text:
Teen Mom's Bizarre, Avant-Pop Album
Dog-Doo With Daniel: I didn't know who Farrah Abraham was until a friend posted, in amazement, that she'd made an incredibly bizarre pop album in 2012.
Daniel Bromfield
I didn't know who Farrah Abraham was until a friend posted, in amazement, that she'd made an incredibly bizarre pop album in 2012. I had to look up why it was so astonishing that she'd done this, and I found out about her, her stints on 16 & Pregnant and Teen Mom, the death of the father of her child, the horrendous life of sexual abuse and addiction she's experienced since. I wish I hadn't. I wish I'd gone in blind because then I could experience My Teenage Dream Ended, which is one of the oddest and most unique things I've ever heard, free of context.
I initially assumed My Teenage Dream Ended was an attempt at making chart pop music that went horribly, horribly wrong. Here are some of the facts about the album. The lyrics are stream-of-consciousness rants that make no rhythmic sense within the music and are just barely arranged into things resembling verses and choruses. The Auto-Tune is some of the most extreme I've heard, as mind-bending as anything from Atlanta's rap avant-garde, and the arrangements among the most unconventional. It doesn't sound like pop at all and instead evokes things like PC Music, the first Crystal Castles record, Atari Teenage Riot, even Xiu Xiu.
Abraham is a famous person, and famous people who don't normally make music tend to make pop music that coasts on their names (I've heard Paris Hilton's album is solid). That's why I think this music might have been gunning for airplay but made with such a minimal idea of what makes chart music works it ended up sounding avant. But this assumption is also colored by the fact that she's a celebrity synonymous with "celebrity," the kind invoked to illustrate "what's wrong with society," someone who got famous just for having a kid young and not for the "talents" on display on her record. She's a pop figure, so why wouldn't she try to be a pop star?
But why couldn't she also, though, have a thing for Hippos in Tanks records? She lives in Austin, one of the biggest hipster hubs on earth, and might have a taste for the artier and dangerous side of art pop. She's a pop figure, and it's safe to assume most of the folks who tune into Teen Mom aren't listening to the erudite shit this music evokes. But then again Kesha is a fan of Pere Ubu and Matmos. There's no good reason why Abraham couldn't have patrician taste.
So I'm going to give Abraham the benefit of the doubt and suggest that maybe this was all on purpose. Frederick M. Cuevas, who produced this thing, makes pretty solid SoundCloud beats that are clearly the work of someone who knows musical forms intimately — and the production is filled with smart referential touches, like the acid 303s on "The Sunshine State" or the Kill Bill siren on "Caught in the Act" (this was three years before Future blew everyone's minds with it on Dirty Sprite 2). And the related artists on Spotify are all art-world freaks: Oneohtrix Point Never, James Ferraro, Xiu Xiu, Boredoms, fucking Merzbow. Could she be inspired by these people?
Seen as a chart record, My Teenage Dream Ended would be a disaster. But it actually hits a lot of the marks we associate with "good music." You can't accuse this shit of not being "authentic." The emotions Abraham bares on this album are so raw they're uncomfortable, even if you didn't know her story or suspect a lot of these lyrics probably deal with her child's father — who died in a crash eight months into her pregnancy. Like 808s & Heartbreak and Smile From The Streets You Hold, this is the kind of album where quality control is secondary to the artist getting as much of their psyche down on wax as possible. Words like "cathartic" and "exorcism" apply.
Here's a sampler of some of what she sings on here. "I had so many other days planned for you/I still looked forward to talking to you/I still pictured us together, you and I forever" — sung through what sounds like sobs on "The Phone Call That Changed My Life". From "On My Own": "My hopes have dropped, my sadness flares, my anger is my power, my heart just stares." And contradictions repeated endlessly to herself. "I don't wanna make more mistakes, I still need to make more mistakes." "I wanna be alone… not really, not really, not really." The opening line of the album is "I can only put so much in a song," but I'll be damned if she doesn't try to fit it all in.
Abraham calls music a "hobby" rather than a career move, and if anything's clear about My Teenage Dream Ended, it's that it was made on Abraham's own terms. Even if she's not "talented" in the rockist sense, she has a vision, and what she's done on My Teenage Dream Ended is bolder than what a lot of artists ever do. This is one of the few albums about being a specific celebrity — think Purpose, Beyoncé, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band — that doesn't sound to some extent like PR. Bieber must be miserable too, though most of his misfortune seems to have come about through his own pig-headedness. He wanted us to forgive him on Purpose, to love him. It seems Abraham just wants to vent and hopes someone will hear.
People have. Though criticism of My Teenage Dream Ended was violent when it came out, it had its defenders, and more recently, Mathew Lee Cothran of Elvis Depressedly and Coma Cinema has been lauding it in interviews (a track on his new Judas Hung Himself In America is titled "Farrah Abraham"). It may very well become a cult classic — let's hope not as something to be mocked but as one of the rawest, strangest, most interesting pop records ever made.
Catch up on Dog-Doo With Daniel.
Farrah AbrahamDog-Doo With Daniel
Listening to Pop like a Rockist
By Daniel Bromfield
Young Thug is a petulant dipshit
I love Paul McCartney's sappy-ass songs
Lil Yachty is One of the Only True Heroes in Music
The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds finally clicked with me
In Defense of Unintelligibility
So the Migos are giant homophobes. What now?
Reviews: Underworld, Iggy Pop
10 Times Prince Was Unrivaled in Pop Music
Deep Ambient With Daniel: The Pavilion of Dreams by Harold Budd
Prince, The Awkward Sex Symbol


Missouri Highlands Health Centers serve patients with and without insurance. We accept most insurance and will either file claims for you or help with the completion of claims when needed. Uninsured and underinsured patients are asked to complete a Sliding Fee Application prior to service. If eligible, costs will be determined based on household size and income.
The sliding fee application will help determine the cost for service based on household size and income. Missouri Highlands serves all patients whether insured or not. Costs are based on household size and income. To see if you qualify, complete the simple application and bring it to your first visit along with proof of income and your last tax return.


text:
Q: How to delete entities from a joined table with JPA 2.1 CriteriaDelete I want to delete (JPA 2.1)  all patients from one Hospital, but run into a problem:
UPDATE/DELETE criteria queries cannot define joins
CriteriaBuilder cb = entityManager.getCriteriaBuilder();
CriteriaDelete<PatientEntity> delete = cb.createCriteriaDelete(PatientEntity.class);
Root<PatientEntity> root = delete.from(PatientEntity.class);
Join<PatientEntity, HospitalEntity> join = root.join(PatientEntity_.Hospital);
delete.where(cb.equal(join.get(HospitalEntity_.id), id));
Query query = entityManager.createQuery(delete);
query.executeUpdate();

Error:
UPDATE/DELETE criteria queries cannot define joins

How should I delete all Patients, while the Join cannot be performed?

A: You can use a subquery that selects proper entities and 'in' clause for that.
CriteriaBuilder cb = entityManager.getCriteriaBuilder();
CriteriaDelete<PatientEntity> delete = cb.createCriteriaDelete(PatientEntity.class);
Root<PatientEntity> root = delete.from(PatientEntity.class);

                Subquery<PatientEntity> subquery = delete.subquery(PatientEntity.class);
                Root<PatientEntity> root2 = subquery.from(PatientEntity.class);
                subquery.select(root2);
                /* below are narrowing criteria, based on root2*/
                Join<PatientEntity, HospitalEntity> join = root2.join(PatientEntity_.Hospital);
                subquery.where(cb.equal(join.get(HospitalEntity_.id), id));

delete.where(root.in(subquery));
Query query = entityManager.createQuery(delete);
query.executeUpdate();

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


In order to provide the highest quality care on a sound basis, we have developed a full range of convenient payment options for you to choose from. Prior to the commencement of treatment, fees and financial arrangements will be discussed with you. These arrangements can be coordinated with your dental insurance benefits.
CareCredit, a GE Capital Retail Bank, gives you convenient payment options so you can get the procedure you want, when you want it. Apply online at carecredit.com or call toll free (866) 893-7864.
Becky is our office manager. She can answer your insurance questions, and discuss any special financial needs that may arise throughout the course of treatment.


THIS IS A BROADCAST OF THE EMERGENCY OPPO SYSTEM! CODE STELVIO HAS ENDED!
GAZE UPON THE TOPPO TOWN BEE AS A REWARD FOR COMPLIANCE. ONLY THOSE IN A STATE OF COMPLIANCE MAY GAZE UPON THE TOPPO TOWN BEE. THOSE IN A STATE OF NON-COMPLIANCE MAY NOT GAZE UPON THE TOPPO TOWN BEE. GAZING UPON THE TOPPO TOWN BEE WHILE IN A STATE OF NON-COMPLIANCE IS CONSIDERED NON-COMPLIANCE.
NON-COMPLIANCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.


Go to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. The WWII gallery is showcased by a 25 foot by 75 foot wall mural by famed aviation artist Keith Ferris. Various placards on the B-17 were "modified" by Keith to thank and honor his friends and family who supported his efforts. Where such labels as "NO STEP" or "CAUTION" should appear on the wing and fuselage, there are names such as "PEGGY" (Keith's wife), "MOODY SUTER" (a long time famous fighter pilot friend of Keith's), and "GAIL" (Moody's wife.) A beer label discreetly adorns the control column (perhaps to commemorate the many cases of Bud supplied by Moody during Keiths 75-day project). It's been many years since I've visited, so there are doubtless more Easter Eggs on the mural that I have since forgotten.
Special Requirements: Personal visit to the museum, WWII Gallery.


Born in London to British and Sri Lankan parentage, Frederick began his musical education aged three, studying with Margaret Engering of the Suzuki Violin School. Following tuition from Dr. Shin'ichi Suzuki himself in Matsumoto, Japan, and at the junior department of the Royal College of Music, he went on to receive a first class MusB(Hons) degree from the University of Manchester, and was later awarded the Gladys Bratton, Montague Cleeve & TCM Trust scholarships for postgraduate study at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
Since then has performed across the world, making solo appearances with the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra in Taiwan, and performing with the Symphony Orchestra of India and Ahmadi Music Group in Kuwait. Closer to home he performs with ensembles including the Multi-Story Orchestra, Charles Hazelwood's Army of Generals, and the Paradisal Players, with concerts broadcast live as part of the BBC Proms, and on BBC One and BBC Radio 3. He has also made solo appearances at St John's Smith Square, the Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room.
A versatile musician, Frederick has toured extensively with the comedy string quartet Graffiti Classics, and has performed with Mary J. Blige and hip hop pioneer Grandmaster Melle Mel. He has collaborated with a diverse range of artists, from tours with Edgar Meyer and Béla Fleck, to recordings with Rick Wakeman, to performances with grime artists Merky Ace and Jammer live on BBC 1Xtra and at festivals such as Wilderness and Bestival. With a firm interest in new music, Frederick has played with the contemporary ensemble Vaganza around England, and has performed for Gabriel Prokofiev's label NONCLASSICAL.
With a committed ideal of inspiring current and future generations, Frederick is involved in many outreach projects, bringing classical music to unexpected places, such as school playgrounds, car parks, and night clubs. He is a tutor on the Bournemouth Chamber Music Course, and is involved in education projects across Europe and Asia, as well as local primary school projects with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
A lifelong interest in science has led to Frederick recently completing an MSc. in Music, Mind, and Brain, at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he studied the cognitive psychology of music and its neural correlates. He is currently broadening this exploration by undertaking a further MSc. in Computational Neuroscience.


Marketing a small business was hard before the Internet was invented, but at least back then it was simpler. Now, we have Google, a giant platform made of thousands of smaller platforms in which to market. As a result, there are so many decisions to be made when determining how to best market yourself online.
As a small or local business owner, it is nearly mandatory to utilize SEO. Without it, how can you build up your validity and credentials? We now know that search is the number one driver of traffic to content sites, beating social media by more than 300%, so the importance of search engine optimization goes without saying.
If you have quality links from other web pages, Google will rank you higher on search engine results. Improving your search engine results should be the name of the game when marketing your small business in 2015.
SEO has come a long way since its inception. Great content is now the stepping stone to getting the links you need to build your credibility. If you can create quality content that includes your relevant keywords you will attract links and be well on your way to building your SEO.
With that being said, there are plenty of mistakes out there just waiting to be made that will hurt your site's rank and visibility. How can you avoid the big SEO mistakes? Avoid this list of common mistakes, and you'll be optimizing in no time.
A lot of what was acceptable in 2013 can now be considered over-optimization and may result in a penalty for your business on search engine listings.
In cases of over-optimization, it may be easier to start over than trying to fix the unfixable. Do not let your site go into over-optimization by trying to take an easy route and hire a "quick fix." It is better to start with a blank slate with SEO.
Google works as a fact-checker and will spot these SEO mistakes.
Don't try to manipulate the search engines in any fashion. Write your content for your human visitors, not for "SEO," and you'll be rewarded with organic links.
Link building is something that should occur naturally. There are several companies that offer to post your links on irrelevant or low-quality websites for a small fee. These tend to be poorly written and surrounding other paid links.
This can harm your website because Google will recognize this as low-quality.
Once Google recently upgraded its algorithm to Penguin, paying for links became a dangerous territory. Google now expects you to create links naturally through having great content to earn your links organically. Promote yourself and allow others to create natural backlinks. Just do normal, classical marketing and the rest will work itself out.
Purposely inserting keywords into website content to manipulate search engines to appear higher in searches is keyword stuffing. August Ash also named it as a top SEO mistake of 2015, so I figured the outdated tactic deserved a mention here as well.
Aggressive stuffing creates a poor user experience and can actually contribute negatively to your site's ranking. Consumers will know that you are trying to be manipulative, and all trust and validity will be lost.
You're not going to help your brand by sounding robotic, so create natural copy!
As a business owner, you are swamped with work. You simply aren't going to have the time, energy or knowledge to perform all of the SEO on your own.
If you try and perform all SEO aspects on your own, you're going to either be under-optimized or over-optimized. It isn't worth the stress on top of your other stressors.
All you need to do is learn what the right amount of on-page SEO is. That way you can spot when your pages are under-optimized or over-optimized. If you just go with the flow, your content won't look robotic and contrived.
Luckily, there are companies, such as Local Marketing Solutions out there that can help you build your visibility with comprehensive citations. Using a reliable "white-hat citation service" can go a long way in ensuring that your business will have visibility.
This mistake ties perfectly into the last one. If you don't know the field you're playing in, then you aren't qualified to hire players.
Know the basics of on-page and off-page SEO. If you see your keyword being used all over the place, you should know that is a red flag.
As I mentioned earlier, there are still a lot of SEO companies that service old outdated tactics like keyword stuffing or paid links to swindle unknowing business owners. It's all they know how to do to make money, and they'll be desperate to perform these "services" and send you an invoice. Don't make this mistake! Do your research on the SEO provider you are considering, so you know you're making the right call.
Have the conversation with your SEO company about what tactics you do not want them to employ, and get them to explain all of their processes. This way, you'll be doing your homework and can rest assured your business will acquire links and SEO naturally.
Google and other search engines are smarter than they were in the past. Search engines now focus on serving customized results based on the location of the searcher, and can keep track of searchers' past behavior to inform their new algorithms.
In order to be recognized by search engines, you need to make sure your business' "NAP," or name, address, and phone number are correct across the plethora of platforms, blogs, articles, directories, etc. on the internet.
Google and other search engines cross-reference your NAP information across a variety of websites to verify your business is valid. If your addresses don't match up exactly on two websites, you may not even be recognized on a local search.
In addition to the above, the next most authoritative way of guaranteeing your information is correct is to provide it on your own website. Your business' information should match up perfectly to all other search results for your business.
Next up is providing it on your social networking profiles, especially Google+.
Google+ Pages is a vital tool because it makes it easy and accessible for a business to update and manage its physical location to appear correctly on Google's organic search results and Google maps.
Always make sure that your Google+ address matches the exact one listed on your website and other directories (remember the importance of your NAP). Any slight error can harm your business in a not-so-slight way.
Keep all of your citations across the web up to date! Go back to every single NAP citation and fix it and submit the change officially to Google as well.
Always make sure "geo-localizable" content to your site's vital HTML elements. Be sure to always include your business's city/region in your title tags, URLS, H1-H2 tags and Alt text image tags. Be sure to always include your NAP on the footer of every page on your website.
Here, at the end, I'm going to tell you the worst mistake made by those who do know how to perform perfect local SEO and generalized SEO. They get so caught up on making sure they appear on the maps that they get tunnel-vision.
All they can think about is optimizing for their own brand and local information.
The mistake is to forget to focus on optimizing content for product, information, and entertainment terms. With SEO, you should always focus on the big picture and not just on one goal. Always do your research because SEO is constantly evolving.
SEO is a vital and powerful tool and it is valuable in growing your business. SEO should come naturally: if you write well and promote your content, you will be rewarded by search engines. Don't let the historical "black hat techniques" trick you into "manipulating" search engines.
Taking care of SEO later rather than now is only going to be deleterious to you and your business. Remember, people may come to a site because it's ranked highly on a search engine, but they only stay because they have access to the information they want when they want it. Avoid these mistakes, keep your presence consistent and of high quality, and you'll build your visibility in no time.
Luke Harsel is a local SEO specialist at LocalMarketing.Solutions. When he's not on the Internet, he enjoys riding his bike and playing musical instruments, but not always at the same time. Follow him on Twitter.


text:
Q: Password protecting an xml file using gzip All right guys and gals it's time for the age old question, how do you password protect an xml file using C#?
I have acutally created the file in C# as well (not as if that is relevant) and now I need to password protect it so I can email it out to clients, any suggestions guys,
Also I tried putting the xml file into a zip file, using C# and upon doing this the file loses its extension, and it does this with every method I find, so I would really just like to password protect the original file.

I should have been more clear on this, the file loses it's extension permanetly, when the end user unzips it, it's no longer an xml file, it's just a file with a name, no association or any thing
ok changing this a bit, it's been pointed out a lot that xml doesn't get password protected because it's just text, not a problem, so lets change this up how about the ziping of it
    FileStream sourceFile = File.OpenRead(@"C:\sample.xml");
    FileStream destFile = File.Create(@"C:\sample.zip");

    GZipStream compStream = new GZipStream(destFile, CompressionMode.Compress);

    try
    {
        int theByte = sourceFile.ReadByte();
        while (theByte != -1)
        {
            compStream.WriteByte((byte)theByte);
            theByte = sourceFile.ReadByte();
        }
    }
    finally
    {
        compStream.Dispose();
    }

this code above zips the file, but when the file is unziped by the end user the file loses it's xml extension and with it it's file association
ok i have an update i figured out how to keep the file from losing it's extension, if i change the output file name to sample.xml.zip, the system handles it fine, granted the output file comes out reading just like this, sample.xml.zip, but winzip never bitches about opening it, neither does 7zip so i'm perfectly happy with this, now the password protected thing is something  i haven't figured out yet.
just for reference sake, my new code.
    FileStream sourceFile = File.OpenRead(@"C:\sample.xml");
    FileStream destFile = File.Create(@"C:\sample.xml.zip");

    GZipStream compStream = new GZipStream(destFile, CompressionMode.Compress);

    try
    {
        int theByte = sourceFile.ReadByte();
        while (theByte != -1)
        {
            compStream.WriteByte((byte)theByte);
            theByte = sourceFile.ReadByte();
        }
    }
    finally
    {
        compStream.Dispose();
    }

A:
and upon doing this the file looses
  it's extension

What do you mean, the file name changes from MyXMLFile.xml to MyXMLFile.zip?
There's nothing you can do about that, absolutely nothing.
An xml file is a plain text file, you can't password protect the file without somehow encrypting it. Once you encrypt it, it's no longer an Xml file, it's an encrypted file, that when decrypted will produce an Xml file.
Encrypting your xml file into a password protected Zip file is a perfectly good solution to this problem.
Once the end user unzips the zip file, they'll see it as an Xml file, and then everything will be ok.
Hope this helps.

A: You can't password protect an XML file the way you can with a Word document. The reason you can place passwords on Word documents is because Word and presumably other programs which can read Word documents support password protection. Nothing prevents a program from completely ignoring the password (unless the file is somehow encrypted using the password as a key generator).
XML files are simply text files. No password protection is possible without placing them in a password protected container (such as a zip file). When you zip up the XML file, it is placed inside a zip archive with the extension of .zip to indicate that it is a zip file.
It is then up to the person receiving the zip file provide the correct password in order to decompress the zip file and retrieve the original XML file.
I don't believe .NET has any support for managing .zip files. You can use an third-party library like DotNetZip to help you with this.

A: Encrypting the file and then decrypting it would be one option. This article give some information on encrypting and decrypting.

A: I think a good option would be to zip it and password protect the zip file. Not the xml. A library like dotnetzip could work for this and is pretty straight forward.


text:
Q: How many $8$ card hands with at least two cards from each suit can be made from a standard deck of $52$ cards?
How many $8$ card hands with at least two cards from each suit can be made from a standard deck of $52$ cards?

I only got so far:
$${52\choose 8} - 1 =  752538149$$
I know for a fact that I am doing something wrong but I am not sure what.

A: You are only choosing $8$ cards, but you should be choosing two from each suit.
To deconstruct this problem, you want to choose exactly two hearts, two diamonds, two clubs, and two spades. (That is the only way to have eight total cards with at least two from each suit.)
This can be done in $\binom{13}{2}$ ways per suite, or $\binom{13}{2}^4$ ways total.


Rated 96 / 100 based on 10 customer reviews.
The quality of service and hospitality at Riad La Porte Rouge has been identified as outstanding based on consistently high customer review ratings.
Riad La Porte Rouge has achieved a score of 96 / 100 based on 10 customer reviews and has therefore qualified to receive an Outstanding Service Award from Go Hotels.
Riad La Porte Rouge is a charming guest house in Marrakesh located just steps from the Royal Palace gardens, a perfect situation in the Medina of Marrakesh for guests on holiday in Morocco. Guests will receive a warm welcome at the guest house and will have the opportunity of relaxing in the courtyard with pool, on the terrace overlooking the Atlas mountains or in the Jacuzzi. Otherwise unwind with a massage or in the lounge with satellite TV. Various services are offered to ensure a memorable holiday in Marrakesh, car rental, restaurant or excursion reservations, evening entertainment and airport shuttle service.


text:
Camping / Tents
You're just getting into camping, and we love that about you. You may not know where to start, or you may feel like everyone already knows how to pick a tent and get out there. If you're worried or embarrassed, it's not a big deal.
Different tent brands are good for different things, and we know there's a tent brand out there for you. You may be ready to invest in a big-name brand, or you might want to try out some budget options before you go big.
We've reviewed ten of the best tent brands, and we're ready to help you decide.
Coleman was started by a young traveling salesman who came across a new type of lamp fueled by gasoline that produced a clear, bright light. Since then, Coleman has been a big name in outdoor fun and produces tents and shelters that are family oriented and budget-orientated.
Coleman's current claim to fame for tents is the Weathertec system. The company built an actual rain room to experiment with waterproofing tent materials, and now, all Coleman tents come with coated polyester materials, inverted seams, better guy out triangles for wind resistance, and waterproof floors. The zippers are covered to prevent leaks of all kinds, even accidental ones.
Coleman makes three-season tents of all sizes from smaller, two-person backpacking style tents to huge cabin style family tents. They even have a real tent built in proportion for a child.
The Coleman frame is sturdy, but the tent poles are usually fiberglass or basic aluminum. With some of the tent frame tech that's out there now, that makes the frame of Coleman a weak point.
Who it's for: Families who do fair weather camping close to the car and want a budget tent to cover those needs.
Peaktop is another fair weather, family-style tent from the Quictent family. Quictent is a UK based tent and shelter manufacturer that creates everything from two-person instant shelters to huge temporary shelters and gazebo style structures.
Peaktop's tent line is a budget family style with tents in a four-person to nine-person configuration. The big draw is that the tents are arranged into distinct "rooms" giving every person in the family or group a private space to move around.
There's plenty of room to store gear, and the shelters go up quickly. Most of the tents are sleeping sections surrounding a common room.
Once again, the frame is the weakest spot here because they use fiberglass. Fiberglass poles are certainly cheap, but they won't withstand much wind or inclement weather. They also can be heavy.
Who it's for: Larger families or friend groups who value separate spaces
Big Agnes is a small company based in Colorado born of a need to get outdoors and create better, smarter equipment. The company still does much of its own testing in its own backyard, and the result is gear meant to withstand a lot of harsh conditions from weather to camping with children.
Big Agnes is a huge proponent of camping smarter. It uses things like proprietary MtnGlo tech, which is a system of LED lights sewn into a tent for great ambient light that won't interfere with the view. Fabrics include Dominico Textile, one of the strongest and lightest fabrics around, used in things like parachutes. DAC poles, which upended the camping world with a blend of aluminum alloy and pole structure, creating sturdy, weather resistant frames without adding any extra weight.
The downside to Big Agnes? You've got to have the budget to match the materials. If you're just getting into camping, you might be priced out of your comfort zone here.
Who it's for: Individuals or families with a lot more know-how concerning camping and need flexible options.
MSR (Mountain Safety Research) started as one man's search for the best, safest mountaineering equipment out there. Since 1969, MSR has made it its mission to create tents (and other equipment) that can stand up to inclement weather and other dangerous conditions with a little extreme backpacking on the side.
MSR's tents are not all-purpose. They're intended to withstand snow loads above the tree line or reduce the weight in your pack to practically nothing. If you aren't comfortable being uncomfortable out in nature, these tents aren't for you.
The fabrics and construction are the highlights here. Most of the tents have high hydrostatic heads or waterproof ratings, and durable coatings to withstand different types of terrain. They can be pitched creatively to account for uneven ground, all while folding up into tiny packs for hiking in several miles or building out to expedition style, long-term shelters.
Who it's for: People who regularly hike in for miles, camp above the tree line, or professional alpinists
Black Diamond sounds fast and loose, right? That's because it is. This company's claim to fame is small, light tents and shelters meant to be thrown up and packed up at a moment's notice.
Black Diamond uses DAC Featherlite poles for many of its freestanding tents, while others use a simple aluminum allow. You also have plenty of choices for ultralight tents that use only trekking poles and guy lines. For the super weight conscious, bivy sacs require no poles at all.
The biggest tents they have are only four-person tents, but if you're out there trekking fast and light, these are the ones to go for. Weight is the overriding issue for every tent Black Diamond makes. Some of their materials are a bit delicate (for camping equipment) because of the weight preferences, so families of small children may need something that can withstand both rain and a curious child.
Who it's for: Ultralight campers who need to cut down on the pack weight or campers ok without full shelter (Hike-Thru or bivy only).
Kelty makes a range of tents and outdoor products with fun and pleasure in mind. Some tents can withstand inclement weather, but really Kelty is all about those views. If you're interested in getting your children to the great outdoors and like to do so without much fuss, Kelty is a good option.
The company started in 1952 and currently makes a variety of tents from one to six person. For the most part, these are three season tents. One of the biggest draws for Kelty is the stargazer fly. Many tents have mesh bodies for ventilation and views, but Kelty's mesh is built to withstand a greater amount of abuse while outdoors. The company even designed the rainfly to adjust from inside the tent, so you never worry about getting caught in the rain.
Some of the larger, family-style tents use steel poles, but for Kelty's smaller line, DAC Pressfit eliminates both weight and weak spots at joints. There isn't a lot of variety for tent configuration, so if you're looking for a mansion style tent, the company can't help you.
Who it's for: Smaller families or groups needing all-purpose tents that don't block the view.
Nemo's primary claim to fame is ultralight backpacking tents. That said, they also offer an alternative to canvas tents with the same durability and footprint. The target group for Nemo is experienced campers looking for long-term solutions to shelter.
Most of Nemo's tents require a bit of experience to set up, although this doesn't necessarily have to be the case. They shave off pounds for their backpackers and use durable, water and wind resistant materials.
If you're shaving off weight but still dealing with snow loads, Nemo is your tent. Most of their tents use DAC Featherlite poles, both lighter and stronger than traditional aluminum frames. Even their four seasons tents weigh less than six pounds, which is quite an accomplishment for this category.
Nemo isn't cheap. Going this route gets you some of the lightest, toughest tents on the market, but you will have to invest.
Who it's for: Backpackers who need to keep weight down but may experience three-season plus weather, or hunters/fishers requiring a home away from home.
Wenzel is a 130-year-old company with plenty of history on the open range. Their designs are classic and designed for families looking for weekend getaways. Affordability and tradition are the big selling points here.
These tents use fiberglass poles, which add good structure while cutting down on cost. The fabrics are moderately waterproof and set up quickly. They have teepee style tents, cabin styles, and other shelters, but the Ridgeline is the classic dome everyone pictures when imagining a tent.
The downside is Wenzel's tent isn't going to get you through any extreme weather. It's best suited for weekend camping during fair weather when you won't have to be carrying a lot of things. The open floor plan is suitable for families who all want to be in the same space anyway.
Who it's for: Beginner campers or families with children.
Mountain Trails is an ultra-budget tent company great for absolute beginners and families who don't camp that often. They have everything you need to get out for a weekend or two a year without killing your wallet.
They make everything from two-person to ten-person tents in classic shapes that maximize floor space. Polyethylene floors and polyester canopy fabrics are durable without being too expensive. Fiberglass poles offer structure without the expense. Large doors and plenty of internal space should satisfy most campers and their families.
The main draw is the cost. They're incredibly affordable and offer an entry into camping you may not get with other types of tent companies. What they don't have in long-term durability or weather resistance, they give you back in affordability.
Who it's for: Beginners and families that maybe camp once or twice a year.
The North Face creates bomber, all-out assault-style tents that are extremely durable and are designed to withstand a ton of weather and snow. Nylon ripstop and DAC frames give the tents a ruggedness that you may not get with other types of tents.
These are overkill for most casual campers, but if you've ripped through a few tents and left them in shreds, The North Face may be your next tent option. They aren't cheap, but they are made to take a beating.
Most of the tents are the same durable fabrics and frames. The expedition-style tents are-particularly heavy duty and can handle winds, snow loads, and terrible rains without budging. They're rugged for a reason.
Again, these aren't for beginners, and many of them rely on masterful guy lines to get all the weather resistance available. However, if you've torn up more than your fair share of tents, this is the company for you.
Who it's for: People who are hard on tents and like to push what's possible.
Previous PostBest Family Tents for 2019

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Nearly 50% of Americans started 2016 by setting new goals ranging from personal to professional. Now, as the first month of the year comes to a close, 1 in 3 has already abandoned their goals. The struggle is real. Achieving goals requires inoculation against self-doubt and steady dosages of encouragement. I have found five quotes that are the right prescription for moving me from goal-setting to goal-getting.
Here are my top 5 go-to quotes that fuel me with the right balance of self-patience and self-encouragement to stay the course. If your goals are feeling sluggish, take at least two quotes and call yourself "re-charged" in the morning!
The goals have been set, now go get 'em!


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Der Hover Bach ist ein 5 km langer, orografisch rechter Nebenfluss des Waldbrölbachs in der nordrhein-westfälischen Gemeinde Ruppichteroth, Deutschland.

Geographie

Verlauf
Der Bach entspringt etwa 700 Meter nordöstlich von Obersaurenbach auf einer Höhe von . Von hier aus fließt er zunächst in südwestliche Richtung und passiert dabei das am rechten Ufer liegende Obersaurenbach. Wenig später durchfließt der Bach Bacherhof. Unterhalb des Weilers wendet sich der Lauf in westliche Richtungen. Die Ortschaft Hove passiert der Bach im Süden. Kurz vor Schönenberg wendet sich der Hover Bach nach Süden und mündet auf  rechtsseitig in den Waldbrölbach.

Der Bach überwindet auf seinem 5 km langen Weg einen Höhenunterschied von 128 m, was einem mittleren Sohlgefälle von 25,6 ‰ entspricht. Er entwässert ein etwa 3,9 km² großes Einzugsgebiet über Waldbrölbach, Bröl, Sieg und Rhein zur Nordsee.

Zuflüsse
 Schmitzwiesensiefen (rechts), 1,0 km
 Schiefelsstücksiefen (links), 1,0 km
 Rothfeldsiefen (rechts), 0,9 km
 Brunnensiefen (rechts), 0,5 km

Orte
Zu seinem Wassereinzugsgebiet gehören die Ortschaften

 Obersaurenbach
 Junkersaurenbach
 Bacherhof
 Hambuchen
 Mittelsaurenbach
 Niedersaurenbach
 Hove
 Scheid
 Etzenbach
 Schönenberg (teilweise).

Einzelnachweise

Fluss in Europa
Fluss in Nordrhein-Westfalen
Gewässer im Rhein-Sieg-Kreis
Geographie (Ruppichteroth)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


As the Tarot cards tune into every possible scenario, and moment in time, they can be included in a spell that matches the vibration of a specific Tarot card, here I use Nine of Wands to grant the outcome you are seeking - stability. I will customise your Wand Tarot Spell with full details on the way you want things to turn out. A Nine of Wands tarot wand card use during a spell will resonate your desire and draw it too you.


As the country's leading supplier of Liquid Soy Base for the production of private label Soymilk and in a Beverage Industry focused on Protein, isn't it time you Know the Facts…….
Stop by our Booth at the Southern California IFT Supplier's Night.
Contact me to schedule a meeting at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim.
Rock City, IL, Thursday, September 01, 2016 — Devansoy is pleased to announce the addition of Kate Leavitt to our company's leadership team. Ms. Leavitt has joined Devansoy as Vice President of Sales and Marketing and will build on Devansoy's strong legacy of providing world-class service in the supply of premium quality organic and non-gmo soy and other plant-based products.
Kate has over 20 years in the food and agricultural industry. Her experience includes roles in sourcing, sales and marketing – both domestic and international, supply chain management, processing, and logistics, serving in organizations including SunOpta, Northand Organic Foods and the Minnesota Trade Office. Fueled by a passion for providing healthy, alternative food products Kate thrives on delivering excellence– a natural fit for Devansoy. Her dedication to the natural and organic food industry, has provided Kate with the opportunity to serve on key industry boards including the Soyfoods Association of North America and the Minnesota AgriGrowth Council.
Feel free to reach out to Kate or you are welcome, as always, to contact me directly.
WASHINGTON – The Dietary Guidelines scientific advisory committee once again finds plant-based protein foods, such as soyfoods, offer meal options that are low in saturated fat, cholesterol free and nutrient packed. The just-released Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) highlights dietary patterns that promote health, provide key nutrients and are sustainable.
Specifically, the scientific advisory committee, assembled every five years and overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, highlighted soyfoods in the Protein Foods group including foods and ingredients such as tofu, soy noodles, soy flours and soy protein isolates; fortified soymilk is part of the Dairy group; and edamame and whole soybeans are part of the vegetable legume subgroup.
Soy protein-based foods and beverages also help lower blood cholesterol, curb one's appetite and prevent some cancers, when started early in life. As for sustainability, soybean production uses substantially less water than animal production. Soybeans produce more than four times the amount of protein per acre as the next most efficient protein source, eggs; and soybeans are three times more energy efficient than corn and 10 times more than milk.
The Committee suggested a wide variety of eating patterns could meet the overall goal of preventing disease and providing key nutrients, while still preserving cultural and religious dietary patterns. Soy-based foods and beverages provide the only complete plant protein that is equivalent to animal protein, and is so versatile that it is found in meals and snacks of numerous cultures.
Soy is a large part of both the healthy Mediterranean-style and vegetarian eating patterns presented in the report, and is an ever-increasing component of the "healthy U.S.-style" pattern.
Recent research shows that 42 percent of Americans consume soy-based foods or beverages once a month or more, compared to 30 percent in 2006. More and more Americans have incorporated veggie burgers, soymilk, tofu, soy yogurt, and other soy-based meat alternatives, cereals, beverages and nutrition bars, whether they are vegetarians, vegans, or just adding more plant-protein foods to their diets.
The Scientific Report also defines healthy dietary patterns as having food combinations that limit sugar, sodium, and saturated fat. In particular, more polyunsaturated oils such as soybean or vegetable oil should be substituted for harder fats such as butter or lard to reduce saturated fat. Soyfoods are naturally lower in saturated fat and cholesterol than animal-based protein foods. For example, a half-cup serving of soy "crumbles" has no saturated fat compared with 80/20 ground beef containing 4 grams of saturated fat.
Plant foods are also good sources of the "nutrients of concern," identified as vitamin D, calcium, potassium and fiber, as well as iron for women. Fortified soymilk offers vitamin D, potassium, and calcium in quantities similar to dairy milk. Many types of tofu and cultured soymilk "yogurt" also provide calcium. A serving of edamame features 10 percent of your daily value of iron and 16 percent of dietary fiber.
For more information on soyfoods and adopting a plant-based diet, please visit the Soyfoods Association website, soyfoods.org, or contact Andrea Albersheim at 202-659-3520 or press@soyfoods.org.
The Soyfoods Association of North America is a non-profit trade association that has been promoting consumption of soy-based foods and beverage since 1978. The Soyfoods Association is committed to encouraging sustainability, integrity and growth in the soyfoods industry by promoting the benefits and consumption of soy-based foods and ingredients in diets. More information is available at www.soyfoods.org.
Pagosa Springs, Colo. (November 6, 2014) – Devansoy, a leading soy protein ingredient manufacturer and noted soy food industry pioneer, today promoted its Chief Operating Officer Deb Wycoff to CEO. Wycoff succeeds Devansoy's founder & CEO, Elmer Schettler, who assumes the role of chairman of the company's board of directors.
Deb Wycoff, entering her 25th year with Devansoy, has spent her career streamlining all aspects of the company's operations including soy procurement, soy food production, technical application, health care, and logistics, as well as office and personnel management.
As CEO, Wycoff will provide executive leadership, growth strategies, financial management, and strategic planning across all channels of the company.
Wycoff, an established industry thought leader, was a member of SANA for several years where she held the SANA Board position of Treasurer. Deb is married to Howard Koster and has three children, Jennifer, Michael and Kenzie. Deb, who lives in Carroll, Iowa, is passionate about the outdoors where she enjoys biking and running. She is a loyal fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Founded in 1992, Devansoy is a soy protein ingredient company that has processed non-GMO, organic and hexane-Free ingredients for decades. Devansoy's production of Soymilk takes place in a plant Near Rock City, IL where the majority of the 30 + employee's work. The company offers liquid soy base, soymilk powders and soy flour, all of which are non-GMO and available in organic, conventional, full and low-fat. The company doesn't sell direct to the consumer but its soy protein ingredients are used in a vast number of food and beverage categories. Engage Devansoy through its website at www.devansoy.com.
Join us at IFT 2014!
Visit us @Booth #4118 this weekend!
Visit us and register to win an iPad air!
Devansoy sales jump more than 62% over last 5 years.
As defined by Webster, one of his interpretations classifies progress as "to move forward: proceed." During the past five years, Devansoy, Inc.'s sales have increased more than 62 percent, with an average growth rate of 12.5 percent.
At Devansoy, a Carroll-based company since 1991, progress continues to grow and evolve as several different threads are woven together to produce this tapestry known throughout the industry as one of the top soy protein ingredient companies.
"With Devansoy, that progress involves: people, customers, technology and sales," said CEO Elmer Schettler. "The commonality with these four segments of Devansoy's progress has been, is and will be 'to move forward and proceed.'" The philosophy behind Devansoy's progress is to seek people who have a strong work ethic, and are accountable for their respective duties and committed to the principle of providing superior products and service. This philosophy starts with Devansoy's senior management team: CEO — Schettler; chief operating officer — DebWycoff; chief financial officer — John Ranson; and vice president of sales and marketing — Scott Desing.
Although the principal office recently moved to Pagosa Springs, Colo., where Schettler, a former longtime Carroll County resident now resides, Devansoy continues to maintain a presence in Carroll, via the home base of the chief operations officer.
Devansoy's liquid soy production is based in Rock City, Ill., and the sales-and-marketing efforts are centralized in metro Atlanta.
As a result of Devansoy's progress the past five years, the personnel needs have paralleled that respective growth. Subsequently, the employment rate has expanded by over 38 percent since 2008, most recently with the addition of a highly experienced quality assurance manager.
The most recent "move forward" is with a California-based company specializing in organic plant fertilizers for home use. Soy consumption, specifically soymilk and soy beverages, in the private-label category continue to increase year after year. The need for more non-dairy and lactosefree offerings, is and has been supported by rising consumer demand through all point-ofpurchase segments: mass market (retail/grocery), health food venues, club and box stores, foodservice, the military, etc.
In today's world, you'd be hardpressed to mention progress without noting technology in the same sentence. The semi-virtual nature of Devansoy's structure has been optimized by the use of adapting to the ever-changing world of technology. And, as the technology needs of customers have evolved, Devansoy has kept pace with their respective needs.
Recent technology updates at Devansoy 's Rock City production facility, include: hardware and software improvements, which have resulted in processing efficiencies. Utilization of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), a standard for exchanging information between computer systems, is an example of technology that not only acts as an inter-face between the customer and the supplier, but also assists the interdepartment functionality within a respective company.
The use of the Cloud via a remote server, and various business "apps" has proven to be quite beneficial with respect to: accounting software, the use and speed of electronic banking functions, streamlining financial operations, the elimination of repetitive tasks, etc.
These days most are looking for ways to improve their overall health, whether it's exercising more, eating less, or looking for healthier or more natural food choices.
In Iowa, we are surrounded by fields and fields of soybeans, yet some of us have not tried very many soyfoods such as soymilk, tofu, or other foods containing soy ingredients.
Scott Desing, vice president of sales and marketing of Devansoy, a supplier of soy ingredients, headquartered in Carroll, explains people may turn to soyfoods for various reasons. The reasons can be a "want" or a "need." A "want" would be someone practicing veganism or looking to improve personal health. An example of a "need" would be lactose intolerance or an allergy to milk.


There are many internal and external factors to consider when selecting a dental marketing company to market your dental clinic. Like most important business decisions, one of your first considerations should be your budget. You ought to find a dental marketing company that provides the option to start small and increase your internet marketing and advertising budget as you grow if your dental practice has less than five workers. Click this link dental practice marketing to see more information.
And you'll see some growth.
New dental patients have the potential of offering your clinic a huge return on your advertising investment. Not only are lifetime and one-time earnings offered by new patients, but they also bring friends family and acquaintances to a practice. Friends bring more friends, and so on and so forth.
But do not get so caught up in the concept of high yields that you eliminate sight of your financial responsibility. You have the opportunity to try their services out and see if you're getting your money's worth by locating a dental marketing firm that allows you to start slow. Witness the best info that you will get about dental marketing creativedgemarketing.com.
The exact same is true for larger dental clinics. If you're in charge of finding a dental marketing firm for a large clinic, you have more cash to operate with. But just because you've got a larger budget, does not mean you have to spend it. Greater spending carries the capacity for waste that is increased.
To help separate the good from the bad, ask potential marketing businesses if they can provide you with monthly reports which include not only information that gives you a good concept of where your prospects are coming from and conversion numbers, but also web traffic. Not all leads that were successful can be tracked back to your marketing campaigns, but dental marketing businesses should have some ways to monitor the progress of your own efforts.
When looking at reports, what you do not wish to see in the long run is the majority of your leads coming from more costly pay-per-click advertising campaigns such as Google Adwords. PPC advertising does have its own place within an internet marketing campaign, but after your spending stops, so do your own leads. A well balanced marketing campaign contains a mixture of non-paid and paid marketing strategies that provide both short term and long-term results. Pick out the most interesting info about dental marketing http://www.ehow.com/list_6507714_marketing-ideas-opening-dental-clinic.html.
Another way to determine whether the business you're considering is reputable is to look on media websites, but also on their website, not just about their solutions and in search motors. Searching Yahoo or Google with the provider's name in quotes along with a key word like "reviews" is often a good way to get this done.
There are plenty of good and poor marketing businesses out there. The best approach to find a company that could meet with the marketing needs of your clinic would be to perform your research, start slow and monitor your own results. Start with an inexpensive dentist marketing also make and program the dental advertising company that you choose earn your trust before investing money on your effort.


text:
North Shore Aquatics Society
Vote yes!
Why a 50m pool?
Social Benefits
Population growth and Service Standard:
The population in the City of North Vancouver has doubled from roughly 26,000 (1966) to 53,000 (2018) since Harry Jerome was built. Thus, the service standards (using population served as a surrogate for service standards) at Harry Jerome pool declined as crowding increased from 4333 people/lane (1966) to 8000 people/lane (2018). Over an expected 50 year pool lifetime, the population in the City may expand to 95,000 (based on growth over the past 50 years) and the crowding would increase to 9500/lane if the City goes ahead with its plan to build a 10-lane, 25 metre pool. This crowding drives people away to other pools and away from aquatics to other activities, which may not be fitness oriented.
A 25m pool emphasizes lap swimming to the exclusion of many other aquatic activities. This targets only a small proportion of the population – those who use lap swimming for fitness, competitive swimming and swim lessons. Due to operational constraints, a 25m pool will not be able to effectively address a broader audience that would include youth, young adults, mature patrons and the elderly (i.e. it will be business as usual, in a larger 25m pool).
Create a tourist attraction and local destination:
The closest 50m pool is the Vancouver Aquatic Centre (VAC). VAC is an aging facility that does not offer a leisure pool or fitness centre and is poorly situated for access; it is unlikely to compete with a new 50m pool at Harry Jerome, the only one on the North Shore.
A 50m pool would create a lot of local interest and would reclaim those 97,000 pool visits to West Vancouver's pool (PERC report). The flexible programming would create visitor options at all times which would also increase its desirability as a local destination. It is worth noting that the District of North Vancouver replaced the 37m pool at William Griffin with a 6 lane, 25m pool (now Delbrook). The reduction in space at Delbrook pool, leisure pool aside, will displace the public to a 50m pool at Harry Jerome.
For sport enthusiasts who come to the North Shore for its other sport amenities, a 50m pool at Harry Jerome would become a feature sport destination and tourist attraction. In addition, local hotels and motels would feature a 50m pool in their advertising.
Local Aquatics Groups and Supporters


Listed below are all Child friendly, formal, affordable restaurants in Amsterdam with microwave (for baby food). Do you want to eat in Amsterdam? Would you like a nice dinner at a cozy restaurant or perhaps some tasty snacks? You'll find it at Eet.nu!


This is a board designed to give fish-like drive and down-the-line speed along with a vertical potential and pocket surfability that fish normally don't have.
Great for both mush and real surf.
The shorter versions carry fishlike width wider tails; longer versions slim up for more of a twim fin style template.
Fin spacing is fairly critical, but that's why it comes with Lok Boxes.
They usually show up at the shop with LB1/LB4, or AK4 fins, but the longer versions surf great with the Twinzer set, with the large upright fins in front and the baby trailers in back.


Frank Lampard has labelled Marcelo Bielsa's widely reported tactical lecture at Leeds United's training ground as 'par for the course' in footballing circles.
Speaking after Derby County's FA Cup victory at Southampton on Wednesday night, four hours after Bielsa's briefing at Thorp Arch, Lampard talked down its significance.
The Rams revealed a United employee had been caught spying on their training session last week and since Bielsa's admission this was doing there has been plenty of debate on each side of the ethical argument.
Yesterday, Bielsa felt compelled to speak publicly about the incident once again and to explain why he was neither a cheat nor a coach who based their tactical plans on such spying missions.
Fans, commentators and journalists alike were left awestruck in the aftermath of Bielsa's lecture, but Lampard said such detailed analysis was nothing new to those inside the game.
"It's really simple. It's probably a nice eye-opener for the fan to see it, because most of these things are done behind closed doors," he said.
"They're done everywhere. There's no amazement. Anyone who works in football will not be amazed in the slightest. It's par for the course."
He added: "I haven't seen it. I've heard about it. It's a funny one for me because I don't want to speak about it too much. I spoke a lot about it (the spying incident) at the weekend.
"It is what it is now. We all know what's been happening across the board. It's certainly in the league's hands. It's certainly a league issue now because it's our league, it's every team. So it's up to them to decide what goes on from now."
By Thursday morning the detail Bielsa had used in his lecture had been widely reported. Niche statistics around how many minutes Derby's players had played in each position was one such example.
Lampard was told Bielsa gave the impression he even knew more about his Derby team than him, the club manager.
"He gave an impression," said Lampard. "An impression of himself. I haven't seen Pep Guardiola give that, I haven't seen Jurgen Klopp give that, Mauricio Pochettino give that.
"They do it behind closed doors, definitely, but they don't do it to the public."


My woodwhop teacher said we had to make a bandsaw box but we could be creative with what we made so I made mine tux the Linux OS logo. Unfortunately since with is the first project I ever painted I didn't realize how thick the paint would be to the drawer doesn't open anymore.
Nice!! Are you a programmer too?
Thanks!! We need your help. Any suggestions for improvements? Specially in the project upload?


Sweet talking myself here. What's it all about Mrs. Brown? What is the doing of the Ewing with now? 'Cause I have seen some pretty hard places in my life, and that gutter don't do me no good … and what is this now?
Epiphany station. Seems the moment one takes that plunge to say it's ok to lose, to be that ultimate failure and let me tell you, therapists dream I am, but help me, I think I am falling in love with it all again. All the good loving, the some not so good loving, the staying and the leaving, it's coming together in one big cup cake. Let her lie on a couch they say … what about the angst, the misunderstood, the villains and heartbreakers of past … does she not remember them and lie broken still?
Mmmm, perhaps Mmmm a little of the wounded knee to be true. But, with a new dress on. A little black dress that clings and swings and holds it in. The broken heels are tossed for bare feet. That is what we do at this stage of our lives because face it, lying there is so unattractive. We have history, sure, but we have history that defines us, and it is awesome, like the chambers of our hearts, they keep pumping fresh, clean blood. Blood rush happening.
The thing is, you have to take those you loved (phew, really, ok if you say so), those that love you still, lovers past and present, and know, put it in the salad spinner and in the end, realise it makes you remarkable, someone special. You take that heartbreak and all the debris that goes with it, you harness it and fall in love all over again, with the history, with the fragments and this time, you fall in love with the absolute idea that you were capable of loving. And that, is all.
You are capable of loving. What a gift. So, walk the walk, and sweet talk the daily doings of life, and then, think about it … you are one big, fat fluffy teddy of love, always falling harder than you pretend, because that is who you are – a loving, fully, no holds barred, without boundaries person and if it got you well, blah at this stage of your life, loving is the best gift you give anyone.
What a compliment you paid someone else.
Is that not being selfish, we stop and ponder?
Call coming up for the self love! And why am I telling you this? You have your times, and I yesterday, met up with one of the 'loves.' Indifferent, moved on and despite the nerves at the 'hello', the touching up of the lipstick, the spraying of perfume in the local shop for courage, I sat there and looked, and listened and shook .. and then I thought to myself, you know what, I loved, so deeply, so completely that this is all going to be fine. And when I walked away, I felt more in love than ever before, because I did good. I loved deeply. Does that make sense?
We are children no more. Young adolescents and yuppie reachers any more. We are honed and moulded now, by life and all those songs, but we are also capable of being wondrous, for we have loved.
I honestly know people who have never had the experience.
They know loving unconditionally can mean hurting so they avoid it. Bless them.
But we know better. We may be a little cautious now .. and let's not be … it is the most amazing feeling to be in love with love.
I am falling in love with the idea of love, all over again. I pretend to be cool and sensible, but secretly, the idea of being in love, of loving another without restriction, of loving myself is blowing my socks off. I'm falling harder than I pretend. And I will never apologise for that.
Thank you Joni for tonights background vibe.
< You are your brand, even if it's a re-brand and all those words that go with the idea.


Turkish President Recep Tayyip has spoken in support of the Saudi regime, which has come under heavy criticism in the aftermath of the stampede that reportedly killed about 2,000 pilgrims during Hajj pilgrimage rituals.
"I do not sympathize with the hostile statements against Saudi Arabia," Erdogan told journalists in the capital, Ankara, on Friday, adding that it would be inappropriate to "point a finger at" the regime in Riyadh for Thursday's crush in Mina, located about five kilometers (three miles) east of the holy city of Mecca.
A fatal stampede broke out in Mina as a large crowd of pilgrims were on their way to participate in the symbolic stoning of Satan, a Hajj ritual. Reports say hundreds of pilgrims are still missing following the disaster.
Erdogan's remarks came as the Thursday tragedy has cast doubt on the Saudi regime's ability to manage the large influx of pilgrims into the kingdom during the Hajj pilgrimage season every year.
A host of pilgrims have said they are terrified to continue the ritual stoning of the devil in Mina due to what they call lack of organization and incompetency of Saudi security personnel in handling the affairs.
"There was crowding. The police had closed all entrances and exits to the pilgrims' camp, leaving only one," said 45-year-old Libyan pilgrim, Ahmed Abu Bakr, who survived the deadly stampede with his mother.
Abu Bakr further complained that Saudi police forces at the scene were inexperienced. "They don't even know the roads and the places around here," he said.
Another witness, 39-year-old Egyptian national Mohammed Hasan, expressed concerns that a similar incident "could happen again". "You just find soldiers gathered in one place doing nothing," he said.
Hasan noted that Saudi security officials have also insulted him because of his nationality, when they asked him to come identify an Egyptian corpse.
"Why are they humiliating us like this? We are coming as pilgrims asking for nothing," he said, urging Saudi authorities to "organize the roads" to ensure the harmless movement of people.
On Friday, Head of Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization Sa'eed Ohadi cited Saudi sources as saying that nearly 2,000 people, including over 130 Iranian nationals, have lost their lives in Mina tragedy.
This is while Saudi authorities say at least 717 people have been killed and nearly 863 others injured in the stampede.
It was the second deadly accident to strike Hajj pilgrims this month, after a massive crane collapse in Mecca killed more than 100 and left over 200 others wounded.


"We better be able to or I will be a sad Belle." She chuckled as she pulled up to Klienfield and got out. Just looking at the shop she got butterflies,the dress was the most important thing.
Heath smiled softly. He remembered shopping here with Wade years ago for the tux of his dreams. And now here he was shopping with Belle for her dream dress. A part of him was bitter.
A consultant came over to help them and took Belle into a dressing room. She took down what Belle liked and left her to change.
Coming back with a dress she helped Belle into it. It was a ball gown that was strapless and looked like it sparkled. Stepping out and onto the raised platform she looked in the mirror then at Heath. "What do you think?"
"You look like an eighties prom nightmare," Heath said plainly.
Heath smiled, "Focus on plain. Wade will want a traditional marriage."
Seeing the consultant nod Belle sat back until she returned. She entered the room with a smile and said this would fit her. Staning up Belle allowed her to help her. The minuet it was on she knew it was perfect but wanted Heath's opinion. Belle grinned as she stepped out and in front of the mirror.
"Shorten the train in the back a bit and you've got a good one," Heath smiled.
Belle smiled to the consultant as they said that they could do that. She even brought out a veil for Belle to wear. "This or a tiara Heath?"
"Veil mos definitly," nodded Heath.
Belle smiled to Heath as she took in the whole look in the mirror. "This is definatley it." She twisted in the mirror seeing the back and side.
"So Belle Moore," Heath smiled teasingly, "are you gonna say yes to the dress?"
Belle laughed before nodding. "Yes. Yes I say yes to the dress." She was sad that she had to take it off but soon it was time. She came back in her street clothes and carried a reciept. "we can pay after the alterations."
"Yeah but they need a bit upfront first," Heath nodded.
Belle nodded and walked to where they paid with Heath. She pulled out her wallet and wrote a check from her own money. Belle didnt want Wade to pay for it all so she put her money in for the down payment.
Heath smiled, "You didn't have to do that."
"I wanted to. He shouldnt have to pay for the one thing he won't see till the day of and wont be wearing." Belle led the from the shop and got into the car. "Hungry or anything?"
Belle laughed. "How about we get some food? Bring it home and you can tease Wade that you know about the dress."
Heath smiled, "Sure, that sounds like a good idea!"
Belle put the car into drive and pulled out into traffic. She pulled up to a chinese place attached to a burrito place. "Ima get a burrito. You can meet me back here if you go get chinese."
"Screw chinese food," Heath said with a smile. "I want a freakin burrito!"
Laughing Belle got into line with Heath and soon it was her turn. As she went down the line telling the man behind the counter what she wanted she found herself ordering things she didn't normally like.
Heath looked at her, "Belle, half that food sounds so very nasty..."


Larry Guyett, who grew up visiting a family cabin on Port Bay, says boating has been part of his life as long as he can remember.
A retired Rochester firefighter now living in Webster, Guyett still has the 17-foot 1964 Starcraft runabout his father bought the summer Guyett was just 5 years old.
"I've been boating just about since I was born," he said on a late June afternoon at Mayer's Marina as he slipped a winch hook through his boat's bow eye and started cranking the vessel onto his trailer. "I got my first boat when I was 12 years old, a rowboat with a small outboard motor."
Fishing, relaxation, fun, family. Those are the answers most often given when local boaters are asked about what draws them to the water. And that draw is apparent in the Rochester region, where state data shows that ZIP codes in four area communities have some of the highest concentrations of boat registrations in the state.
The Webster-area ZIP code 14580 comes in at No.1 among the top 20 of boat-owning communities with more than 2,800 registered boats. Other big boating communities? Canandaigua, No. 4; Fairport, No. 8; Pittsford, No. 15; and Rochester/Greece at No. 17.
That's not a surprise for Allison Mayer, owner of Mayer's Marina on Irondequoit Bay. The reason: the wealth of local waterways.
"You have the Lake, Irondequoit Bay — which is awesome — and you have the river," she said. Add in the Erie Canal, the Finger Lakes, Braddock Bay and navigable creeks and you've got a whole lot of opportunity for water-based fun.
But that's not all boating is about in New York, which ranks 8th in the nation for boat ownership, with more than 350,000 registered vessels statewide.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, nearly 30 percent of all households in New York participate in recreational boating, and about 16 percent of the state's households own a boat.
Recreational boating is also a major New York industry, generating more than $5.8 billion in direct and indirect economic activity each year, supporting more than 2,000 businesses that employ more than 31,000 people according to the state Department of Labor.
Last year's record high water levels on Lake Ontario made the season a bust for many of the local businesses that depend on the water.
Docks were submerged and unusable. Tourists didn't come. Boaters pulled their vessels from their slips, afraid of damage from the high waters.
At Krenzer Marina in Sodus, Wayne County, the gas pumps were underwater last year until early August.
Sandy Habecker, one of the marina's owners, said things are looking up this year, as the lake has settled back to more normal levels. As of June 20, the level was 246.72 feet, about 22 inches lower than it was this time last year.
At Mayer's, the flooding was so bad carp were spawning on the front sidewalk and water outside the building was knee-high. There was water inside the building too, and aquatic snails took up residence in the floorboards of Allison Mayer's office.
"Every time I walked in, I could hear these little crunches under my feet," she said.
But the overall impact of the flooding was no laughing matter.
"The whole year was very difficult, and we did what we could to help our customers get in the water," said Mayer. "But it was a disastrous year for the whole marine industry."
She said this season got off to a slow start as boaters worried they'd see a repeat of last year's problems. But once it became apparent the water levels were going to stay down, things started to pick up.
Dave McDowell, mayor of Sodus Point, said he's also seeing signs of a healthy turnaround.
But, he said, it wasn't until early March that he stopped holding his breath, worried about the coming summer.
"I had many residents calling and emailing me "when are we going to flood, when can we get sandbags" and we didn't have to do that thankfully," he said.
More: Where are the boat launches?
Fairport is among the 234 cities, towns and villages that touch the state's 524 miles of navigable waterway including the Erie, Cayuga-Seneca, Oswego and Champlain canals, and much of the community's identity is tied to its canal heritage. And the waterway's impact is apparent even to this day.
Matthew Handley, manager of FairPour Café, which opened in October 2016, said the tourism draw of the canal has been a boost to business.
For Paul and Jean Miller, owning a boat in the Finger Lakes region is like having "a summer cottage that has portability."
And the retired couple uses it at every opportunity.
"We move on the boat in May, cut our lawn and check our mail at home, but pretty much live on the boat," said Paul Miller.
And much of that living is done on the canal. They've even cruised America's Great Loop, a continuous waterway that includes part of the Atlantic, Gulf Intracoastal Waterways, Great Lakes, Canadian Heritage Canals, inland rivers and, of course, the Erie Canal.
Living on their boat as they do, the Millers know they're contributing to local economies.
"We have to eat, we have to use the restaurants, we need to use laundromats," said Paul Miller.
Lawson and Linda Whiting considered buying a summer cottage, but dismissed the idea when they realized they'd have to spend more than they wanted and they didn't really want the hassle of maintaining two homes.
After renting a boat one day, they decided to buy.
Now, "we try to use it every weekend," said Lawson Whiting. And they have plenty of choices when it comes to where they should use it.
Andy Ruestow of Hilton has owned his Pearson 26-foot sailboat since 2013. His best times on the boat include cruising with his family, and racing with friends in the Brockport Yacht Club's Wednesday night racing series.
"I really enjoy the beauty that Lake Ontario offers, being a Great Lake, it behaves like a freshwater ocean in a lot of ways, the solitude is peaceful and relaxing," he said.
While he'd like to see the state do more to promote boating, he said the state's natural features make it a spectacular place to seek out the water.
"Having a Great Lake in our backyard is an amazing opportunity," he said.
There's an adage that a boat is really nothing more than a hole in the water into which you throw money. Another old saw is that boat is really an acronym for "bust out another thousand."
But it doesn't have to be that way. Indeed, Guyett, with his simple 60's-era runabout said if he's spent $1,000 on maintenance as long as he's owned the boat, that would be a lot.
"It's pretty much bulletproof," he said.
Mayer said that's another appeal of boating — there's a boat for just about every budget. The National Marine Manufacturers Association reports boating industry sales are at a 10-year high, with new powerboat sales in 2017 reaching 262,000. Sales last year in New York were sixth in the nation, with sales of new powerboats, engine, trailer and accessories topping $735 million.
But buying new isn't the only option.
"Sometimes people pooh-pooh boating as being something for rich people, but it's not, it's for everyone," said Mayer. "We only take boats up to 24 feet, we're a small boat marina. And you can get a small used boat for just a couple thousand on Craigslist."
Or, you get on the water for even less, like the Reed family of Fairport.
Theresa Reed, with her two sons Joe and Josh, took advantage of a quiet day at the Irondequoit Bay Marine Park in late June to launch their three brightly-colored plastic kayaks into the water. The paddle-powered watercraft are just the family's speed, she said.
"We kind of just like going at our own pace, it's peaceful and you can take kayaks in places you can't take other boats," said Theresa Reed. This is the family's second season of boating. They usually stick to the Erie Canal near their house but have paddled some of the Finger Lakes: so far Conesus, Honeoye and Hemlock.
"There's so many more areas that I never even realized have trails and things you can get up into to discover," she said. "Now that we have them we're constantly trying to find new places to explore."


Hi all! New here and desperately need help. My Trooper is a '91 4-cyl manual 4wd. 133 K miles and has been running fine even though it only runs on 3 cylinders. Cracked head and dead cylinder so I was told. I am mechanically dumb so any help will be appreciated! Cold starts fine, run a few miles and turn it off, NOTHING when I try to restart. No clicking or lights. It's like a completely dead or disconnected battery. Battery is fully charged and posts are clean and tight. After waiting a few hours it starts no problem! Problem is intermittent in that it doesn't do this every time I drive it. it started 3 days ago. Ideas?
95 Trooper 3.2L DOHC starting problems.


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The M-Band
Mannssambandet is a territorial vocal male group of The Salvation Army in Norway. The group, also called The M–Band, (easier to pronounce!), has been one of Norway's most profiled Christian
Thor Fjellvang
Thor Fjellvang was born in Brevik in Telemark, Norway, in 1958. Both his parents were Salvationists. At the age of 10, he was playing the organ and later the piano
Eastern Territorial Songsters Since 2005, the Eastern Territorial Songsters (ETS) has shared in ministry with the New York Staff Band, International Staff Band, Canadian Staff Band, Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, trumpeter
Beach Bible Study Leaders
Majors Kevin & Cheriann Stoops Majors Kevin and Cheriann Stoops are children of officer parents and have lived in various parts of this territory. Kevin also lived in Canada during his
Don't miss the fun on Tuesday, July 29th! 6:00 – 7:00 pm PONY RIDES • FACE PAINTING • PHOTO BOOTH • PETTING ZOO • MAGIC 7:00 –
Creative Arts Service Team performs Don't miss this delightful musical for the whole family!! Based on the story of "The Ugly Duckling" by Hans Christian Andersen, composers George Stiles and
Crossfire Brass
Army brass banding has been around as long as the Camp Meetings, and Crossfire Brass, with Bandmaster Ronald Waiksnoris as leader, continues that tradition. The band will support worship at
Point of Grace
Turn on your TV or radio and you'll find no shortage of next–big–things and overnight successes. But in the midst of all of that noise, you may find yourself craving
Pier Ministry
Know the Secret "It's an open secret that Jesus is mine … it's an open secret I want you to know, I love my Savior so!" Fifty years ago, these
Where To Pray
July 26 – August 1 PRAYER STATION In the tent adjacent to the Pavillion, prayers stations will be set up. Stop by and spend some time in prayer. ADULT BIBLE
Highlights for the week
LEADERSHIP SUMMIT July 28 – August 1 The LEAD Draw Near Conference, in conjunction with the 2014 Old Orchard Beach Camp Meetings, is meeting daily on the University of New
Prayer Station In the tent adjacent to the Pavillion, prayers stations will be set up. Stop by and spend some time in prayer. Adult Bible Study Commissioners Dick & Vibeke
OOB 2019 Introduction
Star Lake Musicamp
Our Livestream Profile
Latest in Events
OOB – Pier Ministry


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Detroit Bankruptcy Boosting Appeal of Insurance for Municipalities
August 20, 2013 by Brian Chappatta
Detroit's record bankruptcy may cost bond insurers more than $1 billion in claims. Yet the filing is also boosting the appeal of guaranteed municipal debt as the companies pledge to cover Motor City investors in full.
Insured municipals are beating the overall $3.7 trillion market for the first time since 2007, before the financial crisis stripped insurers, including Assured Guaranty Ltd. and MBIA Inc., of their top credit grades. Bank of America Merrill Lynch data show guaranteed debt lost 4.2 percent through yesterday, less than the overall market's 5 percent drop.
Companies that back Detroit's debt are on the hook for at least $1.9 billion of unsecured debt, and also insure most of the insolvent city's water and sewer securities. Assured Guaranty and MBIA have said they would ensure bondholders receive full payment, reaffirming their value to individuals shaken by the nation's biggest muni bankruptcy, said Alan Schankel at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC.
"The benefit of insurance has gotten more visible because of Detroit, so investors are valuing it more than they did six months ago or a year ago," said Schankel, head of fixed-income research for the Philadelphia-based company. "That's reflected in trading levels."
Buying Detroit
Michigan's biggest city, with about 700,000 residents, sought bankruptcy protection July 18, listing about $18 billion in debt. Investors such as Tom Metzold at Eaton Vance Management in Boston and Robert Amodeo at Western Asset Management Co. in New York have said they're buying insured Detroit utility securities, showing confidence in pledges to repay bondholders.
The financial crisis that peaked in 2008 cost bond insurers their top ratings amid losses on subprime-mortgage-backed debt. While Build America Mutual Assurance Co. last year became the first new insurer since Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Assurance Corp. in 2007, just 3.5 percent of local debt sold in the first half of 2013 had the protection, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Insurers once covered more than half the market.
The backing was traditionally a draw for individual investors, who own about 70 percent of municipal debt. Insurance reduces the interest issuers pay by from 0.1 percentage point to 0.15 percentage point, Schankel said. That can lower the cost of borrowing by hundreds of thousands — or even millions — of dollars as the debt is repaid over periods of decades.
Surging Yields
"If there were never any losses, no one would buy insurance," Wilbur Ross, who controlled about 14.8 million Assured Guaranty shares, or 8.1 percent, in June, said by e- mail. "The performance of insured munis clearly demonstrates the value."
Interest rates dropping to the lowest levels since the 1960s last year also depressed insurers' share of the market as investors favored higher-yielding securities, including those without guarantees.
Yields on local-government debt have since surged to the highest rates since April 2011, data compiled by Bloomberg show. That makes it more economical for borrowers to pay for coverage of their bonds.
The rise in demand for insurance was on display in May when the Plum Borough School District, about 13 miles (21 kilometers) east of Pittsburgh, retained Build America Mutual to back a $70.2 million deal, the insurer's biggest deal since it began offering the guarantees last year. The general-obligation bonds are rated A+ by Standard & Poor's, its fifth-highest grade.
Insurance Savings
A 10-year tax-exempt portion was priced to yield 2.6 percent, data compiled by Bloomberg show. That compared with a 2.76 percent average yield during the week of the sale for an index of similarly rated debt.
Bond insurers benefit from increased demand "anytime there's noise in the market," said Richard Holzinger, New York- based Build America Mutual's head of investor relations. "Insurance always does better when you have wider credit spreads," he said by telephone.
Jay Brown, MBIA's chief executive officer, said in an Aug. 8 conference call with investors that "muni-bond defaults have historically resulted in a greater appreciation of the value of bond insurance."
Such defaults are rare. U.S. corporate securities rated BBB+, S&P's third-lowest investment grade, have an average default rate of about 6 percent after 15 years, compared with about 0.2 percent for similarly rated munis, according to the New York-based rating company.
The broad muni index declined for three straight months through July, the longest losing streak since January 2011, Bank of America data show. During that three-month period, insured bonds lost less compared with top-rated debt.
The extra yield investors demand to own 30-year insured general-obligation debt rather than AAAs narrowed to 0.35 percentage point July 26, the least since April 2011, and remained at that level through this month, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The spread reached 1.07 percentage points in early May, the most since the data begin in 1993.
"Detroit and other distressed situations gave investors a certain amount of comfort in insurance guaranteeing timely payments," said Dorian Jamison, a municipal analyst at Wells Fargo Advisors in St. Louis. "That really helped insured bonds outperform during this weakness we've seen this summer."
Equity Risk
While Detroit may burnish the value of bond protection, it has raised questions about the viability of the insurers as they confront the prospect of more distressed debt, said David Litvack, head of tax-exempt fixed income research at U.S. Trust, a New York-based unit of Bank of America Corp.
Assured Guaranty still has gained 44 percent this year through yesterday, yet it has fallen 11 percent in New York trading since Detroit sought court protection. MBIA has dropped 12 percent in the same period in New York, while it is still up 54 percent for 2013. The S&P 500 Index of shares has advanced 15 percent this year, despite losing 2.6 percent since July 18.
"The municipal-bond investor may perceive bond insurance to be more valuable, but the people who want to invest in bond insurers' stock may not perceive it so favorably," Litvack said by telephone. "There's greater perceived risk in the market and more potential for bond insurers to lose money."
Still, first-time muni defaults declined to 32 this year through Aug. 12 as the recovery that began in June 2009 continues, according to Municipal Market Advisors. That compares with 54 during the same period in 2012 and 77 in 2011, research from the Concord, Massachusetts, based company shows.
Rising Receipts
State tax receipts rose 8.6 percent in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2012, the 13th straight quarterly increase, the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government in Albany, New York, said this month in a report.
Top-rated local governments such as Columbus, Ohio, and Charlotte, North Carolina, are set to issue debt this week amid $4.7 billion in sales, data compiled by Bloomberg show.
The ratio of 30-year top-rated muni yields to those for comparable U.S. Treasuries is near the highest in more than a year. The proportion fell to 119 percent yesterday after reaching 125 percent Aug 9, the most since June 1, 2012. The higher the percentage, the greater the relative value of municipal securities compared with Treasuries.
Following is a pending sale:
Charelston County Airport District in Charleston, South Carolina, plans to sell about $175 million in revenue bonds as soon as today in part to finance the expansion and improvement of terminal facilities at the airfield. Interest on the debt is exempt from South Carolina and regular federal income taxes. The bonds are rated A1 with a negative outlook by Moody's Investors Service, its fifth-highest grade, and mature as late as July 2043. Bank of America Corp.'s Merrill Lynch unit is managing the sale.
With assistance from Mary Childs in New York. Editors: Ted Bunker, Justin Blum.
Brand Management & SalesGovernmentIndustry NewsInvestment OfficersPerformanceRisk & Capital ManagementU.S.
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Bond Insurer Pursues Fraud Claims in Lawsuit Over Detroit Pension Debt


Good photographs raise more questions than they answer. Photojournalism illuminates by showing the viewer what is still in the dark. In the street, my job is to wring out of an ordinary moment details that will raise questions.
But sometimes I am lazy, and on those days I photograph signs. Signs make a photographer's job easy: Your subject has already raised the question for you. Even if the sign is a simple declarative statement, the act of declaration makes us suspicious. Who among us has read a protester's sign without questioning his motives? And wouldn't our creditors be happy if we believed every advertising sign we read?
Easy photos are often boring photos, and most photos of signs are pretty drab. But Asheville is full of folks who like to make statements, and every once in a rare while it's worth capturing the questions they raise. The following images were collected over several years.


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Home / Cage Warriors / Cage Warriors 118 Preview
Cage Warriors 118 Preview
By Sean Denny on December 11, 2020@DennyRants
Night 2 of the Trilogy Strikes Back goes down on Friday night. Cage Warriors 118 is back under the lights at York Hall in London.
This card is headlined by a fight that fell by the wayside in the first trilogy. The CW Middleweight title is up for grabs as current champion Nathias Frederick (8-2-1) makes his first defence against Jamie Richardson (9-5). Frederick is a physically imposing striker who comes for a war. He has proven that he can go the championship distance in his previous 2 fights against former champion James Webb. Richardson is a on a 3 fight win streak and will be looking to hurt Frederick early on the feet. Leather will be thrown in this one.
Aaron Khalid (10-5-1) is back after his lightning quick anaconda choke win back in September. He takes on Italian Leonardo Damiani (8-2-1). Wales' Khalid is a submission specialist with a wide range of submission finishes. Damiani is hoping to seize this big opportunity and get his own submission game going. He has had some great displays on the local scene and wants to prove he can take a scalp at Europe's top table. This will likely come down to who makes the first error.
SBG Manchester head coach Matt Inman (20-10) makes his eagerly anticipated return to the CW cage against the ever tough Next Gen Liverpool man Matthew Bonner (7-6-1). Inman is a legend on the scene and has seen everything that can be thrown at him. He's a threat wherever the fight goes. Bonner is likely going to try and drag him into the deep end and to test the ring rust. Bonner is a tougher fight than his record shows.
While we're on the subject of tough Liverpool based fighters, step forward Mick Stanton (6-5). This grappler is looking to get back into the win column following back to back losses. He takes on the "Latvian Express" Madars Fleminas (7-2), also on a two fight skid. Fleminas likes to start quick, but can also hang for the duration. Stanton will be looking to turn this into a grubby battle.
The next fight has potential to be the fight of the trilogy. Liverpool's Adam Ventre (8-4) goes up against Ireland's Decky McAleenan (6-3). This will be an all-action affair with neither man willing to give an inch. Both are willing to take a punch to throw 2. Ventre carries a little more submission threat which could prove to be the difference. This isn't the fight to put the kettle on.
At the top of the prelims, we have an exciting fight between Liam Gittins (5-1) and Josh Reed (10-4). Both of these lads love a scrap. Gittins' only defeat came at the hands of the newly crowned FEN champion Jonas Mågård. He has a habit of getting the job done within one and will be pedal to the metal from the get go. I expect Reed to try and work in some grappling to slow down Gittins.
The ever exciting Stephen Aimable (14-8) is up against Tom Mearns (6-5). Both men have hit a 3 fight skid lately so will be looking to grab a much needed win. This will likely be an exciting close three round battle.
Welsh prospect Ben Ellis (2-0) returns after missing the rest of 2020. Ellis has a unblemished record at pro and amateur and hasn't been out of the first round as a CW pro. He has been given a tough assignment in Kingsley Crawford (5-2) who has had an impressive career to date. This should be a great yard stick to see where each man is at.
A battle of the prospects opens the card with undefeated Nathan Fletcher (3-0) and Leigh Mitchell (3-1). Mitchell's only defeat came to the talented Liam Gittins. Outside of that fight, both men have won their three fights within the distance. This will be fun while it lasts.
Cage Warriors 118 is live on Friday on UFC Fight Pass. The prelims kick off at 7:15pm.
Seán Denny is a Dublin man who writes mostly on the European scene, with a keen interest in the Irish, UK and Polish scenes in particular. Follow me on Twitter at @DennyRants.
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