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After Burkina Faso, it is now the turn of the Ugandan Parliament to provide iPads to all its members. The cost of this investment? $ 370,000.
The aim is to enable the deputies to be more effective, in the words of Emmanuel Dombo, Parliament commissioner. The funds were generated by the reduction of the budget normally allocated to paper, which is no longer necessary now that officials have tablets, according to Dombo.
What he defined as an administrative decision is, however, criticized by opponents who argue that the taxpayer are already paying too much for the maintenance of the deputies.


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Happy Fourth of July Junkies – As I was typing that the hubs just told me I am a maniac – not so much on the floor more just in the kitchen in general and once you see these nails you will probably agree. It seems I am channeling my inner Flashdance this fourth -(for those of you born post 1983 there is a song on the soundtrack by Michael Sambello (who?) entitled Maniac) (officially dating myself). OK – now that the history lesson out-of-the-way lets continue, shall we?
I have been on vacation this week which has provided me with ample time to create not one but two versions of my 4th of July nails – Using M.A.C Nail Lacquers in Spirit of Truth, Flaming Rose and Vestral White the possibilities to channel you independence day maniac are endless.
The first is all about an artistic take on a classic – this is also my creative way to mask not being able to paint straight lines on my nails.
Version two is a bit of a mash-up of Stars, Stripes, Dots and Splatter – these are all things Americana , amirite?
With a little help from some nail art stars (I can't remember where I sourced them from SAWRY!) you have yourself a red, white and blue extravaganza! Let your Freak Flag Fly, America!
p.s. please forgive my splattered cuticles – they are so dry that the gouache paint stained me #nailgirlproblems

subset: commoncrawl


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Steven Baker is a BFA student in the Craft and Material Studies Program, focusing primarily in glass.
Focusing on the beauties of life and death, my spectral glass incarnations are confessional and meditative. Pulling inspiration from the fragile moments of life, I mold glass into transparent and fluid narratives. The actions and reasoning of others manipulated by the threat of death directly shapes these stories. I carefully stretch and transform the material, pushing it as far as it will go. Through this process, I taste the discovery of the afterlife.


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Opponents of New Jersey's plan to create protective sand dunes launched a new legal battle against it Thursday, hours before similar work advanced at the opposite end of the shore.
In southern New Jersey, five homeowners in Margate sued the state and federal governments Thursday seeking to block a hotly contested dune project between their homes and the ocean.
The owners say the sand piles would create flooding and standing water that won't be able to get back out to sea. The town government and individual homeowners in Margate have been fighting the plan for years.
Their lawsuit against the state Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seeks to block the project from being built.
It says it seeks "to prevent the project from causing water to pond on public beaches for days and possibly weeks, breeding bacteria and disease including potentially the Zika virus, causing a safety hazard, decreasing the public's ability to access, use and enjoy the beach."
Jordan Rand, a lawyer for the homeowners, said the state knows it will create flooding problems by building the dunes.
"This is a case about taxpayers looking out for their community as the Christie administration has attempted to impose this project by brute force without regard to the United States Constitution, state law and, now, the real world consequences that the people of Margate will have to live with for the next 50 years," he said.
New Jersey has launched condemnation proceedings against property owners. DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said Thursday the work could start in December. He promised the state would address any flooding or ponding that might result from the dunes.
"If this project causes flooding issues or standing water, we will work with them to address that," he said.
The renewed resistance comes as a flood control project on the northern Jersey shore along Raritan Bay is about to add flood gates and levees. The DEP and federal and local officials held a ceremony Thursday to mark the start of the second phase of a $105 million protective project in Middletown, which sustained serious damage from Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
The new work will add a system of levees, a flood wall, a tide gate that can be shut during bad storms to prevent surges of water making their way inland, road closing barriers, pumping stations, and the raising of some low-lying roadways.
Martin contrasted the support of Middletown officials for the dune plan to the pockets of opposition that remain in several spots along the shore.
"Anytime a town is on your side it makes a difference to make things happen," he said.
In addition to the Margate homeowners, the state is battling a group of Bay Head homeowners who say the protective rock wall they built with their own money should exempt them from the dune project, which they fear won't be fully funded over the next few decades.
The state also is seeking easements from individual homeowners in Point Pleasant Beach, Mantoloking, Brick, and on Long Beach Island before the dune project can begin in those areas. Martin has estimated that work could begin in the spring once the necessary approvals have been obtained, either voluntarily or through legal condemnation proceedings.


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Given that October started with a heatwave it's hard to know how the month is going to pan out. If, however, bad weather forces you to seek shelter there are plenty of cosy spots ready to welcome you. Art aficionados should ensure they make time to visit Frieze this weekend and film fanatics have the next two weeks taken care of courtesy of the London Film Festival. If you're planning a date, that's culture crossed off, so add a fine-dining experience at the London Restaurant Festival and finish off with drinks - this is London Cocktail Week - and a dance spectacular at the Royal Albert Hall.
Get in the picture at Frieze Art Fair
London's most famous art fair, Frieze returns to the leafy environs of Regent's Park this week with a display of works from around 170 different galleries. Art lovers have the opportunity to explore temporary exhibits and installations but for a percentage of visitors this weekend is about big business rather than a walk in the park. Gallerists and collectors will be negotiating throughout the event, and if Frieze stays true to form a few eye-wateringly expensive deals are likely to be brokered. Leave them to it and enjoy some of the more accessible events. John Bock, Daniel Buren, Adam Curtis and Taryn Simon are among the artists, curators and filmmakers who will be giving daily talks during Frieze Talks and this year the Sculpture Park is open in Regent's Park's English Gardens. Featuring works by acclaimed sculptors including Thomas Houseago and Claudia Fontes, it's free to the public.
When: Oct 13-16
Where: Regent's Park, NW1 4NR
Getting there: Tube: Regent's Park, Baker Street
How much: varies
Enjoy the show at the BFI London Film Festival
Rainy-day entertainment is never a problem in late October, with the annual BFI London Film Festival offering scores of films, talks and master classes at venues throughout the city. Now in its 55th year, the festival looks to the past and the films that inspired its origins with a series of classics. Sure to incite debate is the festival's selection of 100 definitive cult films. Filmmakers, journalists and programmers have selected their favourites but you're free to contest their choices when they discuss what it is that gives a film cult status. Celebrity spotting is a possibility at Leicester Square with a number of big-budget premieres due to take place there. Kate Winslet is likely to attend the premiere of Roman Polanski's Carnage (though given that he would likely be extradited to America if he landed in London the film's controversial director is unlikely to attend). Madonna may attend the premiere of her Wallace Simpson film WE but advance reviews have been so scathing that there are no guarantees there either. For more highlights you can see The Telegraph's favourite events here.
When: Oct 12-27
Where: throughout London
How much: prices vary
Kate Winslet with her Carnage co-stars John C. Reilly (l) and Christopher Waltz. Photo: Allstar Picture Library / Alamy
Prepare for dapper dancing at the International Ballroom Dancing Championships
The celebs on Strictly aren't a patch on the professionals at the International Ballroom Championships. Held at the Royal Albert Hall, this annual competition sees 360 of the world's foremost amateur and professional dancers vie for the International Standard and Latin titles. For the audience, half the entertainment comes from the showmanship and pageantry. Expect to see plenty of sheer, sequin-coated costumes, blinding veneers and fake tans like varnished mahogany. For the competitors, the finals are the final curtain after months of training so tension is likely to be high and the competition fierce.
When: Oct 13
Where: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP
Getting there: Tube: Gloucester Road, South Kensington, High Street Kensington, Knightsbridge
How much: from £20
Ballroom dancers strut their stuff. Photo: Alamy
Raise a toast to London Cocktail Week
Those in the know say that the calibre of London's cocktail scene now surpasses New York. London Cocktail Week gives you an affordable opportunity to investigate that claim. Over 200 bars throughout the city have joined forces to offer select signature cocktails for just £4 a pop – consider it a week-long happy hour - and on certain evenings complimentary buses have been provided to ferry you from chichi cocktail club to basement drinking den, to East End speakeasy. To avail of the discounted drinks prices you'll need to purchase a special wristband from the London Cocktail Week website. To learn more about the rising stars on London's cocktail scene read our interview with the capital's best bartenders.
When: until Oct 16
Where: throughout London; a list of participating bars is provided on the event website
How much: wristbands cost £10 per person
Tristan Stevenson of Purl and the Worship Street Whistling Shop. Photo: Tristan Stevenson
Have seconds at the London Restaurant Festival
Completing a week that seemingly commands sensory excess and overindulgence, the London Restaurant Festival celebrates the capital's culinary clout. Having started last week it's already grabbed headlines with a £1,200-a-head pop-up restaurant in the London Eye, but there are plenty of more accessible and affordable activities and events throughout the city. Special debates consider how the city's dining scene has developed, pop-up suppliers' markets have sprung up throughout the city and a 'culinary carnival' at Fortnum & Mason sees some of Britain's best Michelin-starred chefs take over the store's Gallery Restaurant. You'll be able to taste some of their signature dishes while they're there, but for a more intrepid dining experience consider joining a 'gourmet odyssey'. Held in different parts of the city, these tours see diners eat each course of a three-course meal in a different high-end restaurant. Maze, Benares and Nahm are among those participating.
When: until Oct 17
Where: throughout London
How much: price varies
The London Restaurant Festival's £1200-a-head pop-up restaurant. Photo: LRF
Your view: let us know what London events you'll be visiting this weeks or what you thought of last week's best events by commenting below, emailing firstname.lastname@example.com or tweeting @TelegraphLondon.


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REMEMBER: Don't get ahead of yourself, make sure you are sewing your letters on before you sew anything else together. Trust me on this one... it will make your job MUCH easier!
Monday, October 12, 2009
My Special Day Chair Cover Tutorial
REMEMBER: Don't get ahead of yourself, make sure you are sewing your letters on before you sew anything else together. Trust me on this one... it will make your job MUCH easier!
27 comments:
- Lynn from For Love or Funny said...
We could totally adapt this to Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc!
- October 22, 2009 at 6:41 AM
- Cole and Christy said...
Could this work for a curved chair?
- October 22, 2009 at 8:12 AM
- Lindsey@creativeattempts said...
Looks great!
When you say, 'could it be any cuter?' I read that as if Chandler from 'Friends' is saying it :) Are you a 'Friends' fan or are you completely confused right now?!
Thanks for sharing!!
- October 22, 2009 at 9:25 AM
- Jena said...
I love this! You girls have the greatest ideas! Very creative and too adorable for words.
- October 22, 2009 at 11:20 AM
- Room to Inspire said...
What a great idea to make your special day even more special. My kids would love this! Thanks for the inspiration.
- October 22, 2009 at 9:55 PM
- jenjen said...
That is darling! I love it. What a special place for your kids to sit when they have a great day.
So cute!
- October 23, 2009 at 1:59 AM
- makana said...
I am really loving your site. I am glad to have come across it. I would like to feature you actually. I mostly do things with coupons and groceries etc but I also have a lot of readers and ladies I email that would LOVE the great ideas you have. Let me know what you think.
- October 23, 2009 at 9:59 AM
- Kandice said...
I LOVE this idea! Thanks!
- October 23, 2009 at 1:45 PM
- Rebecca D. said...
man do I love this!!!would you mind if I featured this project on my Blue Cricket Design blog? email me if that's ok?
- October 24, 2009 at 10:47 PM
- Tauni said...
This is so stinkin' cute!!! I love it. I don't know if I am ready to conquer such a project with my limited sewing skills, but I am totally going to bookmark it for the future...this would work so well with the "you are special" plate we use already.
- October 24, 2009 at 11:39 PM
- firstname.lastname@example.com said...
Aww, that is so cute! My sister has a special day plate and the kids love it. I know they'd go crazy over this chair cover. Thanks so much, I'll be linking.
- October 27, 2009 at 6:42 PM
Can you tell us what font you used and what size? If you printed it out that is :)
- October 29, 2009 at 10:46 AM
- Other Mother said...
Clicked over from Little Birdie Secrets. Very cute idea - I think my grandchildren need this!
- October 29, 2009 at 7:03 PM
- bcre8uv said...
Super cute! Thanks for sharing :)
- October 29, 2009 at 7:13 PM
- Paige said...
Came over from "Little Birdie Secrets!" What a precious idea and a great idea. Thanks for sharing!
- October 29, 2009 at 8:38 PM
- kladle said...
Wow, so dang cute! I love it! I think I'm going to try and do this, I have rounded chairs so it might be a little trickier, but I'm going to try! Thanks for the fun idea!
- October 29, 2009 at 8:48 PM
- Tasha said...
This so cute!!! I love it. I really want to make one for my family. Thank you!! This is going on my list of must makes!
- October 29, 2009 at 9:11 PM
- Jeff & Nicole said...
Love this! Definitely making one before my kids' birthdays!! Thanks.
- October 29, 2009 at 9:43 PM
- Suzy D. said...
How cute is this???
My grandson is turning 4 on 11-16
he would love to have one.
thanks for the tutorial!
- October 30, 2009 at 6:57 AM
- Nancy Jacobs Basketmaster said...
Aw..I gotta make one of those.
Great idea!
- October 31, 2009 at 10:51 AM
- Joan said...
This is totally adorable. What a wonderful tutorial. Thanks for sharing.
- November 1, 2009 at 1:26 AM
Super cute! and LOVE the tutorial- keep em coming!
- November 4, 2009 at 12:18 AM
- Infertility Goddess said...
Not only do I love this I am going to make one!
I have to know where you purchased that fabric. I have been looking for those colors in a stripe pattern for months!
- November 7, 2009 at 9:33 AM
- Jenni said...
That is absolutely Adorable! I will have to make one very soon as we have a birthday in the next month. Thanks for the inspiration to sew!
- December 29, 2009 at 11:46 AM
- Tiffany said...
I have been meaning to post this on mypetitepurse.blogspot.com as a great gift idea! I will be linking!
thanks for the great idea and step-by-step
- April 19, 2010 at 10:36 PM
- Giggleberry (Amy) said...
Have loved this for ages and finally got around to making one for my family today! All blogged here: http://giggleberrycreations.blogspot.com/2011/10/its-my-birthday-chair-cover.html Thanks for the how to and inspiration :)
- October 1, 2011 at 11:14 PM
- Dwayne Smith said...
At Marble Vine personalised wine bottle bags are available which give our gift a very personal touch. These bags are reusable and can be used later by the recipient of the gift.
- January 28, 2019 at 1:07 AM


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A exciting new range of Silverwood pie moulds for Game Pies, Sliced Pies, Individual pies and more
It's great that we can now finally stock modern and more affordable interpretation of the traditional heavily decorated expensive tin moulds. These clever moulds allow the user to remove the pie from the mould for egg washing. In the easiest, most elegant way, the mould simply opens up to reveal the part-baked pie, sitting on its own mini baking tray ready for egg washing and returning to the oven for browning.
Other New moulds include the Simple Simon set of 6 pie moulds.
With the Simple Simon set, its possible to make either 6 identical individual pies, or, by adjusting the side pieces, up to 6 different sizes of pie, from the original individual pie up to a 15in long Party Pie. There is also the option to bake two or three sizes at the same time as shown in the pan layout below.......
Lots more new tins in stock and all made in Britain.


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UK Approves New Botox Use
Wed, 02/05/2014 - 10:20am
Allergan Inc. announced that Botox has been approved by the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the treatment of ankle disability due to lower limb spasticity associated with stroke in adults. This is the twelfth indication for Botox in the United Kingdom and marks a key milestone in bringing this treatment to stroke survivors who are suffering from lower limb spasticity. Spasticity is one of the most common consequences of stroke and may potentially lead to a significant loss of independence, affecting both the physical and emotional well-being of patients. This new approval offers healthcare professionals an important treatment option and provides a real advance for patients suffering from disabling lower limb spasticity.
"This is one of the most important advances the post stroke spasticity community has seen for years and will hopefully bring additional recognition to this complex and disabling condition," said Professor Anthony Ward of the North Staffordshire Rehabilitation Centre in the UK. "Studies show that Botox treatment can significantly improve the muscle tone in stroke survivors with lower limb spasticity. By allowing the ankle to function more normally, this can bring important mobility and physical benefits to patients, even those who have been suffering from this condition for many years."
Stroke is a major public health issue in the UK with about 152,000 new cases each year. However, there are more than 1 million stroke survivors currently living in the UK who may be faced with a large range of challenges due to changes to the way their bodies function as a result of the stroke. Disability is common in stroke survivors, with 36% reporting moderate to very severe disabilities, often leading to a loss of independence. People who have had a stroke may have trouble with many "activities of daily living" (ADLs), including basic tasks such as walking, bathing, dressing, eating, and using the toilet. Studies showed that the prevalence of spasticity does not differ between the upper and the lower limbs, affecting the wrist (66%) and the ankle (66%) of those patients. Moreover, 63% of stroke survivors with spasticity experience this in both the upper and lower limbs. Treatment of lower limb spasticity associated with stroke requires a multidisciplinary approach and usually includes physical therapy, pharmacological treatments, and, in some cases, surgery.
Joe Korner, director of External Affairs at the Stroke Association, said: "There can be significant advantages in using Botox to treat people whose movement and walking ability have been affected by stroke. Up to 30% of stroke survivors are living with muscle stiffness, known as post-stroke spasticity, which means they have abnormal tightness in some of their muscles. This painful condition can cause a devastating loss of independence. Whilst this treatment might not be suitable for every stroke patient, we encourage stroke survivors living with spasticity in their arms or legs to talk with their GP about management options that might be right for them."
This new indication is based on an multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, assessing its efficacy in patients with post-stroke lower limb spasticity affecting the ankle. A total of 120 patients were randomized to a single treatment of Allergan's Botulinum toxin type A (300 units) or placebo. Patients who were enrolled in this study had had their stroke on average approximately six years earlier.
Date: February 4, 2014
Source: Allergan


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"The Official Website of Drummer Thomas Lowrey"
About Thomas:
Thomas Lowrey is an American Drummer, born in 2003. He literally began holding drum sticks as a baby, and hasn't let go!
It's just another day in Southern California, and Thomas sits down behind his drum kit. He plugs in his ear protection, picks up his sticks, and he's off into his comfort zone. This is the same place he's been since before he could walk, or read, or play sports. "I'd Rather Be Behind My Drums!" is his motto, and when you watch him play the drums, you can see why!
Thomas Lowrey has been playing the drums since he was handed drum sticks at 8 months old. He began formal drum lessons at age 6, and played his first live shows at age 10. Thomas made his pro-stage debut, at age 13, as a percussionist with Johnny Vatos' Oingo Boingo Dance Party!
Thomas Lowrey was born in 2003, premature, at only 28 weeks, 5 days gestation. He spent the first 2 months of his life, in Neo Natal ICU at Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). Thomas weighed 2 pounds, 14 ounces and fought hard to survive. His lungs were under-developed. Following 2 long months, Thomas grew healthy enough to go home, thanks to God, and the doctors and nurses at CHOC!
At about six months old, Thomas began physical therapy. The Physical Therapist would hand Thomas objects to hold to work on his dexterity. At 8 months old, Thomas' dad handed him a set of drumsticks…that was it!
By age 4, Thomas could play an impressive single-stroke roll, but he was still too small to reach the foot pedals on the drum set! By age 5, he was playing the drumset as often as he could. At age 6, on his first day of First Grade, Thomas began formal drum lessons at Rob Ferrell Drum Studio, in Mission Viejo, California. Thomas was still unable to reach the foot pedals! On the first day, Rob Ferrell began working with Thomas on reading and rudiments… And, yes, eventually getting to use the pedals too! Thomas has remained with Rob Ferrell Drum Studio to-date!
After 2 years at Rob Ferrell Drum Studio, at age 8, Thomas was playing 13-minute drum solos and playing along to his favorite hard rock music. Rob began filming Thomas playing and posting the videos on YouTube. By age 10, Rob Ferrell told Thomas' parents that he was "ready to start playing with live bands." Thomas had already spent 4 years with Rob…
At age 10, Thomas joined and started playing live shows in the Performance Group at the Tustin, California, School of Rock. Thomas came alive on stage… and playing live with an audience confirmed for Thomas that he wanted to play the drums professionally. That same year, Thomas attended a Drum Demo in Hollywood, California with drummer, Shannon Larkin of Godsmack! Watching Shannon perform and speak with the audience that night motivated Thomas to work even harder toward his dream! Thomas credits Shannon Larkin for "Inspiring" him to go for it!
At age 11, Thomas was a Featured Artist for "Custom Stix" drum sticks web site.
At age 12, Thomas had a private drum lesson at Uncommon Studios, in North Hollywood, California, with Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, John Fogerty and many others). Kenny spoke with Thomas about the music business, and worked with Thomas on the drum set, with technique, and what Kenny calls the "cake and glue" of drumming.
Also at age 12, Thomas met and had a private lesson, on his drum riser before sound check of a live show, with John Hernandez, a.k.a. Johnny Vatos of Oingo Boingo & Oingo Boingo Dance Party. John taught Thomas about balance and keeping time. He told Thomas, "the most important part of playing time isn't getting there on time, but preparing on time." Thomas had no idea that this meeting with Johnny Vatos would lead to something big, only one year later!
In February 2016, at age 12, Thomas left the School of Rock, and took his talent south to Los Rios Rock School in San Juan Capistrano, California. He was immediately placed in their "Advanced Red Group" and was performing on their float in a parade, and in a live show within 3 weeks of his arrival there! While there, Thomas was selected as their one and only "Classic Album – Van Halen" show drummer, as well as their only "Metal Band" drummer, and their only elite, "Showcase Band" drummer.
Also at age 12, Thomas jammed with professional guitarist, Nick Perri (check out the "Videos" section to see a few minutes from the jam) Nick has remained a good friend with Thomas, and they have attended each others' live shows!
In April of 2016, thomasondrums.net was created! Thomas chose to use his personal slogan on the website, "I'd Rather Be Behind My Drums!" That slogan eventually (January 3, 2017), became a Registered Trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
In October, 2016, at age 13, and in the 8th Grade…and one year after meeting Johnny Vatos, Thomas made his Pro-Stage debut! He performed in 3 live shows as a percussionist for Johnny Vatos' Oingo Boingo Dance Party! Playing on stage, next to Vatos and all of the talented musicians in the band was a thrill for Thomas…And still is, as he continues to play with OBDP to date! Thomas has developed close friendships with all the members of the band, and calls them "Brothers to the End."
In 2017, Thomas played drums for the Los Rios Rock School's "Classic Album" Van Halen shows. There are videos of these gigs on YouTube, and on thomasondrums.net, including an "Iso Drum Cam" video of Thomas drumming at the Yost Theater. On May 3, 2017, less than 2 weeks after Thomas turned 14 years old, he played drums at Sunset Sound Studio 1, in Hollywood, California for the YouTube Program, "Produce Like a Pro" with Warren Huart. There, Warren Huart recreated and rerecorded the debut Van Halen album where it was created, in the exact same studio, using the same equipment and room set-up, in which they recorded live! Please read Thomas' own "Blog News" of this event, in the "News" section of thomasondrums.net, and check out the videos on YouTube!
In 2017, Thomas auditioned for, and was accepted as a drummer, at Orange County School of the Arts, Commercial Music Conservatory.
Also in 2017, Thomas played drums in the "Strange 80's – Sweet Relief Benefit" concert at the Fonda Theater, in Hollywood, California. This was a very exciting show, as Thomas' group shared the stage with performers like Tenacious D's Jack Black & Kyle Gass , Weird Al, Corey Taylor (Slipknot), Jane Wiedlin (Go-Go's), and so many others! Check out the "Videos" section to see Thomas and his bandmates at the Fonda Theater!
On September 2, 2017, The LRRS "Classic Album" Van Halen group opened the show for Vince Neil of Motley Crue, aboard the USS Iowa, at LA Fleet Week! This show was an honor for Thomas, performing for our U.S. Military and their friends and families.
Thomas Lowrey continues on his musical journey with the drums!
Some recent highlights:
- Playing drum set at Orange County School of Arts,Commercial
Music Conservatory
- Playing 2nd drums for Johnny Vatos' Oingo Boingo Dance Party
- Featured in Drum! Magazine (April 2018 – "New Blood")
- Endorsed Artist & Ads for Collision Drum Sticks
- Featured in Nick Nanton's documentary feature film
'Rudy Ruettiger -The Walk on'
- Featured in the book, adapted from the film,
'Rudy Ruettiger – The Walk On'
- Endorsed Artist, Drum Dial Tuners
- Guest on Drum Channel (Episode title: 'Johnny Hernandez Introduces
Thomas Lowrey)
More projects coming soon! Stay informed with Thomas' news here at thomasondrums.net
You can Follow Thomas and his journey with the drums, here, on thomasondrums.net and also on Instagram and Social Media @thomasondrums
Message from Thomas: "Thank you all for visiting thomasondrums! I love music, playing the drums and performing! I want to thank my parents, my friends, my drum teachers, my drumming influences and my band mates for "keeping me in time!" – Thomas Lowrey
My Teachers
Thomas has studied under some great drum teachers, including:
Rob Ferrell has been my drum teacher and mentor at my weekly drum lessons since Sept. 10, 2009.
Rob is a professional drummer who taught me the fundamentals of drumming: the rudiments and how to read music. Rob has given me so many tips, and weekly advice about things to try to improve my drumming! He is always positive and supportive!
Rob toured with his band, 'Scotland Yard' (and others), and still plays professionally when not teaching. In 1995, Rob was named "Country Music Drummer of the Year" by the CA Country Music Assoc.
Rob is a co-founder of "the Professional Drum Teacher's Guild of America". He was featured in 'Modern Drummer' magazine in May of 2000. And in Nov. 2015 Modern Drummer magazine's 'Dom Famularo's Teacher's List', Rob was listed as one of the best drum teacher's in the world! Check out Rob at his website: Rob Ferrell Drum Studio!
Anthony Vezirian graduated from The Bob Cole Conservatory of Music in 2011 with a degree in the percussive arts and has been teaching and performing ever since.
Anthony has performed in concert halls and venues across the US, Scandinavia, and Western Europe. On top of playing and teaching Drums, Anthony also is a songwriter and composer
I began drum lessons with Bryan September of 2016.
Bryan's professional career as a percussionist started with touring the USA with world class performing ensembles such as Pulse Percussion and the RCC Drumline. In addition to being a top-notch performer, Bryan taught music for the Placentia, Yorba Linda School District from 2011-2016. Currently, Bryan teaches at Los Rios Rock School in San Juan Capistrano. Bryan is a highly sought after music arranger for bands, solo artists, percussion ensembles, and drumlines!
Tony Torres is my drum instructor at Orange County School of the Arts, Commercial Music Conservatory.
Mr. Torres is a professional drummer and educator in Southern California. With a musical career that began at the age of seven, Mr. Torres has played it all; from high school All American Band, to Buckeye State Caballeros Drum & Bugle Corps, to mentoring and teaching the future generation of artists at Orange County School of the Arts. Mr. Torres has circumnavigated the world several times, playing countless venues with 'name' entertainment, including Henry Mancini, Third Force, and Race No More featuring Geo Evans (guitarist for Michael Jackson and Chaka Khan). A notable force in the L.A. area studio scene, he has played on numerous jingles, film scores, and records. Given his vast knowledge of various drumming styles and musical genres, he is in high demand for corporate work as well. Mr. Torres has been teaching privately and in the classroom for the past 20 years. He has taught at Orange County School of the Arts since the inception of the Commercial Music program.
Oingo Boingo Dance Party (from right to left): Mike "The Spike" Glendinning,
Felice Hernandez, John Avila, Brendan McKian, Johnny Vatos, Freddy Hernandez,
Carl Graves, Brian Swartz, Sam "Sluggo" Phipps,
Steve Bartek, Thomas Lowrey
Thomas can be seen in director
Nick Nanton's new documentary feature film,
Coming to iTunes and Amazon Prime Video, October 2018!
Check out the Videos section to see a promo with Rudy and Thomas!
And check out the book adapted from the film
Goes on Sale August 21, 2018!
Go to http://rudybook.com/ to order
*Be sure to read Thomas' blog news about this project!
News Updates:
The latest news from my Blog.
thomasondrums: Drummer's Update – "May Madness"
Thank you very much for checking out thomasondrums.net! The last blog post was at the start of May, and since then I have been drumming all around Southern California, with different bands, and very different [...]
thomasondrums: 4More May 2019 Shows!
On Friday, May 24th and Saturday, May 25th I will playing LIVE MUSIC in four different shows in two days! I will playing drum set with Orange County School of the Arts, Instrumental Music Conservatory, [...]
thomasondrums: Drummer's Update – Studio R&B
On April 17, 2019 I joined professional guitarists, Nick Perri and Steve Johnson in the studio, where we laid down 2-hours of R&B! Nick had started playing guitar with Steve when he was 17-years old, [...]
*Be sure to click on 'News' to read past Blog updates
for details and photos!
Quotes and Tips from Pros:
"Awesome! Great Musical Intuition!"
"The hi-hat, kick and snare are the 'cake'… but, the hi-hat is the 'glue!'"
"The most important part of playing time is not getting there on time – it's preparing on time."
"When you form a band, be selective. Surround yourself with the most talented people …and that you all get along."
"It starts with a dream- and it is always too soon to quit! "
" If you can dream it – You can do it"
" If you've got a problem, take it out on a drum"


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It's been a frustrating couple of years for Derek Holland, and in turn, it's been maddening for the Texas Rangers.
Holland, who was really good in 2013, looked poised to pitch like a legitimate No. 2 starter in 2014 but instead missed the first five months of that season after falling down his stairs and needing microfracture surgery on his knee. He pitched the final month of 2014 and was fantastic without the benefit of any kind of rehab assignment.
Then in 2015, with more reason for optimism, Holland lasted one inning of his season debut before leaving with an ailing shoulder that kept him out another four-and-a-half months. This time when he came back, he wasn't so great. In fact, he hit an all-time low in Game 4 of the ALDS with an awful outing.
Sports Connection
Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.
Now, the Rangers want their 29-year-old lefty to pitch like he should be at this age, and do it more consistently.
"We got a look of what he's capable of against Baltimore," manager Jeff Banister told reporters. "The big question for me is the consistency, seeing it every fifth day. He's ultra-aware of that. We've had conversations about it."
Holland projects as the Rangers' No. 2 starter behind Cole Hamels and then would slide back to the No. 3 slot when Yu Darvish returns, hopefully by mid-May.


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ZURICH/LONDON (Reuters) - Drugmaker Shire SHP.L is preparing to make a new takeover offer for U.S. biotech firm Baxalta BXLT.N that if successful will create one of the world's leading specialists in rare diseases, a source with direct knowledge of the situation said on Tuesday. The London-listed group has asked its advisers to renew its bid effort, the source said, almost four months after Baxalta rejected an unsolicited $30 billion offer that it said significantly undervalued the company.
Shire's bid preparations come three weeks after it announced its $5.9 billion purchase of U.S. rare disease specialist Dyax Corp DYAX.O.
Shire is working with Morgan Stanley (MS.N), Evercore (EVR.N) and Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) on the offer which could be structured in cash and shares, the source said, cautioning that no deal was certain and negotiations could still fall through. A spokesman at Shire declined to comment while Baxalta had no immediate comment. Morgan Stanley, Evercore and Deutsche Bank declined to comment.
Baxalta, which has a market capitalisation of $22.7 billion, would help complement Shire's growing portfolio of high-priced treatments for rare or "orphan" diseases.
Baxalta's shares rose to an intra-day high of $37.50, up more than 10 percent, after the Reuters report, before trimming gains to $35.67 at 2105 GMT(1605 ET). On Aug. 3 Shire valued each Baxalta share at $45.23.
If it goes ahead, the deal will create a rare diseases company with product sales of around $20 billion by 2020 and double-digit percent annual sales growth.
Shire Chief Executive Flemming Ornskov has relentlessly pursued a merger with Baxalta for the past six months, the source said.
"He's never given up," the source said, adding that Shire is keen to buy Baxalta to deliver on its goal of doubling its revenue in the next few years.On Nov. 2 Ornskov said the acquisition of Dyax had not compromised Shire's ability to pursue a bid for Baxalta.
"Even with this transaction, we will continue to have the financial firepower to pursue other value-added strategic acquisitions, including Baxalta," he said at the time.
Baxalta, advised by Goldman Sachs, said Shire's bid did not reflect its potential as a newly listed company which expects its shares to rise as it becomes better known. The biotech firm was spun off by Baxter International (BAX.N) in July.
Baxalta develops biotech treatments for rare blood conditions, cancers and immune system disorders. It employs 16,000 people and had proforma revenue of $6 billion in 2014.
The transaction, however, faces several hurdles mainly due to Baxalta's state-of-the-art takeover defences, with a "poison pill" that effectively stops unwanted suitors buying more than 10 percent of the company and a hard-to-replace board.
Additional reporting by Carl O'Donnell in New York and Paul Sandle in London; editing by Susan Thomas


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P.E.I. mother promotes wrist device for people prone to wander
Project Lifesaver uses electronic bracelet to locate lost people
As colder weather sets in, the mother of a child with autism is reaching out to help others who care for vulnerable Islanders.
Tammy McQuaid spearheads Project Lifesaver, which provides electronic bracelets to help locate lost people — especially those with autism, dementia or Alzheimer's disease, who are prone to wander.
"A lot of them sometimes don't respond to their name," she said.
"They're at risk for wandering and they don't have the survival skills. So with the cold weather coming we really want to bring the awareness out there that there is an organization out there that can help."
'Huge peace of mind'
McQuaid's daughter Sophia,12, was one of the first Islanders to don a Project Lifesaver bracelet when McQuaid established the program on P.E.I. five years ago.
The waterproof device is about the size of a wrist watch. In the event that the person wearing it goes missing, a call to 911 puts first responders into action. They use a radio receiver to locate the bracelet — and the person wearing it.
"It's a huge peace of mind to know if she's wearing this and she goes missing that our team will find her and will find her in a matter of minutes as opposed to hours, or possibly days," McQuaid said.
Thousands served globally
The non-profit charity provides bracelets to thousands of people in Canada, the U.S. and Australia. Currently, eight Islanders are wearing Project Lifesaver bracelets.
The $300 fee provides the electronic bracelet and on-going maintenance, including monthly batteries changes. The group waives fees for those who can't afford to pay.
McQuaid plans to reach out to schools, by word of mouth and on social media in coming weeks.
"I think there's probably hundreds of people that could benefit from this," McQuaid said.
- MORE P.E.I. NEWS | Dr. Garth Slysz returns to P.E.I., but not to his former patients
- MORE P.E.I. NEWS | Like 'sitting with family': Church fosters community with free dinners


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Note: This course is now also available as self-paced On Demand training.
This two-day course introduces attendees to the Jython scripting language and explores how it can be used to customize your FDMEE workflow by writing import, mapping, event and custom scripts.
Gain an understanding of basic Jython syntax and how various commands can be accessed. This includes the use of variables, comments, string methods, formatting operators, functions, conditional branches, lists, loops and other scripting features. After familiarizing yourself with these features, explore how they can be used in relation to FDMEE details.
Discover how import scripts can be used to tailor the details that are imported to FDMEE during the Import process. See how mapping scripts can be used to customise the mappings that are applied. Discover how event scripts can alter the standard workflow by triggering additional processes and how Custom scripts can be used to enable functionality that needs to be run on an ad hoc basis.
You will gain experience of displaying custom messages, writing messages to the FDMEE process log, executing SQL queries, handling errors and working with text files. Getting started with Jython scripting for FDMEE has never been so easy.
Develop Jython scripts effectively from the ground up. Create and test scripts in an external editor before transferring to FDMEE. Understand the various script types and they ways in which these can extend your default processes. Understand the available objects in FDMEE that can be referenced by scripts.
- Overview of Import
- Mapping
- Event and Custom Scripts
- Setting up Notepad++ for use with Jython
- Overview of Jython Syntax
- Writing Customized Scripts
- Testing Scripts in the Java Virtual Machine (JVM)
- Working with FDMEE Objects
- SQL Queries and Error Handling
- Working with Files
- Case Study/Challenge
This course is offered through our strategic partnership with Keyteach. Contact us to schedule a private class. Click here to register for a public class. Click here for self-paced On Demand training.


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Note: If you registered before 16 October 2017 and have not yet done so please reset your password. Reset
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Something is up with the TV…
No budget short horror film, inspired by Asian horror movies.
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Story of two former best friends reuniting
making a choice is never easy; especially when you have to choose between love and...
This is real story of my love
A man is obsessed and increasingly tormented by an elusive and hateful foe.
A trespasser is severely hurt by the owner and left dying but things will go differently.


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Forky: a life on film
After decades of service, the three-pronged plasticware gets a shot at stardom
Scott Marks 12:30 p.m., July 26
Germany's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards (it didn't make the cut) is an unyielding Cold War drama set in East Germany, 1980. Barbara (Nina Hoss), a capable young doctor, is sentenced to a small town clinic after an application for an exit visa results in her being booted from Berlin. No one except her West German lover (Mark Waschke) — they're planning on defecting together — is to be trusted, not even a seemingly sincere co-worker (Ronald Zehrfeld), who could be compiling a file on her for the Stossi. Barbara is not another flimsily constructed propagandistic docudrama; director Christian Petzold (Jerichow) expertly sustains dramatic tension while smuggling in his political agenda. Hoss's performance as the pent-up medico is a stunning exercise in self-control, and the clincher packs an electrifying wallop. Well worth your time. 2012.
Thanks for recommending this, Scott. With a power outage in our neighborhood, Susan and I went out for dinner & a film and luckily chose this on your say so. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Susan particularly liked it so much, saying it was a such good performance from the leading actress, with a tense bitterness and the gradual feeling developing for the doctor and then of course the remarkable ending.


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Today is Day 19 of a twenty-one day initiative to end human trafficking in the United States and Mexico. You can download the Prayer Guide through this link: Prayer Guide.
Today we will focus our prayer and repentance on the issues unique to US-Mexico border towns - the innocent ones.
The Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. –Psalm 140:12
Personal RepentanceLord, forgive me is I have not cared about the legal battle for innocent victims. I ask that you would give me ideas and show me ways that I can get involved on behalf of survivors from a legislative perspective.
Corporate RepentanceFather, we confess that we have often declared righteousness but failed to work for righteousness. Help us to be true in word and deed. Grant us your wisdom to know how to address this issue in our own communities.
- Father God, give Your people favor as we advocate for more effective legislation and more comprehensive enforcement regarding human trafficking.
- Bring the issue of sex trafficking to the forefront of the media, making the public and our legislators keenly aware of the pervasiveness of this issue.
- Turn the hearts and minds of legislators toward being receptive to passing more effective human trafficking laws. Bring conviction and wisdom to our legislators regarding the need to update statutes and develop strategies for better enforcement of them.
- I pray for the exposure and removal of any corruption related to sex trafficking in the government of my state and nation.
- Lord, bring a spiritual awakening among legislators and the law enforcement community, uniting and empowering them to be a more effective force to fight evils such as sex trafficking.


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← Home Thingscon 2019
Getting started with NB-IoT
Thursday, December 6, 15:15-17:15h
Provided by T-Mobile
T-Mobile's multispectrum network portfolio for IoT, with flexible solutions and clear pricing, is unlocking game-changing results for businesses.
Workshop to get NB-IoT up and running.
Afzal Mangal
Started twelve years ago as a techy in the telecommunications & internet industry and also worked as a creative in the events industry from 2008 to 2014. Now I combined these two backgrounds within one very cool job at IoT T-Mobile. To be honest, I don't know what my job title exactly is. Few days ago I was having discussions about our product roadmap and our business accelerator strategy. The day before yesterday I was involved in some 'how to reach our target audience' discussions. Yesterday I was helping some amazing colleagues to become more amazing while they helped me to become a better person. Today I am exploring some new NB-IoT features with our network-heroes. Tomorrow I will host our Installfest and welcome new people in our IoT community. Two things are for sure: we are building something special and it is fun!
In my twelve years of working experience I have learned how most of the companies and people work together and operate. Lack of trust makes people forget that we are here to create solutions with value and add value in the society. Hence, it is my main goal to create an IoT ecosystem where people work together based on trust.


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Upcoming Events
All events that the WLTSA are involved in are included on our calendar including training courses, meetings and events where we will be available to discuss teacher training. If you need further information either click on the event itself or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Events for 8th February 2019
- No events scheduled for 8th February 2019. Please try another day.


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As a contractor you want to always be able to supply your clients and customers with the best materials for your work. You want everything to always look its best when you are done and you want the materials to last a long time and bring joy to the owners. That is why when you have clients that are looking to have granite work done either inside the home or outside you want to be sure that you can offer them the best-looking pieces available. This means you need to have a quality source of your own to get the materials from. You want to be able to use the finest wholesale stone store specializing in granite slab Los Angeles has to offer today.
Go Beyond the Basics
There are some contractors that are just glad to get granite tiles or slabs from the local big box hardware store and use that for their work. This material may not be the best available and certainly will not provide much of a unique look to your project. Instead of simply settling for materials like that, you want to be able to offer your clients something that is exotic and unique. They should be able to get something that goes well beyond the standard commercial grade that you may find. If you are able to offer unique pieces like this to your clients, word of mouth will get around about the great work you were able to do for countertops, bathrooms, outdoor decks and patios and more, bringing more business your way.
Get a Source That Goes the Extra Mile
In order to get the great slabs that you want you need to use a source for your material that is willing to go the extra mile for you. Find a wholesaler specializing in marble and granite that has a vast network of sources for their materials. This will enable you to have access to looks and styles that may not be seen anywhere else. A good wholesaler will also be able to track down the exotic piece that you want the most to use for the particular project and get it for you at just the right price.
Doing high quality work with outstanding materials is going to help to set you apart from all of the other contractors in the area. It is worth going the extra mile to forge a quality relationship with the best granite slab wholesaler you can find in the area so you can be sure to get the unique materials you want.


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This week's style inspiration is simple but chic. These four basics are a must in any little girls wardrobe- a denim jacket, striped dress, color pop belt, and simple sandals. Each element will pair with so many other pieces in her wardrobe effortlessly. Next week I'll be featuring boy's basics.
It doesn't really matter to Kesler what he is wearing- as long as it includes a cape. I often catch him in jammies, a cape and rain boots and there really isn't anything cuter in my opinion. This morning he was learning how to climb the tree and going on bear hunts with Gunner in the field behind our house. I just love where we live- perfect for little boys!
This week's feature is this awesome pocket stamped tee from Tied Ribbon. I love a basic gray tee for little boys and this stamped pocket adds just the right amount extra coolness. Check out this super simple tutorial from Katie!
Want to link up? Here are some guidelines…
1. link to your specific blog post, not your blog's main page.
2. please only link kids' outfit related posts. no giveaways or unrelated crafts.
3. feel free to link back here to me so that WKWW makes sense to your readers. grab a button from the sidebar (see the code box?).
4. check out as many links as possible! and comment! we all LOVE a comment!


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I wonder if
you can tell me
not to tell anyone
that they bother me;
For noisy snobs
throughout the world
haven't disappeared, just yet.
And the day you can
swallow your head whole
will be that day, I'll bet.
Mountain peaks
clouds of dust
unbroken dreams
all in one piece;
Endless skies
alike the limit
would never drown
in the great seas.
The smell of books
and stupid looks
have not one thing
in them, common.
The peace in hearts
and selfless minds
all are marvellous
beauties, forgotten.
Silken clothes and
golden necks
seem to be for
what we care;
All the dreams
of the hopeful past
seem like they
weren't there
The music, dance,
culture, tradition
All withering into
heaps of ash,
Like us, humans
treat our motherland
so badly that it
vanishes in a flash.
For all that it took
to create such marvels
Do we destruct
so early?
When did we start
this foolish way
of what is boyish
and girly?
See, not everything is
As easy as it seems
And neither were their
hopes and dreams.
Let us not shatter them
Like mirror glass
For life isn't just
For letting it pass.


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Derek Huegel, the 27-year-old founder of Washington State contractor Wolf Industries, recently added tiny houses to his company's repertoire. The first two units, a 250-square-footer and a handicapped accessible 300-square-foot model, were nearly finished and looking good when he showed them off to KOIN 6 News recently. Both have already been sold, and Derek is looking forward to building more as an affordable housing solution priced at around $36,000.
The two recently-sold tiny homes offered by Wolf Industries.
The THOWs are attractively finished and feature vaulted ceilings, full kitchens with granite countertops, and RV style plumbing and electrical connections.
h/t The Columbian
Nevertheless, it's still a little too soon for Derek to declare his new line of business a success. The snag is state and county regulations that currently make it impossible for buyers to actually live in Derek's tiny homes. To begin with, Clark County code states that mobile homes must be at least 846 square feet and situated in a designated RV park. Derek says country officials have been "very receptive" to the idea of making an exception for THOWs, but can't act without approval from the Washington State Dept. of Labor & Industries. That's expected to take at least several months, so stay tuned for further developments…


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Predator: Hell Come a Walkin' is a two-issue limited comic book series that was first published by Dark Horse Comics from February-March 1998. It was written by Nancy A. Collins, pencilled, inked and colored by Dean Ormston, lettered by Ellie De Ville and edited by Scott Allie and David Land, with covers by Ormston. It deals with a group of Union and Confederate soldiers that hunt a rogue Predator against the dramatic backdrop of the American Civil War.
In the Predator comics line, Predator: Hell Come a Walkin' was preceded by Predator: Nemesis, and was followed by Predator: Captive.
#1: It's the Civil War... A nation is divided against itself and the once green countryside runs red with blood. Even as the conflict destroys towns and families it serves as bait... Bait for a Predator. When two opposing bands of soldiers bear witness to the Predator's gruesome atrocities, they realize they have an enemy greater than each other. But can they lay aside their differences long enough to defeat their common foe?
#1: It's 1863 and the Civil War rages through the Ozarks. But it's not just brother killing brother in this neck of the war... This battle has been joined by a Predator. A small band of Confederate and Union soldiers join together in order to destroy their common monstrous foe. You won't want to miss this, the conclusion of Predator: Hell Come a Walkin' as the armies of the North and the South join together in a battle that you won't find in any history book!
Reprint History
Predator: Hell Come a Walkin' was eventually collected as part of Predator Omnibus: Volume 4 in September 2008.
The complete comic was released digitally through Dark Horse Digital on April 10, 2013, collected with Predator: 1718 and reusing Dean Ormston's cover art from issue 1.
- The protagonist of the main story is the infamous Old West gunfighter and highwayman Jesse James, who in this story's timeline, was fighting the Civil War as a bushwhacker. Jesse James was 16 when he fought in the Civil War, making him the youngest human to have ever fought and killed a Predator.


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Very inspiring post . You are right about us being human and these addictive behaviors being so common . I have the power to change was very helpful for me as well. Kudos to you !
This is exactly the kind of thread/post that inspires . I'm only 3 weeks sober but have managed as much as three months in the past. I feel good and remember how great it felt to be clear headed and...
Good going on two months! All the SMART resources work well to support recovery.
Awesome job for using the tools and resources and discovering the power of choice to find healing . Yay for you !
Well done ! It does get easier and wonderful .


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Throwing Shade
Halloween,Paul Ryan,Hymens,Dog Shows
Trick or Treat! It's your local old lady and instead of candy she wants to tell you her life story! And what's scarier than an old lady at your front door, a man with two first names. Paul Ryan is being accused by the GOP of being too LGBT friendly. Can you imagine being accused of such horror! And in Maryland, a woman announced at her wedding that her hymen was still intact. Looks like Halloween isn't going to be the only bloody occasion this month…Also the hilarious Alex Petri stops by for a chat about dog shows, ANTM and so much more craziness!


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Starliga is one of Allodium's two latest installments of it's Fantasy Sport system. Starliga is based on the Fantasy Sport Solution by Allodium but with many new features and most importantly a new business model.
Starliga is licenced to Rebuy Stars, a central european casino and gaming network. Starliga is a true daily fantasy, which is the main difference between Allodium's older implementation.
Events and leagues are not split into rounds as before, but utilizes contests. Contest is a group of sport matches of any kind that are played on the same day or at maximum a few days apart.
Players can build their teams a few days before the contest starts.
Starliga is the first ever Fantasy Sports game in Czechia that has a valid commercial licence and can offer betting for money.
There is also a full featured iOS application for Starliga available in the AppStore.
Starliga was launched in 2016 for the EURO. See for yourself at www.starliga.cz and play a few contests.
For details of the technical solution of the current Fantasy Sport system, please refer to Fantasy Sport Solutionpage.


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Il BEUC cerca un: Financial Services Officer
Reporting to the Legal and Economic Director, the position will involve:
- providing intelligence, information and advice to BEUC and BEUC member organisations on consumer issues in EU policies relating to financial services with a focus on financial markets and in particular retail investments;
- preparing consultation and position papers and technical briefings on these issues;
- representing BEUC and its member organisations in external meetings and conferences;
- maintaining and developing contacts with EU officials, MEPs and other relevant stakeholders;
The main qualifications we are looking for are:
a Master degree (a degree in Economics majoring in Finance would be an advantage);
a strong technical knowledge and understanding of financial issues and financial regulation including MIFID, KID for PRIPS; IMD, third pillar pensions;
- at least 3 years of professional experience in the financial services area;
- the ability to write and communicate well in English and preferably also in French and/or in German – knowledge of other EU languages would be an advantage;
an initial working knowledge of the EU institutions;
a proven ability to understand, appreciate and explain the technical issues which arise in the financial services area;
a proven interest in understanding, appreciating and articulating the consumer interest in the financial services area;
ability to work well with people from different backgrounds;
team player;
ability to perform under pressure;
well organised.
We offer:
a multidisciplinary and multicultural working environment within an organization dedicated to the promotion of the interests of consumers;
a non-routine job implying action in several topics according to the priorities decided by BEUC with regard to the consumer interests within the EU;
networking opportunities with numerous organisations;
an open-ended contract with a competitive package (salary, fringe benefits and extra-legal paid leave).
Applications for the post, cover letter and CV, should be sent before 13 November by e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com with subject line: Financial Services Officer. Only short listed candidates will be contacted.


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Through the Fire
Gowns, Graffiti, and Goat
Last week I had a lovely inspirational day traveling to San Francisco with a friend. Our intention was to be inspired creatively and to get to spend some time together, getting to know each other better. Mission accomplished in a great way!!
This is not from that trip but we drove up the beautiful coast from Santa Cruz to the big City. This is a taste of that experience.
The drive gave us plenty of time to talk story and to laugh!
We found a place to park in the busy Mission District, eagerly got our cameras ready and had an all too short walk around looking at the very colorful street art. We filled ourselves with the energy of those who created this, the joy of being with all that color and energy, and the sounds and smells of that vibrant neighborhood.
After this, we were ready for some lunch. We headed towards the museum and decided to just see what we could find, which turned out to be nice little Indian restaurant where we happily ate some goat dishes and munched on vegetable pakora.
Then on to the de Young Museum to see an amazingly large and well curated exhibit of Oscar de la Renta fashion. My friend, Brie, with whom I went, is a clothing designer and a seamstress who is designing a collection as a project for the Momentum Artists' Immersion program. This will sound familiar to regular readers as I participated in it last year. Her intent was to light some fire under herself and get busy. I needed some quality photography time. We both wanted to fill ourselves with the color and the sparkle and the luxury. Some things made us laugh and scratch our heads, others we wanted to wear. All in all, it was gorgeous!! I found myself just as inspired by the interesting mannequins as the dresses. Some of my more "artistic" shots of the lighting, etc. didn't come out all that well as the exhibit was dark. We were lucky to be allowed to take photos at all and to preserve the clothes, flash was not allowed.
This was all followed by another restaurant meal with my friend's daughter and some more lovely conversation.
I had such a good day! filled with good conversation and good food. creative juices flowing. Grandmother Ocean. friendship. gratitude.


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Campgrounds come in all shapes and sizes. There are your standard issue campgrounds (state parks, national parks), private mom-and-pop outfits, and, these days, even experiments in land-sharing. There are campgrounds that excel in catering to families and those better suited to monastic solitude, marriage proposals, and me-versus-the-elements adventures. Before you head out for your first or hundredth camping trip, explore the variety of campgrounds available and ask yourself a few key questions about what you want from your experience.
Car-camping vs. Backpacking
There are two kinds of camping: car-camping and backpacking.
Car-camping is far and away the more popular option (apparently over 70% of all campers like to snooze near their wheels!). It involves showing up, parking, and maybe walking a short-ish distance to your campsite. It also means you can pack without giving much thought to weight and can go back and forth to your car, truck, ATV or popemobile to retrieve any essentials, like beer.
Backpacking, on the other hand, is all about hiking and schlepping your things off the beaten path. When you backpack, you will likely aim to pack the lightest version of everything you need for your trip (e.g. a tiny camping stove, a tiny bottle of soap, and various other tiny things). From there, you'll be "hiking in" until you reach a designated area (often the case in popular national parks like Yosemite) or until you find a spot that feels just right. Wilder areas, like Denali National Park in Alaska, encourage people to explore and discover their own sites.
For our purposes, the following tips and recommendations will focus on car-camping.
What do you want from your experience?
People camp for all kinds of reasons. Ask yourself these questions so you know what you want and what to look for when narrowing down your choices.
What's the vibe of my crew?
When sitting around the fire, will you be sharing a) bourbon, b) back rubs, or c) bedtime stories?
How many tent sites are there? Make sure everyone has a spot and you don't end up sleeping in your car.
Is there water available? You'll want to know how far the water is from your site so you're not stumbling around for half a mile trying to get water for your morning joe.
What's the bathroom situation? Porta-potties? Outhouses? A hole that has yet to be dug (by you)? And what about showers? Many campgrounds have decent bathing facilities but you'll want to know the setup (i.e. Are the showers coin-operated?).
Can you have a fire and is there a grill? You'll want to know if the key element of your camping trip vision—canoodling with your SO while eating s'mores, for example—is on the cards or banned due to fire risk.
What do people do for fun? A lot of campgrounds will offer on-site recreational activities (nature tours, outdoor pools, sports equipment rental, etc.). Others are more minimal. Do you want to chill out by your tent for the day or get a head-start on a big day hike? Are there kid-friendly activities on-site?
Is there a cut-off time that you have to reach the campground? Pretty self-explanatory but often overlooked! It's also a good idea to note how early you'll need to leave in order to have enough daylight for an easier camp set-up.
Campgrounds 101
With all due respect, America's campgrounds are a bit of a hot mess to sort through. Despite the country's good intentions, the chaotic online presentation of public and private lands, and the various organizations vying to be the "middle-man" between you and your campground of choice can make the selection process unappetizing.
We'll try to give you the basics here.
National Parks: With substantial federal funding, national parks are our first choice for reliability and quality. In addition to your show-stoppers (e.g. Yosemite, Arches, Glacier, etc.), there are hundreds of other national parks that deserve a visit. Because of the popularity of national parks, it's a good idea to reserve your site well in advance. Car entry is around $30 and campsite permits run between $10-60. Peruse the full list on the National Park Services website.
Learn more here: http://www.nationalparks.org/explore-parks/find-park
National Forests: Same as above but with no fees for car entry*
Learn more here: http://www.fs.fed.us/visit
State Parks: With temperamental budgets, state parks vary greatly in quality. You can expect to pay entry and permitting fees but they are usually less expensive than national parks.
Learn more here: http://www.americasstateparks.org/
* Many of these parks also offer a first-come, first-serve option, but when you're planning a trip with other people, we'd hesitate to go sans reservations. (It's one thing when you're looking for adventure with a couple of buddies and quite another when you've got toddlers involved).
** There are also lands operated by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management), which you can generally camp on for free. Learn more here: http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en/prog/Recreation.html
The high school reunions of camping, private campgrounds are highly unpredictable. There are all kinds of spots with varying degrees of camaraderie and quirkiness. In addition to the old standards, like KOA Campgrounds, which offer 485 locations across North America, and mom-and-pop outfits (like our favorite Fernwood Resort in Big Sur), there are also new opportunities for land-sharing that are cropping up across the country.
We are especially excited about this latter option being pioneered by our friends at Hipcamp, as it has the potential to conserve thousands of acres of pristine natural land for camp use.
Public Campgrounds:
Reserve America
Private Campgrounds:
Go Camping America
KOA Campgrounds
Hip Camp
Dos & Don'ts
DO book your campground ahead of time even if you're not 100% on your dates, crew, etc. It will save you the headache of trying to find a place last minute.
DO purchase an annual pass if you're planning on camping more than twice.
DO plan for the maximum number of people (you can always go down from there).
DO call ahead if you can't make it so someone else can snag the spot.
DO read all of the instructions—some sites have gate codes while others require a print out of the reservation to be placed on the dash.
DON'T be afraid to book out of the way spots. Just because a site is popular doesn't mean it's necessarily the best.
DON'T try to do too much. If you're new to camping, go easy with the planning and give yourself time to simply enjoy (and adapt!) to the actual experience of camping.
This is #1 in our Fireside Basics Series, which will cover all the ins and outs of how to have a truly enjoyable camping experience. Subscribe to our newsletter below to receive the next installment in our series, or visit the Fireside Journal from time to time. Until then, happy trails!


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There's a program, "Teaching Tolerance", that's been around for a quite a few years. While I certainly salute and applaud the motivation behind the development of this educational vehicle, I seem to a have a real problem with the choice of the word tolerance.
From my humble perspective, teaching people to tolerate others sends an unintentionally negative message. The whole point of this program is to motivate each of us to be more accepting of diverse cultures. In my book, there is quite a bit of difference between acceptance and tolerance.
To accept something is to agree to receive it. When a person agrees to receive something, it doesn't necessarily mean that they must like it or embrace it unto themselves, but it does mean they are affirmatively building a bridge between the person making the offer and themselves.
The concept of acceptance does not necessarily involve any hierarchy. Whether you're the king/queen or a slave you can choose to accept or not accept something offered.
Tolerance, however, is a completely different animal. In order to be in a position to tolerate something or someone, one must be ABOVE or SUPERIOR to the thing or person to be tolerated. In other words, tolerance is TO ALLOW something or someone to exist and the only way one can allow something is if they exercise some measure of control over the person or situation.
Consequently, I believe the unintended subliminal message of the "Teaching Tolerance" Campaign is to tell people that they should tolerate others because they are better or superior to the people or cultures they should tolerate. And, if you think about it, that's not a very uplifting nor positive message.
Far worse, if you happen to be a member of the ethnic or cultural group to be tolerated, you are being told that you are inferior to the people who should learn to tolerate YOU! It's like being hit with a double whammy. The predominating group ALREADY thinks you ARE inferior and now the very campaign that seeks ultimately to lift you up is concurrently reinforcing the idea that you are INDEED inferior.
As the Tao Te Ching teaches that we are all part of one universal cosmic force, no one is superior or inferior to another. With no hierarchy, the concept of toleration doesn't need to be learned nor promoted.


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Stephen Altrogge @ http://www.theblazingcenter.com is giving away a book about his dad entitled My Friend, My Hero, My Dad: The Extraordinary Influence of an Ordinary Man.
He says: "No one has had a greater spiritual influence on my life than my dad, and there's no one I want to be more like. Like the title says, he's my friend and my hero. This book details the specific ways my dad influenced me to follow Christ, and is intended to be an encouragement for mom's, dad's, husbands, and wives. My hope is that this book encourages you as you seek to faithfully raise your children in the fear of the Lord".To download a free electronic copy of the book, CLICK HERE.


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Maston Group make new technologies for expanding the renewable energy power into 24/7 utility dispatchable energy.
The technologies that Maston have developed are in solar-, bioenergy-, wind-, wave-, tidal- generation. The group also develop energy storage technology, control systems, materials and manufacturing methods.
The group companies, patents and products history started in the 1980's and the group have gathered decades of experience in the renewable energy area.
Next generation technologies are developed by Maston Group in a constant move to be at the forefront.
Maston Group 2018. All rights on this website are owned by the Maston group and its subsidiaries and ascosiated companies.


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Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Space X Grasshopper gets a test flight
SpaceX's Grasshopper takes a 12-story leap towards full and rapid rocket reusability in a test flight conducted December 17, 2012 at SpaceX's rocket development facility in McGregor, Texas. Grasshopper, a vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (VTVL), rose 131 feet (40 meters), hovered and landed safely on the pad using closed loop thrust vector and throttle control.
The total test duration was 29 seconds. Grasshopper stands 10 stories tall and consists of a Falcon 9 rocket first stage, Merlin 1D engine, four steel landing legs with hydraulic dampers, and a steel support structure.
this is a pretty big step for rocket re-useablity
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Old SEO myths never seem to really die and it doesn't help that new ones are being created. Let's take a look at 5 common myths about search engine optimization:
1) SEO is a set it and forget it process – Are we done yet? Many online marketing services have a completion end date or end goal – web design project, PPC campaigns etc. But what about SEO? An effective SEO campaign is an on going process that never really ends. It helps to think of web copywriting and content creation as a regular process, like a more traditional marketing campaign that changes with the seasons and consumer trends.
2) More keywords will get you a higher ranking – More is NOT always better and this is exactly the case when it comes to optimizing content. You can't just throw in random keywords because you want to cover as many areas related to your business as possible. Keyword stuffing isn't going to impress people or search engines – not to mention that it's a dead giveaway that your site is spammy page that's not helpful.
3) Search engine rankings can be guaranteed – Have you ever had an SEO company guarantee you #1 positions? Talk about shady… As frustrating as it may be, there's no such thing as a 100% guarantee when it comes to SEO. Rather than focusing on the top spot, a reputable SEO company will give you a detailed plan about how to achieve top rankings within a realistic time frame using white hat methods.
4) Once you reach the top, you'll stay there – Search engine algorithms are changing all the time and you can bet that your other businesses are making changes to keep up. Success is possible but staying in the top ranks is a constant and time consuming process. Related to Myth #1, we recommend a consistent SEO plan so that you can stay in the top rankings once you're there. If you stop your efforts after reaching the top, it will be a waste because your rankings could easily slide and your competitors will surely be thankful!
5) Linking Out to Other Sites Will Help Your Rankings: I've heard this more than a handful of times so it must be a common misconception! Some people believe that linking out to well-known sites and brands will help their rankings. Not sure where this idea came from but it's definitely not true. Incoming links from relevant and trustworthy sites will give your site the link juice that you're looking for, not the other way around.
Do you have any other myths about organic optimization that you'd like to share or debunk?


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December 10, 2019
Why does water-efficient technology increase our collective thirst?
Submitted by: James Workman
Posted: Sep 25, 2011 – 11:34 PM EST
Tags: water, conservation, environment, technology, culture, shareholders, human rights
By James G. Workman
IBM recently made the case for harnessing human ingenuity to help conserve the Great Lakes. And Bayer HealthCare just boasted about new proprietary system that saves 20,000 gallons per day. But both companies miss something big: without the right political foundation, such new technology may drive us to use more water and energy.
This paradox emerged in 1865, a time when industrial England ruled the world. But as 'peak coal' grew scarce, the country feared it would deplete its own lifeblood. Boosters dismissed the need for conservation and pointed to 'high-tech' steam engines, which improved efficiency, requiring less coal to generate more energy.
Enter 29-year-old economist William Stanley Jevons. His studies measured the effects of supply and demand, and found that widespread access to efficiency technology would actually speed up depletion as more people used more machines to burn more coal: "It is wholly a confusion of ideas to suppose that the economical use of fuel is equivalent to a diminished consumption. The very contrary is the truth."
Over 146 years coal's alternatives – wind, oil, gas, nuclear, solar, hydro, geothermal – all stepped in to fuel growth. But his logic remained incontrovertible. What's more, the steam engine burned up another element, which in 1865 England seemed negligible but is today both precious and scarce.
And unlike coal, water has no substitute.
To counter global water scarcity, governments and industry once again tout and subsidize efficiency technology. As IBM noted, the company awarded his own city (Milwaukee) with a Smarter Cities grant to harness water technologies. Likewise the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set up a WaterSense partnership that designates and labels certain qualifying technologies that claim to "protect the future of our nation's water supply by promoting water efficiency and enhancing the market for water-efficient products, programmes, and practices."
So, by itself does water-efficient technology work? Can new widgets alone make up the projected 40% shortfall between global demand and supply in the next 19 years?
The ghost of Jevons moans: Don't bet on it.
The US EPA claims WaterSense technology helped consumers save a cumulative 46 billion gallons of water; Mr. Smith claims Ford Motor Co. used 26.8% less water. I don't doubt those numbers. But I do ask: what happened to all that saved water? Did it stay in rivers, lakes or aquifers? Alas, there is scant evidence local conservation translates into an overall reduction of water use, consumption and demand.
In fact, empirical studies suggest that – as with Jevons' energy – water efficient technologies may in fact reduce supply via lower costs and increased demand from added opportunities and incentives to divert, pump and use even more water.
My dual flush toilet means my daughter takes longer showers. My uprooted lawn encourages my neighbor to install a back yard pool. Our water-efficient neighborhood lets the larger city approve a sprawling new development. Firms reduce the amounts of water per unit throughout the supply chain, and that helps them to sell more water-embedded products. It's likely EPA offset demand for 46 billion gallons by making it cheaper or free to others, while 'free riders' guzzled up the savings by Ford.
Likewise, from Texas cotton fields to Israeli orchards, technology gains do not return flows to the Rio Grande or Jordan River or West Bank Aquifer or water-restricted Palestinians. Rather, efficiencies spread more new irrigation of water-intense crops into marginal lands at the exclusion of competing natural and human communities.
Understandably, social advocates and environmentalists resist water efficient technology that undermines their goals.
Such a perverse and undesired outcome defines a key paradox of water: as long as we 'rent' our resource from a natural monopoly, water-saving devices will increase systemic consumption. Water that you and I frugally conserve is lost through new and collective augmented demand.
The fastest way to resolve this paradox is through a new (and yet timeless) system of clear dominion over water, in what might best be called "H2Ownership."
If all end users sharing the same basin or water system had a proportional stake in the outcome – based on, say, our historical use – then we would graduate from "ratepayers" who see water as a liability into to "shareholders" who see water as an asset. Then, whatever we save from our share we can take out of the equation, to be later sold at a premium to higher users, or donated to charity, or restored directly to nature.
From the Kalahari to Oman to Indonesia, variations of this system appear where people compete to conserve, and nature keeps its integrity. Under a scaled up digital version of this virtuous cycle, urban efficiency gains could be locked in and improved on, helping us to transform water scarcity into natural abundance.
About James Workman
James G. Workman is a Visiting Professor at Wesleyan University's College of the Environment. He is the award-winning author of Heart of Dryness and co-founder of SmartMarkets LLC, a software company that helps water and energy utilities unlock the value of their liquid assets and unleash a widespread, egalitarian and competitive race to conserve.
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by CSRwire contributors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of CSRwire.
04 Jun UN Sustainable Development Goals – Rather than Corporate Opportunity Are SDGs Used for Greenwashing?
23 May Do Your Company's Sustainability Efforts Support Financial Performance?
16 May From Growth Mindset to Ethics and Data Privacy Mindset
10 Jan CSE Forecasts Top 10 Sustainability Trends for 2018
20 Nov Holiday With Purpose: Working to End Gender-Based Violence in Fashion Supply Chains


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Wow, all of a sudden it is so incredibly hot here in the Netherlands! One day you are complaining about the crappy spring and a moment later, well 4 days give and take, and the temperature is just tropical.
I must say, I love sunshine, and I really like 20 degrees better than 10. But, yes a but, what do you wear to work or school on a day when it's 30 degrees?! Well luckily I was free today, and with a little bit of luck, tomorrow as well so I wore a black and white outfit with some golden details. Black shorts, a loose white with Swedish House Maffia printed top, a H&M bikini from a year or two ago which I still love, my cute lace shoes and some cool jewelry.
I am wearing; Top, shorts, bikini top and shoes from H&M;
necklace unknown (gift from Stylight);
bracelets unknown (gifts from Indonesia).


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We're always on the hunt for the next best read, and now we bring you yet another brilliant magazine! Fricote is a premier food based magazine that is written in French. If you don't know French, don't worry, the photos and illustrations in the magazine are worth the look just by themselves. This magazine has some of the best illustrations that we have ever seen in any publication.
The moment you set eyes on one of their covers you are sure to fall in love with the unique design sensibilities of the publishers. There are so many food based magazines in the world, but very few make an entire culture out of food. Fricote is all about the art and beauty in food. The magazine is all about food, design, photography, and how food fits into your everyday life.
The idea is fantastic, and executed fantastically. Quality is evident in every page of the publication. The layout and design are captivating and those are just a few of the qualities that make this a publication worth getting. Pick up on some French, view quality design and photography, and support a publication that is truly making leaps in the magazine industry! Visit www.Fricote.fr for more information.


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Battleship has big guns mounted on bigger ships, aliens equipped with intergalactic guns and, most lethal of, a trash-talking Rihanna as a Navy officer who mans (you got it right!) a really, really big gun! None of those things scared Alexander Skarsgård when it stumbled on signing to the box office epic.
"I've never done a film this big before, and that i was honest with [director Peter Berg]," Skarsgård reveals in this exclusive behind-the-scenes clip that'll be section of the special features of the newest Blu-ray/DVD release.
Alexander continues, "I said, 'I'm nervous! The scope of the movie, is always that planning to infringe in my creativity?'…And the man just laughed and said, 'Don't worry, it's very organic and playful and inventive.'"
Read how it's want to be naked with Alexander Skarsgård on the small screen!
That's hardly the concern we expected in the man who's done nearly everything imaginable around the premium cable hit True Blood (including stripping to nearly nothing nearly every week). And Pete could calm Alex's woes. Berg explains, "He's a really talented and appealing and charming young actor. It is fun to watch him."
Oh, and yes, Taylor Kitsch does create a cameo inside the clip. And while Skarsgård does all of the talking, Kitsch's guns say plenty independently. Battleship arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on Tuesday.
Have a look at the Battleship stars strutting their stuff on the red carpet!


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Winners of DreamTemplate Announced within Next 2 Days
Posted · Category: Announcement
Thank you for all of the participants of "Giving Away 20 DreamTemplate Memberships for Free". We were supposed to announce the winners on 21st April. However, there are over 160 comments so far, it takes some time to digest and pick the best comments. Therefore, we are still waiting for DreamTemplate to pick the winners.
Sorry for the delay. We will announce the winners once we have received the reply from DreamTemplate. Hopefully, it can be done within the next 2 days.
Thanks again for all of the participants.
1 Comment


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The elvin world is ruled by 12 Councillors. This Council is in charge of creating laws and determining the punishments for breaking said laws. Tribunals are held to find whether an elf accused of a crime is guilty or not. The council works in a large domed building with green stone walls in Eternalia. All of the councillors have goblin bodyguards and wear jewel-encrusted circlets and silver capes with clasps that look like gold keys and they make 'human royalty look like amateurs'. Each of the Councillors swears to protect a cache with their life. Normal elves bow or curtsy whenever they approach a Councillor. Councillors are not allowed to be married because they need to put the good of the world before love and family. Councillors are addressed as "Councillor."
The 12 Current CouncillorsEdit
Alina: Previous principal of Foxfire, elected to the Council in Book 3: Everblaze, to replace the seat of Councillor Kenric. Alina is a Beguiler, an ability that enables an elf to persuade another with their voice. She previously dated Alden Vacker and even attempted to stop Alden and Della's wedding. She has not been a loyal supporter of Sophie ever since she joined the Council.
Bronte: Bronte is an Inflictor. He is in charge of mentoring Sophie in her ability. He is almost always in a bad mood and seems to have an extreme dislike of Sophie. After the majority of the Council turns against Sophie, he changes sides and becomes one of the few that support her. He was the only Inflictor before Sophie came to the Lost Cities. He now is Sophie's Inflicting mentor at Foxfire. Bronte is an Ancient, an elder member of the Council. Although he starts off as Sophie's least favorite Councillor, later in the series, he becomes one of Sophie's only loyal supporters.
Clarette: Clarette has long black hair to her waist and bronze skin. She is a very powerful Polyglot, possibly the most powerful one in the Elvin world. She can use her talent to command animals and can mimic languages and accents. She was the Councillor that controlled the Arthropleura that injured Fitz in Book 4: Neverseen.
Darek: As of Book 5: Lodestar, he has the most powerful in telekinesis out of all the Councillors.
Emery: Emery has shoulder-length black hair with sapphire blue eyes. He is a Telepath and mediates the Councillors' communications telepathically during a tribunal. He presents the Council's front and is said to have an air of power and demands attention without even trying. He has mixed feelings about Sophie.
Liora: Liora has bronze coloured skin and is a Conjurer, as mentioned in Book 3: Everblaze.
Noland: Noland has black hair that he wears in a ponytail. He is a Vociferator; an elf that can scream very loudly.
Oralie: Oralie has blond hair and looks like a fairy princess. She is an Empath, and often sides with Sophie. She CLEARLY loved Kenric and was devastated after his death in Book 3: Everblaze. She was one of the Councillors was strongly against Sophie wearing the ability restricting circlet and she was always on Sophie's side. In Book 4: Neverseen, Oralie gives Kenric's cache to Sophie. She then continues to help Sophie with various different things. In Legacy, it is revealed that Oralie is Sophie's biological mother.
Ramira: Mentioned in Book 4: Neverseen and Book 7: Flashback.
Terik: Terik has wavy brown hair and cobalt blue eyes. He is a Descryer, a special ability that allows him to sense potential. He finds it a burden to be the only Descryer because parents always want to know their children's potential and the children rarely live up to it. Terik helped Sophie in Book 2: Exile to find her old journal and told her that he would be someone to trust as Sophie trusts Alden. In Book 3: Everblaze, he was also one of the councillors who were strongly against Sophie wearing the ability restricting circlet. In Book 5: Lodestar, his leg was injured during the collapse of Lumenaria, then later amputated.
Velia: Velia is good with maps and not the type to ask questions.
Zarina: Zarina's special ability involves using electricity, possibly called a Charger. She can control electronics and power. In Book 4: Neverseen, she almost killed Fitz.
Jewelled Circlets Edit
Each Councillor chooses their own jewel to put on their circlet.
Alina: Her jewel is the peridot, a green gem.
Emery: His jewel is the sapphire, a blue gem. which is the same color as Fallon Vacker's Jewel.
Kenric: (Councillor until deceased) The jewel on his circlet was amber, a honey yellow color.
Fintan: (Former Councillor) His jewel was the ruby, a red gem.
Oralie: Her jewel is the tourmaline, a warm blue and pink gem.
Terik: His jewel is the emerald, a green gem.
Darek: His jewel is a ruby, a red gem.
Known Previous Councillors Edit
Kenric: Died at Fintan's healing when Everblaze consumed the building. Was CLEARLY in love with Oralie.
Fintan: Resigned from the Council after Pyrokinetics were forbidden.
Fallon Vacker: Alvar, Fitz, and Biana's great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great - great grandfather. Part of the first three original Councillors. He resigned to have the opportunity to get married.


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Uttar Pradesh received the second highest investment share of 13.4%, worth Rs 1.94 lakh crore, followed by Gujarat with 12.8% share worth Rs 1.86 lakh crore. Karnataka, Haryana, Telangana and Tamil Nadu accounted for 10.1%, 8.8%, 6.2% and 5.6% shares of the total investments till 2016.
About 3,489 projects worth Rs 14.5 lakh crore investments were live in the construction and real estate sector across India till December 2016, according to the report titled 'Construction and real estate investment: State-level analysis'.
States such as Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, West Bengal, Kerala, Odisha, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh received more than 1% share in total investment.
Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam and Himachal Pradesh have
almost negligible investment in construction & real estate sector, with combined share standing at 0.9% of the total outstanding investments.
"This indicates that almost 90 percent of construction & real estate sector investments are concentrated in the top 10 states," said the report.
Investment in the construction & real estate sector registered a downfall during the 2010 to 2016 period. The growth rate was highest at 13.5% in 2010, thereby falling in 2011, 2012 and 2013 at 6.3%, 0.7% and -7.6%, respectively. The investment recorded a positive growth rate of 2.6% in 2014 but fell again in 2015 to record a negative growth rate of 1.6%. The year 2016, however, registered a positive growth rate of 2.5%, according to Asssocham.
Odisha recorded the highest compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) in investments in the construction and real estate sector with 36.9% during 2011 to 2016, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 9%, Maharashtra with 2.9%, Kerala with 1.6% and Andhra Pradesh with 1.4% growth rate.
Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, West Bengal, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh registered negative CAGR during 2011 to 2016.


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Bold-Inc Brand Innovation's Dell' Albero Limoncello Alcohol Packaging
Bold-Inc Brand Innovation Discloses The Dell' Albero Limoncello Alcohol Packaging
Bold-Inc Brand Innovation, the lead designer of the displayed project Alcohol packaging:Dell' Albero limoncello by Bold-Inc Brand Innovation demonstrates, Dell' Albero translates to 'from the tree' and this inspired the hand-crafted treatment of this iconic Italian lemon liqueur. By way of tradition, the base of each lemon tree is coated with white paint to deter crawling insects from reaching the fruit. A white ceramic base resembling the tree trunk forms an integral part of the design and provides a functional purpose by acting as both a stand and 'chiller' for the bottle when placed in the freezer prior to serving. Finished with age old hand-crafted techniques, the result is a bold re-interpretation of the traditional Italian limoncello..
Bold-Inc Brand Innovation's Dell' Albero Limoncello Alcohol Packaging Images:
End of the article, click here to go back to previous page, or alternatively go back to Design Release homepage.


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|Project by Lance
|posted 03-19-2012 01:15 AM
|3363 views
|13 times favorited
|10 comments
I made this for my GORGEOUS wife for putting up with me for our first year of marriage! Our one year anniversary is this Sunday coming up, 3/25/12. I made one of these for my mother in-law last summer out of popular and stained it with All-in-One stain and poly, that was a learning experience to say the least. lol
I'm going to let it cure for another 4-5 days, then buff it smooth with White Diamond Compound and hang it up, maybe add a little extra anniversary present in there too :)
I made it out of 4/4 Black Walnut, used dovetails to hold the box together, blind daddo's for the shelves, and tongue and grove for the door. Stained it with General Finishes water based Brown Mahogany, then sprayed 5 coats of water based Enduro Pre-Cat Urethane out of the Earlex 5500 HVLP – (NEW TOY) ......excuse to by a new toy for this project. Finish came our extremely well, can't wait to finish my next project, the 5500 and water based finishes makes life so much easier!
<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7nzh6OXgXxI" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>
-- Lance, Hook'em HORNS! ""V""
10 comments so far
#1 posted 03-19-2012 01:19 AM
Nice job . That's something my wife would love. I am affraid to show it to her though
-- Smile and wave boys just smile and wave
#2 posted 03-19-2012 02:05 AM
First class work Lance including a great finish too.
#3 posted 03-19-2012 02:28 AM
You are doing it all wrong!!! The 1st anniversary you get her mcDonalds. Bloody 'ell how are you going to top this? Mark my words if you keep this up you'll have to buy round the world cruises and Bentleys in just a few years. Stellar job Mate!! It's beautifull. And may your marriage be long and loving!!!
-- "There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after." ~ JRR Tolkien
#4 posted 03-19-2012 03:01 AM
Very nice work. I like the design. I prefer natural wood, but you did the staining well. Your wife will be the judge of how it looks!
-- Robert, so much inspiration here, and now time to work!!!
#5 posted 03-19-2012 03:05 AM
Robert, I will have to agree with you on the natural wood, I originally wanted to finished it with an amber top coat, but my wife really likes darker wood, and that's what she wanted.
-- Lance, Hook'em HORNS! ""V""
#6 posted 03-19-2012 05:28 AM
really nice job Lance. Your wife is going to love it. I will have to explore some of your finishing materials as I have not heard of them before. Thanks for posting.
-- A good craftsman is able to make it work with the tools he has, I still need more tools
#7 posted 03-19-2012 05:49 AM
very nice jewel chest. nice dovetails, and design. are the ring holders home made, or from somewhere like Rockler? thnx
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Keep your dust collector fed. [email protected]
#8 posted 03-19-2012 12:51 PM
Roger, I bought them off of eBay, for like 14 bucks.
-- Lance, Hook'em HORNS! ""V""
#9 posted 03-19-2012 02:43 PM
as always, looks great man. how far from DFW are y'all?
-- It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.
#10 posted 03-19-2012 09:10 PM
That's really nice, I bet your wife will love it.
-- Martin ....always count the number of fingers you have before, and after using the saw.
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