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Known for the famous cookie jars gracing café counters around the country, the Byron Bay Cookie Company has come a long way since baking cookies on a farmhouse stove and selling them at the local markets in Byron Bay.
Originally trading as Pickles, Pies and Petticoats, Byron Bay Cookies was one of the first local brands to capitalise on the ethos of Byron Bay, with the company relaunching itself as the Byron Bay Cookie Company 25 years ago.
Whilst its products are now sold nationally (and beyond!), Byron Bay Cookies are still baked to perfection in Byron Bay. It comes then as no surprise that the gourmet manufacturer would pick Byron as the location for its new film, the first campaign of its sort for the iconic Australian brand.
Emilie Emond, Marketing Manager for Byron Bay Cookie Company says of the new campaign: "Creating and producing our first campaign is such a milestone for our brand, and we wanted to capture the true essence and beauty of Byron."
Starring local talent and Instagram power weights – and real life close friends – Olive Cooke (@olivecooke) and Lisa Danielle (@lisadanielle_), the film follows two friends as they explore some of Byron's most iconic locations, stopping at the local markets and pausing to enjoy a coffee and a cookie (or two!). Local fashion label and international success story Spell Designs also makes an appearance. The film is backed by an enchanting soundtrack by local artist Mikey Bee (Mt Warning) who composed the track "Runaway" exclusively for the campaign. The lyrical beauty of the soundtrack and the luminescence of the cinematography come together in a captivating way.
Whilst the brand has strong ties with the café market, the film also showcases the brand's latest gift range, a collection of keepsake tins featuring stunning botanical prints inspired by the subtropical flora of the Byron Bay hinterland.
The 'Taste of Byron' campaign will launch on 30 November 2017 to coincide with Byron Bay Cookies' partnership with Openair Cinemas, with the short film making its debut on the big screen of Openair Cinemas in Melbourne's St Kilda, with the brand also sponsoring the Bondi franchise in Sydney in January.
Byron Bay Cookies' new floral gift range is available from David Jones store nationally at an RRP of $16.95 (200g tin).
The Byron Bay Cookies online store ships worldwide.
Openair Cinemas in St Kilda (29 Nov – 20 Dec 2017)
Openair Cinemas in Bondi (25 Jan – 4 March 2018)
About Mikey Bee, Composer
When Mikey Bee was playing a solo show in Australia, American film-maker Taylor Steele happened to
be in the audience and was intrigued by the performance. The film-maker approached the musician with a different way of writing songs. "How would a song sound from a man sinking into the ocean?" The musician answered with a song washed with anticipation, determined lyrics, and denial. A discovery of new music was explored.
Together they pushed the idea of a song telling a unique story while being part of a visual story, played out over an album which came to represent life's cycle – a journey from one side of the day to the other, as much as from one side of life to the end.
The band name came about when Mikey and Taylor were thinking about what experience they were trying to create with the music. "We wanted something bold, ominous but also simple and stoic. There's a mountain close to where we were working, it's the first place to see the sunrise in Australia, the first place the sailors would see from the ocean and when they saw it, they knew they were close to Point Danger, a reef that would ground them if they didn't turn east". Bold in nature, ominous in name and simple and stoic to view, the name MT WARNING was agreed upon. It also conveniently shares their initials in the title, hence the pronouncement M, T, WARNING.
MT WARNING released the debut album to some incredible reviews including AAA Backstage: "Sonically. Midnight Set is stunning", a 7/10 review in UK's prestigious UNCUT "Immensely affecting" and UK's Guardian 'band of the day' where comparisons were made to The National and Sigur Ros.
MT WARNING have played all over the world in the last year and a half but to play Splendour in the Grass, their hometown, is the most rewarding of all. A new EP "Petrified Heart" is expected shortly.
About Openair Cinemas
Make a night of it under the stars at American Express Openair Cinemas. Bringing a season of good times to 10 cities across Australia and New Zealand, experience summer at its best with live music, sunset drinks, food, fun and flicks.
American Express Card Members are invited to relax and enjoy the full VIP cinema experience by purchasing a ticket for the American Express Invites Lounge. American Express Card Members also save 15% on selected tickets as well as complimentary blanket hire. All guests can chillax to the max with the variety of seating options available and add a touch of comfort to a night under the stars with a blanket and lounger which can be hired as part of any ticket package. Premium tickets to the Star Lounge include reserved seating on a comfy lounger, service straight to your seat and a glass of wine.
Starring: Olive Cookie (@olivecooke) and Lisa Danielle (@lisadanielle_)
Fashion: Spell Designs (@spell_byronbay)
Stylist: Marisa Sidoti (@marisasidoti)
Hair & Makeup: Amanda Reordan (@amandareardonmakeup)
Soundtrack: Mt Warning (@mtwarning)
Production: Byron Bay Cookie Company
Director/Camera/Editor: Laurence McDonald (of Byron Bay Cookie Company)
Visual Effects: Ziggy Zigouras
Colourist: Ciara Gallogly
Marisa Sidoti, Ziggy Zigouras, Ciara Gallogy, Footbridge Cafe, Harvest Deli, Harvest Resturant, Temple Retreats Byron Bay, Spell Designs and Potter for the Planet.


text: 3DS Max Archive 26 Feb 2010 6 Places to Make you a 3DS Max Professional By Semhal Nasreddin CG, Tutorials, Uncategorized 0 Comment Tweet 3DS Max is a full featured comprehensive 3D modeling, animation and rendering software used by leaders in film, video and game development. The following article provides 6 sources to learn and improve your 3D skills… Read More 07 Jan 2010 40 Outstanding 3D Wallpapers By Semhal Nasreddin CG, Freebies 2 Comments Tweet Designer Cosmin Lupsan came up with a great list of 3D wallpapers we would like to share with you. The art on these wallpapers were created with Photoshop and 3D programs such as Maya, Caligari, Blender, Shrek Software, and 3Dsmax. We hope you enjoy viewing them as much as we did… Read More

subset: commoncrawl


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Its time for the mega event, everyone was waiting for the formula one Singapore Grand Prix 2008, not because its Singapore, not because its a great track but because of the gimmick of it being a night race. After initial concerns by drivers and teams, the venue was accepted for a night race. A large number of projectors will be used to illuminate the track.
I am pretty unhappy with the organisers as they didnt approve our request for media access telling us (surprisingly) we are infringing upon copyright of another company (we had used the FIA logo in the FIA ruling article as a low resolution image like Keith does or even BBC does ,the logo was used to illustrate that the decision is made by the FIA). Since then i removed the logo and replace it with a photo of Felipe Massa and told them about fair use which is also incidentally included in Singapore IP law. Anyway, lets forget about that, we will post images from the teams whose media centre we are a part of.
The Singapore Grand Prix is on the 28th of September and the race will be a night race held in the Marina Bay Area of Singapore. A large number of projectors will illuminate the track. Will the cars also have headlights ? We were also able to find a few videos about the Singapore Grand Prix on Youtube, here they are:
1. Red Bull Racing 4th Sector : Join Mark Webber on the Singapore Street circuit. Some good info in the video, the Race will have 61 laps anticlockwise, approximately a 309 Km, the track has 6 slow turns, 4 high speed streches and 3 ideal overtaking spots. A great video from Red Bull 4th Sector which also features a flying lap with Mark Webber and Sebastien Vettel
2. Martin Whitmarsh and Mclaren Video : A funny video, Martin Whitmarsh the CEO of the McLaren formula one team is giving an interview while the team works in the background, making loud noises, dropping stuff and walking inbetween the camera and Whitmarsh. One can also see headlights on the car (but they look very un-aerodynamic to me)
3.Nico Rosberg driving the Williams car on a simulator at the Singapore Track.
Photo Under GNU License/CC SA originally by chensiyuan sourced from WikiMedia


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Ryan Saevitz
Acrylic and ink painting. Giclee on stretched canvas.
20 x 40 in. (51 x 101.6 cm.)
Acrylic, Contemporary, Ink, Painting
Painting is used to convey creative expression. Much like drawing, painting is a visual art form. Brushes, and various tools are used to apply pigment to a hard surface. Throughout history, painting has been used to describe a moment, historical record, political views, emotion and many other areas of the human condition. Paint or pigment has been mixed with oils, egg, thinner, and a variety of other less common additives to give the image qualities such as mood, integrity, depth and adhesion.
A rival to oil paint, colored pigment is held in a clear plastic solution. It provides bright, long-lasting color and has the advantage of drying more quickly than oils. Acrylic paint is also water-soluble whereas oil paints need hydrocarbon chemicals to break down. The use of acrylic paint was popularized in the 1950s and 60s by Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, David Hockney, and Robert Motherwell.
Contemporary art encompasses the art of today, produced by living artists. The art of today benefits from all the previous art movements in history as artists work in a wide array of mediums, formats, and styles, while transgressing art forms: music, architecture, video, performance art, living installations, technology.
The artwork created by Ryan Saevitz spans a spectrum of color, light and medium as diverse as his subject matter. His works are deeply entrenched in a lifestyle driven by passion. Those passions, developing since childhood, remain today. Ryan is fueled by living outdoors whenever possible, where he can best harness his boundless energy coupled […]
Subscribe to our mailing list for emails about new artists, new artwork, and what we're doing. We will not share your information.


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Subsidized Housing in a Light Industrial Zone at Quixote Village
Search code innovationsEnter a keyword to search for code innovations.
This case examines the partnership between the residents of Camp Quixote – a self-governing tent community of homeless adults – and Panza, their nonprofit support organization, Thurston County and the City of Olympia, to site a permanent supportive housing community in a light industrial zone. This required a comprehensive plan amendment and a zoning code amendment adopted by the Olympia City Council over the objections of neighboring commercial property owners, as well as a conditional use permit. On Christmas Eve, 2013 Quixote Village welcomed its previously homeless residents to their new homes, which include a 1700 sq. common house with shared facilities, and 30 individual "tiny house" 144 sq. ft. sleeping units.
Permitting Process
Quixote Village began as a protest in a downtown Olympia parking lot in February, 2007. When police threatened to break it up, the local Unitarian church offered it sanctuary on church grounds. Within a few months, the City adopted an ordinance which added a new chapter, 18.50 – Homeless Encampments to the Olympia Zoning Code. This new zone allowed a temporary homeless encampment to reside on property owned and managed by religious organizations for up to ninety days (later extended to 180 days). The residents' larger goal of developing permanent stable housing was only realized later after a lengthy public process. In response to Thurston County's donation of the land, in 2012 the Olympia City Council passed a one-time amendment to the zoning code which authorized a single "permanent homeless encampment" on County land. Thus for any future "permanent housing encampments" to be constructed, additional code amendments would have to be enacted.
After meeting all applicable City engineering, building, and fire codes, the project was finally constructed under a conditional use permit for 30 individual Tiny Cottage units and a 1700 sq. ft. shared common house in a light industrial zone.
|Code Requirement
|Compliance Path
|Individual units had to meet requirements of IRC; individual tiny homes were considered sleeping units rather than accessory dwelling units, similar to assisted living SROs because they each have individual toilets, but not kitchens.
|Olympia Municipal Code, Chapter 18.50 - Homeless Encampment
|City Council Adopted Change to Comp. Plan and Zoning Code to allow project. Subsection 18.50.A.2 County Homeless Encampment is specific language for Quixote Village specifying conditional use permit.
|Olympia Municipal Code, Chapter 18.48 - Conditional Uses
|Project had to obtain conditional use permit for siting residential units in a light-industrial zone; code was amended to allow this use
Project Description
Quixote Village is a self-governing community of previously homeless adults who have been living together in a "homeless tent encampment" since coming together in 2007 to protest a new city ordinance that prohibited sidewalk and car camping. With the help of their non-profit partner Panza and Garner Miller of MSGS Architects, Camp Quixote residents designed their village through an integrated, collaborative design process. It now provides stable permanent housing and social service support for 30 chronically homeless people in Thurston County. This unique residential development was allowed in a light-industrial zone through a code amendment rather than a site-specific rezone, so that the project could become a model of this type of innovative housing led by homeless people.
The amendment finally adopted in 2012 by the Olympia City Council was preceded by a lengthy public process which involved a) Thurston County offering up the 217-acre site for the project; b) a site specific development proposal from Panza and Camp Quixote residents; c) staff development of the zoning amendment as an alternative path to compliance; which was then d) announced to the neighborhood and discussed at public meetings and hearings; e) recommended for approval by the Planning Commission; f) considered and adopted by the City Council; g) a vigorous appeal and campaign by neighboring property owners to kill the project; h) a Growth Hearings Board decision which resulted in a second round with the Planning Commission and City Council on a comprehensive Plan amendment; and finally g) another Hearings Board decision to allow the project under the amended Comprehensive Plan and zoning code. With this amendment the City changed the definition in the code from "temporary" to "permanent homeless encampment" and "temporary use" to "conditional use" subject to a public process. Although the definition asserts "encampment," it is actually defined as permanent subsidized housing.
Each individual dwelling is equipped with a front porch, private 8x18 foot living space (144 square feet) and a personal toilet and sink - designed to meet the express personal needs of the residents. Additional shared facilities are in the Community Center common house containing laundry faculties, showers, kitchen, dining, and other facilities. To secure the Conditional Use Permit to build in the non-conforming zone, the project also needed to comply with all applicable City engineering, building, and fire codes. It was determined that the single resident occupancy SRO units would be considered sleeping units rather than accessory dwelling units, similar to assisted living SROs because they each have individual toilets, but not kitchens. They were reviewed under 2009 International Residential Code – R-3 as residential occupancies.
Design / Build Process
Quixote Village grew out of a protest held February 2007 in downtown Olympia, in response to the City of Olympia passing an ordinance prohibiting sleeping on sidewalks. No longer allowed to camp on City streets, a coalition of homeless people and their allies worked with the City Council to adopt Emergency Ordinance 6480 on July 17, 2007, allowing their temporary encampment to continue.
From the beginning, Quixote Village was intended as more than a place to live, but as a place to build community. It's a living model for creating homeless housing that meets the needs of a unique population, and to demonstrate affordability and environmental sustainability. Nevertheless, from the onset there has been significant push back from neighboring commercial property owners who fought to prevent Quixote Village from being built.
One challenge, securing a site for Quixote Village, was overcome when Thurston County agreed to lease a 2.17-acre County-owned site to Panza for $1 a year for 41 years. Part unused parking lot and undeveloped land, the surplus County property was chosen because it was served by existing city utilities, had limited impacts on adjacent properties and would be buildable at a reasonable cost. It is also close to South Puget Sound Community College, nearby employers, and public transit. It was also chosen in part because the County is the only public entity with jurisdiction over the public health issues arising from a permanent homeless encampment, such as the sanitation and food preparation issues. The County also has practical expertise in this area.
Quixote Village is operated through the non-profit organization Panza, which has a Board of local religious and community leaders. Panza was formed to support the needs of the chronically homeless residents of Camp Quixote in 2007, hosting the movable community at 5 different churches and raising the $56,000 per year needed for operations and to provide social service support before raising the $3.05 million required to build the permanent village. The successful construction of Quixote Village has been financed by a state capital budget allocation of $1.5 million from the Housing Trust Fund, along with a federal Community Development Block Grant of $604,000 that came through Thurston County, and additional funding from the County's Home Consortium, the City of Olympia, the Nisqually and Chehalis Indian Tribes, and many local individual donors.
Quixote Village has dramatically improved the standard of living of it
's 30 residents with the cultivation of an enriching, vibrant, and living community; cottage dwellings engendering privacy while simultaneously supporting a tangible community environment, e.g., showers, recreation/common areas with communal kitchen and garden. Therefore residents are free to socialize or engage in the common area enhance job seeking skills, or simply enjoy the privacy of their unit. Residents also benefit from social service support that helps them gain access to health and mental health care, disability benefits, job training and education. Residents also learn social and civic skills by participating in the Village's governance. The Resident Council meets weekly, following a communal dinner, and twice each year residents elect a five-member Executive Committee which collaborates with Panza and the Village Program Manager to ensure that rules are followed, chores get done, and new programs and initiatives are planned and carried out.
Resources and Links:
|Planning the Transformation from Camp Quixote to Quixote Village: Briefing Paper
|Camp Quixote -> Quixote Village, Article in "Homelessness" March 2014.Special Edition, Olympia Universalists Unitarian Congregation (pg. 7)
|Quixote Village Website
Cost / Benefit
There are significant cost savings from housing chronically homeless individuals, who are more frequent visitors to emergency medical services and jail than any other population – a significant cost to society. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the average savings to a municipality for providing a chronically homeless individual with permanent housing is $15,773 per year. Most importantly, Quixote Village is a sustainable legacy investment which disrupts the cycle of homelessness, incarceration, and mental decompensation; Quixote Village ultimately provides a stable and dignified living environment for people transitioning from homelessness into permanent housing. A ten year plan for Thurston County and the City of Olympia is calling for 150 new units of permanent supportive housing for the chronically homeless population. Recently, a 95 unit dwelling in Seattle was found to have saved $4,000,000 dollars in services from the first year alone. Quixote Village is a pilot project for Thurston County and the City of Olympia, one which will have a profound impact on addressing the homeless housing needs for years to come.
|Owner: Jill Severn, Panza Board President 360-753-2095
|Approving Offcial: Steve Friddle, Planning Manger City of Olympia Community Development
|Approving Offcial: Tom Hill, Building Official City of Olympia


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Ансамбль української пісні та танцю «Верховина»
Verkhovyna Ukrainian Song & Dance Ensemble
Welcome to the official website of the Verkhovyna Ukrainian Song and Dance Ensemble. As the cultural arm of the Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM) Edmonton, the ensemble has performed across Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Eastern Europe. The Verkhovyna Ensemble consists of the Dunai Ukrainian Dancers, the Verkhovyna Ukrainian Choir, and the Verkhovyna School of Ukrainian Dance.


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My Forerunner Relic scene, inspired by the Halo 3 concept art of Frank Capezzuto and realized with the Unreal Development Kit. Every asset seen in the following screenshots I created myself.
Flythrough Cinematic Video
- Video created using the Matinee cinematic system within UDK.
- The voice of the AI in charge of the relic done by me and recorded using Apple Garageband.
- The Holo Structure are the towers around the edge of the platform.
- They contain animated emissives, which allow light to move alonc the central channel (details below).
- Emissive channel of the material is set up to animate in real time. Instead of simply glowing, there's also movement of both patterns as well as brightening and darkening of how bright the emissive is.
- Areas that need to glow are sectioned off using an alpha mask, allowing for only a specific portion to be illuminated while the rest of the asset can have a different look such as metal, glass, etc.
- The above 512x512 textures are used to make up the small holograms around the base of the Central Dias asset.
- It is comprised of a red, green, blue and alpha channel with different patterns in each channel.
- By mixing and matching the two textures, a great deal of variation can be achieved. When combined with movment elements in the material shader, they can also be animated.
- Floor takes advantage of the new DirectX 11 (DX11) Image Reflection Scene Capture.
- A simple but powerful special effect, the Unreal Engine essentially takes a snapshot of assets in the immediate area in the environment where reflection is desired, then uses that image it creates from that snapshot to "fake" enviromental reflection on shiny assets.
- The inspiration for this plant taken from real life.
- Plants were created in SpeedTree, then combined with an animated emissive give them an alien, bioluminescent feel.
- The Pine trees in the level were also created via the SpeedTree Modeler packaged with UDK.


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I have been limiting some consumption lately and that brings up issues for me, and since I've got this Internet, I may as well share…
So, Internet I've been thinking about this stuff… boundaries. I spoke to L, and she's one of my dearest friends. Because I have some issues around eating, drinking, talking, sex, smoking. I enjoy a lot of the benefits and positive aspects of those things… I think a good blog post would be to outline the pros and cons of each of these for me. But not now, because that would be a distraction and this is my blog, not yours so quit being bossy.
OK, so right… L. I was bemoaning something to her as I always do. I think it was something about impulse control. There are several ways that I drink. Happy, light, social drinking and then there's a glass of wine drinking, and then there's woman on a mission I don't want to feel what I am feeling any more drinking. This last drinking concerns me and causes me pain. So, I was hung over in Orangevale, and I looked at L and asked why I do this. She gave me that, oh sweet baby look, that makes me want to curl up in her lap and have her pet my head.
"You have impulse control problems. It's because of your cult. When you were raised, you had to fast once a week. So, even if you were hungry as a little kid it didn't matter. You were told when to be hungry, and had to eat until you cleared your plate. It makes sense that you have no sense of portion control and that you use food to comfort or punish yourself. It makes sense that you developed sneaky behavior around food, since your food was so heavily moderated that you had to get what you could get when you could get it how you could get it."
I said I guess that makes sense. But that's food, what about the crap that comes out of my mouth and the drinking and smoking and everything else. I have a lot of fun, but there are certain parts of it that just aren't healthy…
Then a pure light shone from L's halo and she said unto me (maybe I'm getting a little dramatic here), "It's the same thing. A lot of times you say things to get a reaction, and sometimes you don't stop until you do. A lot of times, you drink a lot and don't stop until someone notices and says something. A lot of times, you smoke cigarettes and dare people (silently) to confront you. You weren't allowed to think your own thoughts or make your own choices. And even when you spoke up for what was right for you, you were frequently beaten down for it. So to survive you made other people's truths and stories about you, your truths and your stories about you. I think a part of your path now is to win and fail and bruise your shins and totally fuck up, to find your own boundaries and your own comfort level. I think that food, booze, smoking and all of that is just a symptom of your bigger task right now, which is to find where your emotional boundaries are. What do you need to do to keep you safe, happy and healthy in the world?"
I love L.
And I've thought a lot about it. Because in a lot of ways I have chosen people in my life who have really black and white thinking, and some with black and black thinking. I have chosen the ass-kickers and the shit-talkers because they will say something to keep me in line. Because as L says, I grew up inside out and wasn't allowed mental or emotional boundaries.
And that in my life, I have made people near and dear to me into my parents again, into my pastor again. People that should have been my lovers, my business partners, my friends have been cornered by my behavior until they have to speak up. I am so tired of that, and my new relationship is pretty terrifying for me. He's compassionate, he knows I'm in flux and he gives me space to do what I have to do as I figure out where I stand. Because a lot of times you figure out what a boundary is by stepping the hell over it and looking back and saying "ouch, maybe I should have stopped back there…"
My friend D told me that I was the most dynamic and competent fucked up person she's ever met. I responded back, I guess I am just the Strutting Wounded. But I think that we all really are. And this is what growing up and overcoming is really about. I don't want to blame, I just want to heal and also find others like me who know what I am talking about.


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Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Recruitment Application Form 2017
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Recruitment Application Form 2017
Important! Currently, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Recruitment Application Form is not yet out. However, once it is out, this page will be updated
It is advised that will potential applicants await the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Recruitment Application Form, they can learn about the requirements. In this article, I will show you every basic thing you need to know about applying for the NNPC Recruitment Application Form.
In 1988, the NNPC was commercialized into 12 strategic business units, covering the entire spectrum of oil industry operations: exploration and production, gas development, refining, distribution, petrochemicals, engineering, and commercial investments. Currently, the subsidiary companies include:
- Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC)
- The Nigerian Gas Company (NGC)
- The Products and Pipelines Marketing Company (PPMC)
- Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL)
- National Engineering and Technical Company Limited (NETCO)
- Hydrocarbon Services Nigeria Limited (HYSON)
- Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Co. Limited (WRPC)
- Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Co. Limited (KRPC)
- Port Harcourt Refining Co. Limited (PHRC)
- NNPC Retail
- Duke Oil
NNPC Recruitment Application Form 2017 – NNPC Recruitment Qualification
Before obtaining the NNPC Recruitment 2017, you need to be eligible with the following
- West African School Certificate (WASC) or National Examination Council (NECO) with credits in not less than three (3) Subjects including English Language and two (2) other Subjects, or
- Bachelor Degree (B.Sc)/Higher National Diploma and National Diploma Degree (HND/ND)
NNPC Recruitment Application Form 2017 – NNPC Recruitment Requirements
The Requirements for obtaining 2017 NNPC Recruitment Form is listed below. So if you wish to get the form, you must strictly adhere to the requirements below.
- Applicant must be a Nigerian Citizen by birth or descent
- Applicant must not be less than 30 years or more than 35 years of Age
- Applicant must not be suffering from any form of mental or physical Stress.
- Sight Problem
- Hearing Difficulties
- Fracture, Stammering or any other natural disability
See more details on the official website: nnpcgroup.com
Please share.


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"Concrete" Cream Liner/Eye Base
From the October 2015 LooksBook - "Concrete" is a longwear cream formula that can be applied with any liner brush to line the eyes, or can be applied all over the lid as a neutral, cream eye base! We paired ours with out favorite, black, cat eye look using the Luxe Longwear Eye Liner Pen!
"Perfect Size" Starlooks Cosmetics usually contain about 70% of the volume of a full-size item! Purchase two for best value!
**Swatch results vary by computer screen and skin-tone.
Ingredients: Diisostearyl Malate, Solum Diatomeae, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Triisodecyl Trimellitate, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Microcrystalline Wax, Synthetic Wax, Cera Alba, Ceresin, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Polyethylene, Dextrin Palmitate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Piroctone Olamine, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides.


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Guide to Buying Used Guitars
If you are a guitarist, you will occasionally need to replace your gear. If this isn't the case, perhaps you're interested in learning the guitar. Regardless, this can end up costing you a good deal of money unless you buy smart. In this case, you should consider two... How to Look After Your Guitar
It is no big secret that proper care of your guitar will give you a more consistent quality of sound and an extended for the guitar . If you are at alls erious about playing guitar you will want to get some accessories that are essential for the care of the guitar. A guitar player... More Advice Articles Here >>>
Guitar Scales Practice Tips
To start off this guitar scales practice tip, let me ask you a quick question. When was the last time you learnt a guitar scale to mastery? What I mean "to mastery" is this… - You can... More Tips Here >>>
How To Play Lead Guitar
Many newbies are fascinated by the way lead guitarists are blazing through a solo and keep wondering how they can do that. They just can't understand how these people figure out which notes can would sound right before playing them. The following article is aimed to show some perspective on how to learn lead guitar and begin to... [Read more of this review]How to Read Guitar Tab – Free Guitar Tablature Sites.
Guitar tab is a method of diagramming the fretboard of a guitar for the purpose of showing how songs, riffs, scales, and other musical portions are played. Guitar tab, also known as tablature, is really a method guitar players have invented for sharing music without having to learn to read music in the traditional sense. Knowing... [Read more of this review]How To Tune Electric Guitar
There are many ways to tune an electric guitar. The easiest way is with a guitar tuner, if the intonation is set properly. Tuning a guitar trains your ear to the different sounds of each note. Find a tuner that works with an electric guitar. Learn to tune your guitar with one note off a fixed source, or by ear. This will help train... [Read more of this review]How To Play An Insane Guitar Solo
What's the most insane guitar solo you've ever heard? One by Paul Gilbert? Yngwie? Eddie Van Halen? If you're going to play an insane solo like the guitar heroes, here's what you need to start getting good at. These guys didn't learn this stuff over night! Let's get that straight up front. Shredding,... [Read more of this review]More Information Here >>>
What You Should Know About Guitar Strings
Generally speaking there are two types of guitar strings that are made. Steel – used on electric and acoustic guitars Nylon – primarily used on classical and flamenco guitars Guitar strings are normally wound with either type of nickel, brass, or copper alloy. On most standard set of strings for an electric guitar, the 1st –... [Read more of this review]A Beginners Pick: Choosing the Best Guitar for Learning
So you ask, what would be the most appropriate and best type of guitar to use and prove your skills on being an artist someday? Would that be the bass or electric? The answer is within you. Try to ask yourself what suits your taste for music. Are you the moody type? An alternative type perhaps? Are you more on the jazzier side or... [Read more of this review]Advantages of Learning to Master a Guitar
Sure you can be the life of the party or someone who is really adored by music lovers or, the list goes on. You can play really good music through the strumming of your guitar. And people would scream out "Encore!" That would be really nice isn't it? Do you like the idea? Well, read very carefully as this article states some... [Read more of this review]Why You Should Take Online Guitar Lessons
Many people want to learn to play the guitar but never get to actually commit to doing it. It's a real shame because the guitar is one of the most popular musical instruments. It has a great sound and it can be used to play almost any type of song or melody, plus it's relatively easy to carry around. With all these features... [Read more of this review]More Articles Here >>>


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Q2 Wi-Fi Internet Radio with Full Motion Tip and Tilt Control in White
The Q2 Wi-Fi cube internet radio has no buttons or dials to contend with and is simplicity and style combined to produce a new unique new way to listen to the radio. Using the radio is a breeze, by tilting forward or backwards the volume can be raised or lowered.
You can even preset your top four favourite radio stations to each side of the Q2 cube and simply lay the cube on whichever side corresponds to your station of choice. With 8 hours battery life and included USB charging mains adaptor your Q2 cube will always be ready to give you high quality radio broadcasts anywhere in range of your Wi-Fi signal.
Using your home Wi-Fi network and the easy to set up software you can now listen to your favourite radio stations from all over the world that are available at the tilt of the cube.
Q2 Wi-Fi Internet Radio Cube Features:
What is Wi-Fi Internet Radio?
Internet radio has actually been around since the mid-1990's. You can listen to an internet radio station by visiting the broadcaster's website and listen in to radio station broadcasts from all around the world, and all within easy reach via your desktop or laptop computer. There is usually a link to listen to a live broadcast and sometimes a link to listen to older recorded shows and podcasts. There are now well over 10,000 stations and counting, offering content in almost all languages from all over the world, on all subjects and interests and just about all musical types, styles and genres.
While this is great if you are sitting in front of your desktop or laptop computer, it's not really convenient if you just want to check out the world of internet radio but don't want to have to switch on your computer just to listen. Well now you can with the Q2 Wi-Fi Internet Radio.
The Q2 Wi-Fi Internet Radio picks up a signal from your wireless connection which is broadcast from your wireless router. A wireless router sends out a wireless or Wi-Fi signal that you would usually use to connect your laptop to the internet without wires. So to listen to Internet Radio over Wi-Fi you will need to make sure you already have a broadband internet connection, a wireless router, and the Q2 Wi-Fi Internet Radio.
What Makes Q2 Wi-Fi Internet Radio Different?
It's not about bells & whistles it's about simplicity. Results from our research is overwhelmingly clear, that despite the fact we all have access to the many thousands of radio stations and channels to choose from online, we all gravitate to just a handful of our favourite stations in the end! Q2 Wi-Fi Internet Radio has no buttons or controls and has just 4 presets. To change a channel, just turn the Q2 cube on to one of its sides, 4 sides 4 channels. To raise or lower the volume, just tip the Q2 Radio up or tilt it down.
Q2 Wi-Fi Internet Radio Cube Box Contents:
Warranty Info
These Q2 Internet Radios are brand new, in retail boxes, 2 years warranty


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Yesterday, Sunday November 14, was a study in contrasts.
We started the morning by watching the last Formula 1 race for the year from Abu Dhabi. No one could be more surprised than I am to find that I'm a fan of Formula 1 racing. Ten years ago, when I took Bill to the race in Monaco, it was more of a gesture on my part than it was real interest. But over the years, that has changed. Now I'm familiar with the various drivers involved and even have favorites. A few years after our trip to Monaco, we managed to attend the last Indianapolis Formula 1 race here in the US. Due to a spectacular wreck in Montreal the week before, a young racer named Sebastian Vettel drove that day.
On our way back to the hotel that night we were on the bus with some of the mechanics who worked for Red Bull. They had come in pretty much dead last again, and the guys were saying that if they ever had decent cars with decent engines they'd be competitive. Boy were they right!! This year, Red Bull Racing walked off with both the constructor's championship and the driver's championship. It turns out that Sebastian Vettel at age 23, is the youngest drivers champion ever. (Unlike the other Formula 1 fans in the household, I was actually rooting for him to win.)
Once the race was over, it was time to put on my "author under glass" duds and go to Tubac, Arizona, to speak at a fundraising event to benefit Tohono O'odham Community College.
In September of 1968, my first husband had a contract to teach English and Spanish at the high school in Sells. That year I had a contract to teach English at Pueblo High School in Tucson. Over the summer, I had taken six units of Library Science at the University of Arizona. The first night of in-service meetings, my husband came home with the news that the librarian at Sells had just taken a hike. Did I want the job? And so, with that bare minimum of formal library science schooling (Cataloging and Selection of Materials), I was given a temporary librarian credential and was hired to be the school librarian at Indian Oasis Schools. (In the course of the next three years I finished my M Ed with a major in Library Science. Believe me, it was easy to ace those classes. Every time I started a new semester, I knew EXACTLY what I needed to learn from that class!)
So that's how I ended up serving as a librarian at Sells. I split my time between two different schools–the one in Sells and the one at Topawa. When Baboquivari High School broke away from Indian Oasis School, I stayed on with the elementary school level kids. I told 26 stories a week in K-6 classrooms. With the help of two different aides, Pauline Hendricks and Melissa Juan, I checked hundreds of books in and out each week.
A few weeks ago, I heard from a man who remembered me from those days. Not only did he recall some of the stories I told, he said that coming to the library and encountering the Beverly Cleary books had turned him into a lifetime reader.
Some of the stories I told were from picture books and fairy tales that came from my own Anglo background, but the stories the kids loved the most were the ones that were traditional Tohono O'odham winter-telling tales which I came to love, too.
I worked on the reservation for five years. During that time, I learned about a culture that had existed in southern Arizona for eons without my having any knowledge or appreciation of it. The people I met were kind and loving and generous. As we were leaving the reservation in 1973, Pauline, one of the aides, gave me a basket shaped like an owl. She told me at the time, "Judy, if you can't make it with your own tribe, you can always come back here."
Years after leaving the reservation, I finally got around to writing about it. In my Walker Family books, I used many of the people I met on the reservation and many of the stories I heard to create the background for those characters.
Yesterday it was time to see if what Pauline said was true. I took the Owl Basket with me and went back to give back. When I was on the reservation it was still called Papago, and there was no community college. Yesterday's event was held in Tubac at Tohono O'odham Village, a gift shop operated by the tribe. It was a big crowd with lots of Anglos in attendance, but there were plenty of the Desert People there as well. Some of them had been students when I was there. Some were the children of students.
After my presentation, a group of six Tohono O'odham young people came forward, stood in a circle, and offered a traditional blessing for the people in the audience. They sang songs in the Tohono O'odham language accompanied by nothing other than gourd rattles.
As I sat there listening, I felt the power of that blessing, but I couldn't help but be a little amazed that I was privileged to live in a world and on a day where Formula 1 was part of my morning and fry bread and traditional Native American songs were part of my afternoon.
Yes, contrast is everything.


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With the trade embargo lifted on Myanmar, Teak lumber buying is set to get very confusing very quickly with many new suppliers entering the market. It is still unclear whether this will lower the barrier to entry for those looking to get into the Teak game, but it is a safe bet that with the Myanmar government already talking about banning exports, many players will try to get into the market while they can. Previously, the serious buyer could always discount the lower quality lumber by … [Read more...]
Wood Color Changes Explained
One of the things than can be very difficult when working with wood is the range of colors you find within a single species. What makes it even more difficult is that all woods will change color throughout the process from sawmill to finished project and then years down the road. Wood like all materials fades in the sunlight, but some woods also undergo actual chemical changes that change the color. The one thing you can count on is not to get too attached to a specific color as it is bound to … [Read more...]
Teak Supply Pinch May Be Good News for Home Builders
As the log bans and export regulation changes in Myanmar continue to confuse the Teak market, there is a strong positive for home builders who use Teak that could make a lot of previously difficult-to-obtain lumber a lot easier to get. In general, the Teak industry centers around boat builders. These builders have understandably very high standards due to the dollar amount on their products and the extreme conditions that their products are subject to. To satisfy these high quality needs, … [Read more...]
The Salk Institute Teak Restoration Project
We are fortunate to get the opportunity to consult on and provide materials for a lot of cool and even historic projects. The Salk Institute in San Diego, designed by renown architect Louis Kahn in 1965, was just such a project. Kahn's creation of concrete with Teak window walls is striking but in recent years that vision has been blemished by the fungi staining and highly weathered appearance of the Teak wood. The Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) took charge of this historic restoration … [Read more...]
How to Fix the Color Streaks in Teak
Give Your Teak a Sun Tan to Correct Its Crazy Color Every wood specie will change color in the sun and especially right after it has been planed to expose fresh fibers. Teak is a real problem child when it comes to color because of all the oils and resins in the wood that makes it such a great exterior and marine wood species. In this video we break down what is actually happening that causes this dramatic color change after milling and how the sun can be your best friend to … [Read more...]
Teak Export Tax in the Works
Well its that time of year again, time for changes to the Teak market. As Myanmar nears the end of their fiscal year we expect changes to hit in the Teak market. True to form there are murmurings coming out of Myanmar about changes and while nothing is yet confirmed, it has become our custom to keep our customers up to date as the situation develops. This year we are fortunate to have our president, Gib McIlvain, actually in Myanmar talking to government officials as the policies are being … [Read more...]
Myanmar to Ban All Logging
See the latest Update at the bottom of this post The newly elected Myanmar government announced a ban on all logging activities. This includes Teak but also several other species. Our customers will likely remember several of our articles announcing a log export ban, increased export restrictions, and dramatic reductions in felling quotas since the turnover of power to the newly elected government. At this point there is not much information, and while export has not been banned, it is … [Read more...]
Change of Species Changes the Rules
All of us are at the mercy of trends. Whatever is the latest and greatest, we all have to have it. Or we have to redesign our products to embrace that trend. Since we are a large importer of genuine Burmese Teak, we understandably do a lot of business with boat builders. These boat builders almost exclusively use Teak for both exteriors and interior elements of their boats. These days we are seeing a lot more demand for different species in the cabins of boats, and this is throwing many … [Read more...]
Myanmar Import License Will Encourage Reform and Sustainability in the Timber Market
Effective July of 2014, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) has granted a license to import wood directly from the Myanmar Timber Enterprise (MTE). This license is granted solely to International Wood Products Association (IWPA) members, and J. Gibson McIlvain has been a long standing member of IWPA. The implications of this license are exciting as there has been so much confusion about the Myanmar timber (and specifically Teak) market, and now we finally have a … [Read more...]
Teak Future is Simultaneously Sunny and Cloudy
The Teak market has been all abuzz about the the trade sanctions being lifted against Myanmar. Being able to buy "genuine" Teak direct could be very good for the market. The realities we are discovering is that we are far from answers on the legalities of the lumber, concerns about quality control have been raised, and a looming log ban will essentially drop inventories to zero. The already climbing price for Teak is about to get a boost, and one has to wonder just how much higher it can go … [Read more...]


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TechnoPro LearningNurturing highly skilled professionals
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TechnoPro Learning
What is TechnoPro Learning?
TechnoPro Learning is responsible for the educational training of all TechnoPro Group employees. Regional training centers teach employees technical skills, people skills, and business skills. With over 200 training programs in place, TechnoPro Learning is able to provide employees with the high-level skills demanded by the market.
Our Training Programs
Our training programs can be broadly divided into two streams: People/Business Skills and Technical Skills. Both streams incorporate the latest information and thinking on technology and current trends, and are regularly revised and updated to ensure employees gain the practical skills used on site at clients' businesses. TechnoPro also creates and implements custom-made training programs designed according to the needs of the client.
People/Business Skills
These programs include training for new hires, and the teaching of leadership, project management, presentation, and communication skills. We also educate employees on subjects including compliance, information security, and mental health.
Technical Skills Training
These programs provide technical skills training in a number of areas including mechanical design, automotive technologies (powertrains, chassis, EV/HEV, ECU, etc.), aeronautical engineering, 3D CAD software (CATIA, NX, Creo, SolidWorks、AutoCAD, etc.), CAE analysis, electronic circuit design, IT, and chemistry.
Our Commitment to Highly Effective Training
TechnoPro Learning strives to ensure its training programs are of the highest standards of quality. We consistently assess and revise them with the aim of increasing their effectiveness, work with third-parties such as Autodesk to ensure our programs undergo the necessary review, authorization, and certification processes, and employ certified and highly skilled training instructors. We are also working to build our reputation as an authorized provider of examination test centers.
Different Ways to Learn
In addition to conducting training programs at its own training centers, TechnoPro Learning also dispatches instructors to regions across Japan, offering hands-on training for 3D CAD, programming, and web design at more than 60 facilities nationwide, and even provides correspondence and e-learning courses for those located further afield. As training centers are open on weekends, students have more flexibility in choosing when they wish to develop their skills, or practice using tools and equipment.
TechnoPro Learning Facilities
TechnoPro Learning Yokohama
Minatomirai Center Building 11F
3-6-1 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa
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TechnoPro Learning Tokai
Glass City Sakae 7F 3-11-31 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi
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TechnoPro Learning Osaka
Cuore Esaka Bldg. 9F 12-25 Hiroshibacho, Suita-shi, Osaka
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TechnoPro Learning Kyushu
Daini Hakata Kaisei Bldg. 5F 1-10-4 Hakataeki-minami, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka
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Leesville Park
Last updated Apr. 12, 2019 - 10:12 am
- Year 1990 | Acres 57.6
- View Park Status Alerts
- Wake County Library is featured on premises
- The Heritage Garden contains remnants of the yeoman farm family that lived on the property in the late 1800s/early 1900s including a family cemetery and their home's stone chimney.
- The trail is a 10-foot wide, paved asphalt, multipurpose trail that runs for 1400 linear feet.
- The trail provides an alternate route into the park, to Country Trail, and to the Leesville School Complex for pedestrians, bicyclists, and others coming from the neighborhoods south of Leesville Park.
View other playground locations
Ages 2-5
- Woodchip surface
Ages 5-12
- Woodchip surface


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Interviewed by Oksana Reznichenko
Dinneen Grably graduated from Bridgewater State University with B.S. in Business Marketing and started her career as a press attaché and assistant director in communication for the Massachusetts Secretary of State at State House in Boston. She has a unique combination of business expertise and coaching proficiency, allowing her to relate coaching to real life situations.
She is an international coach, bringing together multinational teams for better collaboration through effective communication. Dinneen holds an MBA degree from Grenoble Graduate School of Business and have more than 20 years' experience in the field of communications. At the moment Dinneen is a communication coach at The Speech Improvement Company (TSIC), headquartered in Framingham, MA. TSIC is helping people to improve their communication skills for more than 50 years.
BPMA: Dinneen, how have communication skills influenced your career and how have your perceptions of communication changed over time?
Dinneen Grably: At my first job at State House in Boston I was dealing with media and press. I had to master my skills very quickly. I had to be clear, concise and confident in my messages to the media. Over the years, throughout my career, whether I was working for public relations, marketing, communication, training, teaching at the universities here and abroad, my communication skills not only made me work better but also helped me to be promoted, get the job, clients or new contracts. Certainly, being a good communicator allowed me to take my career to the next level. My communication skills grew with me: from starting my first job to today I have consistently learned and practiced, and received feedback for improvement.
There will always be room for improvement, which is the biggest take-away from my experience. No matter how proficient you are and no matter your experience level, or job level, whether or not you are in your comfort zone, there will be always be room for improvement. I have worked with people who did not have experience in communications and had to present in front of the public, as well as with CEOs and executives with experience on the world stage and in both cases we found opportunities for improvement.
BPMA: How is technology influencing how people learn to communicate better?
Dinneen Grably: My industry [speech coaching] is exploding. The internet changed the way we communicate but it has also made communication delivery more important. Think about it — today it is very easy for somebody to send a message across by posting video online, but is the message getting across in the way it was intended? Also technology changed a lot in the way we communicate, and now it is more important to be effective and communicate the right way.
Moreover, face-to-face communication has become more difficult and I find more and more people who are not comfortable in personal communications. They cannot deliver their messages in a clear and concise manner and in the way they want to deliver. Now it is a huge issue. I believe even children in schools should learn communication and public speaking skills.
Besides helping people to communicate effectively face-to-face, we also help people to deal with phone conversations when they cannot see the body language and voice, and tone gains so much meaning. In all forms of communication, in email, text messages, you really want to stand out to be seen, to be heard, to send your message across as you want.
BPMA: How can product managers benefit from improved communication skills?
Product managers have to communicate with many different people. People from finance, marketing, operations, sales, engineers. Often they have to deal with many people in different levels of the organization. They have to know how to communicate their objectives in different situations, justify team decisions. Mastering effective communication skills will increase their credibility and allow them to persuade others in their decisions.
BPMA: How can product managers improve their communication skills?
Dinneen Grably: First of all, at The Speech Improvement Company we say everything is communication. Whether you speak by the phone with a friend, or talking to your boss, or write email it is all communication. That is what we are doing all day – communicating verbally or non-verbally.
Some questions one needs to think about: Am I tailoring the message based on the listener or audience? Am I delivering the right content? Am I providing too much or too little information? Am I articulating succinctly? Am I proactively managing, updating, and motivating stakeholders?
Becoming a better communicator means having more impact, getting more done, being better able to influence and motivate, having more confidence and being a more credible leader.
Not only that – being a better communicator will help you in your personal life. You're better able to communicate with your spouse, children, friends, neighbors, community leaders, etc. It helps you to become a better leader, a better manager, a better colleague, a better friend or spouse.
In my free time, I'm on the Board of Directors of Gifford Cat Shelter in Brighton, which is one of the oldest animal shelter in the U.S. In that role communication is essential, whether I'm speaking with our volunteers, potential donors, the community, government officials, business leaders, or potential adopters. It's very important that I get my message across in a clear, concise and confident way. One of the reasons I was asked to be on the Board is because of my communication skills. Being a good communicator has also enabled me to do more good in the world by being a part of this non-profit organization.
BPMA: On the other side, which on your opinion would be key benefits for Senior Product Managers attending this workshop?
Dinneen Grably: As I said at the beginning there is always a room for improvement. I will tell you one secret from our workshop. Communication is not about you; it's about the listener, the person or people you are communicating with. You have to really know your listener. Senior managers need to be able to communicate effectively with very junior level person, or the person who right from a college, or who is a millennial.
Another thing — in terms of generation, communication sounds very different. The way I communicate with a very senior executive would be different from the way to communicate with a millennial. So even though you are an experienced manager and communicator, are you communicating effectively with different types of people, different personalities, education levels?
There is always a room to improve and take it to the next level. For example, I am currently working with a someone who was invited to give a TED talk. Even though he is an experienced speaker we are seeking the ways to improve.
Getting back to product managers, in addition to communication with many different people, they also have to deliver different messages, such as when demonstrating a product or closing a sales deal. So there are so many scenarios and situations and you have to master communication to deliver your message in an effective way.
BPMA: Boston is one of the main technology hubs and attracts a lot of international talent. What are some of the challenges in communicating with multinational teams?
Dinneen Grably: Even though our headquarters is located here in Boston, we work with companies all over the world, and travel the globe. We deal with multi-national and cross-functional teams all the time. In today's business environment, cross-functional and diverse teams are very common. Communication is a key to get your message across to the entire team. Through your written, verbal, and non-verbal body language, you really need to know how to be clear, concise and direct, how to justify your objective. And people need to improve their listening skills when working with foreign language speakers.
This interview has been edited and condensed for space constraints.


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Word Snack HD
"Play Word Snack, the game where aliens are hungry for words and it's your job to feed them!"
For more info go to wordsnack.net
Word Snack Diner. Now Open!
Fall 2014 - Maya - Made with 34 other students over the course of one semester. My responsibilities included: modeling Stella, animating her eat action, animating Kelvin's eat action, and animating all of Spike's actions.
Choose your difficulty
"Two game modes: untimed Casual Lunch and timed Dinner Rush!"
Choose your customers!
Five unique alien customers with different tastes!
Beat your high score!
Epic score multipliers for tasty word treats!


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A role is required to plan and implement a currently under-utilised IT system for the management of staff and residents…. Read more »
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So after a pretty awful summer I am back at work busily arranging a tea dance for November and a… Read more »
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Katie is leaving us today and moving on to further her career elsewhere. Katie has been a great fun to… Read more »
It was an early start for me this morning as Richard Evans from Radio Leeds popped by to interview Wolfe… Read more »
We have had lots going on at Donisthorpe Hall this Chanukah. Residents have enjoyed a Chanukah party, a performance by… Read more »
Spent a lovely morning with Jeremy Hunt (Health Secretary) last week when he visited Donisthorpe Hall. We played bingo and… Read more »
Artlink West Yorkshire have acquired funding to undertake a 12 week project at Donisthorpe Hall, working with residents who are… Read more »
Artlink West Yorkshire – Creativity in Dementia Settings Throughout November 2014 – January 2015 Artlink West Yorkshire are delivering a… Read more »
We were so excited to be nominated for the HSJ awards. Suzy, Audrey, Phoebe & Del together with Deputy Chairman… Read more »


text: ICON Investments was founded in January 1999 in Manhattan Kansas, as an investment and commercial property management company, with the vision of providing excellent property management services while contributing to downtown's revitalization. We believe downtown Manhattan is a great place to work, live, shop, eat and be entertained! Our properties offer unique opportunities for specialized spaces within the heart of downtown Manhattan. Many of our buildings are historical and we strive to preserve their historical essence while incorporating new and fresh creative design concepts for retail, restaurant, and work spaces. Our central location provides optimal opportunities for new startup businesses as well as local and national businesses that are looking for additional prime locations. Our professional and knowledgeable staff can assist you from start to finish in finding the perfect space and location to help your business achieve success!


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Fancy a life where you hang with Richard Branson, are on the list to be one of the first 150 non-astronauts in space and have multiple fun businesses making you money and having a meaningful impact? Tune in. Yanik Silver is all about this. Mixing the divine child with ethically aggressive selling. Living your ultimate life […]
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Jack Butler interviews Yanik Silver on adventures in entrepreneurship
Jack Butler interviews Toby Storie-Pugh on the life and mindset of an explorer
Toby is a British adventurer and legend. The kind of guy who takes on beastly challenges that inspire something deep in the human spirit. The kind of guy if I ever found myself in a warzone, I would want by my side. Fortunately, the only time I have been outside with him at my side […]
Jack Butler interviews Carter Thomas on Lean Business and Meaningful Living
Listen to Jack Butler interview Carter Thomas here: Last year I took part in Catalyst Week as part of Tony Hsieh's Downtown Project in Las Vegas. Amazing group of people including one of the guys I roomed with, Carter Thomas. Carter has done some badass stuff. He's had significant 6-figure monthly earnings, has a blog with over […]
Jack Butler interviews Alex Howard on Being a Conscious Entrepreneur
For years I felt like I was either having a business or social change conversation with entrepreneurs, or a spiritual conversation with seekers. It's one of the reasons I spend time convening, coaching and advising conscious entrepreneurs – people who play in both camps: engaged in sustained inner work and effective in creating amazing […]
Jack Butler interviews Natalie Sisson on Freedom in Life and Business
Join me as I interview Natalie Sisson, aka The Suitcase Entrepreneur, who has spent the last 3.5 years living out of a suitcase whilst running a 6-figure business. She has cracked the kind of freedom and lifestyle many of us crave. And did I mention that along the way Natalie has given Tim Ferriss a […]
And then I realized freedom was in control
Some days I feel like I am being pulled in different directions in a way that I long to resolve. A sort of fussy first-world charlatan-like-less-painful-version of William Wallace at his demise. I want to have my own time, and I want high-quality people contact. I want to be unstructured so I can respond […]
Why your bucket list is screwing you over
I was writing my first 'do-this-in-my-lifetime' lists before I had ever heard the concept of a bucket list or it was popularized through the 2007 Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman film. It makes me smile how serious I was as a teenager – a note I wrote at 13 was entitled 'Getting My Life Sorted'. […]
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In all my years of doing yoga, I can't really believe that I've never done a retreat. Lately I have been craving a getaway that will not only fulfill my need for sunshine and warmth, but will nourish the mind, body, and soul as well. There are so many amazing yoga retreats available around the globe that it can be overwhelming to find just the right one for you. I have been l0oking around at various options and there's one I keep coming back to: Destination Detox at Amansala Chica in Tulum, Mexico. This amazing retreat is a five-night program designed to rejuvenate and balance from the inside out. It includes daily yoga classes, morning walks on the beach, meals consisting of fresh fruits, vegetables, and simple clean foods, spa treatments, Mayan clay treatment, body sculpting classes, raw food cooking classes and excursions to local swimming holes and Mayan ruins. I can't even imagine how amazing you must feel upon completing this retreat! I feel like doing something like this would not only be an amazing vacation but it would also be transformative in the way that you eat and take care of yourself.
Have any of you ever done an amazing yoga retreat? Let us know in the comments, we would love to check it out!
What to Pack:
Product Pictured: FP Movement Printed Yoga Mat, Printed Dolphin Short (on model), Keep Me Tee (on model), Tie Dye Turban (on model), Tie Dye FP Blanket, Fishnet Racer Back Bra, Foldover Frill Legging, Solid Low Back Top, Knotted Fringe Bandeau, Large Friendship Bracelet, Ryan Sandal, Small Dream Catcher, Cobra Yoga Bag.
More travel inspiration and yoga from the BLDG 25 Blog!


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You need a beneficiary for your life insurance policy. Yes, it can be an institution like a museum or a school, but most times your life insurance beneficiary will be another person.
This makes sense. After all, the whole point of life insurance is to provide financial support, and usually this will be a loved one – family member, close friend, cat, etc.
But what if you're leaving money to…
(Cue thunder and lightning)
...Your murderer?
What's the critical component of any crime? Motive. There can be hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line when it comes to life insurance, and we've all seen more than one true crime show about a husband or mistress dying, and oh look someone just happened to be the beneficiary of a million dollars. In a fishy-smelling situation, the beneficiary is always the main suspect.
Life insurance beneficiaries are a critical part of any policy and something you should choose wisely. So here are three surefire ways to tell if your beneficiary is trying to murder you and benefit from the death benefit.
They take out a huge life insurance policy on you
"Wait," you think. "Someone else can't take out a life insurance policy on me!"
Unfortunately, they can. And to make matters worse, it isn't even a surefire way to tell that they're going to murder you.
There are a lot of legitimate reasons why someone might take out a life insurance policy on you. They have to prove that they have an "insurable interest" – that is, your death would impact them in a way that life insurance would mitigate – but that covers a lot of people:
Business partners. Say you're in business with someone. Whether it's just the two of you, or you both play a vital role in a small-but-growing company, your death would probably affect the company. Your business partner can take out a policy on you to ensure that there's enough cash to cover a transition period as the business adjusts.
Adult children. If you're a grown child and your parents co-signed your student loans, they may take out a life insurance policy on you so they can cover that debt since it would transfer to them if you died. Life insurance can help financially provide for children if a parent dies, but sometimes the parent needs that protection.
Siblings. Do you take care of elderly and/or sick parents with your siblings? If one of you died, would the other be able to continue doing so alone? Without a sibling's support, the survivor might need to transfer your parent to a facility or hire someone to help take care of them, and an insurance benefit could help shoulder the burden.
Partners. Probably the most common reason why someone would take a life insurance policy out on you: that "someone" is your partner, and they're taking out a policy to protect your family. Whether you're the sole breadwinner or a stay-at-home spouse who keeps up with the kids, your partner has an insurable interest.
So that's it, right? Every business partner, parent, sibling, and spouse is a murderer-in-waiting?
Of course not. Are they probably a murderer-in-waiting? Sure. But rather than be suspicious of everyone (that can be time consuming), keep a couple of things in mind.
First, even though other people can take a life insurance policy out on you, you still have to sign the forms. So don't consent unless you truly trust the person and they actually have insurable interest.
Second, take a look at how much the policy is worth. Calculate the life insurance need of the policyholder by looking at debt, expenses, and future plans. Since the policyholder should be someone whose life you're fairly involved in, it shouldn't be hard to at least ballpark this number. Then, compare the policy value with the insurance need. Is someone who needs $250,000 asking for a million dollars in coverage?
If so, find your panic room before there's a new Lifetime movie about you.
If not, you just might be okay.
Their internet search history is full of "slayer rule" lookups
When you hear "slayer rule," do you think of this?
If so, great! That means we're about to teach you something.
The slayer rule "prohibits inheritance by a person who murders someone from whom he or she stands to inherit." That means that if your adoring husband stands to profit from your death, he's out of luck if he decides to murder you (and is caught, obviously).
There are some interesting caveats, though. For example, the slayer rule is an aspect of civil law, so there only needs to be a preponderance of the evidence. For the slayer rule to take effect, there doesn't need to be proof beyond reasonable doubt or even a conviction. There are also different rules for different states; in Texas, there isn't a slayer rule that's as broad as in other states, but a person still can't stand to inherit from their victim.
So check out your suspect's browser history and see if they've been doing a lot of googling for slayer rules, and the applicable conditions in different states. If they're a little too concerned about whether or not a murderer can receive money from their victim, they're out to kill you (or they're writing an informative-but-educational blog post on the topic).
They've already killed off your other beneficiaries
Did you know that you can have more than one beneficiary on your life insurance policy?
I know: even more people you need to watch out for. But, on the bright side, if other beneficiaries start to die, it could serve as an early warning sign.
You can set up multiple primary or contingent beneficiaries in a few ways. You can name multiple beneficiaries with an equal stake in your death; four beneficiaries get 25% of the death benefit each. If one dies, they each get 33%, and so on, until only one remains (also known as the Highlander rule). This gives you ample time to realize something is up.
Or you can set up a primary beneficiary with secondary beneficiaries also named in the policy. The primary beneficiary gets the entire death benefit, but if they die, the benefit is split amongst the secondary beneficiaries. This puts a big target on your primary beneficiary's back, and it probably wouldn't be a bad idea for them to read this article, too.
You can also distribute the death benefit per stirpes, or by branch. That means your son and daughter get 50/50 stakes in the death benefit; if your son dies, his piece of the pie is split equally between his two kids, and so on. This is what starts all of the family killing drama in Game of Thrones (it's not).
If you have multiple beneficiaries who are dying under mysterious circumstances, look at any beneficiaries who are still alive. They could be working their way through their rivals like a video game character making their way to the final boss: you.
Other obvious signs your beneficiary is trying to kill you
Okay, we've gone through the telltale life insurance-related hints, but there could be other clues that someone is trying to murder you. And since we're all about reducing the risks in life here at PolicyGenius, here are a few other ways you might be able to tell if you're in someone's crosshairs.
They think you/they are on a game show
Game shows can be weird. Take Sokkuri Sweets, where contestants bite into everyday objects to find out if they're really made out of candy, because why not.
So, is it really that far fetched to think that you might "accidentally" get sprayed with a weapons-grade nerve gas under the guise of being on a game show? If someone tells you they're on a game show, or they tell you you're a contestant on a game show and you should just go along with it, run. Unless you see Ashton Kutcher hanging around (and then, only if you've also seen news stories about Punk'd being revived for some reason).
They invite you to a dinner party, a la Clue
Dinner parties are a fun way to connect with old friends and make new ones. Some dinner parties are themed, like these thousand that I found on Pinterest after a single search. Then there are classics, like murder mystery dinner parties.
The hints that your normal dinner party is actually a murderous dinner party include being invited by someone you don't know, receiving a pseudonym to protect your true identity, being blackmailed by your host, and being given weapons in the form of candlesticks, lead pipes, and revolvers.
Note: It's important to distinguish murder mystery parties from regular dinner parties, lest you become a shut-in with no human interaction.
They seem to be taking notes during horror movies
Everyone can appreciate a classic horror movie. Who doesn't like to see Michael Myers standing in the shadows, or that little girl from The Ring crawl out of the TV and ruin the carpeting with all of the water she brings with her?
But if you're watching a horror movie with someone you're suspicious of, maybe take a few minutes to watch them instead. Do they seem too intent on mimicking the antagonist? Are they asking to rewind certain parts and scribbling notes? Do they keep asking you what room you'd mostly likely lock yourself in for safety, or if you know where the circuit breaker is – you know, just in case the lights happened to go out?
Think your life insurance beneficiary is going to murder you? The good news is you can update your policy at any time to add or remove beneficiaries. In fact, it's a good idea to sit down every year or two or when you have big life changes like when you get married, your kids have kids, or you've dispatched a former beneficiary who showed their hand too soon. It's as simple as calling up your insurer.
Sure, a life insurance policy can put a target on your back. But for sociopath-free families it's a critical piece of financial protection—well worth the risk. Visit our learning center for everything you need to know about finding a policy that's right for you (and your sound-minded beneficiaries).
Image: Robert Engmann