text:
I hear it all the time.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is a great player, it's a shame he is so arrogant."
Yes, the 27 year-old Portuguese superstar has an image problem. His serious, distant and sometimes petulant behavior on the field of play means many, if not most fans, have quite a negative impression of him.
So who is the real Cristiano? Well, I have known him for nearly a decade and I can tell you he is nothing like that.
Just last week I spent some quality time with the Real Madrid winger at one of his friends' houses in the Spanish capital and he was as sweet as ever.
Every single time I have been around him he has been the same. The fame, the money, the success, they have not changed him.
Obviously he is completely different around his friends than he is on the pitch, and I think that is quite reasonable. While he is working he has the responsibility of performing because, like he told me once again, he hates to lose. He wants to win every single match, whether it is against Barcelona or Rayo Vallecano.
As much as I see his point of view, and I understand the way he feels, I am the first to admit that he has to change his ways.
At 27, he has reached a key moment in his career where he runs the risk of seeing his image taint his legacy. I told him that last week and the people who work closely with "CR7" need to tell him the same.
If I had the chance to work with him, I would tell him the following:
• Smile. You are talented, successful and good looking. You are living the dream. It doesn't help when you look so serious all the time. It seems like you are carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. I am not asking you to be like Ronaldinho Gaucho, but you should relax and look like you are having fun out there.
• Celebrate your goals with more enthusiasm. I know you score LOTS of them, but it doesn't help your image when you act as if they don't matter. And you should drop the "calma, calma" celebration. It worked well for the game last season against Barcelona, but it's time to move on.
• Be yourself when cameras are around. Don't think you need to act a certain way because you are in the spotlight. You are a funny guy, let that come out naturally.
These three simple changes would go a long way to changing people's perception of Ronaldo, don't you think? And the great thing is he can achieve them by just being himself.
If nothing is done, and if the same trend continues, there is no doubt people will continue to say Cristiano is a great player, but not such a great person.
And that means his legacy, as well as his hopes of beating Barcelona's Lionel Messi in the duo's annual battle for the Ballon d'Or, will suffer.
Let's face it, Ronaldo is absolutely amazing to watch on the pitch. But, I can't help but not like him for all the reasons mentioned above. If that isn't the real him, he needs to show it. Perhaps using his great popularity to help children's charity events, some public speaking events in support of a good cause would show the real him. Completely concur, he needs to drop the "Calma" routine after scoring.
Spot on Pedro!
Never understood the usual "hate" atitude of a lot of people towards Ronaldo, but I do see that he doesn't help in that.
He also needs to be more focused in his side of things instead of being always worried with Messi.
Why is he so eager to win the Ballon D'or? The more eager he looks the worst it is for his case.
He needs to start being himself, and also highlighting the good work other players do.
Like everything you don't need to state the obvious, he is a great player. So stop worrying about it and start worrying about your legacy which should be one of achievement, skill, but also worrying about other subjects away from football.
Pedro you coudlnt be more spot on!
Pedro , I see you now CRs new Karl Rove in his hunt for Balloon D'or.
Good Idea, to flood CNNs sports section with all sorts of stories on CR, including having him vote in the US election.
Hope you well paid and your not feeling compelled because he is portugese.
All these stories on CR are really getting a bit comical.
Maybe he should just shut the hell up for a whole year and play. He's a brilliant reader of the ball and a fantastic finisher.
Just shut your damn mouth, be humble, and score, score, score. No smiling, no whining, no comment.
Why did I read this?
what a jerk to go around telling someone – a complete stranger, especially – who to be & how to act.
people should smile because they WANT to or because they FEEL like it. not because other people are ordering them to smile. do you even know what a smile is? it's not something FORCED or done out of obligation.
leave him alone, not everyone is a fake smiler all the time. if he doesn't feel like smiling, he doesn't have to. he doesn't owe you anything.
I am a Ronaldo fan and I love him for what he is. He says stupid things in media and his people should take care of that. Other than that just don't bother. His admirers love him for what he is. If anything he needs, it's the big cup or two - Champions league. And believe me that will do it.
I don't buy the whole "That's not the real him" argument. If anything, our real personalities come out when we are placed under stress and in high stakes environments. And you can't get any more of that then on the pitch with the world's cameras zoomed in on you.
Everybody is a nice guy when they're sharing a pint with their mates.
Real character is being gracious in victory and defeat, respecting your opponent, and humility. None of which CR7 has...
Full disclosure: I'm a Barca fan, but that's never stopped me from respecting and enjoying the game of past Madridistas: Raul, Roberto Carlos, Zidane and Figo being some of the more recent ones.
i think Ronaldo should be at peace with himself on the field and outside the field. you are doing what you love and you didn't ask to be a star. you owe no one an apology but just give thanks to God for the gift of life to live and to do what you love.
I know you a great person because i do not look at your appearance but much more.
Let the express himself the way he knows how to, if he doesn't see anything wrong with it then let it be. take care and all the best.
He is 27, nonetheless STILL acts (re-acts, I should say) like a child with the same "crybaby" comments and attitude as when he was first shining through. In the beginning it was like "give him time, he is just too young," now it is just obvious it is ingrained. It is not just the arrogance he needs to tap into. No one appreciates crybabies. "I am unhappy", "No one loves me", etc. Hating to lose (who doesn't) should not reverberate this way, but with him it happens time and again. When I see him celebrate a goal, he seems to do it with hatred–sort of saying: "You see? take that!" It is rare that one sees him celebrate just out of the sheer joy of scoring. Thing is, it is not in his bones to be naturally kind human-like to the public eye–his being nice one-on-one does not cut it. But if I were to pinpoint his biggest downfall, it would be his obsession with Messi. If he could just drop it already, he will be so much happier and everything else would follow.
You my friend are pathetic. to judge such talent is a crime, that easily shows your jealousy towards Cristianos achievements. Cristiano worked hard to get to where he is... He doesn't 'act' serious, he is serious. Serious on what he wants (To win). So think again before mocking him hypocrite, don't think you know whats best for Cristiano. He has his own life and you have yours. What has the world come to when individuals become victims of their own success. I pity you sir, i pity all of you.
Most of you comment with out even know what you talk, or at least make a Google search before you post..
You can start by:
Cristiano Ronaldo money donations (more than once, for more than one cause)
Cristiano Ronaldo donates blood (he does it all the time)
Cristiano Ronaldo visits Tsunami affected area
Now, why does he wants so much the "ballon d'our"?
First and foremost, by the reason ALL football players would like to win it.
Secondly, because of the promise he made to his father, before this one die.
About he says "no one loves me" and what so, why dont you take time and go read some Spanish newspappers, not so much the news but the comments and see how much he is hated by many madrid supporters just because he is Portuguese (along side with Mourinho), search for games of 2 years ago when most of the Madrid supporters were booing him during the games in Madrid stadium, i could go on and on.
Now about Messi, if the reporters constantly keep asking him questions that directly or indirectly revolve around Messi, what you want him to do? Not reply?
Even Messi gave an interview recently where he says he is sick of always asking him questions about Ronaldo and the constant talk comparing the 2, etc, etc
All the things i talk here can be easily checked by any of you.
Next time, inform yourself before talk about something you clearly have no clue what you talk.
Antoniah, who said Ronaldo has an obsession with Messi? It certainly was not him. The media has made the two enemies and of course being the imbecile that you are, you interpret that as one obsessing over the other.
Ronaldo does not write articles comparing himself to Messi, journalists do, Ronaldo does not go around doing polls on who is the best, websites like these do. Ronaldo does not go around asking himself questions about Messi or Barcelona, journalists do so I don't understand how anyone with even a single brain cell can come to such a conclusion knowing how the media works. Your bias is so apparent you even go as far as criticizing the way he celebrates his goals, for Pete's sake he scored the damn goal let him celebrate it the way he damn well pleases, it has absolutely nothing to do with you or your sensitive feelings. What is the world coming to when someone works this hard to reach at certain level but they can't even enjoy it or be themselves because there are losers like you who are consumed with jealousy and envy!
everybody cant be fake ,, he is what he is ,,..
no doubt CR7 is a great player,breaking and setting records,but his greatest problem is being obsessed with the issues of lionel messi just the last ended classico when messi scored everybody saw how he behaved. just be yourself you have everything to be respected so command it
Have your ever notice that whenever a team mate scores, Ronaldo does not appear to be celebrating. But whenever he scores, he shows his arrogance? Being too self centred is his downfall
I hear a lot of comparisms between messi and football greats like pele maradona zidane but with ronaldo its always a comparism between him and messi. That tells you the level boths players are. No one has ever doubted CR7 as an excellent player but he has a very damaging attitude like his coach Jose.And in this world attitude is everything.Madrid faithfuls like Raul, Zidane and Casillas also are rivals to barca and hate to lose to but they exibit excellent attitude on and off the pitch.Attitude is everything cr7 should learn that .
Pedro Pinto, you are Portuguese like Ronaldo and Mourinho so if it is your agenda to uplift the image of your arrogant countrymen, stop it coz they already showed who they were for the longest time so your efforts to make them palatable to fans will be in vain coz we are not stupid to listen to you. I think you had a regretable attitude as well by pinpointing Mario Balotelli as the most problematic player. Why did you know the real Mario? And who is Mourinho to boast about Mario's bad image? He should check himself first before anyone else coz Mario had been bullied by fans and he needs to be tough to survive this cruel fans whereas Mourinho has always been the bully with no respect to any opponent he has.
if you want to be humble try and visit L.Messi or Kaka
The image the media put on Cristiano as the "arrogant glamour boy" in contrary to "innocent little Messi" reminds me of the "Wild Agassi" vs. "Humble Sampras" times. Who is the one of them now who since many years does good things? Who is the one who had to live with the false media-image for so many years?
Creating and inventing conflicts and good/bad images sellls!
My opinion on this annoying biased media hype: http://cr7-kaka.tumblr.com/post/34564927053/why-all-this-hate-and-malice-on-cristiano-ronaldo
People only hate Cristiano for playing for realmadrid. Messi played ball to the bernabeau fans no one was saying anything.
Maybe he should start by celebrating the goals of his team mates like he does his own. Maybe he should want for others what he wants for himself and show it. When Benzema or Higuain or any other Madrid player scores be twice as happy and celebrate with them as if it were your own. "To be truly great one has to stand among people, not above them."
I love Cristiano, he is talented and competitive but if he is actually a nice guy, we have to see and believe it
Feels like he wants the Balon' d Or so badly he has hired a good public relations firm to redo his image. Sure is showing up in the media a lot as just a misunderstood guy...
well said pedro pinto everytime he is on the pitch he looks like he is forced to be there and play. i agree he should look more relaxed and enjoy his game on the pitch.
Why do you hate to loose, Ronaldo? You should be used to it coz your country Portugal is a consistent looser in any sports, economy, arts etc.
You Portuguese are too poor to be arrogant. You should be humble. Your country is always the poorest in western Europe be it before and after joining the EU. Why? I think stupidity and arrogance is your fame so don't expect the world to love you. Down with Ronaldo, Mourinho and Pepe. Go back to Portugal and make your country proud. I just wonder how much more arrogant you would be if you finally win?
@ric Can anyone possibly be more arrogant than you?
The way you talk about Cristiano and the whole country of Portugal is disgusting.
But accusing a person you never will get to know as arrogant!
I wonder why such comments pass the moderation.
The hell does he need to smile more for? So some corporation can whore him out trying to sell their products? Making defenders look like school children and the goals are all the "PR" he needs. He's freakin Ronaldo!
Our Society expects much from superstars on all fronts. The term Corporate Social Responsibility has captivated the minds and hearts of many across the Planet. Players in the very top bracket of pay scale could do a lot to mobilize Society to contribute to the Planet-making enterprise.
African footballers are doing their bit in the field of education, heath care, hygiene and nutrition of the less privileged or under-privileged citizens in their countries and even in the vast continent of Africa.
No doubt Europe is a highly developed continent but there may be areas that would need the attention and care from world's best footballers.
Andrea, you must be Portuguese if you don't think that Ronaldo and the self appointed 'Special One' are arrogant .Arrogance is obviously a Portuguese national trait. However, this is an American media site and Americans don't respect arrogance, with the obvious exception of Pinto. It must really hurt you that 99% of the football articles are about the EPL and not the Potguguese league.
@Andrea. Well, I guess what i said has truth simple as that. I had worked with different nationalities (Portuguese included) and I had noticed that arrogance on 5 out of 6 Portuguese that I worked with. So sorry if I offended you in case you are Portuguese.
@Andrea. Why Andrea are you just plain ignorant that you posibly don't know that Portugal had never won any major tournament be it even their only sport(football) coz I don't know any famous Portuguese tennis player, basketball player etc. Can you cite some example that what I'm saying was wrong? Which is the poorest country in western Europe do you think? It just showed you can't accept the truth or you're plain ignorant.
@ Ric
Haters gone hate...
And while you hate, learn how to spell.
@ric and Buktum.
I'm German but always admired the Portuguese football. I speak Portuguese since 10 years because I have friends in Brazil.
Portugal is a small country but brought out some of the most brilliant players of all times.
Besides football: How about Fernando Pessoa? Just an example.
I followed Cristiano's career since his first days as a professional at Sporting at age 17. Impressive!
Even if he might sometimes appear cocky on the field, he is a decent person.
If he really was so arrogant, it's strange that many of his current and former team-mates always point out what a nice, down-to-earth and helpful person Cristiano is.
What a good friend and mate he is.
Example: Being German, I liked it how my fellow countrymen Khedira and Özil described Cristiano as the most helpful team-mate when they newly arrived at Madrid. He made them feel at ease, showed them Madrid, invited them into his house. As both spoke no Spanish at the time, Cristiano helped out with translating to English.
You could say: His Real Madrid or Portugal NT team-mates don't want to talk bad about him because they have to work with him every day.
But there is no need for his former colleagues or managers to do so, they could now reveal what an idiot he is. Instead, they only talk in the most positive way about Cristiano.
But people who never met him and will never have the chance to do so, call him arrogant, just because the media make profit out of this annoying Cristiano/Messi comparisons.
I am a Cristiano Ronaldo fan and I must say I like him for the person he is, outspoken, great player, gives a show every time he gets the ball. Now Messi is also a amazing player no doubt about that, just like Ronaldo they play good for their teams but they dont do much for their countries. When was the last time you heard Messi speak? Does anybody really know much about Messi, besides that hes a great player? most people dont know Messi so they assume he is a good person by the actions he takes in the field. Not trying to start an argument, its just my point of view.
Stop trying to change this man's personality. Not everyone believes in fluff.As long as he does his job well,leave him alone.Not everyone deals well under these circumstances. By the way Sergio, you should study your English more before you make fun of someone's spelling.
@sergio I'm not a native English speaker and even editors makes spelling mistakes couple of times if they type so fast. So if you are Mr. Perfect go and look for perfect people like you. Maybe God? And what we are talking here is not me but Ronaldo and the likes of him like Mourinho and I am arguing strongly that that's what they really are ok. Nobody tells anybody that I'm nice if you ask my friends of course everybody are nice to their friends or teammates for the sake of winning. The REAL ATTITUDE REFLECTS ON HOW RONALDO AND MOURINHO TREATS PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT THEIR FRIENDS. And I just can't help but laugh on the agenda of Pedro Pinto to uplift the image of Ronaldo and Mourinho. He just felt maybe that it's time for Ronaldo to win the Ballon d'Or.
Andrea, I don't care one iota about Ronaldo or Morinho. As it happens I think Gareth Bale is presently the world's best footballer and Sir Alex is streets ahead of Moinho as a manager. What annoys me, and many others it seems, is the fact that Pinto can only write about how great his fellow countrymen are and nothing else. I read the sports pages of many English language newspapers and 99% of the time I read unbiased, objective articles. Unfortunately Pinto is doing nothing but put peoples backs up against his fellow countrymen, which is obviously the opposite of what he intends.
This is a joke! Why does CNN need to promote and market him all the time! Why doesn't he just get on the pitch & play instead of needing kudos and idol-worship from Pedro to try to enhance his chances at the Ballon d'Or? CNN should make a point of providing fair and equally-balanced commentary instead of focusing on Ronaldo! It's rather transparent and pathetic!
Personally, i am a big fan of CR7 and i feel a lot of the criticism he gets for his public image is unwarranted. We cannot force him to behave the way we want, we are football fans and he is a football player giving us some of the best moments in the game. I respect the fact that he literally worked harder than anyone else to get himself to the very top, you almost feel like Messi would be an amazing player even if he didn't put any real effort into it. I agree with Pedro that smiling a bit more and being less serious would help his image but i refuse to accept that the fact that he's not Mr happy-go-lucky should damage his legacy. CR7 must go down as one of the top 5 greatest players of all time.
Cr7 is a great player. He is not obsessed w/ Messi, the media is .. They do it to create rivalry and sell papers. He needs to be himself and not be an actor. Realize not everyone will be happy and find something to complain about in regards to players.. Jealousy is a huge part as to why people are such haters. Relax and enjoy the game haters
I call him "Pretty Boy" and C. Ronaldo is "acting?" arrogant, big ego and not humble to accept that he's just another person with a little added skills to his soccer career & financially better off that the majority of the normal population. One of the worst thing is to "glorify" yourself!! A little down-to-earth of humbleness .... possible?
There is only one Ronaldo...
That's R9. This Portuguese butterfly is a fake...
if the pressure fans and media mount on CR7 is mounted on messi......messi will be worse!
Pedro, obrigado por ter dado uma hipótese a um excelente jogador de mostrar que é boa pessoa, franco, directo, e não raras vezes, a fama e notoriedade exacerbadas podem ser os piores inimigos de qualquer atleta, performer, artista, por opiniões tendenciosas publicadas pelos media, até mesmo, no caso do Cristiano, pela comunicação social portuguesa.
É o preço da fama. Mas ele foi sincero quando disse que pagava bom dinheiro para poder passar desapercebido, sem ser assediado por fans, paparazzi, curiosos de todo o género, quando sai para tomar um café, por exemplo.
Mostrar como ele é, realmente, e não a imagem distorcida que fabricaram para ele, por ter tido uma ou outra atitude menos feliz. Ninguém é perfeito e isento de erros. Ele admitiu-os. Isso é uma atitude honrada. Parabéns pela entrevista, de um boavisteiro nascido no Porto.
Totally agree 100%!!
As per: Marcelo November 15th, 2012 8:46 pm ET
There is only one Ronaldo... Brazil's pure bred.
Everybody loves a bad ass. Keep it up Ronaldo you are terrific!
He is remembered by people who know nothing about football for being the bad boy in the golden boots.
Reblogged this on wadeelliott and commented:
It's a shame to see such a great player get negative press .... But he only has himself to blame
I am a Portuguese South African – parents born on Madeira Islands, so I and the familia are totally crazy about Ronaldo. I am so glad you interviewed him, Pedro, wrt to his image etc... Great interview, totally enjoyed his honest answers and I must say he hasn't lost his Madeireinse-way!! Totally agree that unfortunately the world DOES judge him on his 'attitude'. It's rather sad, as we ALL know he is a remarkable player, I mean lets face it, skill, good looks, talent talent talent and attitude! – it's exactly what we love about Ronaldo. Super interview.... Muinto obrigado Pedro !
I love CR so much that I wish he could play or just be better than Messi...But the more I hate messi, he does better. Truly, trying to change your wrong habit does not need a correctional facility as I would describe Pinto's work. But I have to confess, its better when your in love with the person like I love CR. CR, please put your heart-off messi's and celebrate with colleagues as a team on every success even when its not you; say less and hesitate towards reacting......you wont get to struggle as world's number one
Cristiano Ronaldo is a best football player. I love Cristiano Ronaldo very very much.
No one questions CR talent and abilities. Personally, I think he is more talented, more skillful, faster on open field, capable in the air and better at set pieces from outside the box than Messi. Still, Messi is the better player between them. CR is the Alex Rodriguez of the Football world
his biggest problem is his name "Ronaldo"
im sorry but there was only 1 ronaldo and he was from brazil.
I think we should call a spade a spade. If we want to help save CR7's image and carrier we shouldn't be saying what he wants to hear. by all standard CR has a element of pride and arrogance in his character. i wold advice that he wears a friendly face in the pitch. He is not in a battle field. little little foxes spoil the vine.Even the book of life THe HOLY BIBLE states that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. He is a fantastic player and should make himself lovable
He's Portuguese how could you possibly expect him to act in any way. Have you watched the portuguese national team, they're always serious. I'm Portuguese and even at my mundane Wendy's job I get extremely angry when i portion fries. ITS GOTTA BE PERFECT or else its a complete failure. Portuguese people are like Germans, minus the intelligence in engineering.
I love CR7 as a FOOTBALLER AND A PERSON
Well, this is a blog which we have to be free to express.
Great interview Pedro .
Well I'm A christiano fand I tink that there not. Trying 2 change him I tink they whant him 2 stop changing ...I tink christiano Ronaldo is a great soccer ....even thought I'm only 13 I tink Ronaldo it's just like me...well I'm just like but I tink that they where already trying 2 change him ....look me up on Facebook Christiano Ronaldo if u ever see this
This whole criticism thing, i just want to ignore it... but i want to say something...
Why do people have to judge? Cristiano Ronaldo is a human being just like you and I but with one difference.
They accomplished something in their life that they will enjoy for as long as they live, and that he gave himself a legacy that a person like me can only dream of. His Legacy of passion and love of Football... But you judge his motives, his achievements, his actions, his emotions.
I know that everyone has the right to judge... but to define Cristiano the way others see them is just wrong.
None of us know Cristiano, none of us grew up, lived, cherished life with Cristiano. does seeing him for 90 minutes every game gives us a clue on who he is? simple NO. "Obssession" NO "ARROGANT" NO...
"Passionate"... Yes
I have much to say....but some people just don't get it, and i pity you.


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I must apologize for the absence of Blogs the past few weeks….November is generally the time when staff go on their vacation as the hotel tends to wind down after the busy summer period.
Coming back to Vancouver in the middle of November is like returning home to an unfamiliar city – gone are the glorious blue skies of summer, now replaced by the seasonal Pacific storms that barrel the coast like an unrelenting train (which in actual fact is the case). For some this can seem like a drab nightmare, but there is a great charm to the weather that makes the Pacific Northwest so unique.
We feel that rain should never stop you from venturing out, if anything, get the wellies and anorak on and brave the elements…the colors of the sky are not as dull gray as you may think…and Stanley park comes alive with the passing weather, its this time of year when you realize and notice that Vancouver is nestled in a temperate rain-forest, so take a good look as the fronts sweep by and watch the trees breath out the condensation in the park, it truly is a living and breathing ecosystem.
There are plenty of things to do in the city that is undercover, such as Granville Island Public Market, the Big Bus city tours, Museum of Vancouver alongside the Macmillan Space Center and Police Museum near Kitsilano Point at Vanier Park.
At Kitsilano Point there is a great story that sums up our "Raincity". Which has been carved onto a large rock, it is a lovely testament to the inclement weather.
This story stone, entitled "Vancouver in the Rain" is one of ten across the city. Here it is….
"It is probably fair to say that one of the things for which Vancouver is most famous is rain. It is true that it can and will rain here for weeks on end. Several years ago I found myself coming close to being thoroughly disgusted with the rain, unusual for me as it usually bothers me not at all.
I was walking home from work and was mumbling under my breath the whole way, carrying on about how this weather was suited only to ducks. The building I lived in at the time was a large square building surrounding a brick courtyard. I came around the corner into the courtyard and there, to my amazement, was a beautiful Peking duck, having a ball in a huge puddle in the middle of the courtyard. It was quacking and splashing with such obvious delight that I had to smile, glad that such joy could be found in the gray wetness of such a day.
I really love the rain in Vancouver. I have been told that the Inuit have hundreds of words for snow. I have often thought we don't have nearly enough words for rain, for there are so many types of rain. There is soft rain and hard rain and sideways rain, rain that makes you instantly wet, and rain that leaves soft kisses on your cheek, like the wings of a butterfly. There is cold rain and warm rain, go out for a walk rain and stay in bed with the cats rain. There is booming rain and whispery rain, rain that lulls you to sleep and rain to sing you awake. The rain brings us all the shades of gray, but it also brings us the wonderful greenery which surrounds and blesses us."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Today's News: Our Take - ABC Pulls 666 Park Ave, Schedules Double Dose of Happy Endings and Apt. 23
ABC is moving 666 Park Avenue out of some prime real estate.
ABC has pulled the supernatural drama from Sundays at 10/9c and will replace the show with new episodes of Happy Endings and Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 beginning Jan. 6.
Those new episodes will air in addition to the fresh entries already airing on Tuesdays at 9/8c and 9:30/8:30c respectively, which means fans will get a double dose of Max, Penny and James Van Der Beek every week. Both comedies are set to be replaced by Dancing with the Stars on Tuesdays beginning in March.
Fifty Shades of Lame! Check out TV's unsexiest sex scenes
According to TVLine, ABC is expected to air the remaining new episodes of 666 Park Avenue sometime over the summer. In November, ABC announced it would not order additional episodes of 666 Park Avenue or fellow freshman drama Last Resort, but stressed their plan to air all 13 episodes of both shows.
Are you sad 666 Park Avenue is moving earlier than expected? Are you excited for more Happy Endings and Apt. 23?
View original ABC Pulls 666 Park Ave, Schedules Double Dose of Happy Endings and Apt. 23 at TVGuide.com
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first batch of bread buns I made several years ago, they looked so horribly out of shape that I could feel my stomach cringe every time I was reminded of them whenever someone left me a comment on that particular post. Everything is self taught, from baking to taking pictures. Even though I have not moved beyond baking simple cakes and buns, at least my shaping skills have improved and I am able to take slightly better pictures compared to six years ago. Yes, my learning curve is definitely much longer than most who started their baking journey even much later than me. Yet, I truly enjoyed this slow learning process, taking my own sweet time to explore the world of baking and doing what I like.
Back to the title of this post...
I will be going back to work. It is not a full time job and I get to work from home. No, the job I have been offered has got nothing to do with baking. It is a 'regular' freelance, home-based job and I'll get to earn some pocket money which I could spend on baking ingredients :) I will probably not be able to update my blog as regularly but I will still continue to bake, at least once a week, I hope...
Coffee Cookie Buns
(makes 10)
tang zhong (water-roux):
25g bread flour
125ml water
bread dough:
210g bread flour
56g cake flour
20g milk powder
42g caster sugar
1/2 tsp salt
6g instant yeast
30g egg, lightly beaten
85g water
84g tang zhong (water-roux)*
22g unsalted butter
50g unsalted butter
50g caster sugar
50g egg, lightly beaten
50g cake flour
1 1/2 teaspoons instant coffee powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon warm water
to make topping:
* Dissolve instant coffee powder with the warm water, mix in vanilla extract. Set aside.
* Beat the butter with caster sugar, until light and fluffy. Add the beaten egg one teaspoon at a time, beat well after each addition (add in egg gradually to prevent the mixture from curdling). Add in the coffee mixture gradually, beat well after each addition. Sieve over the cake flour. Mix with a spatula until just combined. Transfer topping into piping bag fixed with pipping nozzle (round tip). Let the topping chill in the fridge until needed. Remove from fridge about 5~10mins earlier before use to allow the topping to soften a little.
to make tang zhong:
* Place 25g bread flour in a saucepan. Add 125ml water, mix till smooth, making sure there are no lumps of flour. Cook over medium to low heat, stirring constantly with a hand whisk to prevent it from burning. Within 1 to 2 mins, the mixture will start to thicken, stop when you see traces in the mixture for every stir you make with the hand whisk. The 65degC tang zhong is ready. Immediately transfer the hot tang zhong into a bowl and cover it with a cling wrap, making sure the cling wrap sticks onto the surface of the mixture. This is to prevent a film from forming on the surface. Leave to cool completely before using it.
to knead dough by bread machine:
* Place water, egg, tang zhong (use 84g), sugar, salt, bread flour, cake flour, milk powder in the pan of the bread machine (according to the sequence as stated in the instruction manual of your bread machine). Make an indentation on the flour and add in the instant yeast. Select the Dough function of the bread machine and press start. Leave the lid of the machine open (this is to prevent over heating). After about 10mins of kneading, add in the 22g of butter. Let the machine continue to knead the dough. After the kneading cycle has stopped (20mins), Stop and Restart the machine. Continue to let the machine knead for another 20mins. Remove dough from the bread pan. (Note: refer this post for instructions on how to knead dough by hand.)
* Grease hands with some vegetable oil (this helps to prevent the dough from sticking to your hands). Remove dough from bread machine. Shape into a smooth round. Place dough in a lightly greased (use vegetable oil or butter) mixing bowl, cover with cling wrap or a damp cloth and let proof in room temperature (around 28 to 30 degC) for about one hour, or until double in bulk.
* Remove the dough from the bowl and give a few light kneading to press out the gas in the dough. Divide the dough into 10 equal portions (about 55g each). Roll each dough into smooth rounds and place on a greased (or lined with parchment paper) baking tray. Space doughs two inches apart to allow them to expand. Cover with damp cloth or cling wrap and leave doughs to proof for the second time for about 30~40mins, or until double in size.
* Pipe topping onto each dough. Make sure to cover the entire surface with the topping.
* Bake in pre-heated oven at 180 deg C for 15 mins or until golden brown. Remove from oven and transfer to wire track to let cool. Once cool, store immediately in an airtight container. Best served warm (re-heat in oven if necessary before serving).
Recipe source: 65度C汤种面包, 陈郁芬 and 我的幸福手作面包,李成实


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Miss Dior is a green chyper, which is what makes it so original. And it was the first one of them all. But what exactly is a green chyper
It would arrive in the boutique in December 1947, but from the day of the debut fashion show, on February 12 of that same year, Miss Dior scented the salons of 30, Avenue Montaigne. Christian Dior, couturier, caused an international sensation with his revolutionary 'New Look' ; Christian Dior, perfumer, did the same with a fragrance that rewrote the perfumery rule book. Bidding farewell to the powdery smells of the boudoir, Miss Dior embodied modernity and the recapturing of femininity. Whether in its freshness, its sensuality, its sophistication, or its staying power and the trail it leaves in its wake, everything that made Miss Dior a landmark fragrance in the history of perfumery it owes to its composition : Miss Dior is a green chypre, the first-ever one. This means that it has a subtle harmony that begins in the sharp citrus notes, develops in the floral freshness of a garden, and stays in the woody notes of oak moss. Starting with this first perfume, chypre quickly took its place as a scent signature of the house. It's a complex and refined composition. "It's a harmony, and not a melody," reiterates François Demachy, the house's current perfumer-creator
Just like chypre itself, Miss Dior is also a family, and its different notes come from the accent on one raw material or the other. Therefore, it's the Sicilian mandarin that forms the citrus note of the Eau de Parfum, while Calabrian bergamot appears in the Eau Fraîche, a mandarin in the Parfum, and neroli in the Eau de Toilette. In the same way, the floral heart is expressed in turn through jasmine, rose and ylang-ylang, and the woody base in patchouli, oakmoss, and sandalwood or vetiver.


text:
Matt Fraser lifts Bruins past Canadiens, 1-0 in OT
Boston-Montreal series tied 2-2
Matt Fraser fantasized about a night like this as a kid in Red Deer, Alberta.
Making his NHL playoff debut after being called up Wednesday from Providence of the American Hockey League, the 23-year-old Fraser scored at 1:19 of overtime to give the Boston Bruins a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night.
"It's something I dreamed about many times on the outdoor rinks growing up," Fraser said. "It's every kid's dream to score in overtime. ... Words can't even describe that feeling. I just watched the replay of it and I don't even want to begin to try to explain that because it's something I wish that every kid could feel."
The goal tied the Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-2.
Fraser scored after Johnny Boychuk's shot from the point took a high hop off the end boards and Price and defenseman Mike Weaver had trouble controlling the bouncing puck.
Watch winning goal
"It was bouncing around and I was just swatting at it as hard as I could and hoping it would hit something," Fraser said. "Price is such a good goalie. He doesn't give out a lot of rebounds. I might have got lucky there, but the puck wound up in the back of the net."
Price lost sight of the puck.
"It came around on the other side and it bounced over my stick and I lost it," Price said. "Somebody yelled 'Over,' so I looked over my left shoulder. Obviously, it wasn't there. Then they poked it in on the other side."
Game 5 is Saturday night in Boston.
"We knew how tight this series would be," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "It doesn't mean any more than that we've tied the series. It's been tight every game.
"It was important to get back in the series, but I don't think we've played our best hockey. We've played hard, but I've seen us play better. You hope the win here will help us get better and we'll go from there."
Fraser had two goals in 14 regular-season games for Boston and had 20 goals in 44 games for Providence. Julien didn't hesitate to use the youngster in overtime.
"It was no doubt a little nerve-wracking for him but to me it didn't show on the ice," Julien said. "He was poised, made some good decisions, he was strong with the puck and in his decision-making. We were talking about him and I said he's been really good for us tonight and there was no doubt he was going to play in overtime."
Tuukka Rask made 33 saves for Boston, and Price stopped 34 shots.
"This was a hard-nosed game between two well-prepared teams," Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said. "We lost a battle in front of the net on the winning goal, but I'm pleased with our team's effort. All the games have been close and it won't be different next game."
The teams played their first scoreless period in regulation time in the series in a tight-checking first marked mainly by icings and missed passes.
Boston's Carl Soderberg had the best chance in the final minute after Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban's blind back pass was intercepted, but Price got a piece of it as it went off the crossbar.
Another goal-less period followed as shooters misfired, particularly Montreal's Max Pacioretty on a setup from Thomas Vanek, and both goalies held their ground. Each team went on the power play once, but even that failed to break the deadlock.
The Canadiens went on attack in the third, peppering the Boston net and outshooting the Bruins 14-7. But the Bruins got a power play and Reilly Smith hit a goal post, only to see Brian Gionta stoned by Rask alone in front of the net at the other end a moment later.
Notes: Fraser played in place of Jordan Caron. Matt Bartkowski stepped in on defense for Andrej Meszaros. ... NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr attended the game.


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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) is pleased to announce that CHAS (Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy) data, are now available via an application programming interface (API). With this API, developers can easily access and customize CHAS data for use in existing applications or to create new applications. To create an account and get an access token, please visit the API page here: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/dataset/chas-api.html.
On September 9, 2022 HUD released updated CHAS data based on 2015-2019 ACS 5-year estimates.
There are no substantive changes to the format/content of the tables from the 2018 CHAS release. Enhanced disclosure avoidance protections continue to be enforced by Census resulting in some previously-available estimates being suppressed, as was the case starting with the 2018 tables. The following tables have changed compared to pre-2018 releases:
- Table 1: The "Other (including multiple races, non-Hispanic)" race/ethnicity category is now suppressed. The "Cost burden cannot be computed, none of the above problems" housing unit problems category is now combined with the "Has none of the 4 housing problems" category.
- Table 2: The "Other (including multiple races, non-Hispanic)" race/ethnicity category is now suppressed. The "Cost burden cannot be computed, none of the above problems" severe housing unit problems category is now combined with the "Has none of the 4 severe housing problems" category.
- Table 7: The "Cost burden cannot be computed, none of the above problems" category is now suppressed.
- Table 12: The "Cost burden cannot be computed, none of the above problems" category is now suppressed.
Please use caution when referencing estimates using programming code developed for pre-2018 versions of CHAS or when making year-to-year comparisons, as variable names and definitions may have changed.
About the CHAS
Each year, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) receives custom tabulations of American Community Survey (ACS) data from the U.S. Census Bureau. These data, known as the "CHAS" data (Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy), demonstrate the extent of housing problems and housing needs, particularly for low income households. The CHAS data are used by local governments to plan how to spend HUD funds, and may also be used by HUD to distribute grant funds. For more background on the CHAS data, including data documentation and a list of updates and corrections to previously released data, click here: Background.
Access the data
HUD has created a simple web-based table generator (also known as a query tool) that provides some of the most commonly used CHAS figures (click here for the CHAS query tool). Data users who are comfortable working with large datasets and have appropriate data management software (such as SAS or SPSS) can download the complete set of data files (click here for the data download page). The data download tool includes data from every ACS release from 2006-2008 through 2012-2016, for a variety of geographic summary levels. HUD has also created new analytical tools to support HUD grantees preparing their Consolidated Plans. The eCon Planning Suite and CPD Maps are pre-loaded with CHAS data. Access to the eCon Planning Suite is limited to CPD grantees, but CPD Maps is available to the general public.
Older versions of CHAS data, from the 2000 Census and the 2005-2007 ACS, are available below. These data are different from more recent versions, and are not in the data download tool.
HUD will periodically post publications, presentations, and working papers using CHAS data.
Joice, Paul. CHAS Affordability Analysis. US Department of Housing and Urban Development, working paper. May 20, 2013.
Joice, Paul. Measuring Housing Affordability. Cityscape: A Journal of Policy Development and Research, 16(1). 2014.
This table generator produces a small number of tables that focus on some of the most commonly used CHAS figures. It is meant to help individuals looking for data for a specific jurisdiction. Start by selecting the appropriate geographic summary level. If you are looking for data for a city, it will probably be under "Place". If your local jurisdiction is a "township" it will probably be under MCD (which stands for minor civil division). Take care to select the correct jurisdiction. Note that all numbers are household counts.
Users can select a specific jurisdiction of interest (such as a state, county, or city) and receive a few simple tables including information such as the number of low income households, or the number of households with housing cost burden. Results can be viewed in a web browser, or downloaded in spreadsheet form.
This tool is meant to provide similar information to the data in the CHAS query tool in the State of the Cities Data System, which contains CHAS data from 1990 and 2000 (available here: https://socds.huduser.gov/chas/index.html)
Use the drop-down menus below to download all CHAS tables for a specific year and geographic summary level. Data files are formatted as csv files (comma delimited text) and grouped in a .zip file.
Select Geographic Summary Level
HUD has created a set of Excel files for each state, plus DC and Puerto Rico. These files are appropriate for planners and local practitioners interested only in their geographic area. More extensive guidance for using these files is provided here: CHAS Users Guide
Because of the large amount of data in each table and the large number of jurisdictions, providing nationwide data in only one file per table is beyond the capacity of Excel, except at the state level. For example, if Table 1—with 249 rows of data per jurisdiction—were provided for all 1,882 counties in one file, that file would have 468,618 rows. Below are 52 zip files—one for each state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico—each of which contains data for that state only, in Excel. The Excel files are named as follows: CA_Table1_050, where "CA" indicates the state, "Table1" is the table, and "050" is the geographic summary level. For 19 states in which MCDs are the primary governmental or administrative divisions of a county, there are 36 Excel files in each zip file—18 at the summary level 050 and 18 at the summary level 060. All other zip files contain 18 Excel files.
State Files for Download
Alabama (*.zip, 3.3MB)
Alaska (*.zip, 0.4MB)
Arizona (*.zip, 2.5MB)
Arkansas (*.zip, 1.0MB)
California (*.zip, 3.5MB)
Colorado (*.zip, 1.7MB)
Connecticut (*.zip, 4.4MB)
Delaware (*.zip, 0.2MB)
District of Columbia (*.zip, 0.1MB)
Florida (*.zip, 3.6MB)
Georgia (*.zip, 6.0MB)
Hawaii (*.zip, 0.3MB)
Idaho (*.zip, 1.2MB)
Illinois (*.zip, 11.6MB)
Indiana (*.zip, 9.8MB)
Iowa (*.zip, 2.4MB)
Kansas (*.zip, 3.2MB)
Kentucky (*.zip, 3.7MB)
Louisiana (*.zip, 3.1MB)
Maine (*.zip, 1.6MB)
Maryland (*.zip, 1.6MB)
Massachusetts (*.zip, 7.6MB)
Michigan (*.zip, 11.2MB)
Minnesota (*.zip, 6.8MB)
Mississippi (*.zip, 3.3MB)
Missouri (*.zip, 3.7MB)
Montana (*.zip, 0.6MB)
Nebraska (*.zip, 1.4MB)
Nevada (*.zip, 0.6MB)
New Hampshire (*.zip, 1.7MB)
New Jersey (*.zip, 10.4MB)
New Mexico (*.zip, 1.3MB)
New York (*.zip, 11.7MB)
North Carolina (*.zip, 5.5MB)
North Dakota (*.zip, 0.9MB)
Ohio (*.zip, 13.3MB)
Oklahoma (*.zip, 2.7MB)
Oregon (*.zip, 1.9MB)
Pennsylvania (*.zip, 9.8MB)
Puerto Rico (*.zip, 4.3MB)
Rhode Island (*.zip, 1.7MB)
South Carolina (*.zip, 2.7MB)
South Dakota (*.zip, 1.0MB)
Tennessee (*.zip, 4.3MB)
Texas (*.zip, 7.9MB)
Utah (*.zip, 0.9MB)
Vermont (*.zip, 0.9MB)
Virginia (*.zip, 5.3MB)
Washington (*.zip, 2.1MB)
West Virginia (*.zip, 2.2MB)
Wisconsin (*.zip, 5.7MB)
Wyoming (*.zip, 0.7MB)
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has received from the U.S. Census Bureau a special tabulation of Census 2000 data that are largely not available through standard Census products. These "special tabulation" data are used by local governments for housing planning as part of the Consolidated Planning process. HUD also uses some of these data in allocation formulas for distributing funds to local jurisdictions.
HUD released similar data after the 1990 Census and made most of those data available to grantees and the general public. Those data are typically referred to as the "CHAS Data.The CHAS data are different from the standard Census 2000 data files. They are mostly comprised of a variety of housing need variables split by HUD-defined income limits (30, 50, and 80 percent of median income) and HUD-specified household types. In addition to the CHAS 2000 data, HUD is also making available data being used for various allocation formulas, including the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) and Fair Share formulas.
The CHAS 2000 data reflect HUD's attempt to balance a desire to have data comparable with the 1990 CHAS Data, in order to measure change, against the need to request only those variables that are likely to be used. The 1990 request included a number of items that appear to have been of only minimal value to HUD, grantees, and the general public. In addition to the slimming down of the specifications, there are some significant additions in the 2000 request. Some of the significant changes from the 1990 data include:
1. Most of the variables are produced at multiple geographic levels, including state, county, minor civil division, place, and census tract. In 1990, most of the data were obtained at the geographic level of place and county.
2. On a select set of tables, HUD has added some new income breaks to reflect programs with different income requirements. Those new breaks include less than 21% of HUD Area Median Family Income (HAMFI), 60 to 65% of HAMFI, and 95 to 100% of HAMFI.
3. On a select set of tables, tenure is split three ways: rent, own with a mortgage, and own without a mortgage. In 1990, tenure was generally only split two ways: rent and own. In addition, one table splits the renter tenure by single-family property and multifamily property.
At the request of users, we are making the data available in several different ways:
(1) Simple Query System. Users can use a simple query system to obtain basic housing need and basic affordability mismatch data for their jurisdiction. These data can be queried at the state, county, place, HOME program, and CDBG program geographic levels. The housing need tables are somewhat more detailed tables than the old CHAS Table 1C.
(2) State Files. Users can download the data for just their state. For each state, the user downloads a zipped file that contains separate files in DBF format for each of the 59 tables each geography level. Generally, the data are available at six different geography levels: state, county, minor civil division, place (if a place crosses county lines, there is a separate record for each county part), consolidated city, and Census Tract (part). There are a few tables at the Block Group (part) level. Before unzipping the files, we recommend looking at the basic table characteristics. The DBF file does not have data labels, so we recommend that the user also print out the data dictionary for the table(s) of interest. The file names look as follows:
AL - A1A050r where: "AL" is the state of Alabama; "A1A" is for Table A1A; "050" is for the Census Summary Level 050, county; and "r" indicates that the data are rounded.
The Census Summary Levels are:
040 = State
050 = State - County
060 = State - County - County Subdivision
080 = State - County - County Subdivision - Place/Remainder - Census Tract
091 = State - County - County Subdivision - Place/Remainder - Census Tract - Block Group
155 = State - Place - County
170 = State - Consolidated City
3) National Level Files. Users can download national files in SAS (R) format, SPSS (R) format, and DBF format. SAS and SPSS are statistical packages, DBF is a database format. For these files, the user downloads the data by the table of interest and the data format (SAS, SPSS, or DBF). The zipped file downloaded contains separate files for each of the geographic levels produced for that table. The SAS and SPSS files have data labels for each variable that you can use to make sure you are using the correct variable for your analysis. The DBF files do not have data labels, so we recommend that the user also print out the data dictionary for the table(s) of interest.
As many users know, most of this data has been available since September 2003. This web page reflects an update of those data as of November 2004. Some tables were found to have problems that have been corrected. In addition, due to the rounding rules applied to all special tabulation data, we identified a problem with making only census tract and block group level data available. The problem created by the rounding was to cause a larger than marginal deviation from the actual totals when the data were aggregated to higher levels of geography. This caused particular problems for jurisdictions wishing to compare 1990 statistics to 2000 statistics. As a result, these data reflect new tables created by the Census Bureau at the higher levels of geography of minor civil division, consolidated city, place, county, and state. If possible, users should use the highest level of geography that seems reasonable for their particular project.
For the SPSS and DBF files, tables at the state (040), county (050), minor civil division (060), place (155), and consolidate city (170) geographic levels have labels for their geographic area. Labels are not provided for the tract (080) or block group (091) level data, nor are labels attached to any of the SAS files.
All of the tables contain a field with the FIPS codes that comprise that geographic area. For example, for the files available at the Tract (part) level, the field containing the geographic identifier is labeled "sum080". The geographic identifier for "sum080", for example, looks like the following:
It is comprised of: State (the first 2 digits), County (3 digits), County Subdivision (5 digits), Place (5 digits), Tract (6 digits, with an implied decimal place before the last 2 digits).
For SAS Users, we are also including programs or files with labels for each geographic area.
State labels: fmt_state.sas
County labels: fmt_cnty.sas
County subdivision labels: fmt_mcd2k.sas
Place code labels: fmt_hudplc.sas (note, these are standard place codes except for consolidated cities. In those cases, this file has consolidated city instead of place and the consolidated city code is used instead of the place code).
Native American area labels: fmt_nativeamer.sas (re: summary levels 144, 280, and 282)
Alaska Native Regional Corporation labels: fmt_anrc.sas (re: summary level 230)
The summary level 080 (tract part) and 091 (block group part) are not standard shape files available from the U.S. Census Bureau. For planners interested in mapping the CHAS data at the Census tract or block group level, they can obtain the summary level 080 and 091 data from the HUDUSER website:
Users looking for ideas on how to use and present the CHAS data may find the short set of examples in this file to be helpful: interesting tables.pdf (221 KB)
The CHAS data should not be confused with the data provided by HUD on what areas qualify as low-and moderate-income under the CDBG program. Those areas are identified using the Census SF3 data. To download those data, go to this website: CDBG low/mod area data.
The Economic and Market Analysis Division (EMAD) "Special Tabulations" data retrieval system produces tabular statistical summaries of counts of households by tenure, by income intervals, by age of householder, by size of household, by housing conditions based on the 1990 and 2000 Census, for select geographic areas in the United States. This system allows a user to extract data to conduct a longitudinal analysis of changes in a particular area. To query for data on your community: https://www.huduser.gov/datasets/spectabs.html
For a select set of metropolitan areas and their larger cities, the American Housing Survey provides a comprehensive set of data on housing needs, including housing adequacy (which CHAS and Census data are not very useful). See if your community is included: https://www.huduser.gov/datasets/ahs.html
Data on the location and characteristics of Assisted Housing Residents is available from the following site: https://www.huduser.gov/datasets/assthsg.html
In addition, approved PHA 5-year and Annual Plans, which serve as a comprehensive guide to public housing agency (PHA) policies, programs, operations, and strategies for meeting local housing needs and goals, can be downloaded from the following site: https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/public_indian_housing/pha
CHAS refers to the Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy required as part of the National Affordability Housing Act of 1991. The CHAS is now a component of the Consolidated Plan.
HAMFI stands for HUD Area Median Family Income. The HAMFI income limits are calculated annually. The Income Limits for the CHAS 2000 tables reflect what the Income Limits would have been in 1999 if Census 2000 data had been available to calculate those limits. You can download the base income limit file in Excel format.
Consolidated Plan preparers may find the following HUD Policy Development and Research publications useful as they develop their plans:
Planning to Meet Local Housing Needs: The Roles of HUD's Consolidated Planning Requirements in the 1990s. (2002) This publication reviews how large central cities and suburban jurisdictions in six metropolitan areas (Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Minneapolis, San Antonio, and San Francisco) — with very diverse housing markets — undertook housing needs analyses, set priorities, and developed housing plan strategies during the 1990s. It then examines what actually was carried out during that time period and how local needs for affordable housing changed.
Using Your HOME Dollars for Rental Production: A Planning Paper for Local Policy Makers. (2004) This paper is intended to help local officials think about how to use their HOME dollars for the production of affordable rental housing. The paper provides a framework for decisionmaking by housing planners and program administrators in the local communities that receive allocations of federal dollars each year under the HOME Investment Partnership Program. It is based on research and theory about where and for whom the development of subsidized rental housing is most effective. The paper draws on an extensive literature review and empirical analysis conducted for HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research in 2003 and early 2004 (See also Targeting Housing Production Subsidies: Literature Review (2003).
Study of Homebuyer Activity through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program. (2004) This study was designed to examine the choices local governments are making and how these choices are promoting long-term affordable homeownership.
Strategies for Reducing Chronic Street Homelessness. (2004) HUD sponsored this project to identify and describe community-wide approaches that are working in cities around the country.
Publications on Reducing Regulatory Barriers to Affordable Housing. This partial list of publications addresses issues and concerns surrounding regulatory barriers to affordable housing.
This partial list of publications addresses issues and concerns surrounding regulatory barriers to affordable housing.
Comprehensive Housing Market Analysis. For numerous MSAs, HUD economists develop a factual framework based on information available, as of a particular date, from both local and national sources. Each analysis takes into consideration changes in the economic, demographic, and housing inventory characteristics of a specific housing market area during three periods: from 1990 to 2000, from 2000 to the as-of date of the analysis, and from the as-of date to a forecast date. The reports present counts and estimates of employment, population, households, and housing inventory.
U.S. Housing Market Conditions, published quarterly, is a compilation of statistical data and written reports. Tabular data indicate market conditions on the national level and are presented for each quarter. Historical data are also presented in summary tables. Overviews of economic and housing market trends are presented for 10 geographical regions, the report for each of which includes a profile on a selected housing market. Each issue includes a summary of the overall trends in national housing and a topical piece that describes a particular, noteworthy aspect of housing activity.
Building the Organizations That Build Communities: Strengthening the Capacity of Faith- and Community-Based Development Organizations. (2004) This volume documents current thinking on the issue of capacity and a clearer view of the research gaps facing faith-based and community development organizations.
The Impact of CDBG Spending on Urban Neighborhoods. (2002) This study examines whether readily available data sources can be used to track the outcomes of activities funded with CDBG. The study concludes that two readily available data elements — the median home loan amount and the number of businesses—hold some promise as tools for helping local communities measure the effects of concentrated CDBG expenditures.
Barriers to Rehabilitation of Affordable Housing. (2001) This study examines the major barriers to urban rehabilitation. The project's research team reviewed relevant literature, conducted case studies, and convened study groups of highly-qualified real estate developers, nonprofit leaders, architects and other professional who face barriers to affordable housing rehabilitation in their "real world" experiences.
Center for Community Change Studies On Local Economic Development Strategies. These four studies detail strategies that have shown marked success in producing and maintaining economic opportunities and jobs and also in making them available to people with low incomes. A summary of the four reports is also available: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/econdev/summary.html.
Resident Assessment of Housing Quality: Lessons from Pilot Surveys. (1998) Planners interested in conducting their own mail survey of local housing quality needs may find this study useful.
Preparers of PHA Plans may find the following publications useful:
Voucher Homeownership Assessment. (2003) This study is an assessment of the early implementation of the Voucher Homeownership Program. The purpose of this study is to provide insight into aspects of the program that are working well and those that are problematic.
Costs and Utilization in the Housing Choice Voucher Program. (2003) This study is intended to provide insights into the factors that affect Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program utilization rates and costs in a sample of sites nationwide.
Tools and Strategies for Improving Community Relations in the Housing Choice Voucher Program. (2001) This study explores the factors that lead to community dissatisfaction with HCVP and to assess the effectiveness of strategies employed by PHAs to eliminate or alleviate community concerns.
Housing Choice Voucher Location Patterns: Implications For Participant And Neighborhood Welfare. (2003) The purpose of this study is to describe where HCV assistance is being used and whether program participants have access to a broad range of affordable housing. The study examines some of HCV's possible impacts on program participants and the neighborhoods in which they live.
The Moving to Opportunity for Fair Housing Demonstration Interim Impacts Evaluation (2003) provides insights into what benefits can be achieved by improving the neighborhoods of poor families. The Moving to Opportunity program provided thousands of poor adults and children an opportunity to use HUD vouchers to move out of public housing in high poverty neighborhoods to lower poverty neighborhoods. Using rigorous scientific methods, this study looks at the impact these moves have had on housing, health, employment, education, mobility, welfare receipt, and delinquency.
HCV Tenant Accessibility Study: 2001-2002. (2004)
A Guidebook for Measuring Crime in Public Housing with Geographic Information Systems (1999).
Quality Control for Rental Assistance Subsidies Determinations. (2001) The study found that substantial errors were being made in the income and rent determinations that set the subsidies HUD pay on behalf of families who receive public housing and Section 8 program assistance.
Preparers of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Qualified Allocation Plans (QAPs) may find these publications useful:
Analysis of State Qualified Allocation Plans for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program (2002). Based on their QAP, states establish preferences and set-asides within their tax credit competitions so as to target the credits towards specific places (such as rural areas) or types of people (such as elderly households). This study examines how those preferences and set-asides were used and changed based on content analysis of 1990 and 2000 Qualified Allocation Plans from nearly every state along with discussions with the staff that prepared the plans.
Making the Best Use of Your LIHTC Dollars: A Planning Paper for State Policy Makers. (2004) This paper is intended to help state officials think about how to make strategic use of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which since the late 1980s has been the primary vehicle for building or rehabilitating housing with rents affordable to low income families and individuals. The paper provides a framework for state decision-making, based on research and theory about where and for whom the development of subsidized rental housing is most effective.
The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program: National Survey of Property Owners (2000) presents the results of a national telephone survey of those who developed and own tax-credit properties placed in service between 1992 and 1994. The survey was conducted to learn more about owners' development objectives, the performance of their properties, and what they intend to do with the properties when the compliance period is over.


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Membership questions? Log in issues? Email email@example.com
I borrowed 80 Classic Brews and discovered most, if not all recipes are written for extract. Some negative reviews said the same things, the AG conversion recipe was not accurate and neither were the hops and yeast selection for the style. I don't know. It makes me wonder if several people say the same thing. On the other hand the overall rating is positive and two guys from a brew club I just joined recommended it so bought it. Also bought the Scotch Ale, Barley Wine and IPA books from the Classic Beer Style series. Didn't buy the Stout book as it got bad reviews, too technical and chemistry formula driven. I have read "How To Brew" by Palmer and "Designing Great Beers" by Daniels so figure with all these resources, and this web site, a bad beer can only be attributed to operator error.
I borrowed 80 Classic Brews and discovered most, if not all recipes are written for extract.
Quote from: imperialstout on February 09, 2013, 04:25:40 pmI borrowed 80 Classic Brews and discovered most, if not all recipes are written for extract. If you're talking about Brewing Classic Styles, the evolution of the book is that Palmer wanted to write a book for extract brewers and Zainasheff said he could give him a bunch of recipes, which is why the book is split into the (Zainasheff) recipe part and the (Palmer) technical part. The recipes are all-grain recipes converted to extract versions and every recipe is given with the all-grain part at the end. It really is an all-grain book because the all-grain recipes are given. You have to make sure you take the reviews with a grain of salt. Because of the way recipes convert between the two, I remember an Amazon reviewer was complaining that the recipes called for odd amounts of extract, such as needing 2.7 pounds of LME and he was complaining that he could only get LME in set amounts like cans of 3.3 pounds. The reviewer was complaining that it is unreasonable for him to measure out less than 3.3 pounds (which is funny because when I make bread, I don't ding my recipe book because my recipe isn't broken down into using only 5 lb sacks of flour). I'd have to see what some of the negative complaints you saw, but if we're talking about the same book then I would say the bad review missed the mark entirely.


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CALGARY, Alberta -- The Calgary Flames signed goaltender Danny Taylor to a one-year, two-way contract a day after Miikka Kiprusoff suffered a lower-body injury in a 4-1 win over Detroit.
Kiprusoff, who left Tuesday's game after the second period, is listed as day to day.
"In the second period I felt some discomfort in the lower body area," Kiprusoff said in a statement. "During the intermission, it was decided that I not return to play. I really believe that this is a short-term injury and over the next days, I'll work toward being ready as soon as possible."
Backup Leland Irving stopped all six shots he faced in the third period against the Red Wings. Calgary (2-3-2) is last in the Western Conference with six points entering Wednesday.
Kiprusoff, who has played in all seven games this season, has a .870 save percentage and 3.24 goals-against average. He has played in more than 70 games in each of the past seven seasons for the Flames.
Taylor's deal is worth $525,000. He has spent the past two seasons with the American Hockey League's Abbotsford Heat.


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General information
Short term fellowships:
EUROFORGEN-NoE aims to create a closer integration of existing collaborations and will establish new interactions in the field of security - therefore all key players within the forensic field are addressed: scientists, stakeholders, end-users, educational centers and scientific societies.
With this goal in mind, a system of short-term fellowships offering travel grants has been organized. These fellowships provide opportunities for visits either for scientists and other experts working at a similar level from different countries, or for experts with different professional background, but working in the same country, to understand the challenges of other professions relevant for the criminal justice system.
Applications can be submitted until July 31th 2016, and the visits must be completed until the end of September so that the travel costs can be reimbursed until the end of this year.
Each fellowship is financially supported by up to 500 for travel and accommodation expenses.
A list of already accepted fellowships can be found here.
Documents for Download
For further information please see the documentation.
As a service in return, EUROFORGEN-NoE provides a questionnaire to these exchange visitors and asks them to submit a short fellowship questionnaire and report about their "lessons learned", about potential pitfalls as well as about educational needs identified during the visits.
Finally, for cost reimbursement, EUROFORGEN-NoE provides a standardized form that is required for usage after having finished the short-term fellowship. Reimbursement details can be found in the documentation. Please note that reimbursement of costs will only be made if the feedback documents are provided.
Comments or questions can be sent to this e-mail address.


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The Movie Review: 'Mystic River'
It's hard to believe, but Mystic River is Clint Eastwood's twenty-fourth feature film as a director. Since his debut behind the camera (he was also in front of it) in Play Misty For Me in 1971, he has directed more movies than either Martin Scorcese or Steven Spielberg. Some are memorable (Unforgiven), some are awful (Absolute Power), and at least one is equal parts each (A Perfect World; if you've seen it, you know which part is which). Mystic River is his most complex and assured effort to date, a near-classic that falters due to an accretion of many small flaws and one large one.
Adapted from the novel by Dennis Lehane, the film, released on video this month, begins with three eleven-year-old boys in working-class Boston: Sean, the good kid; Jimmy, the hard case; and Dave, the unpopular kid trying desperately to fit in. The three boys are writing their names in wet sidewalk cement one day when a car rolls up with two men in it, apparently cops, who take the boys to task for their vandalism. The men put Dave into the car, saying they are taking him to his mother to tell her what he's done. But the men are not cops, and they do not drive Dave to his mother. Rather, they lock him in a basement and abuse him for four days until he escapes. When Dave returns home, everyone recognizes him as "damaged goods." Flash ahead about a quarter of a century. Sean (Kevin Bacon) is now a policeman; Jimmy (Sean Penn) is an ex-con with a wife (Laura Linney) and three daughters; and Dave (Tim Robbins) is still damaged goods, shambling through life with the look of someone who knows that only bad things will ever happen to him. After a late night of drinking, Robbins comes home to his wife (Marcia Gay Harden) covered with someone else's blood, telling her that he fought, and may have killed, a would-be mugger. The next day, the body of Penn's beautiful 19-year-old daughter is found beaten and murdered in a neighborhood park. Thus the three boys are brought together again: Bacon working the case, Penn seeking vengeance, and Robbins, whose behavior grows more and more erratic, gradually emerging as the prime suspect.
The film unfolds as a crime epic in the mold of L.A. Confidential, with Eastwood juggling characters and storylines masterfully. The performances are generally strong (including a delightful uncredited cameo as a liquor store owner by Eli Wallach, the "Ugly" to Clint's "Good" way back when) and the themes--of grief and vengeance, love and betrayal, and past acts that will forever haunt the present--are powerful. But in the end, not powerful enough; or more precisely, maybe too powerful for the film's own good.
As a director, Eastwood has a tendency toward heavy-handedness, particularly in films (e.g., Unforgiven) and scenes that he believes to be Important. He over-solemnizes the material, perhaps out of fear that he'll be considered just another movie star moonlighting as a director. By and large, Eastwood restrains this tendency in Mystic River, but at crucial moments he can't help himself, and the portentousness creeps back in. Immediately following the opening scene in which young Dave is abducted, we cut to Robbins, as the grown-up Dave, walking down the same city block with his own son. Noticing the spot on the sidewalk where the boys had written their names in the cement he stops and stares. But rather than allow Robbins's face to convey the feelings that the sight brings up in him, Eastwood intervenes, flashing back to a shot of the abductors' car, with young Dave in the backseat, pulling away down the block. I don't know whether it's a lack of confidence in his audience or in himself that convinces Eastwood we must be reminded of a scene that took place less than five minutes before; either way, it's disheartening. A more serious stumble occurs in the scene that won Sean Penn his Oscar. As the police examine his daughter's body in the park, Penn breaks through a line of patrolmen, howling like a wounded animal, "Is that my daughter in there?" It is a raw, powerful moment, one that it would have been nice to see unfold further. (What will happen when the rage leaves Penn's body?) But Eastwood seems uncomfortable with this level of emotional intensity, and so quickly extinguishes it with cheap sentiment: The orchestra swells over Penn's cries, and we are treated to an aerial shot of the girl's body that slowly pans upward toward heaven. It's not subtle.
The script, by Brian Helgeland--who did such a masterful job of carving L.A. Confidential out of James Ellroy's sprawling, impossible novel--also disappoints. This adaptation is a much more faithful one, and not to Helgeland's credit. A silly storyline involving Bacon's estranged wife, who calls his cell phone constantly but refuses to speak, is whittled down to the point of meaninglessness but left in the film nonetheless. Thoughts that Lehane places in his characters minds, Helgeland transfers to their mouths, where they come out stilted and absurd. ("What the hell am I going to tell him?" Bacon asks his partner as they examine Penn's daughter. "Hey Jimmy, God said you owed another marker and he came to collect?")
But the film's central flaw, where errors of direction, writing, and acting intersect, is Robbins's character, Dave. The particular burden of crime stories, at least those that are framed as mysteries, is that their solutions must be neither obvious nor implausible. There are many ways of accomplishing this, from the perfect crimes (and more perfect detectives) of Agatha Christie and her heirs to the forensic expeditions you can now find on television most nights. In Mystic River, the narrative device that enables the mystery is the damaged, unfathomable mind of Dave. Could he have shed his mild manners to brutally murder a young girl? How else to explain the unpersuasive and ever-shifting lies he tells about his actions the night of the murder? What did he do to wind up covered in blood, and why?
Robbins, an actor who can carry himself with eerie, forceful stillness, would seem the perfect casting for lost, haunted Dave. But his Oscar for the role notwithstanding, Robbins never quite finds the thread of the character. He is by turns innocent and malevolent, timid and aggressive, naïve and knowing. And while one can imagine these traits coexisting in a psyche as fractured as Dave's, Robbins never shows us how they fit together. The tough, clever Dave who bullies and outsmarts the police during his interrogation ("He just kicked our asses in there," Bacon laments afterward) comes out of nowhere, in part because the early glimmers of anger and guile he shows in the novel are missing from the film. (In the former, for instance, he characterizes his alleged mugger as "some crackhead nigger psycho"; in the latter, it's cleaned up to "this guy.") Helgeland also omits, except for one vague reference, Lehane's disclosure that Dave has fantasized about molesting boys as he himself was molested--a revelation with profound implications for why he does what he does. And surely there are better ways of showing Dave's internal torment than having him explain it to his son: "Sometimes the man wasn't a man at all," he begins, before launching into what is doubtless the most extended metaphor ever uttered by someone without an MFA. "He was the boy, the boy who escaped from wolves, an animal of the dusk, invisible, silent, living in a world the others never saw, a world of fireflies, unseen except as a flare in the corner of your eye, vanished by the time you turn your head toward it."
Because Dave never really coheres into a recognizable human being, he is laid bare as a plot device. He is the psycho ex machina. (Annoyingly enough, he's not the only one in the film.) Why did he say and do what he did? Because he's crazy. Case closed. Rather than resolve the mystery by revealing the underlying logic of what has transpired, the film declares that there was no underlying logic. Much of the tragedy that took place could have been avoided if poor, damaged Dave had behaved in a way that made even a modicum of sense. By untethering Dave from reality, Mystic River untethers itself, and ultimately floats away.
The Home Movies List:
Five Oscars in Search of a Performance
Michael Caine (The Cider House Rules). Michael Caine has appeared in more than 70 films and this may be among the least convincing performances he's delivered in any of them. If he hadn't been playing a doctor who performs abortions, would Hollywood have paid any attention at all?
Kim Basinger (L.A. Confidential). There seems to be a rule that in films featuring several standout performances the Oscar nomination will go to the biggest star, regardless of merit. (This is also how Tom Cruise was nominated for Magnolia, though in that case they at least had the sense not to let him take home the hardware.) And for the record: Kim Basinger does not look like Veronica Lake, and does not look better than Veronica Lake.
Russell Crowe (Gladiator). Two and a half hours of brooding punctuated by death. The most generous interpretation is that the Academy felt bad for having stiffed him in L.A. Confidential and passed him over in The Insider. Or maybe they were afraid of being beaten up.
Al Pacino (Scent of a Woman). Thank God no one told Pacino earlier that this was how to win an Oscar. If they had, his entire career might have resembled the Tourettic output of the last decade.
Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinnie). Someday I'll wake up and this won't have happened.
This post originally appeared at TNR.com.


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Mobile Meals expands service area
Mobile Meals has expanded its client base. The nonprofit organization has been serving hot meals to New Philadelphia, Dover and Strasburg residents since 1973. Mobile Meals since has added Sugarcreek and now serves residents of Bolivar.
Kim Nay, the organization's administrator, encourages people who are homebound to contact them, especially in cold weather.
"Those who are elderly or in need, it keeps them from having to go out on their own in the cold," she said.
Nay said the organization, based at Union Hospital in Dover, serves 90 individuals and has room for more.
She said clients are served two hot, nutritious meals a day, one regular meal and one with hot soup and a sandwich. She said fruit or dessert is served with each meal.
Nay said clients often are elderly or individuals who have just had surgery or are bedridden due to pregnancy. She has asked that people who need assistance or know of such a person contact her at the office. She also has said she is willing to drop off pamphlets at various offices.
Nay said the service doesn't just provide meals. It provides camaraderie as well.
"All of our drivers are volunteers are in their late 60s through late 80s," Nay said. "They become friends with those they deliver to."
While there are 125 volunteers, including substitute drivers, Nay said her organization is always looking for volunteers, especially as some of their biggest supporters may be retiring soon. She said volunteers drive one day a week.
The office is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and anyone can leave a message at any time in regard to service needs or an interest in volunteering.
For more information or to apply for services, call 330-364-0870. Also, the organization is always accepting donations, which can be used for a tax writeoff for 2014.
To donate, send a check to 659 Boulevard, Dover, OH 44622.
Reach Meghan at 330-364-8419 or email@example.com
On Twitter: @mmilleaTR


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When we first saw Tesla's Model S electric sedan, we noticed a big, flashy touchscreen taking the place of the dashboard's console. TechCrunch took a test drive and learned a little more about it.
Deadly Mississippi Tornado Kills More Than 2 Dozen | Extreme Earth
The Model S's touchscreen wasn't fully functional during the demo (the car's first with press), so internet browsing and presumably GPS weren't working. But we do know the touchscreen will control entertainment as well as navigation, and that it'll offer haptic feedback, probably rumbling a little bit when touched. The car should be priced around $50,000. [TechCrunch]


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"Nina's themes are health, cooperation, dreams, magic and meditation. Her symbols are lions, fish and serpents (Her sacred animals). A very ancient mother Goddess figure in Mesopotamia, Nina has many powers, including healing, herb magic, meditation, dream interpretation and helping civilization along when needed. Today we will be focusing on Her healthful attributes and knowledge of herbs to improve well-being for the winter months.
Pan-American Health Day focuses on worldwide cooperation in the public health field. On the home front, do everything possible to make your home and body healthy and strong. Beginning in your living space, wash the floors using sage water and burn a sage smudge stick. This herb decreases germ infestation and is magically aligned with Nina's energy. As you go through your home, carry a small bell and add an incantation like this:
'Nina, come and make us well
banish sickness with the ringing of this bell.'
Ring the bell in each room at the end of the incantation. In many religious traditions, bells are considered to scare away the evil influences that cause sickness.
To overcome a troublesome malady, put a picture of one of Nina's sacred animals under your pillow to invoke a healing dream. This tradition is very old and sometimes results in healthful energy being conveyed through your dream, or in a dream that shows you what to do for the cure."
(Patricia Telesco, "365 Goddess: a daily guide to the magic and inspiration of the goddess".)
First off, I found that Nina is another name the Goddess Inanna. "Nina, in Assyro-Babylonian mythology, was the daughter of Ea, the god of water, wisdom and technical skill. Nina is also the Goddess [of] Ninevah, the capital city of ancient Assyria." [1]
Then, I ran across this fabulous article entitled "Nina: Ancient Sumerian Mother of the Mermaids". Apparently, "in the cities of Harran and Ur, they called Her 'Ningal' or 'Nikkal'; in Nippur, 'Ninlil'; and, at the shrine at Al Ubaid, She was 'Ninhursag'. When spoken of in conjunction with 'Nammu' and the myth of the formation of the people of the Earth, She was 'Ninmah'.
In Her capacity as Comforter of Orphans, Caretaker of the Elderly and the Ill, Shelterer of the Homeless and Feeder of the Hungry, She was called 'Nanshe'; on the plains of Khafajah, 'Ninti' or 'Nintu'; on the Isle of Dilmun, 'Nin Sikil'.
When She provided: healing herbs, 'Ninkarrak', 'Gula' or 'Bau'; dream interpretation, 'Ninsun' or 'Ninsunna'; beer and wine for holy rites, 'Ninkasi', or, as She arose from the deep waters of the primordial sea, simply: Ama Gal Dingir, the Mother Great Goddess.
The Goddess 'Atargatis' (who maintained a presence at the temple of Ascalon on the Mediterranean Coast, famous for its dove cotes and as a shrine of oracular prophesy) is considered to be quite possibly connected to the early Sumerian images of Nina or Nammu because of Her association with the city of Nineveh (on the Tigris River) and Her primary image as a Goddess of the sea — depicted with the tail of a fish!
Whether Atargatis came ashore from the Mediterranean at Ascalon or was born of the waters of the Tigris is a matter for debate. That She bore a daughter who walked on two feet, Shammuramat, is not. Also, it is known that upon Her altars, Her priestesses and devotees sacrificed to Her fish." [2]
Jean. Gather.com, "Nina: Ancient Sumerian Mother of Mermaids".
Orrar.net, "Goddess Nina".
Suggested Links:
Sacred-texts.com, "CHAPTER VI: Wars of the City States of Sumer and Akkad".
Siren, Christopher. Home.comcast.net, "Sumerian Mythology FAQ".


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| Posted March 27, 2023Used Car For Sale By Dealer
Contact: Action Auto Sales OremView More From This Dealer
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Orem UT, 84058
2009 CHEVROLET AVEO5 LS with {Equipment Bulleted}View the Carketa condition report of this vehicle by visiting www.actionautoutah.com or www.carketa.com Action Auto Utah believes in a comfortable car-buying experience. "Actions speak louder than words." That's why we seek to provide a Low Margin, High Volume pricing structure that has been recognized as the #21 fastest-growing company in Utah Valley, according to UV50. Providing high-quality vehicles, along with an outstanding
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Traditional Turkish Kilim Rug ,Vintage Anatolian Turkish Kelim 147X147 cm
Sale Sold out
Regular price €495,00 EUR
Regular priceUnit price per
Sale price
Vintage Turkish Sivas Cicim Kilim Rug,
147X147 Cm
Pretty, little Turkish Kilim, made in the 1960s, this is a lovely central Turkish rug from Sivas region, woven with naturally dyed wool in variations of colour. Absolutely gorgeous rug with soft mellow colours.
I try to show all the defects in the photos but if you are in doubt please do not hesitate to ask, I will be happy to provide extra photos.
All my rugs are cleaned professionally for you to enjoy them the moment you receive them.
Free across Germany
Returns Accepted
Buyer pays return registered postage.


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The story goes that I was given the name Michael because when my mother was pregnant with me, the old lady next door said something like, 'Not long now till Michael is born.' For some reason she just assumed that would be my name even though my mother had never suggested it. I like to think our neighbour back then was psychic and had foreseen some great destiny for me. On the other hand, she might have been clinically insane which would probably explain a lot about her. And me.
As it turned out, I'm glad I was called Michael. I like my name. That probably started when I was in Grade Two at the local Catholic School and our teacher said we all had Guardian Angels looking after us. I soon found out that my Guardian Angel wasn't just any run of the clouds dude. He was the head man, the El Supremo, the Big Kahuna. He was Michael the Archangel – the Aragorn of Angels!
Not only that, but in the classroom there was this massive heavy vinyl poster of A-A Michael dressed in armour and standing on top of a mountain peak surrounded by dark clouds and lightning, holding forth a sword to the sky. He looked like he'd been really working out too! No doubt about it, if you were going to have a Guardian Angel, then this was the guy you wanted. It was like being given Shintaro or the Terminator or Superman as your personal body-guard! Suddenly I was indestructible! I immediately went up and confronted the grade two bully. I was immediately beaten to a pulp. Apparently the Lord works in really annoying ways.
Another interesting thing about having Michael as your name, is how many different forms and variations it can take. More than just about any other name I can think of. Personally, I always refer to myself as Michael. Sometimes I say Mike but it feels a bit strange and a little too intimate. I just don't think I know me that well. Besides it always sounds false and pretentious when people refer to themselves in the third person and Michael Gerard Bauer is definitely not the kind of person to do that!
However I don't mind at all what other people call me and I have many close family and friends who never use Michael at all, preferring Mike or Mick as well as variations such as Mikey, Micky, Mikail and even occasionally Michelle! At one time my cousin and best friend took a shine to calling me Mitch. When I was little I often got the double bunger Michael Gerard but also sadly Micky Drippin'. (I'd like to stress here, that to the best of my knowledge, the Drippin' was a reference to the stuff you cook with, not to any allegedly leaky part of my anatomy).
I think we'd all agree that Mickey Drippin' is taking creative name mangling too far!
I've since discovered that I'm not the only Michael whose had liberties taken with their name. One girl told me that as a child her father was called Underdaks Micky (That's gold!) and a boy once said when he was little he got Mickety Pickety! What is wrong with you non-Michael people out there?! Haven't you got anything better to do?
Which brings me to the important moment in my life when I had to settle on an author name.
My first book was going to be published and I was faced with a big decision. What name should I go with? Michael Bauer or Mike Bauer or Mick Bauer or Michael G. Bauer or M. G. Bauer or M. Gerard Bauer or Mike G. Bauer etc etc etc? In the end I decided on Michael Gerard Bauer.
Here's why:
The main reason was, that as a name (and possibly a person) Michael Bauer was just too common. There are heaps of us. Bauer (meaning Farmer) is like the name Smith in Germany, although some people here have trouble pronouncing it. (No it's not Boo-ah or even Bore! It's Bow-er. Just like Jack 'I'm-gonna-shoot-your-wife-in-the-leg-again-if-you-don't-tell-me-where-the-secret-nuclear-lab-is-located' Bauer from the TV show 24). So now at least if you were to put Michael Gerard Bauer in inverted commas and Google it (not that I'd ever do such a thing!!) you'd basically just get me and not, for example, a famous food critic from the San Francisco Chronicle, or an unconventional artist from Germany. (By the way, I heartily encourage you to click on that artist's link and read the descriptions under MB's first two paintings. We have so much in common!)
Also, when I was in secondary school, once you reached the senior levels, it was trendy to have a briefcase with your initials embossed in gold on the side. (Yes we were born to rule!) My initials, including my middle name, were M.G.B. just like the sports car. I loved it. For one brief shining moment, there was actually something cool about being me!
Finally, in grade 12 we studied the English Poet Gerard Manly Hopkins. I developed a bit of a thing for Gerard. I loved the way he combined words and sounds and even created new words. He was ahead of his time – a bit of a 17th Century rapper. I could recite his poem The Windhover by heart and I always loved Spring and Fall which describes a young girl confronting her mortality. So the Gerard in my name was also a little nod to G.M.H. (Notice how by a strange coincidence his initials have a car connection too? Spooky!)
But there are drawbacks to choosing the name Michael Gerard Bauer as your author's name. They are these:
~ You sound like a bit of poser. Especially when people pronounce your middle name Geraaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrd rather than Gerrid like it's meant to be.
~ The longer your name the harder it is to fit on the cover of your books so it will be in smaller font and we all know the size of the author's name is usually in direct proportion to the author's success and popularity.
~ Finally, having three names can confuse people. Is his last name Bauer or Gerard-Bauer? And what order did they go in again?
These days when I weigh up all the pros and cons, I'm very happy with my decision to go with Michael Gerard Bauer. Except perhaps for this one nagging doubt:
Maybe if I'd chosen something like Micky Drippin' Underdaks, I might have ended up the next Andy Griffiths.
Michael/Mike/Mick etc