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Credit: Tourism Tasmania
- Advertisement -
The Tarkine wilderness in Tasmania's north-west is another destination set to attract international attention.
The Tarkine contains the largest temperate rainforest in Australia and one of the most significant remaining tracts in the world. It is home to 54 threatened or endangered species of flora and fauna, including Tasmanian devils, wedge-tailed eagles, orange-bellied parrots and giant freshwater crayfish.
Tarkine Trails began taking bushwalkers into the region in 2002 when clear felling threatened the rainforest.
Owner Mark "Darvis" Davis wanted to connect people to the landscape. "We were inspired to prove its economic value as an eco-tourism destination, knowing that to do so would powerfully assist its transition to full protection status," he says.
The Tarkine is now up for National Heritage Listing, an essential ingredient for World Heritage status.
"Nothing is bigger than the Tarkine," Darvis says. "It really is the biggest unprotected wilderness of its kind in Australia. Its (tourism) potential is quite massive."
Ken Boundy, director of Tarkine Wilderness Pty Ltd, says the area is attracting a disproportionate number of international visitors for Tasmania. French, Dutch, Germans and Americans are going "off the beaten track" to experience authentic wilderness. "It's a real niche," he says.
In 2005, Ken and three partners secured a 50-year lease of the historic gold-mining town of Corinna at the Tarkine's southern end. The group has restored four miner's cottages and a guest house and has built 14 wilderness retreats.
They are working to make Corinna a plastic-free and carbon-neutral town. It has solar energy (despite 200 wet days a year!), rainwater tanks and self-composting toilets. Local food is sourced to reduce food miles and hard waste is removed.
"We want to minimise our footprint on a precious part of the world and provide responsible access," Ken says.


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Oren Frank is the man behind the program Talkspace. Talkspace quickly became the biggest online therapy company in the world. Every single day you hear of more people who are suffering from mental illnesses, depression, or anxiety. It is an issue that is seen across the globe.
In the short time that Talkspace has been operating they have helped over a million people reach the therapists that they need. All of the therapists that work at Talkspace are licensed and ready to give out all of the help that they can. Talkspace offers many different types of therapy sessions from individual therapy to couples therapy. Read more on Wikipedia.
Oren Frank did not always work operating Talkspace. Before coming to Talkspace he worked as a senior marketing executive for different people. He has grown a lot and learned a lot during every single step of his journey.
Every single day in the life of Oren Frank is extremely busy. He spends most of his time working. Although he spends a lot of time working he prioritizes his sleep. He feels that sleep is important and he makes sure that he gets enough sleep every single night.
When Oren Frank has an idea he will do whatever it takes to bring that idea to life. Talkspace is the prime example of this. Oren Frank has huge dreams for his future. He knows that if he can continue to work for Talkspace and keep advancing the program he will be able to depend on Talkspace to carry him through life. He is very happy with how this company turned out. Although he does not know what the future will hold for him he does know that he is not finished dreaming. He has big dreams that he hopes will one day become a reality. He is going to work hard to make sure that this does happy for him. Learn More: https://www.talkspace.com/online-therapy/reshaping-behavioral-health-2017/oren-frank-intro-presentation/

subset: commoncrawl


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The thief's name was Joanne Clancy, a former Kindle All Star, and the book that she called Tear Drop was No 1 in the Irish crime fiction charts at the time. Not only that, but she had a second book scheduled for release in a few weeks time, and that one turned out to be a carbon copy of Ingrid Black's second book about the same character, The Dark Eye. The Real Book Thief tells the story of how Ingrid Black discovered what had happened and how she went about trying to find out more about the mysterious woman who had stolen her work.
Anyway, I won't go into the details of their story, however I have to write about my experience with this fake author. 'Joanne Clancy' has not only stolen Ingrid Black's work, she has used and betrayed countless readers, reviewers and bloggers like myself.
I was first contacted by this Joanne Clancy in June 2014 to read and review her book 'Traceless', which I read, enjoyed and reviewed. From then on, seeing that I liked her work, she kept contacting me to read, review and blog about her books. In August 2015 while on holiday in Italy where I had limited Wi-Fi, I received an email from her asking me to copy and paste my reviews of a couple of her books to a combined box set which she had just issued on Amazon, to counteract a 1-star review she had just received on it. I'm always ready to go the extra mile in order to help self-published authors and authors in general to have their work publicised, so even though I had crappy, slow internet connection there I did as she said from my hotel room through my cheap smartphone.
In October 2015, after having agreed with her, I laid out an author interview so that we could post it on the launch day of her second Elizabeth Ireland book 'Insincere'. She was happy to go ahead and do it and even offered giveaway copies for the occasion. However, when I sent it to her, I immediately got a reply saying that she's awfully sorry and she won't be able to fill up this interview as she's very worried about her sister which has just been diagnosed with cancer. I was of course shocked by her reply, to which I replied by saying of course I don't mind, this interview can wait, the sister's health takes precedence. After a few days I realised that all her books have disappeared from Amazon. I messaged her to see if she's okay and she said that she wishes to take a step back at the moment as she has to deal with her sister's illness which has deeply affected her. Last Christmas I've even messaged her with my best wishes and told her that when she decides to come back to the scene I would be happy to keep on supporting her.
Of course, to say that I was shocked when this whole story came out is an understatement. Ingrid Black contacted me on twitter with a link to their story. Now I'm glad that the thief was uncovered and stopped from doing further damage. However I feel hurt and insecure because I had supported this author in any way possible and now I know that anyone can repeat what this person did. The sad reality is that I can never be absolutely sure whether an author approaching me to read and review their books is sending me their own or someone else's stolen work.
This shocking story has deeply affected me and is a bitter experience that will be difficult to forget.


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The multi-million-pound show dazzles all the senses in breath-taking style. Guaranteed to blow your mind, this musical phenomenon is not to be missed!
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While we take every opportunity to ensure the details for We Will Rock You are accurate, we always advise that you contact the event organiser before setting out for the event to avoid disapointment.
Looking to reach new customers? We offer a variety of advertising options with prices starting from just £30 per month!


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Step 1: Register
EnviroDIY. org is community-built — we encourage you to help us build it! While guests can view our blog and forums, if you'd like to be more involved you'll need to register as a member.
Step 2: Customize your profile
Change your display name
Unlike your username, your display name can be changed at any time and it may contain spaces. Click on your name in the menu to go to your profile page. On the gray toolbar, click Edit. You can change your display name and update your About Me bio information. Make sure to click the Save Changes button before leaving the Edit screen.
Upload a custom avatar
Click on your name in the menu to go to your profile page. On the gray toolbar on your profile page, click Change Profile Photo. Choose a file on your computer (minimum size is 250 x 250 pixels) and then click Upload Image. You will be able to crop the photo before it is saved to your profile.
Change email or password
Click on your name in the menu to go to your profile page. On the black toolbar on your profile page, click Settings. Edit your email, or change your password by typing your new password twice — please use a strong one! Make sure to click the Save Changes button before leaving the page.
Change notification settings
You can control whether you receive email notifications about site activity, friend requests, and group activity.
- Click on your name in the menu to go to your profile.
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Next: Get Involved by Taking These Steps
Network With Others
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Make a status update
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When you add text to the status update box it will be entered into the site-wide activity feed. You have the choice of posting the update to your profile or to any one of the interest groups you have joined.
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On the Members page, you can see a list of all members, along with search and filter tools. Clicking on a member's picture or name will take you to their profile page.
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By default, when you join a group you will be sent a weekly summary email of group activity. You can change this in your profile settings, by clicking on the Email Options tab on the specific group page, or by going to the main Groups page and clicking on the change link next to Weekly Summary in the group list.
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Home » Accordion » rom002a
Spinelli, Alexian Santino - Romanó Drom (Romany Caravan) for Accordion
Spinelli, Alexian Santino - Romanó Drom (Romany Caravan) for Accordion, Voice and Orchestra - [Score]
Alexian website: www.alexian.it
CNI Music website: www.cnimusic.it
Ethnoworld website: www.ethnoworldmusic.com
You can hear the pieces from this collection on iTunes at the following links:
Romanó dives Murdevèlë Mèngre Ave Maria romaní Romanó sunó Pri ni thèm fiddère
Romanó dives
Murdevèlë Mèngre
Ave Maria romaní
Romanó sunó
Pri ni thèm fiddère
The music, with its high instructive and communicative value, has played, over the centuries, an active role in Romany society in the defence, preservation and transmission of the Romany culture, identity and language, that's to say the romanipé. Since Renaissance the Roma, moving around from square to square and from castle to castle, have influenced cultured musicians, bringing rhythmic, musical and instrumental innovations. But it was particularly in the Romantic era – when the concepts of nation, cultural roots, local folklore and freedom were asserted – that great composers like Listz, Brahms, Schubert and later Dvorák, Musorgskij, Ravel, Debussy, Bartók, Stravinskij, took inspiration largely on the Romany musical tradition. Europe, a cultural mosaic, is also a musical mosaic and every people is the guardian of rhythms and styles that have been renewed through the ages. In this rich cultural European mosaic, Roma originally coming from North India have given their input, with different colors and shapes. In many countries the Romany culture has become part of the local folklore and often the folklore of those countries identifies with the Romany art or culture: the flamenco in Spain, Hungarian violinists, Romanian cymbalisti, music in Russia and in the countries of the former Yugoslavia. Some musical kinds derive from Roma, like the Czárdás and Verbunkos but also, as just said, flamenco and lots of Balkan music, beside Jazz Manouche.


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Recently had decoration inside and out of our house. Have no
hesitation in recommending JMK. They are punctual, tidy and meticulous.
Will definitely be using again.
Mrs J Cooper
JMK Interior Finishing Ltd recently completed two bathrooms in my
home. A shower/wet room and a bathroom with freestanding bath. The
fittings and tiles were chosen by me. The materials used by JMK were
top quality. As was the workmanship i.e plumbing and tiling. They were
prompt polite clean workers and very professional.
Judith Routledge
Very friendly and hard working. Work to a very high standard and
very reliable. Have used them twice now. Excellent value for money.
Will be having them again.
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Carried out interior remodelling including tiling, plastering and
decorating. They were very trustworthy. Top quality workmanship, with
an eye for detail and knowing the right approach for every job.
John King
Prompt, efficient service - always on time and tidy. Does what it
says on the tin!Very happy.
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From the initial telephone enquiry through your planning and
execution of the work, JMK have met all our requirements and delighted
us with the manner of operating. A great bonus (not included in the
contract) was the happy, smiling team - all day, every day.
Very best wishes, Chris
Excellent work and real professionals. This is the first time I have
used ratedpeople and am glad that JMK are on this site. They completed
the work well before their estimated time and the quality of work was
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International Sorghum and Millet Collaborative Research Support Program (INTSORMIL CRSP)
Date of this Version
Document Type
INTSORMIL Report No. 16, December 1, 2007
Sorghum and millet are ideal crops for many parts of Africa. However, sorghum and millet's use as food sources for large urban populations in West Africa is hampered by 1) lack of infrastructure for conveying and demonstrating the food value of sorghum and millet to small business investors, 2) limitations on the supply of high quality grains to processors, 3) lack of small processors, 4) lack of educational resources related to small business development, 5) lack of product development expertise, and 6) lack of knowledge of evidence supporting nutritional claims associated with sorghum and millet consumption.
The Department of Food Science & Technology at the University of Nebraska with a grant from INTSORMIL is promoting the use of sorghum and millet as a food in Tanzania. The Nebraska model is designed to solve the limitations mentioned above and is based on the realization that for food businesses to be successful there must be a strong linkage between services provided in business, marketing, supply chain management, and the technological/scientific aspects of foods.


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Filter by:Clear All
Got here very fast and my son absolutely LOVES it (DK4000). It's constructed beautifully and he'll be able to wear it for a long time. He's a small six year old and wears the buckles fully closed, so this can be part of his Ren Faire costume for years. Thanks!
Sign Up for the Dark Knight Armoury mailing list to receive discounts, exclusive offers, and breaking news.


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Fluid width, 2 or 3 column theme for WP 2.2 – WP 2.6 Rotating header images, Customizable logo and Options page. Plug & Play for various plugins. Widget Ready Layout Agriculture WP Theme Preview Agriculture WP Theme DownloadREAD MORE »
Posts tagged 2 columns wp theme
Agriculture / Green World WP Theme
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jilesh Patadiya
2008 Leave a Comment Written by Jilesh Patadiya
Posted in 2 Columns Layout, 3 Columns Layout, Left Sidebars, Right Sidebar Layouts, Widget Ready Layouts, WordPress Templates - Tagged 3 columns wp theme, custom header wp theme, fluid width wp theme, gravatars wp theme, left sidebar wp theme, options page wp theme, popular posts wp theme, related posts wp theme, right sidebar wp theme, rotating header images wp theme, seo friendly wp theme, subscribe to comments, widget ready wp theme, wp-email, wp-pagenavi wp theme, wp-print wp theme


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10 Wild 3D Creatures Made on an iPad
Creature Feature
Have you ever wanted to design a monster for your favorite video game or horror movie? It doesn't get much easier than with 123D Creature, a computer-aided design (CAD) app for iOS by Autodesk.
Using this free app's simple wire frames and touch-based interface, many people have made some incredible projects, which are now on display at Autodesk's 123D gallery.
These models are also easy to 3D print, either by exporting the files to a home printer or by tapping a button in the app to send the design to Autodesk's 3D printing service.
Here are ten of our favorites that just might inspire you to start designing a 3D model or two of your own.
"Orange" by Daniel Reierson
With its claws, horns, spindly wings and long tail, this dragon by designer Daniel Reierson is an example of how 123D Creature's wire frames can be used to quickly make detailed animal parts.
"Zombie" by Adam Beamish
This freaky head-and-shoulders model has a high level of detail on everything from the facial muscles to the crooked teeth.
MORE: 10 Amazing 3D Printed Artworks
Designer Adam Beamish made the model on 123D Creature and then added some finishing touches in 123D Make, another free software from Autodesk, which accounts for its more finished look.
"Darth Vader" by Amanda Jackson
Designer Amanda Jackson notes on the page that this Darth Vader model is one of the more difficult projects she's completed with 123D Creature.
MORE: 7 Lamest 3D Printing Projects
That's saying something, considering her Autodesk profile features 141 projects, including a Kaiju from the movie "Pacific Rim" and Rarity from the animated television show "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic."
"Squidy" by Paul Telisman
123D's wire frames are great for many-limbed creatures. Paul Telisman made this squid, including the long thin tentacles and the textures, entirely within the app.
"Arrow" by Josh Kitchen
This isn't a creature, but it shows that the wire frame-based touch interface of 123D Creature can be used to make other types of models as well.
"Lavender Flight" by Yuki Kihara
It's not necessarily a good idea to wear a strapless dress when flying, but this 3D model of a winged woman in a stylish purple dress is still pretty cool.
MORE: 5 Coolest 3D Printers of Maker Faire 2013
The painted textures on the face may be a bit off, but the detail on the wings looks great.
"DKNY Swimming Suit" by Anca Georgescu
This figure's musculature is so detailed, particularly in the arms, legs and abdomen, that she looks like she might spring to life on the screen.
"Orange" by Daniel Reierson
To create "Orange," Daniel Reierson used a simple human-shaped wire model and added extra features such as what looks like a jetpack and shoulder-mounted guns.
Like "Zombie," "Orange" was made with 123D Creature and 123D Make.
"Cheshire Cat" by Mica Wong
This unique model uses just the barest outline of a bone structure to create a chillingly eerie version of the smirking cat from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."
"Acid" by Jacob Fluchel
This head-and-shoulders model is undeniably creepy, with textures and drip-like extensions that make it look like the face has been doused in acid. But it's a good example of some of the looks you can achieve in CAD software.
MORE: How 3D Printing is Changing Etsy
You can get 123D Catch free on the Apple App Store for devices running iOS 6 or higher.
Email firstname.lastname@example.com or follow her @JillScharr. Follow us @TomsGuide, on Facebook and on Google+.


text: Home About Events 2018 May 22 Williston Basin Petroleum Conference Learn about Materion's Oil & Gas Coupling Solutions The oil and gas industry demands tough materials that stands up to the most rugged and complex environments in the world. That is why energy companies around the world rely on Materion for high performance alloys that deliver excellent quality, consistent reliability and unique property. We look forward to meeting you at the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference, May 22 -24, 2018 at Bismarck Event Center, 315 South 5th Street, Bismarck, ND 58504. Conference topics will range from North American and world energy supply and demand, to highly technical Bakken talks, to managing community impacts. Stop by booth #824 to learn more about our material solutions for the oil & gas industry.


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In Node focus on Blogger posts and Node focus explorer without excel I showed how you might browse sites by connected topic, rather than hierarchically. This used a D3.js force diagram as the navigation tool.
I got to thinking about 'interactive concept browsing', and wondered if the d3 work could be tweaked to be a kind of hybrid list of pages, with connections through topics. Here's what it looks like, using the posts from the Excel liberation blog.
And the live version is here and below
As in the previous explorer a number of the same techniques are used for retrieving the data, you can also focus in on particular topics or pages by clicking or visit the blog page by double clicking. In addition hovering will show connections between the concepts.
Finding related pages for multiple topics
Fixed positioning
This kind of approach is possible because you can mix fixed positioning and dynamic positioning in D3. simply setting d.fixed to true in your data will keep that item fixed, whilst the others are calculated relative to each other and the fixed items. So in this way you can build up a list of pages that stay where they are, whilst the topic nodes float around as needed.
Moving fixed items
But of course you may want to move these items, perhaps to group them in some way. Well you can. When you drag a page to a new position just stays there. In this example I wanted to focus on the page 'Publishing Google Apps Script snippets', so i pulled it to the center of the diagram. Anything else I open up will now be centered around that item I moved.
You can navigate to the underlying pages by double clicking on any page node. I think this provides an interesting alternative to normal site navigation, and of course the data does not have to be a single site - it can be from many related sources.
The Data
Just like in Node focus on Blogger posts, the navigation data is being created each night by a Google Apps Script crawling the Excel Liberation blog and this site. It's very straightforward - an array of topics, each one looking like this, which contain an array of pages that mention that topic. The concept explorer makes connections between topics by finding pages that are common between each topics pages array. In the case of the blogger data, the name and the title are the same. When we get to data generated from Google Sites, the name is different. Name and Title are both used in the concept explorer in different contexts. The key is a unique value that will be used to match pages and topics, and the count is used to size the node. In this case the count is the number of times the 'cdataset' topic is mentioned in all the following pages (potentially more than once per page)
"name": "cdataset",
"count": 87,
"key": "cdataset",
"pages": [
"name": "Sankey diagrams direct from Excel - update",
"key": "7899286130266944386",
"title": "Sankey diagrams direct from Excel - update",
"url": "http://excelramblings.blogspot.com/2013/07/sankey-diagrams-direct-from-excel-update.html"
"name": "Connections in electoral data - D3 and VBA follow on from oUseful post",
"key": "861843895324588546",
"title": "Connections in electoral data - D3 and VBA follow on from oUseful post",
"url": "http://excelramblings.blogspot.com/2013/05/connections-in-electoral-data-d3-and.html"
"name": "Mashing up electoral data - follow on from oUseful post",
"key": "2877216136096344149",
"title": "Mashing up electoral data - follow on from oUseful post",
"url": "http://excelramblings.blogspot.com/2013/05/mashing-up-electoral-data-follow-on.html"
You can see it would be straightforward to generate this kind of data from other sources, including crawling other websites and combining the results. Here are the combined results for this site, or for this site combined with the blogger.
If you can massage your data into the same shape, you can just pass its url as follows to visualize it
The GAS code for generating the data
For help and more information join our forum,follow the blog or follow me on twitter .
Services > Desktop Liberation - the definitive resource for Google Apps Script and Microsoft Office automation > GAS and sites >


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Donning the best pieces from her diamond-arsenal with some worn for the first time, here is the prettiest lady that day. She would have never thought her youngest baby would one day grow up to marry another man. Here's to the coolest mum: I love you!
With smiles from ear to ear and waving the customised "Kim & Ision" skewer/flag thingies, I can only assume this couple who came all the way from Kuala Lumpur specially for us were having maximum fun.
The women of my family. From left to right: eldest sister, mum, second elder sister, sister-in-law and niece.
The pair with the bear. This cute couple never leaves home without their favourite Winnie the Pooh. I knew both of them individually before they got together and boy was that long ago.
Another shot of beautiful ladies in the house.
Two other happy friends showing off their pearly whites. One of them is quite a famous food blogger so I really hope he liked the food that day. I love this shot because another couple were caught perfectly in this selfie as well by pure chance.
My second elder sister has just moved back to Singapore from Texas with her family and I have not caught up with her for a long time. Beside my mum is one of my sister's adorable sons. At the wedding I also caught up with my brother-in-law whom I have not spoken with at length for years (if ever).
A really floral shot of my mum with the singers I got to know way back when I started gigging. Second from the right is my best pal Phoebee who was also the emcee for the day. Emceeing for weddings is one of her main jobs and so there couldn't be a better candidate for this important role.
If you are dying to have a "taste" of the excellent menu, you are in luck because food will be the topic of my next post which will be up very soon. Save up your saliva till then!


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106 members8 Comments 15 Likes
84 members26 Likes
401 members107 Comments 101 Likes
603 members174 Comments 195 Likes
Started this discussion. Last reply by Linda l Phillabaum Jun 24, 2014. 20 Replies 5 Likes
Not sure if this is acceptable, but this project is actually not done yet. Just thought I'd…READ MORE
Started this discussion. Last reply by Jason J. Rodenkirchen Jul 25, 2013. 18 Replies 1 Like
Anyone out there tried these? I was considering getting some due to the fact that the Prismacolor Premier Art Stix don't come in gray. Before I buy them though, I have questions, like how well do…READ MORE
Started this discussion. Last reply by Tj Voelker Sep 25, 2013. 11 Replies 0 Likes
Let me preface this with the fact that I'm a novice to this medium and a beginning artist, so I'm not too savvy.I'm trying to do a large colored pencil piece and it's on BFK Rives paper (not sure of…READ MORE
Tags: blemishes, chips, Prismacolor, Colored_Pencil
They are beautiful
wonderful artwork
I use mostly Faber Castell Polychromos because they are oil based, hold a sharp point longer and almost never break.
First thing is that I work mostly with oil-based colors not wax and I use a very, very sharp pencil and a light touch. It's only when you try to "color"your piece as opposed to painting it that you run into heavy buildup. By using colors closer to the finished value and a light touch you are able to build the layers much more effectively.
TJ, your work is amazing, stunning and profound. You mentioned about the circular method using colored pencils. Well, you not going to like what I say because what I do is probably more tedious, however it works for me. I do sometimes use the circular method and sometimes I use infinitely small stokes and other times just dots of color. I don't like burnishing so I try not to do that unless I'm working with a very shiny object. Even then, I don't like the look on the original of heavy, waxy layers. I usually begin with color mapping which is random coloring in a light fashion of the color or underpainting color for a given area. That way as I move around I'm able to remind myself of where I'm going and how one near finished area will merge into another. Hope that helps.
Thank you for your friends request Tj, i look forward to your comments and seeing all your works.
Hello Tj, I kindly thank you for your invite and I gladly except,
Hi Tj ! Thanks so much for the sweet comments!! Glad you liked my Owl!
Hi Tj! Got to see your graphite works! They r exemplary in showing how to get the best out of this medium. The emotional torment shown in your works r so realistic, they move all. Keep up the good work!
Tj I am impressed - you do good work. Your fruit and flower I can relate to very well. Your take away system is also something that holds a person. Good job. By the way the light in a picture of botanical is best from the upper left as we read left to right in this western world and you got that just right. I like your highlights and how they play through the picture.
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We are currently recruiting Door Supervisors to work in our leisure departments in Coatbridge and surrounding areas at some of our popular bars.
Candidates should be able to commit to regular Friday and Saturday Evenings.
In addition, we have a wide variety of shift times and working hours.
As a Door Supervisor you will be an essential part of the venue and team, maintaining a high level of customer care and safety. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a rapidly growing organisation.
The candidate must:
Key Tasks include:
If you are an individual with a real interest in delivering outstanding customer service, please apply via the link on this page and ensure to include a copy of your CV.
Please click here to see our Privacy Notice which explains the types of personal data we may collect, how we will handle it, store it and keep it safe. This notice also tells you about your rights in relation to your personal data.


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So the long break is over. I've spent more than a week here in my hometown; sleeping in my childhood bedroom and eating my mom's home-cooked dishes every single day. Having nothing else to do other than watching TV and surfing the net, I decided to watch old TV shows online. "Friends" doesn't count because we could still watch the reruns every now and then on StarWorld. But I'm talking about my favourite TV shows way back then when I was still in school and university like: "Ally McBeal" and "Gilmore Girls".
I remember having to fight for the remote control with my parents each time "Ally McBeal" was on. Sometimes I would call my friends asking them about the week's episode whenever I have to give up the remote control to my parents. Same goes with "Gilmore Girls" but I was already in uni when the series started. I watched it from this TV room at my hostel on Sunday nights with like 20 other boys who were there just for " Alexis Bledel".
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I used to quote whatever Ally said in my journal. In fact, I missed writing in my journal just as much as I missed watching Ally, Rory and Lorelai. I was so young and I felt like writing was a good way to deal with all the teenage/adolescence crap that I had to deal with at that time. I used to write every single night before I go to bed. That was up until I finally leave the house to attend university and by that time writing in my journal felt like such a chore with my dorm-mates snooping around and always wanted to know what the hell I was writing about. I tried but by the following year, I just gave up...
I gave up on "Ally McBeal" and "Gilmore Girls" too because it was just impossible to find the time to watch TV with assignments and course works to be submitted every single week. And at that time, box-set of TV series was almost unheard of. I didn't even own a computer at that time.
At least 10 years have passed and so many things have happened in between. I'm almost thirty (which really doesn't make sense) and I've made countless mistakes along the way. I've fallen down and dust myself up again. I have seen how doors were being closed and opened so many times. How people simply come and go. But after watching these two of my favourite TV shows again today, it all seems very clear to me. Our past have prepared and shaped us into the people that we are today.
Watching "Ally McBeal" taught me about love and the realness of the world out there (minus the dancing baby). I learned about loneliness and how it happens to the best of us." Gilmore Girls" reminded me of my family and how important it is to hang on to one another. And these two shows let me explore my talent for writing (if you can really call it that). Had it not been for the exposure to the different kind of emotions on these TV shows, I might not have understood any of them and felt the need to write about them in my journals.
Like when Billy died on "Ally McBeal", that was a five-page entry in my journals with tears streaming down my face. And watching the final episode of Rory's going away party just now?
574 words.
Song playing inside my head: Vonda Shepard's Searching My Soul


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Sign up to receive occasional Nickey Kehoe news and 10% off your next online purchase.
Use Code: NKSHOP
A solid Cherry wood bowl turned by craftsman at one of the last commercial bowl mills in production in the United States. Perfect for entertaining.
Hand wash with small amount of mild soap, then hand dry.
17 1/2" x 5 1/2"
Wood grain will vary.
Made in USA.


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Here's our remedy for any dry spell. Love Beauty & Planet Bountiful Moisture Body Wash delivers an ultra-hydrating cleanse that will leave your skin feeling soft and smooth to the touch.
A bountiful life is a beautiful life. Infused with rich Amazonian murumuru butter and handpicked Bulgarian Rose Oil, our Bountiful Moisture Body Wash locks in moisture with a deeply nourishing formula that calms and smooths dry skin. When it comes to scents, rose is one of our favourites. Our ethically harvested Bulgarian Roses are handpicked in the morning and quickly processed to capture the purest rosy scent. The resulting fragrance, Rose Absolute, exudes a rich and warm floral rose note which is much more honey–like than the oil.
• You know it - Pump into hand. Lather onto body. Rinse off. • Remember to go easy on the water.
Love Beauty & Planet Bountiful Moisture Body Wash, formulated with murumuru and Rose Oil, works to naturally soften and smooth skin and add a kiss of indulgent rose.
Aqua, Cocamidopropyl Betaine*, Sodium Hydroxypropyl Starch Phosphate*, Lauric Acid*, Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate*, Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate*, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil*, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin*, Parfum, Rosa Damascena Flower Extract*, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Phenoxyethanol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil*, Citric Acid, Stearic Acid*, Sodium Isethionate, BHT, Tetrasodium EDTA, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Citronellol, Coumarin, Linalool. *PLANT BASED INGREDIENTS / INGRÉDIENTS À BASE DE PLANTES


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Family Camps
Opportunities for Girl Scouts to experience camp with their family members are available year round. Some of the camps have special themes and all of them provide age-appropriate activities based on what each camp has to offer. Most family camps are offered on weekends from Friday through Sunday. Some of the programs that have been offered over the past years include:
Family Camp: Family camp is an opportunity for families to
enjoy a camp experience together. This summer's theme is "Around the
World." We'll enjoy games and activities from many different
cultures and meet camp counselors from across the globe. Activities
will include archery, arts and crafts, hiking games, songs, and
more! Children under the age of 4 are free.
Me and My Cowboy: Come to a fun-filled weekend at camp with
your favorite male adult (dad, uncle, grandfather, or mentor over
the age of 18 years old). Join us for a weekend of horseback riding,
archery, fire-building, kickball, hiking, songs, and more! Cowgirls
and Cowboys will get their own rustic cabin, with separate
bathhouses for males and females.
Me and My Gal: You and your favorite adult female are about
to embark on an overnight adventure of staying up late, learning new
songs and games, and discovering the outdoor adventure playground at
- Big Sis/Little Sis: Spend the week at camp with the coolest person ever – YOUR SISTER! Experience all that camp has to offer, including canoeing, climbing, creak walking and arts and crafts. Most activities are done together. Sisters or cousins of various grades are welcome to attend together, although we can only accommodate pairs.


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What you need to know
Artificial Dracaena 230cm
A 3 headed Artificial Dracaena standing at 2.3m in total, with lovely long lush green leaves, and rich brown trunk.
Colour: Soft green.
Pot: basic plastic pot included 25cm W x 20cm H
Size: 230cm
Use: Indoors.
Cleaning Instructions: Use a damp (not dripping) wet cloth to wipe the leaves and trunk down.


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Swiss Diamond XD Sauce Pan with Lid, 3 1/4-Qt.
Easy, hassle-free returns online and in-store for eligible items.Learn More
Earn 5% Back in rewards4 plus free standard shipping3every day when you shop with your Williams Sonoma credit card at Williams Sonoma.Apply Now Learn More
- Summary
This cookware's extraordinary durability is the result of a revolutionary process that infuses the cooking surface with genuine diamond crystals, creating a nonstick surface that easily releases the most delicate foods. Use these versatile saucepans to cook sauces and grains and warm soups.
- 3 1/4-qt. cap.
- Patented nonstick composite is fused with real diamond crystals to create an ultra-durable cooking surface that won't peel, crack or blister.
- New formulation of PFOA-free nonstick surface is even tougher and releases foods better.
- Cast-aluminum construction distributes heat evenly across the pan's surface, eliminating hot spots.
- Flat, disc-shaped base works well on ceramic, electric and gas cooktops.
- The ergonomic, lightweight handles stay cool to the touch.
- Tempered glass lid offers a look at food to monitor cooking process.
- Dishwasher safe.
- Made in Switzerland.
- Dimensions & More Info
- 8" diam., 7 1/4" high with lid.
- 3 1/4-qt. cap.
- 3 lb. with lid.
- Made in Switzerland.
- Use & Care
- Ideal for gas and electric cooktops (not induction compatible).
- Oven safe to 500°F.
- Use wood, plastic or heat-resistant nylon tools to avoid scratching the nonstick surface.
- Allow pan to cool before washing.
- Dishwasher safe.
- Avoid using steel wool, steel scouring pads or harsh detergents.
- Shipping
Shipping Information
UPS can deliver most in-stock items within 3–5 business days. UPS is unable to deliver to P.O. boxes.
Shipping Rates
The shipping rate varies depending on your order total and shipping destination. View Shipping Options and Charges.
Next Day Delivery
For an additional charge of $26 per address, we can expedite delivery to most destinations. This service is not available for some oversize items, items shipped directly from the supplier (including perishable and custom-manufactured items), out-of-stock items and items to be shipped outside the contiguous 48 states.
Orders received by 9:00 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday will arrive the next business day; orders placed Friday through Sunday will arrive on the following Tuesday.
Return Policy
At Williams Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction are our priority. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement.
If within 30 days, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value. An original receipt or gift receipt is required for all returns and exchanges. Returns with a gift receipt will be refunded in the form of a Merchandise Credit for the amount indicated on the gift receipt. Returns with original receipt will be refunded in the original form of payment, cash and check refunds over $100 will be issued as a company check (may take 14 business days from time of request).
For all cutlery returns (knife sets, single knives, cutting boards, knife sharpeners and knife storage), please contact us at 888.922.4108 to initiate the return.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, special-order items, custom upholstery, food, items shipped direct from the vendor or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. Final sale items ending in .97 or .99 cannot be returned.
Made to Order and Final Sale Furniture items are non-returnable and cannot be cancelled once the order is placed.
For returns of items purchased from your Williams Sonoma Gift Registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later. View Full Returns Policy.


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Granite kitchen countertops and/or work surfaces are the ideal choice for your home or business, providing a high level of durability and unmatched aesthetic appeal.
One of the great benefits of granite is that it comes in a wide range of colours.
These colours are naturally created when the stone is formed, and can include variations of colours such as white, black, grey, blue, brown, red, green and yellow. This amazing variance in colour can also be attributed to the presence of other elements within the rock. This unique variety means that granite can be one of the most versatile choices for kitchen countertops. No matter what the colour scheme of your kitchen, bathroom or work space, you are sure to find granite countertops to complement it perfectly.
Due to the vast range of natural patterns and colours that we have available at any one time, we invite you to arrange a visit to our factory, as we must emphasise that there is no substitute for inspecting physical samples in person, to appreciate the colour and texture of the materials.
Call us today at 604 813-2544 or Click Here to request more information regarding our range of granite products.


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|Food Hygiene / HACCP for Food Handlers2 Day Training (FETAC Level 4)
|– The purpose of this 2 day training programme is designed to provide learners with a detailed knowledge of food safety and hygiene required to operate a HACCP Food Safety Management System.- The training programme is aimed at people working or seeking employment in the following areas:-
|Treo Nua, Family Resource Centre, Portlaoise, Co. Laois
|12 & 19 Nov
|Dublin City, Camden Court Hotel
|3 & 5 Nov
|Wicklow, Glendalough/Brockagh Resource Centre
|24 & 25 Nov
These training programmes are very useful for people seeking employment or working where food is handled.
To book a place contact: 071 9645111 / www.about-hygiene.com
Please note jobseekers may be entitled to TESG funding. Contact the office for information relating to TESG funding available from the Dept. of Social Protection.


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Our Paver Patios and Walkways are built using only the best Pavers sold in a range of colors and sizes to make any patio or walkway the ultimate outdoor space.
We use only materials resistant to efflorescence, What is efflorescence? When building Paver Patios & Walkways if the materials are not treated for efflorescence, the Pavers will develop a white chemical residue that can take a year to go away if it goes away at all.


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He's got a ticket to glide: For Appeal reporter, flight is Sierra morning glory
The horse trails below painted a different picture of the Sierra from what I had known by way of drives to Lake Tahoe and day hikes.
I couldn't take my eyes off the trails, spreading through the peaks and valleys, even though flight instructor Paul Hamilton probably would have preferred that I'd kept my focus on keeping the engine-powered glider straight.
We were 10,000 feet above sea level in his Apollo Trike light-sport aircraft – which he jokingly called a "motorcycle with wings" – when he let me control its wings as we drifted on the up- and downdrafts. We followed the Tahoe Rim Trail over Marlette Lake, with Sand Harbor in the background. When I looked down, the wind sneaked in under my clear-plastic visor, smearing the audio of our headsets.
On a flight I once took in a small Cessna, watching the mountains between Twin Falls, Idaho, and Elko elicited similar wonder, but even that paled to the cool mountain air two miles up during Wednesday's flight.
"Having fun?" Hamilton asked – one of many times.
I couldn't talk through my smile, so a thumbs-up sufficed.
On the way back down, a calm spot gave him reason for a more rapid descent, twirling us against about two G-forces and forcing blood into my face in ways I was far from used to.
Soon enough, we were back in Washoe Valley, racing cars down the highway, skimming the ground with only 3 feet separating it from our wheels. That was another rush – and one unmatched by hitting triple digits on long-asphalt straightaways (not that I've ever done that, deputies).
A pelican rested in the lake below.
And then we went up and over the hills north of the airport, over a group seeking their own exhilarations with an about-to-launch hang glider.
About an hour after takeoff, we landed, snapped photos and did the glad-handing thing. Airport Manager Tim Rowe joked about whether I had to spit the bugs out of my teeth.
And I kept on grinning, waiting to brag to co-workers about how my morning was way better than theirs.
Though in retrospect, it did have one downside: Racing groundbound down U.S. 395, warm wind in my hair, is now a sad mimicry of the cool mountain air sneaking in under my visor during a 2-G drop.


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New York lures film and TV producers to its state with big tax credits. Since 2004 when New York first started offering these tax breaks, they've given back over $1 billion in credits to producers. In return, Hollywood producers have not only contributed to the state's economy to the tune of $7 billion, but they also make big campaign contributions to the governor and other liberal lawmakers there. They want to keep those tax credits coming. And while they're reeling in their tax credits from New York, they're chanting, "Tax the rich!"
As another favor, Governor Andrew Cuomo is now proposing that these Hollywood producers be exempt from the gun ban that was passed in January:
"We haven't talked about the details of it, but the basic concept of should you be able to use these types of guns in movies? The answer is yes….We spend a lot of money in the state bringing movie production here, post-production here. So obviously we would want to facilitate that….There's no reason not to make a change like that, to give an industry comfort, especially when it's an industry that we want doing business in the state."
So as long as you're an industry who donates lots of money to the governor's re-election campaign, you can have "assault weapons." Movies and TV shows can continue to use semi-automatic rifles that use high-capacity magazines as long as the ammo is fake. They can continue to simulate mass shootings and murder rampages with AR-15s or AK-47s.
Governor Cuomo is perfectly fine with viewers across the world watching "gun violence" portrayed regularly on TV and in theaters and filmed right there in his home state, but in the name of the Sandy Hook children, no one else should be allowed to carry a semi-automatic weapon, and magazines holding more than 7 rounds are outlawed.
Besides, who really needs a 10-round magazine? As Cuomo himself stated rather maniacally in his "State of the State" address before a frenzied audience, "No one needs 10 bullets to kill a deer!"
Unless you're a Hollywood producer, and the scene requires the use of a 10-round magazine. In fact, maybe the producer wants a 30-round mag. I'm sure that would be fine too.
This isn't about "saving lives," another hackneyed theme in Cuomo's address. It's about power (gun control) and money (Hollywood).


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Hanoi celebrates its 1000th birthday in 2010, and if you're a graceful old French colonial city in Asia then there's nothing at all wrong with looking your age. Its grand and golden pagodas, ancient temples and historic architecture make it a beautiful, as well as old city, but it's a living museum still evolving rather than stagnating and there's plenty of life happening amongst the monuments. The Old Quarter has been the busy commercial district for about a thousand years and is still the best place to shop and go out, the Night Bazaar and Dong Xuan Market are worth checking out as well.
I have been to Hanoi with a very funny guide.
These are things that I did in hanoi, it is really extraordinary:
- Drinking " bia hoi" and cheers with local men. You are always the highlights for their meals
- Eating snakes in Le Mat village. Various dishes from snakes, good choice with some strong alcohoh.
- Travelling to Cao Son, taking some eco trip to Muong Lum valley and be drunk with local
- Crossing the crowded streets of Hanoi is really worth 1 hour !
- Eating " Lau" and getting grossiping in " Tra Da"
The 3.2 million-people city is divided into several sections with the central two are the Old Quarter and the French Quarter. While the French Quarter is full of French houses, building and green trees, then the Old Quarter is the trading center and the most dynamic part of the city. The Old Quarter is also the most touristy part of the city.
Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, is a city of lakes, shaded streets and verdant public parks. Come to Hanoi, you will have a chance to explore the rich cultural heritage with the Old Quarter, I'm very exciting to go around Old Quarter by cyclo, walking in Old Quarter to buy clothes (Hang Dao Street), some gifts, prominent delicious Vietnamese cuisine as well as other interesting spots.
When you visit a centre of Hanoi, you can see the Turlte Tower among the Sword Lake and around the Old Quarter. Besides you can go to :
The Flag Tower of Hanoi (Vietnamese: Cột cờ Hà Nội) is a tower in Hanoi, Vietnam, which is one of the symbols of the city. Its height is 33.4 m (41 m with the flag). Built in 1812, the tower, unlike many other structures in Hanoi, was not destroyed during the French administration (1896-1897), being used as a military post.
The Hoa Lo Prison (Vietnamese: Hỏa Lò), later known to American prisoners of war as the "Hanoi Hilton", was a prison used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners and later by North Vietnam for prisoners of war during the Vietnam War.
Temple of Literature (Vietnamese: Văn Miếu), known as "pagode des Corbeaux" during the period of French colonisation, is a temple of Confucius in Vietnam. Although several Văn Miếu can be found throughout Vietnam, the most prominent and famous is that situated in the city of Hanoi, which also functioned as Vietnam's first university. It is featured on the back of the one hundred thousand Vietnamese đồng banknote.
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology is both a research centre and a public museum exhibiting the ethnic groups of Vietnam. The mission of the Museum is scientific research, collection, documentation, conservation, exhibition and preserving the cultural and historic patrimony of the nation's different ethnic groups. The museum also serves to guide research, conservation, and technology that are specific to the work of an ethnographic museum.
The One Pillar Pagoda (Vietnamese: Chùa Một Cột, formally Diên Hựu) is a historic Buddhist temple in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. It is regarded alongside the Perfume Temple, as one of Vietnam's two most iconic temples.


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Typhoon Hagibis, the season's 19th typhoon, struck Japan on October 12-13 and caused major damage in the Tokai, Kanto, Koshinetsu, and Tohoku regions. The Nippon Foundation is dispatching NGOs and volunteer organizations to the affected areas, and is collecting donations to support their recovery activities.
Thinking, supporting, and rearing together.
These are the goals of The Nippon Foundation's Kids Support Project.
We are working to connect people, knowledge, and activity,
to create a society in which "everyone helps to raise everyone's children."
The worldwide movement to eliminate leprosy has been enjoying considerable success since MDT was endorsed by the WHO in 1981. The Nippon Foundation has been instrumental in this success, to the point that in 2001 WHO asked Yohei Sasakawa, our chairman, to be its Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination.
A ceremony was held on December 27, 2019, to mark the opening of The Nippon Foundation Disaster Recovery Support Center in the town of Marumori in Miyagi Prefecture. The center, opened in Marumori's volunteer center, will support recovery work being done by Marumori residents who experienced major damage from Typhoon Hagibis, which caused widespread flooding and other damage across a large section of central and northeastern Japan in October 2019.
Since 2006, The Nippon Foundation has issued an annual Global Appeal to end stigma and discrimination against persons affected by leprosy, joined each year by influential individuals and organizations in conjunction with World Leprosy Day in January. Via the launch ceremony, we aim to foster a correct understanding of leprosy throughout the world and bring an end to the discrimination associated with the disease.
One of the sessions at The Nippon Foundation Social Innovation Forum 2019, held in Tokyo from November 29 to December 1, was titled Yume Jitsugen Taikai (Rally to Achieve Dreams). The program was organized by "i stand," a group of students at Hiro Gakuen Senior High School in Tokyo who are working to bring about social change with an emphasis on individual initiative. The session featured a keynote address by Takeshi Okada, former manager of the Japan national soccer team, a panel discussion with four junior and senior high school students who are involved in social activities, and a presentation by members of i stand.
The Nippon Foundation Social Innovation Forum 2019 was held from November 29 to December 1 in Tokyo. The event included a keynote address by Minister of the Environment Shinjiro Koizumi, 12 "Future Session" programs dealing with issues related to family, society, and the global community, 9 special sessions with presentations on social innovation activities around Japan, and The Nippon Foundation Social Innovation Awards.
The 19th installment of the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds, launched by The Nippon Foundation in October 2018, was carried out in mid-September on the theme of "Media." The survey showed that the information deemed most important for daily life was weather and disaster-related information, followed closely by entertainment and music, and then government, economic, and society. Television was the most popular source of information, followed by social media, news websites, video distribution and sharing sites, and friends and family. More than 80% of respondents have felt that information available on the internet is false, and more than 65% have confirmed the accuracy of information they saw on social media.
The 20th installment was an "Awareness Survey of Society and Country," and for this installment the survey covered 17- to 19-year-olds in nine countries: China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam, with the results announced on November 30 at The Nippon Foundation Social Innovation Forum 2019. The survey showed that in a number of areas, young people in Japan ranked last compared with their peers in other countries in terms of considering themselves to be adults, having dreams for the future, and believing that they can change society or their country.
The Nippon Foundation and the Bangladesh-headquartered, international NGO BRAC held a joint press conference at the BRAC Centre in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on December 11 (local time) to announce an agreement under which the Foundation will provide roughly US$2 million in support to BRAC for the construction of 50 steel 2-story structures, to be used as learning centers in refugee camps in the Cox's Bazar district of Bangladesh.
The 2nd Coast Guard Global Summit, bringing together top officials involved in ocean safety from around the world, was held in Tokyo on November 20-21. Roughly 200 people representing 84 institutions from 75 countries attended the event, which was jointly organized by The Nippon Foundation and the Japan Coast Guard, to discuss the future direction of ocean policies. Attendance was more than double that of the first summit, held in 2017.
The Nippon Foundation's HEROs project, which promotes activities by athletes that contribute to society, held an event in cooperation with the NGO Snowbank on November 9-10 at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo. "Tokyo Snow Festival x HEROs FESTA 2019" featured a number of top-level athletes who serve as "HEROs ambassadors," who gave talks and demonstrations and interacted with children, using sports as a way to instill a desire to pursue challenges. Under sunny autumn skies, many young people and families with young children visited the event, which was held with a theme of "On your marks."
The Nippon Foundation and the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) Guiding Committee jointly launched The Nippon Foundation – Gebco Seabed 2030 Project in 2017 with the goal of mapping 100% of the ocean floor by 2030. An event to report on the project's progress to date and plans going forward, under the title "From Vision to Action," was held at the Royal Society in London on October 22, with roughly 100 researchers and members of the media attending.
The Nippon Foundation has received a $100,000 (roughly 10.8 million yen) donation from Ryan Kaji and his family, who operate the popular YouTube channel "Ryan ToysReview," to support the Foundation's relief and recovery activities in response to Typhoon Hagibis, which struck Japan on October 12-13. The donation will be used primarily to support children in areas that incurred damage.
Members of the GEBCO-Nippon Foundation Alumni Team, led by alumni of The Nippon Foundation / GEBCO Ocean Bathymetry training program at the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping of University of New Hampshire, visited Japan recently to report on their winning of the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE, an international competition in underwater mapping technologies. On September 18 team representatives briefed Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his official residence, and held a briefing for field professionals in Japan at Toranomon Hills in Tokyo.
Training for the "field cast" volunteers who will assist with the operation of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games began on October 4 at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center in Yoyogi, Tokyo. A total of roughly 550 persons attended one of the two three-hour sessions, held in the morning and afternoon, and learned about the rules and mental preparation expected of volunteers, along with Olympic and Paralympic history. The training will be held at 13 locations in 11 prefectures through the end of March 2020. The Bureau of Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 Preparation also held a similar training program on the same day for "city cast" volunteers who will assist visitors outside the Games venues.
In cooperation with Salzburg Global Seminar, The Nippon Foundation is delighted to announce the "Call for applications for the Asia Peace Innovators Forum."
The Tokyo portion of the True Colors Festival, which exhibits the diverse abilities of artists with disabilities, begins this month and will last through July 2020, to coincide with the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The first event was held in November 2006 in Vientiane, Laos, as a festival for artists with disabilities. Since then, it has grown in terms of both size and content, and for the upcoming series the term "disability" has been removed from the name. Under the banner of "True Colors," the arts festival will emphasize the goal of an inclusive society in which everyone can participate, regardless of whether or not they have a disability, or their sexual orientation or gender identity, age, language, or nationality.
The Nippon Foundation Teaming with Global Accelerator to Support Growth of Promising Social Startups
ImpacTech is a startup accelerator founded in 2015 and based in Singapore, with additional operations in Thailand, Hong Kong, and Japan. Together with The Nippon Foundation, it recently held The Nippon Foundation Social Change Makers, a four-month program for Japanese startups looking to make a social impact. Founders Kineret Karin and Yoav Elgrichi recently sat down with Hayato Hanaoka of The Nippon Foundation to discuss the program and social startups in Japan.
The 17th installment of the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds, launched by The Nippon Foundation in October 2018, was carried out in late July on the theme of the "Consumption Tax." Japan's consumption tax (similar to other countries' sales tax or value-added tax) rate rose to 10% from 8% for most items effective October 1 (with the 8% rate remaining in place for certain designated items). The results, announced on August 29, showed that more than one-fourth of respondents felt the 10% rate was appropriate or that the rate should be higher, while close to half of the respondents felt the rate should be kept at 8% or lower, and roughly 10% thought the consumption tax should be eliminated entirely.
The results of the 18th installment, on the theme of "Work," were announced on September 17 and showed that more than half of respondents have decided on a field in which they want to work, with the top choices being civil servant, company employee, and IT-related. The survey also showed that roughly one-fourth of respondents want to work in a major city in Japan, roughly one-fourth want to work in a regional city in Japan, and slightly less than 5% want to work overseas. In addition, slightly more than half of respondents intend to give priority to their personal life over their work, and slightly more than one-third want to spend their entire career at the same company.
Our mission is social innovation.
Through this innovation we aim to achieve a society where all people support one another, reducing the burdens and challenges they face together.
The Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), an international conference led by the Japanese government to support economic development in Africa, was held on August 28-30 at Pacifico Yokohama in Yokohama. As an official side event, the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), which is supported by The Nippon Foundation, held a symposium titled "Sasakawa in Africa – Building on the past, looking to the future; Africa's youth and entrepreneurship in agriculture" on August 28. The symposium focused on the serious problem of growing youth unemployment in Africa, and the possibilities now offered by agriculture.
Implementing social welfare through full-fledged restaurant, agricultural, and forestry businesses
Established in 2001, Fukushi Gakudan (Social Welfare Orchestra) operates nursing homes (legally designated as "intensive care homes for the elderly") and centers providing daytime services in Chiba and Saitama prefectures. Daisuke Iida, Fukushi Gakudan's managing director, originally had no interest in social welfare.
With roughly one year to go until the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, HEROs PARA-SPORTS DAY 2019 was held on July 8 at The Nippon Foundation Para Arena in Tokyo. The event was part of The Nippon Foundation's "HEROs Sportsmanship for the future" project, which seeks to bring together currently active and retired athletes to build a framework for creating social bonds across Japan.
In recent years, cosplay has spread beyond Japan to become an activity that is popular around the world. On June 8, cosplayers from Japan and other countries gathered at Tokyo Tower in central Tokyo, dressed as characters from anime (Japanese-style animation), manga (Japanese-style comics), and video games to participate in the "Nationwide Cleanup Campaign by domestic and foreign cosplayers at Tokyo Tower," as part of The Nippon Foundation's Change for the Blue program. A total of 430 cosplayers, including representatives of countries including Italy, Mexico, and Taiwan, collected roughly 90 bags (2,700 liters) of trash in the area around Tokyo Tower.
The 15th installment of the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds, launched by The Nippon Foundation in October 2018, was carried out in late May and early June with a theme of "National Elections." The results, announced on June 27, showed that roughly half of respondents of voting age planned to vote in the July 21 House of Councillors (the upper house of Japan's national legislature) election, and of those who planned to vote, roughly 60% said they would cast their vote based on the candidates' policies, while roughly 20% would vote based on political party.
The results of the 16th installment, on the theme of the "Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games," announced on July 22, showed that close to 70% of respondents are looking forward to the Olympics, Paralympics, or both. The events in which respondents were most interested were aquatics, followed by the opening ceremony and athletics for the Olympics, and wheelchair basketball, followed by the opening ceremony and wheelchair tennis for the Paralympics.
The LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE exhibition, with a theme of "To Love is To Create," was held at the Tokyo Midtown complex in central Tokyo from July 14 to 16. This was a preliminary event to promote the LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE Exhibition being planned for the summer of 2020, to coincide with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Nippon Foundation will hold a ceremony in Tatkone Sanpra Baptist Church relocation camp to mark the completion of shelters for IDPs in Myitkyina, Kachin state. 32 households currently living in a temporary camp will be located to a commodious land and will receive vocational training.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal, one of the fiercest battles of World War II. With support from The Nippon Foundation, the Imphal Peace Museum has opened on the site of the battle, with an opening ceremony held on June 22 and attended by representatives of India, Japan, and Britain.
The Nippon Foundation is asking for documents related to the Battle of Imphal and has begun accepting donations to support the operation of the Imphal Peace Museum.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal, which was one of the fiercest battles of World War II and is also said to have later played a role in India's independence movement. Despite the historic significance of this battle, few people living in the area today are familiar with that history and related documents have been lost. The museum seeks to pass on this history to future generations.
The Nippon Foundation is supporting the Manipur Tourism Forum's construction of a museum in Imphal in the state of Manipur, which is scheduled to open June 22, 2019, with a theme of "Peace and Reconciliation." The museum is asking for donations of documents and other related items so that they can be exhibited and stored there.
The 13th installment of the Awareness Survey of 18-Year-Olds, launched by The Nippon Foundation in October 2018, was carried out in early April with a theme of "Japan's Constitution." The results, announced on April 25, showed that fewer than 40% of respondents are "familiar" with the Constitution. At the same time, more than 70% responded that they know the Constitution's three underlying principles of pacifism, popular sovereignty, and the guarantee of fundamental human rights, but fewer than 60% feel that these principles are functioning in today's society.
GEBCO-Nippon Foundation Alumni Team Wins International Competition in Deep-Sea Exploration Technology
The GEBCO-Nippon Foundation Alumni Team (the "GEBCO-NF Team"), comprising mostly graduates of an international scholarship program operated by The Nippon Foundation, has won the Shell Ocean Discovery XPRIZE, an international competition in deep-sea exploration technology. The award, which includes a prize of US$4 million, was presented at a ceremony in Monaco on May 31.
Bringing together The Nippon Foundation's project implementation capabilities and the University of Tokyo's research capabilities, a signing ceremony was held on May 14 at the Ito International Research Center at the University of Tokyo to mark the launch of The Nippon Foundation – University of Tokyo Ocean Debris Project to tackle the continuously increasing amount of ocean debris.
Athletes can demonstrate sportsmanship when they are not competing.
Sportsmanship also means proactively working to create bonds and assist society.
Nevertheless, athletes' activities outside sporting events receive little attention, and not all athletes engage in these activities.
A Cooperative Framework for Maintaining Safety in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore
Roughly one third of the world's crude oil and more than 80% of Japan's oil imports pass through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. Ensuring the safe passage of ships in these waters, with their many narrow and shallow spots, is a task that exceeds the capabilities of the three littoral countries bordering the Straits. Recognizing this, The Nippon Foundation has been working for more than four decades to help enhance the safety and protect the natural environment of these waters.
Leprosy is a disease that has created severe stigma and discrimination since the beginning of recorded history. The Nippon Foundation, based in Tokyo, has been engaged in activities to eliminate leprosy around the world for 50 years. In recognition of his leading contribution to these activities, The Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa was awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize by the government of India in 2018, and was decorated with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun, conferred by the Japanese Emperor in May 2019.
Subsequently, the book "No Matter Where the Journey Takes Me: One Man's Quest for a Leprosy-Free World" has been published by Hurst Publishers.*
Mr. Sasakawa, who also serves as WHO Goodwill Embassador for Leprosy Elimination, has travelled extensively to many leprosy-affected regions including India, Africa, Brazil, and remote islands. This book records those experiences, as well as dialogues with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church.
To commemorate the publication of this book, the Embassy of Japan in the United Kingdom and the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation will jointly hold the event outlined below.
The Nippon Foundation Chairman Awarded Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun in First Reiwa Era Decorations
Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of the Nippon Foundation, was decorated with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun at the 2019 spring awards ceremony, the first to be held since the ascension of Emperor Naruhito and the commencement of the Reiwa Era on May 1. The Orders of the Rising Sun are Japan's first award, established in 1875 to recognize politicians and members of the private sector who have made outstanding achievements to society in a variety of fields. This year, Mr. Sasakawa is among eight persons receiving the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun. The awards were conferred by the Emperor at the Imperial Palace on May 23.
The Nippon Foundation's agricultural assistance in Africa began in response to the severe famine in Ethiopia in 1984. To counter the worst stage of the famine, emergency supplies were being airlifted from London, but this only provided temporary relief. Searching for a fundamental way of resolving Africa's food problems, Ryoichi Sasakawa, the chairman of The Nippon Foundation at the time, firmly believed that more than "giving a fish," the important thing is "to teach how to fish."
The Nippon Foundation Para Athlete Scholarship program aims to cultivate athletes with disabilities who can be expected to compete at the Paralympic, Olympic, or similar global level, and a ceremony was held on April 16 at Nippon Sport Science University's (NSSU) Tokyo Setagaya Campus to present scholarships to the third group of 11 recipients.
The Paralympic Games
Held every four years since 1960, the Paralympic Games are a major international sporting event for athletes with impairments. Approximately 4,200 athletes from 164 countries and regions, including Japan, participated in the London 2012 Paralympic Games, the 14th time the event was held.
An internal seminar for The Nippon Foundation staff was held at the Foundation's headquarters in Tokyo on April 10. Dr. James L. Huffman, H. Orth Hirt Professor of History Emeritus at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, in the United States was invited to speak, and chose as his topic, "Bad Leaders, Dynamic Nation: Lessons from Japanese History." The seminar was held in English to give Foundation staff an opportunity to use and improve their English skills in an informal setting apart from their ordinary work.


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The Little Acre, from developer Pewter Games, presents emotional narrative elements that serve to draw the player into the point-and-click adventure's beautiful settings. The parallel adventures of Aiden and his daughter Lily convey themes of the importance of loved ones as they set out to reunite their own fractured family. Unfortunately, The Little Acre appears to construct this heart-warming narrative at a cost to the gameplay, which often consists of puzzles that pose little challenge and thus pass on little sense of accomplishment to the player.
If ever a game earned the right to call itself charming, The Little Acre earns that title. So many aspects of the game come together to create an experience that perfectly captures and expresses the so-far quiet lives of Aiden and Lily. The title's beautiful environments, inspired by Don Bluth animation and Miyazaki worlds, capture the pastoral essence of 1950s Ireland with rolling hills complete with grazing sheep and small animated touches that give life to the world. The title's soundtrack and even the voice acting support this quaint feeling that the game presents. In the mysterious alternate world that Aiden stumbles upon, mysterious and imaginative creatures help further emphasize the difference between these two worlds.
I admit that I held some skepticism when beginning the game about how well point-and-click mechanics would be mapped on the PS4 controller. I found the controls to be manageable for the most part. Most objects in the environments have different buttons assigned to them which, when pressed, will cause either Aiden or Lily to interact with the object. This means that not once did I accidentally interact with an object other than the object I intended to, thus saving myself from listening to the same line of dialogue repeated a painful amount of times.
Where The Little Acre falls short is with the title's puzzles, which never posed much of a challenge. As a result, I never enjoyed a that moment of mind-blowing accomplishment when all of the pieces come together. Instead, the puzzles seem to take a back seat to the game's narrative. Most of the time, I felt like I was simply going through the point-and-click motions. Aiden and Lily's inventory rarely held more than three or four items to manage, and each environment is self contained. Without deep item management and any backtracking, the puzzles were often simple and obvious.
The Little Acre truly presents a fantastic narrative. Unfortunately, it's at the cost of puzzles that challenge and reward the player. So, if you are in the market for a great story to breeze through one lazy afternoon, check out The Little Acre when the game releases December 13.
This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.
+ beautiful environments
+ heart-warming narrative
+ good point-and-click controls
– easy puzzles