text:
Monthly Archives: February 2015
#euro #dollar effects from yesterday #eurogroup statements for #Greece
The #Eurogroup #statements for #Greece: No Flexibility only within current programme and targets as set in eurogroup 2012
by reading the documents you clearly notice the sharp contrast in principles. Wording differences do not matter, what matters is what stays always the same in the documents, which is the commitment to the current programme. Even the flexibility is within what the current programme permits.
All the rest for corruption and tax evasion are more than obvious and do not offer since are not bounded upon specific measures. But the most important is the huge difference in the conception of fiscal policies about labour, employment, privatisations and market liberalisation… upon which there is a huge gap. Its very dreamy for someone to believe that he can change European leaders perception on those issues. Documents are binding on eurogroup 2012 statements.
#Greek market discounts positively @yanisvaroufakis thesis, positive expectations for Monday
The opinion of John Coch. & Stiglitz On financing #greek #debt but #restructuring still an issue
The Grumpy Economist: Beware of Greeks Bearing Bonds
The Opinion of Stiglitz
Filed under Uncategorized
These experts the only thing they know is that they know nothing except volatility
This stochastic environment increase radically the need for monitoring and analysing the market since management cannot rely on point estimates but all options need to take into account stochastically. Companies which donot invest in monitoring and assessment as well as risk mgmt are like ships without a compass.
Bloomberg – These Experts Know Exactly Where Oil Prices Are Headed http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-06/these-experts-know-exactly-where-oil-prices-are-headed
1 billion€ will be the plus cost in case the total money needed from ELA vs ECB by $Greek Banks comes to 60b€
If the amount needed from #ELA BY the #Greek banks will be up to 60 b€ as referred below than the plus cost for Greece will be approximately up to 1 b€
Or an extra burden aproximately 250€ per worker in Greece.
Bloomberg – Greek Shares Heading for Best Week Since 2012 on Banks' Rebound http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-06/greek-shares-heading-for-best-week-since-2012-on-banks-rebound


text:
Login/Create Account
Check Out the new Remax App
Ask Me Anything
Residential Broker (20 year experience)Specialties:Buyer's AgentListing AgentRelocationInterior DesignMillennial AssistanceOver 55+About Paris Piersson,Tour-de-Force Property Advisor™ Contemporary Realtor® Embraces Client-First Philosophy Paris Piersson enthusiastically welcomes the tech savvy Millennial Generation, Sellers, Real Estate investors and well-connected first-time home buyers to a refreshing residential real estate experience. As a Seattle native with a pulse on Puget Sound's ever-changing market place, Paris uses her property marketing shrewdness, focused intelligence, sharp analytical mind and sterling reputation to anticipate new trends and create strategic plans for the future. Enfolding the latest technology, she provides quick and precise delivery of information while serving her client's wants and wishes. A driving force in the Greater Seattle and Puget Sound Real Estate market with a clientele base essentially built on repeat buyers, sellers and referrals, Paris is your passport to Greater Seattle luxury residential Real Estate.See client testimonials

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Aerobic respiration provides the energy required by all living organisms to function normally, as muscle movement and certain cell reactions are reliant on energy the transport of oxygen to the cells of tissues and organs by blood vessels is vital for respiration to occur. Oxygen is carried in red blood cells by the pigment haemoglobin, a globular protein consisting of four polypeptide chains. Both of these components of blood are structured specifically to carry out their functions of oxygen transport, hence ensuring efficient respiration.
Erythrocytes, or red blood cells, possess a unique structure that enables them to play their role in oxygen transport. They are small, at 7üm in diameter, compared to that of average animal cells (approximately 20üm). This allows them to be transported via the thin-walled capillaries, which have very small lumen of less than 8üm in diameter, carrying oxygen as close as possible to the respiring tissues.
Haemoglobin within the small red blood cell can exchange oxygen with the external environment quickly, as they are close to the plasma membrane; this again allows efficient diffusion of oxygen.
Red blood cells are described as biconcave discs, flat, with a dent in both sides. This shape defines the cell's large surface area to volume ratio, indicating that oxygen can be transferred quickly between the cell and its surroundings, as haemoglobin molecules are close to the cell plasma membrane.
Unlike general animal cells, erythrocytes lack nuclei, mitochondrion and endoplasmic reticulum, giving space more haemoglobin can be carried by the red blood cells with such a structure, hence increasing the number of oxygen molecules being transported. The structure of red blood cells maximizes the amount of oxygen carried in the blood and the rate at which they reach and diffuse into oxygen requiring cells.
Oxygen is combined with haemoglobin in red...


text:
Last modified: 4/9/2013
Last reviewed: 15/7/2014
HealthUnlocked uses cookies to provide basic functionality and to improve the performance and user experience throughout the site. We may also store encrypted information about you using cookies which we can access when you visit our site in future.
If you want to delete cookies that are already on your computer, please refer to the instructions for your particular system here: https://www.aboutcookies.org/default.aspx?page=1.
If you want to learn about how to control cookies, you can find instructions for your particular system here:https://www.aboutcookies.org/default.aspx?page=2.
HealthUnlocked requires cookies for the proper functioning of healthunlocked.com:
These are known as first party cookies and you can control them directly from your browser as described above. Please note: by disabling our cookies you will not be able to access certain areas or features of the site.
HealthUnlocked uses third party analytics services including Google Analytics to collect aggregated data to help us understand how our site is being used, and how we can improve based on these statistics. Because these are also first-party cookies, you can manage them in the same way as HealthUnlocked ones.
When you share information on the site with other social networks, their cookies will record that you have done so. If you would like to disable this, you need to disabled cookies from their sites.
Sometimes, YouTube videos are posted on the site. If you view these posts your preferences for YouTube are recorded and stored.


text:
After narrowly escaping from the Mos Eisley Space Port, the Millennium Falcon has come out of hyperspace only to discover the Empire has destroyed their destination, Princess Leia's home planet of Alderaan. A lone Imperial T.I.E. Fighter flees the scene and the heroes give chase towards "a small moon." Discovering they had taken the bait of an Imperial trap a moment too late, the Corellian Freighter is snared by the Death Star's tractor beam and forced to land in Bay 327 of the massive space station.
As a command is given for all outboard shields to be closed, the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader approaches the captured freighter. Dozens of Imperial Storm Troopers have surrounded the craft while technicians quickly run through the docking bay. As Vader nears the ship, Captain Khurgee descends from the Falcon prepared to give his report.
"There is no one on board sir. According to the log the crew abandoned ship right after take off. It must have been a decoy sir; several of the escape pods have been jettisoned."
Vader, who suspects the Princess has hidden stolen plans for the Death Star in a droid and the crew of this ship attempting to return them to her, asks Khurgee if any droids were found aboard the freighter.
"No sir. If there were any droids, they must also have jettisoned."
Vader is distracted as he gives Khurgee the order to have the ship checked—"I sense something. A presence I have not felt since…"
As Vader leaves the bay, Khurgee can be heard addressing the troops."Get a scanning crew in here on the double. I want every part of this ship checked."
Captain Khurgee was portrayed by Chicago native Chris Muncke. A science fiction fan since childhood, Muncke found himself in a prime location to act in major motion pictures after he and his first wife relocated to London.
"There was a group of 30-35 American and Canadian actors working in the UK in the '70's," Muncke explains. "There was a huge tax break to have movies made in the UK. Shepperton, Elstree and Pinewood were all major studios and there were masses of top-notch technicians and assistant directors. This was a big advantage for American studios, who came here to film instead of Hollywood. We had the locations and it was cheap."
Although major parts were cast in America, a certain percentage of parts had to be actors from UK. "There were loads of work-a-day parts for us. They would hire the same guys for all these movies. Tony Forrest was in everything, same with Rick Le Parmentier and John Morton, there was a pile of us. I was in loads of films as well.If you looked at the cast list of American films made in the UK during that time, you'll see many of the same names as credited actors."
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope has earned close to 800-million dollars and the seven films of the Saga (including The Clone Wars movie) have earned over four billion. Expectations were set much lower for Muncke when he was presented with the opportunity to work on the film.
"My agent was Jack Hunter with the Filmright's Agency in London. Filmright's is still around, but Jack passed away years ago. One day he asked me if I liked science fiction and told me he that (casting director) Irene Lamb wanted to see me for 'some little science fiction film that's going on'."
"I went along to see Irene; we'd been friends for ages," Muncke explains. "We talked about the film and she said that nothing was really going to happen with it, but it might be fun and I'd get to meet some people over at the Fox Studios. I went along to the 20th Century Fox Building in Soho Square and went up to George's office. He had a temporary office there—a long rectangular room with windows on one long side and on one short side there was a desk, just near the door. On the other walls, he had storyboards. I looked at them and asked him how big of a film was this going to be. He said 'Well actually it's about nine episodes'."
"Right near the door there was series of storyboards of this young guy who is working with these funny looking robots and the guy in the storyboard really looked a lot like me. I thought 'This is it now, I'm going to get a lead.' I mentioned it to George and he said sorry, they had already cast that part. We had a chat, then I went away."
"I got a call from Jack that Irene had rung and I got a part: one day's filming and costume fitting. S,o I went down and they measured me for everything. Second fitting was okay. When it was my day to shoot, they sent a car for me, which was really great, and took me to Elstree studios. If you get a chance to go to Elstree Empire Days in May (2012) do it—the studio is absolutely brilliant."
"I got my costume on. It was a nice looking costume and fit really well," Muncke continues. "(I) went to make-up and they trimmed my hair, but said they didn't need to cut it. I said 'Well, I'm supposed to be an officer…' and they told me that it was okay, because it was a totally different time altogether. I went into the set and it was an enormous sound stage...absolutely huge. I don't know if you've seen the still of the entire hangar bay with the Falcon and all the troopers there. It was really that big. The Falcon was big enough to get up into—you could actually go into the Falcon. It was great."
"There were a couple of guys there sitting in chairs and some people lounging around, and George was there doing some lighting. So, I sat down with these two guys. One guy was really, really short. He introduced himself as Kenny (Baker)."
On the topic of Kenny Baker, Muncke recalled a story he heard from Irene Lamb: "They made R2-D2 before they cast the part. They had to look around, and had a really hard time finding an actor, because by then human growth hormones had been used, so a lot of people with stunted growth were given the treatment and growing much taller than expected. They looked all over and finally found a guy from India, but after an hour in the can, he fainted. Lo and behold, they found Kenny and he just about fit and they squeezed him in."
The other gentleman sitting with Muncke on the docking bay set, who was extremely tall, introduced himself as David Prowse. "So here I am between two men: one three-foot tall and the other 6'9". We chatted, and for me, it was like a vertical tennis match."
"I hadn't seen the script, only my scene," Muncke explains. "David filled me in on some of it. George explained Vader's power, his position and the fear he commanded. He also explained the level of commitment he expected from his officers."
During a lull in the conversation, Muncke asked Prowse, the former World British Weight Lifting Champion and Mr. Universe runner up, if he worked out. "He very nicely filled me in on his career. We had a good laugh."
"We ran the scene a few times and went thru the moves. David was there and running lines with me. He was trying to make me laugh— it was just fun. We managed the scene a couple of times, then we did the long shot—that beautiful, beautiful long shot of the entire scene—and then close-ups again: a couple closes-ups of me, couple of two shots and basically that was it. George said 'Great, that's fine, thank you Chris, perhaps we'll see you again.' I was done by four, got my £100 and that was it. I went away happy, thinking that was fun. I'd been a science fiction fan since I was a kid."
Today the Star Wars franchise is arguably the most popular in the word, and certainly one of the most successful. It's easy to forget that a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, the outlook for the film's success was not so bright.
"After that I didn't hear anything about the film for about a year. I had been to see Irene a couple times and she said that (the) science fiction film is coming up soon. I asked her what the film was like."
"Its absolute crap from what I hear," Lamb told Muncke. "I'm trying to get my name taken off of the credits because I'm frightened it's going to bomb so badly" Lamb confessed. Muncke asked Lamb if that was true and she said it was: "Everybody who has seen the rough cut thinks it's just going to bomb terribly."
Lamb's take on the potential for Star Wars was not uncommon for those close to the production of the film. When it came time for cast and crew to preview the film expectations were quite low.
"They sent along invitations to one of the press showings. Now the main preview was being shown at Leicester Square Dominion Theatre.The cast, crew and press watched the preview at the Dominion Theatre on Tottenham Court Road," said Muncke
The packed theater was full of chatter before the film began. The dimming of the lights did nothing to quiet the large crowd. When John Williams' score suddenly filled the theater, the 3,000 people in attendance were immediately silenced, both literally and figuratively.
Muncke continues, "The music started and that stopped everyone in their tracks. Then the scroll ran and everyone thought 'Oh great, it's Flash Gordon, we all remember this one.' Then we read the scroll, then the pan, not down but up to the planet, absolutely wonderful! Then Leia's ship coming over and the blaster fire...and that bloody cruiser that kept coming...and coming...and coming...and by the time the whole cruiser was there and over Leia's ship, we were cheering and clapping."
"No one had seen anything like that before." Muncke recalled. "No one was making science fiction then. It wasn't until that film was made that people went back to making Sci-Fi. Even Star Trek had nothing on this! What Star Wars had was just fabulous characters and a really iconic story told by a really, really good film maker."
"The closest thing to that kind of science fiction film was 2001: Space Odyssey, but it was a different class of film," said Muncke. "They wanted everything to be matter of fact (in 2001), so you see the Pan Am shuttle to the moon.They wanted it to be normal. In Star Wars, everything was weird, nothing was normal. It was absolutely fantastic."
"By the time it was over we were all clapping and cheering and knew it was going to be a hit." Muncke enthuses. "When the film opened, 20th Century Fox's stock went up so quickly it was taken off the market for a weekend or so."
"Months later I went a party and a tall, slender dark-haired person said to me 'You don't remember me, do you? We sort of worked together for a day over at Elstree'," said Muncke I asked him which film and he said it was Star Wars. I apologized and told him it totally escapes me. "I was the gold robot, my name is Anthony Daniels." He was going around doing promotion, parties, et cetera,. and no one knew what he looked like. He had a bunch of red matchboxes that said "C3-PO Was Here," and he left them around at parties. I got to hand it to Anthony—he was in all six films, was one of the unsung heroes. People put Anthony down, because he was a little bit annoyed by that. Imagine, creating that character through six films with not getting very much recognition for it. It would be like the guy who did Gollum never working again. They're hidden behind the mask."
Initially, when Muncke and his first wife moved from the US to the UK, he was not allowed to work as an actor. He formed a theater company with actor Steven Berkoff, but also needed steady income until he obtained permanent residency. "By virtue of my (college) degree, which is in drama and zoology, they said I'd be a competent primary school teacher, "said Muncke. "So, I started teaching in '69 to '71, then given permanent residency and allowed to work as an actor officially."
"I made a reasonable living as an actor," he continues. "Then, I started a second family. We had two kids and another one on the way and we needed a steadier income. I stopped acting in 1990 and went back to teaching full time. Being an American teaching in an English primary school was great. I had the accent. I'm a bloke, not a woman. I had a lot of advantages as a teacher. I didn't have to fight for kids' attention, I just got it."
In addition to Star Wars, Muncke has acted in another popular movie franchise. In the James Bond film The Spy Who Love Me he played a weapons officer who helps Bond dismantle a Polaris Missile. "They used to play The Spy Who Loved Me during Christmas time in the UK," he said. "Kids would come back from break saying 'Oh Mr. Muncke, we saw you on television'. Eventually, they asked me if I was in any other movies, and I told them yes: Star Wars. I didn't have any photos, just this one little Topps card my son from my first marriage had literally gotten in a sweet (candy) thing and would show his friends: 'That's my dad! He was in Star Wars.' I carried that card around for ages. What would happen, because one of my classes found out that I was in Star Wars, they would pass it down to their brothers and sisters—and soon the whole school knew so for the twenty years I taught there everyone knew that I had been in Star Wars."
"From 1990 until 2002 I worked as a full time teacher," he said, "then I retired in 2002 and became a supply (substitute) teacher for a few years, then in 2006 I stopped. I couldn't do it anymore, my knee was (hurt) too bad and I couldn't get around. I couldn't physically give the kids what they needed anymore."
While waiting for permanent residency, teaching allowed Muncke to make ends meet. Teaching would also help him transition into the next chapter of his life.
"I had one child's mum ask me if I had thought about doing conventions and if she could give my number to a friend of hers, Muncke said. "I didn't know anything about the convention circuit at all, or about the world-wide fan family. That's what I call it, because it's like a big family."
"Four years later I got a call from Graham Miles, who works with Jason Joiner, a UK convention producer. Right out of the moon, he asked if I was Chris Muncke and if I was in Star Wars. He asked if I'd like to come to a convention in Coventry and sign autographs." Having never participated in a convention before, Muncke said he was interested and asked Miles how much it would cost him to attend the event.
"He told me I had it all wrong—they were going to pay me. I asked how much, and he told me £500! So, I went to the stadium in Coventry and I was absolutely gobsmacked! It wasn't a big even,t but lots of cosplay. I sat next to Kenny (Baker) who I hadn't seen since my day at Elstree. I had a wonderful day, they provided all the autographs and I signed my name. I didn't do a lot of business, but enough. Jason was happy. That was about three or four years ago."
"I've only done a dozen or so," Muncke said. "I did Fan Days in Dallas. By that time I had done a few here, one in Germany. It was a gas! Matthew Wood was next to me, everyone wanted him to do the Grievous voice. After awhile I said to him (in a mock Grievous voice): 'If you do that voice one more time, I'm going to slice you to bits!'."
I met Jeremy (Bulloch) for the first time in Dallas. He came up to me in the hotel lobby and introduced himself. I told him who I was and he said "I know—I know all about you. Come sit down and have a drink."
"These people are so nice," said Muncke. "They know you and you know them. It's like being in a play. When you're in a play, from the smallest part to the biggest part, you are a team. If you haven't met them before, but you were in the same film, television show or play, you shared an experience. One way or another you worked together. You're part of a company. You say, 'We've worked together. We've never actually met, but we worked together.' Actors are really a strange creature."
Muncke has a unique perspective from being part of two major franchises that have strong fandom and frequent conventions. "The events are pretty similar. I like the Bond events because they are very sophisticated, everyone is super knowledgeable about the films. They have real hard definite ideas about who they like and what they like. Not that Star Wars fans are not, they are more families. Bond is more "event-y" than Star Wars Celebrations. All Star Wars events are celebrations of one kind or another."
According to Muncke, the biggest difference between the Bond and Star Wars conventions is the attendees dressing up as characters from the films, often referred to as cosplay, aka "costume play." Cosplay is major business in the world of conventions. Several Star Wars-related costume groups are well represented at conventions worldwide, including The 501st Legion, The Rebel Legion and Mandalorian Mercs. Creating a costume can be very expensive and require countless hours to perfect.
"I love the cosplay, that they put so much time an effort and work so hard to get it just right. I had a dozen people bringing me pieces of cloth asking was the imperial costume like this, was it darker, was it smooth, was it shiny? I gave an Imperial order at CV that all Princess Leias' had to come see me at my table. They enjoy it so much and I enjoy seeing people have a good time."
"I did one show in Birmingham. The first day was absolutely great, but the second day a guy came up and was absolutely distraught, he left his armor in an area that was supposed to be locked up. Someone broke in. They didn't steal the whole costume, just one piece. It cost him £3000."
Each signature is unique to its owner, but Muncke, like many other actors, has added his own trademark. To each autograph he adds his phrase 'Live Forcefully'. "To be absolutely honest, I copied Dave's (Prowse) idea to include Capt. Khurgee, and then the 'Live Forcefully' just came out the end of my Sharpie at some point and I've just kept using it 'cause I can't think of anything else!"
"One of the things I do now, I make sure if there are kids and families come along, they cant afford to pay for an autograph, if they have £25 they're going spend it on somebody who is really well known. Instead of letting them go by I'll get them to come over I'll sign a little card. People tell me 'For God's sake stop giving away freebees'. I tell them I won't ever stop because you never know—today's kid is tomorrow's collector."
"I talked to Dave about this (signings and conventions) and he said 'This is my pension. I have my State pension, this is my Actor's pension.' And for him and a lot of us older actors, that's what it is. I have my state pension and my Teacher's pension. But the income that this brings to a lot of these guys really means life or death to them. It's their main source of income."
Muncke's biggest convention to date was Celebration V in Orlando, Florida. "I had a lot of fun. I have a badly arthritic knee and spent most of the time at my table. Everybody was so nice, absolutely brilliant, they look after you so well. I was absolutely delighted to be invited to CV. You meet people from all over the world. I am hoping that this year Hasbro would make a 12-inch Khurgee figure. At CV they took a lot of photographs and had me sign a release form. Who knows?"
Interacting with the fans who made Star Wars the phenomenon it is today is important to Muncke and something he genuinely enjoys. This was evident to me when I met him at Celebration V.
"I love meeting all the fans and seeing their reactions to the film. I'm absolutely impressed with groups like 501st. It was just this one little job I did thirty years ago and it allows me to be a really close part of it. I've had a great time. After CV, I was at Denny's with a huge crowd from the 501st, talking about the films and what it was like for them when they first saw it. I was in it in the 70's, they saw it in the 90's for the first time when they were 10 or 11."
Muncke became an Honorary Member of the 501st Legion on September 25, 2010. He was presented his membership plaque at Star Mania in Swansea, Wales by 501st member Magnus Mueller. The 501st Legion began the Honorary Membership program in 2001.
"I started the Honorary Member program as a way for us to show our favorite celebs how much they mean to us in the Legion." explains 501st Founder and Legion Adviser Albin Johnson. "The first Honorary Member awards were given to Star Wars authors Timothy Zahn, Michael Stackpole, and Aaron Allston at StellarCon in High Point, North Carolina. It was a big success. Since then the program has grown to include a vast array of people who have helped produce the movies, books, video games, and TV products. We've even extended it to Honorary Friends who didn't work directly on the films but have nonetheless demonstrated a love for Star Wars and a support of the 501st Legion."
"Magnus Mueller, a German fan, costumes as Captain Khurgee," explains Muncke. "Who would know? Why would he pick—out of all the characters—my little character? Mind you, Khurgee is Captain of the Line, the only captain in the entire six film Saga. That's all expanded universe. My character didn't have a name. 'An officer comes down.' That's all I was: 'an officer'."
Mueller explains why he became the official Captain Khurgee costume double. "I was five years old when I saw the movie with my father and Captain Khurgee was, for me, so impressive." Mueller, who also honored Alan Harris with Honorary Membership into the 501st last year, goes on to say "I love the secrecy and fantasy I see with characters like Khurgee or Bossk."
Muncke, who has been recovering from a serious fall late last year, is eager to get back to meeting Star Wars fans across the globe. "My fall forced me to cancel several appearances I had scheduled. I'm looking forward to getting back to doing conventions." Muncke went on to joke "I can picture people planning a convention and asking each other 'Can we get Chris Muncke? Is he still alive?"
Although he had yet to see The Phantom Menace in 3-D at the time of this interview, Muncke is hoping to make it his first 3-D movie. "I'm a big fan of the Original Trilogy. I think George Lucas did a fabulous job marrying the Prequel to Original Trilogy.The Prequel story is good, but as films, not as good. he story just builds beautifully from 4-6. I love watching the Prequels. Contrary to popular belief, I love Jar Jar Binks. I like the Original Trilogy best, and of them I have to say I like A New Hope the most. It's the one I'm in and also it just starts the story off beautifully."
In one day's work, thirty-five years ago, Muncke had a small role in one of the most loved films in the history of cinema. It was a film that has touched the lives of millions. In twenty years of teaching, he touched the lives of the school children of Hertfordshire, England. Chris Muncke has truly "Lived Forcefully."


text:
To have a beautiful body you do not have to exercise push harder or going to the gym twice a day. It all possible if you just be consistent for a couple of minutes every day. To being beautiful; maintain your body first.
Beauty goes through physical, that's what we notice first. So you have to take care of it: both your body and your face. Working out for just twenty minutes three times a week can work wonders on your body. The suggestion will be to join Yoga or gym so that you stay motivated by seeing other, make friends there so that you enjoy their company as well. But you must know that there are certain beauty criteria that are often common to all men. That is why you have to maintain your body. This will allow you to get closer to the beauty criteria held by many men but not only. By making efforts, you will feel more confident in yourself, you will find yourself more beautiful and it will feel in your attitude and will make your beauty shine.
The simplest and most effective way to maintain your body? The Yoga or Sports. Let less motivated and lazy get reassured: no need to become a professional athlete. Determine which area of your body you want to model: belly, thighs, arms? Then do adapted exercises. There are a lot of books and videos on youtube with suggested exercises, some even offer you a complete program that you must follow day after day. If you are new to Yoga, I suggest you visit youtube and search for it you will find plenty. Perfect for those who do not go alone. But for starters, do not set too high goals. And if you really want to shape your whole body at once, go jogging or swimming. In any case, whatever sport and exercises you choose, this must be accompanied by the most balanced diet possible.
Sport and balanced diet (and not diets, because opposing is the best way not to continue your good momentum) will allow you to reshape your body, to re-muscle. You will feel better in your body, will be more toned throughout your days.
Finally, only happiness. But there can be a setback to the medal, not always very beautiful if you do not pay attention. If your exercises allow you to lose weight, you need to maintain your skin to maintain its elasticity. For this, the best way is to hydrate it. Many creams exist on the market, you have only embarrassed the choice. Apply your cream with circular massage so that it penetrates your skin. Combine this with a scrub once a week and your skin will easily accept any changes in your body.


text:
Explore Our Hotel
Suburban Ghent hotel with excellent transport connections nearby, free WiFi and a brasserie
Holiday Inn Express® Gent hotel is close to the E17, E40 and R4 motorways. On-site parking is available for a fee, and drivers of electric vehicles can use the hotel's free charging station. For city centre connections, Gent Proeftuinstraat bus stop is just across the road, and Gent UZ tram stop is a 10-minute walk away. Gent-Sint-Pieters train station is seven minutes' drive away or five minutes by tram.
Stroll around the lively streets and river port in Ghent's historic centre, a short tram or bus ride away. Visit the picturesque medieval Gravensteen castle and Belfry of Ghent with its panoramic views. For football fans, Ghelamco Arena stadium is a few minutes' walk from the hotel.
Host events for up to 350 people in the hotel's 9 naturally lit meeting rooms. There's free WiFi throughout the building. Tech Lane Gent, home to Ablynx, Bayer, Chevron and VIB, is just a few minutes' drive away, and you can reach Flanders Expo convention centre in 10 minutes.
Welcoming guest rooms feature two queen beds ideal for kids, and a pillow menu for comfort. Wake up to the included continental Express Start Breakfast buffet. Socialise and network in the relaxed lobby bar, and enjoy delicious Belgian cuisine in Brasserie D-LYS.
- Black-out Shades
- Pillow Menu
- Rollaway Bed/Cot Available
- Crib Available
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Separate Hanging Closet
- In-Room Heating and A/C Controls
- Extra Bedding Available
- Asthma/Allergy Sensitive Features
Bathroom/Personal Care
- Private Bathroom
- Bathroom Amenities Available
- Hair Dryer
- Separate/Walk-in Shower
In-Room Features
- Mini Refrigerator
- Coffee Maker
- Tea Maker
- Flat-screen TV
- Work Desk with Lamp
- Desk-level Electrical Outlet
- Cable/Satellite
- Direct-dial Phone
- Power Converter Available
- Electrical Adapters Available
- Windows Open by Guest
Added Value
- Connecting Rooms Available
- Oversized Bath Towels
- Complimentary Coffee/Tea Supplies
- Breakfast Buffet Included
- Continental Breakfast Included
Hotel Restaurants
OPEN MON till THU. Brasserie D LYS is open from 5 pm till 11 pm. Dinner is served until 9.30pm. An ideal meeting point with free high speed WiFi. In the evening, the bar is the perfect spot to relax, chat and enjoy your favorite drink. The menu features creative seasonal cuisine and a wide range of beers and wines. Sports on a large screen. During weekends and on public holidays, drinks, light bites and pizza is available in the Lobby Bar.
Location: Ground Floor adjoining the Great Room
Serves: Dinner
Hours of Operation: : 5:00 pm-11:00 pm
Hotel Bars & Lounges
The Lobby bar is open every day from 8 am till 5 pm. On Friday, Saturday, Sunday, public holidays and other periods when the adjoining Brasserie D-LYS is closed, the Lobby Bar is open from 8 am till 10 pm. It offers a variety of Belgian beers, wines, and soft drinks, as well as light bites, salads, pizza, pasta and panini. Complimentary WiFi is available.
Location: Great Room
Hours of Operation: 8:00 am - 10:00 pm
Business Services
- 10 Meeting Room(s) Available
- On-Site Business Center
- Printer
- Copier
- Scanner
- Office supplies available
Internet Access
- Free High-Speed Internet in all Rooms
- Wireless Internet service is free for all IHG® Rewards Club members
Health & Fitness
Complimentary Fitness Center
Fitness Center Type: EXTENSIVE
- Elliptical Machines
- Free Weights
- Rower
- Stair Stepper
- Stationary Bicycle
- Treadmill
Last Renovation of Fitness Center Equipment: 2019
Housekeeping & Laundry
- Daily Housekeeping
- On-site Guest Self-Laundry Facilities
Added Value
- Wake Up Calls
- Foreign Currency Exchange
- Storage Space Available
- Ice Machine
Hotel Details
Akkerhage 2
Gent, 9000
Check In: 2:00 pm
Check Out: 12:00 pm
Check-in Age: 18
Parking + -
- Daily Parking: 19 EUR
Accessibility + -
- Public Entrance
- Guest Rooms
- Lifts
- Public Restrooms
Accessible Hotel Areas
- Ramp Access
- Communication Kits with Visual Alarms
Provided by Hotel
Pet Policy + -
- Guide Dogs Allowed
- Pet Walking Area On-site
- Service Animals only.
Facility + -
- Smoke-Free Facility
- Number of Floors: 5
- Total Number of Rooms: 126
- Number of Suites: 0
- Number of Non-Smoking Rooms: 120
- Number of Accessible Rooms: 2
- Connecting Rooms Available
- Public Spaces Renovated in: 2019
- Guest Rooms Renovated in: 2017
Languages + -
- Dutch
- English
- French
- German
- Italian
Credit Cards + -
- American Express
- Visa
- MasterCard
- China Union Pay


text:
In 1996 Emilio Botín, Chairman of Santander decided that the bank should be useful to the communities in which it operates. With the conviction that the University is a vital cornerstone of development and progress, Santander Universities began its activity in Spain.
As the division began to grow so did its global outreach; eventually expanding into more than 20 countries, including Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Portugal and the UK. So far, Santander Universities has donated over €1 billion in the shape of scholarships, mobility grants, support for special projects and academic and non-academic awards.
At a local level, Santander has a fantastic relationship with the University of Lincoln where they fund projects, scholarships, and graduate internship schemes. DBS's Amy Wallis joined the Lincolnshire online marketing company through the Santander scheme and she was invited to speak at the Santander contract renewal event.
During her presentation, Amy commented "The Santander internship scheme has been a great opportunity for me. It has allowed me to get my foot through the door of a successful company like DBS. I would recommend the Santander scheme to anyone. The commercial experience gained is invaluable."
Amy is pictured here with Senor Luis Botin of the Santander Universities Division.


text:
This past weekend, my husband, his family and I went to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. I'm not even sure where to start to describe my feelings on the experience. I floated between being extremely excited that a place such as this was created for public consumption and being overwhelmed by the amount of information that was there and by what I knew and didn't know.
We started off on the main floor where we were told that we would be transported about 70 feet underground on a glass elevator that was essentially serving as transporting visitors back in time to the 1400s. Through there you walk through many exhibits until you get to the 2000s and beyond. There was so much to read and study that there wasn't a dull moment throughout our 3-hour visit.
When you step off of the glass elevator you are brought into exhibits that tell the stories of the Middle Passage or the stories many Africans faced when they were captured and brought to the New World. After taking a journey through the Middle Passage exhibits, you end up in front of a wall that has the words "All Men Are Created Equal."
Through there visitors are able to see and read exhibits that are telling stories from the slavery, the Segregation Era and the Civil Rights Movement.
After that you make your way to modern times.
One of the exhibits that I regret not being able to see yet was Emmett Till. After getting teary eyed at one of his photos near the beginning of our museum tour, I knew I was not ready to see his original casket. That is also the exhibit in the museum that you are not allowed to take photos of out of respect for the Till family
The only downside about the museum was the crowds. Although we expected a lot of people to be there since the museum is still giving out timed-passes, it was still difficult to appreciate everything the museum had to offer. I definitely want to go back on another day that hopefully will have less people.
We did get an opportunity to eat in the cafeteria after visit the exhibits and enjoyed some southern cuisine. There were other stations included in the cafeteria including cuisines that were influenced by northern and western states and Caribbean nations.
Visiting the museum was the perfect Saturday afternoon activity and I can't wait to go back and take a more through look around the exhibits and to hopefully gain an even deeper understanding of this section of American history.


text:
Helium Shortage–Is The Party Over?
By Kim Robson Have you heard about the looming worldwide helium shortage? If you haven't, you're not alone. To refresh your high school chemistry, helium is an chemical element with the symbol "He" and atomic number 2. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, nontoxic, inert gas that heads the noble … Read More »


text:
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
6 Ways to $ave Money on Groceries!
With a family of 6, which consists of 2 adults and 4 sons (ages: almost 12,9,3 and 5 1/2) I gave you the age they'll be in a short few months because that half a year matters with a boy and his stomach!! My oldest 2 sons already eat like a man, I kid you not! From the look of their slender bodies, you would never guess they have insatiable appetites! God bless exercise! Anyway, I have a monthly grocery budget of only $500, on a high month, and only $300 on a very low month (if we have unexpected expenses). So needless to say that's not very much money for a family of 6! First and foremost I want to say that we eat healthy, but not over board. I still allow my kids to have sweet treats but the sweet treats are always homemade with a handful of ingredients that I can totally pronounce and they are not a daily occurrence. Their daily snack consists of fresh fruits or veggies. If that's what you model for your children and always have it readily available, trust me, that's what they will eat! I don't buy Little Debbie, Hostess, or any other "junkfood" treats. If I don't bring it into the house, then guess what? They don't eat it, enough said!
#1 Buy in Bulk: Yes, you've all heard this a million times before, but you really do save. I buy all my herbs and spices in bulk. This comes in handy when you're cooking a lot from "scratch", also I never buy those little Taco seasoning mixes anymore, I make my own. Also I only buy the big blocks of cheeses, I'm talking about the 5 lb blocks! You can cut it in half and freeze the rest if you don't think you'll use it in time. Buying block cheese will require you to do without those little expensive bags of already shredded cheese! It will take a few minutes of work, but the end result will be freshly shredded/grated cheese that not only tastes better, but doesn't have the chemical that is included in those little bags for anti-caking. The less chemicals in your body, the better! All you need is a hand held box grater. Many years ago my husband found one at Goodwill for $.50! I see them there all the time! It's a super cheap investment, plus you can grate lemon/orange zest using one of the sides too! Also good for bulk buying is sugar (white & brown), flour (if you make homemade breads), check your ingredients on store bought breads, it's hard to find one without high fructose corn syrup in it and a host of 20 ingredients, make it yourself with 5 ingredients!), also buy butter, eggs, frozen vegetables and so on....
#2 Cook from Scratch, aka... HOMEMADE: Stay with me here, I felt a lot of you gasp or roll your eyes at that statement. You're thinking, sure, it's easy for a Stay-at-home-Mom to cook from scratch, but I just don't have the time since I work, right? WRONG! It only takes an extra minute or two to make homemade cookies from scratch and put them in the oven as it does to take them out of the freezer and open the package of frozen cookie dough! If you don't believe me, time yourself! Not only are you going to pay double for pre-packaged,or frozen, convenience foods, your health will be paying the price also! Just look at the ingredients of a roll of cookie dough? How many ingredients can you not even pronounce? Or look at that frozen lasagna? Does it really take 20 ingredients to make a lasagna? It may take a few minutes longer to cook from scratch, but it's well worth it. I make pizza sauce in huge amounts and freeze the rest, also spaghetti sauce. When you make one lasagna, just do 2 and throw the other one in the freezer for later, now that's a tasty homemade dish! On your day off, bake up tons of waffles and pancakes and freeze them. No one wants to do work on your day off, but believe me, if you're a Mom, then, you never truly get a day off! You don't need to buy eggos, or frozen pancakes when homemade ones freeze beautifully! Start small, cook dinner a few times this week and see how you feel health wise and also from a financial aspect! You're not really cooking for your family, if your idea of a home-cooked meal is frozen pizza, or Manwich from a can! If you don't know where to begin, then I highly suggest allrecipes.com. It's an invaluable source of recipes for every stage of cooking expertise! I wasn't taught how to cook anything from my Mom, I had to learn it all on my own. Thank God for the internet and cookbooks! There's no excuse not to cook, but laziness! Believe me, we've all been guilty of that before! On days where I'm having my own pity party, I think why can't I just do a frozen pizza, when I make pizza, I have to make the sauce (if not already made), make the dough (super quick and easy!) and then shred the cheese. When the lazy monster attacks, the first thing I think is, boy that's a lot of work! Sounds like a lot of work, but it's really not. First off, the frozen pizza I had idealized in my head tastes disgusting, ewww! Not only is it horrible tasting, it's way expensive and there's no way just one would feed my family of 6! Take out/delivery would cost an arm and a leg, remember I'm feeding mini garbage disposals here, LOL! so not only is it more nutritious to home make meals, it's more filling, less expensive and you can get the kids in the kitchen to learn a valuable life skill!! Please teach your children to cook for themselves! I can not stress this enough!
#3 Buy what's on SALE that week:Each big grocery chain sends out a weekly sales paper, or you can view the sales ad on-line. This is what you need to plan your menus around. If chicken is on sale for $1.99 a pound, then guess what? Chicken's certainly going to be on my menu that week and more importantly chicken is going to be stock piled in my freezer for that amazing price! That's what you do, when you see an incredible price, you stock up on it for the future. Even $10 extra will get you several packs of chicken for you to freeze! Then the next time you want chicken, you won't go out and pay $3.99 a pound for it, you'll simply go to your freezer and get your sale chicken! This is how you save money. I'm stating this fact because I honestly did not know this when I first got married, well for many years after that too! If this post helps just one family, then it's very much worth the time it's taken to write it! Also each week fruit is on sale, that is the fruit that my kids will be eating that week! If it's blueberries, then they'll be eating blueberries! But what if they want apples instead? Well sorry, but we have fresh blueberries and that's what we have! Now I have frozen fruit in the freezer, so blueberries are available year round (bought at rock bottom prices). Apples keep for a couple of weeks in the fridge, so usually they always have 3 fruits to choose from. So this was just an example. Now if they really had a craving for a fruit then I would get it for them, but they are very satisfied because each week it's a different fruit on sale! Buy up fruits when they are super cheap, meaning whether on sale or in season (usually the cheapest), you can freeze bananas, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, grapes and more and just jerk them from the freezer and add some yogurt or milk, a little oatmeal, flax seed and a touch of honey and you have a healthy, nutritious smoothie!! Don't ever throw fruit away when you can freeze it and make yummy drinks!! You're kids will think you're a creative genius when you serve them this and all along it's so healthy for them and doesn't break the bank for fresh fruit (remember it was purchased on sale and frozen!)
#4 Use Coupons: Ah, the dreaded "C" word! Not sure why there's such a stigma with the word coupon, but if you have a dollar off coupon and use it on a product, it's like someone gave you a free dollar bill! Now who in their right mind would turn down a free dollar bill?? I wouldn't! But I do want to warn you, if you won't use the product, then it's not worth your money to buy it (unless you're giving it away or donating). Granted, there are much more coupons for "junky" processed products, but from time to time, you can score some really great deals on healthy foods. Also all of our childcare (diapers,wipes) and toiletries are bought at amazing cheap prices with coupons! Even the kids multi vitamins are bought for $2.50 a box when they're regularly $6.99! You just have to be a savvy and smart shopper. There's tons of blogs out there that teach you how to find the deals out there, or you can read about my couponing experience here.
#5 Make out a Menu Plan: The old saying is true, if you Fail to Plan, then you Plan to Fail! I can't tell you how many times I've thought oh I know what we're having for dinner this week so I won't bother making out a menu plan. Guess what? By 5 o'clock that night I was running around the kitchen panicking thinking what should I fix for dinner! No meat is thawed out (remember, the freezer is our friend!!) and I didn't prepare any bread/buns/rolls, you name it, I didn't do it! So now in my organizer I write down my weekly menu on the left side, on the right side I write down what we actually had that night. I like to look back and get ideas on our favorites. Then in the weekly section I write what I need to do, for example, Monday we had spaghetti, I had written on there to make some garlic breadsticks, and lay out the frozen chicken in the fridge for dinner tonight! Now some of you may be laughing thinking you can remember to do this, then good for you! with each kid they sucked out some of my memory brain cells (aks, mommy brain!), but that's works for me and it may help someone else out too :-)
#6 Buy Marked Down Items/Clearanced out:I'm very fortunate to live near a Kroger where they mark down items before the expiration date! At any given time you can walk into Kroger and come home with fresh produce marked down , Organic Milk, half and half, meats, the list goes on and on, but only on perishable stuff! When's the last time you saw a box of Twinkies on clearance?? Never! Because that stuff will outlast the nuclear bomb, LOL! I used to snub my nose at clearance meats (before I had 4 kids!), thinking there must be something wrong with it. How naive I was, or snobby, whatever you want to call it! I call it stupid! Buy that meat and take it home and if you don't use it that night, freeze it!! But the milk and make up a ton of homemade pudding with it, or buy that marked down buttermilk and make a ton of pancakes and freeze them! Buy those cartons of eggs and make up some quiches to freeze! Get creative! Always think of what you could do when you see marked down items!
So if you ask me if a Stay-at-home Mom works, I would shout an astounding YES!! I work hard and diligently to keep my variable expenses down and groceries are the number one area where everybody can cut costs!
Posted by Vicky at 1:58 PM
Labels: groceries, saving money
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Final Day!!
Oh man it's the last day and is it a DOOOOOOZY!
Item #1
Item #3
Item #4
Item #5
Item 1 A Cricut Expression from ProvoCraft
Item 2 A $50 GC to Memorable Seasons online store
Item 3 A prize pack from American Crafts with items from Dear Lizzy, Heat Wave and Letterbox.
Item 4 Tattered Angels new fall 2010 Glimmer mists: Sugar Maple, Apple, Pomegranate, Autumn Nights, Dragonfly and Granite
Item 5 SEI On The Coast Collection.
Today's prizes value over $700!!
As a thanks to all who donate to the site will be put in a drawing to win the above prizes. Please know that all monies go to the running of this site. Thank you!
8 comments:
- Anonymous said...
I made a donation not because of the fab prizes (which is a plus) but because the Scrap Review is so informative and has helped me over the years sooooooo much!! I always look forward to seeing what yummy info they have to share!! Let me tell you, Scrap Review has saved me a time or two with their wonderful info. Meaning I didn't buy something because it look pretty!! hehehhe But again, Scrap review is awesome putting it simply!! So keep up the fab reviews!!
- 6/11/2010
- Unknown said...
Love Scrap Review!
- 6/11/2010
- Anonymous said...
Love the contest! How do we enter?
- 6/11/2010
- CuddlyBunny said...
Like Angela above, I'm not giving because of the extra-bonus prizes.
Scrap Review has provided me with tons of useful information: My first stop here was when I was trying to figure out which best adhesive to use for a project on which I was working.
You guys came through AND made me feel better when one of the reviewers noted an appreciation for glue sticks which she felt might not be shared by other scrappers.
I'm here sister! Yay for glue sticks! There's at least two of us left using those things. :)
- 6/11/2010
- Anonymous said...
This is my first stop at Scrap Review. I found you via Write. Click. Scrapbook. Our school bought the Cricut Machine last year and we love it. It has helped create scrapbook pages for our students and many bulletin boards. Your resources are fantastic and I will be sharing with many of my friends this blog!
- 6/11/2010
- Casey Lu said...
Thanks for pulling my name and wanted to say Thanks for all the reviews of all the different products and tools. It is very valuable to know the hows, pros and cons to something. I was especially interested in the Yudu and thanks to your review waiting a while to buy that bad boy. May you raise enough money to keep on going, for a long time!!!
- 6/11/2010
- Anonymous said...
Great prizes!
- 6/11/2010
- Unknown said...
love the contest, great prizes, Whoo-hoo!!!!
thanks for taking the time most of all to help all of us out! :)
- 6/11/2010


text:
Girls, Girls, Girls: Three Reads All About the LadiesJuly 28, 2015
I'm not sure what it is about putting the word "girl" in a book title, but it's been all the rage for the last year or so. In June and July, I read no fewer than three that did so.
Of the three books featured here, only one of them was actually about a girl (read: a female child). One of the storylines fluctuated between a woman's pre-adolescent memories and her adult ones, and the third is about several women. When I hear or see the word "girl," I assume we're dealing with a child or young teenager. Regularly referring to women as girls conveys a casual lack of respect—how often do you hear grown men referred to as "boys"?—and it makes me sad when it leaks over into my cozy fiction bubble. I could go on for a bit about the prevalence of language that thoughtlessly infantilizes women, but I'm guessing you're here for the books.
Also, in light of this feminist rant, yes, I do realize that this post's graphic is bright pink and includes lip prints. I couldn't help myself.
Girl at War, by Sara NovićSara Nović's debut novel tells the story of Ana Jurić, a young girl caught in the crossfire of the Yugoslav Wars of the late twentieth century. The story jumps back and forth through time, beginning in 1991 at the start of the ethnic conflicts in Ana's hometown of Zagreb and carrying us to her present-day as a refugee attending college in New York City.
Adult Ana allows her Croatian accent to fade, all the better for avoiding awkward questions from curious Americans:
"Their musings about how and why people stayed in a country under such terrible conditions were what I hated most. I knew it was ignorance, not insight that prompted these questions. They asked because they hadn't smelled the air raid smoke or the scent of singed flesh on their own balconies; they couldn't fathom that such a dangerous place could still harbor all the feelings of home." - pg. 100, Girl at WarNović clearly did her research, piecing together a devastating portrait of life during the Balkan Wars from family and friends' stories, but what stood out most to me were the relationships she sketched: the way Ana and her father "thought in the same circles" (pg. 67) and comforted one another; the tug of war between Ana and her mother, who wished she were less of a tomboy; and Ana's tenderness with her sick, infant sister Rahela. I especially loved reading about Ana's childhood friendship with Luka—their wartime games, their bike rides along streets devastated by shelling, their all-consuming entanglement in each other's lives—and felt adult Ana's ache when she wonders if he survived.
Tough as the subject matter is, this book was a treat to read; Nović's prose flows with the self-assurance of a more seasoned author. It manages to retain its ease even in the story's more graphic moments. I hate to say it, but overall, I just wasn't as wowed as others were. Maybe it's because I've been on a solid streak of 4-star reads, and this one blended right in with the pack. I shot for the moon and landed among the stars instead, which isn't a bad place to be.
The Girl on the Train, by Paula HawkinsRachel Watson takes the commuter train to and from London every day. Each morning and evening, she passes by the same house on Blenheim Road and conjures up fantasies about the couple she sees on their rooftop terrace. It's a way to pass the time and fill the gaps in her own life... until Rachel sees something that sends her spiraling down a rabbit hole peppered with suspicious detectives, half-remembered confrontations and more canned gin and tonics than she should really be drinking.
This swiftly-paced whodunit has held fast on the NYT Best Sellers list since its January release, and I finally had to see what all the fuss was about (and land another square for my book bingo, of course). The writing, while page-turning, is nothing to write home about, but Hawkins' willingness to create a cast of utterly unlikeable characters gets her points in my book. Rachel is a not-entirely-repentant alcoholic, and Hawkins does not make much of an effort to redeem her in other aspects. The same goes for the other two main characters, whom we get to know through a shifting first-person voice. In short: everyone in this book sucks, and I loved that about it.
This thriller was a captivating romp, and I see why it has captured so much mainstream attention. It was a perfectly worthwhile way to spend my weekend, but it doesn't make me want to shout from the rooftops. I would be interested to hear what more hardcore fans of the genre think of it.
The Girl with All the Gifts, by M.R. CareyMelanie's life is average, if not a bit monotonous. Every weekday morning, guards arrive to strap her—arms, legs and neck—into her chair and wheel her to her classes. Her weekends include a dousing in the communal shower and her weekly meal of grubs. She's only free to move about when she's back in her cell. Melanie wonders why the guards go to all the trouble; after all, it's not like she'll bite...
(Though the blurb only teases at it, I don't think discussing the secret at the heart of The Girl with All the Gifts is a spoiler. However, if you want to go into it blind, skip the rest of this review.)
We learn early on that Melanie and her cohort are infected by Cordyceps fungus. The infection has a real-life basis; the fungus overtakes the bodies of insects, mushrooming out of their heads and torsos to release even more spores. I don't go for many zombie reads, so I'm not sure if the Cordyceps angle is actually unique. Regardless, I loved that Carey incorporated a real-life phenomenon into the usual, undead apocalypse.
In the book's universe, the fungus destroys the human brain and makes its host seek out other humans to eat, but Melanie and her classmates are somehow spared the normal deterioration. This makes it difficult for the uninfected to think of them as the "monsters" that lurk beneath. Carey plays on themes of us versus them and of becoming the evil that one is trying to defeat, all the while spinning a tale of unexpected, perhaps impossible love.
I read this one as a buddy read with Katie of Bookish Tendencies and Emily of Backlist Books (now known as Rain City Reads), and I liked the book the best out of the three of us. This would be a winner for sci-fi, horror and coming-of-age fans alike.
Have you read any stellar books about girls and/or women lately?


text: You can NOW download Dining at Disney Podcast Episode 9 – The ultimate Father's Day foodie trip on iTunes and watch on YouTube! We had plenty of news (A LOT from Disney World) and our ultimate day for Dads on Father's Day. Kristen Hoetzel and Jae Brattain start off with an appetizer of news – … Continue Reading


text:
The Kyrgyzstan Minister of Agriculture and Agriculture Officials were welcome visitors to Parliament Buildings today as they met the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Assembly's Agriculture Committee.
Committee Chairperson, Stephen Moutray MLA gave the guests an overview of his Committee's current work. He explained that, besides meeting some 18 times since September and taking evidence from 76 witnesses, the Committee been looking at a number of Bills going through the Assembly.
He also explained that one of the most important parts of a Committee's job is listening to farmers, those involved in the farming industry and people in the rural community.
Later on, the Kyrgyzstan Minister met Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA, the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development.


text:
Download fast
AppThemes - Jobroller v1.7.0 (beta) + Child + PSDs (Premium Template For WordPress) | 13,5 MB
JobRoller is the most popular job board theme for WordPress. Our feature-rich application theme was built for ease-of-use and tight integration with WordPress so you'll be online, selling job listing space, and accepting new resumes within minutes. It includes separate portals & tools for both job seekers and employers - everything you need to quickly deploy and establish your own online recruitment business!
Jobroller changelog:
1.7.0 (beta) -
- Some custom tables being concatenated with $wpdb->prefix instead of using $wpdb->table_name
- No email notifications sent to buyer after purchasing a resume subscription
- Banner alignment when using the default theme
- No background color on field labels and form steps
- Missing translations on the backend
- Duplicate key name database warnings
- Browse/view resumes visibility better integrated with the backend role visibility options


text:
Amit Vaidya loves sacred animals not for any political or religious reasons– they simply gave him a second life. In an interview, he tells Arunima Rajan why he bats for integrated treatment plans than conventional medicine.
1. What are some of the things you wish you had known when you were first diagnosed with the disease?
I wish I would have known that there isn't a cure. We spend far too much time living in definitives – blacks & whites. But life is in the greys. When initially diagnosed, I saw two ends – one was being 'cured' and the other being 'death'. The 9 years that have now transpired since my first experience with cancer has been my life. The good, the bad, and the ugly – all make up an equal part of this time. Remission is brake pause of cancer but it's not a guarantee. I wish I had spent the early years not focusing on returning to normal but embracing each part of the experience as my life's normal.
2. Why do you refuse to endorse alternative treatments for cancer?
I don't refuse, I merely choose not to endorse. I've been the beneficiary of both allopathic and alternative treatments. We are individuals and every body is different and responds differently to different treatments. Who am I to say one is better than the other. I'm one person. I can claim what worked for me but that's not a guarantee for someone else. I've shared similar diagnoses with patients – we've done chemotherapy together. I survived, they haven't. Similarly, I've done alternative treatments with patients – we've done cow therapy together. I survived, they didn't. I'm not a doctor. I'm not pretending to be a doctor. I'm someone who wishes to share and spread knowledge about treatments – all kinds. With the right access to information, we can at least have the opportunity to make the best decisions for ourselves in all matters of health and wellbeing. This is crux of my NGO, Healing Vaidya. There are a thousand organizations driven by a disease or a cause – there are very few for empowering individuals to make the best decisions for themselves. The only endorsement an alternative treatment needs is that of the patient doing the treatment.
3. Can you tell us about your journey?
The journey I chronicle in my book, Holy Cancer: How A Cow Saved Life is one of need. I spent many years preparing to die but I didn't. When I started this path in India of alternative treatments, I was looking for palliative support. As each day improved, my reality became clearer that I was no longer partaking in my life's final countdown. As a result, my closing chapter became a new beginning, a second life. And this second life was all about the journey – the greys. I gave up expectations and just started living. What I found was an organic way life – free of dates, deadlines and disease.
4. Nothing prepares a cancer patient for what surgery, chemotherapy and radiation will feel like. Did you want to write a handbook to shepherd other patients through their intense emotional process?
This was a cathartic process for me. In truth, I wrote the book for myself. It was my way of letting go of the final remnants of my emotional detoxification. But of course, at the back of mind, I needed to share my journey because so many have not returned to be able to share theirs! I am blessed and some would say lucky. But I have also done things along my journey that I know other patients and caregivers can learn from and perhaps inspire them to use, explore and expand their minds. I truly believe you only start living when you let go of the fear of death. It's not easy, but it's an absolute must.
5. What were the major differences that you experienced in India compared to US?
Medically, there is one key difference. In America, there is respect for patients, medical privacy and end of life care. In India, these three things are very very hard to attain without deep pockets or knowing someone. America is not perfect, heck, the number one cause of bankruptcy is due to medical bills – but there is humanity when it comes to dealing with diseases that is lacking in India.
As far as the winning part of India – well, the kindness of its strangers, its land, its cows, its plants – they all came together and saved me. It wasn't a given. I had to work very hard but it was possible. I think two years of my treatments in India equaled the cost of one or two months of treatment in America. When cost and quality of life simultaneously result in improvement – it's tough to go wrong.
6. During this phase, did you make use of diagnostic tools of conventional medicine?
As I've said before, I believe in both worlds and I have made use of conventional diagnostic tools along my journey. It is imperative to gauge where you are and where you stand. You must learn what reports mean, how to read your own scans and understand your disease. The more in the dark you stay about your own health, the less likely you are to heal.
7. What are your future plans?
I want to change the framework dialogue about health, wellness, life, living, death and dying. I think it's high time we get back in the driver's seat of our own lives and take the necessary steps to ensure we are living the happiest and healthiest lives possible. To ensure this, it's critical to have access to as much knowledge about matters that concern us health wise as possible. I've spent the good majority of time meeting countless patients over the last year, mainly end of life cancer patients. What I've realized when I visit them at hospitals, at their homes, at hospice is that while I may be providing options for the patient, it's the caregivers who end up changing their lives. Why? They still have the time to right the wrongs they've been leading in their lives and have a chance to create a routine with discipline and be in the best health of their lives to ward off any disease that may come their way.
Healing Vaidya is nurturing this idea. I want books, circulars, cheatsheets, cookbooks, varieties of information out there for patients, caregivers, individuals alike to have options – without commercial agendas. Despite my own challenging financial battles to stay afloat here in India, I'm not taking a rupee of the book's proceeds – I'm putting them into the foundation to ensure value for my second life. I made it from the brink of death for a reason. It wasn't just for me – it's my duty to serve and make people aware of their choices – no matter what – there is always a choice to be made. Let's make the best one possible.


text:
Recently my Mom and two sisters went on a river cruise aboard the Canadian Empress. A small ship that has only 34 state rooms and maxium capacity is 66 passengers. She is a replica steamboat built in 1981. The 14 crew members that where on board did very well in meeting the needs and desires of the passengers. The six nights that we are where board going from Kingston, Onterio to Quebec City, Quebec where very relaxing and I got a lot of reading done. (But being the youngest on board help in that, at times I felt like I was the young child that creapt out of bed to see the dinner party that the parents where having.) The sailing was done during the daytime hours, this I think is done because of the St. Lawernce River and the amount of traffic that can be on the waterway. We spent the over night hours decked at various marineas along the way. The waters remained calm except on one night that there was a cold front that moved through the area, causing higher winds.
I enjoyed the onshore tours and attractions (they are included in the price of the cruise but are not "required"). Although the pace of them where set by the older folks on the ship. (My sisters and I spent many night after dinner doing walks along the shore to "get the blood flowing".) There are places I would like to spend more time exploring and others that I felt that I could have stayed home in Rochester, New York and saw something very similar. Many of the tours where very "tourist" and would have appealled to the masses but I found them lacking.
I would do a calm-water cruise again but I would pay close attention to the size of the ship and the average age of the cruisers aboard. There was not enough room to streach out and on the one rainy day that we had, all 48 of us where "hanging out" in the Grand Saloon (the only covered public room). It is a relaxing way to see the country side and learn about the history and people of the area. (I really think that I would have enjoyed a cruise in Europe better!)


text:
Check out this video of Jemma Rix (Elphaba – Sydney; former s/b Elphaba – Sydney & Melbourne) and Lucy Durack (Glinda – Sydney; former Glinda – Melbourne) performing a medley of each other's songs from Wicked. The video is embedded for your convenience.
This entry was posted in Video Footage and tagged Jemma Rix, Lucy Durack, Sydney Production. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
Introducing Battleborn's TV-Style Story
The fight to save the last star in the universe is about to begin as Battleborn, its epic story, and its 25 playable heroes barrel toward launch day on May 3, 2016. That story is playable solo, 2-player splitscreen, or up to 5-players co-op online – and it stars you and your friends! You are the commander of the Battleborn, an uneasy alliance of intergalactic heroes from five different factions who have banded together to stop a dark and mysterious enemy from destroying the universe. Under your command, the Battleborn must live together or die alone. But this story about you and your band of heroes is told differently than other first-person shooters.
We think of May 3 as Battleborn's series premiere, because the game's Story Mode is structured just like some of our favorite episodic television shows; from Star Trek and X-Files, to cartoon throwbacks like X-Men and Transformers. Collectively, the "season" included with the game has one large over-arching story spanning eight episodes (plus a prologue), and each episode tells a self-contained story about the Battleborn's fight to save the last star, Solus.
You can grab a seat in your favorite battle furniture of choice and play an episode solo. Or, grab a buddy and a second controller and play 2-player couch co-op on your console just like the good ol' days! Or, get online on your PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or PC and team-up with up to four other friends for some 5-player co-op fun. These episodes are highly replayable, and we've found that each episode takes about an hour or so for the average to player to beat. Think of all the different ways you'll tackle each challenge, playing with 25 unique Battleborn heroes. As you run through each episode with a different hero, the dialogue changes. They reveal bits about themselves and provide more backstory to the world as you play. You also earn more loot, gear, XP, and credits every time you play an episode – not to mention that sometimes you'll even unlock new characters! We'll get to that in a second.
We've previously introduced two episodes: "The Algorithm" and "Void's Edge." Today we're revealing a new episode, "The Renegade." During The Renegade, you're dispatched on a rescue mission to save Caldarius and by doing so, recruit him to your cause and make him a playable hero. The same goes for ISIC in "The Algorithm" – you debug the rogue Magnus AI and make him friendly – well… tolerable – and he joins your team. As the story advances, you're not only unlocking new Battleborn to command, you're also gaining experience towards the hero's Character Rank and your personal Command Rank. Playing through the episodes also scores you new lore challenges, titles, and gear that you'll be able to use in the competitive multiplayer modes.
Now that the game is done, the dev team can start looking to the future. Even after the first "season" of Battleborn episodes, we're not done! We plan to make more heroes and tell more stories about our heroes. As we mentioned the other day, 2K's vision for Battleborn post-launch content includes five add-on packs – each pack including a new side story in the form of a Story Operation, as well as exclusive hero skins and taunts. And each add-on pack will cost you five bucks. You can get full details on post-launch content HERE.
Speaking of stories - in case you haven't seen it yet, check out the Battleborn prequel motion comics to see how the fight to save Solus started. This cool little bit of Battleborn's expanded universe sets up what's happened before the game starts, and before the Battleborn unite. You can find them on the Battleborn website and on our YouTube channel. Check it out below!
The best part is: you won't have to wait to try out Battleborn's episodic-style story! The Battleborn Open Beta begins on April 8th on PS4 and April 13th on PC and Xbox One. Jump in solo or grab some buddies for up to 5-player co-op and 2-player split-screen couch co-op while you play through two Story Mode episodes: The Algorithm and Void's Edge. Experience the natural progression of the game as you rank up and unlock new heroes, skins, taunts, Helix mutations, and more during the Battleborn Open Beta. Click here for more information.
There's a LOT going into Battleborn's story episodes. Be sure to catch them on your PS4, PC, and Xbox One when Battleborn premieres on May 3, 2016.


text:
Charles Baudelaire said that a dandy is person who elevates aesthetics to a living religion. Being well dressed is a dandy's trademark. A dandy is a man with visible good taste. So here is a store who caters to all man who enjoy dressing up- FineAndDandyShop.com.
For all gentlemen who appreciate dressing well here is Fine and Dandy shop look book 2009.
Photographer: Patrick Roxas
Hair: Ashley Peterson
Makeup: Ronnie Rae
Models: Cooper Cheatham, Gavin Grymes
"One should either be a work of Art, or wear a work of Art" – Oscar Wilde


text:
The D850 is like a cross between a medium format and sports camera. And that's no hyperbole. DxOMark ranks its 47.5MP sensor 3rd in the world, (marginally) surpassed by only the medium format Hasselblad X1D and Pentax 645Z. Its AF system module is the very same one found in the no-compromise sports camera, the Nikon D5. If fact, it's rather tempting to just call it the best camera you can buy and conclude the review. But alas, tech decisions are never that simple – Sony just released the A7R III, a camera whose performance and cost is identical to the D850. So it is only right that we compare the A7R III to the D850.
- Image quality
- Fast autofocus
- Excellent button placement
- Battery life
- Average video capabilities
- "Only" 9fps continuous shooting
Image Quality
Long story short, it's the best you can get in a DSLR. The very fact that the D850's full frame sensor scores just 2 points shy of a medium format camera costing thrice as much is testament to its ability. The camera renders unbelievably clean images at nightmarish ISO values. RAW photos are wonderfully malleable – pushing the exposure 3 to 4 stops in post is no issue at all. In fact, I couldn't find any difference between pushing the ISO in camera and bumping up the exposure in post. Dynamic range, too, is so wide that it can't be fully captured in a single JPEG by Lightroom, despite maxing out the sliders.
The only other full frame camera that compares is the A7R III. In fact, they're identical – both are rated 100 points on DxOMark, save for some subtle differences, covered in depth on DxOMark. Scroll down to the bottom of the article to see some photos shot with the D850.
Built Like a Tank…
The D850 has all the rugged features we have come to expect at this price point. A full metal body which is dust and water resistant. I took it on a trek through some light rain and it did just fine – I was the only one complaining about the rain, not the camera. Interestingly, Imaging Resource did a did a comparison with the A7R III and found the Sony to be less water resistant than expected. So if you envision yourself shooting in foul weather then the D850 might be a better choice.
With the battery installed, the body weighs in at 1005g, 115g more than the 5D IV and a whole 348g more than the A7R III. Whether you prefer the added girth or a lighter camera is personal, but the D850 does feel great in the hand. I had no problems carrying it around for the whole half day trek through the jungle.
…But Handles Like a Sports Car
Not only is it comfortable, but it is also rather intuitive. The first time I took the camera out was to cover a wedding reception, intending to use it as a secondary camera, just to try a few shots and see what the camera was capable of. I didn't intend to use it much, because I didn't have any fast Nikon lenses, and also because the last time I touched a Nikon was a D750, 2 years ago. A wedding shoot isn't a good time to learn about a camera, but lo and behold, by the halfway point I was comfortable enough to shoot the bulk of the proceedings on the D850, a camera I had barely known for half a day.
The button placement is well thought-out, and the touchscreen further augments the ease of use. The layout is similar to the D810 and allows you to change almost any setting – from white balance to mirror lock up to image quality – by pressing a button and rotating a dial – no more digging through the menus frantically. Also worth mentioning are the illuminated buttons for shooting in the dark.
Although the A7R III does have a lot of buttons on hand, you need to properly set up and customise all the controls, and remember them to reach the same level of efficiency. And rightfully so, because the camera has a lot more video settings to accommodate too (more on that later).
All in all, I could feel the sports camera in the D850's DNA – the handling is undeniably snappy and polished.
High Speed Shooting
On that note, the D850 maintains a respectable 7fps in continuous drive mode and can shoot at 9fps with the battery grip attached. That is still slower than the A7R III's 10fps, but as a concession the D850's buffer is good for 51 RAW frames rather than A7R III's 28. To me, though, 7fps is plenty unless you are shooting the Olympics.
World class AF and AE
A tell-tale sign of Nikon's intention of making the camera fast is the autofocus. The D850's 153-point AF system is the same one found in the D5, and like that camera, the D850 has a dedicated chip to process AF. Tracking (or 3D Tracking, as Nikon calls it) is second to none – it locks onto your subject and just stays on it. It doesn't explicitly have the Eye AF of Sony's A7R III, but in Nikon's own words, "The AF system makes it possible to achieve pinpoint focus on a small area such as an athlete's eye…". And the AF system, rated up to -3EV (with the centre point to -4EV) doesn't go down even when the lights do. The low light performance is amazing – in my time with the camera, I didn't get a single shot with missed focus – and keep in mind that I shot a wedding reception indoors. Granted, I did not have the chance to really squeeze the AF system by shooting with fast primes, but I did have to rack between near and far shots in split seconds, and not once did the D850 let me down.
Colour and light metering are generally accurate (and are in fact very good), though I did see some occasions where they just went out of whack under challenging circumstances.
That being said, there is a slew of custom features and options that I didn't get the time to play around with and setting those up properly may have helped.
One custom feature that I did discover in my limited time with the camera is the ability to temporarily switch to a different metering/AF mode with the press of a button. It works like an emergency button, for example you can set it to centre point focusing, so that if the tracking goes awry you can quickly engage the centre point for a critical shot. Unfortunately (or fortunately) the tracking was flawless, and the only time I got to press that panic button was when the camera focused on the foreground of a sub-framed shot. Needless to say, it worked perfectly.
Capable of 4K 30p output, the D850 is a pretty good video camera, in fact it's probably tied with the 5D III as the best video DSLR to date. But that isn't the D850's focus, and here its abilities are eclipsed by the A7R III, which offers a host of convenient features for videographers. The D850 is fine if you occasionally shoot video, but if video is important to you, then A7R III is the clear choice. The trade-off, however, is that the shooting experience for stills is much more seamless on the D850 because that is where the focus is.
It's worth a mention here that the D850 is one of the most energy efficient cameras out there, rated for a whopping 1840 shots. In comparison, the 5D Mark IV is rated for 900 shots, and the A7R III, for 650. That alone may be a deciding factor for some.
The D850 body retails in for S$4999 in Singapore. At first glance that seems like a hefty price, but when you consider what it's up against, it's quite astonishing how Nikon managed to keep costs so low. It is just shy of the image quality of the Hasselblad X1D but at 1/3 the price and maintains the world class AF performance of the D5 (and a respectable fps rate) at half its price. But more than anything, you must keep in mind that it does both of this simultaneously. However, it loses out to the A7R III, which is marginally cheaper at S$4699.
So that's it folks. That's what the best DSLR in the world looks like. If you're in the market for a no-compromise, do-everything camera, you will have to choose between the D850 and the mirrorless A7R III. The differences between them are so subtle that you honestly couldn't go wrong with either one. The D850 would be suited more for pure photography though, especially those photographing action and time-sensitive moments because it is just so quick to operate (save for the burst speed).
Image Samples
Be sure to view the photos at their full 47.5 megapixels to really get an idea on what this camera is capable of.


text:
The Shell Programming for System Administrators course provides students with the skills to read, write, and debug UNIX shell scripts.
The course begins by describing simple scripts to automate frequently executed commands and continues by describing conditional logic, user interaction, loops, menus, traps, and functions.
This course is intended for system administrators who have mastered the basics of a UNIX Operating Environment (OE) such as the Solaris OE or Linux and who would like to read and understand the various boot scripts and write their own scripts to automate their day-to-day tasks.
This course explores, in detail, the Bourne and Korn shell scripting languages.
The participants in our Shell Scripting training will learn how to:
- Identify and use the basic command line features of the Bourne shell
- Identify and execute the different command types on the system
- Write a basic "batch-file" shell script
- Use shell variables in a shell script
- Use quotes to protect shell metacharacters in a shell script
- Conditionally execute lines of code in a shell script
- Use looping statements to repeatedly execute lines of code in a shell script
- Write shell functions for use within a shell script
- Handle signals when they are received in your shell scripts
- Identify efficiency considerations for a shell script


text:
New product
2700 Item Items
Warning: Last items in stock!
Availability date:
Recipient :
* Required fields
or Cancel
The Specifics:
- 6 cm total memory foam BIO NATUR® high density with rest foam progressive system to help you relax even as it provides excellent support.
- Special strech fabric with micro-capsules of MINERAL THERAPY® with medicinal uses against rheumatism and the healing of skin.
- Luxury touch natural fiber quilted knit cover for extra comfort , leaving a fabric with a soft and silky touch.
- Extra confort multi layer matress .
- 9 targeted zones offer support for your hips, softness for your shoulders and extra protection for your lower back.
- Special block foam High Density BIO PUR ® CONFORT EXTREM with Air vents for breathability.
- Carbono therapy with particles ability to absorb moisture and odors.
- Temperature regulating knitted fabric.
- Hypo-allergenic treatment, 100% Anti Allergenic fibres.
- Anti Dust Mite anti-bactèrien.
- Extremely durable with quality construction.
- Premium organic cotton fabric.
- Breathable material with ventilation increases airflow to create a healthier, more hygienic sleeping environment.
- Featuring a comfortable medium-firm support.
- Certified Oeko-tex®, tested for harmful substances.
- Advanced ventilation system.
- Certified CARBONO®.
- No roll together.
- 27 cm deep overall (approx.).


text:
GIMPS has discovered a new largest known prime number: 282589933-1 (24,862,048 digits)
The smallest composite number whose digits are composite such that the concatenated factors of either digit with the remaining digit(s) is prime. [Rivera]
The first 49 digits after the decimal point in e = 2.718... form a prime. [Honaker]
The largest prime square which is greater than the product of all lesser primes. [Murthy]
The smallest semiprime whose sum of divisors is also a semiprime. [Gupta]
phi(49)*49^49 + 1 is prime. The reversal of 49 has the same property. [Firoozbakht]
The smallest square that is the sum of three consecutive primes. [Silva]
The smallest prime square that is the sum of consecutive composite numbers in three ways, i.e., 24+25 = 15+16+18 = 4+6+8+9+10+12 = 7^2. [Loungrides]
100^49 + 49 is the largest non-titanic prime of form 100^n + n. [Loungrides]
(There are 10 curios for this number that have not yet been approved by an editor.)
Prime Curios! © 2000-2020 (all rights reserved) privacy statement


text:
Whether you have a business and you're seeking to ramp up sales or you work for a marketing firm that is looking to increase its brand awareness, SpeedPro can help. Located in Greenville, SC, we offer a full range of large format printing services that we can cater to our clients' individual needs. Working with us easy, and you can think of us as an extension of your marketing team because we'll position ourselves as your strategic partner.
Our team has more than 15 years of combined industry experience. We put a focus on building relationships with our clients that enable us to serve them better over the long run. When you come to us with a project, we'll listen, ask questions, perform mock-ups, and really take the time to understand your goals and what the perfect solution will be to achieve them. Whatever that solution is, you can count on a fast turnaround, and we'll do the job right the first time.
No printing project is too large in scope for us to tackle. We'll use high-quality materials, such as UV-resistant inks, so that your indoor and outdoor signs and other investments hold up. If you have a single vehicle or a fleet of hundreds, we can help you maximize that mobile presence with professional truck and car wraps. If you're rolling out a new product or service, we can make that process easier with:
- Trade show displays
- Banners and retractors
- Event graphics and tents
SpeedPro is proud to serve businesses and other organizations throughout Greenville and the surrounding areas. We'd welcome the chance to serve you, and we'll be able to do so regardless of your company's size or the scope of its marketing needs. Call us today to ask any questions and to learn more about our large format printing services.


text:
Travelling by train in Belgium
General information
Welcome to our guide how to save money, time and stress when travelling in and from/to Belgium by train.
Click the links below for instant access for the info you need.
Or if you would like help with planning a train journey within or to/from Belgium or want to add some Belgian destinations to a European train travel itinerary, take a look at ShowMeTheJourney's new Concierge Service.
THE TRAINS l THE STATIONS
THE TICKETS l USEFUL LINKS
When compared to most of the larger countries in Europe, travelling around Belgium by train is wonderfully simple.
Which is convenient as what Begium lacks in terms of scenic journeys, it more than makes up for with a plethora of must see towns that can be reached on short and easy trips by train.
And because when travelling within Belgium, tickets cost the same price when booking last minute at the station as they do online - you can be spontaneous and head wherever inspires you.
Belgian trains may not be the most stylish, but they're more than adequate for the relatively short distances involved –
Travelling by train in Belgium - 8 things that are good to know:
1. Seats can't be reserved on national trains operated by SNCB, which is pretty much every train service within Belgium - so it's a good idea to avoid travelling at peak business hours.
2. Wi-fi also isn't generally available, but don't panic as very few journeys take more than 90 mins.
3. National train services tend to operate to a fixed timetable throughout the day - meaning that departures are at the same minutes past every hour.
4. However, they operate to different timetables on Sat/Sun compared to the Mon-Fri timetable.
On Mon-Friday there are a minimum of two trains per hour on the most popular routes - a minimum of 3 x trains hour operate between Bruxelles/Brussels and Antwerpen/Brugge/Gent and Liege.
Virtually all other services operate at least hourly.
Trains generally operate less frequently at weekends, but the express IC trains still operate at a minimum of hourly intervals on all of their routes.
5. It isn't possible to make journeys between Belgian cities on the international high speed trains.
So you can't travel between Bruxelles/Brussels and Antwerpen on Thalys trains, or between Bruxelles/Brussels and Liege by Thalys or ICE trains.
6. Catering facilities aren't available on train journey within Belgium.
7. A yellow band above the windows indicates 1st class coaches/seats.
8. Folded bikes can be taken on trains free of charge, but bike tickets that cost €5 need to be purchased before taking NON-folding bikes on any train.
Day bike passes are available if you will be making multiple train journeys with your bike in a single day.
Back to the menu
Belgian Stations - 7 things that are good to know:
1. What can be confusing is that as Belgium is a multi-lingual country, different names of towns and cities can be used on the electronic departure information at stations - particularly on the platforms.
The electronic departure information switches between Flemish (French) and Dutch - so be patient if you can't initially see your destination listed.
For example you may see 'Liuk' on a departure indicator, but the train will be heading to/calling at Liege.
The particularly confusing dual namings are:
Antwerpen = Anvers
Liege = Luik
Lille = Rijsel
Louvain = Leuven
Kortijk = Courtrai
Namur = Namen
Mons = Bergen
Gent = Gand
Ypres = Ieper (capital 'I' not 'L')
2. The electronic departure displays only list the final destination of the train and one or two of it's main calling points - they don't list all stations.
So if you can't see your destination listed, check the paper departure sheets.
The sheets with blue headers are for Mon-Fri and those with orange headers are used for departures on Sat/Sun – so be careful not to confuse the two.
3. These paper sheets can be particularly useful when changing trains.
Don't leave the platform you have just arrived at, until you have checked the departure details of your connecting train - you might be able to remain where you are.
4. For international trains, the train numbers are shown on the main electronic departure displays and paper departure sheets.
Which can be useful when you have tickets/reservations for international trains, as the train number will be printed on your ticket(s).
5. The electronic indicators on each specific platform will only show the details of the next departure – and your train many not be the next to depart.
6. Because seats can't be reserved on Belgian trains, the platforms/tracks at Belgian stations aren't zoned.
7. While Belgian trains may not have the wow factor, the main stations in Antwerp and Liege definitely do have it!
And the rebuild of Gent-St-Pieters will soon be joining them on this list.
8. The majority of domestic trains to/from Brussels/Bruxelles will call at more than one station in the city centre.
Bruxelles Central station lives up to its name with a city centre location and it has direct connections to metro/subway trains – metro connections are also available at Bruxelles Midi/Zuid.
Back to the menu
Belgian Train Tickets - 7 things that are good to know:
1. There is no need to book tickets for domestic journeys solely within Belgium online, they will cost the same if booked at the station.
2. The ticket machines at the stations are fairly easy to use, so you can avoid having to queue at a ticket counter.
3. Reservations are not available on SNCB'snational train services that operate wholly in Belgium.
So seats aren't guaranteed, hence the advice to avoid travelling into big cities in the morning peak and from big cities during the evening rush.
4. Each adult ticket enables up to 4 accompanied children age under 12 to travel for free in both 1st class and 2nd class - you will need to be able to provide proof of the age of the children on request).
5. Children aged 12 and over have to travel at the adult rates.
6. If you will be travelling will be making a return trip in Belgium by train between 19:00 on Fridays and midnight on Sundays, you can purchase Weekend Tickets, which give a 50% discount.
7. Travelling on MOST of the international train services from/to Belgium is a different end to end experience, in comparison to travelling on trains solely within Belgium.
Reservations are compulsory on some of the high speed trains from and to Belgium and limited numbers of discounted tickets will be made available on most routes.
Hence the existence of B-Europe - a dedicated online booking service for the international train services from and to Belgium.
You can read more about this HERE.
Back to the menu


text:
CoolSculpting® treatment videos demonstrate what results you can expect when you come to MediZen.
Despite a healthy diet and regular exercise your body can still suffer from hard to shift, stubborn areas of fat that prevent you achieving the desired body shape you really want.
CoolSculpting® treatment can get rid of these areas – painlessly and permanently - utilising the clinically proven science of Cryolipolysis® (fat freezing). CoolSculpting® freezes fat cells and destroys them without the need for surgery.
CoolSculpting is the worlds number 1 non-invasive fat reduction system. With over six million treatments performed worldwide, CoolSculpting is the only FDA cleared fat freezing treatment, which permanently and safely removes 20-25% of the fat cells in the treated area. No needles, no surgery, no downtime!
MediZen - The only clinic in the West Midlands with DualSculpting™ so you can treat multiple areas at one time - twice the fat in half the time!
Unlike other sculpting procedures such as liposuction, VelaShape or Thermage - you can go about your daily life, immediately after treatment, without any healing or convalescent time.
CoolSculpting® treatment can reduce stubborn pockets of body fat and give you the silhouette you've always wanted.
Why not visit what is fat reduction treatment, see CoolSculpting® Before and After photos, read CoolSculpting® treatment reviews from our loyal customers about their treatment at MediZen and find out why you should come to MediZen - the only clinic in the Midlands to offer DualSculpting® - Shift twice the fat in half the time!
CoolSculpting® Fat Freezing Treatment at MediZen
CoolSculpting® treatment videos demonstrate what results you can expect when you come to MediZen.
Watch Debra Messing, Hollywood Celebrity and TV Star of Will and Grace talk about her treatment
Interested in CoolSculpting Fat Freezing? Have more questions?
Call us on 0121 667 5703 and a member of our team will be happy to discuss how CoolSculpting Fat Freezing can help you.