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Founded in 2010 by Renée Black and Soudeh Jamshidian, PeaceGeeks is an NGO based in Vancouver, BC. It works with grassroots organizations dedicated to promoting peace, accountability and human rights. It provides the technological, communications and management tools these organizations need to increase their efficiency, maximize their impact and be seen and heard on important issues.
PeaceGeeks empowers its grassroots partners by:
- focusing on opportunities
- collaborating as equal partners
- committing to the partner organization and its mission
- working with patience and empathy
- being open, honest and transparent
- prioritizing open sources technologies
- striving to create opportunities for growth.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Sep 8, 2015
Styling: Classic Jewelry Featuring Anjolee
11 comments:
Beautiful earrings girl!! I love the color of the stones too! xo, Biana -BlovedBostonReplyDelete
Such a pretty piece! Glad you found some earrings that fit and look great! :)ReplyDelete
Truly amazing! this are beautiful..ReplyDelete
leather Laptop Bags for ladies at fair prices with the preference of design of your choice.
Those earrings are gorgeous! Definitely classic and timeless!!ReplyDelete
<3, Pamela
Sequins & Sea Breezes
Those earrings are AMAZING!!!! LOVE them.ReplyDelete
I love those earrings - they are gorgeous. I love investing in classic, timeless jewelry. I leave the trendy pieces for Forever 21 and ebay. :)ReplyDelete
xo, Carly
P.S. - I changed my blog name to carly blogs!
Love these, they are so pretty and elegant! Great choice!ReplyDelete
Gorgeous earrings, and I love how they were custom made for you!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousSeptember 8, 2015 at 12:21 PM
Ooh I love these earrings! You and your "big" ear lobes lol; you're perfect, silly ;)ReplyDelete
Love those earrings! The perfect diamond studs! I also have larger earlobes and may need to add these to my birthday list!ReplyDelete


text:
Check out B.o.B "Asian Tour!! (Part 1)" Video, the latest video from B.o.B, released on Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011. B.o.B's chances in this game are improving with each new release, and B.o.B "Asian Tour!! (Part 1)" Video is no exception - quite the opposite, in fact. It's a nice addition to the impressive catalogue B.o.B has been building over the years. We're definitely anticipating the next move.
Are y'all feeling this one?
Peep the new visual for B.o.B's B.o.B ""Asian Tour" (Part 2)" Video.
Hit up B.o.B's profile page for the latest info, news, songs, and mixtapes. Remember to follow B.o.B on Facebook and Twitter.


text:
Make a Ray Jacobs Rocky Mountain Dulcimer
Here's a clear, step-by-step process for building a simple, beautiful 3-stringed instrument from scrap wood, cardboard, and a few dollars worth of hardware; it will sound absolutely wonderful. Ray Jacobs made his first guitar when he was about 15. During 20 years of teaching 4th grade in Eureka, MT, he developed this simple, easy-to-play, 3-stringed instrument that the kids could assemble and finish by themselves. Compiled and written by a teaching artist, so that more people can make their own music, more easily and more beautifully!
$0.00 — $20.00
$0.00 — $15.00
Ray taught 4th grade for 20 years in Eureka MT and gave all his students the chance to make their own instruments — as well as giving them a V-8 engine (on the classroom floor) to take apart and put back together. He came up with this wonderful instrument design so that anyone could have beautiful music w/out having to pay lots for fancy wooden boxes. I met him at a primitives skills gathering a few years ago and fell in love with him and Shirley (they arrived in a home-made RV on a Toyota pickup body), as well as the instrument. Ray invents (or repairs, or just makes) about an instrument a month, and shares more than he sells. I thought some of this gift should go into a book, so last year, on a train trip back east, my family and I stopped off to visit and make a dulcimer. I also took notes and pix and put together this little how-to so Ray's gift might have a bit wider range. I did the book on Createspace and sell it cheap, but the pdf is available free; there's a blog about it here. However you choose to get it, please share it as widely as possible, especially to folks who will keep the gift moving. Be assured that it's much easier to learn than a guitar. You can hear Ray and Shirley playing on youtube here. (There are also a couple of documentary videos you can find by searching on their names and "expressing montana".)
- Author:
- Kiko Denzer
- Publication Date:
- January 2013
- Publisher:
- Hand Print Press
- Format/Size:
- full color paperback, 8-1/2 x 11 inches
- page count:
- 64
- 9780615748931


text:
At Ker & Downey, we believe that people matter. It's the people who make up this incredible company who work to make your journey truly memorable. Over the course of the next year, we'll be introducing you to the people that make up Ker & Downey. You can also read more about us here.
In high school, Liane Soukup spent a summer in Denmark and Sweden on a tennis exchange program and knew from then on, she wanted to be involved in international education as both her vocation and avocation moving forward. Liane spent time interning and taking classes in the UK to earn her Masters in Higher and Postsecondary Education, and completed part of her Bachelors degrees in Cultural Anthropology and Corporate Communications and Public Affairs in the UK, Western Australia, and Asia. She has lived and worked in the Czech Republic, New Zealand, and Norway, led an international project outside Prague to develop a farmhouse into a living museum, and taught mid-level managers Business English throughout the country. She joined the Ker & Downey team three years ago as one of our destination specialists. Outside of the office she enjoys creating art, singing, photography/film, sailing, and still actively plays tennis as well.
Favorite place you've traveled: New Zealand – such diversity of geography
Favorite city and why: Bergen, Norway. You have hills and peaks and the Atlantic. It's so green with lots of culture, a gateway to the West and the Fjords. Plus it is personal – my family is from there.
What is the best thing about traveling: Connecting with others and their culture and the land they inhabit and procuring experiences to last a lifetime
Travel accessory you can't live without? Ziplock bags
Favorite plane ride activity: Walking the aisles and talking to the random travelers or airline staff. You can curate lots of tips!
Top of my travel bucket list: Borneo
Two weeks + and unlimited budget, where are you going? Iceland, Svalbard and Lofoten (Norway) and Greenland. Lots of Nature and Water.
Beach or mountains: Both. But I lean towards beach for sure. I am a water and coastline girl regardless of where I go.
How do you take your coffee? Straight, Strong and Black. I learned this as a young person in Sweden one summer.
If they could bottle your personality what would the label read? Wonderific/Enthusiasmo
My theme song is: Digging in the Dirt by Peter Gabriel
Any pets? 2 Chihuahuas that think they are German Shepherds.
If I were a super hero, I would be: Wonder Woman. Fly in an invisible jet – yes please.
Two things I can't live without are: Love and Hope
It's Sunday morning at 10 a.m. If I'm not sleeping, I'm: At church in fellowship.
My favorite physical activity is: Tennis. Swimming is a close second.
One thing I love that everyone else dislikes is: Brussels Sprouts
The first thing I do when I wake up is: Thank God for a new day.
The last concert I went to was: Matisyahu
My favorite toy to play with as a kid was: Hungry Hippos
If I could instantly learn a new language, I would learn: Chinese
Guilty TV pleasure: I don't have cable. But I am in love with Benedict Cumberbatch on PBS's Sherlock
On my nightstand: The Bible. It's a good re-read always
Life mantra in four words: Patience, Forgiveness, Compassion, Transformation
Favorite quote: Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure… than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat. – Theodore Roosevelt
Check back next week to learn more about another Ker & Downey team member! Stay up to date on all of Ker & Downey's online content by "liking" our Facebook page.


text:
Sherman Alexie, author of the fantastic The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, tapped into the internet's obsession with grammar on Tuesday when he tweeted: "Grammar cops are rarely good writers. Imagination always disobeys."
Alexie received hundreds of retweets and responses. GalleyCat rounds up the best of them here, from SF author John Scalzi's comment that "Grammar cops are annoying, but grammar private investigators? Kind of cool," to Hal Duncan's, "I see myself as a maverick grammar cop who doesn't go by the book. Need a partner who's too old for this shit." I particularly like Gene Weingarten's point that it's "'Police' not 'cops'".
Most readers – and authors – appear to be largely in agreement with Alexie, although some point out, rightly, that you have to know the rules to break them. For a quick refresher on some of the sticking points, take a look at Thomas Jones's recent Guardian list. God save us from sloppy writing and editing, and unintentional grammatical errors, no matter the power of the imagination they spring from. Only the authors who know what they are doing can afford to break the rules – otherwise, you're just getting it wrong.


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Studio les canailles - Fruit défenduStudio Les Canailles
30 Limited copies
Each print has a number and a certificate.
Size: 35 x 50 cm
Printing: Handmade screenprint, serigraphy 4 colors
Paper: Olin Regular 300g
Each work is homemade with love in limited editions. Every piece is unique and made using traditional processes, pictures may differ from actual products.
The purchase of this print does not transfer reproduction rights.
© Studio les canailles 2017
Sold without frame.
Final sale.


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Universal Studios Japan
What is Universal Studios Japan?
Universal Studios Japan is a theme park where you can experience the world of Hollywood movies like Jaws or Jurassic Park with rides and attractions. The park is divided into eight areas, including the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The opening hours of the park vary depending the day, but there are no regular holidays. The park is thronged with many families, couples, friends and other people every day.
The most popular attraction is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, completed just in 2014. The world of Harry Potter is faithfully recreated in the area. The most popular attraction outside of this area is the "Hollywood dream," a roller coaster that runs forwards and backwards. You can explore the tropical rainforest, dinosaurs' natural habitat from a boat in the Jurassic Park area, or enjoy the guided adventure attraction at the shark filled sea in the Amity Village area. In the Waterworld area, stunt people put on a tremendous performance in the "drifting city Atoll" depicted in the movie Waterworld. The Backdraft area is also popular among visitors, where you can experience the backdraft effect used on fire scenes in movies at a reproduction of a film studio.
Enjoying the park to the fullest
The park is very crowded during weekends, holidays and school vacations. It is not unusual to wait more than two hours to ride one attraction on a busy day that would require only fifteen minutes on less crowded days. You should prepare to wait and queue for attractions, restaurants, and restrooms. There are two studio information boards set inside the park. The waiting time is also posted in front of each attraction so that you can check the time required before getting in line. It is recommended to coordinate the waiting times and the beginning times of the shows and attractions you would like to see to fully enjoy the park.
Inside the park, maps in foreign languages (in English, Chinese and Korean) are available as well as foreign currency exchange service. Facilities such as a first aid station with medical staff, facilities for baby care, and a kennel are situated inside the park. Small, medium, large and special extra large sized lockers are also available just outside the park so you can leave your baggage in advance. You can rent a baby carriage, wheelchair or electric convenience vehicle for a fee. Bringing food and beverages inside the park is prohibited, meals should be bought inside the park. Just outside the park's gate is Universal Citywalk Osaka, a shopping mall with many restaurants. You will also find a picnic area outside the gates, however be attentive to the fac that once you exit the park, you may not reenter with a regular ticket.
Access and tickets
The closest railway station is Universal City Station. From Osaka International Airport, get on the Osaka Monorail and go to Hotaruike Station where you transfer to the Takarazuka line of the Hankyu Railway and head for Umeda Osaka Station (21 minutes). Then get on the train on the JR Osaka Loop Line to Nishikujo Station (6 minutes) and transfer to the JR Yumesaki line and get off at Universal City Station. You will need to transfer several times but the trip will just take around 35 minutes in total. From Kansai International Airport, get on the train on the JR Hanwa line and transfer at Nishikujo Station to the JR Yumesaki line (60 minutes) then get off at Universal City Station (5 minutes). Universal Studios Japan is connected by bus to Kansai International Airport and Osaka International Airport.
There are several kinds of admission tickets sold at the park: a regular ticket, an Annual Studio Pass that allows you to enjoy the park without limits, Universal Express Pass that shortens your waiting time for designated popular attractions as well as a studio tour ticket that provides a guided tour inside the park, and tickets for premier shows. You can purchase these tickets at the ticket booth on the day you visit or you can purchase them via website in advance so that you do not have to wait in line to buy a ticket.
Image Gallery: Universal Studios Japan
Description: Universal Studios Japan
|Universal Studios Japan (ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン)
2-1-33 Sakurajima, Konohana-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
|Phone / Fax
|Closed dates
|7 days open
|Admission Fee
|Pay admission: 7,200yen
|Corresponding Language
|English Korean
|Recommended Season
Spring (March - May)Summer (June - August) Autumn (September - November) Winter (December - February)
|Recommended target
|Family Couples Groups Infant & Toddler (ages 0-6) Child (ages 7-17) Adult (ages 20+)
Map: Universal Studios Japan


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Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
This week, The Repeater reveals the answer to the cliffhanger that left everyone on the edge of their seat about which television show he's been enjoying while getting his screaming bundle of joy off to night night land, as well as how this show is stuffing the "doctor who" void in his heart that the last season failed to fill. Also, he refers to his infant daughter as quote unquote "he" late in the show, but we let it slide.
Show Notes:
The Rockford Files Homepage:
Facebook: Rockford Files Fans:
A Tribune to the Rockford Files:
The Thrilling Detective Web Site: Jim Rockford:
The Rockford Files Fans Get Together for their First Festival:
$200 a day, plus expenses


text:
By: JIM ROSENBERG
Network security's
no mystery at Nexpo
Safeguarding newspapers' nervous systems
by Jim Rosenberg
Plan, protect, and maintain were the messages of the three sessions of a two-day "Demystifying Networks" workshop at Nexpo '99 in Las Vegas earlier this month. The workshop drew on the know-how of managers and business partners of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
With virtually all dailies using at least some local computer networking, and most likely having access to the Web from at least one machine, the age of the Internet arrived along with hacking hazards (unauthorized system access) and contagious code (transmissible, unauthorized computer instructions). So it was no surprise that the sessions, pulled together by AJC computer services director Ed Baer, opened with an examination of systems security. The matter is of immediate concern to managers, regardless of their network plans or future needs ? topics of the next two sessions. (See the technology section in the upcoming July 31 E&P.)
Inattention to network security, says Baer, risks a newspaper's ability to publish. Neither firewalls between internal and public networks nor protective software is enough, he contends, because security is not always a technical issue. Baer urged managers everywhere to be alert to possible vulnerabilities and to communicate with network users, educating them in the proper response to hazards.
Still at work on an employee-awareness campaign, Mike Goss, AJC security administration manager, says the paper's human-resources department now assists network security by adding safe computing to its other musts for getting hired ? passing a drug test and a background check.
Goals for system safety, says Goss, are security against outside access, round-the-clock availability, data integrity, and privacy (need-to-know internal access).
Goss says his newsroom's mainframe-and-terminal Atex system, in use through the early 1990s, "didn't even allow dial-in back in the early days." Now, he says, "that environment has completely changed." That's true inside and outside his or anyone else's paper. By year-end, the Internet will have an estimated 132 million users.
The Internet or other external access amounts to the "biggest threat" to a business network, says Goss, who says he's bothered most by hackers because of "how well they can hide."
Outside access is possible with such products as Timbuktu and Copycat (use of which should be controlled, he says) and with hackers' tools available on the Web.
For protection, Goss recommends:
?changing IDs and passwords often;
?controlling dial-up environments;
?using defensive software;
?allowing vendors access only via secure identification;
?routing all external communications to an isolated network "so the integrity of your production network remains;" and
?writing simple scripts that check and report if the sizes of programs change significantly or if there is a rapid succession of guest IDs applying for access.
Other dangers lurk in e-mail, where Goss cites the examples of the federal government using Microsoft e-mail to refute Bill Gates' video testimony and Chevron settling with employees offended by others' e-mail postings.
Protective policies can include allowing only company-sanctioned activities, recognizing no e-mail as private, allocating limited storage capacity (20 megabytes), and scheduling regular purges (every 20 days for all but critical information).
Though encryption is available, Goss points out that it works only when the creator/sender and user/receiver have the same algorithm. Its advantage is that even if a network is hacked, communications will likely remain incomprehensible to snoopers.
Malicious or merely mischievous code can make its way onto networks via e-mail attachments, vendors' and users' infected disks, downloaded shareware, and remote-access software.
Not only is the number of viruses and similar rogue programs growing, says Goss, but so too is their prevalence, according to AJC monthly comparisons of instances of detection. To deal with this in a quick and coordinated fashion, Goss established a virus-response team with representation from all departments.
With each new virus came another warning. So, because employees eventually began ignoring the warnings, says Goss, "we try to key on the viruses that are really dangerous." The best protection, he says, is routine scanning for viruses on PCs. Other measures include using only licensed software copies; scanning all media before distributing it; re-evaluating antivirus software monthly; and reporting all incidents.
That danger multiplies, says Baer, because "as you move to a network world, you evolve to a single network." Where hacking and infection were once confined to departments, a single network ? for all its possible efficiency and maintenance gains ? exposes the entire company.
Networks may be overwhelmed as easily as they are invaded. "Like anyone else," says Goss, "spamming occurs at the AJC on a regular basis." Last fall, one such unsolicited, inexpensive mass e-mailing (ads for pornography) began arriving on a weekend and took down its system.
Filters and e-mail upgrades able to block unwanted messages help prevent spam. Whatever does get through can be identified from an e-mail's delivery information or by contacting www.networksolutions.com. The information, says Goss, is best sent to the paper's Internet service provider,which can shut down the source.
Urging wariness of chain e-mails, the network security chief says staffers can recognize the often helpful-sounding messages by their alarming hook, elaboration of an imaginary threat, and request to copy the message to others.
A last threat to a network is from within. Pirating software is a federal offense punishable by imprisonment, fines, and damage awards. Goss suggests putting one person in control of original disks (or purchases receipts or documentation) and periodically auditing departments.
Goss recommends an electronic communications policy to establish access authorization and responsibility; create guidelines with defined restrictions and system-related accountability; and provide for temporary exceptions. ("You're never going to develop a policy that all departments can comply with 100%," he says.) The policy document should include an acknowledgement form to be signed by the network user.
Beyond management commitment, legal department approvals, and third-party cooperation, says Goss, successful implementation requires departmental buy-in.
"We advertise it on AJC-TV" and communicate the policy "through voice and e-mail messages," says Goss.
?(Editor & Publisher Web Site:http:www.mediainfo.com) [Caption]
?(copyright: Editor & Publisher June 26, 1999) [Caption]


text:
- On VCUG, bladder diverticula decrease in size with bladder contraction. False.
- Congenital bladder diverticula are strongly associated with vesicoureteral reflux. True.
- Congenital bladder diverticula are more common in females. False.
- "Bladder ears" are a type of acquired bladder diverticula. False.
Discussion: Bladder Diverticula
Bladder diverticula are outpouchings of the urothelial lining that project through the muscular wall of the bladder. They are caused by congenital or acquired defects of the bladder wall. Most are small and asymptomatic, however, they may be associated with inflammation, calculi, infection, reflux, obstruction, urinary retention, and malignancy.
On dynamic imaging, such as VCUG, diverticula enlarge during voiding due to thin or absent muscle layer. Physiologically, voiding will usually accentuate obstructive symptoms produced by diverticula.
Diverticula can be either congenital or acquired. Most are of the acquired type. They are often found in older men due to bladder outlet obstruction from BPH. Less frequently they result from prostatitis, prostate carcinoma or urethral pathology that results in bladder outlet obstruction.
Congenital diverticula are rare and seen almost exclusively in males. The wall of the diverticulum is thin and contains muscle, adventitia and bladder mucosa. Congenital diverticula occur most commonly adjacent to the ureteric orifice, and are called Hutch diverticula. These diverticula have an extremely high association with vesicoureteral reflux, but may also cause ureteral obstruction. Some congenital diverticula are associated with bladder outlet obstruction, such as that seen in posterior urethral valves or Prune Belly syndrome. They also may be seen in patients with neurogenic bladder in conditions such as myelomeningocele. These diverticula, like acquired diverticula do not contain a muscle layer.
In contrast to congenital diverticula, "bladder ears" are herniations of the bladder wall into inguinal hernias. They contract with bladder contraction and are located anteriorly. They frequently disappear with aging. Their diagnosis is critical in planning hernia repair in order to avoid bladder injury.
Urinary stasis in bladder diverticula leads to chronic inflammation , infection and often stone formation. Dysplasia, leukoplakia, and squamous cell metaplasia is present in approximately 80% of all diverticula. These histologic abnormalities may precede the development of neoplasia. Transitional cell carcinoma is most common (75%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (15%) and adenocarcinoma (2%). About 2-7% of patients with a bladder diverticulum will develop a carcinoma within it. Generally, they have a poorer prognosis than bladder carcinoma arising in the bladder itself due to thin or absent muscle layer resulting in early spread of disease.
- StatDx
- Maheshwari Praveen R, Nagar Arpit M, Morani Ajaykumar, Prasad Shashank P, Kamat Neemish. Carcinoma Arising in a Urinary Bladder Diverticulum : Images in Radiology. Bhj.org.
- Lam KY, Ma L, Nicholls J. Adenocarcinoma arising in the diverticulum of the urinary bladder. Pathology 1992; 24 (1): 40-2.
- Learningradiology.com
- Joanna J. Seibert, Charles A. James. Pediatric Radiology Casebase.
- Blane C, Zerin JM, Bloom DA. Bladder diverticula in children. Radiology. 1994 Mar;190(3): 695-7.
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text:
Well-planned goals can help you convert your thoughts into action. Here's how to create successful weight-loss goals. Weight-loss goals can mean the difference between success and failure. Realistic, well-planned weight-loss goals keep you focused and motivated. They provide a plan for change as you transition to a healthier lifestyle.
However, not all weight-loss goals are helpful. Unrealistic and overly aggressive weight-loss goals can undermine your efforts. Use the following tips for creating goals that will help you reduce weight and improve your overall health.
Focus on process goals
Goals for weight loss can focus on outcomes or the process. An outcome goal — what you hope to achieve in the end — might be to lose a certain amount of weight. While this goal may give you a target, it doesn't address how you will reach it. A process goal is a necessary step to achieving a desired outcome. For example, a process goal might be eating five servings of fruits or vegetables a day, walking 30 minutes a day, or drinking water at every meal. Process goals may be particularly helpful for weight loss because you focus on changing behaviors and habits that are necessary for losing weight.
Set SMART goals
A good goal-setting strategy is the SMART goal checklist. Be sure that your weight-loss goals — whether a process goal or an outcome goal — meet the following criteria:
Specific: A good goal includes specific details. For example, a goal to exercise more is not specific, but a goal to walk 30 minutes after work every day is specific. You're declaring what you will do, how long you will do it, and when you will do it.
Measurable: If you can measure a goal, then you can objectively determine how successful you are at meeting the goal. A goal of eating better is not easily measured, but a goal of eating 1,200 calories a day can be measured. A goal of riding your bike is not measurable. A goal of riding your bike for 30 minutes three days a week is measurable.
Attainable: An attainable goal is one that you have enough time and resources to achieve. For example, if your work schedule doesn't allow spending an hour at the gym every day, then it wouldn't be an attainable goal. However, two weekday trips to the gym and two weekend trips might be attainable. If a particular type of exercise, such as running, is physically too difficult for you, then running every day would not be an attainable goal.
Realistic: For most people, a realistic outcome goal is losing 5 to 10 percent of their current weight. Process goals must also be realistic. For example, a Registered Dietician or Nutritionist can help you determine a daily calorie goal based on your current weight and health. Setting an unrealistic goal may result in disappointment or the temptation to give up altogether.
Trackable: Goals are best achieved if you keep a record of your progress. If you have an outcome goal of losing 15 pounds (7 kilograms), record your weight each week. If your goal is to eat 1,400 calories a day, keep a food diary. Keeping track can help you evaluate your progress and stay motivated
Long-term and short term-goals
Long-term goals help you focus on the big picture. They can shift your thinking from simply being on a diet to making lifestyle changes. However, long-term goals may seem too difficult or too far away. You may benefit from breaking down a long-term goal into a series of smaller, short-term goals.
If your outcome goal is to lose 15 pounds (7 kilograms) in three months, you may break it down into separate goals for each month, perhaps 7 pounds (3 kilograms) for the first month and 4 pounds (2 kg) for each of the last two months because early weight loss is often faster. An example of a process goal might be to walk 30 minutes a day. If you currently don't walk regularly at all, you may want to walk 15 minutes a day for two weeks and then add five minutes to your walk each week.
Allow for setbacks
Setbacks are a natural part of behavior change. Everyone who successfully makes changes in his or her life has experienced setbacks. It's better to expect them and develop a plan for dealing with them. Identifying potential roadblocks — a big holiday meal or office party, for example — and brainstorming specific strategies to overcome them can help you stay on course or get back on course.
Reassess and adjust your goals as needed
Be willing to change your goals as you make progress in your weight-loss plan. If you started small and achieved success, you might be ready to take on larger challenges or you might find that you need to adjust your goals to better fit your new lifestyle.
Adapted by: Mayo Clinic Staff
Tip of the Day
Top it off with dairy! Looking for alternate ways to add more dairy into your diet? Try adding low-fat plain yogurt as a topping to a baked potato or sprinkle reduced-fat cheese on top of chili.
Daily Inspiration


text:
The New York Times
The Guardian
Google News
Yahoo News
Fox News
BBC News
The Wall Street Journal
Washington Post
E! News
USA Today
The New Yorker
ABC News
Los Angeles Times
NBC News
The Economic Times
Houston Chronicle
New York Post
CBS News
National Geographic
Page Six
The Economist
World Net Daily
The Onion
Sky News
The Raw Story
The Star
STL Today
The Week
Business Standard
Meta Filter
Washington Times
Arizona Local News
Drudge Report
The Hill
The Daily Caller
The Mercury News
The Hindu
July 29, 2019
Slack DOWN and Server Status Latest: Is Slack Down? Outage issues hit messaging app
DOWN? The popular messaging app appears to be experiencing server problems and is down for thousands of users around the world.
Slack users are reporting outages with the popular messaging app around the world this afternoon with thousands of users unable to access the service.
Website monitoring service, Down Detector, is showing major issues across the network, with as many as 400 reports related to the server outage at its peak.
Attempts to reach the app returns a "server error" leaving users unable to access the app.
These issues appear to be impacting users across the world rather than one specific location.
The Slack team on Twitter has been quick to respond to the problems, telling users:
"We're receiving reports about issues with messages sending and loading. Our team is on the case and we'll report back once we have an update to share."
According to Slacks own server status page the following message has been added:
"Some workspaces might be experiencing issues with messages sending and loading. Our team is on the case and we'll report back once we have an update to share."
Latest News
SAG awards: Phoebe Waller-Bridge wins best female actor in a comedy for Fleabag
Police arrest organizer of Hong Kong protest after rally turns violent
Republican leader tells 'white supremacist garbage' to stay away from Virginia gun rally
US navy to name aircraft carrier in honour of black Pearl Harbor veteran
Filipinos turn volcano's ash, plastic trash into bricks
What to Know About the Virginia Gun Rally
Dershowitz Says Voters Should Judge President Trump's Conduct
China reports 17 new cases of mystery virusChina reports 17 new cases of mystery virus
SAG Awards: The Complete Winners List
Impeachment: Trump wants Senate trial over before State of the Union address
Donald Trump
45th President of the United States of America
Mike Pence
Vice President of the United States
Boris Johnson
British Prime Minister
Angela Merkel
Chancellor of Germany
Emmanuel Macron
President of France
Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada
Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Barack Obama
44th U.S. President
Theresa May
Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom
Vladimir Putin
Russian President
Shinzō Abe
Prime Minister of Japan
Latest News
SAG awards: Phoebe Waller-Bridge wins best female actor in a comedy for Fleabag
Police arrest organizer of Hong Kong protest after rally turns violent
Republican leader tells 'white supremacist garbage' to stay away from Virginia gun rally
US navy to name aircraft carrier in honour of black Pearl Harbor veteran
Filipinos turn volcano's ash, plastic trash into bricks
What to Know About the Virginia Gun Rally
Dershowitz Says Voters Should Judge President Trump's Conduct
China reports 17 new cases of mystery virusChina reports 17 new cases of mystery virus
SAG Awards: The Complete Winners List
Impeachment: Trump wants Senate trial over before State of the Union address
Donald Trump
45th President of the United States of America
Mike Pence
Vice President of the United States
Boris Johnson
British Prime Minister
Angela Merkel
Chancellor of Germany
Emmanuel Macron
President of France
Justin Trudeau
Prime Minister of Canada
Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Barack Obama
44th U.S. President
Theresa May
Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom
Vladimir Putin
Russian President
Shinzō Abe
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Baltimore paper blasts Trump after his attacks on city: 'Better to have a few rats than to be one'
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2 US teens jailed in Italy in policeman's killing
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Meghan Markle's Vogue September Issue – Who Are The 15 Women On The Cover?
Love Island's Belle Hassan Brands Molly-Mae 'Two-Faced' After Being Dumped From Villa
Oliver Letwin Warns MPs No-Deal Brexit May Now Be Inevitable
Love Island's Dr Alex George Glad To See The Back Of 'Inaccurate' Lie Detector Tests
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People Are Comparing This Red ASOS Dress To A Sack Of Onions
Alexei Navalny: Everything We Know About The Russian Opposition Leader's 'Allergic Reaction'
Trump news – live: Impeachment looms as senior congressman says 'we have to do this' amid backlash over president's attacks on 's***hole' Baltimore and black congressman
Beijing says China stepping up U.S. soy imports, yet to show up in U.S. data
Iran says reporter once detained in US could interview Pompeo
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As A Disabled Woman, I'm Harassed On The Street Daily – Where's My #MeToo Movement?
This Woman Helped Popularise Gender Reveal Parties. Now There's A 'Plot Twist.'
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Trump attacks black congressman for second day in a row amid growing anger over racist use of 'infested'
Woman wakes up in hotel, finds snake on her arm: 'I won't be sleeping for a while after this'
Iran Took Advantage of the Royal Navy's Weakness
Nigeria bans local Shi'ite group after protests
Blast, gunbattle at Afghan VP candidate's office, 2 dead
Protesters clash in Hong Kong as cycle of violence intensifies
Kourtney Kardashian's Paparazzi Thong Bikini Pics Shock The World, Fans Hadn't Expected Cellulite
Jennifer Lopez twerks on Alex Rodriguez, stops concert to sing him happy birthday
Meghan Markle's Specific Instructions for Cover of Guest-Edited Vogue Issue: 'I Want to See Freckles'
'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,' Tarantino and When Violence Against Women Is a Punchline
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The Latest: Shooter described as thin man in camouflage
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Jessie J shuts down Channing Tatum questions during awkward interview
California garlic festival shooting: gunman kills at least four at Gilroy event
U.K. Starts No-Deal Brexit Meetings as It's Now a Real Prospect
Africa's booming cities face a severe toilet crisis
Julian Castro Is 'Hypercritical' Of Trump Immigration Policies He Once Praised Under Obama
Trump says director of national intelligence is resigning
Gilroy garlic festival shooting: Gunman shot dead after killing at least three at California event
Mexico's Pemex Reduces Fuel Imports After Theft Crackdown
Supermarkets told to shut the door as it emerges open fridges use one per cent of Britain's electricity
Europe Is Getting America's Anti-Missile Aegis Ashore System but
China rejects U.S. lawmaker's comments on HK protests, human rights
Italy: Teen held in officer's death 'illegally blindfolded'
How the B-52 Bomber Got the Nickname 'BUFF'
Huge light beam triggers invasion of grasshoppers in Las Vegas that could last weeks, experts say
Canadian police descend on tiny Manitoba hamlet as teen murder suspects spotted
When I Went Vegan, My Middle-Eastern Roots Were The Missing Ingredient
China flag flies at half-mast for Tiananmen crackdown leader
F-15s Attack!: Israel Shot Down 88 Syrian Fighter Jets In this Famous Battle
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Three reported killed in shooting at California garlic festival
Donald Trump 'richly deserves' to be impeached, says top Democrat on House committee
Are Democratic presidential candidates underestimating the importance of faith to American voters?
Canadian police zero in on location in hunt for teen murder suspects
Iran to restart activities at Arak nuclear facility, says official
Acting Homeland Security secretary: The Supreme Court gave the DOD a big victory on the wall
White House chief says 'everything Donald Trump says is offensive'
Trump wins SCOTUS case to allow Pentagon funding to build border wall
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Coast Guard Seizes 26,000 Pounds Of Cocaine In The Pacific Ocean
Trump 'would wet himself' if he visited Baltimore district he attacked, creator of The Wire says
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The Dior Tribales earrings feature a double-stud style with a smaller bead on the front of the ear, and a larger bead serving as the earring's back. The Murano-look printed on the large bead showcases black crystal animals, while stars adorn the earrings from every angle. Wearing one of them as a single earring and pairing it with a simple stud on the opposite ear allows for endless options.
Reference : E1186TRIRS_D946
- Red Murano-Look Printed Dior Tribales Antique Palladium Finish Earrings
- Murano-look white and red printed resin beads
- Black crystal accents
- 'Dior' logo engraved on interior
- Bead diameter: 1.6 cm
- Antique palladium finish metal
- Double-stud style
- Made in Germany
Reference : E1186TRIRS_D946


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SERVICES: Free Wi-Fi, Gas CH, electric woodburning stove in SR, TV, DVD player, electric fan oven, microwave, fridge, automatic washer, hair dryer, walled garden. telephone (for incoming calls and 999 emergency calls only) Private parking space for one car.
Ideal for a couple or single person wishing to explore York on foot, whilst appreciating the attention to detail of the interior decor of this country cottage overlooking the city walls. Book the property next door, 6 Hunt Court, and become neighbours with your friends/family whilst holidaying together in York. All beds are made up before your arrival, with 2 towels per person.
Bookings From Friday – Friday – Prices from £500 – £650 per week
(Other arrival and departure dates can be sometimes be arranged)
Short breaks – Friday – Monday / Monday – Friday from £400.00.
Hastie – Great week despite the rain! Great cottage and location. See you again.
Jackson – Another lovely break in this lovely cottage. Back next year!
Readman – Many thanks for our stay. Very nice, warm and comfortable. See you again.
Hatfield – Another successful pre-Christmas visit. Lavender Cottage as comfortable as ever.
Thompson – Our first visit to a lovely home from home. Really enjoyed our stay. Thanks very much.
Hale – Had a good weekend as always – see you next year – thank you!
Caldwell – Thanks again. Another great week, see you at Christmas.
Crawford – Muy Bien – Excellent! Gracias
Coss – After a horrendous journey up the M1 we arrived Friday evening for our first visit to Lavender Cottage. I was so impressed I would have hugged a YHH person had they been here! House is lovely, perfect, clean, well equipped, lovely décor and what a location! Looking forward to next visit already! Thank you
Rogers – We will miss Lavender Cottage a lot! Its like being in rural England just in the centre of York. Peaceful and cosy! a real home away from home.
Independently owned. Agent & Serviced by YHH.


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Master Marketing On The Internet By Using These Tips
Mlm is surely an exciting business to begin for just about any energetic, ambitious person. Listed here are a few intelligent and proven techniques to manage your network marketing endeavor towards success.
In terms of Online marketing, you need to use any new software or important advancement that can be seen in the world of modern technology. When your business falls behind on these technologies, customers might begin to doubt you. Impress your clients by proving that you are currently up-to-date with technology and software.
Internet marketing could be problematic, however you can remedy it. Be sure you know exactly what problems your small business seeks to fix. Customers will inform others when they received excellent service from you, and recommendations advertising is the best kind.
Your website tag should contain a simple, clear definition of you and also the target of your respective site. Located very prominently inside the window of the browser, the site tag is probably the first things people see. Should you repeat the wrong thing, or provide puzzling information with your tag, it will not are employed in your favor. Target your message, and remember it will likely be a factor in regardless of whether people continue their visit to your site.
You may have everything you should achieve success with web marketing. Expensive tools of the trade that advertise you can get rich quick are certainly not what is going to prove important. Instead, depend on good, old-fashioned, hard work and imagination. With lots of thought and energy, you are going to get through your decisions and strategies with regards to marketing.
When you make your webpage, do your greatest to focus on content that is certainly directly related to keywords & topic, plus ensure it's easy to understand. You ought to focus on building the information of your own customers therefore they are informed about their purchase. Crowding your page or rendering it complicated to utilize will turn customers away.
Keep detailed records of the statistics. This might include web site traffic, sales, refunds, conversion, referrals, and almost everything which can be measured. Statistics assist you to see what is working and what exactly is not.
Work with a signature on every email you distribute, whether it is business related or perhaps not. This can be your organization card inside the cyber-world, and you will spread it far and wide. Whenever you send emails, the person receiving them can easily see your position along with the business you help and might sometimes be a terrific way to market your business.
Benefiting from the graphic searches is really a unique method to participate in internet marketing. By adding relevant images in your site, it is possible to enhance the attention you get by gaining a lot more exposure. Those people who are looking for other items might end up at the site simply because they were searching for a particular image. This creates great branding plus they are more likely to get back to your website.
Take advantage of the tips presented here to develop your business. These pointers give you a solid introduction to proven network marketing tactics..


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Tokyo 2020 Olympics Logo Scrapped After Plagiarism Claim
The logo for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games has been scrapped after allegations that it was plagiarized.
Olympics logo designer Kenjiro Sano has been accused by a Belgian artist Olivier Debie of plagiarism – and the Games organizing committee has decided to scrap the logo due to "too many doubts" over the emblem.
Take a look at the logos in question:
Via BBC
Back to the drawing board then!


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Fudge Crostata
Assemble this chocolate and almond dessert in less than 30 minutes.
Fudge Crostata
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Place one of the prepared piecrust circles in a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom or in a 9-inch pie plate; press piecrust circle onto bottom and up sides of pan. Trim edges if necessary.Advertisement
For filling, melt chocolate pieces and 2 tablespoons of the butter in a heavy small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from heat; set aside. Beat remaining butter and the 2/3 cup granulated sugar in a medium mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium to high speed until combined. Add the ground almonds, the whole egg, egg yolk, and melted chocolate mixture; mix well. Spread the chocolate mixture evenly over bottom of pastry-lined pan.
For lattice top, cut the second prepared piecrust circle into 1/2-inch-wide strips using a fluted pastry wheel or knife. Carefully arrange pastry strips in a lattice design over chocolate mixture. Trim pastry strips even with the edge. Beat egg white in a small bowl until foamy; gently brush over lattice. If desired, sprinkle with coarse sugar.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes more or until crust is golden. (To prevent overbrowning, cover edge of crust with foil after 15 to 20 minutes of baking if necessary.) Cool completely on a wire rack. If using the tart pan, carefully remove sides.
To serve, cut into wedges. If desired, serve with Sweetened Whipped Cream and fresh raspberries. Makes 12 servings.
Look for coarse sugar at specialty food stores or request some from the bakery at your local supermarket.
Nutrition Facts (Fudge Crostata)
Sweetened Whipped Cream
In a chilled mixing bowl combine whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form (tips curl).Advertisement


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MacCrimmon's Sweetheart
MacCrimmon's Sweetheart
Alternative Title
Maol Donn The Widow's Grief.
John MacDonald, Inverness, Robert Reid (chanter demonstration), RU Brown, Patrick Molard (Campbell Canntaireachd Setting)
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Tunes Index - G-M
The tunes index contains most tunes in the piobaireachd repertoire with links to recordings and manuscript sources where possible and also information about current sources and publications. The interpretations of tunes in the recordings are those of the player.
Need a copy of a score? Check the PS Books 1 – 16 Index:
Tunes without an artist's name do not contain sound files but do contain other tune information.


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(4 of 6 customers found this review helpful)
Very nice chairs!
By Shop-'till-you-drop
from Phila, PA
About Me Midrange Shopper
Best Uses
I bought these to go with a glass kitchen table in the Tan color. Overall, they are very nice, but the Tan color is really a light beige or off-white. It goes well enough with my kitchen colors that I will keep them, but the color name should be changed to not confuse buyers. The leather is very hard, but it makes it durable and easy to clean.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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June 2009
Celebrating life with Celtic spirit
By Marie Sherry
Christchurch Presbyterian minister and author John Hunt's new book We Celebrating People aims to bring back the tradition of rituals and help people celebrate the good in their lives.
The book is John's third. All three works are inspired by Celtic spirituality, and follow John's first visit to the isle of Iona in Scotland 11 years ago.
"When I was at school my reports often had 'John could do better'. I remember groaning and thinking 'how good do you have to be?' I think many of us have had our spirit damaged by that kind of expectation," he says.
"You can come at life as a struggle and some of us, because of our upbringing, find ourselves with that feeling about life.
"The church has taught us that we struggle through this life and if we're good we have our reward in the next life. The Celtic belief is that the world is a good place and people are kind and the present moment is to be enjoyed. We know God and know God's love and we don't have to look anywhere else."
John believes many of the small daily rituals enjoyed in the past have been lost from modern life.
"In the past I think we've had a number of rituals that have helped us through difficult times and enabled us to celebrate happy times. With the exception of birthdays we seem to have lost most of our rituals. I offer little rituals to celebrate moments through the day.
"After rituals through the day I have written rituals for the life journey to celebrate a conception and a birth, first day at school, first pay packet, puberty and so on. They are small rituals that are easy for people to achieve."
John says We Celebrating People challenges the view that people are born sinful and that the world is not a good place.
His first book, We Spirited People, was published 10 years ago and celebrates the resilient human spirit, while encouraging readers to get back up from the knocks they take in life and keep going.
"The Celts remain a laughing, story telling, singing, dancing people. I explore with people that spirit," John says.
His second book, We Well People, promotes the concept that people should be in tune with the natural world.
"When we're engaged with the natural world, with the seasons and rhythms, we are engaging with God the Creator and our spirit is nurtured to make our way through life's tough times to better times ahead."
John has received positive feedback on his books, with one reader saying We Spirited People enabled him to help his daughter recover from profound depression.
We Celebrating People has been published by the Caxton Press in Christchurch and is available through select booksellers throughout the country.


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We have a special announcement for those of you who use Salesforce.com: the Salesforce Foundation has announced a limited supply of extremely discounted registration price ($300) for non-profit community. Contact your Salesforce account executive to get the special discount code. These registrations are limited and have gone fast in the past!
Now on to this week's events:
Soapbox User Summit - Tuesday, May 6, 2014!
Longing for some Soapbox knowledge and inspiration to achieve great things with your website? Wrestling through nagging nightmares that your site could be doing so much more to further your mission? Hungry for Salesforce wisdom? Want to get the lowdown on new features slated for Soapbox? Just want to hang out with friendly PICnetters, fellow Soapbox users, and get a free penguin?
Join us for the third annual Soapbox User Summit on Tuesday, May 6, 2013 in Washington, DC!
Be sure to REGISTER EARLY!
Open Office Hours - every Tuesday from 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm ET
Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 3:00 pm ET
If you have any questions about the management of your site, have run into any problems you aren't sure how to work around, or want to talk to PICnet's support staff face-to-face about a ticket you have opened, then Office Hours are for you! No registration necessary - just drop in! More info HERE for Tuesday's open office hours.
Soapbox 101: Refresher Training, Part 1
Thursday, May 1, 2014 at 1:00 pm ET
Are you a bit rusty on updating your Non-Profit Soapbox site? Or maybe you are a new employee who has just taken over your organization's website? Do you need a little refresher to help keep your website looking its best?
Here at PICnet, our mission is to help non-profits achieve their communication and fundraising goals through technology, and we want to do just that by offering a Soapbox 101 Refresher training webinar.
What is Soapbox 101, you ask?
Well, it's two one-hour sessions with our rockstar Support Developer, Brad Grochowski, covering some of the most common questions on using Non-Profit Soapbox. There will also be a Q&A so come prepared with your own questions! Be sure to RSVP - only 24 spots are available!
Brad will be covering the following topics:
- Part 1: Overview of the content management system and Creating and Managing Modules
- Part 2: Managing Menus and General Site Maintenance
Sign up HERE for Thursday's webinar!


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Foldable smartphone screens have been a dream since long before Polymer Vision launched, and it's still a dream after the startup folded.
Now Chinese smartphone maker Oppo is the latest to try to make it a reality. Oppo has just shown off what sources say is a prototype of an Android tablet with a 7" screen.
We don't have very many details about the prototype, but the original Chinese-language source says that Oppo has been working on it since last August. They got the first model working in February, and now have one that boots Android.
There's just the one photo so far, and Liliputing also found a short video of the folding action at qq. That page is difficult to load, and it's really not worth the bother. It only shows a GIF-length video of the prototype unfolding and nothing about the device's functions.
Oppo isn't the only company working on this idea, but most of the interesting videos in this are coming out of PhD-oriented research labs or show off screens which clearly aren't ready for prime time.
With all the flexible screens getting mounted on fixed curve smartphones like the Galaxy Round Curve or minimally flexible units like the LG G Flex before hitting the market, is this an idea which is waiting for the tech to catch up or one whose time will never come?


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So far Portsmouth, Rhode Island and the surrounding areas have had little to no snow; a mere dusting compared to last year's snowmageddon. However, with a new winter storm approaching the Northeast, it's time to stop procrastinating about putting away the patio furniture you still have sitting outside.
Why You Need to Put Away Patio Furniture
Most high quality patio furniture will be weather proof at best, and weather resistant at worst. However, many cushions (although they may say they are weatherproof) and wicker furniture won't last you more than a year or two. Putting furniture away ensures a longer shelf life and less clean-up time required in the spring.
Steps to Putting Away Patio Furniture
- Always sweep your patio of dried and dead plant debris and leaves. That gorgeous brick or slate patio that was installed by a professional landscaper deserves to be cleaned once in awhile. Removing the fall foliage from the patio will prolong it's life.
- Shake off and properly store your cushions. Shaking off and vacuuming your outdoor cushions will remove any trances of debris as well as unseen mold spores that could end up in the basement of your home and spread. Always wrap these cushions in plastic bags or saran wrap as extra precaution and store them in a cool, dry place such as a your basement.
- Take any patio potted plants and put them either in the garage or a shed to protect them from the harsh winter elements and from animals that might find them a tasty snack when the pickings are slim. Any larger shrubs surrounding your patio should be covered. Hiring a professional landscaping company in Rhode Island can help you winterize your garden in no time.
- Properly fix and cover porch furniture. For those who have aluminum porch furniture, you may not have to worry about this step as the objects have been powder coated with weatherproof coatings. Wrought iron furniture, on the other hand, could become rusty. Check these pieces for any rust spots and apply exterior spray paint on problem areas. Be sure to cover wicker furniture with plastic tarps.
With the average snowfall in Rhode Island hovering around 35 inches, it is a safe bet that there will be enough snow every year to warrant packing up the patio and securing it for those Northeastern snowstorms. For any assistance regarding patio maintenance or installation or winter yard preparation, contact Premier Landscape today!


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Baťa's heritage: It is difficult to find a use for a former factory as large as ten football pitches. The current owner has invested 1.5 billion in its development
Before World War II, there were about 30 thousand inhabitants in Zlín and more than 22 thousand of them were employed by the Baťa footwear company. What was initially a family business turned into the biggest shoe producer in the world. After 1948, it was nationalised and renamed Svit, while in the 1990's it was privatised. However, the company got into significant debt and the import of cheap footwear from Asia also contributed to its bankruptcy. The production of shoes on the site gradually came to an end. The factories still stand there, though, and are finding a new use over time.


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Pro Bono & Community Service
Many people have come to associate the term "pro bono" with legal work done voluntarily and without payment, but the Latin phrase has a broader meaning – "for the public good." At Eckert Seamans, we take pride in our long-standing dedication to serving the public through pro bono legal work as well as community service, charitable giving, civic engagement, and service on boards and committees of nonprofit organizations.
Through regular volunteering, many Eckert Seamans attorneys and staff help to advance the missions of vital organizations within their communities. Volunteers from our Boston office can be found each month wearing their Eckert Seamans aprons as they serve lunch at the New England Center for Homeless Veterans. And through the firm's partnerships with PHILADELPHIA READS and Reading is FUNdamental Pittsburgh, attorneys and staff in our Philadelphia and Pittsburgh offices, respectively, volunteer as literacy coaches, mentoring elementary-aged students one-on-one each week.
Across all of our offices, members of the Eckert Seamans team organize and lead charitable initiatives, competing amongst each other to raise money for deserving organizations throughout the year.
At Eckert Seamans, our pro bono clients receive the same high level of attention and dedication from our attorneys that our corporate clients have come to expect. Our Pro Bono Executive Committee oversees the intake of all of the firm's pro bono legal work. Whenever possible, we partner with our clients on pro bono matters, which allows us to work together to achieve common goals as we serve our community. We also encourage our attorneys to connect with new potential pro bono opportunities of interest to them.
Each year, Eckert Seamans provides thousands of hours of pro bono legal services, worth millions of dollars. We perform pro bono work on behalf of organizations such as Neighborhood Legal Services, the Pittsburgh Pro Bono Partnership, Philadelphia VIP, the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program, and local Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts programs.
In cooperation with the firm's Nonprofit Group, our attorneys have recently helped set up 501(c)(3) organizations for a number of pro bono clients, including Hekima Place, a girls' home in Nairobi, Kenya; two schools in Africa; and a coalition to assist small business corporations in disaster planning. Eckert Seamans has also recently completed pro bono work for an organization that supports an orphanage in Ethiopia, a historical preservation organization, an after school education programming, an organization engaged in clean energy and water efforts in India, and a youth soccer club that raises money for cancer research.
The firm has also assisted organizations such as: Fresh Artists, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit arts organization that amplifies the voice of children by increasing access to arts education; Growth Through Energy and Community Health (GTECH) Strategies, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that cultivates the unrealized potential of people and places to improve the economic, social, and environmental health of our communities; and One Degree Solar, a venture-backed supplier of renewable energy products and services that improve lives for low-income, off-grid families across Africa. ODS solutions power lights, phones, fans, radios, and educational technology that enable families and small businesses to live healthier and more productive lives.
Greater Good
We are delighted to feature the good work our lawyers and staff are doing in the communities in which we live and work on our homepage. All of those past features are collected here for your enjoyment. We invite you to learn more about these deserving partner organizations via the links below.
- Eckert Seamans is proud to partner with Philadelphia Reads, a nonprofit organization that helps students in under-resourced schools build strong literacy skills. Attorneys and staff in our Philadelphia office meet with first grade students each week, and provide a creative blend of literacy enrichment, mentoring, and career education.
- Eckert Seamans has partnered with Reading is FUNdamental Pittsburgh to form the RIF Readers one-on-one lunchtime literacy mentoring program. Attorneys and staff in our Pittsburgh office meet with their second-grade reading buddies from a local school to build literacy skills and a love of reading in elementary school students.
- David Laigaie, a member of our Philadelphia office, recently celebrated the exoneration of his longtime pro bono client Terrance Lewis. Nearly three and a half years after the Supreme Court ruled that automatic life-without-parole sentences for juveniles were illegal, Terrance was released from prison. Learn more.
- Eckert Seamans is a proud corporate sponsor of Standing Firm, a program of the Women's Center and Shelter of Pittsburgh aimed at alerting employers of the costly effects of partner violence on the workplace and workforce and helping employers take steps to prevent and respond to them.
- Karen Elliott and Annemarie DiNardo Clearly provide pro bono counsel on behalf of Cancer LINC, a Central Virginia-based nonprofit that connects cancer patients and their families with legal assistance and financial and community resources.
- Matthew Meade co-chaired the 2019 Yale Day of Service, during which approximately 2,500 alumni, family, and friends volunteered at 225 service sites across the country and around the world. In addition to co-chairing, Matt worked with the Yale swim team to help to organize a learn-to-swim program for inner city kids in New Haven.
- Amanda C. Scafidi provides pro bono services through the Women's Bar Foundation's Family Law Project ("FLP"). The FLP recruits, trains, and mentors attorneys, and collaborates with legal and social services to provide high quality representation and assistance to victims of domestic violence. The FLP is a unique organization because it is designed to meet the legal needs of the underserved in the legal services community who have already been denied representation by a legal services agency and who might otherwise 'fall through the cracks.' About half of the individuals served by the FLP are indigent, according to federal poverty guidelines; the remaining individuals we serve are low income and, thus, make too much money for legal services eligibility but earn too little to be able to afford to retain an attorney.
- Victoria Britton of our Princeton, New Jersey, office has partnered with Kids In Need of Defense (KIND) to provide pro bono legal assistance to undocumented children who enter the U.S. without a parent or legal guardian.
- Michelle Grady, a member of our Newark office, is a pro bono attorney with the NYC Bar Association FEMA Appeals Clinic, where she helps survivors of hurricanes in Florida, Texas, and Puerto Rico file FEMA claims appeals. The devastating hurricanes of 2017 resulted in more than 4.5 million FEMA benefits applications from storm victims; the call for pro bono lawyers became clear when FEMA began issuing denials in November 2017.
- Michelle Grady is also a volunteer lawyer at Monday Night Law, a community service program providing consultations for individuals who have questions about a legal issue or process and an opportunity to have a lawyer help them figure out what to do next. Monday Night Law is provided by the New York City Bar Association's Monday Night Law/Moderate Means Committee, the New York City Bar Legal Referral Service, and the City Bar Justice Center. This program is designed to help address the public's need for affordable and accessible legal guidance. Monday Night Law assists more than 1,000 New Yorkers annually.
- F. Timothy Grieco, a litigator and member (partner) in our Pittsburgh office, is a volunteer at Urban Impact, a Pittsburgh-based ministry dedicated to developing the academic, physical, and spiritual character of inner-city youth. Tim coached the division-winning championship middle school basketball team this year, and also organizes and provides quality, hot meals for UI's youth basketball leagues.
- William T. Benzing, a public finance attorney and member in our Philadelphia office, has donated his time to the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program since 2009. As an IRS-certified volunteer, Bill provides free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals.
- John W. Pauciulo, a member of our Philadelphia office and chair of the firm's financial transactions practice group, is an advisory council member of Fresh Artists, a charitable organization empowering young lives through the transformative power of art and philanthropy. Since 2011, the firm has provided hundreds of hours of pro bono legal services and other support to Fresh Artists.
- Steven R. Kramer, member-in-charge of our White Plains office, was selected in 2016 as City of White Plains Champion of Youth for Summer Jobs. The award recognizes Steve and the firm for providing employment opportunities for youth and young adults in White Plains.
- Eckert Seamans is proud to be a United Way Champion through our donations to the Impact Fund, which supports key initiatives identified by community leaders and volunteers as the most critical. The Impact Fund ensures that the best, most innovative and collaborative programs will receive funds needed to make long-lasting change for the largest populations of vulnerable people in our communities.
- As a proud partner of the Dauphin County Bar Association's Capital Area Managing Partners Diversity Initiative, Eckert Seamans' Harrisburg office supports minority first-year law students with stipends and summer associate placements. The initiative aims to expose students to the practice of law and encourage them to consider beginning their legal careers in Central Pennsylvania.
- Eckert Seamans is a long-time supporter of Play On, Philly!, an education and social initiative that provides opportunities for personal development to children through the study of music. In addition to providing pro bono legal work for the organization, firm members Mitchell L. Bach and Warren Vogel serve as a board member and an advisor, respectively.
- Tara L. Lattomus, a member in our Wilmington office, has served for 10 years as a Guardian Ad Litem for the Delaware Office of the Child Advocate, where she represents the interests of children in foster care.
- Attorneys and staff in our Boston office raised $1,000 in 2016 for the Home for Little Wanderers' annual adopt-a-student program, which provides students living in at-risk circumstances with an "off to college" care package.
- Grant E. Coffield, an intellectual property lawyer and member in our Pittsburgh office, and his wife Kelly founded The Cure for Cancer Soccer Foundation, a nonprofit consisting of three girls soccer teams that raises awareness and money for cancer research via tournaments around the country. As of 2016, the Cure raised and donated over $10,000 to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer and was recognized as a "Top Fundraiser" for the organization.
- Eckert Seamans provides pro bono legal services for Laura Fitzpatrick Photo Collection, part of the Smithsonian's new Museum of African American History and Culture. Learn more.
- Since 2014, Eckert Seamans' Philadelphia office has been proud to host students for the annual JEVS Human Services Career Day for its PASS Program (Preparing for, Attaining and Sustaining Success). Students speak with attorneys, administrative staff, and other professionals to learn more about career choices available to them.
- As longtime volunteer and Chester County coordinator for Wills for Heroes, Jodi Dyan Oley, a civil litigator and member in our Philadelphia office, helps provide the nation's first responders and veterans with free legal documents such as wills, living wills, and powers of attorney.
- Amy J. Roy, a commercial litigator and member in our Pittsburgh office, co-founded Neighbors for Neighbors, a nonprofit that fulfills Wish Lists for children in need during the Holiday season. Since 2014, Neighbors for Neighbors fulfilled Wish Lists for over 600 Pittsburgh area families.
- Since 2010, lawyers and staff from the firm's Boston office volunteer monthly to serve lunch and dinner at the New England Center and Home for Veterans. During the holidays the office also "adopts" four veterans through the center's "Gift-A-Vet" program, buying their adopted veterans gifts from their wish lists.
- Lawyers and staff from the firm's Princeton office helped to fulfill the holiday wishes of neighbors in need in cooperation with HomeFront, which works to break the cycle of poverty and end homelessness in Central New Jersey. In 2015, with an outpouring of support from community partners like Eckert Seamans, the HomeFront helped grant special holiday wishes of over 3,300 homeless or formerly homeless children.
- Eckert Seamans sponsored a 2016 "hackathon" event in Boston on behalf of Generation Citizen (GC), a national civics- oriented nonprofit focusing on empowering middle school and high school students to be involved in addressing issues in their local communities. The Civic Tech Challenge, hosted by Microsoft and the Gates Foundation, is GC's annual fundraising event that matches students with local techies to come up with innovative solutions to real-life challenges.
- Eckert Seamans provided pro bono legal assistance to Koinonia Academy, a private Catholic school in New Jersey, relating to the renovation of vacant school property in order to provide rent-free housing to a family of eight who had fallen on hard times.
- Nancy L. Rackoff is a 2017 recipient of the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh Tribute to Women in Leadership Award in recognition of her commitment to community service.


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Yuriy Klimenko
CaptiveTwo Russian soldiers, the seasoned and laconic Rubakhin and the cheerful and frivolous rifleman Vovka, walk over the mountains and through the gorges of Chechnya searching for a guide to lead their convoy out of an ambush. Only a local who knows the trails can do it, but the locals are enemies,...Watch Movie
His Wife's DiaryHIS WIFE'S DIARY reveals a new and unexpected aspect of the private life of Ivan Bunin, the famous writer and Nobel prize laureate. The action takes place in France, Sweden and Germany between the 1930s and 1950s. While living in the South of France as an émigré totally...Watch Movie


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Warwick Market has been featured on Antiques Road Trip many times, and we love welcoming them back to film the much loved show from the BBC.
We have been lucky to be host for Natasha Raskin, Raj Bisram, Thomas Plant, Tim Wannacott and on the celebrity Road Trip we proudly had a visit from John Simpson CBE.
The cast and crew are very professional, and we find the show represents the business very well, with most of the items purchased making money at auction!
There is always a deal to be had!


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Thar, also known as the Great Gray Land, is a rocky, broken moor stretching for hundreds of miles with a harsh climate north of the Moonsea. It is inhabited by wild tribes of humanoids such as orcs who are constantly at war with one another.
The many humanoid tribes of Thar carry out attacks on caravans heading to or from Glister, the camps in the Galenas foothills or villages in the Stojanow Vale. In an attempt to keep them in check and bring stability to the area, lords and merchants have been known to create agreements with the tribes to encourage them not to attack, but these agreements break down easily. Scouts, hired adventuring companies and the barbarians of the Ride also venture into Thar to hunt these tribes and destroy any creatures they encounter.
Several organisations exist amongst the tribes of Thar, including the Burning Daggers, fanatical orc worshipers of Kossuth, the Skullsmashers, a fierce tribe of ogres, and the Red Claws, a goblinoid horde.
Places of Interest
The city lies near the mouth of the Tormel River which flow from a lake in central Thar.
Fangjaws Hold
The lair of the Skullsmashers tribe of ogres, located in the hills in central Thar.
Xûl Jarak
An ancient orc citadel containing a passage to the Underdark.
Thar is bleak and windy, and is highly unsuitable for growing crops.
The Tribes of Thar
North of the Moonsea lies the Great Gray Land of Thar — a broad moorland stretching a hundred miles from the shores of the cold blue lake to the snowcapped peaks of the Galenas Mountains. This windswept upland is good for little more than grazing scrawny goats and sheep, and breeding hard, cruel warriors with a taste for plunder. Dozens of tribes of orcs, ogres, goblinkind, and other such savage warriors live in this wild and desolate land. Most are quite small — thirty or forty orcs claim an old ruin as their "keep," or perhaps a dozen ogres lair in a cave they found amid one of the rocky outcroppings that dot the moorland. But some of the tribes are quite large and can muster hundreds of ferocious warriors.
Thar's humanoid tribes spend much of their time (and blood) battling each other, but they also pose a threat to nearby settlements. Melvaunt and Thentia are much too large to attack directly, but bands of raiders sometimes prey on caravans bound to or from Glister or winding along the coastal track. Others occasionally plunder the smaller villages and homesteads in the upper reaches of the Stojanow Vale, or lonely mining camps in the Galenas foothills.
The evil tribes would likely cause even more damage, but several factors keep them in check. First, various merchants and lords of the nearby cities strike deals with one tribe or another to let their goods pass in peace. Such bargains are often short-lived and uncertain, but a few are usually in force at any given time. Second, small bands of rangers and scouts patrol the borders of Thar, hunting down orc or ogre marauders, while the barbarians of the Ride viciously slaughter any such creatures they find out on the open steppe. Finally, any tribe that succeeds in some bloody or spectacular feat of plunder often earns deadly retribution — the human cities nearby hire adventuring companies armed with powerful magic or simply bribe rival chieftains to punish a tribe that goes too far.
The Burning Daggers
Fanatical worshipers of Kossuth, the elemental god of fire, the Burning Daggers are murderous, intolerant zealots even by orcish standards. The apex of their existence is the opportunity to build a mighty bonfire and hurl their captives to fiery death one by one. Each Burning Dagger orc is branded horribly in the center of his face with a dagger-shaped mark (point to the chin, crossguard above the eyes, pommel in the center of the forehead) as a sign of devotion… once every year, the new mark seared right over the old. The cumulative effect for an old chieftain is absolutely gruesome.
The Burning Daggers make their lair in a deep set of caverns about twenty miles from Glister. A natural rift to the Elemental Plane of Fire exists at the bottom of the cave, creating volcanic conditions in a place where none should exist. In the heart of the rift, a dagger of hot black iron floats in the air, wrapped in ebon flames. Sacred to Kossuth's holy assassins, the dagger has been sought by the Black Flame zealots for many decades.
Fangjaws Hold
A crude palisade surrounding a dozen huge lodges made of fieldstone and turf, Fangjaws Hold is named for its barbaric gate, where hundreds of bulette teeth have been driven into the wood to give it the appearance of, well, a fanged jaw. This is the lair of the Skullsmashers, a tribe of unusually fierce and strong ogres. The Skullsmashers have captured many slaves from weaker tribes around them and their raids against neighboring lands, and so Fangjaws is home to a hundred or more goblin "thralls" who fight for their ogre masters, and scores of human and dwarf wretches who are simply worked and bullied to death in the most callous and careless manner imaginable. Few Skullsmasher captives last more than a few months.
The chief of the Skullsmashers is a hulking, two-headed ogre named Zar-Umak. Whether he has ettin blood in him, or is simply some freak of nature, none can say.
The Red Claws
A large tribe of goblins and hobgoblins, the Red Claws lair in the cyclopean ruins of an old ogre hold from the days when Thar was a kingdom. Cunning half-floors and quarter-steps of fieldstone and timber divide the huge ogre doorways and towering ogre vaults into spaces more suitable for goblins. The Red Claws are allied with a powerful pack of worgs, and Red Claw worg-riders range all over Thar (and the lands about) in search of easy plunder.
The Red Claws are currently the tribe of Thar causing the most trouble to the most people. The Red Castle stands about twenty miles north of the coastal track between Phlan and Melvaunt, and marauding worg-riders have made travel along this path dangerous even for large and well-armed groups. The hobgoblin marshal Hashrad is warlord of the tribe, and he has been gleefully extorting tolls, bribes, and tribute from anyone within reach. As you might expect, Hashrad is not particularly scrupulous about staying bribed, and so he frequently "loses control" over raiding parties or "doesn't receive" tribute offerings — both timeworn excuses to take a bribe, and then plunder passers-by anyway.
Bloodskull Keep
This grim keep in northwestern Thar is home to the Bloody Skull orc tribe. In the keep's great hall, hundreds of red-dyed skulls are affixed to the walls, each a trophy of the tribe. Most are human, dwarf, or orc skulls, but ogre, giant, and wyvern skulls are also in prominent places. The Bloody Skulls carelessly mix the skulls of their own fallen champions with the skulls of noteworthy enemies those champions slew.
Caravan Guards
It's not glorious, but it's work. The player characters find that there's always a demand for sellswords in Melvaunt, since caravans bound to and from Glister require heavy escort. Food staples, wine and beer, clothing, mining tools, and other supplies are shipped to Glister, in exchange for gold, silver, furs, and timber cut from the nearby mountains. The journey takes about ten days in good weather. Each guard typically earns about 5 to 20 gold pieces for a one-way trip (experienced characters may make a lot more), and the caravan outfitter normally provides mounts, meals, and bedrolls — but the player characters are hired by a dwarf merchant named Umthorn for ten times the going rate, because this caravan's cargo is "vitally important."
The caravan's cargo includes several large, locked chests that radiate magic. In the middle of the journey, a warband of orc berserkers and a manticore attacks the caravan. But in the aftermath of the fight the heroes learn that someone set them up: The orcs learned where to find the caravan, and the chests are empty. Umthorn is a black-hearted rogue who has secretly partnered with the orcs for months, but he's already stolen the loot for himself and plans to blame its loss on the orc raid he arranged. The trouble is, nobody told the heroes.
The Bloody Skulls are a numerous and aggressive tribe, but they have been embroiled in vicious infighting for many months now. They were known as the Black Spears only a few years ago, a tribe dominated by the clerics of Gruumsh; they took their name from the orc-god's fearsome weapon. When the old chief died, the Gruumshites moved to take over the tribe altogether and rule it in the name of He Who Watches. The orc warriors soon grew restive and resentful of the clerics' rule and rallied behind a young half-orc warchief named Wertha. Wertha overthrew the clerics of Gruumsh and captured Bloodskull Keep, but Gruumshite devotees remained in control of various outlying lairs and secret holds. Wertha has been engaged in reducing these strongholds one by one and making himself the master of the new Bloody Skull tribe. When he finishes, the Bloody Skulls — formerly the Black Spears — will reclaim their spot as one of the strongest tribes in Thar.
The Kur-Tharsu
Most Moonsea natives have heard stories of the ancient ogre-kingdom of Thar and its surprising sophistication. Long-ruined watchtowers and roads of well-built stonework, powerful ogre-sized magic weapons, and black curses that still linger over ruined holds all suggest accomplishments beyond the capabilities of the notoriously dull-witted ogres. And in fact all these things were not the work of ordinary ogres. Ancient Thar was a kingdom of oni (or ogre mages), not common ogres. While most of the old realm's common folk were indeed ordinary ogres, oni lords and captains were responsible for building Thar's keeps and holds, laying its spells, and crafting its arms. Common ogres were little more than laborers and loyal (if dimwitted) troops whose activities were closely supervised by oni masters.
Most of the oni vanished into history a thousand years ago when Thar fell, but a few oni still linger in buried strongholds or the ruins of Thar's ancient fortresses. They call themselves the Kur-Tharsu, or "Overlords of Thar." The Kur-Tharsu are not really a tribe, per se — they consist of a few score scattered individuals, none of whom would admit to owing allegiance to any others. But they still exert an influence over the lesser savages who roam their ancient homeland. For example, some of the oni still enslave common ogres and rule over ogre bands. Tribes such as the Jade Skull, the Falling Star, or the Crystal Sphere are bands of common ogres under the sway of one or more oni.
For the most part, the Kur-Tharsu oni have little desire to rebuild their old kingdom. While they are far more clever and ambitious than their minions, they simply are too few and too jealous of each other. Instead they use their ogre servants to bring them food, plunder nearby ruins and caravans or weaker tribes, and guard their lairs.


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Urban and Social Geography
Main interests and research issues of this study group concentrate on metropolises and megacities with focus on urbanization dynamics and so questions of governance, informality, conflicts and risks as well as urban health.
The regional focus is on South, Southeast and East Asia, with current research projects in India, Indonesia and China.
Further research includes cultural / social geography and ethnogeography.