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I have arrived safely back in Canada – at the beautiful home of my wonderful friends, Al and Jean Bair – we are all in shock realizing that the last time I was here was for some of the final games of the last World Cup (futbol mundial – soccer to the rest of you) three summers ago. Time is an amazing thing, especially when it races away from you. We now have four days to spend together – catching up on our Monteverde friends (where I met Al and Jean in 1995 when they had a house there) and our own busy lives and travels – these conversations will be augmented by Al's delicious food, lively political discussion and visiting family and friends. It is like coming home to one of the warmest and most enjoyable places I know of on the planet (and surrounded by bush – how happy am I?)
Last I wrote I was preparing for my Pendle Hill presentation in Philadelphia – in 90 degree weather, the sun blaring down, on that beautiful campus filled with lovely Quaker folks. I am still thanking Wolf's nephew Lloyd, the groundskeeper, for his invitation and warm welcome.
Instead of my usual power point presentation (actually, none of them are usual because they change each time), I told the story of Wolf, Monteverde and writing Walking with Wolf and read a couple passages while people ate lunch in the reading room and then we all talked. Afterward I sold and signed books and continued to have interesting conversations with a number of people, some of who knew Monteverde, many who didn't but were very interested as Quakers in that community. I also made some good contacts for future book presentations. All in all, it was a wonderful few hours of book business at Pendle Hill.
I then left Philadelphia and headed up the New Jersey Turnpike to Noo Yawk! There was a huge traffic back up for many miles heading south – I was very happy to be going north. I got to my friend Memo's in New Jersey just in time to meet a bunch of his very friendly neighbours (mostly Brazilian ex-pats) over grilled food and wine before we headed out to the gigs he had that Saturday night in the big city. His wife, Wendy, and his boys Sebastian and Estefan, continued on eating while we took off. I had told Memo that I needed to be headed over to the Bronx as early on Sunday morning as possible so getting home at an earlyish hour would be a good idea – HA! Musicians! Early is a relative thing…
Memo Madriza is a hot sax player I've known for probably fifteen years – he was a young guy when he came up to Monteverde with the earliest version of Sonsax, a high energy quartet of saxophones which then added a percussionist. I can remember these boys, guapos all, and how they not only played smoking music but became like superstars in the community, all the girls following them around. In 1999, Memo met and quickly married Wendy and moved to New York and Sonsax continued on playing, their members changing every couple of years – the last time I saw Memo was at the Montreal Jazz Festival in about 2002 or so when Sonsax played there.
Now he is in New York and plays with a variety of Cuban timba bands – and we got to see three of them that night. The first version was a six piece playing at a top dance academy right next door to Madison Square Garden. I've danced all my life but never taken dance classes and still wouldn't, though no doubt could learn lots about how to follow. I like to dance with strong leaders (you find them in Costa Rica) who know how to direct me and that I love. It was great watching the variety of dancers and listening to the cookin' band – there were two other rooms, one with a band playing east coast swing and another with western swing as well as a variety of dance performances. I danced with a few dancers but mostly with Memo when the band took a break. I actually almost ripped the arm off an older guy who had asked me to dance but he was obviously a little too soft for me (I told him I'm used to dancing with strong young Latinos who could stand up to the abuse – I don't think he appreciated the comment as he walked off holding his sore arm.)
When that gig was over, we were joined by the Cubana pianist, Ariacne Trujillo, whose addition to the night was her high energy and raucous laugh. We went on to the drom Lounge in the East Village of Manhatten where Memo played with the Carlos Boys Band – a very feisty Cubano band of two brothers with another female keyboardist playing all sorts of Cuban rhythms…and danced our little hearts out until about 3 a.m.
Jose, a friend of Memo's, a Costa Rican who works on a private yacht and had just arrived that evening in New York to get his visa for Morocco, joined us. So now I was surrounded by guapo Ticos and high energy Cubanos! What more could a Canadian girl ask for in Noo Yawk City!
When that gig ended, I'm thinking that, well, okay, if we leave now I can still be in bed by 4 and get a few hours of sleep. Of course for musicians, when the gig ends, the night just begins, so we now headed off, joined by the second Cubana pianist, to Oliva's, a little corner bar in Soho. Soho!!! Memo drove us around the city like a crazy taxi driver – I don't know how he doesn't have each corner of his car smashed in but I looked and there wasn't a mark. At 3 a.m. on an April night as steamy as mid-July, the streets were filled with partiers, the cabs were flying by, the cacophony of lights were flashing, and music blared everywhere.
I was spouting effusive thanks to Memo for how he was providing the perfect night in the Big Apple for this out-of-towner who has never been here before (except for a few hours changing trains in Penn Station a few years ago.) The only thing that would make it more special (besides that beautiful rasta Roberto being there with me or my friend Cocky who had hoped to join me but had to cancel) was actually bumping into someone I knew…a pie-in-the-sky dream but hey, I know alot of folks and couldn't help but think the thought. Whenever there are alot of people about, I always think I should know someone.
We walked into Oliva's and there is another Cuban band playing, this time sitting in the corner of this very tiny bar – the Danny Rojo band made up of another six Cubanos. Memo told me later that the music was kind of Cuban porn music (the lyrics anyway). There was a friendly little crowd sharing the small sweaty dancefloor. I looked at the band and noticed the guy in the corner playing the timba, hat on his shaved head, and realized that I knew the guy! When I asked Memo about him, he told me that his name was Marvin and he was from Cuba but had indeed lived in Costa Rica for a couple of years, playing with Ramses Araya. Ramses is very talented Tico percussionist now living in Los Angeles, who had studied in Cuba and had a salsa band, Timbaleo – well, Marvin, this musician I was recognizing, had been with Ramses in Monteverde several years ago, and I had indeed met him. Now that's a small world…
The music all night was super hot, the company extraordinarily friendly and the dancing satisfied my soul – and the Latin talk and rhythms kept my Cana-Tica soul satisfied as well. As I watched a clock up on a tower turn to 5 a.m., I was still standing but was starting to think that I really didn't mean to do this, stay out till dawn the morning of my book presentation. Memo then drove us over to a hole-in-the-wall famous joint called Joe's Pizza in the West Village – there was a testimonial by the actor Ben Affleck on the wall that this was his favorite pizza in the city – and Memo told me that he had sat in there when Leonard DiCapreo had been there late one night. The place was packed inside and out, and really had the best straight-up cheese pizza – and after about seven hours of dancing, we needed this energy in its simplest and most delicious form.
I finally crawled into my bed at ten minutes to six in the morning, thinking that I was going to be suffering later that day. I got about four hours sleep and as soon as the others heard me showering, knowing that I had to get going, they were up making gallo pinto (Costa Rica's famous breakfast rice and beans) and strong coffee and sent me off with a "mi casa es su casa" – and believe me, I'd go back in a heartbeat to New York!
I headed over to Marian Howard's, a resident of the Bronx and Monteverde, who taught at Bank Street College of Education in the Bronx. She had invited me to come and present the book at her house. So a small group of her friends, family and neighbours came – including Edna and Linda, two teachers who taught in the early 90s at the Monteverde Friends School who I had known but haven't seen since.
It was a beautiful summery day and we sat outside and ate Monteverde cheese that Wolf had provided for me when I left a month ago, drank wine and Imperial beer, Costa Rica's famous beer that Memo had provided me with cold out of his fridge that morning.
Marian and I managed to download Skype so that we could contact Wolf and Lucky who were at our friend Alan Master's home in Monteverde and we all visited through that miracle of modern technology. I gave a slide presentation and we had a lively discussion – it was a wonderful afternoon, sold a few books, ate tasty food, and speaking with Wolf and Lucky was the icing on the cake. And I was surprisingly energetic and lucid and happy – not bad for a fifty-year old who had been out hard-core dancing all night.
I send a huge thanks to Memo and Wendy and to Marian for their invitations and hospitality and support on the grand finale of my northeast US tour. I maybe sold enough books to balance the cost, maybe not, but I had a lot of fun (my mama and the Dalai Lama say..), met great people, finally made it to Pendle Hill in Philadelphia and, even crazier, Noo Yawk Noo Yawk! I had the best 36 hours possible in that big city, and I drove through it and found out that it really is quite doable. Nothing to be shy of…so I won't ever be again.
Yesterday I awoke refreshed after a good night's sleep, got in my trusty rental car and drove back to my homeland to spend this week visiting friends and enjoying the Canadian countryside before heading for the jungle of Cahuita in two weeks…but I did the urban jungle just fine, leaving a little of my shoe tread on some dancefloors and copies of Walking with Wolf on bookshelves. Ciao chicos!
It is a warm evening here in Philadelphia. Today the sun was shining brightly enough to raise the temperature up close to 80 degrees (or 25 Celsius) – I returned to wearing the shorts I had been living in down in Costa Rica. I find myself in the heartland of the Quakers, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, and it isn't just the air that is warm here. I've met a lot of friendly Friends over the last three days, kind-hearted souls with questioning minds.
When I left Maine on Tuesday, I stopped for the night at Carlos and Lidieth Guindon's in New Hampshire. Carlos is getting near the end of translating Walking with Wolf. It is very exciting. When he is done, his hard work will be passed on to an editor and we will be another big step closer to seeing Caminando con Wolf become a reality. The poor man is not exactly translating English to Spanish – he is translating Canadian and Alabamian to Costa Rican. Carlos is not a professional translator, just a very smart man with a big heart who wants to see his father's story made available to those Costa Ricans who don't read English. It was a very enjoyable evening, discussing details of the book and catching up on our lives. It was particularly great to see Lidieth, who I knew back in the nineties when they were still living in Monteverde but who I haven't seen in at least a decade. No matter where I go, when I run into Monteverde folk there is a strong connection, a common thread that binds us – our mutual love of that community and culture and remarkable natural landscape. And when they are Guindons, it is that much sweeter.
I left early in the morning from New Hampshire to get to Philadelphia for an evening talk. It was a very easy drive, right through New York City, on I-95, across the George Washington Bridge. The only bad traffic I ran into in eight hours of driving was the bottleneck that occurs on the east side of that bridge – there seems to be eight lanes of traffic on four different ramps all merging – it took me an hour to get onto and over the bridge, much of which I spent sitting beside this cemetary – not a particularly peaceful resting spot I'd say.
It gave me a chance to look around and snap pictures – I was sorry that I was moving too fast while on the bridge that I couldn't take a good shot of the Empire State Building that I could see in the distance along with the rest of the famous skyline. Now that I have passed through the Big Apple, I am not at all intimidated for when I return there this weekend – maybe I'll manage to get some good skyline pics this time.
I arrived mid-afternoon at my first Philadelphia stop, Westtown School. A Quaker school started in the late 1700s, this beautiful campus sits out on the west side of the Philadelphia area, incorporating some of the last farmland as part of its grounds – much in the area has been eaten up by development, apparently in just the last ten years – McMansionland, as someone called it appropriately.
Whitney, Quincy & Nora
My contact there was Whitney Suttel, a teacher who taught a few years ago at the Monteverde Friends School. She arranged a beautiful room for me to do my slide show and present the book – and a room in the Farmhouse, the overnight accommodation for Westtown. I was amazed at the size of the buildings of Westtown and the chimneys!
I'm not sure how many topped the high roof of the main building but they are so proud of their chimneys that they are spoken about in the school's literature. Westtown is just one of many Quaker schools in this area – I've heard of so many Friends' elementary, middle, high schools and colleges, I've lost count. There is no doubt that Philly must be the epicenter of earthQuakerism in the United States.
The talk was attended by a few students but being their free time, they were more tempted to be elsewhere. But each time I talk, there is always lots of enthusiasm by those who know Wolf and Monteverde and the others pick up on it. This was no exception – Whitney told her own stories of her experiences of walking with Wolf and there was also a student, Laura, who had lived with the Guindons when she did an exchange with Wolf's granddaughter Noelia last year. And the biology teacher who has taken a number of groups to Monteverde and stayed down at Eladio's in the Peñas Blancas valley – everyone has their own tales of their times spent with Wolf. There could easily be a second and third volume added to our original book, Walking with Wolf.
Early the next morning, I had to make my way into the Center City to Greene St. Friends School. The Spanish teacher, Sandra Rodriguez, had asked me to come and speak to the grade 7s and 8s – she goes to Costa Rica each year with the grade 7s – so all of these students had been in Monteverde. I started out from the bucolic countryside of Westtown, leaving in plenty of time and should have been able to arrive easily half an hour before I was to talk. However I ended up getting horribly lost, driving in the morning rush hour traffic, following cars up and down the wooded hill and valley roads, past the mansions and numerous academic institutions housed in big old stone buildings surrounded by big old hardwood trees. It would have all been lovely except for the fact that I was starting to think I would miss the whole class time and would be doing all this driving for nothing and leave Sandra very disappointed wondering where I was.
I finally drove past a corner store where I could ask directions and when I found out that I basically had to return to the point where I think I had gone wrong in the first place – by a different way, but still, miles backward it seemed – I was sure that I would never make the school in time. The traffic was thick everywhere and I was still not really sure how far I was and time was passing quickly. But just as I was truly feeling forlorn, I somehow miraculously came across one of the roads that I recognized as being where I was to turn to get to the school – and pulled into the parking lot with about 15 minutes to spare, enough time to set up the projector, get the power point in position, and wipe the sweat from my brow.
As it would happen, that was one of the nicest audiences I've talked to – maybe forty kids from diverse backgrounds, all who understood Quakerism, all who have been to Monteverde, many of whom have aspirations to write themselves. So when I finished my talk, there were lots of great questions and enthusiasm on the part of these young students. I always tell kids (well, anyone) that if I can write a book, anyone who can construct a good sentence and has a good story to tell surely can write their own book. It was a message that a lot of these kids seemed to want to hear.
When that was over I bravely faced downtown Philadelphia and headed to the University of Pennsylvania to drop off a book at the office of Dan Janzen, the famous biologist/conservationist who wrote the Natural History of Costa Rica. He has agreed to write a blurb for the back of the Spanish edition and I thought that dropping the book off at his office would be cheaper and easier than mailing one – ha! After driving up and down the busy streets then walking through the maze of university buildings for close to an hour trying to find his office, I once again questioned my reasoning.
I took the slow road out of the center of the city toward Pendle Hill, the Quaker spiritual and educational retreat. I have heard of this place from people in Monteverde but really didn't know what to expect. It is a beautiful collection of old stone buildings on grounds full of native trees, with the magnolia flowers just fading, the redbuds shining brightly, the daffodils nodding happily and the leaves starting to appear throughout the canopy.
I spoke last night at Swarthmore College – originally a Quaker college made up of more large stone buildings on beautiful grounds very close to Pendle Hill. Mark Wallace, another former visitor to Monteverde, had invited me. Unfortunately the crowd was super small – Mark and a student and Sybil, a woman I know from Monteverde but haven't seen in a few years. She was thrilled to come out and get a copy of the book and we all engaged in a great discussion about our experiences in Monteverde. It turned out that Mark and his children had been on the same hike that Whitney from Westtown had been on with Wolf, doing his crazy Tapir Trail in 2004, the year that he wasn't able to complete the trail. I made the connection when Mark started talking about how his daughter had seen a fer-de-lance while on that hike – and remembered that Whitney had told the same tale, of a young girl seeing a fer-de-lance. It is a small world – they don't know each other but had actually spent a few days in the wild and wooly cloud forest of Monteverde together and now work only miles apart from each other here in Philadelphia.
Here at Pendle Hill, Lloyd Guindon, Wolf's nephew, is the groundskeeper and today, under that sparkling sun, he took me on a tour – telling me the history of some of the trees – such as the Dawn Redwood, a native tree that completely disappeared in this area until some were found in China and brought back – they are meta-sequoias, similar to the California Redwoods but not the same, and were just leafing out like the Larch or Tamarack trees (as we call them in Canada) would be doing.
There is also the State Champion American Beech tree on this campus – I always remember the beech trees at our cottage and how the smooth yet wrinkled grey trunks looked like elephant legs – this big ol' tree was no exception. It is humungous – one has to wonder how much longer it can spread its big branches out but perhaps being recognized as the biggest in the state will keep it going for awhile longer. As do most of the staff here, Lloyd and his wife Robin and their children live in an old stone house on the campus. He is obviously and justifiably very proud of his work, taking care of this partially forested, partially meadowed land with a big organic vegetable garden and numerous flower beds, mostly filled with native plants and perennials.
At each meal I talk with some of the people studying and working here. There are several writers about and I find myself being the "published author" and sharing my own experiences – when did this happen? I often wonder to myself. When did I become someone who knows something about writing and publishing a book? I amaze myself – enough to think I can write another one.
Tonight I dined with Lauri Perlman, the director here at Pendle Hill. She explained some of the history of the place to me – how a small group of Quakers decided that they wanted to start this spiritual retreat as an alternative to Swarthmore College – and made the decision to go ahead back in 1929, four days after the big stock market crash that brought on the Depression. As she said, what a courageous move they made, and obviously a smart one as Pendle Hill is thriving eighty years later. She said that she uses that as an example when people are so concerned about going forward in these times of great economic worry – if that group of visionaries could stick with their plan to expand the small meeting at the time into something of this relevance and make it work during the Depression, then maybe we shouldn't be so worried about taking risks in these troubling times either. If you have a smart plan and work at it diligently, you just might find success despite the fears that rain down from the doomsayers that abound, in our neighbourhoods and in our media.
Tomorrow I will be reading from the book and hopefully having an interesting discussion with folks over the lunch hour. I'll then be set up to sell and sign books for a couple of hours in the bookstore. It is supposed to be getting close to 90 degrees – I'll no doubt be wishing I was swimming in the ocean. As soon as the work is done, I'll be getting back in my car and driving a couple hours north, back to New York City, to go hear my friend Memo play with a Cuban band in the city and do a book presentation on Sunday afternoon. I am very thankful to Lloyd, Mark, Sandra and Whitney, the folks who brought me here to beautiful Philadelphia. I leave with very warm memories of the Friends, their stone houses and the rich green life that flourishes around them.


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Cinema listings - Weston
PUBLISHED: 13:30 27 April 2006 | UPDATED: 09:12 24 May 2010
THE ODEON, THE CENTRE: Telephone 0871 22 44 007. An American Haunting (15): Daily 9.25am. Slither (15): Daily 2.15pm, 4.25pm, 6.35pm, 8.45pm. Take The Lead (12A): Fri-Wed 2.40pm, 6.45pm. Thurs 6.45pm. American Dreamz (12A): Fri-Wed 6.15pm, 8.35pm. Eight
THE ODEON, THE CENTRE: Telephone 0871 22 44 007.An American Haunting (15): Daily 9.25am.Slither (15): Daily 2.15pm, 4.25pm, 6.35pm, 8.45pm.Take The Lead (12A): Fri-Wed 2.40pm, 6.45pm. Thurs 6.45pm.American Dreamz (12A): Fri-Wed 6.15pm, 8.35pm.Eight Below (PG): Daily 1.45pm, 4pm.Scary Movie 4 (15): Fr-Wed 4.55pm, 9pm. Thurs 9pm.The Pink Panther (PG): Sat, Sun & Mon 12.05pm.Ice Age 2: The Meltdown (U): Fri & Tues-Thurs 2.45pm, 5pm, 7.45pm. Sat, Sun & Mon 12.30pm, 2.45pm, 5pm, 7.45pm.She's The Man (12A): Sat, Sun & Mon 12.30pm.Senior Screen: King Kong (12A): Thurs 11am.Senior Screen 2: Memoirs Of A Geisha (12A): Thurs 11am.Movie Mob: The Chronicles Of Narnia (PG), Chicken Little (U), Big Momma's House 2 (PG), The Little Polar Bear 2 (U): Sat 10am.

subset: commoncrawl


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How would you like to financially support Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA) without having to spend your hard-earned cash? You may be able to with a program called Dollars for Doers.
You may be asking, "What is Dollars for Doers?" Well, it and other programs like it are philanthropic programs offered by corporations. These programs provide monetary donations to non-profits when employees (and sometimes even retirees or spouses) volunteer. These grants are typically based on the number of hours the employee gives. Each company has different guidelines and specific requirements so be sure to check with your employer.
Here are some good examples. Aetna provides a $300 grant after an employee volunteers a minimum of 20 hours. Coinstar (owner of Redbox) also offers a great program; the company generously gives $15 an hour for your volunteer time and only asks for a minimum of 10 volunteer hours per calendar year. Some companies, including Kohl's, Verizon, and IBM, offer Team Grants for employees who donate their time as a group.
Forty percent of Fortune 500 companies and many other businesses offer some form of a volunteer grant program as a way to bolster their community involvement. With an average volunteer grant of $10-$15 per hour, these donations could add up quickly, especially considering CFPA had over 30,000 volunteer hours in 2014!
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ISRAEL – Lina Makhuli. She facially resembles actress Chloe Sevigny. Just like that actress, her beauty is of an unconventional sort that is typically not appreciated in pageant circles. She was generally solid throughout both rounds of the Presentation Show, but well, her face could be a sore sticking point for those who don't appreciate such features.
ITALY – Grazia Pinto. Welcome another member of the P.A.T.I.S. crew. It's an interesting note that her gown has the dangling shawl placed in front instead of the back of most other gowns that might feature the shawl. For her costume, she likewise draped her flag in front instead of the back as would have been expected–what's with her and frontal draping?
JAMAICA – Chantal Zaky. Jamaica has had its most successful placements in Las Vegas, with Kimberly Mais' 5th place finalist finish in 1991 and Yendi Phillips' 1st runner-up showing in 2010. Can Chantal join those two ladies and earn a lofty placement? Well, though she strikes a fierce presence onstage, her facial features have strong, sharp angles that may not be to most peoples' liking–she sometimes comes off as a drag version of Glee star Naya Rivera. Plus, take note in 1996 (the 2nd Vegas edition), Jamaica didn't make the cut (it placed 24th). So the Vegas success factor for this country may only work in every alternate edition–if it is held in Vegas again (for the 5th time), could it finally win?
JAPAN – Ayako Hara. She actually performed very well during the Presentation Show, as she displayed strong stage chops. She also has an appealing charm about her that we should take her into serious consideration–but most pageant fans and pundits are focused on three or four Southeast Asian ladies. She's also among the few ladies who did not cite Christmas in her video interview when asked about holiday traditions–she talked about the Obon festival held in August, instead. With a few exceptions, the Asian contingent made such a major impact, it's such a shame that it's likely the judges (and Trump & Company) would only allot very limited slots for this region.
KOREA – Sung-Hye Lee. I've seen prettier Koreans than her, and I found her long oval face a bit too angular for comfort, but we cannot deny she is good looking, and she has strong stage chops to boot. Such a wealth of treasures coming from this continent this year!
KOSOVO – Diana Avdiu. There are pageant fans and pundits who would regard her as a front-runner, and she earned a special award as Miss Photogenic (no longer voted online by the public). There is something rather retro about the vibe she exuded during the Presentation Show, and it later dawned on me she reminded me of Dame Diana Rigg during her Avengers heyday as the legendary Emma Peel. It makes me fantasize how this lady will look in a mod bodysuit–and I think she'll look hot in it! She performed at a high level onstage during both rounds of the Presentation Show, so I think she may not need to ask for a Trump Ticket to make the final cut.
LEBANON – Rina Chibany. She was trying to project a fierce expression at the Presentation Show that was why she was unsmiling during both rounds. She has a slender model's frame and patrician features (along with her statuesque stature) that could be highly appealing in some circles, but I don't know if such constituents were present in the judging panel (or even Trump & Co.). Still, she is a semifinalist possibility.
LITHUANIA – Greta Mikalauskytė. After 18 years of fits and false starts (yes, back in 1994 there was supposed to be a Lithuanian contestant in Manila but she was a no-show), Lithuania finally made its debut in this pageant. This girl could be regarded as a refreshing ingenue, but she is obviously not as polished and did not generate a stellar charisma like most of her counterparts. Still, it's a good start and hope to see this country continue its participation in subsequent editions.
MALAYSIA – Kimberly Leggett. I first was not bullish on her prospects of making the final cut–primarily for the fact that this pageant tends to expect the Asian delegates to look like native Asians, and this lady is Eurasian. But then, I saw the Vegas photos, I watched her video interview, and checked her performance during the Presentation Show, and she delivered at a stratified level all throughout. Though I will not label her a sure thing, I think it's about time to see this country make the final cut after a long 42 years–it will also be a vindication-of-sorts to compensate for the injustice committed against Deborah Henry last year. Will justice prevail this time, or will this country again be overlooked?
MAURITIUS – Ameeksha Dilchand. We have to give her credit that she's generally a polished delegate. But her angular features are not to the liking of most pageant fans and pundits (and likely the powers-that-be).
MEXICO – Karina Gonzalez. In all Vegas editions so far, this country proved to be the most successful, with two Miss Universe winners (1991 and 2010) and a 4th place finalist (1996). Though I was underwhelmed by her online interview (I had a difficulty discerning that she wanted to go to Italy if she learned the world would end, as it seemed she omitted the "I" sound for that country when I first listened to her, and wondered if she actually said something like Tel Aviv–turns out the "I" sound was just very quickly pronounced), she does have the qualities to sustain the high placement this country enjoyed in the previous Vegas editions. She does have the great looks, the trim whistlebait figure, and the stage chops to be guaranteed a finals slot, and obviously (as reflected in all Vegas editions) she can easily count on her very vocal countrymen to show up in the Planet Hollywood auditorium in droves to passionately cheer her on. Some pageant fans seem to note that it seems she is wearing a similar gown to what Ximena Navarrete wore back in 2010–I beg to differ: though they share the same color (red) and the fabric used is mostly shiny, Ximena's was a full satin gown with slit while Karina sported what is basically a red sequined swimsuit that is partially draped with a red skirt. Wonder if the Mexican crowd would propel her to a third Miss Universe crown, or will we see an alternate-Vegas-edition cycle (like Jamaica) where this country wins in every odd-numbered edition?
MONTENEGRO – Andrea Radonjic. Her performance is below par the other delegates–her face is relatively plain, her figure is not as buffed as most other ladies, her stage chops are just decent, and her black satin gown is just basically a mini-dress with train (a fashion pet peeve of mine).
NAMIBIA – Tsakana Nkandih. In another year, her striking African features would be appreciated as an exotic, unconventional treat. But even as she generally delivered a polished performance all throughout, she is only regarded this year as a worthwhile contender and nothing more.
NETHERLANDS – Nathalie Den Dekker. This lady's extensive prior pageant experiences and successes (like her Miss Tourism International 2010 win and her Miss World 2012 semifinals finish) servers her well here, as she came polished and prepared. Unlike the drowning effect of Honduras's evening gown, her pink mermaid hem number is just about the right scale that you don't think she's drowning in chiffon. She can sustain this country's semifinals finish from last year. I also have to note that I like the whimsical touch of her white-sequined-bodysuit-as-national-costume, with four star-shaped accessories that evoke windmills (and they actually spin like them!)
NEW ZEALAND – Talia Bennett. There are pageant fans and pundits who are hyping her to high heavens, stating that she's also among the front-runners. I have to say I am pleasantly surprised with her performance, and she did deliver the sort that should place her in serious contention for the finals.
All images courtesy of Miss Universe LP, LLLP unless otherwise indicated.
COMING UP: NICARAGUA to SOUTH AFRICA


text: Early Stem Classroom 633 Science/Habitat Center This one of a kind center allows you to create a garden, a butterfly house, ladybug habitat, or whatever science project you wish. A spacious learning environment for your entire classroom. In use, the center is 33"H. A 5" diameter screw-on cap provides easy access. Comes in sandstone, blue, or milk chocolate frame color, with a Mega-Tray, vent plug, and super plug. Remove the dome and turn the center into a Sand and Water Center. Easy to move on (4) 3" locking casters. 2 snap-on caddies are included. 21"W x 21"L x 33"H. Some assembly required. Please specify color: Sandstone, Blue, or Chocolate. Code Model Price 61750. S17824 ........................................ $498.25 Nature Shelf Watch and learn as plants grow! Our planting shelf provides an engaging way for children to learn how plants grow as they plant the seeds, water the soil and follow the evolution of plant life. For indoor use only. Comes with 14 small potting trays and 7 tubular flower holders. Ships partially assembled. Code Model Price 64190. WB2450 ...................................... $270.75 Stem Maker Station Allows classrooms to store all of their essential maker materials in one secure place and share a unit between classrooms. Also ideal for libraries where diverse creative activities are undertaken and space is limited. 6 outlet power strip available. Code Model Price 63306. Premium ...................................... $633.25 63307. Base ............................................. $515.00 63308. Power Strip ................................... $47.50 Deluxe Science Activity Table GREENGUARD® Gold certified. Deluxe six-sided table provides ample space for scientific exploration by utilizing magnetic marker boards, magnifiers, and mirrors. Red, or brown (BN) cubby tray included for storage. Constructed from 100% Plywood, and coated with our exclusive Tuff- Gloss UV finish. Fully rounded corners and edges for maximum safety. 20"H x 27"W x 30"D. Simple feet attachment required. Lifetime warranty. Made in the USA. Code Model Price 61749. WD-93021 .................................. $361.75 61754. WD-93021BN .............................. $369.75 Mobile Tablet Table No more worrying about your expensive tablets being dropped! You can now keep your tablets secure while children interact and learn with them. Legs come with casters and levelers. The openings are designed for tablets sized 91⁄2" x 71⁄3"– such as iPad2®, iPad3 ®, iPad4®P. Code Model Size Price 61752. 3395JCM-Single 27-38"H x 27"W x 211⁄2"D .................................................. $472.75 61753. 3396JCM-Dual 27-38"H x 42"W x 211⁄2"D .................................................. $528.00 STEAM Into Learning™ Carpet With STEAM Into Learning™, your students will be motivated to think, observe, explore, create and experiment throughout the day. Teach essential STEAM concepts and inspire discussions on creativity and innovation! Backing is made of Softflex®, while carpet fiber is 100% STAINMASTER® nylon. Made in the USA. Code Model Size Price 61671. 1956C 5' 4" x 7' 8" ............ $257.25 61672. 1956D 7' 8" x 10' 9" .......... $460.75 61673. 1956G 10' 9" x 13' x 2" ...... $886.25 Full STEAM Ahead™ Carpet Develop essential STEAM skills in the early childhood classroom with Full STEAM Ahead™. Introduce children to these important concepts while they engage in everyday play. Backing is made of Softflex®, while carpet fiber is 100% STAINMASTER® nylon. Made in the USA. Code Model Size Price 61668. 1948C 5' 4" x 7' 8" ............ $257.25 61669. 1948D 7' 8" x 10' 9" .......... $460.75 61670. 1948G 10' 9" x 13' x 2" ...... $886.25 Steam Carpet Collection Emphasize the STEAM areas of study in your classroom with these colorful carpets depicting icons from each discipline. The images presented on each carpet will peak students' curiosity and motivate them to investigate the areas of learning in addition to discovering others for themselves. Please specify item: Art, Engineering, Math, Science, or Technology. Code Model Size Price Code Model Size Price 67492. 1912C 5' 4" x 7' 8" Rectangle.................................. $257.25 67497. 1912GG 10' 9" x 13' 2" Oval .............................. $886.25 67493. 1912CC 5' 4" x 7' 8" Oval .......................................... $257.25 67498. 1912H 5' 4" Round .......................................... $201.75 67494. 1912D 7' 8" x 10' 9" Rectangle................................ $460.75 67499. 1912E 7' 7" Round .......................................... $460.75 67495. 1912DD 7' 8" x 10' 9" Oval ........................................ $460.75 67500. 1912XLE 13' 2" Round ........................................ $908.25 67496. 1912G 10' 9" x 13' 2" Rectangle.............................. $886.25


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Baseline Issue: Running from Second to Third
Excluding rundowns, when a runner is attempting to advance from one base to another, he has no restricted baseline until a tag attempt is made. If a runner anticipates an imminent tag attempt, he can legally divert his basepath. He does not need to stay in a direct line to the base. Once the tag attempt is made, the runner has a direct line to the base he is going to and has three feet in either direction of that line. With that in mind, let's look at the following play that occurred in the May 15, 2016 game between the Mets and Rockies in Colorado.


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(In the future, I will blog more about the progress of each painting in this series, but I have completely finished this painting already, so this is a post in retrospect.)
I love horses. I love to watch them, to ride them, to paint them. One of the things that always astounds me about these beautiful creatures is watching a trained horse with a child. This animal, with such a large body mass and strength even a grown man cannot contain, leans down for a hug from a five year old. When ridden, the creature is sensitive to even the softest of touches to its side or pull of the reins.
I love to see riders with their horses. The peace, the companionship, the ferocity of their friendship is so inspiring. So, I wanted to express that somehow in paintings, through 6 portraits. This is the first of those artworks, an oil painting.
My first order of business for this series was to select reference photos. I searched through hundreds on a database of photos (provided royalty-free for artists to use, since I don't have the equipment yet to take my own photos 🙁 ), and settled on 6. This is the first one I decided to work on. I loved the pride, the elegance in the horse's stance. He looks so peaceful, so prepared for whatever is to come, and I hoped to capture that in the painting. I knew immediately that this one would be done in oil. I wanted the rich, full colors with the body and depth that oils so wonderfully provide.
I sketched the basic outline in pencil, kinda sloppy, since it's more a guideline than a rule, and slapped down some color. The base coat and first block ins I did in acrylic, just to set the tone and get my base colors in.
Here I started laying down some darker colors, trying to get some more depth within the painting, some darks and lights to work with. Started on some details on the harness as well.
I was working with the above look for a while, but decided it was looking too flat and needed some more reds brought back in, so I covered the horse in red. I will often have a layer like this that isn't evident at all in the finished painting, but plays a huge part in the color decisions I make in continuing the piece.
This was my favorite stage of the painting, other than the completely finished work. I even debated leaving it looking like this, but only for a moment. I could not have done that with this particular painting, because I had an image in my mind of what I wanted it to look like, and if I'd stopped here, the painting would always have felt unfinished. I have thought perhaps I should delve into this style in the future.
Here, I am putting some more browns back in, working on the planes of the horse's face. As I paint, I clean my brushes off on the raw parts of the canvas. I don't know if it really has any effect on the finished work, but it's fun to look at as I paint.
This is in the final stages, maybe the last 1/4 of the painting process. To many it may look already finished, completed. However, it does not yet match my mental image, so it cannot be left here.
Now, it is finished in all its glorious beauty. The last splash of highlights on the forehead, the last whoosh of green on the trees, the last refined detail added. I am done.


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Computed tomography and multi-sensor core logger data for the Armstrong well, primarily Marcellus shale, described in Paronish, T.; Mackey, P.;...
Spreadsheet of CO2 Gas Injection Totals at Bell Creek Oil Field from May 2013-June 2018
Spreadsheet of Bell Creek Oil Field Oil and Gas Production from September 2017-June 2018
These data are the results from numerical simulations that explored the total capacity that is available for CO2 storage in the study area.
This submissions contains datasets and information relevant to work on the City of Wells geothermal project
Carbon dioxide (CO2) injection data and oil/gas/water production data for the Bell Creek oil field. CO2 injection began in the Bell Creek Field in...
CO2 Storage prospeCtive Resource Estimation Excel aNalysis (CO2-SCREEN) is a tool which was developed by the Department of Energy's National Energy...
As part of a 3-year project examining both saline (Task 2) and hydrocarbon (Task 3) reservoirs to better understand the storage coefficients of...
This database contains a host of adsorption isotherms for methane, carbon dioxide, and in some cases, nitrogen for various coal and shale basins...
Computed tomography scans and core log data obtained at the National Energy Technology Laboratory. Complimentary to 'Computed Tomography Scanning...
Core data and testing for the 05-06OW in Bell Creek - permeability, porosity, thin section, XRD/XRF.
Core Data and Testing for the 33-14R Well at Bell Creek
Core Data and Testing for the 56-14R Well at Bell Creek
Core Data and Testing for the USGS Wells in the Bell Creek oil field
Core Labs Analysis on 33-14R Well at Bell Creek
A sample of crude oil referred to as "Buttermilk" has been received from an oil company. The density of the Buttermilk has been experimentally...
Data from bench-scale experiments on the flow of CO2-rich aqueous through basalts with engineered fractures.
Medical CT scans, raw and processed core logging data (including XRF) and core images of the Dunham Pad A 4H well, obtained by Triana Energy, as...
As part of a multiyear project examining both saline formations and hydrocarbon reservoirs to better understand the storage coefficients of deep...
Density data for n-pentane. Temperature Range: 325K to 520K Pressure Range: 1.8 MPa to 275 MPa


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Home → Newsroom
Governor's Statement on Democrats Using Same Old Tactics
May 16, 2013
For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 16
Contact: Adrienne Bennett, Press Secretary (207) 287-2531
AUGUSTA – Governor Paul R. LePage released the following statement Thursday morning after learning about Democratic leadership's announcement to hold a news conference on tying welfare expansion to the hospital bill:
"It is disappointing the Democratic leadership is scheduling press conferences instead of scheduling a vote today on my plan to pay Maine's hospitals. There is no connection between paying an overdue bill left on my desk when I took office and increasing welfare. "Maine people are tired of politics; they want results.
"We need to pay the old debt so Maine can afford to sell the other bonds to create jobs and grow Maine's economy."


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It can sometimes be extremely hard in the very saturated world of blogging to find the inspiration and motivation to post. I'm talking posting content you genuinely love and can be proud of, without getting in that habit of posting just like everybody else. Now I'm not saying that my content is particularly groundbreaking of totally unique, but I like to think that every post has my unique spin to it, whether that's just through a little injection of 'me' or through my photography etc.
Sometimes when I'm feeling a bit down about my blog or lacking inspiration for my next post, I often turn to various books for new ideas and tips. That being said, I thought I'd share some of the books in which I enjoy reading for inspiration; whether that be for my posts themselves or just tips on how to better my blog and other aspects. It's nice to get a new perspective and read something that isn't just another person's blog.
Books You Should Read For Blogging Inspiration
Now, I'm aware that the books I enjoy reading may not be the same as what everyone else enjoys, but I've tried to include a bit of variety and something that covers every kind of inspiration/topic. If I'm in a fashion rut, there are books for that or if I'm looking for a bit of business-mind Girl Power motivation, there's something for that too. There's also a light-hearted option that isn't necessarily one to help that much, but it does give a little life perspective. So here goes…
Inspirational Women
Girl Boss, Sophia Amoruso
Sophia Amoruso is a straight-talking woman with the ultimate #GirlBoss attitude. Being the founder of Nasty Gal, she has her head fully screwed on and this book is basically full of tips and ways in which to become your own Boss. She shares her story and how she got to where she is now, as well as a few key points on how you can create your own 'empire' in a sense. This book isn't going to help to turn your blog into an overnight success, but it is a great read and her no nonsense approach is nice to see.
Not That Kind of Girl, Lena Dunham
This is the more light-hearted option I mentioned as it's less of a 'helpful' read and more focused on girl power and Lena Dunham's story. She shares pretty much everything about her life growing up and her most recent role in the TV series Girls. I enjoyed this read a lot, and would highly recommend it as a holiday book of choice as you'll be laughing out loud a lot. It does help though if you're struggling with 'finding yourself' and though funny, Lena does keep the advice flowing throughout each chapter.
Fashion Inspiration
Style, Lauren Conrad
This is the only book I've ever really taken notice of when it comes to style and fashion inspiration. As with her Beauty edition, this book is basically filled with tips, tricks and styling ideas for every season and occasion. I found this particularly helpful when it came to my outfit-style posts and putting together looks when I was really a serious lack of inspiration. This is a book you wouldn't really ever read cover-to-cover in series, and instead one I found myself picking up as and when I needed a little bit of inspiration.
Tips & Advice
She Means Business, Carrie Green
I bought this book on a whim as I had an Amazon voucher and it was only £3, but on reading a few chapters, it's actually proved to have some really helpful tips on things to do that can definitely be transferred to blogging. I've not actually heard of Carrie Green before, but the stories based of her career are a great read and really insightful. Serious aspiration goals.
How to be an Overnight Success, Maria Hatzistefanis
This book is written by the Founder and CEO of Rodial, so my initial thoughts were that it had to be good. The title describes it as becoming an 'overnight success' but we all know that isn't really a realistic expectation, and instead, it focuses more on making it in business and tips on how to be the best you possibly can be. I find this a super helpful read because blogging is essentially making your own business and brand and the tips MAria has are super insightful, especially coming from someone who's been there and got the brand to prove it! The design on the cover is also super fun and screams GirlBoss, so that's a win too.
I hope you enjoyed this post, I just thought I'd add some different content for a change. Let me know which books you read as a blogger?


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Reaching out to customers worldwide, all the way from India's Capital- Delhi, we are, Everest Corporation, a business entity that delivers Yellow Metal Hoop Earrings, Multi Colour Earrings and more. We started not long ago, yet managed to attain great acclamation in the markets we have served. It is because we have made our customers get the best experiences of a business deal through our product quality and benefiting attributes. Strong team is working with us, which may not be largest in number but sufficient enough to keep us distinct from every competitive entity. Our ambition is to become a firm which has a flawless track record, on which customers can blindly trust.
Key Facts of Everest Corporation
Key Facts of Everest Corporation
Nature of Business
Manufacturer, Exporter and Supplier
Year of Establishment
Company Branches
No. of Employees
No. of Engineers
No. of Designers
No. of Production Units
Monthly Production Capacity
5000 Pcs
Production Type
Warehousing Facility
Export Percentage
Export Turnover
INR 50 Lakhs
INR 25 Lakhs
Annual Turnover
INR 80 Lakhs
Niche Market
United States
Contact Us
Plot No.187-A, DDA MIG Flats, Rajouri Garden New Delhi Delhi India +918068215562
Phone :+918068215562


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John Abraham has been honoured with Pride of the Nation award for exploring the story behind India's former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination in Madras Cafe. The award was presented to the actor by Anti Terrorist Front's chairman M S Bitta.
The movie which revolves around the sensitive issues like the Sri Lankan civil war portrays John in the role of RAW agent. Despite the movie being banned in certain cities, Madras Cafe managed to break the clutter of commercial films and emerged as a hit.
And now being inspired by real life patriotic stories, John also has future plans to make a movie on Abdul Hamid who was awarded with the Param Vir Chakra for his courage during the 1965 Indo-Pak war.


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Cisco IP Telephony - Chapter 1: Introduction to Cisco IP Telephony (CIPT) Components
This book is a guide for configuration of an end-to-end Cisco AVVID IP Telephony solution and includes an authorized self-study guide.
Chapter 1: Introduction to Cisco IP Telephony (CIPT) Components
Author: David Lovell
Cisco IP Telephony is based on the successful CIPT training class taught by the author and other Cisco-certified training partners. This book provides networking professionals with the fundamentals to implement a Cisco AVVID IP Telephony solution that can be run over a data network, therefore reducing costs associated with running separate data and telephone networks. Cisco IP Telephony focuses on using Cisco CallManager and other IP telephony components connected in LANs and WANs. This book provides you with a foundation for working with Cisco IP Telephony products, specifically Cisco CallManager.Click here to view Chapter 1: Introduction to Cisco IP Telephony (CIPT) Components
Chapter 1 discusses Cisco IP Telephony (CIPT) components and the following topics: abbreviations, audience, prerequisites, information sources, Cisco AVVID and CIPT components.About the Publisher
Reproduced from the book Cisco IP Telephony. Copyright 2003, Cisco Systems, Inc. Reproduced by permission of Pearson Education, Inc., 800 East 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240. Written permission from Pearson Education, Inc. is required for all other uses. Visit www.ciscopress.com for a detailed description and to learn how to purchase this title. ISBN: 1587050501


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Vincent Hudson
Hi there! My name is coach Vincent. I was born and raised in Tampa Fl. and got into coaching shortly after high school after moving to Charlottesville VA. I began coaching as a backyard tumbling coach at a very young age, and got into coaching professionally later at 18. I've coached disciplined from trampolining, tumbling, All Star/ side line/high school cheer, Competitive Gymnastics under the USAG federation, and now i have returned to the cheer World as an All Star cheer coach. I have been coaching for 7 years professionally. I am very passionate about coaching because it gives me the opportunity to invest the seeds that may or may not have been seen into my own life as an athlete and individual. My athletes know that the work is worth it.


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A Message From Your Sky Nurse:
I have been an emergency room nurse for over 15 years. Staying healthy and avoiding illness is essential to my career as well as my family. The key to staying healthy is reducing exposure and keeping your immune system working for you. I have also been an avid traveler for many years and visited destinations all over the world. While doing so, I have used these principles when traveling on airplanes.
Being in the sky for any length of time takes it's toll on your body and mind, so doing what you can to reduce your exposure and keep your immune system strong is key. Recycled air, cabin and passenger noise, time changes, contaminated surfaces, and airborne infections are examples of increased stressors that are pervasive in our world of modern travel. Knowing how to deal with these stressors will keep you well and in a state of balance to enjoy your travels both during and after.
These are crucial, yet simple things you can do to stay healthy:
Sleep, sleep, sleep... More sleep helps you fight off the common cold and the flu.
Reduce cabin and passenger noise... Noise pollution affects sleep, eating habits, mood, concentration and body functions such as respiration and heart rate.
Don your mask to reduce airborne infections... If you are coughing or the person behind you is sneezing or coughing, put your mask on. There is no better way to protect yourself or those around you.
Surface wipe down... Wipe your tray table latch, table, and armrests. This is your best way to remove germs from previous flyers. This is now your living space.
Sanitize hands, again and again... Especially before eating. Keeping your hands clean is one of the best ways to prevent getting or spreading infection and illness.
Support your immune system with vitamins and fluids... Extra vitamin C and good hydration boost your immune system.
Airlines are formidable carriers of the common cold. A recent study says that colds may be more than 100 times more likely to be transmitted on a plane than during normal daily life on the ground, according to the Journal of Environmental Health Research.
Website designed and maintained by Ninth Street Design


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Invacare Divided Leg Sling XL
Product Overview
Invacare Divided Leg Sling XL
Invacare Divided Leg Sling XL
AllegroMedical.com presents The Invacare Divided Leg Sling XLPerfect for users who are totally or partially dependent non-weight bearing very heavy or have limited head control this sling can be used with the Invacare I-Lift Series Lifts and Invacare Reliant 450 600 Lifts.
- Large opening accommodates toileting
- Fully-padded fabric for a soft supportive surface
- Brushed lining helps prevent sliding and protects skin
- Polyester fabric can be used in wet or dry environments
- Sling is washable. See instructions on sling label
|Size: Extra Large
|Blue Blue Binding
|Overall Length:
Back Length: 43.2"
|Overall Width:
|450 lb
All specifications prices and product configurations are subject to change without notification. Accessories and seating products shown in the photographs are not necessarily included in the base price of wheelchair.
Please contact Allegro Medical customer service department at 1-800-861-3211 for questions on product specifications. Additional replacement parts available upon special order.
Place Your Order Here
Invacare Divided Leg Sling XL
Invacare Divided Leg Sling XL Reviews Summary
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Part Number(s): 774 576067 01
Mfg Part Number(s): R102
Scrip Part Number(s): 774 576067 01
Because our price on this item is lower than the manufacturer's suggested retail price, the manufacturer does not allow us to show you our price until you place the item in your shopping cart. Retailers like Allegro Medical have the legal right to sell products at prices we set. However, adding the item to your cart allows us to show you our lower price consistent with our promise of always offering you the lowest possible prices on the widest selection of medical supplies, medical equipment and life enhancing products.
Adding this item to your shopping cart won't require you to buy it. However, our prices do change. If you decide to purchase this item now you are guaranteed the price now displayed in your shopping cart. Complete your purchase by clicking on the "checkout" button or simply remove the product from your cart if you decide not to make your purchase at this time.


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In the Veeva 2017 Unified Clinical Operations Survey, it was revealed that there is an industrywide drive towards a unified clinical operating model, with more than half of respondents citing it will help with faster study execution and quality.
The research highlighted that there is at least one major challenge with clinical applications for most respondents, with the top two challenges revealed as integrating multiple applications and reporting across applications. On average, the companies surveyed were using four third-party developed applications, which potentially led to discrepancies in knowledge and reporting and time delays in trials.
It was shown in the report that companies have started moving towards unified operations by introducing newer, more advanced applications and platforms. A major shift in trial master file (TMF) management over the past four years was highlighted with nearly a third of respondents now using an advance eTMF application — double the proportion seen in 2014.
Moreover, companies stated that they anticipate an increase in clinical trial management systems (CTMS) investments by almost 15% each year until 2020, which is reported as being driven by rising demand for data and site collection solutions and the availability of next-generation CTMS applications. The majority of respondents (98%) specified that challenges with CTMS applications is limiting the ability to improve clinical operations.
"The industry's transition toward a unified clinical environment is being driven by its need to address the silos legacy systems have created," said Jennifer Goldsmith, senior vice-president of Veeva Vault. "Life sciences companies are taking steps to streamline their end-to-end processes and systems with modern applications so they can execute faster and improve visibility across their study portfolios."
This survey examines the life sciences progress toward a unified clinical environment by gathering the experiences and opinions of 300 clinical operations professionals from around the world. It examines the drivers, barriers and benefits of a unified clinical operating model and tracks the move to streamline clinical systems and processes.
In related news, Veeva announced the growing momentum it has seen for its unified clinical environment platform, the Veeva Vault CTMS, as customers drive towards a unified clinical operating model. Full results of the survey and the company's cloud based solutions will be discussed in detail during the DIA Annual event, currently taking place in Chicago.


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My first job in the sleep field was working in the Neurosciences Division of the Royal Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine (IAM). At the time (the early 1980s) the IAM had one of the best sleep laboratories in Europe and much of its research looked into jet-lag and shiftwork.
Jet-lag occurs because your body clock is unable to cope with the lengthening or shortening of the day that is involved when we travel across multiple time zones: our body rhythms become out of sync with local time. As a result, you may feel fully awake at odd hours, or very sleepy during important meetings. Your appetite may be affected and your mental and physical performance reduced.
Almost all travellers will suffer some of the effects of jet-lag. Unfortunately, the only real way of completely avoiding its effects is to go by sea, as it gives your body time to adapt to the changes in time-zone! As a rough rule of thumb, it will take about 1 day to recover for each time zone you cross: for example, it can take up to a week to get back to normal after a flight from New York to London.
The following advice may help reduce the effects of jet-lag.


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Beach Drive v.1.1 deployed
Hi. We make some changes to improve gameplay:
- Add fuel progress for cars, grab canisters on the beach to continue drive
- Deactivate test code for instantly get 2500 coins in shop :D
- Slightly decreased hitboxes size ...
- The car a little bit rotates in the direction of turn
- Some sprites reworked
- Rebalance drop of coins and fuel on the beach, also tune up cost of items in the shop
Have a nice day!
BeachDrive.zip Play in browser
Aug 18, 2017
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Ottawa – Canada's Capital City
No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.
~Lin Yutang
Last but not least, we have Ottawa, Canada's Capital City as the final city to profile from Samira's visit. I have called Ottawa my home for over two years now and really do find it a beautiful and nice city to live in. It is clean, well maintained and the people are friendly. Less than half of Samira's visit was spent in Ottawa, but it still topped her list as her favourite city visited.
The day her plane arrived, after we got her settled into our itty bitty apartment, she wanted to head straight to Parliament Hill. We parked at the Rideau Centre downtown and made the 5 minute walk over to Parliament Hill. Having not eaten yet, we stopped at a hot dog vendor across the street from Chateau Laurier. Samira, being the sport that she is, is always up for trying anything. So when she saw me piling on Relish and Sauerkraut she quickly followed suit even though she had never heard of either before.
The walk to Parliament Hill from the Rideau Centre also takes you right by the Rideau Canal, which unfortunately this time of year is mostly drained. The Rideau Canal is best known for it's transformation in Winter to the longest skating rink in the world.
Even on a cold day, Parliament Hill is always buzzing. Tours of the Parliament Buildings are completely free and last about 45 minutes.
Visits up the Peace Tower are free as well and self-guided. The Peace Tower offers up some lovely views of the Ottawa/Gatineau area.
We woke up the next morning and not long after breakfast Samira was running out onto the balcony to look at something she had never seen before. It was snowing! It wasn't cold enough for anything to gather and it only lasted about 20 minutes. But as she tried desperately to capture every snowflake on camera, I couldn't help but think that it was snowing just for her.
Stanley's Olde Maple Lane Farm is about a 30 minute drive from Ottawa (depending on where you are coming from). We made our way out there so Samira could take a peek at how Maple Syrup is made, but unfortunately because it wasn't sunny or warm enough, no sap was flowing. So although we saw some Maple trees tapped and learned about the process (completely free, no tickets required), there wasn't anything to actually see. So instead, we went on a horse and wagon ride ($4.25/person) and took in the beautiful farm.
With Samira's love for Maple Syrup, we couldn't leave without trying some taffy from the Taffy Shack. They pour the maple syrup on the snow (in this case, it would've been crushed ice) and as it starts to harden, they roll it up on a stick for you ($2.25/stick). Very delicious, but very sweet!
We also made our way to the National Art Gallery of Canada. Located on Sussex Drive in downtown Ottawa you will have to pay for parking if travelling by car. Count on about $8 or $10 depending on how long you stay. Admission to the gallery is $9.00/person and offers discounted rates for families, students and seniors.
Across the street from the National Art Gallery of Canada is the Notre-Dame Cathedral. The cathedral that was completed in 1846 is open daily and there is no admission to enter.
Hog's Back Park, just around the corner from our apartment is home to the manmade waterfall known as Hog's Back. Originally just a small set of rapids, Hog's Back Falls was created when the Rideau Canal was being created and a dam was required to divert water from Mooney's Bay. Today, Hog's Back Falls is the highlight of a park that people visit all year round.
The rest of our time in Ottawa was spent visiting friends and family and of course shopping! We explored Rideau Centre, Sally's Beauty Supply stores and a number of different outlets. Name brand American products are insanely expensive in Brazil, so Samira was stocking up, for herself and for her friends and family. For example, a Maybelline "Falsies" mascara that costs us about $6 or $7 would be at least $30 in Sao Paulo. In Canada a PS3 is between $250 and $300 depending on what bundle you want, and in Brazil, you can't get one for less then $1000. Completely insane! Needless to say, her bags were very full when I took her to the airport last night.
Samira, I hope you had as wonderful of a time in Canada, as we all did hosting you. Until we meet again my friend, abraços e beijos!
4 responses
I don't have words to thanks everything you did during my stay.
I hope we can meet again soon!
April 15, 2012 at 5:36 pm


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Published In 2016 : 1st. New Edition : Harper Publishing : Faint Face Rubbing : Otherwise, As New Throughout : Overall, A Very Nice Book :
'Superb, vintage Christie.' Sunday Express
Agatha Christie was born in Torquay in 1890 and became, quite simply, the best-selling novelist in history. Her books have sold over a billion copies in the English language and another billion in over 100 foreign languages. She is the author of 80 crime novels and short story collections, 19 plays, and six novels under the name of Mary Westmacott.


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Zimbel Press
:: Love Came Down at Christmas
for SATB Chorus, a cappella
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Love Came Down at Christmas
for SATB Chorus, a cappella
Composer: Cooman, Carson
Publication Type
: Choral Octavo
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"Love Came Down at Christmas" (2009) is a setting for unaccompanied SATB chorus of the familiar Christmas poem by Christina Rossetti. It was wirtten for the 100th Annual Christmas Carol Services of The Memorial Church at Harvard University.
Instrumentation: SATB Chorus, a cappella
Duration: 3'30"
Composed: 2009
Published by: Zimbel Press
Minimum order quantity: 8 copies. To order quantities fewer than 8, please call customer service at (973) 857-3440.
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Professional Upholstery Cleaning Company N16 Stamford Hill
It's been almost a ten years since we have started our Stamford Hill N16 sofa and upholstery cleaning business. Today, we offer professional services that can meet any individual customer's needs. You can have your luxury, synthetic or old furniture in top condition, too. Use our expert RA Sofa Clean company that come in a pack with all of these:
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- Special discounts for real estate agencies and landlords
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Control the hygiene in your residential and commercial property and preserve the fine style in every promise with our top-notched sofa and upholstery cleaning service. Get more detailed info about the procedure via this phone number 020 3746 5234! Call us at any convenient for you time. We are available for free consultations 24/7.
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We are famous for being bold enough to face any upholstery or sofa stain. We have a special formula for any spot: including red wine, grass, blood, mud, ink, urine, sweat, coffee, tea. We accept any sofa or upholstery type: chairs, divans, seats and dining chairs and many more. Our two main methods for secured and quick Stamford Hill N16 upholstery and sofa cleaning methods come in a combo with decent vacuuming, stain pre-treatment, quick-dry system application (if required) and Scotchgard protector (only upon request):
- We use the hot water extraction on all synthetic sofas. A tiny nozzle sprays hot water under high pressure onto the upholstery. The treated spot is simultaneously vacuumed. After that we'll extract about 95% of the moisture and with that all of the dirt will come out.
- Dry cleaning is especially designed method for cleaning sofas and upholstery that are very delicate or not water resistant, shrink, therefore powder and spray-like products are used. Dry Cleaning is used more for refreshing the fabric, but does not clean any stains.
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We are happy to present you our customer-oriented and skilled sofa and upholstery cleaning firm Stamford Hill N16. RA Sofa Clean has been out there for more than 10 years. During this time period we have succeeded to acquire the most effective cleaning methods. With time, we also been able to invest in modern and luxury machinery for deep and thorough sofa and upholstery cleaning method that requires nothing from a customer to provide us. We get everything and we guarantee you great final outcome.
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No stain can scare us and even the dirtiest or the oldest sofa is accepted by our first-class company. We can remove all types of spots, including oily or machinery oily spots, spots made of glue or paint after renovations and home redecoration, grass, red wine, blood, mud, ink and etc. Besides, our top rated Stamford Hill N16 upholstery and sofa cleaning company accepts all types of furniture: seats, stools, chairs, divans, sofas, dining chairs, decorative and antique upholstery and etc. We have the right formula for any sofa or upholstery material: linen, wool, silk, leather, suede, viscose, acryl.
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More Information from httprint on New CEO Marc Fors
Monday, February 24, 2003
Press release from the issuing companySAN FRANCISCO, CA, February 24, 2003 – (WTT reported this on Thursday. This is the press release with more information.) Respected 25-year printing industry executive Marc B. Fors, has been named president and CEO of httprint, a leading provider of e-procurement, management and sourcing solutions for major corporate purchasers of print. Now in its seventh year, the company was cited last year by Inc Magazine as one of America's fastest growing private companies. Mr. Fors comes to httprint with a record of achievement that includes piloting major printing enterprises to the billion-dollar performance strata, and leading several significant multi-plant turnarounds in the industry. Mr. Fors succeeds Mark Porter who will serve as chairman of the board. Commenting on Mr. Fors' appointment, Savio Tung, senior partner at Investcorp said, "Marc's experience brings a tremendous new executive leadership dimension to httprint. It's exactly what we want at this stage of httprint's development to ramp up our drive for continued strong growth and expansion into new markets. He has the vision and ideas you need to stay ahead in e-business and certainly the well proven ability to evaluate and implement the best of them." Looking ahead, Mr. Fors noted, "The last decade has seen tremendous changes in the print industry impacted by digital and web technologies. httprint has been on the firing line of those changes with unsurpassed software solutions for effective corporate print management on a global scale. I'm delighted to be at the helm of this exciting company. It's a great combination – deep print experience combined with robust software, all focused on the corporate buyer of print. Because of that combination, we stand apart and above our competitors who are either pure software players or have their roots in supplier-focused products." Mr. Fors launched his career as a printing industry executive and consultant in 1975 as a corporate internal auditor with R.R. Donnelley in Chicago. He quickly moved into sales and, over his 11 years with the company, advanced through several key sales executive posts, rising to vice president, magazine sales in New York. In 1986 he was recruited as executive vice president to a newly formed company with an aggressive acquisition agenda, Maxwell Graphics Inc., based in Greenwich, Connecticut. He directed the integration and operation of the sales and administration functions for 18 production facilities, rapidly building and training a sales organization that delivered a business volume topping $750 million, most in profitable, long-term contracts to major publishers and retailers. Following the sale and consolidation of Maxwell operations to Canada-based Quebecor Printing in 1989, Mr. Fors was named president of Quebecor Printing Sales Inc. He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer of Quebecor Printing (USA), assuming operational responsibility for all U.S. manufacturing and sales activities of 26 facilities and $950 million in revenue at that time. Following completion of Quebecor's IPO, in 1992, he left to become a partner in The Collins Group, a Boston-based private investment firm. In 1993, he joined Group Transcontinental Ltd., leading the Canadian company's expansion into the U.S. market with the acquisition and turnaround of American Signature Graphics, a flagging $300 million printer of high-quality magazines and catalogs. As president and CEO of American Signature and its four facilities, he stabilized the company, brought it to profitability and implemented a strategy that positioned it to produce maximum shareholder value when he successfully concluded its sale to Quebecor Printing, Inc. in 1997. Mr. Fors was recruited in 1998 by American Business Products of Atlanta as CEO of BookCrafters Inc. to turn around and divest an under-performing book printing and distribution subsidiary in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In three months, he stemmed the losses and completed an operational turnaround of three facilities. Interest in the company led to the purchase by The Sheridan Group/Fleet Capital in May 1999. Following the acquisition, Sheridan retained Mr. Fors as CEO to form a new company in combination with their existing Braum-Brumfield book facilities. In his two years in that post, Sheridan Books earnings rose by $9 million and the company has emerged as one of the largest short-run distributors in the country.
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Tiger skins, antelope heads replete with antlers amongs others have for a long time been considered trophies worthy of drawing-room attention in the homes of
subcontinent big game hunters. Fishing however was a rare sport. The past few
decades have seen a rise in fishing by enthusiasts, firmly putting Pakistan on the map of big gamefishing in the world. The thrill of having hooked a fish once roves adrenaline surging for the many who do venture into this arena and they keep coming back for more. This has in turn resulted in burgeoning of industries most of which are located in Sialkot manufacturing fishing tackle, lead, sinkers, spoons, spinners, pliers, forceps and lines.
PGFA is the Pakistan Gamefishing Association located in Karachi. Its member anglers on the other hand belong to all areas and frequently visit diverse spots from Cape Monz in Karachi to Satpara lake in Skardu in search of fish. The association believes in conservation in heavily fished waters. The Pakistan Whale and Dolphin Group (PWDG) established by PGFA with WWF-Pakistan seeks to raise awareness about cetaceans in this regard. Anglers are encouraged to fish according to the international catch and release system, releasing after weighing and tagging, before the fish is exhausted. A weighstation facility has been provided at Mubarak Village in Karachi.
Pakistan boasts of a variety of both saltwater and freshwater gamefishes. Some better known salt water fishes include:
- Marlin: It belongs to the category of billfish such as swordfish and is found near Churna island from Septemeber to December.
- Barracuda is the only fish found all year round while others can be caught in particular seasons with Amberjack, Cobia and Pompano from August to October and Tuna, Shark Trevally and Shark being caught in other months.
Freshwater fishes include:
- Trout: The Northern areas of Pakistan, especially Naran, Ghizar, Shandur pass, Phander lake, and Chitral are the prime spots for trout. A trout hatchery is located at Chitral which charges Rs 70 – 80 per catch. May to October are the best months for catching trout.
- Carps and Catfish: Chashma barrage in Mianwali and Kinjhar Lake in Sindh are good spots.
- Mahseer: Tarbela dam in Rawalpindi boasts of this fish mostly from September to November.
- Others include the Great Snakehead, Clown Knifefish and various Tilapia found at various locations along the river Indus.
Various fishing techniques are used by anglers like:
- Fly Fishing: involves the usage of bits of feather or other artificial material as bait attached to the hook with a string while Dry fly fishing makes use of bait that will float on water. Both involve the angler usually standing in the water.
- Surf casting has the angler stand on the edge of the water and cast the hook.
- Trawling is recommended on lakes and big rivers.
- A 'Hora' or stationary boat is also useful among the mangroves and can be boarded from several points in Karachi such as Gharo, Rehri Goth, Ibrahim Hyderi village, Russian Beach, Marina, Club etc.


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Properties for sale in surrounding suburbs
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CommercialVIEW are one of Australia's most trusted commercial real estate groups comprising the most extensive listings of commercial properties. Look no further than CommercialVIEW when you're looking to invest your hard-earned dollars and reap the rewards. Our website is designed to give buyers and sellers an advantage on their hunt for the perfect property.
Make your dreams a reality and get started with CommercialVIEW now to move one step closer to running the business you've always imagined!


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A few Grace Church ministry leaders, a Grace Church elder, and several Grace Church families filled Courtroom # 6 at the Lancaster County Courthouse Thursday morning to witness the adoption proceedings for Jayden! Jayden has been living with the Weaver family as a foster child since his birth, but is now (officially) a part of the Weaver's forever family. Grace Church has a large number of families who have been called to the ministries of foster care and adoption, and we love to celebrate these families as they say "yes" to God's voice. Though building families is filled with joy and blessing, it also requires sacrifice. There are many who have counted the cost and agreed that it is totally worth it!
A highlight from the proceedings was when the judge asked the Weaver's daughter what she thought of her little brother (referring to Jayden). Her response: "He's pretty heavy"! Laughter filled the courtroom – not just in response to her joke, but in an overflow of joy for this beautiful family!
Not every family is called to foster or adopt, but Grace Church wants to support those who are in any way possible. If you have any questions about foster care or adoption, or desire to get connected to people who have been through the process, please contact Pastor Doug HERE. If you'd like to give to our special fund that helps families who are fostering and adopting you can mark gifts to Grace Church "adoption fund" at any time.
Please take a moment to thank God for the mosaic of forever families at Grace Church, and to pray that He will call each of us to tangibly serve the children of the world who need our help the most!


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- Overview
- Academics
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- People
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Banerjee Awarded 2010 Exxon-Mobil Solid State Chemistry Award
Sarbajit Banerjee, a former postdoc who worked with Prof. Irving Herman, was awarded the 2010 Exxon-Mobil Solid State Chemistry Award for young investigators by the American Chemical Society. The award recognizes young scientists who have made substantial contributions to the discipline of solid-state chemistry and have the potential to emerge as leaders in the field. Dr. Banerjee is currently an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Buffalo University-SUNY.
Posted:May 6 2010


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Thank goodness for our First Responders!I could hear them hunting in the back –about 1 km away. I know there are lots of trees and a bog between us, but it still spooks me.
Daisy and I were in the forest and a doe came running along towards us. She stopped in the meadow, then came back! It's both hunting season and the beginning of rutting season. Wildlife are on the move.
Who is in the forest? from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
Daisy and I were in the forest. We heard something running towards us!
The hunters are out there. You can see them at the side of the road in places. These guys were between Tweed and Westport. (It was a long day trip!) There was a carcass in the trailer.
1. Hunter shot himself in the leg: Peterborough County OPP
Incident took place Wednesday afternoon north of Havelock
|CTV News
2 b). Man shot while hunting south of Cambridge
Timmons man shot while hunting south of Cambridge ... According to theOntario Provincial Police, the man was shot in his right shoulder. ... Police continue to investigate the incident, and say it's possible that charges will be laid.


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Newport County 2 Hartlepool United 2 (3rd April 2015)
There's little like an hour and a quarter of multiple delays to a supposed two-hour trip down the M4 to put a dampener on my enthusiasm for, well, anything really. Add to that an over-officious steward telling me I couldn't take photographs without a permit – not just of the game, but of any of the ground – and four hours of rushing about to make kick-off didn't really feel justified.
My first ever Reading game had been against Newport – a 2-0 win in the 85/86 season. If I ever mention that to Reading fans over a certain age they start going on about what a great day that was, when 4000 Reading fans (1000 higher than the first home crowd of the season) went down to Somerton Park to see the 2-0 win that gave Reading the football league record for the most consecutive wins from the start of the season (12).
Sadly, the game I went to was a run of the mill home win later in the year, and I never got to go to Somerton Park, although I did see it from the train a few times. I never went to Spytty Park either, where they played for twelve years before the move to Rodney Parade, not being wildly keen on football in small athletics stadiums. The new place was somewhere I was keen to go as soon as I saw they'd moved in though.
It is rare for football clubs, in the UK at least, to move to a central venue, and my original plan had to get there at about 1 pm, have a look at Newport Castle, before having some lunch in the town centre. Not parking up until about 2.15 though, rather scuppered that plan. As it turned out, Newport Castle really ought to have been named "What's Left of Newport Castle" – not a lot as it turns out. I really had little time to do much else beyond walk beside Newport's incredibly muddy River Usk and cross back to Rodney Parade over the new footbridge.
Actually getting into the ground from there took something of a circuitous detour – a walk brightened up by finding myself walking behind a woman with a very nice bottom for a bit – until I found the entrance gate, a good 100m or so way past the end of the stadium. This led to a large courtyard area, grassed in the middle, with random assorted clubhouse type buildings around the edge. Newport County do, after all, share Rodney Parade with both the Newport Gwent Dragons Pro 12 rugby club, as well as Newport RFC of the Welsh League.
The rugby origins of this ground meant that when county moved in, the ground only had permanent spectator accommodation down the touchlines. There are now temporary open seats at one end, and a new terrace, sadly also open, at the other. Even allowing for the extra space behind the goal common in rugby grounds, it's hard to see why this terrace is located a full 25 yards beyond the goal line, although at least it does mean there's room for future expansion.
Similarly quirky, in a positional sense, is the two tier Hazell Stand. A good old-fashioned stand with seats and a paddock of terracing at the front, this 80 yard stand is shifted to the south, with it filling the whole side down one half, but ending about 20 yards into the other. Small 1950s style stubby floodlights perch on the roof, completing the old time feel of the stand.
No such problems on the other size, where a new 2500 stand fills the touchline, just about offering views of the more pointy and sticky-up bits of Newport's centre. The huge white supporting beams of the new footbridge loom into view from almost any angle though.
Unsurprisingly, despite being told by a steward in the ground that photography is banned without a permit, I still intended to take pictures. Beyond one steward at Dover, who for some reason decided that cameras should be banned "in case people start taking photos of children" I've never had any problems anywhere in the world, for any event. Even monolithic corporations like FIFA realise that unless the person is taking photos for commercial use, or is causing an obstruction, such rules are unenforceable, not to mention stupid. I don't think too many who've seen my photos would think they have much commercial value either. Pros don't generally have to worry about cropping out the back of the head of the guy sat in the row in front.
Equally unsurprisingly, given that the same steward was standing about 25 yards from where I was sat, I wasn't keen to push my luck either. It would be a day for sneaky photo taking, aided by a handily placed vomitory to obscure the steward's view. Even so, with another steward lurking in the tunnel of that same vomitory, it'd be a case of re-assessing risk as the game progressed.
On paper, with Newport fifth, and Hartlepool one above the drop zone in 22nd, it looked like it should have been a routine home win. With a Tranmere-supporting friend watching his team away at Stevenage, I was hoping I'd be able to text good news throughout the afternoon. For the opening part of the match, that looked likely. Newport certainly had more possession, and despite one or two wayward passes too many, looked to have much more of a threat.
That all changed a quarter of an hour in. With seemingly their first meaningful attack, a ball was cross in dangerously to the back of the six yard box. Newport's Lee Minshull showed admirable determination to get back to win the header. Less so for not really knowing what to do when he got there. Whatever he was planning, nodding it past his own keeper for the opening goal probably wasn't the plan. Odd acoustics of the new Bisley stand meant that despite 239 Hartlepool fans visibly celebrating at the far end, at this end the goal was greeted by silence, which seemed to just make it even more painfully embarrassing.
From there Hartlepool took over, running the show and looking dangerous on every attack. Newport, in contrast, didn't do much more than a few set-pieces, and a couple of firmly hit shots that were so high and wide that you wondered if the Newport forwards practiced by aiming at the sides of small cruise-liners.
It was no surprise when Hartlepool doubled their lead eight minutes before the break. A shot from the edge of the area hit the crossbar, bouncing high into the air. As it dropped, some pretty awful ball-watching allowed it to be nodded back towards goal, towards Hartlepool's debutant Jordan Hugill. Hugill had already annoyed the home fans for seeming to make a meal of a challenge a short while earlier. Bundling the ball in from point-blank range for 2-0 didn't exactly increase his popularity in this part of South Wales.
A minute before the break, Newport got a lifeline. A shot from the edge of the box was kept down for once, and it was drilled across the keeper into the far corner for 1-2. At least my half time text to my mate in Stevenage wouldn't be quite so grim now.
It got even more cheery early in the 2nd half. Another controlled low shot, this one from inside the box, also found its way into the far corner, leveling the scores and maybe even setting the scene for a home win.
That it didn't happen is through no fault of Newport in their efforts. It just wasn't to be. The closest they came was to force a great save from the Hartlepool keeper shortly before the end, and this entertaining game ended with a score that didn't really help or hinder either team in their respective quests.
Hartlepool fans will no doubt be disappointed to have blown a 2-0 lead, but would no doubt have had mixed feelings on the 5 hour+ journey home, because they could easily have lost.
For me, it was odd to think that despite the length of that trip, they'd get home before me. At least it wouldn't be due to stop-start traffic on the M4 this time, but because I had a second appointment of the day, up in Gloucester. From one 138 year old city centre rugby ground to a mere 124 year old one, only this time, it wouldn't be for football.