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"To my hearing family and friends… I have a very close and dear friend who is a State Licensed Counselor and Life Coach. His name is John "Rob" Garner. He is also an amazing Cobbler located in Southeastern Washington. I have known him and his family for 30 years. He has a new online counseling service using a secure software similar to Skype, but which is HIPPA compliant for confidentiality. I wanted to pass on his information with you and highly recommend him as a Counselor and Life Coach. With this secure software, you can receive his services from the comfort of your own home. He is a deep, wise and gentle soul…the kind of person you want to sit with for a long while by a warm fire and a cup of tea. I have shared meals with him. I have drummed with him. I have listened to his travel stories and his deeply personal discoveries, and he has listened to mine. He is a man of deep integrity. He was once a supervisor to me when I was a counselor at a Deaf school. He oversaw our Counseling Dept. for a time as a contracted supervisor so that we could upgrade our skills and hours for certification (we used ASL interpreters to work with him). I have nothing but good things to say about John and wanted to share his website with you. Check it out. There is a short video of him there. When you see it, you will get what a wise, gentle and seasoned professional he is. Please share with others who might be in need of his services." LRZ, Master Certified Retreat & Life Coach, Washington State
"Rob's therapy clients, both adults and children, consistently progress in their recovery as a result of his competent and caring approach. He has extensive experience in child services and management in this area. The atmosphere Rob creates in our office is strongly focused on client success and satisfaction with mutual support among team members." MM, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Washington State
"I was in trauma therapy with Rob "John" for over ten years. I can say with complete sincerity that the work that we did together saved my life. It gave me the chance to actually have a life, free from the severe sexual abuse that I suffered since I was four. Well, every abuse is severe, but mine was violent and consistent and nearly killed me on a few occasions.
Before meeting Rob "John" I was working with a wonderful woman. She was retiring and he was to take her position. I was adamant about seeing a woman. She said she thought he might be a match for me and encouraged me to give him at least a try. It took maybe two years for me to begin to build trust with him. I was very wary of sharing my history and what had happened to me. But I found I liked him. He emanated a kind of warmth and kindness that was reassuring. At this time I had become agoraphobic and only left my apartment for these appointments and to buy groceries. I had so many anxieties and was incredibly sensitive. I still am highly sensitive but over the many years of our working together, I learned to set healthy boundaries for myself and have come to love and care for myself in ways where these sensitivities have become gifts, good friends who serve me well. I have learned that sometimes when I feel certain feelings that I am not in a safe situation or whatever it is I am contemplating is not good for me. In those years before my therapy, there was just so much internal noise, I was unable to decipher the messages. I would say this is the greatest gift of our therapy together—the ability to trust myself.
Over the course of my work with Rob "John", I projected many things onto him. I am amazed that he was able to, not only handle my brutal tests, but he had such patience. He simply allowed me to have my own process without reacting or trying to control me into what he may have thought was right for me. I was allowed to figure things out for myself. He was an incredible guide. We uncovered many things. I was able to regress to being a very young child and he became a very strong, healthy father figure for me. He literally helped to re-parent me and recover my innocence, and heal a very broken spirit. Gradually, over time, I was able to release the past, which included a divorce of a twenty-eight year, abusive marriage.
The gratitude I feel for Rob "John" is not something I can write in words. And although our work together completed itself, I continue to heal and expand into my fresh life. I am still learning about who I am and what I can offer the world. But I have a life now. I have friends, beautiful projects that are meaningful to me, healthy activities and a growing confidence — something I celebrate every day." EG, Washington State
Schedule MeSchedule Supervision
"When people tell me nothing has changed, I say come walk in my shoes and I will show you change." John Lewis
©Counselor Cobbler John 2019


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New Relaxing Music Added To Site
I haven't written for awhile. You may have noticed there have been some additions to the site. Recently I've added two new nature tracks to the mp3 download section, the first is Evening Bonfire which has a bonfire and crickets in the background. The other is summer creek which has the sounds of a creek and birds singing.
I've also mixed all of the music tracks with these nature sounds, basically doubling the number of tracks on the site. I hope you enjoy these new additions.

subset: commoncrawl


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Earlier this year, before we enjoyed the wonderful summer and all it provided, we took up a special collection to support a local charity located in Torrington, CT.
They are called Friends in Service to Humanity or, simply, FISH.
Please find their heartfelt thank you letter and know that all we do at CCB is magnified when we do it together.
It is amazing what FISH does for those in need. Thank you to all at CCB who donated!


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Amy Brooke was born in Chicago, Illinois and is a blonde haired, blue eyed American woman of Irish and German descent. She was born under the zodiac sign of Cancer and is a petite 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing only 110 pounds. Her all natural body measured in at a tight 34B-23-35 but she wasn't satisfied and decided to have breast augmentation surgery done in December of 2010 which increased her cup size from a B to her current C for a fuller more matronly look. Amy has no piercings at all, but plenty of tattoos on her body. She has four oriental characters on the top of her left shoulder, an design of the four major elements on her right shoulder blade, a fairy on her right hip and her astrological sign on the inside of her right wrist along with some Arabic writing on the side of her left foot.
September 2008 is when Amy Brooke says she first jumped into the adult business. She had worked as a credit card marketing manager for a couple of years before her adult film debut. In an interview Amy explains that she went on a business trip to Mexico, and due to changes in passport laws that she was unaware of, she got stuck there unable to return for a week and lost her job as a result.
While she was out of work she ran across an adult ad and it intrigued her because a lot of her friends were strippers and made good money, so Brooke responded to an ad seeking a nude model. She ended up shooting a hardcore sex scene two days later and she loved it so much that she made adult performing her new career. Her very first scene was an anal sex video and Amy has said she was really nervous about how it would look. The shoot was for a website filmed in Phoenix, and in the anal fuck flick her stage name was Kayden.
When it comes to Amy's ability to take things in her ass, she says that's just the way her butt is built. When she sees an interesting object she starts imagining how well it might fit if she put it in her ass – and she has tried plenty of object insertions over the years. When asked about other girls who say they can't take it in the ass, Amy replies that she thinks they probably psyching themselves out without even trying. Her approach is to always decide that she's going to make it work somehow and then figure out a way. The result is that things seem to go just fine in the first place. Amy even demonstrated for the cameraman doing the interview by pulling her pants down and pushing a few of her fingers deep into her ass with no trouble at all. She goes on to say that whenever someone asks her if she can do something she's never done before, she always says let's try it and find out. That kind of 'can do' approach has made Amy Brooke very popular with porn fans and XXX producers.
Amy talks in another interview about being very nervous before attending her fourth AVN awards show. She mentioned that it is kind of like a big reunion, a meeting with fans and fellow pornstars doing business and trying to secure more roles – all combined into one big party event. She says her very first one was the most exciting because she felt kind of like a princess being escorted to a ball. The excitement never goes away completely though, even after going to it for all three years previously, and she tells the interviewer to wish her luck in finding a great dress to wear.
At a signing event for her adult modeling agency, Amy was asked what she does in films and she quickly replies: anal, orgies, or anything nasty. She says she's a nasty girl and keeps it real because she loves getting on her hands and knees to be fucked from behind, so the fact that a camera is around for filming is a bonus in her mind.
Amy has also revealed that she has a fetish for little people and really wants to do something in terms of performing with a midget at some point in her porn movie career. When outlining what a movie would be like if she had control, she said maybe a 'through the looking glass' sort of theme. Except of course each scene would be some outrageous sex rather than walking and talking playing cards. She even puts forth the idea that she would love to do an Amy Brooke and the seven little people movie so she could have group sex with them all. She's completely serious with the idea it seems, so watch for it and maybe that movie will come out someday. Right now Amy Brooke has no plans to retire. The day she stops having fun and it feels like a job, she'll start looking in other directions. However that doesn't mean she'd leave the business, only look at perhaps directing or some other role in the adult movie industry.
In 2011, Amy received many award nominations and took home some wins as well. Taking home the AVN award for Most Outrageous Sex Scene for her work in "Fetish Fanatic 8", a film by Belladonna and Evil Angel. Amy's costars in the scene who also won the award were Adrianna Nicole and Allie Haze. She was also nominated for three other AVN awards that year as well as being nominated by both XBIZ and X.R.C.O. for their New Starlet of the Year award and Superslut awards respectively. Amy says she was a bit disappointed not to win more but since some of her friends won in the same categories she's not upset or anything, besides she says there's always next year.
Amy loves all of her anal and double penetration movies, but she also has performed in many other series. You can watch her getting fucked in all three holes as part of the exclusive Porn.com collection of nearly a dozen free full length Amy Brooke porn tube videos right now. Enjoy!


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Published at Saturday, July 27th, 2019 - 19:30:29 PM. Wedding Venue. By Amott Ludwig.
Most wedding venues in Essex not only hold the wedding ceremony, but also allow you to hold your wedding breakfast and of course your evening reception. Again, consider how many guests you will be inviting, and check with the wedding venue how many people they can comfortably seat for the meal. You certainly don't want your wedding guests crammed in, nor do you want guests shoved somewhere at the back of the venue too far away from the top table. Check with the wedding venue if they have their own caterers or whether you need to look for wedding caterers yourself. This will have a significant impact on the costs of hiring the wedding venue.
There are many companies that can be very helpful for making the decision of the venue selection. Wedding services finder and directories can be very helpful for searching the most appropriate wedding venue easily. By completing the search criteria, a list of available venues can be found that can be very helpful for selection of the best venue. The comparison of different venues can make the decision easier. Internet can be the best source of finding not only the best venues but available facilities in these venues as well.
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Any content, trademark's, or other material that might be found on the Brikcase website that is not Brikcase's property remains the copyright of its respective owner/s. In no way does Brikcase claim ownership or responsibility for such items, and you should seek legal consent for any use of such materials from its owner.


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Jumbo Mumbo No. 5 Pacifier Holder (15" x 15")
The Story
One, two, three, four, five
Everybody in my stroller, so come on, let's ride
To the supermarket around the corner
My friends say they want some cookies and juice
But I really don't wanna
Milk bust like I had last week
I must stay deep because talk is cheap...
The Jumbo Mumbo No. 5 collection was created by our very own dance-aholic customer support specialist Denise. Like many babies, Denise can't help herself whenever a catchy tune comes up on her Pandora station. You see her chatting away with our customers while bobbing her head to whatever is on.
Denise is an accomplished jazz pianist, but acknowledges that she is lacking in the voice department. Despite that, she's always the first one to jump on the mic at the company karaoke outings to belt out her favorite tunes.
Jumbo Mumbo No. 5 is a callback to two of her favorites: a certain goofy elephant that could fly and one of her favorite 90s songs that she grew up on. She wanted to combine the mighty but cute elephant pattern with the soft yet bold Eiffel Towel Little Boy Blue color.
Denise dedicates this collection to her dad who loves her to infinity. He still takes her to the magical parks that have flying elephants and loves playing his jazz piano arrangements as often as possible.
What makes Eiffel Towel's Jumbo No. 5 so special?
✅ Made from a unique double-sided material incorporating the Eiffel Towel Waffle-Weave & a cute and cuddly design.
✅ Eco-friendly TENCEL & Organic Cotton
✅ Perfect for you Baby's Sensitive Skin
✅ Durable for the happiest babies
✅ Made in the U.S.A.
What you get:
- 1 x Baby Pacifier Holder with Elephant Stuffed Toy
- 15" x 15"
- 100 grams
- Bib not included
- Baby not included
Other Info
Release Date: September 4, 2019


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December 18, 2013
This graduation project is about transforming the user-experience (UX) of the event of a broken Dorel product into a positive one by a repair service.
February 5, 2012
A redesign and a business plan for a water pumping windmill in North-West India is made, so the farmers would use it again.
June 21, 2011
The Tegg is a playful device that keeps a group of elderly friends connected. Elderly can express their emotions by making movements with the interactive egg.
June 2, 2011
This park with moving walls is made for the design competition "Rijnhaven Parkeiland Ontwerp Wedstrijd". One of the key characteristics of the park is the interaction with other people in the park and with the elements of the park itself.
June 1, 2011
A multi-functional bracelet enables the user to control his music, and also to share his music or phone calls with others.
May 15, 2011
This business card is designed in such a way that it can be distributed more than once.
April 4, 2011
Looking for new books in a digital library is a totally different experience than browsing in a book store or physical library. Bookstar is an interface to search e-books based on their content.
January 11, 2011
The pocket map stimulates a personal and friendly interaction between guards and visitors in a museum.
November 11, 2010
Inspired by a lithograph of M.C. Escher this 3D printed head is made.
© 2020 Emma Haagen | Contact


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This project aims to protect and celebrate Dartmoor's special moorland birds. Many of our British upland birds are under threat, facing population declines and loss of habitat.
This project aims to raise awareness and appreciation of the unique concentration of flower-rich haymeadows and pastures which remain in the areas around Postbridge and Dartmeet, through improvement in the management of existing meadows and involvement of the local community.
Natural Connections aims to enhance natural networks within a number of wet valleys (known as Rhôs pasture) in the Moor than meets the eye area, and encourage better management of them. The wildlife found in these areas includes a number of nationally rare species, including one, the Bog Hoverfly, which is only found on Dartmoor. They require extensive, suitable and inter-connected habitats in order to survive.
This project aims to protect and conserve key species, habitats and historic features of the Bovey Valley, part of the East Dartmoor National Nature Reserve. Together with other projects in the scheme it aims to foster deeper understanding and life-long interest in the area's natural and cultural heritage, and engage local communities in all aspects of management.
This project aims to protect and celebrate Dartmoor's special moorland birds. Many of our British upland birds are under threat, facing population declines and loss of habitat.
Would you like to work in one of the most distinctive landscapes in the country? This is a unique opportunity to lead a new and exciting project to engage young people with the iconic Dart Valley, on Dartmoor. As part of Moor than meets the eye, our HLF Landscape Partnership scheme, this project will help tell the Dartmoor Story; of how people have lived with and affected the landscape of Dartmoor over 4,000 years.The Dart Valley attracts thousands of visitors each year, putting pressure on its special qualities. You will lead a project to help visitors get closer to nature and develop a better understanding of their impact on the valley. You will develop and deliver a programme of targeted events to celebrate its incredible wildlife and engage young people through a film project which will provide training in film making skills, mentoring and support.The successful candidate will be well organised, an excellent communicator and able to work confidently and independently. They will have experience of managing projects, running events and working with young people. A passion for Dartmoor and it's wildlife is a must.
Young naturalists got a chance to explore one of Dartmoor's best woodlands at the weekend as part of our Spring Woodland Festival. The Festival was organised so that families could meet wildlife experts, go on guided walks or take part in hands on activities. There were also plenty of other things to enjoy from storytelling and cool jazz to a fabulous barbeque run by the local scouts. Over 200 came along to learn more about Dartmoor's woodland wildlife despite there being plenty of alternative distractions such as the Royal Wedding and it being a perfect beach day!For those wishing to get away from it all it was the perfect retreat. As visitors walked from their cars they dropped down into the fresh leaved woods, following flags painted by local schoolchildren, until they emerged from the forest into a secret kingdom full of natures secrets to be discovered.The event was all about raising everyone's awareness of Dartmoor's wildlife and was supported by local and national wildlife organisations including RSPB, Woodland Trust, Natural England, Devon Reptile and Amphibian Group, Devon Wildlife Trust, National Trust and Butterfly Conservation.The smooth running of the event was down to the hard work of a team of staff and volunteers from NE, WT and MTMTE and all the other wildlife organisations, without whom this event could not take place. So a huge thank you to all of them for working so tirelessly throughout the day
Last update: 25 Jan 2017 9:20am


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Message in a Bottle12:21
48 comments
We love personalised books, and have quite a few in our home library. This looks like a wonderful book as well, to read and cherish with the child.ReplyDelete
What a lovely idea - this is such a beautiful way of creating a keepsake.ReplyDelete
This is such a lovely idea! I hope Blake likes it :)ReplyDelete
Oh this book is great. It's so cool that you were able to pick the message in the bottle.ReplyDelete
I'm so glad you were happy with the turn out of the book xReplyDelete
i do love how you can personalise this book! it's a first i've heard of something like thisReplyDelete
This is such a cute book with such an amazing story for kids and the entire family!ReplyDelete
xoxo, Candice
This looks really lovely! I love that it's unique and personal too.ReplyDelete
What an absolutely lovely idea for a book! That book looks a fantastic read for kids of all ages!ReplyDelete
Hayden would absolutely love this, we get through about 3/4 books before bed EVERY night - Im pretty sure this would tickle his fancy.
Thanks so much for sharing hun
Charlotte x
This is such a sweet book! And I do love anything personalised. It always makes things even more special when it is :)ReplyDelete
What a lovely idea, and something so nice to keep too.ReplyDelete
A such a cute book. I love it! Great post too :)ReplyDelete
What a lovely sounding book, I adore anything personalised and the drawings in this one are lovely as well. xReplyDelete
Oh my gosh,ReplyDelete
This is such an adorable idea.
I love it <3
Oh how fantastic and what a lovely keepsakeReplyDelete
What a lovely keepsake, I do love personalised books xReplyDelete
This book sounds lovely. I love anything personalisedReplyDelete
I just love personalised books for children, this would be a great idea for my nephew xReplyDelete
Oooooooh I adore this - and it'll be perfect for my new nephew (he also has quite an unusual name so to be able to personalise this is perfection!)ReplyDelete
What an amazing sounding book, I love anything that can be personalised and I am sure Blake is going to love it xxReplyDelete
What a lovely idea, such a sweet book :)ReplyDelete
What an absolutely gorgeous book and perfect keepsake. Definitely one for the Christmas wishlist. I love that you can use it all the time to learn about different things, even though it's a keepsake. It must be so nice seeing it come to life after waiting for so long. xReplyDelete
- Anonymous29 September 2016 at 22:52
I too love personalised gifts. It adds an extra element of having thought about what the recipient would like. This looks like a great present!ReplyDelete
What a sweet book. I love personalised books they are lovely as gifts.ReplyDelete
Sounds like a lovely book, its great it can be personalised :)ReplyDelete
This is so sweet I love personalised books. I remember my Nan and Grandad got me a personalised Pocahontas book when I was little and I've always cherished it since XReplyDelete
This sounds brilliant and I love that it is personalised xReplyDelete
Looks like a very good book. I can see my kids loving it.ReplyDelete
AW I love personalized books and this is such a cute one for kids to have xReplyDelete
I love personalised books and think they make great gift ideas too.ReplyDelete
Ahh this looks so sweet - personalised books are the best, I had one when I was little and still have it now.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous30 September 2016 at 18:54
This would make a great addition to our personalised book collection! Love the wonderful illustrations too!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous30 September 2016 at 22:25
We'd happily add this to our collection of personalised books! Love the illustrations too xx it very pretty!ReplyDelete
aw, what a lovely idea and such a lovely keepsake to have.ReplyDelete
Love personalised books. They are very special gifts.ReplyDelete
What a fantastic idea! Absolutely love it!ReplyDelete
what I lovely way to have special gift for kids, I'm sure Blake will love it xReplyDelete
I love these sorts of books - they're amazing to give as gifts as they're suc lovely keepsakes xReplyDelete
What a cute idea. I love quirky gifts like these thanks for sharing k xReplyDelete
I've heard of these before, they sound great!ReplyDelete
What a beautifully illustrated book! I love personalised books and bought them for my own daughters when they were small. They make excellent presents too xReplyDelete
I'm a big fan of personalised books for children and this is such a sweet idea. I'm sure Blake is going to love opening this up on his birthday!xxReplyDelete
I love anything personalised too, such a cute idea!ReplyDelete
I love personalised books like this makes story time so much more exciting!ReplyDelete
Personalised books are so special and children love them. This looks like a gorgeous book. The illustrations are fabulous. Hugs Lucy xxxxReplyDelete
I love books like this. What a lovely idea to bring reading to life and make it exciting for childrenReplyDelete
We recently received ours too. Isn't the book beautiful. I think it is so special. I cant wait to give it to Sophia. xxReplyDelete


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24 February 2011
{Château de Verriéres; Formality with French Taste}
Between Angers and Tours, along the Loire and close to the historical centre of Saumur we find the enchanting city castle Château de Verrières. For years the estate looked rather abominable – the Protestant family who owned it for almost a century did not like renovating – but the current owners only had eyes for the original wallpaper and the golden ceilings. Almost the entire city castle, a creation by a Visconti student, still looks exactly the way it did when the Napoleon general had it built as a place for his retirement. Today, Yolaine de Valbray-Auger welcomes her guests without formality but with a natural and sincere hospitality.
{Photos by Photo Verne OWI and you can visit the official website for booking}
{Tiby:Spring 2011}
The Spring 2011 collection by Tibi fits the bill just perfectly - classic, timeless designs in neutral shades with a few pops of bright, saturated colour (including an orange-red - my favourite for summer pedicures!)
{Tiby Spring-Summer Collection via Escapade}
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KROQ Weenie Roast : 05/06/2011
Linkin Park played at the 'KROQ Weenie Roast' Today. Linkin Park played right after Foo Fighters which were the surprise act at the fest this year. The show was Webcast live on KROQ's Ustream Channel.
1. The Requiem
2. Papercut
3. Lying from You
4. Given Up
5. What I've Done
6. Empty Spaces
7. When they come for Me
8. No More Sorrow (Extended Intro)
9. Jornada Del Muerto
10. Waiting for the End
11. Numb
12. The Radiance
13. Breaking the Habit
14. The Catalyst
15. Crawling
16. Faint
17. One Step Closer (Extended Outro)
18. Wisdom, Justice and Love
19. Iridescent
20. New Divide
21. In the End
22. Bleed it Out (APFMH Bridge)
Mike wished Ted Stryker from KROQ a Happy Birthday during 'Bleed it Out'


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June 16, 2019
NJY Camps – Milford Campus
10 am – 3 pm
$25 minimum donation per family
Call your camp friends. Pack up the family. Enjoy a full day of camp fun.
- CHALLENGE yourself on our ropes course complete with climbing wall and 3 ziplines
- LAUGH and get soaked on a family banana boat or jetski ride
- PRACTICE your swing in the batting cage
- PLAY a family game of knockout on the basketball court
- ENJOY a swim at the pool
- SHARE a paddleboat ride on the lake
- JOIN for a family barbeque by the pool
And that's just the beginning!
It's Father's Day…Dads go FIRST ALL DAY!
Relive memories from childhood
Create new memories for the family


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Donald Trump and Ted Cruz Clash in GOP Debate
Donald Trump and fellow GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz clashed on Thursday in the most personal and sharpest encounters thus far in the ongoing campaign season.
Trump said following the debate that the "bromance" has ended.
The event, which lasted 2 ½ hours was sponsored by the Fox Business Network and was filled with a serious of testy exchanges between each of the seven GOP candidates on state.
Trump and Cruz are in a battle to win the Iowa caucuses, which are just over two weeks away, though nationally the real estate mogul holds a commanding lead.
With pressure increasing for one candidate to emerge as an alternative for the establishment to Cruz and Trump, sparks also flew between Florida Senator Marco Rubio and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
The showdown between Trump and Cruz was much anticipated and took a couple of minutes to materialize but it packed a big punch all the same.
Cruz responded forcefully to accusations by Trump that he is not eligible to be the president since he was born outside the U.S., a controversy Trump has just recently embraced.
Cruz said that during September his friend, Mr. Trump and lawyers had looked at that every way possible and there was nothing on the issue. Since September, he added, the Constitution has not changed, but poll numbers have.
While plenty of animosity has existed amongst Trump and the majority of rivals, the businessman and Cruz have largely been friendly for the majority of this campaign season.
However, that changed when the polls began tightening in Iowa ahead of the caucuses on February 1.
Trump hopes to eat into the Texas Senator's Iowa support and has repeatedly questioned if Cruz, whose mother was a citizen of the U.S., is a natural born citizen.
However, in the attack against Trump Thursday, Cruz noted some of the extreme theories of being able to run for the presidency, of which one is both parents must be born in the U.S. and that would mean Trump would be ineligible as well since his mother was born in Scotland.


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The basic dichotomy of god belief is simple: A person is either a theist or an atheist. Theism denotes a belief in one or more deities while atheism is simply the non-belief. Strictly speaking, if one answers the question of, "Do you believe in God?" with anything but a solid 'yes', then they are an atheist. I'll reduce the possible answers to 'yes', 'I don't know', and 'no' for simplicity's sake. The first indicates theism, while the latter two would put the responder in the atheist camp. Whether someone wears the dreaded 'atheist' name tag is their choice, and a topic for another day.
Someone might say that the 'I don't know' answer implies agnosticism. This is where the common error begins. Remember, the question isn't "Is there a god?" The question is, "Do you BELIEVE in God?" To say "I don't know" indicates a lack of certainty of one's own belief. It's not about what the person knows. The difference may be subtle, but it's important.
There is a difference between the questions "Does a god exist?" and "do you believe a god exists?" The former asks about knowledge and the latter asks about belief. The key is to recognize the difference. You can believe something to be true, but not actually know it. Conversely, if you know something is true, unless you are insane in the membrane, you will also believe it to be true.
'Agnosticm' was coined by T.H. Huxley in 1869 to describe the rejection of spiritual knowledge. In this vein, it's the assertion that there is a lack of actual knowledge. Some people go a step further and assert that agnosticism is a claim that one can't know. This is a later usage of the term, which I find interesting. It's self-contradictory. The claim that one can't know something is a knowledge claim about that topic in and of itself. It carries an extremely large burden of proof which I think can't be supported. That's my belief anyway. I can't prove it, of course.
The word Gnosticism is based on the Greek word 'gnosis' which means 'knowledge' conveniently enough. The Gnostics were a religious sect in the second century which made claims of religious knowledge. Huxley added the prefix 'a-' which means 'without' to form the word 'agnostic'. While we rarely see people using 'gnostic' with a lower-case 'G' to describe a knowledge claim, it's a convenient bookend term for a scale to describe one's knowledge.
"Very interesting," you say. So what's my big freakin' problem?!


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Outdoor, travel and history site by two retired Boomers. It combines geocaching, letterboxing, munzees, orienteering and related activities with history, travelogues, tips and commentary. Our quests include historical sites, forts, battlefields, ghost towns, parks, urban exploration and back country wilderness. We seek out little known places to explore, photograph and write about. The more challenging or remote they are, the better we like it. We hope to promote lifelong learning and curiosity about our world, especially in young people. If you are looking for ideas to teach and motivate kids, get them active outside and have some fun together, this site offers a lot. There's no armchair traveling. We've been to every place on these pages. The content is ours. Most of it is Off the Beaten Path.
Shows photos taken at Camp Evans, Phouc Vinh and Dong Ha in 1968 while serving with Troop C, 1/9th Cav.
Photos and narrative of my tour of duty in the mortar platoon of Co. D, 2nd/7th Cav, 1st Air Cav in the Phan Thiet area of Vietnam during 1966 and 1967
Pictures taken on Bases on Okinawa 1979 to 1985
Viet Nam Vets MC (VNVMC) and Legacy Vets MC (LVMC), U.S.A. - GEORGIA


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DIR: Ann Hui • WRI: Susan Chan, Yan-lam Lee • PRO: Pui-wah Chan, Ann Hui, Yan-lam Lee, • DOP: Nelson Yu Lik-wai • ED: Nicholas C. Smith • DES: Albert Poon • CAST: Andy Lau, Deannie Yip
Andy Lau may be best known around these parts for his roles in action films (House of Flying Daggers) and thrillers (Infernal Affairs), but in his homeland he's a megastar and performer of surprising versatility. We can't forget his roles in several classic Wong Kar-wai joints, after all. After last being seen on Western shores fighting a pack of deer (you read that correctly) in Detective Dee, he's back on Irish screens in emotional, understated drama A Simple Life: a film that will hopefully provide a wider audience with the opportunity to catch a glimpse of his filmography's range.
Directed by veteran Hong Kong filmmaker Ann Hui, the story follows Ah Tao (the excellent Deannie Yip), who has been a long time housekeeper for the Leung family. With Roger (Lau) the only family member left in Hong Kong, the elderly Ah Tao now spends most of her days preparing extravagant meals for her remaining master. After suffering a stroke, she makes it clear that she wants to be put into a nursing home. Roger makes it his duty to fulfil that wish, and is determined to lavish her with the care & attention that she has provided him with since he was child. As her health declines, we observe the two character's interactions during Ah Tao's time in the home.
This is a subtlety observed drama that only irregularly feels lazily sentimental (a twinkly, over-emotive but – thankfully – infrequently utilised musical score is a main culprit in that regard). It's an intelligent character study, with the emotional bond between Roger and Ah Tao delicately realised and uninterrupted by contrivances. Indeed, several of the film's most dramatic events occur off-screen, with some sequences taking place after considerable chronological jumps. Hui is instead brave enough to allow the affecting friendship speak for itself, with an unobtrusive visual style keeping the focus squarely on the characters.
This does have a negative side-effect in that the film can seem a little on the slight side, with a handful of underdeveloped subplots. The scene where Ah Tao arrives at her new dwellings – a rundown, soulless nursing home in the middle of a busy Hong Kong street – is rather grim, and there's the brief suggestion that this is going to be a more cynical critique of over-population problems and mistreatment of the elderly. There's an equally depressing scene where the home's residents are visited by a bunch of 'performers' who treat their audience with disdain and apathy. This cynicism seems underdeveloped in a film that is otherwise an unashamed celebration of friendship, family, nostalgia and community spirit.
Largely down to the strong performances of Yip and Lau (in that order), however, the film manages to be poignant and engaging despite the residual hints of missed opportunity. As a crowd-pleasing and emotionally honest character study, A Simple Life succeeds without cheap trickery. If nothing else, it's great to see high-quality Hong Kong cinema in Irish theatres that isn't a genre pic. It's not quite the best the region has to offer, but Hui's film wears its heart on its sleeve, and definitely doesn't lack emotional force.
Stephen McNeice
118 mins
A Simple Life is released on 3rd August 2012
A Simple Life – Official Website


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There's Something in the Air
Let's Get Started
In this activity, students will compare the dispersal of odors indoors and outdoors as a model for the movement of pollutants in the air. They will discover that many small particles travel through and are dispersed in the air we breathe. Students will make predictions and observations, record and compare data, and draw conclusions based on their investigation.
Divide the class into three groups. Tell the members of one group to sit on the two-meter marks of different pieces of yarn. Similarly, arrange the second group on the four-meter marks and the third group on the six-meter marks.
Stand in the center of the "String Wheel," holding an orange. Tell the students that they should raise their hands as soon as they smell the scent of the orange. Begin to peel the orange, and slowly turn around. Record the time it takes for approximately three-fourths of the students at each distance to raise their hands.
On the board, create a class graph showing the time it took for students sitting at each distance to smell the orange. Leave the graph on the board. You may wish to repeat the experiment using things such as vinegar and air freshener.
Repeat the entire experiment in an outdoor location. After returning to the classroom, make a second graph, using the same scale as on the first, to show the time required for odors to travel outdoors.
- Moreno N., B. Tharp, and J. Dresden. (2011). The Science of Air Teacher's Guide. Third edition. Baylor College of Medicine
- Illustration by M.S. Young © Baylor College of Medicine
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Funded by the following grant(s)
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH
The Environment as a Context for Opportunities in Schools
Grant Numbers: 5R25ES010698, R25ES06932
Houston Endowment Inc.
Foundations for the Future: Capitalizing on Technology to Promote Equity, Access and Quality in Elementary Science Education


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PathWays PA was founded in 1978 as the Women's Association for Women's Alternatives. It served as one of Pennsylvania's first residential programs to keep low-income, vulnerable women together with their children and has grown to become one of the Greater Philadelphia Region's foremost providers of residential and community-based services for women, children and families. Each year over 6,000 women, children and families benefit from our full complement of social services; job training and employment assistance; as well as outreach and residential programs as they move along the path to self-sufficiency.
Learn More: http://www.PathWaysPA.org


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Since early last fall, four unrelated children—Skyla, Theo, Naima and Blu—have been gathering four days per week in each others' West Marin homes to sample an inventive model of home schooling. The concept is fairly straightforward: each family is charged with instructing one day in whatever style it sees fit, forming a kind of cooperative of learning.
Since none of the parents are trained educators, they work with a regional charter school called Pathways, which is based in Rohnert Park. Pathways assigns a credentialed teacher to meet regularly with the families and discuss curriculum, answer questions and conduct student assessments to ensure each child is well on his or her way to meeting state standards.
According to the moms involved, the system, at least initially, is working extremely well.
Kegan Stedwell said that not only is her daughter, Skyla, spending copious hours outside hiking, sight-seeing and creating art, she is also becoming much more aware of her local surroundings. One day, for example, Skyla returned home from school and immediately began pointing out every hazelnut tree on the property. "And then we got to talking about when the nuts would be ready, and, you know, it just felt like she really got it," Stedwell said.
All of the families prefer nature-based learning, emphasizing the importance of free play and tactile exploration. Beyond that core, each has organically developed a distinct subject-based specialty. Stedwell tends to focus on reading and writing through art and journaling. She also loves teaching geography, and urges the children to get in a bit of yoga before they leave at 3 p.m. "I have also started a short meditation class," she said, "which was/is difficult but the kids are getting much better at it, actually."
Simone Wild, another mom, described her individual style as "unschooling," whereby a child is allowed to dictate the boundaries of his or her own learning. "It's trusting that they are capable of learning on their own," she said. "After all, they learn to walk and talk on their own."
Wild, who dropped out of public school at an early age to travel—itself a sort of "unschooling"—is impressed by the developments she's beginning to see in her son, Blu. "I think the biggest thing he's learned is just real life stuff," she said. "Like his abilities to connect with people and nature."
The two obvious benefits, noted Molli Milner, a single mom from Inverness, are size and parental flexibility. "Four kids is not overwhelming, especially when you are not used to teaching," she said. "And four kids are movable." Milner, who runs an event planning business, said the cooperative system allows her to keep her job while ensuring that her son, Theo, has access to local, alternative-based education. "I couldn't do it otherwise," she said.
Milner said her specialty has somehow become math—"My son likes math, I suppose that's why." On her day, she starts by coaxing the children outdoors, to "get the wiggles out." Then she'll do any number of math-related activities, such as measuring or making artistic yardsticks or counting how many times certain letters appear in a book. "It's been fun to learn how many moments are teachable moments," she said.
Stedwell agreed. "One of the unexpected benefits of this home schooling adventure is the empowering effect in my family," she said. "All the grandparents and people interacting with [Skyla] start to feel as though it's school. My dad will take Skyla mushroom hunting and then come home and do a drawing, for instance. Or my step-mom, who owns a piano, teaches her to play. Everyone in the family is starting to step into a role."
Field trips occur regularly. On Tuesday, for example, Stedwell piled the kids into her car and drove them to Larkspur, where they boarded a ferry for San Francisco and a day "of cable cars and museums."
Local residents may remember Stedwell and another mom, Celine Underwood, for their effort last year to start a charter school in the area through a group called West Marin Alternatives in Education. A community meeting to discuss the idea was held in January, and Shoreline Unified School District later hired a consultant to assess the impacts that creating such a school would bring.
But the effort received pushback from several stakeholders, including parents concerned that a charter would drain resources and diversity from existing schools, and a petition to create the school never materialized. Home schooling presented itself as a secondary option. "It kind of fell together at the last minute, the notion of home schooling," Milner said. "When the charter school idea fell away, everyone was like, 'Well, what now?'"
"I think the reality of starting a new school and what that entails and the immediate needs of what we had, the immediate needs won over," Stedwell said of the decision to pursue home schooling. "The priority of wanting something alternative and not wanting to ship our kids out of the area was the motivating factor.
"Plus, on my part, I just felt that starting a charter school in a climate of [funding] cuts, I was worried that the school would start under beleaguered auspices, and to me that is a high cost, not to mention that I felt it was going to be a conflict in the community."
One of the components of the charter school idea was a dual-immersion program, whereby students would be taught in two languages. Underwood said the home schooling system will incorporate a second language starting this spring, when a Spanish class will be held weekly at the Point Reyes Presbyterian Church. The class is open to everyone, she said.
Underwood isn't concerned that home schooling, at least at this age, will have a negative impact on her daughter Naima's social development. "I think her social end is more than fulfilled," she said. "In fact, that is one of the reasons I took her out of the public system. I see that as a social experiment—throwing kids together with very little supervision—and I think a lot of negative stuff comes from that."
Stedwell is similarly unconcerned that Skyla will become socially impaired, but said she will be receptive to however her daughter chooses to learn down the road. "I can't predict, but at some point she'll want to come to the public school system and I'll definitely support her," she said. "I guess at this age, and even for first and second grade, there are just certain core things that I want to instill before she goes out in the mass media, mass commercialism-driven world."
Meanwhile, Skyla and her compatriots seem to be enjoying the ride. "They run to school in the morning, and they don't want to leave come three o'clock," she said.


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Giving Back to the Community
At West Road Dental, we are always happy to give back to our community and abroad! All of the proceeds from our new patient exams are donated to our patients' charity of choice. In addition, members of our staff often go on various Mission Trips, and our office loves sponsoring students in need. Below is just one of the students we've helped sponsor recently:
Doreen's Story
Her story was touching. Her experiences, heartbreaking. At the age of 15, Doreen had enrolled in Primary five at a local school near her place of residence in Bugembe-Jinja.
Doreen and her mother were left homeless and helpless after her father left them for another wife and family. Doreen's mother then remarried and had two more children. That father left as well. Doreen's mother, jobless and uneducated, could not manage to take care of the children and herself. Doreen took on a job two years later as a house helper. During this time Doreen was psychological and verbally abused by the woman. Doreen was continuously reminded of her helplessness and referred to as a "worthless poor girl."
A year later, Doreen felt like she could not continue with such treatment, and chose to leave. However, when she requested for her pay, she was only given a three months' salary out of the 12 months she had worked at the house. Leaving in pain, feeling cheated and used, Doreen returned to her mother, who had secured a small room in Bugembe.
Doreen knew the only way she could have a better life was by acquiring education. Knowing this, she put aside the feelings of shame and ignored the stigma of entering primary at age 15 and used the little money she had earned to enroll in school. As a strategy to have money for the next school term, she decided to use the small field in front of her home to cultivate corn after school.
SCOPE Foundation came into contact with Doreen during Amie's (a friend from the United States) exploratory visit of SCOPE.
Doreen's story of determination greatly touched Amie, as well as many others following Amie's trip on Social Media. Because of Doreen's relentless effort of hope for a brighter future, the West Road Dental team graciously offered to sponsor Doreen's schooling. Doreen is now full of smiles and hopes as she is studying in one of the best boarding schools in Uganda.


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We worked with Care UK - They are the UK's largest independent provider of health and social care.
To deliver brand coverage for Care UK's residential and nursing care homes, through the results of the survey commissioned on the topic of caring for your parents.
To promote Care UK as lead care providers, experts in dementia and thought-leaders on the associated topics and debates surrounding this subject area.
To discuss the issue of care, and highlight the need for specialist support for families in a situation where they are unable to have their elderly parents live with them if and when the time comes, and emphasise that Care UK understands and empathises with people in this situation.
Campaign Highlights:
Our Credentials Document:


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Who Needs Bio Writing Services
The use of professional biographies is becoming increasingly popular and more common in business. Rather than providing detailed information on your employment history and educational background, a professional bio provides a brief overview of who you are and what you have done in a more personal manner, and focuses on your information that is relevant to the particular purpose you are writing the bio for.
Some of the reasons you might need a bio include:
- Job search – Many employers like to look at a job applicants bio first as it is easier to scan and get an idea as to whether or not the applicant is suitable for the position before looking at the resume.
- Speaking engagements – Guest speakers are often asked to provide brief bios that can be used to introduce them.
- Company websites – Many companies include professional bios of key employees on websites.
- Personal websites and blogs – Freelancers and others who are self-employed or own their own business include professional bios on their websites and blogs to provide some background and evidence of expertise in their field to readers.
Writing your own bio is often difficult. You may not know what to include or perhaps feel uncomfortable writing about your accomplishments. Sometimes it is better to use professional bio writing services like those our company provides.
Bio Writing Services We Offer
Our bio writing service can provide bios for any use and of any length and also include bio editing and resume writing help. Different types of bios we provide include:
- Professional biographies in all fields. Whether you are a nurse or a barista at the coffee shop, we'll help you tell your story the way it is.
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- School admission biographies. Let's let the committee know what kind of person you are, what you achieved and highlight your most valuable skills.
- Autobiographies. Writing about yourself can be the hardest task, as it's hard to stay objective when it comes to your own vices and virtues. That's where we can help you out.
- Short biographies. Fitting an entire life in a short piece of text is quite a challenge. We can help you highlight the most pivotal parts of one's biography and tell an entire story in just a few paragraphs.
- Memoirs. Having troubles sharing your experience though words on the paper? Get assistance from a professional writer and tell your story together.
The professional writers we use are both skilled and experienced in bio writing with proven track records. You will have direct contact with the writer working on your bio to clarify information and verify the purpose of the bio. All bios are originally written to meet your specific requirements and based on information you provide.
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Cestria Health CentreWhitehill Way Chester le StreetCounty Durham, DH2 3DJTel: 0191 388 7771
Closed at present. We hope to be able to offer weekend appointments again in the near future.
Surgery appointment times are usually between 08:00 and 11:30 and 14:00 and 18:00 each weekday, and a limited number of pre-booked only appointments between 18:00 and 20:00.
Staff and Doctor Training Half Days (afternoon of the third Thursday in every month)
We have joined all other practices in County Durham in taking part in essential collective training sessions for one half day per month. This is normally the afternoon of every third Thursday of the month. During these periods, the surgery will be CLOSED from 12 noon to 6pm, and urgent cases will be dealt with via 111. Since the staff also receive training at these times, there will be no routine telephone lines open either. There will be a telephone message asking callers to dial 111 for problems which cannot wait, or to call the surgery back the following day for routine matters. Thank you for your understanding over this educational session, we are complying with the best practice guidelines on updating GPs and Staff, and have adopted the Durham CCG standard practice.
Bank Holidays
We are normally closed on Bank Holidays, which are defined by HM Government :
UK Government Bank Holidays
GP surgeries
Warfarin clinic
Asthma clinic
Travel Clinic
Family planning
Ante-natal clinic
Baby Clinic
Diabetic clinic
Please note the surgery is open on Thursday evenings for family planning and pre-booked appointments only.
During normal practice hours the surgery remains your first point of contact for all routine medical needs and requests.
If the surgery is closed, call 111 in most cases, or 999 in an emergency:
NHS 111 is the number to call when you need medical help fast but it is not a life-threatening emergency. Calls to NHS 111 are free and advice is available 24/7, 365 days a year. 111 can give advice on self management, or arrange for you to be seen by an Out of Hours Doctor or Nurse, or arrange for you to be seen in hospital.
Example 111 Type Problems:
Example 999 Type Problems:
Copyright 2006 - 2020 My Surgery Website | Privacy & Usage | Edit | Staff Home | Site Map | Accessibility | Site T&C's | Service T&C's


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Thursday, 25 July 2013
New Tracks: Gentleman's Dub Club- Give It Away (Planas Remix)
Mixmag has brought to you a premiere of this absolutely stonking remix of Gentleman's Dub Club's "Give It Away" by House producer Planas. With hectic beats, a dizzyingly funky groove and enough pummeling bass to vibrate your ear drums into blissful submission, I'm quite certain that nothing released thus far this year will get you dancing quite like this. This tune is sure to be dropped in clubs all across the country due to its sheer danceability. Expect madness when it does.
You can stream the premiere via Mixmag/ Soundcloud below:
These New Puritans- Field Of Reeds
Album: Field of Reeds
Release Date: Infectious Music
Southend quartet aim for masterpiece on orchestral 3rd album, but only occasionally reach the heights required
When confronted with the argument that Classical music puts all other genres to shame in terms of its virtuosity, organisation and its mesmerizing ability to push and pull at the senses, it's certainly hard to deny. Southend band These New Puritans have always been a group with the desire to push boundaries looming over and seeping from every pour of their music. After their dark and lurching contortions of Electronica and Hip Hop on their widely acclaimed 2010 album "Hidden", they appeared to be THE British band to keep people guessing, and presently re- appear with something incredible for their 3rd album.
Three years later and we arrive at "Field of Reeds", an album so meticulously crafted that it must have taken close to every waking breath to plan and piece together. It's both an expected and unexpected occurrence. After the primarily electronic premise of their first two albums, a record of 9 drawn- out orchestral symphonies certainly wouldn't have been high on many people's list of guesses. Nevertheless, the question "Hidden" begged was "where on Earth do they go from here?", and well, Prokofiev- inspired mysteria, if not a natural progression, is certainly a just one. But is it incredible? Is it the masterpiece it SHOULD be? Alas, no.
There are three pieces of astonishing achievement on "Field of Reeds." The first is the 3rd track "The Light In Your Name", which transpires from a ghostly, spacious hum into a hellish contortion of horns and pianos, conjuring an atmosphere wrought with mysterious guilt.
The second is "V (Island Song)", reflective in manner (Jack Barnett opens up on the lyric "On the Island there are no people or places, and I'll go walking, and I'll know where to find you") and is seemingly promotional of an idyllic paradise. It's the most robust moment here, a discernible groove and dramatically performed piano piece which then descends into a wind- swept, echoing final 5 minutes. The final astonishment is "Nothing Else", a piece that swells and smacks ridiculous amounts of a full orchestra in elemental force.
However, these are the only moments likely to shake you in their vastness and craft on "Field of Reeds." "Fragment Two" and "Organ Eternal" seem restricted by omnipresent chains and are not allowed to evolve into beasts that will swallow you whole, despite the symphonic close of the former. Opener "This Guy is in Love with You" is deliberately abstract with it's distant female vocal sample, an simply comes off as pretentious.
In a way, "Field of Reeds" is These New Puritans' "Kid A." Not that it matches it's brilliance, but it does match it's intent. This is certainly something to be applauded; all of the band's soul and cohesion went in to forming this, and when it works it's heart- bursting. But it's a mighty shame that, in the case of "Field of Reeds", beauty and consistency don't get on well.
Key tracks: Nothing Else, The Light in Your Name, V (Island Song)
For fans of: Radiohead, Portico Quartet
Mogwai- Les Revenants Soundtrack
Album: Les Revenants Soundtrack
Record Label: Rock Action
Mogwai's score for the French TV thriller is majestic business as usual
Here's the thing with soundtracks; they are very rarely perceived as being things of stand alone merit. Although music in films is often what evokes the most emotion and the way we feel about the things happening on screen, all too rarely is that music placed with in it's own context and allowed to stand for itself. But if any band is capable of condemning such a perspective then it's Mogwai. The Glasgow instrumental rockers have made a career out of soaring, destructive highs that entail that film- score epicness more often than not. Thus, their soundtrack for fantastic French spook- a- thon Les Revenants doesn't necessarily sound like a soundtrack.
It shouldn't be approached as a soundtrack either. When explaining the writing and recording process behind the piece to The Quietus, guitarist John Cummings said: "We were aware of trying to keep it not as a typical soundtrack, more just music that doesn't necessarily do anything that has a bit of presence." This laissez- faire attitude is atypical to the Mogwai song crafting process, but the soundtrack is an unnervingly atmospheric as it is beautiful. A unsettling, tingling chill worms its way down the spine of a lot of the tracks here, allowing for certified levels of mystique, intrigue, and of course (it being a Mogwai album) dynamics.
"Hungry Face" sets the tone stylistically, with it's deep, mournful violins, chiming xylophone melodies and dramatic, fuzz- laden drums, as well as a clear cut ascent. They delve into the creepy straight away afterwards though, with "Jaguar"'s ominous throb and spacious, daunting piano chords all languishing behind a futuristic synth overture. "The Huts" contains a paranoid, lurching guitar trajectory and evolves into a sparse but brilliantly nuanced crawl.
"Fridge Magic" is comprised of twinkling xylophones and heavy handed, doom drenched keys. "Portugal" begins with a spooky synth patter and distorted drones before becoming an exceedingly dark hybrid of distant drums, a hypnotic, unnerving piano melody and ever present rippling fuzz.
Then there are the songs like "Special N." Swelling, climactic beasts where intensity grows and finds comfort throughout. On the aforementioned triumphantly plucked guitar arpeggios join hands with ever more grandiose synth and string arrangements. "Modern" is a glorious mesh of guttural bass, pulsating Fuck Buttons- esque fizzy synths and faded out electronic drums as revolving, intertwining melodies calmly soar. Most majestic of all though is closer "Wizard Motor." Again it relays the hefty, scuzzy bass effects employed several times throughout the record, as well as glacial walls of shimmering electronics and entwining guitars that move to promote the most sky- kissing of effects.
Essentially, "Les Revenants" works and feels like a Mogwai full- length. The only real difference is that this time around they don't need soaring guitars and crushing drums to prove that they are still the masters of dynamics. If you haven't watched Les Revenants it comes highly recommended, but even so, stick this on; it's a majestic piece that conjures visuals of it's own.
Key Tracks: Wizard Motor, Portugal, Modern
For fans of: Explosions in the Sky, Fuck Buttons
Wednesday, 24 July 2013
Havok- Unnatural Selection
Album: Unnatural Selection
Record Label: Tanglade Ltd.
Colorado Thrash metallers offer another album of groove- ridden, old school fury and political righteousness
Music is at its most prolific when it has something to stand for, for example a political agenda, or a personal analysis. This is a concept that has never been lost on Thrash Metal, and indeed it certainly isn't lost on young Colorado wrecking crew Havok. As far as political and social righteousness goes, "Unnatural Selection" really couldn't have come at a better time.
As state intervention in America and the ever- increasing amount of surveillance endorsed beckons a nightmarish Orwellian future ever closer, Havok have jumped and attacked the social sphere with a handful of destructive riffs and a few strongly held convictions, and it's as pummeling as it is thrilling.
"I am the State" kicks things off with hungry, groove- ridden tenacity and acts as evidence that the band are just as competent at shredding as they are at political diagnosis. "It is True" is certainly the most catchy moment here, a stellar hard- rocking groove resounds around anti- establishment (or more presently anti- media) vocal fire (sample lyric: "How many people need to die before you wake up and give your fucking brain a try?"). "Living Nightmare" is the biggest thrill of all however, a bulldozing riff and groove interjected with more classic Thrash verbosity.
Of all the statements of intent made by Thrash revivalist bands in recent years, "Unnatural Selection" can count itself as one of those that really drives home both a message and how talented a band Havok are. Making a great racket whilst raising a middle finger to the Government is certainly no new concept, but when they do it with this much pile- driving force it's hard not to pay extra attention.
Key Tracks: Living Nightmare, Worse Than War, It Is True
For fans of: Megadeth, Slayer
Monday, 22 July 2013
New Tracks: Stone Titan- 2013 Demo
Ugly, pummelling, dirty, sludgy, swampy, brutal... All these words and tenfold more could be used to describe the sound of destructive young Doom Metallers Stone Titan. This two track demo is available to download for free from the band's Bandcamp, and is a raw, primal and battering ram- esque exercise in the kind of sludge- smothered depths these guys adhere to. With song titles like "Peace, Love, and get the fuck out of my face" and "Suburban Safari", it's obvious that these guys subscribe to the Eyehategod school of thought when it comes to sheer Southern- fried unfriendliness. Expect a review of their new full- length "Scratch N Sniff" soon, but in the meantime, this demo will suffice as a nice introduction to the band's deliriously heavy sound.
Download the demo and stream "Scratch N Sniff" via the link below:
New Tracks: John Frusciante- Sol
Former Red Hot Chilli Peppers guitarist John Frusciante has released the next chapter in his ever- developing and enveloping solo career (which is not almost as old as his former band) in the shape of "Sol." It's perhaps one of the most avant- garde tracks Frusciante has produced yet. It starts off as a match of twinkling synths and calm, brooding orchestral manouvers, interjected with different percussive techniques and some distant, mystic vocal wails from Frusciante. It then descends into a hectic, ever more dissonant Squarepusher- esque venture of jazzy drums, weird, incoherent synth patters and resounding, bubbling electronic parts. There's so much going on in this track that makes it hard to dissect, but it's beautiful in it's discordant strangeness.
New Tracks: Crystal Stilts- Star Crawl
Brooklyn Psych- Rock quintet Crystal Stilts return with the first track to be released from their upcoming new album "Nature Noir", entitled "Star Crawl." I was a big fan of the band's brooding and atmosphere- steeped 2011 album "In Love With Oblivion", and although some of the choice Crystal Stilts trademarks reside here (reverb- laden guitars, woozy but beautiful synths and mystic vocals), the song is much lighter in tone than much of the material on their previous album. What it lacks in atmosphere it makes up for in sheer, lazy pleasure, and has certainly whetted my appetite for the release of "Nature Noir."
"Nature Noir" is due out on September 17th via Sacred Bones.
Terror Danjah & Champion- Sons Of Anarchy EP
Album: Sons of Anarchy EP
Record Label: Hyperdub
Neither producer offers anything particularly prolific, but some versatile beats mean that these will be joyous to dance to in London clubs
As if any proof was needed of this, but if the compilation "Grime 2.0" released earlier this year achieved anything, it assured listeners that Grime is one of the most versatile and creative hot spots in underground UK music right now. Since his 2010 full- length "Undeniable", Terror Danjah has assured listeners of plenty of production promise, whilst Montreal Techno stalwart Champion has been proving himself over the course of the last 10 years.
"Sons of Anarchy" then provides the perfect opportunity for the producers to grab the bull by the horns in terms of collaboration and reveal more of their collective worth. Alas, "Sons of Anarchy" is more interested in shuddering bass lines and boogie down rhythms, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but it does see its own potential limited. Nevertheless, the versatility of Terror Danjah's stonkingly funky "Glide" with it's squelchy beeps switched up and faded out at every turn makes for elaborate creative premise, whilst the hectic, percussion lead Dancehall of the collaborative "Stone Island" pummels with its hefty slabs of low- end thunder.
Unfortunately, Champion's own cuts fail to be so rewarding, but "Bowser's Castle" is suitably equipped with cartoony, Nintendo- esque synths for entertaining listening.
Ultimately, this is not the work of brilliance it easily could have been. However, some of the songs on "Sons of Anarchy" are likely to prove very favourable when dropped in London clubs. Considering that is this EP's main end, it serves its purpose well enough.
Key Tracks: Terror Danjah- Glide, Stone Island, Champion- Bowser's Castle
For fans of: Rinse FM, Wiley
Joey Bada$$- Summer Knights
Album: Summer Knights
Record label: Self- Released
It's the darker moments on "Summer Knights" that Bada$$ really proves how valuable he is
Much has been written and spouted about the return of the "Rap clique", a term that makes said species appear in rude health in 2013. Each Hip Hop crew to appear over the last two years has emanated a certain vibe and therefore encouraged a certain level of hype (the most renowned subject of this shaky hyperbolic game being Odd Future). And yet it seems the only group really deserving of the praise heaped atop them is Brooklyn's Pro Era, spearheaded by the prodigious Joey Bada$$.
Via his "1999" mixtape last year and the Pro Era posse recording earlier this year, Joey Bada$$ has been carving himself a legacy as one of the most revered new artists in Hip Hop. Although there's nothing as career and talent affirming as the likes of "Survival Tactics" or "World Domination" on his latest offering, "Summer Knights" is 17 tracks of a man reveling in his own legacy. And he is most certainly entitled to do so.
Right from the word go he wastes no time in proving how versatile an MC he is. He spits over the busy, glazey keyboard constructions of "Alowha", the ambidextrous drum and percussive samples and soulful saxophone melody of "Hilary Swank" and the ragga- incorporated summer bounce of "My Youth." As has been the case with all of Bada$$' previous projects, it's his intellectual braggadocious wordplay that reigns supreme here, but he's at his most prolific when he's rapping about the darker side of his emotions.
For example, on "The Death of YOLO" where he recounts a time he almost lost his life in a car crash. "Right on Time" finds him experiencing heart- warming romance, an oasis of certainty amidst the misogyny he's prone to on the rest of the tape. "We not only lovers but homies", he asserts, before a certain level of doubt clouds his mind; "Sometimes I feel threatened 'cause she knows all my weaknesses", but the idea of having that one special person holds true.
He sounds remorseful on "Sit N prey", unveiling even more vulnerability as he raps "Why do I live my life this way?" in the chorus, and then later "I see better days looking back" over a fusion of soft keyboard chords and an unnerving synth hum. Most emotionally potent of all though is "LongliveSteelo" and ode to the tragically deceased crew member Capital Steez. It's incredibly touching, as Bada$$ intones "you was the big brother I never ever had" over the gorgeous, plucked guitar chords.
In between the moments of lyrical righteousness on "Summer Knights", Joey Bada$$ indulges in the same kind of esoteric self- congratulation he's prone to, and it can become tiresome. However, there are a good handful of songs here that continue Bada$$' evident worth beyond any doubt.
Key Tracks: LongLiveSteelo, '95 til Infinity, Right on Time
For fans of: Nas, Wu Tang Clan
Friday, 19 July 2013
The Bug- Filthy EP
Album: Filthy EP
Record Label: Ninja Tune
Even though it's only 4 tracks, the latest from Kevin Martin is a sonic cultural melting point
To anyone reasonably well versed in the underground scenes of UK Grime, Dub, Jamaican Dancehall, Garage, Industrial and even Heavy Metal music, Kevin Martin (aka The Bug) should need no introduction. With a finger thoroughly dipped in each of the aforementioned genres, as well as a plethora of different projects and with a roll- call of the underground's most visionary artists on speed dial, over the past 20 years he's helped shape UK eclecticism in irreversible ways.
Martin's latest release, "Filthy", is not the long- overdue sophomore full- length to succeed 2006's excellent "London Zoo", but even though it's only 4 tracks long it has a wealth of vibes to offer. "Filthy" isn't just about enormous, stinking bass lines. It's also about characters, culture and sonic experimentation. Just like all martin's releases, it brings together a wealth of styles and deliveries into a steaming melting pot of characteristic clashes.
The premise of "Filthy" consists of two original beats produced by Martin, but each time tweaked slightly and given entirely different flavours by the protagonists who perform over them. "Freakshow", featuring Detroit rapper Danny Brown, is the only example of Americanisation here. A ghostly and reverberating female vocal sample swoons in and out before Danny Brown's esoteric, comedic delivery fires off, and he barely pauses for breath. Lyrically it's concerned with the same raw, untamed excess that his 2011 mixtape "XXX" did, so it's Danny Brown's caricature continued with lines like "she look so tacky, pussy smell like crabby patties." The beat itself has a trap style drum inflection, a haunting synth wail over the dark, pugilistic main melody.
"Dirty", featuring long- time associate Flowdan, revolves around the same beat but it's tweaked and stripped down to it's bare bones to maximize the cold, brick- to- skull intensity of the most abrasive of UK Grime. Flowdan's perspective entails societal injustices ("Turned on the 10 o' clock news, I was just disgusted"), as well as providing a summary for the desperate decline in social cohesion current in the UK ("the situation is dirty, fuck that, it's murky.")
The second beat endorsed on "Filthy" is full of hypnotic, rhythmic wobs, rumbling bass and a high brow melody, as well as crisp, spacious snare hits. Daddy Freddy presides over the tainted "Kill Them", assuming the role of the weed- toking, violent London Gangsta through his gnarly Jamaican baritone.
Flowdan re- appears on closer "Louder." He provides a verse entailing a mixture of braggadocious self- proclamation and a unifying community spirit ("We need it Louder, Louder, Louder, Louder"). It's a surprisingly positive slice of straight up London party atmosphere.
Whilst the wait for a new Bug full- length drags on, it's releases like "Filthy" that means we can't forget how important some of the work he does is, not only for UK electronic music, but for cultural identity as a whole. "Filthy" may be more about individual perspectives than general consensus, but it's masterminded in a way that means it's a hub of creativity and collectivism.
Key Tracks: Kill Them ft. Daddy Freddy, Dirty ft. Flowdan
For Fans Of: Techno Animal, Kode9
Thursday, 18 July 2013
Power Trip- Manifest Decimation
Album: Manifest Decimation
Record Label: Southern Lord
Southern Lord's latest crossover newcomers only thrill occasionally
Southern Lord's penchant for putting out crushing crossover albums over the past 18 months or so has seen them rise to be held amongst the higher echelons of esteem in Metal. Unfortunately, for all their distinctly old- school fusing of Thrash and Hardcore Punk, Texas quintet Power Trip don't have an original idea to their name, meaning that "Manifest Decimation" struggles to remain interesting. However, the savage Slayer- esque rampage of "Conditioned to Death" and the Witch Trials story telling of "Drown" are both reasonably thrilling.
Key tracks: Conditioned to Death
For fans of: Exodus, Black Breath, Slayer
Wednesday, 17 July 2013
New Tracks: Earl Sweatshirt- Hive
"Hive" is the latest track to be released from Odd Future rapper Earl Sweatshirt's upcoming debut full- length. It features Odd Future affiliates Casey Veggies and Vince Staples, but ultimately on this track Earl proves exactly why I think he's the most talented member of Odd Future. Rapping about everything from critics to cash accounts and the recession, his intellect and wordplay shines bright over the ominous, gritty low- end rattle and creepy synths. Combined with previous single "Chum", "Doris" is shaping up to be a hell of a release.
"Doris" is due for release August 20th via Tan Cressida.
The Flaming Lips- The Terror
Album: The Terror
Record Label: Bella Union
Wayne Coyne & Co. take you on a guided tour through a nightmarish but ultimately engulfing trip
Drugs and The Flaming Lips have always gone so much hand in hand that it's got to the point where psychedelics have become part of their ethos, it seems. More often than not you could put a Flaming Lips record on whilst stone cold sober and feel absolutely frazzled by a cocktail of handpicked wild mushrooms and Ecstacy by the end of it.
That is not the case with "The Terror" however, because it sounds as though Coyne's amphetamine psychosis has finally caught up with him. "The Terror" is a nightmarish, unnerving trip through paranoia, death and bleakly beautiful but equally as alienating walls of sound. "Try To Explain" is a bleak account of heartbreak and Coyne sings "Try to explain why you're leaving, I don't think I'll understand" over glacial, shimmering drones, reverb laden rushes and painfully sad harmonies. "You Are Alone" is a schizophrenic session of freakish loops, rogue synths and ghostly swoons. "Butterfly, How Long It takes to Die" is propelled by an off- kilter bass line and tribal, primal drum roll combined with sparse synth circulations as Coyne moans "If you've ever really seen the sun set, you will know how long it takes to die."
They save the best until last however, in the shape of "Always there... In Our Hearts." It' tense and horrified, with Coyne reminding us thusly: "Always there in our hearts, there is evil that wants out." The song builds into a pugilistic, soaring climax whilst keeping the tone bleak.
"The Terror" certainly isn't easy listening, but it's music that will whisk you away to another place, another mindset, and that is it's most momentous achievement. There's not point trying to resist, eventually it will engulf you.
Key Tracks: Always There... In Our Hearts, Try To Explain, Butterfly, How Long It Takes To Die
For fans of: Pink Floyd, Super Furry Animals
New Tracks: Destruction Unit- The World on Drugs
One assumes Destruction Unit are called thus for a reason, and that reason would be that that's exactly what they sound like. "The World on Drugs", the first joint to be released from their upcoming debut "Deep Trip", is a chaotic, swirling, stonkingly heavy and trippy ride through reverb- laden hardcore punk a la Pissed Jeans. All distortion suffocated guitars and huge spades of synth hiss and raring noise, it's one of the most pissed off sounding (if not one of the most coherent) things I've heard so far this year.
"Deep Trip" is due out August 20th via Sacred Bones Records.
New Tracks: Ariel Pink Featuring Jorge Elbrecht- Hang On To Life
Ariel Pink and Jorge Elbrecht have teamed up to bring us some summery, lazy pop- rock via the way of new single "Hang On To Life." With it's lo- fi, stripped back production, that lazy West Coast feel, dreamy synths and swirling harmonies, it's classic Pink, and with lyrics like "you screwed the pooch now face it, the truth is in the sky", you know he's in full on Pink mode. It's perhaps not one of the most interesting songs he's put out of late, but it will certainly make pleasant Sunday afternoon listening, especially in this weather.
New Tracks: Holy Ghost!- Teenagers In Heat
Brooklyn synth- pop duo Holy Ghost! have released a new song entitled "Teenagers In Heat", and it should come as a surprise to no one that it's a slice of unashamed '80s cheesiness. From the throbbing synth- bass underbelly to the glacial whooshes and church bells that resound around it, it sounds like something halfway between Ariel Pink and a more electronic Pulp. Lyrically the song seems to be about heartbreak, a romance of times past swirled around with feelings of regret, youthfulness and self- destructiveness. "I was as lame as I've possibly ever been" sings Nick Millhiser, before later on saying "It's like when the band broke up, all the fans got choked up, 'cause they knew we'd never happen again."
Holy Ghost!'s second album "Dynamics" is due out on September 10th via James Murphy's DFA label.
New Tracks: Atmosphere- Bob Seger
Alternative Hip- Hop legends Atmosphere have released a new track entitled "Bob Seger," in what appears to be a homage to the country/ rockabilly songsmith himself. It's littered with Seger references, and Slug proves once again that he's one of the most prolific lyricists in the game with quips like "Come and stare into the eyes of a landslide" and "the more I travel, the further I see, the more I feel like my shadow ain't following me" over a soulful, slightly stoned beat fueled by a beautiful guitar melody and a cracked female vocal sample.
Disclosure- Settle
Album: Settle
Record Label: Universal
A refreshing and well- made statement of intent, but the future remains uncertain for House's new heroes
I remember the first time I read about Disclosure. It was in NME in late 2011, and even though they were only given about 100 words of space, it seemed inevitable off the back of singles like "Tenderly/ Flow" that some kind of stardom waited. Even so, if the Lawrence brothers have learnt anything over the past 18 months it's that things blow up incredibly quickly. So quickly in fact that by now Disclosure's level of success means they are likely to be far more than the kind of passing fad that such a fast ascension often enables.
Which, actually, is a very good thing. "Settle" provides evidence of the duo's ability to not only occasionally make people want to dance like muthas, but also an unprecedented wealth in understanding of both old- school House and how to pen a hit. Ultimately such a level of understanding offers both refreshment and versatility, if room for a handful of missteps.
The songs that really stand out here are the ones that exercise said level of knowledge. The fantastically funky "When A Fire Starts To Burn" will take you straight back to the early '90s. "Stimulation" is driven by a dirty, pummeling bass line and layered percussive drum patterns. "Grab Her!" is a fusion of cut and paste vocal samples and squelching pips and beeps.
These songs work because of the space in which they're given to maneuver, but the majority of "Settle" comprises of vocal guest spots from relatively well- known C- list chartgoers. "White Noise" featuring Alunageorge and Eliza Doolittle's smokey intonations over "You and Me" still make for great listening, but the moments of real potential wear thin.
The summery bounce of "Defeated No More" featuring Friendly Fires' Ed McFarlane is certainly pleasant if annoyingly inoffensive, and the soft- House groove of "Help Me Lose My Mind" lacks what the vocals (provided by London Grammar) showcase in extraordinaire. Best of all on this roll- call is "Confess To Me", a gritty, hard- hitting but sensual banger vocalised by the delectable Jessie Ware.
All things considered, it's largely a mightily energetic and knowledgeable statement of intent, but there's a dark shadow lurking in the confines of Disclosure's future. If they get by with this much help from their friends already then the mainstream will become more and more tantalizing and we may see the interwoven old- school vibes that make this such a treat become more sparse. For good or for ill, Disclosure can only get bigger from here, but until that time comes it's worth enjoying "Settle" for what it is.
Key Tracks: When a Fire starts to Burn, Stimulation, Confess to Me (feat. Jessie Ware)
For fans of: Duke Dumont, Azari & III
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All Sorts Challenge #104 No Cards
The Pink Elephant Challenge #56 Sketch
Challenges 4 Everybody #19 Anything goes
Shopping Our Stash #99 use a number
Celebrate the Occasion #110 Anything Goes
Love your page, Mari! Such a handsome little man and holding Tinkerbell- how cool! The bling Mickey head is fabulous!
- Jenn
A great scrapbook page and such a lovely way to keep those special memories.
Thanks so much for sharing with us at Allsorts challenge this week.
B x
Fab page Mari, I LOVE the blingy Mickey!! Gorgeousness!
And how lovely to get a pic with the actual Tinkerbell! ;)
What a fantastic page Mari, I love the papers and details and it's such a fab photo. Thank you so much for joining us at Allsorts for our Anything But A Card challenge xReplyDelete
Pretty, thanks for joining us this week @ CTO!ReplyDelete
Everything works perfectly together on this LO, I love this green. Thank you for joining us at the Celebrate the Occasion challenge and hope to see you back again.
Anna xxx
Hi Mari! Such an adorable Disney layout! Love all of the bling
Daling layout!!! Cute pic too!!!!
Thanks for joining CTO this week!!
It's so cool they added Tinkerbell to the kids' photos. :) Thanks for joining us at Shopping Our Stash!ReplyDelete
Adorable layout! Thanks so much for playing along with us at TPE!ReplyDelete


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By Dainius Balcytis, a member of YEM Aberdeen
Some say that changing the world is a fool's errand. Efforts of one man are just a drop in the sea, they don't make a difference against the tides of history. However that's not always true, and from time to time a man appears who simply refuses to play by the rules that world wants him to play by and makes his own way.
One such man was born in the second half of 15th century, in Royal Prussia, which at the time belonged to Poland. Nicolaus (or Mikolaj, in Polish) Copernicus lived during a time of great challenges and uncertainty. Nowadays we tend to associate Renaissance with cultural marvels and scientific discoveries, but we often forget that Europe back then was suffering a very hard transition period which was accompanied by struggles of Reformation, growing Ottoman threat from the east, dogmatic opposition to new ideas by the Catholic Church and other problems. Copernicus, who was born in a family of wealthy merchants, despite a promise of rich and relaxed life chose to be inspired by these struggles rather than to ignore or fear them. He became a true Renaissance Man also known as Homo Universalis or polymath, meaning that he mastered multiple disciplines and didn't limit himself to just one field. While we mostly know him for his achievements as astronomer, during his life Copernicus has tried his hands at numerous other professions. For example he was very interested in economics and the way flow of money changed human behaviour and affected society. In this field he created the basis for Gresham's law, claiming that circulation of fake money in the system will encourage other traders to use fake money as well. However he wasn't just a theoretical academician, he was also a very politically active man. In his time he worked both as diplomat for the Polish Crown and could be often seen both at the meetings of the parliament and at the Royal Council. Because of this reason later on in life he even served in a few different public offices, even becoming a governor of a city at one point. In this capacity he proved himself to be more than just a scientist – during the Polish-Teutonic War of 1519-1521 the city under his rule, Allenstein (today – Olsztyn) , came under siege. Not only Copernicus himself directed successful defence of the city, but he also participated in the ensuing peace negotiations, making him one of the few warrior-scholars that have ever lived. In addition to that he was a great physician, healing people and also had a degree in canon law, meaning that he also knew theology and could have obtained priesthood if he would have chosen to do so. As if that wouldn't be enough on his free time Copernicus was a classics scholar, learning new languages and translating ancient texts, such as Byzantine texts from 7th century AD. Because of this we know that Copernicus was fluent in at least five languages – Polish, German, Latin, Greek and Italian. Finally on top of that he also composed poetry and received four degrees from some of the oldest European Universities, such as Krakow, Bologna, Ferrara and Padua.
It has been nearly five centuries since the death of Copernicus, however we still remember him as one of the greatest people who have ever lived. His astronomic ideas of heliocentrism have sparked Copernican Revolution which significantly advanced the cause of Scientific Revolution which was just starting around that time (and is usually considered to have begun with publishing of Copernicus' "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium" in 1543). Even though he was just a single man before the age of Internet, personal computers or easily accessible knowledge, he alone managed to make a greater contribution to science than some modern Universities do in a decade. Not only did he excel at whatever he was doing, but he also managed to change the world by changing the way we see our place in the world. He could have spent his life trading silk and precious stones in the markets of Krakow, but he chose to improve himself in whatever the way possible. Was he planning to change the world when he started out? Probably not, but he did try anyway. In this regard we should all strive to be more like Copernicus. So let's turn off Facebook and cat videos for tonight, we can use that time to do something awesome. I wrote this article and what will you do?


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Discussion in 'Wheels & Tires' started by Autohaus, Feb 28, 2009.
What is the correct tire size for the multi-spoke 17 inch wheel that came standard on the E46 330xi?
205/50R17 on all 330xi models with 17" wheels.
Thanks. I've just picked up a set of those wheels for dirt for the 325xi. Is it possible to fit a 225/45 size on it or will it cause problems? I am not sure if I should keep them or sell them for a profit.
Anyone? Can a 225/45/17 tire fit on a Style 73 wheel on a xi or will it rub?
Separate names with a comma.
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Works Well to Repel Water
It was easy to put on, did not have a strong smell and easy to clean off skin and any spills on pool deck.
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I did my entire deck and railings in about 30 minutes, approximately 600 square feet.
Environmentally Safe
It goes on smooth and easy and there is no odor. Plus the fact that its environmentally safe makes me feel good.
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Advent this year has been filled with boxes - not those that contain advent gifts but those that are produced by moving house. The packing and unpacking has lent a very different backdrop to the season of preparation and readiness for the Christ child. The spiritual practices of Advent have taken place amidst the chaos of packaging materials, paint tins and step ladders and not in the usual, for me, daily meditation and reflections on the scriptures and season of waiting. And yet, the same God who deemed human beings as worthwhile companions, who determined that we were worth God's coming to earth, has continued to show up in myriad ways this Advent. We may not have tracked down the Christmas tree or the outdoor lights and cards were not even bought never mind sent but God has been more present than ever in the simplicity of creating a home in which there is room for hope, peace, joy and love and room for the baby whose birth heralds those gifts for all creation. And so, on this Christmas Eve, a thanksgiving and a prayer:
Thank you baby God
that gathered around the manger
in which you were laid
were ordinary people
whom you surprised with love,
sharing the good news
with unlikely suspects
whom you deemed worthy.
Thank you baby God
that you did not wait
until we were ready to receive you
for that may never have happened.
Instead, you showed up
without fanfare -
(although a choir of angels must have been quite spectacular.)
You showed up among people displaced
and disorientated
pushed from pillar to post
by the whims of government.
You showed up and made your home among us
asking only that we make room for possibility
- the possibility of hope, peace, love and joy.
And today, God with us, still you ask us to believe
that those possibilities might become reality.
God, we believe.
As we make everything ready to herald your birth once more
may our belief become action.
Empowered by you in our midst
may it be so - for the love of God.


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Pneumatic Double Dumps
Pneumatic units are also available with air cylinders, solenoid valves, limit switches and cycle timers. With these units, the air cylinders control the opening and closing of the flaps. Cycle timers allow easy adjustment of the number of batches per minute.
Gravity flow units are also available with just counter weights. These units do not open until enough material has accumulated on the flap to overpower the adjustable counterweight. Sizes: 6, 8, 10 and 12 inch are the standard range. Up to 24 inch units can be fabricated.