wanderlust again, and to try some acro yoga! (Have you guys tried it?!) I feel very grateful that I've been able to practice in nature this weekend. Tahoe is such an inspiration...to be able to stand on a mountain and listen to the wind in the trees, and feel the sun on my face... it's such a different experience when you take your yoga outside. Feeling so full of love and gratitude! Hope you're having a beautiful day. XO

This haunting photo was found in a Bible that originally belonged to my great grandmother Lena Wilhelms Kohler.  It was passed on to her only child, my grandmother, Emma Kohler Boll and then came into my family with Grandma Boll’s death.  Grandma Boll recorded family information in this Bible for both her family and her […] St. Louis, Missouri My favorite city for genealogical research is St. Louis. As the home of my ancestors for over 150 years, St Louis is full of treasures. I will bring you a wealth of knowledge in your search for ancestors in St. Louis. Natchitoches, Louisiana My husband’s family has taken me to in-depth study of the Natchitoches, Louisiana area from the time when it was the border between French held and Spanish held territory, to the Carolinas, where Bamberg county was named for a relative, and to New York and Holland Land Purchase research. Natchitoches, LA Search FYH Early Boston Settlers Another line led to research in Puritan Boston in the 1630s, to a brother-in-law of both Rev. John Cotton and Rev . Richard Mather. He was numbered among the early Baptists in spite of his relations. Lutheran church planters and New Light Baptists in the Appalachians, LDS pioneers and Catholics, church records yield some of the most interesting insights into their lives.

Page closed This page is now closed. Take a look at other fundraising pages on JustGiving raised of £5,000 target by 0 supporters Sarah Quinney Weʼve raised £0 to help our friend Helen recover after the fire, and move forward with her kids... Location Taunton, United Kingdom Time left Closed on Tuesday, 20th December 2016 Crowdfunding is the new way to raise money for a personal cause on JustGiving. Story Our friend Helen has brought up two kids on her own. She's an amazing, brilliant, and wonderful human being, not asking for much in life. There was an accidental fire in her rented accommodation, which has escalated into her needing to move, as her landlord assaulted her... this crowdfunding is about her friends showing their love and helping her get sorted in a nice place, without stress or worry..... Updates 0 Sarah Quinney started crowdfunding Leave a message of support About the fundraiser Sarah Quinney I'm just a friend of Helen's, trying to help her move forward. Helen has been an amazing friend to me for several years, and she never asks for anything in return... this is my chance to pay back her kindness... JustGiving crowdfunders pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it. Great people make things happen Do you know anyone in need or maybe want to help a local community cause? Create you own page and donʼt let that cause go unfunded! Start a new Page

Since Blogger was launched in 1996, blogs have reshaped the web, impacted politics, shaken up journalism, and enabled millions of people to have a voice and connect with others. Microblogs like Twitter force you to say it in 140 characters. And many of us are already expecting that the entire enchilada is just getting started. "There is nothing better than seeing your favorite band play one of your favorite songs." I have found that comments, good or bad make interesting reading. And we do not get enough of that in these blogs. Most comments are short, but go over very nicely. And they may lead to becoming a Two Center. A person willing to contribute their two cents of information for the benefit of the reader/dancers. I just may get some good advice on improving the blog design a little better (specially colors) without screwing up my good blogs. "Walk With Me Through Paradise" by Melveen Leed How about more fans of live music as possible information contributors? They can contribute information and check it out here first. If it seems to be working, then they can choose whichever blog they would like and get in as Guest Author. An interesting experiment and my hobby continues. The opinions of our reader/dancers are still of prime importance to make this entire blogosphere into dancing Social Media. Nevah been seen before? I know it. "Social Dancers never regret. If it was good, it was wonderful. If it was bad, it was experience."

Data - it's a vital part of business, but how to effectively manage it is still a challenge faced by many in the industry. In attending DaratechPLANT (Houston, TX; Jan. 19-21), Frank Udo, global asset management architect for Shell and one of the keynote speakers of the conference, brought up an interesting analogy between Amazon.com and the world of project management...

PortCityDaily.com is your source for free news and information in the Wilmington area. Athletic teams from Cape Fear Academy are ready for the state playoffs after qualifying for postseason play following strong spring seasons. Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse – Hosting NCISAA Quarterfinal State Playoff Game The Hurricanes boys’ lacrosse team earned a two-seed in the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA) Tournament. CFA will be hosting No. 7 Cary Christian School at 3 p.m. Friday. The Hurricanes finished 13-7 overall as East Central Lacrosse Conference Champions. If CFA wins, they play host to No. 3 Asheville School or No. 6 Davidson Day School on Tuesday, May 17. Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse – Traveling to Charlotte Latin for NCISAA Quarterfinals The NCISAA Girls Lacrosse Tournament is an all-classification tournament. CFA will be traveling to No. 3  Charlotte Latin School on Friday. The Hurricanes qualified for states for the sixth year in a row, with nine wins on the spring. Get the complete bracket by clicking here. Varsity Girls’ Soccer – Hosting NCISAA First Round State Playoff Game Coach Meade McFarlene and the CFA girls soccer team grabbed a seven-seed in the NCISAA 2A Tournament. The Hurricanes host No. 10 seed Calvary Baptist Day School at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 13. CFA was runner-up in the Coastal Rivers Conference following an 8-2 mark in the division and 9-6-2 overall record. If the Hurricanes advance, they would travel to No. 2 Asheville Christian Academy on Tuesday, May 17. Varsity Golf last team selected into NCISAA State Golf Tournament The Cape Fear Academy golf team earned a bid into the NCISAA State Golf Tournament at Willow Creek in High Point on May 16-17. CFA claimed the Coastal Rivers Conference Championship after winning four of five matches this spring. Miles Lindstrom, Jack Sloan, Harris Dozier, and Vance Young were named to the All-Conference Team. Varsity Track team prepares for NCISAA State Meet in Raleigh– May 20-21 Alex Nadaud is looking to impress in three events (800 meter, 1,600 meter and 3,200 meter) this year. Nadaud finished fourth in the 800 meter run at this year’s New Hanover County meet. Tershona Branch is looking to capitalize on her second place finish in  shot  put at the New Hanover County Championships. Comments

3 Beds - Huntington Woods 200 Blakeslee St, Bristol, CT One, Two and Three Bedroom Apartment Homes, Vaulted Ceilings in Second Floor Apartments, Spacious Walk-in Closets and Private Patio/Balcony, Individual full-size washer and dryer connections, Outdoor Swimming Pool, Tennis Court and Basketball Court A 3 bedroom / 2 bathroom unit is available at Huntington Woods on 200 Blakeslee St in Bristol for $1234. Please call (860) 506-6633 to check availability. Amenities: Close to Public Transit Carpeting High Ceilings Garbage, Water, and Sewer Clothes Washing Hookup Large Walkin Closets Available Swimming Pool Central A/C Insink Disposal Balcony-Terrace Childrens Play Area Tennis Facility Clothes Washing Available Close to Highway Clubhouse Kitchen with Dishwasher Fitness Club Wireless Broadband Pet Policy: We are a cat friendly community. We are a dog free community. Features: Convenient Laundry Center 24-hour Emergency Maintenance Brand New Fitness Center! Newly Renovated Clubhouse with Entertaining Area New Playground Wheelchair accessible apartments available AC, Basketball, Clubhouse, Dishwasher, Garbage Disposal, Gym, Internet Access, Patio/Deck, Playground, Pool, Tennis, Washer Dryer More About this Listing: 3 Beds - Huntington Woods 3 Beds - Huntington Woods is a Three Bedroom Two Bath Apartments for Rent at 200 Blakeslee St in Bristol CT. Find other listings like 3 Beds - Huntington Woods and listings near 200 Blakeslee St by searching Oodle Classifieds for Three Bedroom Two Bath Apartments for Rent in Bristol CT

My favorite thing about traveling is the food. And of all the places I’ve traveled, I love the food in Greece the best. I really don’t know much about Greek food except that I have loved everything I’ve ever tasted. I don’t even have any Greek cookbooks (I really need to do something about that!). But I do occasionally create “Greek-inspired” dishes and snacks. This “Greek-inspired” snack came about because I’ve never baked with phyllo (filo) sheets before and I decided it was about time I try! I bought the phyllo last week and it has been sitting in my freezer since. What finally spurred me on was a recipe over at La Tartine Gourmande. The recipe Bea used was pretty different than the one I ultimately used but as soon as I get my hands on some goat cheese and fresh mint, I plan to try the Feta and Mint Cigarettes. What I had on hand was frozen spinach and feta cheese so that became the base of my filling and I’ve found that you really can’t go wrong with spinach and feta! It will probably be a while before I attempt some baklava but these Spinach-Feta Turnovers were pretty easy to put together, even for a phyllo virgin. The worst thing that happened was I tried to unroll the sheets before they had completely defrosted and accidentally broke about three inches of the end of the stacked sheets. To keep the sheets from drying out, I covered them with a paper towel and then spritzed it with water occasionally to keep it damp. It worked pretty well and that way I didn’t have to dampen one of my big kitchen towels.

Daniel Craig And Rachel Weisz Buy NYC Penthouse Daniel Craig and his new wife Rachel Weisz are putting down roots in New York City after buying a marital home in Manhattan, according to a report. The Bond star married fellow Brit Weisz in a secret ceremony in the city in May following a whirlwind romance, and they are now preparing to settle down in a lavish $11.5 million penthouse, according to the New York Post. The publication reports the couple has purchased the three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment in SoHo. The property also boasts a media room with a wood burning fireplace and a large private roof garden.

It was close for most of the game, but the Marquette Golden Eagles never could quite get over the hump. The score was tied at 32 heading into halftime, and Marquette did all they could to stay in the game. However, it just wasn't enough. The end result: an 80-69 win for Bruce Pearl and the Tennessee Volunteers. Because I didn't get to see the game, and because I'm writing this almost 24 hours after the fact, I'm going to take the easy way out and give you some links. Victims of Foul Play (Journal Sentinel) Just in Time For Plenty From Chism (KnoxNews) And here's Sportsbubbler.com's (and MU alum) Dan Walsh's take. Also, not related, but I thought this was funny: Marbury Pays to Watch Knicks (ESPN.com) Like the new article format? Send us feedback!

Stacy Beth Alston Medical staffing specialist at Snelling Staffing Services Alson's responsibilities include medical recruiting and staffing, both clinical and clerical. Snelling was founded in 1951 in Philadelphia, and innovation has been a part of the culture ever since. The company serves more than 5,000 clients with 110 offices and franchises across the country and in Puerto Rico. Its headquarters is in Dallas. Sign Up for Newsletters & Alerts Receive Charlotte Business Journal's Morning Edition and Afternoon Edition newsletters and breaking news alerts.

Galleries, exhibitions and collections Museum collections The Museum Service holds the collection of museum objects for the towns of Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Immingham and the surrounding villages, which make up the area of North East Lincolnshire. This wide-ranging collection includes artworks, costumes, ship models, books, social history objects, fishing-related objects and much more. It is currently kept in a purpose-built, climate-controlled and secure store. There are a couple of notable collections: The Doughty Collection is one. This collection of maritime art, ship models and chinaware was bequested to the town of Grimsby by Wilfred Vere Doughty on his death in 1941. It had been put together by Wilfred and his father, former Great Grimsby MP Sir George Doughty. Both were prominent and wealthy businessmen and the collection was left to the town to be the foundation of the museum collection. The artworks and ship models are some of the most famous items in the collection and are frequently used by the Museum Service in temporary exhibitions The Joan Sleigh Bequest, which is made up of the costumes that were collected by this well-known and respected local costume and textile teacher. Over her lifetime, she built up an extremely large private collection of clothing (which covers hundreds of years) and on her death it was left to the town in the care of the Museum Service Exhibitions The Fishing Heritage Centre has two exhibition galleries, Muriel Barker Gallery and the Cafe Gallery. The museum hosts temporary exhibitions ranging from a mixture of travelling shows and exhibitions created from the Museum Service’s own collections and works by local artists and organisations. --- Murial Barker Gallery An Exhibition of Contemporary Art by Mary Rogers 25 March to 4 September 2016. Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre is proud to welcome local contemporary artist Mary Rogers to the Muriel Barker Gallery. Mary is awestruck by the natural world especially colour at sunrise and compelled to record what she sees. She was Artist In Residence at Spurn Point Lighthouse from 2010 to 2012, a time she describes as the best of her life. Many of the stunning paintings in this exhibition are from sketches created during that time. The exhibition is free and opens on Friday 25 March until Sunday 4th September. Down to the Sea in Ships 8 October 2016 to Sunday 26 February 2017 Sail on down to Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre for a rare chance to see some of the maritime paintings and ship models from the collections of North East Lincolnshire Museum Service. The exhibition explores how artists have been inspired by the power and beauty of the sea. --- Grimsby’s Lost Ships of World War One Tuesday 5 July to Sunday 25 September 2016 An exhibition revealing the secrets of Grimsby’s lost trawlers. Between 2014 and 2018 Shipwrecks of the River Humber Area will dive wrecks of trawlers lost during World War One. Over the next three years Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre will display their findings in a series of three exhibitions. This first exhibition will features videos and photographs alongside the stories of some of the lost trawlers. Pathways – Vivica 1 October 2016 to 15 January 2017 Vivica are a group of local artists with maturity and experience in abundance. They each bring skills and creativity to the group and exhibit together in the disciplines of Photography, Ceramics, Textiles, Sculpture, Painting and Printmaking. They work together on themes and support each other in their artistic endeavours. The exhibition theme of ‘Pathways’ will be an opportunity to explore individual artistic avenues and present a show with variety and vitality. --- Elegance and Beauty An Exhibition of Beautiful Ceramics from the Collections of North East Lincolnshire Museum Service Open from 11 June 2016 to 3 June 2018 Elegance and Beauty brings together ceramics from across 200 years from the late 1600s to the late 1800s. View these beautiful objects alongside some stunning artworks from the museum collection. There is plenty to keep little ones occupied with a gallery quiz, puzzles, books, games and handling objects. The exhibition dressing up area gives children the chance to try on replica Regency clothing. --- Last admission into the Galleries is one hour prior to closing time. Grimsby Fishing Heritage Centre, Alexandra Dock, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, DN31 1UZ Winter – 1st November to 31st March Tuesday to Friday 10 am – 4 pm (Closed Mondays) Saturday and Sunday 10 am – 4 pm (including bank holidays) Summer – 1st April to 31st October Tuesday to Sunday 10 am – 5 pm (Closed Mondays) Bank holiday Mondays open 10 am – 5 pm

When Mateus born, I thought he would sleep all day, but it was not so. With so much doubt, I decided to search about the sleep routines for babies. Today, I share with you how long sleep babies according to age. In the first three months, babies sleep an average of 3 hours in a row (even at night). They sleep an average of 16 hours a day. Around 4 months, babies start to sleep 12 hours in a row at night. The first time that Mateus slept 12 hours straight, we picked a shock because we had no idea if he was okay. I, the owl mom was always looking at him and see if he was breathing. The routine of 12 hours will decrease slowly over the years until an average of 8 to 10 hours of sleep by night. Don't forget that babies aren't all the same, so, it's normal that the sleep routine of your baby may not be the same. How is sleep routine of your baby? Here is a perfect Pin to save on Pinterest or share with your friends.

For a man with such avowed admiration of the Queen, it must have pained Sir Don McKinnon to spend so much time contemplating her death. But it was his duty to do so when he was secretary-general of the Commonwealth - so a succession plan would be in place for the Commonwealth. Working on the plan meant not only discussing it privately with Commonwealth leaders but drawing Prince Charles into the work of the Commonwealth. In the course of the job, Sir Don and his wife, former Radio New Zealand press gallery reporter Clare de Lore, got to know and like the Prince and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall well, as he tells in his new book about eight years in the job, In the Ring. The McKinnons were invited to their wedding in 2005 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, after a civil ceremony in the nearby town hall. "Opposite us, actor Rowan Atkinson looked in character as Mr Bean during the singing of the hymn and even managed to sit down and stand up at the wrong time, causing everyone around us a small chuckle," he writes. During the reception, Sir Don received a friendly little wave from the Queen and joined her in a conversation with her senior farm staff about the problems they were having with heifers. He also spoke to the Duke of Edinburgh who told him he had discovered some in Germany the previous week he had not known about before. Sir Don and his wife hosted a fund-raising dinner for Prince Charles and Camilla in Auckland last year, catered by Peter Gordon, and raised money for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Trust. "We both like Camilla very much and certainly know that Prince Charles has been incredibly relaxed since she has been on the scene publicly," he told the Herald. The amusing royal anecdotes in the book augment the invaluable historical record of events during Sir Don's tenure, such as the suspension of Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth. And there are moments to that crisis, too, such as Robert Mugabe leading Sir Don hand-in-hand to a meeting in Harare in 2000, in which Mugabe then attacks "Tony Blair and his gay Cabinet" for reneging on a land purchase deal. The highest praise is reserved for the Queen, of whom Sir Don writes: "I could not have had a better boss." He had numerous private meetings with her, and had a weekend at Balmoral where he borrowed one of her horses to ride the estate - practising the stockman skills he acquired as a youth. Such was the goodwill between them that when Sir Don's term was up that he and Clare invited the Queen and Prince Philip to their house in London for a farewell lunch - the first time in seven years they had been to a private house in London. Peter Gordon was the caterer and Sir Don didn't tell the two waiting staff who they were serving or even where they were going until a few minutes before they arrived. African leaders, wrote Sir Don, made it clear to him that they did not feel diminished by the Queen of their former colonial power being head of the Commonwealth. He outlines in his book discussions he had with some of the leaders, prominent among them former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo, who had told him that leaders must not get to the point where they vote on it. He also records the Nigerian leader as having said: "We don't feel so small that we have to reject the monarchy to feel big. The monarchy is equally part of our heritage, as is our common law judicial system and our parliamentary system. It keeps the Commonwealth unique." Key ropes in Sir Don for his UN campaign Sir Don McKinnon's association with Africa in his Commonwealth job is now being used by the Government in its bid to gain a seat on the United Nations Security Council. Prime Minister John Key has asked Sir Don to be a special envoy to seek support for New Zealand's bid. The position is from 2015 to 2016 and the election will be held next year. On his way back from launching his book, In the Ring, in London in March, Sir Don stopped off in four countries - Senegal, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Ghana - to campaign for New Zealand and was welcomed by the leaders of three. The fourth was out of the country. As former foreign minister, Sir Don oversaw New Zealand's last successful bid for a Security Council seat, in 1993-94. He is used to international campaigns, having secured his own post while he was foreign minister and allowing former Labour Prime Minister Mike Moore to successfully run for director-general of the World Trade Organisation at the same time as he was campaigning for the Commonwealth job. Sir Don reveals in his book that the Prime Minister at the time, Jenny Shipley, in a private meeting offered him the chance to pull the plug on Government support and funding for Mr Moore's campaign. He told the Herald that his Cabinet colleagues were questioning the wisdom of keeping both campaigns going when the votes for both positions were very close together. Sir Don would not comment on whether the bid by Trade Minister Tim Groser for the same WTO job, which will be decided within a few months, would have any effect on New Zealand's campaign for the Security Council seat. In the Ring, Don McKinnon, Elliott and Thompson, RRP $49.99

Moving all the way to Australia had been tiring, time-consuming and filled with its own little stresses. The biggest of which was the fact that I had left “home” behind. As I mentioned in a previous post, I had to leave most of my things behind. My bed. My books. My car. My giant stuffed moose, named Falafel (and his little  brother Waffle). I also left behind my family, so when I found out moving in that The Housemate’s family was coming to visit and stay with us for two weeks, I knew things were going to get interesting. The Housemate’s sister had recently graduated from university up in Brisbane, so her parents and grandmother were travelling around Australia for a month on holiday. Their last stop was Good Old Melbourne, where her mom, dad and sister were going to crash with us. Our apartment isn’t very big, but I appreciated that The Housemate hadn’t seen much of her family in a few years. She is originally from Indonesia and has been living in Melbourne since she started at uni. her family lives in Jakarta and she hasn’t really been back there since, so it’s been a while since she’d seen everyone. Her uncle, aunt and cousins, along with some other extended family I’m still not quite certain about were all in the city at the same time. Fortunately for me, they weren’t all staying with us. We did, however, spend the Sunday after my Open House Melbourne adventure hanging out in the city together, which was certainly interesting. My first impression of Indonesians is that they are all astoundingly friendly and welcoming, though I suspect that The Housemate’s parents were being extra super nice to me because I had only been in Australia for about two weeks at this point and they knew I’d be feeling overwhelmed (which I was) by them all being around. That being said, it only took them about ten minutes before they officially adopted me as their “Yankee Daughter” and told me that I absolutely had to come to Jakarta and stay with them while I was there. Since all their kids are now out of the house, “Mom” and “Dad” are currently in the throes of a severe case of Empty Nest Syndrome. Their offer to come and stay with them was extended repeatedly for the next two weeks. If I can muster up the cash to go to Indonesia, I’ll definitely be taking them up on it. In any case, that first day when everyone was there was spent waiting for and then hanging out with family. I don’t know if this is a broadly Indonesian characteristic, but none of The Housemate’s family members seemed to be very punctual, so planned events seemed to take place about two hours after their proposed start time. I found it particularly bizarre when The Housemate’s uncle said he was coming over from their place on Flinders Street (a 15 minute trip to our place) and didn’t arrive for more than an hour and a half. In any case, they all made it safely and were awesome. Our first stop was the Queen Victoria Market, which is basically right around the corner from where I live and towards the city a few blocks. I hadn’t been there before and I haven’t been back since, but it is definitely on my to-do list. The reason for this is that it’s such a popular local and tourist attraction that there are about a million people swarming all over the place. As I’ve also previously mentioned, I don’t like crowds, so the narrow shop/flea market thing was not overly enjoyable for me. They have pretty much everything you can think of though, from socks to bacon to bouncy castles, you’re good to go. I discovered that the best strategy for going to Queen Vic is to go later in the day, especially if you intend to go food shopping. The later it gets (say around 3pm being a good time), the more discounted the meat, bread and produce is because they have to get rid of it for the day. We mostly just walked through, but “Mom” bought some really yummy Turkish flatbread that I will definitely need to relocate in the future. Out real quest was for this Spanish restaurant that The Housemate said was amazing and where we were going to eat lunch. It took us a lot longer to get there than it probably should have, but we eventually reached this delicious-smelling heaven of paella and got to eating. Real tapas = yum. This was the part where I felt like I had become a part of The Housemate’s family – the one little white girl from New Jersey, sitting around a table with eight of her family members, as we all stuffed our faces with some of the best paella I’ve ever had. It was really great. From there we soft of futzed around for a bit and eventually wound up at the hotel The Housemate’s Aunt and Uncle were staying at. It was a pretty neat apartment-style place that had some excellent views of the Yarra River and the Etihad Stadium, which was getting ready for an AFL match for the evening. I got some great photos of some of the bigger buildings in Melbourne’s CBD while the sun was going down. We were pretty high up, which I loved. After that, The Housemate got a message from a friend of hers saying that she and her mom, who was visiting, were at a local cider bar a few blocks away, so we headed over there to say hello. By this point I was pretty tired, but it had been a fun day. We got to the bar and unsurprisingly enough, the only person the guy at the door stopped and carded was me. It’s sad enough that I get carded in the States when I try to go to R-rated movies, but I was kind of miffed by being carded in an Australian bar. Unlike in the States where the drinking age is 21, you can drink at 18 in Australia. I am 26. Damn you, baby face! It’s actually really not that big a deal because I don’t drink at all anyway, but still. Annoying. After being there for a while and after having an extremely tiny, drunk Irishwoman nearly spill her beer on me and then ask me to take photos of her and her friends on her phone, we eventually (thankfully) got some food. I absolutely hate that you can’t eat out for less than $20 in Melbourne. Everything is expensive, tiny, and relatively mediocre-tasting. Given that I’m a poor uni student again, I will not be going out all that much. Ugh, food. Believe me when I say that I have a very strongly worded pizza-themed rant in the works.

I took a bit of a break this past week. It may have appeared to coincide with the holiday, but the time of year wasn’t the cause. It was the digging. Yes, the repercussions of the infernal digging that took place last Saturday were felt all through the week. The tendons in my hands and wrists were very upset. And as a direct result, my time at the keyboard was severely curtailed as the lifeless claws that occupy the space at the end of my arms convalesced. I did what I could for them. I wrapped them in tightly Velcroed wrist braces and spent the week feeling alternatively like a sci-fi action hero and a tumble-prone rollerblader. This may have been a result of too much ibuprofen, however. I can’t be sure. Not much is written about the hallucinatory properties of my favorite of pain killing medication. I thought the hands had returned to some semblance of their former selves, but just the briefest of stints playing Rock Band on Friday demonstrated that I’m not quite forgiven for what I’d put them through. They didn’t seem bothered, however, by a several-hour long Halo 3 session. They are fickle, these hands of mine.

My favorite Christmas memory took place almost fourteen years ago. I was in high school working the closing shift in a local grocery store. We were about to close, and I noticed a man dump a small bundle by the trash can outside. I guess he thought we were already shut down for the night because when the bundle moved, he kicked it back against the wall. To my surprise the bundle yelped. My manager and I ran to the door in time to see the man jump in his vehicle and speed off. The tiny bundle—a pudgy, newborn puppy—shivered in the cold night air. Knowing my mom had a heart for pets, I explained the situation and she agreed to let me keep the baby dog. We took her to the vet and discovered she was a German Shepherd mix and was only about a week old, which explained why the pads on her feet were not worn or calloused. I named her Gretchen. Gretchy was an awesome guard dog and a loving “lap” baby. She also had her quirks like stretching out full length beside me on my old bed, until I got married and she had to sleep in a doggy bed. Also, I couldn’t give her squeaky toys because she tried to protect them like they were her puppies. Two years ago my husband and I moved six hours away from family and friends and had to leave Gretchy with my mom who took excellent care of her for us. Sadly Gretchy contracted a form of canine cancer, as my other dog Maggie did, and recently passed away.

Gallup: Most Support Extension Of Tax Cuts, Unemployment Benefits A newly released Gallup poll found that 66 percent of Americans are in favor of extending the Bush-era tax cuts and extending unemployment benefits. Lydia Saad, of Gallup, adds: This differs slightly from a November Gallup poll giving Americans three options for extending the Bush tax cuts. That poll found 40% in favor of extending the tax cuts for all Americans, 44% in favor of extending them with limits on tax breaks for the wealthy, and 13% in favor of letting the tax breaks expire altogether. Nevertheless, the results of the new question suggest that, while the compromise position on taxes may not be their ideal, most Americans would support congressional passage of it. Results form the poll, which was conducted between Dec. 3-6, come just after President Obama came to a compromise with Republican lawmakers to extend the tax cuts and the unemployment benefits. But the deep political divide was evident in the poll: 85 percent of Republicans supported extension of tax cuts; 52 percent of Democrats did. 84 percent of Democrats supported the extension of unemployment benefits; 43 percent of Republicans felt the same way.

I'm interrupting our NYC vacation journal to wish my Dad a very Happy Birthday. I am so fortunate to have Dad as my Dad :) He's loving, kind, thoughtful and generous. He has a poetic nature, but he doesn't often like to show it.... it does appear and not only with the poems he writes for my Mom, but in other ways as well. Such as when my cousin's son sent out a graduation card. My uncle Billy passed away when I was a little girl. My cousin, "Bill" is the 2nd, named after his Dad. And his son is Billy, the 3rd. My parents sent a card to Billy III and Dad created the card... on the outside was a picture of III and on the inside, Dad found a picture of uncle Billy, put it in the inside with the words, "Wishing I was there." It brought tears to my eyes.. See, to me, that's poetic. It's thoughtful and beautiful and it comes from Dad's generous heart. Thank you, Dad, for being so wonderful, not just to your immediate family but to all who are lucky enough to be your friends! I love you! (Greg says, "Happy Birthday Poopsy Doo" - something Dad usually says :)

There are no medals for singing in football (we think), but there should be. Arsenal players just can. not. help. them. selves. The latest player to demonstrate his prowess for musical endeavours was Santi Cazorla, who, as it turns out, can conduct a choir like he can conduct a midfield (quite well). Who's the best singer at Arsenal? Here are some of the options... Podolski All of Arsenal... being terrible Poor old Calum Chambers By the way, there's a German song about Podolski - It's mental Who is the best singer at Arsenal? 0+ VOTES SO FAR

Sylvia's Chicken Scaloppine Here is another good one from my new book, Love Notes to Our Moms. I have tried this one and it is so good. Fixed with pasta and some French bread. It's out of this world. Oh man! this is a fantastic Scaloppine! I've made a million different variations of this dish over the last several years and this is by far my favorite. I personally loved the strong lemon flavor and like that it doesn't call for a ton of butter like many other recipes do. I will most definitely be making this again and again. Thanks GertC! With a meat mallet, pound chicken breast to 1/2 inches thick. In a small bowl, combine flour and cheese. Dredge both sides of chicken breast in flour mixture. In a large sauté pan, sauté chicken breasts in 1 teaspoons olive oil for 3-5 minute on each side or until cooked through. Remove from pan. Heat butter and remaining olive oil together over medium-low heat. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add wine and simmer for about 3 minute or until wine is evaporated. Add remaining ingredients except salt, pepper and parsley. Simmer sauce for 5 more minute. Add salt and pepper. Serve over chicken breast with 2 tablespoons sauce and 1/2 cup cooked angel hair pasta and parsley.

Photography Is A Drug A triple exposure photograph. You've probably noticed that I've published very little on the over the last month. I've been feeling uninspired lately, going through a bit of a funk. I've been doing this blog for almost six years now. I've covered a ton of topics. I've said so much. I've repeated myself a number of times. It's not always easy to come up with original content. Besides that, I'm compensated very, very little for the time and effort I put into this. Nobody pays me for what I write. You may have noticed a few small advertisements on this page--if you click on those and spend money I get a tiny cut. It doesn't even average a dollar an hour. The purpose of this blog is not money, but sometimes I do wish that I was compensated more for what I do here. Because I could be doing other things. It was kind of nice doing other things instead of blogging during the last several weeks. Still, I have my reasons for keeping this blog going, and much of that is you, the readers. Some of you have been following the Roesch Photography Blog for years. Thank you so much! I've also felt uninspired in my photography. I think that a lot of my "typical" photographs aren't good enough. I want to capture better images, not ordinary pictures. I haven't picked up my camera much in the last month (yes, a little here and there, but not nearly as much as usual). I'm tired of making a bunch of mediocre photographs with the occasional good one. I want to create things that I'm more proud of. It's easy to say that, but much harder to do. Especially when you are not feeling inspired. This is a make or break moment! I could easily quit altogether. But I choose instead to move forward. To try harder. To be more creative. Dormant Trees In A Jar A double exposure photograph. I'm starting a new photography project. I captured one "test" image ( Dormant Trees In A Jar ) to make sure that I could do it. Now I'm waiting for something to arrive in the mail so that I can actually begin. It has to do with double-exposure photography (which I love but have had trouble coming up with interesting ways to execute it without being cliche). I'm actually stealing the idea from photographer . My intentions are not to copy his work, but to add my own twist to create something similar to what he's doing, yet different and unique to me. So stay tuned! Once I get the things I need, I plan to concentrate on this project and spend the next several months making the images that I see in my mind.

Stationery Cards Who is the man in the bowler? Superheroes SF DESCRIPTION Set of folded stationery cards printed on bright white, smooth card stock to bring your personal artistic style to everyday correspondence. Each card is blank on the inside and includes a soft white, European fold envelope for mailing. ABOUT THE ART "Who is the man in the bowler?" - 2011 Another vintage take on Classic Super heroes. Hope you like it.

August 9 will bring the start of bridge repair work on Route 244 in Genesee Township, Potter County, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). A lengthy detour will begin that day as deck replacement work gets underway on a bridge spanning Cryder Creek, just southwest of the New York state line. The 105-foot bridge dates from 1949 and carries average daily traffic of almost 880 vehicles. Starting August 9, the section of Route 244 near the bridge will be closed and an official detour of more than 20 miles will be in effect until mid-October. The detour will make use of PA Route 449 into New York State, where PA Route 449 becomes New York Route 19. Drivers will follow New York Route 19 to the intersection with New York Route 248 in Stannards and then follow New York Route 248 to the intersection with New York Route 248A before returning to Pennsylvania and PA Route 244. Drivers familiar with the area may also choose to use alternate routes. Work will include replacing the existing deck with a new deck of lightweight concrete. Repairing the deck will keep the bridge in useful service for years to come and will allow PennDOT to remove it from Potter County’s structurally deficient list. Along with the deck replacement, work includes steel and concrete structure repairs, paving, base drains, guide rail installations, pavement markings, and miscellaneous items. All work is weather dependent, with the tentative end date set for October 27. Once the detour is lifted in mid-October, remaining work will take place under daylight flagging and an alternating traffic pattern. L.C. Whitford Company, Inc. of Wellsville, New York is the contractor on this $932,000 job.

Bar / Club / Lounge They're pals even off the parquet! After performing together on Dancing with the Stars this week, Kellie Pickler and pro Derek Hough enjoyed a night out with fellow DWTS pals (and Picker's husband Kyle Jacobs) at the Sayers Club in L.A. The country star, in skinny black pants and a black sweater, spent most of her time with her hubby and a brunette friend – but then she was front and center as Mark Ballas took the stage (at 12:35 a.m.) for a seven-song concert. Pickler was spotted cheering and clapping along to the music, though by the fourth song or so, she seemed to be a bit tired and headed over to the tables where her dance partner Hough was watching the show. Pickler caught the rest of the show at the table, sipping water from a bottle, before heading out with her hubby. Credit: Splash News Online The Hills are alive with the sound of club music! Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt celebrated the three year anniversary of Crazy Horse III Gentlemen's Club in Las Vegas on Friday night. Montag – who hosted the event – arrived wearing skin-tight black leather shorts and a see-through black top. Joined by husband Pratt, the former Hills costars sat at a VIP table where they toasted with Dom Perignon Champagne and Patrón shots. "Heidi came to the club with a mission – to get her first ever lap dance!" an onlooker tells PEOPLE. "Heidi selected two bombshell dancers and she showered them in $1 bills." – Melody Chiu Madge-ic! Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka, Emma Roberts, Brad Goreski, Revenge's Ashley Madekwe, Pretty Little Liar's Shay Mitchell, Glee's Darren Criss and Mark Salling all attended A|X Armani Exchange's takeover of HYDE Lounge at the Staples Center for Madonna's "MDNA" concert in Los Angeles on Wednesday night. "Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka were on their feet for 'Like a Prayer'," an onlooker tells PEOPLE."They were adorable and loved it." Guests danced to some of the singer's greatest hits like "Holiday" and "Turn Up the Radio." "Emma and Shay put on Madonna-inspired lace gloves and pearls while they tried voguing," the source adds. – Jennifer Garcia Who says you can't blend fashion and football? Rita Ora did when she took in some Monday night football at the Ainsworth in New York City. Wearing dark red lipstick and platforms, the fashionphile – who wore custom Emilio Pucci to the MTV VMAs last month – made watching the pigskin pretty. The Jay-Z's protégée is rumored to be dating Rob Kardashian. Recently, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star shared a photo of the duo sporting matching Rolex watches. "HIS & HERS GOLD ROLLIES B–ES!!!!!!! who else does this??? @RITAORA" he recently Tweeted. Knicks player J.R. Smith was also in the house that evening, cozying up to a female friend in a booth. "J.R. was mellow, he was watching both the football game and the Yankees game at the same time," an onlooker tells PEOPLE. Credit: Ramey; Giulio Marcocchi/Sipa USA Mel-ded together! Embattled actor Mel Gibson partied at AV Nightclub in Hollywood on Friday. The Get the Gringo star arrived just before midnight with a car full of girls, including the actor's rumored girlfriend, Nadia Lanfranconi. Lanfranconi, who was dressed in a short black and white dress and knee-high black boots, and Gibson looked "very happy," an onlooker tells PEOPLE. "Mel was smiling, laughing and talking with friends all night," the source adds. "He even chatted with guests waiting outside in line!" Birthday bash-elorette! Former Bachelorette star Ali Fedotowsky celebrated her 28th birthday in Chicago on Wednesday night. The LXTV 1st Look host hung out at hotspot Nellcôte where she shared small plates and neopolitan style pizzas with friends. "Their table was directly next to the DJ and Ali was saying she's been taking DJ lessons, so she asked if she could spin a few songs," an onlooker tells PEOPLE. After Fedotowsky tried her hand at playing for the crowd, the group took shots of Nellcote's reserved bourbon blend, followed by a platter of Sprinkles cupcakes. "Ali had a hard time making a birthday wish because her friends used trick candles!" the source adds. Thanks for celebrating with me! RT @kevinmheineman: Happy birthday @alifedotowsky! Trick candles, classic instagr.am/p/PyHXXyMxEe/ — Ali Fedotowsky (@AliFedotowsky) September 20, 2012 Pretty Little Liars actress Lucy Hale stepped out with Teen Wolf actor Colton Haynes at Chateau Marmont in Hollywood on Saturday night. Arriving around 10:45 p.m. Hale – wearing a short white dress – and Haynes spent their evening with a big group of friends, who looked happy to be together. "They were both in a great mood and enjoying the company," an onlooker tells PEOPLE. Hale sipped on a glass of white wine as she excitedly chatted with a blonde female friend. Meanwhile, Haynes and friends ordered and shared several desserts just before midnight. Pool party! Mario Lopez kicked off his bachelor party weekend at TAO Beach in Las Vegas on Friday afternoon. "Just checked in.. Heading to the pool for some drinks, then a little gambling… Dinner & club later… 15 of us guys here! #DeepEntourage," Lopez Tweeted on Friday. The Extra and America's Best Dance Crew host and friends snacked on crispy rice, quesadillas, fresh fruit and sushi while they soaked up the sun. As Lopez relaxed, little did he know his fiancée Courtney Mazza was planning a surprise for her soon-to-be husband. Looks like Katy Perry and John Mayer were waking up in Vegas! The on-again off-again couple were spotted in Sin City early Sunday morning. With a group of friends, the duo spent their night out at Spearmint Rhino ... a strip club! "They were together in a group," an onlooker tells PEOPLE. "As for whether they got dances, they were in a strip club ... you do the math." The group had so much fun, they stayed until 5 a.m. After a storied career in which he won 18 Olympic gold medals, and 22 medals overall, Michael Phelps celebrated his retirement from competitive swimming this weekend at – what else? – a pool party. Phelps, 27, who became a legend in Athens, Beijing and London, chose Las Vegas as the city for his send-off, enjoying a raucous Saturday afternoon at the Encore Beach Club with friends, fans and fellow swimmers – including his training partner and close friend Allison Schmitt. The Maryland native was grinning ear to ear as the club's bikini-clad servers gave him a special cake paying tribute to his 22 medals, the most won by any Olympian in history. The most buzzed about stars this minute! Treat Yourself! 4 Preview Issues Got a News Tip? Send it to our People.com editors!

I sort of went on a cookie fast this summer. I'm not sure why. I'm sure you can imagine the delight of a child, who after a summer of being told, "No, I don't have a cookie to give you as a treat" was finally told, "If you eat all your dinner, you can have a cookie." Oh, the squeals! There was pure excitement, followed quickly by a rapid clapping of hands! The delight pretty much bubbled up in me too! These cookies hold true to a regular snickerdoodle--crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. The addition of the the extra spices only gives this cookie a deeper flavor. These cookies only lasted a couple of days in my kitchen. Maybe a cookie fast isn't such a great idea, after all. Cookies are good for your soul. Adapted from My Madison Bistro 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup room temperature unsalted butter 2 large eggs, at room temperature 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons cream of tartar 1 teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg ¼ teaspoon ground cloves ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Sift the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. Cream sugar and butter on medium speed. Add eggs, 1 at a time, until mixed. Reduce speed to low and slowly add the flour mixture until just combined, scraping down the bowl with a spatula as needed. In a small bowl, mix the remaining ¼ cup sugar with the spices Form dough into 1 ¼ inch balls and roll in sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on parchment lined baking sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes; cool 5 minutes on baking sheet before removing to wire rack to thoroughly cool.

Tupelo’s general election mayoral nominees – Democrat Doyce Deas and Republican Jack Reed, Jr. – on Monday strongly agreed that their most important appointments, if elected, would be to the Tupelo School Board, important common ground in a year of transition within the Tupelo district. Deas and Reed appeared at the Tupelo Rotary Club, whose members earlier submitted questions to be asked at what was billed as a debate. Both candidates were given two minutes to answer the same eight topical questions: – Mayor/City Council relations; – The city’s role in aiding economic development; – Annexation issues; – Relations with other Lee County governments and unincorporated areas ; – The future of the Major Thoroughfare Program; – The importance of Tupelo’s appearance; – Views on the strong mayor-council form of government; and, – A mayor’s role in supporting public education. Both candidates offered clear answers on all the topics, and there was more agreement than disagreement in what was said. Their strongest affirmative answer related to the Tupelo schools, of which both are graduates and in which both have been deeply involved in voluntary supportive capacities. Deas served 15 years on the school board. Their empathy for the public schools would be immensely helpful as a communicator, advocate and tone-setter in the coming year during which a new superintendent, North Carolinian Randy Shaver, will succeed the retiring Randy McCoy, and school alignments by grade and intra-district lines will change. Tupelo’s communitywide support for its public schools helped carry the district successfully through the challenging transition to full integration in the 1960s and early 1970s. That support included the steadfast backing of boards of aldermen and mayors – along with an amazing core of civic leadership that included older members of the two candidates’ families. Unlike other communities in Mississippi and elsewhere, there’s never been an assumption that Tupelo’s public schools would fail. The intent always has been success and improvement – relying on confident, competent leadership in key positions. The mayor and City Council don’t have direct input in school policy. The mayor’s chief role is in nominating exceptionally qualified and enthusiastic trustees, with the council following in confirming them. All citizens, including the mayor and members of the City Council, should play a role in maintaining an outlook in which the schools can continue to change, improve and remain fully appealing to parents and students.

Steamboat Springs Police Department community service officer Scott Shaffer issues warnings for jaywalking to Adam Knapp and Dana Stein, both of Steamboat Springs, at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Sixth Street on Aug. 17. Stories this photo appears in: With it now clearly illegal for pedestrians to cross Lincoln Avenue at Sixth Street, organizers of the Mainstreet Farmers Market might consider finding a new home for the summertime event.

Photo Of The Exotic Express Outside WWE Raw, Concern Over The Undertaker On Social Media – The Exotic Express that we’ve seen in WWE’s Adam Rose vignettes is a real thing. Below is a photo of the bus parked outside of the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama for last night’s RAW: – There were rumors going around about The Undertaker’s health on social media yesterday after some chatter from Bill DeMott and Taker’s wife Michelle McCool. McCool posted a comment about how Taker is the toughest man she knows. DeMott later tweeted McCool that he and his wife were praying for her, and hoped everything was working out. A fan asked DeMott what was wrong with McCool and he replied, “Michelle is fine, just wanted her to know we are thinking of her.”

First Floor 3184 s.f. Porches 736 s.f. Garage 896 s.f. Opt. Carport 672 s.f. Opt. Basement 546 s.f. Width 84’ + Carport Depth 82’ 9% South Glass Front Faces East The Dream Horse was born when a horse-loving couple decided to create their dream home. Doors and windows have been carefully placed to take advantage of the winter sun, balanced daylight and other views. The east-facing front porch and breakfast nook capture sunrises while the private master patio and bath capture the sunsets. Creating a central courtyard allows for more south glass than would normally be possible in larger one-story plans that can have dark inner spaces if they are not sun-inspired. The north wing of the home can be closed off for privacy or energy-savings.

Have we reached the point where the good and bad teams begin to sort themselves out? Is it already time to separate the pros from the cons, the platinum from the bronze (that might make sense in a moment)? The schedule says no, but some of these results argue otherwise. In case you missed anything, here’s what went down in week 6. In honor of the first MLL game in New York City, each matchup gets with an appropriate Jay-Z line. Only seemed right. Chesapeake Bayhawks 21, New York Lizards 8 Ain’t No Love in the Heart of the City In their first game on Randall’s Island, the New York Lizards played Drew Westervelt to an 8-8 tie. Unfortunately for the Lizards, several other people play for the Chesapeake Bayhawks, many of whom scored goals as well. Connor was at the game, and has already done a solid recap of both the game and the live experience, so I won’t do the same here. I will, however, say this: Be it against the New York Lizards, the lacrosse world as a whole, or just to their own excellence, the Chesapeake Bayhawks clearly had something to prove Thursday night. Between Matt Abott running through double and triple teams (on his way to the most non-linear clears known to man) and John Grant Jr double swim-dodging Kevin Unterstein before his third goal of the night (and don’t even get me started on that backhanded BTB), they didn’t just beat the Lizards, they made an example of them. Why’d they do it? Who knows, maybe it was the back to back overtime heartbreakers, or the increasingly chippy nature of the game? All that matters is that Cottle and co. were out there playing chess, not checkers (off-ball screens, well-timed first and second slides, hyperactive ball movement, etc), which is exactly what you’d expect from a championship team that returned with their 2012 lineup almost entirely intact. Meanwhile, the Lizards’s offensive troubles continued, with Pannell, Berger, Seibald, Earl, and Marasco shooting a combined 0-20. There’s both credit and blame for most stats like these, and while Kip Turner had a series of tremendous point-blank saves throughout the night, the Lizards’ shot percentage has camped out near the bottom of the rankings for quite a while now. However, we’re still a few weeks away from full-fledged panic mode, meaning New York still has time for their whole to at least equal the sum of their parts, and not just a little bit less. Boston Cannons 14, Rochester Rattlers 16 Roc Boys (and the winner is..) “I think John Ranagan’s a stud” Rochester head coach Tim Soudan said the above last week regarding the rookie midfielder from Johns Hopkins, which helps explain why he was perfectly comfortable handing him the ball against Kyle Sweeney with one minute left and a one-goal lead. Not only did Ranagan protect the ball, he went the cage and helped seal Rochester’s win in front of 4,440 + at Kennesaw State University in Georgia. He also made Evan Washburn eat his words, after Washburn said he counted Ranagan’s ability to score in the MLL. Rochester took an interesting approach to defending Paul Rabil, sending d-middies like Dan Groot or Michael Lazore out to cover him instead of specifically giving LSM Joel White the assignment. It’s not entirely unheard of (Denver, for example, does this all the time); the thought may be to focus a team’s defensive efforts elsewhere, concentrating more on secondary scorers. Rabil finished with two goals and two assists on the evening. After a fairly even first half which saw Boston as the slightly better team, the Rattlers scored 10 of the final 13 goals, including the first three of Ranagan’s career. Jordan Macintosh led all scorers with four goals, and Ned Crotty (alternating between attack and midfield) finished with a goal and three assists. The game featured a fairly strange ending, where Rabil and John Galloway were given holding and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, respectively, with 20 seconds left (no clue what Galloway did to get that call, but he must have gotten his money’s worth when speaking to the refs). With Galloway serving his penalty during the potential game-tying possession,  enter Rochester backup Joe Banno, who’d been just hanging out and minding his business since the week 4 blowout against Denver. Fortunately for Galloway and the Rattlers, Boston couldn’t put a shot on cage, and they left Atlanta with the victiory. In addition to that poorly-timed (but ultimately harmless) penalty, Galloway finished with 23 saves (including seven in the fourth quarter) and a team-high nine ground balls, earning him defensive player of the week honors for the second consecutive week. Well deserved, and he clearly delivered on his promise to play better. And then some! We’ve beaten this point into the ground, so unless the pattern changes, this is the last time I’m saying this: when Boyle scores, the Cannons win. The Cannons haven’t been doing much winning, so clearly, Boyle hasn’t been doing much scoring. One shot was the lone mark on an otherwise goose-egg laden stat line. Was Boyle content to look for Matt Poskay (he did put 10 shots on goal) or defer to Will Manny? Does moving Rabil in and out of the attack position make Boyle change his game? You get the benefit of the doubt when you have 400 points on your resume, but there’s clearly an issue somewhere with Boston’s offensive chemistry. Ohio Machine 7, Charlotte Hounds 13 If you haven’t already, make sure you check Lance Antoine’s column on Saturday’s Ohio-Charlotte game. Since he handled the Hounds, I’ll talk Machine for a bit. Even without a win, there is a LOT to talk about. We don’t really have time for 99 of them, so let’s go with a few major problems currently hindering the Ohio Machine in their quest for double-digit scoring: shot selection, turnovers,  and offensive identity. Shot Selection: So many forced shots and poor angles. Maybe it’s a matter of the rookies learning to adapt to the MLL shot clock, but knowing when and where to shoot are clearly still a work in progress for many on the team. Turnovers: Here’s all I’m saying: if I coach a winless team that hasn’t scored in double-digits all season, and I see someone throwing a one-handed pass to nobody in particular, he and I are going to have a serious problem. Offensive Identity: Seriously, does Steele Stanwick he have the keys to the offense or not? He had two solid assists in the first quarter, and though he tried calling his own number a few times, the offense seemd to stop running through him the further along the game went. Is Steele going to regularly move to the wing and let Jake Bernhardt or Marcus Holman run the offense? What do you think (currently at home with a hamstring injury), Chazz Woodson? Interesting. You know, I think he might be onto something. Let’s give that a try. Hamilton Nationals  9, Denver Outlaws 22 On to the Next One With four different Outlaws players putting up four goals each, the line “I got a million ways to get it. Choose one.” may never ring more appropriate than when applied to this game. Denver scored on 38% of their shots (matching their league-leading average; only two teams shoot above 30%), led the game for 59:13, and quite simply, plain-ol’ steamrolled the Hamilton Nationals in what we thought had the makings of the weekend’s main event. The Outlaws got things started early with two Zack Greer goals in the first minute and a half. And not just any goals, goals scored off a screen and a pick & roll, respectively. When the Outlaws started the game by using Hamilton’s bread and butter offense to perfection, it was, in hindsight, a pretty good indicator of what was about to take place. From that point on, Denver never looked back. “What do you mean ‘from that point on,’ you’ve only described a minute and a half.” Yeah, I know. Doesn’t matter. Anthony Kelly won 11 of the first 12 faceoffs, and by the time Matt Dolente won his second, the score was 9-2. And that, my friends, is how a game gets really ugly, really fast. As if the Outlaws don’t have enough weapons as is, attackman Eric Law arrived from the University of Denver (literally – he graduated that morning), suited up, and dropped four goals (on four shots) in his MLL debut. Even when things didn’t work out for Law (he dropped a pass while wide open on the crease), they still worked out for him (picked it up and tossed it in behind the back) – it was just that kind of day. Lee Zink and the Denver defense were solid as usual, holding Stephen Keogh, Kevin Cunningham and Cody Jamieson (14 combined points in week 5 at Chesapeake) to just one assist each. Kevin Crowley had four goals, and Garrett Thul scored three in his debut, but it was nowhere near enough to keep things close. Not everything went well for the Outlaws, however, as Jesse Schwartzmann was forced to leave the game early in the third quarter with an apparent hamstring injury. We’ll most likely get an update on the severity later this week, but Denver needs him as close to 100% as possible as they take on the Bayhawks this weekend. And then there was one. The Denver Outlaws stand alone atop the MLL standings, with the Bayhawks next in line to take their shot. With several teams making moves this week,  your current kings of the league. Week 7 kicks off with another Thursday night Lizards game, so check back soon for the preview. In the meantime, make sure you check out our additional MLL coverage.

A Catfish Tale A Catfish Tale A Bayou Story of the Fisherman and His Wife Albert Whitman & Company, Hardcover, 9780807510988, 32pp. Individual store prices may vary. Buy at Local Store Enter your zip code below to purchase from an indie close to you. Deep in the bayou, a Cajun fisherman named Jack catches a magic fish that offers to grant wishes in exchange for being set free. Jack doesn't have a lot of wishes, but his wife Jolie sure does--for a mansion, a paddleboat, fame and fortune With each wish, all the fish says is "Ah, tooloulou--if that ain't the easiest thing to do." But when Jolie wants to be crowned Mardi Gras queen, have things gone too far? Whitney Stewart is the author of many books for children including Who Was Walt Disney? and Marshall: A Nantucket Sea Rescue. She lives in New Orleans, Louisiana, with her husband and son. Gerald Guerlais's books for children include Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten! and A Fright in the Night. In addition to his book illustration work, Gerald Guerlais has worked in animation and video game design. He lives in France.

Happy Wednesday! Today there is an amazing new challenge over at ! Liz Chidester has provided another fun sketch for everyone to play along with. It's the perfect sketch because you can use it to create a layout or a card! Since I love creating cards and need to get started on my Easter greetings, I chose to create this sweet little card... I used my new papers from Emma's Shop to give this card a soft spring color palette. Aren't those papers just gorgeous? I could just eat them up! I love them so much that I horded every scrap piece after cutting it because I don't want to waste one single piece of this paper. lol! Of course, I added lots of embellishments. I just can't help it! They make me happy! Now I'd love to see you play along with the challenge this week. You have until Sunday, March 27, at 9:00 p.m. (eastern time) to enter your project over at based on the sketch below... Create any project you wish using this sketch as your inspiration. Thanks for stopping by! Supplies Used for "Easter Wishes" Card: Cardstock: (White) Papertrey Ink Patterned Paper: (Emma's Shoppe) Crate Paper Emboss Plate: (Polka Dots) Sizzix Stamp: (Mega Mixed Messages) Papertrey Ink

This property has been removed by the agent. It may be sold or temporarily removed from the market 2 bedroom semi-detached house for sale School Lane, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 Sold STC £315,000 Property Description Key features Two Bedrooms Semi-Detached Chalet Style Bungalow Lounge Kitchen/Dining Room Refitted Bathroom No Chain Full description Garnham H Bewley are delighted to offer for sale this two double bedroom chalet style semi-detached bungalow situated in the popular village of Ashurstwood. Ashurstwood has a variety of village shops including a butchers, a hairdressers, a popular primary school and great bus routes. East Grinstead town centre is approximately 1.5miles distant and has a mainline railway station to London Victoria. The ground floor accommodation consists of entrance porch with double aspect windows, storage cupboard and stairs to the first floor. The impressive lounge has a large window to the front aspect, working coal fire with wooden surround, inset ceiling lighting and understair storage cupboard. The kitchen/dining room enjoys a nice outlook over the rear garden and has French doors out onto the patio area. The kitchen/dining room is fitted in a comprehensive range of wall and base level units with area of work surface, breakfast bar, built in double oven with four ring electric hob, integrated fridge/freezer, washing machine and dishwasher, part tiled walls, tiled floor, under floor heating, inset ceiling lighting and a window to the side aspect. Also on the ground floor there is a generous size master bedroom and a beautifully appointed bathroom. The refitted bathroom consists of a white suite with a p-shape jazzuci bath with wall mounted chrome shower, glass curved shower screen, low level W.C, wash hand basin, fully tiled walls, tiled floor, under floor heating, inset ceiling lighting and a window to the side aspect. The first floor accommodation consists of the second bedroom which has two large windows to the front and rear aspect allowing plenty of light. This generous size bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe and further eave storage. Outside to the front of the property is ample off road parking and an area of lawn with mature hedging and flowering plants. There is a detached garage with an up and over door, side door and windows to the side and rear aspect. To the rear of the garage there is a storage area with a low level W.C and a sink. The rear garden is mainly laid to lawn with a patio area and a variety of nature shrubs, flowering plants and fruit trees. Listing History Floorplans --- Map & Street View View in fullscreenView in fullscreen Street View is unavailable in this location The pin shows the centre of the property's postcode, and does not pinpoint the exact address The pin shows the exact address of the property Street View is unavailable in this location You're in the centre of the property's postcode. Start exploring the local area from here. Take me back to the start Disclaimer - Property reference new910. The information displayed about this property comprises a property advertisement. makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the advertisement or any linked or associated information, and Rightmove has no control over the content. This property advertisement does not constitute property particulars. The information is provided and maintained by Garnham H Bewley, East Grinstead. Please contact the selling agent or developer directly to obtain any information which may be available under the terms of The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007 or the Home Report if in relation to a residential property in Scotland.

Mumbai Indians Qualify For The Playoffs --- Chasing 190 to win off just 14.3 overs to qualify for the playoffs, Corey Anderson smashed off and Ambati Rayudu played a cameo of 30 off 10 as duo helped Mumbai Indians register a sensational 5-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in just 14.4 overs. Rajasthan Royals scored 189 in their 20 overs and Mumbai needed to chase it down in 14.3 overs. The scored were tied at 14.3 overs when Aditya Tare hit a six to take Mumbai's net run rate above Rajasthan. ALSO SEE Full Scorecard It was a humongous task to score 190 runs in 14.3 overs as the target was initially but Anderson, who holds the world record of scoring fastest hundred in One-dayers, showed his worth with one of the most destructive knocks in IPL. With this win, Mumbai edged out Royals on Net-Run-Rate to book a Eliminator match against Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday at Braborn stadium here.

Falling Skies: Season 1 (UV/HDX) You are Purchasing a USA Code (UV/HDX). Redemption Quality is not Guaranteed. No proxy server or VPN in needed when redeemeing a US code within the US. You are only purchasing THIS PORTION of the code. Redemption for iTunes or any other format is prohibited and will not be guaranteed. All codes are tracked and unpaid for redemptions will be charged to your account and the account will be suspended for future transactions. Falling Skies chronicles the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that leaves most of the world completely incapacitated. In the six months since the initial invasion, survivors band together to begin the difficult task of fighting back against the aggressive aliens. Outside of Boston, history professor Tom Mason (Noah Wyle) helps lead a small army named 2nd Massachusetts in the battle of their lives to preserve their families and what's left of mankind. Falling Skies is executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, along with DreamWorks Television heads Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank, Graham Yost and screenwriter Robert Rodat, who wrote the pilot from an idea he co-conceived with Spielberg. Mark Verheiden and Greg Beeman serve as co-executive producers. No returns or exchanges after code is purchased. NO EXCEPTIONS (These emails will not be replied back to)

ONE family's selfless decision to allow their loved one's death to give a stranger life has afforded Gympie man Colin Sallaway a precious second chance. Colin would never have seen his son turn into a strong, capable young man who joined the air force. Nor would he have seen his daughter grow into a beautiful young woman now attending university, had it not been for one family's decision to fulfil their loved one's wish of organ donation. Tomorrow marks the 10th anniversary of Colin Sallaway's successful kidney transplant giving him a second chance at life - and he is making the most of it by embracing life in the way that only those who have come face to face with their own mortality can do. "I still see the nephrologist every three months," he said. "I am on a huge package of medication to stop rejection and medication is improving all the time. "We (along with wife Karen) still have people coming up to us because they remember the story in The Gympie Times back in 2002." Of course Colin has to look after himself and he religiously takes his medication and follows doctor's orders. "We've had a couple of overseas trips and went to the Melbourne Cup last year, which could not have happened even when I was on dialysis," he said. "We've always been advocates of transplant and donors and often attend the annual celebrations at Brisbane or the Sunshine Coast. "It's not just the recipients who speak at these celebrations but the donor families too." Colin and Karen acknowledge the topic of organ transplant and putting that all-important tick on your driver's licence is "very sensitive" because for a family to give permission for their loved one's organ to be transplanted, that loved one has to be on life support. Despite the many stressful times, Colin's illness, IGA nephritis, has brought a close family even closer. IGA is a kidney disorder that occurs when IGA - a protein that helps the body fight infections - settles in the kidneys. After many years, the IGA deposits may cause the kidneys to leak blood and sometimes protein in the urine. "You tend to take life for granted when everything is running smoothly. We know how lucky we are. I even wrote to the donor family 12 months after the transplant," he said. Colin has been told his condition is not hereditary but he and Karen had their children Jonathan, 22, and Olivia, 19, tested. Thankfully those tests came back clear. "We feel so blessed. We never thought 'poor us'. We just got on and did what we had to do." Colin was first told he would one day need a kidney transplant about 30 years ago. When he was 35, his condition got "really serious" and was treated at the Nambour renal unit. He used a hemo dialysis machine at home for about two-and-a-half years before he got the phone call that changed his life - or indeed gave him life. "The donor is in our daily prayers. "The one thing that day emphasised was that a transplant is a privilege and not a right. "The most important thing for families to do is to discuss donation before a death in the family occurs so that everyone is aware of their loved one's wishes in relation to organ donation." There are a number of informative websites, including , that answers the most-asked questions in relation to organ donation. --- Situated at the top of one of the most desirable streets in the area, this stunning modern family home is split over four spacious levels and has been designed to... Located directly opposite Byron Bay's popular Belongil Beach is this stylish, modern and very comfortable two bedroom apartment. Boasting an easy care open layout... Located in the picturesque Byron Bay Hinterland, this beautiful 6 acre property presents a great opportunity. With glorious rural views over rolling green... Located in the exclusive beachside address in Belongil, this original family beach house is in one of the best waterfront positions you will find. Whilst the... The Langi Place apartment complex is located in one of Ocean Shores Prime positions. There are wide ocean views, it is within walking distance to New Brighton surf... Beautifully elevated with stunning northerly views, this 8 acre property presents an exciting opportunity! The large solid family home enjoys generous proportions... This is a bonanza lifestyle block as the views are wonderful looking back to Cape Byron and Julian Rocks. The block itself is very well laid out with a Eucalypt... Welcome to 'Buddha's Retreat' at Byron Bay....the ultimate rural lifestyle property offering resort style living inside and out! Set on a stunning, north facing... Set on a lush grassed 4,919 sqm parcel of land, this Paul Uhlmann designed home was built in 2013 and boasts luxurious finishes throughout with huge glass windows... Join the Community. Get your local news, your way. Stay Connected Update your news preferences and get the latest news delivered to your inbox.

Neither of us is really sure how this happened. All I know is I wanted to wear something whimsical at church with my cousins on Sunday. I was getting dressed in my closet and as I walk out my cousin Anne Marie starts giggling. I look up and she is wearing the exact same Missoni pattern as I am. (She even has riding boots on!) Our family thought the coincidence hysterical and my mom noted, "If you're not careful, Anne Marie, you are going to make the blog." Oh how right Mom was. This is Anne Marie's sister, Kate. She is a feisty fashionista after my own heart, often pairing unexpected pieces together and experimenting with her personal style at an early age.

London: England beat Australia by 347 runs in the second Test to take a 2-0 Ashes series lead after claiming the last wicket in the final over of day four at Lord's on Sunday. Graeme Swann finished with 4 for 78 as Australia were bowled out for 235. Joe Root, who earlier scored 180 as England declared at 349 for 7 in their second innings, also took 2 for 9. England are well placed to win the five-match series and claim their third straight Ashes victory while Australia have now lost their last six Tests - their worst streak of losses for 29 years. Australia, set an improbable target of 583 to win, had two below-par batting displays, including all out for just 128 in their first innings compared to England's 361 with a century from Ian Bell. Swann claimed nine wickets in the match. Australia badly need to improve ahead of the third Test at Old Trafford on August 1, especially in their batting department. The tourists faced an unenviable task from the outset given that West Indies' 344 for 1 in 1984 was the highest score to win a Lord's Test. England delayed their declaration on Sunday morning so Root could reach his maiden double century, but he faced just four balls in 15 minutes and was caught at third man off Ryan Harris trying an audacious ramp shot over the wicketkeeper's head. Root batted for almost eight hours, striking 18 fours and two sixes, to cement his position as Alastair Cook's opening partner after Nick Compton's omission before the series began. Australia made the worst possible start in their unlikely attempt to bat out the final two days. Shane Watson (20), Chris Rogers (6) and Phil Hughes (1) all departed in the 22 overs before lunch. James Anderson trapped Watson lbw, with a ball that came back into him down the Lord's slope. It was the 10th occasion Watson had been lbw in 19 Test innings against England. Opener Rogers was bamboozled by Swann's trickery and played no stroke at a ball he thought was going to spin away but went straight on to bowl him. Hughes was lbw by Swann. Captain Michael Clarke, who should have been stumped by wicketkeeper Matt Prior when on 2, fought back and put on 98 with Usman Khawaja. But Clarke eventually clipped an innocuous ball from Root to leg slip for 51. Khawaja batted maturely and looked as though he was going to survive the afternoon session until he drove Root to Anderson at gully. That was after he came through an England review on the same score after the ball hit a footmark and was caught by Jonathan Trott at slip. Steve Smith fell to the last ball before tea, caught behind off Tim Bresnan, though Smith failed in his bid to review his dismissal, with the third umpire Tony Hill upholding the onfield umpire's decision, apparently due to a slight mark on hotspot. That was 136 for 6 at tea, soon to become 162 for 8 after another controversial failed review by Ashton Agar, who did not feel he edged Bresnan to Prior. Brad Haddin was lbw to Swann. Last-wicket pair James Pattinson (35) and Ryan Harris (16) threatened to take the match into a final day with a stand of 43 in 62 minutes, but Swann trapped Pattinson lbw with three balls remaining in the day.

It's interesting what people bond over. Often it's what seems to be positive feelings like righting a wrong. A common cause. A common interest or belief. A good book. Football. Sometimes it's just liking the way someone makes you feel; validated, valued, appreciated, even loved and admired. Often bonds are built on negative platforms. On the negative feelings one has gotten from another. 'We can agree that this person or action is wrong or annoying' and go from there. On the fueling desire to get back at someone or how someone else has treated you or acted in a situation of which you both (or all) don't agree. A common 'enemy' is a very strong bonding agent. My 10 year old daughter is in the throes of drama and the games girls play. Some of the games are innocent. Some are just to see what they can do or how much power they have. Some are much more insidious. My daughter has a wonderful group of friends that have pure hearts and generally do not participate willingly in these games. We are so grateful for them. It wasn't always like this. A few years ago, she was being played a bit by a girl in her class. It wasn't overall damaging behavior, just disappointing. She would be in class one day and she'd be loved and accepted and included (which is very important to her). The next day the same friend would decide that she didn't want to include my daughter in recess or other social time and activities. We didn't label the girl or even blame her, exactly. She was just flexing her social muscles. We chose not to intervene but to coach her on how to look at this behavior. Now, in 5th grade, when the games are much more complex and the girls' motives are much more difficult to see, my daughter has a clearer vision. She knows that if you are brought into a group by one 'friend' that hasn't really showed much interest in you (or even disdain) in the past to be careful. Keep your eyes and intuition keen. Our short and sweet advice has been to stick with the friends that never make you feel bad on purpose. The ones that don't require you to agree with them to be their friend. The friends that are still there after an argument and that don't throw you away so easily or make you earn or keep their friendship through deeds or agreements. The ones that don't give you a 'pot of bubbling liquid' (as my daughter puts it) in your stomach. (Our more specific advice below.) As an adult, I remember those girls very well. I remember not really being in a clique and being okay with that. I'd think, "I'm friends with everyone." And was comfortable having only a couple of close friends. Even now, I have been made to feel that these games are still alive and well at times. Years ago, before my children were even in school and I was in the middle of babydom (and feeling a little isolated), a woman literally 'cozyed up' to me on our first meeting. She was super interested in me and seemed smart and even kind. I had a new friend! It was nice. She emailed me a few times. 'Friended' me on Facebook. A week or so later, she invited me to dinner with some friends. I realized quickly that she invited me to try to add me to her semi-organized group that, I felt, was not working in an open fashion. I politely declined. From that point forward, the friendship stopped. I wasn't playing along or something. I was no longer of use or maybe she just didn't like me. She was cordial but not very friendly after that. At times even condescending. I was okay with that really. It was refreshing to see true colors. Sometimes, I think of how much easier it is for some to just be a part of a particular social group and feel that acceptance of being part of that group. Having everyone in a similar mindset, similar likes and dislikes, family situation, tax bracket. Easier to know you'll agree on most ephemeral subjects makes for less conflict and who doesn't want that? However, that just doesn't feel like the right answer for me. It isn't the right answer for my daughter either. She and I both have friends from different parts of our lives. People that we truly find real and have a sense of peace for being ourselves in their company. From whom we don't need to constantly seek acceptance. I want to learn from the people around me. I want to see the world from different points of view. I want to trust those that I choose to give my time and tell my story. I don't want to always agree with my peers and I want the space and acceptance not to but to still have the conversation. The advice that I've given my daughter, over and over again now is not new. It's borrowed from years of reading and the wisdom of others: "How someone treats you says more about them than it does you. Recognize what it's saying. That goes the same for how you treat people." "If you feel nervous about acceptance from a friend, reevaluate if that is who you want as a friend or what you want IN a friend." "Life is too short and energy too important to waste it on the wrong people. You don't have to be friends with everyone but you should be kind to everyone." "If someone is not interested in the person you happen to be, but only for what you can do for them, move on. That is not a friend." When my daughter gets caught up in some of the games girls play and is confused about what to do and who to trust, we go over the points above. My 10 year old is even giving her little sister advice as, at age 7, she now navigating some of these issues. This school year, at one point, she got so caught up in the drama and games that I saw her behavior change and her attitude change but the confusion was still there. We went with a different approach. I asked her to think about and write down the top five qualities that she valued in a friend. She wrote them on a small piece of paper, folded it and put it in her pocket. That piece of paper is with her almost every day at school. That list is there to remind her what's important for both her actions and those of her friends. She needed to take a minute and look at why. This has really seemed to help her when she starts to get sucked in. (And it CAN suck you in!) One of my daughter's go-to words of advice, as she reports: “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” This one sticks for her and helps guide her. I am not saying that my daughter handles every situation well. She doesn't. She has a naturally judgmental personality type that makes her decisive and unafraid of action, which can be great for a leader. It also makes her less open-minded and reluctant to compromise as a first reaction. However, her ability to recognize and evaluate situations has grown tremendously in the last year or two and that is a great step to navigating the tricky world of being a preteen and soon, a teen girl. (Wow!) Learning to be kind to everyone but that you don't have to be 'friends' with everyone. That you should choose your friends, not let them choose you. These are powerful lessons. Most importantly, they are We'll continue, both she and I, to hold true friends in the highest regard and let go of the others. We will do our best not to get caught up in the games. Recognizing them is a great step.

Caligo atreus The Yellow-edged Giant Owl (Caligo atreus) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. The species can be found from Mexico to Peru.[1] The wingspan is 140–160 mm. The larvae feed on Musa and Heliconia species and can be a pest for banana cultivation. Adults feed on juices of rotting fruit.

My mom and I have been making variants on this cookie for as long as I can remember and we've finally perfected the recipe, or at least we think so. We thought we had invented this special recipe but then I found a similar recipe which called them . At least we have a name for them now. I hadn't made them here yet but Mark had been requesting some cookies and I had a housewife day so I decided to make them. I also thought it would be the perfect first recipe to post since it's definitely tried and true. The most important trick to these cookies is using as much organic/high quality ingredients as possible. Everyone seems to love these cookies - they are pretty substantial, not too sweet and even somewhat healthy. Enjoy! 2 cups organic pastry flour 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp ground sea salt 1 cup organic unsalted butter, softened 3/4 cup raw cane sugar 3/4 cup packed muscovado sugar 2 large organic free range eggs 2 teaspoons pure bourbon vanilla extract 2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats 6 ounces organic dark chocolate (cut into 1/4 inch chunks) 3/4 cups toasted walnuts, chopped 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toast walnuts in a hot cast iron pan. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. In a large bowl cream butter with both sugars, beat in eggs and then vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture. Add oats, chocolate, walnuts and coconut. Roll a tablespoon of dough into a ball and slightly flatten on baking sheet. Bake for 10 - 15 minutes depending on oven. Take out just before they begin to brown so they stay chewy.

Jack Jack still has his rash. :-( I don't know what's going on with this boy, but I feel so helpless. It still doesn't seem to bother him but this has been going on for almost 5 weeks now. The pediatrician said to give him some allergy medicine (Allegra) to see if it helped, which it didn't. This made him prompt us to contact a dermatologist for an appointment next week. I still feel like we should probably see an allergist but I just don't know. During the past 5 weeks, we have used various detergents, bath soaps, lotions, and foods, so I just don't know what it could be. On a slightly related note, I'm becoming more uncomfortable with the fact that he hasn't gained any weigh in the past several months. He's been 20 lbs for about 2-3 months now, and while this makes his weight more like his siblings, it's still a big drop on the growth chart. Beth's still been having tummy aches so I took her for another x-ray on Good Friday. It showed she wasn't completely "cleaned out" so we've had to up her dose of Miralax some more, hoping to get everything out and eliminate the tummy aches. In the mean time, she's becoming more and more selective about what she eats, so it's becoming more difficult for me to figure out how to pump her up with fiber and protein when all she wants to eat is Chex. Luke seems to be doing pretty well right now (knock on wood!), he's fully potty trained now so yay for that! I'm dealing with my own health issues, trying to pinpoint what's going on with my cycles and my moods. I'm just so tired of all of these health issues, I'm ready for everyone to be healthy and happy again!!!

Search Results for: MH site makes it more convenient for local victims Published in the Sept. 30 – Oct. 13, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life In 2013, 11 people were killed in Santa Clara County by a spouse or significant other, according to the Domestic Violence Death Review Committee. Last year, that number dropped to two, the fewest number in 20 years. Because of the jeopardy to the quality of life, and life itself, from incidents of domestic violence, in April last year various nonprofit and government agencies set up the South County Family Justice Center program, with the pilot site at the nonprofit Community Solutions office in Morgan Hill. The center provides individuals and family members facing domestic violence with an easy-to-get-to place where they can get professional support. The project recently expanded to a similar site in Mountain View, and next month a third site will open in San Jose. Lulu Lopez, manager for the Domestic Violence and Direct Service program at Community Solutions, sees the FJC as a success story in helping residents in Gilroy, San Martin, Morgan Hill and south San Jose get the help they need in dealing with a domestic violence crime. The site’s personnel estimate that about 90 percent of the victims are women and 10 percent are men. The center is a partnership of various nonprofit and government service providers working in collaboration, said Lisa De Silva, chief development officer at Community Solutions. Morgan Hill Police Department Chief David Swing proposed the idea of the FJC to make it easier for victims to get help. Funding for the center comes from grants from sources such as the U.S. Department of Justice as well as from the county. The agencies involved with the FJC are the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, Community Solutions, the MHPD, Gilroy Police Department, Santa Clara County Sheriff, Santa Clara County Probation, Victim/Witness Assistance Program, and Step Forward Foundation. Swing said the FJC has been a “tremendous success” based on the stories he heard from members of the community and law enforcement professionals. “The common thread through all of its success is (MHPD) Detective Mindy Zen,” he said. “She is our dedicated domestic violence detective and does phenomenal work helping victims feel safe through her compassionate and reassuring demeanor.” Providing support is a key component for helping the individuals and families who use the center, he said. “Victims of crime, especially domestic violence, are in a vulnerable state and their need for support is exponentially greater than others,” he said. “The need for the center was obvious. Domestic violence, unfortunately, is not going away. As such, victims will always need a place to go where they can find safety and support. The Family Justice Center meets that on-going need for safety and support of survivors and their children.” The FJC is located on Church Street one block from a bus stop on Monterey Road, making it easier for people to reach using public transportation. It has served more than 250 people, many who have made multiple visits. “Violence begets violence whether it is on the streets or in the home. Children of abusers learn to respond to stress and conflict with violence not only in the home, but in the community at-large,” Lowney said. “Thus, the entire community benefits when the cycle of domestic violence is broken. The FJC seeks to break that cycle.” Lopez described the procedure for protecting the victim’s privacy when visit the FJC for help. “They come in and first speak to someone who has confidentiality, so whatever they tell us stays with us unless they want us to share it,” she said. “So we’re able to really figure out what the needs are for this client, where she can go from us, because sometimes they may not want to talk to a police officer or with the district attorney’s office. They have issues that they really need to think through. So coming to someone who has confidentiality really makes a huge difference. And maybe in the end they will talk to the police or the DA.” The concern of being deported is a real one for many victims who are not American citizens and in the U.S. without documentation, she said. “There’s a fear,” she said. “People are surprised when we tell them that women — and men — are not comfortable going to the police because they fear they’re going to be detained. But from my experience here at Community Solutions, in 50 percent of our clients where immigration is an issue, the abuser… may have residence as a citizen of this country, and he’s using that against the victim, the survivor.” The abuser uses the victim’s ignorance of the law to control the victim, De Silva said. “If immigration is a concern, the batterer uses that as a tactic and says ‘Oh, I’ll call the police, you’re never going to see your kids again.’ Where in fact there are special protections, and special visas that victims of domestic violence are entitled to by virtue of their victimization,” she said. The partnership of various agencies has proven the success of the FJC, she said. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month, and Lopez said this occasion helps create greater public knowledge of the problem of this crime which can devastate the lives of men, women and children from all walks of life, including economic status, ethnicity and career backgrounds. “I think there is a need to understand why these women are going through what they’re going through and to understand how we can make them whole and their children whole,” she said. “If we don’t help them, the cycle continues with their children. We need to put an end to it now and not tomorrow.” San Martin Gwinn Environmental Science Academy students learned to appreciate the judicial process Published in the November 9 – 22, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life A school bus pulled up in front of the South County Courthouse in downtown Morgan Hill Oct. 26 and about 50 fifth-graders from San Martin Gwinn Environmental Science Academy filed out. The students soon passed through the security scanner and followed Deputy District Attorney Johnny Gogo into the nearby jury waiting room. The young people were his guests invited for a special tour to learn first-hand a little bit on how the judicial process works. After a briefing on how to behave in the courtrooms, the students divided into two groups. One group went upstairs to watch a trial while the others followed Gogo to the Honorable Le Jacqueline Duong’s court room where they observed the Superior Court judge work with attorneys and staff in reviewing several cases. After the last case was finished for the morning, Duong invited the students to sit in the jury box, the public defenders’ table, the court reporter’s desk, and the bailiff’s desk. Alondra Sanchez received the special privilege of sitting in the judge’s seat at the center of the action. “I was kind of nervous but it was fun,” she said. She said she felt respect for the judge after Duong told the students she and her family had moved to East San Jose in 1975 as refugees from Vietnam. She went through the public schools, eventually graduating from San Jose State University and later getting her law degree from U.C. Davis. The judge was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. “I thought that she had a pretty hard life and she did well in her school and career,” Sanchez said. The judge asked the courtroom staff to introduce themselves to the students and explain their roles. Among them was the bailiff who was in charge of security and making sure everyone behaved themselves, the public defender who represented people and the court reporter who quietly typed proceedings. “She has excellent listening skills, which she has to because she has to take down everything that is said in this courtroom,” Duong said of the reporter. The judge asked the students questions to see what their knowledge of the judicial system might be. One question stumped many of the students: How many judges are on the California Supreme Court? The students made various incorrect guesses — 20, 30, 15, 12, 25, 17, 10. At last, fifth-grader Ethan Lehrbau sitting in the jury box came up with the right answer — seven. He received a red Chinese New Year envelope with a brand-new dollar bill in it as his prize. “I was going to say 10 but then another person said that. So I was called on and I didn’t know what to say so I just said seven,” he admitted his lucky guess. The best part of the visit was sitting in the jury chairs because they were “swirly” and he could spin around a little. Jacqueline Parker, another student, said she appreciated how important it was for people to behave in the courtroom and not talk loud or distract people doing their jobs. “I think I learned how to respect the rules and what it is to be in a courthouse and how it actually works,” she said. The courthouse field trip program started in San Jose 20 years ago but this was the first time a Morgan Hill school participated, Gogo said. The deputy district attorney visited the students at San Martin Gwinn several weeks before to talk with them about how the process of law works. The program will also bring Gilroy fifth-graders to the courthouse for the judicial-focused field trips. “At this particular age is when they start to learn about our system of government, the three branches of government — judicial, executive and legislative. And the reason why we chose the fifth graders, is that they had some studies that indicated that this is a critical age for the students at 10 years old because they’re still open to learning and hearing the message and still open to, hopefully, making some good decisions,” he said. Judge chats with San Martin/Gwinn students on about education success Published in the March 16- 29, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life When Jose Franco last walked on the campus of San Martin/Gwinn Elementary School, he was a fourth grader who grew up in a migrant family with parents who didn’t speak English. He returned at age 42 for the first time Wednesday March 2, a judge on the Superior Court of Santa Clara County. With microphone in hand, Judge Franco spoke at an assembly with many of the students of his former school, which is now called San Martin/Gwinn Environmental Science Academy. The day was Dr. Seuss’s birthday and the third annual Read Across America Day, so Franco discussed how learning to read played an important role in his law career. “People sometimes may tell you different things, or you may feel different things, or you may hear different things,” he said. “At the end of the day, if you can do it, you can do whatever you want.” Franco’s style was a light banter with the students: “How many of you are going to graduate from fifth grade? I should see everyone’s hands,” he said. “I’m going to graduate from eighth grade!” a boy shouted out. “Not just eighth grade!” Franco shot back. “You’re going to graduate from high school and you’re going to graduate from college.” Another boy said he wants to go to Harvard. “I like that,” Franco said with a beaming smile. “You know where Harvard is? It’s on the other side of the country in Boston. I went to school in Boston because I wanted to see something different. And guess what let me go to Boston College. Reading. The more you read, the more places you go because that reading helps you do well in school.” Franco was born in Gilroy. The family lived in San Martin but later moved to Gilroy where he continued his education in the fifth grade, graduating from Gilroy High School in 1991. His brother, sister and parents still live in the community and Franco lives in San Jose. After high school, Franco received a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and a juris doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. He served as a deputy public defender at the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office from 2000 to 2015. He supervised the Juvenile Justice Unit beginning in 2011. He also put in time as an adjunct lecturer at the San Jose State University Department of Justice Studies from 2007 to 2012. Gov. Jerry Brown appointed him a superior judge Nov. 17, 2015, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of James P. Kleinberg. Franco gave advice to the students during his hour visiting his former school. There are three parts to being successful and happy. The first is the money, the second is that you enjoy what you do. “And then the third most important thing is the people you work with because they have similar interests to you and that helps you grow just like reading does,” he said. At the end of the talk, Principal Claudia Olaciregui thanked Franco and told the students, “He came to this school and look at how much good he’s doing for the community now. He’s working as a judge for Santa Clara County. I want you to think about that and the great message he gave about reading and making sure we go to college and graduate.” Franco’s second-grade teacher, Lourdes Robledo, felt a pride that the little boy she had taught and encouraged so many years ago was able to come back a well-educated judge and share his success advice with the students. Out of 545 students at San Martin/Gwinn, about 100 are from migrant families. “I get so emotional that what we say to them stays in their heads,” she said. “I remember telling him, ‘You can be anything you want to be.’ He was a migrant child who was struggling with language along the way, and here he is, look at him, he’s a judge.” Franco’s life and career can serve as a role model for other migrant children at the schools, she said. “We’re always telling them, ‘Do the reading, do the homework, do the math,’ But to come from someone who can say he was a little kid here, for them to see him this way, I think it’s an inspiration.” Second grader James Hayes and Nicholas Pfeil both agreed that Franco’s advice inspired them. “It’s important to read so you can get good grades, and then you get to go to the best college like Harvard or Stanford,” Pfeil said. The work to get good grades is vital to success in life, Hayes said. “It’s good to get a good job because it’s better for when you retire,” he said. Franco recalled happy memories from his years at San Martin/Gwinn. On Saturdays, he and his siblings often were in the nearby fields picking strawberries, many times eating the fruit to the scolding of their mom. “I drive to Gilroy to see my parents once a week, and driving by the (San Martin) airport brings back memories of my childhood,” he said of his visit. “My parents from the very beginning recognized the importance of school, and that’s why, even though they didn’t speak the language, they sat with us as we read.” Published in the January 6 – 19, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life In addition to courts, the county established satellite offices for the District Attorney, Public Defender, Probation Office in the Public Justice Center adjacent to the courthouse in Morgan Hill’s downtown district. Morgan Hill wanted to ensure that the courthouse would be part of its downtown revitalization efforts. In 2003, the city of Morgan Hill purchased the property along Butterfield Boulevard and leased it to Santa Clara County for $1 a year. In addition, the city contributed $3.7 million toward construction of the courthouse. A total of $7 million was pledged toward the efforts. The county and state of California contributed the balance of the construction funding. During the construction the state passed “realignment” that consolidated Municipal and Superior Courts under the state’s jurisdiction. The Morgan Hill courthouse opened in 2009. Despite the goal of locating courts accessible to South County residents, the state has cut back on the types of cases heard in South County. Traffic cases were assigned to a court in Santa Clara — an even more difficult drive or transit ride for residents of Gilroy, Morgan Hill and San Martin. These additional costs affect the quality of life for more than 100,000 of our local citizens. The additional costs to Morgan Hill and Gilroy mean the money needed for necessary programs is not available. Don Gage is the former mayor of Gilroy. He also served on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and the Santa Clara Valley Water District board of directors. He wrote this guest column for Morgan Hill Life. 23-year-old man accused of killing Sierra faces the death penalty Published in the March 18-31, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life Sierra LaMar never came home. In many ways, the day three years ago this week when the outgoing 15-year-old Sobrato High School cheerleader went missing forever changed the community of Morgan Hill. The ongoing search for the sophomore since her disappearance March 16, 2012 has brought many closer together as friends and neighbors. Now, unless new information turns up indicating where Sierra’s remains are, the search is being temporarily suspended by the LaMar family and organizers. Saturday March 14, the last official search day, was a tender time for the searchers who have built a bond of friendship and family over the three years they have wandered together through fields, searched creeks and roads, and probed the bottom of reservoirs and lakes trying to find closure by bringing Sierra home. Among the individuals whose life has been changed in the quest to find Sierra is Mary Doering. The Campbell resident joined the search as soon as it started because her heart was touched by the story of a family who had lost their daughter. Over the span of time, the search for Sierra has created a family in a spiritual sense for her and others, she said. “All kinds of people came together and we all have one goal and that is to find this young girl and create a support system for this family to get through this horrific trauma,” Doering said. “She’s had an effect on all of us, no matter where we came from. Sierra is a child of God, she’s somebody’s daughter, she’s somebody’s sister. She’s a human being and she’s important.” Getting involved with the Sierra LaMar search made Doering learn about crimes that can happen to children such as human trafficking. She joined the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking and the group’s efforts have rescued 46 under-aged girls from a life in the sex trade industry, she said. “This has all come about because of Sierra and the awareness of what could have happened to her,” she said. “We need to bring awareness that kids can be safe and avoid being lured in.” The search for Sierra has also brought together people of varied generations. Among them is a group of women known affectionately as “the kitchen ladies” by the group. During search days, these senior citizens help feed the team of volunteers breakfast before going out for a search and lunch when they return. Among them is Vivian Goforth of Morgan Hill who realized she needed to get involved in the search when she saw a line of vehicles at least a mile long had formed of people who wanted to help find Sierra. “I lived down the road and I saw all these cars and so I stopped to see if I could help. They asked what I could do,” Goforth said. Soon she found herself in the search center’s kitchen preparing pastries, fruit, sandwiches, and drinks with several other Morgan Hill women including Margaret Bianucci, Loretta Wilson, and Mary Malech. The kitchen ladies wear red and white Converse shoes in honor of Sierra who favored this type of footwear. “We just showed up wanting to help and cooking was what we were capable of doing. We’re not going to be climbing over rocks,” Malech said with a grin. The search for Sierra during the past 36 months since she disappeared on her way to her school bus stop has transformed people not just in Morgan Hill but throughout the Bay Area region and even beyond, said Roger Nelson, a Gilroy resident who has helped direct volunteer search efforts. The volunteers have been dedicated in the search, coming together on hot summer days and rainy, cold winter days, scanning woods, ravines and thickets searching for Sierra’s remains. Some searchers have come from as far away as San Diego and other states. Although as many as 750 people initially turned out for the search when Sierra went missing, for the last year or so a core group of about two dozen dedicated volunteers continue the quest. The search team volunteers have gone on 1,130 separate searches in a 15-mile radius from the site in north Morgan Hill where Sierra was last seen. They’ve put in more than 50,000 combined hours. “I would say it brings out the best in people,” Nelson said. “We’ve all come to know each other. And I know that people will stay in touch and friendships will continue from here after. Sierra brought us together.” At first, the search took place three days a week, but over time it was reduced to only Saturday mornings. And the searchers have been following the court case of Morgan Hill resident Antolin Garcia Torres, 23, the man the Santa Clara County District Attorney believes abducted Sierra LaMar based on DNA material criminalists found on Sierra’s clothing and in Garcia Torres’s 1998 VW Jetta. Searchers who attend the court hearings describe Garcia Torres’s facial appearance as “angry” and “disturbing” as he glares at them and media cameras. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. The judge has postponed setting a trial date. Garcia Torres is expected back in court April 8. Marlene LaMar, Sierra’s mother, does not go to court proceedings. She focuses on the positive aspects of how the search brings strangers together to become friends. “I believe that all the searchers are very passionate about the mission,” she said. “It’s like a battle, you know, against the things that can happen in the world today. It forms fellowship and solidarity in the war against evil.” Marlene wants people to remember her daughter as a vibrant young woman who loved people and lived her life to the fullest. At a February court meeting for Garcia Torres, she said, one of the searchers held a sign that read “Sierra matters.” And that message should never be forgotten as the process of justice proceeds, Marlene said. Sierra loved to sing and dance. She would imitate female rap artists. And she was also an accomplished performer at the Yoko’s Dance Studio in Fremont where her radiant personality and smile often put her in the front of the dance line. On the week of her disappearance, Sierra was planning to write an essay for one of her Sobrato classes about depression and suicide, Marlene said. “A week and a half before she was abducted, she had some friends who had depression issues, and she told me, ‘You know mom, I have a gift, and that gift is lifting my friends up when they’re really depressed,’” Marlene said. “‘I believe God gave me that gift.’” That characteristic of compassion started at an early age. In second grade, Marlene remembers, Sierra helped one of her fellow students who was deaf and had trouble talking. Some of the other children ostracized the boy, but Sierra stepped in and helped tutor him. “She’s very free-spirited,” the mother said about her daughter. “She speaks her mind and she’s very righteous for causes that are not just within the U.S. but things that happen in third world countries such as the sex trafficking, the stuff that happens in Africa where they kidnap the kids and use them for the warlord armies. She has a lot of compassion for stuff like that… And she is goofy, lighthearted and goofy.” Sierra’s father Steve LaMar described his daughter as always laughing and seeing the fun in life with her friends and her older sister, Danielle LaMar. “She was a happy-go-lucky girl with her friends, always joking around with her friends,” he recalled. “She was always goofing around. She had a lot of close friends at school, and was always doing things with them. And at home she had a great relationship with Danielle. They would make fun at things I would do.” Marlene notes that Sierra has given many people she never knew a great gift. Hundreds of people over the past three years have found a purpose and a peace in their search for the missing Sobrato student. “It’s brought together people who have gone through tragedy themselves. It helps them go outside the box and into their comfort zone and be a part of something greater and helps them heal,” she said. “It helps them plant a lot of seeds and heal wounds.” On a misty day in March three years ago, Sierra LaMar never came home. In their quest to find closure for her family, Sierra’s searchers have come together and created a family that seeks to bring her home. Editor’s note: In our April 1 issue we will write about the last search for Sierra before they were suspended. MH site will make it easier, more convenient for victims Published in the August 6 – 19, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life Aide Fernandez Portillo said she feared for her safety and that of her two children because a former spouse tried to kill her three times. When the domestic violence case went to the court system, she would have faced the inconvenience of taking many hours off and finding transportation to San Jose. But with the urging of the Santa Clara District Attorney’s office, she received help from Morgan Hill’s Community Solutions in dealing with the difficult situation. “They put me in contact with Victim Witness,” Portillo said through a Spanish language translator. “I’m very happy with the therapy I received because for me it was very difficult due to time issues and constraints in transportation to travel to San Jose.” To help other victims of domestic crimes, a Family Justice Center was launched last month at the Community Solutions office at 16264 Church St. in Morgan Hill. The center will be open every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. “As your District Attorney, I know that violence begets violence,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. “Children of abusers learn to respond to stress and conflict with violence, whether that happens in their homes or the community at large, in the streets or in the school. Thus our entire community benefits when the cycle of domestic violence is broken. The Family Justice Center can help break that cycle.” Center provides trained professional tutors to help ‘make the light go on’ School students sometimes need extra help outside the classroom to “make the light go on” inside their minds and understand a complex academic concept. Located near downtown Morgan Hill, Extreme Learning Center helps students with their homework and other school assignments by providing trained professional tutors to help them better grasp information. Sarah Zare, the center’s manager, has worked at Extreme Learning since 2006. She has spent her career in the field of education, taking roles including a preschool director, a high school teacher, and as the regional operations manager with The Phoenix Children’s Academy & Extreme Learning. Morgan Hill Life asked Zare about Extreme Learning’s philosophy of helping young people learn better. Describe the Extreme Learning Center and its mission to help students. In 2001, David Payne and Mary Smathers, both local educators with a desire to provide kindergarten through 12th-grade students with affordable, high-quality academic support and enrichment programs, established Extreme Learning Center. Our program uses technology to ignite student’s passion for learning while boosting their academic achievement. We provide Morgan Hill families with a variety of academic and enrichment courses including traditional one-on-one tutoring, homework help, small group academic support, test preparation, transportation, enrichment classes, and camps. What academic benefit do children gain from professional tutoring? We understand each student comes to us with unique learning needs, schooling and family background. By identifying target areas we create a specific plan for the student to gain academic proficiency while providing an enriching environment for academic and personal growth. How are your professional tutors selected and what are their qualifications? Academic Coaches at Extreme are required to have a minimum of two years of college coursework completed, experience working with students, and a passion and understanding of the importance of education. Currently, 90 percent of our coaches have completed a bachelor’s degree program and are working towards further degrees such as in law and medicine. All of our potential coaches are paired with an experienced coach in a working interview so that their interactions with Extreme Learning students can be assessed. Before being hired and working with students individually, our coaches are approved to work with children through CCLD (Community Care Licensing Division), Livescan (a fingerprint service) through the Department of Justice and FBI, and complete the Extreme Learning training program. How can parents work with tutors to help their child’s academic performance? What are some tips for students when they are working with a tutor? First, come with an open mind. We know students that approach us for tutoring, typically are already frustrated with their academic progress. We will set goals together to achieve maximum results. Second, be prepared. What are you struggling with? Do you need help on a specific homework assignment? When you come prepared, we are able to focus your needs for that specific session. Third, ask questions. As cliché as it may sound, there is no stupid question. When a student asks questions, we can see where struggles are occurring in order to overcome them. Fourth, have fun. Education is fun, and your tutor wants to make your session something you want to come to each week. We teach techniques that not only help you remember what you are learning, but make your session fun too. Extreme Learning was founded in 2002 by David Payne, a former school principal, to improve children and families’ experiences with the California education system. The first Extreme Learning Center opened that year in Morgan Hill. In July 2003, the company began offering an Academic Support Program and Exit Exam preparation to school districts. Extreme Learning currently serves more than 13,000 students per year in 1,000 schools across 98 districts throughout California with their onsite and online programs. MHPD’s Mindy Zen was instrumental in helping found the South County Family Justice Center The Helping Hands & Healing Hearts awards luncheon annually honors a South Valley community leader dedicated to improving the lives of others and a former Community Solutions client who has triumphed over personal adversity and changed the course of his/her future. This year’s lunch was held Friday March 16 and honored Morgan Hill Police Department officer Melinda Zen and a one-time client known as “Aurelia,” a survivor of domestic violence. Gilroy Life asked Community Solutions President/CEO Erin O’Brien about the annual fundraising event and why the two women were honored. What is the Helping Hands & Healing Hearts Awards Luncheon and why does Community Solutions put it on each year? Our agency always wants to thank the community for making our work possible. While we select one person or organization to recognize each year as the Helping Hand recipient, we really exist because so many individuals, businesses and organizations support our work and our clients. The luncheon enables us to invite our supporters into our clients’ lives through the premiere of our annual client video and the words of our Healing Heart recipient. It is an opportunity for our guests to hear first-hand the difference their support makes. Why is it important to recognize local community leaders who make the South Valley region a better place for all? There are so many wonderful people doing remarkable things for others in our community and it’s important to share that good news. While Community Solutions works hard to improve the lives of our clients, we are but one organization and we do not operate in a vacuum. So many individuals and organizations support the healing of our clients through the work they do both as professionals and volunteers. Most do not seek recognition but we believe they deserve it. We have a deep and heartfelt gratitude to each and we look forward to the opportunity to share this. Why was MHPD Officer Melinda Zen honored with this year’s award? Officer Zen, now back on street patrol, was the domestic violence detective for the Morgan Hill Police Department from 2012 to 2016. She worked with survivors at their most vulnerable moments. She always approached them with respect, acceptance and compassion, empowering them to make necessary but sometimes difficult decisions to ensure their safety and healing. At a more institutional level, Officer Zen was instrumental in helping found the South County Family Justice Center and a key member of the South County Domestic Violence Response Team, both roles that helped ensure the seamless collaboration between law enforcement and service agencies such as ours. Why was former Community Solutions client Aurelia presented with the award? What personal obstacles did she overcome that makes her an honoree? As a survivor of domestic violence, Aurelia had to overcome the fear her abuser instilled in her on a daily basis just to reach out for help. She realized that what might seem too risky to do just for herself she absolutely needed to do to protect her son. Aurelia has worked diligently toward her own healing knowing it makes her a better mother. She has a favorite saying, “solo para delante, para atras ni para darte impulso” which translates to “always move forward — never go backward — not even to gain momentum.” Denise Turner helped start South County Youth Task Force Published in the January 4-17, 2017 issue of Morgan Hill Life After a career spanning 31 years in law enforcement, Gilroy Police Chief Denise Turner will begin her retirement years New Year’s Day having earned a tremendous amount of respect from her colleagues in local public safety agencies including the Morgan Hill Police Department. Turner has had a regional focus on issues of crime in South County, impacting the quality of life for the more than 100,000 residents who make their homes here, said Morgan Hill Police Chief David Swing. “There are many examples of her regional focus, however, two set themselves apart,” he said. “First, she spearheaded efforts to form the South County Youth Task Force to find solutions to youth and gang violence in the region. Second, she also supported the South County Family Justice Center, which serves survivors of domestic violence and is a model program for the county. I am thankful for Denise’s service to South County and know that her work will have a positive effect on the region for years to come.” The 58-year-old Turner was born and raised in Portland, Ore. She started work as a reserve deputy in 1981 for the King County Sheriff’s Office, which serves the Seattle metropolitan area. She came to Gilroy nine years ago and made her home here when the city recruited her for the police chief’s position. Her father and uncle were both police officers for the Portland Police Bureau, so she grew up in a law enforcement family. Her two older sisters knew they wanted to be police officers so they got into the field before her, some of the first women who were hired to work patrol, she said. “I didn’t really know that I wanted to become a cop,” she said. “I was working in computers and technology back then, and I went on a ride-along one night in the middle of winter with my sister in Alaska on a patrol around Anchorage. I saw what she did and instantly I was hooked. I thought it was the coolest job ever. If my sister could do it, I could do it.” Aspects of the job she admired was that police officers needed to be independent, use discretion in helping people and stay positive during stressful calls, she said. “Every day she had a different day, it was not the same job,” Turner said of the ride-along experience. “She treated people really well. That was my image of how cops interact with citizens. I got the bug.” Being one of the first women in a career that had traditionally been dominated by men, she said she developed her personal skills in relating to members of the public in often tense situations. “I definitely think our size does matter. Obviously being smaller and not as physical as our male counterparts, you truly have to have the ability to do mental judo and talk to people and de-escalate them just using words and your body language. I think that also serves us well,” she said. “But we also are trained in the sense that we have to use some sort of defensive tactic or weapons — we’re very skillful and competent in that. They don’t let you out of the academy until you can demonstrate 100 percent you’re ready.” Coming to the slower-paced Garlic Capital of the World was a major shift for her to adjust to compared to life in the bustling Seattle, she said. “Just getting to know the culture of the department and the community culture, it was fun,” she said. “It was really fun to change my life in mid-stream and come here and learn about Gilroy and what makes us so special. Instantly, I loved it and realized what a gem this department is.” The Gilroy Police Department’s staff has “very high morale” and its people are professional, passionate and live to the department’s core values, Turner said. “When you hear them talk to people who are in trouble, kids or families we have to come across for some reason, you know they truly have a good heart,” she said. “They care about people and they’re not just out there like the cops and robber shows you see on TV. That was important to know that we have a great team. We have very few complaints, and we have very few (internal affairs) investigations.” Gilroy is also a community where residents respect and support their police. The city in 2015 started a nonprofit organization called the Gilroy Police Foundation, modeled on Morgan Hill’s Community Law Enforcement Foundation, to raise funds for equipment and programs for officers. When Turner started her new job in Gilroy in March 2008, the city faced a serious gang problem which had gone on for years. Then-mayor Don Gage started the Gilroy Gang Task Force to focus on intervention and apprehension work. The organization expanded in January 2012 into the South County Youth Task Force to collaborate with the Morgan Hill Police Department, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department and both Gilroy and Morgan Hill’s school districts to address the effects of violence and gangs on young people in the region. “We knew we had about 900 gang members, it was huge,” Turner said on the criminal problem when she arrived in Gilroy to serve as police chief. “We had gang homicides and assaults with deadly weapons. Kids were getting jumped into gangs. They were preferring the gang lifestyle because they felt like a family. So we stepped back with the folks and we talked about how do you change that culture, how do you change the desire to become part of a gang.” The major crack-down on gangs came with Operation Garlic Press and Royal Flush in which officers from several agencies did undercover work for 18 months to learn who the gang members were. The officers were able to close down an entire gang that had held a stronghold on Gilroy for many years. Most of the members were put in prison, some for life. “That was huge because that disrupted the presence and stronghold that they had,” Turner said. “On the other side, because you don’t just have to take it out but you have to make sure another one doesn’t come in behind them, we really focused on the prevention and intervention side of things. We worked really close with the schools and went out and got grants from the state for gang prevention. And we hired a gang prevention coordinator and we started coming together and made sure we were working together to try and create things for kids who are at risks to do.” Turner, who is married to the city of Santa Clara’s Police Chief Mike Sellers, will continue to make her home in Gilroy. She will spend much of her time volunteering with the Compassion Center, the Gilroy Rotary Club and the local Exchange Club. “It’s a pretty amazing area. I love it and it’s grown on me,” she said. “It’s interesting because I came from a big city, and so just driving around Gilroy in the outskirts and unincorporated areas and looking at the land and how they farm the lands, and how the crops turn over and the fruits and vegetables that come from this area, it’s pretty cool.” Morgan Hill is home to a downtown courthouse that opened in 2009 to serve the judicial needs of the people of the South Valley region. But despite the original intentions of having a conveniently located facility to do court-related business, residents of Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy must make the drive north to San Jose or Santa Clara to dispute a traffic ticket with a judge, or for small claims, civil and family court cases. The traffic, civil and small claims units were closed in the South County Courthouse Oct. 6, 2014. The family law unit was closed in the building Jan. 19, 2016, so residents must go to the downtown San Jose Family Justice Center Courthouse to file for legal proceedings such as divorce, restraining orders, child support and other cases. At the March 16 Morgan Hill City Council meeting, council members voted to submit a letter to Judge Rise Jones Pichon of the Superior Court system in the county to reinstate the traffic court in the South County Superior Court facilities. The issue of lack of the various court service in the South County Courthouse also hits other areas of our region’s society, including adding extra burden to Morgan Hill and Gilroy law-enforcement personnel that the police departments in other municipalities in the county do not face. The city of Morgan Hill does not have quantifiable data showing what fiscal impact might hit taxpayers because of this situation. But the police department assured the city council that impact is a real burden on the level of service the police can provide residents because of this situation. Pichon manages the county’s court budget, determining the administration of court houses from Palo Alto to Morgan Hill. The city council’s letter to her emphasizes: “The impact on law enforcement over the past 18 months cannot also be over-stated. Previously, when an on-duty officer appeared for traffic court, he or she simply appears on-duty and other officers provided the needed coverage for the absence knowing the officer was nearby if a critical incident occurred. Now if the team is at minimum staffing levels, the department must call an officer in on overtime to accommodate the on-duty officer’s court obligations.”

The Sarah Jane Adventures Episodes 29 & 30: The Wedding Of Sarah Jane Smith Sarah Jane has a surprise for Luke: she's been secretly dating a man named Peter Dalton, and has accepted his proposal of marriage. Luke is delighted to see his mother so happy, but Clyde and Rani are suspicious -- especially when it turns out that nobody has lived in Peter's house for several weeks. They're unable to convince the others that anything is amiss, however, and the day of the wedding quickly arrives. But Peter does indeed harbour a dark secret: he is a pawn of the Trickster, and this time not even the Doctor may be in time to save Sarah Jane. --- --- K-9 originally created by Executive Producers for BBC Wales ---

X Factor producers say the new audition process will allow more people to get involved with the show and will boost online engagement. Budding singers and groups can now upload videos of their act online in addition to the regional arena auditions. A shortlist of 50 videos will be highlighted on the official X Factor channel, with the top performances invited to perform in front of the judges. Last month, X Factor chief Simon Cowell told ITV executives he would not be judging the UK version of the show this year, according to reports. Former Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole is also unlikely to be a UK judge this year, following her move to the US version of the talent contest. The closing date for submissions is 17 May. Last year’s series of the X Factor drew a peak audience of 12.6 million viewers on its return in August 2010.

Saints rejected Fulham's £2.5m bid for Baird Southampton defender Chris Baird has handed in a transfer request, according to BBC Radio Solent. Saints turned down a £2.5m bid from Fulham for the Northern Ireland international last week as "derisory." Boss George Burley warned Fulham's former Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez that Baird was not for sale. Baird, 25, was voted the South Coast club's player of the year last season, and his performances attracted interest from Premiership clubs. --- The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Tricks of the trade in preventing crime The biggest deterrent to neighborhood crime is residents keeping a watch and calling police if they see something that doesn’t look right. That’s what SeaTac Police Officer Rich Rowe advised at a recent meeting of Angle Lake residents concerned about increasing crime in their neighborhood. He highly recommended that people get to know their neighbors and find out when they are at work or on vacation. Rowe said just waving at people in the neighborhood helps. If criminals, they will get nervous about the attention and leave the neighborhood, he noted. Asked about home alarm systems, Rowe, SeaTac’s crime prevention officer, said they can be effective but must be loud enough for neighbors to hear them and hidden where burglars cannot quickly disable them. He isn’t as high on video cameras. If offered as evidence in court, Rowe said criminals “know the photo will be so grainy, you can’t tell who it is. If you can’t identify them they don’t see it as a real deterrent.” Video cameras have to cost around $5,000 before they are sophisticated enough to clearly identify people, he said. Rowe urged residents “to look at your house like a burglar would.” Look at probable entry points such as the front door, windows or sliding glass doors and determine if bushes or trees are hiding the entrances from being seen by neighbors. Also, check out lighting, Rowe advised. “(Burglars) won’t back up a U-Haul to your house and take everything,” Rowe said. “They’ll just grab and go.” Most likely they will immediately head for the bedroom or office where they know electronics and other valuables are, Rowe noted. First, they will knock on your door to see if you’re home. If you answer they will make up a story and leave, he said. Even if you don’t want to answer the door, you should give some indication you are home so they don’t break in, according to Rowe. Residents should put identifying numbers on their valuable items and keep photos and serial numbers of them, he said. While there are fewer vehicle prowls in residential neighborhoods than at the International Boulevard hotels, Rowe advised residents to not leave GPS systems or other valuables in their cars. If they own a commonly-stolen car model, Rowe suggested installation of a steering wheel locking device like the Club. Here is a list of Washington’s most stolen vehicles, according to NICB's 2011 statistics: 1992 Honda Accord 1995 Honda Civic 1995 Acura Integra 1990 Toyota Camry 1996 Subaru Legacy 1992 Chevrolet Pick-Up (Full Size) 1994 Nissan Sentra 1995 Saturn SI 1991 Chevrolet Pick-Up (Small Size) 2003 Toyota Corolla Rowe reported postal inspectors are overwhelmed by the epidemic of mail theft. He said everyone should use locking mailboxes and take outgoing mail to the post office. The crime prevention officer also assured residents his statistics do not indicate a recent uptick in crime in the Angle Lake neighborhood. We encourage our readers to comment. No registration is required. We ask that you keep your comments free of profanity and keep them civil. They are moderated and objectionable comments will be removed.

Wonderful photo of Walter Glenwood Ring and his wife Carrie May (Holt) Ring out for a drive. This photo came with another photo of three children, a negative of one child and an invitation to the Dexter High School Commencement of 1914 extended by Carrie May Holt to Mr. Harold Sawyer and lady [The "lady" was Martha Louise Holt, Carrie's older sister.] Reverse of the photo above with the identification: Photo of three children, sadly unidentified, in what appears to be a schoolyard: The negative and the envelope in which it was stored: Notice that the envelope is addressed to Sister Carrie. But I don't know if that meant the negative was an image of Sister Carrie or if Carrie's brother or sister addressed the envelope to her, with the negative of another child inside. Carrie had two brothers and a sister: Vernal Elton Hold, Daniel Packard Holt and Martha Louise Holt. Invitation to the 1914 Commencement at Dexter High School, Dexter, Maine: Carrie's card and the envelope carrying the invitation, which was addressed to Mr Harold Sawyer and lady. Carrie May Holt was born 26 April 1894 in Maine, the daughter of Henry Lincoln Holt and his wife Eunice Thompson (Packard) Holt of Sangerville and Cambridge, Maine, respectively. Her paternal grandparents were Abner and Martha Ann (Kincaid) Holt. Her maternal grandparents were John T. and Irene (Cole) Packard. Carrie May Holt graduated from high school in 1914. On 18 March 1916, she married Walter Glenwood Ring, who was born 26 October 1892 in Cambridge, Maine, the son of Walter Hiram Ring and his wife Alice May (Mitchell) Ring, both of Cambridge, Maine. Carrie and Walter had at least one child, a daughter. I found a Harold L. Sawyer living in Cambridge, Maine, born about 1893. He married "his lady", Martha Louise Holt, Carrie's older sister, on 2 February 1914. Martha was born 24 September 1889. Harold Leigh Sawyer was born 2 July 1892 in Cambridge, Maine, the son of Samuel and Nancy Ann (Watson, possibly) Sawyer. His paternal grandparents were Othniel and Betsy Ann (Hilton) Sawyer. I haven't yet found any information on Nancy Ann Watson's parents, or if Watson was indeed her maiden name. If you have any corrections, additions or insights regarding the information presented above, please leave a comment in the comments box or contact me directly. Thanks for stopping by!

NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro In Egypt: 'Mini-Revolutions;' Labor Protests In Egypt: 'Mini-Revolutions;' Labor Protests There have been "fragmented protests" in the streets of Cairo today, NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro reports, as people who have long been desperate for work or better pay start to express themselves and demand help from the interim, military-led government that has replaced the regime of ousted President Hosni Mubarak. The military, Lourdes says, wants "to get the country back to normal, back to a sense of stability." But, the workers are "trying to get their own demands, their own voices, heard in their particular workplaces": NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro A spokesman for the country's Military Council today issued a communique calling on labor groups to stand down because "these strikes, at this delicate time, lead to negative effects such as harming the security of the country which causes disruption in all institutions and facilities of the state." Among the groups that have been out today demanding more jobs or better pay are police officers, antiquities students, bank tellers and transport and tourism workers. The BBC's Jon Leyne, who's also in Cairo, says the workers are "staging their own mini-revolutions against their bosses. And there is no sign it's going to calm down any time soon."

Sewing with Knits: Boatneck Tee one 2.5-hour class // $125 (supplies included) Always wanted to sew with knits on a regular household machine and/or crack the code of sewing sleeves on a simple-but-very wearable top? Either way, this is the workshop for you! In addition to teaching the basics of stitching knitwear, we'll take you through the construction of the garment step-by-step and give you a pattern to take home. Before enrolling please know how to thread a machine--if you're a bit rusty that's okay.

One of the finest performers of Dhrupad — the oldest form of Hindustani music — and the heir of an illustrious lineage of classical performers, Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar is nothing short of a magician. It is not uncommon among his listeners to lose track of time or be transported to another world during his performances. “Classical music entertains you in a different way. But for that, you have to let it enter into you. You have to listen, not just hear. Open your senses and mind to it. You have come out of your pre-assessments,” says the classical maestro. It seems only natural that Wasifuddin is a master of his craft, for he belongs to a line of celebrated musicians that can be traced back to Swami Haridas in the 16th century, famed singer Tansen’s guru, with whom the lineage of Dagars began. However, Wasifuddin, 46, says his mastery over his craft also has a lot to do with his love for it. “It is as much a result of my worship of sound, notes and raags,” he says. A room of one’s own Usually dressed in pastel kurta-pyjamas, the Padma Shri awardee is most at ease in the practice room of his house in Delhi’s Asiad Village. Other than when he has concerts across the country and the world, he is most likely to be found in this room, singing, meditating and experimenting with his style. In one corner of the room are six tanpuras, including the one that was gifted to him by Rudra Veena player (and his uncle) Zia Mohiuddin Dagar after his first performance in 1989. The rest of the room is filled with idols of Saraswati (the goddess of music), books ranging from ancient music and Vivekananda’s philosophy to Sufism, his calligraphy note books in which he writes in Arabic and Urdu, and several framed photographs of his ancestors, his mother, and his spiritual guru, Baba Mastan. Classical singer Faiyaz Wasifuddin Dagar performs at an event in New Delhi on February 7, 2016. (Gurinder Osan/ Hindustan Times) Read: Dagars & Drupad: Book pays tribute to the masters of Dagarvani Relevance of classical music Wasifuddin believes classical music is especially relevant these days given the rate at which our attention span is shrinking. “Everything is getting compressed, even music. We are boiling inside, evaporating our time, reducing it to nothing. We really need to calm down,” he says. “Your brain, heart and soul need to be in tandem with each other to perform classical music. You need to relax. It has become so important to do this these days. This is what we teach. And this is why we stick to our traditions,” he adds. Legend has it that the Dagars come from a line of Pandey Brahmins who were ostracised by their community after Gopal Das Pandey accepted a paan offered by Muhammad Shah Rangile, the then Mughal ruler in Delhi, for his excellent rendition of Dhrupad. Since then, the Dagars follow Islam. However, their music encompasses both Hinduism and Islam. Dhrupad themes usually feature Hindu deities Shiva, Krishna, Vishnu and Saraswati, as well as several Sufi saints. “Swaras does not have any religion,” says Wasifuddin. Wasifuddin confesses that he feels the pressure to be able to continue the rich musical legacy of his family. Still a bachelor, he has dedicated his life to Dhrupad. He has been training 15 disciples and sees promise in at least four of them. “Music is life for me,” he says, not so sure of what would eventually become of the art from he holds so dear.

Remember Benghazi? That was the last terrorist attack that occurred on September 11 that resulted in four American deaths, including the U.S. ambassador. But, thanks to the corrupt American media who are complicit in the cover up, President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did not suffer any blame for the fiasco. However, the Washington Times reports House Republicans have concluded that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was responsible for cutting security at the consulate in Benghazi ahead of last year’s attack there, and that the administration lied about why it downplayed terrorism as the cause of the assault. A new report — the result of months of investigation by five different House committees — says there was plenty of intelligence that presaged the attack, but the State Department and President Obama failed to heed the warnings or give the Defense Department the authority to respond to such an attack. The report exonerates the Pentagon itself, saying the military did what it could to respond once the attack began, but “was hindered on account of U.S. military forces not being properly postured” beforehand. In the most damning finding, House Republicans said Mr. Obama and his team lied about the attacks afterward, first by blaming mob violence spawned by an anti-Muslim video, and then wrongly saying it had misled the public because it was trying to protect an FBI investigation. “This progress report reveals a fundamental lack of understanding at the highest levels of the State Department as to the dangers presented in Benghazi, Libya, as well as a concerted attempt to insulate the Department of State from blame following the terrorist attacks,” the GOP investigation concluded in its 46-page report.

LUNGevity is the nation's leading lung cancer-focused nonprofit. We are changing outcomes for people with lung cancer through research, education, and support. In the Spotlight Watch this video to learn about the LUNGevity Lung Cancer Navigator customizable mobile app, created for lung cancer patients, family caregivers, and support team members to manage life following a lung cancer diagnosis. Upcoming Events Find our full list of events here On Our Blogs Targeted therapies continue to be an important treatment option for those patients whose tumors...

Nambiti Caregivers Extend CANSA’s Reach A partnership forged between CANSA Newcastle Care Centre and the Nambiti Caregivers Group will ensure that more patients in the area will benefit from a comforting shoulder to lean on during their cancer journey. The Nambiti Caregivers already reach out to terminally ill patients in the area and with counselling training and cancer workshops provided by CANSA, this group will be equipped with the necessary skills to assist cancer patients and family members to better cope with this dreadful disease. (At a Relay for Life Launch hosted in Ladysmith on the 4th August 2015, caregivers expressed a desire to make a meaningful difference in their community and were grateful for the training opportunities offered by CANSA). Queries CANSA ---

Recently some of the monks and task forcers worked to plant over 300 hardwood trees. These are all mahogany and were more than ready to go in the ground. It was a beautiful day full of sun and periodic Kauai showers, making for plenty of rainbows. From Our Gurus' Teachings Archives are now available through 2001. Light colored days have no posts. 1998-2001 coming later.

This article describes a study of fossilized trees that indicates there may be a long-term cooling trend over the last two millennia. An excerpt: Measurements stretching back to 138 BC prove that the Earth is slowly cooling due to changes in the distance between the Earth and the sun. The finding may force scientists to rethink current theories of the impact of global warming. It is the first time that researchers have been able to accurately measure trends in global temperature over the last two millennia. Over that time, the world has been getting cooler - and previous estimates, used as the basis for current climate science, are wrong. Their findings demonstrate that this trend involves a cooling of -0.3°C per millennium due to gradual changes to the position of the sun and an increase in the distance between the Earth and the sun. ‘This figure we calculated may not seem particularly significant,’ says Esper, ‘however, it is also not negligible when compared to global warming, which up to now has been less than 1°C. 'Our results suggest that the large-scale climate reconstruction shown by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) likely underestimate this long-term cooling trend over the past few millennia.’ Read the whole article and then ponder that this is just one piece of an extremely complex puzzle that has been oversimplified by the Al Gores of the world. Such characters love to refer to their critics as "deniers," but that is obvious nonsense. The question is not one of denial vs. acceptance, as if this were some sort of fatal disease. The question is one of cost-benefit analysis: Just how much effort should be expended to address just how much perceived risk? If you want to see how complex this can become, read on the question of denial vs. skepticism. Read both the article and the three parts of the discussion in full before commenting. As always, no comments on a supposed "consensus" will be accepted. If you can't make an intelligent argument of your own, on either side of the issue, then this is not the right blog for you.

The Walking Dead isn't shy about killing off anybody, major characters very much included. Now one cast member hints that the larger story may spell their character's death... eventually, at least. Plus Michael Keaton is ready to make his triumphant return as Beetlejuice! Zachary Quinto talks up the Star Trek sequel's script, while Chris Pine praises new addition Benedict Cumberbatch. The Evil Dead reboot adds another cast member, while Russell Crowe considers another iconic genre role. Director Andrew Stanton reveals why John Carter is like a period film... for a time period that doesn't exist. District 9 star Sharlto Copley is headed to Jupiter in the first photo from The Europa Report. Plus why Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter could actually have a sequel! Spoilers from here on out! X-Men: First Class Frequent Matthew Vaughn collaborator Jane Goldman, who did a rewrite on the first prequel and is expected to do the same for the second, discusses the possibility of characters like Cyclops or Jean Grey showing up, as well as how these films generally fit in with the original X-Men trilogy: Ultimately, those decisions come down to someone other than me. Would I, personally? Well, it's really tricky. I think the route we had gone down with First Class - it's sort of a question of where to go next, and I think those two characters were very strong, especially having [Michael] Fassbender and [James] McAvoy play them so brilliantly. In a comic sense, I still think there's room for an X-Men [film] with the original X-Men [Laughs]. In terms of how they fit in this new universe that First Class kicked off, I don't know. I mean, yes, I think there's room for that. All sorts of ideas have been talked about and Matthew has some particular ideas, and, in this case, all of those decisions will be done through Matthew. I think the style of the film really set it up apart from the other X-Men films, where it felt like a new universe. I definitely think so, and I think that was Matthew's intention. I think there were moments where there was continuity with the other X-Men movie universe, and there were moments it was apart from that. I think it was the right way to go, for Matthew to make it a separate entity. --- Star Trek 2 Spock actor Zachary Quinto discusses what production on the sequel has been like so far: Getting back together with everybody was amazing. It was a little bit awkward because we've been away for four years, so for all of us to kind of find our footing again, just in relationship to shooting the movie [was a challenge]. But there's such a great connection between all of us that we were able to find our way pretty quickly. He also gives some general thoughts on the script: Well, it's bigger and bolder. And I think in some ways more dynamic. And it's so exciting to be back. And the first time there was a writer's strike when we were shooting the movie so nothing was able to be changed – the script was locked. And this time Bob [Orci] and Alex [Kurtzman] and Damon [Lindeloff] and J.J.[Abrams] are really getting in and working on the story and sort of allowing it to expand and evolve – and bringing us into the process. So there's a real collaboration that wasn't even legally permitted the first time that I feel really grateful for. We're having a really great time. New Captain Kirk Chris Pine heaped some massive (and completely justified) praise on his newly cast costar, Sherlock's Benedict Cumberbatch: "Benedict is fantastic. He's just so good. He's super talented, and we are more than grateful to have him on board. Benedict has got this intensity about him, and he's obviously extremely intelligent and articulate. His vocal quality is something else. He obviously is, unlike many of us, like, an actually trained actor [laughs]. He actually studied for it. [You'll love] everything. He's really talented. I think it's all going to be love - a mad amount of love." Of course, Pine wouldn't actually reveal anything about who Cumberbatch is playing...because that would be telling, I guess. [MTV] --- John Carter Director Andrew Stanton explains the look and feel they were going for with their adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs's iconic series: "The only way to do this was to make it feel like a period film...just a period you didn't know about. To make it feel like that I had to follow the rules of a real cultural history, as if there was some area of far-away South America, or the deep, deep Middle East that nobody knew about." Star Taylor Kitsch explains the emotional heft required to play John Carter, and how the craziness of the Martian surroundings tests that: "It's a character-driven epic adventure. It's quite heavy at times, but at the same time there's funny, situational humor. He's battling demons. He's been through the Civil War. He's seen his family involved with it...How does a guy, a guy who comes from a dark, intense place, how does he handle this?! It's funny but intense." There's more at the link. [IGN] --- The Europa Report Here's a promo image of District 9 star Sharlto Copley in Sebastian Cordero's film, which follows six astronauts as they travel to Jupiter's moon Europa in search of extraterrestrial life. [ShockTillYouDrop] --- Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Here's a new promo image. [ShockTillYouDrop] Seth Grahame-Smith, who wrote the original novel and co-wrote the screenplay, says there's some possibility of making a sequel: "The short answer is yes, absolutely. If you read the book there's an epilogue that leaves things open to that. In the film, without giving anything away, we don't definitively end the origin story. We leave, not only a mentor story, but also possibly a Lincoln story open." While I'm not sure quite what he's referring to with where the film leaves off, it should be noted that the book ends with Lincoln turned into a vampire by his friend and mentor, the vampire Henry Sturges, and standing in the shadows during Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech in 1963 at the Lincoln Memorial. So, the sequel may be some form of "vampire Lincoln in the swinging sixties." I would say that's the most ludicrous thing I've ever heard, but I'm just going to get proven wrong ten minutes from now anyway. [ScreenRant] --- Evil Dead Reboot Thumbsucker actor Lou Pucci has reportedly been cast as Eric, described as "an intense academic whose intellectual curiosity gets him and his friends into trouble." He joins the previously cast Jane Levy and Shiloh Fernandez. [Variety] --- Iron Sky Here are some more plot details from the Finnish comedy: Finnish sci-fi spoof "Iron Sky" takes viewers on a wild ride to the dark side of the moon, where Nazis who survived World War Two have built a military base and are planning a "Meteorblitzkrieg" on planet Earth. Black U.S. astronaut James Washington, on a mission to boost the flagging electoral fortunes of a U.S. president clearly modeled on Sarah Palin, stumbles across the huge Swastika-shaped complex and is captured. His madcap adventures, set in 2018, see his skin turned white by an Albert Einstein lookalike, send him back to Earth where he is greeted as a lunatic and finally to the moon again to try to save the day, and his skin. OK, I'm now kind of terrified of this movie. Still intrigued though. [Chicago Tribune] --- Dark Shadows Here is a poster showing Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins. [ShockTillYouDrop] --- Harker Right, so here's the latest project Russell Crowe is attached to star in. Instead of Robocop or Noah of "Noah's Ark" fame, Crowe is reportedly in talks to play Dracula supporting character Jonathan Harker in this reimagining that makes Harker a Scotland Yard detective investigating the vampire's grisly murders — instead of his usual depiction as a lawyer. As Dracula characters go, you might think that Abraham Van Helsing would make way more sense to slide into this role than Harker, but you forget that Hugh Jackman already gave us the definitive take on that character, so we've got to go with Harker instead. [Vulture] --- Warm Bodies Despite recently releasing some promo images, Summit Entertainment has decided to push back the zombie romance from 50/50 writer-director Jonathan Levine from August 10 to February 1, 2013. If you're keeping score, this is the second movie starring X-Men: First Class actor Nicholas Hoult to get unceremoniously bounced to 2013 shortly after official images were released, following Bryan Singer's Jack the Giant Killer. So, if you see Nicholas Hoult around, be nice to him, OK? [ShockTillYouDrop]

This blog is by Gabriel Sanders, who would like to entice you to put down the hot cider or pumpkin latte and head to the Museum for some fantastic programming. Here is just a sampling of what's in store for the rest of the fall and for the early winter. After the relative quiet of holiday-rich October, we begin November with back to back blockbusters. On the 6th, in connection with our ongoing exhibition , we will host an afternoon with cultural historian Sander Gilman, an authority on the field of Nazi science, and medical ethicist Arthur Caplan. After their compelling talks, they’ll engage in a discussion moderated by Museum Director David G. Marwell, who has fascinating professional insight himself, having been very involved in the search for the notorious Nazi Josef Mengele. The very next night, in collaboration with the Primo Levi Center, we will offer a staged reading starring John Turturro devoted to the great Italian author’s scientific works. Next Wednesday, just in time for the Statue of Liberty’s 125th birthday, we’ll be opening the exhibition Emma Lazarus: Poet of Exiles. The poet is in many ways the guiding spirit of our programming for the rest of the year, as themes related to immigration and the Statue recur in program after program. A November 30 discussion will encompass two very different stories of immigration. The Lucette Lagnado, author of the bestselling 2007 memoir The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit , will discuss her follow-up effort, The Arrogant Years: One Girl's Search for Her Lost Youth, from Cairo to Brooklyn , with fellow memoirist and master raconteur Malachy McCourt. On December 11, June Feiss Hersh will discuss her bestselling cookbook Recipes Remembered: A Celebration of Survival with Gabriella Gershenson of In 1876, Emma Lazarus, published a story based on the life the Book of Esther’s Vashti, Ahasuerus’ banished queen. Like Lazarus, the poet and songwriter Alicia Jo Rabins has drawn inspiration from some of the Bible’s more rowdy heroines. On December 21, Rabins’ band, , will celebrate both Hanukkah and Emma Lazarus, a rabble-rouser herself. Yes, the Statue’s golden door may be closing for renovation later this month, but on December 25, she—or at least versions of her that have appeared in film—will be lifting a lamp for all to see. Join us for Hitchcock’s 1942 thriller , the animated classic , and, perhaps Lady Liberty’s biggest role ever, The mercury may be dropping, but inside Edmond J. Safra Hall the temperature is always pleasant. Give us your huddled masses! Image: An American Tail. Courtesy of Swank Motion Pictures.

In her newest effort to keep Levi from interfering with her stuff, Abby has taken to creating "baby traps" around the house. Since the sound of toys and furniture being dragged across the floor is commonplace around here, it usually takes me a while to figure out that a baby trap has been built. The traps are carefully thought out, and organized in such a way as to ensure Levi will not only take the bait and go into one, but will stay confined for some period of time. Typically, Abby's strategy involves getting Levi interested in one particular toy, wherever he happens to be at the moment. Next, she drags all the remaining baby toys (All of them. Every single one of them.) into the designated location for the trap. Sealing off all but one point of exit, she proceeds to lure Levi into the trap, usually by taking his favorite blanky, and sometimes by making a trail of toys for him to follow. If both those efforts fail, she simply drags him by his armpits to where she wants him to land. Then quickly, before he realizes he's being ensnared, she seals off that final potential escape route, and exits the trap by leaping over whatever piece of furniture is blocking the way. I was tempted to ask her to stop when she explained her methodology to me, until I noticed that Levi is perfectly content with these arrangements, and, what's more, he's safe and confined and easy to keep track of inside his tiny prison. I think she'll make an excellent mom one day.

Diversity can be hard to come by in children's books. I commend our library for including a wealth of books featuring African-American main characters, although perhaps this should not be that big a deal since our neighborhood includes a wealth of African-Americans. Main characters with disabilities are rare, and when they appear, chances are that the story revolves around their own/someone else's acceptance of that disability. And then, there are the old people. If children's literature is to be believed, old people come in three varieties - wise, crotchety, and wise/crotchety. Or seemingly crotchety, but actually just lonely - and wise. And these tired tropes are why I adore Mr. Putter. Because when I read Elijah the tales of Mr. Putter and his cat Tabby , it is evident that yes, Mr. Putter is old, but he was also once young. And even though he is old, he still does lots of fun things, usually with his neighbor, the indefatigable Mrs. Teaberry. Seriously, the AARP should hire this guy as a spokesperson. When I read about Mr. Putter, I can imagine what he might have been like as a middle-aged man, a young man, or a boy. Because even though he is old, he is still who I imagine he was all along.

Socialism is an economic failure. International socialism didn’t work in the Soviet Union. National socialism didn’t work in Germany. And democratic socialism, while avoiding the horrors of its communist and Nazi cousins, also has been a flop. Socialism fails because it attempts to replace market-determined prices with various forms of central planning based on government-dictated prices. Moreover, socialism channels self interest in a destructive direction. In a free market, people get income and improve their lot in life by satisfying and fulfilling the needs of other people. In a socialist system, by contrast, people squabble over the re-slicing of a shrinking pie. There’s a famous Winston Churchill quote that basically says that the ostensible problem with capitalism is that people aren’t equally rich, whereas the supposed attractiveness of socialism is that people get to be equally poor. The Princess of the Levant sent me a visual version of Churchill’s quote, and it’s definitely worth sharing.

Throughout the course of the season, managerial rows are ten a penny, so to see bosses united in agreement over something is rather special. That certainly seems to be the case concerning this week's round of international friendlies. After all, I can't imagine too many of them would disagree that England's game against Holland is a complete waste of time. It doesn't make any sense whatsoever to play such a meaningless game just three days before the start of the new Premier League season. Who sanctioned the game in Amsterdam? I really don't know, but I'm sure Fabio Capello will struggle to

He's never played for a J.League club, but that hasn't stopped the S.League's equal top-scorer from holding the lofty dream of representing Japan one day. Tsubasa Sano, of leaders Albirex Niigata (S), has taken the S.League by storm this season with 16 goals in 12 matches, including five against Garena Young Lions in an 8-0 rout in May. The 22-year-old is tied with Home United's Stipe Plazibat, with the pair having scored more than twice as many goals as their nearest challenger Faris Ramli (seven).

ITC presents 'Memorial Memories' concert May 27 (May 23, 2007)--UTSA's Institute of Texan Cultures will host the fourth annual "Memorial Memories" concert from 2:30 to 5 p.m., Sunday, May 27 on the ITC exhibit floor. The free big-band concert is offered as a way to say "thank you" to America's military men and women. --- Article tools --- With the assistance of community partners, the institute will welcome guests for the free musical performance by the Sentimental Journey Orchestra directed by Ted Conerly. The audience will be inspired and entertained with original arrangements of the swing and big-band jazz music of the '40s and '50s. The concert will be accompanied by video images shown on the ITC's unique dome screens. "Memorial Memories" is a nostalgic recollection of the swing era, not commonly found on today's radio dial. The lively numbers bring the audience to its feet and get people dancing in the aisles. Seating fills up quickly, so arrive early.

A suspect in the deadly bombings of Brussels' airport and metro system says Britain is a difficult target for terrorists because of its "developed secret service", a court has heard. Mohamed Abrini, who is in custody in Belgium and is also wanted over the Paris attacks , also claimed there are no plans to target England as a potential site for a terror attack. The 31-year-old made the comments to Belgian investigators in April after he was arrested for his alleged role in the March bombings that were claimed by ISIS . The comments were read at Kingston Crown Court , where Zakaria Boufassil, 26, is accused of giving £3,000 to Abrini along with Mohammed Ali Ahmed to fund terrorism. Abrini, who travelled to Britain from Syria via Turkey, claims he was satisfying his gambling addiction during the trip, not scouting for terror targets, court heard. He told Belgian authorities: "On being arrested by you, neither in London, nor in Birmingham, nor in Manchester have I been on any reconnaissance trips in relation to preparatory terrorist attacks." He added: "There's no plan to target England as a potential site for a terrorist act. From what I know, it's France who is declared the enemy of Islamic State. "I think England has a more developed secret service, better observation techniques, etc ... and it's therefore more difficult to attack." Asked if he was hiding information to protect members of "his group" in England, he said: "No, not at all. There are no other members in England and I am hiding no-one." Boufassil and Ahmed, both from Birmingham, are charged with supplying money to Abrini between June 1, 2014, and April 16, 2016, with the intention of committing or assisting another to commit acts of terrorism. Boufassil has pleaded not guilty and denies sharing the intention of Ahmed, who has admitted the offence. The court heard that in a separate interview Abrini, dubbed the "Man in the Hat" after he was caught on CCTV before the Brussels airport bombing, said he was in Syria when asked by an Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was near IS stronghold Raqqa, to go to the UK to "pick up some money" as a favour. On arrival in London, he said he rang numbers he had been given by Abaaoud and was told to go to Birmingham. On the third day of his visit was told to wait for someone in a blue jacket near a pizzeria facing Small Heath park. After 10 minutes the person arrived. Abrini said he was then taken to a forest where a second person, who he named as Zakaria, was waiting with the cash. Abrini said: "He then asked me who has sent me to collect the money. I answered that it was Abaaoud. On these words he took out his bag and gave me the money. We did not count the money together. He told me there was £3,000." Two days later, Abrini said he travelled to Manchester. He said he visited casinos in both cities. Asked why, Abrini told the officers: "I am a player, a fan of casinos. I am registered a little everywhere in casinos: Lille, Essen ... I am a player, it's my addiction. I play roulette, poker and the slot machines, but only in Lille for slot machines." In July 2015 Abrini bought a ticket at a Thomas Cook in Manchester's Arndale centre to fly from Birmingham International to Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport the next day. From Paris, he went to Brussels, where he handed over the money. Abrini said the money was "not for a terrorist network" because it was "too small a sum", adding: "To carry out attacks you need lots of money." The trial, before Justice Jeremy Baker, continues.

Political science research guide Graphic by Marian Davies --- Explore the sections in this guide that point to resources relevant to political science. The Library's home page search See what print and electronic resources are held by the Waterloo, Laurier, and Guelph university libraries. This search draws from multiple library resources. Retrieve records from the library catalogue for books, journal articles, government publications, and from the library's many websites with one search. Country & international organization information

My family really enjoys eating steak and potato meals but sometimes I just don't feel like all of the clean up afterwards. Usually, you need to use a non-stick skillet for the steak and then you need to use another pot to boil the potatoes, among some other things. On this particular night, I really wanted to keep it simple. I made an earthy rustic sauce using tomato paste, beef stock and red wine vinegar. The secret ingredient in the sauce however, is the anchovy paste. I know it sounds a bit odd but I think once you taste it you'll see how it really helps to bring out the earthy flavours in the dish. At the end you get a tender beef and potatoes dish that will just melt in your mouth. Serves 2 Ingredients: 4 moist and tender quick fry steaks (usually packaged together) 2 tbsp olive oil coarse salt and freshly cracked black pepper half a medium red onion, sliced thin 1 cup of low-sodium beef stock 1/4 tsp dried rosemary or thyme 1 tbsp tomato paste 2 tsp anchovy paste 2 tbsp red wine vinegar 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 medium sized potatoes, quartered juice of two limes (or cut into wedges when serving) Preheat a large shallow non-stick skillet on medium high heat, drizzle in the olive oil . Season the steaks on both sides with salt and pepper, and start to sear the steaks on both sides. Add in the sliced onion to saute for a minute. In a bowl, combine the beef stock, dried herb, tomato paste, anchovy paste, and the red wine vinegar. Pour and stir in the mixture into the pan to deglaze. Add in the minced garlic and the potatoes and lower the heat down to a gentle simmer. Cover the pan and simmer for about 25-30 minutes. Note: make sure to check the steaks halfway through cooking. If you find the stock cooking out too quickly for you add a bit more stock or water. Once you're ready to serve, juice a couple of limes on top of the steaks. This will give it another layer of flavour and eat!

This is by far the toughest and most demanding (creatively) project out of the entire year. Every part you see in off white color are parts that had to be custom sculpted and molded, then cast into repeated mechanical looking parts to be combined into the sculpt. So No I didn't just found parts and put it in there. The little pipes that curve all were pre-fabricated into 3 different types of pipes cast in resin then heated to bend around forms and shapes so that it looks like part of the sculpture. The blue thing you see on the back part of the head was also fabricated and sculpted from parts I SCULPTED. Each of the afterburner flaps was sculpted, mold and cast into 9 individual pieces then combined with a larger sculpt, then molded and cast again in fibgerglass bowl-like shell so that its hollow and lightweight. Whatever money the client pay, pretty much all of it "is on the Screen" so to speak. Meaning the budget's project is spent on physical materials rather than labor. Luckily I got an extension on this, I've been working 16 hour days and my mind was going insane. Liam I hope you are liking this.