text:
Released in 2003, True Crime: Streets of LA has players assume the role of Nick Kang, a highly… unorthodox police officer. Nick is haunted by the disappearance of his father, and following that trail leads him through Chinatown, Triad gangs, and all sorts of lovely characters.
Best Bad ending time: Single-segment 0:42:41 by Frank 'Softman25' Black on 2012-07-02.
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Author's comments:
Hello there,
before I begin, I may as well come clean, as I always do. This is not a perfect run. IN my opinion, a perfect run could shave about...50-60 seconds off of my time...but Softman, why aren't you trying again to get that perfect run? Well, I hope that throughout my notes and initial commentary here, I will make myself clear enough so that even if this run is rejected, I at least can see why.
First of all, when I started this run I didn't realise just how RNG this game is. There are really so many factors where it's just lucky whether you succeed or not...for example.
- Fast cars spawning.
- A car spawning AT ALL on the mission "Chasing Triad Thug"
- Every fight against a "boss". (The small fry doesn't count, it's easy to hit them)
- God...damn...Lola. (I'll get to that in level notes)
- And my personal favourite...CRIME PATROL....
In the run that I have submitted, I really did play pretty...above average. Not perfect, but above average. However, I received enough good luck that in my opinion, I don't think I'll ever achieve such luck again. Therefore, I don't think I personally could get my time any lower. Maybe someone will come along, find a sequence break, or a way to spawn the cars you want on the street, and hell, I'll tip my hat to that person. However as it stands, this is the best of the best...To put it in perspective, originally I was aiming for about 46...I estimated sub 45 was possible...and hell it probably is. But still, I've come clean, my heart is pure, and now I can actually get on with writing about the run.
In regards to the run, I really want to point out how asinine the controls are. Shooting feels extraordinarily slippery, driving is stiff, but as soon as you hit the E-brake, you spin on out all over the place! Fighting is OK, but it's like a FPS in that if you aren't directly "aiming" at the thing you are trying to hit...you just swat at air. Thankfully the enemy sometimes does this and you can get free hits in. So it's not so bad. Secondly, read my notes about RNG above if you haven't already, it's a major player...as you'll find out. Three...the game is stupid and hard to circumvent. I'll try to mention everything which I just found stupid, however the list is not necessarily exhaustive. FOr example, in a run which wasn't good, I kicked a bad guy through the wall...and he didn't come back for about 20 seconds...HOW, WHY? Don't ask me! Anyway, on to level notes...
The first thing you may or may not notice is that I take a small step backwards. This is to prevent a stupid glitch where Nick (the protagonist, who I will refer to as Nick) only fires his left gun...and not his right. This costs about a second, since not as many bullets are flying. You'll notice on the "four targets" I take out the one who is second from the left first...this isn't a mistake, it's just how I do it. Call it stupid...but it doesn't waste time, I tested it. Then there's another glitch as I fire at the rest of the targets. If you reload and fire immediately, he fires both his guns the first time instead of just one. This saves overall maybe...0.3 of a second or something stupid like that...And yes, you have to reload after every target. Unless you count shots, but then again, that's slower than just mashing the fire key. Also reloading gives you the both guns thing which isn't so bad! Overall, I'd give myself a 9/10 for this. It wasn't perfect, but it was within a hairs breath.
This is the most simple of the race missions. The reverse stunt I pull at the beginning is interesting. Because of the game deciding that acceleration forward is for pussies, they decided to make it so reversing is faster than going forward for a time. So I hit the wall as a buffer then slide away, as opposed to swinging out the other way, which is slower. You also note that I have no regard for civilian lives, they are just annoying. Now then, this is the first car swap of the game. As far as I can find, the easiest way to take someone else's car is to park in front of it...so I do. This means that the other guy doesn't move, and you can hop out of your car and into his...This wastes time on the immediate split, because of the time it takes to switch, but you notice that the car is WAY faster than Nick's default. The rest of this was perfect, I hit a couple of civilians after the goal...but who cares!
This mission is the first "cruise" mission in which I let many a street crime go by as I race for the real goal. I also stop off for the upgrade, aim assistance. There are reasons for this, but I'll go into them more as I get to the parts where I actually use it. This wrong way on the road stunt is trickt, and I crash once costing me <1 second, so I'm not fussed. Aim Assistance itself went really well except for the moving target. However I did really well on the other targets, so again, maybe a loss of a second. You notice I'm at the same place as the first mission...and I just sail into the goal.
This could have gone better...however this is where RNG has come into play for the fights. His first kick comes BEFORE I HAVE CONTROL OF THE CHARACTER...Therefore I can't do anything about it but just take it...this makes me lose maybe...2 seconds. The rest of the fight goes as planned. This is also a good place to point out the use of Monkey Kick into walls. If an enemy hits certain walls, they take "I hit a wall really hard" damage. This is used to speed up fights...although not all arenas have these walls for some reason...maybe the devs increased the difficulty? This fight went OK...I didn't LOSE too much time, but I didn't really gain anything either.
ROSIE TROUBLE (Ch1 finale)
This is one of the quicker missions in the game. I used to do the precise aim from where I started, but you can't actually hit the guy until he stops...so I do two rolls to get myself in position then spam shots. It works...
I keep the fast car from the last chapter...and just drive to a place. I hit a van which was a street crime...and that cost me maybe 3 seconds...But it kinda just...came on me and I didn't have any time to react...so I just took it! Having the fast car mitigates the time loss though...so I wasn't all fussed.
This is the first fight where you can't just spam, you generally mix it between punches and low kicks. Which I do to reasonable effect. To also illustrates the "jump kick window". When an enemy gets up after a finishing move, there is a window there they cannot block. Since the jump kick does the most damage, you can get a free, high damage hit, it's fun! This fight was pretty good, but I missed a monkey kick > wall and I miscalculated the guy's HP by one low kick...son of a...
Having the fast car makes failing this impossible...But just passing isn't what I'm aiming to do, right?I take the shortcut I use really well, smash a car for minimal time loss, then hit a wall...pretty meh performance.
The first fight where you could die...cause of the knife's high damage. I used to disarm him with a throw...but then I realised...I could just beat him up...So I did. This went pretty well, although the game DECIDED to glitch the hell out and clip the bad guy away from my monkey paw...WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AND WAS NOT MY FAULT...son of a...
Here's where RNG kicks me in the nuts and then takes my girlfriend out for a quiet movie. Essentially, whatever car you had before...poof...gone! Not anywhere in sight. Now, you can chase the guy on foot and regain Nick's car, but that is SLOW. So you get a car and run him down...I get a slow POS...DAMN IT...Actually running the guy down went perfectly though. Sometimes he jumps out of the way...NOT THIS TIME! (The time I lose finding a car isn't anywhere near as bad as if I chased him on foot)
First thing, I'll illustrate the stupidity of the cutscenes. Some, instantly skippable, some, random as balls. SO I do this little accidental pause thing as I mash the Esc button...Sometimes, even though I mash the button, it takes another two lines of dialogue before I can skip the cutscene, go figure. But yeah, the slow car is a crutch and a blessing. It's a crutch because it's slow, but it's also pretty safe, so I only make one crash which...was really hilarious, and didn't cost too much time. There was nother, but it was RNG's fault.
Now, this mission is one I'm good at, so it's a really good thing I don't mess it up at all. This is pretty much perfect...optimised movement and all.
This is where execution and memory pays off. The first two bad guys...I mess it up...maybe a second or so of stupid...maybe two. I grab the automatic because it rips through bad guys like nothing, speedung up the process. I grab the AK for the same reason. This is the sloppiest mission in the run imo...but it's not horrible.
SNIPER ASSASSIN (Ch2 finale)
The shortest mission and one of the reasons why I got Aim Assistance. Just...hilarious...just watch it damn you!
Same crappy ass car, same results...limited crashes, smooth ride though. I was constantly looking for a better car, with no luck.
I do a great job of tailing it...I fail this on purpose for the sole reason that the tail...takes...FOREVER. The car I tail ACTUALLY STOPS AT RED LIGHTS...So I just shoot the guy down and fail on purpose...this results in me having to do Crime Patrol, but we'll get to that later...In general, the mission for what it was, went smooth as.
More driving, more of...nothing to say...same slow car though. I saw a couple of faster ones when I was near the objective, but it was pointless to switch since I was so close to the objective..and I surrender this car at the beginning of the next chapter.
This...went horribly..I missed the waiter chick and almost fail, twice. Timewise, I lose maybe 4-6 seconds...but honor wise, I lose more...
First monkey kick messes up...of course...more glitchy clipping. Then the sink refuses to deal damage...stupid troll. The "boss" of the shower is the first hard enemy in the game...truly. He's like a slower version of the final fight, but with just as much annoying blocking. Seriously though, he has pretty much the same moves, the kicks, the slow punches, the faster backhands. The fight went...OK.
THE ACCOMPLICE (Ch3 finale)
This is without a doubt...the most fun shooting level. It's a wave style arena...Damn this is fun. THe AK is better than the shotgun, but in general AK>Shotgun>revolvers. I get shot up badly by shotguns, the most lethal gun in the hands badguys, forcing me to use bullet time and heal. The rest of the fight goes smooth until the "boss"...I miss the precision shot and end up having to wait for a reload cycle to avoid...DYING...which I almost do.
The blister on the ass of this game. Essentially, you have to solve these street crimes, which are random when they spawn, how they spawn, and what type of crime they are. In general, it's just stupid. Funnilly enough though, this was one of my better performances according to my splits! Go figure...
More random pausing...always fun. Then it happens...ANOTHER FAST CAR...I smiled and leaped for joy. No other notes than that...pretty good luck though. I dodge some cars nicely, and believe it or not, I only crash once and lose no time because my speed barely drops. For once the stupid clipping of the game actually worked in my favour!
My main note about this fight is my use of the whip. It does more damage than my fights...therefore I use it. It allows my to one cycle the "weaker" girls...and do huge damage to the boss. One glitchy monkey kick contained within...AGAIN...NOT MY FAULT...Stupid game...ITS TRYING TO MAKE ME LOOK BAD! >.< Boss blocked a little more than I would have liked, but it was a good fight in general.
More driving, nothing much to say really.
The main crash of the driving is contained within...it costs about 5 seconds...and I can't blame the game for this one, all my fault...I almost failed the mission because of it which would have made me ditch the run altogether...but I didn't...Yeah, I'm ashamed, but sue me.
For whatever reason, the cop car took a ton more bullets than it usually does. Also, yes, the fastest way quite frankly IS to blow up the car, otherwise it limps behind you, and since you're IN A VAN...it's faster, you can't complete the mission...etc etc...you get the idea!
This is why...THIS IS WHY...I hate RNG, but love it as well. At the beginning of the fight, Lola pulls off her "special", the cartwheel. I can't dodge it, or block it...BECAUSE I DONT HAVE CONTROL OF NICK...She does this three times, I lose half health...I can't do ANYTHING, because I haven't even been able to move...Then...just watch...I lay down the smackdown. Quickly evening the playing field , and winning in possibly the quickest time I will EVER...HOPE to achieve. I am...REALLY happy with this fight. I mean...stupidly happy...
SNIPER REDUX (Ch4 finale)
Of course I miss...But not twice...It's the same mission from Ch2, but this time the distance is about double...it's pretty cool actually hitting the guy on the second bullet. I mean, I've done the first before, but it's still...hard as nails...And I'm not throwing out a run for a 4 second loss.
Fun, starting with the van! But LOOK...ITS A FAST CAR. This is the BEST LUCK I've had, ever. This alone made me say, screw it, this is the run. There is no way I can possibly do this mission faster, and this is the longest driving segment in the GAME...to my knowledge. Even though I had that slow car for a while, this makes up for it TOTALLY...Nothing else to say really...
What I usually do is just unload rounds into the van without a care in the world. But for whatever reason, I tried it with the precision aim to get rid of the guys...because they will wreck your car in mere seconds...But it worked, so stuff it!
The last race...and I'm so depressed about it that I kill myself! Literally! This is done to skip two missions, and propel me to one which is quicker than the "normal" mission. And since this is the last chapter, they don't make you do Crime Patrol...it's great!
The second sloppiest level in the in run, for one reason...shotguns...That dude with the shotgun on the second floor. He wrecked me so many times in the past. The run was so good at this point that I was more willing to lose about 7 seconds by pullng the bullet time stunts...to avoid instant death by shotgun...BECAUSE SHOTGUNS WILL DECIMATE YOUR FACE...I love the trick with the auto shotguns on the last floor...it's hilarious!
BAD POLITICS (Ch5 finale)
Ah, the end of the game...and the enemy who decides that he's just going to BLOCK EVERYTHING. The trick with the boss in general (the boss is called The General, what I said was a pun) is to mash, but since I'm trying to do it fast, I spam low kicks. They have the highest chance of interupting his attacks and getting hits in. It's also the one fight I block in, because of the high chances of dying badly if you don't. The General generally attacks in combos of two (i.e. left fist, right fist) and my rule is that if the first hits, block the second. It keeps you alive for longer. RNG can sometimes hand you a real freebie and let you just wail on the poor bastard for no real reason other than...RNG likes you...This was a really inense fight, if anything just because of the time I had going into the fight...I knew sub 45 was possible. However...due to serious dickiness, it was turned into a dream more forgotten...when the grapple went through I thought I was dead, started cursing, then unleashed RNG's final gift...and won...jumped in the air, shouted jubilance. etc etc. Fun fight.
Just watch Walken deliver his lines. Greatest...voice...ever (Walken is the narrator)
Yeah, there are many points to improve. The General fight could have gone better, plenty of little minor mistakes could have been fixed. But the luck I had in the run overall, makes this a really damn good run. It's the fastest I've gotten by a longshot...
For the record, due to the nature of the run (RNG) I have decided to abandon this game for running. Hopefully this run gets accepted by the SDA verifiers, however even if it doesn't, I am still proud of my achievement, it was a good run.
SDA, for maintaining the site, and the forums which I have used to plan the run
wfp, that poor bastard who I made watch my runs! :P
Everyone else who posted on the thread for the game, the moral support meant a lot
RNG, your fresh sheep are ready milord
If you enjoyed this run, please come find me on either TwitchTV or Youtube. I stream on Twitch mostly, but my Youtube is still THERE if you're interested! ;)
Return to the Game List, the FAQ, or the Home Page.


text:
At the Boavista Club in Lagos, learn the secrets of a good golf player.
Learn to hit balls at the driving range and develop your technique on the putting green with a skilled instructor. Round off this experience with a delicious drink in the Club House.
What is Included:
- 2 Golf clinic sessions each at the Boavista Golf Club for two people (1 hour each session).
- Golf clubs and unlimited balls.
- 1 Free drink (Tivoli selection) in the Club House.
- Transfer to the Golf course and back to the hotel.
- Reservations: Minimum 2 days in advance.
- Always subject to availability
- Minimum of 24 hours in advance
- Experience not available during bad weather.
- Wear casual clothes and comfortable footwear.
For more information, contact us:
Tivoli Lagos
Tel: (+351) 282 790 079
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text:
"Damn you Pinterest *shakes fist at computer screen*
Just when I thought I had gotten over you, you had to come sneaking back into my life. Well, I am through with you. You hear me? Through! All you do is set me up so you can knock me down.
I'm sorry baby, I didn't mean it. I love you, really. Don't be mad. I'll keep crafting."
This was me a week ago. Something has happened since then that has solidified my relationship with Pinterest and made us stronger than ever.
I made something that actually turned out good!
|Did it just get cold in here?
Seriously people. This is a major accomplishment. I barely even hurt myself in the process.
I have been wanting to grow my own strawberries for a while now, CeeCee eats her own body weight in them weekly. Really I would love to grow ALL of her food since most of her issues seem to stem from food sensitivities but I have been hampered by a lack of space and lack of skill.
Enter Pinterest.
I have been in love with the idea of repurposing pallets for a while now. They are so versatile it's ridiculous. I found this idea for a pallet garden on Pinterest. I liked it but flowers aren't really my thing. Then inspiration smacked me upside my head.
I could grow strawberries!
I could grow lots of strawberries!!
I could become a strawberry farmer!!!
After a reality check, I reined myself in and went to work gathering supplies. My landlord gave me a pallet, My mom gave me a bunch of ever bearing strawberries and I hit up my local Canadian Tire Garden Center for the rest.
|Supplies (minus plants, they came later)
You will need:
- One pallet (preferably not too banged up but it doesn't have to be perfect)
- 12 bags of topsoil (or a pile of dirt from your yard, no judgement here)
- 28 strawberry plants ( I like ever bearing, they fruit all summer)
- 3 meters of landscape fabric (you WILL have leftovers)
- Sandpaper (doesn't have to be fancy, coarse grit will do)
- Roofing nails and a hammer
- Scissors
Step One - Prepping your pallet
|Do yourself a favor, wear gloves.
Step Two - Attach landscape fabric
|Note the use of a solar light, lol
|Like a big ol' wooden envelope
Step Three - Fill it up:)
|The top eight are sad pandas:(
|Once you have watered a couple of times the dirt will stay in better.
Well there you have it people, proof that a complete and utter klutz CAN complete a Pinterest project without bloodshed (well, without MUCH bloodshed) and end up with a beautiful and functional garden feature in the process. Soon I will get to reap the rewards:)
|First fruit
Photo Credit, from top:
Some creepy website
All the rest, me and Instagram Pin It


text:
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The title sounds snooty but this is an actually quote of commentary from Silicon Valley Venture Capitalists on the changing face of social network applications online. Link
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Everyone, from time to time you might here me extoll the virtues of RSS and try to explain it to you but the following video does a pretty good job if you are still confused. Please take a very small amount of time to go to this website and watch […]
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Being that I send and receive an incredible amount of email a day I find this not surprising at all. I however don't seem to most people to receive a bunch of email because I always have a clean and orderly inbox, but take my word for it, a full […]
Millions of PhotoBucket Videos Blocked on MySpace 1
This is why you need to STOP USING MYSPACE. Delete your accounts and get out while you can. They will just get worse and more constricting with their allegedly virus laden, spyware filled, crappy, wanna-be social networking site. Don't stay there just cause your old friends are there. Take them […]
The Technosexual Revolution!
Stupid, but still kind of funny. BEHOLD! The Technosexual revolution! Link 1 Link 2
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Hmmm, do you know anyone that might be an entrepreneur? Link
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All of the programs on this are absolutely free and there isn't anything better. Download this package now! Link
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If you have been wondering where I have been (aka My New Toys) 1
If you have been wondering why I haven't been posting alot to my website lately it is because I have been completely slammed with work. Last week I was out of town for training for Juniper Implementing NetScreen Security Gateways 5.1 training. This week I am in training again taking […]


text:
Rt 1, Box 1173, Piedmont, Missouri 63957.
The fall of '92 again was a beautiful time for our Ozark
Heritage Festival and Craft Show. The colors were beautiful and the
weather was perfect. Cool nights and mornings. Perfect for a
campfire and swapping of stories. Sunshine all day as the young and
the old alike could enjoy all the activities.
Over 9,000 spectators enjoyed crafts, games, rides, contests,
the antique car show, and of course the antique engine and antique
tractor exhibits and contests. Plaques, buttons, oil and gas were
given to all exhibitors, along with a special handmade gift for the
This year we had 120 antique engines, nine antique tractors, a
corn sheller and grinder display and several small log saws. The
antique tractor guys got to play with their toys this year. We had
several contests for the antique tractors.
An open air square dance was enjoyed by all on Friday evening.
At 6:00 A.M. Saturday morning we were all awakened by cannon fire
from the beginning of the Civil War reenactment. We have a lot of
Civil War history in the Piedmont area and surrounding area.
At 12:00 noon Saturday all antique engine and antique tractor
exhibitors were treated to homemade beef stew, corn bread, cake and
beverages. Of course, our chief chef, Jim Crowley, cooked chili
over an open fire in a large iron kettle. By 5:00 P.M. everyone was
lining up ready to eat again. Chili along with all the
accompaniments, homemade blackberry cobbler, homemade cheesecake,
coffee, iced tea and lemonade was enjoyed by all.
Our thanks to all the exhibitors and all the spectators. Without
you we could not have such a great show. We also wish to thank all
the merchants who donated to our show (food, gas, oil, plaques and
We invite everyone to come and join us in '93. The show is
always the third weekend of October and who knows what surprises we
will have for you next year.


text:
"Lee Daniels' The Butler" is nothing if not full of sincerity and effort. Which is why it's so entirely confusing why they cast former teen heartthrob John Cusack as hangdog Richard Nixon. He's fallen from his "Say Anything" days (and even the highs of "High Fidelity"), but this is maybe the worst casting we've seen in a major Hollywood film since Denise Richards as a nuclear physicist. Having Robin Williams play Dwight Eisenhower comes a close second, and Liev Schreiber as Lyndon B. Johnson isn't much better. The decades-spanning drama tries so hard to create a moving, seemingly accurate look at the titular character's time spent on the staff at the White House during turbulent times that these missteps stand out particularly strongly, especially when compared to lookalike contest winners James Marsden's JFK and Alan Rickman's Ronald Reagan. Casting moderately big names in these roles serves more as a distraction than anything since it's not always a good fit of actor and historical figure. Johnson holding meetings while on the toilet may be funny, but not nearly as funny as the idea of the ancient looking president being played by the relatively youthful Schreiber. You can call us unimaginative, but we expect a little bit of realism and consistency from our overlong historical dramas, thank you very much.
With a script from "Recount" and "Game Change" writer Danny Strong, the film is based on the true story of White House butler Eugene Allen, here called Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker). As a black child on a Georgia plantation in 1926, Cecil witnesses his mother (Mariah Carey) being taken away to be raped, and then sees his father (David Banner) shot and killed a few feet away from him. Violence permeates "Lee Daniels' The Butler" from its opening moments in Macon, and even though Cecil is given a more comfortable job in the plantation owner's home, he is not beyond hardship. When he leaves the plantation, he earns a spot working in a hotel and eventually works his way to a fancy Washington, DC hotel and then the White House.
The film walks through Cecil's time at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, beginning with Eisenhower's term in 1957, moving through JFK, LBJ, Nixon, and Reagan's reigns. We're only shown historical footage of Presidents Ford and Carter, which is probably for the best because Daniels would have likely cast Zac Efron and Matthew McConaughey as the 38th and 39th presidents, respectively. Though Cecil remains staunchly apolitical, his son Louis (David Oyewelo) first joins the civil rights movement as a Freedom Rider, then the Black Panthers. He and Louis clash throughout their relationship, much to the sadness of his alcoholic wife, Gloria (Oprah Winfrey). Meanwhile, there's consistency in Cecil's duties as a butler, with the changing man at the top doing little to affect what he actually does on a day-to-day basis.
"Lee Daniels' The Butler" is the type of film that will likely please viewers who feel that they're doing their civic duty by learning about history and experiencing the trauma of the civil rights movement. The drama does focus on several key touchstones that should never be forgotten, including the aftermath of Emmett Till's murder, the Freedom Riders, and the Woolworth's sit-in. But there are issues of tone, vaulting the audience between laughter and tears in a way that feels manipulative and not particularly skilled. There's no real directorial stamp here; it could have been made by anyone with moviegoers none the wiser, which is why the legally required name change from "The Butler" to "Lee Daniels' The Butler" seems particularly unsuitable. Daniels' "Precious" was a far more effective look at how an individual was affected by her environment, depending more on strong performances than less-than-subtle nudges toward feeling.
That's not to say that there aren't solid performances here. As Cecil, Whitaker portrays the butler as a human being, a testament to both the actor and screenwriter Strong. Cecil is impressive in his work, but his relationship with his son is tough to watch at times. It would've been easy to cast him as a saint, but the familial conflict adds an interesting depth to the character and the story. Whitaker ages well with the character, allowing Cecil to feel the weight of gravity and the passing years. Winfrey gets to show consistent range, between her frustration at her husband's dedication to his job, her struggles with the bottle and her varying relationships with family and friends. She's the rare actress that we'd like to see more of.
As Cecil's fellow butlers, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Lenny Kravitz are good additions, with Gooding Jr. getting to be enjoyable raunchy (or at least as enjoyably raunchy as he can be in a PG-13 movie with some odd, off-putting sounds to cover his least appropriate dialogue). Terrence Howard is reliably slimy as the Gaines' family friend. The rest of the enormous cast shows up for only a few minutes, with appearances from Jane Fonda as Nancy Reagan, Minka Kelly as Jackie Kennedy, as well as Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Redgrave.
"Lee Daniels' The Butler" could be an important film that comes at a time where race is still a challenging topic for America, but it succeeds less as a film than as a history lesson. It's a movie that so clearly wants to be something important and Oscar-worthy, but it's August release points to evidence that it doesn't quite achieve its dreams. [C+]
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text:
Dark chocolate 70 %
70 g
Organic Ingredients: cocoa beans, dates, cocoa butter
The perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness, and of course the intense cacao flavor.
Dark chocolate 70 %
70 g
Organic Ingredients: cocoa beans, dates, cocoa butter
The perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness, and of course the intense cacao flavor.
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All Cubs Minor Leaguers Go to Heaven, er, Baltimore
If there was a decent prospect (but not great) you heard about in the Chicago Cubs' system over the past half decade, and now you're wondering where he is – odds are, he's in Baltimore. Scott Moore, Rocky Cherry, Luis Montanez, Felix Pie… the list goes on.
And you can add one more.
The Orioles have signed right-handed pitcher Mitch Atkins to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training.
Atkins, 25, went 8-3 with a 3.63 ERA in 28 games (15 starts) in 2010 for Triple-A Iowa, a Chicago Cubs affiliate. He allowed 98 hits and 42 walks while striking out 76 in 106 innings.
He also made seven big league relief appearances spanning 12 innings for the Cubs over the past two seasons, compiling a 5.25 ERA.
It's way too early to project his role with the 2011 Orioles, but he'll most likely come to spring training and compete for a long-relief spot in the bullpen. Orioles Insider.
Announcements regarding the signing of Bobby Brownlie, Dave Kelton and Nic Jackson are imminent.


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But as for me, I will sing about Your power.
Each morning I will sing with joy about Your unfailing love.
For You have been my refuge,
a place of safety when I am in distress.
O my Strength, to You I sing praises,
for You, O God, are my refuge,
the God who shows me unfailing love. Psalm 59
David wrote this psalm as his house was surrounded
by Saul's soldiers who were trying to kill him.
He had his home surrounded by enemies
and he sat down and wrote an entire psalm to his God.
He made decrees about his enemies and
decrees about God.
"My enemies come out at night and prowl...
But for me, I will sing about Your power."
No cowering in a corner.
No paralyzing fear for his life.
He knew His God and so he sat down
and wrote words that are still speaking thousands of years later,
bringing encouragement and strength to everyone who reads.
I might not have soldiers camping outside my house.
But I do have an enemy who,
because of God's great love for me,
has been slightly irritated at my life.
Situations have come up over the years
that have caused me to be fearful,
to cower and be paralyzed by circumstances.
But over time, I have been learning to say with David,
"But as for me, O God, you have been a safe place.
You have shown me unfailing love."
Each morning I will declare Your unfailing love.
You are my great strength."
I can rest in the midst of declarations like that.
David says in the next psalm,
With God's help we will do mighty things,
for he will trample down our enemies.
Our declarations of who God is
speak beyond our own life.
They become incarnate--His life through ours--
so that others can know of His great power
and His great love.
With God's help,
we will do these mighty things.
Lord, You are so good to us!


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Bush Celebrates George Washington's 275th Birthday
MOUNT VERNON, Va. – President Bush honored the 275th birthday of the nation's first president on Monday, likening George Washington's long struggle that gave birth to a nation to the war on global terrorism.
"Today, we're fighting a new war to defend our liberty and our people and our way of life," said Bush, standing in front of Washington's home and above a mostly frozen Potomac River.
"And as we work to advance the cause of freedom around the world, we remember that the father of our country believed that the freedoms we secured in our revolution were not meant for Americans alone."
Bush chose the national Presidents Day holiday to make his first visit as president to Mount Vernon. He and first lady Laura Bush helped lay a wreath at Washington's tomb, then the president gave a speech from a platform on the bowling green lawn of the estate.
"I feel right at home here. After all, this is the home of the first George W. I thank President Washington for welcoming us today. He doesn't look a day over 275 years old," Bush said to laughter.
Washington was born on Feb. 22, 1732.
"On the field of battle, Washington's forces were facing a mighty empire, and the odds against them were overwhelming. The ragged Continental Army lost more battles than it won, suffered waves of desertions, and stood on the brink of disaster many times. Yet George Washington's calm hand and determination kept the cause of independence and the principles of our Declaration alive," Bush said on a clear but frigid day, speaking to several hundred people.
Mount Vernon is about 16 miles south of the White House. Bush traveled by helicopter.
"In the end, General Washington understood that the Revolutionary War was a test of wills, and his will was unbreakable," said Bush. "After winning the war, Washington did what victorious leaders rarely did at the time. He voluntarily gave up power.
Washington's retirement didn't last long, Bush noted.
"As president, George Washington understood that his decisions would shape the future of our young nation and set precedent. He formed the first Cabinet, appointed the first judges, and issued the first veto."
"Over the centuries, America has succeeded because we have always tried to maintain the decency and the honor of our first president," Bush said.
Before and after Bush's speech, recorded music by the 3rd U.S. Infantry Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps blared through loudspeakers. Organizers of the event said the fife and drum corps had planned to perform live, but decided against it Sunday night because of expected temperatures in the 20s that could have damaged their historic instruments.


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It's always so easy for someone who's been there to say.
If you're going to do anything positive that will change your life, it starts with taking action.
This seems so easy, but it's often the toughest thing to do en route to the Dot Com lifestyle.
There's a natural hesitance, of course, because of the uncertainty of a new venture, especially as an e-commerce entrepreneur. The specter of being all alone in the vastness of cyberspace where both pride and pocketbook are on the line can be daunting.
That's why it's absolutely vital you're doing the right thing for the right reason.
Once your heart is committed, it's time to convince your head.
This is where the rubber well and truly meets the road. You've got three elements to analyze:
You don't have to be the Pew Research Center to sort this out beyond a reasonable doubt.
There are a number of free tools and resources available, and they're all within a few keystrokes:
Here's a tried-&-true method for evaluating — and learning from — the competition you'll encounter:
- Start by finding the most successful entrepreneurial enterprise in your niche and do a reverse-engineering hack on their site.
- Use a tool like MOAT to find out where they're advertising.
- Study their ad format and create something similar for your product.
- Contact the advertiser and purchase the same sort of space.
- Measure your results and refine from there.
This is paint-by-the-numbers, not difficult at all, and extremely effective.
Here's another way to keep trial-&-error costs to a minimum when you want to determine if you're onto a winning product. It works especially well when you're testing the marketability of physical products:
- Create a mock-up of the product,
- Place it on your site or a squeeze page, and
- Create a simple ad campaign for it.
Here's an example for a T-shirt we've introduced in our Fanorama store, which is related to our snarky sports site, The Daily Player:
When you start getting what are essentially pre-orders, you'll be in much better position to decide if the product's going to be a limited run or a keeper.
This technique also works well by using a simple graphic of your product. You can even couch your ad by asking, Would you buy this shirt? Mention the price, offer a link, and analyze your data.
Either way, don't overthink it.
Time is more than money, because you can't re-earn it. So do the research and development before you make great outlays, and you'll boost your efforts to ultimately live the Dot Com lifestyle.


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The Blurb
For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without.
Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.
Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.
My Review
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I loved the way this story was written. From a technical perspective, Stiefvater told the story beautifully. The way she delivers information is gorgeous and I love how she tackled a teen-sex scene. It's how all sex scenes should be told (leave it to my imagination).
The problem with this book is that there's very little story here. It's just a love story and it's one that doesn't feel realistic because it's love-at-first-bite and I don't believe in love-at-first-sight which leads me back to the sex scene because Grace basically hops in bed with a boy she knows intuitively. Real love is based on actually knowing someone, not staring into their eyes (if you're staring into the other person's eyes more than you talk with the other person, you're not doing the couple-thing right).
I'm going to read the second book because Stiefvater is a series-writer and I'm hoping there's a plot here that I didn't catch because I was in awe of the story-telling. Stiefvater can write but I wish she'd give me something with more substance, something with meat clinging to the bones.
View all my reviews


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878 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Hello all from the Garden State It has been a few months since I have been in contact with any one or anything Halloween due to that four letter word that we all love WORK. Im free now and full speed ahead. I Just tryed crypt Chat and it says Server Error like it dosent exsist whats up with that? Other then that I just wanted to holla at ya and give a shout out to all my Halloween Peeps from the hood. Someone fill me in if I missed anything Later BobC :jol:


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Teradata, Intel, Apple: Pre-Market Movers
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Teradata(:TDC) was one of tech's big winners during pre-market trading on Thursday after shredding Wall Street's expectations for its first-quarter results.
The data warehousing specialist, which is one of TheStreet's top 'big data' stocks for 2012, brought in revenue of $613 million, a 21% hike on the prior year's quarter.
Excluding items, Teradata earned 60 cents a share, up from 48 cents a share in the prior year's quarter. Analysts were looking for sales of $587.5 million and earnings of 56 cents a share.
The numbers pushed Teradata's stock up $3.81, or 5.28%, to $76 in pre-market trading.
Shares of Intel(:INTC) crept up 15 cents, or 0.51%, to $29.33 on Thursday after German chipmaker Infineon Technologies raised its full-year outlook, boosted by demand from car manufacturers. Intel was also one of the most active Nasdaq stocks in pre-market trading on share volume of 162,672.
Apple(:AAPL) was another active stock on pre-market volume of 141,625. Shares of the iPhone maker rose $2.34, or 0.4%, to $588.32.
--Written by James Rogers in New York.
>To follow the writer on Twitter, go to http://twitter.com/jamesjrogers.
>To submit a news tip, send an email to: email@example.com.
Check out our new tech blog, Tech Trends. Follow TheStreet Tech on your wireless devices.


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Read this article to learn about the two types of securities on cost of investment, i.e., (A) Fixed Interest Bearing Securities, and (B) Variable Interest Bearing Securities!
A. Fixed Interest Bearing Securities:
Fixed interest bearing securities mean where the rate of return is fixed, say 10%, 12% or 15%. The returns or income of such securities usually falls due on certain specific dates, as 30th June or 31st Dec. This is particularly appropriate in case of Government Bonds and Securities.
For example, if we purchase 1,000, 10% Government Bonds @ Rs. 100 (interest is payable on 30th September or 31st March), we will have an income of Rs. 10,000; Rs. 5,000 falls due on 30th Sept and Rs. 5,000 on 31st March. Each investment is headed with the name of the security and, at the same time, if the rate of interest or dividend and the date at which it is payable are fixed such rates and dates are also to be mentioned.
The Ruling of Investment Account will be:
Explanation about the columns:
Column 1:
The date of transactions
Column 2:
Heads of Account to be debited or credited in debit side or credit side of the account.
Column 3:
Nominal value of the transactions to be recorded.
Column 4:
Interest Received and Interest Paid are recorded.
Column 5:
Actual cost to be written in the debit side or Actual selling price to be written in the credit side of the account.
B. Variable Interest Bearing Securities:
Variable Interest Bearing Securities mean where the rate of return is not fixed, i.e., variable. It is applicable in case of shares. The rate of dividend on shares is not at all fixed, rather, fluctuating. In one year the return may be 10% whereas, in the next year, it may be 15%. Usually, shares are purchased as investment through brokers who charge a small rate of commission on both purchase and on sales.
It must be remembered in this respect that in case of purchase of shares, brokerage or commissions will be added with the cost price of shares whereas; in-case of sale, brokerage and commission will be deducted from sale price. The ruling is same as shown above.


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Caramel milk Dulce de leche, Barkers - 780g
This delicious, rich caramel is brilliant swirled through yoghurt, served with pancakes or waffles, or drizzled over ice cream or cake. A decadent filling for eclairs, layer cake or as a dipping sauce with fruit. Gently heat to soften for drizzling and spreading. Produced from 100% full cream milk and free from artificial colours and preservatives.


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College kids love their drugs and alcohol and athletic affiiattion is no deterrent. Point proven by the latest victims to try on the lock and chain bracelets, Terrance Joyner and Roy Willis. Two in the same week? What a treat for the blogosphere world of sports.
Terrance Joyner, freshman at New Mexico State, was arrested on Wednesday after he walked into the El Paso airport with 2 spliffs, otherwise known as marijuana cigarettes, in his checked baggage. We already knew he wasn't the sharpest pencil in the box. Joyner was recently cleared to play for the second semester after being academically ineligible for the first semester. Was his decommitment from Arkansas spurred by the fact that he thought he was going to the drug relaxed environment of Mexico, not New Mexico? Airport with two Bob Marley specials, what a dumbass.
Even the elite fall prey to the PoPo. The #2 Oklahoma Sooners' freshman guard Roy Willis was arrested in the wee hours of Saturday morning for sippin' on some sizzurp while driving through campus. The 19 year old frosh has had a bad couple of months. In September Willis was stabbed and hospitalized after being involved in an altercation at a Norman, Oklahoma nightclub. The skirmish included guns, knives and tire irons. Willis suffered a collapsed lung.
Ahh, the freshman learning curve, gotta love it.


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In August 2018, magicians are challenged to "summon a spirit or a set of spirits for 30 days to transform an aspect of your life." This sounds good, except for one thing. I'm a Daemonolater, and Daemonolaters don't summon or command spirits to appear. We prefer to invoke or invite spirits instead. Invocation is the subject of the October Domagick challenge too, which means the writer sees a difference between the words too. I recognize, however, that their difference might not be the same as mine.
After all, my own definition of 'invocation' has changed as I have progressed through my occult studies. When I first started, I believed that I evoked spirits when I asked them to appear before me. I invoked spirits when I channeled or drew their energies into me. Here the differentiation between the two words wasn't about free will, but about where the spirit would manifest.
So, where does that leave me for August? I'm the kind of person who likes to plan ahead but also wants to start the challenge on the first of the month. That's less than two weeks away, which means I either have to make plans based on possibly faulty assumptions or go against type and wait until the last minute to plan out my work and hope that this month's video will add some clarity. Ugh! Given how I feel about summoning, I'm inclined to skip out altogether except that the Domagick challenges help keep my magickal muscles in shape.
A friend recently asked me how I manage to do magick every day. I told them that I've worked up to it over the years, sort of like people who go to the gym every day. Even so, I often have to wrangle up the time or energy to do magick, especially when life takes a busy turn. When life gets too chaotic, the "static" can even make spirit hard to hear. If this happens, my daily practices can feel like simply going through the motions—like I have to wait it out until my signal from spirit comes through clear and strong again. These periods have occasionally lasted months, but I know to keep plugging along anyways. If I don't, my magickal muscles will get flabby.
The same thing would happen if those avid exercisers quit going to the gym everyday. Their bodies would likewise lose definition. Now, I'm no athlete, but I've heard of "leg day." I assume this means they rotate through their body to keep from getting bored and to make sure none of it gets over-worked. While I pretty much stick to yoga and walking for my physical exercise, I try to switch up my magickal routine frequently, and the Domagick challenge is a big part of that.
Luckily, I think I may have found a work-around for August that will allow me to participate. Thanks to my recent sigil and rune work, I started rereading my copy of Kvedulf's Gundarsson's Teutonic Magic and came across a section about creating a magickal personal. He states, "The use of the magical persona charges the rite with an added certainty and intensity, as can be seen in several runestones in which the vitki has identified her/himself by a name which is fitting to the purpose of the inscription, thus filling the enchantment with the totality of the person performing the runes and such godly aspect as she/he has taken upon him/herself."
As I read it, this aligns with the Daemonolatry practice of merging with a Daemon and empathically entwining our energy with theirs (see Meditation Exercise Four, Page 213, Complete Book of Daemonolatry). Indeed, the exercise Gundarsson outlineswould work fairly well in that capacity, except that it the vitki or magician is intended to merge with a magickal persona they create rather than a spirit known from lore. In other words, they are to use psychological magick to call forth the most confident aspects of their personalities.
Cool! That's a form of summoning I can get behind!
Realistically, people do this sort of this in their day-to-day life all the time. When we go to work, we put on our "work hats," calling up specific parts of our personalities that function best in that environment. When we go home, we put on the hats that go best with whatever we do after work, cycling through the headgear as need. We may not even notice our changes in hats/behavior, but ask yourself: are you the same way around your boss that you are around your friends? One form of psychological magick can involve recognizing what "hats" you already have in your possession, creating more hats as needed, and learning to switch between them as necessary to get what you want. Exactly how you do perform these feats is the magick itself.
My Plan for Persona / Ipseity Magic:
- Design the persona and purpose – sketching, journaling
- Invoke the persona – the same method every time, for a consistent "on switch"
- Meditate and merge – butt-on-cushion, moving meditation, et cetera
- The act of my will – private
- Separate from persona – the same method every time, for a consistent "off switch"
- Thank the persona and say goodbye – the same method every time, for consistent "off switch"
Obviously, there are some big holes here. I have yet to design my "on" and "off" switches, and the eventual technique I use could involve everything from some form of ornamental dress to shamanic drumming. I just don't know. The switches chosen will depend largely on the persona and its purpose, and I am not 100% yet clear on those. Gundarsson's suggested magickal persona, Brightshield the Valkyrie, seems geared towards warding and blessing rituals but could be "slipped on" for a wide range of applications. I will think on this model in the days ahead.


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My name is Kismet. I am a very big man cat and I live in Whiskonsin. I live with my Person and I am very happy with her, even though sometimes she does not feed me when I am very hungry (all the time) and then I get mad and I pee on things. I also live with my orange sister Sophie who annoys me sometimes, and a bunny named Henry, who is a bunman not a man-cat so we do not have much in common. You can email me at firstname.lastname@example.com with questions or comments. I love the innernets!
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Stinky sister
Here is a picture of us laying together. This was not during a very stinky moment or you can believe I would not have been sitting that close to her.
As you can see, we are right next to the computer. I am thinking about teaching Sophie to blog, but she is awful bad at typing so I think it would take hours of lessons, and if she is going to be stinking all the time, I'm not sure I can put in that kind of time.
24 comments:
That is is very nice & tender photo Kismet.
It shows that not only are you a big man cat but also a new age cat.
- 4:51 AM, January 15, 2007
........can we have 10 facts about Sophie?.......
- 6:50 AM, January 15, 2007
- The Meezers or Billy said...
mommy saided that Gramma Trixie was always the stinkiest kitty in the werld. She pooted efurrywhere and IN PEOPLE'S FACES. She saided that it stopped aftera few monfs. But, she also saided that kittens in general poot alot.
- 10:12 AM, January 15, 2007
- Daisy said...
By the way, it is very sweet of you to groom yer little sister even though she's a little stinky.
- 11:06 AM, January 15, 2007
- Zippy, Sadie, Speedy and M'Gee said...
Hello Kismet::wink:: I do beleef dat all little kittens haf pooter problums. Speedy wuz bad until he wuz over a yer old. Talk about room clearing, eye watering smell. He's bettur now, hardly stinks at all. I'z glad to see dat yoo are getting along wif Sophie, don't tell Speedy, but I like haffing sumone to cuddul wif whin it's kold outside.
- 11:30 AM, January 15, 2007
- LZ said...
Sigh...I was a VERY stinky kitten. I mean, knock your socks off, open a window, leave the room, hold your breath type of stink. I had giardia. I got some pills and it went away quickly! Maybe your mom could take some of her poo to the VET to see if anything is wrong?
- 11:46 AM, January 15, 2007
- The Crew said...
Since no one wants to suffer from this embarassing social problem, maybe a change in diet plus no people food! And as Kaze suggested, be sure she doesn't have some parasite
- 3:29 PM, January 15, 2007
- Icon Baxter Bentley said...
That is very nice of you to think about teaching Sophie how to blog. even if you never actually DO it, it's a nice thought
- 3:44 PM, January 15, 2007
- Susie said...
Girls pooter? Nah uh! Mommakitty says thats little puffs of perfume - right?
- 3:50 PM, January 15, 2007
- Angel Junior, Orion and Sammy said...
I am soooooooooo glad I don't have to put up with stinky booties!
- 4:15 PM, January 15, 2007
- Unknown said...
AMEN, BRUTHER!!! Espeshully the part abowt it not being dignifide!!!
- 8:23 PM, January 15, 2007
- Rocky the Gutter Cat said...
Kiz, do yoo think if we shipt yoo a speshul toob for her booty hole that yoo cood kullekt sum of that stinky gas and ship it bak to us?? It sownds like it wood be a good ingreediunt in Mao & Rocky's Vishus Deer Repelunt!
- 8:26 PM, January 15, 2007
- Skeezix the Cat said...
Kizzy, are yoo waring a kyoot pink owtfit in that foto???
- 8:28 PM, January 15, 2007
- Kismet said...
Rocky - NO! I am not getting NEAR THAT BOOTY!!
Skeez - that's my pink hoodie from the Gap. I got it from my very good friend Liz!
- 8:58 PM, January 15, 2007
you two look so cute together! maybe you could try to keep Sophie away from eating the stink causing foods?
- 7:23 PM, January 16, 2007
- Merlin said...
Dude, you gotta do something about the stinky booty. My little brother doesn't have stinky gas, but he has the stinkiest poop I have ever smelled. I don't know if it's the kitten food or what, but seriously.
- 9:37 PM, January 16, 2007
- Jake and Bathsheba said...
Is pink your color now, Kismet? It is very becoming and only a manly man like you can really pull it off.
I'm sorry to hear about your stinky sister. Our Mom says that she's never had a stinky cat--only stinky poos that they make in the litter box and don't cover up.
- 10:38 PM, January 16, 2007
- Memories of Eric and Flynn said...
Neither of us has efurr had a stinky prollum wiv gas, but Eric stinks the place owt when he uses the litterbox. Mum sed she yoosed to haf a black cat cawled Mr. Pig an he wud do the quietest littull phtt in yer face, an it wuz enuff to knock yoo owt.
- 6:44 PM, January 17, 2007
- Jack, Persephone, Tenzing and Lancelot said...
Persephone did that when she first got here. She was 10 months old. She doesn't much anymore. Squeak, our 2 month old kitten house guest, had the stinkiest booty EVER. She pooted ALL THE TIME but both of them stopped when they started eating my really really good kibbles from the vet that I have to eat.
Well, Persephone doesn't really poot anymore. That Squeak still does, just not nearly as much!
I think it's a kitten thing too, especially if their eat big man cat food and people food. And she was feral, so she's probably got digestive 'issues' to work out. But yeah, maybe bring a sample of poo to the vet and check it's not a sickness or bugs.
- 5:01 PM, January 18, 2007
- Skeezix the Cat said...
Do yoo have an mp3 of the smelly cat song? We have the BEST verzhun, it's one ware Feebey and Chrissie Hynde are singing it, and Chrissie Hynde reely kiks it up a notch. I like ware the korus goze, "Yoo smell like sumthing ded!" I still smell bad like that sumtimes, but I'm gitting better.
- 2:26 AM, January 19, 2007
- Lilly Lu, Iris and Maxwell Mufsa Millon said...
it must be a kitten thing becuse wow iris has some of that gas talk about a room smeling gass woo hoo. I rember when lilly lu was 10 mouths old but she never stunk like Iris who would be morfited i writeing about her stickyness
mu shue
- 10:36 AM, January 20, 2007
Sophie cat, Sophie cat, what are they feeding you???
Sophie cat, Sophie cat, it's not your fault!!
Kismet, I can relate because when I was a young kitten and I first became formerly feral, I floated a lot of air bicuits, too!
Laffin' & laffin (to quote da grate Jeter Harris) ...
- 11:26 PM, January 20, 2007
- Artsy Catsy said...
Poor stinky Sophie Cat ... did she have beans on those tortillas? Do they make KittyBeano?
CEO, ArtsyCatsy
- 5:10 PM, January 21, 2007
- Daphne said...
Kismet: Not The Mama says that my mommy was the stinkiest kitty he ever met! Then she got re-de-wormed and it helped some! He says he is SO glad that me & Chloe didn't inherit that colon of doom stink from our mommy!
Hope her bum gets un-stinkified soon!
~ Daphne
Purrchance To Dream
- 3:13 PM, January 25, 2007


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The legendary runner Geometry Dash World has received a long-awaited update and secrets that added a whole slew of new stuff, including two hidden locations. Now you can set off to collect special demon keys that you are going to need if you hope to unlock the Vault of Secrets and the Treasure Room. These two areas can be found in the Tools menu. Once you click the lock in the upper right corner, you'll encounter the Keymaster who will tell you if you are eligible to enter. The Vault of Secrets will challenge you with various riddles that required a correct answer. But giving it off the top of your head is quite difficult if you don't know appropriate cheat codes. If you type in the right reply, though, you'll be rewarded with special achievements and other perks.
The Treasure Room is hidden behind the purple door with a skull in the lower right corner of the Tools menu. There you will find an enormous number of chests filled with all kinds of bonuses. Sometimes you'll have to perform certain actions to open them – for instance, finding and rope and pulling it. The location is opened by collecting five demon keys and bringing each additional demon key to the Keymaster will allow you to return here an unlimited number of times.
Where can you get the demon keys? For now, there is no confirmed information on that matter. But you can presumably buy them for 500 blue orbs scattered across the levels. As you can see, Geometry Dash World has become even more challenging and thrilling! Don't miss your chance to try out the newly released update and see for yourself whether you can make it to the Secret Vault or Treasure Room!
Another games


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Christmas Star Christmas Ornament
Christmas Star Christmas Ornament - 1
Availability: Usually ships in 6-8 business days
Offered in a variety of colorful designs, our fun and fanciful line of Personalized Christmas Ornaments are a welcome addition to any tree. Great gifts for families, couples, baby's first Christmas or anyone on your list.
These ornaments feature a graceful, classic shape with a modern raw brushed silver border for a wonderful finished look.
See other listings for all of our magical ornament listings of the season:
2) Evening Snowfall
3) Christmas Love
4) Dazzling Snowflakes
5) Christmas Tapestry
6) Puppy - for pet lovers
7) Kitty - for pet lovers
Ornaments measure 4" x 2 3/4".
Customize each ornament with Personalization of up to three lines up to 20 characters per line.
Note: 3 lines of open text, 'Christmas' and 'Year' are not standard. Font is as shown for each line.
Ships from MN by UPS
Inventory Last Updated: Sep 26, 2022


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Deluxe LED Courtesy Light - Front Facing - Blue
Large Deluxe LED Courtesy Lights are constructed of a lightweight plastic body and an investment cast 316 stainless steel cover for a modern, streamlined profile. Available with outward directed light or downward directed light. These lights feature 3 low amperage, long life blue or white LEDs with a 20 lumen output. Installs with two #6 FH fasteners (not included). 9–28VDC. IP67 waterproof rating.
This product can expose you to chemicals which are known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.


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Australian official lashes out at Trudeau amid spat over Pacific trade deal
Official 'gobsmacked' by Trudeau's move to skip meeting of national leaders, Australian media reports
A spat between Canada and Australia is heating up as Australian officials signal they will block Canada's admission to Asia's premier security forum, the East Asia Summit, amid tensions over the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.
An Australian news report suggests that country's leadership has already rejected Canada's application to participate in the key forum because Australian trade officials were "gobsmacked" by Canada's behaviour on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) last week in Vietnam.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau skipped a planned meeting with the 10 other leaders of TPP countries while in Danang because he said Canada simply was not ready to sign a deal that is not yet in the best interest of Canadians. Liberal government officials have refuted international reports — notably from Australian and New Zealand news outlets — that suggested Canada alone was to blame for "screwed" TPP talks.
"We weren't ready to close it," Trudeau told reporters. Canada helped broker an agreement on "core principles," but held out on a final signature because of ongoing concerns, namely with chapters that relate to the trade of cars and measures to protect cultural industries.
Trudeau made a pitch for EAS membership on the last day of his eight-day swing through the region.
"Canada is deeply committed to multilateral institutions and [forums], and the East Asia Summit is an important one in an extremely compelling region of the world," Trudeau said.
The summit's 18 members must reach a consensus on whether to lift a current membership moratorium and allow Canada to join, meaning opposition from Australia could torpedo Canada's efforts.
A report in the Australian Financial Review cites a senior unnamed Australian official as saying that "EAS and APEC members are weighing up why Canada should be added to EAS following the TPP. Under Trudeau, Canada has increased its advocacy to join the EAS, but adding Canada is not on the EAS agenda."
"He pulled out of the TPP at five minutes to midnight and then rocked up at the EAS like he belonged there," the official said.
Ongoing 'irritants'
A Canadian official, speaking on background to CBC News, conceded there are ongoing "irritants" between the two countries, and Australian officials are likely lashing out at Trudeau in their national press because "they're frustrated" they did not secure Canada's signature on the TPP, a trade pact which aims to eliminate tariffs on industrial and farm products across an 11-nation bloc whose trade totalled $356 billion US last year.
Japan, the largest economy in the TPP, is eager to sign a deal that includes Canada. It already has advanced trading relations with most of the other TPP partners, including Australia.
And yet, while Australia might seek to tie EAS membership to Trudeau's reluctance to sign on to the TPP, Canadian officials cautioned it is problematic to make a causal link between the two.
The official said Australia has long opposed Canada joining the forum — opposition that existed before the TPP showdown — claiming the addition would "water down" membership, and admit a country it perceives as having tenuous ties to the Asia-Pacific region, despite Trudeau's insistence Canada is a "Pacific nation."
"Before we even left on the trip, we were briefed that Australia might oppose our membership," the official said, adding the Aussies see the EAS as their "playground."
There is a sense that Canada already enjoys membership in other high-level forums — namely, the G7, NATO and La Francophonie — in which Australia is not a member, the official said.
Canada remains committed to EAS bid
There is a fear that adding Canada to the EAS might lessen Australia's influence at the summit — Canada would take up some of the "oxygen," an official said in describing Australian concerns — attended by some of the world's most powerful leaders, including those from China, Russia and the U.S. Australia already has to compete for attention at APEC, where Canada is also a member.
In a statement sent to CBC News, a spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said Canada will push ahead with its bid for membership in the EAS and its sister body, the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus.
"Our participation in these security [forums] would expand our engagement with ASEAN and its member states, deepening our ties with an important and growing region. We remain committed to working with our international partners to promote peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region," Adam Austen said.
Erin O'Toole, the Conservative critic for foreign affairs, questioned whether Trudeau purposely sidelined our "democratic allies," like Australia, in favour of launching preliminary free trade talks with China. "The TPP talks were about counterbalancing the influence of China in Asia-Pacific. All countries were part of that when Trudeau complicated things by not showing up to the leaders meeting. Is he going to go to China in lieu of TPP?"
Despite the squabbles over TPP, a Canadian official said the personal relationship between Freeland and her Australian counterpart, Julie Bishop, is "excellent," and they enjoyed a productive bilateral meeting while at APEC.
That official said Australians are eager to tap Canada's knowledge of the U.S. Australia is looking to protect its free-trade agreement with the U.S. amid the ascendency of "America First" protectionist rhetoric emanating from the White House.
Recent additions to the EAS — namely, the U.S. and Russia in 2011 — have altered the once-cozy dynamic of the summit, another senior official, speaking on background, told reporters while at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
- 'We weren't ready' to close deal: Trudeau defends Canada's actions on TPP
- 'Outstanding issues': Trans-Pacific Partnership faces uncertain future after Trudeau skips leaders' meeting
That senior official cautioned Canada's campaign for membership is expected to last for many years, and there was never an expectation EAS member countries would simply welcome Canada right away.
The Trudeau government has appointed an ambassador, Marie-Louise Hannan, to ASEAN countries — whose 10 members make up a majority of EAS countries — to help with its lobbying efforts.
With a file from the CBC's Julie Van Dusen


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2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series
Serving as the fifth Black Series model to debut from the coveted Mercedes-Benz AMG lineup, the 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series could be our favorite offering to date.
Fueled by a naturally aspirated 6.2 liter V8 engine pumping out 622 horsepower along with 468 lb-ft torque, this monster has been upgraded an impressive 39 ponies from the 583 horsepower SLS AMG GT. In addition to extra power, the vehicle has also been revamped throughout GT3 race car inspired exterior as well. The SLS AMG Black Series features a new rear wing, plenty of carbon fiber accents, and an air outlet located on the hood of the vehicle. The interior has also seen some nice upgrades like the option of black leather with either black or red Alcantara found throughout the cabin. The 2014 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series should hit showrooms with a sticker pricing around $230,000.
HiConsumption is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more


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I love me some Beyoncé. Her video for "Single Ladies" is mesmerizing. Kanye was right -- it should have won Female Video of the Year (even though it went on to win Video of the Year). Beyoncé has this ease in her style -- she's like Sporty Spice the Exotic Dancer. I wish she and Jay Z would adopt me. Maybe they'd teach me how to dance and in between our grueling workout sessions we'd all sit courtside at Knicks games and share popcorn.
So, Beyoncé has a new video that was released Tuesday.
Once again, she's fabu-licious. She runs out to center stage ablaze with her hair bouncing everywhere in these amazing curls. Wearing knee-high green socks (I pray this solidifies a knee-high sock revival), she shows off her long legs and accentuates the curves in her thighs that lie above those socks and below her tiny blue jean shorts. Her billowy white shirt made me wonder if she had anything on underneath it -- a bare shoulder suggests not. But, she's dancing around so much it's hard to tell. She mimics jumping rope and high-knees...with high heels on. If I attempted to run across the room doing high-knees in heels, just before I broke both my ankles, the heels would explode under the pressure.
But back to Beyoncé. As usual, she works her curves in a way that gives all us "big boned" girls hope. She does this really cute move where she's like, left shoulder dip, right shoulder dip, swings her left arm around her head, then flashes this sly grin at the camera. Oy vey.
Oh, did I mention that this video was made for middle-school kids? Yep. It's called the "Let's Move! Flash Workout," which is part of an initiative to advocate healthier lifestyles for youngsters. And even better, it will be shown in middle schools across the nation next week as part of a "dance in."
The video is shot in a busy school cafeteria where kids are eating vegetables, laughing and having fun, until two kids spontaneously start dancing. Then, Beyoncé runs out from what might be the kitchen and everyone joins in.
On May 3, girls who want to double-down on their self-loathing for a day can gather around television at school with their BFFs, haters and heartthrobs to watch Beyoncé work it in the name of a healthy living. Because trying to match her moves will make you feel better about yourself, right? And I thought being a tweener these days was hard enough. Silly me! We're going to raise the bar, kiddos. Let's see if even on the best day of your life you can work a cafeteria like Beyoncé does.
An instructional video of the "Flash Workout" routine will be sent to schools in advance of the "dance in," so kids can learn the moves. It's also available at schooltube.com. (Or see below.)
This instructional video is actually great and well done. Six different teenage dancers and choreographer Frank Gatson Jr. go through all the moves in eight sequences. More important, everyone is dressed to workout, not to hit a club.
As much as I like Beyoncé, I'm a bit conflicted about the "Let's Move!" video. I realize her intentions are in the right place. But the marked difference in how I view the video versus how a fragile (maybe chubby) 12-year-old girl will, is that I'm a grown woman with the gift of time and a sense of humor to now appreciate my awkward phase during middle school.
If the goal of the video campaign is to encourage kids to 1) make good nutrition choices and 2) get up and move, then great! I hope it works. Now, let's suppose Beyoncé had pulled her hair back, sported Asics instead of high heels and worn realistic workout attire. Then would the delivery of a message to tweeners about making healthy choices in itself been healthier? Possibly.
No, scratch that. Probably.


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Florida will soon have to familiarize itself with as much as 27 new laws that were signed by this state's Governor. These signed laws will come take effect on July 1st of this year; but all that would not be that unusual it there was not for one particular law that deals with drones and the people's privacy.
This abovementioned law would prohibit the drones from recording any kind of footage of the private properties as well as their owners while flying above them, according to the media in Tampa. To put things in perspective, we're going to give you an example: if a realtor was taking some picture of a properties that he wishes to sell, he would need to acquire a permission for that from the neighbor, if the neighbor's yard or home, or any kind of property gets in that photo.
But, this is not the most unusual of the laws that were recently signed. Here's a few that have been submitted to us by johnbales.com; Among them is a Beer law that allows 64-ounce bottles to be filled with beer, which was not permitted in the past. There was a huge discussion about it, and it has been running for the past three years, and the microbreweries and the big-money beer interests were the main contests of it. In the past, only 32-ounce growlers were allowed to be filled with beer, as well as 128-ounce growlers. This new law has met the middle, and agreed that from now on, beer could be poured into 64-ounce growlers. Local breweries believe that this will be the momentum they have needed in order to start expanding their business, and according to Mike Doble, a well know brewer from Tampa, in the past the people would want a growler to be filled with beer when coming to him and his brewery. He says that he would always want to help people and fill their 64-ounce growlers, but simply, the law would not permit him to do so. So, he was between a rock and a hard place. But now, he says that the answer to this problem has come in a form of this new law.
But, this law does not limit itself only on the growlers, because it rectifies the old law's limitations on how many tap rooms can breweries have and what is the amount of beer that can be transferred. And, this law changes all of that. Mike Doble says that now, due to this new law, even the oldest breweries in Tampa and Florida will be able to survive and continue with their tradition. And not only that, they will now be able to expand! He also stated that he is pleased because the lawmakers were able to create a terrific balance between making something that will be great for the consumers, and not imposing too many restrictions on it.
So, these laws may sound silly to some, but actually, they are of great importance. Without the proper regulations, everyday life would turn to agony, and the good thing about these laws is the fact that the experts agree that it will make the life a bit easier.


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abarrelfull wrote on 21 Aug 2012 09:28
Eni and Heritage have reached an agreement with respect to the assignment of the 50% interest which Heritage holds in blocks 1 and 3A (Kingfisher) in Uganda for a total amount of 1.35 billion US dollars. An additional consideration of US$150 million, in cash or assets, is also foreseen provided certain conditions are met in the future. The agreement also envisages the transfer of the operatorship in the two blocks to Eni.
Blocks 1 and 3A, which are located in the Lake Albert basin, one of the most important African sedimentary basins, have resources for more than 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent, of which approximately 700 million have already been discovered from about 28 wells drilled in the area.
The development of these resources will require great synergy with Uganda's infrastructure programs, in respect of which Eni intends to play a leading role in partnership with the Authorities.
The transaction is part of Eni's growth strategy in the African continent and in the Sub-Saharan region in particular, where the company is committed to pursuing an approach of sustainable development through its staff, expertise and technologies.
Eni considers Uganda, which has achieved economic growth through effective policies, an ideal partner for the development of cooperation programs aimed at sustaining the region's social, economic, and industrial development.
The agreement is subject to finalization of a full sale and purchase agreement, approval by the competent authorities and other customary conditions. Eni has been present in the Sub-Saharan region since the 1960s, and is currently also an operator in the main oil-producing countries of Angola, Ghana, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Gabon and Mozambique. Eni's operated production in the region amounts to about 450,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.


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their own way? How tremendous are these words of our Lord Jesus Christ! "When the evil spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return unto my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they come and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than his first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation." That wicked generation enjoyed such means of grace as had never been enjoyed, the ministry of John Baptist, who was greater than any that had been ever born of women before him, and the ministry of Jesus himself. Many were willing for a season to rejoice in the light of John, and came and were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins, and promising to renounce them. Many heard the words of Jesus likewise with joy, and promised to bring forth much fruit. But the impressions made upon them were transient. The devil was, in appearance, cast out of them, and they refused to perform that service to him which they had formerly done. But their religious affections decayed. They forgot that they were purged from their old sins, and plunged themselves deeper than ever in the horrible
pit of iniquity. The Spirit, whom they had vexed and quenched, left them. The devil recovered his former possession, and carried them captive at his will.
Far be it from us, you will say, to entertain the thought of seeking that rest in the gratification of earthly or sensual desires, which can be found only in Christ. But we find ourselves in danger of sinking into despondency from frequent disappointments. We have sought to enter into the way of life, but have not been able; and why should we wait for the Lord any longer?
But why have so many sought to enter in, and have not been able? The great reason why the Jews did not enter in, was because they sought righteousness, not by faith, but by the works of the law. "Labor to enter into God's rest, that you fall not after the same example of unbelief." One great reason why you have not hitherto sought, by faith unfeigned, to enter into the way of life, was, that you entertained secret hopes that you might at last, by your own exertions, obtain what you sought. You were not perhaps sufficiently sensible of the great truths we have been endeavoring to impress upon your minds, your utter inability either to work faith in yourselves, or to do any thing to move the compassion of God, or to merit his favor. Experience of your inability to do, or to merit any thing truly good, may
shut you up to the faith. Commit your way wholly unto the Lord. Look to Christ for power to believe. Attend to his quickening voice. The words which he speaks are spirit and life. "Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."
Have you believed through grace? You see to whom all the glory is to be ascribed. Magnify him who hath done great things for you; and never forget, that not for your sakes but for his own name's sake, he hath made a happy change in your condition. Let that grace which hath done wonders for you be your trust, your joy, your praise. Walk humbly with your God, and shew the truth of your faith, and the efficacy of the doctrine of free grace, by all holy conversation and godliness.
Finally, learn from this subject how needful it is to join earnest prayer to God with all the means that you may use for the conversion and salvation of others. You may persuade them to do many things, as Herod was persuaded by John to do much, but you cannot persuade any man into a state of salvation. Instruct, correct, admonish your children in obedience to God; but do these things under the persuasion, that if they are born again,it must be not of the will ofthe flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Whatever you do for the advantage of any souls
will be of no use but to render them more inexcusable, unless the grace of God maketh effectual; for "it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."
-But of God that sheweth mercy. Rom. ix. 16.
WHEN WE Confine our views to ourselves, we find nothing but sorrow and vexation; but when we look to the blessed God, we see light and gladness. "It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth." If we stop here, we sink into despair. We are utterly lost. We can do nothing to relieve ourselves, or to procure the favor of him who alone can help us. "But of God that sheweth mercy. The sound of mercy is music to our ears, sweet as the songs of angels. Let us rejoice and be glad. The mercy, not of a creature, but of God, is our hope and our exceeding joy.
Of our own utter inability to help ourselves, or to entitle ourselves to favor from God, we have already heard. And if we have been humbled to the dust by the view of our own weakness and worthlessness, we will attend with transports of joy to what
the apostle says concerning the mercy of God. His words in this place teach us, that the free and sovereign mercy of God is the spring of our conversion and salvation.
More particularly, the following instructions are comprehended in this text.
1. That our salvation is to be ascribed to the mercy of God.
2. That the mercy of God shines with a distinguished lustre in our salvation. 3. That this mercy is free. 4. That it is sovereign.
5. That our dependence on the mercy of God for our salvation is a capital doctrine of the Bible, taught by all the inspired writers, from Moses to the last of them.
1. That our salvation is to be ascribed to the mercy of God.
This appears from the account which Scripture gives, and which experience too well confirms, of the misery of our natural condition. We are fallen so low, that nothing but divine power can raise us up; and what but mercy in God, equal to his power, could have moved him to raise us up from that wretched condition which was the just punishment of our unprovoked rebellion against his government? We find the saints in Scripture frequently ascribing to the mercy of God their deliverance from sickness, their preservation in danger, their exaltation from a low to a prosperous condition,