text:
Valentine's Day, birthdays, the anniversary of the day they created a Ponzi scheme together—couples will use just about any occasion as an excuse to shower each other with affection. Who can blame them, though? Between the daily grind of waking up early, working for hours, deciding on takeout, and falling asleep, it's important to go all out when you can. But according to our data, some cities are just more romantic than others. We examined where our most romantic Groupons (for massages, candlelit French and Italian dinners, hot-air balloon rides, etc.) were most widely purchased, then ranked the top 10 most romantic cities in the US. The results may surprise you. At the very least, they should inspire you to up your game for the most romantic holiday of the year, Valentine's Day. 1. St. Louis, MO The Gateway City may not strike you as the most lovey-dovey place in America, but St. Louis has plenty of romantic spots to discover. We like the dreamy Boathouse in Forest Park, where couples can rent a boat to take out on Post-Dispatch Lake. They can paddle out to Picnic Island for an alfresco meal or alight back on the dock for lunch at the Boathouse's restaurant. The rest of Forest Park warrants exploration, too: it contains the Saint Louis Zoo, the Saint Louis Art Museum, The Muny, and the Jewel Box, an art-deco greenhouse. See a list of other exciting St. Louis activities. 2. Tampa–St. Petersburg, FL A visit to the Tampa Theatre is no ordinary movie date. From the exterior's glittering marquee, you can tell that it's the sort of old-fashioned movie palace that was all the rage in the 1920s. But even better sights await inside. The theater itself looks like an ornate Mediterranean courtyard, complete with statuary, glorious architecture, and a twinkling night sky. In addition to playing new releases and beloved movies, the theater hosts concerts, discussions, and festivals. The original Mighty Wurlitzer organ accompanies the occasional silent film. 3. Minneapolis–St. Paul, MN If your significant other is the type who weeps with joy about the prospect of petting puppies or meeting a sloth, a trip to the Minnesota Zoo should be in your future. Every March or April, the keepers usher in spring by organizing a month-long petting zoo at the Wells Fargo Family Farm. Fuzzy little newborns, including chicks, bunnies, calves, piglets, and lambs, may nuzzle up to your partner and reduce them to baby-talking gibberish usually reserved for you. Check out other opportunities for outdoor dates in the Twin Cities area. 4. Denver, CO Our guide to romantic cooking classes in Denver recommends Stir Cooking School as a good place to book your date. Though classes here will hone your culinary skills, this business is especially suited for couples in search of a fun, carefree night. For example, it has a small bar area offering signature cocktails, wine, and local craft beers. There are even special date-night classes that focus on such topics as aphrodisiacs, rich and romantic French dishes, and Tuscan cooking. View the most romantic things to do in Denver. 5. Sacramento, CA Put on a slinky black dress or a sharp suit, then head to Shady Lady Saloon, named 1 of the 25 best bars in America by Esquire in 2014. This Prohibition-inspired bar has all the dimly lit booths and cushy velvet couches couples need for a romantic rendezvous. With its bordello-style crimson wallpaper, artisanal cocktails, and live jazz performances—not to mention the coquettish ladies decorating the walls—a little playful misbehavior might as well be encouraged. Take a glimpse at the diversity of Sacramento's music venues. 6. Portland, OR Relaxing together for hours is one of the great joys of being in a relationship. But in Portland, you'd be better served by ending your Netflix binge, getting off the couch, and going to Spa Sassé. It may not look like much from the outside, but this 5, 000-square-foot oasis has several treatments designed to rekindle romance. Its signature Couples Spa Day begins with a hydromassage bath together, followed by a candlelit couples massage. Partners also enjoy full-body exfoliation, a Vichy shower, and aromatherapy, as well as chocolate truffles and champagne, wine, or tea. See a list of seven other romantic things to do in Portland. 7. Milwaukee, WI The historical Iron Horse Hotel would be a wonderful place to spend the night even if it weren't for its special accommodations. As it stands, though, you can't go wrong opting for one of the hotel's themed packages. The Horsing Around… getaway includes a deluxe guest room, a couples massage, turndown service, and complimentary valet parking. SOs can toast their love with a bottle of sparkling wine and refuel with a breakfast for two the next morning. Check out more romantic things to do in Milwaukee. 8. Charleston, SC Charleston is renowned for its beautiful historic district, where stately buildings, colorful townhouses, and palm trees line the streets. The most romantic way to see it? Lift your beloved onto a horse-drawn carriage for a leisurely tour through the neighborhoods. Palmetto Carriage Works has an evening tour that protects couples from the summer heat and provides some excellent mood lighting for viewing the sights. 9. Orlando, FL For visitors and locals alike, many activities in Orlando are a bit too kid-centric. However, you can have an entirely adults-only experience at The Wine Room on Park Avenue. The rustic ambiance is a bit at odds with the high-tech setup, in which machines dole out samples of hand-selected wines. But the dispensers help preserve the wine, regulate temperature, and prevent oxidation. It all makes for a top-notch wine-tasting experience, especially when varietals are paired with artisan cheeses or small plates. Check out other grown-up things to do in Orlando. 10. Cleveland, OH Eating your way through the historical West Side Market is one of the most romantic things you can do in Cleveland if you're in love with a foodie. Under its sweeping arched roof, wind your way around vendor stalls hawking everything from local fruits and European pastries to seafood and artisanal olive oil. Ethnic offerings include pierogis, tamales, fresh pasta, falafel, and Cambodian sticky rice. Have your fill here, or pick up supplies for a romantic dinner at home.
Source: www.groupon.com
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When bodies of water sit still they quickly become stagnant and contaminated, but flowing water is life-giving water. God did not create the church to sit and grow idle. He created it to FLOW into the world, bringing its life-giving waters wherever it travels. Catch this message and become a part of God's river today.


Home is on the cul-de-sac in the Montego Bay community. New flooring and new paint make this home cozy and updated.
Master Bedroom has king size bed, bath and large closet. One guest bedroom has a queen size bed and large closet. Second guest bedroom has twin over full bunk bed with twin trundle underneath. All this will accommodate 8 people.
Kitchen has all modern appliances and stocked with toaster, coffee maker, pots & pans, plates and utensils. Small gas grill provided. Full sized washer and dryer in laundry area. Play games, eat, or just sit back and relax on the large covered porch. Watch the beautiful sunsets too. Outdoor shower to wash off the sand from the beach or rinse off after the pool. Walking distance to the beach, shopping, restaurants, and the pool. Home has room for 2 cars in driveway.
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text:
Q: How to Convert html table to list using jquery? I want to convert the below table to unordered list:
(This post not giving the exact result: How to transform HTML table to list with JQuery?)
I tried like this:

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Paris

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Sleds, Skates & Toboggans

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    Paris Standard Child Back Pad for E-32 Sled

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A:     $(document).ready(function () {
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The international conference for doctoral students: "Sacral Space.
This international conference is intended for all Czech and international doctoral students on full-time or part-time study programmes in the fields of art history, theology, literature, music, and other cultural and historical disciplines. The aim of the conference is to enable students to present the results of their research so far, to introduce new and current insights based on their work on their dissertation, to compare their methodological approaches, and thus to support their research activities.
The theme of the conference was deliberately chosen so as to include the broadest possible circle of doctoral students from humanities study programmes and to provide sufficient scope for choosing a theme and elaborating it. Papers submitted for the conference can deal with related themes in the fields of theology, history, the visual arts, cultural history, literature, music, and so on. They will be assessed primarily on the correct choice of methodical approach in dealing with the individual theme and the specialist quality of their conception. The emphasis will be placed on publishing completely new findings rather than on compilation work.
Like last year, we will welcome a prominent guest to our Faculty for the conference.
A special lecture will be given during the conference. You are cordially invited to attend the whole of the conference, and in particular the special lecture, whose theme and speaker will be made known in advance.
The various papers presented at the conference will be divided into several sections according to their subject. Twenty minutes will be allowed for each paper, and sufficient time will be devoted to discussion on each theme.
The number of active participants at the conference will be limited by the size of the different sections.
The organisers are planning to publish the proceedings of the conference in peer-reviewed form after it has finished.
The organising committee reserves the right to select papers for publication in a peer-reviewed journal on the basis of expert opinions drawn up by independent experts on the theme in question.
Languages for publication in the conference proceedings are Czech, English, Italian, and German.
by 16th January 2019 at the latest. They will then be notified by the organisers whether they have been accepted to take part in the conference or not by 31th January 2019.
Conference fee have to be paid no later than 20th February 2019. No refunds will be given for cancellation.
The organisers are unable to cover the costs of transport or accommodation for active conference participants. However, they will provide help in finding accommodation, especially to international participants.
Doc. PhDr. Martin Zlatohlávek, Ph.D., prof. PhDr. Petr Kubín, Ph.D., Th.D.


The Encore Resort and Casino houses Switch Steak, a satisfyingly contemporary steakhouse. Chef Rene Lenger has created a masterful menu of steakhouse staples, as well as more innovative takes on classic dishes – his Hudson Valley Foie Gras is pure decadence, and his 10oz American Kobe Steak is something to be longed for even after the meal ends. Indulgent additions to any entrée include the Lobster Tail for a true surf-n-turf experience, and the Black Truffle Creamed Spinach for a new spin on an old steakhouse favorite. Sample Chef Lenger's culinary delights today and know what it means to be satisfied.


I've read a couple of interesting articles recently, both dealing with the difference between football and other sports. The first article was about applauding opponents. The author said that in other sports he would normally clap the outrageously brilliant, whichever side it comes from. But in football, it is taboo to cheer the other side. I would agree with that; it is ok to applaud former players before a game but I can't remember a game I've seen where football fans have applauded good play by the opposition. It is ok to comment on the skill of the opposition players who are tearing Birmingham City apart but not ok to clap.
I was at St Andrew's in April 1993, where Glen Hoddle gave a master class in how to change a game. He was player manager for Swindon at that time. With about 60 minutes played, Birmingham City was leading 4-1. Hoddle changed the formation and Swindon won 4-6. I think everyone in the ground knew that we'd witnessed a great performance but we certainly didn't clap.
I know that there are some very dubious characters in the game of football. It was good to be reminded that there are some decent, intelligent people as well.
I remember applauding a west Brom wonder goal, probably late 60 s early 70 ' s while standing on the Tilton. Even stranger by todays standards commenting to the two west brom fans standing next to us you don't see many like that.


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text:
Adelognathus punctulatus är en stekelart som beskrevs av Thomson 1883. Adelognathus punctulatus ingår i släktet Adelognathus och familjen brokparasitsteklar. Arten är reproducerande i Sverige. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Brokparasitsteklar
punctulatus

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Arabian Peninsular
Carte d'unne partie de l'Arabie Septentrionale Pour suivre les Voyages de Mr. G.A. Vallin. . .
Publisher: MALTE-BRUN, V.A.
Date: Paris, November 1855
Size: 190 x 240 mm / 7.5 x 9.4 inches
Condition: Pen and ink and body color on thin paper, pasted on larger sheet. Paper with staining and some damage to paper.
This is the original hand drawn map by Victor Adolphe Malte-Brun of "Carte d'unne partie de l'Arabie Septentrionale Pour suivre les Voyages de Mr. G.A. Wallin", of which the printed version was published in Nouvelles Annales des Voyages VI Série in November 1856.
With initials of Malte Brun underneath the title, who based his information on a map published by the London Geographical Society from the same year.
Georg August Wallin (1811-1852) - Yrjö Aukusti Wallin - alias Abd al-Wali, was born in the parish of Sund in Åland, the son of Johanna and Israel Wallin, a chief accountant and court scribe. Growing up in the archipelago, Wallin got involved with boats and sailing since a young age, and developed a love for the sea. When his father was appointed district accounting officer in Turku and Pori, the family moved to Turku, and then to Helsinki. During his years at the Turku Cathedral School in Wallin was taught several languages and he also studied languages on his own, acquiring knowledge of Latin, Greek, French, German, Russian, English, Arabic, Persian and Turkish.
Wallin entered the University of Helsinki in 1829, where he studied oriental languages, and received his M.A. in 1836. He then worked as a librarian at Helsinki University Library and continued his studies of Arabic and Persian. His teacher was Gabriel Geitlin, who was seven years his senior and had been appointed in 1835 professor of oriental languages.
After making his dissertation about Arabic in 1839, Wallin spent two years in St. Petersburg. There his teacher was Sheikh Muhammad Sayyad al-Tantawi (1810-61), whose tales of Egypt and the Arabs inspired the young scholar. Between 1843 and 1849 he conducted expeditions in Egypt, Arabia, Mesopotamia, Palestine, and Persia. It is also believed that Wallin adopted the Islamic faith. In Cairo he learned to play the Arab flute, spent a lot of time at coffee houses, ate with bare hands, and wrote to Geitlin: "What becomes of my appearance, and because of my real Arab beard, I am considered Oriental and Moslem..." Wallin did not live in celibate. Cairo and Paris offered him more opportunities for erotic adventures than Helsinki, which he fully utilized. He also recorded his affairs with Egyptian teenage girls in his writings. In Finland Wallin was labelled more as adventurer than a scholar and his scientific achievements were first ignored.
On his journeys Wallin, who was exceptionally dark for a Finn, presented himself as Abd al-Wali from Central Asia. He was the first European to reach al-Jauf and Ha'il. While in Medina, he visited the tombs of the Prophet Muhammad, the Prophet's daughter Fatima and the first Caliph, Abu Bakr. With the help of his disguise and knowledge of Arabic language and culture, Wallin entered on 7 December 1845 Mecca – a forbidden city for non-Moslems. One of the first Christians to visit the holy place was Ludovico de Varthema, who published an account of his travels, Itinerario de Ludouico de Varthema Bolognese, in 1510. Wallin did not describe his stay very thoroughly in his journal; Mecca was dirty, beggars were everywhere.
Like any other pilgrim, Wallin performed the rituals of Hajj. "I accomplished without fuss all that was required of me, so that now I am fully entitled to the designation of Hagg. Apart from the vanity of being able to say that I am one of the three or four Europeans who ventured it, for future trips I dare say I shall have a real advantage from my pilgrimage." ('The terra incognita of Arabia' by Kaj Öhrnberg, in Dolce far niente in Arabia: Georg August Wallin and His Travels in the 1840s, 2014, p. 75) Originally Wallin did not plan to see the town but had to go there by force of circumstances.
In December 1846 Wallin started his second journey to the pilgrimage sites in the Holy Land. On his last expedition Wallin travelled via Taima and Tabuk to Bagdad and Persia. However, he did not visit the ruins of Persepolis on his way from Isfahan to Shiraz.
Wallin spent on his expedition over five year. On his journey through Europe he stayed a short time in Cologne. In the evening he went to hear Beethoven's Fidelio; the performance brought tears to his eyes. Wallin returned to Helsinki via London, where he published some of his studies, and was awarded with the gold medal of Royal Geographical Society in 1850. His study, Notes Taken During a Journey Through Part of Northern Arabia in 1848, was published next year by the Royal Geographical Society. Wallin was the first scholar to collect Bedouin poetry, his views on Arabic phonetics were highly valued by other researchers. However, most of his notes and letters Wallin wrote in Swedish, and his observations were not spread widely in the English speaking world.
In 1851 Wallin presented his doctoral thesis, Carmen elegiacum Ibnu-l-Faridi cum commentario Abdu-l-Ghanyi, and he was appointed professor of oriental literature. Wallin continued to arrange his research material, but his voyages to the Arabic lands were over. When the British and Russian geographical societies asked him to start a two years' expedition, Wallin rejected the offer because according to his plans, a new journey would take at least six years. Moreover, the Royal Geographical Society offered only £200; Wallin needed £400 at least. (Eventually the Society financed Sir Richard Francis Burton's expedition. His account of the journey, Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah and Meccah, was published in 1855.) And Wallin did not like the idea that he should return through the Central Asia, which the Russians considered an obligatory part of the project.
Wallin died on October 23, 1852, three years after his return to Finland. According to some speculations, he died of syphilis, which was not the official cause of death – he died of heart failure. Wallin contracted it possibly in Paris, where he was beaten and robbed, or most likely in Cairo. During his journeys Wallin bought 34 books and 19 manuscripts for Helsinki University Library, but they were not catalogued for over a hundred years. Wallin's portrait was painted by R.W. Ekman in 1853.
G.A. Wallin was among the first Westerners to enter the holy Islamic places and his adventures created similar legend around him as T.E. Lawrence's (Lawrence of Arabia) acquired through activities in Near East. However, Wallin's interest in Arabia was more influenced by 'Drang nach Osten' movement, which romanticized the Bedouin culture, than curiosity about the forbidden towns. He considered European culture oppressive, and this feeling only strengthened during the years he spent in Arabia as an romantic, nomadic adventurer, and fulfilling the dreams of exotic escapism. On his return he wrote: "I felt, that couldn't adapt myself to Europe any more" – he was ready to turn back and spend the rest of his life in the Orient. Wallin enjoys great esteem in the Middle East. Many believe that he truly embraced Islam instead of just disguising himself as a Muslim.
Victor Adolphe Malte-Brun (1816 – July 13, 1889) was a French geographer and cartographer. He was born in Paris, France. The son of Conrad Malte-Brun, another geographer, of Danish origin, and founder of the Société de Géographie.
He was followed by his son Victor Adolphe, who in 1851 became a member of the Société de Géographie, and quickly rose to be its secretary-general.
The Société de Géographie (French, "Geographical Society"), is the world's oldest geographical society. The Society was founded at a meeting, 15 December 1821, and among its 217 founders were some of the greatest scientific names of the time: Pierre-Simon Laplace, the Society's first president; Georges Cuvier, Alexander von Humboldt , Charles Pierre Chapsal, etc . Most of those men who had accompanied Napoleon Bonaparte in his Egyptian expedition, among them Conrad Malte-Brun, Jules Dumont d'Urville, Jules Paul Benjamin Delessert, Hottinguer, Henri Didot, Bottin and others.
The Society's revue has appeared since 1822, monthly, as Bulletin de la Société de Géographie (1822-1899)—offering in octavo format early news of all the discoveries of the nineteenth century—or quarterly, as La Géographie, with a break in 1940-46. Since 1947 the Society's magazine has appeared three times a year, as Acta Geographica. Victor Adolphe Malte-Brun took over the editor ship of his father and he made all maps for the magazine, mostly after the most up-to-date information directly supplied by the great French and foreign explorers. The Society's library, map collection and photograph collection are among the world's most comprehensive and deepest.
A mountain of New Zealand, in the Southern Alps on South Island also bears his name: Mount Maltebrun.


Katie , nice design and color ,with lots of storage and portable , well done , thanks for sharing , Jim !
That's one beautiful and functional table. Like the color and rustic look and has great storage. It will serve you well for a long time. Great job!


text:
She Will Burn!!!! (Plot participants *evil smile*)
She Will Burn!!!! (Plot participants *evil smile*) Feb 20, 2009 21:27:54 GMT -5
Post by Quasimodo on Feb 20, 2009 21:27:54 GMT -5
Regaining consciousness, Quasi blinked confused at the new surroundings.
He found himself in a dark room, with stone walls, as cold as ice.
He felt an unusual weight on his arm, as he rubbed a huge bump he somehow had gotten in the back of his head.
As he attempted to move further he found the reason why, he were all chained up.
He sighed, how had he gotten into this mess again?
He vaguely remembered having encountered his former "friend" Lady Tremaine, but how they`d got into a fight, or what happened, he couldn`t recall just now.
However, he didn`t need to be a genius to figure out the whole thing had ended with him being knocked unconscious.
He listened as he heard faint voices from above. One of them had to be Tremaine, off course, but the other.. he weren`t quite sure, but it sounded somewhat familiar.
All cred goes to: Wendy
Elisa Maza
Second Class, NYPD
She Will Burn!!!! (Plot participants *evil smile*) Feb 21, 2009 2:06:00 GMT -5
Post by Elisa Maza on Feb 21, 2009 2:06:00 GMT -5
"My friends are gargoyles." Elisa said as she and Ariel walked downstairs. "They defended a castle in Scotland over a thousand years ago before they were betrayed. Most of the clan was destroyed while they slept in stone. Goliath and most of the gargoyles you saw up there were frozen in stone for a thousand years.
"Goliath is their leader. The older gargoyle is Hudson. Then there's the Trio. Brooklyn is the red one with white hair, Lexington is the small yellowish gargoyle, and Broadway was the teal colored one. Bronx is the one who kinda looks like a dog." The female gargoyles name is Angela. She's Goliath's daughter, and the only one who wasn't placed under the spell. She was just an egg when that happened, and out of gratitude for Goliath saving her life, and to make up for the horrible way she treated him, the princess of the castle took her and the other eggs and guarded them as they hatched and grew.
Elisa led the way into a small room in the police station. She smiled when she saw that several maid dresses were laid out on the table.
"You really outdid yourself." Elisa thought, thinking of the fashion designer who created undercover outfits for her precinct.
"Good, we'll won't have to worry about calling our designer in to make a second dress for you." Elisa said to Ariel.
Seeing a note lying next to one of the dresses, Elisa picked it up.
Such a waste of fabric, these hobo suits. Call me next time you get a more classy undercover assignment, darling.
Elisa smiled at her friend's indignation. "I'll make it up to you." She thought.
Bronx trotted into the room, sniffing around. He'd never been in the police station before, and it was full of interesting new smells. Coming to Ariel, the gargoyle beast sniffed the hem of her dress, before barking happily at her.
"He likes you." Elisa said with a grin. "Now come on. We'll be at Lady Tremaine's mansion before dawn."
Last Edit: Feb 21, 2009 14:28:22 GMT -5 by Elisa Maza
Post by Ariel on Feb 21, 2009 17:43:46 GMT -5
Ariel listened with interest as Elisa explained the history of the gargoyles, naming each one with a description so that the former mermaid could identify them later if she needed to.
"Are they dangerous?" she asked cautiously, for although they had seemed friendly enough her imagination had a tendency to overact and she was already imaging the motley band looking at least twice as ferocious as they had. However the dog-like creature, Bronx, seemed friendly enough and reminded Ariel of Eric's friendly dog Max. She was used to his enthusiastic behaviour, so wasn't bothered when the dog gargoyle began barking happily and jumping at her excitedly.
"Down boy," she instructed with a slight giggle, sidestepping away from Bronx and scooping up one of the two disguises from the worktop. It was a simple outfit in washed out colours, however although it looked impoverished it was still well kept, for from what Elisa had told her about Tremaine the lady wouldn't hire just anyone. She crossed into a side-room and quickly switched outfit, locking her own in one of the lockers that lined the room before returning to Elisa.
"I'm impressed you were already set to go," she noted, giving a quick twirl so the police woman could check she was passable, "who knows what could become of that bear if we had to prepare everything first." She finished her display and stood still again, fidgeting impatiently and glancing at the clock. Almost an hour and a half now, anything could have happened. Ariel quickly ran through how she'd have to act in her head, remembering her encounters with the plethora of servants she and Eric employed back at home, as she waited for Elisa to prepare for the mission as well. She hummed to herself as she waited, and all of a sudden the tune emerged as a fully fledged song.
"And so I go now, onto the quest,
To save the bear, I'll have to be the best,
In to the belly of the beast I go,
To fight the battle to and fro,
But in the end if I can aid,
It will have been a worthy trade.
I'll be the best that I can be,
Worthy of a place in History,
Our efforts here will be the key,
If you just wait and see…" Ariel held this note for several seconds, hands clutched tightly in front of her before with a twirl she launched into a second verse.
"Together we're going to save the day,
We're going to leap into the fray,
And if our fortunes are all right,
We'll emerge again without a fight,
But whatever happens I'll be sure,
To save the bear from Tremaine's lure.
If you just wait and see!" She drew the note out even longer then the previous time, finished the song with a flourish before turning to see if Elisa was ready to go.
Last Edit: Feb 21, 2009 17:44:10 GMT -5 by Ariel
Post by Elisa Maza on Feb 21, 2009 18:08:05 GMT -5
Elisa quickly changed into her outfit. It was a simple dress, light blue with long sleeves and a white apron to go with it. The dress was layered enough so that she could conceal her gun on her thigh. She smiled as she stepped out of the closet, listening to Ariel's song. She hadn't known Ariel very long, but admired her passion and bravery. Those things were hard to come by nowadays.
Elisa smiled as she listened to Ariel finish singing. The girl had an amazing voice, and her song matched up with how Elisa felt.
"You're really brave Ariel, and loyal to the innocent." Elisa said. "I'm really glad I have you with me on this.
"Now let's get to the train station. Bronx, you'll ride on the top so no one sees you. It's going to be a long trip, so we'd best get as much sleep as possible on the train."
Getting an extra ticket for Ariel wasn't a problem. Above them, Bronx laid down on the roof of the train as carefully as he could so his weight wouldn't give him away. Ariel and Elisa settled in the cart and waited for the train to start moving. Finally, the engines started, and the train picked up speed as it raced away from Manhattan. Elisa sighed. She hated leaving Goliath, and could already feel the sickness from being separated from him set in. But she couldn't dwell on that. She had a job to do.
"I know you're worried about the bear." Elisa said. "Believe me, I have friends that are at risk too. But you can't dwell on what might be happening to them right now, or you'll lose focus. We'll be there soon. In the mean time, try to get a little rest, okay?"
ladytremaine
Post by ladytremaine on Feb 22, 2009 9:45:20 GMT -5
In the mansion the door to the cold, dark dungeon in the cellar opened, and who persons came down the stairs and entered the room. One of them was a man dressed like a butler, and with the most evil look in his eyes. He was carrying with him a bag of monstrous-looking tools and a torch that lit up the room. The other person entering the room, was Lady Tremaine.
The butler went over to Quasi and yanked hard at the metal chains to show Quasimodo was bound tightly. Lady Tremaine smiled an ice cold smile and went closer to him. Her eyes were cold green in the flackering light from the torch. She spoke calmly to him, her voice calm, and each word filled with frost.
"Welcome to my humble home, Quasimodo, my "darling" nephew. Yes, you are right, I am Frollo's sister. You mentioned very little upon our last meeting about your knowledge of the gypsy Esmeralda and The Court of the Miracles. I have plans for the gypsies, Quasimodo. Especially for Esmeralda and her father Clopin. But I will have to find them first. So I will give you an offer. Tell us every thing you know about Esmeralda, Clopin, and the Court of Miracles. Tell us where to find Esmeralda and the rest of the gypsies, and I will let you go."
She gave him an ice cold smile, waiting for his response.
It was a long ride to Lady Tremaine's mansion, but finally they had arrived. Elisa, Ariel and Bronx walked up the long pathway leading to the dark and creepy place.
Elisa knelt beside Bronx.
"The sun's about to rise, boy." Elisa said, scratching him behind the ears. "You better go find a safe place to hide for the day."
She grinned. "You know I think you're adorable, but somehow I doubt you'd suit Lady Tremaine's tastes."
Bronx whined a bit, obviously not wanting to leave Elisa alone, but he licked her cheek and scampered off to the forest.
"Here goes nothing." Elisa said to Ariel as she lifted the heavy door knocker.
The loud taps against the door echoed through the mansion. Elisa took a deep breath to steady her nerves. She had worked plenty of undercover cases before, but no matter how often she did it, it would still get her adrenaline pumping.
"Now remember." Elisa said to Ariel before the door opened. "Find the bear, and get out. I'm going to stay for as long as I need to, but I can't do my job and be worried about you."
Post by ladytremaine on Feb 22, 2009 14:46:34 GMT -5
Lucifer scattered down the stairs to the dungeon and meowed. He had heard voices on the outside of the Mansion. Lady Tremaine and the butler looked at each other, and the butler took his tools and returned back to the house, while leaving the torch with Lady Tremaine.
Lady Tremaine's face was lit up by the torch, and she spoke calmly to Quasimodo.
"It seems we have visitors, Quasimodo. It would be in your own interest to stay hidden down here, so nobody can mistake you for a monster...."
She gave him a last evil glare before she and Lucifer returned upstairs and hung the torch on the wall before she locked the door to the dungeon. The entrance disappeared behind the panel, and was hidden.
Lady Tremaine brushed her skirts, and went to the hallway, where the butler Edgar had opened the door to two strange women. She walked slowly down the hall, aristocratic and looking regal.
"May I help you?" She asked in a chilly voice, without introducing herself.
Elisa felt a chill run down her spine at the sight of Lady Tremaine. The woman seemed to be the very epitome of cruelty. Her green eyes were empty and soulless.
"Scene." Elisa thought to herself.
"A word, my lady?" Elisa began. She kept her voice soft, and allowed fear creep into her voice, hoping Lady Tremaine would see it as a commoner being nervous about being in the presence of such a fine noblewoman.
"My name is Salli. I've heard you are in need of a few servants." Elisa glanced at Ariel. "My cousin, Jodi and I have come in hopes to enter your service. We'll cook, clean, sew, anything else that you would desire, my lady."
(( Hope you don't mind me picking out your codename, Ariel. Elisa is voiced by Salli Richardson, and when she went undercover before, Salli was her name, so I thought it'd be fun to use Jodi for yours, but if you want another, just let me know and I'll edit it. ))
Lady Tremaine whispered something to Edgar, and he disappeared into the living room. In the meanwhile Lady Tremaine turned to the young girls and offered them to step into her office, which were far from the living room, the hallway and the hidden entrance to the dungeon.
She offered the two ladies to sit down, while she took place behind the desk, thinking of her ungrateful step daughter Cinderella.
"You are in luck, ladies. My former... maid.... recently quit in her job, and I need someone to take her place. I also believe there would be need of some servants in the kitchen. Do you have any references from your former boss?"
While Lady Tremaine kept the girls occupied in the office, Edgar lifted the teddy bear down from the fireplace, removing every trace of evidence there had been someone there. Then he carried the muffled to the dungeon and closed the door behind him. He grabbed a torch and made his way down the stairs, where he hung up Pooh in the ceiling, where Quasimodo could see him.
"Now, little teddy, you get company. Maybe you can get Quasimodo to speak...." he smiled evilly.
He started building up a fire under the teddy, and soon there was a crackling fire burning under the poor little bear. Edgar turned to Quasimodo with an evil glare.
"Now, Quasimodo, tell us where the gypsy Esmeralda is - or we will find out how well the fluff in this teddy bear can burn...."
"Tut, tut, it looks like rain."
Post by Winnie the Pooh on Feb 22, 2009 16:10:50 GMT -5
Pooh's arms had been getting stiff from hanging for so long over the fire and as soon as he was taken down he sighed greatly and lowered his arms. At first Pooh was grateful that the butler had come to help him but when he soon realized he wasn't being released and that he was being hung back up, he panicked struggling a little against the restraints and trying to say something from behind the gag.
When he was hung back up, Pooh looked around to see what Edgar was talking about and upon spinning a bit on the rope he noticed a very familiar figure in the same dungeon cell room as him.
"Quasi!" Pooh cried from behind the gag, though it sounded more like 'mphm!' then his actual name. Pooh watched as the fire was rebuilt beneath him and soon he could feel the scorching heat as the fire became brighter and hotter and it almost seemed to reach up at him as if it too had claws like Lucifer.
Pooh's legs dangled dangerously close to the flames and a spark got determined enough to spit up and hit him on his softest spot. Pooh 'ow'ed!' and jumped, making the rope sway fiercely back and forth.
Lucifer's demonic eyes watched the little teddy sway, as if it was a scratching post and reached up as the bear swayed in his direction and caught the bears little leg with his claws. The cat dragged his claws slowly down the bears leg, undoing some of his stitches and watching as a bit of fluff came tumbling out and land in the fire, making it hiss with excitement at the new thing it was burning up.
Pooh looked back down at the fire in pain and fear as he saw his own fluff go up in flames and then looked back towards Lucifer who released him in satisfaction. Tears were burning in Pooh's eyes as he crossed his legs trying to keep them away from the fire and Lucifer as he dangled.
Last Edit: Feb 22, 2009 16:11:34 GMT -5 by Winnie the Pooh
Willy nilly silly old bear.
Pooh Bear is: Nani Pelekai's Butt Guard! (Back Away From The Butt!)
I also play my inner rebellious adult/child: Kiara
Elisa had anticipated that Lady Tremaine would ask to see references. She pulled out a piece of paper with a list of fake names. In reality, the phone numbers belonged to Captain Chavez, Matt, and Morgan. But when Lady Tremaine called, they would all act as different 'employers' of Elisa (or in this case, Salli). The names included a Lady Eleanor Audley, The Duke of Barclay, and Lord Bruno.
"Here you are, my Lady." Elisa said respectfully, handing the list to Lady Tremaine. "I'm afraid that they will know nothing of Jodi, as she was not with me when I was under their employment. But I assure you that she is a very hard worker."
(( Added Disney references for the names. All from the same movie, but I couldn't resist. ))
((Goo Disney!!! I love the idea with the Disney names in the references ;D You're a genious *Hugs* ))
Lady Tremaine read the list of names and watched the young woman. Then she picked up the phone and called one of the numpers of the list. She didn't know the phone number belonged to Matt, Elisa's partner, she thought she was speaking to The Duke of Barclay.
"Good afternoon, Mylord, this is Lady Tremaine speaking. I am calling to hear if you had a woman named Salli in your service. Yes - I have her right here... she has asked to work in my house... polite, respectful.... hm.... clever.... works like a bee. Thank you, Mylord, that was all I needed to know."
She hung up and turned to Elisa again.
"It seems you got yourselves a job as a First maid. As for your cousin... without references.... ah well, she can work as a scullery maid."
She stood up.
"You will get up at 6 every morning, the breakfast will be served at the servant's hall 630. The daily prayer is at 9, both the family and the servants attend. In the meanwhile you'll be working with your duties, Edgar will let you know your duties, and everything else you need to know."
A very small animal indeed
Post by Piglet on Feb 22, 2009 18:03:13 GMT -5
Piglet was prancing around near a old mansion. The house it's self kind of scared him but he really didn't care. "You have to face your fears Piglet." As he was walking some people riding on horses picked him up.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" the pig screamed.
"Edgar, is this the pig you wanted?" the man asked another man.
"Yes it is! Give it to me! GIVE IT!" Edgar shouted. Edgar was a scary, dark looking man.
The man who had Piglet gave him to Edgar. "Yes Edgar."
"Little piggey, your going to be of great importance. We have some friends of yours. They should be glad to see you." the man said with an evil smile. Edgar took the pig to a secret entrance where he lead the pig to his friends.
"Hi Pooh!" Piglet said when he saw his best friend.
sig by wendy
my inner wild child- GURGI
my inner fighting feminist of a princess- EILONWY
Elisa waited nervously as Lady Tremaine called Matt, or as she knew him, The Duke of Barclay. She knew Matt wasn't going to let her down, but with undercover operations, there was always a chance of something going wrong.
Her fears were tossed out the window, however, when Lady Tremaine gave her the job of First Maid. Ariel, however, would work as a scullery maid. However, that would work in their favor. She'd rarely see Lady Tremaine, save for the daily prayer, so she'd have plenty of time to search for the bear.
"I thank you, my lady." Elisa said with a bow. "We are grateful to you for allowing us this opportunity. We will begin work at once. What would you have us do?"
Lady Tremaine smiled an ice cold smile as she returned the papers to "Salli". She straightened her back and spoke in her cold voice, devoid of any emotions.
"Thank you, Salli. Jodi, go to the kitchen and tell the cook you are the new scullery maid. The kitchen door is the first on the left from here. You can help him peel potatoes for dinner. We will be 14 guests at the dinner table tonight.
You, Salli, will go to the garden and find some suitable plants for the dinner table decorations. Pick only the best flowers. The door to the garden is the first to the right from here. If you meet Hudson, the Gardener, tell him you are the new First Maid."
She stood up from her chairs and smiled.
"And now, ladies, if you both will excuse me, I have work to do."
Last Edit: Feb 22, 2009 18:41:22 GMT -5 by ladytremaine


Double Down — M.R. Forbes: Sci-fi/Fantasy Author. Nerd.
With the memory of their losses fresh on Hayley and Quark's minds, they head for a meet up with the only individual in the galaxy who might be able to help them handle the coming storm.
But the enemy always seems to be one step ahead of them, ready to intercept at every turn and forcing them to make even more sacrifices along the way.
Lay everything on the line, soldier up, and double down.


The house includes three separate apartments, an annexe of 33 m², an old stove, a laundry room, two verandas!
Ground floor — a three-room apartment and a studio.
Upper floor — a living room, a kitchen, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a balcony.


You have been so much fun to watch this past year. You have been learning so much – like how to be a big brother and communicate with us.
The remote is your biggest prize.
You sign "more" ALL THE TIME. It's for any food, another episode of whatever you are watching, something Mommy or Daddy is doing with you…whatever. If you want it, you're going to ask for it by signing "more".
You love to eat Cheerios, oatmeal, bananas, avocados, Ritz crackers, Activia yogurt, goldfish, green beans, black beans, fruit snacks, bread, Chick-Fil-A, and ICE CREAM. You flat out refuse to eat any and all pasta.
You stop and watch airplanes fly overhead.
You love to sit at the dinner table like a big boy.
You refuse to wear hats.
You like to rough house with Daddy.
You are obsessed with blankets. You lay on them, run around with them on your head, sleep with AT LEAST two in your crib.
You can't sleep without a pacifier and Clifford in your crib.
You always reach for cars, trucks, fire engines, bull dozers, etc.
Playing outside is your favorite.
We love you sweet boy. You keep us laughing and on our toes!


text:
D.Tayls' single "Crush on You" garners over 3-million plays
March 21, 2018 0 1 min read
D.Tayls is a hip-hop artist outta Norfolk, Virginia. Not too long ago, he released his "Crush on You" single, and so far, it has garnered over 3-million plays across various social media platforms.
"The song came about when I was pondering about this special someone who means a lot to me and my success. I had a crush on this person for about four years before a relationship formed. This song displays how I felt at that moment and provides listeners a relatable experience of reminiscing about their first crush or current crush."
D.Tayls
Contact us on social media via Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, or Google+ and let us know what you think. Also, check out our Dope Music Video Showcase and vote for the dopest music video. Expect to watch exciting videos that are showcasing music in the popular genres of hip-hop, R&B, Soul, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Alternative, Electronic, et cetera. Also, don't forget to subscribe.
Previous SCHERB releases a melodic single, entitled, "Few of Us", feat. Dente
Next Red Velvet Papi releases his debut song, entitled, "Martian"
Bong Mines Entertainment is a hot spot for new music and a credible source for music discovery. We highlight tomorrow's most promising artists while featuring today's mega-superstars.
Whitney McClain re-releases her dreamy R&B tune, entitled, "Bombs Away"
Retro Soul
January 19, 2022 0 2 min read0
BARii releases a dazzling contemporary R&B tune, entitled, "Bad"
Frank Vanegas releases a lovely Urbano Latino tune, entitled, "What I Need," featuring Melaner
Urbano Latino
Jonas Blue & Why Don't We release a lyric video for their "Don't Wake Me Up" single
Jayne Doe releases a lovely debut single, entitled, "Welcome to Hollywood"
Portair releases a lovely alternative-folk tune, entitled, "All The Things We've Never Done"
Alternative Folk
Portable and Poco Lee release a music video for their "ZaZoo Zehh" single featuring Olamide
African Dance


(AP) — A Los Angeles-based health care nonprofit known for funding controversial ballot measures is waging an expensive battle with the real estate industry over rent control in California.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has poured more than $12 million into a November initiative it's spearheading to let cities and counties regulate rental fees in buildings that state law currently shields from such control.
Real estate industry groups and other rent control opponents spent more than $10 million lobbying California officials last year on a Costa-Hawkins repeal bill and other issues.
Tenant groups can't afford to challenge the industry alone, so they teamed up with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to put the rent control measure, Proposition 10, on the ballot, said Christina Livingston, executive director of the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment Action.
Opponents said the measure would have decreased LA's housing supply. They also point to the foundation's attempts to block a high-rise development that will overshadow the organization's downtown headquarters, suggesting a personal motivation.
Weinstein said the organization's effort was prompted in part by development in the foundation's Hollywood neighborhood where they could see gentrification firsthand. But he said he has nothing to gain personally from the housing policies the foundation supports.
Proponents of a measure to enact "rent stabilization" say they submitted enough signatures on Thursday to qualify for the ballot. The catch: Supporters will have to wait another two years to vote on it.


text:
Markus Naslund: Where would he fit with the Canucks?
Jim Jamieson
Another day, another report of a recent Markus Naslund sighting in Vancouver.
This time it was from a former neighbour, who says she was sure she saw the former Canucks captain strolling down the street in his old west side neighbourhood eight days ago.
Naslund was as amused by this second appearance of his doppelgänger as he was earlier this week.
Informed via text message of the latest sighting, Naslund was asked if he was in Vancouver eight days ago, or at all recently.
He replied, "No," then added, mirthfully, "Ask for pictures!"
This, of course, leads to speculation that the Canucks are looking to bring Naslund — who left his position as GM of Swedish Hockey League club Modo recently — on board the Canucks in some capacity.
The Canucks, by the way, say there is nothing to these reports and that there have been no discussions with Naslund about a role with the team.
Naslund said the same thing.
We'll take Naslund and the Canucks at their word, but it does bring up the interesting question of just where he might fit in the organization if that scenario were to come about.
Certainly, bringing Naslund, 40, back to the Canucks would make sense on some levels. For one, it further refreshes the face of the club with another popular former player — after Trevor Linden effectively replaced former GM Mike Gillis.
But Naslund — in consideration of his last three years as a GM in Sweden — also brings some significant managerial experience and savvy, particularly regarding the hockey landscape in Europe.
So where would he fit in the Canucks' organizational structure?
Certainly not the vacant GM position, where Boston assistant GM Jim Benning is expected to land once the Bruins' playoffs are over.
Naslund wouldn't be qualified to take over the assistant GM position occupied by Laurence Gilman, the Canucks' excellent contract negotiator and salary cap expert.
You could say the same for the other assistant GM job held by Lorne Henning, who oversees player personnel — at least immediately — as it would take some time for Naslund to get up to speed in a detailed way on the NHL and its roughly 700 players.
But bringing Naslund in as a special advisor, with a multi-faceted plate of responsibilities, might be a good way for him to get his feet wet. Stan Smyl currently has a similar title, to go along with director of player development, so perhaps some of that could be off-loaded.
Naslund said earlier this week he was still mulling his options after leaving his job with Modo.
"I want to take a bit of time to feel it all out, what I want to get involved in," he said. "After I retired (as a player), I went back home and jumped right into it (GM of Modo) instead of seeing what was out there. I want to make the right decision."
Naslund said he has communicated with Linden, primarily to congratulate him on his new job, but has not talked with the new Canucks' president about a position with the club.


Unless you've been hiding on the dark side of the moon, you know about Facebook's IPO filing on Wednesday last week. Facebook shares are expected to sell like dim sum, and the latest figures from Wall Street put the company's valuation at $94 billion. That's some serious money!
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder, will come out of the IPO with a net worth of about $24 billion, and he won't be the only one to gain billions.
Clearly, being the top dog in the social network niche is not a bad way to make money online. Not surprisingly, a number of challengers have come along and tried to unseat Facebook. You know about Buzz and Google+. Maybe you also remember Unthink and their sassy video. Despite causing a media stir, six months later the star of the clip remains firmly entrenched on Facebook, and Unthink barely gets any traffic.
Despite its anti-Facebook message, Unthink was based on exactly the same business model as Facebook: get venture capital funding ($2.5 million to be precise), use the funding to grow a userbase, and leverage that userbase into ad dollars.
If you're competing with Facebook, business as usual doesn't cut the mustard. You'll need something totally fresh – a brand new, innovative approach. This is why I'm keeping an eye on a brash new startup called Zurker. These guys received no funding at all from VC's. All their funding comes from their members who invest small amounts, typically less than $100. In exchange, the members get equity in the form of "virtual shares" or vShares.
Members can also gain vShares by referring their friends to the project, and that is pretty clever.
Given the opportunity to own a slice of Facebook in 2004, who wouldn't jump at the chance? It's too late for that, but plenty of Zurker's members seem to be buying the proposition that Zurker could become the next Facebook, and are enthusiastically evangelizing Zurker's benefits on their blogs in an effort to amass more vShares. The energy from the member-owners has translated into growth and it shows in their traffic graph. But can a small startup, coming out of nowhere, seriously challenge a $94 billion behemoth?
Right now, that's unlikely. Zurker has no mobile app, no web widgets, and no developer API. The interface is unique and smart, but a little clunky and unsophisticated. Zurker still has less than 5,000 members worldwide.
But Zurker founders – they call themselves custodians – make an intriguing point: back in 2004, MySpace was the dominant social network, and Facebook was an unknown little startup that came out of nowhere. Facebook had a deviously clever strategy for growth, namely exclusivity: Facebook became tres chic and desirable by restricting access to the elite at Harvard only, then to the Ivy League, then to US colleges in general, followed by US high schools and finally the masses. Zurker, meanwhile, have a completely different deviously clever strategy of their own: give members equity.
Zurker came out of private alpha testing on January 22, 2012. You still need an invite to get in, so here's one from me.
I don't know if these guys will really follow through and eat Facebook's lunch. But if they do, remember you read it about it here first.