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It's been well over a year now since that fateful day when I arrived home from having coffee with a friend to find an empty lonesome corner of our living room where our T.V. used to live.
We had talked about getting rid of our T.V. for a while, but Dave took the bull by the horns one afternoon and dumped it in the basement for selling. At first I was a bit like "Oooookaaaaayyy....I'm on boaaaarrrrrd..." - the words leaving my mouth in slow motion so to try and give my head time to be convinced it was a good idea. We had a busy 4 year old and another baby on the way. How would I put in nine months of a maternity leave without being able to binge-watch something on the sofa while endlessly breastfeeding? What would I use as bait to give Levi some down time when I needed to see to the baby? It wasn't something I was totally sure was going to work for us, but I felt like it would only be fair to give it a try.Read More


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This stunning pillow cover, in soft natural colors found in Zambia, is created by artisans working with Tribal Textiles from 100% African-sourced cotton which is painted by hand and stitched. Each pillow cover features a 100% cotton vent closure and can be washed by hand or machine in warm water with mild detergent.
Pillow cover measures 18" x 18" and includes a 20" X 20" pillow insert.
Tribal Textiles provides sustainable employment, training and a pleasant working environment for more than 100 Zambian men and women in the South Luangwa Valley. The time-intensive drawing, sewing and painting with natural pigment colors yielding such exquisite, high quality textiles are done by hand on 100% African-sourced cotton. Individual designs are hand-painted drawing inspiration from the stunning Zambian wildlife and surroundings. Baking in an industrial oven makes the stunning textiles color fast and washable. The fabric is washed and dried in the sunshine, ready to be sewn into stunning pillow covers, table runners, bags, and more.

subset: commoncrawl


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Ahoy mateys, it's a pirates life for me! Yo ho and a bottle of….well, so there's no actual rum to be found, but there will be treasures galore at the newest room called Pirate's Shipwreck at Escapades Escape Rooms in Sioux Falls, SD.
Entering Pirate's Shipwreck you'll be able to step into another world (you might want to wear sandals actually) and another time to discover our biggest adventure yet.
From the life-sized pirate ship to the sandy beaches and all the features in between, you're not going to want to miss this crazy escape room. It will truly be the finest escape room in Sioux Falls!
So mark your calendars for the anticipated opening date of June 3rd, and get ready to set sail on an adverture you will not soon forget!


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The Pacenti family moved to the town of Montalcino at the beginning of the last century managing land according to the sharecropping system, thus moving from one farm to another. In the 1960's Rosildo Pacenti and his wife Quinta decided to purchase the farm Canalicchio; this was how the first bottle of Brunello di Montalcino Canalicchio vintage 1968, marketed in 1973 came into existence. Franco, who was born in 1958, worked on the land alongside his father as a teenager thus contributing to the development of the farm from the outset. It began as a multiproduct farm typical of the time and over the years specialized in wine making. Now the excellent quality of the product is famous all over the world. Azienda Agricola Pacenti Franco, got the current name and the trademark Canalicchio in 1988, when Franco, took over management along with his wife Carla. Their children Lisa, Serena and Lorenzo - the third generation of the Pacenti family - have now become part of it with the same passion, dedication to work and love of the land which will guarantee the future of this wine cellar for years to come. Today, estate covers approximately 36 hectares, 10 of which dedicated to vineyards and 1 to olive groves.
The old wine cellar under the historical farmhouse is used for tasting and part is used for ageing. The new wine cellar, built in 2004, is designed in a skillful and perfectly efficient manner, with separate areas for vinification, ageing in casks and maturing in the bottle.
website: www.canalicchiofrancopacenti.it


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Who are you really doing it for?
paul stroud
Employee engagement initiatives can often be motivated by a desire to increase performance. The hope is that staff will reciprocate the care shown to them and want to commit to going the extra mile.
However, a desire for increased discretionary effort to improve performance can seem self-serving to staff and undermine any genuine care for their wellbeing. This can result in cynicism and distrust, the expectation of more discretionary effort becoming a contradiction in terms. If a gesture of care and commitment from the leadership is perceived by staff as fake, the impact on trust and goodwill may be quite counterproductive, increasing the likelihood of disengagement that could lead to a lowering of performance.
So, before starting an engagement or change activity, ask yourself: who are you really doing it for?


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Last year a Western Reef Heron was spotted in Maine and New Hampshire, last week one was spotted in New Jersey, and today one showed up in Brooklyn! The New Jersey and New York birds are almost undoubtedly the same individual, but could it have overwintered?
© 2013 10,000 Birds. All words, images, and opinions are the property of their respective authors unless stated otherwise.


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Anxiety is a mental health issue which affects over 40 million American Adults, 1 in 4 Canadians, 4.1 per thousand in Indians, 6 million in the UK, and approximately 100 million people in China. That's already 200+ million people worldwide! I became curious about the global statistics as I seem to be dealing with more clients here in Vancouver and The Lower Mainland, who are battling this mental disorder on a regular basis.
Many of my clients visit my office looking for an alternative way to manage their anxiety and reduce paranoid thoughts. Imagine feeling like, believing even, that the whole world is already against you, and then being able to trust someone who hands you pills to numb these feelings. Though anti-depressants work for some they don't work for all and let's be honest, they don't cure the disorder, they just suppress it.
Until I entered Life Coaching, I hadn't realized how many different types of people this disorder affects. From business professionals and entrepreneurs, through to students and the everyday family member, it would appear that any of us can fall victim to severe panic and fear.
I'm a "look at the bigger picture" sort of guy, in fact, that's how I help my clients step out from under their insecurities and march on forward toward the lives they've always dreamed of. So, when I started getting clients seeking support for their paranoia and anxiety, after having tried many other traditional routes, such as psychiatry for instance, I had to understand how mental illnesses fit into the picture.
One of the most remarkable things I've learned about people, is that we're all living in different versions of a mutually shared reality. We're all experiencing life through our own senses; we literally only see the world through our own eyes. Therefore, we can only interpret the world through our own senses too, for example, what one person sees as an opportunity, another can view as a threat. And with access to so much information and knowledge at the very end of our finger tips, we're discovering how differently each and every single one of us interpret the world. So no longer are we alone in the way we think, it's not so easy anymore to just dismiss our troubled thoughts.
Is it any wonder we're becoming a more paranoid and anxious people? I mean, with so much contradicting information thrown at us on a daily basis, it's becoming increasingly difficult to trust anything completely. Only just the other day I had back-to-back sessions with clients who were feeling anxious over the decision to go to college vs. independent online study. Back when I was growing up, obtaining a higher education from a recognized institution just made sense, and if you had the grades and could afford it, you seized the opportunity. Whereas today, it's definitely not the only way to secure your future, in fact, in many cases it's becoming detrimental because of the amount of debt one acquires.
I even remember back when Trump was elected president of the United States, I literally had clients concerned about this representing the beginning of the end of the world. Looking at what's presented in the news today, it seems I can't easily convince individuals to dismiss these feelings as paranoia. For all the information that is out there, there's enough to justify and fuel our paranoid thoughts. From "Fake News" to Political propaganda, who and what can we have faith in today?
Perhaps this is what conscious evolution looks like? Maybe we're in the midst of a shifting paradigm? Or maybe we're just overworked and exhausted? Whichever way we look at this, we must learn to deal with our troubled mental processes more effectively. Otherwise, they'll consume us to a point where we'll start exploring more harmful ways to shut them out, because we are unable cope.
When you come across a paranoid thought, I wouldn't be so quick to try and dismiss the paranoia. I think if your mind has entered into this perception of reality, then perhaps it's drawing on information that you've consumed but have not yet processed. Almost likened to the evolutionary theory of dreaming.
I suffered from anxiety and paranoid thoughts when I was younger, and the only vice that worked for me was meditation. However, this is not what I'm suggesting to you (though I do recommend you try it), it's how learned to interpret these thoughts through meditation, which enabled me to detach from them and keep them from infecting my conscious experience.
Each of us are experiencing the world differently, no two beings (not yet anyway) can occupy the same conscious or physical space at the same time. Think about when you go out for dinner with a friend, you sit at a table across from each other, or side by side. Though you're having a mutually shared experience, how it is experienced physically is already quite different. Through your eyes you see your friend, but your friend through their eye is seeing you. So already our individual experience of the world is very different from each other.
Now think about all those individual experiences across a lifetime, what each of you have seen, heard, tasted, touched, and smelled, it's all going to have an impact on the way you think and operate. So not only is your physical experience of the world going to be different, your conscious experience of the world is going to be very different from anyone else's too.
Therefore, if you think about it, there are an infinite number of ways to experience the world, and an infinite number of way to interpret the experience. It's so easy for an innocent dinner between two friends, to turn into a nightmarish experience for either one of them. It's common to feel threatened by something that was said, or something that was seen for instance, simply because of how something was interpreted. No one believes that they're the bad guy and I think this is why, because our experiences justify our view of world.
When you look at paranoia and anxiety objectively, and a lot of other mental illnesses for that matter, you realize that these troubling feelings can only grow, based on how much you invest into a perceived thought. The validity of which, is based on a collection of individual experiences you've already had. So, one way to break the grip of paranoia and anxiety, I've discovered, is to develop objectivity over them.
How do you develop objectivity?
1. Acknowledge and Accept
The first step is to acknowledge that these thoughts and feelings a quite real, after all, you feel them as if they are. Whether you believe the world is laughing at you, or you feel like the world is rigged against you, you have to accept and acknowledge that you feel this way. Don't bury it, don't dismiss it, acknowledge and accept that this is how you feel. This will then ease the pressure of trying to protect yourself from the thought and give you the energy to actually investigate its validity, and help you decide what to do next with more clarity.
However severe it may be, accept how you feel so that it doesn't go unacknowledged. The reality that your mind has constructed is very much present and to deny it, only causes you to distrust your own mind and weaken your self-belief.
2. Investigate and Learn
Remember, you're reacting to a perceived reality which hasn't manifested around you, it's just present in your own mind, for now. Right now, in this moment, are you literally being laughed at? Are you literally being stopped from seizing an opportunity? If so, then you're not being anxious or paranoid, it's actually happening. If not, then investigate the world that your mind has created. Raise questions within until you get an answer, and with each answer, you raise another question until you develop a pathway back to conscious clarity.
The questions are a series of, who, what, when, where, why and how? Most of the time, we only ask one or two questions in this series, and then give up when we cannot arrive at any conclusion. To know the answer, you have to raise the right question. If you want to know the source of your fears, then you need to dive in and investigate the fear. Like a good reporter, you keep digging until you unveil the truth, also like a good reporter, you detach yourself from the story you're investigating.
The answer may not come from the question, "Why am I being paranoid?", nor may it come from "How have I become paranoid?" but it may just arrive from, "Where have I developed this paranoia?" or maybe even, "Who is making me paranoid?" – When you feel you've stumbled on a fragment of truth, you'll have connected something you feel to something you've actually experienced, then start the series of questions again with this new information. However, this time, you're learning how you arrived at the experience and as a result, you're learning about the way you navigate through your life; you're essentially developing your self-awareness.
As you explore your conscious experiences, you become aware of your conscious experience, thus, you arrive at conscious clarity.
3. Take Action and Regain Control.
When you feel like your mind is once again clear, and you have successfully eased your troubling thoughts, you must make a decision. A decision supporting a truth you have uncovered about yourself/your life, so that you do not continue to fuel an insecure fate, or, continue a life of ignorance. If you have discovered that it's something you've done, or taken perhaps, then you stop it. If you realize there's a person in your life who is causing you to feel this way, then you move your life away from this person. If you realize that the sum of all your fears comes down to a behavioural pattern, take it as an indication to change behaviour. If you're still unsure as to why you feel this way, then take it as an indication to seek support and maybe someone else can help you develop objectivity.
If all else fails…
…enact what I call "The Fire Drill Theory" which is something I derived from spiritual teaching. Basically, the higher-self; your imagination; the subconscious mind; or whatever other function of consciousness is at play, is working/are working together to create a 'sub-reality' of sorts. A reality of which you need to prepare for in case this sub-reality becomes your actual reality. Therefore, similarly to playing a virtual reality video game, you'll need to enter your mind and successfully navigate yourself through this nightmare world, that your mind has created. For example, if you feel as though the world is laughing at you, then how are you going to do to deal with it, in a way which reduces most harm? Similarly, to the reason we have fire drills, how are you going to handle the situation and make it out alive? Preparation is confidence, so take your anxiety and paranoia as an opportunity to prepare, as a way for your mind to increase your conscious tolerance. Sort of like a contingency plan, if you will. Should ever this nightmare world become a reality, at least mentally, you'll be ready to handle it.


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Although the iconic Golden Gate Bridge draws over 10 million visitors each year, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge serves more than double the daily traffic - and it's finally getting its share of the spotlight. In 2013, San Francisco originally installed 25,000 LEDs on the bridge as part of a two year installation, effectively transforming it into the world's largest light sculpture. This week the installation returns as a permanent fixture. Designed by artist Leo Villareal, The Bay Lights ignites the bridge with glowing forms that fall like rain, rise like fizzing champagne bubbles, and swoop across the bay like passing clouds. Hit the jump for a firsthand look at this amazing installation!
The last time we checked in with Leo Villareal, he had just installed a gigantic glowing LED Buckyball in NYC's Madison Square Park. For The Bay Lights, Words Pictures Ideas founder Ben Davis called upon the acclaimed artist to create a monumental, first-of-its-kind light sculpture. A team of specially-trained riggers hand-wired 25,000 LED nodes on 300 vertical cables that run the length of the Bay Bridge's 1.8-mile-long western span. The cables rise over 500 feet high, and the nodes are spaced at one foot increments.
In designing the Bay Lights, Villareal was inspired by the site of the Bay Bridge. The patterns that race across the span call to mind passing traffic and boats, cascading waves, and shifting weather conditions. The state-of-the-art system features advanced cloud-based technology that remotely monitors and maintains the lighting.
The lighting project uses approximately 4.5 miles of cable and 25,000 LEDs with Leo Villareal's extraordinary algorithms and patterns. When combined, the historic bridge is transformed into a dazzling work of art.
Photos (1) and (2) by James Ewing; All other photos and video by Mike Chino for Inhabitat


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Use an Action button to do an action in your presentation, such as going to the next or a specific slide, running an app, or playing a video clip. There are two basic steps for setting up an Action button:
First, you pick an action button from the Shapes gallery
Then you assign an action that will occur when (during Slide Show) you click the shape or point the mouse at it.
The idea is that when you deliver your presentation, you can click or point at an action button to:
Go to the next slide, the previous slide, the first slide, the last slide, the most recent slide viewed, a specific slide number, a different PowerPoint presentation, or a Web page.
Run a program
Run a macro
Play an audio clip
Put an action button on your slide
Some examples of built-in action button shapes that you can find in the Shapes gallery include right and left arrows (commonly understood symbols for going to next, previous, first, and last slides), for playing videos or sound bites, and more.
On the Insert tab, click Shapes, and then under Action Buttons at the bottom of the menu, click the button shape that you want to add.
Click a location on the slide, and then drag to draw the shape for the button.
Keep the dialog box open and go to the next procedure.
Assign an action
If you want the action to occur when the action button is clicked, do the following steps on the Mouse Click tab of the dialog box.
If you want the action to occur when the action button is simply pointed at, do the following steps on the Mouse Over tab of the dialog box.
To choose the action that will take place when you click or move the pointer over the action button, do one of the following:
Choose Hyperlink to and then select the destination (for example, the next slide, the previous slide, the last slide, or another PowerPoint presentation) that you want the hyperlink action to go to.
Note: To link to a file created by another program, such as a Word or Excel file, in the Hyperlink to list, click Other File.
Choose None to use the shape without a corresponding action.
Choose Run program, then click Browse to locate the program that you want to run.
Choose Run macro and then select the macro that you want to run.
The Run macro settings are only available if your presentation already contains a macro, and when you save the presentation, you must save it as a PowerPoint Macro-enabled Show. (For more information about macros, see Run a macro.)
If you want the shape that you chose as an action button to perform an action, click Object action, and then select the action that you want it to perform.
The Object action settings are only available if your presentation contains an OLE object. See Assign an action to a picture or an OLE object for more details.
To play a sound, select the Play sound check box, and then select the sound that you want to play.
When you've finished choosing your action, select OK.
To test the action you've selected, choose Slide Show > From Current Slide to open the presentation in Slide Show so that you can click the action button.


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The 5G era is just around the corner.
Samsung predicts the next-generation mobile technology will be out on the market by 2020, but Keiichi Makizono, senior vice president of SoftBank, is confident his group can develop it in two to three years.
Japan will probably be the first country to roll out 5G technology, and China smartphone brand ZTE (00763.HK) is going to play a major part in it, the Hong Kong Economic Journal reports.
Softbank has joined forces with ZTE in developing the massive Multi-input Multi-output (MIMO) technology. MIMO can significantly increase the bandwidth of traditional antennas, thus upgrading data transfer speed to "Pre5G" or even "5G" standard.
Pre5G, a concept introduced by ZTE last year, simply means applying 5G technology on the current 4G hardware. End-users can enjoy data transfer speed that is four times faster than 4G without having to upgrade their smartphones.
Makizono said the development of the technology consists of three stages. The first one will be completed by the end of this year, after which the technology will undergo a trial period.
China's three biggest smartphone manufacturers — Xiaomi, Huawei and Lenovo (00992.HK) — all aim to ship 100 million units this year, and raise the volume by 33 to 66 percent each year.
The target set by ZTE is a lot milder. The group only plans to ship 60 million handsets this year, up 25 percent from 2014.
"Many industry players experienced ups and downs in a fast pace, but ZTE would like to grow steadily and healthily," said Zeng Xuezhong, executive vice president and the head of the mobile devices division.
Meanwhile, ZTE is setting its sights on smart city technology and the smart car market. Johanna BasfordSenior vice president Pang Shengqing said he expects revenue from the smart city segment will account for a quarter of the total revenue in the future.
The group is seeking to cooperate with technology behemoth Tencent (00700.HK) in the smart city market, Pang added.
Tencent is doing great in the consumer segment while ZTE has its advantages in industry transformation as well as solving problems for governments. For example, ZTE has been deploying big data technology in the transport and medical sectors.
The two could work closely together, sharing market information and designing localized apps and intelligent traffic light systems, said Shan Zhiguang, deputy director of the Information Research Department of the State Information Center.
– Contact us at [email protected]


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Galina Gorokhova
Gorokhova, Galina Evgen'evna
Born Aug. 31, 1938, in Moscow. Soviet athlete (fencing with foils). Honored Master of Sports (1960); teacher. Member of the CPSU since 1964.
Gorokhova has been USSR champion six times (between 1960 and 1970) as well as world champion (1965 and 1970) in individual fencing. She has also been USSR champion 13 times (between 1958 and 1970), world champion ten times (between 1958 and 1971), and an Olympic games winner (1960 in Rome; 1968 in Mexico) in team contests. Gorokhova has been awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and various medals.


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Thursday, February 22, 2007
Who's Contaminating La France?
"Goodbye Americans who want to monopolize the world and who contaminate France!!!"
I find it ironic that this person -- who defaced the wall of a restroom (a filthy one at that) in a public library of the 15th arrondissement -- accuses Americans of contaminating France.
It's the rare American in France who pollutes bistros with cigarette smoke, allows their dog to defecate in the middle of the sidewalk, or spits loogies partout.
If, on the other hand, the author of this rebellious outburst is referring to contamination through globalization and commercialization, I can only say that on the odd occasion I have had a craving for McDonald's fries, I have been deterred by the extremely long line of French patrons waiting patiently for their McRoyale.
5 comments:
- Jennifer said...
People love to jump on that anti-Americanism bandwagon- it's like a pastime. I've met a lot of people who claim to hate Bush and capitalism and the American invasion of their daily lives, blah blah blah, and when I ask them why, they really can't answer, or their answers are just echoes of what everyone else says. It's pathetic. I'm not a fan of the current administration either but I don't go blaming all of a country's citizens for it!
But on a lighter note, have a great weekend! :)
- Cooks on the Coast said...
Hang in there, girlfriend!
- aralena said...
ugh. anti-americanism is the new fugly. it's incredibly ironic how seemingly intelligent, thoughtful people can swiftly transform into raging bigots at the mention of anything remotely related to the U.S. - and coming from California doesn't help matters, as I'm sure you know. did you know that we're all surfing, silicon-implanted, adulterated wine-guzzling hollywood billionaires? oy.
- David said...
Earlier this week, I helped out a French-speaking man who was trying to find something at Target (what in the world a French-speaking man was doing in the San Mateo Target is beyond me). If you want, Amy, I'll hunt him down and spew some anti-French rhetoric at him! :-)
- IslandGirl4Ever2 said...
Oh... Drats!!! I wished I saved the pet peeves for this blog entry... I mainly see anti-Sarkosy sentiments scrawled on benches.... But....
This is sooo true about what you wrote!!!! I have been very fortunate in that in the 7 months I have lived here.. I have met many many French folks who just love Americans... they told me so... I don't like our gov't but I certainly don't bash the country over it... And what is UP with those AWFUL loogies all over the sidewalk.. Sometimes.. I just want to BARF.. when I see them.. afraid to stop staring down as I walk for fear of stepping in one or the crotte de chien right beside it.. Hahahhahaha!!! You are RIGHT on the mark on this one.. Thanks for the post!!!


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Air Valid is an informative site with a huge amount of information on air travel and services. You'll get information on airlines through a large directory, a list of blacklisted airlines, crash and incidents on chronologically and airline security links.
You may also give your contribution. Through the views and opinion section, you may compare airlines, submit your experience and view previous experiences of passengers that have traveled with a large number of airlines.
So explore an interesting site, and share your knowledge in order for other people to choose , not only by price, but also the best airlines based on user experiences.
Explore Air Valid here
Airline reviews on Enjoy Food & Travel
The airline experience, Oslo - Barcelona and back - Rating Lufthansa
Rating South African Airways
Flying Icelandair Fall 2009
Uncomfortable with Brussel Airlines
Photo: Interior of Qatar Airways aircraft, by Chaerani


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Southern BBQ Pork Belly with Sweetcorn Salsa
Based on a recipe by Jamie Oliver - a classic American-style, smoky BBQ pork. The pork remains succulent due to the oven cooking yet the barbecuing adds great crunchy texture and the required smoky flavour. It can be a little dry so you do need the accompaniments. I like to serve this also with a fresh salad, some flatbreads and a sweetcorn salsa – see recipe below.
"A recipe that we're loving lately is a great one from Jamie Oliver and it involves the Barbie - really yummy & tasty and it's great with couscous, it's easy & very delicious! Bon Appétit!"– Nicola Hawdon.
Pictured: Southern BBQ Pork Belly
Handful of fresh bay leaves
2 tsp rock salt
1 tbsp smoked paprika
3 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2kg pork belly in one piece, skin removed (get your butcher to do this - you can cook separately & make crackling if you like) get a smaller piece if not serving so many
To serve –
Seeded and chopped red chillies
Fresh chopped coriander
Olive oil
Pre-heat oven 180°C.
Bash leaves and salt in a pestle and mortar until the leaves disintegrate and the salt turns green. Pick out any strands, then add the rest of the spices and pepper.
Rub the pork with the spice mix & a little oil. Put into a snug-fitting tray.
Cover the tray tightly with foil and put in the oven for 2 hours depending on the size of the meat.
Light the BBQ after the pork has had an hour in the oven.
After 2 hrs cooking in the oven your pork should be tender and flavoured with all the wonderful spices. Lift out of roasting tray and drop straight onto the BBQ. It will crackle as the fat drips onto the coals, so don't worry if you see a few flames. Turn the pork over and move it around the grill now and then for 10-15 minutes to crisp up the surface.
Serve in thick slices w fresh chilli, coriander and a few lugs of olive oil.
Pictured: Fresh chilli, coriander and olive oil - accompaniment to Southern BBQ Pork Belly
Serves 6 - 8
Sweetcorn Salsa
Grill at least 2 whole corn cobs under high heat, turning as it blackens slightly, strip kernels off and toss with any combination of diced tomato, avocado, cucumber, Spanish onion, capsicum, tossed with a few splashes of Tabasco, chopped coriander, lime juice and salt and pepper.
Pictured: Sweetcorn Salsa
Pictured: Sweetcorn Salsa
TasteTip - There's an official heat scale for chillies known as the Scoville scale, developed by Wilbur Scoville in 1912. To give you an idea of the range of heat in various chillies, a sweet pepper scores 0 on the scale, Jalapeño and chipotle chillies score anything between 2,500 to 10,000 and habanero and Scotch Bonnet score 80,000 to 300,000 plus!


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Buying a genuine leather item requires thoughtful consideration and keen eye of recognizing the quality of leather. For most average shoppers, leather is just leather. But, many of you know that isn't true, right? Manufacturers often use different types of leather, depending on the end product. A...Read more »
en it's where we keep our cash, the fact that most men choose a leather wallet so casually, and so haphazardly, remains a sartorial mystery. A few thoughtful souls may ponder the colour of the leather, or the number of available pockets, but we often overlook the fact that a wallet is a def...Read more »
Falling on the 15th day of the 8th month according to the Chinese lunar calendar, the Mid-Autumn Festival is the second grandest festival after the Spring Festival in China. It takes its name from the fact that it is always celebrated in the middle of the autumn season. The day is also known as t...Read more »
Dear Value Customers, It's Christmas Eve! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! www.bng-intl.com Read more »
Dear Customers: Thank you all for giving our company full support in 2016,The Spring Festival of 2017 is approaching,all the staff of B&G Fashions company wish you a happy Spring Festival and good luck in the year of the Rooster! In order to celebrate the traditional Spring Festival,the compa...Read more »
Making a leather bag is not as hard as it may seem. Leather bags or purses are durable and do not wear out as fast as other fabrics do. This leather bag design is a small leather purse that is both fashionable and easy to make. Instructions 1. Cut the fabric into three equal sections. The sect...Read more »
Dear Value Customers, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Read more »
The National Day of the People's Republic of China (Chinese: 国庆节; pinyin: Guóqìng jié) is a public holiday in the People's Republic of China to celebrate their national day, and is celebrated annually on October 1. The PRC was founded on October 1, 1949, with a ceremony at Tianan...Read more »
A Backpacks in general fall into one of four categories: frameless, external frame, internal frame, and bodypack. A pack frame, when present, serves to support the pack and distribute the weight of its contents across the body more appropriately, by transferring much of the weight to the hips an...Read more »
A backpack — also called bookbag, kitbag, knapsack, rucksack, pack, or sackpack — is, in its simplest form, a cloth sack carried on one's back and secured with two straps that go over the shoulders, but there can be variations. Lightweight types of backpacks are sometimes worn on only one ...Read more »
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The world moves pretty quickly these days, and as a result, the modern human is constantly on the go from one place to another. The advent of the cell phone, laptop and the personal digital assistant (PDA) has made us even more mobile. Technology has advanced so much that people can now take thei...Read more »
Leather bags are luxury items that can be expensive, especially when they are brand name. Leather bags can be prone to damage due to humidity, water, daily use or mold. Keeping the leather supple and strong can make the bag last longer and remain aesthetically pleasing for longer periods of time....Read more »
Falling on the 15th day of the 8th month according to the Chinese lunar calendar, the Mid-Autumn Festival is the second grandest festival after the Spring Festival in China. It takes its name from the fact that it is always celebrated in the middle of the autumn season. The day is also known as ...Read more »
Warmly celebrate Mid-autumn festival! At the same time our office will be closed from 6th Sept to 8th Sept ,2014. please contact us through our company's firstname.lastname@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com if any urgency. B & G FASHIONS INTERNATIONAL CO;LTD IT Dept. 2015-09-05 Read more »
Home furnishings are made of a wide variety of materials, from natural to man-made. Some types of leather are used to cover couches, ottomans, beds and other furnishings. One such leather is Nappa leather. Definition Nappa leather defines all types of full grain leathers. Nappa leather comes from...Read more »
Italian tanning industry association UNIC has announced that it will host a second edition of the World Leather Congress, which first took place in Rio de Janeiro in November 2011. An official event of the International Council of Tanners, the 2015 edition of the congress will take place in Milan...Read more »


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Coming into the 2018-19 campaign, Gregg Popovich had five NBA titles and a combined 1,364 regular-season and playoff victories to his credit. Yet, with the San Antonio Spurs currently sitting at 25-20, his 23rd season as the team's head coach is shaping up to be his most impressive.
The Spurs have pushed their way back into the Western Conference playoff picture after a slow start, winning 14 of their last 20 games. They are in the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency over that stretch, 11 of their 14 triumphs have been by double digits, and they have racked up impressive victories over Toronto, Boston, Denver, and Oklahoma City.
Popovich has built a top-12 offense around two imperfect stars, developed a dominant bench unit, and raised another crop of homegrown talent despite facing more challenges than he has at any point during his lengthy tenure in San Antonio.
The Spurs were considered a long shot to contend in 2018-19 thanks in large part to an unprecedented amount of roster turnover, as Tony Parker walked in free agency, Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard were shipped to Toronto, and Manu Ginobili called it quits. The prevailing criticism of San Antonio heading into the season was that the team's new core pieces - specifically DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge - were score-first players who were the antithesis of the selfless Spurs system.
DeRozan was a high-volume, low-efficiency gunner who developed a reputation for shrinking in the playoffs, and Aldridge has been an up-and-down piece who's occasionally grumbled about his role in his four years with the Spurs. They were seen as outdated players in an era that values 3-pointers above all else.
Popovich saw the situation differently. He installed an old-school system for his throwback stars instead of making them conform to the modern game. San Antonio's starting unit is straight out of 1999 - it methodically grinds out possessions, happily works the ball into the low post, and gives its stars the green light to fire dozens of long twos.
The only trick was managing spacing so DeRozan and Aldridge weren't getting in each other's way. The solution: turning DeRozan into a primary playmaker. The former Raptor isn't the type to pick teams apart with incredible court vision, but he is a relentless driver who routinely attracts double teams. DeRozan is second in the NBA in drives per game (19.0), and he is particularly adept at finding the open shooter when the defense collapses in the paint:
San Antonio can get a good shot every trip down the floor by working the action through the pick-and-pop with DeRozan and Aldridge. If the defense collapses in the paint to deny DeRozan, there's an open jumper for Aldridge. If the defense sits on the pocket pass to Aldridge, DeRozan has the momentum to take his defender to the basket. And if the defense opts to switch, Aldridge can slide into the post and bury a smaller guard under the basket, or kick out to an open shooter when a help defender inevitably arrives.
Although there's a math problem inherent in running the team's offense through two players who can't shoot threes, the Spurs have succeeded by taking the best available shot. DeRozan and Aldridge are two of the most prolific mid-range shooters in the league, and they cause enough havoc inside the arc to create opportunities on the perimeter. San Antonio leads the league in 3-point percentage in large part because of how effective the team's two stars are at making the most out of inefficient shots.
Yet, for as good as the starting lineup has performed despite its perceived limitations, the bench has been just as impressive.
The four-man unit of Patty Mills, Marco Belinelli, Jakob Poeltl, and Davis Bertans has outscored opponents by 23.2 points per 100 possessions in 183 minutes on the season. To put that figure into perspective, Golden State outscores opponents by 14.3 points when Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson share the floor.
San Antonio's second unit has opponents chasing shadows. It's a complete change of pace from the starting unit, as the bench plays absurdly fast and maniacally hunts threes. Defenses are routinely caught off guard since they're effectively playing against an entirely different opponent.
Belinelli and Mills generate most of the second unit's offense by creating chaos with their constant movement. Mills is a tiny jitterbug who demands constant attention, while Belinelli is a maniac who will fire away from the most obtuse angles. The Spurs like to have both players circle the floor at the same time to create maximum panic from the defense:
Jakob Poeltl has been a revelation on both ends, just as he was in Toronto. Not only is he a reliable rim protector, but Poeltl is also a tireless screener with a natural feel for creating space using picks and handoffs. He also happens to be a 7-footer with nimble feet and soft hands around the rim, which makes him an excellent option in the pick-and-roll.
Davis Bertans brings versatility from the power forward spot. Once billed as nothing more than a Matt Bonner replacement, Bertans has developed into something closer to a 6-foot-10 Kyle Korver. He has improved his footwork on spot ups to become a 47-percent shooter from deep, he makes instant decisions with the ball, and, as a bonus, he defends all five positions.
San Antonio's bench doesn't get by on singular talent - it carves teams apart with meticulous execution. All five players are unselfish, they move and cut off the ball, and they turn down good shots for great shots. It's the same way the Spurs have played for over two decades.
Yet, for all the credit Popovich deserves for exceeding expectations on offense, constructing a coherent defense out of a collection of spare parts was his biggest challenge - and quite possibly his greatest achievement.
The Spurs got by for years on continuity and organizational structure, but Popovich lost half his rotation and four of his best wing defenders. He tried to implement the same two-on-two defensive scheme that ranked third in the league last season, but Popovich's new roster didn't have the talent nor the cohesion to effectively execute the strategy. As a result, the Spurs conceded 520 points in a four-game stretch against Houston, Minnesota, Portland, and Utah.
San Antonio hit rock bottom in early December, ranking 29th in defense and 14th in the Western Conference standings en route to a pedestrian 11-14 record.
That's when Popovich decided to scrap his entire defense and start fresh with something simpler. Instead of having his guards fight over top screens and funnel action toward the middle, Popovich switched to a more traditional strategy of dropping his bigs back and having the guards push the ball-handlers towards the sidelines. The results were night and day.
Here's how the Spurs tried to defend at the start of the year. Notice how Bryn Forbes angles his body to encourage Jeff Teague to drive towards the middle, while Aldridge is pressed high up to the 3-point line in anticipation of Teague turning the corner. All it took was one quick crossover for Teague to create an open path to a layup with no help defense in sight:
This is the same side pick-and-roll a few weeks later after the Spurs shuffled their scheme. This time, Davis Bertans cuts off the middle and funnels Derrick Rose towards the sideline, where Aldridge is situated deeper to protect the paint. Rose ultimately settles for a pull-up jumper:
The mark of a great coach is the ability to adapt. Popovich recognized that he no longer had long-limbed wing defenders who could physically deny dribble penetration on the perimeter like Dejounte Murray, Green, Ginobili, and Kyle Anderson. The likes of DeRozan and Forbes needed more help, so Popovich adjusted accordingly. San Antonio is fourth in defensive efficiency since making the switch.
The Spurs had every reason to regress this season. There were too many departures, the pieces didn't fit, the supporting cast was filled with nobodies, and they got rocked by too many major injuries to promising players like Murray.
Despite all of it, the Spurs currently own a playoff spot and are on a near 50-win pace. As always, they can thank their legendary head coach for that.


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VP Business Showcase
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The VP Business Showcase is focused on promoting area businesses and organizations to local residents. Product and service demonstrations, shopping opportunities for your sweetheart and a complimentary glass of wine and hors d'oeuvres are included. Don't forget to enter to win a weekend getaway trip and fabulous door prizes.


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4 Places to Shop for Environmentally Friendly Makeup/
By Ashley Carter
The perfect makeup formula doesn't just make your skin look amazing. It also includes sustainable practices and comes from an environmentally responsible brand. Whether you're against animal testing, want natural ingredients, or expect companies to evaluate their supply chains for better sustainability, you'll notice that some brands stand above the rest. Get the look you want without compromising your ideals, and support companies that care about the environment.
Josie Maran
The folks behind Josie Maran Cosmetics want to create luxury makeup products without harmfully impacting the earth. The popular cosmetics line relies on natural ingredients and plant-based resources to create great makeup formulas. A major component of many Josie Maran cosmetic choices is Argan Oil. That Argan Oil comes from all-female cooperatives in Morocco. The Moroccan government created these co-ops in 2002 to give women in rural areas a steady source of income. Using them as a source means a lower environmental impact because these women harvest the oil with sustainable practices to protect the valuable Argan trees.
The vast array of makeup options at Sephora makes entering one of their stores like entering a playground and candy store designed for adults: it's magical. When you shop at Sephora, you can feel good that you're choosing a brand dedicated to sustainable practices. In 2015 Sephora won several awards and recognitions for their responsibility as a brand overall. They received the Sustainable Brand label and the Responsible Brand label from Génération Responsable. Sephora has also entered into a sustainability commitment with the French Ecology Ministry.
Sonia Kashuk
Luxury meets affordability with a dash of fun in Sonia Kashuk's line of cosmetics, containers, and brushes. Sonia Kashuk is a cruelty-free makeup brand. The brand is against animal testing in all forms, which means the brand doesn't partner with anyone who does test on animals. Part of the reason Sonia Kashuk is only available in the US and Canada is because of animal testing policies. You can't buy Sonia Kashuk in countries like China, which require makeup to go through animal testing. You can find Sonia Kashuk at Target.
Bath and Body Works
Delicious classic fragrances and seasonal delights come together in Bath and Body Works, one of the most popular places to get scented lotions and cosmetics. When you shop at Bath and Body Works, you aren't just buying products that will make you feel pampered. You also support a brand that engages in environmental responsibility. Bath and Body Works hasn't used PVC in its packaging for more than a decade. Its parent company, Lbrands, is dedicated to a number of sustainability practices, including designing their own packaging to use fewer resources, recycling products, and engaging in energy-saving initiatives like replacing store light-bulbs with high-efficiency options.
Shopping for makeup from these retailers won't just make you feel fashionable. You'll also feel good about yourself for making a responsible choice. We only have one planet, so supporting brands committed to taking care of the Earth is indescribably important.


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12 Day Itinerary
Day 1
Heathrow ->Tel Aviv -> Jerusalem
Meet at Heathrow to travel onwards to Tel Aviv from where we will continue the journey by coach to our hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 2
By coach to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view the Old City of Jerusalem; walk part of the Palm Sunday route down the Mount of Olives, visiting the churches of Pater Noster and Dominus Flevit (where Jesus wept over Jerusalem) and The Church of All Nations in the Garden of Gethsemane where we will celebrate Holy Communion. Proceed across the Kidron Valley to the site of the house of Caiaphas, where the Church of St Peter in Gallicantu now stands.
Day 3
Today, we visit Masada and tour this mountain top fortress. Onto Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, and then to 'swim' in the Dead Sea. A short detour takes us to Qasr el Yahud, a possible site of the baptism of Jesus, End the day at Jericho where we will ascend the Mount of Temptation and see Hisham's Palace. Return to hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 4
We have a walking tour of the Old City of Jerusalem starting at St Stephen's Gate, visiting the Pool of Bethesda and St Anne's Church. Walking the Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross we make our way to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, then to Temple Mount and a visit to the excavations. If possible, we will visit the Syrian Church of St Mark.
Day 5
Visit the Israeli Museum for the Jerusalem model and The Shrine of the Book, then, in the afternoon, to a possible site of Emmaus at Abu Ghosh and Ein Kerem (birthplace of John the Baptist). Later in the day we go to the Garden Tomb.
Day 6
On to Bethlehem, in the Palestinian Authority, to visit Shepherds' Fields, The Church of the Nativity and an opportunity to shop for gifts in Bethlehem. It is hoped to arrange a visit to Tent of Nations, a Peace Organisation outside Bethlehem.
Day 7
After joining the congregation at St George's Cathedral we set out on our mid morning transfer to Tiberias, via Bethany, where Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived. Then continue travelling along the mountain route to visit Jacob's Well* stopping later on the journey to see the excavations at Beit She'an, the place where King Saul was killed, and the mosaics at the Beit Alpha Synagogue.
Arrive at our hotel in Tiberias.
Day 8
This morning, we visit sites around the Sea of Galilee – Capernaum, Tabgha (the loaves and fishes), the Church of Peter's Primacy , Magdala and the Mount of Beatitudes. Take a boat trip on the Sea of Galilee and see the 'Jesus' boat in the museum at Nof Ginnosar.
See the river Jordan at Yardenit (a modern-day baptismal site) and visit the gift shop there.
Day 9
We visit Acre/Akko to see the Crusader Fortress, the Old Town and the Or Torah Synagogue. Continue to the Golan Heights and Banias (Caesarea Philippi) where there Jesus asked his followers: 'Who do you say that I am?' There will be an opportunity to renew the vows made on our behalf at our baptism. Return to our hotel.
Day 10
Today we ascend Mount Tabor, a possible site of the Transfiguration and continue to Nazareth to visit the significant churches there – the Basilica of the Annunciation, the Church of Mary's Well, St Joseph's Church – then to Cana, the place of Jesus' first miracle.
Day 11
On our way to our overnight hotel near Tel Aviv
we stop at Peniel (a chapel on the sea shore) for Holy Communion before going on to visit the Ba'hai Temple Gardens in Haifa, view Elijah's cave and continuing to Muhraqa on Mount Carmel, where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal. Then we travel for a quick overview of Caesarea where Paul was imprisoned and where Peter baptised Cornelius and his household.
Day 12
Early departure for flight to Heathrow


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Beau had been missing for two weeks. I imagined him lying in a ditch, stranded in the middle of the woods with an injured leg or mauled by a vicious animal, and wondering when we'd come and rescue him. He was old. His self-defense skills weren't what they used to be. At his prime, he'd taken on a pack of neighborhood dogs that ganged up to kill him. When a neighbor intervened and brought him home, we gaped at the gash above his eye.
"That's nothing," the neighbor said. "You should have seen the dogs. They fared a lot worse. Your cat tore them to shreds. He's quite a fighter."
Beau's sleek Seal Point Siamese frame misled most to think he was dainty and delicate. He fooled many with his refined, gentleman's stance and indifferent air, fully living up to his given name: Beau Brummel. But our Beau was no dandy. His royal blue eyes could cut any one of us in two, and with one swipe of his paw, he'd remind you who truly reigned over the four acres on which we lived.
I felt lost without him. Every afternoon I rushed to the answering machine and listened for the unknown voice which spotted our "missing" signs all along the road and called to let us know he had our cat; that stranger never rang.
In the evening I called out for him, hoping I'd see his limber body prancing through the woods toward our house. He never appeared.
I didn't want to give up hope, but as more days went by, I began to think the worst. My dad said Beau probably left us to go die. Animals did that, especially when they loved a family very much. I couldn't understand why Beau would leave us without saying goodbye.
Two weeks after he disappeared, I came home from school alone. My sister had gone to a friend's house. As I prepped a snack to fuel my brain for an afternoon of math equations and history questions, a distinct howl echoed through the house. I stopped at the fridge and listened.
There was no mistaking that howl. It was easy to discern Beau's Siamese call. And he'd come back! I darted from room to room, glancing through the glass windows and doors to see where he was waiting for me to let him in.
"Beau!" I shouted. "Where are you?"
The howl was distant, like it came from behind our walls. The question was, which wall? As I stood in the hall, I glanced at the ceiling. Could he have been in the attic this whole time? Sometimes, when we went up there to store boxes, he followed us to inspect the vast walk-through space. On a few occasions, we'd accidentally left him put here. I quickly yanked on the pull-down ladder and clambered up the stairs.
"Beau!" I shrieked, glancing anxiously around the cluttered storage room.
But he didn't appear. Leaving the attic door open, I climbed down the stairs and rushed to the phone.
"He keeps meowing, Dad!" I cried. "He's somewhere inside the house, but I can't find him. Please come home and help me look for him."
Distraught, I tearfully listened to my beloved cat calling out for me, until my dad's car pulled into the driveway. The howling ceased. I swore up and down that Beau had been meowing, but after a thorough inspection of the entire house, my dad found no trace of the cat.
"But I heard him," I bawled. "He was meowing. It was his meow."
Hugging me close, my dad said, "Maybe that was his spirit trying to tell you goodbye."


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Red Zone
Chiefs' Jamaal Charles, Tamba Hali and Dustin Colquitt lead Pro Bowl balloting at their positions
Running back Jamaal Charles heads six Chiefs players who are among the leading vote-getters at their positions for the 2014 Pro Bowl game.
Charles ranks third among all NFL players with 825,345 votes, trailing only Denver quarterback Peyton Manning (1,227,068 votes) and New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees (1,049,811).
The other Chiefs who lead their positions are outside linebacker Tamba Hali (293,303 votes), offensive tackle Branden Albert (209,068) and punter Dustin Colquitt (156,655). Guard Jeff Allen (171,074) and strong safety Eric Berry (149,759) rank second at their positions.
Balloting will conclude Dec. 26, and the rosters will be announced the next day. The game will be played Jan. 26 in Honolulu.


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March 6, 2012. That was my 10 on 10 shoot day for this month. I didn't mean to barely squeeze it out, yet that was reality. February just whizzed right past us, and let's just be honest. Managing shooting this
, the
, and my
shots is throwing a kink into my nicely ordered photography life (sarcasm. that was most certainly sarcasm, at least the 'nicely ordered' part). Nothing special about this March day. Just a regular day in our life with little ones.
And sit down, lovely readers. I managed to share with you a mere 10 single images this month. It feels freeing.
7am: The Little Lady is pointing out the splotch of bird poop on our window. Shawn and I have been wondering precisely HOW birds manage to poop on vertical surfaces. It happens to our windows quite often. My theory is a precisely arranged use of momentum during a last minute change of direction while they giggle to themselves "take that!!".
I shared the 8am shot yesterday in
9am brings us to preschool. Little Buddy never wants to engage in the learning activities the teacher arranges at the table upon arriving. He immediately goes to play. This day I had his parent-teacher conference at 930, so I had some time to kill. He begged for the Little Lady to stay and play with him in the blocks. So they did.
10am: We are heading out to the van from preschool and the conference. This morning, for the first time, she decided she wanted to wear one silver sparkle shoe and one pink sparkle shoe. I'm totally down with that.
11am ish: Lunch time. I just love her sweet face.
12:30pm ish - I have no idea what got into my head. NO idea. But I'd pinned
on Pinterest a few days prior, and I just wondered if it would work. The grout in my kitchen was magic marker black. I'm not exaggerating. At all. Disgusting Black and NOTHING would remove it. You could see in the pantry and under the fridge that the color was supposed to be a light beige. The fix was just bleach and baking soda, so I went to town.
Oh. My. Word. She says in her post how she wanted everyone to come see her floor. Well, that is EXACTLY how I felt!!! Took that paste to the grout with a toothbrush and that nastiness just brushed away. It was amazing!!! And I want EVERYONE to see my new kitchen floors!!! Well, when I finish. So far I have a 5'x6' patch of clean floor that I accomplished this day.
almost 2pm-ish: Snack time. This precipitated
3pm: Just normal time in the playroom in the afternoon.
4pm ish - The weather has been so utterly crazy lately. It was warm, very very warm, this day so we went outside to play a bit. The Lady loves chalk. She lined them up and asked me what color I wanted her to use.
5pm ish. I hate that I didn't get a great image of the two of them playing together, because they were playing up a STORM. They had it ALL out and incorporated into their scene. The dollhouse. The castle. The ponies. The airplanes. The dinosaurs. All of it.
5:30ish. I've started a Couch to 5K program that meets at 6pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. You'd best sit down, again. Because, believe it or not, I'm loving this program. I'm not kidding. ME. Self Proclaimed Exercise Hater! I'm waiting for the bubble to burst, but for now, I'll take this while I have it. I still dread going and try to come up with excuses, but once I'm there, while I'm running and afterward, I feel amazing. So glad I decided to do this. Shawn shot this real quick before I hopped in the van and took off!
Now please take a few moments to continue along the circle of my wonderful group of photographer friends. First visit
Jayme Franklin | San Francisco Bay Area Lifestyle Photographer
I shot these with my


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Editor-in-Chief: Helena M. Alves
ISSN: 1865-1992 (electronic version)
Journal no. 12208
The International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing explores marketing topics from an interdisciplinary perspective and provides a forum for researchers interested in examining these issues from practical and theoretical viewpoints. It seeks to establish a common vocabulary with which to discuss methods, procedures, results and experiences in order to improve the exchange of ideas between participants of varied backgrounds.
The International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing publishes articles and case reports as well as relevant doctoral thesis reviews and book reviews. See Journal Aims & Scope document for further details on preferred article types and manuscript length.Officially cited as: Int Rev Public Nonprofit Mark
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The International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, an international scientific journal, publishes English-language articles and case reports in the field of public and nonprofit marketing and closely related disciplines. Relevant doctoral thesis reviews and book reviews are also welcome.
The main objective of the Review is to foster the study of marketing topics from an interdisciplinary perspective and provide a forum for researchers interested in examining these issues from practical and theoretical viewpoints. Establishing a common vocabulary with which to discuss methods, procedures, results and experiences will improve the exchange of ideas between participants of varied backgrounds.
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We're always keeping up with the latest styles and techniques - we even have an educator on staff! Plus, we'll take the time to match you with the stylist best suited to your hair needs.
We're proud to be the only Pravana salon in Peterborough. Pravana is a leader in the industry, always developing new technology to deliver the best to stylists and their clients. We also carry Kaaral products, a new, innovative line from Italy.
We strive to offer a comfortable, fun environment for everyone - a safe space. We are extremely grateful to have been chosen as Peterborough's Favourite Salon in the 2018 Reader's Choice Awards, and we take pride in offering a welcoming, positive energy.
Stop in for your free consultation!
184 Marina Blvd, Unit #20 Peterborough, Ontario K9H 6M8
Monday - 10 - 4
Tuesday - 9 - 5
Wednesday - 9 - 4
Thursday - 9 - 7
Friday - 9 - 6
Saturday - 9 - 5
Sunday: Closed


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IBC is the leading global tradeshow for professionals engaged in the creation, management and delivery of electronic media and entertainment. The event's unparalleled exhibition and agenda setting conference encompass the very latest developments in traditional media, IPTV, telecoms, IT and R&D making it essential for everyone's understanding of the industry and its future.
IBC is a fixture on the calendar of the global media industry, attracting over 55,000 professionals and 1,700+ exhibitors from more than 170 countries. Among them are the industry's most senior executives who choose IBC's highly respected conference to set and challenge the media agenda. The event plays host to a wide array of free to attend sessions, product demonstrations, big-screen movie presentations and the IBC Awards Ceremony. Innovations such as the IBC Future Zone and IBC Content Everywhere Europe showcase technology at the cutting edge. With all this and more, IBC is the place to learn and lead.
The IBC Conference sets the standard for thought-leadership and forensic analysis in all areas of the electronic entertainment industry. Split into six dedicated streams – Advances in Technology, Business Operations, Content Innovation, Industry Insights, Strategic Insights, keynotes and the IBC Big Screen Experience – it combines world-leading speakers with a rigorously peer-reviewed conference programme that dissects the current state of the industry and maps its future.
Over 1,700 companies choose IBC because of its consistent track record in delivering their core business objectives. New initiatives, such as the IBC Content Everywhere Cloud Solutions, keep the show at the forefront of innovation and industry attention. More than 55,000 professionals including 1,000+ accredited press ensure key messages and breaking news are communicated globally. Whether you aim to generate sales leads, raise your profile, gather market knowledge or network with peers, there is no more effective venue than IBC.
IBC Content Everywhere Europe takes places alongside IBC and provides a forum for discussing the latest developments and the future of digital content in Europe's single market providing a focus on rich media production, apps, digital marketing, social media, content personalisation, big data, cloud services, second screens and much more. IBC Content Everywhere Europe is part of global series of exciting new events that also takes place in MENA.
IBC Content Everywhere Europe is designed to help visitors quickly and efficiently expand their knowledge and understanding of the latest trends, strategies and developments in online TV and video through a range of features and exhibitors across all fourteens halls of IBC.
RAI Amsterdam
Conference: 10 - 14 September 2015
Exhibition: 11 - 15 September 2015
IBC Content Everywhere Europe
RAI, Amsterdam
11 – 15 September 2015


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Four weeks ago we had the privilege of renewing our wedding vows for our 25th anniversary. We chose to do them in a place in Colorado that has special meaning to us and to have our ceremony performed by a very dear friend. This was something that we had talked about doing for several years and could not wait for the day to come.
We had only our children present and incorporated them into our ceremony. It was such a beautiful, memorable day that I will not soon forget.
Several months prior to this day I searched for a photographer in the area. I had one booked but she had to cancel on me because of a family situation. She was kind enough to find a photographer friend of hers to take our pictures in her place. I think it was one of the best things that could have happened. Not that the other gal wouldn't have been awesome, but it was even more special having someone shoot our ceremony that shared the same faith as us. One of the sweetest gals you will ever meet. She is the owner and photographer at Paper Posey Photography in Salida, Colorado, and did such an excellent job! It was so nice to not have to take my own family's pictures for the first time in nine years. So much easier and much more enjoyable.
Thanks again Avery! You captured our day perfectly!


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The cobia have arrived along the shores of the Crystal Coast!
Tag Archives: cape lookout
Crystal Coast Fishing Report For June 9, 2016
Crystal Coast Fishing Report May 9, 2016
Cape Lookout Lighthouse Fast Facts
Cape Lookout National Seashore consists of 56 miles of undeveloped beach stretched over 3 to 4 barrier islands from Ocracoke Inlet on the northeast to Beaufort Inlet on the southeast. One of the star attractions to this area is the Cape Lookout Lighthouse.
The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is actually the second lighthouse standing in the same location for almost 150 years.
Cape Lookout Lighthouse
The first Cape Lookout Lighthouse was built in 1812. It was a brick tower but the outside was covered in wood. The wood was...
3 to 5 Year Projections For The Crystal Coast Real Estate Marketplace
The near and long range prospects for the Crystal Coast real estate market looks very promising. Several key indicators both in the real estate and the mortgage sectors show either recovery or long term recovery solutions in play to what has been a horribly depressed and glutted market place. is the 6-7 years of real estate "funk' finally over with?
Crystal Coast April Market Summary
The Crystal Coast of North Carolina has always had a very unique and diverse real estate market. It is a market within itself with no other area that can compare to it. Find out what is trending and what surprising results have shown during the month of April. Some interesting things are happening with active listings. 17 percent of all listings in April were new on market properties, making 1 in 5 properties first timers.
Cold Weather Very Hot Fishing
How good is this fishing right now? Heck, even the charter captains are bragging about the charter captains! "Captain Brian Harrington was Beeliner fishing yesterday in 110 feet of water and had a Wahoo in that shallow water eating the Beeliners off of the hook as he pulled them up," reports Captain Dale Britt from the sportfishing vessel The Sensation. Captain Britt went on to report of citation size wahoo catches…


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Items where Subject is "D History General and Old World > DK Russia. Soviet Union. Former Soviet Republics"
Group by: Creators | Item Type
Jump to: H
Number of items at this level: 1.
Halim, Harliana and Yusoff, Kamaruzaman (2014) Analisis kejatuhan Volga Bulgaria 1258 M. In: 2nd World Conference on Islamic and Civilization 2014 (WCIT 2014), 18-19 August 2014, Ipoh, Perak.


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Each year the FTAdviser Investment 100 Club Awards reveal the most outstanding members in each category
A winner is selected in each of our 20 categories by a panel of experts, based on the results of an extensive product research process.
The awards are then presented at a prestigious evening ceremony at the HQ of the Financial Times.
One winner is chosen from amongst the 5 members of each category – leaving us with 20 elite funds and asset managers covering all of the key areas of the retail fund landscape.
You can see the members of the 2018 FTAdviser Investment 100 club on our Members page – the winners in each category will be announced in October.


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Valentine's Day Romance at Kona Village Resort
Looking for a last minute Valentine's Day getaway to sweep your special loved one off their feet?
Unlike any other resort with its 82-acre enclave on the pristine Kohala Coast of Hawaii, Kona Village Resort is the romantic and unplugged location to have a dreamy destination vacation filled with romance. Your welcome to Kona Village Resort includes a fragrant flower lei greeting and tropical rum punch upon arrival. Couples will undoubtly have an unforgettable Valentine's Day at Kona Village's beautiful, intimate accommodations including the black sand beaches, Luau grounds, and Polynesian-style bungalows.
In addition, Romance at the Village, to make the perfect retreat possible, includes:
· Three oceanside meals for two each day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
· Use of the fitness center, tennis and guided historical and petroglyph tours
· Welcome sparkling wine amenity
· Keepsake line art drawing of your hale (Resort Bungalow)
· Choice of Paddle Boards for two or Outrigger Canoe
· One day car rental through Hertz rent a car to explore the Big Island
· Round trip ground transportation to and from Kona International Airport.
Rates start at $690 per night. Minimum stay of 5 nights required.
Book 7 Nights of Romance and receive a complimentary couples' massage!
For more information, visit our website.


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Makeup Paddling Around Long Island/
For the last three years, I've been part of a group from Sebago Canoe club which is undertaking a multi-year circumnavigation of Long Island. Last year, I had to quit a day early due to my shoulder hurting from recent surgery; I made up 1/2 of that trip last September with our excellent ground crew leader John W. This year, on July 25, John and I made up the rest of that trip with another bike-kayak biathalon, this time between Wading River and Mt. Sinai:
We started in the shadow of the defunct Shoreham Nuclear plant, which was first brought online in the late 80's (when I was living on the East End of Long Island), but shut down shortly thereafter:
It got a bit rainy, but we planned the currents well and made good time...
And, hungry after the 10 mile paddle and hilly 12 or so mile bike ride, we stumbled into an amazingly good homemade dinner at "The Pizza Pie" in Wading River.
I joined the around LI group on its second year, so I also have several days of paddling from the first year to make up. I was hoping to do some of it last year, but my shoulder surgery got in the way. But yesterday, I started whittling away at it, this time solo, since none of my paddling partners were available. I put in at Captree State Park (where I've paddled before), and headed east, along the north side of Fire Island:
There are strong currents by Captree due to the nearby Fire Island inlet, and so I studied the tides pretty carefully and timed it to get about a 3 mph push east. The conditions were great, but the power boat traffic in that area is pretty intense, and I was immediately confronted with a parade of fishing party boats coming out of Captree. Fortunately, much of the Great South Bay is very shallow, so the boats tend to stick to the channels, so I stayed to the north on the way out. My path is a bit jagged due to the channel crossings, which were sort of like running across a busy highway (see video below).
I was getting tired, but with 4 miles left showing on the GPS, I pushed to my chosen target, about 1/2 way down Fire Island: Barrett Beach. This is a beautiful spot, accessible only by boat or by a long walk from one of the surrounding communities. On the bay side are picnic tables:
A quick walk across the dunes (this is apparently the thinnest part of Fire Island) brings you to the ocean:
I jumped in the ocean, and had lunch while drying off. I headed back towards Captree, and along the way stopped by the Sunken Forrest, which apparently had its dock destroyed at some point. It was high tide, and there wasn't really any place to leave my boat, so I pushed on. I passed by Ocean Beach, where my father spent his summers, and stopped to check out the Appalachian Mountain Club's cabin in Atlantique. I've been an AMC member for probably 20 years, but had never made it out to this really nice facility.
I pushed on into the sun, and had a bit of a nerve-wracking crossing back to Captree, with so many power boats and big fishing boats whizzing through the channel, and the chop increasing with the current. But I made it back safe, and in the end, it was about a 24 mile trip. Here's a little video of clips that I shot along the way:
(Note: Somehow this video got an unintended anamorphic stretch--no time to fix it at the moment).
I hope to make up the remaining distance across the eastern part of Fire Island soon...
Next segment of the paddle here.


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San Diego 203k Renovation Loans: Use Lender Cash to Renovate/
San Diego's current housing shortage provides current homeowners and home purchasers the chance to renovate a home with your style and design in mind. 203k FHA Renovation Loans are not for the faint of heart. My advice: Have a plan, find a solid contractor, and set expectations. In addition, work with a loan officer that has either many years in the business or has completed many, many renovation loans. A solid mortgage advisor is not only helpful and will expedite the process, they are worth their weight in gold.
San Diego Renovation Loans: Quick List for 203k Loans
1. Have a Plan: Make a list and separate "needs" from "wants". This will be helpful when hiring a contractor to itemize your priorities. Take inventory of the house yourself and be prepared for the contractor to find things outside your scope. Consider paying for a home inspection. This independent 3rd party will assess all the challenges your home currently faces. A contractor can work off this inspection, saving time and money.
2. Find a Contractor: Contractors are a plenty, however, find one that really understand the needs of the job. Lenders want all I's dotted and T's crossed. Liability insurance and workmen's compensation are required. In some cases, depending on the renovation expenses, they will will be accountable to a 3rd party that will oversee their work. Remember, you're working on the lenders money. Be clear and specific. A contract will be signed prior to commissioning work.
3. Set Expectations: Understand your goals and communicate them to the contractor. Check in and insure they are being met along the way. Open communication and setting expectations up front will save everyone time. Talk to a real estate professional and/or your mortgage consultant on what renovations will add value to the home, i.e. new windows, central heat/air, electrical, etc. This may assist in selecting a "need" over a "want" as it increases your property value and ultimately your equity in the home.
When in doubt. Ask your lender. Making changes to estimates or sub-contractors selected can be a recipe for disaster. Always, always ask your lender first and get it in writing. Communication and written proof that a change has been approved are key to keeping more money towards the project. Take good notes and save receipts and invoices. They can become your lifeline to communicating with all parties. Fix it, don't nix it!


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Investment Portfolio Management & Monitoring
As stewards of our clients' investment assets, we believe it is imperative that we first gain an understanding of each client's long-term investment objectives, liquidity needs, financial capacity, and risk tolerance prior to investing on behalf of the client. Using this insight, we tailor an investment portfolio to meet each client's unique situation. We then use our experience to construct, manage, and monitor client portfolios.
At GSR Capital Management, we employ a research-driven, global approach to investing. Our research drives our outlook for the capital markets, which in turn determines our investment strategy. We recognize that investment decisions driven by emotions – whether they be fear or greed – can generate disastrous results. We view periods of market volatility as potential investment opportunities for our clients' benefit. We take a rational, non-emotional approach towards investing, and are especially wary of "herd-mentality" investing.
It is our goal to invest in a tax and cost-efficient manner, with a long-term perspective to achieving growth while mitigating risk.


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- Home (sunset)
- Specialities & Therapies
- General Surgery
Improving ergonomics in the operating room
For years, the TRIMANO 3D support arm has offered a helping hand in the operating theatre. Maquet continues this success story with the TRIMANO FORTIS.
Holding and lifting body extremities during orthopedic interventions is a huge effort for surgical assistants. This task is performed by TRIMANO FORTIS easily and with more stability. TRIMANO FORTIS is more robust than its predecessor, with significant improvements to load capacity and handling. The versatile TRIMANO arm can be easily connected to the OR table side rail, and is ready for immediate use, with no additional connections necessary.
The TRIMANO FORTIS can be used in:
- General Surgery
- Orthopedics and Traumatology
- Neurosurgery (positioning of the lower arm in park bench position)
- Hand/ Plastic Surgery
The TRIMANO FORTIS can be used for many surgical interventions. The wide range of accessories makes the system very flexible. No matter which application or position TRIMANO FORTIS ensures stable and secure positioning. The main task of TRIMANO FORTIS is to help you during your work inside the OR room. It relieves the operating team during procedures as it acts as a "third hand", giving you the possibility to fully concentrate on your work. TRIMANO can be easily moved during the operation if needed.
Benefits at a glance:
- Easy to use
- No need of any additional connections
- Improved working conditions
- Flexible and safe positioning
- Can be moved in any direction by the "Click and Move" system
- Multidisciplinary use
- Compatible with common OR tables
TRIMANO accessories
The huge range of accessories makes the TRIMANO FORTIS so flexible. It can be used from upper arm surgery and pre-positioning for shoulder procedures to latissimus dorsi procedures, neurosurgery in the park bench position, wrist arthroscopy and elbow procedures. In addition with a retractor support, you can use TRIMANO FORTIS even for holding wound retractors for optimal exposure of the surgical site.
Shoulder treatment in beach chair position
Plastic surgery in lateral position
Wrist treatment in supine position
Elbow treatment in prone position
How to order
To place an order or learn more about any of the Maquet products, related accessories, or therapeutic solutions, please contact your local sales representative.
- Contact us @wrappertag>


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Working with Rural Communities in India: Q & A with Nirupam Bajpai
Q & A with Nirupam Bajpai
Nirupam Bajpai is leading a team of Earth Institute experts along with faculty from the Indian Institute of Management at Ahmedabad to help scale-up the provision of essential services such as health care and education, among others, in some of the most underserved areas of India. As Senior Development Adviser and Director of the South Asia Perogram at the Center on Globalization & Sustainable Devlopment, part of The Earth Institute, Bajpai is engaging with both local and national officials to lock in commitment to help the poorest of the country have access to the critical services they need. Recently, he met with the President of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, to discuss key findings and recommendations.
Q: What is the current phase of your work in India?
A: Currently, we are working in the state of Rajasthan as part of our Year II work on this project entitled, Scaling up Services in Rural India. We're working in the areas of primary health, primary education, energy and drinking water. With regard to the health and education components of this project, we're currently in the process of administering questionnaires to rural households and to the employees in the health centers and schools in Chittorgarh and Jalore districts of Rajasthan. In the energy and water sectors, data from the Census of India is being analyzed and field work undertaken.
In the health sector, we're finding that the rural primary healthcare system in our selected districts in particular, and in the rural areas of the state is, for the most part, dysfunctional. The current health system in place is inefficient and delivers very low quality health services, so much so that the private sector has become the de facto provider of health services in the rural areas of the state. Of course, we found similar results during our work in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in the first phase of work as well.
Q: What have been the primary challenges?
A: One of the major problems in the health sector is that public health spending of the health departments of federal and state governments is very low. Overall, we believe it should rise from the 2004/05 level of 0.9 percent of GDP (federal government 0.29 percent and state governments 0.61 percent) to 3 percent of GDP by the year 2009. Additionally, there is a major problem of ensuring that medical and paramedical personnel reside within the villages that need their services. In a number of instances, during our unannounced field visits, we did not find any doctors at the primary health centers.
In the education sector, the conditions are somewhat better in terms of coverage and the provision of mid-day meals to students. Enhanced infrastructure and increases in the number of primary schools (within one kilometer distance from most villages) has occurred throughout Rajasthan, except of course for parts of the state where there is only desert.
One major obstacle is the low quality of teaching in public schools, which contributes to parental apathy towards sending their children to school even when they recognize the importance of education. Widespread teacher absenteeism and teacher apathy comes out very strongly in our surveys which we conducted to better understand the teaching-learning processes. For instance, during our field visits we found that there was no teaching going on in half the sample schools we visited, a problem further compounded by dismal infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms and lack of teaching materials and resources. Many schools have only two rooms, a single teacher, no access to drinking water, and a single toilet for both boys and girls. We are currently working on ways to address these challenges in the most effective way possible.
Q: You recently met with the President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to discuss the key findings and recommendations of your work. What specifically did you and the President discuss?
A: President Kalam invited me to discuss the key findings and recommendations from our Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh Reports. The President and I discussed a number of recommendations that our reports have made in regard to public spending, especially in the health sector—ways to strengthen the control and oversight of health centers and schools; ways to better utilize the federal spending on rural schools via the scheme called Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (Education for All); and revisions in syllabus and contents of textbooks used in mathematics, English and environment studies.
President Kalam and I also briefly discussed the broad strategies recommended by our UN Millennium Project and our experiences working in the Millennium Village in Sauri, Kenya. The President expressed his strong interest in our village-level work in rural India and described his own vision of rural development, which he calls Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA). The President agreed with the broad strategies that we've recommended and referred our reports to the concerned government ministries for follow-up action.
Q: What is your opinion about the commitment and political will of the government to assist your work and ensure that the most vulnerable get the services they need?
A: Undoubtedly, the federal government led by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is strongly committed to India's rural development. For instance, in the health sector, the Prime Minister launched the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), which aims to: increase public expenditure on health, reduce regional imbalance in health infrastructure, pool resources, decentralize district management of health programs, increase community participation and ownership of assets, and operationalize community health centers into functional hospitals to meet Indian Public Health Standards.
Similarly, in the education sector, the government has been strengthening the "Education for All" plan by significantly raising its outlays each year and improving the coverage and quality of mid-day meals being provided in public schools.
Our reports have been utilized by the concerned ministries of the federal government, the Planning Commission, and the state governments of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in order to increase public spending and to introduce measures to improve the quality of services being provided.
Q: Will you expand your work to other states?
A: Yes, we certainly want to expand our work into Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and in Bihar as well. We're in discussions with The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation who had very kindly given us the grant for this project and we hope that they will support the project's Phase II as well.


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Originally published by cafebabel here.
It was a strange vision of the world to come. A small cluster of buildings set amid the grey blocks that form much of Warsaw. Mundane, repetitive, functional – the legacy of a city destroyed during World War II and rebuilt by the Soviets. Only now gleaming goods jut from shops concealed on greying street corners and the green space outside the War Veterans Retirement Home is reminiscent of Los Angeles.
On the short concrete path to the entrance, old couples move infitessimally slowly past a war memorial, while groups sit talking on stone benches. Welcome to the new world. Europe is getting old; the UN estimates that by 2050 35% of the population will be over 65. This is not just a question of pensions. It is a question of what we understand life to be; it means being detached from a whole system which was concerned with reproduction and the prolongation of a lineage.
The old are the new young
Poland is not an exception to the European trend. The WHO estimates that by 2050 30% of the population will be over 65, while the population as a whole will have shrunk by 15%. In an attempt to stave off the economic crisis this would produce, 1999 saw Poland introduce an innovative new pensions system.
The people living at the retirement home will be untouched by these reforms; for anyone born before 1949, benefits will continue to be received under the old system. It was this same Soviet system that built the war veterans home twenty five years ago. Some 130 people work there, caring for a population of 200 or so pensioners. Despite the stained green lift and close humid corridors, it seems a good place to live; clean and well ordered. As we learned later, it is one of the better retirement homes in Warsaw.
The house of memory/the memory of a house
The rooms were not small, but they were full. As we entered one, on all sides faces emerged; photographs of loved ones long departed; medals and dolls – everything shining and clean. Listening to Irena Putkiewicz in this room, one listened to the difficult history of Poland in the twentieth century. Born in 1934, her lined face wore the story of surviving a concentration camp, being hunted by the Germans for her participation in the Warsaw uprising, and then being a political prisoner under the communist regime. Objects, relics of memory, alight her story as she tells of being forced to leave her family house and the heritage of two professor parents; part of the destruction of the intelligentsia during WWII. A letter from Spielberg'sSurvivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation seems out of place here, speechless next to her stories. Then, a physical relic, a moment of history accumulated in the body – she leans forward and shows us the war wound that makes her eligible to be here.
Others, she says, are not so eligible. She has spent 16 years here, and by now there is a huge waiting list. However, if you pay, you can skip the list – many people here are not veterans, she claims. "Everyone today is corrupt," she complains, "the workers steal the food, the medicine never arrives." "I campaigned to have a car so we could move people around. Now we have a car; but only the director's wife uses it, and the chauffeur sleeps in the home."
She laments the changes that came after the Second World War. Warsaw destroyed, the intelligentsia massacred; power was taken by "country people, who put on a suit and think they are somebody." Now communism is gone, but the culture of corruption and thinking about oneself continues unabated. "Everything is about money today, there is no more respect."
Relenting, Irena admits she is also culpable. "Once I had to go to hospital. When I got there they just left me alone, until my family arrived and slipped the doctor an envelope. But what else can we do? How else can we get treatment?"
As she speaks, a dong sounds outside, heralding the arrival of the afternoon meal: a small bowl of soup, a couple of sausages – not much to go on. "You see?" Irena gestures. Yet the small portion of food seems incongruous against the bowls of strawberries and piles of cake that she has set out to welcome us.
Keeping busy
Thanks to her husband, who was a pilot, she received 200% of the normal pension, and can afford a few extra things. Normally the home takes 75% of your pension, leaving you little left. For those on a smaller pension, a friend of Irena tells us, life is very difficult. She voted for Lech Kaczynski, leader of the conservative Law and Justice Party, but now she feels betrayed. "They do nothing for us, with each leader comes the same promises and the same corruption."
Despite this, Irena seems busy. She wakes every day at six, and works with an association of retired pilots. We also met painters and sculptors at the retirement home. Freed from the demands of society, these Polish pensioners seem to be genuinely producing something, rather than engaging in the catch-up capitalism of pensioner's holiday breaks.
Even the small chapel on the second floor seems busy – a hundred people attend the Sunday services, and a few years ago it saw a marriage: between a man of one hundred and a fifty year old woman. The other pensioners we spoke to seemed happy, both Rajmund and Magorzata, 82 and 96 respectively, enjoyed living in this strange building at the end of history. As we left, looking at them wander slowly back to the house, arms laden with the new strawberries of spring, we couldn't help but think we saw a little bit of the future.