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What makes Blue Turtles' Crystal and Gemstone Jewellery so special?
What makes Blue Turtles' Crystal and Gemstone Jewellery so special?
It all has to do with the good old-fashioned hands-on approach!
You get out of something as much as you put into it. With our Crystal and Gemstone jewellery collection, we commit to handpicking every stone personally.
This is usually Doron's job – he can go through 10 kilos of labradorite for example, only to select 3 or 4 stones.
Every stone is carefully considered – the combination of its shape, colour, texture, fire and feel determines whether it is chosen.
Just as much thought then goes into designing each jewellery piece. Every one-of-a-kind piece is designed, literally, one-by-one, using good old-fashioned pencil and paper (and eraser too – it has to be just right!)
Finally, the loving hands of our artisans go to work, to carefully transform the designs into an exquisite, finished piece. Do you know, we only entrust our crystals and stones to a select inner core of artisans, who must first show a personal passion for the stones. Only then do we know that the final piece will carry that glow that can only come from the heart.
It's the love for the stones, combined with meticulous care and artisan's skill that makes Blue Turtles' crystal and Gemstone jewellery stand apart!
To learn more about the wonderful world of crystals, visit our Crystal Fact Files.


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It wasn�t until single mom Crystal Sisk moved to Dallas that she realized some students in Gaston County were going hungry.
She used to live in Gastonia. Her sons attended Robinson Elementary and Hawks Nest Intermediate.
�I was used to being the poor family, so to speak,� Sisk said.
When she moved to Dallas in August, her boys transferred to Carr Elementary.
She noticed a need from the first day of school and decided to do something about it.
�It didn�t hit me until I came here to realize how fortunate we are,� Sisk said.
She spoke to teachers who told her that some students weren�t getting enough to eat over the weekends. They weren�t able to make it to school in time for breakfast, so they stayed hungry until lunch. Some teachers kept a food stash in their desk to keep students� hunger at bay.
About 705 students attend Carr Elementary, Sisk said. About 75 percent of those students qualify for free and reduced price lunch. It�s also a Title I school, which means it is in a neighborhood with a high level of poverty.
Sisk became inspired to start her Book Bags of Love to help those students because of a cousin who has a similar program helping students at two Gastonia elementary schools.
Sisk delivers food to students at Carr Elementary and W.C. Friday Middle each Thursday. It�s placed in backpacks and given to students each Friday.
�And I feed the siblings as well,� Sisk said.
That means she�s feeding up to six children in some families. Sisk said feeding siblings was one reason she didn�t join other food efforts. She didn�t see the point in feeding just one child in a family, so she wanted her program to feed every child in a family that she helps.
A helping hand
Sisk�s colleagues at Watson Insurance helped fund her project while she accepted any food donations she could find.
Now Sisk is partnering with two churches, Praise Temple Family Worship Center and Long Creek Memorial Baptist Church. The youth group at Long Creek helps prepare the food packages each week. Sisk has a food pantry at Praise Temple. Long Creek provided six rooms for storage, one of which is for a closet the church has set up.
The Rev. Tim Lee with Praise Temple said the church has set up a fund where church members can donate to the program.
�We want to see it grow because there�s so many kids that are there in need,� Lee said. �I was raised by a single mom and there were four of us. If it hadn�t have been for people stepping in, there�s several times we would have gone without.�
Lee said he and Sisk want to develop a plan where families can come by the church on Saturdays to pick up items that are too unwieldy for a child to carry home in a backpack.
�If we can show them that there�s somebody out there that loves them, they will carry that on into their adult life,� Lee said.
Sisk was also able to provide presents for 40 children at Christmas.
�You just do it�
�We�ve all made the excuses,� Sisk said. �I don�t make enough. I don�t have enough time. I don�t have enough money.�
Sisk has been a single parent for 10 years. She knows what it�s like to struggle, so she hoped that her perspective would be less intimidating for others who needed help.
Sisk started out helping five families who had 14 children. Now she has nine families and 33 children that receive enough food to last the children over the weekends.
It costs about $2.60 per day per child for the program. Sisk keeps her costs low by shopping around and taking advantage of the best grocery deals.
Sisk didn�t waiver when she felt like she was being called to start a food program.
�Sometimes when God lays something on your heart, you just do it,� Sisk said. �(My goal is) for them to know that there are people in the community who care,� Sisk said.
She hears good reports from school staff about the benefits of the program.
�The guidance counselor tells me the kids, they�re happier and they�re excited,� Sisk said. �And they count on it.�
You can reach reporter Amanda Memrick at 704-869-1839 or follow @AmandaMemrick on Twitter.
Want to help Book Bags of Love? Email Crystal Sisk at email@example.com for more information on how to make a donation.

subset: commoncrawl


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Email: email@example.com, email@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com, email@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com, email@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com, email@example.com, email@example.com, email@example.com, email@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com
Tweet: @Mayor_Ed_Murray @SeattleCouncil @woodlandparkzoo
Also, save the date: Oct. 4th from noon to 2pm. Friends of Woodland Park Zoo Elephants is one of the sponsors of the Global March for Elephants and Rhinos. Details coming.
Come on. Whatever time remains to her with warmth, freedom and companionship…and all you have to do is take a minute or two? Don't even think of saying "Later".
Update, August 22: If you are only reading about this now, it is too late for Watoto, who died today. "Too Late" is a pretty terrible thing. It means she never. ever. knew a grassy meadow, or bathed in a lake, or made decisions about where she wanted to go and with whom. Not the world. Just simple things that should be natural for everyone. But she never had them, and now she never will. Let's make sure we never have to say that about Chai and Bamboo. You were going to write for Watoto; write for Chai and Bamboo:


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Reprinted from the Press and Journal
If you were paying attention in philosophy class, you'll remember Aristotle's law of non-contradiction. Without this ontological law, Plato's most famous student thought that we could never know anything about the things we already understand – for instance, the science of mathematics would mean nothing if it couldn't be differentiated from biology.
Aristotle, smart as he was, would be baffled by today's political rhetoric. His logical approach to the world does not fit well with our discourse over public affairs.
Too often, politicians choose subterfuge over truth and circumlocution over clear language. This makes the act of governing extremely difficult.
Some examples: In a recent Republican candidate debate, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio defended his call for a bigger Pentagon budget by declaring, "We can't even have an economy if we're not safe."
We can't? Last I checked, economies are nothing but the sum total of individuals trading goods and services. Even in the most rudimentary societies, barter still existed. And let's not forget that in order for the military to function, tax dollars must be collected from business to finance its operations.
All that said, Rubio has a point: If we're dead, we aren't buying and selling things. So in a sense, you can't have an economy without a certain degree of safety.
Confusing, right?
Philosophical pretzels are not exclusive to Republicans. The Democrats have their fare share of mind-bending reasoning.
Observe the language of everyone's favorite democratic socialist from Vermont, Sen. Bernie Sanders. The septuagenarian presidential candidate is lighting up the college speaking circuit with his call for a more robust welfare state that guarantees health care for all citizens. "I want to end the international embarrassment of the United States of America being the only major country on earth that doesn't guarantee health care to all people as a right and not a privilege," he declared at a recent debate.
Let's unpack that, because the "health care is a right" meme is incredibly popular with the American people. Rights mandate obligations. A right to your property means that other people must respect your ownership. But how would a right to health care work? Must doctors be obliged to care for patients? What about payment? Who picks up the tab for a broken femur?
Most Americans consider it theft to forcibly take someone's money without permission. But hold on a sec – isn't the right to life guaranteed in the Declaration of Independence? And if you're in a car accident and rushed to the hospital but lack insurance, doesn't a right to life necessitate you receive care?
Hypotheticals like these make politics a confusing sport.
One more example: Consider Donald Trump's recent call to ban all Muslims, citizens or not, from entering the United States. Not only is the policy asinine and impractical but also unconstitutional. But is it really that crazy? Two Muslims exploited our lax immigration laws and terrorist screening process to settle within our borders. They used our hospitality to wage jihad in the quiet streets of San Bernardino, Calif. Due to this negligence, 14 people lost their lives.
Freedom of religion is one of America's hallmark values. But don't countries have the right to police their borders and forge a unifying identity? If someone's spiritual fanaticism is antithetical to a nation's character, shouldn't they be barred from entering? We ban animal sacrifice required by pagan beliefs. Isn't that an encroachment on religious liberty?
In his anti-immigration novel, "The Camp of the Saints," French novelist Jean Raspail wrote, "The Good are at war with the Bad, true enough. But one man's 'Bad' is another man's 'Good,' and vice versa. It's a question of sides."
In political arguments, it's easy to pick a side. What's hard is defending that side in the face of life's inevitable complications. If governing society were simple, there would be no need for partisan bickering or political parties.
Here are a few more mind-benders: How do you keep guns out of the hands of disturbed people while protecting the fundamental right to bear and keep arms?
Who draws the line for when free speech becomes menacing?
If stop-and-frisk policing is a proven deterrent for criminal activity, why should the right to privacy overrule its effectiveness?
And finally, if men can't be trusted to live peacefully without government, why then should certain men be put in charge of wielding the state's monopoly on power?
If all of this seems beguiling, don't worry. These are the issues that great thinkers have grappled with since the time of Pericles. Societies cannot exist without the individual members submitting to a higher order. And that higher order cannot be too oppressive to the point where the individual members revolt. This is the great paradox of politics.
There is one way to untangle the nasty knot of statecraft. As the Christmas season approaches, we should remember the eternal gift given to mankind in the form of a being both God and Man. For in all of life's troubles, Jesus Christ shows the way. When confronted with a problem, we should reflect on the Redeemer of the World and the Truth he gave us: That we're all flawed and susceptible to error.
Sometimes humility can help get us on the right path closer to the greater good, if not show us the answer.


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No one can say the Austin theatre community didn't get into the Halloween spirit this year. I saw five local stage productions this October and all but one of them directly involved a murderer (more often murderers) of some kind. What is it about this time of year that lets us get away with this? Sure, the macabre can be appreciated year round, but nothing makes horror shine through its self-formed miasma of death and fear than October. Perhaps it's a matter of exposure. We allow ourselves this annual allotment of visual morbid curiosity to fulfill a need within our minds much like we receive from plays, films, and novels of other genres. This contact allows us the opportunity to experience horrid events without fully giving ourselves over to the shadows. You can still enjoy disturbing entertainment and be a delightful individual. For example, the last show I am reviewing from October revolves around two professional assassins with little to no remorse about those they kill who are also the kindest men you'll ever meet.
The Norwegians follows Olive, recently jilted by her now ex-boyfriend, as she seeks the services of the titular Norwegians from Minnesota, the nicest pair of hitmen the world has ever known.
Normally I like to review a production by discussing individual elements one at a time, but for reasons that will soon become apparent to you I feel it would be better to discuss The Norwegians by each act rather than a whole.
With the stage divided into two small sets separated by snow painted upon the ground, the first act of The Norwegians structures itself by tossing our protagonist, Olive (Claire Grasso), back and forth between two scenes, each transition effectively accompanied by a shifting of lights and the thematically appropriate sounds of a gust of wind through the Minnesotan snows as characters freeze in place until Olive returns to them. Mike Toner's set dedicates stage-right to the cabin of Tor and Gus (Michael Stuart and J. Ben Wolfe respectively) as they explain the implications of assassinating Olive's ex with her as well as what it means to be Norwegian, while stage-left shows the corner of an Italian restaurant as Olive discusses her hatred of her ex with her new friend Betty (Boni Hester). Both sets are sparse and intimate, allowing the characters in each room to maintain the focus of the scenes.
That being said, I often found myself not engaged in the scenes. The frequently reiterated friendliness of the Norwegians took over Stuart and Wolfe's performances, offering little else to their scenes than the comic relief of such kind, gentile individuals discussing professional murder. Hester was a welcome addition to the cast who artfully walked the line between friendly and sinister while speaking of murder and loves lost. However, I found myself unable to invest in Grasso's character at all. This was in part due to the way in which Olive was written, but Grasso rarely showed believable concern over her choice to end another person's life. I just didn't find her sympathetic. Furthermore, there was an energy behind her voice which worked well for some sequences, but not for most. By the intermission I felt I had a firm grasp of my thoughts on The Norwegians.
Then the second act started.
Suddenly the characters had a sense of agency and concern about them as the plot forced them to break free of the forms they maintained in act I. It started on a high note with a humorous monologue by Hester directed at the audience. Wolfe and Stuart, now not devoted entirely to appearing friendly, were both relatable in their struggles and sinister in their actions. Furthermore, playwright C. Denby Swanson and director Lara Toner Haddock took the opportunities to create surreal, dreamlike sequences, foreshadowed near the end of act I by a brief, unexpected moment which heavily incorporated sound and light to create a warped vibe (a moment which Swanson and Haddock stated, during a talk back after the performance, to be the precursor or warm up for the audience to prepare themselves for the shift in act II). Through these ethereal moments, as well as those grounded in reality, Don Day's lighting and Joel Mercado-See's sound design truly stepped up to create an atmospheric experience whether we were drinking in a cabin, traversing the snow, or within a character's mind. There was one extended dream sequence that one might think of as "the ballet" that, while intriguing in its visuals, promptly halted the narrative for a few moments that seemed unwarranted. Toner's set was still present, but mostly abandoned for the openness offered by the downstage snowfield. The former locations were still utilized sparingly, but the convergence of characters and plots demanded a space that allowed more room for everyone to interact with one another. The only aspect of act I which did not improve much in act II was Grasso's performance in which I still could not become invested or sympathetic. It wasn't just that she blissfully ignored the ramifications of her actions that bothered me, rather that her reactions to other characters felt discordant with the rest of the production, as if she were somewhere else. All in all, the cast and crews shift from the first act amounted to a significantly more engaging second act with an honestly chilling conclusion.
This production requires some warming up, but once it gets going it's truly engaging. The Norwegians is at once delightful and dark, and will leave you fearful of all the friendly people you'll find in the snow. The Nowegians ran for 10 performance October 23-November 7 2015.


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1882 Ltd
1882 Ltd. is a design-led ceramics brand produced in Stoke on Trent, England formed by fourth and fifth generations of the Johnson Brothers family. In the five years since forming the company, 1882 Ltd. has worked ceaselessly to be true to its manifesto, collaborating with pioneering artists and designers producing works of art as well as tableware.
At the core of 1882 Ltd. is progressive design and industrial craftsmanship. 1882 Ltd. produce a combination of essential objects and special pieces that highlight the centuries of industrial heritage craft skills and knowledge that reside in the heart of the British ceramics industry, Stoke on Trent.
Their ceramics are to be used, loved and desired and to bring enjoyment and each collection has a different spirit but always stay true to 1882 Ltd.'s values and the importance of good design and superlative quality that will last the test of time. Championing the incredible human skill in everything 1882 Ltd. does, they focus on the process as well as the design.
1882 Ltd.'s mission is to champion inventively designed ceramic whilst employing the manufacturing heritage of Stoke on Trent and promoting the British ceramic industry. In collaborating with exceptionally talented designers to realize their interpretation of a very traditional material and craft, 1882 Ltd. bring innovative ceramics to a wider audience while supporting a valuable UK resource.
1882 Ltd
27 matching products, priced from AED 73.50 to AED 528.75


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Contact us at 1-800-214-2850 - email@example.com for questions or orders
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Wellinhand Action Remedies Zero Zitz!® Try Me Pack 0.5 fl oz6 Assorted Trial Vials - great for travel or as a sample size for you or a friend (0.5 fl oz/14 ml)Conventional acne treatments have been linked to depression, irritability, tiredness, and appetite loss.
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The new Salvador Dali Museum looks like it really materialized from Dali's consciousness; the museum dedicated to the surrealist artist opened its doors on January 11th, 2011, in St. Petersburg, Florida. It is a fascinating project, designed by HOK, which is an expansion of the original Dali Museum built in 1982. Reaching well 6300 square meters, it's spread over three floors, where you can admire the works of the master. The architecture of this work is inspired by Dali's surrealist art, but at the same time it owes its appearance and the choice of materials to the practical need to protect the buildings and the works of art that it contains, from the frequent hurricanes that threaten Florida's coasts. The building is composed of the Euclidean "treasure box", a block of reinforced concrete almost 18 meters high, right-angled, which contains the works of art, and a fluid, organic glass body called "Enigma", (it takes the name from a 1929 Dali work). The art collection includes sculptures, paintings, watercolors and sketches from the genius mind of Salvador Dali.
(below, the work in progress of the museum)
© photos Moris Moreno
More info about Hok Studio here.


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Sema(redirected from Sama)
Also found in: Dictionary, Medical, Acronyms, Wikipedia.
a mountain range in the northwestern Altai, primarily on the left bank of the Katun' River. The Semas are approximately 120 km long, with elevations reaching 2,506 m on Mount Sarlyk. They are composed primarily of metamorphic rocks. Hardwood and fir and cedar forests cover the slopes, and a rocky tundra covers the southern peaks.


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More Information
Medical Scribes for Hospitals
Minimizing errors is a critical concern of every hospital administrator. Hiring Scribes to assist rounding physicians reduces a variety of potential errors that may occur when a doctor or surgeon documents his own interactions with patients.
Although there are now mini-computers and tablets to record real time patient interaction, physicians who use these devices themselves could easily miss the subtle details of a face-to-face conversation. In order to deliver the highest quality medical care, it is essential for providers to understand informational nuances communicated by their patients. Scribes assume the responsibility of recording provider-patient interaction, allowing physicians to focus on their areas of expertise.
For providers who choose the classic route of oral dictation, there is often a delay between patient visitation and recording time. Whether the delay is several minutes or several hours, there is margin for error as the provider attempts to recall the details of a previous conversation. Scribes eliminate the delay that often occurs between the time when a physician interacts with his patient and the time he records his interaction, thereby reducing physician error from rushing or memory lapses. Since a Scribe records in real time in the presence of the physician and patient, she can clear up any misunderstandings in the moment they occur. A Scribe who documents provider-patient interaction in the presence of the provider is much more accurate than a traditional transcriptionist whose accuracy is hindered by background noise and breaks in clarity common in audio recordings.
Since Scribes transcribe in real time, there is also no turnaround time for documentation. Since patient information is instantly available, hospitals can operate more efficiently. Departments can communicate more quickly, and patients can receive treatment immediately. By reducing lag time, hospitals are able to serve more patients (with greater patient satisfaction) and are, therefore, more profitable.
The equation is simple. Scribes = a more profitable, more efficient hospital environment.
For Hospitals and Physicians
The role of Scribes with Electronic Health Records (EHRs). Have you noticed that EHRs are coming rapidly to seemingly every hospital, Emergency Department, and physician's office? Good news, right? Yes and no. EHRs bring many benefits to healthcare organizations. But less publicized is the substantial decrease in user productivity that occurs with the introduction of an EHR. It has been shown that physician productivity is typically reduced by 30%. This not only impacts revenue for the physician and physician group but also for the hospital. Scribes blunt this negative effect of an EHR during the transition phase and return the physician to pre-EHR levels quickly and eventually improve productivity beyond pre-EHR levels. This increased productivity due to Scribe utilization easily pays for the cost of Scribes and then some. Make your transition to an EHR as seamless and painless as possible.


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The Big
Wine Company
|Home | Wine List | Wine Search | Mixed Cases | Gifts | Wine Club | Blog | JOIN MAILING LIST
Xavier Vignon (Consultant Winemaker, Rhône Valley)
Xavier Vignon is one of the top consultant winemakers in the south of France. He used to be a master Champagne blender (so he knows a thing or two about constructing wines) but now lives in Les Barroux in the Rhône Valley from where he visits around 300 estates to advise them on viticulture and vinification. At the end of each year, as he hands over his bill, he offers some of his employers to exchange it for barrels to make his own blends - well, that's more or less how it works. His preferred style is for intense flavours and big structures so, inevitably, he keeps the best wines for bottling under his own stylish label. They are superb wines which are earning him the recognition they well deserve in France - and they are beginning to become well-known in the UK. More...
Xavier producers a wide range of wines from the south of France. From the Rhône he offers a full range from a full and gutsy Côtes du Rhône to his top wine, a Châteauneuf called "Anonyme" from a number of his top clients.
One of the most distinctive wines is the non-vintage blend sourced from both the Rhône and the Languedoc. Not only does it come from two distinct regions (and many more sub-regions) but it comprises wines from more than one vintage - as already mentioned, Xavier is a master blender! As such "Xavier Rouge" (or "Debut") can only be classed as non-vintage wines. Oak-aged and very powerful, it is an astonishingly good value wine.
New in the 2010 vintage, a 100% Grenache cuvee from Gigondas, a new favourite for us, and a Syrah-rich Vacqueyras which will be superb with three or four years in the bottle. "100%" is a new variation on the "Debut" concept so will be one to watch.
Click for more about: Southern Rhône Xavier Vignon
You must be aged 18 or over to purchase wine.


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Have you tried any products from Nourish?
Sarah x
I love the hand cream that came in a souksouk box recently. This is definitely a brand I want to try more from xReplyDelete
I keep hearing good things about the hand cream, I shall have to buy some when I work through my stash :-)Delete
I'm a huge fan of Nourish range. I especially love Golden Glow Illuminating Face Shimmer xReplyDelete
I've seen a few people chatting about that one, sounds good :-)Delete
I have the balancing serum and it's great :) xxReplyDelete
It seems like most of the range is enjoyed by others :-)Delete
I've been trying out a few bits from their Argan range and have been really impressed so far. Love the sound of this moisturiser, especially the whipped texture :) x
Evelyn @ We Were Raised By Wolves
I keep seeing the Argan range being mentioned, I was offered it but some of the ingredients are not suitable for me because of my allergies.Delete


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Hand Crafted Whistles
Welcome to Ellis whistles and thank you for considering an Ellis whistle. My whistles are hand crafted instruments and I am committed to making the finest professional pennywhistles available, with a beautiful clear tone which are in tune over two octaves.
Each penny whistle is handmade in the UK using traditional skills. Every whistle of mine is made to the same high standards, using original designs and utilising quality aluminium components - don't expect each whistle to be identical. The process of hand making each and every pennywhistle ensures that there are very subtle differences in the design of each instrument, no two whistles are identical.
"I like the fact that everyone who has one of my whistles has a unique one off bespoke instrument and can be satisfied that I have put time, effort and skill into each one. Rest assured no whistle will be sold unless it meets the highest standards. This is something you just don't get from mass produced Tin whistles"
As an engineer I believe in constantly looking for ways to improve the whistle design, style and most importantly functionality. Ellis Whistles believe in innovation and as you will see I have created tunable whistles with a volume control. This feature means you can adjust the volume to any required level, or you can close off the air hole completely. This makes the whistle silent, ideal for practising your fingering techniques without annoying the neighbours.
Please visit the whistle shop page to view my full range of whistles.


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Not true. I called Samsung and they said it is the Sprint network. All other providers have the correct capabilities.
NO, NO, Im not Saying Sprint, I mean AT&T. I said I was a Sprit Customer for 17 years. and now Im an (AT&T) Customer.
Wow, that's cool! I wonder when we(Sprint) Customers get the VOLTE
I'm jealous 😬, I wish my galaxy watch LTE standalone feature worked😅
I feel you! Hopefully soon!
In my area (West Virginia) which is controlled by a Sprint Affiliate (Shentel) we actually have VoLTE on our phones. And the Apple watches even work as a stand-alone when making calls. It's not exactly immediate when not connected to the phone but I've tested it by turning the phone off and it works. I am actually a Sprint rep for an indirect affiliate (VisionMobile). I just ordered a Galaxy Watch and am getting it tomorrow so I look forward to testing it! Would anyone be interested in knowing if it works?
I would like to know if the galaxy watch will work as a standalone
Need Help?
Please try Searching the Community, we have many questions already answered, you can also check out the Knowledge base.
If you have an account question you can create a post and one of our Social Care Agents will help you.
If you need immediate assistance please visit Sprint Chat


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Robert A. Kyle, MD
Disclaimer: This editorial does not imply that Mayo Foundation endorses any of the products mentioned therein.
Disclosure: Dr. Kyle is on the Speaker's Bureau of OrthoBiotech, Schering-Plough, and Novartis. He also serves as a consultant to Hoffman-LaRoche.
Grant Support: In part by National Cancer Institute grant CA62242.
Requests for Single Reprints: Robert A. Kyle, MD, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905.
Requests To Purchase Bulk Reprints (minimum, 100 copies): the Reprints Coordinator; phone, 215-351-2657; e-mail, firstname.lastname@example.com.
Kyle RA. The Role of Bisphosphonates in Multiple Myeloma. Ann Intern Med. 2000;132:734–736. doi: https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-132-9-200005020-00009
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34 brunch offer
34 brunch offer
Enjoy a sumptuous three course brunch menu with a Bloody Mary cocktail and an exhibition ticket for just £55*
Book on 020 3350 3434 quoting 'RA Sensing Spaces'
Located just off Grosvenor Square in the heart of Mayfair, 34 has become a modern-day classic. Burnt orange banquettes, oak parquet and a colourful contemporary art collection give the room a warm and inviting look, highlighted by the bespoke charcoal grill in the open kitchen.
Weekend brunch is a welcome addition to the menu, and dishes to be on the lookout for include lobster Thermidor omelette; crab & grilled asparagus frittata; buttermilk pancakes, cured bacon, maple syrup; Southern fried chicken coleslaw sandwich, 34 hamburger with dill relish.
34, 34 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 2HD (on the corner of Reeves Mews and South Audley Street)
Terms and conditions
- Must be booked in advance.
- Subject to availability.
- Offer valid on Saturdays and Sundays ONLY from 25 January – 6 April 2014, 12pm–4pm.
- Tickets must be collected from the restaurant.
- Available for up to 4 people.
- Payment taken upon booking.
- Service charge included.
- RA opening times: Mon to Thurs, Sat and Sun: 10am-6pm (last admission 5.30pm) Fri: 10am-10pm (last admission 9.30pm).
- Must be booked in advance.


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Years into marriage and your relationship has become complacent but is that all what you want? Most married women seek contentment from their partner while married men seek pleasure and excitement from their wives.
Though equally responsible, but onus lies a bit more with woman to drive her relationship into that ultimate state of bliss where both of you rejoice and enjoy your partnership. And, all this starts with – keeping your husband happy.
Here are 5 ways to keep your husband happy and restore the lost charm in your marriage:
Stop nagging and arguing
Who'll want to come home to an arguing partner? Let him have his way sometimes at least. The way it's popularly said 'choose your battles carefully' – accept differences in opinions and avoid intruding into his space. Men fiercely safeguard their space and identity so better not to contend in that area. Making him small fights can only help you win the battle.
Have an active and interesting sex life
Sex – a very basic human necessity that is swathed in hesitation. A good sex life gives boost to not only your physical bodies but also one's echo, emotions and attachment. Sex does not just mean the 'act', it involves the whole process of touching, exploring and imbibing each other. Woo your husband by trying something new, wearing an attractive dress or initiating a naughty conversation. This will surely spice up your sex life.
Re-ignite the romance
Remember how it was when you were newly married, there was always this thought of 'how to surprise your husband' circling your mind. Get that thought back. Make him feel special, loved and desirable. Snuggle a warm hug, hold his hand, a loving text message, a cheeky kiss or even a shower together – there are so many such small gestures that can display your affection. Cook something he loves to eat or arrange a romantic candle light dinner when he returns from office.
Take care of yourself
Be conscious of your looks and dress the way you did back when you were a teenager. Maintain your weight, wear good dresses, apply a bit of makeup (of course, don't overdo it!) and pursue a hobby. Self-grooming goes a long way in making you happy too.
Do things together
The most romantic couples cherish the moments they spend together doing or creating something. If your husband likes adventure, why not accompany him on his next travelling or mountain climbing trip. Watch a cricket match or an action movie, hang-out with friends and even enjoy the silent moments of togetherness.
The trick is simple to make him fall in love with you all over again just the way you did when you were dating or got married!


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SketchUp allows you to add scenes and create interior backgrounds in your designs much like you create exterior views. For example, if your model is not finished or certain rooms aren't part of the project scope, you can use an image file, such as a JPEG, to set scenes instead of leaving rooms blank. In this online video you'll learn the process of creating interior backgrounds and adding scenes to enhance your presentations.
Next, after you've got an exterior one, you might want to consider as well to do some for the interiors. Reason that you might want to do this is that maybe your model isn't completely finished yet, or you haven't really thought out what you want to do. Or, maybe the rooms aren't part of your scope of work. So we can go ahead and put in one for an interior view as well. So I'm going to kind of zoom out again and I'm going to come over here in space and I'm going to pick the Rectangle tool a second time.
And in this case I'm going to develop one that is going to be roughly six inches thick and 18 feet, three inches, let's say. We'll bring that in, there we go, and we're going to basically lift this one up, approximately nine feet. So we're going to bring this up nine feet. Now that we have it set up that way we're going to bring in another image. In this case we'll go back to, Import. And, we'll pick up LR1 which has got a nice TV in there on the wall.
It'll look good in the living room, even though we don't have a finished living room, and we'll use this as an image as well. Then we'll pick a point, even though it doesn't stretch all the way across, which is fine, we're going to go ahead and just click there. Then go ahead as we did before. Right-click here, make sure that everything is selected. And right-click one more time and make it into a group. So now we have a group that's been placed. We're going to pick it up by its lower corner. We're going to just kind of move it into place which will be approximately right there.
Might have to zoom in a little bit so we can get it in a little bit better. There we go. So now we have two backgrounds set up. We have a background for the interior and one for the exterior. So, now that we have our backgrounds set up, we can now basically set up some scenes. So, we're going to first of all, go to Camera, which we can do either up here or down here. We're going to pick it up with a little guy, and I'm going to place him like so, so he's on the face of the floor.
We're going to use the eye to set up one scene right now. You can see that our TV screen shows up. And I'm going to basically kind of manipulate a little bit back and forth here. So I can see basically, maybe something like that. That's starting to look pretty good. Zoom it up a little bit and we'll change the eye height to five feet, eight inches, and that should help out a little bit there. So, we have this setup, we're going to come over her to View, go down to Animation, and we're going to click Add Scene.
So, we've now gone ahead and made one scene. We'll go ahead and make another one. We'll set this up a little bit differently as well, kind of get this out of the way. I'll put our little guy in here again, and we'll kind of zoom out a little bit, come over this way. That looks pretty good. So we'll take that, make another scene as well. So now we have two scenes that have been created. The other thing that you can do is you can also right-click on any one of these tabs and go to Scene Manager.
You'll notice that they're located right here. Now, this panel extends out, and you can actually go ahead and name each one of these in case you want to. So here we can call this the Bar Scene. We can have all these attributes for properties being saved, and then over here for this one we can call this, Kitchen Scene. Again, we can even add in a description, say, something like looking out the window. So all that information will go ahead and be there.
So again, you can create your scenes, and set them up, then once you're done you can also click to each one to see basically how they look, which is kind of nice. Create backgrounds to enhance your views. You can use any number of images, use photos from your camera or even images found on websites, particularly manufacturing websites where some of these things would work very well. There are a number of file formats available to choose from as well.
The most common one is to use JPEG files. Move the backgrounds into position and then set them up so that you can save them to a scene.
- Drawing 2D floor plans in SketchUp
- Selecting the right template and tools
- Creating components
- Cleaning up walls and creating door and window openings
- Using x-ray views when adding doors and windows
- Using layers to manage your views effectively
- Capturing materials to use in your design
- Applying materials to components
- Exporting your drawing as an image


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Opening June 18, 2014, the Dulles South Food Pantry was formed to serve the needy of one of the fastest growing communities in America. Nestled to the south of the Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia, the Dulles South region boasts tantalizing amenities like community pools, a gorgeous library, a new hospital coming soon, a community center, miles of beautifully groomed trails and more. But, even in our immaculately maintained community, there is still heart breaking need for the basic necessities.
While there are well-established food pantries in other areas of Loudoun County, there is a geographic pocket where the needy in the immediate area of the Freedom High School and John Champe High School boundaries cannot easily receive assistance. Dulles South residents are not always eligible for full benefits at some pantries (due to geographical limits of the surrounding pantries). Or they have to travel more than 10 miles to take advantage of pantries like Seven Loaves or Loudoun Interfaith Relief. Often this distance is prohibitive for our needy, especially for seniors and those without reliable transportation. The Dulles South Food Pantry hopes to relieve some of the pressure on the neighboring food pantries by servicing our own.
In Loudoun's Dulles South community, there are more than 759 children who Loudoun County Public Schools considers economically disadvantaged. This rivals the population of an entire elementary school, and when considering there are only eleven public schools within the Dulles South area and each needy child represents needy adults and possibly younger siblings, the numbers of food insecure begin to multiply. Heart breaking instances of death, divorce, unemployment and illness can create need very quickly in otherwise stable lives.
The Dulles South Food Panty came together through the efforts of an eighteen member steering committee, local churches, community partner organizations, and a large and successful interfaith food drive "Love Your Neighbor, Feed Your Neighbor." Many individuals had the desire and saw the need in Dulles South, and through the effort of the steering committee, who have a whole range of professional and volunteer experience and resources, and partner churches the pantry is set to open June 18, 2014 at the Arcola United Methodist Church at 24757 Evergreen Mills Road, Dulles, Virginia 20166. This is just in time for the end of the school year and the loss of free and reduced breakfast and lunch services for the area's children.
The pantry is designed to service residents, regardless of age, income, faith, or any other factor, of the Dulles South geographic area. Initially, it will operate the first and third Wednesday of every month from 5 to 8 pm. Individuals in need can contact us here for assistance.
There are many ways to help this effort! Check out our fundraising page. Please consider sharing this on social media. Help us spread the word!
The pantry also needs volunteers. Volunteers can help in a many ways from stocking shelves to filling orders to data entry. Each volunteer needs to complete training. Signup for training.
And, of course, food donations are always welcome.
Help us so we can helps others when they need it the most.


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My super-smart sister-in-law wrote the following rant and gave me permission to share it with you:
Dear Christians,
I think you are taking this "turn the other cheek' thing too far. Please don't let yourself get thrown to the lions again while you clasp hands and pray. This is one problem that will not go away just by being moral and living right.
When Californians voted (against) gay marriage in 2008, "No H8" signs appeared everywhere. In a popular Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles, El Coyote, a Mormon employee donated a mere $100 to support traditional marriage. For weeks shrieking gays harassed patrons in the parking lot, ultimately intimidating this woman out of her restaurant for many months.
It might seem a tad much for a mere $100 donation, but Gays said they took her donation personally because they had patronized her business and she had always been pleasant and nice to them. So, they felt betrayed by her. Her religious beliefs were merely manifestations of hate in their eyes and her pleasantness was interpreted as merely hypocritical betrayal.
The Gay Lobby has made it very clear they will ruin you professionally and financially if you stray from overt support of them. They have made it personal. The message is that religion, specifically Christianity, hates. Religious people, specifically Christians, are haters. Religious practitioners, specifically Christians, will be sued.


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We are so lucky to have the support of terrific volunteers! Enjoy a short Volunteer Week Appreciation Video.
Volunteers make an important contribution to the delivery of our programs and we are committed to providing opportunities for volunteers to learn and serve Perth County.
Join our volunteer team!
- Take an active role and make a difference in your community.
- Use existing skills or develop new ones.
- Help others.
- Have fun
- Network in our unique community health setting.
- Gain volunteer hours and valuable work experience.
We offer a range of volunteer opportunities, many of which are listed below. While some programs may not require volunteers at this time, we will be happy to take your name for future reference.
Please review the volunteer options before completing the on-line application.
How do I become a Health Unit Volunteer?
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with the Perth District Health Unit, please complete the Volunteer Application.
Note: Please be prepared to give two references: one non-family, character reference and one employment or volunteer reference if applicable. Please include daytime telephone number and email address.
Applications are processed as openings occur and kept on file pending openings for one year.
Volunteers are limited to performing duties outlined in their role description. As a result, it is not possible to practice or gain experience within a specific licensed or regulated profession (such as a nurse, inspector, dental hygienist).
Volunteer Options
Program support: Clerical Office Volunteer
Help staff with a variety of general administrative tasks, such as assembling information packages, labelling, photocopying and more. This is a good fit for individuals with weekday availability and students seeking community service hours.
Enjoy Relating to Youth? Be a Teen Esteem or Elements Volunteer
This short-term, school-based volunteer placement gives you an opportunity to support Grade 5 and 6 students in Perth County through our Teen Esteem program for girls and Elements for boys.
- Donate your time one lunch hour a week for a six week session.
- Facilitate discussion and lead students in interactive games and activities that are outlined in a manual designed by public health nurses.
- Session topics include self-esteem, communication, healthy relationships, stress management, social media and goal setting.
- Orientation and training is provided by a public health nurse and a public health nurse is present at every session.
- Our goal is to empower and equip youth to make healthy life choices!
Calling All Three Year Olds Kindergarten Registration Volunteer
Support our Child Health team with Calling All Three Year Olds Kindergarten Registration during the month of November.
The purpose of Calling All Three Year Olds is to welcome children and their families to the school environment with a positive first experience, for parents to learn about their child's development and how to prepare their child for school. Typical registrations run from 8:30 am to 12 noon.
Volunteers will invite parents and children to enjoy a snack from the nutrition table and engage parents in conversation regarding available resources (such as pamphlets) about services in the community.
The Flu Crew
Each fall, we host free Flu Shot clinics. Support our Communicable Disease team by helping with various duties at these community clinics.
Vision Screener
- Support local Lions Clubs in providing vision screening to kindergarten students during the months of October and November.
- Use vision screening tools and training for the purposes of identifying risk factors.
Project-Focused Health Promotion
Special projects arise throughout the year that are ideal for individuals with a passion for public health.
Have questions? Email or call the Coordinator of Volunteer Services at 519-271-7600 or toll-free at 1-877-271-7348 extension 305.
The Perth District Health Unit is an equal opportunity employer and values workplace diversity.


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Invisalign and Metal Braces In Timonium
To us teeth are a precious asset, and in today's society, straight, beautiful teeth are a necessity. Whether you are a teenager or an adult, who is proactive about his or her image and health, there are several options available today to help you achieve the smile you desire and deserve. Our practice has always provided quality orthodontic services alongside our general and comprehensive dental care and we find that a knowledgeable discussion of orthodontic options is essential for correctly developed cosmetic dental care. Not everyone is blessed with naturally straight, even teeth, and we see that as an opportunity to make yours even better. Find out which procedure is ideal for orthodontics by investigating your options in Timonium, Towson and the Pikesville, MD area and visiting Dr. Haywood for a personal and professional consultation.
Instant Orthodontics – elegant cosmetic dentistry
Orthodontics in Baltimore and Towson is no longer just about straightening your teeth over a long period. At the Center for Implants and Cosmetic Dentistry, we offer "Instant Orthodontics." Cosmetic solutions that can transform crooked, discolored, or gapped teeth instantly! Porcelain veneers, bonding, crowns, and tooth and gum reshaping are several examples of instant orthodontics. With these treatments, we can give you a whole new smile, quickly and painlessly, in as little as one or two visits! The results are stunning, whether you want a subtle improvement or a dramatic change.
INVISALIGN- The future of orthodontics– today!
The clear alternative to traditional braces, Invisalign, continues to be a fan favorite for cosmetic teeth straightening in the Hereford Zone, Baltimore, Maryland, and Towson areas. We are certified to provide this progressive service for adults who don't want the difficulties of older technologies. Visit www.invisalign.com for more detailed information. Rest assured; we have the judgment and experience to help you determine whether this product is right for you. We are proud to be a leader in our area, achieving the rank of Elite Preferred provider that is based on our education and volume of experience. We offer Invisalign Teen and Invisalign Express. 98 percent of all of or orthodontic cases now are Invisalign clear "braces." Covered by insurances and with our in office financing options we expect that we will be even busier with Invisalign this next year. Our patients know that their Cosmetic dentist is the best orthodontist in Baltimore and Towson!
Acceledent Technology
We provide our patients with perfect smiles faster than ever by using the latest in orthodontic technology. Dr. Haywood offers AcceleDent Aura technology to his patients who want to see their straight, beautiful teeth as quickly as possible. AcceleDent Aura can speed up your tooth movement by using SoftPulse Technology. Dr. Haywood will provide you with an AcceleDent mouthpiece and activator that you will use for just 20 minutes each day. AcceleDent technology has been proven to have the ability to decrease the duration of your orthodontic treatment by up to 50%. It may even make your orthodontics feel more comfortable.
Metal Braces – now used only occasionally
These days you can chose from several options. Metal and wire braces are the most familiar option to the majority of people. They are the most economical and suitable for complex orthodontic work, enabling us to adjust the bite and function of the teeth, as well as crowding, positioning, and gaps. We use the finest, thinnest, yet strongest metal available for maximum comfort and efficacy. Once the permanent teeth have grown in and obvious irregularities are noticed, is the best time to consider braces. However, the need for braces is not always obvious. There could be issues such as TMJ disorder, or grinding that hint at functional or bite problems. They aren't only for cosmetic purposes, they can be important for the overall health and longevity of your teeth. With proper alignment and a correct bite, teeth will have the best chance of surviving a lifetime. If a person bites down on something, the pressure will be distributed evenly and each tooth will function as it was intended, thereby alleviating the potential for excessive wear and breakage as he or she ages. The best dentists in Baltimore and Maryland for that matter use orthodontics to create the best overall health and beauty for their patients. It can take between 1 to 3 years to straighten your teeth depending on the severity of the problem. We rarely do metal braces, however, our experience of over 29 years allow us to use auxiliary orthodontic movements with wire should the case require it.
With so many options available in Pikesville, Towson, and surrounding areas to straighten your smile, why not make an appointment at our Timonium dentist office so that we can evaluate your case and put you on the quickest and safest path to that smile you desire.


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Tag Archives: beauty
The Body Shop – Colour Crush Lipstick Review (in Berry in Love 320)
I promise I'm nearly at the end of the reviews from my TBS haul! I'm building up my lipstick collection at the moment and as soon as I heard The Body Shop had launched a new one I had to give it a go!
I decided to go for a colour I didn't already have so opted for Berry in Love which is a lovely deep pink shade with a touch of coral. It's somewhere between a pink and red and it's utterly perfect for every day wear. The colour comes out really well and I just can't get a photo that does it justice. It is wonderfully pigmented and adds a touch of glamour to any look.
It also has a light rose scent which is very elegant and makes the task of applying the lipstick that bit more pleasant It's also highly moisturising and leaves my lips feeling super soft and well cared for.
It lasts quite well for a lipstick that has a soft sheen finish, I usually find that the lipsticks that hydrate best last least, but this one lasts a good few hours and I don't mind reapplying every so often.
I am definitely going to try some other colours so I'll let you know if the others live up to this one!
Try it: RRP £10, The Body Shop
#SBBC – The Body Shop – Metallic Eye Definer Pencil in Glowing Amethyst Review
I'm loving coloured eye pencils at the moment and seeing as I bought an eye shadow this colour I decided to go all out and get the eye liner too. Unfortunately it is exactly the same colour as The Body Shop Baked to Last Amethyst eye shadow so it doesn't show up with that. But, it looks lovely with neutral eyes to add a bit of colour instead.
It is a lovely soft eye pencil but the colour pay-off is minimal. You really have to build it up to get a suitable result. As much as I love TBS I'm finding recently that the colours are very subtle and I prefer my look to stand out if I am going with colours over a nude look.
It has a gorgeous shimmer to, which is beautiful and when built up enough would look fantastic for an evening look. It just takes time, patience and practice to get a good result, all things I don't have a lot of.
It is however water-resistance and it has battled the rain for me, it is also dermatologist approved so it's great for those of us who have sensitive eyes and skin.
I think £8 for this is a bit steep considering it is very pale and they boast a fantastic colour pay-off in the description, which just hasn't delivered. Maybe some of the other colours would be better, I don't know but I'm reluctant to try another one. May try the Avon Glimmer Sticks instead.
I hope that you don't mind that today's SBBC post is a review, got lots to catch up on and I don't always have time to do 2 posts a day. Today is one of those very busy days, I'm writing this on my lunch break and I have a volunteer role tonight too 🙂
#SBBC Day 5 – Good Skin Starts From Within
Foods for healthy skin
As the daily prompts are optional and I wasn't having any inspiration for either today I decided to do a post that was suggested by our very own Megan on foods that are super good for your skin. It doesn't matter how many lotions and cleansers you use your skin will always be better if you eat well. Taking care of the inside will naturally take care of the outside.
First up and the one I feel most important is water. Your skin needs to be hydrated to be healthy. Hydrated skin not only has fewer spots it has a natural glow and tans easily and safely when using sun screen. Water will keep your skin young, soft and beautiful.
Yoghurt contains vitamin A which is vital for good skin. Just be sure to make it a low-fat version.
Blueberries are my personal favourite super-food. They are rich in antioxidant which fights the anti-aging process and helps to protect your skin from the effects of pollution in the air.
I'm not a fish eater, I can't stand it but I wish I could. It's rich in Omega and Essential Fatty Acids, these are responsible for healthy cell membranes and the general healthy of cells throughout the whole body. If the cell walls are tough cookies they'll keep more water in and thus give you healthier cells and healthier skin.
And no I'm not talking about the sugar-coated variety! Almonds are jam-packed full of vitamin E and are rich in monounsaturated fat (good fat!). This also keep cells strong and lowers cholesterol too.
I love spinach. Mainly in fresh mixed in with mash potato so it is just lightly steamed. (My recipe for the day!) Spinach contains beta-carotene which helps to repair skin and maintain its youthful appearance.
Too much milk, bread, pasta, cakes – These are all linked to causing acne.
Salt – This can cause your skin to look puffy and can also cause acne.
Candy – This can damage the collagen and elsatin in your skin. These both keep your skin firm and wrinkle free so ditch the candy and hit up the blueberries!
Alcohol – It dries out your skin and causes so many problems and can also lead to more serious skin conditions.
The Body Shop Brow & Liner Kit Review
There seems to be a shortage of affordable eyebrow kits right now. Every time I saw one online to order it seemed to be out of stock. The MUA one has had brilliant write ups but is consistently not available. That's when I came across The Body Shop's one. This item is solely responsible for my recent TBS haul. If I was already ordering it I may as well make the most of it and order enough to get free shipping.
Prominent, bold and thicker eyebrows have been slowly making a comeback over the summer and are set to big for Autumn. Good eyebrows can change a whole look, make statement and frame your face. Eyebrows were never meant to be thin lines barely there. If like most of us you followed the over plucked look in the last few years chances are your brows don't have what it takes to meet this seasons trend. That's where a good eyebrow kit comes in.
I usually use Brow Zings by Benefit but it's pretty pricey for what it is and I've run out so I decided to find an affordable option and I'm thrilled with this little treasure.
Firstly, the packaging is lovely, if a pain in the butt to photograph, it looks glamourous and there is plenty of product included and a handy mirror and double ended brush. It also comes in a range of different shades so there really is one for everyone.
It's really easy to use, you can use either end of the brush depending on what works best for you, largely this is decided by the size of your eyebrows and what size you want them to be. I think the smaller brush is meant to be used as the eyeliner but I find that brush easier to use when doing my eyebrows. You use the lighter shade in the middle and then the darker to create the arch and fill in the eyebrow.
This product works really well, it's so versatile that you can create the perfect brow look for you, day or night. It also lasts really well. It's a really thick powder, it tames the brows in a flash and maintains them throughout the day.
The darker colour can also be used to set eyeliner or even as an eyeliner which is an added bonus.
At just £10 it is a total bargain and The Body Shop often have offers on anyway so you can get it even cheaper.
What brow kit do you use?
#SBBC – What I Take When I Travel
Day 3 of the September blog-a-day challenge started with the exciting news that I now have 300 wonderful followers. I think I'll do another giveaway at 500 followers. I've been blogging 10 and 1/2 weeks and I still can't get pver the fact that people actually read what I write!
Anyway, into today's post. I take so many things when I travel so I decided to just show 7 of them. I tend to over-pack and take everything including the kitchen sink, you just never know when you're going to need that bright pink eye liner you bought when you were 13.
- The Body Shop All-in-One BB Cream is multi-purpose, I use it in place of my moisturiser and foundation in the morning saving my precious space in my bag and time for enjoying my time away.
- I always have a concealer with me, I'm currently using an MUA one and it'd be one I took travelling as it's cheap and easily replaceable.
- Nail polish, I always take the nail polish I'm wearing seeing as I'm prone to chipping and I'm guaranteed to need to touch them up.
- They're Real – this mascara literally goes everywhere with me, I may be busy travelling but that doesn't mean I can let my lashes go!
- L'Occitane Hydration Cream – I always take a sample size moisturiser with me for night time skin-care. I take a full skin regime but this is the most important part for me as I get really dry skin.
- DKNY Be Delicious Perfume – This is my all-time favourite perfume and it holds a lot of memories from weekends away so I always refill and take along my sample size one whenever I travel.
- Lip Balm – The Figs and Rouge Lip Balm is a current favourite as it works really well but can also double up as a cheek tint,
There are literally so many more products I take but we'd be here all day! Hope you're all having a good Tuesday!
#SBBC – The Bad-Ass Biker Look
So I have no 'It's in the Bag' for you tonight but I do have a sexy new biker jacket to share with you. I decided to go all out and create a Bad-Ass Biker look especially for the occasion. Now I'm not very 'bad-ass' as you can see, aside from a few tattoos I'm pretty low-key.. normally. But here it is anyway!
I've had my eye out for a biker jacket for weeks now and when I saw this one in New Look for just £39.99 I knew I had to have it. It's bang on trend for Autumn and it's practical too. It'll keep me warm enough without making me overheat. I love the zip detailing on this jacket, it's also really fitted and it's so flattering. It nips me in at the waist too. It also has fab creases at the elbows which look fantastic. This will probably be my favourite Autumn piece.
I kept the outfit simple to let the jacket and shoes speak for themselves. I just popped it on with a simple vest top and skinny jeans. I love these shoes which I've had a while but I think the cute bows make it a more feminine outfit whilst still looking 'bad-ass'.
To pull of this look I believe your makeup needs to stand out and make a statement too. For me, only a smokey eye and red lips would do. I used my Benefit Smokin' Eye kit for the eyes. I used a No7 black metallic eyeliner across the whole of the top lid and 3/4 of the lower lid. I also used my new Body Shop Eyebrow Kit to define my brows a bit. I applied a couple of coats of They're real and a bit of Benefit High Beam under my brow.
I applied plenty of M.A.C. powder blush in Mocha for a flushed, 'I just got of a motorbike' glow. Followed by highlighting my cheek bones with even more High Beam.
A slick of MUA Shade 1 lipstick over a Barry M Lip Liner and I was good to go, to go where I don't know seeing as I'm still sat here and now in my pyjamas! I can't wait to do this look again over the weekend!


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Healthy Hanukkah-Thanksgiving Recipes
Next week we'll be celebrating Thanksgivukkah, or Thanksgiving + Hanukkah. It's when the first full day of Hanukkah falls on Turkey Day. The last time this happened was in 1888, and it won't happen again for many moons (79,000 years to be exact). Make your Thanksgivukkah table extra special with an array of healthy, Hanukkah fare combined with traditional Thanksgiving ingredients.
To keep with traditional kosher laws, all recipes selected can be eaten as part of a meat (or fleish) meal. None of the recipes contain any dairy foods like milk, yogurt, butter or cheese—even dessert!
Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian and consultant who specializes in food safety and culinary nutrition. See Toby's full bio »


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- 1 Bed
- 1 Full
- 570 +/- Sqft
Property TypeResidential – Condo
SubdivisionBUFFALO LODGE AND THE DAKOTA CONDOS
Listing Date08/08/19
Year Built1997
Property Description
The perfect investment and/or vacation getaway. Walk to the slopes and all that River Run has to offer from this beautifully updated 1-bedroom Dakota condominium. Enjoy 4th floor ski slope and mountain views, heated underground parking, ski lockers, and relax in the Dakota pool and hot tubs after a day of skiing or hiking. Recent improvements include new carpet, tile and stainless-steel appliances. Great rental history. Two exclusions – living room chest of drawers and dining room picture over table.
Presented By
- Bus Route
- Walk to Slopes
- Mountains
- Ski Slopes
- South Facing
- Elevator
- Hot Tub - Common
- On Site Management
- Pool
- Sauna - Common
- Ski Storage
- On Bus Line
- Cable Available
- Deck
- Elevator
- Fireplace - Gas
- Hot Tub - Private
- Pool - Private
- Cross Country Trails
- Golf - Public
- Hiking / Pedestrian Trails
- Cable Tv
- City Sewer
- City Water
- Electricity
- Gas
- Snow Removal
- Trash Pickup
- Common
- Common
Financial Information
About Keystone
In the winter Keystone offers three challenging mountains on over 3,148 skiable acres, an 11.5-hour ski day and A51, one of the largest night terrain parks in North America. In the summer, visitors and locals enjoy two 18-hole championship golf courses, fly-fishing, horseback riding and countless other mountain activities. Year-round, Keystone features award-winning dining, and shops in River Run and Lakeside Village. Ski under the stars and lights, enjoy the Wine Jazz and Art Festival or relax along the seven miles of the Snake River that runs through town. Enjoy award-winning dining at the Ski Tip lodge, the Keystone Ranch, or the Alpen Stube.
Area Market Data
2 Beds 2 Baths
2 Beds 2 Baths
1 Bed 1 Baths
2 Beds 2 Baths
1 Bed 1 Baths
We get asked this question a lot. Below is a tool that gives you the ability to see what the market is like in your community. Find out what homes like your own are selling for right in your back yard. Simply enter in your address, choose the proximity of the search and find out market data for other homes that are selling near you.
While we'll provide you with plenty of information, this is a snapshot of your market data and there are real people behind the high-tech and automated tools. If you would like more detailed information or help in understanding the results we are here to help.
Until then, enjoy the tools!
The data relating to the real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the Vail Multi-List Service, Inc.
Copyright © 2019 Vail Multi List, Inc. (VMLS). The information displayed herein was derived from sources believed to be accurate, but has not been verified by VMLS. Buyers are cautioned to verify all information to their own satisfaction. This information is exclusively for viewers' personal, non- commercial use. Any republication or reproduction of the information herein without the express permission of the VMLS is strictly prohibited.
Listing courtesy of Slifer Smith & Frampton R.E.


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SOURCE: Flickr
SOURCE: Flickr
The Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California
SOURCE: Flickr
|Source: Post Ranch Inn Mercantile
Video Below
|Source: Post Ranch Inn Mercantile
Video Below
Here's a bunch of fotos I snapped today. After the rain it was nice to get out and experience a crisp fall day.
I made the mistake of driving into Mission Valley, inspired to breeze through Ikea, not realizing a huge event was underway. So plan B, we headed out to Coronado and Gaslamp for a drive.
Had to pull over and chow on some tasty tacos at Las Quatro Milpas before heading to Coronado. Did you know they are on Facebook? I reviewd LQM on Yelp too, be sure to read the post with all the links here.
We ended the day of errands by walking the dogs through Pioneer Park to Pringle Street. Also one of my favorite modern homes is listed below. From time to time I come across homes I have admired my whole life living here in Mission Hills, this house is one of them. Love the views from that area in back of the park. There was a wedding and I couldn't resist sharing a snaps or two, so cute! Forgot my camera again so forgive my Blackberry quality. Enjoy
Today is the Annual Streetcar Line Tour in Mission Hills. As we set out on our daily walk with Nina and Ralphie, our new rescue dogs, (more on that later) I decided to shoot some photos for you to enjoy. I've included some favorite homes, views and fall decor. Also see my Canyon Views Ep. 1 where I spend one minute showing you the beauty and tranquility of my community.
Also see: http://missionhillslife.blogspot.com/2011/09/walk-along-streetcar-line-annual-tour.html
|Love the swing up on the 2nd story balcony
|More on this property later, loooove this home.
Across from Mission Hills Park/Pioneer Park on Washington Place there is a local walking trail right by the Tennis Courts. Its a short 15 minute walk down the lightly maintained trail to the 1800 Block of Titus where you can cross over to the 3400 block of Pringle via a cement walkway. As the seasons change its a good time to see whats blooming in the canyon.
We walk down and have lunch at Dos Brasas before heading back up. You must try the Carne Asada, and Bean & Cheese Burrito. Whatever that cook does to the marinade is pure love, my man raves about it! I like the more traditional B&C route. Also try the house made carrots and salsas located inside. Great for takeaway calls too.
On this occasion I kept walking to Bergie's Pub in Old Town and met my Dad for
amazingly addictive hamburgers lunch, while my other half walked back up the trail for an ice cold treat at Mission Hills Liquor. Remember this trail when you have an hour to get up close and experience the canyons of Mission Hills.
Below are pics I took a few months back when the wild sweet peas were blooming. Forgive the my blackberry camera quality…Enjoy


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Braid Appeal
Posted by ShaynaB, 26 Jun, 2014
Chain doesn't have to look samey each time you use it – separating the links gives us new components to play with and joining them together in a different way can make them so much more appealing. Here, I've used Cousin chain in a unique way to create this statement braided pearl drop necklace set and trendy plaited leather cord and chain link bracelet. Braided pearl drop necklace 1 Using two pairs of pliers to separate the links, create two 25cm lengths of large copper chain. 2 Cut a 91cm length of grey leather cord. Place the two large copper chains side by side and thread half the length of the grey cord through the first links of each chain leaving an even cord length either side. Tie a knot to secure the two chains together. Crisscross weave the two ends through each link on both chains. At the end, tie a knot in the cord to hold the last links together. Add a dab of superglue to the knots and trim off the excess cord. 3 Using pliers to separate the links, create two 16cm lengths of silver curb chain. Cut a 16cm length of diamante chain. Place the two silver chains side by side and lay the diamante chain on top along the 'join'. 4 Cut a 63cm length of black cotton cord. Wrap the black cord twice through the first link of each silver chain and over the first gap of the diamante chain to secure the diamante between the lengths of the silver chains. Trim the cord at the end and add a dab of superglue to secure the cord to the links. 5 Continue weaving the black cord tightly through the next silver chain link, over the diamante chain and through the opposite chain link on the other silver chain. When you reach the end, wrap the black cord around the end of the diamante chain a couple of times, trim and add a dab of superglue to secure. 6 Line this silver chain section up under the woven copper chains, starting from the 6th large copper chain link from the left. 7 Cut a 126cm length of red cotton cord. Fold the red cord evenly in half and thread the folded end through the first link on the left of the silver chain section and through the 6th copper link from the left. Tie a knot, add superglue to secure and trim off the excess. Weave the double length of red cord through the top of the silver chain section and the bottom of the copper chains. Alternate the threading by looping through each silver chain link and then once through a copper chain link, then another silver link and then twice through the next copper chain link until the end. This will ensure that the silver chain stays even under the copper chain. 8 Attach the last silver chain link to the 6th copper chain link from the right and tie a knot in the cord. Add superglue and trim. 9 Create 24 pearl drops by threading each pearl onto a head pin and turning a loop with pliers. Attach one drop to each of the links on the bottom of the silver chain section. 10 Cut four 1Ocm lengths of small copper chain (this length can be adjusted depending on the wearer). Using 6mm copper jump rings, attach one end of each small copper chain to the ends of each large copper chain to give two small chains either side. Join the two small copper chains together at the ends with another 6mm jump ring. Using two more 6mm copper jump rings, attach a toggle end to each jump ring for the fastening.
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"Zero to One Hundred" Series for the Young Entrepreneur
Category : News , Zero to One Hundred
Good Management Investments is planning a "Zero to One Hundred" series every Tuesday for the Young Entrepreneur. This series will look at young and fabulous people who have successfully transitioned into being their own boss. We will find out how people have broke the chains of looking for employment and instead created their own employment. Each week, we will ask different question to gain insight on how today's young entrepreneurs grew their businesses to become giants.
We want to help all young entrepreneurs to succeed, so we plan on promoting fun topics that will help you build your business brand and expand.
Some topics include:
- Business Cards & Networking
- Tips on Building Revenue
- Blogging and AdSense
- Writing a Book with a Full-Time Job
- Turning Make-up Tutorials into a Full-Time Job
- Building Revenue at the Club
- How does Race or Gender impact funding?
- The Philosophy of an Entrepreneur
- The Moral Case for Wealth-Building
- Expanding Your Reach Nationally and Beyond
- Public Relations, Is there a journalist out there?
- Technology: Learning or Outsourcing?
We plan on asking the best people of the business. If you think you are the right person to help us out, please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com. If you have a recommendation to be featured on the website, please fill out the following form:


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Dell Precision Workstation 340
The best workstations offer far more than fast hardware; witness the Dell Precision Workstation 340, a category-leading midrange machine. The system is certified to run many of the industry's more popular financial-analysis, engineering, and graphics applications. And Dell provides a technical-support hot line specifically for its workstation customers.
The Precision includes some of the industry's leading hardware components. It comes with a 2.53-GHz Pentium 4 processor, 1GB of RDRAM, and an 18.2-inch CRT. Designed to handle tasks that involve mostly 2-D rather than 3-D images, the Precision proves particularly adept at running Adobe Photoshop. But ultimately, the perks Dell providesnot the speedare what set this system apart.
Read our full review of the Dell Precision Workstation 340 as part of our "Towers of Power" roundup.


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Success and industry recognition do not come overnight – all companies, in whatever field they operate have to serve their 'apprenticeship' – the capable and clever amongst them are structured to become stronger and better equipped – to handle the good times, and the bad – and to learn from the experience.
It is these companies that become the market leaders, the benchmark of an industry – they continue to thrive, learn, embrace modern technology and new business practices – and become trusted suppliers of choice in an ever-expanding marketplace. TES is one such company and is now on the A-list as a preferred electrical contractor to many of Western Australia's leading industrial groups and project developers.
From humble beginnings in electrical contracting to large residential sub-divisions, warehousing, hospitals, shopping centres, inner city developments and extensive industrial projects, TES continues to perform and expand the scale and complexity of projects handled. TES has a prestigious portfolio of completed projects for many of Western Australia's leading companies and institutions, including ABN Group, Komatsu, Ocean Keys Shopping Centre, Watercorp, Cockburn Health, Queens Riverside, Perth International Airport, Royal Perth Hospital, The Sunday Times, Joondalup Village, Midland Centro, Somerley Estate, Murdoch University MIT, Housing Industry Association and numerous others.
People. Our greatest asset.
The investment in human resources remains one of a company's greatest assets. As an organisation built upon strong family traditions, TES is deeply committed to employing highly skilled personnel, with an emphasis on business ethics and customer service.
A streamlined management structure and hands-on commitment from the company leaders have seen tremendous growth, with TES now employing a large team of qualified tradespeople. Details of their qualifications and longevity with TES are available upon request. TES has a long history of employing only qualified tradespersons and in training apprentices and trades assistants. All undergo intensive training to meet the quality and safety standards of the firm. Supported by well-resourced administrative, accounts and IT staff, TES has embraced modern technology with a sophisticated computer network, linking all projects, from management to timelines, materials, costing, tendering on new projects and complying with contracts, occupational safety and health and quality control.
As the company has grown, the energy, enthusiasm and capacity for innovation of an experienced team have made TES a preferred contractor to many of Western Australia's most successful and recognised companies.


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In episode 16, we bring it to the present with writer-director Rick Famuyiwa who is probably best known for his movies The Wood and Brown Sugar. His latest film Dope was a buzzworthy title at Sundance and follows Malcolm (Shameik Moore), an outcast obsessed with '90s hip-hop culture living in a tough L.A. neighborhood — a story not too far off from Famuyiwa's upbrining in Inglewood. I chatted with him about Dope (in theaters Friday, June 19), how his film translated to audiences at Cannes, and what could arguably be one of the best film scenes about the use of the N-word.
Subscribe to the Interviewed podcast on iTunes by clicking here.
P.S. If you want to read the written interview, you can check it out at Paste.com.


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Stay in a Greater Paris Area Hotel for 4 nights. The package includes 1-day Disney® Park Hopper Ticket for Disneyland® Paris. On the 3rd day you can have a day at leisure or opt for another day in the Disney® Parks, at an extra cost of £65 per adult and £59 per child.
Please call our reservations team on +44 161 735 0184 to check availability.
DAY 1: Join the coach at your chosen local pick-up point and travel across the Channel and onto your hotel.
DAY 2: Enjoy a full day of fun in the Disney® Parks with your included Park Hopper Ticket.
DAY 3: Enjoy a day at leisure or an optional extra day in the Disney® Parks.
DAY 4: Enjoy another day at leisure or choose the optional Paris City Tour with included River Seine Sightseeing Cruise or Paris transfers.
DAY 5: Return home.
2020/2021 Departures
For more information or to book call us on +44 161 735 0184. Open daily 8am to 10pm.
What's Included
1-day Disneyland® Paris Park Hopper Ticket
4 nights accommodation at a Greater Paris Area Hotel
Return Coach Travel from over 180 pick-up points and return channel crossings. Please note some pick-up points may incur a supplement.
Please call our reservations team on +44 161 735 0184 to check availability.
Please note that the cost for infants is £119. Prices are a guide and subject to availability.
Last updated 15th November 2019.


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Book a trip on the superb Afrikat catamaran and you are guaranteed to have one of Gran Canaria's top experiences. Reserve it here and you book direct with the Afrikat at the best possible price.
Want a bit of Gran Canaria in your home or office all-year-round? Or a beautiful Christmas gift for that special Gran Canaria fan in your life?
Taste Mesón is quite simply one of the best food experiences in Gran Canaria. It serves top quality food in tasting portions in an informal setting with gorgeous views. Add the 360 wines sold by the glass (70 cavas and champagnes) and this is a Gran Canaria spot you have to try.
The House Fusion is Gran Canaria's only proper Thai restaurant and serves fantastic food in a gorgeous setting right by Puerto Rico resort.
Some things in Gran Canaria are a must and the Submarine Adventure at Puerto de Mogán is one of them. Here's everything you need to know about Gran Canaria's coolest and yellowest underwater experience.
Buying a property in Gran Canaria is a big decision but it doesn't have to be a big risk. Here's everything you need to know to do it right.
If you've visited Gran Canaria's capital city and decided that it's the place to buy a holiday property or even to live, here's some really useful info that you need to know about the Las Palmas property market.
The fantastic roads running up the Mogan, Arguineguín and Fataga Valleys used to be deserted apart from local buses and the odd hire car. Head up there nowadays and it's like you took a wrong turn and bumped into the Tour de France. Gran Canaria is firmly on the road biking map and even has its own Tour of Gran Canaria.


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The Learning Index
Art for Social Spaces
Case Studies
Festival of Britain
Precincts /Parks
Image Archive
Designing Britain 1945 - 1975
> Art for Social Spaces
Welcome to
Art for Social Spaces : Public Sculpture and Urban Regeneration in Post-war Britain
(ASS). This module will examine the nature and role of artworks sited in the public domain in the immediate post-war years. There will be a particular focus on sculpture up to the early 1970s, although links will be made to more recent and contemporary projects and schemes.
The module is intended to serve as an optional course for postgraduates on a taught MA programme. It has been designed for students undertaking an MA in Sculpture Studies, Public Art, Art History or Material Culture. However, more generally it would be of interest to students of various aspects of the history, theory or practice of architecture, urban studies and the built environment.
Whilst it assumes that students will have a developed understanding of the basic concepts and current issues and debates within the contemporary field of art history, the individual case studies bring together visual material, documentary and bibliographic information and references that could be utilised by teachers and learners within higher, further or secondary education.
The modules
Image Archive
brings together visual data from a variety of sources, much of which was previously unpublished and difficult to access. It offers a valuable resource to individual scholars following research or writing projects related to sculpture, social architecture or the urban environment.
The primary aims of the module are :
- to interrogate the concept of public
- to interrogate the notion of urban regeneration
- to examine the forms that sculpture took in the period
- to examine a selection of sites/spaces for sculptural work
- to explore the social, political and cultural contexts for sculpture
- to examine the relationship between public artworks and urban regeneration
Learning Outcomes
After working through the material in this module, you should have developed :
- an understanding of some of the key issues and debates surrounding the production, location and reception of public sculpture
- an increased knowledge of the forms, materials and techniques of sculpture
- an understanding of a variety of contexts, locations and settings for public work
- a range of perspectives on the economic and regenerative role of cultural objects, such as public sculpture, within broader society
Structure of module
The module does not offer an historical account or a chronological narrative of public art or sculpture in the period. Instead, it focuses on 4 case studies:
Festival of Britain
The module has 4 main themes :
. The analysis and discussion in these sections informs and underpins the more detailed material and closer focus of the six case studies.
Working through the module
Note for Tutors/Teachers
The module is designed to form part of a taught programme of study over a 10 or 11 week term. A series of seminar discussions should support the module material and focus on recommended reading. Extension research might utilise other online material and image banks alongside more conventional learning resource centres. Online learning material should not be a substitute for active participatory learning experiences. It is envisaged that this module will engender critical engagements, scholarly research and extend a more general interest in the place of sculpture in the built environment. To this end, the module should also be supported by study visits to archives and also to the actual locations of public sculpture to both handle and see work at close hand and to address the various perspectives not covered in this module.
Note for students
Ideally, you should work through the four themes first to gain an understanding of the key issues at stake in the studying of public sculpture in the period. Subsequently, you should then work through all the case studies - in any order - utilising the
Image Archive
However, the module is structured for maximum flexibility and can be adapted to individual learning/research needs. Themes or case studies can be used as springboards. For example, if you were particularly interested in concentrating on one aspect of sculpture, you could select a particular theme and explore it in the four case studies and beyond into related areas not covered in this module. In other cases, an individual might be only interested in sculpture sited on or in schools and might therefore want to independently access all references to schools within the module.
This module has been created with the generous assistance of the following :
Graham Portlock
Harlow Art Trust
Public Monuments and Sculpture Association
Henry Moore Institute, Leeds
Leeds City Galleries
Conway Library, Courtauld Institute


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Through an agreement with UK-based Alliance magazine, PND is pleased to be able to offer a series of articles about global philanthropy.
African Philanthropy Comes to the Policy Table
Philanthropy, or the act of giving, finds itself on an exciting cusp in contemporary Africa. While the term "philanthropy" may still conjure up perceptions of "vertical" charitable giving (the rich in the North giving to the poor in the South), many consider giving to be an intrinsic part of African life and customs, with horizontal forms of philanthropy (referring to peer-to-peer giving or assistance within poor communities based on reciprocity, solidarity, and cooperation) having long been practiced in Africa.
The past two decades have seen a rise in more formal forms of giving aimed at addressing specific issues and creating impact at a more structural level. Formal structures of philanthropy in Africa include foundations and trusts set up by high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), as well as charitable organizations that, while established with external resources, are led by Africans and have distinct objectives related to African development. Well-known foundations established by HNWIs include the Aliko Dangote Foundation in Nigeria and the Chandaria Foundation in Kenya, while charitable trusts and vehicles that promote philanthropy include the Southern African Trust as well as the Ghana-based African Women's Development Fund.
The growth of homegrown philanthropy in Africa has its roots in a number of phenomena, one of them being the 2008 financial crisis, which resulted in longstanding foreign donors being forced to reflect on their support for some countries in Africa. The limits of development assistance deepened the discourse around self-sufficiency and sustainability, particularly in regards to Africa's attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Being hopeful about domestic resource mobilization is not unrealistic when looking at the steady growth of wealthy Africans on the continent. By 2017, there were 167,970 HNWIs in Africa with a combined wealth of $1.7 trillion. This gives some indication of the potential for major giving. In reality, however, the scale of giving is not known, and many HNWIs give anonymously or are reluctant to publicize their donations in totality.
Basic needs versus policy
There is a general dearth of published material on if and how philanthropy supports policy development. Foreign donors such as the Ford Foundation, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and the Heinrich Böll Foundation, among others, have long supported policy advocacy in Africa. However, the extent to which African HNW philanthropy is geared toward supporting policy development or advocacy is more nebulous. The few available studies on patterns of HNW giving in Africa suggests that support is largely geared toward interventions related to education, health, entrepreneurial activities, and infrastructure development. These programs, while fundamental to well-being in Africa, are preferred, as they are tangible and relatively easy to account for. By contrast, policy work requires long-term support and its outcomes often are not easily visible or measurable. This may not be attractive to philanthropists, many of whom are located in commercial sectors and who often apply business discipline to the investment of resources.
Established in 2013 in South Africa, the Social Justice Initiative (SJI) is funded largely by local philanthropy. SJI supports civil society organizations that undertake activities related to policy advocacy, a strategy critical for achieving systemic change. According to the organization's executive director, Bongi Mlangeni, when engaging philanthropists SJI articulates the importance of responding to a social issue comprehensively, rather than a policy issue in isolation. For example, working with philanthropists to address gender-based violence (GBV) involves highlighting the endemic nature of the problem and its relationship to many other societal problems. Donations received are used for both policy advocacy as well as service delivery interventions for GBV survivors.
Growing evidence of a change
A recent study of nineteen philanthropy institutions in Africa revealed that while many still focus on service delivery, particularly in education, there is growing support for policy advocacy. Such policies include those related to health, housing, education, food security, natural resource governance, rural development, and micro-credit. The motivations for supporting policy advocacy were not fleshed out in the study, African Philanthropy: Evolution, Practice, and Change. However, the reason for this growing support could be based in the author's assertion that HNW philanthropists have, in the past, been criticized for their unwillingness to support policy initiatives that promote greater accountability within government structures.
There is also a concerted effort among philanthropic foundations in Kenya to engage more strategically with government. Research conducted between July 2016 and January 2017 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development found that the biggest reason foundations and government share data and information is in order for the former to influence policy and the latter to strengthen it. Again, and unfortunately, the specific details of what policies were influenced and strengthened and how were not explored.
Wellbeing Foundation founder Toyin Saraki has always been clear about her desire to work strategically with the government of Nigeria. During the African Philanthropy Forum's (APF) 2017 annual conference in Nigeria, Saraki discussed her work with Nigeria's National Primary Health Care Development Agency, where she advocated for the training and re-deployment of retired midwives to rural areas. Those efforts contributed to a reduction in the country's maternal mortality rate in later years. The motivation to work at a systems level lay not only in Saraki's own difficult childbirth experience, but also in the recognition that working with government was critical for Nigeria to attain that particular SDG.
Platforms strengthening policy advocacy
The move to strengthen the focus on policy development can also be seen at a regional level. The Kenya/Tanzania/Uganda Philanthropy Forum, a loose network of approximately forty philanthropy organizations working together to foster an enhanced policy environment, is an example of a collective voice for policy advocacy. In addition to advocating for improved policies in the education sector, the forum is working to create a more efficient and beneficial legal environment for philanthropy. Similarly, APF, as a platform for engaging philanthropists across Africa on sustainable development and strategic investments, has recognized the need to create more dialogue around working with government. According to the organization's executive director, Mosun Layode, APF believes that while philanthropists still generally tend to be service-driven, they are clear on wanting to be part of more systemic changes.
Beyond diplomacy with government
There is a belief that beyond simply working with government to help achieve national goals, HNW philanthropy could take a stronger stance on government accountability. Halima Mahomed noted in an earlier issue of Alliance that more critical analysis of certain policies and pieces of legislation was needed. Organizations such as the East African Sexual Health and Rights Initiative (UHAI EASHRI), an indigenous activist fund in Kenya, adopts such a stance. UHAI EASHRI supports organizations working with sex workers and on sexual rights in seven African countries where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, and asexual (LGBTIQA) rights are not always upheld, as well as interventions that challenge the effectiveness and constitutionality of policies and legislation, through funding for research and evidence-gathering, social mobilization, and capacity-building activities. For instance, it is currently supporting a petition to determine whether sections of Kenya's Penal Code known as the morality clause are unconstitutional.
It is encouraging to see movement, albeit slow, toward greater support for policy work on the continent. Interventions with a more service-delivery slant certainly fill some social gaps for select communities. However, convincing philanthropists to invest in building a more efficient policy and legislative framework is one way to ensure that governments on the continent fulfill their obligations to meet the needs of all.
Lisa-Anne Julien (@lisaannejulien) is a development consultant and writer. This article originally appeared on Africa Portal and is reprinted here with the permission of Alliance magazine.