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We're recruiting for a physically fit and efficient Parts Delivery Driver to be based in our Midwest Motor Factors branch in Bilston.
Fill time, Monday – Friday, 8.30am – 5.30pm & every other Saturday 8.30am till 4pm
About the role
As a Parts Van Delivery Driver for Arnold Clark, you will carry out multi-drop deliveries to branches and independent motor traders. As well as driving safely and delivering on time, you'll also be responsible for collecting cash from customers and passing it back to the relevant branches.
The ideal candidate will be physically able to handle some heavy lifting and must be able to work well as part of a team. Some degree of flexibility is also required to occasionally provide holiday cover for other drivers.
Day-to-day duties
Essential skills
In return, you will receive great working conditions and one of the best employee benefits packages in the automotive industry, including free private healthcare, life assurance and generous discounts on new and used cars.
Employment within the Arnold Clark Group is offered subject to satisfactory reference and disclosure check.
Every Arnold Clark employee is entitled to a wide range of benefits, including:
Arnold Clark is Europe's largest independent car retailer with over 200 branches across the UK. And you could be part of it.
Some benefits are only available after a qualifying period.


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Dumb Movie Questions
People seemed to like my previous Dumb Weightlifting Questions blog post, so I figured it would be a more entertaining way to get some information across about American Weightlifting. These are all real questions or comments I've received, sometimes paraphrased or combined with others.
Why isn't [insert your favorite coach or athlete] in the movie? He's coached/been an Olympian!
I'm not sure why this is a surprise to anyone, but I couldn't include every single coach and athlete in the country in the movie. Someone is bound to feel like someone important was left out. There isn't much I can do about it. I chose who I chose for a number of reasons. I wanted to include a collection of coaches who represented the range of different coaching situations and histories, from veterans to new coaches, and from coaches working in private gyms to coaches working out of high schools. They are not only in there because of who they actually are, but also because of what they represent.
A couple specific complaints pointed to the fact that a couple coaches not in the movie have coached an Olympian and lots of international team members. I find this extremely odd considering that the coaches they would have been replacing have done the same, and have done far more in most cases. Schmitz, Takano and Thrush have all coached Olympians—and have each taken athletes from day one to the Olympics, not just picked them up after they'd already been to the Olympics, or started them for a couple months before they left to the Olympic Training Center. I don't even know if another coach in the US has coached more Olympians than Jim Schmitz.
Natalie Woolfolk was a 2008 Olympian, American record holder, multiple world and pan am team member, and multiple time national champion. Casey Burgener was a multiple time world and pan am team member, multiple time national champion, and American record holder (and should have been a 2008 Olympian, but got screwed by politics). So when you're worked into a lather about your favorite person not being in the film, remember that they're not the only good coach or athlete in the country.
Often I think at least part of the issue is that the veteran coaches I chose are not well-known outside the actual competitive weightlifting community because they're not shameless self-promoters and credential-inflators like some others are, and consequently aren't currently fashionable on the internet. But if you really want to compare credentials, not facebook likes, it will be pretty clear-cut. Are there other coaches deserving of being profiled? Of course. But again, there is a limit to how much can be fit into a single movie.
Why didn't you include more people? It's all west coast! Is it because you hate women?
Were there a lot of coaches from California and the West Coast? Yes, because there happens to be a lot of good coaches on the West Coast, and because I could afford to get to them. I had others I planned to include, but was unable to for various reasons—in some cases, because those coaches or athletes never bothered to follow through with my multiple requests to include them (funny because in at least 2 cases, people complained about these very coaches not being in the movie—take it up with them).
That I don't care about women in weightlifting was a pretty fascinating claim (this all apparently based on the fact that John Coffee wasn't in the movie—someone I would have liked to include, actually, had there been space, time and money for it). Anyone with even the most limited exposure to me and Catalyst Athletics should know that I coach more female than male weightlifters. And my estimation is that there are more lifts done by women than men in the movie.
And how I'm expected to have included more people in the movie, when it was extremely difficult to get it just under 2 hours as it was, is beyond me, especially when that complaint was made on at least one occasion by the same person who also wanted the interviews to go more in depth.
Why isn't there a traditional arc?
I had a very brief (yes, 2 hours is brief to me in this case) length of time to get across what I wanted to get across. I had to make a lot of decisions about what not to do or include. Although originally my intention was to actually have a more traditional story in the movie (i.e. following a couple athletes as they trained in their respective circumstances to the National Championships / world championships qualification), as the process unfolded, I realized it would be impossible to do that while still including other things I wanted to include. I was also limited by the fact that I couldn't afford to do the extensive filming and traveling that would have required. I settled on the "arc" of following a complete training session of a weightlifting team, while also following a lineage of coaches and athletes. I'm sure that won't be apparent to a lot of viewers, but what can I do, I'm no Scorsese.
Why did you focus on the coaches so much instead of the athletes?
Because coaches tend to have more experience in the sport, have more to say, and be more articulate. I think they're in a better position to really get into the background of the sport and the reasons for its struggle. I interviewed I believe seven weightlifters as well—not a small number in my opinion. I wasn't able to use a lot from all of them for various reasons. A focus on athletes would have been a completely different movie—not necessarily a bad one, but not the one I wanted to make (or could make) at this time.
Why isn't it in HD?
When I started this movie, HD was still relatively new, and being as I could barely afford an adequate SD camera for the job, HD wasn't even a real consideration. Since most of the footage was shot already by the time HD was more affordable and accessible, I was already long committed to that format. (See photo accompanying this post - not exactly a major production).
Why does everyone in the movie shrug when they pull?
Clearly because they're total amateurs and have no promise as weightlifters, and their coaches are idiots.
Why can't I go see it in my local theater?
The entire cost of making, distributing and promoting the movie was less than a mainstream movie production spends in about an hour of filming. Getting a theater distribution deal would be impossible, and having independent theaters screen the movie directly would be a guaranteed loss of money for us.
I didn't like it because it was all about the sport of weightlifting and didn't talk at all about general fitness.
I don't even know how to respond to that politely other than by saying, Have another close look at the title of the movie.
I didn't like it because it was all about the sport of weightlifting and didn't talk at all about general fitness.
I don't even know how to respond to that politely other than by saying, Have another close look at the title of the movie.
Why does the movie jump around randomly from topic to topic?
Put your iPhone down for a minute and focus. As I mentioned above, there is a rational structure for the entire movie, although it may not be readily apparent to everyone. But believe me, it wasn't haphazard—organizing the footage in a way that made sense was one of the biggest challenges for me. As I mentioned above, the entire length of the movie follows a single training session by a weightlifting team (Catalyst Athletics, of course—not because they're the best in the world, but because they were accessible to me whenever I needed without cost or travel—and because they're the best in the world). During this session, the movie runs through a series of topics in what I consider a fairly logical manner—what the sport is, why it's in trouble, what the difficulties for athletes and coaches are, how competition works, the mental game, the appeal of the sport for athletes, what can be done to help it, and hope for the future of the sport in the US. (The more people have watched it, the more I've seen "get" this, so this answer may have been premature.)
Why aren't there cool visual effects and graphics and explosions and car chases?
The simple, bare visual style (like the cover/poster of the movie) are both intentional stylistically and necessary. Financially, it was impossible for me to bring anyone into the project but myself, which meant I was stuck with whatever limited ability I had, and the limits of the software and hardware I was working with, which were by no means of the highest quality available. However, flashy doesn't appeal to me anyway, and the simple and sparse aesthetic supports the theme and content of the movie perfectly. The entire process and product are accurate reflections of the state of the sport in the US.
Why doesn't the movie tell us how to fix weightlifting in America?
First of all, I've never claimed it would do so. Second, I think if you pay attention at all, many solutions or at least courses of action are in fact presented along the way—they're just not all packaged in such an obvious manner.
Why is it so depressing and hopeless?
This question/complaint may actually be the one that mystified me the most, because I see the movie as being completely hopeful and encouraging. Of course there are a lot of depressing elements—it's about a sport that is in serious trouble. But the passion and dedication of the community comes through very clearly, in my opinion, and ultimately there is a very real sense of hope and confidence in its continued improvement. Beyond just suggestions of hope, it's said explicitly multiple times. I'm not sure how that can be missed so completely. Many of the reviews coming out so far have included the word "inspirational", so if you find the movie depressing and hopeless, I can only assume you're projecting.
All other complaints
Make your own movie, and enjoy the criticism from everyone else who hasn't.
If you haven't seen the movie, you can buy it on DVD or download/streaming here.
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subset: commoncrawl


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George �Bud� Day did just about everything you would expect a legendary figure to have done in the U.S. military. He served in the Marines, the Army and the Air Force. He fought in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. He received the Medal of Honor � the armed services� highest award � and earned some 70 other medals.
But what he didn�t do was impressive, too. He didn�t use his stellar military career as a springboard into politics.
If he had wanted, Col. Day could have filled campaign pamphlets with his remarkable story: Shot down over Vietnam, gravely injured, being captured, escaping, being captured again, undergoing torture and defying his interrogators; and then, after almost six years as a POW, returning home and becoming a lawyer.
Granted, politics was a temptation. In 1978, a year after retiring from the Air Force, Col. Day ran for the Okaloosa County Commission. And lost.
Perhaps it was just as well. Later, his fame only grew, as did the respect he won from citizens, fellow veterans � and, yes, politicians.
As a lawyer, he championed veterans� causes. He sued the federal government in an effort to restore free health benefits for military retirees who had enlisted between 1941 and 1956. He didn�t win, but his efforts and his clients� lobbying were credited with forcing Congress to pass the TRICARE for Life Act, which made health care more affordable for military retirees and their families.
�He did what he thought was right,� Okaloosa County Judge Patt Maney said. �He thought veterans deserved better.�
He also did what he thought was right when he endorsed former Gov. Charlie Crist for the U.S. Senate in 2010. That riled some conservatives and briefly put Col. Day back in the news. But Day was never one to duck a fight.
Mr. Crist was among numerous office-seekers who clamored for Col. Day�s backing. And who could blame them?
When he died Saturday at his home in Shalimar, the United States lost one of its giants, one of those rare individuals who achieve greatness both on the battlefield and on the home front.
Our community was privileged to know him.


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Dashboards can hold a lot of portlets and analysis. An easy way to add a reminder of the kind of information displayed on any one dashboard is to add a post-it. This is especially useful for shared dashboards, so you can communicate to the other users the kind of things they will find on each tab.
What to do
Open the tab options, by clicking on the arrow by the name of the tab at the top.
Then click on "add a post-it".
This will open up a new box and you can create your post-it.
Use the bar at the top to edit the contents of your post-it.
Then click on OK to save and see your creative efforts!
How will this help me?
Inside your post-it you can
- write short descriptions of content
- leave instructions of what to do
- give a weekly summary of key trends / sources of information
- link text to other URLs, in or out of the Digimind platform


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Two dozen people were arrested after an illegal immigrant was detained when he left a North Carolina sanctuary church that had been his refuge from deportation for nearly a year.
Immigration agents arrested Samuel Oliver-Bruno, 47, Friday at an immigration office in Raleigh.
Oliver-Bruno went to the office to have his fingerprints taken in connection his petition to stay in the U.S. while he fights being deported to Mexico.
Police arrested 27 people after they blocked the vehicle taking him to detention, Fox 8 High Point reported Saturday.
Oliver-Bruno was given sanctuary at CityWell United Church in Durham 11 months ago. Immigration officers are generally reluctant to make arrests at churches and other sensitive locations.
"Mr. Oliver-Bruno is a convicted criminal who has received all appropriate legal process under federal law, has no outstanding appeals, and has no legal basis to remain in the U.S.," ICE spokesman Bryan Cox said, according to the station.
Immigration Customs Enforcement said Oliver-Bruno, who has lived in North Carolina for two decades, had no legal basis to be in the U.S. and had exhausted his "extensive" appeals. Oliver-Bruno pleaded guilty in 2014 to using false documents to try to re-enter the U.S. in Texas after a trip outside the country, according to court documents.
But North Carolina Democratic Reps. David Price and G.K. Butterfield condemned the arrest as a setup.
"It appears ICE has acted in concert with officials at (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), who instructed Mr. Oliver-Bruno to appear at local USCIS offices to discuss his deferred deportation," the lawmakers said, according to Fox 8.
"At best, Mr. Oliver-Bruno was presented with a catch-22 dilemma; at worst, he was entrapped," they added.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Irvine Valley's women's soccer team came away with a 0-0 tie at Orange Coast on Friday afternoon in an Orange Empire Conference match.
Orange Coast went into the match in second place in the OEC standings.
Irvine Valley improved its record to 0-6-3 overall and 0-1-2 in conference.
"The girls really held their own," Irvine Valley coach Joe Supe said. "We had our chances and we also played really well defensively."
Supe said the efforts of freshman defenders Savanna Hayes, Lauren Berry and Angela Hernandez specifically stood out.
"And I thought Brenda (Chopin) did a nice job of taking charge up front," Supe said. "She was very aggressive for us."
Freshman Marissa Banos, making her second start of the season in goal, made four saves for the Lasers.
Irvine Valley plays again on Tuesday, hosting Santa Ana in a conference match at 3 p.m.


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Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin:
As a Junior Space Ranger, fire and score points as you battle Toy Story's evil emperor . Spin your space cruiser 360 degrees firing lasers from its cannon. Every target hit will score you points. The more blasting the more points! At the end of your special mission you will receive a star command rating with the best being a Galactic Hero.
Height: Any Height
Ages: All Ages
We take pride in our ability to provide our customers with the lowest prices on all Orlando attractions as well as great deals on Disney Ticket upgrades! All the prices listed for tickets on our site Include Taxes and include No Hidden Fees.Customers will be able to see the full amount that they will pay listed with no hidden surprises.


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The NTSB investigation into the crash of Asiana flight 214 pivots this week from the on-scene phase in San Francisco, with the NTSB closing its on-scene command post today and investigative groups wrapping up their work at the airport.
The investigative team completed the examination of the airplane wreckage and runway. The wreckage will still be available for further examination if necessary at its secure storage location at San Francisco International Airport.
The Airplane Systems, Structures, Powerplants, Airplane Performance, and Air Traffic Control investigative groups have completed their on-scene work and have left San Francisco. The Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder groups completed their work in Washington last week.
The Flight Crew Operations group completed several witness interviews over the weekend. The Survival Factors/Airport group will be completing their interviews of the first responders today.
The next phase of the investigation will include additional interviews, examination of the evacuation slides and other airplane components, and more in-depth analysis of the airplane's performance.
This is an informational release only. No interviews will be conducted.
Further investigative updates will be issued as warranted.
More information on the investigation.
Enter the YouTube ID of each video separated
by a semi-colon (;). Example: "LV5_xj_yuhs;
QgaTQ5-XfMM; VWW8DMpfI9U; BgAlQuqzl8o;"
Contact: NTSB Media Relations490 L'Enfant Plaza, SW Washington, DC 20594


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(l to r) The School of Hospitality Business' graduation reception speaker Joel Heberlein and his son, Mike Heberlein
"I had no job and no direction ... and I never dreamed I would lead a hospitality division at a Big Ten university," Heberlein told graduates. "You will always have us here at [MSU]. We will always be here for whatever you need and we would love to hear from each and every one of you whether you need us or not."
The reception included a tribute to the seniors, and two were selected by their peers as "Outstanding Seniors" for 2010. The honor went to Stephanie Stephens, the 2010 executive director of Career Expo; and Alexandra Clark, the 2010 executive director of Les Gourmets.


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Invest NI's Eastern Office has been working with local businesses through our new Accelerating Growth Programme, a forward thinking pilot initiative aiming to assist businesses to accelerate targeted growth in overseas markets.
We work closely with local companies who have a product or service to sell into overseas markets. We work with a mixture of start up businesses and well established companies, many of whom have traditionally sold their products in Northern Ireland and have recently identified an opportunity to sell their products into new markets. The Accelerating Growth Programme will allow these companies to gain the skills and identify the tools necessary to drive export growth in their business.
"Excellent presentation – engaging and interesting – very inspiring and motivational."
Una Kennedy Boyd, Elevation Design
Over the next six months, the programme will provide nine half day workshops where participating businesses can gain the practical tools and guidance they need to grow their business faster and maximise profitability. The programme's approach is to support, coach and challenge the committed businesses to help them achieve their plans for growth in export markets.
Before beginning the programme, each company undertook a Business Health Check to identify their current strengths and highlight any areas for improvement. During this process we were able to identify a range of barriers that are preventing each business from growing and meeting their full potential. This allowed us to focus on a strategic programme and identify themes for the workshops to address barriers to growth.
The workshops cover a range of topics from sales & marketing, financial management, exporting, people solutions, training needs & skills and business direction. Feedback on the workshops has been very positive with Brendan Gorman, Managing Director, Xootec commenting "Excellent workshop! Looking forward to the next."
Watch other videos from businesses participating on the Accelerating Growth programme.
Note: Please note, this programme is a pilot initiative. Please refer to our Twitter account for regular updates on future programmes.


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I couldn't get to the school fast enough today to pick up The Kid. From the time I turned on the news, to the time I walked out the door, felt like days. I just kept looking at the clock.
First, earlier this week, we had the mall shooting. Horrendous. It's just miles from my house. The woman killed lived two blocks up from us and her son goes to my son's school. Gut-wrenching to think about what that family is going through.
Then, there was today. The school shooting in Connecticut. Mostly little kids in their first year of school. I just can't fathom it. Those parents racing to the school waiting for the kids to emerge, only to learn their babies are dead. Gunned down where they're supposed to be safe. Horrific. I just sat in front of the TV crying. Disgusted over the act of that worthless human being, who can't even be punished. Or be forced to live with what he did. It sickens me. The number of lives that were changed in an instant. I just can't get over the magnitude of how horrible it is. My heart aches for those families.
While I was still living in the land of unknowing, and had yet to turn on the news, I made The Girl her Fun Food Friday lunch. I saw this Rudolph lunch the other day and kinda went off that.
I used a circle cutter on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for his face. His eyes and nose are candy. Pretzel ears. Salami antlers. Pickles and red bell pepper for the holly leaves and berries around the rim.
Here's today's silly lunch:
Go hug your kids!


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Organizations must be authorized by the IESO if participating in the IESO-administered markets or programs, have a physical facility connecting to the IESO-controlled grid, or to become a service provider.
Online IESO is a web-based registration system, allowing organizations to complete a variety of interactive business tasks, and post information to the IESO in a safe, secure and efficient manner.
Organizations must register a physical facility (generation, load, demand response, transmission and distribution) that is connecting to the IESO-controlled grid or will be participating in the IESO-administered markets or programs.
Within Ontario, all energy bought or sold by market participants must be measured and recorded by registered revenue metering installations—the IESO, market participants and metering services providers all play a role in the revenue metering process.


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Forgotten Youth
By S. Maine
She sits in front of the window; her eyes, her decrepit hands and her hair falling to the floor. It was only yesterday she was young, burgeoning with hope and dreams yet to come. But youth.
Somehow, youth has been taken away.
All of their youths. Gone. Teenagers—mere adults—woke to find themselves wrinkled, raw and seemingly savaged by time. They have aged not ten, not twenty, not thirty years, but eighty years have passed overnight. As their youth vanished, so did their hope. Hope is a luxury they can no longer afford.
Tonight, and for all nights, she sits in her chair, rocking incessantly.
Back and forth,
back and forth she rocks in her creaking chair, the unsteady legs mocking her.
Her hair is now on the floor by her side. Once worried what shade of blonde fit her best—how insignificant now—is falling from her scalp as she rocks.
Dehydrated and unready.
All of them woke to find themselves in such a condition of aged horror; a condition they could not reverse. How could it be? They wondered. But wonder trailed off and melted to passing thoughts quickly forgotten.
Her hands folded on her lap, her view now hazy.
She hardly rocks anymore.
Hair drifting away with the breeze.
She tries to rock, but her body protests. Gravity is failing her as her bones weaken, her muscles stiffen. All she has left is a deep sigh of billowing grief.
Now she stands hobbling on her legs. "Tomorrow," she says, her voice shaking, "tomorrow I will do something."
Tomorrow came and as time before her seemed to slip, so did her plans. Along with the years they have all lost, she soon will vanish, forgotten to a world already forgotten.
Honour Among Family
by Jamie C. Weir
The shouting escalated. Finally, with a dull crack, William brought his axe down hard on the back of his brother's skull. Robert, a boy of thirteen and the youngest of the three brothers, scrambled backward, whimpering, and pressed himself hard against the broad trunk of an oak. William fell madly upon his brother John's body, searching his pockets and waistband.
When they had burst in on the bank earlier, brandishing their revolvers, there had been seven of them. The furtive glances and anxious twitching had begun soon after, during their flight across the desert. A detachment of cavalry were close behind. Dean—the eldest of the group—was slow. Too slow. It had been easy to convince themselves that he would lead to their capture, and that it was nothing more than a happy coincidence that the solution to this problem would increase each man's share
"Where the hell is it!" cursed William, his face half cast in daemonic firelight. He began to pull violently at his brother's clothing. "Damn it, tell me!"
John made a soft gurgle, perhaps an attempt at speech, then fell quiet.
After Dean, the brothers talked quietly amongst themselves. It became more and more difficult to justify sharing the rewards, for which they had risked their lives, with people they barely knew. Of course, there was only one way to prevent that.
After the first, it had been so easy…
Suddenly, William stopped dead. He looked up, toward Robert, his eyes blazing in the firelight. He blinked and smiled grotesquely. Slowly he stood up and wrenched the axe free. Hefting it gently in his hands, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he advanced.
"Come on, Bobby. Where did he put it? You wouldn't lie to your brother now, would you?"
When best to marry a murder suspect
by Nick Black
Fiona couldn't decide on May or September for the wedding; the months in between would have her sweating straight through her dress. Her fiancé Brian plumped for May. "The sooner the better," he whispered, running a finger down the middle of her as they lay on her bed in the moonlight. She giggled at his touch. He pictured her body, unzipped.
Fiona knew that her friends and family were concerned about the police investigation – they'd all squirmed at repeatedly seeing Brian in the news, that awful old photo before he'd got his hair cut, but they didn't know him like she did. "It's been a nightmare for him, poor thing! For both of us, really.' Her friends would nod, of course, of course, but none of them wanted to be bridesmaids. I might be on holiday, I don't want to let you down. The children. Work. This before any talk of dates.
The police continued interviewing Brian. His car had received a parking ticket near the murder scene and his driving that far from home to buy Chinese rang hollow, but they had nothing concrete so their chats remained informal.
"If I was ever going to kill someone," she told him one night, "I've got it all worked out. Establish what days the bins are emptied where that person lives, then the night before, ring their bell, beat them to death with a can of beans in their hallway, touching nothing, walk a few hundred yards down the road and drop the murder weapon in a recycling box. It'll be long gone by the time the body's found, no evidence, no prints. Nothing to pin on me."
He searched her face for black humour, found none. He wondered why beans, especially.
"Let's book the service for next week," he said.
Saurabh Sawhney
Zophy, my former assistant, is waiting for me, wearing a smile half-hidden by the wind-blown hair. We are in an open field, under a brilliant sun. A dendritic dirt trail leads to a few low-slung houses. A few clouds are ambling along in the distance.
"Hi Zophy," I say. "What's going on? Where are we?"
"The Wanzerus have been busy," she replies. As if that answers everything.
When the Wanzeru beings had found us helplessly hurtling through space on our planet, they had scoffed in disbelief at a race that couldn't even steer its own home. Then they had decided to help us poor humans with their technology and knowledge. On the very day of contact, my team and I had been teleported to their starship to answer their earth-related queries.
Now, three months later, I have been sent back to earth.
"The Wanzerus have changed everything," Zophy says. "We now live in ecologically sound dwelling units with technology that you wouldn't have dreamed of. We have wireless power and pipeless water. There are no roads anymore; we teleport everywhere. It's amazing. Come, let's go, I'll fill you in."
"I need to get to the UN headquarters to file a report. How far away is New York?"
Immediately, I realise it is a silly question. I can teleport to the UN instantly, so distances don't matter anymore. But Zophy points to a hut.
"That's the new UN building. They rebuilt it at the same spot."
I look at the thatched roof in disbelief.
"You mean this is …" I ask hesitantly, spreading out my hands.
"Yes, this is the new New York."
I look around the green fields and nod sagely at a distant herd of cattle. This is going to take some getting used to, but I'm home.
A New Arrival
by Gary Buller
Gareth and Leena Swailes stood and admired something that they had created together, his hand hooked around her hip. They had tried for such a long time without success, but it actually looked like they were going to get a positive result this time. In preparation he had painted the walls blue, and dabbed dandelion tufts of cloud using an old sponge. Leena still had white paint on her nose where he had playfully swiped her.
"Everything good to go?" he whispered into her ear, inhaling that familiar scent of her hair mingled with honeysuckle shampoo.
"Of course," she replied, "I made a checklist remember? The overnight bag was numero uno."
The parts had been sourced mostly from ebay. Some were quite difficult to come by, especially the nozzle itself which had arrived from Peru in a dusty state of disrepair. Gareth stole an 'x' axis from work, risking his job in the process and they had cancelled the house extension to get the 'y.'
They built the cube from instructions on the internet. It was a struggle, as is often the case with first-timers, soldering, repairing, slotting and screwing. The inevitable struggle to find the correct sized Philips screwdriver.
It didn't help that grandfather was expected to expire within a month, had been hooked up to machinery of his own and had signed the paperwork over to them with a shaky hand as the tubes assisted his breathing.
Remembering this, Gareth reached forward and prompted Leena to do the same. They both flicked the switch together. The pumps hummed into life and the nozzle extruded grandfather's liquefied remains.
Leena squealed with excitement and leaned over to kiss her husband. Two tiny pink feet had already formed in the gel below, but there was a long way to go.
The Big Fall
by Jennifer R. Lloyd
The airtight wood smelled tangy with tension from her folded body. It lacked the gaudy shine of a high-end casket but wasn't rough enough to splinter. Her breath moistening her calves crossed next to her bowed head.
A bike helmet protected her from knocks as she bobbed downstream. Last night, she had practiced for this one last time.
Taylor knew every inch of the barrel despite absolute blackness: the knot in plank seven, the ridge niggling her left buttock.
"Bridg, take the top off!" she shouted. "Bridg!"
A hammer banged and pried, revealing a bright crescent. Her sister's head came into view.
"You ready?" asked Bridget, eyeing the living room's grandfather clock.
Taylor's claustrophobia struck at age 5, trapped in an old refrigerator during hide-and-seek. Discovered hours later, her screams continued dry and muted after losing her voice.
Her parents closed her in a barrel — typically used as their living room coffee table — to help her "overcome her fears." She scratched them and Bridget raw as they shut her in. But as the dark air grew heavier, she went within, turning her fear inside her head like a ball, examining it from all sides. Finally, with a burst of synaptic energy, she detonated the ball into shards of light in her mind.
Since then, she'd been fearless. On a trip to Niagara Falls for her 10th birthday, Taylor hatched the plan.
She'd begun creeping into the barrel at night, training for The Big Fall.
With a freshly laminated driver's permit, her sister loaded the barrel into their sleeping parents' truck so Taylor could roll over the falls at sunrise.
Bridget smiled as she watched the barrel pick up speed, approach the brink, catching the journey in short bursts on Snapchat.
She'd missed being an only child.
Weekend with Daddy
by Eddie Spohn
It is Sunday. My six year old daughter Claire is over for her once a month weekend with Daddy. Claire tells me she wants to go feed the ducks at Miller's Pond. I tell her that I can't promise the ducks will be there; it seems that lately the birds have been flying away or being stolen. Nobody really knows. But every time the town's park commission puts in a new batch, they are soon gone.
And of course when we get there, the pond is empty. Claire is disappointed and begins to cry. I come up with the great idea to make paper boats and float them on the water. We do this with the comics section of the Sunday paper. Most of the boats are horribly constructed things that soon sink. But there's one which Claire is fond of that she begs me to retrieve.
So I take off my shoes and socks and wade out there. The pond isn't too big or deep, but I'm in up to my waist when I see the massive grey shape coming my way. It's something way too big to be in here and I hurry back towards shore. It rises behind me, all opened jaws and teeth, and I realize it's a shark and I'm about to die.
I make land just in time, roll to a stop beside my daughter, who is all smiles and giggling contentedly. It's the happiest she's been all weekend, possibly the happiest I have ever seen her.
The shark has sunk back down into the mud somewhere.
"Do it again, Daddy!" Claire begs me. "Make that fish chase you again!"
It's deja-vu. Her mother had that same excited glint in her eye when we filed the divorce papers.
Every Mind Useless
by David Williams
It was only supposed to be a flash fiction story, just an idea that I jotted down before I dosed off, just another curiosity. "What if human creativity disappeared from the world"? Those words were as far as the concept was meant to go.
Then the next morning my girlfriend rang my doorbell and when I opened the door she dove into my arms before we made love. She scratched, pulled hair; oh she was an animal and by the end of it she whispered that she needed to unleash her passion because she couldn't get the ideas for a poem. This only seemed a little strange to me but then we went for a walk and I saw that my throwaway idea was now real.
All creativity was lost and everyone was taking out their experiences in drastic ways. That horror novelist who had trouble relating to his family? He grabbed an ax and destroyed his furniture to keep himself from destroying something more precious. That poet who just had an amazing hiking trip? There's no way he'll be able to express the details of nature and he'll grow old, miserable and ungraceful. That musician who woke up at midnight to play a tune in his dream? He just threw his instruments out the window because they now felt useless to him.
So many people had become mindless and were destroying everything around them as a result. In an effort to undo this I ran back into my house to write a counter story. But the words wouldn't come; only a concept but no way to give it life. Was there ever a world filled with more woe? From this day forward every mind was useless including the one that made it so.
By Erica Naone
Tina shouldered her machete and shoved her front door open. The jungle had thickened overnight. Its deep green vines threatened to tie the house as securely as the birthday present she hoped to deliver to Leticia.
Bugs sang in her ears. Sweat trickled down her sides. Her shoulders stretched and strained toward a pleasant ache. The machete swung merrily. The jungle, ever so gradually, parted before its blade.
When she was young, when she first met Leticia, Tina had wished for an easier way to reach her. She'd dreamed of cleared spaces that stayed cleared; bare, wide, even ground; a part in the jungle like the one on the top of her head, pale and straight.
There were days she couldn't make it all the way to Leticia's place, days the jungle seemed to want her to stay home and it didn't matter how early she got up.
She'd learned not to mind. She cut patiently, sun heating the sap of the severed plants and lifting its scent toward her nose. She soaked herself in thoughts of Leticia. The geology of her smile. The anatomy of her laugh. The cartography of their shared humor. Tina had sliced through the jungle for her a thousand times. She would do it a thousand more.
An unexpected swish, snap, and grunt made Tina raise her head. A soft curse skittered through the vines, brushing Tina's ear like a winged insect. She knew that voice. Tina adjusted her direction, so now her machete pointed right toward it. She grinned.
The days they met in the middle offered half the burden and twice the joy.
George and Harry
by Isobel Horsburgh
George and Harry stepped off the Tyneside Metro together, into a crowd that milled about them. Then Harry turned and walked smartly up the platform towards the lift, George following. George found the button for the concourse, the doors opened and up they went. They passed through the ticket barrier, a woman pausing to tell Harry what a clever lad he was, as though he, and not George, was the brains of the outfit, but George was used to that and only smiled. Sometimes well meaning people though that George was lost if he was standing still, and if they came up and spoke, he couldn't concentrate on his mind-map. Harry, however, could always get them back on track.
They made their way along Grey Street, with its sweep of elegant terraces. George couldn't see them, but he felt the reflected warmth of the sun on his face, and heard how the sound echoed off the mellow stone. Architecture wasn't really Harry's thing, but he was happy if George was, and together they ambled towards the Victorian Grainger Market, where George's sense of smell and sensitive touch soon helped him to fill a basket of ripe cherry tomatoes, a plump aubergine and a sweet-scented punnet of strawberries for a pie. George had once been asked in all seriousness if Harry helped him with the cooking, but he explained that his friend's little legs made it difficult for him to reach the kitchen table, and the stall-holder had accepted this.
Afterwards, they went to Oliver's cafe, where Laurie the waitress had a pot of hot tea ready for George, and a lemon scone. Harry got a bowl of catfood.
by Cath Barton
The world has ceased to turn and the dust is accumulating.
From my window I used to be able to see the sea, distant and alluring. Even on overcast days there was a sparkle on the horizon, a promise of the annual renewal. Once upon a time I watched in wonder as, each year, impossibly tender leaves began to shoot from the bare wood of the small bushes outside my window.
But the time of miracles is over. Now everything is enveloped in dust and my mind has become dull. The spiders are the only creatures which thrive. Still they spin across my room, back and forth, and each day a little more of my life is obscured.
I am free to come and go, but it feels increasingly pointless. Everywhere I go is becoming the same, buried under the dust. Even short journeys sap my energy.
I have heard that this has happened before, in cities of the ancient world. But I think that in Pompeii and in Herculaneum the people did not suffer. Death took them by surprise. Now the dust falls slow. Each day we breathe a little less. There is talk of us all being issued with masks, but who here can do this, and what would be the point?
Today even the spiders have slowed down. There are no longer any flies for them to catch and their webs droop. I go to my window and all I see is the dust, falling like grey snow. I pick up a photograph of my old cat, long gone to the great mystery. I smile as I remember the way she scampered in the twilight. Such a happy memory. Now the light is fading but I hold, very tightly, onto that memory.
And still falls the dust.
Sunless Skies
by Mark A. Mihalko
Something is clearly wrong; it has been weeks since the sun graced our skies. The once majestic kingdom in the clouds replaced by binding darkness, a forbidden black shroud drowning our life force. Yet, the heat inside this masked reality continues to rise. How is this heat is so overwhelming? Could Hell really be any worse?
I have no idea. All I know is that this is killing me, driving me to place even blacker then the dismay that extinguished our once beautiful skies. I know that I cannot endure this world much longer. I gasp for air, but the putrid pong of decay that surrounds me suffocates my every step. The blood, the bile, the intestines; it is clear that the sun was not enough for the evil that has risen from the pit.
In the distance, I hear a call; the fallen ones again rise to prey on those of us that remain. The dark angel grows strong, and his reapers worse. His blade of sorrow steals another life and my faith shudders at his might. My soul mourns, as the merciless truth of my destiny becomes clear.
Thunder echoes in the distance. Dammit, they stole the lightning as well. I look back toward the Nephilim, as scarlet flows from the tears I cry. I can feel them burn through my entrails; my fate lay ahead. I can see my salvation and redemption inside the murky depths of his eyes.
Alone, I bare my soul to the reaper. My pure heart shudders, as the tears cascade like a waterfall from my sunken eyes. I can feel warmth of the inferno radiate from his blade; my end is indeed at hand. The flaming gates open as his blade penetrates my soul.
And the reaper laughs at my despair…
On The Bench
by Stephen Lodge
Chris Jolly sat huddled on the bench at Summerfield Common Railway Station. It was his third day and night on the bench. He looked ill. His stubble was multi-coloured. His hair matted. He thought he had dog's breath, probably unfair to man's best friend.
He dare not leave. He needed his place on the bench. Occasionally, he had to pop to the public lavatory, or the cafeteria for a paper and a cup of soup. He couldn't take much more than that. His stomach was knotted, taut with anxiety, fear maybe.
He'd developed a smoker's cough and he didn't even smoke.
The next train from London to the coast was due in 45 minutes. Right, he thought, if she isn't on this train, I'll go home and write her a letter, see what's happened to her. Maybe she'd had second thoughts and didn't love her darlink Chris as much as she said in her letters. Maybe he should have gone up to London and met her at the airport or a bigger railway station. He scratched the back of his neck. Something's gone wrong. Where is she?
He looked up and saw a vicar standing in front of him. "Is everything all right, my son?" the vicar said in a kindly voice.
"Yeah, you're alright, vicar. Thanks all the same. I'm waiting for my mail order bride. She was due a couple of days ago from that Eastern Europe, must have been a hitch. Her name, vicar?" Chris thought for a minute. "Her name escapes me, but I think it began with an S. Yes I've checked the newspapers for air, train and car accidents. Oh, you are exactly right. It would be great if there was a way for us to speak to each other across the miles."
Beer Joint
by Janice Rothganger
Mike won't go to the beer joint tonight. He won't don his faded-to-perfection Levi's, his gray t-shirt, or his bad ass leather jacket. He won't order a draft, or bet ten bucks on a game of billiards, or eat stale popcorn while smoke rolls across the room. Mike won't do any of those things because beer doesn't exist.
There is no magical concoction of hops, rice, and malt crafted in breweries throughout the world. There is no thirst quencher of various shades of ale with the perfect head of foam at the top of its glass. Without beer, there can be no beer joint, no neighborhood tavern, no place for good folks to make the occasional bad decision.
So Mike won't wake up tomorrow with a hangover or bloodshot eyes. Instead he will wake up on time with a vague yearning for a buzzing feeling that he cannot quite put his finger on. He will spend his work day wishing for a shadowy dive with a jukebox in the corner, a regular patron stationed at the end of the bar, and a lonely gal looking for a dance partner. Mike pictures a bar-room brawl. Two drunks exchanging punches over some perceived slight.
"He stole my girl!" one guy claims.
"He cheats at pool!" the other retorts.
A few drops of blood on the floor only add to the ambiance.
Mike has to do something. If only he knew what something was. His galley kitchen becomes his laboratory. He pulls pots and pans and large metal spoons from their racks. He gathers hops and barley and water and….yeast. Yes, definitely yeast. He turns from blue-collar guy into mad scientist. Mixing and pouring and measuring. His jotted notes form his recipe. With any luck, tomorrow he will have a hangover.
A Hangover To Celebrate
by Rick Haynes
Trying to read my messages on social media is useless, yet I try. I know my hangover is partially to blame, but I really needed an evening out with friends last night, for after so many years of despair I had something to celebrate.
I can still recall that day, that day of days, when I stepped from my cosy world into something that I had never considered.
Finding an ideal partner on a dating website should be easy, and it was. Fill in personal details, state preferences, pay the fee and wait for the lovely ladies to contact. It didn't take long before the photos arrived complete with full details of their likes, dislikes and mostly their willingness to meet up.
Being over sixty can still be fun as long as others can be a part of your life. Conversely, loneliness can be an invidious killer, slowing eating away at your very soul and leaving your mind to wallow in self pity.
Doreen was as charming as she said she was in her profile. Ten years younger than me, her zest for life was matched with my own, and the good times returned for one lonely widower.
I knew that my sight had deteriorated over the years but I had been blasé, ignoring all the warning signs. Doreen soon put a stop to my indifference and before long I had visited the specialist. The news of cataracts in both eyes was both a blessing and a curse. I knew what was wrong, but due to budget cuts, would have to wait a long time for the first operation.
I can cope with my hangover though, for wasn't it last night that my wonderful Doreen told me, and my friends, that she would pay for my first operation?
by Karen Heslop
Stefanie gripped the phone in terror as her eyes darted around the dark street.
"911. What's your emergency?"
"I think I'm being followed."
"Where are you miss?"
"I don't know. I…the bus broke down and I decided to walk."
"Okay. Do you see any landmarks? Signs?"
"No…wait," she quickened her pace and strained to see the building a few metres away.
"Oh! It's a restaurant! It's Phil's. Thank God! I can wait for my friend there. Hello?"
Stefanie looked at her screen. The timer inched forward but the line had gone quiet.
"Must be a bad connection," Stefanie muttered before shrugging and ending the call.
The dispatcher listened to the buzz of the dial tone, afraid to move and disconnect the call on her end. Her coworker held the gun he had used on the other dispatchers before her face. The acrid smell of gunpowder burnt her nostrils as he moved closer. She had heard rumours that he was unstable.
"Ironic isn't it?" he remarked, "I wonder who dispatchers are supposed to call?"
Glenda closed her eyes. He pressed the small pistol to her forehead. The gun's muzzle was still warm. Bang.
A Good Deed
by Jack Koebnig
I can't be the only one who's thought about it. Surely I can't.
'You there!'
His voice as ever is broken and raspy. He sounds as though his words have evil serrated edges and have attacked his throat on the way to his mouth.
'Yes, Sir?'
'No day dreaming,' he barks and wipes rose tinted spittle from his cracked lips. 'Back to work!'
And I do.
I have no other choice … or do I?
Later that day … I want to say evening but since the People's Government seized power such concepts as morning, afternoon, evening and night have been abolished. It's now just work, work, work. There is no rest. No relaxation and no sleep. Sleep (and eating for that matter) has been replaced by a little purple pill.
Father and I, however, still cling to the old ways.
'Good evening, son. Come in.'
In his study we drink coffee and eat cake (baked in secret by mother).
We both know why I am here; it is the conclusion to a hard conversation which began three long months ago.
Once the coffee and cake are finished, he closes his huge hand over mine, stares deep into my eyes and nods.
On my way to my third shift of the day I think of mother and what she said as I stood by the study door: 'When they come for us, we'll go with proud hearts.'
Suicide is illegal. So proclaims the People's Government. A popular law made extremely unpopular by round the clock working. And if you're found guilty of taking your own life (and as a deterrent to others) your whole family is exterminated.
Thank you mother, father.
I turn up for work for the last time.
Heloise and Dixie
by Kelsey Dean
Heloise's alarm didn't wake her up for a full two minutes, because it sounded so faint and far away. When she finally opened her eyes, the reason was immediately apparent: it was floating on the other side of her room, tangled in her blanket. She blinked and wiggled her backside to scoot across the mattress and toward the clock. She stopped when she felt no resistance against her back, and groggily realized that she, too, was floating.
Heloise wasn't a morning person on the best of days; she was even more opposed to mornings when they started like this.
"Well screw you, gravity," she huffed. She looked around for a way to propel herself to the alarm and shut it up, and spotted her bedside lamp within arm's reach, still plugged into the socket. She yanked on it, hoping to pull herself close to the wall so she could kick off. Instead, the plug popped out and the cord floundered around like a flimsy piece of seaweed.
"Summer vacation, huh, gravity?" she said angrily. "Or are you off to flirt with the moon?"
She berated the absent force as she spun slowly around in the middle of her bedroom, flailing her arms and kicking furiously. It was even worse than trying to make progress in the bayou out back, where you had to wade and wallow if you wanted to get anywhere. She whipped her head around when she heard the click of the door opening.
"Good morning," her sister Dixie said cheerily, bare feet planted firmly on the ground in the hallway. Heliose's eyes bugged.
"Are you kidding me!"
"Remember yesterday, when you dropped those water balloons on my head after my voodoo lesson?" Dixie asked, smirking. Heloise deepened her scowl.
"Well, karma's a witch, isn't it?"
Control Freak
by Alex Z. Salinas
Joe Bodelo III, a man who hadn't so much as laid a disciplinary finger on his daughter since she was four years old, threw his fork in the direction of Joanne's head. He missed a foot to the right—on purpose, of course, the control of his once All-City pitching arm still intact. The fork banged against the kitchen drywall, spraying white powder on Joanne's dark hair. Her eyes widened, a look Joe had never seen before. Fear.
"Are you crazy?" his wife, Lisa, shouted.
"She's a murdering liar!" growled Joe, who would regret those words for the rest of his life.
Joanne fled from the kitchen past the living room and out of the house, the front door left wide open. Joe heard her cry-screams fade.
"You're incredible," Lisa snapped, teary, before running after Joanne.
What angered Joe was that she got away with things, always had. He loved Joanne as a father should, but had noticed when she turned two how cruel she could be to other children. She once slammed a rock into another boy's face at the park all because he playfully tapped her shoulder.
This time, her weapon was Facebook. And the kid on the receiving end didn't wind up with a facial abrasion; she was dead, her chunky teenage wrists slit with her mother's razor-blade in her parents' bathtub.
When the investigation started, Joanne had a chance to come clean about the cyber bullying, the fake account, but she lied, until the dinner table confession.
Disturbed neighbours would soon phone the police. Sirens would wail under the quiet suburban night sky.
Joe began to laugh. She had turned him into Dr. Frankenstein. It's pronounced Fronkensteen. But what really tickled Joe was a thought that suddenly entered his mind: Boy, can I still throw.


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A memorial jam for Smokin' Joe Kowis will be held this Sunday, October 19 at the Southgate House Revival, Newport, KY in the lounge. The show will start at 6pm and run until midnight.
For those wishing to jam, there will be complete backline there – PA, two guitar amps, bass amp, drums, keyboard and also a Hammond organ with Leslie speaker. So all you need to do is bring your instrument.
Come on out to pay tribute to Joe and his music, and to show your support for Joe and his family. Donations will be accepted to help with final expenses.
As this will be a loose jam kind of thing, there is no schedule of acts, but at press time, musicians Lance Boyd, Walt Grau, Jerry Hedge and Sonny Hill are expected to attend.
You can RSVP via Facebook at this page and also see who else is attending.
Many thanks to Morella Raleigh from the Southgate House Revival for opening up on a Sunday especially for this event.


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SYSY's has released brand new summertime dresses for the current round of ON9. These dresses come in 6 pastel colors in standard sizing, but work with the SLink & Maitreya mesh body alpha zones aswell. As always, at ON9 of every brand there's 1 color priced 20-50% off ;) You just gotta find which! ON9 will run for the rest of the month June.
Taxi to ON9!


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Sins of My Father (Pecados de mi padre) Trailer (2009)
Trailer for the documentary of Sins of My Father, which screened at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
Pablo Escobar, the most notorious and brutal drug lord in Colombia's history, was gunned down in Medellín in 1993. After his father's death, Juan Escobar fled to Buenos Aires, changed his name to Sebastián Marroquín, assuming a new identity to escape his father's dubious legacy. For the first time since Escobar's death, Marroquín comes forward to tell his father's story. With heartfelt honesty, he recounts what it was like to grow up loving a father that he knew was his country's number-one enemy. Unsatisfied with simply relating history, Marroquín requests a meeting with the sons of two celebrated Colombian political leaders who were among hundreds of victims that his father had killed in the 1980s.
2 min 19 sec
Posted On
December 17, 2009
Nicolas Entel
Nicolas Entel
HBO Films
January 22, 2009
Unknown or Not Available
No Music Available


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Availabilityselect month
Coach House CottageBooking Ref: Bude 44
Quick Summary
- Sleeps : 2
- Bedrooms : 1
- Pets : No Dogs
- Distance to beach : 2 miles
- Changeover day : Saturday
Coach House Cottage Description
Coach House Cottage, a lovely barn conversion situated in Morwenstow hamlet, near Kilkhampton, 5 miles from the beaches at Bude, North Cornwall. The cottage has been tastefully modernised during 2018 to provide higher standard and inviting accommodation. Duckpool seaside beauty spot and sandy beach at Coombe Valley 2 miles by road and also via a picturesque National Trust walk leading from the farm. Amidst beautiful countryside in a courtyard setting on a farm. Rear patio with seating. Farm gardens. Over 10 acres of woods to walk in. A character farm style setting but the actual farm buildings are a stroll away (dairy & beef farm). Approx a 5 minutes stroll to the farm's 2 ponds, 1 of which dates back to medieval times and earlier. One pond, approx 66 yards long, is stocked with coarse fish (with carp,golden rudd &tench). Tench and rudd up to 3lbs and carp up to 10lbs. Fun fishing (not for serious fishermen). The second pond, which was originally used as a carp pond by local monks back in the 12th century and is one of the oldest in the country (featured on a T.V. programme) has been set aside as a nature sanctuary, often hosting migratory birds such as ducks. What makes the ponds so attractive is that they are in a wooded setting, making a lovely venue for picnics, fishing,or just to enjoy the scenery. Ground floor accommodation only.
Prices Per Week2019: To May 25 £161, May 25 to June 1 £220 , June 1 to 22 £276, June 22 to July 13 £310 , July 13 to 27 £361, July 27 to Aug 3 £170 , Aug 3 to 10 £260, Aug 3 to 10 £330, Aug 10 to 17 £361, Aug 17 to 31 £271, Aug 31 onwards £167.
Click for more information: Coombe Valley Farm Walks And Fishing
Bedroom 1 has 1 double bed. En suite shower room with washbasin & toilet. Open plan lounge/kitchen/diner. T.V. (40 inch widescreen) & DVD. WI-FI Internet. Kitchen area has an electric cooker, microwave and fridge.
Cottage Facilities
WI-FI INTERNET. Cot. Linen inclusive. Central heating & electric inclusive.Also 1 electric fire.
Miscellaneous Information
Plenty of adjant off the road parking. No pets. WI-FI INTERNET.


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How VITY Works
Advertisers post campaigns and recruit Influencers to share their campaign -- likewise -- Influencers may select campaigns that they're recruited for and also apply for campaigns they would like to participate in. When a match is made, the terms are negotiated. Once the agreement is fulfilled, Advertisers input payment and Influencers are paid.
The Relationship
VITY provides Influencers and Advertisers access to each other for a variety of campaigns in multiple industries: fashion, fitness, health, entertainment, sports, beauty and many more... Influencers choose the campaign best suited for their audience.
They are not breaking the rules;
they are making up the rules as they go.
For Advertisers
VITY gives access to Influencers on core sites such as Vine, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube with other social platforms being added all the time. By taking a look at an Influencer's profile and their online personality, Advertisers can be assured that the Influencer has a following aligned with the campaign's target demographic. Here are just a few of the features:
For Influencers
VITY gives Influencers the opportunity to connect with your followers in new & exciting ways. By accessing the Advertiser profile and the Campaign details, the Influencer can choose from a variety of brands & businesses across multple industries. Here are just a few of the features:
Both Advertiser and Influencer benefit from the ease in which they can find each other by using the searchable database and online platform to communicate.
The Transaction > Escrow
Once a campaign relationship has been set up, the the transaction will go through an Escrow type process. This ensures the protection of both parties and allows timely and directed Campaigns, with no risk to the Advertiser or Influencer.
Getting Started
Setting up with VITY is easy and only takes a few quick steps. To get started register and DON'T FORGET to set up your profile. Then you're ready to go!
VITY is just getting started! Register now to be a part of this exciting new Marketplace! The more the better!


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|Morden Hall Park's Rocketeers
More excitement last week following the arrival of our very own A700 Rocket® composter! Imagine a compost bin with better looks and an attitude and you've got the Rocket Composter. Manufactured and installed by Tidy Planet, it is an impressive piece of kit that digests food waste, speedily turning it into usable compost in just two weeks. What's more, it actually looks like a rocket!
Gwen, Tidy Planet's master composter, was on hand to teach the new team of Rocketeers how to feed and take good care of the Rocket. It will be enjoying a tasty diet of fresh scraps and cooked leftover food (including meat and fish) from Morden Hall Park's Riverside Café, as well as garden waste treats from the park. And if it's really good we even might let it have some leftover ice cream from the ice cream parlour in the stable yard when it opens following the renovation work.
|Ian, our assistant gardener, feeding the Rocket


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This shower tile inlay job from Toronto Custom Concepts showcases a glass shower enclosure with stunning 24" x 12" porcelain wall tiles laid vertically.
We design & build home renovations/additions including custom kitchens, bathrooms, built-in wall-units, cabinetry, basements, wood carpentry, flooring, framing, drywall, painting, interior wall removal, general contracting and other renovation services. We cover Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Ancaster, Milton, Georgetown, Brampton, Caledon, Vaughan, and Richmond Hill


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Townhouses likely for Aurora site once earmarked for Metea
It could have been the site of Metea Valley High School if things had turned out differently, but now it's set to be transformed from dormant farmland into 171 new townhouses.
The land covers 25 acres at Commons Road south of 75th Street in Aurora, at the southwest corner of a 150-acre field at 75th Street and Route 59 known as the Brach-Brodie property.
Housing developer M/I Homes is likely to receive final approval from the city of Aurora next week to build the subdivision, called Gramercy Square. Aldermen gave it a preliminary green light Tuesday, saying the variety of traditional and modern townhouses will be a positive addition to the area.
"We've got bike paths, we've got a park as part of this," said Alderman Rick Mervine, whose 8th Ward includes the site. "It looks like it's very well oriented."
M/I Homes bought the 25-acre site from Indian Prairie Unit District 204 in January 2017 after the district decided to sell it in late 2016.
The sale, which closed April 26, concluded roughly 13 years of district ownership of the property.
Board members bought it in 2005 for $6.4 million, hoping to build a middle school. They later attempted to buy 55 more acres of the property from the heiresses to the Brach candy fortune, which would have allowed space for a third high school.
Plans to make 75th and Route 59 the site of Metea Valley High School fell through in September 2007, when legal proceedings to buy the extra acres determined the land would have cost $17 million more than anticipated.
So the district instead bought 84 acres from St. John AME Church and built Metea at 1801 N. Eola Road, just south of Diehl Road.
The school board tried to sell the 25 acres near 75th and Route 59 in 2010, but it found no buyer would meet its asking price. In late 2016, officials tried again to sell the land, setting a minimum price of $6.1 million but receiving even more -- $7 million -- from M/I Homes.
Matt Pagoria, vice president of land acquisition for M/I Homes, said the builder hopes to begin site work and construction in June, pending final city council approval.
The project includes extending Commons Drive further south, building a retention pond just north of Calvary Church and allowing a 1-acre site on the east side for the Fox Valley Park District.
M/I is set to pay $297,481 to the park district for future park development and $91,322 to District 204, to offset the cost of educating students who will live in Gramercy Square, according to city documents.
The developer estimates 347 people will live in Gramercy Square when it is complete, including 18 elementary students, eight junior high students and seven high schoolers.
District 204 officials say those students will attend Gombert Elementary School, Still Middle School and Waubonsie Valley High School.
With the land officially sold to M/I, District 204 plans to use the proceeds to pay debt and make improvements to some of its 33 schools.


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WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On Friday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a statement that he discussed the importance of the alliance and its defense spending with US President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump repeatedly said during his presidential campaign that Washington should review its relationships with NATO allies, which he insisted should pay more of the cost for having their security guaranteed by the United States.
"They [NATO] can't afford to try to take a hardline against Russian aggression if the United States is not there," American University School of International Service Dean James Goldgeier told Sputnik.
If alliance members believe the United States is not there to support them, Goldgeier said, NATO will have to rethink and change its relationship with Russia.
Trump's campaign rhetoric, Goldgeier claimed, represented more of a transactional approach to NATO wherein the United States would defend alliance members if they helped pay more of the expenses.
"It's really not what NATO is about. If that's the policy approach he takes, it is going to be devastating for the alliance," Goldgeier argued.
Goldgeier said he would not be surprised if Trump reverses many of the statements he made while campaigning but, even so, he needs to step up and make a firm declaration of support.
"The alliance cannot afford a lot of uncertainty about the US commitment," Goldgeier explained. "The uncertainty would just be damaging."
Harvard Kennedy School's former Rajawali Senior Fellow and the author of "Peaceful War" Patrick Mendis told Sputnik that NATO cannot sustain its mission without significant American leadership.
"We [the United States] need to maintain our policy, with some alternations, with NATO, primarily because NATO was an American creation for collective security to advance our national interests and American values in Europe and elsewhere," Mendis, a former NATO military professor, asserted.
However, as Trump has said, Mendis added, there are ways that NATO countries can share greater responsibilities, especially when it comes to budget-related concerns.
Trump and his advisors must embrace the country's founding values as a global nation and beacon of freedom in order to truly "Make America Great Again" or the United States will face negative consequences, Mendis warned.
"Not only Russia but also China would view America is flying low, with its wounds of a divided nation and failures of American democracy," Mendis concluded.
Earlier on Friday, Stoltenberg said he expected European NATO members and Canada to increase defense spending to 3 percent. Currently, only five NATO members, the United States, Greece, Estonia, Poland and the United Kingdom, spend the required 2 percent of their GDP on defense.
The views and opinions expressed in the article do not necessarily reflect those of Sputnik.


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Okay for those who have not seen it here is a link.
The shocking secret about foreigners dating Korean women or something.
Now when the blackface thing occurred I came off as somewhat of an apologist, suggesting that we can't view Korea with a moral lens acquired elsewhere, so some readers naturally thought I would defend this as well. While I probably won't be condemning it as strongly as other people have, I am still appalled by it.
Some would say that makes me a hypocrite, as they perceive me defending Koreans who are racist to blacks (which I did not do.) and being appalled by racism when whites are included.
There is a difference between the blackface incident and this one, however.
The blackface incident (which I still don't defend or condone in any way) was carried out by two comedians who likely didn't know what they were doing was offensive. The video above is attempting to present itself as serious news. Moreso than the content or aim of the piece, I am more appalled by the severe lack of journalistic integrity. Here's why:
1. All if the foreign people filmed are probably drunk and are being asked questions in such a way that they don't understand the purpose of the piece… Which is obviously pre determined before they got their sound byte.
2. The taxi couple may well have already known each other. They didn't bother interviewing them and their take on it (that seconds after their first meeting they are already engaging in skinship) can't be verified.
3. The girl that they call on the phone said what they asked her about isn't true. The narrator says she's not telling the truth. How do we know she isn't telling the truth?
4. The dude at the coffee shop is talking about a woman that might not even really exist.
It's one thing to make a bunch of racist claims and back them up with evidence, but these people can't even do that.
This isn't entertainment. It's supposed to be serious journalism that people trust. But it is terrible excuse for journalism and the editor ought to feel ashamed for letting it get through.
I also like the double standard of how Korea wants to portray itself to foreign people, but stuff like this slips through the cracks.
I want to see MBC respond to this in a responsible manner but I think it won't be. Too bad.


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Release Date: 1948
DVD Release Date: December 21st, 1999
Not Yet Rated |1 hr 39 minPlot Summary
In 19th century Spain, the beautiful and highly temperamental gypsy Carmen (Rita Hayworth) lures naive young soldier Don Jose (Glenn Ford) into a doomed romance. Completely infatuated with the mesmerizing woman, Don Jose deserts the army and is coerced by his lover into killing her husband. His life slides further into oblivion when he falls in with a gang of bandits, continuing his crime spree. Carmen continues to manipulate him, which results in a shocking and tragic conclusion.
Cast: Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, Ron Randell, Victor Jory, Luther Adler, Arnold Moss, Joseph Buloff, Margaret Wycherly
Director: Charles Vidor
Genres: Drama
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Keywords: Love, Spirited, Dark, Soldier, Fall, Melodramatic, Husband


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American Flag – USA Flag Images, Pictures – The federal holiday of the United States of America has commemorated annually on the month of May on the day of Monday. So, on this ongoing year, the lovely seasonal feast of Memorial Day is celebrated on Monday, May 27. The day extravagantly honors the brave countrymen and women of the United States who lost their lives for their nation's pride and liberty. Therefore, this year commence the grand celebration of Memorial Day by sharing these Memorial Day USA flag pictures, images and wallpaper with everyone.
USA Flag Images
The greatest festival of Memorial Day is celebrated throughout the powerful country of the United States with great fervor and zeal every year. With 2019's pleasurable event of Memorial Day is on its way, and thus to embark your commemoration, here we have rounded up series of awesome and cool Memorial Day USA Flag Images through which you can greet your closed ones. We have also collected a series of cute and stunning USA Flag Images 2019 & United States Flag Images as well.
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Also See: Memorial Day Crafts
USA Flag Pictures for Memorial Day
The celebration of Memorial Day is on the way and if you desperately want to make this precious occasion of Memorial Day extremely enjoyable and happening for everyone around you, then without wasting much time, just check out excellent collection of creative and colorful United States Flag Pictures that we have gathered below, particularly for your reference. Browse through our amazing collection and grab a lot of bright and charming USA Flag Pictures 2019 that you can send to your beloved ones and close companions. You can also share some of these Happy Memorial Day Quotes to your dear ones.
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Also See: Memorial Day Text Messages
American Flag Images & Pictures
Images and pictures are the perfect media through which we can express our heartfelt feelings and emotions towards our loved ones on any important festivity. With the special event of Memorial Day is approaching closer and closer, we have presented a wide spectrum of high-definition, glaring and superb American Flag Images and American Flag Pictures. You can share these innovative gatherings with your dearest ones and celebrate the joyous occasional fiesta of Memorial Day with lots of charm and galore.
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Also See: Funny Memorial Day Images Pictures
American Flag Wallpaper HD
On this year's Memorial Day, let's remember and acknowledge the valuable sacrifices of American veterans who fought for their nation's independence and pride and celebrate the day with fullest excitement and passion by sending this captivating and high-quality American Flag HD wallpapers which you can download on your mobile phones. In order to add an extra spice to your Memorial Day celebration, we have provided a bunch of mind-blowing and classy American Flag Wallpaper to beautify your personal gadgets.
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Hope you liked this collection on Memorial Day USA Flag Images. Drop your thought in the comment section below.
Also See: Free Memorial Day Clipart Png


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Health thru EducationTM
Recipes from Dr. Gloria's Kitchen
Gloria Gilbère, CDP, DA Hom, PhD, DSC, EcoErgonomist, Wholistic Rejuvenist, HTMA Practitioner
My recipes are created and tested in my institute kitchens both in the U.S. and our new teaching/health sciences/research facility high in the Andes of Ecuador, S.A. Our commitment to you continues to bring you the best natural health recipes while insuring they are packed with nutrition AND the ability to assist overall detoxi cation—the essence of Wholistic Rejuvenation.
This new series provides not only healthy recipes but also the health bene ts of each ingredient.
Dr. Gloria's New "Potatoes"—AND—They're NOT a Nightshade!
Spending time in Ecuador I've come to appreciate SO much that we in the U.S. take for granted. One speci c food I miss is
white sweet potatoes because they are not grown here, YET, but rather they grow several varieties of sweet potatoes that in the U.S. we often refer to as yams.
I have a new favorite I've discovered that taste to me just like sautéed hash browns (cubed or shredded) and they're delicious, healthy, and so satisfying...especially when we're avoiding the genre of nightshade foods that we know ignite in ammation.
The following is a real treat and you can nd green plantains in the U.S. as they are being discovered by Americans who have traveled to South America and other cultures where they are a diet staple.
Majado Verde (mashed green plantains)
The basics of this dish are green plantains cut in small cubes or shredded like hash brown potatoes. It includes onions, garlic, rosemary and thyme and can be topped with delicious additions listed below or your choice of herbs:
3–green plantains, peeled and cut in rounds or shredded (each plantain can be cut into 3–4 pieces)
1–2 tbsp. butter or coconut oil 1 white onion, diced
1 small red onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, crushed
1⁄4 tsp. nely chopped/crushed thyme
1⁄4 tsp. nely chopped/crushed rosemary Salt and pepper to taste
* When you get your plantain home, the rst steps in preparing them are as follows:
• Wash plantains
• Use a paring knife to cut off both the stem and tip
• Slice into the skin of the plantain lengthwise at the ridges (be
careful not to cut too deep)
• Remove strips of skin using the knife, like peeling a carrot
• Slice off any remaining peel attached to the pulp
• From there you can dice, chop, shred or use the plantain whole
Green Plantains—known as the brain-boosting and immune- building fruit.
The rst lesson in using plantains is to NOT confuse them with bananas, albeit they are close relatives. Both varieties have proven in studies to offer the above-mentioned health bene ts in addition to help regulate the digestive processes and are a dense potassium-rich food. Countries like Africa, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia grow and use plantains because of their delicious avor and for their jam-packed health bene ts. Plantains are starchier, yet contain less sugar than bananas, and are much more versatile for cooking. In Ecuador, high in the Andes mountains (8,000 ft.) where my research is based, speci cally, the growing season for plantains is year-around because of its eternal spring climate that averages 72 degrees. Plantain is a great nutrient-rich fruit that provides an abundance of vitamins and minerals and is an excellent substitute for rice or potatoes.
Nutritional Facts...One cup of raw plantain contains:
• 181 calories
• 47 grams carbohydrates
• 1.9 grams protein
• 0.5 grams fat
• 3.4 grams ber
• 27.2 milligrams vitamin C (45 percent DV) • 1,668 IU vitamin A (33 percent)
• 0.4 milligram vitamin B6 (22 percent)
• 739 milligrams potassium (21 percent)
• 55 milligrams magnesium (14 percent)
• 0.9 milligrams iron (5 percent)


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'Logan Lucky' is like the 'Ocean's 11' movies without the stylish class. Instead of having suave, smooth talkers, 'Logan Lucky' has a gaggle of crooked miscreants eternally up to no good. This may sound like a recipe for disaster but in the hands of director Steven Soderbergh, it works. It also helps that he was the person responsible for the 'Ocean's 11' movies with a welcome return to directing after several years away. He has lost none of story-telling flair with a loopy yarn giving the groovy Ocean's 11 crew a run for their money.
Jimmy (Channing Tatum), Mellie (Riley Keogh) and Clyde Logan (Adam Driver) are on a mission. Wanting to divest themselves of the family curse of having zero dollars, they plan the ultimate heist. Aiming to conduct a daring robbery during a popular motor race, they cobble a sure-fire path to endless cash. They are helped by several shady customers such as Joe (Daniel Craig) who is only too happy to assist. With special agent Grayson (Hilary Swank) arriving to track them down, the familial unit attempt to move things into high gear before disaster strikes.
Thanks to Soderbergh's accomplished direction, 'Logan Lucky' zips along nicely. Pacing is its main asset as the labyrinthine plot goes like clockwork. Like any good heist movie, 'Logan Lucky' is about the characters. On their own they are eccentric strangers, but together they provide a multitude of fun mayhem. Soderbergh's talent for making the ordinary seem extraordinary is effectively shown. Despite this events are grounded in authenticity as you see why the characters behave the way they do.
Like any good movie 'Logan Lucky' rests on the shoulders of great performers. Tatum, Craig, Driver and others give solid renditions of their desperately weird personas. Their strange ways make them unpredictable which in turn makes watching them more engaging. The chemistry between the actors is obvious and the strong screenplay, direction and action make for a beguiling mix.
'Logan Lucky' proves you don't need to look swish and smooth to conjure a cool heist movie. It has smooth coolness anyway with a top-notch script and cast successfully conveying the enjoyment factor through the screen. It's a welcome return for Soderbergh who hopefully doesn't leave it too long until his next enthusiastic big screen caper.
Movie Review Rating out of 10: 8
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
Agree with Patrick's Movie Review? Then please use the comment box.
Patrick Moore's Movie Review is an alternative look at movie releases in Australia.


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The Supreme Court saw clearly that our Constitution recognizes the fundamental human right to think and believe freely, and that government cannot penalize persons or organizations solely because of their religious beliefs. The Court rejected the fundamentally totalitarian idea that all private entities must be forced into harmony with the government's ideology.
The State has pursued its preferred policy to the point of expressly denying a qualified religious entity a public benefit solely because of its religious character. Under our precedents, that goes too far. The Department's policy violates the Free Exercise Clause.


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Customers who prioritise digital channels as a means of interacting have fairly strong preferences. Recent research has revealed that they want personalised, fast, intuitive customer service. And yet, those customers are also more likely to shift their business to other companies than older, loyal customers.
There are pros and cons to this for companies considering how to develop their communications strategies.
Here are some brief insights:
- 8 out of 10 customers prefer personalised service (an increase of 52% year-on-year)
- 2 out of 3 believe that online/mobile device service should be faster and more intuitive
- People who prefer human interaction with companies are more loyal – 58% are with the same providers after 3 years
- Digital customers switch companies – 49% are with the same providers after 3 years
- The need for humans – 80% of respondents prefer human customer service interactions to digital alternatives
- 83% believe that speaking to a customer service representative on the phone or in store will always be important.
- 9 out of 10 customers have concerns about security and data privacy, even as the need for personal service increases.
The customers who prefer digital channels (email, social media, chat) are younger as a demographic, and more likely to use digital channels for basic interactions, but they're still likely to revert to contacting a company by phone or heading in-store for more complicated transactions. Older customers generally prefer the phone or in-store transactions, also opting for the human element.


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Lynx Lodge promo 'not in keeping with our values'
Last week I exposed the fact that Woolworths was in bed with Lynx in a promotion based on female servitude and sexual objectification.
Today Woolworths has announced they've broken up.
Here's a letter the grocery corporation sent Collective Shout supporter Jade today:
"Thank you for your email to Woolworths concerning the recent Lynx Lodge marketing campaign. A number of customers have contacted us and expressed their concern about Woolworths' involvement in this promotion which was primarily focused on an associated competition to win dirt bikes.
We have reviewed this activity and agree that the nature of the overall Lynx Lodge promotion is not in keeping with Woolworths' values as a company. As a result we have spoken to the manufacturer and taken steps to remove the association between the Woolworths brand and the Lynx Lodge promotion. We sincerely apologise for any offence caused.
Kind regards,
Woolworths Supermarkets"
We are pleased Woolworths has responded to community concern including from customers and shareholders. We also hope they won't make the same mistake again.
But Lynx Still Stynx
Woolies might have done the right thing. But Lynx still stinks. That's why we've launched our new Lynx advertising parody on You Tube today. Please watch it and share!
Unilever Stynx Too
Parent-company Unilever continues to justify its anti-women behaviour with patronising and condescending cut-and-paste responses to the many who have complained.
Kath at Fat Heffalump has had enough of the P.R spin. She takes apart Unilever's response here.
Well, well, well. I got a response from Unilever regarding my complaint to them about their Lynx Lodge campaign. Brace yourselves for some of the worst correspondence to a customer complaint that you are likely to see: Read the entire post here.
Unilever's new product to 'wash away the skank'
Ms Magazine exposes a new Axe body wash called Snake Peel, to 'wash away the skank'. Lynx is the equivalent of Axe, which is the US brand name.
"I noticed a website address scribbled on the body of the man in the third storyboard. So I visited www.thefixers.com and found The Fixer Show, a faux-talk show made by Axe and dedicated, apparently, to advice for men. Each of The Fixer's five segments corresponds to a new Axe body wash. In the Snake Peel segment, I learned that "questionable hookups" whom you might wish to "scrub away" include: "the geriatric, the bedridden, the lazy eye, the girl that has way more muscles than you, which is sexy only until she has you pinned down and she's asking you to call her Frank …" And more! For three minutes! Thanks, Axe. You sure know how to make a girl feel special".
That's right, a man can use this Axe body wash to rid himself of any traces of sex with women who are sick and disabled (and skanks as well, apparently). Because who could possibly find these women attractive? They must be erased from the body and mind. I'd like to know what disability rights groups think of Unilever's degrading and demoralising depictions.
Sexism: alive and well in Australia, published last week by ABC Unleashed, is reprinted today on Online Opinion.
Collective Shout has had three wins in less than a week. It shows what's possible when individuals speak out. If you haven't done so already, please join Collective Shout and we will see even greater things. Also find us on Facebook.
Read this: Getting corporate giants to buckle by BodyMatters Australasia, documenting Collective Shout's recent victories.