text:
On January 10, while much of the state's cannabis community was focused on the launch of recreational sales, permanent rules for the recreational and medical marijuana industries were being quietly approved and put into effect by Colorado's Marijuana Enforcement Division. Most were unchanged from previous drafts, but cannabis concentrates for recreational use seem to have been the focus of a comprehensive set of new guidelines. You can read all of them on the Colorado Department of Revenue site, but below are a few standouts from the 57 pages of regulations.
A retail cultivation facility can only make water-based hash at its location. That means no butane extractions or CO2 extractions, though dry-ice hash does seem to be allowed. In fact, the mere possession of a non-water-based concentrate at a grow site could be a violation of the law and result in fines or disciplinary action.
Beyond that, the icewater hash has to be made in a designated room separated from the rest of the grow. That room will have to meet pretty much the same health and safety regulations that an infused-marijuana kitchen must meet, including the use of only food-grade materials. As a result, some places will have to say goodbye to the old clothes-washing machines repurposed for making loads of bubble hash. All ice and water has to be filtered before being used.
Solvent-based concentrates must be produced using a closed-loop system in a facility certified by an industrial hygienist or professional engineer; all of the procedures must meet local and state fire and electrical codes. The only exception is for isopropyl-based extractions, which don't require a closed-loop system.
All solvents must be tested to make sure they are at least 99 percent pure. If the owners eventually decide to switch solvents to one that isn't listed in the facility's procedure manuals, they'll have to undergo a completely new set of inspections -- and if the closed-loop systems weren't specifically designed for marijuana concentrates, the equipment must be approved by a professional engineer before it can be used.
We Believe Local Journalism is Critical to the Life of a City
Engaging with our readers is essential to Westword's mission. Make a financial contribution or sign up for a newsletter, and help us keep telling Denver's stories with no paywalls.
Support Our Journalism
Hash makers will have to have (and follow) a step-by-step process for checking the equipment, preparing the material for processing, purging any solvents, cleaning the equipment and disposing of the waste. They'll not only need to outline that process in a training manual for employees, but they also have to do so for owners -- all of whom must undergo training on hash-making regardless of whether they are actually involved with the day-to-day production.
Finally, all concentrates will be tested for bacteria, mold, fungus and mildew, as well as for residual solvents. And starting October 1, concentrate producers will have to pass four weeks of tests before their concentrates can be sold to dispensaries.
Head over to the Marijuana Enforcement Division's site to read the rules in their entirety.
More from our Marijuana archive: "10 Best Concentrates of 2013" and "Garden City has northern Colorado's first pot shop -- naturally."


text:
Medical billing and coding is one of the best careers for people who enjoy working with numbers and want to be involved in the medical field. Billing and coding can be learned through a specialized career or vocational school and does not require a four year degree.
What Is Medical Billing and Coding?When a patient visits a doctor for an exam, has a procedure or has a test, the doctor's office files a claim with the patient's insurance company. The medical office works with both the patient and the insurance company to receive payment for the exam, procedure or test.
In order to file the insurance claim, the medical office staff must use standardized codes which all medical facilities and insurance companies use. These codes indicate the patient's diagnosis and the treatment received.
The medical office's billing and coding staff use the appropriate codes to file claims with the insurance company and bill the patient if necessary. Without this coding and billing, the doctor's office, lab or hospital could not be paid for services provided.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
We Need Your Help To Stay On Air!
*Ad-Block must be disabled to Tune In
Digital Mayhem Radio ( DMR ) is YOUR Community Internet Radio Station for MMORPG Gamers across the world. Special focus given to World of Warcraft ( WoW ), Star Trek Online ( STO ), EVE Online, and Guild Wars. On Air 24/7 since September 2010, always Free to Listen. Digital Mayhem Radio is privately owned and operated. DMR is DMCA Compliant. ©DMR - Digital Mayhem Radio, 2012 ©Dark Militia Radio, 2010


text:
The deadline for the RIAI Irish Architecture Awards 2018 has been extended by a week to Monday 12th of March at 12noon.
Now in their 29th year, the RIAI Architecture Awards are the most prestigious architecture awards scheme in Ireland. The RIAI Architecture Awards promote the value that Irish architecture brings to society, celebrate excellence in Irish architectural design and recognise client ambition.
What's New
In 2018 we are introducing new features to further enhance the RIAI Architecture Awards:
- Jury visits to projects prior to shortlisting.
- Each category may have more than one award.
- In the Commercial and Fit-Out categories, the jury may make separate awards for projects of different scales and complexity.
Free entry for the special awards in Sustainability and Universal Design. All projects are eligible but the relevant additional information must be supplied to demonstrate excellence in the areas of sustainability in universal design.
Awards Categories
Commercial / Workplace
Conservation/ Restoration
Culture or Public Building
House Extension
Public Space
The Future Award
Special Award: Sustainability
Special Award: Universal Design
Awards Dates 2018
Entries Open 30 January 2018
Entries Close 5 March 2018 (extended to 12 March)
Awards Summer Party 8 June 2018
For submissions enter here
For further information email Claudia Stokes O'Dwyer at email@example.com
The RIAI Architecture Awards 2018 are sponsored by Gerflor


text:
NOTE: We also created an 'Anonymous' survey on our Facebook page.
Please participate in our Brea Farmers Market Survey. On behalf of Brea Chamber of Commerce, now running our farmers market, we are asking for your feedback.
Many people in our community want to see our Brea Farmers Market thrive and as a team -- your input is very much appreciated. To prevent repetitive answers, moving it to downtown is not an option. Please comment on (BBON) Facebook. Thank you.
1. From a scale of 1 to 5, how satisfied are you with our Brea Farmers Market, located on the corner of State College Blvd. and Birch St.?
2. Do you have suggestions to improve upon the Brea Farmers Market? If so, please pitch your idea to help our farmers market prosper.
3. What are the attractive features you like about our Brea Farmers Market and what would you like to see changed?
4. Does our Brea Farmers Market provide a family-friendly atmosphere showcasing something for all ages?


text:
Volunteer Program
Volunteers make a meaningful contribution by actively participating in our community, your combined efforts help to strengthen the fabric of our society and build a better future. Our organization works to provide volunteers a meaningful experience, a safe and supportive environment, a clear understanding of what is expected of them, and a warm thank you for their contribution. Volunteering brings benefits to both society at large and the individual volunteer.
* = Required


text:
I wasn't too concerned with the idea of pacifism until the last year. A few years ago, I read C.S. Lewis' essay, "Why I am Not a Pacifist", and it had me convinced. At the time I had C.S. Lewis on a pretty high pedestal and I pretty much saw his work as almost as "inspired" as any part of the official canon of the Bible. Years later, I realize now that C.S. Lewis' essay missed out big in two ways – it equated "pacifist" with "passive", and even more importantly, it left Jesus out of the picture altogether.
A couple years ago, Victoria and I started attending The Meeting House, which is an Anabaptist church that believes in Christian pacifism. It wasn't anything that ever really got pushed on us though, so I never really thought much about the issue until our pastor, Bruxy Cavey, did a sermon series earlier this year, entitled, "Inglorious Pastors". Through this series and a lot of personal digging, Jesus' teachings were finally brought into focus on this issue. I came to understand the simple truth that when Jesus says, "Love your enemy", he doesn't mean shoot them between the eyes.
Since then I've become quite a vocal proponent of pacifism, as I believe it is a critical part of following Jesus. Although this was once a virtually unanimous position in the Church, now only a minority of Christians hold this viewpoint. So I've come across my fair share of detractors. It seems the most common response I've gotten goes something like, "But we have to be able to defend the faith, and stand for the truth!" It's an interesting response, and I do want to stand for truth. But I found that digging into this idea just solidified my position as a pacifist.
If I'm going to stand for the truth, then there are two obvious questions that need to be answered: what is the truth, and what does it mean to stand for it?
So first of all, as a Christian, what is THE truth – the single most important truth that I need to stand up for and defend? Well, I think that truth would absolutely have to be this: We have a God that is so loving, that he was willing, through Jesus, to lay his own life down, so that his enemies might be forgiven and saved. That is really Christianity in a nutshell – for someone that follows Jesus, there can be no greater truth.
What does it look like to stand for this truth? What does it look like to stand up for the truth that Jesus laid his own life down in his enemies' stead to save them? The only way to stand up for this truth, is to proclaim it and be willing to do the same for our enemies. Anything short of that is standing against that truth, not for it. If I attack my enemy, how can they possibly see this truth through my actions? The moment I take a swing at, or fire at, my enemy, I am telling them that they are not worth saving, while I know that Christ died for them as much as he died for me.
At the end of the day, I still have some questions about Christian pacifism – some questions and doubts still linger, I have my own "but what about?" questions. But in the end, I cannot get around the fact that Jesus loved his enemies so much he was willing to die for them, and I must be willing to do the same. While it was Jesus' teachings that brought me into the pacifist camp, it was his actions that kept me there.


text:
Admission fees may not be charged by any group using library facilities, nor may any sales or fund raising activities take place on the premises except those approved in advance which benefit the Library.
Light refreshments are permitted in the meeting rooms. The party reserving the room assumes responsibility for all clean-up. In compliance with local and Indiana law, no alcoholic beverages are permitted. The Library is a smoke-free building. Smoking is not permitted anywhere on library property.
The group and the individual making the online room reservation are held responsible for any damage to library premises caused by members of the group in conjunction with the meeting.
Groups and/or speaker must make their own arrangements for media equipment needed. Any media equipment borrowed from another location must be returned to the source.
Children should be under parental control at all times. Parents attending a function at the Library may not leave young children unattended in the Library.
Frequently Asked Questions
What space is available at the Clarksville Branch?
The 3 meeting rooms available:
- Meeting Room A: General purpose room with (2) 75″ displays connectable via HDMI or VGA cables, and a limited service kitchenette with a refrigerator and sink. The room seats 32 people at tables in a lecture arrangement.
- Meeting Room B: General purpose room with (1) 75″ display connectable via HDMI. The room seats 32 people at tables in a lecture arrangement.
- Meeting Room C: General purpose room that seats up to 50 people in an auditorium arrangement or 24 people seated at tables in a lecture arrangement. Features a limited service kitchenette with a refrigerator, microwave, and sink.
Meeting Rooms A & B are also available to reserve together as one large space capable of seating 64 people at tables in a lecture arrangement and broadcasting content simultaneously to all (3) displays. In order to do this, you must reserve both A AND B!
What space is available at the Main Library?
The north meeting room on the first floor seats up to 66 at tables in a lecture arrangement, and can seat a maximum of 88 in chair seating. A full-service kitchen is adjacent with refrigerator, stove, sink, and microwave.
When are meeting rooms available?
Who may reserve library facilities and for what purposes?
The purpose of any meeting must be clearly stated both on the meeting room application and to the audience in attendance.
Public and media announcements should not imply that any program, ideas expressed, meeting issue, or the group are sanctioned by the Library.
Library facilities may not be used for purposes of solicitation of business or direct sales while on the premises.
Meeting space may not be used by any group for religious services.
Purely social groups and family or private parties do not qualify to use meeting rooms.
Any organization or entity based outside Jeffersonville Township and Clark County may reserve a room only with the approval of the director.
How do I reserve a room for my club?
Reservations are made using Spaces, our online reservation software. Reservations must be made at least three (3) days prior to the event.
Reservations are preferred for a SINGLE meeting only, although a series of recurring meetings may be approved when scheduling permits. Any group may be asked to give up the room on occasion to accommodate library programming or to allow opportunities for use by others.
Room reservations may be made up to three months in advance. Preference is given to requests made by new groups for single bookings. Reservations needed beyond three months require approval by the circulation supervisor or director.
The Library reserves the right to cancel reservations with notice in the event of uncontrollable circumstances.
What are my responsibilities?
Groups are also expected to notify the Library as soon as possible of the cancellation of any meeting. Failure to cancel may forfeit future use of Library meeting rooms.
User groups are responsible for prior set-up of tables, chairs, and equipment, although a standard room arrangement will be given.
Please return the room to the original arrangement as found, unless told otherwise by library staff.
What about room arrangement?
You are asked to leave the room in good order and to place all trash in waste containers provided. If food has been served, please wipe the table tops and kitchen counter used with a damp cloth. Check the kitchen to see that all appliances used are turned off.
Turn out all room lights when exiting.
Report the attendance for the meeting to the circulation desk clerk before leaving. If you don't, expect to receive a call requesting this information.
Where do I park?
Parking at the Clarksville Branch Library is available from both Eastern Boulevard and from Triangle Drive.
The Library Board reserves the right to revise this Policy at any given time.


text:
2015 - Michelle Coles
The award for 2015 is made to Michelle Coles in recognition of her contribution to PFIAA. Michelle has been a mainstay of PFIAA committees over a number of years.She led PFIAA efforts to achieve de-regulation of therapeutic petfoods finally achieved in March 2015, has led the Importers Committee since its inception and a valuable contributor to the Technical Committee. Her role as Technical Manager and Regulatory Affairs Manager has recently changed and in future she will be more focussed on Regional Asian responsibilities for Royal Canin.
The image opposite shows Michelle Coles receiving the Wayne Purvis Award from Michelle Lang at the PFIAA annual dinner.


text:
Nothing goes to waste
Roche Jordan works with women's group to create colorful and useful objects from discarded office materials
If re-used smartly, most things otherwise destined to be waste can come back as useful objects that could be of some value both at work and home. Colleagues at Roche Jordan put this to the test when they were moving to new office premises late last year. They tied up with a local charity that supports women and provides them with employment opportunities by working on such initiatives. A few months later they had bright and beautiful photo frames and coasters crafted out of stuff that otherwise would have ended up being garbage.
"Our team is growing continuously and is projected to add new members as our rich pipeline drugs get approval and are launched in Jordan. As a result we moved to our new office last year. While packing we realized that we would have to just throw away a lot of material. But at the back of our mind we always wanted to know if they could be recycled in any fashion," states Razan Rabieh, Communications Manager in Roche Jordan. Among these items were older, but still attractive, detail aids, branding materials, business cards, invitations and notepads.
Not wasted
"It was around this time that I met Mohammad who belonged to Zawayed, an organization that uses raw and waste material or leftovers and put them into creative shapes and designs. I did a little bit of research on Zawayed and the earlier projects they had done for other companies and was amazed at how they were able to turn simple items into very nice usable things that could be made into corporate gifts or things of daily use," she adds.
At a subsequent meeting the folks at Zawayed were briefed about the material collected because of the office move, and if they could come up with something practical, yet creative and good to look at. "Usually, their team comes up with ideas once they see the materials that were being disposed. For instance for another company they had come up with lampshades made from MRI scans. Once they saw our colorful branding material they suggested the frames and coaster idea," explains Razan.
Skilled women
The women at Zawayed then got to work. These women come from the Al-Natheef area, a disadvantaged neighborhood in Amman, and are all extremely skilled in art and craft work. They combined older and outdated material from Roche with old school material and worked up colorful executions of different frames and coasters.
They initially took about a month to come up with the initial concept and once colleagues at Roche Jordan approved the initial designs they got about finalizing the final products. "It was an excellent collaboration and we greatly enjoyed working with these extremely skillful women. We paid them for their work and so it was beneficial to both sides," she says.
Today these photo frames and coasters adorn the desks of colleagues in the Amman office. Some have also used these at home. The best part of the whole exercise is that the team now is extremely conscious of dumping things in the garbage bin. "Every time they have unused or waste material colleagues ask me if we can work with Zawayed to put them to good use," points out Razan.


text:
Jump back to navigation
Frazee-Vergas School District's Activities Director Nick Courneya started the school year by unveiling a new student season pass T-shirt. Photo by Barbie Porter
Area youth were recognized for leadership at a Rotary camp, including: (from left) Josie Johnson, Cheyanne Hart, both Frazee, Breann Hogie, Lake Park, Hannah Spry, Detroit Lakes, and Desire Noel, Frazee.
Mason Rosenberg, 5, and Riley Stock, 5, were all smiles the first day of their school readiness class at Frazee Elementary. photo by Barbie Porter
Frazee's five-star early learning departments just got a little more tech savvy.
The school recently received four learning center computers, thanks to a generous donation by IBM.
Lori Thorp
Frazee-Vergas Area Community Education Director Lori Thorp recently submitted a letter of resignation.
Nine people attended the Boundary Waters Canoe Trip this year. They included (front, from left) Sarah Kiehl, Melissa Schilling, Trevor Adams, William Pihlaja, Trevor Schwarzrock, (back) Katie Jorschumb, Advisor Ken Hammer, Cole Marschall and Advisor Doug Schwarzrock.
From June 10-14, members of the Frazee FFA traveled with advisors Ken Hammer and Doug Schwarzrock to the Boundary Waters for the chapter's annual canoe trip.
Frazee-Vergas School District Superintendent Chuck Cheney (standing in center) received a round of applause at his retirement celebration party Friday, June 14. Photo by Barbie Porter
Cars parked in the ditch and across the highway from the Frazee Golf Course Friday, June 14 to attend a standing-room only party thrown by the Frazee-Vergas School Board.
112 W. Main Ave • PO Box 187
Frazee, MN 56544
Open 8-5 M-Th, 8-2 Fri
Fax: 334-3567
Manage my subscriptions
Copyright 2013 | Frazee-Vergas Forum | All Rights Reserved


text:
Kuentai-USA gets another 'no' from HPO
29 Sep 2014
- By Raquel C. Bagnol - firstname.lastname@example.com - Variety News Staff
TWO weeks after its team finished the first phase of a recovery mission in Achugao, Kuentai-USA's application for the excavation of a property owned by Aqua Resort Club in Achugao was rejected, again, by the Historic Preservation Office.
Kuentai-USA expedition leader Yukari Akatsuka said they received an official answer from the HPO dated Sept. 24, 2014, rejecting their application to do field work and excavation to try and locate the remains of the still missing 16 American soldiers who died here during World War II.
The memorandum from the HPO signed by historic preservation officer Mertie T. Kani was addressed to the Division of Environmental Quality to which Kuentai-USA submitted its application. The memo stated that Kuentai-USA's application was not given clearance because it had been found incomplete.
"HPO rejects it until the applicant resubmits a complete application for our further review and processing," Kani said.
Akatsuka said it was not stated what is incomplete in their application.
"We hope to hear from HPO very soon so we can start excavation again," Akatsuka said.
The Kuentai-USA team of volunteers recovered one set of human remains along with an assortment of artifacts such as bullets, helmets, water canteens and other items at the site they excavated in Achugao early this month.
They re-buried the remains after taking photos and documentation. The remains will be identified as soon as experts from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command based in Hawaii arrive here.
The Kuentai-USA team was only able to excavate 35 percent of the area and they hope to get back to work as soon as they can.
Akatsuka said they are getting ready to attend the burial of Pfc. Richard L. Bean, 24, of Manassas whose remains they recovered from the burial site in Achugao during their mission in July last year. Bean will be buried on Oct. 3 at the Quantico National Cemetery.
For more information about Kuentai-USA, visit www.kuentai-usa.com.


text:
Drawing the human figure is a challenge in and of itself. There are many things to take into consideration, from the correct proportions of the various parts of the body to learning how to alter the figure to depict different individuals, characters, and characteristics. One of the more challenging aspects of drawing the human figure (as well as animal figures) is correctly drawing muscles. Udemy's course on Anatomy for Figure Drawing and Comics is a great place to start for any individual who is looking to learn how to correctly draw the body. However, just a few tips can help you to improve your art practically overnight.
Understanding Muscle Anatomy
One of the biggest mistakes that artists make when it comes to drawing the muscles is not understanding proper muscle anatomy. It's important to understand that muscles bend, stretch, and bunch up depending on the way that the body is positioned. If you start to think of the muscles as a rubber band connected to two points of the body, and then think of the way that a rubber band changes when stretched, you can start to get a better understanding of the way that muscles move under the skin.
Every artist should enhance their figure drawing ability by doing some study of the muscles in the body. Take some time to learn the various muscles, including those in the back, torso, thighs, legs, and arms. Simply knowing the muscles and how they connect in the body can be an important step in drawing them correctly.
The Differences Between Male and Female Muscles
While some women may be very muscular and some men might not be muscular at all, there are still major differences between the muscles of men and women. Many artists may find that they are able to draw the muscles of one gender very well while faltering with drawing the muscles of the other gender.
Muscles on male figures generally tend to be bulkier and more prominent, especially on the chest, shoulders, abdomen, upper arms, and thighs. Even on leaner figures, the muscles may be more prominent. On female figures, the muscles are often softened. The most prominent muscles in a drawing are likely to be the longer, leaner muscles such as those of the calves or along the back.
Udemy offers a great course on The Secrets of Drawing that can help enhance the way that you look at a subject that you are attempting to draw. This can be a great course to take when you're attempting to draw male and female figures either from life or from a source photograph. Learning to draw the figure this way can help you overcome some of the challenges that you may have in drawing their muscles the right way.
Tips on Drawing Muscles
It can be tempting to use hard lines to denote where the various muscles in the body appear in a drawing. However, this is something that you should try and avoid. The use of light, thin lines to show where muscles appear in the body is much more common in comics and comic book art. Remember that lines denoting muscles will be darker in areas of the body where muscles are more prominent, such as along the back.
However, other techniques such as shading and coloring can be used to showcase the muscles. If you are a comic book artist looking to improve your coloring ability, Udemy's course on coloring comics can give you the tools you need to create more accurate drawings.
On the other hand, if you are trying for realism, then the use of value and shading will be much more important in helping to draw more accurate muscles. To draw muscles correctly using shading, you will need to understand the way that a light source affects shadows on the body. You can practice this at home by setting up a lamp in a dark room and watching the way that shadows appear and disappear on your own muscles.
Remember that the more prominent a muscle is, the darker and more prominent a shadow it will cast. Less prominent muscles may be only a shade darker than those of the surrounding skin.
Drawing Muscles in Different Mediums
Every individual that is looking to learn how to draw the anatomy will find that soft charcoal on paper is one of the best ways to begin accurately drawing the figure and the muscles. This is because soft charcoal allows for easy shading of the muscles, and will help you to get a handle on drawing different values much faster.
Learning to draw realistically in pencil can be a challenge, but it is one that is well worth it for many artists. Remember to use a softer pencil to shade in the various values to represent the muscles in the body.
Pen and ink drawing, which you can learn more about on Udemy, presents a bigger challenge to artists when drawing the muscles. If you are using an ink wash, you can create different values for the various muscles of the body. Otherwise, you will have to rely on techniques such as cross-hatching and stippling in order to accurately draw the muscles with the appropriate shading.
When you begin to draw figures, it's a good idea to start with simpler poses that highlight the muscles. Remember to choose a variety of poses, whether you have a model or you are working with a photograph, so you can see the way the muscles move in a variety of situations. Once you've got the basics down, be sure to move on to increasingly complex poses to build up your understanding of the muscles.
There is a lot that you must learn in order to draw the human anatomy correctly, but with a good understanding of the human body and a lot of practice, it's something that anybody can do. You can Discover the 7 Secrets to Figure Drawing with this great Udemy course and enhance your figure drawing skills in a flash.


text:
We loved our two days at Epcot. The kids enjoyed both the rides and the tour around the world. This is definitely a park that requires 2+ days to visit. My advice, spend one day riding and another day eating your way through the different countries; or spend the morning riding and the afternoon eating and exploring. This park is very futuristic. In the center of the park are the center of learning and exploration. The kids get to go in here and use their brains and the parents get our of the heat. My older daughter and I designed a roller coaster, then got to try it ours in a simulation center. Super cool!
By far, my kids' favorite rides were Soaring and Expedition Mars. I recommend getting to Soaring early as the line builds up fast, even with a fast pass.
Lunch stop- The Coral Reef restaurant! Excellent food with cool views of a giant coral reef in a tank surrounding the tables.
The view from our table. The only bad ting about traveling with 5, the close tables are for 4 only.
The first stop in the tour of the worlds was England. The youngest was in love with Pooh and we needed to make sure we saw him. Even getting there as it was opening, there was already a line. The characters were wonderful and spent a decent amount of time with the kids.
Mexico. We didn't realize until the second day there, but there is a ride in the main building of every country.
Norway was our favorite. The ride was fun and the educational center was really cool.
Japan and China were both really beautiful.
The German restaurant in Germany. Family style seating with LOTS going on around you. True delicious German food, my kids ate A LOT of dessert for dinner that night!
It was a very busy place with lots going on. They have shows on the stage and there are people everywhere. It was a good experience, just not our cup of tea.
Epcot quickly became our kids' favorite park. Next up, Magic Kingdom!
Goodnight Epcot!


text:
Creative Services Support
Let us lend a creative hand (or two). We provide all-inclusive support services for your creative team from consultation to execution and production or help with creative overflow. We are here to help when you have too much to do and not enough hands to do it!


text:
Australian Science Fiction Foundation
Australian club. It was formed in June 1976.
Its second AGM was held, or scheduled to be held, in November 1978.
The ASFF presents the A. Bertram Chandler Award and the Norma K. Hemming Award, both of which are juried awards.
Presidents have included Karen Heenan, LynC, and Rose Mitchell.
Secretaries have included Peter Darling and Cath Ortlieb.
http://www.asff.org.au (IA) Website
|This is a club page. Please extend it by adding information about when and where the club met, when and by whom it was founded, how long it was active, notable accomplishments, well-known members, clubzines, any conventions it ran, external links to the club's website, other club pages, etc.
When there's a floreat (Fl.), this indicates the time or times for which we have found evidence that the club existed. This is probably not going to represent the club's full lifetime, so please update it if you can!
page revision: 2, last edited: 07 Jan 2019 12:13


text:
The Camp Spring Music Foundation is now a charitable non-profit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Donate Now
As 2015 draws to a close, the Camp Springs Music Foundation has plenty of new to report:
We have formed a Board of Directors with Becky Johnson as President; Art Menius, Vice President; Lindy Brown, Treasurer, Donna Cornick, Secretary; and Jordan Laney, at large.
The Camp Springs Music Foundation has been incorporated in North Carolina as a non-profit corporation and subsequently received an exemption for Charitable Licensing until our income exceeds $25,000 per year.
Becky had a very positive two hour meeting which Carlton's brother Charles Haney who owns the site.


text:
Reality TV's Most Memorable Of 2011
Simon Cowell Returns To US TV
After his shock departure from 'American Idol' in 2010, music industry luminary Simon Cowell returned to US screens in September of this year as a judge on his own, Syco Productions-created 'X Factor' franchise. Leaving the number-one-rating talent show to spearhead a direct rival was a risky move for the tough-talking Brit, and thus far it's not apparent whether or not it was the right one.
Vidgen's Got Talent
When Jack Vidgen first auditioned on 'Australia's Got Talent', judge Kyle Sandilands asserted that he was either going to be "amazing or dreaful". He was the former, and his unique voice and peculiar look shot him to international stardom.
Jersey Shore Does Italy
Love it or hate it, (and most people choose the latter), 'Jersey Shore' is one of the most talked about shows on television. And in its fourth season, Snooki, The Situation and co journeyed to Italy for more alcohol-induced hijinks. As if the USA's international reputation hadnt been tarnished enough!?
"Fairytale" Kardashian Wedding
No recap of 2011's reality TV goings-on would be complete without mention of Kim Kardashian's wedding. Her nuptials were broadcast as a two part special 'Kim's Fairytale Wedding', which was a bona fide ratings hit, prompting calls that the wedding was staged as a money-making exercise. But these claims haven't been verified, I mean, it's not like they filed for divorce 72 days later, right?
Everybody Wins The Glee Project!
Hit reality show 'The Glee Project' in which contestants vie for a seven episode arc on Fox's smash hit show 'Glee' debuted this year to rave reviews. The finale was contested by the phenomenally talented Damian McGinty (pictured), Samuel Larsen, Lindsay Pearce and Alex Newell, and when the judges simply couldn't choose a winner, all four hopefuls were given a part on the show.
Reece Mastin Wins The X Factor Australia
The finale of Australia's most popular reality show was contested by 17 year old Reece Mastin, concrete Johnny Ruffo and the 40 year old Andrew Wishart. In a momentous finale, Reece took out the crown, winning the public vote by less than 1%.
British Invasion!
And not the rock n' roll kind… 2011 marked the true arrival of trashy British reality TV, as a reaction to the success of 'Jersey Shore'. Following the arrival of 'The Only Way Is Essex' in 2010, 2011 saw the Newcastle-based 'Geordie Shore' and the Liverpudlian 'Desperate Scousewives' both debut, with another such series, 'Mersey Shore', also commissioned. Heaven help us.
Sarah And Lachlan Win 'Beauty And The Geek Australia'
Its the ultimate in reality TV juxtapositions, and the third season of one of Australia's most popular shows didnt disappoint. There were hookups, tears, Geeks in G-strings and even an inter-beauty engagement, but the most memorable event was surely our winners, the lovely Sarah and Lachlan, who took out the series in a tense finale.
Ton Of Cash Evictee Channels Sly Stallone
In one of the most bizarre reality exits in TV history, Jonny Sarhanis who calls himself "The Greek Mystique" delivered the famous speech from Sylvester Stallone's iconic 'Rocky Balboa' film upon eviction from the show 'Ton Of Cash'. He then proceeded to beat his chest like a gorilla, because, why not? To watch the clip, head here.
Sisters Rule
2011 was the year when the Sydney siblings Sammy and Bella took out the 'My Kitchen Rules' crown, narrowly beating out Melbourne team Kane Lillywhite and Lee Chan in a tense finale. Bon appetit!
It's Back (For Better Or Worse…)
In a shock move, Channel 9 this year announced that they were bringing back the one and only 'Big Brother'. The show was cancelled by Network 10 in 2008 due to declining ratings, but 9 are hoping that in this ever-so-social age that we live in, the show can reign supreme once again. We'll see.
I loved up to you will receive carried out proper here. The caricature is tasteful, your authored subject matter stylish. nevertheless, you command get got an shakiness over that you want be handing over the following. in poor health for sure come more previously again as precisely the similar just about very incessantly inside of case you protect this hike.
Really nice layout and good written content, hardly anything else we require :D.


text:
Rhinebeck Crew kicked off the season at the W.A.R. race in Poughkeepsie on April 19. The cobwebs are gone and we're ready to row!
We'll be back at the historic riverside in Poughkeepsie several more times this season (see calendar). Poughkeepsie has been the site of some of the most prominent races in American rowing history. Tens of thousands used to gather for regattas along the shores and many followed the races in moving trains on the west side of the river.
The Intercollegiate Championships were held here for many years. You can see a clip from 1934, including a shot of the moving train, here: 1934 Intercollegiate Championships.
The celebrated 1936 intercollegiate races were also here and preceded the great Olympic story told in the book "The Boys in the Boat". There is a brief shot of the Poughkeepsie regatta in the following clip from 1936: 1936 Intercollegiate Races.
Lots of historic Poughkeepsie race shots at left!


text:
Dr Manish Shah, 47, is accused of assaulting his victims at his surgery in Romford, Essex between 2004 and 2013.
An investigation was launched after several people went to police in July and August 2013, when he was finally arrested.
He faces 65 counts of assault by penetration, 52 counts of sexual assault and one count of sexual assault on a girl under 13.
Video: Child Protection Helpline Launched (Sky News)
Shah appeared at Barkingside Magistrates' Court on Thursday where it was indicated that he denied all charges against him.
Judge Richard Hawgood said: "I hear what your indication is. These are matters that can only be dealt with in the crown court, or they are matters that are linked to matters that can only be heard at crown court."
Shah is suspended from practising as a doctor by the General Medical Council and barred from accessing any NHS medical records.
He was granted bail ahead of his plea case management hearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 27 September.
Under the bail conditions, Shah, of Brunel Close, Romford, is not allowed to attend his former surgery or contact any current or former patient or any of the surgery's past or current employees.
View comments
Christopher Wood, 33, has been jailed for 15 months after he was found guilty of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, committed when he was a teacher
A chemistry teacher has been jailed for 15 months after he was found guilty of sending a pupil a naked picture of himself with a smiley-face emoji covering his genitals.
Christopher Wood, 33, has been convicted of inciting a child to engage in sexual activity while in a position of trust.
Wood was also found guilty of causing a child to watch a sexual act but cleared of a similar charge relating to a second youngster by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court.
The trial had heard how all the charges related to his time as a teacher at a school in Solihull, West Midlands.
Passing sentence at Birmingham Crown Court, Judge Mark Wall QC said Wood, whose wife has left him, had attracted the respect of many of those he worked with.
During his sentencing remarks, Judge Wall rejected Wood's claim that internet searches relating to 'inappropriate relationship' conducted in 2009 were attempts to find out what would happen to teachers wrongly accused of misconduct.
The judge told Wood: 'I recognise that through your own conduct and the verdicts of the jury you have now lost your good character, your profession and the respect of those who were unaware of the side of your character that the jury have heard about.
'This exchange of images would have been completely unacceptable between any man in his 30s and an under-age girl – they are so much more so when one considers the position of trust that you were in.
'You chose to send her a photograph which showed you being given oral sex.
'You covered your private parts with electronic emoji stickers when you sent the images, but they left little to the imagination.
'Your conduct is deserving of a prison sentence and I shall pass one on you.'
Wood, described in court as an 'intelligent and sensitive' man rated as outstanding by Ofsted, was ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years.
During the trial, Wood was said to have showed the pupils pornographic pictures of himself with other women, including him being intimate with his wife.
Wood, previously from Dorridge, Solihull, but now from Tregaron in Ceredigion, Wales, had been working at the school since September 2015.
A jury at Birmingham Crown Court (pictured) today cleared Wood of a second charge of causing a child to watch a sexual activity and are still deliberating on a third similar charge
He had also allegedly made internet searches for phrases including 'sex with teacher' and 'student, teacher and sex' before he joined the school.
The prosecution said that because he was a teacher he breached the trust placed in him by sending naked pictures of himself to a student.
Michelle Heeley QC, prosecuting, told the jury how Wood had become very close to a female pupil and she and her friends would hang around the chemistry lab where the defendant worked.
Miss Heeley said that on Bonfire Night, Wood had 'inappropriately' given the girls Coke with Jack Daniels and on another occasion he had also taken vodka to the school.
Christopher Wood (pictured) sent a pupil a naked picture of himself while teaching at a school in Solihull
She claimed Wood and the girl became closer and began to communicate on Snapchat with the teacher using the tag, 'I don't give a f…..'.
'In December 2015 the Crown say Wood sent this girl several pictures of himself semi naked,' said Miss Heeley.
'They had a discussion about whether she was fat and going to they gym and she sent pictures of herself wearing a towel.'
The prosecutor said Wood then sent a picture of himself fully naked apart from an emoji sticker and the teenager responded by sending one of herself topless.
The photos sent by the teacher then became even more sexually explicit and were seen by the girl and also some of her friends, said Miss Heeley.
She alleged these included the defendant engaged in sexual activity with other women, including his wife.
'These were completely inappropriate images to be sent to a child,' Miss Heeley said.
Jurors were also told on one occasion Wood had left his phone in a classroom and some of the pupils started looking through it.
'The found pornographic pictures including those of his wife,' said Miss Heeley.
'Rather than stopping them looking at the phone, he had a discussion with them.'
Miss Heeley said police later examined the defendant's computer and found images of girls in school uniform, posing with garters and ribbons on their thighs.
Wood, she said, had also made searches which included 'inappropriate relationships' before he joined the school.
'It shows a sexual interest, an inappropriate interest in school girls,' said Miss Heeley.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4839810/Chemistry-teacher-sent-student-naked-picture-himself.html#ixzz4rMphpear
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
'When the facts change, I change my mind,' said the economist John Maynard Keynes. When the facts change, the Scottish Government changes the facts.
This secretive, control-crazed administration has been caught changing the facts again. This time their blue pencil set to work on an Audit Scotland report into colleges, a sector which has suffered acutely from a decade of SNP mismanagement. Audit Scotland is supposed to be the independent watchdog but this is one form of independence the Nationalists are not keen on. The original draft of the report noted that since the SNP came to power in 2007, student numbers at colleges had plummeted by 41 percent. However this fact did not appear in the final draft and documents obtained by one journalist showed why.
After being sent the draft report in May, senior Scottish Government civil servant Paul Johnson wrote to the Auditor General urging her to alter the review. 'It is felt that the tone of the report could be more balanced,' he complained, and went on to object to a graph depicting falling student numbers right back to 2007. When the 'redrafted' report was published, not only had the 41 percent statistic disappeared but the graph had been cut back to include only the past few years, where college enrolments have declined more modestly.
For its part, Audit Scotland insists revisions did not come about because of Scottish Government interference but as a result of 'evidence-based decisions'. Presumably the evidence was knowledge of how St Andrew's House operates and the decision was not to get on their bad side.
That the Scottish Government can water down an independent report into its own performance is both absurd and wearily familiar. For this is not the first time this has happened; it's not even the first time it's happened to Audit Scotland. In July, it emerged that the Nationalist regime had gone to extraordinary lengths to censor a critical report on the health service. 'The NHS in Scotland 2016', published by the watchdog in October, warned that SNP cuts and rising staff costs were putting hospitals under strain. Once again, government pen-pushers deputised themselves as the tone police and cautioned Audit Scotland that its write-up was full of 'subjective, alarmist and sometimes clumsy language'. A section on health boards' failure to balance their books was criticised for sketching an 'unduly negative picture', suggesting Scotland's civil servants are either worryingly out-of-touch or endearingly chipper souls. In total, the government 'requested' 35 changes and 51 'clarifications'. This time, Audit Scotland pushed backed on many of the gripes and left those parts in tact.
It is a curious coincidence that so many independent figures who criticise the SNP end up back-pedalling after a phone call or a meeting. Take Naomi Eisenstadt, the anti-poverty tsar, whose conclusion that the council tax freeze was regressive was diluted after a one-on-one with Nicola Sturgeon. During the independence referendum, Professor Louise Richardson, then principal of St Andrews University, voiced her fears about cutting off Scottish higher education from UK funding. Alex Salmond's office drafted a statement backtracking on her remarks and demanded that Professor Richardson issue it. When she refused, Mr Salmond telephoned her personally in what was reported to be a 'loud and heated' call.
Last month, Highland Spring chief executive Les Montgomery urged Nicola Sturgeon to stop grandstanding on independence and get back to governing. The SNP's Economy Secretary Keith Brown ordered his flunkies to contact Mr Montgomery about his comments and ask if he wanted to 'discuss them further'. The following day, the businessman issued not one but two apologies and stressed that Highland Spring had 'an open, positive and collaborative relationship' with the Scottish Government. Very collaborative, by the sound of it.
When they're not endeavouring to play the ref, ministers are working hard to prevent you knowing the score. The SNP government's attitude to freedom of information is so obstructionist it could make any journalist yearn for the openness and transparency of the UK Cabinet Office. In June, two dozen Scottish journalists — including the Scottish Daily Mail's political editor Michael Blackley — signed an open letter rebuking the Sturgeon administration for its secrecy and questionable practices. They described legitimate requests for information blocked or delayed without good reason and the scandal of ministerial special advisers — taxpayer-funded political operatives — 'screening' FOI responses before civil servants released them. The SNP's approach to accountability is that of the officious head spook in a thousand spy thrillers: 'It's on a need-to-know basis and you don't need to know'.
It's not just the public, either — the Scottish Government prefers to keep itself in the dark too. When two respected international surveys of educational attainment showed Scotland slipping from 'above average' to 'average', the SNP withdrew from them. Last year, the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy painted a grim picture of decline in primary and second schools, where the fortunate pupils were the ones whose schooling had merely stalled rather than regressed. The Scottish Government released the figures then duly announced the scrapping of the survey.
It is one thing to withhold information from the public. All governments fear the toll of full disclosure. It is another thing entirely to deny yourself, as an executive, up-to-date and accurate information on which policies are working and which ones need to be overhauled. It is a deliberate and destructive act of self-deception, one enabled by a veritable army of PR flacks. The Scottish Government employs 14 special advisers at a cost of roughly £1m a year and a further 45 spin doctors. (For comparison, the Welsh Government manages with 21.)
Why do the Nationalists conduct the business of government in this fashion, like mobsters running a protection racket against reality? For one, they are simply mimicking the iron-tight party discipline that has turned the SNP into New Labour without the spontaneity. For NatBots, facts unhelpful to the cause do not compute. They are unfacts. The other reason is that Nicola Sturgeon and those around her are scared. It feels like the independence moment might have passed and, without a second referendum to gin up the crowds, Miss Sturgeon's team will be judged more closely than ever on performance, delivery and competence. Given their track record, it's not surprising they're afraid.
Until now, the Nationalists have inhabited a rarefied world where theirs is the only truth, where all extraneous details could be dismissed as a flimsy gossamer of Unionist lies. All that mattered was realising the ultimate goal. This closing of the SNP mind has made for a party that is averse to facts, allergic to scrutiny, impervious to reason, unwilling to listen, and coolly at ease with manipulating, obscuring or downplaying evidence it doesn't like. What it cannot face, it buries. What it cannot bury, it spins. When it cannot spin, it cajoles and traduces and tries to shut down.
Nicola Sturgeon can lead her party on that basis if she wants but it is no way to run a country. The First Minister and her colleagues are about to learn that reality can't be blocked out and truth cannot be treated as trivial and contingent on political circumstances. The next few years will test whether Miss Sturgeon is up to the job. If she can't change to meet the changed times, to say nothing of changed facts, eventually the country will decide it's time to change the government.
Originally published in the Scottish Daily Mail. Have your say on the issues raised here by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com, remembering to reference the column. Contact Stephen at email@example.com.


text:
Assassin's Creed Syndicate & Overwatch Game Ready Driver Released
The new GeForce Game Ready 359.00 WHQL drivers for Assassin's Creed Syndicate and the Overwatch beta are now available to download via GeForce Experience. With Game Ready optimisations and a SLI profile for Ubisoft's open-world action game, and Game Ready optimisations for the Blizzard's competitive shooter, our new drivers will give you the best possible experience while liberating London and battling foes online.
Game Ready For Assassin's Creed Syndicate
Assassin's Creed Syndicate launches on PC today with enhanced graphics, increased rendering resolutions, an uncapped framerate, and NVIDIA GameWorks effects that are revealed in the tech trailer below.
If you're wondering what system you'll require to experience Assassin's Creed Syndicate industrial-era London at a high level of detail at 60 frames per second, check out our Assassin's Creed Syndicate NVIDIA GeForce GTX GPU Recommendation article, where you'll find the answers you seek.
Game Ready For The Overwatch Beta
The first Overwatch beta stress test begins this weekend. If you're participating, update to the new Game Ready driver for the optimum experience.
To discover whether your system is up to the task of playing Overwatch, take a look at our Overwatch NVIDIA GeForce GTX GPU Recommendation article.
Game Ready For Virtual Reality
In addition to adding support for Assassin's Creed Syndicate and the Overwatch beta, the new Game Ready drivers also introduce support for GameWorks VR 1.0, a SDK that enables virtual reality game developers to increase game performance, reduce headset latency, and further improve the VR PC gaming experience with numerous other included tools and features. Learn more on the GameWorks VR tech page.
Also included in the new Game Ready driver install package is an updated version of GeForce Experience. Within, you can instantly discover if your system is VR Ready, and if it isn't get more information about VR Ready GeForce GTX GPUs and PCs.
GeForce Game Ready Assassin's Creed Syndicate Driver: Download Now
You can download the new GeForce Game Ready drivers for the Assassin's Creed Syndicate through GeForce Experience, our free, essential, game and system-enhancing application, or from the GeForce Drivers page. With GeForce Experience you'll also receive 60 FPS Optimal Playable Settings for Assassin's Creed Syndicate, and be able to record and stream gameplay with ShadowPlay.
If you experience any technical issues with the new Game Ready drivers, please post a detailed report on the GeForce Driver Feedback Forum where our Customer Care team can better assist you.


text:
We warmly welcome you to the website of our St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church Family.
The Mission of St. Demetrios
is to proclaim the Good News of Salvation
through the Orthodox Christian Faith
for the glory of our Triune God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We are a loving community of believers who journey
towards our Lord Jesus Christ and one another through our
WITNESS, and SERVICE.
We invite all people to join us on this journey towards the Kingdom of Heaven
Through this Missions Statement, we summarize who we are as a Church, and how we strive to live our calling as the Body of Christ. We hope this website will introduce you to our ancient Orthodox Christian Faith, and our beloved Church Family. We would also like these pages to help you discover something new about our Faith.
If you are looking for a Church Family, we welcome you to come and visit us. If you are a new member of our parish, or are considering membership, these web pages will acquaint you with what our parish offers to those who give it support and sustenance.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you always!
Services Schedule
We meet for worship every Sunday morning at 9:00 AM followed by a fellowship coffee hour in our community center.
Sundays: Orthros (Matins): 7:45 AM | Divine Liturgy: 9:00 AM
Weekdays: Orthros (Matins): 8:00 AM | Divine Liturgy: 9:00 AM
For information on our Lenten and Holy Week services please contact the Church office at (817) 626-5578 between the hours of 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
Follow this link for Special Service Schedule
Follow this link to obtain a download the services from Ages Initiative
E-mail Listserv
Join our St. Demetrios email distribution list to receive weekly news and the Sunday Bulletin.
Please Register as a new member of our community and someone will be in contact with you.
Saints, Feasts, and Readings for 12/15/2019
11th Sunday of Luke; Eleutherios the Hieromartyr, Bishop of Illyricum, and his mother Anthia; The Martyr Susannah the Deaconess


text:
Best Western Royal Clifton Hotel & Spa
About the Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel
- This coastal hotel has a prime position on Southport's promenade, with views of the King's Gardens & the sea
- Southport is a Victorian seaside town known for its Grade II-listed iron pier
- The hotel is 10 minutes' drive from Ribble Estuary National Nature Reserve
The Best Western Royal Clifton Hotel & Spa is in the Victorian seaside town of Southport, in a prime position overlooking King's Gardens and the sea.
The town is on the Sefton Coast, home to over 15 miles of beaches and dunes, and is known for its Grade II-listed iron pier -- said to be the second longest in the UK.
The traditional hotel is near the Grade II-listed Wayfarers Shopping Arcade on Lord Street. The Ribble Estuary National Nature Reserve is a 10-minute drive away from the hotel and Crosby Beach, home of Antony Gormley's "Another Place" sculptures, is half an hour away.
Southport is less than an hour's drive from Liverpool, for bars, restaurants, and museums including Tate Liverpool and The Beatles Story.
The hotel's Pavilion Restaurant serves classic British dishes. Drinks and light snacks are available in the Conservatory Bar and the Chatsworth Bar.
The hotel also has a health club (free for guests), with an indoor pool, a Jacuzzi, a sauna, a steam room and a gym.
"Bedrooms range in size and style, but all are comfortable and thoughtfully equipped", according to The AA Hotel Guide 2017.
- Infant cots / cribs
- Bar
- Newspaper / magazines
- Extra beds / roll away beds
- Gym / fitness center
- Hot Tub / Jacuzzi
- Indoor pool
- Restaurant
- Sauna / Steam Room
- Spa
- 100% smoke-free
- 24-hour front desk
- 24-hour room service
- Beauty treatments / massages (fees apply)
- Express check-in / checkout
- Hair salon (fees apply)
- Laundry / dry cleaning
- Pillow menu
Room amenities
- Central heating
- Coffee / tea-making facilities
- Iron and ironing board
- Flatscreen TV
- Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout
- Hair-dryer
- Luxury toiletries
- Bathtub or shower
- Parking (fees apply)
- Accessible bathroom in some rooms
- Accessible meeting room
- Accessible parking
- Accessible path of travel
- Accessible restaurant
- Facilities for guests with special needs
- Wheelchair accessible
Standard Time is 3pm. Minimum age required to check in: 18.
Minimum age required to check in: 18.
Checkout: Standard Time is 11am.
Children and additional guests:
Infant's cot/crib available on request: free of charge, for children aged 3 and under.
Extra bed available on request for children aged 4-11: £10 per child, per night. This includes breakfast.
Extra bed available on request for older children and adults: £15 per person, per night. This includes breakfast.
Pets: No pets allowed.
Cancellation: Cancellation policy & booking conditions vary by 'rate plan'. These will be displayed on the payment page after you have searched for your dates and selected a rate.
Additional details: Parking is subject to availability and costs £3 per car, per day.
Have a Question? Contact Travelzoo.
- 1-877-966-0000 U.S. and Canada (toll-free)
- +44 (0) 20 3564 9000 U.K. and Europe
Customer Service available Mon-Sun, 9am-9pm ET
Rates may vary by date, are subject to availability and are not guaranteed until your purchase is complete.
The room rates listed are for double occupancy per room unless otherwise stated and exclude tax recovery charges and service fees.
It is the responsibility of the hotel chain and/or the individual property to ensure the accuracy of the photos displayed. Travelzoo is not responsible for any inaccuracies in the photos.
*Unless otherwise stated, Travelzoo-exclusive extras are valid once per stay (based on two adults sharing). Value is an estimate based on double occupancy. Extras are only included with Member Rates and may not be available on all dates. Extras are non-transferable and have no cash value. Total value may vary depending on time of booking and availability. When included, breakfast may be limited to 2 guests per stay subject to hotel's discretion. Other restrictions may apply; see our T&Cs for details.
Please note: Some amenities and services may not be available in all rooms or may incur an additional charge. All prices stated have been verified at the time of publication and may vary at the discretion of the hotel.
(5 Member Ratings)


text:
Parcel sent to Florence in France as part of Chookyblue's SSCS, you can go see the inside on her blog.
Chooky has been a great swap mumma again and all these wonderful parcels are winging there way around the globe.
|Parcel heading to France
|Parcel arrived from New Zealand
|heart decoration sent to France
|tree decoration from New Zealand


text:
If you know us, you know we LOVE us some GOOD pizza!
That's why we were so excited to check out Russo's Coal Fired Italian Kitchen in Richardson, TX. It's not too often that we travel up to North Dallas, but you say pizza, and we're there!
It's definitely a low key, family friendly type atmosphere. I loved that you could sit up at the bar and watch them making the pizza's and sliding them in and out of the coal fired oven.
We each started with the Mediterranean Salad which consisted of: romaine, bell peppers, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, gorgonzola cheese, with a light basalmic vinagarette dressing on the side. It was delicious!!
Now on to the BEST part. The PIZZAS! Yum yum yum! We opted for the "Create your own" route mainly because we like to customize and it's easier to control what and how much you are eating when you choose exactly what you want on it. I went with the gluten free crust, tomato base, mozzarella, grilled chicken, red onion, portobello mushrooms, pineapple, & sun-dried tomatoes. It was DIVINE.
What makes or breaks it is always the pizza crust. This crust y'all. The manager was telling us all about how they make their crust (yes, the GF crust too!) in house from scratch EVERY morning before the restaurant opens. I thought that was so cool because every other place we've gone to uses a frozen pre-made GF crust.
Austin ordered the original crust, tomato base, no cheese, red onion, spinach, and lots of grilled chicken. He said it was the BEST crust he's ever had. And usually he can be pretty picky…(don't tell him I said that 😉 )
If you're looking for a new place to try in the Dallas area, head up to Russo's and you will NOT be disappointed. Order a pizza and if you have a friend who is gluten free, take them with you!! The service was great and everyone was so nice and friendly.
And remember, you can have the occasional couple slices of pizza and still reach your goals! For example, I saved a lot of my carbs and fat for this meal and ate pretty lean/high protein/lower carb for my meals leading up to this. I ate a few slices of pizza, boxed it up, then took it home so I could enjoy it again the next day! Ordering a side salad before your meal will also ensure you fill up with veggies so you won't over eat when the pizza comes. Balance & moderation…because health is a LIFESTYLE.
Tips and tricks for cutting some calories when it comes to pizza/Italian dining:
- Order thin crust
- Stick with a tomato base (pesto is pretty HIGH fat)
- Load up on veggies
- Add grilled chicken for a lean source of protein (without adding more fat)
- Ask for light on the cheese (stick with the mozzarella) OR go with the feta as a substitute
- Order a salad for an appetizer, loaded with veggies, and ask for dressing on the side
- Pass on the bread basket, garlic rolls, breadsticks (especially if you are ordering a pizza)
- Ask for a to-go box pretty early on so you can box up your leftovers (then you can enjoy it again tomorrow 🙂 )


text:
If you are really inclined you will you begin celebrating at precisely at 3.14159. If I were having pi today it would certainly be a berry pie! At Pi Day you find everything you need to celebrate this important symbol, which in mathematics is to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter.
Bread and Butter Pickles
Made easy! My Agritopia Farm CSA had so many cucumbers it wasn't possible for us to eat all of them. I thought why not turn these delicious cucumbers into pickles, not just any pickles, but bread and butter pickles! I found this recipe for Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles on Cooks.com 1.5 cups sugar (I used raw sugar) … Read More
Fun and Fruity Summer Cake Ideas
As the summer fast approaches, bakers start whipping out their summer recipes and start compiling the desserts that most suited for this sunny season. Desserts that are abundant during the summer season are fruit tarts, berry pies and ice cream, but why not try something new for a change and bake summer treats in the form of America's favorite dessert, the … Read More
Dining in Boulder My Experiences so Far
Daily Eats moves to Boulder, CO and experiences the Boulder Farmer's Market, Dushandbee Teahouse, SethEllis Chocoates, and some kind of nut I can't pronounce.
Daily Eats is on Twitter @DailyEats
Follow us and we'll follow you back: @dailyeats
Food, Inc If you Missed You Can see It
Dinner will never look the same again with this "powerful wake-up call for consumers," (NewYorkTimes.com) Food, Inc. This compelling film is all about where your food comes from and what you should know about it. Food, Inc. exposes the highly mechanized substructure that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of the government's regulatory agencies, the USDA … Read More
Happy Birthday Internet!
If I knew it was your birthday I would have baked a cake. Today marks the official unofficial birthday of the internet. This was the day in which to computers 400 miles away, got together and sent a message over to each other. These two characters I0 transformed our very lives today. What out the internet there would be no … Read More
My Thoughts on District 9
I love science fiction grew up on the works of Bradbury, Clark, Asimov. SciFi has been part of my life since I was a baby. My first SciFi experience was Outer Limits. My father was watching it while he was holding me. I was watching the black and white TV too until the creature on the screen seemed to explode … Read More
Jennie-O / the Biggest Loser
Full disclosure Jennie-O is the client of the agency I work for. This afternoon I was totally intrigued by the appealing photograph of the Jennie-O Turkey burger on the Jennie-O website. The photo has such a strong appeal I could almost smell the turkey burger and my brain is telling me it smells delicious. I just had to download the … Read More
Dijon on Your Burger President Obama?
Funny thing about this whole uproar of whether to use dijon mustard or ketchup on your burger is just a matter of freedom of taste. If you are a traditional you'll probably stick with what's traditional – ketchup. Nothing wrong with a ketchup on your burger. But if you're willing to be flexible and try something for instance to spice … Read More


text:
Dave Haase Completes the AIDS Lifecycle Ride
Congrats to our massage therapist Dave Haase for participating in AIDS Lifecycle 11 riding his bicycle 545 miles, along with 2300 riders from SF to LA. Team Wolford raised over $75,000 and the ride is now officially North America's largest fundraiser, raising $12.6 Million dollars that goes towards direct services for people living with HIV/AIDS through the SF AIDS Foundation and the LA Gay & Lesbian Center. Through his practice Dave works with cycling related stress and injuries to keep cyclists on their bikes. He also offers unlimited 60 minute massages for $40 to all...Read More
Spring is Here – Cleanse with Emergence
The sun is shining, color is exploding all around, and I feel the need to Cleanse! Cleaning-out the clutter, internally and externally. There is something completely satisfying about rolling up your sleeves and getting into those deep, dark corners to clear out the gunk and start anew. Traditionally, this meant getting to those household tasks that always get put off: beating the old dust out of your carpets, clearing out the gutters, scrubbing till the house felt like new. However the same principal can easily be applied to our inner selves as well as our outer lives. Where are your cobwebs?...Read More


text:
Updated: March 15, 2013
Apple TV Media Player (2010 ver.)
A whole new ultra-compact design that brings key changes to functionality and price
Prior to the release of the new Apple TV, the previous Apple media player hardware dated back to 2007. Since 2007, Apple did only come up with a major firmware upgrade in 2009 to enhance the player functionality.
This is not the case with the 2010 Apple player. The new Apple is the result of a totally new hardware design, one that has brought about major changes to the original player functionality apart from an incredibly tiny form factor and a significantly cheaper price.
This is definitely one of the best video streaming players, and the player to opt for if Apple is your brand and want to enjoy Netflix in addition to iTunes. But be aware, the Apple still suffers from a series handicap. Read here to learn more.
Editor's Update December 2012: For information on the latest wireless media players, please refer to our Wireless Media Players Review page.
New 2012 Apple TV
More information is available in our review here.
A Cool new Apple TV ...offering more for less in a tiny package
Despite its success, the original Apple media player was nothing more than an extended iTunes player. Two years down the line, a new firmware upgrade transformed the original Apple TV into a more robust box that offered more in terms of features with its 160Gb built-in hard disk, DLNA functionality, and digital media content support. But the upgraded Apple still suffered from the same original restriction, namely content was very much limited to the iTunes store though a number of firmware updates did eventually add access to more non-iTunes content like Flickr and YouTube.
However, things are in for a change. With the Apple MC572LL/A streaming player, Apple is taking a whole new more aggressive approach to full-screen multimedia streaming. It ditched the hard disk found on the original Apple to come up with an ultra compact design, one that is cheaper and more robust than the previous Apple streaming players.
It is a design aimed at helping Apple take advantage of the latest revolution in TV entertainment - that of streaming content directly from the Internet straight to your HDTV. For just $99, you get access to Netflix, YouTube, and TV shows and movies from the iTunes Store. Not much compared with the Roku streaming player but unlike the new line of Roku players, the Apple player comes as DLNA-enabled. In other words, you can also stream music, photos and videos from networked computers running iTunes. Add AirPlay functionality and there you have a wireless media player Apple fans would surely find it hard leaving it out of their 'iproducts' collection.
Article continues after this advertisement.
Main Features
Design: The Apple comes in an exceptionally small package, delivering a very strong impact with its new tiny design. In fact, at just under an inch in height by less than 4-inch by 4-inches, it is possibly the smallest wireless media player within its class that would fit anywhere including behind your plasma or LCD/LED TV. This new compact design is approximately a quarter the size of the original Apple TV. This became possible as Apple ditched the built-in hard-disk found on the original Apple.
This means that the new Apple TV is not an exact replacement to the previous Apple but the latest concept in media streaming is now shifting from that of playing content you have downloaded on your player, to streaming of content straight from source - whether that being a networked PC or the Internet. Obviously, in these circumstances, sufficient wireless network bandwidth and a fast Internet connection are a must for the best HD streaming performance. But if these are non-issues, the new Apple TV hardware with its dual-band wireless N technology is capable of excellent HD streaming performance.
The included remote is a sleek simply clicker finished in aluminum with just a menu and play/pause buttons, and an up/down/left/right directional pad with which you can navigate around the Apple menu options and content.
Mentioning the remote, you can also use your iPod Touch, iPad or iPhone as a remote once you download the free Remote app.
This gives you better control over content selection, and since control is over Wi-Fi instead of infrared, the player response to your commands is also faster.
As indicated in our introduction, the new Apple TV comes with Airplay support, dubbed by my many as Apple's secret weapon. The reason is that with Airplay functionality, you can wirelessly stream music, photos and video stored on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad running iOS4.2, to your HDTV via the new Apple TV.
Connectivity: The Apple TV connectivity is basic but relatively adequate. Apart from the dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) wireless connectivity, main connectivity is over the Apple HDMI port to output both high definition video up to 720p and surround sound audio. There is also an optical audio out, a fast Ethernet port for connection to a wired network should you prefer, and a micro-USB port for servicing and support only; in other words, you cannot plug in your USB drive to view multimedia files on your TV through the Apple TV box.
Equally important, like its predecessors, the new Apple TV miss an analog AV output - meaning you cannot connect the Apple TV player to older televisions.
The Apple TV in use
Setup would not take more than just a few minutes. It is simple - almost plug and play, while the on-screen interface is intuitive, very quick in response, and equally important, it is easy to navigate - even with the provided oversimplified remote control. The user interface is almost the same as that found on the original Apple TV, which isn't bad since that was one of the original Apple main strengths.
Some may argue that with such a basic remote, you cannot do much but the truth is that the Apple TV user interface is extremely simple, intuitive and even quick in use; in our opinion it is better than that found on the new line of Roku players. In this respect, the supplied remote is more than adequate.
The main screen lists the basic content categories: Movies, TV Shows, Internet, Computers, and Settings. The Internet category refers to non-Apple services, like Netflix and Flickr. The computer category refers to multimedia content you will be streaming straight from your TV thanks to the player DLNA support; supported media files include:
Video: H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formatsMPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format
Photo formats: JPEG, GIF, and TIFF
Audio include: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps); protected AAC (from iTunes Store); MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps); MP3 VBR; Apple Lossless; AIFF; WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound pass-through
Content: From a user perspective, the most important deliverable for any Internet streaming player is content, and enhanced content support is what the new Apple streaming players aims to deliver. Apart from the possibility to rent movies and TV shows from the iTunes Store, now you can also get 99-cent HD TV show rentals on some Fox and ABC shows. And like most wireless digital media players, the 2010 Apple multimedia streaming player also supports Netflix streaming - something which now has become standard on Internet-enabled streaming boxes.
The new Apple wireless media player is capable of delivering one of the best video streaming performances - doing even slightly better than the Roku XD and XDS wireless media players. This applies irrespective of whether you are streaming straight from the Internet or from your networked PC. Buffering time is typically a few seconds but then this increases to close to 30 seconds when streaming HD material.
However, irrespective of the player performance, both buffering time and even more important, video streaming performance are very much dependent on the speed of your Internet broadband connection and available network bandwidth.
Picture quality of the Apple TV is also very good despite what some may think that the 720p upper limit may render for s softer picture; rather, we think that the Apple has an edge in this respect over other streaming boxes.
The reality is that it would be extremely hard if not impossible for one to notice any difference even on an average size 50-inch HDTV especially when considering that here we are dealing with broadcast TV content; as further explained in our guide to HDTV Formats, broadcast TV programming never delivers the full image resolution supported by the 1080 standard due to bandwidth issues.
The new Apple TV is possibly one of the best video streaming players within its class - both in terms of picture quality and video streaming. And combined with the iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch, it is even better!
The real issue with the Apple is content, or rather the lack of it. This was the case with the original Apple TV and is still Apple TV main shortcoming with respect to the competition - in particular the new Roku players. Compared to the Roku, the only real plus of the Apple TV is its ability to stream music, photos and video files wirelessly straight from your PC. OK, you have got access to Netflix now, but when it comes to iTunes, content is still lacking in terms of supported TV networks. In addition, even from supported TV networks like ABC, Fox, and Disney, many popular shows are still missing.
The bottom line: Content may be an issue but content is something Apple can fix with a firmware update anytime. In the meantime, at just $99, the new Apple is all set to help Apple capture more of the latest emerging video streaming market in the world of home entertainment. Above all, the new Apple player represents a solid, tiny, inexpensive streaming box for Apple fans looking to bring Netflix into the living room.


text:
Bulgaria plans to keep the coal-fired power plants running because they are basic to the country, the country's Deputy Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov said on 6th of February during a discussion. In his words, maintaining the role of local coal is set out in the country's Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan by 2030 with a horizon by 2050.
Currently, Bulgaria wants the European Commission to delay the introduction of higher ecological criteria for its coal-fired power plants in the Maritsa basin. The US-owned TPPs – AES Galabovo and Contour Global Maritsa East 3 are operating there, as well as the state-owned Maritsa East 2 TPP. According to calculations by international consultants, the implementation of the new criteria is economically unjustified for Bulgaria and if they cannot be deferred, the plants will be closed.
The aim of the Bulgarian Energy Plan is to achieve the European targets, namely 32% share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption, 32.5% improvement in energy efficiency and minimum 15% interconnection. Currently, Bulgaria continues to invest, including European funds for developing its energy infrastructure and connecting with neighbouring countries.


text:
Sign In
Save and Track Your Favorite Properties
Here you will find a wide variety of useful information and resources designed to help you buy or sell a home more effectively in the counties of Middlesex and Monmouth. For information on the local community, to advice about finding a mortgage or preparing your home to sell, it's all available here on the website.
You can also search for your ideal home by viewing current listings with detailed descriptions and photos. You can get help determining the value of your home by requesting a report that includes the prices of similar homes that recently sold or are currently for sale in the counties mentioned above.
So whether you are buying or selling, please feel free to contact me @ 732-725-5555 or Sonal @ 732-725-5505 and we will be very happy to help you with all your residential real estate needs.
Whether you're looking for your first home, your dream home or an investment property, we are committed to providing you with the highest quality buyer service. When making the type of investment that buying a home requires, you deserve to have all the latest market information and the very best advice, both of which we can provide you with.
The decision to sell a home is often dependent on many factors. Whatever your reasons are for selling, my proven effective marketing strategies will ensure that you get the highest possible price for your home. We guarantee to provide you with professional, ethical, and confidential service and keep you fully informed every step of the way.
You can also visit us on facebook.com/kavinsonal.vani.
Kavin Vani joined the Prudential New Jersey Properties Real Estate Company in 2003. Within a short time, he was respected for being knowledgeable and among the top-producing real estate agents in the company. With today's economy and all the details involved in buying/selling a home, it is critical that you have an experienced real estate agent to assist you through this process.
Let Our Team work for you
Our goal is to provide the highest quality of services to all buyers, sellers & renters. My wife and I are totally dedicated and committed to achieving the goal of having satisfied customers.
We specialize in Sayreville, Old Bridge, East Brunswick, Edison, & South Brunswick. Our number one goal is to know clients' needs and work with them until they are fully satisfied.
As a husband & wife team and parents of three children, we know and understand family values, emotions which flow in the process, and patience that are needed in selling and buying a home! Hard work/honesty is our middle name. Our past customers still call us for repeat business and advice.
For all your residential needs, we are a phone call away: 732-725-5555/5505.
Email: email@example.com
Website: www.kavinsonal.com
New Jersey Association of REALTORS.
Middlesex County Association of REALTORS.
Monmouth County MLS
Garden State MLS
* Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering
* Series 7 & 63 in Stock Brokerage Industries
Having held license in stock brokerage industries, Kavin & Sonal can guide, help you analyze and compare the real estate and financial market industries.
* Member of the New Jersey Association of Realtors
* Member of Middlesex County Multiple Listing Service
* Member of Monmouth County Multiple Listing Service
* Member of Garden State Multiple Listing Service
* Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering
* Member of the New Jersey Association of Realtors
Kavin & Sonal spend lot of their free time with their three children. We both love to sing and dance.


text:
After the audio release of the lovely tune "IFE". Celf Made Entertainment front liner "Bel Majiq" hits us with a classic visual directed by Jimmy Strings.
Ife was recognised and nominated for the best Afro Pop Single in the on-going Top Naija Music Award, Bel Majiq has proven to be a very potential next rated artist to look out for in 2017. Waste no time and cop this hit video titled "Ife by Bel Majiq"


text:
On campus, you'll have access to our professional practice rooms and recording suites, high-tech equipment and outstanding tutors who bring a wealth of contemporary music industry experience to the table. Off campus, you'll have plenty of opportunities to gain work experience with a range of local employers and participate in community and cultural events.
We're very proud of our students' achievements, with some of our previous students now working as international producers, touring musicians and sound engineers. With hard work and commitment, there's so many places these courses could take you.
We know choosing what and where to study is a big decision. Here are a few big reasons why studying at Barnfield College could be the best choice for your future.


text:
Jamieson Bay Retreat
Stunning Position at Jamieson Bay, Mahurangi West - perfectly positioned spectacular one bedroom holiday accommodation
Situated at the edge of a cliff with views across Mahurangi West towards Kawau and out lying islands. This one bedroom accommodation is representative of all that is good about New Zealand. Wake to the sound of N.Z. Native birds - enjoy the panoramic views from Jamieson Bay Retreat. The owners are looking forward to being able to offer guests the opportunity to go fishing and play golf.
The owners live on the property further up the hillside and are there to help with any questions but will also always respect your right to privacy.
Jamieson Bay Retreat is unique and positioned to capture the sun and views of Jamieson Bay.
$295.00 per night with a minimum of 2 nights - Super special Winter rate
$350.00 per night with a minimum of 2 nights - October 15th forward
We have a one off cleaning/preparation fee of $60.00
We look forward to offering guests an opportunity to experience New Zealand that escapes most visitors to this stunning country.
Please email us with any questions - we look forward to you staying at Jamiieson Bay Retreat.
All our accommodations have a cleaning fee.
Searching Availability...
12/2015 - We have had an absolutely wonderful 2 days, relaxing in this haven of tranquility and beauty.
01/2016 -Beautiful, serene setting. Great hosts - will be back again.


text:
We'd love to take your feedback on the First UK PATHS® and Barnardo's Conference into account and hear what you enjoyed most about the day. Please take a couple of minutes to complete the online survey and let us know what you liked best about the day and what you would like us to include in future conferences!
The feedback form can be accessed here


text:
LIMITED TIME ONLY - $500 Move-in Allowance
Hillview Estates is a rental apartment in Edmonton's desirable Mill Woods neighbourhood comprising 3 mid-rise buildings on well-maintained, landscaped grounds. Hillview features spacious 1 bedroom apartments and 2 bedroom apartment suites in a location that is convenient to shopping, dining, and recreation.
Tenants will appreciate the bright kitchens with modern appliances, along with living and dining-room features including newer carpeting, window coverings, in-suite storage and each with a private balcony or patio.
Hillview Estates, located at 3403 - 3415 58th Street, offers controlled-access entry, onsite smart card laundry facilities, and assigned parking with energized stalls. The buildings are within walking distance to the new Valley Line LRT to be constructed, parks, schools, public transit, a medical clinic, pharmacy and Grey Nuns Community Hospital. Grocery shopping and Mill Woods Town Centre are also minutes away.
Learn more about Hillview Estates and our other Edmonton Apartments for rent by contacting our onsite building manager today.
*All prices, availability, and incentives are subject to change. Conditions may apply. Floor plans and photos on our website provide general information about our suites. Individual suites may be different than shown.


text:
Montana Cages stands for fascination, user-friendly, and uncompromisable love of animals.
Cages and Aviaries brought to you by Montana Cages with technical sophistication and characteristics designed specifically with birds in mind - a synthesis of innovation, decorative refinement, and a good feel for the needs of animals! Montana also stands for well-planned accoutrements and consciousness of even the smallest detail. Distinctive features, such as a removable droppings grille, and twist and turn clasp on the food opening made of stainless steel, an original zinc- and heavy metal free AVILON-Coating, and a stable rolling stand all come standard with most models.
The Madeira Bird Cage is a piece of art in your home. It will captivate you with its filigree lattice and its curved roof. Its comprehensive features make it a the perfect cage - all finches and parakeets will adore it.
Its amenities include unique details that you won't find with every-day bird cages:
- 4 External Feeders, plus extra door that can also be used as nesting boxes or birdbaths
- 4 Stainless-steel dishes
- Entrance flap
- Perches
- Rolling Cage Stand includes side compartments for utensils such as food, cleaning materials, and sand
- Dimensions: 71 x 45 x 139 cm (L x W x H)
- Cage height excluding stand: 70cm
- Size of main door: 21 x 35 cm (W x H)
- Size of feeding door: 14.5 x 8.5 cm (W x H)
- Weight: approx. 19.5 kg
- Lattice gauge: 2mm
- Space between lattice: 13mm
The pictured toy is not included.
Item cannot be delivered to Northern Ireland.


text:
A newly declassified cable from the British Ambassador to China at the time, Sir Alan Donald, describes the civilian deaths at the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre as at a "minimum estimate" of 10,000, The Independent reports. The document was reportedly written on June 5, just about 24 hours after the massacre.
Why it matters: That's much higher than previous estimates and disclosures; the Chinese government claims between 200 and 300 were killed and the Chinese Red Cross claims about 2,700 were killed. The document also provides more gruesome details than previously disclosed. In 2014, NTDTV reported that a Chinese informer reported 10,454 fatalities. The Chinese government has said the response to the protests at Tiananmen Square was a legitimate defense against a riot or rebellion.


text:
Schäfer: Caribbean Cup very important
Audley Boyd, Assistant Editor - Sports
FOR the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Championship, Jamaica's target is clear: Qualify for the Gold Cup.
With the 2018 World Cup Finals in Russia their goal, practically everything going forward hinges on the men's national senior team finishing among the top rung in the regional tournament it will host in Montego Bay from November 10-17.
"It's very important. It's the next step to the World Cup 2018. Money comes when we win. We can play in the Gold Cup. It's very important," noted Reggae Boyz head coach Winfried Schäfer.
Along with the hosts, who gained an automatic spot in the Finals, seven countries qualified for the Caribbean Cup Finals. Defending champions Cuba head the list, which is complemented by Trinidad & Tobago, Antigua & Barbuda, Haiti, French Guiana, Martinique, and Curaçao.
World Cup Qualifying (WCQ) is a step-by-step process, and the next stage after the regional springboard is the Gold Cup, CONCACAF's flagship tournament. The leading quartet from the Caribbean Cup is guaranteed spots in next year's Gold Cup, which brings together the marquée teams from North America, Central America, and the Caribbean such as Mexico, the United States, and now Costa Rica, which excelled at the Brazil World Cup.
The fifth-placed team from the Caribbean also gets a chance to qualify for the Gold Cup - in a home-and-away play-off game against the fifth-placed team from the Unión Centro Americana de Fútbol (UNCAF).
Jamaica failed to make it last time.
This time, at the decisive stage, the Reggae Boyz will play alongside Haiti (November 11), Martinique (13th), and Antigua and Barbuda (15th) in Group B of the Caribbean Cup. They will contest the group stage in a round-robin format, with the winners moving straight into the November 17 championship match and the runners-up playing for third.
there is money
Glory apart, there is money. But the route to the latter and opportunities for more goes through the former, with the Caribbean's top brass not only assured spots in the Gold Cup, but other cash and quality-rich tournaments to be held next year and in 2016.
Those include the 2015 Copa América, the tournament that decides the champion of South America, which includes the game's powerhouses Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, who combined, have won the World Cup nine times.
For the 2015 Copa América - to be held in Chile - Jamaica have been invited to participate as a special guest.
For 2016, it could get better. That year marks the centenary of CONMEBOL, the South American football association. As part of its celebrations, they will host a championship with a special flavour as they will twin it with the CONCACAF Gold Cup for one huge championship, the Centennial Cup America. It will be staged during the summer in the United States, marking the first occasion that the South American championship will be staged outside that region.
Significantly, the event is officially part of the FIFA calendar, which means the countries will have the chance to pull their top players. That is around the time when Jamaica will be involved in 2018 WCQ. The experience of playing against opposition of that quality is priceless.
"You saw last year our team was not in the Gold Cup," Schäfer argued. "All the teams - Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, the United States, Panama - were in the Gold Cup, and after (the competition) we had to play against these teams.
"This tournament is very important for our image, for our confidence, and for the Gold Cup. We can learn when we play in the Gold Cup," Schäfer reiterated.
"I'm sure we can win the Caribbean Cup, but it's very, very difficult," Schafer emphasised.
"Look at Brazil at home in the World Cup. We cannot think that we're at home and will win the Caribbean Cup. No. We have to work very hard, not from today, but yesterday," he said, magnifying the vigilance that will be required to at least hit the target with a Gold Cup placing.