New Photos of Kate Middleton Spark Royal Outrage

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="headline-author" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 92px;"><div style="border: 0px; clear: both; color: #888888; font: inherit; line-height: normal; padding: 0px 0px 16px; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By</span> ABC News</div></div><div class="date" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #888888; font-family: Arial; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 3px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 533px;">Feb 13, 2013 2:41pm</div><div class="wp-caption alignnone" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; margin: 10px 0px 0px 110px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 488px;"><img alt="gty middleton mi 130212 wblog New Photos of Kate Middleton Spark Royal Outrage" height="269" src="http://abcnews.go.com/images/Entertainment/gty_middleton_mi_130212_wblog.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-size: 14px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" title="An Italian magazine has published photos of a pregnant Kate Middleton wearing a bikini while vacationing on Mustique island in the Caribbean." width="478" /></div><div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">ABC News’ Carolyn Durand reports:</strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong>The same <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/kate-middleton-topless-photos-reportedly-published/story?id=17273174" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #30659c; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Italian magazine that last year published photos</a> of<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2013/01/women-seek-plastic-surgery-to-get-look-of-kate-middletons-nose/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #30659c; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> Kate Middleton </a>reportedly sunbathing topless while on vacation with her husband, Prince William, has now released photos of the now-pregnant Duchess of Cambridge.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chi published the photos of the 31-year-old Middleton wearing a blue bikini that showed a barely rounded lower belly.  <a href="http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/katepedia-vogue-dissects-kate-middletons-style-143240925--abc-news-fashion-and-beauty.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #30659c; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Middleton and </a><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/International/prince-william-spends-news-years-morning-daring-rescue/story?id=18112339" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #30659c; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">Prince William</a> were on vacation on the exclusive Caribbean island of Mustique in St. Vincent and the Grenadines when the photos were taken.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/kate-middleton-topless-french-court-blocks-photos/story?id=17259192&singlePage=true#.UFoDKpF63To" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #30659c; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">READ MORE: French Court Blocks Kate Middleton Topless Photos</a></strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">St. James’s Palace, which took media outlets to court last year for the vacation photos, quickly issued a statement denouncing the publication of the photos.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/slideshow/kate-middleton-wimbledon-alexander-mcQueen-12598288" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #30659c; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">PHOTOS: The Life and Times of Kate Middleton</a></strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We are disappointed that photographs of the duke and duchess on a private holiday look likely to be published overseas,” a spokesman for the duke and duchess told ABC News.  “This is a clear breach of the couple’s right to privacy.”</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chi is published under the Mondadori publishing house owned by former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Chi is also the same magazine that, in 1997, published photos of Princess Diana’s dying in a tunnel in Paris after a high-speed car chase with paparazzi that ended in her death at age 36.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Everybody is entitled to privacy, but it’s just different when you’re a royal,” said Victoria Arbiter, royal contributor for ABC News.  “They all crave normality, but they’re not just like everybody else.”</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://gma.yahoo.com/video/gma-kate-middleton-due-date-080000691.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #30659c; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">VIDEO: Kate Middleton Due Date Revealed</a></strong></div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The British media, as well as ABC News, have declined to publish the new photos of a pregnant Middleton but today the  Australian magazine Woman’s Day says it will follow Chi’s lead and publish the pictures.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“It wasn’t a hard decision to run these photos,” said the magazine’s editor, Fiona Connolly.  “Kate is on a public beach.  There are other holiday-makers there and she looks fabulous.”</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The island where the royal couple was vacationing, Mustique, prohibits paparazzi.  Middleton and Prince William were also staying in a private villa on private property when the photos were taken.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Middleton, pregnant with the couple’s first child and expected to give birth in July, has only recently begun to show her baby bump after a difficult start to her pregnancy.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia; font: inherit; line-height: 20px; padding: 15px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2013/01/the-royal-bump-day-by-day/" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgb(255, 94, 153); color: #30659c; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">MORE:  The Royal Bump, Day by Day</a></strong></div></div></div>

Kate Middleton New Photos of Kate Middleton Spark Royal Outrage

By  ABC News Feb 13, 2013 2:41pm ABC News’ Carolyn Durand reports: The same  Italian magazine that last year published photos  of  Kate Midd...

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Everyone wants an affenpinscher after Westminster win

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="byline" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By Emily Jane Fox </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><a class="soc-twtname" href="https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=cnnmoney" style="border: 0px; color: #004276; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">@CNNMoney</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="cnnDateStamp" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">February 13, 2013: 2:56 PM ET</span><br /><span class="cnnDateStamp" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img src="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/dam/assets/130213053805-affenpinschers-westminster-620xa.jpg" /></span><br /><span class="cnnDateStamp" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Banana Joe became the first affenpinscher to be named Best in Show at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.</span></span><br /><span class="cnnDateStamp" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><div class="cnnStorySource" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #999999; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">NEW YORK (CNNMoney)</div><h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Banana Joe took home the top award at the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/12/living/gallery/dog-breeds-westminster/index.html?hpt=hp_bn11&iid=EL" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #004276; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show</a> on Tuesday night. But the real winners may turn out to be dog breeders that sell black-furred, scrunchy-faced affenpinschers, like Joey.</h2><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Within a half hour of the big win, I already had quite a few emails from people looking for affenpinschers," said Jude Daley, president of the Affenpinscher Club of America. She breeds the rare toy dogs in South Hampton, New Hampshire. Her pups go for $2,500 a pop.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">"It is exciting to have people knocking on your door to buy puppies from you," she said.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">It's always a big deal for dog breeds that win the highly coveted "Best in Show" title in New York each year. But it's particularly so for the small, close-knit affenpinscher community.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Daley said there are about 100 members in the club and only 15 breeders, each of whom don't sell more than a couple of puppies a year.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Affenpinscher means "monkey terrier'" in German, according to the American Kennel Club, and it is nicknamed "the little devil with a moustache." They have been competing at Westminster for 75 years, but an affen has never taken home the top honors before this year.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Breeders say affenpinschers go for an average of $2,000. Because the dogs are so rare, breeders often travel out of the country to find suitable mates. This leaves affen-seekers waiting for months or even years.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">"People like that they're rare. Everyone's into owning something that's elite and a little different," Daley said.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Donna Wolfe, a volunteer with Affenpinscher Rescue, has gotten nearly 10 inquiries about available affens since Tuesday night. Usually, she sees one or two a week.</div><div class="IE_bodyVid" id="vid0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; height: 386px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620px;"><br /><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">Requests are also flooding in to Lisa Ferris, who has bred affens for 16 years in Kerrville, Tex. She usually sells about one per year for around $1,900. She doesn't plan to increase her price.</div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">"It's really great for the affen community, but we're going to be protective of our breed and make sure they go to the right owners, and I've always kept my prices steady," she said.</div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">The wait may be long and the price tag hefty, but Ferris says it's worth it.</div><div style="border: 0px; font-family: Lato, Arial, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: baseline;">"They're like potato chips: You can never have just one," she says. <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2013/02/13/news/westminster-affenpinscher-dog/?iid=EL#TOP" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #004276; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="To top of page" border="0" height="7" src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/money/images/bug.gif" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="7" /></a></div><br style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" /><div class="storytimestamp" style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">First Published: February 13, 2013: 2:14 PM ET</div></div></div></div>

affenpinscher Everyone wants an affenpinscher after Westminster win

By Emily Jane Fox  @CNNMoney   February 13, 2013: 2:56 PM ET Banana Joe became the first affenpinscher to be named Best in Show at the Westm...

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Vintage piano given Valentine's Day deadline

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px;">A musician has been ordered to remove the 90-year-old instrument from a bluff top in Half Moon Bay. After a last performance, he plans to burn the piano Sunday.</h2><div><img alt="Bluff-top piano" src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-511c5e81/turbine/la-1358485-me-0213-piano6-wjs.jpg-20130213/580/580x357" /></div><div><span style="background-color: #f2f2f2; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px;">Artist Mauro Ffortissimo plays the piano for a crowd in Half Moon Bay, Calif. City officials have given him until Thursday to remove the piano from its perch overlooking the ocean. </span><span class="credit" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px;">(<span class="photographer">Wally Skalij, Los Angeles Times</span> / <span class="dateMonth">February </span><span class="dateDay">14</span><span class="dateYear">, 2013</span>)</span><br /><div class="articlerail" style="background-color: white; clear: both; float: left; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 234px; z-index: 4;"><div class="articleRelates module" style="border: 1px solid rgb(231, 231, 231); margin: 0px 0px 30px; padding: 10px 10px 0px;"><ul style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li class="newRelatedItem useBullet" style="clear: both; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-sunset-piano-photos-20130213,0,1743138.photogallery" style="clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: block; text-decoration: none; width: auto;" target="">Photos: Sunset piano</a></li><li class="newRelatedItem" style="clear: both; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-john-beasley-blue-whale-20121221,0,6417697.story" style="clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: block; text-decoration: none; width: 212px;" target=""><img alt="Jazz pianist John Beasley to have January residency at Blue Whale" height="105" src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-50d4e770/turbine/la-et-ms-john-beasley-blue-whale-20121221/187/187x105" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-right: 5px; padding-right: 8px;" title="Jazz pianist John Beasley to have January residency at Blue Whale" width="187" /></a><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-john-beasley-blue-whale-20121221,0,6417697.story" style="clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: block; text-decoration: none; width: 212px;" target="">Jazz pianist John Beasley to have January residency at Blue Whale</a></li><li class="newRelatedItem" style="clear: both; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-alexandre-tharaud-pianist-20130109,0,7098339.story" style="clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: block; text-decoration: none; width: 212px;" target=""><img alt="Pianist Alexandre Tharaud brings haunting mood to 'Amour'" height="105" src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-50ecd6b4/turbine/la-et-cm-alexandre-tharaud-pianist-20130109-thumbnail/187/187x105" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-right: 5px; padding-right: 8px;" title="Pianist Alexandre Tharaud brings haunting mood to 'Amour'" width="187" /></a><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-alexandre-tharaud-pianist-20130109,0,7098339.story" style="clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: block; text-decoration: none; width: 212px;" target="">Pianist Alexandre Tharaud brings haunting mood to 'Amour'</a></li><li class="newRelatedItem" style="clear: both; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-piano-named-sapphire-pictures-20121217,0,4779659.photogallery" style="clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: block; text-decoration: none; width: 212px;" target=""><img alt="A piano named Sapphire" height="105" src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-50cf8241/turbine/la-me-piano-named-sapphire-pictures-20121217/187/187x105" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-right: 5px; padding-right: 8px;" title="A piano named Sapphire" width="187" /></a><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-piano-named-sapphire-pictures-20121217,0,4779659.photogallery" style="clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: block; text-decoration: none; width: 212px;" target="">Photos: A piano named Sapphire</a></li><li class="newRelatedItem" style="clear: both; list-style: none outside none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px;"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-charles-rosen-pianist-20121211,0,6006152.story" style="clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: block; text-decoration: none; width: 212px;" target=""><img alt="Charles Rosen, pianist and author, dies at 85" height="105" src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-50c76da1/turbine/la-et-cm-charles-rosen-pianist-20121211/187/187x105" style="border: 0px; display: block; float: left; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-right: 5px; padding-right: 8px;" title="Charles Rosen, pianist and author, dies at 85" width="187" /></a><a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-charles-rosen-pianist-20121211,0,6006152.story" style="clear: both; color: rgb(0, 0, 0) !important; display: block; text-decoration: none; width: 212px;" target="">Charles Rosen, pianist and author, dies at 85</a></li></ul></div></div><div class="konafilter pm-ad tpl02 " id="pmad-rail" style="background-color: white; 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cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><span class="headline" style="display: inline; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Advertising on YouTube</span></a><span class="desc" style="display: block; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13pt; margin: 8px 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">Reach more viewers and boost sales with AdWords for video.</span><a href="http://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=C6RqvNpEcUcC0MY3KkwTonYDADrTZmp0DpJ2qozCUsbH_jgEQASDHip4IUKzzncf-_____wFgyfbshsijkBmgAcyjyuIDyAEBqAMBqgSdAU_QVt-laQcsgAg2H8joEL_1edVvKfe0u5Q34RZGwyhEomF6NpXkd3lmB6Au_G3qiM-gbfTmZXt9oDWAkzNYgYNu5X9ySpsqQOaVd3y2H3QT-2Q2SaLKyjAoKP6nxterVJqVpb1kcykWhd4wUAqo3qylUasgyqp1WZFJBWPDhX2YUbuuzG6rCltCCevJIs7-tEvUEbR6vq5u3JoqYqWIBgGAB5zctR0&num=1&cid=5Gg5Z1bBQPvYqEqLF7ieb7KT&sig=AOD64_0HRRcddTlsm2ccFDfy6io5SDa_Yg&client=ca-pub-0227802054925200&adurl=http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk%3B261565189%3B85758330%3Bv" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><span class="dispurl" style="color: #2262cc; display: inline; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 13pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">adwords.google.com/video</span></a></li></ul><div class="clearboth" style="clear: both; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"></div></div></div></div><span class="toolSet" style="background-color: white; display: inline-block; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-right: -50px; margin-top: 6px; width: 335px;"><div class="byline" style="color: #292727; float: left; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px;"><span class="byline" style="display: block;">By Maria L. La Ganga, Los Angeles Times</span><div class="date" style="color: #930000; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; margin-top: 3px; padding: 0px;"><span class="dateString" style="display: inline;">February 13, 2013</span><span class="dateTimeSeparator" style="border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; color: white; display: inline; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-left: 6px;">, </span><span class="timeString" style="display: inline; text-transform: lowercase;">10:25 p.m.</span></div></div><div class="clear" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></div></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px;"></span><div id="story-body-text" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.43; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">HALF MOON BAY, Calif. — The piano was delivered to its bluff-top perch under cover of fog nearly two weeks ago. It is scheduled to leave this coastal enclave in a burst of flames on Sunday.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">In between the fog and the fire, musician and sculptor Mauro Ffortissimo has been treating his neighbors to an illicit outdoor concert series grandly dubbed Sunset Piano. Chopin, Debussy, a tango or two. The performances are timed to end the moment the sun sinks below the horizon.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">He plays to cyclists and dog walkers, babies in strollers, his landlady in a folding chair, the charmed, the perplexed. Every night the battered baby grand has sounded just a little bit worse as the elements erode the aging, al fresco instrument. Every night, the audience has grown.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">Ffortissimo (not his real name, but you probably figured that out already) had hoped to serenade the residents of Half Moon Bay for a month. But it didn't take long for reality to intrude on the 50-year-old artist's well-laid plans.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">Two days after Ffortissimo and friends rolled the piano out to a scenic spit of city land, a code enforcement officer sent a warning via email. Someone had complained.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">No permit, no piano.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">The 90-year-old Estey "<em>appears</em> to be an unauthorized encroachment onto public property," wrote Lamonte Mack. If you can't prove the installation is authorized, he told Ffortissimo, "please remove the piano — and platform —<em>within 10 (ten) days</em>."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">That made the deadline Valentine's Day, an occasion to celebrate love, if not misplaced musical instruments.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">The artist legally known as Mauro Dinucci has taken the bad news in stride. Asked about the end of the piano during Tuesday night's crowded concert, he crowed: "Woo, hoo! Valentine's Day! Bring chocolate!" and promised that "before we burn this baby, we give it one last boat ride."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">Thursday will be the piano's last scheduled bluff-side concert along the Coastside Trail at the end of Kelly Avenue. Friday, Ffortissimo said, he has been invited to play the instrument at the Half Moon Bay Yacht Club.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">Saturday he'll give a sunset performance on the water, a nod to the piano's earlier owners who once sent it from California to Panama and back by sea. Sunday he plans to set the piano ablaze in the flower-strewn field behind his studio.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">"The idea of the burning," Ffortissimo said, "is a cremation, to liberate the piano from its physical form … I just hope it won't be a 'Spare the Air' day."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">Not everyone is as happy as Ffortissimo about the piano's upcoming freedom.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">Mayor Rick Kowalczyk, who has yet to hear the Sunset Piano himself, said he was trying to "see if I can't get something done in the short term to allow Mauro to stay." Kicking the Estey off of the bluff, he said, "feels a little bit like a child has a lemonade stand and the city shuts it down."</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">On Tuesday evening, more than 100 music lovers gathered round as the sun — and the temperature — dropped. Two women danced together on the grass. Wine was sipped and beer chugged. Children ate cold pizza. Shorebirds glided by.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">Far away from Half Moon Bay, <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/government/barack-obama-PEPLT007408.topic" id="PEPLT007408" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;" title="Barack Obama">President Obama</a> was preparing to give his <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/politics/government/state-of-the-union-address-EVGAP00063.topic" id="EVGAP00063" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;" title="State of the Union Address">State of the Union</a>address. Christopher Dorner was thought to be shooting it out with police.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">But here on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Susan Swanson of Redwood City poured white wine from a blue metal flask as Ffortissimo played Albinoni's "Adagio in G Minor." She'd read about the piano performance in the local newspaper, she said, "and it's the kind of news I like to read — good news.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">"This to me is everything," said the trying-to-retire office manager. "It's a perfect moment. Once in a lifetime maybe. It's so odd, isn't it?"</div></div></div></div>

Valentine's Day Vintage piano given Valentine's Day deadline

A musician has been ordered to remove the 90-year-old instrument from a bluff top in Half Moon Bay. After a last performance, he plans to bu...

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A Day of Wine and Roses

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Today is the big day. Valentine’s Day…<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUP8zJ1zmF3r-HnAKZtvcWk90BigvE2K0bi_9hAR3fSpl5A2OSeNwugNT7H6Bvj63ZQgJztP07CrckFX0ShURogTHnQcsNYWEGeWPFa-J-gmT2TucOvtXvCSREQH1kb0JJB7WQGAn7L1s/s1600/Valentine's+Day+Stupid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUP8zJ1zmF3r-HnAKZtvcWk90BigvE2K0bi_9hAR3fSpl5A2OSeNwugNT7H6Bvj63ZQgJztP07CrckFX0ShURogTHnQcsNYWEGeWPFa-J-gmT2TucOvtXvCSREQH1kb0JJB7WQGAn7L1s/s400/Valentine's+Day+Stupid.jpg" width="300" /></a>A day when men purchase overpriced roses, perhaps a shiny bauble or two, and then take their loved one out for food and fine wine.<br /><br />Later in the day, some men may even do the same thing for their wife or girlfriend.<br /><br />What does said male unit get for his trouble and generosity?<br /><br />That’s right…Heartache.<br /><br />Love is cruel.<br /><br />Now don’t get me wrong, I am not completely against one’s love taking on the form of some type of tangible, commercial reward, but it should be mutual.<br /><br />Too often it is not, and on this day I see too many men suffering from unrequited bling bestowment.<br /><br />I guess one of my biggest peeves about Valentine’s Day is that Marketing Nazis attempt to coerce men into buying something for their target of affection.<br /><br />Why <i>buy</i> something?<br /><br />Creating something from one’s own heart, mind, and soul would be much more personal and romantic. Would it not?<br /><br />For instance, this Valentine’s Day, I put together a memory box for Schmoop. It contains items that conjure up images from the first time we met.<br /><br />The box contains a picture of a case of Bud Light, a leather belt, baby oil, and the very pair of red silk panties that she wore (albeit briefly) on the night we met.<br /><br />That my friends, was a special night.<br /><br />It wasn’t just love and roses though. There was some angst and regret of how quickly the passion unfolded. I tried to somehow bottle Schmoop’s regret from that night.<br /><br />I decided to symbolize that feeling by filling a shot glass full of my urine and leaving the toilet seat up.<br /><br />Matt-Man: Ar-teest d'Amour!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOv6vdfbwwaik4HfaHO6E9b8LnYbgCekt0KbzXCdtEXC2gGub1HKTaAqqHqGnkPpXGGBtNhJVt983MN4w6OiJbf1zXuu26ATg238mumoN9ZZJFUkeML_FcH0cw1Nwg1uqLbTgC5tuyiY/s1600/Pajama+Gram+Valentine's+Day.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOv6vdfbwwaik4HfaHO6E9b8LnYbgCekt0KbzXCdtEXC2gGub1HKTaAqqHqGnkPpXGGBtNhJVt983MN4w6OiJbf1zXuu26ATg238mumoN9ZZJFUkeML_FcH0cw1Nwg1uqLbTgC5tuyiY/s400/Pajama+Gram+Valentine's+Day.JPG" width="202" /></a>See? Personal handcrafted gifts are much better than say, Pajama Grams. Have you seen those commercials for Pajama Grams? Gimme a break.<br /><br />The ad says something like…<i>Hey Guys, order your woman a sexy pair of pajamas for Valentine’s Day and have it delivered to her in a fancy hat box.</i><br /><br />The ad and the visuals of it, imply that if a guy buys these “hot” PJs, she will be so happy that the PJs will later be flying off of her and she will be spread eagle on the bed.<br /><br />Fuck That.<br /><br />If I spend serious coin on pajamas for my <strike>ladies</strike> lady, I want her to leave them on and allow me to get my money’s worth out of them.<br /><br />I want her to wear out that silky night garb to the point where her nipples have poked through the top, and the ass crack sweat has eaten away at the bottoms.<br /><br />Passion is all well and good…but at what cost?<br /><br />In spite of my <strike>extreme loathing</strike> slight cynicism about Valentine’s Day, I hope that yours is all that you’d like it to be.<br /><br />Then again, you can do what I did this year...You can give up Valentine's Day for Lent.<br /><br /><i>Cheers…</i><br /><br />Matt-Man<br /><a href="mailto:mattmaniws@ymail.com">mattmaniws@ymail.com</a><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank">@mattman_iws</a><br /><br />And...If you missed IWS Radio LIVE yesterday, you catch Jay and I bashing the SOTU, Marco Rubio, the Pope, and all things Lent, by listening to the archives right c'here:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.adobe.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="105" id="143577" name="143577" width="210"><param name="movie" value="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf?file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2Fplaylist.aspx%3Fshow_id%3D4400893&autostart=false&bufferlength=5&volume=80&corner=rounded&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/flashplayercallback.aspx" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf" flashvars="file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2Fplaylist.aspx%3Fshow_id%3D4400893&autostart=false&shuffle=false&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FlashPlayerCallback.aspx&width=210&height=105&volume=80&corner=rounded" width="210" height="105" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" wmode="transparent" menu="false" name="143577" id="143577" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object></div><div style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 220px;"><br /></div></div>

A Day of Wine and Roses

Today is the big day. Valentine’s Day… A day when men purchase overpriced roses, perhaps a shiny bauble or two, and then take their loved on...

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28 in 28 #13: Best Highrises 2012/13

<i>February is Book Month on A Daily Dose of Architecture. The "<a href="http://archidose.blogspot.com/search/label/28%20in%2028">28 in 28</a>" series features a different book every day of the month.</i><br /><br /><a href="http://shop.detail.de/eu_e/best-highrises.html"><b><i>Best Highrises 2012/13: The International Highrise Award 2012</i></b></a> edited by Michaela Busenkell and Peter Cachola Schmal <br />Edition Detail, 2012<br />Paperback, 128 pages<br /><br /><img alt="28-28_Highrises.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/28-28_Highrises.jpg" title="Book cover" /><br /><br />How should a tall building be judged? Is it a matter of height, how much closer it gets us to scraping they sky? Or is it based on the form of a building in terms of aesthetics and performance? If the <a href="http://www.international-highrise-award.com/">International Highrise Award 2012</a>—administered by Deutsches Architekturmuseum (DAM) and DekaBank, both of Frankfurt—is any indication the second takes precedence over the first, but sustainability, public amenities, and usability are paramount. The winning tower at 1 Bligh Street in Sydney, Australia, is shorter than surrounding buildings, but one that stands out for its elliptical form and inviting public spaces on the tall ground floor. Inside is a stunning 30-story atrium space that draws hot air up through the building and provides plenty of sunlight for the offices lining it.<br /><br /><img alt="28-28_Highrises2.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/28-28_Highrises2.jpg" title="Book cover" /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.ingenhovenarchitects.com/">Ingenhoven Architects</a>, with local firm <a href="http://www.architectus.com.au/">Architectus</a>, beat out four finalists whittled down from the 26 buildings nominated for the award; the map above shows the distribution of the finalists in red (a sixth is a special sustainable revitalization award) and the rest in blue. The towers are clustered in east Asia, Europe, and North America, so the odds were against 1 Bligh sitting all alone in Australia. Frank Gehry's <a href="http://skyscrapercenter.com/new-york-city/eight-spruce-street/699/">8 Spruce Street</a> must have easily been a front-runner with its fabric-like metal skin and name attached to it; ARC Studio's seven interconnected <a href="http://www.ctbuh.org/TallBuildings/FeaturedTallBuildings/Archive2010/ThePinnacleDuxtonSingapore/tabid/2283/language/en-GB/Default.aspx">Pinnacle@Duxton</a> towers are impressive at the urban scale; Norman Foster cleverly uses tall shear-wall columns to frame views at <a href="http://skyscrapercenter.com/kuala-lumpur/the-troika-tower-1/3354/">The Troika</a>; and MAD Architects' <a href="http://www.ctbuh.org/TallBuildings/FeaturedTallBuildings/FeaturedTallBuildingArchive2012/AbsoluteWorldTowersMississauga/tabid/3840/language/en-US/Default.aspx">Absolute Towers</a> (my initial pick to win and the winner of CTBUH's "<a href="http://www.ctbuh.org/Awards/OverviewofPastAwards/2012Awards/tabid/3342/language/en-US/Default.aspx">Best Tall Buildings America</a>" for 2012) have graceful undulations that cut a striking figure on the skyline.<br /><br />So given the competition, immediately the award seems questionable. But the more I read about 1 Bligh in this book documenting the winner, the finalists, and the rest of the nominated buildings, the more I like it. The main reason is that it is a building that is genuinely concerned with being a part of the city beyond its profile on the skyline. Its elliptical shape responds to the parcel it sits on at the intersection of two street grids and the desire to give occupants quality views of the harbor. A17-meter-high (55-feet) ground-floor space invites people into the public spaces of the building, especially when the glass walls retract to aid in the atrium's stack effect; this is one aspect that has garnered 1 Bligh a 6 (highest) <a href="http://www.gbca.org.au/green-star/green-star-overview/">Green Star</a> rating. But most impressive is the level of attention given to every aspect of the building's experience, from the plaza and lobby to the elevator ride and even the rooftop. Instead of focusing their energies on one or two aspects of the design (skin and form being the norm), they crafted a thoughtful building that happens to be tall enough to win this award.

28 in 28 #13: Best Highrises 2012/13

February is Book Month on A Daily Dose of Architecture. The " 28 in 28 " series features a different book every day of the month. ...

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Vote for my doggie please

Check out this pic of Bones.  <br />I've entered it in a competition on the Mutt Ugly Facebook page.  If you are on Facebook<a href="https://www.facebook.com/muttugly">, please click here</a> and then like the photo of Bones.  Thanks in advance!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlXmWaMwZGQ9wdG6LMZhUuBCSlRZa-E7XMvyaKCKO1xOlk_hd1vIIRpxR2HgrTreX3o2MnF4A16mneGgH5OHwxvZZCYpj_l2dZdq0EZ9-M8HmC7GrNO5M51rPxupPwRqBoFkD_VYSTUkH/s1600/20130213_213859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlXmWaMwZGQ9wdG6LMZhUuBCSlRZa-E7XMvyaKCKO1xOlk_hd1vIIRpxR2HgrTreX3o2MnF4A16mneGgH5OHwxvZZCYpj_l2dZdq0EZ9-M8HmC7GrNO5M51rPxupPwRqBoFkD_VYSTUkH/s400/20130213_213859.jpg" /> </a> </div>

Vote for my doggie please

Check out this pic of Bones.  I've entered it in a competition on the Mutt Ugly Facebook page.  If you are on Facebook , please click he...

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Staff Optomechanical Engineer (3D design MCAD | stage | motion control | optical metrology)(#109085)

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Job Title: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Staff opto-mechanical Engineer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Location:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Milpitas, CA<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Duration:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Fulltime<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Job Description:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Responsibilities:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">1.Optomechanical design and analysis<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">2.Fabrication, assembly, and test.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">3.Scheduling<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">4.Vendor development<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">5.Manufacturing introduction<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Preferred Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The successful candidate will likely have:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">1.Strong mechanical design engineering skills including 3D design using MCAD, Finite Element Analysis, and drafting to meet ASME Y14.5-2009.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">2.Strong analytical skills including the ability to perform stress/strain calculations, thermal analysis, and vibration (modal) analysis.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">3.Extensive experience with materials selection, fabrication processes, knowledge of sources for OTS hardware.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">4.Proven ability to design mechanisms and actuators for precision motion.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">5.A practical knowledge of mechanical vibration.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">6.Knowledge of environmental, transportation, and reliability testing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">7.Experience with basic instrumentation such as thermistors, accelerometers, anemometers, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">8.Proven skill at troubleshooting performance issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">9.Ability to scope cost, develop and maintain schedules.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">10.Experience in translating high level system (tool) requirements into subsystem specifications, module development to meet these specifications, and performance validation to ensure the modules meet system requirements.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">11.Taken a product through a complete design cycle, with ownership of key subsystem requirements leading to validated system level performance.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">12.General knowledge of analog and digital electronics, motors, encoders, and power supplies.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">13.Experience managing vendors of outsourced modules.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">14.Semiconductor equipment experience, familiarity with SEMI standards.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">15.Experience developing engineering and manufacturing documentation including specifications, presentations, procedures, and drawings.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">16.Effective oral and written communication skills. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Additional desirable skills & experience include:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">1.Optics, imaging, and optical metrology tools.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">2.Staging and motion control.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">3.Modeling with Matlab, Mathematica, or Maple.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">4.Experience with data acquisition & reduction using tools such as Excel, LabView, or Visual Basic.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Minimum Qualifications:<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Doctorate (Academic) with at least 5 years of experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">OR <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Master's Level Degree with at least 6 years of experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">OR <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: small;">Bachelor's Level Degree with at least 7 years of experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Please send your resumes to vinod.sanker@kla-tencor.com<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div></div></div>

Staff Optomechanical Engineer (3D design MCAD | stage | motion control | optical metrology)(#109085)

Job Title: Staff opto-mechanical Engineer Location: Milpitas, CA Duration: Fulltime Job Description: Responsibilities: 1.Optomechanical d...

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Electronic Resources Librarian - Andrew Mellon Library, Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford

<strong>Electronic Resources Librarian - </strong><span style="color: #48286d;"><strong>Andrew Mellon Library, Choate Rosemary Hall</strong></span>, Wallingford. Position available: September 2013. The Electronic Resources Librarian position is a 36-week administrative faculty position reporting to the Director of the Andrew Mellon Library. The schedule includes two evenings a week and a portion of the weekend. The Librarian must have a Masters of Library Science, demonstrated facility with rapidly changing technologies and experience providing library services to young people in an academic environment. Choate Rosemary Hall is an independent boarding school; consequently a commitment to actively participating in the school community and student life is expected. Responsibilities: Support students and faculty as they discover, evaluate and retrieve library resources, regardless of format. Participate in the effort to develop the most appropriate collection of resources and technology for students' academic needs and personal interests. Keep current on technology trends and strive to implement appropriate new technologies. Create and support the library's academic atmosphere. Identify appropriate electronic resources: evaluate and present the information for consideration. Promote new electronic resources by sharing information with key faculty and by preparing instructional guides. Work with a variety of consortia to guarantee that we are acquiring resources at the best available price. Given the likelihood that the school will change the platform on which the library website resides, the Electronic Resource Librarian must possess the technical and personal skills appropriate to collaborate in creating the new web presence. Regardless of platform, insure that the library site is well designed, kept current and presents information in an effective way so it can be easily used and promotes the library program and resources. Work with the webmaster and ITS to make sure all resources are working properly and presented effectively on a variety of platforms, i.e. iPads, thin clients, laptops, mobile devices. Leadership responsibility in maintaining and expanding the library's collection of LibGuides. Review and revise the library's LibGuide templates as necessary. Work with librarians and faculty to expand the role of LibGuides in the library instructional program. Actively participate in the library's instructional program. Prepare general orientation sessions; demonstrate online resources to classes as necessary. Work with students on an individual basis to teach them how to find and use appropriate materials on a variety of platforms. Actively participate in the acquisition process. Read reviews in the library journals and internet sites which describe appropriate resources. Participate in the formal weeding process to insure that the collection houses the best material available regardless of format. Actively participate in the discussions and planning sessions for the library program. Bring to library faculty meetings issues of concern and ideas for improving the library program. Monitor and oversee the work of the library supporting staff during the evenings when serving as the librarian on duty. Work to see that the library study atmosphere is maintained through the firm, fair and friendly application of the library rules and procedures. Coordinate the annual book sale and other special library celebrations. Resumes should be sent to: Kathy White, Assistant to the Dean of Faculty, Choate Rosemary Hall, 333 Christian Street, Wallingford, CT 06492 or <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:kwhite@choate.edu" href="mailto:kwhite@choate.edu">kwhite@choate.edu</a>.

Electronic Resources Librarian - Andrew Mellon Library, Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford

Electronic Resources Librarian - Andrew Mellon Library, Choate Rosemary Hall , Wallingford. Position available: September 2013. The Electr...

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A Pea in the Pod

If you follow me on FB, then you might know by now the reason for my extended absence.<br />  <br />If not, here's the little <em>gem</em> of a story:<br /><br />Back in mid-October, on a mild Monday morning, as I was sitting at my desk sipping a Starbucks Salted Caramel Mocha (<a href="http://www.nothankstocake.com/2011/09/16/two-airport-finds-and-the-truth-about-the-salted-caramel-mocha/" target="_blank">Kelly style</a>), a sudden urge of nausea fell over me.  <em>(If you're a woman, you probably know where I'm going with this already.  But rest assured, I did not know where this was going, I can tell you that!)</em>  The feeling eventually passed, though my appetite was definitely lacking as the day drew on.  By Tuesday morning I called out sick from work, feeling even <em>more</em> nauseous that I did the day before.  By Wednesday, I figured I was just battling a stomach bug, so I proceeded back to work, with absolutely no desire to start my day off with the Starbucks fall beverages.  Obviously something was wrong with me - rarely do I ever turn down Starbucks OR food!  <br /><br />Since I was having a tough time eating/drinking, I decided to start myself on the BRAT diet.  The whole wheat toast seemed to calm my stomach temporarily, but before too long I was back to feeling nauseated again.  My boss inquired as to how I was feeling, and after explaining my symptoms to her, she said "Hilary, I think you might be pregnant."   <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: #674ea7;"><strong><insert crickets.....="" crickets="" many="" of="" sound="" the=""> </insert></strong></span></em></div><br />Well, I was <em>certain</em> that I was not pregnant.  I had been getting crampy just like normal, expecting my period to come any day now.   Still, I don't use any form of birth control.  <em>(My reasons are my reasons - the end.)</em>  Joel and I have made it 5.5 years without one single scare.  Regardless, the point is I don't use it, so to most it might be a no-brainer that I <em>was</em> pregnant.  <br /><br />What only Joel and I did know at that time was there was 1 scare on September 29.  I just about ran to Walgreen's that day to pick up <a href="http://www.planbonestep.com/" target="_blank">Plan B</a> (for those not familiar, this is NOT the 'abortion pill'. - It's like a super birth control pill).  Plan B, when taken properly, is <em>supposed</em> to be 95% effective.  <br /><br />However, as the morning went on at work, my mind started racing with the thoughts that I might actually be pregnant.  I mean, Plan B is not 100%!  So at lunch time, I drove to Walgreen's and bought 2 different brands of pregnancy tests.  I took one immediately.  At first I saw only one line and was so relieved.  But by the time I washed my hands and was just about to pitch the test, a second, faint line appeared!  I immediately starting bawling - I was in such shock!  <br /><br />Joel and I never wanted children.  No, we weren't exactly doing much to prevent it, but it wasn't something we were actively trying for either.  I quickly asked my boss if I could take off the rest of the day and I bolted out of the office.  I dialed and redialed Joel's number numerous times to get him awake (he works nights), but he wouldn't pick up.  By some miracle, he called me back shortly thereafter, saying he actually never heard his phone ringing but happened to notice a bunch of missed calls from me.  I broke the news to him in sobs, only for him to respond in almost complete silence.  We were both, to say the least, devastated.  <br /><br /><em><span style="color: #351c75;">To Be Continued.....</span></em><br /><br /><em>Before I end today's post, I'm going to stop right here and address this "devastation".  I know there are judgmental eyes out there right now saying "You ungrateful so and so - I've been desiring pregnancy all my life and cannot get pregnant and here you are - complaining because you were able to conceive when you didn't even have to try!"  </em><br /><br /><em>The truth is, I'm not ungrateful.  I had a plan for my life that never involved children, and God quickly revealed to both of us that it's not our plan, but His.  I am grateful for this blessing He has given us, but it took me a long time to absorb that.  The point is, judge all you want to.  For as much as you, or someone you know, desires to have children but has struggled with conceiving - there are others out there who have that same desire to NOT have children for many reasons.  Now, I love kids.  I grew up holding/caring for babies - I come from a family large enough that there is almost always a baby present in the clan.  I'm great with children, in fact, because of this experience.  However, we both knew that we didn't want children of our own.  </em><br /><br /><em>One main reason for this should be obvious.  I'm overweight.  Having children means you gain weight - weight that I often hear is harder to lose post partem.   I didn't need, nor want, childbearing to bog down my already struggling weight loss journey.  Now, this is not the only reason for not wanting kids, but I can tell you where I was at in my life on September 29, 2012, this was a large reason for not wanting kids.</em>

Baby Busbee A Pea in the Pod

If you follow me on FB, then you might know by now the reason for my extended absence.   If not, here's the little gem of a story: Back...

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18 Ways God (or Your Pastor) Has Changed Tithing

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqzUVPCsy3Ee-Z-qL3JUnW3JuP4JFoA3OwVYALgY8P0sZgeusU525-WTt4Bm_aZ4zrmlCSDxFbTUt0ICAyHoz8dBNck9ik89RMMdG3CyzvNBg-1fz2G5gLanMtkmECBY1s5n4uLngu6iU/s1600/change-roadsign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqzUVPCsy3Ee-Z-qL3JUnW3JuP4JFoA3OwVYALgY8P0sZgeusU525-WTt4Bm_aZ4zrmlCSDxFbTUt0ICAyHoz8dBNck9ik89RMMdG3CyzvNBg-1fz2G5gLanMtkmECBY1s5n4uLngu6iU/s320/change-roadsign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>One of the arguments made by preachers who try to convince you that the "tithe" of 10% of your gross income is a Christian requirement, comes from their favorite tithing passage in the Old Testament, Malachi Chapter 3:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><i><b><span class="text Mal-3-6">“<span style="color: red;">I the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> do not change.</span> So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.</span> <span class="text Mal-3-7" id="en-NIV-23128"><sup class="versenum"> </sup>Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> Almighty." (Malachi 3:6, 7)</span></b></i></blockquote></div><span class="text Mal-3-7" id="en-NIV-23128">Then of course the pastor will explain that immediately after these verses God tells Malachi that people are robbing him (actually, God tells Malachi that the religious men of his day are robbing him, but that is another story) by not "bringing the tithe" to the "storehouse" - and that YOU, Christian, must also bring your tithe - 10% of your gross income to the church (today's "storehouse"). And then if you choose not to, God will <a href="http://fbcjaxwatchdog.blogspot.com/2011/09/on-911-steve-gaines-prounounces-gods.html" target="_blank">poke holes in your purse</a>, will cause your <a href="http://fbcjaxwatchdog.blogspot.com/2011/06/robert-morris-issues-money-back.html" target="_blank">kids to turn out bad</a>, and God will bring calamity to your family like job loss, wrecked cars, and <a href="http://fbcjaxwatchdog.blogspot.com/2010/10/is-god-our-father-or-is-god-godfather.html" target="_blank">God will actually "blow it all away"</a> - that is the money that you did not tithe that was rightfully God's. Some say<a href="http://fbcjaxwatchdog.blogspot.com/2012/03/misusing-scripture-to-scare-christians.html" target="_blank"> God might even kill you</a> like he did Ananias and Sapphira. Oh, and if you don't tithe, <a href="http://fbcjaxwatchdog.blogspot.com/2011/04/perry-noble-blames-homosexuality-on-non.html" target="_blank">you're helping to spread homosexuality</a>.</span><br /><br /><span class="text Mal-3-7" id="en-NIV-23128">So God does not change, thus the requirement to tithe is still in place, and thus preachers go to the most ridiculous and manipulative lengths to hang the burden and guilt of tithing around the necks of their members to keep church revenue up.</span><br /><span class="text Mal-3-7" id="en-NIV-23128"><br /></span><span class="text Mal-3-7" id="en-NIV-23128">A friend here in Jacksonville who maintains the "Tithing.com" website, posted a masterful article yesterday on 18 ways the tithe HAS changed - either how God himself changed it within the Old Testament or between the Old and New Convenants - OR just ways that your pastor has decided to change the tithe to try to convince you to give 10% of your income to his church.</span><br /><span class="text Mal-3-7" id="en-NIV-23128"><br /></span><span class="text Mal-3-7" id="en-NIV-23128">Read the article <a href="http://www.tithing.com/blog/god-never-changes-what-about-tithing/" target="_blank">here</a> to read about the 18 ways the tithe HAS changed. This is one of the best tithing articles I've read in years</span><br /><span class="text Mal-3-7" id="en-NIV-23128"><br /></span><span class="text Mal-3-7" id="en-NIV-23128">I wanted to highlight and comment on a few of the 18 ways either God has changed the tithe, or preachers have decided to change it to "help" God:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByt3tTU9tJsxf-ue_ELb7mLFEOhF32DEhTL-v8E8ZLftCxtK1O_opKfx9ZCNDvBJO-x89Sdi6welDF-jLaf_Pxpe7qcyoD1oPFv-fqE1lJvBdriBu451UdYlRWPTRwW0cN77HFV6IoJcU/s1600/Change4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByt3tTU9tJsxf-ue_ELb7mLFEOhF32DEhTL-v8E8ZLftCxtK1O_opKfx9ZCNDvBJO-x89Sdi6welDF-jLaf_Pxpe7qcyoD1oPFv-fqE1lJvBdriBu451UdYlRWPTRwW0cN77HFV6IoJcU/s1600/Change4.png" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKo5-qoKd87SzHLaa_C9gy8UU1xhrUbM7A_WDfPAm7_wYZ9yw5fLuulewsNku9f_0Rt47kLsdSxQ4rMRN1ZJQwgefY0EXfv8ssCW0VofirdguhjkVFvbYOrWt0Uv33_MC149epS71KUC_c/s1600/Change7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKo5-qoKd87SzHLaa_C9gy8UU1xhrUbM7A_WDfPAm7_wYZ9yw5fLuulewsNku9f_0Rt47kLsdSxQ4rMRN1ZJQwgefY0EXfv8ssCW0VofirdguhjkVFvbYOrWt0Uv33_MC149epS71KUC_c/s1600/Change7.png" /></a></div><br /><span class="text Mal-3-7" id="en-NIV-23128">The newest argument amongst the tithe-pushing preachers is <a href="http://fbcjaxwatchdog.blogspot.com/2012/01/top-story-of-2011-ramping-up-first.html" target="_blank">the concept of "first fruits"</a> - that the Old Testament teaches that God expects your FIRST and BEST - and thus your FIRST 10% of your income goes straight to the church. </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEYqgMpvu2cdncrAZJJMxmCVmojdO4nxpYD6fOfRvIJU4jxcmMehyzT9pDB_Em_bDSGV3Y5sFryKb9ODOQVdvWesHzZ65Uq32xu-0kW5TK4tSrrN3x74qrN_DHGkQX39ipBgnr1G2eTGT/s1600/Change11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEYqgMpvu2cdncrAZJJMxmCVmojdO4nxpYD6fOfRvIJU4jxcmMehyzT9pDB_Em_bDSGV3Y5sFryKb9ODOQVdvWesHzZ65Uq32xu-0kW5TK4tSrrN3x74qrN_DHGkQX39ipBgnr1G2eTGT/s1600/Change11.png" /></a></div><br /><span class="text Mal-3-7" id="en-NIV-23128">Yep, year after year, we must give. If the preachers believe the bible word for word, and they put the tithe on Christians, why are they not strictly adhering to what God said the tithe was and how often it is given? On what basis to preachers ignore the details of what God says in the bible regarding the tithe? Are they above God and can change God's standard for this tithe? [answer: apparently, yes].</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhPDjf_IG88DWW4JS96BbGnhyphenhyphen5T8-REZfx5fwSchk1GCIbSO9wfNcm5cpEEeFP_xbp7Vuv8vmZbx91oHy6-KDKmrMvootth-H4FJhKl1u0ry0PKO61YpoqoQigD5si7qxb9NqFiNgNlnA/s1600/Change15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhPDjf_IG88DWW4JS96BbGnhyphenhyphen5T8-REZfx5fwSchk1GCIbSO9wfNcm5cpEEeFP_xbp7Vuv8vmZbx91oHy6-KDKmrMvootth-H4FJhKl1u0ry0PKO61YpoqoQigD5si7qxb9NqFiNgNlnA/s1600/Change15.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMY5DTkaLJ75l8wv2eWEUToTN0F7wOFhvV4lgesCKRwEWduZee-jO1SLJ6z7EaG_lgRuGpcg6vONOyvyyPKMc-WoqasOVkuY55lPomtkKEW84lbCWo0EuulGHBRBKK19hHyNMyBB3_yX58/s1600/Change13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDfLcJje6h2TECNXVQL47UapKUU6F2FcnCWxOGMSgBDkuPbKQmn3rfxJ2vPqiodOHeZLWWHlz1iJzBSfsWE0Smf5BmxSL7OjvJOHHNTTBGcfhPdqf-ZePoNvlPPzRFWtraGQas3_nbN6n/s1600/Change18.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjDfLcJje6h2TECNXVQL47UapKUU6F2FcnCWxOGMSgBDkuPbKQmn3rfxJ2vPqiodOHeZLWWHlz1iJzBSfsWE0Smf5BmxSL7OjvJOHHNTTBGcfhPdqf-ZePoNvlPPzRFWtraGQas3_nbN6n/s1600/Change18.png" /></a></div><span class="text Mal-3-7" id="en-NIV-23128"><br /></span>The new, aggressive, "first fruits" tithing doctrine coming out of pulpits today <span class="text Mal-3-7" id="en-NIV-23128">contributes to the decline of people's church attendance drives people from their Christian faith: when they wake up to the fact that what the preacher is pushing as biblical truth concerning finances is not in the bible, and it is actually to their family'</span><span class="text Mal-3-7" id="en-NIV-23128">s detriment - and pastor's use manipulative techniques to boot. The preacher's want you to put your tithe above your daughter's wedding, above your children's education, above the well-being of your family.</span><br /><br /><span class="text Mal-3-7" id="en-NIV-23128">Make no mistake - to try to convince a church member through false teachings and manipulation that they MUST give 10% of their income to obtain the blessings of God and avoid the cursings of God is to convince a person that religion and institutions and religious holy men come before one's spouse and family - and that is about as anti-family as it gets.</span>

18 Ways God (or Your Pastor) Has Changed Tithing

One of the arguments made by preachers who try to convince you that the "tithe" of 10% of your gross income is a Christian require...

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Inspire your students to write the right stuff - a TeachMeet presentation

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Submitted by Fiona Beal</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today I am attending a TeachMeet in Somerset West at Somerset House Primary School. I thought I would talk on creative writing sites and end off by telling the attendees or should I say 'Keen Beans' and 'Enthusiastic Lurkers' about the upcoming African Storybook Project and the writing opportunity it presents for our learners. </span><br /><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I decided to place my presentation on my blog just in case anything goes wrong - at least it will be safe and sound on the Internet!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="356" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" mozallowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" src="http://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/embed_code/16505653" style="border-width: 1px 1px 0; border: 1px solid #CCC; margin-bottom: 5px;" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="427"> </iframe> <br /><div style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><strong> <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal/inspire-your-students-to-write-the-right-stuff" target="_blank" title="Inspire your students to write the right stuff">Inspire your students to write the right stuff</a> </strong> from <strong><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/fionabeal" target="_blank">Fiona Beal</a></strong> </div></div></div>

African Storybook Project Slideshare teachmeets Writing Inspire your students to write the right stuff - a TeachMeet presentation

Submitted by Fiona Beal Today I am attending a TeachMeet in Somerset West at Somerset House Primary School. I thought I would talk on creati...

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one room challenge - week 2

We are in week 2 of the ORC (check out <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/02/one-room-challenge-week-1.html" target="_blank">week 1 here</a>) and to be honest I feel like I'm spinning my wheels. Plenty of projects have been started, but nothing entirely finished.<br /><br />The plan was to work on some of the bigger monsters and get them out of the way, leaving the fun stuff for the end. Enter the monster.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqTsoDu8pPLcq2PCcMTJN0oKlb42_zDtyfe5rxNbqXyWYySiPD2mSxULTj_zq_Xhuv90l9int2gKNxKLBvWDadHOq_YGOuyxWgILHijmcDnbGf6OW078eJtV7IDYmirbsxjAoVyijppd_/s1600/victorianchairbefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHqTsoDu8pPLcq2PCcMTJN0oKlb42_zDtyfe5rxNbqXyWYySiPD2mSxULTj_zq_Xhuv90l9int2gKNxKLBvWDadHOq_YGOuyxWgILHijmcDnbGf6OW078eJtV7IDYmirbsxjAoVyijppd_/s640/victorianchairbefore.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />This chair was a freebie from my parents. Score. They bought it at an auction 25 years ago and it has sat in the basement ever since. It was sold with another chair, which was the one they were after, so this chair was a castoff from the beginning. Untouched for 25 years.<br /><br />But my little time capsule chair was actually in excellent condition. The fabric was beyond nasty, but the frame, cushion etc. were in great shape. And I've tackled <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/04/now-you-really-can-take-seat.html" target="_blank">reupholstery projects before</a> so I thought this one would be a piece of cake. I am nieve.<br /><br />I got her stripped with no problem but the sanding was a challenge with all of those curves and dips and grooves. Then I went against everything I was ever taught as a child. I painted antique furniture. I probably won't be allowed over for Thanksgiving this year. But (cover your ears Mom and Dad) I'm glad I did it.<br /><br />She looks so much better.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62GSiO1wCfk8aQ5h0bgCR-lbFgYzXechIp-C4BgVoQ8k3K4AcD6E3aCTuBHue-16LzGets87bMmHs80-9CqjPYCNw0CLjDk48TSezo2p_jurv4k0-FD-YuFrpcdYA43qhYzHtQNUOCcxW/s1600/Chairpainted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62GSiO1wCfk8aQ5h0bgCR-lbFgYzXechIp-C4BgVoQ8k3K4AcD6E3aCTuBHue-16LzGets87bMmHs80-9CqjPYCNw0CLjDk48TSezo2p_jurv4k0-FD-YuFrpcdYA43qhYzHtQNUOCcxW/s640/Chairpainted.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Killer finish. You always come thru for me RustOleum.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Xe2bliQ3GgyVqnHJK5qLV3DEzWXeC7a6bxGE0uDQsWDELSu5YeouWlwO4LCBeSIo_PQ6omfB8NbuOMclFlQH_kiOxt9MFDIzHOrssyWTeuiawwvcAa-ohwuyQkVxOSGXW7hQklrIUcq4/s1600/Chairpaintclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Xe2bliQ3GgyVqnHJK5qLV3DEzWXeC7a6bxGE0uDQsWDELSu5YeouWlwO4LCBeSIo_PQ6omfB8NbuOMclFlQH_kiOxt9MFDIzHOrssyWTeuiawwvcAa-ohwuyQkVxOSGXW7hQklrIUcq4/s400/Chairpaintclose.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Now if I was <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2012/06/really-resto.html" target="_blank">Restoration Hardware</a>, I'd call this chair complete. $1800 please, thank you.<br /><br />But I have other plans. I've always loved the fabric on this bed (thank you Jamie Drake) and was able to find a Sunbrella version that is almost a perfect match.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCTvMzncvqdAqHjb17CXMtRCjsg_bijS4AhdW4sTb4mAvmsmf3zmP_wm_-nFtQUbla5YV3PWg6t0XnSSJYVvv-KG0c0uiktQCn78di0BUz2E_8mN7V8gSCeoC668j3vxyD67rtPMIqxCV/s1600/statements2007_6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCTvMzncvqdAqHjb17CXMtRCjsg_bijS4AhdW4sTb4mAvmsmf3zmP_wm_-nFtQUbla5YV3PWg6t0XnSSJYVvv-KG0c0uiktQCn78di0BUz2E_8mN7V8gSCeoC668j3vxyD67rtPMIqxCV/s640/statements2007_6.jpeg" width="514" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamie Drake via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/6896205651452792/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Outdoor fabric on an indoor chair might sound a bit loony, but remember this chair is going in a room with two very busy girls. This fabric will need all the armor it can get.<br /><br />Now I'd love to show you how beautiful the chair looks but she is not ready for her closeup. She's covered in some spots, naked in others. Staples showing and even a few scratches. Think My Fair Lady, before Audrey gets her makeover.<br /><br />So back to work I go. It's a marathon, not a sprint...right? Let's see how the other ladies are doing.<br /><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://chattafabulous.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Chattafabulous</a> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://chinoiseriechic.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Chinoiserie Chic</a> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.classiccasualhome.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Classic Casual Home </a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://laurenleonardinteriors.com/blog/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">the Cottage Mix</a> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://cottageandvine.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Cottage & Vine</a> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://designindulgence.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Design Indulgence</a> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.designmanifest.com/blog/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Design Manifest</span> </a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://everythingleb.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Everything LEB</a> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.markovadesign.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Hodge Podge</a> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://kimmacumberinteriors.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Kim Macumber Interiors</a> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.mattersofstyleblog.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Matters of Style</a> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://mycraftyhomelife.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">My Crafty Home Life</a> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://scottdesigns.ca/blog/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Nicole Scott Designs</a> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://blog.pacificfamilyhomes.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Pacific Family Homes</a> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.pawleysislandposh.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Pawleys Island Posh</a> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.thepeakoftreschic.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">the Peak of Tres Chic</a> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://blog.thepinkpagoda.us/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">the Pink Pagoda</a> </div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.powellbrower.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Powell Brower Home</a> </div><a href="http://simpledetailsblog.blogspot.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">Simple Details</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> </span>

one room challenge - week 2

We are in week 2 of the ORC (check out week 1 here ) and to be honest I feel like I'm spinning my wheels. Plenty of projects have been s...

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