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Not all graduate jobs are in London – not even all the "graduate schemes". One of the comments I got on my last post (about graduate recruitment for 2013 already starting) asked about graduate programmes in South Wales.
I know a lot of you also want to avoid moving to London but don't want to miss out on some really great graduate level jobs, so I'll reproduce my (slightly amended) answer here:
Are there any good Graduate programmes that run with positions in South Wales? Almost everything seems to be based in London!
Depends on what sort of jobs you want! If you want some sort of "managed programme" for graduates, you probably need an organisation which is fairly large, with either a headquarters or major office/presence in South Wales, or multiple branches across the country where they place graduates. [This holds true for any part of the UK. If you're lucky, you can find regional publications with this information – like the North West Top 200 Companies I blogged about last year.]
High Fliers research (pdf of their "Graduate Market in 2012" report) found that for the Times Top 100 companies that they surveyed, 41% expected to have jobs in Wales for 2012 – so it's definitely not a lost cause. Unfortunately, they didn't say which 41% had jobs in South Wales, but it doesn't take much to guess that it would include the major accountancy firms, the BBC and the big retailers on their list for starters. [Page 14 of this report has data for other parts of the UK, in addition to Wales. For example, 52% expected to have vacancies in the North West.]
If you can get hold of a paper copy of the TARGET jobs GET directory, it has a handy table at the back with the location of the companies who advertise graduate jobs with them (though that list isn't online).
If you take the approach that large companies headquartered in South Wales are more likely to have graduate schemes, have a look at all the large organisations in South Wales. Wouldn't normally recommend Wikipedia (although, let's be honest – we all use it!) but it does have a page of Companies of Wales by head office location – you could check each one of these out. [There's an equivalent Companies of the United Kingdom by head office location page – although I was amused to see Cornwall listed separately from England. Must be some Cornish nationalist Wikipedia editors.]
If you still have access to a university library, you could use one of their databases to search for companies in specific locations above a certain size (number of employees or financial measures). The University of Manchester Library has the FAME database (instructions here) which also gets to those multinationals which aren't headquartered in Wales [or any other part of the UK] but have a significant presence there.
And of course, you have to remember that most graduates don't go into a "graduate programme" – they go into graduate level work with smaller organisations. This certainly doesn't have to be second best. Many of the most exciting jobs will be in small fast-moving companies, in the creative sector, in technology, in consulting etc. They can also be advertised at any time of year and are more likely to be looking for talent 2 or 3 months before they want you to start. You do need to be prepared to take responsibility early in these companies, but you avoid just being the latest "new grad" going through the system.
One final caveat – many of these "graduate programmes" for the large high profile employers are advertised once a year, in the early autumn (or even summer), a year before you would start. In another comment on my last post, Tommy asked if he was being over-enthusiastic thinking of applying now for some of these programmes, before he'd even started his Masters in September. My view? He's the smart one, giving himself the best chance of getting into these highly competitive programmes which will often be full well before the official closing dates.


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CORAL GABLES -- The last thing Anthony Chickillo imagined when he signed with UM 13 months ago was that he'd become the voice of experience for the Canes' defensive front seven this quickly.
But after several questionable early departures for the NFL Draft, that's exactly what the 6-4, 261-pound sophomore defensive end is.
"There's no doubt we're going to have to grow up fast," said Chickillo, who made nine starts for the Canes last season, one of six players in the defensive front seven who have starting experience (Jimmy Gaines has 8 starts; Darius Smith 7; Kelvin Cain 6; Denzel Perryman 5; Luther Robinson 2).
"We have to be accountable for each other, push each other and make sure everybody is doing what they're supposed to be doing at all times. I thought coming in I'd still be learning from older guys at this point. But everything happens for a reason. I think I can anchor this defensive line and be one of the leaders of this team."
Leadership is something that comes natural to Chickillo. He said he's been a leader at every level he's played at. Last year as a freshman he deferred to seniors like Sean Spence and JoJo Nicolas. But this year, neither of those guys are around.
And the only players on UM's defense with more starting experience than Chickillo are safety Vaughn Telemaque, who has 36 career starts, and cornerback Brandon McGee (13).
"Chick is starting to step up and become that leader a lot of guys are scared to be," said redshirt junior defensive tackle Curtis Porter. "He knows we need one."
Chickillo said he speaks to Spence frequently about the challenge he has of leading such a young front seven. Spence, he says, tells him not to worry and to lead by example.
"Sean just tells me to stay focused, don't bite off more than I can chew," Chickillo said. "He told me that as a sophomore he felt the same thing, to try and step up and be a leader. He told me his sophomore year wasn't anything great and that I need to stay focused and just work hard, have a better year than last year.
"He knows I get real hard on myself when I make mistakes. He's a guy who kept me focused when I needed it last year. Now, I have to do it myself and push other guys the way the Sean did. I have to become one of those leaders."
Last season, Chickillo finished with 38 tackles and five sacks, tied for the most on the team. He also finished third in the voting for ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
While he's concentrated a lot on improving his hands this off-season, Chickillo also said he's gotten "a lot stronger and more explosive at the point of attack."
He said he's gained about 20 pounds in the offseason and is now up to between 261 to 262 pounds. He wants to get up to between 270 pounds and 275 pounds by the time he's a junior. His body fat is down to 12 percent.
"When I first came in I was doing about 20 reps on 225 pounds. I'm up to 24 reps now," Chickillo said. "My power clean went up 44 pounds, my squat 40 pounds. I'm more explosive with my vertical jump, too. I'm up to 33 inches."
Said right tackle Jermaine Johnson: "Chick is a bad ass. He's more mobile now, quicker, sneaky. You have to stay locked in or he'll blow by you.
> Porter (6-1, 312) said defensive line coach Jethro Franklin has him learning the three technique at defensive tackle this spring, something Porter considers a challenge because he's only played nose guard (one technique) most of his career.
"Having short arms is the challenge," Porter said. "I'm very strong, compact. But guys that I go against are usually taller and have longer arms. I got to find ways to beat them because there are always hands in my face and I can't get to them. It's a mission right now. I just have to find ways to beat these guys with long arms. I'm beating them off the ball with my quickness and explosiveness, but I need to engage them and beat them there also."
Porter said he's trimmed down his body fat percentage from about 28 percent to 20 percent since arriving at UM.
> Both Porter and Chickillo say redshirt freshman Junior Alexis (6-2, 280) might be the strongest defensive lineman on the team. "I've never seen a freshman throw up 32 reps on 225," Porter said. "We just have to work on him keeping his leverage because he's a shorter guy. He has a low center of gravity. We're working on that now."
> Sophomore receiver Phillip Dorsett -- one of the few healthy receivers on scholarship actually participating this spring -- said redshirt sophomore quarterback Ryan Williams has looked good in practice and is more accurate than junior Stephen Morris. But Morris still has the stronger arm and can get the ball to receivers quicker.
"Both of them can do the job," Dorsett said. "As a receiver, we just have to adjust."
> Redshirt sophomore Jonathan Feliciano, who moved from right tackle to left guard this spring (he's replaced All-ACC First Team guard Brandon Washington), had minor knee surgery in December, but has recovered quickly. He said he's lost 10 pounds (he's listed at 6-5, 322).
"Last year I couldn't bench 225 pounds over 20 times. No I'm doing it over 25 times. That helps inside with the big guys," Feliciano said. "Being lighter, I don't get tired as fast, I can run down field and make plays for receivers."
> The three players who missed practice due to suspension last week returned Tuesday, including former starting left tackle Seantrel Henderson.
"He's stronger than any point last year, is healthier, in better condition," coach Al Golden said Tuesday. "He's more flexible, is moving his feet better."
Henderson isn't being allowed to talk to reporters.
> Golden said former defensive tackle Jeremy Lewis, now the backup at left guard is "fighting for a starting job."
Lewis, a four-star defensive tackle out Palm Beach Lakes in 2008, is "going to be a good player there for us," Golden said. "He moves his feet well, is strong. He's 325, in that range and can move. I'm happy with him."
> Reserve tight end Billy Sanders, a redshirt junior, was out of practice with a cast on his lower right leg. Sanders is on crutches.


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OTTAWA — Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has proposed the elimination of federal climate change accountability and reporting mechanisms within a law tied to the 2012 budget.
The proposal was included in the new legislation of more than 400 pages, including about 150 pages that were focused mainly on "streamlining" the environmental oversight of industrial development.
The legislation, meant to implement measures announced in the budget, also proposes to weaken several federal environmental laws, including legislation protecting water and species at risk.
The federal government regularly introduces legislation to support and implement the budget.
By tying the specific measures to budget implementation legislation, the process would allow Prime Minister Stephen Harper's majority government to adopt the changes without comprehensive analysis, hearings or debate by members of Parliament.
"It is routine for such measures to be included in the budget legislation," said Carly Wolff, a spokeswoman for Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver in a statement. "That being said, we will create a special subcommittee to study the Responsible Resource Development legislation."
Wolff said the legislation would help prevent long delays "that kill potential jobs and stall economic growth by putting valuable investment at risk." She also said it would create "skilled, well-paying jobs" across Canada, while maintaining the highest possible standards for protecting the environment.
Oliver was not available for an interview.
NDP deputy leader and environment critic Megan Leslie said the legislation was increasing the risk that Canada was headed toward an "environmental disaster," noting that it will also give cabinet minister "carte blanche" to make decisions about major development projects.
"With this legislation, the Conservatives are dismantling Canada's environmental protection system and are allowing it to become a process of rubber-stamping," Leslie said in a statement.
The legislation also kills an existing law, the Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act, that required the government to publish comprehensive reports on climate change policies, along with an evaluation of results achieved.
A spokesman for Kent said the government still plans to be accountable and report on efforts to combat climate change through other measures such as the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy.
The budget has also proposed to invest about $50 million over two years to improve marine and pipeline safety, including more inspections of oil and gas pipelines. It also proposes new penalties of up to $400,000 for any company that doesn't respect conditions established by regulators following an environmental assessment of a new project.


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15 March 2013 at 11.44am
Royal Ballet Principal Edward Watson, praised for his dramatic roles, is busy preparing the part of Crown Prince Rudolf in Kenneth MacMillan's Mayerling. Given the rapturous reception he received in the role last time around (the Telegraph described him as 'an extraordinary interpreter'), it's quite a surprise to learn that he has danced it only six times before.
'It's funny to be known for something I've done so little,' he says. It's also testimony, though, to the impact he has made by pushing its visceral qualities to the limits – especially as it is probably the most substantial and extreme ballet that any male dancer can tackle.
Among the company's full-length masterpieces, this ballet is unique in being inspired by an historical incident: the suicide pact between the increasingly deranged and violent Crown Prince Rudolf, heir to the Habsburg Empire, and his 17-year-old mistress, Mary Vetsera, at the Mayerling hunting lodge near Vienna. This horrific event sparked the downfall of the dynasty.
'It's a fascinating story,' Watson says. 'It sounds like a movie, but when you know it's real it draws you in to find out more. You can look into all kinds of matters: Austria being so buttoned up, all those cover-ups, and Marie Larisch [Rudolf's ex-mistress and a vital character in the ballet] writing a memoir so that she wouldn't be implicated.' It was Larisch who introduced Mary to Rudolf.
'But it's all there in the choreography. For me it's about rehearsing carefully and making moments say what they're supposed to say. It's always a joy in rehearsing that ballet that you find something new all the time. A movement that looks ordinary, like an arabesque, can mean hundreds of different things, depending on the way you do it.
Edward Watson as Crown Prince Rudolf and Iohna Loots as Princess Stephanie in Mayerling © ROH / Bill Cooper 2009
Rupert Pennefather as Crown Prince Rudolf and Helen Crawford as Mitzi Caspar in Mayerling © Bill Cooper/ROH 2009
Melissa Hamilton as Mary Vetsera and Rupert Pennefather as Crown Prince Rudolf in Mayerling. © ROH / Bill Cooper 2009
Melissa Hamilton as Mary Vetsera and Rupert Pennefather as Crown Prince Rudolf in Mayerling. © ROH / Bill Cooper 2009
Melissa Hamilton as Mary Vetsera and Rupert Pennefather as Crown Prince Rudolf in Mayerling. © ROH / Bill Cooper 2009
Melissa Hamilton as Mary Vetsera and Rupert Pennefather as Crown Prince Rudolf in Mayerling. © ROH / Bill Cooper 2009
The role's challenges are enormous, both physically and dramatically: 'In the first act alone there's a huge number of pas de deux, as well as group scenes and solos. And conveying Rudolf's personality, being that tense, that wired and often aggressive, is a real demand. Half way through you're thinking, "Oh God, I never want to do this again, it's so hard". But by the end you're thinking, "I never want to do anything else!"'
The story's violence is far removed from a classical dancer's usual world of control and streamlined beauty: 'It's great!' Watson laughs. 'Getting out of that kind of tense, upward, symmetrical thing. It's a gift to let go and it's what everyone's screaming out to do. At least, I am...'
'Kenneth MacMillan proved that you can tell those kind of stories in ballet,' he adds. 'When Mayerling was first done, perhaps people weren't ready for it, but now I think that that kind of theatricality has become as British as Frederick Ashton is. Certainly for my generation, it's what excites us.' At 36, Watson is too young to have worked with MacMillan – but he is godfather to the choreographer's small grandson.
Rudolf remains, astonishingly, one of only two balletic princes he has ever danced (the other is Albrecht in Giselle, who's more dramatic than most). Not for him, he says, 'a prince who kisses a princess to wake her up, or falls in love with a swan. They've never come my way. There are people who do that brilliantly, and as long as I can do the stuff I'm good at, then I don't mind.' And as long as he dances Mayerling, his fans will be more than happy.
Mayerling runs 28 April–13 May 2017.
Tickets are open to Friends on 7 December 2016. General tickets will be available on 24 January 2017.


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Knowledge Is Power
Being diagnosed with breast cancer is often frightening and confusing. It's easy to feel lost in a world of unfamiliar medical terms and procedures. Questions about diagnosis, treatment, money, relationships, and quality of life can cause you worry and stress. Sometimes you don't even know where to begin or what questions to ask. You're not alone in this journey. This section was written by women who have gone through this experience. By reading this, you are already taking the first steps toward recovery.
The links at the left contain ideas and tips that will hopefully make dealing with health care providers, hospitals, and your health easier and less intimidating for you and your loved ones.
The best thing that you can do for yourself now is to give yourself time to think about your options. You shouldn't feel rushed into making decisions you are not comfortable with or do not fully understand. You can take time to gather information and make informed decisions. A few weeks most likely will not influence your treatment outcome, but it may make a huge difference in your state of mind. Your diagnosis will be presented to you with a series of choices, and what matters is that you make the choices that are right for you. The process may seem overwhelming and leave you with a lot of uncertainty. You can ask people you trust to help you make the choices that lie ahead. You and your family or friends can become advocates by doing research and talking to experts. Breast Cancer Action is one resource for you during this time.
Download our Guide to Navigating Breast Cancer


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ESSAY- Harming Eden: Become an environmentalist, for the love of God
Conservative religious talk-show hosts and many of their followers often assert that environmentalists worship the creation instead of the creator. The implication is that people concerned about maintaining the integrity— and thus functionality— of the environment are misguided. Yet there is no logical reason for anyone to believe that God created paradise solely for man to destroy it.
In fact, He created it to provide man with everything necessary for his survival. That is why God did not create man first; He created the environment that man would be dependent upon.
In Genesis 1:4-31, as God adds to his creation, he declares seven times that everything He had created was either "good" or "very good." To argue that man has the right to pollute the land and water, totally transform landscapes, and exterminate many of God's creatures is to insinuate that God was wrong in His assessment of how good His creation really was. Inherent in such a contention is that man knows better than God what he needs to survive; in other words, religious conservatives are worshipping Man instead of God.
But "woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes..." [Isaiah 5:21] "Seeist thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him." [Proverbs 26:12] "For if a man think himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself." [Galatians 6:3]
A major reason for man's delusions lies in his misinterpretation of the word "dominion." Arguing that God gave man dominion over all animals on the Earth, some people insist that He implied man could do whatever he wished to God's other creatures.
Although dominion implies ruling power, with that power comes responsibility for the welfare of the ruled. Man was actually being given permission only to make use of animals to help him survive, such as when oxen are employed to plow a field in order that man could grow food. But the oxen were to be taken care of properly, which is why God instructed man to give animals a day of rest. "Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; that your ox and your ass may have rest..." [Exodus 23:12]
Nowadays, we have factory farming which— to provide food for humans— confines animals with barely enough room to move. And worse, because it is perpetrated solely in the name of vanity, oysters are subjected to surgical trauma of their gonads (testes or ovaries) so they can provide inexpensive cultured pearls. Yet the Bible tells us that "A righteous man has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel." [Proverbs 12:10]
Holy Scripture does not support extreme modification of our environment or God's organisms. "You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your cattle breed with a different kind; you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seeds..." [Leviticus 19:19]
Indeed, we are experiencing the drawbacks to such practices, as illustrated by the current state of the agricultural and horticultural industries. Over the years, hybridization has given us strawberries that are delectable to the eye but tasteless to the palate and roses that lack the sweet scent that made them so divine. We can now buy beautiful flowers that are so perfect that they look artificial— which they may as well be, as they often possess little, if any, nectar and pollen to nourish insects and other species– even though one of the main reasons plants exist is feeding animals.
Some people scoff at the idea that each creature fulfills a necessary function in the environment, as if God would frivolously create organisms for no particular purpose. Somehow these folks seem to have overlooked God's instruction to Noah: "You shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female." [Genesis 6:19]
God was making sure that each animal's lineage would continue to exist following the flood. This point was crucial because all kinds of creatures are required for the environment to function properly, especially those critters that constitute the natural system of checks and balances which prevent the overpopulation of any one kind of plant or animal, including man.
An overabundance of any organism creates an imbalance that, if not corrected, dominoes throughout the environment. This domino effect can bring about a collapse of the natural order that was created to provide for mankind, resulting in an unstable environment that is unsustainable for people.
Because man has overpopulated the Earth in spite of having the intelligence to keep his own numbers in check, he has been forced to alter the environment in numerous ways, and such alterations end up creating yet more problems that must be addressed— troubles that, over the long run, become ever more difficult to tackle. "A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth." [Proverbs 14:6]
We need to understand that we should embrace the natural, i.e., Godly, environment that we were given instead of constantly trying to "improve" it. We also need to recognize that man must adhere to the same biological laws that govern all life forms.
God gave man everything he needed in Eden so he could focus on worshipping Him. However, when man partook of the Tree of Knowledge against God's instructions, he decided man knew better than God how to run the natural world. Man became his own god, exhibiting contempt for the Lord God's supreme gifts by exploiting the environment to satisfy personal desires and ambitions.
The irony of Christians bashing environmentalists for worshipping only the creation is that they are bashing the very people attempting to ensure the habitability of this planet for all humans— in contrast to those Christians who obviously do not have faith in the wisdom of their own Creator.
"And God saw every thing he had made; and, behold, it was very good." [Genesis 1:31]
Naturalist and writer Marlene A. Condon has been published in numerous newspapers and magazines and is the author/photographer of The Nature-friendly Garden (Stackpole Books). Her last essay for the Hook appeared August 12 on a similar topic.


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Golf course waiting for your visit
Golf course waiting for your visit
... is part of the history of Czech golf since 1926. Book a group lesson or explore golf in beautiful natural surroundings just 15 minutes from the Savoy Hotel. Transportation for sport and back to the hotel will be great pleasure for us.
Do you want to play golf? We can arrange! Choose one of the options or contact us and we will match the game to your requirements.
1. Play - 9 holes, sticks, basket of balls to drive (to start) - 1500 CZK
2. Golf course - 1 person, 2 hours training - full swing, short game, golf ethics, clubbing, driving balls, professional coach - 2200 CZK
3. Group lessons - 2 hours max 6 people, 1 trainer - full swing, short game, competitions, clubs, ball - 5000 CZK
4. Group tuition- 6-12 persons, 2 coaches - 8000 CZK
My wife and I stayed for 3 nights at this beautiful hotel, where nothing is to much trouble. In particular we would like to thank Pavla, who looked after us when we used the restaurant for our breakfast. She was so attentive, and charming, and is a real credit to the team. The hotel is very clean, and all that you would expect from a 5*. It is very well appointed for walking around Prague, and experiencing it's beautiful charm and culinary delights.
I would like to take this opportunity to let you know about our recent stay at your hotel. We stayed in room 202 from Dec 30th to Jan 7th, 2019. We have just arrived home after our holiday. Our whole experience was wonderful and I wanted to let you know that our visit to your hotel was made exceptional due to the professionalism, helpfulness and warmth of your staff. All went out of their way to ensure that our requests and needs were met and they were so friendly and helpful in all that they did. They really helped to make our stay in Prague a memorable one. We were very pleased with the hotel itself and of the quality of the rooms, public areas, food and facilities. It was our second visit to Prague but our first stay at the Savoy. We plan to return this summer and will definitely return to your hotel. We have already recommended you to friends and family and also online. Well done. We wanted to let you know how happy we were, as we felt your staff (including Petra from the breakfast area) deserved a pat on the back as they were wonderful.
Thanking you all again for an amazing experience.
Realmente nuestra experiencia en este hotel fue excelente. Sobre todo el servicio y dedicada atención de Pavla en los desayunos. Muy esmerada, amable, sonriente y eficiente, felicidades al hotel por tener empleados como ella. La habitación impecable, limpia y cómoda. Desayunos variados y deliciosos. Recomendamos ampliamente alojarse en el Hotel Savoy.
Stayed here for 4 nights arrived late 11pm no problems quick check in from very pleasant young lady and that time of the night We had booked a junior suite it was well maintained plenty of room 2 chairs a couch writing desks and chair Nice bathroom with plenty of room and great water pressure Breakfast was fantastic plenty for every taste endless coffee This hotel is 5 mins walk from the castle and 2 mins from the tram stop into the town.
One of the best hotels in Czech Republic I've had a chance to visit. The spirit of Golden Prague with a great amount of luxury, cleanliness and elegance, together with great food, professional staff and tremendous locality, guarantee an unforgettable experience. We would love to come back. It is suitable for all opportuinities – business, romantic, etc. Most of Prague´s greatest sights are just within reach. But what won the show was the personal, individual approach towards the customer. Everything was perfectly ready just after one phonecall. I can only recommend!
We enjoyed the large rooms and decent breakfast. The location is good - close to the castle and a park. The hotel is recently refurbished. The breakfast room with a retractable ceiling is a real treat.
We got a great price on TripAdvisor for this 5-star boutique hotel in Prague. It is in a quiet part of town, within walking distance of Prague Castle and about a 20-minute walk from the Old Town Square. The decor is ornate but tasteful. The front office staff are efficient, especially Babora. The best part of our stay was the fantastic breakfast which was included in the room rate. Paula, in the restaurant, was friendly and provided excellent, personalized service during breakfast.
The best way to reward us is by giving us your positive review. If you have any criticism for us, please consider getting in touch with us.
Please let us know, what we can improve for your next visit.
Please write to us about which type of area you would like to book:


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Welcome to the website for Hannah Fury and Mellowtraumatic Recordings. Various hosting and computer issues have necessitated this change. Content will be added over time, and we will soon be adding things to the "listen" and "store" sections of the site. You can time-travel back to access the old site by using The Wayback Machine.
Is Hannah working on new music? We get that question a lot. The answer is yes. We've recently moved all of Hannah's studio equipment to her new home. Over the past several years many songs have been written and there are many songs that pre-date the last album, too, so we believe that a new recording project will begin some time during 2012, though an actual release date is unknown. There are some new collaborations in the works as well, so please watch this spot for new updates. You can also read Hannah's blog, No Place on Earth, where she collects musical and non-musical inspirations and obsessions.
If you want to be the very first to find out about new music, please join our NEW MUSIC NOTIFICATION SERVICE, on the right side of this page.
Oh, and today we're celebrating Hannah's 1,010,318 plays and 55,748 listeners on Last.fm.
- Kansas Mayhem, 17 March 2012
We will soon be adding content to our store, but here is a quick run-down of how you can purchase Hannah's music in the meantime.
Soul Poison is available on CD and as a download. Purchase the CD from CD Baby, Amazon or directly from Mellowtraumatic Recordings. Purchase the downloads from iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon, etc.
Subterfuge is available on CD only, not as a download. You can purchase it at CD Baby, Amazon, or directly from Mellowtraumatic Recordings.
I Can't Let You In is available on CD only, not as a download, and is available only from Mellowtraumatic Recordings directly.
Meathook is no longer available at all.
To order from Mellowtraumatic Recordings, just e-mail hfury (AT) mellowtraumatic (DOT) com.
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While we have adapted the range of services to meet changing requirements, one thing that hasn't changed is our ability to deliver projects that exceed our clients requirements. Working in partnership with our clients is key to providing a tailored approach that helps to extend the life of equipment, improves productivity and create cost-effective solutions that drive ownership costs down.Click here to find out how PJD can help your business.
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The Rudolph DDM 2911 Plus / 2911 / 2910 / 2909 Density Meters have the features to meet all the present day industrial needs.Read more
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Rudolph manufactures various models of Polarimeters depending on accuracy, resolution, application, Temperature maintenance and budget. They vary from Autopol I to Autopol VIRead more
Rudolph's latest in the series of Polarimeter - Autpol VII comes with fully automated sample loading combined with versatile sample loading, cell cleaning, rinsing, and drying built-In quartz plates automatically performing 3 point validation etc. comes as a total package.Read more
KEM, Japan Brixmeter model BX-1 is an automatic, digital system with an LCD display. The range is continuous between 0 – 85%Brix. The resolution is 0.1%Brix. This system is equipped with temperature compensation and has an IP-65 protection. This means that the system can be washed under the tap directly for cleaning the previous sample.Read more
The KEM, Japan portable Densitymeter model DA-130N is a microprocessor controlled system with an LCD display. It operates out of the ASTM approved "oscillation of the U-tube" method. It displays Density, Temperature-compensated Density, Specific Gravity, Temperature-compensated Specific Gravity, Brix%, Alcohol Concentration, Sulfuric Acid Concentration, API degree, Baume degree, Plato degree, Proof degree etc.Read more
KEM, Japan portable Refractometer model RA130 is a light-weight, easy-to-use and a handy system. It is a microprocessor controlled instrument with an LCD display. The sample can either be dripped on the prism or the prism of the system can also be dipped into the sample beaker to measure RI. Since the system is IP-65 protected the system can be directly immersed into the sample beaker also.Read more
Shimadzu Texture Analyser is ideal and effective for testing Food (Texture Profile Analysis), Pharmaceutical Substances, Packaging materials, Medical Devices etc.. It can be fixed with a variety of jigs and fixtures. For the Food Industries many parameters including Hardness, Brittleness, Adhesiveness, Cohesiveness, Elasticity, Rubberness, Chewability etc. can be obtained from the user friendly software Trapezium X TextureRead more
Shimadzu Universal Testing Machine helps you to determine Tensile strength , Shear Test , Elongation Test for various materials which includes metals , plastics , rubber , wires etc .Read more
Kyowa Contact Angle Meter can perform Sessile Drop Method, Extension/Contraction method, Surface / Interfacial tension of liquids with Pendant drop method, Sliding Method & Dynamic Sliding Method. Model DMe-701 is the most automatic model and even stage movement and Droplet deposition are controlled through the PC. Right from the basest of models right upto Model DMe-701 are available depending on the application, capabilities, budget etc..Read more
Surface Tensiometers are widely used to check Surface Tension of Paints , Inks , Additives , Surfactant etc & same instrument is also used for the measurement of IFT - INTERFACIAL TENSION. The Interfacial Tension is mostly used in the study of quality of Transformer Oil.Read more
Mark-10 Corporation is a world-renowned manufacturer of Force and Torque measurement products. Their product profile includes Force gauges, Torque gauges, Test stands (manual), Test stands (motorised) and Force/Torque indicators.Read more
Each instrument has innumerable capabilities and features to address a variety of analytical problems. Read a few applications notes on specific instruments.
Portable Refractometer and Density Meter
Beautifully designed and economic portable instruments such as density meters,Read more
Ozu Corporation from Japan manufacture lint-free wipes of the highest quality for labs,Read more
Find out the surface tension or interfacial tension of your sample for free and evaluate our contact angle meter from Kyowa Interface Science, Japan.
Read more
Seeing is Believing
Email us your details and we shall conduct a demo of our system at your facility.


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Bubblegum Balloons are now running a reduced service with a limited offering.
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Bubblegum Balloons is run by 3 friends with a shared passion for creativity and beautiful things! We often get asked when we are setting up balloons at weddings, parties and events how did you end up in the balloon business? So we thought we would put the story out there for everyone to read. More >>
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text: Samsung CLP-Y660B High Yield Yellow Toner Cartridge (Approx 5,000 pages) 4,490.- Stock Status: 1-3 days SKU:#034085 Product No.:HP-CLP-Y660B Short link:http://i.nvade.it/8RL Description Specifications SAMSUNG Colour Laser print cartridge offers great print quality and reliable performance for an affordable, professional quality colour printing, it also has a new advanced toner, ease-of-use features and smart technology. This high-yield toner offers an effective solution for users with lower print volume requirements.automatic toner monitoring system- Notifies customers when the toner is low or out, giving them worry-free control over printing.easy toner change- SAMSUNG printer cartridges are easy to change by following 3 steps.Customers can change toner conveniently without special know how.1. Open the front cabinet.2. Change cartridges.3. Close cabinet.original quality- Original supplies enable consistent printing without reliability problems.SAMSUNG original supplies guarantee high quality pages without quality defects.security label- All SAMSUNG supplies carry a colour changing security label to prove they are original products.1. When the label is tilted, the colour changes from clear to cyan.2. The embossed characters change colour between red gold and blue when viewed from different angles.3. Verification of the embossed character is possible by feeling the texture.search for supplies & accessories FeaturesTypeOriginalPrinting coloursYellowBrand compatibilitySamsungPrint technologyLaser printingCompatibilityCLP-610ND, CLP-660N, CLP-660ND, CLX-6200FX, CLX-6200ND, CLX-6210FX, CLX-6240FXQuantity per pack1 pc(s)Colour toner page yield5000 pagesWeight & dimensionsPackage width403 mmPackage depth278 mmPackage height140 mmPackage weight1.71 kgOther featuresPage yield footnote5% @ A4


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Tossa is a particular stain of Jute the Corchorus olitorius. The 100% natural fibres are two or three shades darker than those used in the asanawa range. Made from pure jute, this rope is extremely supple in its raw state, tossa is also stronger and due to the extremely high quality manufacturing there is no need to put this jute rope through any conditioning. We've selected this delightful rope specifically because we wanted a prime choice for experienced riggers with high expectations.
Due to the darker shade this rope is exceptionally visually appealing on lighter skin tones, and it is immediately identifiable as a premium organic choice, one that provides the bottom an unmistakable experience through both smell and texture of natural jute rope.
Ideal for all three bondage disciplines, this twisted jute rope is constructed in the traditional 3 plait twist. Whether your identify with kinbaku, shibari or hojojutsu once this rope is part of your rigging arsenal you will be a true advocate for jute rope.
Warning: most natural fibre ropes are not rated against loading strength and we always advise against making any assumptions about the breaking point of natural fibre ropes. You should always avoid putting anyone at risk and regularly check your ropes for wear.
Customer Reviews
3 Item(s)
- beautiful rope Review by Michael
- This rope looks and feels great. Great quality jute for a great price. This rope is pro. (Posted on 5/9/12)
- Thanks Review by JJ
- Very appreciative of the extra effort you wen't to in getting me this rope. I'm exstatic with the product and whole heartedly endorse it to anyone who wants soem great jute. (Posted on 3/23/12)
- I lIke it! Review by Mahjong
I'm not sure where to start. Very impressed. This is nothing like any other rope I've tied with before. And I've paid a lot more. I'll be back for a lot more of this!
(Posted on 3/18/12)
3 Item(s)
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Additional Information
|3 Twisted
|6mm (1/4")


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HERCULES Series Black Ladder Back Metal Restaurant Barstool - Black Vinyl Seat
In Stock. Usually ships in 24 hours
was $155.00 $52.49
Detailshttp://www.seie511.cn/BFDH-6147BKLADBAR-TDR.html HERCULES Series Black Ladder Back Metal Restaurant Barstool - Black Vinyl Seat
Item # BFDH-6147BKLADBAR-TDR
More expected by 10/11/19
Free Shipping on 16+ of this item.
About Product
The metal barstool is a popular choice for furnishing restaurants, pool halls, lounges, bars and other high traffic establishments. This stool is easy to clean, which is an important aspect when it comes to a business. This stool was designed to withstand the daily rigors in the hospitality industry, but will also provide a chic look to your home. The thick, foam padded seat will keep users comfortable. The frame is stabilized using two welded support bars, which includes a footrest. The floor glides help protect your floors and ensure smooth gliding. The simple and lightweight design of this stool will not disappoint, whether used for residential or commercial grade use.
Product Features
- Metal Dining Bar Stool
- 500 lb. Weight Capacity
- Ladder Back Design
- Black Vinyl Upholstered Seat
- 2.5" Thick Foam Padded Seat
- CA117 Fire Retardant Foam
- Welded Joint Assembly
- Two Curved Support Bars
- Footrest
- 18 Gauge Steel Frame
- Black Powder Coated Frame Finish
- Floor Protector Plastic Glides
- Designed for Commercial Use; Suitable for Home Use
Product Specs
- Width 17"
- Depth 18"
- Height 42.25"
- Seat Width 16.75"
- Seat Depth 16.25"
- Seat Height 30"
- Seat Thickness 2.5"
- Back Width 15"
- Back Height From Seat 12"
- Weight Capacity 500 lbs
- Color Black
- Material Foam, Vinyl, Steel, Plywood
- Seat Material Vinyl
- Back Material Metal
- Frame Material Metal
- Finish Black Powder Coat
- Back Type Full
- Style Traditional
- Back Style Ladder
- Padding Yes
- Suitable For Commercial Use Yes
- ANSI / BIFMA Yes
- CAL 117 Certified Yes
- Assembly Required Yes
- Returnable Yes
- Brand Flash Furniture
- Manufacturer Part Number BFDH-6147BKLADBAR-TDR
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1. That week in 1975 she "disappeared" with Bob Marley.
2. Working at Viva, the women's erotic magazine published by Bob Guccione.
3. An explanation of the particular appeal of the following celebrities: Blake Lively, Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gisele Bündchen.
4. An explanation of jumping.
5. "She smiles now and has been seen to laugh." True or false?
6. In her nightmares, does she often find herself reliving the moment she became a sixteen-year-old girls' school drop-out, and broke her ambitious editor father's heart? When she has these nightmares, does she ever waken Shelby, whimpering, "Daddy, Daddy"?
7. Is it true that her spirit animal is an ostrich?
8. The immense satisfaction I imagine she feels knowing that ten years on, a mere glimpse of her Vogue corner office is enough to give Lauren Weisberger a cold sweat.
9. An explanation of the $64,300 gold-dipped fur coat.
10. Finish this sentence: "Anna Wintour has three free murders. She chooses Azzedine Alaïa, Azzedine Alaïa, and..."


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Bud Adams brought professional football to two different cities. The way of the world is that he'll largely be remembered for taking it away from Houston.
Just three days after the passing of Bum Phillips—who Adams hired, then fired as Oilers coach—the Titans owner has reportedly passed away from natural causes at the age of 90. Adams had been in failing health, so it's unlikely that the statement on Phillips's death attributed to him actually came from Adams.
Adams, along with Lamar Hunt, spearheaded the "foolish club"—eight wealthy men who were denied NFL franchise ownership, and started the rival AFL in 1960. By instituting pro football's first revenue sharing plans, the AFL became a legitimate competitor to the NFL, and forced a merger in 1966.
After a game of chicken with Houston over a publicly funded stadium, Adams actively shopped the Oilers around, and in 1995 reached an agreement with Nashville to move the team. He's never been quite forgiven in Houston, even though the Texans began play in 2002.
The notorious micromanager became something of an absentee owner in recent years thanks to health problems. Adams's death opens up a whole lot of uncertainty in Nashville. He was owner, chairman, president, and CEO, and neither of his two daughters are involved with running the team. There is no apparent succession plan in place, so the most likely scenario sees the Titans being put up for sale.


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An artist's conception of an accreting binary system. (Credit: NASA).
Bored and looking for something new to do in astronomy? Tired of hauling out that imaging rig you took out a 2nd mortgage for just to see how M31 looks in my 10-inch SCT tonight? Let me introduce you to the fun field of variable star observing, an exciting endeavor that you can actually contribute some real science to. But first, a little history; [Read more...]


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Vampire Skull Earrings French Wire are crafted from quality 316L surgical grade stainless steel. The perfect earrings for any style. The unique designs range from classic to contemporary to edgy and urban.
Subscribe and become part of the our community. Be the first to hear about our latest offers and discounts!


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New Mercedes-Benz Metris for Sale in Atlanta, GA
4 Matching Vehicles Found
MPG Disclaimer:
Based on model year EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.
All prices shown exclude taxes, tag, title, and Georgia Lemon Law fees. While every reasonable effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this data, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions contained on these pages. Please verify any information in question with the dealership. Options, pricing and availability subject to change. Call 770-390-0700 for details.


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65th annual Jenny Lind Competition going strong
Beyond Connecticut's borders, music-lovers may have only a slight familiarity with Jenny Lind, the 19th-century Swedish soprano who was among the most popular and successful singers of her time.
Kathy Maher, the Barnum Museum's executive director and curator, reiterated last week that P.T. Barnum, former Bridgeport mayor, philanthropist, circus entrepreneur and musical impresario, arranged for Lind to tour America in 1850.
"Remarkably, Barnum's 1850 tour of Jenny Lind was without question the first `American Idol.' More so than any other of Barnum's extraordinary enterprises, it was the Jenny Lind tour that established Barnum as a genius in marketing and advertising, and defined him as the `Great American Showman,' " Maher said.
This year, the "American Idol" will be remembered by the annual Barnum Festival, which pays annual tribute to the showman and his entourage, with a Jenny Lind competition for young sopranos -- attracting singers from around the country, on Saturday afternoon, May 18 -- which is free and open to the public.
A feature of the Barnum Festival since it began in 1949, the competition will take place beginning at about 1 p.m. in the Recital Hall of the Arnold Bernhard Arts & Humanities Center at the University of Bridgeport.
Competing will be 12 singers; in addition to the title, the winner will receive a $2,000 cash prize and a concert shared with her Swedish counterpart at the Bijou Theatre in Bridgeport on Thursday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m. Winner of the 2013 Jenny Lind Scholarship in Sweden is soprano Magdalena Risberg, who is in her last year at the University College of Opera in Stockholm.
Born in 1820, Lind became a protegee of Felix Mendelssohn. At Barnum's invitation, she came to America; under the Barnum banner, 93 large-scale concerts were presented, earning an astronomical amount of money for the time: hundreds of thousands of dollars, donating much of the proceeds to charities. With her new husband, Otto Goldschmidt, she returned to Europe in 1852 (settling in England, where she had three children), giving occasional concerts, and eventually becoming a professor of singing at the Royal College of Music in London.
"Everything about the Barnum Festival embraces the true spirit of P.T. Barnum. He loved art and music, and above all, he loved making people happy. It's an honor to serve as a Barnum Festival volunteer on such an important and historic program," Maher said. Also serving as chairs of the events are music educators Robert Genualdi and Dorothy Straub of Bridgeport's Black Rock section.
An American Jenny Lind will be chosen by a panel of musical professionals immediately following the event.
More InformationUniversity of Bridgeport's Bernhard Arts & Humanities Center, corner of University and Iranistan avenues, 1 to 4:30 p.m. Free. 203-367-8495; www.barnumfestival.com/
Singers are:
Kathryn Bowden, from Glastonbury, a graduate of the University of Connecticut and a member of the Chataqua Opera program during the summer of 2012. She is actively pursuing a career in opera.
Jamilyn Manning-White, born in Pocatella, Idaho, raised in Smithfield, Utah, and residing in New Haven. She has degrees from Utah State University and Arizona State University, and has an Artist's Diploma in voice from Yale University.
Jane Pappas, of Roxbury, studied voice at New York University, and at The Juilliard School in Manhattan and at La Sorbonne in Paris.
Emily Misch studied at Mannes College in New York City and at Yale University. She also studied and performed in Italy and France.
Vanessa Isiguen was born in Los Angeles, and is residing in New York City, where she is pursuing a career in opera. She has studied at the University of North Carolina, Boston University, at Mannes College and in Graz, Austria.
Kinneret Ely, who was born in New Haven and lives in New York, studied voice at Hunter College and at the Manhattan School of Music. She has studied abroad in Israel, Italy and France.
Chelsea Davidson was born in Oswego, N.Y., and is living in Cleveland, Tenn. She studied at Lee University in Tennessee and toured Japan with a chamber group in 2012.
Ashley Becker, born in Hanover, N.H., studied at McGill University in Canada. She resides in New York and sings professionally in the United States and Canada.
Ashley Bell was born in New York City and studied at Yale University and in Italy. She has performed in operas in Spain, and she has some future performances scheduled with the Long Island Opera Company.
Keely Borland was born in Merrysville, Pa., attended Middlebury College in Vermont and Lawrence University in Wisconsin. She was also a student at the University of Southern California and has studied and performed in Europe.
Elizabeth Fagan, born in Hartford and residing in New York, is a graduate of the University of Chicago, and has studied and performed extensively in Italy.
Erin Smith, born in Lansing, Mich., resides in Portsmouth, N.H. She graduated from Western Michigan University and has done graduate work at the University of Iowa. She also studied and performed in Graz, Austria.
email@example.com; http://www.twitter.com/PhyllisASBoros; www.ctpost.com/boros/
University of Bridgeport's Bernhard Arts & Humanities Center, University and Iranistan avenues, Bridgeport. Saturday, May 18, 1-4:30 p.m. Free. 203-367-8495; www.barnumfestival.com


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The cream always rises. Be it in a subpar superhero flick or thriller that was less than thrilling, here are more than a dozen actors who still shined in spite of the material.
1. George Clooney, Batman & Robin (1997)
Joel Schumacher's campy take on Batman had already derailed the characters in Batman Forever, with its gleefully overacting villains and garish neon colors. But Batman & Robin took the series to its nadir, amplifying Schumacher's grating direction with a pun-heavy script (by future Oscar winner Akiva Goldsman) and the epic miscasting of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Uma Thurman, and Alicia Silverstone. But casting George Clooney to take over the cowl from Val Kilmer made one unexpected improvement. Clooney injected much-needed levity into the role, some of the same high-rolling panache that worked in Ocean's Eleven and Out Of Sight. That's probably because playing an exorbitantly wealthy playboy with charisma to spare and a chiseled jaw came naturally to him. The problem is that nobody goes to see a Batman film to see a great Bruce Wayne, and they certainly don't go to see Batman in an oversized codpiece flashing credit cards at a charity auction.
2. Christoph Waltz, Water For Elephants (2011)
An innocuous Robert Pattinson vehicle co-starring a tepid Reese Witherspoon, Water For Elephants puts Christoph Waltz at the mercy of an unremarkable director (a pre-Hunger Games Francis Lawrence), an uncharismatic pair of co-stars, and a melodramatic script. But as August, a sadistic circus owner and Witherspoon's abusive husband, Waltz almost saves the movie with the magnetism and vigor that Pattinson lacks. Whether he's committing acts of animal cruelty, threatening to beat Pattinson, or trying to strangle yet another blonde—which he has done in at least four roles—Waltz commits ferociously. The performance stands out even more given the anemic onscreen presence of Waltz's co-stars, whose greatest success is making the character who coldly stabs innocent elephants into the best part of the movie.
3. Mandy Patinkin, Run Ronnie Run (2003)
In the process of translating Run Ronnie Run from page to screen, the stream-of-consciousness anarchy and singular weirdness of the sketch-comedy series that birthed the movie, Mr. Show, was diluted into something resembling a bluer Joe Dirt. There are moments in the film that resemble the old, absurdist Mr. Show magic, however, none more satisfying than the brief sequence featuring Mandy Patinkin as the star of a Broadway musical devoted to Run Ronnie Run's redneck-with-a-heart-of-gold protagonist, Ronnie Dobbs (David Cross). Like many of Mr. Show's finest sketches, the scene is deeply invested in sending up showbiz phoniness, but Patinkin's performance pushes the proceedings beyond hysterical non sequitur. As the rest of Run Ronnie Run collapses around him, Patinkin digs in his heels and puts his Tony-winning pipes to the service of earnestly crooning Ronnie's catchphrase ("Y'all are brutalizin' me!"), then counters Bob Odenkirk's signature histrionics with deadpanned thespian pretension. When the actor returns to his mark, totally nude save for a few choice props, there's a hint of what Run Ronnie Run could've been, had Cross and Odenkirk been able to protect their film from being brutalized by an uncaring movie industry.
4. Charlize Theron, The Devil's Advocate (1997)
Featuring an especially robotic performance from Keanu Reeves and maybe the hammiest work of Al Pacino's career—which is really saying something—Taylor Hackford's ludicrous, good-versus-evil morality tale, The Devil's Advocate, is rarely cited as a showcase for fine acting. (It's rarely cited positively at all.) But the film boasts one truly remarkable turn, by a young actress making the most of a thankless role. Charlize Theron, who at that point had only appeared in a couple of other movies, co-stars as the new wife of Reeves' hotshot Southern lawyer, who's been poached by Pacino's wickedly suave (or suavely wicked?) NYC attorney. Left to her own devices in big, scary Manhattan, a neglected Theron begins to succumb to demonic visions. As her character spirals into madness and desperation, the actress conjures a tempest of raw emotion completely out of sync with the otherwise tongue-in-cheek nature of the proceedings. Whenever she's onscreen, the movie operates like a lost Roman Polanski film, as though Hackford had inserted a solid Rosemary's Baby remake into the margins of his supernatural Scent Of A Woman parody. It was the first proof that Theron was more than a pretty face—though she'd have to obscure those good looks, via her Oscar-winning performance in 2003's Monster, before Hollywood would really notice.
5. Laura Linney, The Life Of David Gale (2003)
Alan Parker's epic capital-punishment drama is overlong, overwrought, and self-important in all the worst ways. Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslet muddle through accents neither can master, and the film's twist ending is a little too pleased with itself for such a supposedly serious piece of cinema. But Laura Linney, who plays the murder victim that landed David Gale (Spacey) in jail, is tremendous. As her story plays out via flashbacks, she eschews the scenery chewing that characterizes the other actors, and her motivations are the only ones that make sense. It's still a ridiculous, nearly unwatchable film that can't decide whether it's a gripping potboiler or a serious treatise on the death penalty, but without Linney, it would be even more preposterous.
6. Billy Burke, the Twilight films (2008-2012)
The tension at the heart of the Twilight films should make for fascinating cinema: It's part low-key, naturalistic relationship drama (with surprisingly good taste in music), and part Epic Supernatural Metaphorical Teen Romance For The Ages. Unfortunately, the films consistently flip the two, depicting universal true love as a pair of insipid teens stammering out their lines on one hand, and on the other, acting like irrelevant global vampire politics are a necessary to the story. The only actor who emerges relatively unharmed from this toxic cocktail of aesthetic dissonance is Billy Burke, playing Bella's father, Charlie Swan. Behind a mustache conveying traditional masculinity, Burke conveys a universal feeling of a father unprepared to deal with his teenage daughter's whims, secrets, and crushes, yet supportive and loving as best as he can be. He's good enough that even the Rifftrax guys show him some respect during their marvelous Twilight takedown.
7. George Carlin, Jersey Girl (2004)
Jersey Girl gained notoriety during pre-production due to Kevin Smith's casting of real life couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, but when that relationship and their film Gigli flamed out, the film became more about off-screen tumult than on-screen chemistry. Smith cut parts of the film's first act to avoid the toxic Affleck–Lopez association (and because they lacked chemistry), but distancing itself from the affairs of the film's stars did little to benefit Jersey Girl as a whole. Suffering from trite construction and overt sentimentality, the film and its cast get stuck in rom-com archetypes. Child actor Raquel Castro holds her own in her film debut, but it's George Carlin's performance as Castro's grandfather, Bart Trinké, that shines brightest. Where Affleck over-reaches, treating each scene as the film's heartwarming apex, Carlin's subtlety and nuance keeps the film from devolving into a soap opera. When Affleck and Castro engage in an almost-believable shouting match, Carlin anchors the moment, helping the scene, and film, to occasionally land on its feet.
8. Dwayne Johnson, Be Cool (2005)
Reuniting John Travolta and Uma Thurman didn't recreate their Pulp Fiction chemistry in the sequel to Get Shorty nobody was asking for, but Be Cool did show off one star on the rise. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was just leaving his professional wrestling career behind—for the first time—with roles in The Mummy Returns, The Scorpion King, and the remake of Walking Tall. But as a gay Samoan bodyguard looking to break into show business, he subverted tough-guy expectations, and his comedic chops showed off his range. He may be trapped in the Fast & Furious loop now—and The Tooth Fairy is his The Pacifier—but his Bring It On monologue still shows that the wrestler had too much charisma for the ring to contain.
9. Richard Ayoade, The Watch (2012)
Even without the release date in such proximity to the death of Trayvon Martin, The Watch would have probably bombed due to its sheer mediocrity. Although co-written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (who also did Superbad) and starring Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, and Jonah Hill, the movie barely gets any laughs from its star players, Vaughn in particular. Combine that with a ho-hum alien-invasion plot, and the movie devolves into a snooze-fest by the 10-minute mark. The movie's only saving grace is a show-stealing performance from Richard Ayoade (best known as Maurice Moss from The IT Crowd), who plays—spoiler alert!—an alien who has more interest in getting his balls sucked than world domination. Thanks to his one-liners and facial expressions, Ayoade turns a secondary character into the funniest, and most compelling, part of The Watch.
10. William Shatner, Showtime (2002)
A laughless, snooze-inducing comedy about a real detective and a wannabe detective recruited to star in a Cops-like reality show, Showtime is one of the worst movies in the careers of both its stars, Robert De Niro (beginning his Analyze This/Meet The Parents comedy period) and Eddie Murphy (well into his ongoing "crappy movie" period). The movie only comes alive when the producers of the reality show bring in William Shatner (playing himself) to teach Murphy and De Niro how to be a "TV Cop." Shatner plays up his hammy image, giving expert advice about all the hood rolls he did in the '80s as T.J. Hooker. When Shatner, the ultimate over-actor, shares the screen with De Niro, the consummate under-actor, it's the only time the latter shows interest in his role.
11. Tim Roth, Planet Of The Apes (2001)
The only aspect of Tim Burton's decidedly loose remake of Planet Of The Apes to receive universal praise was Rick Baker's prosthetic makeup design, a glorious example of practical effects on the cusp of the motion-capture and CGI era. Of all the actors buried under primate makeup—Paul Giamatti, Helena Bonham Carter, even Charlton Heston—Tim Roth made the biggest impression as the unhinged General Thade. Roth had turned down the role of Professor Snape in the Harry Potter films, which may retroactively explain the seething anger in his performance. For the role, Roth researched chimpanzee emotional swings, discovering how quickly they shift from docile to extremely violent, then back to harmless, which informed his performance as the power-hungry general.
12. Al Pacino, Jack And Jill (2011)
Like Shatner in Showtime, Al Pacino makes fun of his hammier instincts while playing himself in this universally hated Adam Sandler movie. In a post-Scent Of A Woman world where Pacino has free rein to chew all the scenery he wants, he underplays here, as Jack (Sandler) courts Pacino to do a Dunkin' Donuts commercial. For some reason, Pacino is enchanted with Jill (Sandler again), and will only make the commercial if Jack arranges a date with her. The result is the cringe-inducing "Dunkaccino" ad, where a chagrined Pacino dances around a DD while rapping about how "Dunkaccino" and "Al Pacino" sound alike. The kicker is Pacino looking at the finished ad in horror and telling Jack that "this must never be seen… by anyone"—just like Jack And Jill.
13. Tim Curry, McHale's Navy (1997)
For a brief moment in the mid-'90s, Tom Arnold rose to leading-man status, after successful supporting roles in True Lies and Nine Months. Back-to-back disasters The Stupids and McHale's Navy took care of that. Bruce Campbell's autobiography If Chins Could Kill recounts the hellish experience of propping up Arnold's film ("McHale's Navy forced the sailors of Tom Arnold's crew to become method actors—each day, we had to concoct dialogue for ourselves,"), but Tim Curry managed to escape the film relatively unscathed. As Major Vladikov—a beefed-up inversion to his supporting role in The Hunt For Red October—Curry plays the "second-best terrorist in the world," plagued by anger-management issues and an inferiority complex. His conversations with a therapist—whose family he holds hostage to avoid desertion—prove the funniest in a film designed to wring every last drop out of the "film adaptation of a beloved sitcom" trend.


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So I'm back, I sneaked back in through the back door and some of you found me, thank you.
Too much has happened to fill you in and I know some of you were hearing my news from mum but I will say that I really needed that break from blogging and I won't be back blogging manically like before but will post as and when I feel like it and when I've something decent to post about...like how I nearly died of hypothermia. Now that got you interested.
It's August and where I was brought up that means summer, long, hot days, playing on the beach, swimming in the sea, ice cream, strawberries,
sunburn and barbecues. Wrong, now it means rain and summer flooding and not even snow in the winter. Last week I was playing in an open tennis tournament, one I have played in several times, my memories are of sun cream, sun glasses and drinking lots of water. Last week I was lucky if I came off court dry but despite the rain we succeeded in getting to a final. I awoke on finals day to the sound of sleeting rain and groaned. The forecast was for rain all weekend so I dragged myself off with my wet weather gear and plenty of warm clothes for after. Yes, it's official, the Irish are mad and play in the lashing rain. We were sent out on court, with apologies from the referee but there was no sign of a let up all weekend and what could they do? Before the game started I was soaked and had to remove my non waterproof waterproof leggings and coat. By game six I was sloshing around in pools of water and soaked through to my knickers (not a comfortable feeling), by the end of the set (which we won) I was shivering and shaking and could only focus on how cold I was. I don't know how but my body continued to hit the ball, it seemed to know what to do, all I could think about was how cold I was. A few games later when all I could say was 'I'm so cold' over and over my partner asked me to concede as she was worried about me. I ran for the shower. After a long shower and some hot food I felt human again but it really took me about 24 hours for my body temperature to get back to normal. It was a horrible experience and I will not be playing tennis in those conditions ever again.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Hypothermia Hell
So I'm back, I sneaked back in through the back door and some of you found me, thank you.
29 comments:
- ChrisB said...
I'm so glad you have returned to the fold even if it is only occasionally. I know you are feeling better now and I hope this experience will have no lasting effect.
- 11:04 p.m.
- Barbara said...
Nice to see you back Beccy. I think we all post like crazy when we first begin. Eventually we realise we need to do other things. I post far less now than when I first started blogging.
- 11:16 p.m.
Oh I hate the wet knickers feeling. It's just not right! But yay for winning!
- 11:48 p.m.
- Beckie said...
Your tennis experience in the rain sounds absolutely horrid. Your body must have been more or less on autopilot. But....did you win after all of the misery?
- 11:50 p.m.
- willowtree said...
This would have made a good plurk!
- 12:55 a.m.
- Steffi said...
I´m glad and happy that you are back at the blog world!Sometimes everyone need a blog break.
Your tennis experience in the rain sounds terrible.But your won!
Enjoy the last two weeks of the August!
- 6:52 a.m.
oh my how horrid having to play in the rain. I used to be blogging non stop, but like Barbara says we all slow down after a while.
It is good to hear from you and glad you are ok x
- 8:30 a.m.
- Dea said...
Welcome back Beccy.
What an awful experience. Must have been scary!
- 11:55 a.m.
- JoeinVegas said...
Oh my goodness - I thought the Irish were a bit daft (or is that the British?), but then you can't wait for the sun like we can.
- 3:10 p.m.
- Unknown said...
Avoid wet knickers, don't wear any! Should make for interesting tennis!
- 7:16 p.m.
- sallywrites said...
Hi Becky!!
Welcome back!!
Glad you survived!
- 8:51 p.m.
- Beccy said...
Thanks Barbara, I've noticed by blogroll is showing fewer posts than it used to. I'd get overwelmed.
Cheers Nikki.
Beckie we conceded the match to our opponents which mean they won (even though we had won the first set)
WT, too long and complicated to plurk.
Thanks Steffi, unfortunately we lost because we conceded the match but I stil got a nice runner's up prize
Thanks Little Wanderer.
Joe, I'm English and definitely think the Irish are mad playing in the rain!
Thanks Sally.
- 11:37 p.m.
- Mal Kiely [Lancelots Pram] said...
Playing in the rain? Us crazy sailors go out in all sorts of atrocious weather, so i appreciate the madness to your playing :) :)
Mal (aka Maljam)
- 12:03 a.m.
So glad to have you back...even if it's not on a regular basis.
Sorry about your hypothermia experience. My daughter came close to that one time at a tournament in Tulsa. Not a good thing at all.
I hope you have completely recovered.
- 3:44 a.m.
- ~ej said...
welcome back...blogging is supposed to be fun, and i'm with keeping it that way.
and omg @ the rainy tennis matches...thank goodness you were okay!
- 11:56 p.m.
- Unknown said...
Wow, you must LOVE tennis! ;)
- 6:07 a.m.
- Frannie said...
that does not sound fun at all.
for the love of the game....
- 10:17 p.m.
- Pamela said...
gee beccy... I wish I could have sent you a "hot flash!"
Make sure to take vitamin C and all that stuff so you won't catch a cold. (or is getting cold from being cold and wet just an old wives tale?)
- 7:06 a.m.
A few years back I went on a cycling trip with my husband and a friend in the mountains. It was 3 days about 80km per day. It was the long weekend in August (first Monday), and it was cold. The first day it rained and hailed and there was sleet. We could feel the little hail balls come through the holes in the helmets. I was in the lead and at one point stopped suddenly and jumped off my bike and was jumping up and down. I couldn't feel my feet, they were so cold. I so feel your chill. This evening was cold and we were outside for a fire pit and hadn't got to the fire yet. Like Pamela, I was commenting it would be a good time for a hot flash, if only I was getting them.
- 11:52 a.m.
Oh my goodness, you posted!
Your experience doesn't sound fun. I hate being cold! Glad you came around with no lasting effects.
- 1:37 a.m.
- Emma in Canada said...
I got the shivers just reading this.
- 5:45 p.m.
- Alison said...
it is wonderful to "see" you back!!
that sounds miserable, I am glad you finally warmed up!! I think if the Irish waited for the rain to let up, they would be waiting forever!!
- 3:33 p.m.
- my4kids said...
I'm glad to see you blogging again! I have been posting far less then I used to just to busy to do it and getting to hate my computer sometimes!
Sorry about the cold and wet!
- 7:08 a.m.
- my4kids said...
I left you an award on my blog.
- 8:35 a.m.
- Sam said...
at least you lived to tell the tale!
- 10:23 p.m.
- sallywrites said...
Hi Beccy....
Do come back again soon......
- 6:13 p.m.
- Debbie said...
Brr.rrrr. That sounds terrible and I feel cold just thinking about it. Glad you had a good partner who was looking out for you.
- 2:09 p.m.
- Alison said...
happy birthday to you
happy birthday to you
happy birthday dear Beccyyyyy
happy birthday to you!!
- 6:19 a.m.
I heard it was your birthday so came right over. Happy Birthday. I hope you are enjoying this other break from blogging also. Hope to see you back again soon.
- 2:34 a.m.


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Lyanne's Coming....
Sunday, December 28, 2008
No signs of labour so far.. it's oredi 28 Dec today. A day past my due date.
Baby's rather big, 8 pounds or 3.6kg as on monday. Doc's rather worried about the size. Lydia was only 6.5lbs, or 2.93kg at birth.
So, he won't let me past my due date for long, scared baby will get too big for me.
Tomorrow, Monday, 29th... will be pain day. The day when I will be induced.
I remember being induced when I had Lydia, the pain was.....urrghhh!!!! Well, my waters broke.
Utterly breathless!
I didn't have time to breathe, having severe contractions with just seconds in between to breathe, and I was only 4cm dilated.
I can't stand it anymore! Epidural please!!!!!
Hubby's oredi said, epidural again this time. It's difficult for him to see me having so much pain..
I still have to wait and see... who knows I might have natural contractions tonight, w/o waters breaking. Then I might build up my own pain resistance and refuse the epidural.
I don't know, I just don't know, and I'm anxious.
I'll be going thru traditional chinese confinement, where I will be lavishly fed with all sorts of goodies, chicken essence daily, lots of ginger and herbal concoctions. If one is not careful, one may end up like a fattened goose at the end of the period. Anyone that may be interested in what I had during my confinement, can get a copy of my menu. Just tell me.
I will not endure unhygienic confinement practices like not bathing(I bathe with maternity herbal bath infusion) or not touching water(I've heard that some are not even allowed to wash hands, imagine after going to the loo!!!), altho I will endure not washing my hair, at least the first 12 days). Well,my baby won't be playing with my hair, so to give the old folks the peace of mind, I'd endure this.
I just wonder, how can one take practices that were used in cold China and apply them in hot & humid Malaysia?? Even chinese herbs has to be refrigerated here, if not, they'll go mouldy. I guess I might turn mouldy too if I don't bathe for a month. YUCKS!
We're going to name our baby, Lyanne ... pronounced as lee-ann
Lyanne Chua May Thung
May Thung 美彤 means beautiful red.
Lyanne... mommy, papa and jie jie(Lydia) are waiting for u.... please be quick..


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A new season calls for a new shade of lipstick. As the season change, you don't have to completely overhaul your makeup bag, so should change a few essential items. A new season calls for a new shade of lipstick. For those MAC big fan, you need to take a look at these MAC lipstick colors below and next page, we've picked the best MAC lipsticks based on the skin tones they work best for.
MAC Lipstick in shade : Kinda Sexy, Naturally Transformed, Mmmmmm
We are proud to present these fabulous work of artists around the world. Check out these fabulous ideas. You'll nail your look with one of these ideas. See more works of artists that we featured on our instagram page. | Featured artist : hulyalimakyaj


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Group 1: Rocket + Knee-Cross Crunch
Blame it on low riders and skimpy tops, but lately women everywhere seem to be lamenting the roll of jiggle that bulges over the waistline or bra strap. The solution to belly and back fat? This combo routine from Ellen Barrett, creator of the Pick Your Level: Weight Loss Pilates DVD (that's her below), which pairs high-energy plyometric exercises with core-toning Pilates moves. "You'll sculpt your entire midsection from every angle while burning fat," she says. Do it two or three times a week and your whole torso will be leaner in just 30 days.
How It Works: Do each plyometric/Pilates combo in the order given, taking 10 seconds to rest between each series. If time allows, repeat the sequence twice.
Fat Blaster: Rocket
Stand with feet together, knees slightly bent and abs engaged with arms at your sides. Jump up as high as you can, using your arms for momentum, and land softly with knees slightly bent. Do 10 reps, pausing briefly between each one.
Core Toner: Knee-Cross Crunch
Stand with feet together. Raise left arm overhead and place right hand on hip (not shown). Keeping your torso upright, exhale and touch right knee and left elbow together across the body. Inhale and return to start. Repeat 10 times. Switch sides.
Group 2: Plyo Shuffle + Wrap Twist
Fat Blaster: Plyo Shuffle
Stand with feet hip-distance apart, knees bent and arms at sides with elbows bent. Step out to right with right foot, straightening right leg. Keep left foot planted and lean forward slightly. Hop to right, landing on right foot; hop to left, landing on left foot. Continue, alternating sides for a total of 20 times.
Core Toner: Wrap Twist
Stand with feet wide apart, toes turned out to corners. Extend arms by sides, palms forward. Standing as tall as possible, exhale and twist torso to the left without moving hips. Place right hand on left side of waist. Inhale and hold. On next exhalation, repeat in opposite direction. Continue alternating sides, 20 times total.
Group 3: Lateral Jump + Side Imprint
Fat Blaster: Lateral Jump
Stand with feet together, abs engaged and arms bent by sides. Bend your knees and lean forward slightly from the waist. Jump to the right, landing with knees slightly bent. Pause, then jump to the left. Repeat 20 times total.
Core Toner: Side Imprint
Stand tall with heels together and toes turned out slightly. Extend left arm overhead and place right hand on your waist (not shown). Keeping torso upright, exhale and lower left elbow to the side while raising left knee. Repeat 10 times. Switch sides.
Group 4: Single-Leg Plyometric + Trunk Spiral
Fat Blaster: Single-Leg Plyometric
Stand with knees bent, torso tilted forward and elbows tucked into sides, abs engaged. Lifting right foot so you're balancing on left leg, tighten abs and jump up as high as you can, landing on left foot with knee slightly bent. (If you need help balancing, hold on to a wall for support.) Repeat 10 times. Switch sides.
Core Toner: Trunk Spiral
Stand with heels together and toes turned out slightly. Extend both arms overhead and bring palms together. Keep legs straight and squeeze your glutes. Exhale, scooping your belly as if zipping a pair of pants, and rotate your upper body clockwise in a circle about the size of a hubcap. Inhale and hold at the top. Repeat 10 times clockwise. Change directions and repeat.
Group 5: Jump Squat + Vertical Cat
Fat Blaster: Jump Squat
Stand with arms by sides, feet together and abs engaged. Bend your knees slightly and lean your torso forward. Jump your feet wide into a low squat, planting them, as you land, with toes turned out slightly and hands on thighs. Jump feet back in and stand up, landing with knees soft. Repeat the move 10 times.
Core Toner: Vertical Cat
Stand with feet wide apart, toes pointed out slightly. Extend arms to the sides at shoulder height, palms forward and fingertips touching. Scoop your belly, pushing arms forward and tucking your tailbone under, forming a rounded spine. Inhale and release to start. Repeat 10 times.
Group 6: Jump Lunge + Standing Saw
Fat Blaster: Jump Lunge
Lunge forward with your left leg, keeping your torso upright and abs engaged. Jump up, switching legs mid-air and landing with right leg forward and left leg back, knees bent. Try not to let your front knee go past your toes. Repeat 20 times total, alternating lead legs each time.
Core Toner: Standing Saw
Stand with feet wide apart, toes turned out slightly. Extend arms to the sides at shoulder height, palms forward (not shown). Twist your torso to the left and touch right hand to left toes, bringing left arm behind you. (If necessary, bend your knees slightly.) Return to center and repeat on opposite side. Do 20 reps total.
Workout Safety Tips
Plyometrics are a great way to burn calories, build muscle, and even improve bone density, but they are high-impact moves, which can be trouble on fragile joints. Protect yourself by keeping the following pointers in mind:
- Always land with your knees slightly bent, and try to "stick the landing" (hold the position) when you come down.
- Mind your middle. To help increase your power and maintain your balance, remember to tighten your core as you jump.
- Wear the right shoes. Shock-absorbing footwear like running shoes can help your body handle the impact of the jumps.
Originally published in FITNESS magazine, March 2007.


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dealerships found
Page 1 of 1
If you are looking for a franchised dealership in Benton, Tyne And Wear then please see our latest listings in the table above. The Benton map located at the top of this page illustrates the Benton dealer locations.
Across the UK there are numerous changes to dealership records each month and we try hard to maintain accurate Benton dealer records. Should you notice any incorrect Benton dealer information on Askaprice.com, please contact us.
If you are looking for dealerships in other towns around Benton, Tyne And Wear then please return to our Tyne And Wear dealer page and select the relevant town or view all Tyne And Wear dealerships.


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868 images
David is a world & humanitarian assignment photographer and the best-selling author of "Within the Frame." Based in Vancouver, Canada, he leads a semi-nomadic life chasing compelling images on all seven continents. He creates powerful images that convey the hope and dignity of children, the vulnerable and the oppressed. He strives to capture the beauty of the natural world, hoping to contribute to the effort to save it.


text: The Highwomen—Brandi Carlile, Amanda Shires, Maren Morris and Natalie Hemby—reached No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart with the release of their self-titled debut album. The new album, which also reached No. 10 on the Billboard all-genre Top 200 chart, moved 34,000 equivalent units, according to Nielsen Music. The Highwomen were joined by…… MORE


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Using the n-word or any other racial slur is unacceptable, whether it's on the football field or around the office water cooler. But if the NFL really wants to establish a zero-tolerance policy on racial expletives, as its rules committee is considering, the league's highest ranks need to clean up their act first.
Start with the Redskins.
The team nickname for Washington's franchise - in the nation's capital, no less - is a total embarrassment. It should have been dumped decades ago.
But during a Super Bowl interview, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell continued to back Washington owner Daniel Snyder's refusal to change the mascot. Even after being asked 'if he would call a (Native American) a Redskin to his face.' (He sidestepped the question and defended Snyder's right to retain the name.)
Stanford University changed its nickname from the Indians to the Cardinal in 1972. St. John's University two years later became the Red Storm instead of the Redmen. More than a dozen colleges have joined them.
But not the NFL.
Mercury News columnist Mark Purdy has expressed his outrage often and eloquently. Last fall he wrote: 'How pathetic that, in the year 2013, we're still even having this debate about whether a mascot based on a racial slur is, you know, a mascot based on a racial slur.'
USA Today columnist Christine Brennan, who once covered the team for the Washington Post, offers this question for Goodell: 'Could an expansion team enter any league in any sport today with the nickname Redskins?' It's simply unimaginable, for all the right reasons.
Defenders argue that a high percentage of Native Americans say they are not offended by the name. That doesn't make it right. After all, use of the n-word during NFL games is mostly by black players. Apparently they think it's OK. If so, why should the league object?
But many African-Americans do find the word offensive. And many Native Americans are appalled at 'Redskins.'
Snyder last fall wrote to the team's fan base that the name 'was, and continues to be, a badge of honor.' Some team officials claim it was intended to honor Lone Star Dietz, a Sioux, who was the coach when the team moved to Washington in 1932.
That is, pardon the expression, bull. The nickname was the brainchild of former owner George Preston Marshall, one of the most notorious bigots in NFL history.
Marshall's team was the last in the NFL to add nonwhite players, and he was proud of it. He refused to sign black players until, in 1961, he relented under pressure and drafted Ernie Davis, the first African-American Heisman Trophy winner. Davis reportedly refused to play for Marshall, so Marshall traded him.
Those who know Snyder say he's not a racist. But as long as the NFL lets him call his team the Redskins, its self-righteous zeal for fighting racism in words exchanged by players on the field is a sham.


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A woman in a video posted to the Internet showing her cleaning up the manure for a Fort Lauderdale Police officer's horse said she volunteered to do it.
In the video, the woman is shown scooping up the manure into a plastic bag on the sidewalk on Fort Lauderdale Beach Boulevard as three officers sit atop their horses nearby, in the video posted to YouTube by the Broward New Times Thursday.
"I was like, 'Oh my God,' that cop is going to let this horse s---t everywhere. So, I was upset about it. So, I stormed across the street and I was like, 'Officer, what are you going to do with all this horse poop?' 'He was like, well, I was going to scoop it up and I was like, let me do it for you,'" said Shannon Marie.
The video (below) shows the woman, wearing a tank top, jean shorts and flip-flops, cleaning the poop as passersby stare and a man standing next to the horses films the woman.
At one point, the officer appears to be directing the woman, pointing at the pile as she is bent over cleaning.
But Fort Lauderdale Police said Friday that the woman volunteered to clean the manure for the officer. They said the woman was talking to the officer when the horse did its business and the woman, who said she used to have horses of her own, said she didn't mind cleaning up the mess. And a restaurant employee, who wants to remain anonymous, vouches for that.
The employee said the woman was sitting at the bar having some drinks, and she volunteered to go over and clean it up.
"Why would you do that? Cause poop doesn't bother me to be honest. I'm a nurse and it just doesn't bother me and I live horses," she said.
Benjamin Prows the man who shot the video said the officer never forced her to clean it up.
According to the Fort Lauderdale Police website, their mounted unit was formed in 1983.


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Cook & Dine
cook & dine experienceBe 'Chefs for a Morning' in the award winning L'Ortolan kitchen working alongside the Michelin Starred kitchen team. Learn new cooking skills and be inspired by our team of Michelin trained chefs as you discover the different sections in the kitchen working with some of the best seasonal produce available.
Then sip a glass of chilled Champagne and enjoy the fruits of your labour with a 7 course tasting lunch on the Chef's Table followed by coffee and homemade petit fours. You'll be in the heart of the action with a front row view of the Pass to watch dishes being plated and finished to perfection before Chef calls 'service'!
The 'Cook and Dine' Experience is £320 for two people and includes:
- Arrival at 9.30 am for coffee/tea
- L'Ortolan branded apron each
- Morning in the Michelin starred kitchen assisting with the preparation of dishes for lunch service
- Champagne and canapés
- Seven course tasting lunch on Chef's Table
- Coffee & hand made petit fours
Flight of paired wines with lunch - £60 per person
Buy as a gift
'Cook and Dine' Experience is available Tuesday to Saturday, 50% deposit required on booking.
To make a booking please call 0118 988 8500 or email email@example.com


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This is what greeted me when I arrived at the Sheraton down the street from PAX to meet with Klei Entertainment CEO Jamie Cheng regarding the company's latest game, Shank.
So what do spooky dolls and an even spookier CEO have to do with a cartoonish beat-em up that could wind up being my game of the show (more on that later)? In order to understand, you have to see the invite that eventually led us to this fateful meeting.
This is how Klei Entertainment lured unwary journalists to PAX 09. The originally sent a copy of this letter to Crecente, but it seemed to have gotten lost somewhere in the shuffle, so they sent one to me.
The important thing to note here is the stratefically placed business card. Flipping it up reveals...
So, putting two and two together, along with the fact that Crecente is out of town this weekend, and we have...OMG! Klei Entertainment is run by a guy who likes dolls who kidnapped Crecente and cut off his glorious hair!
At least that's my conclusion. Yours may vary. Either way its lovely PR, even if they might have killed my boss.


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From his home and studio in Oak Park, Illinois, artist Chris Ware shares motivations and challenges for telling stories from the perspectives of others in his work. "I distinctly remember being told by my teachers, if you draw women, you're colonizing them with your eyes," Ware recalls of art school. "Do you not draw women and then maintain an allegiance to some sort of experience that only you have had? Or do you try to expand your understanding and your empathy for other human beings?"
Though it might be uncomfortable, Ware strives to write from a place of empathy, expanding his stories to feature characters whose experiences differ from his own. Among these characters is African-American school teacher Joanne Cole, who appears in Ware's continuing comic series Rusty Brown. "I have to try to somehow push my limits and my understanding of how I feel through other people in what I'm doing," says the artist. "You risk falling on your face doing so, but that's a risk you have to take."


text:
I first came to Sun over 4 years ago for an internship in the Solaris
kernel group. I was excited to work with such a highly regarded group
of talented engineers, and my experience that summer was no
disappointment: I learned a lot and had a blast.
After college, I joined Sun's Fishworks team. Despite my previous
experience at Sun, I didn't really know what to expect here, and I
certainly didn't imagine then where I'd be now and how much I'd value
the experiences of the last three years. In that short time, I've
worked with many bright people with diverse backgrounds, I've learned so
much about so many topics (both technical and otherwise), and I've
continued having fun contributing to a great product.
Now I've decided to try something different, this time outside
Sun/Oracle. My last day here is 9/24. While I'm
excited about the future, I'll miss both the people and the work here.
I wish you all the best of luck, and thanks for everything!
Update: This blog has moved to dtrace.org, where comments are open for this entry.