text:
Learn how to contact each ARDA department.
Click here to view ARDA's staff by name.
Peter Roth, VP Marketing and
Communications, ARDA
This year's ARDA World Convention and Exposition is shaping
up to be a great mix of education, networking and fun. Back in Orlando for the
first time in four years, our team is excited about what's in store!
This year's
theme is "Timeshare in Real Time" and will focus on the expectation of immediacy
that today's owner has—and how our industry can leverage that in sales, service
and loyalty.
There will
be five days of meetings, educational sessions and exhibitions—giving attendees
the chance to network with their peers and bring back innovative ideas to their
teams. This year's Convention features an impressive line-up of speakers and
entertainers including Jay Baer, author of
the New York Times bestselling book, Youtility, as the keynote opener.
Be sure to register for the 14th
Annual AIF Open Golf Tournament, and pack your formal attire for the annual
Awards Gala recognizing outstanding work in our industry (don't forget to order
your tickets for the ARDA Awards Gala here). The Breakfast
of Champions keynote speaker is Bill Clement, two-time
NHL Stanley Cup Champion and television broadcaster.
New this
year is a "Digital Zone" in the center of the exhibition floor, where attendees
can get involved in social media discussions, ask questions of the speakers and
take photos in our photo booth. Be sure to stop by!
Registration for ARDA World is still
open, and sponsorships are still available. For more information about the 2015 ARDA World
Convention, visit the ARDA World
We hope to
see you April 12-16, 2015, at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando,
Copyright 2014. American Resort Development Assoc. All rights reserved.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Republican candidate Jeb Bush pulled out of the race for President on Saturday.
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Bush was a 35 to 1 underdog at most online sportsbooks and his withdrawal was considered by many pundits as inevitable.
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Party frontrunners Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are continuing to gain momentum with primary victories and remain favored by betting sites to secure their respective nomination.
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Sportsbook Review has compiled a list of the 2016 US Election betting odds. The online sportsbooks shown are in good standing with players.
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Trump is +370 to win the election: bettors who wagered on Trump originally received as high as +6600 odds, meaning a $100 wager would return $6,600 in profit, whereas now the same bet pays merely $370.
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Marco Rubio is priced at +400 to win the election for the Republican party, and Ted Cruz a +3000 shot.
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Clinton has been favored throughout to win the 2016 election as well as to secure the Democratic party's nominee. The cheapest price on the former first lady is -140, meaning a $140 wager is required to win $100. Bernie Sanders is priced at 10 to 1.
\r\n\r\n
Sportsbook Review encourages online sports bettors to bookmark the US President betting odds directory.
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text:
Tina Powell would love to come to your school or library!
Whether it's revealing all the wild and kooky things she has hidden in her 'Imagination Box' or sharing one of her bestselling children's books, Tina Powell sparks squeals of delight and peals of laughter from her young fans.
Although Tina has visited hundreds of schools/libraries and entertained, inspired and educated children of ALL ages, her picture books are targeted to students in the primary grades.
Depending upon the age group, presentations are between 30 and 45 minutes in length. The ideal group size is 45 to 60 students … max 75.
Children will learn about the parts of a story, what authors, illustrators, editors, and publishers do, and the important part imagination plays in creating stories. Tina is happy to customize her presentation to a your specific needs and will also entertain any questions participants might have about being an author.
A two-hour author visit costs $250. In two hours, Tina can usually provide two or three presentations.
How to Qualify for a FREE AUTHOR VISIT
A FREE two-hour presentation will be awarded to any daycare, preschool, elementary school or library that preorders 25 books. We can provide a take home order form template that can be reprinted for distribution to students. These books will be personally autographed by the author for students.
To find out more or to book a visit, contact Tina here.


text:
The origami silver heart is folded with a thin sheet of silver, sharing the same structure of paper origami.
The bracelet is made of numerous irregular shape sterling silver beads with matte finishing. Each bead has a faceted surface that reflects the light in different directions, so when all the beads are put together, the various reflections makes this bracelet very attractive and glittering.
This bracelet is applicable to all occasions as it's simple but eye-catching.
925-999 sterling silver
/Heart Size /
Approx. 13mm(W) x 11mm(H)
/Bracelet length/
16cm, 17cm, 18cm
If you need it longer than 18cm, please contact me email@example.com for details.
/Production time/
Since it is a handmade product by me, it requires 7-10 working days(Not incl Sat/Sun/Public Holidays) Having said that, if you need it by certain day, please don't hesitate to contact me and we can communicate from there.
/Shipping days/
Asia usually between 2-7 days. International is between 7-14 days. For more details please kindly contact me.
Hard and thick paper jewellery box with black velvet sponge inside. Box cover carries Green Rivor logo of three girls playing under a tree.
/Shipping cost/
Free shipping via Hong Kong Post registered post. If you prefer other shipping method, please kindly contact me.
Bank Deposit, Credit Card, Paypal. (All options are available during checkout.)
*Please note that it is a handmade product, so each one will turn out slightly different from that in the picture.


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Georgios Drosines
Drosines, Georgios
Born Dec. 9, 1859, in Athens; died there November 1951. Greek poet and prose writer. Member of the Athenian Academy from 1926.
Drosines was the author of several collections of lyric poetry, including Spun Webs (1880), Closed Eyelashes (1918), and Sparks in the Ashes (1940). He wrote on love and friendship and left models of landscape poetry and civic poetry that called for the liberation of Greece from the Turkish yoke. Among his best prose works are Village and City Stories (1904) and the novel Ersi (1922). He affirmed everyday and psychological realism in modern Greek literature and used the language of the people.


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WATCH: This touch-screen device can take verbal commands
Amazon has officially unveiled its latest Echo product: a touch screen device with built-in digital assistant Alexa called the 'Echo Show'.
The WiFi-enabled home device with a seven-inch screen is the newest addition to Echo range that plays media and responds to voice commands.
The Echo Show has seven-inch device and eight microphones, beam-forming technology, and noise cancellation which hears from any direction—even while music is playing
Alexa – the brain behind Echo Show – is always getting smarter, and adapts to user speech patterns, vocabulary, and personal preferences the more it is used.
Echo Show also delivers updates automatically as it is always connected. Voice responses from Alexa are now enhanced with visuals and optimised for visibility across the room.
Echo Show brings users everything they love about Alexa. Users can watch video flash briefings and YouTube, music lyrics, security cameras, photos, weather forecasts, to-do and shopping lists, and more.
The device also introduces a new way to be together as users can make free hands-free calls and send messages to family and friends who have an Echo or the Alexa App.
Echo Show helps keep users organised at home. Users can start a timer in the kitchen and watch as it counts down, or easily see and manage family's calendar.
Users can sign in to the Alexa App to take their to-do and shopping lists with them. Just add an item to the list from home, and whoever is out shopping will see it added instantly on their Alexa App.
Furthermore, Amazon Music provides lyrics on-screen as users just have to ask to play a song, artist or genre, and stream over Wi-Fi. They can also stream music on Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and more.
This is enhanced with powerful, room-filling speakers with Dolby processing for crisp vocals and extended bass response.
Users can ask Alexa to show the front door or monitor the baby's room with compatible cameras from Ring and Arlo. They can turn on lights, control thermostats and more with compatible smart home devices.
Also, users can always get smarter and add new features along with plus thousands of skills like making a dinner reservation with OpenTable, requesting a ride from Uber, tracking steps with Fitbit, trying a new recipe from Allrecipes, and more.
There are new skills being added all the time, and users can also see ratings and reviews to learn what other customers are saying about skills in the Alexa App.


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Student Veterans Association Beach Cleanup
On April 18, Alliant San Diego and the Student Veterans Association (SVO) held a Mission Beach cleanup! Many students, staff and faculty came out pick up trash and help make Mission Beach a beautiful place for the community. Thank you to everyone who donated their time to make this event a success.
The SVO is a collection of recently discharged service members currently attending Alliant International University in San Diego, CA. Their mission is to create an environment that welcomes the veteran home and to provide a healthy transition into the academic environment. They serve as advocates for veterans benefits on campus, refer counseling, whether academic or otherwise, and assist each member in achieving their academic goals. The SVO also gives back to the community, as well as mentoring future service members who are about to join the military or deploy overseas.
For information on future SVO events or for general questions about the association, contact firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Where to Taste in Wine Country
Sip vino at Napa and Sonoma's newest—and newly renovated—wineries and tasting rooms.
While many great wines get better with age, it's the new kids on the block that often turn heads these days. Wine Country is booming, with more places to sip and savor than ever before, making it an ideal destination for East Bay residents seeking a fun weekend getaway. From stunning views and musical soundtracks to delicious bites, these hot spots in Sonoma County and Napa Valley offer it all.
St. Helena
Freemark Abbey
If walls could talk, the 130-year-old winery at Freemark Abbey would have more than a few stories to tell. An extensive renovation has modernized the estate—one of Napa Valley's original Cabernet houses—and preserved its history.
The winery took root in 1886, when Josephine Tychson built the original redwood winery on the property, becoming the first female winemaker on record to own and operate a winery in California.
In 1949, Freemark opened one of the first tasting rooms in Napa Valley. Today, visitors to that same tasting room can enjoy winery exclusives inside an iconic stone building, without needing an appointment.
The winery's lower level is home to the original Barrel Room and houses the market café and courtyard. Seated tastings boast charming views of the estate, and encourage folks to slow down while sipping wines and munching on cheese and charcuterie plates.
Featuring vintages dating back to the 1960s, the library at Freemark Abbey houses one of the largest and most extensive wine collections in the United States. 3022 St. Helena Hwy., St. Helena, (800) 963-9698, freemarkabbey.com.
Drink: The 2012 Bootleg Cabernet Sauvignon is filled with notes of black currant, dark chocolate, dark cherry, and oak spices.
Taste: Savor a bottle of wine with your meal at Two Birds/One Stone, the on-site restaurant that features California-inspired yakitori. There's no corkage fee on your first bottle of Napa and Sonoma County wines.
Do: Learn about Freemark Abbey's place in Napa Valley's wine-making history. It's effortless, thanks to an array of historical photos with easy-to-digest descriptions showcased around the winery.
Davis Estates
After five years of construction, Davis Estates is shiny and new. But drive by, and you might think the winery has been around for a while. With a restored 100-year-old barn as inspiration, the estate blends into the hillside it calls home.
As you make your way to the tasting room entrance, the sparkle of the new slowly makes itself known. There's a quiet fountain in front, and when the doors to the tasting room swing open, the estate shows off its Napa Valley views.
Upscale and country chic, the tasting room boasts an assortment of wood used for everything from floors to finishing details, giving the space a relaxed feel.
This family-owned winery welcomes guests by reservation only. The Terrace Tasting, hosted by a wine educator, pairs a seated tasting with small bites: Plan on spending at least an hour enjoying. 4060 Silverado Trail, Calistoga, (707) 942-0700, davisestates.com.
Drink: The 2013 Davis Estates Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon offers aromas of ripe blackberries and currants, along with tastes of chocolate and cedar.
Taste: The Historic Tour and Tasting allows you to take in the property's wine caves. You'll taste flagship wines paired with seasonal delicacies. Proprietor Mike Davis often leads the tour himself.
Do: Sit in a porch swing on the tasting room terrace, but be warned: You will not want to leave.
La Crema Estate at Saralee's Vineyard
La Crema spent more than three years planning and renovating its winery estate located in the former home of Saralee and Richard Kunde, who were admired for their support of the Russian River Valley's wine and farming communities.
Originally built in 1900, the barn was used for everything from drying hops to housing hay, horses, and eventually, the Kunde family. Guests are greeted with a glass of Pinot Noir rosé, one of four wines produced from Saralee's Vineyard's vines planted by the estate's former owners.
Toward the back of the barn, the main tasting bar is modern, with a veranda that overlooks the vineyards. No appointment is needed to sip through one of La Crema's signature tasting flights, which include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, or the best of both.
The Nine Barrel Tasting, wine and cheese pairings, and a number of other VIP options are available by appointment. Saralee's Vineyard Tour takes guests through the estate on a golf cart, with a tasting afterward. 3575 Slusser Rd., Windsor, (707) 525-6200, lacrema.com.
Drink: Fermented in oak, the 2013 Saralee's Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay delivers Meyer lemon, vanilla, and baking spice flavors.
Taste: Snack on local cheeses and meats, as you enjoy a glass of wine and a view of anywhere on the estate.
Do: Explore the estate. Richard's Grove is just a short walk from the barn along a garden path loaded with blooms, butterflies, and a nice mix of shade and sun. Or wander through the vineyards to the estate's reservoir.
St. Helena
Last November, Lokoya started welcoming guests to its new home, a historic 77-acre vineyard and winery estate on Spring Mountain.
Founded in 1995, Lokoya specializes in 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon made with grapes from four Napa Valley vineyards on Mount Veeder, Howell Mountain, Spring Mountain, and Diamond Mountain.
Made in limited quantities with as little intervention as possible, the four types of Cabernet Sauvignon are fermented with native yeast and bottled unrefined and unfiltered to reflect the mountain vineyards from which they came. All are available for tasting at the Lokoya estate by appointment only.
Taking advantage of the original stone winery built on the property in 1970, Lokoya's redesign added no new buildings but delivers a new look. Stained glass windows that once restricted mountain views have been replaced by glass windows from Italy that take full advantage of the stunning Napa Valley scenery. 3787 Spring Mountain Rd., St. Helena, (707) 948-1968, lokoya.com.
Drink: The 2013 Lokoya Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon boasts a beautiful floral aroma and bold flavors of blueberry, blackberry, and black raspberry.
Taste: The private tasting experience allows you to sample a customized flight of Lokoya's luxurious Cabernet Sauvignons in an intimate setting. The curated selection features current and library vintages, as well as a gourmet food pairing.
Do: Sip your wine in the cozy tasting salon or out on the terrace, where you can enjoy the breathtaking vistas of the surrounding forests and vineyards.
The Best New Tasting Rooms
Jam Cellars, Napa
Channel your inner rock star at Jam Cellars. The tasting room has a state-of-the-art sound system, recording booth, performance space, and fun assortment of music memorabilia. Bonus: It's open late. Do: Peruse the record collection, and listen to your favorite tunes while you taste. 1460 First St., Napa, (707) 265-7577, jamcellars.com.
The Wine Thief, Napa
A cooperative tasting room, The Wine Thief showcases boutique and small-batch wines. It features 10 wineries and customizes tastings for every guest. Do: Meet the vintner—there's always one in the tasting room. Don't be surprised if there's a winemaker there, too. 708 First St., Napa, (707) 666-2650, thewinethiefnapa.com.
Trujillo Wines, St. Helena
The tasting room may be new, but Michael Trujillo has been making wine in Napa Valley for more than 30 years. Casual and dog-friendly, the tasting room's large, open floor plan has a down-to-earth feel. Do: Grab a snack at the Clif Family Bruschetteria food truck parked outside of neighboring tasting room Velo Vino. 661 Main St., St. Helena, (707) 965-2943, trujillowines.com.
Trinchero Napa Valley, St. Helena
The opening of the rustic-style tasting room marks the end of more than 10 years of development and construction at Trinchero Napa Valley. The property also boasts a winery, a hospitality center, wine caves, and a bocce court. Do: Take your glass to the outdoor veranda complete with a fire pit. 3070 N. St. Helena Hwy., St. Helena, (707) 963-1160, trincheronapavalley.com.
Yao Family Wines, St. Helena
NBA All-Star Yao Ming has moved from making a name for himself on the basketball court to making wine. Just a short distance from downtown, Yao Family Wines' tasting room is decorated with photographs and memorabilia from Yao Ming's basketball career. Do: Grab a bite at neighboring Gott's Roadside restaurant after tasting. 929 Main St., St. Helena, (707) 968-5874, yaofamilywines.com.
Goosecross Cellars, Yountville
A showstopping picture window in the new tasting room at Goosecross Cellars opens up to let the outside in, showcasing vineyard views and the Mayacamas Mountains. Goosecross is reservation only but can sometimes accommodate same-day appointments. Do: Look up. The tasting room's light-colored high ceiling, dark wood trusses, and custom three-ringed chandelier compete with the vineyard view for attention. 1119 State Ln., Yountville, (707) 944-1986, goosecross.com.
Durant and Booth, Oakville
Drawing inspiration from Napa Valley pioneers, Durant and Booth pours single varietals alongside fun blends of less common wines like Roussanne and Ribolla Gialla, in a restored historic Victorian. Do: Admire history. A replica of the first phone in town—from neighboring Oakville Grocery—is showcased alongside other curious artifacts in the tasting salon. 7856 St. Helena Hwy., Oakville, (707) 947-3180, durantandbooth.com.


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Javier Bardem
and his rumored love
Penelope Cruz
are now rumored to be engaged.
The Spanish actors, both Oscar winners (he for rocking a pageboy in "No Country for Old Men," she for rocking his world in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"), have been an item since 2007, although
that the two first hooked up while filming the fiery "Jamon, Jamon" in 1992.
"They're telling friends they will get married," a pal tells the Daily News, though another friend denies rumors that Cruz is pregnant


text:
2224 N. Charles St., galeriemyrtis.net
Sometimes group shows give us a headache—conceptually incongruous, visually disorganized—but this one kept feeding us the more we visited. Approaching the rather open-ended idea of consumption, curator Aden Weisel brought together work by artists who use food imagery in a range of ways to tackle how food is tied into, well, everything—issues of race, class, gender, stereotype, and everything else. From iconographic portraits by Stephen Towns that layer how religion and racist and classist stereotypes (and the ritual aspect of these things) affect a black man's self-identity; meticulous meat collages by Anna U. Davis, who explores the objectification of and violence toward women; Sue Johnson's sickly faux/ceramic kitsch TV dinners; and many others show the layered and complicated associations everyone has to food.


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Island/ table
Custom island with drawers.
Work in progress.
Finished island, installed
Replacement of mantle
Old mantle to be replaced
- Work in progress ..
New mantle in place.
Young Furniture Custom Kitchen, Custom Paint Color - Update
Designed by Amity woodworking. Install in 150 year old house. Floor out of level 3.5 inches. Corrected with separate toe kick. Location Lancaster Ma.
JSI Custom Kitchen
Custom kitchen in Yarmouth white raise panel style with granite top.
Location: Southern N.H.
Office Cabinets
Custom painted file cabinets, with top for home office .
Custom Kitchen
Cabinets designed and installed by Amity Woodworking. Built by Young Furniture N.H. Custom paint color.
Job location: Lancaster Ma.
Custom Vanities
Designed by Amity Woodworking, built by Hagerstown Kitchens. Cherry wood with coffee colored stain.
Fireplace Cabinets/Wainscoating
Unfinished raised panel pine, installed in 300 year old farm house. All work custom scribed and fitted. All cabinets skillfully fitted to a out of square, 300 year old farm house.
Built-in Book Cases, Mantel
Cabinets added to room during renovation resulting from flooding as part of insurance claim.
Laminated Work Station
Laminated work station under construction for East Brookfield Police Station.
Built in Desk and Window Seat
Custom Book Case
Stained oak, raised panel doors, adjustable shelves.


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BlueHost vs HostGator
BlueHost and HostGator are two giants when it comes to web hosting. Many people find it difficult to see the clear winner among these three. People have asked me to review GoDaddy vs HostGator, BlueHost Vs HostGator, HostGator Vs DreamHost and this is HostGator Vs BlueHost comparison.
In this BlueHost vs HostGator comparison, we compare the two hosts side by side and choose a winner based on Performance, Uptime, Quality and Customer Support.
What many people do not know is that both BlueHost and HostGator are owned by same parent company EIG (Endurance International Group).
BlueHost vs HostGator Breakdown
- Performance and Reliability
- Uptime
- Response Time
- Speed Test
- Customer Support
- User Interface
- Features and Pricing
- Final Verdict
Performance & Reliability
BlueHost and HostGator are two best and most recommended web hosting because of their performances. Both HostGator and BlueHost provide 99.9% uptime guarantee.
HostGator sites are hosted in Dual Xeon servers at Dallas. The data centers are well equipped and connects to 10 backbone providers.
BlueHost uses CPU Segregation technology which can intelligently control CPU and protect your site from bad users. Also, HostGator invest millions of dollars every year in new technologies for better performance.
BlueHost vs HostGator – Uptime
Website downtime can be a very bad experience for visitors. BlueHost and HostGator both guarantee 99.9% uptime. Now it's time to see if they are right.
I monitored two websites hosted on HostGator and BlueHost, using a tool called Pingdom. The results are displayed below in the image. HostGator had just 1 outage of 1 minute in the last 7 days, whereas BlueHost had 11 outages of total 51 minutes.
HostGator Vs BlueHost – Response Time
Pingdom also showed the highest response time of the sites hosted on these two hosts. Site hosted on HostGator never took more than 1288ms (1.2 seconds) to load, whereas site hosted on BlueHost took over 5429ms (5.4 seconds) to load.
Site Hosted On HostGator
Site Hosted On BlueHost
BlueHost vs HostGator- Speed Test
Speed is an important factor to consider before choosing a web host. So we set up two websites on HostGator and BlueHost with exact same design, blog posts, image attachments and pages. Then we performed speed test using Pingdom tool. The raw results are displayed below. Site hosted on HostGator loads around 50% faster than BlueHost.
Site Hosted On HostGator
Site Hosted On BlueHost
WINNER: HostGator. All the tests performed above proves HostGator has a better performance.
Visit HostGatorVisit BlueHost
Customer Support
When it comes to Web Hosting Companies, having a great team of support is mandatory. Whenever you face issues with your website or server, the support team must be able to solve it ASAP to prevent site downtime. There is an understanding team of support available at HostGator.
Support is available 24*7*365 and you can contact them using different methods. You can create a ticket or use the live chat feature or make a phone call. BlueHost also provides good customer service, as the main goal of the company is to provide good customer support. Like HostGator, BlueHost also provide Email Support, Live Chat and Phone Support.
I've personal experience with both BlueHost and HostGator customer support. Whenever I had some issues with my websites, I could contact them easily and they've been very helpful to me.
WINNER: ]It's a Tie again. Both hosting providers have a great support team.
User Interface
Both HostGator and BlueHost provide cPanel. It's important to have a user-friendly control panel, especially for people who are new to this and who do not know how to install web scripts like WordPress, Joomla etc.
Both hosting providers have top notch security to their cPanel to keep your files safe from viruses and hackers.
The billing area on both HostGator & BlueHost is good and easy to navigate. HostGator also provide their own customised cPanel which is very easy to get used to. This shows HostGator focuses on customer satisfaction.
WINNER: It's a Tie. Both HostGator & BlueHost have great User Interface.
Features & Pricing
Both HostGator & BlueHost provide a lot of features and I could write a whole article talking about each feature. So, I created a simple table comparing the features of two hosting providers.
|HostGator Hatchling
|HostGator Baby
|BlueHost Starter
|BlueHost Plus
|Disk Space
|Email Accounts
|Domains Allowed
|Free Domain
|Control Panel
|$ / month
|$ / month
|$ / month
|$ / month
|1 Month
|No Monthly Plans
|No Monthly Plans
|1 Year Term
|2 Year Term
|3 Year Term
|$3.44 (Best Price*)
|Sign Up Now!
|Sign Up Now!
|Sign Up Now!
|Sign Up Now!
BlueHost offers three plans called Starters Plan, Plus and Business Plan. On the other hand, HostGator also have three hosting plans called Hatchling, Baby and Business plan. These hosting providers change prices of their plans frequently, so it's better if you check out the updated prices using the links below.
Check HostGator PlansCheck BlueHost Plans
WINNER: BlueHost or HostGator. (Depends on one's preference)
Which is the Best Web Host? HostGator vs BlueHost? (FINAL VERDICT)
Based on the comparison and tests performed above, HostGator beats BlueHost in performance.. You can expect a rock solid performance from HostGator.
Why you should choose HostGator?
- HostGator offers one month hosting plans for just $0.01 first month.
- HostGator offers 45-day money back guarantee.
- They have a highly efficient customer support team, which is available 24/7.
- Easy to use control panel. It's so simple and functional.
- Your website will load quicker than BlueHost.
- 99.9% uptime guarantee.
- They have a hard working security team that your site safe from Hackers, Viruses and Malwares.
- HostGator clearly beats BlueHost with better response time, uptime and load time.
Visit HostGatorVisit BlueHost
Maximum HostGator Discount – (Updated : May, 2019)
Use HostGator Coupon : SAY60 for upto 60% OFF on long term plans.
Use HostGator Coupon : SAY50 for upto 50% OFF if you want to sign up for short term plans (under 12 months).
Use HostGator Coupon : GREEN99OFF for 1 cent hosting ($0.01).
Claim HostGator Discount Now
Right click on the image below and click "Save image" for later use.


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Gambling is considered to be one of the best ways to earn some serious money. One can easily win without implementing huge effort. Luck and useful utilization of different resources can lead one to great victories in life. There are many methods available these days which can be implemented to earn money but one can never neglect the importance of gambling in earning money. If you are interested in gambling and its strategies then you must never forget the importance of poker. This game is considered to be the back bone of gambling and this is regarded as the finest gambling game as well. Most of the gamblers all over the world prefer playing poker instead of any other game. If you have some knowledge about poker then you will easily win some serious cash as well.
One must get some information about poker and its rules along with its strategies so that there will be no drawbacks for him when it comes to gambling. There are some specific hands in poker which are required to be made by the players. These hands are special and specific combinations of cards which are formed in sets. These combinations are specially chosen and they have been given some special values as well. If you have got any of these combinations then you are on the right track. These combinations are formally known as hands. These hands are the main powers of a particular poker game. There are some pairs which can also be used in the game to get the control of game and lead it to positive side.
These combinations shows some specific meanings which are termed in the some special values. There are some specific ranking of each combination in poker. Some of them are ranked very high and some of them are ranked low as compared to others. One of the best and most highly ranked combination of poker cards or hand is known as royal flush. This is the best possible combination and the chances of winning a particular game with royal flush are very high. Second best hand is straight flush and the probability of wining that game is also very good. The third best combination of card is four cards of a similar kind which can also lead you to a great win.
Similarly, you can simply carry on with those combinations to increase your winning chances and decrease the chances of losing a poker game. A dealer will distribute the cards among players and every player will get a chance to place his bet according to the total numbers of chips available. One has to be very careful with his moves in poker and one have to be very sure about all the strategies which have been implemented in playing this gambling game. There are limited numbers of rounds for betting and each player will place his bet in sequence. Check, luck and intelligent moves can also lead you to various wins in poker games.


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In the race for Florida Senate it's crunch time, and the latest polls show our candidate Kendrick Meek surging as Dems come home and No Party Charlie Crist slips to an inevitable third place finish. Crist's support has now dropped 10-points since May, while Rubio and Meek have each made gains. In essence, Crist is [...]
Posts Tagged ' Fl-Sen '
3way 2010 AFL-CIO Amendment 1 Amendment 5 Amendment 6 Amendments AMEX Better Dems Billionaire Chain Gang Charlie Charlie Crist Constitution Dan Gelber Democrat Editing The Constitution Election Elections Fair Districts Florida Fl-Sen Florida Hillsborough County Jeff Greene Kendrick Meek Labor Day Limo Lovey Marco Rubio organizing Politics Primaries progressives Redistricting Republican Ron Klein School Board Senate State Senate Tampa Terry Kemple Thurston Howell III Unions unions 101 WMNF working class
Meek Surges, Crist Will Not Rise Again
September 26, 2010
Rubio Likes Dry Feet, Not Wet Backs
August 11, 2010
NOTE: The title references two US immigration policies. Wet Feet, Dry Feet: …in what has become known as the "wet foot, dry foot" policy, a Cuban caught on the waters between the two nations (i.e., with "wet feet") would summarily be sent home or to a third country. One who makes it to shore ("dry [...]


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Juno SC/SB Car Mount
Juno SC/SB Car Mount
Catalog Number: 66455-00
This vehicle mount allows you to securely place the Juno series handheld on a vehicle's windshield or dashboard. It can be rotated in each axis for optimum viewing of the screen and still provides access to the power button, the power connector (for use with the optional vehicle charger), and the audio speaker for navigation software applications.
Note: Some jurisdictions prohibit the affixing of devices to the windshield or dash of a vehicle. Ensure that you are informed of, and compliant with, local regulations and safety procedures.
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Smart, curated business articles for the modern day entrepreneur, for the week of April 3, 2017.
Jet Fuel (March 22)
5 Killer Ideas For Making Money From Home - Infographic
Jet Fuel (March 15)
Jet Fuel (March 6)
Welcome to the first-ever weekly Jet Fuel post! We hope this resource of curated articles serves you well and helps keep your entrepreneurial engines running.
Here you go!
When It's Time To Dump Your Career
Been looking to switch careers or start your own business? The best timing might be to do it NOW. This Forbes article explains why.
Lazy But Talented
When you are struggling to become more talented than your competition, you can outpace them with hard work. This is an extremely short, yet very motivating, post by well-known entrepreneur Seth Godin.
How To Build Relationship With Influencers - Podcast
"I've talked about relationship building a lot on the Smart Passive Income Podcast. It's an essential—and potentially life-changing—aspect of growing your business and your reputation as an entrepreneur." I can't get enough of Pat Flynn and his Simple Passive Income podcast. Give him a listen and I'm sure you'll have all 200 or so of his episodes listened to by April.
The Value Of Search Across The Modern Consumer Search Journey
This Search Engine Land article explores the role search engines play in the life of a modern-day consumer. What kind of questions are consumers asking?
How To Build Trust & Enhance Your Influence With Content Marketing
The article's topic is self-explanatory. It's definitely a must-read for business owners who publish a significant amount of online written content.
How Small Businesses Can Win Big With Webinars - Infographic
"Small business owners are expected to wear a variety of hats as they juggle multiple roles to build their bases. However, there's one role that may very well be the most important in 2017: the role of teacher."
Announcing Jet Fuel: Weekly Curated Articles To Keep Your Entrepreneurial Engines Roaring
Welcome to the first ever blog post on Startups Genius!
This could be the beginning of a great thing. Or it could be the unassuming prelude to failure.
Who knows how this Startups Genius experiment will turn out! We definitely want to be around for a long time, but honestly, we just care about putting out great content for our readers.
One of the ways we plan on accomplishing our vision is through an ongoing series of posts called Jet Fuel.
What is Jet Fuel?
Well, once a week we're going to deliver to our readers a brief collection of fantastic business-related articles. And they're not going to be our own. Jet Fuel will link out to experts from around the web, whether it's an editor at Entrepreneur or a mommy blogger with the business sense of Warren Buffett. Don't worry, we're still going to publish heaps of our own content. So much so that you might eventually leave a bunch of comments around telling us to shut our faces.
The purpose of Jet Fuel?
Well, you know far too well how hard it can be to stay motivated and creative throughout the long work week. We get that. We go through these "funks of the will" more often than we can count. One way we power through, or get the entrepreneurial juices flowing again, is by reading great content from around the web. Stuff from the pros. Entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders with 1200x more experience than us.
Keep Growing, People
Choose to read. Stay up to date. Educate yourself. Interact with the latest and greatest ideas. It's either that or stagnate. And that's where Jet Fuel comes in. Trying to find quality stuff to read can be tedious. And your time is limited, so you want to make sure you're only reading the best, right? So how we help you is by giving you a valuable, ready-made collection of content.
So look out for the first Jet Fuel post in the next few days. We're looking at publishing one early each Monday morning. Just grab your 250 mg of caffeine and soak in the knowledge. What better way to punch Monday in the face than by refueling your business brain for the week, right?
Over and out.


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Criminal Defense Practice Areas:
Federal Crimes
If you are being investigated by federal authorities or you have been charged with an offense and are being prosecuted in Federal Court, chances are you are in a world of hurt. Federal crimes are prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office assigned to the particular geographical area where the crime took place. The actual lawyers who represent the Government in the court room are all Assistant U.S. Attorneys, sometimes referred to as AUSAs. These lawyers are typically the cream of the crop as far as prosecutors go. Most have spent years as state prosecutors before they are considered skilled enough to appear in Federal Court to represent the federal government. In addition, their case load is much less than a state court prosecutor so they are much more familiar with each individual case they are assigned to handle and the resources at their disposal dwarf those of state prosecutors.
It is said that state prosecutors charge the defendant and then build the case. Federal prosecutors build the case and then charge the defendant. That is why 98.5 percent of all federal cases are resolved with a plea instead of a trial. If you are charged with a crime in Federal Court, chances are very high that you will enter a plea of guilty. Your chances of success at trial are almost non-existent and the penalty for failure at trial is high.
Federal jurisdiction is most often triggered by either criminal activity that involves an interstate transaction or medium, or criminal conspiracies involving multiple defendants. Any offense that uses wire transfers, or the internet or the postal service can trigger federal jurisdiction. This includes such offenses as banking crimes, wire fraud, identity theft and child pornography. Criminal drug conspiracies are a favorite target of federal attention. In these cases each defendant can be charged and and prosecuted for the combined amount of drugs involved, even though a particular defendant might not have actual knowledge of the true breadth and scope of the conspiracy, or know all the people involved.
One of the most important differences between state court and federal court lies in plea bargains. Unlike state court prosecutions where a defendant can agree to plead guilty in exchange for a recommendation from the prosecutor that the judge sentence the defendant to a specific sentence, plea offers from federal prosecutors typically do not include a recommendation for a specific number of years of prison time. In Federal Court a defendant is expected to plead guilty to the charges without knowing what his sentence will be. The plea agreement will always include language to the effect that the defendant understands this. Furthermore, a defendant in federal court cannot appeal his sentence because it turned out to be higher than what he expected.
The amount of time you receive in the way of a sentence in state court is usually something that is part of the plea bargain. State court defendants almost always know what their sentence is going to be before it is pronounced by the Judge. It is not that way in Federal Court. Because so many Federal case involve a plea, the real work in a federal case usually begins with the sentencing phase.
In an effort to make sentencing in federal cases more uniform throughout the States, Congress created the United States Sentencing Commission in 1984. This Commission published Sentencing Guidelines in 1987. Effective representation by your lawyer requires a thorough understanding of how these guidelines are to be applied. After you enter a plea, a member of the U.S. Probation Department will be assigned your case and given the responsibility of preparing a Pre-sentence Report that advises the Court how the Guidelines should be applied in your case and what your sentence should be. A copy of this Pre-sentence Report is provided to the defense counsel and he/she is given the opportunity to file comments and objections to the Report with the Court. Only an experienced and knowledgeable attorney will know how to utilize all of the provisions of the Guidelines to your advantage and best present your case to the Court for sentencing. And this is critical in Federal Court because probation is available in only the rarest of cases and the time that you are given is the time you will do.
Section 5K of the Sentencing Guidelines allows the Court to depart from an application of the guidelines when it is brought to the Court's attention that a defendant has provided substantial assistance in the investigation and prosecution of another individual who committed a criminal offense. A 5K Letter is a document from a federal prosecutor that describes for the Court how and to what degree a defendant has provided assistance. Upon receipt of such a letter, the Court can depart from the guidelines and impose a much more lenient sentence on a defendant, depending of course on how helpful he has been to the government. This is a particularly effective weapon in the hands of a federal prosecutor, especially in conspiracy cases. Typically the prosecutor will target a defendant who is facing a very long sentence and offer them a reduction in their sentence in exchange for their cooperation and assistance in the prosecution of other defendants.
For a free, confidential consultation contact the Law Offices of Daniel & Hudson at 210-222-2297. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.


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Facing death stoically
Tom Daley joined the US Marine Corps in 1978, when he was 17, and retired in 2008, having served 30 years on active duty, and having completed tours in Beirut, in Grenada, in Panama, in the two Iraq wars, and in Afghanistan. He has been injured and evacuated five times while fighting for his country, including during the second battle for Fallujah, in 2004, when he was hit by shrapnel in the chest.
He first encountered Stoicism when taking an introduction to philosophy course as a young military undergraduate. "I wasn't that impressed by it", he says. When he was 27, he took a graduate degree in the Humanities, which included a class in existentialism, and through that, Tom encountered Marcus Aurelius, and read his Meditations. He says:
Once I read Marcus Aurelius, I felt like I understood Stoicism. I liked the fact he was a soldier. I liked the fact he was writing for himself. It wasn't an outreach programme. He was trying to work out how to conduct his own life. I think people should show how to live by example, not by forcing other people to believe what you believe.
Through Aurelius, he encountered and read the other Roman Stoics: Seneca and Epictetus. He took them with him on tour, and read them when he had a spare moment to himself, while training a troop of fighters in Central Asia in 2008. He says:
I never said to them 'I am a Stoic'. It's not something I bring up. It's something I try to show by how I act, by how or who I am. I've had people ask me about my belief system, for example when I was in Central Asia and was grouped with people who were all Muslim. They assumed I must be a Christiansince I'm American, but I'm not. I didn't deny it though, because they would be horrified to think I was an unbeliever. They would ask me what I was reading, and of course, they wouldn't have had the slightest idea what a Stoic was. But I tried to show them, by example.
It wasn't easy, being posted in the mountains for a year, "among people of far different principles to one's own", as Aurelius puts it.
Tom remembers:
At my age [he was 47 in 2008] physical conditioning is much more difficult than when I was a teen. Nevertheless, I was asked to perform a job and I did that job to the best of my ability. Most of the young Central Asianmen I spent my year with spent their whole lives fighting in the mountains. They knew those mountains like we know directions to our favorite restaurant. And just like any bored city boy would run an outsider through false directions and unmarked speed traps, they wanted to have their fun with me.
I was asked to lead a patrol, being told it was a singular honor for an outsider. So I led them to our objective along perhaps the most difficult path I could have possibly chosen. This was not intentional, but they didn't correct me like I calculated they would. I am pretty good with terrain analysis and finding a good position. But if you don't know the land, finding that position is much more difficult than you might think. On one trail (and I use the term quite loosely), there was a large rock formation jutting out on one side and a sharp turn to the right when you passed it. Just as I was reaching the crest, I was distracted by the members of the patrol coming up behind and I looked back to see what was happening. It was then that I should have made the sharp right turn, but instead slid down a fairly steep slope which had a small landing at the bottom followed by a cliff of nearly 30 feet. My sliding, of course, tumbled small rocks and debris over the cliff, and right down to a small enemy campsite of approximately 10 persons. They had not been aware of our presence and I was completely unaware that they were in the vicinity.
As you can imagine, adrenaline is pumping when you think you're falling to your death or at least to serious injury, but I was not injured other than scratches and a few bruises, not the least of which was my ego. My patrol ran up the incline leading to where I fell, presumably to laugh at my corpse at the bottom of the cliff, and were immediately met by enemy fire. I somehow managed to take a few poorly aimed shots before the enemy retired. From my standpoint, I was nearly killed, was sloppy in the execution of my job, and caused no harm to the enemy when I encountered them. From my patrol's standpoint, I had seen the enemy, charged down the slope to engage them, and run them off before they could cause casualties to the patrol. Funny how one person's perceptions can differ from another's.
Probably the most challenging situation he has been in, and the one where he has most used his Stoic beliefs, was the Second Battle for Fallujah, in Iraq, November 2004, which is widely considered the most intense urban fighting involving US forces since Hue, Vietnam in 1968.
During that month, elements of the US Marine Corps and the US Army fought to re-gain control of the 'city of mosques', in the centre of Iraq. The city's initially good relations with US forces had soured after soldiers from the US Airborne Division had shot dead 17 protestors in April 2003, reportedly after being fired on themselves.
In February 2004, control of the city was handed over from the Airborne to the Marine Corps. Then, in March 2004, four American private contractors for Blackwater Security were killed, and photos and video of their mutilated bodies were widely circulated. Within days, the Marine Corps launched Operation Vigilant Resolve to take control of the city back. The Operation caused heavy civilian casualties, and ended with a ceasefire.
Then, over the course of 2004, insurgents built up strong positions within the city, positioning snipers and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) around the city in preparation for another showdown with the Marines. The Pentagon believed the city had become the stronghold of around 5,000 Al Qaeda forces, led by Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq.
In November 2004, the Marines began a new assault on the city, codenamed Operation Phantom Fury. The US Army moved in first in Bradley Fighting Vehicles, then Marines followed on foot supported by artillery and heavy weapons. They entered in the north of the city, and worked their way south house by house. Tom says:
It was pretty intense. I was responsible for quite a lot. I was a weapons specialist, and advisor to the battalion commander. It was a very dangerous environment. In such situations, it's very obvious you are mortal. I would honestly tell myself, in some of those hairy situations, that everybody dies sometimes, and that sometimes, for the good of the whole, you have to put yourself at risk, or send others into risky situations. As Marcus Aurelius says, soldiers are assigned a place - it's better to stay and die there than to retreat.
Of course, a lot of one's thinking in such situations is automatic: "You act without thinking, that's why you train so intensely, to instill automatic responses, so that you see something that needs to be done, like crossing a street, and you do it, automatically."
He adds:
I would describe Fallujah as like driving in a car, and then the car hits a patch of ice and starts to spin out of control. So you turn the wheels into the skid. It's instinctual.
It's after the intense fighting is over that some people develop psychological problems, he says, "when they have time to sit around and think about it". But he himself seems to have avoided deep psychological wounds, although he was physically wounded and had to be evacuated. He says:
I feel a strong sense of duty, it's one of the key reasons I'm into Stoicism. People who have served, who have been in conflict, they know what it's like. They don't want to go into conflict, and they don't want to have been there. They know it's not like the movies, that there's no glory in it. They're just doing a job. Sometimes you're in situations you don't like, but you have a job to do. Most soldiers love to complain. I try not to complain about what I'm asked to do.
He retired from the Marines in 2008, and recently returned from security work in central Asia. He came back to his wife, and to his newly purchased home - six and a half acres near Dallas, in Texas. He says:
I want to come back, settle, and live a peaceful life. I've been unemployed since I've been back, though I have been doing some work with the New Stoa community, which I'd like to see expand.
But Tom's plans didn't work out like that. He tells me, at the end of the interview, that he had discovered the previous day that he has a brain tumour. He says:
The doctors confirmed it yesterday. I haven't told my wife yet. I'm going to tell her after Christmas [the interview took place on December 22]. I don't want to spoil her Christmas. She might not like me keeping it from her, but that's just how it is. Then the doctors want to operate on me as soon as possible, so that will be first week of January.
I am somewhat stunned, and say how sorry I am to hear it. I ask him how he feels about it. He says:
Well, it's not what you want to hear. That's why I was thinking about the house: will my wife be provided for, if something happened to me? In fact, the mortgage is insured, so if something happens, my wife would get to keep the house.
I ask how serious the tumour is. He says:
It's difficult to get a straight answer from the doctors. They say they want to operate first, and then see. They also want to put a radioactive pellet in my brain.
I've done several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. There have been several situations I've been in where it's been likely I would be hit. And I have been injured, five times in my career. But I still never believed I would die in those situations, somehow.
With this situation, it's different. For one thing, it's not immediate, while in war death is probably immediate. I also know I'm likely to be injured. I've already suffered the loss of some language skills. Like, sometimes I can think of the word I want to say, but for some reason my lips can't form it. I've also had some memory issues. Fortunately, I haven't lost control of my reason.
A friend of mine passed away in 2007, it was almost exactly the same thing. He had surgery on a tumour in December, and by August he had gone. So I may have around six months left.
I ask him, tentatively, what his attitude is to the prospect of dying. He says:
A part of me thinks 'this is your fate', like Socrates facing his death. Another part of me thinks the doctors are here for a reason, that they could help me. Marcus Aurelius says something like, you could have a day left, or 10 years left, but everyone has to go sometime. That's not being courageous, it's just accepting the inevitable. Statistically, it doesn't look good - if everyone in history has died, then it's pretty likely it will happen to me too. I would prefer it not be tomorrow, but it's not something I have control over.
Does he believe in an afterlife?
I think so, but there might not be. Again, Marcus Aurelius says, as I remember it, 'if there is a God, be comforted. If we're just atoms, then you won't feel anything anyway'. If there is a God, I am sure he will understand the way I think, and why I think like I do.
Would he say the news has changed him, or changed how he thinks?
I guess people should think constantly about the life they lead. Am I the kind of person I'd like to be? Have I misled anyone? There are things I have no control over - the past, or the future. I get caught up in life like everyone else. I don't always think first, but I try to review myself and my actions. I am a work in progress. Whether I get to complete that work in progress is not up to me. But I will try now in a more expedited fashion. I would like to have time to write my own version of the Meditations, with advice on how to live, for my son to read.
So, as a Stoic, should he fight his situation, or accept it?
The two aren't mutually exclusive. It's like going into battle. I accept that I might die, but it doesn't mean that I won't go down without a fight. If it's my time, then I'll go without crying. If it's not my time, then I'll have fought through it.
Tom went into surgery on January 4, two weeks after our interview. After initially making a good recovery, he underwent complications, and went into a coma. He passed away on the morning of January 26.


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Having a bad art day? Here's how to feel good about your work.
We've all been there, right? We've all had those days where you can't even seem to draw a stick man right, let alone approach people with a portfolio of work. I had one of those days last week – frustrated that my brain couldn't quite connect with my pencil and create something half decent. It's in those moments where you start to believe you've lost all ability to draw, as though all your creative juices have been sapped out of you by some envious left brained monster. You start getting angry at your wonky attempt of a drawing of a hand, rubbing out pencil markings and drowning in piles of rubber crumbs. You look at your work and want to throw it out the window – not just today's, but a whole bloody decade of work: It's all shit and it's going out of the window.
Or is that just me?
If you're a creative person you will probably find that your opinion if your work will go up and down like a yoyo. In fact, I would bet any money that Michael Angelo and Leonardo Da Vinci had those days too (and I in no way compare my work to their genius!). The fact it, that as an artist you probably have ideas going through your mind all day, you're essentially a continual problem solver, trying to visualise the things that are important in the best way possible. Because of this, you will go from one idea to the next, trying to perfect your work or trying new concepts or techniques. And the inevitable happens: you find yourself out of your comfort zone trying to push new boundaries. It's because of this that having bad art days is perfectly normal: good, even. You need the, in order to progress and try new things or push ideas to their limits, if there is ever such a thing. So if, like me, you feel crap about your work at the moment it is probably a good indication that you're on the right path.
However, that still doesn't take away the fact that you don't feel great about it. How are you meant to pick yourself up and carry on? How are you meant to do so with gusto? Well, here are my thoughts on how to feel encouraged when you're having a bad art day.
1. Don't compare yourself to others.
Okay, so this is a big one. I saw an amazing artist's work the other day and felt like I could never achieve what she has, until I figured that she probably has plenty of bad art days herself. And hey, you never know, people might look at my work and think the same. If I tried to do my work like anyone else then I wouldn't be being true to myself and I'd probably create bad work anyway. Get inspiration from others where you can but learn to think of your work as an entirely different entity, as though it would be on a par with getting inspiration from a piece of music or a scene from nature.
2. Think about what makes you unique.
Part of not comparing yourself to others is acknowledging that you are an original and you need to embrace what makes you unique. What is it about your work that stands out from other people's? Is it the materials you use? The characters you create? The unique perspective? The way you see things will be different to everyone else, even those similar to you. Explore how your work is different and develop that side of it.
3. Make sure your subjects inspire you.
You need to be true to yourself and your work needs to reflect your passions and interests, no matter how quirky they are (in fact, the quirkier the better!). There's no use creating work where you feel the subject is uninspiring, just because it's in fashion or because someone else has had success with it. People can detect authenticity a mile off so make sure you are genuine in your pursuit of creating inspiring artwork.
4. Look back at what you've achieved.
If you care enough to pursue your passion then you WILL have improved in some way, no matter how small you think that is. Look back at your achievements - the people have have encouraged your work along the way. Note any particular milestones: whether that's a degree or simply the first time you managed to use a pencil more than your rubber.
5. Take a break.
Spend some time away from your work. You may just need some space to let your mind rest. Looking at other things can also spur a bit of creativity and in fact most great ideas come when you least expect it. Take a mental break and go for a walk or take a bath and come back to your work with fresh eyes.
Once you come back to it you will probably feel a whole lot better and you'll probably have new ideas to explore. So don't dwell on the down days and focus on the positive, before you know it you'll be back in the game and somebody else will be looking at your work and thinking, I wish I had created that.


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Lighthouse Holistic Festival 2019
lighthouse centre for the arts
kingland road
dorset bh15 1ug
9th & 10th February
Each year Lighthouse Holistic Festival brings together a wonderful array of around 110 interesting stands to explore, therapies and healing to try, as well as advice to improve health and well-being along with some fascinating workshops, talks and performances. Our exhibitors travel from across the UK and beyond to join us, and together we are excited about creating an unforgettable, magical experience for our visitors.
2019 will be our 5th year at the iconic Lighthouse Centre In Poole and we look forward to welcoming you all.
More information later in the year, but in the meantime, do have a look at some highlights from this year below!


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As of 2016, Ganz only has one warehouse location: on Hanlan Road in Woodbridge, Ontario. The Ganz warehouse holds an annual cash-only pre-Christmas warehouse sale that offers discounts on the company's products, including Webkinz plush toys, Christmas ornaments, home decor, candles and jewelry.
In addition to the annual warehouse sale, Ganz also holds a variety of shows and events at its showrooms in Woodbridge, Ontario; Atlanta, Georgia; and Las Vegas, Nevada. It also holds other events at venues across North America, such as the Toronto Gift Fair at the Toronto International Centre, the Midwest-CBK/Ganz show at the Dallas Market Center, and the Las Vegas Market at the World Market Center.
With the exception of the warehouse sale, Ganz is a wholesale distributor, and its goods are available only through a network of North American retailers. To find a nearby retailer or meet with a sales representative, use the appropriate request forms, which are found in the Contact Us section of the official Ganz website.
Ganz makes multiple lines of products, including Grumpy Cat, Style 101, Time and Again, and a line for infants called Baby Ganz. Other product lines by Ganz include Kissing Krystals, LaCucina, Stephanie Burgess and Jewel La La.


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Please update your bookmarks to point to the current Eau Claire Area School District website: www.ecasd.us
Eau Claire Preschool Programs
in the Eau Claire Area School District
Imagine the possibilities!
The Eau Claire Early Learning Programs provide quality education for preschool children.
A variety of programs offer a proactive approach to ensure the success of our youngest students. Available programs are: Head Start, Eau Claire 4 Tomorrow (EC4T) and
Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE).
Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE)
The ECSE program serves children who are 3 or 4 years old and have been identified with special needs. This program offers Itinerant, Self-Contained, and Combination Services. ECSE offers a variety of resources for families.


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For this festive season, the designer Jovian Mandagies has come up with his latest collection inspired by the elements of African culture and subtle hints of earthy tones. Featuring Savannah by Jovian Mandagie, the pieces in the collection definitely blends the unique bold hues and distinctive patterns for that unconventional look. From the traditional baju kurung, peplum tops to the modern pieces of cape dresses and drape designed shoulders, every piece are embellished with beautiful beadings.
Carrying 40 looks for the urban women this coming Lebaran, you can expect the collection full of various combined fabrics such as heavy satin, cotton, lace, crepe and organza. Any women will simply adore and be mesmerized with the amazing pieces from Savannah by Jovian Mandagie collection. This year's collection definitely exudes a touch of sophistication and empowerment for the ladies to show off with confidence. Made to fit every individual style out there, this cultural inspired collection can help bring out a different side of you to others effortlessly.
The Savannah by Jovian Mandagie collection has that cultural twist that experiments two different traditions between the African and muslimah elements. The line completely gives off an exotic statement for ladies to flaunt with style for Lebaran. Every woman will feel exclusively beautiful and bold wearing Jovian's latest Lebaran fashion collection. Simply pull together the pieces from the collection which represents your personality and accessorize it with class. Experience the gorgeous fashion pieces from the collection and never look out of style.


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After rough growing seasons in 2010 and 2011, we've had back-to-back fantastic years in 2012 and now 2013.
The year started out on the fast track with late spring rain followed by perfect 85 degree weather for 2 weeks, and everyone in Sonoma County predicted an early harvest because we seemed so far ahead of schedule.
In fact, in the early part of the summer we saw more vegetative growth than we've ever seen before, with lots of rapid leaf and shoot development. We were seeing shoots that grew to 6 feet tall in a matter of a few short weeks! The late spring rain really kickstarted the growth cycle with a burst.
Then we enjoyed moderately warm weather with no heat spikes in June and July, which is really ideal weather for ripening and flavor development, but as summer progressed the weather was a little cooler than expected. After some hazy mornings and a thick marine layer for the first two weeks of August, what looked for certain to be an early harvest at the beginning of the season was turning into a more traditional year as the weeks went by.
Late August and most of September featured an abundance of beautiful growing days with lots of moderate sunshine -- aside from a few intermitent rainy days, but fortunately this was the exception and we saw virtually no signs of mildew. The nice warm finish to summer helped to ripen everything at a relatively slow, even pace. This is great news for the flavors, but what was really unusual is how all the different varietals in Sonoma County were coming off the vine at the same time. Typically Chardonnay is picked weeks or even a month before Cabernet, but in this growing season we saw growers picking these grapes on the same day. Truly unusual.
The biggest surprise of all was the crop load. After historic yields in 2012 you would expect the vines to take a year off and have a reduced production level, but just the opposite occurred. Sonoma County is estimating 3-5% more grapes this year, and we're in line with that as well at Collier Falls with a slight bump in our yield. Two consecutive huge harvests like this are really unheard of.
But most importantly, the quality is there too. After tasting the wines from 2012 and 2013, it's hard to tell which vintage to be more excited about! It's certainly great news for wine lovers and fans of Collier Falls. Hope you qualify in both categories!


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Last year, the Brooks PureCadence 2 was one of the brand's biggest hits. Loaded with sturdy support and plenty of breathability throughout its construction, the PureCadence 2 catered to overpronators with its high arch. That model weighed in at 9.3 oz, which is remarkably light for any running sneaker. However, with the introduction of the PureCadence 3, Brooks has found a way to make the popular model even lighter while keeping much of its original tech and design intact.
At 8.6 oz, the PureCadence 3 strips down even more unnecessary weight without sacrificing a single ounce of support. The protected Rounded Heel construction engages as soon as the foot hits the ground, keeping runners safe and comfortable. From there, the brand's ever-reliable Nav Band tech has been tweaked to be wider and more integrated, which results in a smoother, more efficient midfoot transition.
As always with models in the Brooks Pure Project line, the PureCadence has been designed with incredibly lightweight materials and a minimal construction, allowing runners to get the most out of the shoes. However, due to their slimmed-down design, Pure Project models are estimated to last approximately 250-300 miles. This is plenty of lifespan for casual runners or those with ample rotations, but you may want to consider also keeping another pair as a backup if you choose the Brooks PureCadence 3.
Category: Running
Weight: 8.6 oz
Construction: Mesh and synthetic PureProject upper
Release date: Now available
Key technologies: Rounded Heel, Nav Band midfoot
Best for: Mild to heavy overpronators
Fit: True to size
Riley Jones is a freelance writer from Charlottesville, VA and contributor to Sneaker Report. With an unshakable affinity for basketball and pop culture, he can be found on Twitter @rchrstphr.
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Construction of a mixed use five storey development, comprising both residential and commercial areas, including a basement
As part of the London 2012 Olympics, the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) was formed to use the creation of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to "develop a dynamic new heart for east London, creating opportunities for local people and driving innovation and growth in London and the UK."
As part of the legacy of the Olympic Games, the area surrounding the Olympic Park is being transformed, with Fish Island and Hackney Wick at the forefront of the redevelopment. The site at Beachy Road, situated on Fish Island, is proposed to be redeveloped into a mixed use five storey development, comprising both residential and commercial areas.
Working alongside Falconet Properties, the LLDC, and ARUP acting as an intermediary environmental consultant for the LLDC, a proposed scope of works was agreed and included the production of Phase 1 Geo-Environmental Site Assessment followed by a Phase 2 Intrusive Ground Investigation.
The Phase 1 Geo-Environmental Site Assessment allowed REC to propose the most suitable site investigation, targeting any contaminants of concern related to the previous site uses, and nearby works such as an Abattoir directly adjacent to the site.
REC was commissioned by Falconet Properties to undertake the detailed Ground Investigation and Assessment at the site. In order to accurately establish the deeper geology at the site into which the piled foundations are to sit, REC's office in South Croydon has drilled two boreholes to 25 metres using a cable percussive method, which can cope with man-made obstructions in the made ground. REC utilised two 'strings' of drilling casing (200mm and 150mm) in order to ensure that the target depth of each borehole was reached. REC also drilled seven shallow window sample boreholes to 5 metres to gain an understanding of the shallow ground conditions, with respect to contamination and waste classification, given a basement is proposed to cover the footprint of the site. Foundations of the surrounding structures were also inspected in four trial pits, and the mechanical strength of the shallower soils was determined by excavating two shallow trial pits and conducting bearing pressure tests.
Having completed the ground investigation, REC is providing Falconet Properties with a comprehensive ground investigation report that will be used to inform prospective contractors of the ground conditions and enable them to accurately design and cost the necessary foundations, as well as inform the client of further remedial works required at the site. This should remove the need for contingency sums and provide Falconet with a more cost-effective price from its contractors, saving them money in the long run.


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Monthly Archives: August 2014
Redskins Name Change Talk has Mike Ditka and Sarah Palin Seeing Red.20
August 26, 2014 by gregrabidoux2013
The NFL pre-season may be winding down but "Iron" Mike Ditka and Sarah "The VEEP" Palin are just getting started. …
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When the Laughter Dies. Robin Williams and Our Culture of Depression.29
August 20, 2014 by gregrabidoux2013
By now, you all have heard the news. Legendary funny-man Robin Williams died of apparently self-inflicted wounds. Suicide. He left behind …
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Getting Soaked for the Greater Good. The Ice-Bucket Challenge, ALS and You.19
August 19, 2014 by gregrabidoux2013
Seems I can't look up lately without seeing a bucket of ice water come tumbling down. Well, figuratively speaking of …
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As the House of Lords is joined by Indarjit Singh, their first 'turban-wearing' peer, we are reminded of the importance of the turban.
His peership shows the changing nature of the House of Lords Appointments Commission, as it attempts to appoint more non-party affiliated peers. Reforms this year also look to rid the chamber of all hereditary peers.
As the director of the Network of Sikh Organisations UK, Mr.Singh is also a representative of the UK's 340,000-strong Sikh community. He also sets an example for religious cooperation in a Multicultural Britain as an executive committee member of the Interfaith Network UK.
Indarjit Singh says, ""It gives me a new opportunity to do what I have always tried to do: to work with people of all beliefs to increase tolerance and understanding, and work for greater social and political justice in our society," according to an article in The National.
Symbol of Sikh identity
It's much more than the comical 'man-pag, pag-man' sketch from Goodness Gracious Me, in which a Father explains to his troubled son that "You got pag. You got man. You put pag on man…Sikh!"
The turban, known as pag or dastar in Punjabi, is symbolic of being a Sikh. One of the five objects which Sikhs should be adorned with is kesh, uncut hair. This goes hand in hand with the turban, which is meant to
cover, honour and protect the hair.
One of the 12 Gurus, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, had taught that Sikhs should stand out from the crowd by wearing a turban because they were following the unique path of the Gurus. This means that a turbaned Sikh is usually considered to be more devout than a non-turbaned Sikh.
It is also a symbol of respectability, and of one who upholds and practices Sikh morals.
Anoop Singh, a student at the University of Kent, says that wearing a pag has practical, spiritual and personal significance. He goes on, " personally, its a solid reminder of the path i follow, it is like a flag for all those around to know i follow this path."
Baron Singh of Wimbledon is someone for young Sikhs to look up to, at a time when many are disregarding their turbans in the name of
Photo: Paul Gooddy


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Garbage Stinks. Compost Doesn't.
I had the very unpleasant experience recently of dumping excess lawn clippings directly into my garbage can. The can set out in the sun for a few days before I brought it into the garage. A few days later, WHOA! The can smelled like a skunk had stepped in dog doo-doo, rolled around in raw sewage, and then died in there. I was reminded once again, that lawn clippings should not go directly into the garbage can! I have a composter and do a fair amount of composting. To which, I add lawn clippings when I have brown material to balance it out. The ratio is 1 part green: 20 parts brown. I am often asked by people who don't compost if the compost stinks. The answer is no. That sounds strange because of the waste product that goes into making good compost, but it's true. If the proportions of green and brown mater... More


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By Joey Gale
Millennials, we have a major problem that our entire generation will need to take care of. The national debt is hovering around $18 trillion today. Woah.
For clarity sake, the national debt of the United States is the amount owed by the federal government of the United States. According to a Washington Post Article, each single American citizen would own about $65,433 of U.S. debt. That's a lot of money.
We Millennials are now the largest, most diverse generation in the U.S. population. We have been shaped by technology, we invest in human capital more than any other generation, and we don't expect to retire with Social Security. It's sort of an odd joke that seems to be the punch line of every introduction when meeting with politicians. It's oddly humorous, partially sickening and incredibly thought-provoking.
When attending Senator Ernst's swearing in reception, we had the opportunity to meet and take a photo with Senator Lindsey Graham, the Republican Senator from South Carolina. Shortly after shaking the Senator's hand, he fired off a joke about how Social Security won't exist when we retire, and his apology for that.
What?! Why is a Senator of the United States making a joke about this? Yes, it was partially funny in the social context of the reception, but really, it seems sort of sick to joke about.
Our generation is going to pay taxes for the next 40+ years, with a large portion of that directly going to Social Security. It seems like a crime to pay all this money and not receive the full benefits that all of the Baby Boomers will reap over the next decades.
According to the Concord Coalition, a budgeting think tank we met with on Wednesday, by 2033 all Social Security funds will be exhausted… BUT, never fear, the worst case scenario still entitles you to at least 75% of Social Security benefits. Social Security takes up a very large portion of the debt, around $800 billion. Reform at this point is absolutely necessary if Millennials want to see what they should out of it.
However, Wednesday evening at the Washington Center, Social Security reform was described as the "third rail" as in no one should touch it, and those who do get shocked — to death.
Our country's leaders need to take action now so our generation has something we can rely on. Millennials can and should speak up.


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Olivia Booyse
For South African artist Olivia Booyse (email@example.com), there is no subject that is beyond her extraordinary capabilities. She is equally proficient in creating abstract collage designs of full standing figures, buildings, portraits, and Landscapes.
This abstract artist is in her final year of studying Visual Communication at Vega, School of Brand Leadership. She demonstrates artistic prowess beyond her years. She is also an expert in drawing and painting, and does freelance work.
Olivia's collage designs are designed digitally. She aims to emotionally support her viewers and fans through her work. " I want them to feel something, I want them to feel loved, and that they truly are good enough!" She explores the meaning of our existence and our purpose in life as individuals through her designs. This is particularly apparent in one of her designs "Apportionment", where she challenges her viewers to share with others. She truly believes that by sharing, we can heal.
She is mostly inspired by Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.
"I admire her for her talent, but also for the passion that she conveys in all her work. The way in which she painted and lived her life was done without seeking approval from others. She did what she wanted, dressed how she liked, and dated whomever without regard for societal norms. This is what truly inspires me."


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was just perusing some long-term charts tonight and some of the new lows are just downright depressing from a long-term perspective. I don't have a whole lot of original commentary to add to these images except….man, what a crappy 10 years it's been (pretty original, huh?).
So here are some randomly selected equity indices and one other index whose 10 year performance might just surprise you. First the three nightmare equity indices. Not surprisingly, two of them are from Europe.
Japan's Nikkei Index at a 28 year low:
Greece at a nightmare low:
Spain at a 10 year low:
And the shocker….CRB Commodity Index is up just 35% TOTAL over the 10 year period for a compound annual return of just 3%:


text: This house in Bala Cynwyd had a side yard over its garage, and both were beginning to crumble. We removed the existing flagstone patio and fieldstone garden walls, as well as the concrete substrate beneath. We reinforced garage roof with steel beams, laid out a complex system of re-bar, and then poured a new concrete patio - dyed and stamped for a stunning finished texture. We also had powder-coated steel railings custom fabricated, and then bolted horizontal cedar planks within to complete the system.


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Med/Surg RN Travel Contract Nights
- Main Street, Front Range Area, CO
- Contract
Company Description
Health Specialists, Inc. is a family-owned and operated healthcare staffing agency located in the Kansas City area. The 28-year-old company works with many of the nation's leading hospital and medical centers. HSI is Joint Commission certified and a "Top Rated" agency by travelnursingcentral.com. HSI prides itself on being small enough to provide one-on-one service with our nurses while being large enough to offer the same opportunities and benefits that the less-personal corporate companies offer.
Job Description
Travel Contract position available for a Med/Surg RN.What's not to love about Colorado in the summer! Come live, work and play in one of Colorado's most loved cities along the Front Range. Colorado's diverse landscape and can't miss sights await you! Shift: Nights 7p-7a
Certification: BLS, ACLS
Licensure: Active CO or Compact State RN Licensure
Contractual Experience Required: MUST HAVE - 1yr Full Time Experience in position being submitted for. Experience in Position submitted for, must have been within the last twelve months.
Travel Experience: Preferred
Additional Information
Health Specialists, Inc. works with the understanding that benefit needs vary by the individual, so customized benefit packages are prepared. Health Insurance is available.Travel reimbursement and top-quality housing are provided and reimbursement for licensing and certification is available. For more information contact us at www.healthspecialists.com or call us at 913-438-6337.


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To those men and women who have served honorably I offer my most heartfelt thanks and great respect.
To those currently serving in harm's way I pray you are soon safely in the arms of your family.
I hope we can all work toward a day when parents are not called away from spouses and children such as was the case in my family and is now the case in so many military families.


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Ok, don't take this too seriously, but some people out there may know where I'm coming from. Have you ever seen a photo that you just didn't understand or think had any ascetic value to it whatsoever, yet it won "top prize" in a photo contest? Maybe something that wasn't even in focus or made any sense at all. Or even looked like a pre-frame 1 advance exposure from back in the film days...but there it is- being awarded thousands of dollars in prizes and prestigious alcolades for it's creator. How does this always seem to happen? Is this what great photography is? Is what most of us think of a compelling photo made up of something that the "elite society of photo evaluators" whom determines what is great and what is not would never agree with? Are these photo contests just rigged so that the judge's friend can get some free stuff and share it with them? Well, even though I've never entered a photos contest, I've seen these same types of photos always winning. So I think I have finally found something that makes sense.
You see, these "photo judges" usually hang out with some sort of elitist crowd. They obviously know they are supreme beings and are therefore the authority on what is "good". These people consider themselves the "upper society" and usually take part in various "mind exploring" substances. I believe that in their past (or even still in their present) they have dropped a lot of acid, done a bunch of 'shrooms and definitely tried some LSD while zoning out to The Doors albums deep into the night. Those experiences have left them with a new sense of vision and self-elevation that does not seem apparent in their everyday demeanor, but it's always there.
Now, when anyone who has never done acid sees a blurry, underexposed black and white photo of a stick laying on the ground, they (we) think anyone could have taken that photo and even done a better job at getting it in focus. But someone who judges photography and of course has 'been to the other side' sees the face of God on that stick. The more out of touch with anything that makes any sense at all the photo is, the more the judge "sees what no one else can" as the senseless photo "speaks" to him and tells him that "the snake is long....seven miles....feed your head....catch the dragon." Then the photo judge of course, knowing that the photographer who took it must be a like-minded genius to have known that that wasn't just a stick on the ground, but rather a representation of the universe against what is known and all that is unknown, then awards the top prize to the photo...while the rest of us observe in bewilderment. You could have a picture of the sun exploding and to a photo judge it's, "just another ordinary picture of the sun exploding". So friends, the rules of how to win any photo contest are as follows:
- Always shoot black and white.
- Always shoot out of focus or with slow shutter speeds to purposely make the image unintelligible.
- Make sure it's not anything beautiful.
- Most importantly, make sure the photo makes no sense at all whatsoever- just spin around in a circle and take pictures. Because if the photo has a subject, or makes any sense at all, the photo judge won't be able to "understand" it, and it will be discarded.
I hope this has helped make some understanding of why photo contests always end up the same way. Now, with the knowledge about how it works, you can go out and shoot dark, totally incoherent blurs- then be awarded expensive prizes and given high-society accolades. All because you know about that wonderful mind-altering drug called "acid" that the 'important people' who judge creativity use.


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Here you can find answers to your questions, resources for your personal and spiritual growth as well as some personal recommendations of who I follow and what I am up to.
Here you can find answers to your questions, resources for your personal and spiritual growth as well as some personal recommendations of who I follow and what I am up to.
Jai Uttal
Jai Uttal, Grammy nominated sacred music composer, recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, and ecstatic vocalist, combines influences from India with influences from American rock and jazz.
Krishna Das
Krishna Das has been called yoga's "rock star." With a remarkably soulful voice that touches the deepest chord in even the most casual listener, Krishna Das " known to friends, family, and fans as simply KD
Fanna-Fi-Allah hold the flame of traditional Sufi Qawwali music, with the blessings of their teachers; some of the greatest masters of the qawwali form in India and Pakistan.
DJ Drez
DJ Drez is a producer, musical director and sound ambassador. A master of his craft in the studio and on stage, Drez cuts and composes profoundly original tracks. Check out Masood on Chanting with Tigers: Satya Sutra
MC Yogi
MC YOGI is a world renowned performing artist. From living in a group home for at-risk youth to becoming one of the most well known and beloved yogis in America, MC YOGI is on a mission to bring good music and good energy into the world.
Jaya Lakshmi and Ananda
Jaya Lakshmi and Ananda are Oregon based musical artists in the genre of mantra music. They offer kirtan, healing mantra music and Kirtronica (kirtan and electronica fusion). Check out Masood on their track Ganesha Japa
Sheela Bringi
Indian American musician Sheela Bringi has been exploring the connections between her ancestral and actual homelands her entire life. The singer and instrumentalist plays the harp, harmonium and bansuri (Indian classical bamboo flute).
Heather Lyle
Heather Lyle has been a professional singer for 30 years and a yoga practitioner for most of her life. As she realized that the process of transforming the voice is a yoga unto itself she began her teaching practice under the name Vocal Yoga.
Sianna Sherman
Sianna Sherman is a passionate storyteller, yogini, priestess and earth lover – with a vision to help you awaken your Magic, embrace your Soul's Calling and share your Authentic Gifts with the world.
Shiva Rae
Shiva Rae is a global Prana Vinyasa teacher, activist and innovator in the evolution of vinyasa yoga around the world. From yoga festivals and conferences to unplugged retreats Shiva has taught thousands of students, teachers, movers and shakers how to integrate yoga as a way of life
Saul David Raye
Saul David Raye is a teacher, healer, musician & spiritual activist. He has been practicing and teaching for over 25 years, primarily influenced by his studies of Ha-tha Yoga, Ayurveda, Bhakti, Tantra, Thai Massage, Pranic Healing, Shamanism and Indigenous practices.
Svaha Yoga
Svaha Yoga practices and teach flow yoga that helps you with you and makes everyday life more comfortable, connected and straight up amazing. Because yoga to us is not just about flexing your feet and touching your toes. It's about what you learn on your way down.
Peter Sterios
As a teacher, my life is to serve and honor students like yourself, who show up curious to learn, and interested in the guidance I offer. I am grateful for what yoga has revealed to me which I share freely.
Robert Augustus Masters
Robert Augustus Masters has a passion to fuel, illuminate, and support the living of a deeper life, a life of love, integrity, compassion, and full-blooded awakening, a life of intimacy with all that we are.
What is a Hang?
The Hang (pronounced 'hung') is crafted by Felix Rohner and Sabina Schaerer of the PANArt Hangbau Company in Bern Switzerland. The Hang first took shape in 2000.Hang means 'hand' in the local Bernese dialect which is an appropriate name as the Hang is designed to be strictly played with ones' hands. Its plural is Hanghang. PANArt has since inspired many makers worldwide in creating Hand Pans.
Hand Pan Global
What is Kirtan?
Kirtans events are typically 1-2 hours of call-and-response chanting with musical accompaniment. Call and response a style of singing in which a melody sung by one singer (usually the leader) is responded to or echoed by the audience. No prior experience is required.
What is a workshop?
Connection to Creation and Music Workshops are approximately 3-4 hours consisting of call-and-response chanting, Heather Lyle Vocal Yoga Method warm up and singing technique, Meditation, Energy healing techniques, Foundation Training for repairing habitual patterns that cause back problems.
What is a retreat?
Week long or weekend retreats are from 2-7 days sometimes done with like-minded hatha yoga or meditation teachers which include evening call-and-response chanting, and afternoon workshops. Because of the length of the retreat, it offers more time for the participant to dive deeper into the experience.
Do I have to join anything?
No, there is nothing to join. You are free to come and listen to the singing or you can join in if you like. You are free to come and go as you please during our events however for a class do please experience the full arc of the practice and not disturb the others setting an intention, cultivating energy through the techniques in the class and sharing results for the benefit of humantiy


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Testing water for microbial contamination has long been the norm for evaluating the safety of water across the world, but in rural areas of underdeveloped countries the portable incubators currently on the market for this application are unavailable, expensive, or require reliable electricity. So what happens when our Engineers Without Borders' volunteers need to test microbial contamination during their projects in Kenya and Ghana? Or what if the laboratory incubator breaks in a health office in rural Senegal? Or, even in upstate Maine, what can middle-school students do who are concerned about water quality in their wells at home?
To address this challenge, Professor Emily Kumpel of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department is sponsoring an interdisciplinary senior design project for five Mechanical Engineering students to design a "DIY Portable Incubator for Testing Microbial Water Quality in Field Settings." The deliverables of this ambitious project include a 3D CAD model with thermal analysis, a finite element method formulation for solving this particular engineering problem, and a functional prototype.
"Water quality test is performed by utilities, surveillance agencies, private citizens, and researchers all over the world," says Kumpel. "However, while there are many ways to test for bacterial contamination, many require incubation at a constant temperature to produce reliable results that can inform water safety management. A DIY-style incubator made out of readily available parts that can work in a variety of settings would provide an important tool for making sure water is safe to drink, contributes to a larger movement around citizen science, and democratizes access to participate and be a part of scientific inquiry."
Among other expertise, Kumpel studies water and sanitation in developing countries, global health and water, water quality monitoring, and sustainability of small community water supplies.
According to the senior design proposal, indicator organisms – including E. coli, fecal (or thermotolerant) coliform, and total coliform – are commonly used as a proxy for pathogens that can cause waterborne disease. "While these bacteria are not themselves necessarily pathogenic," as the proposal explains, "their presence can indicate contamination from fecal sources that suggest may also contain pathogens."
According to the proposal, a variety of methods exist to measure indicator organisms. "The easiest and cheapest are culture-based methods, where bacteria are given a favorable environment (including nutrients and warm temperatures) to grow, allowing us to observe their presence," explains the proposal.
In this context, incubators represent one important tool in performing the best and most practical testing methods. However, in many situations in the field, including low-income countries and rural areas with poor transportation capabilities, testing must occur remotely. Therefore, incubators, which keep the bacteria and its media at warm temperatures, must be portable and able to function without reliable electricity. The proposal adds that portable incubators currently on the market that meet these requirements generally accommodate only methods from a single type of testing method, hold only a few samples, and are expensive.
As the proposal concludes, "There is a need for a more affordable incubator for water quality made of readily available materials in a variety of contexts that can provide the necessary temperature stabilization and keep the samples as undisturbed as possible." To deal with these remote situations, incubators must maintain a specified temperature for 24-48 hours, control the humidity so as not to dry out the media, and withstand impacts and sudden loads when being moved in rough terrains.
Kumpel would like her team to design and build an incubator that satisfies the following scope: it costs less than $150; it satisfies ASTM E1292-94 and UNICEF/MICS Water Quality Standards for incubators; it maintains an ambient air temperature for samples of 35-37C; it can accommodate a variety of testing methods for microbial water; it is fabricated from readily available material in key identified scenarios; it minimizes the need for reliable electricity input; it minimizes specialized components; and it comes with simplified directions for a variety of literacy levels and user ages.
As team leader Akshay Delity says about getting involved in this project: "My experiences in Dr. Kumpel's lab and the Engineers Without Borders Kenya Project have impressed upon me the importance of an incubator like this in the field of international development and water treatment. I'm lucky to be working with some diversely talented peers and know that we can produce an accessible incubator design for those without access to the same materials and education we have." (October 2018)


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On several websites, I've seen links to this amusing Tumblr blog. It features images that combine the rainbow colors & cutesy animals seen on artwork by "rainbow-gulag" founder Lisa Frank- with nihilistic quotes that reflect despair, emptiness, and a sense of existential crisis. It's a great mashup of contrasting elements, on par with Nietzsche Family Circus.
Look upon these images, and feel the sense of a happy, bright brand of nihilism.