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All Stories, General Fiction, Humour
Submarines, Like Ships in the Night by Steve Sibra
April 7, 2021 January 26, 2021 literallystories2014
I always feel awkward in social situations with strangers. I guess everybody does. But for some reason when I find myself at that point, my reaction is beyond control: I start lying like a madman.
When I find myself getting self-conscious, I tell complete strangers that I was involved in some vague military operation where I was living on a submarine. I don't know how this started. Before I can stop and think, I make a bunch of statements that I cannot walk back. The truth is, I have never even seen an actual submarine, much less been in one.
I am a big fan of pop culture, and when I was a kid, I watched old reruns of "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" on a retro TV channel. What I learned from the show is all I know about submarines. Somebody asks me about myself and I say "well, I was in the military and spent a lot of time on board some big submarines."
From that moment on, I am totally, irrevocably screwed.
Tonight it happened again, at a work party I almost didn't attend. I made my usual opening statement and from that point on I was on my heels, scrambling for my life. In a state of panic, I tried to remember every detail about the TV show. Keeping it vague was the key.
"What branch of the military were you in? Did you serve in the Navy?"
"Uh, yes, it must have been the Navy."
"You're not sure?"
I often made a misstep of this sort, sounding uncertain, and from that point on, I was in the thick of it.
"Yes, Navy, yes. Underwater, mostly. I was most of the time under the water. Serving, I mean. I served underwater."
Ridiculous. But then more questions, and it got worse.
"What did your submarine do?"
"Oh, not that much exactly. You know. Snuck around underwater, trying to spy on other people by getting into their own private water without them knowing about it."
"Wow. You mean like the Russians? Did that work?"
"Well not mostly. Sometimes but generally they would find us with big ships on the surface and then there would be hell to pay."
"Well they would start by dropping depth charges at us. They were like big barrels of toxic waste that would explode. But the enemy wasn't very good with them, they mostly blew up too soon or too late."
"What was your job on the submarine?"
"Me? Oh, uh . . . it varied. This and that."
"Like give me an example."
"Well, sometimes it was the, uh, the periscope. I was in charge of periscope stuff."
"Like being a lookout? How exciting!"
"Yeah, but no. I mean, it wasn't that exciting. And a lot of what I did was more like maintenance on the thing. Sometimes I got to look through it just a little bit."
"How fascinating. Was it the mechanical stuff, like hydraulics? Or was your job computer related, like software programming?"
Red flag. I didn't know anything about computers and I could shoot myself down in just seconds on that subject, so I tried for whatever else I could grasp.
"Oh, no, not computer stuff really. It was more like . . . well, lubrication."
"Lubrication?"
"Yeah, like we would grease up the pole really good so the periscope could go up and down and in and out, real smooth like. The captain, I mean the admiral, he would call me on the big bullhorn thing and he would say, "Private, get down here and grease this pole!"
"He actually said that?"
"Hell, yeah he did. He was really bossy. And old, with a grim look on his face all the time."
"Did they call you a private in the Navy? I thought that was the army."
"Hell. I don't think I am supposed to comment on that. It might be classified information, actually."
"Did your submarine have a name?"
Then I really stepped in it. "It was the Nautilus. No, wait, I mean the Proteus. It got – uh, it got changed."
"What about torpedoes? Did you ever fire any of them?"
"No, no . . . I didn't like to shoot at things. Still don't."
"So, you weren't in battle."
One guy turned to call to his friend. "Hey, Charlie! Come over here and listen to this guy, he is telling us some really interesting shit!" I winced.
"But people tried to blow you up with depth charges. Didn't that make you mad?"
"I guess it didn't at the time. It does now, thinking back, but the admiral, he was always so calm, it kind of rubbed off on the rest of us."
A high-pitched voice came from behind me.
"Excuse me . . . just curious."
I turned around and was looking at the top of a young woman's head. She had to be five feet tall at the most. "What's that?" I asked.
She looked up and smiled. She was pretty in a quirky, energetic sort of way, with long brown hair and eyeglasses shaped like birds' feet. She reminded me of a cartoon character.
"Just wondering," she said, "when you were on the Seaview, greasing the pole of the captain for that rock bottom base naval salary, were you on the movie version with Walter Pidgeon, or the TV version with Richard Basehart?"
"Uh, I, uh . . . well."
I nearly dropped a depth charge in my shorts.
"Did you do some time on both?" She had the sweetest smile. She was skinning me alive.
The other two people I had been talking to looked on. One of them had an expression which told me he had figured out what was going on and was waiting for her to drop the anchor.
"Um . . . have you spent some time in submarines?" I asked.
"I actually live in one," she said. "But same as you, I watched little toy models of them on television. Same – as – you." With the last sentence she used her index finger to poke me in the chest, three times, once for each word.
One guy rolled his eyes and walked away. The other one didn't seem to understand what we were talking about but he appeared to be losing interest.
"I don't know what to say."
"No, I don't suppose. Not knowing what to say in strange social situations is probably your natural state."
I tried to make a comeback, but was in uncharted territory. "Did you say you live on a submarine?"
"I did say that."
"Are you sure?" I asked. I decided my best defense was a good offense. "Or maybe you fantasize your life inside of a Beatles song, the way I use the submarine TV show? Is your submarine yellow? Is your dad Admiral Halsey?"
The woman looked up at me with a big smile, and didn't give an inch. "That's two different songs, dude, and one of them technically is not even the Beatles."
She had me completely at her mercy. After a long pause, she punched me in the shoulder.
"Don't worry about any of this stuff," she said. "Listen, you seem like an interesting guy. Weird, but interesting. Would you like to have a cup of coffee with me on my yellow submarine?"
It turned out, she did in fact live in a submarine.
However, it was what you would call in "dry dock". It was sitting in the expansive back yard of a cluttered, junky, rundown old house on the west side of town. A nearby street lamp made enough light to maneuver through the junk.
There were old plastic milk crates piled up next to the sub. We used them to climb up to the top in order to get in. I said something about going in through the hatch. She giggled.
"It's not a hatch, sailor boy. In America it's called a sail, actually – in Great Britain, they call it a fin." I hung my head. "Richard Basehart never went up there," I muttered.
"This is my father's property," she said, standing atop the small vessel with the moonlight at her back. The breeze moved through her hair. I stood on the crates and admired her unusual beauty.
"What do you do if you are inside and somebody moves the crates so you can't climb down to get out?" I asked. She laughed.
"Torpedo tubes," she said. "Plus, they make good bunks."
We descended the ladder into the old sub, which was actually nicely decorated. It showed the touch of a woman who went her own way. The floor was carpeted with old cloth flour bags, expertly sewn together in layers. She had fastened old record albums to the wall – not the sleeves, the plastic LPs themselves. There were dozens of them. They looked like shiny black portholes with labels.
"Looks like you have a near complete set of Herman's Hermits on vinyl here," I said as she brewed coffee. "Do you know how many middle names Peter Noone has?" I wasn't sure she would recognize the real name of "Herman", the front man for this sixties bubble gum rock group.
"I know that none of them are Herman," she replied. Then she got on her tip-toes and kissed me. It was a quick kiss, but had some punch behind it. I staggered backwards a step.
"Peter Blair Denis Bernard Noone," I mumbled, and she kissed me again, longer and harder. I managed to put the coffee cup down on . . . something . . . without dropping it.
"You are really a fan of 1960s pop culture, aren't you?" she said softly. Her smile was overwhelming.
"This is the oddest . . . did you say your father owns this submarine? How did that come to be?" I was blathering. I realized as if for the first time that I was always blathering, I never stopped blathering. "I am very awkward when it comes to . . . situations with girls." She was unbuttoning my shirt.
"I can see that," she said. "My father was a junk man. He got this thing from the Navy Surplus somehow. I don't really know. He died and my crazy stepmother lives in the house."
"How fascinating," I mumbled. She was starting to unbutton her own shirt.
"Yes, fascinating, isn't it?" she said.
"I am really glad you came to that party; even though I ended up with you helping to make me look like a damned fool."
She smiled and took the bird's feet off her face. "Have you ever made love underwater?" she asked.
"I, uh . . . well no but we are not underwater – I mean, are we? And I need to tell you, I was going to tell you, I only have the one middle name."
"I don't even know your first name yet," she said. She unbuckled my pants and they fell to the floor.
"I believe there is a name for the floor of a submarine," I said. "But for the life of me, I don't know what it is."
Gently, like the explosion of an errant depth charge, she took me by the hand, and pulled me in the direction of the torpedo tubes.
Steve Sibra
Image by David Mark from Pixabay
Tagged free reading, humour, lies, literally stories, relationships, Short Fiction, social incompetence
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9 thoughts on "Submarines, Like Ships in the Night by Steve Sibra"
It's great to see you back!
This was a bit of silly fun and him being him got him the girl. Normally a certain type of guy will lie to try and impress a woman and when he gets found out, he's bombed out, but the woman character was interesting and was attracted to him, or was it his lies / obvious insecurities?
The MC getting the girl after being caught lying is a bit different. His lies were so stupid, he should have been called out yonks ago. I also smiled when the woman took her top off and he was still going on about Hermin's Hermits.
You judged the end very well, as if it had went any further, the poor soul would probably have needed a road map!!
He was feckless but got a rub of the green and you do wonder what confidence he would have gained. No matter what, he could have told the story of a bunk-up in a submarine for real. I think that was something that I really liked about this, the story gave him a story.
I really enjoyed this!!!
herm2pipes says:
great comments, Hugh, and thank you. a fun story to write and to read in public, my absolute favorite thing about the whole story is how he describes her glasses as looking like birds' feet. that was the most satisfying detail to come up with in the process.
James McEwan says:
Trying to boost his self-esteem among strangers at a party seemed to be a reflex reaction for him to attract attention. Talk about being up a creek without a paddle and in leaky canoe.
This was hilarious and an enjoyable read. I cringed along with him as he struggled to thrash out his elaborations and was well out of his depth.
I like how the woman hooked him- "I actually live on one". A submarine.
In his next set of stories he can add how he got off with the captain, although no one will believe him. Then again that would be telling the truth; a difficult trait for him.
I enjoyed this.
the part of this story that was the most fun to write, and the part that always seems to generate the laughter when I have read it publicly, is the give and take of the conversation where people keep asking him questions and he keeps blurting out answers without putting a moment's thought into the next step. I think the desperation of the guy is so intense that he deserves some freebie for being such a total clown. Hence, his dream girl to the rescue.
Good story. The MC should study politics. A solid lie is defended by bizarre accusations and flat out belligerence when even slightly challenged.
Edward N. McConnell says:
A clever yarn about a guy who should have struck out but instead hit a home run. Just goes to show, if you get the right pitch, you can hit the ball. I'm left wondering if he knew what direction to run to get around the bases. I know we were talking about submarines. Sorry for the baseball references.
Great story, Steve.
this hapless character would probably try to play baseball on a submarine. I just saw a chance to let a total loser get in the win column, at least one time. Your baseball analogies seem sound to me. This guy was the Marv Throneberry of the waves.
Reminds me of that episode of "Seinfeld" where George Costanza pretends to be a marine biologist. George also gets the girl. Indeed, a person may dig a big hole with fabulations, but you never know what random chance and/or a story can bring up. This guy should start buying lottery tickets.
Bill Kitcher says:
Very enjoyable read. I actually laughed out loud at the "lubrication" line. His digging in deeper to justify what he's saying was really well done.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Аруба — північноамериканська країна, що знаходиться в групі Малих Антильських островів Карибського регіону . Загальна площа країни 180 км² (218-те місце у світі), з яких на суходіл припадає 180 км², а на поверхню внутрішніх вод — 0 км². Площа країни трохи більша за територію Голосіївського району міста Києва.

Назва
Офіційна назва — Аруба (). Перші згадки про острів датуються 1562 роком, під яким він позначений на карті як Orua. На інших картах XVI—XVII століть позначається, як Oruba, Ouraba, Uruba та Arouba. Назву країни пов'язують з аравакським етнонімом Ороувак або Аруак, в якому «ора» — мушля та «убао» — острів, тобто острів мушель. За іншою версією, назва походить від слів «уру» — каное та «убао» — острів, імовірна згадка про подорож індіанців на каное до остра Аруба. Є ще версія походження слова Аруба від іспанської фрази «оро хубо» (), що означає тут було золото. Проте золота на острові ніколи не було.

Історія дослідження території

Географічне положення
Аруба — північноамериканська острівна країна, що лежить поблизу північних берегів Південної Америки в групі Підвітряних островів Малих Антильських островів. Аруба не має сухопутного державного кордону. Аруба з усіх боків омивається водами Карибського моря Атлантичного океану. Загальна довжина морського узбережжя 68,5 км.

Згідно з Конвенцією Організації Об'єднаних Націй з морського права (UNCLOS) 1982 року, протяжність територіальних вод країни встановлено в 12 морських миль (22,2 км).

Крайні пункти

Час

Час в Арубі: UTC-4 (-6 годин різниці часу з Києвом).

Геологія

Корисні копалини
Розвідані поклади корисних копалин на острові відсутні. На пляжах білий пісок, що може використовуватись у будівництві.

Рельєф

Середні висоти — дані відсутні; найнижча точка — рівень вод Карибського моря (0 м); найвища точка — гора Серу-Яманота (188 м). Рельєф острова рівнинний з пасмами пагорбів у центральній частині острова.

Узбережжя
Країна складається з єдиного однойменного острова. Навколо острова інші менші острови відсутні. На західному узбережжі ланцюги піщаних кіс, що відокремлюють внутрішні напівзакриті лагуни.

Клімат

Територія Аруби лежить у тропічному кліматичному поясі. Увесь рік панують тропічні повітряні маси. Сезонний хід температури повітря чітко відстежується. Переважають східні пасатні вітри, достатнє зволоження (на підвітряних схилах відчувається значний дефіцит вологи). У теплий сезон з морів та океанів часто надходять тропічні циклони.

Аруба не є самостійним членом Всесвітньої метеорологічної організації (WMO), інтереси країни в організації представляють Нідерланди.

Внутрішні води

Річки й постійні водотоки на острові відсутні. Стік до Карибського моря Атлантичного океану. Дані про площу зрошуваних земель в країні, станом на 2012 рік, відсутні.

Ґрунтові води

Ґрунти

Рослинність

Рослинність острова бідна, переважно ксерофітний скреб із кущів і низьких дерев.

Земельні ресурси Аруби (оцінка 2011 року):
 придатні для сільськогосподарського обробітку землі — 11,1 %,
 орні землі — 11,1 %,
 багаторічні насадження — 0 %,
 землі, що постійно використовуються під пасовища — 0 %;
 землі, зайняті лісами і чагарниками — 2,3 %;
 інше — 86,6 %.

Тваринний світ

У зоогеографічному відношенні територія країни відноситься до Північноандійської провінції Гвіано-Бразильської підобласті Неотропічної області.

Охорона природи

Стихійні лиха та екологічні проблеми

На території країни спостерігаються небезпечні природні явища і стихійні лиха: урагани, хоча острів лежить вдалині від головної осі проходження карибських ураганів.

Серед екологічних проблем варто відзначити:
 забруднення вод навколо острова.

Фізико-географічне районування
У фізико-географічному відношенні територію Аруби можна розділити на райони, що відрізняються один від одного рельєфом, кліматом, рослинним покривом:

Див. також
 Північна Америка

Примітки

Література

Українською

Англійською

Російською
  Аруба //

  Аруба //

Посилання

  — карти ґрунтового покрову Аруби.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


I fundamentally disagree with the decision by the Provincial Government to roll-back the 2015 Health and Physical Education curriculum. Reverting back to a 20 year old curriculum does not meet the needs of students and society at large. Having read the 2015 curriculum, I found nothing to justify its removal.


There is no formal presentation but Tuesday evening has been set aside for women only. You can drop by, work on your bike, practice some skills either on your own bike or a Cycle Transitions bike, and talk shop with the other women there. Basic maintenance will go a long way toward protecting the investment you've made in your bicycle. Learn how to clean your bike, clean and lubricate your chain, or change a tire. You never know when it will come in handy.
Memberships to Cycle Transitions: $30 single or $50 family membership for 1 year which gives you access to our do-it-yourself work space and tools during our hours of operation and workshops.


Payment with credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express) is possible at the advance booking office and for telephone, online or fax reservations. Tickets will be held at the concierge desk at both venues.There is a charge of €3 to send tickets by post.
The online service print@home offered by Eventim allows you to print your tickets out at home. A sales fee of 12.5% of the ticket price will apply. Tickets printed at home are not valid for travel on the RMV public transport system.
The Schmidtstrasse stop on bus line 34 is right outside the Kommunikationsfabrik. The Mönchhofstraße stop for tramlines 11 and 21 is located 200 meters away from the Kommunikationsfabrik.
There is a parking north of the building at Schmidtstraße 12 (entrance to Tor B). To reach the entrance to Frankfurt LAB go round to the other side of the building, either to the right or left – approx. 200 meters.
Please be advised that there is now a charge for using the parking facility at the Kommunikationsfabrik (€2 for four hours).
Frankfurt LAB is made possible by the Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain, the Foundations Polytechnische Gesellschaft Frankfurt am Main, BHF-BANK-Stiftung, Adolf und Luisa Haeuser-Stiftung für Kunst- und Kulturpflege, ALTANA Cultural Foundation and the Crespo Foundation.


If you are gearing up for your first or next Project 333 capsule wardrobe, you are not alone. I've been reviewing my pieces and thinking about what to include.
There isn't a one size fits all capsule wardrobe. This has to fit your body and your life.
33 is not a magic number. If your number is 38, 52, or 95, that's ok.
You don't have to get rid of the items you don't include in your capsule wardrobe. Set them aside and revisit after a few months. A little distance will give you clarity about which items you want to keep or not.
Keep these things in mind when browsing the resources below for capsule wardrobe inspiration.
Youtube: I recently searched "capsule wardrobe project 333" and found more than 2000 videos. Wow! I haven't seen them all, but here are a few I thought were great.
If you want to participate, follow me on Instagram and use #project333 when posting your images.
Also be sure to check out The Vivienne Files, Recovering Shopaholic, & Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans.
I sometimes write about Project 333 and my capsule collection on bemorewithless.com and recently wrote How to Clean Out Your Closet for Good to help you get ready for the next season of Project 333.
Your heart: When you are ready to choose your 33 pieces, the above inspiration is lovely, but what matters is what you love. Start by choosing pieces from your own closet and then give yourself time to dress with less and figure out what makes you smile.
If wearing an old sweatshirt because you know you are going to get paint on it while working on your next masterpiece makes you smile, include it. If a frumpy pair of shoes make you smile because they are comfortable to walk miles in, include them. If a dress you've been saving for special occasions makes you smile, include it and wear it today. Today is a special occasion.
Inspiration is everywhere, but a capsule collection filled with your favorite pieces is the one that will last, and the one you will love.
P.S. Learn more and join me on The Tiny Wardrobe Tour.
Thanks, as always, for including The Vivienne Files in your list of capsule inspirations; I work really hard to provide fresh ideas and inspirations for us all.
And thank you, especially, for your work to encourage all women to look more seriously and deeply at their needs and preferences. Our world needs us to make wise decisions!


Eka's Portal • View topic - Re: Hello!
So after a very long work, I have done very much things! I had change a lot of things, so here it is!
"Hi... um.. I am new here, and I am a bit nervous but I think it's ok. So anyways!
My previous image was: 1St image.
After some changes: 2nd image.
By the way, good drawing, good style!
I wandering what will others say.
This thread is closed, because I have open it by accident!


text:
iCloud could get an upgrade with Apple's latest purchase
By Jamie Hinks 25 March 2015
Price not disclosed
Speedy NoSQL on the way to Apple
Apple has acquired FoundationDB, a small-scale operation that specialises in super-fast and durable NoSQL databases.
First reported by TechCrunch, FoundationDB is no longer offering downloads of its database software via its website. So far, it's unclear how Apple will choose to integrate the NoSQL database into its iCloud service.
FoundationDB's NoSQL offering is not just any old NoSQL database. Its NoSQL databases specializes in lightning quick ACID-compliant transactions combined with high scalability. It's these qualities that made the company such an attractive prospect for the iPhone maker.
In December 2014, FoundationDB claimed to have a very cost efficient data base solution. Based on AWS (non-spot) pricing, which included enterprise licenses for the company's 480 cores and full 24/7 support, the mega-cluster costs just $150-per-hour (around £100, or AU$190). In an hour the cluster musters 54 billion writes for a cost-per-write of three nanodollars, and in layman's terms it means that FoundationDB can do 3.6 million database writes per penny.
What is NoSQL?
NoSQL is a more cloud-friendly approach to databases. They are easily scalable and designed to cope with unstructured and unpredictable data that traditional databases, which are used to neatly formatted data, struggle with.
Neither side has yet confirmed the transaction and the only confirmed detail thus far came from Apple's admission to TechCrunch that it "buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans".
There's no indication of how much Apple forked out for FoundationDB, although there are clues in the almost $23 million (around £15 million, or AU$29 million), which it purportedly raised through two funding rounds from SV Angel, Sutter Hill and CrunchFund.
It's also unclear how Apple might choose to use the NoSQL technology at the heart of FoundationDB, however, with the billions of products using iCloud it's sure to improve Apple's server side technology.
Can SQL and NoSQL databases live happily together?
See more Routers & storage news
Best Netflix shows: 30 amazing TV shows that are worth binge watching


22 David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was [a]discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.


text:
2 Minutes with Merle Sullivan
Harry Sullivan (harry.sullivan@trurodaily.com)
Published: Jun 13 at 7:36 p.m.
Updated: Jul 10 at 1:42 p.m.
Merle Sullivan of Nuttby is shown on his 95th birthday, Nov. 26, 2014. He passed away just shy of his 96th in August 2015 after a long and happy life. - Harry Sullivan
The night the 'Gypsies' came to 'Hillbilly Mountain'
The old man mind-walks back to his youth.
Like a black-and-white reel nearing the closing credits, one more story yet to unfold.
"Well, what was I going to say… 1933 or '32? I was, of course, going to school then and one rainy, stormy, windy, one of the worst nights, the gypsies came."
At the time of telling he's 95, daily routine from a nursing home bed.
About 13 when the "gypsy" family took refuge from a November storm in an unused camp on his family's property. Nuttby Mountain, minutes north – today, at least – of Truro, N.S.
"The next morning, of course, word soon got around, that these gypsies moved in there. So, everybody was curious and wanted dad to kick them out. But dad never turned nobody out."
Grandma and Grandpa gypsy, they came to be called. Buster gypsy, early 20s. Chubby gypsy, late teens and a 10-year-old girl. Unnamed. Two horses. Two wagons.
One morning, he and his father stopped by.
"They weren't thieves or bad people. All they was doing was just trying to get by."
"They were sitting there cooking their breakfast. You talk about third-world poverty. They were mixing flour and water up and frying that for their breakfast. You'd go in there and they'd be just like gypsies. Dark eyes glaring right through you."
His family helped where they could, provided Christmas dinner. Come spring, those gypsies were gone.
Eighty years on, final days upon him, the memory of that winter still rested heavy on his soul.
But the community didn't trust them.
"If that had been today, the church would have been in there helping them."
My old dad, Merle Sullivan, died shortly after.
"But it's a nice little story to know," he'd said. "I just thought I'd pass it on to you."
2 Minutes with Wally Polson - Aiming for happy every day
2 Minutes with Carl Sonnichsen - Always keeping an eye on the weather
2 Minutes with Jeremy Novak
More Living stories
PHOTO GALLERY: Barrington high school celebrated its prom
Lifestyle and career choices bring Jeff Douglas back to Nova Scotia
Old cars, lasting memories - Middleton Lions Antique Car Show draws lots of entries, big crowds
Liberal government rejects gay therapy conversion ban
Published Jun 22, 2019 at 3:22 p.m.
10 easy ways to refresh your cottage decor
Updated Jun 21, 2019 at 11:04 a.m.
Biking helps Truro man become healthier and happier
Eating together
New fire truck on duty in Bible Hill


text:
Q: htaccess 301 redirection not working In my site I want to redirect with http://domain_name.com/blog to http://domain_name.com/news and it should be work with the following criteria also

*

*http://domain_name.com/blog/2012/06/06//blog_title to http://domain_name.com/news

*http://domain_name.com/blog/blog/?cat=2 to http://domain_name.com/news
How would I do this?

A: Can't test that, but anyway...
RewriteEngine on
RewriteRule /
RewriteRule ^/blog/.*$ /news/ [L,R=301]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Girls' jeans are practical, timeless pieces that are reinvented year after year. And with their basic yet stylish look, they're great for creating any fashionable look! On-trend cuts (straight or tapered leg, skinny, 7/8) and fashionable finishes (used, stonewashed, crinkle-effect, coated). Whatever the season, girls of all ages will find the jeans to suit them, from micro-fleece lining in winter, to jersey lining and light fabric in summer. Our girls' jeans are a must-have item for little princesses—and they come in at a great price too!


Today, you have your choice of hundreds, if not thousands of hubs sharing great information besides Charlesayoub.com. The fact that you have chosen Charlesayoub.com for your resource portal says a lot, and we are grateful for all our loyal readers. Thank you! Your trust and loyalty means a great deal to our team. Welcome!


There has been a lot of worried speculation on how much Nintendo's upcoming Wii U console will end up costing consumers when it lands on the market later this year, with a lot of talk putting the price near the $600 mark. We have information from one retailer to share with you now though, which suggests that the official Wii U price is still very much up in the air at the moment.
We told you back in June of 2011 that Australian retailer EB Games had put an early price listing online for the Nintendo Wii U, revealing that it would cost gamers in Australia $598 to take one home. The translated price of that in USD came to just under $650 leading some consumers to fear that Nintendo may be pricing their Wii U towards the premium spectrum, even if this was just a placeholder by the retailer.
Skip forward to today though, as EB Games has reiterated that the $598 price which still remains for their Nintendo Wii U is 'subject to change' and that official pricing information for the system hasn't arrived in their internal systems yet, according to VG247. What this means to the average consumer looking to pick one up later this year, is that it is likely that a $600 price for the system is very unlikely, and a price to match current Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles would probably be a lot more likely.
At the moment, the PS3 sells for $250, while the Xbox 360 is currently set at $199 without Kinect. With this in mind, we feel that a $399-499 price for the Nintendo Wii U would be more towards the reasonable sum of money that consumers won't mind paying, but anything over $500 would seriously ask questions of Nintendo on whether they are stepping over the mark.
How much would you be willing to pay for the Nintendo Wii U? We will get our next gameplay preview of the new system before E3 2012 it seems, but let's hope that Nintendo put an end to the price rumors as well.
June of 2012 huh? Thought that it is only January of 2012 now. Maybe I'm wrong.
Nintendo home console around $600.00? Sorry, but they are not Playstation or Microsoft!


Styles of cats include: sitting, curious, kitten, stylized, alley, mini, happy, and chessie boxes.
Styles of dogs include: spaniels, puppy, novelty dog, and scottie.
Items include: General line, Connoisseur collection, Supplements, Gift Shop items, Special orders and QVC.
Over 325 color photographs, Captions include ware number, year of production and prices.
This beautifully illustrated book features over 500 different cats and dogs made by the Fenton Art Glass Company in Williamstown, West Virginia, from 1933 to the present. The book includes many styles that were made in the regular line, sold through the company's gift shop, made for other companies, special orders, and creations that marked special occasions. A wide variety of special techniques were used in their production, including hand painting, iridized finishes, satin finishes, and other treatments. Variations among the mold styles of each cat and dog are explained.
Information for this book was gathered from original Fenton catalogs and correspondence with the Fenton Art Glass Company, information from companies that ordered from Fenton, and individual collectors. This book is an essential reference for cat and dog lovers and all Fenton glass collectors.


text:
Who is Manningham UC
Weddings, Funerals, Baptisms
Who is the Uniting Church
Sharing Space
What's been happening
Hope Groups
You & Your Family
Manningham Community
Wider Victoria
Home Posts Sharing your space Waiting
Building Project update 36
Communitycentre 3
General Updates 27
Hope Groups 6
Photo gallery 34
Sharing your space 123
What's been happening 252
Worship 28
Ministers Message 1
Manningham UC
Sharing your space
I was having difficulty reaching my desk through the paper files on the floor. The time for a clean-up had long departed. The urgent need to find a misplaced piece of paper became the motivation to begin. In my clean up, my attention was drawn to a document I found on the floor. 'Aerograms from our time in Zambia Africa 1971 to 1973'.
Over 15 years ago, while cleaning out Mum's house I found tucked away at the bottom of a wardrobe, an old biscuit tin. Inside were neatly folded aerograms I had written to my mother most Sunday evenings while in Zambia.
I picked them up and began reading. As I read, the pages come alive with memories. It was always about waiting. Waiting for news from home. Waiting for the birth of our children. Grandparents waiting for news of their grandchildren. We were so dependent on a small fragile aerogram.
As I flicked through the aerograms, I was drawn to one dated 1 December 1971. That date, that aerogram had great significance for us. I had written "Joan is still around and at the moment is 11 days overdue. She goes to see her doctor tomorrow".
We were waiting for a small child to be born. One who was exercising a mind of its own. It was not ready to take that first step into our world. I remember clearly, the waiting, not knowing, unable to plan beyond a few hours at a time.
Memories come flooding back. I had been working at the Kalulushi Farm College Zambia for 2 months having recently arrived from Australia. I was teaching farm mechanics and working with college employed mechanics.
It was Saturday, a warm wet day. The tropical rain arrived in the early hours of the morning. We had driven a short distance to a small private clinic in Kitwe, a copper mining town with a population of 120,000. On arrival, we were greeted by the nursing staff and Joan settled in. Dr Jenkinson, Joan's doctor, a long-time local doctor was expected at the clinic shortly. With little for me to do, and instructions to ring the clinic around lunch time to check on Joan, I left. Where to go now I asked myself.
I drove out towards the farm college about 12 miles away, passing through the small mining town of Kalulushi. The Rev Bill Hinks, and his wife Phyllis were friends we had recently met. As I drove through town, the thought occurred to drop into their place. I might be offered a cup of tea.
Changing direction, I arrived to find Bill in the veggie garden. "Looking for a cup of tea?" he sang out as I stepped from my car. "Funny about that" I said. "You must be a mind reader". "No, not really" he said "It's just that I have two grown up daughters. Waiting around is thirsty business. "Come in" he said. "Phyllis can put on the kettle and you can update us on Joan".
We sat and talked. Phylis, keen to know when Joan would give birth. "Dr Jenkins said late afternoon" I said. Phylis scoffed at that comment. "You can't always believe those doctors. Babies come when they are good and ready. It's almost lunch time. I'll rustle up a bit of lunch while you phone the clinic to see how Joan is".
I was beginning to think I would be better off at the college fitting a reconditioned engine in a 12-seater Toyota bus. At least my mind would be on other things.
After lunch, I was sent off by Phillis to check on Joan at the clinic and if nothing was happening (code for no contractions) come for tea.
Arriving at the clinic, I found Joan pacing around, restless. We sat in a small room and conversed in small talk. "I called into the Hinks", I said "had an offer for lunch". After lunch I was ordered back to be with you". Dr Jenkinson was nowhere to be seen and all was quiet. Returning to the Hinks late afternoon, I stayed for dinner. Phyllis was keen for me to return to Joan.
Nothing was happening. This waiting business was getting a bit difficult for us both. Then around 9.00pm things began to happen, slowly. The beginnings of a contraction, then quiet, then another.
Dr Jenkinson arrived sometime later, dressed in a grey safari suit. He came in to see Joan. After a brief examination, he asked Joan to hold on, as he had not had dinner and was hungry. With that, he left the room. Joan was not impressed. The nurse assigned to Joan for the birth came in and quietly and without any fuss prepared Joan. The contractions were increasing, it was just after midnight. It had started to rain.
Dr Jenkinson came into the birthing room. In a very matter of fact way, he examined Joan. He smiled. "It does not matter how many babies I deliver; I never tire of the wonder, of the birth of a child". Without any sense of urgency, dressed in his grey safari suit, he prepared Joan for the birth of our first child. I remember the lights appeared dim in the background. The midwife, a native South African sang softly a beautiful lullaby. All was quiet and very peaceful. Not so for Joan!!
It was as though Dr Jenkinson was slowing down time. The long wait nearly over. "Babies arrive in this world when they are ready", he said softly. Then quite quickly there emerged this small baby. "She has a good set of lungs" observed Dr Jenkinson as she opened her mouth to announce her presence in the world. "Do you want to be wheeled back to your room" asked Dr Jenkinson. "No" Joan replied. "I can walk back. It's not far".
Arriving at the Hinks' for breakfast Sunday morning, Bill was long gone to attend to his first service at a church community in a nearby township. Phillis was all questions about Joan and our child. So, what are you going to call her" ask Phillis? "Tanya Maree" I said. "Who is she named after" she asked. "No one" I said.
Life had changed for Joan and I forever. Arriving at the clinic Sunday morning, I could hear a baby sounding off. Not happy with the world. Stepping into Joan's room, I found her sitting up on the bed. "Can you hear that loud noise coming from the nursey" she asked. I nodded my head. "That's our daughter" she said. "She's been going all night".
I realised the aerogram was still in my hand. I wonder; when did I send the next aerogram to be announcing the safe arrival of Tanya? Flicking through the emails again, I found it. It was dated 16 December 1971. My opening comments were in the aerogram were "Since Tanya arrived nearly two weeks ago, I have not had a chance to write, although I should have". It was in that moment I realised they were waiting as well. Waiting thousands of miles away.
Waiting for the birth of our first child was a difficult time. How much more difficult it must have been for our parents. We were separated by thousands of miles. Different time zones, different cultures. different environments brought together by a fragile and at times irregular air mail service. The waiting was over, for a time for Joan and me. The waiting had just begun for both our families back in Australia who would not be able to cuddle their grandchildren for another two years.
Impact of the Coronavirus Lockdown
OUR PENPAL
© 2021 Manningham Uniting Church.


Turn heads with custom louvers and paint! Ask about the 4" louvers you've been looking for!
Looking for an auto repair shop you can trust? Look no further! We're the most friendly, honest auto repair team in the area. Our experienced and Ohio Board of Motor Vehicle Repair Certified staff will get your vehicle in top condition. You will receive high-quality service and quick turnaround. Most of all: they love cars and care about yours!
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Ohioans have the right to choose a shop they can trust. Don't let your insurance company steer you to the shop of their choice. We accept ALL insurance claims!


text:
use std::{mem, slice};

use api::flags::*;
use api::{self, flags};

/// A VST event.
pub enum Event<'a> {
    /// A midi event.
    ///
    /// These are sent to the plugin before `Plugin::processing()` or `Plugin::processing_f64()` is
    /// called.
    Midi {
        /// The raw midi data associated with this event.
        data: [u8; 3],

        /// Number of samples into the current processing block that this event occurs on.
        ///
        /// E.g. if the block size is 512 and this value is 123, the event will occur on sample
        /// `samples[123]`.
        // TODO: Don't repeat this value in all event types
        delta_frames: i32,

        /// This midi event was created live as opposed to being played back in the sequencer.
        ///
        /// This can give the plugin priority over this event if it introduces a lot of latency.
        live: bool,

        /// The length of the midi note associated with this event, if available.
        note_length: Option<i32>,

        /// Offset in samples into note from note start, if available.
        note_offset: Option<i32>,

        /// Detuning between -63 and +64 cents.
        detune: i8,

        /// Note off velocity between 0 and 127.
        note_off_velocity: u8,
    },

    /// A system exclusive event.
    ///
    /// This is just a block of data and it is up to the plugin to interpret this. Generally used
    /// by midi controllers.
    SysEx {
        /// The SysEx payload.
        payload: &'a [u8],

        /// Number of samples into the current processing block that this event occurs on.
        ///
        /// E.g. if the block size is 512 and this value is 123, the event will occur on sample
        /// `samples[123]`.
        delta_frames: i32,
    },

    /// A deprecated event.
    ///
    /// Passes the raw midi event structure along with this so that implementors can handle
    /// optionally handle this event.
    Deprecated(api::Event),
}

impl<'a> From<api::Event> for Event<'a> {
    fn from(event: api::Event) -> Event<'a> {
        use api::EventType::*;

        match event.event_type {
            Midi => {
                let event: api::MidiEvent = unsafe { mem::transmute(event) };

                let length = if event.note_length > 0 { Some(event.note_length) } else { None };
                let offset = if event.note_offset > 0 { Some(event.note_offset) } else { None };
                let flags = flags::MidiEvent::from_bits(event.flags).unwrap();

                Event::Midi {
                    data: event.midi_data,
                    delta_frames: event.delta_frames,
                    live: flags.intersects(REALTIME_EVENT),
                    note_length: length,
                    note_offset: offset,
                    detune: event.detune,
                    note_off_velocity: event.note_off_velocity
                }
            }

            SysEx => Event::SysEx {
                payload: unsafe {
                    // We can safely transmute the event pointer to a `SysExEvent` pointer as
                    // event_type refers to a `SysEx` type.
                    let event: &api::SysExEvent = mem::transmute(&event);
                    slice::from_raw_parts(event.system_data, event.data_size as usize)
                },

                delta_frames: event.delta_frames
            },

            _ => Event::Deprecated(event),
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Many homeowners dream of having a beautiful garden. Somewhere to relax and spend time with family and friends. Trying to decide on the right course of action and devising a plan for its achievement can be quite time consuming, and it's often very difficult to know exactly where to start. Allan's Gardeners can offer a service that will help you achieve the garden of your dreams at a price that is gentle on your bank balance. Garden design in Croydon CR0 is offered at a price that's affordable, and which delivers results you never thought possible. You'll be the envy of your neighbours, with a garden that's been well planned and executed to make the most of the available outdoor space. We've got an experienced design team who will come and discuss your ideas, and then bring them to life, from planning through to final landscaping and installation.
Don't live in the Croydon area? No need to worry - our professional services are also available in Bexley, Rotherhithe, Walthamstow, Bethnal Green, Hackney.


Picnic to Vindhyavasini Park . Our kids were over enthusiastic, overjoyed . The most eye catching scene was , when some kids were sharing there most favorite eatables to others .
An Educational Tour To Lumbini.


How I Feel is a brand new single by 2 Chainz & A$AP Ferg which just dropped on Good Gas Vol. 1. We have got an exclusive first listen for you to stream 2 Chainz & A$AP Ferg's How I Feel single here first before its official debut, enjoy.


Reiki Energy healing for children with anxiety issues is a safe and non invasive healing method. Reiki helps the body shift from sympathetic (fight-or-flight) anxiety mode into parasympathetic (rest and digest) mode. The session helps to enhance your child's body's own self-healing response-assisting the body in releasing deep-seated tensions, aiding in detoxification, and balancing mental and emotional states. Energized crystals are used to enhance the healing process and cleanse negative energy.
During the Reiki session, the client will be lying on a table (fully clothed). The Reiki Healer, at about 6 inches above the client's body, will scan your body with her hands looking for energy blockages in the chakras (energy centers of the body). After the body has been scanned, the healer will position her hands on or near any areas that need attention or healing. The Reiki healing experience is unique to every individual. Commonly, people feel very relaxed and may feel a tingling or temperature change (heat/cold) where the practitioner's hands are.
After the session, your child's body will "detox" any unwanted energy; you will want to make sure that your child is well hydrated. It's a good idea to drink water before the session as well.
Reiki is a simple and powerful healing technique that balances the energy system of your child's body; this often leads to improvement in health, increased relaxation and improved mental & physical well-being. If your child's life force energy is low or blocked, he/she are more likely to become ill (physically or mentally). If it is high and flowing smoothly through the meridians of the body, your child is more resilient to disease or any form of negative energy and is also more balanced energetically. In Reiki, the practitioner does not necessarily need to touch the body. It can be done hands-on or hands-off. It does not require any special equipment or environment.
Is Reiki safe for my kid?
Yes, Reiki is absolutely the safest healing method! It is non invasive, causes no harm, and complements other treatments.
Who would Benefit from Reiki?
Children with Insomnia, and other sleep related issues.
Harini Sukumaran is a Qualified Mental health professional trained in Child and Family Counseling, Play Therapist and a certified Ayurvedic Practitioner. She was Initiated as a Grand-Reiki Master from the International Institute of Reiki and has been practicing Reiki for 15+ years.
She is passionate about helping children of all ages ( 3+ yrs) holistically to become less stressed by giving them and their parents tools, support and encouragement. Her specialization also includes helping Women suffering from trauma, PTSD depression, anxiety and Pregnancy/Postpartum mood disorders. Harini's passion for holistic treatment of Mind and Body motivated her to create MindTree, a Holistic Counseling & Wellness Center to help women, children and families in Portland, OR.


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Leaders in Right-mindfulness, Holistic health, Wellness, and Transpersonal development
Pioneering training, education and services in multidisciplinary holistic medicine and therapies
Transforming and optimising mental, physical, emotional, and transpersonal health of 20,000+
Time-tested & evidence-based "whole" new approach to health & wellbeing
30+ years of expertise in Mind-body & Heart medicine for over a decade
COVID-19 guidance: Support groups at our health centre, can be delivered in person with up to 15 participants (where formally organised to provide mutual aid, therapy or any other form of support)
Centre Classes
The Flame® are Leaders in in Mindfulness, Holistic Health and Wellness. Our Centre is an authentic hub for individual training, education and learning learning in multidisciplinary holistic medicine and therapies - located in the heart of Coventry. We have transformed the health, lives & wellbeing of over 16,000+ people, rapidly improving their mental, emotional, physical and transpersonal health. The Centre was born for one sole purpose, to bring light to those in need. We are passionate about providing a range of evidence based holistic health interventions that act as an antidote to stress and anxiety, while enriching health, well-being and self-awareness. Your journey with the flame will be a profound process of inner-awakening, self-discovery and optimal health.
Our experts can trace their lineage back to 500 years and have nothing less than 30+ years experience in the scientifically-backed health fields of Mind, body & heart medicine, rooted in Ancient Eastern Wisdom. Meet our experts. Meet just some of our testimonials.
Our formal curriculum can be downloaded below:
Formal Curriculum.docx
Master Dav Panesar
With over 30+ years experience, Dav is an expert specialist in transforming health and wellness, He is a mind-body medicine expert, pioneer of right-mindfulness based health intervention and a prominent figure in transpersonal (psycho-spiritual) & transformative health and wellness medicine, as well as a Public speaker. He is a pioneer of mindfulness and contemplative based health interventions in the UK, with over 25 years of experience in developing, teaching and working with mindfulness, and mindfulness-based approaches and models within the health, public and the private sector that has earned him international respect and recognition, making him and his approaches highly sought after. Dav facilitates all the Mindfulness classes, workshops, courses and retreats at The Flame.
Every Tuesday | 1.00pm - 2.00pm | Coventry Central Library | FREE
Every Thursday | 5.30pm - 6.30pm | The Flame Coventry | £3.00
Currently running 1 free sessions weekly to over 4000+ people on Facebook Live
Pushy Kaur
Health and Wellness Specialist Pushy Sanghera is a holistic health expert and advocate, specialising in providing a unique and holistic approach to human health that integrates Ancient health wisdom practices, through Singing bowl sound healing combined with crystal healing health intervention, Wellbeing Rx assessor and experiential life mentor. She will soon be trained in Ancient Ayurvedic medicine and ayurvedic massage and focuses on the development of Women's Health.
Register for your free Wellbeing Rx prescription consultation here
Sonya Kaur
Exuberant authentic leadership facilitator, Sonya founded the 'Ancient Feminine Wisdom Series' which focuses on teaching women how to optimise their reproductive and general health and wellbeing through ancient feminine wisdom, holistic practices and indigenous medicine. She is passionate about Neuroscience, Epigenetics and exposing the joy of human connection; her unique expertise lie in human health and wellness, morality marketing and ethical communications. Sonya approaches both professional and personal development from a mindful standpoint and encourages individuals to tap into their human potential through mindfulness and holistic health intervention which results in individuals living authentically.
Learn more about our Ancient Feminine Wisdom Series
Weekly drop in sessions in Mindfulness Meditation, Ch'i Kung, T'ai Chi, Hatha Yoga and Kundalini Yoga taught by expert facilitators with no less than 25+ years experience. We have helped over 16,000 people transform their health and wellness. Join us today. No booking needed
We run the most life-changing workshops and courses ranging from 'Introduction to right-mindfulness' workshop, Ancient Ayurvedic workshops, Ox Herder programmes and our profound MBSR 8 week course. Isn't it time to take control of your health and wellbeing?
We deeply heal and transforms individual lives. Our unique experiential retreats are grounded in mindfulness and self-compassion; integrating transpersonal psychology, mind-body medicine
The retreats are intended to help in pragmatic, practical ways, facilitate you in realising and accessing our existing inner resilience and understanding.
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The Flame, Mindfulness Holistic Health & Wellness centre; has transformed over 16,000 vulnerable lives through Mindfulness, Holistic Health and Wellness evidence-based health interventions.


Up to 7 years of free repairs in various regions including Europe and North America. Claim your XPRS Warranty Extension Certificate today.
Pioneer Pro Audio is extending the free warranty period for the popular XPRS Series active speakers. You can now receive up to seven years of cover by registering your products online.
Since the launch of the XPRS Series in early 2016, the compact, high-powered active speakers have been in demand as a versatile plug-and-play system that's ideal for live sound, mobile DJs, places of worship, rental and fixed installations. Recently, the Series was strengthened even further with the introduction of the XPRS10 two-way full range speaker and the XPRS115S single 15-inch subwoofer. And, such is Pioneer Pro Audio's belief in its products and their reliability, all XPRS speakers now come with a highly competitive warranty of up to seven years.
Free repairs are available on amplifier parts for up to five years and on other parts such as speaker drivers for up to seven years from the date of purchase, once the products have been registered online. Check the list below for details of warranty duration in your country.
The product must have been purchased in one of the countries listed above.
Your repair request must be made to our authorised service centre in the country where you purchased the product.
The above warranty period starts from the date you purchased the speaker from Pioneer DJ Corporation (PDJ) or a PDJ authorised store.
Proof of purchase: you must supply the original sales receipt, showing the date of product purchase, store name and product name.
XPRS Warranty Extension Certificate: you must supply a printed copy of the XPRS Warranty Extension Certificate downloaded after product registration. The date of registration must be within 90 days of product purchase.
If you purchased one of the eligible products satisfying the above conditions before 31st December 2017, you can claim the extended warranty service by registering the products at the Product Registration page until the end of March 2018, as long as the above warranty conditions are satisfied.
For details on how to download the XPRS Warranty Extension Certificate and full terms and conditions of the warranty, log in or create an account. Product registration is available on your account pages.


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Can Dreamcloud Vs In Aspen
Looking for a top-quality medium-firm bed to add to your new home? Want to upgrade from your old, worn-out model to a brand-new one but don't have a clear idea yet? It is worth making an investment in a worthwhile pursuit, which includes purchasing a mattress.
We'll be comparing eight other medium-firm mattresses to see if they are worth our time. Each mattress is unique and has a different set of features than DreamCloud. But first, to understand what we're about to get into, we must dive headfirst into what it is and how it adapts to the average sleeper.
What is DreamCloud? A Short Overview Can Dreamcloud Vs In Aspen
Includes a 365-night trial, lifetime warranty, and free shipping within the US contingent.
DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress, the American sleep specialist DreamCloud, is the most popular offering. Appreciated by many and awarded by certified institutions, it's composed of high-quality materials including CertiPUR-US-certified foam layers and a strategically reinforced coil system. This model is best recognized for its remarkable back-relieving and temperature-regulating properties.
The DreamCloud Hybrid measures 14 inches and offers a luxurious-firm comfort level. The DreamCloud Hybrid's foam comfort layers are responsible for this. While the firmness and density may differ, they all work together to shape and support the body without sinking too deeply.
Cooling is another factor it excels in – its gel-infused memory foam, breathable cashmere cover, and equally-spaced coils encourage air to flow through and around the body, preventing instances of overheating. DreamCloud's coil foundation is able to respond to movement very well, making it easy to navigate the surface.
The DreamCloud mattress features a memory foam layer that is 1/8 inch thick. Although it is sandwiched between the top comfort layers, it might not be sufficient to provide a hugging feeling. This may be a concerning issue for a select few, but most folks won't mind. What they are primarily concerned with, however, is its lack of accommodation for other sleeping positions and body types.
Its cooling capabilities will be of great benefit to those who have been used to living in hot climates or sleeping in heated beds.
Price range (original), $599 (Twin Foam), $1,299(Cal King Foam), $699, (Twin Hybrid), to $1,399, (Cal King Hybrid).
America's favorite mattress, Nectar's flagship mattress, is the Nectar mattress. It has nearly 40,000 reviews and is widely regarded as the best mattress ever made for the bedroom. Though Nectar does offer a hybrid version, we'll focus specifically on its all-foam variant here.
Like the DreamCloud Hybrid mattress, the Nectar mattress comes in a box when it arrives. Once you open it, you may be able to receive an ample amount of support, relaxation, cooling, and pressure relief from its breathable comfort layer composed of two inches' worth of gel-infused memory foam.
Both Nectar and DreamCloud are sister brands from the same parent company, Resident Home. Both offer year-long free trials and shipping is free. Did we forget to mention that their flagship models are available at affordable prices, too?
While both mattresses look similar on the surface, the contents of each mattress will be quite different. Nectar is composed of layers of foam from head to foot, with a layer of memory foam at the top. With that in mind, it should be more accommodating toward other sleeping positions than DreamCloud's surface layers could ever offer, particularly sideways.
The mattress is noticeably soft to the touch, even though it's medium-firm. This allows the person who lies on it to feel more comfortable hugging the mattress. The gel infusion may provide enough cooling for an all-foam bed, but you're more likely to feel extra cool with the DreamCloud Hybrid. Can Dreamcloud Vs In Aspen
The Saatva Classic from Saatva, the same company behind other popular models like Zenhaven, is what we could consider the textbook definition of a luxury bed on our list. It is a versatile and customizable mattress that offers many options and has been ranked highly by organizations and publications as one of the top orthopedic mattresses. Considering it has three kinds of firmnesses, we opted to check out its luxury firm version in this review.
In terms of construction, both the Saatva and DreamCloud are made out of strong high-quality coils and certified foam and fibers, though in quite distinctive ways. They should last for eight to ten years, and possibly even longer.
Both the Saatva and DreamCloud mattresses may be of the luxurious hybrid kind, but the similarities stop here. While the latter is truly hybrid, the former contains more innerspring than you'd expect, with two layers of coil systems sandwiched in between. It gets more obvious when you consider the wide gap between each other's price ranges.
While strict back sleepers might prefer the medium-firm model, it is more comfortable for those who are more flexible. However, because there are two firmness options, there will be something for everyone.
If you have a bigger budget and/or wish to support a sustainably-made product, this may be your best bet
Since its founding not too long ago, Purple has been making waves as a leading online mattress supplier, and it's thanks in large part to its flagship product with a unique twist. Some of you reading may be familiar with it somehow, but for the uninitiated, its signature purple grid technology has been viewed by many as a groundbreaker that shook up the bed industry by storm. Can Dreamcloud Vs In Aspen
Both mattresses share a common feature: temperature regulation. While the DreamCloud Hybrid mattress has its breathable cover with coils, the Purple model uses its gel-infused grid layer to regulate temperatures. They are both available in the same price range so if you have budget restrictions, you can consider one of them.
Being a different type of mattress, it's no guess that the layers that build up the Purple model are vastly distinctive from DreamCloud's, which utilizes an amalgam of materials from memory foam to innerspring coils. With that taken into consideration – and despite sharing the same firmness level, there's bound to be a difference in the overall feel on the surface.
The Purple Mattress's hyper-elastic grid surface and gentle flowing jelly-like sensation underneath may be noticeable as you lie down. This is a far cry from DreamCloud's traditional "on-top" experience. It's still comfortable enough to accommodate side sleepers, but not better than the other. Can Dreamcloud Vs In Aspen
Strict side sleepers or those who sleep in positions that create evident pressure points may find this mattress more conforming and supportive to their silhouette
The all-foam Casper Original Mattress has been a hit in the online mattress-in-a box market. It is known for providing exceptional back and shoulder support, as well accommodating many sleeping positions thanks to its strategically-placed layers. Apart from its flagship, the Casper brand also offers a hybrid version, as well as other kinds of hybrid models. Can Dreamcloud Vs In Aspen
The Casper Original should work well for back sleepers as well as those who prefer to lie sideways. However, given that it's all-foam, it may not provide enough support for increasingly heavy folk – a bit worse than DreamCloud's in comparison.
Those who may experience frequent soreness along the shoulder and the lower back area may take full advantage of Casper's trademark Zoned Support memory foam layers
Firmness level(s): Softer (4.5), luxury firm (6.5), firmer (7.5), WinkBeds Plus for heavyweight individuals (8)
The WinkBed mattress is similar to the Saatva Classic. It offers sleepers comfort through its gel-infused foam layers and more customizable options. The NYT Wirecutter has proclaimed it to be the "overall favorite" mattress of 2022. Can Dreamcloud Vs In Aspen
There's no doubt that both the DreamCloud and WinkBed models bring out the best of their capabilities as luxury hybrid mattresses. A great thing about these hybrids is that they provide decent temperature-regulating benefits. They are responsive and bouncey, which allows you to quickly change your movements. This is a great deal for combination sleepers and sexually active people.
As DreamCloud advertises its flagship model to be cost-friendly, the WinkBed appears to be so proud of its higher-level quality that it reflects in its pricing, further creating a wide difference gap between each other. And there are plenty of good reasons why it's that way.
Its cover, for instance, is made of an eco-friendly Tencel performance fiber, while its innerspring coils were tested to be as durable as other higher-end luxury hybrids, and even more so than DreamCloud's. You also have more firmness options, including a dedicated Plus option for heavyweights. There truly is something for everyone.
Hot and sweaty sleepers or those who live in humid climates may benefit best from the WinkBed's breathable heat-dispersing construction and moisture-wicking cover
Just as the name cheekily suggests, Puffy promises to bring sleepers of all kinds and all ages cloud-like comfort all over. The Puffy Mattress is a popular online bed-in-a box mattress brand. It offers a wide range of soft models, including the flagship Puffy Mattress. The mattress provides excellent pressure relief and contouring, just like any other mattress. But its hypoallergenic cover is the best and it has an outstanding cooling system. Can Dreamcloud Vs In Aspen
Many aspects of the Puffy mattress closely resemble those of the DreamCloud Hybrid. For starters, it comes with an adjustable medium-firm setting, the firmness range most sleepers are usually accustomed to. It should offer the same comfort and conformity as DreamCloud, so it is likely to provide the same level of comfort to all who lay on it.
The second is that both mattresses offer decent support for the back. Puffy is also endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association. This means that anyone with back problems will be in good hands. They also provide a lifetime warranty and the opportunity to have defective ones replaced by new ones free of charge!
Puffy aims to make any sleeper feel like they're resting way up in the clouds with as much comfort as possible. Puffy has gone to great lengths to make sure that they have nothing to lose by its mattress. Because of its hypoallergenic cover and dynamic memory foam layers, Puffy is softer than the DreamCloud Hybrid. It's a breeze to sleep on as well thanks to the uniquely temperature-regulating set of top layers.
Given the construction, the Puffy mattress should be versatile enough to be used by anyone, even kids! All of these mattresses come at a cost, however, because they are more expensive than DreamCloud.
Puffy's many capabilities may appeal to couples and individuals with young children.
Its impressive pressure-relieving abilities may be of benefit to both side sleepers who are lightweight and average weight, as well as back sleepers who are strict.
Includes a 90-night trial period, a 10-year warranty, and free shipping
While DreamCloud offers a lineup of affordable mattresses, Tempur-Pedic specializes in selling the choicest selection of innovative higher-end models, each designed to maximize the sleeper's comfort to the fullest. Most of them are usually available exclusively physically through authorized dealers, but the firm does sell a few select models, particularly the TEMPUR-Cloud variant. We will be focusing on the all-foam version of the hybrid model, even though it is available. Can Dreamcloud Vs In Aspen
When it comes to back sleeping, the TEMPUR Cloud is equal to the DreamCloud Hybrid. They both have one thing in common: the ability to give back pain relief. It may take a while for most sleepers to get used to the firmness of either bed, too – once a few days have passed, they'll eventually soften up.
We want to emphasize once more that the TEMPUR Cloud is more expensive than DreamCloud's flagship. With that in mind, it's jam-packed with plenty of advantages that the other would indeed have a hard time keeping up with. One of those lies in its trademark Tempur material made up of specialized memory foam. It not only adapts quickly to your body's different shapes but also maintains them throughout the night.
The TEMPUR-Cloud's high-quality motion isolation makes it easy for people to sleep peacefully with their partners. These things may seem great, but the TEMPUR Cloud might not be for everyone. And it comes at a very hefty price, too.
Who Should Buy the TEMPUR-Cloud?
The TEMPUR Cloud is a great choice for memory foam lovers who are hardcore. It comes with the same world-class quality that Tempur-Pedic is known for.
Firmness level(s), Medium (4-7)
Medium-firm hybrid beds are bound to give off a bouncy, responsive feel, and both the Midnight and DreamCloud fit the bill hassle-free. They are also affordable, making them an attractive option for those who want to upgrade their bedroom.
Although hybrid beds generally fall behind in motion transfer in general, the Midnight seems to be doing well – and surprising – well. It is rare for a hybrid bed like this to absorb significant movements. This could be a great option for co-sleepers and people who are easily distracted by the movements of others.
Despite the impressive motion isolation, its warranty and sleep trial offerings are comparably subpar to DreamCloud. DreamCloud's year-long trial period and lifetime warranty are the best, letting customers know that it is confident in its mattress offerings. With Helix, however, the time window for these opportunities is significantly cut way too short. Can Dreamcloud Vs In Aspen
Who Should Buy the Helix Midnight?
Our Review is Complete Can Dreamcloud Vs In Aspen
You want more comfort options than the medium-firm version? Saatva Classic and WinkBed models offer firmer and softer versions. Wonder if our all-foam picks have hybrid versions? Although the Nectar Mattress and Casper Original have hybrid versions, prices will vary in most cases.
No matter what mattress you choose, the most important thing is how comfortable, supportive, and relieved you feel. Any of the alternatives might be a good choice if you want to feel secure, have instant pain relief, and still be able to move around and bounce around as much as possible. But if you want all of that in a great cost-effective model, the DreamCloud Hybrid may be your strongest suit. Besides, there's so little to lose, right?


If you hope to stop smoking, you need to have a personal desire to quit. There are many notable benefits that come with smoking cessation. If you get tempted to smoke, remember why you wished to quit in the first place. You can benefit yourself and your family with the extra years you gain and the extra money that you save when you quit. These benefits come in the form of better health, feeling better, and saving money. The tips offered here can help you to find success in your efforts to lead a nicotine-free life!
To raise the probability that you will succeed in your wish to quit smoking, try compiling a list on paper of the positive and negative consequences of quitting. Putting things on paper can have a profound effect on your mental outlook. When you think about your list, it can make your motivation stronger, and keep your focus on the benefits of staying smoke free.
Once you've decided to stop smoking, find a support group. It could be beneficial to talk to ex-smokers who have experienced the same things you are going through, and understand the physical and emotional challenges that you are going through. People who have been in your position can help guide you through the process. To find a support group near you, check your local community center or community college, or at your church.
Talk to your doctor about quitting smoking. A physician has access to resources that you do not. Additionally, your doctor may prescribe medications to make quitting easier for you, so long as he or she feels that such treatments are appropriate for your situation.
TIP! Take note of all of the methods that you plan to use to quit smoking. Make sure to match your list to your unique personality.
Never attempt to quit smoking by yourself. Ask your family for support while you quit and accept their assistance. Having a support group is the single best thing you can do for yourself. These people can offer empathy, as well as helpful insights into the process.
When you stop smoking, start by changing brands. Switch to a brand that you don't like or a cigarette that you don't like the taste of. Avoid smoking more of them than you normally would or inhaling them in different ways. This is a great first step down the road to quitting!
Try to not smoke as much. Smoking less can be a good place to begin your plan to quit smoking. Do not smoke in the first hour when you wake up if you are planning on having a cigarette. Try smoking only a half cigarette in order to help you cut back on how much you smoke.
You must be persistent in your quest to stop smoking, even when you face difficult times, if you want to achieve success at it. If you keep in mind at all times why you quit, you'll be less likely to pick the habit back up. Keep the advice of this article in mind to fuel your efforts to quit smoking, and be able to resist future temptations to light up.


Collect scraps of ribbon, trim, thread and any other leftover bits and pieces found on the sewing room floor. Turn the findings into a practical, decorative bowl.
I see this as a basket requiring support so I agree: a light rinse in tepid water and keep it in shape as it dries. I'd put a towel inside right after rinsing to mold the finished shape. Press gently on the outside to remove excess water, stretch and mold. Maybe a towel wrapped bowl would work to encourage a shape you like. If it flattens, try redoing the stabilizer and/or finishing with Stiffen Quick. This is different than sewing flat pieces (2D) to become 3D- it may take some coaxing. Check out a >15yo Threads Back Page fully stitched thread bowls- the maker stops stitching when needles start breaking!
Try shaping as you go & check out >15yo Threads Back Page fully stitched thread bowls- she stops stitching when needles start breaking! Just keep reforming this lightweight basket & maybe finish with Stiffy?
I read some of the comments about the bowl winding up flat, but you don't rinse ALL of the stabilizer out. If you do, you could use a fabric stiffner or just make some yourself by cutting up some of the Water Soluble stabalizer and putting it into a spray bottle (or even a bowl) with warm water and let it melt then spray or dip your bowl, form it over a glass or plastic bowl and let it dry overnight. It will keep it's shape nicely.
My 4 year old Grandson just made one of these bowls and it was his first "on his own" project. He picked out the scrap threads and the threads to sew it with, the bowl size, and did all the sewing all by himself! I had to put the sewing machines foot pedal onto a small stool so that his foot could reach the pedal to sew. He was SO excited to see the project the HE made! I made some fabric and yo yo flowers and filled the bowl and it is now proudly displayed on our fireplace mantel!
When finished making it flat you couls dip it in fabric starch (full strength) and shap over a bowl or small coffee can. Let dry for 24 hours.
thought it was suppose to be lighter weight stabilizer on top...what about the temporary spray glue.. and needle size.. ...was very pleased with how easy your site was to access...best ever!!
The directions say to wash the stabilizer out,but you need to not wash it all the way out so it will keep it's shape when it dries.
I would use a heavy starch to make it's form. I have done this with crochet baskets from fabric to show at shows. They keep their shape nicely.
Since this bowl will not hold it's shape, I would just leave it flat. A set of 4-6 small ones would make cute coasters, or larger ones could be used as doilies or place mats. Great kids' project, would make a fun teacher gift.


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Home Feature
The Skin I Live In (2011)
by Rory Wilding
in Feature, Film Review
Let's face it (no pun intended), whether you're seeing it in factual or fictional content, facial surgery is a sight to be winced at. From 1960's Eyes Without a Face to 1997's Face/Off, this very subject is continuously a fascinating one (even The Simpsons tackle this in an episode featuring Sideshow Bob). Now, acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar takes a slice on the subject (again, no pun intended).
Loosely based on Thierry Jonquet's novel Tarantula, the story centres on plastic surgeon Robert Ledgard (played by Antonio Banderas) who has created a type of synthetic skin that withstands any kind of damage. Secretly living in his estate is Vera (Elena Anaya), who is a guinea pig for Robert's experiments. Following an unexpected visit, the past lives of these two individuals are revealed.
Story-wise, this could have been a B-movie horror, but in the hands of Almodovar, it is "a horror story without screams or frights", as the director describes it. For the first half of the film, what we see is a Frankenstein story with a sense of Hitchcock-styled suspense as Robert is all about obsession while Vera is one of beauty and mystery, but together the relationship is perhaps even stranger. Halfway through when the secrets are established and big plot-points ahoy, the story becomes more melodramatically off-the-wall and as the viewer, you have no idea where it's going.
Although this is the closest to horror and perhaps sci-fi for the director, Almodovar still obtains his usual traits of sexual identity, betrayal and death; so for those who are Almodovar enthusiasts will feel right at home with this psychological thriller. With its bizarre turns, The Skin I Live In will not be for everyone, particularly when one infamous sequence which is all about physical transformation.
Reuniting with the director after twenty-one years and following recent uneven work, Antonio Banderas is in top form here. With his Frankenstein-like presence, his performance is so sinister that he becomes a very unsympathetic figure, despite his tragic past. As for Banderas' co-star, Elena Anaya (clearly one of the most beautiful things to come out of Europe) is the standout as the yoga-flexing Vera, who seems like a modern interpretation of those classic Hitchcock heroines, but as the story progresses, her identity is more than just beauty.
Strange but alluring, surreal but stunning, Almodovar takes the premise of a B-movie horror and turns it into something artistic and thrilling, along with two astonishing central performances.
DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: PEDRO ALMODOVAR
STARRING: ANTONIO BANDERAS, ELENA ANAYA, MARISA PAREDES, JAN CORNET
RUNTIME: 117 MINS APPROX.
Tags: antonio banderasElena AlayaLa piel que habitoPedro AlmodovarSpanishThe Skin I Live Inthriller
Rory Wilding
Yardie (2018) Film Review