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subset: commoncrawl


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August 2010's Jackson Hole meeting was a historic event.
After the first real test to the rally that began after the stock market bottomed in March 2009, in which the market seemed poised to plunge back downward, Fed chairman Ben Bernanke pre-announced QE2 in an unprecedented expansion of the central bank's balance sheet to boost the economy.
Only a month later, following easing decisions not only from the Fed, but from other central banks in emerging and advanced economies around the world, Brazil's finance minister Guido Mantega made headlines after warning that an "international currency war" had broken out as countries engaged in a race to the bottom to devalue their currencies, hoping this would boost exports to other countries and thus economic growth.
The alarm bells are ringing again today as the world's three most important central banks – the Fed, the ECB, and the Bank of Japan – are now all actively engaged in monetary easing. The Bank of England and the People's Bank of China are easing as well.
Here's what happened to major global markets in the three-month period after the last time a "currency war" broke out, starting in August 2010.
Risk assets obviously did well, as evidenced by stocks and commodities (S&P 500: +11.8%, Gold: +10.3%, Oil: +5.5%).
And here's how the currencies did against each other while all of the central banks were trying to devalue:
- The euro vs the dollar: -4.3%
- The dollar vs the yen: +0.8%
- The euro vs the yen: +3.6%
- The pound vs the dollar: +1.0%
- The dollar vs the yuan: -2.0%


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Earn miles with Pestana Hotels & Resorts
Earn miles when you stay at a Pestana group hotel.
You need a Pestana Priority Guest card to earn miles.
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Meet a Donor: Maureen Shewchuk and Valerie GowBy COC StaffPosted in Meet a Donor
Maureen Shewchuk and Valerie Gow are long-time Friends members who have recently moved up into the Best Friends level of support. The pair recently shared with us what first inspired them to see an opera, why they're passionate about supporting the arts, and what "refreshing" changes they've noticed around the opera house. [READ MORE]
Meet a Donor: Eric TangBy COC StaffPosted in Meet a Donor
Eric Tang and his husband James Miller are long-time President's Council members. Eric recently shared with us some of his favourite productions, what made him decide to become a COC donor, and why he thinks you'll like opera if you're big on Netflix dramas. [READ MORE]


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Spin Continues
Well, things aren't going well. Then again, you already knew that.
Doc's 11-game winning streak against the Nationals ended last night. He's 1-4 in his last seven starts. Cliff is winless. Now, if you had said that about Doc and Cliff before the season started, people would have thought you were off your rocker.
Washington has won six in a row over the Phillies, something they've never done, even during their Montreal Expos days.
Cole gets the nod tonight in a must-win game, if there is such a thing in May. Then, a Delta charter takes them to St. Louis for four with the first-place Cardinals.
So, you're never as good as you look when you are hot (six straight wins) and you're never as bad as you look when you are going bad (four-game spin that has followed the six wins in a row). Did Yogi Berra say that? Don't know but let's give him credit.
Starting pitching keeps the club in the game, the bullpen seems to be settling in but the offense is sputtering again. In the four-game spin, hitters are 5 for 38 with runners in scoring position.
Down On The Farm
**Lehigh Valley blanked Louisville, 2-0, as RHP Dave Bush (4-3) tossed a nine-inning shutout.
**Reading fell behind, 7-0, after two innings, rallied and then lost, 8-7, in Erie. RHP Trevor May was roughed up (seven runs in those first two innings).
**Clearwater lost, 2-1, in Ft. Myers, getting eight singles. Threshers had six singles the day before in a 7-1 loss.
**Lakewood had five singles in a 3-1 win over Delmarva. RHP Ramon Oviedo, in his first Lakewood start, was the winner, one run in six innings.
May 23, 1991: RHP Tommy Greene pitches no-hitter at Montreal, 2-0, before 8,833. He walks seven and strikes out 10.
Tommy writes about his no-hitter at www.phillies.com/alumni. Check it out.


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When the Alfa Romeo brand returns to the U.S. somewhere around 2013, it'll be a version of the Giulietta hatch leading the way. Naturally, before they get here, they'll have to stand up to Michigan highways.
The photos were taken by Jason, who spotted the test cars near exit 94 on I-69 West near Okemos, Michigan. They were wearing manufacturer plates, had standard headlamps (not HIDs) and, as he explained in his e-mail to us, "a vertical line of LEDs inside the headlights along the inner borders (next to the grill/body panels)."
According to reports, the Giulietta's platform will be a launch pad for a number of Chrysler and Dodge vehicles as well as the next generation of Jeep's soft-roading SUVs — for which Chrysler recently announced will be spending $1.7 billion to build at its plant in Toledo, Ohio.
While these cars are five-door models, it's unclear whether the first U.S. versions will be three- or five-door cars. And yes, technically the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizone was the first new Alfa here since the '90s, but unless you'rea Glickenhaus you didn't have a chance to buy one.
[gallery 5862608]This is just another reminder the Italians are getting closer to an all-out return to the plebe-car world. And this time they're bringing better equipment than last time. From all accounts, it looks like the Giulietta will be a more fashionable Subaru Impreza at first — until Abarth gets its mitts on it.


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I don't know about you, but running in the winter is the LAST on my list of things-to-do. I hate having to wear layers of clothing, it's still freezing out and I have zero motivation to get my booty in gear. But for some reason, music always seems to lift my spirits and makes running so much more fun. That and buying a new pair of running shoes….check. So I thought I'd share some of my favorite workout songs that help get me motivated on those cold, windy mornings when really I'd rather be snuggled up in bed than out on the pavement!
I'm a HUGE Britney fan, but only put two of her songs up there on the list…but I could literally run to all of her songs and probably get 6 miles done haha. Anyway hope these motivate you through all this cold weather we've been having!
If you have any more favorites share them in the comments section below!
Haha I'm the same with Britney Spears. I have been adding more 90s and 2000s music rather than newer music to my workout playlist.
Haha! Britney is the artist with the most songs on my running playlist! 🙂
This is an awesome post!! I'm always searching for good songs to listen to when I'm working out. The new ones get boring easily!
I'm actually not a huge Britney fan but her music for sure gets me going! I just downloaded the most recent Swedish House Mafia album, no genre variety, but I can't wait to test it out.
Great choices!
<3 Melissa
Hit Me Baby One More Time came on in the gym the other morning and I found myself getting so into it!! Great selection of songs.
New follower…
Great list! Although I'm a 'listen to the quiet' runner, especially in the winter…
Thanks for this list! I realized over the weekend that I really need to put some time and thought into a playlist for my runs and this will really help!
Thanks for the list! I love Eminem when working out also and was in need of a new list for my nano … I may just swipe all your suggestions and call it a day!
I should definitely add some Britney to my list! My running playlist is filled to the brim with David Guetta–he just makes me want to dance while I run! It's the best motivation!
This post could not have been posted at a better time! I had already decided to dedicate my lunch hour to updating my running playlists! Thank you, thank you!!
I'm also a huge Britney fan – I always feel like I'm rocking it out at the club when her music comes on.
Great list!
Awesome list! I was just in need of some new music to add to my ipod.
I love finding new running songs. Thanks!
KT Sequins,Mint&Makeup
I love Britney!! This is awesome cause I was just thinking that I need to update my iPod.. Thanks for doing it for me!! Thanks for doing the hard part for me!!! Love your blog! 🙂
agree with everything except for Nickelback. i just hate them. haha
Picking out a workout playlist is both a necessity and very challenging! I'm so glad you shared and can't wait to test this playlist out this week!
X Kenzie
Yay, I needed some new songs. My list was all Britney and I needed to mix it up. Seriously, though, how amazing are her songs to run to? Kelly Clarkson too!
Great list! I am always changing up my running play list because I get bored quickly and really don't enjoy running so I need all the inspiration I can get!
Brittany, Pink, Gwen Stefani, Train, Justin Timberlake, and many more songs by the artists you have listed above! Anything fast and up beat!
Thanks for the list, I'm going to make it now to try out tomorrow morning.
I have a really bad habit of making a playlist then listening to it non stop until I can't stand the songs anymore!
LOVE that Nickelback tune too, it always gets me going.
Ibbs x x
I'm always looking for new suggestions, so thanks for sharing these! Uprising and Disturbia are some of my favorite songs to run to as well. Two Door Cinema Club, Katy Perry, Sigur Ros, Beyonce, and Miike Snow also show up on my running playlist.
Love this post & these great songs! I like running to music with a steady, up-beat tempo so I can try to match my pace to it. Does anyone else do that or am I a total weirdo? haha
Some faves:
Rage Against the Machine – Bulls on Parade
Kayne West + Jay-Z – Who Gon Stop Me?
Missy Elliott – Lose Control
Florence & the Machine – Dog Days are Over
Flo Rida – Wild Ones
Beach Boys – Barbara Ann
Ludacris – My Chick Bad (I imagine he's singing about me..dorky I know)
Lady Gaga – Edge of Glory
Pure Imajennation
I love having good workout music. Always keeps me pumped up and ready to go!!
Thanks for this! I feel like most running playlists are filled with overplayed, Top 40 songs – so this one's really refreshing and has a great mix!
i've been reading your blog for quite some time, and i must admit i love all of your recipes. they're simple, healthy, and delicious.
it's always nice to get some new ideas for music, too. i think i just get lazy and listen to the same thing on shuffle for months at a time… might have to try out your playlist.
brittany gypsythatiam.blogspot.com
These songs sound fantastic! Can't wait to check out the ones I don't already know.
The Hartungs Blog
Love these suggestions!
Perfect timing! I just received an iTunes giftcard and I don't have a running playlist! I know what I'll be spending the giftcard on now!
Love it! I needed some music motivation so perfect time. Will be getting this sorted for me this week!
This was awesome! So good to get new ideas for workout music. Coolio!
This is so awesome! It's so cool to get new ideas for workouts without having to page through itunes for ideas. Coolio!
I can't get enough of Britney ~ I love your play list.
Love this list, Kelly! Thanks for all the new ideas.
This is great and perfect timing. Thanks!
I couldn't refrain from commenting. Well written!
Here is my blog :: dating advice for guys from girls
I like! 😀
I love anything rihanna sings, and eminem for running. Especially on long run days. I'm excited to add some of these to my race day play list. I need music for almost 2 hours:-)
Also, pretty sure you "sync" music since it's short for synchronize;-)
Eve- Tamborine
Medina- Gutter
Jay Z and Rihanna- Run This Town
Metro Station-Shake it
Ago- Tell me where you are
Gigi D'Agostino- I'll Fly With You
September-Cry For You
Diddy-Come to Me
TI- Live Your Life
TI- Whatever You Like
Rihanna-Breaking Dishes
Choppa-Choppa Style (this may be a southern Rapper not found on iTunes)
Maroon 5- One More Night
Maroon 5- Payphone
Bieber- Boyfriend and As Long as you love me
Great post. I would have loved it if there was a spotify link to the playlist already created! 🙂
A magical link to the playlist which I just created on spotify. Thought this might come in handy. Thanks for the track inspirations. Will definitely assist at the gym 🙂
This comment has been removed by the author.


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Do you know the five reasons an answer choice can be wrong on the SAT/ACT exam reading sections?
A. Extreme, Misused Detail, Opposite, Distortion, Out of scope.
When narrowing the answer choices by process of elimination leaves you with 2-3 options, knowing these reasons is the only way to choose the correct choice.
What are the three figures that - if you know the basic relevant formulas for area, perimeter, side length and angles - you can answer the vast majority of geometry related questions on the SAT/ACT?
A. Triangles, Circles and Rectangles.
Q. Do I have to know science to score highly on the ACT Science section?
A. No. The ACT science section is an extension of reading comprehension. Although it focuses on scientific topics and research, no knowledge of the science is required. A student scores highly when they QUICKLY understand the experiments and conclusions, and also interpret the charts and graphs presented.
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We are a Christ-Centered, family oriented church on the east side of Crawfordsville, Indiana. We would love to meet you for one of our two Sunday Morning services at 8:15 or 10:30, or in the more intimate context of one of our Sunday School classes at 9:30.
Sunday School
We provide bible study and teaching during our 9:30am services.
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Small Groups
Sundays are not the only times of meeting. Join a small group for great interaction.
On Various Wednesday Nights at 6:30pm is Bible Study. Large and small classes available
Check out our ministry designed just for teenagers.
Worship Team
Musical? Good voice? Feeling called to be part of the worship team? Let's do this!
Guest Service
Love serving people, love to work behind the scenes? This is the place for you!
Kids Ministry
If you have a heart for kids, we have a wide range of jobs and ages you can get plugged into
Men's Group
Guys! We are standing with you. Get involved in our accountability group for purity!
Church Information
Woodland Heights Christian Church
468 North Woodland Heights Drive
468 North Woodland Heights Drive
Crawfordsville, IN 47933
Contact Us
By telephone: (765) 362-5284
By fax: (765) 362-6641


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The People Under the Stairs
The People Under the Stairs is absolutely bonkers. It's as if David Lynch and Wes Craven took a field trip to the ghetto and came away with an outrageous idea for a thriller/horror movie. Everett McGill and Wendy Robie of Twin Peaks take on another strange domestic role as a brother and sister who never seemed to grow out of playing house and who like to steal children. The movie shares the same violent color schemes and unsettling (yet somehow humorous) dialogue that you find in practically every Lynch film.
Following the newly 13-year-old Poindexter "Fool" Williams (Brandon Quintin Adams), the story opens up with a tarot reading from his older sister Ruby that warns of a year filled with death and ignorance. The two siblings are struggling to make ends meet as their mother is slowly dying of cancer. They're the only tenants remaining in a building that their landlord wishes to tear down in order to make room for condos and tenants who aren't predominately black. Ruby's boyfriend Leroy (Ving Rhames) is a petty criminal who's tired of seeing families thrown to the streets and offers Fool an alternative in making the payments they need to stay there. He's come across a map of the landlord's home and plans to rob it. Rumor has spread across generations that the steep rent and poor conditions of the ghetto has led to a ton of profits for the landlord. This money, thought to be a mass hoard of gold coins, is said to be inside and Leroy wants to get his hands on it.Continue Reading


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Venue: Due South BBQ, Christiansburg
Organizations: David Francisco
Date: Friday, May 31, 2019
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Event Types: Music
Cost: Free
Due South BBQ presents David Francisco in concert on Friday, May 31, 2019.
David Francisco is an experienced veteran entertainer located in the New River Valley with 40 years devoted to the business as a DJ, musician, and vocalist for any and all occasions. He plays acoustic outlaw country, classic rock, ballads and a little bluegrass mixed in. He performs solo shows and in bands such as the Cadillac Ranch Band.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/David-Francisco-DJ-and-Musician-1203248766438432
The is no cover charge. Tips for the musician are encouraged.
For more information, visit: http://www.duesouthbbq.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/duesouthbbq or call 540-381-2922.
Want to hear the latest on what's happening with local events in the New River Valley?
Click here to Sign-up for our Email Newsletter.
Also join NextThreeDays on Facebook and Twitter.
Click here to Sign-up for our Email Newsletter.
Also join NextThreeDays on Facebook and Twitter.


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This week in new hires, James Combs was named CEO of National Advisors Trust Co.; FSI elected two new board members, Northern Lights Distributors announced a new president and a new CEO, and Mercer named Derrick Capps head of consultant relations.
Also, U.S. Bank named four to its Private Client Reserve; Arjuna Capital, a sustainable wealth management platform, was launched; and the Hedge Fund Association established three new regional chapters.
National Advisors Trust Names Combs CEO
National Advisors Trust Co. (NATC) announced Monday the appointment of James Combs Jr. as CEO. One of his primary goals is building on the firm's growth.
Prior to joining, Combs was chief operations officer for SEI Investment Manager Services. He has more than 20 years of experience in treasury, fiduciary, investment management and custody services, and previously held executive positions at Wilmington Trust Co., Wachovia Operational Services Corp., Global Processing Alliance and Bankers Trust Co.
FSI Elects Two New Directors to Board
The Financial Services Institute (FSI) announced the election of two new directors for its board. They are Derek Bruton, managing director and national sales manager of LPL Financial, and Seth Miller, president of Transamerica Financial Advisors. Bruton and Miller will replace Bill Dwyer, formerly of LPL Financial, and National Planning Holdings' Jim Livingston, respectively. Dwyer and Livingston resigned from the board earlier, after making personal career changes that affected their eligibility to serve.
Bruton is responsible for business development and business consulting for all LPL Financial independent advisors and RIAs. Prior to joining LPL Financial, he spent several years in the financial services industry working at TD Ameritrade, Merrill Lynch and Charles Schwab.
Miller also has an extensive leadership background within the industry, having previously served in other leadership roles within Transamerica.
Northern Lights Distributors Appoints Two
Northern Lights Distributors (NLD) has appointed Brian Nielsen CEO and Bill Wostoupal president, effective immediately.
Nielsen had served as president, manager and principal of NLD since December 2005. As CEO, he will remain focused on the operational and compliance aspects of the business.
Wostoupal will continue to be executive vice president of sales and business development for NorthStar Financial Services Group, a holding company for several subsidiaries that manage and serve financial assets, including NLD. In his new role, he will lead NLD's sales and marketing efforts, with sales and marketing personnel reporting directly to him.
NLD also recently appointed Jonathan Poyer and Michael Lambatsos sales and distribution managers; their team includes Kristin Klaus, an internal wholesaler who educates clients and independent advisors on the selling agreement and broker-dealer process. Mercer Names Derrick Capps Head of Consultant Relations
Mercer announced Monday that Derrick Capps had been named head of consultant relations for its U.S. benefits administration business. In this role he will focus on relationships with third-party search consultants. He reports to Kerry Sain, senior partner and U.S. sales leader, outsourcing.
Capps has been with Mercer since 2009, first as an analyst for its retirement sales team and recently as the leader of the RFP response team. Prior to joining, he worked at Wachovia Bank for seven years, during which time he was a member of the consultant relations team and also managed a group of internal retirement administration sales associates.
U.S. Bank Names Four to Private Client Reserve
U.S. Bank announced four appointments to The Private Client Reserve, three in Minneapolis and one in Phoenix. The three Minneapolis appointments are Steve Kelleher, wealth management advisor; Sam Somuri, senior portfolio manager; and Jeff Schell, trust officer. In Phoenix, Tim Hoekstra was named wealth management advisor.
Kelleher, who brings more than 13 years of investment experience to his new position, was previously a senior vice president and private client manager for U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management, where he was responsible for the acquisition of new clients and the development of existing relationships. Prior to that, he worked at Citi Private Bank and in the leveraged finance group of Credit Suisse First Boston.
Somuri will develop and implement customized investment portfolios for high-net-worth individuals and institutions. With more than 20 years of financial services experience in investment management, sales, relationship management and marketing, he was most recently a director at Allianz Life Financial Services. Prior to that, he led asset manager selection, investment research and relationship management for the platform at Jackson National Life.
Schell will collaborate with HNW individuals, families and charitable organizations to provide trust administration services. He previously served as the personal trust relationship manager for U.S. Bancorp's Private Client Group. Before that, he worked for Wells Fargo as a trust and estate administrator.
Hoekstra brings more than 21 years of experience in the financial industry. Before joining, he worked for JPMorgan as a vice president and business manager. He also served as an executive vice president and senior commercial banker with Sunrise Bank of Arizona (formerly Camelback Community Bank). Prior to that, he held positions with LaSalle Bank and Bank One/American National Bank, both in Chicago.
Arjuna Capital Launched
Adam Seitchik and Farnum Brown have joined with Marion, Mass.-based wealth manager Baldwin Brothers Inc. (BBI) to launch Arjuna Capital, a sustainable wealth management platform, with Seitchik as chief investment officer and Brown as chief strategist and senior portfolio manager. They will provide leadership to the sustainable wealth management platform along with Ellen Stone, senior portfolio manager, partner at BBI and founder of Highwater Global Fund, and Bill Marvel, a managing director at BBI.
Seitchik and Brown worked closely together in similar roles while at responsible investment specialist Trillium Asset Management. BBI's perspective on investment has evolved over the past 40 years to one deeply committed to sustainability. BBI senior partner Michael Baldwin founded the Marion Institute, a nonprofit incubator for projects focused on sustainability and social justice.
Brown founded Advent Advisors, one of the earliest socially responsible investment advisories in the country, in 1987, merging the business with Trillium in 1994. Seitchik is the former co-CEO and CIO at Trillium, chief global strategist at Deutsche Asset Management in London, a thought leader in the field of sustainable investing and the founder of the Sustainable Investment Research Center.
Arjuna's mandate is to build the best performing, most forward-looking and high-impact sustainable investment platform in the business. Arjuna will partner with other investment strategies to bring sustainable investment opportunities to clients across the asset class spectrum, from stocks and bonds to community loan funds, green real estate and private equity.
The name Arjuna refers to the hero of the ancient epic poem, the Mahabharata. Arjuna was a revered leader, skilled archer, and a champion of enlightened engagement in society. The firm said, "Arjuna embodies the values we hope to bring to our efforts as investors: innovation and leadership within our disciplines, sharply honed investment skills, and an enlightened vision of the role of capital markets in promoting the common good."
Hedge Fund Association Establishes Three New Regional Chapters
The Hedge Fund Association (HFA) on Tuesday announced it had appointed three regional directors to head its newly established chapters. Adriana Kostov will serve in Australia, Mark Feanny, M.D., in Texas and Ronnie Hale in Utah. These are all territories in which the HFA has not previously been represented, and the HFA plans to hold member networking events in Australia and Texas later in the year.
Kostov, with executive level experience in risk management, corporate development and compliance advisory in the financial services and family office sectors, currently holds the role of director of compliance and general counsel for Excalibur Funds Management, which is headquartered in Sydney, Australia.
Feanny, the co-founder of the National Healthcare Development Fund, LLC, is also active in a trend in U.S. health care, the freestanding emergency department.
Hale has extensive experience in fund management, mergers and acquisitions, asset trading, capital raising, risk and asset management and other key sectors. He is currently the portfolio manager of the National Healthcare Development Fund.
Read the March 27 New Hire Roundup at AdvisorOne.


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Playbook for success: Operating model transformation
August 3, 2018
August 3, 2018
The past decade has seen dozens of Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) companies utilize Zero-Based Organization ("ZBO") principles to redesign their operating models to fuel sustainable, profitable growth. Accenture Strategy's latest research supports these findings, and demonstrates that 91 percent of companies have achieved their zero-basing targets, realizing an average $260M in profit improvement annually.i
This success suggests that zero-basing programs are easy—but that could not be further from the truth. Instead, companies that succeed do so because of deliberate decisions they make in both deciding what to do, and then adhering to key principles as they begin to execute. From our experience, these CPGs—which we will call "Winners"—do eight things:
By employing a similar, deliberate approach, firms can greatly increase their chances of success and set a course towards long-term, profitable growth.
i Accenture Strategy research, Beyond the ZBB Buzz, 2018
ii Accenture Strategy and the World Economic Forum, Operating Models for the Future of Consumption, 2018


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Kent State Hosts Power of the Pen Writing Competition for 24th Year
Kent State University's College of Education, Health and Human Services will host this year's Power of the Pen regional competition on Feb. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Bowman and Satterfield halls on the Kent Campus. The competition challenges seventh and eighth graders from around the state to answer writing prompts. The top 50 percent of students from district competitions attend the regional level at Kent State, which has hosted the event since 1991.
This is the first year the College of Education, Health and Human Services at Kent State will host the event. Alexa Sandmann, director of Kent State's School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies, is helping to coordinate this year's event.
"It really made sense for us to be the ones to give this a home and support it," Sandmann said. "This is the caliber of students we want at Kent State. It's really exciting."
At the regional event held on campus, 160 students will write three pieces in response to prompts. Participants will not know the topics until the event.
Lorraine Merrill, a retired English teacher from Nordonia, created the program in 1986 and has served as the director ever since. Merrill received a Christa McAuliffe fellowship award to begin Power of the Pen and a sabbatical leave by the Ohio State and U.S. Department of Education. Funding simultaneously came from the George Gund Foundation, the Nord Foundation, the Knight Foundation and the Stark County Foundation.
Merrill said the Power of the Pen is always an exciting and influential event.
"When these youngsters are responding to a prompt, it is competitive and, like sports, it becomes very exciting," Merrill said. "They have to be honest to be good writers, and they need to have the courage to talk about their own experiences."
Sandmann said one of the reasons Kent State hosts the Power of the Pen is to introduce visiting students to the campus and its offerings.
"We're building on this legacy," Sandmann said. "I'm hopeful these students will see what a wonderful, exciting place it is. This highlights the excellence Kent State is known for."
Each year, students draft 25,000 pieces of writing for Power of the Pen events statewide. Of this number, hundreds of writers have been identified annually for publication, awards and scholarships. In the three decades since the program came into being, Power of the Pen students have garnered positions as publishers, reporters, book and newspaper editors.
"Finding that voice is everything, no matter if you live in the inner city or the suburbs," Merrill said. "Everyone has a story to tell, and these kids write remarkably well."
Students compete for individual as well as team awards. The awards include trophies donated by University Communications and Marketing at Kent State. All attending students also will receive a special notebook commemorating the competition and their successes.
For more information about Power of the Pen regional competition, contact Sandmann at email@example.com or visitwww.powerofthepen.org.
For more information about Kent State's College of Education, Health and Human Services, visit www.kent.edu/ehhs.
# # #
Media Contacts:
Alexa Sandmann, email@example.com, 330-672-2580
Emily Vincent, firstname.lastname@example.com, 330-672-8595


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He then said to me 'you are the best thing that happened in my life. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be who I am today. You saved my life and I love you so much. You are my best friend'. He tells me this quite often, but hadn't said it for a while so it was really nice to hear and I did just listen and didn't butt in. When he finished telling me I looked at him and said 'thanks Babe, I love you too' and he looked surprised and said 'what!? you are going to have a go at me!?' and I just laughed and said 'no - that was just really nice'.
When we arrived at St Helens he wanted to go fishing off the jetty with the boys. I was keen to go to the beach after the long drive, and usually Aaron would want to as well, but instead he insisted that we went fishing.
I now wonder whether he would've passed away earlier if we had gone to the beach instead of fishing as he would've been jumping in the waves and exerting himself. I hate to even imagine what that would've been like if my family wasn't with me when it happened.
He got the boys set up with their rods and then Harri lasted for all of 10 minutes before he gave up and said he's 'never ever, ever going to catch a fish'.
Kobe loved having a fish with him and kept yelling 'me caught one!', even though he never did.
After a little while Harri and Kobe both had enough so I decided to walk with them to the playground, to let Aaron and Jay fish together quietly.
Anyone who knows Aaron well, knows that he is very 'unAustralian' at times. It doesn't matter if Australia is playing in the cricket or an Aussie is playing tennis. If he doesn't like them, he doesn't barrack for them. As usual he had his English cricket cap on and Chrish started having a go at him about being 'unAustralian', especially on Australia Day. Chrish needed to go buy a hat, so Aaron told him to see if he could find some Aussie hats at Chickenfeed on the way to Binalong Bay, so they could both wear them.
By the time we got to Binalong Bay the weather was turning bad, but it was still quite mild so we were all just excited to be there, and I was excited to show my family how beautiful it was there.
The bad weather didn't stop Aaron running straight into the water to throw his new skim ball around that he was so excited to use with everyone. He had also gone out the week before and bought an NFL beach ball to throw around.
After a little while the waves started to become huge. Aaron, Jay, Chrish and Alex were having an awesome time in them and were getting dumped a lot which made us laugh a lot. I usually sit back on the beach and enjoy watching them in the water, especially if it's cold but all of a sudden I got an urge to just run in and join them, which is very unlike me. I started to run in and yelled 'come on Nicki!' and to my surprise she ran in with me and we joined the boys in the huge waves.
Aaron looked at me and said 'you feeling alright!?' as he knew it wasn't like me to get in the water, especially on a cold day. I told him I just felt like coming in and we had a lovely time as I put my legs around his waist and he put his arms around me, so we could jump the waves together. Right then Aaron said 'My heart is being healed having your family here'. It made me smile to think that just the night before he was saying it was too hard being there, but now he was so happy to have everyone around.
After a while I got out of the water and tried to warm up on the beach. Aaron also got out and started to throw the NFL ball around with the boys (big and small) and before we knew it him and Alex were back in the water, jumping in the waves again. All the kids (and adults) were shivering on the beach and were keen to go so we kept gesturing for them to get out. Kobe even went to the waters edge and yelled 'get out Daddy!!' which made us laugh, as we joked about how it's usually the adults telling the kids it's time to go. The next thing we know Aaron is giving us 'the forks' to tell us to leave him alone and he wasn't getting out. We all had a big laugh and then after a few minutes we started to pack up to leave.
He came out of the water and I remember saying 'sorry honey - it's just too cold for the kids to stay any longer' and he said it was okay. He then told me in the car that he said to Alex that you can't waste days like that, as tomorrow there may not be big waves which is why he decided to run into the water again.
For tea we decided to make a big lot of spaghetti bolognaise and Aaron sat and joked about how 'unAustralian' it was to be eating an Italian dish on Australia Day. All day the 'unAustralian' jokes kept on coming from both him and Chrish. Straight after tea Steph put some dessert on to heat up and Eden, Alex, Chrish and Aaron decided to go out on the boat fishing for a little while before it got dark and said they would eat their dessert when they got back.
Aaron loves posting pics on Instagram and while they were gone I was flicking through and smiled at this photo he had put up with the caption 'about to empty the sea'. He had only loved fishing the past few years and I knew how excited he was to get out on the boat and see how many he could catch.
Yes it was a bad night. A really bad night.
Not long after this message Aaron and Alex came running in and Aaron was really puffing a lot. I said 'did you run back!?' and they joked that the boat was stuck and couldn't get in because the tide had come in. I knew straight away that Aaron was joking as he is hardly ever serious, and we had a little laugh as we heard Eden pull up with the boat outside.
We kept playing cards as the boys all came in and started to help themselves to dessert. Aaron sat down and five minutes later he was gasping for air and looking like he was having a seizure. It's hard to talk and think about the next 45 minutes or so, but I was pacing the room as he was being rescuscitated by first my Mum and Alex and then the paramedics.
I was talking and praying out loud saying 'what is happening!?', 'please make him breath!!' and was yelling at Aaron to breath as I needed him. I was going from room to room - to check on my boys who were freaked out from what they were seeing and hearing, and I was then going to the bathroom to vomit as I was in so much shock and kept trying to stay to see that he was okay.
I had no doubt that he was going to breath. Why wouldn't he!? Noah had just died. There was no way that he was going to die too!
I just kept waiting for him to breath and to wake up and expected him to just come to and say 'what the heck happened!?' and I would follow behind the ambulance and spend time sitting with him in hospital until they worked out what was going on.
Instead the paramedics stopped what they were doing after about half an hour and one came over to me and said 'I'm sorry but there is nothing more that we can do' as he put his arm on my shoulder. I looked in his eyes in disbelief and just said 'my son just died three months ago' and thanked him for everything they did.
Instead I had to go in and tell my boys that yes their Dad had died. How could I tell them when Noah had just died!?
Instead I made phone calls to his family and close friends to tell them the terrible, terrible news.
Instead we sat around his body for over two hours as we waited for the coronary ambulance to come and take away his body. I laid next to him with a blanket over both of us and just stared at him in disbelief. Had this really happened!?
I took off his wedding ring and put it straight onto my necklace so I didn't lose it.
We cried, we sat in silence, and we talked about things that he had done and said in the last couple of days and as hard as it was, and as much shock that we were in, we started to see and feel that maybe it wasn't just an awful thing that happened, but that it was meant to be.
Even though they tried to resuscitate him for a long time, we really know he was gone right from the start. It was massive and it was 'quick' and I don't think he suffered even though to us it was very scary to see. I imagine now how hard it must've been for him to watch. To see us so distressed and fighting to keep him with us, when he really had to go.
I know he missed Noah so much and kept telling me his heart was broken. I guess I didn't really understand exactly how much until now. As much as I hate this, I feel like they really do need to be together for some reason which I don't understand for now.
I'm not sure if I'll ever understand it, until I'm with them again.


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Just two days after Chris Hadfield assumed command of the International Space Station this week, a young student asked him how best to become an astronaut.
In a two-way video linkup with the space station, hosted Friday by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Hadfield told the youngster to focus on learning new things, maintaining good health, and practising good decision-making.
"With those three things … you will succeed no matter what you do in life," Hadfield said. "Including, maybe have a chance to fly in space."
Yet even as Hadfield inspires young Canadians to look to the stars, it's not clear when Canada will again recruit astronauts.
Jean-Claude Piedboeuf, acting director general of space exploration for the Canadian Space Agency, said that although maintaining active astronauts is one of the key aims of the space agency, there are no recruitment campaigns planned. He could not say when the next one would take place.
"We will launch another campaign when we need to increase our astronauts," Piedboeuf told Postmedia News.
Some experts feel the private sector is the only realistic future launch pad for potential Canadian space travellers seeking to slip the surly bonds of Earth's atmosphere.
Since 1983, the space agency has hired just 12 astronauts. It currently has three qualified for space flight.
Like other federal departments, it also faces budget challenges. Government spending estimates for the CSA in 2013-2014 show a potential increase in funding of just under $125.5 million, but the bulk of that is allocated to the RADARSAT Constellation Mission – an unmanned space program that will do satellite surveillance. Meanwhile, the estimates show that funds specifically allocated for space exploration will likely be reduced.
Private ventures – and individuals – are already finding ways to get into space without going through traditional government space agencies.
XCOR Aerospace, based in Mojave, Calif., for example, is already offering sub-orbital space flights. These flights break the 100-kilometre altitude that is generally considered the boundary between sovereign airspace and outer space. The flights don't complete a full orbit of earth – and they also cost $95,000.
For those who want to make a living as an astronaut in the private sector, Tampa-based non-profit Astronauts 4 Hire has a mandate "to increase the competitiveness of commercial astronaut candidates by providing skills training … engaging the space research community, and inspiring the next generation."
Astronauts 4 Hire will graduate its first class in June, 2013.
"There is a growing infrastructure" that would support private manned space flight," says Jason Reimuller, chief operating officer for Astronauts 4 Hire. "Right now it's very new."
The barriers to sending people into space are still in the tens of millions of dollars for private companies, and the profit motive hasn't moved much past the level of government contracts.
Jeremy Laliberté, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Carleton University in Ottawa, says that as the private sector moves into manned space flight, government will still be the first customer.
For example, after retiring its space shuttle fleet in 2011, NASA contracted the Hawthorne, Calif. company Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) to continue development on its Dragon spacecraft.
SpaceX intends to use the craft to shuttle American astronauts to the International Space Station in 2015.
Christina Ra, director of communications at SpaceX, said that its Dragon spacecraft intends to carry crew and that manned space flights are part of its business plan.
Laliberté said he can't predict if or when the Canadian Space Agency will recruit new astronauts, but that the upcoming federal budget will have a significant effect on the space agency's ability to maintain manned flight operations.
He said that in spite of the many difficulties, the private sector is already showing it can conduct space missions less expensively than governments of the past.
But "There will be costs that they will not be able to reduce," said Laliberté, referring to safety precautions and regulations that must be followed.
Alex Ellery, head of the Space Exploration Engineering Group, a Carleton University group that develops robotic applications for outer space, says that the main barrier to expansion for manned space flight in the private sector is the high initial investment, as well as the difficulty of turning a profit in the short term.
But Ellery said that although profit is a concern, the private sector is driving affordable access to space in a way government never could.
"If I was a young man" trying to get into the space game, he said, "I would probably pick [the corporate] route."


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Cambridge Brewing Company to Release Second Batch of Experimental Sake-Beer Hybrid
Cambridge Brewing Company to Release Second Batch of Experimental Sake-Beer Hybrid
Cambridge, MA – April 6, 2012 – On Friday, April 6th Cambridge Brewing Company will release a true sake-beer hybrid, using house made sake to ferment a unique barley-rice wort mixture. The result is Banryu Ichi, which is brewed to approximately 14% alcohol by volume. It is an incredibly complex beverage with flavors of sweet rice, fresh apples & grapes, earthy hints of mushroom and subtle notes of fennel, herbs and spices. The sake-beer hybrid is being served in a 5oz glass inside a traditional cedar masu (a square wooden box used for drinking sake) and is expected to be available on tap through May 2012.
The brewing of Banryu Ichi was a collaborative effort between Cambridge Brewing Company Brewmaster Will Meyers and local sake home-brewer Todd Bellomy, founder of BostonSake.com. The two have been working together on the project for over three years. The brewing process began in January by brewing 100 gallons of traditional sake, a fermented rice beverage gaining popularity in the U.S. Next, they created a custom wort using both pale barley malt and rice. The sticky, thick result was transferred to a fermenting tank and the sake was added to start the fermentation process.
Brewmaster Will Meyers has been enjoying and exploring the world of sake for several years, and this was his second experience brewing it. "Todd really opened my eyes to the incredible tradition of sake brewing, and the complexities of this beverage. The process was complex, time-consuming and labor-intensive," explained Meyers, "but the end result is amazing and well worth it!" The two spent many days in the winter cold and wind on the CBC patio, steaming polished rice with very small-scale equipment. Named for a traditional Japanese expression, "There are 10,000 ways to make sake", Banryu Ichi means 10,001 ways. This is an intentional allusion to the fact that something truly new had been added to the tradition of sake brewing.
Sake is brewed using a somewhat different process than beer, called multiple parallel fermentation: polished rice is converted to sugar by a fungus called koji; sake yeast is used for fermentation. Banryu Ichi was created using this exact method. While the sake was fermenting, the entire batch, including koji, yeast and rice slurry, was added to the wort to start the beer's fermentation process. The beer was then fermented at 50*F for 6 weeks, followed by cold conditioning until it reached an impressive 14% ABV.
"What makes this beverage truly unique," says Bellomy, "is that many beer brewers have incorporated aspects of sake production but mostly have just fermented traditional beer with sake yeast. This collaboration has taken the time and effort to actually brew sake and use it as a base for the hybridization of two distinct fermented beverages. Using an ingredient in a beer does not make it a hybrid; you have to explore and use the best attributes from both systems to create a beverage that is greater than the sum of its parts – we have done that here."
The resulting hybrid beverage is a clear copper color, full bodied with a dry finish. Presented without carbonation it abounds with flavors of brown rice, apples and grape, along with bright alcohol notes, earthy umami mushroom tones and also herbal, fennel like qualities. The well balanced and complex beverage is meant for sipping and savoring.
About Cambridge Brewing Company
Founded in 1989, the Cambridge Brewing Company is the oldest brewery-restaurant in the
Boston area and one of the nation's first. As pioneers of new American beer styles, they offer a wide array of hand crafted original beers as well as interpretations of classic world styles and experimental beers. Brewpubs such as The CBC have a unique culinary opportunity to continually pair new and interesting beer styles with innovative menu ideas. CBC's in-house artisan beers are paired with fresh and local ingredients on the menu, providing choices not found anywhere else in the local dining arena.
About Boston Sake
BostonSake.com was founded in 2011 by Todd Bellomy, local sake home-brewer, enthusiast, and expert. His love affair with sake began while living in Japan as an apprentice sword-maker and has continued through the reading of Japanese brewing texts, repeated travels, and study at Japanese sake breweries (kura). By day Todd is responsible for consumer relations at the Boston Beer Company; using his knowledge of beer and brewing to bring answers to the amazing community of Samuel Adams drinkers.
For more information about The Cambridge Brewing Company, BostonSake.com, or Banryu Ichi, visit www.cambridgebrewingcompany.com or www.BostonSake.com


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Learn to Play Guitar, Bass, Keyboard and Drums
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Videos, play-along files and online assessment guide you from Debut grade to Grade 5, awarded by The University of West London/London College of Music.
Our guitar lessons were developed with guitarist David Young, Bass Lessons are from Terry Gregory and the Drum Lessons were created by Brian Greene. The Keyboard Lessons were also developed by Terry, focusing on an approach which supports Keyboard players and those learning Keyboards as a second instrument. Find out more.
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Give every student in your class and school the opportunity to play guitar, bass, keyboard & drums. Teachers lead the class and support learning, students work with their instruments and computers; individually, in groups, or at home.
Your students can learn with Gigajam anytime, anywhere by logging on to our online music school. You can be assured of Gigajam's quality as our award winning lessons and software now support internationally recognised music grades awarded by The University of West London/London College of Music.
Using Gigajam will support the core aims of the National Plan for Music Education as well as meet key Ofsted priorities for music education. Try our guitar lessons, bass lessons, keyboard lessons and drum lessons in your school.
Call Brian Greene for free consultation: + 44 (0) 7976 208859
Gigajam Latest News


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So many cats, so little time to worship each one.
I have just two cats. Well, "have" is a bit self-congratulatory. Let me put it this way: two cats have deigned to allow me the pleasure of their company in whatever manner they see fit. Each cat was abandoned by neighbors who moved and left the pet behind. (I know, right?) The first feline, long known to the children on the block as Patches, was already in the habit of visiting my house. So she simply made her visits much, much longer.
Cat two, Tigger, was also prenamed by the kids. I'd have gone with something grander, say, Athena and Achilles, but Patches and Tigger they were and will ever be. (Of course, we don't know and can never know their true, deep and inscrutable names.) When Tigger saw the sweet deal Patches got, he requested (okay, demanded) entry. At this moment, he is staring at me, which means he wants me to get out of his chair. I explain that I must needs sit here to work and thus keep him in cat food. His continued stare translates to: "Work when I don't need the chair, bub."
The Humane Society of the U.S. estimates that Americans own more than 86 million cats. And who can blame us? To have a tiny god, a Bastet, sitting on the sofa is a consummation to be devoutly wished for. (Dogs are great, too—they delivered the diphtheria antitoxin across the frozen tundra to Nome! Okay, dog people?)
The latest strong evidence of our cat fixation comes from an artificial-intelligence project at Google's X Labs. Researchers there put together a network of 16,000 computer processors, which were exposed to 10 million random YouTube videos. The network was then probed to see what it knew about the world. And when the researchers showed pictures of cats to the network, it basically responded, "Yes, I recognize that thing"—either because so much of what's on YouTube is cat-related or because Mr. Mistoffelees infiltrated the network and told it what was what.
Some news reports claimed that the researchers taught a computer to recognize cats, perhaps because Congress needs more faulty information to support cutting funding for scientific research. "The point wasn't to find a cat," Google research partner Andrew Ng of Stanford University told NPR. "It's just that cats [were] one thing we happened to look for and found," Ng then explained, based on his correct assumption that a lot of people post cat videos, and so the network saw lots of cats and learned to recognize them.
The bet here is that Ng also would have gotten a positive result had he asked the network if it recognized the image of a guy taking a projectile to the groinal area. Of course, a network trained to spot crotch smacks would not inspire Congress to support science funding, either. So here was the actual point: to observe how a small-scale simulated brain makes sense of the information to which it is exposed—which will come in handy for enterprises such as better search engines and speech recognition. Plus, there must be some connection to improved weapons systems. There, that ought to keep the money flowing.
Speaking of flowing money, some cat owners recently became quite cross with the company behind the iPad app Games for Cats. According to a Web site called the Escapist, the app entertains your cat by displaying various moving objects on the screen. It's a higher-tech version of making the cat chase a laser pointer's red dot, which is great exercise for the cat and a hilarious exercise for the human with the pointer.
Anyway, upgrades to the game were available for purchase via a menu. This menu was "so user friendly … that even cats can use it," according to the Escapist. After numerous allegedly inadvertent expenditures by cats, the app's designers complicated the menu pathway to ensure that only humans could buy more and better cat toys.
Must run, the little Bastet really wants the chair.
Comment on this article at ScientificAmerican.com/oct2012


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Kenmore in Action
Welcome to the Puget Sound's best-kept secret – Kenmore, Washington. Kenmore is home to talented people, innovative ideas, strong businesses and abundant activities. Just minutes from Seattle and the Eastside, you can swiftly get to everywhere from Kenmore – whether by highway, seaplane or boat.
Kenmore is an urban community surrounded by the great outdoors. There are family-friendly neighborhoods, an award-winning school district, quality services, and many cultural amenities. Yet, it is easy to take hike in the woods, bike along Lake Washington, watch rare Herons nest or just drop a kayak in the water.
Local residents will tell you that Kenmore is the truly the best place to live and to work. A strong entrepreneurial spirit is at the core of the city. Kenmore is home to Bastyr University, the top natural medicine university and research institution in the U.S., and the birthplace of many multi-generational business innovators, including Kenmore Camera and Kenmore Air. With a business-friendly city hall, accessible land, and no B & O tax, the city actively helps pioneering businesses soar without limits.


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Marbles_00 wrote:
One other thing, is there a way to define the language. Currently with this new .exe, the display is in French. How do you change it to English?
Just also want to say that it is great to see some of you guys from the French Team still here
-name=WindowsName -url=URL
-stop -name=WindowsName
-reset -name=WindowsName
sharp_1 wrote:dgemily:
Thanks for what looks like a great way to enjoy xLobby!!!
However, your XurlDemo.zip doesn't seem to be working for me.
Marbles wrote:Do you mind if I include the app with my install? Kinda like how I did it with your Musicovery app? Let me know.
Marbles wrote:Now all we need is a couple of you French dudes to continue along with XReceive and XMenu.
sharp_1 wrote:Thanks...the size of the rar is 355 kb...does that sound right? I don't have time right now to try it out.
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests


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If rainy weather is good for anything, it's for soup. I will avoid the seemingly inevitable puns that LA restaurants seem to require, and simply say that I made pho. Pho the first time ever (oops).
Also, I got to go to the Natural History Museum instead, and then the sun came out and I got to go to the biergarten after all.
Pho (pre-condiment), with sesame kale in the background
Apparently, some of the appeal of pho, which is a bit lost when you're cooking for one, is that there are all these condiments-- you can kind of make it whatever you want! Pictured below: mint, cilantro, epazote (still masquerading as basil), lime, tamari, chili-garlic paste, jalapenos.
The broth is really unique-- cinnamon, cardamom, and fennel/anise add new dimensions. I was worried about my broth being flavorful enough, especially skipping the dried mushrooms, so I also used a little stock paste.
And the finished product looks really pretty.
(from Cake Maker to the Stars)
1 onion, peeled and quartered
2" piece ginger, thickly sliced
4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
12 c water (I subbed in a bit of stock)
4 pods cardamon, crushed or 1/4 tsp ground
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
5 whole star anise pods (I used 2 tsp fennel seed instead)
6 whole cloves
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt, plus more to taste
2 carrots, coarsely chopped
large handful dried shiitake mushrooms, optional (I skipped this)
1 1/2-2 cups fresh shiitake or portobello mushrooms, sliced (I used cremini)
protein--about 1/3 cup per bowl, bite sized (I used firm tofu, fried)
2-3 cups fresh mung bean sprouts (I omitted this)
bunch fresh basil (I substituted epazote)
bunch fresh mint
1 jalapeno, thinly sliced
small bunch fresh cilantro
2 limes, cut in half and quartered
hoisin sauce, optional (omitted)
sriracha or red chili paste
13 oz package rice noodles
1. Place the onion, garlic and ginger on a cookie sheet and broil under direct heat until lightly charred.2. In a large pot, bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the charred ingredients, the spices, sugar, salt, carrots and dried mushrooms, if using. Cover the pot and let the broth cook over medium high heat(rolling boil) for 30-45 minutes.
3. While the broth is cooking, prepare the noodles as directed on your package, rinse 'em well with cold water and set aside.
4. Prepare the herbs by giving 'em a good bath and drying them well. The fun part of eating pho is each diner gets to assemble and season their own bowls. So, you can pile "the accessories" onto one platter to be shared by the table, or arrange 'em into individual bowls for each person. Make neat but separate piles of the sprouts, basil, mint, cilantro and limes. Leave the leaves on the herbs, and let folks rip them off into their own bowls at the table.
5. Strain the broth to remove all solids, rinse out the pot and return the broth. Bring back to a soft boil and add the fresh mushrooms. Cook until the mushrooms are soft, about 5 minutes, then remove from heat. Season to taste lightly with salt.
6. To serve: divide the noodles evenly between 4 deep bowls. Top with your protein choice, then fill up with broth. Let each person season their bowls to taste with freshly torn herbs, sprouts, lime juice, jalapenos, wheat-free tamari, Sriracha and hoisin sauce. Serves at least 4.


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I'm not really resigning as a Blog Azeroth mod, but I realized that I can't keep up with the Shared Topics anymore. And as a whole, we'd love some fresh new faces to help greet new members, encourage blogging events and answer questions. If this sounds like you, head over to this thread at Blog Azeroth (you'll need to be logged in to see it).
I'd be especially happy if one of the Shared Topics regulars (I'm looking at you Aliera, at you Oathblade, at you Dragonray, at you Amerence, at you rest of you who participate often in Shared Topics – now's your chance to make sure Topic get queued in a timely fashion and recaps get posted every week!) volunteered for the spot.
* * *
In other news, I have to admit that I have very little motivation in keeping up with this blog. Part of it is my working 60 hours a week, but most of it is that I just don't want to make the time to update regularly.
Don't be sad, though, I doubt much will really change here. I've been posting once a week or less for well over a year anyway. I'm just making it official. I'll post when I have something to talk about, but I'm resigning from feeling the need to maintain the blog.
I am feeling the motivation to update my personal (otherwise known as Shrine-to-Myself) blog, so if, for whatever unfathomable reason, you take pleasure in reading me writing about myself, I'm hoping to blow some life into that corner of the internet. I would have done it sooner but each time I have something to write I tell myself: "No! You can't update that until you update the WoW blog!" Which, most of the time, ends in neither blog being updated.
Maybe this way one of the blogs will be updated.


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Charles Huerta of Paramount lost consecutive fights in 2011, but he has rebounded with back-to-back knockouts.
The most recent came Saturday when he clocked Jonathan Alcantara, dropping him with a huge right hand in the first round. Alcantara got up, but was in no condition to continue, Huerta getting a first-round technical knockout at 1:30 of the round at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario on the undercard of Chris Arreola-Bermane Stiverne.
Huerta, 26, is now 18-3 with 11 knockouts. Alcantara, 24, of Novato, Calif., is 6-10-2. Their featherweight bout was scheduled for six rounds.


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Christmas Tree Roundup
Chesapeake Beach has a new Christmas tree.
It's not pine, spruce or fir.
It's 255 crabs pots stacked 20 feet tall and trimmed with buoys, garland, lights, soccer-sized sparkly balls and a larger-than-life blue crab.
The nautical tree is dedicated to the watermen of Chesapeake Country.
The surprise to the town was erected in secret in the early morning hours of Nov. 25 by Chesapeake Beach Mayor Bruce Wahl and public works superintendent Jay Berry with a crew of five. The job took six hours.
"It was Bruce's idea," Berry said. "He saw a prototype tree made from Maine lobster pots and thought it would work for us and the town, too."
Abners Crab House owner Bobby Abner donated the crab pots and the site for a demo.
"We built it round at first, but that didn't work," Berry said. "Now, it's shaped just like a tree and is three-dimensional."
The tree's introduction at Chesapeake Beach's lighting ceremony drew a crowd as large as the tree itself. The secret mission was illuminated to a chorus of ooh's and ahh's.


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{Real Parties}
Ballet Party
As you may have read in my feature in Life: Beautiful Magazine, ballet has been a very important part of my life. Therefore, when I saw this precious pink ballerina birthday party by Melissa, I was instantly in love.
The incredibly talented Melissa has created some of the most amazing parties for her children, and often designs the invitations and other party details herself.
This invitation is nothing short of darling! Check out the full feature on Stylish Children's Parties here.
Vintage Strawberry Shortcake-Inspired Party
Once again the ever-talented Jessica provides loads of inspiration and charm with her vintage Strawberry Shortcake-inspired party. Jessica created a party that is very, berry sweet.
You will not want to miss all the incredible details. Hop over to Stylish Children's Parties for the entire feature here.
I know there are no boy parties featured this week, but get ready for some fabulous ones next week, sure to inspire you! I have some incredible *new* parties to feature on Stylish Children's Parties, and as soon as I can get caught up I will be sure to feature them, and share with you for loads of inspiration!
{Inspirational Women To Watch}
Chris Nease, Celebrations At Home
If that isn't enough, she creates custom inspiration boards and helped organize a fabulous group baby shower for the organization Operation Shower.
I'm obviously not the first to discover Chris and all of her many talents. Chris has been featured in the Richmond Times Dispatch, filmed a tv segment for Virginia This Morning (sharing budget friendly party ideas), and contributed to The Clutterbug's Guide to an Organized Christmas on Christmas entertaining. I highly doubt that the list will end here for her, either.
I am personally inspired by Chris and her ability to follow her passion for parties & entertaining, all the while using her talents to serve others. She has an eye for style and kindness that makes her a true standout in the industry.
Chris is well-established in the party planning blog world, and I can't wait to see what fabulous project or party she creates next!
Kori Clark, Kori Clark Designs
Kori Clark is a young woman with loads of talent, and a unique ability to use her design skills (she has a degree in Interactive Media) across many boards. Kori does free lance graphic design work (check out her website Kori Clark Designs), and in 2009 launched Kori & Kate with her talented photographer & friend Kate. Their business was created to offer beautiful templates for photographers--from albums to cards, marketing materials and more.
If that isn't enough, check out her newest venture, a darling line of printable party products and invitations, at Paper & Pigtails (I had the honor of working with her and Lindsey of Bella Grace Party Designs, as they created the stunning Woodland Fairy Party invitation & treats for me!). You can see the darling work of Paper & Pigtails featured on the biggest party blogs out there, like Hostess With The Mostess. I have no doubt we will be seeing a lot more of Kori and Paper & Pigtails, making a big spalsh in the world of children's party printables...and beyond!
Kori is also a devoted mother, and is testing out her own party planning skills with her daughter's upcoming birthday (a charming pink and green turtle party, one I simply can't wait to see!). I have no doubt she will soon discover she has talent in event design as well.
Kori is incredibly inspirational in her ability to be fearless in trying new things with her passion for design, expanding the ways she uses her design talents, and still stays devoted to her dear family.
Priscila Barros, Little Miss Heirlooms
Priscila was the very first lovely woman to reach out to me when I launched Kate Landers Events, LLC, in October 2009. She is incredibly endearing, and one of the best motivational speakers you will ever meet. A devoted mother to her darling sons, Priscila also manages to find time to build her Little Miss Heirlooms empire.
Priscila has her own shop, offering vintage pieces for children. I love vintage products, so this drew me in right away. She also has a fabulous blog, where she features some of the most incredible hidden talents in the world of children's style and design, worldwide. That's right, Priscila features businesses and entrepreneurs from around the globe, exposing the greatest in children's fashion, products, and parties, of course. I find her blog an absolute must to follow, keeping you in the loop on the latest and greatest new finds for children out there. She also is known for featuring some pretty amazing giveaways, too.
It was this year that Priscila took a huge leap and decided to launch her own e-zine, Babiekins. Wow. For those of you who know what it takes to put together an e-zine, you probably have a tremendous appreciation for her work here. She is constantly working on incorporating new product and talent in her online magazine, staging photo shoots and writing up articles designed to help you make every day of your modern life with your child stylish, with vintage inspiration.
Priscila is so incredibly passionate about what she does, is full of motivation and with her ambition I see she has the capability of growing her business even further. One of my favorite things about Priscila, is that when you converse with her through e-mail, she somehow makes you feel as if you are together in a cafe sipping iced tea and munching on cake truffles. She's genuine, and thoughtful.
{Fabulous Blogs To Follow}
There are two fabulous blogs I want to share with you today.
The first is In Good Company.
I know I recently blogged about their feature on our Woodland Fairy Party in their July issue, but I wanted to stress what a terrific and incredibly resourceful blog they truly are.
If you aren't following In Good Company yet, you might want to take a moment to check them out, now. Just see what you have been missing!
The second blog is Sweetopia.
For those of you who love creating extraordinary sweet treats for your parties, this is a *fabulous* place to find loads of inspiration. You will find recipes, tutorials, and some of the yummiest eye candy out there. Hop on over to Sweetopia, and stay for awhile!


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Our next guests have reallytaken America by storm.
Their new hit showis being tuned in
by womenall over the world.
Please welcome,the Queef Sisters !
( applause & cheering )
Oh, hello, Regis !Hello, Kelly !
( queefs )
( cackling )
So, uh, gals, you seem toreally like queefing.
Well, Reeg,it's like this,
we think that queefingis a perfectly normal
female bodily function.
Why not have funwith it ?
( queefs )
( cheering )
But I mean, really, isn'tqueefing a bit juvenile ?
Men enjoy farts,
so why shouldn't womenenjoy their queefs ?
( applause )
That's right.
We've written all aboot itin our new feminist book
"Eat, Pray, Queef."
Well, I think that whatyou gals are doing
for the feministmovement is amazing !
And that's why women all overAmerica stand behind you !
( queefs )
Noooo !
Terrance and Phillip,you've put on a terrific show
for many, many years.
You've made Canada Channelwhat it is today.
You're fired.
Fired ?!Fired ?!
Sorry, guys, but this queefingthing is really catching on.
Queef Sisters ratingsare through the roof.
And to pay themwhat they're asking,
we've gotta get rid of you.
Good-bye,here's some cookies.
Brian, don't do this !
You can't letCanada Channel be soiled
by that perversegarbage !
You know it's sick !
Yes, I know it's sick.
To be honest, I gag every timeone of them lets out a queef.
But it's money, goddamn it,and this channel needs it.
I'm sorry,Terrance and Phillip.
Your show is done.
Goodbye, Here's Some Cookies
Terrance and Phillip aren't happy about Canada Channel's newest hit show.


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Tattletale "complains" that pax-logging-api and pax-logging-service both contain org.apache.log4j (and some sub packages), but these are different things: the log4j stuff in -service is "internal", not exported (this particular implementation just happens to be based on an embedded log4j implementation), the stuff in -api is exported (the log4j api is a subset of the paxlogging api).
I think tattletale should somehow be able to take that into account, or have an osgi-aware 'multiple jar files' report.
This ties into the ClassLoaderStructure plugins - so feel free to share your design / patches on how this could work.


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It's a funny phrase we Christians use - "I go to church." For some of us it means that we show up on Sundays (or Saturdays). That might happen regularly. It might happen only at Christmas and Easter or for funerals and weddings. For some of us, "I go to church" means more than just participating in worship. It means we participate in other gatherings or ministries that go along with being a member of a congregation. No matter what our level of involvement, to say that we "go to church" always includes our coming together with others who claim the title "Christian."
Our reasons for "going to church," stem from all sorts of motivations. Many of us were taught when we gather and worship we give glory to God. That is the churchy reason we go. The more immediate (and perhaps more honest) reasons we "go to church" may run the gamut from finding strength or support for whatever life is dishing out to us to less salutary reasons like the need to be seen. For some "going to church" is about fear or duty or habit. For some it is about entertainment. For some it is about our friends. For most of us it is not any one thing but a mixed bag of reasons.
And into this hodge-podge of motivation steps the pastor. Some of us who stand before congregations on Sunday were exposed in seminary to the adage that our role, once in the pulpit, would be "to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." When the Church (through worship, the sacraments, the community, or even the pastor) brings comfort to the afflicted, it can take the form of a welcomed positive change. We call it transformation. But what about when the comfortable are afflicted? Might that not also be about transformation? It could be, if what being afflicted means is having our comfort challenged or its source questioned.
I wonder, though, why anyone would open up to something that might feel neither positive nor good. For some the answer could be that it's Biblical. For others it might be that life's not all about us. And for still others it could be because we have faith in a Jesus who, even now, is working to transform us and the worlds we continue to create - worlds in which there are winners and losers/ insiders and outsiders/ us and them.
Many of us have experienced Jesus as an agent of comfort. He certainly is portrayed in Scripture that way. But Jesus is said to have afflicted the comfortable as well. He challenged those with power who, to their own advantage, defined the rules of the game of life by which everyone had to play. He did this as he taught about a new world order that he called the Reign of God. In it the rules were God's rules not the least of which were that there would be no outsiders/ no losers/ no us and them.
Those in power were not interested in being afflicted. They did not want their position questioned. They liked their lives the way they were and did not want to be challenged. They were like many of us.
Welcoming comfort and resisting challenge are innate human tendencies. But if individually, societally, and as a species we are to be transformed into a people, a society, a species that is more and more pleasing to God (as God is known to us in Jesus), then we might do well to do two things. First, we might remember to give thanks for comfort whenever we are fortunate enough to experience it. And second, we might take a deep breath, surrender some of the excess of our comfortable lives, and move closer to harmony with the teachings and life of Christ.
In our culture, for most of us that will include letting go of the hegemony we give to individualism. It may mean refocusing our concerns away from our 401Ks. It may mean becoming willing to admit our addiction to consumption and to the things that own us. It may mean confessing that we are willing to look down on our brothers/sisters (and other species) rather than be their keepers when it suites us.
If we want only to be comforted, maybe we should give further thought to why we "go to church." If, however, we Christians were willing to accept not only the transformation that comes from being comforted, but also that which comes from being afflicted, we might become agents, along with Jesus, of God's change. "Going to church" could then require little more than opening our eyes each day to this ever-changing, marvelous world that God continues to create and of which we are a part.
Leigh Waggoner is priest at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. She can be reached at 565-7865, or email@example.com.


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We get a lot of questions about how Facebook makes its money, so here are our best estimates.
We've heard from a couple reliable sources that when it was looking for its latest funding, Facebook told investors 2009 revenues would reach $550 million.
If that's true, Facebook is growing quicker than even people inside to the company thought. Only a couple months ago, a source close to the company told us 2009 revenues would be closer to $400 million. But let's take the $550 million figure and break that one down.
Earlier this week, we spoke to several sources who each have some insight into Facebook's financials (none of them know precisely). Taking the sources' input together, we'd estimate the company's expected 2009 revenue this way:
- $125 million from brand ads
- $150 million from Facebook's ad deal with Microsoft
- $75 million from virtual goods
- $200 million from self-service ads.
Total: $550 Million.


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Zlatan Ibrahimovic has urged Paris Saint-Germain to finish off Bayer Leverkusen after their 4-0 victory in Germany left them on the verge of the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Sweden star scored two goals in three first-half minutes as the French league leaders ran riot at Leverkusen's BayArena in Tuesday's last-16, first-leg clash.
Bayer were reduced to ten men for the final half an hour when Ibrahimovic's marker Emir Spahic was sent off for a second yellow card.
Ibrahimovic's two goals left him as the competition's top-scorer with 10 Champions League goals in six matches, one more than Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.
This was a five-star performance from PSG, but Ibrahimovic was forthright when asked if this Parisian side was the best team he has played in.
"I've played in fantastic teams so difficult to say, you can have a great team, but not win trophies, we need to finish the job first," said the 32-year-old Ibrahimovic.
Midfielder Blaise Matuidi put PSG ahead with barely two minutes gone before Ibrahimovic netted a penalty, then added a second when he unleashed a thunderbolt of a shot to make it 3-0 at the break.
Replacement Yohan Cabaye then added PSG's fourth just before the final whistle to complete the rout.
"I have an embarrassment of riches in my team at the moment," said PSG's contented coach Laurent Blanc.
"We rediscovered the football we showed in the group stages, it was better than we played at the start of the year and I was pleased to see it.
"The players did really well and I have to praise them for the performance.
"We didn't want to give Bayer any self-confidence and we tried to make sure they didn't get any of the ball.
"We kept trying to push forward even when they started getting physical trying to stop us."
Blanc dampened down growing expectations and said PSG will approach the return leg eager to secure another victory over Leverkusen, who have now lost six of their last eight matches.
"It doesn't matter how the first leg went, we still have the second to come, obviously this is a big step towards the quarter-finals, but we want to win the return at the Parc des Princes," said Blanc.
"We have ambitions in this competition.
"This is just one game and we can still meet other teams who have lots of experience, but of course the hopes and expectations are growing."
Having been routed 5-0 by Manchester United at the end of November in their previous home Champions League match, Leverkusen were again outgunned and outclassed on the European stage.
"In the first half, we played without motivation, with fear," complained defender Omer Toprak.
"Paris walked over us. It was too easy for them.
"We didn't win any 50-50 balls, we got nothing.
"Unfortunately we quickly found ourselves reduced to 10 men in the second-half, which was a shame."
Sami Hyypia-coached Leverkusen now face an unenviable task to try and salvage something from the return leg in Paris on March 12.
"It's not easy to sit here after a performance like that," said ex-Liverpool defender Hyypia, whose team have lost their last three home games.
"We played against a good team and to be behind after just three minutes only made it harder.
"Paris showed how strong they are.
"In the second-half, we played better after the red card with ten men than we did with eleven."


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MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguay's drug control chief, Julio Calzada, is a nervous man. As of Wednesday, he has just 120 days to deliver regulations controlling the world's first national marijuana market.
The law awaiting the signature of President Jose Mujica after winning congressional approval Tuesday night describes what Mujica called an "experiment" in broad strokes. Now Calzada's ministry has to deliver the fine print to address the many unresolved questions raised in the Senate debate.
The government's stated goal is to drive drug traffickers out of the dope business and gradually reduce consumption by creating a safe and transparent environment where the state can closely monitor every aspect of marijuana use, from seed to smoke.
To be successful, this market must be kept small, contained and profitable.
That means fixing just the right amount of active ingredient, THC, in seeds that can be cloned, identified and controlled. And with fewer than 200,000 habitual smokers in the country of 3.3 million, just 10 hectares (25 acres) of pot plants could supply the entire market.
"I'll be nervous tomorrow," Calzada confessed to The Associated Press as he watched the debate from the Senate gallery.
Mujica acknowledged that his government isn't totally prepared for this plan, which poses a direct challenge to the global drug war, which an increasing number of national leaders and experts are calling an open failure. But he said the country has to try.
"Einstein said that there's nothing more absurd than trying to change the results by always repeating the same formula. That's why we want to try other methods," he said in an interview published in Wednesday's La Republica newspaper. "We know we've started down a road where there's no university to tell us what to do. But we have to try, because there's no blind man worse than the one who doesn't want to see."
Mujica, 78, has said he wants the market to officially open by mid-2014.
Polls have showed two-thirds of Uruguayans are opposed to the plan. Many fear the government won't be able to control the market once it's legalized. Mujica, who says he never smoked pot and considers it a "plague," said he hopes they'll come around to his point of view.
"We want to free future generations from this plague. This should be a national cause. We hope the people will understand and help."
The law requires growers, sellers and users to be licensed and registered so that the government can enforce limits such as the 40 grams a month any adult will be able to buy at pharmacies, or the six marijuana plants license-holders can grow at home.
Uruguay was advised by marijuana legalization groups funded by billionaire currency speculator and philanthropist George Soros and his Open Society Foundation and Drug Policy Alliance. Mujica met with Soros and billionaire David Rockefeller, who also favors legalization, in New York in September to explain what he called his "experiment."
"I would say to Mr. Soros, to Mr. Rockefeller, and to the president of the republic that you don't experiment with the Uruguayans. We are not guinea pigs," Colorado Party Sen. Pedro Bordaberry declared in the Senate debate.
But Uruguay's plan is now a global test case, and what happens next will be closely examined as politicians elsewhere decide what to do.
"Last year, Colorado and Washington; this year, Uruguay, and next year, Oregon and hopefully more states as well," said Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance.
Uruguay OK's first national market for legal pot
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Uruguay's drug control chief, Julio Calzada, is a nervous man. As of Wednesday, he has just 120 days to deliver regulations controlling the world's first national marijuana market.