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Bucks Cool Off Heat
Spoil Dwyane Wade's Return after suspension
Brandon Jennings scored 25 points and Mike Dunleavy had 13 of his 18 in the fourth quarter as the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Miami Heat 104-85 on Saturday night to spoil Dwyane Wade's return.
Wade was back after serving a one-game suspension for flailing his leg and making contact with guard Ramon Sessions' groin during the Heat's 105-92 victory over Charlotte on Wednesday. Wade sat out Miami's 109-99 loss to Detroit on Friday night, which snapped the Heat's six-game winning streak.
Wade had 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting, four assists, six rebounds and three turnovers. LeBron James added 25 points as Miami failed to reach 100 points for just the third time in 28 games.
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute scored 19 points for the Bucks, and Larry Sanders had 16 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. Monta Ellis added 14 points for Milwaukee as it avenged a 113-106 overtime loss to the Heat in Miami on Nov. 21.
Dunleavy also had nine rebounds, six assists and three steals in the fourth as the Bucks outscored Miami 35-14.
After Jennings hit a 3-pointer, Miami called a timeout and removed Wade, James and Chris Bosh with Milwaukee ahead 100-79 with 3:13 to play.
The Bucks improved to 16-12, their best 28-game start since opening the 2005-06 season 17-11. Miami (20-8) fell to 6-6 on the road.
Bosh had 12 points and 16 rebounds for the Heat, who came in averaging 103.4 points a game while the Bucks were at 95.6.
It got chippy late in the game with Milwaukee pulling away.
After Wade turned the ball over, Jennings picked it up and raced down the court. Mario Chalmers, trailing the play, caught up with Jennings and then slowed him down by wrapping his right arm around Jennings' neck. As momentum carried Chalmers toward the baseline, Jennings followed after him, glaring all the way.
Chalmers was called for a flagrant foul. Jennings made both free throws and Milwaukee retained the ball. Moments later, Mbah a Moute scored and the Bucks led 92-76.
The Bucks regained their shooting touch and the lead with a 16-0 spurt that bridged the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth. Mbah a Moute capped the surge with a 3 that gave Milwaukee an 84-75 lead. When Sanders dunked and then spun around James on the baseline for a layup, Milwaukee led 88-76 with 6:03 left.
James led the way as Miami erased a 15-point deficit, outscoring the Bucks 27-13 in the third to take a 71-69 lead into the fourth.
James scored 14 points in that quarter while Milwaukee missed 17 of its first 19 shots.
Leading 56-44, Milwaukee missed its first 12 shots, six of them by Ellis, while the Heat first pulled to 56-55 with two baskets by Bosh, one by Wade, a three-point play by James and two free throws by Bosh. Jennings hit a 14-foot jumper to snap the streak, but James hit a 3 to tie the game and a jumper that gave Miami its first lead of the game, 60-58.
Jennings, Ellis and Mbah a Moute helped the Bucks take a 56-44 lead at halftime.
Jennings had 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting, six assists and three steals. Ellis added 11 points, five assists and two steals. While Jennings and Ellis sliced through the Heat defense, Mbah a Moute effectively worked the post and scored 12 points while effectively guarding James.
Wade had a first quarter he probably would care to forget about, but his second was much better.
Wade turned the ball over the first time he touched it, but then scored five points on 2-of-3 shooting and hit one of two free throws. He grabbed four rebounds, had two assists and another turnover before Ray Allen replaced him with 3:21 left in the first.
When he re-entered the game with 8:35 left in the second, Wade tried to spark the Heat's offense with nine points, another assist and no more miscues. James was 5 of 11 in the half, good for 10 points, as he and Wade carried an attack that was sloppy with the ball. The Bucks converted 10 Heat turnovers into eight points, added 12 more on fast-break layups and never relinquished the lead.
NOTES: Miami F Udonis Haslem missed the game. He hurt his right shoulder early in the Detroit game when he landed hard after an acrobatic block on Kyle Singler. Haslem stayed in the game and finished with seven points and two rebounds in 20:29. Shane Battier started in his place. ... Wade tied Haslem for the team record in games played at 620. ... Milwaukee came in having alternated between wins and losses over the last seven games.


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Lesson Plan
Picture Understanding! Building Comprehension in the Primary Grades With Picture Books
|1 – 3
|Lesson Plan Type
|Estimated Time
|Seven 35- to 45-minute sessions
|Lesson Author
Jennifer Bekel, Master of Science in Education
Eldridge, Iowa
Comprehension is an essential component of successful reading. Through modeling and progressive levels of independent work, students become aware of the importance of retelling and essential story elements. Students demonstrate their understanding of stories through the use of online interactive graphic organizers and present story elements of an individual book through a book talk.
Plot Diagram: This interactive tool provides a template for students to record information about what occurs in the beginning, middle, and end of a story.
Cube Creator: The Story Cube within this interactive tool allows students to record information about story elements (such as character, setting, conflict, and resolution) and then to print the information in a story cube.
Fisher, D., Frey, N., & Lapp, D. (2009). In a reading state of mind: Brain research, teacher modeling, and comprehension instruction. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
- Through the use of modeling, students can be guided toward independence. The cognitive load transitions from the teacher completing most of the work to the students completing the work independently.
- Graphic organizers draw readers attention to important information and help readers draw connections between these ideas, making them useful tools for comprehension. However, graphic organizers should not be the end goal of instruction.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Advertising has experienced deep disruption as new channels and innovative technologies emerge and evolve at speed. Competition is fierce, but businesses have unprecedented opportunity to help advertisers reach target audiences with personalized messages that resonate. Ad Sales organizations that adopt a cloud-based, platform business model can truly transform from forward thinking, to forward doing.


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The respondents to the personal ad I mentioned in the first post fell into three rough categories, which overlap and share some common features (don't read these bullet points if you're upset by the kinds of shit these cretins fantasize about, which would be completely understandable):
- The dudes in the first group were the least overtly terrifying of the bunch, but they were creepy and offensive in their own way. Most of them wrote what could best be described as novellas and used the word "art" in their comical and terribly written blatherings about their BDSM "philosophies." Their descriptions of their sexual fantasies were like letters to Penthouse Forum written by dudes who wear eyeliner, with a lot of "trembling," "aching," and "quivering" in between the generous helpings of "pussy" and "cock." They all described the mental and physical sensations they would cause our poster to experience down to the last detail with the kind of confidence that only men who are terrible in bed possess. Nearly all of them explained that their ultimate purpose was to help their submissives grow as human beings and that they understood that feminism had caused emotional conflicts for women who felt the "natural" "feminine" urge to submit to a (much older and wiser, naturally) man/dad/teacher (for a bunch of purportedly countercultural motherfuckers, these guys sounded an awful lot like Promise Keepers). Many of them addressed our poster as "little one." Honestly, I thought I was reading the lyrics to a George Michael song half the time. Retch is right. These guys may have even fooled themselves into believing that their particular sexual fetishes are the kinds of things that women "crave deep within their souls," but they're kidding themselves with all their talk of transgression.
- Then there were the dudes who didn't bother to pretend there was any kind of philosophical basis for their desire to dominate and humiliate (their words, not mine) women. Their responses were all detailed descriptions of the kinds of sex acts they'd be carrying out on her, with nary a question about what she might fancy. They got very specific about the kinds of tools they were bringing to the table (literally and figuratively) and exactly how they would restrain our poster so they could "rape" her "asshole" and whip her "tits" and "cunt" with whatever instrument their shockingly uncreative minds could come up with (usually a belt). They too described the sensations this would cause for the poster, because they were just positive that they could make her "cum over and over" by hitting her and calling her a "filthy little slut," a "cum slut," or a "little whore." These dudes made no attempt to disguise the fact that they get off on humiliating and hurting women, though they did dress that up a little with candle wax, leather, and various bizarre implements. (A lot of them were really into shibari, a — surprise! — Japanese bondage technique involving rope. Seriously, fuck Japan.)
- The third group was by far the most frightening. They read the word "submissive" and creamed their shorts at the idea that there was a woman out there who'd let them act out Max Hardcore vignettes on her. None of them had anything to say about the "art" of BDSM or the sensations our poster would experience, but rather just told her which hole they'd like to rape her in (guess which one came in at number one) before they ejaculated on her face. Her wishes did come up a few times, always in the form of the insatiable desire to lick semen up after being raped. That's about all I can say about that lest I break something or kill myself.
I told you that shit was gnarly. Sorry.
I suppose a lot of people will claim these last guys aren't a part of the BDSM scene, and that's true, but what's the difference between them and the guys in group two? That they're less fruity about their rape fantasies? That they don't pretend to be a part of some revolutionary sexual counterculture movement? Please. All of these dudes share one thing in common: they derive sexual pleasure from dominating and humiliating (and in many cases hurting) women, and they're all foaming at the mouth at the idea that there are women who will eagerly submit to the worst humiliations they can come up with. That they want the woman to be into it too doesn't make them cool guys, it just means they don't want to have to feel guilty. These motherfuckers at worst hate women and consider them to be subhumans, and at best think of women as mental children that they want to fuck in between teaching them life lessons.
The serious analysis is still to come (and I've got some more results of my research to report), but I'm tired if this shit for tonight.
To be continued…


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How does one improve upon the most powerful game in the universe? By unleashing the most powerful game update in the universe, featuring Princess Adora and her magical horse.
Princess Adora of course transforms into She-Ra, the marketing product of a much simpler time, when capturing the hearts of little girls was as easy as switching the gender of the main character of a boys toy line. Adora is Prince Adam's long-lost sister, stolen as a baby and brainwashed into being Hordak's henchman. Answering the question of nature versus nurture once and for all, she switches sides in a heartbeat upon realizing her true heritage.
Imagine how Hordak must have felt. He spent what, somewhere between 20 and 30 years raising this child, and for what? The man changed diapers. He fed her. Sheltered her. He bought her a pony!
Anyway, she's playable now in the He-Man 1.1. update, which also adds an alternate virtual button control scheme and fixes some things. Pretty sure those things don't include Hordak's broken heart.


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Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart — You Must Stop Smoking!
Robert and Kristen, you're young, you're talented, you're down-to-earth and you're in love. You have so much to live for — you need to butt out and stay healthy!
Here at HollywoodLife.com, there's nothing we like better than looking at pictures of you guys- our adorable and in-love Twilight couple, Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.
So it was so disappointing to see you both light up cigarettes during a break from watching Katy Perry perform last night, Mar. 26, for her upcoming 3D concert movie, Katy Perry: Part of Me.
Though I knew that you had both smoked when you were filming the Twilight series, I had hoped that with you, Kristen, training to be the action heroine, Snow White, that you would have really HAD to give up your unhealthy habit.
After all, Snow White clearly has to stay in shape in order to ride horses into battle, run on foot to escape prison and the Queen's soldiers and then wield a sword in hand-to-hand combat. As you must know, fencing requires A LOT of cardio!
I surmised that if you quit, Kristen, you may have also prevailed on Rob to stop lighting up.
Wrong! I was wrong! You super cute pair are still lighting up together in the gallery of photos attached.
But listen up, you two. You both have such promising lives ahead of you AND you both are sporting some mighty fine good looks.
You both put all that at risk with every cigarette puff you take. The most common side effect of smoking cigarettes is cancer — especially lung cancer — according to eHow Health. Every day more than 1200 people in the U.S. die of smoking-related deaths.
And not only that — people who smoke cigarettes are also at a much higher risk than non-smokers of heart attacks and strokes. The carbon monoxide that resides in cigarette smoke has been associated with hardening of the arteries. Plus the chemicals in cigarette smoke damage the cilia, or the little hairs, that protect the lungs from dirt and waste, and over time this leads to lung disease.
Rob and Kristen — if you really were vampires like Edward and Bella, none of this would be a concern but you ARE mere mortals and your health will be affected by your addiction.
Kristen, you particularly, should want to protect your beautiful, unlined porcelain skin.
Unfortunately many of the 4000 chemicals in cigarettes trigger the destruction of the skin's collagen and elastin — the fibers which give your skin its strength and elasticity — meaning your skin will sag and wrinkle earlier than it should. And you will develop lines around your lips from smoking.
Kristen — we're sure that you and Rob will love each other even with premature lines but it may not be such a terrific thing for your career. Hollywood is tough on women — it demands youthful looks.
So Rob, Kristen — how about it?
How about doing yourselves and your health a gigantic favor and quitting smoking!
I bet your fans would love you to!
— Bonnie Fuller
More Kristen and Rob news:


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Choose your room
Location. STN Apartments on Vosstaniya is located in St. Petersburg's St. Petersburg City Centre neighborhood, close to Arctic and Antarctic Museum, State Russian Museum, and Kazan Cathedral. Nearby points of interest also include Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood and Summer Garden. Property Features. For a surcharge, shuttle services include a roundtrip airport shuttle (available on request) and a train station pick-up service. Wireless Internet access (surcharge) is available in public areas. STN Apartments on Vosstaniya features tour/ticket assistance. Guestrooms. 5 guestrooms at STN Apartments on Vosstaniya feature coffee/tea makers and windows that open. Accommodations offer city or courtyard views. At this 3.5-star apartment, accommodations include kitchens with stovetops, microwaves, refrigerators, and cookware/dishes/utensils. Bathrooms feature bathtubs or showers and hair dryers. Wireless Internet access is available for a surcharge. In addition to direct-dial phones, guestrooms offer free local calls (restrictions may apply). Rooms also include irons/ironing boards. Guests may request extra towels/bedding. Notifications and Fees:This property offers transfers from the airport and train station (surcharges may apply). Guests must contact the property with arrival details before travel, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. Children 7 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding. The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out. Airport shuttle fee: RUB 1500 per vehicle (one way)Rollaway bed fee: RUB 900 per nightCrib (infant bed) fee: RUB 900 per stayOnsite credit card charges are subject to a surcharge The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.


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Register Now for FAFSA Day on Feb. 23 at UNCW
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Wilmington, N.C. - Financial aid for college can make the difference in whether or not a student has access to a higher education, yet many families are unaware of the financial aid programs available to them and how to apply using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
On Saturday, Feb. 23, the UNCW Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid will help high school seniors and their families complete FAFSA forms. UNCW's event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon in Bear Hall. Registration is required.
As part of FAFSA Day, similar events for seniors who plan to attend U.S. colleges in fall 2013 will take place in more than 100 locations across the state. Students may participate even if they do not plan to attend the college hosting the event. To register, visit CFNC.org/FAFSAday or call 866-866-CFNC.
Participants should bring the following items: student's and parents' federal 1040 tax forms for 2012; the Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) obtained in advance from www.pin.ed.gov; and a "FAFSA on the Web" worksheet, available at www.fafsa.gov, with as much information entered as possible.
Completion of the FAFSA form is a requirement to be considered for all federal and most state financial aid for college, including grants and scholarships. It's important to complete the FAFSA early to take advantage of all of the financial aid opportunities available for North Carolinians. Experienced financial aid specialists will be on site during FAFSA Day to answer questions that students and parents may have about how to properly complete the form.
UNCW Media Contact: Andrea Weaver, Office of University Relations, 910-962-7631, email@example.com.


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The twenty-third psalm of David from the Old Testament, showing how the Lord shepherds each of us, is one of the best known and most cherished chapters of the Bible. In this beautifully rendered book, author, poet and playwright Carol Lynn Pearson shares the delightful discovery that each line of this beloved psalm is also a perfect guide for how a mother can "assist in shepherding a few dear lambs of the flock."
Perfect as a gift in times of celebration or times of challenge, The Sweet, Still Waters of Home is sure to become an inspirational classic. You can visit the website here.
I love this book and the great poems in it! I enjoyed pondering the words and felt uplifted after reading them. This is a great book for Mother's Day!
Now here's the exciting part...
Like Cedar Fort on Facebook here 5 entries
Visit Cedar Fort here and tell me something you like 5 entries
Blog about the giveaway and leave me a link 5 entries (please leave a comment for each entry)
Giveaway ends on Tues. May 17th, 2011!


text: Director Brad Anderson, the man behind such movies as "The Machinist" and "Transsiberian," brings us the post apocalyptic thriller "Vanishing on 7th Street" about four survivors of a blackout who learn that their city is slowly becoming engulfed in darkness and their rapidly diminishing light source is the only thing keeping them safe. In the above snapshot, Luke (Hayden Christensen) awakens to learn that everyone in the city has disappeared, leaving behind only their clothing and possessions. A US theatrical release date is set for spring 2011.


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USA Cycling Event & Calendar Bid Process
In addition to national championships, USA Cycling has several levels of calendars that a race director can apply to add their event to.
National Championships
USA Cycling has 15 national championships throughout the year that are available to bid on for, in most cases, two-year increments. The events attract national and international press with family-friendly entertainment that receive positive feedback from local businesses. If you represent a convention and visitors bureau or city sports commission and are interested in hosting a national championship to showcase your city read through the Host City Information page and see what bids are available.
National Road Calendars
The Pro Road Tour (PRT) is USA Cycling's national race series that highlights road cycling's premier domestic events to showcase the top U.S. team and rider.
- 2018 PRT Application [PDF] If you need a fillable Word doc email Chuck Hodge
- PRT Event Requirements & Procedures
The American Road Calendar (ARC) is USA Cycling's regional race series that highlights road races.
- Application coming soon
Cyclo-cross Calendars
USA Cycling's Professional Cyclo-cross Calendar (Pro CX) features the premier cyclo-cross events in America and uses an overall ranking system to determine the best individual male and female 'cross racers over the course of the season. The Pro CX calendar includes all of the UCI-inscripted category 1 and 2 races in the country.
- 2014/15 Pro CX Bid Applications [Word doc]
- 2014/15 Pro CX Requirements [PDF]
The purpose of USA Cycling's Cyclo-cross National Calendar (CXNC) is to recognize top domestic events and provide them with the opportunity to achieve UCI recognition. Those races that seek UCI inscription and inclusion on the Professional Cyclo-cross Calendar (Pro CX) must first be part of the CXNC for at least one year.
National Track Calendar
Created in 2012 to feature the country's preeminent velodromes, the USA Cycling National Track Calendar (NTC) recognizes the best track cyclists in the U.S. The calendar employs a season-long rankings system where points are awarded to the top ten finishers in four sprint events (match sprint, keirin, team sprint, and time trial) and five endurance events (points race, scratch race, individual pursuit, team pursuit, and Madison). At the end of the calendar, a male and female winner will be named for both the sprint and endurance categories.
- 2014 NTC Bid Application [PDF]
Pro Mountain Bike Tours
USA Cycling's three pro mountain bike tours represent discipline-specific calendars of North America's premier off-road competitions.
The Pro MTB Cross-Country Tour (Pro XCT) offers cross-country Olympic-style (XCO) and short-track cross-country (STXC) racing. All of the events on the Pro XCT are UCI-sanctioned, allowing Elite (pro) riders the opportunity to earn valuable UCI ranking points. Pro teams registered as USA Cycling Domestic Pro MTB teams will also be eligible for professional team rankings. Both the individual rider rankings and team rankings are updated after each event in the Pro XCT. The top-10 ranked riders in XCO for both males and females will have the bragging rights to a top-10 number plate at each event.
The Pro MTB Gravity Tour (Pro GRT) offers downhill (DH) racing. Individual rider rankings will be offered for the Pro category. The gated events, such as dual slalom and four-cross (4X), may also be offered at some stops on the Pro GRT.
Junior Development Race Series
Our goals for the Road Development Race Series are to continue to grow the racing opportunities for juniors and espoirs (U23 riders) by developing long-term partnerships with race directors who will create safe and fun events, while consequently improving the quantity and quality of road racing opportunities for young riders in the United States.
- 2015 RDRS Application [PDF]
State and Regional Mountain Bike Calendars
The purpose of the USA Cycling Mountain Bike State and Regional Championship is to recognize the best mountain bike racers in each state and region. Through the USA Cycling MTB State and Regional Championships, riders will be eligible for state and regional titles and medals, along with being able to qualify and compete at the USA Cycling MTB National Championships.
- 2018 MTB State & Regional Championships Bid Application [PDF]
- 2018 MTB State & Regional Championship Events List (PDF)
The goal of the American Mountain Bike Challenge (AMBC) is to recognize regional events which promote grassroots racing (including all ages and abilities of competitors) to actively grow the sport of mountain biking in the United States. In 2013, the AMBC became USA Cycling's mountain bike series dedicated to promoting junior development racing opportunities.
This Article Updated February 20, 2018 @ 09:18 PM For more information contact:


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- 5 Beds
- 5 Full, 1 Half Baths
Property TypeResidential – Condominium
SubdivisionHorizon Pass Residences
Listing Date07/11/18
Year Built2005
AreaBachelor Gulch
Lot Size0.14 Acres (6,011 SqFt)
ParkingUnassigned, Underground
Property Description
Opportunity to own a rare penthouse in iconic Horizon Pass. High vaulted ceilings soar from this incredible vantage point with dramatic views from the Gore Range to Castle Peak. Perfectly designed with a classic mountain interior with a spacious great room and big open kitchen; large loft and game room complete the design. Building is known for its amenities with a year-round pool, work-out facilities, concierge service and perfect ski-in/ski-out: a/c, Immaculate condition; designer furnished.
Horizon Pass 414 - Video Tour
Horizon Pass 414 - Floorplans
Horizon Pass 414 - Elevations
Presented By
- Bus Route
- Ski In
- Ski Out
- Mountains
- Ski Slopes
- Valley
- Hiking/Pedestrian Trail
- On Bus Line
- Pool
- Tennis Courts
- Air Conditioning
- Cable Available
- Deck
- Fireplace - Gas
- Jetted Bathtub
- Multi-Level
- Steam
- Vaulted Ceilings
- Wired for Cable
- Fitness Center
- Front Desk
- On Site Management
- Pool
- Spa and Hot Tub
- Cable TV
- District Sewer
- District Water
- Electricity Avail.
- Natural Gas Avail.
- Phone Available
- Snow Removal
- Trash Pickup
- Common
- Natural Gas
- Zoned AC
- Dryer
- Washer
Financial Information
Additional InformationDocuments
About Bachelor Gulch
Grand homes with exquisite mountain architecture featuring massive logs and rustic stonework make up the unmistakable sense of place found in Bachelor Gulch. Gated entrances offer an extra level of exclusivity, and there's not a single property that doesn't feature impressive views of the valley below and the jagged peaks of the Gore Mountain Range and Castle Peak in the distance. Bachelor Gulch has its own ski slopes, with a chairlift that serves the Ritz Carlton Bachelor Gulch, and trails that provide a village-to-village ski experience from Beaver Creek to Bachelor Gulch to Arrowhead. There's also a gondola connection to the Westin Riverfront in Avon at the base of Bachelor Gulch. It's the only residential ski neighborhood considered entirely on-mountain in the Vail Valley. While the Bachelor Gulch ski trails are part of Beaver Creek Resort, they feel much more private and less traveled. It's easy for residents to head out for a few runs without a lot of fuss getting in and out of the resort. Ski trails offer excellent hiking and biking during the summer and fall months, and the pristine golf club in neighboring Beaver Creek features challenging holes and expansive views to round out summertime fun. Bachelor Gulch is perfect for the buyer looking for privacy and luxury. Bachelor Gulch real estate is mostly known for high-end single-family homes, but luxury condominiums and fractional units are available through the residence club at the Ritz-Carlton® Bachelor Gulch.
Area Market Data
5 Beds 6 Baths
5 Beds 7 Baths
5 Beds 7 Baths
6 Beds 7 Baths
6 Beds 8 Baths
4 Beds 5 Baths
We get asked this question a lot. Below is a tool that gives you the ability to see what the market is like in your community. Find out what homes like your own are selling for right in your back yard. Simply enter in your address, choose the proximity of the search and find out market data for other homes that are selling near you.
While we'll provide you with plenty of information, this is a snapshot of your market data and there are real people behind the high-tech and automated tools. If you would like more detailed information or help in understanding the results we are here to help.
Until then, enjoy the tools!
The data relating to the real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the Vail Multi-List Service, Inc.
Copyright © 2020 Vail Multi List, Inc. (VMLS). The information displayed herein was derived from sources believed to be accurate, but has not been verified by VMLS. Buyers are cautioned to verify all information to their own satisfaction. This information is exclusively for viewers' personal, non- commercial use. Any republication or reproduction of the information herein without the express permission of the VMLS is strictly prohibited.
Listing courtesy of Slifer Smith & Frampton/Bachelor Gulch


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We all notice memes and cultural touchstones that circulate in our respective worlds. They used to come in the form of email jokes that we forwarded; now social media has made them even easier to share.
I'm happy to see not only individual librarians, but also library organizations, get in on the act. Here's a big one I just saw. (Backstory: In a U.S. presidential debate 2 days ago, Mitt Romney made a poorly worded comment about "binders full of women." That phrase has been picked up, and picked on, by many. Toronto's "Star" coverage includes the video clip from the debate, as well as images of other hilarious instances of the viral meme.)
Via Facebook, I discovered that the Toronto Public Library's Reference Blog joined the meme -- in a very savvy and promotional way. These clever Canadians found a humorous way to capitalize on the meme while legitimately promoting some special reference collections (which are, of course, stored in binders).
|Pictures of women--in binders!--in
Toronto PL's Arts & Fashion collection.
Kudos, Toronto PL!!
And the popular-with-lady-librarians "Hey Girl" meme of Ryan Gosling photos came back with one for this too.
Doing this kind of promotion demands that you work at the speed of the internet. You need to have social-savvy staffers and a permissive culture. Those qualities allow your organization to prove that it's keeping up with the times. Can you make that happen?
What are your favorite memes? Which have your library participated in?


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wholesale windows tablet for play store download free
TaiBei Exhibiton:
1.How can I get tablet pc sample?
Usually sample order is available, sample cost and shipping cost need to be pay by customers.
2.How do our factory make sure the quality before shipping?
Raw material: our QC team check 100% Material and whole step.
R&D: Our R&D department will make tablet as our clients request, and make high-end smart tablet.
3.How long is the products warranty? How do our factory deal with the defects?
All our tablets are with 12 months warranty after delivery. All our tablet are checked very strictly by our QC term. If any defectives we will provide the extra part for you. Or you can also return the goods to us, we will repair for you. For software problem, we can provide you for free by Internet.
4. Can the factory do the customized order?
Yes, warmly welcome your customized order We have R&D department and designer, our factory will directly make the tablets as your request. Print LOGO, Custom Package box, Or Customize tablet pc especially for you.
5.Which brand have you done as OEM/ODM order?
OEM/ODM service are available.
If you have any interesting,pls feel free to contact me anytime,


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- Description
DetailsThese 2-3/4" x 8-1/2" Micro-Perforated Bookmarks come 4-up on an 8-1/2" x 11" sheet. The pre-printed card features the Coming Home design in full color and the simple phrase "Always In Our Hearts" on the front. The back has a white space for laser or inkjet printing. Our Micro-Perfs are designed to be printed on (using Lamcraft Digital Memories), separated, then laminated in our Clear Bookmark Pouches. These Micro-Perfs are packaged 100 to a carton (25 sheets). This product is available in quantity discounts.
- Additional Information
Additional Information
SKU 210632-40 Case Count 100 Size 2-3/4" x 8-1/2" Color No Verse Always In Our Hearts Laminate Thickness No Design Coming Home


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The commercial real estate market in Fairfield County is warming up. Lease rates show signs of rebounding in the retail sector, and even with an office-vacancy rate hovering around 20 percent, an improving economy is elevating the hopes of building owners.
Behind every deal, commercial real estate firms and their brokers are vying for contracts with property owners and buyers or leaseholders.
In southwestern Connecticut, which has some of the highest-priced commercial real estate in the country, the competition to represent properties can be heated, as can the rivalry to lure the best, most experienced brokers.
One of those is industry veteran Michael Siegel, who this month joined the Stamford office of Colliers International as an executive managing director after spending 20 years with CBRE Group.
Moving to a new job can be stressful, but Siegel, a Westport resident, said the transition to Colliers was easy because of his many acquaintances there.
"There are a number of brokers that made moves in the past year. Usually brokers are contacted in non-aggressive ways to find out if they would consider a change. Sometimes, change in your life is a good thing," said Siegel, 64, who started his career as a "canvasser" at Cushman & Wakefield, working with a senior broker. "I had to go out and knock on doors. I was fortunate to start with a market-dominating company. Now, my responsibility is to develop relationships on the property and tenant side. That's how you get to know the market."
Being a mentor to young brokers at the Colliers office will be one of Siegel's responsibilities.
"That's what charges me up. I'm team oriented," said Siegel, whose resume includes marketing and leasing a 350,000-square-foot office park on behalf of ING Clarion in Greenwich, and arranging 170,000 square feet of leasing at 440 Wheeler Farms Road in Milford on behalf of Hines/Sterling Equity.
He represented IBM International in its 500,000-square-foot sale of 200 Purchase St., in Purchase, N.Y., to Mastercard International, and completed a 40,000-square-foot headquarters relocation on behalf of IMS Health in Norwalk.
Those successes impressed Joe Harbert, president of Colliers International's eastern region.
"Michael Siegel is a sophisticated deal maker, is adept at building teams and is a dedicated mentor to young professionals and rising stars," Harbert said. "Michael will be a tremendous asset as we continue to enhance our practice groups and build market share in the Connecticut and Westchester markets."
Market share is a phrase for survival of a brokerage firm in this competitive region, and having the right personnel working as a team is essential, he said.
There has been an uptick in brokers moving to other firms as those agencies consolidate their operations, said Harbert, who moved in early 2012 to Colliers from his position as chief operating officer for Cushman & Wakefield's New York tri-state region office.
"It trickled north from Manhattan, and now you have the activity of trying to convince brokers to come to other firms," he said. "It's easier to do in a slower market. In a busy market, they are happy making money. We're having the most movement I've seen in the Westchester/Fairfield County market in years. It's a people business. Part of my job is to know where brokers are in their careers."
A broker who recently made a move from Cushman & Wakefield to the Greenwich office of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank was Gregory Frisoli, who said he wanted to be in a smaller office where he could be more involved in decision making.
"Most all of our clients came with us," said Frisoli, who was joined in the move from Cushman & Wakefield by Lawrence Ruggieri and Glenn Walsh.
Last month, NGKF announced the addition of Jacqueline Durels from Colliers as senior managing director and Tim Rorick, also from Colliers, as a managing director. Also arriving as a managing director was Jodie LaRocque from Barclays Capital, where she was vice president.
Most recently, NGKF welcomed as a senior managing director Stephen Westerberg from Colliers.
Frisoli said he does not expect the move to impact his position when working on a deal with a broker from his former firm.
"I maintain my great relationships with all my former colleagues," Frisoli said, touting the support of Barry Gosin, the CEO of NGKF, as a hands-on leader. "He lives in the Westchester County market. That's a huge reason why one wants to work with him." Frisoli said he also was impressed by NGKF's ability to act as a lender through its affiliation with Cantor Commercial Real Estate. NGKF was purchased in October 2012 by BGC Partners, which is affiliated with Cantor Commercial Real Estate. Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., is BGC Partners' controlling shareholder.
"Brokers can sell a building and also provide debt for the building," said James Ritman, head of NGKF's Greenwich office, allowing them to make commission twice and levering their relationship. It's about quality of service. If you give brokers more tools, it's good for the broker, but it allows you to serve clients better."
Siegel's departure was a loss for CBRE, but the Stamford office will rebound, said Robert Caruso, senior managing director, commenting that CBRE may have started the commercial real estate broker game of musical chairs last year when it attracted brokers Brian Carcaterra, Michael McCall and Peter Hansen from NGKF.
"There's a constant flow of need for new people. We go through an annual review of our brokers to be sure the talent we have is the best. They must be consistent with our values," he said, adding that other brokerage firms often court his brokers. "When you're number one in the market, there's a target on your back. All we can do is provide the best environment for our people."
Competition to attract brokers and represent properties has never been keener, Caruso said.
Talented brokers are always in demand, and good brokerage firms must work to provide them with the tools and environment to keep them from straying, said Jim Fagan, senior managing director of Cushman & Wakefield's Stamford office.
"If you're a one-trick pony, you're like a flip phone compared with an iPhone," said Fagan, who has worked in the Fairfield County market for 30 years. "Our model is based on collaboration. My job is to provide the best environment for our professionals to do very well. A rogue broker can go, if he wants. We work very hard to get professionals who are collaborative, who keep the client first and foremost in their mind."
It's those brokers who develop a rapport with building owners and companies that Fagan appreciates, commenting that they are the reason why his firm gets new business. For the landlord, the broker is the biggest procurer of potential tenants.
While brokers from different firms compete for clients, they must have each other's respect and trust, he said. Otherwise, deals can be jeopardized.
"It's very competitive, but you have to be cooperative. You need a sense of fair dealing. People who aren't like that get found out very quickly," Fagan said.
Felix Charney, a principal in Summit Development in the Southport section of Fairfield, chose Cushman & Wakefield's Stamford office to market office rental space at the 216,000-square-foot Lee Farm Corporate Park in Danbury, which this year sold for $16.9 million to a partnership of Summit and The Grossman Cos.
Commenting that he has a good relationship with several brokerage firms in Fairfield County, Charney said he chose Cushman & Wakefield because of its familiarity with Greater Danbury and the central part of the county.
"In our building in Danbury, our objective was to make it attractive to the Norwalk and Wilton markets. They have a dominance and relationships in those markets," he said. "I've been in commercial development 31 years. Jim Fagan has done a wonderful job for us. We look at marketability as a partnership."
Seasoned brokers offer clients different techniques in marketing properties, and smaller firms can have an advantage over the large brokerage companies, said Bruce Wettenstein, a partner in Vidal/Wettenstein Real Estate in Westport, which represents commercial properties and corporate tenants across Fairfield County.
"A smaller firm like us -- we're a boutique firm, and we have five seasoned brokers," said Wettenstein. "We're all on the front line. It's competitive. In a down economy, it's more grueling and aggressive."
Wettenstein's firm is marketing the sale of an 83,000-square-foot building in Bridgeport that housed W.E. Bassett, which was acquired by Pacific World in 2011. They also represented the venerable city legal firm of Zeisler & Zeisler in leasing a 12,000-square-foot space in the building to the law office.
"The reason we chose them is because they were recommended by the law firm of Cohen & Cohen in Bridgeport," said Jed Horwitt, a partner at Zeisler. "They may be small, but they are experts on the Bridgeport market."


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4 dead, 17 hurt when train hits Texas vets parade
MIDLAND, Texas (AP) -- A freight train slammed into a parade float carrying wounded veterans on Thursday, killing four people and injuring 17 others as the float crossed a West Texas railroad crossing on its way to an honorary banquet, authorities said.
The eastbound train was sounding its horn before it hit the float around 4:40 p.m. in Midland, Union Pacific spokesman Tom Lange said. A preliminary investigation indicates the crossing gate and lights were working at the time, Lange said, though he didn't know if the train crew saw the float approaching.
Two people died at the scene of the crash, while two others died at Midland Memorial Hospital, City of Midland spokesman Ryan Stout said. Ten of those injured are in critical condition, while the other seven are in stable condition, he said.
"There is going to be a very thorough investigation," Lange said. "It's obviously a very tragic incident."
Photos of the float taken during the parade show about two dozen people seated in chairs set up on the back of a flatbed tractor-trailer decorated with American flags. A banner across the truck's front bumper reads, "Heroes on Board."
Police said the float was among two flat-bed trucks carrying veterans and their spouses. The first truck safely crossed the railroad tracks, but the second truck's trailer was hit by the train. Some of the people riding on the second trailer evacuated before the crash, police
The parade was to end at a "Hunt for Heroes" banquet honoring the veterans. The wounded service members were then going to be treated to a deer-hunting trip this weekend. The events have been canceled.
Lange said Union Pacific is offering help to the community and victims' families, as well as peer-to-peer counseling for the train crew, who did not sustain any injuries.
"It's pretty traumatic for them," he said.
The National Transportation Safety Board also is investigating, NTSB spokesman Peter Knudson said.


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Midwife toad
|Midwife toad
|Alytes obstetricans
|Scientific classification
Wagler, 1830
Alytes cisternasii Boscá, 1879.
Midwife toads (Alytes) are a genus of frogs in the family Alytidae (formerly Discoglossidae), and are found in most of Europe and northwestern Africa. Characteristic of these toad-like frogs is their parental care: the males carry a string of fertilised eggs on their back, hence the name "midwife". The female expels a strand of eggs, which the male fertilizes externally. He then wraps them around his legs to protect them from predators in the water. When they are ready to hatch, the male wades into shallow water, where he allows the tadpoles to leap out of their eggs. Five separate species of midwife toad are found across western Europe, northern Africa, and Majorca.
Midwife toads can be found in the snows of the Pyrenees, living at heights of 5,000–6,500 feet in areas such as the Néouvielle massif. Unlike the thin tongue of many amphibians, the midwife's tongue is round and flattened; its former family name, Discoglossidae, means "round tongue". In parts of France midwife toads live in sand dunes by the sea. They share this habitat with natterjack toads.
Five separate species of midwife toad are found across western Europe, northern Africa, and Majorca. Shy, nocturnal animals, they give away their presence by their ringing call. During the day, the midwife toad hides under stones and logs or in tunnels. They often hide in dry, sandy soil, which is easier to dig into using their forelegs and snout. It emerges at dusk to forage for food, but always returns to the same hiding places before dawn. During the winter, the common midwife toad hibernates in its hole or in a burrow that has been deserted by a small animal.
Food and feeding[edit]
The Midwife toad crawls around the area close to its hiding place at night to search for food. The toad uses the end of its long, sticky tongue to pick up prey, including beetles, crickets, flies, caterpillars, centipedes, ants and millipedes. Tadpoles feed on vegetable matter. They chew with tiny, horny teeth. Young toads eat smaller sizes of the same prey that adults feed on. When the eggs are ready to hatch the male leaves them near the water.
The back of the midwife toad is covered with small warts. These warts give off an odorous poison when the toad is handled or attacked. The poison is so powerful that the toad has few enemies or predators. The poison also helps to keep the egg strings on the male's back safe from attack. The tadpole does not possess the poison, and therefore falls prey to fish and insects.
The Majorcan midwife toad has adapted to the harsh, dry conditions of this Spanish Island. It is found only in deep canyons in the northern mountains. It has evolved to have a flatter body, which enables the toad to squeeze into narrow crevices in the rocks of its habitat. The only moisture available is in small, rain-filled puddles on ledges. Tadpoles are born and develop in these pools. Fossils of these species have also been found in Europe.
|Binomial Name and Author
|Common Name
|Alytes cisternasii (Boscá, 1879)
|Iberian midwife toad
|Alytes dickhilleni (Arntzen & García Paris, 1995)
|Betic midwife toad
|Alytes maurus (Pasteur & Bons, 1962)
|Moroccan midwife toad
|Alytes muletensis (Sanchiz & Adrover, 1979)
|Mallorcan midwife toad
|Alytes obstetricans (Laurenti, 1768)
|Common midwife toad
In laboratories[edit]
Apoptosis, the programmed cell death, was first observed in the developing of the tadpoles of the midwife toads 1842 by Carl Vogt.
See also[edit]
|Wikisource has the text of the 1905 New International Encyclopedia article Midwife Frog.
- Carl Vogt: Untersuchungen über die Entwicklungsgeschichte der Geburtshelferkröte. (Alytes obstetricians), Solothurn: Jent und Gassman, (1842), p. 130.
- Arthur Koestler, The Case of the Midwife Toad, London: Hutchinson, 1971.


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Download: GrooVe IP – Free Calls v2.0.9 Apk | 1 MB | Resumable Links | Requires Android:2.1 and up |
Voice without Minutes!
GrooVe IP – Free Calls
What's in this version:
- Bug fixes
- Block spam calls
App Review:
GrooVe IP is an android app that connects to Google Voice using Voice over IP (VoIP). What this means for you is you can make free unlimited calls to any phone in the US or Canada without using your voice minutes. GrooVe IP works on any android device, phone or tablet, and allows you to make calls using the device's data (WiFi or mobile data) connection. If you have a smartphone with Wi-Fi connectivity but no mobile plan, you can use this app to convert it to a free, full-featured working phone.
This app has a separate dialer that can be used to make calls. Alternatively, the native dialer, call-log, contacts, and favorite functionality can be shared between the phone and app on a call-by-call basis.


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Events for November 20, 2018
Events Search and Views Navigation
Back Where I Come From: The Upcountry's Piedmont Blues
Back Where I Come From, the Upcountry History Museum – Furman University's newest upcoming, semi-permanent exhibition will take visitors on an enlightening experience through the roots and evolution of the Upcountry South Carolina's blues history. Through an in-house exhibition, diverse programming, and musical performances, the project will explore the history of the Upcountry's Piedmont Blues, including... Read more »Find out more »
Answering the Call… From Recruit to the Front Lines of WWI
World War I. The Great War. The "war to end all wars." It was a war that began on July 28, 1914, and saw major nations of the world mobilize armies into expected alliances. It was also a war that three years later on April 6, 1917, brought the United States into its first major international conflict... Read more »Find out more »
Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice
Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice is the first child-centered exhibit in the country dedicated to expanding the understanding of dinosaurs and their habitats. Designed for young explorers, ages 3-10, the bilingual (Spanish and English) exhibit features three distinct sections that build on a child's innate curiosity about dinosaurs: Land of Fire (a warm dinosaur habitat), Land of Ice (a cold dinosaur habitat),... Read more »Find out more »
Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!
The holidays just wouldn't be the same without The Peanuts gang. And for millions of people around the world, it really isn't Christmas until they have watched A Charlie Brown Christmas. Celebrating the holidays in true Peanuts-style, the Upcountry History Museum will host the latest traveling exhibition from the Charles M. Schulz Museum, titled Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown! The Peanuts-centric exhibit... Read more »Find out more »
10:30 am
Toddler Time with Snoopy!
Enjoy a playtime with Snoopy and Tina T-Rex! You will be greeted by a real, live T-Rex (okay, its just a costume, but she's really entertaining) and then Snoopy will be joining us for snack and story time. It is all included with your admission and children ages 3 and under are FREE! Plus, if... Read more »Find out more »
3:30 pm
UHM Kids Book Club
Join Jack and Annie on their historic adventures. Read the book at home, then enjoy games, crafts, and more at the Museum. All book club meetings are free to Museum Members and free with regular admission for all other guests. November 20 will feature Thanksgiving on Thursday.Find out more »


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Open mHealth Announces Linq
Sep 8, 2014, 1:58 PM, Posted by Pioneer Blog Team
At Stanford MedX, grantee Open mHealth gave a sneak preview of its first demonstration product. Linq is a platform that allows patients to track their mobile health data with their app or device of choice, and seamlessly share it with their doctors.
Learn more about this innovation in mobile health data!
Open mHealth announces Linq – bringing digital health data into the heart of clinical practice today
This commentary originally appeared on the RWJF Pioneering Ideas blog.


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In stock
This Fuchsia edible art pen is perfect for adding personal messages and designs to your celebration cakes.
Add personal messages and designs to your celebration cakes and cupcakes using this Fuchsia coloured edible art pen.
Can be used on sugarpaste, flowerpaste, marzipan, royal icing and any other edible smooth, dry surfaces.
Vegetable glycerine E422; water; ethanol (food grade); colour: E122
E122: May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children
Suitable for vegetarians
Fat free - nut free - gluten free - GM free
Although not necessarily present in this particular product, the colours used across the entire icing colouring range may include the colours E102, E104, E110, E122 & E129 - which may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in some children
Sugarflair Colours Ltd, Benfleet, Essex, SS7 4PW


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thoughtful |ˈθôtfəl|
• absorbed in or involving thought
• showing consideration for the needs of other people
• showing careful consideration or attention
• absorbed in or involving thought
• showing consideration for the needs of other people
• showing careful consideration or attention
On the night the first African American President of the United States was elected, hopes were beyond high for his acceptance speech. We had learned much of the man over the last two years, his policies, his background, his hopes for the future, and the thing that stuck out most for everyone was what a wonderful orator he was. So it was that when Barack Obama stepped onto the stage and crowds around the world cheered, the anticipation of his following words was palpable.
What he did next surprised some. The man who had rallied millions with his rousing orations, spoke soberly, calmly about America's future. Even the repeated rhetoric of his now signature phrase, "Yes we can", was spoken quietly, and plainly stated each time. No rising to a crescendo, no final point delivered, each word punched as if it was its own sentence. No. He spoke of the challenge ahead, of this not being an end but a beginning. Of a need for everyone to work together.
In his first press conference today he spoke of a need for "deliberate haste" in forming his cabinet. Of an understanding that speed was required, but not at the expense of putting careful consideration into the decision making process.
And that is what has inspired this particular blog post. Oh there are many things I could write about today that this man has inspired, not only in me, but around the world. But this particular issue is rather near and dear to me. It is possibly not quite as grand seeming, but it is of incredible importance, at least, in my opinion.
There is a word I have found myself repeating more and more these days. You have probably read it in many of my posts, typically the posts in which I offer what advice I can on the various industries in which I am involved.
And that word is "thoughtful".
I have always firmly believed in this idea of thoughtfulness. Though I must admit to having as passionate displays of emotion as the next person (probably at times even greater than the next person), the concept of thinking things through has always been one of the utmost importance to me.
Being thoughtful encompasses so many wonderful ideas: empathy, intuition, logical reasoning, but most of all it represents just sitting back for a moment and taking pause. Not rushing to any decision in the heat of the moment.
Thoughtfulness is understanding subtext. It is not just reading a law, but interpreting it. Understanding why something exists in the first place. It is looking at the submission guidelines for an agent and understanding why that agent felt she needed to create them. It is understanding the rules of writing, why they are there, and how they help make a story stronger. And in this understanding comes an ability to see where the rules were meant to be broken, how and why.
Thoughtfulness is being the devil's advocate. It is understanding another perspective, no matter how much you may disagree. It is being empathetic to another's problems no matter how distant from your own. And forming decisions based on all the facts.
It is listening to the opinions of others, and not dismissing them as foolhardy no matter how much they may appear as such to you initially.
It is thinking.
There is a danger, of course, in too much thinking. There is always the danger of inaction. But in my opinion the truly thoughtful people out there understand that there is a time for thought, and a time of doing. That there is a time to be careful and a time to be spontaneous. To be moderate, to over indulge. I once told a friend, "Everything in moderation," and she added onto that: "including moderation". I really love that idea.
No one is perfect, and no one will make all the right decisions. We have yet to know how well or poorly Obama will do in office, and I would prefer not to make any judgments quite yet (considering he isn't exactly even the President yet). But I would like to offer up the suggestion that at least in this we could try to follow in the example he has set. I truly hope the time ahead of us is one of consideration and intelligence. Of empathy and understanding. Of thoughtfulness.
It even takes some thought to say it. You really have to use your whole mouth to articulate it clearly.
Good word that.


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Kitsch & Culture
Posted by metaphorical on 25 November 2007
If you need to encapsulate the entire American Christmas experience in 20 minutes, you could hardly do better than to spend your time at Fountains of Wayne.
In turn, the Fountains of Wayne experience is so weird that if you have to describe it in a sentence, you could hardly do better than the one above. It's a place that sells outdoor furniture and other stuff during the regular year, and Christmas stuff during the season. But 30 years ago it began to create life-sized Christmas-themed dioramas. The served their intended effect — to get more people into the store — and then took on a life of their own. Downstairs there's a fairly normal set of incredibly crafted displays.
But upstairs, the displays are beyond kitsch. Not all are about Christmas — a Parisian rodent chef cooks dinner; a pirate cove paradise hideaway, repleat with grass-skirted women. But most are.
There's Santa playing poker at a casino; snorkling in shark-infested waters; running for political office; sleeping in on Christmas Eve (as Ms Santa waves a calendar at him to no avail); surviving on the tv show "Survivor"; and riding a jetski while Ms Claus sunbathes. You can find Santa waiting for dinner at a sushi bar that's also, for some reason, a hangout for Harley Davidson bikers.
Fourtains of Wayne is such a weird place that a rock band chose its name for its own. (I don't know how well-known they are nationally, except for a 2003 breakout hit, "Stacy's Mom.") The place itself has been featured on Roadside America.
The thing that makes Fountains of Wayne such as exceptionally weird place for me, and ultimately representative of more than just a uniquely American blend of kitsch and commerce — and make no mistake about it, a place that sells $1200 artificial Christmas trees is about commerce — is that its owners care almost as much for the religous meaning of Christmas as the commercial and kitschy ones. Various other dioramas depict the Three Wise Men and Joseph and Mary in the stables.
I don't really know what to make of it. I generally don't have much regard for Christian values as such. They're either the right values to hold or not, and if right, they're only degraded by not being held for their own sake.
Then too, some people find out-of-control Christmas-shopping-mania to be inconsistent with the core Christian values behind the Bible stories of respecting the poor and throwing the moneylenders out of the temple. Fountains of Wayne doesn't have that problem. There are collection pots to help the local poor, and for the rest, their Christmas values can presumably be discounted 15% — 20% with an Internet coupon — along with everything else in the store. Come on down.
One Response to "Kitsch & Culture"
26 November 2007 at 8:21 am
Don't forget it's also appeared in a couple of episodes of The Sopranos.


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While the London department store Fortnum & Mason lays claim to originating the Scotch egg in 1738, I had my first one at an Irish pub in Dublin back in the summer of 1999; I have loved them ever since. Fortunately a local Scottish restaurant keeps them on their permanent menu, so I can get a quick fix whenever the crave hits, but it's cheaper and more convenient to make them at home. Plus, it's FUN, and they never fail to be a hit.
These can be served warm or at room temperature, so don't worry about not being to make a lot of them all at once, you don't want to crowd the pan or you'll run the risk of them knocking into each other and pulling off some of the coating. You can keep them warm in the oven on a low setting, if desired, but placed on a rack to drain after frying will suffice. Also, if you don't have (or don't want) a deep fryer, don't let that deter you from making these. A heavy, deep pan will work just fine.
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Pinch of cayenne pepper
This is linked to Foodie Friday.


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When I'm mucking around at home, it's Linux all the way. Unfortunately, at work ( in desktop terms, at least) I'm still stuck with being a Microsofty.
This leaves me with Textpad as my program editor of choice.
As promised then, here's the quick and dirty guide to enabling syntax highlighting for PL/SQL in Textpad ( works for versions 4 and 5) …
Step 1 – write a syntax definition file
This file is split into sections :
The first line tells textpad how the language in question is likely to be structured. In the case of PL/SQL, it's a 'C' like language in this sense ( pretty standard 3GL), so we specify :
This is followed by the syntax section, most of which is fairly self-explainatory :
[Syntax] Namespace1 = 6 IgnoreCase = Yes InitKeyWordChars = A-Za-z_ KeyWordChars = A-Za-z0-9_ PreprocStart = SyntaxStart = SyntaxEnd = CommentStart = /* CommentEnd = */ CommentStartAlt = CommentEndAlt = SingleComment = -- SingleCommentCol = StringStart = ' StringEnd = ' StringAlt = StringEsc = CharStart = ' CharEnd = ' CharEsc =
Namespace1 is set to 6 because we're going to divide our keywords into six different categories, each of which can – if we so wish – be highlighted using a different colour.
In this example, I've split the keywords into six categories :
- SQL keywords
- SQL functions
- Pseudo-columns
- PL/SQL keywords
- SQL*Plus formatting commands
- Other SQL*Plus commands.
The entire file looks like this :
C=1 [Syntax] Namespace1 = 6 IgnoreCase = Yes InitKeyWordChars = A-Za-z_ KeyWordChars = A-Za-z0-9_ PreprocStart = SyntaxStart = SyntaxEnd = CommentStart = /* CommentEnd = */ CommentStartAlt = CommentEndAlt = SingleComment = -- SingleCommentCol = StringStart = ' StringEnd = ' StringAlt = StringEsc = CharStart = ' CharEnd = ' CharEsc = [Keywords 1] (+) all and any as between cast commit connect by cube delete distinct exists explain plan for update from group by having in insert is null like lock table intersect multiset minus not or order by partition returning rollback rollup sample savepoint select set constraint set transaction some start with subpartition table the union update values where where current of with [Keywords 2] abs acos add_months ascii asin atan atan2 avg bfilename bitand ceil chartorowid chr concat convert cos cosh count dangling decode deref dump empty_blob empty_clob exists exp floor glb greatest grouping hextoraw initcap instr instrb last_day least length lengthb like ln log lower lpad ltrim make_ref max min mod months_between new_time next_day nls_charset_decl_len nls_charset_id nls_charset_name nls_initcap nls_lower nls_upper nlssort null nvl power rawtohex ref reftohex replace round rowidtochar rpad rtrim sign sin sinh soundex sqrt stddev substr substrb sum sys_context sys_guid sysdate tan tanh to_char to_date to_lob to_multi_byte to_number translate trim trunc uid upper user userenv variance vsize [Keywords 3] level currval nextval rownum rowid [Keywords 4] %found %isopen %notfound %rowcount %rowtype %type authid autonomous_transaction begin bulk collect bulk collect into call close constant count create function create package create package body create procedure create trigger create type create type body cursor declare delete else elsif end end if exception exception_init execute immediate exists exit extend fetch first for forall function goto if insert into label language last limit lock table loop map member next null open open for order pragma prior procedure raise raise_application_error record restrict_references return savepoint self serially_reusable set transaction sql sqlcode sqlerrm subtype table then trim type when where current of while varchar2 number boolean binary_integer integer char long blob clob [Keywords 5] / @ @@ accept attribute break btitle clear col column comp compute def define exit ho host pause prompt rem remark repf repfooter reph repheader run set spool start sta timi timing ttitle undef undefine var variable [Keywords 6] app appinfo array arraysize autocommit autop autoprint autotrace blo blockterminator cmds cmdsep colsep com compatibility con concat copyc copycommit copytypecheck echo esc escape feed feedback flu flush hea heading heads headsep lines linesize long longchunksize newpage numformat numwidth pages pause recsep recsepchar serveroutput show showmode sqlcase sqlcontinue sqlnumber sqlprefix sqlprompt suffix tab termout term time timing trim trimout underline verify wrap
Once we're done, save the file under the Textpad Home system directory ( usually C:\Program Files\ Textpad n\System ( where n is the version of Textpad you're using).
Step 2 – Setup a New Document Class
Open Textpad and select the Configure menu then New Document Class. You'll then get a series of dialog boxes to step through.
Specify the class name as PL/SQL
Class members – the file extensions for which this definition file is to be used (*.sql, *.fnc, *.pkb, *.pks, *.prc, *.trg, *.tbl)
Check Enable Syntax Highlighting
Syntax Definition File :
select plsql.syn from the drop-down
Finally, hit Finish.
Step 3 – Configure the PL/SQL Class
Close and restart Textpad.
In the Configure menu, select Preferences
Select Document Classes from the Tree in the left hand pane
PL/SQL should be there.
In the Document class options, you can set further preferences, mine are usually :
Maintain indentation
Word wrapped text : Save with no breaks in lines
Default encoding : ANSI
Create new files as : PC
If the mood takes you, you can also specify the colours to be used for each class of keyword you specified in the definition file. I usually leave them at the default ( but then, I never was artistic).
When it comes to running code written in Textpad, I usually just run a command line from within Textpad( Tools/Run then cmd in the command dialog) and start a sqlplus session.
The command session starts in the same directory as the saved file in focus in Textpad, which is handy for making quick edits as you can just switch between Textpad and the command prompt.


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OK, I'm sure the formula wouldn't have been changed if it wasn't for making it better. But, honestly, what is the difference in the new/old other than ingredients? What does new GB do differently? I have noticed the huge supply of B6/B12!
*Also, IWhen I was using GM, I used half the scoop pre with WF and the other half of scoop post with protein/carb shake. Would it be cool to take a dose of GB pre and a dose post? Thanks.


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It serves them right to suffer. While some of us sat scratching our arses from the comfort of our living rooms, occasionally pushing the red button to keep Jo Whiley at bay, some idiots actually went to Glastonbury. But we're not bitter. No. It would have been nice to have an invite, but that's all history now. Here, DiS's Ben Patashnik, Joshua Cole and Georgina Terry attempt to fashion coherent narratives from their weekends of mud-soaked madness…
Further coverage to follow...
Ben Patashnik
Friday brings doom and greyness, and that's just Johnny Marr's face. Over on the ever-gargantuan Pyramid Stage Bloc Party are attempting to bring a bit of menace to Worthy Farm and come up with a surprisingly energetic set. Opener 'Song For Clay' swoops and crashes accordingly, and as thousands of pairs of lungs bellow "East London is a vampire / It sucks the life right out of me" it becomes clear that they're playing to a very partisan crowd.
As Arcade Fire kick off with a couple of the stronger moments from Neon Bible, 'Black Mirror' and 'No Cars Go', some of the crowd get a touch restless, even though the asymmetrical chaos onstage is translated into a brilliantly huge sound out front. Then the good shit happens. Lots of big-hitting tunes off Funeral means that, as the last light ebbs away, everyone becomes entirely transfixed by the insanity of a bunch of adults running around like kids, banging the hell out of whatever instruments they can find, to create something of pure majesty.
Then it's over to Glade for the mighty Squarepusher. He doesn't play much of his 'difficult' material, instead choosing to concentrate on the mentally fast d'n'b that makes people dance like complete idiots, but it doesn't matter – everyone surrounded by these illuminated trees is simply having it in a way that is completely alien to fucking Kasabian or The Twang. Euphoric bliss.
Saturday comes, and it's basically mud, mud, mud mud mud and more mud. But The Bees are doing their best to bring a bit of psychedelic ska to the Jazzworld, and they succeed, at least partially. 'The Chicken Payback' raises more than a few smiles, but it's the more languid material that gets the best response, mainly because it's easier to bob and sway rather than actually skank.
Then shit gets weird. For some reason, Guillemots try to terrify everyone not perfectly sober by bringing out three dancing girls on stilts who just end up being more than a little disconcerting. Fyfe Dangerfield pinballs around the stage, almost with glee as the swelling crowd sings his lyrics back even louder, but on today's evidence their attempts to create chaotic walls of complementary sound haven't quite reached maturity yet. But John Fogerty, formerly of Creedence Clearwater Revival, has one thing to say. "I don't know much about makin' speeches, I just know rock 'n' roll," he drawls, and by the power of Greyskull, he's right. A flawless set of pure nostalgia to make everyone within earshot consider growing a flowing beard and pouring as much booze down their neck as is medically possible.
On Sunday, Cold War Kids attempt to get things moving on The Other Stage, but all the atmosphere they're trying to create is swallowed up by the vast setting, as well as the fact that everyone keeps looking upwards and asking, "Is it raining? It is? Shit, better skin up now, then." Funnily enough, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. suffers a slow start but somehow marshals any remaining goodwill left onsite and focuses it into a set that liberally bursts with goodwill. The mass sing-along that greets closer 'The Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager Part II' warms the heart more than a dozen Pilton Porkers.
Sunday night means Billy Bragg at the Left Field. With a more powerful set than usual, he plays the achingly beautiful 'Tank Park Salute' in tribute to Alan Miles' recently deceased father, a move that is almost unbearably poignant. But then the righteous sing-along begins, and rolling out 'There Is Power In A Union', 'To Have and to Have Not' and 'A Lover Sings' turns the entire tent into a sea of raised cider cups. Billy Bragg _is_ Glastonbury through and through, and while the majority of music fans sneer at anyone seeking to make any kind of political statement, Bragg reminds us that the power to fight injustice lies within reach, without ever slipping into cliché. When did Björk ever do that?
To close, a bunch of hoary old blokes sleepwalking through some half-decent tunes. Or not. The Who more than justify their billing as the biggest draw for the entire festival by strutting around with the energy of bands a third their age. Daltrey's voice is strong enough to carry all the way to the back of the field and watching Townshend enthusiastically windmilling through 'Won't Get Fooled Again' as the rain hoons down yet again is a true joy. Brilliant.
Joshua Cole
Perhaps it was the depth of mud, quantity of rain and very rubbish choice of headliners. Equally it could have been the not pooing for nearly four days. Or maybe it was a result of the undisputed blanket attitude that YOU WILL HAVE FUN AT GLASTONBURY. Because. You just will. We're all in it together. It's Glastonbury, man. Enlightenment is practically a given. Whatever the cause, I'd be lying if I said I had that much fun in Pilton.
After Simian Mobile Disco's failure to materialise for their 'secret' Thursday set at Q's new Queen's Head tent ('Biggest Pub in Britain' my arse), the first band I catch are The Cribs. Sure they are partially enjoyable, but I still cannot see how they are much more than a mild improvement on the dirge of Views-Fratellis-Automatics-Kooks et al clogging up the bill.
Judging by her stilted appearance in front of a dauntingly large Pyramid Stage audience, Amy Winehouse is either cripplingly nervous or coked up to her rolling eyeballs. It is hard to not be fascinated by such a striking figure, particularly as she is backed by some genuinely excellent music. Then it's a mud rush to catch eight-piece New Yorkers !!!, who are absolutely incredible. Twice. From the tongue-in-cheek homoeroticism between the two captivating frontmen to their unashamedly dance crescendos, !!! are a rare live treat. "Now go tell all your friends who the best fucking band you saw at Glastonbury was!" shouts frontman Nic Offer. And he's completely right.
The result of a !!! show is that whatever follows is involuntarily sapped of life. And so it goes. Watching The New Pornographers, usually so full of stomping joy and energy, is like a bad comedown. The band unwittingly come across like they have overdosed on herbal tea and custard creams, and it's all !!!'s fault. Only blissful Lion King-esque set-closer 'The Bleeding Heart Show' successfully relights my fire.
When Saturday comes, fuck knows why Lily Allen is on the Pyramid Stage before Paolo Nutini. Allen is class, whatever you say, and in addition to performing all her sumptuous carousel Strawberry Pop-Tart tunes, she also unexpectedly reunites The Specials' Lynval Golding and a morbid Terri Hall for a rendition of classic track 'Gangsters'. Meanwhile, Maximo Park emerge to something of a heroes' welcome. It seems their cruel_ NME _rejection has only gone and separated wheat from chaff, fans from scenesters, and their whole set is one united sing-along.
So it wasn't all bad I suppose. It's just that blasted insistence on some non-existent magical collective festival-spirit mindset that irritates so much. It's bullshit. But then I danced on a urinal with Banksy, made love to Lily Allen in her swan suit as Stephen Merchant watched, climbed Stonehenge at dawn on a bike with Doherty, went and dived headfirst into ten feet of mud before taking acid in a flooded tent with pregnant triplets, a 90-year-old World War One veteran who has been coming to Somerset since 1876, and a hairy Michael Eavis.
Georgina Terry
After an afternoon spent looking at cows, guzzling organic wine, experimenting with she-pees (who ever knew that writing one's own name in piddle was quite so satisfying, other than boys?), and what will be referred to now as the 'incident with security' but must never be referred to again, it's time for Kasabian on the Pyramid Stage.
And golly, they look good. Both Serge and Tom, confident in cardigans, stride across the stage as if they own it. Yes, their anthems are pretty much interchangeable, but belted out across the Pilton countryside they have a swagger and confidence normally only achieved after many visits to the pear cider stall. And they seem to have recruited Noddy Holder on drums. Fantastic.
Arctic Monkeys, meanwhile, look nervous headlining the main stage, Alex's "ladies and gentlemen" tic revealing the tension beneath their newly-buff exterior. But what could possibly go wrong for Sheffield's new favourite sons? They've got the tunes, they've got a legion of fans; heck, they've even got a cover of 'Diamonds are Forever'. What the Pyramid Stage hasn't got though is reliable sound. Dizzee Rascal comes on for his verse of 'Temptation Greets You like Your Naughty Friend' and he can't be heard at all. For a large portion of the set, only bass can be heard on the left side of the stage. What a shame.
Saturday, and CSS on the Other Stage are an exciting proposition. Again, the sound quality isn't brilliant, but their high-energy electro tomfoolery is infectious, and the whole crowd dances about in the mud.
Calvin Harris in the John Peel tent is the most worthwhile trek of the whole weekend: Resplendent in a white tracksuit top with his own face emblazoned across the front, he and his band of merry midgets and both endearingly shy and triumphantly battered. If all the girls like Beck cocktails shaken by Les Rhythms Digitales then it's no wonder he gets them. Truly fabulous fun.
While the above DiSsers were muddying themselves up in Somerset, a half-dozen others were packing for Hove, in Norway. The full Hove review will be up soon, but for the meantime check our blog HERE. It didn't rain quite so much in Norway…
Lead image and wide shot of Glastonbury sky courtesy of Richard Poulton; all band photography by Andrew Future


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by Sarah Baldwin
Date published: June 6th, 2011
Soon after I discovered Waldorf education, I had a conversation with a friend whose daughter, like my son, was approaching kindergarten age. We lived in Los Angeles, where getting one's child into the "right" kindergarten had as much significance as getting accepted to Harvard or Yale.
"Have you considered the Waldorf School?" I asked her.
"Oh, we looked at it, but ruled it out because they don't believe in books. We are a family of readers," she emphasized.
I was taken aback. Did my friend think that my husband I, both college graduates, didn't value books or reading?
I knew that reading wasn't formally taught in a Waldorf kindergarten, and I'd heard that children created their own textbooks, but in all my research, I'd never heard that Waldorf schools were anti-books. I would soon learn that this was one of many common misconceptions about Waldorf education.
In the coming years, I not only enrolled my son in the Waldorf school, but I also enrolled myself in Waldorf teacher training and came to a deeper understanding of how reading is taught. I hope that the insights I've gained will help some of you who may be considering Waldorf education.
The Evolution of Language
In the evolution of humanity, spoken language developed first. Then came written language, originally through symbols (think hieroglyphics). Finally, once there was a written language, people learned to read.
This is exactly the sequence in which children master language, and so is the sequence in which reading is taught in Waldorf education. From birth to age seven, the focus is on the spoken word.
The children hear stories – nursery rhymes, nature stories, folktales and fairy tales. Teachers are careful to use the original language of fairy tales without "dumbing them down" or simplifying the language. The teacher is careful to use clear speech and to enunciate. This will help children later when it comes time to learn to write and spell.
In early childhood, language is taught through story time and circle time: songs, verses, rhymes and poems are all incorporated. It may look like play, but language skills are being developed daily.
Because the same circle time sequence is repeated daily for 2-3 weeks at a time, children learn the songs and verses "by heart," and will retain them for life.
Rudolf Steiner, founder of Waldorf education, stressed the importance of repetition when he developed the first Waldorf School in Germany in the 1920's. Current brain research confirms that repetition aids a child's brain development. The connections of billions of neural pathways in the brain are strengthened through repeated experiences.
A visitor to a Waldorf kindergarten might notice the children are not being taught the ABC's. They are not given worksheets, nor do they practice reading from books. But we Waldorf teachers know that language skills are being built through the repetition of stories, songs and verses. We are preparing children to read and write through the spoken word.
On the other hand, that same observer is likely to be impressed by the children's precocious verbal abilities, their impressive vocabulary, and the number of poems and stories that they can recite by heart.
In addition to our work with speech, we work on building a child's fine motor skills—through activities such drawing, finger knitting and sewing—to prepare children for the next stage of language development: writing.
It is during first grade in a Waldorf School when the alphabet is formally introduced, but in an imaginative, pictorial way. Think again of hieroglyphics. Each letter of the alphabet is introduced as a symbol, representing an element from a story the children are told. For example, they might hear the story of a knight on a quest who had to cross mountains and a valley. The children will then draw a picture with the letter "M" forming the Mountains on either side of the "V" for Valley.
In this way, the child develops a living relationship with each letter and the written word. It is not dry and abstract. Writing is taught in a way that engages the child's imagination.
After learning all the letters, the next step is to copy the teacher's writing. Typically the children will recite a poem together until it is learned by heart.
Then the teacher will write the poem on the board, and the children will copy it into their "main lesson books," the books that children in a Waldorf school create themselves.
Because the children already know the poem and they have learned the alphabet, they will begin to make connections. "Oh, this must spell "brown bear" because both these words start with "B" and those are the first two words of the poem!"
The final step is learning to read, which generally starts in second grade and continues into third grade.
It is important to know that reading requires decoding skills that develop in children at varying ages. In Waldorf education we understand that learning to read will unfold naturally in its own time when a child is given the proper support.
Just as a normal, healthy child will learn to walk without our teaching her, and just as a child miraculously learns to speak her native language by the age of three without lessons, worksheets or a dictionary, so will a child naturally learn to read when she has a positive relationship with the spoken and written word.
Yes, it is true that early readers and textbooks are generally not used in Waldorf education. Instead, the children are fed real literature starting in the earliest years.
Once students are fully reading, they turn to original source texts such as classic literature and biographies, and students will read many great books throughout their grade school years. What they avoid are early readers of the "See Spot run" variety, and dry, lifeless textbooks.
My Children
It can be hard to trust that this system works, especially when your child's public school peers are reading at 5, 6 or 7. But I offer you the example of my two sons.
My younger son Will taught himself to read in kindergarten. My older son Harper wasn't fully reading until third grade. Yet, for each of them, once the decoding skill was unlocked, they became voracious and insatiable readers, consuming piles of books for pleasure throughout their childhood. In high school, Harper scored in the 98th percentile for reading on the SAT.
The age at which they learned to read had no bearing on their lifetime love of reading. However, I believe that the way they were educated had everything to do with it.
Thinking again of my old friend, I wish I knew then what I know now, and could have corrected her misguided perception. Perhaps her children, like mine, might have reaped the bounteous fruits of Waldorf education.
Source: http://blog.bellalunatoys.com/2011/waldorf-reading.html


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In a two-week period when Rep. Joe Wilson heckled the President on live prime-time television, and singer Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at an awards show, I'm not surprised that reader Karen Saverino wants to know more about "handling 'difficult' audience members. Hecklers are everywhere these days it seems!"
Heckling can happen in all sorts of speaker settings and it's good to think through how you'll respond, so you can seize and defuse the heckler's main weapon: surprise. And while you're unlikely to experience the kinds of high-visibility heckling seen in recent days, there are still lessons to learn from the experiences of President Obama and Taylor Swift:
- Let the heckler show you what to do. In the video above, Kanye West inadvertently shares a tip with you: When the heckler turns the stage back to you, take it and run with it. In answer to Jay Leno's question, "When did you know you were wrong...when did it strike you?", Kanye said "As soon as I gave the mic back to her and she didn't keep going..." Smooth answer for Kanye, good idea for Taylor Swift, who might have just said "And now back to our regular programming..." as a television-oriented and gentle joke, or even "As Kanye said, it's an honor for me to be among such talented nominees." In the same vein, if the heckler's rude, you get extremely polite; if angry, you stay calm and pleasant. Take your cues on the fly by paying attention to the heckler, not your distressed audience.
- Keep moving. Admittedly, when you're the President of the United States giving a prime-time talk to a joint session of Congress, this works fine--protocol's clearly on your side. But there are plenty of other formal situations any speaker might experience where protocol supports the "just keep going" theory of handling hecklers (think a major assembly, formal small-c congress of a membership organization, or another highly structured event, ceremony or graduation). It's a gamble that, by not missing a beat, you can marginalize the interruption. Advantage: You look calm and cool. Risk: The heckler will keep at it until acknowledged, requiring a shift in tactics. In this case, you're subtly relying on the combination of the formal setting and audience disapproval to keep things under control.
- Don't debate. Anticipate. You're not there for an unscheduled debate, so don't waste time arguing with or contradicting the heckler directly. Instead of taking the 'bate, so to speak, you'd do better to work the heckler into your remarks on the fly -- "Yes, indeed, tempers are high on this point. But I still believe..." or "That's exactly the kind of anger I'm talking about."
- At the same time, don't be afraid to disagree. Do it calmly and without a show of anxiety or anger, and, if you can, let the heckler say her piece. Then feel free to say, "I hear what you're saying, and I've heard it in many settings. But I disagree, because..." and restate your message. Then move on. (In Q&A sessions, you'll see a more polite version of this, from a pointed questioner who's challenging your central points. Listen, acknowledge the strong feeling, then feel free to disagree--it's a powerful way to underscore your message.)
Finally, if the situation allows for it, making an effort to let the audience talk and contribute might well eliminate the heckler's need to heckle.
Part of the trick here is to defuse the impact of the heckler without doing so in the same tone and manner that the heckler used. While the first impulse might be to argue with or mock the heckler, that just gets you caught up into the distraction. Thinking ahead of time about who might heckle and how, and some calm, controlled ways to respond, are the speaker's best course of action. Related posts: Graceful ways with Q&A
More on handling difficult questions
Convey power without the "pow!"
How to listen to audience questions


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Turkey Is Trying to Dictate to Armenia
By Lee Jay Walker
Tokyo Correspondent – THE SEOUL TIMES
|Turkish military
The passages of time never heal completely when such crimes have been committed and the aggressor refuses to either admit to such barbaric crimes or makes lame excuses all the time. Despite this, Armenia entered talks with Turkey in the hope of solving long held problems and in the need to stabilize the region.
However, leaders in Turkey are still trying to dictate and they are putting pre-conditions down on a conflict which is outside their remit. This applies to the ongoing crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh and the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Yet this issue involves Armenia and Azerbaijan and it is not up to Turkey to decide the fate of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Yes, Turkey, just like the Russian Federation and Iran, and other regional nations and nations who are also concerned about this issue, does have a right to be concerned about regional problems but it must be "an honest broker" and not dictatorial. After all, would Turkey be happy if Armenia stated that Turkey must handover land to the Kurds or return land to the Armenians, Assyrians, and other ethnic groups who were "cleansed" in the early 20th century?
It also must be remembered that Turkish military forces are still based throughout northern Cyprus and this is the problem with Turkey. For it appears that the leaders of Turkey suffer from historical amnesia. Also, nationalism is still a potent force within the major institutions of Turkey.
If we look at the founding father of modern day Turkey, Kemal Ataturk, then it is clear that he himself supported the destruction of Christianity via the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Christian genocide of 1915. Therefore, it is clear that Turkish nationalism and secularism is tainted by its anti-Christian nature and also its anti-Kurdish nature. After all, the nation state of Turkey was about Turkish nationalism and secularism did not protect the religious or ethnic minorities of this diverse nation.
Some people in Turkey play "the religious card" and ply the mantra of Muslim brotherhood. However, this is also hollow because tens of thousands of mainly Muslim Kurds have been killed over the last few decades and many Kurdish villages were also destroyed. Also, the Alevi are a Muslim minority group in Turkey and they also face discrimination and massacres have taken place against them from time to time, for example in 1993 you had the Sivas massacre when radical Sunni Islamists killed many innocent people.
Turning back to recent times the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Eduard Nalbandian, was very frank about the ongoing problem with Turkey. He stated that "Had there been preconditions, we would not have started this process and reached agreements in the first place." Nalbandian continued by stating that "If one of the parties is creating artificial obstacles, dragging out things, that means it is assuming responsibility for the failure of this process," and this can be seen to be a tacit warning to Turkey about the ongoing problems involving Armenia and Turkey.
However, the Prime Minister of Turkey, Tayyip Erdogan, stated in October 2009 that "Turkey cannot take a positive step towards Armenia unless Armenia withdraws from Azerbaijani land […] if that issue is solved our people and our parliament will have a more positive attitude towards this protocol and this process."
Erdogan also stated that "We will bring the protocol to parliament but parliament has to see the conditions between Azerbaijan and Armenia to decide whether this protocol can be implemented."
Yet according to Alexander Iskandaryan, director of the Caucasus Media Institute in Yerevan, he makes it clear that "The Turkish side needs to play to its domestic audience. Erdogan and other political figures have made such statements often enough […] It's a fact that neither the word Karabakh nor Azerbaijan appears in the documents that were signed."
Nalbandian also commented in January 2010 that "If Turkey takes a step back, then this will be not only a violation of the agreements with Armenia but will demonstrate that it is not respecting the international community's opinion, with all resulting consequences and the loss of credibility in the first instance." He continued by stating that "Armenia, on the other hand, will — let's not say win — not lose anything that we had before this process."
Therefore, outside nations need to put more pressure on Turkey in order for "a new chapter" to begin between Armenia and Turkey. The Nagorno-Karabakh issue is indeed serious, however, this dispute is between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the people of Nagorno-Karabakh. Also, the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis must be resolved by all the parties involved and by both regional and global institutions which have a vested interest in solving this complex problem.
However, the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis is a separate issue and Turkey can't claim otherwise because this issue was outside the signed agreement between Armenia and Turkey.
The genocide of Armenians and other Christians in 1915 is an historical fact and the same applies to massacres which took place before and after this date. Turkey can never erase this history, however, this nation can start "a fresh chapter" which is based on sincerity and genuine friendship with Armenia.
Therefore, do the leaders of Turkey desire friendship and honesty or is nationalism too embedded within the mindset of the political elites of this nation?


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