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Here are some links about traveling with prescription medication to Italy and beyond:
- How to Travel With Prescription Medicine – Jacqui Lane, Demand Media – Source: Found in Travel Tips subsection of the TRAVEL section of the USATODAY – "Latest World News and US News"
- How to Travel With Prescription Medication – "Just because you are traveling and going away from your regular routine, doesn't mean that taking your prescription medication gets put on the back burner. If you are traveling and will have prescription medicine with you, here's how to travel with your medications safely." – by an eHow Contributor – Source: eHow™ – "Discover the expert in you"
- How to Carry Prescription Medicine on Airplane Flights – "With the new, post-9/11 security restrictions, it can be hard to determine what you are allowed to carry on-board an airplane, and the last thing you want is a delay because of a non-permitted item in your carry-on. Luckily, it is allowable to carry on most prescription medication on airplane flights, but it is wise to familiarize yourself with the process before you fly." – By Carrie Simmons, eHow Contributor
- How to Pack Prescription Medication for a Trip – "Medication can mean the difference between life and death, so it must be available to travelers at any moment. With all the laws on the books concerning what is admissible and what is not, it is essential to know the difference. Traveling by bus, train, car or air all have different options for your medication. Airlines have the most stringent rules. If you follow the airline plan you should have no trouble with the bus or train." – By Delores Williams, eHow Contributor
- Italy Travel Tip- Buying Medications in Italy – "Packing Prescription Drugs and Going to the Pharmacy" – By Martha Bakerjian – Source: Found under the Italy Travel and Safety Tips within the Plan Your Italy Trip - Italy Travel Planning Guide subsection of the Italy Travel section of About.com
- Travel Packing Medications – "Packing Prescription (Rx), Over the Counter (OTC) medicines" – Source: Found in the Travel Tips section of Snapshotjourneys.com – "where in the world do you want to go?"
- Travelling with prescription medications – "Travel Doctor-TMVC gets countless enquiries about taking medicines overseas and international customs regulations. In many cases such medicines are essential for an individual's health and the ultimate success of their holiday or business trip. Issues surrounding taking prescription medicines overseas can cause a great deal of stress for travellers, especially elderly travellers, who often have pre-exiting health conditions and increased health concerns. This should not be a barrier to travel if you follow a few simple rules: . . ." – Source: Travel Doctor-TMVC – "Traveller's Medical + Vaccination Centre"
- X – "" – Source: X – ""
- 10 OTC pharmacy/medicine equivalents in Italy – 18 FEB 2012 – blogger: Shelley Ruelle – Source: Un'americana a Roma – "not your average American girl in Rome."
- Travel Packing Medications – "Packing Prescription (Rx), Over the Counter (OTC) medicines" – Source: Found in the Travel Tips section of Snapshotjourneys.com – "where in the world do you want to go?"
- Travelling with prescription medicines – "If you are planning a trip overseas, organising your medicine is one of the most important things you can do. If you require prescription medicine, it is important you have this medicine with you so you remain in good health while you are away. . . It is illegal to take Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medicines out of Australia unless the medicine is for your personal use, or the personal use of someone travelling with you. . ." – Source: smartraveller.gov.au – "Every traveller, every trip" – within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – "Advancing the interests of Australia and Australians internationally"
- Travelling with Medication – "Prescription medications for legitimate health conditions may come under intense scrutiny by foreign officials. In some countries, drugs that are legal and readily available in Canada are considered illegal, require a prescription, or may arouse suspicion among local officials and customs and immigration authorities. It is always best to contact the Foreign Government Offices Accredited to Canada of the country you plan to visit to confirm the status of your medication." – Source: Travel.gc.ca – "the Government of Canada's website for Canadians travelling or living abroad" – In English, French
- Can I take my medicine abroad? – "You need to check what rules apply to taking your medicine . . ." – Source: NHS choices – "Your health, your choices"
- Travelling with medicines (Travel Health Information Sheets) – "If you need to take medicines abroad, remember that some drugs that are legal in the UK could be banned in other countries. For example - codeine-based medicines can currently be bought from UK chemists, but are prohibited in other countries." – Source: NaTHNaC (National Travel Health Network and Centre) – "promotes standards in travel medicine, providing travel health information for health professionals and the public."
- Bringing Medications or Filling Prescriptions Abroad – "" – Source: Found in the Tips for Traveling Abroad subsection within the International Travel section of Travel.State.Gov – "A SERVICE OF THE BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS" – of the U.S. Department of State – "Diplomacy in Action"
- Pack Smart – "" – Source: TRAVELERS' HEALTH – "TRAVEL SAFE. TRAVEL SMART." section of CDC AKA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- medicine into/out of Italy – Started by: rinnylynn – On: 04-10-2010, 09:25 PM – Source: Found in the Forum section of the IndependentTraveler.com – "Real Travelers. Practical Advice."
- X – "" – Source: X – ""
- 10 Things to Do in the First 24 Hours of Your Trip – Source: Found in the Travel Tips section of the IndependentTraveler.com – "Real Travelers. Practical Advice."
- Country Restrictions – "Although we try to keep up with changing customs requirements around the world, please note that the following list may contain outdated and/or incorrect information and should only be used as general guideline. We recommend contacting your local customs office in order to get the latest requirements for your specific country." – Source: InternationalPharmacy.com – "Your trusted source of high-quality medicine from the USA since 1994" – In multiple languages
- Medicines & Chemists – "How to get medication in Italy" – Source: Found in the Italy section of Just Landed – "Everything you need to live abroad - connecting expats worldwide." – In multiple languages
- TSA Carry on Rules for Prescription Drugs – "The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is the government agency in control of implementing and enforcing security measures for airlines and airports, including what items are allowed to be carried or checked onto a flight. With the restriction in liquids allowed to be carried on, implemented in August 2006, it can be confusing what are you are are not allowed to bring with you. These rules are implemented to ensure the safety of all passengers." – By Alexis Devan, eHow Contributor – Source: eHow™ – "Discover the expert in you"
- X – "" – Source: X – ""
- Info about health or medical information for travelers to Italy *, dated, Wednesday, June 08, 2011
- Info on Travelers' Health in Italy and Europe *, dated, Friday, December 02, 2005
For your specific interest, please search the web for further information using .
The above links as of this date are/were current. If anyone has any suggestions for any other additional web sites and/or links for reference, please feel free to post your comment and I'll update this blog entry.
Please note: If you want me to reply to your comment or
NOTE: If you want to leave a comment, please leave it in ENGLISH.
Broken links: Since November, 2005, I have written over 450+ blog entries with 1,000's of corresponding links/URLs for Moving2Italy2, covering a varied and wide range of topics. In the event if you come across a broken link or a non-functioning link/URL, please post a comment and report the non-functional link. I wish to thank you in advance for assisting me in the ongoing maintenance and the updating of this successful and informative blog.
Please note: I do NOT represent or endorse any of these links nor do I receive payment for listing them in my blog.
That's it for Sunday, 15 September 2013: domenica, 15 settembre 2013
Ciao, Ben
Moving2Italy2 – #1 source of links About, For or On Italy for those individuals moving, traveling or already living in Italy.
Today's quote is an Italian proverb, author unknown.
"Vivi Bene, Ama Molto, Ridi Spesso."
"Live Well, Love Much, Laugh Often."
When you have a free moment or two, please read my wife's interesting and entertaining blog about our life in Italy with photographs: Friends and Family in Italy
Going to Spain, read my new blog:Info About, For or On Spain – a source of links About, For or On Spain for those individuals traveling or already living in Spain.
Please note: The time listed below for this posting is Central European Time (CET)/ GMT+1.
© Benjamin H. Licodo, 2005 - 2016, All Rights Reserved.


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Where's the Queen?
I went to see the Queen's parade with my friends yesterday, and oh, it was surely one of the highlights of my stay in the UK!
If you have a thing for uniforms, these are for you :)
We were handed mirrored telescope-ish thing on the street (like the one in the right photo), and because I'm short it saved me from looking at only people's heads. Well, sort of. I still couldn't see a thing when the Queen's carriage passed by.
But here, here… can you spot her?
Yessssss!!!!!! The Queen!!!!
Very blurred, I know, but I was standing on my toes and was holding the camera with my arms reached high, as high as I could. Because my view was blocked by a sea of heads, I just took photos following the direction of other people's cameras :)
So now, sadly the party is over – we have to wait 51 more days before another big party begins…

subset: commoncrawl


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Grey Matter Academic Showcase
Netop Vision
Netop Vision 8 classroom management software makes teaching with computers easier and more effective. A software solution with a rich variety of tools that open the door on what you can do in your classroom, giving you a range of creative ways to engage your students and help them succeed.
New Features
What's new in Netop Vision 8:
- Support for student iPads and other web-enabled devices - In addition to the Windows-based student module, the Vision teacher module is now also capable of including browser-based student devices in a classroom. No installation is required and it runs from any web enabled device (PC, Mac, tablet or smartphone) that has a browser and a network connection.
- Enhanced screen-sharing quality - When teachers are sharing their screen with students, Vision and Vision Pro now both use hardware acceleration mode (also known as 'high-grade screen sharing'). This mode was previously exclusive to Vision Pro but from version 8 both editions will benefit from the optimum screen sharing capabilities.
- Enhanced Vision@Hand - The free add-on, Vision@Hand, now displays thumbnails of the student computer screens. This makes commands like Showcase Student more usable since teachers can see all student screens regardless of where they are in the classroom; teachers can even see the student screens outside of the classroom as long as they have an open connection to their Vision teacher computer.


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Embed | Podcast Download|
Suppose that we no longer thought and talked in terms of justice but only in terms of love, charity, responsibility, rational action, and the like. What difference would that make? What would be lost? And why is that important?
Join us as we explore these questions. Nicholas Wolterstorff will deliver a lecture, followed by responses from Helga Varden and Walter Feinberg (absent, remarks delivered by moderator). Cliff Christians will moderate dialogue and Q&A.


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via contemporist.com
Danish designer Tom Rossau has sent Contemporist process photos of him making one of his ST 903 lamps.
Tom works mainly with natural wood veneers to create his contemporary sculptural lamps. All of his pieces are handbuilt in Denmark.
If, like Paul, you are fascinated by the process of craft, then you'll enjoy this.


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Belly Tanker For Sale
Looking for a trailer that guarantees efficiency and durability with a focus on versatility? With a belly tanker, you can carry liquid goods as well as general freight or pallet products. That makes your trailer twice as valuable. Browse online at findmyequipment.com.au for our full range of new and used belly tankers for sale, available in a variety of different configurations to suit your needs.
$2,000Stock number: FME-2483Sub Type: Belly TankerStock Ref# 2483 - 1980 Homemade pig trailer with wheat bin. Single axle, spring suspension. Vendor A


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Browse Real Weddings
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SC - Charleston / Myrtle Beach • TN - Nashville • GA - Savannah
Named a top planner by Vogue and Harper's Bazaar as well as one of the best planners in the country by Martha Stewart Weddings, Calder Clark has garnered a devoted following for her exquisite weddings and flawless logistics. Calder infuses events with her trademark Southern flair and warmth, developing a sensory experience by layering lush florals, nuanced colors, dressmaker details, and ambient lighting throughout her parties.
Nearly two decades of event design have established Clark and her firm as classicists. "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should", she says. "A curator's approach, an editor's eye, and a near-reverence for refinement are the hallmarks of great design." The best parties are intricate behind the scenes, but effortless in their rollout: " . . . leaving guests to wonder just how such a night came to be."
From offices in Charleston, South Carolina and Raleigh, North Carolina, the Calder Clark team plans a limited annual number of exclusive destination affairs on both a domestic and international level. Her work has been featured in numerous publications such as Veranda, Coastal Living, Town & Country, Elle Decor, and Southern Living. She is a regular contributor to Flower Magazine and Real Simple, as well as a national speaker and mentor.
At home in Charleston, Calder loves spending time with her husband and two babies, playing tennis, eating way too much ice cream, and re-learning the piano.


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Book reviews are posted every few weeks on Tuesdays. I tend to read books about urban planning, the built environment, demographics, sociology, cultural anthropology, and the environment. They are not always new books, but a good book will not be dated and will keep coming up when discussing current issues. Click on the "Book Review" tab to see all reviews.
Too Much Magic: Wishful Thinking, Technology, and the Fate of the Nation by James Howard Kunstler
If you've never read Kunstler, you have to prepare to feel powerless, discouraged, offended (and you have to go back and read The Geography of Nowhere). But, you can also expect to be entertained, enlightened, and downright dazzled at his writing talent. He looks at how we are unprepared for a future that could include less or no access to fossil fuels, meaning a crumbling of our house of cards built on cheap energy and dependent, endless electricity.
Seriously, if you read only one chapter this year, it should be "Farewell to the Drive-in Utopia", where Kunstler rips the suburban lifestyle to shreds. I admit, I don't want to be or try to be, but I'm kind of an urban/charming college town snob (if you couldn't tell already). I had a perfectly happy childhood growing up in the suburbs, I love getting "suburb food," as I lovingly refer to Chili's, every once in a while, and I completely understand and agree with reasons people live in the suburbs (this being really the only realistic choice for the vast majority of people). It's not a judgement. But I've seen first hand the real damage that a life of commuting and being car-dependent can do, and these effects have of course become painfully obvious as major problems (traffic congestion, obesity, social isolation, etc).
This sort of thinking may seem doomsday or overly negative until you really look at inhumane infrastructure-highways, lack of sidewalks, huge parking lots-especially side by side with walkable urban spaces. I feel anxious when I'm in a neighborhood where you literally have to get in your car to do anything, sort of a reverse claustrophobia. Meant for freedom, as Jeff Speck says in Walkable City, the slave has become the master. We have taken away all other transportation choices in the vast majority of the country and isolated ourselves in places where you have to get in the car to pick up a gallon of milk.
Although not as enthralling to me (as a total Luddite who held on my to taped-together Discman well into the iPod age), Kuntsler also goes into the dangers of relying on technology, especially when he has doubts about how long access to the internet will be around.
As a cautious pragmatist, I tend to look on the bright side of things, and see the potential in retrofitting our suburbs and finding alternate energy sources. I see everything from a designer's perspective, where the world is just a design problem to be solved. Maybe I'm just in blissful ignorance and would like to stay there, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy my trip down Doomsday Lane reading this book.


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The first Apprenticeship Scheme has been a success!
2013 saw SS Tube Technology's first ever apprenticeship scheme run and the two candidates; Alex and Cain have almost completed their first year and they have not only learnt new skills and knowledge but they have also been a great asset to the company as they have both contributed greatly in the production output.
Alex commented: "The apprenticeship scheme has been a very rewarding process so far, I've been learning a wide range of skills from an experienced and helpful workforce. They are all willing to help when needed so you never feel left in the dark about anything with an overall professional atmosphere and approach."
Cain commented: "I'm glad I took this apprenticeship as I have learnt how to machine efficiently and to an extremely high standard. This is very important as it is such a big part in all engineering sectors."
The SS Tube Technology apprenticeship scheme will also provide great opportunities after they complete their two year course at college. Further training and qualifications will be available to help progress the apprentices career path for the future.
Due to the success of the scheme, SS Tube Technology are planning to continue to work with the local Abingdon and Witney College and take on a further two apprentices to start this September 2014.


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Singapore Announces 2015 Holiday Schedule
SINGAPORE – The Ministry of Manpower has released their calendar of holidays in Singapore for the 2015 calendar year.
SINGAPORE – The Ministry of Manpower has released their calendar of holidays in Singapore for the 2015 calendar year.
The Robert Walters Asia Job Index reported a significant increase in job advertisements for professional positions last quarter.
One of the world's largest professional recruitment consultancies, Robert Walters publishes its Job Index quarterly to provide employers with a barometer of business confidence and the demand for skilled candidates across Asia. The Index is produced by tracking the number of job advertisements posted daily in key newspapers and on leading online job boards based in Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and China.
HANOI – The Vietnamese government has recently released a new Circular on the procedures a foreign worker must adhere to in order to be considered for a work permit. Circular 03/2014 tightens the regulations for foreign workers seeking to come to Vietnam.
The Circular will take effect on March 10, 2014 and is intended to help guide the implementation of the proposed Government Decree 102/2013.
The administration of social insurance can be a complicated and confusing process for employers with operations in multiple countries. In this article, we explore social insurance in Hong Kong, India and Singapore to help clarify the key components of compliance across Asia. Social insurance compliance in mainland China is covered here and Vietnam's social insurance is covered here.
Op-Ed Commentary: Adam Livermore, Dezan Shira & Associates
For several years now, multinational companies with operations in one or more Asian countries have begun transitioning to an outsourced model for handling their payroll and HR administration. Already well-entrenched in the U.S. and UK, the accelerating trend towards outsourcing payroll processing is unlikely to reverse due to the huge efficiency and savings it brings. In Asia, however, the cost-benefit of outsourcing is significantly less clear-cut.
HONG KONG – From February 5, officials and diplomats from the Philippines visiting Hong Kong will not be able to enjoy the 14 day visa-free exemption they currently do, Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying told a press conference yesterday. The move is in response by Hong Kong to a tragedy in Manila over three years ago, when eight Hong Kong tourists were killed and seven others injured in a hostage situation that lasted over 10 hours. The Philippines' President Benigno Aquino III has consistently refused to make an official apology for what he sees as the actions of a lone gunman, leading to tension between Hong Kong and the Philippines.
In August 2010, after senior police inspector Rolando Mendoza had been dismissed from the Manila Police District, he boarded a tourist bus armed with an assault rifle, in an attempt to get reinstated. The rescue attempt lasted over an hour, and ended after Mendoza was shot and killed. Hong Kong has alleged that it was the poor handling of the incident by the Philippines' officials that led to the victims' deaths. The Hong Kong government placed a black travel advisory warning (the highest warning level) on the Philippines, cautioning Hong Kong residents that the country posed a "severe threat" and advising that all travel be avoided.
SHANGHAI – When determining which type of model is most appropriate for managing payroll across multiple countries, employers should take into account the advantages and shortcomings of the three most commonly utilized models.
The first, a country-by-country model, entails contracting vendors locally in each country. The second, a managed model, entails contracting a single vendor (integrated service provider) who subsequently sub-contracts the actual processing on a country-by-country basis. Finally, integrated models entail contracting one vendor able to provide payroll services via vendor employees in each country of operation, reporting through a single-point-of-contact methodology rather than sub-contracting payroll duties to other firms.
DALIAN – The new issue of Asia Briefing Magazine, title Payroll Processing Across Asia, is out now and will be temporarily available as a complimentary PDF download on the Asia Briefing Bookstore throughout the months of January and February.
Collecting tax revenue and administering social insurance are two of the most fundamental roles of government. When establishing or operating a business in Asia, companies must take special care to comply with regulations concerning taxes deducted at the source of employee payroll (withholding tax) and mandatory contributions to social insurance programs.
As you might expect in a region comprising so much diversity and complexity, the systems utilized by governments in places like China and Vietnam (countries with large populations and with a communist background) are substantially different than those in places like Hong Kong and Singapore – small jurisdictions with a distinctly capitalist outlook. India, a populous emerging nation with a democratic system of government, provides an interesting contrast in terms of how it taxes and supports its citizens.
Dec. 4 – The government last week passed a new decree that will increase minimum wages throughout Vietnam as of December 31, 2013, which will be effective for enterprises, co-operatives, household businesses, foreign companies and international organizations operating in the country.
Replacing Decree 103/2012/ND-CP, the new Decree 182 will implement increases of up to VND2.7 million (US$130) in Vietnam's four different geographic regions categorized on the basis of living standards.
Sept. 12 – The new issue of Asia Briefing Magazine, titled Work Visa and Permit Procedures Across Asia, is out now and will be temporarily available as a complimentary PDF download on the Asia Briefing Bookstore throughout the months of September and October.
Demand for skilled foreign nationals remains high across Asia, but when conducting business as a foreign national in a foreign country, it is important to be aware of the regulations governing foreign executives' stay abroad. Employers with a physical presence in these markets must also understand the proper procedures for sponsoring a foreign worker.
The necessary documents required for a foreign national working in Asia vary country to country, but typically include a specific work visa, a work permit, and/or a residence permit. However, short-term visits for purposes of due diligence, quality control, or trade fairs, for example, may be covered through the issuance of business visas.
Subscribe to gain even better insights into doing business in Asia. Subscribing also lets you to take full advantage of all our website features including customizable searches, favorite, wish list and gift functions and access to otherwise restricted content.


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As most of El Salvador recognized the Day of the Dead holiday Wednesday, more rains fell in Santa Ana. According to measurements at the mill, roughly 19 mm of rain fell throughout Wednesday afternoon and early evening; adding to the meter and a half that fell in weeks past.
Judging by this report, we expect to see, once again, some of the effects of the rains on the beans at the farms, swelling to the ripe beans, and many underripes, as they are more likely to fall from trees, having absorbed much of the rain, although we don't anticipate any serious damage to the plantations within the area.
So far, the report for Thursday is sun with few clouds; let's home the predicted rains hold off for tonight.


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- This event has passed.
Dharma Colleges Presents: CoWorking with Wisdom – Mindful Flow Yoga
November 14 @ 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Dharma Colleges offers Mindful Flow yoga
Every Thursday from 12:30-1:30 PM
Julie teaches slow, deep yoga se uences with the goal of integrating
body, mind and heart and invites students to move with joy and ease.
Attention is paid to breathing and healthy alignment. Interweaving
wisdom teachings, her style is welcoming, playful and eclectic. all
levels. welcome!
With Julie Rappaport
Julie has over two decades of teaching experience and has studied and trained in the U.S.
and India with leading yoga teachers and mentors in the Krishnamacharya yoga lineages,
including Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois, T.K.V. Desikachar and Dharma Mittra. She's in luenced by
the intuitive teachings of Angela Farmer and The Heart of Yoga of Mark Whitwell. She
has a private practice in Somatic Experiencing (SEP) psychotherapy (MTF) and yoga.
Drop-in suggested donation $10-$20. 5 class package is $70
For those on limited income, please contact instructor


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If you can believe it, that was Old Town Suds' first booth space ever. We've come a long way since our borrowed card table and dining table tablecloth that was a wedding gift. I like looking back because you can learn a lot from your first booth space.
- You know you have the guts to get out there and put your wares on display. It takes a LOT of guts to open yourself up to the people in your community.
- You begin to learn what works and what doesn't for your products. Pretty soon, I was expanding to 6' long tables and maxing out the capacity of our old sedan.
- You start seeing your product and space from a buyer's perspective. For me, this was the hardest step to fully understand. It takes time to find the right display pieces and the ones that fit your brand. Many, many, many trips to Home Goods later, I finally have a nice stock of display pieces that I can use - regardless of my booth space or size.
There is one thing that has never changed from my booth setup.
I bet you are surprised to read that. Take a look at the photo again.
Any quick guesses to what hasn't changed?
It's my newsletter signup sheet. That clipboard and it's army of card stock collects names and contact information at every event we do. It has never changed (except for the few times I try to use my iPad to collect signups).


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Each opportunity to share my heart and passion for life is something I cherish. My love for humanity and dedication to our collective awakening comes through every time I take the stage or pulpit.
In my talks, inspiration and possibility partner with a straightforward press into apathy. Whatever the topic or group, I seek to engage through a mixture of presence, principle and practice. I also believe strongly in the power of vulnerability and radical honesty, as well as laughter and occasional tears.
My objective is that together we awaken, evolve and thrive!
Pairing one of my talks with a half or full day workshop is a mixture of rich proportions and depth. If you are interested in having me speak and/or facilitate at your center, conference or event, please inquire at firstname.lastname@example.com. I look forward to our adventure together!
Click here for upcoming speaking engagements.
Please enjoy the videos of recent speaking engagements below:
Om Center for Spiritual Living
Fast forward to 55:40 in this Facebook Live event to hear Stef's talk, "Agreeing With God," at Om Center for Spiritual Living in La Mesa, California, on March 10, 2019:
Foothills Center for Spiritual Living
"I asked Stef to come to Oklahoma to give a Sunday talk because I knew she would bring her authentic genuine self. I am SO glad I did! ALL were lifted by the experience of being in her presence, especially me."
Rev. Dr. SuZ Ogden
United Life Spiritual Center
Oklahoma City, OK
"I participated in a practitioner retreat facilitated by Stef. It was a fabulous day filled with humor, insights, and great love as Stef led those present through deep wisdom exercises to more fully realize the unique expression of Spirit that is each of us. Stef is a limitles light of pure love shining joyfully in all she does."
-Nancy B, Practitioner
Grants Pass Center for Spiritual Living
Grants Pass, OR


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Seeking shoes? Seeking great prizes? Seeking something to seek?
Barefoot Tess teamed up with fabulous shoe-loving blogs, sites, and friends to create an incredible Shoe Seek 2009 scavenger hunt contest for a whole grand prize package full of wonderful prizes! It is almost too good to be true, too amazing to believe, too incredible to fathom… except it really does exist.
What can you win? What can't you win? Here is what the grand prize package includes:
-$250 shopping spree to BarefootTess.com!
-$50 Nordstrom gift certificate (courtesy of TallClothingMall.com)!
-A vintage porcelain heart brooch (courtesy of IPlayFavorites Blogger Joy D)!
-A signed copy of 'The Budget Fashionista' Kathryn Finney's first book "How to Be a Budget Fashionista"
-Shoe Seek winner feature blog/article and picture on the following fabulous shoe-loving sites: BarefootTess.com, Blogging Barefoot Blog, TallWomen.org, Fashion Fille's blog, YourFeetMakeYouUnique blog, and ShoeTube!
Check out all the details and information on the Shoe Seek site – and register for your chance to win all these incredible prizes!


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Visual Boost is a journal packed with artwork ranging from design, illustration, photography, experimental, 3D, web & mobile, typography, color theory, and many other forms of amazing work from artists across the globe.
everydays - october 2015: Daily Artwork by Beeple
Beeple is Mike Winkelmann.
A graphic designer from Appleton, Wisconsin, USA. His short films have screened at onedotzero, Prix Ars Electronica, the Sydney Biennale, Ann Arbor Film Festival and many others. He has also released a series of Creative Commons live visuals that have been used by electronic acts such as deadmau5, Skrillex, Avicii, Zedd, Taio Cruz, Tiësto, Amon Tobin, Wolfgang Gartner, and Flying Lotus and many others. He currently releases work on Flying Lotus' Brainfeeder imprint.


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Looking for a quick way to serve fresh meals to your family when you just can't cook from start to finish? Terra's Kitchen is your answer! Meals that come prepped with fresh ingredients, ready to cook in under 30 minutes. Healthy organic food delivery that actually tastes good! Now that's a win in my book. We tried three of their recipes: Pasta Puttanesca and Arugula Salad, Sweet Potato Tacos, and Vegetarian Tacos.
I am a food blogger. Obviously. Cooking is my thing. I love it. I could spend all day in my kitchen creating new recipes and be in heaven. But once in a while, even a foodie needs a break. Enter Terra's Kitchen. When they first contacted me about working together and trying out their meal delivery service, the timing could not have been better. We were going through some serious family stuff and I needed a break.
The ordering process is so easy. You can pick the meals you want from a wide range of options from meat to vegan, fill your delivery vessel and pick your delivery date. When my vessel arrived at my door I was more than impressed. The vessel is amazing! Not to mention, it's reusable and can be used up to 100 times.
I selected a combo of vegan meal options to try, along with a few vegetarian ones that I was going to veganize by leaving out certain ingredients. I was really impressed by the quality of food that arrived. Everything came divided and prepared, labeled so I knew what went with what, and there were loads of fresh ingredients! I love the recipe cards that come with each meal too. Not only does it have pictures for your step by step directions, but it has info on calories, time to table, nutrients it provides and on the back it also has a bonus wine/beer pairing! SCORE.
I've always been skeptical of things that give a prep time (probably why you rarely see it here on my blog). Everyone is different in how they cook and prepare meals. I rarely get to make a meal from start to finish without many interruptions from at least one of my 3 kiddos. Life of a mom. But when I was able to actually get these meals done within the 30 minute time frame, I was impressed to say the least!
The recipe I'll be sharing today is the Pasta Puttanesca. It's a vegetarian recipe, but I made it plant-based by leaving out the cheese. It also comes with a side salad that does contain honey, so if you do not do honey, then it's very easy to sub it with some maple syrup you have laying around. The other thing to be aware of is that the pasta that comes with it says that it "may" contain egg in it. Kind of a bummer to have to use your own pasta, BUT I did email them about it and it's definitely something they are looking into! So if that was changed, then this meal is uber vegan friendly and easily adaptable! Plus, it was SO good.
Reasons why I loved Terra's Kitchen and would definitely order again:
- The ordering process is super easy. I love that you can quickly find which meals don't have meat.
- The recipe cards are gorgeous, professional and so useful.
- They give you wine and beer pairings. I mean COME ON!! Best idea ever.
- They give some "pro" tips for cooking the meal.
- Awesome nutrition info including nutrients the meal provides.
- Healthy, organic, fresh meals on your table in under 30 minutes!
And because they are so awesome, if you want to try them out you can get $30 off your first order! Use the code VEGBITE30!!
Looking for more delicious pasta recipes? Try these out!
- Low Carb Spaghetti Squash Bowls
- Vegan Pasta Bake with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Pesto
- 3 Ingredient Vegan Pasta Sauce
- Vegan Butternut Squash Lasagna Roll Ups
- 8 ounces penne pasta
- 2 cups crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chopped parsley save 2 tablespoons for garnish
- 1/4 cup chopped kalamata olives
- 1 tablespoon capers
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 1-3 teaspoons red pepper flakes depending on how spicy you want it
- 3 cups arugula
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil optional if using oil
- Cook pasta: In a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat, add water and 2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a boil. Stir in penne, and boil, stirring occasionally, until al dente (about 10 minutes). Drain pasta.
- Coarsely chop olives. Chop the parsley.
- Make sauce: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Add garlic, crushed red pepper, tomatoes, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Simmer 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Finish Sauce: Stir in olives, capers, and all but 2 tablespoons parsley (save for garnish). Cook 1 more minute or until thoroughly heated.
- Make salad: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil (if using), and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Add arugula; toss to coat.
- To Serve: Add pasta to the hot sauce and toss. Divide between 2 plates and serve garnished with parsley. Serve with salad on the side.
I left out the parmesan cheese from the original recipe. Also, subbed the honey for maple syrup.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Terra's Kitchen. The opinions and text are all mine.


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1. Be Secure
Card is a payment type most widely used when shopping online. In this case, you must remember that your credit card is static. That is, the number listed will not change unless you close and open a new account. This is worth noting because it is so that account information was leaked online, most likely could be misused by irresponsible parties.
There are several ways you can do to minimize the potential for information leaks, one of which is to make buying and selling online sites including secure page. You can observe it by looking for a small padlock icon that is usually found on the top right corner of the URL bar.
You also can ensure the security of a site from the additional letter "s" in the URL address. A secure site will begin with https: // (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure), while pages that have not secured usually beginning with http: //.
Such Pag. you can find out more information in here.
2. Research Before Buying
Always remember to do a transaction with a company that you recognize. Even if the site will make a purchase from a stranger, make sure you do a little research on the background of the onlne store. view this to see more ideas.
A reliable online stores usually attach a physical address or minimal contact phone number. You can call the number listed to ensure its authenticity, and then ask them about how the online store serving the complaint or return of goods.
3. Credit or Debit
Transacting online is the most convenient to use the card. However, you should use a credit card than a debit card. This is because the credit card is an extension of a temporary credit debit cards take money directly from your bank account. Of course this is very risky because if the leaked information, the hacker can easily mess up your finances.
4. Do Gratuitous Providing Information
When going to purchase, usually you have to fill some of the necessary data such as names and addresses. Often, an online store will also try to get more information that will be used as a strategy to increase sales, such as lifestyle up to an annual income.
Never answer the question that is considered suspicious. If find anything like it, better leave and look for another store.
5. Save Passwords With Good
Many sites online stores require every consumer to log-in before the transaction which is equipped with a username and password. Create a password that is difficult and do not show anyone else to anticipate things that are not desirable. don't miss out to find more information
6. Save Copy of Your Order
You will usually get a confirmation containing information about the transaction details, ranging from price to qualify a refund. Keep this file well until goods arrive at hand so that you can hold accountable if something goes wrong with the order.
Transact through pages online buying and selling is the art of shopping is actually very pleasant. If done carefully, you will get the satisfaction that is not less by buying in regular stores.
As well as shopping in general, in the online store are also price competition. Do not forget to always comparing prices between stores in order to get the best deals. Enjoy your online shopping experience is safe, comfortable, and unforgettable.


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Scottish Power's parent company Iberdrola intends to invest £4bn in the UK
Scottish Power has set out plans to create 2,500 new jobs over the next decade.
The firm, owned by Spanish energy giant Iberdrola, will take on hundreds more engineers to improve its grid network.
This comes on top of 1,500 new jobs announced last year and is part of a £2.6bn investment.
However, it said the move depends on energy regulator Ofgem putting in place the approval and funding regime for the extra spending.
Chairman of Iberdrola and Scottish Power Ignacio Galan said: "We are investing £4bn between now and 2014 in the UK, representing 40% of our global investments, with two-thirds of this investment planned for Scotland.
"On the back of our long-term investment plans, we are creating 4,000 jobs in our networks business alone, which will see our company continue to grow and help to boost the Scottish economy."
More detail of the investment is expected to be announced when Mr Galan, accompanied by Finance Secretary John Swinney, officially open Scottish Power's Ochil House office complex in Blantyre, Lanarkshire.
Ahead of the ceremony, Mr Swinney said: "Scottish Power is a global leader in the energy sector, operating in countries all over the world.
"The company's decision to increase its Scottish presence is testament to quality and skills of the local workforce."READMORE


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After the success of the inaugural Purley Sixes last year, we will be hosting the second annual Sixes Tournament at the club on Saturday July 5th 2014. We'd like to invite all interested players and clubs to come down and play!
The tournament will take place at Warlingham Rugby Club (our usual ground). We'll be putting on a BBQ, there's a fully licensed bar and changing rooms/showers.
The cost for entering a team is staying at £60. The exact format will depend on the number of entrants but should be similar to last year: three round robin games followed by knock-out competitions for the Cup and Plate. If there's enough demand we'll look into entering a scratch team so get in touch if you'd like to sign up individually.
To register a team please email the team name, captain's name and contact details to email@example.com (first paid, first served).
For more details on 6-a-side lacrosse see: http://www.purleylax.co.uk/sixes-tournament.html
Like last year we'll also be running weekly 6s on Tuesday nights over the summer with an open invite, starting in June and details to follow.
Purleys 6s Tournament - July 5th
Play in the Southern Divisons? Post Here.
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When planning on moving into assisted living, you're going to be facing several choices. First of all, you're going to want to choose an assisted living facility that is conveniently located for you. Maybe you want to remain close to friends. Maybe you'd prefer to live closer to some of your family members.
Then you'll want to make sure that the assisted living facilityyou choose has the right type of activities for you, ones that will keep you interested in doing things throughout the days. The type of menu that they offer will also be important to think about. You may not mind the cafeteria style setup, but you may want to make your own meals from time to time in your room. Some facilities allow this, others don't.
Then, of course, you will need to determine whether you'd want to have a room all to yourself or if you wouldn't mind sharing a room with someone else. There can be advantages and disadvantages to both of these situations.
First, the cost savings would be the most significant advantage to taking on a roommate. If funds are tight, you may find that this is the only affordable option for you. However, don't just agree to this living arrangement based on money savings only, especially if you're not going to be happy with the accommodations.
Second, you may have lived alone for a long time and you may wish to have someone in the room to talk to. You would certainly be able to go to common areas to carry on a conversation or two, but when you have a roommate, he or she will be able to communicate with you and, assuming that you get along well, could become a valued friend.
One disadvantage to having a roommate is that you or they may be set in their ways and that could make getting along a bit tougher. They may have issues with their sleep patterns or make noise when they are sleeping (ie. Snoring).
When you live in your own room in assisted living, you will be able to make it your own personal space, your own private sanctuary. You would be able to watch TV if you wanted without interruption or read a book without being distracted by other noise.
Most people choose to live in their own rooms, but when you have a choice, consider the option of taking on a roommate carefully. If you find that this living situation is not ideal for you, don't worry, the facility should be able to accommodate you.
For more information about Assisted Living near Glencoe MN, consider the Birchwood House in Hutchinson, MN, and call our friendly staff at (320) 587-7737.


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Another dive into the great station agent debateBy · Published in 2013
While heading back to Brooklyn from Midtown last night, I entered the 6th Ave. IND at 42nd St. That entrance on the north side of 42nd St. — underneath the Grace Building one one side and the Bank of America building on the other — is a bit odd. It features a row of turnstiles and no station agent. The booth too has long since been removed, a victim of the MTA's aggressive cost- and personnel-cutting efforts.
Usually, I see people enter the station without incident, but tonight, as four young kids dressed in the colors and jerseys of the Ireland soccer game went to take the B or D up to Yankee Stadium for the match, at least one of them jumped the turnstile. No one was around to stop them, and it's possible that even a station agent ensconced in a booth wouldn't have been much of a deterrent as the offender didn't take stock of his surroundings. I just smiled to myself.
The station agent debate has laid dormant for a few years. Citing security fears, union officials and transit rider advocates alike protested the MTA's plans to cut station agents and dismantle token booths. It was a sign that this decision was a permanent one, unlikely to be reversed. Each station still had an agent on duty at all times, but that often meant an agent was located across four tracks or an avenue with no view down the platforms. While station agents are offer a passive presence, even the psychological element seemed to be removed.
For its part, even as concerns over system safety in an age of terrorism remain, the MTA has long maintained that the system has never been safer. During my talk at the Transit Museum last week, Joseph Nugent, the Interagency Liaison between the NYPD and NYCT, claimed that station entrances without agents are generally safer. Nugent said that customer diligence and heightened awareness has led to this result, but it's possible that, without station agents around, fewer subway riders are reporting potential crimes. Jammed Metrocard readers and turnstile jumpers remain a low-level concern, but NYPD enforcement has stemmed that tide.
Now though as the TWU languishes without a contract, the debate is back. With an assist from Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, the TWU is again demanding more station agents. "Machines can't do the job that we do. They're constantly out of service," TWU Local 100 Member Derick Echevarria said to a New York 1 reporter last week. Of course, what job the station agents do varies drastically from person to person with some apathetic and some very helpful.
As part of the protest, the TWU has presented a petition to the MTA, but the agency says it has no plans to restore any agents or booths. In the indeterminate future, MTA customers will be able to use Help Point intercoms for immediate access to a centralized information or emergency alert system, and underground cell service will assuage some safety concerns as well. I've tended to err on the side of fewer station agents as I've often found those in the booths less than friendly and not particularly helpful, but I understand why people may want more of them around.
What's really going on here seems to involve the TWU's agitating for attention. The union's contract situation remains unresolved, and until Tom Prendergast is confirmed as the MTA's CEO and Chairman, nothing will happen. It's been 17 months since the last contract expired, and the union is looking for any sort of political support or traction. The station agents won't come back, and the TWU knows it. But it's an easy way to get some press coverage amidst slow negotiations.
19 Responses to "Another dive into the great station agent debate"
Small note, I think you forgot a word in this sentence:
While station agents are offer a passive presence, even the psychological element seemed to be removed.
Great blog, I love reading your stuff.
If the TWU wants to make the claim that station agents should be restored in the name of safety, then the TWU needs to establish that station agents improve safety.
It's certainly not what I've seen anecdotally, and it's apparently not what Nugent believes either. Station agents are not cops – they don't arrest criminals and they generally don't even leave the booth. They can call the cops if they are aware of a crime, but (a) that isn't very helpful for a crime that lasts a few seconds, like jumping a turnstile, (b) they can't call the cops for a crime they're not aware of, and regardless of a station's layout, most of it is out of sight of a station agent, and (c) any other subway rider can also call the cops (from a payphone, or from a cellphone at an outdoor station or at one of the underground stations outfitted with cellphone service).
I might give the TWU a bit of credit if they didn't try to obscure the facts. Contrary to Echevarria's claims, machines are doing the job that station agents used to do. Prior to 2000 or so, everybody bought their fare media (MetroCards or tokens) from the agents. Now, even at entrances with agents, most riders buy their fares from the machines. (No, the machines aren't perfect, but they're also not rude.) And as you point out, every station has a full-time agent (except on the Dyre branch, whose stations have never had agent coverage at night).
Remember, any dollar spent on a station agent is a dollar not spent on a train operator or bus operator. I'd rather have my money go to subway or bus service (or, frankly, to small raises for NYCT's nonunionized workforce, now up to five years and counting without a raise).
The fundamental question is, how much safety do you really need? We quite literally keep adding "safety" features, all the while with crime dropping. Good Guys With Guns aren't can't possibly have the coverage necessary to take crime down to zero, and those Good Guys aren't always good guys anyway.
The TWU is exploiting the hangover of the crime waves of the Nixon-Reagan/Koch eras to keep alive labor practices that should have been set aside decades ago.
I question whether the presence of an agent has any impact on safety at all. If not, then your question becomes irrelevant.
London, last I checked (which was a while back), has a number of uniformed agents who walk around the station (rather than being ensconced in a booth).
(I believe they have chairs for when they get tired.)
Anyway, that seems to be much more helpful both in terms of providing information and as a security "deterrent" than an agent who is not allowed to leave the booth.
(London has agents in ticket booths too, of course, but mainly at extremely busy stations where there are lots of people buying complicated fare products.)
The station agents don't seem to provide a lot of value in comparison to their salary/benefit package. I would rather see that money go towards better signage, more cameras, and centralized station managers.
All those cameras need computer video analysis to identify actionable information. The technology that drive human motion tracking on Microsoft Kinect can be used to identify activity like fighting, stabbing, and turnstile jumping.
Or get confused and misidentify dancing as "fighting".
God forbid a station attendant would wipe that tile with some soap and water.
We've all watched these people move at an absolute snail's pace and can't really be bothered with doing any actual work.
And to think of the back-breaking work a hotel room maid does for peanuts and no benefits…
As long as the city's crime rate stays low and the visual look of the system doesn't fall back to the 1970s-80s era, the TWU will have a hard time making their case with the public, thanks to the general image station agents developed over the years of basically being the underground (or elevated) versions of U.S. Postal Service window clerks.
Unless the public is fearful to the point they demand more human eyes in the stations, the agents don't have much justification for return because riders didn't see them as very useful in the past.
I use a Transit Check Metro Card and could care less personally. On those few occasions when I've forgotten my card, I use a TVM.
However, some of the more complex stations, and some stations that are heavily utilized, and still other stations that have a propensity for wayward souls (tourists mostly) really need to have more agents than they presently do.
As entirely counterproductive as it is, it's still 1 thing to cross Bushwick Ave for a station agent (& then cross back!) and entirely another to attempt to navigate a confusing underground labyrinth, say at Grand Central to find another.
Please! They should fire all the do-nothing station agents. Remember that poor woman who was raped while the pigs sat around. Here's that article to refresh your memory.
I remember when the metrocard turnstiles were installed, we were told they were designed to stop jumping/fare evasion. Have they not proved to be effective at that?
They were designed to make it difficult, not to make it physically impossible.
It is never worth it to stop 100% of fare evasion. At some point it costs a lot more to prevent fare evasion than you would have gotten from the fares. And most of the people who evade the fares are pretty poor.
It's worth it to deter fare evasion to the point where most people pay the fare, of course — if you make it too easy to evade the fare, then eventually everyone does it because you feel like a sucker if you pay the fare. But it's not worth it to try for 100% fare payment.
The whole jumping the turnstiles thing to me is funny because how many people would that agent have to stop from doing that to re-coup the money that costs to keep attendants there 24 hours. I think there are better ways to protect from people jumping the turnstiles than hiring 3-4 full times workers to man the booth.
When it comes to safety, I would rather see emergency phones/buttons for calling 911 because truthfully most agents will just lock themselves in the booth and call 911 themselves if something is happening. Look at the recent San Francisco incident. Installing cameras in stations and having security people watching multiple stations for things would be a much safer plan. I'm actually shocked that there aren't cameras in the stations already for many other reasons.
And what incentive is there for a station agent to poactively pursue/call in turnstile jumping anyway? Not much I'd wager.
Over the last few months I've had a few run ins with station agents, the highlight of which happened at 1am at 23rd Station (N,R)on a Friday night a few months ago. After no trains passing by for close to an hour finally an N arrives, just to slow down to a crawl and then speed up again, not stopping. After that I exited the platform and asked the station agent what was up (in fact there were THREE station agents on duty?!) and the one sitting behind the window stared at me blankly and then said "wait for the next one". When I asked "When is the next one coming?" the response was "use your head", and then he turned away. Needless to say his sound advice and helfpulness sure justifies the expense of having him and his two colleagues there.
In many other countries that I have visited, there are only station agents at select, busy stations. Why not the same for the subway? LIRR and Metro North already does it.
That is pretty terrible, isn't it. The station agents are supposed to be providing information and customer service, but apparently those ones… weren't.
My question is .. didn't insistance of union to have station agent in stations deter some additional entrances to the subway being built?


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Rock Climbing Photos : Misc : Pete Schoening & Grandpa on Rainier
Pete Schoening & Grandpa on Rainier
This is my Grandfather talking with Pete Schoening at Camp Muir on Mt. Rainier in 1962 (Mt. St. Helens in the background). That's Pete in the center of the shot with the rag and goggles on his head, and Grandpa next to him. These two men inspired me to start mountaineering, and one of those ices axes in the photo is what I used on my first climb. My Grandfather introduced Pete to mountaineering (on Mt. Adams) when Pete was 18 and working for my Grandfather, who was District Ranger of the Randle district on the Columbia National Forest (later renamed the Gifford Pinchot National Forest).
|Photo Location:
|North_America: United_States: Washington: Southwest_Washington: Mt__Rainier: Disappointment_Cleaver__D_C__


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The trial against Taylor Nicole Ramirez in its third day in a Cameron County courtroom. Ramirez is accused of fatally striking motorcyclist, David Salinas on August 30th of last year. Today, photos of the scene were presented in court, as well as a discussion regarding the velocities traveled by Ramirez, and factors that could have caused the collision that took Salinas' life.
If found guilty, Ramirez could face up to 20 years in prison.


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Join us for a casual New Year's celebration featuring 28 different types of sparkling wine and Champagne! Throughout the month of December we'll be listing a new sparkler every day, and on December 31st, you have your pick of all of them. No cover and open to the public. Table reservations are available for a minimum of 2 sparkling bottles, your choice from our list. Send us an email and we'll give you the options. email@example.com
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: November 15Lil Napper Scotch Ale Collaboration Release Party
Later Event: February 4Superbowl LII At Free State!


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The ability of MetLife Home Loans (MET) to adequately service mortgages tied in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac bonds is winning plaudits at Fitch Ratings.
A recent review from the credit ratings agency find mortgages collections, loss mitigation, bankruptcy, foreclosure, REO and claims processing operations at MetLife are improving.
Fitch's long-term issuer default rating for MetLife is A with a stable rating outlook.
"MetLife Home Loans demonstrated the ability to keep delinquent loans cash flowing and to resolve seriously delinquent loans through repayment plans, forbearance plans, and modifications," Fitch said in a report based on the review of the company's default performance capabilities.
MetLife declined to comment on the findings.
In April 2011, a consent order with the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency forced MetLife to adhere to certain standards regarding the handling of foreclosures and default management.
Fitch reported that MetLife, which quit the mortgage origination business in January, has increased its collections department staff with permanent employees, shifting away from the temp-to-perm strategy. The company is also expanding its collections supervisors and team leads and terminated a third-party outsourcing relationship that handled about 30% of its inbound collection call volume.
MetLife's average hold time for incoming collection calls shrunk to 90 seconds during the review period from 128 seconds ing the prior review period, while the average abandonment rate decreased to 5.5% from 11.2%. However, while the trend is improving, call metrics for the current review period are still considered high compared to most other rated servicers.
In fourth quarter of 2010, reports surfaced that MetLife employees were robo-signing mortgage affidavits without knowledge of certain elements in the case, causing longer delayed foreclosures and longer REO timelines. MetLife responded, saying that as part of its practice, "MetLife Home Loans verifies mortgage information included in affidavits filed in foreclosure proceedings and is satisfied that the information is accurate.
In that same quarter, the company implemented new procedures for employees who execute foreclosure affidavits. Since then, MetLife conducted additional training for employees who regularly sign or notarize foreclosure-related documents and enhanced its document execution quality control process to include a formal checklist.
In November 2011, MetLife brought all foreclosure processes back in house. And then in January, it stopped originating mortgages. Discussions between MLHL's management and Fitch revealed that the former's mortgage servicing operations would not be impacted by these decisions in the near term, Fitch said.
As of Dec. 31, the MetLife forward mortgage servicing portfolio contained more than 437,000 loans totaling $85.8 billion, including more than 419,000 agency loans totaling $79.8 billion.
At the time of Fitch's review, MetLife was not servicing any loans in non-agency RMBS transactions.


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Thank you for considering a gift to the JKM Missionary Journey Fund.
Bible Donations
Why are Bible Donations so essential to a Global Ministry?
Perhaps this testimonial sent to JKM from Sister Marites Torremocha in Hong Kong will paint a clearer picture as to the need.
The people in Hong Kong had to read their Bibles in SECRET that migrated here to work. Not long ago, I had three Believers tell me that they had to HIDE under a blanket in their bed, using a TINY amount of light to read God's Word. This was about 15 years ago.
We have a Bible, some possess many, but do we read our Bible? Are we Studying the Word of God? Are we Longing for such times to be alone with God's Word? See why I love missions? I NEVER knew this story. I heard it first hand from 3 people that did this very thing!
MANY, IN FACT, MOST STILL DO NOT HAVE A COPY OF GOD'S WORD, and I am thankful for those that have been helping us supply all our new Converts with their very own copy of the Word of God. I thank you so much.
The need is for completed copies of God's Word and for shipping costs. Perhaps some might purchase the Bibles whereas others might pay the shipping costs. We can do this as a T.E.A.M.
Will you play a GREATER role in helping us Advance Missionary work around the World? We are/have worked in Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Uganda, Kenya, Philippines, Mexico, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Africa. We sincerely need your financial assistance to further this work of Evangelizing the Lost and starting Churches from those that are saved. We work WEEKLY training National Preachers in countries that we serve.
Click on the Donate icon listed below to make your contribution today.
Gift for Alumar Baptist Church, Philippines Projector and Screen
I would ask you to pray about and consider assisting us in purchasing a Multi-Media Projector in the Philippines at the Alumar Baptist Church. The cost is approximately 325 USD in the Philippines. The Projector is a definite need to assist our Pastor since we do not have songbooks and woulod be used for Bible Studies and Seminars.
The cost to purchase the screen in the Philippines for a 50 Inch 4:3 Pull Up Pull Down Projector Screen is ₱2,099.00, which is 51 USD.
Uganda Missionary Journey 2020Spring 2020
Our mission support as of April, 2015 stands at 25.%.
We need your help to further this ministry.
Our calling and our vision for JKM. "Our calling is share the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ to people on all seven Continents. We
will accomplish this through personal soul-winning; preaching, audio recordings, internet, television, radio, and writings. We will
locate and train National Preachers to pastor the Churches we start, from those we lead to Jesus Christ."
Missionaries Jim and Bonnie Kilgore Recording at Hyles/Anderson College Baptizing New Converts in the Philippines
Preaching in Pakistan During a Preaching to Construction Workers First Church We Started in the
Skypelistic Service in the Philippines in the Philippines
Church We Helped Start in the Philippines Preaching in Cebu City at the Training Preachers in Kenya in
Hope Baptist Church Bible Baptist Church for Dr. Jesalva Preparation of a Church-Planting in 2016
Baptizing a Skypelistic Convert Baptizing another Skypelistic Convert Preaching in a Public High School in the Philippines (Over 600 Saved)
First Service of Friendship Baptist Church Preaching in Luzon, Philippines Praying with People in India after in Bohol, Philippines the Preaching Service
We NEED to raise $50 to pay the new pastor each month for up to two years.
Sponsoring a National Preacher is a Simple Process. Simply tell us which country you are most burdened for, and we'll provide you with information on preachers serving there, who are approved for sponsorship.
Currently we are working in Uganda, Pakistan, Hong Kong, India, Bangladesh, Philippines, Taiwan, Kenya.
If you don't have a preference, we'll assign you a preacher from our most needy list. For each person that supports a pastor, they will:
Will receive a photo of the family and his testimony.
Each month they will send a ministry update to JKM, in which we will forward his ministry update to the one supporting him.
Thank you so much, Missionary Jim Kilgore
Copyright 2013, Jim Kilgore Ministries | Powered by Divine Design


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Mrs White Chocolate Matcha is waiting for her little strawberries..
[HAPPY VEGGIE] Let's get straight to the point: This is an emergency sweet that will take you no more than 5′ to prepare. And it's absolutely irresistible…
Melt 50g of good white chocolate in the microwave. You need to dilute it with a soup spoon of water. Add a ts of matcha and mix well.
It's ready! Dip your strawberries in there and enjoy!
This is a kind of trailer recipe… More to come on the subject, stay tuned!
Sniffkiss also on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. You may also suscribe by email (register on top right) to receive weekly recipes!


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Race and Justice in the United States
Critical examination of race/ethnicity and justice issues in the U.S.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
War on Drugs--War on Black & Brown People?
Daily Discussion Blog Post: Recently, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Justice Department will change the enforcement policies of the federal drug laws. Low-level non-violent drug offenders will likely not be charged with offenses that carry a mandatory minimum sentence in federal prisons. The War on Drugs (even at the federal level) dramatically impacted Blacks and Hispanics through a massive incarceration campaign. Is this Attorney General Holder's way of trying to right the "wrongs" of the last 30+ years? What do you think?
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Stop and Frisk: Crime Reduction or Fear Enhancer?
Daily Discussion Blog Post: Yesterday, a federal court judge ruled that New York's "Stop and Frisk" policy violated the constitutional rights of racial/ethnic minorities. The judge ordered that the policy undergo federal monitoring. While Blacks and Hispanics make up approximately 50% of the city's population, they made up slightly more than 80% of those who were stopped and frisked. Did the judge overstep her boundaries or was justice achieved?
Monday, August 12, 2013
Dream Defenders Impacting Real Issues? Stand Your Ground, Racial Profiling, and School-to-Prison Pipeline
For almost four weeks, the Dream Defenders have been peacefully occupying the Florida Capitol. They have the goal to affect change. They are asking Governor Scott to call a special session of Florida legislature to address issues of "Stand Your Ground," racial profiling, and the school-to-prison pipeline. All of these issues are legitimate concerns, and many should support the Dream Defenders in their efforts because they should be OUR efforts.
For issues discussed in prior blog posts, Stand Your Ground (SYG) should be reviewed to see if it is being implemented and interpreted most effectively by jurisdictions in Florida. Recently, I attended a forum at FAMU Law School, which focused on Florida's SYG law. Multiple state legislators were in attendance, including one of the original sponsors of the controversial legislation. After a series of serious conversations during the event, the legislators appeared open to revisiting SYG. However, who knows if that was real talk or political talk to appease the disappointed attendees! Regardless, the Dream Defenders recognize that SYG creates circumstances where prejudices become "reasonable" and the subsequent fear might increase the likelihood of violence. I would be happy to provide research that shows a fear of young minority males.
The Dream Defenders' second issue is the racial profiling that occurs within this state. While Governor Scott cannot fully eliminate the practice of racial profiling, he can provide leadership by asking the state legislature to review laws, policies, and practices that create an environment for this type of profiling to take place. Florida is a fairly conservative state (in terms of state laws), where it is tough on offenders who use guns, sex offenders, and drug offenders. However, the state appears to be more liberal in terms offenses that derive from racial profiling. These types of (in)actions demonstrate the priorities of the state.
The Dream Defenders' final issue is the school-to-prison pipeline. This is an unfortunate reality, not only in the state of Florida, but across the entire country. In many of the public schools, especially those in socially/economically disadvantaged areas, there are several policies that increase the likelihood of kids going from school to "prison," or some aspect of the juvenile/criminal justice system. For instance, zero tolerance policies allow for no discretion in sanctions when policies are violated. Therefore, context and understanding are irrelevant. These policies result in kids being suspended or expelled, which increases the likelihood of criminal justice contact. Other school districts have programs where school infractions are downloaded and sent to local policies stations, allowing youth to have a record with law enforcement.
While some may feel the Dream Defenders are being unrealistic in their requests to the Governor, the fact is that there is a reasonable, logical, and empirical foundation for each request. SYG, racial profiling, and the school-to-prison pipeline are all relevant issues in the state of Florida and beyond. The criminal justice system is drastically impacted by all of these issues. When many people think of racial profiling, they think of Black and Brown people being profiled. When many people think of the school-to-prison pipeline (regardless of whether they agree with the term), they think of Black and Brown people. When people think of SYG, it now has the face of Trayvon Martin, given the shooting and subsequent not-guilty verdict. Given that these issues have a Black or Brown "face," does it make you wonder why they are not getting the state's attention?
Monday, August 5, 2013
The "Black Criminal:" The Moral Panic Created by the Media
There is a growing myth that equates Black people (especially males) with criminal activity. Again this is a myth which is often perpetuated by the media. For instance, Fox News' commentator Bill O'Reilly, conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, and even some Black "leaders" often discuss Black people in such a way where it implies that they are engaging in significant amounts of crime. This myth or moral panic is further exacerbated by terms such as "Black-on-Black" crime, where it implies that Blacks are simply killing and robbing one another.
Let's examine the "truth" of these issues. In terms of crime, there are multiple ways one can look at it. To begin, one can look at arrests. As mentioned above, if one believes the media portrayal, it would lead you to believe Blacks were involved in so much crime. According to the FBI (which collects data on all crime reported to law enforcement agencies in the United States), in 2011, Blacks made up 38% of the arrests for violent crime, while Whites made up 59% of the violent crime arrests. While there are many problems with how the FBI measures race, the point is that it is clear that Blacks are not arrested for a majority of violent crimes. In fact, of ALL crimes in the United States, Blacks make up majority of the arrests for only three offenses: homicide (49.7% Black; 48% White), robbery (55.6% Black; 43% White), and gambling (66.9% Black; 29.8% White). As can be seen, the homicide arrest percentages are almost equivalent. In all other offenses (other than these three), violent and nonviolent, Whites are arrested at a greater percentage of Blacks. The question, then, is on what foundation are these claims of the Black criminal being advanced?
If you examine incarceration rates, Blacks make up 38% of those in state/federal prison (34% White) and there are slightly more Blacks in county jails than Whites. Incarceration is not a good indication of crime because not all criminals are actually incarcerated; they can be sentenced to probation. In other words, when commentators are looking at the amount of crime committed, they appear (maybe!) to be examining arrests. I have provided a link at the bottom of this post to the FBI website, where you can see the racial breakdown of the arrests.
I make the argument that agendas are being advanced in the current media environment. The main agenda is to create a moral panic of Blacks, where it is portraying this group as crime prone and dangerous. "Black-on-Black" crime is a ridiculous term. Bill O'Reilly mentioned that 91% Black homicide victims were killed by Black offenders in 2011. This does imply a "Black-on-Black" crime issue. However, he failed to mention that 83% of White victims were killed by White offenders….and we don't go around talking about "White-on-White" crime. Again, the former term is used as a way to enhance the negative views of Blacks. Simply speaking, crime is committed in neighborhoods in which people reside….meaning Blacks are more likely to victimize Blacks and Whites are more likely to victimize Whites. There is nothing more to this Black-on-Black crime phenomenon.
Bluntly speaking, the facts do not support any of these claims. While Blacks do make a up a disproportionate percentage of arrests (percentage of arrests is greater than Blacks' percentage of the U.S. population), the fact is that Blacks do NOT make up a larger percentage of arrests for almost all categories of criminal offenses. Although we cannot stop people from making up lies or giving partial "truths," we have to educate ourselves with knowledge.
Now that we know the truth about the facts, the question is that why does the media continue to portray Blacks in this way…..why create this false moral panic? Why make it seem as though Blacks engage in a majority of crime when it is a blatant lie?
Bill O'Reilly's segment on "Black-on-Black" crime and violent crime in the media
Uniform Crime Reports (FBI) for 2011, showing the racial breakdown of arrests
Bureau of Justice Statistics (race and state/federal prison incarcerated population)
Bureau of Justice Statistics (race and jail population)
FBI (Race of victims/Race of offenders for homicides)
Friday, August 2, 2013
Don Lemon and Bill O'Reilly "Agree" on What Blacks Need to Do?!?!
A few days ago, there was some agreement between CNN's Don Lemon, Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, and conservative Crystal Wright. In a nutshell, Don Lemon mentioned that there are a host of issues taking place in the Black community and there are five things they should do:
· Stop wearing their pants off their butts
· Stop using the "N" word
· Stop throwing down trash in the neighborhood
· Get an education
· Stop having babies, just because it's possible to have them
While these issues are very legitimate, Don, Bill, and Crystal all miss a few underlying issues. Blacks are disproportionately over-represented in lower class neighborhoods. Therefore, the schools have a greater probability of being highly understaffed with fewer resources, resulting in further school quality decline. It's very easy to tell kids to "get an education" when many of the kids are not receiving quality early childhood education, which is compounded when they reach later grades. These are issues that are not usually felt in the more middle-to-upper class neighborhoods because those schools have exceedingly better resources.
Of course, I don't want to pretend as though there is no personal responsibility in this. Some Blacks are making the intentional decision to forgo an education for an undesirable lifestyle. However, this is not the issue for the majority of inner-city impoverished Blacks. Clearly there are issues with the educational system if this is a fairly consistent issue in most inner-cities.
I agree with Don, Bill, and Crystal about wearing pants correctly, stop using the "N" word, no longer destroying the neighborhood with trash, and not having babies for the heck of it. As mentioned earlier, there is personal accountability in many of these issues. However, there is also a structural issue that extends to a system that is not designed for certain people to succeed. When was the last time you heard elected officials discuss the poor? You hear "middle-class," "entrepreneurs," "wealthy," and those types of terms. You don't hear anything about attempting to focus on problems felt by those living in poverty, where Don's 5 points are disproportionately more likely to occur.
For instance, we have a welfare system that is designed to perpetuate the cycle of poverty, an educational system that systematically provides lower quality education to those in poverty, a lack of access to quality jobs to those in poverty, a revolving door to incarceration, etc. All of these factors are inter-related to Don Lemon's 5 points. While I see the point that the three people mentioned were attempting to make, they ignore the structural societal issues that make it difficult to address multiple issues. The three of them take a very simplistic view to a complicated problem.
These problems were couched in a conversation of "Black-on-Black" crime, which is a foolish term. As a point of reference, most crime is intra-racial. In other words, people are more likely to commit offenses against others of the same race. Crime is usually committed in the areas in which people live, and given that many of our neighborhoods are dominated by a particular race, crime is mostly intra-racial. Therefore, "White-on-White" crime is an issue… "Hispanic-on-Hispanic" crime is an issue. Are you seeing the logic of the foolishness here?
Our "educated" talking heads and political pundits need to look deeper with their positions. The surface-level thinking is presenting an image that contributes to the negative portrayal of underprivileged groups, especially Blacks and Hispanics/Latinos. Before assigning individual blame, doesn't it make sense for our society to remove the structural inequalities that are allowing these individual "choices" to take place?
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Trayvon Martin-Jordan Davis: What Does it Say about Black Males?
What do Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis have in common? Both were young Black males who were fatally shot. Although George Zimmerman was found not guilty by a jury of his "peers," it is clear that the encounter occurred because of Zimmerman's racial profiling. As for Jordan Davis, he was shot and killed by Michael Dunn because Dunn felt "threatened" that the Black males in the car were going to kill him. How many more times must unarmed young Black males die because of a perceived threat by someone with a gun? Obviously, this is only two cases of many in the state (and nation for that matter), but it does provide a foundation for a discussion.
We live in a society that fears young Black males, and it is causing this group to have unnatural consequences. For instance, Trayvon and Jordan both had untimely ends, leaving behind grieving parents, family, and friends. Other Blacks recognize the negative view of them and must often speak, talk, walk, and dress in "code," in order appear less "threatening" by others. Where is the action? Where is the anger?
People of all races and ethnicities rallied around the Trayvon Martin case. In fact, Trayvon's killing and all the case's circumstances resulted in a movement to address racial profiling and injustice within the criminal justice system. The not guilty verdict fueled the efforts of protestors and further motivated their calls to action. Will the same happen for Jordan Davis?
Although Dunn is awaiting trial for Jordan's killing, the underlying issue that led to the deaths of these two males have not been addressed by any legislator, executive, or criminal judge. Again, Trayvon and Jordan died because they were viewed as threatening and dangerous. Black males are systematically punished more harshly than Whites, even after ruling out offense seriousness and prior criminal record. Therefore, this group appears to be viewed more threatening and dangerous when sentenced by criminal judges. As mentioned earlier, Black often "change" certain parts of themselves at work, in order to avoid being viewed as threatening and dangerous. Do you see a theme?
Although it is very difficult to change people's attitudes, the focus must remain on laws and policies that systematically attribute negative characteristics to Blacks. Although the news and other media have almost stopped covering the movements that spurred from the Trayvon Martin shooting and subsequent verdict in Florida's criminal court, the movement must continue and people must be steadfast. As long as people, of all races, remain quiet, passive, and inconsistent in the movement, Blacks will continue being viewed as the criminal, dangerous, lazy, and threatening group. Some may say, "Who cares how Blacks are viewed?" Even some Blacks may have this view. A response can be summed up by saying…. "Trayvon Martin," "Jordan Davis," "lack of resources," "lack of jobs," and "more punitive criminal punishments than other racial/ethnic groups." I care….do you?
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
The Re-n*ggerizing of the Black Professional Class
While giving an interview, Dr. Cornel West made an interesting observation when discussing President Obama. He said that there is a "re-n*ggerizing" of the Black professional class (about 27 minutes into the interview). In other words, the professional class of Black folks refuse to say anything negative about the President or his criminal agenda, in order to prevent the President from looking bad to others and "taming" the anger toward the President among lower class Blacks. Through these actions (or lack thereof), true progress and equality among Blacks are further worsened. Let's explore this, in terms of "justice."
The United States of America has a history of slavery, black codes, and Jim Crow. The criminal justice system was used as a method of social control to further oppress Blacks. In other words, Blacks were more likely to be arrested, jailed, denied due process rights, convicted, incarcerated, etc. Several law enforcement officers, attorneys, and judges were overtly racist, which further perpetuated and deepened the distrust between Blacks and criminal justice practitioners. If these problems are to be adequately addressed, are we losing potential progress through the re-n*ggerizing of the Black professional class?
Without discussing the truth (or not!) of Dr. West's point, let's further examine the role of Blacks (regardless of social class) in helping achieve justice in this country. The "clients" and residents of the criminal justice system are disproportionately poor and minority. Once convicted, regardless of the sentence, they are now convicted offenders. Depending on the offense, it could eliminate the ability to receive financial aid for higher education. We have a public school system that is systematically biased (e.g., school resources, funding, college prep classes, etc.) against poor people. There is a blocking of legitimate job opportunities in lower class communities. All of these issues increase the likelihood of criminal behavior, and once convicted, the probability of committing additional crime increases. Unfortunately, when there is a disproportionate number of minorities living in lower class areas, minorities (especially Blacks) suffer serious social ills.
During all of the major movements in American history (e.g., Civil Rights Movement, Gay Rights Movement, Women's movement, etc.), those who participated focused on the human/natural rights of everyone. In other words, Whites were protesting with Blacks to help fight legal segregation. Heterosexuals were protesting with gays to help fight legal definitions of marriage. Black professionals must protest with lower class Blacks (along with other races/ethnicities!) to fight a criminal justice system and criminal laws that have been deeply discriminatory against Blacks since their beginning. How much longer must we deal with a system that is openly racist! This is a human/natural rights' issue! If the Black professional class is being re-n*ggerized (per Dr. West's assessment), the tragic shooting of Trayvon Martin should demonstrate that Black boys (regardless of social class) are susceptible to negative outcomes because of profiling and implicit/subtle racism.
Are the Black professionals being re-n*ggerized, in order to shield Obama, resulting in further injustice among other Blacks (especially those in lower social classes) in the criminal justice system? This is an interesting and very appropriate, question.
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A new addition to the MethLab roster is here, in the form of Greek DnB Duo - DISPHONIA - !!!
Definitely on the more friendly end of the MethLab roster spectrum, we were attracted to them because of their dedication to churning the dance with their energetic, Neuro and Tech-flavoured style. With releases to date on Eatbrain, SOM Music and Citrus, and a slew of further projects incoming; the pair are just getting into their stride. We're taking bookings for them exclusively across Europe & Worldwide. Check their MethLab Profile here!
They will be delivering a slice of their energy through a fresh mix on the MethLab Radio show this Saturday (11//10//2014) - you can listen live in London on 104.4 FM at 00:GMT or stream it here
Scroll down for their full bio...
Like Disphonia on Facebook - Follow Disphonia on Soundcloud
Disphonia is a Greek-based production/dj duo formed by Kostas Nomikos and George Roubinis. Back in 2006 they discovered that they both share the same genuine passion for Drum & Bass and have a mutual love for creating tech-influenced sounds, raw and gritty bass-lines and deep soundscapes. Their main aim since then has been to strive to produce an ever-excelling output of fresh material. Being a part of the Funxion Crew - a local event promoting and dj collective - they played a key role in presenting some of most established d&b acts to the Athens scene. During the past ten years Disphonia have performed with artists such as Optiv, Gridlok, BSE, Noisia and Calyx&Teebee, to name a few.
The year 2011 saw them with their first release 'November' on Mindtech Recording's "No Future" LP, which sparked immediate interest on the circuit closely followed by a further release - '1987 Demons/Time Machine feat. Camelorg' -in conjunction with the acclaimed French duo, Kantyze, on Berlin's finest d&b label Trust In Music. The 12" Vinyl single reached No.1 in sales, within the first week of its release,on Juno Records store. In 2012 Disphonia brought out their second solo work 'Collapsed' on the French label M-atome which had wide success and was supported by numerous Dj's like Dose and State of Mind and which has put them well on the map. 'Collapsed' is currently the label's best selling release on Beatport. The track's infectious bass-lines and driving breaks were fortified in a menacing remix by Zero Method released on Citrus (NL).
Disphonia's successful collaboration with Kantyze continued with a new funk-fueled tune called 'Zig Zag' released on Trust In Music. 'Headfirst' came soon after and was picked up by the prolific SOM Music imprint and was featured in the Next Level podcast. 2013 found them with many shows around Europe whilst they had the chance to work with two influential artists within the scene, Dementia & Rregula on a track entitled "Hightimes" released on Full Force Recordings which had great support from dj's and was featured in the top 20 dnb tracks on Track It Down. The duo also tested their skills at a different tempo producing a dubstep track named "Envious Eyes", as part of a 4 track EP for the new promising bulgarian outlet Platform Music. This release reached the #1 place on Juno deep dubstep chart.The year drew to a close with the duos collaborative efforts on the track "Stateside" for Dose's Hashtag EP on the Dutty Audio Label.
2014 began with a bang as they joined forces with L33 to create "SSD" a simplistic & infectious stomper for Rise Audio. A second collaboration session with Dementia & Rregula resulted in "Doom Loop", a menacing techno-infused tune for their Turning Point LP on Citrus .Also in the LP was the Doom Loop (Mefjus remix) which was an instant hit on the dancefloor and the Beatport Drum& Bass chart. The duo's contribution on Eatbrain's VA LP "Tales of the Undead" was notable with their relentless track "War Bunker" and was included in the tracklists of the scene's most respectable Dj's(Optical,BSE,SOM,Neonlight,Maztek to name a few, as well as having BBC Radio 1Xtra airplay). 2014 also saw their release "Commit" (Myselor remix on the flip) with long time friend and collaborator Camelorg for SOM Music, with "Paranoize" for Mc Coppa's Debut Album still forthcoming, as well as a solo Eatbrain EP in the works - big things coming from this duo!


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The Mid Warwickshire League, better known as the scratch league, is made up of 6 players and 1 playing reserve per team. There are two leagues of clubs who play home and away against the other clubs in their league. This season we are in division 2.
The format is singles scratch match play, so most players have a handicap of 12 and below. There is a snack after play in a relaxed atmosphere in the clubhouse (not collar and tie). There is also an end of season finals day - a team medal play event followed by a meal and presentation of all the prizes fot the leagues.
If you require any further information, or wish to play,
please contact Mid Warwickshire League organiser & team captain:
Neville Gardner
Mobile: 07561 578969 977
Home: 01788 574
or Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Good luck for the 2017 season!!!.


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How to Check and Repair Storage Media on a Windows PC
The Windows Check Disk program seeks out errors on your hard drive or removable media, fixes them if it can, and does other routine household disk chores. It doesn't look impressive, but it is very useful.
To run Check Disk, follow these steps:
Open the Computer window.
Right-click the icon for the media storage gizmo you want to check.
Choose Properties from the shortcut menu.
In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab.
Click the Check Now button.
If prompted, type the administrator's password or click the Continue button.
The Check Disk dialog box appears.
Ensure that a check mark appears by the option Automatically Fix File System Errors.
To check more thoroughly, place a check mark in the box next to Scan For and Attempt Recovery of Bad Sectors.
You have no reason to choose this option when you're not experiencing disk trouble.
Click the Start button.
If you see a warning regarding checking a disk in use, click the Schedule Disk Check button or the Yes button.
By scheduling a disk check, you place a one-time task into Windows Task Scheduler, which runs later, when you're not using the specified media. Often, that's as far as you get in this operation, especially when you attempt to check drive C, the PC's main hard drive.
If you choose to schedule a disk check, the operation is over. The disk check takes place the next time you start Windows, so there's nothing else to do for now. Skip to Step 12.
Click the Close button in the Checking Disk dialog box.
Hopefully, no problems were found. If they were, the dialog box explains what to do. Or not.
Close the storage device's Properties dialog box.
(Optional) Close the Computer window.
If you had to schedule a disk check, the operation takes place when you restart Windows.
If anything awry is discovered, it's fixed automatically. That's why you selected the Automatically Fix File System Errors box.
Certain disk utilities are more thorough than Check Disk. Or, at least they seem to be more thorough. Honestly, if the hard drive is malfunctioning, it's probably a hardware issue. Though software cannot fix hardware problems, it can help you avoid them. Check Disk quarantines unusable portions of a hard drive, but it cannot repair them.
Generally speaking, bad sectors and disk errors are signs that a hard drive needs replacing. These errors increase dramatically over time, especially when the disk is more than five years old.
Check Disk is good at cleaning up lost files, or file fragments that exist on storage media but don't belong to any specific file. These missing clusters can hinder disk performance. Check Disk eliminates them automatically.
The number-one cause of a missing cluster is an improper shutdown.
The Check Disk routine runs automatically every time your computer recovers from a bad shutdown. For example, if you just turn off the computer without properly shutting down, Windows is smart enough to run Check Disk automatically the next time the computer starts.
For a while, the Check Disk program was renamed ScanDisk. The name was retired after Windows 95.
Even though the program is now named Check Disk, and its command line counterpart is chkdsk, it isn't the same program as the original DOS chkdsk.